Farmers Weekly NZ September 25 2017 by AgriHQ

21 Plant stops leaching Vol 16 No 37, September 25, 2017

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T WAS dry for so long Iain Wright started to forget the feel of mud at his feet. But a “fantastic” amount of rain since autumn has turned his family’s fortunes after three years of Canterbury drought. “It’s nice to know you can actually grow stuff. “For so long you couldn’t grow anything,” the sheep and beef farmer said. Wright “grew up with drought” on his 480ha family farm at Hawarden but the latest dry spell in North Canterbury shook him to the core. Some farmers who normally ran 20,000 stock units dropped to about 2000 during the worst of it. The Wrights’ operation usually mated 3000 ewes but they did 200 fewer when the clouds dried up. Hoggets went off for grazing before the second winter, freeing up a handful of crucial paddocks for ewes and lambs. Farming in partnership with wife Jac and parents Mary and Lew, Iain dug deep into feed reserves, buying just 60 bales of balage. Some of the hay stored in a shed was nine years old. The health of his returning hoggets taught him the value of off-loading stock early in future. “They came home just smoking. They looked amazing.” To the east, between Amberley and Cheviot, Nick and Megan Hamilton were also feeling the upside of regular rain. Their 400ha at Omihi, farmed alongside Nick’s parents Ian and Robyn, was so parched in mid-

RELIEVED: Nick Hamilton, left, of Waipara and Iain Wright of Hawarden both farm in drought-prone areas but are enjoying the reprieve rain has brought them. Photo: Johnny Houston

2016 that Nick and Ian off-loaded all their sheep and cattle and worked in nearby vineyards. The Hamiltons’ traditional approach had been to “hang on” in tight conditions for as long as possible but Nick was now more open to de-stocking. It cost them $2.40 a head to

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feed out before they off-loaded animals, whereas a grazing contract was $1.50/head. Most their sheep and cattle, minus some dairy heifers, were now back home. They were lambing 1950 ewes and 430 hoggets, finishing 600 lambs and running 100 cattle.

This year’s scanning was a record 164% and simply having stock back was a morale-booster, Nick said. “It felt like we were back in control, having sheep back.” The drought’s impact would linger as they rebuilt their genetics. They bought 600 old

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ewes from central Otago, mated with a black-face terminal sire. They still had a “whole year’s rain to catch up” but reserves were coming back strongly and the rain kept coming. The last burst was 150mm or six inches. It was especially welcome around Omihi, which had weathered one thing after another lately. The area lost its community hall and rugby clubrooms in a fire and the pub down the road at Waipara burnt not long before. Earthquakes put the historic Glenmark church out of commission in 2010. “Lost our pub, our church and our rugby clubrooms. Don’t know which order (of importance) you put them in,” Ian said. The Hamiltons and Wrights were part of a drought group that set up regular farm field days, workshops and social gatherings with help from Federated Farmers, Rural Support Trust, central and local government funding and agribusinesses. Some of the cash went to schools and local community events. Recognising that people needed time off farm, the Wrights last year organised a bus trip to a Crusaders rugby match in Christchurch. The only disappointment was a Hurricanes victory. Looking back, the drought brought the community together, Iain said.

Down south 3 More rain 4 Mating 5 Planting 5

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NEWS

Soil Moisture Anomaly (mm) at 9am September 22, 2017

NEWSMAKER

26 Cheap imports threat to

locals

60 Wetter than

Brian Leadley is passionate about how he farms to produce food but his expectations and goals as a grower are increasingly being challenged.

normal (mm)

OPINION

30 Alternative View

Alan Emerson gives a bouquet to the Fertiliser Quality Council.

4 Winter dousing not done yet Upper North Island farmers already well doused by winter’s wet might be in for more moisture through to the end of the month as westerly weather systems continue their assault.

7 Price direction depends on

weather

Dairy prices remained steady in the latest Global Dairy Auction, adding to speculation that continued wet weather in New Zealand might give the market a lift.

15 Dairy is in control of the

barley price

The secret to long-term trading success is about being faster than your competitor, seeing an opportunity and taking it, Dahuti International grain trader Dean Smith says.

Editorial �� 28 Cartoon �� 28 Letters ��28-30 Pulpit �� 29 Alternative View �� 30 From the Ridge �� 31 From the Lip �� 31

-10

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-30

-50

Drier than normal (mm)

WORLD

32-33 Consumer confidence

is falling

Consumer confidence in food is on the decline as a result of high-profile cases of food fraud, such as the 2013 horsemeat crisis.

REGULARS Real Estate �� 34-44 Employment �� 45 Classifieds �� 46-47 Livestock �� 47-51

MARKETS

Warning beef prices too high ��3 Wet and dry in south ��3 Winter dousing not done yet ��4 Dairy mating waits on weather ��5

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

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Price direction depends on weather ��7 Hurunui water project feels real ��8 Pyke says 20 years is just FAR enough ��14

56 Dear venison will last

Synlait to make its own brand products ��23

The prime venison market has reached an all-time high while at the same time a developing North American market has raised the value of the whole deer carcase, painting a bright outlook for deer farmers, Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup says.

Farmers like north’s regional plan ��24

Market Snapshot �� 52

Dairy is in control of the barley price ��15 Still room to add value to our meat ��18

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

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Warning beef prices too high Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com THE lamb export season is looking very good with higher numbers than last year but farmers are being cautioned on the prices they’re paying for store cattle. Farmers paying more than $3/ kg liveweight in the store cattle market needed a schedule price in the high $5s to $6 level but that might not happen, Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dean Hamilton said. “We’re a bit concerned that prices are pretty frothy in the sale yards. “We see the schedules weakening a bit. “They’re past the point where they should be.” Silver Fern expected more bull calves in the processing chain in the new season, after the much higher level of bobby calf retentions last year. That would coincide with expected higher supply out of the United States and Australia as well. Beef demand from China was increasing but not at the level of the short-term supply increases expected. More lambs were expected for processing in the new season as well but market demand was strong and overall world supply was low. The outlook was good even though sheep farmers were being told to expect the normal $1/kg fall in the lamb schedule once the European chilled supply season ended. “That fall is really about the product mix, back to more frozen, than the markets,” Hamilton said. Reports of an excellent lambing season around the country indicated a possible 5% to 10% lift in lamb processing numbers.

WHOA: With cattle prices past the point where they should be the schedule is likely to weaken, Silver Fern Farms says. The numbers should be over the 20 million mark and possibly up towards 20.5m, he said. That was up from the 19.3m to 19.4m tally expected when this processing season ended on September 30.

We’re a bit concerned that prices are pretty frothy in the sale yards. Dean Hamilton Silver Fern Farms

There had been no reports of a repeat of the facial eczema issues that hurt the industry in the North Island last year. Exporters would begin their Christmas chilled supply

programmes during October and the current low level of lambs available to supply strong market demand in the United States and China had pushed the schedule well up to the $7/kg level in the South Island and about $7.10 in the North Island for the heavier lambs remaining from last year. Hamilton said the European chilled market would hold farmgate prices at firm levels but after that the return to a greater mix of frozen product would affect prices. “We would normally see a $1/kg rule of thumb difference in value from the Christmas chilled period to the main part of the season, everything else being equal. “That is based on foreign exchange rates staying round current levels.” A main season price around the $6 level would be a good outcome, especially on the greater volumes expected, he said. That would be about 60-80c/kg up on last year’s prices.

Wet and dry in south LATE winter and spring were seasons of extremes in the south of the South Island. After one of the wettest July months on record, which caused widespread flooding, August in Otago and Southland was one of the driest ever, with less than half the average rainfall for the month. Then last week parts of the south were inundated with 50mm to 80mm, once again causing surface flooding to parts of the Taieri Plain south of Dunedin. Taieri dairy farmer Mike Lord who had most his farm flooded in July said his farm was relatively unscathed from last week’s downpour though it delayed further drying out. Farms flooded in July were still wet underfoot and were benefiting from warmer

temperatures and longer days but the last deluge was a setback and while his farm was not badly affected, it did cause some surface flooding at the northern end of the plain. Southland Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre chairwoman Bernadette Hunt said it had been a great run for lambing in Otago and Southland. Feed had been short but rising temperatures and longer days were turning those conditions around. The federation’s Otago dairy section chairman Stephen Crawford said while parts of Otago missed the latest heavy downpour, the soil was still sodden and it didn’t take much rain for it to pug again. Despite that, spring had been relatively kind and calving was going well.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Winter dousing not done yet Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com UPPER North Island farmers already well doused by winter’s wet might be in for more moisture through to the end of the month as westerly weather systems continue their assault. Bay of Plenty farmers, in particular, were already reaching their usual yearly rainfall total, some as early as late July, as two major cyclones in March and April were followed up by continual frontal rain throughout winter. The implications for one of the country’s major maize growing regions were starting to mount as growers counted down past the point where they would normally have started ground work for the crop. Long-time Te Puke agricultural contractor and feed supplier Bill Webb said growers would typically have sprayed out their pastures by September 10, have harvested a grass crop off them and be well into their ground work for maize sowing by now. “We are now well over a week after that date and most have not managed to even spray out their paddocks yet. “It is going to be a hell of a challenge moving forward if we want to have good crops in the ground in a timely manner.” More growers were looking harder at the type of hybrid they used, electing to move to shorter maturing varieties. “The typical ones they would use required 145-150 days to maturity and if these crops are not in the ground until late, that will be just pushing them out too far.” The shorter maturing hybrids might result in a trade-off for lower yields. Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) research manager Mike Parker said there was still time for prospects to turn around. “We would normally see

COMPROMISE: Growers might use quick maturing hybrid plants with the tradeoff being lower yields, agricultural contractor Bill Webb says.

planting start about October 5, peaking at about the 20th, so there is still time for things to improve.” This spring was even more challenging than last year’s diabolical one. “Last year we did get a window where things dried out, which we just have not had this year. It’s been wet right through and the rainfall’s intensity has also been greater.” Webb said his concern extended to the likely weather impact on rural contractor viability. The conditions came after equally tough weather last spring

that delayed and cancelled significant amounts of grass silage harvesting. “And this year we are looking at any grass surplus being significantly delayed again and that pushes work into October and payment into November. “We really do not want a repeat of last year.” Metservice data confirmed regions including Bay of Plenty and parts of Waikato had a very wet but not the wettest year. Senior forecaster Georgina Griffiths said rain this year for Tauranga district was almost

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For pastoral farmers who rode out twin Cyclones Debbie and Cook in autumn, recovering through the wet period that followed had proved challenging. DairyNZ Bay of Plenty consulting officer Ross Bishop said farmers able to address pasture silting and damage early on had managed to come through relatively well. But some struggled with sodden pastures even before those events occurred – lowland plains farmers and those on wetter peat country in particular. “There is certainly no one who would be able to describe themselves as being in a comfortable position right now.” Evapotranspiration rates had been low, meaning water volumes were tending to accumulate in the region, rather than dissipating. Fellow consulting officer Wilma Foster said many farmers had learnt lessons from last spring’s difficulties, putting herds on oncea-day milking from the start and easing pressure on themselves, their land and livestock right from the start. Bishop suspected with mating about to begin the bell curve of cow condition had moved slightly “to the left” with herds on average lighter than many would like.

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1400mm, more than the year’s entire average of 1189mm. That profile was repeated through Te Puke, Taupo Rotorua, Christchurch and Ashburton. Meantime, Hamilton, Auckland and much of Northland were getting close to their yearly averages. “What is scary is that this year is still not in the top 10 wettest on record yet but there is a good chance we may yet end up there for some of these districts.” For historical comparison in 2011 Tauranga had clocked up 1700mm of rain by mid September and the district’s wettest year on record was 1962 with 2050mm And it appeared any hopes that a calmer spring was on its way were ill-founded. Griffiths described the forecast for the second to last week of September as “a shocker” with frequent norwesterly winds and a major low pressure system signalled over the Tasman Sea. Growers and farmers would have also noticed a relatively cooler few weeks with very volatile temperatures tending to average below those normally expected. She was also hesitant to predict better conditions for October. “We are still to run our models. But things are not looking very positive at this stage.”

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Grass is not giving cows enough energy Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com EXCESSIVE loss of dairy cow condition after calving because of prolonged wet weather might threaten reproductive performance. Low energy levels in grass and the damage done to pasture and soil profiles by cows in persistent wet weather could flow on to mating difficulties, farm advisers have warned. Cows normally dropped body condition during the first weeks of milking but the present danger posed by wet weather came from unintentional underfeeding. Farmers who closely monitored their pasture growth had found their planned “balance date” when the rate of growth matched

feed demand, had receded or even reverted after being achieved. “Pasture growth looks adequate but surface water makes it difficult to utilise and more grass is wasted,” DairyNZ regional leader Phil Irvine said about Waikato and Northland conditions. “A lot of supplement is being used to keep milk production going. “Some land would have been cultivated by now for maize and summer crop establishment but that has been out of the question. “Cow cycling has been variable, including some softer heats in the wet weather. “But if sunshine hours, soil temperatures and grass growth keep building over the next two or three weeks, reproductive

performance will respond. “We had these conditions last season although it has been wetter earlier this spring and reproductive figures didn’t suffer

A lot of supplement is being used to keep milk production going. Phil Irvine DairyNZ much. Cows are very resilient.” Farmers were advised to have at least 85% of their cows cycling at the planned start of calving. The industry targets for body condition score at calving were

NOT GOOD: Farmer morale is down and rotavirus is showing up in calves, Northland Federated Farmers president John Blackwell says.

5 for cows and 5.5 for heifers, followed by a drop of no more than 1 BCS during the 80 days before mating. Similarly wet conditions last spring, which persisted right through the peak milk period, did not severely affect herd reproduction figures. The national average sixweek in-calf rate dropped one percentage point to 66% but

was more than 10% below the industry target. The drop in in-calf rate was a result of drop in both submission and conception rates. The three-week submission rate was down 2% to 79% for heifers and 78% for the cow herd. The conception rate was down 0.9% at 52%, below the industry target of 60%. Federated Farmers Northland president John Blackwell, a sheep and beef farmer, said it had been the wettest winter and spring he had known and the main risks were soil structural damage and sediment loss. He tried to avoid them by running younger cattle on Technosystems, working his way down the hill slopes so run-off was intercepted by longer grass below with daily or twice daily shifts. Morale among farmers was down and rotavirus was showing up in calves. In Taranaki pasture growth rates dropped back because of the lack of sunshine. Daily rates had risen from below 25kg/ha DM to more than 50 at the beginning of September but had then fallen below 40.

Planting delayed by bad ground conditions Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com A WET September is delaying crop planting across parts of Canterbury but farmers who got their spring crops in early on lighter soils are already seeing very good results. Canterbury Federated Farmers arable section chairman Reuben Carter was half way through getting his peas in the ground on his Darfield farm before the rain set in about September 17 and he reckoned that might set him back a week for cultivation and another week for planting. “The soil temperatures were cool enough anyway so if it’s just a two-week delay they’ll catch up. It was mid-October when we got them in last year and that was a good season.”

After a wet autumn and winter some autumn-sown crops looked behind where they should be in condition and needed feeding and sunshine. In Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury a lot of farmers were looking to put barley in for dairy feed now recovering dairy prices would boost feed demand but there was a barley seed shortage. For livestock farmers in the former drought areas of North Canterbury from wider Hurunui and Hawarden across to the coast towards Cheviot and Amberley, the season was looking above average though ground temperatures were still on the cool side, Canterbury Federated Farmers meat and fibre chairman Dan Hodgen said.

Before the latest rain, a couple of days of norwest winds had dried the tops out a bit but his Pyramid Valley farm then picked up 55mm of rain and areas around Scargill and Omihi more than 100mm. Though the ground was cooler still, air temperatures had been mostly pretty good. “It’s amazing how well sheep can do if they’ve got a belly full. The ewes are looking great but the lambs could do with some sun from now on.” The coastal area south of Amberley was lush and green and there had been excellent lambing in most areas. Niwa rainfall figures showed some wide variations in September readings. By September 19 Hanmer had

received 162mm of rain compared with its average September figure of 80mm, a 201% surplus. But at Kaikoura there was only 37mm measured, 65% of the average September number of 57mm. Winchmore, near Ashburton got only 26mm, half its average 52mm, Christchurch airport 48mm (average 41mm), the Lincoln/Broadfields area 42mm (40mm) and Akaroa 26mm, down from its 35mm average. Further south, Timaru airport had measured 33mm, against a 35mm average. Carter said areas like Ellesmere and Leeston, with their heavier soils, were still affected by autumn and winter rain and some farmers had direct drilled into the soil just to get a crop in the ground.

Wheat was one crop where the conditions might affect volumes. AgriHQ analyst Amy Castleton said there were planting delays because of the conditions and if they continued the 2018 harvest would be back on this year. There was still time for the ground to dry out for planting to take place. Carter said one of the issues with a late wheat season, with a late harvest, was potential impact on the cropping rotation going into autumn. “We need plenty of sunshine and some norwesters, dare I say it, to dry everything out then once the crops are established, 15mm to 20mm of rain every Friday night. “That would just set everything up for us.”

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Milk price direction depends on the weather Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com DAIRY prices remained steady in the latest Global Dairy Auction, adding to speculation that continued wet weather in New Zealand might give the market a lift. Already it was possible that NZ seasonal supply might increase 1.5% rather than the 3% predicted earlier. The direction of international market prices would depend very much on weather conditions over the next month in NZ, the world’s largest dairy products exporter. The GDT price index rose 0.9% and whole milk powder prices 0.6% at last week’s auction. ASB rural economist Nathan Penny found a recipe brewing for higher world prices because of surging butter demand and NZ wet weather acting as a brake on milk production. For the second GDT auction in a row, Penny said the Fonterra farmgate milk price forecast could go up to $7/kg milksolids. In the interim, the Dairy Companies Association said milk production in August was down 1.5% on last year and season-todate production was up only 1.7%. It contrasted with the Fonterra forecast of a seasonal lift of 3%, which would be revised at the same time it released the results from last financial year.

From the auction outcome and the futures market movements in the 24 hours following, NZX Agri re-calculated its farmgate milk price forecast to $6.54, down 11c. It was the second such move in a month and called into question the sustainability of Fonterra’s $6.75 seasonal forecast. “Following the latest GDT event we did see some positive movements in whole milk powder (WMP) futures prices but this was not sufficient to make up the decreases recorded since the September 5 GDT event,” AgriHQ chief analyst Susan Kilsby said. “The news that NZ milk intakes in August were below last year has done little to stimulate activity in the WMP market. “The seasonal lift in the availability of WMP appears to have offset any concerns buyers have regarding the availability of WMP due to less milk being available.” She then commented on the prospects for a payout forecast movement when Fonterra released its 2017 financial results and made some market comments. “Unless dairy commodity prices pick up soon the $6.75 target currently set by Fonterra will be difficult to attain. “The slow start to the milk production season, along with solid demand from China should be supportive of prices.

ON A ROLL: With supply struggling to keep up with surging demand dairy price records might continue to tumble for the rest of the year, ASB economist Nathan Penny says.

“But thus far we have not seen the price response required to reach Fonterra’s current milk price forecast.” In the September 20 GDT, butter prices set a fresh record for the eighth time this year. They were up 1.2% to US$6026/ tonne, topping the previous record set in mid-July. Prices were 54% higher than 12 months ago. Anhydrous milk fat (AMF) prices rose 5.3% to $6764, close to the record price of $6885 set in mid-June. “Global butter demand continues to surge while supply is struggling to keep pace and global inventory levels are low,” Penny said. “This dynamic suggests that records may continue to tumble through to the end of the year.”

NZ supplied more than half the butter that was traded across international borders, excluding trade between European countries.

Unless dairy commodity prices pick up soon the $6.75 target currently set by Fonterra will be difficult to attain. Susan Kilsby AgriHQ Kilsby said the AgriHQ Milk Production Predictor had reforecast NZ milk supply growth of 1.5% across the full 2017-18 season, assuming normal weather

conditions occurred from October onwards. The model predicted output during the peak production months of October and November would be higher than last year because of a lift in the number of cows in milk. But it was unlikely autumn production would match that achieved last season. The 2017 autumn was extremely favourable for pasture production, which allowed more cows to be milked further through the season than normal and farmers took advantage of a higher payout than in the two previous poor seasons and the opportunity to recover from the flat spring. The September 2018 milk price futures contract on the NZX Dairy Derivatives market had fallen seven cents to $6.65.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Hurunui water project feels real Tim Fulton tim.fulton@nzx.com THE Hurunui Water Project is becoming “very, very real”, chief executive Chris Pile says. Scheme designers were following a well-trodden path in Canterbury irrigation; designing and costing a project without knowing exactly how many farmers and other funders would back it. Pile, originally a project manager for HWP, said it was a classic chicken and egg situation but HWP had never been closer to being realised. In its modern form, the idea of storing water from the Hurunui River or other water bodies in the area first surfaced in 2001.

It was irresponsible and didn’t show much leadership from an influential farmer. Lyndon Strang Federated Farmers A prospectus for an HWP water rights issue was expected to go out to shareholders for sign-up in March or April 2018, Pile said. The project would irrigate a smaller area than it was consented for under the now-defunct Hurricane Gully dam in the Waitohi Valley option. HWP was now considering options for a pond or ponds near Hurunui River to store high flows for delivery to pipes running through the district. The volume of planned storage had dropped from 250 million cubic metres under Hurricane Gully to 25 million cubic metres using ponds. The revised plan had cut the irrigation command area

from 58,000ha to 35,000ha in the Hurunui area plus a further 9000ha in the nearby Waipara catchment. HWP’s target was a total irrigable area of 21,000ha. Pile said while a reduced area potentially made it more expensive to deliver water to farmers, the calculation was not simple because the amount of storage and canal infrastructure required to build it was also much smaller. The critical phase now was feasibility checks, funding, plan compliance and an ultimate call for financial support. HWP earlier this year agreed an interest-bearing loan with its shareholders, a feasibility preconstruction agreement with Rooney Group for resources and funding and secured dollar for dollar funding with Crown Irrigation Investments. A feasibility group comprising expertise from both HWP and Rooney was reviewing optimal design, intake and storage solutions. Pile said Rooney’s involvement in HWP was different to its financing and construction of other Canterbury irrigation schemes in that the contract was solely for pre-feasibility design. It was “not a given” the firm would go on to build the scheme but there was an expectation, he said. HWP was meantime drafting its terms of water use for farmers to consider before sign-up. As the project moved forward towards a potential start date, HWP was planning work to fulfil conditions attached to the resource consents. At the same time, with the review of the Hurunui-Waiau River Regional Plan (HWRRP) on the horizon, HWP was working closely with the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee, Pile said.

PLAN: Hurunui Water Project has dropped plans for a dam and now wants to store water in ponds near the Hurunui River.

Landcorp defies MPI on disease outbreak BULL breeders are disappointed to be copping the flack from the mycoplasma bovis outbreak reaction, North Otago Federated Farmers dairy chairman Lyndon Strang says. An overreaction that left bull breeders out on a limb was by being led by government farming group Landcorp, just a week after another government agency, the Primary Industries Ministry, said there was no basis for such behaviour. Last week MPI incident controller Dr Eve Pleydell said the ministry had reports of contracts for stock supply being cancelled. “This is disappointing and is

not justified based on what we know of the current pattern of disease.” Business decisions should be evidence-based and grounded in fact, she said. Landcorp said it would not buy any bulls from the area. “This was a slap in the face from a knee-jerk reaction with no good reason. “It was irresponsible and didn’t show much leadership from an influential farmer,” Strang said. But livestock agents were helping dig deeper into breeding history to give peace of mind for potential buyers. “It’s not that difficult but

Landcorp’s call set farmers running scared and now the breeders, unjustifiably, are being treated like lepers.” Strang hoped a meeting scheduled on Monday night, September 25, would help. MPI had called the public meeting to update farmers and industry stakeholders. It was in the Waihaorunga Hall, South Canterbury, at 6.30pm. MPI said the number of infected properties remained at six with a further 19 properties under restricted place notices. So far 23.181 samples had been taken from 214 properties.

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10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Alliance to target Asia with buyout

EU ready for NZ trade talks Colin Ley THE European Union is ready to press ahead with free trade negotiations with New Zealand, setting its sights on concluding a deal before the end of 2019. Delivering his annual State of the Union address, European Commission president JeanClaude Juncker said he wanted to strengthen the EU’s trade agenda, naming NZ and Australia as priority targets for early action. The commission followed the address by releasing what it termed “a weighty package of trade and investment proposals for a progressive and ambitious trade agenda”. It included draft mandates concerning trade negotiations with NZ and Australia alongside the statement that “Europe is open for business”. It also recommended the Council of Europe approve the opening of negotiations for trade agreements with NZ and Australia, adding that such agreements “would build on the recent successful agreements with Canada, Vietnam,

Singapore, as well as Japan among others, expanding the alliance of partners committed to progressive rules for global trade”.

The EU’s agricultural sensitivities will be fully reflected in the negotiating strategy, in which the EU will seek to protect vulnerable sectors.

The successful signing of trade agreements with NZ and Australia was expected to increase EU exports to each country by an estimated one third, in the long term, though, according to another newly released commission document, agricultural products would be given special attention during the negotiations. “The EU’s agricultural sensitivities will be fully

reflected in the negotiating strategy, in which the EU will seek to protect vulnerable sectors,” it said. “At the same time, we will maximise Europe’s positive agricultural interests whenever possible. “The sensitivity of the EU’s agricultural sector was reflected in studies carried out while preparing the negotiations in November 2016 and it is clear that the EU does not envisage full liberalisation of trade in this sector. “Specific treatment for sensitive agricultural products may include long tariff dismantling periods, tariff rate quotas or any other arrangements which the sides agree to be appropriate.” The tight deadline for negotiations was seen as a ploy to enable the EU to reach agreement with NZ and Australia before any equivalent talks could be concluded between either of the two countries and the United Kingdom. The UK was not allowed to begin formal trade talks with anyone until it left the EU.

Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com BUYING its southeast Asian marketing agent is part of a 10 to 15-year strategy to increase sales and the range of meat cuts into the region, Alliance chairman Murray Taggart says. Goldkiwi Asia has represented the southern farmer-co-operative for more than 25 years, helping to build up customer bases in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and in Singapore where it is based. The arrangement had worked very well but there was “no substitute for ownership and control” of the business, Taggart said. That would accelerate Alliance’s understanding of the market and the way it could respond to consumer tastes. “We see it as a beachhead for us in the region so that we can get more people on the ground. “There are opportunities there that you can’t fully achieve by having a couple of people in Singapore, for example, and a couple back in Invercargill.” Goldkiwi Asia would be renamed Alliance Asia with all staff remaining with the business, including founder and director Paul Stephens. There were six people in the business. Stephens played a significant part in Alliance building up its relationship with its China inmarket partner Grand Farm. That relationship had become a more direct Alliance-Grand Farm operation in recent years but Alliance Asia would remain the major link elsewhere, especially in southeast Asian markets. The new investment, signalled

Wool struggles to hold value Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com SOME wool prices softened at Thursday’s Napier sale. Finer second shear wools struggled to find the levels of the previous sale on September 7, with poorer wools the most affected, PGG Wrightson auctioneer Steve Fussell said. Some coarser fleece types sold well and hogget fleece was in good demand. A notable feature was with better oddment wool being in demand, selling up to 12% dearer.

