Farmers Weekly NZ November 18 2024

Dairy spirits buoyed by fine forecast

FONTERRA’S new $9.50/kg MS forecast midpoint has been met with celebration and caution by analysts and farmers as many recover from two tough seasons.

The forecast update comes on the back of strong demand for commodities, which also helped lift prices in recent Global Dairy Trade auctions.

Fonterra has also narrowed its forecast range from $8.25$9.75/kg MS to $9.00-$10/kg M, a reflection of the fact that more sales have been contracted for 2025 since the last forecast update in September.

It’s among the highest forecasts in Fonterra’s history. In February 2022, it forecast $9.30-$9.90/kg MS with a midpoint of $9.60/kg MS.

Dairy farming members of Waikato Federated Farmers said that while the $9.50/kg MS payout looks rosy, there is a slight lag before its economic benefits are seen.

Many farmers made financial losses over the past two seasons and this extra money will help claw back that recovery.

Morrinsville farmer Mike Garrud said high interest rates are still an issue for some farmers.

Provincial vice-president Andrew Reymer said the lift in the

advance rate has been a huge help.

The November paid December payment at $7.60/kg MS and the December paid January payment at $8.05/kg MS.

“The key message is to do your budgets through to next spring, not just to June,” he said.

Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said costs such as feed and fertiliser have become more affordable for dairy farmers.

“Right now, everything is moving in the right direction with costs coming down and milk prices coming up. Margins are much improved from where they are 12 months ago, and it’s been a similar story most places around the globe.”

Global dairy markets –particularly China – are at an inflection point with domestic prices sliding to their weakest point in over a decade.

This reflects the fact that it has too much milk in the market, which came off a period of growth since 2018. The extra milk has lifted self-sufficiency rates in China to 75% while at the same time its economy faltered.

“The slowdown from that price pressure is starting to emerge,” Higgins said.

This is manifesting itself in several ways, with smaller farms exiting or consolidating as well as farms with larger herds being

blackcurrants build brains: research

blackcurrants are outdoing global competitors when it comes to powering

and South Canterbury grower Hamish McFarlane couldn’t be happier about it.

paths to ownership

Disillusioned with the trajectory of farm ownership, Sarah How and Tara Dwyer have a plan for the sector to disrupt the ongoing trend of farm consolidation.

Otago’s Adrian

Piddock

This is your Co-op. You own it . All of it exist s to make the most out of ever y drop of your milk , and achieve your long-term success. It ’s your milk . Your future Your Co-op.

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News in brief Agri leaders

Thirty-two Brazilian farmers are in New Zealand taking part in the latest Rabobank Agri Leaders Brazil, a programme that aims to develop the next generation of Brazilian agribusiness leaders.

The five-day programme, which began on Sunday, will feature presentations from several leading New Zealand agribusiness leaders and companies, as well as visits to agribusiness operations in both the North and South Islands.

Land purchase

New Zealand Rural Land Company has purchased 47 hectares of horticultural land at Roxburgh East, Otago, and leased the apple orchards to SI Orchards for a 30-year term.

It is the first of two adjacent purchases for NZL that will amount to 126ha for $13 million, to be leased back to an experienced, well-capitalised tenant.

Kiwifruit vote

Voting opened for Zespri Kiwifruit growers to support the expansion of Zespri’s Global Supply business via a Producer Vote.

Growers are being asked to back the allocation of up to 420 additional hectares of SunGold Kiwifruit per year over six years across Italy, France, Japan, South Korea and Greece, to confirm forecast demand remains ahead of supply and the provision of annual reporting to growers.

Nominations open

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is calling for nominations for directors in the Western North Island and Central South Island electoral districts.

Under the requirements of BLNZ’s constitution, current directors Scott Gower (Western North Island) and Nicky Hyslop (Central South Island) must retire by rotation at the 2025 annual meeting. Both have indicated they will stand for re-election.

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

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

Good returns take edge off destocking woes

Neal Wallace MARKETS Livestock

STRONGER-than-expected early season livestock prices are taking the edge off for farmers in dry areas who have had to wean early and who are proactively destocking.

