Farmers Weekly NZ March 18 2019 by AgriHQ

3 Dry limits milk output Vol 18 No 10, March 18, 2019

farmersweekly.co.nz

We’re doing it all wrong Alan Williams

alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz

XPORTERS are sitting on a gold mine but failing to sell their provenance story overseas, British grocery expert Rob Ward says. They need to cash in on sensory perception and the Love Triangle. “New Zealand is incredibly good at what it does but not enough

The bottom line is that there’s no discernible appreciation of value. Whatever is being said for NZ lamb, it is not working. Rob Ward Grocery Accelerator people know about it,” Ward, a United Kingdom grocery data and analytics expert has been told people at Agri-food Week in Palmerston North. Lamb is a prime example of how the NZ message can be improved. “Consumers have to be given a sensory experience and I talk about achieving the Love Triangle – where brands sit at the centre of heart, purpose, and place.” That applies to existing exports as much as it does for new, innovative products.

He does not think consumers are getting that in how they regard NZ lamb in comparison to Welsh lamb, which benefits from very good marketing. “The bottom line is that there’s no discernible appreciation of value. Whatever is being said for NZ lamb, it is not working.” Ward is the founder and director of data and analytics group Grocery Accelerator, which provides insights into how British consumers view NZ products. They have a big appetite for more food and drink adding to the lamb, wine and wool it is best known for, he said. “NZ is sitting on a goldmine of provenance. “The country needs to get those stories across to the rest of the world.” Having high-quality data and interpretation would allow brands to test a sample market reaction and if that fails it can fail affordably and pivot to a new tack. If it works, it gets pushed forward. Premium NZ wine has achieved the Love Triangle status, Ward said. “British people see it as premium, they see it priced at the top end and they don’t see it discounted. “Importantly, they don’t see it discounted against French wines.” In comparison, Ward has measured NZ lamb in the market and it is often being sold on promotion, meaning it can be undersold at volume, with lower prices to attract people who buy on price.

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GO THAT WAY: Samantha Walsh and Katie, 5, test the comfort on this tractor at the Central Districts Field Days. More from the Rural Games, AgriFood Week and the Central Districts Field Days on page 7. “This can position it as cheaper when you should be pricing it more expensive than Welsh lamb.” Don’t sell it as a commodity product. British consumers shop on the basis of what they know and trust, safety and habit. “Animal welfare is a big deal so you need to dial up on that. “You’ve got a great green, outdoor, Pure NZ story to tell so tell them of the amazing welfare of your animals, how they lead a great and happy life in their outdoor location.”

Surveys show there is a high regard for NZ products. In one, which asked people who buy NZ products if they would buy more, two-thirds of people aged 45 and over said they would. That was a phenomenally good result, Ward said. Britain is also seen as a very good bellwether for the European retail market. “The UK is seen as a very successful market, hard and competitive, and if brands can be successful there they can do well in Europe as well.”

The Grocery Accelerator has small incubators for innovative products, operating at Sainsburys and the Ocado online grocery supermarket chain in the UK. Very few NZ products are in them. Find out what people are eating and what they want to eat instead of focusing on selling stuff because you’ve got it, Ward advised.

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NEWS

WEATHER OVERVIEW High pressure dominates New Zealand this week, this weekend and potentially into next week. The set-up means the country has warmer than usual days and nights ahead for many. There is also a drier-than-usual weather pattern but we do have some rain this week in the form of early morning drizzly patches or light showers then afternoon heat downpours that might even produce thunderstorms. The highest risk for this weather is inland through both islands. These downpours will be hit and miss and while they might bring some relief to a minority, most have not only drier-than-normal weather ahead but it’s also warmer than usual, especially in the afternoons.

4 China trade still a tough gig

NZX PASTURE GROWTH INDEX – Next 15 days

Pasture Growth Index Above normal Near normal Below normal

7-DAY TRENDS

Ten years into our free-trade agreement with China most companies that have dipped into the market agree it is a vastly larger, faster and more intensively competitive one than when the agreement’s ink was drying.

Newsmaker ��30 New Thinking ��31

Rain High pressure dominates this week with a few early, light showers or drizzle possible in some isolated coastal spots then a few afternoon inland downpours, maybe with isolated thunder. It’s hit and miss, otherwise drier than normal this week.

Opinion ��32

Temperature

World ��38-39

ON FARM STORY

Over the next week high pressure dominates with perhaps a slight sub-tropical lean with the airflows. This means slightly higher humidity, higher-than-normal daytime highs and fairly mild nights too. Hottest weather inland. Warmest nights in the coastal north.

Wind High pressure covers NZ this week with light easterlies possible in the north and northwesters further south. There will be large areas of calm and afternoon sea breezes possible too. No strong winds this week.

Highlights/ Extremes Apart from the risk of some isolated, heavy afternoon downpours, maybe with thunder, this week is drier than average basically everywhere. Best chance for rain is around Fiordland later in the week.

14-DAY OUTLOOK

For further information on the NZX PGI visit www.agrihq.co.nz/pgi After a brief spike in pasture growth last week in a number of areas following rain or showers the week prior this week is set to return to pasture growth slowdown. Positives this week will be hit and miss afternoon downpours inland across both islands but the majority will miss these. Following Canterbury’s wet end to last week parts of that region should finally get a boost this week but elsewhere we expect a slowdown because of the big high.

SOIL MOISTURE INDEX – 15/03/2019

36 Alpacas are rare, especially good ones

From teaching children to farming alpacas. One Cantabrian’s career path is beyond compare.

REGULARS

Real Estate ��40-53 Employment ��54-55 Classifieds ��56-57 Livestock ��57-59 Markets ��60-64 GlobalHQ is a farming family owned business that donates 1% of advertising revenue to the Rural Support Trust. Thanks to our Farmers Weekly and Dairy Farmer advertisers this week: $1166. Need help now? You can talk to someone who understands the pressures of farming by phoning your local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.

Source: WeatherWatch.co.nz

This product is powered by NIWA Data

For more weather information go to farmersweekly.co.nz/weather

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Milk impetus stutters into autumn Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz DAIRY farmers seem unlikely to set autumn milk production records because of lack of rainfall, low pasture covers and the discouragement of palm kernel supplementary feeding. The first $7/kg forecasts for next season’s milk price will also swing farmers to target covers and cow condition as priorities rather than pushing autumn milk, AgFirst Waikato partner James Allen said. Dairy farmers will focus more on setting up for next season with good pasture covers and cow condition. Rain now would offer the potential to milk to early May but he does not expect volumes to exceed those of autumn 2018. Farmers might also dry off the lighter cows at the end of March and keep the rest milking until May. January’s milk production flourished on higher cow condition and good pasture grown in December but momentum has fallen in the six weeks since, he said. Nationwide January production was up 8% and year-to-date 4.5%. Hamilton had 180mm of rain in December, 32mm in January,

INTENTIONS: As the season heads for winter dairy farmers are prioritising setting up for next season rather than prolonging milking.

18mm in February and 22mm in March so far, MetService records show. While Waikato farmland still looked green, pasture covers are way down. “I would call it dry but not a drought,” he said. “We need rain to get autumn into gear.” Maize yields are okay given the larger leaf area grown earlier in the season followed by low grain fill since Christmas. Palm kernel monitoring through the fat evaluation index (FEI) is now moderating milk

production, Allen said. Many farmers are getting FEI warnings from Fonterra and managing the intake accordingly. Cow condition scores were good at the start of summer and Waikato farmers have made twice as much grass silage as usual during the wet spring. Many farmers are now feeding more than half of the cows’ diet as supplements. “I was on a farm yesterday that was feeding 4kg DM/cow/day grass and 10kg of supplements so feed reserves get chewed up quickly,” he said.

NIWA’s standardised precipitation index (SPI) indicator of drought for the past 60 days shows Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu, Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Grey classified as moderately, severely or extremely dry. Canterbury, the dairy powerhouse, fared well for rain since Christmas and irrigation has assisted in steady pasture and summer crop growth. Ashburton had 80mm of rain in the past 30 days, including the historical average of 60mm in February. Dairy farmers there might be able to maximise milk production in autumn and set themselves up well for next season. DairyNZ farm performance general manager Vanessa Winning said Canterbury farmers will budget in the cost of feed where irrigation is obtainable and might be able to keep milking. Canterbury’s milk production is 5-6% ahead of last season and the province has good prospects of maintaining that increase to the end of the season. A payout difference between this season and next will not have to be factored into budgets. Without 70-100mm of rain elsewhere in the dairying regions

by the end of March most farmers will start drying off, Winning said. A Fonterra spokeswoman said a vast majority of supply farms have met the FEI measures and avoided any demerits. “Farmers have taken advantage of good spring growing conditions and significant quantities of grass silage as well as above-average maize and brassica crop yields. “As milk production slows in the latter half of the season it becomes even more important that every drop of milk can be manufactured into the products our customers need. “Farmers are working with our Farm Source support team and their rural professionals to ensure they can meet the new FEI levels.” On Friday Fonterra lowered its milk collection forecast for the season for the second time in two weeks. It now expects to collect 1510 million kilograms of milksolids for the season. Milk collection was 1505m kg MS last season. Fonterra said the dry weather is particularly acute in the North Island, affecting production in the second half of the season. It will reduce quantities on Global Dairy Trade during the next four months.

Lambs’ wool leads way at latest auctions Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz LAMBS’ wool was well sought after at Thursday’s Napier and Christchurch auctions though some of the price detail was mixed. At Christchurch the 31 to 33 micron lambs’ wool firmed strongly while 29 and 30 micron eased. At Napier the 29 micron wool

2 to 3 inches long jumped 12% in price. Lambs’ wool makes up a large percentage of the Napier offering at this time of year. New, secondshear, adult wool coming forward sold well, PGG Wrightson North Island auctioneer Steve Fussell said though prices were slightly lower than a fortnight earlier. At Christchurch the less stylish crossbred ewe wool struggled for traction and prices were mainly

lower than the previous sale a week earlier, PGW South Island sales manager Dave Burridge said. Across the two sales and the 20,000 bales offered Napier had a 98% clearance rate, well ahead of the South Island result, which had 22% passed in. Sales included (by micron level, price per kg/clean) NAPIER: Full wool, good-to-average colour: 37, $3.19, steady; 38, $3.25, up

5c. Crossbred second-shear: 37, 2-to-3 inches, $2.83, down 20c; 39, 3-to-5 inches, $3.15, steady; 2-to-3 inches, $2.87, down 16c. Lambs: 29, 2-to-3 inches, $6.05, up 66c; 30, 2-to-3 inches, $5.50, steady. CHRISTCHURCH: Full wool, good-to-average colour: 32, $5.07, down 39c; 33, $4.65, down 29c; 34, $4.23, down 17c; 35, $3.42, up 2c; 36, $3.10, down 10c; 37, $3.01, down 4c; 38, $2.95, down 10c; 39, $2.96, down 8c.

Crossbred, second-shear: 33, 3-to-4 inches, $4.27, down 10c; 35, 3-to-4 inches, $3.25, down 13c; 2-to-3 inches, $3, down 5c; 37, 3-to-4 inches, $3.06, down 2c; 2-to-3 inches, $3, down 4c; 39, 3-to-5 inches, $3.01, down 4c; 3-to-4 inches, $3.01, down 3c; 2-to-3 inches, $2.95, down 6c. Crossbred lambs, first shear: 29, $5.95, down 40c; 30, $5.70, down 18c; 31, $4.76, up 24c; 32, $4.50, up 20c; 33, $4.23, up 18c.

53 years of lambing hoggets John Daniell mated all his Romney hoggets at Wairere for the first time in 1966. Since then all hoggets have been mated, regardless of droughts such as 1977-78, when 148mm fell in six months from October to March. And lambed unassisted. The policy adopted by Derek’s father has been adhered to and in most years, only hoggets that scan in lamb are retained. Improving early life performance has been a focus of the Wairere breeding objective.”

53 years of lambing hoggets has selected for

Easycare Early maturity Fast growth.

Wairere ewe hoggets with lambs, December 2018. Average age of lambs, ten weeks.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Trading is still a tough gig TEN years into our free-trade agreement with China most companies that have dipped into the market agree it is a vastly larger, faster and more intensively competitive one than when the agreement’s ink was drying. New Zealander and long time Beijing resident David Mahon said as attractive as the market can still appear, the need for NZ companies to ensure they have scale, market intelligence and do thorough due diligence on entry is greater than ever. “You have to remember this is now a market that has almost quadrupled over that time and with that comes a lot more competition and that includes strong competition from within, from Chinese companies themselves.” Enforcement of standards for food production now also means there is growing Chinese confidence in locally produced products, compared to a decade ago. NZ’s two big success stories to date in his mind are Zespri and A2 Milk. Zespri has an edge in selling a

You have to remember this is now a market that has almost quadrupled over that time and with that comes a lot more competition and that includes strong competition from within, from Chinese companies themselves.

BE CAREFUL: Though the free-trade deal is a decade old Kiwi firms must still do the groundwork, New Zealander David Mahon, who lives in Beijing, says.

David Mahon product already well understood by Chinese and did itself a lot of good dealing with the issues it had with the staff arrests several years ago. “It was an open, honest approach and built real respect from the Chinese.” He rates one of the most successful overseas companies in China as Nestle. Having established 33 major factories and now employing 50,000 staff it is recognised as having put back strongly into the Chinese economy and that

is an approach China is seeking more and more from overseas companies wanting to participate in the market. Successful operators also require a high level of buy-in at a board level when committing to China, with management enthusiasm simply not enough to last the time needed to reap rewards. “Zespri and A2 have achieved this.” In terms of food and beverage

opportunity Mahon sees Manuka honey as a product with huge potential in a country where a significant amount of the product is fake. Honey is one of the three most faked food products in the world “If that industry could do what Zespri did, then great, otherwise producers who are all relatively small will just cannibalise each other, despite the demand that there is here.”

Take a minute – look down at your pasture. Your farm’s profitability starts here! The next time you are out on the farm take less than a minute to look down at your pasture and any visible soil. What you see can highlight opportunities to increase your farms production and profitability. Use your phone and take a couple of photographs for future reference. Ask yourself, “How’s the Clover doing”? Approximately what percentage of the pasture is made up of Clover. Are the Clovers small and struggling or healthy and vigorous? Do you have both Red and White varieties? When it comes to stock performance, Clover can be rocket fuel. A good healthy pasture can easily contain up to 40% or more clover. Do you have a good variety of pasture species, Plantains, Clovers, Rye grasses, Brown top etc. The bigger the diversity of species in your pasture sward the better your stock performance will be. It may surprise you Brown top is at the top of the list of grasses when it comes to nutrient content and Italian Rye grasses are at the bottom.

When Brown Top is palitable, it will be grazed by stock and won’t get the chance to get away, won’t become rank or go to seed. When it comes to increasing pasture diversity the most important thing to remember and understand is that, “Nature hates bare soil”. Nature will put a plant that thrives in the conditions that exist. Weeds, Rushes, Buttercup, Penny Royal, Yarrow and flat weeds all thrive in sour soil, while Clovers, Plantains’ and other desirable pasture species all thrive in sweet soils. From a stock performance perspective, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that pasture plants grown in sweet soils contain higher levels of carbohydrates and energy that will be more appetising to stock than pasture plants grown in sour soils. Sour soils are sweetened, and pasture diversity dramatically improves simply by applying Lime. There are surprisingly large quantities of both desirable and un-desirable pasture seeds present in farm soils. The plants that dominate

Consumer preferences in China are becoming more sophisticated very quickly, with a middle class that is well educated, healthy and increasingly wealthy seeking out quality, health-giving food products. “They are going to where they see the greatest nutritional value and one big one is yoghurt and for infant formula it is preferred it is from a pasture-fed milk source.”

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your pasture simply comes down to the soil conditions. w take a closer look at any bare Now patches; Is the soil grey, fine grained and tight, or, if you scratch the surface is there a build-up of dead plant material that has created a thatch layer, or, is Moss present? All the above are clear signs that Lime is required. Lime applications are about far more than just raising pH. ‘Back in the day’, Grandad regularly applied Lime. While the price of Lime at the quarry has remained low, the cost of its transportation and application has soared leading to the unfortunate belief that it’s now un-economical to apply Lime to hill country. Our hill country is screaming out for Lime. Our recommended application rates of Prilled Ultra-fine Particle Lime can bring the on-ground cost of applying Lime to hill country down to less than half. For more information, a sample pack or just a chat, give Sandra a call on 06 858 5235. © Andrew de Lautour 2019

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

China’s food needs are going upmarket Richard Rennie in China THE Chinese market New Zealand entered 10 years ago under the prized free-trade agreement has changed immeasurably and today presents a whole new set of challenges to a new generation of food exporters. Trade and Enterprise trade commissioner in Shanghai Damon Paling said the agency’s latest report on Chinese market perceptions of NZ holds some revealing insights to the Chinese psyche and how the country now regards itself on the world stage. “Last time that research was done four years ago the respondents did not want the rest of the world looking at them and thinking they were somehow backward. The report, released last November, revealed more confidence, a sense the rest of the world was looking at China to see what it was doing and that change here is constant.” Paling, who has 15 years’ experience in China’s trade sector, says what was once a commoditised market providing the necessity of protein for its populace is now a premium food market in many cities for NZ food exporters, with the government’s assertiveness reflecting the growing confidence of its people about their place in the world. “So, from a NZ perspective, things like clean and green are not inclined to hold the same significance as they once did. Canada, Australia, even the United States can all play the same story. “The relevance is now being sought on a more personal level.” That has also come about with China’s own food safety laws being tightened and greater effort

to feed itself from within its own borders. But NZ firms have a level of agility about them that plays well in a market where food trends are in and out quickly, demanding a more tactical approach to market decision-making. “There will always be someone with deeper pockets than you and that guy always wins.

So, from a New Zealand perspective, things like clean and green are not inclined to hold the same significance as they once did. Canada, Australia, even the United States can all play the same story. The relevance is now being sought on a more personal level. Damon Paling NZTE “If you take the view you will just push more and more money into a market and product you may as well not come. You need to play the long game and you need to be prepared to change your approach if it’s not working.” Two factors drive the need to keep marketing light on its feet. “Many NZ food companies will be marketing to a post-millennial population that uses the web constantly and are very fickle given the choice that presents.

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“Secondly, most NZ smallmedium enterprises are around the $20 million to $50m sales mark and cannot afford to have big campaigns fail.” The blue sky and Hobbits image of NZ that the 100% Pure campaign created over a decade ago worked for a period and created heroic products like dairy. But as Chinese consumers become more sophisticated NZ is rapidly becoming part of their global pantry. However, the connectedness between the two countries can offer a means to test a product’s likely success before trying to push it across the wharf at Shanghai. “Take tourism, we now have over 400,000 Chinese tourists visiting every year, we have 40,000 Chinese students studying there and about 300,000 resident Chinese. “They are all connected by the one app of choice in China, WeChat, so there is this ecosystem already in place to try a product at home with that community. They will soon let their friends and relatives back in China know about it, creating that demand pull for it.” The low-cost, lower-risk approach embodies the daigou trade, which was so prevalent in the uptake of NZ-sourced infant formula. Meantime there is young Chinese talent around keen to be part of the trade business, having a NZ education matched to contacts and language skills means some marketing programmes might be better left to young millennials with a smartphone to oversee. NZTE has been involved in helping boards, chief executives

TEST MARKET: Products should be tested on Chinese residents, students and tourists in New Zealand before trying to break into their home market, trade commission in Shanghai Damon Paling says.

and management from NZ develop more empathy with their Chinese consumers. Paling also urges them to ride cities’ subways, get out on the street and divert from the usual airport-hotel-office route when in town. “That includes getting them inside the homes of the Shanghai super mums to better understand what it is they need from products, something NZTE has helped them do.” It is New Zealanders’ trust-

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worthiness, openness and inclusiveness that plays well in an increasingly materialistic, dominant and confident China. In terms of food NZTE work reveals proving the product is good for you and is part of an enjoyable dining experience are important. While not as easy to articulate as a clean green vision, such concepts can be what helps keep NZ top of mind and valued by Chinese consumers.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Rural NZ on show CROWDS turned out in force as events in Manawatu over the last week showcased rural New Zealand. It started with more than 30,000 people attending the Rural Games in Palmerston North. A one-hour programme about the games was on television on Saturday, will be repeated on April 20 and is available online at ThreeNow. “The games grow from strength

to strength every year and have become a stalwart of the rural sports calendar in New Zealand,” founder Steve Hollander said. “We increased the activities for young people, adding in sulky rides with miniature ponies and increasing the number of the self-drive diggers for children, and more than 400 children learned to climb a tree – it was a brilliant weekend,” he said.

A farmers market and space for neighbouring districts to promote what they have to offer were new features. AgriFood Week involved sessions for those involved in the sector to explore the future and celebrate success. More crowds were attracted to the Central Districts Field Days where agricultural companies put their wares on show to farmers.

TALKER: GlobalHQ owner Dean Williamson compered the Central Districts Fieldays networking lunch.

GET EM YOUNG: A boy at the Rural Games tries a tractor for size.

HARD WORK: Farming isn’t easy and you have to be wearing the right gear as these boys found out at the Rural Games.

POPULAR: Vendors in the cuisine tent enjoyed much interest from inquisitive folk.

GET IT RIGHT: Jeff Joins was taking no chances with his accuracy at the Central Districts Field Days.

CONCENTRATE: Tony Bouskill puts the mental and physical effort into his fencing at the Central Districts Field Days.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Organic dairying to clean river Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz CONVERSION to organic dairying holds potential for improving water quality in the Waipa-Waikato catchment while providing an attractive return on investment. An impact investment proposal new to New Zealand has been floated by the Waikato River Authority and has gathered considerable interest here and overseas, authority chief executive Bob Penter said. Parties interested in investing in and running the farms have contacted the authority since the information memorandum was published in November, he said. The proposal is for 12 to 18 existing dairy farms in the upper Waipa River catchment to convert to low-input organic dairying. A hybrid bond amount of $100 million will be raised to buy the farms, reduce cow numbers by 20% and begin the three-year conversion process. Bond holders will receive an underwritten 2.625% annual yield and a profit share after 10 years of half the land appreciation, hence the hybrid description. The authority said some farmers in Te Kuiti and Waitomo districts to the south and west of Otorohanga have welcomed the chance to sell to what is being provisionally called the Waipa Agri-Impact Fund. Penter said the real surprise of the scoping studies last year was the environmental benefits that would result from conversion to organics along with some mitigation like afforestation and riparian planting. “Targeting land use change and low-impact farming in only 5% (6500ha) of the upper Waipa catchment would significantly reduce the environmental impacts on river water quality.” Modelling showed 40%-plus improvements in environmental impacts of nutrient leaching,

By converting a relatively small number of dairy farms we target the hot spots in the catchment. Bob Penter Waikato River Authority sediment loss, E coli contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. “By converting a relatively small number of dairy farms we target the hot spots in the catchment and potentially achieve around half of the Healthy Rivers Plan target for 10% improvement in Waipa water quality.” Sedimentary loss is the major problem, as evidenced by the confluence of cloudy Waipa water with the Waikato at Ngaruawahia. Riparian planting of natives and some sedimentary traps plus no cropping of riverside paddocks will be included in the dairy farm management plans. The authority put together an information memorandum, not a prospectus, and the next step is up to a potential fund manager and/or investor to run their own due diligence and commit to the fundraising, Penter said. The central financial proposition is that higher prices for organic milk will offset the reduction in cow numbers. The premium ranges from $1 to $2/kg milksolids. The information memorandum did not source its figures and budgets or name the advisers used. Penter said he can’t disclose the names of interested investors at this stage. “We used figures from Waipa farms that are already on the market plus real returns for organic milk.” The authority had kept abreast

PRECISION: Converting a small number of dairy farms to organics can target environmental hot spots, Waikato River Authority chief executive Bob Penter says. of the Lake Taupo land use changes and farming retirements and it already provides contestable funds for remediation projects. In eight years it has distributed $44m for 288 projects. “That is all good but the Waipa dairy farm conversion achieves an impact scale and adequate returns for investors, giving them more than altruistic reasons to become involved.” The quality of the underwriter would be important, whether it be a bank or another financier, to secure confidence in the hybrid bond idea. There will be a dip in farm income during the conversion years and the annual yield to investors will be guaranteed by the underwriter in return for a priority payback from farm sales after 10 years. Dairy processors are very keen on expanded organic milk supplies and sheep milkers and A2 milk producers have also indicated interest.

Minister will speak to northern dairy farmers Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz AGRICULTURE Minister Damien O’Connor and Fonterra director Brent Goldsack will be keynote speakers at the Northland Dairy Development Trust annual conference. Dairy farmers have been invited to attend the free, middle-of-the-day conference at the Northland Events Centre, Whangarei, on Wednesday, April 3. It will be the first time a primary industries minister has addressed the conference in the trust’s 13-year history, formed as a joint venture between the Northland Agricultural Research

Farm, near Dargaville, and Fonterra. Goldsack is expected to talk about global consumer trends and the direction of Fonterra’s high-level strategy following significant announcements about the asset portfolio and strategy at Fonterra’s interim results presentation. Other topics for the conference include updates on NARF trials, the latest fertility research data from DairyNZ, farmer feedback from the Northland-only 350 extension project and environmental matters from the regional council. Registration begins at 9.45am for a 10am start.

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News

10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Greenpeace to appeal ad decision Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz GREENPEACE is appealing against an Advertising Standards Authority ruling its billboards attacking fertiliser companies Ravensdown and Ballance are misleading and must be removed. It claimed the farmer-owned coops are responsible for polluting rivers. The billboards said “Ravensdown and Ballance Pollute Rivers” and to the left in smaller letters, “#TooManyCows”, which the authority determined to be advocacy advertising and therefore in breach of the Code of Ethics of Advocacy Principles. Advocacy advertisers must clearly distinguished between fact and opinion, take care not to infringe on people’s rights, not breach the spirit of the code and

the advertiser’s identity should be clear. But Greenpeace campaigner Gen Toop said the ruling will have a chilling effect on environmental and social advocacy and is an attack on free speech. “Civil society must be able to hold individual companies to account, especially when they are responsible for environmental destruction, like Ravensdown and Ballance,” she said. One of the three complainants, Farmers Weekly columnist Alan Emerson, said the grounds for appeal are very narrow, confined to a point of law, that the authority decision is wrong or that there is some new information. “I can’t see where they are coming from but they are welcome to try.” Emerson likened the billboard’s message to claiming car makers are responsible for the 379 road

DOES NOT COMPUTE: Claiming fertiliser companies are responsible for pollution is like saying car manufacturers are responsible for road deaths, complainant Alan Emerson says.

deaths last year, which is untrue and unacceptable. “They obviously have no control of what their vehicles do when they are sold and neither does Ballance or Ravensdown with their fertilisers.” The three complaints said the billboards are facially wrong and pollution from fertiliser run off is scant to non-existent with the main cause nitrogen from cow urine and fertiliser is not

a pollutant but a plant food. The prime minister’s former science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman gave evidence some waterways are in a good state but others have been compromised by agricultural intensification, urban expansion, industrial pollution, hydro-electric development and the effects of drought. The complainants also claim the #TooManyCows tag is Greenpeace opinion and ignores the fact only

15% of waterways run through dairy farming areas. Greenpeace countered that intensive dairy farming and the use of synthetic fertiliser damage waterways. A minority of the board believed the advertisement was not misleading, accepting Greenpeace’s submission the use of fertiliser enables greater use of the land and leads to more cows and more pollution.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

New taxes will add up to big farm bills ENVIRONMENTAL taxes proposed by the Tax Working Group could within a decade cost an average irrigated dairy farmer $1300 a week and dryland livestock farmers $400 a week the National Party claims. And a capital gains tax (CGT) could, within a decade, cost $650,000 for an averaged sheep and beef farm or $1.1m for an irrigated dairy farm, the party says. The political sparring over the group’s recommendations heated with a Parliamentary debate in which Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor accused National Party agriculture spokesman Nathan Guy of lying to farmers. Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard also waded in, claiming the National Party’s figures are a bit light and take a mid-point in Feds’ calculations. Hoggard cited a 2018 Landcare report that calculated a methane charge for sheep and beef could be as high as 123% of net profit or $120,000 for an average farm. “In our view the environmental taxes that have been mooted will be even worse than a CGT. “A tax on nitrogen loses will require the use of the Overseer modelling programme but it has a 20% margin of error. “How many people would like IRD applying a 20% margin of error to their taxes. Overseer is a fantastic tool for what it was developed for but it wasn’t designed as a tax calculator.” Guy told South Otago farmers recently the party’s tax estimates were independently verified and based on data available in the group’s document. It assessed the impact of taxes on emissions, water, fertiliser, nitrogen and capital gains. Guy promised a future National government will repeal the taxes and work with farmers to reduce their environmental impact while funding research such as the Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium in Palmerston North. He labelled the taxes a cash grab from a tax-andspend Government, which will deprive farmers of income to invest on their own environmental projects and also rob rural communities of spending power. “The irony with all of this is that these are environmental taxes but you guys are out there doing all the right things. “Think of what you could do with $20,000 for environmental planting?” The party’s assessment is based on a 430-cow dryland dairy farm producing 160,000kg MS, an irrigated 220ha 750-cow dairy farm producing 320,000kg MS, and a 640ha 4000 stock unit sheep and beef farm. Costs were calculated 10 years in the future with farmers given a 15% free allocation of emission credits, a carbon price of $50 a tonne, a water tax at 1.5 cents a cubic metre and nitrogen leaching tax at $2 a kilo. It did not include a fertiliser tax because the working group favours a nitrogen tax but notes Overseer’s measuring limitations might necessitate a more general fertiliser tax. An average irrigated dairy farm is calculated to face $68,700 in annual environmental taxes, a dryland dairy farm $25,500 and a sheep and beef farm $20,500. The capital gains tax is based on the working group’s figures of a 3% annual gain in land value, of which 2% is inflation, and a tax rate of 33%. The CGT after 10 years for an average irrigated farm is assessed at $1.1m, a dryland dairy farm $644,000 and a sheep and beef farm $650,000. Otago Federated Farmers president Simon Davies, who hosted the meeting at his Toko Mouth farm, said adding another $20,000 in costs will reduce demand for farmland and leave many land owners with little choice but to sell for forestry. Group chairman Sir Michael Cullen said

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

environmental taxes are a possible tool for addressing issues but the report does not recommend tax rates other than noting the Emissions Trading Scheme has under-priced the cost of greenhouse gas emissions. The report also notes issues such as Maori rights and interests in water need resolving before the introduction of environmental taxes. “On the taxation of fertiliser specifically we recommended that it only be introduced if significant progress is not made in the near term on implementing output-based tax instruments or other regulatory measures.” Cullen says the tax rate payable on a capital gain would be at a person’s marginal tax rate so not necessarily at 33c and there are exemptions for farms being transferred.

