Farmers Weekly NZ May 9 2022 by AgriHQ

14 Welfare code under review Vol 20 No 17, May 9, 2022

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Farmers face a dry autumn Neal Wallace and Gerald Piddock

RY autumn conditions are spreading throughout the country, with most regions seeking rain and forecasters warning conditions are likely to remain dry in the coming months. Recent rain and warm weather has boosted feed on parched Southland and Otago farms that are delicately poised heading into winter, while Waikato and South Auckland farmers are being told to plan for a possible drought. Dry autumn conditions are widespread through both islands, prompting farmers to reconsider winter feed budgets to account for lower than desired pasture cover. The south of the South Island and Waikato appear hardest hit, missing the usual autumn flush leaving some farmers with low pasture cover, low supplementary reserves and fingers crossed for a mild winter.

The problem is not now, it’s later on. We have feed, there’s no cows going hungry, but what are we going to do in August-September if it’s a really tough winter. Andrew Reymer Feds

2022

GREEN DROUGHT: Waikato Federated Farmers dairy chair Andrew Reymer says while the region is green, nothing’s growing.

WeatherWatch director and forecaster Phil Duncan said temperatures throughout the country to the end of July are likely to be up to 1degC warmer than usual and for much of the country it is likely to be drier than normal. “It’s looking to be very dry for Southland right up to Wairarapa due to high pressure systems parked over us,” Duncan said. He said there was a chance in May of rainmakers for the north and long-range data from RuralWeather/IBM suggests more normal rainfall for northern regions may return in winter. “So yes, Waikato is leaning drier than average for the rest of

autumn, but the silver lining is that while most days will be dry, we do have that ‘wild card’ effect with La Niña in play. In other words, many dry days do still have some chance of being balanced by a one-off sub-tropical rain event.” Southland and southern parts of Otago had up to 120mm of rain in March, followed by above average temperatures, provoking some late autumn pasture growth. Deane Carson, a consultant with Agri Business Ltd in Invercargill, said the use of nitrogen, steady rain and warm days has enabled some southern farms to grow up to 45kg/DM/ha a day, rates comparable with March.

Carson said a counter to that is the prevalence of grass grub. Most southern feed budgets are tight going into winter and he is urging farmers to regularly review feed availability and need. Southland Federated Farmers Meat and Wool section chair Dean Rabbidge said while farmers are enjoying a “late, late, late flush of grass”, it needs to continue. “At least we’re growing ahead of demand and we’re not going backwards anymore,” Rabbidge said. He said winter crop yields appear to be about average, but the biggest challenge will be managing available feed before and after stock goes onto crops.

The backlog of prime stock and cull cows to meat works has eased, while large numbers of store lambs continue to be sent north and feed trucked south. Some southern dairy farmers have dried-off herds up to six weeks earlier than normal and others have dropped back to oncea-day or milking 10 times in seven days. Nationally to the year to the end of February, milk production was down 1.7% compared to a year earlier, but for the month of February production was down 8.2%. Waikato rainfall has been low and less regular than normal apart from a few isolated downpours, Waikato Primary Industries Adverse Event Cluster chair and Ohinewai farmer Neil Bateup said. Waikato Federated Farmers dairy chair Andrew Reymer said farmers were using up supplementary feed reserves they normally would have held until July and August-September. “If it’s a stunning mild winter, we’ll be fine, but that’s the unknown. It’s ridiculously dry – it’s green but nothing’s growing. Growth rates are absolutely abysmal for this time of the year,” Reymer said. “It’s getting pretty dire. “The problem is not now, it’s later on. We have feed, there’s no cows going hungry, but what are we going to do in AugustSeptember if it’s a really tough winter.” Most of the region’s spring calving herds have dried-off and farmers are concentrating on maintaining cow condition as well as they can with calving two months away.

NEWS

4 Kiwifruit tender value sets new

record

The latest Zespri tender round has set new records for licence fees, with SunGold kiwifruit averaging just over $800,000 a hectare for the 350 hectares on offer.

REGULARS Newsmaker �� 24 New Thinking �� 25

24 Sweet twist on oat milk

Editorial �� 26

At just 20 years of age, Ashburton business entrepreneur Daniel Williams says the future cannot happen quick enough.

Pulpit �� 27 Opinion �� 28 World �� 31 Real Estate �� 32-36 Tech and Toys �� 37 Employment �� 38 Classifieds �� 38 Livestock �� 39-43 Weather �� 45

11 Summer dry drifts into

18 Practical connectivity

autumn

answers needed

Summer heat and the continuing influence of the La Niña weather pattern have continued to linger well past autumn’s halfway point, with farmers and growers in mixed minds on what it will mean heading into winter.

Talk about how improved infrastructure can improve rural connectivity is all very well but what is needed are practical solutions, Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) chief executive Craig Young says.

Markets �� 44-48 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.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Govt marks M bovis milestone Staff reporter IT’S taken four years, $220.3 million in compensation claims and required 176,325 cattle to be culled, but New Zealand has just one property that is still infected with Mycoplasma bovis. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor marked the milestone at the national bulk milk testing lab MilkTestNZ in Waikato, alongside eradication partners DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ. “This is a milestone, but not the end point for M bovis. We expect to see reinfection and expect to see a really extensive surveillance regime to show we have other sites of interest, but what we are marking here today is how much progress we have made in a short period of time. This is a 10 year programme and we are in year four and have shown considerable progress.” She thanked those farmers who had been infected by M bovis on behalf of the country. “They have made huge sacrifices,” she said. “On behalf of the country, they have made a sacrifice that does mean that many others will not experience the same pain that they have.” O’Connor said no working farms

PROTECTION: Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said NZ needs to ensure it can meet the challenges presented by increased cargo freight and from pests like the brown marmorated stink bug.

were currently confirmed infected and the one remaining infected property was a large beef feed-lot, with careful planning under way to start clearing it later this year. “Though we can’t rule out occasional finds elsewhere, we think it’s the right time to consider the future framework for the M bovis Eradication Programme,” O’Connor said. The MPI, B+LNZ and DairyNZ are working on a plan to transition the programme to an agency under a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP). They will provide O’Connor with a proposal for consideration. “The plan will take into account what will work for farmers and will be open for public consultation in the second half of the year, with implementation next year,” he said. “We are at an important juncture. We are aiming to move from delimiting – controlling the last known pockets of the disease – to provisional absence. This will be followed by significant surveillance testing of herds around the country to provide assurance there are no undetected pockets of disease. “Our world-class bulk milk testing and beef herd surveillance developed over the past four years will continue to be crucial tools.”

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel said a lot was owed to farmers for their efforts in eradicating M bovis and the robust biosecurity practices on-farm, which continues to be important. “This programme has at times been challenging for farmers and it’s important we acknowledge that. That work means we are now on a clear path to eradication and this transition will help maintain that status,” Van der Poel said. “To protect the sacrifices and investment made, it’s important our farmers continue to manage their herds well, particularly through the national animal tracing system (NAIT). We’ve come a long way and what we are doing here is watched and discussed by other farming countries.” B+LNZ chair Andrew Morrison said it was committed to ensuring the pest management programme worked for farmers. “Farmers will remain at the centre of our work because without them we can’t get to the point of proven absence of the disease. We will also maintain close governance oversight of the programme in the transition to an agency,” Morrison said. “We really want to hear from farmers during their consultation later this year.

OCCASION: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the actions of farmers has preserved the productive sectors that underpin the prosperity of all New Zealanders.

$42.9m to bolster biosecurity THE Government has announced funding of $42.9 million to bolster New Zealand’s biosecurity system as part of Budget 2022 and $68m over the next year for M bovis eradication. “New Zealand’s flora, fauna and livestock are the foundations of our primary sector, economy, rural communities and our economic security,” Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said. “The world is reopening from the pandemic. With increased

travel alongside a warming climate we face challenges from pests and diseases, which requires further investments to strengthen our biosecurity system. “New Zealand’s primary sector revenue has continued to grow with a record $50.8 billion forecast for the year ending June 2022 and it is vital that farmers’ and growers’ work is protected by a strong biosecurity system. “New Zealand has a world-class biosecurity system, but we need to

ensure we can meet the challenges presented by increased cargo freight and from pests like the brown marmorated stink bug.” He said it was always best to avoid the costs of incursions and it’s important all New Zealanders, not just farmers and growers, see biosecurity as important. “I encourage them to report concerns via our pest hotline on 0800 80 99 66, or via our recently launched website at report.mpi. govt.nz/pest,” he said.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Gold kiwfruit tender value sets new record Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz THE latest Zespri tender round has set new records for licence fees, with SunGold kiwifruit averaging just over $800,000 a hectare for the 350 hectares on offer this season. This year’s tender also comprised 350ha of the new RubyRed crop licence on offer, while no organic SunGold licences were issued given current supply volumes getting sufficient. The SunGold licence area was half that usually put out for tender and was down due to higher than expected yields on existing orchards and a need to maintain a balance between supply and demand to protect grower returns on the high earning crop. This year’s values for the SunGold licences are a significant hike on last year’s,

This year’s tender has a wide range of values within the tender range compared to last year. where the median value was $550,000 a hectare. The 280ha of RubyRed taken up averaged $147,000 a hectare this year, also well up from last year’s $74,979 a hectare. But despite the high prices the areas offered were undersubscribed, with 324ha of the 350ha of SunGold taken up, and 280ha of the RubyRed. Last year’s SunGold subscription was oversubscribed by over 4 to one. This year’s tender has a wide range of values within the tender range compared to last year. SunGold’s median value of $801,000 a hectare sits against a minimum price of $451,950,

compared to last season’s median-low range of $550,000$525,000/ha. The RubyRed average value of $147,000/ha sits against a minimum tender value of $44,217/ha. Bidding numbers were also well down on both varieties, with SunGold receiving 268 bids this year, against 715 last year. In a communication to growers, Zespri has noted balancing supply and demand remains a critical part of continuing to grow the crops’ value and will remain so as the company undertakes a review of its licence release programme. Growers are to be consulted within coming months on the licence programme’s future and Zespri is continuing to seek feedback on the issue. In coming weeks the marketer will be releasing further details outlining specifics of the tender process in terms of location and planting sizes.

UP: This year’s values for the SunGold licences are a significant hike on last year’s, where the median value was $550,000 a hectare.

PGG Wrightson earnings plough on Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

IMPRESSIVE: Chair Rodger Finlay says the guidance has been lifted because of impressive trading results.

PGG Wrightson has again lifted its earnings guidance for the 2022 financial year and the share market reaction was to reverse a steep fall in share price since February. Chair Rodger Finlay said the guidance has been lifted from $62 million to $66m because of what he called impressive trading results. “Our third quarter trading has exceeded expectations with retail, livestock, and real estate all experiencing solid demand,” Finlay said. Livestock purchasing was up

and wet and humid conditions through summer and autumn had supported robust sales in crop inputs and animal health products. After the guidance increase, PGG Wrightson is on track to improve on the FY21 earnings by $10m and pay out at least 28c fully imputed dividend for the current year. In the light of such good trading results, the share price pathway is curious. Throughout last winter the price was steady around $3.40 and then after the announcement in August of a 33% increase in earnings for FY21, the price rose steadily to a peak of $5.72 on February 2. The rural servicing company

was clearly benefiting from high commodity prices and profitability for farmers, which investors recognised. The interim results announcement for FY22 in February set new records and a 14c interim dividend was paid on April 1. But the share price has fallen to below $4 during March and April, only to rally 30c after the latest earnings upgrade. Investors now appear to be assessing earnings sustainability when primary commodity prices begin to fall but at present the expected yield of 7% tax paid is one of the best on the New Zealand share market.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Forecasts hold despite GDT fall Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz THE Global Dairy Trade (GDT) price index suffered its largest fall in seven years when it came down 8.5% in the first auction of May. Whole milk powder (WMP) and skim milk powder (SMP) prices were down 6.5% and the fat products fell even further – 12.5% for butter and 12.1% for anhydrous milk fat (AMF). While there had been three

previous smaller drops in the market for auctions during March and April, futures traders and market commentators were not expecting such a steep one-day fall. The root cause of the market weakness is disruption to Chinese demand because of covid lockdowns and resulting competition from domestic milk made into powders and fat products rather than sold and consumed in liquid forms.

NZX dairy analysts Alex Winning and Amy Castleton said the weakness in demand for WMP was not limited to China and buyers from other regions seemed to have decided they didn’t want to pay high prices any longer. “Whether this is a result of a fall in demand or supply chains already being full is yet to be seen, as it’s not clear from the mix of purchasing activity which way things are actually heading,” Castleton said.

ASB economist Nat Keall cautioned against any panic, saying that the dairy market fundamentals still look favourable to the milk price. “It is important to keep this fall in context – for WMP and SMP this takes them back to the levels of mid-January,” Keall said.

We still expect this dip in Chinese demand will prove temporary. Nathan Penny Westpac

DISRUPTION: The root cause of the market weakness is disruption to Chinese demand because of covid lockdowns and resulting competition from domestic milk made into powders and fat products rather than sold and consumed in liquid forms.

Prices for all major products continue to run around 3070% above long-run averages and remain very high by any benchmark. New Zealand production is down 5% year-to-date to the end of March and production in most other countries is flat. “Meanwhile, we expect demand in China to remain relatively robust despite the lockdown

uncertainties, with security of food supply expected to be politically important ahead of this year’s party congress,” he said. “Notably, both the contract curve and the futures market have a considerable upward slope at this point, implying that while buyers are well supplied in the near-term, the present glut of WMP is expected to subside and competition for product will ramp up again later in the year.” ASB has not moved its farm gate milk price forecasts of $9.50 and $9.20 respectively. Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny was prompted to take 10c off his 2022 season milk price forecast, down to $9.50, but maintained $9.25 for next season. “We still expect this dip in Chinese demand will prove temporary as this Omicron wave will eventually pass and covid restrictions will thus ease,” Penny said. “Moreover, we have already incorporated a moderation in prices into our forecast and the recent fall in the NZ dollar is also offsetting some of the global dairy price fall.”

Farmers make HWEN views clear FEEDBACK from DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ’s He Waka Eke Noa roadshow is resoundingly clear – 99% of farmers don’t want agricultural emissions to be priced through the Emissions Trading Scheme. They want a system that is costeffective, fair and will recognise and reward the actions they’re taking to reduce emissions behind the farm gate. The roadshow sought farmers’ opinions on two options developed by the Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership – He Waka Eke Noa, a farm-level levy and a processor-level levy, as well as what they thought about going into the ETS. Of the roadshow feedback received, 86% supported farm-level pricing. However, there were different views as to how to get there, with 47% wanting to move straight to farm-level pricing in 2025, while 40% supported a transition to farm-level pricing from processor-level.

at the table when levy prices are set and price setting should be science-based, not influenced by politics,” Morrison said. The HWEN partnership includes B+LNZ, DairyNZ, Dairy Companies Association of NZ, Federated Farmers, Foundation for Arable Research, Horticulture NZ, Irrigation NZ, Federation of Māori Authorities, Deer Industry NZ, Meat Industry Association and Apiculture NZ. More than 2600 dairy and sheep and beef farmers attended 55 DairyNZ and B+LNZ engagement events in February and March on the HWEN options. The two industry good groups will meet with the other HWEN partners to discuss the feedback received, work through the practicalities and further strengthen the final recommendation to the Government, which is due by May 31.

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel said farmers preferred the farm-level option as it recognises and incentivises on-farm actions. “They want control over their farm emissions and farm management,” van der Poel said. Feedback highlighted the need for money raised through any levy to be reinvested in the sector and distributed in a fair and transparent way, while farmers also wanted recognition for a wider range of on-farm vegetation than is currently eligible in the ETS. There was strong support for split-gas pricing and the use of better metrics for setting methane reduction targets. B+LNZ chair Andrew Morrison said when it comes to setting levy prices the criteria needs to be transparent, with industry bodies involved. “Farmers want the sector to have a seat

RESPONSIBILITY: DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel says farmers want control over their farm emissions and farm management.

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Tax effective healthcare property investment You can be involved with as little as $10,000

enturia NZ has a long history in helping thousands of New Zealanders invest in quality commercial and industrial property. They’re part of the ASX 200 listed Centuria Capital Group, with approximately A$20 billion of TransTasman assets under management1 and have both a strong track record and conservative approach. Their latest opportunity provides a tax effective way for anyone in New Zealand to invest in the sought-after healthcare property sector with as little as $10,000. Centuria NZ Healthcare Property Fund offers an initial 5%p.a. forecast cash distribution with no New Zealand income tax payable for the financial periods ending 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024, due primarily to depreciation deductions2. This means that investors will receive the full 5%p.a. forecast cash distribution3 regardless of their personal tax position. “This attractive distribution rate, paid to investors monthly, in combination with the fund’s strong fundamentals and the potential for capital growth makes this a compelling offer.” “The fund will initially acquire a portfolio of 23 aged care properties located throughout New Zealand, all with new 30-year triple net leases to one of New Zealand’s leading and largest aged care focused operators, Heritage Lifecare.” Mark Francis, Centuria NZ’s CEO says that the initial 30-year term is highly favourable by New Zealand standards. Combined with a tenant of this calibre in a sector with favourable macroeconomic trends, and inflation linked growth, he says it provides a long-term stable income stream. Mike Houlker, Head of Bayleys’ Investment Products division, which is marketing the fund, says a key feature is that the 30-year leases, with rights of renewal totalling a further 60 years until the year 2112, are structured as “triple net”. “A triple net lease means any costs of capital expenditure, repair, maintenance and other works, whether structural or otherwise, are not Centuria NZ Healthcare’s responsibility. Each lease stipulates the tenant has the same liabilities in regards to the premises as

if the lessee was the ‘owner’. This is widely considered the most landlordfriendly form of lease.” Bayleys’ Investment Products manager Samara Phillips says another significant feature of the leases is annual rent reviews that reflect movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), subject to a minimum 1 per cent p.a. increase and a 4 per cent p.a. cap.

“Investments of this calibre with an attractive tenant covenant, 30 year “triple net lease”, geographically diverse portfolio and inflation linked growth are difficult to find in the current market”. Mark Francis, Centuria NZ CEO

Stillwater Lifecare, one of the 23 aged care assets the fund is acquiring within the sought-after healthcare sector.

For more information, including a copy of the Product Disclosure Statement for Centuria NZ Healthcare along with a video and webinar details visit www.centuriahealthcare.co.nz. Or contact the selling agent in the below advertisement. Assets under management as at 31 December 2021. Includes assets contracted to be settled, cash and other assets.

Assuming a 3.5% diminishing value depreciation rate, based on land valuations and purchase price allocation reports received by Centuria NZ Healthcare to date, and assuming that Centuria NZ Healthcare does not sell any properties during the financial periods ending 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. Taxable depreciation recovery income may arise on any future sale of a property which may result in tax payable at that point in time.

“This will provide built-in rental growth, increasing rental income annually for the next 30 years and providing a degree of off-set against inflation pressures.” Phillips notes that another key aspect of the investment is the sector, which is seeing increasing demand with NZ’s rapidly ageing population and also benefits from high levels of recurring Government funding. This is estimated at 53% directly from the Government and an additional approximately 24% funded indirectly via residents’ pensions. Chris Farhi, Bayleys’ Head of Insights and Data says that healthcare property benefits from long-term demographic drivers and the fact that health expenditure is often mandatory. Therefore, healthcare property presents desirable non-cyclical and defensive characteristics. “These factors contribute to reducing the risk profile for the healthcare property sector and making properties associated with the healthcare sector desirable additions to the portfolios. Prospects for the New Zealand medical and healthcare property sector, including the aged care sector, continue to remain attractive”.

INITIAL

AFTER TAX1

FORECAST CASH DISTRIBUTION PAID TO INVESTORS MONTHLY2 & POTENTIAL FOR CAPITAL GROWTH

3 5% p.a. forecast pre-tax and after-tax cash distribution for the financial periods ending 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. Details of how the forecast cash distribution is calculated and the risks associated with this investment can be found in the Product Disclosure Statement. Forecast after-tax distributions only take into account New Zealand income tax. The pre-tax and after-tax cash distributions are not guaranteed and may change in the future.

Centuria NZ Healthcare Property Fund Limited is the issuer of the shares to be issued under the offer to which this advertisement relates. A Product Disclosure Statement for the offer, which sets out the terms and conditions of the offer, is available, and can be obtained by contacting the Bayleys Real Estate agents listed in this advertisement. Nothing in this advertisement constitutes an invitation to subscribe for, or an offer of shares, securities or financial products to any person, in any country, in which it would be unlawful to do so. Terms used in this advertisement have the same meaning as defined in the Product Disclosure Statement, unless the context suggests otherwise. Before deciding whether to invest, you should obtain independent financial advice that takes account of your personal financial goals and circumstances. Bayleys Real Estate Limited cannot provide you with any such independent financial advice. Important information about the financial advice service provided by Bayleys Real Estate Limited is available at syndications.co.nz.

If the 5%p.a. forecast cash distribution for the financial periods ending 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024 was fully taxable (due to no depreciation deductions and other adjustments) and did not benefit from PIE status, what is the equivalent pre-tax distribution that Centuria NZ Healthcare would need to deliver for investors? This table shows the equivalent pre-tax distribution that would be required. Marginal tax rate

Required pre-tax distribution to get 5%p.a. after-tax if distribution was fully taxable

5.00%

10.5%

5.59%

17.5%

6.06%

28%

6.94%

30%

7.14%

33%

7.46%

39%

8.20%

Centuria NZ Healthcare Property Fund Invest in a portfolio of 23 aged care properties with 30-year triple net leases providing a long-term stable income stream. Rental increases annually. For more information including a Product Disclosure Statement visit the website or contact:

Mike Houlker 021 945 927 I mike.houlker@bayleys.co.nz 0800 BAYLEYS (229539) centuriahealthcare.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, AUCKLAND CENTRAL, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Centuria NZ Healthcare Property Fund Limited is the issuer of shares. 1 Assuming a 3.5% diminishing value depreciation rate, based on land valuations and purchase price allocation reports received by Centuria NZ Healthcare to date, and assuming that Centuria NZ Healthcare does not sell any properties during the financial periods ending 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. Taxable depreciation recovery income may arise on any future sale of a property which may result in tax payable at that point in time.

5% p.a. forecast pre-tax and after-tax cash distribution for the financial periods ending 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. Details of how the forecast cash distribution is calculated and the risks associated with this investment can be found in the Product Disclosure Statement. Forecast after-tax distributions only take into account New Zealand income tax. The pre-tax and after-tax cash distributions are not guaranteed and may change in the future.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Legal cases against a2 consolidate Business Desk LAW firms running two competing claims against a2 Milk are consolidating into one, with 1900 of the milk marketing firm’s shareholders interested in pursuing action. “The plaintiff parties have conferred and have proposed that the proceedings be consolidated with both Slater and Gordon and Shine Lawyers on the record for the group members, with claims of the retention claimant group to be managed by Shine,” Slater and Gordon class actions practice group leader Kaitlin Ferris told BusinessDesk. Shine Lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Supreme Court of Victoria had been due to determine how the class action would proceed with two broadly similar cases both alleging the company engaged in misleading conduct

and breached continuous disclosure laws. However, the proposed orders to consolidate the actions have been provided to a2 Milk and will be considered by the court at a hearing on May 25, Ferris said. Shine Lawyers brought a class action against a2 Milk in November last year on behalf of shareholders who bought shares between Aug 19, 2020, and May 9, 2021, a period that saw the share price fall from about $21.50 to about $6.62. NZX data show a2 Milk had about 7800 shareholders in August 2020. That’s since grown to 13,434. Shine Lawyers is also representing shareholders who had shares in a2 Milk on the NZX or the ASX, bought before Aug 19, 2020, and retained until after September 28, 2020. That suit was hot on the heels of Slater and Gordon Lawyers which filed a claim in October on behalf of shareholders who suffered

losses when they bought a2 Milk shares between August 19, 2020, and May 9, 2021. The downgrades came as the company battled the impact of covid-19 on its business in China, in particular the massive disruption to the daigou or reseller channel. Meanwhile, “the plaintiff parties will consider available means to engage with a2 in relation to a potential settlement of the claims,” Ferris said. A2 Milk was not immediately available for comment but has previously said it will “vigorously” defend the proceedings. According to Ferris, about 1000 shareholders have signed retainers with Slater and Gordon to participate in the class action against a2, and a further 900 have registered their interest in the claim. A2 shares closed at $4.68 on Wednesday, down 41% over the past 12 months.

