Farmers Weekly NZ February 13 2023

Northland’s season from hell

Plantain mix a recipe for N reduction

NEW research shows a plantain pasture mix reduces nitrate leaching from dairy farms by as much as 60%, in part by diluting cows’ urine.

There was no difference in milk production between the plantain and control pastures in the trial.

The results come from the DairyNZ-led Plantain Potency and Practice (PPP) programme, using PPG Wrightson Seeds’ Ecotain plantain.

Farm trials at Massey University and initial results from a trial at Lincoln University are showing similar trends.

When they’re eating Ecotain, there’s a greater allocation of nitrogen to dung versus urine than when they’re in a ryegrass pasture.

Massey University Professor

Emeritus Peter Kemp and his team have been researching the effects of plantain over several years and the experimental plots were established at the university in 2019.

“Each one has an individual tile drain system underneath it and all the drainage water from the individual paddock is piped down to the tipping buckets where we measure the total drainage water from each paddock, and we subsample it to measure the nitrogen concentration in the water,” Kemp said.

The researchers also measured nitrogen in the cows’ urine, dung and plasma.

The cows take on the same amount of nitrogen from the plantain mix pasture, but it is allocated differently from ryegrass, Kemp said.

“When they’re eating Ecotain, there’s a greater allocation of nitrogen to dung versus urine than when they’re in a ryegrass pasture.”

That means that in total there’s less nitrogen reaching the pasture from urine and that nitrogen has a better chance of being reabsorbed by the pasture.

In addition, plantain increases the volume of urine, diluting it and also spreading it out across the paddock.

“There is less nitrogen available for leaching as you go into autumn and winter.”

Initial results from the programme’s Lincoln University study in Canterbury, on lighter soils under irrigation, show similar trends to the Massey University

Continued page 3

Ewes reach $530 in farewell sale

Mary Taylor, a founder of Glenbrae Wiltshire, was pen-side with daughter Emma and her husband, Andrew Martin, to see the family’s 2700 Wiltshire ewes and 24 rams sold at a dispersal sale.

MARKETS 38

Tentative signs that sluggish global red meat prices may be on the rise.

NEWS 3

WE BROUGHT THE FMG SPOT CHECK ROADIE TO TOWN.

THESE RESULTS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

FMG and Melanoma New Zealand recently visited rural locations around the country with the FMG Spot Check Roadie, sharing life-saving information and giving FREE skin cancer spot checks. Thank you rural New Zealand for booking out every stop on the roadie, here are the surprising results.

Melanoma New Zealand checked 759 spots. Of those spots, 113 suspicious lesions were identified and referred for further analysis that’s 15% of all the spots checked.

14 potential melanomas were referred on for clinical review. Check out the stat map to see how many families now have the information they need to act.

It just shows how important it is to keep up to date with your skin checks. To find out more, head to fmg.co.nz/mnz or go to melanoma.org.nz/book-a-consultation

Suz

Job done and then some

After 49 years of breeding deer velvet genetics, pioneer Peter Swann has exceeded his own expectations.

PEOPLE 24

A plan is underway to double horticulture farmgate production by 2035.

NEWS 5

Local fixes are being sought for forestry challenges at Te Tairāwhiti.

SPECIAL REPORT 17, 18

Photo:

Bremner

Bryan Gibson TECHNOLOGY Feed

Peter Kemp Massey University

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LEAVING: Tim Mackle will finish up as DairyNZ chief executive at the end of June after 15 years in the position.

New

most trusted source of agricultural news and information

News in brief

Interim chief

Alliance Group has appointed Willie Wiese interim chief executive.

Current chief executive David Surveyor leaves the co-operative on February 10, and chair Murray Taggart said until a replacement is found, Wiese – its current manager of manufacturing – will fill the role.

Traffic warning

Federated Farmers is urging motorists and the operators of agricultural machinery to show each other some care and understanding in coming weeks.

Feds said during harvest, combine harvesters, large tractors towing implements and other agricultural vehicles use public roads to move between different parts of the farm and between farms, which could cause traffic delays.

Adverse event

Recent flooding in Waikato and South Auckland has been classified as a mediumscale adverse event.

The announcement by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor under the government’s Primary Sector Recovery Policy was welcomed by the Waikato and South Auckland Primary Industries Adverse Event Cluster. The decision was based on the multi-region, multi-industry impact of the event.

Quail stamp

A photograph of a California quail strutting along a fence line will adorn the 2023 Game Bird Habitat Stamp.

Each year game bird hunters pay an additional $5 for their game bird hunting licence to conserve the habitat of New Zealand’s waterfowl and upland game species.

Since introduced, the habitat stamp programme has raised over $2.5 million for conservation.

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

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

pioneering spirit tells us nothing’s out of reach

Bated breath as red meat demand inches up

Neal Wallace NEWS Red meat

THERE are tentative signs that sluggish global red meat prices may have bottomed out – though analysts say it is too early to call it a recovery.

In a market update to suppliers, Silver Fern Farms chief executive Simon Limmer said exporters are beginning to see signs of increased market demand for beef, sheepmeat and venison.

“These green shoots gives us confidence we have hit the bottom of the market downside and now it is about how quickly we can start leveraging market upside.

“This is yet to happen, but there are signs China is moving through the back end of its covid challenges and demand will rebound.”

The liquidation of the US domestic beef herd is easing and there is increased demand for imported product, while rising interest for lamb from Europe and the Middle East indicates confidence has returned.

The focus is now on how China rebounds after New Year celebrations.

AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad

Continued from page 1

trial’s 20-60% reduction, with a 3850% reduction in nitrogen leaching from pasture containing 24% Ecotain plantain. More data is being collected to confirm these results.

Significantly, Massey University research has shown that this pasture regime also decreases the greenhouse gas emissions of nitrous oxide, a key issue for climate change, Kemp said.

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said these are exciting results.

“We now have robust scientific evidence that Ecotain plantain

said given market volatility this season, how prices shift in the next few weeks will indicate whether those gains are locked in or reflect short-term restocking.

Croad said reports indicate improved demand and prices from the key markets of China, the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.

For example, prices for 95CL bull beef in the US have improved US14c/lb since the start of January – though a strengthening New Zealand dollar has negated much

is an effective solution to help dairy farmers further reduce farm footprint and continue playing their part in improving water quality,” he said.

“Plantain can bring significant benefits to local waterways and communities – we all want healthy freshwater to swim and play in, and dairy farmers can confidently use Ecotain plantain on farm to support that.”

He said the Massey trial site allows the results to be directly transferable to current farming systems in New Zealand.

PGG Wrightson Seeds chief executive John McKenzie said he

of those gains in NZD terms.

Since the start of the year, AgriHQ indicators for lamb legs into the UK have lifted 20p/kg, key lamb cuts in China have risen between US10c and US50c/kg and French racks in the US have held steady at about US50c/lb below levels a year ago.

“We came down with a big thump from October last year,” said Croad.

“While prices are improving, it is going to take a while to understand it and if it is translated

is pleased with the results, which “support current initiatives to protect our natural environment and improve waterways”.

The $22 million seven-year PPP programme is funded by DairyNZ, by the government through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund, PGG Wrightson Seeds and Fonterra, working with six additional research and delivery partners.

The research programme also includes more than 20 partner farms, where plantain is being introduced and leaching is monitored.

into consistent sales.”

Croad said these lifts are off a low level as overseas markets are still paying a lot less than a year ago.

Farmgate price indicators for lamb are still below $7/kg. The last time they were this low was before the covid recovery in early 2021.

A year ago North Island lamb prices were $8.50/kg, and $8.30 in the South Island.

This week farmgate prices were steady around $6.95 and $6.65/ kg respectively, although some procurement premiums were available, which added to returns.

Farmgate mutton prices this week, at $3.70/kg in the North Island and $3.40/kg in the South Island, were the weakest since early 2017. A year ago prices were $6 and $5.80/kg respectively.

Croad said she hopes mutton prices have bottomed out but notes Australia has a high mutton kill as farmers complete the rebuild of their flocks by liquidating older sheep, with the meat sold on world markets. The weather has so far meant there is no urgency for NZ farmers to quit stock, although lambs are slow to gain condition in the North Island and parts of the South Island are getting dry.

Limmer said current farmgate

pricing reflects market conditions but has also been influenced by some procurement incentives.

“There remains some downside risk if the market upside is unrealised in the short term and livestock flows improve.

“That said, we are hopeful that markets are on the up and we are keeping our selling and contracting short to ensure we can capture this upside when it occurs.”

Limmer said the Australian beef kill is holding steady and signs out of China are positive for beef, but high inventory has made Japan quiet.

Europe is forecast to narrowly avoid a recession, which has boosted confidence for lamb, and inquiries from customers and demand from the Middle East is giving exporters some optimism.

How Chinese lamb inventories and demand emerge following New Year celebrations is being closely watched.

“Leading into the holiday we saw an increase in demand late in the piece in line with historic Chinese New Year trends, versus the anomalies of the last two years.”

It is a quiet period for venison but Limmer said volume and prices are stronger than they were a year ago.

APPETITE: Reports indicate there is improved demand for red meat from the key markets of China, the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom.

RELATABLE: Emeritus Professor Peter Kemp says Massey University’s trial site allows the results to be directly transferable to current farming systems in New Zealand. Photo: Bryan Gibson

Growers send a zinger across Zespri bow

one to Europe and one to Japan.

Organic Green growers faced a downgrade of 50c a tray.

KIWIFRUIT growers have expressed acute misgivings about Zespri’s latest downward revision of kiwifruit payments, which has left Green growers with no payment cheque for February.

Amid rising concern among growers about Zespri’s ability to deliver a premium fruit product to market, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) has fired off a sharply worded letter expressing “deep concern” and “extreme disappointment” at the latest payment downgrade announcement.

In the letter, NZKGI chair Mark Mayston acknowledges the industry is working collaboratively through a seven-point plan to address the last harvest’s quality issues. In late January Zespri informed growers to expect a downgrade of at least a 60c a tray on payment for Green fruit, due to an unforeseen losses incurred in the final two shipments of fruit,

NZKGI’s letter asks how Zespri executives could get their orchard gate return figure “so wrong”,

pointing out that it was an extreme deviation from what growers had been told to expect back in November.

The letter does not mince words over grower concerns, challenging Zespri’s supply chain transparency, grower communications and forecasting ability. It says general grower confidence in the single desk seller is being dented.

In January growers were told those downgrade figures were tentative, and came with a caveat they may be even worse, with a final figure to be announced on February 24.

DISAPPOINTED: In a sharply worded letter to Zespri management, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated president Mark Mayston says growers have deep concern over how Zespri is managing growers’ incomes.

The downgrade comes after the sector suffered its worst ever harvest for fruit quality, and follows an already downgraded crop payment. In August 2022 growers were informed of a $1.95-a-tray reduction in Green payments due to quality issues. SunGold growers had a reduction of $2.80 a tray.

Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson has been heading up a series of grower roadshows in past weeks explaining the losses and how Zespri intends to deal with quality issues for the coming harvest.

November forecast failed to acknowledge the level of customer claims coming in, with fruit continuing to deteriorate beyond expectations from October.

Insiders report the events have been well attended and voluble, with a Te Puke meeting hosting almost 200 growers, plus several hundred more online.

In the industry’s latest

Kiwiflier newsletter, Mathieson acknowledges Zespri’s November forecast was “significantly” overstated, with the extent of poor quality fruit harvested in 2022 not captured by Zespri’s forecasting process.

He says the November forecast failed to acknowledge the level of customer claims coming in, with fruit continuing to deteriorate beyond expectations from October. He says Zespri is reviewing and reducing or deferring corporate costs to respond to the current situation, balanced against projected volume growth in the 2024 harvest.

Expectations are this harvest may exceed 200 million trays.

Native trees for free from Open Country, Nestlé

Staff reporter NEWS Forestry

A PROJECT to help farmers plant up unproductive dairy land in native vegetation has been launched by Open Country in partnership with Nestlé. It aims to see trees planted on unproductive dairy farmland on Open Country-supplying farms, including steep areas, gullies, riparian areas and wetlands.

For every native tree an Open Country farmer plants, the project will fund a second tree, cutting the cost of plantings in half for farmers.

Based on the government’s current communications, farmers may be able to use the new plantings to offset farm emissions under the proposed emissions pricing programme for agriculture. The partnership will boost the uptake of tree planting already underway in Open Country’s

See what sold today

catchment areas where Nestlé’s dairy ingredients are sourced from, Open Country chief executive Steve Koekemoer said.

“This programme is a unique opportunity to see our farmers, Nestlé and Open Country working together for mutual benefit. It will help our farmers turn lessproductive dairying land into an environmental asset by capturing carbon and improving the environment,” he said.

“We know our farmers are

focused on being good stewards of the land and many have already carried out significant planting work. This project will help them get a head start on further planting to offset emissions.”

The programme will kick off with the planting season in May and will run for five seasons, with plantings being tracked and monitored for 20 years.

Up to 310,000 trees are expected to be planted in the first five years, with a full assessment of

all farms every five years to show the consolidated tree number. The carbon sequestered will be calculated based on methodology prescribed by the New Zealand Government.

In NZ the tree-planting season runs from May to September. Participating farmers will buy trees from the local nurseries of their choice and will be reimbursed by Open Country later in the season once trees are planted and verified on farm by Open Country.

Richard Rennie NEWS

Horticulture

TOUGH TIMES: In late January Zespri informed growers to expect a downgrade of at least a 60c a tray on payment for Green fruit.

Dan Mathieson Zespri

Plan puts turbo into hort sector’s growth

outcomes and actions across the value chain to enable partners to collaborate for greatest benefit.

APLAN to put horticulture on the path to double farmgate production to $12 billion in earnings by 2035 is based on a growing demand for sustainable, high-quality fruit and vegetables locally and overseas.

The industry’s Growing Together

2035 Aotearoa Horticulture

Action Plan lays out an ambitious pathway for the industry, which is expected to contribute $7.1b in earnings in 2023, up from $6.7b last year.

The five-point strategy to reach the $12b target focuses on sustainable growth, recognition of iwi’s contribution, science-based advances and attracting the right people to the sector.

Horticulture New Zealand CEO Nadine Tunley said the plan has a deliberate intent to focus on

“The actions range from identifying energy-intensive areas of the horticulture value chain and supporting conversion to systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving crop management and developing pathways to increase Māori participation,” she said.

As the sector comes under greater land use pressure from urban expansion on high-value soils, sustainable growth has been identified as a key outcome, requiring optimal land use and more environmentally positive growing practices.

The report notes that despite efforts to improve sustainable practices, more can be done.

It proposes more widely available decision support tools and frameworks for best-practice nutrient management, and ensuring extension and training programmes are put in place.

More modelling will be done to better understand the impact of climate change out to 2035 on crop production by region, mapping strategic water infrastructure investments and promoting more co-investment in regional water storage projects.

A regional blueprint identifying crops – ensuring “right crop right place” – will be undertaken to help ensure mitigation against climate change and better food security.

The plan’s market focus includes an acknowledgment that domestic consumption of fruit and vegetables is trending down, and the benefits of fresh produce are not as widely understood by consumers in NZ as they should be.

A better understanding of domestic horticultural production as a dietary component and for food security will be undertaken through the plan.

Acknowledging iwi’s contribution to horticulture, a key focus is to increase Māori-owned land in high-value horticulture, enabling greater conversion to crops suitable for specific regions. This will include opening up capital opportunities for iwi ventures in the sector.

Given the sector’s major labour crisis, predicted to only worsen as crop volumes grow in coming years, a co-ordinated approach to labour is also part of the plan. Smoother transitions around seasonal and permanent, regional, and national labour will include an integrated school and tertiary horticulture programme in the NZ education system.

The well-worn Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is also to be reviewed,

addressing issues, and providing greater certainty for the key programme, while a targeted and ongoing campaign to promote NZ horticulture jobs for holiday applicants is proposed.

Horticulture has been a heavy lifter in growth terms over recent years, with the December Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report predicting a lift to year end June 2023 of 5% in earnings, against a primary sector average of 4%.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said food security is a growing issue globally, and the plan helps ensure NZ continues to have access to affordable food.

To keep the momentum of the plan in play, the industry will have a dedicated programme manager working to increase collaboration

The actions range from identifying energy intensive areas of the horticulture value chain and supporting conversion to systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Nadine Tunley Horticulture NZ

on the plan’s key points among industry members.

O’Connor said the Growing Together 2035 plan aligns with the recently finalised National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land, and builds on the sector’s post-covid recovery strategy.

Richard Rennie NEWS Horticulture

ON THE UP: Horticulture has been a heavy lifter in growth terms over recent years.

BOLD: A bold plan to almost double the horticulture industry’s production by 2035 includes a focus on iwi land production, and more investment in attracting and keeping people in the industry.

GDT jump as China emerges from lockdown

Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Dairy

GLOBAL Dairy Trade prices rose 3.2% in the first February auction, the biggest positive move for dairy commodities since September last year.

Commentators said the reopening of the giant China market boosted butter by 6.6%, anhydrous milk fat by 4.8% and the key whole milk powder prices by 3.8%.

NZX dairy insights manager Stuart Davison said the forward sales curve for whole milk powder has lifted and Chinese buyers took nearly two-thirds of the WMP volume sold.

This suggests that dairy prices will recover through the tail end of the New Zealand dairy season and start the 2024 season stronger than today’s prices.

Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny said the likely catalyst for the GDT price rise is rebounding Chinese demand after the lifting of the zero-covid policy.

“With Chinese consumers

now largely free to move about and return to restaurants, cafes and bakeries, we anticipated that products like butter would benefit most from looser covid

restrictions,” Penny said. “Over coming months, we expect prices to gain further momentum as Chinese demand continues to rebound.

“For example, we forecast the Chinese economy to grow by 6% in 2023 from 3.5% in 2022 and for strengthening household spending to be a key driver of economic growth over the year.”

Penny has a $8.75/kg milksolids price prediction for the current season and $10 for next season.

ANZ agri economist Susan Kilsby has taken a slightly contrary view, reducing her farmgate milk price forecasts by 25c to $8.50 and $8.75 respectively for the two seasons.

The strengthening NZ dollar against the United States dollar is a big influence on her forecasts.

“Despite the lift at this week’s auction, recent movements in both dairy commodity prices and the exchange rate have been largely unfavourable for farm gate prices,” Kilsby said.

“While we expect dairy commodity prices to gradually recover, we also expect the NZD to appreciate further.”

The early February lift in GDT prices would instil some confidence in the market and Kilsby expects modest price rises through the rest of the season.

Despite the lift at this week’s auction, recent movements in both dairy commodity prices and the exchange rate have been largely unfavourable for farmgate prices.

