Farmers Weekly NZ September 4 2017

3 Wool firm makes comeback Vol 16 No 35, September 4, 2017

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Big irrigation dead?

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When you look around at those projects that have been successful, at the front is exactly where farmers need to be.

Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com

HE official exit of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council from the Ruataniwha dam project might be the catalyst for landowners nationally to consider smaller, farmer-funded projects without local government funding.

The council voted to write off its $14 million investment in the controversial project and shut the door on continued support of the controversial proposal.

The project appeared to be in its death throes for weeks after the Supreme Court ruled out a swap of Conservation Department land for another block for the dam to proceed.

Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay president William Foley believed the removal of politicised councils from such projects might be a silver lining, proving the catalyst for farmers to consider their own projects either as smaller-scale, shared schemes or onfarm storage options.

For farmers in his area the “Ruataniwha effect” had been stopping them considering alternative projects for water harvesting and storage longer than was good.

“But getting the council out of it and possibly having a smaller, lower-priced scheme could mean we see a project more like what we see in the South Island, with farmers in charge of their own project,” Foley said.

Meantime, in Nelson the Waimea dam project had stalled

Andrew Curtis Irrigation NZ

SILVER LINING: Getting the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and removing politics from water storage and irrigation might be a catalyst for farmers to get on with projects themselves, Hawke’s Bay Federated Farmers president William Foley says.

again as a Public Works Act land seizure made by the Tasman District Council moved to the Environment Court in October.

Foley’s views were shared by Irrigation New Zealand chief executive Andrew Curtis who said the Ruataniwha project never put its ultimate customer, irrigating farmers, front and centre.

It was instead led by the council and its close subsidiary, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company.

“And when you look around at those projects that have been successful, at the front is exactly where farmers need to be. Those projects need farmer champions and Ruataniwha did not get that early on.”

Options in Hawke’s Bay could

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include a scaled down version with no river flow augmentation built in or offline storage including augmented aquifers that were recharged over winter.

Curtis maintained small, farmerowned and operated co-operatives were successful for a reason, with every member having skin in the game.

“You often do still need councils as part of these schemes but they need to have clear reasons for investing. The problem with council support is it is viewed as a council using ratepayers’ money to fund wealthy private individuals.

“Better to have a clear, separate entity set up which a council may or may not chose to invest into.

Reasons may include a need for future town water use or to ensure

minimum environmental flows in a river, for example. It’s important that everything is clearly laid out for why council may be about to get involved.”

He cited the proposed Wairarapa scheme as one that ticked more boxes than Ruataniwha.

“We are looking at a proposal that does not have the Greater Wellington Regional Council in the middle of it, rather an entity primarily of farmers and then the council can decide if it’s to be in or out.”

HBRC councillors Peter Beaven and Debbie Hewitt agreed the door remained open for other investors to become involved in Ruataniwha.

“A number of stakeholders have put about $1 million of their

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own funds into this, alongside the council money and it was pretty clear this project needed to move on without that political interference hanging over it,” Hewitt said.

However, she did not believe history would judge the council kindly in its decision to walk away from the project and the benefits it could have brought.

“A council cannot have its cake and eat it too. There was employment of 2500-3000 extra people, larger cargo volumes through the port and beneficial environmental river flows coming out of this project. There was also the promise that in 70 years the council would have ownership returned to it.”

Curtis said regardless of ownership and structure the need for some form of irrigation in Hawke’s Bay remained.

“The reality is quite severe implications exist on users, particularly those with permanent crops like orchards when water bans will become quite likely.

Something will have to be done about storage and some sort of shared resource.”

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NEWS

NEW THINKING

Soil Moisture Anomaly (mm) at 9am September 1, 2017

23 Fuel pays for iwi carbon forest In what might at first appears an unlikely alliance, fuel firm Gull is well down the track in its joint venture with Tokomaru Bay cattle farm Nuhiti Q in buying carbon credits generated through native replantings on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) registered property.

26 Alternative View MPI says

Alan Emerson spends some time in Australia and comes home bemused.

Drier than normal (mm)

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REGULARS

Map reading tips

Tardy use of the proxy vote system by larger shareholders has cost businessman Andy Lowe his place as a director of Blue Sky Meats.

Real Estate ����������������������������������������������� 28-35 Employment �������������������������������������������� 36-37 Classifieds ����������������������������������������������������� 37 Livestock �������������������������������������������������� 38-43

Broken business makes comeback ������������������������������� 3

MARKETS

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.

Job

of the

Week

Junior onion agronomist – Southern Packers is based near Timaru. It packs and exports about 22,000 tonnes of onions a year to the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and also supplies the New Zealand domestic market. Due to forecasted increase in output, we now wish to appoint an in-house onion agronomist who will liaise with our shareholders and contract growers.

Eradication is still doable, MPI says ������������������������������ 4 Strong start to milk season ��������������������������������������������� 5 Landcorp increases profit ����������������������������������������������� 7 Young farm workers need help �������������������������������������� 8 A2 Milk shares keep on rising �������������������������������������� 10

For more information and a full job description visit the Farmers Weekly jobs site: farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz and click on Agronomy category. To find all other agjobs click on All Categories. #agjobs at your fingertips.

Nats promise more rural practice docs ����������������������� 12 National and Labour agree on predators �������������������� 15 Scientists want consistent policy �������������������������������� 16 ALF profit makes a sharp rise �������������������������������������� 17 Record return from global sales increase ������������������� 20

Investment adviser on China David Mahon has praised Zespri for its Lazarus-like ability to return from the dead and succeed at a high level in the booming Chinese food market.

-20

Cartoon ������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24

Alternative View ����������������������������������������������������������������� 26

22 Zespri a model for China sales

-10

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5 Strong start to milk season

NEWSMAKER

0

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Letters ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 24

21 Tardy proxies cost director job

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Editorial ������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 24

Officials expect to decide by the end of the year whether the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis can be eradicated.

Milk collection in New Zealand and Australia has started the new season strongly for Fonterra, its latest Global Dairy Update says.

normal (mm)

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OPINION

4 Eradication is still doable,

60 Wetter than

48 Wool prices gain ground Strong wool average prices have risen about 12% in just the last three weeks, sparking hopes they will move steadily off their lows of this year.

Market Snapshot ����������������������������������������� 44

our pioneering

spirit tells us

nothing’s

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

Back in 1860, exporting meat to the other side of the world seemed about as easy as nailing gravy to the ceiling. But a few determined kiwis took the bull by the horns, now 20 years later our grass-fed beef and lamb is sought-after all around the globe.

At AFFCO, we see the same pioneering spirit alive and well in farmers today. We’re playing our part too – exploring every opportunity to take New Zealand’s finest farm-raised products to the world.

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reach WWW.AFFCO.CO.NZ | 0800 233 2669

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

3

Broken business makes comeback Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com FROM a business that was “essentially broken” to one recording a modest profit in less than 12 months, NZ Yarn is now poised to add value for New Zealand woolgrowers.

Over the past year the Canterbury yarn processor has spun its own turnaround project.

Getting back on its feet to lift returns for farmers and shareholders had been the focus of NZ Yarn’s reinvention, chief executive Colin McKenzie said.

“A year ago the business was essentially broken.

“We have reinvented, repositioned and resized operations and moved from making sizeable losses to recording our first modest profit in July,” McKenzie said.

“We are looking to a promising future and that hasn’t happened by accident.

“If you are in the wool game you have got to have patience and be in for the long haul and our shareholders, particularly Carrfields Primary Wool (CP Wool) have fully understood the strategy and been very supportive and very patient as we moved through this transition.”

NZ Yarn was 42% wool grower owned by 55 farmer investors throughout the country with CP Wool holding 58%.

McKenzie said the future of NZ wool was at the very top end of the soft flooring carpet and rug market.

“You have got be in the homes of Maserati drivers and you have got to have a yarn that produces high apparent value, design and texture that is not achievable elsewhere.

“The whole strategy has been about establishing a differentiated yarn system that really makes the difference then identifying channel partners with the same vision and equipment to deliver

We need to produce, not just tell the story.

Colin McKenzie NZ Yarn

AIM HIGH: New Zealand Yarn chief executive Colin McKenzie says Kiwi wools need to be in the homes of Maserati drivers to add value for growers.

Photo: Annette Scott

the product to the right position in the market.

“It all takes time, 12 months from the idea to the commercialisation, so it has been a slow-moving, durable product.”

But the rewards were in sight.

With new business developments and new products NZ Yarn had gone from having one customer in the United States to eight.

“And we are in some very interesting markets with bespoke rugs, luxury broadloom and tufted

woven carpet.

“We have one customer where the whole business is outfitting luxury private jets and super yachts – that’s the very top end market where NZ wool needs to be.”

As part of its resizing, NZ Yarn had transformed its large Christchurch premises into the Wool Innovation Hub incorporating its own innovative yarn business; Wool Technologies, a privately-owned business making specialist wool bedding

and the CP Wool showroom floor and auction room.

Procurement and logistic activities had been relocated to Timaru, which was better placed as an epicentre for wool collection.

NZ Yarn was now half way through a $1 million capitalraise that would support further product differentiation and improve productivity and support innovation.

“It’s about funding so we can go further, faster,” McKenzie said.

The capital-raise was targeted at both existing and new farmerbased shareholding.

“We are in talks with two potentially large shareholders and hopeful of achieving the $1m target that will allow us to install equipment that will give us the ability to expand our offshore customer base.”

McKenzie said the plan was to hit the countries with the greatest opportunity and least barriers for entry.

That was predominately North America but north Asia and Western Europe, in particular Austria, Germany and Switzerland “where there is a good affinity with wool and they are affluent” were also on the radar.

NZ Yarn was about adding value not volume and could produce yarn systems that set its product apart from what anyone else in the world was doing.

Farmers would have to invest to join the ride, McKenzie said.

“There is a lot of talk out there but not enough traction.

“The ultimate solution for farmers and the wool industry is to have a raft of value-add initiatives across different markets and product sectors but we need to produce, not just tell the story.”

NZ Yarn made and marketed high-quality spun yarns that were a reflection of traditional crossbred wools grown in NZ. While capable of producing 200,000 kilograms of yarn a month, NZ Yarn would never be able to take all NZ’s wool.

“But we will be adding value for our shareholders,” he said.

Wairere turned our in We now expect at least 150% lambing

“Ten years ago, when Pukekaka station was set up, we were achieving about 125% lambing with very average weaning weights. We bought in hoggets for several years which allowed us to then go all Wairere Romney. The result has been great, with an expectation of at least 150% lambing, as well as an increased weaning weight of 34kgs at 100 days. The sheep are just easier farming than before.”

Rob and Marie Stratton manage Pukekaka station, running 10,800 su on 1,100 hectares at Pukeokahu, in the hill country east of Taihape.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

NAIT worked in M bovis response Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com NATIONAL Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) has been doing what it was intended to do as part of the Government’s Mycoplasma bovis incursion response, Ospri chief executive Michelle Edge says.

NAIT was tasked with responding to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in an incursion response.

“That is the role of the programme – to support Government in livestock tracing in identification of premise.”

Under the Ospri umbrella, the NAIT team kicked into action from day one of the notification of the cattle disease on the van Leeuwen dairy group’s South Canterbury farm.

“We have looked at 307 NAIT accounts and provided NAIT number checks of all animals located for 83,000 online identifications.

“We have been ringing farmers and providing database reports to Government looking at all movements in the last three months and last six

DID ITS JOB: Ospri chief executive Michelle Edge is confident NAIT was an important tool in the M bovis response.

months in Canterbury, in the South Island for the last 12 months and in the North Island and from sale yards and meat processing venues.”

Edge said she was confident the reports and information provided through NAIT were proving an important tool in the M bovis investigations and overall incursion response.

The sentiment from the Government had certainly been that NAIT was extremely valuable in the response with

its up-to-date database to track animal movements and to help establish the list of farms for surveillance.

“We are verifying and reporting every day for thousands and thousands of transactions,” Edge said.

For farms under the same ownership there was a 10 kilometre buffer radius, effectively 20km diameter, where the same farm owner was able to use the same NAIT number and tag system for multiple farms.

Any other farm owner with animal movement within that same 10km zone would have their own NAIT number and tag system.

Therefore, the NAIT programme was not necessarily able to trace every animal in a multiple farm ownership situation to a specific property but to the farm ownership.

An MPI spokeswoman said the NAIT reports had provided crucial information on traceback and animal movement.

“We are able to refer to NAIT’s up-to-date database to track all animal movements and to help us establish the list of farms for surveillance,” she said.

NOT YET: Primary Industries Ministry chief operating officer Roger Smith says mass destruction of cattle will be authorised only if he is certain it will eliminate Mycoplasma bovis.

Eradication is still doable, MPI says Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com OFFICIALS expect to decide by the end of the year whether the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis can be eradicated.

The disease, identified on a van Leeuwen Dairy Group farm in South Canterbury in July, had now been traced to six farms including four van Leeuwen farms, one North Otago farm believed to be a calf rearing operation and a lifestyle block at Sefton in North Canterbury.

A fourth community meeting in North Otago on Thursday attracted a crowd of 160 people full of questions.

But Primary Industries Ministry chief operating officer Roger Smith said he didn’t know if he would need to order the destruction of dairy herds to wipe out the disease.

“That is a very hard question and one that is still on the table,” he said.

“I’m optimistic we will get the size of the picture identified and if it looks like it can be eradicated by containment of all infected farms that could mean the destruction of tens of thousands of animals.

“But I would only authorise such a drastic measure if it were proven it would eliminate the disease and only following consultation with all stakeholders and industry professionals involved in the response,” Smith said.

There was no set trigger to make a call on when it would no longer be feasible to eradicate.

“It’s not a numbers game. It’s when we start to find positives that we can’t trace back to the original source, for example if the bulk milk testing we are doing around the country finds a positive in Waikato that can’t be traced back to a van Leeuwen farm.

“At the moment what we are finding can all be traced back to the original source.

“It’s still traceable and expectable and eradication is fully doable while this is what we are finding,” Smith said.

“If thousands of stock can be destroyed with a good chance of eradication then we will go with that – a large destocking programme.”

But that would be a decision once all testing of infected farms and trace-backs had been completed.

With just a quarter of the 40,000 tests completed it would be another three months before the full picture was clear.

“I am hoping to be in a position by the end of November – that’s my optimism, as to whether we will be on an eradication process or in discussion with industry re management.

“Testing is telling us how widespread the disease is and if isolation to a region is clear we will give it (eradication) a shot,” Smith said.

He acknowledged the concern among farmers and livestock agents with bulls due to go out for mating next month.

“Mother Nature certainly isn’t on our side and we are working with industry as best we can to keep confidence up.

“What I say to farmers is, if you haven’t had a call from MPI then it’s business as usual.”

MPI was making contact with individual farms next to infected properties or connected through animal movements.

“If farmers haven’t been contacted by MPI then it means they are not in these groups and are at considerably less risk of the disease spreading to them.

“It’s a case of no news is good news.

“We encourage all farmers, contractors and rural professionals to protect their business by following standard onfarm hygiene best practice.

“Identify, contain, eradicate remains the focus of the response,” he said.

Farmers wanting to keep up to date with the response should register to receive the daily MPI reports at Mbovis2017_liaison@ mpi.govt.nz.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

5

Strong start to milk season Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com MILK collection in New Zealand and Australia has started the new season strongly for Fonterra, its latest Global Dairy Update said.

NZ production for June and July was 10% higher than in 2016, partly because of winter milk contracts that returned substantially higher payments to farmers.

Collection in the North Island in July was 16 million kilograms of milksolids, up 5% on July 2016.

The South Island collection was 2m kilograms, up 16%, though it was much harder to produce milk there in winter.

When the winter milk incentives ceased in the middle of July the North Island daily milk collection returned to 2016 levels.

Fonterra incentivises milk production for 60 days between

mid-May and mid-July, when cows are usually dried off before calving, to meet its local fresh milk and dairy product needs and to maintain food service exports like UHT cream and mozzarella cheese.

Australian production for July was up 28% and Fonterra reported 50 more supply farms had joined its ranks in the first month of the new season.

“This, combined with a milder winter than last year, has resulted in a significant lift in milk volumes although it is still early in the season.”

Some late-July flooding in central and southern South Island regions added to already challenging calving conditions because of very wet weather, Fonterra said.

Adverse weather in Europe had reduced milk production by 2% in Germany and 3% in France in the

MORE MILK: Winter milk incentives boosted Fonterra’s June and July collection.

year to the end of May compared with the previous corresponding period.

Ireland, Spain and Poland were up 7%, 4% and 3% respectively and milk production for the European Union as a whole was down 2%.

Production in the United States increased 2% in June, continuing a steady climb of that proportion across the previous 12 months.

By contrast, annual production was down 1% in NZ and 8% in Australia.

Total NZ exports in the 12 months to May were up 2%, those of Australia were down 4%, for the EU they were up 2% and for the US the increase was 14%, dominated by skim milk powder, cheese and whey powder.

The larger volumes of EU and US SMP were partly absorbed in

the Middle East and Africa where that category was up 4% year-onyear.

But all dairy imports in those regions were down 4%.

Import growth was notable in Latin America, up 10%, Asia excluding China, up 12%, and China, up 8%.

The big growth categories in China were whey powder, infant formula and cheese.

Dairy farmers names are being sought Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com DAIRY farmers have until Friday September 8 to make nominations for two positions as farmer-directors on the DairyNZ board and one on the directors’ remuneration committee.

Longest-serving farmerelected director Alister Body of Canterbury was retiring and dairy industry governance stalwart Jim van der Poel had reached the end of a four-year term.

When nominations closed it would be apparent whether

van der Poel intended to stand again, a DairyNZ spokesperson said.

After 12 years on the board, Body was valued for his industry experience and common sense, chairman Michael Spaans said.

“Being the only South Island director gave us a great connection to Canterbury along with his drive to expand our role in Southland,” he said.

Body said he had thoroughly enjoyed his time as a director, first of Dairy Insight and then after the merger with Dexcel, on DairyNZ. “DairyNZ really does make a

difference for farmers and the industry. As a board member you are right across whole gamut of the industry.

“It’s a fantastic job and I hope to encourage other dairy farmers to put themselves forward.”

He also served on the Dairy Environment Leaders Group, the former Human Capability Leadership Group and the newly-formed Canterbury Dairy Leaders Group.

He was also a Pastoral Genomics board member and chairman of the Ashburton Trading Society (RuralCo NZ).

DairyNZ had five farmer-

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In 2015 three positions were filled by Spaans (now in his third term), Ben Allomes (second term) and newcomer Elaine Cook. There were 10 candidates for that election.

It also had three independent directors.

At the annual meeting in Rotorua on October 25 farmers would be asked to consider a change to three-year terms for directors.

When the nominations were declared farmers would have until October 24 to vote.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

7

Bobby calves in better shape Tim Fulton tim.fulton@nzx.com BOBBY calves are in better nick but welfare breach notices are up as new rules take hold.

Animal welfare inspectors issued just over 40 infringement notices for breaches of bobby calf rules so far this calving season, four times the number for all of 2016.

Primary Industries Ministry statistics collected from meat and pet food processing facilities estimated the number of young calves processed in 2016 to be just under two million.

That increased from 1.5m calves in 2008 to a peak of almost 2.2m in 2015.

There were about 12,000 dairy farms in New Zealand.

Last year 10 infringement notices of $500 each were issued to transport operators for repeat offending.

The offences were for transporting calves that were not physically fit to be moved.

This year animal welfare inspectors and MPI veterinarians visited bobby calf trucks onfarm to inspect calves and loading facilities.

“To date 248 proactive onfarm inspections have been carried out and there have been high levels

of compliance with the loading facility and shelter requirements for calves,” MPI acting compliance services director Melinda Sando said.

“Most non-compliance found has been relatively minor and dealt with at the time on the farm.”

MPI had more than 200 veterinarians at meat processing plants and part of their role was to ensure animals arrived in good condition, Sando said.

MPI either had or was about to deliver 41 infringement notices.

Two compliance notices relating to transport regulations and two to stop calves leaving a farm until an adequate loading facility had been issued.

“Once the farmer has met the regulation, an MPI inspector can remove the compliance notice.

Enforcement action beyond this is dealt with on a case by case basis,” Sando said.

The wetter winter resulted in some problems with wet calves arriving at processing premises, with warnings issued to three transport operators.”

The number of deaths as a result of long periods in transit had fallen this year and calves were generally in better condition when they left farms.

“The maximum time before

BETTER: Vets at slaughter premises say calves are generally more robust and healthy this year.

slaughter regulation had an impact on calf welfare this year.

The percentage of calves that are dead or are condemned on arrival is down and the percentage of calves that are dead or condemned in lairage is also down significantly compared to this stage in the 2016 calf season.”

the spring calving season saw a marked decrease in young calf mortality, with the mortality rate more than halving from 0.25% in 2015 to 0.12%.

The Bobby Calf Action Group had been working on improvements to calf welfare since media attention in 2015.

Vets at slaughter premises said calves were generally more robust and healthy.

One Canterbury truck driver said the difference in calf quality at pick-up was noticeable. It seemed like stock needed “gold teeth” to be fit for transport.

Last year the MPI reported

Landcorp increases profit on better milk and meat prices Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com HIGHER returns for milk, beef and venison helped state-owned farmer Landcorp to a $35.6 million operating profit in the year ended June 30.

That was up from the $25.5m result recorded a year-earlier.

It covered earnings before interest, tax, depreciation,

amortisation and revaluations and was the group’s favoured measure of economic performance.

Milk revenues were $26.3m or 35% higher than a year earlier.

The company reported a strong rebound in payments from processors, from the 10-year lows the previous year. Production was also higher, at 19.5 million kg MS,

up from 18.8m kg MS. Beef revenues were $4m higher. Wool revenues fell along with market prices, chief executive Steven Carden said.

Total revenues rose 11% to $233.5m, up from $210m, while operating costs were held to a 3.3% rise.

The net profit after tax was up to $51.9m including a $20m gain on livestock revaluations. The

More milk More meat more silage

previous year’s equivalent figure was $11.5m.

Describing the process of transforming to a value-add business as complex, Carden said the operating result turnaround was encouraging.

The core business had been strengthened, farming systems improved and the range of partnerships and Pamu-brand products expanded.

Landcorp didn’t provide a lot of financial information ahead of the release of the full annual report to Parliament but said total assets had increased by $27.9m to $1.81 billion over the year, with borrowings reduced to $207m from $219.6m.

With the focus on debt reduction, a dividend was not being paid.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

Young farm workers need help Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE over-representation of young farm workers committing suicide requires a tailored support system in addition to that available through primary health care, research shows.

A study of farm suicides from coronial data by Annette Beautrais of the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury showed 210 farmers or farm workers had committed suicide between 2007 and 2016.

The data from the Office of the Chief Coroner also showed that based on a three-year rolling average, from 2007-2010 the mean number of suicides was 28 and from 2013-2016 it was 21.

Also this week Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall released figures revealing the total number of suicides in 2016-17 was 606, the highest in the nine years data had been collected.

Allowing for population growth, that rate was 12.64 per 100,000 people compared to 12.33 in 201516 and 12.65 in 2010-11.

Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand chief executive Michelle Thompson said the

Beautrais research was the most comprehensive on rural suicide in NZ and possibly the world.

Importantly, it showed suicide was not homogenous but there were six different risk profiles requiring different responses.

It also showed fears the dairy downturn would stress farm owners and managers were wrong and it was young farm workers who were most at risk.

Improving rural mental health services including crisis management would seem sensible.

Annette Beautrais Canterbury University The alliance was consulting its members to determine how the research could be used.

It found a third of suicide victims were aged under 29 and a third aged over 50.

Beautrais’s research showed that despite the global dairy crisis of

Solemn statistics: rural suicides • Note: 2014-15 and 2015-16 includes provisional data.

• Dairy farmers accounted for 30% of all suicides which were equally divided between labourers, managers and owners.

2007-08 29 2008-09 29 2009-10 26 2010-11 24 2011-12 22 2012-13 17 2013-14 20 2014-15 26 2015-16 17 Total 210

• Young farm labourers accounted for twice as many suicides as farm owners-managers.

• Over 90% of suicide victims were male.

• Risk factors leading to suicides were relationship losses, mental and physical health problems.

Alcohol was often a precipitating factor.

2015-16 coupled with drought in many regions, there was little data available to provide a baseline against which suicide rates could be assessed.

That work had subsequently revealed dairy accounted for 30% of all suicide rates but livestock and mixed cropping accounted for 52%.

Young rural farm workers accounted for twice as many suicides as farm managers or owners and Beautrais said prevention programmes needed to take account of the fact few of them had contact with a doctor.

“Appropriate settings could include farming and industry events and sports, leisure and local community activities.”

Relationship problems and substance abuse were factors for some young people and that could mean police were involved and they should be taught to be aware of suicide risks.