CONSIDERATION: Proposed orders to consolidate the actions have been provided to a2 Milk and will be considered by the Supreme Court of Victoria later this month.

Have your sustainability questions answered

TALENT: The On-farm Sustainability webinar panel will be facilitated by NZX head of insight Julia Jones.

DAIRY Women’s Network and ASB Bank are hosting a live webinar, On-farm Sustainability, on Tuesday, May 10. The webinar will see experts in on-farm and financial sustainability, including Greig Sinclair from ASB Bank, Annika Coveney from Fortuna Group, Charlotte Glass from Agri Magic Limited and Will Burrett from Ngāi Tahu Farming and Forestry, discuss current issues within the industry. Farmers will also get insight into how they can plan for the future, measure and monitor their environmental footprint and use technology to navigate any upcoming challenges. The panel will be facilitated by NZX head of insight Julia Jones. Dairy Women’s Network chief executive Jules Benton said the presenters will help the network’s members on their sustainability journey. “Sustainability and new environmental policies have become one of the industry’s leading challenges, and our members are

navigating times of uncertainty and change in their on-farm practices,” Benton said. “Some of our members are beginning to create a farm environment plan and others have already been recognised for their environmental and sustainable farm practices. But while it’s important to ensure farms are compliant with new policies now, we want to make sure our members are acting sustainably overall and [are] in a position to implement any new changes within the industry.” Experience in farming overseas gives several of the presenters a unique insight into how New Zealand’s dairy industry can compare internationally and what opportunities are available to farmers looking to execute more sustainable practices onfarm. Registrations are necessary for this webinar, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/ register/1816515321966/WN_ ENAV8ZrmTNqNxlxtJK5h0w

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Bulk of land approved by OIO for pine Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE Government last month approved the sale of more than 4000ha of farmland to foreign buyers for conversion to production forests. The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) report for March lists approval for six sales of farmland in Southland, Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, East Coast and Northland. They range in size from 160ha at Tuatapere, Western Southland, to the 1275ha Maunga O Rangi Station near Gisborne. The sales were approved under the Government’s special forestry test and the bulk land sold is classed six and seven with elements of class four. Information provided about the sales indicate the bulk of the land will be planted in Pinus radiata. The 1275ha Maunga O Rangi

Station has been bought by Kauri Forestry, a partnership established as part of Craigmore Sustainables Group, an existing forestry investor. Information provided by the OIO shows it is owned by interests from Germany and Switzerland. The property has been run as sheep and beef finishing and breeding and the land is classed as six and seven. Other sales include a 549ha unit near Tuatapere in Western Southland operating as a beef and dairy grazing unit that is listed as class four and six land. It has been bought by Ponga Silva Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of a German company, which was established as a forestry investor in NZ. A second Tuatapere farm has been sold for forestry, a 264ha property at Happy Valley to Malaysian company Pine Plantations Private Ltd, which has

REVEALED: Information provided about the OIO-approved sales indicate the bulk of the land will be planted in Pinus radiata. existing forest holdings including a block adjacent to this property. The land does not have any dwelling and is classed as four and six. Also going into forestry is Earlyhurst, a 944ha sheep and beef farm at Bideford near Masterton, predominantly class 6 land. It has been bought by Austrian company Cerberus Vermogensverwaltung GmbH (ALL CRRT), which has existing forestry interests. A 702ha Kaipara beef breeding

and finishing block is being subdivided from a larger property and sold to Totara Forestry, predominantly owned by interests from German, Finland and the United Kingdom. The balance of the property is being retained by the vendor. The land sold for forestry is rated predominantly class six and seven. Stoneridge Farm, a 609ha property running sheep and beef at Porangahau in Central Hawke’s Bay, has been bought by the

investment arm of Ingka Group, the largest international franchisee of IKEA stores. That entity is ultimately wholly owned by investors from the Netherlands. Its land is mainly classed six and seven. The same purchaser recently received approval from the OIO to buy the 5500ha Wisp Hill Station in South Otago, which will have 3000ha converted to forestry with the balance regenerating to native bush.

Funding for cherry health benefit study Staff reporter

that will come out of validating cherry bioactives, including identification of highvalue food opportunities from secondgrade cherries and/or cherry waste,” Alison said. He said the production of CG&M’s (and other Otago cherry growers’) new plantings will see a huge surge over the next five years. This means there will also be a significant increase in the volume of subsequent waste. Turning this waste into a healthenhancing product will help the taiao, create new jobs, and offer extra hauora benefits to consumers.

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FOUNDATION: The cherry research is building on earlier work that suggests that other fruits grown in NZ tend to have enhanced bioactive benefits.

AN EIGHT-MONTH project to explore the bioactive properties of New Zealand cherries to better understand their potential health benefits has attracted research funding and is now under way. High-Value Nutrition Ko Ngā Kai Whai Painga National Science Challenge has awarded a development grant of $55,000 to Cherri Health and Manufacturing (CH&M). CH&M will work with the Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence at Massey University to identify commercial

opportunities for six popular Otago-grown cherry varieties as functional health products. The research is building on earlier work that suggests that other fruits grown in NZ tend to have enhanced bioactive benefits over and above those grown overseas due to high exposure to ultraviolet light under the Aotearoa NZ sun. Cherri Global chief executive Phil Alison said the research will not only have a positive impact on CH&M, but also the wider summer fruit category and NZ as a whole. “We are excited by the results that this project is set to deliver and the prospects

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Study into animals’ milk benefits Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz NEW research will compare the nutritional differences of cow, goat and sheep milk in the diets of older adults, as well as investigate any gut health consequences from consuming them. The study, hosted by Massey University’s Riddet Institute working alongside the University of Otago’s Department of Human Nutrition and industry partner NIG Nutritionals (NIGN), recently received a grant of $1,410,978 by High-Value Nutrition (HVN) Ko Ngā Kai Whai Painga National Science Challenge. The work will look at three different types of milk powder: goat milk, provided by NIGN; cow milk, provided by Māori dairy company Miraka; and sheep milk, provided by Spring Sheep Milk Co. Riddet Institute professor of nutritional sciences Warren McNabb said the study will be the first trial of its kind and will involve four groups of about 30 volunteer participants aged 60 and older. McNabb said the nutrient requirements of the elderly made this age group a good one to focus upon. He said the 60-plus age group is a growing one in Asia and New Zealand, so it was considered ideal in terms of future commercial applications for any of the study’s findings. “Milk is a good source of protein. Metabolically this age group doesn’t digest protein well, and milk is easy to digest,” McNabb said. The study, which will take place over about 14 weeks, will build on earlier Riddet Institute research that indicates milk from different species have differing composition and milk structural assemblies, such as casein micelles, which could lead to differences in nutrition and digestive comfort. “We know from the work we’ve done that compositionally they are different, and that the structural assemblies in the milks are different,” he said.

RESEARCH: Goat milk producer NIG Nutritionals is one of the partners in a study looking at the nutritional make-up of cow, goat and sheep milk.

He said scientists have also established that the acid reaction in the stomach results in differences to at least casein and whey gastric digestion between goat, sheep and bovine milks. “In the human stomach we know that cow’s milk forms a casein ‘curd’ that tends to be harder than it is with goat and sheep’s milk gastric curds,” he said. This means the rate the digestive system can process the milk curds and get them from the stomach to the small intestine to be further digested and absorbed is likely to differ with the different species’ milks. He said the hypothesis is that blood amino acids will rise at different rates, connected to the hardness of the casein curd forming in the stomach and how quickly it breaks down. Bovine milk is the hardest, closely followed by goat’s milk. The casein curds from sheep milk are much softer. “We think the rise in amino

acids in the blood will have different shapes,” she said. “The anecdotal evidence is that goat and cow milk composition is roughly the same. But sheep’s milk is very different, with a higher protein and lipid content.” Along with the differences with nutrient absorption, the study aims to identify the impact on digestive comfort, nutritional status and skeletal muscle function from adding whole milk powders to the diets of older adults. He said it is not about determining which milk is good, bad, or better, but discovering useful nutritional evidence that can help consumers decide between products, depending on what they want to achieve. The different milks may be found to be more suitable for different nutritional needs, such as those of an athlete and the elderly, for instance. He said there is potential for future studies to target other age groups, but plant-based milks are currently not being considered for

inclusion as they are not viewed as a good source of nutrition. Clinical trials will be hosted by the University of Otago, with participants consuming 250ml of milk twice-a-day and filling in questionnaires to record experiences of gut comfort, along with a control group that does not consume the milk. Blood glucose testing, blood pressure and faecal sampling will also be undertaken. “We will get a really good handle of the effects of older adults drinking milk in terms of their nutritional status, blood glucose, gut comfort, vitality, how they sleep, sort of thing,” he said. “We will also be able to figure out, are there differences between the milks?” The study hopes to be recruiting participants by the middle of the year. It should be completed by Christmas. Its findings will be published in scientific journals and widely publicised through media releases to news media, as well as being available on the Riddet Institute website and via social media.

We will get a really good handle of the effects of older adults drinking milk in terms of their nutritional status, blood glucose, gut comfort, vitality, how they sleep, sort of thing. Warren McNabb Riddet Institute

Synthetic Nitrogen Fertiliser Limit What farmers need to do To help protect and improve our waterways, a limit now applies to the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser applied to pastoral land. This was introduced as part of the Essential Freshwater package. Carefully managed, fertiliser is a useful farming tool. However, it can contribute to nutrient loss into soil and waterways, impacting water quality and in-stream life.

All farmers

We’re here to help

• The amount of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser you apply to pastoral land cannot exceed 190 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare per year

For more information, visit ecan.govt.nz/synthetic-nitrogen-cap or contact us on 0800 324 636.

Dairy farmers • Report your synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use to Environment Canterbury annually • Submit your first report by 31 July 2022 we’ll be in touch soon about how to do this

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Macron win cold comfort for trade Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com THE defeat of the protectionist candidate in France’s presidential elections was good news for New Zealand’s trade negotiations with the European Union, although big obstacles to getting a deal over the line still remain. It was thought a victory by Marine Le Pen, who could have sunk the EU’s current trade talks with agricultural exporting powerhouses Australia and NZ. “The importation of agricultural products that have not been grown or produced the same way as in France will be prohibited,” one of Le Pen’s campaign pamphlets said. Instead incumbent Emmanuel Macron won last week’s runoff election by a far more comfortable margin than had been predicted by opinion polls.

We want to level the playing field – the focus that we place on these negotiations in horticulture is that not only does the tariff get eliminated, but that it gets eliminated as quickly as possible. Vangelis Vitalis MFAT NZ’s negotiations for a free trade deal, attempting to break open Europe’s already heavilyprotected markets for agricultural products, are into their fourth year. The two sides recently concluded their 12th round of talks and despite progress in other areas, NZ’s negotiators say they are still to receive a meaningful market access offer from the EU for NZ’s largest agricultural exports of dairy, beef and sheep meat. “As always, whenever someone

is negotiating with NZ, one of the big challenges is going to be in the agricultural sector,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief negotiator Vangelis Vitalis said in a briefing following the recent round of talks. “That is always disappointing to us, but it is one of the realities that we face as a country that is very competitive in the agriculture area.” He said the EU would have to do a lot better than its initial offer two years ago for a miniscule opening of the European cheese market to NZ exporters in particular if it wanted NZ to contemplate its demands for the exclusive use by its producers of cheese names associated with European places, known as Geographic Indications (GIs). More encouraging were the offers for improved access for some horticultural products, and fish, although these would see tariffs being phased out over longer timeframes than NZ negotiators were currently willing to accept. Currently kiwifruit exports to the EU face an 8.4% tariff, while Chile’s free trade deal with the EU a decade ago means they pay no tariff. “We want to level the playing field – the focus that we place on these negotiations in horticulture is that not only does the tariff get eliminated, but that it gets eliminated as quickly as possible so that we eliminate the discrimination that we have been facing for a number of years as quickly as possible,” he said. In the recently-concluded trade agreement with the United Kingdom, NZ negotiators were able to secure tariff-free access for dairy products within five years, and for beef and sheep meat within 15 years. Vitalis said it was unlikely those terms would be replicated with the EU, with quotas likely to continue to restrict trade. “I am not happy about it [but] the reality is the EU does not conclude trade agreements in that way,” he said. “It leaves out dairy, beef and

NO GOOD: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade chief negotiator Vangelis Vitalis says the European Union would have to do a lot better than its initial offer two years ago for a miniscule opening of the European cheese market to NZ exporters.

sheep meat in particular. Those are controlled and the quotas apply. “We understand that [but] it does mean that it shapes the way we approach other issues.” As well as pushing for protections for GIs, European negotiators had other demands in the areas of trade in services and

digital trade. He said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had recently spoken to the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Both sides had recommitted to finishing negotiations as soon as possible. Vitalis will travel to

international meetings with Trade Minister Damien O’Connor, where they will meet their EU counterparts later this month. “I do expect I will be going to Europe before then to talk to my counterpart to talk about NZ’s priority to flush out the EU’s goods market access offer as soon as possible,” he said.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Summer dry drifts well into autumn Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz SUMMER heat and the continuing influence of the La Niña weather pattern have continued to linger well past autumn’s halfway point, with farmers and growers in mixed minds on what it will mean heading into winter. WeatherWatch director and forecaster Philip Duncan said New Zealand continues to experience sea surface temperatures well above normal for the time of year, while waters nearer the equator, where La Niña conditions are more apparent, are returning to normal. Bay of Plenty water temperatures, for example, continue to hit 20degC, among the highest recorded for this time of year and well above the May average of 17.7degC. Niwa climate scientists have forecast NZ could be on track to experience a rare trifecta year for La Niña’s persistence, with a 60% likelihood predicted the conditions would continue from

now to July and 50:50 from there to the end of the year. If so, that would make it three in a row for La Niña’s influence. But Duncan said it was important not to get too far ahead in looking at La Niña implications, particularly when current patterns were indicating NZ was being subject to some peculiarities in shorter-term weather patterns. “We have this marine heatwave here which is quite localised to NZ waters, and then we have these massive high pressure systems really influencing both water temperatures and our rainmaking potential, some of these systems are the size of Australia,” Duncan said. Australia’s meteorologists said the La Niña system continues to fade, possibly reaching a neutral state by winter. The pattern of large, dominating blocking high pressure systems has been a recurrent one for the past three years, with nor ’easterly La Niña-type rainmakers

‘bouncing’ off the edge of the dominant high pressure systems and missing NZ entirely. “Fortunately, this year we have managed to get some of those systems slip through to bring some welcome rain, but some areas like Waikato and Southland are having an Indian type summer, with the risk of a ‘green’ drought,” he said. Duncan likened La Niña to a dial of degrees rather than a switch, and NZ’s experience with it has only touched the “moderate” point on that dial this year. “And we are only on the edge of the tropics where most of its impact will be felt,” he said. He said in contrast La Niña has proven to be a ‘switch’ effect in Australia, where rainfall levels down the continent’s east coast have been consistently higher and more reliable than NZ’s for the past two years. The Australia Bureau of Meteorology’s landscape water balance index paints a 100% root zone soil moisture level for almost

LINGERING: WeatherWatch senior forecaster Phil Duncan says summer-like conditions have continued to linger well into autumn this year. the entire east coast from Cape York down and past Melbourne. Niwa’s soil moisture deficit indicator highlights soils in much of Waikato, Whanganui and Otago all experiencing significant moisture deficits. Duncan said the lack of snow in the usual catchments so close to the start of winter was also a concern. Looking through to winter he anticipated the lower South Island

may still continue drier than average. In the meantime, the upper North Island was entering its fifth consecutive farming year with below normal rainfall. Longerterm weather modelling done by WeatherWatch and IBM has NZ continuing to trend drier through May. To the end of April, Waikato had only had 50% of its average year to date rainfall.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Three Waters moves forward Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz THE Government has accepted the majority of recommendations made by the Three Waters Working Group on representation, governance and accountability, Infrastructure Minister Grant Robertson and Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta said. The move has been welcomed by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), with president Stuart Crosby saying it provides much-needed momentum, as well as certainty for ratepayers. He said councils face big future bills for water services, given the new regulator, the unknown condition of many pipes and the impact of climate change. “Without reform, ratepayers will be hit in the pocket,” Crosby said. “Everyone in the local government sector is advocating for change to our three waters system, even those opposed to the Government’s model. No one thinks the status quo is sustainable. “LGNZ is encouraged to see the minister support the working group’s recommendations around making public ownership crystal clear, through a shareholding for councils. “We also support the changes to strengthen communities’ and councils’ voices. These changes address key concerns and we’ve pushed hard for them.” However, breakaway council group Communities 4 Local Democracy is not impressed. C4LD chair and Manawatū District Mayor Helen Worboys said the Government’s moves are just tinkering around the edges, which does not make the model any more palatable. “We could not be more disappointed that the Government has rejected an opportunity to reach a bipartisan agreement that would deliver what they wanted, instead electing to press on with their reforms based on faulty assumptions and flawed analysis,” Worboys said.

“Adding a Claytons shareholding for councils, that confers none of the normal benefits or obligations of ownership, does nothing to remove our real worries about community property rights and local voice.” She said people unhappy with the proposal should get in touch with their local MP to let them know what they think about the plan and C4LD will be encouraging significant local participation in the select committee process. Robertson said the Government’s Three Waters reforms are fundamentally about delivering clean and safe drinking water that is affordable and without reform NZ households are facing water costs of up to $9000 a year, or the prospect of services that fail to meet their needs.

LGNZ is encouraged to see the minister support the working group’s recommendations around making public ownership crystal clear, through a shareholding for councils. Stuart Crosby LGNZ He said everyone accepts the need for change. “You only have to look at the number of burst pipes, boil water notices and the volume of sewerage spewing into our harbours to see we can’t carry on as we are and that our water infrastructure is crumbling,” Robertson said. Concerns about the reforms raised by the Communities 4 Local Democracy group have largely been around ownership and voice and Robertson said by accepting the majority of the working

group’s recommendations, the Government has listened to those concerns and modified its proposals accordingly. “With the key issues now addressed we cannot afford to wait any longer. The costs to communities and ratepayers are just too big to ignore and we need to get on with fixing it,” he said. Mahuta said by accepting the majority of the working group’s recommendations Cabinet has ensured councils, iwi and communities will have a strong voice in the new entities that will be established as part of the reforms. She acknowledges the proposed changes have caused anxiety, but said ratepayers and communities cannot keep paying more and more for services that have been underinvested in for too long and now put their health at risk. “We are now at a point where the case for change is well made and the policy has been robustly tested and improved. We have listened to concerns and now is time to move forward with these reforms,” Mahuta said. In line with the working group’s recommendations the Government will: • provide for a public shareholding structure that makes community ownership clear, with shares allocated to councils reflective of the size of their communities (one share per 50,000 people); • further strengthen and clarify the role of the Regional Representative Group, with joint oversight from local councils and mana whenua to ensure community voice and provide tighter accountability from each water services entity board; • maintain that board members are to be appointed based on skills and competency; • strengthen connections to smaller communities including through local sub-committees feeding into the Regional Representative Group, to ensure all communities’ voices are considered as part of investment prioritisation; and

MINOR: C4LD chair and Manawatū District Mayor Helen Worboys says the Government’s moves are just tinkering around the edges, which does not make the model any more palatable. • recognise and embrace Te Mana o te Wai – the health and wellbeing of our waterways and waterbodies – as a korowai, or principle, that applies across the water services framework. Mahuta said the governance arrangement in the Regional Representative Group is not new, as many councils already have co-governance arrangements in place. “For example the Waikato River Authority set up by the previous Government, established 50:50 co-governance around

the Waikato River and is a good working model of shared decision-making to improve the health of the river,” she said. “The Regional Representative Group is not about ownership but rather ensuring community inclusion and voices are heard, securing a kaitiaki or guardianship role for the protection of our environment, and maintaining the focus on the long-term planning required for national infrastructure. It’s a model that makes sense and is already working well.”

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Dairy cattle welfare under review Samantha Tennent FARMERS are being urged to provide feedback on proposed changes to the Code of Welfare for Dairy Cattle and associated recommendations for regulation. Consultation opened on April 28 and closes on June 9. The proposal follows a full review of the code undertaken by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC). “It’s important the codes are reviewed periodically as technology and farming practices change,” NAWAC chair Dr Gwyneth Verkerk said. “For example, virtual fencing is a new development and farmers are using a lot more pain relief on farms. “The codes need to stay relevant to ensure New Zealand’s reputation is strong and farmers have guidance on the right thing to do.”

The committee will consider any submissions that are made and whether anything needs to be revised. Dr Gwyneth Verkerk NAWAC The review is part of the Framework for Action on Animal Welfare, launched by the associate agriculture minister in 2018. It sets out plans for animal welfare in New Zealand and includes a review of all codes of welfare. In late 2020, NAWAC confirmed the Code of Welfare for Dairy Cattle was a priority and they are working their way through all 18 codes. When they review a code, NAWAC considers good practice, available technology and scientific knowledge. They also consider anything else that may be relevant, including practicality and economic impact.

DUTY OF CARE: The animal welfare strategy for NZ, Animal Welfare Matters, highlights the importance of meeting the needs of animals and avoiding unreasonable or unnecessary harm.

“There haven’t been many changes to the dairy code since it was first issued in 2008 apart from some amendments around behaviour and housing,” she said. “At the beginning of the review process, the Farm to Processor Animal Welfare Forum provided us their views and then a working group and NAWAC subcommittee drafted the proposal.” The main areas of proposed change include the use of electric devices to manage animal behaviour, body condition score, intensive winter grazing, shelter, provision of lying surfaces and limits for time on hard surfaces in off-paddock facilities, calf rearing and end-of-life management. They are also seeking feedback around emerging technologies, working relationships with veterinarians, selection and breeding, painful husbandry procedures, contingency planning and welfare assurance systems. Further information can be found in the consultation document available online. Amendments will incorporate

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advances in animal welfare science as well as updates to dairy cattle farming systems and management practices and the changing views and expectations of the NZ public. “New Zealanders have high expectations that animals under human care are well looked after,” she said. “Ideas of humane treatment evolve over time and our standards of welfare need to keep pace with changes in scientific knowledge and good practice, available technology and society.” After the closing date for public comment, NAWAC will analyse all submissions to inform its separate advice to the Government on the new Code of Welfare for Dairy Cattle and the associated recommendations for regulations. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will subsequently provide advice to the minister on the proposals put forward by NAWAC as well as the matters that the minister must consider when issuing a code of welfare. A further consultation phase and

opportunity for comment will follow for any recommendations for regulation. “The committee will consider any submissions that are made and whether anything needs to be revised,” she said. “There haven’t been any final decisions on any of the proposed standards or regulations yet and once the final draft is created, NAWAC will recommend it to the minister and then it becomes a cabinet decision.” The animal welfare strategy for NZ, Animal Welfare Matters, highlights the importance of meeting the needs of animals and avoiding unreasonable or unnecessary harm, adding value to our exports and contributing to our reputation for integrity and continuing to improve animal welfare. MPI leads the management of animal welfare policy and practice in NZ. They work within the legislative framework created by the Animal Welfare Act 1999. NZ’s animal welfare laws go further than just preventing cruelty, they

place a duty of care on people in charge of animals to meet their animals’ needs. Two ministerial advisory committees have an important role in helping set those policies and laws, NAWAC and the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC). The way people care for and manage farm animals contributes to NZ’s reputation as a responsible agricultural producer. “The welfare needs of animals and encouraging continuous improvement are our primary remit and we see how strengthening codes is an important way to demonstrate to our overseas customers that as a nation we care about our animals,” she said. Details of the proposal of the draft code can be found on the MPI website and feedback must be received by 5pm on June 9 to animal.consult@mpi.govt. nz or through the online survey. Find out more at mpi.govt.nz/ consultations/changes-to-thecode-of-welfare-for-dairy-cattle

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Court upholds Wairoa rates changes Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz THE Wairoa District Council is celebrating the High Court upholding a comprehensive review of its rating system – but the decision may yet be appealed by the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA). In 2020 the council began a review of its rating system, aiming to change the allocation of the rates burden from potentially lower income residential properties to properties with higher capital values and greater potential for income generation. The process was opposed by members of the forestry sector on grounds including that the industry already pays its way in the district through rates, direct road-specific contributions and in-kind support and it will continue to do so. In its submission to the council at the time, the NZFOA said the current rate revenue per hectare within the Wairoa district is significantly higher when compared to rates its members pay for forestry land in other districts. The NZFOA applied for a judicial review of the council’s

decision by the High Court, with the proceedings held in February. In a decision released late last month, the court rejected the NZFOA’s application. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said he was delighted with the decision. “Undertaking a complete review of our rating system was a huge task,” Little said. “Not only is this decision a credit to all of the hard work by council and council staff in undertaking this rating review, but it is an endorsement of council’s approach, which sought to protect the interests of the Wairoa district community.” He said the rating review moved from a mix of capital and land value-based rates with a large number of fixed charges to a capital value-based rating process, together with differentials to accommodate greater impact of some activities, for example, the impact on rural roads of forestry activities. “Forestry tracks have a huge impact on our rural roads. About 25% of council’s entire budget is spent maintaining rural roads and the additional impact on these roads from forestry traffic needs to be taken into account,” he said.

