Farmers Weekly NZ March 5 2018 by AgriHQ

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Meat sector aiming high Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

NATIONAL brand for meat supported by a story detailing New Zealand farming practices will be released within the next few months to spearhead the sector’s response to the growth of competing artificial protein. A just-released study on the threat of alternative protein to NZ’s red meat sector commissioned by Beef + Lamb NZ identifies beef in our largest market, the United States, as most at risk from the growth of artificial protein. It warns plant-based burgers and mince will likely be widely available throughout the US within five years and China in 10 years, potentially targeting the grinding beef market. B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor said while the report makes the scale of threat posed by alternative protein abundantly clear there are also opportunities by differentiating NZ meat through a brand and story. The imagery and details could be released in April. One of those opportunities is the growing US demand for grassfed beef with sales doubling every year since 2012, reaching NZ$378 million in 2016. The US beef market is worth $1.2 billion a year to NZ with exports accounting for about 2% of all beef consumed there. Consumers eat 100m burgers every day in the US and McIvor said there is also a growing market for high-end, premium meat burgers from grass-fed cattle.

Beef consumption is expected to continue to grow in the US, as it has from 2010 when 12.2m tonnes were eaten, with forecasts it would reach 12.8m tonnes in 2026. Consumption in China is also expected to grow, from 6.5m tonnes to 9.5m tonnes over the same period. The rising middle classes in Africa and Asia were also looming markets for red meat. McIvor said the new brand and NZ story have been intensively researched and created in collaboration with six meat companies. It has been tested in seven countries: the US, United Arab Emirates, India, China, Indonesia, United Kingdom and NZ and the response was positive with consumers liking the notion of eating natural, grass-raised meat. “The alternative protein study has reinforced strongly that we’re doing the right thing and are on the right track,” McIvor said. How and where it will be released is still the subject of discussion. The story will target value chains in markets in as-yet unspecified countries. Underpinning the NZ Story is the NZ Farm Programme, designed to streamline the various meat company audit systems and verify claims. Research shows the first decision by consumers of premium meat products is to visit a retailer they trust. Products are chosen based on the country of origin and then the brand. “This reinforces two things. One, that we are on the right track developing the red meat story and, two, the farm assurance programme that sits under that.

ENTICING: 60% of vegans would be willing to try lab-grown meat, according to research commissioned by Ingredient Communications.

The alternative protein study has reinforced strongly that we’re doing the right thing and are on the right track. Sam McIvor B+LNZ

“It also absolutely reinforces to me the urgency of activating that in the marketplace.” McIvor said the challenge from

artificial protein is real but he notes much of its funding comes from Silicon Valley, which has a history of fickle investors who readily move to the next big thing and other mimicking products, such as almond milk, have had food safety issues. The key for the NZ red meat sector is how it responds to the rise of alternative proteins and how to push commodity-priced meat cuts in to the premium bracket. He was confident it can be done. “That’s because the same forces driving the significant investment and demand for

manufacturing alternative proteins, including concerns about industrial farming, health and the environment, offer us a chance to differentiate NZ red meat internationally.” NZ’s free-range, natural sheep and beef farming is a world away from intensive factory and feedlot farming and big food, which the report said has tarnished the reputation of red meat. “It’s vital we leverage our competitive advantage and rigorously protect it — grass-fed, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, natural protein — to capture higher premiums and raise the value of our exports.”

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NEWS

WEATHER OVERVIEW The next couple of weeks look dominated by very large low pressure systems. While tropical cyclones are major and intense they aren’t often large in size, eg Cyclone Gita was smaller than the North Island. The low forecast to develop north of New Zealand later this week could be wider than the length of NZ. At the same time as this low is trying to form next week north of NZ a large high should be crossing southern regions of the country, creating a strong easterly flow (known as a squash zone) over central regions. Over a week from now we might be dealing with a big storm well south of NZ in the Southern Ocean bringing windy westerlies back.

13 Report takes stock of natural assets

The primary sector has received a guarded thumbsup for its ability to reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining solid growth over the last 18 years. Burger options are big threat �� 5

Rain

Wind

This week a large area of sub-tropical low pressure will develop over northern NZ and drop southwards by this weekend. It will bring rain, some heavy falls, and showers to both islands. Next week rain returns to the West Coast.

With high pressure building in the south this week and low pressure growing in the north we expect a squash zone of windy, possibly gale, easterly quarter winds to develop through central NZ. Nationwide windy westerlies kick in next week.

Highlights/ Extremes

PGW signals a positive year �� 20

Temperature New Thinking ��23 Opinion ��24 World ��29-30

This week starts off with a colder change for the South Island, especially Tuesday. This coming weekend a sub-tropical low is possibly going to bring humid, warm, weather to the north. Next week we have westerlies, warming up the east.

All eyes will be on the developing sub-tropical low later this week. It might produce heavy rain for the North Island and upper South Island. Strong easterlies between this low and high pressure further south might be an issue for central NZ too.

14-DAY OUTLOOK

REGULARS

Pasture Growth Index Above normal Near normal Below normal

7-DAY TRENDS

A2 cow genetics demand rising �� 7

Newsmaker ��22

NZX PASTURE GROWTH INDEX – Next 15 days

For further information on the NZX PGI visit www.agrihq.co.nz/pgi A colder change in the lower half of the South Island from tomorrow will see daytime highs drop several degrees on temperatures over the past weekend. With some recent shower activity there should be some pasture growth in the south. Wetter than average weather is expected in some regions of the upper half of the North Island this week with humid, warm, air being pulled down this weekend across the country. Pasture growth rates look positive in most regions due to this low.

SOIL MOISTURE INDEX – 00/00/0000

Employment ��31-32 Classifieds ��33 Livestock ��33-35

40 Feds want wool plan A name change for Federated Farmers’ meat and fibre industry group will better reflect its identity and future focus, chairman Miles Anderson says.

Source: WeatherWatch.co.nz

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

our pioneering

spirit tells us

nothing’s

Back in 1860, exporting meat to the other side of the world seemed about as easy as nailing gravy to the ceiling. But a few determined kiwis took the bull by the horns and now our grass-fed beef and lamb is sought-after all around the globe. At AFFCO, we see the same pioneering spirit alive and well in farmers today. We’re playing our part too – exploring every opportunity to take New Zealand’s finest farm-raised products to the world.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Upset farmers still in dark confirmed M bovis infection. Response director Geoff Gwynn said the 26 were among 43 under restriction with another 55 under notice of direction and on top of that more than 670 were under some form of surveillance. MPI has received 51 compensation claims, of which it had paid out on 10, partly or in full, with compensation payments totalling about $2.6m.

Annette Scott annettescott@xtra.co.nz FARMERS desperately seeking answers feel they have been left in limbo as the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis takes hold and still the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says it has no clear idea how it got here. The ministry has confirmed the outbreak could cost $100 million in tracking and tracing the spread of the disease and paying compensation to farmers. It initially budgeted for $35m. With too many gaps and too few answers farmers are understandably anxious about whether the Government is going to eradicate it, Federated Farmers dairy chairman Chris Lewis said. M bovis was top of mind at the two-day Federated Farmers dairy council meeting in Christchurch at which MPI principal policy and regulation adviser Colin O’Connor met tough questioning from the floor in a closed session. “But he was very guarded on certain answers – many questions were above his pay level to answer,” Lewis said. “Farmers want to know where it came from and how it got to NZ. “As an industry if we are going to spend money on biosecurity, and it looks like we will be, then we want assurance it will not come to NZ ever again if we are going down the path of full eradication.” Lewis said with confirmation the M bovis strain here was not the same as in Australia it had to have come from the northern hemisphere. The frozen semen pathway had definitely not been ruled out. “It looks like it is very much still alive and with autumn upon us farmers are making a plan for next season and we need certainty around this.” Lewis said while there were people in the industry claiming

We want assurance it will not come to New Zealand ever again if we are going down the path of full eradication. Chris Lewis Federated Farmers

COSTLY: The Ministry for Primary Industries wants more Government money for its Mycoplasma bovis response and is negotiating with the industry for its contribution to the bill that has reached $100 million, director-general Martyn Dunne says.

there was no chance of semen being a pathway, international experts had a differing opinion. “We are being told here that is wrong but nobody can tell us why that is wrong and we know that is for commerical reasons, not in the best interest of the farmer and the industry. “It is unlikely you are going to catch it from a neighbour. You are more likely going to bring it onto farm.” Lewis said people were really engaged now but going nowhere because of too much uncertainty, including over compensation. “The clock is ticking and still we are left with more questions than answers.

“Farmers are in the dark. There are just so many gaps and too few answers.” MPI admitted it still has no clear idea about how M bovis got here but it does not believe greater resources would have prevented its arrival. Speaking at the Primary Production select committee last Thursday MPI director-general Martyn Dunne said MPI is still unable to give a clear picture on its source. “As to whether more resources would have stopped it, that is not my view. “The history of such incursions is that they have either come by nature, someone has unwittingly

brought something in or someone has deliberately done it. “I’d like to think the last one was not the case. “It is possible unwitting things occurred. We’ll be in a position, I hope, to give more clarity around that.” The van Leeuwen Group in South Canterbury was the first farming enterprise to identify the disease, in July last year, and was initially said to be the source. But with tracing now going back to January 2016 in Southland, MPI said “it may now transpire that Southland was in fact the first area infected”. MPI has 26 properties with

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Gwyn said MPI had budgeted on the operating costs of dealing with M bovis at $35m but it now looked likely it had compensation liabilities of about $65m. Meanwhile, the industry’s contribution to the response was yet to be determined. Dunne said the ministry remains optimistic it can eradicate the disease with a final decision to be made this month. He could not say how much money the industry has committed to the response costs but MPI is in negotiations about its contribution. MPI will seek more money from the Government. “We are okay with the funding we have got so far but the Government is well aware of the ongoing costs in dealing with this and I remain confident that MPI will be in a position to cover the response and compensation that have so far been identified,” Dunne said.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Healthy Rivers plan drags out Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com WAIKATO farmers have found an upside in the continuing delays plaguing the Healthy Rivers plan and believe critical dates in it might be pushed out beyond the original timeframe. Despite being notified in October 2016 the plan was derailed late that year when Hauraki iwi objected to part of the catchment being included, subject to that iwi’s claim over its ownership. That required the plan to be effectively split with the 12% or 120,000ha of the catchment affected by the claim becoming subject to negotiation between

iwi and the council on Healthy Rivers conditions, before being re-notified. But Waikato Federated Farmers president Andrew McGiven said farmers are conscious the plan has some specific dates in it requiring them to submit nitrogen reference points by March next year. “There would be some pressure there to push those dates out if the time delays continue. “However, there is both good and bad in the delays we have experienced so far,” he said. The downside is that despite not being fully passed the plan has been notified so farmers are stuck for now with the conditions under that notification. However, the upside is that the

PUSHBACK: There will be pressure from farms to push compliance dates out if delays on the Health Rivers plan continue, Waikato Federated Farmers president Andrew McGiven says.

delay has given groups opposed to aspects of the plan time to formulate more well-informed and researched submissions to the commissioners at hearing time. “We basically still have the original plan but it has been about tweaking it to change to more of a sub-catchment approach to

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managing nutrient losses. “We are putting together a good case to take forward. “We are in the process where in three weeks we will take the plan out to members to see what they think. Once done we can take it to the other Healthy Rivers stakeholders.” A key focus for Feds is to reduce the nitro-centric focus and include other nutrient and bacterial flows into the river system. “But we still believe the nitrogen reference point is a good idea. Farmers need to know where they sit on the curve for nitrogen losses in the catchment.” Four commissioners were appointed to the hearing panel in February and are expected to begin hearing submissions in the second half of this year. Beef + Lamb New Zealand environmental policy manager Cordina Jordan said her main concern over the appointments is the lack of a commissioner with an ecology background. “This is a concerning absence given the technical aspects of this plan that relate specifically to making the rivers healthier. “It has always been about ecology first.”

Meantime, B+LNZ is engaged in pre-hearing consultations with the council to help improve understanding before the hearings begin. “And these have proven to be very positive. From there we will be working out a plan to reengage with the wider farming community on our proposal.” The B+LNZ proposal contains elements similar to Federated Farmers, seeking more of a subcatchment approach to nutrient management that does not handicap lower nitrogen-emitting farmers as significantly. A regional council spokeswoman said the resubmitted portion of the plan that had been disputed by iwi was due to return to council for review. She was unable to confirm when that would be finalised or what the details of any changes to it would be. “But we would hope to have that go to committee in a few weeks and the council will notify from there.” She confirmed the dates farmers face around the reference points were under pressure. “But it is too early at this stage to say whether they will have to change or not.”

Wool prices mostly steady Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz

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WOOL prices held mostly steady at Thursday’s Napier auction. Bidding was strong and prices overall remained at a similar level to the February 15 sale, PGG Wrightson North Island auctioneer Steve Fussell said. Some annual lines of Merino and Corriedale wool were keenly sought after as was any good colour wool on offer. Finer lambs’ wool was also well-bid. For full fleece, good style 35-micron was up to 2.5% dearer with 37-micron and stronger being steady to 1%

cheaper. Good to average style was up to 4% cheaper. Second-shear wools were uniformly dearer with good, 3 to 4-inch wool up to 6% higher. For lambs’ wool, 28-micron was 8% to 9% dearer with 29 to 30-micron up by 1% to 2%, but 31-micron down about 1%. Sale details (by micron, in price per kg/clean). Full wool (good to average colour): 36-micron, $2.84. Cross-bred Second shear: 33-micron, 2 to 3 inches, $3.06; 35, 3 to 4 inches, $3.32, 2 to 3 inches, $3.06; 37, 3 to 4 inches, $3.16 up 2c; 39, 3 to 4 inches $3.14 up 19c, 2 to 3 inches, $2.89. Lambs’ wool: 28-micron, $6.32, up 47c. The pass-in rate was about 9%.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Burger options are big threat Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE growth of artificial proteins in the United States poses the biggest threat to the burger beef and mince markets, an international report commissioned by Beef + Lamb New Zealand finds. Alternative protein pioneers Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger will have their products available throughout US grocery, restaurant and food service outlets within five years and throughout China soon after. Antedote, a San Francisco company, compiled the report and found manufacture of laboratory-grown cellular meat is three to five years away from launching a pilot plant and five to 10 years away from scaled-up production. Beef muscle cuts such as steak are unlikely to be replicated and the alternative protein companies are yet to target sheep meat. In developed countries consumers are reducing meat consumption for ideological reasons and as a backlash against what they see as broken food systems, factory farming and big food. The report said consumers talk about protein rather than specific food and acceptance of alternative protein products is such the US casual dining and fast food industry says it will be added to menus if it can get product and there is demand. Manufacturers see reducing reliance on animals for food as a way to address concern for the environment and climate change and also to feed the world. Investors and founders of these companies are also driven by philanthropic reasons and consequently are content to run companies at a financial loss until they achieve proof of concept and critical mass. The report warns the meat industry’s reputation has been tarnished by industrial-scale animal finishing on feedlots, which has created a sense of

TEMPTING? Burger buffs will soon have options if they don’t want to eat meat.

shame among some meat eaters. “It is a wake-up call to ensure we understand what is important to premium customers, that we protect our natural food production systems and products and do more to ensure that our consumers recognise that NZ’s red meat farmers are in the natural foods business.” The report identifies seven forces supporting the expansion of alternative protein. They are the Government’s environmental management, population growth and health, the medical community highlighting the health risks of eating too much meat, athletes and mainstream influencers talking about the benefits of plant protein diets, wealthy investors with experience in creating consumer brands bankrolling alternative protein manufacturers, millennials’ eating habits reshaping the food industry with their social values, holistic wellness goals and prioritising experience over product, and the market responding to consumer demands for new

products that meet evolving needs and desires. A significant group of consumers are intrigued by alternative proteins, viewing them as good for the planet and a complete new food group.

It is a wake-up call to ensure we understand what is important to premium customers. Antedote The report said the plant protein story is simple and easily understood, underpinned by the perception plants are healthier because of the positive messaging around vegetables and better for the environment. Despite some concern about their ultra-processed nature they are viewed as clean meat. Cellular meat is more

problematic for consumers compared to genetic modification. But others find alternative protein lacks the indulgence and experience associated with red meat, which prevents them from switching. A lack of floor space is limiting the product’s expansion with US grocery stores allocating alternative protein 10-20% of the space set aside for conventional protein but its space allocation was growing four to 10 times faster than for traditional protein. However, the space devoted to premium animal protein is also growing. The report speculated four things could happen to NZ red meat. It could be pushed aside, become a speciality product, become a reluctant choice or an everyday choice. A scenario touching all four possibilities could result but it believes red meat will become a niche product creating opportunities for grass-fed, naturally raised beef. Of more relevance is how NZ

responds to the challenge and that requires united decisionmaking and planning by all involved. There is some good news. The world’s population is expected to hit 8.5 billion by 2030 and 9.7 billion by 2050 with much of that growth in India, China and sub Saharan Africa where people want to eat more protein and red meat while chilled beef exports to the Middle East, Egypt and China are growing to feed an expanding affluent class. It also noted the expansion of vegetarians and vegans has slowed in some developing countries. A United Kingdom-based survey found US consumers are more inclined to eat meat grown in a laboratory than those from the UK. The Surveygoo and Ingredient Communications survey of 1000 consumers shows those from the US (40%) were more enthusiastic to try the lab-grown product than those from the UK (18%). It also found 60% of vegans are willing to try it.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

ADVICE: Dairy farmers have options regarding A2 breeding and milk supply, CRV executive Peter van Elzakker says.

Demand rising for A2 milk genetics Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com

DAIRY farmers are expected to be keen to use more semen from A2 bulls next mating season following Fonterra’s agreement with The a2 Milk Company to open up new markets. LIC managing director Wayne McNee said the farmer-owned genetics company can cater for an upsurge of interest in converting herds to A2 beta-casein protein. Competitor CRV Ambreed said it can also satisfy the likely increased demand and most crossbred, Hostein-Friesian and Jeersey bulls in its 2018 catalogue are now A2. “We have been reporting on the A2 status of our bulls since 2001 and we are well-placed to respond to the new demand,” CRV global product grazing manager Peter van Elzakker said. Through the past 15 years of phenotyping LIC has determined the frequency of the A2-A2 genotype in the national herd has increased. It is now 66% in Jerseys, 44% in Holstein-Friesian and 53% for the new-majority crossbreds because of the Jersey influence. Just under half the nation’s cows are now A2A2 (homozygous) and the pace of transition could increase by livestock trading and well as A2 bull breeding, LIC said. Demand for A2 bulls has grown steadily, up to 53,000 straws sold by LIC last season specifically through A2 sire packs, compared with 22,000 the previous season. LIC is also planning to offer fresh A2 semen this year, which will lift insemination efficiency and help meet any increase in demand. “I know that the phones of our sales team rang continuously with farmers’ inquiries after the Fonterra announcement,” McNee said. Van Elzakker agreed and said the timing of the Fonterra-a2 Milk agreement was ideal as farmers search the catalogues and make their semen orders for the next mating season. Both LIC and CRV said the downsides of conversion could include a small trade-off in

breeding worth that many farmers might consider worth taking. The greater the penetration of A2 in the sire catalogues, the less the BW trade-off, van Elzakker said. LIC also expects a big lift in demand for its GeneMark phenotyping services, which include A2A2 genotype identification for an additional charge of $10 over the DNA profiling cost of about $26/animal for whole herd testing. If genotyping a herd of cows disclosed that, say, 75% of them were A2 homozygous the pathway to full A2 milk production could be shorter. Larger herds or multiple farms under one ownership could test everything and separate out the A2A2 cows. McNee said LIC had stopped bringing A1A1 genotype bulls into its progeny testing programme, now using only A1A2 and A2A2. That was a decision made a couple of years back because of the trends towards crossbred cows with natural Jersey A2 input and the growing demand for A2 dairy products. A2 semen straws are no more expensive than A1A1 or A1A2 (heterozygous). LIC said A2 cow status identification is not possible through standard herd testing because small traces of either protein are left behind in milk lines and confuse the milk test. CRV said it had been assured milk testing for A2 is viable and offers a cheaper, preliminary option for farmers than DNA testing. Bulk milk testing would indicate the A2 percentage of the herd and that would be useful information for farmers trying to decide whether the A2 milk premiums offered by the processors were worth pursuing in a breeding programme. Farmers could future-proof their herds through buying A2 bulls, find out the overall A2 herd status through milk testing, weigh up the milk premiums, formulate a breeding programme and decide on speeding it up through DNA testing.

NZ led the developed world in A2 debate and genetic options but now all bulls on offer internationally had their A1 or A2 genotypes printed. In the United States and the United Kingdom organic dairy farmers usually wanted only A2 semen, van Elzakker said. CRV hadn’t yet removed A1A1 bulls from its programme because part of its role as a genetics company was to protect diversity and A1 genetics might be wanted in future. PGG Wrightson dairy representative in Mid Canterbury, Victor Schikker, said premiums of $200 to $300 were commonly paid for A2 cows and in-calf heifers when traded between farmers. Recently some A2 in-calf heifers had traded at $1950 while the remaining A1s in the same line made only $1650-$1700. Standard cow prices are $1900 to $2100 but A2s had not been traded for comparison. Because the higher prices paid for A2 cows are not recouped in the 20c/kg milk premiums over the milking lifetime, Schikker said there is a scarcity component in the livestock values.

A2 deal provides endorsement Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com

FONTERRA’S agreement with The a2 Milk Company has shut the door on technical arguments over A1 versus A2 milk and dairy products, Synlait chief executive John Penno believes. “Fonterra’s intentions with A2 are effectively an endorsement by such a global dairy company and put an end to the long arguments,” he said. Synlait is the largest A2 milk processor in New Zealand, mainly for A2 Platinum infant formula for sale in New Zealand, Australia and China. That brand is the flagship of a2 Milk, also an 8% Synlait shareholder. Penno and his milk supply manager David Williams said the 60 A2 milk farmers out of its supplier base of 200 farms have mostly achieved conversion by testing cows on two or more farms under common ownership and moving the confirmed A2 ones into one herd on one farm. Synlait decided early on that suppliers could not put A1 and A2 herds through the same dairy parlour and that logical restriction has been endorsed by the farmers. “Farmers prefer that A2 cows only are kept on the one farm, being reduced risk (of A1 contamination) that they have to worry about,” Williams said. The trend towards Kiwicross cattle, with a component of naturally A2 Jersey, is helping the national conversion rate. A number of farmers have been breeding towards A2 for many years because the information and the means were available, Penno said. Those with two or more herds chose to use only A2 bulls and test the replacement heifers, drafting them into A2-only or

SEPARATE DEVELOPMENT: A2 cows must be kept in separate herds and not milked with the same equipment as A1 cows, Synlait chief executive John Penno says. mixed A1/A2 herds. A further refinement of breeding policy was to DNA test all cows and preferentially mate those with the A2A2 genotype to A2 bulls. Synlait had encouraged and assisted farmers, though Penno would not disclose any financial details. “Because breeding takes a long time we have to project a long way into the future for any of the special milk programmes we have. “Consistency in those milk programmes is important because the quicker you try to do something the more expensive it is for the farmers.” Synlait had built the Dunsandel plant to keep milk streams separate and the processes verifiable and it will be more complicated to retrospectively amend a plant, he said. Even with a factory designed for the purpose, amendments and retrofitting had been required. A complete supply chain approach was required to keep different milk streams separate and Synlait had made some expensive mistakes in the past. “A1 contamination in A2 infant formula would create huge wastage,” Penno said.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Swede feed gap worries farmers Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com FARMERS are seeking assurances a swede seed mix-up will not create a spring feed gap. Southland dairy farmer and Federated Farmers provincial president Allan Baird said the biggest fear for farmers was whether the HT-S57 swedes can be fed in spring without the toxicity issues that caused death

and illness in cattle and sheep in 2014. A seed mix-up during the supply-chain process meant PGG Wrightson wrongly sold HT-S57 brassica seed instead of Hawkstone Clean Crop to 556 farmers. Baird said the issue for farmers was unlikely to be yield but whether the swedes can be safely grazed in early spring when some dairy farmers feed them to cows

returning from being wintered off-farm. PGG Wrightson seed manager David Green acknowledged early spring feeding of swedes could be a risk if the winter was abnormally mild but that was true with all brassicas. “All brassicas at the end of the season naturally tend to go into a reproductive cycle and as they enter that phase you get an accumulation of glucosinolates.”

Green said DairyNZ recommended the intake of swedes should be diluted with other feed. PGG Wrightson did not pay compensation for stock deaths after the 2014 incident because of the finding they were heavily influenced by the season. Green said it was too early to decide if compensation would be paid should there be a repeat this year but farmers who

bought the seed have been given information on how to manage the crop. Baird was not calling for compensation but said farmers were waiting to see how PGG Wrightson engaged with clients. The two Clean Crop varieties were ideal in areas with weed issues such as wild turnip because herbicide could be applied without damaging the desired crop.

Hydroponic feed on grand scale All Pamu farms off the market Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

UNVEILING: Fodder.nz business owner David Petterson, from Shannon in Horowhenua, was first time out at Northland Field Days with his new hydroponic livestock feed system that turns grain to grass in five days. The portable production facilities can be bought or leased and used to sprout grains and cereals on an industrial scale, from 120kg/day of fodder or scaled up to three tonnes. The unit on display was stocked with rejected malting barley, which grows seven to eight times by weight in five days. The system has automatic spraying and lighting while being temperature-controlled in a container-sized facility. Typically the supplementary fodder is fed daily at 3-4% of the animal’s liveweight and delivers higher digestible energy (13.7 MJ/kg) and protein (15.7%) than pasture, thereby promoting speedy weight gains. The cost of the fodder is about 16c/kg of green feed, not including the capital or lease cost.

JUST three of the 10 farms Landcorp put up on the market in 2016 have sold with the remaining two farms now withdrawn from the market under directions from the Government. Shareholding Ministers Winston Peters, State-Owned Enterprises, and Grant Robertson, Finance, directed Landcorp, now known as Pamu, to cease the sale process for the 4769ha Mt Hamilton property in Southland and Mawheraiti, a 1448ha deer breeding property at Cape Foulwind near Westport. “The shareholders have directed Pamu to cease the sale of farms, consistent with the new shareholders’ views on the role that a state-owned enterprise like Pamu plays in the agriculture sector,” a spokesman said. “As a result of this Pamu has withdrawn from sale the two farms we currently had on the market and these two farms will continue to form part of the company’s portfolio of farms. “No final decisions have been made as to where forest planting will occur. “The withdrawal from sale of these two farms is not linked to the Government’s forestry announcement of last week.” The Government has announced plans to plant a billion trees in the next 10 years with Pamu committing

to plant 2000ha of forestry in the next two years. Last year Pamu withdrew a 482ha West Coast deer farm, Raft Creek, from sale. The three properties were in a portfolio of 10 farms Pamu put up for sale in September 2016. The three sold were the 120ha Caroline Terrace and 1091ha Burkes Creek on the West Coast and the 1508ha Copper Road in Otago. The spokesman said the sale of Jericho, a 1353ha property in Southland, was proceeding and conditional on approval from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO). There was also a back-up offer for the property that did not require OIO sign-off. “The timing for any decisions on Jericho is in the hands of the OIO,” the spokesman said. Its three North Island properties put on the market: Waiteti in the central North Island, Rangedale in north Wairarapa and Tangimoana in Manawatu were subject to the Treaty of Waitangi process. Pamu initially put seven South Island and three North Island farms covering 12,000ha up for sale in a move chief executive Steve Carden said at the time was designed to change its business structure and reflect that the sale properties did not match the direction the company was headed.