Overall, there was a 33% pass-in rate, the highest for several sales across Napier and Christchurch. Prices included: Full wool, good to average style: 33 micron, $4.25/kg clean, up 7c; 34 micron, $3.92/kg clean, up 20c; 35 micron, $3.42/ kg clean, up 12c; 38 micron, $3.39/kg clean, steady. Second shear, cross-bred: 33 micron, three-to-four inches $3.95/kg clean, down 11c; two-to-three inches $3.14/ kg clean down 20c; 35 micron, three-to-four inches $3.33/kg clean, down 20c; two-to-three

inches $2.83/kg clean, down 42c; 37 micron, three-to-four inches $3.31/kg clean, down 10c; two-to-three inches $2.88/ kg clean, steady; 39 micron, three-to-five inches $3.20/ kg clean; three-to-four inches $2.89/kg clean, down 5c; twoto-three inches $2.87/kg clean, down 20c. Lamb wool: 28 micron, two-to-three inches $4.74/ kg clean; 29 micron two-tothree inches $4.20/kg clean; 31 micron, two-to-three inches, $3.24/kg clean; 32 micron, two-to-four inches $3.47/kg clean.

PLAN: Buying Goldkiwi Asia is part of Alliance’s strategy to increase sales, chairman Murray Taggart says.

Tto farmer shareholders at their season outlook meetings in October last year, was important strategically for Alliance but was nowhere near as big as the group’s investments in the United States and United Kingdom markets. Alliance was one of the three companies in the NZ Meat Co in the US but was the biggest lamb provider to the business. Alliance chief executive David Surveyor said the group would be developing new approaches to retail and e-commerce sales in Asia over the coming year as well as product development. Matching products with markets would require investment in product development, packaging, and services.

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For single handed For single operation handed For single operation handed For single operation handed operation Alan Williams while: while: while: while: alan.williams@nzx.com • Drenching • Drenching • Drenching • Drenching Tahulining has no firm position • Back lining• Back lining • Back liningNGAI • Back on the possible acquisition of • Inoculating• Inoculating • InoculatingLandcorp • Inoculating farms that might otherwise go into a new National • Grinding teeth • Grinding•teeth Grinding teeth • Grinding teeth Party plan for a lease • Checking teeth • Checking• teeth Checking teeth • Checking teethand sale arrangement for young farmers. • Woolclassing • Woolclassing • Woolclassing •“We’re Woolclassing always open-minded

some Landcorp farms though not all”. National said that if it formed the next government, it would start a sell-off of Landcorp farms, initially leasing them to young farmers, who would have to farm them for a minimum five years and then be able to buy them. About 100 younger farmers www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R3PyAZx_w4 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R3PyAZx_w4 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R3PyAZx_w4 www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R3PyAZx_w4 could go into ownership under the regarding acquisitions,” Ngai Tahu plan, National’s primary industry Holdings chief executive Mike spokesman Nathan Guy said. Sang said. Ngai Tahu had first rights over “It’s fairly early in the process some South Island farms while and we can’t really comment on 131 Clayton Street 131 Bellevue, Clayton Western Street 131 Clayton Bellevue, Australia Street Western 6056 131 Bellevue, Clayton Tel Australia 08Western Street 92746056 2632 Bellevue, Australia TelFax 0808 Western 9274 6056 9274 2632 Tel 6618 Australia 08Fax 9274 086056 2632 9274Tel 6618 Fax 0808 9274 9274 2632 6618Fax 08 9274 6618 there were also Treaty of Waitangi we 26 know more.” email: info@deengineers.com.au email: info@deengineers.com.au email: website:www.deengineers.com.au info@deengineers.com.au email: website:www.deengineers.com.au info@deengineers.com.au website:www.deengineers.com.au website:www.deengineers.com.au ABN 26 529 822 454ABN 26 529 822our ABN 454 position 26 529 822until 454 ABN 529 822 454 claims over North Island farms, he The South Island iwi had a first EF CR AE F LE R LC E A EF1L CR8 L AE0 LE01 LC8 6A0 13L0 83L 0 6 0613 683 660 306 right 3 6 of6refusal 6 63 agreement 63 6 “over 6 6 6said.

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12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Dairy systems change a Moot point Sandra Taylor PROFESSOR Derrick Moot doesn’t pull punches. The Lincoln University plant scientist is calling for a complete redesign of this country’s dairy systems to one that is ethical and environmentally responsible. In his Ray Brougham Memorial lecture Moot outlined a vision for New Zealand agriculture that used the power of nitrogenfixing legumes to reform the dairy industry to one with lower stocking rates, less reliance on bagged nitrogen and much greater water-use efficiency. He built a compelling argument. Legumes had already changed the fortunes of many dryland sheep and beef farmers. Just ask Marlborough farmer Doug Avery. After listening to a Moot presentation, the broke and broken Avery began growing the nitrogen-fixing lucerne on his chronically moisture-depleted farm and his fortunes changed. Avery’s story has been replicated on dryland farms throughout NZ and now 150,000ha of what Moot called the King of Forages was grown in moisture-deficient regions such as Central Otago and Marlborough. Acknowledging the huge contribution Moot had made to pastoral farming, he was awarded the Ray Brougham Trophy by the Grasslands Association. As part of the award, Moot was invited to deliver a lecture series in which he told audiences the ryegrass pastures on which this country’s dairy industry was based were chronically nitrogendeficient. Farmers aimed to correct that by applying nitrogen fertiliser to their pastures and that was reflected in the use of fertiliser, which had risen exponentially since the 1980s. An energy-intensive process, the production of nitrogen fertiliser alone contributed carbon dioxide to the atmosphere yet, as an element, nitrogen was critical to

VICIOUS CIRCLE: Dairy farmers can’t get enough nitrogen onto paddocks to maintain ryegrass production but what they are putting on is doing environmental damage, Professor Derrick Moot says.

global food production systems. “Without nitrogen fertiliser, five out of seven of us wouldn’t be here,” Moot said. Nitrogen enabled us to eat. It was used to grow rice, wheat and maize so most of what people ate daily was produced with the help of nitrogen fertiliser. It was the combination of irrigation and nitrogen that drove the bulk of milk production in this country but Moot saw that as a flawed and unsustainable model – one he described as being the Tragedy of the Commons. In what was a vicious cycle, farmers irrigated land to grow pasture, which increased the plant’s nitrogen requirements. While nitrogen was applied, it

was nowhere near enough to meet the plant’s needs. “We are not addressing the problem. Pastures aren’t growing because there is no nitrogen in the system. Our dairy pastures are over-irrigated and underfertilised.” Glance at any irrigated dairy pasture and the power of nitrogen would become evident. The verdant, lush nitrogen-rich urine patches stood out and that was the dilemma. “We have too much nitrogen in the urine patch and not enough in between.” In some dairy regions, farmers were now restricted to applying no more than 200kg of nitrogen a hectare a year.

That was nothing like enough to meet the requirements of a ryegrass pasture – about 700kg of nitrogen a hectare a year – but environmentally, even that quantity was causing damage. The rest of the nitrogen could come from mineralisation and animal returns but it was those animal returns in urine patches that were the problem. So farmers kept applying nitrogen fertiliser to maintain their stocking rate and maximise their milk production to pay their production costs and so NZ had a dairy industry that had become too reliant on nitrogen fertiliser. “We might as well be farming in Europe. Urea is cheap so we just keep putting it on,” Moot said. The use of water for irrigation and the increase of nutrients in waterways was no longer being tolerated by the wider public and Moot saw dairy systems based on nitrogen-fixing legumes and drought-tolerant grasses such as tall fescue, red clover and lucerne to be part of the solution. As well as not requiring nitrogen fertilisers, legumes used water more efficiently than ryegrass, in that they produced more drymatter per millimetre of water. With reduced input costs (less nitrogen fertiliser and less water) farmers could afford to reduce their stocking rates and Moot said there were dairy farmers already changing to a low stocking, legume-based system. “If we want to reduce our environmental footprint we either have to reduce our stocking rates and we have farms already doing that or intensify with animals spending some of the season indoors where high-quality feed is brought to them.” Looking to the not-so-distant future, he believed all dairy farmers would be required to draw up farm environment plans as many were already while mandatory soil water budgets would inform irrigation decisions and the agriculture sector would have to reduce

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its methane emissions. “We have to redesign our dairy systems but I’m not seeing any leadership in this space.” Looking back on his 20-year career, Moot lamented the reform of the Crown research institutes in the 1980s and said they had silenced scientists. “What is the point of publicgood scientists if they cannot speak in public?” There was minimal funding for public-good, applied research and agricultural science capacity was diminished. “Excellent agricultural science only happens in the field.” Farmer trust diminished and farmers were no longer seen as trusted guardians of the land. “We have abdicated that responsibility and that’s really sad.” Sheep and beef farmers he worked with were typically doing their best to be responsible guardians of the land but in the wider industry leaders had been on the wrong side of science debates, particularly around climate change and nitrate pollution. The agricultural industry had ignored the nitrate problem for 20 years and continued to operate with a business-as-usual approach but the tide had turned. While most of Moot’s work had been with sheep and beef farmers he believed they had been let down by market failure, which drove many into dairy conversions. Land prices had been influenced by overseas investors and that means many of his agricultural students now aspired to farm management roles rather than farm ownership. While there were and would continue to be challenges, Moot said he had enjoyed working in a vibrant, dynamic and positive industry and particularly seeing how the legume-systems he had long advocated had transformed businesses and lives. “Some people listened and did what I said.” Many of those farmers were enjoying a 35% return on investment in a specialised lucerne system. “It took 15 years to refine that system and I couldn’t have done it if I wasn’t working in the university,” Moot said. It was with the help of numerous post-graduate students that he was able to answer many of the questions and challenges thrown-up during the refinement process – a brain and labour resource he would not have had the use of if he was working within a Crown research institute. Moot was now taking the same principles of the lucerne system and applying them to other legumes such as subterranean clover, knowing that in many situations and in a changing climate dryland farmers were required to maximise production over 100-days when moisture was available. And legumes could help them do it.

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14 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

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Pyke says 20 years is just FAR enough Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com

CHEERIO: After 22 years at the helm FAR chief executive Nick Pyke is calling it a day. Photo: Annette Scott

CHANGES are afoot for the Foundation for Arable Research as its long-term leader signals his intention to step down. The arable industry research organisation’s chief executive Nick Pyke has called time, planning to step down from his role in the next 12 months.

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Pyke has led FAR since its formation in 1995, initially as the sole employee to its current status boasting a staff of 24 across four locations. At the time of its 20th anniversary in 2015 Pyke said that while he enjoyed the industry’s growing challenges he did not plan to be at the helm at the end of another 20 years. Making the decision to step down had not been easy but following the positive external review in 2016 and the recent successful referendum result, the time was right. “I am able to leave confident in the knowledge that FAR is strong, positive and well-focused with strong support from its grower base and industry partners, he said. “I came to FAR for two years and ended up staying for 22 years. “I think that is an indication of just how much I have enjoyed the role. “I have loved working with a great team dedicated to research and extension and alongside some of the best farmers in the world and hope to maintain contact with them through continued involvement in some aspects of the industry,” Pyke said. FAR chairman David Birkett said Pyke would be greatly missed and difficult to replace but the industry was fortunate his leaving had been well planned. “We are fortunate that his decision to leave has been well planned, allowing plenty of time for the board to identify a suitable replacement and for Nick to carry out a well-managed handover. “He won’t just be walking out the door. It will be more of a transition process,” Birkett said. Pyke would remain in the job until a new appointment was made. Following that he would continue with FAR in specific project-based roles. “We expect him to be involved with FAR for at least the next 12 months. “In the meantime it will be business as usual,” Birkett said. FAR was set up primarily to do practical research for arable farmers. Over the past two decades the levy-funded organisation had developed to actively do research and extension on a broad range of grain and seed crops in NZ and Australia. Since its formation FAR had successfully increased research investment from $1 million of levy funds to $5.5m of levy and grant money. Initially, research focused within the farmgate on crop inputs and cultivar selection. From there grew one of FAR’s key achievements, its involvement in the Cultivar Performance Trials, which provided growers with completely independent advice to help them select the appropriate wheat and barley cultivars to meet their production and agronomic needs. A similar programme had more recently been developed for the maize industry. These programmes had been partnered with strong extension work involving a combination of meetings, field events and publications, all of which had developed over time as research projects had increased in number and scope. A key development for FAR in recent years had been an increased focus on research into whole farm systems and managing the environmental impacts of cropping farms. That led to increased collaboration with other primary sectors, particularly the dairy industry. Last year’s external review clearly identified that FAR was in good shape in terms of governance, management and research and extension strategy, Birkett said.

Your comment counts Add your voice to this story at farmersweekly.co.nz

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THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Dairy is in control of the barley price Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com THE secret to long-term trading success is about being faster than your competitor, seeing an opportunity and taking it, Dahuti International grain trader Dean Smith says. “You need to recognise trends and understand them inside out to have the ability to capitalise,” Smith told the third annual grains industry forum at Lincoln last week. He called attention to local market conditions. The Australian drought caused a massive shortage of wheat in Queensland that made Australian wheat very expensive in New Zealand but Smith did not see that as offering longterm opportunity for NZ grain. He similarly did not believe Black Sea wheat “going cheap” was a threat here. “And very cheap freight, too, but I don’t know what it would take to get it to NZ – the size of the ships at that freight cost you wouldn’t get the ships into NZ.” Success in trading was about establishing long-term relationships, Smith said. “And here you can do that at your own back door. “I have a bee in my bonnet about this – Canterbury barley versus milk payout.” Smith quoted milk price payout in 2014-15 at $4.40/kg MS and 2015-16 at $3.90. “And barley prices crashed. “Then with the payout at $6.26 in 2016-17, up to $6.75 in 2017-18 and we know what grain prices are doing – it doesn’t

take a rocket scientist to see the correlation between payout and barley price in Canterbury. “So in Canterbury forget the international market. It’s the dairy price payout that’s driven the barley price and I’m sticking to that. “I believe in that and statistics since 2002-03 show that.” But supply related to the dairy payout as well. “If the price drops to $230 a tonne you stop growing. If it’s up to $400 you grow it, just because you can and it adds up,” Smith said.

I have a bee in my bonnet about this - Canterbury barley versus milk payout. Dean Smith Dahuti International So was there opportunity for NZ to export grain. “There will be. When? I don’t know but realistically in volumes of production your biggest customer is your next door neighbour five kilometres down the road. “But hey, never say never,” he said. As for shipping South Island grain north, Mainfreight Owens branch manager Tony Martin said the logistics of moving bulk volumes of grain had its complexities.

“Globally we reach 239 branches in 22 countries across Asia, the United States, Canada and Europe providing solutions for industry partners. “We pick up stuff, move stuff and deliver stuff but there are some complexities in all those processes and the challenges we face in NZ, in terms of moving your freight, are huge, both for us and for your industry,” Martin said. That included by road after the Kaikoura earthquake, by rail and by sea in respect to storage and shipping lines going south. “We would love to be able to move your stuff but the demand versus space is a challenge to manage through very limited windows of opportunity. “We have to look outside the square, we have looked at options – but for us to move bulk it’s a whole new cost structure with very delicate negotiations.” Grain and Seed Trade Association president Barry McCarter said the 120 farmers, millers, manufacturers and an Australian Grain Science Association contingent showed the level of interest in issues affecting the grain sector. “There’s a great deal of conversation around current trends within the market, end user requirements, and transport and distribution logistics. “The key to moving these issues forward is to assist business and the industry to be organised around the opportunities available with NZ grown grain,” he said.

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HARD WORK: Moving grain around New Zealand is not an easy task, Mainfreight branch manager Tony Martin says. Photo: Annette Scott

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16 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Meat and summerfruit join biosecurity group TWO more primary sector groups have signed Government Industry Agreements for Biosecurity Readiness and Response, meaning most land-based primary sectors are now involved. Summerfruit New Zealand and the Meat Industry Association were the latest to sign the deed, joining 15 other industry sectors that had agreed to work with Government and each other to combat the threat of a pest or disease incursion. Summerfruit NZ represented the collective interests of apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach and plum growers. The value of the summerfruit industry approached $140 million last year and was well on the way to reaching its goal of being a $250m industry by 2035, its chairman Tim Jones said. “Like all horticulture industries, Summerfruit NZ faces a large number of biosecurity threats that could damage the livelihoods of our growers. “Biosecurity is an investment, not a cost.

“GIA creates a foundation for us to have a more informed interaction about the biosecurity system with the Ministry for Primary Industries and other GIA industry partners. “This includes ways biosecurity might be improved, making recommendations for improvements where required, planning for the risk of any biosecurity incursion and taking a lead role in the event of an incursion.” MIA chairman John Loughlin said “Biosecurity is fundamentally important to the NZ meat industry as it underpins our reputation for producing safe, high quality product. “A large-scale biosecurity incursion like foot and mouth disease could devastate the meat sector and seriously impact the wider NZ economy. “The recent Mycoplasma bovis incursion in South Canterbury highlights how even a relatively unknown disease can have a big impact on the industry. “Customers increasingly

demand meat and pharmaceutical products that have a diseasefree status – maintaining NZ’s unique international biosecurity status gives our industry a major advantage.” MIA represented meat processors and exporters and its members accounted for more than 99% of the meat processed in NZ. The meat sector exports were worth almost $8 billion annually and were NZ’s second largest export and single largest manufacturing sector. GIA manager Steve Rich said the new additions were a tangible demonstration of the future of biosecurity in NZ. “Here you have two very different sectors but with common interests to achieve better biosecurity joining together to deliver better outcomes with their peer industries and Government.” “MIA and Summerfruit NZ joining the GIA partnership means the vast majority of NZ’s landbased agriculture sectors are now represented in GIA.”

THOROUGH: Westland has been subject to an independent, robust and highly analytical review, chairman Pete Morrison says.

Westland seeks approval for its governance rejig Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com GOVERNANCE changes look set to follow two poor milk payouts by Westland Milk Products, the country’s secondlargest co-operative dairy processor. Shareholders would be asked to vote on proposed changes at a special meeting in Hokitika on Thursday, October 5. Voting by proxy would be available. The major change to emerge from a governance review would be reducing the number of shareholder-directors from eight to five, thereby bringing the board size down from 11 to eight. The proposals also included a boost to eligibility criteria for all directors, an independent assessment, a self-nomination option and a roadshow presentation of candidates to shareholders. Westland’s much-biggerbrother dairy co-operative, Fonterra, implemented similar changes last year following a three-year governance and representation review process. Westland set its review going after last year’s annual meeting when the board was criticised by shareholders for the company’s loss of $17 million and the lowest milk payout of any dairy company. Payout in the 2015-16 financial year was $3.88/ kg milksolids versus $3.90 by Fonterra and its payout prediction for the 2016-17

Westland’s much-biggerbrother dairy cooperative, Fonterra, implemented similar changes last year following a threeyear governance and representation review process.

year was $5.15 to $5.25, versus $6.15 by Fonterra though both remain to be finalised. Westland opened this season with a competitive prediction range of $6.40 to $6.80, compared with $6.75 by Fonterra. Westland chairman since March, Pete Morrison, said the governance review was done by a sub-committee of the board that included co-opted shareholders and a governance consultant. Its recommendations were accepted by the August board meeting and the final step was ratification by shareholders. “This was an independent, robust and highly analytical review undertaken at the request of shareholders,” Morrison said. “It drew on best practice and was led by Sue Suckling, one of the country’s leading board directors who has a wealth of practical governance expertise.”

News

farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

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READY: Zespri is thinking longer term about climate change impacts, innovation manager Carol Ward says.

GOING DOWN: Kiwifruit production in the key Te Puke area will steadily decrease, NIWA scientist Dr Andrew Tait says.

Climate might move kiwifruit down south Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com THE kiwifruit industry is pinning its faith on resilience and research to counter the possibility growing Green kiwifruit in Bay of Plenty might be impossible by 2100. NIWA scientist Dr Andrew Tait and primary sector consultant Alistair Mowat have put a specific local spin on the impact of climate change on regions’ ability to grow fruit crops, particularly those in warmer, temperate regions. Tait said kiwifruit production around the key Te Puke district, which accounted for almost half of Green fruit, would steadily decrease over coming decades. Estimates were it would be marginal by 2050 and most likely not viable by 2100 under all but the most stringent of global greenhouse gas emission options. A key reason for the decline was expected to be the loss of winter chilling before bud burst. The temperature drop from May to July usually resulted in more flowers and an earlier flowering period. Tait said the use of the chemical hydrogen cyanamide, known as Hi-Cane, was common for helping promote bud burst and to counter warmer winters but it was not known how long that would continue to be allowable. The use of the chemical did court a level of local controversy when applied in late winter but there had been no evidence to suggest it had health consequences. The spray had been part of a raft of management practices used to significantly increase Green orchard productivity in recent years. Tait said work looking at the implications of climate change on crop yields was not new and early work had included studies

on its effects upon pipfruit. “This was very much an empirical model we used and is a model type that could be used for other fruit types.” Calling on NIWA temperature data and high resolution mapping, the researchers determined inland parts of Bay of Plenty or even districts in Otago and Canterbury might prove suitable for future plantings. “But we do not think the Bay of Plenty is done. It is a well-established industry there and that has to be deeply considered.”

We are continuously working to develop and evaluate new cultivars of kiwifruit. Carol Ward Zespri However, there was also a high level of certainty that change would have to come. “What proved interesting was that it virtually did not matter what greenhouse gas pathway was taken, with the exception of the most extreme and complete reduction in carbon through means we don’t have yet, all pathways resulted in a very similar type scenario.” He suspected that initially over the coming decade growers would start to notice a gradual decline in Green yields. “There is a big role for industry to play here. “As an individual grower you are heavily invested and it is difficult to change your crop or your region. But as an industry such signals are important to lead those changes.” The kiwifruit industry had

proved adept at handling more immediate crises in the past. The 2010 Psa outbreak resulted in a wholesale removal of the Hort 16a Gold fruit in response to the crisis, replacing it with today’s highly successful SunGold variety. “So it is an industry that is quite vertically integrated and capable of adapting.” Zespri innovation general manager Carol Ward said the study highlighted how important it was for Zespri and the New Zealand kiwifruit industry to think longer term on the potential impact of climate change. “We are a resilient industry, thanks to several factors. “One is diversity – many orchardists grow more than one variety of kiwifruit. “Another factor is that we are continuously working to develop and evaluate new cultivars of kiwifruit through the world’s largest kiwifruit breeding programme with Plant and Food Research.” She said that gave the sector the potential to develop new cultivars with different attributes, including resilience to environmental risks and productivity under different growing conditions. “It is a very long-term programme and one that is vital for being prepared for future change.” The industry was also innovating through different growing systems and solutions, including growing under shelter netting to protect against different climate risks in terms of short-term, seasonal factors and longer-term trends. Kiwifruit Growers vicechairman Mark Mayston said the organisation would continue to advocate for growers through its ongoing work with industry stakeholders including Zespri and Plant and Food Research.

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18 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

News

Still room to add value to our meat Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com

PROD: Farmers need incentives to make changes that allow meat companies to add value, Rabobank analyst Blake Holgate says.

THERE is still plenty of opportunity for sheep meat exporters to add value to products, Rabobank animal protein analyst Blake Holgate says. But it was a slow and complicated process with care needed ensure it didn’t simply add cost, he warned. Adding value could be done in a variety of ways

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and could mean shifting more frozen product to chilled. Most sheep meat exported last year was frozen at an average price of $6100 a tonne compared to chilled at about $11,000 a tonne. Value-add could mean negotiating better trade access or farmers making management changes to supply more lambs that met the required quality standards on the shoulders of the season. “Value-add shouldn’t be one thing or one size that fits all,” he said. Equally, companies should follow their own value-added paths to give options to farmers but whatever path was followed had to be financially viable. “If it costs $2 to make $1 then you are not better off.” Holgate said companies told him it took five to seven years to develop markets for added-value products that required trade access agreements, in-market infrastructure and ethically conscious consumers with the ability to pay for products produced to their expectations. “The hardest mile is the last mile.” Farmers needed incentives or certainty to make farm management changes 12 to 18 months in advance and that was where companies and farmers needed to develop close and transparent relationships. That might mean farmers having greater compliance requirements but that was needed to support a brand and the value-added qualities companies were trying to capture in markets. “Linking attributes resonates with consumers and by using accreditation schemes verifies products produced in a certain way.” Holgate believed the sector was adding value to sheep meat, citing Anzco Foods Kumanu Lamb, Alliance Group’s Te Mana Lamb and Silver Fern Farms retail lamb range as examples. Other countries were encroaching on product differentiation NZ had previously captured, turning those into commodities such as electrical stunning, automation, packaging, Halal slaughter and exporting particular cuts to high-value markets. He identified three elements needed as part of NZ’s value-added strategy: • Ensuring NZ lamb was positioned as a premium product. • Continuously improving quality and verifying attributes. • Building consumer-focused value chains. Meanwhile, NZ exporters sold a record low volume of frozen lamb to the United Kingdom market last month as they chased more lucrative prices elsewhere. AgriHQ analyst Reece Brick said the combination of a steady decline in consumption combined with the loss of economic confidence following the Brexit vote had altered the market. “Exporters have largely chosen to divert their product to higher-paying markets and this will be a strategy that increases over time.” Just 1274 tonnes of frozen lamb was shipped to the UK in August but July and August volumes were 32% lower than a year ago and 38% lower than the five-year average. It was not a case of diverting product to Europe, with August volumes to that market 11% down at 2946 tonnes, 22% below the five-year average and the lowest since records began in 2006. Prices for chilled lamb were still solid with prices for the Christmas trade expected to be ahead of last year as consumers secured product following the shortage last year.

Have your say on this issue: farmersweekly.co.nz

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

The SFF Co-op employs one man

TASTY: Adding value for farmers is achieved by adding information for customers Silver Fern Farms sales manager Grant Howie says.

Farmers taste sales success Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com FARMERS last year supplied more than a million stock units to Silver Fern Farms value-added programmes for the first time, a 30% increase on the previous year. Chief executive Dean Hamilton described it as an important milestone for which the company paid out $4m in extra premiums to suppliers of qualifying cattle, sheep and deer. Sales manager Grant Howie expected similar growth in the coming year as suppliers benefited from meeting the demands of discerning consumers. Demand for products meeting the higher criteria was growing, especially in China, the United States and Germany while sales to New Zealand hotels and restaurants grew 10-15% in the past year on the back off surging tourist numbers.

Howie singled out SFF’s beef eating-quality programme, which was growing rapidly in China, the venison global retail and North American antibiotic-free lamb programmes as schemes providing farmers with valueadded returns.

The vehicle for that information, we believe, will very likely be Farm IQ. Grant Howie Silver Fern Farms The requirements of the programmes were as varied as proving to consumers that antibiotics were not used in animals to improving the eating

quality of beef through genetics, feed and farm management. Howie said to receive valueadded premiums required discipline and data recording but once old habits were broken it became relatively straightforward. In another move Hamilton said was in support of its valueadding programme, SFF had strengthened product traceability with a QR-code on every meat pack while it had worked with verification company Oritain to provide scientific proof-of-origin certification. Consumers could scan a pack’s QR code to verify the meat was an SFF product and to also receive information about the region the animal came from, stories of farmers from that region, when the meat was packed and recipes for that cut of meat. Howie said it was not yet possible to identify the exact

supplier of a cut of meat because that was lost during the cutting process. Supporting that was forensic chemical analysis from Oritain that could scientifically trace products back to the source. Such a degree of authenticity and traceability was needed to supply high-worth consumers who increasingly wanted to know a farm was sustainably operated, what care was provided to animals and a farm’s environmental management. “The vehicle for that information, we believe, will very likely be Farm IQ, the online central information hub we developed in a Primary Growth Partnership with the Government and Landcorp.” More than 1400 farms were using Farm IQ and SFF had invested more than $5m in the last seven years developing the software.