RULING: The High Court has ruled to uphold the review of Wairoa’s rating system after the Forest Owners Association applied for a judicial review of the council’s decision.

“These increased roading costs, together with the move to capital value rates and the move away from fixed charges, have resulted in changes to the rates payable by high-value properties, including the substantial forestry interests represented by the New Zealand Forest Owners Association Inc. “The old rating system, including the reliance on fixed charges, saw residential properties paying the same fixed charges as multi-million-dollar rural and forestry operations

and resulted in a rating burden that was unaffordable for many low-income residential properties.” A NZFOA spokesperson said there are potential grounds to appeal the court’s decision and it is taking further advice on that. “Until we have received and considered that, there’s a number of parties, not just the FOA, we make no further comment other than that we believe that there are potential grounds for appeal,” the spokesperson said.

About 25% of council’s entire budget is spent maintaining rural roads and the additional impact on these roads from forestry traffic needs to be taken into account. Craig Little Wairoa Mayor

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Barriers to cattle genetic imports Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz IMPORTATIONS of cattle embryos and semen have been disrupted by New Zealand’s new import health standard (IHS) on bovine germplasm to keep out Mycoplasma bovis and 15 other cattle diseases. Australian cattle breeders and some vet technicians said the implementation of the new IHS on April 25 was not in the spirit of Anzac. They said embryos won’t remain viable when treated with antibiotics in the way that Biosecurity NZ requires and therefore the previously healthy embryo transfer (ET) trade will cease. JAD Speckle Park breeder Amy Dickens, at Yeoval, NSW, said exportation of cattle genetics from Australia to NZ has been stopped and that most NZ breeders would not be aware of the shutdown. She fears that it will take some

time to establish a protocol between NZ and Australian authorities covering ET but that semen consignments could resume more quickly. Biosecurity NZ said the new IHS was issued on August 25, with an eight-month delay on implementation. It followed a consultation with the cattle industry and trading partners during which 14 submissions were received, including from Dutch, Canadian and American authorities. “Throughout this process, we made modifications to the proposed measures to ensure they were workable for all parties while still meeting our biosecurity requirements,” animal and plant health director Peter Thomson said. “The measures will provide appropriate biosecurity protection and are not intended to halt trade. “The antibiotic treatment measures for M bovis in embryos follow international guidelines.

“Some submitters claimed that embryos will not remain viable following this treatment, but they have not provided any evidence to substantiate this claim. “There is not currently a validated test for M bovis in embryos as there is for semen, so treatment with antibiotics is currently the only option to meet our biosecurity requirements.” Biosecurity NZ said it remained open to receiving and assessing any other options that sufficiently mitigated the risk of M bovis in imported embryos. “We are currently very close to finalising a new veterinary certificate with the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE),” it said. “We understand DAWE consulted with Australian germplasm exporters to ensure the measures are workable for them.” Among the submissions during consultation the NZ Veterinary

DEFERRED: Biosecurity NZ says the new import health standard was issued on August 25, with an eight-month delay on implementation. Association suggested that use of low efficacy antibiotics in this way was against the principles of good antibiotic stewardship and they should not be used. The Dutch authorities also warned against the proposed antibiotic usage as a control method for M bovis. Genetics company CRV said the suggested antibiotic concentrations had not been scientifically researched or validated and therefore could not be justified. It also said that importations of bovine semen had not been shown to transmit M bovis, to which Biosecurity NZ agreed, but

added that it is the highest risk pathway. A Ruminants Genetics Trade Advisory Group in Australia alleged that its own trials treating semen with prescribed levels of antibiotics for the required time proved to be toxic to the semen. Following the April 25 implementation date, Semex NZ national sales manager Ryan Lett said companies and authorities in various source countries were working with MPI on import protocols under the new IHS. He was confident that workable arrangements would be made for trade to resume.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Practical answers on connectivity needed Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz

FIX IT: TUANZ chief executive Craig Young wants concrete solutions to shortfalls in digital connectivity access.

TALK about how improved infrastructure can improve rural connectivity is all very well but what is needed are practical solutions, Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) chief executive Craig Young says. One of the positives that Young took out of Rautaki Hanganga o Aotearoa – NZ Infrastructure Strategy 2022–2052, which was published last week, was that the report recognised how

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important it is to people in rural NZ to be connected. “It does talk about the requirements for good infrastructure in this space, but they don’t really have any concrete solutions,” Young said of the strategy produced by the NZ Infrastructure Commission. “Their main answer is a national digital strategy, which I think we have all been calling for and we know the minister (Digital Economy and Communications Minister David Clark) is working on one, but we would like to see a specific, practical, multi-party agreement on the way forward for rural. “We don’t want it to be a political football, we want to see a 10-year plan on upgrading the quality of rural broadband to being at least as equal to the experience urban users get. “And then keeping it there.” He said right now, rural connectivity is still playing catch-up to its urban counterpart. “While there have been some improvements, particularly in coverage, there are still issues around quality in places,” he said. He agrees with the strategy’s emphasis on the need to accelerate the adoption of digital change but says as the situation stands, rural and urban users have different needs. “It’s not just about saying ‘well, we’ll give them (rural users) something that will keep them going’,” he said.

These days we’ve got so much data about where rural people live and what sort of coverage they can get, we need to be flipping this on its head and saying instead of meeting the suppliers’ needs, let’s meet the customers’ needs. Craig Young TUANZ

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“We have to bring rural (people) up to the same standard, so that they can do the same things that urban dwellers can.” An underlying theme of the infrastructure report is sustainability and Young said better rural digital coverage will help that, as better digital access will help inform and support sustainable farming practices. He said solutions to shortfalls in rural digital coverage will not be found by giving financial support to one or two providers and expecting that approach to be successful. “It requires a whole new approach. It requires figuring out what rural users actually need,” he said. “These days we’ve got so much data about where rural people live and what sort of coverage they can get, we need to be flipping this on its head and saying instead of meeting the suppliers’ needs, let’s meet the customers’ needs. “Work back from the customer.” He said that information should be utilised to find the best and most cost-effective solutions to bring rural users’ coverage up to the equivalent of urban users, or at least as well on the way to that as possible. “It could be that a particular user gets a customised solution, which might be one of the new satellite connections, or it might be (their coverage challenges) are able to be solved with a group of others,” he said. “We’ve got to get away from just going ‘we can give a big chunk of money to one provider and they will solve all the problems’. “It doesn’t work that way. And we know it doesn’t work that way.”

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Call to extend forestry rotations Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz EXTENDING plantation forestry rotation lengths to 50 years could take pressure off rural communities feeling under siege by the loss of pastoral properties to trees. Dryland Carbon forestry company has proposed a 50year rotation length in its submission on the Government’s discussion paper reviewing regulations around Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) forest plantings. At present rotations are based on 28 years, and a 40-year rotation is being proposed by government. Colin Jacobs, general manager for Lewis Tucker & Co and Dryland Carbon fund manager, said the discussion provides an opportunity to better align ETS forestry policy with broader social, economic and environmental aspirations.

LONGERTERM: Dryland Carbon is calling for longer-term rotations of 50 years to be allowed for under ETS regulations.

In the meantime, there is truly marginal land that could go into trees that is not. Colin Jacobs Lewis Tucker & Co

He acknowledged policy should be recognising the health of rural communities and creating opportunities for farmers, alongside securing long-term supply for the New Zealand timber industry. “By engaging a longer rotation, you will align more to the 2050 zero carbon goals, using less land and planting the right land in trees, still getting the carbon sequestration and felled timber benefits of pine,” Jacobs said. Dryland has about 10,500ha of land in exotic plantation forestry and 4000ha as native bush. At present carbon credits are allocated over 16 years, a

short period for pines that can sequester carbon well beyond that term. Dryland proposes a 50-year rotation with carbon credits allocated for a period of 26 years, rather than the Government’s proposed 40-year rotation and a 21-year carbon allocation. Jacobs said the current short allocation period was creating perverse and unintended consequences. This included targeting and planting productive farmland that supported fast initial tree growth and a concentration of exotic plantings in East Coast and Wairarapa, regions that generate fast early growth. “In the meantime, there is truly marginal land that could go into trees that is not,” he said.

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The longer carbon allocation timeframe of 26 years would provide the incentive for the slower growing marginal land to be planted. Citing Southland as an example, Dryland has highlighted how despite slower initial growth, trees planted there can and do catch up in later years over a longer rotation. With Southland land prices half those of Wairarapa, a longer rotation would see more diversified forestry plantings across the country, while moderating the rate of land price gains in Wairarapa-East Coast. Other areas benefiting from a longer rotation include Marlborough and North Canterbury.

He said such a move would also halve the land area required for the same carbon outcome, something certain to assuage concerns or rural communities. For example, 10,600ha under a 50-year rotation achieves the same carbon sequestration as 25,000ha under a 28-year rotation. Dryland has also submitted in support of all permanent forests only being allowed to be native plantings. Jacobs likens the lengthened rotation period and a nativesonly permanent policy as a way to leverage off the significantly greater carbon soaking ability of pines in their early life stages, akin to “keeping your sprinters on the field”. In the meantime, he said there was a need for greater incentives

to plant natives into permanent forestry. “This could come either through a subsidy or through the government paying carbon credits of that forest up front, but that does have a risk to it that that forest will not be planted,” he said. Differences in establishment costs between exotics and natives are significant, with some native forests in tougher country likely to cost over $20,000 a hectare, compared to $4000/ha for pines. Jacobs said he was confident government would listen to the suggestions, but hoped whatever changes were made, they would all be done at the same time and with minimal red tape involved.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Dissent over government forest plans Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz

DOUBTFUL: Professor Euan Mason says NZ risks leaving itself well short by taking a blinkered “natives-only” approach to permanent forestry.

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BOTH the pastoral and forestry sectors are sharing concerns over the Government’s plans to change the regulations around permanent carbon forests to only allow native plantings to be eligible for the classification. Submissions have recently closed on a discussion document guiding government policy on the controversial aspect of exotic trees being allowed to be used in permanent carbon sequestering forests. Forestry Minister Stuart Nash has made no secret of government’s preference to have the regulations changed to only allow natives alone to be planted for long-term forests. But Euan Mason, professor at University of Canterbury school of forestry, has concerns the Government’s keenness on nativesonly will seriously damage New Zealand’s efforts to sequester optimal carbon amounts using forestry. He is also concerned the policy is being based on “look-up” carbon sequestration data that has been proven inaccurate and will misinterpret the efficiency of different forest species plantings in capturing carbon. Mason submitted his concerns to government and acknowledges the level of political concern on permanent exotics that stems from rural fears of the pastoral economy being planted over. “But it is just fanciful if we believe we can get anywhere near our targets if we are to revert to all native plantings for permanent forests. Yet it can be perfectly feasible to have parts of farms planted in exotics,” Mason said. He anticipates NZ will experience a deep deficit between its sequestration ability and its aspirations to achieve zero carbon by 2050. He has already challenged the Climate Change Commission’s estimates that NZ needs 380,000ha of exotics by 2027 and 300,000ha of new native plantings, stating these fall well short. “And a move to all native permanent forests? That will only make it significantly worse,” he said. He said even planting one million new hectares in natives would not meet the shortfall and the sheer costs of establishing natives will only add to that. Estimates are natives can cost $7500ha on average to establish compared to about $3500/ha for exotics. But the native cost can go beyond $20,000/ha, with good pest control vital. He is also concerned inaccurate look-up tables are contributing to wholesale land-use change, while penalising owners of woodlots of 100ha or less. Current regulations mean woodlots less than 100ha must only use look-up tables to estimate carbon sequestration, while those greater can use forest specific measurements and these will always be greater than what the more conservative tables would estimate. In his submission, Mason is urging officials to make the look-up tables more accurate and expansive, based

on a wider range of species with stronger scientific backing. His own Honour students’ research has revealed the disparity between how much carbon the tables estimate trees will sequester and the reality. In some cases, looking up tables puts it at up to 60% less than reality. “These are measurements dictated by the state and there are trust issues there – it is almost in your interests to have over 100ha in planting as an entire forest, rather than a smaller woodlot on a farm,” he said. Mason has urged officials to avoid a “natives only” policy, instead considering that all permanent forest carbon sinks have a comprehensive management plan filed on establishment. This would include how the forest would be monitored, a pest management plan and a financial plan for how its management would be funded, all in a binding agreement with the Crown. Alongside improved look-up table data, he is also urging more efficient native seedling production, and consideration of exotics’ role as a nurse crop for natives. In its submission, Forest Owners Association is labelling the tone of the natives-only approach as “antiPinus radiata”. It is urging government not to demonise a tree with 100 years of proven commercial performance. Combined with changes to the RMA and the special forestry test that allowed more foreign interests to buy forests, the ability to plant more trees for carbon sinks was to be seriously challenged. The group has challenged the definition of “permanent” forest, maintaining a long rotation pine forest felled at year 49 and then replanted is a viable option to simply leaving trees in the ground indefinitely beyond year 50. Long rotation pine forests of 50 years are being touted by industry as a good compromise to a wholesale ban on pines beyond the usual plantation period of 25-30 years. The organisation also challenges claims councils lack the ability to determine forest types in their catchments, pointing to Auckland, Tararua and Marlborough as all having controls on permanent forestry plantings. At a pastoral level Beef + Lamb NZ has welcomed the Government’s attempt to address exotic carbon forests, but maintains the proposed moves do not go far enough. B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor said the body’s submission calls for specific limits in the ETS on how much offsetting fossil fuel emitters can do through forest planting, as happens overseas. Concerns over the “natives only” proposal also has B+LNZ seeking a two-year moratorium to give time to develop a suite of mechanisms around forest sequestration. “The Government has created a scheme that’s about short-term thinking and short-term profits,” McIvor said. “We instead need to take a longterm view of land-use decisions. Current policies are incentivising land-use changes that are hurting our rural communities and this has to stop before more damage is done.”

News Forestry workshops to aid hill country farmers

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Dairy event to provide innovative solutions Staff reporter

Staff reporter A FARM forestry roadshow rolling out across the central North Island in late May will be an opportunity for hill country farmers to find out how they can integrate trees into their farming systems. The New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA), supported by Te Uru Rākau – NZ Forest Service, is holding a series of workshops in Taranaki, Rangitākei and Wairarapa. The workshops will include species choice, how and where to grow trees and the benefits of trees to a farming business. Each workshop will be followed by a half-day visit to a working example of farm forestry. NZFFA president Graham West said the workshops will help farmers to make informed decisions on whether woodlots are a good fit for their farming business. “Trees are not an alternative to farming, but a complementary land-use that can help strengthen a farm’s long-term growth and

GUIDANCE: NZFFA president Graham West said the workshops will help farmers to make informed decisions on whether woodlots are a good fit for their farming business. prosperity,” West said. “Planting trees protects against erosion and increases biodiversity by providing shelter and habitat. The Emissions Trading Scheme offers additional revenue to farmers wanting to plant woodlots within parts of their farm.” Beef and Lamb have acknowledged the importance of integrating tree planting and it’s important to continue the good work, Te Uru Rākau forest development, grants and partnerships director Alex Wilson said. “Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service

are working with local communities and stakeholders to integrate trees into existing land-use and look at the potential for planting trees on unproductive, or erosion prone land,” Wilson said. The workshops consist of a morning (8.30am-12pm) and afternoon (1pm-4.30pm) session, with a half day field trip the following morning. The workshops are free and will be held at Hawera, TSB Hub,Tuesday, May 24; Bulls, Community Centre,Thursday, May 26; and Copthorne Solway Park Hotel, Masterton, Monday, May 30. RSVP to trees@nzffa.org.nz

A DIVERSE range of speakers and workshops will offer inspired thinking to help solve farming challenges at the South Island’s largest dairy event, SIDE (South Island Dairy Event) 2022, in Oamaru. It is run by farmers for farmers, and chair Anna Wakelin said this year’s event theme is dynamic. “As farmers we are operating in a dynamic world and we always need to change and improve to stay on top of our game,” Wakelin said. “To help farmers remain dynamic, SIDE 2022 is hosting a range of exciting speakers from different professions, who have innovative solutions to tough farming challenges. “SIDE will also give farmers the opportunity to take part in a wide range of practical workshops and to discover the latest dairy technology and research.” Former Rocket Lab engineer Craig Piggott will share how he found solutions to help his dairy farmer parents reduce their working hours. This search led him to launch Halter, a technology company which has developed a farming system that

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allows farmers to easily move and manage their herd through software. Piggott is the winner of the 2020 New Zealand Hi-Tech Young Achiever award. 42 Below vodka founders Geoff and Justine Ross will share how they swapped life in Auckland for an Otago high country sheep farm. Their property, Lake Hawea Station, was the first farm in NZ to have its carbon footprint certified. It is also carbon positive, and they will explain how this offers them a unique marketing advantage. Dr Tom Mulholland will talk about strategies farmers can use to maintain their physical and mental health in times of stress. “SIDE is a great opportunity for farmers to get off-farm and network with other farmers. With exhibition space already sold out, we encourage farmers to register soon to avoid missing out on SIDE this year,” she said. Farmers can also join four of 14 practical workshops on a wide range of topics from wintering to milk futures, reproduction, plantain and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. SIDE will be held on June 8-9. To find out more and register for SIDE 2022 visit www.side.org.nz

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Career path for aspiring farmers Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

GROWING: Now into its second year, the GFF programme has more than 90 graduates enrolled and almost as many farmers involved.

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importance of providing good pathways for young people to enter the industry. “We know investment in people and capability on-farm is key to success,” Ladley said. GFF’s aim is to accelerate a career pathway from an entry level essential farm skills programme to advance farm skills and business management. “For young people, and for those also making a change of career, having really good pathways to come through, acquire and develop skills and progress is critically important and Beef + Lamb has an important role to play to ensure the necessary training and support is out there,” he said. “The GFF programme is certainly proving its need.” GFF has 31 second-year participants and 60 first year students enrolled in the programme for the 2022 intake, cementing itself as the largest training organisation of its type in the country. GFF combines a range of specialised industry training and development with formal NZQA learning that includes classroom lectures, independent study, and group sessions. The two-year programme takes in 46 weeks from mid-January to mid-December each year with placements in 10 regions right throughout the country. “Farmers have spoken highly about the quality of the GFF programme and we are pleased to see the programme grow substantially in numbers. “Farmers see the value in it to attract people into farming and knowing they have the support for the on-the-job learning inter-linked with off-farm learning is really critical to connect the dots and build on continuous learning,” Ladley said. “From a beef and lamb perspective it’s ensuring a really robust development opportunity where people can see a clear pathway from entry level through to stock manager levels. “As an organisation we don’t have the ability to fund everything, but we use partnerships and link our resources in a framework right through to NZQA levels that validates the learning programme.” GFF operates as a separate entity and is responsible for recruiting the trainees, with involvement also in managing the overall programme. Key to the overall success of the programme is having farmers with the right mindset prepared to engage, invest and commit. “We create the right environment and the opportunity to learn and grow develops between the trainee and the farmer,” he said. The ongoing challenge now is how to grow the programme and to get more farmers involved to develop more opportunity. “We have fine-tuning work to do, but the feedback is that we are hitting the right spot,” he said. Structured programmes offer an array of specialised industry training and development and formal NZQA qualifications taking in both on and off-farm learning. The extensive practical work experience is alongside experienced and motivated farmers who have signalled their intent by taking on students to grow the industry. Farm trainers provide accommodation and supply two dogs in year one, one a heading pup in February followed by a Huntaway in August, with training of the pups a key part of the programme and funded by GFF. Farm trainers are required to show a desire to educate and train their students, be patient and encouraging, with a willingness to upskill their own attributes. Students live and train on-farm as part of the farm team during the duration of the course, with regional liaison managers working with both the farmers and students to support the training. Typically, students are on course one day a week and on-farm four days a week.

For more information about open days, applications and becoming a farm trainer, go to https://www. growingfuturefarmers.co.nz/

FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U PR EN E Volume 104 I May 9th, 2022 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@globalhq.co.nz

Is automation in meat processing plants the way forward?

A robotics company based in Dunedin is producing meat automation systems that is said to lift processing yields and improve safety.

This graph shows NZ lamb exports in thousand tonnes.

https://farmersweekly. co.nz/s/fw-article/ meatworks-automationgathers-pace-MCZORGRI3E TNANVKIUZPQD4O7WPU?fb clid=IwAR2VSNOcPmu7xJ4 cVk-846AjlWNiN9xrEXqnDopb5X _ o-HlUxiC4dbGkEk 1

Why do you think that robotics are seen as a way forward for meat processing?

2 What benefits could automated processing have for the industry? 3 Do you think that automation of processing systems would be a good direction for processing plants? If so why, If not why not? 4 Do some research, are these systems used much internationally?

How do March export volumes compare to year-ago levels and the five-year average?

2 Which hich month/year on this graph had the highest volume of lamb exports? 3 Which month/year on this graph had the lowest volume of lamb exports?

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1

Methane Inhibitors

2 What do you think has been the main driver of low exports in March? Hint: Have processors been able to process as many lambs as usual? 3 March exports totalled 30,850t compared to 42,800t in March 2021. What is the percentage difference between the volume of exports in March 2021 and 2022?

We have looked previously at what methane is, its effects and how it is produced. Currently there is a global push to decrease methane emissions. In agriculture ruminant animals are seen to be a major contributor to methane production and consequently there has been a significant amount of research surrounding how these outputs can be lowered. One of the theories currently being researched is methane inhibitors. Go to https://www.pggrc.co.nz/ files/1501479614891.pdf to read more about this and then answer the following questions. 1

4 Despite good demand, shipping disruptions have made it risky to send chilled products long distances. Why is this risky?

4 Do some research, are methane inhibitors being used in other countries? If so, which countries? Are their farming systems similar to ours? 5 If they are being used in other countries currently would the data gathered have relevance to our farming practices? (think about whether their systems are comparable to ours, i.e. are there animals at pasture predominantly or are other systems used?) 5a If their farming systems are different would this then make the results comparable to NZ? Why or why not?

What are methane inhibitors?

2 Globally what is the reduction of emissions needed by the agricultural sector? 3 Where is NZ at currently with methane inhibitor production/use?

Looking at historical trends on this graph, which months are typically the most quiet for NZ lamb exports? Why do you think this is? Hint: Think about the supply of finished lambs.