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10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Cattle multiple births hereditary Glenys Christian glenys.christian@nzx.com WHEN Professor Brian Kirkpatrick slipped away from the 11th Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production in Auckland recently he had a very important visit to make. That was to Wellsford sheep and beef farmer Gordon Levet who provided a significant step in the University of Wisconsin-Madison geneticist’s ongoing work in the area of multiple births. In the 1990s Levet saw what he describes as “a miserable cow with a miserable calf in tow” on his 600 hectare farm, Kikitangeo. She was a two-year-old that because she wasn’t a regular cycler would never have been put to a bull. But on closer inspection Levet found not just one live calf with her but two dead ones and an afterbirth. Next year the cow, now called Treble, didn’t run with the bull again. “But she had a huge gut on her,” Levet said. “We knew she was going to have more than one calf again.” No one was more surprised than he when she produced not one but three, live, normal sized calves. “It blew me away,” Levet now 84, said. He contacted Dr Bob Welch from Ruakura Research Centre who he had been in touch with about multiple births in his Romney stud flock. Asking whether what had happened was a chance of one in 100,000 he was told, “No, it’s like winning Lotto.”

The next year he fed Treble up and put her to the bull but nothing happened. However, the following year she was again pregnant with triplets. That led Levet to make contact with Dr Chris Morris who had a high fertility herd at Flock House. Trio, one of Treble’s second set of triplets, sired daughters calved from 2002 to 2008 with, more than 109 calvings, 15 sets of twins and six sets of triplets produced. Kirkpatrick heard of Levet’s cow in 1997. “There was a strong indication with the number of daughters who had twins and triplets that this was passed from generation to generation,” he said.

I’m delighted and thankful for Gordon’s foresight and intellectual curiousity. Professor Brian Kirkpatrick Wisconsin-Madison University He visited Levet in 2004 then two years later was able to import some of Trio’s semen into the United States. The following year the first matings were done with 131 daughters born since. “Their ovulation rate and the gene mapping we carried out didn’t correspond with the genes which were already identified,” Kirkpatrick said. He and fellow researchers’ work

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indicated the gene itself wasn’t changed but the way in which it expressed itself was. There was over-expression of an inhibitor labelled SMAD6. When egg follicles develop usually one will become dominant, inhibiting the development of other follicles, which die off. “What is happening with SMAD6 is that the follicles are growing more slowly and while one may be dominant others keep developing,” he said. Together they produce as much inhibitory substance as just one dominant follicle would, which presented an opportunity to create not only twin but bilateral pregnancies, where one follicle develops in each horn of the uterus. These have half the abortion rate of unilateral pregnancies where two follicles develop in the same horn. “If we had more success with bilateral pregnancies we could improve beef productions efficiencies,” Kirkpatrick said. His latest trial with the university’s 120-cow herd will see artificial insemination used on one third, embryo transfer on a further third and SMAD6carrying semen on the remaining cows. The first indication of the results will be seen in six months and research could be scaled up as early as next year. With several stories every year coming to light of cows having multiple births he’s been on some wild goose chases. One saw him get a cow from Alberta, Canada, which had produced quads after three sets of twins. But once at the university there was no evidence found that was the result of a

Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto, Japan

KEEPSAKE: Gordon Levet with a reminder of Treble and one of her sets of triplets.

repeatable genetic change. “I’m delighted and thankful for Gordon’s foresight and intellectual curiousity,” he said. After a cow had lost two of three triplets most farmers would have

culled her from their herd. Levet said he was delighted to be part of history and to have created work in another country, all from noticing a cow and her calf.

Synlait buying Pokeno site Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz

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SYNLAIT Milk is buying a 28-hectare site in the north Waikato for a planned nutritional powder factory. A second plant, adding to the existing facility in Canterbury, is needed for infant base powder manufacturing to meet forecast customer demand for infant formula products, chairman Graeme Milne said. Synlait wants to partner with Waikato farmers to build A2 milk supply and to be part of the group’s Lead With Pride premium programme. Synlait provides formula and powders to A2 Milk Co, New Hope Nutritionals, Bright Dairy and Munchkin in deals that underpin the demand forecasts, he said. It expects to spend about $260 million building the plant at Pokeno.

EXPANDING: Synlait is buying a site at Pokeno to complement its headquarters at Dunsandel.

The dryer will be similar to the third dryer at Dunsandel, capable of producing 40,000 tonnes of powder a year. Managing director John Penno said a commissioning date for the new plant will be known once consents and approvals are obtained.

The purchase of the Pokeno site is conditional on Overseas Investment Office approval, as a majority of Synlait shares are overseas-owned. As well as its main site in Canterbury, Synlait also has a blending and packing plant in Auckland.

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News

12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

PENDING: Chinese registration of the Pure Nutrition plant in Canterbury is expected soon, general manager Terry Wu says.

New joint venture for Westland Annette Scott annettescott@xtra.co.nz WESTLAND Milk Products has formed a jointventure company that will open new a customer opportunity for the dairy co-operative through its high-class canning facilities. The joint-venture, stand-alone blending and canning company Pure Nutrition formed by Ausnutria and Westland is running in the Izone business hub at Rolleston, south of Christchurch. It will can milk powders and other nutritional products from Westland for Ausnutria and other customers. The company was established through an initial investment by Ausnutria of $4.5 million cash and the transfer to Pure Nutrition of Westland-owned land valued at $3m near its Rolleston site. Westland’s investment gives the dairy cooperative 40% ownership and Ausnutria 60%. Westland chief executive Toni Brendish said the joint-venture relationship is an important part of the partnership between Ausnutria and Westland. The agreement also provides Westland access to the canning plant to process products destined for customers other than Ausnutria. “Pure Nutrition is effectively a substantial new customer for Westland Milk Products,” Brendish said.

Pure Nutrition is effectively a substantial new customer for Westland Milk Products. Toni Brendish Westland Milk

• • •

In addition to the direct sales to Ausnutria in China, which will continue, Westland will be the joint venture’s supplier of dairy based powders for Ausnutria and other customers looking for highclass canning facilities. Pure Nutrition has a five-year establishment phase during which profits will be re-invested in the business and after which dividends will be paid to both partners. General manager Terry Wu said the Rolleston plant has received all of its certifications from the Ministry for Primary Industries and can now export non-infant formula to every country. Chinese registration for infant formula is pending and expected to be completed soon. The factory opened with 24 staff but Wu said that was likely to expand, especially once processing started for Ausnutria’s Chinese market. The plant can can 30,000 tonnes of nutritional product a year when running at full capacity. Ausnutria chairman Weibin Yan said the formation of the joint venture is an important milestone for Ausnutria and part of Ausnutria’s global expansion plan to access premium milk supply throughout the world. Pure Nutrition will primarily be responsible for the production of the Puredo series of products for Ausnutria with the vision of building Puredo as one of the best formula milk powder brands originating from NZ. Ausnutria is a leading dairy industry company with production facilities principally in the Netherlands, Australia, China and NZ. The group’s activities range from research and development and milk collection to processing, production, packaging, marketing and sales of dairy products around the world including in China, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Russia.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Report takes stock of the natural assets Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com THE primary sector has received a guarded thumbs-up for its ability to reduce its carbon footprint while maintaining solid growth over the last 18 years. Statistics NZ has compiled a report, Environmental-Economic Accounts, that is effectively a stocktake of the country’s natural assets that analyses their scale, changes and the monetary contribution they make to GDP. The first of its type, the report intends to become an annual stocktake that draws as much on Treasury financial data as it does on physical assessments of the country’s key assets of water, land and forests. It tries to put a value on forested land in terms of its contribution to carbon sequestration (storage). The report’s standards are based on a United Nations sanctioned accounting system, the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). With 70% of the country’s export earnings dependent on those three key resources, the report brings NZ into line with Canada, Australia and the European Union, all which use the framework to some extent. The report found agriculture has managed to increase its emissions at a rate of 0.6% a year from 1990 to 2015, a rate half that of the growth in its GDP of 1.4% a year over the same period. It describes that as a relative decoupling of productivity gains and emissions that still sit behind those achieved by fishing, mining and transport equipment. Those sectors managed to increase their economic output but reduced their greenhouse gas emissions. Sitting the other end of the emissions-output scale, forestry, food-beverage and total manufacturing increased their emissions at a faster rate than their GDP growth increases, with forestry sitting at almost 7% a year growth in CO2 emissions against a GDP growth of 2.5% a year. The report says as cultivated timber reaches maturity over the next decade forestry GDP will grow but carbon sequestration capacity will fall, exacerbating the emissions growth. The food-beverage sector grew at just over 2% a year with a slightly greater increase in peryear CO2 emissions. Taken as a whole, the economy experienced an annual GDP growth rate of 3.1% a year from 1990 to 2015, compared to an annual CO2 increase of .9% a year. The report also captures the shift in land use between 1996 and 2012, particularly around forestry.

While the Gisborne and Manawatu regions experienced the greatest gain in forestry, about 30,000ha each, Waikato had the greatest loss, about 15,000ha, as land use swapped to dairying from commercial forestry. But trying to assess the monetary value of natural resources is not without its pitfalls, it said. There are many gaps in available data, something Statistics NZ aims to fill in the coming years. However, the process is regarded as critical for fulfilling Labour’s move to a zero-carbon economy by 2050. It also notes the significant gap relating to ecosystem services, the rapidly developing practice of analysing the tension between private and public assets.

Putting a monetary value on the environment can cause controversy. Dr Victoria Kahui University of Otago The report calls for more research to determine the value of carbon sequestration by ecosystems as the country grapples with big Paris Accord targets and starts planting a billion trees in the next decade. It points to the significantly higher value the United Kingdom has put on carbon sequestration in forest and grasslands of £1.6 billion in 2015, compared to NZ’s relatively paltry valuation of $35.3m for the 5.3m tonnes sequestered by exotic forests the same year. That has in part come through a higher carbon value in the UK, at about NZ$115/t versus $20/t here. However, it is also attributable to a much broader scope of ecosystem assets being included and the report calls for more research into how different ecosystems here could have carbon values applied to them. Dr Victoria Kahui of University of Otago business school described the report as a positive step towards better appreciation of the environment being a capital asset. “Putting a monetary value on the environment can cause controversy between those who say nature has an intrinsic value that cannot be measured in monetary terms and those who say it is the very lack of monetary value that makes it all too easy to ignore in business decisionmaking.”

BALANCING: Statistics NZ has balanced the economic benefits of business sectors against the environmental costs.

News

14 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Radical flood insurance is a new option Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com A RADICAL new approach to insuring against floods might have potential for councils struggling to fund projects to deliver better protection from rising sea levels and more intense storms. It is being used on the Mexican Caribbean coastline where a coral reef plays a key role in protecting hotels and tourism infrastructure from storm surges during hurricanes. An earlier agreement between the hotels and Mexican government that reef damage would be repaired after a major storm with money from a weather tax paid by the hotels failed, prompting the hotel owners to to insure the reef through giant reinsurance company Swiss Re. The policy intends to deliver quick payouts to hotel owners to repair damaged beaches and the reef. The scheme also gives hotel owners an incentive to protect the reef and removes remediation costs from local and central government budgets. Globally, two-thirds of weather disaster damage is uninsured, leaving government bodies to foot the bills.

For every metre of height lost off the reef the potential damage from hurricanes triples. Insurance Council chief executive Tim Grafton said the reef scheme could offer alternative insurance as climate change starts to bite for farmers and local authorities here. “This is known as parametric insurance, where an event over a certain level of intensity guarantees the insured party a payment, regardless of damage level.” Unlike normal insurance that allows for loss adjustment based on damage, this scheme pays when a storm meets set conditions, for example, wind of a certain speed or an amount of rain. “Settlement is paid automatically regardless of loss and that money can be used to repair, in this case, the reef where coral needs to be re-attached quite quickly for it to survive.” The insurance removes the usual funding and insurance delays when dealing with government bodies. In the Mexican case it gives the insured parties a reason to continue protecting the reef, knowing if they don’t a deterioration will mean insurance

FLOOD: This Bay of Plenty farm was under water for eight days last year.

In our region this is becoming another affordability issue. Paula Chapman Bay of Plenty Regional Council won’t be available in the future for their hotel assets. “It could be here in NZ you could have a mangrove area that protects shorelines insured or, in the case of rivers, a payment made on flooding for investment into further protection.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council flood recovery project manager Paula Chapman said she was intrigued and could see the value it could provide regional councils like hers struggling to deal with rising flood protection costs. “The council is a lot like many private households around this region. “We are facing a rising proportion of insurance cost within the group council scheme we are part of. This is possibly the general effect of a lot of insurance companies paying out claims in this area. “In our region this is becoming another affordability issue.” The regional council also

has three of its four main river protection schemes already bearing debt of more than $30 million, making it more and more difficult to raise more funds after each storm damages systems. Grafton said investment into projects that improve their resilience to major events has been proved to be economically worthwhile. “If you invest a dollar you can be expected to get $5-$6 back in terms of improved post-disaster savings.” The Insurance Council was actively working with regional and local councils on longer term measures to help them address climate change issues.

Comvita returns to profit Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz A MAJOR recovery in sales helped Comvita return to profit in the latest half-year. The manuka honey specialist made an after-tax profit of $3.7 million in the six months ended December 31 compared with a loss of $7.1m at the same time a year earlier. The latest result would have been higher except for a $300,000 writedown on an investment. Sales recovered to $83.6m from $57.7m in the prior period.

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The gain was driven by sales in North America increasing to $19.6m from just $1.6m, chief executive Scott Coulter said. Grey channel sales into China from New Zealand and Australia rose 45% though the improvement has been slower than expected. Coulter is confident the rebound will continue though the new definition for manuka honey, adopted by the Ministry for Primary Industries, has caused some uncertainty for customers and short-term sales. “We believe these regulatory changes are very positive for us and will open up a significant number of growth opportunities globally.” Chairman Neil Craig said the Chinese joint-venture, Comvita Food (China), was performing ahead of profit expectations. The Comvita brand in China remains very strong. After a reasonable start to the honey season, through December and early January, conditions have become less favourable because of poor weather, Coulter said. Following last year’s poor weather-related results, crop volumes are now expected to be

slightly below those of an average year. To counter that the group’s Kiwi Bee apiary business has been targeting high-value manuka honey crops and has secured a number of excellent locations Coulter thought should yield higher than average crops. It is still too early to be definitive on both honey volumes and quality because only 20% of the crop was harvested at the time of the half-year report. Results will be updated in May when extraction and testing are completed. Based on a recovery of the honey season and continuing solid recovery in the grey market sales to China, Craig said in January that Comvita expected a full-year after-tax profit of more than $17.1m. In the latest report, he said that subject to apiary profitability, the directors remained confident in that forecast. A measure of that confidence was shown in the declaration of a 4c a share dividend to be paid on March 23. That is double the 2c a share interim dividend the previous year.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

High venison prices no big deal Annette Scott annettescott@xtra.co.nz EUROPEAN importers are starting to baulk at high New Zealand venison prices but it’s not a major concern – yet, Deer Industry NZ marketing manager Nick Taylor says. “They are coming over here to negotiate export contracts saying it is very expensive but can we have some more. “They still want it and they are still buying,” Taylor said. But some importers are going home empty-handed, reluctant to pay the price some others, both from the United States and the European Union, are paying. The main concern from the EU customers stemmed from the restaurant level. “They do note that the high prices are starting to put some of their customers under pressure. “They have expressed concern that it could reach a point where potentially it gets too high in the restaurant.” While demand remains strong any resistance in the market does prompt caution. “We are very mindful that there are options at that restaurant level but we haven’t seen that as yet.” Low venison production had

BROAD: With more success in selling vension to different geographic and sector markets prices are high and supply is tight.

underpinned the upward trend for export returns for the past two years, however, the schedule, while at its highest in more than a decade, had settled somewhat. The average for January was $10.28, 31% higher than in January 2017 and the first time the national average published venison schedule had gone up during January. Despite the price resistance, exporters remain confident farmer returns will remain high, underpinned by the lower supply. European importers have noted the success of the most recent chilled season with most reporting all product sold. Exporters have noted prices for lower-value carcase components

such as bones have increased significantly because of demand from the pet food industry and that is having a marked impact on schedules, Taylor said. Meanwhile, exports for the year ending December 2017 were down 3% on 2016, which were down 15% on 2015 production levels. In turn, the average value of exports lifted 13% in 2017 compared to 2016 and 19% on 2015. The supply shortage was exacerbated for NZ’s European customers as more product headed to the US market. In the year ended December 2017 export shipments to the US lifted by 50% on 2016 as the US became NZ’s leading export

destination, taking 34% of total volumes. Germany, once the leading market, lost share to the US with export volumes down 20% on 2016. The German market now represented 20% of NZ exports, compared to 30% in 2015. All European markets felt the squeeze of lower supply last year with export statistics showing volumes in each EU market back by 20% to 30% on 2016. Subsequently, returns in the EU markets had lifted. Average returns in Germany lifted by 23% compared to 2016 and average returns in Belgium and Britain lifted 20% and 15% respectively. Given the jump in EU market prices, reports of price resistance from EU customers had not been surprising, AgriHQ analysts reported. Last year customers were eager to secure supply at any level, whereas this year there appears to be some caution about committing at the high levels. The dry weather through the South Island has increased slaughter rates in recent weeks but while that had not affected prices it was expected to increase procurement competition

later in the season. Alliance has sent Pure South venison to key global markets as the traditional European game season winds down. It will be marketed to the retail and food service sectors in Europe, Britain and North America over April and July, chief executive David Surveyor said. The co-op is also experiencing strong demand for venison from the super premium pet food market in the US. “The strong deer schedule and market returns for venison represent good news for farmer shareholders.” Alliance has also been working to ensure market growth is sustainable so it is investing in diversifying its markets from a geographical perspective and across channels such as food service, retail, manufacturing and premium pet food. Its new $15.2 million venison plant at Lorneville, Southland, has improved handling facilities, enhanced configuration, increased slaughterboard size, a wider boning room and an increased offal area. “We are investing in a modern plant because we have confidence in NZ’s venison industry,” Surveyor said.

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16 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Rabbit virus ready to go Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com A NEW variant of a rabbitkilling virus will be released in the next two months and officials are urging farmers not to try to accelerate its spread by interfering. Approval has finally been granted by the Environmental Protection Agency, a year later than hoped, with the planned release now in late March and April. Otago Regional Council environmental monitoring and operations director Scott MacLean said his council will get a third of the doses being imported, which will be released at 100 spots around the province. The rabbit haemorrhagic disease, RHDV1 K5 virus, a Korean variant of the Czech strain illegally released in 1997, will be applied to carrots and oats and spread. Two virus-free pre-feeds will introduce rabbits to the foreign food. Researchers believe there will be enough fly activity in autumn to create an epidemic. Australian experience indicates 40% mortality is possible.

Immunity levels of 75% to the Czech strain have developed in the Otago rabbit population. The new variant could have a significant impact, MacLean said. “We’re really confident of getting similar results to Australia. A 42% kill since the release last year means nearly half the population has been killed. “If we can boost our kill to 40%, 40% of a lot of rabbits is a lot of rabbits. “It won’t be a magic fix but if it all goes well it will help reduce rabbit numbers.” Conventional rabbit control would be needed to complement the virus. The application by the Rabbit Co-ordination Group for the new virus took up to four years and involved a 900-page scientific report. It was led by Environment Canterbury on behalf several regional councils, Federated Farmers, the Department of Conservation and Landcare Research. MacLean said the virus is in a freeze-dried format so more stable than the 1997 illegally imported variant which had to be kept at minus 80C.

DEADLY: Researchers expect a 40% kill of rabbits with a new virus but that’s as long as farmers don’t interfere.

No-one is under the illusion this is the silver bullet to deal to wild rabbit populations once and for all. Andrew Simpson Federated Farmers In 1997, when it became obvious government officials would reject an application to import and release RHD, a group of farmers sourced virus from Australia and illegally brought it in. It was scaled up and illicitly traded between farmers with livers and other organs of dead rabbits also harvested and processed to

create a viral concoction that was then sprayed on carrots and oats and spread over pest-infested land to maximise its distribution. MacLean said the uncontrolled spread effectively immunised the rabbit population. The council is funding and staff will release the K5 variant to ensure it is done to scientific specifications. Blood tests have been taken from rabbits to determine their antibody levels and will be taken again from dead rabbits to determine what killed them and therefore the strain’s effectiveness. He urged farmers to co-operate but not to try to accelerate its spread because that could hinder its effectiveness. Federated Farmers High Country sector chairman Andrew Simpson welcomed the virus’

approval saying had another year gone by, the ecological damage would be significant. It is important the release is coordinated and that farmers realise it is not the ultimate solution to the pest problem. “No-one is under the illusion this is the silver bullet to deal to wild rabbit populations once and for all. “Farmers and councils will have to continue with the other forms of rabbit control that they’ve employed for years. “But with the carefully planned strategy we have in place there is confidence this will put a major hit on what is a very expensive and environmentally damaging pest, particularly in Otago, North Canterbury, the McKenzie, the high country, Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay,” Simpson said.

Cattle prices remain steady in the face of tight supply Colin Ley TIGHTENING domestic supplies and improving export returns will combine to help to support cattle prices, Rabobank analyst Blake Holgate says. At the same time, however, the strengthening of the New Zealand dollar against the United States dollar, up nearly 6% since the start of December, is seen as a factor that will continue to create headwinds for processors so prices will remain relatively stable

over the next three months. “NZ’s total beef kill for the first three months of the 2017-18 season was 15.5% ahead of the same period last year,” Holgate said. Cattle in many parts of the country are being killed earlier in the season than normal, with dry seasonal conditions and lower feed supplies forcing many farmers to destock. “Since December, however, most key cattle-producing regions have received significant

rainfall, restoring feed levels and slowing the supply of cattle to the processors.” As a result, while slaughter prices eased slightly over the quarter, overall prices remained relatively firm despite a sharp increase in domestic production. “As of early February, the North Island bull price averaged $5.30/ kg and the South Island bull price averaged $5.05/kg, down 5% and 3% respectively, on November 2017.” Rabobank’s summary of export

performance said NZ’s higher production had resulted in an 18% increase in exports in Q4 2017. “Combined with strong average values, the value of exports increased 29%, year-on-year, to $588m over the OctoberDecember quarter. This was the second-highest on record. “Export volumes for the quarter to NZ’s largest two markets, the US and China, were up 24% and 43% respectively on the same period last season.

“Despite the increase in export supply the average value received per tonne increased in both the US and China, indicating that demand from end-users in these two key markets remains strong. “Japan’s tariff hike on frozen beef, however, saw the value of NZ’s exports to Japan for the quarter decline by 24% although as Japan currently takes less than 4% of NZ’s total beef exports the decline has not had a significant impact on overall export returns,” he said.

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News

18 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Kiwifruit claim waits on judge Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com KIWIFRUIT growers taking the Ministry for Primary Industries to court for the 2010 outbreak of Psa disease don’t expect a judgement on the case for at least another eight weeks as Justice Jillian Mallon mulls over the evidence. The action taken by a group of growers played out in the Wellington High Court for a marathon 11 weeks late last year and has growers seeking a ruling that MPI was negligent in enabling the entry of Psa and as a result has a duty of care to growers who need be compensated. Kiwifruit group spokesman John Cameron said the group believed a case for negligence by the government agency in failing to manage the biosecurity risk of Psa had been established during the case. But the Crown’s lawyer had maintained it was not a classic negligence case, with biosecurity making it a different matter and not an area where claims of

negligence had extended before. The Crown had maintained biosecurity risks occur without specific fault and the tort of negligence was not applicable. The group’s lawyers argued the government said it did not have a duty of care because acknowledging one would open it up to other litigation. Cameron maintained the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak is a classic example of such a situation where the government might feel exposed to claims. “It appears the government also relied upon some cases from the United Kingdom to show duty of care could not be claimed but more recently there have been cases that indicate this may not be so.” They include a recent Supreme Court ruling in the UK where it was found the police owed duty of care to avoid causing an injury to a member of the public in circumstances where danger was caused by their own conduct. “The court case here is going to raise issues around how New Zealand law is made up.

PRECEDENT: Growers have argued the Primary Industries Ministry responsibility for Psa in kiwifruit is akin to that involving councils issuing building permits for leaky homes, Kiwifruit Claim spokesman John Cameron says.

The court case here is going to raise issues around how New Zealand law is made up. John Cameron Kiwifruit Claim “The judge appreciates her ruling is going to have some significant consequences for all parties and what claims could be made in the future.”

Timing for the decision remains uncertain but Cameron had put his money on early May. “And there is no doubt there are likely to be appeals either way and she will want to minimise the ability of parties to appeal widely against the ruling.” In arguing the case the growers’ lawyers had likened MPI’s authority and responsibility over biosecurity and plant importation to that of local bodies issuing building consents, with case law from the leaky homes issue used to bolster that argument. The growers argued the source of the incursion was from

kiwifruit pollen brought in from China but that was disputed by the Crown. Cameron said it became evident during the trial evidence that MPI had indemnity insurance cover against such a claim, which by default supported the duty of care owed to growers and highlighted the Crown’s concerns it could be liable for any negligence that might arise. Genetic typing has determined the Psa strain came from China. Cameron said his legal team put the odds of the judge ruling in favour of growers at 60:40, up from 50:50 at the start of the trial.

Organics press for NZ retail standard Tim Fulton tim.fulton@nzx.com THE Government is moving on a promise to set organic food standards for New Zealand produce. A spokeswoman for Primary Industries Minister Damien O’Connor said the Government will consult the organics sector over the next couple of months. Eighty-nine countries have a single national standard for organics but New Zealand does not. In April 2015, in opposition, O’Connor said the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) must take urgent action to protect NZ’s $150 million organic food and beverage industry by establishing a certification regime. “NZ is lagging behind the rest of the world on this. “Kiwi consumers have a right to know whether the products they eat and drink truly are organic and what country they have been produced in. “Labour supports country of origin labelling as a key component of consumer information,” O’Connor said. At the time O’Connor said MPI had been working with the sector lobby group Organics Aotearoa for more than a year. He understood then that MPI would start further discussions on a regime in 2017. NZ has five different types of accreditation for organic products.

BioGro and AsureQuality certify organic exports but almost anything sold in NZ can be labelled organic, Organic Exporters Association executive director Rick Carmont said. By comparison, NZ had agreements with 45 trading partners who recognise product as certified organic. Without such regulation, NZ exports marketed as organic could be considered fraudulent, he said. Carmont hopes domestic regulation will be flexible like the Food Act, allowing farmers market operators and fundraising groups to continue without excessive regulation. Ben Bostock, owner of Bostock’s Organic Free Range Chicken, said domestic regulation is important for the sector’s credibility and will help NZ businesses sell into major markets like the United States and Europe. In 2016 the Exporters Association reported NZ exported about 80,000 organic lambs between 10-26 weeks old and about 2000 beef animals. A spokeswoman for Anzco Foods, one of a handful of certified organic lamb exporters, said it was not aware of the proposed consultation but supported the intent. ”Anzco would welcome a level playing field when it comes to the regulations for production of domestic and export organic meat. “Integrity throughout the supply chain is important to Anzco and its customers and markets,” she said.

CONTENDERS: Finalists in the Dairy Woman of the Year contest are, from left, Rachel Baker, Tracey Collis and Loshni Manikam.

Dairy women award down to three A DAIRY consultant, a mayor and a leadership coach are finalists in the 2018 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year awards. The three are Hawke’s Bay dairy consultant Rachel Baker, Tararua Mayor Tracey Collis and Southland dairy leadership coach Loshni Manikam. The winner will be named at the Dairy Women’s Network conference in Rotorua on March 22. Network chief executive Zelda de Villiers said the three finalists highlight the wide scope of skills and expertise evident among women in the dairy industry.

