Farmers Weekly NZ January 11 2021

6 B+LNZ expects a drop in exports Vol 20 No 1, January 11, 2021

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Hail hits SI growers hard Colin Williscroft

F

colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz

RUIT and hop growers in parts of the South Island are counting the cost of wild weather since Christmas, with the bill expected to run into millions of dollars.

What’s been described as the biggest hailstorm to hit the Motueka area in living memory decimated some kiwifruit and apple crops in the region. Further south, heavy and persistent rain is predicted to have a similar impact on the Central Otago cherry harvest.

Motueka kiwifruit and apple orchardist Evan Heywood says no one in the area can remember a hail storm like the one that hit on Boxing Day. He says orchards around Motueka and through to Lower Moutere bore the brunt of the weather, with the effect of pea to marble-sized hail stones that fell for more than half-an-hour made much worse by strong winds.

“I was half expecting the roofs on outbuildings to peel off. It (the hail) was coming in horizontally,” Heywood said.

He says Zespri representatives have visited the area since and it looks like 2.1 million trays of the area’s expected harvest of four million trays have been lost, which is around 7200 tonnes of fruit.

He says it’s still too early to give an accurate number on the effect on the area’s apple crop, but from what he has heard from growers who supply his company’s packhouse, losses range from 50 to 100% of expected production.

Tasman hop growers also suffered.

Mac Hops director Brent McGlashen was one who was hardest hit.

McGlashen, whose home farm is on the outskirts of Motueka, with another block in Lower Moutere, says it is hard to put an exact figure on the amount of damage done to his crop but he will be lucky if he manages to harvest half the volume he had been expecting to.

Switching winds from the north and south during the storm blew the hailstones from alternating directions, shredding his crop.

“It was basically like a serrated knife,” he says, with some areas stripped completely bare.

He says the financial impact of the storm will slow future investment by growers in the area and its effects will be widespread.

Downstream businesses like trucking companies, electricians and those involved in irrigation would also be affected.

“Those sprockets in behind the pedal, they’ll take a hit too,” he said.

Central Otago cherry growers are yet to count the final cost of persistent and extended rain in the area during the past fortnight, but it’s going to be significant.

Cherries are the area’s biggest export earner, bringing in about $84 million in the 2017-18 year and more than $66m the following year.

Too much rain causes cherries to swell and split, making the fruit unsellable.

Fourth generation Cromwell orchardist Simon Webb says he’s had a third of his average annual rainfall in the past fortnight.

“That’s caused a lot of damage

although the degree of it varies,” he said.

Some cherry growers he has spoken to have lost between half of the fruit in some of the blocks to complete crop write-offs in others.

“A lot of blocks have just been walked away from, which is mentally very hard but you’ve got to keep going and try and salvage what you can.

“It’s been tough. We’ve had to deal with worries around finding workers and organising transport (for export fruit) and now we’ve had the weather.”

He says there are still a lot of cherries to come off trees and it won’t be until growers get in and have a closer look in the next few days that they will have a better idea of what the total cost could be.

One long-standing grower Webb has spoken to said he can’t remember rain in the area like it since 1992 – and there’s a lot more cherries today so the financial impact will be greater.

Webb says it’s not uncommon for rain to take out a week of the cherry harvest, but the latest rainfall has hit varieties that are not due for harvest for another two or three weeks.

While the areas hardest hit by weather have been around Cromwell and through to Earnscleugh, fruit growers right down to Roxburgh have also been affected.

As well as cherries, he’s expecting the apricot harvest in the area to suffer to some extent.

Like McGlashen, Webb says it’s not just growers who will feel the pain, with staff, downstream businesses and future investment in the industry also expected to take a hit.

DAMAGE: Marble-sized hailstones shredded Brent McGlashen’s hop crop near Motueka on Boxing Day. Photos: Brent McGlashen

NEWS

13 Work smarter, not harder A near-fatal accident completely changed Owen Gullery’s approach to life and farming. Now, he’s alerting other farmers to the dangers of fatigue and burnout.

REGULARS Newsmaker ��������������������������������������������������� 16 New Thinking ����������������������������������������������� 17 Editorial ������������������������������������������������������� 18

16 Lifetime’s work wins top award Long-time soil scientist Dr Stewart Ledgard received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Science New Zeala

Pulpit ������������������������������������������������������������� 19 Opinion ��������������������������������������������������������� 20 World �������������������������������������������������������������� 22 Real Estate ���������������������������������������������� 23-24 Tech & Toys ���������������������������������������������������� 25 Employment ������������������������������������������������� 25 Classifieds ����������������������������������������������������� 26 Livestock ������������������������������������������������������� 27 Weather ��������������������������������������������������������� 29

8 Pressure on Canada over quotas 11 A2 Milk, Synlait cut forecasts A parting shot from Donald Trump at Canada’s failure to live up to its commitment to open up its dairy markets is being welcomed by exporters here who have similar gripes with the Canadians.

The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) lost 15% of its share price over the holiday period when it revised forecasts for the 2021 financial year because of continuing doubts around the daigou trade in infant formula.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

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Winter grazing consent workshopped Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz A MANAWATU dairy farmer who took part in a recent trial of intensive winter grazing application processes is encouraging farmers to work with regional councils as much as possible to find workable solutions to comply with the new regulations.

Last month Horizons Regional Council hosted a mock consenting trial for the proposed intensive winter grazing consenting application processes that will be necessary under new regulations in the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater.

Intensive winter grazing means grazing livestock on an annual forage crop at any time from the start of May to end September of the same year.

The intensive winter grazing regulations come into effect this year and consent applications, if required, will need to be lodged before October 31.

Horizons rural advisor Ian McNab says the workshop was a culmination of consent process work undertaken over five weeks by landowners, Horizons and industry groups. It was held to gather feedback from all involved.

“The purpose of the mock consenting process was to ensure that next year when consents will be required, Horizons has the information needed to create a realistic consenting process,” McNab said.

“Those who attended were pleased to see Horizons working proactively to find realistic solutions, while recognising that these new regulations will affect people’s livelihoods.”

He says the workshop aimed to identify issues and information gaps in the preparation and processing of consent applications in advance of the regulations coming into effect in May. Further workshops may be held and

IMMINENT: New intensive winter grazing regulations come into effect this year. consultation will be ongoing over the coming months.

“This is just the start of us working alongside affected parties and partners for these processes,” he said.

Ashhurst dairy farmer Richard Ridd and his wife Wendy took part in the workshop, which Ridd says was a worthwhile experience.

Before taking part they were considering not winter grazing in the future, despite the practice being an important part of their farming system, not just from a financial perspective but also because of the environmental outcomes it achieves.

He says during winter they winter their cows on 2-3% of their farming platform, leaving the rest of the property stock-free during the most high-risk period of the year.

They mitigate the risk by using a feed pad.

The approach is the most effective tool to manage their heavy soil type over challenging winters.

Ridd says while he can only comment on his own farming

situation, and the regulations will have a much greater impact on others, it was refreshing to talk with council staff and hear what he says is a genuine collaborative and proactive approach to finding solutions.

A Horizons-built risk assessment tool was successfully used and

Those who attended were pleased to see Horizons working proactively to find realistic solutions.

Ian McNab Horizons discussed during the workshop.

The tool, developed by Horizons’ rural advice team, helps identify inherent risks within the cropped area of a paddock. The tool classifies paddocks as low, medium or high risk for intensive winter grazing, depending on the presence of critical

source areas, waterways, slope, erosion susceptibility, drainage characteristics and stock class.

Ridd, along with DairyNZ engagement leader Adam Duker, his milk supply manager and a farm consultant, went around every paddock on the farm with the tool, which he says helped to assess environmental impacts on different parts of the farm.

He says many farmers do that sort of thing anyway, but the tool helped with the thought processes involved.

Ridd, who is a member of the farmer group Acre (Agricultural Communities Respecting the Environment) was pleased to discover during the workshop that farmers could do a lot of the work required for the consenting process themselves, rather than have to pay a consultant to do the whole job.

However, he says consultants will still be needed for some aspects of the process, which will be another cost that farmers will have to absorb, along with the consent application cost itself.

Horizons senior consents

planner Sara Westcott says the council recognises the need to work cohesively with farmers and industry.

She says information gathered for intensive winter grazing consents could be included in farm plans, which would be most effective when used as living documents to help make farm management decisions, which ensure environmental effects are appropriately avoided, remedied or mitigated, while still allowing flexibility for farmers.

“This is something we are continuing to explore with other regional councils,” Westcott said.

Sheep and beef, dairy and deer farms were used for the mock consenting process and multiple industry groups were present at the workshop, including DairyNZ, Federated Farmers, Open Country Dairy, Deer Industry NZ, Fish & Game, AgFirst, the Ministry for the Environment, Beef + Lamb NZ, Ravensdown, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Otago Regional Council and Southland Regional Council.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

Deal softens lamb export ‘nightmare’ Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com MEAT exporters believe they sidestepped a “nightmare scenario” in the British lamb market, which very likely would have had negative consequences for New Zealand’s other international markets after the United Kingdom and the European Union struck a lastminute trade deal.

On Christmas Eve, the UK and the EU agreed to continue tarifffree trade in goods when the UK left the EU customs union on January 1.

That would have had an impact in terms of displacing NZ product and would have had an impact on the price for lamb not just in the UK market, but would have triggered impacts internationally.

Sirma Karapeeva MIA

That means Britain’s sheep meat exports to the EU will continue tariff-free rather than facing the 50% tariffs had the UK and the EU not been able to strike a deal before the end of 2020.

Meat Industry Association (MIA) chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said such high EU tariffs, had they eventuated, would have sparked a meltdown in the UK domestic market compared to the firm prices NZ exporters are currently enjoying.

“A nightmare is probably a fair way to describe that scenario because so much of the UK’s lamb production is exported to the EU, and particularly to France,” Karapeeeva said.

“Under a no-deal scenario that product would have stayed at home.

“That would have had an impact in terms of displacing NZ product and would have had an impact on the price for lamb not just in the UK market, but would have triggered impacts internationally.”

Karapeeva said a potentially dire situation for NZ exporters in the UK market would have been made worse by quota changes which went ahead on January 1 as planned.

NZ exporters now face tariffs on sheepmeat exports once they reach 114,000 tonnes in both the

EU and the UK for the year.

That compares to an annual tariff-free allocation of 228,000t across both British and continental markets under previous quota arrangements.

“Combining that situation with the quota split would have meant the ability for us to shift a chunk of product into the EU would have been constrained,” she said.

“We would have been hit on two fronts.”

NZ continues to protest the quota changes, which it says flouts World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules which state trade deals should leave no country worse off.

The EU-UK trade deal also means a whole new layer of paperwork and checks at the border for EU and UK exporters.

While NZ exporters can continue to use existing EU export certificates for the UK till the middle of the year as a result of an agreement struck last year between the NZ and UK governments, there had been concern fresh red tape for UK and EU exporters could have led to major snarl-ups at their borders from January 1.

In particular there were worries the deepwater port of Felixstowe, where most of NZ’s meat exports are unloaded, could have been

CLOSE CALL: Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the EU-UK trade deal has saved NZ lamb exporters from being impacted on two fronts as new sheepmeat export tariffs come into effect. jammed up if major congestion at the port of Dover had led to vessels being diverted there.

But Karapeeva said NZ meat exporters had reported no major new delays.

“I am not getting phone calls from companies panicking because their product is sitting on the wharves, but then again I don’t really expect there to be a lot of NZ product sitting on the wharves at this time, given where we are at in the season,” she said.

Meat exporter Anzco’s general manager of sales and marketing Rick Walker said while his company was experiencing delays in getting products to UK customers on time, they were mostly due to disruption to international shipping schedules caused by the pandemic rather than any congestion from new EU-UK border procedures.

“It certainly has not helped, but there are bigger factors at play in terms of the global supply chain which is leading to massive delays moving into the UK port system,” Walker said.

Rival exporter Alliance Group’s general manager of sales Shane Kingston said his company had not experienced major Brexitrelated delays to date.

“There is congestion within the UK supply chain, but that is more on the land transport side because of the combination of covid and road haulage delays into Europe in advance of Christmas … but we are not experiencing any of that,” Kingston said.

“Our freight through Felixstowe and London Gateway ports is moving smoothly.”

Kingston said demand from food service customers had taken a knock following British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement of stricter lockdown rules on January 5, but that had been offset by increased demand from UK supermarkets which were traditionally the biggest buyer of NZ lamb.

Benchmark UK imported leg prices remained on a par with last year and were not far off their fiveyear average.

Brexit clears way for NZ negotiations Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com EXPORTERS fed up with the dismal agricultural market access offers made by the European Union in two-and-a-half years of trade talks with New Zealand say there should be no more excuses now that it has sorted out its future

trading relationship with the United Kingdom.

The EU and NZ wrapped up the ninth round of negotiations in early December without a revised offer from the Europeans on agricultural market access.

The EU’s previous offer – which insiders say offers very little if any improvement on current access

to European consumer markets – had been previously dismissed by NZ negotiators.

Former special agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen says the Europeans have been using the uncertainty surrounding the postBrexit trading relationship with the UK as a fig leaf for their miniscule market access offer in their talks

TIME IS UP: Former special agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen says post-Brexit, now is the time for the EU and UK to start making offers that would align with their rhetoric about NZ being a favoured country and wanting to work with us in international trade.

with NZ since they began in 2018.

“Until they agreed on some sort of deal, we were not going to get any offers that were satisfactory because, to be fair, they did not know what the situation was going to be between themselves,” Peterson said.

“And I sort of had some sympathy for that point of view.”

But after years of trying, negotiators from the EU and the UK on Christmas Eve finally clinched a deal allowing free trade in goods to continue between the pair after the UK left the EU customs union on January 1.

Petersen said that removes the road block in talks between NZ and the EU, and also in NZ’s talks with the UK, which are at a much earlier stage.

“There are now no excuses for Europe and the UK to live up to their claims and to start making some offers that would align with their rhetoric about NZ being a favoured country and wanting to work with us in international trade,” he said.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva agreed.

“Everyone had wanted to finish it in a very short time frame and use that to highlight how the EU is able to negotiate high quality free trade agreements when this started two-and-a-half years ago,” Karapeeva said.

“I would certainly now expect the EU to pull up their socks and get to the negotiating table fairly smartly to take a serious look at this negotiation now that that the major stumbling block that was Brexit has been cleared away.”

Before the 1,246 page trade agreement can formally be adopted the UK and the remaining 27 member states of the EU must ratify the document through their parliaments.

While that could take some time, Petersen said the EU can’t use that as an excuse for further delaying improving its agricultural market access offer in its talks with NZ. “There is enough certainty now,” he said.

“The European Commission wouldn’t have gone and agreed to what was put together without having confidence that it would be signed off by member states.

“We cannot wait for everything to happen in the world before we start talking seriously about a deal.

“A deal with NZ is long overdue because we are literally among a handful of countries in the world that does not have a deal with Europe … there are no excuses left.”

The tenth round of negotiations between the EU and NZ is due to begin later this month.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

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QualityNZ key to India market Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE covid-19 pandemic has been a glitch, but Alliance Group remains confident demand for red meat will make India the next China.

Chief executive David Surveyor told about 50 shareholders at the co-operative’s annual meeting in Invercargill last month, that while

Alliance is already an established exporter of red meat to India, its 10% stake in QualityNZ was a long-term investment in a market with enormous potential.

“QualityNZ opens the door, the opportunity to position product at the very high-end of the market,” Surveyor said.

“We’re making the investment not so much for the current

generation but for future generations.”

The other shareholders in QualityNZ are former New Zealand cricketers Stephen Fleming, Brendon McCallum and Daniel Vettori.

Shareholders were also told that although Alliance is a member of the Strong Wool Action Group (SWAG), it is working on its own

projects to find new uses for the fibre.

Surveyor declined to reveal details but says it is looking at unconventional uses such as whether wool can be turned into an edible form.

Earlier Alliance announced a $27.4 million profit before provisions and tax for the year to September 30, 2020.

With provisions of $19.9m to resolve the historic worker’s claim, that reduced the profit to $7.5m.

Chair Murray Taggart says the underlying profit was the best in at least 10 years.

Despite the challenging year, operating cashflow was a healthy $50m and turnover a record $1.8 billion.

QualityNZ opens the door, the opportunity to position product at the very high-end of the market.

David Surveyor Alliance Group

ADDRESS: Alliance Group chief executive David Surveyor addresses shareholders at the co-operative’s annual meeting in Invercargill on December 17.

He says Alliance faced four significant challenges during the year; a major price correction in China prior to Christmas, flooding in February which forced the closure of the Mataura plant, covid-19 impacting the Chinese market and then the virus creating a global pandemic.

“If ever there was a year when Alliance had to step up, this was it,” he said.

Taggart says they did.

Mataura was expected to be closed for a month after the flooding, but through the efforts of staff and contractors, killing resumed nine days later.

He was especially proud of the response of staff to the covid-19 pandemic.

From meat workers accommodating social distancing requirements, to sales and marketing staff finding new formats and markets, Taggart says everyone responded to the challenge.

Surveyor says earlier investment paid off during the covid-19 induced shutdown, enabling the business to be run remotely, while careful management of inventory meant year-end levels were at acceptable levels.

Alliance spent $45m in capital expenditure in the year under review and plans to invest a further $100m in the coming years on its two Southland plants, Lorneville and Mataura.

Resource consents are being renewed for Mataura but Surveyor says before such investment is made, Alliance needs certainty that consent terms were for a period that justified such expenditure.

Surveyor says discussions were progressing well with Environment Southland.

Asked by a shareholder whether Alliance is too reliant on markets in China, Surveyor says that was less so now, given the way the company responded to covid-19 by changing product formats and product diverted to new markets.

Russell Drummond, a Southland supplier representative since 2014, lost his seat on the board to Pat McEvedy, a sheep breeder, finisher and intensive arable farmer from Southbridge in Canterbury.

It was McEvedy’s second attempt to join the board, standing unsuccessfully last year against Taggart.

A chartered fellow of the Institute of Directors, McEvedy is a former councillor of the Selwyn District Council and on the Central Plains Water Trust.

Dawn Sangster, a director since 2011 and up for re-election, was returned and announced this would be her last term.

“It’s alright to talk“

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

B+LNZ expects a drop in exports Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz DESPITE the challenges of widespread drought and covid-19 processing restrictions, sheep farmers have recorded a remarkable lambing performance for 2020.

But because of the retention of sheep to rebuild breeding stock numbers and the followon impacts of the drought, the season’s lamb and sheep export volumes are expected to be significantly impacted.

This is the finding of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Lamb Crop Outlook report for 2020.

The report measures the lambing performance and forecasts lamb and sheep exports for 2021.

