Farmers Weekly NZ April 6 2020

3 Insider’s view from China

Best trade/specialist publication and website – Voyager Media Awards 2019

Vol 19 No 13, April 6, 2020

Farming finds a way Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz

W

ITH the arrival of autumn livestock farmers face a critical pinch point from a mix of drought, the closure of sale yards and meat plants operating at about half their capacity.

And they face uncertainty in international meat and dairy markets as governments introduce virus control measures including the banning venison imports to China as part of controls on wild food.

AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad says demand for killing space for cattle, especially cull cows, has tightened earlier than ususal and well before the traditional peak, with some farmers facing a two to three-week delay.

The closure of saleyards has removed another outlet for farmers looking to reduce stock numbers ahead of winter.

“There is a need to get to our winter carrying capacity by being able to offload stock and I think that is going to be a juggle,” she says.

The Ministry for Primary Industries, Beef + Lamb, DairyNZ, the Deer Industry Association, AgFirst and Federated Farmers are providing remote feed planning support to farmers including a feed budgeting service and farm systems advice to assist in the lead-up to winter.

Farmers can get a free assessment by their industry organisation and access to an adviser to discuss management options and avenues for practical support.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Tim Ritchie says to meet the standard of an essential business, plants had to be reconfigured which means slower processing and delays getting stock killed.

farmersweekly.co.nz

$4.00

Incl GST

Home school

STILL LEARNING: With school children home across the country rural kids are spending time on the farm. Anieka Templer showed her daughter Maycie, 6, how to wrangle cows. The Templers are 50:50 sharemilkers, milking 630 cows at Balfour, northern Southland.

Turn to P13 for our new AginED feature that is packed with activities for kids to do at home or when they return to school.

Indications are that sheep chains are operating at half the usual speed and beef 70% but Ritchie says companies could extend shifts or make further changes to recover some of the lost production.

“They are still bedding down the processes but usually at times like this you get some innovation.”

The meat industry has negotiated protocols with MPI it must follow with the nine-page document covering physical distancing, hygiene, selfisolation, monitoring staff health, cleaning and personal protective equipment. MPI is auditing plants to ensure they adhere.

If a worker falls sick that would

not necessarily require a plant closure because staff are required to work and stay in teams rather than generally mix with the workforce.

Silver Fern Farms has had four staff affected with covid-19, three at its Kennington deer plant

Continued page 4

Trusted by livestock agents nationwide Trade online with confidence during the COVID-19 lockdown Contact the bidr team on

0800 86 2437

or bidr.co.nz to find out more

NEWS

19 Packhouses ramp up processing

Kiwifruit packhouse productivity is starting to ramp up under reduced staff numbers and covid-19 distancing requirements as the industry reconfigures packing lines and processing rates.

REGULARS Newsmaker ��������������������������������������������������� 24 New Thinking ����������������������������������������������� 25 Editorial ������������������������������������������������������� 26

4 The veges must get through

Pulpit ������������������������������������������������������������� 27

It’s business but certainly not as usual as Talleys presses on with the vegetable harvest.

Opinion ��������������������������������������������������������� 28 World �������������������������������������������������������������� 30 Real Estate ���������������������������������������������� 31-35 Employment ������������������������������������������������� 36 Classifieds ����������������������������������������������������� 36 Livestock ������������������������������������������������������� 37 Weather ��������������������������������������������������������� 39 Markets ���������������������������������������������������� 38-40

5 Feds, MPI in Moving Day talks

18 Lockdown locks out small fry

Plans are under way to come up with guidelines for sharemilkers and farm owners to follow for this year’s Moving Day.

An award-winning artisan food producer is pleading for authorities to reconsider supermarkets being sole food sources during the covid-19 lockdown as small producers eye diminishing cashflows.

our pioneering

spirit tells us

nothing’s

GlobalHQ is a farming family owned business that donates 1% of all advertising revenue in Farmers Weekly and Dairy Farmer to farmer health and well-being initiatives. Thank you for your prompt payment.

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

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

WAVE23683 NZFW

out of

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

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

3

China approaches a new normal Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz LIFE in China is returning to normal but with many restrictions and limitations.

Hunter McGregor, a kiwi who has lived in Shanghai for over 10 years marketing venison products, weathered the covid-19 outbreak from his family’s 17th storey apartment in the mega-city.

He cautions Kiwis about the road ahead to our own new normal.

McGregor estimates the Shanghai restaurant scene, an indicator of people’s willingness to get out and about, is about 30% of its way back to recovery.

However, with summer approaching and some easing of movement restrictions there is a sense of optimism in the air that things can only get better.

“Certainly, compared to what we have come through, people are feeling a lot more optimistic about where we are now,” he said.

He and the rest of the city were never legally confined to their homes during Shanghai’s lockdown. But it was the only realistic option in a city where the only places remaining open were supermarkets, produce outlets and hospitals.

He believes the Chinese government has earned kudos for acting quickly.

“And I think a lot of other countries are now looking at what they did and that includes the regional lockdowns.”

Entry to Shanghai now requires a 14-day quarantine in a government-selected hotel while cell phones are scanned when entering facilities to determine where their owners have been over past days.

Locals are still required to use an app that assesses their health status with a red, orange, green system, determining whether they can access some locations.

“And you will still get your temperature scanned when you enter your office building.”

Like New Zealand, the international borders are shut to all non-Chinese visitors and air

RECOVERING: Hunter McGregor says Chinese in Shanghai are feeling more optimistic about the future, now the worst of covid-19 has passed.

Certainly, compared to what we have come through, people are feeling a lot more optimistic about where we are now.

Hunter McGregor Mountain River traffic remains only 1.2% of the volume before covid-19.

And as benign as the government controls might appear, a heavy hand will still come down hard on nonconformers. McGregor recounted an Australian-Chinese woman who returned to China and went

unmasked for a run, both illegal.

“She was duly filmed by security staff, the video went viral and she ended up losing her job with a multi-national and was sent back to Australia.”

Coming out of the covid-19 woods is not a smooth passage even with China’s ability to control most things in its citizens’ lives.

Attractions like Shanghai’s Pearl Tower, that opened only 10 days earlier, have shut again with no notice of when they can re-open.

Schools remain shut in Shanghai, with little indication when they will re-open.

McGregor said there is much for New Zealanders to learn from the Chinese experience and despite the difference in size both countries face similar challenges.

For his business, marketing Mountain River venison to

700

Shanghai restaurants, there is a long way to get back to where he was.

“In fact I do feel a bit like I am starting my business again, only this time I know what I am doing!”

He sees demand shifts flowing through to NZ exporters as consumer behaviour and eating patterns are reassessed.

“Often it is hotels that account for a lot of that chilled meat trade but I would shudder to think what the occupancy rate is like for hotels right now.” Eating out is still tightly controlled, with restaurants sometimes forced to remove half their chairs to limit numbers.

He questions whether the traditional premium attached to chilled product can be sustained and perhaps frozen product with its longer shelf life and ability to weather longer supply chain

delays might become more popular.

Air freight capacity for highervalue items like chilled meat, fresh seafood and fresh milk is likely to be challenged for many months unless flight volumes pick up and the premium on it is likely to stay high, challenging the affordability of such products.

“I know Air NZ and NZ Trade and Enterprise have been doing a lot of work in this area to keep air freight going and that will be important for a number of products.”

Timing of the western covid-19 outbreak has also meant a reversal of fortunes that will still affect Chinese consumers’ ability to pay top dollar for products.

“In January-February the rest of the world was worried about China’s ability to supply products.

Now China is recovering, the rest of the world is buying less and this will roll into Chinese companies’ income and therefore workers’ incomes and ability to buy.”

But he also sees some opportunity arising over the Chinese summer.

“Normally, people leave the cities, head away for a holiday overseas. This year they will be staying home more. That is likely to result in greater demand for quality imported products from NZ.” Like many Kiwis McGregor hopes NZ’s diplomatic efforts and solid trade relationship with China will hold this country in good stead as it grapples with a new world order in trade.

To some extent it has already been validated by Chinese president Xi Jinping encouraging dairy product consumption in covid’s wake.

Meantime, McGregor encourages his fellow kiwis to stay positive in a locked down country with an environment far less bleak than a Shanghai winter spent in an apartment with few options outside.

“Doing business in China we are used to uncertainty and challenges. This is just bigger than normal.”

NO.1 IN SHEARING MACHINE SAFETY

THE ULTIMATE IN HIGH-POWERED SHEARING PERFORMANCE

DISTRIBUTED BY ACTO AGRICULTURE NZ LTD AVAILABLE THROUGH ALL LEADING FARM MERCHANDISE STORES

WWW.ACTO.CO.NZ

700 WATT

4

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

The veges must get through Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz IT’S business but certainly not as usual as Talleys presses on with the vegetable harvest.

At the final stage of harvest the hard work has been done so it’s important the annual harvest must continue, Talleys vegetables general manager Aaron Chudleigh said.

“The growing has been done, the farmers have done the hard work. It’s important we deliver on the growers’ work and also the needs of feeding the country.”

But it’s definitely not business as usual. In fact it’s quite a logistical exercise to harvest and process crops.

Continued from page 1 near Invercargill and one at Te Aroha.

All contracted the disease outside work before the essential business provisions and are recovering at home.

Chief executive Simon Limmer said Kennington is closed until April 8 as a precaution and because, being a small plant, staff worked close to each other before reconfiguration.

After a precautionary closure and Ministry of Health advice, Te Aroha is fully operational.

“The way we have approached both Kennington and Te Aroha with the support of health

“We have huge criteria under the Ministry for Primary Industries to operate as an essential service.

“The flow-on effect on staff both in the factory and out in the field harvesting has been carefully adapted to manage risk both in the work bubble and in the home bubble.”

Talleys harvests a wide range of vegetables including peas, beans, spinach, sweetcorn, carrots and potatoes.

The company controls every aspect of planting, harvesting, processing, freezing, packing, cold storage and freight with the fully integrated systems ensuring consistent quality at every step.

“There’s been a complete

There is a need to get to our winter carrying capacity by being able to offload stock and I think that is going to be a juggle.

Mel Croad AgriHQ

authorities and the stringent new processes we have in place serves as an assurance we are putting

Under the pump?

LOADING UP: Still going as an essential service Talleys works to wrap up the sweetcorn harvest on a Mid Canterbury cropping farm.

Photo: Annette Scott

change of work in operations at the factory and in the field harvesting.”

This has been more so around some vegetable harvesting than others.

“Obviously, in the case of the corn harvest it’s just a harvest driver and a truck driver so that’s not so complex but with the likes of potatoes there’s a lot more individuals involved and

a whole different situation.”

The same goes in the factory where operations have been adapted to meet the mandated criteria and keep everyone safe, Chudleigh said.

people first,” Limmer said.

Work areas have been marked so staff can observe the 2m distance, space has increased between workstations, mitigating practices have been introduced, face masks used or Perspex installed where distancing is not possible and staff breaks are staggered.

In a letter to staff Limmer says SFF’s priority is to ensure its operations do not heighten the risk of spreading covid-19.

Alliance livestock and shareholder services manager Danny Hailes says its ovine capacity is running at 50% and bovine at 70% with no impact on Cervena.

“We will look to increase capacity as we learn how to safely optimise the new way of working under alert level four.

“Our plants are operating both day and night shifts in an effort to process farmers’ livestock as soon as practicable within the safe working limits currently in place.”

Hailes says killing delays are inevitable and he asks farmers to be patient.

A Fonterra spokesman said milk is being collected and processed as normal.

Collection volumes are not too dissimilar to previous seasons, even with the North Island drought and southern South

Island floods considered.

“Our operations in New Zealand continue as usual. Our factories are still able to operate while complying with MPI’s requirements, such as social distancing.”

B+LNZ chief executive Rod Slater says most domestic meat processors also export but he is aware one large Auckland processor has for the last two weeks focused solely on supplying the domestic market.

There is enough meat to satisfy domestic demand but Slater says Government rules preventing private butcher shops from opening limit distribution.

When I’m really busy, I ask myself what are the top two tasks I need to work on today?

Sam Whitelock Farmstrong Ambassador

For tips and ideas,

visit farmstrong.co.nz

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

5

Feds, MPI in Moving Day talks Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz PLANS are under way to come up with guidelines for sharemilkers and farm owners to follow for this year’s Moving Day. Federated Farmers sharemilkers chairman Richard McIntyre is fielding numerous calls from sharemilkers asking him how Moving Day is going to work with so much of the country in lockdown.

While much of the Government’s focus is on immediate issues Moving Day is on its radar, he said.

“We are going to be discussing it more and more over the coming weeks as it becomes clearer and clearer what it might look like.”

Initial discussions with the Primary Industries Ministry lead him to believe they will be able to find a solution that allows farmers to shift to a new job without risking their health.

It could mean changing how Moving Day is done.

“We’re working on a solution.

“Whatever happens it’s going to be a time when people are going to have to work together. The transition from one farm to the

WORK IN PROGRESS: Federated Farmers sharemilkers spokesman Richard McIntyre is working on a solution to help sharemilkers move to new farms without risking the spread of covid-19.

next might take longer and there might need to be a bit more grace around shifting stuff over a longer period of time.”

His message to farm owners is to keep communication open and show goodwill to the incoming and outgoing sharemilkers.

“It’s not going to be a simple situation and it’s going to take all three parties working together.”

Farmers are used to following biosecurity protocols for shifting cattle.

“Farmers are in a better place to understand and deal with coronavirus because they have had to deal with Mycoplasma bovis,” he said.

Te Pirita dairy farmer Robin Hornblow and wife Kirstie are moving from a farm manager’s

role to a contract milking job near Ashburton for the new milking season.

He feels like he has prepared as best he can for the shift.

“But if the lockdown was to go on into May and even into June there would have to be some leniency on the rules and letting family who don’t live in our bubble help. My wife and I wouldn’t be able to move all our possessions by ourselves due to her being pregnant and not able to do any heavy lifting.”

He is lucky the farm owner and outgoing contract milker left him some shed space on the new farm, enabling him to move some things there before the lockdown.

“Now we just have to wait and see and prepare the best we can to move the rest of our house and gear all in one day on May 31.

“We are renting vehicles to move our possessions. They have been good to deal with and we had them booked in well in advance before the lockdown.

We aren’t bringing any livestock so there is no worry for us in that space. For equipment we have purchased the dealership is organising delivery.”

South Canterbury sharemilker

Ben Jaunay is moving from a herd-owning sharemilking job to managing a large corporate farm next season.

So he has a lot of farm equipment and stock he no longer needs and is trying to sell.

“When you’re exiting herdowning you’ve got a heck of a lot of gear for a start and I’ve still got some stock to sell and that’s proving quite difficult.”

He has to leave his farm by May 31 and is concerned he might not be able to get rid of his cull cows with space being so tight at meat plants.

He has contracted his milking herd for the new season and is trying to sell online his remaining beef cattle on his lease block as well as tractors and mixer wagons.

But no one is interested in buying the machinery because people cannot go on his farm to inspect it.

“That’s the challenge.

Everything’s on hold but so many people are in the same position.

It’s just a matter of sitting tight and seeing what happens.

“If the lockdown suddenly goes from four weeks to eight weeks it might get a bit complicated.”

Covid puts kybosh on a family’s farm move Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz LIFE is on pause for Jane and Jono Read who were all set to move farm on March 31.

The Hawke’s Bay couple and their two teenage children had their moving plans thrust into turmoil when the covid-19 lockdown kicked in on March 26.

With a March 31 takeover date the trucks, trailers and horsefloats were all lined up ready for the move from their farm that had

been in the family for almost 60 years.

“It hadn’t been an easy decision to move but we made the decision in the best interest of the family in the future. We had accepted the decision and actually got to the point we were looking forward to moving on,” Jane said.

“The kids would have still been at boarding school and they were looking forward to settling in when they came home for the school holidays.

“Now life is on pause. It’s a really odd dilemma.”

ARE YOU MAKING A SPLASH?

The family is leaving the Wairoa sheep and beef farm Jono’s father moved onto as a teenager in the 60s with his parents and seven siblings when they moved from England.

The generations before Jane and Jono cleared the land of scrub and turned 2500 hectares of steep hill country into a viable farm.

Over the years and in a process geared towards succession planning the property was divvied up.

“It’s been a big wrench for us to leave but we are downsizing

from the 1100ha we farmed to half the size, 412ha, still in Hawke’s Bay but closer to Havelock North where the kids go to school.

“And for us farming will be easier now. We had just had enough of the steep country and it was getting difficult with all the new regulations to dot the Is and cross the Ts. “The contour is primo on this new property, still sheep and beef with potential for cropping, that to us is an upgrade.

“Now we just have to ride the lockdown out until we can move.

“And, of course, there’s been a domino effect but everyone, the real estate agents, lawyers, bank have been easy to work with.

“All the dilemmas have been sorted. We have no idea when we will shift now. It’s just a real loopy time for everyone.”

The positive is the plan was in place as part of the deal for the Reads to lease their Wairoa property till the end of May. “So that’s worked out, at least.

We can have somewhere for the stock to stay meantime,” Read said.

BE IN TO WIN A FANTASTIC PRIZE PACK. Here at Zimmatic® we want to acknowledge the world-class leadership of New Zealand and Australian farmers with the introduction of the Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards.

Simply tell us how you, or someone you know, is leading the way in sustainable water management, environmental stewardship, resource efficiency and waterway protection.

The top three entries from each country will win a fantastic prize pack of agricultural services and products, in addition to the supreme winner receiving a major prize, for more information visit our website.

Celebrate excellence. Enter Trailblazer today. Simply enter online at irrigationtrailblazer.com

AWARDING EXCELLENCE WITH SUPPORT FROM

For eligibility details refer to www.irrigationtrailblazer.com.

Zimmatic® is a registered trademark of the Lindsay Corporation. © 2020 Lindsay. All Rights Reserved.

It takes a team to keep food on the table for all of us during these challenging times.

We are open Like you, we’re working hard, and are ready to help.

We have fert Fertiliser, animal health, agchem and seed products are available.

We are making product delivery and pick up, safe People come first. We’re working to strict protocols to avoid contact. Please get in touch with your local store to confirm hours, and for advice on onsite safety procedures, if picking up.

To place your order, contact your agri manager or call our Customer Centre on 0800 100 123. Remember you can also order online via My Ravensdown or HawkEye.

Smarter farming for a better New Zealand® For the latest updates go to ravensdown.co.nz and follow us on Facebook.

0800 100 123 ravensdown.co.nz

RAV-06APR-FW

Thank you, farmers

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Plans to get sale yards up and moving again Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz A GROUP of stock agents is trying to establish operating guidelines to allow an early but limited resumption of sale yards and on-farm auctions.

Still very much in the planning stages and not yet policy of the NZ Stock and Station Agents Association, the proposed operating protocols will apply once the covid-19 level four alert is eased and allow an early resumption of sale yards and farm auctions.

Association chairman Steve Morrison, who is behind the initiative, says it aims to let weaner and dairy herd disposal sales to be held while also re-establishing market values, something missing from the market since the country went into lockdown.

It could also be used for beef and dairy sire auctions.

“Clearly, it is hard to gauge what covid-related constraints may be in place later on,” he says.

“Frankly, we are mostly focused in the nearer term on the likes of dairy clearing sales and perhaps run weaner sales and working on options to further enhance this channel option from both farmer and covid-19 risk avoidance or mitigation perspective.”

The pressure is on farmers who traditionally sell weaner calves, are selling dairy herds or need to quit stock they cannot carry over winter.

Morrison says as winter looms the lack of options to

RESTART: Stock agents are considering protocols for the resumption of sale yard and farm auctions.

Remaining selling systems are all suffering from the absence of auctions to determine market prices with online selling not taking off. quit surplus stock is causing farmer and animal welfare issues.

Remaining selling systems are all suffering from the absence of auctions to determine market prices with online selling not taking off and private on-farm sales facing logistical limitations from adhering to social distancing rules.

Should the proposal be accepted by the industry

ADVERTISEMENT

and then the Government, successfully satisfying covid-19 restrictions could lead to the sale of other classes of stock that are deemed necessary.

Some of the restrictions being considered by the agents will limit attendance to a set number of stock handlers who would wear protective clothing, agents and buyers.

Venders will have follow sales by phone or live streams and onlookers will be banned.