“The role of women in this industry is unique and unparalleled and we’re proud to recognise and celebrate their success,” de Villiers said. “The skills and experience Rachel, Tracey and Loshni bring to the dairy industry range from local government and leadership development through to board and governance expertise. “These women show an unwavering commitment to progressing the dairy industry internationally yet still retain their links and involvement at a grassroots level in their home regions and communities.” Fonterra industry affairs

general manager Jo Finer said Fonterra is once again proud to support the Dairy Woman of the Year programme as it enters its eighth year of sponsorship. “No other award in New Zealand recognises and encourages specifically the capability and success of women in the dairy industry,” Finer said. The winner receives a scholarship of up to $20,000 for a professional/business development programme. Ashburton Trading Society director and Fonterra shareholders councillor Jessie Chan-Dorman was Dairy Woman of the Year last year.

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News

20 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

PGW signals a positive year Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz

KIA KAHA: PGG Wrightson is in a strong position, chief executive Ian Glasson says.

SOME risks remain for PGG Wrightson earnings though the outlook is positive after a very good interim result, chief executive Ian Glasson says. The rural services group expects to achieve operating earnings (Ebitda) ahead of last year, with between $65 million and $70m being targeted for the year ended June 30, compared to $63.5m last time. Such strong figures will require good returns from the seeds businesses in Australia and South America and rain is needed in both regions to produce good autumn harvests, Glasson said. New Zealand livestock prices and trading were very good in the first half and a continuation of that is needed to top what was a big result for the division last year. Sheep and cattle numbers are down but trading prices remain buoyant and, though dairy farmers are cautious in their spending, the group has locked in a good number of forward dairy herd sales for later in the financial year. “We’re in a strong position,” Glasson said.

Weather affects Scales’ profit Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz APPLE exporter Scales Corporation has reported a lower annual profit after inmarket prices dropped slightly from earlier record levels and higher orchard costs were incurred combating poor weather. The after-tax profit for the year ended December 31 was $31.8 million, down from $38.2m a year earlier. The Mr Apple subsidiary is the biggest part of the Scales business and its operating

earnings (Ebitda) fell to $38.9m from $45.3m. That was partly offset by a strong result in the storage and logistics business with Ebitda up to $19.1m from $16.2m, helped by expansion and organic growth. The food ingredients business had Ebitda of $8m, down from $9.2m. Group revenues were a record $399m, from $374m. Operating earnings (Ebitda) were $61m, down from $67.3m. The profit was at a very satisfying level given the difficult growing season for Hawke’s Bay orchards and some competitive

trading conditions, chairman Tim Goodacre said. Mr Apple’s like-for-like production was just 5% down on the record 2016 volumes. Apple picking for this season has just started, slightly ahead of normal harvest times, Goodacre said. Early crop indications are positive. Earnings a share for the year were 22.6c, down from 27.4c a year earlier. Managing director Andy Borland said a final dividend was expected to be declared in May for payment in July.

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Group operating earnings for the first half were $34.2m, up from $26.2m previously, and the best result in a decade. Total revenue was $628.1m, up from $607.7m. The after-tax profit for the first half was $14.6m, down from $15m last time. For the full year the directors forecast an after-tax figure about 20% lower than last year’s $46.4m, which included more than $9m of one-off property sales gains that won’t be repeated.

Our good first-half was pretty much across the board. Ian Glasson PGG Wrightson

At the annual meeting in late October directors forecast a profit about 30% lower. The latest forecast takes account of the trading pick-up since then. PGW is doing well with its Go range of livestock financing and is working on ways it can be expanded, possibly through thirdparty involvement. The first half of the year benefited from excellent trading in the retail and water division, mainly in retail rural supplies, Agritrade and especially Fruitfed in the horticulture sector. Retail lifted Ebitda to $23.6m in the six months ended December 30, from $18.9m, that gain making up a good chunk of the group increase. Agency business including livestock and seeds and grain both increased Ebitda by good margins in the first half. The NZ seeds business was strong because of favourable spring planting conditions, a recovery in the grain and forage seeds market and a lift in international shipments because of the high production yields. The second half is the major earnings period for those divisions but retail makes most of its earnings in the first half. Ebitda is the group’s favoured operating measure. “It gives you a good sense of how it’s going across the business,’’ Glasson said. “Our good first-half was pretty much across the board.” Wool returns are improving. PGW is benefiting from high

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prices on its Merino wool activities and though the crossbred wool price remains very low it is stabilising and greater volumes are coming into the market as more farmers decide to meet the market with product previously held in store. Crossbred wool is by far the bigger part of that business. The water business remains challenging with little on-farm irrigation development but there have been a couple of good golf course contracts won. PGW reported an operating cash outflow of $49.8m for the half-year, up from an outflow of $16.2m a year earlier. Most of that was for increased business in the Go livestock lending and weather delays in crop and pasture planting that pushed the annual peak in working capital closer to the December balance date. Products and services were sold, and profits booked, but some payment was carried over into balance date. There were good receivables collections in January and February. The Go products were popular with farmer-clients and profitable for the company and helped lift market share. “There’s very strong demand and we’re trying to control the pace of it,” Glasson said. Under the scheme, PGW gets the commission on the buying and selling of livestock and retains title to the animals while they are finished. Farmer clients get the profit on the sale and like the scheme because it is separate from their ordinary banking relationship. The group had about $30m tiedup in funding the programme. That also meant group borrowings were higher than a year earlier and that trend would continue into the full-year balance date. Go funding was popular for both lambs, with a typical turnover period of about six months, and cattle. At balance date PGW had total assets of $845.3m, up from $748.1m a year earlier. Borrowings were about $84m higher than last June 30. Earnings a share for the halfyear were 1.9c. Shareholders will receive a 1.75c a share interim dividend on April 5. PGW is making a strategic review of the total business, advised by investment banks Credit Suisse and First NZ Capital. Chairman Alan Lai hopes to comment on outcomes later in the year.

Revenue

Ebitda

NPAT

Agency (including livestock)

84.3m

4.6m

2.49m

Retail & water

381.7m

23.62m

16.7m

Seeds & grain

208.8m

10.81m

2.7m

Group

628.17m

34.17m

14.64m

Notes: Division results exclude corporate costs, which are included in Group figures. Ebitda = earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation. NPAT = net profit after tax.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Kiwifruit slump hurts Seeka’s annual result Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz THE big downturn in kiwifruit production last season hurt Seeka’s earnings. The after-tax profit for the year ended December 31 was $5.83 million, down from $10.38m a year earlier though that included just over $3m in fire insurance proceeds. National kiwifruit volumes last season were down 6.7m trays at 25.67m and the carry-through impact reduced activity at Seeka’s post-harvest business, the biggest part of its operations and one of the biggest nationally. Postharvest makes up about half of Seeka’s total revenues. They slipped to $186.8m in the latest year from $191.3m. The post-harvest share fell to $96.7m from $110.8m and operating earnings (Ebitda) were $22m, down from $26.78m. The group had expanded and upgraded plant and equipment anticipating higher crop volumes, especially for the Gold variety,

and the smaller crop meant the company was able to optimise plant and staff operation, chief executive Michael Franks said. That meant growers benefited through lower fruit loss while operational efficiencies reduced costs. The group’s orchard revenues were marginally higher at $48.5m and Ebitda in that division increased to $6.37m from $5.63m. Seeka’s retail business is growing, with revenues at $24.29m, up from $16.8m, and Ebitda up about $1m to $2.92m. The Australian business, based on kiwifruit and nashi orchards, is also growing, with Ebitda also about $1m higher at $2.25m. Another 60ha of kiwifruit area is being added to the orchard. Seeka also sells avocado on behalf of growers, increasing volumes to a record 487,095 export trays from 225,656 a year earlier. The financial statements include sales made as an agent on behalf of growers

DOWN: Lower kiwifruit volumes hurt Seeka’s earnings.

and suppliers and they took total turnover to $217.9m, down from $229.4m previously. The directors say turnover is a useful measure of the group’s operating activity. Operating cashflow for the year was $14m, down from $21.2m. Total assets at balance date were $222m. A 12c a share dividend will be paid on March 23, making a total of 22c for the year.

US earnings offset falls Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz A 10% increase in case sales in the lucrative North American market was crucial in wine-maker Delegat Group’s record operating earnings in the latest half-year. That boost offset the impact of a bigger fall in sales in Britain, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and AsiaPacific. Total sales were 1.377 million cases, down from 1.446m a year earlier, but executive chairman Jim Delegat said the group was on target for a 5% increase in full-year case sales of 2.782m and a record annual operating after-tax profit of just over $40m. The reported after-tax earnings for the six-months ended December 31 was $19.4m, up from $19.1m at the same time a year earlier. That is different to operating earnings as it provides for accounting rules requirements covering valuation of the grape harvest, causing a writedown of $8.9m ($8.3m previously), a cost that is written back up as the wine inventory is later sold. Total revenues were $136.9m for the half-year, up on $135.8m last time, helped by higher in-market prices and some favourable currency movement. Operating earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) rose 5% to $43.4m and operating after-tax profit was up 9%

“

to $26.9m. The Ebit operating margin was a very good 32%. Delegat said US and Canadian sales were strong at 568,000 cases (up from 518,000). It is the biggest market for the group. Sales in NZ, Australia, Asia-Pacific fell to 451,000 cases (from 479,000), mainly because of a return to a more typical level of promotional activity during November and December, from higher levels a year earlier. The decline was bigger in UK, Ireland and Europe — down 20% to 358,000 cases from 449,000. The prior year figure was also due to higher promotional activity and to customers ordering ahead of price increases, Delegat said. Operating cashflow was $24.2m, from $24.85m earlier, due mainly to higher working capital costs from a higher grape harvest. During the period, more than $23m was invested in vineyard development in NZ and the Barossa Valley in South Australia and in winery development in Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough. NZX-listed Delegat Group was well placed to pursue its goal of building a leading global super premium wine company, Delegat said. During the half-year, the Oyster Bay brand won prestigious awards in New York and San Francisco. Total assets at balance date were $671m, up from $651m.

It’s about telling our story and it’s good for you, and it tastes good. Tony Plunkett – Coleridge Downs Station, Rakaia Gorge.

Real Farming in Action With consumers demanding more in terms of taste and provenance, New Zealand farmers are seeking out ways to improve the flavour, nutrition and sustainability of the food they produce. Tony Plunkett from Coleridge Downs Station in the Rakaia Gorge has turned to Omega lambs an animal that is high in essential fatty acids and tastes fantastic. Each animal is electronically tagged from birth so it can be traced right through from pasture to plate.

Watch as Craig Wiggins captures this real farming story on Farmer’s Voice. farmersweekly.co.nz/farmers-voice

”

Newsmaker

22 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Farmers must voice concerns The chairman-elect of Beef + Lamb New Zealand is a Southlander who believes farming should not shy away from challenges or debate. He brought Neal Wallace up to date on what to expect when he takes over from James Parsons.

NDREW Morrison never intended having an involvement in farmer politics until he was drawn to make submissions on regional and district council plans. Fearing councils could take control of riparian margins and strips and restrict cultivation on flood plains, Morrison lobbied to preserve landowners’ property rights and soon found himself involved with Federated Farmers. It was an apprenticeship that taught him plenty and ultimately led to him being chairman-elect of Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Morrison farms 2500 stock units on 154ha at Willowbank north of Gore and another 9000 stock units at Clinton Gorge, on an 890ha property in South Otago managed by Tim and Laura Williams. Even though his father George was an active member of Federated Farmers, Morrison was initially focused on establishing and developing the family farming partnership.

His profile from lobbying local authorities did not go unnoticed and in 2011 Balance AgriNutrients and Ovis Management approached him. After initially rejected their overtures he changed his mind and found himself on their boards. Two years later Beef + Lamb NZ invited him to stand and he was elected to the board in 2014. He has served as deputy chairman to James Parsons who retires this month. Morrison said the foray into off-farm activities was timely. His business with partner Lisa was established after 20 years in partnership with his father George and brother Donald that ended amicably in 2012 and he had surrounded himself with a network of capable staff, family and advisers. “The stuff that enables me to do things off the farm is the strength of the team. “I couldn’t do this off-farm stuff without Lisa, Tim and my father George,” he said. Underpinning his interest in

NEW BOSS: Beef + Lamb NZ chairman-elect Andrew Morrison who farms near Gore.

someone who is trusted and can validate information.” That information can contribute to enhancing the sector’s environmental reputation and validate its environmental fingerprint both domestically and for overseas customers. The sector faces some headwinds such as alternative proteins, biosecurity, the social licence to farm, water quality and climate change — issues it should not shy away from. Success to Morrison will be thriving rural communities that are valued by all New Zealanders and an appreciation the sector understands and is addressing its environmental challenges. “Every New Zealander would be singing the praises of our farm production systems because they were connected with them with the right information.” Facts such as 47% of QEII covenants are on sheep and beef farms, the work farmers are doing to improve water quality and the $65 million invested in Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Consortium since 2002 are examples of the investment farmers are making to address issues of public concern. B+LNZ also has the expertise to support the industry through trade policy, market development research and development and ay id r our Fr farm extension. Sign up fo l update: ai er night em .nz/regist co One area he y. kl ee farmersw believes B+LNZ can contribute is creating the NZ red meat story supported by a validation structure.

farmer politics is a fundamental belief in agriculture but also a view that the sector cannot shy away from or ignore challenging debates and issues. “If you want your voice heard then someone has to participate in the debate. “A simple rule of thumb is every debate is worth having if someone thinks it’s an issue. “You have got to go through with it to get We are excited to bring to the market this new role for a Farm Manager clarity.” Agriculture needs better located in a coastal community 20 minutes from Wanganui. engagement with the This stunning inter-generational property is a credit to the family’s Government and urban vision and their continuous improvement philosophy. The property communities and Morrison boasts a mixed enterprise model of sheep, beef, forestry and maize on said the BLNZ Economic 1005ha of flat sand country. This well-developed operation requires a Service has a resource of over 60 years of relevant Farm Manager to demonstrate their skills across the sheep and beef data and information operation of 3200 terminal sired ewes and 350 cows. that can be used in those The Owners are seeking an operational Farm Manager for the discussions. business. The Manager will display excellence in the fundamentals “We want to be the go-to of farming. guys for the Government,

Farm Manager Wanganui

The ability to manage stock demand and feed supply to set the operation up for the key events of mating, lambing, calving and weaning is critical in this well-appointed property. Maintenance and development fit into the work programme around these dates. The business requires a team player who is motivated to create a culture of quality throughout. The appointee will have a high level of personal pride and presentation and will demonstrate strong relationship skills as in time a Shepherd / General will be hired to complement the operations. Forward planning and attention to detail will ensure success. The position comes with a 3 bedroom house with a full complement of enclosed farm yard sheds and gardens. Great schooling is nearby and the ocean is at your doorstep. Your career will be enhanced by this opportunity and this property will be a pleasure to manage. For more information, or to fill out an application, please visit www.ruraldirections.co.nz or phone the Rural Directions team in confidence on 0800 475 465 (Reference #3204). LK0091836©

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“Once we tell that story we have to validate it, which we are doing through the national farm assurance programme, a standardised programme for all the meat companies.” At $7 billion the red meat sector is NZ’s largest manufacturing industry, employing 59,000 people directly and another 21,000 indirectly. “This is fundamentally an important sector to NZ.

Every debate is worth having if someone thinks it’s an issue. Andrew Morrison B+LNZ

“We want to build systems to ensure it is sustainable.” He does not subscribe to the view the meat industry has failed because it chased volume over value, saying that ignored the fact companies market more than 200 cuts of meat to 140 countries. He sees as an additional measure of success B+LNZ, meat companies and the Government working together to promote the sector and on issues such as trade policy. Morrison said levy payers have twice sent a clear message to B+LNZ that they do not want it to invest in wool. He came to the role with a philosophical belief in the commercial model and said ultimately his and the organisation’s performance will be judged by levy payers through the six-yearly levy referendums. Morrison and Lisa have two children, Bryn, 18, and Kelly, 15.

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Extra dairy calves do make money Massey University researchers working with cows at Limestone Downs in Waikato are only part way through a research project on dairy beef production but preliminary results show farmers are well-advised to used high-merit bulls to produce dairy-beef calves that do add money to a farm’s bottom line. Hugh Stringleman went along to get the latest update. beef breeding, mainly Friesian or Friesian-cross bulls. The four-year Limestone Downs project funded by Beef + Lamb Genetics aims to find ways of adding value to the dairy-beef output for the meat industry, drystock farmers and dairy farmers. Selected high-merit Angus and Hereford sires are being used over dairy cows, compared with average, unrecorded bulls typical of those dairy farmers might use over the tail end of their herd after AI has finished. The beef bulls were selected based on specific traits including birth weight, calving ease, gestation length, 400-day and 600day growth and carcase traits such as marbling. The mixed-age dairy cows were inseminated artificially and the herd-replacement heifers by natural mating to Angus, Hereford and Jersey bulls, selected with calving ease as the top priority on a budget of $2500 a bull. Gestation length, birth weights, calving performance, growth rates and carcase outcomes are all being measured. An offshoot of the trial work is to provide visual aids to farmers for identifying the Angus-cross progeny on the basis of tongue colour. Researcher Lucy Coleman

TEAM WORK: Lucy Coleman, Rebecca Hickson and Natalia Martin are trialling the use of different beef bulls over dairy cows and heifers on Limestone Downs Station at Port Waikato.

said the calving outcomes show selection for shorter gestation is successful, the top Hereford bulls recording an advantage of four days and the top Angus bulls two days.

Dairy-beef bulls do add value to dairy farming. Lucy Coleman Massey University The EBVs of bulls for birth weight should produce 0.5kg difference in the calves for every 1kg in EBV. The actual outcomes in the calves born to the cows were 0.6kg for Hereford and 0.78kg for Angus, she said. “These results show that

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Essentially, the opportunity for the dairy farmer is represented by the $30 value of a bobby calf versus the $500 available for a dairy-beef weaner, less the rearing costs. Researcher Natalia Martin, who concentrated on the growth rates and finishing performance of the dairy-beef progeny, said the 200-day measurements did not show any differences by breed or any advantages from the 200d EBVs. The main signal was that steers were heavier than heifers. When the 2016 calves reached 400 days the EBV relationships showed up, giving on average a 0.2kg LW gain for every 1kg indicated by the EBVs. Therefore, dairy farmers should use the 400d EBVs rather than the 200d. Martin predicted the EBV effects would show up more strongly in the 600d weights of the progeny.

birthweight EBVs are doing their job, especially important to dairy farmers looking to minimise birth complications.” That carried through to weaning age at the target weight of 85kg but the advantages were smaller. The summary table showed that for a top 10% Hereford bull compared with the average, unrecorded bulls calf averages were 2.2kg lighter at birth, four days shorter gestation length and one day earlier at weaning. For the top 10% selected Angus bulls the figures were 2.2kg lighter birth weight, two days shorter gestation and five days earlier weaning. “These results are showing that the use of high-merit bulls does boost performance,” Coleman said. “Dairy-beef bulls do add value to dairy farming and the farmers can use the bull EBVs to get what they want.”

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AIRY farmers are well advised to use high-merit beef bulls to improve the dairybeef outcomes of their mating programmes, Massey University researchers have shown on Limestone Downs, the big northern Waikato C Alma Baker Trust property. Two seasons of calving 800 cows from the Limestone Downs dairy herd have produced preliminary findings, lead researcher Dr Rebecca Hickson told the annual field day on the Port Waikato property. Chief among them were that estimated breeding values (EBVs) for bulls are doing their job and there are gains to be had for dairy farmers using more suitable beef bulls. “Beef from the dairy industry is becoming an increasingly important part of our meat industry,” she said. The number of beef cows in New Zealand has dropped below a million and the number of dairy cows had risen to more than 6m, of which 48% are now Kiwi-cross — Holstein Friesian and Jersey crosses. The annual slaughter of 2.5m adult cattle contained 69% with dairy or dairy-beef origin, including 37% that were cull dairy cows and 28% that were dairy-

Opinion

24 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

EDITORIAL Media out of step with public views

HE latest opinion survey gauging the public’s view of the primary sector comes as a mix of relief and concern. The positives from the Ministry for Primary Industries-commissioned survey are that most people still have a favourable opinion of the sector, which polling company UMR said is at odds with the recent tone and volume of mainstream media coverage. Of concern is the fall in public opinion since the last survey in 2008 and especially the low scores for dairying and forestry. Putting aside the obvious scepticism with polls, the increase in public support for horticulture and the reasons provide challenges for the livestock industry. Respondents gave their support because the sector is booming, they like it and, surprisingly, because it is “not hard on the environment”. The reality is that horticulture – like all primary sector industries – uses chemicals, fertiliser and water — the basis of much of the criticism levelled at pastoral farming. Somehow the public does not perceive that as an issue for horticulture. The implication for the primary sector is that the wider public has an unrealistic image of the cost of human existence and the production of food, not realising that both leave an environmental footprint. The survey also implies a vocal minority has successfully pursued an anti-farming agenda, which has been picked up by the mainstream media despite not being reflective of the public’s view. United Kingdom Nuffield Scholar Anna Jones has looked at this issue and concluded there is an urban-rural disconnect and the media and farming industry are contributing to it. She found mainstream media lacks specialist agriculture reporters, its coverage is clouded by urban bias, is a knee-jerk distrust of agribusiness and a failure to distinguish between campaigners and informers. Equally, farmers tend to be defensive but need to be more open and transparent. While that is a UK perspective there are parallels with the way the New Zealand mainstream media portrays the sector and the organisations and individuals it turns to for comment. Combating that is a significant challenge.

Neal Wallace

LETTERS

More letters P26

No M bovis strategy rethink THE introduction to your story published on February 23 – MPI rethinking M bovis eradication – is not correct. Both the headline and the first paragraph boldly state the Ministry for Primary Industries is reconsidering its belief that Mycoplasma bovis eradication is possible. This is completely untrue. In fact, nowhere in the entire story that follows is there any reference to this assertion or any evidence found or published that this is the case. MPI has not deviated at all from its intention to eradicate the disease so long as it is feasible. There has been no new information to suggest there is any infection in New Zealand outside of two distinct clusters of farms with the disease and the traces of animal movements from those farms.

MPI has also publicly stated that no decision can be taken on the future management of M bovis or whether eradication is on or off the table until the results are all in from the joint MPI-dairy industry national surveillance programme of milk testing. This is not expected until towards the end of March. The ministry has put out a call for help in its tracing efforts by asking farmers who might have bought animals from the publicly known infected farms to come forward. But it is a very long bow to be drawn to suggest that this is an indication that eradication is no longer feasible. To be clear – all available technical information at this time supports the current unprecedented level of work that is under way to getting rid

of the disease and protecting the livelihoods of NZ’s farmers. Geoff Gwyn Response director Ministry for Primary Industries EDITOR’S NOTE: MPI’s press release said it wanted farmer information so a decision on whether eradication is still possible can be made as quickly as possible, hence the conclusion it is reconsidering its earlier unequivocal statements it was committed to eradication.

Farmers can’t win RE YOUR front page headline Good trade news (FW 29.1). One wonders if the good news will increase farmers’ bottom lines or increase profits for the leeches living off the animals’ and farmers’ backs.

There were price increases by these leeches when the last TPP was proposed and I can just see the dollar signs blinding them again now. One is of the view that if the farmer is successful with any movement in the farm return it won’t be long before they are screwed with higher rates, interest, power charges, transport costs and much, much more. Much farmland is on the market, with most of it being bought up by neighbours, corporates or overseas companies or wealthy investors. What a very sad state we leave generations to come as a result of the political madness we have allowed. John Bassett Kaitaia

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Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Farmers must get consumer trust Malcolm Bailey

ransforming Food Producers for the Future is the theme of New Zealand AgriFood Week, March 12-17, the country’s only week-long event dedicated to the future of agrifood, agritech and farming industry opportunities. As farms and food producers evolve, getting closer to consumers and understanding their buying behaviour is at the core of many decisions. And if it’s not, it should be. We can’t stand still while society and consumer perceptions and expectations are shifting considerably. Our farms are shop windows and farmers and growers are front and centre in those windows. Our fellow New Zealanders clearly want farmers to look after land and water resources in a sustainable way — and animal welfare is also very important to them. Top end consumers here and offshore want to buy food that comes from production systems they trust. This is good news because NZ already has world-leading food safety systems and respected farm production systems. Farmers can expect the level of scrutiny of what we do to increase as consumers’ expectations of how food is produced evolve against the backdrop of global concerns about climate change and sustainability. Rather than feel threatened by this we have to see it as an opportunity and work together. Why is this an opportunity? Compared to other food producing nations NZ is in a strong position because our farming systems already have a comparatively low environmental footprint based on natural, grass-fed systems with free-range animals. Further, we want to improve what we are doing in terms of lowering the negative impact on water quality and we are funding further, often worldleading, research into new

The

Pulpit

products and systems. But, of course, there will always be new challenges: synthetic meat and milk being among the most recent. Producers of these products want to sell to consumers who do not like the concept of farmed animals that use more land and water per kilogram of meat and milk produced. Their ultimate goal is to offer these products at a lower price than existing products. Alongside a new challenge like this, lie new opportunities if we are open-minded and are prepared to diversify. The main source of protein for these synthetic products is peas. Can NZ successfully develop a new industry based on such technology? Getting closer to our consumers also includes opportunities to tap into the farm tourism market. Many foreign tourists would like to visit working farms as part of their visitor experience in NZ but find limited opportunities to do that. There is untapped potential to integrate farm visits with visits to food processing facilities and local restaurants to showcase our products. Tourists who have enjoyed these experiences become great advocates for NZ’s food and wine back in their home countries. Food production systems

END USERS: Getting closer to consumers is the key to success, Dairy Companies Association and International Business Forum chairman Malcolm Bailey says.

Farmers must focus on what the consumers of our products want. are rapidly developing new technology to use resources more efficiently and fill the growing gap of fewer people available or willing to undertake back-breaking tasks. NZ has a lot of entrepreneurial agritech people and businesses developing great technology and machines that are in demand around the world. There is a general view in NZ that we should focus on high

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quality, natural food and that this positioning can co-exist with whatever the synthetic producers might do. To compete successfully we have to segment consumers in the markets where we want to sell and target their needs. Given the high quality of our food products this means targeting wealthier and more knowledgeable consumers who will pay a premium for NZ’s best. This is not new – many NZ companies are doing this already. It means farmers must focus on what the consumers of our products want and look for ways to improve the quality of what leaves the farmgate.

The fundamentals of farming are evolving but what consumers are demanding seems to be evolving faster. We need to be in a position to respond to this. This requires deeper integration and connection with processors and marketers of the products, which is a key focus at a number of NZ AgriFood Week events.

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

Opinion

26 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Iceberg heading for Titanic? Guest column

John McCarthy

AS WE approach the Beef + Lamb New Zealand annual meeting we can no doubt anticipate a glossy publication extolling its success over the last year. Hopefully, I am wrong and we are served a dose of reality. If recent statistics are only half true we have some serious concerns. Lamb and mutton consumption dropped an astounding 15.3kg a person a year between 2007 and 2017. Couple this with the total fail that is the Mycoplasma bovis fiasco where B+LNZ has been joined at the hip to all responses by the Ministry for Primary Industries. B+LNZ was approached to use its influence to close Cook Strait for cattle movements and refused. And then there’s Nait, formed on the basis it was necessary for biosecurity. One of Nait’s key shareholders, according to its website, is B+LNZ. Mycoplasma bovis has highlighted serious deficiencies with the Nait investments by farmers. In a worst-case scenario that could give rise to future issues around liability, especially if the disease migrates into the beef herds. Adding insult to injury the reaction from farming leaders has been to blame farmers for noncompliance when by any measure those leaders, their positions funded by farmer dollars, should

be held accountable for their legislatively empowered nonperformance. Put simply, we have been forced to fund Nait and we continue to do so. Surely, that investment entitles us to accountability as to performance. Surely, too, B+LNZ as a shareholder representing levypayer interests has a responsibility to demand that accountability. Its silence speaks volumes. Compare this to the Fletcher Building result. True to corporate principle, chairman Ralph Norris promptly resigned. The leaders of B+LNZ and NAIT are not subject to those same rigors of accountability. That is partly because our farmer organisations are conflicted in that they are all joined at the hip and swap stories at the same cocktail parties but in the case of B+LNZ they remain protected by the Commodity Levies Act. Under that now outdated legislation they are not subject to the normal checks and balances applying in other areas of NZ business. No one like the Ombudsman or Auditor General is fact-checking their failures or successes. One assumes there would be some ministerial oversight but, in my view, historically the reverse has been the case, the National government using B+LNZ as an extension arm for its policies. Where was the outrage over Jericho Station? Then there are the PGP investments. What trickledown, what analysis? All I have seen resonates of propaganda as opposed to rigorous and impartial examination of return on investment. One of the reasons for the

AS ONE: Rural and urban New Zealanders should work together to promote agricultural produce and tourism, farmer John McCarthy says

decline in red meat consumption is the perceived environmental footprint associated with the rearing of livestock. Once again we are let down by those supposedly looking after our interests. There is no doubt that the comparison of the grass-fed benefits versus grain-fed is a story of product differentiation that should have been shouted from the rooftops. Instead, it seems to be a closely held secret at least when it comes to consumer choice. On the coat-tails of this environmental backlash we are seeing the emergence of lab meat and other protein alternatives. This is not a threat that we should be dismissive of, indeed this initiative has serious backers, such as Bill Gates.