SILVER Fern Farms Cooperative has employed its first staff member and announced new details on how it will operate. Clark Taylor has been employed as the shareholder relationships manager for the cooperative that owns 50% of the processing and marketing arm, Silver Fern Farms. Chinese partner Shanghai Maling owns the balance. In a letter to shareholders, co-operative chairman Rob Hewett said Taylor, who had a rural banking background, was the co-operative’s only employee. Hewett also said shareholders would get two annual distributions, a dividend on ordinary and rebate shares and a patronage reward based on the volume of qualifying stock supplied to the cooperative in a calendar year and correlated against the number of shares owned. “We believe the regular distribution of a dividend to co-operative shareholders combined with a patronage reward to supplying shareholders will encourage further loyal supply over time and will generate demand for shares from non-shareholder suppliers and under-shared suppliers.” Hewett said shareholder suppliers would also receive other benefits such as preference processing space, preferential access to value-added programmes, governance development and invitations to farmer conferences and international market trips.

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TOP TIPS TO SET YOU UP FOR NEXT WINTER As you prepare crops for next winter, now is the time to take actions that will help you hold onto your soil and protect waterways during winter grazing. First up, ask yourself – is winter cropping appropriate for my farm and catchment?

The Pastoral 21 research programme demonstrated that you can reduce losses of sediment and phosphorus (P) from winter crops by up to 80-90% through strategic grazing and careful management of Critical Source Areas (CSAs).

Paddock choice and preparation is key

Cultivation tips

• Avoid paddocks with very heavy soils (prone to excessive pugging and increased overland flow).

• Leave uncultivated pasture buffer strips around waterways and critical source areas.

• Select a paddock that is relatively flat, well-drained, with a deep soil profile.

• Cultivate paddocks along the contour and maintain a coarse seed bed if possible.

• If the paddock is close to waterways make sure you leave appropriate buffer zones to minimise overland flow.

• Use minimum tillage practices, especially on sloping land.

• Select paddocks with less critical source areas such as gullies, swales, or other natural drainage channels.

While it’s summer – think about how you want to graze the crop

• Consider where sub surface drainage outlets are, especially in paddocks with mole or pipe drains.

• Consider stock exclusion and light crop grazing options for critical source areas.

• Use nutrient budgeting to inform your wintering decisions. Take particular note of nitrogen losses – winter crops can pose a high risk to N loss.

• Place supplementary feed in your crop paddocks when the soil is still dry to minimise heavy vehicle use during winter.

• Soil test your chosen paddocks, so your fertiliser decisions are well informed.

• Plan to start grazing at the end of the paddock away from waterways and at the top of a sloping paddock.

• Catch-crops, either sown with the main crop or after it has been grazed – increase feed availability and help keep nutrients in the soil profile.

• Plan how you will allow stock to access clean reticulated water.

READ

B+LNZ Factsheets on good management practice for winter grazing. Visit beeflambnz.com to download or email resources@beeflambnz.com

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

New name for nitrogen stopper Tim Fulton tim.fulton@nzx.com SCIENTISTS and marketers are holding their breath for the next big push into nitrogen products. Seed company Agricom is rebranding its plantain after research showed the forage plant could reduce nitrogen leaching from urine patches by up to 89%, depending on the sward blend. Nitrogen patches accounted for most of the nitrogen leaching from livestock farms. Agricom science lead Glenn Judson while plaintain wasn’t a new forage, research showed using a specific genotype could result in a significant reduction in nitrogen leaching from the urine patch. The next test for Agricom was to prove plantain’s effectiveness at scale and to make it compatible with the Overseer nitrogen measurement tool. It might be three years before it was Overseer-approved, Judson said. Other agri-science companies had promoted nitrogen inhibitors before, only to stumble in the field or at the hands of regulators. One of the best known products, the fertiliser based eco-n, was withdrawn from sale by developer Ravensdown in 2013 after falling foul of food safety rules. The restyled Ecotain would go on sale in April next year. It could be used as a specialpurpose crop where the forage and another seed, probably clover, were the only seeds sown. It could also be used with clover and grass in a mixed pasture system or oversown into existing pasture. Ecotain was a culmination of five years study into the herb, which was a common flat weed before Agricom bred and commercialised it into a forage cultivar. Judson, an animal scientist, said the company was now confident enough in the science to highlight the nitrogen-mitigation properties. Ecotain reduced leaching from the urine patch by increasing the volume of cows’ urine, which diluted the concentration of

BENEFICIAL CROP: Agricom science lead Glenn Judson in a plot of plantain.

One of things that we’ve got to learn from eco-n is that the job’s not done at this stage. Bruce Thorrold DairyNZ nitrogen. It also reduced the total amount of nitrogen in animals’ urine, delayed the process of turning ammonium into nitrate in the urine patch and restricted the build-up of nitrate in soil growing Ecotain plants. The four results inspired NSentinel4, Agricom’s name for its nitrogen management programme. NSentinel4 findings had been examined and peer reviewed by

the Greener Pastures partnership between Massey and Lincoln Universities and Plant and Food Research. Greener Pastures, funded by Callahan Innovation, ran in parallel with the DairyNZ-led Forages for Reduced Nitrogen Leaching programme. Agricom sales and marketing manager Mark Brown said its solution to nitrogen leaching had been developed by industry, for industry. It had not yet been tested on large farms under a variety of commercial conditions but the science and field research were not confined to pots and plots, he said. DairyNZ strategy and investment leader Bruce Thorrold said researchers from across agriculture had been building a body of evidence on how the nitrogen-inhibiting compounds

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in plaintain worked in animals. “The real news here is what we’ve all done is understand much better what these specific plaintains do, in terms of nitrogen cycling.” The industry study started about five years ago on a range of crops such as chicory, plantain and clover. “We started seeing some results there showing ‘geez, there’s something going on here’ and over the years we kind of narrowed that down to plantain.” Agricom had taken the best two cultivars showing inhibitor properties and rebranded them, Thorrold said. “So there’s a bit of rebuild and a bit of rebrand. And also a whole new set of claims.” The key for Agricom now was to scale up its research to a whole farm level, allowing for variations like weather and soil types.

Animal welfare was also important considering that Ecotain increased the volume of cow urine through a diuretic effect. “There’s more science to be done from now to the end than has been done from the start to now.” Investors in this type of plant research needed to understand the job was not done. “It’s really tempting … have a look at what happened with eco-n. “They got some good results, Ravensdown got really excited, ministers got realty excited and everybody went ‘the job’s done’. “One of things that we’ve got to learn from eco-n is that the job’s not done at this stage.” It would require a big investment from government and industry to see the project through, Thorrold said.

News

22 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Policeman gives Fonterra a pass Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com FONTERRA has received a pass mark from the Commerce Commission for greater transparency on sales made off the Global Dairy Trade auctions. But it was asked to provide more information on estimates of capital costs. The commission released its annual report on Fonterra’s base milk price calculation for the 201617 season to establish it met the objectives of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act. The commission said it could not decide on the feasibility of the estimated asset beta that Fonterra used to determine the weighted average cost of capital (WACC). There was some justification for the Fonterra asset beta figure of 0.38 for the Notional Producer but it was lower than the sample mean range of 0.48 to 0.52. “However, at this point we do not consider the evidence is robust enough to support Fonterra’s estimate of 0.38,” the commission said. It would therefore continue to use the range for future milk price reviews, an intention that effectively left Fonterra with the responsibility to defend its

PASS: The Commerce Commission as given Fonterra a pass mark in its annual assessment of the co-op’s milk price calculation.

estimate. The WACC was an important component of milk price setting, a concept familiar to Fonterra farmers through the capacity adjustment in the advance payments schedule. An asset beta figure is a statistical measure of a company’s risk profile compared to its peers or the market in general. A figure of 1 denotes equivalence, less than one a lower risk. Fonterra has argued the degree of value-adding by comparable processors was a key input to the

asset beta and that value-adding lowered the risk and therefore a lower asset beta for the Notional Producer should be used. Fonterra argued the degree of value-adding by comparable processors was a key input to the asset beta. The commission said the difference between Fonterra’s estimate and average comparable companies was material and equal to about 5c/kg MS. Rival processor Open Country Dairy wanted the commission to

conclude Fonterra’s estimate was not practically feasible. “If it does not, the commission risks perpetuating reduced contestability of the dairy market through a base milk price that is inefficient. “The commission’s draft report systematically reviews the asset beta calculation, explaining its logic at each step. “Its review shows many of Fonterra’s assertions are neither supported by evidence nor able to be verified by the commission.

“Fonterra have had two years to provide evidence – the obligation on the commission is to now conclude on the matter.” Open Country said a lower asset beta flowed on to a higher farmgate milk price and therefore restricted the access by independent dairy processors to milk supplies from farmers. Fonterra was being allowed by the commission to go a further year with “an unjustified asset beta miscalculation, which will impact market contestability”. The commission said the offGDT sales figures disclosure was timely and useful. Fonterra agreed to release the cents per kilogram of milksolids of additional off-GDT sales in its annual milk price statement, the average full season GDT selling prices for each reference product and definitions of standard packaging, specialised plant or technical resources and standard product offerings in its milk price manual. “We welcome Fonterra’s commitment to disclose additional information to support this,” commissioner Stephen Gale said. “However, we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these disclosures for interested parties.”

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Synlait to make its own brand products Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com SELLING its own brand into retail markets will become part of Synlait Milk’s strategy as it develops new high-value products. The move was unlikely to involve infant formula, managing director John Penno said, releasing the company’s annual results. “It’s not in our interests to compete with our very strong customer partners and we don’t think it would be a winnable game for us.” Synlait had taken a prudent approach in setting up as a business-to-business dairy product supplier but could now invest in its own brands, chairman Graeme Milne said. As part of the strategy further manufacturing sites, over and above the existing Dunsandel plant and new Auckland facility, were likely.

We will continue to grow both top and bottom lines at pace. Graeme Milne Synlait Penno said Synlait expects to sell 40 million cans of infant formula this financial year, enough to feed a million babies. The product was the major profit driver for Synlait Milk, notably with its supply of the A2 Platinum brand for the A2 Milk Co in China. He described a new, five-year contract to supply New Hope Nutritionals (NHN) with two brands in the Chinese market as a very big event. They were the biggest and second biggest customers for infant formula for the group, with the partners working towards new registration in the market by January. Synlait also owned 25% of NHN. Registration of the A2 brand in China was extremely important, Milne said. Synlait was also working towards registration of its Grass Fed brand infant formula for customer Munchkin in the United States and that was an important part of the group’s market diversity. Grass Fed had been on the Australia market for the last year and was achieving growth, Penno said. Both registration processes were very rigorous but the partners were confident they

would be achieved on time. Synlait increased sales by 39% to $759m in the year ended July 31 as part of what the directors said was its strongest performance yet. That was based on higher volumes and stronger dairy product pricing. After-tax profit rose 11% to $38.2m from a year earlier. The increase did not match the rise in revenues because the company also invested significantly in key people, product development and plant expansion as well as lifting research and development spending, Penno said. Earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) rose to $65.7m from $61m. Milne said demand for highermargin products continued to rise and pre-tax margins were $10m higher than a year earlier. “We will continue to grow both top and bottom lines at pace.” Synlait had considerable opportunities to solidify its ingredient and infant formula positions and to enter new categories.’’ Despite the strong profit improvement, the year was one of consolidation ahead of an expected period of solid growth, Penno said. Synlait expected to make 16,000 tonnes of finished infant formula in the first half of this year and the sales of that would set-up “a strong increase in profit growth year-on-year”. In the latest July year, finished infant formula volumes increased by 17% to 18,776 tonnes and for this year the total should rise to 30,000t to 35,000t of canned volumes. Synlait would commission its new blending and consumer packaging facility in Auckland next month and that would underpin expansion of the infant formula business, Penno said. It had already put on a fourth shift at its Dunsandel plant in Canterbury, providing production round the clock. The wetmix powder production capacity at Dunsandel was also being doubled and together the two projects would remove any manufacturing constraints in the second half of the year. New, retail-ready, sachetpacking lines were also being developed at Dunsandel for highvalue products. On other products the company reported improving sales and pricing for lactoferrin in the US. Milne said further investment was planned in butter and dairy cream to take advantage of a strong world market as the benefits of dairy cream became more appreciated. Earnings a share were 22c (on a higher number of shares following a capital raise last September)

compared to 23c previously. With its focus on expansion, the company was again not paying a dividend. Synlait raised $97m in the big share issue and that, combined with strong cashflows, led to group borrowings being reduced to $83m at balance date from $214m previously. Operating cashflow was $115m, up from $104m. Borrowings funded just 11% of total assets of $753.6m at balance date. Penno said Synlait’s 201718 season milk price forecast remained at $6.50/kg MS. That was up from the latest season’s average of $6.30/kg MS, made up of a base $6.16 and average valueadd premium of 14c/kg MS. MORE TO COME: Synlait’s best year yet was one of consolidation before a period of solid growth, managing director John Penno says.

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News

24 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Farmers like north’s regional plan Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com FARMERS face new requirements for livestock exclusion from waterways, new rules around permitted or controlled water takes and the need for erosion control plans in five priority catchments in Northland’s new regional plan. The region’s dairy farmers might also be required to build new effluent storage systems adequate for 150 days. Northland Regional Council’s proposed combined regional plan, three years in the making, was open for submissions till November 15.

It’s not an understatement to label it one of, if not the most important documents the council has consulted on for many years. Bill Shepherd Northland Regional Council The plan replaced separate water, air and soil plans that were more than 10 years old and was only one-quarter of the size of those it replaced, chairman Bill Shepherd said. “It’s not an understatement to label it one of, if not the most important documents the council has consulted on for many years.” The council had worked hard to make the new plan simpler, more streamlined and easier to use than its predecessors. Last year Federated Farmers said the draft plan was pragmatic and the thrust of policy-making was appropriate for the region’s livestock farmers.

After the publication of the latest version, provincial president John Blackwell, a Dargaville sheep and beef farmer, said he was pleased to see the council had made changes. Regarding fresh water quality, the plan concentrated on sediment loss from highly erodible land in sensitive catchments rather than the nitrate leaching emphasis in other regions. Blackwell believed the council had good relationships with landowners and farmers’ input to the priority catchment consultations had been positive and rewarding. The proposed plan did not make many changes to existing permitted activities. Discharges to land of treated farm dairy effluent remained a permitted activity, with the normal safeguards provided dairy farms had sufficient contingency storage for 150 days over winter. The sizeable storage was required because effluent irrigation might not be possible for weeks on end in wet winters. DairyNZ said many of Northland’s 900 dairy farms might have to build new storage and Federated Farmers believed the average cost would be $200,000. Discharges to water continued to remain a discretionary, consented activity for 75% of dairy farms. Both Fonterra and DairyNZ now discouraged the practice and many Northland dairy farmers had resolved never to use that consent. Northland also had a high level of significant non-compliance by a five-year average of 14% of consented farms and 25% of unconsented. Unintentional discharges to water were the main breaches. Better waste water management, storm water diversions and the new storage requirement should improve the non-compliance record, the council said.

CLEANER: Mangere Catchment Group co-chair Royce Kokich, one of 19 dairy farmers who have excluded livestock and made farm management changes to achieve a significant improvement in water quality.

Taking water from surface and underground sources would be a permitted activity for personal or animal needs. Up to 20 cubic metres a day could be taken unless rivers were at or below minimum flow. That would be enough for a herd of about 300 cows, so larger herds might have to seek consents. Dairy farmers were known to be concerned about the lack of any prioritising policy by the council when rivers and streams neared their minimum flows. For example, temporary loss of water supply might not spell the end of horticulture crops but a dairy farm forced to dry cows off had lost income for the rest of the season. The council left livestock access to waterways a permitted activity subject to beef cattle exclusion in lowland zones by 2025 but no

exclusion would be required in hill country areas. Access was not permitted to outstanding freshwater bodies or significant wetlands. In general, the federation agreed with the concept of stock exclusion rather than prescriptive fencing rules to allow farmers to adopt whole-farm policies using management, natural barriers and riparian grazing when needed. It argued for the use of farm management plans rather than universal rules to preserve appropriate flexibility and farmer co-operation. Northland had many high-flow, short-run streams and rivers with erodible banks in which the main issue was sediment loss not nitrates from fertiliser and livestock. Therefore, new rules in the five priority catchments required erosion control plans for high

sediment-yielding land and immediate dairy cattle exclusion from water courses one metre wide and 30cm deep in the Mangere and Whangarei Harbour catchments. In practice that had already been done, such that Mangere received a national award for water quality improvement. “Stakeholder groups within each of these communities have developed catchment plans to address freshwater-related issues of particular concern to them,” the council said. The water supplies in some catchments, such as Kaihu and Ruakaka, had been fully allocated and that might prevent further high land use changes from drystock to dairying or dairying to horticulture. New allocations would be available only if some were surrendered.

More irrigation for Northland could boost economy Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com A $100 million-plus water storage and irrigation scheme for Kaipara District could create hundreds of jobs and provide tens of millions of dollars annually for the Northland economy. The Kaipara scheme of 6300ha would drive horticultural development in a district already famed for kumara production. Local regional councillor Penny Smart said most of the irrigation potential was on Pouto Peninsula, along with a more reliable water supply for nearby Dargaville. She commented following the release of a study by consultants Opus and others

into irrigation potential in Northland. As well as the major opportunity in Kaipara, the study identified three cheaper and smaller options in the mid north, around Kaikohe, called A, B and C. Up to 750ha of avocado development was mooted for both Kaipara and mid north options. Building the schemes would not come cheap at about $17,000/ha capital costs for the Kaipara option and more than $11,000/ha for mid north A. Smart said while growers couldn’t afford to build the schemes alone, given the likely flow-on economic, environmental and other benefits they would offer the

wider community there was a potential case for wider investment, including by both central and local government. “The study acknowledges the potential costs to develop all four schemes in the scoping report – as much as $300m – would be considerable for Northland alone. “With that in mind it suggests one possible solution could be to establish a special funding body to enable a mix of public, private and iwi investment.” Initially, that entity could be as simple as a community steering group with participation from all three groups but it would need to be able to adapt to a more formal structure if the development

process advanced. Also recommended were much more comprehensive pre-feasibility studies down to individual farm level that would likely cost $1m-$2m and take another year to complete. Smart said regional economic development agency Northland Inc had already recognised the massive difference improved irrigation could make to the region’s future, ensuring it had been listed as a key project in last year’s Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan. Northland already had two 1980s-built irrigation schemes, at Maungatapere and Kerikeri, used for growing avocados, citrus and kiwifruit.

TWO WINNERS: Irrigation could supply water to 6300ha of Kaipara farmland as well as nearby Dargaville.

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26 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Newsmaker

WORRIED: Brian Leadley has real concern about how much longer grain growers can sustain the competition of an unlevel global playing field. Photo: Annette Scott

Cheap imports threat to locals Brian Leadley is passionate about how he farms to produce food but his expectations and goals as a grower are increasingly being challenged. Annette Scott reports as he put his case to industry-wide stakeholders.

RIAN and Rachel Leadley run a 430 hectare farming business in Mid Canterbury. Their land was flat and spray irrigated, which made it suitable for a wide range of production streams. They chose to run their business as an arable and lamb finishing operation, cropping the entire farm each year growing a range of small seeds, process vegetables and cereal crops. Over autumn, winter and spring the Leadleys bought lambs for finishing, using feed grown in grass and clover paddocks. As a member of Federated Farmers’ arable industry group executive, Leadley held the position of vice-chairman responsible for grain. As a group it lobbied in support of agriculture and, in particular, arable issues. As the grains spokesman his role linked closely with his involvement as chairman of United Wheatgrowers. Like many modern arable operations his farming enterprise was diverse with the crops it produced. But with that came varying challenges for business planning

as he strove for consistency, accessibility and fair value in the marketplace. “For us, as we prepare to plant a crop, we are already planning for our next crop, considering things such as paddock history, fertility and pest and weed issues. “For these reasons the crop rotation plan can be a long and complex process to finalise and ours usually ends up with a lot of white-out on it by the time we finish,” Leadley said. Grower planning was all being done at a time when there were no market indicators as to what the demand for the product might be, let alone the return value. “Our planning time is still up to 24 months away from a delivery of the resulting plantings.” Speaking from the farmers’ perspective, Leadley told the arable industry’s grain forum at Lincoln last week that for growers to take advantage of market opportunities they needed to plan ahead and be prepared. “Grain producers are in the business of growing cereal grains for the domestic milling, malting and feed markets while competing with the international commodity market. “One of the best aids to help us with our planning is early indications for accessibility of consistent quality, quantity and sized markets that offer opportunity for a product that can reward us with a fair return recognising the value of our product,” Leadley said. “The variances that we have seen in the past, along with agronomic advances and increased demand for feed wheats, have undoubtedly been

contributors to growers moving from milling to feed wheat varieties.” He acknowledged that for most arable farmers wheat was one of their favourite crops to grow. “We see wheat as a reliable performing crop so have invested heavily to ensure our ability to reliably supply quality produce that consistently meets the requirements of our buyers.” Sustainability and environmental impact were without doubt utmost in his mind when planning the farming year.

I am unsure how long producers, processors and manufacturers can continue to absorb this. Brian Leadley United Wheatgrowers “Environmental impact, the mix of crops on the farm rotation and the financial benefits of those crops needs to roll together into a financially sustainable business model if we are to ensure our future. “The supply reliability is very important to us as we need to be recognised as reliable producers to gain reputation and therefore repeat business.” Pricing remained difficult to find a consistent, reliable figure that could be quoted year in and year out given the international

influence on domestic prices. “As growers we constantly look at ways of driving efficiency into our production and adopt opportunities to control production costs while trying to maintain or lift our yields. “With the international influence this does become challenging to maintain what is seen as the fair return for product.” Leadley said that remained a driver for farmers researching all options when planning crop plantings. “It has always been an influencing factor between feed wheat and milling wheat and with the demand from the dairy sector for stock feed that is likely to remain,” he said. New Zealand produced over half the world’s carrot, red beet and radish seeds and as the world recognised NZ’s climatic and soil ability linked with the industry investment in machinery and skills then the possibility of increased competition for arable land from the small seeds sector was likely. Add to that the development of fresh vegetable production increasing its demand then opportunities for growers were surely there. “But having said all this I must remind you that we need cereals in our system to support these other land uses so we actively engage with the industry to help support long-term cereal production,” he said. Public influence on farming systems and water use together with management practices in agriculture were having a huge influence on decision makers and farming practices.

Arable farmers recognised the importance of all those issues to the future of NZ both as a country and to agriculture. “Farmers are doing what we have done for generations, producing food while learning and adopting advances, developments and efficiencies in the way this can be done. “The difference now is that we not only have to record everything we do. We also need to report this to our markets, regional councils and of course the public and to date the consumers who demand this do not appear willing to pay for it. “Given the format and audit process required to achieve this, we are indeed moving into the times of needing a licence to farm,” Leadley said. He commended the industry for backing growers with an accredited quality assurance programme that supported safe, sustainable and traceable growing and storage practice. Industry structures were well developed, enthusiastic and skilled to push growth further but while growers embraced all opportunities he was not confident that was enough to ensure future sustainability. He urged better communication between growers and the marketplace. “We are producing high quality, world record crops yet still we are importing a large percentage of our domestic grain needs as NZ growers compete with subsidised wheat on an unlevel global playing field. “I am unsure how long producers, processors and manufacturers can continue to absorb this.”

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Awards show agri innovation They cover traditional activities, old companies with new ideas, new companies doing things differently and gamut of human endeavour. And among the entrants for this year’s New Zealand Innovation Awards agricultural companies feature prominently. Richard Rennie had a look at what they have to offer.

NTERNET stock sales, premium lamb, sheep’s milk and solar powered cow collars all feature as agribusiness innovations vying for the judges’ tick at this year’s Innovation Awards. With the winners to be announced in late October, the field has proved varied and broad, even within the agri-sector. Innovation Awards organiser Jane Tohill said there has been no shortage of companies lining up to enter themselves in the event that is fast becoming the Oscars for innovation across all sectors. To deal with the increasing numbers of companies keen to enter, organisers deliberately took a “quality over quantity” focus this year. For that reason numbers were slightly back on last year. Last year’s agri-business winner was the Flashmate disposable heat detector, developed by Hamilton company Farmshed Labs and marketed by Gallagher. “It can be that you will get a small start-up company keen to enter and sometimes our advice to them is to just wait a year until they have some more experience or maybe more data behind them that will give them a better chance of doing well.” This year’s agri-business section spanned the scale and longevity spectrum, from the start-up company Halter with its solar powered cow halters aimed to contain stock without fences to southern meat company Alliance’s premium end Omega Lamb project. Halter was formed when founder and mechanical engineering graduate Craig Piggott left the mentorship of Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck to set up a company that would enable cattle to be grazed

TASTY: Prime Minister Bill English and chef Samuel Wilkes launched Te Mana Lamb in Hong Kong.

in defined areas without the use of fences. Powered by embedded solar panels, the collars were used to train cows to stay in defined areas through noise signals while GPS co-ordinates could be altered to enable stock to move into new areas. At the established end of the agri-business sector, southern meat company Alliance claimed a place in no fewer than four categories, including research excellence and export innovation, with its Omega Lamb project. The Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) funded Omega Lamb Project focused on how to produce lamb high in health and taste attributes, with high levels of Omega 3 and polyunsaturated fatty acids or good fats. The project challenged traditional interpretations of lean meat, seeking out a specific fat level. Te Mana Livestock was established as the source sheep stock for the project, with source stock supplied from 17 South Island properties. Omega Lamb general manager Mike Tate said the project built

on a decade-long scientific programme and breakthrough research that found the right combination of genetics, management and feeding could alter the fat profile of lamb and produce animals that were healthy while delivering a healthier product for consumers.

We see it as heralding a rebirth of different lamb dishes and reaffirmation of NZ as the home of the world’s best lamb. Mike Tate Omega Lamb Project “NZ lamb is internationally renowned for its quality by consumers and the hospitality industry. “However, Te Mana Lamb is something different. “The specific breeding programme and pasture

requirements don’t lend themselves initially to mass production. “At this stage, it is very much aimed at the fine dining experience. “We see it as heralding a rebirth of different lamb dishes and reaffirmation of NZ as the home of the world’s best lamb,” Tate said. Leading chefs in the top end restaurants where the lamb was served described it as a gamechanger in terms of the cooking consistency and taste levels delivered. Landcorp and the SLC Group also featured in this year’s awards with their sheep milk products, along with milk monitoring company Levno, which had developed a monitoring tool capable of measuring milk volume, temperature and agitation action. Departing from product focused aspects of the awards, Hawke’s Bay based stock sale company StockX also featured in the financial, professional and public services awards section. StockX director and founder Jason Roebuck said the internet based livestock sales company

had enjoyed strong growth over the first two years of its life. And for those with different tastes the entries also feature Anteater, a firm providing premium edible insects. “We now have 2500 farmers registered on the platform. “There is a significant appetite out there among farmers to see some changes in the livestock markets.” It was a welcome endorsement to be nominated for the awards. Tohill said the competition had experienced a growth rate of about 35% a year over the past five years and now employed 42 skilled evaluators in the judging process to fully evaluate the entries. “It is now a pretty robust process and needs to be, particularly when it comes to health and science entries. Every entry also receives feedback on the product or service to help them build on any areas that may need focus.” The award winners would be named at the event’s evening on October 19. As well as competing in specific categories the entrants were also in line for the Bayer Supreme Innovation Award.

New app makes farmers smarter and greener A SMARTPHONE app released by DairyNZ intends to help farmers better identify opportunities to lift their onfarm environmental performance. The EnviroWalk has been tested by 1500 farmers using it to interrogate themselves on how they are performing environmentally by answering a series of yes-or-no questions

about aspects of their farm management. Lower North Island catchment engagement manager Adam Duker said the aim of the app was to provide all the information farmers might need on environmental improvements to their farming business, at their fingertips. Depending on the answers

farmers provided they will be given a number of solutions or actions that would be the foundation for an action plan, capable of being downloaded and printed. Allowing for sketchy internet coverage, the app could be downloaded and operated without internet connectivity and accessed anywhere on the farm.