6 When are methane inhibitors expected to become commercially available in NZ?

Welcome to season one, episode one of Road to Rural. In this series Olivia Weatherburn talks with young kiwis from all over Aotearoa’s rural sector to give you an insight into some of the exciting career pathways waiting for you to be a part of. To kick things off we are joined by Leora Werner, who shares with us her epic journey which has taken her from growing up in town to becoming a stock manager on the iconic high country station, Braeside. To listen head to https://spoti. fi/38z1dLv Or scan the QR code at right.

A study has been launched to compare the differences of cow, goat and sheep milk in the diets of older adults, as well as investigate any health consequences from consuming them.

Head to https://farmersweekly. co.nz/s/fw-article/study-toexamine-animals-milk-health-benefitsMCV3HAUHX7DZGDTHPGLRJSNPSYNU to read the full article.

4 How did Leora end up in her current role?

Why have they chosen to study the age group that they have?

2 What is the hypothesis of this study? 3 What is the point of the study? (What do they aim to learn from it?) 4 When will the study conclude and findings be shared?

What was Leora’s first role after leaving school?

2 How did Leora’s teachers and guidance counsellor help her towards her goal before she left school? 3 Which agricultural education provider did she attend after her first job? Where is this education provider located? 5 What is a stock manager? 6 How did she get involved in NZ Hereford Youth? What is this? Also, if you know of anyone who is smashing it in the sector, and wants to share their career journey, then get in touch with the team at roadtorural@outlook.com!

Newsmaker

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Sweet twist on oat milk Daniel Williams long dreamed of inventing his own boutique business and the brainstorm for that opportunity popped up when his BMX racing crashed. He talked with Annette Scott.

T JUST 20 years of age, Ashburton business entrepreneur Daniel Williams says the future cannot happen quick enough. The young businessman last month launched VegiFare, an oat-based chocolate milk and he is eager now to take on the dairy industry. The idea of developing the nondairy chocolate milk came when his BMX racing aspirations did not go to plan. “It didn’t happen, I had a few crashes, things didn’t go to plan and I decided it wasn’t for me,” Williams said. He wanted to be a business owner and looking back he had set himself up well for the challenge. As part of his wannabe athlete diet, he almost became a chocolate milk addict. “I was a huge chocolate milk drinker, but then for health and sport reasons I trialled a vegan lifestyle, for two years I was full-time vegan and had no chocolate milk alternatives,” he said.

I wanted to develop a product that would not only appeal to vegans but one that dairy drinkers will switch over to for the benefits of oats. Daniel Williams VegiFare

Continually on the lookout to make money, Williams’ first business venture was car grooming as a 12-year-old. “Mum would be running me around all over the town to clean cars. I eventually did get into it full-time for two years,” he said. With an eye for an opportunity, Williams, at 16 years of age and still attending Ashburton College, set up a motorbike shop from home distributing motorcycles for an Australian company. This grew to include importing Chinese motocross bikes and

parts and gaining stockists rights for several motorcycle clothing brands. “I had this obsession to go further, there is always a next step,” he said. That is when the self-confessed “huge chocolate milk drinker” ditched the BMX helmet and once again donned his entrepreneurial hat. It was time for a bona fide business and one that could keep on growing. A flashback to his vegan days, his entrepreneurial eye quickly identified a gap in the market that sowed the seed for VegiFare. In December 2020, just before the covid lockdown, Williams pursued his idea to develop a sustainable non-dairy chocolate milk that would attract a larger audience. “I wanted to develop a product that would not only appeal to vegans, but one that dairy drinkers will switch over to for the benefits of oats,” he said. After significant research and securing multi-national investors through Angel-Investor, his business plan quickly gained traction. “Lockdown gave me plenty of time to get on with it and by May 2021 I was full-time in my new business project,” he said. Securing his Otago-grown oat supply from Harraways, Williams attempted to create his own mix, working for three months trialling recipes. “Then it got to a tricky part, so I engaged a specialist food technician in Auckland,” he said. “What we have got now is a product that is low in fat, carbs and sugar, and high in dietary fibres compared to other milk options. “It is all New Zealand-made and made with almost all natural products. “I wanted to design the product to taste like dairy, and it does, you can’t tell it’s oat milk but it’s got all the benefits of oats.” The first batch rolled off the production line at the end of March. Auckland is currently the only place with a manufacturer that can both produce and bottle the milk. Plans are afoot to change that, with Williams aiming to keep the

INITIATIVE: When one door closed for aspiring BMX racer Daniel Williams, he opened a new one for chocolate milk lovers across the country.

whole business Canterbury-local, including growing the oats. “We are exploring options with local farmers to see if they can grow suitable oats here in Canterbury and we are hopeful that can happen, especially once we get the manufacturing plant up and running here,” he said. “The target is to get traction in this first six months as we progress plans for our own specifically designed plant to do plant-based drinks, as well as other beverages. “There’s limited opportunity in NZ for that at the moment, with oat milk really just taking off.” Currently the VegiFare chocolate milk is oat flour-based, with the milk ultra-heat treated at 142.5degC, preserving it without adding preservatives. “Almost everything is natural in it, no added oils, which can be common in oat milk, I’m just working on the product being as healthy as possible,” he said. While dairy-free VegiFare is not gluten-free and it is not organic, but down the track that is a possibility. Production, initially at 600 litres over two days, will ramp up to 30,000l/day, with capacity

increasing through the planned Christchurch-based purposebuilt manufacturing plant that is scheduled to be operational mid2023, pending global challenges to get machinery to NZ. Meanwhile, production will remain smaller-scale out of Auckland with everything else, including storage, label design and printing and distribution done in Williams’ hometown Ashburton. “We want to look at bottling in a biodegradable vessel; it’s not ideal in plastic but we will change that,” he said. In the meantime, securing stockists is the priority. “Just getting it on the retail shelves is a lengthy process and it’s a bigger challenge in the covid climate,” he said. Cafés and convenience stores are the initial target. “We haven’t got the volume yet to get into supermarkets, but that is in the plan once we have the ability to increase production,” he said. “I have this obsession to always go further, I came into this not knowing much at all but I have met so many interesting people willing to share a lot of knowledge and I have learnt so much, even

getting the label sorted was complicated.” The next challenge is already in the pipeline with work under way to develop a coffee flavour. Marketing is focused on promoting a sustainable product that everyone can consume. “That’s why we were specific on getting a dairy taste, but with all the health benefits of oats,” he said. “The feedback has been positive and encouraging. I am fully focused 24/7 to grow as big as possible while still making sure we are producing a topquality sustainable product that is appealing to a larger audience as we secure stockists and markets.” VegiFare is currently capital raising for its development activities to increase production volume now the product is proven. “Due to the lack of manufacturing infrastructure in NZ, right now we are limited to small scale, which means the retail price of our 250ml bottles at between $4.60 to $5.30, depending on stockists, is quite high but once we get the new plant operational and volumes up we expect to reduce this to $3.50 next year,” he said.

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Methane inhibition trial promising Fonterra is expanding a cow methane reduction trial to a further three dairy farms in Tasmania after dosing one 900-cow herd with seaweed extract over the past two years produced promising results. Hugh Stringleman spoke to the Australian-based supervisor.

N PARTNERSHIP with Australian company Sea Forest, Fonterra is looking at the potential Asparagopsis seaweed has in reducing methane in a grass-fed farming system. Sea Forest is growing the seaweed variety, which is found naturally in both Australia and New Zealand, in land-based aquaculture at Triabunna on Tasmania’s east coast. After laboratory trials Australian scientists believe the treatment could cut methane emissions from cows by 80%, although results are likely to vary in the real world of pasture grazing. General manager of sustainability for Fonterra in Australia and NZ Jack Holden said the expanded trial is on the safe supplementation of cows and dairy consumers and to ensure there is no impact on milk taste and quality. “Over the past two years, 900 dairy cows on a farm have been fed small amounts of the seaweed supplement and the results have been promising at each stage,” Holden said. “We are now expanding the trial across three additional farms, to test the supplement’s application at a commercial scale.” “This will include understanding the practicalities of using the seaweed supplement as part of normal farming operations. “This is critical because it needs to be easy to implement and beneficial for farmers if we want it to be widely adopted. “If the trial proves successful, we have agreed with Sea Forest that Fonterra farmers will have first access to the commercial Asparagopsis solution.” Sea Forest principal Sam Elsom said the young company is growing quickly and has bought another 30ha in which to expand aquaculture. “Asparagopsis is a common

seaweed native to the waters of Tasmania and NZ, and we’re the first in the world to cultivate it at a commercial scale through both marine and land-based aquaculture,” Elsom said. “We needed a food industry partner to help us take this to a commercial scale, and we chose Fonterra because of its commitment to sustainability and innovation. “We’re looking forward to working with Fonterra on the next phase, and although we’re still in trial phases, we believe this has potential.” Fonterra believes there will be no single solution to the methane challenge, with Asparagopsis one promising method under investigation.

If the trial proves successful, we have agreed with Sea Forest that Fonterra farmers will have first access to the commercial Asparagopsis solution. Jack Holden Fonterra Others include dairy cultures such as Kowbucha, the Royal DSM product Bovaer and a trial with MPI, DairyNZ and Nestlé on plantain in the diet of cows to reduce nitrogen. Holden said the Future Feed consortium of CSIRO, Meat & Livestock Australia and the James Cook University has other livestock trials of Asparagopsis feeding under way. From out of the seaweed, substances containing bromine inhibit methane through the

SEAWEED BREW: Fonterra farmer Richard Gardner in Tasmania and Sea Forest founder and chief executive Sam Elsom.

B12 enzyme in the final stages of digestion by gut microbes and divert energy into bodily metabolisation. Sea Forest, as an Asparagopsis grower, also has a licence from Future Feed and in commercial use of the seaweed supplement, a figure of $1.50/kg royalty has been mentioned for the intellectual property. In the commercial dairy trial in Tasmania to date no effects on animal health, human health or milk composition have been observed, he said. “From the initial trial, we can say that milk volumes and milk solids have not been affected,” Holden said. “It has to be at least production neutral for farmers to enable us to progress the work.” Should there be energy gains from methane inhibition, then it might result in more milk production or a steady milk production from less feed intake. “We are looking for a possible feed use efficiency gain,” he said. The feeding level is 0.2% of the cow’s dry matter intake, presently dissolved into canola oil and mixed with the grain supplements fed to cows at milking time. “We will also receive from

SOURCE: Sea Forest founder Sam Elsom says the company is expanding its aquaculture and marine culture of Asparagopsis armata.

GROWTH INDUSTRY: Sea Forest of Tasmania is the first to cultivate Asparagopsis on a commercial scale. Future Feed advice as to how to feed, for how long and at what rate in order to get so much methane reduction.” Practical challenges exist as to administering seaweed supplements to pasture-only cows and these will be addressed in the next, larger trials stage. Fonterra will work through whatever regulatory requirements that may be necessary in the countries of dairy production

and dairy product consumption, Holden said. “If we provide information that fills in gaps for whatever regulatory process is under way, then we are doing our job,” he said. He said other dairy companies around the world are feeding into the body of knowledge on methane inhibition and that Fonterra is okay with the pace of its work and the knowledge that no one is ahead of it.

BOUNTIFUL: Supplementation with Asparagopsis is a challenge for Tasmanian cows fed mainly on pasture.

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

EDITORIAL

Solution must allow everyone to prosper

WEAKS being made to the rules governing permanent carbon forests appear to have angered almost everyone, whatever their ideology. The change would see permanent exotic forests excluded from the Emissions Trading Scheme. Foresters and iwi are opposed, as it would obviously limit their future returns. Sheep and beef farmers say it’s a start but more protections need to be put in place. This issue is complex and not helped by the fact that rural communities are seeing the landscape changing as the debate goes on. It might be useful to think about the result we want first rather than meander forward, dodging commodity price fluctuations and rule changes. Surely we want a primary sector that’s productive, that contributes to local communities and the economy, and is carbon neutral. And we also want to continue enjoying a productive forestry industry here. Do we also want real reductions in emissions over time from every sector of society, rather than business as usual with offsets? And do we want to nurture and protect New Zealand’s unique biodiversity? There must be a way to achieve this. Right now the maths is skewing things one way and regulators are scrambling to even the playing field. The numbers stack up for those wanting to plant their way out of emissions reductions. And farmers who’ve spent their lives building something for their families to benefit from can’t turn down the big money from carbon farmers. Trees are a vital part of our climate change response. Our forestry industry is also vital and putting roadblocks in place to stop its progress isn’t the answer. But there must be a solution that allows everyone to prosper. Surely there’s a solution that produces an environment that’s sustainable, profitable and diverse. At the moment it appears we’re stuck with short-term thinking, which won’t fix a generational problem.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Claim splitting hairs over vegetation KEITH Woodford’s column (Farmers Weekly, April 25) was interesting and like all good columns open to debate. The point I would debate is his assertion that “New Zealand’s native forests have been exposed to mammal pests only within the last 1000 years and primarily within the last 200 years”. It is splitting hairs to use the word “mammalian”, i.e. animals and I presume he is referring to herbivores such as deer, possum, tahr, chamois and others browsing vegetation. He may not be aware that moas and other birds (avian) browsed NZ forests for millions of years. Would he label moas as “pests”? He refers to “ecologist friends”. Well as we know, there are scientists and then there are ‘scientists’. I’ll

refer to the late Dr Graeme Caughley, a New Zealander who was highly regarded world wide. Significantly he left NZ, apparently fed up with the subjective “pest” dogma and ended up working for Australia’s CSIRO. Caughley pointed out that NZ’s vegetation evolved under intense browsing by its avian (bird) browsers, with moas being the main one. He estimated there were probably several million moa, comprising several types from the giant moa to the small alpine moa and said “ecological parallels (to avian browsing) lie with mammalian herbivores”. Another scientist Les Batchelar estimated the moa population as between six and 12 million. Landcare Research (2000) estimated the wild deer

population at 250,000. So wild animal numbers are insignificant compared to moa numbers. Because of the browsing over probably 50 or more millions of years by avian browsers, NZ’s vegetation is exceptionally resilient and able to bounce back from pruning by browsing. So I’m not sure of Keith’s tag of “lots of failure” of native vegetation. One only has to look at abandoned farms (e.g. Marlborough Sounds) that have rapidly reclothed in regenerating native “bush” and I add in the presence of browsing wild animals such as deer, possums, even wild sheep and goats. The prolific native regeneration is in stark contrast to the ugly cleared hillsides of commercial exotic pines.

A seminar in 1986 “Moas, mammals and Climate Change in the ecological history of NZ” featured overall scientist speakers who likened wild animal browsing to the browsing of the moa regime. Laurie Collins Sporting Hunters Outdoor Forum Westport

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Sheep and beef are scapegoats The

Pulpit

Hugh Robinson

S A generational sheep and beef farmer in North Canterbury, I have become increasingly disillusioned with the discussion around who is responsible for what when it comes to carbon and with fragmented farmerfunded representative bodies who are failing us. For 30 years I’ve been farming sheep and cattle on predominantly tussock hill country, with some irrigation and dryland finishing country. Like a lot of NZ sheep farmers I am

running less stock units than 30 years ago; indeed the sheep and beef sector as a whole has had a large drop in stock numbers in the last 30 years, so why are sheep and beef farmers being held accountable and punished for emitting less greenhouse global warming gases than 30 years ago? Why are our industry good groups not making this point loud and clear? I have listed a few thoughts as briefly as I can below. Sheep numbers are around half what they were 30 years ago, dairy cattle numbers have had a huge increase. New Zealand sheep, beef and dairy have around half the emissions of the next best producers globally per kg of product, but it appears we are going to penalise NZ farmers’ production for these emissions, holding us to account by taxing us, forcing land-use and agriculture production change here. This will lead to other countries with higher agricultural carbon footprints increasing production. Global warming and the role carbon has in it was first collectively addressed in 1990 in Paris, where most nations signed up to stopping any further increases in carbon emissions from that time. Food production was deliberately excluded from the carbon emissions target of no more emissions increases – the world needs to be fed. NZ is the only nation on Earth

that has chosen to account agriculture in a carbon emissions management scheme. Remember, the globally agreed aim of Paris was to stop any increases in global warming from that time. Sheep and beef farming as a collective industry is 30% what it was then; singularly, I have 1500 less stock units and now have 12ha woodlots and other native bush. Many sheep farmers, if you measure all carbon inputs and outputs, are carbon neutral or negative – wow, they are actually saving the planet. The sheep and beef industry as a whole therefore comply with the Paris agreement and many singularly, such as myself, are emitting less carbon and sequestering more carbon now than in 1990. On the beef and lamb carbon calculator tool I emit on average one tonne of carbon/ha; at today’s carbon price that is 2000ts at $70. Yes, $140,000 proposed carbon liability, But we will be held initially to account for maybe 10% of that. These figures are today’s carbon emissions, not that from 1990, which was a little more due to carrying more less productive stock. What happens when we have to pay a higher percentage of our supposed carbon liability? Alongside the reduction in sheep numbers we have seen a vast increase in dairy cows and the resultant intensification in land-use in dairy suitable land classes.

Agriculture has dramatically changed in NZ since 1990; we have had wholesale land clearance and development into dairy farming. Regulation, environmental particularly, and now encompassing carbon has been primarily in response to the dairy industry’s rapid expansion. The dairy industry has a dynamic and well-funded farmer-resourced industry body, DairyNZ. Sheep and beef farming have also a levy-funded body, Beef + Lamb NZ, and all can choose to be members of Federated Farmers. Now we have another organisation finding its feet; Groundswell established by disaffected farmers frustrated with how the above organisations have represented them. The Government is seeing a good old ‘divide and conquer’ scenario occurring – multiple organisations fragmenting the farmer voice, no singular clear message to the Government and thus we look a poorly organised lot, badly represented. I have been saying for some time, and this is not a criticism of dairying, that sheep and beef farmers need one organisation to represent them as a group. Dairy has an effective body, we need to reduce our representation to these two bodies to stop the fragmentation. One batting for dairy and one advocating

strongly for sheep and beef farmers. Sheep and beef farmers have been captured by this fragmentation and much of the environmental regulation and now carbon tax we will have to pay is a response to dairy’s rapid rise. My main point is why are sheep and beef farmers going to be taxed when we are complying with the Paris agreement? We haven’t increased our emissions from livestock like the dairy industry has. Please let’s get one really effective body representing sheep and beef, with a singular welldirected strong voice to advocate for us.

Who am I? Hugh Robinson is a North Canterbury 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

Agrievents

AWDT Next Level 2022 Food & fibre women – are you ready to lead change for the people and places you care about? To step-up and make change happen, join our friends @AgriWomensDevelopmentTrust on Next Level - a six-month leadership and governance programme for developing the confidence, skills and connections to inspire others. Connect with your cohort of aspiring food & fibre leaders, grow through individual executive coaching, build a leader mindset and set your action plan to make change happen. Learn more and register at www.awdt.org.nz/ next-level/ Next Level will run in: Wairarapa 17, 18, 19 May and 27, 28, 29 September Online 11, 12 May and 28, 29 July and 19, 20 October Christchurch 7, 8, 9 June and 1, 2, 3 November

VIEW: Hugh Robinson believes sheep and beef farmers are being unfairly penalised when it comes to on-farm emissions.

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Reforms do not hold water Alternative View

Alan Emerson

PEOPLE in the provinces are still far from happy about the Government’s Three Waters reforms. In Masterton we’re told it has no advantage for us and local councillor Tina Nixon tells me there is no evidence that Three Waters reform will provide a cheaper solution. In addition, because the four mega Three Waters entities are developed on tribal boundaries, Marlborough finds some of its assets will be in a North Island entity and others will be in the Ngāi Tahu bit. It shouldn’t be on tribal boundaries but commonality of interest. My view of Three Waters is that it is a prime example of extreme arrogance from our Local Government Minister. We had a plan dropped on us from on high and if it was done with full consultation as the minister has claimed I can’t find anyone who was consulted. I’m not a fan of four mega-institutions co-governed by locals and iwi, and I’m certainly not a fan of giving those four institutions control over the assets I have paid for. In addition, I find the calls about the threat of privatisation

THEORY: Alan Emerson believes that the Three Waters reform will bring a new level of bureaucratic overregulation governing our water supply and for no good reasons. basically dishonest. The assets involved with Three Waters are currently owned by the community and could never be sold. To effectively confiscate those assets and then claim you’re preventing privatisation doesn’t hold water. Further, if you have effective control as opponents say iwi will have then ownership becomes irrelevant. You don’t need to own an asset if you control it. Iniquitously the plan is for councils to own assets but have no control over them, which is crazy. Going back to the beginning we were assaulted with a media campaign about the need for reform, plus all the answers in the form of four mega-institutions and co-governance. We had the Havelock North water fiasco quoted ad nauseum

as the reason for the changes. There was no consultation with anyone, the plan just arrived to both surprise and opposition. To counter that opposition as taxpayers we paid for a $3 million totally over the top, factually inaccurate advertising campaign. We were subject to a barrage of what I would call propaganda about the necessity of the Government’s plans. When councils further questioned the Three Waters reforms they were told that contrary to previous promises, the Three Waters reform was to be mandated meaning compulsory. Until the Sword of Damocles of compulsion struck, the minister was insisting Three Waters would be voluntary even though the Cabinet decision to enforce compulsion was made some months previously. This encouraged further

opposition, so the minister established a group consisting of iwi and some councils to recommend changes and/or improvements. I had a problem with that process as the terms of reference were incredibly narrow and didn’t address the major issues. That the Government then claimed to accept the majority of recommendations was facile. The changes were minimal. Now we are told legislation would be introduced later this year for implementation in 2024, which is after the next election. I’m also concerned that the four mega-institutions will end up being large, unwieldy and inefficient. Crazily in my view there are four layers of bureaucracy between ratepayers and the new megainstitutions and the representative groups are co-governed between iwi and councils. Then the Government offered a $2.5 billion ‘sweetener package’ to encourage support of Three Waters. The Treasury opposed it, suggesting it was merely a bribe. On top of that farmers are caught in the net of the Water Services Bill, which has been conservatively described as “overly bureaucratic”. I agree. What really irritates me is that no one has demonstrated to me that there is a problem with drinking water on farms. We’re going to have a new level of bureaucratic overregulation governing our water supply and for no good reasons. Reforms were offered but

ignored by government. The entire approach strikes me as arrogant, stupid and in the end counterproductive. For a start, the Select Committee process will be fascinating, providing, as it does, a forum for opposition. That opposition comes from the big cities, Auckland and Christchurch, and many rural councils. They have the ability to put pressure on government to encourage change. I believe the Government will ignore that which will make it electorally vulnerable. That vulnerability is dramatically increased by the opposition parties saying, if elected, they will reverse the Three Waters reforms. Remember those reforms will not be implemented before the next election. Interestingly, the Taxpayers Union has a considerable war chest to be able to counter the Government’s inevitable advertising campaign heralding the virtues of Three Waters. All that means is that the Labour political strategists must be concerned about the life of the current government. In addition, Labour’s provincial MPs must be concerned about their futures. My view is that if they lose their seat or if the Government loses the Treasury benches they will know exactly who to blame.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com

A dog’s journey: my road to recovery From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

Ditch here. I know I usually only write one column at the end of the year, but I’ve had a terrible time and just need to share. It all started back in early February. Steve, the boss and my mate, noticed I was a bit off. I’m usually full of beans but wasn’t feeling myself. So, he rested me for the week. No easy matter for him as I’m the only dog around here but it’s amazing what a determined cocky with lanes and a rattle can do when he has too. Anyway, one day he needed my help to take some sheep down to the farm 5km down the road. I didn’t feel great, but was keen to give him a hand and spent most of the time on the back of the ute anyway. We got them there but when we

were taking them up the farm to a paddock, I just didn’t have any more to give and had to lie down. He came back to have a look at me and then I was sick right in front of him. He chained me up to the fence but honestly, he didn’t have to because I wasn’t going anywhere and took the mob away himself. Then he came back with the ute and said he thought he’d better get me to the vet quick as. Nicolette from Vet Services came out to have a look at me and took me away for a whole bunch of tests. Later she rang Steve and said that my red cell blood count should be 40 but was just 10 and it was remarkable that I should still be wandering around wagging my tail. She said it was an emergency and asked if he had another big dog that they could use as a blood donor to save my life, but he didn’t even have a little one. So, she got her policewoman friend to bring her big dog in and that dog donated a whole lot of blood that they put into me and made me feel much better than I had for some time. Steve took wine around to the police station, but the security guards wouldn’t let him in with it,

so he left it at the door hoping the nice policewoman ended up with it. He wondered if he should have left some dog tucker for her dog as well. Then he went around to see Nicolete. She reckoned I might have something called Immune Mediated Haemolytic Anaemia. He had to get his farm notebook out and write it down. She went on to tell him that it is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks and removes its own red blood cells, thus leading to severe anaemia, an unhealthy yellow colouring of the tissues called jaundice, as well as an assortment of life-threatening complications. Mortality approaches 70%, so an aggressive approach was necessary. Blood transfusions and immunesuppressive drugs are needed, she said. He said it sounded expensive and she said it was. He looked at me for a bit and said, “Oh well I found him dumped in the water table as a tiny pup, so he doesn’t owe me anything and besides, I haven’t got another dog and I’m sort of fond of him so do what you have too.” I stayed at the vets for several

days and when he came and picked me up they gave him a whole lot of pills and plenty of instructions. For the first week or so he was hiding eight different pills in little meat treats. One of them was radioactive with strict instructions for him not to touch it, but he didn’t have any qualms about me scoffing it down. Two other ones had come from the local chemist he noted. He soon found out that the best way to disguise several pills was with a small squeezed-out portion of the sausage meat that Jane had in the fridge for making meatloaf and I’ve been having that every day for three months now. It’s delicious. I didn’t do any work for another six weeks and to be honest, I wasn’t up to it. I did notice the boss was getting fit and lean though. My blood count has slowly come back up to normal and now Nicolete has him only giving me a pill a day and I have to say I’m feeling a lot better although apparently I’m not out of the woods yet. It’s a rare condition, but the vets see a couple a year and others probably die that they don’t see.