The near-record 2020 lambing percentage at 130.3% is just slightly lower than spring 2019 when 131% was achieved.

“Despite the challenges of 2020, sheep farmers demonstrated why they are the world’s best,” B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor said.

“Their resilience and the agility of their farming systems has meant they’ve performed outstandingly.

“This should be a real point of pride for our sector.”

B+LNZ’s Economic Service estimates the number of lambs

tailed in spring 2020 decreased by 357,000, or 1.5%, in the previous spring to 22.9 million lambs.

Most of the decline occurred in the North Island due to drought conditions.

While the average lambing percentage is slightly lower, it is noted that 2019 was a highperforming season.

The total number of lambs in the South Island increased 189,000, or 1.6%, to 12.1m.

Otago was the major driver of the lift in the south, recording a total lamb crop increase of 3.9%.

The number of lambs tailed in the North Island was down 546,000, or 4.8%, to 10.8m lambs.

Restricted feed supplies at mating resulted in lower pregnancy rates when scanning was completed.

The severity of the impact of the autumn drought on the lamb crop was partially offset by the ideal climatic conditions at lambing.

The most severe impact was on the East Coast where the total lamb crop for the region was down 10%.

The number of lambs from ewe hoggets also fell, as fewer ewe hoggets were mated and conception rates were adversely impacted by drought, particularly in the North Island.

The average lambing percentage was 130.3%, 0.7

percentage points lower than in spring 2019.

This means 130 lambs were born per hundred ewes, compared with an average of 124 over the previous 10 years.

The lower number of lambs tailed is expected to reduce the number of lambs processed for export in the first quarter of the 2020-21 season.

The total number of lambs processed for export in the 202021 season is forecast to fall by 4.5% from 19.1m in 2019-20 to 18.2m.

The amount of lamb produced is predicted to be down 4.7% because of the combination of fewer lambs and a slightly lower average carcase weight.

Restricted feed supplies at mating resulted in lower pregnancy rates when scanning was completed.

It is anticipated the number of adult sheep processed in the 2020-21 season will drop 10.8% from 3.5 million in 2019-20 to 3.2 million.

UP AND DOWN: The near-record 2020 lambing percentage is not expected to lead to an increase in lamb export volumes.

Photo: Annette Scott The sharp fall is driven by a 16.3% decline in the North Island as sheep farmers recover after the number of breeding ewes sold in 2020 was higher than expected because of drought.

From a market perspective early season pricing has been warmly received by farmers.

While there is uncertainty related to international economic conditions, the ongoing impact of covid-19 and shipping logistics, the underlying fundamentals remain solid according to B+LNZ’s new season outlook for 2020-21.

The average export values are

expected to be supported by the positive market fundamentals with strong underlying demand for meat, and meat from safe and natural farming sources like NZ. McIvor says prices are forecast at similar levels, or slightly above, five-year averages.

B+LNZ’s Economic Service lamb crop survey takes in farmers in its Sheep and Beef Farm Survey that covers a statistically representative sample of over 500 commercial sheep and beef farms.

The lamb crop 2020 report is available on the B+LNZ website.

Have a say on workforce education, training The Reform of Vocational Education is creating a strong, unified and sustainable vocational education system that delivers the skills learners, employers and communities need to thrive today and into the future.

Tim Fowler Tertiary Education Commission

FEEDBACK is being sought on foundation documents for a new primary industries workforce development council (WDC).

The Tertiary Education Commission wants to hear opinions on proposals to establish six industry-led and governed WDCs, one of which is for primary industries.

That includes feedback on each WDC’s name, the industries they

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VITAL ROLE: Tertiary Education Commission chief executive Tim Fowler says the new workforce development councils will have a significant influence on future vocational education and training.

will cover and their governance arrangements.

It’s an opportunity for industry and others interested in vocational education and training from an industry and employer perspective to have a say.

Commission chief executive Tim Fowler says the WDCs will play a vital role in helping industry set a vision for the skills and training needed for their future workforces, and will significantly influence vocational education and training.

“The Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) is creating a strong, unified and sustainable vocational education system that delivers the skills learners, employers and communities need to thrive today and into the future,” Fowler said.

“Once established, WDCs will have a forward-looking, strategic view of the future skills needs of industries across the country. They will provide industry with greater leadership across vocational education and training, something that industry has long been seeking.”

WDCs will set standards, develop qualifications and help shape the curriculum of vocational education; moderate assessments against industry standards; provide advice to the commission on investment in vocational education; and determine the appropriate mix of skills and training for the industries each WDC covers.

Over the past few months, industry-led interim establishment

boards have been engaging with their industry sectors, peak bodies, educators, Maori and iwi business and industry, to develop the draft content for each WDC proposal.

The primary industries interim establishment board is chaired

by Hinerangi Edwards, who has a background in career planning and employment.

An employer for 20 years, Edwards is actively involved in the whanau farm near Hawera and spent 12 years on the board of Parininihi ki Waitotara, Taranaki’s largest farming business.

Other interim board members are Seafood NZ standards manager Cathy Webb, former Primary ITO board member Chris Flatt, NZ Apples & Pears capability development manager Erin Simpson, DairyNZ associate strategy and investment leader Geoff Taylor, Beef + Lamb NZ chief insight officer Jeremy Baker, Open Polytechnic of NZ management executive Maori Turi Ngatai, who has 40 years’ experience in the kiwifruit industry, and Maori-owned forestry company Tane Mahuta director Wini Geddes, who was also involved in the design, development and implementation of the Learn While You Earn training model.

For more information, including how to provide feedback, go to https://wdcconsultation.tec.govt. nz/primary-industries-wdc Consultation on the WDCs will close on February 5.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

7

China’s sky-high weather goals Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz A WEATHER expert is dubious that Chinese efforts to change rainfall, snow and hail patterns would be successful here, and believes they could even deliver the Chinese outcomes far from what is intended.

Late last year Chinese authorities announced a national “weather modification” plan aimed at boosting rainfall across millions of square kilometres in a country struggling with water supplies in its pastoral and horticultural regions.

The bold plan aims to create artificial rainfall and snow over 5.5 million square kilometres, an area five times greater than the area of Western Europe. The project also aims to suppress hail over land masses larger than France.

I would be very surprised if we could do anything, but I would not put it past the Chinese to achieve it.

Philip Duncan WeatherWatch In December China’s state council declared a system would be in place by 2025, thanks to breakthroughs in research and cloud seeding technology.

China is classed as having some of the most volatile weather in the world, and is also well short on sufficient arable land to achieve food self-sufficiency.

Government concern over food security has been heightened during the covid pandemic, and reinforced by the devastating impact of African Swine Fever on its main dietary protein source.

WeatherWatch director Philip Duncan says this is not the first time Chinese authorities have tried to lever Mother Nature in their climatic favour.

“They set up the Beijing weather modification office for the 2008 summer Olympics and were shooting rockets and bullets into the clouds loaded with silver iodide to ensure a dry Olympics,” Duncan said.

The office is reported to employ 37,000 people nationally and is responsible for seeding clouds.

Conversely, efforts this time around also appear to include inducing more snowfall for 2022’s winter Olympics, also held in Beijing.

However, while the 2008 summer Olympics were dry, the practice was blamed for also precipitating a drought in Mongolia.

“It is a controversial practice. In the United States it has been used by ski-fields to bring on snowfall.

However, they had the idea you could cloud seed a hurricane to rain out at sea, but decided it could actually lead to a worse hurricane,” he said.

The effectiveness of cloud seeding is hotly debated in academic circles, with a National Academy of Science study failing to find statistically significant support for the practice.

The practice has been trialled in numerous drought challenged countries since the 1980s, with mixed success.

PLAN: China hopes to create artificial rainfall and snow over 5.5 million square kilometres using cloud seeding technology.

There has been concern the practice could in fact worsen some weather events, including causing “super hurricanes”.

A cloud seeding experiment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year resulted in flooding.

While nervous farmers in Northland and Bay of Plenty may be interested in some means of rainmaking in coming weeks, Duncan says efforts to induce rainfall artificially here were unlikely to be successful.

He says the Chinese may enjoy some level of success, given the country’s huge land mass generating a level of stability

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However, New Zealand’s relatively small landmass was surrounded by huge bodies of water that dominate our weather systems.

“In the century before last, they did try it in Otago by firing cannons into the sky, but it did not work,” he said.

Duncan says even the efforts

by Chinese may be daunted by nature’s sheer force.

“Humans are so small against the cloud systems. The clouds need to have sufficient moisture in them to begin with. You cannot take some thin, wispy cloud and

turn it into a thunderstorm,” he said.

“I would be very surprised if we could do anything, but I would not put it past the Chinese to achieve it.”

In the wake of recent damaging hail events in Marlborough, China’s desire to minimise hail risk through the practice would be shared by growers here.

However, Duncan says investment in hail protection technology, including more advanced forecasting and deployable hail protection netting would deliver a more certain return to NZ growers.

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CLOUDED JUDGMENT: Philip Duncan is not convinced Chinese efforts to induce rain and stop hail will be entirely successful.

8

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

Pressure on Canada builds over quotas Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com A PARTING shot from Donald Trump at Canada’s failure to live up to its commitment to open up its dairy markets is being welcomed by exporters here who have similar gripes with the Canadians.

Last month the departing American President’s officials initiated dispute settlement consultations over the unfair allocation of quota for dairy imports into the Canadian market.

Trump’s top trade official Robert Lighthizer said the allocations by Canadian officials favoured their own dairy processors at the expense of distributors of American dairy products and undermined the value of the quotas negotiated as part of the United States, Mexico, Canada (USMCA) trade agreement which began last July.

US dairy companies claim up to 85% of cheese quotas set aside by Canadian officials for local processors shuts them out of the market and flies in the face of the USMCA which prohibits such restrictions on imports.

New Zealand officials last August raised concerns with their Canadian counterparts over the administration of dairy import quotas created under the 12-country Comprehensive and Progressive TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade deal.

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ)’s executive director Kimberly Crewther says Trump’s complaint with the Canadians had a familiar ring to it.

“The US move to ask for consultations under USMCA to address Canadian administration of tariffrate quotas is certainly of interest and relevance for us given the high degree of similarities in obligations between that agreement and CPTPP,” she said.

The industry was bitterly disappointed at the limited amount

of new quota created for the Canadian market when the CPTPP’s predecessor agreement the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) was first agreed.

But Canada’s dishing out of quota to local processors means the actual amount filled by NZ exporters has been far short of even that.

According to the Dairy Companies Association, just 7% of Canada’s dairy quota was filled in the first year of CPTPP, while 9% was filled in the second year.

The third year’s quota fill rate is on track to be just as meagre.

“We believe Canada’s tariff-rate quota allocation and administration go some way to explain this lack of uptake,” Crewther said.

“Market access outcomes on dairy are hard fought for by NZ’s negotiating teams.

“Rules around tariff-rate quota implementation are included in free trade agreements to ensure countries do not use administration and allocation to undermine that access.

“We have a strong interest in defending the outcomes of the free trade agreements and ensuring their integrity.”

Trump’s request for dairy quota consultations is the first time the USMCA’s dispute settlement chapter has been invoked since the agreement entered into force.

Crewther said she expected the dispute to be carried on by the incoming Biden administration and for any success it had in getting the Canadians to live up to their commitments in the USMCA to be replicated in the CPTPP given the similarities between the two agreements.

“We’d expect in any case that if Canada makes changes to its USMCA quotas that such changes would be multilateralised across all their tariff-rate quotas.”

In the meantime, the industry here would continue to push Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials to raise the matter at CPTPP committees and at the World Trade Organisation.

COMMON GROUND: The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand’s executive director Kimberly Crewther says US President Donald Trump’s complaint with the Canadians had a familiar ring to it.

Dairy commodity prices off to a strong start Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz THE sustained lift in global dairy prices of 16% over the past four months has raised the possibility of a farm gate milk price for the season in the mid$7/kg range.

After the first Global Dairy Trade (GDT) event for 2021, NZX’s milk price prediction rose 9c to $7.36.

The GDT index on January 6 lifted 3.9%, the seventh gain in the past eight auctions, conducted fortnightly since early September.

Whole milk powder (WMP) was up 3.1% and skim milk powder (SMP) up 4.1%, along with anhydrous milk fat (AMF) up 5.5% and butter up 7.2%.

Analysts say demand for dairy products, especially from China, was very strong and sustained throughout the New Zealand peak milk period.

“Dairy commodity prices have been incredibly resilient throughout the pandemic and there is certainly potential for a high payout this season,” NZX dairy analyst Amy Castleton said.

She says dairy futures prices for AMF and butter jumped after the GDT results were known.

WMP futures prices were consistently around US$3300/ tonne for the forward contract periods.

In the physical market WMP has risen from $2900 to $3300 during the past four months, an increase of 14%.

The WMP price on GDT has increased by 25% since the start of the NZ dairy season, from US$2677 in June to $3304 at present.

ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown says WMP

prices were now comfortably ahead of where they were a year ago.

“The contract curve remains flat and stable, so price gains aren’t being driven by shortterm supply fears,” he said.

Milk production figures from the Dairy Companies Association of NZ showed November was down 2.7% compared with 2019, but that year-to-date was up 0.6%.

The ASB milk price forecast of $7 was steady and Fonterra could have reason to narrow its forecast range of $6.70 to $7.30, Tennent-Brown said.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

9

Call to correct ‘misleading’ stats Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE Government has been accused of using selective freshwater quality data and analysis to mislead public opinion on the true health of our waterways.

Federated Farmers says the Government’s freshwater quality analysis is so deficient and its public statements so selective that it misleads the public to believe our waterways are worse than they actually are.

Its Our Freshwater 2020 report provides examples of the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Statistics New Zealand using selective data in press statements on reports on the state of freshwater.

Federated Farmers is calling on the MfE and StatsNZ to publicly correct or clarify assertions they have made and to change their methodology.

Federated Farmers says a press release related to the 2015 Environment Aotearoa report from the MfE and StatsNZ stated water quality was declining, while headlines in the Freshwater 2020 (FW2020) document from the same agencies asserts freshwater species are in decline and freshwater habitats are degraded.

The federation’s analysis says these statements are not backed by evidence in the reports.

“From over 400 freshwater species, FW2020 reports that conservation status worsened for just one species,” the federation’s report said.

“For freshwater habitats, FW2020 reports a new habitat quality indicator showed that more than three-quarters of river sites were good or excellent and that no sites were poor.”

The report says the Government agencies acknowledged privately the comment associated with the 2015 report was not supported by evidence, but the federation says MfE never publicly acknowledged the fact and took two months to amend the press release on its website.

CLARIFY: Federated Farmers is calling on the Ministry for the Environment and StatsNZ to publicly correct or clarify assertions they have made and to change their methodology.

“It is to the discredit of the reporting agencies that the error was never publicly acknowledged, that the perception that water quality is declining persists in the public imagination and that policy initiatives, including Essential Freshwater and Resource Management Act reform, are

It is to the discredit of the reporting agencies that the error was never publicly acknowledged, that the perception that water quality is declining persists in the public imagination.

Federated Farmers

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predicated on this unfounded assumption,” the report said.

The federation’s report notes further discrepancies, such as MfE maintaining the area of wetland fell 1200ha between 2001 and 2016, but the NZ Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows it grew 3000ha between 1990 and 2017.

A further example was publicity based on selective data associated with the Government’s FW2020 document.

The federation says that statement read that most rivers in urban, farming and forestry environments were polluted because they exceeded one or more stated guidelines.

The fact that most rivers in native areas also exceeded one or more of those guidelines was ignored.

Similarly, MfE did not headline the fact that three quarters of

BRIDGES

rivers in farming areas are below E.coli guidelines.

It also believes government reports downplay the impact of trout on native fish species, and that this should be reported on.

But an MfE spokesperson says it has reviewed Federated Farmers’ claims and while acknowledging data gaps and limitations, consistent with any scientific reporting, it stands by the analysis and the key points included in its press releases.

“Our reporting shows evidence that NZ’s freshwater is impacted by urban development, farming, forestry and other human activities,” they said.

MfE says its reporting is robust, independent and rigorously checked.

“The joint MfE-StatsNZ programme has thorough processes to ensure the data

and science we report is high quality and relevant to priority environmental issues facing NZ, including its freshwater,” they said.

The federation believes pressure to meet environmental reporting timetables creates issues, such as those in the FW2020 document, which it claims “falls well short of being a robust and authoritative source of national statistics and apolitical interpretative analysis”.

“Instead FW2020 presents headlines, which are not supported by the evidence relied on, it highlights minority findings but not the majority findings, it fails to engage with the depth of data available and presents only selected and misleading statistics and graphics,” the federation’s report stated.

“It relies on pre-human benchmarks to assess contemporary state and presents a moving feast on trend analysis.

“The effect is to significantly distort public and political understanding or national state and trends.

“The concomitant risk is illtargeted and ineffective policy interventions and investments.”

Federated Farmers contends that the NZ environment is “broadly maintaining current state,” changes at the margins are relative to previous centuries and the imperative is to identify and prioritise outlying catchments that are poor or the trend is degradation.

It contends that analysis of the macro-invertebrate index, river habitat sites, deposited sediment, native fish, freshwater invertebrates and plants tell a more positive story to what is being headlined.

The federation supports a call from Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton for improved national environmental reporting and funding.

It wants future reports to break farmland down into two classes: hill country, pastoral and forestry class and a lowland rural, urban class, which will include urban, lifestyle, industry, horticulture, arable and pastoral farming.

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10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

Fonterra Australia market share drops Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

POSITIVE: Managing director Rene Dedoncker says despite a drop in market share, Fonterra Australia has the right milk volumes to run a profitable business and is on track to deliver its strategic objectives.

FONTERRA Australia’s milk market share has fallen over the past decade from 20% to about 16% of the domestic industry and the company says that is strategic and not alarming.

Managing director Rene Dedoncker says lower volumes were a result of exiting third party milk collections.

“Fonterra has decided to focus on a value-add

product mix, coupled with an unseasonal wet spring which has hampered peak milk volumes,” Dedoncker said.

“We have the right milk volumes to run a profitable business and we are on track to deliver our strategic objectives.”

Dedoncker provided the short explanation after a query about Fonterra’s 2.5% fall in milk collection this season to date compared with the 2.5% increase in milk production for the industry as a whole.

Market analyst Steve Spencer, principal of FreshAgenda in Melbourne, says Fonterra Australia retained 20% milk market share in regions such as Tasmania and southern Victoria.

But its share of the national production fell when farmer-suppliers in other regions transferred their seasonal contracts to other processors.

Dairy Australia’s current outlook is for milk production growth between 1% and 3% in 2020-21.

Feed production and weather outlooks in dairying regions are improving and fodder, grain and purchased water costs have eased.

