Farmers Weekly NZ February 11 2019

7 Future makes farmers glum Vol 18 No 5, February 11, 2019

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Farmers in fear Annette Scott

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annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

ARMERS were living in fear of the unpredictable Tasman fire last week as they talked of narrow escapes while worrying about their stock.

They were also grappling with the difficulty of dealing with bureacrats and concern about water for the immediate future.

Farmers caught up in the fires just needed to talk to someone who understood their plight, farming leader and Redwood Valley farmer Graeme Sutton said.

Sutton, a farmer of more than 40 years, said the most frustrating aspect is the lack of knowledge and understanding of farmers’ needs.

Evacuated from his Redwood Valley property on Tuesday, the first day of the fire, Sutton is grateful for the couple of hours warning that gave him time to move his deer and cattle to a lower-risk part of his farm.

“It was pretty scary.

“The fire came mighty close. We were very lucky. We were saved.”

But with his property still off limit four days later he had real concern for farmers with big numbers of livestock.

“We managed to get back in on Wednesday to check stock no problem but then on Thursday we were declared a state of emergency and now we have our hands tied. “”Under the control now of Civil Defence we battled all day Thursday and finally managed to

BIG BLAZE: The Tasman District fire is cutting through large swathes of farm and horticulture land and forests.

Photo: Tim Cuff

get in to check stock at 4.30pm.

“We are being dictated to by a slow and clumsy-moving bureaucratic monster full of its own importance as it struggles to cope with the practicalities.

“It’s absolutely frustrating for farmers,” Sutton said.

“They are saying take your stock to the show grounds. That’s all very well for the horses and pets but can you look after my deer? I don’t need them to at this stage – I just want to be able to look after them myself and that means getting to them on my property.

“What we need is someone we can talk to who understands and can help us farmers with what we need and that’s to get back on our

properties to check stock, even just for an hour or two a day.”

Water is a growing concern.

“We’re on a rural water scheme here in the valley. The main pipe has been damaged in the fire and the storage tanks are running low so we’ll be needing to cart water very soon and what are the authorities doing – getting engineers to look at it to see what needs doing.

“What we need is a roll of pipe and the means to dig it in to replace the damaged pipe. It’s that simple in the practical thinking.”

Eves Valley farmer and Tasman deputy mayor Tim King is thanking his lucky stars he, too, was evacuated on day one but not

before moving stock from one side of the farm to other.

But with fencing and pasture burned the challenge now is how long he can keep his stock fed and watered in temporary containment.

“We are fortunate to have good stocks of silage so we are feeding out but water access is a huge problem. If we can get fences up in the next few days we may be okay.”

King had endless praise for the firefighters and helicopters that saved the family’s home and a good chunk of his farm from the fire.

“I can’t describe what a great job they did and the support from family, friends and neighbours

who just turned up with utes and trucks, loaded on whatever they could get their hands on, including farm machinery. We are just so grateful.”

King said Alliance had been contact offering to relocate stock or take it immediately for processing if need arises.

“Support and assistance in that respect has been just so amazing.”

But like Sutton he’s struggling with bureaucracy to get on his property to feed and water his stock and that’s “frustrating the hell out of me”.

On Friday Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor declared a medium-scale adverse event for Tasman district, unlocking further Government support for farmers and growers.

It means and extra $50,000 for the Rural Support Trust and primary industry groups to help speed up the recovery.

O’Connor acknowledged the acute issue is stock management where owners have been evacuated.

“There will be difficult times ahead and the Government will ensure everything that can be done will be done to ensure people and animals are safe and can get back on their feet,” O’Connor said.

Fire authorities confirmed the major fire storm on 2000 hectares of forestry and farmland is believed to have been started by farm machinery working in Pigeon Valley.

“It’s an accidental event. It’s certainly nothing anyone would want to happen,” Fire and Emergency regional manager John Sutton said.

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NEWS

WEATHER OVERVIEW The tropics are gearing up to be very active for the rest of February but despite the biggest shake-up in the weather set-up in at least half a year the belt of highs over the South Island and parts of New Zealand will be pushing back. This means easterly winds will dominate the country and transfer the heat, especially in the North Island, from being hot in the east to now being hot in the west. In the South Island Southland and Otago will be hotter after what was an up and down January. The lows to the north will influence NZ’s weather with some rain today in the east then late week in the north maybe.

8 Stress, anxiety trap farmers Beltex lambs top their first sale ����������������������������������� 10 Kiwi croppers share expertise �������������������������������������� 16

Newsmaker ������������������������������������������������������28 New Thinking ��������������������������������������������������29 Opinion ������������������������������������������������������������30

NZX PASTURE GROWTH INDEX – Next 15 days

Pasture Growth Index Above normal Near normal Below normal

7-DAY TRENDS

Rain

Wind

A weak cold front over the South Island falls apart today while a former tropical low falls apart east of NZ. Patchy rain/showers for the upper South Island and eastern North Island today, otherwise its mostly dry this week. There might be subtropical rain in Northland on Friday.

Winds are a bit messy and variable early this week with a southerly flow

by Tuesday. Over Wednesday and Thursday winds are mainly light but late week easterlies arrive in the north while southwest winds arrive further south.

Highlights/ Extremes

World �����������������������������������������������������������������36

ON FARM STORY

Temperature A warm/hot week with many places in the late 20s or early 30s by mid week.

However, a cooler change arrives in the Deep South on Thursday or Friday while humid, sub-tropical air might reach the Far North on Friday.

The main focus now is really the tropics where we expect a big tropical low or even a cyclone north of the country this week. It might influence northern NZ’s weather on Friday and the weekend but no direct hit is forecast at this stage.

14-DAY OUTLOOK

In a nutshell many of the driest regions, like central NZ, might not see much rain over the coming two weeks but elsewhere some will see a few changes thanks to more tropical influences on our weather. This means an uptick in humidity and showers for the north and a higher chance of a tropical rainmaker. Slower pasture growth for many right now but showers and humid warmth might see spikes appearing in the northern half of NZ.

SOIL MOISTURE INDEX – 08/02/2019

34 Carbon price makes trees valuable

A rising carbon price under the Emissions Trading Scheme has changed a Canterbury sheep farmer’s attitude to exotic forestry and native regrowth.

REGULARS Real Estate �������������������������������������������������37-47 Employment ����������������������������������������������������48 Classifieds ��������������������������������������������������48-49 Livestock ����������������������������������������������������50-51 Markets �������������������������������������������������������52-56 GlobalHQ is a farming family owned business that donates 1% of advertising revenue to the Rural Support Trust. Thanks to our Farmers Weekly and Dairy Farmer advertisers this week: $996.

Need help now? You can talk to someone who understands the pressures of farming by phoning your local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.

Source: WeatherWatch.co.nz

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

3

EXPORTS: Most of the offering of lambs at the Castle Ridge sale was bought by processors.

MORE: STORY P56

Grass keeps many lambs at home Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz LAMBS are starting to be sent in for processing in good numbers in the North Island but the South Island is lagging well below last year as farmers take advantage of good feed conditions.

Drier conditions in the north, notably around Northland and Manawatu, have resulted in a good catch-up in tallies since processing plants resumed full time after Christmas-New Year, AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad said.

The numbers still trail the previous season’s tallies by quite a distance, partly because of a rush of stock into the works in December 2017.

The latest public figures on the lamb kill are for the end of the 15th week of the season, ending January 12. At that time the South

Island kill was down 14.6% on last season, a drop of 430,000 head, while the North Island was down 6% or 187,000 head.

There was some pick-up, especially in the north, from week 14 and numbers can be expected to have risen further since then.

The slower kill has put pressure on processing companies trying to get lambs in to fill the valuable Easter chilled orders from Britain and mainland Europe markets.

The last supply ships should be leaving New Zealand ports in late February with much smaller volumes going later by air.

“There’s no panic yet as long as volumes rise as we forecast,” Alliance livestock and shareholder services general manager Heather Stacy said.

“We do need a good flow.”

Though North Island supply is picking up, Anzco Foods wants it to pick up further and South

Island numbers are still a bit light, supply chain and livestock general manager Grant Bunting said. But that could change as conditions dry out.

There’s no panic yet as long as volumes rise as we forecast.

Heather Stacy Alliance The group is confident of filling the North Island content of its Easter chilled orders but the issue for the industry is that most of the big processing plants and lambs are in the South Island. The slight lift in carcase weights has partly offset lower numbers.

A lift in store lamb trading numbers generally precedes a surge in numbers to plants but that isn’t happening yet in the south.

Croad said schedules for the week just ended were firm at an average of $7.20/kg in the North Island and averaging $6.90/kg in the South Island.

For farmers deciding when to send lambs for processing, Bunting said the risk is that schedules will soon reflect the post-Easter period and not have the chilled premiums.

Stacy said shareholder/ suppliers are being asked to work with their agents and book stock in ahead to be sure of space when processing pinch points are reached.

That also insures against potential bad weather that might cause a supply-rush. Supply under the group’s minimum-price

supply contracts will help smooth that out.

Lambs are starting to flow in, with good weights and yields, in the southern regions, which have the big lamb numbers, but she cautioned lambs should not be allowed to get too heavy, which might not meet the chilled specifications.

While the feed situation is terrific in much of the South Island there are areas where pasture quality has fallen away because stock cannot keep up with the growth and that has been quite challenging for farmers.

Croad said the lower kill rates at this time of year will not necessarily mean a greater winter supply because of the big shortage of lambs compared to last season.

She thinks there could be a larger autumn offload as the lambs held back for longer will finally need to be processed.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

NEWS BRIEFS SFF wants names NOMINATONS are open for one farmerelected director on the Silver Fern Farms Co-operative board. Director Tony O’Boyle retires by rotation at the annual meeting in Dunedin on May 1. He will seek reelection. Nominations close on Monday March 4 at noon. The result of any election will be made public before the meeeting.

Nomination forms are available from clark. taylor@silverfernfarms.co.nz.

DIDN’T SEE IT COMING: The dairy futures market did not predict last week’s big jump in Global Dairy Trade prices, OMF director Nigel Brunel says.

Alliance bonus Alliance Group has rewarded shareholders with $3.2 million in loyalty payments.

The quarterly payments have been made to Platinum and Gold shareholders who supply 100% of their livestock to the company. Farmers get an extra 10c/kg for each lamb, 6c/kg for a sheep, 8.5c/kg for cattle and 10c/kg for deer. The payments are for last October to December.

Alliance chief executive David Surveyor said the payments reflect the value the co-operative puts on consistent and committed supply.

Dairy price jump surprises Hugh Stringleman

Dollar down

hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

Disappointing jobs data confirmed a slowing trend in the economy, pushed the kiwi dollar lower and made this week’s Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Statement more interesting, ANZ Bank FX/rates strategist Sandeep Parekh said. The dollar fell US$0.85c to US$0.6745 after the Thursday jobs report. The kiwi had been trading stronger than the ANZ expected, largely because central banks around the world had become more dovish. Markets, pricing-in a cut to the official cash rate later this year, will be watching to see if Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr follows that more dovish line or takes a steady-asyou-go line in Thursday’s MPS. The dollar should fall this year as a slower world economy will make investors wary of risk currencies such as the kiwi and Aussie, which depend on selling commodities into world markets, Parekh said. ANZ has taken a cautious line on the economy over the last several months and expects a cut to the OCR in November. It expects Orr to eventually have to adopt that view, if not straight-away. ANZ’s forecast is for the kiwi to be at US$0.64 at the end of March and 0.61 at year end and to fall on all the major crosses.

– Alan Williams

FARMGATE milk price expectations have risen again, almost as quickly as they fell, in response to the latest 6.7% increase in Global Dairy Trade prices as measured in the GDT index.

ASB lifted its forecast by 25c to $6.25/kg milksolids and Westpac said there is obvious upside risk to its $6.30 forecast, which now looks conservative.

Westpac senior economist Anne Boniface attached the same upside risk comment to next season’s milk price, saying new, better prospects indicate $6.75 or more for 2019-20.

NZX dairy analyst Robert Gibson said his milk price forecast was revised to $6.29, at the top of Fonterra’s range of $6 to $6.30.

The strength of the GDT price rises across the board, except butter milk powder down 3.1%, surprised market analysts.

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They said the possibility of drought bringing a halt to New Zealand’s strong milk production growth this season is suspected to be the reason.

As the world’s largest exporter of whole milk powder, the developing NZ dry spell boosted prices of that dairy commodity by 8.4% to slightly above US$3000/tonne.

Rennet casein went up by 10.9% to nearly $5600.

The index finished at 1005, its highest since last June, being the latest of five GDT index increases since November.

The market indicator has risen nearly 19% since then and is only 5% below its highest point of 2018.

WMP prices rose on average $250/t, the biggest leap since the second half of 2016 when dairy prices collectively went up by 50% over five months containing nine auctions.

WMP has now risen 16.4% since its lowest point in November.

After months languishing below US$2000/t, GDT skim milk powder prices rose in four sharp jumps totalling 25%, to be above $2500, their highest level since February 2017.

Over the past three months anhydrous milk fat and butter are up 22% and cheddar is up 12%.

Dairy futures broker Nigel Brunel, director of OMF, said the dairy derivatives market did not foreshadow the strength of the rise in GDT prices last week.

“Futures prices have predicted big physical price rises before and been wrong and this time the picture was reversed.

“Since the GDT event the yield curve for WMP futures has risen by $200 to $280 over the next five months.

“Fears of a dry end to NZ’s bumper season have lifted WMP to the top of its recent range.

“The milk futures market has also lifted for this season and

Fears of a dry end to NZ’s bumper season have lifted WMP to the top of its recent range.

the next, raising the welcome possibility for farmers of four $6-plus seasons in a row.”

WMP prices have definitely been more stable and less volatile over the past 30 months since the end of the 2015-16 slump and that might be due to European Union intervention with SMP, along with supply-demand balance out of NZ, Brunel said.

But AMF and butter prices have bounced around more than WMP and SMP. He thinks the use of dairy futures by farmers has plateaued as everyone waits for the introduction of Fonterra’s new fixed milk price scheme in June.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

5

Taratahi home farm won’t be sold Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE Government has given an assurance Taratahi’s home farm near Masterton will remain a training property and cannot be sold by the liquidator on the open market.

In a further boost to primary sector vocational training, the Invercargill-based Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) confirmed it will take over education at Taratahi’s south Otago Telford campus, initially for this year only while the sector is reformed.

Legislation governing the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre says the 245ha home farm can be used only for training.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Education Minister Chris Hipkins both say the farm can be sold only if they are confident it remains a hub for future students and the wider Wairarapa community.

“It is both ministers’ expectation that any sale of the land is for the original purposes it was intended, providing high-quality education to the future young workers and leaders in agriculture,” O’Connor said.

Wairarapa Federated Farmers president William Beetham says the future of buildings and infrastructure, necessary for an educational farm, is unclear because they are in the hands of the liquidators.

“It is up to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and the Government to be considerate of what is required for continued training at Taratahi and the farm infrastructure that needs to be retained.”

The Telford Farm Board has welcomed news SIT will deliver education at the campus near Balclutha this year, for which it will get $1.8 million from the Government.

But it means about 13 academic staff will lose their jobs, taking the total number of staff to 20.

“We’ve chosen to continue to invest at the Telford site while the longer-term change is being considered,” Hipkins said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed on Friday reforms of vocational education and training will be a Government priority this year.

Hipkins will soon make public the options to reform polytechnics and the wider skills training sector.

Ardern said the system has been allowed to drift aimlessly and has not been serving young people, businesses or communities.

In addition to the Taratahi liquidation the Government has pumped in $100m to prop up three failing polytechnics.

Ardern said the reforms aim to raise the status of vocational training and ensure the sector is more aligned with and responsive to business and national and

TEMPORARY REPRIEVE: Courses at Telford will be taught by the Southern Institute of Technology ... but the agreement is for this year only.

regional skills shortages.

Telford Farm Board chairman Richard Farquhar said the agreement with SIT does not include the lease of the farm so the board is looking for a new lessee to work with the education provider.

Farquhar said enrollments before the liquidation looked like exceeding last year but with the uncertainty he expects numbers to be lower than normal when study begins on February 18.

Typically, the campus houses about 120 students with more students taking off-campus courses.

Farquhar said the board is delighted Telford has been given a reprieve but there is plenty of work to do this year to ensure it remains a permanent training facility.

O’Connor described the reprieve as a great outcome for students wanting to continue their studies and complete their qualifications.

Meanwhile, the Taratahi liquidation has seen Primary ITO double to about 1000 those students enrolled in its Trades Academy, which blends classroom study with on-the-job learning.

“The Trades Academy works

well with tutors with industry experience taking students from school for field trips and industry placements,” Primary ITO chief executive Dr Linda Sissons said.

“Students can spend time on orchards, farms and gardens as well as in workplaces in the wider primary sector like freezing works, rural services stores, arborists and others.”

Primary ITO has also found places at other training providers for all students learning through Taratahi but has heard students who had planned to study at Taratahi have instead got jobs.

LIC gains in genetics and farm software earnings Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz LIC has improved its operating results for dairy genetics, herd testing and farm software, leading to increased earnings for the six months ended November 30.

The after-tax profit was $32.8 million, up from $15.1m a year earlier when costs from a big transformation programme were booked.

Revenue for the half-year was $161m, up from $153m, and the operating earnings (Ebitda) were $59.3m, a 3% lift over the previous figure of $57.5m.

The half-year covers the major earnings period for artificial breeding services for the farmerowned co-operative, which has ordinary shares listed on the NZAX. The transformation programme improved

performance and profitability, chairman Murray King said. It had also improved the value of investment in research and development to commercialise genetics and technology products for farmers.

Total cow numbers were steady but LIC will gain through innovation as farmers invest in new genetic products.

Sales in the major dairy genetics division rose to $89m from $85.4m a year earlier and

that segment’s pretax earnings to $61.2m from $60.06m. Herdtesting revenues and earnings rose modestly.

Farm software sales rose to $23.19m from $21.5m and earnings to $14.34m from $13.05m. Farm automation sales were slightly higher but earnings slightly lower.

King said the group’s new A2 bull team provided 10% of total artificial breeding sales.

The SPACE service measuring pasture by satellite was used by more than 1200 farmers.

LIC spent more than $800,000 on testing and other measures to guard cows against Mycoplasma bovis and absorbed that cost.

Operating cashflow was $19.3m, up from $5.4m.

LIC expects full-year underlying after-tax earnings in the $18m to $22m range before allowing for bull team revaluations, King said.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

7

Farmers’ major worry is red tape Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz RULES and regulations are the major anxiety for New Zealand farmers while environmental regulation also scores highly, a Lincoln University survey has found.

Farm debt levels are usually regarded as an important source of anxiety and stress and the survey found debt anxiety is quite significant but as a cause is rated as a lesser factor overall by the 440 farmers who responded.

The survey is part of research exploring and understanding the human variables related to anxiety to see if it is possible to modify them, Professor Peter Nuthall said.

Debt and financial issues were marked at 3.9 out of 10, at the lower end of the 13 factors listed in the survey.

Rules and regulation were 6.21 and environmental regulations 5.94. Splitting them, in second place, were weather worries at 5.97.

In order after that were product prices 5.81, mismanagement 5.04, time pressures 4.86, health 4.78, crop and animal yields

CHANGE: Behavioural therapy could reduce farmers’ anxiety, Professor Peter Nuthall says.

4.53, family issues 4.35, work conditions 4.04, finance and debt 3.9, employee issues 3.78 and isolation at just 2.29.

The survey by Nuthall and colleagues Bruce Greig and Kevin Old in the university’s agribusiness and commerce faculty covered the full range of farm types.

They noted the only real differences in the importance of the various factors involved mismanagement worry, employee issues and environmental regulation.

The rules and weather issues rated top anxiety factors across the sector and are much the same no matter the capital invested and the debt levels. They are also quite consistent among all farmers across the range of farm-equity levels.

The larger the capital and debt amounts, the more important that employee issues became.

Nuthall said anxiety decreases in most cases as farmers get older, suggesting some form of philosophical approach to the problems.

Surprisingly, education levels and gender don’t seem to affect anxiety.

The findings were fairly similar across the various farm types but Nuthall and his group said dairy farm managers are most likely to refinance or increase loan levels.

They note that given equity levels are low in some cases there is clearly a limit to how much more can be borrowed.

About a third of farmers believe they seldom experience significant anxiety over debt issues but only a fifth made the same point over general farming issues.

“Clearly the latter are important to the managers: the report said.

It found notable differences in frequent and significant anxiety based on debt and equity levels but not across farm types nor on the number of children in the family. This suggested all types of farming had similar stress but clearly debt levels influenced anxiety quite markedly.

Nuthall said the nature of primary production tends to create more anxiety for farmers and family and employees relative to other occupations because of uncertain and potentially extreme weather and product prices, uncertainty over Government regulation and plant and animal disease risk.

There is also evidence climate change is increasing anxiety by disrupting farmers’ sense of place, particularly as the workplace is frequently also their home.

The group’s hypothesis is that anxiety levels are also explainable

The larger the capital and debt amounts, the more important that employee issues became.

Professor Peter Nuthall Canterbury University through farmers’ personal characteristics – personality, intelligence, farm objectives, age, education and gender.

Nuthall said the theory is that if a person’s inherent and environmental make-up can be changed so reactions to anxietycreating situations do not cause inappropriate reactions then greater success in achieving their objectives will result.

There is good evidence this phenotypic change could occur through behavioural therapy.

MORE:

The full survey report is available at https://hdl.handle.net/10182/8339

Overseas affairs make farmers glum, latest survey shows FARMERS are gloomy about the economy and have the least confidence since the global financial crisis, Federated Farmers says.

International uncertainties and difficulty recruiting staff are behind the glum outlook, the federation’s latest survey of farmers found.

“The survey found the lowest level of confidence in the economy since July 2009 when we were just emerging from the global financial crisis,” vice-president and economics spokesman Andrew Hoggard

said. “As with the wider business community I think we’re seeing concern about the impact of global uncertainty and instability on our key export markets, with the likes of Brexit and United States-China trade relations.”

Just 5.1% of farmers expect general economic conditions to improve over the next year while 45.9% expect they will get worse.

Continuing difficulty recruiting staff is another finding that stood out, with 40.1% finding it harder over the past six months to recruit skilled and motivated

staff, up 4.2 points on the July 2018 survey.

“Dairy and arable farmers have found staff recruitment particularly hard. This indicator has steadily worsened over the 10-year life of the survey and is at a record level of difficulty.”

Just on 56% of the 1462 respondents said they are making a profit, down from 62.3% in July 2018 with 9.3% making a loss, up from 7.8%. Another 32.4% are just breaking even, up from 27.8%.

“Meat and wool farmers continue to be the most positive about their current profitability

and their sentiment improved a little since July.

“But dairy’s worsened – no surprise given the fall in dairy commodity prices and farmgate milk price forecasts in the second half of 2018 – and arable’s also fell slightly,” Hoggard said.

Neary 30% of respondents expect farm profitability will get worse but only 18% expected a profit improvement.

However, farmers expect their spending will increase slightly over the next 12 months, particularly meat and wool farmers.

But farmers in most regions expect their debt to increase over the next year, with the North Island’s east coast the exception.

Regulation and compliance costs remain the greatest concern for farmers.

Concerns about climate change policy and the ETS that became increasingly prevalent over the past three surveys have levelled out and concern about the political situation has also decreased.

And, most unusually for a January survey, drought did not register as a concern.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Stress, anxiety trap farmers Luke Chivers MANAGING a farm is challenging at the best of times but for West Coast dairy farmer Angela Deans the impact on mental health can be one of the most demanding aspects of the job.

Deans knows all too well how work-related stress can lead to depression and anxiety.

“When you manage a small business you can’t always take time off, especially in a farming context when you have no one to milk the cows or feed the animals.

“If you don’t do the work, no one will.

“A lot of people in this industry feel trapped,” she said.

“They don’t see a way out because they have no plans to take up something else.”

Nearly a third of small and medium business owners experience a mental health condition after starting or taking over their business, new research by accounting software provider MYOB shows.

Of those, 59% experienced depression and 41% were affected by anxiety.

The tech company’s Business Monitor Snapshot survey, which polled more than 400 business owners across the country, also found women have higher levels of mental health issues – 39% compared to 26% of men.

“Owning and managing a small business can be extremely demanding and lonely,” MYOB country manager Ingrid CroninKnight said.

“Putting in long hours, skipping meals and cutting back on sleep to get things done can have a significant impact on the body and the mind – leading to greater stress, anxiety and depression.”

And sole traders often do not have anyone to share business and financial concerns with, she said.

It is an issue commonly seen by mental health professionals.

“The hours of owning or managing a small business often carry over into family or home life, leaving very little space

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Angela Deans knows what its like to struggle mentally and is passing on what she’s learnt to others.

for self-care,” Anxiety NZ Trust psychologist Rachael Chalmers said.

“Some business owners also struggle to separate themselves from their businesses, meaning if their business isn’t doing well, neither are they.

“While stress, anxiety and depression are starting to

become more widely discussed among business owners there is certainly room for improvement in supporting individual mental wellbeing.”

It is an improvement that is desperately needed in the primary sector, Deans said.

“I’ve had friends leave the industry because of the impact it

had on their mental wellbeing.

“The work is tough and a lot of people don’t understand just how physically and mentally demanding it can be.”

A lack of support, the loss of staff and the inability to take extended periods of leave only make things harder on the farm, she said.

“I lost my brother when I was living and working in Southland but I couldn’t take the appropriate amount of time off to process my loss, which is part of the reason why my husband and I moved to Greymouth. We wanted to be closer to family, to our support network.”

Following her brother’s death Deans visited her doctor, who referred her to a counsellor.

“That process helped me to understand my feelings,” she said.

“However, not everyone is as good at going out and getting the help they need.”

Today Deans is helping others in her rural community to overcome feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression by simply asking if they are doing okay and following up when they need it most.

“It’s okay to ask for help because people will be there for you when you need it.”

In December the Government’s Mental Health Inquiry found one in five New Zealanders experiences mental illness or significant mental distress in their lifetime – costing the economy $12 billion a year.

Cronin-Knight said a significant part of that cost falls on small business owners and mental health should be a health and safety issue for both employees and employers.

“While employers are responsible for the physical health and safety of themselves and their staff, increasingly mental wellbeing is also seen as a priority in the workplace,” she said.