BIG BILLS: National Party Agriculture spokesman Nathan Guy says environmental taxes proposed by the Tax Working Group will cost farmers $400 to $1300 a week.

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News

12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Breakthrough deal for Alliance in value-add Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz

ADDING VALUE: Getting into the pet food market realises the huge value in the fifth quarter of an animal, Alliance chief executive David Surveyor says.

INVESTING in a pet-food business is the sort of thing Alliance said it would do, chief executive David Surveyor says. Alliance has paid $15 million for a 50% stake in Meateor New Zealand, in a joint venture with NZX-listed Scales Corporation. Meateor has been significant part of Scales’ food ingredients business. It takes the southern meat processor and exporter up the value chain, creates new value

for farmers and is a significant step in the cooperative’s value-add strategy, he said. Meateor processes and markets high-quality pet food ingredients to global manufacturers and Alliance is a supplier of raw materials to the sector. “We realised there was huge value in the fifth quarter of an animal in the pet food sector and we had to find a path into that market. “We’ve supplied Scales with product and there has been a natural evolution,” he said. Meateor has exciting prospects and for Alliance it was a case of one plus one equals three. Most of Alliance’s food co-products will now go to the new joint-venture. Alliance will fund the investment through debt and the 50% stake will add to earnings from the start. “We’ve got a strong, robust business and won’t be asking our farmers for funding but the returns will go back to them,” Surveyor said. The investment is just in the NZ Meateor business. Scales has just bought a 60% stake in United States pet food manufacturer and marketer Shelby so Alliance can expect to benefit through Meateor’s links to that business. The venture with Alliance is all about synergies and collaborating to catch value, Scales managing director Andy Borland said.

We’ve been talking to them for a fair while and this is a good way to partner with a long-term player supplying raw material. Andy Borland Scales

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“We’ve been talking to them for a fair while and this is a good way to partner with a long-term player supplying raw material.” Scales thought carefully about a joint venture model and decided it is the better way to go. The deal values Meateor at $30m and the business has no debt. After the deal settles in the next couple of weeks a new board will be put in place and a new general manager appointed for Meateor. Current general manager John Sainsbury will move up to a bigger role covering Meateor, food ingredients and the group’s relationship with Shelby. Surveyor said the pet food sector’s global sales are expected to reach $134 billion by 2022. “We want to make sure NZ farmers are part of that.” Meateor has processing plants in both the North and South Islands. The joint venture will extend Alliance’s downstream reach and allow it to be come vertically integrated, with an end-to-end connection to the market. Food ingredients had $83m in sales and operating earnings (Ebitda) of $11m in Scales’ latest December year. The Meateor earnings are not broken out in the published accounts but it is a major part of the division. At its September 30 balance date Alliance had total assets of $519m and borrowings of $84m for a lowish interest-bearing debt ratio of 16%. However, it will be pleased Meateor is already profitable because its own interest costs last year of $8m took up more than half of the Ebit operating earnings of $14.35m. The $15m being paid to Scales will add to the company’s firepower for further investments, likely to include more in the pet food sector. It will be in a very strong net-cash position when the eventual sale of its Polarcold business brings in more than $150m in cash. The sale to an American buyer is subject to approval from the Overseas Investment Office.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Kiwi adventurers raising money farmstrong.co.nz

anyone having issues to be open. We want to get people talking about this stuff and the race is a great conversation starter. Lots of farmers are already showing their support,” she said. McKenzie works on a 700-cow dairy farm at Otautau, Southland, with four staff. Life’s busy.

All of us grew up in farming families in rural areas so we realise the toll that farming’s isolation, stress and unpredictability can take on mental health. Nikki Brown Richshaw racer “I love working outside, being with animals and really enjoy calving season but people do get stressed in our industry. “They can get isolated and so focused on goals they don’t look after themselves – they might not take breaks or eat properly or get enough sleep. It can really snowball until fixing it becomes a big thing.” Lindsay works in the production side of the industry on dairy plant installations and upgrades in Waikato. “I grew up around farming and always wanted to work on the processing side, turning raw product into something usable and productive.” She said the trio chose Farmstrong faster than cows approaching a new swede break for their charity because they like how its resources feature real farmers talking about

ADVENTUROUS: Nikki Brown, Natalie Lindsay and Gina McKenzie are traversing India in a rickshaw to raise money for Farmstrong.

real issues, such as burnout. “It’s relatable. It’s what you see every day on-farm and it’s about normalising that. That’s the challenge – to make talking in the pub about stress as normal as talking about the weather. Discussing people’s wellbeing on-farm should be as important as how much rain they’ve had or how the lambing beat is going,” Lindsay said. “Stress is a lot more common than you think, even among people our age,” Brown said. “Everyone goes through patches where they’re not doing too well. If you start talking to people in

farming about it they relate to you at once. It’s about making it easier for people under the pump to speak up and making sure other people are approachable. If climbing into a tuk-tuk in India helps make that happen then it’s a win-win for us.” McKenzie said rural communities are very supportive but people need to get off-farm and join in local activities and events. “That’s why I make an effort to play netball and rugby in winter or go to calving events so I can catch up with people and socialise. It gives you a mood boost and shares

the load. Keeping well is about getting off-farm regularly. “But it doesn’t have to be India in rickshaw. Winton is just as good.” The Rickshaw Run starts in Jaisalmer on April 14 and ends in Cochin. is the official media partner of Farmstrong

The women have a Givealittle crowd funding page givealittle.co.nz/ fundraiser/three-kiwi-lasses-battle3000km-of-india. People can follow their daily adventures on Facebook.

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THREE young Kiwis have entered a demanding 3500 kilometre rickshaw race across India to raise money for Farmstrong. Crammed inside a sevenhorsepower, motorised tuk-tuk with a top speed of 50kmh, going downhill, Nikki Brown, Natalie Lindsay and Gina McKenzie will battle 80 other teams as well 40C heat, dust and the free-for-all of Indian traffic for two weeks. The women are one of only three all-female teams. The race is not for the fainthearted. “The Rickshaw Run is easily the least sensible thing to do with your time off. The only certainty is that you will get lost, get stuck and break down,” the organisers admit. Wild stuff but there’s a serious side to the trip too. The women are using the race to raise money for and awareness about mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand’s rural communities. Farmstrong research has shown more than two-thirds of farmers under 35 have been affected by issues such as workload, fatigue, getting time off-farm, isolation/ relationships and lack of sleep in the last year. All three women come from farming backgrounds in Southland and are familiar with its challenges. Brown works for a farm consultancy in Invercargill. “I see the pressure farmers face every day to make the right decisions about feed, fertiliser and budgeting. There’s a lot to get right. That’s why rural people have got to look out for one another. “All of us grew up in farming families in rural areas so we realise the toll that farming’s isolation, stress and unpredictability can take on mental health. “But people often don’t talk about it. “And the less people talk about these things the harder it is for

News

14 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Challenge in venison to Shanghai they are starting to appreciate the story that can be told around NZ products including venison.

Richard Rennie in China IF KIWI firms want to survive in today’s fast-moving Chinese food and beverage market they might want to consider a tight, light and nimble business model to remain viable. Ex-pat Hunter McGregor has spent the past 11 years living in China and has carved a niche for himself in Shanghai’s enormous food industry importing venison from Canterbury’s Mountain River Venison company. He ruefully admits he chose a most difficult product to market, one with little familiarity to locals as a protein source and a product often requiring quite different cooking techniques compared to other red meats. He has worn out shoe leather on the streets of Shanghai visiting restaurants over the past few years, becoming a familiar figure in the early days with his wheeled chilly that contained the meat, which remains something of a curiosity among local chefs and restaurant owners. He has kept his importing company small, with him and his Chinese wife as partners, employing two delivery workers. That small scale means McGregor has been able to slowly tune into a market he describes as extremely fast-moving with something that is popular one month just as likely to be out of favour the next. “For us it has helped to be able to pick up on what chefs are looking for, to take their suggestions on board and go back to Mountain River with ideas for a new cut, a new portion size, maybe new packaging.” The small size of both that

They increasingly want to know where their product came from and are prepared to pay a premium, to a point, for something that is also seen as healthy and sustainably produced. Hunter McGregor Shanghai Rata Trade

AGILE: New Zealand’s sole venison importer in China Hunter McGregor operates a small but nimble business.

company and his means the response can be quick. There might be some lessons in his simple model for NZ firms looking to the huge but competitive and fragmented market. Rather than devoting hundreds of thousands of dollars to fixedpiece campaigns, a suck-it-andsee approach, often employing social media platforms like WeChat, might prove tactically more adaptive, affordable and effective. His market research is his daily conversations with the chefs and business owners he sits down to

tea with during his calls. The Chinese food service sector is mind bogglingly huge, totalling US$540 billion in sales in 2016 and typically growing at 8-11% a year since 2012. It is dominated by thousands of small to medium enterprises and while international big brands are moving in, restaurants serving traditional Chinese cuisine continue to be more popular in many cities than restaurants serving overseas fare. But that is changing as a growing middle class travels. With more than 400,000 Chinese tourists visiting NZ every year,

“They increasingly want to know where their product came from and are prepared to pay a premium to a point for something that is also seen as healthy and sustainably produced. “The advantage for NZ is that our farming practices are transparent, maybe not perfect, but we are heading in the right direction and the story for deer farming is even better.” Shanghai, with its levels of personal household wealth and income, is by no means typical of all China but the 25 million population has provided a solid base over the years to build trade. “We could always sell a lot more if we wanted to do so cheaper but we can’t work on volume. There has to be a level of premium there without pricing yourself off the market. “The challenge is there, though, on two levels. One is can they afford to buy it to sell to their

customers and secondly can they cook it?” Chinese chefs are typically very traditional but a few restaurants have incorporated venison into menus, with most clients being five-star hotels. If the job selling a relatively unknown red meat was not already tough enough it is made doubly so by the big lead times required by international hotels for menu formulations and the worldwide phenomena of transient chefs. The success McGregor has enjoyed usually hangs as much on the relationships with the chefs he has built up as on the product itself. Continuity of supply and consistency of quality from Mountain River are greatly respected by his clients. Different cuts tend to work better in different seasons with braised dishes including shanks more popular in winter while raw dishes like carppacio and tartare work over summer. “And ribs work well all year round.” While coy on exact amounts he admits most NZ lamb meat marketers are probably selling more in China in a day than he does in a year. But McGregor also has a level of patience and acceptance that his toil will pay off. Chinese appetites are becoming more international, fuelled not only by the growing travel experiences. There is also a more experimental millennial generation responsible for 45% of food service industry consumption interested in their food’s sustainability, source and its story.

Johne’s spike in deer carcases A SPIKE in Johne’s disease has triggered a warning for deer farmers. DeerPro, the organisation monitoring the control and management of Johne’s disease on behalf of the deer industry is investigating the unusual spike in the signs of the disease in deer processed late last season. Deer Industry New Zealand representative on DeerPro, Innes Moffat, said there had been a

steady decline in the disease over several years. “But now a spike is of concern and DeerPro is investigating for any underlying causes. “It’s possible that because of the lower prevalence people may be less active with management of the disease. “It’s been a good season, deer have been well fed and the clinical signs are not showing and it could be that fewer farmers are taking blood for testing. “But Johne’s control is vitally important to the industry and

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because prevalence has been down to a low level people could be thinking it’s okay but it’s not. “Ongoing vigilance and monitoring is pretty damn important,” Moffat said. DeerPro farmer representative and PGG Wrightson deer specialist Murray Coutts warned “Johne’s appears to be making a comeback”. “You don’t want Johne’s disease to become an issue on your farm so don’t buy it in or let it breed up,” Coutts said. Monitoring at deer slaughter plants has recorded a spike in the detection of Johne’s lesions. “If you have been notified of lesions by letter, check the risk level in your herd through blood tests. “When it goes from being sub-clinical to clinical, deer welfare, farm profitability and your wallet are all likely to take a big hit.” DeerPro uses a national slaughterhouse surveillance database to map trends in the signs of disease and to LK0094416©

Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

GET RID: Farmers should cull clinically affected deer, especially in fawning mobs.

identify and help high-risk farms. It also provides industry benchmarked venison production information to individual farmers. DeerPro is contacting farmers who processed animals during the spike to discuss whether clinical cases are also becoming more common and what might have triggered them. “We strongly recommend all deer farmers refresh their vigilance and check rates of infection in their herd by bloodtesting a tail end group and also,

as the new processing begins, when testing poor performance in their weaners to immediately contact us or their local veterinarian and treat the cause.” Farmers should cull deer clinically affected by the disease, especially in fawning mobs. “A quiet walk or ride through the mobs now to remove any scouring, skinny hinds could stop a productivity time bomb going off next season.” All information held by DeerPro is confidential.

THE NEXT ‘GINGERNUTS’? Just like the mighty 3x Grp 1 winner Gingernuts, this colt is by super sire Iffraaj who has also left classy trans-Tasman Grp 1 winners such as Jon Snow and Turn Me Loose. Like Gingernuts, we can see this colt being an ideal Grp 1 NZ Derby contender, with his sights also on the Grp 1 NZ 2000 Guineas prior. Te Akau knows how to train Guineas’ winners – we’ve won 10 Grp 1 NZ Guineas’ at Riccarton! Our colt has a terrific pedigree – his dam was a talented Group winning (& multiple Group placed) Pins mare who won 8 races. She showed tremendous acceleration on the track and her progeny is already doing the same! Our colt’s half-sister Queen’s Rose is a stakes’ winner and the winner of 8 too! Yes, this lad has it all – a family full of quality – both breeding and race performance! You’ll be proud to be involved in him – impressively built, he’s

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strapping, strong and muscular – a real athlete if you ever saw one. There is two-year-old form in the family and he could well race as an autumn juvenile before heading to the three-year-old classic events. Leading trainer, Te Akau’s Jamie Richards is excited to have him in the stable – we cannot wait to see his career unfold. It’s EASY, FUN and AFFORDABLE to be part of the successful Te Akau team. Race with us – you deal with us direct and our communication is world-class.

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QUINFERT NEWSLETTER 2 – FEBRUARY 2019

Dr Bert Quin, Managing Director, Quin Environmentals (NZ) Ltd P from peat soils and in fact the unacceptably high leaching from all soils with P retentions (ASCs) of less than 50. Only RPR will do this. Likewise, loss in run-off of both soluble P and particulate P from large areas of most hill country farms simply cannot be stopped unless we change to RPR. This is scientific fact. The P model used in Overseer is far to simplistic, and is just plain bad science. It totally ignores the huge spikes in losses of P in run-off and leaching that occur in the weeks and months after application of soluble P. Overseer Ltd, AgResearch and the superphosphate manufacturers need to fess up to this before it totally loses credibility. I believe that there needs to be an absolute limit placed on the ratio of Olsen P divided by the P retention (ASC) of about 0.3, or 0.35 at the most, on all paddocks on all farms. For example, a maximum Olsen P of 30-35 on soils with very high ASCs. I have never in my life seen a pasture response to P where the Olsen P is over 30. But the industry’s reps keep encouraging dairy farmers to keep putting super on when they have Olsen P levels in the 40s, 50s and even 60s! This is environmentally irresponsible. With RPR, Olsen Ps really get above 25 even at very high production. If they do, just reduce the application rate; production will not suffer at all. There also seems to be far too much high sulphur-super blends being recommended on hill country farms even where soil and herbage sulphur levels are showing perfectly adequate levels. It might be a more profitable product to sell, but excess S simply accelerates leaching of cations like calcium, magnesium and potassium. This in turn exacerbates the increasing acidity of the soil. I continually see farmers with pH levels of 5.1-5.3 being advised to put on sulphur-super, when the first priority by far in these situation is to get lime on to control aluminium toxicity. Never be afraid to question the scientific basis for what someone is trying to sell . All the best Dr Bert Quin 021 427 572 bert.quin@gmail.com www.quinfert@xtra.co.nz

QUINFERT PRICE LIST NORTH ISLAND Quinfert RPR range:

Ca Mg price/t

Quinfert RPR (V1, with 7% dolomite)* 0.0 12.7 0.0 1.3 35 0.75 $319 Quinfert RPR (V2, with 4% dolomite) 0.0 12.7 0.0 1.3 35 0.4 $319 Quinfert RPR/EG (eco-gypsum) 0.0 10.0 0.0 3.5 32 0.6 $289 Quinfert RPR/low S 0.0 12.3 0.0 4.0 34 0.7 $337 Quinfert RPR/med SB 0.0 11.7 0.0 8.4 33 0.65 $359 Quinfert RPR/hi SB 0.0 11.3 0.0 11.1 31 0.6 $371 SB is sulphur bentonite, containing 90% fine elemental S in water-dispersable miniprills. *BioGro certification is in process. Ask for ‘CM’ RPR (controlled moisture) to get zero dust.Specs will be reduced 3%.

Quinfert RMA range for dairy and intensive beef farms: Quinfert RMA GP 1 (general purpose) Quinfert RMA Autumn 1 Quinfert RMA Summer 1 Quinfert RMA Spring 1

6.9 5.1 3.6 10.1

6.0 5.0 8.4 6.0

6.4 10.1 5.5 4.2

S Ca 6.9 4.0 5.1 8.0

15 15 20 14

Mg price/t 2.0 2.9 1.9 1.4

$424 $424 $424 $424

25 FEB 2019 (prices excl GST)

Quinfert QSR range (quick and sustained-release P combo): N

S Ca

Mg price/t

Quinfert QSR ‘N-vig’ low S 1.9 14.0 0.0 1.0 27 0.65 $454 Quinfert QSR ‘N-vig’ med S 1.7 12.7 0.0 9.0 25 0.6 $476 Quinfert QSR ‘N-boost’ med S 6.0 11.0 0.0 7.5 21 0.55 $458 Quinfert QSR ‘N-blast’ med-S 9.0 9.7 0.0 7.0 19 0.4 $464 Additional N in N-boost and N-blast comes from a combination of ONEsystem prilled urea and SOA. Other nutrients and all trace elements can be added to both the Quinfert RPR and Quinfert QSR ranges..

The Quinfert Real Mitigation Action (RMA) range is designed to maximise healthy pasture production under intensive grazing while minimising P leaching and run-off, nitrate leaching and gaseous losses, and cation leaching caused by excess nitrate and sulphate levels. Quinfert RMA products are fine but very low dust. Their narrower application spread (12m) with a sharp cut-off minimises direct entry to drains and streams.

✁ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HEAR MORE, FILL THIS REPLY SLIP OUT AND MAIL TO: Quin Environmentals (NZ) Ltd, PO BOX 125-122, St Heliers 1740, Auckland, or ALTERNATIVELY: Scan it and email it to quinfert@xtra.co.nz Name:........................................................................................................................ Phone: ................................................ Mobile: ........................................................... Address: .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... Email address: .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Farm type: ........................... Hectares (effective)..................................... Soil tests available:

Yes

Used RPR before:

Yes

Fertiliser applied: No

Looking for:

Spring

Autumn

Fertiliser advice

Not regularly Soil testing

Fertiliser

Farm visit

Best time to phone: ................................................... Best date/time to visit farm: .............................................................................................. Are you interested in coming to a talk by Dr Quin in your area?

Yes

Maybe

Are you interested in our Supporters’ Discount?

Yes

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Hopefully the threatening drought in some areas will be over soon with forecast rain on the way. Quinfert RPR, QSR and RMA are being trucked from Tauranga all over the North Island, from north of Kaikohe to Martinborough. The smaller operation in Timaru is now picking up a head of steam as well, with truckloads going all the way south. Many clients have expressed their relief that a true RPR, with low cadmium and uranium to boot, is now available to farmers again. For years they have had to put up with offerings described as RPR but which actually contain high-cadmium RPR blended with either the waste slimes from the Boucraa manufacturing rock beneficiation plant (PB3) or Moroccan manufacturing rock (some of which can contain over 550 ppm uranium, believe it or not). Why would anyone do that to farmers? The only reasons are can think of seem too dark to be possible, but there has to be a reason. I am really excited about the opportunity RPR presents to demonstrate that intensively grazed pasture can co-exist with low P run-off and leaching and therefore far lower eutrophication of waterways and lakes. For far too long, councils have been prevented from looking seriously at what improvements in water quality can be achieved simply by farmers changing to more efficient forms of nutrient, because the industry just wants to keep making and selling superphosphate and granular urea. The Councils have been told rubbish like ‘we have to sell superphosphate sorry; RPR is far too hard to get’ (I’ve proved it isn’t), ‘it’s too dusty’ (Quinfert RPR has less dust than much super has, and unlike super you can easily remove dust simply by wetting it with 3% water. This has no adverse effect on its spreadability) . And ONEsystem nbpt-treated prilled urea is here, allowing feed requirements to be reached with 50% less N because environmental losses are minimised. Obviously, fencing off waterways, replanting areas of farms susceptible to sediment loss with trees and native vegetation, and installing wetlands where feasible must continue. More attention must be given to increasing the storage capacity of effluent on dairy farms, so that it does not have to be applied to already-saturated soil, and efficiently irrigating the effluent over all suitable land area on the farm. But none of these physical mitigations will prevent the huge leaching of soluble

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Lean tools to boost farm performance INCREASING costs, lack of time, poor performance and farmers’ inability to step out of the business prompted a self-help book to give farmers simple tools and concepts to address these issues. Manawatu management consultant and dairy farmer Jana Hocken has taken some of the principals often used in big multi-nationals and put them into a New Zealand dairying context in her new book, The Lean Dairy Farm. Hocken’s book is based on the concept of lean, aiming to achieve continuous improvement of things in farmers’ control. “So, the first step in the process involves shifting the mindset from focusing on external factors like low milk prices or the weather that are outside our control and, instead, accepting responsibility and concentrating on the internal factors within the farm business that we can control.” Her work is tempered with more than 17 years working for Toyota with the company’s lean philosophy and as a lean practitioner in consulting roles. Hocken has worked with hundreds of companies in the industrial and service sectors internationally and a return to her husband’s dairy farm inspired her to apply the same approach to the farm. “Compared to many places overseas NZ is still a little behind on the concept of lean management and it is not so unusual to find it used on farms in Europe and United States. “That’s mainly simply due to not many people being aware of the methodology and I see plenty of potential here.” She also now has a body of experience beyond her Manawatu farm, having rolled out the LeanFarm programme in 2017 with 100 farms on board. “It soon became obvious I needed to get a book out on the subject.” Her experience with Toyota involved a car company that, like any farm business, faced external pressures on its performance including currency movements, shifts in steel prices, regulatory changes and competitive pressure. “Yet they still managed to be the most profitable car company in the world because they use lean principles and focus on internal factors they can control and continuously improve upon.” Visualisation is one of the key tools to get all the farm’s team members on the same page knowing what they are trying to achieve. “Making all the information visual and transparent means it is shared by all. “Everyone in the team knows what the farm’s goals are: metrics, priorities, plans, actions, problems and what the status is against these. The team can then take ownership of the information and make the right decisions and actions based on it.” Standardisation is a second tool and is about ensuring everything done on farm has a clear, documented, visual standard process, whether it is how to fix a trough or what accepted pasture residue is when the cows leave the paddock. Only with an objective standard being set for the farm can monitoring then begin on whether those standards are being met. “That’s basically the foundation for lean improvement. From this comes the ability to minimise waste, with everyone working to that standard, also saving time and ultimately improving your farm’s productivity and sustainability.” She says while lean is a concept often adopted by big corporates it is applicable to any dairy farm and interest from dairy businesses has covered the

spectrum from small family units to big multifarm corporate operations. “Ultimately, we want to see farmers have more time to enjoy what they do and to be able to step out of those day-to-day demands and focus on the bigger picture while also having a more productive, profitable farm.”

LEAN: Manawatu farmer, consultant and author Jana Hocken says all dairy farms can use her philosophy.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Spray claim hampers earnings Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz IN A challenging trading period PGG Wrightson’s retail and water division earnings would have beaten the record figure of a year earlier except for a $1.8 million impact from a defective spray sold to fruit growers. The growers were fully compensated by the supplier but PGW as retailer was only partially compensated, leaving a cost that could not be recovered, and that hampered an otherwise excellent trading result, chief executive Ian Glasson said. The division’s operating earnings (Ebitda), the group’s favoured measure of performance, were $23m for the six months ended December 31, compared to $23.6m previously. Without the spray claim the figure would have been more than $24m, Glasson said. The rural supply stores traded strongly as did Fruitfed but water is a difficult business because farm irrigation projects have dried up. The half-year accounts were the first presented for the future PGW, without the seeds business that is being sold to DLF Seeds included in the core figures but treated as a discontinued operation. A loss there affected the group’s bottomline result. For the group the half-year “was tough but we held our own. We were up on 2017 but not up to the record 2018 when everything seemed to align for us,” he said. PGW’s agency operating earnings were $1.6m, down from the prior period’s $4.6m, mainly because of a fall of about $2m in wool earnings on lower volumes and weak international crossbred pricing. Livestock trading was impacted by timing issues in a wet spring and early summer, largely because

IT’S COMING: Pent up demand for agricultural products will be realised in autumn and spring, PGG Wrightson chief executive Ian Glasson says.

of dairy sector caution and Mycoplasma bovis impacts, with sheep and beef tallies similar to the previous year. Earnings rebounded in January with strong cattle and sheep sales and livestock is now expected to match the full-year 2018 result. Rural real estate was slow but the group maintained market share. The rural service group encompassing those divisions had operating Ebitda of $17.8m, down from $23.4m. The continuing business had a $9m after-tax profit but the bottom-line fell to just $320,000 after the $8.7m loss in the seeds and grain business mainly because of problems in South America. The $320,000 profit is a big fall compared to the 2018 figure of $14.6m. PGW typically has an operating cash outflow in the first half-year, being $58.6m, compared to $49.77 previously. On the basis of the rural services

result the directors will pay an interim dividend of 0.75c a share on April 5. That will take up about $5.6m but Glasson pointed to the division’s after-tax earnings of $9m and said the continuing business will be a very substantial enterprise with $800m in annual sales. “It’s still very solid without seeds.” Summing up the first-half, he said PGW had a later start to spring sales and a delayed recovery following an unseasonably wet period in the last few months of 2018. “But we’ve got good underlying growth.” The retail business makes about 85% of earnings in the first half of the financial year. “Wet spring conditions have favoured milk and beef production with an increase in production by 6% across both sectors due largely to strong pasture growth. “In contrast, wet growing conditions in most regions have delayed pasture renovation and the establishment of both arable and winter feed crops. This was felt across most of our rural services businesses, impacting the sales mix and some delayed spending.” That involved some highervalue products. With this background he believes there will be pent-up demand for agriculture inputs to come through in the autumn but more likely in the spring for crops, notably fodder beet which is the group’s highest-value crop, to benefit retail earnings. Glasson remains cautious on the overall outlook, saying there are several counterpoints to the positive signals on milk, beef and especially lamb prices pointing to continuing robust farm earnings.

Adding up PGG Wrightson details for six months to December 31 (in $m, financial year, and continuing business only) 2019

2018

Revenues

473.7

468.1

Op Ebitda

17.8

23.36

After-tax profit

9.02

11.94

Agency sales

85.7

84.3

Agency Ebitda

1.6

4.6

Agency after-tax

2.24

2.49

Retail, water sales

385.8

381.7

R&W Ebitda

22.9

23.6

R&W after-tax

16.72

16.71

Table does not include the PGW seeds business subject to conditional sale

It’s still very solid without seeds. Ian Glasson PGG Wrightson Added to that, horticulture is expected to be the fastest-growing export sector. The counterpoints include surveys indicating farmer pessimism, very dry conditions in many areas, lingering risk from M bovis and trade issues offshore. A lot will depend on weather and commodity prices in May and June, an important period for livestock earnings. At balance date PGW had total assets of $931m, with the seeds business included in $449m of assets held for sale. Shareholders’ equity was $274m. The PGW Seeds business is conditionally sold, with last July 1 being the effective date if the

final approval, from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO), is received. PGW is not part of the OIO process, but Glasson said his understanding was that the process is one of timing, and not any complicating issues. Uruguay regulatory authorities cleared the sale recently. The sale price was locked-in at June 30 values and is a net $431m for PGW after DLF Seeds takes on $21m in seeds debt. PGW has said the profit on the deal will be about $120m, to go into the after-tax earnings for the year-ending June 30. The cash return will be about $210m. There will be a capital return to shareholders with details to be finalised when the sale is unconditional. The company has indicated the return could be more than $210m. Factors involved in the decision include the ongoing group debt profile, capital and cash requirements and alternative uses of funds to support growth.

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The after-tax profit for the half-year was $1.67m, way up from the previous $298,000. Operating cashflow rose 17% to $4.9m.

There was significant uncertainty about getting approval but Foley’s tenacity paid off

The results do not include the Mt Difficulty Wines business in Central Otago, acquired for $55m in early January after a long wait for Overseas Investment Office approval. There was significant uncertainty about getting approval but Foley’s tenacity paid off, Turnbull said.

NZ sales fell by 25% to 59,000 cases following a new pricing and promotional strategy after Lion NZ took on Foley’s distribution. The result was a 100% increase in margins on those sales. It will take time to rebuild the volumes. Lion has become a shareholder in Foley Wines as part of the capital-raising for the Mt Difficulty purchase. US-based group chairman and major shareholder Bill Foley said US sales will be handled by his wine business there, giving the NZ company access to more than 150 sales staff. “We are focused on taking the NZ brands to new levels.” At balance date Foley Wines had total assets of $148m and shareholders’ funds of $114.5m, a high 77% equity ratio.

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FOLEY Wines made big export gains last year and though New Zealand sales fell sharply the margins doubled. Exports to Australia jumped 45% to 74,000 cases, the United States and Canada by 65% to 75,000 cases and Europe by 41% to 49,000 cases. That helped Foley Wines increase revenue during the half-year ended December 31 and boost operating earnings to $2.38 million, from $971,000 at the same time a year earlier. Operating earnings is the best guide to measuring profits, rather than the bottom-line impacts of accounting rules on fair value adjustments on grape values, chief executive Mark Turnbull said. The adjustment in the latest period was a positive $201,000, compared to a writedown previously of $132,000.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

BACKING: The crowds turned out to support a team of 70 shearers as they shore 3000 sheep at the Shear for Life event raising more than $90,000 for charity. Photo: Ashburton Online

Charity shear a huge success Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz CANCER organisations nationwide will benefit from more than $90,000 raised by the inaugural Shear for Life in Ashburton. Held at the Ewing family’s Hindsridge property the charity event attracted internationally renowned names, All Black legends and champion shearers. “It’s been a huge event, massive organisation and simply overwhelming support,” emcee Craig Harrison said. “It’s been a tremendous effort from a very small and giving community to organise and run this with such huge success. “At the end of the day we had tallied $90,000 and still counting. “That’s way exceeded all expectation,” Harrison said. More than 60 shearers, all over the age of 50, and a team of She

Shears women banded together to shear 3000 sheep. “The timeframe set to shear the 3000 was between 8am to 4pm but they ripped into it at the start. In fact, we had to slow them down and everything was shorn by 3.55pm – a massive effort from everyone involved.” The line-up of shearers included many times world champion Sir David Fagan, his fellow worldstage competitors Alan McDonald from Te Kuiti, Darrin Ford, Southland, and Tom Wilson who made his name in shearing in Scotland. Also fronting up was a team of women with world mother and daughter record holders Marg Bayne and Ingrid Smith from Wairoa and former world record holder Jillian Burney from Taupo among them. The celebrity list included former All Blacks Sir Brian Lochore, Andy Earl, Tane Norton, Billy Bush, prostate cancer

North Island entries close: 15th March

ambassador Buck Shelford and Ashburton’s own All Blacks Jock Ross and Grant Perry. Harrison said the uniqueness of the event in bringing such a line-up of shearers and celebrities along with their commitment to the event not only attracted the crowd but also the sponsors.