Susan Kilsby ANZ

Chinese demand for WMP does appear to be building but that market does not seem to be short of product currently.

ASB analyst Nat Keall said the lift in GDT prices supports his milk price forecast of $8.65.

“We still expect dairy prices to ease over the medium term as global growth slows and retain our $7.00 milk price forecast for 2023-24.

“There is a high degree of uncertainty about the 2024 forecast but farmers have paid down a chunk of debt and will begin next season in resilient shape.”

Fonterra considers heat pumps to power plants

Gerald Piddock TECHNOLOGY Dairy

FONTERRA is exploring whether heat pump technology can be used as an energy solution for steam generation in its dairy factories. If successful, the conversion could reduce its CO2 output by 60,000t a year.

The co-operative has entered into a strategic partnership with Germany-based MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) to trial industrial-scale heat pump technology as a replacement for non-renewable energy in its dairy manufacturing process. Powered by electricity, the MAN

Heat Pump solution would allow Fonterra to produce steam to dry dairy ingredients using renewable electricity from sources such as hydro, solar, geothermal and wind.

After integration into Fonterra’s production infrastructure, the heat pump could produce more than 30t of process steam per hour, equivalent to a thermal output of 25 megawatts – the energy needed to power a boiler used in producing milk powder.

The partnership will undertake an engineering study to develop the integration of the heat pump technology into the co-operative’s existing milk powder production. The study is expected to be completed by the end of April.

The findings will be used to design a heat pump system at one of Fonterra’s manufacturing sites. If the trial is successful, it will be the first time heat pump technology has been used in dairy manufacturing globally, Fonterra chief operating officer Fraser Whineray said.

“It’s a matter of trying to be much more efficient with the use of electricity to generate the same amount of steam,” Whineray said.

“We’re working to meet the expectations of our customers, consumers, and stakeholders here in New Zealand and around the world, who are increasingly wanting us to accelerate progress to reduce our emissions.

“A key contributor to this reduction is the co-operative’s transition away from coal by 2037. By the end of the year, it is expected that only six out of 29 sites will be using coal.

“We see huge value in collaborating with innovative partners to achieve this ambitious goal. MAN Energy Solutions will provide a resilient and efficient heat pump solution for our sites producing nutrient-rich dairy products.”

If the trial gives the green light, Whineray said it could be at least a couple of years before the technology is installed in one of Fonterra’s factories.

MAN ES chief executive Uwe

Lauber said at the heart of the company’s strategy is the search for technology to lower industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

“MAN’s heat pump technology brings the economic and climatefriendly benefits of heat pumps to a crucial sector such as the industrial food and beverage industry.

“With Fonterra being the third biggest milk ingredient producer in the world, we are very much looking forward to supporting their decarbonisation journey with our expertise and cuttingedge technology solutions. Innovations that arise from such strong partnerships are key in the decarbonisation of industrial processes.”

POSITIVE: The forward sales curve for whole milk powder has lifted and Chinese buyers took nearly two-thirds of the volume.

Season from hell for Northland cropping

short maturity varieties on volcanic soils, he said he thought harvesting and silage stacking would go right through until May.

of cosmopolitan armyworm has reduced the need for insecticides.

SPRING and summer in the north have been very unusual for disrupted maize cropping and the flow-on effects on autumn sowing of pasture varieties, Northland Seed and Supplies managing director and agronomist Daniel Hawkins says.

“It has been the worst season in my decade in the family business,” he said.

“Without breaks in the bad weather it has been very hard to make fixed decisions. We have made multiple visits on farms only to end up with fluid decisions.”

Hawkins thought 15-20% of maize plantings had to be re-sown a second or third time after being waterlogged and that a majority of crops went in late, some as late as mid-January.

Re-sowings with shorter maturity varieties will impact yields and force compromise decisions about autumn grass establishment.

Speaking a few days before the first maize harvests, of

Some maize crops will be bowled before full maturity so that followup pasture sowing can take place.

“Paddocks going back into grass may need Italian or annual ryegrasses instead of permanents, as cheaper options to reduce risk,” Hawkins said.

“If it is late April and still wet, permanent ryegrass might be delayed for another year.

“But this could be a good year to do grass-to-grass renovations because there is more feed around.”

Additional costs have been incurred by maize re-sowing, and reduced yields may impact the budgets for grass establishment.

“There will be a lack of conserved maize fodder in the winter, balanced against the greater volumes of grass silages and baleage,” he said.

Northern Leaf Blight has been a problem and the fall armyworm caterpillar has spread southwards, requiring pesticides for a bad infestation.

On the plus side, a parasitic wasp

One exceptional season like this would not be enough to blame on climate change, but repeats may fuel the search for legumes and forages and perhaps some tropical grass varieties, although they are difficult to import for biosecurity reasons, Hawkins said.

He commented on a growing demand for tall fescue and cocksfoot on drier soil types and said demand for chicory is strong in the spring.

Agricultural contractor Greg Sowry, based near Whangarei, said the season so far has been a shambles.

It is not a matter of delays any longer but complete crop failures, endlessly saturated soils and shut-up paddocks that have to be mulched instead of ensiled.

In his 33 years as a contractor Sowry has never seen a worse season or higher water tables –which are now higher in summer than they are normally in winter.

“Five millimetres of rain is like getting 25mm, and 25mm is like 40 or 50mm in the effects it has, preventing drying out,” Sowry said.

“Maize has been replanted and

failed again and there will be shortages of stored fodder for dairy farmers in the winter.” Keeping staff members retained and busy has been very hard on four or five workable days a month. His fees have gone up 10-15% because of added fuel costs, grease, oil and filters – even polythene wrap, which is now 50% dearer than a year ago.

Numerous other increased charges, such as insurance, have been absorbed and his margins reduced.

On looming decisions between maize harvesting and regrassing, Sowry said it is not yet possible to get machinery under way. The threat of another ex-tropical cyclone hitting Northland is very concerning, he said.

Hugh Stringleman NEWS Arable

AGRONOMY: Northland Seed and Supplies principal Daniel Hawkins says this spring and summer have been exceptionally wet, delaying all sowing and cropping.

New Zealand seed exports slowed in 2022

Annette Scott NEWS Seeds

NEW Zealand seed exports were down in 2022, with the industry expressing ongoing concern over increasing regulation.

The total value of NZ seed exports in 2022 totalled $221 million, 9% down on the previous year, according to the latest data issued by Stats NZ.

NZ exported seeds to more than 70 countries in 2022 with the top five export markets by value being the Netherlands, Australia, the United States, China and Germany, which together account for about 60% of total export sales.

Pasture seeds including ryegrass and clover seed; vegetable seeds, predominately carrot, radish and beet seed; and cereal and oil seeds were the top export categories,

The export turnover achieved emphasises the resilience of the industry during a year that has been full of challenges.

Thomas Chin NZGSTA

earning $115m, $92m and $15m respectively in 2022.

More than 80% of NZ’s seed production is in the Canterbury region, centred on the Ashburton district and encompassing more than 44,000ha of certified crop.

NZ Grain and Seed Trade Association (NZGSTA) general manager Thomas Chin said global customers select NZ because of its high integrity, aided by a very good certification system which delivers a quality, consistent and unique product that they can trust.

“The export turnover achieved emphasises the resilience of the industry during a year that has been full of weather challenges, increasing production costs and inconsistent shipping reliability.

“The government’s imminent policies and additional regulations remain a serious concern for the industry going forward, with industry groups continuing the call to slow down the rollout,” Chin said.

Meanwhile the South Island is well into the 2023 harvest, with summer conditions currently proving favourable.

Growers and contractors in the Canterbury and Southland regions are reporting that the hot and dry summer months have set up harvest and yields nicely, with barley and oilseed harvests

completed for much of both regions while wheat harvests are underway from this week.

The latest NZX Grain and Feed Insight reports out of both regions suggest that, despite the rain during planting, there is little damage to the crop.

Some fields may have experienced slight water damage, but crops are expected to be of high quality with high yields. This follows concerns about possible water damage earlier in the season.

Merchants and mills are pleased with the high quality grains arriving from growers so far, with

volume competition for feed coming from Australia.

Australia has recorded another record year of grain production, but severe weather conditions have left much of the harvested crop downgraded. Australian grain futures and spot prices have fallen over recent months.

While imported prices will remain competitive in NZ, the availability of high quality grain for import will be limited.

As the 2023 harvest progresses and the market gets a line on quality and quantity there will be more clarity on spot and contract prices. For now, though, prices

remain relatively stagnant.

Weather forecasts for the South Island look promising for the harvest over the coming couple of weeks, and while the nation worries about potential drought in the Southland region, farmers, contractors, and distributors are happy with the dry weather for the meantime.

The maize harvest is delayed as conditions earlier in the season impact growth. The weather has been favourable down south for crops, but the North Island has had a tougher season.

Waikato through Manawatū has had a very wet season to date, with rain throughout spring and into summer, delaying maize planting by weeks – in some cases by a month – damaging emergence and creating water damage in more established crops.

The extent of the weather impact on quality and yield is still unknown, and so its impact on price.

Contract maize grain and silage prices are already sitting at higher prices compared to last year, with the NZX Waikato average sitting at $705/t, up $255/t on the same time last year.

Manawatū is reporting a much lower average of $664/t, albeit with a greater range, including prices as high as $765/t.

Smashing time as Bond breaks world shearing record

KING Country shearer Sacha Bond has smashed the solo women’s eight-hour strongwool world record in Southland.

The 29-year-old shore 601 at Fairlight Station, south of Lake Wakatipu, on February 4. This was 91 more than the previous record of 510, set by Canadian Pauline Bolay in December 2019 at Waikaretu, in

Waikato. Needing an average of over 127.5 for each of the four runs, from the start at 7am to the 5pm finish, Bond was well ahead from the outset, shearing a consistent day of 150, 150 and 150 in the first three runs, and 151 in the last.

She passed the previous record with more than an hour to spare.

Judging convenor Peter Artridge and New Zealand panelists Robert McLaren, Alistair Emslie and North Island official Bart Hadfield gave

the green light for the weekend’s record to go ahead after a Fridayafternoon wool-weight, in which the clip from 20 of the targetflock lambs averaged 1.034kg of wool each, comfortably exceeding the minimum requirement of 0.9kg.

The four runs – 7am-9am, 9.30am-11.30am, 12.30pm-2.30pm and 3pm-5pm – represent the standard eight-hour working day in New Zealand woolsheds, allowing breaks for morning and afternoon tea and lunch.

On Bond’s team on Saturday was partner Coel L’Huillier, who shore 677 in a three-stand men’s record in December 2019.

World Sheep Shearing Records Society chair Paul Harris, who was unable to be present because of judging commitments at one of the three shearing sports competitions also taking place nationwide on Saturday, said the spate of record attempts in the past year was not unexpected, and included some shearers whose dreams had been delayed by the global pandemic.

It takes a year or more to plan and prepare for most record attempts, and gather the resources and support teams to make sure it all happens on the day, he said, and in some cases shearers have been targeting the more achievable records.

The record broken by Bond at the weekend is regarded as one of the premier-level goals, a 600-lambs tally for women having been seen in recent years as a possibility if everything lined up on the day.

HARVEST HOME: Warm summer conditions in the South Island have been great for the 2023 harvest.

Staff reporter PEOPLE Skills

‘Dial unmoved by foreign forestry rules’

Neal Wallace NEWS Land

EVERY year from 2019 to 2022 the government approved, on average, 18 land sales to foreigners of existing commercial forest blocks and farms for conversion to forestry.

Changes introduced last year that replaced the permissive special forestry test for foreign land buyers are expected to curb the pace of conversion of farmland to commercial forestry, according to explanatory notes from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) attached to its December overseas investment decisions.

But Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) is not convinced. Its policy and advocacy manager, Dave Harrison, said while the threshold has lifted slightly, the financial incentive to generate income from carbon sequestration remains.

In 2018, the government introduced the special forestry test, which lowered the threshold and streamlined the process for foreign investors wanting to buy land to plant commercial forests

or to buy existing commercial forests.

It accelerated interest.

There were 29 applications granted to foreign investors for 21,700ha from 2011 to 2019. The easing of regulations swelled approved sales to 72 from 2019 to 2022, covering 66,500ha.

The busiest year was 2022, when 31 sales to foreign investors were approved for 26,261ha.

The special forestry test required applicants to satisfy the government that purchases were not of residential land or land that could become residential.

It decreed that the land must

be replanted following harvest and any existing arrangements for public access, protection of habitat for indigenous plants and animals, and historic places must be maintained.

By meeting those standards, applicants were exempt from having to satisfy the tougher “benefits to New Zealand” test.

That test was reinstated for foreign land buyers in August 2022.

“This measures an investment against factors such as how it benefits the economy and natural environment, plus gives decisionmakers discretion to consider factors including the land’s environmental features and how productive it is,” the OIO notes explain.

An overseas buyer purchasing farmland of more than 5ha for conversion to permanent forestry must also meet the farmland benefit test.

This additional threshold requires that the sale provide substantial benefits to NZ and either economic benefits or oversight or participation by New Zealanders.

Foreign applications to convert farmland to permanent forestry

Tragic Zeagold fire won’t hit egg supply

Craig Page NEWS Production

THE loss of 50,000 laying hens in a fire at Zeagold’s farm in Orini, east of Huntly, is unlikely to have a “significant impact” on New Zealand’s already stretched egg supply, says Zeagold chief executive John McKay.

The fire, which spread through two laying sheds, was discovered on February 6. The cause has yet to be established and remains under investigation. No staff on site at

the time were harmed.

McKay said a specialist avian vet had been at the farm, assessing and caring for birds in the remaining sheds.

He said the loss of 50,000 birds is “tragic”. However, it represents about 1.4% of the laying hen population in NZ and will not have a significant impact on egg supply.

The fire comes at a time when NZ is facing significant egg shortages.

At its peak, NZ had 4.2 million commercial laying hens but that figure dropped to 3.55 million prior to Christmas,

which has contributed to supply issues.

According to the Egg Producers Federation NZ, covid has pushed some farmers out of the industry, particularly freerange farmers, and others have had to consider their future because of new regulations that ban cage farming. The changes were agreed to by the federation in 2012, at a time when 84% of NZ’s eggs were produced by caged hens.

Zeagold is NZ’s largest egg producer and operates nine farms throughout the country. Its 1.16 million laying

hens produce about 540,000 dozen eggs a week, which are sold domestically under the Woodland and Farmer Brown brands.

McKay said the Orini farm –a barn-laying operation – has been running for about two years. Two sheds out of 12 on site where destroyed in the fire.

“It will take time to rebuild the sheds and restore flock numbers, but I want to assure New Zealanders that we’ll be working hard to continue to supply eggs and get back to full capacity as soon as possible,” he said.

from which carbon credits can be earned must meet the farmland benefit test.

That test requires applicants to demonstrate that the benefits are significantly higher than those coming from the land in its current state.

Harrison said the changes may mean a foreign purchaser will take longer to get approval, but the incentive of income from emitters offsetting all their emissions by buying forestry-based carbon credits makes that extended process worthwhile.

“It’s not really moved the dial much at all,” he said.

“So long as the emissions trading scheme sets a carbon price, it will provide a windfall gain.”

Harrison said BLNZ wants the government to stop allowing emitters to offset all their emissions, saying NZ is one of only two countries in the world where that is allowed.

The other is Kazakhstan.

“It effectively allows people to buy their way out of reducing carbon emissions.

“The focus should be more on reducing carbon emissions rather than planting their way out of the problem.”

DEMAND: New Zealand’s egg supply should not be hugely impacted by Zeagold’s recent fire.

RULES: Foreign applications to convert farmland to permanent forestry from which they can earn carbon credits must meet a ‘farmland benefit test’.

New goals and tools to market strong wool

Key insights from the market include reputation reinforcement.

THE time is right to solve problems with wool, but simply relying on its reputation of being good for the environment is not enough anymore.

This is according to Wool Impact chief executive Andy Caughey, who said growers of strong wool have had little connection with brands and end-user demands –and that needs to change.

“We want to make sure we bridge this gap to build demand and equip farmers with the market intel to better prepare wool to meet these needs, which in turn will add value on farm,” Caughey said.

Caughey and Wool Impact marketing executive Gretchen Foster have recently returned from travels through Europe, the United Kingdom and the US, carrying the message that wool provides an elegant solution in current and future markets.

“We traversed carpet brands, fabric manufacturers, a nonwoven innovation centre, material circularity programmes and experts, life cycle assessment discussions, interior architects, carpet distributors and retail,” Caughey said.

“These discussions and the many conversations with local wool brands and value chain participants have reinforced that the world needs natural fibre more than ever and we are well positioned to partner with brands that value and can carry that message.”

“The UK is the second biggest market for New Zealand strong wool to be used in carpets and it was good to see first-hand that wool still holds a strong place in brand and retail portfolios,” Caughey said, NZ strong wools are already respected for their consistency, colour, strength, freedom from vegetable matter and contamination, and quality for scouring.

“Wool Impact will continue to reinforce these important points of differentiation with international brands so that NZ continues to lead the world in wool quality and be rewarded for it.”

Relying on wool’s natural status and legacy of being good for the environment is not enough, he said.

“The sophistication with which the world has embraced the sustainability movement has meant that natural is not necessarily good enough –environmental contributions and impacts need to be proven, and natural fibre systems are not always reflected well in environmental metrics.”

The growing trend towards a “buy less buy better” movement and the increasing awareness of micro-plastics and circularity – where renewable resources of enduring quality, like wool, are valued – will support growth and new opportunities for positioning NZ wool.

Caughey said Wool Impact is turning its attention to projects that validate wool’s longevity in use and its human and

environmental health benefits over the lifetime of wool products.

A shift in the value mindset is needed, with the global wool ecosystem currently hardwired for commodity transactions, which in the face of insufficient demand results in unsustainable prices for growers.

Wool Impact is acutely aware of the need to increase demand and catalyse a wool eco-system that incentivises the continued production of quality wool and secures continuity of supply.

“In creating new demand, we need to understand where we can have the greatest influence,” Caughey said.

“Consumers won’t always make the right decision; brand leadership is required.

“As brands and businesses such as interior architecture firms set and move towards environmental, social and governance goals, they will decide which fibres reach consumers.”

These influences are a key focus for Wool Impact’s market

development activity, Caughey said.

International brands are preparing for a new era in designing products and conducting business, and a key component of this is sustainability, including the environmental impact of making a product, the ethics of production and circularity – what happens to a product at the end of its life.

“While advanced in the apparel sector, traceability and assurance is still a concept most strong-wool manufacturing brands are still toying with.”