In addition, programmes to strengthen personal coping skills could be included in rural colleges and polytechnics.

Rural residents could also be given skills to recognise those with stress or depression while support or advice for young people could be offered by social media or other internet programmes.

Older farmers with physical health problems were typically well known to primary care providers and mental health services so enhanced education for primary care providers about suicide risk assessment and management could be helpful.

“Improving rural mental health services including crisis management would seem sensible.”

Her report identified six common risk profiles.

The first was a young farm labourer, away from his family, living and working in an isolated area and maybe living alone.

Social activities tended to involve drinking and suicide

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tended to occur when alone, sometimes intoxicated after a social event and were precipitated by a rejection message from a potential or actual girlfriend.

The second profile was a young farm labourer or manager aged in their 20s or early 30s with a young partner and young children.

“The relationship is often fragile and tumultuous and suicide may occur after his partner leaves or threatens to leave.”

Other causes could be a legal crisis, police charges or a work argument resulting in dismissal.

Farmers aged in their 50s with existing health problems constituted another group.

They were usually married but worried health issues would affect their mobility or quality of life.

Similarly, older or retired farmers were also concerned about physical symptoms or declining health, which might make them dependent on others as they perceived loss of quality of life.

Farm workers of both genders with a history of mental illness were also at risk.

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News

10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

A2 Milk shares keep on rising Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com SHARE market darling a2 Milk Company (ATM) has been revalued following a good result for the 2017 financial year as analysts think its extraordinary share price growth will continue.

The share price nearly trebled over the past 12 months from about $2 to $5.74 on August 25, after the latest financial results were disclosed.

Revenue was up 56% to $550 million in 2016-17 and net profit trebled to $90m or about 13c/ share.

After the results announcement ATM had a price/earnings ratio of 45, among the highest on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

That meant if all net profits were paid out as dividends, investors would wait 45 years to recoup their capital input.

The high share price and its 723m shares on issue combined to give ATM the 14th highest market capitalisation of $4.1 billion, keeping company with huge corporations like Westpac, ANZ Bank, Auckland International Airport, Meridian, Spark, Fletcher Building and Mercury.

The huge number of shares resulted from ATM’s long time as

a “penny dreadful” stock worth 10c and repeated attempts to recapitalise the company and carve out a business based on the differences between the common A1 beta-casein protein in milk and the A2 variant.

The company is a relatively high-risk speculative investment and it has delivered beyond expectations in the past couple of years.

It had a similar number of issued shares as bluechip companies like Port of Tauranga, Contact Energy and F&P Healthcare, which led the reporting season with large profits and dividends.

But ATM had not paid its multitude of NZ and Australian shareholders a dividend in more than a decade because its directors chose to reinvest all profits back into growing the business. The company had no debt and a cash balance of $121m at year end.

It suggested a share buyback using $40m might be done this year but that would cover only 1% of its shareholding and was a drop in the milk bucket for every investor.

So why did market analysts continue to recommend the company’s shares when its equity fundamentals were so distorted?

“The company is a relatively high-risk speculative investment and it has delivered beyond expectations in the past couple of years,” one analyst said.

“We could have questioned the fundamentals after last year’s results but the company delivered another strong performance and appears to be on track to do it again this year.”

Its compounded annual growth rate suggested a net profit of 18c/ share this financial year and 25c the year after.

Pointing out the obvious, given the company’s share structure, investors were betting on capital gain from the share price, not yield, he said.

ATM was one of the mosttraded stocks on the NZ exchange, turning over 55% of its shareholding during the past year.

However, there were unusual aspects to its rapid growth,

including the Chinese demand for trustworthy infant formula and a looming court case in Australia to address the health and well-being claims made for A2 milk.

A large portion of Australian and infant formula revenue, which were up 84%, came from the Daigou sales channels, whereby resident Australians bought cans of formula from local supermarkets and posted them to relatives, friends and e-customers in China.

That trade contributed to ATM’s high gross margin of 48% and high Ebitda of 25%.

“It is like an export business without the company having to pay air or sea freight although the Chinese government intends to choke off that trade,” the analyst said.

What ATM called the crossborder e-commerce channels would be restricted at the end of this year.

So it was developing direct sales channels to China and other Asian countries, worth $89m last year.

In November the Federal Court of Australia would hear claim and counter-claim by ATM and Japanese-owned Lion Group, both producers of liquid milk.

ATM sought to stop Lion using “naturally contains A2 protein” on

GOING DIRECT: A2 Milk is developing direct sales channels in China as the government there clamps down on cross-border trade.

its milk bottles, which contained a mix of both variants.

Lion criticised the science behind A2 health claims and said, therefore, ATM’s marketing claims were false and misleading.

Because ATM had spent nearly 20 years trying to establish health benefits from the consumption of A2 milk and most major dairy companies around the world, including Fonterra, steadfastly maintained there was nothing wrong with A1 milk, the court case outcome might be inconclusive.

Nutrimol 4n1 users report better 6 week in-calf rates and fewer empties We surveyed the reproductive outcomes of 104 NZ dairy herds, 38,000 cows*, where a Nutrimol 4n1 program had been administered, during the spring 2016 mating-period.

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In comparison, the average 6 week in-calf rate for New Zealand herds was 66%.

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In comparison, the average not in-calf rate for New Zealand herds was 17%.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

11

Government boosts RBI 2 money RURAL internet users are the biggest winners from a preelection windfall announcement that has the Government shovelling an extra $270 million into ultra-fast and rural broadband.

On top of the $150m already allocated to the Rural Broadband Initiative 2, Communications Minister Simon Bridges has allocated another $270m that will have 60,000 more households receiving ultra-fast broadband in 190 small towns nationally.

In addition, another 74,000 rural households were set to benefit from the RBI rollout, largely through upgraded fixed lines or improved wireless coverage.

The extra spending promised to also shorten the time taken to complete the RBI programme, meaning 87% of the population would have ultra-fast broad band access by 2022.

Rural users were not the only winners from the announcement.

A union of the big three telecommunications companies, Vodafone, Spark and 2Degrees Mobile picked up most of the money available for extended infrastructure build.

The big three also put $75m of their own funds into the pot to extend rural coverage in a deal that would see them collaboratively build extended infrastructure including cell towers while continuing to compete at a wholesale and retail level.

Vodafone chief executive Russell Stanners said in total there was

an extra $250 million plus the companies’ $75 million.

“The fact that by 2022 we will now see 87% of New Zealand have ultra-fast broadband makes NZ absolutely world class. NZ is the second fastest country in terms of growth for the uptake of fibre globally and is now in the top 11 for broadband speed. That is good going for a long thin country at the bottom of the world with a low population density.”

He compared the rollout’s success here to the United Kingdom where the target was 10MBps compared to the 100MBps targeted in urban areas here and a minimum by 2022 of 50MBps via wireless.

The significantly smaller wireless internet operators stood to receive about $13m from RBI 2.

While it paled in comparison to what the big telcos were receiving,

companies were confident they could deliver significant and tailored internet solutions to their remote rural clients with that money.

Wireless Internet Service Providers Association spokesman Chris O’Connell said the amount provided had to be viewed from the perspective of companies that had built themselves up from their bootstraps, with significant personal investment made by their founders.

“It’s been very hands-on, blood, sweat and tears stuff, usually with them putting up the towers themselves.

“This is definitely enough to make a difference. These companies know how to make money go a long way and can make it go even further with the co-operation of their rural customers.”

STRETCHERS: Wireless Internet Service Providers are small companies that know how to make money go a long way, spokesman Chris O’Connell says.

Rollout not fast enough for Labour THE National Government has underscored its continuing commitment to the Rural Broadband Initiative rollout, with RBI 2 announcements.

The June 2017 quarterly broadband update showed a 12% increase in businesses, schools and hospitals connected to ultrafast broadband over three months while deployment of RBI phase 1 was complete with 154 towers built and 387 upgraded.

RBI uptake was reported at 40%.

Communications Minister Simon Bridges also reiterated the Government’s continuing commitment to RBI with the goal to allow 85% of New Zealanders access to ultra-fast broadband by 2024.

Earlier this year the Labour Party challenged the funding of the second phase of the Government’s ultra-fast broadband project that included RBI2.

Labour’s communications spokeswoman Clare Curran said the party had not yet released its policy on connectivity but the RBI rollout was proving too slow for many rural communities

2017

election and Labour would accelerate it.

“We intend to put a rocket up the fibre providers to achieve that.”’

Under RBI 2 it was still possible because as many as 124,000 residents in smaller towns would not get ultra-fast broadband until 2024.

“This includes fringes of Auckland, Napier, Northland, Edgecumbe and Kaikoura.”

Labour would also encourage more companies to get fibre to the farm using the Telecommunications Amendment Act that enabled fibre to go on power-poles.

“This has not been given enough attention by the Government and the law itself has not yet even been enacted, despite being passed by Parliament.”

NZ First’s information and communications technology

spokeswoman Tracey Martin said while the party was largely happy with how the rural internet rollout had occurred there was still one area her party wanted to see improved for rural communities.

“We have seen urban communities such as Manaiakalani Education Trust in Auckland where the schools will receive internet via fibre and then it is broadcast to the households in the area wirelessly and uncapped.

“Obviously, there are logistical issues over doing this in the country but we believe there is potential to do the same, opening up the internet that children use at school during the day to them in their homes.

“We would like to see this addressed under RBI 2 and have been talking to telecommunication companies about it.”

She said NZ First would also support retaining the Telecommunications Development Levy and welcomed the chance for fibre to be delivered via power poles, thanks to the recently passed Telecommunications Amendment Act.

That often included using farmers’ land to put repeaters and equipment on in return for internet connections.

He hoped that by working with the big three telcos the companies could avoid overbuilding in some areas and come to arrangements about coverage.

“At the end of the day this is about how we best spend taxpayers’ money.

“Until now our guys have been outsiders to these funds but we now have six already signed up and acknowledged as delivering

the standard of broadband internet the Government requires.”

Telecommunications Users Association chief executive Craig Young welcomed what amounted to a significant amount of extra funds for RBI 2.

“We intend to keep working on identifying where any gaps may be arising in the network.

“Part of our plan in the coming years, as the network is rolled out, is to encourage more rural businesses and people to get on and use what has been put in.”

News

12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

HEALTHY: The proposed school would produce 60 doctors a year for rural practices, Tertiary Education Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

Nats promise more rural practice docs Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE country’s two medical schools will face competition for the right to host the Government’s proposed new School of Rural Medicine.

The universities of Auckland and Otago were already working on a national School of Rural Medicine proposal but the University of Waikato, which wanted to establish a graduate entry medical school to train rural doctors, has confirmed it would be preparing a business case to host the proposed school.

Tertiary Education Minister Paul Goldsmith said the proposed school would produce 60 doctors a year to address the needs of rural New Zealand, with the final cost dependent on the successful business case.

Auckland and Otago universities in association with Auckland University of Technology, the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners and the NZ Rural General Practice Network had since March been investigating a National School of Rural Health.

It would create a rural component for health professional students with a dispersed interprofessional faculty with its own leadership and access to 20 rural sites around NZ. Those sites would be developed and governed by local communities through which health professionals across all medical disciplines could continue their training and do research.

When announcing the initiative, Pro-ViceChancellor of health sciences and Otago Medical School dean Professor Peter Crampton said the number of general practice graduates needed to increase by 30% to 50% to meet existing demand and to cover GPs expected to retire in the next 10 years.

Responding to the Government’s announcement, University of Auckland Vice Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon said it was a challenge to get more graduates to work in rural communities.

“The University of Auckland has trained doctors and nurses in regional and rurally based programmes for decades.

“We have established specialist hubs for rural training in Northland and Bay of Plenty and will open another one next year in Taranaki,” McCutcheon said.

Otago University also operated several rural training centres.

Waikato University confirmed it would compete for the School of Rural Medicine with Vice Chancellor Neil Quigley saying Government support for the concept was acknowledgment of a health crisis for rural NZ. “Rural and high-needs communities have suffered decades of neglect from the two existing medical schools so the solution needs to be a fundamental change in the way that we select and prepare medical students for community service.

“Internationally, the countries that have successfully addressed these problems have done it by introducing a new medical education model rather than adjusting existing programmes.”

Goldsmith said the Waikato proposal sought funding of $300 million over 10 years.

Funding of the new rural medical school would be from existing tertiary funding streams and future operating and capital budget allowances.

He said the number of medical students had increased 47% since 2008 and there were now 530 doctors trained each year.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

15

Parties differ on climate change Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com THE inclusion of agriculture in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has become a hot topic in the general election campaign.

The National Party has repeated its long-standing pledge that agriculture would be exempted until there were viable ways to reduce farm emissions.

Government and industry would continue to search for greenhouse gas mitigation options.

Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett said the ETS was being amended to ensure it was fit for purpose to achieve NZ’s ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target under the Paris Agreement.

“We are committed to ensuring businesses whose emissions are a big part of their costs are not disadvantaged compared to their international competitors.

“This means there will be no changes to the current level of free allocation at least until the end of 2020 and any changes would be well signalled and will take into account what is happening internationally.

“The $25 price ceiling will also remain in place until auctioning

or links with international markets are established.”

The Labour Party said that leaving agriculture out of the ETS was untenable, as agriculture accounted for half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Labour would establish an independent climate change commission and a carbon budgeting process for achieving emissions reduction targets.

New party Leader Jacinda Ardern called climate change her generation’s NZ nuclear-free issue, one that she would tackle head on.

“My government will be driven by principle not expediency and opportunity not fear,” she said.

Labour wanted the ETS to be an all sectors, all gases scheme, to move away from carbon-polluting goods and services towards low or zero-carbon options.

NZ First said it opposed the ETS altogether because it had failed to deliver significant reductions and was not encouraging industry transition.

The Green Party said agriculture could not remain exempt from emission charges so it would introduce a $12.50 a tonne carbon dioxide equivalent charge on dairy farm emissions.

2017

election It claimed that would be the equivalent to 8c/kg milksolids.

If cross-party support could be gathered for a 40% cut in NZ emissions by 2030, the party would agree to a five-year transition period for agriculture and a relatively modest reduction target compared with other sectors.

It suggested a 12.5% reduction in cow numbers on the 4000 biggest dairy farms, over 200ha, could achieve the emissions reduction target without any other measures.

ACT Party candidate Robin Grieve, Whangarei, said the emphasis being put on methane reduction from domestic livestock was wrong.

Because methane was shortlived in the atmosphere and cyclical, when produced at a

HEATING UP: Climate change and agriculture’s part in it has become an election issue.

constant rate it did not contribute to climate change.

This contrasted with fossilsourced carbon dioxide emissions, which were additive.

“Methane emissions have only increased by 5% since 1990 despite massive increases in agricultural output because farmers are already making emission intensity gains, Grieve said.

“The Government’s energy

should not be diverted towards unnecessary reductions in methane emissions.

“We are severely disadvantaged under a system where 35% of our carbon emissions are sourced from methane and are mostly harmless.

“Treating each greenhouse gas individually will stop the unfair victimisation of our farmers and of us as a country,” Grieve said.

National and Labour agree on predators THE attack on introduced predators of native birds and wildlife has been the strongest theme in the conservation policies of the political parties in this election.

The National-led Government’s Conservation Minister Maggie Barry said Predator Free 2050 was making good progress with initial funding of $28m to be directed into large-scale predator control projects and scientific research.

She called it the most ambitious

conservation project attempted anywhere in the world.

Priority would be given to a dozen species of birds, bats, frogs, lizards and snails at risk of serious decline or local extinction.

Aerial 1080 poison applications would continue as the most effective pest control method over large areas and difficult terrain.

The Labour Party agreed with the Predator Free programme and that aerial 1080 application remained the best available option for possum, rat and stoat control, particularly in difficult to access country.

DAYS NUMBERED: The two big parties are agreed on removing predators and how to do it.

The ACT Party’s conservation policies included a commitment to sell Landcorp, which it called an environmentally harmful Government activity.

The proceeds of sale should be put into a Sanctuary Trust for landowners who wanted to operate inland sanctuaries for native wildlife.

It criticised the Predator Free 2050 programme, calling it a politician’s promise with no intention of being kept.

New Zealand First said the role of the state was to ensure the balance between economic progress and appropriate environmental goals.

It wanted to ensure wide public consultation occurred in the development of energy, sustainable land management and climate change policy.

NZ First would provide financial support for the development of waterharvesting schemes that met feasibility, viability and environmental requirements, such as storage dams.

It promised support for threatened species restoration programmes and for building up the natural habitat.

The party was firmly opposed to the continued use of aerial 1080 applications.

The Green Party wanted

nature to have a legal identity, endowing a fundamental right to life for everything in nature.

It said that much more money was needed for conservation and pest control, including a doubling of the number of Department of Conservation rangers and technical support staff.

The Greens would strengthen legal protection for threatened species and the places where they lived and create a strong, overarching conservation action plan.

It would double the grant money available to the QE II Trust to $8 million a year by 2021.

A $20 tourism levy would help protect the environment and back up the government’s commitment to Predator Free 2050.

The Environmental Defence

2017

election Society wanted a moratorium on high-country tenure review and land clearances.

It wanted a value put on any ecosystem services in any cost-benefit analysis for land development.

Gareth Morgan’s TOP supported a $20 a tourist levy to raise $60m to go towards the predator programme and the war on weeds.

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News

farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

THE SCIENCE OF POLITICS: Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Labour MP Megan Woods discuss the issues at the politics of science at the Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science forum.

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Science needs consistency Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com PRIMARY sector scientists believe a cross-party accord assuring 20 years of sustainability would be the ideal from an incoming government.

The reality of that was robustly debated at a political forum at the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science.

“Given the nature of our research we need long-term stability around policy as it moves from government to government,” institute immediate past president Mike Dodd said.

“But that is very wishful thinking.”

Scientists wanted to know the quantity of government funding targeted at business and how a government would ensure that business fronted up.

“How will government incentivise business to spend more money on research and produce good data on what is being spent.

“We want to know how much government is spending on research for land-based, primary industries and we need substantial processes that document actual spending and where,” Dodd said.

Fragmentation of research funding pools was a key area of concern for the science community.

The complexity of the investment landscape was time-consuming with the funding system neither effective nor efficient use of scientists’ time.

The institute asked the politicians how their party would create a more efficient system achieving better scientific outputs without large bureaucratic input costs.

For NZ First, MP Richard Prosser said scientists should be involved in doing science.

“What we need to foster is collaboration – have the best brains in the country working together,” Prosser said.

The Green Party would boost total spending on science and research and development while also reducing organisational complexity, transaction costs and overheads associated with funding decisions and research delivery, Green MP Eugenie Sage said.

“Regarding priorities, we will invest in research that contributes to sustainability through innovation, knowledge creation, adoption of appropriate technologies and changes in practice,” she said.

Labour MP Megan Woods said her party would prioritise an increase in

2017

election public science spending to link NZ to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average over time.

It would also strengthen innovation through a 12.5% research and development tax credit.

“Stability of funding for Crown research institutes is absolutely critical for an overall strategic framework of science funding and what we need is science policy that has levers that drive collaboration.

“We need stability around funding so we can make long-term strategic goals,” Woods said.

She indicated Labour would look seriously at the future of “handpicked grants” such as the Callaghan Innovation’s programmes.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy said the Government had significantly increased investment in science and innovation through Budget 2017, adding $256 million of new funding over four years.

That increased total government investment in science and innovation from $1.32 billion in 2015 to $1.66b by 2021 – an increase of 26%.

“Encouraging business research and development helps high-tech, innovative Kiwi companies to bring products and ideas to the market sooner, which has significant benefit for export revenues,” Guy said.

The Government had invested a further $74.6m in Budget 2017 to meet the rising demand for Callaghan Innovation’s Growth Grants, bringing the total amount available to the programme over the next four years to $657m.

“This approach is working. Between 2014 and 2016 business spending on research and development grew 29% and Callaghan Innovation grant recipients lifted their own spending by 42%.

“But if you have ideas, I am listening – I am open for ideas with robust processes that will still have transparency and

accountability to taxpayers of all of NZ,” Guy said.

Despite the institute’s concern about genetic engineering there was little political appetite for changing NZ’s GEfree status for food production.

Scientists questioned the rhetoric of international competitive advantage versus missing out on being able to apply the science in NZ. “We need to sort out GE, it’s hampering our ability on a number of levels in terms of importing and releasing material that farmers will benefit from,” Dodd said.

But the politicians were broadly aligned in seeing no impetus for change while a survey by the Science Media Centre found a near political consensus around keeping NZ a GE-free country.

“We have no plans to change our position around ability to trade and market our goods GE-free,” Woods said.

“It’s always been the case for us to proceed with caution,” Prosser said.

“We need to educate people. There’s a difference between modifying a ryegrass and putting spider genes into tomatoes and ending up with a three-eyed fish,” he said.

The Greens did not support the release of GMOs to the environment or in food and would maintain a zero tolerance for imported, viable GE seeds, Sage said.

They did support the laboratorycontained research and comprehensive labelling of foods containing GMOs. Guy said National would continue to monitor rules on GMOs and adapt legislation to international developments.

“We have consulted with the primary sector and some are concerned while others are a bit weary, especially those in the food sector.

“Yes, the challenge is always about how you bring New Zealanders on board with you.

“It is significant for economic growth and could lead to long-term sustainability for our environment,” Guy said.

He acknowledged there was some frustration by those in the science community that similarly low-risk biotechnologies developed since 1998 had not been included in the new “not GM” regulations.

“But the rationale for our cautious approach is that NZ is an exporter of billions of dollars of food products and we need to be mindful of market perceptions as well as the science,” Guy said.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

17

ALF profit makes a sharp rise Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com COMMISSION income on a higher level of dairy herd sales has pushed Allied Farmers to a sharply improved full-year profit.

The-after tax profit for the NZX-listed ALF for the year ended June 30 was $1.55 million, more than double the $705,000 a year earlier.

ALF owned 66% of stock agency New Zealand Farmers Livestock (NZFL), which increased business levels across its range of operations, highlighted by the dairy herd activity in the second half.

That helped make-up for lower group earnings in the first half when the bobby calf business hit challenging trading conditions.

A trial programme livestreaming sales at the Rongatea yards in Manawatu was tested and was likely to be extended to other yards.

ALF had signalled the improved result in mid-June, saying the livestock division had strong trading in May, with very buoyant cattle prices and firm sheep prices adding to the higher dairy herd sales.

In the full-year report chairman Garry Bluett said NZFL had expanded its livestock team around the country and the MyLivestock webpage had a 53% increase in users from the previous year.

A trial programme livestreaming sales at the

Rongatea yards in Manawatu was tested and was likely to be extended to other yards.

The small livestock financing business, started during the year, traded profitably.

NZFL had pre-tax earnings of $2.7m for the year, up from $2.26m. Commission income increased to $12.24m from $9.75m.

In the bobby calf meat processing business income fell to $4.76m from $5.94.

Volumes remained the same but turnover was affected by lower international selling prices for veal and skins, Bluett said.

Total group after-tax profit rose to $2.23m from $1.39m, with $677,000 of that going to livestock agents who own 34% of NZFL. Operating cashflow for the year was $979,000, down from $1.51m previously.

At balance date ALF had lifted its shareholders’ funds to $1.82m from just $105,000 a year earlier and a negative equity situation in the several years before that.

Total liabilities of $12.7m still made up a large proportion, 89%, of the total assets of $14.2m but that was down from a near 100% level in 2016.

Borrowings reduced to $2.97m from $3.78m and made up 21% of total debt plus equity, from a 30% level previously.

The group had substantially reduced the interest rates on borrowings as the strengthening operations allowed it to negotiate better terms, Bluett said.

The holders of $1m of bonds maturing in September had agreed to a four-year extension at a reduced interest rate.That was a vote of confidence from the bondholders, he said.

ALF director and largest shareholder Mark Benseman held $600,000 of the bonds

SMILE: Allied farmers agents Emmett McConnell, Richard Trembath and Malcolm Coombe in action at Rongotea where livestreaming of auctions was tested.

through his Albany Braithwaite Holdings.

Further livestock expansion was being targeted this year.

Directors expected careful growth for the livestock business but flat earnings for meat processing as overseas prices remained low.

After balance date NZFL lifted its stake in Hawke’s Bay firm Redshaw Livestock to 52% from 35%.

Bluett also updated the NZX on a potential gain for the company on a legal action relating to a loan asset sale it made in 2013. Liquidators of the Property Ventures business were pursuing its directors and auditors.

They had just settled with the auditors for an undisclosed amount and a court action against the directors was scheduled for February.

Liquidators confirmed earlier guidance to ALF in April that its share could be “potentially substantially greater” than a $500,000 figure suggested at the time of the 2013 sale.

No return was expected this calendar year, Bluett said.