Most of the country has experienced ideal spring conditions but parts of Hawke’s Bay, Nelson and North Canterbury are dry, forcing farmers to wean early, but strong prime and store stock prices have softened the impact of that early preventative action.

At the other end of the spectrum, Southland, south Otago and the West Coast have been exceptionally wet with southern regions finally starting to dry out.

Alliance livestock manager

Murray Behrent said prime lamb prices are likely to be above $7/kg through until the end of December, about $1/kg higher than the same time last year.

AgriHQ is also forecasting $7/ kg-plus for lamb through until Christmas.

Behrent said demand for lamb

Continued from page 1

impacted. Dairy herds are being resized with a focus on productivity and efficiency.

“We are now at the point where we are starting to see milk supply slow down across quarter three (2024). Milk production from quarter one to three has declined by 0.1%.

“We’re cautiously optimistic because there are still some challenges to work through.”

One of these is in China’s consumer market, where domestic milk prices have not

is strong in North America and improving in China, especially for the lower-value cuts, which helps lift overall carcase prices.

Mutton prices are also strong as China prepares for New Year celebrations.

An ongoing shortage of cattle in North America is underpinning beef prices.

Behrent said a shortage of prime stock in recent months and an abundance of feed in many areas is also underpinning prime stock prices.

Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton said US grinding beef prices are at record levels and likely to firm into next year.

Concern about supplies of lamb is creating some nervousness with steady to strong demand from North America, Europe, the Middle East and China.

Hawke’s Bay Federated Farmers present Jim Galloway said autumn and winter were dry with parts of the region having four successive months of below-average rainfall, depriving farmers of the usual spring grass flush.

October rainfall in some districts was 25% of what they normally receive, meaning many farmers

improved and demand is still slow. It suggests this market still has over-supply issues.

“There’s still sluggish demand on many metrics and that’s the cautious part.”

In North America, a clearer picture should emerge of the impact H5 bird influenza has had on milk production once October data is released. These animal health challenges should put headwinds in place for strong milk production growth, Higgins said.

“We think milk supply

do not have surplus grass to make silage or baleage.

“Generally we’re pretty dry,” he said.

Fortunately, stock prices are strong and neighbouring areas have plenty of grass.

The federation’s North Canterbury president, Karl Dean, said a 70mm deluge two weeks ago has helped, but the region is still suffering an annual moisture deficit of several hundred millimetres.

“We haven’t caught up and we haven’t had near enough to catch up to normal.”

There is grass but the subsoil is still dry and Dean said the district remains a medium-scale adverse event.

Up the road in Marlborough, regular rain has produced an ideal spring after drought conditions last summer.

“There is a sigh of relief, which is due to the favourable weather conditions,” said the federation’s provincial president, Evan White.

Warm weather and regular rain provoked winter grass growth, which has continued into spring and allowed farmers to make supplementary feed.

globally from those exporting regions is likely to lift as we go through to next year. We think it’s going to be a rate that’s manageable for markets.

“The risk for New Zealand dairy farmers is we see that seesaw come through again in dairy commodity prices.”

Production takes time to turn around and there is a risk of a possible overshoot from China leading to a boom-bust situation, she said.

Waikato Chamber of Commerce chair Peter Nation said it is still too early to tell

Parts of Nelson have had a normal spring but areas around Tapawera are still dry, according to federation provincial president Stephen Todd. Some aquifers have not been recharged, which Todd said is of concern.

Weather Watch lead forecaster Phil Duncan said there is not much rain forecast for the rest of November with most areas

if the forecast increases have led to more spending and confidence in provincial towns around the region.

But there are positive signs.

On November 15, the Chamber held the Waikato Business Awards with 740 people attending and 80 entries.

Many of these businesses have some involvement in agribusiness.

Consumer spending in retail will take a while to pick up with interest rates and other living costs still on the high side, he said.

likely to get 30-50mm at the most but with the West Coast, Golden Bay, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty possibly getting more.