Retail demand for at-home products used in cooking and baking increased during 2020, while demand was subdued in non-grocery channels.

“Comparatively fierce competition for milk resulted in another set of relatively firm opening farm gate milk prices in most regions, offering many farming businesses hope for financial recovery after recent challenging seasons,” Dairy Australia said in October.

Fonterra Australia opened at $6.06/kg milksolids on June 1 and promptly increased its minimum price and weighted average opening price to $6.40 a few days later in response to the market competition.

In December it paid minimum prices throughout the country of $4.73/kg milkfat and $6.62 for protein. In January those prices are scheduled to rise to $5.14 and $7.20 respectively.

Spencer says dairy processing in Australia remains very competitive and that the falling milk production has eaten into export products.

Now that domestic dairy consumption is 7075% of total production, farm gate milk prices are underpinned by revenue from higher-priced dairy products like cheese, butter and yoghurt.

Notwithstanding the loss-leading by supermarkets on fresh milks, processors are more consistently able to make higher milk price offers.

“Companies across the industry have been able to pay better and flatter milk prices while observing the industry code of conduct drawn up recently,” Spencer said.

He says the loss of market share for Fonterra Australia still stemmed from the brand damage suffered in 2015-16, when it led the way for a clawback of farmers’ payments.

Up to $5/kg was advanced but a collapse in global dairy prices prompted Fonterra to heavily reduce milk payments in the final months of the season.

Other processors did the same and inquiries were conducted on dairy industry pricing.

After Fonterra withdrew from attempts to get bigger through possible acquisitions of Warrnambool Cheese & Butter and Murray Goulburn, Canada’s largest processor, Saputo, came to dominate the Australian industry and set the pace in prices.

When he was appointed in 2017, Dedoncker said he had 1100 supply farms and seven plants to process 1.7 billion litres annually, of which 60% stayed in Australia and the rest was exported.

Dairy Australia says the 2020 season saw milk production of 8.7 billion litres from 5055 dairy farms.

That is an average of 140,000kg MS per farm, similar to New Zealand.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

11

A2 Milk and Synlait cut forecasts Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz THE a2 Milk Company (a2MC) lost 15% of its share price over the holiday period when it revised forecasts for the 2021 financial year because of continuing doubts around the daigou trade in infant formula.

Daigou trading – bulk purchasing on commission in Australia with couriering to China – has been hammered by covid-19 lockdowns and the absence of Chinese tourists and students.

“The disruption in the daigou channel has proved to be more significant and protracted than was previously anticipated,” the company said.

Travel restrictions will continue to negatively impact sales through the remainder of FY21, with limited prospect of international students and tourists during this period.

The a2 Milk Company

“Travel restrictions will continue to negatively impact sales through the remainder of FY21, with limited prospect of international students and tourists during this period.”

A2MC said on December 18 that its earlier guidance for FY21, made only a month earlier at the time of the annual meeting in November, had to be substantially revised.

Revenue in the first half-year would be down 10% to $670 million and for the full year the revenue guidance range has fallen 20%, from $1.8 to $1.9 billion, down to $1.4 to $1.55b.

These forecasts are below the FY20 outcomes of $806m in the first half-year and $1.73b for the full year.

A2MC also provided a guidance of the gross margin between 26% and 29%, compared with the previous guidance of 31% and last year’s outcome of 31.7%.

Should the lower forecasts eventuate, a2MC’s sales and results will go backwards for the first time in several years.

After the revised guidance the share price fell from $14 to $11, finishing a roller coaster year.

It began at $15, rose to $17.50 before the covid-19 lockdowns cut the price to $15 again, recovered strongly to peak at $21.50 in

August and then slid to below $12 at year-end.

Chief executive officer Geoffrey Babidge says he had been expecting a rebound in infant formula sales in the second quarter but that had not eventuated to the extent hoped.

That had to be factored into the inventories and sales prospects for the second half.

The long lockdown in Victoria was mentioned, but Babidge says the bad state of diplomatic relations between Australia and China was not a factor.

A2 milk processor and infant formula supplier Synlait Milk shared the share price pain during 2020, starting the year at $9 and ending at $5.

On December 21, Synlait revised its trading guidance in response to that of a2MC, a “strategic customer and cornerstone shareholder.”

Synlait now expects total packaged infant formula volumes to be down 35% compared with FY20.

That will cut in half forecast net profit this financial year, the company warned.

The focus was now on mitigation opportunities, including diversification, asset optimisation and prudent cost management.

EXPECTATION: Chief executive officer Geoffrey Babidge says he had been expecting a rebound in infant formula sales in the second quarter, but that had not eventuated to the extent hoped.

A2 to invest in MVM THE A2 Milk Company (a2MC) has agreed to the terms to snap up a large portion of Mataura Valley Milk (MVM) and plans to invest about $120 million in the facility during the next two-tothree years.

As previously signalled, A2MC will take 75% of the company for a total of $268.5m, based on an enterprise value of about $385m. The acquisition will be undertaken on a debt-free, cashfree basis and funded from A2 Milk’s existing cash reserves.

The deal is subject to approval from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) and completion is expected to take place on May 31.

A2MC says it expects to incur approximately $10m in transaction costs which will be a one-off expense in the current period.

As part of the acquisition process, A2MC has begun to develop a medium-term operating plan for the facility.

With the business currently producing a high proportion of commodity milk powder products, the plan is to support its transition to predominantly consumer packaged nutritional products for A2MC over the mediumterm.

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Rural land fund gets up and running Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz NEW Zealand Rural Land Company (NZRLC) has raised $75 million and listed on the stock exchange to acquire and lease out substantial South Island dairy farms already identified.

Founder and director Chris Swasbrook says the managers of the new fund would move as quickly as possible on those targeted assets, but he could not be more specific.

The capital raised was at the lower threshold of the $75m to $150m range sought.

After listing on December 21, NZRLC disclosed five substantial security holders who collectively contributed $34.5m, or 46%, of the capital raised in the initial public offering (IPO).

The fund will maintain at least 75% NZ-ownership to avoid the need for Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval for farmland purchases.

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They are United States property investors Clyde and Rena Holland, offshore entity Vaulterra Holdings and ANZ Custodial Services – all with 9.85% individually, Jarden Securities with 10.14% and the Walker Family Trust 6.6%.

The fund will maintain at least 75% NZ-ownership to avoid the need for Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval for farmland purchases.

Swasbrook says the larger security holders were either long-standing clients of his company Elevation Capital or had made applications during the equity raising.

NZRLC co-founders Richard Milsom, Hayden Dillon and Swasbrook contributed $1.25m, and Allied Farmers added a further amount to match that figure.

Allied is 50% owner of NZ Rural Land Management (NZRLM), which will manage the farm leases and advise the lessees.

NZRLC chair Rob Campbell said after the listing that the 20-plus dairy farm prospects and the values of each large farm implied that more capital would be needed later this year.

Up to 30% of net asset value debt capacity would extend the reach of the fund.

Although dairy farms were the first target, the fund would also invest in horticulture, viticulture, forestry and sheep and beef farms.

Properties would be leased to financially sound tenants and NZRLC would take no part in farming operations.

It has signalled a minimum 4.5% annual return on capital from the landlord activities.

Swasbrook added that NZRLC was ideally placed to implement the purchase and lease strategy and to deliver to share market investors reliable returns from owning rural land that had not been available from previous vehicles.

The stock (ticker NZL) listed at $1.25 a share and has traded since in a range of $1.26 to $1.28.

Meanwhile, Allied Farmers has raised $3m with a one-for-three renounceable rights offer that closed oversubscribed on December 18.

Applications were scaled back to 63.6%.

Chair Richard Perry says the directors and managers were encouraged by the show of support, including the NZRLM proposal.

“This tells us that shareholders endorse this investment and want to participate in our strategy to provide solutions to the issues facing the agricultural sector,” Perry said.

During the NZRLC IPO process Allied Farmers lifted its investment from $375,000 to $1.125m.

It also issued 4.46m 50c shares to the value of $2.23m to acquire half of NZRLM. Swasbrook has joined the Allied board but in view of the tie-ups with Elevation and NZRLC, he is not an independent director.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

13

Take a break, it’s good for business A NEAR-fatal accident completely changed Owen Gullery’s approach to life and farming. Now, he’s alerting other farmers to the dangers of fatigue and burnout.

Owen contract milks 480 cows on a dairy farm near Cambridge.

He’s been in the industry 20 years and loves “the daily challenges of farming – good and bad.”

“We’re having a good year; spring’s been kind to us in terms of weather – we’re not swimming around in mud,” Gullery said.

“Everything’s tracking along nicely, the cows are doing well, it’s a nice property and good people.”

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

However, turns out, Owen’s lucky to be farming at all.

A few years back a tractor accident almost claimed his life. It’s a moment he still vividly recalls.

“I’d only been contract milking a couple of years in Manawatu. I was your typical ‘I’m gonna take on the world’ guy, working full-on hours. I wanted to make as much money as I could and bank every cent so I could buy a farm. That drove me to work 200 to 300 days in a row without a break,” he said.

“I only had one staff member when I actually needed two, but I was trying to save money. We had young kids too. I was busy on all fronts. But I thought, ‘it’s my time.

I’m in my prime, I’ll go as hard as I can’. I was working from four in the morning til eight at night most days.”

That combination almost proved fatal.

“The night it happened I had a cow I knew would have problems calving, so I was waiting to calve her,” he said.

“I went out to check her late at night. We had a three pond effluent system and I knew she was in the paddock by the dry pond, but it was a pea soupy kind of night, with fog everywhere.

“By the time I got to her it was 11pm at night in October, and I hadn’t had a day off all year.

“I drove the tractor up the side of the pond where I thought she was, went over the bank and before I knew it, the cab was filling up with effluent. I’d driven into the wrong pond because I was so tired.

“I couldn’t get anything to open.

I ended up gasping for breath in the last couple hundred millilitres of cab space, managed to kick the back window open, grabbed the blade on the back of the tractor and hauled myself out. It was pretty scary. I ended up sitting on the bank balling my eyes out.

“I got home in shock and rang the boss to tell him his tractor was in the effluent pond, which was a strange conversation to have.

“And after that? Well, after that – a lot of things changed.”

Owen immediately employed part-time help. He took his first break of the year and scheduled two afternoons off a week from then on. The family also reset their life goals and direction.

“We changed from being prepared to go anywhere and do anything just to own a farm, to concentrating on being a stable,

secure, happy family, no matter what it meant in terms of farm ownership,” he said.

“I don’t want to sound dramatic, but that’s what happens when you see your life flash before your eyes.

“I could’ve easily not gone home that night and I never want anything like that to happen again.”

Gullery says while farm ownership and herd ownership are great goals to have, they were no longer a priority for him.

“My priority was being there for my family and staying fit and healthy, and in a good headspace,” he said.

Owen spent time reflecting on what he liked about farming life and adjusted his work-life balance accordingly.

“Farming can be hard yakka.

You’ve simply got to have downtime to stay healthy and safe. You need staff to enable that, so instead of stretching it with part-timers, we now have three full-timers, and that keeps everyone happy,” he said.

“Sure, it might cost me an extra 20 grand a year, but that’s insignificant in the scheme of your life and relationships.

“When you’re knackered, it makes everything about running your business that much harder.

But it doesn’t actually cost you that much extra to have regular time off and a life outside the farm. Why wouldn’t you pay to avoid all that stress and strain on your business?”

These days, Owen – a former front rower who loves his sport – plays tennis and cycles to keep fit and coaches kids’ rugby. He also meets up with a group of other rural guys once a week to “solve the world’s problems over a beer.”

“We love being involved in our rural and school community.

Our kids are growing up fast and there’s always plenty to keep us on our toes,” he said.

Owen recently got in touch with Farmstrong to see if his story could help other farmers avoid injury.

“In the dairy industry we often talk about cows and grass, but I reckon there’s a whole area that’s largely untapped – people’s ability to cope physically and mentally,” he said. “I think if people were in a better space, staff turnover wouldn’t be as high and properties would do better.

“I’ve learnt that spending time off-farm and remaining fit and healthy are actually very good for the business.

“That’s why Farmstrong’s invaluable, it makes it easier to discuss these things sensibly and maturely.

“The future of farming cannot be a farm owner going, ‘harden up and do the bloody job’. It has to be ‘how can we improve as a team?’

Sure, rain and fertiliser make farms tick, but fundamentally farming relies on people.”

Gullery says farming can be a

great lifestyle, but his approach was flawed.

“Prior to my accident, I probably had no more than a week off over three years,” he said.

“Looking back, I realise there were near misses and close shaves all the time. But it literally took an accident to change my thinking.

“I still think about that night all the time. That accident was 100% my fault and avoidable. That’s

why this stuff’s worth talking about.”

Farmstrong is an awardwinning rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and farming families live well to farm well. To find out what works for you and ‘lock it in’, check out our farmer-to-farmer videos, stories and tips on www. farmstrong.co.nz.

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE: Contract milker Owen Gullery with his son Ryan.

DAIRY FARM MANAGER ARE YOU A DAIRY FARM MANAGER INTERESTED IN CHANGING FROM COWS TO KIWIFRUIT? TALK TO US TODAY !!

Looking back, I realise there were near misses and close shaves all the time.

But it literally took an accident to change my thinking.

We will provide in house training and development to support your change of industry.

Call Lee Du Preez : 021 114 1827 or alternatively email your CV to lee@schort.co.nz

News

14 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

Greater focus on fresh water needed Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz ACTION taken by farmers to reduce nutrient losses over the past 20 years has worked, but it will need to accelerate if current regulatory objectives are to be met.

Research released in December by the Our Land and Water (OLAW) National Science Challenge investigated the impact on water quality of adopting better practices on dairy, sheep and beef farms.

The aim was to further understand how effective better on-farm mitigations have been so far, by comparing losses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) between 1995 and 2015, and what could be possible for water quality in 2035 if every farm in New Zealand adopted every known mitigation.

That information could be used to help farmers in degraded catchments to decide whether to continue investing in mitigation actions or consider making changes to land use or land-use intensity.

The research showed that at least 43% of NZ’s agricultural land (31% of NZ’s total land area) is in catchments that are under pressure.

The current load is twice the maximum allowable load in parts of Waikato, ManawatuWhanganui, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

If all on-farm mitigation actions were implemented by every dairy, sheep and beef farmer by 2035, it is possible for the potential N entering rivers to decrease by 34% compared to 2015.

For 96% of catchments, this will be enough to meet the national limits for dissolved inorganic N (1mg DIN/L) that were considered for inclusion in national policy earlier this year, but are not part of current policy.

Similarly, if all mitigations were implemented by every dairy, sheep and beef farmer by 2035, the potential P load entering rivers would drop by 36%, while sediment would be 66% lower.

For many catchments that would be enough to meet current water quality objectives.

The research showed that NZ rivers would be in much worse condition today if farmers had not adopted better practices between 1995 and 2015.

MANAGEMENT: Professor Richard McDowell says farmers need to know whether community expectations for fresh water quality can be met through improvements in farm practice.

Photo: Dairy Farmer Significantly more N (45%) and P (98%) would have entered rivers from dairy-farmed land during this period if farmers had not adopted better practices.

The most effective N and P mitigation practices used over the period were stock exclusion, improved effluent management and improved irrigation practices.

On sheep and beef-farmed land, 30% more sediment would have entered rivers during the same period if farmers hadn’t changed their practices.

The most effective sediment mitigation practices used over the period were planting more trees, excluding stock from waterways, and soil conservation works.

To help get a better idea of where water quality is under the most pressure – and where that pressure can be relieved by 2035 – a new interactive map has been developed.

It shows which rivers, lakes

and estuaries are under the most pressure from agriculture and whether all farmers in those areas adopting all known mitigation actions will ease the pressure.

The map allows users to zoom in to any of NZ’s catchments or regions, and swipe between two views. Swiping to the left reveals the total N load in excess of current regulatory objectives.

Swiping to the right reveals the potential for on-farm actions to reduce N loss from land to water.

OLAW chief scientist Professor Richard McDowell says knowing how important our rivers and lakes are to all New Zealanders, land stewards need to know where community expectations for water quality can be met through improvements in farm practice – and where current land uses may be unsuitable.

“Aotearoa’s freshwater quality is degraded, and in some areas much

more than others,” McDowell said.

“However, the current situation is much better than it would have been if no action was taken while the same increase in food production occurred.

He says many land managers have taken pragmatic and effective action to care for the land over the past 20 years.

“In many catchments, accelerating this work will be enough to meet current water quality objectives, particularly if land stewards plan to meet catchment objectives together,” he said.

“For other catchments, applying all known and emerging mitigations may be less pragmatic than some change in land use or land use intensity.

“This map helps New Zealanders see where meeting limits is achievable, and where limits aren’t likely to be met under existing land use.”

This map helps New Zealanders see where meeting limits is achievable, and where limits aren’t likely to be met under existing land use.

Prof Richard McDowell OLAW

Register to record farmer efforts

DOING THE WORK: Many land managers have taken pragmatic and effective action to care for the land over the past 20 years.

TO FIND out which actions work best, Our Land and Water is one year into a three-year project to create a free online tool to record efforts to improve water quality within rural catchments.

Cawthron freshwater sciences group manager Roger Young says one of the goals is to give landowners confidence to invest in the most efficient actions,

accelerating investment in catchment improvements.

The register will also give people all over NZ greater awareness of efforts under way to improve fresh water and a clearer picture of what has been achieved so far.

The tool that is ultimately developed will improve the ability to link actions on land with changes in water quality

at monitoring sites.

Information will be displayed in a way that will enable people in one catchment to make comparisons with other catchments to see what has worked elsewhere over what timeframe.

It will be presented on a catchment scale, protecting the confidentiality of individual farmers.

AginED Ag ED

#

FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U PR EN E

G

Volume 38 I January 11, 2021 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz Ewe said:

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 Nate descendants can be traced back to some of the earliest settlers on Stewart Island and Islands in the Foveaux Strait.

He is also the third generation in his family to fish the more than 200 nautical mile coastland of Southland. How would his background benefit him and his business?

2 What made Nate decide to change the way he fished and set up his own company?

3 What did Nate do that diversified his business and created more demand for him?

4 Nate talks about a number of fish species that are not well known and consequently very underrated. What are these species and their beneficial qualities that he rates so highly?

Have a go:

5 Nate and his crew use specific catching, killing and storing techniques that help maintain the quality of the fish caught.

What are the benefits of these techniques?

3 Where in NZ is Nate based?

6 Like other food production sectors consumers are keen to know where their fish are sourced from. How does Nate do this? Why do you think that people are becoming increasingly interested and concerned about where their food sources are originating from?