These people do not have a history of backing losers. This threat was signalled at the B+LNZ annual meeting in Northland two years ago. The board and some media pundits are pinning a lot of hope on the coming Red Meat Story. If I recall, one of the last memorable acts of the now defunct Wool Board was the publication of an expensive and glossy book extolling the virtues of wool. They went out of existence shortly afterwards. A Red Meat Story is long overdue. It will be interesting to see how all the component levypayer interests and perspectives are merged into a common theme. I wish them every success but my view is that on its own this

LETTERS End of era OVER the course of this dairy season something truly fascinating has taken place, something I thought I had not witnessed ever during a 20-year dairying career — a lack of capital gains. Once the true backbone of New Zealand agriculture and indeed the economy over the last 20plus years (along with a bizarre housing market). In fact, if we look a bit closer at land, large amounts of our best land have not moved in price for a good 10 years. Tier 1 land in Waikato or Canterbury was $60,000/ha 10 years ago and still is today. Tier 2 or lower-class land has fallen the past three years and continues to do so in some areas ... if you can manage a sale. All of this is truly remarkable because as we grew through the dairying system we were always told, get on the land bus son, land is the best investment out there,

will not be enough to change the current trends. For one thing there is a definite urban-rural split around what we read. I would suggest that not too many copies of the Farmers Weekly are in Herne Bay or Grey Lynn where the urban equivalent is the Ponsonby News. The real problem is that we tend to operate in silos. I don’t believe there is an urban-rural split but as an inhabitant of both worlds I do think we talk past each other. There is no formalised crossover between tourism and agriculture or in fact regional opportunity. We have increased suspicion of onfarm practices now flowing over into consumer preference. We should highlight best practice and we should do it together.

More letters P24 they aren’t making any more of it and you can never pay too much. Land today really does appear to be fully valued. Quite remarkable really, particularly given that we are looking at the fourth-highest Fonterra dairy payout of all time. Historically, this has automatically translated to irrational spending and irrational land prices. Yet there is a record number of farmers exiting the industry for good, record numbers of farms on the market and many clients the banks are keen to move on. The rules finally appear to be different now, some would say even logical now. Cashflow and the ability to farm sustainably for a profit actually seems relevant again. This truly is the end of an era. Maybe it will not always be this way but it is still a remarkable turning point in NZ agriculture. Modern farming day-to-day is a bigger challenge than ever before.

The environmental, climatic and welfare pressures are growing yet consumers in general are not prepared to pay any more for our products. Each year it seems entirely possible to grow 2-3t of pasture less and then make all of that up in the space of two months. Each year when I sit down to do my budgets I really do budget for less production or a higher cost as we really can’t rely on our weather any more. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, other than whatever you choose to do, the importance of making your farming system sustainable for yourself, your family and staff is of the upmost importance. Life really is too short, so if you are considering selling out or even putting on a 50/50 sharemilker, will it really matter if you get $0.5$1 million less than you thought? If you have owned the farm for a few decades you have probably done more than fairly out of the capital gains.

Perhaps consider paying it forward to the next young guy. Grant Hall Cambridge

Big losses JOHN Wilson said “The joint venture with Beingmate is a significant frustration and concern to everyone.” He obviously never learnt from Henry van der Heyden, losing $250 million in Sanlu. So far, we have lost about $500m in Beingmate and where will it end? With farmers’ supply shares dropping more than 60 cents in a month, a lot of money or paper, $1 billion. Whys is the DIRA still telling Fonterra it has to pick up everyone’s milk, regardless of where the farm is and having to sell milk at cost. It was originally meant to be for 13 years. What went wrong?

Blame the National Government, I suppose, and not strong enough directors. In the past a Labour Minister of Agriculture has been better than National. Let us hope in the future with Open Country starting another factory this year. It is not right for the Government to dictate who Fonterra has to pick up milk from. Some of these selected directors’ in Fletcher and Fonterra, I wonder how many have laid a brick or milked a cow. Too many are chosen without the practical experience just because they were in a successful business in the past. Would it not be nice to see our chief executive Theo Spierings saying he would like a $3m decrease in his wage this year because the bonuses he has received in the past only favour him and his family with free business class travel etc. Keith Brawn Te Awamutu

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

It will be good when it stops From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

WE’VE got a forestry harvest going on here now so thought I’d pass on a few observations. Plenty, including a few farm forestry mates, have been through the experience before so I was forewarned. The operation itself is destructive on carefully nurtured farm infrastructure and disruptive of the farming operation. Early on I had a couple of visits from Bruce from Pan Pac to look at the trees and then the logistics of getting logging trucks in and out of our property. I needed a summer harvest because our heavy clay soils can get very wet from March right though until November. They tend to log during the winter in the free-draining soils where the big corporate forests grow with the

roading infrastructure already in place then come out to the private woodlots over the summer, which also reduces the chances of large fires in the big forests. He pushed me from a December/January harvest to February/March back in October. I got a little twitchy and told him it was going to be a cyclone season and I could already be wet in February. When he asked how I could be so sure, I pointed out the very high sea surface temperatures were building up all that energy just waiting to unleash it on me when we cut the first trees down. As it happened that was when Cyclone Gita hit NZ but we were much luckier than many of you and got only a skiff. Half way through the harvest and looking at the weather patterns in the Pacific our luck might just hold as I can’t see much happening yet. I had an inkling of what was in the future when Bruce asked if I wanted the 5000-gallon tank saved. “Yes thanks, that’s an essential part of my farm water supply.” So, he noted it. Bruce, the harvest contractor and the roading contractor had a

look at the access and said I was lucky because they had to fill in only one big gully with a culvert. I thought it was big but they laughed and said not by Wairoa standards. However, it took a 20-tonne digger a full day followed by Cam carting 200 tonnes of red metal onto it and another 130 tonnes elsewhere for good measure.

I got a little twitchy and told him it was going to be a cyclone season and I could already be wet in February. I’d already put a double gateway in off the road and had to cut all the fences in a straight line right up through the guts of the farm, rendering about 25% of the property ungrazable. It’s best not to ask the laden trucks to go through the 12-foot gateways because they will get your strainers sooner or later, so I have cut the fences beside them

PILING UP: Steve Wyn-Harris is coping with the disruption of logging trees on his farm.

Another 25% of the farm has become inoperative as I’ve rolled up quite a few fencelines around the forestry, mostly good functional fences. I just got rid of the wire and left the posts, which were in the last third of their life, to their fate. Some might survive. I now don’t have any electric power in the hills and a water pipe that went through the forestry is disconnected, not allowing me to pump water up to the tank. Last February that would have been very problematic because I had little feed but this year I’ve been able to push the stock into the other half of the farm. All this made me anxious about the prospect of the harvest and, more importantly, getting the logs off farm. However, as I said, we’ve had

little rain to date and the trucks have been rumbling out with loads of good-looking logs. As the person who 30 years ago did the planting, the low and much of the medium pruning and thinning but let the contractor do the high prune it is a very satisfying experience. I stop and watch the trucks go past and exchange a wave and sometimes a few words with the drivers. But it will be good when they’ve finished and I can start repairing the fences and trying to get some sort of order back.

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

Can Bridges keep National a farmers’ party? Jamie Mackay

“MACKAY, you’ve got the tree climbing.” And with those words from Steve Hollander, founder of the Rural Games, my heart sank, along with my dreams of being a speed shearing commentator. Did Hollander not realise my shearing pedigree as a farmer/ dagger/crutcher/hacker who could shear 200 lambs in a day, albeit with tail wind? And what made him think Craig Wiggy Wiggins, a broken-down rodeo and jet boat sprinting commentator who makes an occasional cameo appearance in this publication, could do a better job? What are his credentials? With slumped shoulders I meandered mournfully to the farthest corner of the Queenstown Recreation Ground, venue of the inaugural 2015 Rural Games, to describe some skinny bloke climbing up a tree. Grant Nisbett, eat your heart out. If I couldn’t land the plum job of speed shearing, why couldn’t I do something exciting like the dog trials, the Highland Games, the speed fencing, the wood

GOING UP: Simon Sidey from All Tree Services introduced Alex Hutson, 8, of Palmerston North, to the delights of competitive tree climbing.

chopping, the coal shoveling, the egg throwing and catching or that most quintessential of rural sports, the gumboot throwing? Three years on from that fateful day and I’m heading back to the Rural Games, this time in The Sqaure in Palmerston North this weekend. Hollering Steve Hollander has again handed out the commentary duties and I’m excited to be handling the dog trials, the egg throwing and catching, the gumboot throwing, the cow pat tossing and the olive stone spitting. But I’m most excited by the most exciting sport at the Rural Games. Yep, you guessed

it, the tree climbing. I had no idea three years earlier when I wandered dejectedly to the farthest corner of the Queenstown Recreational Ground what a brilliant sporting spectacle the speed tree climbing is. This is not some average Joe climbing up a tree. The sport is about supremely athletic arborists swinging on ropes and pulleys, going from limb to limb like monkeys and completing the different tasks that make up their workday. Then the competition culminates with a 12 metre speed rope climb. Quite literally a race to the top. Thanks for letting me call that one Steve. I owe you a three-yearold apology. The Hilux New Zealand Rural Games over the weekend are just one cog in a huge eight days for Manawatu. There’s the Running of the Wools in Feilding on Friday followed that evening by Norwood Rural Sports Awards at the Awapuni Racecourse featuring such luminary guests as Steve Hansen, Eric Murray and Marc Ellis. That leads into the NZ AgriFood Week and the Central Districts Field Days. Little wonder Manawatu calls itself NZ’s farming’s capital. Talking of farming, here’s a question for you. Is it just me or is there a certain irony in a partMaori MP for Tauranga becoming the new National Party leader? Those with good memories will recall being told from a man, ad

Let’s see if the MP for Tauranga nauseam, that he was merely “happy to be the MP for Tauranga” can keep it that way. There is, after all, a former MP for Tauranga when he probably harboured a running around with a billion desire to be the first Maori leader dollars a year to throw at the of the National Party and first provinces. Maori Prime Minister. I interviewed Simon Bridges for Your View the first time last week and asked him if the Nats are still going to be Jamie Mackay is the host of The farmer-friendly now they’re being Country that airs on Newstalk ZB run by two Westies. I reminded and Radio Sport, 12-1pm, weekdays. him of the farming predigree and jamie@thecountry.co.nz background of every National Party leader since Jim Bolger took over from Jim McLay in 1986. Bolger – King Country farmer, Jenny Shipley – Mid Canterbury farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz farmer, Bill English – Southland Agribusiness (1) farmer, Don Assistant Manager (2) Block Manager (1) Brash – kiwifruit Contract Milker (3) farmer, John Key Cropping Manager (1) Dairy (1) – shareholder in a Farm Assistant (1) Farm Manager (11) West Otago dairy Fencer General (1) farm. Then farmer General Hand (3) Knife Hands (1) Bill came back for Livestock Representative (1) a second dig. And Other (1) Sharemilker (1) lest we forget Kiwi Shepherd (2) Keith Holyoake – Shepherd General (1) Stock Manager (2) Wairarapa farmer Stockperson (1) – who went one better than Bill by Employers: Advertise your vacancy in the having two cracks employment section of the Farmers Weekly and as added value it will be uploaded to at PM’s job (1957 farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz for one month or and 1960-72). close of application. National has long coveted the Contact Debbie Brown 06 323 0765 or email classifieds@nzx.com title of being the farmers’ party.

RURAL SECTOR

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From the Lip

Opinion

28 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Meat firms need clear purpose Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

WHEN I heard KPMG’s global agribusiness head Ian Proudfoot on the radio stating the move away from meat to alternative proteins is happening permanently and quickly and meat companies need to wake up, I wondered whether I had strayed into the Pop Up Globe to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Surely, if meat companies need to wake up to alternative protein that implies their whole business model is broken and farmers should be sitting in front of their horoscopes looking for a magical answer to the inevitable question “What the hell do I do now?” Proudfoot’s justification for his opinion is United States meat processor Tyson Foods’ announcement it has become protein agnostic and intends investing heavily in alternatives to meat. He went on to say large global food companies like Nestle are investing in small food businesses to speed up innovation instead of spending billions buying up fully established businesses. That is a valid approach if a company has the available capital and can wait for the return on its investment, much like large breweries buying up craft brewers. Unfortunately, New Zealand’s meat companies have a history

of small profits, driven by the need to pay farmers a substantial proportion of their revenue in procurement costs. They don’t have the luxury of chasing innovation in the hope of making a fortune. Although I see the importance of keeping up with market trends and shifts in consumer attitudes, I’m not sure scaremongering predictions of the end of the red meat world are very helpful and it might not be what Proudfoot intended. It’s also patently not true. But it does raise the question about the real purpose of meat companies and, consequently, how they should serve the interests of their shareholders, suppliers and consumers. Therefore, it is a good time for the meat industry, producers and processors to analyse potential threats to the present business model to see if what NZ offers will satisfy future consumer needs and wants and how to improve it. Auckland University economics Professor Tim Hazledine recently said NZ agricultural produce should be clean, green and expensive, which succinctly sums up where we should pitch our global offering. This positioning suggests there is still plenty of potential for our sustainable, grass-fed beef and lamb, which will increasingly occupy a niche at the top end of the market, whether in Europe, North America, Asia including China or emerging markets where red meat consumption has not traditionally been high for economic reasons. A brief survey of meat companies shows awareness of the rise of alternative proteins but the intention to keep them in

GO UPMARKET: Greenlea chief executive Tony Egan says the bottom end of the meat market faces more of a threat from alternative proteins than the high end.

context while actively moving NZ red meat up the value chain and remaining flexible in a changing world. There is a strong view NZ grassfed red meat offers a healthier, sustainable alternative to cultured proteins with a long list of ingredients. Greenlea chief executive Tony Egan says NZ must focus on its intrinsic attributes and differentiate the way we farm and produce our meat. In his opinion the undifferentiated end of the market, particularly grinding beef for hamburger patties, faces more of a threat than the high end which we must target. Wilson Hellaby head Fred Hellaby feels while it’s important to keep a close watch on competitive forms of protein, it is more relevant for the meat industry to concentrate on improving the quality and sustainability of its own outputs. Affco’s Sam Lewis tells me

there is demand for everything the company can sell, replicated across the whole range of Talley’s Group commodity products in dairy, vegetables and fishing as well as meat. Affco has a small value-added consumer products operation that exports and sells domestically but Lewis says it is difficult to make an acceptable margin on converting even a stable commodity such as topside into a profitable value-added consumer item. Beef + Lamb NZ has done a study of alternative meats, which, apparently, provides a clear path for the red meat sector to follow though the results of this study within the overall context of the Red Meat Story won’t be released until April. B+LNZ market development general manager Nick Beeby is responsible for developing the Story, which, he says, must educate consumers about the strength of the NZ red meat brand by addressing consumers’

environmental concerns and food anxiety. The research found very little awareness of NZ farming and its focus on grass-fed, free-range and sustainable production. However strong the message contained in the Red Meat Story, it will need to be vigorously and single-mindedly promoted to target world markets effectively with what must inevitably be restricted resources. Buy-in from all industry participants will be essential with the same message being pushed at each level. One thing is absolutely certain – trying to participate in alternative proteins produced from expensive new technology or plant types that would be far better grown in other countries will be doomed to failure. It also risks taking the eye off the true purpose of our meat industry which is to use resources and capabilities to produce to red meat to world-class standards. Each meat company has a different set of shareholders but the two co-operatives at least have an obligation to their suppliers to process their livestock to produce the best possible meat cuts and to sell them for the best price to global consumers. Even those companies that are not co-operatives have a similar duty to their suppliers. I believe the meat industry will choose to ignore consulting experts and concentrate on improving what it already does well.

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

Farmers markets sell the experience Town Talk

Amy Williams

ON FRIDAY mornings I like to pop down to our local market and grab some fresh fruit and veges and half a dozen tennis-ball-sized banana donuts. These deep-fried balls of banana badness are cooked by a Pasifika grandma in a bright yellow food truck. They’re a steal at 50 cents each and it’s the done thing to break one open immediately and eat it as you wander the market stalls. Our local Wesley Market is a mix of bric-a-brac, produce, fresh fish and food trucks. It’s not always the producers themselves selling the goods but it’s a good place to experience a community market – it’s been going since 1994 and is Auckland’s largest mid-week market.

For me it’s the experience that matters. It’s about wandering down the road and choosing which stall to buy cucumbers from this week and to feel part of the neighbourhood. The organisation overseeing authentic farmers markets, Farmers Markets NZ (FMNZ), adds its stamp to markets that sell direct from producers to the public. It has 15 member markets under its banner and also welcomes individual stallholders who meet its standards. There are many more markets unaffiliated with FMNZ. It just so happens the inaugural national Farmers Markets Week is coming up, March 10-17, to promote eating fresh and buying local. “If you go to the market you can talk to the person who grew it. There’s no middle man, you know exactly what you’re buying,” FMNZ chairwoman Maggie Asplet says. She sells preserves and freerange eggs at the Gisborne Farmers Market every Saturday and has a regular following of

customers who go to the market for their weekly goods. The Gisborne market has a cafe-style atmosphere with tables and chairs set up where people can sit and watch the world go by, listening to buskers. At Wesley Markets shoppers can watch live cooking demonstrations that are filmed and later posted on a community Facebook page. It’s an initiative funded by the local board to show how to create quick and healthy meals from locally produced ingredients. We have some institutions in Auckland that are on the tourist radar — the Avondale Sunday Market is the country’s biggest one-day market while the Otara Flea Market sells everything from fresh produce to poke and Island donuts and La Cigale Market in Parnell and Britomart offers a French-inspired experience. Out of town, Matakana Farmers Market is a popular day-trip destination in itself. In Auckland going to a market is more likely an occasional outing rather than a regular visit to stock the fridge.

ALL SORTS: Wesley market sells brica-brac as well as fresh product and is also a venue for food trucks.

There’s no doubt that the success of these markets is in the authentic experience they provide alongside fresh produce and goods. Farmers markets are thriving and if they can keep selling the experience they’ll be propping up local economies for some time yet. Aside from providing a local shopping experience, markets can be a good test bed for small businesses wanting to find out how their product is perceived before opening a shopfront or

online sales. Shoppers can ask direct questions, as can the stallholders. Though FMNZ doesn’t collect data on stallholders’ market day earnings, the amount of money firing out of the Eftpos on market days gives the organisation an idea of what kind of dollars are collectively spent. It can be in the realm of $10,000 a market and leading up to Christmas one Waikato market sees double that amount through its cash-out till. That’s an experience well sold.

World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Beef tariff cut to benefit NZ Richard Smith in Tokyo DESPITE the August 1 tariff hike from 38.5% to 50% on frozen beef, Japan’s imports have continued rising year-on-year. Japan Ministry of Finance figures show a 26% year-on-year rise for total imports of frozen beef in the August-December period, from 911,419.04 tonnes in 2016 to 1,149,882.16 tonnes last year. In the same period, imports of New Zealand product rose 4.56%, from 45,421.64 to 47493.99 tonnes. A year-on-year increase shows up in the overall import data every month since the tariff hike. From 182,694.39 tonnes in August 2016, total imports rose 12.65% to 207,413.57 tonnes for the same month last year. The jump was 18.09% percent in September, from 205,813.08 to 243,037.68 tonnes, 18.07% in October from 223,581.91 to 263,986.64 tonnes, 12.45% in November from 637,303.15 to

742,791.97 tonnes and 12.03% in December from 274,115.9 to 307,090.2 tonnes. Imports of NZ frozen beef followed the year-on-year rising trend from August through October though they went slightly down in the last two months of last year. The NZ product year-on-year leap was 19.9% in August, from 7440.48 to 8915.07 tonnes, 14.9% in September from 8052.38 to 9203.23 tonnes and 5.04% in October, from 8962.41 to 9414.26 tonnes. Shifting to a downward trend, however, NZ beef fell 2.24% in November from 10,013.48 to 9788.8 tonnes and 7.12% in December from 10,952.87 to 10,172.61 tonnes. It is precisely because of the constant rise in imports that the tariff snapback has been triggered. Whenever overall beef imports in a quarter exceed by more than 17% the import volumes in the

FAST FOOD: Beef for burgers makes up the greater part of demand in Japan.

same period of the previous year, tariffs rise from 38.5% to 50%. When excessive imports show up only in the final figures for the entire preceding year, which come out in late April, the higher tariffs strike only in May and June of the new fiscal year. The rise is applied separately to chilled and frozen beef. Tariff hikes under this system previously struck frozen beef in 1995 and 1996 and chilled beef in 2003, all on August 1. Under trade agreements with Japan, beef from Australia and

Mexico is now exempt from the tariff snapback. Japan Meat Traders Association (30 trading companies) executive director Shiroh Ohashi said demand for frozen beef has increased, especially for burger meat, which makes up the greater part of beef demand. Import volumes sharply increased in September, mainly from Australia, but that was primarily because of customs clearance of unmarked stocks that had accumulated because of the yen’s exchange rate appreciation

in September, with imports decreasing in October in reaction, Ohashi said. Otherwise, not much has changed since the tariff hike. “Import volumes of chilled beef increased but that is considered to be due to an increase in meat eating in recent years,” Ohashi said. Ohashi acknowledged that Australian grass-fed beef benefits from a price-competitive advantage over the NZ meat because of the Australia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Under the EPA, which came into effect on January 15, 2015, Japan’s tariff on Australian frozen beef is going down over a 15-year period to 19.5%. The tax now stands 27.2%. However, when the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) comes into effect, if the tariff rate under the Australia-Japan EPA is lower than the tax rate at the time of the TPP entry, the AustraliaJapan EPA rate will be applied to each TPP country, Ohashi said. Therefore, if the TPP goes into effect between April 2019 and March 2020, the tariff on frozen beef will be the same as that under the Australia-Japan EPA at 26.7%, he said. “The difference between NZ and Australia will disappear.”

French farmers protest trade, subsidies, wolves FRENCH farmers used tractors to block motorways and other major roads to protest against negotiations between the European Union and South American trade bloc Mercosur and their government’s plans to slash farm subsidies in disadvantaged areas. More than 20,000 farmers took to the roads across 90 government districts on February 21, according to France’s biggest farming union, the French National Federation of Farmers Unions. French farmers are particularly disgruntled about EU talks to strike a free-trade agreement with Latin American Mercosur trading bloc countries, which include Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. If a free-trade deal is struck it would see tariffs removed on EU imports of beef and other agricultural commodities from Mercosur countries. French farmers say that would put them at a significant disadvantage compared with their South American counterparts, who have significantly lower costs of production than EU countries. French beef farmers fear an EU/Mercosur free-trade deal will flood Europe with cheap beef and put thousands of European beef farmers out of business. British farmers would be squeezed by an EU/Mercosur free-trade deal because it would increase supply in EU markets of cheap beef, which would depress prices for British beef. However, after Brexit the UK will be free to strike its own trade deals with EU and non-EU countries.

Protestors are also angry French president Emmanuel Macron is considering overhauling subsidies for farmers in disadvantaged areas and introducing more wolves in rural areas. The FNSEA said “Ahead of the opening of the annual Paris International Agriculture Fair we wanted to raise big concerns with President Macron … that this deal risks closing down the production of beef, sugar, ethanol and poultry. “Are we going to accept thousands of farmers going out of business? Are we going to accept products that don’t have the same health, social and environmental rules as our own?” On February 22 Macron invited about 1000 young French farmers to the Elysee presidential palace before the annual Paris farm show in a bid to ease tensions. Macron told the young farmers France will never allow imports of hormone-treated beef – even if Brussels signed a free-trade deal with Mercosur. He also promised there will be no reduction in France’s high food standards following the negotiation. “I’m constructing the face of French agriculture for future years – that’s all I care about,” Macron told young farmers. “Yes, there are decisions that are sometimes hard to take. Yes, there are home truths that do not please everyone. Yes, there are lots of mountains to climb. “But we’re going to do it together because we share this responsibility and I know how

much this means to you.” Earlier in the month farmers launched major protests in Toulouse, bringing traffic in the city to a standstill over changes to a land classification scheme. Tyres were set on fire, farm waste was dumped across roads and at least one rail line and tractor demonstrations were held around the city. FNSEA was behind the protests, sparked by government proposals that would have seen almost 500 rural communities in the southwest Midi-Pyrenees region lose their status as disadvantaged zones. After negotiations, the government assured protesters the number of communities that would lose their status would be reduced to 182. Negotiations between the French government and unions over changes to the scheme have been under way since 2016 but last month had was the most intense day of protesting in Toulouse. Travel in and out of the city was almost impossible. FNSEA urged farmers to fight in Brussels and Paris at meetings every day to make the authorities see reason. The map of disadvantaged areas determines eligibility for subsidies worth more than €1 billion a year. Sophie Maniago, FNSEA, told The Local France it would be the death of the farms. “We would have losses between €8000 and €10,000. These are territories which are shutting down, which are going to become deserted, villages which are going to die.” UK Farmers Guardian

UP FOR IT: French president Emmanuel Macron has signalled he is ready to take on some of the holy cows of French agriculture.

Macron to reform agriculture FRANCE is to launch a €5 billion investment programme to transform its agricultural sector with generational renewal and a boost for organic farming as its key components, French president Emmanuel Macron says. In a speech to young farmers in Paris Macron said 40% of farmers active in France will retire by 2020 and it is vital to step up efforts to bring new blood into the industry. Macron committed his government to create a new €1b scheme of guaranteed loans to help young farmers get established, with the aim of reducing the asset collateral required of young farmers seeking loans from 130% on average now to just 20%. His ideas will be studied closely in both London and Brussels, where plans are being formulated for new agricultural policies for the United Kingdom and the European Union respectively. British policymakers will be mindful of any competition issues while those in Brussels – who face the prospect of reforming the Common Agriculture Policy without the UK’s substantial

budget contribution – will be wary of seeing any significant renationalisation of farm support. Meanwhile, the French president also outlined a scheme to accelerate France’s ambitious drive to make 15% of its total agricultural area organic by 2022, with the aim of slashing France’s €1b trade deficit in organic food products. He also hinted at aids for investment in new pig and poultry housing to improve animal welfare and reduce antibiotic use. On wider agricultural policy, Macron renewed his vow, made shortly after taking office last May, to challenge the taboos around the need for reform – though he did not specify which aspects of policy he opposed or what changes he favoured. “The urgent issues facing the agriculture sector today mean we can’t fall back on historical stances. “We can no longer allow certain people to act as great defenders of agriculture and supporters of the status quo when it’s the status quo which, slowly but surely, is killing agriculture,” he said. UK Farmers Weekly

World

30 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

Rival dairy campaigns compete TWO high profile social media campaigns in Britain for and against the place of dairy in diets have grabbed national media attention. First, #veganuary encouraged people to make a New Year’s resolution or at least a Januarylong one to cut out meat and dairy from their diets. Then, in reaction, the industry hit back with #februdairy, an opportunity for supporters of dairy to make the case for people to put it back on their shopping list. The campaigns undoubtedly generated passion on both sides but they overshadowed two equally difficult challenges for the long-term future of the dairy sector, namely value and innovation. Dairy has had and continues to have, a privileged place in United Kingdom diets. About 97% of households in the UK still buy cow or other animal milk, with £2.6 billion spent on dairy products in the last three months of 2017, up 6.3% on the year. The government’s recommendations on dairy are it should make up 8% of daily dietary intake. Actual consumption is about 20%.