SICK AS A DOG: Steve Wyn-Harris’ beloved dog, Ditch, recently had a health scare that required an emergency blood transfusion. So, if your dog or cat is suddenly lethargic with pale or yellow gums, get them into the vet quickly just in case it’s this disease.

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 – May 9, 2022

A change for the better Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

PHILOSOPHY is not a word that most people would have associated with the meat industry even 10 years ago, but it is amazing how fast this has changed. The sector I worked in during the 1990s bears no resemblance to today – for the processors at the time it was all about maximising throughput to recover fixed costs, whatever the cost of livestock procurement, while many farmers responded logically by chasing the best price. Marketing was more accurately termed ‘selling’ and value adding was more hit-andmiss than a carefully planned process. Meat and Wool New Zealand had split accountability for meat and wool industry representation until the wool levy was rejected by farmers in the 2009 referendum. The rebranded Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) committed itself to focusing on the four pillars of Farm, Market, People and Information, while the Meat Board Act (2004) determined the Meat Board’s statutory responsibility for quotas, market access and management of reserves on behalf of livestock farmers. Efforts to merge the Meat Industry Association (MIA) and B+LNZ into a single organisation representing farmers and exporters failed to gain unanimous support, probably because there was no clear advantage to either side. As a result the last decade has seen the respective roles of the processor exporters and B+LNZ become more clearly defined, while bringing about a much

closer relationship between them. Brand development by the individual exporters in traditional markets has effectively taken over from generic marketing such as the Lamb Rosette, which has enabled B+LNZ to concentrate on targeting new consumer segments with the Taste Pure Nature (TPN) origin brand and the Red Meat Story. Exporters are encouraged but not compelled to join TPN, which promotes the natural qualities and high production standards of NZ red meat. In addition, B+LNZ’s focus is on helping the sector lift its environmental performance and reputation, telling the farmer story better and strengthening its capability to address biosecurity risks. Because of the sector’s improved performance, combined with the serious global market challenges it faces, it is worth examining the strategic vision of the major meat exporters to assess the potential likelihood of continued success for this essential contributor to the economy. Anzco chief executive Peter Conley told me NZ has a privileged position with access to the top paying markets, so it is important to ensure our production systems meet customer and consumer requirements, which are becoming increasingly demanding from environmental, social and health perspectives. For this reason, Anzco’s intent is to pay more attention to quality and extract value from the available livestock by enhancing nutrition, quality and taste, as well as providing good health through healthcare and pharmaceutical products. This strategy will not depend on an increase in livestock volumes, but will be underpinned by value adding activities like the recent acquisition of Moregate Biotech to complement its existing Bovogen Biologicals. Conley sees this area of expansion as a key differentiating factor for

CLOSER LOOK: Allan Barber says times have changed since the days when marketing was more accurately termed ‘selling’ and value adding was more hit-andmiss than a carefully planned process.

the company, but emphasises Anzco’s intention is to drive future value from its existing business. Significantly Itoham’s 100% ownership of Anzco has honed the company’s focus, as well as providing financial strength through a period of organisational restructure. Silver Fern Farms (SFF) has also undergone a significant change of ownership with Shanghai Maling’s major investment to acquire 50% of the company. Farmer shareholders still own the balance of the company, but of greater importance is no longer having the debt burden under which SFF previously struggled. CEO Simon Limmer said the Pasture to Plate philosophy remains central to the business model of meeting market needs and providing feedback to the farmer. Products based on their attributes, such as Net Carbon Zero beef, are seen as central to giving farmers the information to produce what the market is willing to pay a premium for and be rewarded accordingly. SFF’s shareholding structure creates a useful tension between the short- and long-term, enabling the company to think much further into the future than was the case a decade ago, as well as providing capital to

invest in essential areas like plant infrastructure and digital technology. Following an abortive attempt by Alliance’s then-chair Owen Poole to bring about a mega merger of the industry’s big four, the sector’s remaining cooperative has deliberately focused on its farmer-owned status, rebranding the company Alliance Farmers’ Produce. The current five-year plan states “Keeping our farmers at the heart of every decision, we are changing our business to a multi category food and solutions cooperative, that maximises returns at the farm gate and value to our customer partners”. The business strategy involves on the one hand maximising operational efficiency and on the other, capturing more market value from the growth in protein demand through global platforms, partnerships and brand development. The other member of the big four is Affco, which has been a wholly owned subsidiary of private food company Talley’s since 2010. Publicly available information is not readily available, but it is clear Affco operates a different business model from its competitors. It is a no frills operation with low overheads, but its strategy is to

Have you read Dairy Farmer yet? The latest Dairy Farmer hit letterboxes on May 2. Our OnFarmStory this month features the Central Hawke’s Bay couple who have learned from past experience to implement a system that works well for them and their team. We also catch up with a Taranaki farming family whose Aryshire herd has set a new breed record and the Southland farmer who re-evaluated her life after being diagnosed with cancer.

farmersweekly.co.nz 0800 85 25 80

be careful to cover all the bases, spending and investing where necessary. Unlike the other companies, Affco keeps overseas representation to a minimum, preferring to remain nimble and flexible enough to add value wherever it sees the opportunity to add more value than cost. For that reason it has avoided a retail brand which would necessitate additional labour, packaging and marketing while creating waste. Other meat companies – Greenlea, Progressive, UBP, Wilson Hellaby, Taylor Preston and Blue Sky – all successfully serve their carefully developed markets, but a detailed assessment of their plans and philosophies is beyond the scope or capacity of this column. My assessment of the largest part of the meat export sector and farmers’ representative organisations indicates a far greater level of sophistication than existed less than 20 years ago. Farmers can be confident their interests are well served.

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

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

New capital structure gets closer The Braided Trail

Keith Woodford

THE Government has been wrestling for many months as to how to respond to Fonterra’s proposed new capital structure, which its farmer members voted for overwhelmingly. The Ministry for Primary Industries, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, has now released a discussion paper indicating the Government proposed response. Essentially the Government is conceding to Fonterra’s wishes, but with some shackles proposed to constrain Fonterra‘s subsequent behaviours. To understand what is happening, it is necessary to go back to the formation of Fonterra. Fonterra, which was formed in 2001, with 96% of the national milk production under its control for processing and marketing, would not have been allowed if assessed under the Commerce Act. It would have run foul of restrictions on monopolies. Accordingly, special legislation was put in place via the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) by the Labour government of the day. Regulations were set in place allowing Fonterra to act as an effective monopoly in relation to marketing New Zealand milk overseas, but constrained in exerting monopoly power in the local NZ market. The imposed constraints related to relationships with both farmers and retailers, plus any new processors brave enough to compete for supply of raw milk. The justification for the legislation was that Fonterra would become a ‘national champion’ of which we could all be proud as it drove NZ’s economy forward. Fonterra, in its first life starting in the early 2000s, was structured as a traditional co-op, where every farmer was required to provide ‘service capital’ in proportion to the supply of milk they were providing. The share price was set by the board. Most farmers were joining Fonterra via legacy co-ops to which they had already supplied capital, so no further cash was required unless they were increasing production. One key advantage of traditional co-operatives funded this way is that there is no need for arguments as to the split between milk price and share dividend. Regardless of the split, the overall income received by each farmer is not changed by the specifics of the split. Generally, there are two main criticisms of this traditional co-op capital structure. The first is there is no genuine price-discovery mechanism as to what capital is actually earning. At least in theory, this can lead

UNCERTAINTY: Keith Woodford recaps Fonterra’s journey to the proposed new capital structure, which he believes will only last as long as Fonterra can provide good dividends that make the holding of voluntary shares attractive.

to inefficient use of capital. The second key limitation is that if a farmer leaves the co-op, then the co-op has to pay back the farmer’s capital. This can be a disaster if the co-op loses a significant number of members. It was only a few years before deep discussions were being held within Fonterra as to the need for a more ‘modern’ capital structure. I won’t here go into all of the twists and turns that occurred, but will jump to the new capital structure approved by farmers in 2012. This new 2012 structure created an open market for shares where farmers, but only farmers, could buy and sell shares between each other rather than buying and selling shares from Fonterra itself. Fundamental to this new structure was a separate ‘shareholders’ fund’, which actually was not a shareholders’ fund at all. Rather, it was a fund in which non-farmers could buy financial units which would receive dividends, but would have no voting power in the co-op. Also, and this was very important, there was a pipeline set up between the co-op and the fund, which allowed units and shares to be shuffled back and forwards between the fund and the co-op via a so-called market-maker who would do the buying, selling and conversion of shares into units and vice versa, thereby managing the pipeline. This set-up ensured that the price of units and shares were within a cent or two of each other. Much of this new structure is still in place right now but big cracks have appeared. The board has temporarily cut the pipeline between the co-op and the fund to stop the fund growing, and hence the market-maker is no longer active. Also, right now, farmers are not required to purchase shares in alignment with any production increase. Further, Fonterra has had mechanisms in place for quite some years whereby new

farmers did not necessarily have to purchase shares to supply milk. In the last 12 months since the cracks opened up, the price of both shares and units has tanked, with the shares even more so now that there is no market-maker. Unitholders are not happy, but farmers seem to have largely shrugged their shoulders in an environment where the milk price they are receiving is very high.

The key factor driving Fonterra towards a new structure is the fear that the current structure places Fonterra in a poor position to compete with new entrants to the dairy processing and marketing sectors. Fonterra fears that new farmers will be attracted to processors who do not require farmers to provide capital. That would increase the flow of shares to non-farmer units. Fundamental to this new perspective, is that Fonterra is now a very different creature than it was 10 years ago. Back then, Fonterra was trying to take on the world and to be a global player with power brands. In contrast, in the last three years, Fonterra has been in divestment mode, having now sold its China, Europe and Brazil assets, currently trying to sell its Chilean companies and also looking at selling its Australian operations.

The current directors of Fonterra have very different perspectives to the directors of 2012 when the current capital structure was set up. Fonterra is now a commodities and specialised ingredients company, including a focus on foodservice, but with low involvement in consumer brands and focusing only on NZ-sourced milk. Fonterra’s share of national milk supply has dropped to 79% from the original 96%. The philosophical change is profound. So, now I come to the new structure which Fonterra proposes, driven primarily by a perceived need to minimise loss of supply in an environment where total NZ dairy production is at best static and with a risk of significant decline. This is so different to the scene back in 2012. Fonterra’s proposal is that although its total company shares will still align with its total production, individual farmers will only need to hold one-third of a share for every kg of milksolids (fat plus protein), but can hold as many as four shares per kg. This will supposedly reduce the risk of farmers leaving and joining processing competitors. This new structure has overwhelming support from farmers who trust their current directors to come up with the best solution. However, those of us with a strong background in co-op structures are nervous. The reason for this nervousness is simple. A fundamental principle of co-ops is that members supply capital in proportion to the business they do with the co-op. Breaking this principle is a recipe for conflict, with some members wanting a high milk price and others preferring high dividends. I know of no co-op that has survived long-term with such a structure. In this situation, the minister

and government are caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, they don’t want a fight with Fonterra that leaves electoral blood on the floor. However, the minister is clearly concerned. The Government proposal therefore is to require the Fonterra milk price committee, which will have five to seven members in total, to include two ministerial nominees plus a chair who is also independent of any financial interests in the dairy industry. It is highly likely that Fonterra will accept this as a necessary compromise to get the overarching proposals accepted. The reason they must get government acceptance is that the new structure requires legislative changes to the DIRA. The second key requirement from government is that there must be a market-maker, essentially there to reduce share liquidity issues. My own judgement is that this will prove highly problematic. Better to let Fonterra deal with that by itself. My current expectation is that the essential elements of the new capital structure proposed by Fonterra will now be implemented over the coming year. But whether or not it will thereafter be set in stone is another matter. It might last five years but I doubt if it will last 10 years. The proposed new structure will only last as long as Fonterra can provide good dividends that make the holding of voluntary shares attractive. As such, it is designed for choppy waters but not for a storm.

Your View Keith Woodford was Professor of farm management and agribusiness at Lincoln University for 15 years to 2015. He is now principal consultant at AgriFood Systems. He can be contacted at kbwoodford@gmail.com

World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

NFU urges action on meat exports THE NFU has called for government to invest and work with British farmers to help maximise their red meat exports in an increasingly competitive trading environment. The NFU Red Meat Export Strategy identifies a raft of recommendations to help the British livestock sector unlock the potential of expanding international markets.

Farmers have rightly been defensive about the free trade agreements (FTA) the government is striking with Australia and New Zealand, particularly for agriculture. Richard Findlay NFU

The UK government is seeking to sign post-Brexit free trade deals with countries such as Australia and New Zealand, which will see British farmers go toe-to-toe with

some of the most export-oriented producers. But the NFU has warned that unless British farmers receive the right support from government, through effective market development and targeted export promotion of high-quality, highwelfare British food, they will be outcompeted by producers from other nations. “We are asking government to match our ambition to increase our exports by 30% by 2030, and the red meat strategy is part of this,” NFU Livestock Board chair Richard Findlay said. “The timing is now. Farmers have rightly been defensive about the free trade agreements (FTA) the government is striking with Australia and New Zealand, particularly for agriculture. But there are other FTAs being negotiated where there are great opportunities [for exports]. “The Government has said they will help us become some of the greatest exporters in the world. They need to start putting their money where their mouth is.” Findlay would like the Government to match fund the AHDB’s annual £6.6 million (about $12.8m) spend on marketing and promotion of UK food exports,

MARKETS: The UK exports 180,000 tonnes of beef and 88,000t of sheepmeat to more than 50 markets worldwide.

which gives a return of £11.90 (about $23) for every £1 (about $1.94) spent. He also wants the Government to increase the network of agrifood and drink attachés to be placed in key global markets to promote trade and boost exports. Currently, there are just two, but the government has promised a further eight. “British livestock farmers can’t compete on price alone, but we have to explain to exporters why we are the best in other areas, such as environmental sustainability and animal welfare,” he said. The strategy says the global

appetite for meat shows no sign of slowing down. This is largely driven by population growth and an increase in middle class diets. The UK exports 180,000 tonnes of beef and 88,000t of sheepmeat to more than 50 markets worldwide. In total, red meat exports are worth more than £640m (about $1.2 billion) a year to the UK. Almost 89% of UK total beef trade and 96% of UK total sheep trade is to the EU. Target markets for future market development include countries such as China, the US, the Gulf and Japan. Commenting on the report, a Defra spokesperson said: “There

are huge opportunities for our livestock sectors in overseas markets, with more than 550,000t of sheep, beef and pig meat shipped in 2021. “The US market will soon be open to UK lamb for the first time in over 20 years, beef exports have already commenced, and we have recently gained access for UK pork to the Mexican market. “We have announced 10 agrifood attachés in key priority markets to boost exports, and we are working closely with the NFU and AHDB to continue unlocking export opportunities for British agriculture.” UK Farmers Weekly

UK-US trade deal gaining momentum DEFRA secretary George Eustice travelled to the US recently as the UK government stepped up preparations for a trade deal. During his visit Eustice met agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack in Washington and farmers and food processors in Pennsylvania. Speaking at the Soil Association’s agroecology conference in late April, after arriving back in the UK, Eustice said open markets were an important part of food security. He said one issue addressed on his trip was differences in animal welfare standards, which is seen as a potential barrier to any agreement. There is concern among UK farmers that a deal would pave the way for food produced to lower welfare standards to flood the market. “Some other countries including the United States have a slightly different culture – they’ve had a resistance to having regulations on farm animal welfare,” Eustice told the conference. “But in place of that they have actually got some quite vibrant private accreditation schemes that accredit individual farms to a higher standard.

They’ve already given us an export health certificate to use and there are a few final creases to iron out. George Eustice Defra “One of the things we are exploring is whether we can find a way of recognising producers that accredit to that higher standard that is therefore much closer equivalent to ours.” In a separate update about the visit, Eustice said discussions were continuing about British lamb exports to the US. “They’ve already given us an export health certificate to use and there are a few final creases to iron out,” he said. “Secretary Eustice and I are committed to continuing the strong, special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom,” Vilsack said. UK Farmers Weekly

NEGOTIATIONS: Defra secretary George Eustice recently visited the US to discuss a trade deal and animal welfare standards.

Waimata Riverside Road Tender

Motukeo Hills • 260 ha STS of hill country (bareland) • 14 km circa to the Gisborne port This bare land block of property is being subdivided off from Motukeo Station and is a bare block of land that would be suitable for: Livestock grazing Forestry Carbon farming Honey production Hunting park Or a mixture of the above. There is no infrastructure on this property.

Ohura 9 Prentice Road

Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 16th Jun, 2022 (unless sold prior), 66 Reads Quay, Gisborne View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/GIR14258

Tom Lane M 021 058 7018

E toml@pb.co.nz

Hororata 300 Milnes Road Tender

Picnic Point Picnic Point provides an outstanding opportunity to purchase a quality sheep and beef property in the well-respected farming district of Matiere, Taumarunui. Available as one farm of 827.99 ha, or as three different properties. • Mt Mable - 198.99 ha • Picnic Point - 324.20 ha • Waikaka - 304.80 ha This property has been well managed by its owners and on further inspection you will appreciate the work that has gone into making this farm perform at the level it does. The infrastructure is evenly balanced over the three blocks, with woolsheds, yards, and houses on each. Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender

Superb smaller farm - 57 ha Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 19th May, 2022, 27 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/TUR101097

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

57 ha sheep and beef finishing property situated on the rolling downs close to Hororata, 45 minutes from Christchurch/Ashburton. This smaller farm is well setup with a full range of farm improvements and is complemented by a substantial homestead set in established grounds. The property is held in two titles with a great balance of soil types that provide reliable summer growth and free draining areas for forage crops. This property presents an excellent first farm option or a strategic add on to a larger enterprise for finishing.

Tender closes 3.00pm, Wed 8th Jun, 2022 (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/DFR101061

Gareth Cox M 021 250 9714

Proud to be here

Manaia 190 Inaha Road Tender

Turn-key Waimate West grass factory Multiple tender options. All stock available for purchase at valuation. Excellent BW and PW. Flexible takeover date. Dairy Farm • 58 ha 100% Autumn calving dairy farm • Averaging 94,000 kgMS Support Block • 24.8 ha • Suitable for grazing and harvesting supplements • Located 1.5 km from dairy farm

Tender closes 4.00pm, Mon 23rd May, 2022 (unless sold prior), 227 Devon Street East, New Plymouth View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/NPR101819

Greg O'Byrne M 027 598 3000

E greg.obyrne@pb.co.nz

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Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

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Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

NEW LISTING

Masterton 816 Mangamahoe Central Road

North Canterbury 531 Murrays Road, Hawarden

The opportunity

The triangle - seize the possibilities

834ha

Scale and scope in a predominantly summer safe environment. 834.5838ha of medium hill country situated 30 minutes from Masterton. The vendors have grown this property over 40 years by accumulating four farms, creating a very workable unit. Two main woolsheds, both with covered yards, service opposite halves of the property. The bulk of the farm is located in two main basins which feed down naturally to the stock facilities with laneways. A traditional sheep and beef breeding property running 3,500 ewes lambing at 130%, plus breeding cows. 12ha block of pines pre 1990, next to the road for easy extraction is included. Rare opportunity to purchase a substantial breeding property well located in the Wairarapa/Tararua district.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Thu 9 Jun 2022 186 Chapel Street, Masterton View by appointment Lindsay Watts 027 246 2542 lindsay.watts@bayleys.co.nz Andrew Smith 027 760 8208 a.smith@bayleys.co.nz Simon Clinton-Baker 021 953 909 simon.clinton-baker@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY (WAIRARAPA) LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

A well-equipped North Canterbury dryland farming operation, historically wintering up to 1,800 cattle on crop. At 208.1246 hectares, this substantial farm operates as a dairy grazing and sheep and beef finishing operation, wintering up to 1,600 dairy and 200 beef cattle on crop. The versatile farm setup includes full infrastructure for cattle, sheep and crop. Well-fenced by post and wire fences with good lanes, providing convenient access to all areas of the farm. The good Darnley soils offer a solid platform for continued productivity. Water is currently supplied via the County Scheme. Excellent facilities include a six-bay implement shed, woolshed, several hay sheds and grain silos. Set among attractive gardens is the sunny family home, and a self-contained sleepout.

208ha

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Thu 2 Jun 2022 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch Phone for viewing times Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Peter Foley 021 754 737 peter.foley@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5518351

bayleys.co.nz/3151100

Accelerating success.

Sheep/Beef

Ngarakau – Strong Hill Country With Scale Tender closing Thursday 19 May 2022 at 2.00pm (unless sold prior) (plus GST if any) 278 Coonoor Road, Makuri, Tararua

Land Area: 539.4898 ha (more or less)

Four bedroom home plus office

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67018725

20ha developed flats

Great community and location

Viewings by appointment only

Colliers are proud to present Ngarakau to the market for the first time in 114 years. This genuine hill country farm is located in the Makuri district, a 30 minute drive east of Pahiatua.

Jason Waterman 027 376 8313 jason.waterman@colliers.com

Ngarakau is currently wintering approximately 4000 stock units. 19 hectares of QEII bush, plus some areas of quality Manuka are also attractive features on this property, offering income from honey production and potential income from the proposed Puketoi wind farm provide further strings to the bow.

Rob Deal 027 241 4775 rob.deal@colliers.com

Farm infrastructure includes a lovely 4 bedroom plus office home with a quaint studio close by. A 4 stand woolshed and covered yards, plus cattle yards and support buildings.