4 What is Nate’s business?

Send us your thoughts to:agined@globalhq.co.nz

1 Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz 2 Find and watch the OnFarmStory of Nate Smith “We can do things differently” and read the article “ They’re fishing for the future”

We asked for your definitions on what you think regenerative farming is and how it can or cannot benefit our futures. We got some really interesting responses, including this one from Linda Grammer in the West Coast.

My definition is: environmentally sustainable, organic, with agroforestry, mixed cover-cropping (not monoculture), and reduced tillage, GE/GMO free, high animal welfare standards, no toxic herbicides or insecticides (organic certified herbicides and insecticides only as needed as a final result after other thoughtful interventions) riparian fencing, Hua Parakore (pure nourishing food) A way of farming that will help reverse the damage done to our water, soil, climate and biodiversity, that benefits communities and animals, protects our beneficial insects, unique biodiversity, food sovereignty, and the public health.

We can diversify and add value to the food, fibre and timber we produce, allowing us to reduce ruminant livestock numbers, while taking advantage of the global market growth in GE/GMO free environmentally sustainable products and plant-based foods. We can build a more resilient agriculture sector, Thanks Linda! Your able to weather the oncoming GlobalHQ mug is environmental and market storms on its way! of the 21st century.

Did you know?

1 Go the AgriHQ market snapshot page 2 What was the North Island prime steer price last week?

3 How is this tracking compared to year-ago levels?

North Island lamb slaughter price ($/kg)

STRETCH YOURSELF: This graph shows the AgriHQ average North Island lamb slaughter prices.

A 2008 study in NZ estimated organic waste including food comprised 28% OF LANDFILL CONTENT.

Emissions from global food waste are estimated to be THE THIRD LARGEST SOURCE IN THE WORLD, after the United States and China, and FOUR TIMES GREATER than that produced by the aviation industry

1 How does the latest value compare to the previous year and the five-year average?

The study of 1000 NZ households by food company HelloFresh found cooked food comprised 30% OF WASTE, CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY 27% UNEATEN PRODUCE.

2 What do you think prices are likely to do this week when looking at the trends from the previous year and the five-year average?

Do you try to minimise organic waste in your household? If so, how do you do this? We would love to hear your ideas; agined@globalhq.co.nz

3 If this season follows a similar trend, in what month are we likely to see the lowest slaughter values?

Share your AginEd photos on our Farmers Weekly facebook page

FILL YA BOOTS:

Remember to use the hashtag #AginEd

1 How ow was the weather in your region over Christmas and how does it compare to a year ago when the widespread drought began?

Letters to: agined@globalhq.co.nz

2 Iff you have a look around where you live how do you think farmers are doing pasture wise? Are they needing to feed out supplementary feed to stock?

3 What weather conditions are needed to make hay?

Newsmaker

16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

Lifetime’s work wins top award Long-time soil scientist Dr Stewart Ledgard received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Science New Zealand Awards with characteristic humbleness. But his work has been at the leading edge over one of the most significant periods of NZ agriculture. He spoke to Richard Rennie.

T

HROUGH the 60s, 70s and 80s New Zealand soil science was underpinned by a vanguard of scientists who undertook groundbreaking research into turning NZ’s young soils into productive pastoral businesses. A pantheon of respected names like Professor Thomas Walker, Mike O’Connor, Doug Edmeades and Keith Cameron all feature as often in academic papers as they do in farmer conversations.

Dr Stewart Ledgard is included in that roll call as another who has played an integral part in many aspects of NZ’s modern soil research.

He attributes the likes of the late O’Connor and Walker for their applied, practical stance when it came to research’s relevance and ensuring farmers were made aware of it.

It is a trait he says he has also worked hard on to continue.

“My time at Ruakura with Mike stands out to me – he always stressed the need to ensure your work was applied, that it could be picked up by farmers,” Ledgard said.

Over the 40 years of his career, Ledgard says the biggest shift has been from simply studying how to grow more grass, to growing it with a focus on the environment, while acknowledging the need to deliver a sustainable profit in the farm business.

That work has included being a founding researcher and developer of Overseer nutrient model. Today’s software, with its multiple mitigation algorithms, can seem a far cry from the base nutrient model Ledgard initially developed with a team 25 years ago.

“It started with a fairly simple philosophy as a nutrient budgeting tool to make farmers aware of being more focused on the efficient use of fertilisers,” he said.

Today the tool has many facets to allow for nutrient losses and mitigation techniques.

“But despite that, it has remained consistent as can be related to a farm system. You can do ‘what if?’ scenarios – that practical usefulness is still there,” he said.

Over a long career, a couple of pieces of research stand out among the myriad of papers and studies he has concluded.

“The earlier work we did with Arnold Bryant at Ruakura No.2 dairy – this showed the effects

COMMITTED: Dr Stewart Ledgard has been recognised for his lifetime commitment to agricultural science.

of high annual nitrogen (N) application. It showed once you got above 200kgN a hectare, although production continued to rise, the environmental impacts were large,” he said.

“But I was surprised and encouraged how many farmers took note of those negative effects and didn’t go to those levels – it was good to see.”

He was also closely engaged in the early 2000s with farmers and policy makers in limiting Lake Taupo’s nutrient loading to preserve the lake’s purity for generations to come.

It’s important for NZ to get our products compared fairly to those produced differently overseas, the differences are great and NZ has shown to have a low footprint from pastoral production, even allowing for the methane emission.

Dr Stewart Ledgard AgResearch The challenge at the time for researchers and policymakers was highlighting the future implications of current practices, given the lake to all intents appeared to be in pristine state.

“It ended up with practical solutions, and the farmers affected by it knew where they were with it,” he said.

The limitations around the lake’s catchment have even helped give birth to some new farming opportunities, including sheep milking.

Ledgard continues to do work on N losses in the neighbouring Rotorua Lakes catchment, one that has proven more problematic and slower to reach a resolution over the years.

More recently he is working providing a researched voice of NZ agriculture at high level EU committee meetings on whole of life environmental footprints of agricultural products. That voice is important as the EU moves towards requiring environmental footprinting information as a condition of trade access in coming years.

“It’s important for NZ to get our products compared fairly to those produced differently overseas, the differences are great and NZ has shown to have a low footprint from pastoral production, even allowing for the methane emission,” he said.

Today he is optimistic NZ’s ability to manage nutrient losses has matured in the past decade.

“When DCD (nitrate inhibitor) came out 10-15 years ago, we thought it could be a silver bullet solution and we could keep farming as we always had,” he said.

But, today he believes farmers need to understand how multiple small changes to farm systems

can add up to big savings in losses to waterways and atmosphere.

In the meantime, he is also encouraged by a new generation of passionate, intelligent PhD graduates now working in AgResearch as well as those he

helped oversee as an adjunct professor at Massey.

“These young scientists have a real passion and drive for what they do, which is necessary in the current complex and difficult research funding scene,” he said.

Crown researchers recognised at awards EXCELLENCE among researchers and scientists in New Zealand’s Crown Research Institutes (CRI) was recognised at the annual Science New Zealand Awards held on December 3.

The Early Career Researcher category recognised primary sector researchers Dr Nik Palevich of AgResearch, Dr Rachelle Binny of Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Dr Lisa Evans of Plant & Food Research and Dr Kelly Wade of Scion.

Alongside Dr Stewart Ledgard receiving AgResearch’s Lifetime Achievement Award was Bruce Warburton of Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research for his work that has included extensive research on possum control and managing TB spread.

Russell Lowe of Plant & Food Research was also recognised

for his kiwifruit breeding achievements, and Greg Steward from Scion for his extensive work on indigenous forestry for over 40 years.

AgResearch’s pastoral genomics research team took the AgResearch team award for leading the development and implementation of new plant breeding systems and genomics which has helped double rye grass’s genetic gain.

The Red5 kiwifruit genome sequencing team at Plant & Food were recognised for their work in better understanding the genes controlling kiwifruit’s desirable traits.

Scion’s geomatics team were awarded that organisation’s best team for efforts in hyperspectral imaging and deep machine learning techniques for mapping.

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

17

Kiwi research, tech – a year in review Despite lockdown and pandemic challenges of 2020, New Zealand’s primary sector continued to innovate and explore technology and science that promises to improve returns and opportunities for farmers and the country.

Farmers Weekly’s New Thinking section has identified some of the research and technology that stood out in the past 12 months. Richard Rennie reports.

W

AIKATO-based company Halter laid out a new farming canvas in 2020, with technology enabling farmers using its remote-controlled collars on their cows to do away with not only fences, but the ritualistic trip to bring the herd in for milking twice a day.

The GPS collar and software system took three years to develop, aided by an inventive Silicon Valley funding pitch made by founder, Morrinsville-born Craig Piggott.

After its low-key commercial launch late in 2020, Halter is experiencing healthy numbers of farmers wanting to put their cows online with the collars that pin down cows’ grazing area and location.

Most recent updates now mean the collars now also incorporate heat detection and general health alerts into the app.

The collars contain patented algorithmic technology that enables farmers to train their cows to respond to collar alerts, consisting of sound and vibration.

Cows can be trained to exit the paddock for milking and to remain within a break even in the absence of an electric fence in front of them.

Business development manager Steve Crowhurst says the recent addition of an automated alert that activates at the same time every day will have cows heading to the dairy while their owners either get a lie in, or gain valuable extra time in the afternoon to tend to farm, family or outside interests.

“And we have one client farmer who has merged a bunch of

PASSED DOWN: AgResearch’s Dr Shannon Clarke is part of team researching how stress events modify DNA. The research has implications for climate change adaptation.

paddocks by removing fences to increase paddock size to five hectares for his 300 cows,” Crowhurst said.

While farmers nervously eye drying pastures throughout Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, scientists at AgResearch are using stressors like drought to help develop livestock and feed more resilient to climate stressors.

In 2020 work in the little-known field of methylomes had scientists studying how DNA can be modified in living creatures and plants during development and during a sustained stressful event such as drought.

Related but higher profile work in the human field has been led by renowned scientist Sir Peter Gluckman.

He and colleagues have studied epigenetics and how a mother’s lifestyle and environment can impact upon her child’s future

The “big find” of 2020 for researchers proved to be a massive freshwater reservoir discovered lying 20 metres below the seafloor, off the Canterbury coast.

healthy development.

Similarly, methylome research looks to see how DNA modified by a stressful event may be passed on two or three generations after the event.

With climate change impact

hitting more intensely and frequently, the work has urgency for NZ farmers wanting to work within the “new normal” of volatile and extreme conditions.

Head researcher Dr Shannon Clarke says the AgResearch team has benefitted by having a vast library of genetic material built up over two generations of NZbased research. The material can be assayed at a molecular level to determine what species variations have resulted from environmental change over this time.

Heat tolerance, drought resistance and facial eczema (FE) are all environmentally related traits or conditions researchers are looking closely at.

Researchers say it may be five to 10 years before commercial genetics are available, and will most likely be driven by those exhibiting the greatest longevity, borne by variations passed on that enable that particular specimen greater tolerance of extremes.

The “big find” of 2020 for researchers proved to be a massive freshwater reservoir discovered lying 20 metres below the seafloor, off the Canterbury coast.

NIWA researcher Joshu Mountjoy says undersea freshwater aquifers are relatively poorly understood in NZ, and the scale of this one surprised researchers.

Wellington sources much of its drinking water from one, but the Canterbury find is huge and estimated to be half Canterbury’s known groundwater volume, or 2000 cubic kilometres.

With Canterbury groundwater replenished from the Alps, losses in snow levels due to climate change have been worrying hydrographers for some years.

BLANK CANVAS: Halter’s business development manager Steve Crowhurst says 2021’s order book is starting to fill as farmers accept virtual fencing technology.

Mountjoy says the uncommonly large seaward reserve could provide a valuable resource in future, but will require major shifts in technology in order to be extracted.

He says there may also be prospects of other such reserves as far north as Hawke’s Bay, and interest in such reserves is growing overseas where water supplies are dwindling in countries like India.

The same conditions driving AgResearch’s methylome researchers are also creating a less forgiving workplace for farmers.

Alongside Australia, NZ has one of the highest rates of melanoma cancer in the world per capita

with the disease close to the road toll, killing about 400 people a year.

Kiwi farmers lead the population with rural males at a rate of 7.7 per 100,000, compared to 6.4 per 100,000 in urban areas.

The twin perils of sun and distance to doctors mean these sometimes life-threatening lesions go unchecked and a new diagnostic tool aimed at farmers gives farmers greater opportunity to save their lives sooner.

Skin cancer diagnosis company MoleMap was prompted last year to head to market sooner than expected with its remote diagnostic service after lockdown caused physical consults to dry up.

The beta version had healthy uptake from patients, 250 using it in the first two weeks and of the 250, 280 lesions were detected with 100 requiring further consultation.

Of this, 12% of the patients checked were identified as having “high risk” lesions.

Because melanoma spreads quickly into the bloodstream from a skin lesion, early detection is invaluable and very successful at preventing it spreading further.

Statistics show a 94% five-year survival rate for those with less than 1mm lesion thickness at detection time.

Using smart phone consultations to show professionals any problem moles, clinic nurses can quickly triage what lesions need urgent attention.

Opinion

18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

EDITORIAL New year brings new challenges

A

NEW year has dawned but the hangover from 2020 is still very much here.

The United Kingdom is going back into lockdown and the new covid variant is wreaking havoc.

Once again New Zealanders can touch wood and be thankful the worst of the virus has been kept from our shores.

Covid will continue to be the big story for everyone this year, food producers included.

But there are other issues to keep an eye on.

The UK finally has its trade deal with the European Union, but that doesn’t solve the quota issue for NZ red meat exporters.

China continues to clap back at nations that criticise it.

And, for now, Donald Trump is still in the White House and hasn’t shown any signs of leaving.

Still, summer’s been pretty good here.

Many regions are reporting good rainfall over the festive period and supplementary feed is plentiful.

Last week’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction boosted dairy commodity prices further and analysts are now looking forward to a payout in the mid-$7 region, which is great news.

There are also signs that the global foodservice industry is coming back to life. Butter demand was up at the GDT and that may bode well for read meat exporters as well.

As with any year, there will be big challenges. Understanding and adhering to new Government regulation will be foremost among them. And there’s always the spectre of new covid-19 transmission in the community here.

So, 2021 could well be marked by unrest, uncertainty and anxiety.

If last year showed us anything, it’s that communities working together can thrive despite these things. They can work together and be more than some of their parts. They can help those struggling keep up. Let’s remember last year’s wins and take them with us into this year.

It’s going to be another big year, but after getting through 2020, we must like our chances of thriving in 2021.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Ospri’s claims about TB are incorrect THE December 7 article Farmers Want Pest Management was interesting for the debate of whether or not possums carry and spread TB and whether to use 1080 or not.

Interestingly, Ospri chief executive Steve Stuart claimed, “TB has been eradicated from wildlife in 2.73 million hectares since 2011.” Ospri’s main weapon has been aerial 1080 poison, with the target no doubt possums.

However, Ospri’s boast flies in the face of hard facts.

Back in 2016 the Minister of Primary Industries, then Nathan Guy, told Parliament of 124,000 possums autopsied over the previous 10 years, only 54 had bovine TB – a rate of 0.04% and “of 9830 possums autopsied in the last 12 months, none had TB.” That’s

zero percent. Ospri claims of wildlife spreading bovine TB are totally wrong.

It doesn’t end there.

The world standard for a country to declare TBfree is 0.2% for TB-infected herds and 0.1% for infected cattle.

But New Zealand rates of TB infection in cattle are slight, about 0.002% average over recent years. It is so far below that required by world standards for a TBfree declaration – that New Zealand must be one of the world’s most TB-free countries.

Which raises the question of the justification for Ospri.

Of significance is that Tataraakina Trust member Nigel Baker is opposed to 1080 because “he has seen no proof that possums are the source of TB infection.”

I suggest the cause may well

lie in Ospri’s testing regime where the antiquated, 25% error-prone TB test is still used.

This results in infected animals not detected and remaining as ‘sleeper’ animals in herds.

There are numerous cases of farmers fed up with continuing reactors and using the much more accurate blood test, discovering sleeper animals in herds.

Besides as Baker rightly pointed out, 1080 “kills everything. It’s killing our wildlife.”

I know 1080 well having worked for the NZ Forest Service on the first 1080 trials in NZ at Lake Wakatipu on fallow deer and then in subsequent pest work.

I came to recognise it for what it is, an indiscriminate killer of everything that breathes oxygen and ingests

it. Originally developed as an insecticide in the 1920s, it kills insects and other invertebrates vital to the ecosystem and disrupts the food chain resulting – as shown by research, (Ruscoe 2007) – where the 20% rats surviving a 1080 drop surge back and in four years are four times original pre-poison numbers.

Laurie Collins Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust Westport

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

19

Regen ag not just sustainability

F

OOD is important. Along with shelter, it’s the foundation of human needs. This importance was reinforced in 1970, when Norman Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to the plant genetic discoveries that spear-headed the Green Revolution.

In his acceptance speech, Borlaug mentioned that the award reflected the committee’s recognition of how food and peace are intertwined.

Fast-forward 50 years to 2020, and the importance of food is once again acknowledged by the Nobel Committee, with the World Food Programme receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for “acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict,” particularly during the covid-19 pandemic.

Similarly in Aotearoa-New Zealand, throughout the covid lockdown, while people rightly heralded the important work of frontline staff in hospitals and on the “thin blue line” of our emergency services, our farmers, growers, processors and fishers quietly continued on their daily routine, producing the most nutritious and wholesome food for New Zealanders and millions of others around the globe.

Their work will become even more important as we strive towards feeding a world of nine to 10 billion people in 30 years’ time. Let me put this challenge into perspective: to nourish the world’s increasing population and meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger, we must produce as much food in the next 30 years as we produced in the last 2000 years. But, importantly, we must do this with a smaller footprint.

Globally, we need to replenish the land where damage to the environment has been done.

This may include retiring some land currently involved in food production. If so, we might have less land to work with. We also need to find smarter ways of producing food, so we’re not contributing to atmospheric warming.

The

Pulpit

Are we up to the challenge? I believe we are, but we’ve got work to do.

In its vision for food and fibre production Fit For a Better World, the Primary Sector Council acknowledged the need for more regenerative production systems, to reduce the impact of our food and fibre sectors on the environment. There are big moves in this direction overseas too. Recently, Walmart announced that it’s on a path to being a “regenerative company,” seeking to “go beyond sustainability.”

Similarly, McDonalds, Target, and Cargill have teamed up to promote regenerative farming practices among their suppliers.

So, what is regenerative agriculture?

The term regenerative implies restoring, renewing and replenishing, in addition to conserving. This reaches beyond what we traditionally think of as sustainability.