Stock would be drafted and marked on-farm, all attendees would have to register and adhere to the 2m distance rule without any socialising.

All facilities contacted by multiple people would have to be disinfected before and after sales.

Morrison says such a

system will require cooperation by stock firms and he proposes sales ideally be conducted by one auctioneering team, comprising an auctioneer, a spotter and a clerk.

If teams were to change, the auctioneer area would need to be sanitised each time.

The draft operating procedures have been prepared with other experienced agents and they are seeking input from other stock firms before deciding whether to approach the Government.

“Aspects of the potential inclusions or features will vary by the involved company and yard but the group involved saw value in working towards developing an operating arrangement or standard that may be approved by Government.”

7

ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

Life settles into a new normal SADLY, April Fools Day passed without the worldwide situation being pulled up for being just a bad joke and life over the past week has settled into a new norm. While we would dearly love to have the sale yards operating and the big weaner fairs and calf sales held and reported on, that is not to be and livestock agents, buyers and sellers have taken up the challenge of trading in a virtual world, whether it be through the paddocks without actually stepping foot in them or on the online trading platforms.

Many livestock agents report they have been busier than ever and that doesn’t look like it will slow down any time soon. There are a lot of stock on quote, especially calves, lambs and Friesian bulls – all of which would be regulars at sale yards at this time. Most are very slow to move though and for cattle, in particular, that is caused by two factors – the lack of processing capacity, which means potential buyers can’t kill older cattle and so can’t restock and while rain has fallen, the market is yet to see any benefit, though it will come. On-farm trading is happening, but under strict conditions and the paper trail that goes with it means it is really only on a needs-must basis.

The website and app MyLivestock have had a noted increase in activity, both in listings and sales. New Zealand Farmers Livestock general manager Bill Sweeney said in the past three weeks, following new promotion material, there were 170 new downloads and 82 in the last seven days. There are 47% more users in the past week and double the number of listings. “The concept of MyLivestock is simple, easy to use and in real time. Users can list a line of stock for sale as they stand in the paddock looking at them and it will automatically go out to agents and interested parties. Lines have been sold within a few minutes of the listing going up while the farmer was still standing in the paddock.”

Online trading has become a bit of a buzz word lately and there has been a noted lift in interest on platforms such as bidr. Wednesday night’s North Island sale had 40 registered buyers and 114 watchers though the concept is yet to be fully embraced. suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

Find out more about AgriHQ at agrihq.co.nz

LEGAL TALK with Barbara McDermott Agreement for sale and purchase of land must be signed by all trustees

Kahawai Point Developments Ltd v Khan Kahawai Point Developments Limited signed an agreement to sell its property. The purchaser was named in the agreement as the “Kowhai Trust”.

There were three trustees of the Kowhai Trust.

Only one of them (Mr Khan) signed the agreement.

A deposit of $38,000 was paid to Kahawai from the Kowhai Trust’s bank account. The solicitors for Kahawai and the Kowhai Trust took the usual steps to prepare for settlement. However, when settlement was due the Kowhai Trust did not settle.

Kahawai sought a summary judgment court order requiring Mr Khan to complete the agreement. A

Barbara McDermott Phone 07 834 6159 barbara.mcdermott@nwm.co.nz

summary judgment order is granted without the plaintiff having to prove their case in a full trial. The order will only be granted if the plaintiff can satisfy the court that the defendant has no defence to the claim.

The judge who heard Kahawai’s application stated the relevant law. The Kowhai Trust itself is not a “legal person”. Where the vendor or the purchaser is a trust, all the trustees must be parties to the agreement and must sign it (unless a trustee who has not signed has delegated his or her powers in the circumstances permitted in the Trustee Act).

Kahawai accepted these general principles but claimed Mr Khan was personally liable whether or not the other trustees signed the agreement.

The judge refused to grant the order sought by Kahawai. The judge said it was clearly arguable that the parties intended the property would be purchased by the trustees of the Kowhai Trust.

This intention was shown by the description of the purchaser as “the Kowhai Trust” (although this description was legally incorrect), the factual matrix, including the conduct of the solicitors

www.nwm.co.nz

involved, and the payment of the deposit from the Kowhai Trust’s bank account. In addition, Mr Khan could have been signing the agreement as trustee and this was consistent with the intention of the parties that the Kowhai Trust was the purchaser.

The judge also said there is arguably no binding agreement because not all of the trustees agreed to be bound by signing the agreement.

The judge refused to grant the order sought because Kahawai had not established a clear and unequivocal case of a purchase by Mr Khan personally. This does not necessarily mean Kahawai won’t be successful if the case goes to trial. Although Kahawai did not establish its case sufficiently to obtain a summary judgment order, the case may now proceed to trial where the competing claims can be tested. The judge mentioned that Mr Khan may be liable for misrepresentation and/or some other deceitbased cause of action. There may also be other claims Kahawai may make.

LK0099731©

When a trust is selling or buying property, if the agreement is to be legally binding without any argument being raised otherwise, it is important that all the trustees are named in the agreement and all the trustees sign it. Numerous cases have come before the courts where the agreement hasn’t been prepared or signed properly. A recent case is a typical example.

8

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Living in high-country bubbles Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz LIVING in an isolation bubble is not new for high country farmers but keeping their heads above water under covid-19 has added a whole new management dimension.

Farming in a bubble is not that hard for the Guild family on High Peak Station in Canterbury, Hamish Guild says.

“We are treating the farm as one bubble, limiting contact on to the farm and only off the farm for essential supplies – keeping a tight grip.

“Morale among farm staff is great.

“Gemma is home schooling the kids. That seems to be going pretty well, at least at this stage, and that’s one big plus for us in the high country. The bubble is a big space for the kids.”

But there are not too many other plusses.

“The covid-19 lockdown has meant a huge challenge financially for us. Like many high country farming operations we are highly geared for tourism.

“We have lost 35% of our annual revenue in seven days.

“For our hunting operation, in particular, it’s a huge blow. We have nine contractors associated with our hunting-tourism businesses from March through June. There’s nothing now.”

High Peak was forced to cancel its annual weaner deer sale. While selling through an online platform was considered the family decided to first try private sales.

“We felt it was right that the first port of call be to our loyal clients and offer to them first. We may well end up doing something online depending how it goes.”

The annual calf sale scheduled for this month will likely go the same way.

“We are considering options for the calf sale. While the beef market will take a hit it’s looking that it

will be less severe in beef than in some other export products – we’re hoping.

“We have been lucky with the lambs. We hit good timing on the lamb market but we are waiting processing space to get sheep away.

“So, it’s pretty much day-by-day.

We do know now that tourism will take longer to bounce back than we initially thought.

“We do believe farming will right itself quite quickly.”

The family is also coping with the loss of good friend and former High Peak stock manager Gavin Dowling who died on his Marlborough farm on day one of the lockdown.

“Supporting his wife Rosie and the three young children remotely during this time is tough. We all want to be there for her to hug and cry.

“Thank goodness technology is at least allowing us to communicate.”

In South Wairarapa the impact of covid-19 has hit hard for Lisa and Kurt Portas on their Palliser Ridge property.

Agribusiness tourism stopped overnight, Lisa said.

“Our operation is split in two separate businesses. In farming we have made changes with all four families on the farm in one isolation bubble.

“For farming we have made changes, we can carry on, the meetings have been changed to Zoom meetings and team group chats.

“The farm has organised food packages delivered fortnightly to keep away from supermarkets, we have rolling starts to keep everyone separated, everyone has their own quad bikes, their own space and essential farm activities are ticking along. Technology is the key to keeping in touch with everyone.”

The diversification business is not so straightforward.

“It’s a difficult one to navigate.

BIG BLOW: Hamish Guild says covid-19 has created huge financial challenges for the Guild family on High Peak Station that lost 35% of its annual income in just seven days.

“All international guests have been cancelled, we are dealing with huge uncertainty and will be over the next three to four months.

“We have online stores and that’s an interesting space to be watching.

“It’s all about remembering we will come out the other side. We have got to keep thinking longer term and keep being prepared.”

The positive is the couple’s two young children are thriving in their bubble.

“It’s been quite hectic for the kids who always long for home days. They have a big backyard to play in, we are managing best we can and just balancing everything in,” Portas said.

Give a little FARMING couple Rosie and Gavin Dowling are great mates to their friends, great community members and dedicated parents to their children Harry, 4, Digby, 2, and Olive, nine months.

For the past nine months they have juggled life with wee Olive in and out of hospital with Ebsteins, a rare cardiac condition.

She’s had more nights in hospital than at home and Gavin has been home with the

boys while running the farm and travelling to see Rosie and Olive in Wairau, Nelson and Starship hospitals.

On March 26, the first day of the nationwide lockdown, Gavin died on their Marlborough farm.

Supporting Rosie remotely during this time is tough so her farming friends have started a Give-A-Little page at givealittle. co.nz/cause/help-rosie-andher-family-during-this-tragictime.

TRANSPORTABLE HOMES

Farm Workers Accommodation • Additional Family Dwelling (Great for the Kids or Parents) • Rental Income 25% + Yield • Bed & Breakfast

houseme.co.nz Deluxe One Bedroom (on Skids) with Kitchen, Lounge and Bathroom

59,500 + GST

$ • • • • • • •

10.4m x 3.0m

Double Glazing Fully Insulated Top to bottom Quality Oven, Hobs, Rangehood and Fridge/Freezer TV Outlet and Wall Mounting Bracket Washing Machine Taps and Plumbing Bedroom Storage & Wardrobes FARMERS WEEKLY PROMO: Delivery price based on location FREE STAINLESS STEEL FRIDGE/FREEZER

WORTH $750

100% KIWI OWNED AND BUILT Show homes available to view: HouseMe 10am–4pm at 51-53 Hunua Rd, Papakura, Auckland For more information: P. 0800 468 736 E. info@houseme.co.nz

Together, Creating the Best Soil and Feed on Earth

Together, reducing phosphate loss * by up to 75%

An effective and sustainable phosphate that is better for the environment. *Relative to superphosphate products.

ballance.co.nz | 0800 222 090

News

10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Fonterra: No disruption yet Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz FONTERRA’S farmers have quickly adapted to phone or online ordering of goods and farm inputs from Farm Source, group director Richard Allen says.

“Sales traffic was high in the first few days of closed-door operations, which was not unexpected.

“Traffic has now reduced to more normal levels and aligned to more seasonal patterns.

“Each of our regions is slightly different in terms of buying behaviour and collection versus delivery but all have adopted and respected this way of operating in a short period of time.

“Orders are placed over the phone or online and can be dropped off at a zero-contact collection point on-farm or picked up from outside the store.

“Our phone-based service centre and online sales channel have come into their own,” Allen said.

The biggest challenge for farmers initially was changing onfarm practices for covid-19 safety reasons and registration with the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Fonterra has established a dedicated Farm Source website

STILL GOING: Fonterra’s products are flowing normally to markets.

Sales traffic was high in the first few days of closed-door operations, which was not unexpected.

Richard Allen Farm Source for the latest information and advice for managing in this situation.

It has also modelled scenarios around the June 1 moving time for each covid-19 alert level, though they have not been released.

Allen said the demand for palm kernel has been on par with previous years and average fat evaluation indexes have risen in Northland and Waikato since Christmas.

Those increases were in line with what happened in the upper South Island drought last year.

“Farmers are continuing to manage their FEI levels well by

optimising supplementary feeds and drying off lower-producing cows.”

It is not easy to forecast palm kernel demand but the main supply lines remain open and there is enough inventory to cover forward commitments, he said.

At the Kauri processing plant, near Whangarei, on-site water sources have dried up and Fonterra is tankering in water from a private dam nearby.

Earlier in the drought it was facilitating water deliveries to

Kaikohe and Kaitaia through Kauri, which is also connected to the Whangarei town water storage lake, but that has now ceased.

Fonterra remains adamant it hasn’t experienced shortages of chilled containers or storage and its shipments are being prioritised though ports in some markets have slowed.

“As part of our business continuity plan we identified extra storage space but as yet we have not needed it,” global supply chain director Gordon Carlyle said.

“At this time of year we generally always have storage over and above our fixed footprint.”

Carlyle said milk collection, production, scheduling, logistics and delivery activities to all markets are largely operating as normal.

“One of our advantages is our scale, both in manufacturing, product mix and international marketplaces.

“We have the ability to flex and change to adapt to hot-spots around the world.

“This is a key benefit of having a global customer base and multiple selling platforms – consumer, food service, supply contracts, Global Dairy Trade and spot sales.”

Spend $7,500 on selected fencing products and get a FREE LG 50” 4K Smart TV.*

FREE

April 2020

Trader

Farmlands

Welcome Everyone’s

I

tionwide 82 stores na

SALE ON NOW!

OTHER OPTION

20L

$

99.95

SAVE* $45.00

49

1009706

Contact your local Farmlands store today.

SAVE OVER $250 PROFENCE TITE GRIP DEER NETTING 13/190/30 X 100M

GULF CHAIN BAR OIL 150 200L

149 | 1001991

499 | 1009874

899

.99

INCL. GST SAVE $294.96

$

299.99

INCL. GST SAVE $76.97

FAR_09406

$

* Terms and conditions apply. Exclusive to Farmlands shareholders only. Offer valid 1st April - 31st May 2020. Selected products apply.

GALLAGHER STEEL

IPLEX FARMTUFF CULVERT

PIPE

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Milk tankers get clear run Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

NO HOLD-UPS: Driving under the covid-19 lockdown is much easier for milk tanker drivers not having to worry about traffic jams and roadworks.

We have received great notes from a lot of farmers who are really appreciative of what we are all doing during these trying times.

THE day of a milk tanker driver is different under covid-19 but without the traffic jams and roadworks it’s a lot easier.

Fonterra lower North Island depot manager Paul Phipps said being an essential service means milk is still being collected and Paul Phipps processed and collection volumes are not wildly different to previous Fonterra seasons.

That’s also considering this thing we can all do is follow the season’s challenges that have safety measures that have been included a significant drought put in place to keep us protected in the North and flooding in the and work with the rest of the South. country to break the chain of “Being an essential service covid-19.” means we are busy. We take our Phipps said tanker drivers and status as an essential service very shareholders are owning the seriously. situation.

“It’s a privilege and a Shareholders live partly in responsibility that we don’t isolation all year round so not a take lightly and we have strict massive change there. precautions in place to ensure And tanker drivers are well our employees, their families and known to take things in their communities are kept safe during stride this time,” Phipps FARMERS WEEKLYsaid.

HALF PAGE 265W X 200Hand MMcontinue to keep the wheels turning.

“Right now the most important

There’s even a welcome positive for drivers.

“I’m hearing a lot from our tanker drivers around how life is a lot easier not having to worry about traffic jams and roadworks so that’s a positive.”

New ways of operating mean all drivers over 70 and those who are immune compromised have been stood down with all shift meetings and other group meetings cancelled to reduce person-to-person risk. That also applies to eating and smoking areas.

“For those tanker drivers who are working we have staggered starts to minimise the number of people at the depot and have

switched from meetings being held face to face to written communication with whiteboards and paper copies.”

Drivers are all carrying sanitiser to use while out on collection with sanitiser provided at all touchable points onsite and both onsite and on-farm the two-metre distancing is being strictly adhered.

Phipps said farmers’ cooperation is great.

“Our shareholders have been great. We arrive at a lot of farms and they have set up cleaningsanitising stations for us and are fully aware of social distancing.

“We have received great notes from a lot of farmers who are really appreciative of what we

are all doing during these trying times.”

For the collection team the big focus is about actions, checking what they can do to make sure they are safe.

“And starting to think now is not the time to rely on others to make sure my work area, for example my cab, is clean when I hop in it, I own it.

“We all know we have an important part to play in breaking the chain and living our safety values at work and at home because that’s what is going to get us through this.

“I couldn’t be involved with a better bunch to knock this thing over,” Phipps said.

The use of bait stations are required.

Dose as needed.

Apply like a mini block on Vertical or Horizontal rods.

SMA SM SMART A BAIT B BA AIT FOR RODENTS AIT RODENTS

SOFT BAIT

FATAL ATTRACTION FOR RATS AND MICE.

THE GENERATION ANTI-COAGULANT IN AN IRRESISTIBLE SOFT BAIT FORMULATION THAT GETS RAPID RESULTS IN A SINGLE FEED. KEY FEATURES: 10g ready-to-use soft bait, unique formulation.

Superior attractiveness and palatability.

More attractive than food sources.

Special soft bait paper allows aroma to escape and attract rodents.

Excellent texture, no leaking, no melting.

Very good heat tolerance. Good moisture tolerance.

Active ingredient, difethialone 25ppm which is not detected by rodents.

The most advanced and highly effective anti coagulant with no known genetic resistance among rodent populations.

Non-dispersible bait. Single-feed with rapid mode of action.

PH: 0800 100 325 WWW.UPL-LTD.COM/NZ

Generation ® Registered Trademark of LIPHATECH SAS. Block Bait: HSNO Approval Code: HSR100840. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act. No V9597 Soft Bait: HSNO Approval Code: HSR100839. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act. No V9587

11

News

12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Meat outlook good, dairy less so Neal Wallace & Hugh Stringleman CHINA’S gradual return to normal food buying patterns will soften the blow of an imminent global recession for meat producers but there appears little respite for dairy farmers, Rabobank analysts say.

Analyst Blake Holgate says meat prices are expected to soften in the short term but growing demand from a resurgent China should see prices recover, albeit lower than this past season, in the second half of the year.

Prospects are less optimistic for dairy with Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey predicting imports to China to be 20% lower than last and demand weaker because of a 1% lift in production from Britain and Europe.

“It’s shifting the balance to exportable surplus, which is creating pressure on the global market.”

Harvey says Rabobank will soon provide a new milk price guide for next season but warns farmers it will be lower than this year.

The bank bases its forecasts on 2020 global economic growth of 0.7%, disrupted supply chains, a contraction of food service in Europe and the United States and lower production from processors.

A spike in the global price and demand for meat and dairy has been driven by consumers stocking up ahead of expected lockdowns and is expected to be short-lived.

Harvey says New Zealand dairy farmers will have some insulation from a low exchange rate and

A positive reading indicates optimism.

Statistics NZ has prepared trade data for the first 25 days of March, when the covid-19 outbreak was determined, comparing it with the corresponding period in 2019.

It reveals imports from all countries down 3.4%, exports to all countries up 0.5%, imports from China down 14% and exports to China down 12%.

At times like this it is comforting to be a food exporter.

ASB

MIXED: Rabobank analyst Blake Holgate expects Chinese demand for meat to pick up later in the year but warns next season’s farmgate milk price will be lower than this year’s.

an expected 1% drop in milk production because of drought but countered by greater export volumes out of Europe.

A build-up of dairy inventory late last year means China is not expected to be an active buyer in 2020, a situation exacerbated by February’s covid-19 shutdown,

greater local production and liquid milk processors diverting product to powder and long-life products.

The ANZ does not expect the domestic economy to recover. Its business outlook for March has plummeted to its lowest level ever at minus 64.

Countering that has been an 11% decline in the last month of the NZ dollar against the US dollar, which Holgate says has helped export values.

The key period for meat exporters will be the next three months when Chinese activity gradually increases but economies in Europe, Britain and the US start to slow.

Containing covid-19 has delayed the recovery of China’s pig industry from African swine fever and Holgate says it still faces a 1520% shortage in protein, leading to forecasts of significant demand for sheep meat and beef in the second half of this year.

He expects prices to soften through that transition but recover later in the year with Chinese demand, lower supply

out of Australia and a lower dollar but levels will be lower than last year.

Food service in Europe, Britain and the US faces an uncertain future.

“I think there will be downward pressure on high-value cuts, which will impact on the whole carcase,” he says.

US demand for manufacturing beef has remained steady, driven by food retail as consumers stock up on supplies.

Individual states are managing their covid-19 responses so some fast food outlets are open but not enough to underpin demand for NZ beef.

Towards the end of last month the NZD/USD cross-rate rose to about US60c, having been as low as 56c on March 23. It began the year at 67c.

The fall in the NZD, though coming late in the season, will be worth 25c/kg milksolids in the farmgate dairy price, NZX Agri analyst Amy Castleton said.

While comforting, it is a theoretical observation because the co-operative has a full exchange rate hedging policy in each season so any fall in the NZD means more to next season’s milk price.

ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny said world prices for all commodities fell in the week ended March 20 by 3.8% in USD but rose 1.5% in NZD terms.

“A lower NZD will help the NZ commodity exports rebound faster than most.

“At times like this it is comforting to be a food exporter.”

It’s not all rosy for NZ exports Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz COVID-19 disruption is biting into New Zealand’s commodity markets with mixed results for farm and orchard gate prices, ANZ economists report.

The April issue of the ANZ Research Agri-Focus is called Storm Clouds Above, written by agricultural economist Susan Kilsby and chief economist Sharon Zollner.

As the world closes down the economic conditions are expected to be dire and as a trading nation we can’t escape the fall-out, they say.

Global dairy prices have softened but international milk supply is constrained and that will limit the downside risk.

ANZ has maintained its farmgate milk price forecast at $7.15/kg milksolids for this season but cut next season’s prediction to $6.45, previously $7.10.

That downgrade is based on some more weakness to come in milk powder prices though they will be more robust than many other commodities.

Export beef is now flowing back towards China as the United States covid-19 shutdown starts to bite.

“No matter what market you are supplying, in a crisis period what really counts is the strength of relationships held along the supply chain.”

Farmgate prices for manufacturing cow and bull have fallen 30% and 22% respectively.

ANZ said restrictions on processing capacity and strong demand to get stock killed mean further decreases in schedules are expected.

Farmgate returns for venison are trending down as global conditions for selling high-end products like venison are very challenging.

Exporters are diverting venison into retail channels but that won’t compensate for the loss of restaurant consumption.

Returns for lamb have fallen but stabilised at relatively good levels near $7/kg while markets for mutton and wool are much more challenging.

Processing delays and the weaker NZ dollar have underpinned farmgate values until now, ANZ said.

Demand from China is reawakening but mainly from supermarkets, not restaurants.

China’s economy has suffered a huge shock and will have further

waves as global demand for its manufactured goods slows.

Though our reliance on China is being considered a vulnerability, as that market opens again while others are closing, it is a relative bright spot in an otherwise gloomy global economy.

The world’s population needs to eat while stuck indoors but when times are tough luxury goods tended to be forgone.

In many of our markets we fit in to the luxury end rather than the staple foods categories.

“Although this is where we want to be long-term to command premium prices and build a brand it does mean demand for our goods may not be as inelastic as we think.”

ANZ said a shortage of chilled containers resulted from nonessential goods not being emptied and the boxes returned into circulation.

Airfreight options are also greatly reduced.

However, the cost of shipping is going down because of lower oil prices.

Picking of kiwifruit and apples will provide some logistical nightmares this autumn.

“A lack of cool storage space and a potential shortfall of workers

TRAPPED: New Zealand cannot escape the economic fallout of covid-19, ANZ rural economist Susan Kilsby says.

means some fruit may not be picked this season.

“There is a real risk that packhouses and processing plants that operate with a large number of people in a relatively confined area will be subjected to regular shutdowns as they try to limit health risks.”

ANZ economists have picked a 5-6% drop in GDP in 2020 including a 17% decrease in the second quarter.

The unemployment rate will more than double to 8%, to levels not seen since the early 1990s.

No matter what market you are supplying, in a crisis period what really counts is the strength of relationships held along the supply chain.

ANZ

AginED

#

FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U E N E R P

G

Volume One I April 6 2020 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz

Agriculture is our culture

Hello future Agripreneurs!

This project page is for you. We’re producing AginED every week helping you learn a little more about our most valuable industry. New Zealand’s food industry is a world leader, and right now it’s as important to our country as it ever has been.

Farming is just one part of the agricultural, horticultural and forestry industry. They say it takes a village to raise a child, well it takes a whole country to grow, process, sell and consume food. So we call all those people who have made it their career: Agripreneurs.

They work together, share ideas, set up supply chains, take a long term view on success, and they weather together.

They all have one of the most purposeful jobs in the world, because we all love to eat and share food together, every day of our lives.

We’re so good at producing food in New Zealand, that not only do we grow our own, but we also feed another 40 - 50 million others all around the world. And we do it with an inspiring amount of passion, and in a way that is good for the environment and improving all the time. We love doing it. Agriculture is our culture.

Have fun! We hope you enjoy AginED with your families, and we look forward to your letters and feedback.

In your paper 1 Rewrite this week’s front page headline in your words, make it catchy 2 Go outside and take a front page news photo 3 Give it a caption and share it on our facebook page

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 Go to the Opinion pages and read a letter or column that interests you 2 Discuss a topic important to you and your family 3 Give us your opinion: Write a letter to our editor, agined@globalhq.co.nz. Keep it under 150 words

Letter of the week Ewe said...

1 Got to www.farmersweekly.co.nz 2 Find OnFarmStory on Greg and Rachel Hart 3 Watch the video and read the article

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 Greg is a regenerative farmer. What is regenerative farming?

2 Name a regenerative process

1 Go to the AgriHQ Market Snapshot pages 2 What graph is this?

North Island ???? slaughter price 9.5

3 Is it trending better or worse?

$/kgCW

8.5

STRETCH YOURSELF:

7.5

1 What is the average North Island Steer slaughter price this week?

6.5

2 How does this compare to the same time last year?

5.5 4.5

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr

2018-19

Jun 2019-20

FILL YA BOOTS: 1

Look at the soil moisture level map, what level is the area where you live?

2 How will the 7-day weather forecast effect these levels?

3 Find a job you’d like to apply for, then write the cover letter selling yourself to the employer

Aug

Oct

Source: AgriHQ

3 In the data shown, in what month and year did prices peak?

* Share your AginEd photos on our Farmers Weekly facebook page * Remember to use the hashtag #AginEd * Letters to: agined@globalhq.co.nz

Hi.

My name is Sam and I am nearly 8. I am writing in because school has been closed and I saw your photo of a Swiss Army knife so I would like to enter. Because I am obsessed with pocket knives so I would love to get the Swiss Army knife. The knives I have are 2 Gerber knives one is a multi tool and the other is a normal pocket knife which is probably the sharpest. And I have a normal Swiss Army knife that is red and has a knife and a can opener.

The things that I like about farming is that I get to go out with dad and have fun with him and sometimes we go to see other people in the middle of the job we are doing. But now thanks to the coronavirus that won’t be happening anymore.

I wonder if you will be having your newspaper during lockdown. And i cannot wait until the lockdown closes. But its not so bad when you are on lockdown on a farm because you have lots and lots of space.

Well this is fun doing this writing I’ve never done it before. And this might be something good to go with my school work at home. I also like farming because I can make cool things like double headed spears and pocket knives when dad is doing some work that I can’t do. Please accept my work. Hope that you are safe between now and when the coronavirus leaves. Goodbye.

Sam Stringer Age: 7yrs Springfield

T hanks Sam! Your GlobalHQ mug is on its way!

News

14 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Fieldays postponed indefinitely THIS year’s Fieldays at Mystery Creek has been postponed indefinitely because of the ongoing impact of covid-19.

Chief executive Peter Nation said the difficult decision was made because there is no means of knowing what the continued effects of covid-19 will have on the events sector and the organisation’s ability to stand-up an event in the future, in an email sent out to all exhibitors.

As an alternative, Nation has proposed an online version of Fieldays to give exhibitors a platform to connect, demonstrate and sell their products to customers.

“This is where you can connect, sell product, conduct presentations or demonstrations and support the economic backbone of the agricultural industry which is instrumental in pulling New Zealand through our current challenge,” he said.

Nation is aware an online platform will not work for every organisation and has virtual sites priced at different levels to reflect that.

They range from basic interaction to maintain contact, through to e-commerce sites that will support global connections, trade and export opportunities.

Rather than repaying exhibitors

site fees for this year’s event will be kept and exhibitors will be offered a discount for either the postponed physical Fieldays or the online event, equivalent to the value of site fees paid.

For those exhibitors who just want their site fees refunded, Nation said “As we are unable to know when the Government’s restrictions on mass gatherings may ease we will be reviewing potential postponement dates for the physical event every three months until the end of the year at which time if we are unable to resume the physical event until June 2021 we will consider the process of refunds.”

CALLED OFF: Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation says the organisation will hold an online version of the event instead after it was postponed indefinitely because of covid-19.

Young Farmer contest cancelled Beekeepers set rules YOUNG Farmers has cancelled all its remaining Young Farmer of the Year contests including the final.

Four North Island regional finals were held before the covid-19 outbreak, however, Aorangi, Tasman and OtagoSouthland regional finals won’t happen.

Chief executive Lynda Coppersmith says it’s the first time in the contest’s 52-year history the grand final and remaining contest season has been cancelled.

“I appreciate this decision will be disappointing for everyone involved with the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest but for the safety of competitors, volunteers, spectators and sponsors it’s the right thing to do.

The 2021 contest will start with a clean slate but this year’s finalists alreay found will keep their regional titles.

“Given this is an unprecedented situation the board has agreed to show flexibility with a one-year age

Don’t light fires Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz FIRE managers are urging people not to light fires outdoors during the lockdown.

It’s important volunteer firefighters stay in their bubbles and remain able to respond to community needs, Otago principal rural fire officer Graeme Still said.

“The Government has called for people to help emergency services by doing only safe activities and Government

advice is not to burn.

“If people don’t burn we stop all out of control fires.”

People lighting fires risk exposing firefighters and their families to covid-19.

“Nothing is more important than keeping New Zealanders safe and nothing is so important it needs burning right now.

MORE:

For more information go to checkitsalright.nz or ring 0800 658 628.

extension and also revoke the number of grand final and regional final qualifications for the 28 competitors affected.

“This flexibility will apply to 2020 grand finalists and those who have qualified for the cancelled regional finals.”

FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2019 James Robertson will continue as the reigning champion until the 2021 season.

The AgriKids and FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year grand finals will be run online.

THE beekeeping sector has been given essential service status and Apiculture New Zealand has issued protocols for commercial beekeepers.

While they are required to register as an essential service only if employing more than five staff all beekeepers are expected to comply with the rules.

The protocols include the usual two-metre distance rule and processes for staff reporting, illnesses and movements between work and home.

All communications with

landowners must be done by telephone and all vehicles are to be equipped with wash buckets, disinfectant and personalised beekeeping gloves.

Records are required for any workers travelling together and vehicles should be dedicated to particular staff.

MORE:

The protocols are available online at apinz.org.nz/wp-content/ uploads/2020/03/FormattedBeekeeping-operations-protocols-forweb-v2.pdf.

Plan ahead for shearing FARMERS who need shearers to do work necessary for flock welfare should think ahead and talk to their contractor as soon as possible.

Shearing Contractors Association president Mark Barrowcliffe says more planning than usual is required.

“Get in touch with your contractor as soon as you can to discuss the best way forward.”

Only essential tasks can be done.

If crutching is necessary for

animal welfare then that work needs to be done as soon as possible, he says.

“As long as people are sensible and if a job can wait, then it can wait.”

Barrowcliffe says deferred work will need to be done later, which will increase time pressure on farmers, contractors and shearers.

Jobs will build up and it will be unrealistic to think they will all be able to be done at once.

“So, don’t leave it too late.”

The association has a list of

protocols for farmers and shearers on its website www.nzshearing. co.nz.

They aim deliver a safe work environment for shearers and help farmers prepare their woolsheds.

It won’t be a case of a shearing team piling out of one or two vans, as might have been the case in the past. Instead, it could involve fewer staff and so less productivity or more vehicles.

Barrowcliffe says the impact on the industry is already huge.

Ten Basic Fertiliser Facts You Must Know and Adopt to Meet 2025 Water Quality Limits: Dr Bert Quin

Fact 1. The overuse of soluble P fertiliser is by far the largest cause of P run-off and leaching, and therefore of the decline in the quality of Kiwi waterways.

Fact 2. Once you have Olsen P levels that are more than a third of the P retention (ASC), application of additional soluble P is very prone to loss to the environment.

Fact 3. If you want to build up your soil P in an environmentally-protective way, simply apply RPR. It does not get leached or lost directly in run-off, but releases P in a sustained fashion for plants.

Fact 4. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. RPR-based fertilisers are even cheaper than super-based products as well! Added sulphur bentonite (sulphur 90) is far more efficient than the excess sulphate in super.

Fact 5. Following 1-4 above will greatly reduce P run-off and leaching. This should be done before anything else, and the situation reassessed before spending huge amounts of money!

Fact 6. It is nonsensical to give in to pressure to install expensive mitigations riparian strips, excessively large wetlands and ‘phosphorus walls’ when you have no idea of their long-term effectiveness and maintenance costs, and before you have established whether changing to sustained-release RPR is all you need to do!

Fact 7. in any case simple fenced-off 3-metre wide grass riparian strips are essentially as effective and vastly cheaper than more complex strips. Both reduce bacterial and sediment losses. Neither will have any significant long-term beneficial effect (on a whole -farm basis) on soluble P and nitrate-N loss. But grass strips can be harvested in summer to be fed out, to improve P and N cycling.

Fact 8. In a nutshell, for maintenance of P levels any genuine RPR (not an RPR/Boucraa mix please!) can be used. Just check the Cd content. For low fertility situations or low rainfall, use a blend of RPR and high-analysis soluble P. Fact 9. For N, rather than granular urea, use prilled urea, sprayed immediately prior to, or during, the spreading with urease inhibitor. Use of N can be literally cut in half with big savings.

Fact 10. Potash is more efficient, and must less likely to cause metabolic problems, if applied in small doses 4 times a year, adding up to 50-60% of the total annual amount you are using now. Easy to mix with your prilled urea. Leaching of anions like nitrate will be minimised as well.

For more info, email Bert Quin on bert.quin@quinfert.co.nz, or phone 021 427 572, or visit www.quinfert.co.nz

MILKING WON’T STOP. NEITHER WILL WE.

This country needs its dairy farmers more than ever right now, and we’re here to make sure you’ve got whatever it takes to keep the milk flowing.

Online or on the phone, collect it from our place or ask about options for delivery to your farm.

It’s your call, and we’re waiting for it right now.

News

16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Northern farmers in feed hole

Feed planning help offered

Hugh Stringleman

Hugh Stringleman

hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

NORTHLAND farmers say the lack of pasture growth since January has created a hole in feed budgets that will persist right through winter.

“To be honest, I don’t really want to do feed budgets at present because pasture growth has been flat-lining for weeks,” Bay of Islands farmer and farm consultant Aaron Baker said.

Fortunately, he farms in a coastal zone of eastern Northland that got something like normal March rain after record dry months previously.

Northland’s west coast missed out almost completely and rivers and wells are still dry.

Federated Farmers Northland vice-president Colin Hannah said each farm has lost on average 3500kg drymatter a hectare.

“We have done projections assuming some normality from May onwards but that gap leading to deficit is still there.

“The drought has certainly not broken up here and Niwa is now saying there won’t be rain until mid April.”

The advice to all farmers in the province is to put in annual ryegrass now along with little-and-often nitrogen to grow perhaps 4000kg DM/ha through winter and early spring.

Geoff Crawford at Hikurangi has sown 250ha of new grass following chicory, which kept his 1500 dairy cows in milk.

They would otherwise be dried off by now.

“Kikuyu grass has gone from zero to hero following 16mm of rain recently and we are trying to keep the crickets out of the ryegrass with baits.

“I have 1000 yearlings, heifer replacements and bull calves costing $1-$1.20/head/day in supplementary feeding.

“We bought in some bales from Pukekohe but I don’t want to buy in from anywhere that may have Californian thistles.”

Crawford got 12 tonnes/ ha from maize silage versus 19t normal yield expectation.

hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

NOTHING: Dry and cracked pasture on Crawford Farms, north of Whangarei.

Former Young Farmer Contest national winner and Nuffield Scholar David Kidd, South Kaipara Head, said enough rain has fallen for pastures to go green and the kikuyu has finally come alive.

“But we haven’t got in front of the evapotranspiration rate and we haven’t had a fall of rain that really gets things going.

“We are well into feeding out winter feed supplies

and the stock are way behind where they should be.”

Regrassing is under way but coastal marine flats are still set like concrete with massive ground cracks.

Kidd, who is also northern North Island Beef + Lamb Farmers Council chairman, said any Government aid will be appreciated but the flowon effects and the drop in farm income will persist.

FARMERS throughout the country have been offered free help with feed planning through autumn and winter.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has put together a help programme with DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb, AgFirst consultants and Federated Farmers.

MPI said drought is having a significant impact on the amount of feed being grown across the country.

The programme is based on need and will operate on three levels.

Firstly, farmers can call an industry or levy body for a free stocktake of their feed planning needs.

Secondly, where required, they can get more advice and practical support.

“An adviser will help them understand what needs to be done and how they can go about it,” MPI said.

Finally, farmers can also be referred to a farm systems consultant who can provide help over the phone or visit if it is a serious

animal welfare issue.

This third level of support is not free.

MPI said the programme will operate till June 30 when the need to continue it will be reviewed.

Information will be posted on the MPI website.

Federated Farmers Northland vice-president Colin Hannah said the MPI announcement is about what he expected in the circumstances.

He urged farmers to sign three-month contracts for palm kernel at prices he believes range from $295 to $305 a tonne.

Not only are those rates lower than the spot market they will ensure farmers a place on a preferential list should there be any disruption to shipping or supplies.

MORE:

The access numbers are: Dry stock sector, 0800BEEFLAMB (0800 233 352) Dairy sector, 0800 4 DAIRYNZ (0800 4 324 7969) AgFirst, 0508 AGFIRST (0508 243 477)

WORKING FOR NZ DAIRY FARMERS DAIRYNZ: SUPPORTING NZ DAIRY FARMERS TO CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST IN THE WORLD creating local and specialist events for sharing knowledge aiding farmer-led groups supporting local research and monitor farms providing tools and insight for you to make your own decisions

In May, you will be asked to vote on whether you want to continue the levy on milksolids, enabling DairyNZ to continue industry good activities.

Your vote is an important one for the whole industry.

For more information about how we support the dairy sector and everything else your levy covers, visit dairynz.co.nz/vote

YOUR LEVY, YOUR FUTURE

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Feed shortage forces herd’s early dry-off

ALL GONE: Woodville dairy farmer Nick Bertram feeds the last of his silage to his herd, forcing him to dry off his cows nearly two months earlier than usual because of the drought.

Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz DROUGHT-INDUCED feed shortages have forced Woodville dairy farmer Nick Bertram to dry off his herd nearly two months earlier than usual.

It is a decision the Woodville dairy farmer has called the toughest financial decision he has ever had to make.

“As a sharemilker we’re profit and production driven and from what we budgeted on until the end of the season we’re losing quite a bit of coin now and the overdraft will take a bit of a hit.”

It will also mean a reduced income until the new season gets under way while his costs stay relatively the same, he said.

Bertram has fed out the last of his silage to his 440 cows, forcing him to pull the plug on the milking season.

pull.

We ran out of levers to

Nick Bertram The dry summer resulted in the sharemilker using all of his supplement stocks at the end of February.

“We bought enough supplement to get through to March because it was still cheap enough then.

The plan was that if we have grass by the end of March – which we normally do and if we don’t and we have run out of what we have bought in then we’ll dry off – and that’s where we’re at.

“We ran out of levers to pull.”

Recent rises in feed costs meant it is no longer financially viable for him to keep buying in feed and milking his herd.

Instead, drying off allows him to improve condition on his herd and plan for the new milking season.

Ironically, the decision comes after he got 50mm of rain which saw his paddocks recover and green up.

“If we keep carrying on milking with what we’ve got in front of us they’ll lose weight and now is not the time of year to be losing weight off the cows.”

Bertram said he is not the only farmer in this predicament with most farms in his area without irrigation. Half of the farmers in his district are now half to fully dried off.

He now has a long wait till late July before he starts putting the cups back on his cows. He’s given his two full-time staff all of April off, which timed well with the covid-19 lockdown.

It was a bittersweet decision for him, coming in the same week he and wife Rose were named Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Share Farmers of the Year.

“It’s just been a season of two halves. We had a great winter and spring and we’re still up on last year’s production but with no milk coming in for the next six to eight weeks we’ll finish up behind,” he said.

The Government’s feed assistance plan for farmers struggling with drought-related feed issues was a nice gesture but not something he can use because he already uses a farm adviser, he said.

This three-level plan was designed to help farmers with their feed budget and offer the services of a consultant if needed.