CRWAI Limited Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

FOR SALE

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

NEW ZEALAND REDWOOD COMPANY (NZRC) ESTATE

PREMIUM LUMBER AND CARBON OPPORTUNITY

Carbon

Freehold Land Area 8,108ha

108,000t* p.a. at 2033

Net Stocked Area

Ruapehu, Rangitikei & Hurunui Districts

Four Forests

3,166ha

Farm Land to plant

Woodflow

525ha

200,000m3**/p.a. from 2047

Deadline Offers:

Thursday 9 June 2022 at 4pm (NZST) Jeremy Keating Wyatt Johnston Chan Singh Gerrard Wilson

+64 21 461 210 +64 27 815 1303 +64 27 767 7113 +64 21 537 245

*Forecast carbon sequestration on current FMA tables. **Forecast woodflow based on lumber scenario.

Okota Forest - Rangitikei District

Arotahi Agribusiness Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent REA Act

TIMARU 77 Evans Street, Waimataitai

For Sale

FINAL NOTICE

Subject Site

Boundary line indicative only

Long Term Investment 12+ Year Lease Profile – – – –

Lease Profile: c. 12.5 years remaining National Tenants High profile investment with modern improvements Well-established retail destination

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty closing Tuesday 7 June 2022 at 4.00pm* Tim Rookes

Cameron Darby

027 562 3700

027 450 7902

* Unless sold prior CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

www.cbre.co.nz/CCH100074

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

TAUMARUNUI, RUAPEHU 23 Hapurua Road Hapurua - A Station in the Making 1133 hectares (more or less). Purchased in 2019 Hapurua is being transformed into a fantastic well-balanced station. The vendors have erected 56km of new fencing and extensive graded laneways on the property. The fertile river flats have been cultivated twice and have responded in spectacular fashion. The new cattle yards are next level. Four stand woolshed, two bedroom dwelling. The level of improvements that has been done so far is striking so is the contour mix, which runs from flats, easy hill to some steeper hills, great contour balance. If you are looking to complete this transformation and reap the benefits, Hapurua is for you. Please bring your own bike to Open Days.

TENDER

(Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 11.00am, Fri 10 June PGGWRE, 57 Rora Street, Te Kuiti

VIEW

10.00-12.00pm, Monday 16 & 23 May

Peter Wylie M 027 473 5855 E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEK35974 Helping grow the country

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Your destination for rural real estate Market your property to an audience that counts

Add another touchpoint to your campaign on the website built for farmers. Align your brand with content farmers read: • Geo and agri sector targeting options available • Post campaign analysis of your adverts performance • Advertise on our Real Estate page alongside relevant editorial content • Enrich your print ad - Click through to your property videos or websites from the virtual edition.

Contact your agent to advertise today! 0800 85 25 80 farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Tech & Toys

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

THE ALL NEW COOPER

farmersweekly.co.nz/advertising 0800 85 25 80

RUGGED TREK

@coopertiresnz www.coopertires.co.nz

0800 453 418

Primary Pathways – Jobs, Education & Training

JOBS BOARD

Fencer/General Hand

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

Experienced person required for 700ha sheep

Sheep & Beef • Operations Manager – Akitio • Experienced Shepherd – Hawke’s Bay • Farm Manager – Whanganui • Tractor Driver/Fencer General – Wairarapa • Tractor Driver General – Hawke’s Bay • Stock Manager – Hawke’s Bay • Block Manager – King Country • Farm Manager – Central Otago

and beef, breeding and finishing farm. Located at Mount Bruce, 20 minutes north of Masterton.

Apprentice Farm Manager

This position would suit someone looking for

Farm Manager

either full or part time work, however a part time

Fencer General

employee would need to be flexible.

Livestock Co-Ordination Manager

The successful applicant will need to be

Management Cadet

comfortable working on his/her own and as part of a team and have at least one dog that can be

Operations Manager

used in the yards .

Property Manager

Successful applicant will have a proven record of

Senior Reporter

♦ Fencing and general farm maintenance

Shepherd

♦ Tractor driving ♦ General stock work

Tractor/Truck/Machinery Operator

♦ Reliability and honesty Comfortable four-bedroom family home with ample

*FREE upload to Primary Pathways Aotearoa: www.facebook.com

Rural Directions - Career Opportunities

Dairy • Dairy Farm Manager – Manawatu • Experienced Production Manager Rangitikei • Senior Farm Assistant - Rangitikei • Assistant Herd Manager – Hawke’s Bay

Other • Field Technicians – Hawke’s Bay • Field Agronomist – Hawke’s Bay • National Event Co-ordinator – East Coast • Livestock Co-ordination Manager – Hawke’s Bay • Property Manager – D’Urville Island

For further information or to apply please visit: www.ruraldirections.co.nz/jobs

sheds, and on the bus route to Opaki primary school.

*conditions apply

Closing Date: 30th June 2022

FARM MANAGER

Senior reporter – Farmers Weekly

Cross Bros Carterhope Estate

An opportunity has arisen for a farm manager position for a high performing sheep and beef operation located in South Otago only 10km from Balclutha on State Highway 1.

The property is farmed intensively with a desire to promote modern farm production and management systems.

SHEPHERD

The successful applicant would require 2-3 good working dogs, have a broad skill base and have had experience with finishing both lambs and cattle. You will need to have excellent stockmanship, clear written and oral communication, be able to take responsibility, have a ‘can do’ attitude, be able to adhere to farm Health & Safety policies, and be able to work both independently and in a team environment.

We have a vacancy for a senior reporter, working full time from Feilding (preferably), alongside the editor and sub editor of Farmers Weekly and the digital editorial team, to write stories and help lead editorial strategy.

The successful applicant will report directly to the Chair of the Board. Attractive employment and living conditions are offered, including: n A modern, five bedroom centrally heated home n Location to the primary and secondary school bus 1km from homestead n Excellent wage package and working conditions.

A basic understanding/background in agriculture and/or farming is essential, as well as a proven level of writing and reporting skills.

LK0111550©

Applications close: Friday May, 20, 2022.

This position comes with competitive remuneration, a great work environment and good housing. LK0111584©

If you’re ready for the responsibility and the challenge, we invite you to register your interest and request a job description and application form now by emailing Cushla: hr@globalhq.co.nz

The successful applicant would be expected to take up this position as soon as practicable.

Applications close 16 May 2022

Wharekiri Station Wharekiri Station is a 1080ha effective property situated in Benneydale, 35 minutes from Te Kuiti and part of the Tiroa E and Te Hape B group of farms covering 7500ha effective. Wharekiri Station winters 12,000 stock units made up of a high performing breeding ewe flock and beef finishing system.

We invest in great people to create best-in-class products that include daily newsletter Pulse, flagship newspaper Farmers Weekly, the AgriHQ suite of data and analysis products, leading weather site RuralWeather.co.nz, Dairy Farmer magazine, the On Farm Story video series, and a range of podcasts, education and information resources, and various social and website destinations.

The successful applicant will need to: n have proven experience in livestock and pasture management on a large and intensively farmed property n have sound planning skills n have good communication and leadership skills and be able to motivate staff n be progressive and innovative n be able to work as part of a team n have a strong sense of farm pride

Jim Johnstone can be contacted on 03 418 0020

TIROA E TRUST

GlobalHQ/AgriHQ is where rural New Zealanders go to get the whole story. We connect the agricultural sector with news, information, stories, data analysis, educational resources and community engagement platforms that encourage a more sustainable and profitable future for New Zealand agriculture.

The property consists of 1396ha and carries around 15,500su. It has a permanent staff of three, apart from the Farm Manager.

Please apply in writing, including your CV and naming two (2) referees, to: c/- Jim Johnstone P O Box 2 Balclutha

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

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and will be required to have a clear pre-employment drug test. For further information please contact Jason Taitoko 07 878 4834, or email your CV to: camilla@tiroatehape.maori.nz Applications close Friday 20th May 2022

LK0111477©

adamwyeth86@gmail.com

LK0111581©

LK0109661©

Send CV and references to:

JW0111645©

Contact: Adam Wyeth 027 306 0616

Contact Debbie Brown 06 323 0765 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Noticeboard

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 ANIMAL AND HUMAN healer, also manipulation on horses and dogs. 9th - 12th May, Mid South Canterbury, North Otago, Dunedin and South Otago. 13th -17th May, Southland. 18th -20th May, West / Central Otago and Maniototo. Phone Ron Wilson 027 435 3089. CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

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

ATTENTION FARMERS 40c/50c PER KG dags fadges/bales. Replacement woolpacks. PV Weber Wools. Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

GORSE AND THISTLE SPRAY. We also scrub cut. Four men with all gear in your area. Phone Dave 06 375 8032.

DOGS FOR SALE 12-MONTH HEADING dog and bitch. Fast, strong, good stop, pulling sides. Station and trial potential. Nolan Timmins. Phone 027 932 8839. 4-YEAR-OLD broken-in Huntaway dog. GRIZZLY Huntaway bitch, 12 months, good bark, very energetic. 10-MONTH old Huntaway dog, big bark,working. 11-MONTH-OLD Heading dog, suits a small property. GRIZZLY yard and mob dog. Phone 027 243 8541. HUGE SELECTION WORKING dogs. Deliver NZ wide, trial, guaranteed! www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553. BOOK AN AD. For only $2.20+gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Email Debbie classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

DOGS WANTED 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. BUYING ALL LEVELS of working dogs NZ wide since 2012. mikehughesworkingdogs@ farmside.co.nz 07 315 5553.

FARM MAPPING

GOATS WANTED

SIMPLIFY YOUR farm planning with practical, affordable and accurate maps from www. farmmapping.co.nz – contact us for a free quote.

FOR SALE WANAKA BASED NURSERY. Hardy 2-3yr old plants. Cabbage Trees, Pittos, Hebes etc. Ideal for bunds, driveways, waterways. Bargain prices for bulk orders of 100 or more. Phone 027 445 2032 for orders and viewing.

Early Winter Special One pair of FREE cotton socks per pack

www.thesocklady.co.nz

GIBB-GRO GROWTH PROMOTANT PROMOTES QUICK PASTURE growth. Only $6.50+gst per hectare delivered. 0508-GIBBGRO [0508 442 247] www. gibbgro.co.nz. “The Proven One.”

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.

GRAZING AVAILABLE GRAZING AVAILABLE from July 1st. Up to 2000SU sheep or cattle. Short or long term. Located Pongaroa. Phone Mike 06 372 5910 or email badwolffarm174@gmail. com

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

LEASE AVAILABLE SHEEP FARMING LEASE. 210 Hectares, (1-3 Year Lease from 1st July) 2.53k SU. Hawke’s Bay, good facilities, summer safe. Mobile 021 327 637.

CONTACT: 0275258321

I am an experienced hunter and ex farmer, I can get rid of the pests eating down your farm, disturbing your stock, and frustrating you and your neighbors.

Plenty of driveshafts available

NEEDING SCRUB OR gorse cut? Manawatu. Call us on 022 323 9367 now to book a free quote. tjscrubcutting@gmail.com

TRACTOR PARTS

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

JOHN DEERE 6620, 6410, 6800, rollover damage,dismantling Andquiparts.Phone 027 524 3356.

RED DEVON BULLS. Well grown, purebred. Feilding. Phone 027 224 3838.

LOG BUYER

WANTED TO BUY

HAULER CREW available for harvesting. Wairarapa area. Phone 027 489 7036.

SAWN SHED TIMBER including Black Maire. Matai, Totara and Rimu etc. Also buying salvaged native logs. Phone Richard Uren. NZ Native Timber Supplies. Phone 027 688 2954.

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

HOUSES FOR REMOVAL. North Island. Phone 021 455 787. WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Don’t leave it to rust away! We pay cash for tractors, excavators, small crawler tractors and surplus farm machinery. Ford – Ferguson – Hitachi – Komatsu – John Deere and more. Tell us what you have no matter where it is in NZ. You never know.. what’s resting in your barn could be fattening up your wallet! Email admin@ loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin on 0274 426 936 (No texts please)

RAMS FOR SALE WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.

SITUATIONS VACANT RELIEF MILKER. 5-mins from Rangiora. 200 cows 24 ASHB – 2 person shed. Drive in position. from midJuly.Phone/text 021 185 6691.

WINTER GRAZING WANTED

LEASE PROPERTY WANTED Hardworking farming couple looking for sheep/beef lease farm opportunity Good Pasture, animal husbandry skills. 14 years managing Sheep and Beef properties Experience in leasing property previously References available

Phone Tim 021 640 027

T HI NK P R E B U I L T

NEW HOMES SOLID – PRACTICAL

WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

FOR 46 IN CALF R2’s Mid/North Canterbury. Contact Wayne 021 185 6691.

0800 436 566

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

ATTENTION

All Former YFC & Country Girl Exchangees New Zealand is due to host IFYE World Conference 2028, 50 years after hosting the 1978 Conference.

LK0109558©

No job too big, I offer efﬁcient and conﬁdential service.

Cost-effective pest control using the latest thermal equipment & technology.

YOUNG FARMER looking for sheep and beef lease or grazing. Gisborne area but would consider anywhere. Remote places welcome. Phone 022 574 1426.

NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call ....

LK0111480©

Pests out of control?

TJ SCRUBCUTTING

DOLOMITE

HEALEY AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT Looking For & Selling All Farm Machinery Market Gardening Valuations Cropping Dairy Orchard Contracting Machinery Brokers Pukekohe Contact Ph Brian Healey 027 231 5913 healag@xtra.co.nz

LEASE LAND WANTED

Heavy duty long lasting Ph 021 047 9299

We are having a zoom online meeting to discuss this on 14th May at 9am. You can access the meeting by emailing your contact details to yfcreunion2028@gmail.com We have also set up a Facebook page, RuralMattersNZ. Inquiries phone Boyd Young 06 756 9197 Ad sponsored by Ratapiko Dorpers

Call or email us for your free copy of our plans Email: info@ezylinehomes.co.nz Phone: 0800 399 546 (EZYLINE) Web: www.ezylinehomes.co.nz

JW109920©

CONTRACTORS

ANIMAL HANDLING

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

JW0111644©

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

Selling something? JW 111615©

Call Debbie 0800 85 25 80 classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Northern Territory

4X4 TAGALONG TOURS

Escorted tours for farmers Exclusive experiences and sights l Enjoy superb hospitality l Trusted for over 30 years! l

Bring your own 4X4 on a guided tour to discover more of the South Island.

LK0109814©

Tour 1: Molesworth Station, St James, Mailings Pass & Rainbow Stations Dates: Jan 22-25, Feb 19-22, March 5-8, March 12-15, March 19-22, March 26-29, April 16-19

BTZ Forestry Marketing and Harvesting

Dates: Nov 20-24, Jan 8-12, April 23-27 Other dates available for groups of 6 or more people on request

LK0111586©

Tour: 2 D’Urville Island and Marlborough High Country

Ph: 0274 351 955 Email info@southislandtoursnz.com www.southislandtoursnz.com

0800 38 38 747 for details

www.farmtofarm.co.nz

FW 111289 120 x 63 11/4/ 22

(Obtaining the best profits for our customers) Farmers/Woodlot owner Tired of waiting for someone to harvest your trees? We are not committed to one buyer that is how we get our customers the most profit we can. Set up to do the smaller, trickier wood lots. No job too big or too small.

Free quotes • Markets for all species Email: BTZforestry@gmail.com

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

livestock@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

SALE TALK

Shaken, the man pulled over at the farmhouse and rang the doorbell.

MORRINSVILLE DAIRY COMPLEX

500 Mt Linton Station MA Angus Cows Capital Stock 3-12 year olds TB C8 IMF data available

Thursday 12th May 2022 – 12 Noon

Genuine capital stock line for sale from one of New Zealand’s Premiere Angus herds.

74 x Incalf XB Heifers

43 High Performance Bulls On Farm Auction 12 Noon & Live on Bidr

DTC 15.7.22 Jersey BW311 PW336 Outstanding Heifers

For expressions of interest please contact George Hazlett 0272 541 603 george.hazlett@rll.co.nz

DTC 24.7.22 Jersey BW226 PW258 Crossbred content of a CRL Contact: Michael Conwell 027 226 1611

Hill Country Cattle Thriving in any Environment

Stuart Robbie 027 8484408

Sons of Feature Sires

TH Frontier 174E & Okawa Rommel

Douglas Robbie 027 9197150

Livestreamed via MyLivestock

otapawa@xtra.co.nz

“Suit yourself,” the farmer replied, “you can go and join the chickens that are around the back.”

www.otapawa.co.nz

OPAWA SIMMENTALS ANNUAL ON FARM BULL & HEIFER SALE 260 Rutherford Road, Albury, South Canterbury. Friday 20th May 2022 Commencing 1.30pm

Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more!

Inspection from 12 noon: • 18 2 Yr Simmental Bulls • 38 2 Yr Simmental/Hereford x Heifers PTIC low birth weight Hereford Bulls 13/11/21 (2 Cycles) TB C10. Signposted from Albury Township. David & Jayne Timperley (Vendors) 03 685 5785 or 0274 375 881 Simon Eddington (PGW) 027 590 8612 Cameron Gray (PGW) 027 494 0572

If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the Farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@globalhq. co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it Conditions apply

Commercially Farmed Herd in Tiraumea Hill Country

7 x Incalf XB Heifers

When the farmer appeared, the man nervously said, “I think I killed your rooster, please allow me to replace him.”

and credit it to you.

Sale Day June 7 - Open Everyday

On A/c Client

LK0000000©

The man couldn’t avoid it and the rooster disappeared under the car in a cloud of feathers.

FOR SALE

JW111664©

A man was driving down a country lane when a rooster suddenly ran out into the road.

Helping grow the country

12th May @ 11am FAIRMOUNT FARMS, FEILDING 37x In-Calf Jersey Heifers

GROWING

Advertise your livestock in the Farmers Weekly. It’s no bull. Contact Javier: 06 323 0761 027 602 4925

livestock@globalhq.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz

GONE. Catalogue available on AgOnline or phone the auctioneers for further information: Peter & Kathy Horn 1221a Cameron Line, RD5, Feilding. P 06 323 2711 M 0274 436 412 E kukujerseys1914@gmail.com

Andrew Reyland Livestock Representative 027 223 7092 areyland@pggwrightson.co.nz Jamie Cunninghame National Dairy Sales Manager 0275 833 533 jcunninghame@pggwrightson.co.nz

Bull Sales On Now! Visit The Website To View: www.pggwrightson.co.nz/bull-sales

Livestock Noticeboard

livestock@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

STOCK REQUIRED

50 YEARS OF BREEDING EST. 1972

MALE LAMBS 32-38kg G.A.P. LAMBS 34-42kg

"MAXIMISING YOUR RETURN THROUGH PERSONAL LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT"

STOCK WANTED

R2 YR ANG & ANG H STEERS 380-450kg

300-450kg Friesian Bulls Richard Seavill, Ph: 021 169 8276

R2YR FRIES BULLS 420-480kg

STOCK O SA E

Mary Taylor PH: 06 8555322 Andy & Emma Martin PH: 068555348 E: taylors@glenbraestud.co.nz View Online: www.glenbraestud.co.nz

Lot 3

Selling 30 Powerful Poll Hereford bulls

2YR HERE

BULLS >360kg YOUNG/MA ANGUS COWS

28 x Speckled Park Hfrs & Cows In-calf to SP or Hereford. Beautiful, quiet stock 34 x 380kg Here/Frs, Ang/Frs Steers $3/kg 340kg approx. Murray Grey/Frs Steers $2.80/kg Richard Seavill, Ph: 021 169 8276

VIC Nov

35 x Well presented Hereford Cows, VIC to Hereford Bull, $1,575 100 x 150kg Here/Frs Heifers $530 Chris Kyle, Ph: 027 496 7412

Glenbrae Annual Bull Sale 1019 Mangaorapa Rd, Porangahau.

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

66 x 18mth Here/Frs Steers $3/kg 30 x 535kg Mixed Line Dairy-Beef Steers $3/kg 30 x 320kg ave. Straight Beef Hfrs $3/kg Harrison Levien, Ph: 027 496 7410

Thursday 2pm. 2nd June 2022

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

0800 827 455 admin@byl.co.nz www.byllivestock.co.nz

Winners of the Steak of Origin 2018 1447 Hereheretau Rd, RD 6, WAIROA 4196 www.kerrahsimmentals.co.nz

PROFIT-A-BULL EXCELLENCE

SEVENTH ANNUAL ON-FARM AUCTION Tangiwai Station, Wairoa • 1PM, Tuesday, 24th May 2022

Jon Knauf

80+

POLLED PERF BULLS FO ORMANCE R AUCTIO N

“Where Performance Meats Phenotype” CONTACT: for catalogue

Jon Knauf 06 838 6793 E: jsknauf@gisborne.net.nz

Phil Transom 0274 420 060 PGG Wrightson

Ross Mitchell 0274 048 965 Fergus Rural

Bull Sale – Thursday 19 May at 2pm Phone Kyle Hagen 021 175 7746 for more information

TAUMARUNUI ANGUS BULL OPEN DAY TUESDAY 17TH MAY * SHIAN ANGUS - BLACK RIDGE ANGUS - PUKE-NUI ANGUS All Studs will be open from 9.30 am to 2pm

BLACK RIDGE ANGUS STUD

Celebrating 50 years of breeding Featuring Lot 14 ‘A Bull For Starship’ 11am, 2 June 2022 – Meads Road, Taumarunui

On-Farm Bull Sale

Thursday 2nd June 2022, 2pm

ANGUS

30 R2 Year Bulls SIRE BULLS: Tangihau Maximus N458, Te Mania Buff 314, Stokman South Dakota N226, Merchiston Power House N282, First son’s of Maximus N458 available

STARSHIP

CHARITY

LK0111563©

BULL AUCTION

40 Two Year Old Bulls Bulls sired by: Matauri Ranger L362, Waiterenui Klooney P011 Rangatira 17483, Merchiston Powerhouse N177, Taimate Mako L26

BVD, Lepto, 10 in 1 Vaccinated & Semen Evaluated Contact – Brian & Sharon Sherson: Ph 07 895 7686 Email: b.sherson@xtra.co.nz Rob & Tracy Sherson: Ph 07 895 6694, Mob 027 230 8230 www.shianangus.co.nz – Follow us on

BULL SALE

THURSDAY 2ND JUNE 2022 AT 4:30PM Bull Sale Venue: 303 River Road, SH 43, Taumarunui

32 Bulls

Alan & Catherine Donaldson p: (07) 896 6714 e: agcsdonaldson@gmail.com

Find us on Facebook

DEAN & TERESA SHERSON 675 Taringamotu Road, RD 4, TAUMARUNUI 3994 p: 07 896 7211 m: 027 690 2033 e: black_ridge@live.com.au

Like and Find us on Facebook

Inspection and Enquiries always welcome. All bulls BVD vaccinated and tested. Lepto vaccinated. Semen evaluated. TB C10.