“Ensuring you have processes and policies in place for supporting the mental health of you and your staff is hugely important.”

The latest MYOB findings were

reinforced by a recent Farmstrong survey.

The study, which close to 900 farmers under 35 took part in, showed wellbeing issues have a big impact on the lives of about 70% of young farmers.

A lot of people in this industry feel trapped. They don’t see a way out because they have no plans to take up something else.

Angela Deans Farmer Even more concerning, 66% of those surveyed said poor wellbeing contributed to one of their worst on-farm accidents or injuries in the previous year.

But most young farmers want to invest in ways to improve their mental health, the study showed.

Chalmers said the best place for anyone to start is with a visit to a general practitioner.

“From there you can discuss your challenges and your doctor may suggest a range of services or professionals available to support you on your journey to mental wellbeing.”

MORE:

If you need to talk to someone, the following free helplines operate 24/7: DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757 LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 NEED TO TALK? Call or text 1737 SAMARITANS: 0800 726 666 YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633 or text 234 Industry-specific advice and support for depression in the rural community is available at depression.org.nz/rural There are lots of places to get support. For others go to mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/in-crisis/ helplines/

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News

10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Beltex lambs top their first sale Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz IT’S the back end that’s of greatest interest and as the first commercial Beltex lambs in New Zealand hit the market that back end is shaping up to buyer expectations.

Following the inaugural BeltexNZ ram sale in April last year Beltex purebred and Beltexcross rams went all over the country.

The breed, established by Mid Canterbury sheep farmer Blair Gallagher, sheep genetics expert Jock Allison and Canterbury farm consultant John Tavendale, has its first commercial lamb crop in the market this season. “There’s a lot of interest and we are seeing some very pleasing results,� Gallagher said.

He cited the sale of BeltexPerendale-Romney lambs sold at the annual Surrey Hills on-farm lamb sale last month as a market indicator for exciting times to come for the breed. “At $150 they topped the sale and by quite a bit. It was a very pleasing result and an outstanding debut in the market for Beltexcross with the average for all the lambs sold being $5.65 ahead of the Suffolk-cross and $8 more than the top line of Romneys.�

Good farmer feedback about lambs on the ground this season from rams sold at the inaugural sale is encouraging as BeltexNZ prepares for its second sale next month.

Otara sheep farmer Lyle Mason is happy with the Beltex-Suffolk ram he put over his Perendale ewes. “I think he’s met expectation, I didn’t really know what to expect – just hoped he’d be better than what I’ve been getting. “Over 200 ewes we got 250 lambs so I was pretty happy with that.�

Mason said 92 of the 250 Beltex-

SOLD: Beltex-cross lambs sold at Surrey Hills in the first on-farm lamb sale for the breed in New Zealand.

This will add more backside and blend well with what we are doing in our breeding.

Guy Martin Farmer Suffolk lambs went at weaning as 17kg lambs averaging $121 on the kill sheet compared to a $116 average for the Perendales. “I’m happy with the results and I hope to be back to buy again this year,� Mason said.

One of three in a syndicate who bought the top price Beltexcross Suffolk ram at the first sale and also with interest in a Beltex purebred, Guy Martin said

it’s early days but the Beltex is shaping up quite nicely in its first season.

Martin, a Suftex breeder on his Greenpark property just south of Christchurch, is also a sheep genetics consultant. “You could say I should know what the back end of a wellmuscled lamb looks like and the Beltex is delivering.�

Guy said his intention when giving the Beltex a go was not to change his breed. “All three of us that were in on the purchase are Suftex breeders so we bought to add to our breed given if everything is believed about the yield it would add a lot to our terminal sire breed. “It was an opportunity to add something that was closely related.�

While it’s early days with 200

lambs weaned between them the trio are confident they have made a good choice. “So far so good but it will take another season to really get some results to compare.�

Guy is planning on picking a good ram lamb from this season’s drop and putting it across all his hoggets for the 2019 lambing. “This will add more backside and blend well with what we are doing in our breeding. “It’s exciting, there’s no doubt about that. I do think, though, that the Beltex will play a big part in crosses and be part of a breed rather than be a whole breed in NZ and that just comes with the difference in the way we farm in NZ compared to the homeland of the Beltex in the UK. In the first public auction of its kind in this part of the world

BeltexNZ offered 16 purebred Beltex rams in 2018, the highest of which went under the hammer at $12,000 with several others selling at $7000 and $8000.

A further 48 crossbred rams comprising Beltex-Suffolk, BeltexPoll Dorset and Beltex-Perendale were also offered and it was the Beltex-Suffolk sold for $15,000 that topped the sale.

The 2019 sale will be held at Blair Gallagher’s Rangiatea farm in the Mid Canterbury foothills on March 1.

This year, alongside the purebred ram lambs, there will also be two-tooth rams offered as well as Suffolk, Perendale and Poll Dorset crossed ram lambs.

For the first time in NZ Beltex cross two-tooth ewes and ewe lambs will also go under the hammer.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Alliance targeting young consumers Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz ALLIANCE thinks it can double the number of high-end London restaurants supporting its food service business over the next six to nine months.

“We haven’t got a fixed target but if we can do that, that would be good,’’ new sales general manager Shane Kingston said.

There’s just under 60 London restaurants now as well as a national United Kingdom chain with about 300 outlets.

Most of the London restaurants are independent or part of London-only chains and he believes that in about six months Alliance should be able to expand into other cities.

Just back from a fact-finding trip to the UK, Kingston said NZ’s biggest lamb exporter is committed to growing the business and focusing on learning the best way to access the target customers.

“We’re getting more customers and growing our existing customers and we’re improving our programmes, building up our product ranges and understanding consumer needs.”

A lot of the research involves how it can encourage younger consumers, those up to about age 30, to eat lamb.

They’re not interested in the traditional Sunday roast, now the preserve of older consumers.

“They haven’t got confidence in cooking lamb so we have to work out what is convenient for them, has simplicity and a quick cooking time that can help get that confidence.”

The restaurant chefs are working on interesting dishes appealing to young people, which they can then try at home.

Kingston admitted there is a challenge in the lamb market because of its higher pricing making it a bit inaccessible for some people.

Price is not such an issue over the Christmas period when people spend more and there are more occasions when lamb is on the menu.

The chilled market in both the UK and Europe has performed well for Alliance.

Because of climate conditions lamb supply was lighter for processors from October to December but the group was able to fill a good order book.

Prices have eased back since Christmas even though supply for the Easter chilled market, for which processing has started, is slower than expected.

“We need lambs coming in through that mid to late February into early March and we’re still confident of getting what we need.”

The Easter shipments and ordinary frozen supply to the markets generally could potentially be affected one way or other by however the UK’s Brexit process works out. Another important UK Parliament vote is scheduled for February 13 and the UK is due out of the EU at the end of March.

There has been a lot of concern over ports access and customs issues.

Kingston described them as inherent challenges and Alliance has been involved in a lot of talking and planning with customers and supply chain partners to handle a range of scenarios.

“We like to think that enough planning has been done and that the right mechanisms are in place.”

There is also a degree of nervousness over how Europe might handle the NZ sheep meat quota post-Brexit.

In other markets Alliance is pleased with the United States and Asia, supplied through Singapore-based Alliance Asia.

In China the tightening of the grey market channel and outbreak of swine fever provide

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

opportunities for NZ exporters.

The US-China trade row is also an issue to be watched closely but Alliance is confident the fundamentals of the lamb market remain strong.

That is also despite more talk against the meat protein diet.

It is quite visible in Europe but has not affected the market so far, Kingston said.

“It’s another issue to watch. We’re vigilant but confident.”

11

WATCHING: Alliance is monitoring anti-meat talk and is vigilant but confident, its sales general manager Shane Kingston says.

News

12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

New plant gets enough farmers Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz SYNLAIT is confident it will open its $250 million Pokeno, north Waikato, nutritional spray drier later this year ready for the start of the 2019-20 season.

It has a comfortable number of new supplier farmers but has not disclosed the actual numbers it wants or those who have committed so far.

Chief executive Leon Clement said Waikato farmers who have promised their milk supply are not responding to any introductory offer or incentive, the nature of which would be unsustainable.

Some want to reinvest their Fonterra share capital in their farming businesses and others were attracted by Synlait’s Lead with Pride environmental and sustainability rewards programme.

“We need enough suppliers to get started here and we are on track to do that,” he said.

Within the 150km radius Waikato pick-up zone many dairy farmers had invested in Canterbury or have friends and relatives who already supply Synlait.

They were among the first group of potential suppliers to Pokeno.

To cease supplying Fonterra farmers need to notify the cooperative of their intention by February 28 but they can then recall that move at any time until May 31.

Clement said competition among dairy companies for milk supply is a good thing and Synlait’s milk price has to be competitive.

In 2018 it paid $6.78/kg milksolids, including a 13c average premium, to 200 farmers in Canterbury, compared with $6.79 for fully-shared Fonterra suppliers.

In late January Synlait reduced this season’s forecast to $6.25 from its opening of $6.75 and said it will give a further update in May. He is not aware of any new farm conversions or major herd expansions under way with an

intention to supply Pokeno.

Only 50km to the south Open Country is seeking supply farms for its Horotiu milk powder plant under construction.

“We are aware of the competition but that’s not a negative. We are not here to destroy value but to build value for farmers, our investors and NZ dairying.”

Pokeno was designed to produce up to 45,000 tonnes of powder annually, including infantgrade skim milk, whole milk and infant formula base powders.

Throughput will be governed by seasonality and customers’ requirements, Pokeno commercial manager John Beeby said.

In addition to the milk reception area, natural gas-fired boiler and evaporator and drier Pokeno will have a wet ingredients mixing room and a huge powder products storage hall.

After commissioning Pokeno will not go straight to high-end infant nutrition without making sure its machinery and operators are working reliably with standard grade milk powders initially.

Infant formula blending and packaging will continue to be done at Mangere, Auckland, in the 35,000t facility on behalf of customers in 50 different countries, Clement said.

Infant formula base will be trucked from Pokeno to Mangere in 25kg bags but the 28ha Pokeno site has room for expansion.

Synlait already produces 45% of the infant foods exported from NZ. It collects 4% of the national milk pool and makes 8% of the export revenue, which is a good indication of the value added.

In the 2018 financial year 28% of Synlait’s sales were infant formula (35,580t), double the proportion of the year before.

It has forecast the sales volume will grow by 10,000t to 45,000t this financial year.

The largest infant nutrition market in the world is China, followed by the United States, both of which feature strongly in Synlait’s portfolio of customers.

Clement and Beeby invited

We are here to build value for our farmers, investors and the NZ dairy industry.

Leon Clement Synlait

ON TIME: Synlait’s Pokeno powder plant will be ready for the start of the 2019-20 milk season, chief executive Leon Clements says.

rural media representatives to see progress on the Pokeno build, being done by Babbage Consultants and First Principles Constructors (FPC) under contract to Tetra Pak Oceania.

FPC arose out of the collapse of Ebert Construction last August and the small amount of time lost has been recovered, Beeby said.

Two processing sites and more

milk pools will reduce Synlait’s risk and exposure to disruption and provide safeguards for its customers, Clement said.

While market conditions could change during the two years from idea to reality at Pokeno, Synlait has consistently demonstrated its sound planning and subsequent risk-taking over the past decade.

It also has a strong balance sheet – a 20.9% debt to debt plus equity ratio last July 31.

Processing optionality and product mixes are widening with a liquid milk plant and lactoferrin expansion at Dunsandel.

Synlait is recruiting A1 proteinfree (A2) supply in the north to grow that category, now 15% of the Dunsandel plant throughput in Canterbury.

It would have the reception and flow-on facilities at Pokeno from day one to handle differentiated milks.

The Talbot Forest Cheese agreement also complemented infant nutrition by providing whey products, optimising milk pickups and taking milksolids at the peak.

“We put a lot of time and thinking into careful, adjacent movements that are complementary to our core business and help our existing customers.”

Clement said Synlait’s submission to the Government’s review of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act will take the view it has been good for NZ. “Good regulation and good behaviour from the industry sets the foundation.

“Regulation shouldn’t impose outcomes but create a framework for their achievement.

“Increasing competitiveness, transparency and encouraging innovation are key principles.”

He would not go into specifics on DIRA matters before submissions are received and published by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

15

Quota top-up held in reserve Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com MEAT exporters left short by a split in European quota are to get a top-up but it won’t be enough to meet an expected surge in demand from customers on the continent in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The European Parliament recently passed regulations to split quotas a select group of countries including New Zealand rely on for preferential access to markets of European Union member states.

The quota split is to accommodate Britain’s departure from the EU at the end of next month.

The new allocations are based on trade with the EU between 2015 and 2017.

NZ can export up to 228,000 tonnes of sheep meat to the EU’s complement of 28 member states without incurring tariffs.

Under the new regulations tariff-free access, quotas will be capped at 114,000 tonnes each for the United Kingdom and the remaining 27 member states.

For volumes above that mark for either the UK or the continent NZ exporters will face tariffs as high as 50%.

The quotas will continue to be administered by the NZ Meat Board and are allocated to exporters

according to their share of the national kill for the preceding three years.

Meat Board spokesman Dave Harrison said increased Chinese demand means NZ has not filled its European quota for some time.

They end up with a certain amount of quota into a market which they do not operate in and not enough in the market they do.

Dave Harrison “That has probably meant we can split it in a way that does not impact too much on too many exporters.”

Harrison said there are a handful of exporters who, by virtue of doing more business in either the UK or continental Europe, will be disadvantaged by the split.

“They end up with a certain amount of quota into a market which they do not operate in and not enough in the market they do.”

It is estimated those exporters will be 3500 tonnes short of EU quota but will have enough for the UK market.

“We are looking to hold back a little bit of quota to make sure that trade is not disrupted for people who have invested in good faith on either side of the channel.”

After consulting with exporters it was decided to keep 5000 tonnes of quota in reserve for the EU. The same amount will be made available for exporters short of quota for the UK market.

Harrison said allocations will be made according to historic trade by exporters.

“We haven’t tried to look at how a no-deal Brexit might disrupt prices and trade flows for this mechanism but we will be keeping an eye on the situation.”

A report last week from the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board predicted a shortage of up to 33,000 tonnes of lamb in EU markets following a nodeal Brexit because of British farmers effectively being locked out of the continental market by tariffs of 50% or more.

Harrison said NZ exporters will be limited in their ability to meet that extra demand and the Meat Board cannot address that problem because it cannot create new EU quota.

“The risks you are talking about are the heart of the reason that we are opposed to splitting the quotas so any

IN RESERVE: The Meat Board is holding back some sheep meat quota for both Britain and Europe to help firms affected by Brexit, spokesman Dave Harrison says.

impacts along these lines will be relevant to our arguments against quota splitting.”

While NZ has objected to the World Trade Organisation that’s not enough to stop the EU from going ahead and splitting the quotas when Britain leaves.

The Government won’t say if it is considering suing the EU at the WTO.

Get more twins.

Get more No-deal Brexit bad for sheep meat twins.

SHEEP farmers are likely to be the hardest hit of all British producers under a no-deal Brexit, resulting in clear knock-on implications for New Zealand sheep meat exporters, according to a new report from the Britain’s Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board.

Warning that United Kingdom farmers in general could suffer a seismic trade impact from a no-deal, with British farm exports likely to be rendered uncompetitive under World Trade Organisation tariffs, the report said the damage to the sheep meat sector could be the worse of all.

“UK sheep meat exports would suffer considerably if WTO tariffs of up to 50% of the price of meat were put in place,” it said, adding that would be a huge blow to the UK’s competitiveness.

“In addition, with around 90% of UK sheep meat exports being to the EU a no-deal is likely to hit UK sheep farmers’ incomes.”

Board analyst Rebecca Oborne warned UK sheep meat exports to the EU could

AHEAD: New Zealand and Australia enjoy trading terms with China that Britain has yet to establish, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board analyst Rebecca Oborne says.

be dramatically disrupted if the necessary post-Brexit export health certification process is either slow or cumbersome.

“If the UK leaves the EU in a no-deal situation on March 29 then, at the moment, there is a big question mark for sheep meat exports,” she said.

“Tariffs and export health certification may also disrupt cross-border Irish trade as around 40–50% of lambs from Northern Ireland are sent to

slaughter in the republic.”

Oborne suggested there might be some new postBrexit opportunities for UK exports to non-EU destinations, especially with the estimated surge of the middle classes in the Asia– Pacific region.

“The UK could potentially see sheep meat exports to Japan, following inspections

by Japanese officials in summer 2018,” she said.

“Discussions regarding

access to the Chinese market for UK sheep meat are also getting under way. There is also potential to expand the UK’s exports of sheep offal to China as well as to other Asian and African markets.”

But a no-deal Brexit might influence exporters in New Zealand and elsewhere.

“We need to bear in mind that the UK would face strong competition from NZ and Australia,” she said.

“This is especially true given their proximity to the Asian market and the fact that their costs of production are lower than that of the UK although there may be a limit to how much output could increase even in these countries.”

NZ and Australia already enjoy the sort of trading terms and relationship with China the UK still has to establish.

“China has free-trade agreements in place with both NZ and Australia,” she said.

“This is giving NZ tariff-free access to the Chinese market while Australia will have reduced tariff access until 2023 followed by tariff-free access, all of which further highlights the challenges the UK faces in order to compete with these top exporters.”

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News

16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Kiwi croppers share expertise Tim Fulton timfulton050@gmail.com TOP Kiwi farmers are showing America’s best arable producers how to grow premium wheat and barley as a crop rotation.

The world-record holders for wheat and barley yield are set to again impress a discerning American crowd with crops produced by remote control.

Last July Eric and Maxine Watson and Warren and Joy Darling showcased premium, spring-sown plots at a major agricultural trade field day in the United States.

They’ve made a lot farmers have a look at what they are doing and it will lead to a lot of discussion over the winter months.

Glenn Herz AgPhD Working with Bayer NZ Mid and South Canterbury regional sales manager David Weith the families directed the planting and care of the crop at the annual AgPhD in South Dakota without setting foot in the country.

Their skills were on show at the annual AgPhD field day, the brainchild of South Dakota seedcompany owners, brothers Darren and Brian Hefty, who saw a need for an agronomy-based radio show for the state’s farmers.

AgPhD is also a radio and television show and Weith, who is a fan of AgPhD in all its formats, noticed on one show the Hefty brothers dishing praise to local growers for a yield of 100 bushels an acre, equivalent to 6.7 t/ha.

In August 2017 Weith, who provides crop care for the Watsons

and Darlings, sent the brothers a link to Bayer’s You Tube videos showing how the families won their Guinness world records.

About a week later he got an email back asking whether the Kiwis would like to contribute at some point to what we’re doing over here?

Weith heard nothing more from AgPhD until late December when suddenly the Heftys invited them attend the 2018 show. That was all well and good but then came a twist – an invitation to put in a 60m by 40m plot each of barley and wheat.

The Cantabrians excelled at the job, creating a breakthrough moment for barley-growing in the state.

Traditionally, North Dakota grows the crop, not its southern neighbour. Overall the Kiwis did so well in South Dakota they’ve been invited back to the 2019 AgPhD to showcase winter-sown wheat and barley.

To pull off the act of virtual crop management Weith and his clients spent countless hours in NZ phoning and emailing each other and American contacts.

At nearly every step they had to precisely communicate the next step in their production plan, right down to accurately translating American imperial measures to metrics.

Drawing on decades of experience the Darlings and Watsons did it with a flourish, capping a superb few years of arable farming.

In 2015 the Darlings, farming near Timaru, produced 13.8t of barley a hectare, breaking the previous Guinness record of 12.2t held by Scottish grower Gordon Rennie since 1989.

Then two years later there was more collective glory for NZ arable farming when the Watsons, farming near Ashburton, achieved their Guinness world record for wheat yield in 2017. The couple produced a staggering 16.791t a hectare, beating the previous

ON SITE: Warren Darling and Eric Watson take in the sights at the AgPhD field day.

SHOWING OFF: Bayer’s Brad Powell, Warren Darling and Eric and Maxine Watson in the crop demonstration plots at AgPhD in south Dakota.

record of 16.519t held for two years by a British farmer.

Irrigated wheat yields in NZ average about 12t a hectare.

Weith said the main things the Kiwis brought to the wheat and barley plots in South Dakota were a focus on a lower seed sowing rate resulting in lower plant populations and a greater number of tillers per plant. Other plotholders had 1.5 million plants an acre while Kiwis had 850,000 plants an acre and got a similar yield.

With help from Weith and his US-based colleague, key account manager Brad Powell, the farmers excelled at early use of fertiliser rather than spreading it across the growing season.

They also increased use of fungicides to keep the crop greener for longer and because of the plant growth regulator and thinner crops they had much better control of ear disease.

Powell said the Kiwis impressed with their use of plant growth regulators to shorten and even-up the crop. Their corrected yields were similar to the American plot entrants with lower seed cost and half the plant population. They also made excellent use of foliar insecticides to eliminate barley yellow leaf virus which can reduce yield.

The Kiwis’ yield figures told part of the story. Their South Dakota plot sowing rate for the wheat plot was 50.35kg/ha (45lb/acre) whereas the normal South Dakota wheat sowing rate was 100kg to 134kg/ha (90lb to 120lb/acre).

Weith said compared with NZ the seed size was very small.

The New Zealanders’ South Dakota plot sowing rate for the barley plot was 52kg/ha (46.5lb/ acre) while the normal North Dakota rate is168kg/ha (150lb/ acre).

To put the Kiwi output in perspective, an exceptional yield in South Dakota is 100 bushels/ acre( 6.72t/ha) for wheat and 120 bushels/acre (8.07t/ha) of barley.

The state’s average yields for the 2018 harvest were 52 bushels/ acre (3.5t/ha) for wheat and 75 bushels/acre (5.04t/ha) of barley.

NZ average yields for wheat were 10t/ha (148 bushels/acre) and Watson’s was 16.7910t/ ha (242 bushels/acre). The NZ average yield for barley is 7t/ha (104 bushels/acre) and Darling’s was 13.8t/ha (205.2 bushels/acre).

Weith said looking ahead to now tending winter-sown crops for AgPhD 2019 the group is worried about damage from snow and severe South Dakota frost.

However, their AgPHD contact Glenn Herz assured them the plot area isn’t as snow-prone as other parts of the state.

“It’s still a risk but it’s not as high a risk,” Weith said.

Hertz is convinced the American crowd is in for another treat when the Kiwis show off their spring-sown crops in July.

WHEAT: Eric Watson grew 16.791 tonnes of wheat a hectare.

BARLEY: Warren Darling grew 13.8 tonnes of barley a hectare.

“They’ve made a lot farmers have a look at what they are doing and it will lead to a lot of discussion over the winter months.”

Weith said growing winter wheat in South Dakota is the equivalent to sowing in May in NZ. He wants the wheat to be grown just like he’d do it at home so he asked Herz to aim for 75lb an acre, equivalent to 84kg/ha.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

19

Shearers flock to charity event Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz INTERNATIONALLY renowned names will be among 70 shearers banding together for a charity Shear for Life event in Ashburton later this month.

Born over a couple of beers in an Aussie pub, Shear for Life has been 12 months in the making with organisers overwhelmed by the support for the unique fundraising venture.

Ashburton shearer Rocky Bull said he and his mates Alan (Bimbo) Bramley and Steven (Dixy) Lynch were just having a couple after a day’s shearing when they chatted about getting a few old mates together.

“It seemed like a good idea to get a group of shearers together for a reunion, have a bit of fun, tell a few yarns and perhaps raise some money for charity.

“It’s taken months to pull together, like 12 months since we first threw up the idea and most of that time has been spent tracking shearers down,” Bull said.

All of sudden it was too much for a handful of blokes to handle.

Craig Harrison Shear for Life “And now I am getting calls from around the world from people who are hearing about it and want to be involved.”

With 70 shearers confirmed, most over the age of 50 and the eldest 81, the event has attracted both nationwide and international interest.

“It’s just blown us away. It very quickly grew too big for three fellas to pull off.”

Buoyed by the interest and support the trio pulled in a few shearing mates and good friends with the expertise to help make it happen, a committee was formed and it’s all go.

Raising money for prostate and breast cancer, Shear for Life will see 70 of the world’s best shearers line up on February 23 to shear 3000 sheep in eight hours.

The event will take place courtesy of the Ewing family in the woolshed on their Hindsridge Farm just south of Ashburton.

The woolshed has been extended and had a spruce-up to cater for the event.

The Ewing family is also supplying the 3000 crossbred lambs to be shorn.

“So, we have pretty much ticked all the boxes with just the finetuning to do now,” event MC Craig Harrison said.

“And, of course, we’re very grateful to the Ewing family who have made it all possible.”

The list of shearers looks very much like the who’s who of the shearing world with the names

including many times world champion Sir David Fagan, his fellow world-stage competitors Alan McDonald from Te Kuiti, Darrin Ford, Southland, and Tom Wilson who made his name in shearing in Scotland.

The 70-strong shearing team includes 10 women with mother and daughter world recordholders Marg Bayne and Ingrid Smith from Wairoa and former world record holder Jillian Burney from Taupo among the line-up.

Then there’s the celebrity list that includes four ex-All Blacks – Sir Brian Lahore, Andy Earl, Jock Ross and New Zealand prostate cancer ambassador Buck Shelford.

Seventeen of the shearers are either current or former world record holders with several of the women having also featured in the She Shears movie.

“The line-up of shearers has well exceeded expectation. It’s all gotten much bigger than ever imagined.

“All of sudden it was too much for a handful of blokes to handle and we are very grateful for the willingness of the experienced people who were approached to help pull all the strands together,” Harrison said.

Sponsorship has also well exceeded expectation.

“We targeted a few sponsors in the farming and agribusiness sector and it’s just snowballed.

It’s a unique way of raising funds and it’s certainly generated local interest and way beyond that, too, with nationwide support also very forthcoming.

“Sponsors have put their hands up, given and kept on giving.”

While the three buddies thought it would be cool to target $10,000 that soon became very real and they looked out to $20,000 but it could well be closer to $100,000.

“It’s climbing very quickly and now we have no target in mind.

It will be a surprise to us on the day and is looking to be a very pleasant one at that.”

The money will be equally shared three ways between the prostate and breast cancer organisations and Ashburton Cancer Support.

Shear for Life kicks into action at 8am on February 23 with the aim to have the 3000 sheep shorn by 4pm.