The problem for dairy, particularly liquid milk, has been in not extracting enough value out of that huge market for dairy products. Vegan alternatives, such as almond and soya, cost about £1.80/litre for branded products or £1.40/litre for supermarket own-label. That is more than double the price commanded by dairy equivalents. Part of the reason for that is the excitement and consumer interest generated around a recent surge in the variety and promotion of vegan alternatives. Rebecca Miah, who is helping run the

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s £1.3 million consumer campaign on dairy, said “Dairy is like a marriage you take for granted and flirt with alternatives. “We need to remind consumers of the brand of dairy and why they fell in love with it.” Miah said the price of dairy does have an impact on how people perceive it. Products with a premium make people value them more and they want to trade up to try the shiny new thing. But achieving higher prices will require big changes, not least in how milk is packaged and sold to consumers. After decades spent using it as a loss leader to draw customers into stores, even supermarkets appear to recognise the milk aisle needs to be re-invigorated. Sainsbury agriculture head Beth Hart said “How do we add value back into milk? Only through innovation and new formats. “Every day we are getting approached by a new product as an alternative to milk. “The sector is full of bright

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entrepreneurs who I wish would come to dairy too. “Look at the premium they could add for dairy. “Milk is still viewed as a commodity. “It is a race to the bottom.” A big growth opportunity for dairy is in convenience, Hart said, pointing to the rise in on-the-go products, protein supplements and a general desire to assemble meals rather than cooking from scratch. At the National Farmers Union conference farmers were told being on the front foot rather than reacting to negative messages about food and farming would help the industry fight militant anti-farming activists more effectively. It was a common theme running throughout the conference, with many farmers sharing their experiences of online

agrievents AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business 3 full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony run over four months Te Anau: 08/03/2018, 05/04/2018 and 03/05/2018 Cheviot: 14/03/2018, 11/04/2018 and 09/05/2018 Kaitaia: 14/03/2018/11/04/2018 and 09/05/2018 Greymouth: 21/03/2018, 18/04/2018 and 16/05/2018 Fox Glacier: 22/03/2018, 19/04/2018 and 17/05/2018 Contact: anna@awdt.org.nz or 06 377 4560 Website: To register for the programme go to http://www.awdt. org.nz/programmes/understanding-your-farming-business/

Growing organically

AWDT Wahine Maia, Wahine Whenu 3 full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony run over four months Kaikohe: 15/03/2018, 12/04/2018 and 10/05/2018 Masterton: 27/02/2018, 27/03/2018, 24/04/2018 and 22/05/2018 Contact: anna@awdt.org.nz or 06 377 4560 Website: To register for the programme go to http://www.awdt. org.nz/programmes/uyfb-wahine-maia-wahine-whenua/

PAY MORE: Specialist milks for coffee are finding a market because cafes are willing to pay a premium for good milk.

Saturday 10/03/2018 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Waikato Regional Awards Venue: Energy Events Centre, Queens Drive, Rotorua Time: 6.00-10.00pm Tickets: http://www.fmgyoungfarmercontest.co.nz/regionalfinals/

Developing new markets for products

Should your important event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@nzx.com

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Thursday 15/03/2018 to Saturday 17/03/2018 Central Districts Field Days Venue: Manfield, South Street, Feilding Time: Thursday and Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm; Saturday 9.00am to 4.00pm Tickets: Earlybird: Adults: $15.00; Earlybird: Seniors 65+: $13.00; Children aged 5 - 15: $5.00; Children under 4: Free; After 1 March: Adults: $18.00; At the gate: Seniors 65+: $13.00; At the gate: Adults: $20.00 Wednesday 13/06/2018 to Saturday 16/06/2018 National Agricultural Fieldays Venue: Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton Entry: Gates are open Wednesday - Saturday from 8am to 5pm. There are generally lines at the gate - why not beat the crowds and purchase your tickets online? Tickets will go online in April. Online ticket prices: Adult General Admission 1 Day - $20.00 ; Child* (5-14 years) General Admission 1 Day - $10.00 ; Adult General Admission 2 Day - $40.00; Adult General Admission 4 Day - $80.00 An online booking fee of $5 per transaction applies.

abuse. Welsh dairy farmer Abi Reader said she was often accused of enslavement and being a rapist and murderer by social media extremists and called on the industry to join forces to dispel myths and educate the public and young people consistently about farming methods. However, despite the abuse directed at the dairy industry there was little evidence it was affecting people’s attitudes at the point of purchase. Miah said the levy board’s The Department of Dairy Related Scrumptious Affairs campaign, which has been placed on social media and advertised on ondemand television services, was resonating with millennials. Speaking in the dairy breakout session, she said “Dairy has a 98% penetration in UK diets and it is about protecting that. “We also need to target new parents who increase their dairy purchases for their children’s health but then neglect their own diets. “Social media has a role to play in that.” UK Farmers Guardian

CAFES and coffee shops are a major out-of-home market dairy is yet to fully capitalise on. It is a market popular with consumers aged 35 and under, who say they are most likely to be cutting back on dairy, according to survey data released by consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel last year. A number of specialist milk for coffee brands, such as The Estate Dairy and Brades Farm Barista Milk – which won the British Farming Awards Dairy Innovator of the

Year award in 2017 – have started to capitalise on the willingness of coffee shops to pay a premium for good quality milk with provenance. Estate Dairy co-founder Shaun Young, Somerset, said “We are trying to pioneer something different and raise the quality and perception of milk by getting cafes to stand behind it and be more passionate about the milk they sell.” After just two years, Estate Dairy is selling 85,000 litres of milk a week across 500 outlets

in London and it has now added chocolate lines. Young said presentation and packaging is key to making a dairy product stand out to customers. “Our milk bottle looks different to a conventional one you find in the supermarket. “We buy the labels reverse facing so when it is sat in a coffee bar its facing the customer. “We use a clear material which looks quite bespoke. “It is a niche thing but by doing these small things, it makes a difference.” UK Farmers Guardian

THE one category which has had some success in adding value in dairy has been organic. Organic dairy sales make up 29% of the total organic food and drink market, with total sales of £344 million in 2017. No surprise then to see the recent deal between the dairy cooperative Arla and the well known organic dairy brand Yeo Valley, allowing the former to use the Yeo Valley brand on milk, butter, spreads and cheese. Arla Foods UK managing director Tomas Pietrangeli said “Our ambition is to encourage customers to trade up from standard to organic milk, butter and cheese, driving overall growth for organic across dairy categories.” Arla has also launched a host of new products, including Protein Milk, Skyr yoghurt and a Starbucks ready-to-drink coffee. The idea, said Arla’s head of innovation Sven Thormahlen, is to follow consumers where they go, which at the moment is consuming more food and drink out of the home, a move into somewhere dairy has not traditionally exploited. UK Farmers Guardian

Employment We Hire based on a Positive “Can Do” Attitude!

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Mamaku Flat, Summer Safe Farm 3-year average milk solids 153,000kgs 480 cows Low Input Grass Based System 30 ASHB shed Approximately 12 minutes from Rotorua Attractive kilograms of milk solids for right applicant Good housing is provided Email: headwaterfarms@hotmail.com Mobile: 027 357 7504

STOCK MANAGER – PAEMAKO

SEE PAGE 32

RURAL DIRECTIONS FARM MANAGER

MORE EMPLOYMENT ADVERTISING

Email your CV to: lee@sxhort.co.nz

advise when contacted. Sharing accommodation in a 4-bedroom house; two bathrooms. Will have own room. Free accommodation Contact Neville on 027 279 8564

Are you ambitious and motivated? Would you like to work for a company that can provide a career growth? We are seeking an experienced Cropping Manager. This exciting role requires a hands-on approach to manage and oversee all aspects of our Gisborne-based cropping operation. Coxco Farming has specialised in the growing of squash for the Japanese and Korean markets. It also grows sweetcorn, maize, seed crops.

The farm is located in the Waihopai Valley, Marlborough, approximately 15 minutes from Blenheim airport and 25 minutes from Blenheim. Our new Farm Manager will be someone that is capable of managing a high-performance sheep and beef farm. This is an exciting and challenging role that will involve: • Taking responsibility for the performance of the farm business • Implementing a development programme • Developing an Angus stud enterprise • Maintaining a close working relationship with the Vineyard Manager and Owner • Managing farm staff, contractors and service providers • Ensuring the name “Leefield Station” is synonymous with excellence

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maintenance. Further duties required but will

Coxco Farming & Horticulture Ltd, Gisborne

Leefield Station consists of 2165ha of which approximately 1000ha effective is a sheep and cattle breeding and finishing property (approximately 5000 stock units wintered) a further 900ha is, or will be, planted in grapes with the balance in regenerating bush.

With a lot of farm and non-farm activities happening on the property, this will be an opportunity for the successful candidate to develop new skills and experiences with a supportive senior leadership team.

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We will provide a competitive remuneration package, a well appointed 4-bedroom home and a productive work environment. All services are at the gate. We will require a pre-employment drug test to be carried out.

tractor driving and some general house

Cropping Manager

“No Ordinary Farm Manager Required”

You will need to be an experienced stockperson with a team of four well trained working dogs. Ideally you would be a competent pasture manager with an emphasis on good pasture utilisation. Preference will be given to applicants who can demonstrate they are experienced in operating multiple stock classes achieving a high level of performance. You will need to possess the ability to train, organise and effectively manage a staff member. As a team player you will be able to contribute positively to the wider business.

1000 hectare drystock farm. Part time work

Excellent opportunities to grow your skills and income with our team. Focused, progressive, respectful and values based company. References required.

Farm Manager

After 14 years in charge, the current Stock Manager is taking up another position within our business. We now require a top stockperson to manage our 960ha beef and sheep property. The farm is located close to Piopio and is well set up with a central lane system and good facilities.

or post to: Eight Mile Farms Ltd c/o ME Buckley, RD1, Te Kuiti 3981

SEE PAGE 22

Northern Waikato

Fencing and outdoor working skills required for developing kiwifruit orchards in Te Puke to Waihau Bay areas. Machinery operating skills an advantage.

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2018 / 2019 Season

Retired Farmer Required

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EXPERIENCED CONTRACT MILKER

To apply for the position send your CV with referees to matt@eightmilefarms.co.nz

classifieds@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

This position also comes with a freshly renovated three bedroom house, two room sleepout and two car garage.

You will ideally be a commercially astute team player who is patient and flexible, with the capacity to take responsibility and make decisions. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to manage daily issues and support the team. You will be expected to: • Oversee and manage all aspects of the cropping operation • Manage, supervise and train full time and seasonal staff • Understand and work towards production targets • Source and oversee contractors Maintain HAACP and OH&S standards You will need: • Experience in cropping operations • Tertiary qualifications in agriculture • Good computer skills • Good communication skills A salary package commensurate with experience and qualifications will be negotiated for the right applicant.

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THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

For further information, please contact Omi Badsar, Managing Director, Coxco Group Of Companies, omi@coxco.co.nz or phone on 06 867 4449.

Remuneration will reflect experience and skills. For more information about this position, please contact: Sophie Black, Sheppard Agriculture Ltd sophie@sheppardagriculture.co.nz – 027 739 4736

Farm Manager – Central North Island

Farm Manager & Assistant Manager/2IC –

Tuatahi Farming Partnership is recruiting an experienced Farm Manager to take responsibility for the management of an intensive 14,000su finishing property near Turangi. Tuatahi Farming Partnership runs a total of 68,000 sheep, beef and deer SU on three blocks between Turangi and Taumarunui.

We are looking for two motivated individuals to join our team as a General Hand and a Beef Finishing Shepherd.

Based in Canterbury, Canterbury Grasslands Ltd is a pioneering business committed to pasture-based dairy farming, with a focus on developing people and sustainable profit.

As General Hand you will be responsible for carrying out general farm maintenance tasks including fencing operations, tractor driving and stock yard work.

We are looking for people with excellent pasture, cow and people skills to work as a Farm Manager or Assistant Farm Manager milking 700-800 cows. The successful candidates will have proven leadership capabilities, excellent communication skills, ability to build strong teams, and a strong background in dairying with a track record of high performance. A competitive remuneration package is offered, and the right candidates will have the ability to progress their career with opportunities throughout the wider Grasslands Group.

As Beef Finishing Shepherd on farm, you will manage the beef finishing block with the chance to upskill your technical or intensive farming experience. This role will suit someone who is currently in the dairy or sheep and beef industry. Both candidates will have excellent communication skills, be proactive, forward thinking, have a first class attitude to health and safety, and most importantly be a team player. Located only 20 minutes North of Dargaville, both roles come with a 3 bedroom home located in a beautiful setting just 10 minutes from Kai Iwi Lakes and Ripiro Beach. Primary and secondary schooling located nearby with the school bus stopping at the gate.

This position reports directly to the General Manager. This is a rare opportunity to gain skills and experience working within an expanding and progressive farming business which has a clearly defined strategic and business plan and independent governance.

Large Scale, Canterbury Dairy Farm

Key attributes required in our Farm Managers: • Honest/trust worthy • Team player • Respectful • Willingness to learn • Leadership • Communicator • Adaptable • Resilient Competencies required: • Proven skills and experience in intensive finishing of sheep and beef with deer experience an advantage • Strong staff and relationship management capabilities • Proven ability to plan and meet objectives • Excellent written and oral communication skills with high level of computer literacy • Financial management and planning • Ability and desire to continually improve their farming operation

While these positions are based in Canterbury, New Zealand, the Grasslands Group also has other farming operations in Southland and Missouri, USA. Overall, the roles provide an excellent opportunity for progressive, motivated, results orientated people to perform in a low cost, high profit dairy business.

Info about the vacancy and details of how to apply: www.landcorp.co.nz/careers

Canterbury Grasslands is located near Hororata, only 45 minutes from Christchurch, and 25 minutes from Darfield, Rakaia and Methven. We offer excellent working conditions including training and career development, good quality accommodation and school buses available to schools 10 minutes away.

For a chat about the role, contact David Woolston - Farm Manager on 027 581 1616.

Applicants for these positions should have NZ Residency or a valid NZ Work Visa.

Applications close 5pm, Sunday 11th March 2018.

If you are interested in the position, please email us your CV and references to office@grasslands.org.nz Applications close 12th March

We offer: • A competitive remuneration package • Staff training and development • Excellent farming systems and structure • A comfortable recently redecorated 3 bedroom house on the outskirts of Turangi • A safe working environment Written applications with cover letter and CV to Barry Pope, RD 1, Turangi 3381 Ph 07 386 5752 – Mobile 021 501 377 Email: tuatahi@tuatahi.co.nz

Applications close on 23 March 2018.

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Northland

PRIDE • PEOPLE • PERFORMANCE

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GENERAL HAND & BEEF FINISHING SHEPHERD OPPORTUNITIES

Employment

Classifieds

Shepherd General

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

Based in the Waikato, we require a self-motivated individual who has enthusiasm, good work ethic and a desire to grow.

Please email your CV with and two recent work referees to: calexander@outlook.co.nz • Craig Ph 07 888 1703 Applications close Friday 25 March 2018

Farm Manager – Scale & Balance Hawke’s Bay Awapai Station is a highly regarded property situated 50km West of Hastings boasting an enviable combination of both scale and balance. There is a team of four staff on this 2100ha high production operation supporting approximately 17,000su with a combination of high performance ewes, a bull finishing system and 300 cows providing a fit for purpose stocking policy. One of the station’s many features is the excellent balance of country including irrigated river flats, easy hill country and steeper country running up to the Kaweka Ranges. The high level of infrastructure throughout the property is testament to the people involved and sets the standard going forward. Successful management of this family owned business demands strong communication and logistical skills, people management, computer literacy, reporting and some fiscal exposure for the stock trading, cropping and project components of the role. The business is run as a high performance system cemented by excellent management practices. The properties Plantain/Herb based forage system is complemented by summer brassicas and some winter crops. Feed management and forecasting, stockmanship, innovative thinking and the desire to be an operational leader are all on offer to the appointee.

For more information, or to fill out an application, please visit www.ruraldirections.co.nz or phone the Rural Directions team in confidence on 0800 475 465 (Reference #2450). Applications close 5pm Monday 12th March 2018

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If you have ambitions of developing your own brand within an amazing farming platform in Hawke’s Bay with supportive Owners, this opportunity will appeal to you! There is an attractive remuneration package on offer with a comfortable three bedroom house and a great rural community with schools close by.

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

RUN OFF YOUR FEET?

The purpose of the meetings is to report to ratepayers on the work carried out on the Schemes over the past year, and to discuss work proposed to be carried out during the forthcoming financial year. Scheme budgets and proposed rates for the 2018-19 year will also be presented and Councillors and staff will be available to respond to ratepayer queries on general Scheme issues. This year’s meetings have been scheduled as follows: • Ruapehu District Scheme Monday, 5 March 2018 - 1.00pm Taumarunui War Memorial Hall • Ruapehu District Scheme Monday, 5 March 2018 - 6.00pm Te Pae Tata, Ohakune • Tararua District Scheme Thursday, 8 March 2018 - 11.00am Eketahuna War Memorial Hall • Tararua District Scheme Thursday, 8 March 2018 - 3.00pm Weber Community Hall • Tararua District Scheme Thursday, 8 March 2018 - 6.00pm Dannevirke Town Hall • Tararua District Scheme Friday, 9 March 2018 - 11.00am Pongaroa Community Hall • Tararua District Scheme Friday, 9 March 2018 - 3.00pm Pahiatua Town Hall • Hokio Drainage Scheme Monday, 12 March 2018 - 4.00pm Te Takere, Levin • Ohau-Manakau Scheme Tuesday, 13 March 2018 - 4.00pm Ohau Hall • Lower Whanganui Scheme Changes Wednesday, 14 March 2018 - 6.00pm Whanganui War Memorial Hall • Taringamotu Scheme Wednesday, 21 March 2018 - 4.00pm Ngakonui Hall • Upper Whanganui Scheme Wednesday, 21 March 2018 - 7.00pm Central Park Motor Inn, Taumarunui • Manawatu Drainage Scheme Thursday, 22 March 2018 - 1.30pm Kairanga Community Hall • Foxton Drainage Issues Thursday, 22 March 2018 - 6.00pm Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, Foxton • Akitio Scheme Monday, 26 March 2018 - 11.00am Waione Hall • Eastern Manawatu Scheme Monday, 26 March 2018 - 2.00pm Tararua Business Network, Dannevirke • Ihurarua Scheme Monday, 26 March 2018 - 7.00pm Alfredton Community Hall • Lower Whanganui Scheme Changes Tuesday, 27 March 2018 - 6.00pm Whanganui Girls College Hall • Makerua Scheme Wednesday, 28 March 2018 - 9.00am Tokomaru RSA • Moutoa Drainage Scheme Wednesday, 28 March 2018 - 1.30pm Lions Club, Foxton • Lower Manawatu Scheme Wednesday, 28 March 2018 - 7.00pm Convention Centre, Palmerston North • Reid Line Floodway Project Tuesday, 3 April 2018 - 6.00pm Manawatu District Council • Lower Whanganui River Scheme Wednesday, 4 April 2018 - 9.30am Whanganui District Council • Koputaroa Scheme Wednesday, 4 April 2018 - 4.00pm Koputaroa Hall • Ohakune Scheme Thursday, 5 April 2018 - 7.00pm Te Pae Tata, Ohakune • South Eastern Ruahine Scheme Monday, 9 April 2018 - 10.30am The Hub, Dannevirke • Whangaehu-Mangawhero Scheme & Turakina Scheme Monday, 9 April 2018 - 3.00pm Whanganui District Council • Matarawa Scheme Monday, 9 April 2018 - 6.00pm Whanganui Girls College Hall • Upper Manawatu-Lower Mangahao Scheme Tuesday, 10 April 2018 - 10.00am Horizons Regional Council, Woodville Service Centre • Mangatainoka Scheme Tuesday, 10 April 2018 - 1.00pm Horizons Regional Council, Woodville Service Centre • Porewa Scheme Tuesday, 10 April 2018 - 7.00pm Hunterville Hall • Tutaenui Scheme Wednesday, 11 April 2018 - 7.00pm Marton Hall • Rangitikei Scheme Thursday, 12 April 2018 - 4.00pm Bulls Hall • Te Kawau Scheme Friday, 13 April 2018 - 1.00pm Kairanga Community Hall • Lower Kiwitea Scheme Friday, 13 April 2018 - 4.00pm Cheltenham Hotel • Pohangina-Oroua Scheme Monday, 16 April 2018 - 9.30am Pohangina Hall

Advertise your vacancy in Farmers Weekly Plus receive added value of online free of charge* Phone Debbie 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@nzx.com *Available for one month or until close of application

Freephone 0508 800 800 www.horizons.govt.nz

DE HORNER

Phone: +64 6 357 2454 HOOF TRIMMER

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Each year meetings are held for ratepayers funding Horizons Regional Council’s various Flood Protection, River Control and Drainage Schemes.

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz

EARMARKERS

GOAT / SHEEP MILKING We currently seek interested parties, farmers, partners and investors. • New and exciting venture in growth industry • Large scale farming operation LK0091749©

RIVER AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING SCHEMES CATCHMENT COMMUNITY MEETINGS - 2018

For further details contact Nick 0274 763 658 Email: nick.aam@xtra.co.nz AGRICULTURAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

MANUKA SITES REQUIRED (North Island)

Top dollar paid to land owners. Proven performers with sound experience in the industry. Interested in building long term relationships. Contact 027 826 6278 or email: hardyhivezzz@gmail.com

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You will work closely with the farm owner to organise the day-to-day running and be able to show initiative and take on responsibility when opportunities arise.

ZON BIRDSCARER

Come and see us at Central Districts Field Days 15-17 March, Site # 073

• • Stainless Steel Tanks • Solar Tanks • Trailer Tanks • Service * Free water testing kit (value $45 + GST)

* Conditions apply

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We operate an intensive 8000su sheep and beef breeding and finishing operation based 12km from Matamata. We farm 3000 Romney breeding ewes, 150 Angus cows and all replacements. Incorporated in that is a fully recorded flock of 600 ewes, selling rams and fattening all surplus stock. Key attributes required are: • A strong work ethic • Excellent stock handling skills • Excellent communication, sense of humour, honest and reliable • To work independently, or as part of a team • A desire to take up challenges and extend themselves

STOP BIRDS NOW!

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

0800 383 5266 info@fuelconz.co.nz

T HI NK P R E B U I L T

NEW HOMES

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

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

LK0091108©

Classifieds

ANIMAL HANDLING FLY OR LICE problem? Electrodip - The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides. Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness. Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

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

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

ATTENTION FARMERS www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT $5.85 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 07 571 0336 brianmace@xtra.co.nz

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

FOR SALE CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISING

CONTRACTORS GORSE SPRAYING SCRUB CUTTING. 30 years experience. Blowers, gun and hose. No job too big. Camp out teams. Travel anywhere if job big enough. Phone Dave 06 375 8032.

DOGS WANTED NO ONE BUYS OR pays more! Buying over 300 dogs annually! All levels and abilities. Paying $100 more than anyone! 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

FARM MAPPING

DOGS FOR SALE BRIAN BURKE, NZ Champ 1984 and 5 times NZ Champ finalist, available to train your working dog. In three weeks he will transform your heading dog into a productive asset for the farm. Contact Brian 06 343 9561 for further details and pricing (heading dogs only). HEADING PUPS, 8 weeks old, proven X. 8th litter. Phone 06 388 0212 / 027 243 8541. NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST selection of Huntaways, Heading, Handys! View online. Delivered to you. Guaranteed. Trial. Trade ins welcome. 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes. YOUNG HEADING and Huntaways. Top working bloodlines. View our website www.ringwaykennels.co.nz Join us on Facebook: Working dogs New Zealand. Phone 027 248 7704.

DOGS WANTED 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. BLUE HEELER HEADING dog x bitch pup wanted. Phone 07 876 7440.

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

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

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

GOATS WANTED

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

GOATS WANTED WILD CATTLE and goats wanted. 50/50 mustering. Portable yards available. Phone Kerry Coulter 0274 944 194.

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

ORCHARD FOR SALE SMALL HASTINGS ORCHARD. Top location, elite soil. Open plan home. Phone 027 444 2589.

PERSONAL ALONE NO MORE!!! There is no need to be alone when there are so many other genuine singles also seeking love and companionship. Ask the Countrywide personal matchmakers who is waiting in your area. You don’t need a computer and your privacy is assured. Ph 0800 424 318. All ages – seniors welcome. Matchmaker since 1989. *Real People not computers*

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

TRACTOR PARTS JOHN DEERE 6410, 6600, 6610, 6800, 6900, dismantling Andquiparts. Phone 027 524 3356.

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

classifieds@nzx.com

Established 1968

Woodah Royal Flush 11/005 (21 months) Supreme Breed Champion Beef + Lamb NZ Beef Expo 2013

They are given instructions to shoot anybody who’s on the streets after 6 o’clock. So one day, they’re out at twenty to 6, when Paddy spots a man walking on the other side of the street. He lines up the man in his sights and shoots the man dead. Mick is shocked. “What are you doin’, Paddy? It ain’t 6 yet!” “I know what I’m doin’. I know where he lives and he wouldn’t have made it!”

Whole Herd Disbursal Woodah sires have been used in many countries of the world. We offer grass fed South Devon cattle, vaccinated twice and blood tested negative for BVD. Woodah bulls have been voted “Peoples Choice” at South Devon bull trials by breeders, visitors and stud stock agents. For photos and performance data see our Sales Catalogue at www.southdevon.co.nz Enquiries and inspection welcomed LJ Holt Ltd 4675 SH63, RD 1, Blenheim 7271

Justin Holt 03 572 2514

BUYING OR SELLING LIVESTOCK? URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR CLIENTS • Fsn/Fsnx herd producing 500kg/ms, mid July calving. Brent 027 551 3660 • Top indexed Fsn/FsnX i/c hfrs, late June/1st week July calv – have to be tops. Call Matt 027 601 3787 • MT ID dairy cows, immediate delivery, or May delivery. Ben 027 702 4196 • 50-60 Autumn calving genuine herd cows, not c/overs, calv March. Steven 027 453 8769

• Q 1040- 90 Top Fsn/FsnX, i/c hfrs, BW 117, PW 121, capital line, 20/7 calv. Brent 027 551 3660

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

Known for good sheep flow, has been tested and proven to be the fastest and most popular Sheep Handler sold in Australia, replacing many Automated Sheep Handler units on properties throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Cattle Handling Equipment

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

0800 227 228

Call Debbie

Woodah South Devons

• 43 Fsn/Fsnx wnr hfrs, BW 127, PW 123, capital line, $600. Noel 027 588 7632

Combi Clamp Sheep Handler

Reliable Strong, ffi cient E and

0800 85 25 80

Paddy ‘n’ Mick join the army and are put on street patrol in a city with a military curfew.

• 440 W/H wnr beef steers, 170kg/lw, well marked. Matt 027 601 3787

0800 548 339 NZFARMSOURCE.CO.NZ/LIVESTOCK

LK0091627©

Advertise in Farmers Weekly

SALE TALK

HOT NEW LISTINGS

The Combi Clamp …

Do you have something to sell?