Smaller crop to mar final result Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com FRUIT and produce marketer Seeka has produced higher half-year earnings but says the lower Hayward kiwifruit crop this season will affect the annual result.

The green crop was down by about 30% on the previous year and annual operating earnings would be about 15% down for the December 31 year, compared to last year’s Ebitda figure of $21 million.

For the six months ended June 30 Seeka reported an after-tax profit of$11.09m, up from $7.12m a year earlier.

The lower Hayward (green) production also affected operating cashflows for the half-year, down to $1.13m from $3.31m, chief executive Michael Franks said.

Total kiwifruit packing

volumes fell 21% to 25.5m trays from 32.2m previously, with a larger Gold crop partially offsetting the fall in green. Green fell to 16.2m trays from 23.7m a year earlier while Gold was up to 9m from 7.6m trays.

The pricing outlook was for grower returns to remain very strong for Gold, with a $9.21/ tray return, and for Green to be up to $6.06/tray from $4.26 previously, though on the much lower volumes.

The group had completed packing plant and coolstore projects and the infrastructure was now largely in balance with the expected 2018 crop volumes, Franks said.

There had been a strong lift in earnings in Australia, and a successful avocado selling season in New Zealand.

Though prices to growers were down slightly, Seeka

more than doubled its avocado volumes to 487,000 export trays.

The new Australia business producing kiwifruit, nashi and pears increased earnings before interest and tax to $3m from $1.23m.

Seeka Australia had nearly 100ha of kiwifruit orchard at its Shepparton site in northern Victoria and said it would develop at least another 40ha over the next five years.

Group operating earnings (Ebitda) for the half year were $21.9m, up from $15.8m, from revenues steady at $134m. Total turnover was $148.9m, including $14.88m of fruit sales made as agent on behalf of outside growers and suppliers.

NZX-listed Seeka said it would pay a 10c a share interim dividend on September 22.

Farm Nutrition Column

Selenium for animal health Dr. Jamie Blennerhassett PhD Soil Science, MApplSc (Hons) Soil and Water Management, Innovation Leader for Ballance Agri-Nutrients.

I

n many areas of New Zealand, improving selenium levels can improve stock fertility and growth rates. In a dairy context it can optimise milk production.

Spring can be demanding on stock, whether you are trying to put more weight on backs or milk in vats; getting animals ready for market or mating, every little bit counts. Selenium is one of those ‘little bits’ that could make a big difference.

Many New Zealand soils are low in selenium. This affects levels in pasture and crops and consequently in stock. While not essential for plant growth, selenium has many vital functions in animals. It keeps cell membranes intact and supports the immune system and thyroid. It is transferred across the placenta and through milk, so the selenium status of a cow or ewe influences that of her developing calf or lamb.

to take action before lambs are weaned onto pasture and in advance of mating and peak milking demands. You may need to supply selenium if levels are below 0.03 mg Se/kg DM (below 30 micrograms/gm in your herbage test results). Analysing selenium levels in tissue and blood samples of stock can complement herbage testing.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

Affco’s Swedish lamb sales take leap

GREAT GUNS: Stefan Pettersson inside Hemkop in Torsplan, Stockholm, says his firm Axfood has established a great relationship with Affco.

SALES of New Zealand lamb supplied by Affco to Swedish retail chain Axfood was up more than 37% in the first half of the year after a deal with the country’s second biggest retail chain.

The result was pleasing given the Kiwi meat supplier’s focus on broadening its reach in premium markets throughout continental Europe, Affco general manager Andy Leonard said.

“When people talk meat supply to Europe they are often just talking the United Kingdom.

“Our team has been working hard to foster relationships with key partners throughout Europe to find ways to create value for NZ meat in all of these markets.”

One of the partners was Axfood, Sweden’s second biggest retailer with 489 fully-owned or franchised stores and another 1052 associated distribution outlets covering the discount, highend, concept and food service markets.

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Andy Leonard Affco Axfood imported meat purchasing manager Stefan Pettersson said lamb consumption in Sweden had lifted from 1.28 kilogram a head to 1.8 kg/person in the last 10 years and that figure was expected to keep growing.

“People are looking for more healthy and sustainable protein sources and lamb and poultry are good options here in Sweden.”

There was also increased demand for lamb from the nation’s growing ethnic population, which included immigrants from the Middle East.

“If we take a look at the first 20 weeks of this calendar year the lamb category grew 5.5% in volume in Sweden with Axfood up 19.4% and the Affco brand up a massive 37.5%.

“Affco lamb is very well recognised by our customers and is known for consistent high quality.”

In Sweden, with similar annual sales trends to the UK, Easter was the biggest time of year for retail sales, making up about a quarter of yearly sales, followed by Ramadan and Halloween.

Domestic stock of lamb was limited because of the seasonal nature of sheep farming in Sweden, meaning strong relationships with Affco were important to support growing demand, Pettersson said.

“We’ve established a great partnership in the five years we’ve been working together and Affco has built up a very good understanding of our market and our needs.

“They deliver what they say they will with consistent specifications and product quality,” he said.

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

19

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News

20 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

Record return from global sales increase Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com DESPITE a sticky start to the kiwifruit season with a difficult spring affecting pollination, the industry’s marketer has reported a 19% increase in global sales realising a record $2.26 billion in revenue.

The impact of a tougher spring bought a later start to the season’s harvest and combined with high yields had meant a lower per tray return to Green growers, Zespri chairman Peter McBride told this year’s annual meeting in Tauranga.

But the sun continued to shine on the marketer’s golden wonder fruit the SunGold variety, with its performance reflecting a growth not only in volume but also in value per tray.

“A particular highlight was the SunGold performance, up 39% to $98,838 per hectare and 5% per tray to $8.64,” McBride said.

The Green pool reported a

decline in value per tray, pegged back to $4.36 from last season’s $5.13, a 15% decline.

But strong per hectare yields helped cushion that effect, with per hectare returns on average down 5% to $53,555.

Meantime, addressing growers for the last time in his capacity as chief executive, Lain Jager defended Zespri’s need to continue investing significantly in offshore operations and marketing.

The marketer had recently opened a new pan-American office in Orange County, California, with about 10 staff to be based in what the company described as an under-developed market for New Zealand kiwifruit.

That opening came hard on the heels of a Middle East office opened in March in Dubai, a market where sales were expected to increase by 50% over the next five years.

In NZ the company was also

investing heavily in new head offices as existing facilities fell short of space for the marketer’s burgeoning staff.

Jager’s defence of the investment arose from producers questioning if producing SunGold fruit offshore was in their best interests.

However, Jager was adamant 12-month supply of SunGold was critical to maintain shelf space and brand presence all year round.

“The challenge should be about whether we should go faster with offshore supply, rather than slower.”

McBride said volumes in Zespri’s 12-month business had grown from 14.5 million trays to 16.6m while contributing profit from the business also grew 10% to $11.9m.

“A highlight was the strong Gold growth of 46% from the previous season to 5.3m trays and the extra 1800ha of SunGold licences to

MUST: a 12-month supply is critical to maintaining shelf space and brand presence in export markets, Zespri chief executive Lain Jager says.

be allocated in Europe over the next five years will see European volumes quadruple over the next five years,” he said.

Revenue from SunGold licence sales in NZ now formed a notable proportion of Zespri’s corporate revenue stream.

Licence revenue accounted for 25% of that or $67.2m.

A strong market with licence prices averaging more than $200,000 a hectare has assured the corporate marketer a strong income flow, with three more years to come selling 400ha tranches of licences a year.

The licence revenue had the effect of more than doubling tax-paid profit from $35.8m to $73.7m.

McBride signalled a special general meeting scheduled for March 2018 for Zespri to seek shareholder approval to line shareholders’ share allocations more closely with production.

Jager said the industry was in good heart with strong returns and confidence underpinning strong orchard values with Zespri remaining focused on delivering value to its growers.

Kiwifruit sector helps ease way for Vanuatu workers Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com NEW Zealand kiwifruit growers have played a key part in helping improve the health services to remote Vanuatu islands that provide many of the workers for the industry over busy seasonal periods.

This year 3500 Vanuatu workers journeyed to NZ under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, covering the shortfall in the kiwifruit and pipfruit sectors, in particular.

When applying for a visa to do so workers were required to have a medical examination at Port Vila.

That meant almost two-thirds of the workers from outlying areas had to make a lengthy and expensive trip to the island capital.

However, that arduous trip was made significantly shorter when the Kiwifruit Industry Community Support Fund donated $50,000 worth of digital radiology equipment to the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to use on the island of Santo, 300km north of Port Vila.

Money also came from the Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust, recognising the importance of the Vanuatu workers to the wider horticultural industry.

Vanuatu based Recognised Seasonal Employer agent Sylvie Kalmet said the examination and x-ray cost villagers as much as NZ$600 for the air fare alone from the most remote Banks Islands group in the north.

About 100 workers came from those islands hundreds of kilometres north of Port Vila.

“And they can often expect to be away from their families and villages for as much as three months through the whole process.

“By the time you also allow for the time they actually spend working in NZ, they can be away for nine or 10 months of the year.”

Having the x-ray machine further north would have an immediate benefit for 2000 of the workers.

“The money has a significant effect upon these people in terms of their ability to save both money and time when it comes to being on the RSE scheme, to the benefit of their families and their communities,” she said.

Port Vila consulting physician Dr Griffith Harrison said the benefits to the Vanuatu community would also spread wider than just the RSE medical examinations.

“This brings a big benefit to our clinical practice here on Santo.

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“We can carry out x-rays that can now be communicated digitally to the main hospital and beyond.

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The x-ray machine meant the images could be sent in digital form to Immigration NZ for checking.

Villages were sometimes forced to take out loans to complete the trip for the RSE examination, with pressure on them to repay those loans before they had even embarked on their RSE trip.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

21

Tardy proxies cost director job Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com TARDY use of the proxy vote system by larger shareholders has cost businessman Andy Lowe his place as a director of Blue Sky Meats.

It meant the outcome of a vote at the company’s annual meeting was decided by less than 10% of the shares, chairman Scott O’Donnell said.

Some of the owners of those shares had opposed Lowe’s re-election at the meeting in Invercargill on August 21 and after an inconclusive show of hands in the initial vote, a poll was requested and Lowe lost out.

Blue Sky’s constitution required proxy votes to be received by the company at least 48 hours before any meeting but the proxies from larger shareholders were lodged on the day of the meeting so could not be counted.

Blue Sky’s remaining directors, O’Donnell and Peter Carnahan, took legal advice to confirm that decision before releasing the outcome of the vote on August 25.

O’Donnell acknowledged some shareholders had been careless in their filing of proxy votes.

“We’ve never had a decision before at an annual meeting

OOPS: It was a sad outcome and one he didn’t like, Blue Sky Meats chairman Scott O’Donnell says.

which required the proxy votes.

We’ve never had to use it but it’s in the constitution.

“It’s a sad outcome and a result I don’t like but it’s the due process.”

Lowe was the second biggest shareholder with 17.94% and O’Donnell represented number three shareholder H W Richardson Group with 15%.

Lowe couldn’t attend the meeting and later told Farmers Weekly he would rather not be a director if some shareholders didn’t want him there.

He had become a director about

four years ago only because he was unhappy with the company’s performance and a lot of the hard work had been done in setting a new strategic direction, enabling Blue Sky to adjust nimbly and quickly to changing markets.

O’Donnell was a very good and commercial chairman working for all shareholders and Blue Sky now had a really good, new chief executive in Todd Grave.

“We’ve made very good changes and as a shareholder I’m comfortable not being there with them in charge.”

He would be prepared to return at a later time but only if he was wanted by other shareholders and if he could add value.

“I’ve got no ego about getting back on and if other shareholders don’t want me, I’m not interested in being there as a sideshow.”

O’Donnell said Lowe had been a strong director and had pushed for better results after a period of disappointing returns by the company.

“He was driving us hard to do better and I don’t think the vote was against him but more a protest at the company not doing very well.”

Blue Sky reported a $1.9 million loss for the year ended March 31 but O’Donnell said its trading since then had improved sharply, helped by the changes made and a new chief executive.

“We’ve moved from slow to fastmoving.”

Lowe Corporation had a shareholding that gave it the right to some influence on the board and if Lowe wanted back on at some point that was something the company would look at.

“He’s been very gracious about it,” O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell and Carnahan expected to be able to announce two new directors ahead of the

It’s a sad outcome and a result I don’t like but it’s the due process.

Scott O’Donnell Blue Sky Meats next board meeting on November 2.

“With the size of the company we don’t need a massive board.

Four is enough.”

China-owned Binxi NZ was the biggest shareholder with a 20% stake and late last year made a takeover bid for Blue Sky at $2.20 a share supported by the board but the offer lapsed in March when Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval was not received in time and after it reviewed the company’s forecast profitability.

OIO approval had since been given. The offer had received a 96% acceptance rate.

The directors still supported an offer at $2.20 a share but there had been no further indication from Binxi NZ on its plans, O’Donnell said.

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22 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

Newsmaker

Zespri a model for China sales Investment adviser David Mahon has given New Zealanders an insight into the changing face of the Chinese economy that he believes will remain strong. The danger he says, is in New Zealand, where Chinese investment is cultivated only when firms and assets are in distress.

Richard Rennie heard what he had to say.

I

NVESTMENT adviser on China David Mahon has praised Zespri for its Lazaruslike ability to return from the dead and succeed at a high level in the booming Chinese food market.

Mahon of Mahon China was one of three key figures on the Zespri Chinese Advisory Board, formed in the wake of the marketer’s import fraud scandal in 2013 that resulted in a Zespri staff member being jailed.

“But as much as I am flattered to be involved in this evolution, this is a business that has grown from within the Zespri culture after considerable challenge,” Mahon said at a Zespri China business forum.

It seems like everyone is pregnant.

David Mahon Advisor Mahon was one of four highly experienced marketers and advisers at the event that got under the hood of some of the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand exporters to China.

With 30 years’ experience living and working in China his client list comprised a who’s-who of corporates that had good, bad and ugly encounters with the giant nation.

Since the disastrous fraud

investigations of 2013 the marketer had managed to return to the market, establishing itself as the importer of record and ramp up sales to more than $500 million or 20% of its total export revenue on double digit growth rates.

Mahon maintained some other sectors could stand to learn a lot from the unified, orchard to consumer culture Zespri had built and extended to the Chinese market.

“We have wines that gain high premiums in the United States and United Kingdom but we have yet to create an image for our wine in China. Seafood too, our crayfish are characterised as Australian lobster.”

Mahon was concerned New Zealanders view of China was coloured by foreign media, given this country’s absence of journalists in its largest trading partner.

While NZ was relatively positive in its attitude to China, the filter of foreign media tended to paint a picture of a country constantly teetering on failure.

“I have lived in Beijing for 33 years and based on media reports in that time it has only been successful once. Now you hear China will slow and what will happen if it stalls. Yet I believe it could drop to a growth rate of 5.5% and still have a strong economy.

“In most places you go there are good business debt levels and consumers are getting more and more enlightened.”

Mahon described the latest phase of the Chinese economy as a confident one as the

SPENDING: Investment adviser David Mahon says the latest phase of the Chinese economy is a confident one as it switches from investment to consumption. Photo: Jamie Troughton DScrbe Media

government worked to switch it from an investment economy to a consumption one.

“And now we have 60% of expenditure is consumption.”

Policies to encourage consumption like relaxing the one child policy also appeared to be starting to come into effect.

“It seems like everyone is pregnant.”

He cautioned the exporters and businesses present about being careful on how Chinese

investment here was cultivated.

“I am not anti-investment by any means. But at present it tends to be businesses are in too much of a distressed state when the time comes to seek Chinese investment.” He cited at its most extreme the Crafar farms portfolio, and the Fisher and Paykel buy-out

by Chinese company Haier.

“We need to become more proactive when seeking this investment, rather than leaving it until this point.”

He also encouraged NZ businesses setting up offices in China to lose their inherent preference to staff them with New Zealanders and consider recruiting more locals.

“We tend to stick to our comfort zone. We are not mavericks when it comes to going offshore and taking risks.”

Zespri’s Chinese operation now included 70% Chinese staff on its management team across the four regional offices operated there.

China makes shift to consumption economy Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com THE mammoth shift in China’s economy from being investmentdriven to consumption-led has smarter, better fed, wealthier consumers offering huge opportunities for New Zealand companies.

Asia Pulp and Paper head Sam Shih, a former chief executive of PepsiCo in China, outlined some of the most significant shifts in his home country to delegates at a Zespri-sponsored China business summit.

“The growth in consumption is really being pushed by the government.

“Total consumer expenditure last year was NZ$7 trillion and growth has been double digit, almost double what GDP growth has been,” he said.

It was predicted consumer

spending would exceed $10 trillion by 2021.

“There is a more selective consumer mindset now.

“Their priorities are on improving their quality of life, aiming to be healthier. Brand awareness is also on the highpremium, high-quality health brands.”

Key areas of consumer spending were transport, holidays, leisure and entertainment, financial services and pharmaceutical products.

But the growth had also accompanied some seismic shifts in buying behaviour as more consumers bought products online rather than in traditional bricks-and-mortar stores.

“We are seeing a lot of companies that have been successful in the past now experiencing negative growth.

“They may have invested

heavily in buying shelf space.

But now, if I am a Chinese company with a new product, I can put my product online so the competition has increased significantly.”

The ability of Chinese manufacturers to produce better quality products had also improved significantly in recent years.

The desire to consume highquality food products from a known, safe brand like Zespri put the marketer in a strong position in China.

However, former World Bank economist and agri-food expert Dr Anning Wei cautioned about the odds of a Huawei-like disruptor in the kiwifruit market that could mean all bets were off for future growth.

The Huawei communications company had proved to be a disruptor among established

players like Samsung and Apple.

It was now China’s largest private exporter accounting for US$39 billion of sales offshore, experiencing a massive 70% growth in 2015 alone.

Wei said it was quite possible, following recent changes in land acquisition rules, a similar disrupter could emerge in Zespri’s market.

“No one can own land in China. You have the right to farm it, not to sell it and often parcels are very small.

“However, that has changed and now you can buy the rights to run more land without having to buy others out of it and you can aggregate your holding quicker, meaning you can get bigger quicker.”

China already had 100,000ha of kiwifruit compared to NZ’s 14,000ha and the country was expected to be capable of

MONEY: China now has smarter, better fed wealthier consumers offering opportunities for Kiwi companies to sell goods to them.

Photo: Jamie Troughton DScribe Media exporting fruit within the next five years.

“Zespri is good but you need to be aware of these sorts of challenges emerging,” “Wei said.

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

23

Fuel pays for iwi carbon forest An alliance between iwi and a petroleum company is providing a blueprint for using tracts of East Coast Maori land, reducing erosion and soaking up New Zealand’s ever-growing carbon emissions. Richard Rennie found a partnership that might pave the way for smarter land use in the country’s back blocks.

Buying carbon credits was now simply part of the cost of doing business for the fuel sector, which was heading towards 100% carbon neutrality.

“We started at 50% and have ramped up from there. At the present the cost of carbon per litre of fuel is 2.5-3.5c/litre and come January 1 another 0.5c/litre will take the sector to 83% carbon neutral.”

But to achieve that the sector required companies to buy carbon credits and Gull was making a concerted effort to try to source those credits as locally as possible.

Recent changes to ETS regulations also meant the muchdisputed overseas carbon credits of dubious value from countries like the Ukraine would no longer

FILL UP: Money from Gull’s fuel sales is going to help the environment.

be able to be used to offset emissions.

“We need the credits the same way you need toner in your printer cartridge, if you don’t have it you can’t operate, so why not commit to the local market?” Bodger said.

The Nuhiti Q block was in a district hit hard by Cyclone Bola in 1988 with the erosion-prone country still struggling to recover.

The property entered the ETS in 2012, now having 70ha planted in native forest. Income earned from the sale of the carbon credits had been re-invested in the property for fencing improvements across 500ha and protection of 8km of erosion-prone coast owned by iwi.

The property project was the focus of a three-year study looking at the potential of native forest regeneration for carbon farming.

It examined the impact of manuka honey income and the likely increase in carbon prices as the ETS adapted to Paris Accord commitments and the need to source carbon credits of a genuine nature.

“When our carbon broker came to us with the Nuhiti opportunity we thought it was great. They wanted surety from a buyer and we could give them that,” Bodger said.

He suspected the other fuel companies would also start to seek out such deals and their

demand would be significantly greater than Gull’s.

He welcomed the decision by the Government to get rid of foreign carbon credits, bringing the focus more firmly onto domestic opportunities that would benefit local economies like the East Coast.

When our carbon broker came to us with the Nuhiti opportunity we thought it was great.

They wanted surety from a buyer and we could give them that.

Dave Bodger Gull Motu Economic and Public Policy Research was leading the study.

Agriculture and resource economist David Fleming said he hoped to better understand how landowners and carbon credit buyers could best partner up.

He and his colleagues were also looking at how a company like Air New Zealand, as a large

carbon emitter, could enjoy a win-win arrangement with iwi landowners.

“They need to buy the units anyway and there is a large area of Maori land out there. The idea is to link both up. There is a very good story there for them to tell if they do.”

NIWA research supported the potential for tracts of similar land to play a valuable, dual role in restoring local ecosystems and soaking up carbon emissions.

Work by scientists had determined forest and other land areas might be absorbing up to 60% more carbon dioxide than had been previously calculated, with much of it occurring in native forests.

NIWA scientist Kay Steinkamp said indications were there was a large carbon “sink” somewhere in the South Island, with the areas most responsible for it dominated by indigenous forests.

The discovery surprised scientists who generally associated large carbon uptakes with younger, growth-phase forests.

The inclusion of a North Island carbon dioxide observing site and modelling improvements aimed to help paint a clear picture for scientists of the ability of North Island forests to also absorb carbon.

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N WHAT might at first appear an unlikely alliance, fuel firm Gull is well down the track in its joint venture with Tokomaru Bay cattle farm Nuhiti Q in buying carbon credits generated through native re-plantings on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) registered property.

Meantime, the East Coast native regeneration project was also helping preserve valued tribal land that might otherwise erode into the sea.

Gull chief executive Dave Bodger said the deal was about to enter into its second year with Gull buying 12,000 units of Nuhiti’s carbon credits valued at about $220,000 or $18 a unit on today’s carbon market

Opinion

24 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

EDITORIAL

Rural measures are life and death issues

C

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Beware of the gloomy forecasts AS A sheep and beef farmer I was disappointed by your front page headline, Beef prices fall, in the August 21 edition.

Sensationalist headlining by the media is something we are all too familiar with.

I can recall another doom and gloom headline by this paper including the El Nino drought warning a couple of years ago.

Farmers were told they would experience drought conditions similar to what was experienced in the 1997-98 El Nino drought.

In reality, the drought predicted two years ago never eventuated.

Also, last year’s big talk down of the dismal lamb price predictions springs to mind.

Reality being that farmers who were lucky enough to keep their lambs into the autumn actually received near record prices.

Your so-called AgriHQ market analyst Mel Croad seems to have the uncanny ability to predict in advance what the United States beef market will do over the next five to six months.

She is predicting it to fall as low as $US1.96/lb in December. Could she please publish the rugby championship scores in your next edition so farmers can go straight to the TAB and make a fortune.

After studying the US beef market myself over 25 years I’ve come to the following conclusion: The only predictable thing about the US beef market is that it will always

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All equal?

I READ with interest the thought of how our rivers ought to be so clean and pure that a person is able to swim or should the word bathe be more appropriate in the liquid.

I fail to see the difference between a person or a dog swimming in the stream, which, for some strange quirk, has no detrimental effect on the quality of the water as against other creatures such as cows or sheep.

No doubt the human species would have had a thorough wash before entering the pristine liquid.

What is the real reason for cleaning up the rivers?

Is it so that a sweaty, wandering individual walking the hills may indulge in a watery retreat knowing that a terrible pathogen is not about to invade their body?

The cows, sheep and any other animal have just as much right to the water as anyone else.

All animals are equal but the pigs are more equal than the others.

Philip Brown Rakaia

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ONFIRMATION from the Government that a School of Rural Health will be set up and that rural broadband connectivity will be boosted is fantastic news for country families. Access to good quality healthcare is vital to all New Zealanders but rural regions pose a specific set of obstacles to people seeking care.

Distance is one – just physically getting to doctors can be hard for many people living in isolated areas. Attracting talent is another and that’s where this initiative presents hope. The life of a rural general practitioner is a tough one. They are often the only lifeline, apart from the rural fire service, for people with a medical emergency.

The range of tasks they need to perform at any given time is diverse. It’s not for everyone and that’s why recruitment to the regions has been hard and where this initiative comes in. Having a production line of rurally-focused health practitioners who are being trained specifically to service our communities will go a long way to improving health outcomes.