Shearers will work in relays of eight changing every 20-30 minutes with the public able to view the shearing from the woolshed floor or via the screen in the adjacent marquee where food and drinks will also be available.

After the shearing there will be a charity auction with items including signed All Blacks and Crusaders jerseys, a Makapua Station (Hawke’s Bay) hunting package, a Mt Aspiring (Wanaka) helicopter flight, a shearing handpiece and several accommodation packages around the country.

Entry to the event is by gold coin donation.

SPRUCE UP: Painter Milzy, left, and Rocky Bull, were part of the team adding a lick of paint to the extension on the Ewing family woolshed in readiness for the Shear for Life cancer charity event.

Photo: Annette Scott

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News

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Cash to put kai back in Kaipara Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz THE Government has promised a sizable cash injection for rural roads, bridges, waterways and what are called the most versatile soils north of Auckland.

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The package for Northland was announced

by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones at the start of Waitangi week on Otamatea Marae, Maungaturoto.

The money will come from the Provincial Growth Fund, the National Land Transport Fund, Kaipara District Council and Te Roroa iwi.

The biggest chunks are $8m each on metalling Kaipara roads and sealing the Pouto Peninsula road, $5m on wharves and water transport and $3.5m on a bridge for the road between Kaiwaka and Mangawhai.

Kaipara Mayor Jason Smith, who has a PhD in economic development and previously worked as Kaipara’s economic development manager, said the funding components are hugely significant.

“The roads of Kaipara have been badly neglected for a long time. More than 70% of our network is unsealed – that is 1200 kilometres – with 22,000 population, only a portion of whom are ratepayers.

“This funding goes into restoring what we do best – the kai in Kaipara – producing food and transporting it to market with trucks and trailers.

“Productive capacity is the heart of the Kaipara Kai project and our potential as the food bowl to the north of Auckland.

“The topo-climate study of the northern end of the district from Hokianga to Ruawai was done in 2002 and identified 50,000ha of the most versatile soils.

“We are going to update that study with any climate changes and the different crops and technology, for example, and extend it into the southern region.

“That southern region is the fastest growing in the North Island, going into lifestyle blocks, where landowners need to have the options.

“Not just a pony under a tree behind a picket fence but something productive like horticulture or viticulture.”

Smith said Jones is especially keen on the Kaipara Harbour and its renewed potential for transport, productivity and recreation.

“Part of the reason Kaipara has been neglected for so long is that it was founded on water travel with communities on the shore now connected by very bad roads. We have been strangled economically and we need to put the infrastructure like jetties and ferries back.

“The new funding joins up the economic dots, stops the decline and provides a way for working our way up again.”

The Government bundled various plans and applications in the one Kaipara announcement.

Jones said the projects will not only enable greater land use but also create more resilient communities and have significant environmental impacts.

“From primary industry to tourism Northland is primed for strong growth and a resilient, reliable transport network is an important part of achieving this growth,” he said.

“Local people have told us that infrastructure is a priority for them and a key enabler of future economic growth.”

The funds will be delivered through existing organisations and companies, not start-ups, required to have business plans, contracts and audits of progress and delivery.

The council received $1.3m to boost its capabilities and resources.

Smith said Kaipara people will see improvements in their roads, bridges and communities but the roading work will need to be spread out because of the availability of metal.

The media release from Jones’ office listed more than $50m of Provincial Growth Fund projects in Northland separate from the Kaipara ones.

The largest are for a roundabout on SH10 at Waipapa, construction of the Hundertwasser Arts Centre in Whangarei, a marine travel lift in Whangarei and for forest planting by Ngati Hine.

News

farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

21

IT WORKS: The most likely reason for less phosphorus being found in water is the strategy to mitigate it, Professor Rich McDowell says.

Phosphorus levels fall Tim Fulton timfulton050@gmail.com CONCENTRATIONS of waterpolluting, enriched phosphorus in streams and rivers have decreased, research shows.

Enrichment of surface freshwaters with phosphorus can stimulate algal growth, some species are toxic, leading to the loss of oxygen when algae die, fish kills and impairment of water for recreation, drinking, industrial and agricultural uses, research led by Professor Rich McDowell found.

McDowell, who heads a National Science Challenge looking at water quality, concluded the most likely reason for the improvement is the strategy to mitigate phosphorus loss from land with guidelines directing where to best use it and policy for its management.

“These findings support the development and implementation of mitigations, supported by voluntary guidelines and regulation.”

Other possible reasons for the improvement are changing land-use decreasing erosion, more nitrogen fertiliser use assimilating soil phosphorus and a greater awareness of it as an environmental issue.

The work found little evidence the improvement was caused by a decrease in soil Olsen P concentrations or imported phosphorus such as fertiliser, a change to low water-soluble phosphorus fertilisers or greater nitrate loads assimilating phosphorus from groundwater or sediments.

Analysis of data from 19942013 showed that for 145 monitoring sites in catchments dominated by intensively grazed pasture, median filterable reactive phosphorus (that immediately available to algae) concentrations decreased at 46% of locations, increased at 21% and had no change elsewhere.

However, when examined at

277 sites between 2004 and 2013 median FRP concentrations fell at 57% of locations and increased at 15% while 29% were unchanged.

For the 159 sites dominated by intensively grazed pasture monitored for total phosphorus (slowly available to algae in streams but fully available in lakes and reservoirs because it has time to dissolve) between 1994-2013, 41% improved and 21% were worse while for 304 sites monitored between 20042013, 65% improved.

These findings support the development and implementation of mitigations, supported by voluntary guidelines and regulation.

Professor Rich McDowell Science Challenge

The increase in sites exhibiting an improvement in water quality occurred despite a 26% increase in national dairy cow numbers and the continued expansion of dairying into new areas commonly used for sheep farming. Sheep numbers decreased by 22% over the same period, Statistics New Zealand figures for 2018 show.

Despite the challenges an ever-increasing amount of data was available.

“We are now at a stage where we can provide some guidance on the strength of factors such as land use practices put forward in the scientific and public literature as likely causes of phosphorus trends in stream flow.”

Such factors include but

are not limited to land use change, a decrease in imported phosphorus as fertilisers and feed, a change in phosphorus fertiliser form, a decrease in soil Olsen P concentration, greater assimilation of phosphorus in soils, greater assimilation of phosphorus in groundwater and in-stream, an increase in the use of mitigations, better awareness and education of rural professionals and the use of policy instruments.

Previous study of water quality data showed most sites examined by regional authorities and science providers had phosphorus concentrations likely to limit periphyton growth.

Chlorophyll-a is a measure of periphyton growth, which is in turn driven by the concentration of the limiting or co-limiting nutrient, nitrogen or phosphorus.

Noting previous work by others, McDowell’s team concluded that while reasons for increases or decreases in phosphorus concentrations can be implied, the strength of any reasoning is dependent on factors such as flow-paths, land use practices and the quality and amount of information.

For example, at a small or subcatchment scale, stream flow might be dominated by surface flows that move quickly from the land into the stream.

However, at a large catchment or regional scale, more stream flow is sourced from deeper and potentially older water.

That means that while regular sampling for phosphorus at a small scale might help pinpoint the effect of certain land use practices on stream flow phosphorus concentrations, at a larger scale the ability to ascribe phosphorus concentration trends to land use practices is compromised by the ability to monitor those practices at enough sites and water that is sourced from a range of flowpaths and ages.

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News

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Trade deal sows seeds of success Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

LAGGING: New Zealand must update its seed standard to take advantage of the Comprehensive and Progress Trans Pacific Partnership, Grain and Seed Trade Association general manager Thomas Chin says.

NEW Zealand’s near $200 million dollar grain and seed exports will benefit from the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership, Grain and Seed Trade Association general manager Thomas Chin says.

Statistics NZ data shows crop seed and grain exports from were worth $193m last year with

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exports going to more than 70 markets.

Top regional markets are Australia, Asia and North America.

Key export seed crops are forage seeds including ryegrass and clover, valued at $90m, followed by vegetable seeds including carrot, radish, beet and cabbage at $86m and cereal seeds at $17m.

“Ultimately, we will see increased demand for NZ dairy, meat, wool and horticultural crops and it will also deliver some positives for the seed trade.

“Importantly, the CPTPP agreement requires all parties to be compliant with the 1991 International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV 91) plant breeders’ rights rules.”

Interestingly, significant partner countries such as Australia, Japan and Canada are already compliant with UPOV91 but NZ is an outlier.

Playing catch-up, NZ must now update its domestic legislation and align its plant protection regime with the global standard.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has begun the process with a review and officials will be consulting industry stakeholders later in the year.

“Aligning with UPOV91 will give confidence to seed companies to make available their new and innovative seed technologies to farmers, which will boost their competitiveness and productivity.”

The CPTPP also provides for robust phytosanitary standards with an emphasis on scientific evidence-based standards.

Chin said the standards are vital because they govern the continued smooth and efficient movement of seed between NZ’s trading partners.

“Without imports NZ seed companies would lose the opportunity to multiply product for offshore markets and source new germplasm for local research and development.”

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NAIT users must reregister all their locations and ensure their accounts are up to date after a key system upgrade.

The upgrade will help farmers and the industry when using the national animal traceability system, Nait head Kevin Forward said.

They are required to update their details by March 31.

The enhancement involves development of an interactive map that uses Land Information data to accurately define a NAIT location.

“The new, interactive map tool makes it more straightforward for NAIT users when they go online to register their properties,” Forward said.

“Reselecting the land parcels that make up your NAIT location will help us build more effective traceability through precisely identifying the locations where NAIT animals are kept.”

Existing and new NAIT users will be required to update their contact details, declare their herd enterprise type and the number of other species they manage at their properties.

“This is not only mandatory it has also proved beneficial towards the Government and industry’s Mycoplasma bovis response.

“We know that where accurate records have been maintained for registered NAIT locations and the animals kept there the tracing of animals and their movements has been faster and easier,” he said.

A guide is available on the OSPRI website.

Farmers unsure about what is required or unable to navigate the NAIT online system can call the OSPRI contact centre on 0800 482 463.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

23

Manuka trademark is worth gold Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz THE manuka honey industry is under pressure to have the variety trademark protected globally as overseas imitators grow and harvest the high-value food.

Beekeepers, processors and iwi must keep the pressure on for the manuka variety gain a certification trademark or equivalent in major trading markets including China, the United States and the European Union, UMF Honey Association chairman Peter Luxton said.

So far the manuka variety has gained recognition as a uniquely New Zealand product in Britain, where the trademark registry accepted the term as a certification mark.

Unlike commercial trademarks, certification trademarks are open trademarks that refer to a specific type of product but allow companies to sell their own brands if certified to that trademark.

Scotch whisky is a typical example.

Australian honey producers have appealed against the British decision and continue to maintain they offer a product from the same variety of plant, worthy of being included in the manuka variety definition.

Luxton told a delegation discussing the future of the manuka brand the Chinese government is seeking its lead from the NZ Government’s support of the application before ticking its approval.

“And in the United States the issues are around the distinctiveness of the brand, an issue similar to the United Kingdom.”

The decision in the UK to acknowledge manuka as a distinctly NZ brand, defined in the Maori language, set a high bar for Australian attempts to undo the decision, he said.

KEEP IT UP: UMF Honey Association chairman Peter Luxton has urged the sector to keep up the pressure for global recognition of the New Zealand product.

If we had protected the original kiwifruit instead of giving it away we may not be having to spend so much today.

Peter Luxton UMF Honey Association Some delegates questioned whether NZ would be better to try to define manuka’s healthy properties rather than define manuka itself.

But Luxton is adamant a beachhead has to be established in defining manuka before

expanding on any health benefits.

The ex-Zespri marketing executive recalled his experience in the kiwifruit industry to urge delegates to keep the momentum up on the other countries.

“We gave the term kiwifruit away to the rest of the world in the 60s and 70s not realising just how successful it would be.

“We failed to take the opportunity to trademark it. Now Zespri is spending up to 8% of its retail turnover. It’s a leading fruit brand but there is up to $200 million a year going in to protect and promote the Zespri brand kiwifruit.

“If we had protected the original kiwifruit instead of giving it away we may not be having to spend so much today.”

UMF spokesman John Rawcliffe

confirmed the association has been inundated with queries from growers in South America and Europe wanting to know more about how to plant, grow and harvest manuka for honey.

The association is seeking funding from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund to gain ongoing protection of the manuka brand. But to garner support iwi have to also be on board with the bid.

Ngati Porou Miere honey partnership spokesman Victor Goldsmith said Maori regard manuka as a sacred part of the environment, a taonga, and consultation with iwi is compulsory if the bid is to get any funding.

But there are also complex issues at stake regarding regional

variations in manuka types and how iwi will define, manage and market them and value iwi cultural intellectual property.

It is possible guardianship of the intellectual property could be managed through a statutory trust, vested in Maoridom.

Honey analyst John Hill said the cost of not moving to protect manuka is significant.

His modelling, audited by the Government, indicates the industry could be responsible for 4500 jobs by 2033 and generate $10 billion in sales.

“But if we don’t protect it and it becomes just a variety available elsewhere too then we effectively will not grow much bigger from the size we are today.”

The industry made $260m in exports last year.

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The latest Dairy Farmer hit letterboxes on February 4, have you read yours?

As the season starts winding down for most, other farmers are gearing up for autumn calving.

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24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

New opportunities for agri-food Luke Chivers CHANGES being driven by computer scientists in the agrifood sector are providing new opportunities for Kiwi farmers.

The disruption, which is changing what we eat, was the focus of the KPMG farm enterprise specialist Julia Jones’ keynote speech at the Young Farmers Conference.

“There’s a restaurant in Boston with a robotic kitchen,” she said.

Spyce is a world-first and was created by four robotics-obsessed engineers who wanted healthy food at a reasonable price.

Customers order using a touchscreen then robots do the rest. Ingredients are dropped into a row of rotating woks, which cook meals in under three minutes.

“Disruption in the agrifood sector isn’t coming from agriculture, it’s coming from computer scientists,” Jones said.

It’s likely to be another three to five years before lab-grown meat is available in supermarkets in the United States.

“The thing they haven’t quite worked out is how to grow the fat and muscle that gives meat its taste.

“And these competitors aren’t

Disruption in the agri-food sector isn’t coming from agriculture, it’s coming from computer scientists.

Julia Jones KPMG necessarily offering the same value as our primary sector products,” she said.

“Plant-based, meat-free options can lack the same nutritional value as real meat.

“So, we need to ask ourselves ‘how do we balance what is right for us as humans with what is right for our planet?’ Today, there is a growing tension between nutrition and the environment.”

The world’s food system is worth US$8 trillion.

New Zealand earns $40 billion a year from food exports.

“We have a big advantage on the world stage because we can produce artisan, niche products and demand a higher price,” Jones said.

FRICTION: Tension between nutrition and the environment is growing, KPMG farm enterprise specialist Julia Jones says.

Deer milk produced by Pamu (Landcorp) is being made into ice cream and other desserts by chefs in upmarket restaurants in Auckland and Wellington.

Other examples Jones pointed out were high-protein fly products, marijuana-infused olive oil and micro-algae pasta.

Jones believes the opportunities to expand NZ’s ocean-farmed

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salmon industry are immense.

“I recently visited one of NZ King Salmon’s farms in the Marlborough Sounds. There were 33,000 fish in one pen. It’s amazing,” she said.

Young Farmers members were urged to understand consumers and find out what they are willing to pay a premium for.

“If you travel overseas, go

into an expensive-looking supermarket and see what sort of food is on the shelves,” Jones said.

“I went to a supermarket in California last year and they had a big fridge with a sign on it that read grass-fed milk.”

The world’s population is projected to reach about 10 billion people by 2050.

“That’s a huge jump in terms of calories that we need to produce to feed all of those people,” Tech Futures Lab’s general manager Sarah Hindle said.

Devising ways to sustainably feed everyone poses a challenge for scientists and food producers.

It also opens new career opportunities.

“What we see real growth in is the rise of the agricultural technologist,” Hindle said.

“They’ll have an ability to manage technological systems and have expertise in things like robotics, automation, drones and data electronics.”

Jones advised farmers planning on experimenting a little and diversifying their land use to embrace failure.

“There will be things you try and they won’t work but keep trying and learning from your mistakes,” she said.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Big inventory of wine pushes prices down Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz BULK wine prices are falling around the world as the very big 2018 global grape harvest, including New Zealand’s, starts to impact.

There will be a fundamental shift in the availability and prices of wine this year and a profound impact on trends, Rabobank’s senior wine analyst Hayden Higgins said.

Prices for generic wines from major producers Spain and Italy started falling towards the end of last year and French prices by a smaller amount.

The falls will be more marked because the industry is coming off scarcer supply, especially from Europa and Chile, from the smaller 2017 harvest, Higgins said in his latest Wine Quarterly.

NZ wine exports remained flat in the year to September 30, up just 0.4% in volume on a year earlier, and up by 2% in value.

This country was one of four countries that sent increased volumes of wine into the important United States market over the first nine months of calendar 2018, the others being Italy, France, and Portugal. Imports from Chile, Germany, Argentina, South Africa, Spain and Australia declined.

Imports from NZ to America rose by 3% in volume and 4% in value but in the third quarter alone (July to September), volumes contracted for both bottled and bulk wine compared to 2017.

France had the best growth in supply to the US with volumes up 9% during the nine-months and value up by 16%, based on a good increase in bottled table wines.

The US is the major growth market for premium NZ wines and Higgins noted the US is now a major focus for Australia because it wants to reposition as a prominent premium producer.

While Australian exports grew well in the year to September, up 5% by volume and 11% in value, its shipments to the US fell in volume and by value, continuing a trend of recent years.

The US is Australia’s second-biggest market after China with NZ the fifth-biggest market after Britain and Canada.

Higgins said the extremely dry and hot weather in Australia this summer might reduce volumes in this year’s grape harvest.

In line with the lower 2017 harvest, France, Italy, Spain, Chile and South Africa all reduced export volumes but they increased in value. Argentina had a big increase in volumes, notably bulk wines, due mainly to a significant fall in the value of its currency.

Higgins reported a big lift in e-commerce wine sales, especially in Europe, over the last year and margins were higher because of the more premium mix of sales than is available in bricks-and-mortar stores.

In Western Europe total wine consumption fell by about 5% between 2010 and 2017 but e-commerce sales increased by 66%. Market-share of sales by value are higher than sales by volume because of the premium mix and consumer hunt online for uniqueness and being prepared to pay for it.

However, there are issues for e-commerce, notably regulatory requirements covering consumer-age and identity and also the increasingly very crowded market. In most European markets consumers had up to several hundred suppliers to choose from. Market consolidation will happen as weaker players are forced out.

A major benefit of e-commerce growth is that it provides valuable customer insights that could enhance performance across all sales channels, Higgins said.

TOUGH: Selling wine overseas this year will be tougher with a big harvest around the globe: Photo:

Paul Sutherland Photography

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

27

HANDS-ON: Tourists experiencing agricultural work in Tono. Photo: Tono Natural Life Network.

Students experience agriculture Richard Smith in Tono, Iwate Prefecture, Japan KOTARA Kikuchi, a second-year student at Tono Ryokuho High School, an agricultural school, is on a home stay with three other boys from his school to do farming.

Kikuchi wants to experience agriculture, however, “I want to be a fisherman after graduating from high school”.

Fellow schoolmate Tokiya Ogasawara, 16, hasn’t decided what he wants to be.

“But there’s nothing outside agriculture that I want to do,” he said.

Kikuchi, Ogasawara, Masaki Endo, 16, and 17-year-old Yuya Kikuchi were on a programme for second-year students of their school who do farm stays to experience farming.

The farm-cum-bed-andbreakfast where they stayed is run by retired Tono city area revitalisation section manager Noriyasu Sasaki, 63, and his 62-year-old wife Manako.

Besides rice, the Sasakis grow blueberries, chestnuts, persimmons and wasabi (Japanese horseradish). Their house used to be a barn with their former house, built 70 years ago, next door.

But the old house was cold in the winter so the Sasakis renovated their barn to make it their home. Their former dwelling became a dormitory for their bedand-breakfast business.

This municipality of 28,750 in a heavily agricultural area of Japan stands both as a leader and a successful example of green tourism.

In all, 140 farming households here welcome tourists who can

stay overnight and experience farm work while interacting with locals.

About 2000 people a year, including students on school trips, have been experiencing rural life by picking berries, fruits or vegetables and making meals together with residents.

Tourists from Singapore, Taiwan and the United States have also participated in the programme.

The goal of the exchange between city and rural residents is to stimulate the local economy and to have local residents feel a sense of accomplishment and pride by hosting tourists.

Many delegations from other prefectures’ governments have come to observe the success of Tono’s initiative.

Japan is divided into 47 prefectures. The capital, Tokyo, is not a city but a prefecture.

Home stay activities here started about 20 years ago but a boom came because of the Great East Japan Earthquake of a magnitude of 9.1 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake and resulting tidal wave up to over 40 metres high devastated the coastal areas of Iwate and of the prefectures of Miyagi and Fukushima, all in the Tohoku region, the northeastern part of Japan’s main island of Honshu.

The city of Kamaishi next to Tono was among the zones hit by the tidal wave.

“Many volunteer were staying in Tono,” Masayuki Tachibana, tourism section supervisor at the commerce, industry and tourism division of Tono City Office’s Industrial Promotion Department, said.

Traditions are still strong in this area and they are still passed on, which is why green tourism works so well here, Tachibana said.

“We can still feel the old Japan here,” he said.

But modernisation has long reared its head even here and older people’s knowledge is in danger of being lost, Shin-Ichi Kikuchi, president of the Tono Natural Life Network (TNLN), an NPO founded in 2001, said.

“We want to energise Tono so city people can know about this life,” Kikuchi said.

Green tourism is common in Europe but new in Japan, though a network of such activities has been established throughout the country.

“We have visitors from the city as well as high schoolers, corporate personnel and foreigners,” he said.

Foreigners can be welcomed in Chinese, English and Korean.

“We have an app for other foreign languages,” Kikuchi said.

To promote the city’s green tourism, an agency working for the TNLN holds promotional events in Tokyo. The NPO also counts on word-of-mouth and its website is also in English, French and Portuguese.

“I have visited Taiwan to do promotion myself,” Kikuchi said.

One night, breakfast and evening meal costs 8000 yen ($109). Student home stays, which include lunch, costs 9180 yen ($125).

In the case of student home stays the relevant office sends out advance information on guests so appropriate matchings can be made in consideration of individuals’ allergies and dietary restrictions.

“We are planning to effect directions to farmers’ inns for general tourists by taking their needs into consideration as much as possible,” TNLN coordinator Akiko Asanuma said.

Micro-brewing brings new life Richard Smith JAPANESE rice wine or sake is well-known throughout the world. Very little-known is doburoku, a simple type of sake made by fermenting rice, koji (yeast) mold and water.

Many households in Japan used to make doburoku but since home brewing was banned in 1899 under liquor tax laws, it was produced only in secret as bootleg moonshine.

However, as part of the efforts of the administration of former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi (2001-2006) to loosen regulations and stimulate regional economies, doburoku special economic zones were established allowing for restaurants and bed-andbreakfasts to micro-brew their own doburoku.

In 2003, the city of Tono became the country’s first doburoku special economic zone.

Restaurant owner-chef Yotaro Sasaki decided to begin making doburoku.

“I didn’t like it when I first tasted it,” Sasaki said.

After over 10 years of trial and error Sasaki learned by himself how to ferment and age doburoku and developed an original recipe using organic rice from his family’s rice field.

Traditional doburoku keeps barely three weeks in the refrigerator before developing a bad taste and smell, mainly

because of the yeast’s weakness, Sasaki said.

But Sasaki’s doburoku can keep four years in the refrigerator.

“The yeast keeps fermenting,” he said.

Sasaki produces 8000 to 10,000 liters a year of doburoku, earning him 12 to 15 million yen ($163,865 to $204,831).

“My doburoku is sold in 30 stores throughout Japan,” he said.

In the city of Hanamaki neighbouring Tono, the Sato Budo En vineyard grows a very big varieties of grapes to make juice and raisins.

The vineyard was started 54 years ago by Kenichi Sato and is now run by his son Hideaki, 65, and grandson Toru, 32.

Grapes are pruned to no more than 60 a bunch so they will not press upon each other, necessitating a quick harvest, Toru said.

“By staying on the trees longer, they get sweeter,” he said.

The raisins are certainly expensive, with a 140g package selling at retail for 5000 yen ($68). They were chosen as gifts to the world leaders at the 2016 G7 Ise-Shima Summit.

Juice is sold in 500 ml bottles for the retail price of 1500 yen ($20) and 1700 yen ($23) for the higher quality, more mature juice.

A gift box of a bottle of juice and raisins costs 7000 yen ($95).

28 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Newsmaker

Manuka needs a touch of Scotch Scotland’s success in protecting its Scotch whisky has lessons for New Zealand’s manuka honey industry. Richard Rennie spoke to Scotch Whisky Association lawyer Lindesay Low who says just putting some collective clout behind a brand can make trespassers back off.

M

ANUKA producers wanting to protect their valuable honey from charlatans and imitators could find inspiration over a wee dram of Scotland’s national drink.

Thanks to a well-resourced legal team led by litigation lawyer Lindesay Low, the Scotch Whisky Association has proved its worth many times over to its members in identifying and dealing with those trying to leverage some brand mileage off the country’s unique whiskies.

He spoke recently to attendees at a manuka honey symposium looking at options for protecting the honey’s integrity.

When the association was set up more than a century ago its purpose was to control the supply and even the price of Scotch whisky.

“Over time that role has obviously changed. Today the association works to strike down trade barriers, offer guidance on the regulatory environment and is the guardian of the vital legal protections Scotch whisky has around the world.

“That role was recognised as a job for more than one company to protect the industry’s intellectual property,” Low said.

He is in a team of five lawyers engaged full time in a global mission to identify any breaches of Scottish whisky’s certification trademark, with its specific requirements around how Scotch whisky is produced and how it can be marketed.

It’s a broad brief and a dream job for a litigation lawyer who enjoys whisky and one that has kept Low busy for all 18 years he has been in the job.

It’s a job his wife spied in a Sunday paper and told him he’d be ideal for it. He acknowledges he brings a certain level of quiet pride to it.