Livestock

See us at District Fie Central 15-17 Ma ld Days. rch 20 Site#O18 18.

www.combiclamp.co.nz

Videos on website – On-farm demonstrations available SI Stuart 027 435 3062

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Are you looking in the right direction? farmersweekly.co.nz

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livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

STOCK REQUIRED STORE LAMBS 15 MTH HEIFERS 300-380kgs 340-420kgs 15 MTH BULLS FRIESIAN BULL CALVES 120-180kgs 500kgs + BEEF BULLS 15 MTH STEERS 380-430kgs MA COWS www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 A Financing Solution For Your Farm E info@rdlfinance.co.nz

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

Kaikohe Sale

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Wednesday 7th March 2018

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

Kaikohe Sale

A/c of Okaroro Incorporation 130 x TQ Charx Wnr Strs

Wednesday 14th March 2018 180 x TQ Charx Wnr Hfrs

Farm Sold Complete Flock 250 Shorn Rom ewe lambs 250 Shorn Rom 2th ewes 250 Shorn Rom 4th ewes 200 Shorn Rom 6th ewes 200 Shorn Rom 4yr ewes 150 Shorn Rom 5yr ewes Used eczema tolerant rams ex Piquet Hills & Alexanders For 14 years Flock avg 170% lambing Further Enquiries: Len Sheeran – 0274 735 859

ON FARM LAMB SALE

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

255 M/A Friesian, X/Bred Cows

DAIRY HERDS & INCALF HEIFERS FOR SALE PGG Wrightson Dairy representatives are specialists at marketing and selling dairy herds. Beneﬁt from the nationwide team that is dedicated to matching herds with the right buyers and achieving an optimal outcome for your business.

Further Enquiries: Michael Harrex (Vendor) – 027 476 0900 Jon Newman (PGW) – 027 434 7234

DAIRY HERD FOR SALE 450 Outstanding quality Friesian Cows for sale. Herd BW19, PW27. All mainly overseas nominated sires used with focus on longevity, udders, feet and legs. Very good age breakdown with production consistently around 500M/S cow 1650 ha on an undulating farm. Calving 14th July for 6 weeks AI then tailed with Hereford bulls. Will sell in smaller lines on computer split. Asking price $1950.00 Agonline Ref# 063200 Andrew Reyland – 0272 237 092 Chris Ryan – 0272 431 078

BW 65

PW 66

$1,850+GST

Cattle

Sheep

Other

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

419 M/A Jsy/Jsy X Cows BW 101/49

PW 120/65

$1,800+GST

160 MA Frsn Cows BW 63/43

PW 60/53

$1,800+GST

RA88% DNA’d Friesian Long Established LIC Herd, being on the property over 35 years, doing 440 M/S Peter Forrest – 0275 986 153

RA97% Long established, young, high indexes closed Jsy & Jsy X Herd. “Top 7%” Been in family for 50 years. Tim Pickering – 0274 469 963

RA91% Excellent uddered LIC Frsn herd. Low input system. “Big potential here”. Kim Harrison – 0275 010 013

Agonline ref: 063145

Agonline ref: 062931

Agonline ref: 063773

590 M/A Friesian Cows

330 M/A Frsn/Frsn X Cows

BW 57

PW 57

$1,750+GST

BW 79/44

PW 102/67

$1,795+GST

RA82% A Very Attractive Predominately Friesian Herd, Very Good Udders, Deep Bodied Capacious Cows. Jason Roberts – 0272 431 429

RA92%Farm Owner putting S/M on tidy Cows, on a hard pasture based system, will shift well. Dave Stuart – 0272 241 049

Agonline ref: 062942

Agonline ref: 063393

268 MA Xbred Cows BW 82

PW 113

$1,680+GST

PW 130

$1,180+GST

Mainly Young Cows, Unrecorded, Cows LIC & Natural Mated, Will Shift Well. Chris Ryan – 0272 431 078 Agonline ref: 063350

225 M/A Jersey Cows BW 120

Pick 650 out of 1100 Frsn/Frsn X Cows, Unrecorded

$1,875+GST

183 M/A Jersey Cows BW 123

PW 113

$2,100+GST

RA86% A nice X/Bred herd, medium frame, good type cows that need to be sold due to change in farming practice. Richard Todd – 0274 942 544

RA98% Jersey Herd in Top 5% BW, Good Capacious and Typey Cows being faithfully Farmed. Peter Schnuriger – 0272 431 836

RA100% Elite Jersey Genetics, Outstanding T.O.P. Scores, Type, Production and Breeding Worth. Jason Roberts – 0272 431 429

Agonline ref: 063754

Agonline ref: 063515

Agonline ref: 063295

NORTH ISLAND IN CALF HEIFERS 86 Frsn/Jsy X InCalf Heifers BW 121

PW 137

$1,650+GST

Complete Line of well grown X/Bred Heifers, out of a well bred Herd that have had Bulls in the LIC Team. Lyle Smart – 0277 426 833 Agonline ref: 063202

Approx 1200 Romney Wether Lambs 800 Romney Ewe Lambs 600 Southdown & Suffolk MS Lambs Lambs will be presented in store and prime condition.

Key: Dairy

NORTH ISLAND HERDS & HEIFERS FOR SALE

Tuesday 13 March at 11am Horsehoof Station, Outram C/- AL & MD Harrex (signposted off Outram-Lee Stream Road, approx 8km from Outram)

PHONE NIGEL RAMSDEN 0800 85 25 80

Contact Rhys Dackers 027 241 5564

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

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

A/C G & J Miller (Piopio)

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

A/c of Okaroro Incorporation

To advertise

TE KUITI SALEYARDS WED 7 MARCH, START 11.30AM

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101 Jsy, FJX InCalf Heifers BW 119

PW 113

$1,450+GST

185 Frsn/Frsn X Incalf Heifers BW 92

PW 109

$1,690+GST

RA100% Genuine, Replacement, DNA’d line of Capital Stock R2 Heifers. Vendor exiting industry, years of LIC Breeding. Tim Pickering – 0274 469 963

RA100% Outstanding line for 1st June delivery, Years of breeding. Early calving, Bull out 12 Dec and grown to full potential. Shaan Featherstone – 0276 661 198

Agonline ref: 062945

Agonline ref: 063597

SOUTH ISLAND HERDS & HEIFERS FOR SALE MARKET COMMENT Sales activity has mirrored the past few weeks with herd sales consistently averaging $1600 - $1800. R2 heifer activity has also improved with some areas reporting listings of better quality heifers becoming short, pricing remains in the $1400 - $1650 range. PAUL EDWARDS National Dairy Manager Ph 027 442 5028

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

230 F/FX, JFX InCalf Heifers BW 131

PW 129

$1,900+GST

RA100% One of the Best Well Grown , Very High Index Heifers. Complete Capital Line. Murray Bain – 0274 338 678 Agonline ref: 063016

395 M/A Frsn/Frsn X Cows BW 48

PW 63

$1,850+GST

These Cows are Frsn/Frsn X, a moderate size with great capacity, working hard on a basic feed system. Andrew Upston – 0274 053 454 Agonline ref: 063727

100 Frsn, Frsn/Frsn X InCalf Heifers BW 114

PW 109

$1,750+GST

Pick 250 out of 300 M/A Friesian, X/Bred Cows BW 10

PW 26

$2,150+GST

SO Very Well Capital Line of Heifers, Grown Out. Tim Pickering – 0274 469 963

Well Uddered Young Friesian Herd with capacity, well grown animals. Roddy Bridson – 0274 582 775

Agonline ref: 062945

Agonline ref: 062754

76 Friesian, Friesian/Jersey X InCalf Heifers

810 MA Pred Friesian Cows

$1,600+GST

Capital Line of Well Grown Semex/ Worldwide Sires Heifers, been sold due to farm changes. Stu Walsh – 0274 344 093

BW 45/32

PW 60/36

$1,750+GST

Grass only Cows, no inputs. “Lovely uddered Cows - very quiet temperament” Anton Nally– 0274 774 502 Agonline ref: 063495

Agonline ref: 062648

NATIONAL TEAM. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. Helping grow the country

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

GRAZING AVAILABLE Central North Island

Autumn Ram Sale March 16th – 1pm on-farm SH 8, Fairlie 150 2th Rams – 7 Breeds including selection for hogget mating

Large areas available • Summer safe • Facial Eczema safe

• Romney • Romdale • Perendale x Tex x Romney • Texel x Romney • Kelso x Romney • Kelso Maternal • Kelso Terminal (Black Face)

Drench and Jersey Bulls Provided Managed by ex-dairy farmers, weighed and drenched regularly with weight reports provided.

LK0091788©

East Frsn ram lambs Well grown CONTACT CALLUM DUNNETT 027 587 0131

90 Frsn/Xbrd BW100 PW91 DTC 28/7

2nd Annual Angus Female In-Calf Sale

Well grown (500kgs at calving) I/C to Jsy $1650

– May 2nd

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

50 Jsy AB mated BW124 PW108 DTC 22/7 Well bred, AB & tailed with Jsy bulls $1400 57 Xbred BW100 PW102 DTC 15/7 I/c to Jsy Capital Stock $1600 Philip Webb: 027 801 8057 Central & Southern NI Dairy Coordinator For extensive listings for all types of dairy stock visit:

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

GOING GOING GONE! Call Nigel

0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Thursday 8th March 2018 1pm start – Approx 2350 head

Northern Weaner Fairs

AUTUMN CALVING COWS

10 Limo bulls 500 Fries bulls Heifers 775 head 90 AB Ang & Chainagus hfrs 235 Ang hfrs 280 Char/Sim/ Santa/M. Anjou hfrs 180 Fries/Hfd & Fries Ang hfrs

These Annual Weaner fairs will have some 9000 head of calves consisting of some outstanding lines of both traditional & exotic breed calves with Northland’s renowned shifting abilities, giving purchases the confidence of getting good quality, well bred livestock.

Morrinsville Dairy Complex

Are you looking in the right direction?

Bulls 762 head 252 TQ Char & Sim bulls Enquiries to: Rodger Sloane 027 490 8368 Reuben Wright 027 284 6384

Thursday 15th March 11.30 start On A/c Client 78 Frs/FrsX/Xbd Cows. BW 73 (up to 137)

Northern sale dates

vPW 95 (up to 224) In-calf to Hfd, DTC 20/3 for 9 weeks, 45 3 year old, 27 4 year old. are ready to milk.

Broadwood Weaner Fair

All cows blanket dry cow treated.

Friday 9th March 2018 1pm start – 1900 head

This is a golden opportunity to take

Bulls 985 head 820 Char bulls 30 Siml X bulls 20 Ang bulls 35 Shtn X Hfd X bulls 80 Fries bulls

advantage of the present grass growth. View MyLivestock Listing #WAI55550 LK0091826©

Normal Dairy Empty sale to follow. Contact Glenn Tasker

Call Nigel

0800 85 25 80

LK0091817©

In excellent order, these young cows

March March March March March March March March March March

5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 12th 13th 14th 15th 21st

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Mon Tues Wed Thurs Wed

Wellsford Wnr steers Kauri Wnr Steers Kaikohe Wnr Steer Peria Wnr Steer & Bull Fair Broadwood Wnr Steers & Bulls Wellsford Wnr Heifers Kauri Wnr Heifers Kaikohe Wnr Heifers Broadwood Wnr Heifers Kaikohe Wnr Bull & Grown Cattle Fair

If you are looking to purchase some quality well bred calves on behalf of Carrfields we look forward to catching up with you at one of the fairs.

0274 777 345

livestock@nzx.com

Finance can be arranged for purchases to qualifying clients, for further enquiries please contact Robert McLean 0275 904 829 NORTHLAND LIVESTOCK MANAGER

COMMISSION ON YOUR NEXT STORE TRADE

There has never been a better time to experience all the benefits and join over 3,500 farmers across the country on StockX – New Zealand’s livestock marketplace. Find out for yourself and take advantage of this unbeatable commission offer on your next trade until 31 March. Visit stockx.co.nz or call 0508 StockX (786 259) today for more information.

LK0091764©

Peria Weaner Fair

Enquiries to: Craig Murray 09 409 5501 John Guest 09 405 5523 Reuben Wright 027 284 6384

Suitable for hogget mating

Mainly Frsn, Vet dated to calve July $1700

LK0091783©

Sloane Livestock

Well bred and records available

112 Frsn/FrsnX BW78 PW92 DTC 1/7-1/8

– Next to the Rugby club on ringside sharing our tent with Beltex NZ

Contact: David Giddings 03 685 8027 Auctioneers: PGGW Keith Willson 027 412 5766 Carrfields Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131 PWA Hamish Zuppicich 027 403 3025 RL Anthony Cox 027 208 3071

Cheviot 1 Shr rams and ram lambs

31 VIC to AI tailed Jsy Capital Stock $1750

Approx. – 80 fully recorded Stud Females R2, R3, R4, and Annual Draft Cows – 50 R2 Commercial heifers Meadowslea Bred

Andy Carlson 0274 529 697

Steers 920 head 30TQ Char strs 350 Char strs 380 Ang & Ang X strs 20 Shtn X strs 70 Hfd X strs 70 Sim X strs

63 Frsn BW103 PW95 DTC 1/8

Visit us at the Wanaka Show

For more information call:

Steers 813 head 38 AB Ang & SimX strs 360 Ang strs 220 Char/Sim/ Santa/M. Anjou strs 85 Hfd & Shthn strs 160 Fries/Hfd & Fries Ang steers

88 High BW PW Frsn BW119 PW122 RA100% F12-F16 Blacks DTC 24/7 to Jsy bulls $1600 146 High BW PW Frsn BW122 PW122 RA100% F12-F16, DTC 24/7 to Jsy bulls $1600 230 Frsn BW73 PW69 RA100% DTC 24/7 F12-F16 I/C Jsy bulls, will split to suit $1300 80 Frsn/FrsnX BW105 PW113 RA99% DTC 17/7 LIC Sire Proving $1550 Paul Kane 027 286 9279 (North Waikato/ Northland) National Dairy & Live Export Coordinator

AH090079©

Grazing available for Heifers from 1 May 2018.

LIMITED

FOR SALE

In-Calf heifers

MAY – MAY

AH0091816©

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

MARKET SNAPSHOT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2017-18

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Canterbury (NZ$/t)

6.40

6.31

AS OF 07/12/2017

AS OF 22/02/2017

MILK PRICE COMPARISON

358

327

NI mutton (20kg)

4.75

3.25

372

294

SI lamb (17kg)

6.85

5.20

Feed Barley

372

371

289

SI mutton (20kg)

4.65

3.25

245

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 8.81

8.75

7.96

6.5

Maize Grain

441

375

6.0

PKE

278

248

WMP GDT PRICES AND NZX FUTURES

286

UK CKT lamb leg

7.0

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

6.5 6.0

INTERNATIONAL

5.5 Last week

Prior week

Last year

Wheat - Nearest

229

224

Corn - Nearest

196

201

383

313

5.0

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

4.5

2500 2000 Apr 17 Jul 17 Oct 17 C2 Fonter r a WMP

ASW Wheat

368

289

Feed Wheat

321

278

Feed Barley

351

352

249

PKE (US$/t)

Jan 18 Apr 18 NZX WMP Futur es

Ex-Malaysia

118

600

$/kg

3000

South Island 1 7kg lamb

7.5 7.0

APW Wheat

3500

North Island 17kg lamb

7.5

Australia (NZ$/t)

4000 US$/t

5.35

372

7.0

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

6.95

358

Waikato (NZ$/t)

Dec 17 Feb 18 AgriHQ Seasonal

500 400 300

NZ venison 60kg stag

6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5

Oct

105

Oct

Dec

Feb

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

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3195

3235

3190

SMP

1945

1960

AMF

6350

Butter

5400

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Prior week

Last year

1935

Urea

523

482

2.98

3.00

3.74

6420

6260

Super

307

317

Nth Isl 37m

3.10

3.78

5500

4850

DAP

739

Sth Isl 35m

4.50

4.95

3.90

775

785

CANTERBURY FEED PRICES $/kg

c/k kg (net)

US$/t

NZ$/t May

Jun

Jul

Aug

4 weeks ago

Sharemarket Briefing THE roller-coaster month of February is now behind us and it saw many markets break lengthy winning streaks. The NZX50 was no exception though didn’t plummet to the lows seen in offshore markets. For February the index finished down 0.81%. Although on the face of it this sounds like a lot, it is important to put it into context. The NZX had risen for 13 months in a row. It had also seen six consecutive years of gains, with the average yearly rise over this period being 17.1%. Although we also note that the NZX50 index is a gross index, so this figure also includes dividends, it is still an incredible run. Despite the 0.81% fall, the NZX50 is about 100 points away from its all time high set in January. That is about 1.2% from where the index is sitting at the time of writing. Given the bull market we have seen over recent years, we felt a pull back was a healthy thing for the market and have been waiting for it. Globally a number of markets entered correction territory during February but rebounded quickly. Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

21135

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

8343

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

8112

NZ venison 60kg stag

4.5

600

250 150 Mar 14

Coarse xbred wool indicator

5.5

350

15923

This yr

Last week

3200

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

Last yr

Aug

Coarse xbred ind.

450

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

Aug

Jun

(NZ$/kg)

3400

Latest price

Jun

NZ average (NZ$/t)

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Apr

WOOL

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Mar

Apr

FERTILISER

Last price*

3000

Last year

6.95

Feed Wheat PKE

Oct 17 AgriHQ Spot Fonterra forecast

Last week Prior week

NI lamb (17kg)

Milling Wheat

7.5

5.5 Aug 17

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

c/kkg (net)

$/kgMS

SHEEP MEAT

DOMESTIC

AGRIHQ 2017-18

FONTERRA 2017-18

Sheep

$/kg

Dairy

Mar 15 Feed barley

Mar 16

Mar 17 PKE spot

3.5

400 300

2.5

Oct Oct

Dec Dec 5‐yr ave

FebFeb

AprApr Last yr

Jun Jun Aug Aug This yr

Dollar Watch

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

13.09

14.62

7.66

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

13.75

14.39

12.41

Auckland International Airport Limited Meridian Energy Limited Spark New Zealand Limited Ryman Healthcare Limited Fletcher Building Limited Mercury NZ Limited (NS) Contact Energy Limited Air New Zealand Limited (NS)

6.40 2.79 3.35 10.69 6.43 3.20 5.26 3.31

6.73 3.00 3.68 11.30 7.96 3.45 5.64 3.31

6.21 2.75 3.32 10.27 6.39 3.16 5.24 2.86

Listed Agri Shares

500

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

13.090

14.620

7.660

Comvita Limited

7.800

9.210

7.710

Delegat Group Limited

8.100

7.510

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

5.990

6.660

5.960

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2.250

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.940

2.430

1.880

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.610

0.630

0.560

Sanford Limited (NS)

7.700

8.500

7.550

Scales Corporation Limited

4.490

4.920

4.400

Seeka Limited

6.700

7.000

5.800

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

7.780

7.900

6.260

T&G Global Limited

3.220

3.300

3.150

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

1.050

1.240

1.030

S&P/FW Primary Sector

15923

16019

14417

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

21135

21303

18488

S&P/NZX 50 Index

8343

8456

8059

S&P/NZX 10 Index

8112

8154

7640

THE United States dollar This Prior Last NZD vs looks like coming out of week week year its downtrend and has USD 0.7222 0.7342 0.7056 the prospect of a sharp EUR 0.5919 0.5955 0.6718 rise some time this year, AUD 0.9351 0.9356 0.9328 Westpac bank strategist GBP 0.5259 0.5259 0.5752 Imre Speizer says. Correct as of 9am last Friday There is a chance that noise around a number of issues could see the New Zealand dollar make another brief spike higher towards US$0.74 but his preferred view is for slippage from the current rate above 0.72 and a year-end figure below US$0.65. Economist estimates of the number of interest rate rises in the US this year and next (covering the rising cycle) are mostly in four or five and even some up to six but the market view is a bit lower than that, Speizer said. If and when the market comes around to the idea of more, then interest rates will lift and the US dollar will follow. Though there are fiscal and debt issues holding the big dollar back, it should revert to the long-run influence of interest rates. “It’s got a bit of ground to catch up and there could be quite a sharp flick higher.” On the other major trade currencies, Speizer is expecting a kiwi bias lower against both United Kingdom sterling and the euro as the year unwinds. There’s still a lot of Brexit uncertainty for the UK but its economy is stronger than NZ’s and it will be tightening interest rates. Alan Williams

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

NI SLAUGHTER STEER

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

($/T)

($/KG)

WEANER HEREFORD-FRIESIAN BULLS, 130-135KG, AT FRANKTON

($/KG)

($/HD)

5.60

372

6.85

675

high lights

$3.23-$3.36/kg $3.04-$3.14/kg R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 330-400kg, at Wellsford Grown Cattle Fair

R2 Angus bulls, 423477kg, at Stortford Lodge

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

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.60

5.40

NI Bull (300kg)

5.40

NI Cow (200kg)

4.30

4.20

SI Steer (300kg)

5.45

5.40

5.30

SI Bull (300kg)

5.25

5.20

4.90

SI Cow (200kg)

4.30

4.25

4.00

US imported 95CL bull

6.74

6.79

6.84

US domestic 90CL cow

6.50

6.58

6.44

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer (300kg)

$/kg

6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 6.0 5.5 $/kg

Calm before the storm

NZ venison 60kg stag

600

c/k kg (net)

FAVOURITES: the Taungatara Clydesdale team from Wairarapa, owned by Steve Muggeridge, top right, were eagerly petted and patronised at the Northland Field Days. He has taken over from the late Dan Dufty, who paraded at about 30 events until 2015.

South Island steer (300kg)

5.0

500

4.5 400

300 4.0

Oct Jul

Dec Sep

Feb Nov

5‐yr ave

Apr Jan

Jun Mar

Last yr

Aug May

Jul

This yr

VENISON Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

NI Stag (60kg)

10.30

8.15

NI Hind (50kg)

10.20

8.05

SI Stag (60kg)

10.80

8.15

SI Hind (50kg)

10.70

8.05

New Zealand venison (60kg Stag)

$/kg

NZ venison 60kg stag

8 500

400 7 300

6 Oct

Jul

Dec Feb Sep Nov 5‐yr ave

Apr Jan Last yr

Jun Mar

Aug May

Jul

This yr

NORTHLAND NORTHLAND The air had an autumn feel but the market was very much spring-like at WELLSFORD last Monday, when nearly 1200 cattle were presented at the Grown Cattle Fair. A feature in the R3 steer pens was Angus, 481-485kg, which sold for $3.16-$3.18/kg, and Angus & AngusHereford, 467kg, $3.13/kg. HerefordFriesian, 463-483kg, sold for $3.04$3.19/kg. Most of the action was in the R2 pens where 670 steers and 220 heifers

Does arranging livestock finance feel like the tail wagging the dog? HBA 1062R

c/k kg (net)

600

EEF Weaner Fairs kick into gear from March and while a few yards have held their first round, they really gain momentum this week and continue through to the end of April. Last year’s markets will be hard to beat with records set, but expectations are high all the same and early results have been similar to 2017.

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

made up the lion’s share. Traditional steers lines did make a slight premium over similar Hereford-Friesian, but the gap was much smaller than past years as demand for all cattle was high. Angus, 406-439kg, returned $3.23$3.24/kg, while Hereford-Friesian of similar weight made $3.11-$3.19/kg. Lighter Hereford-Friesian, 281-393kg, made $3.23-$3.40/kg. $3.00/kg was passed time and again in the heifer pens, with a highlight being 27 Hereford, 326kg, which sold for $1040, $3.19/kg. The best-selling Hereford-Friesian lines on a $/kg basis were 293-310kg at $3.19-$3.24/ kg, while 325-387kg made $3.01$3.15/kg, and heavier lines just dipped below $3.00/kg. A light line of Friesian bulls, 292kg, managed $3.49/kg, though 405-456kg, made market value at $2.81-$2.89/kg. A clean out prior to weaner fairs swelled cattle numbers to 750 head at KAIKOHE last Wednesday.

A small offering of R3 steers centered on Hereford-cross and Shorthorn-cross lines which sold for $2.90-$2.98/kg. Shorthorn-cross heifers were also offered and sold well at $2.85/kg. R2 prices were very solid for the better beef-cross, exotic-cross and good Hereford-Friesian steers. The best of the bunch sold to $3.10-$3.23/ kg, with medium types earning $2.95$3.05/kg, and lesser Friesian-cross, $2.85-$2.90/kg. Dairy lines made up the bull section and Friesian made good returns at $3.02/kg, though Jersey met the market at $2.60/kg. Beef cattle returned to the pens for the heifer section and a competitive bench pushed prices to $2.80-$3.00/kg. The weaner bull pens offered up everything with dairy through to dairy-beef and beef lines. Prices were

Continued page 38

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Call 0800 87 50 50.