It could very well happen again but not next year. Craig Harrison Shear for Life “We had very generous support from businesses who put their hands up and kept on giving. “We targeted a few sponsors in the farming and agribusiness sector and it just snowballed.

“The unique way of raising funds certainly generated interest and attracted sponsorship way beyond what we thought at the start. “And, of course, without the Ewing family who hosted the event in their woolshed we couldn’t have done it at all.” Born over a couple of beers in an Aussie pub, Shear for Life was 12 months in the planning. Ashburton shearer Rocky Bull said he and his mates Alan (Bimbo) Bramley and Steven (Dixy) Lynch were just having a couple after a day’s shearing when they chatted about getting a few old mates together. “It seemed like a good idea to get a group of shearers together for a reunion, have a bit of fun, tell a few yarns and perhaps raise some money for charity.” Very quickly it grew too much for a handful of blokes to handle. “We are very grateful for the willingness of the experienced

people who were approached to help pull all the strands together,” Harrison said. While the three buddies thought it would be cool to target $10,000 that soon became very real and they looked out to $20,000. The total funds raised came from sponsorship, an auction of items including signed All Black and Crusaders jerseys, a Makapua Station (Hawke’s Bay) hunting package, a Mt Aspiring (Wanaka) helicopter flight, a shearing handpiece and several accommodation packages around the country with visitors paying a gold coin entry donation and gold coin donations for food and beverages. “It’s come close to $100,000. We couldn’t be happier.” The money will be shared by the NZ prostate and breast cancer organisations and Ashburton Cancer Support. “It could very well happen again but not next year,” Harrison said.

farmersweekly.co.nz/ewehogget2019

News

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Mt Horrible is a showcase farm Sandra Taylor

SAVVY: Joy and Geoff Hayward, with Brooklyn, rely on various family skills and land buying and leasing opportunities to keep their business vibrant.

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MANY aspects of the Hayward family’s farm business are complementary. Based at Mt Horrible on the outskirts of Timaru, the family runs a highly productive, largescale cropping and livestock enterprise on a mix of owned and leased land spread around the district. This business, which Beef + Lamb chairman Andrew Morrison describes as being a great example of diversity in sheep and beef farming, will be showcased on a field trip as part of B+LNZ’s annual meeting in Timaru on March 21. Geoff Hayward says the range of different soils, rainfall and micro-climates on the different properties are complementary and where, for example, wheat might not be fit for harvest on the home farm it will be ready on the lighter, warm, lower, leased blocks. Similarly, about 150ha of the land the family farms is irrigated while the balance is dryland, though soils on Mt Horrible are heavy Claremont silt loams that can get very wet in winter and hang on to moisture in summer. Livestock is run on the land that best fits both the environment and production needs so the maternal ewes are run on a leased hill country block while the terminal sire ewes are run on Mt Horrible’s early country. Between 260 and 300 Friesian bulls bought in autumn as 100kg calves are finished before their second winter on a free-draining block of flat land close to Timaru and finishing lambs, which include 4000 bought-in store lambs for winter contracts, are also on appropriate blocks. Similarly, the family’s skills are complementary with Geoff’s expertise lying in growing crops and operating machinery while his wife Joy looks after the livestock including the breeding ewes, Friesian bulls and trading lambs. The couple’s two sons and daughter-in-law also work in the business as do Geoff’s parents Judith and Donald, who moved their family from a Banks Peninsula sheep and beef farm to Mt Horrible in 1984. Their daughter Anna is at Lincoln University following in her parents’ footsteps by studying agricultural science. The farm business covers 1700ha over six farms of which 660ha is in crops while the balance is dedicated to sheep and beef. Joy looks after 4600 ewes Texel/ Poll Dorset composite ewes of which 2500 are put to a Longdown terminal sire while the maternal ewes are run on a leased 580ha hill block near Cave. The combination of genetics and management drives preweaning growth rates, which enables the family to sell up to 70% of the terminal lamb crop at or before weaning in December at 19.5kg CW off a lambing percentage of 160%-165%. All the lambs are sold to Anzco on Longdown contracts.

The business has been accredited through the Farm Assurance Programme so the meat is eligible to be sold under the Taste Pure Nature origin brand, being launched in the United States this month. With their inherent fertility and Joy’s focus on feeding the ewes are scanning about 205%, which means a quarter to a third are triplet-bearing. While she doesn’t aim for triplets, Joy welcomes them and finds lambing them separately and giving them plenty of space – no more than 30 triplet-bearing ewes a paddock – she maximises their ability to survive and thrive. She also leaves them in their lambing paddocks, which are always the best pastures on the farm, until weaning so can often sell two if not all of the triplets prime at weaning at 42kg. “I’m proud of them. There is nothing better than having all three triplet lambs gone at weaning,” Joy said.

There is nothing better than having all three triplet lambs gone at weaning. Joy Hayward Farmer Two years ago, the family invested in an automatic lamb feeder and last year fed 200 lambs on the system using four tonnes of whey-based milk powder. Geoff says each lamb costs about $80 to rear so it is a profitable exercise but, more importantly, they see the feeder as the right thing to do ethically. The replacement ewe lambs are born on the Cave block but spend their first winter on Mt Horrible before being returned to their place of birth in October. They are not mated because they are the only pressure-valve in a high-performance livestock system. The mix of cash crops, which includes ryegrass seed, fescue, wheat, barley, peas and pak choy as well as 40ha of summer brassicas and 80ha of brassicas or swedes winter feed crops, means pastures are renewed regularly, which helps drive stock performance. The family is self-sufficient, doing all the silage, balage, cultivation, spraying and harvesting, which means they spend about 3000 hours a year on the tractor. Shearing is the only time they use contractors. The couple have grown their business through taking landleasing and buying opportunities when they became available and also making use of the range of skills in the family.

beeflambnz.com/news-views/youreinvited-blnz-annual-meeting

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News

24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Waikato plans for greater land loss Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz AFTER losing 4000ha of productive land from 1996 to 2012 Waikato District Council has recognised continued losses of some of the country’s most productive pastoral land will hit the region hard economically. The council has lost the second largest area of rural land in New Zealand in that time, coming after Auckland lost 4200ha. That is on top of recorded land losses from 1991-2001 of 3200ha and the total puts Waikato region’s productive land loss close to Auckland’s over a 20-year period. The region accounts for the highest number of dairy cows and the second highest number of beef cattle after Manawatu-Wanganui. It also contains 7000ha of highvalue horticultural production land, similar to Auckland. And demand for housing land looks set to continue. Council community growth manager Clive Morgan said the latest Infometrics report shows the region gained 1.2% more

businesses or another 9200 in the 2018 financial year, almost double the national average of 0.7%. “The latest report reflects other evidence of continued interest in the district by people and businesses looking to realise value in the golden triangle but to avoid Auckland congestion.” Morgan said the council is working to protect the rural economy and the soils it relies on by establishing a development strategy setting a framework to manage the tension between growth needs and protecting rural land. The plan aims to identify towns and villages with defined urban boundaries as the focus for future development while maintaining rural areas for productive rural activity. They include Ngaruawahia, Huntly and Te Kauwhata, all to the north of Hamilton. The council has identified 1000ha surrounding those growth nodes to help meet government requirements for urban development capacity.

LAND

Intensification is being encouraged in existing residential areas to help reduce sprawl and greenfield development. There is also a further 1000ha of land earmarked for transfer to Hamilton City, originally due to occur between 2039-45, but bought forward to within the next 10 years, based on Hamilton City Council estimates. Morgan said the district council has signed up with neighbouring Waipa and Hamilton councils and Waikato Regional Council to better manage growth. The council also intends to accommodate a national policy statement on productive soils, should it come into effect.

FAST GROWTH: Waikato District Council community growth manager Clive Morgan says the council is working to recognise and protect high quality soils.

The latest report reflects other evidence of continued interest in the district by people and businesses looking to realise value in the golden triangle but to avoid Auckland congestion. Clive Morgan Waikato District Council

Hamilton eyes more Waikato dirt Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz AS ONE of the country’s fastest growing cities Hamilton is bursting at its boundaries in pursuit of more land, coming up hard against its fertile Waikato hinterland in the process. On a per-capita basis in the past 12 months the city has had the highest number of housing consents issued in New Zealand, outstripping Tauranga, Queenstown and Auckland, Hamilton City Councillor growth and infrastructure committee chairman Dave Macpherson said.

In the last couple of years protection of these soils has been on our conscience more, given the growth we have had. Dave Macpherson Hamilton City Council With its population now at 172,000 Hamilton issued 1700 new housing consents. More growth is coming, with a developer earmarking land right on the city’s northern boundary for another 2400 houses through the Government’s Special Housing Accord.

HUNGRY: Hamilton is likely to swallow more productive Waikato land.

“People are seeing Hamilton’s opportunity, being equidistant from our two main ports and is still comparatively cheap to buy land in but I think we definitely do not have enough land.” Only 6ha of industrial zoned land remains within the city boundary while residential land is filling fast to the north and developers are putting pressure on for more land to build on. Iwi ownership of land through Tainui Holdings in the city exists

but Tainui’s preference to lease rather than sell land can limit the appeal for developers. Macpherson said his council is working with the Waikato and Waipa councils on an Auckland unitary-style plan, aiming to identify key growth areas, including where its high-value soils lie. “In the last couple of years protection of these soils has been on our conscience more, given the growth we have had.”

The council has 1000ha of Waikato land earmarked for earlier than anticipated absorption into the city limits but is trying to work on maintaining a green doughnut around the city. “HCC is looking at how we can provide infrastructure like water and wastewater services to growth centres beyond it in Waikato and Waipa without the land necessarily being taken into HCC boundary, to keep that green doughnut there.

“This keeps that and removes the pressure for HCC to fight for that land.” The council is also trying to contain growth within city limits by encouraging intensified and infill housing development. Minimum section size is being reduced from 400 square metres to 250sqm in some areas, with encouragement for duplex and apartment construction. “We have achieved 59% of consents as infill housing, the highest in the country, and have achieved 55% on average for the past three years. It does still leave that other 40% pressing on the boundary though.” He expects to see an almost constant urban ribbon from Hamilton north to Ngaruawahia in coming years but doubts it will extend to Auckland, given Waikato’s aim to develop growth towns along that corridor. Macpherson said a national policy statement protecting high-value soils will be supported by the council. However, it will require more investment in transport infrastructure including rail to counter the loss of access to land on the city boundary. “We would have to have better connections to towns like Ngaruawahia, at the moment it is car or nothing.” A rapid rail link from Hamilton to Auckland is due to be tried next March but Macpherson said a link from Cambridge to Auckland is also being seriously considered.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Shania effect swallows farmland Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz IT IS called the Shania effect, named after the Canadian singersongwriter who in 2004 with her then husband Mutt Lange, paid $21.5 million for Motatapu and Mt Soho Stations in Otago’s lakes district. The marriage subsequently split and Lange kept ownership of the properties before adding Glencoe and Coronet Peak Stations, taking his holding to more than 53,000ha of pastoral land from Glendhu Bay near Wanaka to Coronet Peak near Queenstown. He later invested heavily in environmentally sympathetic development that removed reliance on livestock farming. That included spending $1.6 million over three years controlling wilding pines, weeds and pests, planting river margins and fencing waterways and sensitive shrublands. At the time the Overseas Investment Office approved the Twain sale land over 1100m above sea level was retired to conservation. The couple went further and opened up 4000ha to the public, agreed to create a tramping track through the property and once a year provide access for a community-run cycle and running race. In 2014 Lange gave 50,000ha to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust. Lange’s lawyer Willy Sussman described the notoriously shy, multi-millionaire, Switzerland-

based music producer as unconventional and a far-sighted thinker who wants to make a difference to the world. “He doesn’t do it for fame, he doesn’t do it for fortune and he doesn’t do it for publicity. He does it because it’s the right thing to do.” Significantly, the properties provide a bolt-hole where their high-profile owners get guaranteed privacy, something the rich and famous increasingly value and see the South Island high country providing.

He doesn’t do it for fame, he doesn’t do it for fortune and he doesn’t do it for publicity. He does it because it’s the right thing to do. Willy Sussman Lawyer United States television host Matt Lauer has similar intentions with Hunter Valley Station on the shores of Lake Hawea while others in the South Island are owned by independently wealthy people seeking privacy and seclusion. Their deep pockets, willingness to invest vast sums of money and provide community benefits such as access have taken the more desirable properties out of the reach of local buyers. The Labour-led Government has

LAND

subsequently tightened rules on foreigners buying land, which has reduced demand, while ending tenure review, where lessees can retire land in return for the right to freehold the balance, has changed the dynamics of the high country. Tenure review has enabled the freeholding of 346,000ha and most leaseholders have used it to strengthen their farm businesses. Some farmers have subdivided land while others have added tourist ventures or changed farming practices. The process has also added 302,000ha to the conservation estate, including the creation of 10 new conservation parks. In addition, the Nature Heritage Fund has boosted the conservation estate by buying pastoral lessees, including the 79,300ha St James Station in North Canterbury and the 24,000ha Birchwood Station in North Otago. Federated Farmers high country chairman Simon Williamson said the tenure review policy has been of huge benefit to lessees, subsequent landowners and the rural communities. Property sales and tenure review settlement have allowed

farmers to sell economically poor performing properties and help families move to more viable farms. For some lessees, freeholding has enabled them to strengthen their business by investing in irrigation, fertiliser, pasture and genetics. Rabbits and scant vegetation mean extensively farmed areas of the Mackenzie Basin and parts of Waitaki are susceptible to topsoil loss through wind erosion but that has stopped with more secure land tenure allowing the opportunity to invest in the land and protect it from rabbits and improve vegetative cover. While critics have focused on the introduction of irrigation RETREAT: Shania Twain and her then husband Mutt and dairying in some dryland areas, freehold Lange took four high country stations out of farming. properties such as Bendigo Station and And there are other unintended Northburn Station in Otago have consequences. transformed rabbit-prone land The removal of grazing on into high-value vineyards. Birchwood Station is making the Others now grow cherries or habitat less favourable for the have developed tourist ventures rare black stilt, which does not and farm-stay lodges. like the rampant vegetation Williamson says the role of growth previously controlled by farmers in managing weeds grazing. and pests in the high country The loss of grazing is also has been dismissed but on the causing problems with controlling 302,000ha now in conservation, that role falls to the Department of weeds such as wilding pines, previously contained by sheep. Conservation.

Market must decide what’s best use of the land Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz PROTECTING agricultural land on the fringes of urban areas has little economic merit but inflates house prices and restricts supply, the Productivity Commission says. The 2015 report, Using Land for Housing, disagrees with protecting land for food security, saying artificially suppressing the price of land next to cities to protect foodproducing land will not contribute to greater prosperity. The report dismisses as exaggerated the need to preserve fertile agricultural land. It quotes a Shlomo Angle, a city planning professor from New York University’s Marron Institute as saying “Reserves of cultivatable land are available to feed the planet in perpetuity. “Unless urban fringe restrictions are relaxed enough to restore the competitive market for land, housing affordability is likely to worsen even more.” The report describes restricting the conversion of agricultural land to residential as an extremely clumsy and indirect way of keeping produce prices down. Better food interventions are greater competition and improved logistics while growing food on cheaper, larger blocks of land

further away from cities will keep costs down. It said key reasons for expensive houses and limited choice, especially in fast-growing centres, are insufficient land and rules limiting how land can be used for housing. It also found council planning to be too slow responding to demand for housing with decisions often skewed towards existing residents and ratepayers. To change land zoning is complex and delayed further by the time required to install utilities. Councils’ processes are too slow responding to growing demand for housing despite land use authorities having a responsibility to provide capacity to house a growing population while delivering a choice of quality, affordable dwellings of the type demanded, it said. Most high-growth cities have goals and policies such as urban limits, large minimum lot sizes, strict subdivision rules and specification of areas with high amounts of elite soils in their resource management plans to stop urban sprawl and protect high-class agricultural land. The commission said that is inefficient, adding that artificial surfaces, including cities, covered

220,500ha or just 0.8% of NZ’s land in 2002. It quoted a 2013 report that 29% of new urban development since 1990 has occurred on high class soils, saying that represents 0.5% of all high-class land.

Planning rules that restrict the ability to convert agricultural land to residential use can inflate prices for existing residential land and artificially suppress the price of neighbouring land. Productivity Commission “By comparison, lifestyle blocks occupy 873,000ha or about 5% of NZ’s non-reserved land. One-sixth (17%) of these are located on highclass land.” It proposed a review of minimum lifestyle lot sizes, saying while lifestyle blocks are valued it questions whether councils used them to create a buffer to avoid reverse sensitivity issues between urban housing and farms

and to also reduce the burden of extending utilities. That proposal was criticised by councils as not protecting nationally significant assets. In submissions to the commission councils justified larger lots as more productive for food and fibre, making it easier to consolidate land for housing development, avoiding reverse sensitivity in existing rural areas and maintaining a strong rural economy. The commission in turn rejected the last concern saying resources should flow to their most valued use. “If agriculture is a higher-value land use than housing this will be reflected in the price of land and there will be no incentive to convert that land to residential use. “Planning rules that restrict the ability to convert agricultural land to residential use can inflate prices for existing residential land and artificially suppress the price of neighbouring land.” Where land prices for housing are high there will be pressure to convert agricultural land to residential. It cited a Western Bay of Plenty District Council submission that residential growth in Katikati and Te Puke is being strangled by

the high price of neighbouring kiwifruit orchards. The commission proposes the supply of greenfield land should be automatically expanded when housing affordability targets are not met. “Where large discontinuities emerge between the price of land that can be developed for housing and land that cannot be developed, this is indicative of the inadequacy of development capacity being supplied within a city.” Commission chairman Murray Sherwin calculated the lack of suitably zoned land made Auckland land five times more expensive than 20 years ago. More land has to be released for housing because the shortage means land makes up 50% of property value in many highgrowth cities but 60% in Auckland. That also encourages developers to build more expensive dwellings. “Our urban planning systems are not set up to respond to the information provided by market prices. “The sharp increase in house prices that has occurred in recent years is a clear indication that rising demand for housing is not being met with rising supply. This needs to change.”

News

26 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Forests interest on growth curve Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz INTEREST in forestry is likely to be heightened in coming months with new environmental legislation that could include changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme. Most farmers could plant more trees for shelter or woodlots on 10% of their area without affecting on production, Farm Forestry Association chairman Neil Cullen says. Likely changes to the ETS or the chance to boost income by selling carbon credits could make forestry investment more attractive and he urges landowners to look at opportunities provided by the Government’s One Billion Trees project. The project aims to grow the forest estate by 500,000ha in addition to replanting logged sites, which will have little impact on livestock productivity. Te Uru Rakau (Forestry NZ) head Julie Collins said it is designed to control erosion, reduce sediment loss, provide an alternative source of income, increase biodiversity and sequester carbon. It also aims to ensure the right trees are planted in the right places so supports planting of indigenous and exotic trees and shrubs. A $240 million Government fund launched in November as part of the project offers grants for fencing and planting and for owners to follow best practice. The grants range from $500/ ha to $4000/ha, depending on the purpose and the type of tree or shrub being planted to a maximum of 300ha. The Crown Forestry joint venture project lets landowners lease land to or form a joint venture with the Crown, which pays all the tree establishment and management costs for a

LAND

minimum of 200ha while paying rent to the landowner, who keeps any carbon credits. Last year 7.5m trees were planted under the scheme. The scheme is expected to encourage the planting of 20m trees by 2020-21. Cullen acknowledged the Productivity Commission’s estimate last year that up to 2.8m hectares of trees could be required to offset emissions as part of making NZ carbon neutral by 2050 will frighten some people and mean the disappearance of some rural communities. “That will mean radical change and require planning on what is going to happen with those trees.” If the commission’s forecast comes true that will increase the forestry estate by nearly 3m hectares by 2050. Despite such a potentially significant shift in land use there are no estimates on the economic impact on exports and livestock numbers. Collins said no such estimates exist but given more than 7000ha a year was converted from forestry to pasture between 2008 and 2016 there is some catch-up planting required. “Currently, net deforestation is declining and Te Uru Rakau expects the trend will switch to net afforestation in the near future.” In 2016 12.1m hectares or 45.3% of New Zealand’s land area was used for agriculture or horticulture, 2m hectares for forestry, of which 96% is privately

FORESTRY OR LIVESTOCK? Trees compete with livestock on the coastal South Otago hill country.

owned, and 7.8m hectares is in native forest. Collins estimates 61m trees were planted in 2018, of which 7.5m were funded by the Government through afforestation and erosion control grants. Planting is expected to reach 100m trees a year by 2020-21 driven by the billion tree grants, a likely increase in the carbon price and bright prospects for timber. Collins said the intention in increasing forestry is not to displace livestock. “It’s about reintegrating trees, both native and exotic species, into our landscapes to create real benefits for all New Zealanders. “This can make a positive contribution to rural communities through helping landowners, including farmers, to diversify their income and improve land productivity.” The commission said agricultural greenhouse gas emissions need to fall 30% for NZ

to become a zero emitter and it calculates between 1.3m and 2.8m hectares of new forestry will need to be planted on sheep and beef country to offset emissions. That is part of what it calls a substantial transformation to lower carbon emissions through land use change, improved farming practices and technology. In a report lacking any financial analysis of the impact of swapping livestock for trees let alone the future of rural communities, it did concede such an increase in forestry will come at a cost. “Increased forestry may also lead to falls in the rural population and loss of associated infrastructure such as schools,” it warned. Commission chairman Murray Sherwin said at concerns of rural depopulation were real at the time but new permanent forest planting will be in more remote areas. “There has to be change and

there will be some disruption in some rural communities,” he said. Cullen said not all new plantings will be exotics with the funds encouraging use of native species. There are plans to plant native woodlots to create a corridor for birdlife between Banks Peninsula and the Southern Alps in Canterbury and Operation Crimson encourages conservation planting. Environmental issues with logging slash following severe storms on the North Island’s east coast last year are likely to mean more rules on loggers, such as limiting the species planted in areas where logging will be risky. “I can see restrictions on felling in the future where you won’t be able to fell say 500ha in one block all at once because of the risk of a cyclone coming in when the land is most vulnerable in the phase between harvest and four years old.”

Trees pose big risk to farmland Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz WHILE a canopy of brick and tile subdivisions threatens farmland in flatter areas near the country’s major cities it is a canopy of trees that represents a greater threat to the sheep and beef industry’s capacity over coming years. The Government’s bold 50,000ha a year tree-planting policy for a low-carbon economy is the second part of the pincer that has pastoral New Zealand squeezed between urban land demand on the flats and forestry expectations on the hill country. While farmers and growers on flatter country might face the challenge of urban sprawl, Beef + Lamb NZ policy-makers are more preoccupied with the impact millions of hectares of extra forest planting could have on the sector’s capacity, its insight manager Jeremy Baker says.

B+LNZ has welcomed Forestry Minister Shane Jones’ billion trees initiative, if done the right way with the right trees. But concerns have been raised over even more area over and above that being taken up to reduce NZ’s carbon levels. Jones’ initiative would require an extra 500,000ha of generally drystock country be planted over the next 10 years. But recommendations to the Government to achieve lowered carbon could require a further 1.22.5 million hectares by 2050. Baker said that sort of loss of pastoral land at a time when red meat profitability is healthy has to be challenged by the sector. “As a sector we feel we have already got our carbon emissions in hand. “We are already producing the same amount of sheep meat from half the sheep and have reduced land area in pasture from 12m

hectares 30 years ago to 6.2m hectares today.” Significantly, 3.2m hectares of that has reverted to native vegetation, including land set aside in perpetuity under QE II covenants. The remainder has gone to blanket forestry, horticulture or lifestyle blocks near population centres. “We have also reduced our carbon emissions over 1990 levels by 30%. “We do not think we have a lot more land to give up before we seriously impact on our ability to produce red meat profitably. “If we lose much more we will see production and profitability drop and this is an issue the country has to deal with.” The loss of 2m additional hectares to trees might prove to have more sting in it than even the loss of farmland, piece by piece, to housing. Based on B+LNZ figures NZ has

about five stock units a hectare including sheep and cattle so losing 2m hectares would slice livestock numbers by millions. Rural economist Phil Journeaux has labelled advisers’ assumptions around losing so much pastoral land to forestry as naive (see Farmers Weekly, October 26 2018). NZ Institute of Economic Research modelling for zero carbon shows focusing on reducing grazing land and planting it in trees could play a big role in reducing average annual household incomes by as much as 7% under zero-emission policies. Modelling calculations estimate growth in household incomes under low-emissions policies including massive tree planting will be slowed by a third between now and 2050, compared to a donothing approach to emissions. Officials in the Ministry for the Environment have admitted the loss of so much land to trees

ENOUGH: The pastoral sector cannot afford to lose more land to trees, Beef + Lamb New Zealand insight manager Jeremy Baker says. could have significant negative economic impacts. Baker said B+LNZ far prefers to see a balanced land use portfolio. “That may involve looking harder at how we build our cities alongside how much land we put aside for trees. Once pave over that land it’s gone, they are not making any more of it.”

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28 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Action group think is paying dividends COLLECTIVE: Farmers Pete Thomson, left, and Hayden Peter are enthusiastic about what members and other farmers can get from action groups.

LIKE-MINDED farmers working together to improve their businesses’ productivity and profitability is paying dividends, Southland sheep farmer Pete Thomson, who’s part of a Red Meat Profit Partnership Action Group, says. He is one of nine Southland farm businesses that have got together under the RMPP Action Network, a proven model for supporting small groups of farmers to turn ideas into on-farm action. “It can get lonely out there as a farmer and this opportunity is exciting.

2019 N Z

TOU R

“We’re all doing things differently so it’s about bringing all the best bits together.” The group’s overarching goal is to improve their farming operations with a focus on lifting their hogget lambing percentage to 150% over the next three years – an ambitious target. But all nine farmers are already high performers averaging about 100% and achieving anything over 120% will significantly add to their bottom lines. “At the end of the day if you can get 800 to 1000 extra lambs out of your hoggets you’re adding a lot of money to the bottom line,” Thomson, who runs 850 hoggets in a flock off 3100 ewes on his 413ha property at Lochiel, where he also rears calves, said. “We’ve set the bar high at 150% target to drive us forward.” Expert support and facilitation are part of the package, funded by RMPP kick-start funding of $4000 per farm business, which is available to groups of seven to nine farmers. The money is pooled to pay for a facilitator and expert advice. This group’s facilitator, Southland sheep farmer and breeder Hayden Peter, says “Action groups give farmers an amazing opportunity to talk one-onone with experts on topics that they’ve chosen, on their own farms and with other like-minded farmers.” Peter grew up on a sheep farm, got an agriculture degree and pursued a career taking him from Landcorp and stud farm management to leadership advisory roles, most recently at Alliance. He has recently returned to farming full-time, running the family business in eastern Southland. He has doubled the size of the enterprise with more land and now runs 1000 stud ewes and 5000 commercial ewes. A year in the group is continuing to build data gathered from each farm business on hogget lambing, allowing them to compare and analyse different outcomes. And at each meeting the group determines a new collective challenge for farmers to present at the next meeting with the aim of identifying practices that are most effective in achieving their long-term goal. “For instance, between mating and scanning we set a challenge to see who could get the most hoggets in lamb. “Usually, around 20% remain dry but one farmer came back with just 8% dry.” The farmer was doing things very differently to achieve the high lambing percentage, including putting the teasers (vasectomised rams) out with the hoggets for longer to increase the scanning percentage, mating them with the fertile rams for longer and putting far more rams out. “He put the teasers out for 34 days compared to the usual 17 and put about one ram to every 25 females out, pretty much every ram he had on the farm. The cost-benefit ratio is definitely worthwhile to get more lambs out of the stock,” Peter said. “There are huge economies of scale to be achieved by lifting lambing to 150%. The guys see that and every time we get together there’s a new angle and new challenge.” Indeed, lifting lambing percentages in hoggets is a complex area that requires a lot of balancing on timing, animal health, pasture management and more. Which is where the targeted, on-one-one expertise comes in. “So far we’ve had a veterinarian talking to the guys about animal health, an agronomist about growing high-quality pastures for lactating hoggets. It’s all a matter of how to fit all these factors into different farm systems and conditions.” The Southland group is so enthusiastic about the power of like-minded farmers sharing good ideas that part of its strategy is to reach out to farmers all over NZ to find those who are achieving lambing percentages of 120% or more.

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30 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Newsmaker

Crisis expert helps rural folk Lance Burdett’s messages are refreshingly heartening. Forgetfulness is not necessarily a sign of impending dementia or Alzheimer’s and everyone has thoughts suggesting irrational behaviour. The former police crisis negotiator tells Neal Wallace he wants to tell rural New Zealand these conditions are quite normal and a product of the modern world.

ESPITE owning a diesel-powered car for some time, former police crisis negotiator Lance Burdett still does several takes to check it is diesel and not petrol going into his tank when refuelling. This somewhat irrational behaviour is triggered by the safety mechanism in his brain, which ignores the multiple safety systems fuel companies install at the pump to prevent such mistakes. Burdett easily explains that and other quirky scenarios we all experience, such as forgetting the reason you go in to a room, as the inability of our brains to handle and process the volume of information and stimulation generated by the modern world.

Worry is a risk management tool provided to us by evolution. Lance Burdett Warn International Equally, it is natural to have irrational thoughts such as questioning what will happen if you open the door on an aircraft or what it would be like to lean so far forward you fall off a cliff. Such thoughts are quite normal and part of who we are. The skill is to have a rational mechanism to deal with them and stop it becoming the catalyst for depression or worse. “It is just a thought, therefore dismiss it.” Burdett spent 22 years in the police, 13 of them as a crisis negotiator dealing with hostage situations and people considering suicide.

CATASTROPHE: Lance Burdett says when faced with a period of dry weather farmers will naturally rattle off every other similar dry period they have experienced instead of recalling what they did to manage their way through it.