Internationally, regenerative agriculture has focused on soil health and the importance of lowtill arable farming and rotational grazing. However, it makes sense to work with the characteristics of the country we’re living in. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is currently looking to define what regenerative agriculture means from a NZ perspective, and develop a sound evidence-base to test and confirm

PERCEPTION: MPI’s chief science adviser Dr John Roche says the term regenerative implies restoring, renewing and replenishing in addition to conserving, which reaches beyond what we traditionally think of as sustainability.

To nourish the world’s increasing population and meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger, we must produce as much food in the next 30 years as we produced in the last 2000 years.

what works in NZ soils, climates and farming systems. We’re putting out a call for proposals that investigate regenerative farming practices, through our Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund.

Broadly speaking, we see regenerative agriculture as a set of practices that, in isolation or collectively, may result in improved outcomes for our productive land, freshwater and

marine environment, our climate, our animals, and for the people that grow and consume our food and fibre products.

This highlights the aims of NZ’s farmers and growers to pass on their land in a better condition than they received it, and is also consistent with the Mori kaupapa of kaitiakitanga, the restoration and rejuvenation of Papatuanuku, and whenua ora-tangata ora (when the land is healthy, the people are healthy).

It also acknowledges the needs of farmers and growers to be helped in their journey, and not unjustly criticised for what’s happened in the past.

Many farmers and growers are already undertaking numerous positive practices, like rotational grazing, fencing setback from waterways, riparian planting and low-till cultivation.

Through the projects we fund, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of what regenerative agriculture means for this country – and what does and doesn’t work.

We can then share this information with farmers with confidence.

We have some tough challenges ahead, but we are on the journey and he waka eke noa (we are all in this together).

With the ingenuity of our farmers and growers and strong investment in science and innovation, our food and fibres sectors can be the foundation of our post-covid recovery, while protecting the whenua for our tamariki and mokopuna.

Who am I? Dr John Roche is chief science adviser for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

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

Feed planning, coordination services returning Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz

PREPARATION IS KEY: MPI animal health and welfare director Chris Rodwell says one of the best things farmers can do to prepare for potential adverse effects from drought is to plan ahead.

TWO services run by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) last summer to ensure livestock have enough feed will be available again this summer.

MPI animal health and welfare director Chris Rodwell says the feed planning service and the feed coordination service, both of which were well used in droughtaffected areas earlier this year, will be returning.

Rodwell says planning ahead is one of the most important things farmers can do to deal with

challenges created by drought, and fortunately most farmers are very good at it.

However, for those who need help completing a feed plan, which also includes lifestyle and small block holders.

The MPI-funded service is delivered by Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers and other specialist providers.

The food coordination service helps to connect farmers with available feed sources.

Rodwell says animal welfare needs during summer are not too difficult to work out as they are very similar to people, with

access to shade and water being two simple places to start. He encouraged dairy farmers to consider milking at different times of the day or giving their cows a shorter walk to the milking shed.

MPI has also increased its team of regional emergency coordinators who are there to help when people get into trouble by addressing challenges on the ground.

Industry group websites like B+LNZ and DairyNZ contain more animal welfare advice, while contact details for the two feed services can be found on the MPI website.

Opinion

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

The best and the worst of 2020 Alternative View

Alan Emerson

WE’LL all remember 2020.

Lockdown in New Zealand wasn’t that bad and the community was great. As a country we played ball, which certainly paid off. But what impressed me most was the teamwork at the top.

Politically the leadership was impressive and the bureaucracy excelled. I’ve found over the years that many top civil servants had their own agendas, which could be vastly different from their political leaders. Also patch protection was paramount.

What I’ll remember from 2020 is that our top bureaucrats put personal agendas and patch protection aside for the common good. It was great to see.

So, the Emmy Awards for 2020 goes to: The Contemptibles Those multinationals that paid little tax here and claimed the covid-19 wage subsidy. Companies included Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Mercedes Benz and Samsung.

They effectively took NZ taxpayer dollars and sent their profits offshore.

The Arrogant Those who claimed the subsidy and didn’t need it. Companies included Fletcher Building, Sky City and Harvey Norman.

Supreme Idiocy The Auckland Business Chamber who back in July insisted our borders with Australia were opened. Chief executive Michael Barnett wrote an article supporting their position claiming

that “totally eliminating the contagion is unrealistic and simply not backed by science.” How he knew he didn’t say.

Supreme Idiocy Runner-Up The then National leader Todd Muller who claimed in June that it was “untenable” for the nation to remain “locked up” for months awaiting a vaccine.

The Circus Some of the early commentary on covid-19.

We were told that the cause was the 5G network. Then it was suggested that older people in lockdown could lose their cognitive ability, meaning going nuts. I’m unaware of any who did.

Another academic colossus suggested rural towns would be more prone to covid-19 because of their low socio-economic status, more elderly and less access to health services.

Stay in the shallow end, matey, our health system in the Wairarapa is great and I’ve seen beggars in Auckland and Wellington but not here. With this comment you made me know one thing: you weren’t educated at Greymouth Tech or Lincoln University.

We also had the ubiquitous Mike Hosking demanding a lockdown and when that happened, claimed it was an overreaction.

With Non-covid Awards, there’s the Donald Duck for quacking me up The disciples of regenerative agriculture. Let’s get both science and financials in there rather than fads.

Sideshow Award The National Party and it was continuous. Jamie-Lee Ross, Michelle Boag, Hamish Walker and Andrew Falloon, it kept coming.

The leadership saga added to the sideshow.

We had Simon Bridges doing what I thought was a good job in difficult circumstances, then Todd Muller taking National

into obscurity and now Judith Collins returning National to Muldoonism.

The Manipulated Minister Award Then Minister of Police Stuart Nash, who blindly accepted all the police spin over gun law reform.

The Act party will be forever grateful having picked up many votes from disaffected firearm owners.

The Fish Need Bicycles Relevance Award SAFE and the Animal Law Association with their court case over farrowing crates. SAFE wants all animals out of farming, and what the endgame of Animal Law is, I have no idea.

Sow crates are there to save piglets. Kill piglets and NZ pork becomes non-competitive so we import pork from, you guessed it, countries who use sow crates with less stringent animal welfare rules than we have. Poor pigs.

Chicken Licken Award The horticultural industry for all its bleating about needing seasonal workers but when locals stepped up they seemed, well, disorganised and uninterested.

The Whitewash Award The Royal Commission into the mosque shootings. Thankfully, we had a separate report from the Muslim community that spelled things out a little clearer.

The Believers in Santa The Strong Wool Action Group for wanting money while providing no detailed budget.

And on the positive side, we have the Conservation Award Only one serious contender, NZ farmers.

Finally we’re seeing sense citation.

Water storage is fashionable again. It’s also logical as without it we’re stuffed.

Landcare Research produced some excellent work on mitigating climate change. Encouraging long-

SURF’S UP: Wairarapa farming leader George Moore showing you’re never too old to learn new tricks. term strategic adaptation, such as diversifying cultivars, shifting sowing dates and planting more shade and shelter. We can have a viable food production sector in a changing climate and that is good news, but we need water to do it.

Good On Ya Mate Award Surfing for Farmers founder Stephen Thomson. What a great way to get farmers off the farm and, in many cases, getting right out of their comfort zone. Locally we had over 30 turning up, some travelling upwards of 80km.

Supreme Award Federated Farmers – again.

They’ve represented rural interests amazingly well and positioned farming in the political arena superbly. It isn’t easy but they did it. In addition, the agricultural summit they organised was a superb event.

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

Ditch’s Diary: A terrible start to 2021 From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I HAVEN’T put pen to paper for a year now, but you should remember me as the tiny pup the boss found in the watertable that had been dumped by some loser.

Originally believed to be a Rottie, but a definite huntaway, although on the shaggy side.

I’ve been around for a few years and am currently the only working dog on the farm so I’ve become his mainstay.

Gin, who had been top dog for a long time, had a big operation a couple of years ago to remove some tumours and had been fully retired since but enjoying herself.

Some more tumours came back

so before Christmas she went back to the vet and after a deep and difficult discussion the boss and vet decided another big operation on an old dog wasn’t fair, so she came home in a tasteful shroud and Steve buried her next to her parents.

Interestingly, Kiwis recently overwhelmingly voted for a much less draconian version of euthanasia than they practice on us, but a measure designed to reduce suffering all the same.

I was interested to hear him tell Jane that he placed a couple of dog biscuits in the grave as he always has in keeping with the traditions of the ancient Egyptians and many other cultures throughout history, to carry Gin into wherever it is we all might go next, if anywhere at all.

So that just leaves Sue, Gin’s and my daughter from a moment of inattention by Jane and wild abandon by us. Sue is very sweet and more pet dog than sheep dog but good company for me.

Mind you, she’s had some recent use and been OK. I’ve had a terrible start to the year. The boss thought he’d reward me with the left-over ham bone from Christmas. It was delicious.

But not a good idea. He has never seen so much material come out of any animal and from both ends, sometimes at the same time. A google showed that dogs should never ever be fed ham bones due to them being cooked and the preservatives. It can be fatal. He was surprised he had never known this and polled several other farmers with the majority knowing not to do it, while others were oblivious. I was lucky to survive.

Just got over that and now I’ve had an operation on my foot as one of my toenails got infected, so I’m on furlough.

Earlier last year I watched the old fella work his way through what was a nasty drought. He did okay given it was about his ninth, so he has flexible and conservative stock policies, but he felt sorry for

those dealing with it for the first time and the many who live in districts where they don’t usually have dry summers and are set up to capitalise on what is usually a good season for them.

You wouldn’t know that last

The boss thought he’d reward me with the left-over ham bone from Christmas. It was delicious. But not a good idea. year was a dry one now. This place looks like a hay paddock full of thistles and the boss isn’t showing it off to anyone.

He calls it “deferred grazing” but he’s not kidding anyone including himself.

All the humans could talk about last year was some sort of parvovirus. One must wonder what all the important news and

happenings in the past that filled the media which immediately was replaced by the pandemic story and has since gone unnoticed.

He has been talking about the goings on in a place called the United States, which he says is anything but united. He’s not surprised it has come to this as he says the guy who has been inciting the discontent is not well, but he is saddened for the country and the people in it. And he says if it can happen there, it could happen anywhere.

He says these are interesting but uncertain times.

I don’t bother about any of this.

All I want is my foot to come right so I can get back to work, a good feed every night, clean water, a comfy kennel, and a pat most days.

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 – January 11, 2021

COMMITTED: The latest Red Meat Sector Strategy indicates firmly B+LNZ and MIA, representing both sides of the farm gate, are fully aligned in their objectives.

21

Photo: NZ Story/Paul Sutherland Photography

Meat strategy refresh achievable Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

MEAT Industry Association (MIA) chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the new Red Meat Sector (RMS) Strategy is not radically different from the 2011 version and terms it “a renewal of the vows rather than a new marriage.”

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) lead Nick Beeby agrees the whole purpose is to refresh the previous strategy by taking stock of achievements and charting a new path in a changed world.

Although some of the sector’s challenges have remained as they were nine years ago, much has changed and demands a fresh approach.

The global trade environment is dramatically different today, while consumer preferences, post-covid distribution platforms and a growing trend towards agricultural activism place greater emphasis on analysis, environmental awareness and flexibility.

The main point MIA and B+LNZ agree on is the importance of both sides of the meat industry collaborating to ensure alignment of objectives to the overall benefit of the sector. In total contrast to 10 years ago, the parties now recognise the

challenges and opportunities are greater than a single company or organisation can address and are now completely aligned on the priorities to be addressed.

Over the past 50 years, the red meat sector has come in for plenty of criticism, much of it justified, while farmers and processors battled for individual survival in the face of massive challenges: Great Britain’s membership of the EU, the removal of subsidies, farm receiverships, a dramatically reducing sheep flock, incessant land use change, decline of wool prices, continuously changing consumer tastes, droughts and floods, and more recently a raft of new regulations.

During the same period farmer representative bodies have at times struggled to identify what their members expect and require of them, while industry organisations like the MIA are only as effective as their members want and allow them to be. The latest RMS strategy indicates firmly B+LNZ and MIA, representing both sides of the farm gate, are fully aligned in their objectives, while B+LNZ’s own strategy will flow from the sector strategy and will inform the referendum proposition to be presented to levy payers next year.

Beeby is adamant if the sector is to be successful, it cannot be about behind or in front of the farm gate, but must be a total partnership.

He refers with enthusiasm to the joint work on the NZ Farm Assurance Programme, while Taste Pure Nature and Red Meat Profit Partnership are two

more examples of collaboration between the two organisations.

The RMS document, subtitled Growing Sustainable Value Together, talks of providing a platform of shared aspirations with other partners, including the dairy sector, Maori, other primary sectors and the NZ government.

The sector’s value to the economy is demonstrated by the 92,000 people it employs directly and indirectly, its status as the country’s second highest exporter selling over $9 billion of products to 120 countries, 98% of which is value added, and the importance to the total of product subsets such as halal certified processing and co-products.

The impressive thing about RMS 2020 is the amount of work underway already, which makes achieving many of the stated outcomes more likely.

The strategy sets four 10-year goals – to achieve sustainable profitability and premium value, to support vibrant communities and be seen as trusted guardians of the sector’s integrity and reputation for caring for its land, water and animals – and three specific priorities for 2025 relating to market position, innovation and sustainability.

The most noteworthy aspect of these goals and priorities is the

clear identification of whose responsibility each activity is, either joint or individual, whereas in the past true accountability would have been more difficult to pin down. To assist the process of achieving the priorities within the five-year timeframe, there are clearly stated objectives to be completed by 2022, each with concise measurement criteria.

The three priorities are closely linked and none is achievable on its own. Market position incorporates market access, farm assurance, product differentiation, attributes and benefits, seeking to build collectively on NZ’s reputation for healthy, grass-fed, lean red meat, its production systems, animal welfare and sciencebacked nutritional benefits.

Innovation captures developments of the farms, processing plants and products of the future, all of which will be supported by enhanced data integration and analysis, and eventually full farm to fork traceability. All this work will be underpinned by the three pillars of economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Key aspects of sustainability include attracting skilled and adaptable people across the agricultural value chain, strengthening the sector’s reputation with the NZ public, improving environmental performance to achieve the targets committed to in He Waka Eke Noa, contributing to world class biosecurity protection systems and improving lifetime animal care through high welfare standards and scientific research

into animal health.

The impressive thing about RMS 2020 is the amount of work underway already, which makes achieving many of the stated outcomes more likely. Beeby draws attention to the importance of what are termed “enablers” in the strategy document. The seven enablers are collaboration, future insights, food safety, data connectivity, comprehensive science and evidence, skills and capability development, and open markets. The first of these should be readily available, although food safety requires careful attention at all times. The last two appear more uncertain – open markets have been a growing feature of world trade for 30 years, but have come under threat over the past few years, while skills and capability development remains a major problem.

Quite simply there aren’t enough New Zealanders willing to study the relevant disciplines, nor can we expect to be able to import people to make up the shortfall, whether because of covid-19 or government policy.

This sector strategy is clear, concise and achievable. The sector can move into the next five years with confidence its leaders have correctly defined the issues and goals that will guarantee success.

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

World

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

Farmers must embrace Brexit

F

ARM leaders have expressed huge relief that the UK and the EU agreed a last-gasp post-Brexit free-trade deal, but admit it comes with challenges and opportunities.

In her New Year’s Day message, National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU) president Minette Batters said the successful conclusion of a deal on December 24 was a “very positive step forward” that “should provide comfort to both farmers and the public.”

But Batters warned that there would be challenges to overcome, with traders now facing extra costs with checks and additional paperwork for food exports.

She said it is important that the Government does all it can to ensure UK food exports are “not left languishing in queues at the border when the changes take effect.”

Batters said 2020 had been a “year like no other” but the covid-19 pandemic had resulted in public support for British food and farming reaching a record high – and it was “so important that we get the next chapter right.”

Looking ahead to 2021 and beyond, Batters said it is crucial that the Government works with farmers to ensure its new Environment Land Management scheme is fit for purpose and that it allows farmers to “continue to produce food, while protecting

and enhancing our environment.”

The UK is set to host the international COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November and Batters said it is an opportunity for British farmers to “truly demonstrate that we are committed to being global leaders in climate-friendly food.”

In his New Year’s Day message, NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said agriculture urgently needs an ambitious, coherent policy delivering a sustainable, profitable industry that addresses climate change, biodiversity and an increasing demand for nutritious, highstandard and high-welfare food.

“We need to throw open our doors to the public and build trust in what we do and how we do it,” he said.

Now is the time for our farmers to promote their fantastic story like never before.

Victor Chestnutt Ulster Farmers’ Union “There is huge potential from selling our story, both on-farm and in the food chain. We also need to encourage more diversity in our industry across the piste – it can and will add value, both financially and culturally.”

IT’S A WRAP: The Brexit deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom was successfully concluded on Christmas Eve. NFU Cymru president John Davies said the past tumultuous 12 months had highlighted how important a safe, reliable supply of high-quality, affordable food is to the public.

All efforts must be focused on ensuring Welsh farmers have the widest possible range of markets freely open to them on the best terms, he said. And governments must minimise “the impact of red tape on the movement of our produce to the EU.” In his New Year’s Day message,

Farmers’ Union of Wales president Glyn Roberts said the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, our new trading relationships with the EU and other countries, and discussions on future domestic rural policies left an “uncertain road ahead.”

“Whatever happens, I am confident we can secure a bright future for Welsh agriculture and our family farms,” Roberts said.

In his message, Ulster Farmers’ Union president Victor Chestnutt

stressed the need for the Government to introduce policies that support the profitability and expansion of local food production.

“Now is the time for our farmers to promote their fantastic story like never before, from the value we put on animal welfare and environmental protection to the great lengths we go to to produce high-quality, nutritious food that we are proud of,” he said.

UK Farmers Weekly

UK food standards ‘still at risk from imports’ SAFEGUARDS put in place to maintain food standards are inadequate, and there is already evidence that the UK government has weakened protections around food imports, according to a new report published on November 27.

The Safeguarding Standards report from the Future British Standards Coalition (FBSC) also suggests UK ministers have given themselves significant powers to change the rules on food imports without parliamentary votes or proper scrutiny.

“Rules governing the use of

QUESTIONABLE: The report shows that a number of countries the UK is negotiating with have food production standards that fall well below those in the UK.

hormones and food additives are now easier to change, while standards on the use of antibiotics in farming have already been deleted,” the report said.

“With the Government resisting strong public pressure to commit in law to maintaining import standards, fears have persisted that lower-standard food could in the future undermine UK farmers and find its way into schools, hospitals and care homes.”

The report points to a number of examples from countries the UK is currently negotiating with

of food production standards that fall way below those in the UK. Australia, for example, uses 71 more pesticides with direct links to long-term health damage, including birth defects, cancer and hormonal disruption, than the UK, it claims.