Wool Impact is working with the NZ Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP) to develop tools to help manufacturers that choose to buy wool from NZFAP-accredited farms tell their story of traceability and assurance. The tools will be available early this year.

“It is the first international standard of its kind for wool and presents an opportunity – when presented alongside the quality of wool produced in NZ – to set local growers apart.”

TELL A STORY: Wool Impact is working with the NZ Farm Assurance Programme to develop tools to help manufacturers that buy wool from NZFAP-accredited farms tell their story of traceability and assurance.

Meanwhile Wool Impact is scoping how a NZ wool innovation hub might look and operate, to open new channels to the market.

Annette Scott MARKETS Wool

FIBRE: Wool Impact chief executive Andy Caughey says as brands and businesses move towards environmental, social and governance goals they will decide which fibres reach consumers.

BLNZ: is PM taking agriculture seriously?

Beef + Lamb NZ

BEEF + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor wants to know how seriously Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is taking agriculture.

McIvor said in an interview that he would be interested to hear Hipkins’ view on agriculture and whether he is going to “continue to restrict agriculture growing and contributing through poorly formed regulations and legislation”.

The agriculture sector has faced a raft of regulatory changes over the past few years, largely around environmental compliance and emissions trading.

Beef + Lamb NZ (BLNZ) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA) recently published a manifesto on five key areas: climate and environment policy, workforce and industrial relations, trade, biosecurity, and innovation, research and development.

McIvor said it should be compulsory reading for the prime

minister as he embarks on leading the government and added that there is “broad alignment” in the sector around the government’s goals and ambitions.

In terms of policy, however, there is a sense that some of it has been “poorly formed and rushed”.

For example, McIvor said that everyone agrees the Resource Management Act needs to be reformed.

However, his staff have had to “traipse” through more than 800 pages of documents in recent months.

“On the face of it, it looks the same as many other bits of regulatory change or proposed changes over the last few years,” he said.

The ambition is good, but it lacks clarity about what it all means, how it all fits together, where the decision-making will lie and where the responsibilities will lie, he said.

“There is just a whole lot of that, that is unclear. That doesn’t give you confidence that when it comes to implementation it will actually deliver what we all want.”

He cited the freshwater legislation as another example,

noting for the last several years his staff have had to work on an issue related to that legislation every two weeks.

“The understanding of what really happens on the ground and how people really act on the ground was missing. So, we’ve had these back-and-forth conversations for three years to get it right.

“A whole lot of resource is burned on the government and the industry side.”

Meanwhile, the manifesto calls on the government to change the thresholds for requiring a freshwater farm plan and ensure the plans are risk- and outcomes-based.

According to McIvor, more than 50% of his time and resources have been tied up with regulatory change over the past two or three years and that’s unprecedented.

The latest BLNZ survey of its members shows farmer confidence is at its lowest in 10 years and much of that is due to the sheer volume of changes.

“There are four or five big environmental issues going on and we just don’t know how they

are going to end up, so how do we make decisions about how to invest in our businesses?” he said.

The latest Federated Farmers survey also showed confidence at a record low, with climate change policy and the Emissions Trading Scheme topping the list of frustrations.

McIvor said some of the legislation may need to go back to the drawing board under Hipkins, or a new government, later this year.

“We do need to have that conversation around some of them.”

He pointed to the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity as an example and said it would be far more positive to take a co-design approach with the people who are affected.

McIvor said it was important to remember that it is not industry groups, the central government or regional and/or district councils that make the change, it is the landowner.

“It’s the people on the land, where the resources are, where the water is flowing, or where the soil is held or where the biodiversity is held – they are the people who make the change.”

Tim Mackle calls time as DairyNZ CEO

TIM Mackle is stepping down as DairyNZ chief executive in June after 15 years in the role.

Mackle said he felt extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to lead and help develop DairyNZ from the levy body’s formation in 2007-2008 to today.

“After a lot of thought and discussion with family, I have decided to step down at the end of June, which will allow the board time to have a smooth transition and to recruit my successor,” he said.

“I am proud to have had the opportunity to lead DairyNZ over this period. The dynamism and constant challenge and change in our sector has made it an exciting and purposeful role.”

Mackle said he is also hugely proud of the role that New Zealand dairy has played as a food as well as supporting NZ through tough times, with dairy exports proving vital through the 2008/09 global

recession and recently through the challenge of covid-19.

“Another highlight for me would be the tremendous progress that farmers have made around sustainability practices, particularly over the last 10-15 years,” he said.

“There’s always going to be a need to keep doing better on farms, but it’s important we do acknowledge the progress made by our farmers and sector as a whole.”

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel said Mackle has always been hugely passionate about helping dairy farmers navigate challenges they have faced and continue to face.

“We’re fortunate to have had Tim at DairyNZ through many challenging periods. Tim has played a key role in developing the R&D programme and the development of our science-based policy and advocacy function. He

has been a strong leader and advocate for dairy,” Van der Poel said.

“Tim is a values-driven leader and has built strong relationships with all those he has engaged with.

“I also wish to acknowledge Tim’s leadership and contribution to the wider dairy and primary sectors, through his influence on various boards, steering groups, and committees.”

Van der Poel said Mackle has been a strong, passionate chief executive who built a strong people culture at DairyNZ, with a highly engaged, capable and purpose-driven team.

“That puts us at DairyNZ in a great position to continue to deliver more for farmers and New Zealand.”

Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard said Mackle led DairyNZ through a period of immense industry growth during

which the sector became NZ’s biggest export earner and a vital industry.

“DairyNZ, under Tim’s leadership, has supported farmers to improve environmental performance and adjust to increasing regulatory compliance,” Hoggard said.

“Tim has always been a pleasure to work with, he is well liked and well respected for his collaborative and positive approach to work.”

Mackle thanked DairyNZ’s staff, its supportive and committed board partners and farmers.

“I am deeply passionate about farming, it’s in my blood, it always will be. I am lucky to have been able to work for farmers. Last but not least, my family deserve a special mention, and I owe a great deal to them in supporting me.”

The DairyNZ board will begin the recruitment process shortly for a new chief executive.

RUSHED: Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor says there is a sense that some policy on agriculture and the environment has been ‘poorly formed and rushed’.

Staff reporter PEOPLE Dairy

LEAVING: Tim Mackle will finish up as DairyNZ chief executive at the end of June this year after 15 years in the position.

Farmers’ mood slumps to a new low

since it slumped after mid-2017,” said Federated Farmers.

FARMER confidence hit an all-time low in the latest Federated Farmers survey.

Of 1103 responses from farm businesses around New Zealand, a net of 65.2% considered current economic conditions to be bad. That’s 17.4 points worse than the survey in July last year and a record low for the survey, which has been running since 2009.

Meat and wool farmers are the most pessimistic.

A net 81.8% of farmer respondents expected economic conditions to deteriorate over the next 12 months, 0.9 points down from the survey six months ago.

“Expectations for the economy remain deeply negative, as they have been for most of the time

Regarding farm profitability, a net 28.4% of respondents said they turned a profit, down 26.7 points on the July 2022 survey when a net 55.1% reported they were profitable.

This reflected a “perfect storm” of falling international dairy and meat commodity prices, coupled with large increases in many farm input prices, especially fuel, fertiliser, and agri-chemicals, Federated Farmers said.

Staff shortages, both on farm and off farm, also crimped production and increased costs while higher interest rates lifted debt servicing costs.

Expectations for profitability over the next 12 months declined. A net 67.1% of respondents expected their profitability to decline over the next 12 months, 14 points worse than the July 2022 survey.

Farmers appear to expect a continuation of lower farmgate incomes and higher input costs, including interest rates. Regarding their biggest concerns, climate change and the emissions trading scheme top the chart.

Debt, interest and banks moved into second place while regulation and compliance costs were the third leading concern.

Federated Farmers

The survey was taken between January 16 and January 23.

Farmers to the rescue in worst-case scenario

NEW Zealand is one of only a few island nations that could continue to produce enough food to feed its population in a nuclear winter, researchers have found.

In a new study Professor Nick Wilson, from the University of Otago, Wellington, and independent researcher Dr Matt Boyd, from Adapt Research, say five island nations, including NZ, could be well placed to continue to produce food despite the reduced sunlight and cooler temperatures that would be caused by soot in the atmosphere following a nuclear war in the northern hemisphere.

to produce enough food, its production and distribution would still be threatened by the country’s extreme dependence on imported commodities, such as refined fuel.

The researchers investigated the impact of abrupt sunlight-reducing scenarios caused by nuclear war, super volcano eruptions or asteroid impacts on agricultural production globally.

They applied published crop models under “nuclear winter” conditions to 38 island nations, combining this with other methods to estimate the food calorie supply.

They also assessed a range of resilience factors that might protect countries from the impacts of a nuclear winter.

resilience has declined since then as its dependence on imported diesel and digital infrastructure has grown.

“Islands such as New Zealand are often very dependent on imports of refined liquid fuel, may lack energy self-sufficiency and are susceptible to breakdowns and shortages of critical commodities. While New Zealand could divert a high proportion of its dairy exports to supply the local market, it lacks the ability to manufacture many replacement parts for farm and food processing machinery.”

The authors say the findings of the study reinforce the precarious position many countries would find themselves in during a global catastrophe.

While New Zealand could divert a high proportion of its dairy exports to supply the local market, it lacks the ability to manufacture many replacement parts for farm and food processing machinery.

show there is a need to analyse nuclear winter and other abrupt sunlight-reducing scenarios as part of a comprehensive national risk assessment.

SOOTY SKIES: Independent researcher Dr Matt Boyd says five island nations, including NZ, could be well placed to continue to produce food despite the reduced sunlight that would follow a nuclear war in the northern hemisphere.

Australia (an island continent), Iceland, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands are also likely to have robust food self-sufficiency, even in an extreme nuclear winter.

Their research is published in the international journal Risk Analysis.

It says while New Zealand is likely to continue to be able

They say that, although some other nations would likely be able to produce enough food, other factors, such as the collapse of industry and social functioning, place their resilience in doubt.

The study says the findings are consistent with a 1980s study on the impact of nuclear war on New Zealand, although the country’s

“New Zealand has the potential to preserve an industrial society through this kind of catastrophe, but it is not ‘plug and play’. A decent amount of strategic planning needs to happen and across a long period of time, but this planning would have benefits in dealing with a wide range of extreme risks.”

The authors say the findings

“We are not aware of any plan for this kind of global catastrophe, including whether priorities for rationing have been considered.

“With the government expected to release New Zealand’s first National Security Strategy this year it is important that the catastrophic risks associated with abrupt sunlight-reducing scenarios do not slip through the cracks.”

DOWN ON THE FARM: Federated Farmers says falling international dairy prices have contributed to a ‘perfect storm’ of on-farm challenges.

Expectations for the economy remain deeply negative, as they have been for most of the time since it slumped after mid-2017.

Staff reporter NEWS

Professor Nick Wilson & Dr Matt Boyd

No-till pioneer shares cropping know-how

Annette Scott TECHNOLOGY Arable

WELL sown is half grown” is the mantra of South Australian cropping farmer Tom Robinson when it comes to successful seed establishment under a no-till regime.

Ahead of presenting at a conservation agriculture global forum, Robinson addressed a Foundation for Arable Research Growers Leading Change webinar, during which he shared with New Zealand his journey to building healthier soils.

Robinson farms at Hoyleton, South Australia, with his partner Cassi and his parents Ashley and Kaylene.

The 1500ha property grows wheat, barley, canola, peas and lentils. Because of the hot dry summers, they normally only grow spring crops over mild winters.

Robinson said the four key principles of zero-till disc seeding – cut, place, press and cover –have been the biggest change on the family farm for 160 years.

With minimum till for 12 years, the farm ran no livestock for 28 years and has now been zero till for 25 years.

The early years of no-till focused on retaining as much residue on the soil surface as possible for moisture conservation in their hot, dry climate. They later realised the additional soil health gains.

“Perfect seed placement for every seed in every row across the whole farm is our goal.

“Every seed costs dollars to put in the ground so drill set-up and placement absolutely matters,” Robinson said.

The implementation of a Shelbourne stripper header has helped to retain as much stubble as possible, while also increasing water-holding capacity.

In more recent years a controlled traffic system has been established to keep all the machinery on the same wheel tracks.

“Controlling our traffic lets us control where our soil compaction happens.”

The farm’s 325-425mm annual rainfall happens predominately in the winter. In the summer it bakes with temperatures above 40degC and annual evapotranspiration of 3000mm.

A lack of moisture is the biggest limiting factor. The benefits of moisture conservation mean that average wheat yields are 4t per hectare no till and full input, with double that achieved under full tillage and full input.

“We started playing with summer cover crops between our winter cropping system and also started to grow massive winter cover crops, and trying to grow summer crops like sunflowers, mungbeans, millet and corn through our hot dry summers.

“We like sunflowers, they don’t have much ground coverage, but they have a big taproot and are hardy in our hot summers.”

Tillage radish sown through the standing harvested crop is grown for livestock.

“We had no livestock for 28 years, well Dad had a sheep stud before that, but when I came in

we were full cropping.

“My wife wanted some cattle, she wanted one, I said, ‘Have one, have 100’, so that’s where livestock came back in 2018.”

Robinson’s innovative practices have significantly improved soil health and productivity.

The multi-species companion and cover crops are improving soil productivity and farmgate returns while reducing farm inputs.

As well as his early experience with increasing plant diversity, Robinson’s ability to modify machinery to meet farmer needs has hastened adoption of the dryland farming system in his region.

A key factor in establishing

Entries open for Fieldays Innovation

measuring tools, management apps, and a big focus on environmental reporting are also topical currently.”

diversified crops has been the ability to retain standing stubble, optimising seed placement and crop establishment by using a zero-till disc on 6-inch row spacings.

Operational and fuel efficiency has been improved via the 3m permanent wheel tracks, which have reduced the area of paddock compacted by farming machinery.

All these practices have increased water infiltration and efficiency.

The farm’s ability to maintain soil cover and reduce soil compaction has reduced the risk of soil erosion and water runoff and increased soil pore space and organic matter content.

Increased plant diversity has increased the number of beneficial species, thereby reducing the need for pesticides and pollination services.

Robinson has increased his understanding of land management practices through interacting with leading farmers and researchers, including several trips abroad.

Over the years he has presented

at the No-Till Conference in Kansas, the Colorado Conservation Tillage Association and at the Conservation Agriculture Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

He has also worked closely with South Australia’s Department for Environment and Water to improve his understanding of soil microbiology and with the South Australian No-Till Farmers Association as a board member and chair.

“It’s all about the social licence of farming and how that is perceived by the public.

“The question is, How do you want to farm and look after the soil and preserve it for future generations?”

Robinson recommends that farmers adopting no-till terminate a cover crop three to four weeks before seeding, leaving an unsprayed test strip to see whether this will work in their own situation.

“We find the material breaks down fairly quickly. That’s where trial work is needed on your own farm.”

ENTRIES are now open for the Fieldays Innovation Awards, with organisers hoping that the forecast economic downturn drives more people to seek innovative solutions to challenging environments.

The awards have a total prize package of cash, services and products worth more than $60,000.

Fieldays programme manager Steve Chappell said they predict a high calibre of entries this year.

“We expect to see development in all areas, especially agri tech, autonomous systems, software developments, robotics in manufacturing, and solving worker shortages” Chappell said.

“Innovation in these areas usually reflects the climate we are in, and often we see companies needing to think smarter and be more efficient when times are harder. Data collection and

Fieldays Innovation Awards represent the innovation lifecycle in three categories: Prototype, Early-Stage, and Growth & Scale. Special recognition is also given to younger innovators, with an award for the Fieldays Young Innovator of the year award.

“The short turnaround since Fieldays 2022 means this year’s entries will really be hot of the press. We expect entries from all around the world in the food and fibre sector,” Chappell said.

The Fieldays Innovation Awards are an opportunity to showcase an idea or innovation, receive feedback from Fieldays visitors, and connect with potential partners, distributors, investors and the New Zealand innovation ecosystem.

Entries are encouraged from across the primary sector: dairy, meat & wool, forestry, horticulture

(including viticulture), seafood (including aquaculture and fishing), arable, and agri tech (including food tech and green tech).

Building on a similar format from 2022, the following criteria have been altered:

• The Young Innovator Award is now for entrants 19 years and under. Fieldays wants to showcase the amazing innovations coming from schoolage entrants. “So many great ideas are coming through that deserve acknowledgment, and we expect a lot of competition,” Chappell said.

• The Growth & Scale category is now for innovations commercialised in the past four years and for sale in at least two countries, one of which must be New Zealand.

• Entrants can now add additional information to their entry once it is accepted into the awards to ensure the judges have the most up-to-date information.

• A new rotation system will be introduced to the awards judging panel, with new judges joining the existing broad range of experts from across the innovation ecosystem. Entrants can also display their innovations around Fieldays on their sites, as part of the Fieldays Innovation Trail on

the Fieldays App. Entries are open until 1pm on Thursday, May 4.

MORE:

Full details of the awards, including terms and conditions, FAQs, and category criteria, can be viewed on the Fieldays website at fieldays.co.nz/ innovation.

BIGGER PICTURE: South Australian cropping farmer Tom Robinson says no-till is about the social licence of farming and how you want to farm, look after the soil and preserve it for future generations.

LOOKING AHEAD: Steve Chappell, middle, discusses an Innovation Award entry in the Fieldays Innovation Hub.

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY

Sector Leaders Fieldays

Perfect seed placement for every seed in every row across the whole farm is our goal.

Tom Robinson South Australian farmer

World agri sector summit for Christchurch

and agribusiness system.

The volunteer-driven association has more than 1700 members in 60 countries.

THE countdown is on for New Zealand’s biggest agri sector summit.

Happening June 1720 in Ōtautahi Christchurch and virtually, the E Tipu International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) World Conference 2023 aims to connect, inspire and galvanise primary sector communities in New Zealand and around the world.

The conference, marketed as the essential event of 2023 for primary industry leaders and changemakers, is backed by a partnership between Boma, the organisers of E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit and IFAMA.

Over its 33 years, IFAMA has hosted thousands of presentations in more than 50 countries, all centred on the global food

The Global Forum aims to inspire bold ambition in the food and fibre sectors and provide primary industry leaders with actionable steps to move forward.

IFAMA’s mission is to convene current and future business, academia, government leaders, policy makers and industry stakeholders to improve the focus, transparency, sustainability, and responsiveness of the global food and agribusiness system.

Over the past four years 97 local and global speakers in agribusiness have shared world-leading insights at E Tipu.

Joining forces in 2023 makes E Tipu IFAMA 2023 New Zealand’s biggest and most comprehensive summit in the agri sector.