“You take it for granted when you are brought up in Scotland and if you enjoy whisky it makes the job easier and certainly enjoyable.”

He fully appreciates the value to his homeland in protecting the geographic integrity of whisky.

There is a strong symbiotic relationship between Scotch whisky and the country where it must, by law, be produced. Scotch whisky is woven into the fabric of Scotland and the industry helps to attract tourists from all over the world.

And, he says, you do not need to go far to see what failure to protect geographically defined food brands does.

Cheddar cheese is an example of a product that was far removed from its native Cheddar and paid the price as a commodity food product today.

“Cheddar in Somerset was where the cheese was from but now it can be made anywhere. It’s a commodity compared to a value product with our whisky.”

ENFORCER: Scotch Whisky Association legal team leader Lindesay Low says a collective effort and good legal protection are vital to protect high-value products from becoming commodities.

At any given time Low and his team will have about 60 major cases on their files, requiring visits to courtrooms and corporate offices around the world.

“We certainly write a lot of cease-and-desist letters but also work opposing trade marks that are potentially deceptive and litigate on products that are not what they claim to be.”

Policing the integrity of the brand has had him and his team visit every continent and many countries including India, China and Nigeria in recent years.

It is a role member distilleries are well prepared to fund, recognising the £4 billion worth of business the Scotch whisky identity earns them, equivalent to the value of that other significant geographic beverage, French Champagne.

The association’s role as watchdog and compliance adviser to its members has become even more critical as the Scotch whisky industry enjoys a resurgence, thanks to a new generation of middle-class consumers seeking quality beverages with unique taste and provenance attributes.

“It’s been a team effort from the industry, too, with the member distilleries producing some fantastic brands while having that strong legal basis behind them has given consumers’ confidence about what they are buying.”

Cheddar in Somerset was where the cheese was from but now it can be made anywhere. It’s a commodity compared to a value product with our whisky.

Lindesay Low Scotch Whisky Association In its 100 years the association has dealt successfully with thousands of cases of companies trying to capitalise on the power descriptors Scotch and

whisky – as well as taking action when rogue traders use Scottish iconography in a bid to fool consumers.

The range of breaches and ripoffs Low and his team deal with are as wide as the world.

His work can involve not only investigating a product falsely claimed to be Scotch but also products that have false Scottish connections in their branding or marketing purporting a product is from Scotland.

Indian brewers have been pulled up on mixing bulk Scotch whisky with a local brew, which is legal. But claiming the brew is Scotch whisky is illegal.

“The areas of the world presenting problems come in peaks and troughs.

“China used to be a major area for us for work but we have found in recent years we are able to manage it better.

“Newer markets of Nigeria and Mexico are proving very busy now.”

Low sees some interesting comparisons between New Zealand’s manuka honey sector and the Scotch whisky industry

in terms of brand protection and provenance.

“There are a lot of parallels there between the two countries.

“We have a very small-scale agricultural sector operating in challenging agricultural conditions. We can’t compete on scale with the big countries for production so the way to do so is to produce high-quality products that people are prepared to pay a lot for.”

He notes manuka honey has a huge reputation in Europe for its quality and health benefits.

Despite the $300 million manuka sector being a sliver of the £4b Scotch whisky industry, Low believes there are good grounds for honey producers to pursue a strong, well- resourced defence of their product.

“We speak to a lot of sectors who tell us we are lucky being in a sector that is so large. But we encourage them to get all their members on board, to do what they can and develop a good legal framework.

“If you do, those trying to rip off your product will tend to back away quite quickly.”

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

29

USEFUL: Innovative scientist Logan Williams with material made from didymo, a pest clogging South Island rivers.

He’s turning a pest into profit A young New Zealander has created technology that can turn the invasive algae didymo into paper, fabric and bioplastic and it is helping to clean up our waterways. Luke Chivers explains.

H

E COULD be a psychologist, businessman or environmentalist but wherever Logan Williams, 23, ends up he will make his mark on the innovation scene.

The young entrepreneur from Timaru founded Biome Innovation, which creates biodegradable material from didymo, the invasive river weed also known as rock snot.

Williams saw first-hand the impact didymo had on waterways in South Canterbury while he was growing up.

“As a kid I spent most of my time in the Mackenzie Country.

“We’d go camping, hiking and fishing there every year.”

But he began to realise the number of native species in the region was rapidly reducing.

“I could see this thick brown sludge, didymo, was infecting river after river from Rangitata to the Tekapo River and devastating native populations in the process,” Williams said.

“It suffocates the waterways and has a big impact on the wildlife, hydro dams, irrigation and boating.

“It’s horrible and it’s likely to be only a matter of time before it spreads.”

Didymo is commonplace in North America, Asia, Europe and, since 2004, the South Island.

It attaches itself to rocks in fast-

flowing streams, creating dense benthic mats that can extend for several kilometres.

It is not toxic, just a mess.

And it is threatening to ruin our waterways.

“Unfortunately for us, this stuff thrives in cold, clean and low nitrogen water so the South Island’s climate is perfect,” Williams said.

Its large blooms are what make didymo so unique and it’s these filaments you can layer on top of one another in order to make a material from it.

Logan Williams Biome Innovation “And once it’s established it just takes over everything. The river effectively dies.”

Angered at seeing waterways devastated and frustrated by the apparent lack of action by the authorities, Williams, in 2015, sought a solution.

“I was studying science and psychology at the University of Canterbury at the time.

“I’d learnt a bit about materials engineering and very quickly

became infatuated with didymo.

“Its large blooms are what make didymo so unique and it’s these filaments you can layer on top of one another in order to make a material from it.”

Williams spent hours waist deep in freezing water, testing in a laboratory and doing hundreds of iterations to finally create a material from the algae.

He has managed to synthesis didymo into paper, fabric and bioplastic, which is 100% recyclable, eco-friendly and could be an alternative to plastics in consumer goods.

Biome Innovation has established a full manufacturing cycle, which starts by removing didymo from rivers then manufacturing at Kilmarnock Enterprises in Christchurch and distributing end products to customers.

“Didymo can be sustainably removed from our environment.

“Sure, just a single drop of infected water or plant fragment can spread the algae but if you continually extract the didymo starting from the top of the river and put the infrastructure in place you can get on top of it.”

As a result of his ingenious scheme Williams was accepted into the 2018 round of the Kokiri Accelerator Programme, designed to help Maori start-up businesses.

Williams is also known for his Polar Optics invention – contact

CLEVER: Logan Williams at five, fishing with father Keith, believes the solutions to the environmental issues is to build social enterprises and businesses around conservation so they are self-funded.

lenses that help sufferers of photosensitive epilepsy – and he was one of the 10 shortlisted nominees for the 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year award.

Another project he is looking into is finding a way of using spirulina to make dairy farms more environmentally-friendly.

It is still theoretical but the idea is that if watered with dairy runoff, spirulina will absorb nitrates and the plant could then be fed to stock with no ill-effects.

Today Williams is based at Fonterra’s Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North where he is researching sustainable agriculture.

His areas of focus are ways to reduce methane levels on-farm and increase the availability of compostable food packaging in the primary sector.

“My passion is to find solutions for problems.

“I feel the real solution to many of the environmental issues we face is to build social enterprises and businesses around conservation – that way, efforts are sustainable because they’re self-funded.

“I think that’s the long-term solution to conservation,” he said.

Williams is looking to partner other NZ companies and secure ongoing investment to scale up his ventures.

Opinion

30 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

EDITORIAL

Farm food critics hard to stomach

T

HE meat and dairy industries should rightly feel battered and bruised after a series of academic papers blaming the farming of animals for a multitude of the world’s ills.

These papers allege livestock farming is to blame for aiding climate change, environmental degradation and obesity.

Helpfully, they offer solutions including a tax on red meat while the EAT-Lancet report on sustainable diets suggests a daily intake of just 14g of beef, lamb and pork and 250g a day of dairy products.

Interestingly, it suggests total daily sugar consumption of 31g, about 7.5 teaspoons, double the suggested 14g a day consumption of red meat which, the authors say, is not an essential source of vitamins and minerals.

This is an interesting conclusion given sugar has been considered the root of dietary ills such as obesity.

An Oxford University paper suggested a red meat tax would reduce consumption by benefiting people’s health and reduce a cause of climate change.

For an industry built on the basis of feeding people natural, healthy and nutritious food being told you are destroying the planet and killing those who eat your produce is tough to stomach. To be told your produce should be taxed in a similar vein to tobacco and alcohol, with their obvious health implications, is outright offensive.

These reports make several bold assumptions. They assume people have the knowledge, desire and discipline to switch to what is in effect a plant-based diet without suffering nutritional deficiencies they now get from their balanced diet. They also unfairly lump livestock farming systems into one pot – grain-fed feedlot and free range, once again ignoring the fact New Zealand farmers produce nutritious, grass-fed food, are reducing their environmental footprint and mitigating climate change as they can.

It appears NZ Inc needs to do a better job of telling this to the world and of differentiating our grass-fed produce.

Unfortunately, the sectors do not have a great track record of working together but given the proliferation of attacks on livestock sector, they might have little choice.

Neal Wallace

LETTERS

More letters P33

Eyes opened by move to farm I HAVE been a huge animal lover all my life and about six years ago I came to live on a sheep and beef farm in Taranaki.

I am still here and, boy, has country living opened my eyes to things I had never thought about or been exposed to.

While the animals here are all very well looked after and their basic needs met in terms of food, shelter, water and as much love as I can give them, there are a whole lot of other animals out there that aren’t so lucky.

I don’t just mean in this area. I mean throughout this country that we portray as being picture perfect.

We host guests for farm stays and our international visitors along with our own people are starting to complain about what they see

in New Zealand and that is a lot of our stock and probably domestic pets don’t have their basic needs met.

They very often have no shelter whatsoever, often no water and sometimes both and I think it is absolutely appalling and in no way good enough.

The animals give their babies, their milk and their lives for the farmers to have an income from and the very least that can be given back are these basic rights for any living thing.

I think we need a big shakeup with this as temperatures rise and weather patterns change to become more erratic and our animals suffer with this.

It is not fair. It is immoral and definitely unethical and yet no one seems to care.

Please, can we do something to right this major wrong

so the animals are more comfortable and so our international visitors to this country don’t go home with a sour taste in their mouths over how we treat our livestock and so I can sleep at night.

Deborah Stewart Taranaki

Sting in tail THE January 31 article titled Beekeepers see sting in levy tail saw levy opponents question the election process for the upcoming commodity vote.

I want to reassure your readers the election process has complete integrity, with the elections being run by the independent election agency, Electionz.com.

Electionz.com will be a familiar name to many farmers because it has successfully run commodity

elections for most primary sector organisations, most recently that of Horticulture New Zealand and Beef and Lamb NZ. Its expertise is second to none and it has a wellestablished record of delivering results for NZ’s primary sector.

This is an important vote for the beekeeping industry and mischievous comments on process should not distract from the real debate on the role and value of a commodity levy in securing the future of this industry.

Most farmers recognise that value and we trust beekeepers will too.

Bruce Wills Chairman Apiculture NZ

More letters page 33

Letterof theWeek EDITOR Bryan Gibson 06 323 1519 bryan.gibson@globalhq.co.nz EDITORIAL Stephen Bell 06 323 0769 editorial@globalhq.co.nz Neal Wallace 03 474 9240 neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz Annette Scott 03 308 4001 annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz Hugh Stringleman 09 432 8594 hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz Alan Williams 03 359 3511 alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz Richard Rennie 07 552 6176 richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz Nigel Stirling 021 136 5570 nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

31

Fish and Game needs to get real Hamish Walker

I

T’S amazing how easily information can be misinterpreted.

Take Fish and Game’s latest Colmar Brunton poll, for example.

Fish and Game’s poll, out of options given, claims New Zealand’s top concern is the pollution of lakes and rivers.

What I find incredibly interesting is the Ministry for the Environment ran a similar poll, where it was ranked 13th.

I wonder how it is possible that two surveys, both run by Colmar Brunton with about 1000 people taking part, have such different results.

It’s a recurring pattern with Fish and Game, though – attacks lacking evidence trying to get the average kiwi to think or say our country’s waterways are unswimmable and unfishable and if we don’t act now we’ve got no hope of improving anything.

And it’s all the farmers’ fault, didn’t you know?

Because even though farmers have fenced off waterways, created sediment traps, done riparian planting, not cultivated close to waterways, strategically winter-grazed and everything else they do to protect the environment, it’s all their fault.

I wrote to Fish and Game chief executive Martin Taylor at the end of last year to express my disappointment with these targeted attacks on farmers.

It’s a return to type for Taylor, who, I hoped, would work with farmers, not against them.

I also asked him where his criticisms of the decline of waterways in urban centres were?

His answer was urban centres are not in Fish and Game’s mandate.

Instead, all we hear and see is Fish and Game advocating for Taylor’s predecessor Bryce Johnson and his dirty dairy

The

Pulpit

campaign, not once mentioning poor water quality in towns and cities.

Down here in Southland it just gets worse.

Last year, in record rainfalls, Fish and Game took photos of sediment runoff, saying Southland and south Otago need to be prepared for an environmental disaster, and sent them to media.

Most farmers give open access to hunters and fishermen to their private properties.

If that’s not an opportunist organisation I don’t know what is.

That was then followed by the television appearance from Fish and Game about the degrading of the New River Estuary, near Invercargill, which was again – yes, you guessed it – all down to farmers.

Despite having the facts in front of them and seeing for themselves what Environment Southland had said, Fish and Game yet again blamed farmers.

Environment Southland science and information director Graham Sevicke-Jones has been quoted in the local media saying the New River Estuary is more unusual as both urban and rural have contributed to its degradation.

There’s the wastewater treatment facility that discharges into the estuary at certain times and an old landfill that sits beside it.

Coupled with that, a lot of storm water goes in from Invercargill city – there is a significant urban influence.

I really struggle as to what part of this lays the blame solely with farming for the degradation of the New River Estuary as Fish and Game state.

I am in disbelief that time and time again this organisation can finger-point and throw allegations around as fact but not acknowledge the truth.

We’re all quite aware most farmers give open access to hunters and fishermen to their private properties.

These hunters and fishermen are often licence holders with Fish and Game, helping fund the organisation.

What has already proved evident is farmers are removing access and not buying licences themselves to try to get through to Fish and Game they will not be bullied.

It’s upsetting for everyone as it’s that everyday kiwi who will no longer have access to go swimming or fishing on private properties.

I do hold some hope, though, with some farmers standing for their local Fish and Game councils and successfully being elected.

I congratulate these individuals for taking a stand and leading the way on future collaboration.

These farmers, along with some Fish and Game staff down on the coal face, are trying to work with other farming groups but it

NOT GUILTY: Clutha Southland MP and National Party associate agriculture spokesman Hamish Walker is fed up with farmers being blamed for all environmental ills.

appears there is a real disconnect with the organisation’s head office when they do so.

It’s time to get around the table and farmers are holding the door open but where is the Fish and Game hierarchy?

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

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

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Opinion

32 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Legal reforms are necessary and just Alternative View

Alan Emerson

IT IS really good to see an MP dishing it up to Fish and Game.

Generally, it appears those in Wellington seem to slavishly accept the Fish and Game’s bull.

In his Pulpit column Hamish Walker MP makes some valid points.

The most telling is that Fish and Game’s research says New Zealanders’ main concern is the state of our lakes and rivers whereas the Ministry for the Environment’s (MfE) poll ranked it 13th.

So, on one hand a pressure group tells us one thing whereas, on the other, a highly credible government ministry tells us the opposite.

Fortunately, the only media outlet that unquestionably runs Fish and Game stories with indecent alacrity is Radio NZ. I strongly suggest you read the Walker column. It is great to have that level of support.

Last December Walker wrote to Fish and Game chief executive Martin Taylor expressing his disappointment at Fish and Game’s continuing attack on farmers.

He told him farmers are jumping through hoops to improve water quality.

Again it’s good to see an MP, especially one who sits on the Primary Production Select Committee, supporting farmers by questioning Fish and Game’s rants.

The questions asked in the latest survey had as much credibility as an amorous wether in a ewe flock at tupping time.

Environmental organisations such as Fish and Game and Greenpeace are lobbying the Government for mandatory environmental standards for NZ waterways, which will impact on the dairy industry.

Mandatory environmental standards would mean regulating intensive farming practices.

As a result there would be less contaminants in our waterways but dairy farmers would have to change how they farm. Do you think mandatory environmental standards should be introduced in NZ?, Fish and Game asked.

I’d most humbly suggest the question is rigged towards an answer that Fish and Game wanted and I’m surprised Colmar Brunton supported that.

Looking at the question the flaws are obvious.

Would mandatory environmental standards for our waterways impact on the dairy industry?

It would obviously depend exactly what those standards were.

Our current water standards are more rigorous than those of our

trading partners. Should farmers be forced to wear hair shirts because of the whim of Fish and Game?

The statement mandatory environmental standards would mean regulating intensive farming practices is both simplistic and wrong.

Horticulture, viticulture and orchards are all intensive farming practices as are housed chickens and pigs. None is having any effect I know of on water quality.

The thought then that regulation would mean less contaminants in our waterways is also just plain wrong.

Fishing rivers run through towns and cities farm more than they do dairy country.

With that caveat the question ‘do you think mandatory environmental standards should be introduced in NZ?’ is of little value and in my view predisposed to the answer Fish and Game wants The issues are over simplified without any acknowledgment of the implications that will affect all farmers.

Respondents are being led.

Only dairy farmers are mentioned but again all farmers would be impacted.

LOOK ELSEWHERE: Rivers run through towns and cities more than they do through dairy country.

Both Fish and Game and Colmar Brunton know little about farming but appear ruled by their prejudices.

Fish and Game, and I’d add Greenpeace, are selective and hypocritical when it comes to farmers. Last year the number of sewerage overflows into our streams and waterways jumped a massive 379%.

It was the result of a review by Water NZ who told us overflows were likely to become the norm as climate change takes effect.

It gets worse, 35 out of 40 councils surveyed had pollution problems similar to Auckland where rainfall put sewerage flowing into rivers and streams.

The review also found 20 out of 178 wastewater treatment plants were operating on expired effluent discharge consents, one dating back 20 years.

Most councils’ indiscretions are ignored. The regional councils saved that for farmers.

The reality that Fish and Game chooses to ignore is that pollution is pollution, whether it comes from a dairy farm, a council or anyone else.

Fishing rivers run through towns and cities farm more than they do dairy country yet Fish and Game doesn’t give that a mention.

My answer to the problem is simple. Fish and Game was created by the Conservation Act 1987. It’s 32 years old. The legislation needs updating.

Fishing and duck killing licence fees should be restricted to supporting just that and not funding highly expensive political campaigns.

That way more people could afford to kill fish and ducks and Fish and Game could canvass for donations for its political excesses.

That would be interesting.

Fish and Game rangers should also be required to get a search warrant to enter private property.

It is iniquitous that police need a warrant to enter property to search for clues for crimes as serious as murder and assault whereas Fish and Game can enter private property at whim just to check if someone is killing either a fish or duck without a licence. The landowner has no rights in that matter at all.

Those reforms are both necessary and just.

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

Farmers are content despite lack of thumpers From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

IT’S been a funny type of season but no one is complaining in this part of the world.

August was benign for lambing and calving then that nasty early September storm hit the North Island’s east coast and a big dent was put into folk’s lambing percentages.

In the debrief afterwards we wondered if the losses had been underestimated and with the great feed surpluses might explain why the lamb kill is still so slow around here.

Then the rest of the spring remained reasonably dry when we could have done with a bit more rain.

I got the brassica crops into the ground just before the rule of thumb target of Labour weekend and though there was moisture further down it remained

too dry for a decent strike.

Talk of the unusual but impeding El Nino and the ongoing dry was making us all nervous.

The only thing going in our favour was that the usual equinoctial gales hadn’t eventuated. El Nino really likes to fizz those up.

So, I was prudent and killed the two-year-old bulls a little sooner and lighter than I would have liked but my cattle operation has always been the flexible component of the farming system.

I went as deep into the lambs at weaning as I could, given the excellent schedules, but still killed only fifty percent of terminal lambs, whereas it is often more like 70%. Others reported similar difficulties and though they had sufficient feed levels right through the lambs just didn’t grow as well as expected.

Then the heavens opened after weaning at the end of November and it felt like it rained the whole time right up to Christmas day.

Much of that rain was from impressive thunderstorms sweeping off the Ruahine Ranges.

We had 200mm of rain for December, which made it one of the wettest Decembers I’ve ever

OKAY: Steve Wyn-Harris’ lambs haven’t turned into the thumpers he expected but will make decent ewe hoggets for tupping.

recorded, and other places got a lot more.

The crops struck and for a few weeks were looking fantastic.

Then, what looked like early ripening turned out to be drowning and rotting and they looked terrible again. The wet areas have remained devoid of crop but amaranthus obviously doesn’t mind wet feet and it’s a pity the stock don’t like to eat it.

In the better drained areas the crops recovered and don’t look too bad and now works lambs are into it and should be piling on the weight.

Since Christmas day I’ve recorded only 28mm and much of that was in one event in midJanuary.

I sample weighed replacement ewe lambs the other day and, given the amount of clover in their diets since weaning, was surprised and disappointed they had grown at only 150g/day.

They will still make decent ewe hoggets for tupping but not the thumpers I might have expected.

I guess being wet all the time for five weeks after weaning wasn’t what they might have enjoyed.

Given the amount of feed

grown over the last two months I’m surprised the farm is under reasonable control.

There are just 200 15-month bulls and I could have done with 100 more but they have been on regular shifts and have done very well. The ewe flock has also been very well treated and is in great condition. Both classes have contributed to helping keep feed quality better than expected.

If everyone doesn’t get a very good tupping and high scanning rates this year then something needs to be looked at.

One factor could end up being facial eczema as I’ve heard of clinical cases in lambs around Waipukurau before Christmas, which is unheard of. Since then FE levels have remained modest but have the potential to rise rapidly when the rain returns.

However, we are content with good but somewhat scruffy feed levels, stock in good nick and schedules very good for this time of the year.

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 – February 11, 2019

33

No need to panic over Brexit Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

IN SPITE of the fast-approaching deadline of March 29 when Britain is due to leave the European Union, not to mention the latest shipment date able to meet that deadline, there might be no need to get too concerned.

There is a huge amount of media-inspired speculation about the potentially dire consequences of Prime Minister Theresa May’s inability to achieve an improvement of the exit terms leading to a no-deal Brexit but word from Britain suggests that is highly unlikely.

After all, both the EU and the British Parliament have specifically ruled out leaving without a deal.

The most likely short-term outcome will be an extension of membership terms under Article 50, which would give time for legislation to be passed either in the improbable event May succeeds in obtaining a new deal acceptable to her own Parliament or further negotiation is required to reach a final agreement.

Affco sales and marketing manager Mark de Lautour says the attitude among major retailers is typically British.

In his view no-deal isn’t a viable option and his customers are convinced it will be all right in the end (and to quote Slumdog Millionaire “If it is not all right, it is not yet the end”). According to de Lautour, New Zealand is in danger of jumping at Brexit shadows and we would do well to breathe deeply and await developments, which are likely to be slower and less dramatic than the worst expectations.

That doesn’t mean the parties

haven’t done any contingency planning.

For example, the United Kingdom has already signalled its intention to recognise the equivalence of NZ’s veterinary agreement with the EU for six months after Brexit as well as signing a mutual recognition agreement during Jacinda Ardern’s recent visit there.

British retail chains have been working on a frozen thaw-back programme bringing frozen product back to chilled and labelling it as such, using mostly domestic product and though there will be a shortage of product availability and capacity, at least during the early part of the season, it would be sufficient to get by in event of a no-deal, hard Brexit.

NZ exporters are doing their own contingency planning by seeking alternative markets, which could take excess product previously sent to Britain, as well as remaining in very close contact with their UK customers.

Only so much risk avoidance is possible.

The last ship arriving in Britain before March 29 leaves NZ on February 27, meaning lambs processed to a UK specification after mid February run the risk of port delays.

However, exporters have contracts for Easter and beyond, which, if unable to be unloaded in Britain because of port congestion, might be shipped to a continental port. That product would then have to be sold at a discount in the EU, both by reason of unsuitable specifications and reduced shelf life.

Alliance sales general manager Shane Kingston emphasises the importance of remaining flexible, being able to change plans at short notice.

Remaining vigilant to developments in the countdown to March 29 will be of critical importance.

He points to the potential trade distortion impact of the annual

GETTING CLOSE: The last ship that can arrive in Britain before the scheduled Brexit on March 29 leaves New Zealand on February 27.

shipment of 65,000 tonnes of UK lamb carcases to Europe, starting in mid May, which would have to be sold on the domestic market.

Though that would not have an immediate effect on product from this side of the world it might reduce demand in the UK but conversely open up opportunities in the EU. In case NZ is too concerned about the impact of a hard Brexit, have some sympathy for the Irish.

The Republic of Ireland exports 90% of its beef, half of which is sold to the UK. It has no time to find alternative markets and would require massive intervention buying from the EU to compensate.

The Irish border question is the main stumbling block in the efforts to negotiate a suitable outcome because the EU wants to retain the backstop arrangement where Northern Ireland would

still be part of the EU for customs purposes until Britain finally exits.

The alternative of a physical border is politically and physically impractical, both because it would hark back to the troubles and many products cross the border several times during the assembly and production process.

The British Parliament will accept neither outcome.

In answer to my question about UK retailers’ commitment to their NZ suppliers of lamb, both de Lautour and Kingston are adamant the retailers are totally committed to meeting their contractual obligations.

There is no great sense of impending disaster on the part of their respective customers, more a realistic assessment of the need to be cautious and flexible on both sides.

Concerning quota, Meat Industry Association chief

LETTERS Letters continued from page 30

Well done ON BEHALF of the Primary Industries Training Organisation I congratulate Farmers Weekly for the article on Alliance’s training programme (Training to retain workforce, January 28).

As general manager Chris Selbie comments, access to training while in work is a big component for employees in their thinking about taking up and staying in a job.

With the huge pressure on the primary industries because of competition for smart people from a wide range of industries, all our businesses have to think smarter about the incentives we can provide that will attract and retain employees and that will

executive Tim Ritchie says NZ wants market stability and preservation of what was negotiated, not a straight split of our quota between UK and Europe.