Duker said farmers were closely involved in development of the programme. Otago farmer John Den Baars was one of them, using it in its early format on his Milton dairy farm. He said young staff, in particular, were keen to use a programme accessible by smartphone rather than trying to negotiate sheets of

paper and written plans. “It has all things environmental in one place and is user-friendly, a great tool for training the younger generation.” The programme sat alongside two others developed by DairyNZ, including the dairy effluent storage calculator and cow body condition score tracker.

Opinion

28 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

EDITORIAL

No point worrying about the weather

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

More letters P29, 30

Irrigation isn’t an optional extra IRRIGATION is not something farmers like to do. It is expensive in terms of infrastructure, time and energy. But in many areas it is vital to grow crops and increase the food supply available to urban populations. California’s wealth was built on irrigation and such was the obvious benefit to the total population that early legislators invested public money in huge infrastructure projects to make water available to farmers to make the desert bloom. Thus, it was fair and reasonable that Californian farmers should pay for the water since the infrastructure had been provided by the state. In New Zealand, most irrigation is the consequence

of huge farmer investment in infrastructure – wells, dams and pivots. The whole country has benefited from such farmer investment. To add another cost is likely to deter any further such investment with negative consequences for NZ’s prosperity. Think about it. Ron Frew Ohakune

Unreal image THE article in which a Kaikoura District councillor fears an upsurge in pest numbers following the district’s earthquake flew in the face of ecological reality. He imagines deer, goats and possums exploding in numbers. All three species named are slow breeders, having usually

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biologists know so well. After liberation pre-1900, deer did increase, peaked about 40 years later when they exceeded the carrying capacity of the habitat then dropped to a low, stable level compatible with the carrying capacity. However, fast-breeding species like rats are different. A female rat will begin breeding at six weeks, have four litters a year and perhaps 10 or more in each litter. So, one female produces 40 young in 12 months. Therein lies the colossal failure of aerial 1080. After 1080 drops, surviving rats explode in numbers as shown by Landcare Research (Nugent and Sweetapple) studies. After three or four years rat numbers are three to four times pre-poison levels. Continued page 29

Letterof theWeek

EDITOR Bryan Gibson bryan.gibson@nzx.com

just one new-born a year. If hunter access is limited because of the quake, one year would make no difference. Besides, fears that deer populations will explode are groundless. A study of Fiordland’s Lake Monk in 1958, years before helicopters probed into the wilderness, by noted scientist, the late Thane Riney, showed the fallacy of fearing uncontrolled numbers. The team went in half expecting deer to be everywhere. It was quite the opposite. Deer numbers were relatively low and stable. Evidence in “hedging” of young beech trees showed there had once been a high population. Similarly with possums, with numbers also low in 1958. This is Nature’s way, shown by the bell-curve graph wildlife

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LECTION day has been and gone so now we can get back to normal service, analysing the weather. Here in Manawatu it’s been wet, very wet. From what we’re hearing the rest of New Zealand has been much the same. Winter is always miserable and spring is so often a hope that turns to despair. The daffodils, a sign of life emerging from the gloom, are usually buffeted by gales and rain. Snow in September is not uncommon where I live. I had to have a bit of a giggle last week when talking to a reporter, who was recalling a conversation with a farmer about the weather. They’d just had more than 60mm of rain in 24 hours but a norwester had kicked in and now they were worried about drought this summer. On the face of it, it looks like perhaps this farmer might be worrying a bit much. But really, every business owner hopes for the ideal conditions to make what they sell. Manufacturers can tweak the atmosphere and the kit inside their factories to optimise output. But a farmer is at the mercy of that darned weather. Get a perfect cycle and production is high, nutrients are managed well, pasture looks good, stock are in great nick and everything’s set up for the next trip around the sun. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen very often and most farmers need to use all their experience to make the best of what the heavens give them. This year that means living with water, a lot of it. The soil moisture map looks green so most are well setup for what summer might bring but summer seems a long way off when trudging through the mud during lambing or calving. Still, at least we all have something to debate over that well-earned beer at the end of the day.

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Ditching RMA dear, unhelpful Lynda Murchison

S THE Resource Management Act an issue for farmers?” a story by Tim Fulton asked. “Is the Pope Catholic?” was my automatic thought; bearing in mind I have studied the RMA since 1990 and worked with it since 1995. It’s like being married for a long time – you know all its good points and all its foibles. Driving through the Rakaia Gorge last week I spotted one political sign promising to ditch the RMA. Is it time to ditch the RMA marriage and move on? Or is the devil you know a better one to bargain with? In New Zealand we have a history of reforming our principal environmental legislation about every 25 years. We had new town planning acts in 1926, 1953 and 1977 and significant water legislation in 1941, 1967 and 1981. The RMA was enacted in 1991. On that historic timeframe it is due for a replacement. But replace it with what? It doesn’t matter what legislation you put in place, managing natural and physical resources is controversial. It requires balancing competing needs and wants: environment, social and economic, both immediate and long term. Whether you call it kaitiakitanga, sustainable management or something else and whether it is an oral ethic or written into legislation, the dilemma does not go away. Some groups are discussing the rewrite of Part II, the purpose and principles of the Act. Part II is the engine room of the Act. It is motherhood and apple pie or, as one of my postgraduate students described it, “the management of the effects of everything on everything”. Those who want to rewrite Part II tend to want to tip the balance of everything on everything to favour use and development over “

The

Is it the principle of protecting these things that is the issue or is it how councils go about it?

Pulpit

environmental protection or vice versa. That means you have either a National Development Act or a Conservation Act. But RMA is neither – it is finding the balance between the immediate and the long term – family farmers do that every day. So, if we reform Part II will we do it any better? Probably not but what we will do is obliterate the 20-odd years of case law that has established how to interpret the legislation. That’s good for lawyers but expensive and unhelpful for the rest of us. But what about those outstanding landscapes and ecological sites that must be protected under section 6? They are the bane of many hill and high country farmers. But is it the principle of protecting these things that is the issue or is it how councils go about it? The uptake of QEII Trust covenants by farmers suggests it’s the process at issue. Most of the RMA frustrations I deal with daily relate to poor processes or even poorer planning practice. For example, one of the major issues we all face is the cost of rules and resource consent applications. Section 32 deals with this. It requires councils to evaluate the

WHOA: There’s no need to rush into a divorce from the Resource Management Act, North Canterbury sheep and beef farmer Lynda Murchison, who has 20 years experience as an environmental planner specialising in freshwater and environmental management, says.

appropriateness of any policy or rule before adopting it. That means working out that requiring arable farmers to do annual Overseer modelling at more than $10,000 a pop is not necessary or appropriate if they are doing nitrate herbage tests or that excluding extensively

grazed livestock from lakes and rivers in the high country is not necessary considering the cost and practicality of doing so versus the impacts on water quality. Section 32 has been amended several times but the issue isn’t understanding it. Councils simply don’t do it or, if they do, they do it

retrospectively to justify rules they have already chosen. You don’t fix that by ditching the RMA or rewriting Part II. You fix it by addressing the poor planning practice. But what about water management? The RMA is blamed by many as the reason for failure to manage water quantity and quality, especially in Canterbury. Managing the cumulative effects of water abstraction and discharges is hard, unless you have a water plan that sets catchment limits and they are limits you can defend. But again, that’s not an issue that will be addressed by ditching RMA That issue arises because of an inherent tension between the lack of knowledge we hold about our biological and hydrological systems and the requirements of our judicial system for certainty in regulation and evidence to support restricting people’s activities. It creates issues but it is a core tenet of democracy. So what to do with RMA? Ditch it – no. Drastically reform Part II – no. Clean up some of its processes and poor practice – definitely. Just like any long-term spouse nothing is perfect. But ditching them for something shiny and new with a full head of hair? Be careful what you wish for.

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

Continued from page 28

Bad report

More detail is contained in my two recent books, The Third Wave and At War with Nature (Tross Publishing, Wellington). Rats are totally different to deer. It’s a slow breeder (deer) contrasting with fast breeders (rats). The ecosystem disruption after 1080 does not end with rats. Stoats preying on rats suddenly have a food bonanza and so their numbers explode. So, all DOC’s and OSPRI’s1080 drops have done is to cause ecosystem mayhem.

YOUR double-page article, Silverstream a picture of pollution (vol 16, no31), is sloppy journalism. The nitrate levels in the Silverstream are not rising – the latest recordings, taken at 45 spots, are a maximum of 6.2 mg/ litre, dropping to fives and fours down most of the stream, ie the same as 2012. The 10.5 reading was an aberration, never explained or repeated. It is interesting that the highest nitrogen readings are always at the source spring. The bullet-riddled sign and the discarded televisions are at the Waimakariri stopbank- the

W F (Bill) Benfield Wairarapa

Silverstream does not connect visually or hydrologically with the Waimakariri. The “scrubby north bank” comment is not relevant. The photo of the locked gate is just deceit. Three metres out of shot is the stile-type access for people, dogs and horses. The gate is locked to prevent vehicle entry damaging our plantings. There is no “tension” over access. The cows at the stream are unfortunate. Is that a stream in the photo or water from our flooding two weeks ago? Did the photographer report the transgression to Ecan? Yes, there are problems but the Silverstream is full of aquatic Continued page 30

Taupo Western Bays Farm Manager Lance Aldridge has used Gleniti Romney Rams for over 25 years. He says their consistency and reliability has produced top performing ewes whose fertility is outstanding and impressive.

“

”

We’ve had the highest scanning ever despite going through two droughts back to back. We keep going back because it works. It’s about performance and profit in a harsh environment including, snow ice and summer droughts.

Bill Hume 06 307 7847 David Hume 06 307 7895 Gleniti, RD 2, Featherston

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LETTERS

Opinion

30 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Fertiliser visionaries owed debt Alternative View

Alan Emerson

THE election’s come and gone. It’s odds on no-one is much the wiser and the sun will still rise in the morning. The good news is that politicians will revert to type and we won’t have to suffer all the bluff and bluster. This week is a politics-free column about an august and auspicious body that not a lot of farmers will have heard of, the Fertiliser Quality Council. It is an amazing organisation. It is a prime example of every player over the farming sector working together for a common good. It is just 25 years old and I attended the launch in Palmerston North. I can remember it explicitly and vividly as I was the sober driver taking the not so sober crew back to Wellington. Graham Robertson was the first chairman. He’d just stepped down from being Federated Farmers president. It was a job he did exceptionally well. He was a visionary who knew and understood farming and could mix and work with anyone. The reason the council came into being was because the

government of the time decided to repeal the Fertiliser Act. It had decided to get out of fertiliser regulation. Federated Farmers believed the industry was far too important to leave to the law of the jungle and started the Fertmark scheme. “Without Fertmark farmers would have no way of knowing what was actually in their fertiliser,” Robertson said. “In addition with the advertising code of conduct participants couldn’t make claims that weren’t verified by an independent audit. Those companies that make dubious claims about their fertiliser don’t get involved with Fertmark,” he said. He was followed as chairman by Timaru farmer Neil Barton and the current chairman Anders Crofoot. Richard Christie, who is now now general manager development for Ravensdown was an early executive director. He represents Ravensdown on the council. He said there was lots of debate in the early days. “We managed to get everyone on the same page and it went to strength from there. “The FQC was originally a forum to resolve technical issues. Now it also involves commercial issues. “The laboratory standards are very high and there’s a great degree of commonality as to how things needed to be done,” Christie said. He was followed by Kevin Geddes for 20 years. The executive director now is Ann Thompson.

PIONEER: Richard Christie, now representing Ravensdown on the Fertiliser Quality Council, was an early executive director.

Imagine what would have happened if the council hadn’t been in existence for the last 25 years. We would have an absolute circus of products and claims and farming would be regulated even more than it is. About 95% of the fertilisers sold in New Zealand today carry the Fertmark tick, which says a lot about the industry because getting accredited isn’t easy. Independent auditors have to test and be sure that what is on the label is actually in the bag. Using a fertiliser carrying the Fertmark tick means you know exactly what you are putting on your farm. Using a fertiliser that isn’t Fertmark certified is, in my view, crazy. The council also administers the Spreadmark scheme, which I

believe is a must for farmers. Getting Spreadmark accreditation isn’t easy. Operators must have their trucks tested by an independent and accredited tester to ensure the spread of fertiliser is even. In addition, their systems have to be independently audited to ensure they are robust and drivers are highly trained. There is also an aerial Spreadmark scheme. What that means is that a farmer knows precisely where the fertiliser is going. A map can also be provided showing the exact spreading pattern on an individual paddock. To save a few dollars on spreading cost by using a non Spreadmark accredited spreader is false economy. You don’t get a

LETTERS Continued from page 29 life and is the jewel in the crown of Canterbury’s 28 streams. It is swimmable and I drink it. Cr Al Blackie Waimakariri District Council Chairman, Silverstream Reserve Advisory Group

Water secure

THE coverage of your Waimea Dam article (August 14) is partial. You give extensive space to a grape grower representing about 15 landowners who says the dam

good bang for your fertiliser buck by imprecise spreading. Why companies like Fonterra, Landcorp, the meat companies and local government don’t insist on Fertmark and Spreadmark is beyond me. What impressed me most about the council, and I attended a lot of the earlier meetings, was the commitment of the players. Competing fertiliser companies including the two big co-ops and competing spreaders were all part of the council and committed to it. Chaired and administered by Federated Farmers the council also included scientists, academics and consultants. All contributed massively to our fertiliser industry. Going forward the council is more important than ever as more emphasis is being put on nutrient placement. It’s focused on its Spreadmark scheme being highly professional while minimising nutrient overload and runoff. Today’s fertilisers are also becoming more sophisticated and varied with products such as slow release nutrient formulas. Farmers need to know that these fertilisers will deliver the nutrients they require and the Fertmark tick achieves this. NZ agriculture has a lot to thank those visionaries of 25 years ago for and those who have contributed since.

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

More letters P28, 29 is “going to be a very expensive insurance scheme for 10-12 weeks of the year”. A few centimetres at the bottom of the page is given to the Waimea Irrigators group, significant business proponents of the augmentation dam, an extensively researched, cost-increasing, best option that addresses long-term water security issues in the region. Yes, it will cost a lot but it is a project designed to secure an

adequate water future in times of seasonal shortage for generations to come and to protect the river’s environment. Major water rationing stifles food production, business viability, jobs and economic growth. Water is also key to quality of life. When you’ve lived with babies and young children in a house on city water rationing, the best sound in the world is water

Proven eczema genetics – but so much more

starting to flow into your header tank. In a tight fiscal environment, Tasman District is responsibly engaging with providing longterm water security. What amazes me is that Nelson City and residents aren’t more on side. They will gain directly from water supplied and ensure a prosperous hinterland with efficient economic production in the Waimea Plains and expansion of areas like Mapua and Ruby Bay.

John Reeves 07 825 4763

They would also protect themselves from risk of earthquake damage to their main pipeline or fire control in hot summers. But Nelson is not best noted for its attention to utilities’ infrastructure. Credit to Tasman councillors for taking on this challenge. For the sake of the Nelson region, may they succeed. Jo Leyland Tapawera

Alastair Reeves 07 825 4925

When you buy your rams at Waimai Romney, all the sale rams have eczema tolerance, having been eczema testing for over 30 years, so all you need to focus on are the traits that make you money. • Fertility - constantly weaning over 145% • Mating all ewe hoggets last 10 years • Meat & Growth - EMA scanning all sale ram hoggets • Minimal drenching to challenge tolerance, no ewes drenched • Genetically linked with Waiteika & Kikitangeo Romney

Enquiries always welcome. Sale by private treaty and at Mid Northern Romney Sale, 2nd November, Claudelands, Hamilton.

waimairomney@gmail.com | waimairomney.co.nz

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Up chilled trade slowly but surely Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

CHINA has become an important and valuable customer for New Zealand meat in a relatively short time and the chilled trial promises to add even further to the positive impact on meat returns. Certain markets favour different parts of the animal – think United Kingdom for lamb legs, Europe for middle cuts, the United States for lamb racks, southeast Asia for steak cuts. China has added a new market dynamic. In many cases Chinese customers want completely different cuts of beef and lamb from traditional markets, some of which will be prepared in NZ and some that are more easily done in China. This provides opportunities to reduce market risk and enables more value to be extracted, which is beneficial at a time when American beef demand and prices have slowed and the UK market is affected by the weaker pound and a tendency to favour British lamb. The chilled pilot scheme permits 10 plants to export chilled product to China until the end of the year when a review by

Chinese authorities will determine whether that permission will be extended to other NZ meat works. Australia’s trial was scheduled for two years, whereas ours is scheduled to last six months. The first trial container shipments of beef from Greenlea, Affco and Silver Fern Farms have landed over the past month while more containers of beef and mutton are on the water or in preparation for shipment. Airfreight consignments of beef and sheep meat have also been sent to China since the trial’s official beginning in June. The success of the chilled trial is fundamental to the challenge of building a profitable relationship with the modern China, a market that has traditionally bought large quantities of commodities with little or no added value. The unfortunate state of the NZ wool trade is partly because of an unhealthy dependence on China, which has been able to dictate both the volume and price of its purchases. The red meat sector is determined to avoid a similar fate, which is why all the companies are working closely with the regulator, the Primary Industries Ministry and their own industry organisation, the Meat Industry Association, to ensure the success of the trial. The timing of the chilled trial is significant because it is taking place during the period of lowest potential product availability and doesn’t materially disadvantage

those companies whose plants have not yet been approved. This enables any wrinkles in the system to be worked through, bearing in mind chilled meat is an entirely new concept for the Chinese market which is familiar with fresh, mostly domestic, and frozen, mostly imported, products. MIA chief executive Tim Ritchie says the main focus of his organisation is the integrity of the cold chain that controls the product at all stages of the process from order consolidation, shipment and customs clearance to distribution to the food service and retail buyers and ultimately the consumers. The big advantage of chilled is its ability to age during shipping but unexpected delays at any stage of the journey can, at worst, render the product unsalable. An industry delegation is going to China to attend meetings with Chinese regulatory authorities, industry organisations and distributors from October 16-20, including the annual conference of the China Meat Association (CMA) where the delegation will hold a seminar designed to educate and inform attendees about the complexities of handling chilled meat. The importance the various NZ parties attribute to getting this right is emphasised by the careful, three-pronged approach to building deep relationships with their Chinese counterparts. That includes MPI’s relationship

THE FUTURE: The chilled meat export trial relies on sales to modern Chinese.

with Chinese sanitary, quarantine and customs authorities, MIA’s connection with CMA, Islamic Association and Chambers of Commerce and individual processors building relationships with their distributors. It is seen as particularly important to ensure customers are realistic about NZ’s capabilities, avoiding overpromising on numbers constrained by seasonality. The prize for the NZ meat industry, farmers and exporters alike, if this exercise is as successful as our representatives believe it can be, is clear from some of the relevant facts, quite apart from the sheer population size. In the past year China has taken 20% of our sheep meat trade and 17% of our beef trade which is equivalent to $1 billion and that is almost entirely frozen product so the added-value potential from chilled product is substantial. The more sold as chilled, the higher the average price but also the greater the obligation on farmers to supply higher quality product to meet more demanding qualifications.

There is also an important subset of this market, which is the Islamic population of 23 million providing NZ’s largest halal customer by a wide margin – 33% of total halal production compared with 7% to Malaysia. Last year NZ’s halal processing system was recognised by China, which gives us a major advantage over our competitors. It isn’t too unrealistic to imagine a situation within a couple of years in which China takes 33% of our red meat production by value, made up of a combination of high-value chilled and mediumvalue frozen products that could add significantly to farmers’ returns. This would come nowhere near saturating a growing market eager for high-quality beef, lamb and mutton. The relationships and systems being developed at the moment are essential to achieving this successful outcome.

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

C’mon, give us the Lotto numbers Steve From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I’M SITTING here in front of a blank page on the screen considering what a politics-sated readership might want to read after our election weekend – something completely different perhaps to excite and stimulate jaded senses. Then sometimes you just get lucky. Somehow a window in the cosmos opened a tiny crack in the space-time continuum and into my inbox dropped the script for a BBC news story. I won’t trouble with you the maths behind Minkowski Space as the continuum is known but my interesting brush with this Einsteinian theory of special relativity meant there was something very unusual with my newly acquired script. It is dated December 30 2017.

Of course, I immediately assumed it was an internet scam. But then I noted that I’d sent it to myself. Of course, my future self would know that I was desperate for some new material or a good idea for a column and brilliantly, even though I say so myself, worked out how to email back to the past. If others work out how to do this, it will make things very unstable. This potential instability is known as The Grandfather Paradox, which is a paradox of time travel in which inconsistencies emerge through changing the past. The example being that a time traveller travels back in time and kills his own grandfather before the conception of his own parent, thereby making it impossible for that individual to have done the deed, even though he did. Once I was certain that what I now had was the genuine article I had to consider the ethics and risks of releasing this information to you, dear reader of news from the future. Then I considered the time and being well past bedtime simply cut and pasted some of the juicier

TAKE THAT: As English Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to build a wall separating Ireland and Northern Ireland and make the European Union pay for it.

and relevant titbits. I’ve kept the sports results to myself because, though I’m not a gambler, I’m finding the temptation too hard to resist. A certain bet I believe is the term. Opening today’s news, President Trump, having declared that North Korea would have complete and utter devastation followed by further punishments that would make the devastation look like a friendly gift, has now surprisingly agreed to Kim Jong Un’s invitation to a wrestling

match where the winner takes all. Both men are fans of big time wrestling and pundits have Trump as firm favourite given Kim’s weak ankles and inability to stand unsupported. But then everyone thought Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf character in Game of Thrones, would lose all his fights. English Prime Minister Boris Johnson has declared that a wall will be built between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland because the European Union is

playing hardball over the Brexit negotiations. He wants the Europeans to pay for it. He has also threatened the Scots with resurrecting Hadrian’s Wall but that ploy might have backfired because Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the move. And in New Zealand a surprising result came from the long drawn out negotiations following the election in September. All the minor parties were quite content to coalesce with either of the two major parties but refused to be in that coalition with any of the other minor parties, making coalition governments of either the centre left or centre right impossible. In frustration, the two main parties, National and Labour formed a government with 85% of the seats in Parliament and have set about their common goal of transforming that small nation into the country the rest of the world will shortly envy and admire.

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

World

32 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Hands off manuka Aussies tell Kiwis NEW Zealand can have the pavlova, Russell Crowe and Phar Lap but not manuka honey, a group of Australian honey producers says. They fear their trans-Tasman neighbours are moving to monopolise the billion-dollar industry. On Monday last week Australian manuka honey producers and retailers met in Melbourne to establish an incorporated association to rival New Zealand’s Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association and formulate a strategy to counter the Kiwis’ push to own the manuka honey name. Australian Honey Bee Industry Council chairman Lindsay Bourke said 24 people from Australia’s manuka honey industry met to kick-start the Australian Manuka Honey Association and “protect the word manuka”. “Everyone decided to get together, to form an association and do something about it, instead of watching and waiting,” Bourke said. For years NZ had run a successful marketing campaign that promoted manuka as an “iconic NZ product”, he said. “They’ve been broadcasting to the world ‘Only from NZ’ and they’re trying so hard to convince everyone it’s the only place it comes from that they’ve started to believe it themselves,” he said. “So we’re going to protect the word manuka. “We’re the only two countries that produce it and the whole world needs it. “We can’t understand what our Kiwi friends are trying to do.” Manuka honey was derived from the nectar of leptospermum

We’re going to protect the word manuka. Lindsay Bourke Australian Honey Bee Industry Council scoparium trees, commonly known as manuka or tea-trees, which were native to the east coast of Australia and parts of NZ. Bourke said NZ’s claim to manuka was unfounded, considering 80 species of the teatree were native to Australia while NZ had “just one”. Earlier this year NZ’s UMF Honey Association sought to extend the country’s Geographic Indictors Act to ensure honey labelled as “manuka” and sold globally could come only from NZ. In a newsletter circuited to members last month, the association said it intended to “get the rights to the term “manuka honey” and control who could use it ... “Think Champagne where only producers located in the historic lands of the Count of Champagne can call their sparkling wine under that brand name”. Perth-based ManukaLife director and likely board member of the soon-to-be incorporated Australian Manuka Honey Association, Paul Callander, said the industry group’s first task would be to ensure Australian manuka products could be sold “without restraint”. www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

Ockers want rights to Maori word AUSTRALIANS claiming they own the rights to the word manuka to describe honey produced there might not realise it is a Maori word. Australian Honey Bee Industry Council chairman Lindsay Bourke said a body, the Australian Manuka Honey Association, which doesn’t even exist yet, should have the right for its members to describe their honey as manuka. He said New Zealanders’ claim to use the word manuka was unfounded. His proof of that was that Australia had 80 native species of leptospermum scoparium trees, also known as tea-trees, while NZ had only one. That one species in NZ was known as manuka long before the word was associated with honey. Manuka is a Maori word according to the Collins dictionary and relates to the tree native to NZ. The Conservation Department website says the variety known manuka, or sometimes as kahikatoa, grows in various forms around NZ.

IDENTITY CRISIS: Australians are claiming they have the right to the Maori word manuka to describe their honey.

Brexit Brits should learn from Kiwis’ experience AS BRITISH farmers prepare for a post-Brexit world they can learn much from the New Zealand’s experience of the 1980s, Professor Hugh Blair has told them. But they should stop short of making direct comparisons, Blair, a professor of animal science at Massey University in North Palmerston said. Speaking during a brief visit to Scotland that included trips to the island of Luing, the Moredun Institute, the Roslin Institute and a meeting with former colleague Professor Geoff Simm of the University of Edinburgh, Blair said though Scotland had similar agricultural conditions to NZ it would continue to be influenced by its proximity to the European Union. “The financial climate here in 2017 is also different to NZ in 1984,” he said. “I was brought up on a beef and sheep farm in northern Hawke’s Bay and my brothers

Farmers had the worst of it though, especially when share prices crashed a couple of years later. Hugh Blair Massey University

GET READY: British farmers face a time of accelerated change and will have to adapt to lower subsidies, Professor Hugh Blair has told them.

and parents lived through that very difficult time when farm subsidies stopped overnight. “That was not all that changed with tax rates altered and so on.