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

livestock@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

Key: Dairy

64 Alec Robins Rd, Queenstown Wednesday 25 May, 3.30pm Mike and Gemma Smith Mike 021 975 269 or Email: mike@kcangus.co.nz PGG WRIGHTSON Cullum McDonald 027 433 6443 Craig Knight 027 590 1331 John McKone 027 229 9375 John Duffy 027 240 3841 RURAL LIVESTOCK Anthony Cox 027 208 3071 Paul Mavor 027 473 0100 Tony Pride 027 434 7230

JW0111643©

ROGER KEECH GENETICS Roger Keech 027 417 8641 Inspection welcome at any time Food and refreshments available

www.kcangus.co.nz

A/c M ROSACKER 230 Aerodrome Road, Dannevirke Saturday 14th May 2022 10:30am start. BBQ supplied by Fonterra Donations in support of Rural Support COMPRISING: 110hp Kubota, MX FEL with euro hitch & bucket, 4200hrs – 18 tyne Aitchison direct drill – tandem axle Giltrap center feed silage wagon. Fully refurbished with brand new reinforced chassis – 2.8 Maxium mower with wilter kit (2021) – 2.8 Maxium mower (refurbished) – tipper tractor trailer homebuilt – 3m redback roller drill with hydraulic road wheels – tow behind fert spreader for tractor 2t – feeder leader 3pt linkage bail feeder – 3pt linkage 3m tandem discs – 3m giant discs – 3m Cambridge roller – levelling bar homemade – tractor spray unit homebuilt – hooper 3m harrow – Rata quick hitch with hydraulic ram – Rata silage grab – Hustler soft hands – Rata forks – walk over teat sprayer with FIL auto mixing unit – Ensol split fuel bowser, 1200L split bowser – Suzuki Escudo 4wd auto farm hack – Ag 100 motor bike – C-Dax duster – fiberglass palm kernel trailer x2 – calf trailer homebuilt – car trailer homebuilt with removable crate. Fully galv dipped – 40 teat Stallion trailer calfateria – 26 teat Stallion trailer calfateria – 2x large donut calf feeders – 4x meal feeders – variety of milkbar calf feeders, 5-10 teat – 4x calf shed troughs – 2000L SS tank with stirrer & fittings to be plumbed into milk line – 1200L plastic milk storage tank – multiple electric reels – multiple electric fence standards – 4x Gallagher portable solar units – hip lifters – calving pulley – rubber mats for 30 aside hb – cow shed fridge – bike sprayer – multiple smaller holdings of farm gear & tools. PAYMENT/TERMS: GST exclusive Eftpos, Internet banking, or cash

VIEW OUR CATALOGUE AT

Thursday 12 May 11.00am

We will be offering approx:

On Farm: Rice Road, Te Awamutu A/C Krippner Properties • 210 XBred Incalf Cows BW 184, PW 236, RA 99% BW’s up to 299, PW’s up to 477

• 600 Mixed Age Cows

Monday 23rd May, 7.00pm

For further enquiries, please contact your local PGG Wrightson livestock representative.

A/C MJ & J Dickson - TeAwamutu

Thursday 12th May, 11.30am Feilding Saleyard Complex.

• 75 XBred Incalf Heifers BW 226, PW 277 BW’s up to 290, PW’s up to 350

FEILDING WEANER FAIR

• 60 Rising 1yr XBred Heifers BW 252, PW 286

Feilding Saleyards Complex.

Due to change in farming direction the herd including heifers has come up for auction. (Haven’t been offered for sale in paddock) An outstanding Xbred herd is calving from 15th July to LIC bulls for 6 weeks, tailed off Hereford bulls. Bulls out 28th December. Cows consistently produce around 440 MS, SCC ave 180,000, Cows still in milk. Incalf Heifers are calving from 15th July to Jsy bulls. Bulls out 25th December.

Dean Evans 027 223 1092 John Elworthy 027 227 8902

MASTERTON COW SALE

Thursday 19 May, 11.30am th

Ricky Alabaster Family Trust Taihape • 300 Ang & Ang/Hfd Steers • 300 Ang & Ang/Hfd Heifers

• 50 R3 Angus Heifers

• 100 Ang & Ang/Hfd Steers • 100 Ang & Ang/Hfd Heifers A/C Hardrock Station Tapuae • 70 Angus Steers • 70 Angus Heifers A/C A & K Coogan Taihape • 35 CharX Steers • 35 CharXHeifers Further Enquiries: Maurice Stewart 0272 469 255 A/C Devane Brothers Taihape • 100 Ang & Ang/Hfd Steers

A/C A & A Coogan Taihape • 40 Ang & Ang/Hfd Steers Riini Trust Taihape • 40 Char Steers Further Enquiries: Gareth Williams 0275 264 613

• 40 M/A Angus cows Valdor Station • 40 R4 Angus Heifers Further enquiries to: Andrew Jennings 027 594 6820

Heifer/Herd Details: 16 Heifers contract mated 2021 & 2022.

Over 50% weigh over 500kgs - weights in catalogue. BWs to 404 average BW 265. 3-digit herd code.

Heifers scanned and those holding to AI identified as accurately as possible.

Further Enquiries: Phil Transom 0274 420 060

A/C McFadzean Cattle Company Glenburn Station

• 2 Rising 3yr Lineback cows

A/C Carey Alabaster Family Trust & Cross Keys Taihape

Masterton Saleyards.

• 100 M/A Angus Cows

Comprising: • 48 In-calf Friesian & XBred heifers BW 265 PW 260

Calving from 10/7/22 to AI then tailed with DNA profiled high BW XBred bulls.

• 100 Ang & Ang/Hfd Heifers

Comprising Approx: 500 VIC cows An exceptional line up of Wairarapa Capital Stock Cows on offer. Patuna, Martinborough

HIGH INDEX QUALITY INCALF HEIFER SALE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY BIDR ONLINE SALE ONLY

Heifers Suitable for Breeding

Wednesday 18 May, 11.30am th

Other

All these cattle are late born hill country steers & heifers out of the Taihape & Northern Manawatu Region. Last chance to buy quality weaners.

A2 tested. Closed herd with heifers grazed on run-offs. Herd production: 520 Ms/cow 1400 ms/ha All animal health vaccines done.

The herd has been farmed by the Dickson family for over 60 years who have endeavored to breed a medium sized capacious cow that is extremely quiet with very good dairy conformation. Murray says there are many strong maternal lines/families within the herd that the AI companies have liked resulting in numerous bulls been selected. A 50% share-milker has been employed for next season, so the herd has been sold to a local farming enterprise who know the herd well. This is a unique opportunity to buy top genetics from genuine farmers that will give your breeding program a boost. Payment 14 days from sale date. Delivery immediate unless prior arrangement made. Catalogues available on AgOnline or phone the auctioneers for a hard copy.

Contact: Murray & Julie Dickson (Vendors) 021 790 840 Andrew Reyland (PGW) 027 223 7092 Watch and Bid from anywhere. For more info visit www.bidr.co.nz

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

Helping grow the country

Farmers Weekly advertising deadlines have changed All deadlines are now 24 hours earlier

ENQUIRIES: VENDOR: Mark Rosacker 027 405 5196

For advertising deadlines please go to farmersweekly.co.nz/s/advertising LK0111649©

CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENT: Phill Robson 027 442 4059 or Sam Arends 027 343 3529

FEILDING COW SALE

Herd TB C10, EBL Free, BVD neg, Lepto Vacc. Payment 14 days from sale date. Delivery immediate unless prior arrangement made. Catalogues available on www.agonline.co.nz

FARM MACHINERY & PLANT CLEARING SALE

Sheep

OUTSTANDING XBRED HERD & REPLACEMENT HEIFERS th

2022 ON-FARM BULL SALE

Cattle

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

Or contact 0800 85 25 80 for further information

fed. • Young replacement stock also available FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022 Livestock Noticeboard

livestock@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

Outstanding genetics & potential to be one of Jersey heifer calves leading suppliers of Genetics to Need tothe countries Replacement the dairy industry for years to )come. Full details mooooove ( 15 for sale stock?available. July/August born, BW ave 254 PW 259, good type, from highly stocked

LONGVIEW

Vaughan Vujcich 027 496 8706

BEEF SHORTHORN “Meating the requirements of the future Beef Industry”

profile available. Northland. $900 plus GST May delivery Enquiries toherd, the sole marketing agents:

www.longviewshorthorns.co.nz

Advertise your stock in Farmers Weekly.

ANNUAL ON-FARM AUCTION

& Hybrid Livestreamed Friday 20 May 2022 – 1pm 705 MANGAKARETU ROAD, RD2, KERIKERI

Gary Falkner Jersey Marketing Service PH: 027 482 8771 or 07 846 4491 LK0111475©

Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions

Contact Javier: 06 323 0761 / 027 602 4925 livestock@globalhq.co.nz farmersweekly.co.nz

BULL WALK - Thursday 19th May 2022 9.00-9.30am

11.25-11.55am

1.10-1.40pm

3.05-3.35pm

9.55-10.25am

Willie & Angela Falloon

Neil, Joan, Rod & Sam Kjestrup

Joe & Lea, Shaun & Fi Fouhy

Tapiri Angus Pinebank Rob & Lucy Thorneycroft Angus

Shane & Dot Dromgool 021 0295 2030 Email: s.d.dromgool@actrix.co.nz Neil Miller 027 497 3492 Bruce Orr 027 492 2122 Neville Clark 027 598 6537 Carrfields Livestock

All enquiries to: Brian Robinson Brian RobinsonLivestock BRLLLtd PH: 0272 410051 or 07 Ph 0272 4108583132 051

Te Whanga Angus

Cam Heggie 027 501 8182 Vaughan Vujcich 027 496 8706 PGG Wrightson

Jason Coffey, Paddy, Sarah & Rob Borthwick

10.40-11.10am

Dandaloo Angus

KayJay Stud Glanworth Angus Angus

12.05-12.35pm

1.50-2.20pm

having lunch please phone: Joan 06 3722838 or email: centralwaiangus@xtra.co.nz

Keith & Gae Higgins

Light lunch provided at Gladstone Inn Gladstone Inn – If intending

Oregon Angus

e m o c l e w All

OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LIVESTOCK AGENT

Angus & Trish Thomson

PGG Wrightson John Grifﬁth & Co Ltd Carrﬁelds CR Nelson Ltd Kiwi Livestock Ltd Ed Wallace Livestock Absolute Livestock Steve Wilkinson John Griffith Chris McBride Craig Nelson Ray Spencer Ed Wallace Brian Grant 0275 94 5110 0274 83 6679 0275 65 1145 021 457 127 021 544 791 027 272 2843 027 4315 348

BEEFGEN is currently purchasing animals for live export for late July delivery: 2021 Holstein Friesian Heifers

KAIMOA

(preference given to A2/A2 heifers)

2021 Angus Heifers 2021 Simmental Heifers JW©

JW111595©

BEEFGEN : Brian Pearson : 021 0907 1688 BEEFGEN Office : 06 927 7154

1775 MANGAONE VALLEY ROAD EKETAHUNA

Mark, Anthony and Di Eagle ‘Chessfield’ 1775 Mangaone Valley Rd Eketahuna p: 06 376 8256 m: 0274 347 152 e: eagleeketahuna@xtra.co.nz

Please contact your local agent for further information.

BEEFGEN : Jess Crow : 022 074 1210

On Farm Sale Monday, 23rd May 2022 - 1.30pm

MORTON SHORTHORNS

Contact Javier:

0800 85 25 80 livestock@globalhq.co.nz

Kaimoa South Devons have pleasure in putting forward 20 Bulls in 2022 Kaimoa South Devons have the biggest selection of polled South Devon bulls in New Zealand. Our mission is to produce polled only bulls. In addition, we are committed to producing meaty bulls with good constitution and excellent temperament.

THURSDAY 19 May 2022

Storth Oaks

Thursday 19th May @ 1pm.

ANGUS Beef By Genetics...

Any enquiries contact Ken Morton • Ph: (07) 552 0815

NEW website - check it out storthoaks.com

Email: mortons76@xtra.co.nz Facebook.com/mortonshorthorns

Bull sale: 1st June, 1 pm

Craig Morton • Ph: 021 520 244

Going Going Gone!you to th Welcomes

Monday 23

BULL SALE th

Come and see us at our sale on

Livestock advertising?

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – May 9, 2022

HEREFORD HEIFER & COW HERD Dispersal Private Sale Bloodline ex Mount View Polled Hereford Stud, Oropi Tauranga, Est 1940s. 6x R3 & 5x R4. $1,500 each Calving 20/9/2023 to 31/10/2023. Vet PT dates available. R3s have had calves. BVD free & vac. C10. Contact: Joe (CM) Hodge – 027 280 6747 Benneydale

livestock@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

UPCOMING AUCTIONS

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

KAIRURU

TUESDAY 11 MAY 6pm

POLLED HEREFORDS

Link Livestock Jersey Pride Sale

LK111616©

THURSDAY 12 MAY 11am 11am

31ST ANNUAL SALE

JUNE - 1PM at Kairuru,8 Reporoa (m

Brookview Genetics ‘Black Friday’ Ayrshire & Holstein Friesian Sale

ON A/C: BEAULY TRUST Ongarue - Ngakonui Road, Taumarunui (Signposted from Ongarue turnoff & Main Nth H/Way)

12pm

Ruaview Simmental and Angus Sale

Regular Livestream coverage of five North Island Saleyards Head to bidr.co.nz to find out more.

JW111579©

FARM CLEARING SALE

THURSDAY 19 MAY

26th March a In conjunction

MONDAY 16, TUESDAY 17 MAY

11.30am Montrose Ayrshire Dispersal Sale

SINCE 1979

ON FARM

Allandale & Kuku Jerseys 2022 Annual Autumn Sale Cross Bred Herd and Replacement Heifer Sale- A/C Krippner Properties

FRIDAY 13 MAY 11am

with BIDR

28 R2YR BULLS 3 R1YR BULLS

KEVIN & JANE Mc McDONALD (REPOROA) 07 333 8068 • 027 451 0640 JEFF & NICOLA McDONALD McDONALD 021 510 351 • kairuruNZ@gmail.com

Saturday 21st May 2022 3500 Sheep - To be sold at 10am

1000 x 2th Rom/Growbulk Ewes (Feb. Shorn) 900 x 4th Rom/Growbulk Ewes (Dec. Shorn) 800 x 6th Romney Ewes (Dec. Shorn) 800 x 4Yr Romney Ewes (Dec. Shorn) All the flock are run with Coopworth Growbulk Rams Flock Avg Scanning last 5 Yrs 166%

Farm Machinery & Sundries to be sold at 11am Eftpos Available LK0111548©

Terms stricktly cash or on A/c with NZ Farmers Livestock Contact: Alan Hiscox 027 442 8434

DAIRY

BULL PLAN BUY NOW AND PAY NOTHING UP FRONT

OPAWA SIMMENTALS 18 Bulls and 39 in calf Commercial Heifers

Friday 20th May 2022 at 1.30pm

MONTROSE AYRSHIRES 2 Day Dispersal Sale Online Auction

A/c Montrose Ayrshires Andrew Garshaw & Alicia McPike

260 Rutherford Rd, Albury, South Canterbury

ONLINE AUCTION Monday 16th May 2022 & Tuesday 17th May 2022 Auction starts at 11:30am online www.bidr.co.nz

13 in-calf R2yr heifers 13 heifer calves

COMPRISING: Day one – 16th May 95 Ayrshire MA Cows Day two – 17th May 25 Ayrshire Rising one-year heifers

RSEY & JERSEY RD DETAILS:

Registered Polled Herefords

This herd only comes to the market as our vendors are unable to secure a new share milking position. These truly outstanding Ayrshire cattle are part of a 270 cow herd of which the Friesian portion is also for sale in the paddock. The cows are due to calve from the end of July to Ayrshire AB and were tailed with Wagyu and Hereford, with bulls out 14/1/22. The in-calf heifers were run with unrecorded Jersey bulls from 18/10/22 until 10/1/22. Cows have been pregnancy diagnosed through the herd test milk samples and the heifers were scanned in calf. All carry a 28 day in calf warranty from sale day. All cattle are in very good condition, quiet, fully recorded and transferable.

67 RA 100% ds for NZ )

KEVIN & JANE McDONALD

LIC for 2011 matings 6-7-12, 6.5 weeks

FLEXIBLE FINANCE SOLUTION

cows after non s & 5% rejection n 347kgs ms/cow, rolling to steeper palm kernel or maize

• Buy bulls now and pay nothing up front, with the balance due 20th Sept 2022 • Fixed administration fee of $60+gst/head payable on settlement • Ability to sell your cull cows or other livestock to offset the balance due

Pre-sale inspection is welcomed by contacting our vendors Alicia 021 233 1310 or Andrew 021 271 2345 Or by contacting our selling agents

also available

3132

OR Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd 027 241 0051 b.robinson1@xtra.co.nz

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

ON-FARM SALE 973 Troopers Road, Te Kuiti 30th May 1.30PM OPEN DAY

16th May 10am-2pm

eting agents:

Est. 2003

SERVICE BULL AUCTIONS / PADDOCK SALES

tential to be one of DELIVERY/PAYMENT TERMS: iers of Genetics to with payment due Immediate delivery 20th October o come. Full details 2022 CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENT: Karl Chitham 027 207 4767 karl.chitham@carrfields.co.nz

KIA 07 333TOA 8068 CHAROLAIS

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz or www.ayrshire.org.nz 6 4491

Contact the Onestock team or your local Carrfields livestock representative

0800 223 070

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

Subject to Bull Power Plan Terms and Conditions

35 Bulls On Offer | Homozygous Polled Bulls Available Contact Paul 027 209 1959

Kia Toa Charolais

MARKET SNAPSHOT

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Mel Croad

Suz Bremner

Reece Brick

Fiona Quarrie

Hayley O’Driscoll

Caitlin Pemberton

Deer

Sheep

Cattle BEEF

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.95

5.25

NI lamb (17kg)

8.30

7.00

NI Stag (60kg)

7.95

5.35

NI Bull (300kg)

5.90

5.15

NI mutton (20kg)

5.75

5.50

SI Stag (60kg)

8.00

5.35

NI Cow (200kg)

3.80

3.85

3.50

SI lamb (17kg)

8.20

8.15

6.70

SI Steer (300kg)

5.80

4.65

SI mutton (20kg)

5.55

5.50

5.25

SI Bull (300kg)

5.65

4.60

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.55

3.15

UK CKT lamb leg

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

12.72

12.67

8.18

US domestic 90CL cow

9.39

9.24

7.58

North Island steer slaughter price

$/kg CW

7.0

5.0

7.0

5.0

10.0 South Island lamb slaughter price

10.0 $/kg CW

South Island steer slaughter price

5.5

6.0 5.0

7.0

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2020-21

Jun

5-yr ave

2020-21

Aug 2021-22

Dairy

Feb

Apr

2.51

Last year

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Urea

1205

672

373

319

1420

990

37 micron ewe

Super

30 micron lamb

2.30

DAP

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT 600

9.50

550

9.00

$/tonne

$/kg MS

10.00

8.50 8.00 7.50

500 450 400

Apr-21

Jun-21

Aug-21 Oct-21 Sept. 2021

350

Dec-21 Feb-22 Apr-22 Sept. 2022

Apr-21

Jun-21

Aug-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Feb-22

Apr-22

YTD High

YTD Low

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

6.04

33.4

30.12

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

4.65

4.97

4.55

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.41

7.885

7.41

Mainfreight Limited

87.6

94.4

87.6

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.485

4.6

4.42

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

5.945

6.36

5.905

Ebos Group Limited

39.1

43.13

38.5

Contact Energy Limited

7.82

8.15

7.7

Infratil Limited

8.05

8.34

Fletcher Building Limited

7.12

7.44

7.07

Listed Agri Shares

5pm, close of market, Wednesday

Company

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Aug 2021-22

2.36

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

7.00

Jun

2020-21

Fertiliser

Aug 2021-22

Last week 2 weeks ago

Coarse xbred ind. Jun

Dec

FERTILISER

(NZ$/kg)

4.5 Apr

Oct

5-yr ave

WOOL

5.0

Feb

7.0

8.0

6.0

Dec

8.0

9.0

5.0

Oct

9.0

6.0

6.5

4.0

South Island stag slaughter price

11.0

5.5

7.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

8.0 6.0

6.0

4.5

9.0

6.5

5.0

$/kg CW

North Island lamb slaughter price

10.0

Last year

10.0

11.28

$/kg CW

10.15

$/kg CW

10.19

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

Export markets (NZ$/kg) US imported 95CL bull

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Sara Hilhorst

Ingrid Usherwood

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

YTD High

YTD Low

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.23

0.27

0.215

The a2 Milk Company Limited

4.68

6.39

4.61

Comvita Limited

3.38

3.78

3.22

12.45

14.45

12.18 2.8

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

600

WMP

3710

4020

4615

550

Delegat Group Limited Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

2.9

3.78

SMP

4180

4290

4650

500

Foley Wines Limited

1.56

1.57

1.4

Greenfern Industries Limited

0.107

0.25

0.106

$/tonne

Last price*

AMF

5850

6550

6770

Butter

5725

6450

6650

400

Milk Price

9.30

9.42

9.66

350

450

Apr-21

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Aug-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Feb-22

Apr-22

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

1.66

1.73

1.3

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.215

0.26

0.21

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

0.27

1.38

0.25

PGG Wrightson Limited

4.21

5.76

3.93

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.39

0.53

0.37

Sanford Limited (NS)

4.47

5.07

4.38

Scales Corporation Limited

4.85

5.59

4.71

Seeka Limited

5.17

5.36

4.99

5000

550

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

3.37

3.54

3.12

4000

T&G Global Limited

2.9

3.01

2.77

500

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

3000

$/tonne

US$/t

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Jun-21

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2000 1000 0 May

450

Aug

Sep 4 weeks ago

Oct

14293

12633

2809.66

3178.66

2809.53

S&P/NZX 10 Index

11298

12725

11255

400 350

Jun Jul Latest price

12633

S&P/NZX 50 Index

300

Apr-21

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Jun-21

Aug-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Feb-22

Apr-22

12633

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

0000

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

0000

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

Analyst intel

WEATHER

Overview A cold front that pushed over the South Island yesterday moves over the North Island today coming in from the southwest. Meanwhile, the South Island starts to get a southerly quarter airflow moving in which spreads to the North Island overnight. Tuesday we see southerlies dying out over the South Island as high pressure pushes in, further north there is a southeasterly airflow. Wednesday continues the theme of high pressure for the South Island, southeasterlies further north. The high expands over all of the country on Thursday and remains in place on Friday. Saturday a cold front lines up the South Island, reaching the North Island on Sunday, but by then it looks to have weakened.

14-day outlook We start this week with some frontal activity coming in from the southwest. Tuesday and especially Wednesday sees an anticyclone move in from the Tasman Sea to start calming things down, but with high pressure comes the risk of frosts where skies are clear and winds light the night before. Thursday and Friday are settled, a cold front moves onto the South Island on Saturday with some rain especially out west, but this front looks to weaken by the time it moves further north. Early next week sees westerlies, some rain for the West Coast but dry elsewhere.

Haley O’Driscoll haley.odriscoll@globalhq.co.nz

Highlights

05/05/2022

Wind

No overly strong winds in the pipeline for most of this week. Southerly quarter winds on Tuesday may be a bit gusty for coastal parts of the North Island though. Saturday may see strong northwesterlies for the South Island ahead of a front.

Source: NIWA Data

7-day rainfall forecast

Temperature Temperatures will start to cool down today about the far south as a southerly airflow kicks in, these cooler temperatures gradually spreading northwards. Tuesday will feel cool apart from the upper North Island. Temperatures gradually climb as we get closer to the weekend.

Highlights/ Extremes

100

Rainfall accumulation over seven days from May 8 to May 15. Forecast generated at 12am on Thursday, May 5.

200

400

A cold front moving over the country today brings in some wet weather, which will be welcome in certain spots. Conditions progressively ease and settle down as high pressure starts to nudge in from tomorrow, but then that brings a frost risk.

Weather brought to you in partnership with WeatherWatch.co.nz

WHILE China’s demand for beef is unlikely to have changed, the logistics of getting product into China is the problem due to port congestion. NZ beef exporters rely on the strength of the Chinese market to provide competition and support prices. Although there are reports of congestion at US ports, there are no longer virus restrictions in place, and it is easier to move product there. Without the competition from China, US buyers can use this to reduce prices given it’s also our peak cull cow killing season. News reports suggest that Brazil is still sending a large amount of beef to the US (despite the quota being reached and a tariff applied) to avoid the congestion issues associated with sending product to China. The ample supply and lack of competition has been driving US imported beef prices down. Last week the US imported 90CL price indicator was US$2.92/lb, which has come down from a high of US$3.02/lb in early March. Countering the lower prices however is a decline in the NZ dollar (NZD). News that Beijing could follow in Shanghai’s footsteps, the current war in Ukraine and global growth concerns has shifted the risk appetite for investors/ market participants towards safer currencies such as the US dollar. This has caused a drop in the NZD and the NZD:USD fell to a low of around 0.645 last week. News reports a fortnight ago that Beijing, with a population of more than 20 million, is carrying out mass covid testing across most of the city, caused a major reaction in global markets on concerns of subsequent lockdowns that could take place. Following the news, the benchmark CSI 300 stock index (a gauge of the Chinese stock market) closed at its lowest level in

two years, the Chinese yuan plummeted, and the price of oil fell on fears of a drop in demand from China. The Peoples Bank of China is taking action to try and prop-up the economy, however, it seems to be with little success. China’s economy recovered quickly after its initial lockdowns in 2020 as the rest of the world moved to online shopping (with Chinese manufactured goods in high demand) and the flow of capital into the country supported the Chinese yuan against its trading partner currencies. This new wave of lockdowns and the impact to China’s economy which will ripple around the globe has caused capital to flow out of China and the yuan to drop to its lowest level in 17 months. The major supply chain disruptions caused by lockdowns in Shanghai (that began last month) continue to be felt around the globe and it seems there will be no relief anytime soon. The congestion at the Shanghai port has resulted in inventories being stuck in transit and is causing a global container shortage. It’s reported that the wait time for imported containers to be picked up and delivered at Shanghai port has almost tripled since the end of March, waiting on average 12.1 days. The congestion has now spread to other Chinese ports, including Shenzhen, as there have been a large number of shipments rerouted from Shanghai port.