Of present export volumes of about 150,000 tonnes or just below 66% of the quota, a third is chilled and half of it goes to the UK so there is ample headroom while this is sorted.

It is important for the future of trade with both UK and EU to retain flexibility within the total quota tonnage.

It’s too soon to panic, we must keep talking to trading partners, hold our breath and wait.

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

More letters P30 contribute measurably to the productivity and future success of the business.

Primary ITO is proud to support Alliance in its quest to raise the capacity and capability of the workforce.

Our industry and trainingexperienced advisers were able to help by supporting Alliance to map its own standard operating procedures to recognised national qualifications, ensuring trainees get the benefit of New Zealand qualifications as well as knowing how to do their job.

We tailored and provided the firm with the resources to do effective leadership training for 60 Alliance managers.

It is important to the ITO the help we give companies fits with

their goals for greater productivity and competitiveness through their people resource. We’re able to assist mapping the learning journey for employees at all levels and to broker the best training provision.

We congratulate Alliance on the work that’s under way.

Linda Sissons Chief executive Primary ITO

Disappointed I READ the response of OSPRI’s Kevin Crews to my letter of January 21.

Frankly, I was disappointed in its generalising and failure to address questions I raised.

I respect Crews’ veterinary qualifications but I guess as part

of a bureaucracy he has a job to do.

One example will suffice. I referred to an outbreak of TB on Marlborough’s Northbank caused by a farmer bringing in cattle from two TB-endemic areas at Clarence Reserve and Inangahua.

The Animal Health Board’s reaction was to aerially bomb the Northbank and the adjoining Goulter Valley with 1080.

No reprimanding of the farmer occurred.

There was public outcry.

Crews was present at woolshed meetings on Northbank.

In informal conversations he indicated he was fully aware of the source of the TB-infected cattle and just shrugged and smiled when asked why there was no prosecution and why possums

were blamed when it was cattle transportation.

Crews failed to answer why OSPRI continues to use the 25% error-prone skin test when the blood test and especially DNA are much more accurate.

He might or might not know the farmer at the time on Northbank’s Mt Patriarch station had TB reactors despite regular blood testing.

Infected cattle were obviously slipping through undetected because of the 25% error rate.

Fed up, he blood-tested stock and found five sleeper animals, which he removed. Result no more reactors.

Laurie Collins Hector West Coast

On Farm Story

34 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Carbon price makes trees A rising carbon price under the Emissions Trading Scheme has changed a Canterbury sheep farmer’s attitude to exotic forestry and native regrowth. Tim Fulton reports.

S

PRAY them?

No way, Romney breeder Hugh Taylor says now when he inspects his redwood and regenerating native trees.

But it wasn’t always that way.

He did once consider spraying the 600ha plantation.

Five years ago Taylor and family moved from gentle country at Oxford to harder North Canterbury hill country hoping to show clients how well their stock could shift.

The terrain turned out to be tougher than they thought.

The Doone borders the Conway River between Waiau and Kaikoura, smack on a faultline that ripped in the November 2016 earthquake.

When the Taylors bought the 3600ha property at a mortgagee sale in mid 2013 it had dams and streams but no water reticulation system and barely any fences.

Led by one of Hugh’s sons, farmer manager Marcus, the extended family and contractors spent two years replacing browntop, fixing fences and reconfiguring yards.

Then the quake busted the homestead and two other farmhouses, quite apart from tearing up tracks.

“All the way down to the Conway it’s shingle slides, it’s slips,” Hugh said.

For the first six months after the quake it was impossible to get wool off the place.

“When you buy a rundown place you don’t expect a 7.8 earthquake to come and make things a little bit harder,” Hugh said.

After endless toil to fix the farm

the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is delivering a gift of carbon credits from the adjacent redwood plantation and regenerating manuka and kanuka.

As carbon unit prices recover the redwoods and regenerating natives have created an unexpected windfall. New Zealand carbon units (NZUs) are trading at about $24-$25 each – the maximum under the existing price cap.

The redwoods were planted by the NZ Redwood Company a decade ago and are expected to stay for generations to come.

By that time they were expected to grow to about 35m, ready for return to their native California for home-building or to be retained for domestic use.

The Taylors had registered 220ha of their redwoods as post1989 forest, an area of forest land comprising exotic and/or indigenous forest species planted after December 31, 1989.

The family’s forestry adviser Scott Henry said they planned to register for the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative (PFSI) once the option became available and had expected Government changes to the scheme.

The Doone has not registered regenerating native manuka and kanuka yet but is about to investigate the option. Henry is helping the family to research and buy historical imagery as evidence to register post-1989 areas.

The ETS works in five-year terms or mandatory emissions return periods, which allows clients to register any time between 2018 and 2022 and backdate carbon claims from 2018.

AT HOME: The redwoods in this plantation are well suited to The Doone.

THE TEAM: Hugh Taylor, left, son and farm manager Marcus and Lincoln University PhD student, Josh Barrett, who is recording for studs involved in a monitoring project

You could potentially grow it on for 200 years without anything going wrong with it.

Scott Henry Forest adviser The family originally wanted to get rid of the redwoods, Henry said.

“Hugh initially wanted me to look at how we could kill them with spray.”

After he explained the ETS the

station registered some of the redwoods and transferred other trees from the ownership of the NZ Redwood Company.

Henry said farms with regenerating indigenous forest areas in manuka might seriously want to consider registering land once considered non-productive and earn income from both carbon and manuka honey.

“The big driver is the carbon price. It started out being about $18, it dipped down to $2 and now it’s back up to about $25. The Government is looking at lifting that cap and basically opening it up to the free market.”

Hugh said at a carbon price of $25/t he had backed off the idea of getting rid of the redwoods.

The trees are well-suited to The Doone, being mostly protected from strong norwest winds but catching coastal rain. Farmers probably could not get a better carbon forest for the ETS than redwoods, Henry said.

“You could potentially grow it on for 200 years without anything going wrong with it.”

The Taylors are now unlikely to harvest the plantation and could consider planting and ETSregistering other exotic forest, like Douglas fir and hybrid pines.

“It will be maintaining that forest and milking carbon from it, so to speak.

“You can milk the forest all the way through and at the end of it you get the ability to either

RETHINK: The price of carbon caused Hugh Taylor to back off the idea of getting rid of his redwoods.

On Farm Story

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

35

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harvest the forest if you choose and that generation of income at the end can be used to pay your liability for the carbon that you’ve sold on the way through.”

The ETS set out to make a forest with a high carbon price too valuable to harvest and the only liability is selling the units.

The smartest thing would probably be to plant more forest.

At the moment the ETS gives eligible forest planted and registered since 2008 up to 10 years of safe carbon – meaning the units accumulated in that time don’t have to be paid back. If the forest was planted before 2008 at harvest the owner would have to pay back virtually all the units that had been allocated.

Henry said The Doone’s regenerating manuka and kanuka will return a lot less carbon income than the redwoods but there is no establishment cost and they can also claim a share of beekeeping income.

Plenty of farmers in quake-hit country and beyond are looking at doing similar as a way to broaden their income sources and make hill country more sustainable, he said.

“There’s a lot of interest. I’ve got lots and lots of leads to work on in the next two or three months, registering re-gen in North Canterbury. It will be pretty exciting times and all driven G E by NI R the price of carbon, obviously.”

C IW N Hugh said the Redwoods, EF regenerating native bush and honey relieve pressure on the farm’s sheep and cattle operations BA LS about eight and give the station E T distinct income streams.

E R The Doone, the homeCNof O C from Doughboy Romneys, ranges

250 metres to 1000 metres above sea level with an average yearly rainfall of 1000mm to 1250mm.

Snow is always a threat, with falls throughout winter and spring.

The family has progressively improved pasture, installed a water reticulation scheme, subdivided the big blocks into manageable sizes and improved fencing to better manage stock and make more of new pasture.

The station is carrying 4500 ewes, 1600 hoggets plus 300 Angus-base cows and about a dozen breeding bulls.

The Doone has 40ha of flats, 40ha of terraces and 482ha of medium to medium-steep country ranging up to tussock hill.

Marcus and his wife Leanne live on the place, working alongside shepherd Mark Turner, while Hugh drops in to help as needed.

About 300ha can be cultivated by wheel tractor, whereas the balance is medium to steep hill country.

Hugh, Doughboy’s principal studmaster, is using DNA testing to identify the best animals for growth, meat yield and carcase qualities as well as other easy care, high-production traits and continues to work with Lincoln University sheep geneticist Jon Hickford on monitoring fertility, mothering ability and weaning weights.

Taylor said since moving the stud to The Doone they have identified robust constitution as a significant trait. All the Romneys are visually assessed and data is submitted

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World

36 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Brits want Kiwi lamb sent to EU sheep meat will cause flock owners to cut sheep numbers as they become increasingly unprofitable, with a significant fall in breeding ewe numbers forecast, the board said.

The situation could be further exacerbated if New Zealand does not or cannot divert the meat it sends to the UK to the EU or other markets.

The report sets out two potential scenarios, with either a sharp decline over two years as producers cull breeding ewes early and put replacement ewe lambs in the food chain or a longer decline over four years by just retaining fewer replacements.

In a rapid response scenario, breeding ewe numbers could be cut by 22% in one year.

That would mean a reduction of some 3.6 million ewes from the national flock of about 16m, which is the same amount it has declined in the 18 years between 2000 and 2017.

The worstAWDT Understanding Your Farming Business & Wahine case scenario for Maia, Wahine Whenua market prices is 3 full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony a situation where run over four months. Equips and supports women involved farmers cull in sheep and beef farming to lift business performance. rapidly in 2019 Registrations for 2019 programmes are now open, visit the and 2020, causing website for more information and to register.

Locations and dates (3 modules & graduation): sheep meat Omarama: 20 Feb, 20 Mar, 17 Apr & 15 May production to go Waimate: 21 Feb, 21 Mar, 18 Apr & 16 May up in the short Paparoa (Northland): 20 Feb, 20 Mar, 17 Apr & 15 May term, combined Kaikohe (WMWW): 21 Feb, 21 Mar, 18 Apr & 16 May with NZ supplying Millers Flat: 27 Feb, 27 Mar, 23 Apr & 22 May product at the Wairoa: 28 Feb, 28 Mar, 24 Apr & 23 May normal rate to Dannevirke: 24 May, 21 Jun, 19 Jul & 16 Aug honour existing Website: To register visit www.awdt.org.nz/programmes contracts.

Contact: keri@awdt.org.nz or 06 375 8180 for more That would information be because the

BRITISH sheep farmers will suffer a devastating 30% cut to the value of lamb if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a withdrawal agreement, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has warned.

At current prices that would slash the value of a 40kg lamb by about £23 as tens of thousands of tonnes of unwanted lamb, previously destined for the EU, drags down the value of the UK market.

Most MPs are opposed in principle to leaving the EU without a deal but time is running out for them to find an agreement on how to leave that prevents that.

How likely is no deal and how will trade with the EU be disrupted if it happens?

Lack of access to the UK’s largest trading destination for

agrievents 0076663

200x71.67

RMPP Action Network – Facilitator training courses For rural professionals or farmers looking to run an Action Group under RMPP Action Network. No course fees.

Register at www.actionnetwork.co.nz/page/training Lead Facilitator workshops 2019 course dates: 5 & 6 March – Hamilton 21 & 22 March – Dunedin RMPP Action Network Fundamentals and Extension Design (two-day workshop) 2019 course dates: 26 & 27 February – Christchurch 27 & 28 March – Palmerston North

Check out www.rmpp.co.nz for locations, dates and to register. For more information email training@rmpp.co.nz or call 0800 733 632.

RMPP Aspiring to Farm Business Ownership Workshop This one-day workshop covers the vision, values and strategy for young farmers or farming couples aspiring to farm business ownership through purchase, leasing, sharefarming and equity partnerships.

Check out www.rmpp.co.nz for information on locations, dates and to register.

This workshop is fully funded by RMPP. For more information email training@rmpp.co.nz or call 0800 733 632.

Should your important event be listed here?

Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz

LK0085515©

Participants are required to attend three half-day workshops run over a three to four month period, followed by a one-on-one clinic. The workshops are fully funded by RMPP.

country will have to honour longterm contracts or because there might still be demand for certain cuts that UK farmers can still not fulfill because of seasonal supply.

National Sheep Association chief executive Phil Stocker said “If it wasn’t for doubt over our access to the EU market the sheep sector would be looking strong” because tight supplies in the UK and globally have helped push prices higher.

“However, a no deal or a hard Brexit could lead to a loss of access to the EU in the short term or tariffs of up to 45% of the value of lamb being exported and both these outcomes would be highly damaging for the UK sheep sector.”

If NZ can move more into the EU market, reducing supplies

to the UK, the balance between supply and demand could be stabilised, particularly if the domestic industry adapts to improve year-round lamb supplies.

How likely is no deal and how will trade with the EU be disrupted if it happens?

The UK is likely to leave the EU on March 29, when it will surrender its unlimited tariff-free access to the rest of the trading bloc.

If an interim agreement is secured, trade will continue as normal until a future trade deal between the EU and the UK can be agreed and signed.

Prime minister Theresa May won the backing of a majority of MPs in parliament to return to Brussels and re-open negotiations

Farms laws to be ready for Brexit

RMPP Farm Business Transition and Succession Workshops Register now for the upcoming series of workshops on the transition and succession of the family farm business, aimed at helping sheep and beef farmers navigate what can often be a difficult process.

SCARY: British farmers fear a glut of lamb on the market if they can’t export to Europe while their country continues to import New Zealand product.

on the so-called divorce deal but EU negotiators said they will be unable to offer any meaningful changes.

She has promised MPs they will be able to vote on any proposed deal on February 14 and if a majority of them back a deal then or at any time between then and March 29, no deal can be prevented.

If all efforts fail and a no-deal exit comes to pass, trade with the EU could cease altogether in the short term.

The UK will need to apply to the EU for third country status, which is the designation all non-EU countries need to have to send goods into any EU country.

Opinion is divided over how long that could take, with the process normally taking several months though some trade experts say it could be accelerated if there is sufficient political willpower.

However, even once that is secured, there will be very little access for lamb without a tariff being applied unless an agreement on a quota of tarifffree meat can be agreed with the EU independently of a trade deal, which is an unlikely prospect.

The current effective tariff rate of chilled lamb entering the EU is 46%, which is based on a charge of 12.8% of the value of the shipment plus an additional €171.30/100kg.

There are likely to be other, more permanent factors that will also add cost to UK-EU trade, including the requirement for all animal products entering the EU to pass through a veterinary inspection post.

UK Farmers Weekly

BREXIT legislation will be completed on time despite dozens of amendments tabled to the government’s Agriculture Bill, House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom says.

She was responding to a question by Labour’s shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz who said six important pieces of legislation need to be debated and passed by MPs before the UK leaves the European Union on March 29.

They include legislation on fisheries, immigration, trade, financial services and healthcare as well as the government’s Agriculture Bill.

Leadsom said she is confident it will all be done in time.

“I can absolutely assure her that my day job is to make sure, on a daily basis, that both the primary legislation and the secondary legislation are progressing through the house,” she said.

“That is the case and will continue to be the case.”

MPs have tabled some 59 amendments to the

Agriculture Bill, which sets out the government’s post-Brexit plans for United Kingdom agriculture.

They include amendments MPs say will protect food security, ensure imported food is produced to UK standards and ensure tenant farmers can access new grant schemes.

The Tenant Farmers Association said it is concerned clauses in tenancy agreements might preclude some tenant farmers from taking advantage of new environmental grants.

Association chief executive George Dunn said “It is really important that all farmers have fair access to the new schemes being developed in both England and Wales.”

Shadow farm minister David Drew has tabled an amendment enabling tenants to pursue any objection from a landlord to arbitration or expert determination.

But Dunn warned “We have yet to receive any assurance that the amendment will be accepted or if the government will come forward with its own amendment.”

CERTAIN: All legislation to protect British agriculture will be passed in time for Brexit, House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom says.

Other amendments tabled

by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman seek to ensure that any payments available through new schemes are made only to active farmers.

Dunn said “Individuals farming land often lose out to those who own the land when schemes are available to support agri-environment

objectives, diversification and productivity.

“We want the assurance that payments can only be made to individuals who are in occupation of the land being used for the scheme, taking the entrepreneurial risk of the activities on that land and in day-to-day management control.”

UK Farmers Weekly

MANY HANDS MAKE

A helping hand is always welcome on the farm or lifestyle block and likewise, if you’re looking to sell your rural property.

The autumn 2019 edition of Bayleys’ Country magazine will be the practical support you need.

It’s an altogether better plan because when you list with Bayleys, the nationwide rural team gets right behind you to find the best buyer and that’s where grit and determination comes into play.

Our rural band of workers gets stuck in to get the job done – and we all know how vital teamwork is when it comes to efficiency and results both on-farm and off.

For 20 years, Country magazine has provided rural New Zealand property owners with the opportunity to unearth buyers.

We have the tools to dig deep and get your farm or lifestyle block in front of active and passive local, national and international buyers. Then we have the proven skills to complete the circle on a sale – that’s why Bayleys is recognised as New Zealand’s number one rural brand.

Talk to your local Bayleys office today about Country magazine and share the workload.

Let us lend a hand.

More value from trees a big challenge Interest in forestry and wood processing from government is welcome, but adding value to logs can be a tough job.

The show must go on

The traditional A&P Show is holding its own in a changing society and continues to unite rural and urban communities.

FEATURING

125 FARM, SPECIALTY AND LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE ISSUE 2 – 2018

#1

RURAL REAL ESTATE BRAND

To learn more about Country magazine, call 0800 BAYLEYS or visit bayleys.co.nz/country.

LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

A LT O G E T H E R B E T T E R

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

FINAL NOTICE

Pikowai 166 Airstrip Road

Award winning 452ha farm

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Lovingly nurtured for 44 years, this rare and prestigious offering provides options for the discerning purchaser.

452ha (more or less) of mixed contoured land that includes approximately 100ha of forestry. A first class infrastructure with a secluded three bedroom home; plus two other great staff homes, woolshed, sheep yards and an excellent cattle facility. There are well-subdivided and fenced paddocks with a spring water supply.

Prospects here include continuing one of the region’s finest beef bull and sheep breeding blocks, a large support block for existing dairy operations or progressing your current farming business. Consistently inside the top 10% with regards to economic performance - recognised in 2010, winning The Ballance Farm Environment award.

Handy to Whakatane and the Rotorua lakes, with Tauranga CBD a short 65km via the Eastern Link.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Tue 26 Feb 2019 247 Cameron Road, Tauranga Phone for viewing times Mark Spitz 027 442 1295 mark.spitz@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2500061

bayleys.co.nz

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SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

Turua 207 Orchard East Road

Dairy opportunity, prime location The 124ha (more or less) farm has a nice aesthetic, comprising of four titles, being flat in contour with multiple road frontages/access points and positioned under five kilometres drive to Ngatea township. The dairy is a practical 30 ASHB supplying Fonterra a three-year average of 94,863kgMS. An array of utility, calf and ancillary improvements support the dairy including a modern 300 cow capacity wintering barn, whilst a solid 12-year-old Intalok and tidy three-bedroom home provide accommodation. The main home consists of three bedrooms and modern comforts including a heat pump, insulation and internal access garaging. The secondary dwelling is weatherboard construction with renovations to the bathroom completed in 2017 and separate garaging. With its location approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the Thames Coast the perfect work play balance is achievable.

bayleys.co.nz/2310254

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 12pm, Thu 21 Feb 2019 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Fri 15 Feb Karl Davis 027 496 4633 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz Lee Carter 027 696 5781 lee.carter@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Waihi Beach 530 Waihi Beach Road

Bird's-eye view of the Bay

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Owned for over 30 years, this productive dairy farm affords outstanding panoramic ocean views over the Bay. This beautifully located farm boasts a profitable OAD dairy unit producing a five year average of 48,887 kgMS from 135 full pedigree Jersey cows. A self-contained farm sees all young stock grazed on the property, farm water via a bore pumped to holding tanks and gravity fed to troughs in all paddocks, effluent (compliant until 2028) is spread over pasture by travelling irrigator. In addition, there is a good track system around the wellfenced and subdivided paddocks. The 14 year old main home showcases the view below – an amazing panorama from Mayor Island to White Island on a clear day. Other improvements include a second home and a 17 ASHB shed. Continue as a dairy farm or diversify, with good grazing land and subdivision possibilities to explore.

Auction (unless sold prior) 1pm, Wed 6 Mar 2019 247 Cameron Road, Tauranga Phone for viewing times Mark Spitz 027 442 1295 mark.spitz@bayleys.co.nz

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SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2500117

bayleys.co.nz

NEW LISTING

Hastings Brownlie Road, Puketitiri

Contour and rainfall with Puketitiri hunting Nestled under the Kaweka ranges only 57km west of Napier in the renowned Puketitiri farming district is the rare opportunity to purchase 'Rocky Hill' farm. An impressive 429ha finishing property with free draining soils, approximately 145ha deer fenced, a helicopter hangar, walk in chiller, freezer, areas of native bush which provide the perfect habitat for the resident Sika, Red and Fallow deer. "This is not only a very productive farm, but it is also a hunters paradise." Subdivided into over 50 paddocks with fantastic workability, laneway and central stock yards. Improvements include a 2002 built four bedroom home, three bedroom manager's residence, four stand woolshed, five bay implement shed/workshop, sheep and cattle yards. The opportunity to expand on the deer fencing, continue finishing sheep and beef or create a hunting park is fantastic.

bayleys.co.nz/2851504

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 13 Mar 2019 17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Gavin Franklin 027 427 8000 gavin.franklin@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Wairoa Te Puna Station, 2775 Mangapoike Road

Scale, rainfall and multiple income opportunities An opportunity to purchase significant scale in a high rainfall environment, at very affordable levels. Te Puna Station is 1,594 hectares located 37 kilometres north of Wairoa. Carrying approximately 9,500 stock units, the farm has 80 hectares of high UMF manuka due for honey production in 2019, forecasting strong returns.

Development has resulted in excellent access throughout the farm, improved subdivision, weed control and currently under construction is a new main homestead. An excellent farming climate, annual rainfall over two metres whilst also benefitting from early seasons, a good mix of aspect, with the majority of the farm lying below 450 metres. The farm is ideally positioned as a breeding block to support a finishing operation or expand on the planting projects. The vendors are focusing on other projects and want this property sold. Call to inspect.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Thu 7 Mar 2019 17 Napier Road, Havelock North Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Simon Bousfield 027 665 8778 simon.bousfield@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2851503

EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz

Taranaki 110 Horoi Road, Eltham

Well presented 150ha dairy Located only seven kilometers east of Eltham the well-presented 150 hectare dairy farm has been developed to high standards and comes with high quality improvements and laneways providing access across the property.

Infrastructure includes a 40 a-side HB dairy shed, stand off pad, three implement sheds and two hay / calf sheds.

Housing consists of the main five bedroom split level homestead, four bedroom home and two bedroom modern cottage. Laneways are in excellent condition and pastures have undergone a renewal program in conjunction with any on farm development in recent years. Mostly flat with some rolling hill the property on average milks approximately 350 to 360 cows. Close to town, well appointed and presented to a high standard the farm is ready to change hands.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 1pm, Thu 21 Feb 2019 15 Courtenay Street, New Plymouth View 11am-12pm Thu 14 Feb Mark Monckton 021 724 833 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY TARANAKI LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2600104

NEW LISTING

Boundary lines are indicative only

Morrinsville 97 Reay and Watson Road Location and scale Located between Hamilton and Morrinsville is this 128ha (more or less) dairy unit. The property has been conservatively farmed with a three year production average of 122,555ms from 350 cows. This well set up unit has a 40ASHB with ACR’s and in-shed meal feeding system. Very good well-formed races feed out to 60 paddocks. The water system comprises a bore with submersible pumped through a filtration system and pressure reticulated to the shed and farm. A second bore provides for domestic use.

Excellent shedding is mostly at the working hub. There are three dwellings with the main being a three bedroom brick home with double garage. Excellent set-up, a very easy to manage contour plus size and location make for a great buying opportunity.

bayleys.co.nz/2310249

Taranaki 1508 Otaraoa Road, Tikorangi 3

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Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 7 Mar 2019 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Thu 14 Feb Mike Fraser-Jones 027 475 9680 mike.fraserjones@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Two titles, three options Available is 232Ha in two titles with milking, grazing and finishing platforms that can be sold as a self-contained unit or separately.

This is a great opportunity to secure a farm that benefits from a high standard of improvements and recent maintenance upgrades. These include the 2009 built home, 21 ASHB complete with cup removers, new in shed feed system, 5 bay implement/calf shed and silage bunker. Contour across the Dairy platform is mostly undulating to medium hill with the grazing area running from river flats suitable for finishing to steeper sidlings.

The second title comes with hay sheds, woolshed, stock yards, upgraded water system and three bedroom cottage. Purchase a secure self-contained unit with good scale or individually.

Asking Price $4,700,000 + GST (if any) View by appointment Mark Monckton 021 724 833 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY TARANAKI LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/522771

bayleys.co.nz

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farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – February 11, 2019

101.38 ha- approx.-

Walton 404 Paratu Road West Available For A Strictly Limited Time Auction 1pm, Thursday 28th February 2019 (unless sold prior) View Thursday 14th and 21st February, 11-12pm www.ljhooker.co.nz/ F6QHR1 ljhooker.co.nz/F6QHR1

Waipukurau 746 Te Awa Road Ngawa Farm - 381.66ha Ngawa Farm is located 26.2km from Waipukurau and 24.2km to Flemington school. The contour of the property is best described as medium hill country subdivided into approximately 20 paddocks. Excellent access with an all-weather track to satellite sheep yards creates ease of management. The property is complimented with good spring fed dams and large main dam reticulates to house, woolshed and part of the farm. Stock policy is a Romdale breeding flock and replacements with a small cow herd. Well appointed 1960 Homestead with four bedrooms which has tastefully been refurbished in the last three years. Numerous shedding options with workshop, two, three and four bay sheds, woolshed and Shearers Quarters, Satellite sheep and cattle yards.