Markets

38 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018 very strong and the top dairybeef lines sold up to $720 with most making $4.00-$5.40/kg, and medium types, $600-$700. A small offering of steers were mainly medium types and traded at $3.60-$4.10/kg, with good weighted beef heifers earning $600-$700, $3.20-$3.40/kg, and dairy-beef, $450-$560. As usual the sale finished on the cows, and empty and run-withbull dairy mainly traded at $1.80$1.90/kg, with the odd heavier type up to $2.00/kg. AUCKLAND AUCKLAND Autumn grass growth and a two-week break for sales at PUKEKOHE resulted in a large crowd on Saturday February 24, Livestock Mart Auctions agent Pat Farrell reported. Very little differentiated prices for medium prime steers, 519686kg, which sold for $2.85-$2.87/ kg from the top heifers which made $2.82-$2.96/kg for 496668kg. Other heifers, 462-477kg, made good value at $2.64-$2.87/ kg with even the top crossbred heifers, 374kg, selling to $2.94/ kg. Heavy boner cow prices were exceptional and 470-723kg sold to $2.02-$2.28/kg, with lesser sorts, 429-508kg, making $1.56-$1.73/ kg. Bulls, 418-646kg, returned $2.58-$2.80/kg. R2 crossbred steers, 410-458kg, returned $2.84-$3.02/kg with smaller types, 320-350kg, starting at a similar level but selling up to $3.30/kg. A line of good Angus steers, 300kg, sold for an impressive $990 at $3.31/kg, while small 15-month heifers, 277kg, fetched $3.03/kg. Weaner prices were outstanding with 113kg crossbred steers selling as high as $730 to put them at $6.43/kg. Other medium steers, 128kg, sold for $600. The heifer pens offered up a bit more in quality and 243-257kg returned $795-$880, with small crossbred, 115-119kg, making $480-$660. COUNTIES COUNTIES TUAKAU hosted a weaner heifer fair last Thursday, Craig Chamberlain of Carrfields Livestock reported. About 1000 heifers were yarded

and some lines made at least $100/head more than the same sale last year. Heavy exotic heifers, 250kg-plus, traded at $3.45-$3.79/ kg, with many selling at around $1100. Medium exotics, 200250kg, made $3.50-$3.98/kg, $800$940, and lighter and younger exotics under 200kg, $3.60-$4.20/ kg, $630-$780. The traditional breed section included mostly Angus, Angus-cross, Hereford and Hereford-cross heifers, with the heavier lots, 250kg-plus, selling at $3.58-$4.05/kg and making up to $1180. Most of the medium heifers, 200-250kg, earned $3.70$4.11/kg, $760-$840, with lighter types fetching $3.75-$4.35/kg, $600-$700. The sale also included some dairy-beef heifers, mostly Hereford-Friesian, with those at around 130kg making $600-$660 and lighter and younger types, 100-130kg, $520-$590. Heavy steers continued to trade strongly at last Wednesday’s prime sale, making $2.88-$3.04/ kg. Medium steers earned $2.79$2.87/kg and trade-types $2.91$3.01/kg. Heavy export heifers sold at $2.85-$2.93/kg, with lightmedium beef heifers fetching $2.73-$2.80/kg. Beef cows earned $2.33-$2.70/kg and heavy Friesian $1.87-$2.06/kg. Medium cows made $1.78-$1.84/kg and lighter boners $1.34-$1.64/kg. Last Monday’s sheep sale attracted a small yarding of around 500 ewes and lambs but the shortage of numbers kept the market firm. Heavy prime lambs traded at $139-$178, with mediums making $128-$148 and lighter lambs $110-$125. Store lambs were in short supply. Medium stores earned $85-$103 and lighter types $75-$84. Ewe numbers were also light. Heavy prime ewes returned $135-$151, mediums $113-$130 and lighter ewes $49-$72. WAIKATO An increased yarding of 1441 weaners was very well received by the mainly local buying bench at FRANKTON last Tuesday A larger offering of steers had a good following as Angus-cross, 129-151kg, made $540-$600, and Hereford-cross, 127-166kg, earned

$565-$665. Hereford-Friesian were strong with 175-228kg earning $730-$850, and 108-165kg, $625$720. Heifers lifted with Herefordcross, 111-133kg, making $475$550, as did Hereford-Friesian, 165-186kg, up to $560-$670; 123138kg continued this trend and strengthened to $530-$570. Hereford-cross weaner bulls, 136-149kg, improved to $570-$630. Hereford-Friesian lifted and 119135kg earned $630-$700. Friesian bulls, and heavier lines, 152-217kg, $640-$765, 136-139kg, $610-$640. A significantly increased yarding met with keen interest from the local buying bench last Wednesday. R3 Friesian steers, 423-490kg, steady at $2.65-$2.72/kg. Herefordcross heifers, 368-394kg, were strong making $2.77-$2.80/kg, while bulls, 409-432kg sold in a tight band of $2.43-$2.51/kg regardless of breed. Results were steady for most in the R2 pens, though an easing was felt for a few. Angus-Hereford steers, 336-412kg, were consistent at $3.02-$3.03/kg. HerefordFriesian, 362-393kg, followed that trend and sold for $3.17-$3.26/ kg, while 397-413kg strengthened to $3.15-$3.17/kg. Conversely Hereford-cross, 380kg, eased 10c/ kg, albeit still with good results at $3.16/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 348-425kg, also eased 10c/ kg to $2.74-$2.85/kg. A highlight in the heifers was good lines of Simmental-cross, 424-461kg, making $2.73-$2.83/kg. The majority of R2 bulls, 260-450kg, sold in a 10c/kg band $2.52-$2.62/ kg regardless of breed. The prime market was steady for most with beef-bred steers, 502-706kg, earning $2.80-$2.88/kg, whilst those with Friesian blood, 592-758kg, made $2.82-$2.97/ kg; lighter 543-595kg varied from $2.65-$2.89/kg. Beef-bred heifers, 428-495kg, made $2.75/kg, while Friesian-cross, 442-529kg, earned $2.78-$2.89/kg. Boner cows, 391-516kg, were steady on recent levels at $1.70$1.99/kg. BAY OF PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY RANGIURU cattle numbers increased significantly last

Tuesday but coincided with a notable drop in buyer numbers so prices softened. A feature line of R3 Hereford steers, 428kg, sold for $2.98/kg, with all other lines trading at $2.86-$2.91/kg. Heifer prices were similar, with Hereford and Hereford-Friesian, 414-481kg, fetching $2.83-$2.86/kg. HerefordFriesian steers, 310-317kg, proved popular, selling well above most other lines at $3.16-$3.22/kg, while Friesian, 290-354kg returned $2.62-$2.80/kg. Beef and Beef-Friesian heifer prices were more consistent, with the better lines making $2.72$2.82/kg. The Friesian heifers tended to trade at $1.98-$2.05/kg, though a quality light line at 256kg reached $2.93/kg. A nice line-up of Angus bulls enjoyed a bit of interest, and 305-343kg sold to $3.09-$3.15/kg, with a lighter line at 266kg making $3.15/kg. Numbers shot up in the prime pens, helped by a large number of dairy cows. Friesian, 460520kg, sold on a steady market at $1.91/kg, with most empty lines making $1.77-$1.97/kg. In-calf cows made very similar values. Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 560-602kg, eased to $2.88-$2.96/ kg, while a line of 10 Angus, 634kg, made an expected premium at $3.04/kg. Weaner numbers almost doubled on last year, but the market was hot. About 1800 beef and dairy-beef cattle were offered. In the limelight was an annual consignment of freshly weaned Charolais bulls, which weighed in at 440-520kg, and the top line matched last year’s price of $2700, though the second and third cuts made a premium at $1900-$2180, with these destined for the dairy herds. Steer weights overall were up on last year, but 211-217kg Hereford made similar $/kg at $3.86-$3.94/ kg as 192-195kg last year which indicates a firm market, and 176-201kg pushed to $4.15-$4.23/ kg. All lines of Charolais-cross flew $4.20/kg despite weights of 250-312kg, which put them at $1050-$1420, with similar results for Simmental-cross. Beef heifer prices appeared steady, and most traded over a tight range of $3.41-

$3.54/kg, with the top line of Angus reaching $1010. Most other lines sold for $600-$780, with Hereford, 177-198kg, trading on a steady market at $3.38-$3.47/kg. Once again the exotic-cross lines proved popular, and 230-250kg traded at $840-$900, $3.65-$3.69/ kg, with heavier lines pushing over $1000. The bull section was a mainly Hereford and Friesian affair and compared to last year Hereford, 168-209kg, firmed to $870-$1130. Friesian prices firmed also and 130-160kg sold for $555-$615, and 196-214kg, $710-$740. A line of 304kg Simmental-cross 304kg, reached $1215. TARANAKI TARANAKI Late entries of cattle swelled numbers to 710 head at TARANAKI last Wednesday, though the market held up well considering. Good returns at auction drew in a swag of dairy cows with nearly 260 penned. The decision to sell at auction paid off, and good Friesian and Friesian-cross, 489-548kg, sold for $1.90-$2.00/ kg, with medium types trading at $1.73-$1.88/kg. The prime pens featured little in the way of numbers but steer prices were steady, with all 550622kg and trading at $2.98-$3.03/ kg. One line of Hereford-Friesian bulls, 515kg, fetched $2.88/kg. Small lines stretched out the store section of the sale, and quality was mixed throughout. R3 steers generally traded at $3.04$3.14/kg, with small lines of 488505kg Hereford-Friesian making premiums. Up to $3.00/kg was common through the R2 steer pens, but it took quality lines of HerefordFriesian, 334-436kg, to reach $2.99-$3.09/kg, with small light lines of this breed and AngusFriesian, 256-260kg, up to $3.36$3.38/kg. The R2 heifer market eased and better types sold for $2.66-$2.79/ kg, with a few exceptions to the rule in the Hereford-Friesian breed as 245-287kg fetched $2.84$2.98/kg. Empty dairy heifers also made an appearance and better types made $2.17-$2.22/kg. Jersey

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Markets

bulls, 277-325kg, returned $2.53$2.58/kg. POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY Store lambs have continued to stay away from MATAWHERO. Only 400 lambs split across four pens were up for offer this week, and although they sold for reasonable money, they didn’t quite hit the mark set a week earlier. They were split into two cuts with a line of males and a line of ewe lambs in each. The good males made $102, while slightly lighter ewe lambs made $95. The second cuts sold for similar per head prices, $88.50 and $90.50, but the ewe lambs were fairly light. Two decent sized pens off 3-4-year Romney ewes added something a little different. A good line made $119, while the other was $92. Prime lambs were sold over the range of $127.50-$148. HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY No cattle were offered last Monday at STORTFORD LODGE so the focus was firmly on the sheep section, and it did not disappoint. A slightly smaller offering of ewes were penned and competition was strong from the large amount of buyers on the rails. Heavy ewes improved by up to $7.50 per head, making $142-$158, while medium to medium-good lifted $3 to $123-$138.50. Medium types were strong at $114-$121.50, and light-medium managed $105.50-$112. Light ewes returned $94-$100, while the tail end made $44-$64. Male lambs earned $112.50$133.50. Mixed sex top cut lambs returned $153, with the next cut lifting to $132-$136, and lighter lines managed $114-$118. Ewe lambs took top honors for the sale by returning $159, with lighter lines making $132. A total of 1700 were yarded last Wednesday and a consignment of cryptorchid lambs started the sale, with two big lines selling to one buyer for $98-$106. Medium cryptorchid sold for $75-$83.50, while good rams earned $91$98. The top mixed sex fetched $103.50-$111.50, while two small lines of ewe lambs were good types and made $82.50-$89.50. The main feature was a consignment of 82 home-bred Angus bulls. Sold in four lines they were presented in great condition and provided a two-way option to fatten or visit the dairy cows. A line of 427kg sold for $3.14/kg while all other lines made $2.97$3.09/kg. A line of Angus bulls was also found in the R3 pens and at 461kg sold for $2.82/kg while all Friesian made $2.68-$2.75/kg for 465471kg. A heavier line at 506kg had better cover and returned $2.87/ kg. R2 steer prices were solid though the section was small. Local demand drove the market and Angus & Angus-Hereford, 381kg, firmed to $3.43/kg, with a heavier line earning $3.22/kg. Beef-Friesian heifers sold above market value to a local buyer at $2.92-$3.04/kg for 385-430kg, while the top Friesian heifers made $2.45-$2.54/kg, and 332365kg, $2.16-$2.26/kg.

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018 MANAWATU MANAWATU At FEILDING on Monday most lambs were heavier types and with a firm tone to the market two lines of males sold for $149-$156, with heavy and very heavy mixed sex making $132-$156. A small second cut made $117-$125.50. Heavy ewes sold for $134-$167, with good types returning $113$129. Medium ewes sold on a firm market at $94-$100. Good Friesian bulls made $225-$290, and the top HerefordFriesian $300-$320 to set the market tone. The only straight beef lines in the 200 head yarding could be found in the bull pens, where ex-service Hereford, 630740kg, made good values at $3.06$3.12/kg, while a one-ton bull returned $2400. All prime heifers were beef-Friesian and lighter types at 310-397kg which traded at $2.16-$2.22/kg, with the better beef-dairy cows also making those values. At FEILDING on Friday heavier R3 steers sold to a steady market, as any 575-640kg straight-beef lines went for $2.95-$3.02/kg. Lighter lines were softer. Some R3 Friesian bulls, 545-590kg, were $2.91-$2.97/kg, but one 535kg line was pushed up to $3.12/kg. Angus and Angus-cross R3 heifers, 425500kg, traded at $2.78-$2.81/kg. Hereford-Friesians R2 steers, 375-495kg, were $2.80-$2.92/ kg, straight-beef lines 395-455kg were more solid at $3.14-$3.31/ kg. R2 Friesian bulls were mainly at $2.79-$2.90/kg for 420-480kg lines. Bigger R2 heifers, 290-350kg beef-Friesian and Angus lines were $2.88-$2.94/kg. Weaners 180-195kg Friesian bulls made $750-$840, dropping to $595-$625 for 135-150kg. Hereford-Friesian bulls, 145-170kg, were $620-$675. Good cryptorchid lambs were $102-$120 range, dropping to $97-$108 for the cut below. Ram lambs made $97-$115 and $95.50$102.50. Good mixed sex lines made $91-$112, mediums were down at $68-$84. A few medium ewe lambs made up to $95. The top 4-year and 5-year ewes were $146-$158, while other good lines were $127-$142. Mediums were $120. CANTERBURY CANTERBURY At CANTERBURY PARK even light lambs needed $80 and more. Most light lines traded at $75-$89. Medium types sold for $90-$99, and the top lines across mixed sex and male sections made $100$120. Buyers were hard pressed to find any prime lambs for less than $120 as $3-$4 was added to last week’s price, and most sold for $120-$168. A small top end returned $170-$180. The ewe market lifted $5-$7 and the top price was $278 for a line of seven very heavy ewes but a good number sold for $194-$250. Most of the trading happened around $120-$159, with these ewes in medium condition up to good. A nice line-up of AngusHereford steers was presented and fought over, with forward stores, 500-550kg, reaching $3.11-$3.12/ kg, and finished lines, 565-570kg, $3.00-$3.04/kg. Quality was more mixed through the HerefordFriesian pens and prices softened. Heavier types, 595-680kg, sold for $2.80-$2.91/kg, though forward stores made $2.89-$2.96/ kg. Friesian-cross, 565-569kg,

returned $2.70-$2.74/kg. The extra player in the heifer market was absent and HerefordFriesian, 393-515kg, eased to $2.78-$2.89/kg. A consignment of Charolais-cross were fought over though, and 525-607kg reached $3.00-$3.09/kg, with 564kg Hereford also hitting $3.00/kg. A small offering of bulls featured Murray Grey which sold for a premium at $3.05-$3.10/ kg for 565-635kg, while the top lines of Angus-Friesian, 603670kg returned $2.90-$2.98/kg. A handful of cows were offered and most beef lines traded at $2.12$2.24/kg, while a line of Friesiancross boners, 464kg, earned $1.78/ kg. It was busy at COALGATE last Thursday. Just over 2700 store lambs were subjected to very competitive bidding and few traded below $80, despite a number of smaller, later-born lambs penned. Top price was $121 for ewe lambs, with the better ram lambs earning $92-$100. Most of the trading happened in the $80$104 range. Good strength was found on longer term prime lambs and they firmed to $103-$119, with most of the rest making $120-$158. Ewe prices again exceeded $200 for a small portion. The top line made $266 while other heavy lines traded at $162-$188. In good demand for medium and lighter lines most made $104-$145. The cattle yarding featured a consignment of R2 Charolaiscross heifers, which out-priced all other cattle. The top lines weighed in at 346-378kg and returned $3.05-$3.12/kg, though a lighter line of 316kg shot up to $3.23/ kg. Angus and Hereford-Friesian, 309-333kg, fetched $2.85-$2.91/ kg. Steer numbers were very low and just one small line of AngusFriesian, 370kg, stood out, selling for $3.03/kg. Weaner bulls came forward in good numbers as vendors have a bit of a clean-out. A price ceiling of $550 on Friesian bulls had 130-165kg trade over a tight range of $470-$550, while lesser quality Hereford-Friesian, 115-133kg, sold to $340-$360. An outstanding consignment of Angus calves were also keenly contested, and steers, 244-267kg, made $810-$870, and one line of heifers, 266kg, $830. HerefordFriesian heifers, 111-112kg, were off the pace at $320-$325. Prime cattle numbers lifted, helped by bigger entries of beef and empty dairy heifers, as well as dairy cows. Better steers made $2.84-$2.94/kg and the remainder $2.70-$2.74/kg. Good beef heifers - prime and local trade - made $2.80-$2.92/kg. Good dairy heifers sold up to $2.66/kg, and medium types, 342-424kg, fetched $2.22$2.28/kg, though lesser lines dropped below $2/kg. Demand was strong for good beef and heavy dairy cows at $1.94-$2.10/ kg. Lighter dairy cows traded at $1.66-$1.82/kg. SOUTH CANTERBURY SOUTH CANTERBURY Significant rain brought extra lamb buyers to the rails at TEMUKA last Monday. The heavy end of the lambs were mainly steady at $98-$105, but it was the long term lambs that were subjected to a lift in interest and prices. One light-medium line of

whiteface ram lambs made $99 to sell just over $4/kg, while mixed sex of similar weight made $87$94. A line of just over 300 ewe lambs sold well also at $101 and a second cut, $98. In contrast the prime lamb market came back $3$10 with one main buyer missing and schedules easing. Prices of $110-$150 were common, with just a small top end making $150$165. Just over half the ewes made $110-$129, with the bulk of the remainder above that level. Very heavy lines again sold up to $220. A line of well-presented 5-year Romney breeding ewes sold for $150. Heavy Friesian cows, 550kg plus, firmed to $1.90-$2.12/kg, with prices steady for medium types, 480-530kg, $1.80-$1.95/kg. However competition was lacking for the light lines and prices eased, with 395-445kg averaging $1.67/ kg. A small boner heifer section had three notable price ranges, with the top lines making $2.40$2.50/kg, medium $2.20-$2.22/kg, and lesser lines, $1.90-$2.00/kg. Bull numbers were significantly lower and Friesian, 500-550kg, sold for $2.68-$2.77/kg, while Angus, 553-760kg, traded over a tight range of $2.80-$2.85/kg. Angus featured in both the steer and heifer pens, though steers tended to ease across the board. The range of $2.74-$2.84/ kg covered the majority of the lines sold, while Angus heifers, 465-580kg, made steady returns at $2.70-$2.76/kg. Like the steers most heifers sold in a tight range of $2.70-$2.78/kg. Store cattle numbers swelled last Thursday. The big highlight was a capital stock consignment of 136 in-calf Angus cows with 127 Angus calves. The first line of second calving heifers made $1660, with third calvers at $1490, while older cows returned $1380-$1510. Steers sold over a tight band of $760-$790 for $4.20$4.50/kg, with the heifers not far behind at $680-$710, $4.13-$4.36/ kg. A big entry of empty Friesian heifers lost the spark from the previous week, with prices coming back 10c/kg. The better lines at 335-395kg all traded at $2.11$2.19/kg, but a large number fell below $2.00/kg. The trading cattle market was a game of two halves, and levels of $3.00/kg plus were not nearly as common in the R2 steer pens, though numbers were the highest they have been for a few weeks. The best Angus-Hereford reached was $2.76-$2.84/kg for 418-437kg. Good Hereford-Friesian that would easily have made $3.00/ kg not long ago traded at $2.81$2.93/kg and that was consistent through the weight ranges. The heifer market proved to be more resilient and in fact beefFriesian, 309-385kg, enjoyed a lift to $2.83-$2.92/kg. Angus and Angus-Hereford, 423-431kg, also managed $2.94-$2.99/kg, and a 305kg line of Angus-Hereford sold to $3.13/kg. Also a highlight was eight Charolais-cross, 427kg, at $3.03/kg, with more lines of heifers selling over $3.00/kg than the steers. Friesian bulls in this age bracket and 368-434kg mostly made $2.58-$2.68/kg. Friesian bulls were a big feature in the weaner pens and prices were solid. Most 130-190kg sold

for $570-$600, though light lines, 93-95kg, sold to limited interest and made $300-$350. OTAGO OTAGO Store lamb numbers went from a famine the previous week to a feast at BALCLUTHA, as a yarding of nearly 2500 were penned. Buyers arrived in respectable numbers, drawn in by the larger yarding, and as a result the market was very competitive, PGG Wrightson agent Russell Moloney reported. The top store lambs returned $110-$119, $10 up on last week, with medium types making $95-$105, and the lighter end, $80-$85. Good demand for prime lambs kept vendors happy, though prices were slightly back on the previous week. Heavy lambs sold to $135-$140, and medium $125$130, with lighter lines earning $110-$120. The very heavy ewes of last week were missing from the line-up but other heavy types sold on a steady market at $145-$155. Medium types were also on par at $130-$140, while light lines firmed to $115-$125. Lower condition ewes returned $70, and rams, $85-$110. SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND At LORNEVILLE on Tuesday, top store lambs made $105-$110. Medium types also firmed to $85$92, though lighter lines softened to $60. Heavy prime lambs returned $129-$150, medium $110-$126 and lighter, $101-$106. Heavy ewes made $130-$158 with light lines at $79-$90. Medium ewes eased to $98-$120 and very light types traded at $46-$50. Twotooths sold for $99-$161 and rams firmed to $100-$132. The cow market was the highlight. Heavy types, 550kg plus, lifted to $2.00-$2.15/kg, while medium types improved 10c/kg to $1.80-$1.90/kg. Light lines, 400-450kg, made $1.60-$1.70/kg. In the dairy heifer pens the top lines sold on a steady market at $1.70-$1.80/kg with 330370kg also holding value at $1.50$1.70/kg. Light lines, 300-333kg, improved 10c/kg to $1.30-$1.40/ kg. Beef numbers were limited and steers, 600kg plus made steady returns at $2.60/kg, while medium types were off the pace at $2.30-$2.50/kg. Beef-cross heifers, 400-430kg, realised $2.20-$2.30/ kg. R2 beef-cross steers, 370kg, made $2.73/kg. Most of the yarding was made up of weaner and Friesian bulls, 150-170kg, which returned $500-$570, with 120-130kg earning $350-$420. Good Hereford-Friesian bulls, 170kg, made $550, and heifers, 115-120kg, $340-$385. Demand was solid across all classes at the CHARLTON sheep sale last Thursday. The best store lambs sold to $90-$100, with medium types earning $75-$85 and finishing off with lighter lambs at $50-$60. Prime lamb quality was top notch and heavy lines sold to $130-$140, while medium lines made $115-$125, and lighter, $100-$110. Again prices were very similar through the ewe pens as consistent demand continues. The best of the mixed age made $140-$150, medium $120-$130 and light, $100-$115. Two-tooth’s sold for $100-$130, and rams $50-$110.

Markets

40 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 5, 2018 30 MICRON LAMBS WOOL

NI SLAUGHTER LAMB

SI SLAUGHTER BULL

($/KG)

LIGHT-MEDIUM MIXED SEX LAMBS AT TEMUKA

($/KG)

($/HD)

4.50

6.95

5.25

$1130-$1410 high $760-$840 steers, Traditional weaner lights heifers, 200-250kg, at Exotic-cross 270-330kg, at Rangiuru Tuakau Weaner Heifer Fair

Feds want wool plan Annette Scott annettescott@xtra.co.nz

NAME change for Federated Farmers’ meat and fibre industry group will better reflect its identity and future focus, chairman Miles Anderson says. Degates from the federation’s 24 provinces unanimously decided to change to fibre to wool. It’s a return to the name used more than two decades ago before wool was dropped in favour of fibre when mohair from Angora goats was on the rise. But goat farmers now had their own section in Federated Farmers and everyone wanted to get back to using the name wool, Anderson said. “With its internationally recognised connotations — super-warm, natural, sustainable, hypoallergenic, flame-retardant — it better identifies the actual product grown and marketed as wool.” Federated Farmers wants to play a key role in rampedup sector-wide collaboration on wool initiatives and that is reflected in the name change. “If you say fibre to the younger generation these days they think you mean the fibre optics that speed up their internet connection. “And fibre has unfortunate connotations with microfibres and the growing problem of long-lasting strands of synthetic fabrics that are ending up in our oceans and

BACK TO THE FUTURE: Federated Farmers is going back in time and replacing fibre with wool, its meat and wool section chairman Miles Anderson says.

marine organisms.” Prices for crossbred strong wool have halved since mid-2015 but farmers and downstream companies are fighting hard to find new and innovative products to soak up the warehoused clip and spark revenue. The Meat and Wool Council gave the section’s executive the mandate to form a collaborative industry group to address crossbred wool issues. “The aim is to work together to better tell the excellent story of strong wool’s qualities and potential to the wider community,” Anderson said. “If your only source of information was mainstream media you’d be forgiven for thinking the only thing happening with New Zealand

wool at the moment, with the exception of Merino, is that the bottom has dropped out of the market and all involved are sitting on their bums with fingers crossed the Chinese will start buying again in the volumes they were two years ago.” The council discussed the option of farmers returning to paying a levy to co-ordinate crossbred wool marketing and research and the need for post farmgate players to match it. “But that’s parked for now,” Anderson said. “We want to concentrate on the new collaboration group and how far we can get by working together to better tell the excellent story of strong wool’s qualities and potential to the wider community.” Meanwhile, more than a

“It’s great, my farm map, plan and history, are all in one place.”

dozen industry leaders had put on displays at the recent Crossbred Wool Showcase hosted by Feds in Wellington. Sponsored by NZ Wool Services International, PGG Wrightson and Cavalier Bremworth, it was but a sample of what’s going on in the industry, he said. Among exhibitors were Inter-weave and Woolyarns, which produce high-end, quality fabrics for export and supply Air NZ with fabrics meeting the highest flame retardant criteria. Another showcase exhibitor was Wright Wool that supplies 100% NZ wool to Paragon, based in Georgia, the heart of textile manufacturing in America. Paragon has created a specialised knop used for home insulation and exports wool to Thailand and the Georgia-based Delos Company to create custom carpets and rugs. Other exhibitors included Wayby Wools specialising in cot undelays and yoga mats and Stansborough, a supplier of wool garments used in movies such as the Lord of the Rings and high-end boutiques in London and New York. Feds Ruapehu president Lyn Neeson, who co-owns specialist woollen blanket maker ShearWarmth, presented Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor with one of the blankets to pass on to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her baby. Baby clothes from Wairarapa-based Merino Kids were also presented for Ardern.

Weaner Fair

Early buyers seek cheap beef options

Suz Bremner AgriHQ Analyst

THINGS are about to get a little crazy at sale yards around the country as the beef weaner fair and calf sale seasons kick off. From March until the end of May there are at least 130 weaner fairs or calf sales held nationwide – that’s a lot of extra sales to squeeze into two

months. Once again expectations are high after two very strong years and only time will tell if that expectation is met though early results have at least tracked at similar levels. Some buyers are forward thinking and anticipating that the prices paid will be above their budgets and so are looking for alternatives. Some have found them in the last of the dairy-beef weaner fairs, which are now offering increased volumes of Hereford-Friesian cattle. Typically, prices at these fairs taper off towards the end of the selling season but that trend has been well and truly bucked this year as prices have continued to firm at selling centres in Waikato and Taranaki. Those sales, in particular, have drawn in extra buyers because of the high quality of the dairy-beef cattle offered and while margins are very tight on beef weaners because of such high prices, a good margin can still be made on the dairy-beef cattle, despite prices still firming. PGG Wrightson agent Jeff See from Taranaki has noticed a lift in interest at the last few dairy-beef weaner fairs and attributes that lift to a change in focus for some buyers. “We have seen a reduction in run weaner numbers in the province and also with prices expected to be extremely high again there are some buyers who are looking at the financial impact the beef weaners would have on budgets and are looking at other avenues. This is pointing them towards the dairy-beef.” suz.bremner@nzx.com

MORE FROM AGRIHQ: MARKET SNAPSHOT MARKET WRAP

Together, Creating the Best Soil and Feed on E arth

Adrian Ball Dairy Farmer, Tirau

Order fert from your farm map and keep track of orders using MyBallance. MyBallance is a new online tool that will make doing business with Ballance even easier.

ballance.co.nz/myballance 0800 222 090

P36 P37

We’re very proud that The Farmers Weekly has been the country’s most read rural publication for more than a decade. Latest independent research says every week on average 117,000 farmers choose to read Farmers Weekly - that’s thousands more than any other rural newspaper in the whole country, and farmers read each issue for longer than any other title. That’s a powerful combination when you want real farmers seeing your advertisement. New this autumn is a special property pull-out in Farmers Weekly that will run through our March issues. Book a campaign of three or more advertisements in March and get a complimentary editorial on your property in one of our pull-out specials. Talk to your agent now and make sure you are in the paper that more farmers read. *conditions apply

Autumn 2018 Property Pull-Out March 5, 2018

farmersweekly.co.nz

Dairy land prices edging up Alan Williams a.dubu@xtra.co.nz

VERALL dairy farm prices edged higher in the three months to the end of January but remain well below the level of a year earlier. The Dairy Farm Price Index was 8.9% lower year-on year, according to Real Estate Institute figures. That contrasts with a 5.8% increase in the All Farm Price Index over the same period. The rural real estate market is constrained and the dairy farm market particularly so, the institute’s rural spokesman Brian Peacocke said. That was despite widespread rain easing feed supply concerns, except for the Otago and Southland regions. The median price per hectare for all farm sales over the three months was $28,257, up from $27,058 at the same time a year earlier but down 3.4% from $29,266 in the three months to December. Grazing and finishing farms make up most sales and were 54%

of sales over the three months to the end of January. These classes of property do not have a separate Index measure of price but median prices were higher by 6.5% and 7.3% respectively over the full year to January. The Index price measures make adjustment for differences in farm size, location and farming type whereas the median price does not. The index is seen as the best indicator of prices. In a mixed picture the Dairy Farm Index rose by 1.3% in January from December though it was well down year-on-year and the median price fell throughout. The median price for all farms was lower month-on-month but higher year-on-year along with the All Farm Index. The median price for dairy farms in the three months was $37,235/ha, down from $40,484/ ha for the December period and from $44,322/ha for January last year. That is a 16% year-on-year fall. Among the major dairying areas, the institute reported that good properties continue to sell well with no demand for lower quality farms.