And improvement is sorely needed.

Statistics released last week on suicide showed far too many rural people are taking their lives. Farming families face unique pressures – their businesses are also their homes and those businesses can be subject to a range of headwinds that can seem impossible to negotiate. Drought, price fluctuations, employment issues and general isolation can all affect someone’s mental health.

It will take a full community effort to identify and deal with this issue but having more primary carers who are trained to understand rural people and their problems can only help.

Staying connected is also vital for wellbeing and this is why giving rural communities the sort of internet access those in the cities have is even more important. As I’ve said in the past, when your neighbour or mate is not metres away but kilometres, online connections are vital. It’s about more than just keeping businesses running, though that’s important.

It’s about keeping people alive.

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

25

Farm leaders give hope for water Marnie Prickett

L

AST week’s pledge from farming leaders to make all New Zealand’s rivers swimmable is a hopeful turning point and welcome acknowledgement of the role and responsibility our primary industries have in the protection of freshwater and restoration of waterways.

Credit and support must be given to new Federated Farmers president Katie Milne for fronting this stand, as New Zealanders’ long and loud calls for a swimmable bottom line for waterways in our freshwater policy have not always been met with enthusiasm by her colleagues.

It is hopeful because it seems recreation, tourism, environment, public health and farming groups might finally be getting on the same page.

Our country’s freshwater problems are so serious at this point that we need all sectors involved if anything is to be achieved.

However, the public should be forgiven if they feel suspicious or cynical about the announcement given that the pledge has no meat on the bones, no plan of action and no timeframe.

And, there is still sugar-coating of the state of NZ’s waterways coming from the farming leaders group, which isn’t helpful and doesn’t reflect the reality of the widespread contamination of freshwater that our communities face.

For this to be the true turning point our country needs, our leaders must present an accurate and realistic view of NZ’s freshwater crisis.

Last week Milne said “A lot of our rivers are still good.”

The latest technical report from NIWA showed that only 30% of NZ’s rivers pass the Ministry of Health’s swimming standards.

That’s not a lot by anyone’s measure.

It’s important to refer to the ministry’s standards because earlier this year the Government

The

Pulpit

made swimming standards worse, allowing more faecal contamination of swimming holes without analysis of the implications on public health.

With the lower standards, the Government then gave our rivers a 72% pass rate.

People’s safety, our international reputation and the health of our rivers are too important to just make up numbers that look good.

Let’s be real for the sake of NZ’s kids who, according to the ministry’s guidelines, are likely to be more vulnerable to waterborne disease than adults.

People’s safety, our international reputation and the health of our rivers are too important to just make up numbers that look good.

Along similar lines, Milne said in the same interview that, based on information supplied by Irrigation NZ, she did not believe irrigation had a significant effect on water quality.

Let’s look instead at the information provided by the Canterbury District Health Board

LET’S TALK: Choose Clean Water spokeswoman Marnie Prickett, an agricultural sciences student at Massey University, wants the Farmers’ Leaders Group to sit down with the Freshwater Coalition.

in its 2014 report Public Health Implications of Land Use Change and Agricultural Intensification with respect to the Canterbury Plains.

It wrote “Irrigation is a direct precursor to more intensive agricultural systems and there is a direct link between irrigation and increased adverse effects on water bodies.”

Report author Dr Jackson Green said “The health impact assessment of the Central Plains Water Scheme found that the potential risks to the health of Cantabrians outweighed the probable financial benefits to a few people.”

When we are talking about swimmable rivers, a measure of human health risk, let us ask if it is more sensible to talk to Irrigation NZ on the consequences of irrigation on public health or to the health board?

2096FW

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Earlier this year a coalition of recreation, business, tourism, public health and environmental groups including Choose Clean Water developed the Freshwater Rescue Plan.

It put forward seven steps the next Government should take immediately to address our country’s freshwater problems.

The first step is real human and ecosystem health bottom lines for contaminants like faeces, nitrates and sediment that can make rivers unswimmable for people as well as fish.

It makes sense and is a straightforward start that has been beyond the present Government.

The second and third steps are to redirect the half a billion dollars of public money allocated to large-scale irrigation schemes to a new Agriculture Transition Fund to support primary industries in their move towards

environmentally-sound systems and practices.

As we know in our urban areas, there’s nothing more difficult to fix than bad infrastructure.

Putting in place these largescale irrigation schemes would set us back in our hopes of achieving truly swimmable rivers across the country.

The full plan can be found at www.freshwaterrescueplan.org.nz.

It’s not too late for the Farmers’ Leaders Group to sit down with the Freshwater Coalition to discuss the rescue plan, Katie, I’ve emailed you. Let’s have a sit-down.

Your View Got a view on some aspect of farming you would like to get across?

The Pulpit offers readers the chance to have their say. nzfarmersweekly@nzx.com Phone 06 323 1519

Opinion

26 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

Politics is a holiday amusement Alternative View

Alan Emerson

WE’VE just spent three weeks in the land of Fosters, roos and flies and what an entertaining three weeks they’ve been.

We spent some time in Cooktown, which is quite outback and the fishing is amazing.

It was then on to Port Douglas to walk, drink, eat and read.

The political debates in Australia were fascinating and had the almost impossible effect of making our politicians look good.

On the serious side there was the American-North Korean contretemps where the political debate was over whether the Australian government should make an arbitrary decision to send troops to support America or if it should be a decision for parliament.

Aussie Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s position was that as Australia was part of ANZUS it was committed to supporting the US in any conflict. The good news is that we removed ourselves from ANZUS in 1985.

With the loose cannon that is now the US, I’m pleased we did.

I thoroughly enjoyed Steve WynHarris’ From the Ridge talking about the constitutional crisis in Australia, which led me to believe

that if North Korea wanted to destroy Australia it didn’t have to use nukes.

All they’d need to do is change the law to make all Australians North Korean citizens.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce being a Kiwi grabbed major headlines in Australia and my belief is that he’ll have to resign, which is a recipe for chaos, especially when there are others in the same boat.

As you can imagine, the newspapers are having a field day.

The front page of Queensland’s Courier Mail had the headline, Ewe Have Got To Be Joking. That was followed by Deputy PM’s Kiwi ancestry means it could be haka-la-vista for Baa-naby. The more conservative Australian had the headline, PM under long white cloud.

I wore my AB’s gear with pride and provocation.

It is an absolute shambles culminating in the extraordinary outburst by Julie Bishop about the New Zealand Labour Party conspiring against her government.

The Aussie media, reassuringly, got totally stuck into the government for its grasping of power at all costs and really lampooned Bishop.

Greg Sheridan wrote in The Australian, “Turnbull needs a

CHAOS: The Australian Parliament is an absolute shambles that makes our politicians look good.

distraction but Kiwi conspiracy is Pythonesque”.

My favourite cartoon was in the Courier Mail. It had Bishop, pointer in hand addressing a map of NZ. The commentary, “For the purpose of this diversion imagine this is North Korea”. I loved it.

On the positive side, the Australian tax office decided to hit tax-dodging international corporates hard. That was in contrast to the NZ approach of not much.

The internationals included Google, Facebook and Microsoft.

The result was an increased tax take of A$4 billion.

Interestingly, the corporates continued operating as normal.

It’s a lesson for NZ in how it should be done as those same corporates are bludging off Kiwi taxpayers.

Even the most conservative Kiwi could be forgiven for feeling they were a raging radical by listening to the Australian debate on same sex marriage.

For a start, largely courtesy of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the Australian parliament

couldn’t make a decision on its own so in a cowardly kick for touch it is going to survey the people to see what they think.

The Australian parliament’s failure to make a decision will cost the taxpayer more than A$120 million for the poll.

The debate wouldn’t encourage a yawn in NZ, being the liberal country that we are. We’ve had civil unions and same sex marriage for some time. In Australia the debate has ignited graphic images of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The language is interesting and out of the ark.

Turnbull told me he “was supporting those on the other side”. On the other side of what?

Abbott told me “I’ll be voting no – which is the decent thing to do”. He added “The institution (marriage) at the heart of our society shouldn’t be redefined to suit a politically correct minority.”

His general comments on the subject were patronising, arrogant and out of touch.

Predictably the Catholic Church was leading the charge opposing

same sex marriage. I wouldn’t have thought the Catholic Church had any moral high ground in Australia.

The vote is being challenged in court so what will end up happening heaven only knows.

Like the state of the Australian parliament, it is a total and utter shambles.

Another institution in an utter shambles is the Australian Rugby Union and long may it continue.

It was great being a Kiwi in Oz seeing the home team hammered in the first test and on the plane when they nearly won in the second. I wore my AB’s gear with pride and provocation.

We had a great holiday in Australia but it was good to return home even to the circus of a parliamentary election.

Reassuringly, as our political processes and politicians are much better than theirs.

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

The Sunday roast is a ritual of the past Town Talk

Amy Williams

YOU could be forgiven for thinking millennials are to blame for the demise of the Sunday roast and that smashed avocado on toast has replaced a great family tradition.

After all, at almost $5 each, a kilogram of avocados will set you back about the same amount as a leg of lamb. It’s the modern-day equivalent.

The time-honoured tradition of eating a weekly roast meal was alive in New Zealand until at least the 1980s when a cut of fatty lamb was cooked well-done till browned and blackened, accompanied by vegetables cooked in the meaty juices.

But then fat became the enemy and now we’re more aware of our health, our wallets and the environment and, if you’re like me, eating a leg of lamb each week is extravagant for all those reasons.

We’re not alone. A recent study found only one in five Brits regularly sits down to a roast each weekend, citing reasons such as not having time to cook such a meal.

So is the #FoodTrend generation in any way responsible for the demise of the Sunday roast?

Who better to ask than Beef + Lamb NZ’s chief executive Rod Slater, a former butcher who cut his teeth in the trade when poultry was scarce and chicken was served at Christmas.

He agrees social media has played a role in swaying consumers away from red meat – we’ve all read the health and lifestyle messages that lean towards eating plants and fewer animals.

For many the cost of meat is a factor. Most of NZ’s premium lamb is exported, which drives up the price we pay at the supermarket.

But there’s a wider story behind the end of the weekly roast.

“The issue really is the change in lifestyles and other proteins that have come on board over the years, even chicken, which has gone from being a luxury item to an everyday item,” Slater said.

Plus, the repertoire of food we can eat in any given week has

ROAST REVIVAL: Chef Samuel Wilkes and Prime Minister Bill English launched Te Mana lamb in Hong Kong.

expanded dramatically thanks to the many cultures represented in NZ, free trade and celebrity chefs.

Which brings us to the question of what the next #FoodTrend will be if the Sunday roast is gone and avocados continue to be priced like hot potatoes.

If most of us are following our doctor’s orders and eating red meat less frequently, perhaps we’ll buy the best we can afford and seek out quality.

The answer could lie in the creation of ultimate free-range meats – such as a lamb that is being hailed as the world’s best tasting lamb – the Wagyu of lamb, if you like.

We’re talking about Te Mana lamb – a new brand created by a group of farmers in the South Island’s hill country.

This brand has high polyunsaturated fats (the good kind that we need to eat) and

omega-3 fatty acids (again, tick).

This lamb is being sold into restaurants here and in Hong Kong.

The story of Te Mana lamb is one of accidental discovery. While breeding sheep to be healthier and better adapted to high country environments, its backers discovered sheep with a different type of fat, an intramuscular fat, higher in omega-3.

Te Mana lamb has emerged from a decade-long breeding programme and is part of the Omega Lamb Project – a partnership between leading food company Alliance, a group of progressive farmers and the Government.

This super-eating style of meat has created a stir in Auckland’s foodie scene, with some of the city’s top chefs adding it to their menus and talking to customers about where it comes from.

As for carving out a future for NZ meat, Slater said producers need to establish niche markets and deliver luxury products.

“The product has to taste good and the nicer it tastes the more of a treat it becomes. We’re not just eating to survive any longer, we’re eating for enjoyment and for social interaction.”

I’ll eat to that #FoodTrend.

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

27

Meads gave time freely From the Lip

Jamie Mackay

RECENTLY I was afforded the ultimate honour of officiating at the funeral of Sir Colin Meads. So I thought I’d share some of the lighter moments of my eulogy.

I’ve known Colin since 1967. But he’s only known me since 1997.

That’s 30 years of unrequited love.

I’m like most of you. We all feel we’ve known him all our lives.

And as a nation we’ve all felt we’ve owned a bit of him as well.

Lady Verna, Karen, Kelly, Rhonda, Glynn, Shelley, Stan, Joan and the entire Meads clan have been so generous in sharing their husband, father, brother and grandfather with the rest of us.

Those of us baby boomers of a certain generation grew up on a diet of the legend of Pinetree Meads. The word diet always reminds me of the tall tale about the touch judge who asked the referee in a Ranfurly Shield match to stop the game and count

the opposition players because “Meads might have eaten one”.

I’ve since found the quip belongs to Colin’s 1970 All Blacks team mate Neil Thimbleby, the result of Meads emerging with blood around his mouth following a melee in a Shield challenge against Hawke’s Bay in 1969.

Or the quote from author Tom O’Reilly who reckoned Colin Meads was the kind of player you expect to see emerging from a ruck with the remains of jockstrap between his teeth. Such was his mythical reputation.

As a seven-year-old in 1967 I can vividly remember listening to my first test match on an old valve radio. The All Blacks played Australia at Athletic Park as a part of the 75th Jubilee celebrations.

They thrashed the Wallabies 29-9.

No mean feat in the days of threepoint tries. Coincidentally, it was the same score as the first Rugby World Cup final 20 years later in 1987.

In 1967 Colin had already been in the All Blacks for a decade. That day the great King Country farmer locked the scrum, with a young Manawatu farmer, making his All Blacks debut. Almost 50 years to the day Sam Strahan has come back to farewell his boyhood hero and old rugby mate. It’s great to see so many old heroes and team

mates from Pinetree’s 1967 side here today.

So why does our nation love Colin so much? I think partly because he harks back to simpler, less complicated times. In the 1960s when Colin was the cornerstone of the All Blacks pack, Kiwi Keith Holyoake, another farmer, presided over a land of milk and honey. Technology consisted of No. 8 wire. Social media was sharing the newspaper with your mate.

We were a half gallon, quarter acre, pavlova paradise – according to British author and politician Austin Mitchell. The All Black forward pack was made up of farmers with simple names – Colin, Stan and Brian. There were no Brodies or Codies or Julians.

Not that there’s anything wrong with Brodie. He’s the second greatest lock we’ve produced.

Colin’s shearing shed was his gym and fence posts were his weights. Repetition training was what he and Stan did on the end of a scrub cutter in the summer.

Their treadmill was the steep farm tracks. Match day hydration meant half an orange at halftime.

There were no ice baths after the game, just cold beers.

So how do you describe Sir Colin Earl Meads? He was old school.

To use sheep breeding terminology, Colin was like a bit of a cross between Ed Hillary and Barry Crump. Fearlessly and heroically scaling every rugby peak like Hillary with the earthy rural charm and wit of Crump topped off by that tiny pinch of political incorrectness we all loved him for.

These attributes, mixed with a pint or two of Tui and a healthy dose of hybrid vigour have produced the quintessential good Kiwi bloke, a bloke who just happened to be the best rugby player of the 20th century. Many of us would say of all time.

Pinetree definitely mellowed with age but rugby was always his currency, his calling card to do good. Some even argue he achieved more off the paddock than on it with his tireless efforts for charity, especially his beloved IHC where he’s credited with raising a sum in excess of seven figures. Then there’s his work for the NZ Rugby Foundation, his community and NZ rugby over 60 years.

I shudder to think of the number of rugby clubs he would have graced with his presence over the years, often speaking, donating jerseys and raising funds, asking only for a bit of petrol money and free beer in

RIP: Farewell Pinetree.

return. Mind you, some of those clubs probably found out it would have been cheaper to pay him.

He had a tremendous capacity to sup on a pint and a cast iron constitution to boot.

The greatest gift you can give to anyone is your time. Colin Meads gave lots of that and, most importantly, he gave it freely to people from all walks of life.

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

Hot end coming for a very cool project Steve Wyn-Harris

SO MANY topics to consider for a column. Perhaps something of great importance like the standoff of two crazy guys both armed with nuclear weapons, one of whom could make one silly decision and irrevocably change the world for ever but not for the better.

Or how about the latest instalment in our own election?

Winston Peters, the politician so adept at receiving leaks then demanding accountability and transparency hoist by his own petard.

He might have been claiming more from the taxpayer than he was entitled to, joining a long list of dodgy, dastardly, dirty, double-dipping politicians but immediately able to play the wronged to full effect as he hunts out the leaker.

Could it be someone in the National Party using the powers of government to retain power or a civil servant upset by the double standard of Turei falling on her sword over her own benefit fraud and Peters remaining unscathed?

Or some other diabolical leaker.

Who knows? Who cares?

No, this week we want, indeed need something uplifting,

something to remind ourselves that our species can be damn clever, something to lift our sights above the humdrum of daily reality and politics.

Let us look skywards to the stars or, at least, to the planets – one in particular, Saturn.

The Cassini space probe will finally finish its epic mission on September 15 when it slams into the planet it has faithfully pictured, probed and examined from every angle for 13 years.

This magnificent feat of human accomplishment showed we humans can indeed co-operate as NASA and the European Space Agency with some help from the Italian Space Agency all contributed. They began talking about the concept way back in the early 1980s.

Cassini was launched in October 1997 and just to get to Saturn used gravity-assisted slingshot flybys to increase speed, finally arriving in the Saturn system on July 1 2004.

Just consider the maths and physics required to get it from here into the orbit of Saturn then fly closely past without hitting various moons and the rings over its 20year life span. The planet itself is 1.4 billion kilometres from the Sun or 9.5 times further from the Sun than us.

Saturn has a radius nine times bigger than Earth and being a gas giant is only one-eighth of the density but still 95 times more massive.

Before Cassini arrived there were 58 known moons but the spacecraft discovered another

Antares, the red heart of the universe other than Earth and that four.

Scorpion, you will see bright the universe is likely teeming with And of course, there are the Saturn with its yellowish hue. other life forms. rings. They extend 6000km from The Scorpion’s tail of the ancient Which is why Cassini is being the planet out to 120,000km but flown to its destruction into Saturn Greeks was known as the fish hook are only 20 metres thick. They of Maui by the Maori. as its power supply dwindles are made up of 93% ice and the The Roman god Saturnus, by the rather than being left to orbit balance is carbon. They reflect the way, was the god of agriculture. the system for eternity. There is Sun’s light back to us and can be Then show them the wonderful an outside chance that Earthly seen in a small telescope. images taken by Cassini of Saturn, microbes still cling to the craft and In 1610 Galileo mistook them its rings and planets, so accessible should it eventually smash into for moons in his rudimentary on the internet.

Enceladus or another moon with telescope so it was left to Huygens Very, very cool. native life forms, our microbes with a better telescope to see could contaminate them much as the rings and discover Titan, the Europeans did as they explored the largest moon consisting of 90% Your View world and met other peoples. of all the mass that orbits Saturn, Take the kids out this month to including the rings.

Steve Wyn-Harris is a Central see the star of the show. Looking Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer.

Cassini dropped its probe swyn@xtra.co.nz Huygens in 2005 and in a marvel of directly up mid evening near precision and physics it then landed on Titan, making it the greatest distance from Earth a spacecraft has settled.

Cassini has created a wealth of information on the Saturnian system and it is difficult to pick highlights.

One would have to be the findings about the moon Enceladus. Covered in fresh clean ice, it is one of the most reflective bodies in our solar system.

Cassini has had several I have been purchasing Gleniti Romney Rams for many years. close flybys and discovered For me, they have consistently provided the following qualities to the flock: active geysers emitting • Constitution • Fertility • Mothering ability • Growth weights and wool weights water, salts, nitrogen and Gleniti Romneys are suited to our eastern Taranaki hill country. Their good temperament organic molecules coming and mobility ensures ease of farming. A testament to the breed. from an active hydrothermal Loyd Bishop, Makahu, Taranaki interior, exactly the sort of environment where we see microbes living here on earth.

Enceladus is an excellent candidate to prove there is life somewhere else in the

“

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

LK0088910©

From the Ridge

”

Real Estate

28 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

Spring farm sales upturn expected Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com

W

INTER calving and lambing preparations and rainfall impacts have slowed the rural real estate market but prices have remained firm.

With an increased milk payout and higher beef prices “a quiet air of confidence or perhaps relief is quietly growing with the rural sector”, Real Estate Institute rural spokesman Brian Peacocke said.

Sales for the three months to the end of July were down by 76 to 392 compared to the end of June when there were 459 sales. In the July period last year there were 468 sales.

Offsetting the activity level, overall prices were higher with the institute’s All Farms Index rising 5.56% to July 2017 compared to the June three-month period and was up 9% on the July period last year. The All Farms Index was

DAMPENER: Wet weather helped slow farm sales in autumn and winter.

regarded as the most accurate measure of pricing because it adjusted for differences in farm size, location and farming type.

The median price per hectare, which did not make that adjustment, was $27,158 for the July three months, up from $26,492ha a year earlier. That was

a 2.5% gain and the June to July improvement this year was 4.5%.

PGG Wrightson Real Estate general manager Peter Newbold backed up Peacocke’s comments, saying winter sales activity had been slow and would be through August.

However, he was confident of a

spring upturn with values holding firm and volumes increasing through October and November.

Canterbury had the biggest increase in sales in the July period, though off a low base, and West Coast was next.

Canterbury had a reasonable level of finishing farm sales at good,

solid prices, Peacocke said.

The Northland and Auckland areas also had steady activity, including several strong sales in the Pukekohe and Karaka area.

Finishing farms had 39% of all sales over the July period, the most of any sector, with the median price being $30,882ha, up from $27,613ha for June and $26,249ha for July last year, leading to a 17.7% year-on-year gain.

Peacocke described the Canterbury arable market as “simmering” with one very good sale of a Methven farm at just over $57,000ha.

For dairy farms, the median sale price for the three months ended July 31 was $36,332ha, up from $34,789ha for the June period and $35,614ha for July last year. The median price was up 2% year-onyear.

The institute’s Dairy Farm Index, which also adjusts for differences in farm size and location, rose 4.3% over the latest three-month period but was down 0.9% yearon-year.

Arable farm goes for record price THE sale of a 144-hectare farm near the Mid Canterbury town of Methven has set a new level for arable land values in the province.

Three Springs farm, owned by the same family for almost 90 years, sold under the hammer at auction for $8.25 million plus GST – equating to $57,112 a hectare.

The property had been extensively marketed by Pete Hayward of Bayleys Canterbury.

The auction attracted several bidders as well as about 70 neighbouring farmers and professionals involved in rural support businesses in the region.

In recent seasons the irrigated farm grew a mix of grasses, wheat and barley.

It had also previously grown potatoes, supplemented by sheep and beef grazing.

The property, with a spacious

four-bedroom home with triple garage, also had an array of buildings and grain silos along with a three-stand woolshed and cattle yards.

The benchmark-setting sale followed the sale of a similar arable and lamb finishing farm at Ashburton where the 148-hectare property known as Moorepark, marketed by Jon McAuliffe from Bayleys Canterbury, sold under the auctioneer’s hammer for $7.9m pus GST – equating to $53,328 a hectare.

Moorepark, which had been yielding above-average crops over the past five years because of its extensive irrigation, also drew a strong gallery of interested locals.

Bayleys Canterbury director Ben Turner said the two recent sales reflected the confidence being shown in investing in good, tier-one farms with great location,

New sheep parentage testing now available

The appetite for tier-one, quality rural productive properties throughout Canterbury remains high.

Ben Turner Bayleys good soils and reliable irrigation.

The versatility of the properties was recognised by those parties who showed strong interest in buying.

The sales rounded off a successful autumn selling period, in which Bayleys sold 38 Canterbury farms for a combined transaction value of $214m.

The units included dairy farms, intensive arable units, dairy

$19 (excl. GST)

TOP DOLLAR: The record-breaking Three Springs farm near Methven sold for $57,112 a hectare.

support blocks and hill and high country properties.

“The appetite for tier-one, quality rural productive properties throughout Canterbury remains

high with a pool of some $150m in purchaser funding still on our books looking for opportunities as a result of missing out on the land which has transacted,” he said.

GenomNZ - New Zealands foremost animal DNA testing laboratory - will this spring be offering to the sheep industry a SNP based parentage assay. This includes the NZ SNP parentage markers, as well as gene marker tests.

For $NZ19 per sample (excl. GST), you will receive Parentage assignment Reporting of single gene tests Client ownership of the SNP genotypes and DNA samples New Zealand based storage of DNA in a 96 well plate format and database storage of genotypes GenomNZ offers a turnaround within four weeks of receipt of ear tissue punch and animal information. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can meet your genotyping needs.