Suicide intervention was his speciality and no one contemplating suicide died after his intervention. He has also completed the FBI negotiator’s course and a counter-terrorist negotiator’s course in Australia but three years ago resigned to establish Warn International, a company that provides coaching to deal with challenging situations, aggression, conflict and response to emergencies. His clients include government departments and businesses and he has started working with the Rural Support Trust to help rural people deal with stress and reduce the suicide rate. In 2016-17 22 farmers took their lives, up from 18 the year before. Burdett knows first hand what people in the depths of despair are going through, having reached a deep hole of depression himself and considered suicide. His experience provides him with a deeper understanding and empathy for what people in that situation are going through. But the rural sector’s high suicide rate can be lowered once people understand they are not alone. Neuroscience shows our brains are being overwhelmed trying to comprehend and absorb the multiple choices and volume of information and that people aren’t coping, evident by the growing number of suicides internationally. Burdett says a cup of coffee has gone from a teaspoon of dried granules to a suite of options including milk varieties. Once that decision is made technology then gives another list of choices for payment. “We’ve never been so overwhelmed with stuff.” When facing a challenge the brain naturally reverts to negative thoughts, a defense mechanism

NORMAL: Warn International managing director Lance Burdett says people with suicidal thoughts are not failures but human beings with frailties.

that has enabled humans to survive, what is called fight or flight. “Worry is a risk management tool provided to us by evolution.” For example, faced with a period of dry weather farmers will naturally rattle off every other similar dry period they have experienced instead of recalling what they did to manage their way through it. “We look for danger and we exaggerate it, what is called catastrophisation.”

Isolation in these situations is a danger point for rural people as often the only person a farmer talks to is their partner who has the same concerns. Equally, the days of telling people to harden up when confronted with adversity are gone because young people’s brains differ and are conditioned to be more emotional and sensitive. “Young men are so empathetic. Their brains are wired more like young women.” Burdett says people need to take time out, take a deep breath but also have a way of dealing with adversity or a challenge or risk being swamped by negative thoughts. Faced with such a challenge it is important to talk to people and write down answers to questions such as what could happen, what the likelihood is of that happening and what they are going to do about it. “Do something about it. If you don’t your brain will just make it up in your head.” Talking to people and showing a genuine interest in their wellbeing is also important. He says the greeting of “how are you?” has become so common its real message is lost. The usual answer of “fine” should

be followed up by “no, I really mean, how are you?” displaying a genuine interest in someone’s wellbeing. Burdett says suicide has been stigmatised as failure but that prevents people talking about their worries and concerns at a time when that is what they need to do. “You are not a failure, you are a human being and with that comes frailties and one of those is an old brain working in a modern world.” Burdett has held sessions with rural North Island communities and is about to do the same in the South Island in conjunction with the Rural Support Trust.

WHERE TO GET HELP Rural Support Trust: 0800 787 254 Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 Need to Talk? Call or text 1737 Industry-specific advice and support for depression within the rural community is available at depression.org.nz/rural

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

CURIOSITY: A large crowd attended the Sustainable Helicropping Group field day at Waihora Station on the Central Plateau.

Soil-saving efforts take to air Helicropping is gathering considerable interest among farmers and advisers for the effective establishment of improved pastures and fodder crops while maintaining the soil structure and avoiding erosion. Hugh Stringleman looks at the latest trials.

LARGER-THANEXPECTED audience of farmers and rural advisers saw the procedures and results of helicropping demonstrated at a field day at Waihora Station on the Central Plateau earlier this month. The practice is being hailed as a way of landowners addressing the huge loss of soil through erosion, nearly half of which is from pastoral land. While especially relevant on hill-country, the practice is costeffective on the full range of land contour types and, when done correctly, provides a valuable source of feed without the risk of erosion. Sustainable Helicropping Group chairman Colin Armer said the aerial no-till approach establishes crops and renews pastures without touching the ground or disturbing the soil, more like nature. The group has $1 million of Government and industry funding. Backers include the Sustainable Farming Fund, Beef + Lamb, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Nufarm and seed suppliers Agricom and PGG Wrightson. The technique involves precision use of herbicides, fertiliser, seeds and pest controls applied by helicopters. “We know aerial no-till works and we believe it’s a potential game-changer for any farmer wanting to grow crops and renew pasture profitably with minimal soil disturbance,” Armer said. “This project was the next step because we can now capture learnings and develop a system for farmers which is proven,

profitable and sustainable across a wide range of farm and soil types – including showing where this approach is not suitable.” The health and safety aspects alone make helicropping an attractive option compared with tractor work. “Previously multiple operations with different drivers of lots of machinery on varying terrain raised the risk of accidents. “Now we have skilled and very careful pilots flying on GPS coordinates and delivering precise applications.”

We know aerial notill works and we believe it’s a potential gamechanger. Colin Armer Sustainable Helicropping Group Armer said his seven-year experience with helicropping on the Mangakino dairy-support farm, Waihora Station, in the Lake Taupo/upper Waikato River catchments, began with areas that tractors couldn’t get over safely. As technology has improved and pilots gained experience the annual helicropping area grew larger. “Now 80% of cropping (at Waihora) is done by helicopter and 20% by tractor. “Our figures show it is about the same cost as conventional cultivation but a bit dearer than direct drilling. “The average cost for us has

been about $1350/ha, divided into $805 for chemicals, seed, pest-control etc and $540 for the seven flight passes by helicopter.” Wet areas on Waihora have been fenced and soil bunds protect waterways, he said. “If there is any soil movement we can capture it before it escapes the paddock. “Feeding off the crops occurs in larger breaks with three or four hours of grazing followed by removal of stock to pasture.” In response to the suggestion he can afford an expensive option, Armer said the costs are no greater than cultivation and farmers have an obligation to minimise their effects on soil structure and water quality. Ballance fertiliser and forage specialist Murray Lane said GPSsupported precision tools are now available for fertiliser and seed placement along with Accu-Flow nozzles to confidently spray without drift. The farmers in the helicropping project group achieved profitable returns and aerial no-till also helped them meet their obligations as environmental custodians. “Their success comes from strictly following a prescribed process that reduces risks both to a profitable return and to soil conservation. “There are no short cuts,” Lane said. In a Grasslands Association paper in 2017, written with Bruce Willoughby of Ecometric Consulting, Lane said farmer experiences show winter feed grown on hill country is a game changer. Growing rather than maintaining stock over winter

NOT EXPENSIVE: The average total cost of helicropping at Waihora Station is $1350/ha, about the same as conventional cultivation but a bit dearer than direct drilling, owner Colin Armer says.

allows target weights to be achieved earlier than by relying on spring feed. Crop establishment costs vary from $1000 to $1500/ ha depending on helicopter travel time and the number of tasks done, including herbicide spraying, seed, fertiliser, slug bait and insecticide applications. The type of terrain dictates which machine is best for the job and though helicopters can be constrained by wind, rain and low cloud, crop establishment can

be done on wet soil that would preclude ground operations. The result is earlier and better crops before soils dry out. Crop use is generally straightforward and buffer strips for hot wires and access can be programmed into the helicopter flight paths. Lane and Willoughby said their interviews with early adopters showed helicropping is a good fit in farming practices that does not conflict with environmental custody.

Opinion

32 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

EDITORIAL

No sense please, we’re British

SAY chaps, those Brits have pulled a blinder, the cunning rascals. They’ve got those Europeans exactly were they want them. Confused. In fact, in a move far exceeding any of the clever tricks they came up with to misdirect the Germans in World War II, the British have managed to make sure the Continentals don’t know what the next British move will be. They’ve done that by the clever manoeuvre of making sure they, themselves, don’t know what their next move will be. How crafty can you get, eh what? It’s not something done easily. For a start they only just managed to start the process with a close vote in a referendum. It was so close many were convinced they would never go through with it once the people realised the promises made about them still being able to enjoy the benefits of being part of Europe without the inconvenience of having to help pay for those benefits and the nuisance of letting foreigners have free entry to their sceptred isle. They have completely wasted the two years since giving notice of their desire to rid themselves of European ties stoically pontificating and telling everyone there’s plenty of time. They’re still doing that just days away from the opposite of D Day, when they pull back from the beaches. And they’ve very slyly kept everyone, including themselves, in the dark by repeatedly holding votes on everything they don’t want so no one, including themselves, knows what it is they do want. They can’t have those inferior johnnies over the water being privy to their innermost desires. Come March 29, of course, there will be even greater confusion with ships, already on the water and heading in the general direction of that part of the world, going round in circles in the North Sea wondering where they are supposed to land their cargoes. It’s definitely a case of keeping up that bulldog spirit and making sure the stiff upper lip doesn’t let any useful information out and for goodness sake: Don’t tell them your name, Pike.

Stephen Bell

LETTERS

Farmers should do homework I’M WRITING in regards to an article in Farmers Weekly on February 27, titled Stock agents must be policed. I have been in the livestock industry for 47 years and have worked alongside more honest stock agents than not. I can assure you living in a small rural community a stock agent who trades dishonesty soon gets found out and usually does not last long. Stock agents are not just those who sell through the sale yards or arrange private sales from farmer to farmer. Meat companies also have livestock reps who are now actively involved in store stock transactions but they seem to fly under the radar. Once again there have been a few rotten apples in the barrel here.

Regulating any industry will not stop individuals going off the rails, as can be seen with a case recently where a large company, a member of the Stock and Station Agents Association, had an agent cost their clients huge sums. All the measures put in place did not prevent this calamity. The real estate industry is one of the most regulated in the country but each month agents still get taken before the authority on charges. The law profession likewise. Even our illustrious politicians have members who fall from grace although sworn in under oath. We were association members, something forced on us because we were required to sell at auction under their terms and conditions in common sale yards. The four bigger

companies at the time made the decisions for all. Unfortunately, when Nait was introduced, this association, while trying to recover Nait costs, got caught up unwittingly in a collusion accusation that the Commerce Commission eventually decided would cost two companies considerable fines. Other companies were reprimanded. After two years of interrogation several smaller operators like ourselves were cleared. I, like several independent livestock agents, would never again let an organisation make decisions on our behalf after this example. I do, however, agree with Miles Anderson that agents buying stock for their own properties need to be careful and be able to justify the price and conditions to clients

when buying direct from the farm. The same applies to selling. Everybody these days has access to sale prices and trends so some due diligence before accepting a deal might pay. It’s fair to say a small number of farmers do not always play fair either, with examples of reneging on contracts, swapping contract stock when the market changes and not emptying out stock purchased per kilo. Would a regularity body of ethics for farmers work? For the reasons above I don’t think so. It’s up to farmers to judge for themselves who they trust to market their stock, whether it be an independent agent or larger company. Paul Dixey Mid Canterbury

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Messy process means no one wins Angela Johnston

N THE face of it the Resource Management Act (RMA) and its application is a wide-ranging, all-encompassing, citizen-friendly piece of legislation. When it was released in 2001 the then Environment Minister Simon Upton made a video for councillors about their role. There is one particular quote from Upton that stands out. “Keeping things simple and focused is the best way you can protect against this Act becoming a lawyers’ paradise,” he said. That’s an irony, I’m sure, that is not lost on anybody who has been involved in an RMA process, given how this imperfect system is steadily becoming more unfair and biased.

Local councils, farmers and communities are left with trying to implement plans that are often quite unworkable.

If you have deep pockets, can afford specialist RMA legal representation and have a tenacity to see things through to the bitter end you might get the outcome you want though it’s not always easy to pick a winner. I’m reasonably sure that after 12 Environment Court decisions

The

Pulpit

and more than 10 years of costs, stress and delays no parties in the Mackenzie District Council’s Plan Change 13 saga felt like winners. In August 2017, it was reported that stoush had cost Mackenzie ratepayers more than $1.2 million. Mackenzie District has a small ratepayer base and huge infrastructure issues, largely because of tourism, which has them repeatedly looking to central government to help cover costs, aka taxpayers’ money. While this is perhaps an extreme example it is, sadly, not a one-off. Stage one of the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s District Plan review had more than 100 Environment Court appeals lodged and more than 1125 s274 notices to join those appeals. More than a year will be spent on mediation and hearings and we are still to see out stages 2, 3 and 4. You might think that doesn’t

OFF KILTER: The resource management system is becoming more unfair and biased, Federated Farmers senior policy adviser Angela Johnston says.

affect you, however, if you’re a ratepayer that’s your money being spent on council staff, expertise, evidence and travel time and it’s all money not being used for roading, water and the other services councils provide. Non-local groups and nongovernment organisations can

WHAT A WASTE: Across the country so much time, resources and money are spent on fighting cases that often the workability or practicality is lost when it comes to final plan wording, Federated Farmers senior policy adviser Angela Johnston says.

also undermine the spending ability of your rates money. The West Coast Regional Council’s Regional Policy Statement Environment Court mediation is about to begin. Forest and Bird submitted and further submitted during the consultation, as anyone has the right to do. However, it did not attend the hearing or submit evidence so by then appealing against the decision it is making a mockery of a local process and wasting council resources, aka ratepayer money, not to mention the resources of those parties who duly followed the appropriate process. Is your Forest and Bird subscription and/or donation actually going to protect the penguins or is it funding the lawyers and experts in an RMA process elsewhere in the country? Inundating the RMA process with cut-and-paste submissions also achieves nothing but more resource wastage. That approach was well used by Fish and Game in the Lindis Integrated Water Management Process in Otago. As part of that process, Fish and Game encouraged its supporters nationwide to lodge pro forma templates based on the organisation’s views and swamped the case with antifarming messages. Another example of the broken system is that even if a party has not submitted on a consultation it is possible to join an appeal if it can be shown to the court the party has an interest greater than the public in general.

At Feds what we’ve seen with a number of plan reviews across the country is that so much time, resources and money are spent on fighting cases that often the workability or practicality is lost when it comes to final plan wording. But, by then, all the consultants, lawyers and planners have climbed back onto their planes and jetted away and local councils, farmers and communities are left with trying to implement plans that are often quite unworkable. The RMA system should be about finding local solutions for local people. It is an environmental statute and its original intent was voiced by Upton in that video to councillors: “You have to develop a meaning for sustainable management for your area,” he said. The RMA has grown into an unpredictable behemoth, which supports an ever-growing support system of lawyers, planners, experts and the like. Sadly, it shows no signs of being reined back in line with its founding principle, that being for local councils to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources, enabling people and communities to provide for their social, economic and cultural wellbeing.

Your View Got a view on some aspect of farming you would like to get across? The Pulpit offers readers the chance to have their say. farmers.weekly@globalhq.co.nz Phone 06 323 1519

Opinion

34 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Greenpeace signs found at fault Alternative View

Alan Emerson

AS I mentioned a few weeks ago I complained to the Advertising Standards Authority over the Greenpeace billboard claiming Ravensdown and Ballance pollute rivers. I found the advertisement offensive, bigoted and wrong in fact. I hadn’t complained to the ASA before and found it a highly professional organisation. Last week it upheld my complaint and I’m looking forward to Greenpeace removing all billboards and apologising to both the fertiliser co-operatives and farmers. Needless to say, I’m not holding my breath for the latter. The Greenpeace defence is interesting, concentrating as it did on nitrogen in waterways. Last week I wrote about the myths over nitrogen. Not that it will concern Greenpeace. Mind you, I was quoting the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, not something that might have fallen from the sky like seagull droppings. Simply, the Greenpeace defence said intensive dairy farming and the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser are having a severe, negative impact on the health of waterways in New Zealand. It added Ravensdown and Ballance sell 98% of fertilisers in NZ.

That encouraged two thoughts. The first was that the OECD describes nitrogen as one of the most important elements in life on earth, adding about half the world’s population relies on nitrogen fertilisers for food. So, what does Greenpeace really want – for half the world’s population to starve? The other factor is that I can put nitrogen on my land by using chicken litter, a product over which the fertiliser co-operatives have absolutely no control. I can also intensify using palm kernel. The fert companies don’t control that either. Interestingly, Greenpeace didn’t think much of the Fertmark initiative either, which I found ignorant in the extreme. I wonder if it really understood it. While it’s at it, it could bone up on Spreadmark as well.

I’m looking forward to Greenpeace removing all billboards and apologising to both the fertiliser cooperatives and farmers. The majority of the complaints board said the advertisement is misleading because the message was over-simplified and potentially unclear. It gave the impression individual fertiliser companies are responsible for the pollution of NZ waterways. I agree. Forming a submission to back my complaint was testing but I got there. I made the point that if you accept the premise that

WRONG: The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld Alan Emerson’s complaint against Greenpeace’s billboards.

Ravensdown and Ballance pollute rivers you’d then have to accept the premise that Toyota and Ford kill people. Our road toll last year was 379 and many of those fatalities would have involved Toyota or Ford vehicles. The claim is obviously nonsense, as was the Greenpeace statement. I also made the point that there is no proof fertilisers pollute rivers. Animals can and last year sewerage outflow from local government increased a massive 379% according to an independent survey by Water NZ. Also, according to the Prime Minister’s former science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman, some water bodies are in a good state but others have been significantly compromised by agriculture intensification, urban expansion, industrial pollution, hydroelectric development or the effects of drought. Nowhere was either Ballance or Ravensdown mentioned. Gluckman went on to say our most polluted waterways are in urban, not rural areas, and

the fertiliser co-operatives have no control over anything that happens there. In addition, there is a NIWA report to the Ministry for the Environment that claims the impact of rainfall means storm water picks up sediment, rubbish, contaminants and dog and bird droppings. Again, that’s absolutely nothing to do with agriculture. Further, as only 15% of our waterways run through dairy land it is nigh impossible for a fertiliser company to pollute a river and the hash tag, Too Many Cows, is according to whom? My additional point to the ASA was that there is no proof fertiliser is a pollutant. In NZ our soils aren’t naturally fertile. Without cobalt the Central Plateau would be a desert and I defy anyone to farm without phosphate. That’s the harsh reality behind the prosperity most Kiwis enjoy. The reality of fertiliser application is also obviously unknown to Greenpeace. Our fertiliser representatives are highly trained. Overseer is a valued tool. Having said that, I’m

pleased more resources are being applied to make it even better. Farmers test to find out their fertiliser deficiencies and apply fertiliser only to remedy them. The Spreadmark initiative means farmers apply fertiliser exactly. Farming is a tight business. Farmers can’t afford to apply fertiliser at whim. It is a well thought out process. So, I’m really pleased an independent organisation has found the Greenpeace billboard is wrong in fact. It found the Greenpeace advertisement misleading. The Greenpeace reaction will be interesting. Will it have constructive dialogue with farmers and form a genuine partnership to continue to clean up the environment. Conversely, will it continue to sit in its offices taking cheap and inaccurate pot shots at farmers and ignore the environment?

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath-emerson@wizbiz.net.nz

Busy time building futures and houses From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

A COLUMN of a more personal nature this week, I think. This year is a big one for our family. We have just hosted my niece Dana and her new husband Jack’s wedding. Dana’s mum, my sister Susanna, and Glen were married here at the farm nearly 40 years ago. Glen died suddenly two years ago just as Dana and Jack were about to announce their engagement – a very traumatic time for them and our wider family. Dana was keen to be married where her parents had tied the knot and, of course, we were

pleased to be able to do this for her and their family – a great incentive to tidy the place up as well. We’d slowly worked our way through Dana’s list of requests over time with an increasing amount of activity in the weeks leading up to the big event. Dana liked the idea of a bridge for guests to walk across from the car park and a jetty out into the dam in front of the house beside where the ceremony was to be. For good measure I even installed a fountain, which turned out to be a great hit. Jane has been incredibly busy with her garden and by the day of the wedding it looked magnificent. I’d been watching that Cyclone Oma develop north of Vanuatu 10-12 days before the wedding day and we had a plan B given it was a marquee wedding but a couple of days out it looked like we would get lucky with the weather and we did. It was a fantastic day and though the sadness of Glen

not being there was with us all, we celebrated two young folk committing to spend their lives together with elegance and gusto. In six weeks we go to Winton where our eldest son Jason is to marry Rosa. No jetties to be built or trees felled and cleaned up for us. We just have to get all of us down there. But it is certainly a family gathering and event we are greatly looking forward too. A month after that we are hosting my 60th birthday, which seemed like a good idea last year given a few funerals of mates including Glen that we’d attended. At the time of the invites we didn’t know we would be having a wedding a month earlier but the date and venue are set and we shall gird our loins and have another friends and family gettogether, which should be fun. And running parallel with all of this we are building a house at a local beach. Jane has always been keen to do something like this and my

standard response is that it would be cheaper to hire a digger, dig a hole and throw money in it. Anyway, we couldn’t afford it. I was emphatic we wouldn’t be doing any such thing but the aforementioned funerals gave me second thoughts.

And running parallel with all of this we are building a house at a local beach.

The rest of the family agreed that though a departure from our plan, it is an excellent project for this time in our lives. Last year we had a modest forestry harvest of trees I’d planted myself and done half the pruning before handing over to the experts so the rest was done on time. That windfall has allowed us to go ahead with the build and a future harvest in a couple of years should help pay off what is

still owing. Anyone who has built in recent times will know how ridiculously expensive it is. Three thousand harvested trees will make hundreds of houses to help pay for one. However, the house is made from several of the trees I planted all those years ago, which is very satisfying. I’d like to be more involved with the building but I’m just too busy here so we have left that in the capable hands of Rod and Dylan who are just starting to put the roof on. If you help on only one day make sure it is helping put up the frames. Over just two exciting hours Jason and I felt like we had contributed greatly to the build. Hardly to be seen since. So, 2019 is a busy year for us but one we are already enjoying very much.

Your View Steve Wyn-Harris is a Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer. swyn@xtra.co.nz

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

SECRET: There are more than 1000 Mycoplasma bovis farms the Primary Industries Ministry does not count in its public figures.

Bovis risk greater than admitted The Braided Trail

Keith Woodford

THE Primary Industries Ministry continues to withhold key information about the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme. Taxpayers and farmers are collectively committed to pay more than $800 million for eradication of Mycoplasma bovis. It is therefore reasonable that they are provided with good information on how eradication is proceeding. Unfortunately, the information from MPI is not the full story. At the heart of the problem is the unwillingness of MPI to admit many of the things it does not know or is uncertain about. As one senior MPI person said to me in an unguarded moment, “We would come across as clueless”. MPI likes all messages to be simple. Also, a key principle of command and control operations (a term used by MPI) is that social licence must be maintained. In that environment the truth gets compromised. One issue that has been compromised is the number of properties for which notices of direction (NODs) have been issued. These NODs can be served under either s121 or s122 of the BioSecurity Act. However, only s122 properties are included in the public figures. In total, by January 22, there were

another 917 NODs under s121. More on that below. Until now it has been widely assumed only farms assessed as infected properties (IPs) are depopulated to use the official term for herd culling. There were 96 of these officially listed IP farms on March 1. However, slaughtering also occurs on both restricted place (RP) properties and with s121 NODs, which MPI does not publicly acknowledge. More too on that below. Perhaps, most importantly, MPI has failed to clarify that it is increasingly using an antibody test of bulk milk as well as the PCR test. The public figures of infected farms identified through the bulkmilk tests are only through the PCR test, which is known to have low sensitivity and hence lots of misses. This last spring only three farms were found that way with PCR and this is the figure that MPI keeps repeating. However, what is unstated is that more than 50 farms have been identified as high-risk through bulk-milk tests for antibodies. Within MPI there has been considerable discussion in recent months that herd depopulation should also be based on milk and blood antibody levels as well as PCR positivity. There is evidence MPI has indeed moved to this in recent weeks. But nothing has been said publicly. There are also other things going on in the background. For example, some heifers recently exported to China went positive to M bovis while they were in quarantine in China immediately after unloading from the ship. China and other countries do not require testing for M bovis before shipment

because it is already present in China and is not considered of major importance. So, in itself, this is not necessarily a disaster though the politics do have potential to be messy. But the positive results do create lots more trace-backs to be done in New Zealand. Some months back it was publicly identified that M bovis had been found at the huge, 15,000 animal, Five Star beef feedlot in Mid Canterbury.

Unfortunately, the information from MPI is not the full story.

Initially this was assumed to be just one pen of 44 trace animals but apparently it is more widespread, with this also being known for some months. Did the disease transfer within the feedlot from pen to pen or is it actually more widespread within our national beef herd? Either way means a big problem but nothing has been said publicly. And now some explanation on the above issues. First, the difference between s122 and s121 NODs. The s122 NOD is issued when a farm is considered to be a risk and so the farm is not allowed to sell any stock to other farmers. Losses are fully compensable, at least in theory. In contrast, a s121 is issued when animals are to be tested either by nasal swabbing or else by slaughter. By January 22 there were 917 of these. I obtained this information through the OIA. According to MPI, many of

these will be multiple NODs and so the affected farmers will be fewer than 917. How many fewer is apparently not known. What is known is that many farms are having animals slaughtered under s121. A key issue with s121 NODs is that compensation is payable only for the animals that are slaughtered. This creates a huge moral issue for graziers who agist young stock and dry cows for dairy farmers. If a grazier tells his clients he is under S121 then no farmer will send stock to him. MPI’s position is that this consequent loss of business is not compensable. This is leaving some highly leveraged farmers in an untenable position and having to sell land with banks withdrawing support. I am advised by MPI it is acting on advice from Crown Law. However, my attempt through the Official Information Act to see this advice has been declined by MPI on the grounds it is privileged information. My own view is that Crown Law must have misunderstood the realities – after all they are not experts in farm management. The reality is that these outcomes are a direct consequence of the s121. Perhaps the biggest concern right now is the situation of more than 50 farms that have been identified as high risk from the bulk milk antibody tests. This is a relatively new test from Belgium and there is uncertainty regarding its accuracy under NZ conditions. Until recently MPI was not even classifying these bulk milk antibody farms as NODs and farmers were free to trade. However, they are all now classified as high-risk farms with movement restrictions. It seems many of them are in Southland

and they do not link in nicely to the supposed original Southland farm. It is no surprise to me that many but not all of these farms are in Southland. I have always seen it as highly questionable whether the Zeestratens were the original or only source and way back last winter I alerted MPI to multiple Southland farms, with no links to the Zeestratens, that needed to be under surveillance. Over recent weeks I have known that something was afoot that we were not being told. It was the only conclusion from the MPI behaviours that I was seeing in the field, with specific farms being zeroed in on with no plausible explanation given to the farmers. It was the release in mid February of the Technical Advisory Group report of January 24, with its reference to bulk milk serology tests, that provided an explanation. Right now MPI is suffering from a loss of credibility. It’s time to stop the spin doctoring. By being upfront with what is known and not known it might well be that some people do decide unfairly that MPI is clueless. However, others who recognise the complexities will congratulate MPI for telling it as it is. As to whether M bovis can be eradicated, I do not know. I need more information to answer that. All I know is that the risks are being greatly underplayed.

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

On Farm Story

36 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Alpacas are rare, especially good From teaching children to farming alpacas. One Cantabrian’s career path is beyond compare. Luke Chivers reports.

WHAT’S GOING ON: Molly Gardner bemoans the need to send her alpaca fibre overseas for manufacturing.

BANKS Peninsula farmer once dedicated to improvements in the classroom now does the same on the land. Molly Gardner’s path to working in the primary sector is unique. “It’s been a massive change for me,” the 45-year-old says from her Le Bons Bay property. “If you’d said to me 15 years ago that I’d end up farming I most definitely wouldn’t have believed you.” Molly grew up in Saint Heliers, a seaside suburb of Auckland. “Although, I should add, I was never truly a city slicker,” she says. “I was lucky enough to grow up in an old state house with a small orchard where my family grew everything from plums to apples and oranges. “Plus, we owned some horses that we kept on a friend’s farm and we’d visit them often.” In her younger years, Molly studied for a parks and recreation degree at Lincoln University. But not long after graduating she found herself turned off her career prospects. She started teaching children with learning difficulties at Wainui School. “Since then I’ve basically never left the area. I’ve been here for almost 25 years and I love it.”

Nowadays, half her family lives in Canterbury. “We initially bought a lifestyle block and soon after added four alpacas for grazing. “But over the years that number has grown – farming alpacas is a bit like a heroin addiction. It’s certainly addictive.” Molly got bitten by the bug and found herself with a growing interest in the animals. “It’s fair to say we quickly

realised our five-acre block wasn’t going to cut it if we were going to do this seriously.” In 2006 Molly, her sister Phillipa and mother Steph took over Thistledown, a 60-hectare effective property, 16km east of Akaroa. While Molly is in the driving seat Phillipa works part-time on the farm and Steph looks after the finances. “It’s been a really steep learning

curve for us,” Molly says. “Not so much in terms of the animal husbandry but more so the actual nuts and bolts of farming – like learning how to fence and how to fix pipes that are blocked. “I wouldn’t have it any other way though. I love being out on the land and this is such a beautiful place to live.” The property is home to alpacas, beef and goats.

GET CRACKING: Molly Gardner hopes more farmers will breed alpacas to give scale to the industry.