“Farmers had the worst of it though, especially when share prices crashed a couple of years later. “My brother was paying 27% interest on his mortgage and of course he had no time to prepare for the loss of subsidy. He survived though. “Pundits are still arguing about whether or not a stepped reduction would have been better.” The financial backdrop in 2017 in the United Kingdom might be more stable but Blair believed

farmers there would have to adapt to lower subsidies in much the same way as their Kiwi counterparts. “It will be a time of accelerated change with the most inefficient having to move out of the way first,” he said. Farmers would look to everything including genetics. When subsidies stopped in NZ only about one third of beef and sheep farmers were making decisions based on genetics but it was a lot more now. “In the early 1990s we saw the first imports of Texels, Oxford Downs and others and the highend farmers were very quick to incorporate them into crossbreeding programmes. “Sheep numbers, of course, had dropped dramatically as dairy increased but performance is much better. “Lambing percentages were about 90% and now they would typically be 125% to 130%. “A good chunk of the

improvement is due to genetics but better management comes into it too,” Blair said. He warned, however, it might not be possible to reverse the process by simply taking NZ breeds to the UK because of different disease and climatic challenges. A managed transition would be needed. Blair’s visit to Luing, home to Cadzow Brothers’ 300-strong herd of Luing cattle had encouraged him in his belief that UK farmers had the adaptability and expertise to rise to the challenge. “These are magnificent animals with their calves just coming up to weaning. The cows were noticeably very calm. “I had not expected to see pasture of such quality and it was great to talk with stock manager Euan Ferguson about the goals he is setting for the future.” UK Farmers Guardian

World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

Cows let people into their world

Forecasting demand is an exact science A MAJOR salad grower in England has boosted productivity using sophisticated techniques to predict customer demand better than supermarkets. Cambridgeshire-based G’s Growers is beating the big retailers at their own game by adjusting production schedules according to the weather and reducing crop waste. “Demand for iceberg lettuce is 24/7 and we overgrow by 30% to make sure we have enough,” director John Shropshire said. “Sophisticated monitoring technology has allowed us to identify key growth stages in the lettuce and also to collate data on weather and microclimate. “We are now able to predict demand better than the retailers and to adjust our production schedules to mitigate against potential shortfalls, reducing waste.” G’s Growers was one of the United Kingdom’s biggest salad producers. Shropshire said he was introduced to an ecologist at Microsoft by experts at Agri-Tech East – a membership organisation that linked farmers with scientists. Agr-Tech East brought together farmers with technologists and investors to bring fresh thinking and new expertise to the challenges of production and land management. “Across the UK the yield and quality of crops varies greatly between farms but even within an individual field or crop there is quite a lot of scope to improve efficiency,” Shropshire said. “New technologies will enable us to do that.” Reducing the amount of waste had released resources so G’s Growers could grow other crops rather than over-producing lettuces. Called From Grass Roots to Blue Skies, a new report by Agri-Tech East

detailed ways growers and scientists were working to improve farm productivity. The document was launched at the House of Lords on Tuesday. Growers were adopting increasingly innovative ways of solving the problems they faced as they strove to meet rising demand for food sustainably, the report said. In the three years since it was started, Agri-Tech East had stimulated a number of initiatives enabling innovative producers to collaborate in new ways with scientists. “UK farm output has stagnated for 30 years as technology has allowed us to do more with fewer people,” Agri-Tech East director Dr Belinda Clarke said. “There is a huge opportunity to look at production and land management from a different perspective and introduce new business models and technologies that will improve productivity.” The Agri-Tech East approach was to put growers and livestock producers with seemingly intractable problems in contact with people who might have solutions, Clarke said. “We are concentrating on what works well – perhaps in other industry sectors or geographies – and seeing how it can be applied by some of the UK’s most skilled farmers.” The key to success was to bring people together and help all parties frame their challenges in a way that others could appreciate, she said. “Farming is actually a complex business. “By encouraging people with different perspectives to participate in workshops and networking events as a community, we have been able to identify where innovation is needed.” UK Farmers Weekly

activists and vegan groups. Anti-dairy rhetoric had increased noticeably in recent months in the United Kingdom and Europe, culminating in August with a week of anti-dairy action and World Plant Milk Day. WDR media group, which created the initiative, said it wanted to playfully tackle the big questions of milk production, which was operating around tension between cost pressures, uncertain consumers and the welfare of the animals. The study had already featured videos showing consumers a cow calving and a calf separation. The UK needed to think outside the box in how it engaged consumers, how they understood why dairy farmers do what they do, how proud they were of what they do and how different systems didn’t have an impact on cow welfare, National Farmers Union chief dairy adviser Sian Davies said. “We will see what the results show in the initiative but for us we would love to see something like that in the UK led by milk buyers, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board or a retailer group. “There’s no reason why it couldn’t happen over here,” Davies said.

HELLO WORLD: A German dairy promotion has given viewers an insight into the lives of three cows.

“A lot of retailers would be willing to put their heads above the parapet. “Milk buyers should. Arla has 3000 members here, Muller has 1900 suppliers. Surely they can find a few farmers who are willing to do this. “The majority of people

Consumer confidence is falling CONSUMER confidence in food is on the decline as a result of high-profile cases of food fraud, such as the 2013 horsemeat crisis. National Farmers Union Mutual in Britain has published a report on food fraud that found that onethird of the people surveyed were less trusting of food supply chains than they were five years ago and almost three-quarters (72%) believed there was an issue with food fraud in the United Kingdom. The least trusted products were processed foods (35%), red meat (18%) and food supplements (15%). However, the research also found confidence in the British supply chain was relatively high in comparison with foreign supply chains. Almost nine out of 10 people said they did not trust foreign food chains. The report was designed to benefit businesses working across the supply chain – including farmers. It said businesses that could adapt and appeal to consumer demands for transparency might achieve a competitive advantage in the marketplace. A quarter of the 2000 respondents to the survey said they had higher trust in short, local supply chains and

people said they trusted small businesses more than larger corporations. The report, therefore, urged more retailers and caterers to consider using and celebrating a short, British or local produce supply chain to win the hearts and confidence of their customers. It said more than two-thirds of people read the ingredients lists on products to help them decide whether the food they were buying was legitimate. Turn-offs when it came to labels included far-fetched claims about a product’s benefits (40%), label text in a different language (40%), poor-quality packaging (34%), unknown brand (33%) and sparse labelling or text (28%). That had lessons for farmers selling direct to the public as well as producers selling via retailers. “Producers may find that they earn more consumer trust and reap the benefit in sales by investing in quality packaging with clear labelling – especially important if targeting young people under 24 years of age,” it said. “Retailers may benefit from promoting supply chain inspections and selling products with quality labelling.” UK Farmers Weekly

out there buy milk, trust farmers and want to learn more about what dairy farmers do day in day out. “We need to show consumers why we’re so proud to be dairy farmers in the UK.” UK Farmers Weekly

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agrievents AWDT’s Escalator 2018 Applications for AWDT’s Escalator 2018, growing primary industry leaders, are now open. Applications close September 30, 2017 To apply: Admission to Escalator is by written application. Places are limited to 14 each year. For an application pack and more information please contact: www.awdt.org.nz/ programmes/escalator/ Phone: 06 377 4560, Hannah@awdt.org.nz Wednesdays 11/10/2017, 08/11/2017 & 06/12/2017 AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business 3 full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony run over four months Venue: Waverley Contact: anna@awdt.org.nz Website: To register for the programme follow this link http:// www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/understanding-your-farmingbusiness/ Sunday 15/10/2017 Black & Coloured Sheep Breeders Association NZ Mid-Canterbury Branch Open Day Venue: Green Acres Fibre Processing, 155 Burnham School Road, Burnham Time: 10am to 4pm Contact: Georgie 03 3251 288 Website: www.colouredsheep.org.nz Wednesday 18/10/2017 to Thursday 19/10/2017 East Coast Field Days 2017 Two day agri business event, promoting agriculture in the East Otago area. Venue: Palmerston saleyards, SH 85, Palmerston, Otago Contact: President, Paul Mutch, 021 800 833 or Secretary, Maria Barta, 021 211 1111 Email: info@eastotagofielddays.co.nz Website: www.eastotagofielddays.co.nz Thursday 19/10/2017 Beef + Lamb NZ Forage Profit Partnership field day Venue: Simon and Caroline Dick, Awadale farm, Upton Downs Rd, Seddon Time: 10am-4pm. BYO lunch 4WD access only. BBQ to finish the day. Friday 20/10/2017 Beef + Lamb NZ Farming For Profit field day Venue: Daniel and Tarsh Newport’s property, Korere-Tophouse Road, Korere, Tapawera Time: 11am-4pm. BYO lunch 4WD access only. BBQ to finish the day.

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

LK0085515©

EXACT: Large-scale salad producer G’s Growers is predicting customer demand to reduce waste and increase productivity.

A WORLD first initiative in Germany has opened the doors of the dairy industry to consumers and critics alike to answer questions surrounding farm practices and animal welfare. The month-long project, called Superkuhe or Super Cows, used webcams and sensors to follow the health and movements of three cows from different farms. The cows – Emma from a conventional family farm, No 71 from an organic farm and Connie from a housed system – could be monitored by anyone 24 hours a day online or from an app. Consumers could see in real time how long the animals ate for, whether they had a fever, how much they were drinking and how much milk they produced. A bolus also measures and transmitted live readings of cow body temperature, rumen pH, drinking behaviour and animal movement. Superkuhe was also using a Facebook Messenger chatbot to interact with consumers and share facts and statistics about the animals’ day-to-day wellbeing. The aim of the project was to answer questions surrounding animal welfare and dispel misconceptions about dairy spread by

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

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; September 25, 2017

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Iconic 630 Ha Finishing Property Dairy Conversion Potential

493 Maxwell Station Road

Maxwell - Wanganui District

Tender Closing 2pm, Thursday 26th October

Cranleigh - 493 Maxwell Station Road 630.87 Ha fattening and grazing land with significant development upside

View by appointment

Cranleigh Station offers buyers a rare opportunity to acquire an immaculately presented pastoral farming asset of genuine scale and broad land-use optionality. Given the largely flat to gentle-rolling contour, and its combination of nutrient rich silt loam soils, and lighter sandy loam country, Cranleigh is a trophy property in a premium farming region and represents a highly strategic asset for potential purchases.

Ben Orton +64 27 420 6316 borton@lewistucker.co.nz

Includes 4 bedroom homestead, and two 3-bedroom cottages.

www.cranleighstation.co.nz nz www.lewistucker.co.nz Lewis Tucker Agency, licensed under the REA Act 2008

VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT

PRODUCTIVE DAIRY UNIT Rarely do dairy farms of this scale come to market in Marlborough. Conversion in 2008 provided the opportunity to develop from the ground up into a strong performing dairy unit. This 474 hectare property is a consistent producer; averaging 320,650 kgms; with a peak of 357,995 kgms in 2015 from 830 cows. Currently 800 cows are milked through a high quality 54 bail DeLaval rotary shed with electronic tag readers, auto drafting, automatic cup removers and molasses feeder. Farm infrastructure includes various sheds suitable for storage of machinery, feed and calf rearing. Accommodation includes a solid four bedroom home and a container worker cottage.

5023 SH 63, Marlborough 4

474ha

Tender - Friday 24th November 2017 at 4pm www.msfn.co.nz/msru10010

Mark Tschepp m 027 472 4991 b 03 578 8059 markt@ďŹ rstnational.co Licensed Salesperson REAA 2008

First National Marlborough Ltd - Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Contributor to realestate.co.nz

Spring 2017 Property Pull-Out We’ve got you covered From next week onward keep an eye out for the first edition of our spring property pull out stitched into the center of the Farmers Weekly!

Selling?

It’s not to late to be a part of this sought-after publication.

Terms and conditions apply.

Talk to your agent directly or get in touch with Shirley on 06 323 0760 or email shirley.howard@nzx.com

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

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 25, 2017

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

FOR SALE

VALLEY ROAD FOREST PARAPARAUMU, Kapiti Coast

HONIKIWI FOREST 1753 HONIKIWI ROAD, Otorohanga

ALL THE HARD WORK DONE! FULL HARVEST INFRASTRUCTURE

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.

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

DEADLINE TENDER Friday 20 October 2017 at 4.00pm

Honikiwi Forest represents a superb opportunity for a purchaser to secure a mostly younger forest, but with a stand of near mature Radiata. Being second rotation there is full existing forestry harvest infrastructure.

+ 394ha Titled Area

Located just South West of Hamilton, 143km from the Port of Tauranga and close to numerous processing facilities means this property is positioned to take advantage of both international and local markets.

+ Only 143km to Tauranga Port

+ 37ha Pinus Radiata + 14ha Minor Species + Aged from 2 - 31years

DEADLINE TENDER Friday 6 October 2017 at 4.00pm

WARWICK SEARLE

021 362 778

www.propertyconnector.co.nz/20991Q37

www.propertyconnector.co.nz/210427Q37

CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

OPARAU – 599 Okupata Road FOR SALE MANAKAU FOREST NORTH MANAKAU ROAD, Horowhenua

MULTIPLE FARMING OPTIONS • 342ha-330ha approximately effective (846 acres) • Mairoa Ash soils • 114 paddocks – mixture of 7 wire, 3 wire, semi permanent, single wire electric fences • 106 paddocks with water troughs • 75% easy rolling contour • Central laneway services approx 70% of farm • Currently beef fattening, dairy grazing, small flock of sheep • Average annual rainfall 1600mm • Very tidy, well presented 3-bedroom home

MIXED AGE CLASS - CROWN FORESTRY LICENCE FULL HARVEST INFRASTRUCTURE Manakau Forest represents a great opportunity for a purchaser to expand their forest estate without the complications that freehold land acquisition can bring. This second rotation forest has full infrastructure in place with a mixed age class of Radiata.

Tender Closes 4pm Wed 11 October 2017 (unless sold prior) Tender papers available from: Halliwells Solictors, PO Box 422, Hawera 4640 Or email: Admin@halliwells.co.nz

Located south of Levin, with an easy cart to Centre Port or numerous processing facilities means this forest is positioned to take advantage of both international and local markets.

For more information contact: Murray & Cushla Chubb 07 871 0078 or 027 435 8747 Solicitor 06 278 5114

LK0089145©

Open Days (or view by appointment) Wednesday 20 September, Wednesday 27 September, Wednesday 4 October 2017 Open days farm tours commence at 12.30pm SHARP. 4WD MOTORBIKE IS ESSENTIAL

+ 236.99ha stocked area + Majority of forest 2004 – 2010 plantings + Second rotation with good roading and infrastructure

DEADLINE TENDER Friday 20 October 2017 at 4.00pm JEREMY KEATING 021 461 210

WARWICK SEARLE 021 362 778

www.propertyconnector.co.nz/210551Q37 CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 25, 2017

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

PATAKANUI - EARLY FINISHING COUNTRY, IMPECCABLY MAINTAINED 847 Lake Ferry Road, Martinborough

306 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz Ref: RX1252515

Patakanui is an extremely tidy 306-hectare sheep and beef finishing unit, which has been very well farmed, with an excellent fertiliser history. Patakanui is strong, early country and is a very well balanced unit with around 160 hectares of flat to rolling cultivatable land, 36 hectares of medium hill and 110 hectares of steeper hill country (including 11 hectares of well-tendered pines). Re-grassing has been a feature every year and fertiliser is applied as per recommendation. The farm is well fenced into 30 paddocks (all with good water) of which 90% are 8 wire post and batten, including the central laneway. Currently the farm is running 1400 ewes, lambing from 1st August. Last year there were 4,000 lambs finished on Chicory over the summer through to June and over 200 rising two-year-old steers were finished during the spring - summer months on cell grazing blocks. Patakanui is renowned for consistently producing high quality stock. Patakanui has a very tidy four stand woolshed and covered yards (NP 900), a large set of cattle yards and two implement sheds/workshop.

Tender Closes 4pm, 26th Oct 2017 NZR Real Estate Ltd, 1st Floor, 16 Perry St, Masterton 5810 Blair Stevens AREINZ 027 527 7007 | blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

This one will be hard to beat.

BUY THE BEST SOIL

• Situated south of Whanganui is this 175 ha farming opportunity

• Top quality 204 ha Manawatu Dairy farm that is currently milking 600 Friesian cows

• Features a 20 aside herringbone dairy and 300 cow yard with adjacent feed pad

• Modern 60 bail rotary dairy with circular yard and adjacent 400 cow feed pad

• The herd is split calving and milked all year round supplying Open Country

• Two very good three bedroom family homes, one of which is on its own title

• Exceptional bore water supplies water to stock troughs, dairy and houses

• Has produced up to 285,00 kgs/ms

• Large machinery shed, large silage bunker

• This is your chance to own this excellent dairy farm now for 1st June 2018 takeover

• There are two three bedroom family homes set in their own treed surrounds

• Purchaser has first right of refusal to own the current dairy herd

• Your chance to buy this farm with a flexible takeover date and take advantages of the coming season

• This property represents a great opportunity to buy some of the Manawatus’ best silt loam soils.

• Call Les to inspect, asking 3.1 mil

• Act now and call Les to inspect

Sallan Realty

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

• For sale at $9,500,000 land and buildings

LES CAIN 0274 420 582

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

LK0089410©

OPPORTUNITY TO GROW

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Parish Dairies - 149 ha - Oxford

Brander Farm - 294 ha - Synlait A2

WEB ID DFR57501 CANTERBURY 379 Parish Road View By Appointment Dairy farms of this scale and setup are well sought after DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 6th October, 2017 at 3.00pm, in Canterbury and this example is no exception. Located (unless sold prior) near Waimakariri Gorge comprising of 149 hectares this property features a modern 40-aside herringbone dairy shed with meal feeding, executive style 5-bedroom homestead plus staff accommodation. Spray irrigated by centre pivot from combined Waimakairiri Irrigation and groundwater takes providing reliable cost efficient water. The excellent shape and layout of this property 5 provides ease of management.

DEADLINE SALE

Gareth Cox

Mobile 021 250 9714 Office 03 929 0306 gareth@pb.co.nz

Maori Road

WEB ID AR57637 LOWCLIFFE 377 Emersons Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 20th October, 2017 at This property located approx. 30 km south east of Ashburton is a very special place. Location to the coast, 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) soil type, irrigation development, dairy shed and three good quality homes make this a quality farm. Proven history of milking 910 to 1050 cows with production from 450,000 kg/ms to 512,000 kg/ms. The 54 bail rotary dairy shed with Aff management system which allows feed to production, auto drafting and weighing etc. This system allows for maximum production at Chris Murdoch minimum cost. The farm has an excellent centre pivot Mobile 0274 342 545 irrigation system with central lane access. Office 03 307 9191

DEADLINE SALE

Home 03 307 2940 chris@pb.co.nz

4 2 2

Esklands

OPEN TO VIEW

DEADLINE SALE

WEB ID TMR57122 WAIMATE 235 Maori Road VIEW Wednesday 27 Sep 1.00 - 3.00pm A prime chance to secure a 280.2546 hectares of land in DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 26th October, 2017 at the low cost MGI Irrigation Scheme. This property has 94 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) hectares under border-dyke irrigation and shares for spray irrigation on the balance. In many titles and with lots of options. This could be one of the last properties to convert to dairying. Currently run as sheep, cropping and dairy support. A great farm with minimal buildings and a real opportunity to make this your own. Enquire today!

DEADLINE SALE

Michael Richardson

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

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

WEB ID TMR57627 OTAIO 735 Esk Valley Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 19th October, 2017 at • 291.9231 hectares 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) • Lovely well sheltered farm • 4 Bedroom home in lovely setting • Connecting laneways • Well subdivided Michael Richardson • Very good water scheme Mobile 027 228 7027 Esklands has been run as a Dairy Support Farm since Office 03 687 7145 2006. A good balance of land from flats to easy rolling michael@pb.co.nz hill. Good amount of sheds and infrastructure with 4 Chris Murdoch centrally located main yard. Further farming options Mobile 0274 342 545 could be Dairying, Sheep and Beef or Arable. A good Office 03 307 9191 farm, a great location. Home 03 307 2940 1

DEADLINE SALE

chris@pb.co.nz

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Irrigated Dairy plus Run Off

WEB ID WR57704

CENTRAL HAWKES BAY 406 Tuki Tuki Road Features include: • 19 km west of Waipukurau • 135 ha Dairy platform with 120 ha irrigated • 165 ha Bareland run off across the Tuki Tuki River on Blackburn Road • 375 Cows 174,500 kg/MS average last 4 years • Excellent irrigation consents • Dairy Platform all flat in two terraces • Run Off easy-medium 35 ha flat • 30 aside HB shed with in shed feed system • 2 Homes, numerous farm buildings

• Excellent fertiliser history • Aesthetically appealing property with areas of native bush • Favourable Farm management Plan

DEADLINE SALE

VIEW By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Monday 6th November, 2017 at 2.00pm, Property Brokers, 98 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau

Purchasing options available: • 300 ha Total Unit including Platform and Run Off • 135 ha Dairy Platform • 165 ha Run Off

Bevan Pickett

Mobile 027 220 2766 Office 06 928 0520 bevanp@pb.co.nz

Pat Portas

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

Honey & hunting

OPEN DAY WEB ID TUR57733

TAUMARUNUI 426 Pukeatua Road 426 Pukeatua Road is a 40-minute drive from Taumarunui and is an ideal haven for bees and Manuka honey production. It is at the end of a quiet gravel road, mainly surrounded by native bush reserve and pine tree boundaries. Facing North West with good summer safe spring water throughout the farm, the bees can work unhindered in this environment. There are currently 280 hives on the farm with potential to go to 300 this summer. The farm also has its own honey processing factory on site. There is approximately 60 ha of deer fenced ground plus some further conventional fencing.

The farm currently carries 1200SUs on the pasture that is not in Manuka and this includes the farmed Red Deer. The deer fencing on the farm is of good standard. You could continue to farm the deer or leave them just for hunting and recreational activities. The farm is topped off with a nice two storey, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom lodge style home, the perfect escape for any hunter or family wanting to get away.

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

TENDER

VIEW 28 Sep & 5 Oct 11.00 - 1.00pm TENDER closes Thursday 26th October, 2017 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers 27 Hakiaha Street Taumarunui Katie Walker

Mobile 027 757 7477 Office 07 895 7123 Home 07 895 7112 katiew@pb.co.nz

4 2

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

ROC Dairies

Otoka - quality and history

TENDER

WEB ID PR56335 PAHIATUA 849 Makomako Road View By Appointment ROC Dairies situated 15 km west of Pahiatua and 20 km TENDER closes Thursday 12th October, 2017 at 2.00pm, Property Brokers, 129 Main Street Pahiatua east of Palmerston North is an outstandingly presented 293 ha standalone dairy unit. Features include: • 122 ha milking platform: 160 ha hill support Jared Brock • 245 cows, average 122,000Kgms for 3 years Mobile 027 449 5496 Office 06 376 4823 • Excellent gravity water system 4 Home 06 376 6341 • 27 aside HB shed • 250 cow feed pad jared@pb.co.nz • 2x cattle yards • Farm metal pits 2 Phil Wilson • 2013 brick 4 bedroom home + ensuite and office Mobile 021 518 660 This property, in an area regarded as summer safe, is in Office 06 376 5478 the NON-PRIORITY catchment of the Horizons region. Home 06 376 7238

TENDER

philw@pb.co.nz

Award winning dairy

WEB ID WR57737 CENTRAL HAWKES BAY 672 Ngahape Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 9th November, 2017 at 370 hectares - in two blocks of 289.5 ha and 80.9 ha 4.00pm (bareland). Mainly quality limestone country, 17 km south of Waipukurau. Easy/medium contour with an abundance of natural water. Well fenced into 40 paddocks. Bevan Pickett Improvements including 2 homes, 4 stand woolshed, Mobile 027 220 2766 sheep and cattle yards are more than adequate. Office 06 928 0520 Once the home of the Otoka Angus Stud, breeding bevanp@pb.co.nz ewes and finishing cattle are now carried. 4 Pat Portas The strength of this limestone country will be obvious to Mobile 027 447 0612 any discerning purchaser. Office 06 928 0521 An excellent property. Home 06 855 8330 1

DEADLINE SALE

patp@pb.co.nz

"Extraordinary"

DEADLINE SALE

WEB ID PR57116 EKETAHUNA 54 Morgans Road This dairy business consists of a 117 ha dairy farm, well supported by 26ha nearby. Both properties are under 10 km south of Eketahuna & 25 km north of Masterton in an area regarded as summer-safe. Currently utilising 100 ha as platform milking 240 cows for a 3 yr average of 90,000 kgMS, this property is exceptionally well presented and is worthy of its 2011 Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards. All infrastructure is mainly under 10 yrs old including a 26 aside HB shed, 250 cow wintering barn, effluent system & 9 bay calf rearing shed & fully refurbished 4 bedroom home with 2 bathrooms.

DEADLINE SALE View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 5th October, 2017 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Pahiatua Ltd 129 Main Street, Pahiatua

Jared Brock

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

Phil Wilson

Mobile 021 518 660 Office 06 376 5478 Home 06 376 7238 philw@pb.co.nz

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

4 2

WEB ID TPR56292 KINLOCH 691 Poihipi Road Opportunity to acquire this commercial scale dairy farming business at Taupo. Only 7 kms from the CBD and boat harbour on the Great lake. Currently milking over 1200 cows, production last season was 503,000kg/ms - target for 17/18 is 600,000kg/ms. Comprised of 343.96 Freehold land in multiple titles with long term secure lease over a further 204ha, giving an effective milking platform of 540ha. A modern rotary milking shed and large feedpad adjacent allows for efficient management best practice.

TENDER VIEW 27 Sep & 4 & 11 Oct 11.00 - 12.30pm TENDER closes Thursday 19th October, 2017 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior), 4.00pm, Property Brokers Office, 81 Spa Road, Taupo

Paul O'Sullivan

Mobile 027 496 4417 paulo@pb.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

Hawke's Bay

Iconic Hawke's Bay Station "Olrig Station" • 848.3443 hectares (2096 acres) in continuous family ownership since 1859 • Scale, location, contour plus excellent all-weather access • Substantial single storey 1906 homestead on an elevated site surrounded by mature trees plus a tennis court • Very well watered from an upgraded reticulated system supplemented by dams and creeks • Multiple sheep and cattle yards, seven stand woolshed, two extra homes plus numerous sundry buildings • A great opportunity to purchase a blue ribbon station offering a wide range of farming options only 33km west of Hastings city pggwre.co.nz/HAS26620

AUCTION Plus GST (if any) 2.00pm, Friday, 10 November East Pier, Hardinge Road, Napier Doug Smith M 027 494 1839 dougsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz Paul Harper M 027 494 4854 Paul.Harper@pggwrightson.co.nz

Leaders. Our leaders in lifestyle property have the local knowledge and experience you can trust.

Canterbury High Country - Mortgagee Sale • Craigieburn Leasehold on behalf of the mortgagee 6570.86ha (more or less) • Freehold owned by the University of Canterbury with perpetual lease in place • Substantial land holding rarely available • Located only 120km from Christchurch International Airport • Viewing by appointment

Arthur's Pass DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

List your property locally and right across New Zealand in our premier ‘Lifestyle Collection’ magazine. Lifestyle Collection

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 2.00pm, Friday, 20 October

Perfection Over the Harbour Lifestyle & Acreage See inside for details on this property.

pggwre.co.nz/CHR25702

AU T U M N 2017 | www.pggwre.co.nz

Contact your local lifestyle property specialist today!