“It doesn’t do anything for us but it’s good for the mental health space and the Government’s been giving the Rural Support Trust plenty of help and that’s good as there will be farmers struggling with that.”

17

Sending animals off to grazing?

The movement must be recorded in NAIT

• Farmer must create the sending movement • Grazier must confirm the movement (or create a receiving movement).* Need help?

Call 0800 482 463 or contact your information provider.

* Failure to record and confirm farm to farm livestock movements in the NAIT system may result in a $400 fine per animal or prosecution. The requirement to record livestock movements within 5 business days in the NAIT system is temporary and will return to 48 hours after the National State of Emergency is lifted.

NAIT is an OSPRI programme

ospri.co.nz

News

18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Lockdown locks out small fry Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz AN AWARD-WINNING artisan food producer is pleading for authorities to reconsider supermarkets being sole food sources during the covid-19 lockdown as small producers eye diminishing cashflows.

Clevedon Buffalo co-owner Helen Dorresteyn, who produces New Zealand’s only genuine mozzarella cheese, has seen farmers’ market sales collapse to zero in the past week and orders from non-supermarket outlets vanish.

Hospitality trade has also dried up and her income has shrunk by over 60%.

Farmers’ markets have been deemed non-essential outlets.

Clevedon Buffalo was the supreme winner in the 2018 Outstanding NZ Food Producer awards with its marinated mozzarella. The cheese is made with milk from their herd of Italian-bred buffalo southeast of Auckland.

For us this represents 15 years’ worth of work and we are likely to come out of it back where we started, if we are lucky.

Helen Dorresteyn Clevedon Buffalo “Based around the Clevedon farmers’ market we have seen a local food system build up over 15 years. That really is at risk of being wiped out now. Many of these producers are barely hanging on and may well not make it,” she said.

While food production is classed as an essential service, distribution options for small producers not supplying supermarkets have all but been eliminated. Many earn at least half their income on the farmers’ market circuit.

Dorresteyn has seen grown men near tears as they contemplate the fate of their businesses.

“For us this represents 15 years’ worth of work and we are likely to come out of it back where we started, if we are lucky.”

Small artisan food producers are very much bottom of the heap with businesses that took time to

build up and local supply lines are critical to remain viable.

Dorresteyn has worked hard in the past week to try to rewire her business.

“I have worked up an online platform for some of our local Clevedon producers to join.

“We have a truck so we can deliver the products direct to door.

So far we have ourselves, a tomato grower, organic vegetables, hummus, olive oil, biltong, falafels and blueberries on board.”

She expects deliver in a 30km radius of Clevedon and is still waiting for Primary Industries Ministry confirmation the service is approved.

Dorresteyn understands the need to control contact by controlling food sales outlets.

“But our system actually requires far less contact that a supermarket system brings. I have a site entirely locked down, staff very distant from one another and producing in a licensed kitchen. It is literally direct from the grower to the door. There are a lot less steps in the supply chain.”

Bay of Plenty salami producer and Basecamp owner Nick Fox shares Dorresteyn’s concerns and hopes his direct order and delivery service can also continue.

Half his income is from farmers’ markets and special events. His farmers’ market circuit includes several in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

“This year that also included the Central Districts Fieldays, I have a chiller full of product especially for that all ready to go.”

Employing fewer than five people means he has not had to apply to MPI for approval to continue to operate.

But his greatest hit has come through the loss of the hunting trade.

“Over the last 18 months we were seeing good growth from hunters wanting salamis made.

The roar is coming up and no one is allowed to hunt so that has gone.”

Food writer and former Cuisine magazine editor Lauraine Jacobs shares Dorresteyn’s and Fox’s concerns.

Jacobs is also a judge in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

She said the loss of smaller, artisan food businesses will be a step back for the food industry.

“The point is every food business has had to start somewhere and until they are a reasonable size they will struggle.

“The two supermarket chains are tough to get into.

PINCHED: Artisan food producers are facing tough times as supermarkets get the bulk of Covid-19 lockdown trade.

“This could be a good time for those chains to really support these small producers given those producers’ local outlets are shut down.”

She believes Foodstuffs could be the easier of the two to get support from because it is New Zealand owned.

“There is an opportunity here for supermarkets to really embrace the local producers, giving them a chance to survive.”

Having just judged 250 entrants to this year’s food producer awards she is acutely aware of the talent and quality of upcoming products and the risk they might be lost after the lockdown.

“Large corporate food producers will make it through this but this period could take down the smaller ones. These producers have really helped lift the quality of NZ food in the past few years.”

HELP OUT: Food writer Lauraine Jacobs says this could be a good time for supermarket chains to support small producers given those producers’ local outlets are shut down.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

19

Packhouses ramp up processing Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz KIWIFRUIT packhouse productivity is starting to ramp up under reduced staff numbers and covid-19 distancing requirements as the industry reconfigures packing lines and processing rates.

James Trevelyan, head of the country’s largest single site processor, Trevelyan’s, said his company had been in contact with associates in Italy where 59,000 cases of covid-19 were reported before the lockdown.

Packing facilities continue to operate successfully.

It is that classic up and down but I think things will start to calm down a bit as we all adjust.

James Trevelyan Trevelyan’s His company processes about 10% of the national crop, employs 170 permanent staff and 1650 seasonal staff from March to June.

Reports from Italy say the industry has managed to continue with one operation comprising 23 packing operations, 3500 staff and no covid-19 outbreaks.

Trevelyan said the situation here has been hard on staff with some choosing to leave because of difficulties in complying with the new rules that cover both home and work life behaviour.

“It is that classic up and down but I think things will start to calm down a bit as we all adjust.”

By the end of the first week of lockdown the company’s Te Puke operation was back up running at 92% capacity.

“The task has certainly been

made a lot easier thanks to Zespri requiring only bulk trays to be packed.”

They need less labour and time to process than layered trays.

Trevelyan said similar to the Psa crisis that struck in November 2010 there has been a sense of freefall in the early stages of the lockdown.

“But now we are at level four we can start to build back up and make rational decisions.”

The key challenge heading into the busy weeks is to get more staff for extra shifts.

“At the moment we have got approximately five shifts on the go. In the peak of the season we will need at least 10 shifts to run.”

The change had forced the company to be nimble and there is a good level of information sharing among businesses in the post-harvest industry.

Apata packhouses are also starting to bed in the new covid-19 rules with staff spacing in place and access to people wanting to work.

The addition of Recognised Seasonal Employer staff coming out of isolation and available for work has also added to the labour pool, enabling night shifts to begin.

Chief executive Stu Weston said the calibre of local people applying for work is high this season and he suspects the novelty of not working has well and truly worn off for many keen to be engaged.

“We have turned ourselves inside out to meet the covid-19 regulations.

“We are moving people in small groups, spaced out two metres apart. Packhouses are at 80%-plus throughput now.”

Ian Coventry of Opotiki Packing and Coolstorage said his company lost some staff with dependents at home but reconfiguring its packhouse has gone well, using every second workstation on the packing line.

GOOD TO GO; James Trevelyan’s packhouse and others in the sector are starting to build processing back up under the covid-19 rules.

“And the logistics of moving people in and out of the facility for smoko and lunch while maintaining distance is tricky. It has meant smoko is drawn out to an hour as we move people gradually in and out.”

While picking remains relatively straightforward under covid-19

likely to become a concern.

The 2010 Psa crisis gave the industry a lot of hygiene lessons that have been maintained in packhouses and to some extent in orchards.

“There are still many in the industry who have learnt from that Psa experience.”

rules, transport is logistically tough for local gangs.

“Our foreign workers live together in their team and they stay separate, working and travelling together.”

He is not reporting a shortage of staff but the supply of those with critical operating skills is

There are three ways you can read us:

3

12

1. Own a farm. If farming is your main income, you register with NZ Post to have Farmers Weekly delivered free to your mailbox. This is how around 80,000 farmers receive theirs.

2. Read the virtual paper online at farmersweekly.co.nz/topic/virtual-publication.

Our online eNewsletters have the paper before it hits mailboxes and you can sign up to recieve them at farmersweekly.co.nz/e-newsletter.

3. Subscribe - a great gift for retired farmers and town dwellers.

This is for people in town who want a hard copy of the paper each week.

Farmers Weekly is just under $4 per issue ($16/month, $192 incl GST per year). and Dairy Farmer is $8.95 per issue ($98.45 incl GST / year).

Pay by credit card or Farmlands card.

Your copy will arrive on Thursdays (give or take a day). www.farmersweekly.co.nz/subscribe or freephone 0800 85 25 80

October 201

9

Supplementa ry feeding

1

and nutrition

n

Effluent

Best trade/ specialist public ation and webs ite – Voyager Vol 18 No 31, Media Awar August 12, ds 2019 2019 Incl $8.95 GST farmerswee kly.co.nz

Lively Fonterra election tipped

Big tick for farm

$3.95

ers

production is not jeopardised.

“We need food Neal Wallace so other sectors need to do better. neal.wallace@globalhq .co.nz “This is a breath of someone to finally fresh air for HE red meat industry say Rankin says while that.” hopes to ramp up its reports have been previous Taste Pure Nature scathing of farming, this one brand campaign is less so. on “I felt like this the back of the report has helped latest international climate us turn a corner, that change report. affected by climate farmers are change but we The Intergovernmental also really need them.”

Panel on Climate Change The report found (IPCC) report global food is being welcomed systems account

by New for a quarter of Zealand farming greenhouse gas leaders as an emissions and endorsement of agricultural emissions our low impact of nitrous systems and the oxide and methane importance of are increasing. maintaining food But land also has a role production. as a The IPCC says carbon sink, absorbing land on which 30% of the we rely for food, planet’s greenhou water, se gas emissions health and wellbeing energy, between 2008 and 2017. is already under pressure Crop productio and climate n is being change will exacerbat affected by higher temperatures, through desertifica e that changing rain patterns tion degradation potentiall and land frequency of extreme and greater y affecting events. food security.

The report warns consump tion The report’s advocacy patterns, land management and balanced diet including of a population growth will determine animal protein sourced the planet’s future from resilient, in a changing sustainable, low climate. greenhou systems is an endorsem se gas “Pathways with higher demand ent for NZ, for Beef + Lamb chief food, feed, and insight officer water, more ON-FARM training Jeremy Baker says. resource-intensive courses have an consumption important role to “This is the NZ She said there should and productio play n and more limited red always future, Feilding High in agriculture’s be an opportunity production system. meat technological improvem Reesby said the to role that form Meaghan Reesby School student ents training because do practical of training plays “It is definitely in agriculture yields, says. trained staff have in increasing the not saying that The year 13 pupil result in a better understand skills of people in we all need to higher risks from ing of how their agriculture should become vegetarian agri-commerce at plans study water scarcity workplaces, such not be overlooked Massey University or vegan.” in drylands, land as farms, function, and any future next year but said degradation and which is good for changes in how not everyone employers and It is an opportun food insecurity training course are interested in agriculture employees. .” ity to ramp delivered needs wants to go up promotion to remember that.

Report contribut to university. of the Taste Pure Feilding High School The daughter of or Associate Himatangi dairy Nature brand, Professor Anita Some people prefer can build their practicalpupils farmers, Meaghan’s to tell Wreford, of farming brother global meat eaters 40 million on approach, whether a more handsLincoln University works experience while on the family farm, about NZ’s low’s Agribusiness that is through at school by complementing a cadetship or beginning carbon footprint, and Economic taking courses offered what he learns at he says.

Research Unit, work with building their knowledge a job and Gateway, a programme through DairyNZ climate says it shows the practical courses, through change importance of for young while her sister courses offered people in their last ambassador Trish also is also full time not implemen by workplace year of school ting contradictory Rankin is training providers that allows them fitting her Massey on the farm, heartened the policies. such as Primary to report says some course work ITO. training made up complete around that. sectors need to “The report is of theory and reduce their highly practical unit standards. emissions faster for NZ as we grapple relevant to ensure food MORE: trade-offs involved with the greenhouse gas P3 emissions, with reducing adapting to the change, managing impacts of climate the we value and maintainiareas supporting our communities and ng and societies in this process.

T

Keeping eve ryone hap py Small com pany doing big things Governme nt ag industry isn’t fooling

Embracing the Kiwi way

An English

DAIRY FARM

ER

lass is get ting

October

2019

Education option s vital

stuck into learning abo ut pasture

1

PROUD YOUR FAMILY OF HERITAGE?

THE FEELING’S MUTU AL. Since

FMG0862FWFPS _H

Incl GST

1905, we’ve remained true to what it means For example, putting to be a mutual. shareholders’ pockets.profits back into the business instead If that sounds good of about us. Or better to you, ask around still, call us now on 0800 366 466. good of the country.

We’re here for the

News

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Tornado mayhem in Minnesota Sam Tennent IN SEPTEMBER 2018 the crops on Fargaze Farms in Minnesota were ready for harvest and looked set to give a bumper yield.

But with the dawn of the harvest came a series of devastating tornados that wiped out Fargaze Farms’ assets.

It was the third most prolific tornado day – 24 in one day – in Minnesota since the early 1990s and one that tested the Peterson family resilience. As well as those 24, there were two others in the neighbouring states of Iowa and Wisconsin and one that crossed from Minnesota into Wisconsin.

Widespread damage occurred from south central Minnesota into west central Wisconsin. Some downbursts exceeded 160kmh.

Two were rated EF2 with winds of 200kmh and 209kmh, 15 were rated EF1 with winds of 138177kmh, and 10 were rated EF0 with winds up to 137kmh. The 25 tornadoes in a matter of hours left a trail of destruction, including the Peterson farm in Northfield, Minnesota.

The last tornado in the area was in 2004 and there was no damage to the Peterson farm but farms within a mile were damaged.

This time a tornado destroyed all the farm buildings except the houses. The houses were stucco siding with shingle on the roof.

Most were left intact but one lost its garage.

The grain storage and drying and livestock facilities were wiped out, leaving a huge mess of debris.

There was an extreme amount of damage that day spread across many farms and neighbours but few farms lost that many critical assets during that single storm.

It was estimated the storm cost the Peterson family between US$500,000 and US$600,000 in lost production and the building and equipment damage was in excess of US$4 million.

Roughly 80% of the corn crops had severe stalk lodging and ear droppage. The loss was estimated at 2.5 tonnes a hectare.

They did have insurance but had underestimated the costs of business disruption. With harvest typically starting on October 1 there were extensive costs to cart their crops to be dried and stored elsewhere.

They were fortunate to use a neighbouring farm to dry and store some of their crop.

The farm was established in the 1930s with a dairy barn built in 1948. It milked cows till 2001 and Helen and Burton Peterson, who died in 2008, are the parents of Chris, Brian and Bruce who own the farm now. It supports 12 Peterson family members who work in and on the business.

Their family spirit has strengthened from the storm and they have recovered bigger and stronger.

The farm and operation have been expanded gradually through the decades with bits and pieces added. The land covers 3240 hectares and there was no logic in the old facility layout.

We had squeezed and tugged to fit buildings and facilities in and made it work and so we changed things in the rebuild, which, obviously, cost more but works better.

Bruce Peterson Farmer The rebuild provided a chance to correct inefficiencies and alter the set-up.

“We had squeezed and tugged to fit buildings and facilities in and made it work and so we changed things in the rebuild, which, obviously, cost more but works better,” Bruce Peterson said.

The new infrastructure is bigger

than before with six massive grain storage bins replacing 11 small ones. The Petersons hope everything is stronger and spread out better to withstand natural disasters.

The farm includes 2430ha of corn and 1012ha of soybean production as well as fresh-pack peas, canning sweetcorn, hay and has capacity for 22,000 pigs on feed.

The region grows a lot of corn and soybeans with canning peas, sweetcorn and alfalfa as secondary crops. Local livestock are predominantly dairy cows, pigs and turkeys.

The corn is used domestically for livestock feed and ethanol production.

The oil from the soybeans is used for human consumption and production of biofuel and the soybean meal is used as livestock feed.

The sweetcorn and canning peas are also destined for human consumption.

Twenty percent of their production is exported with most of their soybeans and pork going to China and corn and pork to Mexico.

The farm uses a lot of yieldenhancing and input-saving technology including variablerate seeding in corn and soybeans, soil grid sampling for nutrient status, combined with

variable-rate fertiliser spreading and multiple applications of nitrogen and sulphur.

Using technology they can produce higher yields with the same or less fertiliser inputs.

They consider their management essential for high-yield production but it also reduces negative environmental impacts.

“If too much nitrogen is applied it’s a waste of money and too little hurts yields.

“With our variable rate application technology, with multiple applications of nitrogen we can reduce the areas of under and over application when compared to equal single nitrogen application across a whole field.”

The Peterson brothers own almost 50% of the land and the rest is leased. There are many long-term leases established and lease land is generally found by word of mouth.

Three of the brothers’ sons have established their own company, which leases some crop land. The two businesses work alongside each other. The boys provide labour and rent equipment from their parents and own a few pieces themselves.

All the family members share the same passion for farming.

They have held their faith in corn and agriculture despite the setback from the tornados.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

21

Water storage gets thumbs up Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz IRRIGATION New Zealand has welcomed the Government’s call to seek out infrastructure projects ready to kick into gear once the construction industry resumes business.

Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones say the Government has tasked a group of industry leaders to seek out infrastructure projects ready to start as soon as work returns to normal.

The move is aimed at reducing the economic impact of covid-19, The Infrastructure Industry Reference Group, to be headed

by Crown Infrastructure Partners chairman Mark Binns, will list projects from the private and public sectors that are shovelready or likely to be within six months.

They will be in addition to and build on the Government’s $12 billion Upgrade Programme and existing Provincial Growth Fund infrastructure investments.

The Government will then decide which can be funded, contracted and ready to go as soon as the construction workforce is active.

Relevant government departments will also provide advice to ministers.

“We are focused on the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders first and foremost and we need to get through the lockdown and out the other side of this pandemic.

“The Government is planning ahead for when that time comes,” Twyford said.

“That’s why we are now developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects from across the country that would be ready to begin as soon as we are able to move around freely and go back to work.”

The types of projects the Government will consider funding

The pandemic and the lockdown have demonstrated how important the food and fibre sectors are to our country to put food on the table and also to support our economy.

Elizabeth Soal IrrigationNZ

WORK WANTED: IrrigationNZ chief executive Elizabeth Soal says high levels of co-funding at the local level will simply no longer be feasible for water storage.

include water, transport, clean energy and buildings with a public or regional benefit, that create jobs and can start in short order.

IrrigationNZ chief executive Elizabeth Soal said it’s great news that water infrastructure has been included.

“The pandemic and the lockdown have demonstrated how important the food and fibre sectors are to our country to put food on the table and also to support our economy.

“Water is used to produce 90% of NZ’s vegetables, 58% of its wine and fruit, 52% of its grain and crops, 26% of dairy and 2% of sheep and beef.

“In short, access to reliable water is essential to maintaining this.”

It’s not only a huge relief for the primary sector to see water included as essential infrastructure but also extremely prudent.

“Not only will investment in water infrastructure projects create jobs during the construction phase but they will also support the longer-term resilience of our economy.

“The covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on everyone and while health and wellbeing are the number one priority, planning ahead for the postpandemic NZ is essential.”

In the past few decades water infrastructure projects have typically been funded largely by local communities and end users.

“As the effects of the pandemic affect regional economies on a scale we have not seen before, increased central government funding will be critical from now on.

“High levels of co-funding at the local level will simply no longer be feasible.”

How certain processes of the Local Government Act and the Resource Management Act will affect the viability of projects will also need to be considered.

“It is currently unclear how annual planning processes will occur or how resource consents can be fast-tracked to get projects shovel-ready in a short timeframe.

“Consenting processes for major projects generally take years not weeks,” Soal said.

“While the economic effect of covid-19 is yet to be fully understood we know that we have an opportunity to move our country into action mode and the Government does not wish to see red tape stymie our eventual recovery,” Jones said.

“The reference group will be seeking out larger projects, those with a value of over $10 million, which would have an immediate stimulatory effect on the construction industry, its workforce and the economy.

“Smaller projects will be considered if they demonstrate a direct and immediate benefit to the regional economies and communities in which they are based,” Jones said.

The Provincial Development Unit will continue to work with councils to identify regional roading projects, particularly in the identified surge regions, to provide employment and boost local economies.