The alpacas include 100 Suri, which Molly describes as a stoic animal with an amazing fleece. Cattle numbers in 2018 were about 40 Dexter-Lowline cows. Last season, she sold about 20 heifers privately at an average carcase weight of 220kg. She kept the rest for replacements. Molly also farms 25 red and pinto Boer goats, which are primarily used for organic weed control. “The goats do a great job at weeding. “They eat the leaves and the flowers off plants but since the plant thinks it’s still alive it doesn’t send up new shoots. So, eventually, weed numbers become less and less,” she says. “Also the goats don’t like clover, which is good for when our cattle come through to graze. “Each of our animals is eating different parts of the pasture.” Thistledown spans Le Bons Bay Road and includes more than 20ha of regenerating native bush, mostly made up of totara, kaihikatea, five finger, ribbonwood, and hoheria trees. Since taking over the farm Molly has put a structured breeding programme in place. “Breeding alpacas is a slow process. “Alpacas have a gestation period of 11.5 months and they usually

On Farm Story

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

ones

only have one cria, males can’t work until at least two years of age and neither sex can mate until they’re about 18 months old.” Their traits are what Molly is keeping a close eye on. “Standard deviation of their fibre is first and foremost,” she says. “The average standard deviation of microns in New Zealand alpacas is about five. In Merino sheep, a standard deviation of three microns is average but they’ve worked for hundreds of years to get to that point. “We know in ancient times that alpacas had a micron standard deviation of one and, with good breeding and time, it’s possible we could breed back to that. Luckily, micron and standard deviation of the micron is one of the most heritable fleece traits but the challenge is finding alpacas with the right genetic make-up to pass on.” Fineness, consistency and density are critical for the farm so it can grow more fibre but it has a long way to go, she says. When Molly, Philippa and Steph took over Thistledown they saw a chance to make their mark. Their efforts included substantial weed control from turning paddocks full of Californian thistles to having only small patches of weeds and the replacement of many kilometres of fencing. “We’ve also made big gains in our fibre traits,” Molly says. “In fact, this year we’ve had the best crop of crias that we’ve ever had. Recently, I was looking at some old photos of our alpacas from back in the day and I had to laugh – their fibre has improved a lot of over the years.” But running the farm has not always been easy. “As a farmer sometimes you get a bit lost and think ‘God, we’re not

BIG CHANCE: Molly Gardner breeds her alpacas for consistency in their fibre.

making any improvement’ but it’s a long-term game, you know. “In the early years we saw a drastic improvement on-farm but as our animals got higher in quality their increments of improvement were much smaller and that’s how it is today. “Ideally, what we want to have is a standard in the herd where every animal is carrying the traits we want.” Molly also farms for good mothering ability, good milk and easy birthing. “They’re what I call the foreman qualities. “The alpacas have got to be able to look after themselves, look after their crias and carry good weight.” Thankfully, alpacas have an innate and somewhat nifty regime. “Alpacas have a tendency of using a midden as a poo pile so they don’t excrete all over the paddock. They, instead, excrete in piles so this means they’re not in easy contact with their own worms unless they’re heavily stocked then that’s the only place they can eat. “In our case, we’re understocked so we’re not running the animals under stress. It’s the whole philosophy of our farming system that allows us not to worm.” The Thistledown property is borderline organic but Molly does

DOUBLE: As well as providing fibre Molly Gardner’s goats clean up weeds but leave the clover for the cattle.

not want to seek certification. “While I’d likely get more money for my beef if it were organically certified I’m just not willing to let my animals die from something that an antibiotic can fix. But I do believe in selecting animals that are more robust and don’t need extra intervention.” Alpacas are hardy animals whose forebears have spent thousands of years grazing on seasonally diverse pastures in harsh weather conditions. The challenge, however, is the animal is so stoic it can at times disguise diseases. It is a challenge Molly constantly pays attention to. “I’m always looking out for changes in behaviour. “An alpaca that has shifted its position in the flock – say, slightly behind where they’d usually be – is a sign they’re not in good health,” she says. Meanwhile, as for mating, that is done by hand. “It means I’m selecting a particular male for a female to balance the traits they have. And it means I know who is or isn’t pregnant.” The operation requires the removal of low-performing animals to keep improving the quality. “The harsh reality is that if you want to continue to have high quality and have a proper fibre industry then you need to take out the low-quality animals from your breeding programme,” she says. But the numbers are minimal. Last season, only four females were culled while four younger alpacas were added to the herd. “Yes, we’re a small operation but we’ve chosen that. “A lot of the NZ market has been the exporting of alpacas overseas but in the last few years there have been issues around exporting due to the importing of alpacas from other countries,” she says. “At one point imports and exports of alpacas were suspended and this is still not ironed out. This has hit us all in the pocket. “With the importation of alpacas from other countries the Ministry of Primary Industries realised some of these alpacas

Our country has had such a long focus on just primary production that we’ve forgotten about valueadding. I think that’s a big mistake. Molly Gardner Farmer are vaccinated for diseases in the countries they come from. This was incongruent with the regulations governing our exports. “Foregoing our agreed responsibilities could affect all NZ exports, which is why MPI did the right thing by stopping the exports until it was sorted. Unfortunately, fixing international protocols is a slow business. “Alpacas were just a small fry in the saga but it’s meant we cannot import genetics from the United States or Australia.” The state of the NZ fibre industry added to the debacle. “Everything here is set up for wool and mainly coarse wool. When you’ve got a rare fibre, like Suri, you don’t tend to have enough volume to get it processed easily.” The Chinese market, for instance, wants fine micron fibre in tonnes, which we just don’t have yet, she says. “It makes things really difficult when you’re starting out. “To fix that we really need more alpaca breeders. In particular, we need more breeders who will breed for fibre. We need to grow the numbers.” There are about 40,000 registered alpacas in NZ. The Suri breed make up just 10% of that figure. Wool still dominates local fibre sales but possum, alpaca and mohair offer higher returns for those prepared to step outside the mainstream and Suri alpaca have the potential to end up challenging cashmere. In 2010 Thistledown Station in partnership with AgResearch was

involved in the first-ever trial to see whether 100% Suri fleece can be processed. “We found through the testing that Suri fleece can, in fact, be processed. It exceeded pilling tests and had the ability to be turned into fabric.” Molly quickly put theory into practice. Seventy metres of the trial Suri cloth, which was made at the AgResearch textile facility at Lincoln, was sewn by Laurie Foon from Starfish. She showed it off at the opening of NZ Fashion Week in 2010. “Suri have a very distinctive fleece which creates a lustrous, draping fabric without the need for chemicals to enhance this or blending with other fibres. “The alpaca fibre is suitable for a wide-range of fabrics from soft pashmina-style through to suiting so it’s very versatile.” But there was and still is one major issue – the garments cannot be commercially made in NZ. “Our country has had such a long focus on just primary production that we’ve forgotten about value-adding. I think that’s a big mistake,” Molly says. “I really wanted NZ to get the benefit of manufacturing our fibre. But that hasn’t turned out to be the case. “We’re now in the process of taking some yarn to Britain to have it woven because no one here can weave it. And it’s the same for the Merino industry, no one wants to spin it here. “Our only choice is to go overseas, to places like the United Kingdom or Italy, where they like fine fibres and are happy to spin it slowly and sell it for really high prices. The United Kingdom has only one fabric weaving mill left that is capable of weaving low-tex yarns.” She admits the alpaca market is niche. “But that comes with great opportunity, recognising that rarity has its advantages in the exclusive market. “We need to move alpaca farming to a commercial scale and we need people to realise the value of fibre. “We’re not only losing expertise in this area, we’re also losing the machinery for production.” But among Molly’s concerns for the sector there is optimism. She points out a neighbouring Huacaya alpaca farmer who is turning her yarn into high-end products that celebrate their uniqueness and rarity. Peruvians have been wearing knits made of alpaca fibre for centuries. But will the silky-soft secret spread to high-end designers so they begin flocking to use the fleece of the shaggy South American native? Molly hopes so.

>> Video link: bit.ly/OFSgardner

World

38 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Nations get trade policy say THE British government is setting up a ministerial forum to ensure the devolved nations have a say in trade policy development. Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are keen to be involved in the development of trade policy because their positions on issues such as the cultivation of GM crops – restricted in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – might be affected by future trade agreements. A Department for International Trade (DIT) report said “It will ensure there is a regular and formal structure to support discussion and engagement between the United Kingdom government and the devolved administrations on trade agreements. “There will also continue to be a programme of officiallevel technical engagement between DIT and the devolved administrations to underpin the ministerial forum.” No formal process was set out for how the devolved legislatures, such as the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, will be included in trade policy development. The report did, however, say select committees will play a key role in the scrutiny of trade agreements – even suggesting new committees might be set up to carry out the job. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee chairman Neil Parish said he wants to play a key role. “With every trade deal, we will, I suspect, call an inquiry of the select committee, and I would expect full co-operation from the government. “The world will move quickly once we get, or if we get, a deal with the European Union over the

With every trade deal, we will, I suspect, call an inquiry of the select committee, and I would expect full cooperation from the government. Neil Parish Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee

LET ME IN: Britain’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee chairman Neil Parish wants to play a key role in setting trade policy.

line, so we need to be ready for this.” The government also pledged to consult on future trade policy by setting up a Strategic Trade Advisory Group made up of representatives from business, trade unions, consumer groups and non-governmental organisations. Expert trade advisory groups to advise on sector-specific issues will sit alongside the STAG. As well as consulting on policy, the government has committed to certain transparency measures to keep Parliament and the public informed of progress on trade talks. They include publishing an

economic analysis of the proposed agreement that will look at the potential impact on individual sectors of the economy, different UK nations and English regions. Meanwhile, the Scottish government should stop direct payments (subsidies) to farmers and move towards a public money for public good scheme after Brexit, its MPs have been told. Representatives from World Wildlife Fund Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Soil Association Scotland pushed for a Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-style system of post-Brexit support when giving evidence to the Scottish affairs committee last week.

The Scottish government has traditionally spent more on direct support than England, with less money transferred from subsidies to environment payments under Europe’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules with coupled payments still available to support the beef and sheep sectors. But WWF Scotland food and environment policy manager Sheila George said Scotland’s unique environment – which includes 13% of the world’s blanket bogs and 90% of the UK’s surface water – would benefit from a public money for public good scheme in future. “The current system of

public support is area-focused, production-focused and we need to change the definition of production and productivity to broaden it out to include public goods,” she said. “When we do that, we see Scotland could have huge potential to deliver and develop a much more sustainable agriculture system.” Scottish Wildlife Trust public affairs manager Bruce Wilson said it would be easier for politicians to sell agriculture spending linked to public good to the taxpayer. He also suggested a public money for public good scheme would help Scottish farmers to stay in business after Brexit. “If we do not look after the natural ecosystems which underpin our agriculture ecosystems we will struggle to have a sustainable food sector. “There is some genuine concern about food security underpinning this. “Diverting public money to public goods does not preclude the ability to farm. It actually supports it, and it allows businesses to diversify.” UK Farmers Guardian

US wants Britain to lower import standards FARM leaders have hit back at a push from the United States government for Britain to drop its food production standards after Brexit. British farming groups are responding to the publication of American negotiating objectives for a future United Kingdom-US trade deal. They include demands for the UK to lower or eliminate agricultural tariffs, adopt international standards on products such as hormonetreated beef and remove unjustified trade restrictions that affect technologies such as genetic modification or gene editing. National Farmers Union president Minette Batters said “It comes as no surprise that the US is seeking comprehensive access to the UK’s agricultural market and is pushing for a trade deal which accepts US production standards and practices. “It is imperative that any future

trade deals do not allow the import of food produced to lower standards than those required of British farmers.”

It is imperative that any future trade deals do not allow the import of food produced to lower standards than those required of British farmers. Minette Batters National Farmers Union The US objectives for agriculture in a US-UK trade deal are exactly the same as those published for a possible US-EU deal in January 2019.

Two years ago President Donald Trump pulled out of negotiations on the US-European Union trade agreement, known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), but talks have since been resurrected. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said any future deal will not include agriculture, only industrial goods, but the US has not agreed to those terms and is unlikely to with such an influential farming lobby. US agribusiness donates millions of dollars directly to hundreds of congressional candidates who define the US’ negotiating objectives and can refuse to ratify trade deals. House of Representatives agriculture committee chairman Mike Conway and Senate agriculture committee chairman Pat Roberts received more than $1 million in campaign donations from agribusiness

NO GO: Any future United States-European Union trade deal will not include agriculture, European trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom says.

in the 2017-18 election cycle. The two committees are responsible for regulating

agricultural commodities and oversight of trade policy. UK Farmers Guardian

World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Meat export orders lost MEAT export orders are being cancelled and business lost because of Brexit uncertainty. Warning of major disruption to the supply chain and severe financial consequences for British meat companies, the British Meat Processors’ Association is calling on the government for clear information and guidance and for it to step up efforts to agree trading terms with our most valuable overseas partners. The association, representing the majority of abattoirs and meat wholesalers of all sizes, has been inundated with inquiries from members wanting information on what exactly is going to happen. “Despite numerous crisis meetings with government officials we are still no closer to getting definitive guidance on tariffs, certification and health marks that our members desperately need,” association chief executive Nick Allen said.

Unfortunately, the disruption has already started and damage is already being done. Nick Allen British Meat Processors’ Assn “Unfortunately, the disruption has already started and damage is already being done. “The lack of clarity around Brexit is now causing orders to be cancelled and effectively closing off once lucrative export markets to British firms. “During March meat processors will be faced with the conundrum that they will be buying animals to process without any

understanding of what the market may look like post March 29. “And it won’t be a simple matter of selling more product into the United Kingdom market because most of the £1 billion worth of meat exported is made up of cuts that are popular overseas but not here in Britain.” The problem affects the whole food supply chain, Allen said. Delays in announcing what tariff rates will apply in the event of a no-deal Brexit mean shipments to overseas markets that set off tariff-free will arrive at their destination after March 29 and be subject to an, as yet, undetermined tariff. Those overseas customers have no way of knowing how much extra they will be required to pay. Insurers are refusing to indemnify against losses related to a no-deal Brexit and there is also confusion about which

GOING NOWHERE: Orders for British meat are being cancelled as uncertainty clouds the run-up to the planned Brexit date of March 29.

health mark should be used. That is the stamp that indicates at which plant meat has been processed, ensuring traceability and provenance. No decision has been made by the government over what that mark should be. Major export markets have

given no formal acceptance of the UK’s change of status as it ceases to be an EU member state so there is a real danger any product shipped bearing the wrong mark will be turned away at its destination, he said. UK Farmers Weekly

Meat giant offers no-meat burgers to improve sales BEEF processing giant ABP has launched a vegan burger as the company seeks a greater share of the growing market for meat-free food. The two quarter pounder, meat-free burger pack, made from a mix of seasoned pea and soya proteins, is the first product under a new ABP brand called Equals. Equals is the company’s first fresh plant-based, meat-free brand for distribution in Britain. Made at ABP’s Eatwell meat-free processing facility in Liverpool, the vegan burger is on sale in Asda supermarkets and online. The packaging bears the words “No meat. No compromise.” ABP United Kingdom, the

British division of ABP Food Group, is one of the nation’s leading meat suppliers, working with more than 35,000 farmers to deliver a range of fresh and frozen meat products. The company says its Equals range of products has both the texture and flavour to equal the meat-eating experience and will appeal to meat reducers and nonmeat eaters alike. ABP UK commercial director Darren Jones said “We are very excited about our first fresh brand launch into the meat-free category. “Our core business is and will remain in beef but we recognise the growing demand for products

that fit a flexitarian and meat-free lifestyle. “As a business we have long invested in understanding market and consumer trends and we have a keen interest in exploring opportunities that provide consumers with choice.” The Equals brand launch is being supported by a £250,000 instore marketing and social media campaign. ABP plans to increase sales of its Equals brand by selling through other retailers and food service providers over the coming months. The move is part of a multimillion-pound investment in its branded and ready-to-cook

since has grown to become a meat and meat-free solutions, UK market leader for own-label which complement ABP’s core vegetable-based, meat-free processing business. products. Kantar Research suggests UK Farmers Weekly growing demand for meat-free alternatives from consumers. One in 12 households now includes some aspect of meatfree alternatives as part of the weekly diet while demand for vegetarian Sunday 24/03/2019 meal options has Free Public Farm Day grown by 8% over Bay of Plenty Federated Farmers is organising their the past five years. annual Farm Day to be held at McLeod’s property, ABP entered the 1189 Welcome Bay Road, just west of Te Puke. meat-free category More information: Farm Day Co-ordinator, Steve in 2011 and has

Saputo extends empire further BRITISH cheesemaker Dairy Crest has agreed to a £975m takeover by Canadian Dairy giant Saputo. Saputo last year beat out a bid from Fonterra to take over the failed Australian dairy co-operative Murray Goulburn. The acquisition immediately sent Dairy Crest share values soaring by 13% to 625p. The price of £6.20 a share offered by Saputo was a good deal for the company, Dairy Crest chief executive Mark Allen said. “We think it reflects value for all our stakeholders, our shareholders, our employees, our farmers, our suppliers, our customers and our pensioners. Allen said Saputo is a great fit to take over Dairy Crest, being a top 10 global cheese company in terms of scale and also being the number one cheese manufacturer in Canada.

“From a Dairy Crest point of view it has got a strong financial position that will help us accelerate our growth ambitions.” Allen reassured Dairy Crest producers not much will change following the acquisition and the takeover will be good news for all stakeholders – including Dairy Crest’s 330 direct farmer-suppliers producing about 500m litres of milk a year. The offer is now subject to shareholder approval but the board of the milk buyer behind brands Cathedral City and Clover and Country Life butters unanimously recommended approval. Saputo chairman and chief executive Lino Saputo said under Saputo ownership Dairy Crest will be able to accelerate its long-term growth and business development potential. Saputo is a global giant

in the dairy industry with a huge presence in North and South America as well as in Australasia. The milk processor is the largest cheese maker in Canada, the biggest dairy processor in Australia and the second largest in Argentina. It also has a substantial presence in the United States. Saputo owns more than 25 dairy brands in its Canada business alone, highlighting the processor’s track record on adding value to dairy products through branding. Independent market analyst Chris Walkland said Allen played a blinder in the deal. “Mark deserves a lot of credit. He’s worked up the United Kingdom’s most attractive cheese brand, Cathedral City, into what it is today and has sold it for a very strong price.” The takeover was no surprise because Cathedral

City is the best dairy brand in the UK and it was only natural a company added it to its portfolio. Walkland was just surprised that turned out to be Saputo. “I was surprised other buyers did not come in for them sooner. “I did think Muller might be interested to add a cheese brand to its portfolio, which it currently doesn’t have. But its recent announcements mean it probably wasn’t in a position to do more.” Walkland doesn’t think there are many Dairy Crest farmers left who still have shares in the business and so will profit from the leap in share price. “The economics of the industry will have meant many farmers have already sold their shares in the business. “It’s sad in a way because Dairy Crest was once owned solely by farmers,” he added. UK Farmers Weekly

agrievents 0076663

Bailey Phone 07 573 7079, Mobile 027 273 3411 Email: stevebailey@xtra.co.nz Mid-Canterbury Branch of Black & Coloured Sheep Breeders Association Annual Conference at The Redwood 340 Main North Road, Redwood. Open Day Friday 15th April 2019. Fleeces, Sheepskins, Knitwear for sale. Contact: Georgie on 03 325 1288 for more information.

200x71.67

RMPP Action Network – Facilitator training courses For rural professionals or farmers looking to run an Action Group under RMPP Action Network. No course fees. Register at www.actionnetwork.co.nz/page/training Lead Facilitator workshops 2019 course dates: 21 & 22 March – Dunedin RMPP Action Network Fundamentals and Extension Design (two-day workshop) 2019 course dates: 27 & 28 March – Palmerston North RMPP Farm Business Transition and Succession Workshops Register now for the upcoming series of workshops on the transition and succession of the family farm business, aimed at helping sheep and beef farmers navigate what can often be a difficult process. Participants are required to attend three half-day workshops run over a three to four month period, followed by a one-on-one clinic. The workshops are fully funded by RMPP. Check out www.rmpp.co.nz for locations, dates and to register. For more information email training@ rmpp.co.nz or call 0800 733 632. Should your important event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz

IT’S ALTOGETHER BETTER IN THE

The Autumn 2019 edition of Country is out now, with a fresh line-up of the best farm, specialty and lifestyle properties for sale altogether in one place. We also try to see the woods for the trees in the quest to meet the government’s “one billion trees” target; take a look at finance options in the farm arena and discuss the value that farm managers can add to the sale of a property. Plus we check out pest control on lifestyle blocks and talk to honesty box stallholders about their operations. For your copy of Country magazine, including the latest insights and editorial content on key topics of interest to the rural property sector, call 0800 BAYLEYS or view online. Your search for something altogether better starts here.

A LT O G E T H E R B E T T E R

Not easy being green

Pressure is on for more farmland to be put into trees, but there is a cost to going green.

Pest patrol and control

Dealing to predators so lifestyle blocks and tracts of native bush can survive and thrive.

FEATURING

RURAL REAL ESTATE BRAND

FARM, SPECIALTY AND LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE ISSUE 1 – 2019

bayleys.co.nz/country LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Gisborne 5022 Matawai Road

Parihohonu Station; Emerald of Otoko Held in the same family since 1892, Parihohonu has long been regarded as the emerald of Otoko, one of Gisborneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premium farming districts. 748.5ha in size and nestled in a very sheltered, mostly northerly aspect basin with its own micro-climate. Fenced into 47 paddocks, the farm has excellent natural water from creeks and springs, some of which are reticulated to troughs in many paddocks. The station has a very appealing balance of contour with significant portions of tractor country, which have been cultivated and resown in superior pasture species or are planted in feed crops. Improvements include the main four bedroom homestead which is set in manicured grounds and gardens, two three bedroom homes, a two bin 280 tonne capacity airstrip, and a 1/2 share in a substantial 6-stand woolshed and 3,000 SU covered yard complex, a house, and two cottages.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 17 Apr 2019 10 Reads Quay, Gisborne Simon Bousfield 027 665 8778 simon.bousfield@bayleys.co.nz James Bolton-Riley 027 739 1011 james.bolton-riley@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2751256

MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Opoutama 1001 Tunanui Road

Tunanui Station - in a league of its own At 2058ha Tunanui Station combines superb scale with spectacular aesthetics. Located just 66km from Gisborne and 48km from Wairoa, the farm has been meticulously managed, both in its former sheep and beef days, moving more recently to 100% bull beef trading. Quality infrastructure provides for ease of management. Exceptional natural water combined with robust reticulation and generous annual rainfall enhance the operation. Access throughout the hill country to the approx. 80ha of flats is heightened by Tunanui Road, a public road. There is an abundance of hill country with a development programme in progress, adjoining the wide-ranging flats. Balanced contour, and attractive scenery with well presented homes across the farm, the main homes are positioned to take in the sea views. A rarely found farming and recreational jewel.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Tue 23 Apr 2019 10 Reads Quay, Gisborne Simon Bousfield 027 665 8778 simon.bousfield@bayleys.co.nz James Bolton-Riley 027 739 1011 james.bolton-riley@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2751249

MACPHERSON MORICE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

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NEW LISTING

Water supply not located on the property

Tutira 502 and 629 Matahorua Road

Self contained 364ha dairy with water and rainfall A must view with free draining ash soils, reliable summer rainfall, a fantastic natural water source and huge potential! Located in the reliable Tutira farming district, approximately 49 kilometres north of Napier City and only five kilometres from the Tutira primary school and community store, is this 364 hectare self-contained dairy unit, in four titles, which benefits from a legal easement to the fantastic natural water source of Lake Opouahi, a fenced kiwi sanctuary. A very well set up property boasting a 2005 built 50 bail rotary, underpass, three quality dwellings, cottage and plenty of easy contour with huge potential to cultivate more land. On target to achieve 180,000 kilograms of milk solids from 550 cows. Retiring vendor is providing a fantastic opportunity to purchase a well set up farm in a great farming environment. The farm is ready to take to the next level.

bayleys.co.nz/2851576

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Tue 16 Apr 2019 17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Gavin Franklin 027 427 8000 gavin.franklin@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

NEW LISTING

Eketahuna 810 Pa Valley Road

Location with potential This property has been in the Morrison Family since 1915 and is now presented to the market ready for a new owner to take advantage of all its potential on offer. The farm is made up of 323ha of rolling to medium steep hill country and is complemented with flats at the front and rear of the property. A central laneway, supported by a series of satellite yards, runs almost the entire length of the property. The farm infrastructure consists of a five bedroom home, four-stand woolshed and covered yards. This property is located about 15 minutes to Pahiatua and Eketahuna, 35 minutes to Masterton and 45 minutes to Palmerston North. In what is regarded as a predominantly 'safe' farming area, this property poses a wonderful opportunity for a first farm. Available for inspection from beginning of April 2019.

bayleys.co.nz/3060628

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Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Tue 30 Apr 2019 186 Chapel Street, Masterton View by appointment Lindsay Watts 027 246 2542 lindsay.watts@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

NEW LISTING

Morrinsville 53 Settlement Road Premium address Quality blocks are hard to find. This 42.2846 hectare (more or less) property, situated in the highly sought after area of Kereone, is central to Morrinsville, Matamata and Hamilton. There is a good balance of flat to gentle rolling contour with a silty loam soil type and aesthetically appealing trees in most paddocks. An added bonus is a sand mine providing race and trough maintenance material. Currently the property has been used for heifer grazing. Support buildings includes a 3 bay gable shed with power and concrete floor, an Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill half round barn and an old dairy shed used for stock handling. The beautifully elevated dwelling is an older style weatherboard three bedroom home. This property really has everything going for it with beauty and location.

Te Awamutu 164 Bank Road 3

Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Tue 16 Apr 2019 65 Arawa Street, Matamata View 12-1pm Tue 19 Mar Mike Fraser-Jones 027 475 9680 mike.fraserjones@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Special character dairy at Lake Ngaroto This boutique dairy farm is in a highly desirable location bordering the popular Lake Ngaroto near Te Awamutu. Encompassing some 53ha (STS) the farm supports 140 to 150 Jerseys with production having exceeded 60,000kgMS. Improvements include a 14 ASHB dairy shed complete with workshop and implement shed, a near new calf shed plus two half round barns and lined effluent pond. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a substantial six bedroom home plus two bedroom cottage.

Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 11 Apr 2019 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 11am-12pm Wed 20 Mar Sharon Evans AREINZ 027 235 4771 sharon.evans@bayleys.co.nz Stuart Gudsell AREINZ 021 951 737 stuart.gudsell@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

This property has considerable character and given its location may suit tourism or as a larger lifestyle or support block.

bayleys.co.nz/2310337

bayleys.co.nz/2310269

Boundary lines are indicative only

Matamata 34 Te Poi Road

Okoroire 776 Kakahu Road

Prime land, prime location

Unique scale and contour

This block offers it all - location, options and lifestyle wrapped into one well-presented property. Currently run as a dairy farm with the adjoining land, a multitude of opportunities are available with the land easily lending itself as a great calf rearing property, grazing block, boutique equine, cropping or dairy support. The long rectangular block is contained within two titles and comprises of 55.7 hectares of rich flat farming land. Complemented by two dwellings and a full range of farm support buildings. This picturesque property enjoys great road frontage and is dotted with established trees and boundary hedging, a rare offering in this prime location - offering a myriad of possibilities for astute purchasers.

bayleys.co.nz/2400063

Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 11 Apr 2019 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 11am-12pm Wed 20 Mar or by appointment Sam Troughton 027 480 0836 sam.troughton@bayleys.co.nz Peter Kelly 027 432 4278 peter.kelly@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

This 240Ha (more or less) premium drystock property has been a family farm for 92 years and comes to the market in good heart in the reputable Okoroire district. Presently grazing over 1,000 cattle and cropping 24ha of contract maize. Easy access on gentle contour Tirau ash soils that could suit a variety of land uses. Fenced into 86 paddocks with considerable earthworks and drainage to lowland areas and divided by the Kakahu Stream that is titled and fenced off to council ownership. Cattle yards are in good order with a crush plus scales and water is from a central bore. There's two well-maintained homes, an older homestead and plenty of shedding. Seldom does an opportunity arise to secure this size property in such a sought after locality.

Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 11 Apr 2019 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Wed 20 Mar & Wed 27 Mar or by appointment Neville Jacques 021 774 190 neville.jacques@bayleys.co.nz Glenda O'Sullivan 027 222 8119 glenda.osullivan@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2400056

bayleys.co.nz

Marton 1338 Makirikiri Road Rangitikei finishing block Here is an opportunity to walk in and continue farming a well producing quality farm of just over 173ha in the heart of the sought after Rangitikei district, renowned for its high yielding cash crops. The quality land suits many forms of agricultural and horticultural production. Very handy location only 13km from Marton, 24km from Wanganui and 45km from Palmerston North. Complete with a three stand woolshed that has a night pen capacity for 500 sheep, a good set of sheep and cattle yards as well as a very big workshop and implement shed. The sun-drenched three bedroom, older cottage, sits in established grounds. The property has some established shelter belts, pines and other trees, as well as three Manuka gullies that are suitable for bees.

Wallingford 505 Bush Road 3

For Sale offers invited by (unless sold prior)

4pm, Wed 17 Apr 2019 49 Manchester Street, Feilding Andrew Bonnor 027 941 7630 andrew.bonnor@bayleys.co.nz Grant O'Shanassy 027 643 6545 grant.oshanassy@bayleys.co.nz MID WEST REALTY LTD, LICENSED REAA 2008

Matai Moana Situated 33km south east of Waipukurau in the Wallingford district is this 596ha sheep and beef breeding and finishing station. The contour ranges from some easy country to rolling medium hill with the balance in steeper country. 28ha in Plantain clover. Laneways create ease of management with good access to satellite sheep and cattle yards. An early 1900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s villa sits amongst attractive grounds in a private setting overlooking a bush reserve. Good infrastructure with workshop, four stand wool shed with large sheep and cattle yard complex and airstrip. Matai Moana offers scale and location with Flemington school 23.1km and Porangahau Country Club and Beach resort 27km.

Tararua 121 Huia Road, Pongaroa

Hororata 1240 Morgans Road

Farming, forestry, honey, hunting

Blue-chip Canterbury landholding

bayleys.co.nz/3060615

bayleys.co.nz

Asking Price $4,800,000 + GST (if any) View by appointment Andy Hunter 027 449 5827 andy.hunter@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2870618

bayleys.co.nz/3100177

Bowood is a well presented 500ha breeding property with desirable contour, strong infrastructure, and alternative income potential to deliver premium returns. Located in the Pongaroa District, 40 minutes from Pahiatua and 15 minutes from Pongaroa. This property has been well-farmed, maintained and regularly fertilised. The contour ranges from easy/medium hill to steeper country and has been subdivided into 43 paddocks with great tracks, large dams, new covered yard complex and new cattle yards alongside. Included is a three bedroom home with a great outlook. 70ha of Manuka/bush is generating income from honey and providing hunting for red deer. There is also 26ha of mature pine plantings which provide further income opportunities.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 10 Apr 2019 186 Chapel Street, Masterton View by appointment Lindsay Watts 027 246 2542 lindsay.watts@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

'Kildara' is a quality farm top-to-bottom, with a productive future underpinned by exceptionally-low-cost water. Adding to this wonderful resource, this 188ha property has versatile, highlyfertile soils, currently demonstrating their ability to grow specialist seeds, potatoes, brassica crops and quality pastures fattening bulls. This, coupled with a consent to dairy, provides numerous farming options for the future. A very high standard of infrastructure includes new steel cattle yards, four centre-pivots controlled by the latest Waterforce software, excellent fencing, a central lane system and a substantial, modernised family home. Within an easy commute of Christchurch, it is also close to rivers, lakes and mountains for outdoor recreation. A special opportunity.

bayleys.co.nz/559525

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 4pm, Wed 27 Mar 2019 3 Deans Ave, Chch View by appointment Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225 craig.blackburn@bayleys.co.nz Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Support block

South Canterbury 116 Zig Zag Road, Waihaorunga

South Canterbury 163 Dog Kennel Road, Morven

Rocklea Downs

Self-contained dairy and support

Rocklea Downs is part of a wider portfolio restructure including six South Canterbury farms. It is an extensive 732.481ha property in two titles that has had a history of sheep and cattle production, to which it is well-suited, but recently has been part of a large dairy operation, carrying up to 1,100 heifers. Land-contour is varied, with undulating flats, easy downs and terraces. The naturally fertile soils support good kale crops followed by new pasture. Fencing and subdivision on the more intensive areas is good, access is via a central lane and three houses, two woolsheds, hay and implement sheds support the property. An extensive stock property with supporting infrastructure allowing economies of scale, this property has potential to develop further.