Sam Davidson B 03 341 4301 M 027 488 8269 sdavidson@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

OPEN DAY

Welcome Bay

Baywide View from Maruia Farm 501H Kaitemako Road

TENDER

• Outrageously good 180 degree views over the northern islands of the Bay of Plenty • Approximately 25 hectares of clean pasture and managed plantation forestry • Excellent sheep and cattle yards • Solid, large and warm family home • Massive opportunity to own the very best • Call the agent today

(Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Tuesday, 17 October OPEN DAY 10.00-11.00am, Sunday, 1 & 8 October

pggwre.co.nz/TAR26051

Andrew Fowler B 07 571 5797 M 027 275 2244 afowler@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

Prime Finishing - 242.29 Hectares 707 Pikowai Road • Good contour property with around 15ha suitable for hay or silage harvesting • Excellent quality weed free pastures • Excellent long term fertiliser history • Great water supply • All Improvements to a high standard, 250 R2 cattle yard capacity, Technifarm crush, three-stand shearing shed and sheep yards • Well known for an ideal climate with reliable rainfall pggwre.co.nz/WHK26740

Whakatane Surrounds TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 8 November

Your First Farm - 62.372 Hectares 1840 Manawahe Road • 16ASHB dairy, good supporting sheds • Good standard of improvements, well fenced • Known for reliable summer rainfall • Rolling contour and scattered trees provide an attractive aspect and natural shelter • Four bedroom solid family home • First farm buyers should not let this property slip by

4 Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 M 027 494 1844 pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Whakatane Surrounds TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Friday, 10 November

pggwre.co.nz/WHK25491

Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 M 027 494 1844 pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

Greytown

Dairy Support - South Wairarapa This 394ha dairy support farm currently wintering 2000 cows and 1000 R1/R2 heifers after development programme. Outstanding sustainable returns on investment achieved as a highly profitable, standalone business. Free draining Tauherenikau stony silt loam soils are ideally suited to winter grazing and grain crops, top fertiliser history. All pastures renovated, paddocks re-configured and stock water upgraded to industry best practice. Improvements include four bedroom home, sheds, two sets of cattle yards and woolshed/covered yards. Approved subdivision proposals give prospective purchasers options: (1) whole farm, being 394.0951ha or a combination of: (2) Woodside block - 236.7244ha (3) Centre block off SH 2 - 157.3707ha (all S to S). Open Day - Route from 1899 SH 2 to be flagged. pggwre.co.nz/MAS26344

TENDER (Unless Sold Prior) Plus GST (if any) Closes 2pm, Friday, 3 November PGG Wrightson, Masterton OPEN DAY 11am to 2pm, Friday, 29 September John Murray B 06 377 5181 M 027 493 3759 john.murray@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

Freehold Maori Land • 161 hectares • 24 hectare approximately effective • Remainder native bush and acacia trees • Hay barn • Pump shed and cattle yards • A property that has been in the same family since 1930's but now time to sell • Approximately 10 kilometres to town and on tarseal road pggwre.co.nz/DAG26686

Dargaville SALE BY SET DATE Closes 2.00pm, Thursday, 12 October

Megan Browning B 09 439 3344 M 027 668 8468 mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

South Auckland Dairy Farm 47 and 100 Goodwin Road, Aka Aka The dairy farm and support unit sits on six titles and is located in Aka Aka, a well known dairying area of Franklin. • 40 bail rotary shed • Three houses • Well supported by auxiliary shedding • Contour of the land is 80% flat and 20% rolling • Options to purchase are: 115 hectares with five titles; 33 hectares with one title, or both. pggwre.co.nz/PUK26519

Pukekohe TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4pm, Thursday, 12 October OPEN DAY 1.00-2.00pm, Wednesday, 27 September Adrian van Mil B 09 237 2041 M 027 473 3632 avanmil@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz

Employment

Based in the Taupo region, Gardon is a familyowned farming company focusing on large-scale dairy operations. The operation includes five large dairy units, both spring and autumn calving, and four drystock units.

Required for a sheep and beef breeding and finishing property. 7500 acres running 40,000su over four

We’re looking for a permanent full-time experienced stockperson/general farm assistant. Your main focus will be working under the direction of the drystock manager in the day-today running of the dairy support operation.

properties. Based from Tangiwai this position will include work on other properties as well. Generous Remuneration. in your career and will give you the skills that you need to become a top stock manager.

06 388 0961 mcdonnell.farm@outlook.com

Shepherd General

Potaka Station (Halcombe, Manawatu) We are looking for a reliable shepherd to assist in the day-to-day running of our 1200ha (10,500su), sheep and beef property. The property runs breeding ewes, beef cows along with trade lambs and beef fattening.

Applicants should have: • Minimum of 4 good working dogs • Drivers licence • Experienced with stock handling 3-bedroom very tidy cottage available. For more information contact: Sam Brown 027 445 4054 Or email CV and references to: sam.mhbrown@gmail.com

LK0089546©

The job comprises of mostly stock work with fencing and other general duties as time allows.

FOR MORE EMPLOYMENT ADVERTISING

SEE PAGE 46

Hangawera Station, 700ha of rolling-to-steep country based in the Waikato region (Tauhei), is a sheep and cattle operation specialising in breeding Hereford bulls for the dairy market and FE Coopworth ewes.

Please apply in writing or email CV to: office@glenaray.co.nz Manager Mike O’Donoghue Glenaray Station, 1623 Piano Flat Road, RD 1, Waikaia, Southland 9778 Ph: 03 202 7720 evenings

To be successful in this role you will need to have: • General farm maintenance experience • Excellent tractor driving skills and a Class 2 License • A sound knowledge of animal handling and stock work skills

You will need: • strong work ethic • work on your own and in a team and a can-do attitude • 3 plus capable working dogs • to take responsibility when need to and think for yourself • a clean and tidy approach with respect to on farm equipment Applicant will need to have a NZ residency.

Please apply to: Logan Rowland 4rivers farming Ltd with a CV to loganrowland285@icloud.com or ring on 027 292 4042

Stock Manager

5 minutes from Hunterville

Kereru Station, Hawke’s Bay

On the border of the Rangitikei River, this beautifully balanced farming operation is situated just 5 minutes from Hunterville. Operating as a breeding and finishing enterprise, this 890ha property comprises of 3200 terminal ewes, 365 cows, 15,000 lambs and carries replacement heifers.

We are delighted to present to the market a fantastic opportunity to be a part of a progressive farming business with an award winning management team. Based in Hawke’s Bay, Kereru Station is governed by a professional board made up of industry leaders that are committed to the business’s long-term sustainability and performance. With excellent infrastructure, the overall property comprises 2848ha’s with 2114ha’s effective, and is well-balanced with flat to medium hill country contour.

Applications close 5pm Monday 2nd October 2017

Reporting to the Farm Manager Hangawera, your key areas of responsibility will include assisting with general farm work, stock work and our cropping operation.

The job offers a stepping stone to the next level with responsibility

Experienced Shepherd

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 #3201).

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our Rural team for up to six months, who has proven ability in drystock farming to assist with our expanding rural operation in the Waikato.

The East Otago area offers all you need hunting fishing and recreational actives outside of work very strong dog trial club.

Applications close Friday 13th October 2017.

Reporting directly to the Station Manager, this Stock Manager position will be responsible for the operational management on Kereru’s Thornflat block. An integral part of this business, Thornflat is 1024ha’s effective and operates as a breeding and finishing block currently wintering 10,000su. Excellent stockmanship skills and a high level of technical competence and attention to detail across modern farming practices is required, as well as a capable team of working dogs. Farming technology is adopted in the day to day operations and the Stock Manager will have the opportunity to learn and utilise these tools. Leadership skills are essential to lead and mentor one full-time staff member and ensure a positive team atmosphere and working relationship with all other staff members and contractors, including the monitoring of hours, tallies and Health & Safety. This position presents a genuine career pathway for an ambitious individual keen to solidify their farm management skills. The Station Manager is motivated to assist the appointee in achieving their potential and has a proven track record of developing employees, with the past two incumbents progressing onto farm management roles.

An excellent remuneration package is on offer including a warm three bedroom home with a double garage and open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen. Partner work opportunities are available in the area and there is a school bus at the gate to Hunterville Primary School.

Hangawera Station is one of nine farms and two support blocks owned and managed by Tainui Group Holdings Ltd (TGH). TGH is the commercial entity that provides economic wealth for WaikatoTainui. We are an iwi organisation that has a strong values-based culture with a sustainable focus on people, maori culture, environment and commercial outcomes.

Vacancy for a Shepherd has arisen on this 4500ha property with 14,000su on a steep to medium hill property 8km from Waikouaiti and 30 minutes from Dunedin with shared single accommodation.

Good quality single accommodation with cooked evening meals Monday to Friday and winter lunches provided. Sky TV and internet. Competitive remuneration to suit experience.

To gain the most from this role, you will have a minimum of three years’ experience, excellent stockmanship, strong communication and a team of well-controlled working dogs. You will be exposed to modern farming techniques, specialist crops and pastures, therefore your desire to learn and embrace these systems will grow your personal value.

Are you an energetic farm worker looking to take on a new challenge?

The Station is located just 40 minutes from Hastings in the Kereru District which is a strong farming community with an excellent local Primary School and Early Childhood Centre. On offer with the role is a three bedroom house with sleepout/office, a reflective remuneration package and a mid-January 2018 start date. The Station Manager, Danny Angland welcomes any enquiries regarding this position on 027 223 7122. 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 #2435). Applications close 5pm Monday 9th October 2017

RECRUITMENT & HR

RUN OFF YOUR FEET?

We are looking for a motivated person who can work well as part of a team, with lots of energy and a desire to succeed.

Advertise your vacancy in The NZ Farmers Weekly LK0089369©

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 29 September 2017.

To apply, please send your CV to Jacqui Bolton, Farm Office Manager jobs@gardonlimited.co.nz

Kiatoa Station is one of four farms within the 4rivers farming company.

Skills required: • 2 to 3 years experience • 4 trained dogs minimum • horse experience preferred, own saddlery required • current drivers licence

Due to our client’s current Experienced Shepherd progressing up into the Farm Manager’s role, we seek a driven appointee to support him in all aspects of the day to day running of the property. The opportunity for involvement in farm planning and input into decision-making will allow you to develop your organisational, recording and reporting skills. Further responsibility will be given as your confidence and skill base develops.

General Farmhand

If this is what you’re looking for, then please apply online at www.waikatotainuicareers.com/ Vacancies by sending a cover letter detailing why you would be suitable for the position accompanied with your CV.

Good communication and a passion for farming are essential. Relevant farm qualifications such as AgITO Level 2 & 3 desirable but not essential.

Shepherd

Glenaray Station, 70,000ha sheep, beef and deer property carrying 80,000 stock units in Northern Southland has a vacancy for a permanent shepherd.

LK0089552©

P & J McDonnell Ltd

LK0089526©

Please apply to:

LK0089531©

The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, flexible and able to work as part of a larger team. A three-bedroom house is available if required.

This is a great opportunity to take the next step

SHEPHERD

LK0089510©

STOCKPERSON – DRYSTOCK

LK0089553©

EXPERIENCED SHEPHERD

classifieds@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

LK0089516©

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 25, 2017

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

Classifieds

Account Managers INFORM – EXCHANGE – GROW NZX Agri is the recognised leader in the rural media sector in New Zealand. It is also developing a global reach with its publications and primary sector analysis delivered in both digital and print. The Account Manager will focus on print and online digital sales into our leading rural publications - NZ Farmers Weekly, farmersweekly.co.nz along with other subscription publications we represent, NZ Dairy Exporter and Country-Wide magazines. You will take full ownership of a portfolio of

ANIMAL HANDLING

DOGS WANTED

GOATS WANTED

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

12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195.

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.

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

clients in understanding their business objectives and be responsible to maintain and accelerate customer revenue and bring in new client business. You will be comfortable selling directly to clients and also into advertising agencies. We have two opportunities available for you to be the face of NZX Agri in the Auckland/Northland and South Island regions working remotely out of either our Auckland NZX office, or your home office based in Christchurch, reporting into AgriHQ in Feilding. You will be part of a wider sales

ANIMAL HEALTH

team and will be working to reach business KPI’s and successfully manage your revenue pipeline to

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

achieve sales performance targets. As you will be working independently you’ll need to have loads of energy, a can-do attitude and

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS

strong communication skills. Your resilient sales skills and your ability to build client relationships at all levels will be essential in this role. You will need to demonstrate sound computer skills, past media experience is preferred especially with advertising agencys and an absolute passion for NZ’s agricultural sector is essential. You will be well rewarded for your performance with a competitive salary, potential to earn sales To apply for this role go to Seek and search either Account Manager – Auckland. Job #34325144 or Account Manager – Canterbury. Job #34378430

LK0089378©

incentives and a company car, phone, laptop etc are all part of the total remuneration package.

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 DEMOLITION. Country Villas, houses, buildings, commercial, industrial. Any area. NZ. Please phone 027 405 2391. 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

FOR SALE

DOGS FOR SALE

CLASSIFIEDS REACH EVERY FARMER IN NZ FROM MONDAY

B&T 2½-YEAR-OLD Huntaway. HEAD and Hunt tri-colour 18 months. Both keen and hard working dogs. Owner does not have enough work for them. Phone 06 374 5577 or 021 193 5648. FACEBOOK: Mike Hughes Working Dogs. Sixty dogs $1000-$2500. Deliver NZ wide. Thirty day trial. 07 315 5553.

NORTH ISLAND buying trip 30/9/17. No one buys or pays more! 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

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

FOR SALE SURVEILLANCE. Farmers – Hunters. Security-Animal observation. Thermal Night Vision or instant notification via Trail Cam. Pulsar XQ38F $3800 – GPRS Trail Cam $499. Contact peteryelena@ gmail.com 021 448 027. WINDMILLS for water pumping. Ferguson Windmills Company. www.windmills.co.nz sales@windmills.co.nz Phone 09 412 8655 or 027 282 7689.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE JERSEY YEARLING bulls. 40 for sale North Island. BVD negative and vaccinated. $2.70kg live weight. Will weigh before going on truck. Phone 027 348 6196. PURE BRED TEXAS long horn senior bull. Very fertile. Quiet and easy to manage. POA. Phone 06 328 8893 or 06 323 3729. Evenings.

PROPERTY WANTED

WANTED TO BUY HARRINGTON JETTER. Second hand. Good order. Phone 06 212 4711. Evenings. SAWN SHED TIMBER including Black Maire. Matai, Totara and Rimu etc. Also buying salvaged native logs. Phone Richard Uren. NZ Native Timber Supplies. Phone 027 688 2954.

WORK WANTED E X P E R I E N C E D STOCKMAN, 20 years experience requires hill country position, preferably stock manager role. Excellent team of dogs. Family accommodation required. Good references. Marlborough, Canterbury or Otago. Phone Jason 021 028 23098 or email: jason. tania.woodham@gmail. com

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

PUMPS

DEER FENCING. Second hand. Topp up netting 5 wire 900 high 1725 meters. 50c a metre. Battens pine 50 x 50 1500 long. 40c each. Gates 4m220 long 1800 high. Pipe and netting. 4 @ $150 each. Phone 06 212 4711 Evenings. Marton area. TEXAS LONG HORN straws. Clearing sale. Four pure bred bulls available. Low birth weight. $8 per straw. Contact Julie Rush 06 328 8893 / 06 323 3729 evenings or Tararua Breeding Centre 06 376 4955. BOOK AN AD. For only $2.00 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in The NZ Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone Debbie Brown on 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email classifieds@nzx.com

HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz

CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISING

Do you have something to sell? Call Debbie

0800 85 25 80 classifieds@nzx.com

‘Property Wanted’

Couple want to buy West Coast South Island land for lifestyle & family gold prospecting. Phone or text Murray 027 508 7834

LK0089243©

Employment

VETMARKER

LAMB DOCKING / TAILING CHUTE

With automatic release and spray system. www.vetmarker.co.nz 0800 DOCKER (362 537)

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CHILLERS &

FREEZERS

EARMARKERS

Advertise in the NZ Farmers Weekly BIRDSCARER

$2.00 + GST per word - Please print clearly Name: Address:

Phone:

DOCKING NET®

udly NZ Madew Pro Since 1975

DE HORNER HOOF TRIMMER

021 441 180 (JC) frigidair@vodafone.co.nz

Email:

07 867 3091 8am - 8pm

contact@fencewright.co.nz

www.fencewright.co.nz

FOR FARMERS & HUNTERS When only the best will do!

We could save you hundreds of $$

HOMES FARM SHEDS SUBDIVISIONS PUMPS

Farmers Weekly has a circulation of 78,722 with just over 26,000 in the South Island. That’s a lot of eyeballs!

Let’s get your business top of mind for the East Otago Field days! LK0089556©

Prices include delivery to your door! For friendly & professional advice CALL 0800 843 0987 Fax: 07 843 0992 Email: power@thecableshop.co.nz THE CABLE SHOP WAIKATO www.thecableshop.co.nz

If the answer is yes – contact me today and we can discuss advertising to let the attendees know you will be there. We have three more issues before the field days, 2nd, 9th and 16th October. Or if you’re interested in a digital campaign – I can help you there too.

POWER CABLE

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

18-19 October 2017 Palmerston Sale Yards

Contact Debbie 06 323 0765 or 0800 85 25 80 classifieds@nzx.com

2386FW

Advert to read:

LK0089517©

Heading:

Livestock

Spring Bull Sale

Beef: R1 & R2 Traditional Beef and Beef X Steers

Thurs 5th Oct – 1pm on2yrFarm Weka Pass 40 meaty hill-country old bulls

Traditional Beef Heifers 250kg

WAGYU DAIRY CROSS WEANERS

14th Annual Bull Sale

Friday 16th June 2017 3pm on-farm

• Steers and/or Heifers at competitive per kg weight gain rates • Minimum 90kg start weight • From November 2017 start date • Short and long term options available • Simple no-fuss agreements

ECZEMA TOLERANT WAITEIKA HILL COUNTRY ROMNEYS RAMGUARD TESTING SINCE 1985 ***** RATING

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* Robust functional sheep that survive * Dag and Condition Scoring * No ewes worm drenched, dipped or vaccinated * Monitoring Parasites

Contracts available for 80-100kg Friesian Bulls

All seasons at Red Oak - dry and snow

Featuring 5 x 2-year Angus bulls & 32 x 1-year Angus bulls, selected for both calving At Red Oak we breed cattle that are run commercially on hill country up to 2600 Ft . They compete with large sheep numbers, 66% sheep to 33% cattle stock units, and are exposed to all conditions from 2 year droughts to heifer withandaverage snow as theease pictures indicate. We selectmatings cattle that thrive inand this environment deliver top actual growth and scanning data. We are proud of the raw actual data our cattle achieve which is always available for potential clients to observe. liveweight over 400kg cow matings.

Aaron Clapperton 027 496 7410 Richard Seavill 021 169 8276 / 07 825 4984 Chris Smith 027 496 7413 / 07 870 4552 Bryce Young 027 496 7411 Office 07 823 4559 BYLLIVESTOCK.CO.NZ byllivestock

WormFEC™

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Stud cow with a hill-country bull calf from this season

PROTECT YOUR FUTURE FLOCKS

Dairy: In-calf Friesian Cows to Beef or Frs Bulls R1 & R2 Friesian Bulls

OR Register your interest for future grazing of R1yr and R2yr from May 2018. For further information please contact: Tim or Erin O’Brien Phone: 06 857 8305 Email: tim@brownrigg.co.nz

STOCK WANTED

Red Oak

GRAZERS WANTED

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Keith Abbott Raglan 027 463 9859 www.waiteikaromneys.co.nz

LK0089239©

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 25, 2017

Genetically linked to Waimai Romney

We don’t believe in, or hide behind estimates as they have failed to deliver results under our conditions.It is easy to breed pieces of paper but a bit harder to breed decent cattle! The results of this, breed bulls like Herdsire ; Red Oak High Country 770 (pictured), Outstanding sons will be available for sale this season.

All bulls tested negative for BVD and EBL plus vaccinated, Rick & DebTB Orr status c10

Red Oak, Weka Pass, RD3, Amberley Phone: 03 314 6759 Mobile: 0272 457 751 redoakstud@amuri.net

INSPECTION & ENQUIRIES ALWAYS WELCOME

Enquiries: Rick Orr 027 245 7751 Auctioneers: PGGW & HRL livestock Genetics

Meadowslea Angus Spring Bull Sale

Catalogue available online at NZ Angus website or on request.

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Combining old NZ bloodlines, common sense stockmanship and modern technologies to produce functional high performinghill country cattle!

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Sheep Industry Award Winner Maternal Trait Leader for Parasite Resistance

0800 85 25 80

High Performance Genetics

Paroa Friesian Stud

• Longevity and structural soundness • FE Tolerance and Parasite Resistance • Hogget Mating

2-year-old Bulls for Sale – A2/A2

FRIDAY 6th OCTOBER 2017 40 2-year Angus bulls

(good selection for mating heifers and cows)

Sale date Monday Nov 6. 2017 Tuakau Saleyards

60 Yearling Angus bulls

(top picks included from leading bloodlines)

(Ex Haldon low birthweights)

The Angus bulls feature low birthweights with calving ease suitable for both beef and dairy. Vendor: David Giddings 03 685 8027 Auctioneers: PGGW Livestock Genetics

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All Bulls tested clear BVD and vaccinated. TB Status C10

Paroa Jumbal Campbell

6% purchasing commission to all other companies

www.meadowslea.co.nz

• • • •

Breeding for 70 years Bred A2 cows for over 20 years Selling in paddock G3 proﬁle, TB free, BVD tested

Phone Robert Cleland 07 308 8554 • 021 170 9159

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25 2-year Hereford bulls

Providing the right sires for you...

SALE TALK A husband was having great difficulty getting along with his wife – nothing but arguing and friction – so he decided to consult a marriage counsellor. After they had talked for a while, the counsellor said, “I suggest that you run five miles each day for a week. It’ll give you some space and the exercise will help you blow off steam. At the end of the week, please call me back.” A week later the counsellor received a call from the husband, “Well,” asked the counsellor, “how are things going with you and your wife? “How should I know?” said the husband. “I’m thirty-five miles away.”

HANGAWERA STATION

ANNUAL

BULL S A L E 398 Manuel Road, Tauhei 12.30pm Monday, October 2nd, 2017 180+ HEREFORD SERVICE BULLS

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ALL BULLS FERTILITY TESTED & VET CERT. GUARANTEED

Selling Agents: Farmsource Livestock Matt Hancock 027 6013787

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www.nikaucoopworth.co.nz 09 233 3230

1pm, on-farm Fairlie

PGG Wrightson Sam Wright 027 4430905 Regan Craig 027 5028585

Station Manager Ian Mathieson 027 287 7522 Free Delivery on 6 October 2017 PGG Wrightson/Farmsource Bull Plan Available

Romney. Breeding Composite. Terminal Composite. Perendale.

For more information please contact us Tom Jackson 07 825 4966 021 929 389

tom@piquethillfarms.co.nz

piquethillstud.co.nz

Will Jackson 07 825 4480 027 739 9939

william@piquethillfarms.co.nz

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 25, 2017

PAKI-ITI SUFFOLK

OUTSTANDING HEREFORD & SPECKLE PARK YEARLING BULL AUCTION A/C: MAUNGAHINA HEREFORDS DATE: Friday 29 September 2017 ADDRESS: 45 Maungahina Road, off Castle Point Road, Masterton START TIME: 12:00pm

PAKI-ITI SUFTEX

A/C: TROY STEVENSON DATE: Friday 6 October ADDRESS: 437 Patiki Road, Pihama, Taranaki START TIME: 11:30am (auction under cover) COMPRISING OF: 140 Friesian and Friesian X Herd, all in-milk BW 99, PW 127, R/a 95% TOP CONDITION HERD AND PAYMENT DEFERRED TO 20 JANUARY 2018

COMPRISING OF: • 35 x purebred registered Hereford yearling bulls • 10 x purebred Speckle Park yearling bulls • 10 x Speckle Park / Hereford yearling bulls

www.paki-iti.co.nz

Stewart Morton 06 328 5772 • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 R D 54 Kimbolton • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz • www.paki-iti.co.nz

LK0089478©

to view our breeding programs

TE MANIA YEARLING BULL SALE 1.00PM WEDNESDAY

OCTOBER 4 2017 TH

SPECIALIST HEIFER MATING SIRES

• All bulls TB C10, BVD vaccinated • Birth weights and live weights in catalogue • Bulls are very quiet and trained behind electric fence • Delivery within 7 days of auction

HERD DETAILS: • Predominately young cows and herd tested prior 19/09 and metrichecked • Calved from 25 July and in good mating condition • TB CM, Lepto vacc, milked in Rotary shed twice a day • All dairy cows are aged between 2-6 years

AUCTIONEERS NOTE: This is an outstanding offering of quality wellbred bulls. Our vendors have reputation of producing the best and have total confidence regarding the bulls offered. A 4% buyers rebate offered to non-participating companies, but these must be registered with Farm Source Livestock prior to auction.

AUCTIONEERS NOTE: These are excellent conditioned young cows showing strong dairy type and ready to mate. Our vendors are very good farmers and this is a great opportunity to buy a top condition herd for delayed payment. Pre-sale inspection welcomed and photos available from agents.

PAYMENT TERMS: 12 days from auction date.

PAYMENT TERMS: 20 January 2018

AUCTION DETAILS: Maungahina Stud has been operating for 107 years and guarantees their bulls.

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION: Farm Source Livestock Agents: Bunter Anderson 027 444 1169 Monty Monteith 027 807 0522 Hamish Manthel 027 432 0298 VENDOR’S WEBSITE: maungahina.co.nz VENDORS: Mark & Melissa McKenzie 06 378 6896 or 027 415 8696

Catalogue available AGENT: Brent Espin 027 551 3660

EARN DOUBLE FARM

SOURCE REWARD DOLLARS For every purchase at on farm auctions with Farm Source Livestock Sept - Nov 2017* *

T&Cs apply. Fonterra SuppliersSee Only.nzfarmsource.co.nz/rewards T&Cs apply. See nzfarmsource.co.nz/ *

Sales catalogue available from agents and vendor.

Selection based upon:

• 40 commercial R1 heifers for sale • Comprehensive and accurate records • Internationally recognised calving ease sires • Multi generation calving ease data • From a cow herd with over 50 years • Comprehensive Estimated Breeding Value data of heifer mating history

LK0089220©

Visit

2ND ANNUAL IN MILK DAIRY HERD AUCTION

EARN TRIPLE FARM

SOURCE REWARD DOLLARS For every purchase of service bulls with Farm Source Livestock at auction during Sept and Oct 2017* *

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

SERVICE BULL PLAN - 0% INTEREST – ASK US NOW *

Fonterra Suppliers Only. T&Cs apply. See nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING PHONE NIGEL RAMSDEN 0800 85 25 80

For further information contact: Will Wilding 027 826 4015 will@temania.co.nz

Nic Denton PGG Wrightson 027 434 4094

OR for catalogues email: kate@temania.co.nz

www.temania.co.nz

Te Mania is putting up its largest ever offering of yearling bulls following on from its record breaking million dollar June bull sale. Sale day on 4th October will be exactly 50 years to the day since the stud first held its on farm auction with 35 bulls sold. Today the demand for Te Mania genetics has grown to a point where the business now holds two sales a year. Every June 125 rising two year old bulls are offered and then in October, 50 specially selected calving ease sires are sold. Te Mania is introducing progeny from two exciting new imported sires in the October Spring sale with the first of the Te Mania Garth sons on sale along with A&B Spotlight. Both sires have exceptional calving ease and carcase data EBVs. Te Mania Garth sons were well sought after at the recent Te Mania Australia Walgett sale in NSW where 29 sons sold for an average of $12,517. Garth is a versatile multipurpose sire with exceptional EBVs and the highest recorded Docility score in Australia. A number of commercial Angus heifers are also made available at the October sale with this year's offering coming from Amberley breeders Mark and Jill Forrester and Hamish Haugh from the Sisters Partnership.

NEED TO MOOOVE SOME STOCK? Advertise your stock sales in The NZ Farmers Weekly Phone Nigel 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@nzx.com

MOANAROA ANGUS ES1908T.

YEARLING BULL SALE 18 Angus R1 bulls for sale

Thursday 5th October 2017 at 11.30am NZ Farmers Livestock Sales Complex, Rongotea, Manawatu.

MOANAROA ANGUS Dan Ramsden P: 06 374 3889 Hugh Ramsden P: 06 374 3552

Todd Bray P: 027 235 5991 John Watson P: 027 494 1975

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BREEDING VIDEO

Livestock

Macklebo Farms 22 Upper Taumaha Road, RD2, Patea Friday 29th September – 11.20am

220-330kgs 1YR FRIESIAN BULLS LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

welcomes buyers to the

Lower North Island All-Breeds service bull sale October 5th, 11.30am

GOING GOING GONE!