For more information contact us at genomnz@agresearch.co.nz or 0800 DNA LAB (362 522)

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

30

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

THE BILLION DOLLAR MAN. At the recent Bayleys Real Estate Annual Awards at the Spark Arena in Auckland, Mike was welcomed into the elite Billion Dollar Club, with just five members of which Mike is the only one outside of the Auckland region.

In the 17 years with Bayleys Mike has settled in excess of one billion dollars of real estate transactions. This remarkable achievement equates to $60 million of sales each year which is testament to Mike’s hard work and determination to maximise the value of his client’s assets.

Mike’s commitment and passion for the industry is as strong as ever and he firmly believes Bayleys is the brand of choice in rural real estate.

Mike considers it a privilege and a pleasure to work for such a market leading family owned company.

1

#

REAL RURAL BRAND E ESTAT

Mike Fraser-Jones

027 475 9680 / mike.fraserjones@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Quality in Every Respect For Sale

Dairy farms of this quality and scale rarely frequent the nationwide property market.

Ingleton Farms is a unique offering, highlighted by superior infrastructure and proven results, set to impress on every level.

• 704-hectare total property size, including a 155-hectare runoff • 584-hectares of irrigated, fertile and predominately free-draining soils • 705,000 kgMS production from 1580 peak cows • 70 bail rotary built in 2008

Ingleton Farms, 260 Makaroro Road Tikokino, Central Hawke’s Bay For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty closing Wed 11 Oct 2017 at 2pm (will not be sold prior) plus GST (if any)

James Parsons

• Top quality irrigation system unrivalled in Hawke’s Bay

M 027 490 0099 james.parsons@colliers.com

• Eight well-maintained dwellings

Hadley Brown

This highly prized offering of scale, scope and productive performance encourages your early inspection and due diligence.

M 027 442 3539 hadley.brown@colliers.com colliers.co.nz/74787 CRHB Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

31

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Award winning dairy

NEW LISTING WEB ID PR57116

EKETAHUNA 54 Morgans Road This dairy business consists of a 117ha dairy farm, well supported by 26ha nearby. Both properties are under 10km south of Eketahuna & 25km north of Masterton in an area regarded as summer-safe. Currently utilising 100ha as platform milking 240 cows for a 3yr average of 90,000 kgMS, this property is exceptionally well presented and is worthy of its 2011 Horizons Balance 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. Support property PR57117 also available.

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

DEADLINE SALE 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

4 2 2

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

RURAL Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed REAA 2008

A growing business

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

WEB ID TPR55298 UPPER ATIAMURI 6261 State Highway 1 572 hectares, Dairy - Maize - Lucerne - Forest - Beef Fully automated 74 bail milking shed, extensive calf rearing facilities, 1100 cows.

For Sale as a going concern, walk in - walk out, possession date by agreement.

Price $$ Negotiable ©2087RE

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

BY NEGOTIATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhBlmGanTBw

Paul O'Sullivan

Mobile 027 496 4417 paulo@pb.co.nz

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

32

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

OPARAU - 599 Okupata Road 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 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 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

Situated south of Whanganui is this 175ha opportunity 20 aside herringbone dairy and 300 cow yard with adjacent feed pad The herd is split calved and supplies milk to Open Country Bore that supplies water to stock troughs, dairy and houses Large machinery shed, large silage bunker Three bedroom family home and second staff home Call Les or Tim to inspect, asking 3.1 mil

Sallan Realty

• • • • • • •

Self contained 118 ha dairy farm in the Manawatu Milking 2.2 cows/ha, herd wintered on, and maize silage grown Well laid out with a great mix of soils Modern 40 bail rotary, lovely family home, staff accommodation Produced up to 960 kgs ms/ha and 440/cow Own this top shelf dairy farm now for 1st June 2018 Call Les to inspect

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

WELL BALANCED DAIRY FARM

• • • • • • •

Very nice 260 acre dairy farm on the town boundary of Eketahuna Well laid out with flat to rolling contour and growing well Good 24 aside dairy with 250 cow yard and adjacent feed pad Three bedroom family home, open plan living, i/a garage Has produced up to 88,500 kgs milk solids.

Your chance to own this farm now with a first of June 2018 takeover Call Les or Tim to inspect

LES CAIN 0274 420 582

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

It’s back!

Spring 2017 Property Pull-Out We’ve got you covered

The Spring Property Pull-Out feature will be running through all issues of Farmers Weekly in October. Book a campaign of three or more advertisements in October and get a complimentary editorial on your property in one of our pull-out specials.

We’re very proud that Farmers Weekly remains committed to the Real Estate industry, and that we have been the most read rural publication for more than a decade.

Talk to your agent now and make sure you are in the paper that more farmers read.

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

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

2107RE

• • • • • • •

WANT MORE PRODUCTION?

LK0088803©

OPPORTUNITY TO GROW

LK0089144©

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

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

|

LIFESTYLE

|

RESIDENTIAL

Leaders.

List now with New Zealand’s leading rural property magazine:

Property Express Over generations, we have earned our reputation as New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company.

Tried and trusted for over 160 years, our local knowledge and expertise will get you the results you need.

Don’t miss out. Contact your local PGG Wrightson Real Estate expert today at pggwre.co.nz/property-express.

OPEN DAY

Golden Garden Waterside Orchard 37 Sedgemoor Lane 3.850 ha with 1.09 can ha of SunGold G3 kiwifruit and 73 avocados, an income to keep you very comfortable. Two, separate, superb homes. The top one has stunning harbour views. A boutique lodge, B&B or extra rental income? Great sheds and three phase power. Around 60 well managed mature fruit trees some amazing and rare varieties. Various nuts, berries and vines delicious year round fare. Bush walks and secret garden hideaways. The end of a no exit quiet country lane on the edge of Katikati town. pggwre.co.nz/TAR26174

FINAL NOTICE

Katikati TENDER (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 27 September OPEN DAY 12.00-1.00pm, Sunday, 10 Sept

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

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

A Proven Producer • 139.0113 hectares, 343 acres (more or less) • Purchased in 2010, this property has been reverting rapidly since then for the sole purpose of Manuka production • This property is located at the end of the road with the main neighbouring property being a state forest and is well tracked to collection sites • Good water with the Waitara river close by • Please bring your own motor bike to view - helmets compulsory pggwre.co.nz/TEK26432

Taumarunui TENDER (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 11.00am, Friday 22 Sept, PGGWRE, Rora St, Te Kuiti OPEN DAY 11.00-12.00pm, Friday, 8 September

Peter Wylie B 07 878 0265 M 027 473 5855 pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz

Celebrating Excellence in 2016-17

Top Rural Salespeople Awards

Total Overall Unit Sales

1st Unit Sales 1st Total Revenue

Sandra Macnamara | Te Anau Office

Stan Robb | Tauranga Office

Rookie of the Year Greg Lyons | Blenheim Office

2nd Total Revenue

Excellence in VPA

3rd Total Revenue

Andrew Fowler | Tauranga Office

Andrew Patterson | Invercargill Office

4th

Scott Tapp | Wellsford Office

Excellence in Auctions

5th

Andrew Fowler | Tauranga Office

Scott Borland | Cambridge Office

6th

Peter Crean | Christchurch Office

7th

Jason Rutter | Dunedin Office

8th

Stewart Rutter | Dunedin Office

9th

Doug H Smith | Hastings Office

10th

Phil Goldsmith | Rotorua Office

Marketing Excellence

Dave McLaren & Scott Cameron | Te Puke Office

Top Administrator of the Year Award Joss Hall & Delwyn Lake | Tauranga Office

Top Region by EBITDA | Bay of Plenty

www.pggwre.co.nz

Peter Wylie | Te Kuiti Office

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Top Rural Region | Bay of Plenty At the 2017 REINZ Awards, two of our regions won the award for highest sales revenue. Tauranga in the large office category and Cambridge in the small office category.

Our Dunedin team was also a finalist in the medium office category. Congratulations to our winning regions on these prestigious awards.

Super Supreme Award Winner | Total Revenue Stan Robb | Tauranga Office

Top Lifestyle Salespeople Awards

Top Residential Salespeople Awards 1st Unit Sales 1st Total Revenue

1st Unit Sales Richard Thomson | Hamilton Office

Sandra Macnamara | Te Anau Office

1st Total Revenue Andrew Fowler | Tauranga Office

2nd Total Revenue Jo Priebee | Alexandra Office

2nd Total Revenue Scott Borland | Cambridge Office

3rd Total Revenue Dave Becker | Greymouth Office

3rd Total Revenue Martin Lee | Cambridge Office

4th

Kelvin Moylan | Invercargill Office

4th

Richard Thomson | Hamilton Office

5th

Wendy Matutinovich | Waihi Office

5th

Ann Holt | Whangarei Office

6th

Nick Rattanong | Rangiora Office

6th

Russell Thomas | Hamilton Office

7th

Pam Forrester | Dunedin Office

7th

Jo Priebee | Alexandra Office

8th

Viv Smith | Dargaville Office

8th

Neale Grubb | Hamilton Office

9th

Jo Nieper | Cromwell Office

9th

Min Cookson | Christchurch Office

10th

Neil Bulling | Cromwell Office

10th

Doug Harvey | Waipukurau Office

Top Lifestyle Region

Top Residential Region

| Waikato

| Southland

Tauranga

Cambridge

Dunedin

Helping grow the country

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

Farm Manager

Shepherd

Large Scale - Te Paenga Station

North East of Dannevirke

Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation (AWHI) is a professional multi-enterprise farming business with scale across the Central North Island, including six Breeding Stations, two Finishing Stations and one Dairy Unit comprising 41,652ha.

The Incorporation is a highly organised business with developed operational systems that utilise modern farming technology.

Due to career progression of their incumbent Shepherd, our clients aim to fill this vacancy with an equally driven applicant. The 1100ha property has a rich history, belonging to the current family since 1895, and with a focus on breeding they are running 5800 Romney ewes and 200 Angus cows, keeping replacements. The position is centrally located, just 20 minutes north east of Dannevirke.

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 #2434).

Applications close 5pm Monday 18th September 2017

There is a three bedroom house on offer and Raetihi is only 20 minutes away for desired recreational activities and local amenities.

Our clients are highly motivated to appoint someone, so do not hesitate to get your application in today!

Due to forecasted increase in output, we now wish to appoint an in-house Onion Agronomist who will liaise with our shareholders and contract growers. You will work alongside each grower’s agronomist to assist with consistent product quality outputs. Co-ordinating harvest timelines, and reporting crop statistics and other relevant data to the Packhouse is also key.

Competencies required for this role include: • Basic agronomy skills • Willingness to be mentored and take direction around onion agronomy • Computer literacy skills - in particular Excel

We specialise in agri-business

www.agrecruit.co.nz Farmers Weekly

Name: Address:

EMPLOYMENT

Email:

REACH EVERY FARMER IN NZ FROM MONDAY

Heading:

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

LK0089093©

DRY-STOCK MANAGER WANTED Due to retirement of our current managing couple, who have been with us for 18 years, we are looking for a new manager for our Woldwide Runoff at Merrivale. The opportunity is also very suitable for a couple.

The organisation Woldwide Dairy Group comprises of five dairy farms in the Heddon Bush area and three support farms. The milking platforms produce 2 MLN milk solids from 3700 peak cows. Our farming methods are high input, modern, sustainable and honouring towards people, animals and the land. We are self-sustained regarding young stock rearing and wintering.

The Runoff Farm Woldwide Runoff is situated at Merrivale, about 10 minutes from Otautau on SH 99, about 40 minutes from Invercargill. The main block is 500ha and we lease a 380-ha block at Pukemaori, about 5km away. There is about 160ha of forestry on the main block and the rest is in pasture or winter crop. About 1200 head of young stock is raised annually (2400 head of young stock at peak) The contour is rolling with some steeper parts. An on-site threebedroom house is provided with the job.

The Role The successful applicant will have total managerial control of the runoff and will report to the farm owner. During peak times the Dairy group will assist with the Run-off and vice versa. Main KPI’s for monitoring are: young stock growth rates, animal health, in-calf rates, pasture utilised per hectare and farm running costs. We are looking for someone with excellent stockmanship- and pasture management skills, ability to operate tractors and machinery, good reporting and mathematical skills and an ability to oversee a complex business like this one. It is important that sustainable farming practices are used and that the farm is kept in a tidy state so good maintenance- and fencing skills are also required.

The people During our 25 years in Southland it has been our quest to produce food more efficiently and at the same time lowering our environmental foot print. We have been able to make good progress partly because of the great people in our team. Our people are amazing, driven by the same goals, hungry to learn, quick to apply new ideas, enthusiastic, super skilful and just great to work with. We are looking for someone that would love to be part of- and contribute to this kind of team culture.

Check out our website www.woldwide.nz for more info or contact Abe de Wolde by phone on 027 227 2537 or email your CV with a covering letter to: abe@woldwide.nz

LK0089118©

To speak about this role in confidence, please phone Deb Francis on 021 224 5000. Otherwise send your CV with covering letter through to www.agrecruit.co.nz by Wednesday 13th September.

SHEPHERD GENERAL

Register to receive job alerts on www.ruraldirections.co.nz

Register to receive job alerts on www.ruraldirections.co.nz

Southern Packers Ltd is based near Timaru. It packs and exports around 22,000 tonnes of onions per annum to the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and also supplies the New Zealand domestic market. It is recognised for its delivery of consistent high quality finished product. Our Canterbury growers produce both summer and winter crops, requiring agronomic support throughout the year. The Company is both a Recognised Seasonal Employer and MPI Packhouse.

PETER WALSH & ASSOCIATES LTD www.peterwalsh.co.nz

RECRUITMENT & HR

RECRUITMENT & HR

JUNIOR ONION AGRONOMIST

For further information: Jim Stringleman • 027 310 0451 j.stringleman@xtra.co.nz

This highly sought after position will allow you to show off your skill-base and develop a strong understanding of grassbased pasture management. The role comes with an excellent remuneration package and the choice of two tidy three-bedroom homes with magnificent views towards the ranges. Both homes also have a school bus within a five minutes drive taking children to Norsewood Primary School.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Farm Manager to broaden their experience and lead Te Paenga Station’s projected future growth.

A modern approach to farm production, budgeting and reporting will be required. To ensure a positive working culture, the ability to confidently take ownership of key relationships and lead and mentor a team of staff is imperative. Understanding the value of getting people to work together to achieve greater goals will be vital for success in this role, as will excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Applications close 5pm Monday 11th September 2017

Peter Walsh & Associates Ltd (PW&A) a South Island Livestock Company and Peter Walsh & Associates Finance Ltd (PW&AF) require an Assistant General Manager in Timaru.

If you are looking for a rewarding role for your future, see the full job description on our website www.peterwalsh.co.nz The position is available from January 2018.

Applications Close: 15th September 2017

We are in search of a self-starter with a willingness to learn that is looking to join a small but efficient team. With an emphasis on stock, the farm is achieving excellent production results and sits on excellent mustering country. As the role requires 80:20 split stock to general work, the successful applicant must come with 3-5 working dogs under good control.

Operating under the AWHI umbrella, Te Paenga is a 2770ha effective property with the primary function of growing the breeding and store livestock to target live-weights and some cattle finishing. The Business Manager wishes to appoint a driven individual to execute the strategic direction of the property and share their knowledge of best practice stockmanship and passion for high operational performance.

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 #1127).

Assistant General Manager

Advert to read:

Aohanga Incorporation is looking for a shepherd general to join the team on Owahanga Station.

Owahanga Station is a 19,000su sheep and beef breeding operation located on the northern Wairarapa coast.

We are looking for a shepherd/general with the following: • 2+ years sheep and beef experience with good stockmanship and big country mustering ability • An established team of working dogs • An excellent work ethic, high levels of personal integrity, honesty and reliability • A good range of general farming skills particularly in fencing and machinery In return, we will provide: • A competitive remuneration package based on experience • Staff training and development • A team work environment • A well located home on primary school bus route

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Employment

Curriculum vitae and covering letter can be sent to the General Manager Scott Somerville by email to owahanga@gmail.com

NGA RATA STATION

Shepherd

Alfredton district, Wairarapa We are looking for an enthusiastic and reliable Shepherd willing to learn and assist with the day-to-day operation of a 1,250 hectare station running 12,000 stock units.

Applicant should have: • a current drivers licence • 2-3 working dogs • appropriate stock handling skills • a willingness to accept responsibility.

Excellent team environment.

Newly renovated single accommodation provided.

Please send CV and references in the first instance to: A E Falloon Nga Rata Station RD 3, Eketahuna or email: ngarata@xtra.co.nz

Phone:

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classifieds@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

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36

Centre Hill Station

Hanmer Farm

We have a great opportunity for a high performer to join Centre Hill Station as a Senior Shepherd.

The role offers a variety of responsibilities including stock and general work.

We are looking for an energetic and passionate individual with outstanding communication skills who is looking to take their first steps into farming.

Hanmer is an intensive finishing property, located 5 minutes from Hanmer Springs. It comprises 1491 ha of flat land, with 240 ha under irrigation.

Hanmer Farm finishes up to 30,000 lambs and 2,000 cattle, with all cattle being sourced from the iconic Molesworth Station.

The individual we’re looking for will have excellent pasture management skills, be a team player, have great initiative and communication skills and bring a team of well controlled dogs.

Hanmer offers a fun learning environment and as a Shepherd you will help take on day-to-day responsibilities of stock and general work. To be successful in the role, your attitude and initiative will far outweigh your experience.

The role comes with a recently renovated three bedroom house and a primary and secondary school bus service are available.

The position includes a recently renovated two storey, four bedroom single shared accommodation with fantastic access to a range of recreational activities.

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

To learn more about this opportunity call Brent Pilet – Farm Manager on 027 275 6788.

Enquiries to Robin Dean – Farm Manager, 027 223 8049 or 03 249 7631

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

Applications close 5pm, Friday 15 September 2017.

Applications close 5pm, Sunday 10 September, 2017.

ANIMAL HANDLING

DOGS WANTED

FLY OR LICE problem?

Electrodip - The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides.

Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness.

Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m

HEADING, HUNTAWAY, handy, backing dogs or bitches, 2-6 years. Top money paid. Phone Ginger Timms 03 202 5590 or 027 289 7615.

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

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance.

Unbeatable pricing.

Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

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

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

ATTENTION FARMERS

ASSISTANT FARM MANAGER Te Awamutu, 1350 Cows

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

Rare opportunity to work on one of the Waikato’s premier dairy farms. This 430ha farm is rolling to flat, milks 1350 cows through two farm dairies (a 50-bail rotary, and an 18 aside herringbone) and is extremely well set up with well-maintained infrastructure and plant.

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

Our client prides themselves on optimising the use of pasture and is looking for someone who shares this philosophy and is experienced in pasture based systems. You will need to have sound knowledge of feed budgeting, setting pasture breaks, as well as milk harvesting, animal health, tractor driving and general farm maintenance experience. Demonstrating that you can step up to the plate in the absence of the Farm Manager will be an advantage.

DOGS FOR SALE 8-MONTH HEADING bitch, ready for work. Shows good style. Phone 06 388 0212 or 027 243 8541.

The farm is located just 15 minutes from Te Awamutu and is well serviced with good primary, intermediate and secondary schools with the bus passing right by the farm gate. On farm housing is available as is further career development support.

BRIAN BURKE, NZ Champ 1984 and 5 times NZ Champ finalist, available to train your working dog.

In three weeks he will transform your heading dog into a productive asset for the farm. Contact Brian 06 343 9561 for further details and pricing (heading dogs only).

HEADING DOG 2 Years old. Going very well. Selling as not enough work for him.

Good cast, stop and come on. $1800. Phone 07 378 8764.

Register to receive job alerts and newsletters.

www.fegan.co.nz

EXPERIENCED SHEPHERD

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Required for a sheep and beef breeding and finishing property.

7500 acres running 40,000su over four properties. Based from Tangiwai this position will include work on other properties as well.

Ability to make calls on when to shift and feed stock from day-to-day. Mustering, stock handling, farm maintenance, and other farm duties are a key part of this role. Being able to work in a team environment is a must.

Renovations being made on a cosy 4-bedroom cottage.

Ohakune 20 minutes, Taihape 30 minutes, and school bus only 7 minutes.

Generous Remuneration.

This is a great opportunity to take the next step in your career and will give you the skills that you need to become a top stock manager.

Please apply to: P & J McDonnell Ltd 06 3880961 mcdonnell.farm@outlook.com

www.farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

To view photos go to our website www.fegan.co.nz To apply either call us on 07 823 0117 or email your CV to jobs@fegan.co.nz

Ag jobs at your fingertips

To be successful in this role you will thrive in a team environment, be honest and reliable and most importantly will be wanting to advance your career in the Dairy Industry.

HEATS COMING! View online or Onfarm. Deliver NZ wide. Exchangeable.

Trial. 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

SMITHFIELD DOG, 10 months. Great mate, will be a very handy dog. $650.

Phone 07 873 0711.

YOUNG HEADING and Huntaways. Top working bloodlines. View our website www.ringwaykennels.co.nz Join us on Facebook: Working dogs New Zealand.

Phone 027 248 7704.

BUYING DOGS NZ wide.

No one buys or pays more! 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

FARM MAPPING YOUR FARM MAPPED showing paddock sizes.

Priced from $600 for 100ha. Phone 0800 433 855. farmmapping.co.nz

FENCERS AVAILABLE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, new lines, yards. Reasonable rates. Prefer Lower NI. Phone 022 472 6256.

FENCING DOLOMITE, NZ’s finest Magnesium fertiliser.

Bio-Gro certified, bulk or bagged. 0800 436 566.

FOR SALE DOG/PET FOOD. Lamb/ Beef and chicken products.

All natural - raw - no preservatives or additives.

NOSLOC PRODUCTS. Ex-freezer Te Kuiti. For information and prices www.nosloc.com or phone 07 878 6868.

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.

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

FOR ONLY $2.00 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in The NZ Farmers Weekly Classifieds section.

Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80 to book in.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE FEEDER CALVES. 3 weeks old. Bulls/ Heifers all breeds from $200+ gst . See our Trademe ad #1392763424 for more info, or inquiries welcome phone 027 478 7170.

PROPERTY WANTED HOUSE FOR REMOVAL wanted.

North Island.

Phone 021 0274 5654.

FOR SALE

SELLING

SOMETHING? Have something to sell?

Advertise in The NZ Farmers Weekly

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

VETMARKER

LAMB DOCKING / TAILING CHUTE

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

T HI NK P R E B U I L T

FORESTRY WANTED

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide.

We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase.

NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 04 293 2097 Richard.

GOATS WANTED 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.

NEW HOMES

SOLID – PRACTICAL WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE Our homes are built using the same materials & quality as an onsite build.

Easily transported to almost anywhere in the North Island. Plans range from one bedroom to four bedroom First Home – Farm House Investment – Beach Bach

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

Fuelcon Tank Manufacturing • Lease • Buy • Service • Compliance

Fuel Storage Solutions Call 0800 FUELCON 0800 383 5266

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LK0088895©

SENIOR SHEPHERD

SHEPHERD GENERAL

Located 10 minutes north of Mossburn, 40 minutes from Te Anau, Centre Hill is a 4400 ha property running 35,000 su including 20,000 Romney ewes and 950 in-calf cows and heifers. It carries all calves through to yearlings and finishes half the lambs, with the remainder transferred to other finishing properties.

37

Classifieds

LK0089124©

Employment

Livestock

Tuesday 19th Sept – 12 Noon 185 Eureka Rd, RD 7, Hamilton On A/c DNA Farms Ltd and C & M Moore Comprising: 120 Frs FrsX cows and 50 Frs Frsx heifers.

Enquiries welcome to Stu Wells 027 282 8204

MORRINSVILLE DAIRY COMPLEX Tuesday 12th Sept 12 Noon On A/c Just Once Bulls Ltd S & K Bicknell

COMPLETE DISPERSAL OF TOP LIC FRIESIAN HERD & YLGS

Bulls will come forward: G3 Profiled – BW’s up to 200 – TB Free.

EBL Free – Fully BVD tested and double vaccinated.

Short gestation up to 12 days – weight range 280kg – 420kg

PRELIMINARY NOTICE

A/C BIRCHLAND LTD 3596 SH 27 Te Poi Matamata Friday 15th Sept - On farm Start time 11.30am

“Do it once, Do it right” Enquiries to: Michael Conwell 027 226 1611 Shaun Bicknell 027 221 1977

Comprising: 150 In-Milk & 30 CTP Friesian cows BW 90 PW 105 RA 97% 20 Empty Friesian cows 39 Friesian ylg heifers BW 113 PW106 This outstanding herd of 40+yrs LIC breeding comes to the market. Milked on the base of the Kaimais these cows know how to work.

Full advert to follow. Catalogues available.