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior)

4pm, Thu 4 Apr 2019 3 Deans Ave, Chch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Peter Foley 021 754 737 Mark Parry 0274 330 350 WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/559537

Part of a wider portfolio restructure including six South Canterbury farms, this package provides real strengths. It includes Dog Kennel Road Dairy – 278.99ha and support block – 291.16ha. The dairy farm has a low-cost K-line irrigation system, fullyautomated 60 bail rotary dairy, up-to-date effluent system, modern calf-rearing facilities, excellent lanes, fencing and subdivision, modern homestead and two staff homes. The platform is approximately 300ha including a neighbouring lease. Average production is around 380kgMS/head or 1,170kgMS/ha at around 3.0 to 3.35 cows/ha, with possible upside. The close-by support block runs the young stock, winters the herd, provides supplements and the ability to be fully self-contained.

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior)

bayleys.co.nz/559541

RURAL 37 Swanston Street TOKOROA tokoroa@pb.co.nz Office 07 280 8502

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

For sale under valuation

WEB ID TOR64124

WHAKAMARU 671 Sandel Road • 414 hectares - five houses. A "must see" property • 48 aside herringbone shed with in-shed meal feeders • 800 cows milked averaging 293,000 kgMS • High fertility with superior pastures

pb.co.nz

• Whole herd and 300 replacement heifers on-farm all year round

BY NEGOTIATION

VIEW By Appointment

Paul O'Sullivan

Mobile 027 496 4417 Office 07 280 8502 paulo@pb.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

A BETTER WAY OF LIFE 214 acres (86.8 hectares) of rolling countryside with potentially up to 75% in usable land and a steady natural water supply. Comes with brand new 5 bedroom plus office brick home of 245m2 and absolutely stunning rural views that culminate with a perfect view of Whitianga Harbour, taking in Round Island and carrying on through to Mercury Island. Van Gogh himself could not have painted a prettier picture! The designer kitchen features a Blue Pearl granite benchtop, built in under bench wine chiller with LED back-lighting, dual wall ovens and walk in pantry. Currently running a few sheep and cattle and home to some high producing bee hives but begging for someone to come along and unlock its true worth. This property has the potential to be subdivided down to a few smaller blocks so may suit a family looking to go rural together (school bus stops at the end of the road) or a farmer wanting to downsize to semi-retirement. It’s hard to believe that all of this is to be had only 10 minutes drive from town. Properties like this that come without covenants are as rare as hens teeth so If this sounds like a bit of you then call today for appointment to inspect.

Marlene 027 6598 111 marlene@whitibeachrealty.co.nz

Carolyn 021 800 295 carolyn@whitibeachrealty.co.nz

Whitianga Real Estate Ltd MREINZ T/A Whitianga Beach Realty Licensed under the act (REAA 2008)

230 COW FARM HOKITIKA

THE DESTINATION FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE

105ha Kowhitirangi Excellent shape, all ﬂat fertile river silt. Split level 4 bedroom permanent material homestead. 12 aside double-up cow shed. Good complement farm buildings. Concrete pad stand-off. Winter at run-off and supplement at run-off. Available Going Concern.

Land is the biggest asset to any farming business so it pays to stay up to date with the market.

Run-off available to Purchase 73ha 900 cow feed-pad. 600 baleage made on. All stock wintered, carries young stock in summer. Greg Daly AREINZ Mobile 027 478 3594 or A/H 03 762 6463

www.gregdalyrealestate.co.nz Real Estate Agent REAA 2008

“50 YEARS SERVICE TO FARMERS ON THE WEST COAST”

LK0096840©

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty Closing 30th April 2019. Web Ref GDR3338542

Connect with the right audience at

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

LK0096845©

2 Coghill Street, Whitianga Phone 07 866 5610

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

colliers.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

Licensed under the REAA 2008

Boundaries Indicative Only

Substantial Avocado Production Block COOKS BEACH 1047M PURANGI ROAD Avocado orchards of this size and calibre are a rare find, so as far as opportunities go they don’t get much more enticing than this - a 14.8ha (approx.) parcel of land in stunning Flaxmill Bay, Coromandel. Featuring an established avocado orchard with 11 ca/ha (approx.) of Hass trees. Excellent infrastructure with an irrigation system, huge orchard shed, staff accommodation quarters and an extensive list of machinery all included. Full time orchard manager in place that is very keen to stay on. Situated in one of NZ’s finest growing area’s this significant avocado orchard is what everyone asks for - now it’s here. With over 500 bins picked this season, pruning and fertiliser regimes in place - this orchard is set up for the future. Sold +GST if any.

E durrelle.green@eves.co.nz Web durrellegreen.eves.co.nz

For Sale

Cust | 16 Campions Road

Deadline Sale

126.1 Hectares

Closing 4pm, Wednesday 17 April 2019

Options At Summerhill • Claremont soils • Three titles • House built 2017 • Good sheds • Very tidy farm in good heart • Options available | Property ID RA1836

Inspection By appointment

Contact Maurice Newell 027 240 1718 Hamish Anderson 027 678 8888

4 April , From 1pm

Durrelle Green M 027 949 3725

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

(unless sold prior)

HELD 247 Cameron Road, Tauranga WEB www.eves.co.nz/ektc2045 VIEW Saturday, 2.00-3.00pm

0800 200 600 | farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

Licensed under REAA 2008

HOUKURA FARM

Rural

780 HECTARES

Peace, Privacy & Production

Ship-shape Te Pahu dairy Delightfully located dairy farm of 134.33ha, situated in popular Te Pahu district, milking up to 400 cows. Modern and generous infrastructure includes 30 aside dairy, covered feedpad, storage bunkers plus numerous other support buildings. Races and fences have recently been upgraded. Fully fenced and planted freshwater stream along one boundary. Regrassing programme is in place and good fertility ensures year round grass growth.

www.rwteawamutu.co.nz/TEA23247 Rosetown Realty Ltd Licensed REAA2008

For Sale $6.3m+GST (if any) View Wednesdays 20, 27 March, 11.00am - 1.00pm

Approximately 740 hectares effective with 165 hectares flat to easy (cultivatable) with good fertiliser history.

Jerome Pitt M: 027 242 2199 O: 06 374 4107 E: jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

Great network of 4x4 tracks with bridge over Akitio River and two woolsheds. Four bedroom home.

Neville Kemp

0272 719 801 Noldy Rust 027 255 3047

FOR SALE BY TENDER

Tender closing 4pm Thursday 28th March 2019 (If not sold prior)

LK0096769©

979 Limeworks Loop Road, Te Pahu

780 hectares (1928 acres) sheep and beef farm between Pongaroa and Weber running approximately 7000su.

Viewing by appointment www.forfarms.co.nz www.forfarms.co.nz

ID FF2763 Property ID FF1299

LK0068450©

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

ATTRACTIVE 117 ACRES BARELAND 2262 Makino Road, Halcombe, Feilding This bareland property with easy, mostly mowable country, is handy to Feilding. The pastured area is approx. 35ha with ample water via the local water scheme. Recently consented for subdivision, final survey and title will follow shortly.

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

47.65 hectares (sts) Video on website

nzr.nz/RX1814957

Tender Closes 11am, Thu 4 Apr 2019, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Rd, Feilding. Peter Barnett AREINZ An attractive property with outstanding potential building sites, 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 that does need some work to bring it back to full productivity, peter@nzr.nz yet offers much potential for a range of land uses. NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008 Open Day: Thu 21 Mar 11:00-12:00pm. (4WD access, if bringing ATV-helmets required).

Pyes Pa, Tauranga Joyce Road

Matamata 234b Te Tuhi Road

Strike The Jackpot

Stunning From Every Aspect

By Tender By 4pm Thursday 4th April 2019 (unless sold prior) View By Appointment Only www.ljhooker.co.nz/FA3HR1 ljhooker.co.nz/FA3HR1

Peter Begovich 027 476 5787 Rex Butterworth 021 348 276

Be impressed by the return generated per m² of land. Being the top performing barn raised meat chicken farm contracted to Inghams Enterprises is testament alone of quality. A secure non-weather affected, profitable investment. Walking in to the wonderful family home you are surrounded by luxury. The stylish outdoor entertaining area includes an inground pool. A self-contained unit provides flexibility to continue with a home-based business, use it for family or rent it out.

Link Realty Limited Licensed REAA 2008. All information contained herein is gathered from sources we consider to be reliable. However, we cannot guarantee or give any warranty about the information provided. Interested parties must solely rely on their own enquiries.

Auction 1pm, Thurs 4th April 2019 Matamata Club (unless sold prior) View Thursday 21st March, 11.0011.45am www.ljhooker.co.nz/F5GHR1 ljhooker.co.nz/F5GHR1

Rex Butterworth 021 348 276 Peter Begovich 027 476 5787

An impressive modern family home sited on 45.7ha (approx) with some of the most commanding views that you will ever encounter. Surrounded by quality, every detail has been carefully taken care of. From the extensive landscaping to the welcoming decor. The property is private but not isolated. Whether its bush walks, hunting, birdwatching, farming, or utilising the massive shed for virtually any purpose you desire you´ll have it covered here.

Beef & Dairy Support An attractive finishing property located in the Wharepuhunga district, approx 28 kms south east of Te Awamutu  991 Bayley Road, R D 3, Te Awamutu  161 hectares

3 titles

 predominantly easy rolling with some steeper

sidlings, Puniu river on north eastern boundary  free draining mairoa ash soil  very good water reticulation system  well fenced with good access races over total

property  currently finishing beef heifers for the local trade market plus breeding Clydesdale horses  very good, all-weather stock handling & load-out facilities  first-class, large, fully enclosed coloursteel shed

with concrete floor - built to contain truck & trailer unit with stock crate  quality low maintenance homestead on elevated site backed by mature specimen trees with north facing views over property; featuring 4 brms, spacious living, modern kitchen, inground pool & tennis court  3 bedroom cottage with carport and sleep-out

Tenders close: Wednesday, 27 March 2019

Open days: Tues, 19 March & 26 March 12noon to 2.00pm

Auction: Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Open day: Thurs, 21 March 12noon - 2.00pm

 school bus past gate for Korakonui Primary and

Te Awamutu College  web ref R1293

On Farm biosecurity protocols will apply vehicles and footwear to be clean prior to arrival

Howard Ashmore 0274 388 556

Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

Quality Dairy Support A particularly good dairy support property with strong potential for finishing beef cattle situated on the main service route through a very good farming district approx 16 kms from Whakamaru and 27 kms west of Taupo  2738 Poihipi Road, Marotiri district - extensive frontage onto Poihipi and Kaahu Roads  202.567 hectares - 1 title  contour varies from easy rolling hay / silage / cropping country to medium country to some steeper areas  Taupo ash soil over pumice  well fenced with a central lane & Transpower road giving very good access throughout the property  crops including swedes, kale, oats & annual ryegrass form part of the regrassing program  very good water supply & reticulation system  farming policy includes wintering dairy cows and dairy heifers plus grazing R1 dairy heifers, R2 dairy heifers, weaner dairy heifers and R1 jersey bulls  farm amenities include excellent cattle yards on concrete base with crush & headbail, wooden rails, steel gates & very good load-out facilities; normal range of farm buildings  a quality homestead in an attractive sheltered, sunny setting featuring 3 bedrooms, open plan living, attached double garage, detached guest room with ensuite, landscaped grounds and all-weather tennis court  a very well presented property with a high standard of improvements in a very good location with school bus to Marotiri Primary & Taupo Secondary schools 500m from farm entrance  web ref R1296

venue - Marotiri Community Hall

On Farm biosecurity protocols will apply vehicles and footwear to be clean prior to arrival

Dave Peacocke 0274 732 382

Licensed REAA 2008

Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

phone

07 870 2112

office@pastoralrealty.co.nz

MREINZ

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Size and Scope A great opportunity to acquire a larger dairy property in a very good farming district approx 21 kms south-east of Te Awamutu  536 Bayley Road - junction of Bayley Road & Lethbridge Road, Korakonui district, Te Awamutu  211.2197 hectares  easy rolling to medium contour with some steeper gully areas  mairoa ash soil - ideally suited for maize & feed crops - good quarry on farm  good water supply; well subdivided and raced  attractive layout with shelterbelts and deciduous specimen trees  4-year average: cows - 570; production - 187,880kgs ms  farm facilities include:-

very good 44 aside herringbone farm dairy large lined effluent pond with effluent pump variety of farm shedding silage bunkers

Tenders close: Thursday, 11 April 2019

Open day:

Wednesday, 20 March 11.00am to 1.00pm

 2 x good sound dwellings

 school bus service at the property to very good primary and secondary schooling  web ref R1285 On Farm biosecurity protocols will apply - vehicles and footwear to be clean prior to arrival

Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

phone

Licensed Real Estate Agent - REAA2008

07 870 2112

office@pastoralrealty.co.nz

Country Class - Cambridge

MREINZ

$1,350,000

Distinctively designed to take full advantage of picturesque views of the countryside, the sun, and the surrounding gardens is this 291m² Oamaru Stone home, which exudes country class. Set far back from the road at the top of the tree-lined driveway is this fabulous home, with a considerable number of popular eco-friendly elements, including passive solar design for natural heating, cooling and ventilation, double glazing throughout and the large solar/electric 310L hot water cylinder. A 20m walk from the home is a large fenced flat paddock, approx. 6000m2 in size, perfect for a horse or two, maybe some cattle or sheep. Further grazing land is also available. Central to both Cambridge & Hamilton.

Internet ID: CRR2158 Address: 2/1105 Kaipaki Road, Cambridge Open Day: Sunday 1.00-1.45pm Contact David Soar 027 284 9755

Lichfield 295 Kokako Road

23HA

For Sale View: 12.30 - 1.30 pm Sunday 24, 31 March & 7, 14 April

Country Class - Cambridge

www.harcourts.co.nz/TOK2596

Looking for the complete package?

Jill Walker M 021 060 3864 E jill.walker@harcourts.co.nz

REALTY WAIKATO LIMITED Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Tokoroa

We’ve got you covered with digital and print options.

Contact Shirley Howard phone 06 323 0760, email shirley.howard@globalhq.co.nz

2480REHP

• Flat, rolling hills and steep sidlings. Stands of mature pine trees ready to be milled • Generate an income. Support unit for a dairy farm. Run dry stock, rear calves, make silage, grow maize or lease out the land • 4-bay half round barn, concrete floor, power, lighting plus mezzanine floor. Hay and wood sheds, tractor and/or calf rearing shed • A 274m2 4 bedroom family home plus office built in 2009. Double garage with internal access • A maturing producing orchard, vegetable garden, potting shed, chook house. Established native gardens. • Spectacular views of rolling farmland and the Kaimai Ranges, Mount Te Aroha and Mt Maungatautari

$1.4m+GST (if any)

LK0096770

Lifestyle plus income – South Waikato

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

$1,350,000

Internet ID: CRR2158 Address: 2/1105 Kaipaki Road, Cambridge Open Day: Sunday 1.00-1.45pm Contact David Soar 027 284 9755

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

PIOPIO, WAITOMO 525 Mangaorongo Road

$4.8M Plus GST (if any)

Longacre Drystock 480.9307 ha - Subject to Survey. Superb opportunity to purchase a cattle grazing property. Contour is flat to medium rolling with some steeper sidlings. The vendors have paid particular attention to water reticulation, tracking (race system) and subdivision. These aspects, along with fertiliser, contour, reliable rainfall and soil type, have enabled them to winter approximately 800 cattle and up to 1700 cattle over the summer.

There are 38ha of pines which range from 6 years up to ready to harvest, 26 years old. A quality cattle farm, with two dwellings, in an excellent grass growing region in the King Country. Contact Peter Wylie to view.

Peter Wylie M 027 473 5855 | B 07 878 0265 E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEK30076

RURAL

FINAL NOTICE

LIFESTYLE

RESIDENTIAL

TAUWHARE, WAIKATO 1171 Tauwhare Rd

TENDER

Quality All Round A large versatile family home, 22ha (approximately) of flat land, good outbuildings and equestrian facilities. Extension and refurbishment have transformed the home whose modern living spaces enjoy great flow to a huge entertainment courtyard and in-ground pool. The dual access property, with a sand arena and stables, has previously been used for calf rearing in addition to heifer grazing. It lies in zone for Hillcrest schools and on the St Peter's school bus route.

(Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday 20 March

More Great Property

By Appointment Only

This autumn the choice is yours.

Russell Thomas M 020 4004 0360 E russell.thomas@pggwrightson.co.nz

As a national team of expert locals who understand their regional market, as well as being connected to a national network, we have rural, lifestyle and residential properties for sale throughout New Zealand. Choose the property that fits you. To view your options online, including our national publications, go to www.pggwre.co.nz.

VIEW

pggwre.co.nz/HAM29998 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

For more great rural listings, visit www.pggwre.co.nz www.pggwre.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

NZâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading rural real estate company

Helping grow the country

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

NEW LISTING

AWATERE VALLEY, MARLBOROUGH 496 Haldons Road

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Water Storage and Viticultural Development

VIEW

An appealing 232 hectare property with a huge water storage dam and an estimated 110 hectares plantable is offered to the market for the first time.

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 12.00pm, Wednesday 1 May By Appointment Only

future development on site. Extensive climate, soil viticultural and vineyard development information available to qualified buyers.

With an unrestricted consent to take 300,000m3 from the secure Starborough Creek catchment, and a 250,000m3 capacity earth dam having just achieved final sign off, your insurance policy for future seasons secure harvest is already in place.

Water storage is the key to the future of grape growing in Marlborough and with Starborough Creek you have gilt edged infrastructure already in place.

Other large water storage sites have been identified for potential

An opportunity not to be missed.

Joe Blakiston M 027 434 4069 | B 03 579 3702 E jblakiston@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/BLE29477

TENDER

PORANGAHAU

Dairy Grazing and Beef Finishing Enterprise • • • • • •

356.3179 hectares (880 acres) approximately Mainly flat to gently rolling contour Fenced and watered like a dairy farm Spacious five-bedroom home plus one-bedroom cottage Excellent shedding 39km southeast of Waipukurau

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 18 April

Max Lyver M 027 597 5818 | B 06 858 6780 E mlyver@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/WPK30106

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Small Farm - Great Location This profitable small farm is only a short commute to Hutt or the city and has been faithfully farmed since 1987. In great heart with excellent infrastructure and high fertility, contour is mainly easy to medium hill, wintering around 650 to 700 SU. Improvements include a very tidy Lockwood home, two stand woolshed, cattle and sheep yards. Ideal opportunity here for energetic people to exercise a passion for farming, only a few kilometres from city jobs and town life. Retiring vendor will meet the market.

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Tuesday 30 April 2019

VIEW

By Appointment

John Murray M 027 493 3759 | B 06 377 5181 E john.murray@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/MAS30112

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

For more great rural listings, visit www.pggwre.co.nz www.pggwre.co.nz

MOONSHINE VALLEY, UPPER HUTT

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

NZ’s leading rural real estate company

Helping grow the country

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE

Beef fattening/breeding farm. Located North Waikato/Coromandel. Farm consists of 1000 acre breeding unit and 1500 fattening unit. Farming predominately Angus cattle.

Enquiries to Harold Ward Phone 09 233 3149 or 027 773 9302

LK0096746©

Person required must have minimum five years experience with dogs, fencing, tractor, motorbike and stock-work.

FARM MANAGER – SOLE CHARGE

Get your April 8 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday April 2

Contact Debbie Brown DDI: 06 323 0765 0800 85 25 80 classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

We are a family run contracting and farming business specialising in big straw and hay baling, silage and haylage production. We are looking for employees to help us this coming season and maybe beyond. Start date between the end of May and start of July finishing the end of September. We have accommodation suitable for males and females and are situated within one hour of London.

TE KUITI LIVESTOCK CENTRE

LK0096858©

LIVESTOCK SALEYARD MANAGER - FRANKTON

SHEPHERD Glenaray Station, 70,000su sheep, cattle and deer, is looking for a shepherd to join our team. Located near Waikaia township, we have very good facilities and modern vehicles. Dog training and other training is offered.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Saleyard Manager to join our Frankton Saleyard Team. You will be responsible for carrying out the management of day-to-day saleyard operations. This will include working alongside the livestock agents and managing the saleyards team to ensure the safe and efficient conduct of the livestock sale yards.

This is a salaried position of 40 hours per week with the potential for an agreed overtime rate. Remuneration will reflect the successful applicants experience.

03 202 7720, evenings. Please email CV to: office@glenaray.co.nz

If this sounds like an opportunity for you, please email your CV and cover letter, or any questions to: mhull@associatedauctioneers.co.nz

LK0096851©

Accommodation: Very comfortable single quarters. Cooked evening meal Monday to Friday. Cooked winter lunches.

LK0096897©

You’ll need: • 4 trained dogs • horse experience preferred • current drivers licence

Please phone Mike O’Donoghue

Please print clearly Name: Phone: Address:

For more information please contact Mike Ramsey on 07 878 7077

Email:

Please apply with your CV and cover letter to hra@crusadermeats.co.nz

Heading: Advert to read:

SHEPHERD GENERAL

The applicant must have experience handling livestock, be able to carry out or oversee repairs and maintenance. You should have excellent communication and organisational skills and must be computer literate. This role requires knowledge and management of all compliance issues relevant to the saleyards environment.

Sky TV and internet provided.

REACH EVERY FARMER IN NZ FROM MONDAY

While you may not have management experience, you will have at least two years of head shepherd or leadership experience.

Applicants must have NZ residency or valid NZ work visa.

Please email Gavin & Liz gavin@blackwaterbalingltd.co.uk or telephone UK 077 0232 2203

EMPLOYMENT

You will be in a sole charge position of a predominantly deer farm located in Rotorua. The property is 236 hectares effective with 1100 stock units. Although there is also a small mob of sheep run on the property, experience with deer is preferred.

Material deadline 5pm Tuesday April 2

TRACTOR DRIVERS REQUIRED

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

LK0096900©

Farm Assistant / Manager

Employment

We are looking for an experienced Shepherd General to join our team. We are a deer only farm located in the Rerewhakaaitu, between Murupara and Rotorua. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person, preferably with previous experience working with deer. Ideally, you will have tractor, fencing and chainsaw experience. On occasion you will be required to work on two other Company farms to help out and cover periods of leave. No dogs are required. Success in this role may lead to a management position, in time. A 3 bedroom house is available, so could suit a couple or family. For more information please contact Mike Ramsey on 07 878 7077 Please apply with your CV and cover letter to: hra@crusadermeats.co.nz Applicants must have NZ residency or valid NZ work visa.

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

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Nursery Dispatch Assistant Casual sale yard job opportunity Join the frontline team at AgriHQ with this hands on role. Operated by the country’s most innovative multimedia agri-information hub GlobalHQ, AgriHQ is at the forefront of livestock market information. This role is an integral part of the foundations that make up AgriHQ’s business and while down at the sale yard, you will be the face of AgriHQ for many of our customers. Accuracy and attention to detail is key as information collected at this point flows through to AgriHQ’s sound and respected reports and make up part of the commentary on the market pages in GlobalHQ’s flagship newspaper, Farmers Weekly.

Cattle Data Collector – Temuka sale yards, Timaru If you have a good knowledge of cattle breeds and ages, and the ability to ‘condition’ cattle, then this opportunity could be for you. You will need to attend the Temuka cattle sale every Monday and every second Thursday, plus extra days as and when required (for fairs etc). This role requires you to be able to follow the sale process efficiently and without distraction, inputting data from each pen of cattle into the tablet as it is sold. Some knowledge of operating a tablet is preferred. Training will be provided. Start date: As soon as possible.

Vibrant Earth is seeking a dynamic, hands-on, friendly person who craves a little dirt under their fingernails to assist in Nursery Dispatch. The role includes handling plants in the nursery, preparing them for dispatch, and administration tasks in the office – no two days are alike! We do everything ourselves here at Vibrant Earth, from deciding what we grow, when, who we sell to, and how we market so someone ready to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in will fit in perfectly. We sell to a range of markets and pride ourselves on being a unique, fun place to work with a good crew. We offer plenty of training on the job, flexible work environment in the off season, and a staff discount on plants. Plus free compost – what more could a green thumb ask for! We’re hoping you want to stick around for a while, as the position is full time and permanent. We are based in the Tasman region. Sound interesting? Check out what our ideal candidate has: • Previous hands-on horticulture experience a must. Growing, selling, or planting ornamental garden plants • Basic office administration and computer skills a must • Hortbase software experience a plus, but not a deal breaker • Friendly personality. There will be times you’ll be working with our trade customers, answering phones, and responding to emails • Willingness to help out. Although the main role would be in dispatch, we’re a small team and help each other out when things get busy • Ready to learn. We’re happy to train the right person on the job, so long as you come with a positive attitude

Return this form either by fax to 06 323 7101 attention Debbie Brown Post to Farmers Weekly Classifieds, PO Box 529, Feilding 4740 - by 12pm Wednesday or Freephone 0800 85 25 80

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Sound like you? Contact us at plants@vibrantearth.nz – we look forward to hearing from you!

For more details contact suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

Employment

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

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

EXPERIENCED CONTRACT MILKER 2019 / 2020 Season

• North Rotorua • Summer safe • Mainly flat country • 480 cows • 30 ASHB shed • Low input grass based system • Must have good pasture management Excellent accommodation provided. Email: farmpositionsnz@gmail.com Mobile: 027 493 9064

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Our Future AgResearch is the Crown Research Institute tasked with delivering leading agricultural science and innovation to benefit the wider New Zealand economy. Our internationally-recognised scientists work across the agricultural sectors in collaboration with a range of stakeholders both nationally and internationally, putting science and innovation at the forefront. We are a unique organisation that is driving prosperity by transforming agriculture.

Ngāi Tahu Farming Ravensdown Scholarship At Ngāi Tahu Farming we are committed to growing our future leaders; whether your passion is forest management, veterinary science, product development or even sales and marketing. Together with Ravensdown we are offering one $5,000 scholarship towards tuition fees in 2019 for rangatahi looking for a career in farming or forestry. It also includes an internship opportunity with Ngāi Tahu Farming.

Research Farm Manager - Dunedin We are looking for a passionate and enthusiastic Research Farm Manager to take on this unique opportunity of leading both the physical farm performance and technical science outcomes on our vibrant Research Station. This is not just any farm. Invermay Farm is an intensive sheep and deer farm that hosts trials for some of NZ’s leading scientists in world leading research programs. These include methane emission mitigation strategies and increasing farm productivity, while reducing our environmental footprint. This role requires someone who is actively hands-on and who will enjoy lots of variety in day-to-day operations.

If you are of Ngāi Tahu descent and you’re in your final year of study towards a tertiary qualification, we feel you’re ready to begin your journey with us. To apply, please visit mahi.ngaitahu.iwi.nz and submit your application online. For confidential enquiries, please contact Kirstine MacPherson, People and Development Advisor on 03 974 0168 or kirstine.macpherson@ngaitahu.iwi.nz.

GENERAL MANAGER Peel Forest Estate, a substantial deer farming business, has created a new position of General Manager.

For a confidential discussion, contact Kevin Knowler on 021 273 3012.

Incorporating Lincoln Hills, a satellite deer farm, Peel Forest Estate is running approximately 12,000 deer plus cattle which includes New Zealand’s largest red deer stud, well respected both locally and internationally, as well as a substantial producer of velvet.

To apply or find out more visit www.agresearchcareers.co.nz. Closing date: 27th March 2019.

We are seeking an outstanding farmer with good business skills to drive an efficient, profitable and professional business. To maximise production with excellent stock and pasture management in a sustainable manner, to develop a good team culture, to seek ways to improve the business as well as identifying new opportunities.

Bright Minds Leading the Way Signiﬁcance Balance www.agresearchcareers.co.nz

Peel Forest Estate, located at the foothills of URL Proof read by:_______________________________ With: _______________________________ Date:_______________________________ tested: the Southern Alps, is an iconic property proudly maintained at a very high standard.

2019 Tractor Driver

job: C63609

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advertising proof

We look forward to hearing from any interested party who can clearly demonstrate the above skills.

revisions:

1 2 3 4 5 URL $0 $0 $25 $50 $75 Proof read by:_______________________________ With: _______________________________ Date:_______________________________ tested:

Stock Manager and Shepherds Required PLEASE NOTE:

Due to our current tractor driver moving on to a new venture we require

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2019

that we have prepared this

a tractor driver to join the Tuatahi team based on the Moerangi/Oraukura

Applications with CV and referee ize: 16x3 contact details tosgraham@pfe.nz

advertising proof

Following growth in our business with the acquisition of more land Tuatahi advertisement proof based on our Farming Partnership seeking applicants to fill the following positions on understanding of theisinstructions received. In approving the Station has recently grown to a 2600 eff ha unit Manunui Station. Manunui advertisement, it is client’s responsibility running sheep (breeding and finishing) and finishing cattle.

block. The farm is located half way between Turangi and Taumarunui

publication run cost (excl gst) off State Highway 41date and is one position of 3 farms currentlysort under Tuatahi Farmers Weekly $1320.00 management. Mon 18 Mar Sits vac to check the accuracy of both the job: C63661 advertisement, the mediafrom and the Stock Manager (position 1 May 2019) farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz We are looking for an experienced tractor driver with the following $free nominated. size: 16 x 3 $40.00 form aposition t: mono nzfarmsource.co.nz Shepherd Generals x 2 (immediate start) key skills and experience: Cancellation of adverts booked with NZ Young Farmers Hotwire• Basic mechanical Mon and 11 Mar $112.50 media incur aopportunity media cancellation This isrun anwill exciting to further your farming career in a gst) date position sort cost (excl engineering skills publication and above average ability to

RURAL SECTOR RURAL SECTOR

JOBS BOARD JOBS BOARD

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz • Able to plan, organise and carry out pasture and crop establishment in an efficient and timely manner

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

Employers: Advertise your vacancy in the employment section of the Farmers Weekly and as added value it will be uploaded to farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz for one month or close of application. Contact Debbie Brown 06 323 0765 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

The total Tuatahi farming operation is made up of three farm units with a total of 6300 eff ha and 70,000 stock units located between Turangi and Taumarunui, with sheep, beef and deer breeding operations as well as bull and lamb finishing.