“A 2018 outbreak of superresistant salmonella in the US was linked to the overuse of the antibiotic azithromycin in cattle,” it said.

The report is also critical of the recently formed Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC),

which is to be given statutory powers, ensuring its reports on the effects of future trade deals on food standards are at least considered by MPs. It is especially critical of the membership of the TAC, which it says is too focused on farming and not enough on public health, the environment, animal welfare and consumer protection. And it is concerned that MPs will have too little power.

“UK parliamentarians are not being offered a vote or veto on trade agreements, and their

options to postpone deals are convoluted,” the report said.

“The input of parliamentarians into shaping policy and its objectives appears limited.”

Tenant Farmers Association chief executive George Dunn, who sits on the coalition, says given the unity of voices from farming, environmental, animal welfare and public health groups, “it is imperative the UK government doesn’t drop the ball in reaching trade agreements which undermine domestic food production standards”.

“Extending the tenure of the Trade and Agriculture Commission will mean nothing if it is toothless, side-lined and ignored,” he said.

UK Farmers Weekly

With the Government resisting strong public pressure to commit in law to maintaining import standards, fears have persisted that lowerstandard food could in the future undermine UK farmers.

SPECTACULAR COASTAL PROPERTIES ON THE DOORSTEP TO THE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Here at one of New Zealand’s most idyllic, tranquil waterfront locations, exclusive privacy is prominent.

DEEP BAY

Situated in Admiralty Bay, this property is best described as a very organised piece of paradise comprising 283ha (699 acres) on five titles. The homestead has the entire bay to itself and the outlook is inspiring. The passing parade of sea life includes dolphins and orcas. The property has a wharf in front of the homestead, which provides for boat and helicopter landings, which is a real asset. Under two hours drive time from Nelson or Blenheim. A 4-tonne mooring sits out from the wharf and the bay is sheltered with no fetch. There is a 4-stand woolshed, excellent yards, tractor, 4-bay implement and wood sheds, and an airstrip making this property fully self contained for a working farm and ease of access in a variety of ways. This property has a great deal of history and enjoys a permanent all year round water supply. Buyer enquiry over $2,950,000.

WAIKAWA BAY

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Waikawa Bay is 183ha (452 acres) on two titles of pure paradise.

The beautiful sandy bay, looking out toward D’Urville Island, offers a private and serene spot for both families and visitors. This property provides a gateway to some of the best cruising and fishing grounds to be had in the Sounds, D’Urville Island and Tasman Bay. A two bedroom woolshed bach on the beachfront with stunning ocean views, fully fenced and watered paddocks plus stockyards. The property has a permanent all year round water supply. Patches of native bush on the property are fenced and protected, providing a sanctuary for local bird life. Buyer enquiry over $2,250,000.

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WAIKAWA PENINSULA

Where in the world can you find a 288ha (711 acre) peninsula on five titles with a rousing coastline and dramatic views across to the southern end of D’Urville Island and Tasman Bay. There are some spectacular building sites on the property both near the beach and on the peninsula itself. The property comes with a woolshed, stockyards, and large storage shed. There is beach access and a 3-tonne all weather mooring. The property boasts a quarry, providing metal on site for the roading. There is also a permanent all year round water supply. The contour of the peninsula is a combination of easy and steep hill country. Buyer enquiry over $1,950,000.

bayleys.co.nz/4003289

bayleys.co.nz/4003290

FOR SALE BY TENDER (UNLESS SOLD PRIOR)

CONTACT SOLE AGENT

Closing 4pm, Thursday 11th March 2021 288 Trafalgar Street, Nelson, 7010

Doug McKee 0274 426 927 doug.mckee@bayleys.co.nz

Full information memorandum available on request

VINING REALTY GROUP LTD, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

24

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 11, 2021

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

PUKEHINA, BAY OF PLENTY

TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 4 February

Options A Plenty • • • • • • • •

VIEW By Appointment Only

107.1830ha total land area 20ha approximately potential horticulture land 54ha grazing contourable for further horticulture 33ha pine trees Two sets of very good yards Water right with unrestricted flow Three barns This property has to be viewed to see the diversity potential to develop further horticulture land

Amanda Edwards M 027 463 3502 E amanda.edwards@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEP33308 Helping grow the country

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Vineyard Investment Opportunity An opportunity exists for a qualified investor to acquire an equity investment in, or the business and assets of, a leading New Zealand wine producer and exporter.

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Approximately 1,528 hectares of urban and rural land owned and leased in Auckland, Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, and Gisborne (refer to the table below).

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Land comprises commerical scale wineries and established vineyards in most of these regions.

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Auckland head office, bottling facilities, and hospitality operations.

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Long term supply relationships with local grape growers.

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International distribution and supply networks.

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Experienced executive management team and winemakers.

Region

Total area (ha)

Owned (ha)

Leased (ha)

Auckland

Up to 41.046

Up to 41.046

N/A.

Marlborough

1,130.964

119.194

1,011.770

Hawke’s Bay

377.696

367.470

10.2262

Gisborne

8.876

N/A

8.876

Total

1527.556

496.684

1,030.872

Contact UBS New Zealand Limited for further details. Offers must be recieved by 15 February 2020.

T: +64 9 913 4839

E: callum.rose@ubs.com

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Tech & Toys

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 11, 2021

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“The automatic head bail convinced us Combi Clamp was the way to go. It has transformed our cattle work in the yards.” - David Robinson

Crusader Meats, an innovative export meat processing company, seeks a Farm Manager to work at our operation located near Benneydale, 45 kms Southeast of Te Kuiti.

A favourite lamb finishing tool. Get yours before the Aussies take them all.

The company leases a 219.714ha adjacent property for intensive livestock fattening and disposal of meat works wastewater from the plant.

We seek a self-motivated person with farm management experience. This would include sound livestock and general farm practices knowledge together with good organisational skills and a willingness to multi-task.

There is an attractive remuneration package for the successful applicant but no accommodation is available.

“I’m very pleased with the Combi Clamp setup. It is great for a variety of jobs and I find the 3way drafting a great addition.” - Les Scott

All applicants will be subject to a pre-employment drug screen.

HR Advisor Crusader Meats NZ Ltd RD 7 Te Kuiti

Phone: 07 878 7077 ext 701 or hra@crusadermeats.co.nz

JW0105614©

Please apply by sending your CV and cover letter to:

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz ™

0800 227 228 www.combiclamp.co.nz

Livestock

Noticeboard

ATTENTION FARMERS DAGS .20c PER KG. Replacement woolpacks.

PV Weber Wools.

Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

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

DEERLAND TRADING LTD DEERLAND TRADING LTD buying deer velvet this season and paying above the average. Also contractor required to buy deer velvet. Payment on commission basis. Contact 021 269 7608.

BOOK AN AD. For only $2.10 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section.

Phone Marie on 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email classifieds@globalhq. co.nz

PARAPARA/MAKIRIKIRI SDT CLUB will be holding their annual working dog sale on Sunday 24 January 2021 at 996 Ruatangata Road, Whangaehu. Will be sign posted from SH3.

Auction starts 12noon viewing from 10:30am.

All enquiries to Duncan Atkinson phone 06 342 6807. Auctioneer Chris Hay 027 632 7177.

Registration of dogs for sale can be done with secretary Brenda O’Leary 06 342 7508 WE HAVE A TOP selection of young Huntaways for sale. We are not traders we are breeders trainers and sellers based in Southland. Transport to the North Island no problem.

Join us on facebook workingdogsnewzealand.

Check out our web site w w w. r i n g w a y k e n n e l s . co.nz. Ringway Kennels.

Phone 027 248 7704.

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

FARM MAPPING

ACHIEVE YOUR DAILY goals with simple and clear farm maps. Visit farmmapping.co.nz for a free quote.

PERSONAL CARE SERVICES

GOATS. 40 YEARS experience mustering feral cattle and feral goats anywhere in NZ. 50% owner (no costs).

50% musterer (all costs).

Phone Kerry Coulter 027 494 4194.

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.

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.

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

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE POLL DORSET RAMS, muscle scanned, SIL recorded.

Brucellosis accredited. All sires. Foot rot and eczema tested.

Phone 09 292 2504 or 021 0731 620.

PROVIDING PERSONAL, home and care supports services Taumarunui rural area. Will travel. For more information 027 343 7823.

WAITUI WILTSHIRE ON FARM SALE

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

WEDNESDAY 27th JANUARY 2021 at 11am

SADDLERY

All mobs to be drafted into sale lines to suit all purchasers

TUESDAY 19th JANUARY 2th, 4th, 6th AGE GROUPS at 11.00am

WEDNESDAY 20th JANUARY 4yr 5yr 6yr EWES at 11.00am

FOR SALE: 700 Ewe Lambs 400 Cast for Age Ewes 20 2th Ewes 10 Ram Lambs

BRIDLES THREE TYPES. Heavy leather. Breastplates two types. Hobbles. Leg straps.

Cruppers etc. Phone Otairi Station. 06 322 8433.

Light lunch provided

STOCK FEED MOISTURE METERS Hay, Silage dry matter, grain. www.moisturemeters.co.nz 0800 213 343.

MASTERTON EWE FAIRS

For further information contact: Derek Mickleson 027 471 9025 or 06 388 1715 or Vendors Greg, Jocelyn and Charles Bennett 06 388 7555

Heavy duty long lasting Ph 021 047 9299

WANTED TO BUY 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.

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

0800 436 566

WAITUI WILTSHIRE TAIHAPE

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

NETHERDALE WILTSHIRES

Selling something?

Advertise in Farmers Weekly

For info go to

Further Enquiries: Carl Petersen 027 242 0268

www.netherdale.co.nz David and Lynley Stevens

Contact Debbie: 0800 85 25 80

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

Noticeboard

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

T HI NK P R E B U I L T

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

Selling something?

Due to farm sales and policy changes Carrfields will offer GREENTOPS C & J Bargh 600 2th Ewes 500 4th Ewes 370 6th Ewes 300 5yr Romney Ewes (Capital Stock Gleniti Genetics) LAGOON HILLS STATION 900 4th Ewes 350 6th Ewes 200 5yr Romney Ewes (Wairere/Forbes Cameron Genetics) WAIORONGOMAI 550 Romney 2th Ewes WAIORAI 520 Romney 2th Ewes (Gleniti Genetics) GLENITI 175 Romney 2th Ewes

JW105610©

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

GOATS WANTED

DOGS FOR SALE DELIVERING, BUYING DOGS South & North Islands 23/1/21. www. youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos. email: mikehughesworkingdogs@ farmside.co.nz

LK0105449©

ANIMAL HANDLING

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 11, 2021

JW105611©

26

STOP BIRDS NOW!

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

Advertise in Farmers Weekly

ZON BIRDSCARER

NEW HOMES

Email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz or call 0800 85 25 80 today

DE HORNER

www.farmersweekly.co.nz

Phone: +64 6 357 2454

HOOF TRIMMER

EARMARKERS

SOLID – PRACTICAL

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electro-tek@xtra.co.nz

GENUINE $300 REDUCTION

WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

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

TOWABLE TOPPING MOWER

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

11.5HP Briggs & Stratton Motor.

Industrial. Electric start.

GST $4200 INCLUSIVE

$3900 To find out more visit www.moamaster.co.nz

SHEEP JETTERS SINCE 1992

We also clean out and remetal cattle yards – Call Us!

U THR NG AREA OW] I K R N WO IHAPE SHED TA OUR KY BOO

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SHEEP JETTERS

SCOTTY’S CONTRACTORS

(Obtaining the best profits for our customers)

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.

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CRAIGCO

CRAIGCO SENSOR JET

Under Woolshed/Covered Yards Cleaning Specialist www.underthewoolshed.kiwi

Phone Scott Newman Freephone 0800 2SCOTTY (0800 27 26 88) Mobile 027 26 26 27 2 scottnewman101@gmail.com

New Zealand’s Number 1 service provider for under woolshed and covered yard cleaning since 2004

Guaranteed Performance Save time and Money . Flystrike and Lice cost $$$ Quick to Set up . Easy to use . Job Done

TO THAT

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Phone 027 367 6247 • Email: info@moamaster.co.nz

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GST INCLUSIVE

Robust construction. Auto shut gate. Adjustable V panels Total 20 Jets. Lambs 5 jets. Side jets for Lice.

Davey Twin Impeller Pump. 6.5 or 9.0 Hp motors

06 8356863 . 021 061 1800

www.craigcojetters.com

LK0105297©

- JANUARY ONLY SPECIAL -

TUESDAY 12th JANUARY 2021 OHUTU AGRICULTURE LTD C/- N & B Harker Argyll

A/c Seaton Farming On Friday 5th February 2021 at Canterbury Park, Christchurch Viewing from 10am Sale commencing 1pm

Carrfields Livestock Agent: Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131

These high performance Romney ewes are for sale due to a change in farming policy

PGG Wrightson Agent: Simon Eddington 027 590 8612

Top pick Hildreth Romney rams 40 years Scanning 194% 8 year average 2th ewes lambed as hoggets Enquiries to: Paul Johnson 027 441 2229 Nick Harker 06 856 8031

JW105535©

LK0105140©

For more information please contact:

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

6TH ANNUAL

2TH EWE FAIR

His wife texts back, “Pour lukewarm water over it.”

Friday 15th January 2021 12 noon

Five minutes later he replies: “Computer is completely messed up now”.

Gore A&P Association’s

SOUTH ISLAND PREMIER STUD RAM AUCTION

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

175 Rams on offer

27

TE KUITI SELLING CENTRE

A husband texts his wife on a frosty winter morning:

6000 2th Ewes comprising: 450 x 2th ¾ Coop ¼ Rom x Ewes 2400 x 2th Romney Ewes 1050 x 2th Coopworth Ewes 800 x 2th Romdale Ewes 1000 x 2th Perendale Ewes 300 x 2th Composite x Ewes

Tuesday 19 January 2021 11. 30am – Romney & Border Leicester followed by Flock Rams 1.30pm – Southern Texel Ram Sale Other Breeds – Texel, Suffolk, Poll Dorset, South Suffolk, Southdown, Dorset Down, Hampshire and Beltex Rams followed by Flock Rams

Wiltshire On Farm Auction

LK0105288©

Courtenay Suffolk flock was first registered in 1980 and has been at the forefront of the breed for a long time.

This sale gives all intending purchasers a great opportunity.

SALE TALK

“Window’s frozen!”

CAPITAL STOCK 380 Romney 2th Ewes 220 Romney 4th Ewes 200 Romney 6th Ewes 200 Romney 4yr Ewes 150 Romney 5/6yr Ewes

COMPRISING OF: 200 x Mixed Aged Ewes 60 x Ewe Lambs born 2020

Vendor Warwick Seaton 027 460 2276

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook

SPECIAL ENTRY STORTFORD LODGE EWE FAIR

COURTENAY SUFFOLK FEMALE DISPERSAL SALE

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

9th Feb 2021 at 12pm Light Luncheon provided

Approximately

Catalogues available from: www.goreapshowgrounds.co.nz 03 2086441 or 027 374 3314 E: goreapsecretary@gmail.com

600 Ewe lambs, 120 2th ewes,

150 Cast for age ewes 30 Ram Lambs

1019 Mangaorapa Rd. Porangahau Mary Taylor - Ph: 068555322 Andy & Emma Martin - Ph: 068555348

SOUTHDOWN RAM SALE

Email: taylors@glenbraestud.co.nz www.glenbraestud.co.nz Terms: Cash on the day unless PGG Wrightsons current a/c holders. Eftpos available

Simon Smith, Genetics Specialist - 027 444 0733 Callum Stewart, National Genetics Manager - 027 280 2688 Sam Wright, Livestock Representative - 027 247 9035

MT & SM Day Ltd

Wiltshire Ram & Ewe Sale 10th February, 1pm | 70 Whyle Road, Southland

UPCOMING AUCTIONS Monday, 11 January 2021

Friday 22nd January 2021, 1pm

11.00am Rupert Red Deer 4th Annual Stag Sale 4.00pm Rothesay Deer Stag Sale

Inspection from 11am On Account of A D Gillespie 56 McGraths Road, Oxford

Tuesday, 12 January 2021 10.00am Raincliff Station Wapiti Sale 4.30pm Black Forest Park 2021 Sire Stag Sale

We will offer 40 Southdown Rams Contact Anthony Cox (RLL) 0272 083 071 Brent Macaulay (RLL) 0212 200 850 Aaron Leckie (RLL) 0274 730 808

Wednesday, 13 January 2021 1.30pm Netherdale Deer 34th Annual Elite Red Deer Sale 6.30pm Brock Deer Sire Stag & Yearling Hind Sale

Thursday, 14 January 2021

www.rurallivestock.co.nz Catalogues available online

LK105494©

Approx. 15 2-tooth rams, 40 ram lambs, 500 ewe lambs, 150 2-tooth ewes, 300 M/A ewes For enquiries contact: Barry McAlister 027 441 6432 | Callum McDonald 027 433 6443 Freephone 0800 10 22 76 | www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Comprising approx: • 800 Friesian Bull Calves • 90 Friesian 18 month Bulls • 20 Friesian 18 month Steers All cattle on offer are owner bred & reared within a closed farming operation.

All calves de-horned, drenched and weaned off nurse cows in December.

Helping grow the country

Friday, 15 January 2021 9.30am Annandale Deer Sale 1.00pm Craigneuk 19th Annual Ram Sale For more information go to bidr.co.nz or contact the team on 0800 TO BIDR

NZ CHEVIOT

28TH ANNUAL ON FARM WEANED CALF AUCTION A/C Invernia Holdings 140 King Road, Georgetown, North Otago Tuesday 2nd February, 2021at 1.30pm

12.30pm Arawata Pure Reds 30th Annual Sale 5.00pm Altrive Red Deer Sale

W W W . C H E V I O T S H E E P N Z . C O M USE A REGISTERED CHEVIOT RAM FOR: • • • • • •

Better constitution, mobility and longevity Less labour and costs High worm tolerance Potential for heavy carcase weights with top grades Unrivalled for hogget lambing survival Increased stock quality and quantity for sale

Tried and proven

TB Status C10.