NZFLL Agent in charge: Bryan Sweeney – 027 869 2620

Jersey/Friesian cross Brown and black broken colours Age: Born Autumn 2016 Weight: 300-350kg Pedigree: 3-generation pedigree Pregnancy: Confirmed in-calf to Jersey bull Date: September 2017

Stratford Sale Yard Thursday, 21st September at 11.30am 45 sound Friesian/FriesianX and Xbred in-milk heifers, C2 TB status, EBL free and Lepto vac.

• LIC • BW up to 146 • PW up to 155 • Payment due 24/10/2017 • All heifers presented in good condition and type and quietness.

Contact listing agent Kent Myers for a profile of the sale, or contact any other NZFL livestock agent.

Phone Kent Myers 027 455 5828 Kent.myers@nzfll.co.nz

Price:

Download the app today

$1300 + GST ex farm North Island

Enquiries to mark@hedleyjohn.com or 021 866 673 for further details

Bulls Eye Sale

LK0089116©

LK0089070©

With the shortage of young stock in the dairy industry, this is an ideal opportunity to purchase well bred, easy calving, quality Kiwicross bulls for mating over yearlings to increase next springs’ replacement numbers.

Breed: Colour:

C & J Goodchap

Download the app today 55 Kiwicross Yearling Bulls Just Once Bulls Ltd breeders of “Just Once Cooper” LIC’s top Kiwicross bull for gestation length and 2nd for Overall Opinion

Crossbreed Autumn Heifers for Export

PRELIMINARY SALE NOTICE

PRELIMINARY NOTICE QUALITY IN MILK SALE

4TH ANNUAL DNA G3 PROFILED KIWICROSS YEARLING BULL SALE

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

LK0089158©

LK0089104©

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

LK0089071©

38

12th Annual Service Bull Sale - Undercover Thursday 21stSeptember - 11am Start concludes 2pm approx 300 McDonald Mine Road - Signposted from Huntly Bridge

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

600 BULLS COMPRISING:

Download the app today

Download the app today

11.00am Beef Bulls 90 x R3 PB Hfd Bulls 90 x R2 PB Hfd Bulls 8 x R3 PB MGrey Bulls 30 x R3 PB Ang Bulls 60 x R2 PB Ang Bulls 20 x R2 PB Red Dev Bulls 12 x R2 Hfd/Frsx Bulls 4 x R2 B/Gall Bulls 1pm (approx.) Dairy Bulls 70 x R3 Jsy Bulls 136 x R2 Jsy Bulls 60 x R2 Frs Bulls 20 x R2 Rec Xbred Bulls

On Farm Annual 1yr Angus Bull Sale

Are you looking in the right direction?

86A Thames Road Paeroa. 20th September - 12Noon

Waitawheta Angus 32 Angus 1yr Bulls

Contact: Alistair & Pat Sharpe 07 863 7954 or 021 054 7862 Kevin Fathers 0272 799 800 - Brent Bougen 027 210 4698 NZ Farmers Livestock Stud Stock: If you are looking for Pure NZ Genetics with substance and constitution we recommend you attend this sale.

Vendors: David & Fiona MacKenzie and Greg & Vicki Straker

Agent in Charge: Bill Sweeney - 027 451 5310 I have personally inspected the bulls this season and can verify that they are in outstanding condition.

Bulls are sold in lots of 1 -5 to suit all buyers . * Delivery every Monday until 31st October* Pick what you want, when you want and pay via Bull Plan!

Call Nigel

0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com

View photos of the bulls on www.MyLiveStock.co.nz WAI49222

YEARLING Bull Sale Wednesday 27 September 2017 1pm W A Turihaua T Yearling bull gives you… “More

bull for your buck”

Faster F aster genetic gain and exceptional Value over years of service.

• Higher herd fe fertility ................................. less dries long term Se • Service capacity tested .......................... more cows in calf soundness • Structural soundness............................... cow longevity • Best 3 year guarantee around

www.turihaua.co.nz Paul & Sarah Williams

Telephone: 64 6 868 6709 Email: turihaua@gisborne.net.nz

Hamish & Angela Williams

Telephone: 64 6 868 8421

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

STOCK WANTED

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

TOTARANUI YEARLING BULL SALE

R1 Friesian, Friesian X & Jersey Recorded Dairy Heifers 150 Traditional Beef Steers 400-450kg R1 & R2 Friesian Bulls 100 Traditional Beef Heifers 250kg

79 BULLS Tuesday 19 September, midday on farm

Contracts available for 80-100kg Friesian Bulls

STOCK FOR SALE

THAMES VALLEY GENETIC LEADERS HIGH BW JERSEY BULL SALE

100 Autumn Hereford Frs x Heifers 110kg Ave $480 200 Angus Steers 250kg Ave

SALE TALK The game show contestant was only 200 points behind the leader and about to answer the final question worth 500 points!

“To be today’s champion,” the show’s smiling host intoned, “name two of Santa’s reindeer.”

The contestant, a man in his early thirties, gave a sigh of relief, gratified that he had drawn such an easy question. “Rudolph!” he said confidently, “and, ...Olive!”

The studio audience started to applaud (like the little sign above their heads said to do), but the clapping quickly faded into mumbling, and the confused host replied, “Yes, we’ll accept Rudolph, but could you please explain...

‘Olive?!?’”

“You know,” the man circled his hand forward impatiently and began to sing, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glowed. *Olive,* the other reindeer...”

Office 07 823 4559 BYLLIVESTOCK.CO.NZ byllivestock

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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

• BVD tested and vaccinated • C10 status • Carcase scanned Totaranui Angus sale bulls avg Angus Pure index +143 Self replacing index +126 Birthweight EBV +2.8

LK0089115©

Friday 15th September, 11.30 am Start Paeroa Saleyards A well presented offering comprising: 25 Yearling Jersey Bulls, BW average 176 4 2 year Jersey Bulls, BW average 16 29 head All bulls comply with TB and Nait requirements and have been BVD tested/vaccinated.

Our vendors offer a well grown, well presented line of high genetic value Jersey bulls. Backed by generations of the best bloodlines, high production and outstanding indices, these are bulls you can confidently keep replacements from. With BWs up to 192, BW average of 174 and with 19 bulls having BWs of 170 plus this is an offering farmers looking for the best genetics available must attend. All bulls are fully recorded and transferable.

Make sure you attend NZs highest BW sale of service bulls this season.

Catalogues are available from the auctioneers or view online at www.brianrobinsonlivestock. com or www.pggwrightson.co.nz, or www.jersey.org.nz All Enquiries To: Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd Brian 0272 410051 Neil McDonald 0272 188 904 Kevin Hart 0272 915575 PGG Wrightson Rhys Mellow 0272 240 999 Dave Stuart 0272 241 049

39

National avg +121 +104 +4.3

Daimien & Tally 06 376 8400 Pierre Syben 027 625 9977

www.totaranuistud.co.nz

GOING GOING GONE!

Email for a catalogue: bulls@totaranuistud.co.nz

Have you got a sale coming up?

Advertise in The NZ Farmers Weekly

Mark Crooks, PGG 027 590 1452

JERSEY SEMEN AVAILABLE

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

SHADOW DOWNS P O L L E D H E R EFORD ST U D

WEDNESD A Y 1 3 th SEPT, 2017 - 1 2 NOON LOWE R H E RE NGA WE R OAD, WAV ER LEY

“The beef breed for every need” Genuine Home-Bred Beef & Dairy Bulls

THE JERSEY COW OUTPERFORMS ALL BREEDS ON A PER HECTARE BASIS Every dairy farmer deserves the best cows and the

52 2yr & 16 1yr Offering Merit Sires • Low Birth Weights Easy Calving • Whitehead Premiums Performance Recorded • BVD & Lepto vaccinated/tested

LIC and Jersey NZ Future programme delivers:

2-YR OLD BULLS FERTILITY TESTED

• Great value Jersey semen with high fertility genetics • Efficient and sustainable dairy cows • Quality milk with high prevalence of A2A2

IAN & DANIEL SMITH PO Box 102, WAVERLEY P/F: 06 762 7899 • Mobile: 021 749 235 • Email: daniel.rae@primowireless.co.nz

NZ FARMERS LIVESTOCK Jeremy Newell: 027 664 8832 Tim Hurley: 027 445 1167

• Easy calving, with quality udders • Semen from $8 per straw

PGG WRIGHTSON Mark Neil: 027 742 8580 Caitlin Rokela: 027 405 6156

farmersweekly.co.nz

CALVING

SUITABLE FOR

YEARLINGS TOP

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Advertise your stock sales in The NZ Farmers Weekly

EASY

FUTURE

QUALITY

GENETICS

For more information call 07 856 0731 or visit www.jersey.org.nz

U NBE ATABLE B E E FIE S Choose a Registered Hereford bull for calving ease, marketability of the progeny and gestation length.

Look for the blue ‘H’ tag to guarantee selecting a registered Hereford bull.

To find out when the next Hereford sale is in your region to purchase your registered Hereford Sire visit www.herefords.co.nz

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

13 September 2017 – 12pm

Approx 1300 cattle: 200 x 2-year steers 850 x 1-year steers 250 x 1-year heifers Further enquiries please contact: Paul Chapman – 021 242 7799 Tim Williamson – 027 511 7778 Robert McLean – 027 590 4829

YEARLING BULL & HEIFER SALE

Lynrich Jersey’s Richard & Christine Lansdaal 200 Luck at Last Rd, Karapiro Cambridge

MAUNGAKARAMEA SALEYARDS FRIDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER 2017

Call Nigel 0800 85 25 80 livestock@nzx.com farmersweekly.co.nz

ANGUS

1st ANNUAL BULL SALE

MAUNGAKARAMEA SPRING CATTLE FAIR

Are you looking in the right direction?

RANUI

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

On Offer are: 165 x R1 Rec G3 profiled Jersey Bulls – BW’s up to 183 35 x R2 Rec G3 profiled Jersey Bulls – BW range 103-178 6 x 2yr WF Bulls LK0088911©

40

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

12 noon Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Karamu, 662 Rangitatau East Rd, Wanganui

The R2 Jersey bulls have a range of BW’s 103-178. 26 of these bulls are A2A2.

Okupata Herefords

Our vendors are offering quality well grown Jersey bulls from their own herd - BW141 PW157, 7th in NZ. The bulls are coming forward in fantastic condition. Current ADG 0.7kg.

31st Annual Bull Sale

All bulls – TB Tested (Herd status C10, EBL Free) • BVD tested negative and double vaccinated • Lepto vaccinated (vet certs available on the day) • Delivery will be every Wednesday with prior arrangement until the 11th October Bulls staying will be at purchasers risk Sale under cover – Light luncheon provided

Under cover on farm sale Monday 11th September 2017, 12 noon

YEARLING BULL & HEIFER SALE

The top 50 R1 Jersey Bulls have a range of BW’s 154-182 and are Registered Pedigree bulls. Weights as at 16th August ave 265kg.

45 of the bulls are A2A2.

ON OFFER: 30 yearling bulls • 35 yearling heifers

12 noon Tuesday, September 25, 2007

PGG WRIGHTSON AGENTS:  All cattle BVD & EBL tested  All Callum cattle electric fence 027 trained Stewart 280 2688 • Ken Roberts  TB status C10  Vet inspected  Quiet temperament

80 - 2yr Hereford Bulls 16 - 2yr Murray Grey Bulls N BULL PLAE FINANC LE AVAILAB

027 591 8042

Caitlin Rokela 027 405 6156

craigmore

INQUIRIES TO: Lin Johnstone Lindsay Johnstone 06 342 9833 06 342 9795 W & K AGENTS Blair Robinson Don Newland 027 491 9974 027 242 4878

OKUPATA STUD 860 Okupata Road, RD 1, Oparau 3885 P: 07 871 0524 • M: 027 711 1291 • E: okupata@farmside.co.nz

polled herefords

STOCK REQUIRED

YEARLING BULL SALE

1YR HEIFERS 220kgs + 280kgs + 1YR STEERS 1 YR BULLS 230kgs + 350-400kgs 2YR HEIFERS 2YR STEERS 400-500kgs 400-480kgs 2YR BULLS

Monday 11th September 2017, at 12.30pm Luncheon available

On A/C D.B & S.E Henderson At the stud property: 429 Rukuhia Road, RD 2, Ohaupo 89 Registered Well Grown Bulls Delivery can be delayed until 1st October 2017 if required. Tb and Brucellosis accredited.

BVD tested and vaccinated.

Catalogue available on www.MyLivestock.co.nz Or by contacting your local NZFL agent Queries Ollie Carruthers 0274 515 312 Richard & Christine 027 353 5693

Craigmore Hereford bulls carry the Hereford Blue tag.

Providing the right sires for you...

EWES with LAMBS at FOOT

We have bulls that will suit beef and dairy farmers www.craigmoreherefords.co.nz

Romney. Breeding Composite.

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 LK0088698©

For further information or inspection, please contact: Vendors: David 07 825 2677, 021 166 1389 or the selling agents: PGG Wrightson: Bruce Orr 027 592 2121, Vaughan Larsen 027 801 4599, Cam Heggie 027 501 8182

Terminal Composite. Perendale.

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

PARADISE VALLEY MURRAY GREYS HILL COUNTRY BORN & BRED

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

tom@piquethillfarms.co.nz

Will Jackson 07 825 4480 027 739 9939

william@piquethillfarms.co.nz

piquethillstud.co.nz

0077184

1st Annual on farm Bull Sale at 375 Turitea Rd, Otorohanga Tuesday 19th September 2017 - 12pm

80x97.14

Newcastle Polled Herefords

12 x 17 month bulls - Performance recorded & transferable 22 x yearling bulls - Ideal for heifer mating

NEWCASTLE POLLED HEREFORDS

CONTACT: MIKE PHILLIPS • P: 07 873 8115 • E: pvmg95cl@gmail.com PGG WRIGHTSON • Andy Transom, M: 027 596 5142 • Wium Mostert, M: 027 473 5856

Annual Bull Sale 12.30pm – Wednesday, September 19th Frankton Saleyards, Hamilton – 70 Bulls • • • •

20 x 15-month Registered Hereford bulls, from 400kg up to 600+kg Very well grown, dark coloured, excellent temperament Bulls suitable for cow mating and others for heifer mating TB = C10, vaccinated = BVD (x2) and 7-in-1 (x2) Vendor – Noel Smith 07 824 8300 PGG Wrightson – Cam Heggie 027 501 8182

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On offer: Lin Johnstone 027 445 3213 25 yearling bulls Lindsay Johnstone 027 445 3211 30 yearling heifers, which will be sold in lots

LK0088912©

Karamu, 662 Rangitatau East Rd, Wanganui ENQUIRIES TO:

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

Livestock

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

SALE TALK

ON FARM YEARLING SALE 1

65 stud yearlings with low BW, short

LK0089153©

MONDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2017 - 10AM

stud 2-year-old with low BW, short gestation and easy calving

gestation and easy calving

26 low BW commercial bulls mated by our own low BW stud

bulls and fully performance recorded including carcass scan data

AVOID SLEEPLESS NIGHTS & CALVE WITH EASE ADD VALUE TO YOUR DAIRY BUSINESS. USE SPECIALIST HEIFER BULLS ACROSS BEEF HEIFERS. CONSIDER TE WHANGA ANGUS View catalogue online: http://pivotdesign.co.nz/ebooks/2017/tewhanga-bull-sale/index.html TE KOPI ROAD, RD 4, MASTERTON CONTACT SCOTT GUDSELL 0274 570 526 ROBIN BORTHWICK 06 370 3368 EMAIL te_whanga@borthwick.co.nz WEBSITE www.borthwick.co.nz

20th Annual Jersey & Angus Service Bull Sale A/C Tetley Jones Agriculture Ltd Monday 11th September 2017 – Starts: 11.30am On Farm: 105 Tahaia Bush Road, Otorohanga (signposted from State Highway 3 south of Otorohanga)

Buy and sell livestock at

FRIESIAN/ FRIESIAN X INMILK SALE Wednesday 13th September, 11.00am Start Morrinsville Saleyards A/C St Isdore Farm 120 Frsn/ Frsn x Inmilk Cows, BW98, PW115 Selling pick out of herd 270 cows, 80 cows 2yrs & 3yrs old.

BWs up to 140, PWs 165. Being Herd tested 4th September, Catalogues available after Herd Testing.

TB C10, EBL Free, Lepto Vacc, Herringbone Shed.

Further Details to Follow.

Contact Dean Evans 0272 431 092

Comprising: 140 2-year Jersey bulls 24 2-year Angus bulls (Angus bulls were purchased as low birthweight bulls) TB, EBL, BVD, tested clear, these bulls are always in suitable mating condition and are farmed on rolling country, ideal for dairy cow and heifer mating.

All bulls have had two vaccinations plus one booster for BVD. Free grazing on vendors property until October 20th 2017, or 50km transport subsidy if purchased bulls taken from sale venue to purchasers property on the day after sale.

Purchasers must have NAIT number on sale day.

A great opportunity to purchase genuine, clean one vendor farmed bulls.

Defer A Bull agreement available with prior arrangement.

All enquiries: PGG Wrightson Bill Donnelly 0274 932 063 07 873 1855 Wium Mostert 0274 735 856 07 871 9188 Kevin Mortensen 0274 735 858 07 877 8205 Vendors: Ross Tetley-Jones 0274 543 909 07 873 0622

LK0088867©

LK0089034©

75 – R2YR Angus Heifers Outstanding opportunity to purchase quality Angus Heifers suitable for breeding from a renowned Angus stud environment.

Drafted to suit all potential purchases.

Enquiries Neil Common PGG Wrightson 027 444 8745

NIGEL RAMSDEN 0800 85 25 80

Tuesday 19th September, 12Noon Start Morrinsville Saleyards A/C Steve & Jan Godley 500 1yr Quality Dairy Heifers Selectively purchased as weaners this annual line of top quality dairy replacements are offered in their original herd codes.

Comprising: (New Indexes run 21.08.17) 94 Frsn/ Frsn x, BW136, PW126, Complete Replacement Line 95 Frsn/ Frsn x, BW108, PW109, Complete Replacement Line 139 Frsn/ Kiwi x, BW110, PW118, Complete Replacement Line 44 Frsn/ Frsn x, BW110, PW116, Complete Replacement Line 40 Kiwi x, BW112, PW102, Complete Replacement Line 20 Frsn/ Frsn x, BW102, PW101, Complete Replacement Line Drafted on size and breed. Can be purchased in pen lots or as a line. Various smaller lines to suit all purchasers.

• In top condition, well grown & cycling well • Lepto Vacc, purchased ex C10 herds A full catalogue can be downloaded at www.Agonline.co.nz A great opportunity to purchase genuine replacements in a resurgent dairy market.

PGGW Tony Blackwood 0272 431 858 Vendor Steve Godley 021 512 341

Secure your bull team with no upfront cost Talk to us about a Defer-A-Bull purchase agreement.

• • • •

No upfront cost No repayments until bulls are sold Secure as many bulls as you need Expert support and advice

Find out more contact: Joe Higgins, 027 431 4041 Matt Gibbs, 027 555 2307 Callum Dunnett, 027 590 8612

www.pggwrightson.co.nz/deferabull

Charwell Polled Hereford Stud 17th Annual Service Bull Sale A/C Peter & Penny Davies On Farm, 659 Matahi Road, Manawahe 3km off SH30, Lake Rotoma Signposted from Lake Rotoma & Awakaponga Wednesday 13th Sep, 11.30am Comprising 103 Hereford Bulls 50 2 year bulls 15 18 month Bulls 38 1 year Bulls • Easy calving, bred for the dairy industry • Significant numbers of direct sons of Koanui Unique & Koanui Unanimous, being renowned for their low birth weight traits • BVD tested clear and inoculated • TB & EBL tested • Catalogue available

On Farm Bull Sale – 27th September 2017 at Midday 150 Elite SGL 2yr Performance Recorded Hereford Bulls World leading genetics, 100% of the catalogue in the top 10% for gestation length Sole supplier of SGL Hereford semen to LIC Your cows and our genetics equal: 1) Shorter gestation, thus more days in milk 2) White faced advantage for easy and instant identification 3) Sale topping bobby calves.

Catalogues available from: John and Liz McKerchar, Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords Cave, South Canterbury | P: 03 614 3759 | E: shrimptons@farmside.co.nz W: www.shrimptonshillherefords.co.nz

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

6th ANNUAL 1YR DAIRY HEIFER FAIR

Buy and sell livestock at

INMILK HERD SALE Friday 15th September, 11.30am Start 730 Ngahape Rd, Te Awamutu A/C Stewart & Emma Fitzgerald Comprising: 100 Frsn/ Frsn x/ Jersey Inmilk Cows, BW17, PW39, RA78% Herd Details: • Vendor Selling Spring Calving Content of his Herd • Breeding with CRV & Semex • Herd being Herd Tested 15th September • Production 500M/S per Cow last Season • TB C10, EBL Free • H/Bone Shed Auctioneers Note: Vendors’ emphasis on strong, capacious cows with top udders to produce consistently year after year.

Payment: Deferred to 20th October Catalogues available on our website Agonline or Contact Wium Mostert 0274 735 856

A first grade teacher in the Midwest is explaining to her class that she is a Republican and how nice it is that a new Republican president has taken office.

She asks her students to raise their hands if they, too, are Republicans and support Donald trumpEveryone in class raises their hands except one little girl.

“Mary,” says the teacher with surprise, “why didn’t you raise your hand?”

Because I’m not a Republican,” says Mary.

“Well, what are you?” asks the teacher.

“I’m a Democrat and proud of it,” replies the little girl.

The teacher cannot believe her ears. “My goodness, Mary, why are you a Democrat?” she asks.

“Well, my momma and papa are Democrats, so I’m a Democrat, too.”

“Well,” says the teacher in an annoyed tone, “that’s no reason for you to be a Democrat. You don’t always have to be like your parents. What if your momma was a criminal and your papa was a criminal, too, what would you be then?”

Mary smiled. “Then we’d be Republicans.”

Find out more contact PGG Wrightson Livestock Representatives Joe Higgins on 027 431 4041, Matt Gibbs on 027 555 2307 or Callum Dunnett on 027 590 8612.

AUCTIONEERS NOTE: With Charwell Stud nearing its 100th year of breeding quality bulls, PGG Wrightson Livestock are privileged with instructions from Peter and Penny Davies to conduct their 17th Annual Sale. Charwell Stud offers some of the best bred bulls available this season. They will be sold individually to suit all buyers and are extremely quiet, in good order and carry a full vendor guarantee. Light luncheon provided. Catalogue available. Bulls can be inspected prior to sale.

BUYERS NOTE: Defer-A-Bull, Buy Now, Pay Later, 1% per month Available to Purchasers. Please register your Defer-A-Bull interest with your local PGG Wrightson agent at least one week prior to sale.

ENQUIRIES: PGG Wrightson: Simon Rouse 0274 924 805 or 07 308 4996 Vendor: Peter & Penny Davies 07 322 1080 NAIT numbers are required for all clients purchasing cattle Buy and sell livestock at

LK0089402©

Stortford Lodge Sale Hastings Wednesday 13th September – 10.30am A/c Waiterenui Angus Ltd W & V MacFarlane Raukawa

41

42

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

Stokman / Heather Dell Yearling Sale Selling - 90 Angus Bulls 30 R1 Commercial Angus Heifers

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

1

> Every sheep farmer

2016

Sheep

> Award winning writers

> Unique breeder directory Wednesday 20 September

COMING SOON!

ncy cigemo ffikin Ema re

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$12.00

October 2016

incl gst

from less

Country-Wide Country-Wide

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rams for when buying What to look

1

2016 Sheep October

2016 Sheep October

Contact Nigel Ramsden, Livestock account manager today! phone 06 323 0761 mobile 027 602 4925 email livestock@nzx.com

PB

Your Angus Bull Source +3.1

+4.3

600 Day

+104

+100

Self Replacing

+137

+104

Angus Pure

+150

+121

Fowler Farms Ltd

7TH ANNUAL SERVICE BULL SALE

Call for a catalogue or view on www.angusnz.com

Selling 17 Angus SPECKLE PARK Cross (F1) yearling bulls

PGG Wrightson Bruce Orr 027 592 2121 Heather Dell Angus Cam Heggie 027 501 8182 Pete Henderson 027 475 4895 Mark & Sherrie Stokman Neil Heather Steve Wattum 027 493 4484 027 421 4050 • 07 357 2142 07 3332446 • 0276404028 Central Livestock: mtkiwi@farmside.co.nz neil-heather@xtra.co.nz Shane Scott 027 495 6031

For further details visit

www.agonline.co.nz

or contact Bill Flowerday – Tauranga bilanwen@farmside.co.nz www.korakospecklepark.co.nz Phone 027 272 4361

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Advertise your stock sales in The NZ Farmers Weekly

farmersweekly.co.nz

Held on farm and undercover at 470 Wilford Road, Hurleyville, South Taranaki Tuesday 12th September 2017 at 11.00am ORDER OF SALE: • 85 Hereford 2 & 3 YR • 45 Angus 2 & 3 YR • 35 Murray Grey 2 & 3 YR

• 25 Red Devon 2 & 3 YR • 5 Taranaki Tiger 3 YR • 12 Ayrshire 2 YR • 10 Jersey Autumn-born

• 26 Jersey 3 YR • 90 Jersey 2 YR • 25 Jersey 1 YR (300kg+)

• Special entry • 10 Koanui bred LBW Hereford with EBVs • 10 Waigroup LBW Angus 2 YR • Deferred payment until 20th December 2017 • Grazing available at vendors risk until 20 November 2017.