The central theme of the conference is “Transforming the Food and Fibre System”, with four sub-themes focused on farmers, fibre, food and future.

“Farmers First” centres on farmers delivering on bold ambition, representing the forefront of the global food and fibre sector.

The “Fibre First” theme highlights forward-thinking developments in fibre, showcasing how advancements are shaping the future of the industry.

The “Food First” theme explores innovations in food production, distribution, and consumption.

The “Future First” theme is

all about staying ahead of the curve and understanding where the world is heading, so primary industry leaders can prepare for the future and take advantage of the opportunities it presents.

All themes are interwoven with indigenous perspectives and sustainability in mind and will be focus points across all conference components including the Global Forum, Academic Research Symposium and the Global Student Case Competition.

The legacy of E Tipu: The Boma

Agri Summit shines in the Global Forum segment of the conference.

This two-day event, taking place on June 19–20 at Christchurch Town Hall, features talks from global and local leaders in food and fibre, action-oriented workshops and cross-sector networking opportunities.

The Global Forum aims to inspire bold ambition in the food and fibre sectors and provide primary industry leaders with actionable steps to move forward.

Optional additions to the

conference include a presidential banquet on the final evening of the Global Forum, and field trips showcasing local innovation in the Canterbury region.

E Tipu IFAMA 2023 is powered by Boma, in partnership with IFAMA, with the support of foundation partner AGMARDT and host city partner Christchurch.

MORE:

For full conference pricing and ticket purchases go to: https://etipu.boma.global/

Annette Scott NEWS Agribusiness

LINE-UP: Previous speakers include director of UK-based Balance Point Advisory Hannah Tucker.

Mānuka boom and bust stings beekeepers

IT CAN sell for more than $3700 a jar at Harrods in London, with the price pushed higher by the kind of superfood branding and celebrity endorsements that turn a simple kitchen staple into a luxury product.

But in a classic boom and bust tale, there’s also an oversupply of the once-rare mānuka honey, and New Zealand beekeepers are struggling to cover soaring production costs as exports soften and prices plunge for all but the very best product.

“The beekeepers are hurting a lot,” said Patrick Dawkins, who keeps bees in Marlborough and edits the trade journal Apiarist’s Advocate. “The guys that have been willing to stick it out are really struggling to make it economic and a lot are going out of business.”

It’s a far cry from the boom years, which transformed the humble craft of beekeeping into a brutally competitive industry featuring organised crime syndicates stealing hives and fraudsters selling counterfeit products.

Demand for mānuka honey, produced only by bees that pollinate mānuka bushes, surged during the pandemic as buyers around the world searched for elixirs to keep them healthy.

The high prices it commanded pushed many to try their hand at beekeeping as a side hustle.

“Every single little plot of land around here had hives on it,” said Maru Hoani, a beekeeper from Hokianga. “A lot of the people weren’t really in it for the love of it, they were just doing it to make quick money.”

The 32-year-old has been

involved in apiculture since he was 17, working for a commercial beekeeper before starting his own business. For years, he watched prices for mānuka honey go up and up.

But, after peaking at around $64 a kilogram, prices tumbled to about $13 this season. The income isn’t enough to cover his costs, which include tests to grade the honey, disease control and fees to landowners. Now, Hoani said, he’s on the verge of exiting the industry.

Dark and strong-flavoured, mānuka honey hit the world market in the 1990s. It spread in popularity thanks to celebrity endorsers and its antibacterial properties. Times were so good that in 2015, Brett Hewlett, then chief executive officer of New Zealand stock exchange-listed honey maker Comvita, told Bloomberg News the product was “quite literally liquid gold”.

Then came 2020. The first year of the pandemic saw a huge honey harvest of 27,000 metric tons, 42% above average, as good growing conditions coincided with a peak in the number of beehives.

Export revenue hit a record for NZ honey products in 2021 at $482 million. But honey’s long shelf life proved to be a weakness, as buyers rarely had to replenish their reserves.

NZ export revenue from honey fell 6% to $295m in the year ended June 30, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

“We’ve had a correction and it has been painful, there is no doubt about that,” said Karin Kos, chief executive of Apiculture NZ. “We’ve obviously got an oversupply of honey around the country. It’s not

going to turn around immediately.”

Kos is nonetheless optimistic about the industry’s future. She said NZ’s recently signed fair trade agreement with the UK should boost exports, while a deal with the European Union could help too.

So far, the value of top-quality mānuka honey appears to be holding up even as prices fall at the middle and lower end. The best product was fetching $104 per kilogram in the year to June, up from $78 a year earlier, according to data from the MPI.

But those numbers can be misleading, Dawkins said. The industry is opaque, with sales happening on a contract-bycontract basis, so it’s tough to know how many producers are getting top dollar for luxury-grade honey.

“There might be only a couple of tons of that in all of New Zealand,” he said. “The real story is about the hundreds of tons of almost-as-good stuff. Those guys aren’t getting anything like those numbers.”

As a result of the downturn, beekeepers are leaving the industry, with the number of hives now down 20% from the 2019 peak to 730,000. Many of those giving up are newcomers who jumped in

when the prices were high.

“They perhaps didn’t have a beekeeping background,” Kos said. “I think there’s a realisation that actually it requires a lot more expertise and knowledge than they have.”

We’ve obviously got an oversupply of honey around the country. It’s not going to turn around immediately.

Karin Kos Apiculture NZ

Domestically, the post-covid return of tourists to NZ should help demand, Kos said.

The 230g jars of “rare harvest” honey that sell for $3755 in London are made by Jim McMillan, founder of the True Honey Co, which specialises in the production of high-grade honey.

McMillan helicopters beehives into remote bushland that is inaccessible by motor vehicles and largely pollution-free. He said demand for his product is holding up.

“It’s certainly not a cheap exercise or a simple exercise,” McMillan said.

Peony Pink Blue Sky

TAKING FLIGHT: There is an oversupply of mānuka honey and beekeepers are struggling to cover soaring production costs.

STAYING POSITIVE: Apiculture NZ chief executive Karin Kos is optimistic about the industry’s future.

Local fix sought for forestry challenges

Te Tairāwhiti locals are pushing back at forestry and their local council over the ongoing issues of forestry waste damaging crops, pasture and infrastructure. In part two of this special report, senior reporter Richard Rennie looks at what the solutions might be.

Richard Rennie NEWS Forestry

GISBORNE District mayor Rehette Stoltz believes Te Tairāwhiti community and council need to stand up to Wellingtonbased land use initiatives, creating their own solutions in a region with unique forestry challenges.

“The cavalry are not coming here to Te Tairāwhiti. We have to look after ourselves, and find solutions that will work here, offering some pushback against Wellington initiatives like the National Environmental Standards [NES] on plantation forestry,” she said.

The council accepted a 10,000-signature petition calling for a review of forestry land use in Te Tairāwhiti, but Stoltz said it needs to take a broad landbased approach in evaluating the region’s response.

The NES on plantation forestry is a major point needing review and attempts to have a “one rule fits all” approach that ignores a region quite distinct from others in New Zealand, she said.

Over a number of years the

council has tried to ensure Tairāwhiti’s special situation be considered, to allow special rules on forest management.

While some of its own rules have been included, those presenting the petition to the council in January maintain that not enough has been done. There is hope that a review of the NES will enable the region’s needs to be better included.

We cannot just kick them. We are talking about generational changes here in forestry.

Rehette Stoltz Gisborne District mayor

Meantime Stoltz rejects claims made by some locals that the council has failed in effectively policing the consent conditions for forestry it has issued.

“Complying with consent conditions is the responsibility of the consent holder,” she said. “We need to be clear the obligations sit with them.”

She said since the Queen’s Birthday 2018 storm event at

Tolaga Bay, the Gisborne District Council (GDC) has increased its monitoring of the 233 forestry consents in the region.

“And from that 2018 event we also ended up with prosecutions.”

The council is also getting wood debris on Gisborne City beaches analysed to determine if it is possible to trace sources for prosecutions after this latest event. Nine additional monitoring roles have also been added to the council’s staffing arsenal.

The mayor said community and council have been assured by Eastland Wood Council that the industry is taking the issue seriously, and commended companies for stepping up after the last event.

“We cannot just kick them. We are talking about generational changes here in forestry. Some will be short-term improvements, and GDC is writing a paper on forestry slash, who deals with it, who pays for it.”

She said the council cannot keep simply chipping slash on beaches to distribute as free mulch.

She acknowledged that, despite some short-term measures that can include leaving some trees in place, it will be a long time before

the full results of land use shifts are seen.

“So, we will have to have a discussion on who will pay for future clean-ups because the weather will not be changing.

“Hopefully we will see less and less impact as forestry standards change, and legislation changes,

and there is less felling of historic forests.”

Pat Seymour, a former longtime GDC councillor and farm forester, said regulation has to also allow for individuals’ property rights, particularly as more farmers seek retirement exit options, and often forestry is their only option.

New chapter for Feds head with tree sale

Richard Rennie PEOPLE Forestry

CHARLIE Reynolds is not someone who has taken the role of selling the family farm to forestry operators lightly. The East Coast hill country farmer from near Ormond has clearly spent time tossing over what to do with the 440ha family property that was part of a block originally bought by his grandfather in the late 1960s.

“It was sad for family, but we felt we were staring at the inevitable. Our son is not interested in farming, he is only young, and really all we have done is pull the trigger on this 20 years early,” Reynolds said.

The opportunity to sell up and quit significant debt to family and the bank, and to enjoy the rest of their working years doing something else, has left him and his wife, Megan, with a new chapter of their lives to enjoy.

“We were not that happy about selling for forestry, but the $2 million between the forestry offer and the highest farm offer – it was simply too great to ignore, it is a life-changing amount.”

The acting Federated Farmers

president for Gisborne-Wairoa acknowledges it may seem like he’s selling out but said everyone

he has spoken to has said “good on you” for making the decision. “Everyone has said you can’t

take a $2m cut just to keep it in farmland. If it had been the case of say $100,000 difference, we would obviously have considered it,” Reynolds said.

The couple considered every option possible prior to taking the overseas forestry company’s offer.

“We had looked at setting 100ha of the place off for forestry planting and carbon earning, but the bank would not fund that. Being close to town, we even looked to see if part could be leased out to horticulture.”

Reynolds exudes renewed confidence, almost like a man who has finally been able to come up for air after years of physical, mental and emotional struggle in the tough country behind Gisborne.

“Last winter was particularly tough. This country is difficult to farm in the wet, with heavy clay. Even a family member who farms up in Mōtū country said he thought this was tough. We ended up winching ourselves and our bikes around the farm last winter, it was so sticky and wet for so long.”

Reynolds was also experiencing the dilemma many smaller, harder hill country farms face.

Their expenses per stock unit are no lower than larger operators’

and, if anything, higher for some inputs, while the scale means they are not able to employ staff to give owners and their families a reasonable break.

“You did spend plenty of time on the place when the only thing to talk to was the dog,” Reynolds said.

You did spend plenty of time on the place when the only thing to talk to was the dog.

He acknowledges his situation mirrors that many smaller farmers in the tough Te Tairāwhiti region face, but he is by no means writing off the future of all hill country operations.

“I think the larger farms are still in a good position. If it is a good farm that matches to a neighbouring property, then neighbours will think it is worth having a crack at it. Or it might be a bigger farming operation in another part of the district that know it’s a small block, but it

UNIQUE: The cavalry are not coming here to Te Tairāwhiti. We have to look after ourselves, says Gisborne District mayor Rehette Stoltz.

NEW LIFE ON LAND: Charlie Reynolds and his wife Megan are looking forward to a new chapter in their life on the land, without the same stresses that being a sole-operator farm brings. Continued page 18

Charlie Reynolds Fed Farmers acting president Wairoa-Gisborne

Design underpins forester’s softer touch

Richard Rennie NEWS Forestry

THE roads that Aratu Forests builds to access the tough Gisborne hill country are also a method for reducing the impact its forests have within their boundaries, and on the neighbours.

Aratu harvest planning manager Andy Costello describes the devastating 2018 flood event at Tolaga Bay as a turning point for his company.

We have significant tracts of these trees we have now opted not to harvest in order to reduce the risk to our neighbours.

Andy

“In 2018, post-storm investigations undertaken by Aratu identified that the collapse of old roads and landings had contributed to mobilisation in the catchment. While this was only one of many contributing factors, we recognised it was one that we had control over, so we immediately set to work both remediating old construction and improving standards for the infrastructure we’re building now,” he said.

The company is constructing 30km of roads a year through its 35,000ha of blocks, and the new networks come with some tight parameters before the first bulldozer cut is even made.

“The level of design work behind them has increased significantly since 2018. We are now using LiDAR [light detection and ranging] mapping and design programs. This gives us a far more granular, detailed understanding of the contour and catchment we are dealing with, and how to minimise the road’s impact, and ensure it’s far more stable,” he said.

From the cab of his ute he can pull up a detailed laptop LiDAR image of the road a logging truck is powering up, pinpointing the intense design within that single section.

The image onscreen highlights native vegetation that has been left untouched, and shows how the road’s slope has been maximised to 14 degrees where possible to minimise earthworks. Corners retain earth bunds to lower runoff risk.

“We have also learnt you need to compact the roads a lot more than we used to. Since 2018 we’ve bought in additional machinery specially designed for compacting our heavy clay soils,” Costello said.

Stability above and below the roads is improved with coconut matting, grasses and poplars to absorb runoff, particularly around the blocks’ many streams.

“The changes we’ve made have made our roads and landings much more resilient. Following Hale our recently constructed roads have not had the failures seen in other roads around the district.”

The forest blocks are largely legacy plantations dating from after 1988’s Cyclone Bola, and often have pines planted right to the water line, with a likelihood

they may fall over even before harvesting or make losses into the waterways inevitable at harvesting.

“We have significant tracts of these trees we have now opted not to harvest in order to reduce the risk to our neighbours. Despite the costs of having managed and pruned the trees over the past 30 years, they are simply too risky, and the potential damage too great,” Costello said.

He said Gisborne brings a lot of challenges together in one geographic space. He estimates Aruta has invested an additional $15-$20 million in recent years building more integrity into its infrastructure.

“While we’re not suggesting that any spend makes downstream damage okay, we want give our neighbours confidence that we’ve made a real commitment and have changed our practices to reduce the risk.”

Like most in the sector, he was shocked at the impact of the latest flood event.

HAULING: Better roads are a key to more stable forest plantation sites on the fragile East Coast soils, says Andy Costello

Continued from page 17

will work in well with the entire operation.

“I don’t see forestry coming and nabbing everything. But at same time it may end up being the only option for those smaller guys because, like us, the farm is just too tough really to be a pastoral farm, so farmers were not interested in it.”

An ongoing stream of legislative

“We need to go through a process to better understand how and where this material has come from. We support the Eastland

and regulatory changes have added fuel to the family’s decision to sell up sooner rather than later.

“With impending National Environmental Standards coming out, the general cost of operating this type of property was not sustainable,” Reynolds said.

This includes having to fence about 12km of stream length in a highly floodable area where they have already lost 6km of fence in an earlier flood.

Wood Council, who agree there needs to be an inquiry that takes a broad, long-term, science-based view of the issues, and how best to deal with them.”

He said foresters, like farmers, have no desire to see their growing assets lost to weather events, alongside expensive infrastructure like roading, nor to have damage

inflicted on fellow community members downstream.

Minimising slash loss from skid sites, where logs are loaded, has also been a harvest priority for Aratu.

“Following 2018, slash was pulled back from the edge of several hundred skids and now slash is being pulled back from the edge of each skid shortly after harvesting. Following Hale we’re not seeing debris mobilising off our skids as we’d had in previous storms.”

But slash is a fraught issue for the industry, given it has zero value at this point, prompting some to propose a governmentled initiative to build a bio-energy plant in Gisborne to accept the problematic waste.

The next rotation of forests should also have lower losses to waterways, thanks to changes in where, what, and how trees are planted within catchments.

Costello said all recently harvested forests have a window of vulnerability for five to eight years post-harvest, and the predominance of post-Bola forest harvesting has highlighted the risks.

He indicates how “live slash catchers” in the form of poplar trees along riparian sections are planted densely enough to catch any descending wood during an event, while swathes of planted clover help build topsoil and absorb slope runoff.

“The industry is not sticking its head in the sand on this.

“The region has had reviews resulting in major land use changes before, like post-Bola. This is an opportunity to look hard at better ways of doing things once again.”

The gully-laden property includes plentiful native bush, something that Reynolds said did not seem to count for much under government emissions policy.

“We were at the top end of gas emissions charges at about $40,000, which we could not recoup.”

The couple are looking forward to remaining in the family homestead, with 20ha for Megan

to pursue her passion for horses, and to run some cattle.

Meantime Charlie Reynolds appreciates the irony of not only of being a Fed Farmers senior member who is leaving his pastoral roots, but also one who is picking up a job with a forestry company. The new position enables him to capitalise on his skills in driving heavy machinery, and being well paid for having a valued heavy truck licence.

“I enjoy the work, it’s more relaxed,” he said.

“I am not sure everyone entirely appreciates the stress of being a sole hill country farmer. You always face time pressure and jobs needing to be done, it’s a pretty lonely role.”

MORE:

To view the Farmers Weekly interview between Charlie Reynolds and Richard Rennie, visit https://bit.ly/3RB9jFW

PLANTED: Andy Costello of Aratu Forests says new forest plantings also include poplar to catch slash, heavily engineered roads, and careful runo management.

of Aratu Forests.

MIXED: Foresters are aiming for a better mix of native, grasses, plantation and protective riparian trees in planting new forests.

Costello Aratu Forests

Letters of the week

Top-down policy doomed

Tim Cullwick Waipawa

IT WAS with dismay that I read your article by Neal Wallace conveying Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s stance, “O’Connor blames farmer anger on misinformation” (November 28 2022).

I totally refute this allegation. That is so wrong.

We understand the importance of emissions reduction and we read that the likes of Tesco and other big retail players throughout the world are making very strong moves to retailing carbon neutral products.

We concur with all these positive initiatives. What is beyond refute, however, is that carbon is sequestered by every living plant, tree and pastures.

Until the minister recognises this fact, his policy proposal is doomed.

From the Editor

Storms at home and abroad cloud farmers’ confidence

Bryan Gibson Managing editor

FARMER confidence is at an all-time low, according to the latest Federated Farmers survey.

That’s not surprising, as returns appear to have peaked and costs are continuing to persist at stubbornly high levels.

The bills for fuel, fertiliser and agri-chemicals have all shot up in recent times and that’s threatening the profitability of some farming businesses.

Debt repayment is also a worry as interest rates rise to combat inflation.