For further information contact the Secretary: 03 318 8260 or jcpascoe@xtra.co.nz or any of our Registered breeders:

1% Rebate to outside companies

Amberley - Beverley Hay – 03 314 9388 Ashburton - Blair Gallagher – 03 303 9819 Ashburton - Hadyn Sinclair – 03 302 3824 Christchurch - Anthony Gray – 03 329 7977 Clinton - Brent Mackie – 03 415 7220 Clinton - Ray Mitchell – 03 415 7187 Clive - David Allan – 06 870 0732 Dannevirke - John Hendrickson – 06 374 3888

Further inquiries: Wayne Fisher-Hewitt 027 405 8248 Mark Yeates 027 590 4217 PGG Wrightson Oamaru Helping grow the country

Dargaville - Ross Pellow – 09 439 5885 Fairlie – Stephen Whittaker – 03 685 4864 Ngaruawahia - Brenda Coleman – 07 824 5978 Otautau - John Minty – 03 225 4631 Otorohanga - Katee Herdman – 027 460 3027 Palmerston North – Clive Akers – 06 329 1822 Palmerston North - Gilbert Timms – 06 362 7829 Piopio - Neil Langlands – 07 896 8660

Sheffield - Francine Murray – 03 318 3678 Stratford - John Herlihy – 06 762 5520 Taihape - Barry Cleaver – 06 388 7871 Takaka - Ian Alach – 03 525 9038 Te Awamutu – John Spellman – 07 877 8401 Waitara - Wayne Frank – 06 754 4311 Wellsford - Todd Johnson – 09 423 9574 Wyndham - Malcolm McKelvie – 03 206 6603

JW105527©

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 11, 2021

MARKET SNAPSHOT

28

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Mel Croad

Suz Bremner

Reece Brick

Nicola Dennis

Sarah Friel

Caitlin Pemberton

Deer

Sheep

Cattle BEEF

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

4.90

5.00

5.70

NI lamb (17kg)

6.60

6.60

8.00

NI Stag (60kg)

5.50

5.50

8.50

NI Bull (300kg)

4.90

4.95

5.80

NI mutton (20kg)

4.85

4.80

5.70

SI Stag (60kg)

5.60

5.60

8.50

NI Cow (200kg)

3.50

3.60

4.30

SI lamb (17kg)

6.50

6.55

7.90

SI Steer (300kg)

4.65

4.70

5.40

SI mutton (20kg)

4.80

4.80

5.55

SI Bull (300kg)

4.70

4.70

5.70

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.45

3.50

4.25

UK CKT leg

9.49

8.97

11.45

US imported 95CL bull

6.94

6.98

8.03

US domestic 90CL cow

6.94

6.44

8.00

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

5.0

5.00

9.0

4.50

8.0

$/kg CW

5.50

4.00

$/kg CW

5.50

Dec

Feb

Apr

Jun

2019-20

Dairy

Aug 2020-21

10.0 South Island lamb slaughter price

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2019-20

Jun

Last year

2.02

2.02

2.76

37 micron ewe

-

-

30 micron lamb

-

-

$/tonne

6.50 6.00

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T)

607

616

-

Super

300

300

314

-

DAP

799

799

787

3230

3270

Company

SMP

2835

2830

2825

AMF

4140

4100

4050

Butter

3500

3460

3430

Milk Price

7.04

7.04

7.00

Apr-20

Jun-20

Aug-20

Oct-20

385

* price as at close of business on Thursday

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Feb-20

Apr-20

Jun-20

Aug-20

Oct-20

Dec-20

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

3260

400

3240

350 $/tonne

3220 3200 3180

YTD Low

9.94

7.42

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

32.4

33.87

32.4

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.78

7.885

7.485

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

7.2

7.375

6.48

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.72

4.85

4.71

The a2 Milk Company Limited

11.66

12.5

11.65

Ryman Healthcare Limited

15.27

15.55

15.03

Contact Energy Limited

10.6

11.1

8.84

Mainfreight Limited

68.19

69.98

68.03

7.6

7.62

7.45

Listed Agri Shares

390

Dec-19

YTD High

9.4

Dec-20

395

380

Close

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

Infratil Limited

Feb-20

400 $/tonne

3210

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Top 10 by Market Cap

405

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3160

607

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY Prior week

Aug 2020-21

Urea

395

Dec-19

Jun

Last year

400

385

Apr 2019-20

Prior week

390 Sep-20 Nov-20 Sept. 2021

Feb

Last week

405

Last price*

Dec

FERTILISER Prior week

7.00

Nearby contract

Oct

Fertiliser

Aug 2020-21

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

May-20 Jul-20 Sept. 2020

7.0

5-yr ave

410

Mar-20

8.0

5.0

Last week

7.50

Jan-20

9.0

6.0

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

5.50

South Island stag slaughter price

11.0

Coarse xbred ind.

5-yr ave

$/kg MS

5.0

(NZ$/kg)

4.50

US$/t

6.0

WOOL

5.00

Oct

7.0

7.0

5.0

6.00

4.00

8.0

6.0

South Island steer slaughter price

6.50

9.0

7.0 6.0

Last year

10.0

8.0

6.00

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

$/kg CW

6.50

$/kg CW

9.0 $/kg CW

North Island steer slaughter price

North Island lamb slaughter price

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

William Hickson

Ingrid Usherwood

300

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

Close

YTD High

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.166

0.166

0.161

The a2 Milk Company Limited

11.66

12.5

11.65 3.1

Comvita Limited

3.12

3.2

Delegat Group Limited

15.25

15.4

15

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

4.39

4.4

4.35

Foley Wines Limited

1.96

2

1.92

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.81

0.81

0.81

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.55

0.55

0.44

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.67

1.72

1.6

PGG Wrightson Limited

3.35

3.36

3.26

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.59

0.61

0.59

Sanford Limited (NS)

5.1

5.23

5.05

Scales Corporation Limited

4.91

4.97

4.89

Seeka Limited

4.86

4.9

4.85

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

5.05

5.24

5

T&G Global Limited

2.97

2.98

2.9

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

15365

15491

15365

S&P/NZX 50 Index

13486

13486

13334

S&P/NZX 10 Index

13879

13879

13677

250 Jan

Feb Mar Latest price

Apr

May 4 weeks ago

Jun

200

Dec-19

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Feb-20

Apr-20

Jun-20

Aug-20

Oct-20

Dec-20

YTD Low

15365

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

13486

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

13879

29

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

Pulse

WEATHER Soil Moisture

Overview While high pressure is still very much in New Zealand’s forecast, we’re also (finally) seeing the effects of La Nina. This is coming in the form of afternoon downpours/ thunderstorms, but also some weak areas of low pressure. Weak in the sense of the winds not being strong, but these weak systems can generate flash flooding (as we’ve recently seen) due to the slow movement. However, we’re returning now to a mainly dry weather pattern as large highs roll back in. This entire week is dominated by high pressure – although a La Nina low will drift out of the sub-tropics on Thursday near East Cape. This weekend sees more high pressure. Some downpours next week, then another high.

Dollar knocks farm gate prices

07/01/2021

Mel Croad mel.croad@globalhq.co.nz

Source: NIWA Data

Highlights

Wind

High pressure will be dominating NZ much more over the next couple weeks. This means winds will be lighter with afternoon lake and sea breezes. Next week should start with more humid northerlies, then a midweek westerly.

Temperature Gradually warming up. NZ has had some colder than average days and nights over the past couple weeks, but the forecast ahead looks warmer and warmer still.

Welcome to the peak part of summer, kicking off now and lasting until mid-to-late February, traditionally.

14-day outlook

Highlights/ Extremes Downpours here and there but generally things look to get drier for a majority of properties. It’s still a bit hit-andmiss, but www.RuralWeather. co.nz has all the rain graphs/ data to make sense of it.

7-day rainfall forecast

High pressure dominates NZ this week, although on Thursday a sub-tropical low may brush very close to Gisborne (worth monitoring). It’s likely to be pushed away from NZ by Friday, while in southern NZ a weak cold front brushes by. Next week kicks off with humid weather and showers/ downpours developing in both islands.

Possibly a bit windy by Wednesday next week, then more high pressure looks likely to roll in from the west.

La Nina is spluttering along for NZ, and while not an overly wet summer, we do see more hit-and-miss downpours coming again next week. But overall, the next week ahead looks drier than average for most, if not all, of NZ. It’s also now drier than average across much of Australia, the Tasman Sea and the immediate areas surrounding NZ to our north and south. This indicates a fair bit of high pressure moving through this week.

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

A

S THE new year gets underway, there’s keen interest in understanding where farm gate prices are at. Simply put, livestock slaughter prices have started off 2021 in a more structured, settled position than this time last year. Prices have shown some marginal downside over the holiday period, but nothing to the extent witnessed this time last year.

Last January there was little awareness of covid-19 or what it meant, but farm gate returns for sheep and cattle were plummeting for other reasons. The overheated export market in December 2019, driven largely by insatiable demand from China, reinforced the theory of what goes up must come down. But in this case it was in dramatic fashion.

There was very little festive cheer 12 months ago. AgriHQ data shows lamb and beef prices were slashed by 50-60c/ kg over the Christmas break, as processors scrambled to realign farm gate prices with export prices. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop there as processing backlogs ballooned and returns continued to fall week on week. The slaughtering of farm gate prices through those early weeks of 2020 also put the wind up store buyers who stepped back from the rails to reassess the market. On top of that, many regions were already looking to the skies for rain. By the end of January many had pushed the offload button and had to accept significantly weaker prices than only six weeks earlier.

From their peak in mid-December 2019 to late January 2020, bull and prime steer slaughter prices fell by 90c-$1.10/kg, compared to the usual 20-40c/kg fall. Lamb prices fell by $1.40-$1.50/kg, compared to the average 70-80c/kg. At that point of the season, global markets had yet to unravel amid covid-19 lockdowns and the full force of the 2020 drought was yet to be felt. Yet that sudden downside in farm gate prices created a negative market environment that had a long-lasting impact on cashflows.

Fast-forward to now and there is an expectation that having survived 2020,

this year can only get better. The relatively stable market environment that we are experiencing is a good start. The overseas markets that NZ’s red meat exports rely so heavily on are yet to fully awaken, but the general feeling so far is that things have started off better than expected, although caution remains a key element at this early stage. Overseas beef prices have nudged higher and demand for chilled lamb is gathering pace while being supported by firm interest for frozen cuts and mutton carcases. Current farm gate prices for beef are sitting below average levels, while lamb prices are only just keeping their head above average levels, suggesting prices are nearing the bottom.

Global political uncertainty is weighing heavily on currency rates, which is eating into processor margins and therefore farm gate returns. This is one of the biggest factors currently forcing farm gate prices lower. Covid-19 lockdowns impacting foodservice demand are a close second, but despite the global pandemic, consumers still need to eat, and this is supporting our export volumes, but not necessarily our export values.

The direction of farm gate prices over the next month will largely depend on overseas market changes as well as local weather conditions. Generally, most are comfortable with feed, reducing the desperation to offload and allowing for a smoother flow of stock into processing plants compared to 12 months ago. It’s always a gamble at this time of the year to expect weather conditions to play ball, however memories of last year’s drought have challenged how some farm through the summer months. This may go some way to balancing other market factors that influence farm gate prices, which farmers often have little control over.

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30

SALE YARD WRAP

EARLY STARTERS: The Matawhero Ewe Fair was one of the special sales held in the first week back.

Fairs bring life to the yards Special fairs and on-farm sales brought some life to the sale yard scene for the start of the year, but good rain over the Christmas break took the pressure off selling at many of the regular sales. Regular sales were largely on the small side and some were cancelled due to a lack of numbers. However, yards such as Te Kuiti were a hive of activity, as cattle fairs each day of the short week equated to around 3800 cattle sold by Friday’s 5pm whistle.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle 5.1 • Five 2-year Charolais steers, 452kg, topped their section at $2.73/ kg • Two-year Angus-Friesian heifers, 186-373, earned $2.09-$2.13/kg • Three yearling Speckle-Park steers, 261kg, managed $2.68/kg A typically smaller yarding of 189 store cattle kicked off 2021 for PGG Wrightson at FRANKTON last Tuesday and a lack of buying competition meant several lines made the return journey home. Lighter 2-year dairy-beef steers, 268279kg, returned $2.51-$2.56/kg and 291-318kg, $2.61-$2.68/ kg. Yearling Angus-Friesian steers, 283kg, earned $2.26/kg.

Better Hereford-Friesian heifers sold up to $2.39/kg, but the balance had to settle for $1.90/kg. Thirty prime bulls were offered and Hereford, 601-725kg, managed $2.57$2.59/kg. Good Jersey bulls, 517-591kg, realised $2.39$2.45/kg and 468-482kg, $2.26-$2.30/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Frankton cattle 6.1 • Prime Friesian-cross steers, 599kg, managed $2.42/kg • Thirteen weaner South Devon-Friesian heifers, 130kg, earned $440 • Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 135kg, held value at $530 Just 97 store cattle were presented by New Zealand Farmers Livestock at FRANKTON last Wednesday with a full clearance achieved as vendors met the market. The best of the yearling bulls was three Friesian-cross, 460kg, at $2.26/kg and just three 341kg Angus-cross heifers were penned at $2.20/kg. Weaners made up over 70% of the yarding and most heifers 115-130kg earned $315-$360 regardless of breed. In the bull section 131kg Hereforddairy eased to $350 and the balance of this section, 116127kg, sold at a varied $220-$395. Prime beef-dairy heifers, 510-532kg, returned $2.42-$2.54/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

KING COUNTRY Te Kuiti cattle fairs • Autumn-born 2.5-year Charolais steers weighed 513kg and sold for $1490, $2.90/kg • 15-month Devon steers, 518-556kg, reached $1400-$1495, $2.68$2.70/kg • Top 15-month Angus steers reached $3.42-$3.54/kg The TE KUITI sale yards were a hive of activity for the first week of 2021 as the much-anticipated annual bullock and steer fairs equated to four days of selling and just over 3800 cattle sold. Last Tuesday 700 bullocks were penned and sold to a wide bench of buyers from Central Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu and locals. A slight premium was paid for traditional steers, but the exotic and exoticcross were not far behind. 2.5-year Devon and Angus had plenty of weight at 650-680kg and made $2.64-$2.72/kg while Hereford-Friesian and Simmental-cross, 605-648kg, returned $2.70/kg. Friesian-cross, 525-600kg, made $2.64/ kg. In the autumn-born pens Angus, 488-520kg, made $2.80-$2.89/kg and Angus-cross, 446-474kg, varied from $2.73/kg to $2.93/kg. Beef-Friesian, 436-437kg, returned $2.58-$2.69/kg. The first of the 15-month fairs featured 960 exotic steers and sold to similar regions as the previous day. Charolais and Simmental were prominent and pens of good black and red Devon also featured. Bidding was specific to breed and weight and a standout was a few lines of Limousin and Shorthorn, 360kg, which managed to edge towards $3.30-$3.40/kg. That was an anomaly as the lion’s share ranged from 400kg to 490kg and sold for $2.75-$2.85/ kg. Charolais-cross, 476-479kg, reached $2.86-$2.90/kg, though lighter lines of same breed returned $2.60-$2.83/ kg. On a per head basis heavier types sold for $1260-$1495 and second cuts, $1100-$1200.

It was a black affair for the 875-head traditional section last Thursday and only a few pens of straight Hereford broke that up. Buyer preference for better-weighted cattle was evident and annual draft lines were also chased by

mainly local buyers, though other regions participated.

Angus, 450-454kg, achieved $3.22-$3.31/kg and certain lines at 422-426kg were able to make it to $3.42-$3.54/kg.

Most other Angus from 310kg up to 420kg ranged from $2.92/kg to $3.14/kg. Angus-Hereford, 328-426kg, sold for $2.82-$2.92/kg. Prices which ranged from $1205-$1500 covered the top end and the balance sold for $930-$1190.

Fewer than expected cattle were offered at the beefFriesian section last Friday as around 900 were penned.

Buyers arrived from Taranaki, Waikato and King Country though the market finished the big week on a quiet note.

Top Hereford-Friesian, 430-560kg, sold for $2.60-$2.70/kg and 370-390kg made similar values.

Lighter lines at 300-320kg were able to push to $2.93/ kg. Angus-cross, 400-430kg, returned $2.65-$2.70/kg.

Sheep played a much smaller part in the sale but were still present last Wednesday. Around 700 were penned and prime lambs made $97-$125, store $51-$91.50 and ewes $75-$147.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 462-491kg, earned $2.58$2.60/kg Only 136 store cattle were entered at RANGIURU last Tuesday. Half of the yearlings were Jersey bulls, 381-417kg, that fetched $2.36-$2.45/kg, though a few pens of 306345kg stretched to $2.61-$2.65/kg. Dairy-beef heifers, 362-373kg, returned $2.41-$2.42/kg. The prime pens were also quiet. Dairy-beef steers and heifers, 524-635kg, made up half of the entries and managed good returns of $2.52$2.60/kg. A few Jersey bulls, 470-495kg, performed well at $2.49-$2.55/kg.

Only 75 sheep were mustered with the main highlight Wiltshire and prime lambs that made $117. Read more in your LivestockEye.

31

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021

POVERTY BAY Matawhero ewe fair • Four-tooth capital stock ewes made $200-$270 • Better quality 5-year Romney ewes earned $168-$174 The MATAWHERO ewe fair held last Wednesday lacked the spark of other years. Two-tooths were good buying with some quality ewes on offer and the top end fetched $200$238 with the balance mostly $162-$180. Four and five-year Romdale ewes were bought for $117-$140, while the bulk of mixed-age ewes sold at $148-$150.

Matawhero sheep • Store ewe lambs fetched $86-$94 • Prime lambs made $132-$148 • Prime mixed-age rams earned $90 There were just under 1000 store lambs on offer at MATAWHERO last Friday. The top end of the male lambs earned $90-$98 with medium types at $80-$88 and light $53. Prime sheep were limited though better Romney ewes achieved $140.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle • Two-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 470kg, made $2.45/kg • Yearling Angus-Friesian steers, 355-385kg, earned $2.47-$2.48/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers and heifers fetched $380-$440 There was just under 100 head of cattle at TARANAKI last Wednesday and the market performed better than expected. Two-year steers were mostly Hereford-Friesian which sold well at $2.77/kg. Yearling heifers consisted of nice Hereford-Friesian, 338kg, which achieved $2.46/kg.

Read more in your LivestockEye.

$3.20/kg, with similar Hereford-Friesian at $2.65-$2.70/kg.