COMPLIMENTARY BBQ LUNCH PROVIDED $50 cash back on any bulls taken on week of sale

AUCTIONEERS NOTE:

We are extremely pleased to offer this outstanding line up of quality, well grown service bulls. All entries are TB and BVD negative, BVD, IBR and leptospirosis vaccinated. Test results available on request.

NATIONAL MURRAY GREY SALE

Bernie & Irene Fowler 06 273 4400 or 027 201 2552

The registered Murray Grey breeders of New Zealand

NZ FARMERS LIVESTOCK

offer a top quality line up of Yearling and 2 year old bulls,

Grant Hobbs 027 477 7406 Kent Myers 027 455 5828 Daniel Hornby 027 552 3514 Chris Hay 027 602 4454

and females for sale.

The sale will be run online with StockX from the

Brent Espin 027 551 3660 Warren Espin 027 677 6361

LK0088776©

Birth Weight

UNTIL 20TH DECEMBER 2017

LK0088951©

NZ Breed Average EBV’s on Stokman Sale Bulls Average

DEFERRED PAYMENT

* Well grown, good docility * Suitable for heifers or cows * BVD Tested and vaccinated * C10 status - EBV recorded * Carcase scanned * Stokman bulls fertility, semen and 150K Genomic tested

Friday 1st September to 8pm, Wednesday 6th September.

REGISTER NOW! www.stockx.co.nz

ENQUIRIES TO:

Mike Phillips, P: 07 873 8115 (Nth Is) George Climo, P: 03 327 6445 (Sth Is) Digby Philip StockX Livestock Manager, M: 027 433 9501 Email: digby.philip@stockx.co.nz

Hillcroft Est. 1960

HUKAROA

Annual Spring Bull Sale

25 ANGUS YEARLINGS Sires: • Rangatira 13-4. His sire Kaharau Cobra 546 sired top priced bull in NZ this year • Glanworth 63-14. Very easy calving

73 ANGUS 2 YR OLDS

Sires: • Meadowslea F766

• Te Mania 455 • Meadowslea 176

POLLED HEREFORDS

Rangatira 13-4 Photo taken as 2 yr old

Selected for heifer mating

FOR BUTTS, NUTS AND GUTS

ANNUAL ON-FARM BULL SALE

31 HEREFORD 2 YR OLDS

Sires: • Ardo Prophet 2329. Top 5% Hereford prime and dairy maternal. Top 10% NZ calving ease, NZ carcaseweight

Friday 8 September 2017 12 NOON - UNDER COVER PAULSEN ROAD, WAERENGA TE KAUWHATA, NORTH WAIKATO

• Riverton Lochie 1320. Top 5% C ease

99 quiet, easy-calving Hereford bulls 2 year olds & yearlings

FREE GRAZING UNTIL MID-OCTOBER Lot 2

Lot 3

BVD tested clear and twice vaccinated Tb C10

Lot 13

Malcolm & Fraser Crawford: Matahuru Rd, Ohinewai Malcolm Phone 07 828 5709; Fraser Phone 07 828 5755, 0272 85 95 87

LK0089044©

On bull farm: 820 Waiterimu Road, Ohinewai • Monday 18th September 11.30am

ALL BULLS FERTILITY & SEMEN TESTED Enquiries to: Dean

& Lisa Hansen 07 826 7817

LK0088600©

Bred, reared and raised naturally on strong hill country

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – September 4, 2017

Livestock

43

ANNUAL YEARLING SALE

in conjunction with

Spring bull sale – 29 rising 2 year old bulls

K AY JAY A NGUS

2pm Friday 29th September 2017

Calving Heifers Since 1958

TREVOR AND KAREN PETERS

PETERS ANGUS

Pictured: Pictured: Heifer Heifer and and calf, calf, calf calf 33kg 33kg at at birth birth and and weaned weaned at at 290kg 290kg at at 200days 200days

Peters Farms Ltd, 1205 Teviot Road, RD2, Roxburgh 9572, Otago. 03 446 6030 www.petersgenetics.co.nz CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK PGG WRIGHTSON LIVESTOCK Donald Baines 027 328 8781 Phil Young 027 498 1204 Callum McDonald 027 433 6443 Chris Swale 027 442 5032 Roger Keach 027 417 8641 Brent Taylor 027 333 2421 Paul Pearce 027 478 5761 Mark Cuttance 027 442 4742

FRIDAY 15 September at 12 noon 32 YEARLING BULLS 20 YEARLING HEIFERS

LK0089046©

CALL US! WE HAVE WINTERED THEM FOR YOU:

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

ENQUIRIES ENQUIRIES & & VIEWING VIEWING WELCOME WELCOME •• For For CATALOGUES CATALOGUES or or to to join join our our MAILING MAILING LIST LIST Contact: Contact: Neil Neil & & Joan Joan Kestrup Kestrup 06 06 372 372 2838 2838 or or Roddy Roddy Kjestrup Kjestrup 06 06 372 372 2495 2495 Rodderskj@hotmail.co.nz Rodderskj@hotmail.co.nz or or kayjayangus@xtra.co.nz kayjayangus@xtra.co.nz

YEARLING

BULL SALE

KAIRAUMATI POLLED HEREFORDS SALE 21ST SEPTEMBER 2017 12.30pm – 68 NGATAIPUA RD, TURUA, THAMES

20 YEARLING BULLS 26 RSG 2-YEAR BULLS 1 HERD SIRE Contact Roy or Kaye Ward 021 128 7174 Dave Stuart 027 224 1049 Cam Heggie 027 501 8182

Bulls born and bred on the top of the Coromandel

GOING GOING GONE! Have you got a sale coming up?

Advertise in The NZ Farmers Weekly

OUTSTANDING FRIESIAN IN-MILK AUCTION

Bulls For Heifer Mating

MATING DAIRY COWS?

THE CHOICE IS

300 BULLS AVAILABLE

LK0088699©

www.ezicalve.co.nz

COMPRISING OF: 200 Autumn and Spring calved herd: • 70 Autumn calved and mated cows • 130 Spring calved cows unmated DETAILS: • Production 650 MS/per cow average • BW 11/28, PW 31/13, R/A 90%,all DNA profiled • Whole herd A2 profiled • Owned 20 years bred to WWS AB • SOM cell 194,000, system 5 feeding • Autumns mated to ID bulls to calv from 2 April.

• TB C4, lepto annually,BVD free.

AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Excellent dairy type cows bred to produce. A2 DNA profiled, in very good condition. Many young cows bred specifically to produce volume. 90% of herd DNA confirmed and offer unique opportunity to all farmers but especially to robotic dairy farmers. Farm has been sold.

PAYMENT TERMS: 14 Days following auction Pre-auction inspections welcomed. Delivery immediate with consideration for trucking availability.

COMPRISING OF: 250 Tested Service Bulls • 20 x R3 Hereford • 15 x R3 Jersey • 45 x R2 Hereford • 40 x R2 Jersey • 50 x R2 Angus • 30 x R2 Jersey • 50 x R2 Friesian (Suit heifer matings)

AGENT: Matt Hancock 027 601 3787

MIKE CRANSTONE - 06 342 7721 SALE Thursday 21 Sept, 12noon Riverton Herefords, Wanganui WILL MORRISON - 06 327 8236 SALE Tuesday 26 Sept, 12noon Ardo Herefords, Marton

A/C: PIQUET HILL FARMS LTD DATE: Wednesday 13 September 2017 ADDRESS: 887 Te Akau Road, Te Akau START TIME: 11:30am

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

SERVICE BULLS

BUY NOW. PAY LATER.

DETAILS: • TB tested, Bvd tested and double vaccinated • All test results available • Delivery date of bulls no later than 20th November 2017 Our vendors are experienced bull farmers and have been supplying service bulls to the dairy industry for many years. All bulls will be true breed and in good working condition.

LK0089074©

Adding Value to Dairy Beef

A/C: McCONNELL FARMING LTD DATE: Friday 15 September 2017 ADDRESS: 358 Holland Road, Hamilton START TIME: 11:30am, DAIRY NO 72717

LK0087720©

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

1ST ANNUAL HILL COUNTRY SERVICE BULL AUCTION

PAYMENT TERMS: 15th January 2018. Inspections and information of auction contact agent.

AGENT: Jack Kiernan 027 823 2373

EARN TRIPLE FARM

SOURCE REWARD DOLLARS

With 0% interest on your Service Bull purchases with Farm Source Livestock Bull Plan.* *T&Cs apply: No repayments due until 31 January 2018.

A $50 admin fee applies.

PLUS EARN TRIPLE FARM SOURCE REWARDS DOLLARS For every purchase of Service Bulls with Farm Source Livestock at auction during September and October 2017.

Fonterra suppliers only. T&Cs apply: See full terms and conditions online at nzfarmsource.co.nz/livestock

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

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

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

SECURE YOUR SERVICE BULLS NOW

Talk to your local Livestock Agent, call 0800 548 339 or email nzfss.livestock@fonterra.com

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

*

farmersweekly.co.nz

MARKET SNAPSHOT

44

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2017-18

6.75

AS OF 27/07/2017

AS OF 31/08/2017

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

5.90

348

333

NI mutton (20kg)

4.20

4.20

2.80

361

272

SI lamb (17kg)

6.80

6.70

5.45

Feed Barley

369

371

255

SI mutton (20kg)

4.15

4.15

2.70

230

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 8.17

7.94

7.32

225

225

UK CKT lamb leg

Maize Grain

422

422

347

PKE

223

223

230

7.0

INTERNATIONAL Prior week

Last year

6.0

Wheat - Nearest

213

212

186

Corn - Nearest

193

192

168

5.0

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

4.5

South Island 1 7kg lamb

7.5 7.0

368

295

341

338

282

Feed Wheat

267

264

256

2500

Feed Barley

331

318

243

2000 Oct 16 Jan 17 Apr 17 C2 Fonter r a WMP

PKE (US$/t) Ex-Malaysia

96

94

NZ venison 60kg stag

6.5

600

$/kg

352

ASW Wheat

6.0

500

5.5

400

5.0

300

4.5 Oct Oct

91

Dec

Dec

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3225

3225

3210

SMP

1960

1985

AMF

6450

Butter

5830

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Last year

2010

Urea

477

477

460

6.65

8.45

6400

6400

Super

303

309

314

35 micron

3.10

3.10

5.40

5830

6190

DAP

784

39 micron

2.65

2.65

5.30

702

702

5.5 $/kg

250

3100 Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

150 Aug 13

Sharemarket Briefing THE reporting season has been positive with most New Zealand companies meeting or exceeding expectations. That meant the market remained in positive territory, even with the lofty valuations seen heading into earnings season. More than 70% of NZX companies grew earnings in 2017 with an average growth rate of 8.5%.

There were some definite standouts, duly rewarded by the market. The two that stand out are a2 Milk and Comvita.

Expectations for both companies’ 2018 earnings were upgraded substantially as a2 continues to see strong demand growth for its products in both Australia and China while Comvita is starting to see a turnaround from the issues it experienced over the past year.

Unsurprisingly, they are the top performers for the month, both seeing gains of more than 20%. A2 is also the top performer for the year to date, rising more than 160% so far. Comvita remains underwater for the year, after being hit hard at the start of the year by the discovery of myrtle rust.

Other honourable mentions go to Air New Zealand and Tourism Holdings, which both reported better than expected results and provided positive outlook statements.

Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

7817

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

7558

Aug 14

Aug 15

Aug 16

Feed barley

4 w eeks ago

NZ venison 60kg stag

600

c/k kg (net)

3200

Coarse xbred w ool indicator

6.5

CANTERBURY FEED PRICES

NZ$/t

US$/t

This yr

Prior week

350

15105

Aug

6.65

3300

12128

Last yr

Aug

Last week

3400

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

Jun

29 micron

450

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

Jun

(NZ$/kg)

3500

Latest price

Apr

NZ average (NZ$/t)

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Oct

Apr

WOOL

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Sep

Feb

FERTILISER

Last price*

3000

Feb

5‐yr ave

NZX DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

6.5 5.5

Last week

3000

Jul 17 Oct 17 NZX WMP Futur es

North Island 17kg lamb

7.5

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

APW Wheat

3500 US$/t

7.00

Australia (NZ$/t)

4000

Last year

7.00

359

7

Aug 17 AgriHQ Seasonal

Last week Prior week

NI lamb (17kg) 348

Waikato (NZ$/t)

6

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Feed Wheat PKE

Jun 17

Last year

Milling Wheat

8

Apr 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

Aug 17

PKE spot

Auckland International Airport Limited

300

2.5Oct Oct

Dec

Dec

Feb

Feb

Apr

Apr

Last yr

Jun

Jun

Aug

Aug

This yr

Dollar Watch

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

6.79

7.43

6.31

Meridian Energy Limited

2.95

3.02

2.57

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

3.92 11.77 8.16 3.44 9.08 5.55 3.57 5.58

3.97 11.77 10.86 3.60 9.50 5.96 3.60 5.74

3.32 8.50 7.38 2.94 8.12 2.06 2.08 4.65

Listed Agri Shares

400 3.5

5‐yr ave

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

4.5 500

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

5.550

5.960

2.060

Cavalier Corporation Limited

0.280

0.810

0.270

Comvita Limited

7.400

8.650

5.150

Delegat Group Limited

6.800

7.000

5.650

Foley Family Wines Limited

1.300

1.500

1.200

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

6.210

6.400

5.880

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2.300

2.610

2.100

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.780

1.870

1.220

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.610

0.620

0.490

Sanford Limited (NS)

7.400

7.750

6.700

Scales Corporation Limited

3.440

3.680

3.210

Seeka Limited

5.260

5.500

4.300

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

1.240

1.460

1.050

S&P/FW Primary Sector

12128

12270

9307

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

15105

15374

10899

S&P/NZX 50 Index

7817

7879

6971

S&P/NZX 10 Index

7558

7643

6927

THE New Zealand dollar This Prior Last was sold down briefly after NZD vs week week year a poll showed a Labour USD 0.7176 0.7209 0.7284 Party election lead but EUR 0.6030 0.6107 0.6502 BNZ currency strategist AUD 0.9030 0.9126 0.9643 Jason Wong said it was not a major factor in GBP 0.5549 0.5632 0.5489 what was a month-long Correct as of 9am last Friday weakening.

From its high in early August the kiwi has fallen about 4% against the United States dollar and 6% against the euro.

Wong said the kiwi had been the hottest currency till then with record long buying in international markets but since early August economic data had been softer and coincided with volatility issues such as the North Korea worries.

The long buying position (far more buyers than sellers in volume and value) had been significantly unwound though the net position remained long.

The US dollar remains the major influence. Wong said the big dollar was hard-hit in recent months and was due for a rebound.

He thinks the kiwi might be around the US$0.70 mark at yearend, slipping to 0.68 early next year. The US has its debt-ceiling debate this month, to cause jitters but that should be settled.

The BNZ believes the ECB will start unwinding its massive monetary support and that could push the kiwi down to the mid-50s against the euro next year.

Chinese buying has boosted metal prices and the aussie dollar against the kiwi but Wong expects that influence to wane over the next few months.

Alan Williams

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

COARSE CROSSBRED WOOL INDICATOR

SI SLAUGHTER STEER

NI SLAUGHTER LAMB

($/KG)

($/KG)

GOOD TO HEAVY EWE LAMBS AT STORTFORD LODGE

($/KG)

($/HD)

5.35

2.82

7.00

140

45

$3.17-$3.27/kg $570-$590 high lights Angus-Hereford Autumn-born Friesian steers, 456-521kg, at Canterbury Park

bulls, 101-103kg, at Frankton

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

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.50

5.50

5.70

NI Bull (300kg)

5.50

5.45

5.40

NI Cow (200kg)

4.35

4.35

4.40

SI Steer (300kg)

5.35

5.35

5.50

SI Bull (300kg)

5.05

5.05

5.20

SI Cow (200kg)

4.25

4.30

4.40

US imported 95CL bull

6.56

6.73

6.57

US domestic 90CL cow

7.06

7.03

6.51

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer (300kg)

6.5

$/kg

6.0 5.5 5.0

BALANCING ACT: PGG Wrightson auctioneers walk the boards at Temuka last week.

4.5

More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

4.0 South Island steer (300kg)

6.5 6.0 $/kg

c/k kg (net)

Goodbye wet August

NZ venison 60kg stag

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N

OT too many people will be sad to see the back of August, after one of the wettest months nationwide on record.

September and the promise of new growth is already having a small effect on the store cattle market, with more enquiry around the yards, if not a big spring flush on prices just yet.

NORTHLAND NORTHLAND The WELLSFORD sale last Monday was the calm before the storm of next week’s specially advertised spring fair, with a total of 110 yarded, and no lines over ten head.

The best of the R2 steers were Hereford-Friesian and beef-cross, with 353-435kg making $2.87-$2.95/kg, and dairy lines, $2.61-$2.66/kg.

A top line of very good condition Hereford-Jersey heifers, 521kg, hit $3.01/kg to sell for $1570, while a lighter line managed $2.99/kg, and

exotic, 413kg, $2.86/kg.

Heifers made up the bulk of the R1 offering, and the better lines sold for $800-$865, while five Hereford-cross steers, 319kg, earned $1075.

A few small lines of autumn-born weaner’s sold with varied results, with Hereford-Jersey steers making $480-$645, and Hereford-cross heifers, $310-$400.

Northland has moved into a pattern of warm days and wet nights, and at KAIKOHE last Wednesday this helped lift enquiry in the rostrum, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. The quality lines of the 300 head yarding sold on a firm market, though inferior cattle proved harder to shift still.

R2 beef-cross steers of quality firmed to $2.88-$2.98/kg, with lesser lines dropping away to $2.40-$2.60/ kg. Good beef bulls sold well at $2.80$2.85/kg, with the beef-cross heifer market showing real promise, and

firming to $2.80-$2.85/kg.

Signs of strength in the R1 pens was weather-driven, and Angus and Hereford-cross steers made steady returns at $3.40-$3.50/kg, though numbers were low. A line of 150kg Hereford bulls sold exceptionally well at $770, 5.13/kg, while other lines fetched $3.20-$3.30/kg. Heifer’s mainly traded around the $3.00/kg mark, while prices ceilings on autumn-born weaners saw 85kg Friesian bulls hit $500.

The cow market bucked the firming trend, with prices easing to $1.70$1.78/kg for a mainly medium line up.

AUCKLAND AUCKLAND Cattle numbers were fewer but prices very buoyant at PUKEKOHE on Saturday 26th August, auctioneer Pat Farrell reported.

Prime cattle numbers were very

Continued page 46

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KIWI MADE

Markets

46 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

WAIKATO There was not a lot of change to be found at FRANKTON, where anxiousness towards beef schedules appeared to put a cap on the market. Only a few prime steers were available which all weighed 625-665kg, which were bought at $2.87-$2.93/kg The R2 steers were mainly a mix of beef and beef-dairy lines, 415-520kg, consistently selling to $2.90-$3.00/kg. Three lines of 290-420kg Friesian steers went for $2.50-$2.70/kg. Autumn-born traditional and Charolais-cross

KING COUNTRY KING COUNTRY TE KUITI hosted 420 cattle on Friday 25th August, which sold to a small but determined bench of buyers on a firm market, Carrfields agent Carl White reported.

A consignment of crossbred bullocks kicked off proceedings, and at 742kg sold for $3.03/ kg, with 687kg returning $3.04/ kg. Angus, 638-658kg, managed $3.11-$3.13/kg, while R2 Angus and Angus-cross, 518kg, returned $3.05/kg.

The R1 pens featured a special entry of 100 Friesian bulls, which sold in four lines and averaged $847, $3.53/kg. Angus heifers, 261kg, returned $892, while small crossbred lines, 150-220kg, averaged $3.40/kg.

A small offering of cows proved popular, with 540kg averaging $2.30-$2.71/kg, while empty R2 heifers sold for $2.50-$2.70/kg.

Sheep prices last Wednesday favored the vendors, as demand from a wide buying bench outstripped supply. Prime lambs sold to $140-$176, with second cuts earning $120-$140. Ewes were sought after, and heavy types made $120-$135.

Buyers for store lambs gathered from South Auckland, Matamata and local, with prices very strong.

Shorn mixed sex lambs sold up to $134.50, with medium male and ewe lambs making $126-$130, and no lambs trading under $90.

TARANAKI TARANAKI The onset of spring is in the air around TARANAKI, and while paddocks are still wet, grass is responding, bringing more life to the sale, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Stephen Sutton reported. Throughput is yet to gain momentum however, and just 200 mainly mixed quality cattle were

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penned last Wednesday.

A reasonable yarding of R2 steers saw heavier types, 530550kg, sell consistently between $2.87-$3.00/kg, while longer term lines, 380-385kg, reached $3.02-$3.14/kg. Heifer numbers were light and $2.70-$2.89/kg was common ground.

R1 steers were sparse on quality and numbers, but highlights included Angus-Friesian, 165kg, $800 and another line of 245kg at $1000. The only heifers of substance was a consignment of unrecorded Friesian’s, with the top line of 166kg earning $450, and 145kg, $400.

A handful of weaner bulls finished off the store section and sold to keen interest, with 108125kg trading at $500-$625.

POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY It was a particularly quiet sale at MATAWHERO, where numbers barely broke 350 head. Most store lambs were ewes, with medium and light lines making $106-$120, and a single good line at $123.

One line of heavy males were $142. A small lines of light ewes with lambs-at-foot were $73 all counted.

There were quite a few prime lambs lines auctioned, and the majority made $137-$156 and the rest $98-$121. Nearly all prime ewes were $96-$111.

HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY It was all action among the store lambs at STORTFORD again where values climbed even higher due to the increased presence of Manawatu buyers. Heavier lines were generally stable on the week prior. Good and heavy male, cryptorchid and wether lambs mainly made $140-$147.50. The heavy and medium end of the ewe lambs were at $137.50-$150 and $117.50-$138.50 respectively. Light ewe lambs and mixed sex lines showed the greatest strength, with the light ewes lifting to $116.50$129 while medium and better mixed sex lines rose to $121$145.50.

There was the largest selection of ewes with lambs-at-foot to date this year, and while values were still decent, there were just a few too many for the market to absorb without a little weakness. Two very good lines made $100-$107 all counted, other good lines were $87.50-$92.50 all counted, while the medium types were generally $83-$88 all counted.

There was a wide mix of buyers at the store cattle auction which appeared to be keen to get their hands on whatever lines were offered, regardless of their quality.

All traditional and exotic R2 steers, 420-440kg, made $1335-$1382, with a Charolais-cross line topping the per kilo rate at $3.30/kg. Most 18, ARY

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BAY OF PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY With throughput numbers still moderate at RANGIURU last Tuesday, the number were easily absorbed by a mainly local buying bench, despite more rain falling recently.

Prime prices were driven by a lack of numbers, and the highlight was a consignment of three-year Hereford-Friesian steers barged over from Motiti Island. The consignment of 53 sold in three lines, and at 540-615kg made $3.03-$3.09/kg.

Boner cow prices lifted, with Friesian, 482-515kg, returning $2.09-$2.12/kg. In-calf and runwith-bull lines had seen a Hereford bull, and sold well at $2.13-$2.35/ kg.

Older store cattle numbers were limited, but most R3 heifers of substance traded at $2.89-$2.92/ kg, while 17 Angus-cross R2 steers, 386kg, managed $3.17/kg.

R1 cattle sold to solid demand, and a line of Angus-Hereford heifers, 308kg, managed $1140.

Steer quality was mixed, with good beef lines making $835-$1040, while Friesian, 206-236kg returned $645-$760.

Specially advertised autumnborn Simmental-cross steers, 200-202kg, fetched $860-$920, and the heifers, 185-203kg, $790$840. Autumn-born Friesian bulls, 125kg, made $562.

Even more four-day calves came out this week, making for the largest weekly offering so far this year. Bidders were mainly locals or from the wider BoP area, though there were a handful of out-oftowners present too.