• Self motivated, tidy and take pride in your work and a job well done. • Good communication skills to liaise with block managers and service

• 2019 Trainee Programme - Livestock Representative Agribusiness • Agribusiness • Analyst Agronomy • Bull Analyst Farmer • Dairy Contract Milker • General Maintenance • Dairy Livestock Specialist • Manager • Farm PastureAssistant and Grazing Specialist • Farm Sharemilker Manager • Shepherd Manager • General Shepherd/General

providers • Ability to report accurately and in a timely manner and to utilise technology in reporting establishment and maintenance requirements Duties will include: • Pasture and crop establishment including spraying, cultivation and sowing

In addition we would expect applicants for the stock manager position to have: • A minimum of 7 years farming experience in sheep and beef farming • Ability to plan work and grazing management and deliver to targets • Experience with staff management

• Liaising with block managers around timing and service providers for seed, fertiliser etc • Weed control • Topping • Feeding out silage The position offers: • A safe working environment with modern machinery and facilities • A competitive remuneration package • Future possibility to advance to an Agronomy Manager position within the business For enquiries or applications please contact our HR Manager – Rob Holland 027 565 6661 or email projects@tuatahi.co.nz. Applications to include cover letter, CV and at least two work

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• General farm maintenance • A good 3 bedroom house – primary school bus at end of drive

your con

All successful applicants will have: • An established team of working dogs • Good stockmanship skills and a strong work ethic • An ability to maintain accurate records and use technology for record keeping and reporting • Honest and reliable with good communication skills • Good people skills and able to work as part of team

• A sound level of technical knowledge around pasture and crop

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Livestock Manager Employers: Advertise your Assistant vacancy in the Nursery Dispatch employment section of the Farmers Weekly Other and as added value it will be uploaded to Scholarship farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz for one month or close of application. Senior Supervisor - Stockyard Contact Debbie Brown 06 323 0765 Shepherd or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz Shepherd General Stock Manager Tractor/Truck/Machinery Operator

fee of $50.farming operation. We offer the successful applicants the progressive Mon 18 Mar Sits vac $1224.00 opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge as part of a progressive $free yourteam contact: farming along withAmy the assistance of technology.

operate machinery and minimise breakages and down time Farmers Weekly

PLEASE NO that we hav advertiseme understand received. In advertiseme to check th advertiseme position nom Cancellatio media will i fee of $50.

Tuatahi can offer for each position: • Remuneration package to reflect skills, experience and position • A three bedroom house • A safe working environment with modern facilities • Ongoing training and personal development • A career path in a growing farming business Successful applicants will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work permit. For further details contact: Rob Holland – HR Manager 027 565 6661

referees.

Email cover letter, CV and contact details for at least two work references to Rob at projects@tuatahi.co.nz

Application close 29th March 2019

Applications close 29 March 2019

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Great location for hunting, fishing, skiing, jet boating and close to Geraldine.

Closing date checked:

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

DOLOMITE

POWER CABLE

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

0800 436 566

We could save you hundreds of $$

HOMES FARM SHEDS SUBDIVISIONS PUMPS

PROFESSIONAL COST-EFFECTIVE SPOT SPRAYING

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Prices include delivery to your door! For friendly & professional advice CALL 0800 843 0987 Fax: 07 843 0992 Email: power@thecableshop.co.nz THE CABLE SHOP WAIKATO www.thecableshop.co.nz

DOGS FOR SALE

FARMS FOR SALE

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GARLIC & MANUKA HONEY. 20L - $54.95, 200L $495 or 1000L - $2,200 plus GST with FREE SHIPPING from Black Type Minerals Ltd www. blacktypeminerals. co.nz

HUNTAWAY PUPPIES for sale, 9 weeks old. Vaccinated and ready to go. Great working parents. $250 each. Phone 07 877 8840. 45 HEADING AND Huntaways! Deliver South and North Islands, trial, guaranteed. www. youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553. BEARDIE / SMITHFIELD X Grizzly Huntaway pups. 10 weeks old. Big strong healthy pups. First vac and regularly wormed. $400. Phone 027 518 1528. ONE 5-MONTH-OLD Huntaway pup ready to start. Phone 06 388 0212 or 027 243 8541. FOR ONLY $2.10 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80 to book in.

FIRST DAIRY FARM opportunity. 416 Landsborough Road is a 108.72ha dairy farm situated approximately 4km south west of Timaru in an excellent location. The property is irrigated by centre pivot irrigator and K line. Tidy 26 ASHB dairy shed with a circular yard that holds approximately 330 cows. A comfortable 2 bedroom home and plenty of sheds complete this tidy dairy farm. Enquire today for a viewing. Phone Michael Richardson 027 228 7027 or Chris Murdoch 0274 342 545.

FAST GRASS www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT $5.85 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 brianmace@xtra.co.nz

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SPRAYING

FREE DEER FENCES, posts, wire gates yards doors water troughs. At Waiuku. Trademe #1967370306 Phone Chris 027 493 1108. SHED/BARN, DEER shed and yards builder available all of South Island. Has selfcontained motor home. 15 years experience. Phone 027 436 8372.

BIRDS/POULTRY ANIMAL HANDLING

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FLY OR LICE problem? Electrodip - The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides. Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness. Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

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

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS

ATTENTION FARMERS

For more information: Sarah 021 706 866 Dion 021 797 268

Get your April 8 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday April 2

Contact Debbie Brown DDI: 06 323 0765 0800 85 25 80 classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

• Gorse / Blackberry Spraying etc • Mist blowers. Gun and hose • Camp-out teams available • Will travel anywhere We have equipment and man power to withstand any terrain.

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE

Material deadline 5pm Tuesday April 2

Classifieds

PULLETS HY-LINE brown, great layers. 07 824 1762. Website: eurekapoultryfarm.weebly. com – Have fresh eggs each day!!!

CONTRACTORS GORSE SPRAYING SCRUB CUTTING. 30 years experience. Blowers, gun and hose. No job too big. Camp out teams. Travel anywhere if job big enough. Phone Dave 06 375 8032.

DOGS WANTED 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. BUYING SOUTH AND North Islands. No one buys or pays more! www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Experienced musterers available. Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916. GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds. Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten. Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

GOATS WANTED GOATS. 40 YEARS experience mustering feral cattle and feral goats anywhere in NZ. 50% owner (no costs). 50% musterer (all costs). Phone Kerry Coulter 027 494 4194.

GRAZING AVAILABLE FOR BEEF COWS. March/ April / May. NW Waikato. Large numbers. Phone 027 697 1049.

HORTICULTURE NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp. The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE RAMS. HILL COUNTRY Perendales. Easy care with good size and quality wool. $250-$500. Phone 06 376 4751 or 021 133 7533. RAMS. TERMINAL SIRES Southdowns and Suffolk/ Southdown X for heavy fast growing lambs. Suitable for Hogget mating. $250$500. Phone 06 357 7727 or 021 133 7533.

PERSONAL RURAL LADY LOOKING for companionship! A down to earth lady with a caring, fun loving personality. With blonde hair and blue eyes. She loves the country, horses, walks on the beach, travelling, reading, gardening and a good conversation. She is looking for a genuine gentleman to share the rest of her life with. To meet please Call 0800 446 332 - Quote code 33. www. countrycompanionship. co.nz

PROPERTY WANTED HOUSE FOR REMOVAL wanted. North Island. Phone 021 0274 5654.

STOCK FEED HAY 12 EQUIVALENT squares $60. 15 equivalent rounds $70. STRAW 12 equivalents $45. BALEAGE at $75. Unit loads available. Phone 021 455 787.

WANTED TO BUY OLD CARS WANTED, going or not. Any condition but pre-1990. Prefer Central / Upper North Island. Cash paid. Phone Sean 027 634 7417.

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

STANDARD FEEDER (C6 Pinned) • • • •

1 x 6 foot bale 2m diameter 15 feed positions 15 - 30 animals

100% New Zealand Made Quality Stockfeeders

0 $ 85 +GST

OVAL FEEDER (S2 Pinned) • • • • •

3 x 4 foot bales 2 x 6 foot bales 24 feed positions 24 - 48 animals 4m long

$ 120+G0 ST

0800 104 404 | www.stockfeeders.co.nz

New Zealand’s proven stock feeder for 24 years | 100% New Zealand Tensile Steel

CLASSIFIEDS REACH EVERY FARMER IN NZ FROM MONDAY Advertise in the Farmers Weekly $2.10 + GST per word - Please print clearly Name: Address: Email: Heading: Advert to read:

Return this form either by fax to 06 323 7101 attention Debbie Brown Post to Farmers Weekly Classifieds, PO Box 529, Feilding 4740 - by 12pm Wednesday or Freephone 0800 85 25 80

Phone:

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Classifieds

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

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Phone: +64 6 357 2454

DE HORNER

EARMARKERS

HOOF TRIMMER

Closing Down Sale

FOR SALE

Advertise in Farmers Weekly

Between 50% to 75% off storewide

Phone Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Moa Master provide quality products and services at affordable prices

SCOTTY’S CONTRACTORS Under Woolshed/ Cover Yards Cleaning Specialist

13.5HP. Briggs & Stratton Motor. Electric start. 1.2m cut

www.underthewoolshed.kiwi

TOWABLE TOPPING MOWER

(T&C’s online only and for a limited time)

12Hp Diesel. Electric Start

Including our luxury Pure Merino range

We’re back and taking bookings 11.5HP Briggs & Stratton Motor. WOOD SPLITTER Industrial. Electric start.

GST $4400 INCLUSIVE

GST $4200 INCLUSIVE

$3990

GST INCLUSIVE

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

MOA MASTER

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

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

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NZ’s #1 service provider for under woolshed cleaning for more than a decade

TOWABLE FLAIL MOWER

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Ph: Scott Newman 027 26 26 272 0800 27 26 88

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STOP BIRDS NOW!

ZON BIRDSCARER

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz

SELLING SOMETHING?

w w w. e l e c t r o t e k . c o . n z P.O. Box 30, Palmerston North 4440, NZ

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

www.nurturedbynature.co.nz

Livestock

KIKITANGEO ROMNEY STUD CAPITAL STOCK HEREFORD FEMALE SALE

Sound well fleshed sires, Excellent temperament 200 Fully breedplan recorded cows 20 Bulls Catalogued

A/C Colraine Herefords & Kanuka Herefords Colin & Sue Corney and Russo Family Tuesday 26th March @ 7.00pm

From our top proven sire – KIKI G197-14. One of the highest ranking rams in New Zealand for worm resistance. His current SIL DPF figure is 946 (which indicates worm resistance). Also tested to .50mg/kg for FE tolerance.

Further information and photos please see our website www.kikitangeo.co.nz or contact Gordon Levet email: glevet5192@gmail.com or telephone 09 423 7034

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Phone Nigel 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@globalhq.co.nz

Bid, buy, sell all things rural

WILTSHIRE RAMS AVAILABLE

> Genuine full shed sheep > No shearing > No dagging > No dipping

Are you looking in the right direction? To advertise

PETER & CAROLINE FOSS

495 Potaka Road, RD 1, Aria, King Country Ph/fax (07) 877 7881 • Email: pcfossy@xtra.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz

WAIRARAPA SHEEP & BEEF AWARDS 2019 WINNERS FIELD DAY Friday 29 March 2019 George and Luce Williams Grassendale, 1062 Manawa Road Tinui, Masterton COMPETITION SPONSORS

BULL OPEN DAY • ALL ENQUIRIES WELCOME WEDNESDAY 29TH MAY 1 - 5PM

The farm tour will start at GRASSENDALE 9.30am 1062 MANAWA ROAD TINUI, MASTERTON Allow 50 minutes from Masterton

Vehicles – Quads with helmets compulsory Lunch must be purchased at the venue: $10 per person (Please bring cash – Tinui School Fundraiser)

4.30pm Refreshments & BBQ will be served

For further details phone BakerAg 06 370 6880

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To register as a purchaser with bidr® please contact the team at bidr®on 0800 TO BIDR or enquiries@bidr.co.nz

SEMEN AVAILABLE

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For further enquires Cam Heggie – PGG Wrightson Genetics 0275 018182

25TH ANNUAL SALE THURSDAY 6TH JUNE 1PM, TE KUITI SALE YARDS

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The Colraine and Kanuka breeding programme has been based on breeding fertile, maternal females using the best available genetics to continually improve the quality of the cow herd. The females for sale are straight from the heart of each herd and from some of the best cow families. The offering includes females in-calf by AI to breed leading sires Koanui Techno 3062 and Limehills Streaker 150368. On offer in the inaugural “PGG Wrightson Hereford Female Sale”, being conducted online through the new bidr® online auction platform, are the following animals; • 6 – In-calf Rising 3yr & 4yr Cows • 10 – In-calf Rising 2yr Heifers • 1 Stud Sire - 2015 National ChampionWaikaka Skytower 1329

Livestock

FOR SALE EAST FRIESIAN 1 SHEAR RAMS

NOTICE OF CLEARING SALE ON A/C RYAN FARMS 2006 LTD Royalburn Station, 464 Crown Range Road, Queenstown Stock & Plant Thursday 28th March – 1pm

567 JV Grant Road, Wellsford Thursday 28th March 2018 12.00pm Start

Contact Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131

• • • • • •

22 x Incalf Cow & Calves 12 x Incalf R2yr Heifers 3 x Herd Sires 1 x Frozen Embryo (SGT Pepper) Variety of Semen Straws

Contact Rhys Dackers 027 241 5564

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

Spring Calvers 360 Fr Herd BW40 PW49 DTC 15/7 Web Ref DH 1326 Milked on difficult farm. Has averaged 410ms previously. $1700 190 Xbred herd BW100 PW139 RA95% DTC 27/7 Web Ref DH1323 Well-bred herd with high indexes. 435ms, Low SCC $1950ono 260 FrsX herd BW68 PW108 RA100% DTC 14/7 High capacity cows on system 3. $1900 187 Xbred herd BW100 PW109 RA96% DTC 1/8 8 weeks AI, tailed speckled park/Hereford $1900 58 Xbred In-Calf Heifers BW111 PW125 DTC 1/8 Capital line mainly black (Herd above) $1500 157 Xbred herd BW112 PW168 (Top 2%) DTC 24/7 I/C to LIC xbred, 480ms, low SCC $2100 36 Xbred In-Calf Heifers BW139 PW166 DTC 1/8 I/C to Jrsy (Herd above) $1700 140 F/FX In-Calf Heifers BW111 PW124 DTC 25/7 Capital line out of hard-working herd. $1700 Philip Webb Ph: 027 8018057 Central & Southern North Island Dairy Coordinator

Plant List: 2009 Massey Ferguson 6465 & Loader Calder Stewart loading ramp 5400hr Gallagher smart scale 500 1972 454 International Tractor 10375hrs Three way drafter 2001 Claas Lexion 450 evolution 1350 mill 2000L diesel tank and stand hours excellent condition 1800L petrol tank and pump 431 international header Mobile diesel tank with electric pump 801 Kuhn mower Gorse pump and hose Trimax topper Prattley mobile yards 2007 Toyota Hilux 3.0TD 4WD x/c flatdeck Small bale hay feeder 220,000kms Save a back 1992 Daihatsu Hi Jet 41,000km Farm trailer 1996 Toyota Hilux SR flat deck Farm trailer (tractor) 1966 J3 Bedford truck Sack Barrow Duncan 701 drill Assortment deer posts, sheep posts, New Holland windrower warratahs, netting Murphy pickup Concrete Strainers Leveller Tripod rotating bird scarer Kverneland TLC cultivator Birdguard speaker bird scarer Willet 9ft off set disc’s 4x4 motorbike trailer Cambridge roller Grease gun 8ft concrete roller Hand diesel pumps Grubber Inoculating guns Clough four furrow plough Possum traps 2.5m Lely power harrow Sheep cradle 12ft Heavy Harrows Tailing box and tailing gear Vicon hay rake FEC pack 2 International sickle mowers Wire ropes International B47 hay baler Dog kennel Hay Conditioner 2 x 25 tonne V bottom KUYF silos Balage soft hands 7 x 40 tonne V bottom KUYF silos Balage back forks 1 x 20 tonne V bottom KUYF silo on legs Front forks KUYF 3pt linkage C Dax sprayer 12m boom 1 x 30 tonne flat bottom Calder Stewart 800 litre tank silo Sprayer for 4 wheeler 1 x 25 tonne V bottom Calder Stewart silo Hardy 12m spray boom Stihl chainsaw Croplands 1700L spray tank Bench drill Vicon fert spreader Young welder Back blade Dog tucker freezers Polaris Ranger 400 side by side motor bike Water blaster Honda CT200 motorbike Workshop sundries Honda 4x4 300 motorbike Tarpaulins Grain auger Grain bin x 2 Sweep auger Rimu open fire surround Small grain auger Concrete Killing house Mobile grain bin Southern Cross 2000 Travelling irrigator Hydraulic deer crush Large assortment alloy irrigation pipes and Lister shearing machines x 3 sprinklers Portable shearing machine 4 Trailers for pipes Woolshed sundries 10 lines K line Dipping and drench guns Selection 50ml and 63ml 100 metre lengths Fleece scales alkathene Donald no tramp wool press Assorted Timber Wood table Approx 5 tonne ryecorn seed Prattley double loading ramp 4 pellets of Oamaru stone blocks

Thursday 21st March

600 CATTLE 12 Noon Start

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240 Young Frsn Cows. BW49 PW46 RA 89%. Web Ref DH1424 DTC 1/7. 55 year breeding history. Calving date split available to suit SI. Low SCC. $1800. 130 FR/Xbred Early Calving Cows BW102 PW138 RA99% DTC 25th June to 20th July to AB. 25 years breeding $2000 99 F/FX In-Calf Heifers BW87 PW76 DTC 15/7 Capital line out of 420ms System 3 herd $1600

30 R3yr Frsn & Frsn X Strs 70 R2yr Angus & Ang Here X Strs 80 R2yr Here Frsn X Strs 50 R2yr Angus Frsn X Strs 15 R2yr Ang Here X Bulls 100 R2yr Friesian Bulls 43 R2yr Angus & Ang Here X Hfrs 95 R2yr Here Frsn X Hfrs 57 1yr (Aut Born) Here Frsn X Strs 15 1yr (Aut Born) Here Frsn X Hfrs 50 Wnr Dairy Beef For enquiries call 027 4956031 www.centrallivestock.co.nz

Paul Kane: 027 286 9279 National Dairy Coordinator

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

Hit the bulls-eye with advertising in the Farmers Weekly.

Approx: 80 bales hay 280 bales ryecorn balage 200 bales grass balage

Reaching over 78,000 rural mailboxes weekly we are the ideal space to engage with the right audience for your bull sales. Farmers Weekly also publishes a free weekly e-newsletter during autumn and spring that showcases bull sale results from around the country. Adding digital advertising options to link to your catalogue offers added benefits. LK0096832©

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

Rivendell Simmental Dispersal Sale

Bred for Milking Industry in mind

Carrfields are pleased to offer on a/c Ryan Farms 2006 Ltd a top line of proven high-country ewes. Comprising Approx: 750 Perendale 2shr Ewes 700 Perendale 3Shr Ewes 700 Perendal 4Shr Ewes 300 Perendale 5Shr Ewes 200 Perendale ADE (ewes mainly Pip Wilson bred) 1400 fat & forward Terminal Lambs (sorted into lines) 50 Rams & Kills (Campo & Toxo & Scaline Program) Lambs fattened on property to average approximately 19.5kg annually

CONTACT NEIL MCCROSTIE 027 230 4518 CRAIG GARDYNE 027 498 6887 HAMISH RYAN 027 431 3933

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

LK0096671©

To find out more, contact Nigel Ramsden on 06 323 0761, 027 602 4925 or email livestock@globalhq.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz 2424FW

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

LK0096730©

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE

FRIESIAN BULL CALVES 150-200kg

R2 YR ANGUS & AX STEERS 400-460kg

LK0096655©

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

A Financing Solution For Your Farm E info@rdlfinance.co.nz

At Temuka Saleyards Wednesday 27th March 2019, 12 Noon

DAIRY HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE NORTH ISLAND HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE $2,150+GST

BW 57/44

•

A2/A2 DNA tested Cows. Fresian, FresianX - Worth a look! Mark Neil – 027 742 8580 Agonline ref: 3280

238 M/A Friesian Cows BW 25

PW 36

$1,750+GST

•

66 Friesian, Kiwi X R1yr Heifers BW 137

PW 147

$900+GST

•

RA93% Complete herd of rising 2nd calvers. Incalf to nominated A2 A2 LIC sires. Kim Harrison – 027 501 0013

RA98% Very tidy Line of Capital Stock LIC Heifers, well grown with Indexes to match. Andrew Leggett – 022 038 3216

Agonline ref: 3009

Agonline ref: 2885

100 from 115 Kiwi X R1yr Heifers

326 MA Kiwi X Cows

BW 141

•

$1,880+GST

PW 73/62

$850+GST

PW 165

BW 76

•

PW 113

$1,800+GST

•

RA63% A well put together Ambreed Herd. Owner exiting Dairying. Andrew Leggett – 022 038 3216

RA100% Capital Stock line of Kiwi X Heifers. Select up to 100 from 115. Tim Pickering – 0274 469 963

Sharemilker retiring. Top quality Cows, awesome type & conformation. Jason Roberts – 027 243 1429

Agonline ref: 2824

Agonline ref: 3195

Agonline ref: 3107

150 MA Jersey Cows BW 112

PW 142

114 M/A Friesian/Jersey X Cows

$1,800+GST

•

BW 118

PW180 $1,750+GST

•

90 M/A Frsn/Frsn X Cows BW 74

PW 17

Available May 1 Prograze 027 281 4232

Key: Dairy 90TH ANNUAL GLENLYON & HUXLEY GORGE CALF SALE

135-2yr Frsn, Xbred 2nd Calvers

Looking for quality heifer grazing?

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

120 MA Frsn/Frsn X Cows

SALE TALK

350-450 kg

Contact Nigel Ramsden DDI: 06 323 0761 0800 85 25 80 livestock@globalhq.co.nz

$1,750+GST

•

On offer will be: 300 Hereford Steer Calves 150 Angus Hereford x Steer Calves 185 Hereford Heifer Calves 180 Angus Hereford x Heifer Calves 815 Total The calves being offered are mid October born Station bred calves. They will have been on the move for 10 days prior to the Sale through mustering and weaning. Trucked to Temuka Saleyards where they will be drafted and sorted into sale lines. Due to this presale handling these calves are renowned for their quietness and temperament. Our Vendors annually procure top quality bulls from throughout the South Island to ensure genetic gains continue to remain paramount.

Cattle

Sheep

Other

RIPPEY SALE Top quality in milk x bred herd & in calf heifers. Tuesday 9th April 11.00am start 324 Tirau Rd (S/H1) 3km from Cambridge A/C Bill & Carolyn Rippey Comprising: 150 X Bred/Jrsy in calf cows BW 123/46 (Top 4%) PW 196 (Top 1%) 41 X Bred in calf heifers BW 150 PW 181 Farm sold, herd is going straight to auction. Herd has produced 421mls in 191 days and on target for 480mls per cow with an ave SCC 80,000, over 90% of herd 0/4 SCC threshold exceeded on herd test. Herd and in calf hfrs commence calving 7th July to predominately x bred AI, tailed off jrsy bull, scanned to dates. Cows will be in milk (OAD since Feb) on sale day and

These calves traditionally range in liveweight between 160-250kgs.

in top condition. This sale is an excellent dairy cattle with performance/type and

opportunity for purchaser to buy top index

Excellent line up of Jersey Cows from top operators. Would go well in any system. Steve Taylor – 027 648 6711

RA95% X/Bred Content of Herd of 314 Cows, 3yr Avg production 115,000 Kg/MS. Andrew Reyland – 027 223 7092

RA97% Spring Calving content out of Autumn Calving Herd, Great Age Structure Dean Evans – 027 243 1092

Agonline ref: 3040

Agonline ref: 1810

Agonline ref: 3064

This sale is being conducted as an unreserved sale.

185 1yr X/Bred R1yr Heifers

60 Frsn In Calf Hfrs

32 Frsn/Frsn X/Jrsy X In Calf Hfrs

Sale Day TB Status C8

carrying AI contracts. EBL free, BVD Neg,

This sale will be conducted purchase price plus GST. Light luncheon provided at conclusion of sale.

M/Bovis milk tested free.

BW 141

PW 158

$900+GST

•

BW 41

PW 42

$1,300+GST

•

BW 101

PW 110

$1,280+GST

•

RA100% Complete Replacement Line of Kiwi X Hfrs, well grown, 1st May Delivery. Dean Evans – 027 243 1092

RA100% Immediate Delivery or 1st May Delivery. Regan Craig – 027 502 8585

Complete replacement line of Heifers. Well worth inspection. Can drop 3 if wanted. Matt Hughes – 027 405 2824

Agonline ref: 2494

Agonline ref: 2780

Agonline ref: 3176

LOCK IT IN! LIST YOUR DAIRY HERD NOW. PGG Wrightson Dairy representatives are specialists at marketing and selling dairy herds. Benefit from the specialist team that is dedicated to matching herds with the right buyers and achieving an optimal outcome for your business.

For photos and more information on listings visit www.agonline.co.nz

Enquiries To Ken Wigley - Glenlyon: 03 438 9644 Joe Higgins- PGG Wrightson: 0274 314 041 Matt Gibbs - PGG Wrightson: 0275 552 307 More details at www.temukasales.co.nz

The police are called to an apartment and find a woman standing over a lifeless man, holding a bent and twisted five-iron. The detective asks, “Is that your husband?” “Yes,” replies the woman. “Did you hit him with the golf club?” “Yes, I did,” sobs the woman. “How many times did you hit him?” asks the detective. “I don’t know,” she replies. “Five, six, maybe seven times. Oh look, just put me down for five.”

R2 YR FRIESIAN BULLS

Material deadline 5pm Tuesday April 2

ENTER AT

STOCK REQUIRED STORE LAMBS 25-40kg

R2 YR BEEF STEERS 300-350kg

Get your April 8 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday April 2

farmersweekly.co.nz/ewehogget2019

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

temperament. Which includes 8 animals

Catalogs, photos & video can be viewed on agonline.co.nz For more information contact Andrew Reyland on 027 223 7092, Dean Cook on 027 270 7729, or Bill Rippey (vendor) on 027 606 8833.

UPCOMING MARCH WEANER CALF SALES North Island Sales

NATIONAL TEAM. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. MATAWHERO SALE Tuesday 26th March, 11.00am A/C Morunga Station - Matawai 250 x 2 1/2yr Ang & Exotic X hill country steers. Tony Blackwood 027 243 1858 Jamie Hayward 027 434 7586

FIND US ON FACEBOOK Follow what’s happening out in the field, visit: fb.com/pgwlivestock

NOKOMAI STATION ON FARM STORE LAMB SALE

Kaikohe Weaner Bull & Grown Cattle | Northland Feilding Weaner Fair Steers & Bulls Peria Grown Cattle Fair | Northland Feilding Weaner Fair Heifer Martinborough & Masterton Weaner Fair (Steers and Bulls) Martinborough & Masterton Weaner Fair (Heifers) Broadwood Grown Cattle Fair | Northland Dannevirke Weaner Fair

1.00pm 11:30am 12.30pm 11:30am 11.30am 11.30am 12.30pm 11.30am

20 March 20 March 21 March 21 March 26 March 27 March 28 March 28 March

11.00am 12.00pm 10.00am 10:30am 10.30am 1.30pm 12.00pm 12.00pm 11:00am 10:30am 10:30am 10.00am

20 March 21 March 21 March 22 March 26 March 26 March 26 March 27 March 27 March 28 March 29 March 29 March

South Island Sales

Monday 15th April Commencing 1.30pm (Please note change of date from PGGW calendar) Approx: 6000 Half Bred Wether Lambs 3000 Half Bred Ewe Lambs 1000 Texel x MS Lambs

Barry McAlister 027 441 6432

For more information contact your local PGG Wrightson Livestock Rep

Preliminary Notice Account: Nokomai Station Athol, Northern Southland

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

Helping grow the country

LK0096726©

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 18, 2019

MARKET SNAPSHOT

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Suz Bremner

Mel Croad

Nicola Dennis

Cattle

Reece Brick

Caitlin Pemberton

Sheep

BEEF

Deer

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.25

5.60

NI lamb (17kg)

7.00

7.10

NI Stag (60kg)

9.50

9.60

10.90

NI Bull (300kg)

4.90

4.85

5.50

NI mutton (20kg)

5.00

4.85

SI Stag (60kg)

9.55

10.90

NI Cow (200kg)

3.60

4.40

SI lamb (17kg)

6.60

7.05

SI Steer (300kg)

5.00

5.45

SI mutton (20kg)

4.80

SI Bull (300kg)

4.80

5.25

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.55

3.60

4.30

UK CKT lamb leg

8.84

8.92

8.96

US imported 95CL bull

7.13

6.73

US domestic 90CL cow

6.98

6.95

6.55

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

South Island steer slaughter price

11 South Island lamb slaughter price

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Jun

Apr 2017-18

Jun

Aug 2018-19

Prior week

Last year

Coarse xbred ind.