Comprising: 2-year-old Hereford 2-year-old Angus 2-year-old Jersey R1 Angus R1 Jersey

Call Nigel

LK0089284©

Bred on coastal hill country, these bulls will do well in any environment and can be bought with confidence by beef and dairy farmers alike. Catalogues for these Angus bulls can be obtained by contacting vendor Dan Ramsden 06 374 3889; vendor’s agent Todd Bray 027 235 5991 or stud stock agent John Watson 027 494 1975.

Download the app today

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

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

KAURI DOWNS ANGUS 1ST ANNUAL 1YR BULL SALE

Tuesday 3rd October 2017 11:30am On farm: 468 Waihi-Whangamata Rd, Waihi

Angus Pure Endorsed.

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

For Catalogues and enquiries: Phone Vendor Dave Fogarty 027 2066 931 or 07 884 5774 Selling Agents Brent Bougen 027 210 4698 Cam Heggie 027 501 8182 NZFL Stud Stock PGGW Genetics

In association with NZ Farmers Livestock you are invited to a number of well-known and successful Ram Studs throughout the Waikato and King Country for your interest and perusal.

NIGEL RAMSDEN 0800 85 25 80

Please note this is a self drive event, you are welcome to visit these farms at any time during the open days and times. Stud Farms Open Days as follows: 07 888 1703 07 828 5715 07 825 4925 027 463 9859 09 233 3230

Northern King Country – Tuesday 10th October – 9.00am to 12 noon Awaroa Perendale Phillip Brandon 07 873 6313 Puketotara Romney Ken Haywood 07 877 8586 Raupuha Pere/Romdale Russell Proffitt 07 877 8977 Herangi Cheviot/Pere John Spellman 07 877 8401 Southern King Country – Tuesday 10th October – 12 noon to 4pm Brookbank Romney Chris Brears 07 896 6102 Paparata Romney Seymour Spence 07 893 8844 Awapiko Perendale Neil Langlands 07 896 8660 Shian Romdale/Romney Rob Sherson 027 230 8230 Romani Coopworth Ross Richards 07 895 7144 Fernleaf Romney Mel Forlong 07 895 4847 The Poplars Coopworth Robert Carter 07 896 7020 These dates are definitely not to be missed if you are contemplating looking for new rams. You will get FE Tolerance at most studs PLUS Fertility, wool, survival, type. NZ Farmers Livestock recommend that you put these two dates on your calendar and join us on the Waikato, King Country Ram Walk. Please email: Rebecca.neems@nzfll.co.nz to register your attendance and request a map detailing farm addresses.

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For further information please contact: Brent Bougen 027 210 4698 NZ Farmers Livestock (Stud Stock) Rebecca Neems 07 889 1671 Or any of the listed Stud Breeders

Download the app today

2YR BEEF & X BRED HEIFERS 320-400kgs

22 Top 1-year Angus Bulls Key traits, calving ease/below breed average birth weight/short gestation, with good growth & ideal for Heifer mating.

Download the app today

“ATTENTION – Ram Buyers” An Invitation to Open Days

Waikato – Monday 9th October – 9.00am to 3pm ARDG Romney Craig Alexander Murvale Romney Charles Trousdale Waimai Romney Alistair & John Reeves Waiteika Romney Keith & Trish Abbott Nikau Coopworth Kate Broadbent

LK0089496©

livestock@nzx.com

1YR ANGUS X HEIFERS 220-300kgs

250kgs+ 1YR ANG & ANG X STEERS 2YR ANG & ANG X STEERS 400-500kgs

0800 85 25 80

Special entry: a/c Moanaroa Angus, Ramsden family, Akitio. 18 exceptionally well-presented Yearling Bulls by sires from Oregon; Turiroa; Woodbank; Puke-nui.

STOCK REQUIRED

Rongotea Saleyards Complex, Manawatu

IN-MILK SALE 100 sound 2-7 year Friesian Friesian/x and xbreed in-milk cows. C10 TB Status, EBL Free and Lepto vac. BW up to 168 PW up to 294 Mix of LIC and Ambreed. All cows Herd tested on 21st September. The herd test and final sale tally available 25th September of all sound cows for sale – payment due 24/10/2017. Buy with confidence, all cows presented in excellent condition and type and quietness. Deferred delivery with prior arrangements. For any further enquiries phone listing agent Kent Myers or any other NZFLL agent Phone Kent Myers 027 455 5828 Kent.myers@nzfll.co.nz

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

LK0089476©

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 25, 2017

PGG Wrightson: Callum Stewart 027 280 2688 Phil Transom 027 442 0060 Caitlin Rokela 027 405 6156

18 Ylg Angus Bulls BVD Virus Negative Plus Twice Vaccinated Lepto Vac – EBL Negative C10 – TB Tested

Call Nigel

0800 85 25 80

74 YEARS BREEDING

52nd Annual Bull Sale WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 12 NOON To be sold on farm at Bushy Downs, 660 Ngaroma Rd, 26kms from Te Kawa Crossroads.

✔

SELLING AGENTS:

Mike McKenzie Mob 027 674 1149 Ben Deroles Mob 027 702 4196

70 2-year Hereford bulls 30 1-year Hereford bulls esp. chosen for heifer mating

or vendors Robert & Marion Port Phone 07 872 2715 mport@hotmail.com

BVD tested & BVD Vac x2. TB tested (C7). Light to moderate birth weights, EBV figs. in catalogue, very quiet, free delivery 80kms. Best selection. Fertility guaranteed – Luncheon provided.

Kelvin & Cynthia Port Phone 07 872 2628 kcport@gmail.com

Selling:

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LK0089503©

POLLS

HAVE A SALE COMING UP?

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14 Days Bull Plans Available with Respective Companies

VENDORS COLIN & CAROL KING 06 752 9863

For more information or to book please call Bryce Gilbert on 027 847 6084

BUSHY DOWNS HEREFORDS

PAYMENT TERMS

LIGHT LUNCHEON AVAILABLE

Capacity to graze 100kg dairy heifers from November 2017. Then on an ongoing contract can take up to 200 cattle through from May to May annually.

GO TO THE

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Enquiries: Edward Sherriff 06 327 6591 Email for a catalogue: pinepark@farmside.co.nz

38 Ylg Hereford Bulls 570kg Top Weight Hereford

NZ FARMERS LIVESTOCK BRENT BOUGEN 027 210 4698 STEPHEN SUTTON 027 442 3207

Call Mike 0800 999 345

12 noon Wednesday 27th September 312 Tutaenui Road, Marton

Friday 29th September 12 Noon

at Kawakawa Farm, Ngaroma

DNA profiled and A2-A2 tested. Tested clear of TB, EBL & BVD. Lepto & BVD Vaccinated.

BEEF & DAIRY SALE

Awakino Gorge State Highway 3 Awakino

Cattle grazing available

A2 FRIESIAN BULLS

30 Recorded R2 bulls 18 Recorded R1 yearlings

Colin & Carol King

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 25, 2017

VOTE: Poll Dorset FIRST FIRST to the works FIRST for profit

Poll Dorsets’ hardiness and versatility make them suitable for all types of farms. As a maternal cross they give excellent fertility and milk to grow super lambs even as a hogget. Look to the leaders in meat productivity to improve your bottom line. Buy Poll Dorset rams from a registered breeder. Like us on

Use a Bushy Downs Hereford to add value to your calves

www.nzsheep.co.nz/polldorset/nz

We’ve got the North Island covered NORTHLAND Reuben Wright Neil Miller Wayne Semenoff Kris Sturge Dan Sweetapple Jasyn Yearbury Haydn Evans Paul Chapman Michael Younger Rhys Dackers Robert McLean Tim Williamson Andrew Simpson Grant McLean Mike Gamble

027 284 6384 027 497 3492 027 283 7297 027 510 4385 021 046 0755 027 655 6551 021 985 863 021 242 7799 027 439 4023 027 241 5564 027 590 4829 027 511 7778 0274 491 228 021 775 848 027 405 8627

NORTH WAIKATO Paul Kane Keith West Kerry Coulter Deone Coulter Dave Anderson Craig Chamberlain Peter Pembroke

0272 869 279 027 214 9180 027 494 4194 027 498 1206 027 498 1201 027 532 0253 027 288 3371

WAIKATO

Danny O’Leary John Price Carl White Peter Cain Jason Duncan Stephen Weck Mark Shuker

BAY OF PLENTY Chris Jackson Paul Collins Val Ditchfield Richard Baird Andrew Gordon Willie Purvis Philip Webb

GISBORNE

Glen Forrest Simon Lourie Scott Maultsaid Andrew Holt

KING COUNTRY Grant Ross Andrew Jardine Greg Anderson

LK0089518©

Pine Park Angus

BEXLEY YEARLING HEREFORD BULL SALE

CONTACT CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK GRANT ROSS 021 174 8403

Livestock

LK0089316©

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

LK0089396©

021 954 283 027 594 2544 027 660 4114 027 493 3808 021 170 5354 027 455 1106 027 498 1272

027 433 9089 027 304 8994 027 573 7480 027 407 0562 027 487 2044 027 630 7004 027 801 8057

HAWKE’S BAY Paul Carney Colin Smyth Iain MacEwan Angus Schaw John Kingston Chris Campbell Ken Browne Tony Proudfoot Colin Schaw Chris Johnson Paul Johnson Robbie Stuart Simon McDonald

TARANAKI Karl Stratton

021 228 2535 027 652 7100 027 849 3321 027 496 3311 021 174 8403 027 397 7005 027 580 6979

MANAWATU Cam Waugh Darrin Holm John Botham Rhys Staples Dan Warner

027 444 1517 027 290 5445 027 293 4866 027 397 0131 027 284 9730 027 513 8024 0274 430 729 027 491 4745 027 493 4525 027 406 2001 027 441 2229 027 443 5662 027 355 4949

027 316 5572

027 480 0898 027 242 2905 027 487 2690 027 209 2836 027 826 5768

www.carrfields.co.nz/livestock

Graham Brown David Haworth Chris Hansen Lindsay Bensemann Lance Crocker Derek Mickleson Damian Clarke Bob Barrell Brad Bell

WAIRARAPA

Andy Donaldson Dick Chamberlain Carey Ashwell Max Hutchings Chris McBride Paul Lyttle Armyn Sanders Greg Cuttance Phill Robson Roger Watts

027 271 4722 027 450 4133 027 225 8923 027 484 0551 027 542 8396 027 471 9025 027 498 7252 027 498 7253 027 696 1937

021 628 094 021 945 238 021 433 274 0275 384 961 0275 651 145 027 837 6009 027 7538 010 027 374 6501 027 442 4059 027 446 0005

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

Cattle

Sheep

Other

TURIHAUA ANGUS STUD YEARLING ANGUS BULL SALE

WAIROA CATTLE FAIR WAIROA SALEYARDS THURS 28TH SEPT 2017 @ 11AM

ONFARM- Turihaua Angus Stud, 771 SH35 Makorori Gisborne

PGG Wrightson will offer 995 cattle comprising: • 20 3yr Steers • 130 2yr Steers • 40 2yr Heifers • 710 1yr Steers

SOUTHERN POLLED HEREFORDS 2ND ANNUAL ON-FARM SALE

Wednesday 27th Sept 2017 @ 1pm Will offer approx 30 Yearling Angus Bulls • Over 100yrs of Quality Angus Breeding. • Low Birth Weight • www.turihaua.co.nz

• 95 1yr Heifers Including Cricklewood Stn 250 1yr Ang Strs Okare Stn 80 1yr Ang Strs Shannon Stn 30 1yr Ang&Ang/HfdX Strs Papuni Stn 45 1yr Ang&Ang/HfdX Strs Tangihau Stn 140 1yr Ang Strs 40 2yr Ang Strs Waimaara Stn 30 2yr Strs

Contact Steve Goldsbury 06 8688113 or 027 446 9969

WAITERENUI ANGUS LTD YEARLING ANGUS BULL SALE

All enquiries please contact Joel Alderson – 0274 052 823

Friday, 29th September 2017 @ 12noon Waiterenui Angus Ltd will offer approx • 40 Yearling Angus Bulls • Quality Angus Breeding • Low Birth Weight • www.waiterenui.co.nz Contact: Neil Common 027 444 8745 Tom Suttor 027 446 9967

150 top line 2yr old Hereford bulls on offer Bull viewing from 10:00am with morning tea provided. Lunch 1:30pm. Excellent temperament / outstanding reputation in the dairy industry. Contact your local agent or enquiries to: Southern Polled Herefords Jumbo Whyte – 027 4639 648 PGG Wrightson Callum McDonald – 027 4336 443 or Willie Swale – 027 4416 433

DAIRY HERDS FOR SALE Northland

ONFARM - Waiterenui Angus Ltd, 1573 Raukawa Rd, Raukawa

Starts 11:30am Monday 9th October 98 Taramoa West Plains Road, Argyle Corner, Southland

• facebook:Turihaua Angus

Enquiries Ian Rissetto – 06 838 8604 or 027 444 9347 Mason Birrell – 06 838 7091 or 027 496 7253

196 In Milk Mixed Age Jersey Cows BW 85 PW 82 (immediate delivery) $1700

160 In Milk Mixed Age Frsn Frsn X Cows BW 57 PW 34 (immediate delivery) $1500 All enquiries please contact Steven Josephs – 0274 205 167

LEADERS IN OUR FIELD Ryan Shannon Canterbury (Trainee) 0275 650 979

Key: Dairy

Caitlin Rokela Manawatu/ Whanganui/ Taranaki 027 405 6156

PGG Wrightson Genetics is a nationwide team of livestock breeding professionals, passionate about improving farm productivity through genetics.

Callum McDonald Lower South Island 027 433 6443

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

KAKAHU ANGUS YEARLING BULL SALE Thursday 5th October – 1pm John McKone – 027 229 9375 Jonty Hislop – 027 595 6450 Joe Higgins – 027 431 4041

We understand your farming business and your needs and are committed to helping you achieve your production goals.

Tom Suttor Hawke’s Bay, East Coast, Wairarapa 027 446 9967

Cam Heggie Upper North Island Auctioneer 027 501 8182

The 30 bulls in this sale are in the top 15% in Australasia for calving ease, the top 15% for birth weight whilst maintaining carcase weight. The average for their API is $159 which is in the top 10% for New Zealand and in the top 50% for IMF.

To find out more contact your local genetics specialist below.

John McKone Canterbury Auctioneer 027 229 9375

Callum Stewart National Genetics Manager 027 280 2688

Helping grow the country

MARKET SNAPSHOT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2017-18

6.54

AS OF 27/07/2017

AS OF 21/09/2017

MILK PRICE COMPARISON

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

WMP GDT PRICES AND NZX FUTURES

7.10

6.00

348

333

NI mutton (20kg)

4.20

2.80

364

273

SI lamb (17kg)

7.00

6.95

5.50

Feed Barley

386

372

257

SI mutton (20kg)

4.25

4.20

2.70

229

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 8.73

8.52

7.42

249

235

UK CKT lamb leg

Maize Grain

428

422

347

PKE

245

232

233

* 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.

7.0

INTERNATIONAL

3000 2500 2000 Nov 16 Feb 17 May 17 C2 Fonterra WMP

Prior week

Last year

Wheat - Nearest

228

219

203

Corn - Nearest

189

187

181

394

389

280

4.5

385

381

267

Feed Wheat

270

272

252

Feed Barley

359

358

229

102

$/kg

ASW Wheat

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3100

3085

3240

SMP

1875

1930

AMF

6700

Butter

6100

5.5

400

5.0

300

4.5

Oct

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Prior week

Last year

2000

Urea

477

460

6.65

7.30

6460

6350

Super

297

314

35 micron

3.50

5.15

6050

5780

DAP

784

39 micron

3.30

3.10

5.15

702

CANTERBURY FEED PRICES

5.5 $/kg

c/k kg (net)

3200

250

3100 Jan

Feb

Mar

150 Sep 13

Sharemarket Briefing THE eighth Global Dairy Trade auction in a row had a price change of less than 2%. The GDT index gained 0.9% at the auction, with whole milk powder accounting for most of the rise, up 0.6%. This was the final auction prior to Fonterra’s annual result. Second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data was released last week with growth of 0.9%. This was above expectations for a 0.8% gain and higher than the upwardly revised quarter one figure of 0.6%. Annualised GDP growth was in line with expectations, growing 2.5%. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand anticipates there will be a further increase in growth over the next two years to average 3.4% growth, as monetary policy remains accommodative. Net migration remains high in New Zealand, reaching 72,100 for the year to the end of August. Migrant arrivals of 132,200 to New Zealand hit a new record high, while migrant departures reached 60,100. The trend has changed this month with more New Zealand citizens leaving than arriving. In addition to this, visitor arrivals hit a record high, with 234,000 visitors arriving in August. Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

7795

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

7490

Sep 14

Sep 15

Sep 16

Feed barley

4 weeks ago

NZ venison 60kg stag

4.5 600

350

Dec

Coarse xbred w ool indicator

6.5

NZ$/t

US$/t

This yr

6.65

3300

15798

Last yr

Aug

Last week

3400

12496

Jun

29 micron

3500

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

Apr

(NZ$/kg)

450

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

Feb

NZ average (NZ$/t)

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Latest price

Dec

WOOL

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Nov

6.0

500

5‐yr ave

Prior week

Oct

NZ venison 60kg stag

6.5

600

FERTILISER

Last price*

3000

North Island 17kg lamb

7.5 7.0

Ex-Malaysia

NZX DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

6.0 5.0

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

PKE (US$/t)

Aug 17 Nov 17 NZX WMP Futures

6.5 5.5

Last week

APW Wheat

3500

North Island 17kg lamb

7.5

Australia (NZ$/t)

4000

Last year

7.10

378

Aug 17 AgriHQ Seasonal

Last week Prior week

NI lamb (17kg) 353

Waikato (NZ$/t)

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Feed Wheat PKE

US$/t

Last year

Milling Wheat

Apr 17 Jun 17 AgriHQ Spot Fonterra forecast

Prior week

c/kkg (net)

$/kgMS

Last week Canterbury (NZ$/t)

6.75

5 Feb 17

SHEEP MEAT

DOMESTIC

AGRIHQ 2017-18

FONTERRA 2017-18

Sheep

$/kg

Dairy

Sep 17

PKE spot

Auckland International Airport Limited

YTD High

YTD Low

6.47

7.43

6.30

Meridian Energy Limited

2.97

3.02

2.57

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd Spark New Zealand Limited Fletcher Building Limited Mercury NZ Limited (NS) Ryman Healthcare Limited The a2 Milk Company Limited Xero Limited Contact Energy Limited

12.48 3.71 7.77 3.35 9.16 6.01 28.50 5.50

13.00 3.97 10.86 3.60 9.50 6.27 29.15 5.74

8.50 3.32 7.38 2.94 8.12 2.06 17.47 4.65

Listed Agri Shares

3.5

400

2.5 300 Oct Oct

Dec Dec

5‐yr ave

Feb Feb

Apr Apr

Last yr

JunJun

AugAug This yr

Dollar Watch

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

500

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

6.010

6.270

2.060

Cavalier Corporation Limited

0.330

0.810

0.270

Comvita Limited

7.480

8.650

5.150

Delegat Group Limited

6.700

7.000

5.650

Foley Family Wines Limited

1.340

1.500

1.200

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

6.080

6.400

5.880

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2.400

2.610

2.100

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.680

1.870

1.220

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.570

0.620

0.490

Sanford Limited (NS)

7.360

7.750

6.700

Scales Corporation Limited

3.500

3.680

3.210

Seeka Limited

5.150

5.500

4.300

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

1.290

1.460

1.050

S&P/FW Primary Sector

12496

12499

9307

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

15798

10899

S&P/NZX 50 Index

7795

7879

6971

S&P/NZX 10 Index

7490

7643

6927

THE kiwi came off its high This Prior Last NZD vs point to still rise against week week year the United States dollar USD 0.7307 0.7212 0.7307 over the week but it is EUR 0.6121 0.6058 0.6521 possible the greenback has reached a turning AUD 0.9212 0.9031 0.9564 point, Westpac Bank GBP 0.5380 0.5382 0.5589 strategist Imre Speizer Correct as of 9am last Friday said. After weeks of poorly performing against the basket of world currencies, the big dollar had finally shown some promise of achieving a longawaited rise. That followed the Federal Reserve saying it was likely to increase its core interest rate in December and also next month to start to “suck out” its massive QE funding in the economy. As well, the Fed said it expected to raise interest rates further next year and the year after. “That’s the big story. The Fed is on track,” Speizer said. “It’s too early to say if this is the big turning point for the US dollar but it could be.” The action supported Westpac’s core view the kiwi could fall to US$0.70 by year-end then into the mid-60s through next year. The Fed had looked through what it believed was a shortterm slump in US inflation. “One reason we think they want to push rates higher is that if there is another crisis at some point they will have some ammunition to counter it. They also know that low rates have fuelled the equity and housing markets and they need to get back toward normal levels.” Alan Williams

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

39 MICRON WOOL

NI SLAUGHTER BULL

($/KG)

FRIESIN COWS, 485-635KG, AT TEMUKA

($/KG)

($/KGLW)

7.10

3.30

5.40

Cattle & Deer Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.70

5.60

5.65

NI Bull (300kg)

5.40

5.50

5.35

NI Cow (200kg)

4.30

SI Steer (300kg)

5.35

5.30

5.50

SI Bull (300kg)

5.10

5.00

4.95

SI Cow (200kg)

4.25

4.20

4.15

US imported 95CL bull

6.62

6.61

6.32

US domestic 90CL cow

6.84

6.96

6.14

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer (300kg)

6.5

$150-$192

$3.80-$4.05/kg

Heavy to very heavy prime lambs at Coalgate

1-year traditional steers, 226-287kg, at Feilding

South Island markets ease

BEEF Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

2.06

high lights

he store cattle markets have changed up a gear in the South Island, with sizeable yardings at Coalgate, Balclutha and Temuka, following on from big numbers the previous week at Temuka and Canterbury Park. More cold, wet weather and extra numbers meant prices eased, with the 1-year Hereford-Friesian market dropping 20-30c/kg at Temuka, while at Coalgate a consignment of 300 Friesian bulls were good shopping at $3.27-$3.43/kg for 223-260kg.

$/kg

6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 South Island steer (300kg)

6.5 6.0

NZ venison 60kg stag

c/k kg (net)

$/kg

5.5 600 5.0 500 4.5 400

300 4.0

Oct Oct

Dec Dec

Feb Feb

5‐yr ave

Apr Apr

JunJun

Last yr

AugAug This yr

VENISON Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

NI Stag (60kg)

9.70

8.85

NI Hind (50kg)

9.60

8.75

SI Stag (60kg)

9.70

8.85

SI Hind (50kg)

9.60

8.75

New Zealand venison (60kg Stag)

10 9

c/k kg (net)

$/kg

600

NZ venison 60kg stag

500 400 7 300 6 Oct

Oct

Dec Feb Dec Feb 5‐yr ave

Apr Apr Last yr

Jun Jun

Aug Aug This yr

NORTHLAND NORTHLAND Spring is proving to be eventful as far as the weather is concerned, with attendees to WELLSFORD last Monday greeted by hail on arrival and departure. Local buyers still came out in force, and such was the depth lines sold to high demand. Older cattle numbers were limited to 40 head, mainly spread through the steer pens. Hereford-cross steers, 450kg, sold for $3.21/kg, and AngusFriesian, 316kg, $3.26/kg. Angus-cross heifers, 350kg, managed $3.09/kg. More substance in the 1-year pens resulted in some good returns for quality cattle. Hereford-Friesian steers, 246kg, were singled out and sold for $1015, $4.13/kg. AngusFriesian, 264kg, also hit $1000, while Hereford and Hereford-cross, 210212kg returned $740-$745. The heifer pens featured also Angus-Friesian, and 198kg fetched $720 to top the section, and the remainder, $615-$675. Heavy Hereford-Jersey bulls hit $1065, while in contrast 199kg Jerseycross sold for just $400. Weaner cattle are trickling in and all lines of beef or beef-cross steers sold for $655-$725, while heifers returned $510-$582. Results were mixed at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, as quality cattle sold to recent levels, though lesser types proved harder to shift, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. Throughput was on the low side at 450 head, but local buyers were still

EYEBALLED: A lively one at a sale at Matawhero in 2014. More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

selective. Good 2-year beef steers, including Hereford-Shorthorn, sold for $2.94-$3.02/kg, with some lighter lines of quality pushing to $3.20$3.33/kg. Any off-types sold well off that pace however. Ex-service bulls featured in the 2-year pens, and sold for breeding at $3.40/kg, with other Hereford and beef-cross lines fetching $3.00/kg. Heifers proved to be the softest market out of the older cattle, with a big variance at $2.75-$2.90/kg. Steady returns in the 1-year steer pens saw most make $3.30-$3.50/kg, with some heavy lines penned. Good beef bulls sold to $3.20-$3.30/kg, though Friesian lines proved harder to shift at $2.85-$2.95/kg. The market struggled in the heifer pens where a mixed yarding was offered. Good

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Angus sold to high demand at $3.20$3.30/kg, but crossbred lines made up the majority and dropped well back. Weaner beef-cross bulls sold for $550-$660, and heifers, $450-$475. A small offering of cows sold on a steady market, with heavy beef returning $2.00/kg, and medium Friesian, $1.70-$1.80/kg. AUCKLAND AUCKLAND Buyers came out in force to secure lines at the PUKEKOHE sale on Saturday 16th September, with many looking to restock before the spring rush, Livestock Mart Auctions agent Pat Farrell reported. Prime steer easily hit $3/kg as 506-

Continued page 54

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Markets

54 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017 605kg sold for $3.02-$3.09/kg, while prime cows, 675kg, made $2.28/kg, and 536kg, $1.90/kg. Lighter cows, 421-555kg, traded at $1.59-$1.80/kg. Good quality store cattle were snapped up, though there was some hesitancy on lesser quality weaners. Two-year steers, 424456kg, returned $2.85-$2.96/kg, and heifers, 413-446kg, $2.89$2.97/kg. The best of the 1-year steers, 274kg, made $1000, with 257kg trading at $785. Good quality heifers, 336kg, managed a tidy $1000, while crossbred sold well under $3/kg as 352-367kg fetched $955-$1030 and 227kg, $660. Weaner prices were variable as buyers were more selective in this section, and small crossbred steers, 108-117kg, made $400$570, with very small lines at $175. The best of the heifers, 121kg, sold very well at $510, but 87kg were unwanted, making just $100. COUNTIES COUNTIES A few days of sunshine lifted buyer spirits at TUAKAU last Thursday. Over 600 store cattle were yarded and the market for all classes was strong, Chris Elliott of PGG Wrightson reported. The sale attracted a good bench of buyers, including some from outside the region, and bidding was steady on all but the lesser-bred lots. There was plenty of demand for older steers and most sold over $3.00/ kg. The offering included 516-565kg Hereford-Friesian steers, $3.01$3.06/kg. Crossbred, 420-500kg earned $2.65-$2.95/kg, and 1-year Hereford-Friesian, 300-320kg, fetched $1040-$1050. Another good quality pen at 290kg made $1055, $3.64/kg. Autumn-born weaners sold particularly well and 152-168kg Hereford-Friesian managed $800$900. No bulls were yarded, but the heifer market was firm. The heaviest lot at 490kg fetched $2.97/kg, and 420kg, $2.91/kg. A nice line of red-faced HerefordFriesian heifers, 383kg, sold to $3.10/kg, and good one-year Hereford-Friesian, 280kg, made $890. Others in the 260-300kg range traded at $690-$820, with autumn-born weaner heifers, 168kg, making $655. About 450 cattle were offered at last Wednesday’s prime sale and the steer market remained firm. The section was topped by a nice line of 735kg Hereford-Friesian, which traded at $3.06/kg, $2160. Other heavy lots, 680kg-plus, sold from $2.88/kg, and medium steers made $2.90-$3.00/kg. Lighter steers, 520kg-plus, fetched $2.80$2.95/kg. Heavy prime heifers also sold well. The best lots made $2.85$2.95/kg, with medium heifers earning $2.78-$2.88/kg, and lighter beef heifers $2.70-$2.77/kg. Dairy-type heifers traded at $2.15$2.51/kg, and a handful of beef cows made $2.10-$2.45/kg. The boner market was strong. Heavy Friesians traded at $1.95-$2.28/ kg, and medium $1.78-$1.95/kg. Most of the lighter boners sold at $1.65/kg, and it was hard to find a cow for less than $1.50/kg. A small entry of Hereford bulls fetched $3.05/kg.