Results were generally mixed, with the better types selling much more easily than the lesser lines.

Four different lines of HerefordFriesian bulls all made $200-$245, but the next highest were down at $130-$155. Only a few straight Friesian bulls were offered, mainly at $90-$108.There were plenty of large lines of Hereford-Friesian heifers. The top lines were at $145$175, with the next cut $110-$115 and the rest mainly $80-$85.

steers, 355-405kg, were at $3.15$3.30/kg. The R2 heifers essentially matched their brothers, where 345-425kg lines regularly made $2.90-$3.00/kg. However some 335-345kg South Devon and Charolais-cross did make $3.20$3.30/kg.

The heavier end of the R1 steers were relatively popular.

Beef bred types, 255-300kg, were regularly bought at $880-$1030, while Hereford-Friesian lines, 160-235kg, made $750-$850. A line of 275kg Herefords stood out in the R1 heifers at $1000, $3.60/ kg. Hereford-Friesians, 225-260kg, were decent too at $875-$940. R1 bulls were mixed, but generally speaking anything 245-285kg went for $870-$910, regardless of breed.

Autumn-born lines were popular buying again, with all 135-155kg bulls at $635-$685 and 100-105kg making $570-$625. Beef and beef-dairy heifers, 95-110kg, were $495-$535.

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COUNTIES COUNTIES Good signs of early grass growth helped boost demand for store cattle at TUAKAU last week, Keith West of Carrfields Livestock reported.

About 700 cattle were presented to a well-stocked bench of mostly local buyers last Thursday, and steady bidding resulted in a 1020c/kg lift in the market.

The yarding included heavy R2 steers, 455-496kg, $3.01-$3.20/ kg, with the next cut at 406-438kg making $2.91-$3.31/kg. The R1 steer section consisted mostly of Hereford-Friesian, and 195-240kg sold at $850-$985, with 166-190kg earning $720-$830. A small entry of autumn-born Hereford-cross weaner steers, 120-130kg, fetched $570-$600.

The bull section included a good line of 15-month Friesians, with 422-432kg making $3.10-$3.15/kg, and 386kg, $3.13/kg. Good Friesian R1 bulls, 312-348kg, sold at $1000$1100, and 253-287kg, $850-$927.

Autumn-born Friesian bulls, 120170kg, returned $525-$660.

A small entry of R2 heifers, 330-380kg, traded at $3.15-$3.25/ kg, and the best of the R1 heifers, 306-331kg, earned $1000-$1100.

Heifers at 227-260kg made $840$905, and 180-200kg, $760-$800.

Autumn-born Hereford-cross heifers, 130kg, fetched $570.

About 300 cattle were yarded at the prime sale last Wednesday, and the market was 5-6c/kg stronger. Heavy steers traded at $2.93-$3.01/kg, medium $2.87$2.92/kg, and lighter $2.79-$2.85/ kg. The best of the prime beef heifers sold at $2.89-$2.95/kg, and medium $2.83-$2.88/kg. Dairytype heifers returned $2.35-$2.51/ kg, and a small entry of beef cows $2.17-$2.25/kg. The rest of the cow market also remained firm.

Heavy in-calf Friesians traded at $2.35-$2.59/kg, and the best of the empty Friesians made $2.08-$2.32/kg. Medium Friesians fetched $1.90-$2.06/kg, and lighter boners $1.71-$1.87/kg. Good beef bulls earned $2.98-$3.06/kg.

Last Monday’s sheep sale drew a small yarding but the market was very firm. The top prime lambs sold at $158-$176, medium $138-$154, and lighter $117-$132.

Store lamb prices ranged from $81 to $106, and the best of the heavy

prime ewes made $125-$147.

Medium ewes $98-$123.

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limited, and featured mainly heifers, with a line of 640kg selling to $3.03/kg, while 466kg returned $2.85/kg.

Bull prices varied, with the heaviest line at 744kg selling exceptionally well for $3.17/kg, while 555kg returned $2.81/kg.

Good boner cows, 508kg, sold to $2.17/kg, with 508kg returning $1.71/kg, though lighter lines dropped to $1.34-$1.38/kg.

Store numbers were also limited, and the best of the R2 steers and heifers made similar values, with 435-496kg steers at $2.78-$2.80/ kg, and heifers, 425-434kg, $2.80$2.83/kg.

Younger cattle were the main feature, and good quality lines were keenly contested. Steers, 116-128kg, earned $625-$695, with smaller lines, 80-125kg, making $270-$525. In the heifer pens, R1 176-178kg returned $620-$730, and weaners 112-134kg, $530$600, with lighter lines making $320-$400. Small crossbred bulls, 85-94kg, fetched $240-$320.

of the R2 heifers were 390-450kg traditional lines, selling at $3.00$3.05/kg. A good number of R2 Friesian bulls, 385-410kg, were sold at $3.20-$3.25/kg, while a large line of 425kg Hereford bulls garnered good interest at $3.40/kg.

The majority of the R1 lines were heifers and steers, with only three lines of 140-175kg Friesian bulls making $610-$700. Angus and Angus-Hereford lines dominated the R1 steers. The heaviest lines were the highlight as 295-345kg all made $1115-$1210. Traditional and Charolais-cross heifers, 185225kg were all bought at $730$790.

MANAWATU MANAWATU Spirited bidding for R1 Friesian bulls saw good results posted at RONOGTEA last Wednesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported.

Prime numbers were obsolete, but boner Friesian cows, 372505kg, returned $1.47-$1.96/kg, with crossbred, 395-490kg earning $1.51-$1.63/kg.

The R2 market showed some positive movements, though quality was mixed. HerefordFriesian steers, 340-425kg, varied from $2.62-$2.74/kg, while bulls, 655kg, fetched $2.74/kg, and heifers, 352-379kg, $2.76-$2.85/kg.

Empty Friesian heifers, 330-405kg, sold over a wide range at $1.81$2.32/kg, while in-calf Simmental heifers made $880.

A highlight in the R1 pens was Angus-cross steers, 190kg, $600, while other dairy and crossbred lines, 180-290kg, ranged from $470-$760. Good demand for Friesian bulls saw 195-237kg trade at $710-$865, while HerefordFriesian, 165-305kg, sold for $500$740. Hereford, 210kg, returned $645.

The best of the HerefordFriesian heifers tipped the scales at 315kg, and made $790, while Angus-cross, 185-242kg, traded at $770. Autumn-born HerefordFriesian steers, 135kg, made $600, heifers, 95-117kg, $490-$600, and bulls, 105-150kg, $450-$600.

Good numbers of calves are still coming forward, with a noted increase in Hereford-Friesian and beef-cross. Friesian bulls made $140-$170, while the best of the Hereford-Friesian returned $250$315, and smaller, $100-$230.

Charolais-cross earned $240-$290.

Hereford-Friesian heifers sold to $200-$270, with smaller lines making $60-$180.

Ewes with lambs-at-foot made $55 all counted, run-with-ram $84-$86, and dries, $79. Mixed sex lambs made $70-$140.

An increase in cattle numbers at FEILDING last Monday met a larger bench of buyers, and positive movements in schedules helped to give the sale more buoyancy.

Of the 157 offered, 146 were cows, and Angus, 466kg, returned $2.07/kg, while good yielding Friesian and Friesian-cross, 523-567kg, achieved $2.10-$2.11/ kg. The next cut firmed to $1.91$2.00/kg for 429-616kg, with the remainder earning $1.86-$1.93/ kg. Prime numbers were low, though five Hereford-Friesian heifers, 500kg, sold for $3.02/kg, and Simmental-cross bulls, 775kg, managed $2.95/kg.

Prime lamb prices showed some softening, though nothing drastic.

Markets

Heavy lines sold for $160-$190, and mediums, $130-$160.

Ewe numbers reflected the time of year, and heavy ewes firmed to $123-$140, while the remainder sold on a steady market.

Feeder calf numbers dropped to 320 head, though buyer numbers and the market were stable. Good Friesian bulls made $180-$215, and medium $145-$180. The better beef-cross lines made $270-$275, and the remainder, $160-$180.

Good beef-Friesian heifers sold to $205-$250, though bettered by Speckle Park at $330.

The Supplementary Hogget Fair took just over one hour to sell 7,100 hoggets. With the Monday prime sale attracting much larger yardings of prime lambs and hoggets in recent years, the entries were never likely to be large and one of the two major livestock companies did not enter any sheep.

The sheer number of heavy hoggets exceeded the ability of the large traders to “blend” them into their drafts and these heavy sheep sell for marginally less the heavier they get above the medium weight hoggets. They still record the headline prices, however, with Kim Richardson’s Wereroa Partnership, Marton, selling 277 male hoggets for $188 and 76 ewe hoggets for $162 to claim line honours in both sections and Tom Willis, Marton, was second across the line, selling 227 male hoggets for $179.

The heaviest hoggets eased back somewhat from recent highs, influenced by the higher numbers, but the store hoggets offered continued to sell to solid demand. Selling these sheep today will naturally reduce numbers for upcoming prime and store sales.

Top-end; $157.50-$188, very heavy; $153-$172, heavy; $137.50$159.50, good-medium; $138.50$150.

The numbers of ewes with lambs at foot and yearling Friesian bulls were the most notable aspects of Friday’s sale. Ewes with lambs at foot sold well last Friday which attracted more in for this sale and they again sold well. Two pens of ewes with single lambs sold for $100 and $99 and this served to lift the market for the rest.

Lamb numbers dropped right back after the lamb fair. The better lambs remained steady on last week - $146 for 88 woolly cryptorchids and $138.50 for 100 shorn ewe lambs were the top sale prices - but the lighter lambs recovered last week’s slight ease and firmed a little.

Ewes with LAF, $68.50-$100; Lambs; heavy, $140-$146; good, $126-$142; medium, $123.50-$134.

The first day of spring saw a lift in interest in the cattle market with two-year steers lifting by up to 20 cents/kg. Top three year Angus steers sold for $1785, $3.22/kg; the best two-year Angus steers made $1560, $3.29-$3.48/kg, and the best yearling Angus steers sold for $1170, $3.78/kg.

Yearling bull numbers were much reduced on last week and prices firmed. $1510, $3.09-$3.17/ kg, bought the top two year bulls and $1085-$1095, $3.19-$3.24/ kg, bought the best of the yearling Friesians.

Hardly any heifers were offered and these cattle followed the firming trend of the rest of the

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017

section was the only one to soften, with Friesian, 463-483kg, returning $1.70-$1.78/kg.

Specially advertised AngusHereford steers sold in the store pens with pleasing returns, as 456-521kg achieved $3.17-$3.27/ kg, and Hereford, 469-489kg $3.21$3.23/kg. R2 Angus steers, 419433kg, sold even better at $3.34/kg.

Per head budgets were obvious in the R1 pens, where a consignment of Friesian bulls, 242296kg, sold over a tight per head range of $820-$890, with the two lighter lines making $3.28-$3.39/ kg, while the heaviest line hovered at $3/kg. Keen bidding on Speckle Park steers saw 261-293kg make $1000-$1105, while good Angus heifers, 315kg, fetched $1100.

The end of August was relatively quiet at COALGATE last Thursday, with prime lambs making up the bulk of the sheep section, though a decent yarding of prime cattle greeted sale goers.

Prime lambs sold on a mainly steady market, though there was a slight easing for the heavy types to $150-$169, with medium primes making $120-$149. Ewe numbers were very low with the bulk medium to good types and trading at $90-$115. Small numbers sold either side of that range, with a top of $160-$161 achieved.

This level was also reached in the store lamb pens, where a consignment of scanned dry ewe hoggets sold for $147-$160.

The rest of the small store lamb offering were mixed sex, and prices strong at $110-$130 for the tops, with very few under $80.

One line of medium condition ewes with tailed lambs-at-foot sold for $87 all counted.

Prime cattle made up the bulk of the cattle sale, with just eight stores offered. Steers sold on a steady market, as 555-605kg consistently made $2.91-$2.99/kg.

Also making steady returns was a good yarding of cows, featuring a line of 14 which topped the section at $2.04/kg. The overwhelming majority were 496-640kg and sold for $1.96-$2.04/kg.

Heifer prices went one better and firmed, as good beef lines reached $2.87-$2.88/kg, and second cuts, 410-510kg, $2.74$2.83/kg.

with flying colours, as most of the predominantly beef-Friesian lineup sold above expectations.

Monday’s prime sale was also very positive, with lambs firming $5-$10, and the boner cow market responding in a similar fashion.

Store lambs numbered 1440, and featured two big lines of mixed sex blackface at $138, while the remainder were small lines which traded at $88-$145. Five ewes with nine lambs-at-foot sold for $80 all counted.

Just over 700 prime lambs were mainly medium types, and with prices firming they traded at $140-$160, with a small heavy end selling to $185.

Ewe results were equally as pleasing, with good cutting ewes making $130-$157, second cuts $100-$128, and the lighter end, $70-$93.

A small prime cattle section sold to keen interest with prices steady to firm. Heavy, high yielding steers made $2.91-$2.99/kg, while second cuts returned $2.82-$2.90/ kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers sold right up with the straight beef and exotic lines, with 515-548kg returning $2.86-$2.92/kg, while high yielding bulls traded at $2.80/ kg.

Boner price firmed, with enough buying power to easily absorb the growing numbers. Friesian heifers, 514-585kg, made $2.75-$2.79/kg, with lesser, lighter lines varying from $2.44-$2.54/kg to $2.60$2.69/kg.

Boner cow prices showed good improvement, with 518-690kg achieving $1.95-$2.05/kg, while 465-510kg sold to $1.85-$1.95/kg.

Lesser lines sold around the $1.70$1.77/kg mark.

A record 540 feeder calves sold in the small pens, with the market buttoning off a fraction. The best of the Hereford-Friesian bulls made $150-$225, while Friesian bulls sold to $130-$150, and averaged around $80-$100. Heifer mainly traded at $95-$177.

A big gallery of buyers gathered for the store cattle sale last Thursday, which featured R1 beef-Friesian cattle. The market was above expectations, with R1 heifers matching the steers in many cases.

Older cattle numbers were limited and included R3 Friesian steers, 470-507kg, $2.68-$2.77/ kg, with a handful of HerefordFriesian, 417-450kg, making $2.91-$2.99/kg. A few small pens of heifers sold over $3/kg, while Hereford-Friesian, 384-406kg, returned $2.79-$2.83/kg.

The R1 cattle have wintered well considering the wet conditions, and Hereford-Friesian steers, 200-260kg, traded at $760-$960, $3.71-$3.85/kg. Prices varied more for the lighter end as quality was mixed, but the best of the bunch were 185-196kg and sold for $715$780, $3.86-$3.98/kg.

Hereford-Friesian heifers, 250300kg, fetched $900-$1090, $3.53$3.61/kg, with some lighter lines hitting and passing $4/kg.

Friesian bull prices were closer to expected levels, and 196-250kg fetched $680-$810, while heavier lines, 267-286kg, returned $930$970.

SOUTH CANTERBURY SOUTH CANTERBURY TEMUKA tested the store cattle market last Thursday with their first spring yarding, and passed

OTAGO OTAGO The first spring cattle sale at BALCLUTHA was well attended, and included a good lineup of

YOUR BID: The PGG Wrightson team calls for bids at Temuka last week.

More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

market with yearling heifers lifting in the absence of any outstanding cattle.

Steers; 3-year, 510-554kg, $1675$1785, $3.22-$3.28/kg; 2-year, 314474kg, $1000-$1560, $2.79-$3.72/ kg; 1-year, 214-309kg, $780-$1170, $3.01-$4.47/kg; Bulls; 2-year, 395488kg, $1230-$1510, $3.09-$3.17/ kg; 1-year, 124-343kg, $620-$1095, $3.12-$5.00/kg; Heifers; 2-3 yr, 435-467kg, $1170-$1375, $2.67$3.16/kg; 1-year, 124-271kg, $550-$910, $3.18-$4.45/kg; Cows, 450-633kg, $890-$1580, $1.97$2.55/kg.

CANTERBURY CANTERBURY Bids flowed freely for store cattle at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, with the lineup including specially advertised older beef steers, and R1 Friesian bulls. Prime lambs were front and centre in the sheep pens, with all other sections very small.

The store lamb section took very little time to complete as just 288 mixed sex were offered up. Most lambs were medium to good types which traded at $115-$132, with a small lighter end at $85-$114.

Nearly 60% of the 1600 head yarding were prime lambs and prices continued their strong run.

The lamb median lifted $9, with most lambs making $135-174.

The smallest yarding of prime ewes this year was season driven, and while there were a number of lines to sell, these totaled just 291.

The better end sold for $120-$160, with lighter types earning $83$116. Ewes with lambs-at-foot had quite the following, and a line of 28 ewes with 33 lambs made $91, with a smaller line earning $77 all counted.

A spring like day did wonders for attitudes, and there was a lift in interest for younger cattle.

The prime pens featured good sized lines of forward store Angus and Angus-Hereford, with the Angus 536-545kg, and making $3.06-$3.08/kg, while AngusHereford, 554kg, returned $3.13/ kg. Prime steers in finished condition sold on a firm market at $2.89-$2.99/kg. The strength flowed through into the heifer pens, and Hereford, 465-541kg, returned $2.88-$2.97/kg, with Angus and exotic-cross also falling in that range. Most of the bulls traded at $2.63-$2.66/kg, including an 800kg Angus, putting $2128 on its head.

Cow numbers were low, and the

47

R2 cattle, PGG Wrightson agent Russell Moloney reported. Sheep continued to sell to reasonable demand on the back of low numbers and good schedules.

Store lamb prices did ease slightly, though still reflected good competition. Top lines sold for $108-$113, medium $100-$105, and light, $85. Keen interest for ewes with lambs-at-foot saw these return $80-$85.

The prime pens featured a smaller number across the board, and two lines of prime lambs sold to $157 and $161.

Heavy lines traded at $150$161, medium $130-$149, and lighter, $109-$120. The ewe market showed some softening, as heavy types sold to $116-$126, $4 back on the previous week. Similar easing on medium lines saw most make $110-$115, though light lines held at $95-$105.

Cattle were the talking point, and highlights included R2 AngusHereford heifers, 330kg, $3.00/ kg, and Simmental-cross, 472kg, $2.87/kg.

SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND The last sale for August at LORNEVILLE was a quiet affair as far as numbers went, but sheep prices were red hot, and good quality cattle also sold well.

A medium yarding of store lambs held recent levels, with top lines making $95-$105, medium $80-$90 and light $65-$75. A handful of breeding ewe lines were also offered, with both Perendale 2-tooths and Romney mixed age achieving $164.

The buying bench could easily have handled a few more prime sheep numbers, with buyers again pushed to the high levels of late.

Heavy prime lambs made $145$160, with medium types earning $120-$135 and lighter, $100-$120.

Heavy ewe prices firmed to $130-$140, with prices steady for medium at $100-$120, and light, $60-$80. Two-tooth’s traded at $100-$110.

A very small yarding of prime cattle featured just heifers and cows, with dairy heifers, 370-430kg steady at $2.28/kg, and heavy cows following suit at $2.00-$2.10/kg.

The market also held for medium cows at $1.80-$1.92/kg.

Highlights in the store cattle pens included R2 Friesian steers, 430kg, $2.50/kg, and a consignment of R1 Herefordcross, with the steers 200-250kg and trading at $840-$870, and the heifers, 207-250kg, $770-$900.

CHARLTON finished off August with low numbers in all classes but strong prices recorded, PGG Wrightson agent Andrew Martin reported.

The best of the store lambs sold to $100-$115, with medium types earning $90-$95, and light, $70$85.

Also offered was crossbred twotooth and two-shear ewes, which met keen interest and went under the hammer for $177.

Demand increased for prime lambs, and heavy lines fetched $130-150, medium $115-$125, and lighter, $100-$110. Ewes sold to a top of $120-$130, with medium types earning $100-$115, and lighter, $60-$90. The sale finished off with a small number of rams with better types making $80-$90, medium $60-$70, and a small tail end, $40-$50.

Markets

48 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 4, 2017 NI AND SI SLAUGHTER STAG

NI SLAUGHTER BULL

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

($/KG)

($/KG)

R1 BEEF-FRIESIAN STEERS, 200-230KG, AT TEMUKA

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

9.45

5.50

6.80

3.83

high lights

Wool prices gain ground Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com

S

TRONG wool average prices have risen about 12% in just the last three weeks, sparking hopes they will move steadily off their lows of this year.

The market barometer 37 micron good-to-average full wool sold at $3.52kg/clean at Thursday’s Christchurch sales, a rise of about 40c/ kg clean from early August prices, continuing the trend of intervening sales in Christchurch and Napier, PGG Wrightson South Island manager Dave Burridge said.

In real terms the crossbred price was still very low and must lift strongly from here to reach a sustainable level for farmers.

The wool being sold at latest sales was very good quality pre-lamb shearing wool.

Once it was cleared in the next few weeks, last season’s wool, of lesser quality, put in store because it could not be sold at prices farmers wanted, would return to market ahead of the main shearing season.

The pre-lamb shear wool was in strong demand from a full bench of buyers and the slightly weaker currency also helped prices, Burridge said.

While strong wool showed some recovery, finer Merino wool and mid-micron fleece continued to sell at what he

HOPEFULS: CP Wool auctioneer Roger Fuller, CP Wool South Island manager Mark Greenlaw and New Zealand Yarns chief executive Colin McKenzie preparing fleece for auction in Christchurch.

Photo: Annette Scott

called astonishing prices, the best in many years.

Most NZ wool was in the stronger micron levels so that was where recovery was needed.

CP Wool ‘s South Island auctioneer Roger Fuller said the fact the market had been moving upward might of itself bring in more overseas buyer interest.

“If we can get a bit more, if there’s a bit more interest, you get some competition then continuity and one thing leads to another. There’s still a long way to go though.”

The ratio of passings at Thursday’s sale, at 8%, was the lowest in many months.

That was on a total offering

of 11,000 bales, which Burridge said was 3000 more than the initial roster so was very encouraging.

Fuller said brokers and farmers were aware the older, lesser-quality stored wool would have to be brought back to the market gradually, with realistic market expectations. It was a good sign on Thursday that there was not a lot of high reservepricing set.

AgriHQ analysts Rachel Agnew and Reece Brick said the trend was positive but until greater volumes reached the market it would be hard to accurately gauge the direction.

There was more buying

REAPING WHAT YOU SOW MADE POSSIBLE

from China, typical of this time of year when that market moved into winter with greater demand for products made from coarser NZ wool.

The industry was now “cautiously optimistic rather than wary”, they said.

Finer wools made up less than a quarter of the total Christchurch offering. Prices included: 14.7 micron $28.34/ kg clean, 18 micron $24.45/ kg clean, 26 micron $11.80/ kg clean, 29 micron $7.86/kg clean. Crossbred 32 micron $4.76/kg clean and 38 micron $3.43/kg clean (up from $3.20 a fortnight earlier in Christchurch and $3.15 on August 10).

$170-$188

$3.03-$3.09/kg

Very heavy males at Feilding Hogget Fair

3-year HerefordFriesian steers, 540615kg, at Rangiuru

Feeder calves bringing farmers solid returns THE start of calving on dairy farms also marks the start of the feeder calf sales, with these well through now. While they usually have a very good following and good prices for older cattle are bringing bigger Suz Bremner crowds, they have been more in the AgriHQ Analyst spotlight this year than any other, with new Primary Industries Ministry regulations requiring all calves to be sold under cover.

Some yards already had facilities in place, particularly in the South Island, while others have had to erect new structures at significant cost.

And while we all know no one likes change, these new covered yards have already proved their worth in this very wet August.

The biggest outlet for feeder calves is the Frankton sale yards. Stuart Wells from New Zealand Farmers Livestock reported most of the weekly sales had 1200-1700 calves offered and the big numbers drew a good crowd. Throughput is up on previous years with more farmers using beef bulls and a larger instance of small calves coming forward rather than heading on the bobby truck. While numbers have peaked, prices are still consistently strong, whereas they would usually taper off by now. The last few weeks have seen the top Friesian bulls make $220-$300, with Hereford-Friesian selling to $310-$490 and heifers, $180-$275.

Throughput and prices have also been high at other yards. Temuka had a record yarding of 540 head recently, up from the biggest of 200 in 2016.

In general across most yards, prices peaked in the first two weeks of August, with big Friesian bulls averaging $200-$250, medium $120-$180 and small, under $100. Hereford-Friesian topped out at $250-$350, though a few are reported above that level, while medium calves made $160-$240 and small, $100-$150.

The most common breed of heifers offered is Hereford-Friesian and returns have been solid.

Big heifer calves made $160-$250, medium $120$150 and small $60-$110. suz.bremner@nzx.com

MORE FROM AGRIHQ: MARKET SNAPSHOT MARKET WRAP

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