“These projects will help address the country’s infrastructure deficit as well as create jobs and buoy the economy,” Jones said.

More information on the work of the Infrastructure Industry Reference Group and the project criteria is available on the Crown Infrastructure Partners website.

1

fety Health & Sa

The latest Dairy Farmer hit letterboxes on March 30 Our OnFarmStory this month features Waikato operations manager and Dairy Women’s Network regional leader Chelsea Smith talking about her two big roles.

Health and safety We look at keeping the team safe on the farm to ensure everyone is accounted for and gets home safe each night.

White gold – from grass to glass The modern dairy industry is expanding to include animals like sheep, goats, deer, buffalo and even camels.

s to glass – from gras White Gold

Incl $8.95 GST

April 2020

best Creating the mozzarella g for Championin ge climate chan

in Good news es uncertain tim

Rising to nge the challe

al leader twork region Women’s Ne at put her to the test iry Da d an th rmer farm A Waikato fa lenges on and off the al takes on ch 2460DF-12x7

Have you read Dairy Farmer yet?

n

News

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Woolshed bash boosts charity Ross Nolly WHEN Mathew and Jackie Francis decided to build a new woolshed they wanted to follow tradition and hold a community shed opening and a small charity fundraiser.

But it rapidly turned into a big fundraiser and shed opening.

The couple farm Glen Nui Station at Mangamingi in east Taranaki. The 2042-hectare (400ha effective) station runs 1800 ewes, 700 hoggets, 130 cows and manuka beehives.

Mathew is the third generation of the family to work the farm settled in the early 1900s. The oldest date on the shed walls is 1909.

“Legend has it that a farm woolshed was always built before the house. In the early days they would have cleared some scrub, built the woolshed and the house would have been built when there was some money coming in.”

The new, generator-powered, four-stand shed was needed because the old one was well past its use-by date and had deteriorated to the point it was inefficient.

Twelve years ago a large set of covered yards was built with a plan to attach a new woolshed to centralise the sheep-handling facilities.

The old shed was designed to hold 1200-1300 sheep overnight.

The covered yards easily hold 2000 sheep and the farm now doesn’t need the shed’s capacity.

“Before, if we needed to dag half a dozen sheep we had to run them all the way to the old shed.

It was half a morning’s work. I don’t know how we got away with using it for the last dozen years.

We do eight-month shearing and often shear in August and need to dodge the rain when moving stock around,” Mathew says.

He had been dreaming of a new shed for over 20 years. He incorporated ideas from the time he worked in the the South Island and other regions.

The new shed adds efficiency with the entire sheep complex in one place.

The old shed required two shearers to pull from one pen holding 30-35 sheep. In the new shed each shearer has an individual pen of 15 sheep.

Foregoing tradition, Mathew installed steel gates and metal mesh floor grating rather than the traditional wooden grating. He also added a load-out race.

“I asked our shearers and wool handlers what they’d like in a shed and looked at sheds in the valley. If someone had a good idea I listened to them. Neil Gavin, a fencer, built the internals and Vaughn Woods, a shearer, built the gates. We often talked about it over a few beers. It was good getting their input.” Mathew says.

“Back in the day the woolshed was paid for by the first wool clip and three clips would almost pay off your farm. Shearing is now an animal health management task.

This shed hasn’t been paid for by wool and never will. If you have sheep you have to shear them.”

About three-years ago when Mathew and Jackie began making plans to build the shed they decided to run a mental health

HEALTHY EXERCISE: Mathew holding the Shear a sheep, eat a pie and drink a pint relay trophy.

ASSET: Mathew and Jackie Francis with their new woolshed.

awareness fundraiser at the opening.

They envisioned 40 or 50 people turning and raising $500 to $1500.

They figured they would visit a few local businesses for sponsorship, run some raffles and a small auction.

But the donations began rolling in and the fundraiser created its own momentum.

It was only during the week of the opening that Mathew and Jackie realised they could now be raising upwards of $10,000 and had to decide who they were going to donate it to.

They contacted the Taranaki Rural Support Trust and offered it the money for grassroots work on suicide awareness and mental health.

“Everyone we talked to leading up to the fundraiser has in some way been affected by depression or other mental health issues.

“Mental health affects so many people in the rural community and seems to be becoming more prevalent. The donations demonstrated the relevance of that cause. We think that 200 people visited us and we fed over 120.” Jackie says.

They made a Facebook page and posted each donation.

Once that momentum built it snowballed and created its own force.

“Our phone nearly rang off the hook during the week prior to the event. People buying a dinner for two costing $40 would give us $50 and donations came through the mail. We started off thinking that we’d need only a few veges and a bag of spuds but before we knew we had 120 people booked for dinner.” Mathew says.

Many of the donations were big dollar items as rural and related businesses got in behind the cause. The highest value item was 30 hours of excavator work. Others included luxury Lake Taupo waterfront and New Plymouth accommodation, half a tonne of

INSIDE: The new shed interior showing steel grating and gates.

HOLDING: The farm’s covered yards

grass seed and 30 hours of fencing, The couple ran an ATV farm tour, a hangi and barbecue dinner and an auction.

But the most popular event was the shear a sheep, eat a pie and drink a pint relay.

The Francis’ stock agent Jeremy Newell ran the auction. The first item was a can of beer that fetched $100, which in Mathew’s words set the night alight.

Mathew and Jackie were astounded to learn the auction

raised so much.

“Our son totalled up the funds and told us that we’d raised $21,600. I told him to check again because he must have pressed the wrong number. I rechecked it the following morning just to be sure,” Jackie says.

“We’re grateful and very overwhelmed that so many people came out here to support us.

We had many helpers, generous donations and generous auction bids.”

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU. WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE'LL WEATHER TOGETHER.

Right now we are experiencing a natural moment of change.

We’re having to embrace a new norm, changes in behaviours, new technologies, fresh uncertainty and the outcome might not be entirely business as normal but business as different.

To get us through, information we can trust is king. Which is why we have mobilised our GlobalHQ content team of 26 reporters, AgriHQ analysts

and digital media specialists to focus on what is important to you, right now. If it’s happening and it’s important to farmers, you’ll find it here:

More from GlobalHQ: www.farmersweekly.co.nz 

News updates as they come to hand



My Daily Digest - end of day wrap of all the most important stories.

 



Weather - updated daily by the team at Weather Watch The Sarah’s Country radio show - find it under Podcasts And much more!

Farmers Weekly 

 



News, insight, and the new section: What you need to know In your farm mailbox Monday or Tuesday



Sarah’s Country LIVE



On Farm Story

All the red meat and forestry market data and insights to your inbox

- the daily show where you take part!



Dairy Farmer



Live with Sarah Perriam and guests 7pm - 8:30pm Monday - Thursday

AgriHQ unravels the markets and explains what it means for farmers





Livestock market reports every week





Interviews with our analysts on most other media channels

Then join the Farmers Weekly Reveal show 4pm, every Friday



Watch LIVE on farmersweekly.co.nz or Farmers Weekly



On your desktop - From 4pm every Friday (click Virtual Publication) On the Issuu app from your app store - for an excellent reader experience

AgriHQ & agrihq.co.nz



If you have messages you need to share with everyone in the New Zealand primary sector then let us know. GlobalHQ is open. We have been proactive and responsible from day one of this crisis.

Interact with key industry leaders and have your say

 Farmer's

Voice

Find us on: Facebook Instagram Vimeo YouTube.

Missed a show? Listen OnDemand on Sarah's Country podcast

Our team is all working from farms and homes around the country, going hard out and doing everything we can to keep you informed, inspired and assured in these uncertain times.

We’re proud to be working in the sector that has stood the test of time and always will.

We’ll weather together.

Newsmaker

24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Bridging the chasm of doom Freshwater scientist and communicator Jenny Webster-Brown will take over as director of the Our Land and Water science challenge in May. Colin Williscroft reports.

T

OO often in the past scientific solutions to practical problems have been lost between the laboratory where they were created and the place where they were meant to be put into action.

Jenny Webster-Brown is determined that will not be the case at Our Land and Water, where she will soon take over from Ken Taylor as director of the AgResearch-hosted science challenge that aims to enhance the production and productivity of New Zealand’s primary sector while maintaining and improving land and water for future generations.

The eight-year challenge has four years to run and WebsterBrown wants to see real change in that time.

The former director of the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management, a joint initiative between Lincoln and Canterbury universities, retired from university work last year, planning to work as a water quality consultant.

That was before she saw her latest role advertised, which was too good to pass up.

“I’m looking forward to leading the Our Land and Water Challenge as it does the critical job of translating science into a real, lasting change in the way Aotearoa manages our water and land resources, with the potential to impact every New Zealander.

“It’s an opportunity to make a real contribution to help change the direction of the primary sector so it is more environmentally, economically and culturally viable.”

She is keen to see some of the leading science being done in NZ translate into real action and to provide support to help make the necessary changes.

There have been too many instances in the past of scientists working in their labs, generating ideas that have never been applied in practice and have instead been dropped into the chasm of doom.

There needs to be a bridge across the chasm to ensure solutions are practical and understandable so new practices can be adopted and changes made.

For that to happen there needs to be a real understanding of different perspectives and collaboration to find consensual solutions.

Interdisciplinary science and research will play a key role but effective communication of science using language and ideas non-scientists can understand will be critical.

She is confident that can happen.

COMMITTED: New Our Land and Water director Jenny Webster-Brown wants to translate science into lasting change for the benefit of fresh water quality.

We need to be looking at the long game. Changes may take many years. We need to help people keep the faith.

Jenny Webster-Brown Our Land and Water “There are some great science communicators out there but to make changes we have to bring everyone with us.

“Everyone has to believe it’s right to make the transformation and be willing to do so.”

In general, New Zealanders, not just farmers but also urban populations, have taken freshwater for granted, oblivious to what was happening to it, treating it as an abundant resource that could be continually used without consequence.

Webster-Brown says on the east coast of both islands,

including Canterbury where she lives, water shortages and drought have promoted a growing understanding of the need to view fresh water as a vital and limited resource.

Those dry conditions, which have seen small streams and springs disappearing, have brought home to people the pressure on fresh water and the need to change how it is used because it is a limited and precious resource.

Attitudes are evolving, both in farming and at a policy level so water is no longer viewed as a resource that can be continually used in high volumes.

Most farmers are aware of the need to protect fresh water and are already taking steps but there will always be some who are slower than others to adapt.

Some don’t really know how to change and that’s where Our Land and Water comes in – by providing support so there can be confidence to move away from what has always been done.

Historically, farming has sometimes got locked into

patterns and to break out of them can be difficult and risky.

However, there are many innovative and imaginative farmers who are already on the right track, thinking outside the box, though those farmers are often the ones who have the resources to make change and take risks.

The Government’s freshwater strategy is on the right track, Webster-Brown says, though she does point out that given she was on the technical and advisory committee that provided advice on the programme, it’s not surprising she thinks that.

The proposed pace of change does cause her some concern.

Environment Minister David Parker is seeking a significant impact on water quality in five years but Webster-Brown says environmental systems don’t change quickly and it’s important not to leave people behind when trying to change their behaviour.

There is no quick fix, she says.

It’s taken more than 100 years for our fresh water to get into the state it is and we’re not going to

spring out of that quickly.

“We need to be looking at the long game. Changes may take many years. We need to help people keep the faith.”

However, action does need to be taken now because improvements will only become harder and more expensive to achieve in years to come if NZ fails to act.

Though fresh water improvements will come at a cost, as food producers farmers have a chance to offset some of that.

A growing number of people are prepared to pay more for food produced in an environmentally friendly way so there is potential to earn more for those products.

NZ food producers can position themselves to take advantage of that growing market.

NZ has a better chance than most to restore fresh water quality.

In other countries, such as in Europe, fresh water quality has degraded too far for it to ever return to the standard NZ is seeking.

“The horse has bolted. They will never get back to what we aspire to,” she said.

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

25

Fresh water under the salty depths The discovery of a massive fresh water reservoir only 20 metres below the sea floor off the Canterbury coast has surprised researchers with its scale and could provide a valuable resource to tap into as climate change affects land-based water supplies. Niwa researcher Joshu Mountjoy spoke to Richard Rennie about the scale and potential of the find.

R

ESEARCHERS who discovered brackish water 50m below the seabed 50km off the Canterbury Coast got a tantalising glimpse of a resource now proving to be much bigger than first thought.

“In New Zealand very little had been known about reserves of undersea freshwater, with the exception of the Waiwhetu aquifer below Wellington harbour,” Niwa researcher Joshu Mountjoy said.

The Wellington aquifer supplies the region with much of its drinking water and is the fifth largest aquifer in the country, extending out as far as Matiu/ Somes Island.

The unexpected find off the Canterbury coast prompted researchers to seek and get European scientific funding to extend their work through the Marcan project, a fiveyear international programme

investigating how offshore groundwater influences continental margins.

The Niwa research vessel Tangaroa was commissioned to do electromagnetic surveying capable of distinguishing between fresh and salt-water reserve.

That work established the volume and area of the reservoir that dates back across the last three ice ages when the sea level was more than 100 metres lower than today and the water became trapped in Canterbury’s large sedimentary plains that extend well out to sea.

“Ground water pressure on land in bores had indicated there may be something that extended out beyond the coast but this proved to be very significant in terms of volume.”

The reservoir might contain as much as 2000 cubic kilometres of water, the equivalent of half Canterbury’s groundwater volume.

DEEPWATER;The Niwa research ship Tangaroa surveying for fresh water off the Canterbury coast.

Mountjoy said being an extension of the known groundwater volumes adds significantly to the knowledge of the region’s aquifers and how best to manage them.

It has major implications for how we model and our onshore freshwater management.

Joshu Mountjoy Niwa “It has major implications for how we model and our onshore fresh water management.”

Replenishment of Canterbury’s known ground water aquifers tends to come from the Southern Alps.

Climate change research also done by Niwa scientists means snow loss in the Alps is already well understood and of concern.

“This is a large area of water reservoir that we did not include in past calculations.”

It is uncommon to find reserves of such scale anywhere in the world and the sedimentary nature of the east coast means there could be similar reserves further north around Pegasus Bay and off Hawke’s Bay. “Hawke’s Bay is an example of a region needing to manage what they are dealing with onshore.

“They have got only half the picture if they do not know how far out the aquifer goes and how much is leading into the ocean.”

Another country known to have generous reserves of freshwater is Malta and researchers there have worked with Niwa staff on better understanding the potential for

underwater ground water.

No one is tapping into such reserves to supply populations and the whole area of research remains very new.

“I think it could become a possibility. It is a big resource out there and countries like South Africa and India are facing problems in securing water supply. It will require step changes in technology to extract.

That is likely to occur in years to come.”

The Canterbury research is only the second time such intensive surveying has been done, with the first on the east coast of the United States.

The work puts New Zealand at the forefront of a new research area and one so critical for NZ’s future.

“Our groundwater systems are a critical resource for society.

They are increasingly under pressure and we need every bit of information we can get.”

Research limited but work goes on Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz PRIMARY sector research is continuing at Crown research institutes under the covid-19 lockdown though lab and field work is on hold with staff largely working from home.

AgResearch acting chief executive Tony Hickmott says its Ruakura, Grasslands Palmerston North, Lincoln and Invermay campuses have closed.

Essential farm and research staff responsible for animal welfare are still working on farms and centres.

AgReseach is working with relevant government agencies to confirm areas of its science capability that are essential and how they can best be maintained.

The lockdown has affected delivery of its science programmes.

“This was an inevitable outcome. However, as much as possible in the circumstances we are working to mitigate the impact while accepting significant amounts of experimental work may have to be restarted at a later date – and not delivered to planned deadlines,”Hickmott said.

ON HOLD: AgResearch acting chief executive Tony Hickmott says some experimental work might have to be restarted later.

Almost all lab and field research

by Plant and Food Research has also stopped, chief scientist Professor Richard Newcomb says, though it has authority to maintain and protect vital biological assets and datasets that underpin the long-term success of its primary sector partners.

It also has permission to

continue some biosecurity surveillance and monitoring.

“Every activity we undertake in these areas has a detailed set of operating procedures designed to ensure that our staff do not create a transmission risk to others in their community and that they themselves are safe.”

Plant and Food is being run as a virtual institute.

“The focus of many of our research teams is moving to what can be achieved through working from home.

“We envisage that we will be doing more work around planning, data management and analysis and writing reports, publication and grants. And we are all learning to stay connected and work digitally.”

Newcomb says the lockdown will have an effect on the research it provides.

“For some areas this could mean missing a year of data where seasonality is important while for other areas the impact will be less.

How quickly we can all get up and running after the lockdown will be important.”

Though there will be some effect on Plant and Food’s research the lockdown has promoted the importance of food, in terms of

both what we grow for ourselves and share with the world.

“Every country needs food supply chains to remain open over this critical time.

“New Zealand’s expertise in high-quality food production systems, food technologies and our highly regarded food products could well be in even greater demand at the other end of this than when we went in.

“And we’ll need world class research and development to keep us at the leading edge.”

Scion chief operating officer Bart Challis says its researchers are at home working in areas like writing papers and reports plus data analysis, experimental planning and literature reviews.

Collaboration with overseas scientists is also continuing.

Lab and field work has been delayed but Challis is relatively confident that loss of field or experimental data can be mitigated as Scion plans future work.

Scion has provided a list of its capabilities – people, equipment and consumables – that could be used to increase the national capacity for covid-19 testing.

“Our biosecurity and rural fire research capability and expertise

New Zealand’s expertise in highquality food production systems, food technologies and our highly regarded food products could well be in even greater demand at the other end of this than when we went in.

Professor Richard Newcomb Plant and Food Research have been flagged as possible essential services should the need arise.

“We have identified packaging testing and 3D printing as capabilities that could be needed if there were challenges to packaging supply chains or packaging failures as well as the need to potentially produce parts for ventilators or personal protective equipment, in the case of 3D printing.”

Opinion

26 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

EDITORIAL

Strange days have found us

I

T’S been a strange week in New Zealand as everyone gets used to lockdown, trying to keep covid-19 at bay.

For many farmers life hasn’t been disrupted as much as some. Crops are still being harvested, milk is still being collected and stock are still being processed. Food is one of the necessities of life and its production must continue.

It’s been an especially challenging week at Farmers Weekly, too. This time last week we were not sure we would be able to print and distribute this newspaper to you. Periodical and community publications were not deemed essential at that stage.

We were prepared for that. The Government is taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of all New Zealanders and we fully support its decisions.

But it became clear to everyone that we were essential. We are essential because you are essential. It’s important every rural household at the end of every valley road gets the information they need. It’s important that everyone whose house is too far away from the cell tower to get workable internet has that information.

In a time where technology is helping many people work from home, shop and carry on in business it is the printed newspaper that is the best way of getting that information to many. We’re lucky to be able to continue to serve you, our readers, in this way. We take that privilege seriously. We know our production processes and supply chains are safe.

We know that to navigate the uncharted waters ahead you need the news that matters to you.

While farming continues, the lockdown has altered many tasks, processes and functions on farms. We’re doing our best to identify those challenges and give you the information and data needed to make sound decisions.

This physical isolation we’re experiencing is unnerving but we hope being able to walk to the letterbox each week and find the Farmers Weekly there gives some normality and some assurance.

Take care and be kind.

We’ll weather together.

Bryan Gibson

Bubble hubby learns new skills Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz AS SOMEONE who has worked from home for 17 year with Farmers Weekly the lockdown means little change.

What is different is my working day is pretty much confined to the four office walls – no field days, conferences, seminars, farm tours.

I’m lucky to have a pretty good set-up, separate from the house, including flash coffee, windows with calming rural views and even a sofa to myself, not than I’m an afternoon napper.

I’m used to having no distraction of office banter.

I can whinge and nobody reacts, just me and Grandpa bear on the sofa but he doesn’t say much.

I try to look presentable for our GlobalHQ and Farmers Weekly daily 9am

video conference but I’m not sure my colleagues notice.

That’s going to be more of a challenge with no haircut every four weeks.

I find the background scenes in my colleagues’ homes intriguing now they’re not at GlobalHQ or their shared city office space I’m used to seeing them in.

Actually, being forced to self-isolate is a new experience and one that each day is somewhat less predictable than the norm.