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For Sale offers invited by (unless sold prior)

4pm, Thu 7 Mar 2019 Railway Station, 11 Bogle Brothers Esplanade, Waipukurau View by appointment Andy Hunter 027 449 5827 andy.hunter@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Peter Begovich 027 476 5787 Rex Butterworth 021 348 276

Chances are you´ll only get one shot at owning this 101ha dairy farm in the popular Walton district. A reliable, solid performer, quality improvements and easy gentle rolling contour in two titles with a great location. Attractive 3 bedroom + office home, fully renovated with an in-ground pool. The second home has also benefited from a remodel. A modern 30 ASHB takes pride of place amongst plenty of good quality support buildings, in-keeping with the rest of the properties high standards.

Link Realty Limited

Link Realty Limited Licensed REAA 2008. All information contained herein is gathered from sources we consider to be reliable. However, we cannot guarantee or give any warranty about the information provided. Interested parties must solely rely on their own enquiries.

bayleys.co.nz/2870624

EXCEPTIONAL FIRST FARM

Sallan Realty

Looking for the complete package?

2480RE90X265

We’ve got you covered with digital and print options.

Contact Shirley Howard phone 06 323 0760, email shirley.howard@globalhq.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

LK0096398©

• Situated on Kellow Road is this outstanding 74 hectare dairy farm.

• Featuring a modern 26 aside herringbone dairy with in bail feeding and a 350 cow circular yard.

• The dairy was built for the start of the 2017/18 season and features all the modern conveniences including modern milking plant, good storage areas, excellent staff facilities along with under cover vet race and stock loading facilities.

• There is very nice a four bedroom brick and tile family home with log fire and heat pump, along with a second three bedroom timber home for staff accommodation.

• Water for stock and irrigation is supplied by bore and tank water supplies the homes. A new bore was installed at the start of this season.

• This is a great opportunity to buy a first farm that has exceptional facilities and is in a fantastic location. The lifestyle advantages of farming in this area are many and here is your chance to secure this property from our retiring Vendor.

• For Sale by Tender closing 2pm, 28th February 2019 if not sold prior.

• Call Les on 0274 420 582 to inspect.

CALL 0800FARMTEAM Licensed Agent REAA 2008

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Golden opportunity

AUCTION WEB ID DR65750

NORSEWOOD 378 Jens Andersen Road 188 ha situated in the summer safe region of Norsewood, this dairy unit is on premium land with great infrastructure.

complex on a large metalled area allowing storage of implements and large farm vehicles. Two large implement sheds with workshop, a large calf rearing shed with four small nearby paddocks with calf shelter sheds.

The dairy shed is a modern 70 bail rotary, situated centrally on farm. With great access tracks including underpass allowing for ease of stock movement. Fencing The farm has a superior four bdrm home + 3 workers and subdivision is to an excellent standard. The farm has homes. Additional lease block 480ha. a sound fertiliser history producing excellent pasture growth. Water is drawn by consent from the Manawatu river. Another feature of the farm is its shedding

Rare opportunity

WEB ID BC63102

Investments of this calibre rarely come to the market.

Located on one of the city's busiest streets, this high-profile modern building offers investors a rare opportunity to purchase a fully tenanted iconic Palmerston North property.

751-759 Main Street is beautifully presented with a modern, spacious layout with plenty of natural light.

Both tenants and customers are spoilt for choice with a well thought out building layout of 1,368m2 and 24 off-street car parks.

With a seismic rating of 100% NBS and a solid income stream of $382,077 net per annum.

pb.co.nz

VIEW By Appointment AUCTION 2.00pm, Thu 14th Mar, 2019, (unless sold prior), Hovding Hall, Lower Norsewood

Jim Crispin

Mobile 027 717 8862 Office 06 374 8102 Home 06 374 6768 jimc@pb.co.nz

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Jewel in the crown - 246.58 ha

TENDER

TERRACE END

AUCTION

DEADLINE SALE

TENDER View By Appointment TENDER closes Thursday 14th March, 2019 at 4.00pm, Property Brokers Limited, 240 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North

Kevin Carian

Mobile 027 430 4045 kevin.carian@pb.co.nz

WEB ID AR66066 DEADLINE SALE WINCHMORE 670 Dromore Methven Road View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 1st March, 2019 at 4.00pm, Winchmore Research Station is an iconic property (unless sold prior) formerly known worldwide as the centre of irrigation research in New Zealand. New centre pivot and lateral move spray irrigation with low cost pressurised supply.

Quality cattle yards and four stand woolshed with Paul Cunneen covered yards ideal for stock finishing. Four staff houses Mobile 0274 323 382 Office 03 307 9190 and ex research complex. Also available as; Home 03 302 6751 •174 ha ex Research Station paulc@pb.co.nz •72 ha irrigated bareland.

Currently leased until end of harvest 2019.

Toby O'Donnell

Mobile 027 322 6256 Office 03 307 9176 toby@pb.co.nz

FIRST FARM OPPORTUNITY 269 Kopurutuku Road, Ohakune This attractive 123 ha breeding/finishing farm could be the farm to start your journey towards farm ownership. The balanced contour consists predominantly of clean medium hill country plus approximately 55 ha of easy country suitable for either cropping or finishing. Subdivided into 22 main paddocks with good conventional fencing and a lane system enables ease of stock movement. Historically wintered around 600 ewes, 200 hoggets plus trading cattle. The original 1908 homestead has the bones to be something special and set amongst a back drop of mature trees and shrubs.

ORANLEIGH 408 Whanganui River Road, Taumarunui If you are looking for a scale and location breeding block then this farm must tick most boxes. 540 ha of strong hill country only 4 km´s from the center of Taumarunui township.

Subdivided into 28 paddocks with conventional fencing and 4 sets of satellite yards. The good network of 4x4 tracks is giving ease of stock access and movement. A quality 1920´s Homestead is set in mature surrounds coupled with a 4-stand woolshed and covered yards that are all supporting this attractive farm. Call today to book an inspection.

123 hectares Auction nzr.nz/RX1787297 Auction (unless sold prior) 1pm, Thu 14 Mar 2019, NZR, 1 Goldfinch St, Ohakune.

Jamie Proude AREINZ 027 448 5162 | jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

540 hectares Price by negotiation nzr.nz/RX1695854 Jamie Proude AREINZ 027 448 5162 | jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY 124 & 278 Tunanui Road, Owhango This attractive Owhango dairy farm ticks most boxes. A milking platform of 110 (effective) hectares with past peak production (2014) of 111,000 KG MS plus the bonus of 220ha grazing country right next door, allowing an opportunity to expand this operation or simply run as a fattening/breeding farm.

Infrastructure includes a 30 aside Herringbone shed with a large 400 cow yard, implement sheds, a 3-bedroom dwelling set in mature surrounds, a 2nd house and a 4-stand woolshed with covered yards. Purchasing options available - Contact me for more information.

373 hectares Offers Invited nzr.nz/RX1703812 Offers Invited by 4pm, Thu 21 Mar 2019, NZR, 1 Goldfinch St, Ohakune.

Jamie Proude AREINZ 027 448 5162 | jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Ltd | Licensed REAA 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – February 11, 2019

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

45

230 COW O.A.D. 219 HA North Bank Maruia Approx 120ha effective with further 15ha rough grazing.

Production to 90,336kgs MS 230 cows O.A.D. 30 aside Cow shed built in 2013 with ACR’s.

6 bay multi-purpose shed and hay barn. Three bedroom renovated cottage, large open plan living plus a three bedroom permanent material cottage.

Current My-Milk supplier.

Available Going Concern.

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty Closing 7th March 2019 unless sold prior.

Web Ref GDR3318553

Greg Daly AREINZ Mobile 027 478 3594 or A/H 03 762 6463 LK0096239©

www.gregdalyrealestate.co.nz Real Estate Agent REAA 2008

07 883 1195 Roto-O-Rangi - 350 Parklands Road

‘Mirembeek’

101 Glynns Road KONGORONG SA AUSTRALIA

• 3x Centre Pivots driven by

turbine pumps

• 30 a side swing over dairy • 500 cow concrete holding yard • Numerous shedding • Extensive network of laneways • White clover & rye grass

currently under irrigation

• Dry land sown to lucerne &

perennial grasses

• 2x 3 bedroom stone homes • 913.3 Meg

HA 380.3

Water Licence Expression of Interest close 3pm Thursday 7th March 2019 if not sold prior

(Australian Central Daylight Savings Time)

RECOGNISED HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE LAND OVER 5 TITLES Continue to run as a Dairy or utilise for Prime Beef Cattle, Fat Lambs or Irrigated Cropping.

Located in the south east of South Australia, Australia.

Henry Mould +61 418 811 028 henry@ottoson.com.au / admin@ottoson.com.au

Watch our video - https://youtu.be/k6fIsWg6XDA Economic Grazing Block $2,350,000 + GST (if any)  Mix and match your livestock classes, grow maize or a supplementary feed crop on this 38 hectare property between Te Awamutu and Cambridge  Perfect as a standalone farm or a run off for a larger farming unit  Mairoa ash soils show the benefit of regular fertiliser application  Improvements include a tidy 3 bedroom home, dairy shed used as a calf rearing shed and extensive cattle handling yards plus load out race  Excellent fencing and a water system reticulating to troughs in all paddocks  The access throughout is provided by well-formed laneways  The boundary and laneway fencing is seven wire post and batten while the internal fencing varies from two to four wire electric  The property has been farming bulls and calves on a trading system Call Steve or David for more information.

OPEN FARM - Wednesday 13 February from 11.00am to 11.45am Steve Mathis 027 481 9060 David McGuire 027 472 2572

Web ID: RAL647

www.ruralandlifestylesales.com

RLA 179363

ACRE 939.74

www.ottoson.com.au

THE DESTINATION FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE

Land is the biggest asset to any farming business so it pays to stay up to date with the market.

Connect with the right audience at

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

46

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – February 11, 2019

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

OPEN DAY

NEW LISTING

TE ANGA, WAITOMO 2856 Te Anga Road

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

CLIFTON, SOUTH OTAGO

Waitini - Breeding Finishing Unit

VIEW 11.00-1.00pm, Tuesday

Versatile Finishing Country

Peter Wylie M 027 473 5855 | B 07 878 0265 E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

432.1871ha in total (two adjoining titles) Available to purchase together or as separate titles: Clifton Road - 283ha, quality brick four bedroom home, three stand woolshed with covered yards and cattle yards. Whitelea Road - 149ha including an older three bedroom home and cattle yards. Strong fertiliser history and rural water scheme. This strong easy rolling country is suitable for livestock finishing/ dairy support and growing supplements including cereal crops.

• •

• •

519ha, approx 470ha effective. Contour goes from easy to medium to steeper hill Livestock wintered 2018 - 209 big Angus cows, 590 in lamb ewes, 844 in lamb hoggets, 101 rising 1yr cattle, 8 bulls, 500 extra lambs brought in and finished Three bedroom house, four stand woolshed with covered yards and two implement sheds Waitini has size, contour, water, rainfall and ample ability to increase stock capacity

(Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Friday 15 March 12, 19, 26 February

pggwre.co.nz/TEK29668

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 12.00pm, Friday 8 March

Jason Rutter M 027 243 1971 | B 03 418 1382

Stewart Rutter M 027 433 7666 | B 03 418 1381

pggwre.co.nz/BAL29750 Helping grow the country

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

TENDER

TENDER

Tauwhare 182 Scotsman Valley Road Affordable Scale and Location

Tender With production levels to over 140,000 kgMS this Friday 8 March 2019 12noon (unless exceptionally well located 116 ha FH with 26 ha sold prior)

LH adjacent property makes for a compelling “must view”.

Lots of great infrastructure including a very modern 32ASHB with ACRs and Pro-track drafting plus a lined pond, PLUS two homes including the master residence of six bedrooms.

Handily located to Hamilton, Cambridge and Morrinsville and zoned for some great schools, this is an exciting option to investigate.

With two Certificates of Title as purchasing options, the choice of use is yours.

View: Tuesday 12, 19, 26 February and 5 March 11am-12noon harcourts.co.nz/CB3694 Kevin Deane

AREINZ

DIRECTOR/RURAL SALES

M 021 970 902 | P 07 889 8205 E kevin.deane@harcourts.co.nz www.harcourts.co.nz Kevin Deane Real Estate (Morrinsville) Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Graham Cook B.Com Ag (VFM) Registered Valuer RURAL SALES CONSULTANT

M 027 454 6229 | P 07 823 3854 E graham.cook@harcourts.co.nz www.harcourts.co.nz Kevin Deane Real Estate (Cambridge) Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Tauwhare 884a Victoria Road EYE APPEAL AND LOCATION

Situated just a short drive North of the Cambridge township is this stunningly attractive 100ha dairy unit with an adjacent 16ha of lease.

Currently run as a productive autumn calving dairy unit in it’s past life, this property has run a large number of horses with some of the relevant infrastructure still in place.

To the above add in the top line of dairy infrastructure, the three homes AND the ability to consider purchasing either, the property in its entirety or as separate titles. Pencil this one in for a viewing at your earliest convenience.

Tender Friday 8 March 12 noon (unless sold prior) View: Monday 11, 18, 25 February, 4 March 11am-12noon harcourts.co.nz/ML4194

Kevin Deane

AREINZ

DIRECTOR/RURAL SALES

M 021 970 902 | P 07 889 8205 E kevin.deane@harcourts.co.nz www.harcourts.co.nz Kevin Deane Real Estate (Morrinsville) Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

FINAL NOTICE

WHAKATANE, BOP 682 Thornton Road

TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 28 February

Good Summer Location

VIEW 11.00-12.00pm, Thursday 14 & 21 February

• • • • • •

All flat - approximately 63 hectares STT due to Reid Central Canal upgrade - titles are being re-issued Four-year production average 74,648kg MS, milking 210 cows 20 ASHB, calf rearing and storage sheds, half round barn Newly commissioned above ground Kliptank effluent system Three bedroom open plan home, four bedroom family home is also available by separate tender Lease land support blocks in close proximity are available by negotiation

•

Only 12.6km to Whakatane and 2.5km to Thornton Beach and boat ramp for fishing and white baiting

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

pggwre.co.nz/WHK29701

NEW LISTING

KAIRAKAU, CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY 'Matahuia' - Coastal Breeding • • • • • • •

343.89 hectares (849.7 acres) of hill country Coastal breeding unit, ideal as a winter run off or entry level farm, some 40km west of Waipawa Close to Kairakau and Mangakuri beaches Watered from spring fed dams and creeks Comfortable, three bedroom home, built in 2011 plus a separate double garage Four stand Woolaway shed (500NP), sheep and cattle yards The property is currently leased, now ready for new owners

3

1

2

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Plus GST (if any) Closes 2.00pm, Tuesday 19 March PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Hastings Doug Smith M 027 494 1839 | B 06 878 3156 E dougsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz Paul Harper M 027 494 4854 | B 06 878 3156 E paul.harper@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/HAS29909 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

For more great rural listings, visit www.pggwre.co.nz www.pggwre.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

NZ’s leading rural real estate company

Helping grow the country

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

Employment

General Farm Hand

FARMERS WEEKLY – February 11, 2019

Senior reporter – farming GlobalHQ, based in Feilding, is the country’s most innovative multimedia agri-information hub. We work hard to create valuable content that informs, inspires and entertains. We invest in great people, and products including Farmers Weekly, On Farm Story, Dairy Farmer and the AgriHQ suite of data and analysis products.

For further details please contact: Dean McRobbie, Mahoe Station, RD 1, Waipawa Ph 06 857 3871

We have a new role: Senior Reporter for a smart-thinking candidate with a real interest in the business of farming, to work alongside our award-winning team of rural journalists and freelance writers. You will enjoy the latest tools to produce indemand agribusiness news, opinion and analysis. You will also take a leading role in the development of our multi-media and new media offerings. You will maintain and uphold the current reputation of our flagship Farmers Weekly, and in doing so, build on the strong relationships we have with industry contacts.

LK0096404©

This position is available on a 1200ha breeding property in Central Hawke’s Bay. The job involves general farm maintenance and helping with stockwork when required. A 3-bedroom house is provided which is on both primary and secondary school bus runs.

High Country Station Manager 20 Minutes to Wanaka Lake Hawea Station (LHS) is a stunning 6500ha property running up from the shores of Lake Hawea to 1500 metres at the top. It has both many years of history and many exciting years of opportunity ahead. The new owners are a New Zealand family unit with extensive brand building experience. They have a plan to grow the business through multi-enterprise options including hunting, mountain biking, farm development and by getting closer to the consumer with branded products in the name of value creation.

A positive attitude is everything for this position.

For further information: See TradeMe listing Experienced Shepherd / Hawkes Bay Listing #1919068146

LK0096315©

Please forward application with covering letter and CV to: opoho@xtra.co.nz

Classifieds

FARM MANAGER – SOLE CHARGE You will be in a sole charge position of a predominantly deer farm located in Rotorua.

The property is 236 hectares effective with 1100 stock units. Although there is also a small mob of sheep run on the property, experience with deer is preferred.

Register to receive job alerts on www.ruraldirections.co.nz

Amazing simplicity that just works! The modular Combi Clamp Sheep Handler is the answer to your sheep handling woes.

For more information please contact Mike Ramsey on 07 878 7077 Please apply with your CV and cover letter to hra@crusadermeats.co.nz Applicants must have NZ residency or valid NZ work visa.

LK0096368©

LK0096393©

While you may not have management experience, you will have at least two years of head shepherd or leadership experience.

RECRUITMENT & HR

Come and see us at:

SHEPHERD GENERAL

Farmarama. 28 Feb - 1 March.

Central Districts. 14 - 16 March. Sites O17-O18.

Kirwee (SIFD). 27 - 29 March. Site 282.

We are looking for an experienced Shepherd General to join our team. We are a deer only farm located in the Rerewhakaaitu, between Murupara and Rotorua.

RURAL SECTOR

RURAL SECTOR JOBS BOARD

JOBS BOARD

Our Cattle Crushes include a large array of features as standard so there are no hidden costs.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person, preferably with previous experience working with deer. Ideally, you will have tractor, fencing and chainsaw experience.

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

• 2019 Trainee Programme - Livestock Representative • Agribusiness farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz • Agronomy • Analyst Senior Reporter • 2IC Dairy • Block GeneralManager Maintenance Sharemilker • Livestock Specialist Shepherd Farm Manager • Manager Hand • General Pasture and Grazing Specialist Shepherd General • Labourer Sharemilker Stock Manager • Shepherd USA Harvest Workers Livestock Manager • Shepherd/General

On occasion you will be required to work on two other Company farms to help out and cover periods of leave. No dogs are required.

Success in this role may lead to a management position, in time.

A 3 bedroom house is available, so could suit a couple or family.

For more information please contact Mike Ramsey on 07 878 7077

Manager

Please apply with your CV and cover letter to: hra@crusadermeats.co.nz Applicants must have NZ residency or valid NZ work visa.

0800 227 228

LK0095375©

LK0096053©

LK0092630©

A remuneration package tailored to suit the successful applicant’s skillset and experience. Comfortable accommodation available on the property.

Or phone Tim 06 837 7630

Accommodation is by way of a local rented home whilst a new modern Manager’s home is being built on the property. The station is very close to amenities with great local schools and a supportive community spirit. This is a truly exceptional opportunity to position yourself in a beautiful part of the world with people that will make a global difference creating LHS into an international brand of excellence.

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

Capability with driving tractors is a must, along with good stock sense and animal husbandry. Ideally you will have 3-4 well trained working dogs.

We value staff with high standards, energy and motivation.

If you’re ready for the responsibility and the challenge, we invite you to register your interest and request a job description now.

Please email: bryan.gibson@globalhq.co.nz

The owners are seeking a Station Manager who can demonstrate excellence in the fundamentals of high-country farming; the key pillar of this business. This is not a traditional Station Manager role as it will be suited to an individual with the courage and desire to challenge the normal and research the new. The platform is set to increase productivity, grow ecological enhancement, increase diversity and embrace further income streams through tourism options. Energy, tenacity and drive are pre-requisites whilst your core values will create alignment with the owners. This is an opportunity to be part of something very special.

Employers: Advertise your vacancy in the employment section of the Farmers Weekly Employers: Advertise your in to the employment section and as added value it will bevacancy uploaded of the Farmers Weekly and farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz for as oneadded monthvalue or it will be uploaded to farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz for one month or close of application. close of application.

We are looking for an experienced shepherd to be part of a small team to help run this dynamic livestock business. There is opportunity to grow into a management role in the future.

You will be based in the GlobalHQ head office in Feilding working alongside a dynamic, innovative and creative team who appreciate new ideas and have the courage to make them happen.

The station offers true balance through irrigated flats to high country tussock and has untapped potential of further land development on the easy country. There is a pivot covering 54ha and a further 8ha under K-Line irrigation. The winter crop this year is 24ha in dry land and 4ha under the pivot. The station has a Merino flock of approximately 7700 (3850 ewes, 3850 lambs, 60 rams) producing excellent 17.4-micron wool and 190 Hereford cows and their progeny complementing the system.

Applications close 5pm Monday, 4th March 2019.

We are a fifth generation 780ha coastal farming sheep and beef breeding/finishing, and cropping operation. One hour south of Gisborne, situated on State Highway 2, Nuhaka region.

Your week will be spent planning and reporting stories the industry trusts. You will build professional relationships, extracting the right information from a wide range of industry sources.

You will be working in a team the primary sector turns to first for independent content they value to give them a competitive edge. With a great working environment comes serious responsibility, decision making, and company collaboration!

There is a significant infrastructure upgrade project underway including Station Manager’s home, shedding, yards, Shepherds’ quarters, woolshed and farm machinery. High level farm presentation is critical and not negotiable; LHS is a brand of quality.

To view a Job Information Pack or to apply, please visit www. ruraldirections.co.nz or phone the Rural Directions team in confidence on 06 871 0450 (Reference # 9124).

EXPERIENCED SHEPHERD

™

www.combiclamp.co.nz Videos on website SI Agent, Stuart - 027 435 3062

LK0096262©

48

Classifieds

FARMERS WEEKLY – February 11, 2019

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

0800 436 566

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS

DEERLAND TRADING LTD

FARM MAPPING

A HISTORY OF THE Young Farmer of the year, by Kate Taylor. Book signing in-store 11 February from 5pm at One Stop Stationery and Books, 237 Broadway, Marton. Or further information phone Sam 027 701 6760.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GARLIC & MANUKA HONEY. 20L - $54.95, 200L $495 or 1000L - $2,200 plus GST with FREE SHIPPING from Black Type Minerals Ltd www. blacktypeminerals. co.nz

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.

YOUR FARM MAPPED showing paddock sizes.

Priced from $600 for 100ha. Phone 0800 433 855. farmmapping.co.nz

DOGS FOR SALE

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide.

We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase.

NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 04 293 2097 Richard.

ANIMAL HANDLING JOHNNY GRAY Specialists in mustering Wild Goats, Cattle, Horses and Sheep across New Zealand Check out our website and let results speak for themselves www.aotearoastockman.com

LK0096068©

Working alongside Crusader Meats

ATTENTION FARMERS

FLY OR LICE problem?

Electrodip - The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides.

Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness.

Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m

ANIMAL HEALTH

Ph: 027 959 4166 johnnyanderin2017@gmail.com maiexperiencejohnnygray

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

4X4 TAGALONG TOURS

LK0096187©

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

Tour 1: Molesworth Station, St James, and Rainbow Stations Dates 2019: Oct 21-24, Dec 30-Jan 2 2020 Dates 2020: Feb 22-25, March 1-4, March 15-18, April 5-8 Tour 2: D’Urville Island and Marlborough High Country Dates 2019: Dec 1-5 Dates 2020: March 22-26 Other dates available for either tour for groups on request.

Ph: 03 314 7220 Mob: 0274 351 955 Email info@southislandtoursnz.com www.southislandtoursnz.com

SHED/BARN BUILDER available all of South Island. Has self-contained motor home. 15 years experience. Phone James 027 436 8372.

CONTRACTORS GORSE SPRAYING SCRUB CUTTING. 30 years experience.

Blowers, gun and hose.

No job too big. Camp out teams.

Travel anywhere if job big enough. Phone Dave 06 375 8032.

SCOTTY’S CONTRACTORS Under Woolshed/ Cover Yards Cleaning Specialist

www.underthewoolshed.kiwi

We’re back and taking bookings

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

SELL YOUR DOG today!

Quick easy sale! Buying 350 dogs annually South and North Islands. No trial or breeding required. No one buys or pays more! www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

FOR SALE

Ph: Scott Newman 027 26 26 272 0800 27 26 88 NZ’s #1 service provider for under woolshed cleaning for more than a decade

HEADING BITCH, good natured, 14 months old.

Working at hand, keen on cattle. $500. Phone 06 322 9855.

SHEEP, DAIRY, BULL working dogs.

Deliver South and North Islands, trial, guaranteed. www. youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

DOG/PET FOOD. Lamb/ Beef and chicken products.

All natural - raw - no preservatives or additives.

NOSLOC PRODUCTS. Ex-freezer Te Kuiti. For information and prices www.nosloc.com or phone 07 878 6868.

NEW HOMES

SHEEP JETTERS SINCE 1992

Ph 06 835 6863 Mob 021 061 1800 Jetter video: www.craigcojetters.co.nz

GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds.

Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten.

Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

GRAZING WANTED GRAZING REQUIRED for 350 Hinds short term. For further enquiries, please contact John on 027 495 3505.

HORTICULTURE

SILVERHILLS LEASE. An attractive property has come back to the market to be re-leased after three years, due to the current leasee’s trying to purchase their own property. Silverhill is 1725 hectares, with 582 hectares of farm and 1142 hectares of run block in the foothills of Albury. The property has a reliable climate and good soils. There are 3 homes 2 shearing sheds, 3 sets of cattle yards, 2 deer sheds and currently running approximately 9500 stock units. Options to lease entire property or parts thereof. Web ID TMR66450. Michael Richardson, phone 027 228 7027, michael@pb.co.nz

RAMS. HILL COUNTRY Perendales. Easy care with good size and quality wool. $250-$500. Phone 06 376 4751 or 021 133 7533.

RAMS. TERMINAL SIRES Southdowns and Suffolk/ Southdown X for heavy fast growing lambs. Suitable for Hogget mating. $250$500. Phone 06 357 7727 or 021 133 7533.

UNDERGROUND LOCATORS PATHFINDER LOCATES underground services and assets. Lower North Island. www.pathfinder.kiwi.nz Or call Brendan 021 089 59158. Email: pathfinder@ inspire.net.nz

PROPERTY WANTED

WORK WANTED

HOUSE FOR REMOVAL wanted.