We’re not alone in this, of course.

Every nation in the world is facing the same challenge and the macro-economy is forecast to throw up more storms over the next year.

Right now New Zealand’s inflation rate is 7.2%, well below

the OECD average of 9.4%.

As always, respondents in the Feds survey highlight regulation as a drag on their businesses, and industry groups are continuing the call to slow the rollout of red tape.

Food prices are rising faster than prices of total goods here and overseas, and that’s caused many people to call for curbs on inflationary spending, or to stop adding costs to farmers that might drive up food prices.

The problem there is that NZ food prices aren’t set domestically, as everyday New Zealanders are often told.

The price of butter and cheese is set by the global market and Kiwis pay that price plus a local markup.

Given the past couple of weeks, it’s perhaps surprising to some, especially those in our biggest city, that climate change mitigation plans are a bigger worry for farmers than climate change itself.

After all, the investment being asked for now is dwarfed by the bill coming if we continue with

business as usual.

There are many studies that show the cost of reducing emissions and adapting to climate change is small change compared with business as usual.

Big ships take a long time to turn, of course, and a fair transition to a more sustainable business model is vital.

He Waka Eke Noa was farming’s chance to show NZ that its biggest industry was up for tackling its biggest threat.

Dealing with hypotheticals doesn’t rank very highly for those working to keep businesses humming in the here and now.

The events of the past few weeks have opened more eyes to the realities of what the future holds.

What the primary industries can have confidence in, is the fact that there’s a path ahead – one that, if chosen, will ensure farming continues to flourish.

It won’t be an easy ride, but it’s the one that has the best chance of success, for farming and for NZ.

With an election coming up, flood-hit voters in Auckland might be more inclined to support policy that ensures real emissions reductions.

Many of our big global customers certainly are.

It is so important that government policy works from the bottom up – not from the top down as he is doing currently.

We need to be recognised for all the sequestration we are actually achieving.

We have spent a lifetime developing our farms with improved pastures, shelter, shade trees for stock, willows and poplars for erosion control, amenity planting and retention of any native trees remaining, which has made our milk, meat and fibre produce the most carbon efficient in the world.

Pastures alone produce 1t of carbon/ha/year.

The significant outcome to this is that most New Zealand farms are ALREADY carbon neutral and that is why we will not accept this proposed overarching tax.

With a top-down policy we have selective sequestration of some species only. This is unjust and has made the proposed policy unworkable since sheep and beef are now the biggest offenders.

English farmers are required to restore hedgerows, plant trees and have biodiversity areas based on subsidies reflecting conservation efforts and no blanket planting. There have to be some balanced policies between countries.

At this point we are total worldwide outliers, leading to a major decline in carbon-efficient food production. This really hurts because we take such pride in being high-end quality food producers.

We must not allow our food production to decrease with the ever-growing world population, in support of the Paris Agreement. We as farmers know exactly the consequences of ill-conceived legislation both to ourselves and businesses, and for the rest of New Zealand.

Short and sweet

Nick Wedge

South Otago

HAVE just read Steve WynHarris’s excellent article in Farmers Weekly, “Manners ought to maketh man behave better” (January 30) – the most concise use of words I’ve read in a long time.

There is nothing so constant as change. However, how we treat people should always be with dignity and good manners. Thank you , you’ve made my morning. Back to work now in very dry South Otago!

Auckland warning

Patricia Hosking Bay of Plenty

ANDREW Luddington’s plea for Groundswell farmers to stop their misogynistic attacks and vile abuse and embrace change and go greener and lighter or go broke is well timed, “This attitude will sink us” (January 30).

A week later Auckland’s economy was brought to a standstill by extreme rain and flooding, which caused deaths, derailed trains, destroyed roads and businesses, closed schools, collapsed multimillion-dollar mansions and spewed sewage into living rooms. How many more such crises do we need before we act?

By fighting government efforts to address climate crisis and cut on-farm emissions, Groundswell protestors are intending to not

Continued next page

Science must be our yardstick on methane

Mark Adams

Canterbury sheep and beef farmer, retiring chair of BLNZ’s Environment Reference Group

OVER the summer I took some time to read the Ministry for the Environment/Ministry for Primary Industries interim “Pricing Agricultural Emissions” report.

It outlines the emerging themes from last year’s consultation triggered when the He Waka Eke Noa Climate Action Partnership (HWEN) finally landed its recommendations.

Almost 23,000 submissions on a proposal that is intended to capture 23,000 farmers or 96% of all agricultural emissions. Surely an impressive response.

It would appear that the government, members of the public and farmers all have each other’s attention. Maybe we are now ready to hammer out a way forward on an issue that has been described as “a wicked problem”.

HWEN was formed as an industry response to the threat of agriculture being dumped into the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). This was a threat I always considered to be in bad faith and without merit until I read last November that the Treasury had indeed wanted agriculture in the ETS, with no split gases, “Treasury backed ETS over HWEN” (November 21 2022).

Letters of the week

Continued from previous page just sink our industry but sink Aucklanders as well. Everyone needs to support efforts to bring down emissions and adopt life-sustaining businesses and lifestyles urgently. It will be a lot less costly than rebuilding Auckland every few years.

LEADERS: Throughout the world, NZ is considered to be good at animal, soil and plant science.

Preferring simplicity, the Treasury recognises that complexity is both expensive and easier to exploit. Unfortunately, tinkering with biology is never simple and if farmers are forced to reduce methane, then we have to embrace the complexity.

Politically expedient, HWEN was straitjacketed with a very tight terms of reference and timelines bordering on unrealistic

by a government itself constrained by international commitments.

That the HWEN partnership, unique in New Zealand history and some say the world, was able to stay the course, presenting its submission in a timely manner, was an important accomplishment and one overlooked in the subsequent fallout.

As farmers, we have long advocated for industry groups to be more closely aligned, to bat smarter with limited resources.

As chair of Beef + Lamb NZ’s Environment Reference Group (ERG), I was introduced to HWEN early in the process.

ERG is made up of farmers representing the seven BLNZ Farmer Councils across NZ. We have previously wrestled through many issues, including essential freshwater and biodiversity. However, we found the weightiness of pricing on-farm emissions to be the most challenging and the most contentious.

ERG recognised the constraints imposed on the HWEN partners and we were frustrated with the timelines already enshrined in law.

This forced speed of travel meant that many of our engaged farmers felt marginalised and not listened to.

We recognised that extensive farmers were the most vulnerable to any emissions tax and that the barn door to wholesale

afforestation had been left wide open.

My hope was that when HWEN landed, the fallout would be directed at this government’s punitive mindset and its “the state knows best” approach.

Instead, to the delight of our detractors, many have focused their ire on our rural leadership – who, when faced with a no-win scenario, still chose to embrace the poisoned chalice.

This government will be remembered as one that overpromised and underdelivered, partly because it was never patient enough to allow good process and doesn’t seem to know what consultation really means.

The opposition parties can’t be silent on this. We need to know what they think is the right thing to do, and how.

In the meantime, we have to deal with what is in front of us. Working with the government and landing solutions that satisfy both the Climate Change Commission and market expectation will require the HWEN partners to continue to work closely.

The HWEN process has dragged rural communities into a conversation we never wanted to have. This stuff is never convenient, it’s time-consuming and always expensive, but we have to engage.

I’m confident, however, that we can reduce methane by 10% by 2030. Just as “carbon auditing” is a

measure of production efficiency, so will measuring methane be.

After 2030, I’m not so confident. The targets seem wrong and we simply aren’t investing enough in science. The inadequate funding of science sits at the heart of what HWEN is trying to address. I urge BLNZ and other primary sector groups to continue fighting, as they have done for some time, for the methane targets to be amended in line with the latest science.

The HWEN process has dragged rural communities into a conversation we never wanted to have. This stuff is never convenient, it’s time-consuming and always expensive, but we have to engage.

Around the world, NZ is considered to be good at animal, soil and plant science. In Europe recently, I regularly saw our systems being replicated, and I talked to farmers who were as current about NZ farming as I am. If we are good at what we do, people will follow and if people are following, then we’re leading.

In my view, investing in the science to future-proof our food production is where NZ can make its most meaningful contribution.

No doubting that we’ve entered a new age

Geoff Prickett

ANDREW Luddington’s contribution last week deserves more consideration. I would like to discuss the issues he has raised from another angle –climate change.

Following the destructive flood rains that hit Auckland recently, it must have dawned on even the most recalcitrant doubter or denier that we have entered a new age.

That new age is exponential climate change.

Regardless of our place in the international marketplace, the greatest threat hanging over our land-based industries is not a market issue – it’s climate change. The Auckland floods have come on top of multiple climate events that have enormously impacted farming all over New Zealand.

After Cyclone Hale’s hit on the East Coast, I heard a farmer from just north of Gisborne wonder how he was going to recover from the third destructive storm in two years. I lived and farmed on

the Wairoa hills for 45 years and I know the reality of restoration and repair after a big rain event. When they come every 10 or 15 years you can cope with them; once a year and you haven’t got the energy or the money to maintain a viable property.

With climate change come existential threats to existing farming industries. It will be those in more fragile situations and those more dependent on specific climatic conditions that will go first, but eventually all our landand sea-based industries will be affected.

Of course this will have an immense impact on food supply but that’s another story.

It is already happening – the Marlborough Sounds salmon industry goes from viability to collapse with a sea temperature rise of 1 or 2degC. The past year has shown how easily climate change impacts our vegetable and fruit industries. We fondly imagine that we can adapt to change but it won’t be possible to adapt to exponential change.

In farming circles a common theme is that it doesn’t matter what we do because as a country NZ is too small to matter and our personal contribution to climate change is infinitesimal.

I totally disagree. New

Zealanders’ per capita contribution to climate change ranks high, about twice the global average. That is in spite of the huge advantage of our hydropower. Climate change is an issue for us as individuals, for our businesses, communities and the country. We either contribute to the escalating calamity that is climate change or we contribute to reducing the risks. Each one of us must decide where we stand. My hope for 2023 is that we move on from the negativity and name-calling of too many in the farming industry. Only a complete rethink will pave the way for a viable future for our farming industries – and for our grandchildren.

Retired farmer living on six acres on the Kāpiti coast

Cyclone Hale left some farmers wondering how they will ever recover.

They’re taking gun owners for fools again

an arms regulatory system that keeps us all safe”.

That’s patently absurd as gun violence is on the rise. Last year Auckland recorded over 368 gun offences. Gun offences involving gangs are also increasing, with over 1000 offences last year.

That tells me that the current system isn’t keeping anyone safe.

The police document also tells me that the terrorist event in Christchurch identified that the arms regulatory regime was severely underfunded and under resourced.

I thought that cute, as a halfdecent arms licence investigation by the police would have resulted in the mosque shooter being refused a gun licence.

action. They certainly seem uninterested in “keeping people safe”. If it was a farmer I’m sure it would’ve been different.

We do need a standalone arms agency, but the government appears subservient to police empire building.

ACT firearms spokesperson Nicole McKee told me that “keeping costs affordable provides incentive for people to stay within the system, keep their firearms secured properly and be accountable”. I totally agree.

She added that the police wanted to charge arms owners “the cost of police attendance at a firearms burglary”.

I haven’t been able to find any evidence to support that claim.

THERE was an advertisement in the papers last week under the heading “The new place for Firearm Owners”. I had a look at their website and, yet again, the government and authorities are taking firearm owners for idiots.

It is not new, it is still part of the police and it will inevitably be business as usual. Nothing has changed.

What is about to change is firearm owners being charged more for an arms licence.

For a start I agree with Northland farmer Tom Pow, who was quoted in Farmers Weekly telling us that farmers shouldn’t be charged for killing pests, “Mutters as police take aim at firearm fee” (January 16).

In the same article the Coalition of Licenced Firearm Owners (COLFO) told us that the police discussion document on increasing the licence fees “has vague assertions without substantiation”. Again, I agree.

I don’t believe firearm owners should have to pay for the excesses of the police bureaucracy.

Currently a 10-year licence fee is $126-50, which could go to $727-50. Conversely, a driver’s licence is but $109.50.

The current gun control saga was started by the horrific murders in Christchurch. The reaction was knee-jerk with the headline of banning military style semi-automatic weapons, which I didn’t have a problem with. Sadly, we were lied to as it included all semi-automatic weapons, which has achieved nothing.

Gun violence has increased.

The government’s approach, supported by the National opposition, has done little except alienate legitimate gun owners and encourage an explosion in our pest population.

Getting back to the police discussion document, they tell us that the fees are to “contribute to

The problem is greater than just fees.

After the mosque attack the government and the police did all they could to pillory legitimate firearm owners. That created resentment, which doesn’t encourage co-operation.

We read there are almost 250,000 licensed gun owners in New Zealand. The reality is that there are many more gun owners that haven’t had a licence and have no intention of getting one.

Why would you?

The application for a drivers’ licence is just four pages long. Cars kill more people than guns.

The application for a liquor licence is also four pages, and we’re told alcohol kills more people than guns.

The application form for a firearms licence is 40 pages, largely consisting of intrusive and irrelevant rubbish.

It asks if the person is involved with a gang or extremist group. Who is going to say yes?

It wants to know about former spouses or partners going back five years. What business is it of the police and what possible relevance could it be for a person owning a gun?

The same applies to the question about losing a job five years ago.

So my issue with the police consultation document is that it is an expensive butt-covering exercise.

Further, I don’t believe firearm owners should have to pay for the excesses of the police bureaucracy.

The issue is that many normally law-abiding gun-owning citizens don’t have gun licences. They feel they’ve been mucked about by the system and legitimately so. The fact they are breaking the law is irrelevant. What are the police going to do about it? Those gun owners need to be encouraged back into the system but the police don’t seem remotely interested.

It got even more farcical when a police-licenced pest exterminator shot up houses on the Kāpiti coast. Unbelievably, the police told residents it was a “workplace incident” and took no further

I believe it is high time the government was honest and open with the firearms community.

We’re told we’re getting a new agency when we’re not and that new laws will keep us safer while statistics suggest the opposite.

Finally, I don’t believe either the police or the government have any credibility in the current gun debate and I don’t think they care.

An irresistible force meets an immoveabull

From the ridge

lifestyle block as they were very quiet. Almost too quiet, because as they got bigger their keenness to come and see me when on the two-wheeler bike appeared to be friendliness but I didn’t want to take our relationship for granted.

I usually send my two-year bulls off to the works in October and November but the incredibly wet winter and spring had held them back and I couldn’t get any space in December so I’ve been sorting up and loading out various mobs over the last few weeks.

These big fellows were the first to go.

What could go wrong?

and smashed it as he went.

I watched him climb over a cattleyard gate that is as old as me but miraculously, despite his becoming bellied out on top of the gate, it never broke and he finally managed to carry on his way through my sheepyards, breaking another gate as he went.

THE truck backed its trailer up to my cattle loadout race and then the young driver James and I introduced ourselves.

I said to him that I’d told the despatcher the previous day that these bulls were big. Really big by my standards, at 770kg average with a couple over 800kg, and that I’d suggested just three to a pen. He reassured me that he’d got the memo, but it was the fact that we had to put the first nine up the truck ramp to the top deck that was bothering me.

They were a small line of 12 I’d bought a year earlier. When they arrived, they were 60kg heavier than the stock agent had quoted, and I suggested he get along to Specsavers.

They must have come off a

The first group of three went up the ramp fine but when James and I got them into their pen, because they all had their heads down, their backs were pushed up hard against the top of the pen.

We had to let them back into the other two pens and get them back in again. It took about quarter of an hour just to get them right and there was no way the cover was going over them as they were a lot higher than the pen.

The next two groups of three were also tricky but we finally got them all tucked in nicely.

I’d managed to keep three of the bigger ones for the bottom truck pen once the ramp was stowed away.

The first fellow up the race looked into the trailer pen and decided he’d rather casually go over the top rail of my loadout race, which was a decent effort

I watched him climb over a cattleyard gate that is as old as me but miraculously it never broke and he finally managed to carry on his way through my sheepyards, breaking another gate as he went.

I let the others back into the big yard and one keen to emulate his mate went over another gate without doing any damage.

The third fellow decided to go over the heavy metal gate and managed to get his hind leg stuck. It was too dangerous for me to assist so I had to wait and see if he was going to break his leg. After a bit of effort he managed to bend the steel pipe and get himself free.

I jury-rigged the loadout race and quietly brought the three back in for another attempt.

The first one into the pen balked and attempted to back out. He managed to collapse the end of the loadout race and his hind

Alan Emerson Semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com

EASY TARGET: Firearm owners are about to be charged more for an arms licence.

Steve Wyn-Harris Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer: swyn@xtra.co.nz

NZD in long grass as Fed battles market

Straight talking

That has buoyed risk appetites.

Cue a weaker US dollar from the fourth quarter of 2022, which has pushed everyone else up.

Maturity in the US interest rate cycle means the same for the US dollar. Interest rates are viewed to be either at, or returning, to more normal levels, in many nations.

China’s reopening has helped sentiment too.

The NZD/USD now finds itself trading around a level not too far away from fair value.

Neutral seems to be the common theme when assessing risk appetites (one key driver of the NZD) and the views of asset allocators. Commodity price are down, but far from out.

IN NOWHERE land. That looks to be the NZD/USD at present and in 2023.

In the third quarter of 2022 I wrote that “the cycle will turn against the United States dollar, boosting the NZD/USD” – but also that the range for the NZD/USD looks to be lower than what we have experienced from 2000, aka, settling in the 60s and not the 70s. A rapid rise in US interest rates pushed the USD higher over most of 2022, pushing other currencies lower. A higher USD provided some inflation relief in the US, exporting the problem elsewhere. We waited for the potential for some emerging markets, saddled with a lot of US dollar debt, to crack. They didn’t. Asset prices cracked in 2022, bond prices rose a lot, but labour markets remained strong and emerging markets roared back late in the year. This was an odd interest rate cycle. With US inflation now decelerating sharply, the US Federal Reserve is set to slow the pace of rate hikes and pivot. Market expectations are that US interest rates could be cut in late 2023 and 2024.

legs were left dangling between the truck and the remaining part of my race while the front part of him was now in the pen.

James and I had a discussion and came up with a plan.

I closed the road gates as it seemed likely he and then his mates were going to end up in the yard where the truck was parked.

James slowly inched the truck forward and after a metre or so I gave the bull a bit of encouragement, expecting he might slide out of the trailer, but he was now able to push against the bottom of the race and miraculously went into the pen.

I quickly signalled to James to back up and at the same time was sliding the door closed.

But not quick enough because our mate came back out of that pen very fast.