There’s more need to get up from the computer, take a walk and check the weeds now we’ve had 48mm of rain.

The farming goes on around me, the harvesting gear packed away for another season, less urgency for irrigation now its rained and newly sown crops popping out. The milk tankers still trundle by.

Thanks goodness farmers and their support services got

MEMORIES: This time a year ago Annette Scott and bubble partner hubby Trev were enjoying the view over Athens from Mt Lycabettus.

the green light. No one is going to be hungry.

In my immediate bubble, just me and hubby Trev and Grandpa bear, we are coping, some even learning new skills.

Yep, Trev, the most technologically inept, is feeling quite chuffed with himself. He’s taught himself to make videos and is flicking them off to our extended family, certainly creating a chuckle or three.

“Umm, hello, this is Pop here, well you can see that ...”

Best I leave it there.

And that is one of the heart-felt changes for me – no grandees popping in for a hug.

When we get through this it will be business with a new norm.

Keep reading and enjoying the news and stories we deliver to you. I feel privileged to be a part of the GlobalHQ team that brings this to you.

It will be a challenging year – we will get through this together.

Kia kaha, keep safe.

Letterof theWeek EDITOR Bryan Gibson 06 323 1519 bryan.gibson@globalhq.co.nz EDITORIAL Stephen Bell 06 323 0769 editorial@globalhq.co.nz Neal Wallace 03 474 9240 neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz Colin Williscroft 06 323 1561 colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz Annette Scott 03 308 4001 annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz Hugh Stringleman 09 432 8594 hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz Gerald Piddock 027 486 8346 gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz Richard Rennie 07 552 6176 richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz Nigel Stirling 021 136 5570 nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com Riley Kennedy 027 518 2508 Cadet journalist riley.kennedy@globalhq.co.nz

PUBLISHER Dean Williamson 027 323 9407 dean.williamson@globalhq.co.nz

Jody Anderson 027 474 6094 Waikato/Bay of Plenty advertising jody.anderson@globalhq.co.nz

Hannah Gudsell 06 323 0761 Livestock advertising 027 602 4925 livestock@globalhq.co.nz Debbie Brown 06 323 0765 Classifieds/Employment advertising classifieds@globalhq.co.nz Andrea Mansfield 027 446 6002 Salesforce director andrea.mansfield@globalhq.co.nz Steph Holloway 06 323 0142 AgriHQ Commercial Leader steph.holloway@globalhq.co.nz

Donna Hirst 06 323 0739 Lower North Island/international advertising donna.hirst@globalhq.co.nz

PRODUCTION Lana Kieselbach 027 739 4295 production@globalhq.co.nz Advertising material adcopy@globalhq.co.nz

Ernest Nieuwoudt 027 474 6091 South Island advertising ernest.nieuwoudt@globalhq.co.nz

SUBSCRIPTIONS ISSN 2463-6002 (Print) ISSN 2463-6010 (Online)

ADVERTISING Steve McLaren 027 205 1456 Auckland/Northland advertising 09 375 9864 steve.mclaren@globalhq.co.nz

Shirley Howard 06 323 0760 Real Estate advertising 027 474 6004 shirley.howard@globalhq.co.nz

0800 85 25 80

Circulation: Delivered free to 78,632 farmers from Monday (Current audited circulation figure)

Best letter each week wins a quality Victorinox Hiker knife

So go on!

Stick the knife in WRITE TO The Editor, Farmers Weekly P.O. Box 529, Feilding EMAIL farmers.weekly@globalhq.co.nz • FAX 06 323 7101

LK0100832©

Farmers Weekly is published by GlobalHQ, PO Box 529, Feilding 4740. New Zealand Phone: 0800 85 25 80 Fax: 06 323 7101 Website: www.farmersweekly.co.nz

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

27

Crisis creates opportunities Fraser Avery

Y

ESTERDAY we had planned to host a large gathering of farmers and industry people to celebrate our win of the Westpac Bayleys Marlborough Farmer of the Year 2019 title.

With a large part of New Zealand facing the challenge of drought we were excited about the chance to share with those interested the values and principles behind the people and the systems here at Bonavaree.

While I’m more comfortable verbally communicating I thought I would try to put something in text to share at this challenging time for us all.

At Bonavaree we are incredibly passionate about what we do.

We thrive on building systems and engaging people to help us all grow and develop. Those who find what they’re passionate about and spend their time in this space will have greater success and happiness.

During our first earthquake, in 2013, I learned shit always happens and sometimes it’s big.

Like earthquakes, covid-19 and winning the Marlborough Farmer of the Year.

And sometimes it’s smaller, like the neighbour’s ram lamb getting in with your ewes.

What’s important is how we deal with the tough stuff. That’s what I believe defines us.

In the fast-paced lives we lead the most important things can sometimes be misplaced in priority. In times of our biggest challenges we are reminded of what’s most important in life.

Looking after ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbours and friends.

Communication is always important.

Communicate regularly and often.

It’s vital for us and all those around us. Let our family, friends, staff and anyone else who supports us know what we are thinking and how we feel.

Ask them for their thoughts and feelings so we can build relationships to survive the biggest challenges. Be aware we sometimes can speak in a tone and context to those closest to us, our partners, that we wouldn’t communicate to others.

Communicate our story.

A lot of my time is spent around building and maintaining relationships.

Strong, healthy relationships have been essential for us at Bonavaree to build and grow our business to the stage it is at now.

We have chosen over the past years, where possible, to build relationships with only individuals and companies who are passionate about what they do.

We try to surround ourselves with people. We have learned so many things by engaging with people over the years and that continues daily. We also get great satisfaction out of feeling like we have helped someone and that is why we spend so much time

PASSIONATE: The Avery family of Doug, Quinn, Wendy, Shelley, Fraser and Oliver have faced many challenges but have looked to create opportunties out of them.

The

Pulpit

helping community organisations and individuals.

Getting myself into a healthy head space has been important.

Focus on the positives and our strengths. Engage others, where possible, to help with tasks you don’t enjoy.

Time spent thinking about things that are out of our control is time that should be spent elsewhere.

Physical exercise and being physically fit help us to be in a healthy head space.

Me-time, time for myself, I have learned is most important.

Often it is the first thing we cut out of our lives as we get busy with partners, children and work.

I have learned that me-time is essential to our own wellbeing.

For me it is playing hockey.

This is a time I can forget about everything else that’s going on in my life and chase a ball and some people half my age around a field before sharing a beer and a

completely different conversation with them. I had three years out with injury and surgery and during that time didn’t replace hockey with something else for me-time.

Getting back into it last year took me to a level of well being I hadn’t felt for three years. Metime for you could be going for a walk, maybe having a drink with friends. Whatever it is, find it and prioritise it.

Be proactive, drive your own bus. Don’t wait to react and let someone else drive. It is easy for us to be busy working. Make sure we are working on the best things.

Celebrate your wins. When times are tough the wins might seem small but really celebrate them. Thank and congratulate those involved.

Every time I hear about a high performing individual or business what I’ve learnt is they all do the basics very well. They have a plan with an end goal. They understand where they are at with comprehensive measuring and monitoring and many of us struggle with that. Their timing of process is very deliberate and they know where they want to get to.

The great news for the rest of us is that a lot of what they do isn’t rocket science.

Having kept up to date on covid-19 from the beginning I have been pleased that to date everything that has happened I saw and felt before it had happened. That has given me strength and confidence in my own thoughts.

We have found ourselves in this very privileged and important position of being considered an essential business while our nation is in lockdown.

At Bonavaree we are very dry and the team has been spending a lot of time doing maintenance work and training, which, to us, is important but I didn’t believe essential in a lock down.

At the start of the week I discussed it with the team and built a plan around managing through this period.

We have three of the team offfarm in their family bubbles ready to come back in if needed.

The other four of us are doing essential tasks then spending the rest of the day in our own bubbles.

We want to show those who aren’t in essential businesses we realise the privileged position we have and respect it.

This is a real opportunity for our sector to reinforce our perceived position as the nation’s backbone but, as always, we have to play our part.

Lately I have been asking fellow farmers how the All Blacks react when the rules, in which our national game is played on the field, change.

Do we really think our industry can go through time without rule changes? Change is something we have learned happens and we actively embrace it at Bonavaree.

Be involved in shaping our future.

There will be more opportunity over the next period of time than there’s ever been before. Let’s make sure we have our eyes open to see it.

I like to be challenged. That is when I get my greatest growth.

I have had two challenges I think have turned into great opportunities over the past few weeks for us all to take on with innovative thinking.

All sectors have struggled with a shortage of labour over

There will be more opportunity over the next period of time than there’s ever been before. Let’s make sure we have our eyes open to see it.

recent years. This is a chance for our sector to attract and retain talented and passionate individuals.

When times are tough, physical and social interaction is essential in helping our mental and emotional wellbeing. That form of interaction has been taken away from us. We need to adapt and find new ways of doing it.

We look forward to hosting you at Bonavaree at our field day sometime in the future. The positives in the delay are that we are involved in many exciting projects on-farm and will be able to share those with you in more detail by then.

Until then, keep communicating. Take care and thank you all for helping us be who we are today.

We will get through this together.

Who am I? Fraser Avery is a Marlborough sheep and beef farmer.

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. farmers.weekly@globalhq.co.nz Phone 06 323 1519

Opinion

28 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Government gets covid moves right Alternative View

Alan Emerson

IT’S been a long week.

For a start, we’ve taken isolation seriously and stayed at home as other locals have done.

Everyone has been busy on the phone and we’ve kept in touch. The mail is still arriving, the groceries are all available and all the computers, radios and televisions are working.

We’re living as normal, albeit without any personal contact.

The good news is the drought has finally broken.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been very clear, credible and compassionate with her messages.

In just two days we had more than 150mm of rain.

That took the fields from brown to green, the water tanks from almost empty to overflowing, the dams from empty or nearly so to having plenty of water and the stream from dry to in flood.

It was a remarkable transition.

When it finally rained I was tempted to strip and face the rain drops but I didn’t want to be responsible for plummeting local property values.

Answering the phone and watching the news made me both glad and proud that I’m a Kiwi.

The situation over the ditch is a shambles and an arrogant one at that.

Despite New Zealander’s in Australia living, working, paying tax and contributing to the community, when the flack hits the fan their contribution is ignored and they’re on the street.

The confusion over many of the Australian moves has been mindblowing.

For a start their schools are open but parents are encouraged to keep their children at home.

Then there is the hairdressing saga which beggars belief.

Initially hair appointments were limited to 30 minutes, which begs the question as to how you’re going to police it.

Then hair appointments could be longer than 30 minutes but people were encouraged to keep their distance.

That tells me Aussie hairdressers have either extremely long arms or huge scissors.

Surprisingly, international visitors were allowed to disembark from a cruise ship and enjoy the sights of Sydney before flying home.

The British response was similarly idiotic, initially suggesting an immunity strategy.

What that meant was the virus would be left to run wild with survival only of the fittest.

The official estimate was that strategy would involve 60% of the population, which is 42 million people, getting covid-19.

It has has been modified with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson telling people with symptoms to stay at home, that

UM, ER, AH: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has changed his covid-19 tactics.

there are to be no school trips abroad and that people over 70 should avoid cruises.

Mind you, both Australia and Britain pale into insignificance compared with the American approach.

In January President Donald Trump was offering to help China with its response.

The Chinese response was swift and effective, the Americans’ anything but.

On February 2 Trump said he’d pretty much shut it down.

In early March he suggested a vaccine could be ready in two to three months.

In mid March he offered

German company CureVac large sums of money to get exclusive access to its work. It was to be for the United States only.

Thankfully, the German government rejected the approach saying any vaccine developed will be for the whole world.

Trump then suggested antimalarial drug chloroquine would be effective. Medical professionals disputed that and one person who agreed with the president took the drug and died.

It has been estimated the virus could kill between 100,000 and 200,000 Americans.

Compare all that with the NZ situation.

At no time have I been in any doubt about what the issues are and what we’re doing to address them.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been very clear, credible and compassionate with her messages as has the director-general of health Dr Ashley Broomfield.

I know exactly what I’m allowed and not allowed to do and I don’t have issues with any of it.

Further, I’ve worked from home both writing and consulting for 20 years. It suits me and I don’t have a problem.

Where I do have a problem is the lack of contact with friends and family but one or even two months isn’t the end of the world.

Auckland University says without lockdown 80,000 Kiwis could die. That tells me lockdown is a small price to pay.

So I believe we’re doing it right.

What’s been additionally interesting is the mood on twitter and facebook.

The anti-farmer rhetoric has largely gone.

The reality is that the only way out of the situation is to produce food and the only people qualified to do that are farmers, market gardeners and orchardists and we do it sustainably and well.

Finally, I was sent a quote from Facebook that said: Pollution levels are dropping at recordbreaking rates. Fewer cars on the road, fewer cruise ships on our seas, fewer planes in the sky. Same number of cows.

Good on ya mate.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com

Jane says it’s not a pretty sight From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I FINISHED writing last week’s column late on the Wednesday night, right on deadline as usual and thought I might as well stay up another half hour to see the clock roll over into New Zealand’s first ever complete lockdown.

It was a somewhat unsatisfactory experience, much like Y2K or any New Year’s Eve. One minute after midnight felt very much like the minute before.

So, I woke Jane when I went to bed to tell her it was the start of our four-week bubble together.

She told me not to do that again. A bad start.

Day 1. Next morning I told her I, Dean, Dean’s dad and maybe hundreds of others had given up shaving for the duration because no one was going to see us. She pointed out she is going to see

me and she didn’t like it. Under pressure but I decided to not welch on Dean and figure she doesn’t have a lot of choice in this particular bubble. We don’t even have a cat or a house dog. Just her and me.

I drive into Waipukurau to do my radio show. Not having any papers to prove that I’m an essential industry I take my passport for want of a better idea to flash at any cordons or police officers. Pretty disappointed not to run into either.

I usually park in the service lane as I’m often jogging up the stairs to read the live weather forecast and can’t take the chance of not getting a park. Today I do take my chance, park right outside the front door of the station and take a photo of my ute and a distant postal van being the only vehicles in Ruataniwha Street, But a lot of folk are out for a walk.

It has the feel of Christmas Day, just not as much fun.

Day 2. Empty the mouse traps.

That’s 30 now. Regretting not having a cat anymore. It’s like a biblical plague.

Thinking about how essential industries are occupations society

was looking down its nose at or paying poorly just two weeks earlier. Like cleaners, bus drivers, plumbers, rubbish collectors, nurses and yes, farmers and food producers.

She pointed out she is going to see me and she didn’t like it.

Day 3. It feels pretty much like normal except the tennis coach is not zooming in and out of town.

Petrol and personal expenditure are plummeting so it’s not all bad.

Can’t go to Saturday golf as the course is closed so think instead of farming. I might actually make a start on cleaning my workshop as it is the bane of my life. I’d love mine to look like other farmers’ but it’s steady state seems to be a complete shambles. Watch funny covid videos and do emails all afternoon instead.

We drink a bottle of cheap bubbly and Jane announces that’s the last alcohol we are drinking

till next weekend. I remonstrate and tell her it’s a stressful time and it’s my only vice. However, finally agree on the grounds that when we get this virus, probably best to have the liver in as good a shape as possible.

Day 4. Catch my 40th mouse in the house. Given Hawke’s Bay has covid-19, Mycoplasma bovis, TB, water shortages, feed shortages and processing difficulties I go outside and scan the skies for locusts but none seen. Think it is good the cattle aren’t in charge of cleaning up the coronavirus given our strategy to get rid of M bovis.

I go and knock a few old willow trees over for the cattle and keep as safe as I can because they are unpredictable brutes. Cutting fodder for stock is very third world but the cattle aren’t complaining.

Day 5. We did finally get some rain but only 12mm, making it just 60mm for the year. We WhatsApped our son in London. Still got a job and doing his land survey work from his flat. His mother suggests he gets in a good supply of food but he tells her there are two Michelin three-star chefs on his street who are out of work and selling his flat meals at the door.

Day 6. The bubble is going better than expected. Limited disagreements except tonight when Jane thought we should have a drink and I was the one saying no.

Day 7. April Fools Day. We take ownership of Central FM with our partners Donald and Sereena.

He’s the breakfast host and local news guy, I do the Cockies Hour.

It was an excellent idea a month earlier. We wanted to keep it in local ownership rather than the network gobbling it up for the frequencies.

However, never has local community radio been so relevant.

We have a teleconference meeting on things to do so we don’t hold the record for the fastest business fail in history. We are pretty sure we can get to the other side, whenever that might be.

Mouse plague seems over so that’s one thing ticked off.

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

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

29

Farmers are doing what they do best Simon Bridges THIS is a tough time for all New Zealanders and we must stay strong and united as a nation to get through this.

We’re fortunate we have a strong primary sector and our farmers can continue doing what they do best, which is putting highquality food on people’s tables and earning export revenue.

Farmers are the definition of an essential service and I thank all of those who are still working hard throughout this crisis.

I hope since you’re reading this the Government has come to its senses and allowed important media outlets such as rural media to continue publishing.

National has strongly opposed the Government’s decision to classify community and weekly newspapers as non-essential.

We believe publications such as Farmers Weekly play an important role in keeping us connected and informed with rural content that would likely be missed by the mainstream media. I feel this is especially important in times like this.

As is historically the case in times of economic uncertainty we’re relying on our food

producers and the rural economy to pull NZ through – not to avoid recession but to help pay the bills while we wait for better economic times.

I see our role as asking the questions New Zealanders want answered.

Agriculture is also a huge job-generator and will provide important opportunities for those who have sadly lost their jobs to gain employment again.

With immigration restrictions in place there is a significant number of jobs normally occupied by overseas workers that will need to be filled by New Zealanders instead.

That isn’t to say it will be smooth sailing for our rural sector, though.

The worldwide implications of this will likely have a major impact on our export pathways and supply chains.

And drought continues to be a major problem in some parts of the country.

It is important that as a nation we ensure the food sector is prioritised and well supported through this crisis.

The drought is of major concern and is something we’re keeping a close eye on.

As feed and water supplies run low there are big implications on animal welfare and the mental wellbeing of farmers doing their best to look after these animals.

Meat works and processing plants are running at reduced capacity because of covid-19 restrictions, making it hard for farmers to get stock off the farm.

The Government needs to keep a close eye on this and ensure farmers are supported should this develop into a major problem.

This will be one of the many issues raised in the Epidemic Response Committee I will be chairing in Parliament.

While normal Parliamentary business has been put on hold because of the pandemic, I believe it is important there is a democratic function to allow constructive scrutiny of the Government’s response.

I see our role as asking the questions New Zealanders want answered.

EPITOME: Farmers are the definition of an essential service, Opposition leader Simon Bridges says.

I’ve been flooded with correspondence from New Zealanders who want answers on a wide variety of topics related to the response, whether it’s small businesses seeking clarity on what defines an essential service, people concerned about their local butcher being closed, essential businesses seeking workforce reassurance or concerns about stock rustling and increased criminal activity in rural areas.

I intend on ensuring the Government addresses these questions.

Situations like this show the importance of our food producers.

No matter how challenging the global environment, people need to eat and our farming sector is the best in the world at producing high-quality food.

The National Party thanks you for your continued contribution to NZ.

Time takes on new perspective Allan Barber

MY LAST few columns have dealt with the potential impact of covid-19 on world trade, exports to China and meat processors but suddenly, in the last two weeks, the virus has become the main factor in our lives.

What was previously just a growing concern has, with alarming speed, destabilised the whole global economy with no certainty about how, when or even whether it will revert to normal.

On the personal front, little more than two weeks ago the annual Warkworth A&P Show, which I chair, was cancelled, closely following Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement of a ban on mass gatherings.

A planned holiday in Morocco and Portugal in September won’t happen this year and, with the uncertainty about timeframes for a vaccine, border restrictions and the survival of airlines, might not happen at all.

Less than a week after the scheduled date for the cancelled show the country was in lockdown, which at least put the

rest of the country on the same level of restrictions as over 70s who had already been told to stay home.

While I understand the need for older people to protect themselves, both in their own and the general interest, as a fit and healthy over 70 I find it more than a little irritating to be treated as if I’m infirm, especially since five days earlier I would have been jointly responsible for putting on a large community event.

It would have been the 153rd time the show has been held, with previous cancellations only during the two world wars and infrequently because of rain.