3.06

37 micron ewe

$/tonne

6.5 6.0

Aug-18 Sept. 2019

Oct-18

Dec-18 Sept. 2020

625

523

3.10

Super

321

307

4.85

DAP

833

775

Apr-18

Prior week

Jun-18

Aug-18

Oct-18

Dec-18

3200

2845

SMP

2540

2490

2430

AMF

5450

5210

Butter

4465

4250

Milk Price

6.43

6.40

6.27

$/tonne Mar

Apr May Latest price

Jun Jul 4 weeks ago

Aug

3.9

3.38

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.8

7.065

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

14.98

15.26

12.3

Spark New Zealand Limited

3.62

4.18

3.57

Ryman Healthcare Limited

11.3

11.5

10.4

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

3.685

3.8

3.51

Contact Energy Limited

6.4

6.5

5.82

Fletcher Building Limited

4.69

5.34

4.57

Port of Tauranga Limited (NS)

5.44

5.45

4.9

5pm, close of market, Thursday YTD High

YTD Low

15.000

10.420

Comvita Limited

4.320

5.420

4.090

Delegat Group Limited

9.780

10.100

9.400

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

4.370

4.850

4.170

Foley Wines Limited

1.700

1.470

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.890

0.750

360

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

2.280

2.410

2.100

340

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.520

0.570

0.470

Sanford Limited (NS)

6.500

6.980

6.350

Scales Corporation Limited

4.740

4.820

4.340

SeaDragon Limited

0.003

0.002

Seeka Limited

4.740

4.980

4.200

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

10.820

10.900

8.860

400 380

Apr-18

Jun-18

Aug-18

Oct-18

Dec-18

Feb-19

350

3100

3.85

14.210

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

3200

10.42

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

The a2 Milk Company Limited

Feb-18

3300

YTD Low

320

3400

YTD High

14.21

Company

420

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

The a2 Milk Company Limited

Listed Agri Shares

440

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Company

Feb-19

vs 4 weeks ago

3200

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Top 10 by Market Cap

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

WMP

3000

625

370

Feb-18

$/tonne

Last price*

Aug 2018-19

Urea

420

320

Feb-19

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Jun

Last year

470

Jun-18

Apr 2017-18

Prior week

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

7.0

Apr-18

Feb

Last week

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

5.5

Dec 5-yr ave

Fertiliser

Aug 2018-19

Last week

30 micron lamb

Dairy

Oct

FERTILISER

(NZ$/kg) Apr 2017-18

8 7

WOOL

Feb

5.0

Dec 5-yr ave

6.0

5.5

Oct

South Island stag slaughter price

7.0

4.0 $/kg CW

6.0

9.0

6.0

$/kg MS

4.0

4.5

US$/t

7.0

8.0

4.5

5.0

Last year

8.0

5.5

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

$/kg CW

6.0

9.0 $/kg CW

North Island steer slaughter price

North Island lamb slaughter price

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Ingrid Usherwood

300

T&G Global Limited

2.680

2.810

2.650

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity

16396

16563

15063

S&P/NZX 50 Index

9436

9440

8732

S&P/NZX 10 Index

9087

9149

8280

250 200

Feb-18

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Apr-18

Jun-18

Aug-18

Oct-18

Dec-18

Feb-19

16396

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

9436

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

9087

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

3.60

NI SLAUGHTER LAMB ( $/KG)

7.00

SI SLAUGHTER STEER ( $/KG)

5.00

BONER FRIESIAN COWS, 450-610KG, AT FEILDING ( $/KG LW)

1.50

Busy time on the land

NORTH ISLAND ORTHLAND has become pretty dry again though there is still a greenish tinge to the landscape but decent rain is needed to kick it into gear again. Temperatures hit 29C on Thursday. Feed is fairly short, as is water. Weaner fairs are on and they are not as strong as last year’s record prices. Animals are fetching $100 to $150 a head less than a year ago. Pukekohe had close to 30mm of rain at the end of last week so irrigators were turned off for a couple of days. However, since then the days have been fine, warm and calm. Ground is being cultivated and the planting of late autumn and winter vegetables continues in excellent conditions. Waikato had some more impressive temperatures. It has also been humid. South Waikato had a bit of rain mid-week and while it looks green there’s not a lot of feed about. Milk production on our contact’s farm is about 2% behind for the month but last season was a cracker. In Bay of Plenty the kiwifruit export picking season has started and, for the first time ever, Zespri will pack more gold kiwifruit than green this season. Last year it supplied 144 million trays of green and gold kiwifruit. About 40% goes to China and Japan. King Country has had a delightful 65mm of rain over the past week and grass is getting the idea of growing again. Sheep farmers are putting out the rams or are getting ready to do so. There are 27 dairy farms in Ruapehu district and farmers have been busy pregnancy testing the cows. The empty rate’s not too bad this year at 10% to 12%. Taranaki has greened up nicely with recent rain and farmers are feeling more confident as they look ahead. Those who are into autumn calving appear to be going well so far. Gisborne is ticking along. A week ago there was rain and while most farms might not have a heap of feed it is still growing. Beef farmers are preparing themselves for a softening of weaner prices at the fairs to be held soon. Farmers who finish lambs on the flats might have to pay more for them when they come out of the hills. They’re heavier than usual because of good grass growth. Apples are being picked, the kiwifruit harvest has started and grape guys will be hoping rain holds off. The ag consultant we spoke to says every day he’s hearing about a new horticultural development in the district, mainly kiwifruit. Hawke’s Bay is looking green and is feeling autumnal with its heavy morning dews. There has been a little rain – enough to keep things trucking along. Meat works have been running flat tack so they can get all the product they can landed in Britain by March 29, the official date for Brexit. Apples too are all go. Growers are pleased they have been able to employ tourists to help with the harvest but labour is still the biggest issue facing the industry. Pumpkins are being harvested in good conditions. This time last year tractors couldn’t get onto the paddocks. The consultant we rang is

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LivestockEye

We create transparency for the industry with these independent, objective reports providing full sale results and informed commentary covering 10 saleyards across NZ that are emailed directly after the sale.

GOING, GOING, GONE: This mob of 180 Romney lambs sold at Stortford Lodge for $120 a head.

disappointed his neighbour has picked all his golden queen peaches so he can no longer grab one off the tree when he’s out for a walk. He says they have been fantastic this year. In Wairarapa farmers are in better spirits after a few doses of rain. There have also been some nice, overcast days. It is still a bit dry but things are now growing. A lot of grass seed and winter crops are going in. Most of the region’s barley has been harvested though there is still maize to go. Ewes are being set for tupping. Manawatu is not out of the woods yet but farmers are feeling a lot better after 4mm of rain. The heat has gone and dews are heavy so farms have greened up and new grass, sown after crops have come out, is popping up nicely. If growth continues at current rates dairy cow diets will go from 70% supplements to 70% grass again. It is a story of two halves with maize harvest yields. Manawatu had bumper yields after good rain in late spring but Rangitikei yields are poor. Top Manawatu yields were 22 to 23 tonnes to the hectare, Rangitikei’s were 16 to 18. Facial eczema is still a concern on lower country. Horowhenua had a great week with a little rain and some nice, mild temperatures. Cows are milking okay and everything’s growing and green. Broccoli has perked up too and growers are reporting it is even a bit wet in the paddocks. SOUTH ISLAND Golden Bay has had between 70mm and 120mm of rain in the past fortnight. It was much needed after the driest summer since 2001. Record soil moisture deficits and a lack of quality grass have meant some dairy herds are getting 80% of their food from supplementary feed costing tens of thousands of dollars. It will take a few weeks and more rain to get the grass back. Weaning is under way on deer farms and the stags are out.

Marlborough farms are looking a picture after about 65mm of rain. Hills have gone from brown to green and our contact near Blenheim says it is a game changer for pastoral farmers, especially for those who have later tupping dates. The early rams are already out on east coast properties, all the green-feed crops are in for winter and calf sales are about to start. The rain could not have come at worse time for grape growers, who are in the middle of harvesting. Grapes can split and get the fungal rot botrytis. On the West Coast gumboots are being worn in the Lake Brunner area after some heavy rain. One farmer says milk results are better than last year despite going down to once-a-day milking. By that he means quality is up, not volume. A steady flow of trucks with balage and palm kernel from Canterbury is going to farms up the Grey Valley, which is dry after missing much of the summer rain. Canterbury had some rain and last week felt like autumn. Dairy farmers are busy pregnancy testing cows and heifers, sheep farmers are preparing ewes for tupping. Arable farmers are getting the last of the crops off and planting next year’s crops like grass and clover seed. Our contact in South Otago was crutching lambs with flystrike when we called. He says it has been a dry month. For March there has been 10.5mm in the gauge so far. February had 33.5mm and January 90mm. For dairying, if it doesn’t rain soon he’ll go down to 16-hour milking of his 950-cow herd. Pregnancy results were okay at 10% empties, especially since the farm is organic and cows are doing it au naturel. Coastal Southland’s farms west of Invercargill are still quite dry. Grass is growing okay though and over the past couple of months loads of balage has been made. Our contact at Wallacetown says the main concerns for local farmers are land and water plans, talk of changing regulations on wintering stock levels on farms and falling land prices.

Courtesy of Radio New Zealand Country Life You can listen to Country Life on RNZ at 9pm every Friday and 7am on Saturday or on podcast at radionz.co.nz/countrylife

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Every week, we explain the context of the current market situation, drivers which are impacting the livestock markets and what to expect in the coming week.

Livestock Outlook

For those who want to see and understand forecasting, this monthly report projects farmer operating prices six months ahead and supports these prices with analysis of supply/demand, procurement factors, key export markets and exchange rate effects.

INDEPENDENT • OBJECTIVE TRUSTED • WORTHY Discover how we can help you keep up to date with market conditions.

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NI SLAUGHTER COW ( $/KG)

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

Friesian bull market sticky Dry conditions around the country have put the brakes on Friesian bull farmers restocking for the time being and any on offer have been discounted as a result. Those in the paddock are hard to shift and at Stortford Lodge last Wednesday the market came back 10-12c/kg to $2.53-$2.55/kg for 427-466kg. NORTHLAND Northland weaner heifer fairs Kauri • Yarding reduced to 600 head • Top autumn-born lines sold just over $900 • Top spring weaners made $750-$800 • Medium calves sold for $650-$700 • Light calves made $500-$600 Calves were withdrawn from the KAURI weaner heifer fair last Tuesday, following the steer results. The yarding featured Angus & Angus-Hereford and exotic, though proved to be hard work, PGG Wrightson agent Ian Munro reported. Kaikohe • Top exotic and traditional heifers made $800-$950, $2.75-$2.85/kg • A large number traded at $600-$700, with second cuts at $2.80$2.90/kg and third, $2.85-$3.00/kg • Small calves sold for $450-$550, $2.80-$3.00/kg • A small number of dairy-beef heifers made $2.80-$2.90/kg Volume was down to 1300 head at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, with smaller calves staying home, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. The fair ran smoothly with buying support from Waikato upwards. The overall sale average was $2.83/kg, though two nice medium lines did manage $3.10-$3.18/kg. Broadwood • Heavy heifers sold to $2.55-$2.65/kg, with Angus up to $2.75/kg • Medium calves largely traded at $600-$650 • Small calves earned $480-$540, $2.85/kg Charolais easily dominated the fair at BROADWOOD last Thursday, making up 85% of the 1200 penned. Results were solid, with a similar buying bench to Kaikohe, though prices did come back. Wellsford weaner heifer fair • Angus, 228-286kg, traded at $690-$820 • Angus and Angus-Hereford, 235-264kg, returned $670-$755 • Hereford, 181-254kg, traded at $675-$790 • Charolais heifers, 239-245kg, earned $710-$740 • Hereford-Friesian, 276-293kg, held at $845-$850 WELLSFORD penned 980 heifers last Monday, with the majority quality lines of traditional and exotic breeds. The market eased on average $100-$120 compared to 2018. Angus and Angus-Hereford, 281-288kg, traded at $800$835, and Angus-cross, 225-257kg, $685-$735. HerefordFriesian, 210-217kg, made $625. Autumn-born lines were also back with Angus, 304308kg, at $840-$855, while Charolais and Charolais-cross, 289-319kg, managed $870-$930. Hereford-Friesian, 297306kg, traded at $755-$855.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Prime steers traded at $2.65-$2.80/kg, with good types at $2.74$2.77/kg • Prime heifers returned $2.60-$2.70/kg, and bulls, $2.34-$2.47/kg • Boner cows traded at $1.15-$1.70/kg • Medium R2 heifers sold for $2.50-$2.75/kg • Good weaner steers made $765, and heifers, $590-$650

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Store cattle prices lifted 10c/kg • Weaner Gelbvieh-cross steers, 232kg, made $800 • Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 119kg, fetched $460 • Heavy prime steers earned $2.54-$2.63/kg • Good prime lambs sold to $153 Rain helped boost buyer confidence at TUAKAU last Thursday. About 200 store cattle were yarded, Karl Chitham of Carrfields Livestock reported, with heavy steers, 443502kg, making $2.66-$3.02/kg. Weaner steers sold well as Charolais, 170kg, fetched $635 and Hereford-Friesian at the

same weight, $710. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 417kg, earned $2.66/kg and 320kg, $2.96/kg. Last Wednesday’s prime sale drew a small yarding and the market held. A small offering of heifers made $2.50-$2.55/kg. Heavy cows returned $1.55-$1.61/kg, medium $1.47-$1.54/kg and light boners $1.15-$1.31/kg. Medium lambs earned $142 last Monday, and lighter types, $124. Store lambs made $84-$115 and heavy ewes $162. Good-medium ewes fetched $135-$144.

WAIKATO

Frankton store and prime cattle • R2 Angus steers, 351kg, managed $2.91/kg • R2 Friesian heifers, 338-411kg, traded at $2.01-$2.14/kg • All autumn-born weaner steers, 243-250kg, fetched $760-$800 • Prime dairy-beef heifers, 432-656kg, earned $2.42-$2.49/kg • Friesian boner cows, 488-557kg, held at $1.37-$1.46/kg Buyers were determined to not leave empty-handed at FRANKTON last Wednesday, keeping the market steady for most. R2 Hereford-cross steers, 405-452kg, held at $2.67-$2.70/ kg, as did most heifers with Angus-cross, at $2.45-$2.51/kg, and Hereford-Friesian, 347-375kg, $2.63-$2.69/kg. Hereford-cross weaner heifers, 164kg, traded at $475. Six prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 608kg, returned $2.59/kg, while Angus, 725kg, managed $2.64/kg, with Hereford bulls, 583-705kg, steady at $2.47-$2.55/kg. Friesian-cross boner cows, 560-710kg, improved to $1.35$1.38/kg, as did cross-bred lines, 396-457kg, up to $1.20$1.33/kg. In-calf Friesian and Friesian-cross boner cows, 467-528kg, also gained ground to $1.36-$1.47/kg. Frankton dairy beef weaner fair • Angus-cross heifers, 135-206kg, earned $408-$560 • Hereford-Friesian heifers, 125-186kg, traded at $405-$495 • Ten Murray Grey bulls, 168kg, held at $605 • Hereford-Friesian bulls, 127-217kg, eased to $510-$652 • Friesian bulls, 136-153kg, softened to $495-$530 Just over 400 dairy-beef weaners were yarded at FRANKTON last Tuesday, and with quality mixed results varied. Red Hereford-Friesian heifers, 159kg, returned $435. In the bull pens Hereford-Friesian, 93-108kg, held at $500-$555, while red Hereford-Friesian, 117-193kg, traded at $405-$670. Friesian, 183-185kg, eased to $620-$630.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle • Boner Friesian cows, 420-470kg, firmed to $1.35-$1.41/kg • Prime beef-cross heifers, 400-545kg, firmed to $2.48-$2.64/kg • R2 Hereford bulls, 425-440kg, made $1500 • Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, 205-215kg, made $650-$670 • Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 185-230kg, made $610-$615 Store cattle options were low at RANGIURU last Tuesday, and quality mixed. R2 steers were up-and-down. Hereford-Friesian, 385400kg, sold well at $2.62-$2.76/kg, but everything else was flat. The same applied to the heifers as 340-385kg Hereford and Hereford-Friesian were $2.27-$2.46/kg, but the rest lower. Two large lines of Hereford-Friesian steer and heifer calves were strong, with 113kg steers at $545, and 120kg heifers, $460.

TARANAKI Taranaki first run weaner fair • Simmental-cross steers, 265-285kg, sold for $860-$945 • Charolais-cross heifers, 230-256kg, made $710-$760 • Hereford bulls, 242kg, sold well at $1020 At the first run weaner fair at TARANAKI on Thursday 7th March weights were heavier, although prices were down by $70-$80/head. Steers were mostly Charolais-cross, 280301kg, which made $925-$975. Demand was stronger in the heifer pens as Charolaiscross, 257-331kg, were steady on last year at $730-$920.

Bull prices were mixed although heavy Angus and AngusHereford, 375kg, were bought for $975. Taranaki dairy beef weaner fair • Angus-Friesian steers, 185kg, sold for $570-$590 • Hereford-Friesian heifers, 150-225kg, made $500-$640 • Hereford-Friesian bulls, 175-210kg, sold well at $700-$715 At the TARANAKI DAIRY BEEF WEANER FAIR, a small offering was met by local buyers. In general, better quality, heavy calves sold reasonably well although lighter calves were penalised. In the steer pens, Hereford-Friesian were mostly 170190kg and softened to $650, while some heavier at 220kg sold for $730. Hereford-cross heifers, 135-170kg, made $400-$490 and Angus-Friesian 125-160kg sold for similar money at $380-$480. Hereford-Frisian bulls were mostly 115-130kg which earned $500-$560. Taranaki cattle fair • Angus-Friesian steers, 385-425kg, sold for $2.81-$2.89/kg • R2 Angus heifers, 355kg, made $2.63/kg Rain well and truly boosted confidence at the TARANAKI CATTLE FAIR with prices for the mainly dairy-beef offering lifting. R3 steers sold well, Hereford-Friesian, 510-535kg, made $2.75-$2.87/kg, while Angus-Friesian, 470-530kg, sold for $2.70-$2.75/kg. R2 steers lifted with most receiving over $2.70/kg. Hereford-Friesian steers, 390-395kg, made $2.91-$2.95/kg. R2 heifer also saw the benefits of the rain with good quality Hereford-Friesian, 365-415kg lifting to $2.70-$2.74/kg.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero sheep sale • Ram lambs strengthened slightly to $110.50 • 2th Romney store ewes, $169-$170 • Heavy cryptorchid lambs sold for $132 The sale at MATAWHERO had an increased yarding of lambs which was met well by local buyers. A large volume of cryptorchids were on offer and most sold well at $128. Male lambs had varied weights although most made $110.50. Ewe lambs, $88-$96, although wo lines of Wiltshire ewe lambs sold extremely well and were bought for breeding at $132-$152.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime sale • Heavy ewes eased to $139-$146 • Good ewes held at $128-$130.50 • Medium ewes lifted to $119-$125.50 • Heavy mixed sex lambs traded at $128-$149 Just over 800 sheep were yarded at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday, with ewes making up the lion’s share. Ewe quality varied but the majority were very good to heavy types. A small, very heavy top end improved to $170-$194, while very good types earned $132-$138, and the lighter end traded at $97-$100. Only a smattering of lambs was penned, and all traded on a steady market, with medium to good types at $105-$110. Two very good South Devon cows, 688kg, were picked up for $1237, $1.80/kg. Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Medium-good cryptorchid lambs made $107.50-$115 • Good male lambs sold for $117-$128.50 • Medium-good ewe lambs made $90-$105.50 • R2 Angus steers, 373-486kg, eased to $2.98-$3.10/kg • R2 Friesian bulls, 427-466kg, lost 10-12c/kg to finish at $2.53$2.55/kg Lamb and steer entries from Taupo gave the sale at STORTFORD LODGE more depth last Wednesday. Lambs sold on a buoyant market to local buyers, with the top line of cryptorchid popular at $122. 620 ewes were also entered, though made processor values at $135-$145.50. A tidy line-up of 500 cattle drew in a good crowd of local buyers. R2 Angus heifers, 414-443kg, firmed to $2.80-$2.90/ kg, while a line of 42 Hereford-Friesian, 349kg, made $2.81/ kg, bettering the steers, 452-464kg, at $2.71-$2.79/kg.

MANAWATU Feilding prime • Boner Friesian cows, 490-610kg, stabilised at $1.50-$1.56/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 450-480kg, were $1.43-$1.46/kg • Boner Friesian heifers, 385-520kg, made $2.07-$2.24/kg • Good prime lambs were mainly $140-$149 • Good prime ewes usually made $141-$146 Dairy cows kept auctioneers busy for a large portion of the cattle section at FEILDING last Monday, and prices held. Bulls also remained steady with Angus, 710-720kg, the strongest at $2.60/kg. The usual buyers had less than 3000 lambs to fight for, which was enough to firm the market. Heavy lambs made $150-$167.50, and lighter, $120-$129. The same trend applied to the ewes. The better ewes were usually $141$146, and medium types, $110-$129.

SALE YARD WRAP

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019

• • • • •

Prime Angus steers, 565-620kg, held at $2.40-$2.48/kg Good Angus heifers, 560-630kg, lifted to $2.52-$2.58/kg Prime lambs were steady at $120-$138 Heavy store lambs eased to $107-$118 Medium store lambs lifted to $95-$104 Things were quiet in the cattle section at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, as vendors resist selling until schedules improve. Steer prices were generally steady for better quality types, usually between $2.59/kg and $2.74/kg. Wellconditioned, quality heifers lifted and Simmental-cross, 470kg, topped this category at $2.65/kg. Boner heifers, 375415kg, softened to $1.81-$1.82/kg. Sheep numbers were down in all categories. Store lambs saw the largest movement, where heavier lambs eased a little, but medium and lighter lines recovered around $3$4/hd. Both prime lambs and prime ewes were similar to the week prior. Coalgate • Forward-store Angus steers, 455kg, were $3.00/kg • Charolais-cross steer calves, 215kg, were $690 • Medium store lambs lifted to $90-$99 • Good annual draft 5-6 year Romdale ewes were $146-$160 • Mixed aged Merino ewes made $145-$160 The main focus at COALGATE was in the sheep pens where two large consignments of breeding ewes complimented a solid sized yarding of store lambs and small-to-moderate number of prime sheep. Good turnout for the store lambs saw them lift by at least $8/hd, putting heavy lines at $111-$121 and medium-to-good cuts around $90-$109. Prime lambs lifted by as much as $5/hd, whereas the prime ewes held steady. Boner dairy cows, 525-690kg, went for $1.53-$1.58/kg, while a line of 560kg prime Charolaiscross heifers stood out at $2.74/kg.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY

CANTERBURY

TOP CROP: Weaners in the pens in Feilding last week. Feilding store sale • R3 traditional steers, 555-600kg, were $2.98-$3.01/kg • R2 traditional heifers, 360-450kg, made $2.78-$2.87/kg • Medium-to-good male lambs lifted to $117.50-$125 • Light-to-medium ewe lambs lifted to $104-$113.50 • The heaviest store lambs were $129-$131 Store cattle were all over with in the space of half an hour. Older traditional steers lifted under the tight supplies, with some 350-360kg R2 Angus making $3.28-$3.37/kg. A quality line of Hereford R2 heifers were solid selling too at $1285, $2.87/kg. The rest were poorer quality dairy cattle. Store lambs were given a boost, especially through the mid-tolighter end of the spectrum. On average prices lifted $10/ hd once weights were taken into account. Even tail-end ewe lambs regularly made $87.50-$100. Basically all male lambs were $115-$125.50. A large line of 4th – 6th Romney ewes went for $150. Feilding weaner fair • Simmental-cross bulls, 285-305kg, were $945-$1045 • Simmental-cross heifers, 270-305kg, made $810-$910 • Traditional and exotic heifers, 220-255kg, were $645-$725 • Traditional steers, 250-280kg, made $780-$920 A little under 600 weaners were put up for offer, more than half of which were either Simmental-cross bulls or heifers. There was a big drop-back on this time last year on the bulls. Heavier exotics, 285-345kg, were the strongest at $3.40-$3.59/kg, whereas 220-285kg were more like $3.11$3.32/kg. The heifers managed to hold a little steadier. Exotics, 220-305kg, consistently made $2.82-$3.00/kg, but only one line of 230kg Angus-Hereford’s went any higher at $3.13/kg, $725. Other traditional heifers sold to similar levels as the exotics. The steers were a small and varied mix, with 220250kg Angus-Hereford easily the strongest at $3.53-$3.65/ kg, $780-$920.

Rongotea cattle sale • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 342-450kg, earned $2.44-$2.60/kg, and bulls, 342kg, $2.60/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 225-370kg, were buoyant at $2.60$2.76/kg • R2 Friesian heifers, 277-370kg, returned $1.98-$2.20/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 100kg, made $350 • Boner Friesian cows, 371-475kg, eased to $1.35-$1.38/kg Recent rain through Manawatu reduced throughput at RONGOTEA last Wednesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Weaner Friesian-cross heifers, 145-180kg, earned $362$410, while the start of autumn-calving brought 90 calves to market. Friesian bulls made $150-$335, Hereford-Friesian, $100-$250 and Angus-cross, $100-$180. Hereford-Friesian heifers made $80-$220, and Angus-cross, $80-$120.

WAIRARAPA Masterton weaner fair • Top Simmental-Angus bulls made $1250-$1300 • Medium-good Angus steers earned $855-$955 • All Angus & Angus Hereford steers traded at $700-$915 • Angus heifers sold for $610-$800 • Exotic heifers sold for $700-$915 MASTERTON joined the weaner fair action with 2400 sold last Wednesday. Steers made up the majority, and quality across all classes was high. Annual buyers came from Manawatu, Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay and local, but other buyers were limited. Prices came back on last year, though vendors met the market. Top Angus steers sold for $970-$1040, while exotic lines mostly traded at $850-$1170. Top price was $1210 for Simmental-cross steers, and heifers of same breed sold to $915. Angus & Angus-Hereford heifers earned $590-$810.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park prime cattle and sheep

Temuka prime and boner cattle; all sheep sale • Good store male lambs made $105-$119 • Medium-good store mixed sex lambs were steady to firm at $89-$105 • Prime Hereford-cross steers, 430-700kg, eased to $2.51/kg • Boner Friesian heifers, 380-410kg, dropped to $1.70/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 390-575kg, held at an average of $1.31$1.34/kg Over 5000 store lambs were offered at TEMUKA last Monday, with big entries from Fairlie. Overall the market softened, though variances were seen within weight ranges. Light to medium wether lambs made $81-$93, and good halfbred mixed sex, $110-$114. A small entry of run-with-ram Romney-cross ewes sold for $64-$145. Prime lamb prices eased with most making $110-$139, while ewes held as heavy lines made $140-$178, and the remainder, $100-$139. The dairy cow exodus continued with nearly 300 penned. Prices maintained last week’s levels with most Friesian trading at $1.25-$1.50/kg. Jersey cows made $1.09-$1.17/kg. Traditional cows, 500-860kg, also held at $1.62/kg. Prime prices eased and traditional heifers, 543-670kg, matched the steers at $2.45-$2.55/kg.

OTAGO Balclutha Sheep Sale • Medium to good store lambs held at $80-$110, and light, $60-$80 • Top and second cuts of prime lambs firmed to $120-$150 • Third cuts also firmed to $105-$115 • Ewes held value and heavy lines made $140-$160 • Medium and light ewes made $120-$130 and $100-$115 respectively

SOUTHLAND Lorneville cattle and sheep sale • Prime lambs eased to $91-$150 • Prime ewes varied from $65 to $152, and two-tooth’s, $91-$126 • Store lambs mostly traded at $70-$108 • Medium to good boner cows made $1.20-$1.40/kg • R2 beef-cross steers, 387-479kg, made $2.40-$2.51/kg Weaner calves made up a large portion of the cattle sale at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday, with better types selling on a sound market. Friesian bulls, 150-200kg, made $450-$550, and beef-cross, 130-150kg plus, $370-$480. Heifers returned $450. One line of R2 beef-cross heifers, 350kg, sold for $2.48/kg. Prime and boner prices held at recently adjusted levels. Steers sold for $2.40/kg, and beef heifers, $2.10-$2.30/kg, while dairy heifers made $1.40-$1.80/kg. Light boner cows fetched $1.00-$1.10/kg. Charlton Sheep • Prime lambs firmed to $120-$150 • Two-tooth’s sold for $110-$120 • Medium to heavy ewes held at $120-$175 • Light ewes earned $65-$75, and rams $110-$130 • Store lambs eased to $75-$110

Markets

64 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 18, 2019 NI SLAUGHTER BULL

NI SLAUGHTER STEER

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

($/KG)

BONER FRIESIAN COWS, 480-575KG, AT TEMUKA

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

4.90

5.25

6.60

1.34

high $1080-$1300 $3.25-$3.56/kg Simmental-cross lights Simmental-Angus bulls, 265-345kg, at

Cattle peak may be close Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz THE North Island cattle kill is starting to ease after a huge last four to six weeks, Affco national livestock manager Tom Young says. “Suddenly, it got hot and dry and every farmer decided to kill at once – a lot of bulls, a lot of prime and dairy cows as well.” The rush followed a slow start to the season because of rain and lush pasture into January. Affco’s prime kill usually peaks in December/January and the dairy cows in mid-April and May but this year it all came through in February/March. Big dairy areas Waikato, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty dried out at about the same time. “We’re still flat out trying to clear the backlog but we can see it just starting to ease.” Affco’s spread of large plants across the island means it can plan and cope with the throughput. Dairy cows have traded down to about $3.60/kg in the North Island and Young expects the price to remain around that level for a time. More cows will come through in mid April and May but numbers won’t be great and there could be competition between processors keen to keep plants busy. Prime cattle have settled in the $5.20$5.30/kg range in the North Island. A good chunk of Affco’s prime market is the domestic summer barbecue season, which starts to slow-down about now. Anzco Foods isn’t seeing any let-up yet in cattle numbers with waiting times still around the typical week to 10 days, supply chain and livestock general manager Grant Bunting said. “We’re happy with the volumes. There’s been plenty of bulls.” Nelson and Marlborough farmers are being prioritised because of drought and fire issues, including water infrastructure. Bunting sees the cow market softening

ALL AT ONCE: Affco’s prime cattle kill peak and a rush of dairy cows arrived at the same time, national livestock manager Tom Young says.

We’re happy with the volumes. There’s been plenty of bulls. Grant Bunting Anzco because of general commodity pricing and little help from the NZ dollar. Farmers are not hesitating to let cows go early if they are dry, bringing forward the usual April peak. Another supply surge is expected soon, of cows not incalf. The prime cattle market has also

Plan winter grazing to protect animals, waterways and reduce damage to soils by:

softened and that is reflected in lower store and weaner calf sale prices. The South Island lamb kill continues to build from low levels but most areas still have good feed levels and farmers are holding lambs back as a yield play as they put on weight, he said. Young said North Island lamb numbers have dropped off after a good run because of dry conditions and another flurry is expected in a month or so. But he wonders about the depth of supply, suggesting there might not be a lot of lambs left. Ewe numbers have been down and the east coast lamb losses in September’s storm might have been greater than thought. That is keeping North Island values at historic high levels.

bulls at Masterton Weaner Fair

Feilding Weaner Fair

ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

Are the store lambs out there? WE ARE in the middle of March already and it still feels, in the North Island at least, store lamb throughput has been minimal. However, when you stack this year’s throughout up against last year, the yards covered by LivestockEye are tracking a very similar path, though they are down on five-year averages. The South Island is similar, with an increase in numbers seen over the last few weeks as vendors time their offload with the arrival of Mid Canterbury cropping farmers. Volume at the North Island yards should increase if the sales follow last year’s pattern but there is speculation store lambs are simply not around and to some extent that appears to have legs to stand on. For the North Island the good growth earlier in the season meant farmers finished rather than sold store and with few years offering up opportunities like that they grabbed it. That said, though, national cumulative kill statistics for lambs to February 16 are down only 7.3%, with most of that decrease in the South Island while the North Island kill is trailing by only 1.6%. Therefore, the volume of lambs that have been killed so far is similar, despite a reduction in the 2018 lamb crop by 163,000 head to 23.5 million. So, what does all that mean? That could possibly back up those who say the store lambs aren’t out there, with more finishing earlier. There is certainly a noted shortage of light and medium lambs coming to market, which also backs up that theory and they might well prove to be hot property, if rain does eventuate over the next few weeks, because buyers will be on the hunt for longer term lambs to winter. The signs are looking positive for the store lamb market in both islands. North Island yards are sitting at sale averages of $3.32-$3.50/ kg LW or $100-$109 a head for 30-33kg lambs while South Island yards are not far off that pace at $3.26-$3.36/kg LW or $96-$101 a head for 28-31kg. suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

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Place troughs and supplements to keep animals away from waterways and critical source areas (CSA)

Plan fencing, back fencing, and grazing to keep livestock away from waterways and to protect CSA’s

3 4

Put a back-up plan in place for periods of heavy rain Provide clean water, shelter and suitable loafing areas for livestock

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