North Island.

Phone 021 0274 5654.

FARM MANAGER SEEKING position in Manawatu - Rangitikei areas on sheep and beef unit. Young passionate farmer motivated to lift farm / stock performance.

Experience in all aspects of farm management.

Open to share farming opportunities. For more information call 021 042 3000.

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

FOR SALE

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE EARLY MATURING TERMINAL Southdown Rams. Good shoulders.

Suitable for hogget mating.

Reared on hill country.

Extra rams so prepared to meet the market. Contact Roddy McKenzie 06 372 5828.

FIRST X WILTSHIRE, Coop, ewe lambs. Well grown, take Ram, plus pure bred Wiltshire Ram lambs 45kg. Phone 07 8937 824.

Matiere.

PINNACLES WILTSHIRES. 100 Ram Lambs for sale, all born twins. 10 years breeding straight Wiltshires. Main Rd Bulls.

Phone 027 4168 188.

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

SELLING

SOMETHING? Have something to sell?

Advertise in Farmers Weekly Phone Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Farm / Contracting Plant & Machinery S W BIRCH CONTRACTING LK0095831©

LK0095993©

Save time and money – flystrike and lice cost $$$ Guaranteed performance Quick to set up – easy to use – job done

GOATS WANTED FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

LEASE LAND

STOCK FEED

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

Property SOLD

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

• Adjustable V panels • Davey Twin Impellor Pump • 6.5 or 10hp motors

WANTED

TOP OF THE RIDGE fundraising horse trek for Lowe Walker Helicopter Rescue Service and Cancer Society HB. Five days of horse trekking, 60kms west of Napier.

Sunday 24th February to Friday 1st March. See our FaceBook: top of the ridge horse treks for full details or call us on 027 511 8525 / 027 842 9741 email topoftheridgehorsetreks@ outlook.com

49

CLEARING SALE

SOLID – PRACTICAL

WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

CRAIGCO SENSOR JET

FORESTRY

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

THI N K PRE BU IL T

• Robust construction • Auto shut gate • Total 20 jets • Lambs only 5 jets • Side jets for lice

HORSE TREK

A BOOK RELEASE

LK0096309©

DOLOMITE

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

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

Saturday 23 February at 11.00am 1928 SH 3 Maxwell - Wanganui ITEM DESCRIPTION

New Holland T6070 – 1715 hours, John Deere 6210, Massey Ferguson 35 petrol, New Holland BR7070 round baler 17,500 bales, New Holland BC 5060 conventional baler, Fella TS 671 swather, 2 x Claas Volto 52 tedders, 2 x Claas disco plus mowers 3050 & 2650, PZ haybob 300, Mitsubishi L200 flat deck Ute 4x4 with Hydraulic crane, 250 lt portable fuel tank, 3pt linkage crane, UDY forks, old Kawasaki motorbike.

Selection of native timber – Totara, Rimu, split native battens, heavy hardwood beams, Farm sundries, fencing tools, electric fence standards/reels, heavy barred steel gate, Oxy acetylene torch + regulators, Karcher water blaster, small anvil on block, 3 x brushcutters, chainsaws, 2 x leaf blowers, gate, bolts, gudgens, etc.

Numerous power tools – bench grinder, angle grinder, cut off saw, hand tools including antique tools, old carpentry tools, old separator.

Between 40% to 75% off storewide

SUNDRY ITEMS – TOO MANY TO LIST

www.nurturedbynature.co.nz

Auctioneers Note: The machinery has been maintained to a very high standard.

Outside entries accepted – Terms strictly cash – sale + GST Pre-inspection of plant welcomed. Contact vendor Steven Birch: 027 227 4116 RIVERCITY LIVESTOCK 1995 LTD LICENCED AUCTIONEERS

David Cotton 027 442 5920

LK0096395©

Including our luxury Pure Merino range

Household items – fridge freezer unit, microwave ovens, near new washing machine, clothes dryer, outdoor furniture, 2 x BBQs etc.

LK0096317©

(T&C’s online only and for a limited time)

Garden equipment – ride on lawn mower, Morrison reel mower with new engine, garden hand tools, seeders, planters, sprayers.

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – February 11, 2019

SALE TALK

Tony and Luke, two brothers, were sitting in Cobbler and Proust’s, the solicitors, waiting room preparing themselves for the reading of their father’s will.

The two began yet another session of bickering about which of them was the favourite son and it was getting into full flow when they were invited,

by Mr Cobbler, into the office.

After a few preliminaries, including the disposal of a few small items to the cousins and old friends, the important bit came: who would inherit the farm, Tony or Luke?

Mr Cobbler, the solicitor, took a deep breath, looked at the eldest brother Tony and said, ‘Well, Tony, the farm is yours.’

Tony turned to his brother, Luke and complained, ‘See! I told you, Luke, you were the favourite.’

PURIRI WILTSHIRES

Export Contract Contract Export

Tuesday 12th February Tuakau Saleyards - Start 12 noon A/C Puriri Wiltshires

Wanted March Mid JulyMid Delivery

B & R Johnstone will offer approx 70 2th Wiltshire Rams 200 Wiltshire Ram Lambs 350 Wiltshire Ewe Lambs 200 Wiltshire Coopworth x Ewe Lambs Sheep have been selected for their shedding ability.

Farmed on an exposed coastal property.

Enquiries to: PGG Wrightson: Dave Munro - 0275 904 825 Cam Heggie - 0275 018 182 Vendor: Brook Johnstone - 09 232 9875

North Island North Island Luke McBride 027 304 0533 Luke McBride 027 304 0533 Wayne Doran 027 493 8957 Wayne Doran 027 493 8957 South Island South Island Richard Harley 021 765 430 Richard Harley 021 7659772 430 Greg Collins 027 481 Greg Collins 027 481 9772

LK0096380©

2016 Born(F12+) Friesian Heifers Friesian (F12+) 2017 Heifers Born $1700 $1250 Gross 2018 Autumn Born $1100

Speakers will present in the morning. There will be a farm tour in the afternoon with a choice between sheep & beef or dairy.

TAWHAI SUFFOLK STUD

Topics to be covered:

Mt Greba 36 Christians Road, Hawarden North Canterbury

Approximate tallies: 15 1-shear ewes 250 ewe lambs

Note:

LK0096379©

- If possible please bring a 4WD vehicle.

Helmets will be required on quads, no passengers - No riding on back of farm utes - Farmlands are putting on a sausage sizzle for lunch, or bring your own packed lunch - Try a sample of the New Generation Beef - Tea and coffee provided - Will proceed wet or fine Contact General Manager: Paul Mahoney 09 232 9897

Beltex nd Annual Sale Seco Friday 1 March 2019

Viewing from 11am, Sale starts 1.30pm ‘Rangiatea’, 571 Upper Downs Rd, Mt Somers, Mid Canterbury

Ewes

22 Purebred lambs 14 Beltex/Poll Dorset 2-tooths 2 Purebred 2-tooths 17 Beltex/Perendale 2-tooths 13 ¾ bred lambs 15 Beltex/Poll Dorset 22 Beltex/Suffolk lambs 12 ¾ bred lambs 15 Beltex/Poll Dorset lambs 70 Beltex/Perendale lambs 22 Beltex/Perendale lambs

Blair Gallagher 021 022 31522 Simon Eddington Jock Allison 0275 908 612 021 363 337

AUTUMN CALVING HERD AND IN-CALF HEIFER LK0096391©

Phone Carrfields – Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131 PGG – Simon Eddington 027 590 8612 Vendor – Penni Loffhagen 03 314 4551, 021 149 4413

LK0096004©

This is a great opportunity to buy from large Suffolk flock run under commercial conditions.

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

027 587 0131

Call farm manager Fraser on 021 056 8156

Your Wairarapa Buyer for:

1. Dairy Beef Progeny Test – post calving performance 2. Dairy Beef Progeny Test – growth & meat quality 3. New Generation Beef 4. Ewe Udder Defects 5. Nitrogen Reference Points & Farm Environment Plans

Suffolk Female Sale 28th February 2019 – 1.30pm start 11.30 viewing on farm

460 FX/J Herd BW82 PW101 RA92% DTC 1/8.

Web Ref DH1242 System 1, Bred for fertility & udders, good age structure. $2085 200 F/FX Herd BW51 PW83 DTC 1/8 Web Ref DH1223 Managers cows, low SCC $1950 160 FX I/C Heifers BW126 PW124 DTC 24/7 $1750 Paul Kane: 027 286 9279 National Dairy Coordinator

Callum Dunnett

Full herd management on South Auckland property

Currently looking for: n Cows with calves at foot n 18-month Bulls 300-380kg n 18-month Dairy Beef X Steers n Dairy Beef X Weaners n Dry Cows n Store Lambs 20-30kg

Tuesday February 19, 2019 10am at Woolshed

Spring Calving Herds

Rams

Weight gain guaranteed at .6 kg per day

Open Day – Limestone Downs 1340 Port Waikato – Waikaretu Rd

South Island Herds & Heifers

Available from May 1st for 50 to 60 heifers for long term at $9.25 per week plus gst

C. Alma Baker Trust (NZ) Ltd Helping grow the country

300 FR/Xbred early calving Cows BW114 PW144 RA99% DTC 1/7 Web Ref DH1281 Sharemilkers exiting the industry. 25 years breeding that includes some exceptionally high figured cows. 500ms/cow last season. System 3. I/C hfrs available also. $2150 120 Xbred OAD Herd BW89 PW127 DTC 15/7 Web Ref DH1269 Tidy young herd, 325ms, system 1, 9yrs OAD, Farm Sold $1600 190 Fr CRV Herd NZMI 50.6. DTC 17/7 Web Ref 1263.

35 yrs CRV,strong udders, Low input 350ms System 1 $1800.

300 June Calving OAD Mixed Breed Herd BW83 PW82 RA94% DTC 22/6. Web Ref DH1235 Young G3 Herd. Low SCC, 350ms OAD $1800 280 Top Quality Xbred Cows. BW63 PW86 RA 92%.

DTC 25/7. Web Ref DH1232 Young Xbred herd 420ms system 3. 7% empty rate, Low SCC. $1900.

250 Proven OAD Xbred Herd BW103 PW132 LW129 RA87%. DTC 19/7. Web Ref DH1236 On very steep Northland farm, long walks. System1. $1850 61 mainly 2 & 3yr old OAD xbreds BW89 PW114 DTC 20/7 Small to medium stature. I/C Hereford. Suit a herd top up. Available in-milk also $Offers

Heifer Grazing

LK0096390©

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

Vendors; Penoak Farms Ltd (Dave Mitchelle & Sue Bourke) Thursday 21st February 2019 at 11am Sale to be held on the farm at 1305 Old Te Aroha Road RD1 Matamata Comprising: 90 Friesian Autumn calving cows 27 Ayrshire, Jersey and Brown Swiss Cross Autumn calving cows 14 Friesian, Ayrshire and Jersey December calved cows 37 Friesian Autumn calving heifers 6 Ayrshire, Jersey and Brown Swiss Cross Autumn calving heifers 174 head This long established herd of very good conformation cows has a recorded Ancestry of 100%.

Last season the 383 cows (Spring and autumn calving) averaged 431kgs milk solids per cow.

Cell count average 96000. Herd is milked in a rotary shed with little supplements fed.

All cows were dry cow treated at drying off.

Calving commences from early March.

All cows in calf to Friesian AB and heifers to Wagyu and Angus.

The farm is on the foothills of the Kaimai Ranges and is prone to very wet and windy conditions. Long walks is also part of the routine so these cattle are recommended to shift well. The latest NZ and overseas genetics have been used resulting in a very good uddered and nice dairy quality herd.

All cattle will be presented in very good condition with the in calf heifers well grown.

The herd has a TB status of C10, is Lepto vaccinated and Myco Plasma milk tested clear.

Catalogues giving all details are available from the auctioneers or are able to be viewed on www.brianrobinsonlivestock.com, www. pggwrightson.co.nz, www.nzholstein.org.nz or www.ayrshire.org.nz

no wool, no worries www.sheddingsheep.co.nz

All enquiries to the auctioneers Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd Phone Brian Robinson on 027 241 0051 and PGG Wrightson phone Dean Evans on 027 243 1092.

LK0096394©

50

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – February 11, 2019

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

51

LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTING OPPORTUNITY

FOR SALE

Horses, cattle, sheep and all other farm animals.

Transporting for Lifestyle block owners.

Low loader, no loading race required.

Can be operated in any region.

80 x ANGUS DAIRY BULLS AUTUMN MATING 500kg 16 x HEREFORD BULLS 515kg CAPITAL STOCK BREEDING EWES

Owner retiring after 30 years.

American-type Gooseneck trailer.

Full accommodation complete with Mitsi tractor unit $60,000 as a going concern, includes registered company name.

Please phone 0274 967 388

STOCK REQUIRED

LK0096426©

STORE MALE & M/SEX TERMINAL LAMBS (SHORN) 25-36kg 300-400kg R2 YR FRIESIAN BULLS R2 YR BEEF BULLS 400kg+ 350-400kg R2 YR ANG & AX STEERS

TARANAKI SHEEP & CATTLE FAIR

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

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

Stratford Saleyards Wednesday 13th February 2019 Commencing: 11am Sheep 12pm Cattle (approx. 800 head)

MORRINSVILLE EMPTY COW SALE

12pm – 14th February 2019 887 Te Akau Road, Ngaruawahia

LARGE PREMIUMS PAID FOR YOUNG EMPTY COWS

Good milky Frsn/Frsn Crossbred Cows Boner Cows Approx. 11.30am

500 Angus & Ang/Hfd 400 Char/Ang X 300 Sim/Ang & Exotic Cross This seasons draft came forward in excellent condition and showing good frame.

Farmed in large mobs on genuine hill country Cattle in hand several days before sale day, weighed dead empty.

100% purchased from North Island Herds Guaranteed farmed as empty Ideal weights for early spring trade lot est 300/370kg Contact Tony Blackwood 027 243 1858 Vendor: David Short 07 826 7763

MORRINSVILLE MT COW SALE

Chris Hay – NZ Farmers Livestock M: 027 602 4454 E: chris.hay@nzfll.co.nz

Key: Dairy

Cattle

Sheep

Other

MCMILLAN SHEDDING SHEEP 2ND ANNUAL SALE Thursday 21st February, Te Kuiti Sale yards 12pm 250 2th Wiltshire Ewes 350 Wiltshire Ewe Lambs 50 Wiltshire Ram Lambs Once again Grant and Sandy will offer an outstanding line of sheep for sale.

They are farmed commercially on Ongarue Hill country and are bred for their full shedding ability, facial eczema tolerance, fertility and growth rates.

The ewe lambs being sold are the tops so effectively capital stock and will be plenty big enough for hogget mating.

The 2th are very well grown & in top condition The ram lambs are the pick of 800 lambs all born as twins.

This is a great opportunity for anyone wanting to buy quality Wiltshire genetics.

Further enquiries: Grant and Sandy 07 894 6136 Marty Cashin PGW 0274 976414

MATAWHERO SALE

DAIRY HERDS & INCALF HEIFERS FOR SALE

Tuesday, 12th Febuary 2019 A/C Morunga Station - Matawai 500 - 2 1/2 yr Steers.

Traditional and Exotic Steers farmed on genuine hill country.

Good forward store condition.

Contact: Tony Blackwood 027 243 1858 or Jamie Hayward 027 434 7586.

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

For photos and more information visit www.agonline.co.nz

NORTH ISLAND HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE 104 Frsn/Frsn X/Jrsy X Cows BW 106

PW 154

$1,650+GST

Agonline ref: 2754

220 Frsn/Frsn X Cows BW 91

PW 108

350 Frsn/Frsn X Cows BW 96

•

Nice Frsn & Frsn X Autumn Calving Carry Over Cows, InCalf to Hereford Bull.

Vaughn Larsen – 027 801 4599

PW 114

245 Jrsy Cows

$2,000+GST

•

$1,895+GST

•

Agonline ref: 2415

Agonline ref: 2041

BW 83

•

PW 85

RA100% Closed Herd - Good Udder Conformation, SCC in Top 1%.

Matt Hughes – 027 405 2824

140 Frsn/Frsn X Cows

$1,900+GST

BW 97

RA96% Producing over 430 m/s nominated ab well worth inspection.

Chris Ryan – 027 243 1078

PW 82

150 MA Xbred Cows

$1,460+GST

BW 76/45

•

PW 98/66

$1,850+GST

•

RA100% 24 years breeding, good Indexes, 102,000 M/S - 5 year average.

Allan Jones – 027 224 0768

RA90% Content of 2nd Calvers, Nice Cows, Very Good Condition.

Jason Roberts – 027 243 1429

RA92% Hard working Cows in high rainfall, high altitude farm.

Warren Caskey – 027 432 1384

Agonline ref: 2621

Agonline ref: 2772

Agonline ref: 2393

180 MA Frsn to Frsn X Cows

202 M/A Friesian Cows

BW 66

PW 68

$1,850+GST

BW 49

•

PW 64

65 Kiwi X InCalf Heifers

$1,750+GST

•

BW 140

PW 154

$1,620+GST

•

RA88% This is a very young herd that is appealing to the eye. Will shift well.

Craig Murray – 027 322 0063

RA63% A well put together Ambreed Herd. Owner exiting dairy.

Jamie Cunninghame – 027 583 3533

RA100% Well Grown Kiwi X Heifers, One Herd Code, DNA Tested.

Chris Johnston – 027 257 4091

Agonline ref: 2451

Agonline ref: 2824

Agonline ref: 2657

NORTH ISLAND HERDS

SOUTH ISLAND HERDS

52 3-5yr Frsn, Frsn/Jsy X Aut Calving Carry Over Cows

469 M/A Frsn, Jsy, X/Bred Cows

BW 104

Wednesday 13th February 11.30 Morrinsville Sales yard 150 MT In-milk cows.

Sales will be weekly from this date.

Information display on big screen TV, which is a direct download from LIC. Please note cut off for download information is 9.00PM Monday.

Contact Regan Craig 027 502 8585

Jeremy Newell – NZ Farmers Livestock M: 027 664 8832 E: jeremy.newell@nzfll.co.nz LK0096401©

Give your local NZFL agent a call or for more details phone Darryl Houghton 027 451 5315

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

Friday 22nd February 12.30 Tuakau Sale yard Waipuna Valley Farms 1200 15 month Beef Heifers comprising:

Further enquiries contact: Stephen Sutton – NZ Farmers Livestock M: 027 442 3207 E: stephen.sutton@nzfll.co.nz

Empty Cows 12 noon – approximate tally of 200

All inquiries to Will Jackson Phone 07 825 4480 or 027 739 9939

ANNUAL HEIFER FAIR

All sheep December shorn, zapped, B12 & drenched

Starting Thursday 7th February 2019 and every Thursday thereafter

LK0096185©

All weights available prior Rebate to all pre-registered agents 14 day payment terms Light lunch provided prior to sale commencing

Bred from quality Drysdale rams ex Fairview Drysdale Stud Colin Baird, Taihape

Our empty cow and surplus dairy sale recommences at Morrinsville Dairy Complex

170 Autumn-born WF R1 Heifers 300 18-month Angus and WF Heifers 200 18-month Angus and WF Steers • • • •

Farm Sold Complete Capital Drysdale Flock Comp: • 800 x Drysdale 4th, 3 & 4yr AM Ewes • 800 x Drysdale Wether & Ewe Lambs

PW 156

$1,800+GST

•

Autumn Carry Over Cows, Dry Cowed, Delivery Mid February.

Dean Evans – 027 243 1092w

130 M/A Friesian, X/Bred Cows BW 53

PW 84

$1,850+GST

•

RA96% Over 80% of Cows are calving in 1st 4 weeks, all calved in 9 weeks.

Rex Playle – 027 594 6512 Agonline ref: 2819

BW 82/43

PW 82/43

$1,950+GST

•

RA92% Strong capacious well uddered Cows under good management.

Roddy Bridson – 027 458 2775 Agonline ref: 2644

Agonline ref: 2551

`

Lock it in!

List your dairy herd now.

PGG Wrightson Dairy representatives are specialists in marketing and selling dairy herds.

Benefit from the specialist team that is dedicated to matching herds with the right buyers.

Helping grow the country

LK0096282©

Piquet Hill Inaugural Steer and Heifer Sale

Special Entry, a/c Marty Hagenson Kotuku Station, Waitaanga (on Taranaki/King Country boundary)

MARKET SNAPSHOT

52

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Suz Bremner

Nicola Dennis

Mel Croad

Cattle

Reece Brick

Caitlin Pemberton

Sheep

BEEF

Deer

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.50

5.50

5.50

NI lamb (17kg)

7.20

7.20

6.95

NI Stag (60kg)

9.85

9.85

10.80

NI Bull (300kg)

5.05

5.05

5.30

NI mutton (20kg)

5.00

5.00

4.60

SI Stag (60kg)

10.20

10.20

10.80

NI Cow (200kg)

4.00

4.00

4.10

SI lamb (17kg)

6.90

6.90

6.75

SI Steer (300kg)

5.20

5.15

5.30

SI mutton (20kg)

4.85

4.85

4.50

SI Bull (300kg)

5.00

5.00

5.10

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.70

3.80

4.15

UK CKT lamb leg

8.75

8.82

8.94

US imported 95CL bull

6.50

6.69

6.83

US domestic 90CL cow

6.96

6.66

6.54

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

6.0

$/kg CW South Island steer slaughter price

5.0

11

4.0

10

South Island lamb slaughter price

$/kg CW

5-yr ave

Jun

2017-18

Dairy

Aug 2018-19

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2017-18

Jun

Aug 2018-19

Last year

6.5 6.0

Nov-18 Sept. 2020

Coarse xbred ind.

2.86

2.89

2.86

37 micron ewe

2.70

2.30

Last price*

-

-

650

650

520

2.90

Super

321

321

307

5.50

DAP

843

843

777

Mar-18

vs 4 weeks ago

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

370

Jan-18

Fertiliser Urea

May-18

Jul-18

Sep-18

Nov-18

Jan-19

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY Prior week

Aug 2018-19

Last year

420

320

Jan-19

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Jun

Prior week

470

Sep-18

Apr 2017-18

Last week

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

Jul-18 Sept. 2019

Feb

FERTILISER Prior week

$/tonne

$/kg MS

Oct

Grain

Data provided by

May-18

Dec 5-yr ave

Last week

7.0

Mar-18

Oct

6.0

30 micron lamb

MILK PRICE FUTURES

5.5

8 6

7.0

(NZ$/kg) Apr

9 7

WOOL

Feb

South Island stag slaughter price

12

5.0

5.0

Dec

8

6.0

5.5

Oct

9

6

4.0

4.5

10

7.0

8.0

6.0

Last year

7

9.0

5.0

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

12

8.0

5.5

4.5

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

11

North Island lamb slaughter price

9.0 $/kg CW

North Island steer slaughter price

Last year

$/kg CW

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Ingrid Usherwood

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

13.2

13.23

10.42

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

3.65

3.68

3.38

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.37

7.72

7.065

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

13.26

14.16

12.3

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.03

4.18

3.96

Ryman Healthcare Limited

10.61

11.5

10.4

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

3.62

3.64

3.51

Contact Energy Limited

6.15

6.2

5.82

Fletcher Building Limited

5.04

5.12

4.78

Port of Tauranga Limited (NS)

5.18

5.2

4.9

Listed Agri Shares

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

440

The a2 Milk Company Limited

13.200

13.230

10.420

4.530

4.830

4.360

3060

2840

2775

420

9.500

9.960

9.500

SMP

2490

2450

2230

400

Delegat Group Limited Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

4.690

4.850

4.610

Foley Wines Limited

1.500

1.530

1.470

AMF

5450

5235

5210

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.800

0.810

0.750

Butter

4455

4275

4250

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

2.200

2.280

2.100

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.475

0.510

0.470

Milk Price

6.28

6.27

6.15

Sanford Limited (NS)

6.670

6.950

6.500

Scales Corporation Limited

4.390

4.500

4.340

SeaDragon Limited

0.002

0.003

0.002

Seeka Limited

4.270

4.320

4.200

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

9.700

10.150

8.860

$/tonne

WMP

Comvita Limited

320

Jan-18

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Mar-18

May-18

Jul-18

Sep-18

Nov-18

Jan-19

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

3400

350

$/tonne

3200 US$/t

360 340

* price as at close of business on Thursday

3000 2800 2600

380

Feb

Mar Apr Latest price

May Jun 4 weeks ago

Jul

300

T&G Global Limited

2.810

2.810

2.770

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity

15683

15806

15063

S&P/NZX 50 Index

9134

9149

8732

S&P/NZX 10 Index

8747

8747

8280

250 200

Jan-18 Mar-18

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

May-18

Jul-18

Sep-18

Nov-18

Jan-19

15683

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

9134

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

8747

53

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019 NI STEER ( $/KG)

5.50

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB ( $/KG)

6.90

NI SLAUGHTER MUTTON ( $/KG)

5.00

WEANER HEREFORD-FRIESIAN BULLS 140-150KG, AT TARANAKI ( $/HD LW)

645

Dairy livestock market resumes normal levels after slow start to summer After a relatively quiet early summer, the dairy livestock market has begun to lift closer to normal levels in the past few weeks.

PGG Wrightson National Dairy Livestock Manager Paul Edwards says pre-Christmas there was little interest in trading dairy cattle.

“With Global Dairy Trade prices going back into the positive in recent weeks, and a favourable growing season through most of the country, plus a handful of property sales progressing, buyers have been prompted to start taking action, vendors are more motivated to sell and the market has found its level.

HOT WORK: Firefighters battle the Tasman fire last week.

Photo: Tim Cuff

All thinking of Tasman farmers NORTH ISLAND

F

ARM conditions have been on all farmers’ minds as fires rage in Tasman. The eastern side of Northland from Bay of Islands north got reasonable rain a week ago so hopefully pastures will turn green but the rest of the region missed out.

Daily milk production is down compared with last year but no-one’s panicking yet .

Around Pukekohe for the first half of the week growers continued mechanically harvesting the main onion crop in hot, dusty conditions. On Wednesday and Thursday a weak front brought easterly winds, overcast skies and cooler temperatures along with useless light rain. All it did was stop onion harvesting.

There’s been no good fall of rain for three weeks.