The planning for this year can be transferred to 2021 when, hopefully, we will be able to go ahead without problem. With what appears in retrospect to be remarkable foresight I had already told the committee I will retire after next year’s show, little realising at the time this year wouldn’t happen.

Since lockdown began my wife, Vanessa, our two dogs and I (our bubble) have settled into a routine that involves longer than usual walks, fertilising the vegetable garden and planting seedlings that need regular watering in the still drought-affected north, phoning children, grandchildren and friends, much reading and listening to the radio interspersed with music or silence when the news gets too repetitive and depressing.

This morning, magically, we were caught in a downpour while out walking the dogs but there’s no sign of the drought breaking in the foreseeable future. Walking around our village and at low tide on the estuary we can practise legitimate distant socialising with friends doing the same so lockdown hasn’t entirely removed human contact.

We have been successful in restricting our shopping trips to a minimum though I’m on the horns of a dilemma – whether to stay home as required by my age or avoid overloading the local supermarket’s online ordering capacity.

We can now devote plenty of time to planning and preparing gourmet meals to entertain and sustain us though it doesn’t pay to include cauliflower on the menu, now costing as much as $15. I was lucky enough to place an online order with our local butcher who thought he could supply during the lockdown but suddenly had to fulfil the first week’s orders for immediate collection before midnight on the Wednesday.

A big advantage of being forced to stay at home has been the chance to do relatively little without a sense of guilt. It’s amazing how easy it is to get swept up in a whole range of trivial commitments which have suddenly disappeared in these extraordinary times. The diary has emptied of real appointments, which have been only partly

replaced by virtual arrangements like an online doctor’s call to renew a prescription.

There is a big contrast between the expanded time available for personal activities and the speed at which world and national events are moving.

Another massive contrast is how the pandemic has crowded out other news and Government priorities. Murders, car crashes, #metoo and Harry and Meghan are no longer plastered over websites and newspapers.

It’s tempting to hope farmers might be left to get on with farming and growing food to supply New Zealand and international consumers instead of being bludgeoned by the constant imposition of environmental regulation.

This might, of course, be only a short blip before everything returns to normal. But it’s possible this pandemic might bring the world to its senses and put the brakes on what had become unbridled consumerism, making people less intent on growth whatever the cost.

In a more restrained post covid-19 world, sports might be restricted to their seasons, pollution might not return to previous extremes and agriculture will still be seen as a crucial contributor to the global economy.

In NZ, at least, the population might come to the grudging realisation agriculture remains the

one truly sustainable foundation of our past, present and future prosperity. We would be stuffed without it.

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

LK0100740©

Meaty Matters

Heavy duty long lasting Ph 021 047 9299

World

30 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

Big farms vital to survival LARGE-SCALE agriculture is essential to feed the world’s burgeoning mega-cities but the food and farming industry must be more open and sustainable, Dutch agri-food university Wageningen board chairwoman Professor Louise Fresco says.

“Cities of millions of people rely on large farms to feed them but this does not mean more cannot be done to reduce the impact of production on the environment and improve animal welfare,” she said in a lecture in London.

Much of what the food and farming industry does has become invisible to most people, partly because of a centuriesold disquiet about the killing of animals.

She urges farmers and food companies to be more open about what they do and why they do it and laments the fact no country runs specific school lessons in food, nutrition and the environment.

Her comments were echoed by lecture guest Princess Anne, who called on the food and farming industry to lobby for

more teaching on food and the environment in schools.

Fresco also stressed the importance of meat in diets, saying plant-based alternatives often take a lot of energy, processing and additives to mimic the high-value protein and

If you take away the cows and sheep then other animals with no human food value that emit greenhouse gases will replace them.

Professor Louise Fresco Wageningen University minerals meat delivers.

And permanent pasture has some of the best carbon-capturing qualities of any land and not using it to extensively graze ruminant livestock does not make any sense.

“If you take away the cows and sheep then other animals with

no human food value that emit greenhouse gases will replace them,” she said.

However, there is a real issue for the grain-fed livestock sector and it should be looking at how it can feed animals from crops and by-products that cannot be eaten by humans.

At the National Farmers Union conference president Minette Batters said activism and misinformation about agriculture reported by the media is number one on farmers’ lists of concerns and contributing to mental health issues.

Highlighting the vitriol directed at farmers she called for people to remember at the heart of every business is a family.

Later, when talking to reporter, she said “When I attend member meetings the thing farmers want to talk about most is what they see as this feeling of worthlessness on the back of a sustained assault on meat as part of a diet.

“I have never seen farmers so upset and it is the deepest form of upset because they feel victimised and do not have a voice.

GAS-KILLER: Grazing land has some of the best carbon-capturing qualities of any land, Wageningen University head Professor Louise Fresco says.

“They want us to do more for them and they want it to stop and that is what the NFU is working on.”

The union is working to dispel myths around livestock farming, telling journalists British production is 2.5% more efficient than the rest of the world.

“Our diets might change here but we are not going to deal with climate change if we just focus on our consumption of meat.

“It is about the sustainable

production of plant-based food and meat.”

The United Kingdom should take pride in its sustainable and high-quality livestock and dairy sectors.

“There are a lot of challenges around processed, plant-based food, for example, with palm oil and soya and we want to take people away from processed foods and towards a more natural, healthy balanced diet,” she said.

UK Farmers Guardian

Cutting meat won’t help climate Food values lower emissions A COMBINATION of miscalculated livestock emissions and illinformed assumptions cutting red meat from people’s diets will stop global warming risks alienating the people with the biggest role in mitigating climate change.

Farmers, who manage 85% of the Britain’s land area, are key to the climate change solution, Oxford Real Farming Conference heard.

But misinformation being spread, particularly about methane, could be particularly harmful.

In addition, the inaccurate representation of agricultural methane has allowed attention to be diverted from fossil fuels, climate and food security think tank Farmwel’s chief executive ffinlo Costain said.

Far from being unsustainable, grass-based cattle and sheep systems could be climate-neutral by 2030 and could help to restore biodiversity and soil health.

“Although livestock produce methane almost constantly, the focus on their emissions is misleading. It is the warming impact of those emissions that actually matters.

“Until now climate science has accounted for all greenhouse gases in the same way, using a global warming potential over 100 years metric (GWP100), which characterises emissions rather than their warming potential.

“This has fed the myth that ruminant methane is a critical contributor to the global warming problem.”

Costain said while methane is powerful, it is also a short-lived greenhouse gas and should be considered differently from carbon dioxide, a long-lived gas.

“While carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are active in our atmosphere for many generations,

methane is broken down in about a decade.”

He pointed to the new metric, GWP, developed by researchers for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, based at Oxford University, showing total British agricultural emissions fell from 45.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2016 to 9.5 MtCO2e using the new calculation.

After the session National Farmers Union vice-president Stuart Roberts said “It is really encouraging to see scientists shedding light on the significant differences between long and short-lived greenhouse gases and it is really important for us as food producers, as well as the general public, to understand the different impacts they have on the climate.”

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board environment head Jonathan Foot said “An increasing body of evidence suggests methane emissions, such as those from livestock, should be looked at differently due to its shorter lifespan.

“However, we must acknowledge that no matter what calculation is used, the industry must strive to deliver production efficiencies while lowering emissions.

“That way we can continue to farm sustainably, bringing environmental benefits and top quality meat.”

Country Landowners Association president Mark Bridgeman said the continued demonisation of meat production is distorting the debate on combating climate change.

The government’s chief food adviser Henry Dimbleby called the debate on meat eating an unpleasant dialogue of the deaf.

“Livestock farmers have been reduced to the role of baddies by many groups.

ENCOURAGED: National Farmers Union vice-president Stuart Roberts is pleased scientists are shedding light on the differences between long and short-lived greenhouse gases.

“There needs to be a much more measured approach to understand both the positive and negative impacts of all kinds of livestock production on human and environmental health.”

Dimbleby is developing a national food strategy. An interim report due in spring will be discussed by a citizens’ panel of 100 people.

He also urged the government not to impose gold standard regulations on British farmers, which would encourage the import of lower-quality food.

UK Farmers Guardian

SCIENTISTS at Bristol University have proposed an alternative method of evaluating livestock emissions that more accurately reflects the nutritional benefits of beef.

They say incorporating a measure known as recommended dietary intakes (RDI) into the emissions metric would see beef compare more favourably with other meats.

The difference is huge with beef production accounting for lower emissions than free-range chicken under the recalculation.

The measure was explained by environmental consultant Sarah Jones.

“The current focus on cattle production over-simplifies what is a very complicated subject,” Jones said.

Much of the argument around livestock farming focuses on the global warming potential (GWP) of meat and dairy thanks to greenhouse gas production by animals.

For each 100g of meat produced beef cattle create almost 2kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – the standard unit for measuring carbon footprints.

When compared with intensively reared chicken, which produces less than 0.5kg CO2e per 100g of meat, cattle appear to be much less environmentally friendly.

But that simplistic measure fails to grasp the nutritional output being achieved

with each kilogram of meat compared with the CO2e, Jones said.

She highlighted the work by Bristol University sustainable agriculture expert professor Michael Lee, which was presented at the Sustainable Food Trust’s recent conference.

Lee developed the new approach to measuring GHGs in beef production by incorporating RDIs. At the conference Lee said people don’t eat to consume kilos of a product, they eat to consume the nutrients they need.

The RDI system recognises that fact and accounts for beef’s high nutritional value per kilogram and its concentration of vital vitamins and minerals such as omega-3 fats and vitamin E. That then allows a better comparison with foods that have much lower nutrient levels per kilogeram yet, on the surface, have a lower carbon footprint, Jones said.

Scientists using this metric say emissions from beef cattle reared on concentrates are actually less than 0.05kg CO2e per 1% of RDI. That is just a fraction of the 2kg CO2e per 100g calculated in the standard GWP measurement, Jones said.

Factoring in the nutritional value shows emissions from those same cows were 2.25 times lower than free-range chicken.

UK Farmers Weekly

Real Estate

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020

31

Rural property market keeps going Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

C

OVID-19 is changing the way of business for rural real estate but it’s not all bad, Bayleys chief operating officer and rural real estate country manager Duncan Ross says.

“The way of doing business is changing and we are rethinking what it looks like in shape over the next few weeks and longer.

“We are sharing ideas and working out new ways of dealing with things and how we do business.”

For clients it’s about surety, certainty and advice to make sure they are comfortable with what’s in place.

“For us the major difference is we can’t take people over a property but we can continue without physically going on the property.”

Ross said more by good luck than good management the autumn property book was out just as the lockdown started.

“All our properties are in the network and on the website and the listings provide a fair amount of information.

“Interest is good, quite amazing really. We can do all the legal work and we are completing transactions that were in progress before lockdown.

“We are still signing up contracts that started prior to lockdown, campaigns are due to close and some that were auctions have been pulled and changed to go through the tender process.

“Activity hasn’t stopped in that space but we do expect it will drop down in time as we get through the initial phase and complete transactions that were in progress.”

Still, there’s a lot of positivity in the rural real estate market he predicts will only build from here.

“We are in times of unprecedented uncertainty, everyone is locked away and that’s forcing change on how we deliver.

“Real estate business used to be face to face, obviously that’s not happening now and whilst we

CHANGING: Interest in farms is still good and agents are adapting the ways they interact with buyers and sellers.

All that revenue is still being built. The ag sector is the backbone of the country. It will power on and hopefully lead to more.

Duncan Ross Bayleys

have new properties in the market it’s about how we do business in the new environment.

“The agri-sector is the one sector that will power through this better than most,” Ross said.

“It is the only sector that has to get through just a short-term deferral of income. For other

sectors it will be much longer.

“Beef animals are going to keep tacking on weight, sheep are going to keep growing wool, harvest is still coming in, fruit and vegetables keep growing and processing companies, even though at lesser capacity, are still churning out product.

“All that revenue is still being built. The agri sector is the backbone of the country. It will power on and hopefully lead to more.

“It’s when there’s positivity in the sector that transactions will occur.”

With the focus now more on yield rather than price per hectare people have got their heads around value being about the dollars they can make.

“Because the agri sector is carrying on people can see that and be positive.”

Banks will likely be more prudent and might defer business to other sectors and that could make it more difficult to gain finance to the same level as previously.

“But the agri sector will continue to power on and drive certainty,” Ross said.

Until the March 31 quarter it has been a good run.

“Now we are locked in because we can’t get people across farms but that just means we operate in a different way.”

With 115 agents in rural and lifestyle real estate across the country connection with each other and with clients is greater than ever.

“We can travel further afield on a phone in a day than we can miles in a car. While our guys have got the time we will certainly make good use of that.”

KEEP GOING: Rural real estate activity hasn’t stopped, Bayleys chief operating manager Duncan Ross says.

We’ll weather together

Our content is easily acessible.

Sign up for our eNewsletters at farmersweekly.co.nz/e-newsletter or download the ISSUU app for easy reading on mobile

GlobalHQ keeps you up to date with the latest news, data and market information.

AgriHQ reports are delivered direct to your inbox. Sign up at agrihq.co.nz/reports-and-tools

farmersweekly.co.nz | agrihq.co.nz | globalhq.co.nz

IT’S ALTOGETHER BETTER IN THE

COUNTRY

Country is Altogether Better at bringing what we’ve seen and heard in the rural market directly to you.

As the leaves begin to turn, we’ve had our eyes and ears to the ground to deliver you autumn’s freshest farm, speciality and lifestyle property opportunities for sale.

Brought to you by Bayleys – New Zealand’s number one rural real estate brand – Country is the market-leading publication and forum for rural property and commentary.

In the latest edition, Country explores ideas around regenerative agriculture and how we can implement more sustainable practices on-farm, and considers how New Zealand’s food provenance story is perceived globally.

We also look at the concept of farm parks for lifestyle property buyers, and summarise a selection of recent rural sales nationwide to help you get a gauge on the market.

For a great steer on all things Country – call 0800 BAYLEYS or view online at bayley.co.nz/country

Altogether better at rural real estate.

#1

RURAL REAL ESTATE BRAND

Putting the land right

Regenerative agriculture is providing farmers with sustainable options.

New Zealand’s food story Kiwi food producers find their voice on the world stage.

FEATURING

87

FARM, SPECIALTY AND LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE ISSUE 1 – 2020

LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

A LT O G E T H E R B E T T E R

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

FARMERS WEEKLY – April 6, 2020

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

33

NEW LISTING

Boundary lines are indicative only

Wairoa 821 Tiniroto Road and 14 Kent Road, Ruakituri

57ha freehold, maize crops, machinery and leases

7

An A‘maize’ing opportunity located only 16km north of Wairoa, Northern Hawke’s Bay, is a fantastic cropping business opportunity. Bound by the Wairoa river the picturesque home title of 37ha includes approximately 15ha of maize with the four bedroom villa and numerous implement sheds with a large lockable workshop/three bay high stud shed. The 20ha Kent Road title includes approximately 11.5ha of maize, a three bedroom home with the balance easy hill. The going concern sale includes a large list of tractors, cultivation and harvesting equipment as well as over 80ha of maize crop soon to be harvested and the opportunity to enter into a longer term lease of approximately 45ha of cropping land in Wairoa. An opportunity to start your own cropping business or for farmers wanting to extend into a mixed/cropping business with the ability to finish livestock.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 13 May 2020 17 Napier Road, Havelock North Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Stephen Thomson 027 450 6531 stephen.thomson@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2852103

EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

2

3

2

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

colliers.co.nz

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

High quality gold investment

Vendor instructions are clear!

NEW LISTING

WEB ID TXR02672 PAENGAROA 2A Allport Road View By Appointment 9.66 canopy hectares G3 Sungold Kiwifruit showing excellent returns.

BY NEGOTIATION

Early start premiums achieved on approximately 6 ha. with crop forecast for the 2020 harvest of 16,000 trays per ha. Plenty of potential as this young orchard is only in year 6 of production since grafting from greenfield.

Water supply from 2 bores. Quality brick homestead of 245 m2, with additional accommodation of a modern cottage.

The orchard also comprises 19 ha of grazing running 63 rising 2-year cattle and 14 ha 21 year Radiata pines.

3 2 Brett Ashworth

Mobile 021 0261 7488 bretta@pb.co.nz

2

Investment potential plus!

DEADLINE SALE

Exciting opportunity with irrigation

DEADLINE SALE

PRICE REDUCED

WEB ID OMR72668 HILLEND 17 Tongue Road View By Appointment Offers over $4 million + GST will be considered. Property DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 22nd May, 2020 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) Brokers are proud and privileged to present this 352.7058 hectare dairy farm to the market as sole agent. The farm is well situated in strong & fertile country in the hinterland of South Otago with an RV $4,630,000. The property has a history of sound Ross Robertson production at lower cost meaning potentially higher Mobile 021 023 27220 returns. rossr@pb.co.nz Plus GST (if any) 4 Deadline Sale closing at 4pm Friday 22nd May 2020 or other date TBA subject to Covid 19 restrictions being Andy Kelleher lifted (all prior offers will be considered) Mobile 027 666 6811

DEADLINE SALE

andyk@pb.co.nz

pb.co.nz

WEB ID OMR75319 OAMARU 266 Eastern Road, Otekaieka View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 22nd May, 2020 at 4.00pm, Offers over $30,000 plus GST per hectare will be (unless sold prior) considered. Large scale dairy farm, location, soils, reliable water, modern infrastructure, all provide for a very efficient low input dairy unit. Return on investment will impress.

• 423 hectares located at Otekaieke, Waitaki Valley North Otago.

• Five-year production average of 619,000 kgMS or 1,518 milk solids per hectare effective.

Price plus GST (if any) Deadline Sale closing at 4pm Friday 22nd May 2020 or Ross Robertson other date TBA subject to Covid 19 restrictions being Mobile 021 023 27220 rossr@pb.co.nz lifted (all prior offers will be considered)

2

WEB ID OMR72871

BY NEGOTIATION MAHENO 39 Whartons Road View By Appointment Buyer enquiry over $3,000,000 plus GST will be given serious consideration for this exciting opportunity with Irrigation. Property Brokers is proudly presenting to the market this high production irrigated fattening property located in the fertile Kakanui Valley of the North Otago Region.

• 152.1329 hectares • Fertile soils achieving high production dry matter.

• 78 hectares of irrigation utilising two centre pivots.

• Primary water consent via Kakanui River (33 ltr/sec) in combination with reliable NOIC (North Otago Irrigation Ross Robertson Company at 30 ltr/sec). Price plus GST (if any).

Mobile 021 023 27220 rossr@pb.co.nz

+ GST (IF ANY)

3 2 2

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – April 6, 2020

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

35

FARM GOING TO AUCTION • Situated south of Whanganui at 123 Ratana Road is this 83 hectares consented for intensive agriculture.

• This farm has great soil fertility and extensive drainage has been put in place including nova flow.

• There is a very good bore that supplies quality water to stock troughs and dairy.

• Includes 350 cow feed pad, very good stock handling facilities, eight bay machinery shed and 20 aside dairy.

• Comfortable three bedroom home on separate title.

• Good layout with numerous paddocks. Internal fences are mainly two wire electric along with a good internal central laneway system and good rural fencing.

• Offers diverse income stream from beef, cropping, dairy.

Your destination For Rural real Estate

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

LK0101960©

Sallan Realty

• The vendors are genuine sellers and wish to sell under the hammer on the day.

• Auction 16th April 2020, 1pm on site.

LES CAIN 0274 420 582

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Market your property to an audience that counts Get in touch with your agent today

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Agri Job Board RENT A BULL – DRY STOCK FARM MANAGER • •

•

Rimunui Station, located 7km (10 mins drive) from Gisborne CBD, is a 1000ha effective breeding and finishing property consisting of easy, medium and steep hill country, wintering 400 Angus stud breeding cows and 3200 breeding ewes.

More than a job, more than a business Opportunity for high flyer to take their next step in a centre of excellence Lead new initiatives and build capacity

This job is so good that if we could do it ourselves we would. Rent A Bull is a sheep and beef farm and the home of Ezymate – a bull leasing operation.

Based at Five Rivers, 95km north of Invercargill in Northern Southland it boasts 316 hectares of paddock area and 700 hectares of rolling hill country.

The well-known Kaharau Angus Stud has been operating at Rimunui Station for over 30 years.