Fortunately, I was standing on the second rail with my legs astride the race because of the two large bulls behind me, otherwise I’d probably be dead with him

One key factor shaping the USD’s direction over 2023, and implicitly the NZD, will be resolution of the battle between the Fed versus the market.

Who is right? The Fed is saying rates will need to remain higher for longer. The market is saying a recession is around the corner.

Recessions are usually supported by policy accommodation from central banks. Core goods inflation is falling in the US, dictated by a weakening in used auto, apparel, and furnishings prices. Expectations are that service sector inflation will follow, particularly with new lease signings implying that rent/services inflation (a key contributor to inflation) is set to turn.

There are sceptics about inflation disappearing in a sustained fashion. A postwar trend of globalisation is reversing. We are in a period of rising geopolitical unease. With rising tension come pressures to increase defence spending and the reshoring of industries considered strategic. Security in food, energy and technology is driving policy with the economic driving force behind trade usurped

going over the top of me.

I quickly shot around to the back of the pen and stood up high to try to encourage them to not

The real work will need done on the trade balance if we are going to get the current account down; we need to export more and import less, rotating growth away from the spending side of the economy towards the real productive sector.

by the geopolitical concerns. A less efficient trade world could be around the corner.

An implication of climate change is likely ongoing inflationary shocks, especially with food production.

Labour shortages are affecting wage gains and contributing to rising unit labour costs. The unemployment rate remains low, across the globe. The unemployment rate in NZ is 3.3%. It’s 3.5% in the US, 3.7% in the United Kingdom and 3.5% in

jump the gate, which seemed to work.

I directed James to a pile of posts, which he used to fill in the

Australia. Goods sector inflation has turned, service sector inflation has not.

For too long, politicians around the globe have failed to deliver on key areas such as infrastructure, inequality, climate change, housing, health, and education. The playbook now is that governments need to show spending restraint to curb inflation, when demands to raise spending in these areas has seldom been higher. We need those areas addressed, though.

Do we have a path to extract ourselves from quantitative tightening, the reciprocal of quantitative easing or printing money? Not really. Many sovereigns are vulnerable to rising interest rates and expect sovereign risk to be talked about more and more in 2022.

Locally, we have seen NZ’s current account deficit widen to 7.9% of gross domestic product. That is a national chequebook excessively in the red.

Recovering tourism numbers

gap in the race. I told him I reckoned we had one more chance at this but wasn’t that optimistic about the odds of

will help close it a bit. The real work will need done on the trade balance if we are going to get the current account down; we need to export more and import less, rotating growth away from the spending side of the economy towards the real productive sector. The hits the rural community has taken over the past few years will be felt in trade statistics for years to come. NZ is likely to need help from a sustained period below fair value for the NZD.

The NZD/USD dollar started 2022 at 0.68, dipped to 0.55, and ended at 0.63. Last year’s endpoint is as good a prediction as any for the end of 2023.

It would require a degree of normality and stability. The problem is we reside in a nonnormal and unstable world.

When it comes to the market versus the Fed, 2024 is when we will really know how sticky inflation is looking, and that will be a key influence on risk appetites, interest rates, the USD and implicitly the NZD/USD.

getting these three bloody animals to the works.

The first one went straight into the pen but was coming out by the time the other two were also trying to get in.

We then had a Mexican standoff for some time, with me on one side of the race encouraging this bull to back up and James on the other side encouraging the first of the other two to continue its journey into the pen.

Remarkably we finally got nearly all three into the pen with me getting the door half closed. Another 10 minutes passed until we got the bulls off the door, closed the door and dropped the pin into place.

James and I gave each other a spontaneous high five.

It had taken and hour and a half to load 12 bulls.

I only had another 120 to go.

It wasn’t that hot, but I was drenched in sweat from adrenaline, effort and a bit of fear.

When I got back home, I said to Jane, using my new catchphrase, “I’m getting too old for this.”

Cameron Bagrie

Managing director of Bagrie

Economics and a shareholder and director of Chaperon

BULL: It took Steve Wyn-Harris an hour and a half to load 12 bulls on to a truck. And he still had 120 to go.

WORKING HARD: The unemployment rate is low across the globe – and just 3.3% in New Zealand. It’s 3.5% in the United States, 3.7% in the United Kingdom and 3.5% in Australia.

always there. Even now the records are the proof and the scientific research is driving what has become a lucrative industry, in the right product and markets.”

In effect a soft-growing tissue that can grow up to one centimetre a day, velvet from imported bloodline crosses showed more bone calcification.

“I always believed the honeycomb-rich velvet from our NZ genetics would prove better quality and I kept breeding on that belief,” Peter says.

“Eventually the science proved me right – the lower the calcification the higher the organic matter. That is more blood flow and blood weighs less so our weight-to-bulk ratio is lower because the profile of our antlers is different and we are getting a higher volume of the higher grade.

“It is the active ingredients that are key and it comes back to quality before quantity and while we harvest [cut velvet] in weight, we sell in volume.”

Job done and then some at Glenfiddich Deer

After 49 years of breeding specialist deer velvet genetics, pioneer Peter Swann has exceeded his own expectations and decided the time is right to exit the industry. He talked to Annette Scott.

PETER Swann was 13 years old when he was digging his first post holes for deer fencing on the family farm, Sherwood Downs, near Fairlie in South Canterbury.

That was in 1973, after his father Bob, a keen hunter, realised an opportunity to farm deer.

“Dad had developed the property in the early 1960s and was running 1800 ewes and 120 cattle on the flat land of Sherwood Downs,” Peter says.

“Deer were running wild in the hills behind, Dad was a keen hunter, he was looking for options to diversify, heli-capture was just beginning and he was onto it after seeing what his friend and deerfarming pioneer Sir Tim Wallis was up to.”

Bob started capturing in 1974, getting 75 hinds and six stags and that was the beginning of golden career for Peter.

“I am now in my 50th year deer farming and Dad, at 90, is still a keen follower getting out to anything deer industry related that he can,” Peter says.

Looking back, it has been an interesting and rewarding deerfarming era.

“I have seen the industry from nothing to highly successful and for Dad, who was a founding member of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association and a board member for 11 years, it was about trophy but I took a different line into velvet.”

The initial heli-captured deer had its origins in animals brought in from England with some German breeding in their history. In 1977 Bob and Peter captured

the stag that was to become the start of their velveting.

“We were giving a deer capture demonstration as part of the deer farmers’ conference in Otago and we caught this amazing stag, we called him Big Dad.

“It turned out that he could grow impressive velvet. We entered him in velvet competitions and he won three years in a row.

“From here I picked velvet.”

At that time there was no velveting farming in New Zealand.

“A Korean was out here buying velvet off the heli-capture.

“I thought, I think we are onto this and that was the start of farming deer for velvet.”

The Swann family cut their first velvet harvest in the 1976-77 season.

After lambing 2000 ewes in the snow two years in a row at Sherwood Downs, the Swanns made the decision in 1990 to move to Mossburn in Southland, near where they were already grazing deer at Balfour.

They took their herd of NZ hinds and stags with them as well as a line of pure German stags Bob had been instrumental in importing.

It was here that their Glenfiddich Deer operation was established.

Peter always believed their NZ genetics would produce the quality velvet he had set goals to achieve.

With records dating from the first 1976 harvest, there was evidence that the original herd had very little calcification. It was more honeycomb.

After four years at Mossburn, when everyone else was crossing their NZ lines with imported genetics, Peter moved in the

opposite direction and sold the German hinds.

“I was confident I could grow better velvet breeding with our NZ genetics and made the decision there would be no more imported blood going into our herd and we have been a closed herd from then.”

Farming velvet has been an evolution for Peter, who says it continued to be a moving target.

But he never stopped researching and remained confident he was on the right track.

“Many people never listened, never believed but the proof was

Proving the genetics and breeding over time is the first average of just 2.2kg per stag at Mossburn in the 1990s to a 10.6kg average this year.

Increased profitability and satisfaction were realised when Glenfiddich Deer teamed up with Wānaka-based Alpine Deer in 1995 and moved away from the traditional velvet market, another goal in the breeding achieved.

“We were asked to do overgrowing, called supreme in velvet, for initial trials in freezedried velvet powder. It was about working towards getting lower ash content [bone calcification] and greater percentage soft tissue.

“We have been testing for 25 years and got as low as 28.1% with the ash testing the scientific base for my breeding.

“Everything is further processed into powders or capsule extracts and I am now getting paid for the yield, quality rather than weight, that I produce and that’s unique in NZ with just a handful of other velvet growers in the same league.

“It was my dream to get all my velvet into further processing.

People said you can’t do, it will never work. Well, I proved them wrong.”

With the goal to get a 10kg average of velvet per head across the herd also achieved with a 10.6kg this season, Peter called “job done” on a herd he can trace right back to its first heli-capture in 1974.

“We have achieved and gone beyond what we thought we could possibly get in animal production and further processing so we are going out on a top note.”

I was confident I could grow better velvet breeding with our NZ genetics and made the decision there would be no more imported blood going into our herd and we have been a closed herd from then.

Peter Swann Deer farmer

Glenfiddich Deer moved to Mid Canterbury in 2003 and, with the last of his goals achieved, Peter and wife Jema are planning their retirement from deer farming. “We have increased production by 50% since we came to Ashburton, so for us retirement is a good decision at the right time.”

The herd has been sold as a going concern and has moved to Levels Valley in South Canterbury with Peter and Jema retaining ownership of a few stags.

So, the future of velvet farming?

“In the future NZ deer farmers have got to get paid for quality and that will mean moving away from the traditional velvet markets into further processing, diversifying into a modern commodity to meet new-generation customer demand,” Peter says.

“It’s been intensive, it’s been a huge commitment over many years, now it’s time to first find somewhere to live and then get on and enjoy some travel, something we have both always been keen to do,” Jema says.

SWANNS AWAY: Peter and Jema Swann load out the last of their velvet from sixth-generation Maverick this season, cutting 23.77kg, and seventh-generation spiker from their Glenfiddich Deer operation that has met every target in its 49 years of farming.

SOFT TARGET: Retiring deer farmer Peter Swann says New Zealand velvet farmers have to diversify and produce a modern commodity to meet new-generation customer demand. Photos: Annette Scott

Waste wood to fuel could lower slash risk

The devastating Queen’s Birthday Tolaga Bay flood event of 2018 led to much soul-searching in the forestry sector about the effects of forest felling and slash waste. It also prompted forest research agency Scion to dive deeper into research on the bio-based resource it represents. Richard Rennie talks to Scion’s Marc Gaugler.

SCION’s Distributed Biomass Conversion programme focuses on developing technology that could lead to mini factories that could be deployed in the forest to utilise wood waste, including forest slash.

“Scion has built up a good level of knowledge and research around turning wood into chemical building blocks for other products, and there is also a large body of work there built up at Scion around how to turn waste resources into bioproducts ranging from biofuels to highvalue biochemicals,” Marc Gaugler, Scion’s lead of distributed and circular manufacturing, says. Scion’s research programme also aims to examine tech already in existence internationally, and how it could be adopted to suit New Zealand applications. A project in Central North Island is due to road-test the technology in coming months.

Solid biofuel in the form of pelletised wood may well be one of the first outcomes from what is described as a “distributed manufacturing” model, where containerised processing plants could be placed on forestry skid sites to process slash in situ. However, the Scion technology could also prove to be invaluable in turning bulky slash on site into a liquidised intermediatory raw material, suitable for further

processing at a regional bioprocessing centre.

As a zero-value waste product, companies are loath to want to cart slash any distance over tough terrain – meaning offering a plant close by has strong appeal.

“But there is also a lot of work to be done around the equipment’s power demand and water needs and the infrastructure it requires –you do not typically have a lot of room on such sites, so space and risk have to be considered too.”

There is a circular appeal in having technology that could create bio-diesel suitable for fuelling the big machines working on the slash-generating sites. But Gaugler says this is challenging, given the high level of refining even diesel demands, its fundamental properties, and safety issues on storing liquid fuels on site.

The feed stock supply for successfully commissioned plants are huge, with estimates that NZ forests generate 4-5 million tonnes a year of slash waste.

“And then there are a lot of lower value logs that earn little. If you could develop technology capable of producing a product of greater value, they too could be included as feedstock,” Gaugler says.

There is also a scalable appeal to the containerised plant model.

“The smaller, commercially

The smaller, commercially viable plant helps de-risk this sort of new technology. It would provide a good base from which you could scale up with additional plants.

Marc Gaugler Scion

viable plant helps de-risk this sort of new technology. It would provide a good base from which you could scale up with additional plants, matching to supply growth in one area.”

This may hold more appeal to some investors than investing millions into a single, centralised processing site that requires large

tonnages from the get-go to be commercially viable.

As more economies work to move from hydrocarbon reliance, there are greater efforts in exploring bio-sourced alternatives for chemicals. The global biochemical market size was estimated at US$80.81 billion (about $1127.7b) in 2022 and is projected to hit around US$148.6b by 2030.

The technology does not have to be limited to forest waste alone.

The Irish have trialled a modular bio-refining process that converts freshly harvested grass into cattle feed fibre, and essentially removes the surplus protein from it that livestock usually excrete as environmentally problematic nitrates.

The result is a higher feedvalue grass, and surplus protein

turned into a feed suitable for pigs and poultry and a liquid fraction suitable for fertiliser.

A joint research project between Scion and AgResearch is also looking at the feasibility of turning “paunch grass”, the semi-digested grass in the guts of slaughtered animals, into usable gas.

This project is in conjunction with the newly commissioned EcoGas plant near Reporoa, which collects organic household waste for gas production.

“Primary industry in NZ is well positioned to take advantage of biorefinery technology. With forestry and pasture, we know how to grow both quite quickly and efficiently.

“This is just another step in the process that solves some other big issues along the way,” Gaugler says.

New reporting software targets drystock operations

weekly reporting framework that the company said takes less than 10 minutes a week to complete.

Trev then scrutinises, structures and stores the information captured, displaying it back to

the farmer instantly to analyse in a range of templated and customisable dashboards.

FARM reporting software company Trev has released a product tailored for sheep, beef and deer farmers.

Trev, which has a background in dairy, provides farmers with a software tool to build and control their own farm database, providing insights into the business. Information can be shared across a farming operation, with off-farm advisors or on other platforms, such as financial software providers, processors or organisations that determine a farm’s licence to operate. Modules for the drystock application include paddocklevel reporting, liveweights, supplementary feed, general management and more.

Farmers are guided through a

Trev CEO and founder Scott Townshend said farmers, regardless of sector, are facing similar challenges to get the most out of their operation, whether that’s from a productivity or compliance standpoint.

“We’ve been hearing from many sheep and beef operators for quite some time that, like their dairy counterparts, there was a need for a simple reporting tool to help with on-farm and business decisions so we’re delighted to be able to front up with a solution.”

This will be the first time that some in this sector have access to a practical tool with benchmarking capability, Townshend said.

“Dairy farmers have long benefited from the daily validation of a milk tanker docket. We’ve

Dairy farmers have long benefited from the daily validation of a milk tanker docket. We’ve designed Trev’s new livestock offering to help close some of that gap [for drystock farmers] by providing confidence and visibility of how things are tracking on a weekly basis.

Scott Townshend Trev

designed Trev’s new livestock offering to help close some of that gap by providing confidence and visibility of how things are tracking on a weekly basis, ultimately giving farmers a better lay of the land.”

IN SITU: A containerised mini-factory on log skid sites could be one means of dealing with forest slash, turning it into pelletised wood fuel.

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY Software

TOOL: Trev CEO Scott Townshend says the company has ‘been hearing from many sheep and beef operators that there was a need for a simple reporting tool’.

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Ngawaka 771ha

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EASTERN

bayleys.co.nz

Mangawhai 685 Ocean View Road, Te Arai

Farm, lifestyle & location!

Superbly positioned in the heart of Te Arai, close to Mangawhai, popular surf & swimming beaches, great fishing, world-renowned golf courses, Tomarata Lakes and just over an hour to Auckland is this 120 hectare grazing property. Its fertile flat to undulating contour has been well subdivided into 66 paddocks and linked by an extensive limestone race network. As a former dairy farm, it’s has a full set of farm infrastructure already in place; including a 30 ASHB milking shed, an undercover set of cattle yards, a calf shed, bore and recently renovated three-bedroom character bungalow. Enjoy this premium location, spectacular views across the Hen & Chicken Island, Little Barrier Island, Mangawhai Heads, Whangarei Heads, and beyond. bayleys.co.nz/1203356

NEW LISTING

120.8128ha

Tender (unless sold prior)

Closing 4pm, Tue 28 Feb 2023

41 Queen Street, Warkworth

View by appointment

John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Manawatu 2115 Ridge Road, Pohangina

Quality breeding unit

Located 11 kilometers East of Kimbolton are 276 hectares of easy to medium hill country used primarily as a sheep & beef breeding platform. The well-presented property features quality improvements and strong fertiliser history dating back 50-plus years. The main four bedroom home situated back off the road has recently benefited from internal renovations and in addition, there is also a three-bedroom cottage. Farm improvements include 3 stand woolshed, near new steel TePari cattle yards, 2 & 3 bay implement sheds, hay shed and reticulated water scheme gravity fed from a storage tank. Ridge Road and an internal laneway provide excellent access over the farm with the property subdivided into 21 main paddocks. bayleys.co.nz/3100467

276.9578ha

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior)

1pm, Thu 2 Mar 2023

49 Manchester Street, Feilding

View 11am-12pm Wed 15 Feb Mark Monckton 021 724 833 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz

MID WEST REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Mangaweka, Rangitikei 147 Terrace Road

Hill country with great location

Superbly located just off State Highway 1 near Mangaweka, 'Terrace Hills' offers an affordable opportunity for either first farm buyers or downsizing farmers, with options to purchase separate parcels. The tastefully renovated four-bedroom home, plus double garage with sleep-out, is set on a private, elevated site boasting expansive views, farm-house gardens and grounds. Offering hill country that has been well farmed for the last 10 years with a sound fertiliser history and many kilometres of new conventional fencing. 'Terrace Hills' can be purchased in separate lots: the 193 hectare main block or the 94.8 hectares of bare land on the Western side of State Highway 1, with underpass access to a full range of stock facilities. bayleys.co.nz/2900571

bayleys.co.nz

287.7376ha

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty

(unless sold prior)

2pm, Thu 6 Apr 2023

PO Box 8, Taihape

View by appointment

Pete Stratton 027 484 7078 peter.stratton@bayleys.co.nz

BARTLEY REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Cheviot 773 Cat Hill Road

Large-scale, simply run hill country

Cat Hill has around 9km of Hurunui River frontage - well regarded for its fishing and boating - complemented with hunting on the property, making this a recreational paradise. Good healthy stock country underpins an easy-care, low-cost farming operation. Wellsubdivided with very good track access, a mix of reticulated water to the lower blocks and paddocks, with springs and creeks to the top. There is very good access, feeding from the hill onto the river flats providing ease of management of both sheep and cattle, with excellent sheep yards including covered yards, woolshed and cattle yards, allowing a couple to manage the farm with some use of casual labour. Two good homes provide accommodation. bayleys.co.nz/5519455

1,477.3449ha

Price by Negotiation

Phone for viewing times

Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz

Peter Foley 021 754 737 peter.foley@bayleys.co.nz

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Real Estate

equipped to set the new owner up for success with Reed milking plant, an ADF teat sprayer, sanitiser, ProTrack and inline drafter. The main house is a comfortable modern home, plus a staff cottage on farm. 35km from Christchurch City. bayleys.co.nz/5520099

– farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2023

Burnham 658 Wards Road

The future looks bright

Combining quality infrastructure with excellent water resources, this 299-hectare (subject to survey) farm has all the building blocks in place for future success. The exceptional farm setup includes a three-stand raised shearing shed with covered yards, plus multiple sheds. Careful maintenance and upkeep means this property comes to the market immaculately presented and ready for the new owner to step in and move forward with confidence. A lovely family home makes this well-positioned farm an excellent prospect for pairing farming with an idyllic country lifestyle. The current farm system includes finishing lambs, fattening beef cattle and a variety of cash and fodder crops. The property ticks the boxes to enable dairy support. bayleys.co.nz/5515575

299ha

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Wed 1 Mar 2023

3 Deans Avenue, Chch

Phone for viewing times

Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz

Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225

Bankside 671-699 Sharlands Road

Combine lifestyle with dairy success

This 213.4735 hectare (more or less) dairy farm presents an exciting opportunity to combine farming success with an idyllic family lifestyle. The established dairy operation produces an average of 330,000kgMS per year from 680 – 690 cows at peak milking, although the property is consented for 750 cows. The infrastructure is in place for continued success including four pivot irrigators and one RotoRainer and 54-bail rotary dairy shed equipped with ACRs, in-shed feeding, lame cattle crush and ProTrack for stock management. Water for irrigation comes from Central Plains Water Limited along with one groundwater well. The farm boasts four separate dwellings. Situated a stone’s throw from the Rakaia and Selwyn Rivers. bayleys.co.nz/5520146

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – February 13, 2023

Ideal Support Block

195b Waihekau Rd, Waihou

213.4735ha

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior)

12pm, Tue 28 Feb 2023

3 Deans Avenue, Chch

Phone for viewing times

Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz

Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225 craig.blackburn@bayleys.co.nz

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Situated in an excellent location in the Waihou / Te Aroha West area is this 33.4 ha block. It is well subdivided and has its own water supply. The contour is flat and has good fertile soil.