Over 1000 ewes and lambs were yarded at last Monday’s sheep sale and the market remained strong. Prime lambs averaged $158, with the best making $178. Lighter primes sold down to $120, and forward store lambs fetched $95$120. An early offering of wether hoggets averaged $104, with the best selling up to $108 and lighter sorts, $80. Heavy prime ewes traded up to $120, medium $90$100, and lighter $60-$90. Ewes with lambs-at-foot earned $68 all counted. BAY OF PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY Moderate throughput continued at RANGIURU last Tuesday, with concern mounting that that may be the norm. Store prices softened, though still maintained historically high levels. Two-year numbers were very limited and Hereford-cross steers sold for $3.11/kg, while the 3-year and better 2-year heifers managed $2.83-$3.00/kg. Friesian, 310-416kg, returned $2.52-$2.58/ kg. Beef-Friesian and beef-cross 1-year steers, 226-236kg, fetched $800-$850, and 250-262kg, $935$985. Small lines of Charolaiscross topped both sections, with the heavier heifers, 294kg, out-pricing the steers at $1100. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 206262kg, made $700-$900, and 143-165kg, $580-$595. Autumnborn weaner heifers ranged from $480-$570. Wet conditions brought out a bigger number of run-withbull dairy cows, and Friesian to crossbred bull, 401kg, traded at $2.09/kg, while Friesian & Friesian-cross, 386-537kg, sold to $2.14-$2.16/kg. Boner Friesian cows, 473-486kg, sold on a firm market at $1.91-$2.01/kg. A very small prime offering saw steers hit $3.05/kg, and heifers, 502kg, $2.93/kg. A small yarding of sheep featured prime lambs at $108$143, and ewes, $64-$81, while nine ewes with 13 lambs made $73.50 all counted. WAIKATO It was a welcome relief to see the sun at FRANKTON last Wednesday, and the bench of mainly local buyers made the most of it. It was a steady sale across the board, with the majority of cattle selling on par with recent weeks. Keen interest was shown in the 1-year and weaner pens. The market was sound for 3-year plus cattle, with all lines returning $2.82-$2.98/kg. Two year Angus-Friesian heifers, 380-407kg, were well sought after and returned $3.00/kg, while Hereford-Friesian, 379-475kg, realised $2.94-$3.02/kg. In the 1-year pens, HerefordFriesian steers, 332-395kg, sold to strong demand and earned $1100-$1285. Beef-cross heifers, 227-256kg, made varied returns at $610-$810, though Angus, 250-280kg, lifted to $840-$945. A small line of four Autumn-born Hereford-Friesian heifers made $1070. Autumn-born weaners remained steady, though Hereford heifers, 71-84kg, showed variance at $285-$410. Hereford-Friesian bulls met keen interest, with those

113-118kg making $680-$710, and 142kg, $770. A reduced yarding at TAUPO last Thursday was the result of rain hampering efforts to get trucks onto farms, but those that made it to sale met a small but determined bench, Central Livestock agent Shane Scott reported. Two-year cattle numbers were minimal, so the sale quickly moved into the 1-year pens, where heifers proved to be very popular. Angus-Friesian, 274-312kg, managed $930-$1010, matching their brothers, 303-318kg, $950$1010. Hereford-Friesian sold in two main weight bands, with 240-327kg earning $805-$995, and 190-197kg, $685kg, and the lighter line hit $3.61/kg. Hereford-Friesian steers sold well as 243-293kg returned $845$1005, $3.43-$3.48/kg, and 160175kg, $665-$730, $4.16-$4.17/kg. A big line of Hereford-Friesian also featured in the bull pens where 20 head, 261kg, sold for $890, $3.41/kg, while Friesian, 256kg, made $830, $3.24/kg. A good offering of weaner heifers had a good following, and all Hereford-Friesian sold over a tight range of $500-$665. KING COUNTRY KING COUNTRY TE KUITI flew through another small sheep sale last Wednesday, with all classes selling at improved levels, Carrfield’s agent Carl White reported. Vendors were well rewarded across the yarding, and in the store pens ewe lambs sold to $144, with medium ram lambs returning $120-$140 and mixed sex, $118$124. Woolly scanned-in-lamb ewes sold for $94-$109. The top prime lambs sold to an impressive $182 as the best of the bunch made $174-$182, and next cut, $163-$168. Smaller lambs returned $130-$140. Ewes sold above expectations with the top line making $140, and other heavy types, $130-$137. Lighter lines returned $90-$100. TARANAKI TARANAKI A larger than expected yarding of cattle at TARANAKI last Wednesday raised concerns that the buyers would not be there to meet the extra number, but this proved unfounded, as a few sunny days added confidence to the market, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Stephen Sutton reported. Numbers jumped up to 625 as small lines from a wide area surfaced. Most sections posted strong results, but in particular a quality line up of 2-year cattle had local buyers determined and the market underpinned by Manawatu. Better quality steers all surpassed $3.10/kg, with particular strength for those 400-450kg at $3.23-$3.33/ kg. The heifer market followed suit, and 315-440kg consistently traded at $2.90-$3.00/kg, with the odd line selling to $3.07/kg. A consignment of lighter heifers, 260-286kg, returned $3.14/kg, while exceptional lines, 274-335kg, managed $3.25-$3.28/kg. Premiums of $100 were paid for 1-year Hereford-Friesian steers over Angus-Friesian, with 250300kg earning $970-$1120, $3.50$4.00/kg, while Angus-Friesian, 220-280kg, returned $740-$890,

$3.20-$3.50/kg. The heifer market sold to expectations, easily selling over $3/kg. Lighter types, 205240kg, returned $615-$770, and 290-340kg, made $900-$1055, $3.05-$3.10/kg. The strength did not falter in the boner pens, as two buyers purchasing to farm on added a new dimension, resulting in store market prices. All lines 410-660kg sold over a tight range of $1.90$1.98/kg. POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY Only a few lambs were at the MATAWHERO yards. Medium ewe lambs made $109-$120.50, while a lighter line managed $86. A line of medium ewes with lambs-atfoot rounded out the non-prime offering at $76 all counted. The heavier store lambs were $150-$152, while the rest were mainly $116-$130. Prime ewes all made $104-$119. HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY Two busy days in the sheep pens at STORTFORD LODGE last week was counterbalanced by very few cattle on either the Monday or Wednesday. Lambs at both sales sold on a softer market. All buying orders were met in the lamb pens with 3440 offered, and forward store through to very heavy lines penned. A big portion of the offering were cryptorchid, $146-$163, with slightly heavier males making similar values. Three ewe lambs sold to $200, though heavy types eased to $142-$149. Forward stores mainly traded at $122-$135. Ewe numbers are flowing at a steady rate as more farmers shed out or dock. Quality was very high, but very heavy ewes eased to $130-$132; as did very good and heavy ewes at $112-$129. Cattle tallies took a small lift as a quality line-up of traditional and exotic cows featured. These generated good interest from buyers and most exotic-cross traded at $2.15-$2.19/kg, though a very high yielding line of three South Devon sold to $2.30/kg. Angus, 585-692kg, returned $2.19$2.22/kg. Other sections were small but mighty, and Angus and AngusHereford steers, 655-656kg, sold on a firm market at $3.13-$3.17/ kg, while Angus heifers returned $3.01-$3.04/kg. Store lamb numbers dropped to normal levels for this time of year, though a number of lines would not have looked out of place at Monday’s sale. The sale started off at recent levels and heavy male lambs made $147$172, with ewe lambs selling to $154-$157. Medium to good ewe lambs held value at $119-$132, but longer term males came back to $73-$117. Prices were variable for mixed sex lines, from $97-$121. Out of town ewes with lambs-atfoot pushed numbers slightly up, but strong local buying support kept the bench honest. The first half of the section was split into two main classes of docked and undocked blackface lambs. With the undocked lambs having size on their side, but the smaller lambs being docked, prices balanced out at $85-$95, while two lines of better lambs and ewes sold to $104. The remainder of the pens housed small lines with

younger lambs, and most made $76-$80 all counted. There was little to report on out of the cattle pens, where numbers dropped to just 128. A consignment of 1-year Friesian bulls made up almost half the offering and sold in four lines of 15 head. Two local buyers took half each, with values very tight at $1020-$1040, $3.09-$3.14/kg for good weights of 325-337kg. Single lines featured through the remainder of the yarding, including 10 2-year Angus heifers, 410kg, $2.95/kg, and small lines of Hereford-Friesian 1-year steers, 286-287kg, $970, $3.38-$3.39/kg. MANAWATU MANAWATU A fine day in the Manawatu was an added bonus to the RONGOTEA sale last Wednesday, creating demand for the better bred cattle, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. The boner section comprised of Friesian, 417-569kg, with returns varied at $1.44-$1.88/kg. Crossbred, 475-535kg, consistently traded at $1.65-$1.69/kg, and Jersey, 430kg, $1.49/kg. The older cattle market had a bit more depth to it, and Anguscross steers were a highlight as 339kg sold to $3.17/kg. Good Hereford-Friesian steers, 430kg, sold to $3.06/kg, though lesser lines of same breeding, along with crossbred, 305-437kg, traded at $2.49-$2.71/kg. Beef-cross heifers, 413kg, managed $2.92/kg, though most other lines were Friesian and crossbred that varied from $2.03$2.33/kg. Good demand for 1-year Hereford-Friesian steers saw 270-352kg sell for $880-$1120, over a tight $/kg range of $3.18$3.26/kg. No other lines had the breeding and quality to match that, with Friesian and crossbred, 174-210kgs, making $400-$540. A sizeable yarding of heifers had a good reception, and the ever popular Hereford-Friesian, 327kg, sold to $1040, with 205kg returning $670. The first decent offering of bulls for the sale lined up in the 1-year pens, and Hereford-Friesian, 190-357kg, sold well at $535-$975, while Friesian, 169-295kg returned $670-$775. Jersey, 185-252kg, fetched $530$740. Beef-cross, 212-225kg sold to $700, while off-types made $410-$510. A small weaner section saw Friesian bulls, 107-129kg, make healthy returns at $525-$550, and Hereford-Friesian, 260kg, $750, while Murray Grey heifers, 120kg, earned $600. Ewes with lambs-at-foot made $61, and mixed sex lambs, $49$122. Steady numbers of lambs continued to flow to FEILDING last Monday, with 5000 prime and 740 store offered. There was still enough interest in lines for prices to fall only marginally, with 80% in the heavy department that made $148-$187. Medium prime sold for $131-$155, while store types held at $60-$143. Ewe numbers increased as more wet-dries enter the system, but these met a bigger bench of buyers and the resulting market was firm. Heavy ewes traded at $126-$144, medium $89-$125, and a very small lighter end, $66-$85.

Very little in the way of prime cattle came forward, as dairy stock made up the majority. Five Angus cows were the only real beef cattle to speak of, and at 542kg sold for $2.15/kg. Friesian cows, 510-630kg, sold on an easing market for $1.97-$2.06/kg, while lesser types, 420-470kg, dropped away to $1.75-$1.84/kg. There were a few lines that went against the grain, such as a younger line of 497kg which sold for $2.56/kg, to match up with the heifer prices for similar weighted lines at $2.60/kg Sale prices in the sheep pens at Friday’s sale were driven in part by available numbers as there was a reduction in numbers of all stock types and a lift in sale prices for all. After an ease in ewes with lambs-at-foot, the yarding of essentially medium ewes without particularly older or large lambs at foot firmed for all qualities. The first pen of hoggets offered were 109 well bred Romney hoggets and these well presented hoggets, offering a breeding option as well, sold for $169. The best of the male hoggets sold up to $154.50. The heaviest hoggets had their value determined by the schedule so were firm but the medium hoggets, with a little finishing time left, lifted appreciably. Ewe with LAF, $61.50-$92.50; Lambs; very heavy, $141-$169; heavy, $129-$146; medium, $112$134.50; light, $100-$121. The cattle sale struggled for outstanding lines. The yarding was dominated by 2-year heifers and there were some useful traditional heifers offered. The pick of the steers was a pen of 8 AngusHereford 2-year steers which sold for $1905, $3.23/kg, but there were slim pickings for the feedlot operators. With many of the yearling steers being dairy cross cattle, the buying ranks reduce somewhat. Nearly 300 2-year heifers came forward to solid demand. The top price was $1340, $3.24/kg, to one pen from a larger entry of Hereford-Friesian heifers. A few more older bulls were sold and one pen of 10 Friesians sold for $1815, $3.16/kg. The highlight in the yearling bull section was the sale of yearling Hereford bulls with these cattle going into service. One pen of 6 sold for $1820, $4.62/ kg, topping the market, but the Friesian yearling bulls were steady. The extra heifers brought more interest and cents/kg lifted. The top price was $1340, $3.24/kg, for one pen of 16 out of a larger entry of Hereford-Friesian cross heifers and yearling heifers were steady. Steers; 3yr, 451-698kg, $1390$1720, $2.26-$3.17/kg; 2yr, 310598kg, $935-$1905, $2.91-$3.56/ kg; 1yr, 175-343kg, $630-$1165, $3.14-$4.40/kg; Bulls; 2yr, 472568kg, $1525-$1815, $3.09-$3.23/ kg; 1yr, 250-406kg, $700-$1820, $2.80-$4.63/kg; Heifers; 2&3yr, 276-414kg, $790-$1340, $2.57$3.37/kg; 1yr, 122-317kg, $370$1030, $2.66-$4.03/kg. CANTERBURY CANTERBURY Extra buying power from a store buyer saw heifer prices lift at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday. Steer prices are still historically high, but store lamb prices are trending down. More store lambs came out of

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017

the woodwork than expected, and coupled with the time of year prices eased for most types, though mixed sex went against the grain, firming to $114-$120. This was the price limit though, as heavier lines also made these values. Small lines of males sold to $120-$125, and lighter lines made $95-$110. Similar weighted ewe lambs sold for $94- $117. Ewes with lambs-at-foot were limited but this market had plenty of spark, and the highlight was 43 ewes with 72 blackface lambs at $91 all counted, bettered only by a small line at $95. Prime lamb throughput lifted as more are taken off saturated paddocks. Crossbred lines are a regular occurance, and a larger percentage sold for $125-$139, though the bulk still sat in the $140-$190 range. Ewe prices held, with the better end at $110-$147, and the lesser half, $64-$94. The heifer market was the highlight of the sale, as a buyer looking for store cattle picked the wrong day to attend, but delved into the heifer pens. Forward store heifers traded at $2.90-$3.00/kg, with the exception of Herefordcross, 429-431kg, $3.05-$3.07/ kg. Prime heifers matched steer prices, and 500kg plus mainly traded at $2.90-$3.03/kg. Steers were not to be outdone by the heifers, with prices still historically high. The top lines of beef and beef-cross still sold exceptionally well, up to $3.17/ kg, though most lines 518-685kg, traded at $3.00-$3.12/kg, and few below $2.95/kg. The first real spring cattle sale at COALGATE last Thursday felt anything but, as cattle sold in cold, wet conditions. More rain and limited grass growth kept prices in check for the 840 head, while prime lambs again hit record levels. A further 4200 prime lambs came to auction, and were predominantly very heavy types as farmers draft off tops to ready paddocks for cultivation. Just over 90% sold in a $140-$188 range, with a further 170 head making $190-$192. Prime ewe numbers were minimal with the bulk trading at $120-$162. The store lamb pens were quiet, but featured 107 quality half-bred ewe hoggets which sold for breeding at $150, while most mixed sex were also at the better types at $140-$148. Ewes with lambs-at-foot were a talking point as three good lines made $101$106 all counted. The bulk of the cattle action was in the 1-year pens, including 300 Friesian bulls. The buyers were there to meet these and most sat in a 223-261kg weight range and made steady returns at $750-$880, $3.30-$3.43/kg. The quality of cattle worked in vendors favour in the steer and heifer pens, but buyers were selective. Traditional steers, 240-310kg, sold for $900-$1140, with Angus-cross, 251-302kg, right on their tail at $1000-$1120. Charolais-cross, 263-274kg, hit $4/kg, selling for $1060-$1080, but Hereford-Friesian, 302-338kg, were well off that pace at $3.18$3.25/kg. Hereford heifers, 232-269kg, managed $800-$940, $3.45$3.49/kg, with similar weighted

Angus-cross reaching $3.71/kg. Hereford-Friesian, 220-255kg, were relatively good shopping at $3.09-$3.18/kg. The prime market strengthened on the back of low numbers and good local trade demand. Charolais-cross steers and heifers, 555-645kg, both managed $3.15$3.19/kg, with Angus steers, 594662kg, reaching $3.07-$3.14/kg. Hereford and Angus heifers also made $3.00-$3.04/kg, and beefcross lines made solid returns at $2.72-$2.95/kg. SOUTH CANTERBURY SOUTH CANTERBURY Store cattle sales became a weekly affair at TEMUKA last Thursday, which was timely given that a further 1200 cattle still came forward, despite a big yarding the previous week. Prices eased though as the numbers proved hard to absorb, with results also mixed last Monday. Prime lamb’s bordered on 2600, with a large portion brought in by the closure of Tinwald yards where most of the heavy lambs out of Mid Canterbury used to be sold. Nearly 90% of the section sold in the $120-$177 range, with a second week of high throughput meaning prices softened. The store lamb market took a back seat, and prices also eased. Forward store mixed sex made $110-$141, and medium, $105$119. Some of the ewe lambs had quality enough for breeding, though most sold to finish, with the better end making $126-$139, and longer term, $105-$113. Ewes continued their consistent run with the size of the yarding and values similar. Heavy ewes sold for $150-$174, good $120$149, and medium, $90-$118. There was a clear split in the cattle sale, as prime held value, while the boner market took a lift. Higher yielding steers did surpass $3/kg, as well as forward stores. The bulk of the better types sold for $2.86-$2.96/kg, with few lines of any type selling below $2.80/kg. Heifer prices were consistent, and good quality Hereford and Hereford-Friesian, 483-595kg, sold for $2.78-$2.89/ kg. Heavy bulls lifted, though Friesian, 541-554kg, were very steady with buyers very precise with their budgets at $2.69/kg. As the sale moved into the boner section interest picked up, and prices lifted. Friesian, 526-633kg, sold for $2.05-$2.13/ kg, and 453-525kg, $1.95-$2.05/kg. Kiwi-cross, 420-540kg, managed $1.98-$2.05/kg. Prices also took a lift in the boner heifer pens, where 465518kg Friesian returned $2.41$2.50/kg. The store cattle sale last Thursday attracted cattle from

as far afield as Balclutha and Central Otago, but these met a much smaller buying bench, with fewer outside bids posted. Like the previous week Hereford-Friesian dominated in all bar the 1-year bull pens, where Friesian took centre stage. The 2-year section was over in no time though prices were 10c/ kg back. Just 5-10c/kg separated the Hereford-Friesian steers and heifers at $2.87-$2.95/kg and $2.81-$2.85/kg, though these made a 20-25c/kg premium over the bulls. Some lines of steers proved to be very good shopping as Hereford-Friesian, 210-250kg, sold at reduced levels of $690-$800, while 260-300kg were $50-$70 cheaper at $870-$1030 as the market lost 20c/kg. Heifer’s conjured up a bit more excitement, though again the market was softer. The predominantly Hereford-Friesian yarding had 195-240kg lines trading at $610-$800, and 260290kg, $820-$925, with both weight ranges also $50-$75 back on the previous week. The bull section was the only one to lift in number, as Friesian-cross joined the Friesian consignments. Heavy Friesian, 383-421kg, sold for $1040-$1125 and 260-280kg $760-$910, with 173-215kg trading at $635-$725. OTAGO OTAGO The much anticipated store cattle sale at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday met expectations, though some buyers were still holding off as they wait for the spring flush, PGG Wrightson agent Russell Maloney reported. The sheep sale took a back seat to the cattle, and the prime lamb market showed some softening, with heavy lines making $150$170, medium $120-$140, and lighter, $110-$115. Ewes on the other hand strengthened, with heavy types going under the hammer for $120-$140, medium $100-$110, and light, $80-$90. Rams sold for $45-$80, while a small line of run-with ram hoggets sold for $140. Shorn lambs featured in the store pens, with these making a $10-$20 premium over woolly lines. The top shorn lambs sold for $130-$150, with woolly lines making $115-$120. There was also a differentiation for medium types as shorn lambs made $110-$120, and woolly, $100-$110, while light lines made similar values at $90$100. The cattle sale mainly consisted of beef-cross and beef-Friesian lines, with bids flowing freely for quality. Highlights included R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 450500kg, $2.90/kg, and Murray

Grey-cross heifers, 410kg, $2.80/ kg. Friesian steers, 400kg, returned $2.70/kg. A nice line up of 1-year Simmental-cross steers had plenty of weight at 370-415kg and sold for $3.20-$3.40/kg, with their sisters, 280-300kg, going one better to $3.40-$3.50/kg. SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND Throughput was low at CHARLTON last Thursday, but good demand was prominent through all pens bar the light store lambs which showed some easing, PGG Wrightson agent Andrew Martin reported. The top end of the store lambs sold well and made $100-$115, with medium types earning $90$98, though lighter lines eased to $75-$85. Ewe with lambs-at-foot proved popular, trading at $80-$85 all counted. Prime sheep sold to strong demand, though numbers were limited. Heavy lambs returned $145-$160, medium $125-$140, and lighter, $115-$122. The best of the ewes returned $120-$135, medium $100-$110, and light $75$95, while rams sold for $40-$80. A large yarding of boner cows was the main feature at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday, and most other section sold to keen interest as well. Buyers were hard pressed to purchase prime lambs under $130, with heavy types reaching $150$170, and medium $130-$150. Heavy ewes mainly traded at $120$130, medium $100-$115, and lighter, $50-$100. Two-tooth’s sold for $65-$75, and rams, $50-$100. The store lamb market was steady, and better types sold to $95-$105, medium $80-$85, and light $60-$75. Ewes with lambs-atfoot achieved $84 all counted. A big yarding of cows took centre stage, with results solid. Good types, 500-600kg, made $1.90-$2.00/kg, and 400-500kg, $1.70-$1.85/kg, while lighter 350-400kg returned $1.55-$1.70/ kg. Beef heifers, 450-550kg, sold for $2.75-$2.85/kg, while a small offering of steers, 500-550kg, made $2.80-$2.85/kg. Dairy heifers, 350-420kg, managed $2.10-$2.30/kg. Store numbers were low and the pens featured 2-year steers, 420-470kg, $2.69-2.74/kg . In the 1-year pens, Angus-cross steers, 280kg, fetched $930, and Hereford-cross bulls, 250kg, $790. Feeder calf numbers continue to fall and the edge has come off the market. Good Friesian bulls made $130-$180, and medium $80-$110. Hereford-cross sold to $150-$200, with Angus-Friesian bulls making $170. The top Hereford-Friesian heifers made $120-$195, and medium $80-$110, while AngusFriesian returned $110.

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56 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 25, 2017 CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

NI SLAUGHTER STEER

$/T)

($/KG)

386

7.00

5.70

1-YEAR HEREFORD-FRIESIAN HEIFERS, 265-275KG, AT TEMUKA ($/KGLW)

$3.27

high lights

Dear venison will last This means that export prices for NZ venison are substantially higher.

Annette Scott

annette.scott@nzx.com

HE prime venison market has reached an alltime high while at the same time a developing North American market has raised the value of the whole deer carcase, painting a bright outlook for deer farmers, Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup says. The average schedule price to farmers for a prime venison carcase was $9.67 a kilogram. That marginally exceeded the last price peak of $9.65 in October 2008. At that peak the Euro was about 25% (€46c v €60c) stronger relative to the Kiwi dollar than it was today. The United States dollar was 20% (US59c v US72c) stronger. “This means that export prices for NZ venison are substantially higher in euros and US dollars than they probably have ever been,” Coup said. When venison schedule prices had approached the $10 mark in the past they had usually eased back the following season, as happened in 2009 when the spring peak fell to about $8.75. Coup said that was the result of a variety of factors including the onset of the global financial crisis and its effect on the euro. The market dynamics were

Dan Coup Deer Industry NZ

MORE: Good market conditions for venison will continue, Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dean Hamilton says.

quite different this time, Coup said. “Overall, supply is down by nearly 40% compared to 2009 and a much smaller proportion of it is being sold into the European game trade. The shortage of venison animals means there is a procurement premium being paid by exporters in their prices to farmers but that’s only part of the reason for higher prices.”

The success of venison exporters in developing a market for processing grade NZ venison in North America had raised the value of the whole deer carcase. “What they have done is to move this quality product from the traditional European game meat market, where it was a reasonably easily substituted ingredient, into North America where it is recognised as a specialty

meat for use in gourmet burgers and ready-to-eat protein bars,” Coup said. Another growing source of demand from North America was for venison offal and trim for the ultra-premium pet food market, which was providing a significant premium compared to what had been available in the past. Coup said the growth in year-round demand for chilled cuts and the step change in the value of processing grade venison were likely to have a lasting, positive influence on the value of a venison carcase. Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dean Hamilton said the outlook for the coming season was positive as venison markets remained very strong. That was largely the result of the lower supply out of NZ. Market prices in Europe and the US remained up on last year and new premium trim markets in the US were adding to the overall value being realised. “We see a continuation of these current market conditions,” Hamilton said.

$3.30-$3.43/kg $86.50-$92.50 1-year Friesian bulls, 223-260kg, at Coalgate

all counted

Good and mediumgood ewes with lambsat-foot at Feilding

Lambs add value to the old ewes DESPITE Mother Nature chucking all sorts of weather our way this spring, lambing has been largely unaffected with areas either managing to avoid the rotten patches or being well enough Suz Bremner through that losses were at a AgriHQ Analyst minimum. The result of lambing is seen in the yards as the ewes-with-lambs-at-foot market grows and more farmers are jumping on the bandwagon as it proves a winner. It is widely known that consistent cull ewe prices have helped significantly. In past years the ewes were seen as a necessary evil if people wanted to secure numbers of new season lambs, as at their mothers foot was the only way to get any so early. However, therein lies another example of how this year is one out of the box, as very consistent prices all year as well as profitable contracts now released have given this market stability at very reasonable levels. No other market has been as consistent and most can generally generate $100$140 on sale day – easily double what we have seen in past years. With that in mind this market has surged in popularity and prices have improved on recent years. The better end are making $85-$95 all counted with a few surpassing $100 while lighter ewes with younger lambs are generally trading for $70-$80. Along with more farmers entering this market to sell, we have also seen a different set of buyers active. Talking to a regular store buyer at Stortford Lodge, they decided to enter this market as they have had the space open up onfarm after finishing and could see the best value for their system is in getting new season lambs on early, along with the added value as mentioned in the ewes. This is the first time they have entered this market – a decision that was purely driven by the value in both the lambs and the ewes and one that might not be there in years to come. suz.bremner@nzx.com

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