The successful applicant must have a strong team of dogs and be able to work alone, a good sense of humour with a can-do attitude.

View photos on Trade me jobs.

Interested? Find out more by logging onto www.no8hr.co.nz (Ref#8HR1276) for more details of the business, the vision and what’s required.

LK0101766©

Please e-mail applications with CV to: tracy@gisborne.net.nz Applications close – 17th April, 2020

FAST GRASS www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT Only $6.00 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 brianmace@xtra.co.nz

To win this role, you’ll need to be able to tick the following boxes: Strong drystock farming background, forward thinking and technology savvy, able to apply sustainable farming practices, first-class animal husbandry skills, have a high H&S capability and a detailed understanding of financial and business reporting.

Competitive remuneration package.

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

Phone Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

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

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds.

Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten.

Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

NAKI GOATS. Trucking goats to the works every week throughout the NI. Phone Michael and Clarice.

027 643 0403.

• Farm accommodation • Horse stables • Small buildings

w w w. e l e c t r o t e k . c o . n z STOP BIRDS NOW!

NZ’s finest BioGro certified

FO Mg fertiliser SALR E For a delivered price call ....

0800 436 566

DOGS WANTED

High Country Cabins and Construction www.highcountrycabinsandconstruction.com

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

Available in kitset & fully build packages.

Available NZ wide.

Further information phone 027 963 5390 Highcountrycabins66@gmail.com

ZON BIRDSCARER

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz DE HORNER

Phone: +64 6 357 2454 HOOF TRIMMER

EARMARKERS

LK0101733©

Advertise in Farmers Weekly

DOLOMITE

DAGS .25c PER KG. Replacement woolpacks.

PV Weber Wools.

Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

GOATS WANTED

0101843 Cabins High Country & Construction 63.57x50

Noticeboard SELLING SOMETHING?

SELLING AND BUYING. No contact! Deliver, trial www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

ATTENTION FARMERS

This showpiece farm has exceptional infrastructure, offering a 5-bedroom homestead and excellent steel cattle yards. All cultivatable land has been converted into modern pastures and is well watered with a spring fed gravity reticulated system with a central lane through the entire property.

Living on the farm is required and a comfortable three bedroom Lockwood home is provided. The school bus pick up is at the gate, dropping off to a choice of local Gisborne primary, intermediate and secondary schools and with the location so close to town, enables an easy commute for employment opportunities for a partner.

FLY OR LICE problem?

Electrodip – the magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides.

Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness.

Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance.

Unbeatable pricing.

Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

This is not your run of the mill Farm Manager role, it’s the opportunity to continue an exciting aggressive development programme – turning the ambitious strategy into reality. You’ll be responsible for stock and farm performance, financial KPI’s, and all pasture management and feed budgets.

You will also be a practical, resourceful problem-solver and your attention to detail will be second to none – it’s critical to keep the farm looking very sharp.

They will be part of a well organised, cohesive team and will answer to the Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a progressive organisation that is involved in modern farming practice

DOGS FOR SALE

EARLY DEADLINE

No Field Days, No Worries

All enquiries during April go into the draw for a further $400 off their purchase. We will take orders during the lockdown period and supply as soon as possible. No deposits required. Invoice on delivery.

First in first served.

RAMS. TERMINAL SIRES Southdowns and Suffolk/ Southdown X for heavy fast growing lambs. Suitable for Hogget mating. $250$550. Phone 06 357 7727 or 021 133 7533.

PUMPS HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts.

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

MOISTURE METERS Hay, Silage dry matter, grain. www.moisturemeters.co.nz 0800 213 343.

TARPAULINS NZ MADE. Heavy duty covers for hay, silage, tractors, bulldozers, trucks etc. All sizes. For more info Westlorne Ohakune 06 385 8487 or email: westlorne@xtra. co.nz - Visit our website: www. westlorne.co.nz

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

For more information please visit our website or contact us info@nzadventures.co.nz Ph: 03 218 8569 027 550 6727 or 027 435 4267

www.nzadventures.co.nz

LK0101596©

Still reliable.

South Island - Stuart 027 435 3062

RAMS. HILL COUNTRY Perendales. Easy care with good size and quality wool. $250-$550. Phone 06 376 4751 or 021 133 7533.

NEW HOMES

Still versatile.

™

RED DEVON BULLS; Also in-calf cows + heifers, BVD vaccinated + weaners. Hill country stud. TB-C10 - 06 376 3966

T HI NK P R E B U I L T

Information packs now available for 2020/21 season

The original Combi Clamp.

0800 227 228 www.combiclamp.co.nz

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.

STOCK FEED

LK0101964©

Contact Debbie Brown DDI: 06 323 0765 027 705 7181 classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

WILTSHIRE & SHIRE® Meat rams. Low input. www.wiltshire-rams.co.nz 03 225 5283.

Get your April 13 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday April 7

le att C D n H ck! o i e l lab be qu i a o av 00 last s 0 2 s to $ stock 0 0 e 15 hil m $ nly w o r f O ngs shes. i v Sa Cru

HORTICULTURE NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp.

The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

RAMS FOR SALE

For Classifieds, Employment and Livestock sections

A full range with many features as standard.

GOATS. 40 YEARS experience mustering feral cattle and feral goats anywhere in NZ. 50% owner (no costs).

50% musterer (all costs).

Phone Kerry Coulter 027 494 4194.

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

LK0099530©

Top property in a dream location is seeking an experienced Shepherd.

ANIMAL HANDLING

LK0101843©

SHEPHERD

Phone Nick Carr 021 656 023 or 06 281 0059

Noticeboard

LK0101959©

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – April 6, 2020

SALE TALK

Joshua is out shopping when he sees his friend Rob outside the jewellers. Rob has a small giftwrapped box in his hand. “What have you been buying?” says Joshua.

“Well,” replies Rob, “it’s Debbie’s 60th birthday soon and I asked her what she wanted. She said, “I’m not sure, but how about something with lots of diamonds.”

“So, what did you buy?” asks Joshua.

“Well, I bought her two packs of Bridge cards,” replies Rob.

livestock@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

37

STOCK FOR SALE

230 R2YR HEREFORD BULLS 440kg R2YR FRSN BULLS Lines 370-450kg (weights to suit) VIC COWS & HEIFERS due Aug/Sept

STOCK REQUIRED

Store MALE LAMBS

1500 BREEDING

EWES

Our STOCKNZ Device App has been UPDATED Download The Latest Version

Hewitt_BB_2300x750@20%.indd 1

1/11/19 11:44 AM

Trade livestock like never before

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

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

WEEKLY AUCTIONS Wednesday night – North Island Thursday night – South Island FEATURE AUCTIONS Link Livestock Flush Cow Sale Monday 6 April 2020 at 7.30 pm

"Maximising your return through personal livestock management"

Nokomai Station Autumn Lamb Sale Monday, 6 April 2020 at 8.00 pm AngusPure Cattle Sale Tuesday, 7 April 2020 at 7.30 pm

_______________________________

East Coast All-Stock Sale Wednesday, 8 April 2020

DAIRIES FOR SALE

byllivestock.co.nz

Great buying - Farmers want a deal

07 823 4559

byllivestock

For further information go to bidr.co.nz or contact the team on 0800 TO BIDR

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

300 Tough Xbred Herd BW117 PW153 RA92% DTC 1/8 to LIC, steep farm, Rotary Shed System 2, will computer split no’s $1525 Ben Deroles 027 702 4196 Ref: DH1387 19 Top Xbred I/C Hfrs BW156 PW176 DTC 23/7 to Jsy, G3 closed herd $1300

Key: Dairy

Brent Espin 027 551 3660 Ref: DH1748 71 Xbred R1yr Hfrs BW201 PW226 Paul Collins 027 304 8994 Ref: DR1744 250 Xbred Herd BW165 PW191 RA100% DTC 27/7 to LIC, closed herd 40yrs Replacements available TOP 2% NZ $1750 Sam Arends 027 343 3529 Ref: DR1647

Capital line, well grown $750 Steve Quinnell 027 278 3837 Ref: DH1433

LK0101436©

43 Fsn/FsnX R1yr Hfrs BW103 PW141

Visit our Website for the best selection available

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

JERSEY JOY

Lindsay Park Bidr Sale, April 15 – 6pm • • • •

25 Select Jersey cows Young, Typey, High Index BW’s to 261 PW’s to 378 Ave BW 201 PW 232

Bidr All Breeds Flush Cow Sale April 6 – 7.30pm Bidr Lindsay Park XBred Cow Sale April 29 – 6pm Other listings • 60 Jersey Cows BW 180 PW 190 DTC 17/7/20 • 22 Jersey IC heifers BW 203 PW 205 DTC 17/7/20 • 42 Complete line J+JX IC Heifers BW 183 PW 203 • 42 Complete line mostly J IC Heifers BW 150 PW 155 • Budget Cows Wanted: RI Jersey heifers for export

LK0101926©

Contact Ross Riddell 0272 111 112 Grant Aiken Northland 0272 458 821 Karen Fitzgerald Manawatu 0274 080 098

Linking buyers and sellers

14th April 2020 at 12.30pm.

Burnett Valley Trust, Cave – C10 • 45 20 month Angus Heifers • 300 MA Angus Cows • 120 Angus Steer Calves • 120 Angus Heifer Calves • 36 Angus/Hereford x Steer Calves • 30 Angus/Hereford x Heifer Calves • 5 MA Angus Bulls (R3-R6) Calves sold on L/W CPKG-Adult cattle sold per head Refer to BIDR Auction page for further details www.bidr.co.nz All calves weaned for 3 weeks.

All in-calf cattle have been scanned in calf to Kakahu Angus Bull.

Heifers - 10th October 2019 Cows - 5th November 2019 The above cattle have become available due to the lease of the property.

All Angus cattle bred solely by Kakahu Angus Genetics for 30+ years.

All calves born August on and will be well grown by sale day (200 – 300kgs).

All adult females were born and bred on the property, with Burnett Valley being medium to rolling hill, will come forward in excellent condition. Est wgt Cows (550 – 650kgs) Heifers (450 – 500kgs).

This sale represents an opportunity to purchase a line of well-bred Angus female cattle with proven high performance genetics. All cattle will be sold in age groups. Presale enquiries welcome. To bid online sign up with Tom Mallon 027 732 0006.

Sam Jamieson 021 0279 6541 Rob Harvey (PGW) 021 331 519 Joe Higgins (PGW) 0274 314 041 Tom Mallon (bidr) 027 732 0006

Sheep

Other

NORTH ISLAND HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE

CAPITAL STOCK ANGUS IN-CALF FEMALE & CALF SALE BIDR ON-LINE AUCTION

Well grown fully recorded $875

Cattle

79 Friesian X Capital Stock R1yr Heifers

DAIRY HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE

BW 157

PGG Wrightson Dairy representatives are specialists at marketing and selling dairy herds.

Benefit from the nationwide team that is dedicated to matching herds with the right buyers and achieving an optimal outcome for your business.

NATIONAL TEAM. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.

PW 171

$850+GST

•

RA 98% X/Bred component of Capital Stock Line, Weighed 7/2/20 @ 158 Kgs, Vendors Exiting the Industry, ‘Quality Line of Heifers’.

Mark Crooks – 027 590 1452 Andrew Leggett - 022 038 3216 Agonline ref: 6026

273 Capital Stock Friesian & Friesian X Herd BW 74

PW 88

$1,800+GST

•

RA 98% Long established, hardworking herd farmed in a difficult climate. Vendor exiting industry and farm is sold. Very low cell count. Herd tested and milked on System 2.

Tim Pickering - 027 446 9963 Agonline ref: 6157

EXPERT LOCALS. NATIONWIDE REACH.

Trade online with confidence during the COVID-19 Lockdown – talk to your local expert PGG Wrightson Livestock representative about trading on bidr.co.nz

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

Helping grow the country

MARKET SNAPSHOT

38

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Suz Bremner

Mel Croad

Nicola Dennis

Cattle

Reece Brick

Graham Johnson

Caitlin Pemberton

Sheep

BEEF

William Hickson

Deer

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

4.95

4.95

5.40

NI lamb (17kg)

7.00

7.00

7.10

NI Stag (60kg)

7.00

7.30

9.15

NI Bull (300kg)

4.95

4.95

5.00

NI mutton (20kg)

4.60

4.60

5.05

SI Stag (60kg)

7.00

7.30

9.15

NI Cow (200kg)

3.40

3.40

3.85

SI lamb (17kg)

6.80

6.80

6.70

SI Steer (300kg)

4.60

4.60

5.00

SI mutton (20kg)

4.20

4.10

4.80

SI Bull (300kg)

4.65

4.65

4.70

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.20

3.20

3.40

UK CKT lamb leg

10.57

10.60

9.17

US imported 95CL bull

8.33

8.76

7.64

10.0

US domestic 90CL cow

8.91

9.01

7.08

9.0

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer slaughter price 6.5

$/kg CW

5.5

South Island lamb slaughter price

Dairy

Jun

Aug 2019-20

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2018-19

Jun

Aug 2019-20

Prior week

Last year

-

-

2.94

6.25 Jan-20 Sept. 2021

WMP

2630

2575 3070

2970

AMF

4750

4750

5175

Butter

4000

4000

4150

Milk Price

7.22

7.22

7.21

Mar-19

May-19

Jul-19

Sep-19

Nov-19

Jan-20

Mar-20

420

380 360

Mar-19

May-19

Jul-19

Sep-19

Nov-19

Jan-20

Mar-20

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

3200

320

$/tonne

3000

Aug 4 weeks ago

Sep

833

Close

YTD High

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

30.5

32.22

21.1

The a2 Milk Company Limited

17.08

17.54

13.8

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

4.31

5.8

3.61

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.25

4.93

3.445

280 260

Auckland International Airport Limited

5.125

9.21

4.26

4.11

5.62

3.595

Ryman Healthcare Limited

10.45

17.18

6.61

Contact Energy Limited

5.79

7.74

4.54

Port of Tauranga Limited

5.99

8.08

4.9

Ebos Group Limited

22.4

25.23

18.42

Listed Agri Shares

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

17.08

17.54

13.8

Comvita Limited

2.25

3.25

1.66

Delegat Group Limited

8.16

12.1

6.39

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.9

4.06

3.62 1.35

Foley Wines Limited

1.4

1.91

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.76

0.82

0.75

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.192

0.197

0.191 1.29

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.85

2.3

PGG Wrightson Limited

1.82

2.47

1.55

Sanford Limited (NS)

6.53

8.2

5.55

Scales Corporation Limited

4.32

5.17

3.3

SeaDragon Limited

0.2

0.205

0.001

Seeka Limited

3.4

4.74

3.4

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

6.68

9.1

4.36

2.48

2.93

2.35

14594

16941

12699

S&P/NZX 50 Index

9871

12073

8499

S&P/NZX 10 Index

10488

12096

9100

240 200

Mar-19

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

May-19

Jul-19

Sep-19

Nov-19

Jan-20

Mar-20

YTD Low

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

220 Jul

787

T&G Global Limited

300

May Jun Latest price

787

Company

360 320

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Apr

321

Top 10 by Market Cap

400

320

2600

625

314

DAP

340

2800

567

314

5.25

400

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

567

-

2930

3060

Urea

-

vs 4 weeks ago

SMP

Last year

30 micron lamb

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY Prior week

Aug 2019-20

Prior week

2.95

$/tonne

Last price*

Jun

Last week

2.40

Mar-20

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T)

NZ average (NZ$/t)

-

$/tonne

6.75

Nearby contract

Apr 2018-19

Fertiliser

37 micron ewe

7.25

2400

Last week

440

Nov-19

Feb

FERTILISER

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

Jul-19 Sep-19 Sept. 2020

Dec

7.0

Super

7.75

May-19

Oct

5-yr ave

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

5.75

8.5

6.5

8.0

Coarse xbred ind.

2018-19

9.5

7.5

(NZ$/kg)

5.0

5-yr ave

South Island stag slaughter price

10.5

WOOL

Apr

8.5

11.5

6.0

Feb

9.5

$/kg CW

$/kg CW

7.0

5.0

Dec

10.5

6.0

South Island steer slaughter price

Oct

Last year

6.5

9.0

4.5

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.5

8.0

10.0

6.5

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

7.5

5.5

4.5

$/kg CW

North Island lamb slaughter price

5.0

5.0

$/kg MS

Last year

6.0

6.0

US$/t

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Ingrid Usherwood

14594

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

9871

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

10488

39

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – April 6, 2020 NI SLAUGHTER STAG ( $/KG)

7.00

NI SLAUGHTER LAMB ( $/KG)

7.00

SI SLAUGHTER BULL ( $/KG)

4.65

PULSE GRAHAM JOHNSON

No weaner deer sales to set prices

T

HE weaner deer market is in for an unusual start to the season because of the covid-19 lockdown.

It has resulted in the annual Taihape, Arrowsmith and High Peak weaner fairs being cancelled.

Those sales usually set the market prices for the season.

In a nod to respecting loyal annual buyers those weaner deer will now all be sold privately through agents to ensure loyal clients can still get the progeny they would have normally targeted.

Weaner prices are now likely to be determined by working on a percentage of the schedule.

Feed remains tight for the North Island and the top half of the South Island.

Rain in Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and the top of the South Island is increasing some optimism we could be turning a corner.

However, the tight feed situation means those looking to buy weaner deer are holding off until feed improves.

That, combined with backlogs at processors, does not help demand.

Some farmers need to sell the last of their 18-month deer before entering the weaner market, pushing more sales into later April and May. The venison schedule is dropping

because of international market demand.

Lockdowns and restrictions have significantly slowed the restaurant trade in key markets. That is drastically affecting North American and European markets.

In China a ban on the distribution and sale of wild foods has been implemented. It includes deer products resulting in a stop to the trade for New Zealand venison and co-products.

Last year 10% of NZ venison exports went to China. The ban might not be resolved for months.

In the medium term the risk of a recession in our key export markets will negatively affect the demand for venison.

Lower schedule prices will also put downward pressure on weaner deer prices. The venison schedule is averaging $7/kg in both the North and South Islands. Compared to last season farmers are receiving $2.10/ kg and $2.15/kg less for their finished venison, respectively.

Spring contract prices are the other factor that can influence weaner prices. Unfortunately, the unsettled international market is going to make determining a price for spring contracts harder this year. Early indications do point to contract prices being lower than in recent years.

LOCKED OUT: With no weaner deer sales planned prices are likely to be set by working on a percentage of the schedule.

WEATHER

Overview

Soil Moisture

High pressure leaves the country early this week and allows mild sub-tropical winds or at least northerlies over much of the country. In the day or so ahead most regions are warmer than average, however, windier and colder weather is coming.

Early this week winds increase from the northerly quarter nationwide while rain clouds build in the Tasman Sea bringing either patchy rain or just showers for drought regions of the north on Wednesday.

Later this week and weekend New Zealand looks set to have its first significant wintry blast of 2020. We’ll have more details this week as we fine tune that forecast.

02/04/2020

Source: NIWA Data

Highlights

Highlights/ Extremes

Temperature

Wind

Northerly quarter winds develop or continue early this week. By Thursday windy westerlies cover NZ, turning colder, windier and southerly into the weekend.

Most places are warmer than average or average to kick off this week. By this weekend it should be significantly cooler than normal for many places.

The main feature looks to the big storm in the Southern Ocean late this week and weekend. It might bring some snow to low levels, heavy snow higher up and gale force winds.

14-day outlook

7-day rainfall 7-DAY RAINforecast MAP

The next 14 days are busy. A tropical cyclone on Wednesday will track northeast of NZ and is unlikely to hit land. Midweek showers and patchy rain from the Tasman Sea move in. Late week winds ramp up from the west to southwest. This weekend turns wintry nationwide with a large storm in the Southern Ocean likely to send an Antarctic blast into parts of NZ. After that it looks like colder southwesters and growing high pressure again.

Many regions are still fairly dry but wet weather in the west, especially the West Coast, will increase mid to late week then showers spread nationwide from the south and west. It is fairly dry in the east and northeast of each island.

Weather brought to you in partnership with weatherwatch.co.nz

For more maps and insights go to farmersweekly.co.nz/weather

My Daily Digest Made possible by

The news you need to see in a daily newsletter from the biggest rural newsroom in the country.

Sign up at: farmersweekly.co.nz/e-newsletter