Currently used as part of a dairy farm. Call Jack today to find out more or to view the property.

matamata.ljhooker.co.nz/K54HR1

Lifestyle Property Auction

116A Mimiha Ridge Road, Matata

4312

Island dotted, seascape extending right from Coromandel to White Isl in rural subdivision inside a lush tree lined rural vista 1.26ha developed location 1.7 km off the beach. Extensive 4 bedroom home. Tarseal to your gate and generous parking. Big double garage and wet room. Country-size, chef‘s modern kitchen. Family dining and huge lounge. Multi fold doors onto extensive deck access the tepid swimming pool. Vendor welcomes early offers.

Viewing anytime by appointment or weekend open homes.

AUCTION On site 5 March 2023 at 12:00 (unless sold Prior)

VIEWING

Open Saturdays and Sundays @ 12:30 or any other time by appointment

Ted & Jenny Peacocke m. 027 485 6062

B. 07 578 1828

Advertise with us

Reach hundreds and thousands of rural New Zealanders every week Call Grant 027 887 5568

33.4 ha

Deadline Sale

Closes Thurs 9th March, 4pm (unless sold prior)

View By Appointment Agent Jack Van Lierop 027 445 5099 jack.vanlierop@ljhooker.co.nz

LJ Hooker Matamata 07 888 5677

Link Realty Ltd.

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Papatawa 18 Beagley Road

Tender

Pongaroa 343 Korora Road

Tender

Beagley Road -

80 ha

This former dairy property presents real options to the market, from lamb finishing through to calf rearing or dairy support, Beagley Road caters to all. Well located 8 km North of Woodville township in a highly regarded farming area and 30 km from Palmerston North. Farm infrastructure is of a superior nature which includes a modern 24 ASHB cowshed, covered feedpad suitable for 300 MA cows, ample shedding & effluent system. Over the last two years the property has been through a development programme which includes investment in fencing, fertility & regrassing. A renovated three bedroom home with open plan living & modern kitchen provides a sound family home or future sell down opportunities

Pongaroa 146 Kaituna Road

Tender closes 2.00pm, Wed 8th Mar, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street Pahiatua.

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR111197

Jared Brock

M 027 449 5496

Jamie Smith

M 027 220 8311

Tender

Ruawai -352 ha

Ruawai provides an exceptional sheep and cattle breeding and finishing property located in the Pongaroa farming district. With improvements of a high calibre which include a three bedroom family home, four stand woolshed with covered yards, cattle yards with handling facilities, good fertiliser history and excellent reticulated water throughout. Contour is a mix of easy rolling hills with some areas of medium hill and 325 ha classed as effective grazing which is well subdivided by conventional fencing in excellent order.

Ruawai provides an excellent first farm opportunity or summer safe add on to an existing business.

Owhango 205 Tunanui Road

Tender closes 2.00pm, Fri 10th Mar, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR111180

Jared Brock

M 027 449 5496

Jamie Smith

M 027 220 8311

Auction

Broken Hill -208 ha

A first farm or add on opportunity well located under 10 km from the Pongaroa village and under 50 minutes drive from either Dannevirke or Pahiatua. Currently operated as a stand alone sheep & beef breeding and finishing property, Broken Hill is well suited to continue its current practice or provide an excellent young stock growing or finishing property.

Well apportioned with farming infrastructure that includes a 3 stand woolshed, sheep & cattle yards as well as satellite sheep yards. The recently renovated home has 3 bedrooms plus sleepout and provides encompassing views from the north facing deck. The home is well supported by an internal access garage and a 3 bay pole shed with workshop

Opportunity awaits

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 2nd Mar, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR108977

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

Jamie Smith M 027 220 8311

This property at 205 Tunanui Road, Taumarunui is a 42.29 ha (more or less) farm located 17km south-west from Taumarunui and just 9.2km to Owhango. The property is situated west facing with 8 ha of flat to rolling easy country. There is an existing threebedroom home, as well as a selection of farm buildings. While these may require some maintenance to be fully usable, they provide the opportunity for a new owner to put their own personal touch on the property. The possibilities are endless and if you are looking for land at a great value, this block will be perfect for you. Contact us today to schedule a viewing of 205 Tunanui Road.

Auction 11.00am, Thu 23rd Feb, 2023, Property Brokers, 27 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/TUR108462

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

Ashburton 675 Seafield Road

116.43 ha - "Rosewill" - Executive home and farm

This immaculately maintained farm boasts the centrepiece of a lifetime, a modern elegant dynastic Georgian 440 sqm five bedroom homestead in manicured lawn and surrounds with a pool/outdoor entertainment area and hard tennis court.

Only ten minutes to well serviced Ashburton and an hour to the Christchurch Airport, the farm sits at the heart of Mid Canterbury's intensive arable and dairy farming.

A highly productive irrigated farm with superb historical crop yields. Innovative thinking has seen a broad variety of crops grown including evening primrose, borage, echinacea and nursery pine trees. Concentrating more on wheat, white clover and ryegrass seed in recent years, plus finishing lambs. Realise the dream of an executive lifestyle alongside an substantial reliable income.

Hokitika 140 Station Road, Kowhitirangi

Tender closes 3.00pm, Mon 20th Mar, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Ashburton

View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/AR115931

Paul Cunneen

M 027 432 3382 E paulc@pb.co.nz

Jason Rickard

M 027 245 8495 E jason.rickard@pb.co.nz

First farm opportunity

Nestled in the favoured Kowhitirangi Valley, this well-established dairy farm offers 169 hectares of fertile silt loam soils, with an average of 350 cows milked through a modern 38-aside Herringbone dairy shed and the utilisation of two herd homes, this farm is a well-oiled dairy operation. Just 25 minutes from Hokitika, this property offers a rural lifestyle with the convenience of being close to town in a supportive farming community. The farm provides ample opportunities for growth and expansion, two solid homes and great range of farm improvements. An excellent opportunity to secure your first farm in this prime location.

2 7 2

For Sale $3,500,000 + GST (if any)

Our combined strengths complement each other, creating more opportunity for our customers and Farmlands shareholders across provincial New Zealand.

• A nationwide network from Northland to Southland

• Sound, trustworthy advice from market-leading experts

• Shareholder benefits and preferential commission rates means more money in your pocket Proud

Tender

TIKITERE, ROTORUA 77 Hawthornden Drive

The Full Lifestyle Package

When you roam this lifestyle property you realise it beholds all the necessary attributes one desires. Location is second to none, just beyond the City limits with views of Mokoia Island to the lake. Presentation is fabulous with a large two-storey colonial brick dwelling with modern fixtures.

A granny flat is attached offering many uses.

Loads of room, 15 hectares (more or less) for prized stock or an equine base. The land being mainly flat to sloping with a main race to most paddocks.

Sheds for a truck or stables plus attached shearing shed, implement shed, sheep and cattle yards.

All this is capped off with many plantings to emphasise the grand setting.

Viewing this property is strictly by Private Inspections and the vendor is wanting this property sold now! If you are a serious purchaser, then the vendors are ready to negotiate.

pggwre.co.nz/ROT37303

EXCLUSIVE

WAIPUKURAU 304 Middleton Road

Droxford

482 hectares (1191.022 acres) subject to survey within a ten minute drive, 11km east of Waipukurau. Large scale, bare land block on the edge of town. Ideal as an add on to a finishing operation or create a standalone farming unit. Good access will be given through the retained land at the front by way of a very well formed laneway. This track currently gives truck access to the airstrip and bin located in the middle of the farm. Fenced into some 60 plus main paddocks with easy contour and significant tractor country, much of which is currently utilised in a bull block.

pggwre.co.nz/HAS37274

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) No Prior Offers Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday 15 March

VIEW By Appointment Only

Paul Harper

M 027 494 4854

E paul.harper@pggwrightson.co.nz

Wills Buchanan

M 027 462 9716

E wills.buchanan@pggwrightson.co.nz

For more great rural listings, visit www.pggwre.co.nz

$2.95M Plus GST (if any)

VIEW By Appointment Only

Graham Beaufill

M 027 474 8073

E graham.beaufill@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

TUTIRA 536 Waikoau Road

Northbrook Farm

376.5 hectares of easy medium hill, 47km from the port of Napier. It has been farmed as a sheep and beef unit by the same family for three generations encompassing a 98 year tenure and been very well maintained.

It is well tracked and easily accessible and workable. There is a lot of road frontage which greatly assist access also. Some of the front country has been cultivated and planted in plantain and rape. It shares approximately 1.5 km of river frontage with the Waikoau River which provides fishing and aesthetic appeal.

pggwre.co.nz/WAR37230

4 1 3

TENDER Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 9 March

VIEW By Appointment Only

Carl Van Der Meer

M 027 493 5525

E carl.vandermeer@pggwrightson.co.nz

Mark Johnson

M 027 487 5105

B 06 878 3156

E mark.johnson@pggwrightson.co.nz

NZ’s leading rural real estate company

• Premium product sourced from the Manawatu/Rangitikei.

• Cut costs and order direct from the paddock.

•

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST WELCOME

enterprise, currently farming 1050ha effective of owned and leased farms near Whangarei, wintering 3000 head.

We are looking for opportunities to expand our enterprise and would welcome expressions of interest from prospective farmers in Northland looking to lease farmland suitable for beef.

We have a proven record of building/ maintaining relationships, are financially sound, and are excellent custodians of the land.

ANIMAL HANDLING

ANIMAL AND HUMAN healer, also manipulation on horses and dogs. Kaikōura / Blenheim, 13th-15th February. Nelson /Murchison / West Coast, 16th-18th February. Culverden / North Canterbury, 19th-20th

February. Canterbury, 21st26th February. Phone Ron Wilson 027 435 3089.

FLY OR LICE problem? Electrodip – the magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides. Incredible chemical and time savings with proven e ectiveness. Phone 07 573 8512 www.electrodip.com

BOOK

ATTENTION DAIRY FARMERS

COWSHED PAINTER AVAILABLE. Experienced. Old and new sheds. Herringbone and Rotary. Southland / Otago. Phone 027 517 9908 or email: raymond.d@slingshot.co.nz

30c/20c PER KG dags fadges/bales. Replacement woolpacks. PV Weber Wools. Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

DOGS WANTED

DOGS WANTED TO BUY:

Dog buying trips. NZ wide twice monthly. 07 315 5553.

LEASE LAND WANTED

DAIRY OR GRAZING.

Rangitīkei / Manawatū through to HB. Regenerative farming practiced. Open to developing land in partnership. Phone Michael 027 223 6156.

FARM LEASE WANTED

EQUITY OPPORTUNITY in sheep, beef /dairy support farming wanted by hard working kiwi couple. Pride in keeping a tidy, wellmaintained farm. Interested in 300ha upwards. Please contact 027 887 7027.co.nz

FARM LEASE OR grazing block. 800 to 8000 stock units for sheep and beef cattle or nishing prime stock. Phone Robbie Hughes 027 23 24 104.

FARM MAPPING

ACCURATE AND PRACTICAL farm maps showing area sizes of paddocks and vegetation. Visit farmmapping.co.nz or phone 0800 433 855 for a free quote.

FORESTRY

WANTED

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum New Zealand wide. We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase. NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 027 688 2954 Richard.

GOATS WANTED

THINKING ABOUT RETIRING but don’t want to sell the family farm? Looking to expand our drystock property. Northland drystock / nishing farms of 100ha or more preferred. If bigger than 500ha then further away would be considered. Five year lease with option to extend to 10 years preferred. Enquiries ring Marty Vermeulen 09 439 0004.

BOOK AN AD. For only $2.30 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classi eds section. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email wordads@agrihq. co.nz

MERINO 2 SHEAR maiden ewes. 120 at 14 microns. 20 at 12-13 microns. Ultra ne rams also available. Footrot, lice and Johnes free property. Phone Somerton Park Super Fine Merino. Canterbury. 03 342 8488 / 021 264 6250. WILTSHIRE RAM Lambs, self shedding, makes sires, all twins. Phone 027 243 8541. Taihape.

CONTRACTORS

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

DOGS FOR SALE

12-MONTH HEADING dog and bitch. Fast, strong, good stop, pulling sides. Station and trial potential. Nolan Timmins. Phone calls only 027 932 8839. BUYING / SELLING. Huntaways. Heading dogs. Deliver NZ wide. https:// www.youtube.com/@ mikehughesworkingdog 07 315 5553. HUNTAWAY AND HEADING pups. Phone Dave Andrews 027 450 6095.

ONE-12-MONTH Heading dog, needs nishing, very nice balance. ONE YOUNG Huntaway, ready to start. Phone 027 243 8541. Taihape.

FERAL GOATS WANTED. Pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916 / 027 363 2932.

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.

HORTICULTURE

NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp. The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

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

RAMS FOR SALE

2T FULL SHEDDING Wiltshire Rams for sale. All rams brucellosis tested negative. For more information please ring Kevin New 07 878 4758.

RURAL MASSAGE

RELAXING FULL BODY massage in rural Ohaupo. Unwind. De-stress. www. ruralmassage.co.nz or call 027 529 5540.

STOCK FEED

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

MACLAKA SOUTHDOWN STUD

T h e C o m b i C l a m p S h e e p H a n d l e r w a s d e s i g n e d w i t h t h e

p r i n c i p l e s o f s i m p l i c i t y v e r s a t i l i t y a n d e f f i c i e n c y i n t h e f o r e f r o n t o f o u r m i n d s T h e m a n u a l o p e r a t i o n s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e s t h e p h y s i c a l d e m a n d s o f w o r k i n g w i t h S h e e p a n d i n c r e a s e s t h e p r e c i s i o n a n d a p p e a l o f m a n y a n i m a l h e a l t h t r e a t m e n t s s u c h a s d a g g i n g , d r e n c h i n g , w e i g h i n g , v a c c i n a t i n g , c a p s u l i n g a n d f o o t t r i m m i n g

LEARN

n s o e a s y

Livestock

SALE TALK

A pregnant woman asked her brother to drive her to the hospital, since her husband was away on business. It was a very risky delivery, and the doctors had to put her under during the procedure.

The woman woke up and immediately asked, “Are my babies okay?”

The nurse on call said reassuringly, “Oh yes, your children were born healthy, a boy and a girl. However your brother had to name them because we needed to get the birth certificates filled out.”

Nervously, she asked, “What did he name my daughter?”

“Denise,” the nurse replied. Relieved, the woman said, “That’s a lovely name! I was worried he’d come up with something truly awful. And my son?”

“Denephew.”

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

LINK LIVESTOCK

FOR SALE WAIKATO

220x Cow XBred Herd, BW 200, PW 237, RA 92% Calving from 10/07/2023 Prod 350kg/cow on hills. Herd purchased by current owner as pick of a complete herd.

$1990+gst

Ph Stewart Cruickshank 027 270 5288

FOR SALE WAIKATO

200x Jersey/JerseyX Herd BW 209, PW 193, RA 90% Calving from 20/07/2023. Lots of AB.

Bulls taken out 14/12/2022

Prod 380kg/cow

$1900+gst

Ph Jason Duncan 021 170 5354

FOR SALE WAIKATO

85x Complete even Line of R1 Jersey Heifers, very well reared.

BW 244 Mostly NZ Genetics.

Ph Ross Riddell 027 211 1112

FOR SALE WAIKATO

181x mainly Xbred R1 Hfrs, complete line.

Clevedon Cattle Corporation Limited

We are offering joint venture grazing to interested parties.

– We buy them

– You graze them – 50/50 on all profits

Large to small scale. South Auckland & Waikato regions.

Call Hugh Green Jnr on 021 888 412 or email admin@clevedoncattle.co.nz for all enquiries.