The lamb market lifted around $10 on average for the 7300 sold. Good lambs were mainly $100-$110, mediums were $90-$100 and all but the lightest $75-$90. Read more in your LivestockEye.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park prime cattle and all sheep • Angus steers, 550-620kg, earned $2.58-$2.60/kg The first sale of 2021 at CANTERBURY PARK last Wednesday was a small affair. Only prime cattle participated with two-thirds of the entry’s steers over 500kg that achieved $2.49-$2.60/kg. The highlight of the small heifer section was 500-509kg Hereford that managed $2.49-$2.52/kg while dairy-beef breeds were generally $2.34-$2.42/kg. A top price of $187 was paid for a pen of very heavy ewes with heavy pens $153-$161. Good ewes firmed to $120-$139 while medium-good improved to $86$110. Low numbers of heavy lambs made $153-$156 with good types $119-$136. Store lambs earned up to $101 with the majority medium types at $69-$79. Read more in your LivestockEye. Coalgate cattle and sheep • Prime steers and heifers over 455kg managed $2.40-$2.49/kg • One prime Shorthorn bull, 650kg, made $2.50/kg • Yearling Angus-Hereford heifers, 356-389kg, fetched $2.49-$2.56/ kg

• Yearling Angus heifers, 295-357kg, earned $2.55/kg to $2.75/kg COALGATE kicked off the year last Thursday with good interest in store lambs. Over 500 of the 830 penned sold in big lines from $90-$99 and most of the rest achieved $70-$87. The top prime lambs made $151-$160, and good types $120-$149. Nearly 1600 ewes made the journey to the yards and 50 very heavy types earned $204-$223. A quarter of the yarding returned $140-$190 with most of the rest $111-$139. Nearly 70 weaner Hereford-Friesian calves were entered with steers, 130-165kg, at $370-$440 while the heifers, 108-133kg, were $275-$370. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle and all sheep • Hereford bulls, 511-698kg, earned $2.48-$2.59/kg • The only two pens of store lambs earned $100 and $83 • One pen of prime ewes made $180 The focus of the sheep sale at TEMUKA last Tuesday was the prime section as few stores were entered. The top lambs earned $140-$153 while medium lines were in the $120$139 bracket. Lighter pens were $100-$119. In the ewe pens most of the top end made $150-$165 while the remainder were generally $110-$146. Good numbers of Jersey bulls earned $2.21/kg to $2.35/kg while heifers of all breeds sold in the tight range of $2.26-$2.36/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Weaner Friesian bulls, 111-123kg, made $425-$468, $3.82/kg One of the smallest sales in STORTFORD LODGE history was recorded last Wednesday, as 39 sheep and 29 cattle were penned. Rain over the Christmas break meant there was no pressure to offload, though the small entry of store lambs still varied from $30 up to $94. One pen of 11 very good 4-tooth ewes made $140. Read more in your LivestockEye. Dannevirke ewe fair • Top 2-tooth Romney ewes reached $217-$222 • 6-tooth Coopworth ewes made $163-$175 • 4-tooth and 4-year Composite ewes sold for $148-$163 • 4-year Perendale ewes returned $188 and 6-year $133 • Top 5-year Romney ewes sold well at $211 The DANNEVIRKE ewe fair tally dropped to half of last year’s offering, largely due to early offloads due to the drought. Five-year ewes were the highlight last Thursday and averaged similar prices to last year. Better Romney achieved $170-$196 and the balance $136-$164. A small mixed-age entry sold from $147 to $170. The balance of the 2-tooth Romney ewes made $162-$194 and a line of 244 Perendale made just $124. Read more in you LivestockEye.

MANAWATU Feilding bullock fair and store sale • Traditional 2-year steers, 500-660kg, were $2.65-$2.80/kg • Yearling South Devon-cross steers, 460kg, made $2.85/kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 275-475kg, made $2.60-$2.70/kg • Store lamb average lifted to $94.50 • Good Perendale mixed-age ewes made $150 Sales resumed at Feilding with the 2.5-year bullock fair on Thursday. The vast majority were 500-660kg Angus or Angus-Hereford lines that made $2.70-$2.80/kg. Only 400 cattle were yarded on the Friday, most of which were bulls.

Two-year Friesian bulls, 550-610kg, made $2.65-$2.75/kg.

Some 250-285kg traditional yearling heifers made $3.10-

BIG TIME: Close to 3800 cattle went through the Te Kuiti sale yards as fairs stretched over all four days of the short week.

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Markets

32 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 11, 2021 NI STEER

SI BULL

SI LAMB

($/KG)

($/KG)

($/KG)

4.90

4.70

6.50

2.5-YEAR TRADITIONAL STEERS, 560KG AVERAGE, AT FEILDING BULLOCK FAIR ($/KG LW)

2.73

$3.22-$3.31 high $211 5-year Romney ewes 15-month Angus steers, lights Top 450-454kg, at Te Kuiti at Dannevirke Ewe Fair

Strong sales across the board ACROSS THE RAILS Suz Bremner suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

T

HE on-farm selling scene may have quietened down over the Christmas break and into the start of the new year, but that doesn’t mean that the sales held the first week back were any less significant. aaIn fact, for the North Island sale was quite the opposite, as the Puketoro Station sale on the East Coast is a big event written on many calendars. Opawa Downs in South Canterbury also held their annual sale, and with both having reputations that preceded them, they drew in good crowds of buyers.

At Puketoro Station, buyers from Hawke’s Bay, Taupo, Manawatu and locals were in attendance for the fifth annual event. The McNeil family offered

up 609 15-month traditional steers, 1960 Romdale cryptorchid lambs and 7360 ewes, which were sold by Shane Scott from Central Livestock and Neville Clarke. The ewes were split between capital stock Coopdale from the Mahanga property at Tikitiki and Romdale ewes from Puketoro. The early slot for the sale meant that mainly only buyers were in attendance.

“With the sale falling on the first working day of 2021, only those who came to buy made the journey inland from Tokomaru Bay,” Scott said.

“Forty prospective buyers registered, and locals joined them on the rails to take in the action and enjoy some topnotch hospitality provided by the McNeil family. Overall, the results from the sale were satisfactory, especially given some of the East Coast region has missed out on rain since early December with feed not optimal for young stock.”

The top line of Romdale twotooths sold to Gisborne for $210 and top Coopdale of the same

FULL HOUSE: A damp day made for spirited bidding at Opawa Downs. PGG Wrightson Joe Higgins auctions off the blackface mixed-sex lambs.

TEAM: Shane Scott and Neville Clarke had the crowd’s undivided attention at the fifth annual Puketoro Station on-farm sale. Photo: Ross Buscke age headed to Hawke’s Bay for $213. The remaining Coopdale two-tooth and most of the fourtooths were Manawatu-bound at $174-$197. Six-tooth and fouryear Coopdale made $183-$191, and wet-dry Romdale of the same age returned $165-$188. Five-year Perendale fetched $163-$175, and the balance of the ewes stayed local or headed to Hawke’s Bay. Regular buyers bought the top two lines of lambs which equated to nearly 1000 head and made $82.50-$96, but the balance failed to meet expectations, Scott said.

The mainly Angus steers were drafted into five lines and ranged in tallies from 40-head up to 231.

The smaller lines sold within the yards, while in true high-country fashion, shepherds on horseback held the larger lines close to buyers for viewing. Angus, 415kg average, fetched $1310, $3.16/ kg and Angus-Hereford, 385kg average, returned $1185, $3.08/ kg. Those that fell in a 350-390kg range sold for $1158-$1200, $3.13$3.24/kg and 320-350kg, $1070$1100, $3.19-$3.28/kg. Most were on trucks headed south to Hawke’s

Overall, the results from the sale were satisfactory, especially given some of the East Coast region has missed out on rain since early December with feed not optimal for young stock.

Shane Scott Central Livestock Bay and the smaller lines went to Taupo.

Much further south, Opawa Downs in Albury, South Canterbury, held court on Wednesday as the annual sale offered up nearly 5000 lambs and ewes.

A record number of buyers attended the sale and PGG Wrightson regional manager Joe Higgins said that a grass market emerged “after good rain over the break there is now more feed

around than I can remember for the time of year, and that led to a competitive market at Opawa Downs. Prices were around 20c/ kg up on pre-Christmas levels and bidding was brisk, especially for lighter lambs.”

Buyers mainly came from South Canterbury, but found competition from Christchurch and Wanaka. Blackface mixedsex lambs sold undrafted at the Riverview yards. The top cut of 37 reached $159 and 160 in the second cut made $140. The balance sold from $63 up to $126.

Romney lambs with Motonui bloodlines were sex drafted and the top ewe lambs retained, while good cryptorchid fetched $96$110, and the balance $70-$89.

Two pens of ewe lambs made $64-$86. The ewes offered were all crossbred and cast-for-age and solid demand meant the top pens reached $130 and second cuts, $116.

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CODE

• Wire for • Wire for fences.

• Wire for ies, mink • Vineyard • Tensionin • Wire for Good • Safety or • Wire for • Wires for Better sheep fe Double life • Gun nails

$

45.00

Maximising farm yields & reducing downtime / sales@farmshop.co.nz / 0800 00 22 09 / www.farmshop.co.nz Promotion Valid 1 Nov - 28 Feb 2021. Subject to Farmshop Terms & Conditions. Prices exclude GST. Information is correct at time of printing. While stocks last.

EACH EXCL GST

3

MASSIVE CULVERT FINANCE

Available*

CLEARANCE

FARMSHOP

DIRECT IMPORTS

Farmshop Culvert Clearance Sale - 25% OFF - Euro Made

FROM

$

CODE 14-CULG224 14-CULG338 14-CULG451 14-CULG564 14-CUL695 14-CUL1100

Description Culvert Pipe Plastic 196IDmm x 224ODmm x 5.8 SN8 Culvert Pipe Plastic 296IDmm x 338ODmm x 5.8 SN8 Culvert Pipe Plastic 394IDmm x 451ODmm x 5.8 SN8 Culvert Pipe Plastic 492IDmm x 564ODmm x 5.7 SN8 Culvert Pipe Plastic 695ID x 800OD x 5.85m (Green Inner) Culvert Pipe Plastic 1100ID x 1200OD x 5.7 SN8

170.00

WAS PRICE (ex GST) $226.00 $412.20 $720.00 $918.00 $2194.20 $3983.00

EACH EXCL GST

PRICE (ex GST) $170.00 $312.20 $540.00 $690.00 $1650.00 $2995.00

Features: • High Quality Plastic Farmshop Culverts • SN8

Cashels Multi-Purpose 8 & 10 Tonne Drop-side Trailers PLUS UPGRADES FREE • • • •

5mm plate steel deck Quick hitch stand Hydraulic open/close tailgate Spreader chain

• Swivel tow eye • Brakes for safety • Lights for safety and road work

Model Cashels 8 Tonne Trailer

WAS $24,000

NOW $21,500

Cashels 10 Tonne Trailer

$28,000

$24,000

4

FINANCE

Available*

FARMSHOP

DIRECT IMPORTS

FROM

SUMMER SALE - SAVE UP TO $4000

21,500

$

.00

EACH EXCL GST

Maximising farm yields & reducing downtime / sales@farmshop.co.nz / 0800 00 22 09 / www.farmshop.co.nz Promotion Valid 1 Nov - 28 Feb 2021. Subject to Farmshop Terms & Conditions. Prices exclude GST. Information is correct at time of printing. While stocks last.

MIXER WAGON

FINANCE

Available*

BEST PRICE

FARMSHOP

DIRECT IMPORTS

Peecon Mixer Wagon - Best Price Guaranteed...

Find a better price and we will beat it by 10% - PLUS get a FREE Cashels Bale Cutter!

1

3

5

BEST PRICE

7

GUARANTEED

2 10 8

6

4

9 10

10 Reasons to choose a Peecon Mixer Wagon 1. 5 year warranty 2. Custom auger design for NZ round silage bales 3. Best price (guaranteed) 4. Magnet on auger comes standard

6. D ouble action Augers for faster mixing time 7. 8mm plate steel for extra strength 8. Superior weight system integrates with PC’s and blue tooths to auxillary screen in your loader / tractor

9. 100/100 A 100 day money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied 10. Double cutting knife for optimal cutting length

5. Patented anti-beltching tub

+ FREE BONUS OFFER!!!

Purchase a Mixer Wagon before February 28th 2021 and you will get a FREE Cashels Bale Cutter.

• This is the best implement to use to fill the mixer as they cut the bale PLUS hold the plastic so you dont need to get out of the cab - speeding up the mixing time

Valued at $6995.00 & FREE WHEN YOU PURCHASE A PEECON MIXER* * Must purchase before 28th February 2021 - while stocks last.

Maximising farm yields & reducing downtime / sales@farmshop.co.nz / 0800 00 22 09 / www.farmshop.co.nz Promotion Valid 1 Nov - 28 Feb 2021. Subject to Farmshop Terms & Conditions. Prices exclude GST. Information is correct at time of printing. While stocks last.

5

MOW & RAKE

TOGETHER IN ONE PASS

FINANCE

Available*

FARMSHOP

DIRECT IMPORTS

1 Pass Contracting, Rake & Bale Together... TWIST 6M FRONT RAKE TWIST 600 is a center delivery rake designed for a fast, efficient and clean raking of forage. It can be mounted to the front or rear of the tractor. With front mounting, you can simultaneously rake and work, e.g. with a baler. The rake consists of two working systems driven by tractor’s hydraulics using hydraulic motors. The machine does not need the tractor’s PTO shaft for operation. The rake has low weight in comparison to its extensive working width.

Standard equipment:

6m Front Twist Rake

WARR

YEAR

NOW

Hydraulic drive with rotation speed regulation Regulation of working height Foldable support leg Mechanical transport lock Regulated ground following wheels KENNFIX hydraulic connector

ANTY

• • • • • •

$

.00

36,000

Swing arm Ensures smooth operation of the system, which prolongs bearing life.

EACH EXCL GST

FINANCE

Available*

FARMSHOP

DIRECT IMPORTS

Safety mechanism machine protection during transport Hydraulic cylinders The rake arms are folded in and out to/from the transport position using hydraulic cylinders.

Foldable support leg provides stability of the folded machine during storage

Rake tines Flexible rake tines ensure long and trouble-free operation and the highest forage purity.

Ground following wheels • turf protection, • accurate ground following, • stepless adjustment

The 1 Pass Contracter...

Rake and Bale Together!

6

Maximising farm yields & reducing downtime / sales@farmshop.co.nz / 0800 00 22 09 / www.farmshop.co.nz Promotion Valid 1 Nov - 28 Feb 2021. Subject to Farmshop Terms & Conditions. Prices exclude GST. Information is correct at time of printing. While stocks last.

MOWER SALE FACTORY TO FARM DIRECT

FARMSHOP

FINANCE

DIRECT IMPORTS

Available*

Rear 2-drum mowers

9,95000

$

NOW

WAS

YEAR

Z 010/2 2.1 meter

EA

$

8,995.00

EACH EXCL GST

FINANCE

Available*

FARMSHOP

DIRECT IMPORTS

Belt Driven Rear Disc Mowers KDT 300 3.0 meter

NOW

WAS

YEAR

WARR

ANTY

KDT is the most frequently purchased range from SaMASZ offer. They are made of the best quality materials.

ANTY

WARR

19,95000

$

EA

$

18,995.00

EACH EXCL GST

FINANCE

Available*

FARMSHOP

DIRECT IMPORTS

Rear Direct Gear Driven Disc Mowers KT301 & KT341

YEAR

ANTY

WARR

High operating speed, modern design, quick knife Replacement system, only a few advantages of KT disc mowers!

KT 301 3,00

KT 341 3,40

WAS PRICE (ex GST) NOW PRICE (ex GST)

$24,475.00

$26,215.00

$21,995.00

$23,995.00

FINANCE

Available*

FARMSHOP

FROM

MODEL Working width m

DIRECT IMPORTS

$

21,995.00

EACH EXCL GST

Buy direct and SAVE on the capital purchase and on parts.

We carry a full range of SaMASZ spare parts - compare to what you are paying!

$

.00

335

EACH EXCL GST

Hardened knives (L=105 mm / 4 9/64’’) • SaMASZ logo proves the highest quality, • quick knife replacement with special mounting lever FROM

FROM

Complete Module • SaMASZ logo proves the highest quality, • Compare to what you are paying - buy direct and SAVE!

$ .35

3

Maximising farm yields & reducing downtime / sales@farmshop.co.nz / 0800 00 22 09 / www.farmshop.co.nz Promotion Valid 1 Nov - 28 Feb 2021. Subject to Farmshop Terms & Conditions. Prices exclude GST. Information is correct at time of printing. While stocks last.

EACH EXCL GST

7

FarmMax

FARMMAX 100/100 PROMISE

Maximise farm yields

If you are not 100% satisfied in the first 100 days you can return for 100% money back!

FARMSHOP

FINANCE

DIRECT IMPORTS

Available*

FarmMax SmartHands

FarmMax Pallet Forks FarmMax Water Roller

Features:

$

1995

EACH EXCL GST

$

1995

EACH EXCL GST

FarmMax Silage Forks FarmMax LandPlane

Features:

Features:

• Clear and level • Repair farm tracks • Cuts and the front levels at the back

• • • •

CODE

NOW

3995 FarmMax Waste Not Sled Feeder EACH EXCL GST

DESCRIPTION

PRICE (ex GST)

17-LANPLA2450

2.450m 8ft

17-LANPLA2750

2.750m 9ft

$4,750.00

17-LANPLA3M

3m 10ft

$4,995.00

NOW

NOW

$

NOW

This heavy drawn cambridge roller is ideal for pressing plowed soil and crumbling large clods.

• Foldable hydraulically • Double–acting cylinder • Rotatable drawbar eye • 61cm Rings • Minimum transport width

$

27,000

EACH EXCL GST

EACH EXCL GST

Fits one large bale 3 piece construction 9 feed positions Heavier 3mm pipe

$

1200

EACH EXCL GST

Features:

$ 6995 2500 FarmMax 6 metre Folding Cambridge Roller EACH EXCL GST

9995

FarmMax Combi Cutter FarmMax Fast Feed Bucket • 3 implements in one: a silage cutter, a bale unwrapper with a plastic film or net holder, and a bulk scoop.

• Strong design maximise your feed

$

$4,690.00

Features: Features:

EA

FarmMax Waste Not Bull Feeders

Features:

• Essential front loader implement

$

13,000

$

WAS

NOW

EA

• Baffled - 2.7m • 4.5 tonne full • Axle goes right through (not a stub axle)

NOW

2,75000

$

Features:

• 1400kg • Adjustable • Euro hitch NOW

NOW

WAS

Features:

EACH EXCL GST

• Front Mounted • Chain feeder faster • Feeds maize silage and Palm Kernal quickly and efficiently Description

MOUNT

Fast Feeder Bucket - 2.4m

Front Mounted

$11,500.00

Fast Feeder Bucket - 1.8m

Rear Mounted

$13,500.00

Price (Excl GST)

FarmMax Speed Dics

Features: • Packer roller - 71cm discs NOW

• Made in Europe • Euro Hitch • Move 1000’s of bales a year

$

35,000

Maximising farm yields & reducing downtime / sales@farmshop.co.nz / 0800 00 22 09 / www.farmshop.co.nz Promotion Valid 1 Nov - 28 Feb 2021. Subject to Farmshop Terms & Conditions. Prices exclude GST. Information is correct at time of printing. While stocks last.

EACH EXCL GST

8