News that Beijing could follow in Shanghai’s footsteps, the current war in Ukraine and global growth concerns has shifted the risk appetite for investors/market participants towards safer currencies such as the US dollar.

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Soil Moisture

A front then southerly quarter airflow moves over New Zealand today, some rain for western regions, while spits or showers can be expected in the east. Largely dry Tuesday and Wednesday, but there are a few showers in the east as southerlies ease. Thursday and Friday are dry for most. A front moves in bringing rain for the South Island on Saturday, especially in the west, only a few showers reach the North Island on Sunday.

Port congestion in China hampers beef market

SALE YARD WRAP

Normality returns to the yards It felt like some normality returned to the sale yards last week as the usual calendar resumed, albeit with the distraction of opening weekend approaching. Wellsford missed two store cattle sales due to public holidays, but more than made up for it with a 900-head yarding. Buyers were pleased to be back in the rostrum too and were ready to fill up paddocks after rain and subsequent grass growth. Results across the yarding were steady to firm. Fairs have now moved to selling in-calf cows and heifers. This heralds the end of the 2022 beef weaner fair and calf sale season; one that was up on 2021 results, but was heavily dictated by soil moisture levels and pasture growth. NORTHLAND Wellsford store cattle • R3 Hereford-Friesian and Angus-Friesian steers, 537-563kg, earned $2.80-$2.86/kg • Quality R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 342-381kg, strengthened to $3.06-$3.07/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 144-147kg, improved to $550$570 Throughput increased to just over 900-head at WELLSFORD last Monday following a fortnight with no sales due to holiday observances. The balance of better R2 steers, 333-498kg, returned $2.86-$2.92/kg and the next cut, $2.71-$2.81/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 342-427kg, managed $2.74-$2.87/kg and Hereford-dairy, 393-415kg, $2.58-$2.68/kg. Weaner Angus-cross steers, 240-257kg, earned $740-$760 and Hereford-Friesian, 131-238kg, $600$785. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 204kg, pushed to $680 with 119kg at $495. Speckle Park-cross, 210-215kg, realised $550$650. Read more in your LivestockEye.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Good Angus and Hereford weaner steers traded at $3.00/kg to $3.34/kg, $730-$880 • Good store steers earned $2.58/kg to $3.05/kg, $1025-$1325 • Boner cows sold at $1.65/kg to $2.02/kg, $790-$1220 A good bench of buyers competed for quality cattle at PUKEKOHE on Saturday, April 30. Prime steers earned $2.93-$2.98/kg, $1915-$1940 and medium prime heifers $2.77-$2.81/kg, $1350-$1420. Good weaner beef heifers earned $600-$680 while smaller beef and medium whiteface achieved $470-$560.

COUNTIES Tuakau sheep and cattle • Prime Angus steers, 720kg, made $3.01/kg • Hereford-Friesian steers, 435kg, fetched $3.03/kg • Hereford-Friesian heifers, 402kg, managed $2.62/kg • Heavy prime lambs returned $160-$174 Prime steer prices firmed by around 5c/kg at TUAKAU last Wednesday, PGG Wrightson agent Craig Reiche reported. Heavy steers made $2.94-$3.01/kg, medium $2.80-$2.94/kg and light, $2.69-$2.80/kg. The 350-head yarding included a good line-up of beef heifers, heavy types earned $2.75-$2.90/kg, medium, $2.70-$2.75/kg and light, $2.60-$2.70/kg. In the boner section well-conditioned Friesian cows managed $1.25/kg to $1.48/kg and lightmedium options, $0.70/kg to $1.25/kg. Light-medium prime lambs traded at $128-$151 on Monday, and stores, $109-$122. Heavy ewes realised $148-$175 and medium, $105-$148.About 550 cattle were yarded at the store sale on April 28, including 460kg Angus-cross steers at $2.80/kg and 250kg Hereford-Friesian, $770. Friesian steers, 390-450kg, fetched $2.34-$2.35/kg and 442kg red whiteface heifers, $2.59/kg.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle 3.5 • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 390-406kg, held at $2.89-$2.94/kg • Weaner Angus steers, 208-281kg, fetched $745-$1010, $3.58$3.70/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 513-592kg, softened to $1.29-$1.47/kg PGG Wrightson presented just under 600 store cattle at FRANKTON last Tuesday. Better R2 steers, 485-500kg, earned $2.84-$2.88/kg with the next cut, 385-465kg, at $2.73-$2.82/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 310-451kg, traded at a softer $2.47/kg to $2.69/kg. Weaners made up over half of the store pens. Angus-Hereford steers, 262kg, returned $810, $3.09/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 139162kg, were well-contested at $465-$540. Friesian bulls, 149-201kg, sold to per head budgets at $500-$610. Boner cows dominated the prime section and second cuts, 405560kg, earned $1.01/kg to $1.23/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Frankton cattle 4.5 • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 395-439kg, held at $2.84-$2.87/kg • R2 Friesian bulls, 343kg, pushed to $3.18/kg • Weaner Angus steers, 230-232kg, reached $800-$810, $3.48$3.49/kg Close to 500 store cattle were offered by New Zealand Farmers Livestock at FRANKTON last Wednesday. The balance of R2 steers traded from $2.43/kg to $2.69/kg. Better Hereford-Friesian and Angus-Friesian heifers, 399-426kg, eased to $2.58-$2.62/kg. Weaners provided over half of the offering. Angus steers, 186-198kg, fetched $3.28-$3.38/kg and Hereford-Friesian, 101-192kg, $3.56$3.70/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 142-176kg, managed $3.20-$3.30/kg. Boner cows filled the prime pens. Top 590kg Friesian held at $1.42/kg though the bulk of the balance, 472-537kg, had to settle for $1.17/kg to $1.31/kg. A single pen of prime 433kg Hereford-Friesian heifers softened to $2.66/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. PGG Wrightson Frankton feeder calf • Top Hereford-Friesian bulls weighed 50-70kg and reached $355 A good number of buyers were on the rails for the PGG Wrightson feeder calf sale at FRANKTON last Tuesday, though shopping lists were quickly filled and most calves traded on a softer market. Medium to good Friesian bulls earned $40-$100. Most medium to good Hereford-Friesian traded at $160-$290 with small at $120-$150. Medium to good Hereford-Friesian heifers returned $120-$190 and small, $40-$90. Good crossbred bulls managed $130-$180 with small heifer and bulls at $10-$50.

KING COUNTRY Te Kuiti cattle • Run-with-bull and vetted-in-calf cows realised $705-$850 • Weaner Hereford-Friesian and Angus steers traded at $615-$650 • Good weaner Simmental-cross heifers earned $645 Around 370 cattle were offered at TE KUITI on Friday, April 29 and were well met by local and Taumarunui buyers. Heavy empty cows made $2.03-$2.10/kg and medium types $1.97/kg. Better R2 steers earned $2.97-$3.05/kg. The top end of R2 heifers fetched $2.57/kg and the next cut $2.30$2.39/kg. Te Kuiti sheep Heavy prime ewes earned $143-$150 Heavy store wether lambs made $150.50 and medium $130-$139 Store ewe lambs traded at $110-$123 The best of the prime lambs made $185-$194 at TE KUITI last Wednesday while medium traded at $166-$178 and lighter types, $140-$146. Medium prime ewes returned $120-$143 and light, $96. Good quality capital stock 6-tooth to 4-year Romney ewes, run-with a Poll Dorset ram, earned $170-$180.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Heaviest R2 Hereford-Friesian and Murray Grey-Friesian steers made $2.83/kg • Top weaner Angus steers, 212kg, fetched $740 • Hereford-Friesian cows with autumn-born calves-at-foot realised $1320 Throughput increased for both prime and store cattle at RANGIURU last Tuesday, but demand couldn’t match it. R2 steers with better breeding and weights held while Hereford-Friesian, 392-453kg, were discounted at $2.65$2.71/kg. Hereford-Friesian and Angus-cross heifers, 415458kg, collected $2.53-$2.56/kg. Angus and well-marked Hereford-Friesian weaner steers made reasonable returns, but other weaners lacked quality. Prime steers, 510-642kg, earned $2.55-$2.68/kg and most local trade heifers realised $2.57-$2.62/kg. The bulk of Friesian cows traded from $1.00/kg to $1.20/kg. Top store lambs collected $150 and $174 for primes. Read more in your LivestockEye.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero cattle • R2 Angus steers, 490-505kg, made $2.96-$2.98/kg, $1450-$1505 • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 390-395kg, sold for $2.76-$2.83/kg • Weaner traditional steers above 250kg traded at $905-$910 • Weaner traditional heifers, 200-235kg, fetched $600-$625 There was a bit of everything on offer at the MATAWHERO cattle sale last Tuesday. Weights were heavier in the R3 pens which pushed per head values for steers upwards to $1500-$1690 and heavy exotic, $1400. R2 heifers sold in a wide range though the best were Angus-Hereford, 355kg, at $2.96/kg. Traditional mixed-age cows and R3 heifers, vetted-in-calf to Angus, shifted for $1050-$1385. Read more in your LivestockEye.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle • Lighter R2 steers eased to $2.30/kg to $2.60/kg • Boner cows lifted to an average of $1.54/kg and better types fetched $1.53/kg to $1.69/kg There was a smaller yarding of 241 mixed-quality store cattle on offer at TARANAKI last Wednesday. Good cattle continued to sell on a solid market. The top end of the R2 steers consisted of 382-510kg Hereford-Friesian and Hereford-Limousin which sold on par with the previous week at $2.80-$2.89kg. R2 Hereford and Friesian heifers, 420-490kg, sold well at $2.53-$2.57/kg and the next cut of beef-cross around 350-390kg held at $2.23/kg to $2.42/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge in-calf and adult cattle; store sheep • South Devon cows, vetted-in-calf to South Devon, sold for $1585$1610 • R2 South Devon heifers, 449-495kg, sold well at $2.96-$2.97/kg • Capital stock 2-tooth Romney ewes, run-with Romney, made $230-$250 • Good cryptorchid lambs held at $142-$159 • Good ewe lambs came back to $125-$140 Breeding stock due to a farm sale were a big feature of both sections of the STORTFORD LODGE sale last Wednesday. Mixed-age Romney ewes sold well at $200$220. Male lambs held and wethers sold for $135-$142 and most ram lambs, $136-$158. The ewe lamb market eased, and medium types sold for $95-$125. In-calf Angus cows sold for $1220-$1410 and R2 Angus heifers, $1100. Dry cows consistently made $1.82-$1.91/kg while R2 Angus steers, 421-430kg, firmed to $3.18-$3.26/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Stortford Lodge prime sheep • Very heavy mixed-age ewes fetched $171-$177 • Good mixed-age ewes earned $137-$143 • Heavy to very heavy male and cryptorchid lambs realised $165$216 • Heavy to very heavy mixed-sex lambs earned $165-$190 A larger ewe tally of 1138-head was penned at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday following a fortnight break due to holiday observances. They met with good buyer interest. Very good to heavy mixed-age ewes traded at $146-$163 and light-medium to medium, $110-$126.50. Lamb numbers also increased with 310 presented and most had plenty of size. Good to heavy ram lambs earned $147$182 and same condition mixed-sex, $122-$155. A small number of ewe lambs were offered and in heavy to very heavy condition they earned $151-$195. Read more in your LivestockEye.

MANAWATŪ Feilding store cattle and sheep 29.4 • R3 Angus steers, 470-485kg, made $3.15-$3.25/kg • Autumn-born yearling Hereford-Friesian bulls, 320kg, were $3.20/ kg • R2 Charolais-cross heifers, 400kg, sold for $3.05/kg

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle, all sheep • Prime beef and dairy-beef cows above 550kg reached $1.88$1.92/kg • Top prime heifers lifted to $2.80-$2.86/kg and the next cut $2.70$2.78/kg • Top Corriedale-blackface store lambs fetched $169 There was a large yarding of prime cattle at TEMUKA last Monday. Good demand helped boner Friesian cows lift an average of 4c/kg with most $1.34-$1.45/kg. Most prime steers traded from $2.70/kg to $2.90/kg regardless of breed, though good prime beef and beef-cross steers, 637-665kg, lifted to $2.92-$3.00/kg. A small but strong buying gallery followed the sale of 6100 store lambs with a preference for quality, sexed lines. The market lifted again and top cryptorchid Coopdale sold for $150-$157. Medium mixedsex Perendale made $126. Prime markets held with lambs above $200 while top ewes fetched $227. Read more in your LivestockEye.

LAST CALVES: The Canterbury Park calf sale season finished up with a high country section, with nearly 1300 mainly traditional calves penned in the big undercover complex.

• Store male lambs averaged $147 A little more than 1000 store cattle met a softer market at FEILDING on Friday, April 29. R3 traditional steers, 520675kg, were $3.00-$3.05/kg while a consignment of 475605kg Angus-Friesian made $2.75-$2.85/kg. Bigger lines of R2 Angus and Charolais-cross steers sold for $3.25-$3.30/kg but almost everything else maxed out at $3/kg. R2 dairybeef heifers made $2.55-$2.60/kg at 315-445kg. A large line of 165kg weaner Friesian bulls sold for $550, $3.35/kg while 155-195kg Belgian Blue-Friesian steers were $3.40/ kg. There were 14,500 mainly good quality store lambs sold and heavier and lighter cuts firmed. Heavy males returned $160-$172.50, good lines $145-$155, medium $130-$145 and light, $115-$125. Good ewe lambs sold for $135-$145, medium $125-$135 and light usually $115-$125. Read more in your LivestockEye. Feilding prime cattle and sheep • Friesian cows, 668kg, fetched $1.45/kg • Top lambs collected $200 Throughput increased in the sheep pens at FEILDING last Monday as vendors tested the market post-holiday season. It was unchanged as heavy types traded upwards of $186 and most others realised $161 or better. The ewe sale was very similar to last week as the top pen made $164 and the bulk of the remainder over $122. Returns for boner cows held and $1.25-$1.37/kg covered almost all but the heaviest. Dairy-beef steers, 551-645kg, earned $2.80-$2.83/kg and an Angus-Hereford heifer, 525kg, secured $2.72/kg. Beef cows traded at $1.41-$1.51/ kg. Limited buyers attended the feeder calf sale and good Friesian bulls returned $150-$160 and $200-$300 for Hereford-Friesian. Read more in your LivestockEye. Rongotea cattle • R3 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 640-730kg, made $2.30-$2.38/kg • R2 Hereford heifers, 500kg, earned $2.74/kg • R2 Friesian bulls, 355-430kg, fetched $2.51/kg to $2.68kg • Boner Friesian cows, 481-554kg, sold at $1.31-$1.39/kg • Good beef-cross feeder bull calves achieved $300-$365 A larger yarding of heavier cattle came forward at RONGOTEA last Tuesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Better R2 steers sold at $2.62-$2.73/kg, and 360-507kg Hereford-Friesian heifers $2.38/kg to $2.68/kg. The top end of weaner steers traded at $550-$590, bulls $530-$620 and heifers $510-$715. Feilding weaner fair • Weaner Hereford bulls, 175-220kg, made $700-$780, $4.00-$4.05/ kg

• Traditional weaner steers averaged $860, 230kg • Traditional weaner heifers averaged $645, 210kg A little over 1000 weaners sold at FEILDING last Thursday. Heavier traditional steers were tough going and 245kg plus were usually $900-$1030, $3.50-$3.70/kg, but it picked up on the next cuts down to 195kg which typically made $720-$855, $3.65-$3.85/kg and occasionally more for large lines. For the heifers, all breeds were mainly $670$760, $2.70-$2.90/kg at 230kg plus, moving to $635-$700, $3.05-$3.25/kg for 200-220kg while some larger Angus and Hereford lines at 165-195kg made $3.30-$3.50/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • Charolais heifers, 615kg, fetched $2.77/kg • R2 Angus heifers, 340kg, made $2.65/kg • Very heavy male lambs collected $206 Throughput lifted at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday for all sections and so did the quality of prime steers. Traditional types over 600kg mostly earned $2.83-$2.96/kg while similarly weighted dairy-beef realised $2.70-$2.78/kg. Beef heifers over 500kg traded at $2.66-$2.70/kg and local trade types were heavily discounted at $2.40-$2.50/kg due to space restrictions. R3 steers typically collected $2.80$2.94/kg and R2 Murray Grey-cross, 409kg, made $2.83/kg. Prime lambs sold on a steady market and two-thirds of the ewes traded at $125-$157. Of the 1717 store lambs, many were very good types and made $134-$149. Sex-drafted and shorn pens received a premium. Read more in your LivestockEye. Canterbury Park high country calf sale • Top traditional steers weighed 300-315kg and sold for $955$1060 • Two heavy lines of Angus heifers made $900-$920, $2.84-$2.95/ kg Nearly 1300 calves were offered at CANTERBURY PARK last Thursday for the final instalment of calf sales. High country calves were yarded and the mainly traditional line-up were a credit to vendors. Steers at 220kg and better sold from $850 to $980 with top lines able to reach $3.75$3.85/kg. Any lines below 220kg could not hit $800 and from 180kg sold for $650-$790. Lighter types sold down to $530. Most of the bigger lines of traditional heifers weighed 180-220kg and sold for $565-$720 to vary from $3.00/kg to $3.35/kg. Three lines of Charolais heifers, 197-242kg, sold for $620-$770. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Temuka store cattle • R2 Angus-Hereford steers, 474kg, collected $3.01/kg • R2 Charolais-cross heifers, 415kg, fetched $2.80/kg A large yarding of cattle sold on a softer market at TEMUKA on Thursday, April 29 due to a small gallery. R2 steers gathered the most interest and beef types realised $2.85/kg or more for better lines and a second tier made $2.63-$2.70/kg. Better marked and weighted HerefordFriesian traded at $2.73-$2.87/kg and the heifers, $2.40$2.50/kg. R2 Pitt Island beef heifers sold on a soft market at $2.23-$2.38/kg. Interest in calves was limited and HerefordFriesian steers, 180-231kg, collected $495-$590 while heifers earned $390-$495 for weights of 174-206kg. Friesian bulls were mostly under 200kg and those 166-179kg made $450-$505. Read more in your LivestockEye. Temuka in-calf beef cattle sale • Top R2 Angus heifers to an Angus bull reached $1380-$1480 • Top cow price was $1210 for a line of Angus and Angus-Hereford to an Angus bull The special sales wound up with 500 in-calf beef heifers and cows at TEMUKA last Thursday. Heifers made good returns though most cows traded below the $2.00/kg mark. Capital stock Angus heifers and cows from a Mount Nessing property were a big feature and the Angus-Hereford heifers reached $1400-$1430 to trade up to $3.18-$3.29/kg. Most of the annual draft cows from the same consignment made $1060-$1120 and $960-$1100 was common across the rest of the section. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUTHLAND Lorneville cattle and sheep • Heavy prime ewes made $150-$196, medium $120-$146 and light $90-$112 • Heavy local trade rams earned $80-$90 with lighter types $40-$70 • Boner cows achieved $1.20-$1.24/kg • R2 Hereford-cross steers, 421kg, made $2.47/kg and Murray Grey bulls, 393kg, $2.63/kg Heavy prime lambs made $154-$189 at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday with medium at $130-$143 and light $121-$127. In the store pens, top lambs traded at $110-$125, medium $95-$105 and light $80-$94. Prime steers above 500kg sold at $2.70-$2.80/kg and 460kg heifers, $2.60-$2.70/kg.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A change in printing deadlines means Farmers Weekly is unable to publish sale reports for late Thursday and Friday sales. Instead we will report on the previous week’s sale. AgriHQ, however, creates a suite of LivestockEye reports that you can subscribe to that provide detailed results at selected sale yards and are delivered to your email inbox hours after the sale. For enquiries please visit agrihq.co.nz

REPORTS SO ACCURATE, EVEN THE LIVESTOCK TAKE NOTICE.

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0800 85 25 80 info@agrihq.co.nz www.agrihq.co.nz

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Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 9, 2022 NI STEER

SI STEER

NI LAMB

($/KG)

5.95

5.80

TWO-YEAR BEEF-FRIESIAN HEIFERS, 385KG, AT TARANAKI ($/KG LW)

8.30

2.89

high $140-$179 prime lambs at lights Most Canterbury Park

$2.58-$2.69 R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 390-450kg, at Frankton

Commercial cows in keen demand ACROSS THE RAILS Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

COMMERCIAL herd Holstein Friesian and Friesian-cross cows sold briskly to a top price of $3500 (twice) during the change of calving season sale of The Parks (O’Brien Group) at Bulls. Most of the cows made prices in the range of $2200 to $3000 and almost all lots found buyers in the million-dollar sale. The offering was 420 Friesian and Friesian-cross cows from two- to seven-year-olds, all VIC and calving from late July to the end of September. The sale group had a BW of 102 and cows are producing an average of 400kg MS a season on sandy country in a large herd environment. The Geddes family at Tahora Holsteins, Christchurch, made a top price of $30,000 for Tahora Octane Love, purchased by Karen Fitzgerald, Feilding. Tahora offered 70 cattle, consisting of 30 in-calf cows, 30 in-calf rising two-year-ol heifers and 10 rushing one-year-old heifers. The sale average price was $9486, the highest of the dairy sale season so far.

Most of the cows made prices in the range of $2200 to $3000 and almost all lots found buyers in the million-dollar sale.

Octane Love was born in April 2018 and in her second milking season of 305 days produced over 10,000 litres and 732kg MS. She was Intermediate Holstein and All-breeds Champion at the Canterbury show in 2021. The Kauri Gold Jersey cow sale for several vendors in the Dargaville district of Northland produced a top price of $6100 for the McClean family for Pukenui Dexter’s Tracey, a rising two-yearold heifer. The Chitty family also sold Lochnoor Con Daybreaker, a rising four-year-old for $6000. For Trilogy Genetics at Eltham the Holstein Friesian cows and in-calf heifers averaged $3200 and had top prices of $8800, $7900 and $7200. Top price was paid for Rangeview Franc Heidi, a rising three-year-old with one season of milking figures that included 418kg MS over 242 days. In the Jersey section of the sale 117 cows were offered and only two passed in. The best prices on the day were $8700 and $8600 for cows from the Thornwood family line. Top price was for Thornwood Hoss Faye, a rising three-year-old that produced 389kg MS in only 228 days of lactation. The average for Jerseys was $2850. On the third day of the Trilogy sale the top price was $6000 paid for R3yo Holstein Friesian Rangeview Plume Lucky. Three breeds of in-calf heifers and yearling heifers were sold for a sale average around $2000 over 75 lots. A late-notice dispersal of over 500 crossbred cows and incalf heifers for Graze Cows Ltd produced prices between $1000 and $3000. Cruse Livestock sold 155 crossbred in-milk cows at the Cambridge sale yard for prices between $1500 and $2750.

CREAM OF THE CROP: Tahora Octane Love, a four-year-old champion cow, made $30,000 in the Tahora Farms sale.

ON ITS OWN: Sophie Geddes takes a moment with the sole Speckle Park heifer to sell.

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