Preliminary sale notice

Sale April 11th 2023 First Stage

Approximately 120 VIC cows and heifers

Three herd sires

Studs breeding focus

• Shorter gestation

• Lower birth weights (calving ease)

• Homozygous polled – breed polled over any breed

• Quick finishing types

LK0114638©

RUAVIEW SIMMENTAL

Complete female dispersal sale

Wednesday 1st March 2023

Online live streamed thru bidr.co.nz

Ohakune. 12 Noon Start

HIGH INDEXED AUTUMN CALVING COW AUCTION

A/c D Van Bysterveldt Family Trust

Date: Wednesday 22nd February

Address: Matamata Saleyard

Start time: 12.30pm will be available for online bidding

COMPRISING:

150 x Mixed Aged Autumn Calving Cows 20 x are CTP Heifers

DETAILS:

BW: 278 PW: 432 (BWs up to 426, PWs up to 866) Due to calve to AB from 14th March

Comprising:

BW 302, PW 323, RA 100%, G3 & A2 tested.

AB contracts have been offered.

1st May delivery or earlier to suit.

Ph Nigel Riddell 027 434 3153

FOR SALE NORTHLAND

210x Beautiful OAD Jersey herd.

BW 236, PW 252, RA 96%. Calving 10/07/2023.

Ph Grant Aiken 027 245 8821

BUYING A HERD/SELLING A HERD?

Call Stewart Cruickshank 027 270 5288 to discuss options.

For a full list of services & current listings check out our website at www.linklivestock.co.nz

AUCTIONEERS - PGG WRIGHTSO PGG WRIGHTSON

Agent: Callum Stewart Home: (06) 323 5440 Mobile 027 280 2688

Agent: Simon Smith Mobile 027 444 0733

N

Agent: Campbell Harding Mobile 027 4959 008 Home (06) 385 8202

Agent: Simon Eddington (South Island) Mobile 0275 908 612

CARRFIELDS

Agent: Bruce Orr Mobile 027 492 2122

John Hammond 0274 314 992 or 06 3858040 Helen Hammond 027 319 2581

AUCTIONEERS NOTES: This herd has been built up over the 20 years using LIC Nominated Semen and the addition of elite young empty cows purchased over that time. They have been milked through a herringbone shed. All cows were dried off 15th January and blanket dry cowed with long acting. Cows are guaranteed sound + in-calf for 28 days. A rare opportunity to purchase such high quality Autumn calving cows.

PAYMENT TERMS: 14 days after sale

OUR VENDOR: David Bysterverldt P: 021 189 9888

CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENTS: Reuben Wright 027 284 6384 John Price 027 594 2544 Kelly Higgins 027 600 2374

VIEW OUR CATALOGUE AT www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

• Potential for heavy carcase weights with top grade

• Unrivalled for hogget lambing survival

• Increased stock quality and quantity for sale

Markets

Wiltshire ewes reach $530 in farewell sale

Suz Bremner MARKETS Sheep

FULL-shedding Wiltshire

ewe prices reached new heights at the Glenbrae Wiltshire dispersal sale as farmers showed they are ready and willing to make big bids to counter the growing cost of wool, as well as reduce labour intensity. The top pen traded was 296 2-tooth ewes, which reached $530, but most top lines sold for $400$500 per head.

The returns were pleasing for vendor Mary Taylor but it was a bittersweet occasion and the end of a very significant journey: 28 years ago, Pōrangahau farmers Taylor and her late husband Martin wanted an easier farming life. Along with son Daniel, they took the plunge into the then relatively unknown world of Wiltshire sheep, buying in cast-for-age ewes initially and building their flock to what it is today – Glenbrae Wiltshire, a fullshedding flock to be proud of. And pride was one thing that stood out as Taylor, daughter Emma and husband Andrew Martin were pen-side to see the flock sold by PGG Wrightson at Stortford Lodge. Taylor said it was a tough decision but the right one.

“When we started the Wiltshire flock we wanted an easy-care operation and the Wiltshires just made sense. We were able to

establish a full-shedding flock by 2009 and my son Daniel used to call them mini cows since they required minimal labour. I am 71 years old now, though, and it is time for the next generation to do their thing.”

A huge crowd congregated to witness the dispersal of 1050 capital stock breeding ewes, 1600 breeding ewe hoggets and 24 rams. A large number of people were there out of interest, but many were also there to actively bid as the chance to purchase from a complete capital stock flock of full-shedding Wiltshire is

Know the market

a very rare opportunity.

The common thread from those buyers gathered on the rails was the need to counter falling wool prices compared to the growing cost of shearing. Nearly 70 buyers registered on the day – both in person and online via bidr – and were spread from North Waikato to the South Island.

Taylor was well supported by friends and family on this bittersweet occasion, and a round of applause followed her emotional speech at the beginning of the sale. From the first pen of 2-tooths to the last pen of rams,

bidding was swift and plentiful at price levels common in the rostrums around New Zealand, yet rarely heard out in any sheep pens.

The main lines of 2-tooths sold for $460-$530 and four and 6-tooth ewes, $440-$500. Fourto 6-year ewes made $390-$460 and cast-for age, $310-$360. The main pens of ewe hoggets sold for $400-$490 and the balance made $150-$285.

Ram hoggets returned $625$1025 and the older rams sold for $1000-$1850. Results from this sale are hard to compare like-for-like, given that very few full dispersals such as these occur. But the high prices speak for themselves in terms of the investment potential that buyers see in them. Kim Young & Son, Ohakune, purchased the 2-tooth ewes and top pens of ewe hoggets, and farm manager Callum Tahau felt it was money well spent, saying: “We had budgeted on around $500, though the market was stronger than we anticipated.”

Tahau said they had hoped to

My son Daniel used to call them mini cows since they required minimal labour. I am 71 years old now, though, and it is time for the next generation to do their thing.

Mary Taylor Glenbrae Wiltshire

secure at least 1000 but were very happy with the 700 bought. Kim Young & Son are predominantly produce growers but run stock on 1380ha.

No shedding sheep are currently farmed, but the dispersal sale was an opportunity not to be missed as “we want to be able to cut costs and also reduce the risk of flystrike. These ewes will replace part of our Romney flock.”

The four and 6-tooth ewes were bound for North Waikato, Manawatū and Whanganui, and several North Island buyers secured lines of ewe hoggets.

Dispersal was the end of an era for Glenbrae Wiltshire – but a kick of energy for the breed as buyers paid top dollar.

GOING ONCE: PGG Wrightson’s Sam Wright sells the first pen of Wiltshire 2-tooths, which reached $530.

TOP DOLLAR: Callum Tahau and Norman Young, of Young & Son, Ohakune, purchased the Glenbrae 2-tooth ewes and top lines of ewe hoggets for $460-$530.

Weekly saleyards

The Balclutha ewe fair held on February 3 was three fairs combined into one. Reductions in breeding ewe flock numbers meant approximately 7500 were offered at this fair and most were Romney, Perendale or Romneyterminal. PGG Wrightson agent Russell Moloney said the dry conditions affected prices, and “while there was a large gallery of buyers there, they were selective in placing their bids. It was a buyer’s market, but most annual draft ewes sold $20-$30 above processor value, and 2-tooth ewes averaged $170.”

| February 8 | 426 cattle

IMPRESSIVE BULLS: Autumnborn R1 Charolaiscross bulls were a welcome addition to the Feilding sale on Friday, February 3. At 293314kg, they sold for $1170-$1210.

Cattle Sheep Deer

Fertiliser Forestry

Dairy

Grain

Close of market

Listed Agri shares

Swiss cheese punishes pockets of paddocks

Philip Duncan NEWS Weather

IT’S NORMAL in February for the lower and eastern parts of the South Island to want some rain, but some areas are especially dry following a long, hot, summer.

Southland has had plenty of thunderstorms and downpours over summer, bringing hit-andmiss relief. One farm can get 50mm, while the farm next door gets 5mm. WeatherWatch.co.nz calls it the “Swiss Cheese effect” because on soil moisture maps you can see “holes” where the rain fell in one spot.

The hit-and-miss nature of two months of heavy downpours means Southland doesn’t have a blanket word like “dry” to cover the entire region. Instead, we see pockets of paddocks that could do with some extra rain.

The further north you go the drier it is, into Otago and Canterbury. These two regions further north haven’t had the same widespread thunderstorms or afternoon downpours and are

much drier having missed out on North Island rain events as well as Southern Ocean rain bands/ showers.

Historically February is one of the hottest and driest months of the year for the lower and eastern South Island.

Long range, we don’t see a huge amount of rain coming either – the

summer weather carries on.

For the next 10 days parts of Southland and Canterbury look to get only around 10 to 20mm (but Canterbury could seriously increase further if that cyclone drops further south – especially in north Canterbury where rain warnings are possible.

Otago has even less rainfall

Otago and Canterbury are much drier, having missed out on North Island rain events as well as Southern Ocean rain bands/showers.

coming up. Until the high pressure zones shift further northwards up the country, which usually happens in autumn, we will likely see drier rather than wetter weather continue for these regions.

The high pressure dominating the South Island this summer is leaving the North Island vulnerable to storms. A significant tropical cyclone is expected to seriously impact the North Island this week, before clearing away late week.

The North Island has been much more exposed to squash zone storm events, rain events, and excyclones this summer with that lack of high pressure protection. Remember, the past five years had a big uptick in high pressure which lead to rainfall deficits – and kept

most nasty storms away. This year is very different. Long range, as we look to mid to late February and more high pressure crosses the South Island and lower North Island as La Niña-like easterlies carry on for northern NZ – and low pressure zones continue to develop in the tropics – this is possibly a signal that March and April may be busy in the tropics too.

Upcoming highlights

• Tropical cyclone likely directly hitting the North Island in the first half of this week

• Severe weather potential for many North Island regions until Wednesday

• Some severe weather risks for the top northeastern corner of the South Island as the cyclone brushes by

• Low 10-day rainfall for Southland, Otago and Canterbury

• Mild overnight temperatures in the lower North Island this week

• High pressure expected for the North Island late week, bringing drier weather again

Significant reductions in Movement Control Areas – good news for farmers

In the upper South Island and West Coast, Movement Control Areas (MCA) have been reduced, which is good news for farmers in the area, says OSPRI.

TBfree programme on the home stretch

Over the past decade OSPRI has been edging closer to eliminating bovine TB from New Zealand. We have gone from 1700 herds in the 1990s to less than 30 herds at the start of 2023. Pest management is a major part of the TBfree programme with aerial and ground control the main form of control for possums, the main spreader. While much progress has been made, we are not there yet.

An example of how the eradication programme is working can be seen in the upper South Island high country of Molesworth Station and the neighbouring Muzzle and Bluff Stations. With the recent 1080 aerial operations farmers in the area are feeling positive that their properties may soon be clear of TB.

As a kid, Bluff Station’s Hamish Murray remembers accompanying his father to sell

cattle on their property, and how nervous they’d feel seeing people walk away when they realised there was the potential for TB.

“TB has been an incredible part of our business all along. Just the annual testing, the premovement testing, the time that it takes to get around on a property the size of ours. Of the 13,800 hectares 6,000 or 7,000 is effective, but it’s 35kms from the front to the back. Cattle work is a huge part of what we do and operate.”

Hamish’s father Richard (or Chid as he’s known to those close to him) has been on the property since 1976 and says it’s been a slow, difficult process, but huge progress has been made over the years. “They originally told us we’d have to live with it [TB], but we were determined to get through it. With the research and development that’s been done and the continual persistence, we’ve actually achieved the goal.”

Chid says they had to build more facilities, and more fences so they could have more control.

“Under the movement control system, one of the big challenges was what other people thought about our cattle, because there’s always that perceived risk.”

For Hamish, one of the keys to having a successful strategy is cooperation and unity with neighbouring farmers. “Ultimately there are no TB infected possum populations around the edges of our property, but if the leakage

Continued following maps...

The reduced areas include a portion of North Canterbury (to the south of Kaikoura) and significant portions of the West Coast (approximately 1 million hectares) affecting herds from south of Hokitika to the Paparoa Range. This change will result in 683 herds no longer requiring pre-movement testing, or animals to be tested down to 3 months of age.

West Coast OSPRI committee member and farmer Andrew Stewart says these movement control changes will make the logistics of selling animals a bit simpler as well as dealing with adverse events like flooding. “At the moment we have to organise the TB test before you can move the animals. The logistics will be a lot simpler. I can understand some farmers who have had TB a long time might be a bit nervous but OSPRI have put their checks in place and the vets wouldn’t have made this decision lightly so I’m confident it’s a decision that will hold.”

Movement restrictions are based on the number of infected herds in an area as well as disease risk from wildlife, mainly possums. Due to the nature of TB as a disease, it is difficult to know when the (MCA) can be reduced, says OSPRI’s Senior Veterinarian Kevin Crews. “Any reduction depends on how effective possum control and disease eradication is from individual infected herds. It must also consider the lag time between critical pest control operations being carried out and residual TB being detected and removed.

“The fact that we are able to significantly reduce the MCA boundaries on much of the upper South Island and parts of the West Coast is testament to the TBfree programme really working the way it should.”

Movement Control Areas (MCAs) were introduced to minimise the risk of TB spreading through the uncontrolled movement of infected livestock from ‘clear’ status herds located in areas that are considered to have an elevated risk of infection from local wildlife. Now that the risk is less we can reduce pre-movement testing.

© Janine Gray

OSPRI’s Regional Partner Heather Alexander and Senior Vet Kevin Crews (middle) visit Guy Redfern (left) and Colin Nimmo on Muzzle Station.

Notice of Movement Controls for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB)

Pursuant to section 131(2) of the Biosecurity Act 1993, TBfree New Zealand declares those parts of New Zealand shown as Movement Control Areas in the maps published with this notice to be Controlled Areas for the purpose of limiting the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

Pursuant to section 131(3)(a) of the Biosecurity Act 1993, TBfree New Zealand gives notice that the movement of cattle and deer within the Controlled Areas is restricted and regulated to the extent of and subject to the conditions specified below.

Notice

1. Definitions

In this notice, unless the context otherwise requires:

Herd means:

a. One or more cattle, or deer, or cattle and deer, managed as one unit; or

b. One or more cattle, or deer, or cattle and deer, kept within the same enclosure or behind the same fence.

Herd of origin means the herd with which a cattle beast or a deer is, for the time being, grazing.

Order means the Biosecurity (National Bovine Tuberculosis Pest Management Plan) Order 1998.

Controlled Area means any area shown as a Movement Control Area in the maps published with this notice.

2. Testing Prior to Movement From or Within Controlled Areas

2.1. No cattle beast or deer aged 90 days or more may be moved:

a. from any Controlled Area to a place outside that Controlled Area; or

b. within any Controlled Area from its herd of origin, or the place or establishment at which the animal is being kept, to a place other than a place occupied by the owner or person in charge of the cattle beast or deer unless it has undergone, within 60 days prior to the date of movement, a negative test for bovine tuberculosis in accordance with the Order.

2.2 The restriction on movement in 2.1 does not apply where an animal is being moved directly to a place of slaughter.

2.3. Notwithstanding 2.1, an animal may be exempted from the requirement for a test in accordance with the TBfree New Zealand Operational Plan.

2.4. Where a herd is managed or kept on a property, or group of properties, divided by the boundary of a Controlled Area, then the requirements to test cattle or deer described in 2.1 above apply to the whole herd.

This declaration takes effect from 1 March 2023.

Dated at Wellington on 22 December 2022.

Stephen Stuart, Chief Executive, OSPRI New Zealand Limited

Detailed maps and information on the location of properties within Controlled Areas are available from TBfree New Zealand, freephone 0800 482 463 or visit ospri.co.nz/disease-control-map

General Information

Any animal moved in contravention of this notice may be seized by an inspector or authorised person and destroyed, treated or otherwise dealt with, if it is reasonable in the circumstances to do so. TBfree New Zealand Limited may also recover the cost of testing for bovine tuberculosis pursuant to the Biosecurity Act 1993 and the Biosecurity (Deer and Other Testing Costs) Regulations 1998. Failure to comply with the requirements of this notice may result in prosecution under the Biosecurity Act 1993. If convicted, an individual will be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding $50,000.00, or both. A corporation convicted of an offence is liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000.00.

Revocation

This declaration of Controlled Areas for bovine tuberculosis hereby revokes any previous published declaration of Controlled Areas, with effect from 1 March 2023.

Summary of Changes

This declaration has the effect of reducing the movement controls area for bovine tuberculosis in the Otago region.

TBfree is an OSPRI programme proudly funded by:

Disease Control Areas from

Further information

a movement control area, special testing area or surveillance area,

that comes from the far end of the Bluff or from the Muzzle or the Clarence Reserve comes this end, and if we neglect to manage those possum populations in this area then we run the risk of that exploding.”Jim Ward of Molesworth couldn’t agree more. As he explains, it wasn’t that long ago prior to 2000 when it seemed like TB was beaten so they walked away, and then there was a massive explosion of herd breakdowns. “That is never going to happen again,” muses Jim. “All the people who had knowledge of that period at OSPRI are not going to forget, and they won’t let the country down.”

They originally told us we’d have to live with it [TB], but we were determined to get through it.

OSPRI’s senior veterinarian Kevin Crews who’s been in the disease management game a long time says it’s been a progressive strategy over the past 50 plus years of driving it back to where it’s come from. “We’re now in, what I like to describe as the home stretch. Getting TB out of the Clarence catchment is a critical part of the success not just of the strategy in this local area, but the TBfree plan nationally.”

Another reason why this area is critical explains Crews, is because of the grand scale, and the fact that we’re on the cusp of eradicating TB over literally half a million hectares, which is

a very good indication that the national TBfree plan itself can be ultimately successful.

Muzzle station farmers Guy Redfern and Colin Nimmo, like their Bluff and Molesworth station neighbours have been dealing with TB for more than 30 years and will be glad to see it gone for good. When the government’s policy changed to eradicate TB as a country, explains Guy, the Clarence River area became a priority. “We just did one round of 1080 poison really and some ground control work. And we were clear within two years basically. Eradicating TB, I think, is hugely important because otherwise it’s just going to always be there potentially. And there’s a massive cost already even just trying to control it.”

And one of the offshoot benefits of getting rid of possums in the area, adds Guy, is the bird life that has absolutely flourished. “Our bird life has quadrupled. All our fruit trees have got fruit.”

For Colin, Guy’s father-in-law, the continuing story of TB in New Zealand is that people need to realise it will spread if not controlled and the job needs to keep going. “We need to finish it off really, we’ve done a hell of a good job of getting TB down to a very low number of herds. What we need to do now is get rid of the little pockets of TB that’s left because once you take your foot off the hammer it’ll just come back again. It will be easier to finish the job off now than let it come back and we’ll be back to square one.”

© Janine Gray

© Rob Suisted

Continued from previous pages…

Jim Ward Station Manager Molesworth Station.

Richard and Hamish Murray at Bluff Station.