Dairy farm prices were down by 10%-plus. Farmers’ confidence was improving with good rain and a steady milk payout. Listings were lower and buyers were constrained and careful. In Taranaki, January was busy

Among the major dairying areas, the institute reported that good properties continue to sell well. with good sales of dairy units, often as a result of pre-Christmas auction and tender programmes that did not sell at that time. There were very few top farms available and prices for second and third tier properties were down by 10% to 15%. A shortage of listings was reported. In Canterbury, buyers were being very selective, with reports of bank advice impacting on prices. Further south, dairy farms were

selling in Southland, however, Mycoplasma bovis was creating major concerns over movement of dairy cows and replacement heifers, Peacocke said. This issue had the potential to impact negatively on the rural sector around the country. As has been noted earlier, marginal dairy farms in Northland are being looked at for a return to beef farming. In the overall Canterbury market, there was reasonable activity on finishing units but activity was generally constrained with a medium level of listings and reduced number of buyers. Climatic conditions had suppressed activity in the arable and vegetable-growing sectors. In Southland the outlay for capital stock and the need for higher equity was keeping the sheep and beef property market sluggish. The Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu and Wairarapa regions had good sales levels with finishing and grazing properties but little dairy farm activity. Eleven of the 14 regions reported a reduced number of sales in the three months to the end of January than for the same period a year earlier.

Otago (26 fewer) and Northland (25) had the biggest declines. The very dry conditions had had a considerable impact in Otago, Peacocke said. Gisborne, Nelson and Southland recorded small increases in the number of sales. Peacocke said sales figures for the January period were reasonably consistent with the latest December period but significantly lower than a year earlier. The grazing category had 32% fewer sales year-on-year but still had the most sales by number of any farm category and arable farm sales were down 40%, whereas numbers were steadier for dairy, finishing and horticulture blocks. The median price for finishing farms for the January period was $30,328/ha, compared to $32,000 in December and $28,268 in January 2017. Grazing farms had a median price of $11,828/ha in January, just down from $11,937/ha in December but up on the $11,102/ ha in January 2017. Horticulture block prices were down on December levels but consistent with January 2017 prices.

bayleys.co.nz Contributor to realestate.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

Barns a key farm feature has a four-bedroom home with a sleepout. Both dairy farms have two titles, the same as the drystock farm which sits on predominantly rolling hills. The HerdHomes, which are the business Pow created in 2002, are integral to each property and have enabled each to increase stocking rates without environmental impact. “Over a few years the stocking rate has increased not just by cow numbers but also by cow size,” Pow says. “These farms over the last decade have gone up 40% higher stocking rate and that’s largely due to the HerdHomes and developing the farms. “On the drystock farm, if young stock get cold and wet they walk around and around the paddock and damage it for the next season, whereas here they go inside after they’ve got their bellyful of grass. “Young dairy stock (Kiwicross) increase their liveweight because they don’t get checked with the cold, wet period and we aim at

The Pows are selling two dairy farms of 94ha and 82ha and a 290ha drytstock property.

having them calving at 500-550kg. “You can grow your young stock bigger and quicker. “A lot of that runoff is croppable for silage and maize — and has big, fat animals.” On the Ruawai flats the dairy farms benefit from the naturally high-phosphate marine clay which means there’s no need to apply more phosphate and the HerdHomes recycle sufficient potassium.

The drystock farm has one HerdHome.

Rex Butterworth from LJ Hooker Real Estate says Pow’s farming prowess combined with the HerdHomes has produced profitable dairy farms that perform well above the district’s average. He says their figures are more in line with Waikato dairy farms at around half the capital investment. The business can be purchased as a going concern and

properties can be purchased individually. The drystock property can be purchased in its entirety or in its separate titles. All three properties will be auctioned on March 27.

To view the properties visit www.ljhooker.co.nz/E51HR1/336 for further information contact Rex Butterworth on 021 348 276.

Each dairy farm has three HerdHomes.

DAIRY, CROPPING, BEEF?

VENDORS ARE RETIRING

• Situated south of Whanganui is this 175 ha farming opportunity. • Features a 20 aside herringbone dairy and 300 cow yard with adjacent feed pad. • The herd is split calving and milked all year round supplying Open Country. • Exceptional bore water supplies water to stock troughs, dairy and houses. • Large machinery shed, large silage bunker • There are two three bedroom family homes set in their own treed surrounds. • Your chance to buy this farm with a flexible takeover date and take advantages of the coming season, current RV $3 mil • Call Les to inspect, asking $2,995,000.

Sallan Realty

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

• Well laid out 185 acre dairy farm situated in the heart of the Manawatu. • There is a lovely art deco homestead with great views over the property. • Modern 18 aside herringbone dairy with in bale feed system. Very nice feed pad along with good calf and milking sheds. • Effluent and water systems have been upgraded and are consented for intensive agriculture. • Our Vendors have been in retirement mode for the last few seasons and currently milk up to 160 cows and carry all replacements on farm. • Your chance to own this self contained unit. • Priced to sell at $2,200,000 plus GST • Call Les to inspect.

LES CAIN 0274 420 582

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

LK0091400©

HERDHOMES are a key feature on Tom and Kathy Pow’s Northland dairy farms and even the drystock farm, where they are used to grow young stock well and reduce damage to the paddocks. As the creators of the wellknown shelters, Tom and Kathy have erected three HerdHome shelters on both dairy farms which are adjacent to each other and milk a combined 500 cows and one 60m HerdHome on the 290ha drystock farm nearby. Living 70km from the farms with sharemilkers on the two dairy farms and a manager on the drystock farm and with the goal to make life easier they have decided to sell the 94ha and 82ha dairy farms on the Ruawai flats as well as the drystock farm where all the dairy young stock is run. Each property is run as an independent business with the 94ha dairy farm milking 260 cows through a 25-aside herringbone dairy and with its own threebedroom home while the 82ha dairy farm milks 240 cows through a 20-aside herringbone dairy and

BUCKING THE TRENDS Whoever said “YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO” was wrong - these two Ruawai Dairy farms are definitely bucking the trends. Situated on the Ruawai Flats and adjacent to each other, both profitable properties are producing significantly above the district average. Their figures are more in-line with what would be expected from the Waikato, at around half the capital investment. Standout physical features of the properties apart from flat terrain, natural high fertility and ample gravity fed water, have to be that each farm has three HerdHome® shelters. Demonstrating an enviable return on capital is only part of the modern farming equation. Environmental sensitivity and animal welfare are increasingly shaping the agricultural industry. HUZZA FARMS LTD

The integrated use of the HerdHome® shelters in this simple yet effective system has helped address immediate compliance issues and has gone a long way towards future proofing these properties. Both long term lower order sharemilkers have been successful following this philosophy and would consider staying on. The businesses can be purchased as a going concern as our retiring clients are scaling down. These farms stand out from the rest for all the right reasons and deserve your serious consideration.

KNOBBER HOLDINGS LTD

Huzza Farms Limited

Knobber Holdings Limited

94.69 Hectares

82.92 Hectares

3 bedroom home

4 bedroom home plus sleepout

3 HerdHome® shelters

2 titles

25 ASHB

20 ASAB

260 cows

240 Cows

Concreted silage storage area

SCALE WITH SCOPE Akona Farms Limited is 290.99 hectares of predominantly rolling hill in two titles, one of 142.64ha and the second 148.15ha which can be purchased together or individually. It is well subdivided for easy management, however the jewel in the crown has to be the 60 metre HerdHome® shelter. A rare luxury not often seen on dry stock properties. Other improvements include cattle yards with covered stock handling facilities. Excellent all weather tracks constructed from material sourced from the properties own lime rock quarry. Reticulated water system feed by a generous sized dam, supplying low cost water year round. All the usual support buildings plus a three bedroom home. Stocking rate on average consists of 600 Dairy replacements along with up to 150 adult cattle. Apart from grazing stock, extra income is derived from growing and selling maize off approximately 25 of the 50 flat hectares suitable for cropping, an additional 20 hectares is suitable for mowing. Typically there is an excess of 100 bales of silage that are also sold off farm. Inspection is recommended. This extremely well set up property is unique, and could be purchased as a going concern with the manager in place.

AKONA FARMS LTD

AUCTION: Tuesday 27th March 2018 at 11.00am, LJ Hooker, 11 James St, Whangarei (unless sold prior) VIEW: Thursday 8th, 15th & 22nd March, 10-12pm WEB: matamata.ljhooker.co.nz or whangarei.ljhooker.co.nz

Rex Butterworth 021 348 276 Matamata

Peter Begovich 027 476 5787 Matamata

Paul Beazley 027 495 5797 Whangarei

LINK REALTY LTD & ASSET REALTY LTD, Licensed Real Estate Agents REAA 2008

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

This farm has lanes to its 66 paddocks.

The resource consent for this farm allows 330 cows but has been running only 220.

Room to expand IT’S easy to fall in love with this 154ha Aranga dairy farm for sale in Northland with its fertile, volcanic soils, good dairy and the availability of a 60ha lease block just across the road. Aranga is a farming area overlooking Maunganui Bluff and the Tasman Sea. It was the centre of the kauri gum industry in earlier days and today is a hunting, fishing and farming paradise. Nicky Reid from her newlycreated company, Connections Real Estate, says the farm sits at a slightly higher altitude than others in the area, where it collects a bit more rain to keep the country

greener through summer and its aspect shelters it from drying westerly winds. Rolling country with scattered stands of native trees provides 125 effective hectares for the dairy platform, which has been understocked in recent times, milking 220 cows on a fully selfcontained, low-input system. Between five and seven hectares of turnips are planted each year and a small amount of molasses is fed in a trailer in spring. By including the lease block the business can carry about 40 dry cows and young stock as well. The resource consent allows

up to 330 cows and Reid says there’s potential for a new owner to increase production by simply milking more cows. The centrally-located, 30-aside herringbone dairy is in good order and more than capable of milking more cows, she says. Lanes leading from the dairy to the 66 paddocks are easy care, formed from a mix of river stone, rhyolite and limestone, with the main lane following the state highway around the top of the farm and side lanes heading down through the farm. A lined artificial breeding shed is situated at the dairy and a new calf shed has been built to

The central, 30-aside herringbone dairy can handle more cows. increase calf space to six bays. Rounding the farm off are two houses including a well-presented three-bedroom main home with a new deck surrounding three sides to create a modern outdoor entertaining area. “The farm would suit a firstfarm buyer or a local farmer expanding an existing business.

MUST BE SOLD, COMMITTED ELSEWHERE 848 State Highway 1, Bulls Ignore previous price guidance, our owners need to sell this season. Located 7km north of Bulls, the 121ha dairy platform includes a 30ASHB, herd home plus a modern effluent system along with a modern 3 bedroom home plus a cottage on a separate title. Previously a high input system this has been dialed back with one of the owners now overseas. The main residence, not previously for sale, is now offered as an option on an adjoining 8ha title. This superior residence enjoys spectacular views and is finished to a high standard. Seriously for sale by realistic vendors who understand the market.

“It would make a great steppingstone farm,” Reid said. The farm has a deadline sale closing March 20.

To view the farm visit www.nzfarms. co.nz ID CRE0003 and for further information contact Nicky Reid on 021 103 6277.

121 ha + home on 8ha Deadline Private Treaty nzr.nz/RX1285278 Deadline Treaty (if not sold prior) Closes 3pm, Wed 4 Apr 2018, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Rd, Feilding Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

LIS TI N G N EW

"CHESTER" - AN OUTSTANDING 637 HA FINISHING, CROPPING AND BREEDING PROPERTY 388 Rangatira Road & 3446 State Highway 1, Hunterville, Rangitikei

Tender Closes 3pm Wed 11 Apr 2018, CR Law, Manchester Street, Feilding Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

Rising up from the edge of Hunterville on State Highway 1, Chester is one of the regions premier properties due to its virtual perfect balance of moderate breeding hills, encircling one of the largest contiguous areas of flat to easy Kiwitea silt loam soils in the region. These prodigious, versatile soils are friable and free draining and have few peers for livestock finishing and are equally well suited to the wide range of crops that have been grown here including lucerne, maize, cereals and potatoes. Young pastures through-out include the hills which have been heli-cropped and re-grassed in recent years, all exhibiting strong fertility test results. Excellent all weather access is enhanced with a central lane running through the flats connecting the two woolsheds, both with covered yards, with around 100 hectares deer fenced. Trough water is gravity reticulated to virtually the whole property from the district water scheme. The solid and very tidy homestead enjoys an elevated outlook from the center of the farm, with a cottage situated near the road. The bus to the popular local primary school passes the gate with a high school bus from Hunterville. The quality and scale of property that comes up rarely in any location, the sale of Chester represents a unique opportunity to purchase an outstanding property.

637 hectares See video on website nzr.nz/RX1399391

IRRIGATED CROPPING AND FINISHING UNIT - ONE OF THE BEST! 247 Mahaki Road, Martinborough, Wairarapa This extremely tidy property is located just a five minute drive south of the renown Martinborough wine village offering quality business assets in a great lifestyle location. The farm is blessed with very deep silt loam soils that are suitable for a large number of intensive farming operations giving the astute farmer the flexibility to move with the markets. Coupled with the 40l/s irrigation right with no ’low flow’ restrictions and you have the mix well balanced to deliver on your goals. The infrastructure is hard to fault, leading the list is a large five bedroom modern replica Villa with double garage, stunning swimming pool and attractive grounds. The huge ’as new’ American barn styled shed has equine facilities attached to tie in with the sand based arena. There are three more three bay implement sheds with seed drying facilities and three phase power. The three stand woolshed is centrally located with cattle and sheep yards as well as the irrigation bore and control room. There is an option for the vendor to retain the homestead and implement sheds if a bare land option is desired. Units like this are highly sought after and our vendor will not accept any prior offers allowing you the time and confidence to do your due diligence. We have a comprehensive property report and there is an enlightening drone video on our website. This property is one of the best we have marketed and deserves your attention - do not delay - call Blair today!

155 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz

ref: RX1331534

Tender Closes: 4PM Thu 22nd March 2018 NZR Office, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

Entry level Northland gem A SUBSTANTIAL irrigation lake in the middle of a 153ha lower Northland dairy unit waters 50ha of the farm and adds to the picturesque setting while bearing a price tag that will attract entrylevel farm buyers. It’s an attractive farm with totara trees scattered around rolling contour, which forms a basin for the 9ha lake, adding potential for tourism and future development as it is just 17km from the expanding rural village of Paparoa.

Catherine Stewart from Bayleys says five titles create huge opportunities for the property in its central location while its dairying operation benefits from the irrigation lake and modern improvements. Production this season is on target for 58,000kg milksolids on a once-a-day milking regime with a winter contract in place from the estimated 100ha milking platform. “It’s such a great gem of a farm with the irrigation lake, totara

The 9ha irrigation lake adds potential for tourism or further development.

trees scattered for shelter for the cows and complemented with a great, flowing shed that is only 11 years old and a very tidy set up.” The 54 paddocks are well serviced by a limestone race system, leading to the 30-aside herringbone dairy and a substantial array of sheds including a two-bay calf shed, three-bay implement shed, two half-round barns and a disused dairy that is used for calf rearing and storage areas.

Stewart says the irrigation, infrastructure and dairy improvements are all modern, efficient and well thought out. Two houses on the farm include a solid five-bedroom Lockwood home and an older three-bedroom kauri home with extensive decks opening the house to the sun. The entire property has undergone significant improvement, which she says enables buyers to either continue with the economic

cost of production or explore the opportunity of lifting production. Dairying is just one option for the farm though and she says it suits a number of farm uses. Expressions of interest over $2.2 million are invited for the property.

The farm can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/256514747 and for further information contact Catherine Stewart on 027 356 5031.

The farm produces 58,000kg MS from a 100ha platform.

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

colliers.co.nz

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

DEADLINE TREATY

2077 State Highway 2, Greytown

The farm is in 54 paddocks.

We bring to the market an opportunity to purchase 41.0931 hectares (3 titles) of prime land, approximately 1.5km from Greytown on SH2 South. The property features a 4 bedroom spacious family home. The farm is well subdivided with its own water scheme. (The house is on tank water). There is a private airstrip including a Hangar also. Two stand woolshed, cattle and sheep yards plus 1 implement shed. This property is set well back from the road, is private with exceptional views over the farm and towards the Tararua Ranges. The lucky purchaser of this property will enjoy the living experience while having an exceptional investment opportunity. R.V. $2,465,000.

All the improvements are modern, efficient and well thought out.

FOR SALE VALLEY ROAD FOREST PARAPARAUMU, Kapiti Coast

ALMOST READY TO HARVEST! This single age class forest totalling 68.7 hectares of 20-year-old Pinus Radiata offers the perfect opportunity to secure a quality forest of near mature pruned crop. Well located on the Kapiti Coast with multiple domestic processors nearby and Wellington Centreport only 51kms away for Export markets means this is one not to be missed. The underlying freehold land is also available for sale by negotiation.

+ 68.7 hectares of NSA + Pruned and Thinned + 51km to Centreport + Planted 1997

FOR SALE BY NEGOTIATION $1,375,000 (plus GST) - Forestry Right only JEREMY KEATING M: 021 461 210 E: jeremy.keating@cbre.co.nz

www.cbre.co.nz/210427Q18 CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

Supporting the Child Cancer Foundation for over 20 years.

VIEW:

By Appointment Only

PRICE:

Offers invited on or before 30th March 2018 by 2:00pm (unless sold prior).

CONTACT: Gary Patrick 027 450 4290 gary@patrickandscott.co.nz Andy Scott 027 448 4047 andy@patrickandscott.co.nz WEBSITE: www.housepoint.co.nz/MA2313

LK0091761©

GREYTOWN OPPORTUNITY

Professionals, Patrick & Scott Ltd LICENSED REAA 2008

Telephone: 06 378 2500 Address: 43 Chapel St. Masterton

housepoint.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – March 5, 2018

Connections Real Estate

NICKY REID Results with integrity

Wellsford 10 Run Road

ID# CRE0002

Aranga 4584 State Highway 12

ID# CRE0003

Red Soil, Blue Sky and Green Grass

Well Located Dairy Farm This 80-hectare, 160 cow dairy farm is only 16km west of Wellsford on the tar seal, easy commuting distance from Auckland Harbour Bridge and only about 2km from the nearest boat ramp.

Deadline Sale Closing: 11.00am Thursday 5 April 2018

It's easy to fall in love with this farm. There are 154 hectares, Deadline Sale a very tidy 30-aside cowshed, a good comfortable home and Closing: 2.00pm Tuesday 20 March 2018 a cottage. A 60 hectare lease block is available right next door. Price: A sheltered east-facing aspect and higher rainfall (1600mm) plus GST if any help to keep the farm greener for longer than most. The soil type is a fertile red volcanic ash. Currently understocked, it is milking 220 cows on a self-contained low input system.

Price: It sits neatly within a gentle curve in the road and forms a Plus GST (if any) warm north-facing basin with a central catchment and over two hectares of beautiful mature native bush. A large Also available: covered feedpad has been built in a central location near the Stock & Machinery cowshed and this provides a platform for a high input production system. The 24-aside cowshed has been improved and extended. The herd and machinery are available with options to suit the purchaser. Call now to secure yourself a productive farm in a prime location.

Nicky Reid 021 103 6277 Call me now to get a comprehensive property brochure

RV: $1,375,000

www.realestate.co.nz/3256435

The three-bedroom home is well-presented with an open plan living area and a new deck around three sides. It has insulation ﬂoor and ceiling and wood burner with wet-back. This farm would be ideal for a ﬁrst farm buyer or provide an addition to a larger farming enterprise. RV: $1,850,000

nicky@connectionsrealestate.co.nz

Licensed Agent under the REA Act 2008

Nicky Reid 021 103 6277 Call me now to get a comprehensive property brochure www.realestate.co.nz/3251787

nicky@connectionsrealestate.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company

RURAL Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed REAA 2008

NEW LISTING

225 ha Buy quality - Lauriston dairy

Large Scale Dairy Support 589.0433ha 539 Limestone Valley Road WEB ID AR60601 DEADLINE SALE ASHBURTON 2264 Thompsons Track View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 23rd March, 2018 at 4.00pm, As the saying goes - buy quality it will never let you (unless sold prior) down. Located mid Plains, in the favoured Lauriston District. This established well planned dairy platform Greg Jopson comes with a reputation for consistent and sustainable Mobile 027 447 4382 production, featuring reliable low cost ALIL water and Office 03 307 9176 ground water and storage pond. Currently milking 776 gregj@pb.co.nz cows (consented for 925) with a 50 bail rotary, in shed 4 Rodger Letham feed system, spray irrigation (74% pivot) and four Mobile 0274 333 436 homes. A Synlait Gold Plus supplier. Office 03 307 9192 Home 03 308 3307 rodger@pb.co.nz

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

Cave

Large scale dairy support / sheep and beef unit close to Timaru and Pleasant Point. Excellent fertility, water systems, subdivision and production. Two tidy homesteads and sleepout. (Ideal father and son operation). Large array of farm buildings and stock yards. Eight units Downlands water and bore water feeding approx 425,000 litres of storage - reticulated to mostly 1500/litre troughs. 11 hill blocks and 57 main paddocks. Limestone Valley offers the market scale, scope and potential and would suit a diverse range of farming options.

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

pggwre.co.nz/GER27676

rscott@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Wed 28 March PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Timaru

Richard Scott B 03 687 7330 M 021 352 701

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

Lifestyle Collection

Just Released Check out this stunning property for sale in Pahoia, Bay of Plenty, alongside a selection of other lifestyle properties. Pick up a copy of the Lifestyle Collection at your nearest local PGG Wrightson store today or go online to view: www.pggwre.co.nz/lifestyle-collection

End of an era at Pahoia A lifetime of adventures that span the world (see feature story for details on this property)

AU T U M N 201 8 | www.pggwre.co.nz/lifestyle-collection

TENDER

South Auckland Dairy Farm 107 Aka Aka Church Road

Aka Aka

After 49 years of ownership, this family has now decided to move into retirement and sell their dairy farm. This 100 ha subject to boundary re-alignment is located on the Aka Aka, which is a well-known dairying area in Franklin. It is a mere 7km from the historic township of Waiuku and 15km from the bustling town of Pukekohe. A 24km commute is all it takes to get you to Auckland's Southern Motorway. The contour of the land is 100% flat and is supported by two homes, a 28 ASHB dairy shed plus auxiliary buildings.

TENDER

pggwre.co.nz/PUK27235

avanmil@pggwrightson.co.nz

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday, 22 March VIEW 1.00-2.00pm Sunday 11 March

Adrian van Mil B 09 237 2041 M 027 473 3632

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Irrigated, Shade and Shelter 133 Lambert Road

Whakatane Surrounds

• 140ha freehold with 80Ha transferable leases • Sound 24 ASHB dairy, milking 450 cows at peak with split calving • Best production 209,000kgMS 2014/2015, supplying Open Country Dairy • Pod irrigation over 80ha, plus 20ha on lease land, from deep well bore on farm • Four homes, two hay barns, implement shed/workshop and silage bunker Having made the decision to retire, our vendors are motivated sellers.

TENDER

pggwre.co.nz/WHK27709

pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday, 29 March

Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 M 027 494 1844

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

OPEN DAY

Te Puke

Quality Green Production Orchard 55 Angland Drive

$2.3M

• 8.14 hectares total area • 6.1 canopy hectares of Hayward Green • Ag-beam pergola structures with sound end assemblies • Near flat contour and even sized blocks • Selling with crop estimate of 63,000 trays • One of the very best production orchards to come to the market this year • No cloak and daggers with our marketing, just a realistic listing price • Phone or email for the full Information Memorandum

Plus GST (if any) VIEW 1.00-2.00pm Wednesday, 7 March and Sunday, 11 March David McLaren M 027 223 3366 dmclaren@pggwrightson.co.nz Richard Lord M 027 443 8764 rlord@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEP27730

AUCTION

TENDER

A Property To Be Proud Of! 821 Waitetuna Valley Road • 255 hectares - handy to Hamilton and Raglan • Impressive Australian bungalow - extensively refurbished • Covered sheep yards, covered cattle yards • Fenced into 80 paddocks. Reticulated water • Productive brown rock quarry

pggwre.co.nz/HAM27719

Waitetuna AUCTION (Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Wed 28 March PGGWRE, 87 Duke St, Cambridge VIEW 1-2pm, Mon, 5 & 12 March

Richard Thomson M 027 294 8625

richard.thomson@pggwrightson.co.nz

John Sisley M 027 475 9808 jsisley@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

When Location Really Matters 3134 Ohaupo Road • A real gem of a block (39ha) minutes from town • Three bedroom 70's home sited well off the road • Approx 40% flat, balance rolling. Tons of potential! • Options include, land banking, raising cattle, horses, cropping and enjoying the views • Scheme plan approval to subdivide • Build your dream home

Waikato TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday, 15 March

pggwre.co.nz/HAM27590

John Sisley M 027 475 9808

jsisley@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

Hawke's Bay

'Horiana Downs' Well Located with Options • 201.6ha (STS) located at 422 Te Apiti Road, 28km from Havelock North with cropping options, breeding sheep and cattle, trading and finishing • 4x4 access over farm tracks, with approximately 17 paddocks subdivided by mainly conventional fencing • A permanent limestone stream flows through the property supplemented by springs and dams • Improvements include four-stand woolshed, good shedding plus sheep and cattle yards • One of Hawke's Bay's iconic beaches, Waimarama, is within a 5km drive • The Horiana Downs contour of approximately 5% flat, 70% rolling, 13% medium with 12% steep offers various farming options for the new owner pggwre.co.nz/HAS27597

639 Waitara Road, Te Pohue • `Pukenui - 234 hectares (553.5 acres) 49km from Bay View township • In excess of 40ha of flats, the balance of land being medium to steeper hill • Woolshed, deer shed, cattle and sheep yards, haybarn, fertiliser bin and strip • Three bedroom dwelling with open plan living/dining and kitchen • Cattle, deer, sheep or dairy grazing. All bases are covered pggwre.co.nz/HAS27595

Plus GST (if any) Closes 2.00pm, Wednesday 18 April Cnr Maraekakaho and Orchard Roads, Hastings Doug Smith B 06 878 3156 | M 027 494 1839 dougsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz Paul Harper B 06 878 3156 | M 027 494 4854 paul.harper@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

Great Entry Farm - Great Community

TENDER

Hawke's Bay TENDER Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday, 12 April PGG Wrightson, Hastings

Paul Harper B 06 878 3156 M 027 494 4854

paul.harper@pggwrightson.co.nz

Doug Smith B 06 878 3156 M 027 494 1839

dougsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Rare Opportunity 492 Fern Flats Road

Marton

3.3375ha Kiwifruit orchard situated in the fertile Rangitikei district and approximately 10kms from the Marton Township. The orchard last season produced in excess of 20,000 trays on approximately 2.00ha. The orchard is well maintained and the majority of the labour has been carried out with regards to this year’s harvest. There is also a three-bay implement shed with one-bay lockable. Situated on the corner of the orchard is a very pleasant house which has three bedrooms. This property would be ideal as a starting orchard or secondary income.

TENDER

pggwre.co.nz/WAN27738

dougglasgow@pggwrightson.co.nz

(Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Wed.,11 April PGG Wrightson, High St, Marton VIEW Open Days: 2.00 - 3.00pm, Sunday, 11th & 25th March

Doug Glasgow B 06 349 2005 M 027 204 8640

pggwre.co.nz

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