Waikato also wants a really good dump of rain. A few skiffs last week didn’t do much. Facial eczema spore counts are going up and fly strike is still a challenge.

Parts of King Country had 10mm of rain on Wednesday evening but others missed out so farms are starting to look quite brown though most have okay covers with rank feed. The store market for lambs has dropped back. Finding buyers is now more difficult and buyers want only cheaper, light lambs.

It is very dry in Bay of Plenty. Kiwifruit vines that were stressed with wet feet in winter are now struggling and fruit is going soft well before it is due to be harvested. That aside, for most orchards, crop loads and size are good. Some orchardists are getting anxious about finding enough labour for the upcoming harvest.

Taranaki had a cooler week as a southeasterly paid a visit. It brought a tiny volume of rain that settled the dust but that’s all. Patches in the north and on the coast are starting to dry out but farms are generally in a sound position for feed. One farmer said it’s a proper, oldfashioned summer when the sea’s warm to swim in.

There was a little bit of rain up the coast from Gisborne during the week but farms are certainly drier than they were a week ago though they’re still green. The pressure is on stock water supplies with

flows in streams slowing down.

Hawke’s Bay welcomed the cooler weather this week. It helps to colour apples. Some extremely nice looking royal gala are appearing in local shops with the prices at home good enough for growers to not be pushing for exports just yet. There are still a few plums and the last of the golden queen peaches being picked. Fruit trees are coping without rain because there is good moisture lower in the soil. The main concern is another looming shortage of labour for picking here, too.

Wairarapa is fairly dry. One farmer said she hadn’t realised just how dry until she heard fire crews there aren’t being sent to Nelson in case they’re needed at home.

However, lambs are thriving in the hot, dry weather and cattle are killing out at good weights.

Manawatu is looking a bit crispy dry. Dairy cows are being fed plenty of supplements. The store market for lambs has dropped here, too. There’s suddenly not so much tucker on the finishing farms so people have stopped buying.

A Horowhenua strawberry grower says they’re trucking along well and the fruit has wonderful, intense flavour at this end of the season, quite a lot better than the rain-affected outdoor fruit at Christmas.

Rain lat week didn’t amount to much.

SOUTH ISLAND ALL farmers’ thoughts are with their Tasman counterparts and other residents near Nelson who are living under clouds of smoke and worrying about their stock, farms, homes and neighbours. Because it’s tinder dry all farms, market gardens and orchards are feeling the pinch as ground water levels continue to decline.

Only about 9mm was in the rain gauge in January compared to the average of 90.

The amount of water that’s allowed to be taken from catchments on the plains has been cut from 50% to 35% of allocation.

Like everyone else, apple growers are using as little water as possible and in some orchards fruit isn’t growing as fast as it normally would but work continues with the last of the tree thinning and preparations for harvesting getting under way.

Eastern Marlborough’s getting very dry. A farmer at Seddon says has had no rain since Christmas but because of the warm and moist early summer there’s still plenty of feed around for cattle and sheep.

The fire risk is high on farms with plenty of dry, long, standing grass. If there’s no rain soon in the headwaters of the Awatere River irrigation restrictions are expected to be put in place. Grapes are going well in the province and enjoying the heat but some vines are starting to look stressed due to a lack of moisture.

On the West Coast its dry up the Grey Valley and there’s been some heavy rain in south Westland. Around Hokitika one farmer has been getting 30mm to 40mm of the wet stuff a week recently and his winter crops are looking better than they have for years. Everyone’s flat out topping grass to keep quality up and making silage. Technicians are out an about doing pregnancy testing and the farmer we talked to says he’s still milking peak numbers.

Mid Canterbury’s been a bit cooler this week so harvesting has been a bit stop-start. Grass growth has slowed with the combination of dry and heat. Dryland crops are starting to look stressed.

Irrigation is now very important.

Grass growth has slowed a bit in South Otago and farmers could do with a shower or too. No-one’s complaining though as 90mm came down in January.

People are doing their second cut of silage and it’s never been better quality.

Milk production on our contact’s farm near Balclutha is a tad down on last year.

He puts it down to feed quality issues.

Pregnancy testing is due start next week on his cows.

Western Southland’s starting to green up. On dairy farms, milk production has picked up a fraction after a challenging early season. Initial results from dairy heifer scanning look positive. Lambs are being drafted for the works. One farm we speak to at Blackmont says weights are 41kg to 45kg for healthy five-month sheep. The buoyant lamb schedule is in stark contrast to wool prices. The same farmer’s just shorn 1000 sheep but he’s getting only $2.35/kg clean for the 39 micron wool. That won’t even cover the cost of shearing.

Courtesy of Radio New Zealand Country Life You can listen to Country Life on RNZ at 9pm every Friday and 7am on Saturday or on podcast at radionz.co.nz/countrylife

“Prices for herd sales, contracted for 1 June delivery, are generally ranging from $1600 to $1850 per head, with exceptional herds making $2000 or more, while rising two year old in-calf heifers are selling between $1450 and $1750 per head.

“Demand for autumn calving is cows is good. Mostly these are changing hands for immediate delivery priced between $1600 and $1800 per head. Trade has been brisk and supply has become tighter,” he said.

After the sluggish end to 2018, Paul Edwards believes the market is now returning to more normal levels.

“Very few conversions are under way at present, so the market is not receiving the consequential lift in demand that has occurred in previous years. Following mycoplasma bovis, while some farmers are now repopulating their herds, that is also having little material impact on the market.

“Prices and activity levels are now close to where they have been in recent years.

More buyers are now more active and contracts are being signed. As in normal years, better quality, realistically priced animals are selling first. As the season proceeds, livestock of lower quality comes to market and fewer animals are transacted.

On that basis, we expect that the present positive values will continue through the next part of the season, though will ease off as the quality of the stock available dips.

“In other words, after a slow start, this is shaping as a normal season,” he said.

Get in touch: 0800 10 22 76 www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Helping grow the country

54

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

Grass market abates As regions dry out the grass market for both cattle and sheep that vendors have been enjoying has abated. Buyers are approaching purchasing with more caution now that feed had become more valuable and there has been a noted adjustment in store lamb prices, as well as for lesser quality store cattle.

NORTHLAND Wellsford store cattle sale • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 309kg, lifted to $3.14/kg • R2 Devon steers, 314kg, earned $2.87/kg • R2 Hereford-cross heifers, 200-312kg, held at $2.84-$2.95/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian and Hereford-Jersey steers, 122-213kg, traded at $505-$670 • Weaner Friesian bulls, 137kg, held at $525 WELLSFORD had just under 500 cattle yarded last Monday, though it was mixed yarding and the market had a softer tone for most.

R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 341kg, managed steady returns at $2.94/kg, with Friesian-Jersey heifers, 306kg, earning $1.70/kg. R2 bulls were mainly dairy-bred and Friesian, 334kg, returned $2.71/kg, with Jersey, 315kg, at $2.02/kg.

Results were mixed throughout the weaner section.

Angus-Friesian steers, 105-129kg, traded at $390-$515, while Hereford-Friesian heifers, 125kg, softened to $500, and Hereford-Jersey, 123kg, $445.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle sale • Prime steers sold well at $2.82-$3.05/kg • Medium prime heifers traded at $2.70-$2.73/kg • Cows varied from $1.60/kg up to $2.10/kg • Good weaner steers sold for $700-$780 • Good weaner heifers earned $625-$750 With two weeks since the last sale at PUKEKOHE, the one held on Saturday 2nd February was well attended and all classes of cattle sold well. Bulls sold for $2.25-$2.58/kg, while lesser cows were discounted to $1.33/kg.

In the store pens medium R2 steers met keen interest and sold for $2.95-$3.20/kg, while heifers of same type traded at $2.76-$2.97/kg.

Medium weaner steers fetched $550-$640, and off-bred types, $420-$490. Medium heifers reached $470-$490 and off-bred, $250-$400.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Good beef steers sold to $2.94/kg • Hereford-Friesian weaner heifers, 237kg, earned $685 • Heavy prime ewes made $140-$160 • Store lambs averaged $102 With just 250-head on offer, last Thursday’s store cattle sale at TUAKAU was over quickly, Chris Elliott of PGG Wrightson reported.

Good quality lots held value, but as conditions in the region dry out lesser quality stock were harder to shift.

Heavy steers, 520-670kg, traded at $2.57-$2.94/kg, with 380-480kg steers, mostly Hereford-Friesian, making $2.71$2.91/kg. Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, 175kg, returned $770 and 128kg, $580. Friesian and Friesian-cross bulls, 130-180kg, made $300-$495.

Heavy heifers, 400-490kg, earned $2.50-$2.79/kg, and R2, mostly dairy-types weighing 240-330kg, fetched $1.70$2.32/kg. Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 117kg, fetched $520.

About 1850 sheep were yarded last Monday, including 700 store lambs. Heavy prime lambs traded at $145-$180, and good-medium $125-$145. Store lamb prices ranged from $65 to $135. Medium prime ewes fetched $110-$140 and light $75-$110.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle sale • Prime South Devon steers, 547kg, earned $2.91/kg • Prime Hereford-cross heifers, 415-465kg, eased to $2.63-$2.72/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 364-405kg, held at $2.64-$2.68/kg • Weaner Friesian bulls, 153-161kg, improved to $500-$540 A mixed quality yarding of 350 cattle came to FRANKTON last Tuesday. A change of sale day and drying conditions made it tough going, and the market eased for most.

R2 steers, 368-483kg, traded at $2.71-$2.86/kg regardless of breed.

The weaner section softened for most and Hereford-

Friesian heifers, 107-115kg, were discounted to $355-$440.

Autumn-born weaner Friesian bulls, 218-225kg, traded at $500-$595.

The prime section had mixed results with Angus-Friesian steers, 543-603kg, managing steady returns at $2.72-$2.74/ kg, while their sisters, 477-516kg, eased to $2.68-$2.70/kg.

Jersey bulls, 465-530kg, softened to $2.24-$2.28/kg, while Friesian-cross boner cows, 455-510kg, maintained levels of $1.63-$1.64/kg.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep sale • Boner Friesian-Jersey cows, 391-467kg, eased to $1.33-$1.39/kg • Prime beef-Friesian steers, 586-713kg, eased to $2.65-$2.71/kg • R3 beef-Friesian heifers, 475-510kg, eased to $2.63/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 345-370kg, eased to $2.92/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 120-173kg, all sold for $415$460 Lesser quality cattle proved harder to sell at RANGIURU last Tuesday, as paddocks dry off fast. Prime and boner prices also eased.

Better yielding Friesian cows, 473-558kg, made $1.65$1.71/kg, though 493-568kg eased to $1.49-$1.54/kg. Exservice Hereford bulls, 561kg, also eased to $2.52/kg.

Good R2 Hereford-Friesian steers outclassed Angus which made $2.71/kg for 388kg, while the top R2 heifers only managed $2.54-$2.55/kg. Friesian bulls, 354-387kg, earned $2.47/kg, but lesser lines, 280-442kg, made $2.26$2.32/kg. Jersey, 384kg, took top honours at $2.53/kg.

Weaner results were mixed with bulls the highlight. Three beef and dairy lines all made $600-$680, while Friesiancross steers, 147kg, made $420.

Lambs prices eased with most prime types making $135$160.50, and medium to good store, $92-$126. Ewes traded at $52-$156.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle sale • Prime Angus-Friesian steers, 589-631kg, eased to $2.82-$2.85/kg • R3 traditional bulls, 610-710kg, firmed to $2.81/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 470-555kg, earned $1.82/kg • Boner Friesian heifers, 393-397kg, sold well at $1.90-$1.92/kg The regular Wednesday sale at TARANAKI was held last Tuesday, with fewer stores offered but a good entry of prime and boner cattle.

Prices eased in the prime pens, though boner results were solid. Friesian and Friesian-cross heifers, 359-471kg, managed $1.72-$1.78/kg.

Only one line through the whole sale exceeded $3.00/kg, and that was 11 R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 405kg, which reached $3.21/kg. R2 Jersey bulls all sold for $940-$1100, though varied from $2.57/kg for the heaviest line to $2.92/ kg for 322kg. Heifers had the numbers but not the quality and beef-cross made $945-$950, $2.36-$2.55/kg.

Taranaki dairy beef weaner fair • Friesian bulls, 138-200kg, made $530-$610 • Friesian bulls, 106-135kg, came back to $430-$500 • Hereford-Friesian bulls, 140-150kg, held at $620-$675 • Hereford-Friesian bulls, 115-130kg, also held at $625-$650 • Hereford-Friesian heifers, 100-125kg, came back to $460-$540 Less competition for Friesian bulls meant a drop in price at TARANAKI last Thursday, but strong outside competition for Hereford-Friesian kept prices solid.

Weaners weighed up heavier than is normal due to the good growing season, but a price ceiling of $600 sat over the Friesian bull pens, with few pushing past. Hereford-Friesian bulls could not push past $700, but prices were mainly steady.

Demand for heavy heifers was strong and HerefordFriesian,143-178kg, sold for $570-$625. Angus-Friesian heifers, 118-158kg, made $400-$550.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero sheep sale • Good store male lambs made $113 • Medium-good store male lambs earned $98-$108.50 • Two-tooth Romdale ewes reached $190

Store lamb numbers were boosted at MATAWHERO last Friday by a consignment of males from one station near Hicks Bay. Locals were very competitive but with most of the 680 penned selling in three lines many went home empty handed. Two pens of prime lambs made $125-$167, and most ewes, $88-$141.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime cattle and sheep sale • Very heavy male and mixed sex lambs traded at $172.50-$180 • Heavy ewe lambs eased to $130.20-$131.50 • Heavy ewes softened to $140-$154.50 • Light-medium ewes held at $110-$119 Lamb throughput lifted to just over 670 at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday, but with processor space tight most came back $11-$22 on average. Heavy mixed sex softened to $137-$157.50, with the balance of this section back to $110-$135.

Ewe numbers were close to only a third of the week prior and of mixed quality. Most eased and good ewes returned $130-$130.50, with third cuts at $120-$129 and the tail end, $71-$104. Two-tooth ewes earned $129-$132.

No cattle were sold with a single bull clipping his return ticket and heading home.

MANAWATU Feilding prime cattle and sheep sale • Friesian boner heifers, 356-458kg, traded at $2.00-$2.49/kg • Friesian boner cows, 474-630kg, eased to $1.66-$1.79/kg • Heavy ram lambs returned $141-$144 • Heavy male lambs were solid at $131-$155.50 Cattle numbers almost tripled last Monday at FEILDING. Heifers and cows made up the biggest portion of the increase and quality was mixed throughout the yarding.

Hereford bulls, 770-810kg, eased 11c/kg to $2.78-$2.81/ kg, while Friesian, 551-650kg, returned $2.73-$2.80/kg, and Jersey, 437-488kg, $2.17-$2.26/kg.

A new buyer created a competitive environment in the ewe section and the top end held at $151-$179, though good types eased to $127-$146, and medium to mediumgood, $95-$126.

Most lambs were mixed sex and softened $13-$19 per head on average. Heavy types earned $130-$158, and medium, $110-$127.

Feilding store sale • R3 Angus bulls, 643kg, softened to $2.78/kg • R2 Angus-Hereford heifers, 345-394kg, softened to $2.75/kg • Mixed age Romney ewes, $140-$185 • Romney-cross 2th ewes, made $143-$226 At this week’s store sheep and cattle sale at FEILDING, it seemed all the focus was on the ewe fair. Prices mostly softened, although some lines managed to hold steady. 2th Romney ewes in good condition made $150-$220, while heavier ewes made $200-$256. Perendale cross mixed age ewe sold for $140-$195. There was only a small volume on offer in the cattle pens, with the biggest numbers coming in as R2 steers and heifers. Overall, prices generally softened this week. A handful of R3 traditional steers eased slightly with 474kg making $3.06/kg. R2 steers mostly softened although one large line of Angus, 338-397kg held steady at $3.24-$3.30/kg.

Rongotea cattle sale • R3 Hereford-Friesian steers, 477-545kg, earned $2.60-$2.71/kg • R3 Hereford bulls, 725-777kg, sold well at $2.44-$2.48/kg • R3 Angus bulls, 455-472kg, fetched $2.74-$2.92/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 285-337kg, realised $2.55-$2.63/kg • Weaner Friesian bulls, 114-147kg, traded at $400-$460 Throughput dropped to 90 head at RONGOTEA last Tuesday due to the change of sale day, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported.

Ex-service bulls were the main feature and Friesian, 455-540kg, traded at $2.53-$2.69/kg, and Hereford-Friesian, 405kg, $2.37/kg.

Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 114-130kg, sold well at $490-$500, with 126kg heifers also hitting $490.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • Good mixed sex lambs held at $103-$117 • Light to medium mixed sex lambs came back to $70-$104 • Prime lamb median dropped to $132 • Prime Hereford-cross steers, 420-610kg, held at $2.75/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 382-398kg, traded at $2.91-$2.93/kg The lamb market felt the effects of drying pastures at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, and lesser quality store cattle meant selective bidding. Prime results were mixed.

Longer term store lambs eased, though better types sold on a steady market. Medium to good ewe lambs made $101-$117, but Awapara were unwanted and sold for $30$68.

SALE YARD WRAP

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019

55

TEAM EFFORT: The team behind the Castle Ridge station sale last week.

Prime lamb quality was mixed and fewer hit $150-$169, with most trading at $114-$149. A bigger entry of ewes sold on a steady market as medium-good to good made $125$169, and most light to light-medium, $65-$118.

Prime steers and heifers remained steady and 75% of the beef-cross heifers sold for $2.55-$2.65/kg. Very few steers sold outside of a $2.60-$2.80/kg range.

The store section was hard work. For R2 heifers per head prices were similar for 335-341kg and 368-380kg at $865$890, but the heavier lines came back to $2.34-$2.38/kg, while the lighter eased to $2.58-$2.61/kg.

Coalgate cattle and sheep sale • Top store lambs sold for $110-$122 • Prime lambs held and most sold for $120-$167 • Prime steers, 545-660kg, eased to $2.68/kg • Prime heifers, 555-620kg, also eased to $2.59/kg • Boner heifers, 393-446kg, made $2.20-$2.22/kg The sale was a game of two halves at COALGATE last Thursday, with sheep mainly steady but cattle easing.

Medium store lambs held at $90-$108, and light, $72-$86.

Ewes were mainly medium and prices held with most making $130-$157, and lighter, $90-$129. Rams mainly sold for $110-$120.

Dry conditions lessened competition for younger store cattle and off-types, while a short kill week influenced demand for prime. Boner cows, 400kg-585kg, traded at $1.60-$1.72/kg.

A stand-out line of three R2 Angus steers, 360kg, sold to $3.17/kg, and a pen of 338kg Hereford-cross heifers made $2.75/kg.

Over 100 of the 165 cattle offered were calves and sold to limited demand. Angus topped both the steer and heifer sections, with steers at 272kg and selling for $900, and heifers, 290kg, $780.

Weaner bulls made up the lion’s share and four HerefordFriesian, 143kg, earned $470, while Friesian, 106-131kg, traded at $350-$390. Beef-cross bulls, 139-173kg, were off the pace at $420-$435, with heifers, 132kg, selling for $390.

pens as prices came down across the board. Beef steers and heifers lost 10c/kg, and boner cows and heifers, 20-30c/kg.

Traditional heifers, 523-618kg, eased to $2.63-$2.66/kg, and Hereford-cross, 465-635kg, $2.59-$2.69/kg.

Good yielding Hereford bulls, 734-774kg, managed $2.78$2.84/kg.

Boner heifers varied from $1.60/kg up to $2.10-$2.35/ kg for similar weights, while 466-553kg Friesian cows came back to $1.48-$1.65/kg.

Temuka store cattle sale • One line of R2 Angus steers, 385kg, reached $3.38/kg • R2 Friesian heifers, 341-398kg, eased to $2.15-$2.25/kg • R2 Friesian bulls, 390-485kg, also eased to $2.34/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, 107-151kg, came back to $500$585 • Weaner Friesian bulls, 150-157kg, firmed to $430-$500 A mixed quality dairy-beef and dairy yarding was reflected in the prices posted at TEMUKA last Thursday.

With no grass market to prop up the market cattle sold according to type and quality, with most showing an easing trend.

R2 Angus-Hereford steers made $2.82-$2.92/kg, but Hereford-Friesian were discounted as 452-486kg steers made $2.60/kg, and 319-365kg, $2.07/kg. Heifers, 344-

414kg, made $2.60-$2.70/kg, but 294-347kg fell to $2.29$2.33/kg.

Angus-cross weaners easily outpriced other breeds as steers, 180-225kg, fetched $610-$800, and heifers, 196-201kg, $600-$690. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 106kg, managed $495, while 110-135kg were not much higher at $500-$525. Friesian bulls, 127-150kg, consistently sold for $430-$460.

SOUTHLAND Charlton sheep sale • Good store lambs sold to $110-$115 • Light store lambs traded at $85-$95 • Heavy prime lambs firmed to $150-$163 • Heavy prime ewes matched lambs at $150-$165 A very solid sheep sale was the final result at CHARLTON last Thursday, with demand strong across all classes.

Store lambs were readily sought after, PGG Wrightson agent Ross McKee reported, and medium types made $100$108.

Medium prime lambs held at $128-$145, and lighter, $110-$125. Medium prime ewes also sold well at $130-$145, while third cuts made $100-$120. Two-tooth ewes fetched $120-$128, and rams, $126.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka cattle and sheep sale • Halfbred ewe lambs made $122-$132 • Medium to good wether lambs eased to $107-$118 • Hereford-cross steers, 550-825kg eased to $2.69/kg • Jersey bulls, 420-500kg, also eased to $2.24/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 560-685kg, softened to $1.69/kg A large portion of both the sheep and cattle sold on a softer market at TEMUKA last Monday, with only a few exceptions to the rule.

Store lamb volume was high and better lambs held value, but long term types eased. Light mixed sex traded at $80$105, with a large portion terminal-Merino cross.

Prime lamb values softened with most trading at $110$149, while steady returns for ewes meant better types made $160-$188, with the balance trading at $110-$159.

The easing trend was much more obvious in the cattle

SUNSHINE: Buyers were feeling the heat at last week’s Castle Ridge lamb sale.

Markets

56 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 11, 2019 NI BULL

SI STEER

SI COW

($/KG)

($/KG)

BONER FRIESIAN COWS, 560-686KG, AT TEMUKA

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

5.05

5.20

3.70

1.69

$70-$104 high $107-$118 to medium store lights Medium to good wether Light lambs at Canterbury lambs at Temuka

Park

ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

Lamb tucker quality and quantity dry up

SNAPPED UP: Most of the lambs from the Castle Ridge Station on-farm sale went to processors despite the big crowd.

Photo: Samantha Harmer

Big sale tops good year Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

G

OOD, strong market demand pushed prices at the 14th annual Castle Ridge Station on-farm lamb sale to a record high.

Farmed by the Harmer family in the Ashburton high country there were expectations it was going to be a special sale this year.

“You won’t see a line-up of lambs anywhere like this,” Kerry Harmer said before the sale.

And she was proved right, Hazlett Rural livestock broker Geoff Wright said.

“It was a tremendous line-up of very good, long, strong lambs with more going prime than ever before,” Wright said.

Close to 9000 lambs were offered with all but 1500 going straight to processing with the tops of the ram lambs fetching

$171 and the best of the ewe lambs topping $156.

“It’s been a very good year for Castle Ridge.

“The lambs have lacked a wee bit of sun but that’s been made up in the past two to three weeks,” he said.

Most of the flock is bred by the Harmers with Windermere Poll Dorset rams going over Merino ewes.

“All these lambs are out of Merino ewes and with the Poll Dorset length they weigh up very well,” Wright said.

In a first for Mt Somers Station David and Kate Acland offered 3800 mainly lighter crossbred lambs.

Taking advantage of the buoyant store market the Aclands were pleased with their $106 average sale price.

“They were very happy and talking to them it looks like this could become an annual event for Mt Somers Station.”

Wright said 600 halfbred down-cross lambs were also sold on behalf of the Whyte Farming Company at Hakatere.

Again, it was the first on-farm sale for

It was a tremendous line-up of very good, long, strong lambs.

Geoff Wright them with an average sale price of $119.

Further up the road Arrowsmith Station had its sixth annual on-farm sale selling close to 2000 Poll Dorset-Merino lambs.

Prime lambs fetched $125-$132 while store lambs ranged from $102-$119.

PGG Wrightson livestock broker John Farrell said the good, strong buyer gallery pushed prices higher than presale expectations.

“It was better than expected. The buyers were keen to bid and overall it was a very good sale buoyed by the strong store market and good confidence in the industry.”

AS A typical kiwi summer unfolds across the country the wonderful feed levels are diminishing and quality is dropping off.

There is plenty of cattle tucker still around but the quality, short lamb tucker is burning off and crops are hardening, which has thrown caution into the store lamb market both at the yards and in the paddocks.

The strong run of store lamb prices has seemingly come to an end with a turning of the tide seen over the last few weeks as buyers approach with more caution. That’s not to say interest isn’t high as there are still plenty of buyers coming forward but there has been a noted increase in resistance from the buying camp.

At Feilding’s first sale for February downwards price adjustments for 32-34kg mixed sex and cryptorchid lambs averaged $5-$15 a head with cryptorchid easing by the bigger degree. Until then mixed sex were comfortably making $110-$125 and cryptorchid $115-$128 but the adjustments put them at $94-$118 and $103-$115, respectively.

On a $/kg basis recent sales had the mixed sex trading at $3.30-$3.35/kg LW and cryptorchid $3.35-$3.43/kg LW. A similar scenario has unfolded in the paddocks around Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Rangitikei and Wairarapa where a large percentage of the North Island store lambs hail from. In Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu paddock prices of $3.30-$3.40/kg LW for 28-33kg have been common while similar weights in Wairarapa are trading at $3.20-$3.30/kg LW. There are not big numbers being quoted and there is still good interest though buyers are sticking to reduced budgets.

Expectations are that there will be another easing in price before a happy medium is found between vendors and buyers. Lamb schedules through February-March are expected to remain well above average and will likely hover around the $7./kg CW mark but the higher prices paid for lambs earlier in the season does mean buyers have more cost to cover, which will mean tighter margins and smaller budgets to buy replacements.

Also, of course, the weather will play a significant role in any future price adjustments. suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

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