“It’s a messy pattern at the moment.”

Duncan said there are no signs of La Niña or El Niño weather patterns forming as has been suggested.

MORE: See page 44

Whatever

FIRM PRICES: New season prime and store livestock prices are buoyant, which was reflected in the values achieved at the second annual Tautane Station on-farm lamb sale in coastal Tararua. Photo: Alex Coddington

MARGINS: Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins says margins have improved for dairy farmers compared to 12 months ago.

Photo: Supplied

ANZ cites risk as it faces bank critics

Bryan Gibson NEWS Finance

ANZ Bank has responded to claims it is charging farmers too much in interest rates, saying the rates reflect the risk the bank holds.

Recently the bank announced a cash net profit after tax (NPAT) of $2.28 billion for the 12 months to September 30 2024, an increase of 1% on the year before.

Federated Farmers has been vocal about its concern at interest rate levels and other issues around rural banking, but ANZ chief executive Antonia Watson said it all comes down to risk.

“ANZ has 51% of its capital invested in New Zealand businesses and farms, more than is invested in home loans.

“The higher the risk of an asset, the more capital is required to back it. So, looking at the total

amount of lending to different sectors doesn’t necessarily show that a bank has favoured one over the other.”

Watson said it has been a challenging but ultimately successful year for the bank and its farmer customers.

“The feedback we get from the farming community has been very positive.

“We’ve got a really strong footprint right across New Zealand and our agri managers are on farm with our customers on a very regular basis, and the feedback they’re getting is that our team is working really hard to provide insights and support them through the cycle that they’re currently in.”

ANZ submitted to the parliamentary banking inquiry recently and addressed some of the criticism the rural banking sector has come in for.

“On average our farming customers do pay more than

Piggery modified to run on clean energy

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY Energy

INSTALLING 400 solar panels at a Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits, the farm’s owners say.

The panels, with 200kW capacity, have been installed in a paddock at the farm at Oaonui, near Opunake.

Karl Stanley, who runs the long-established farm with family members, expects the power generated will initially supply about 70% of its daily energy use, with the aim of expanding that to 100% in the near future.

“We will be feeding the power straight to the piggery rather than

selling it to the grid because we get a greater benefit that way,” said Stanley, who estimates the payback time on the investment will be just over four years. The family’s electrician, Sinclair Electrical, installed the panels.

“Currently our power bills are around $110,000 a year and we expect to cover about $65,000 to $70,000 of that to start with. Most of our power is used during the day, so this makes total sense.”

The indoor piggery has around 500 sows and 5000 grower pigs at any one time and the major power costs to the business are heating to provide the ideal temperature for their pigs, as well as ventilation, lighting and running electronic equipment such as feed mills.

“The cost savings were the major

homeowners for lending, however our agri lending portfolio delivers lower returns than our home and business lending portfolios do.

Looking at the total amount of lending to different sectors doesn’t necessarily show that a bank has favoured one over the other.

Antonia Watson ANZ Bank

“Since interest rates started to drop – both wholesale and more recently the OCR by a total of 75 basis points – we have announced 85 basis points in cuts to our business and agri customers.”

But the scene is constantly changing, Watson said.

“I guess if you reflect on what we’re hearing from the inquiry and from Federated Farmers,

we’re constantly looking at the feedback we get from them in terms of what more we can do to support the community, and the areas that they need more support in.”

ANZ, unlike other banks, has not set emissions reduction targets for its farmer customers, as not every farmer has access to the same tools.

“We are seeking a deeper understanding of the options for farmers and are working on ways we can help them lower emissions from their farming practices.”

But Watson said the direction of travel is certain.

“International consumers, producers and trading partners are increasingly demanding sustainable products and information from global food and fibre businesses. This demand is an opportunity for New Zealand farmers and agri businesses.”

We will be feeding the power straight to the piggery because we get a greater benefit that way.

means the land can also still be used for grazing.

“We’ll still be grazing sheep in there and the panels have the additional benefit of providing shelter and shade so the animals can be nice and cool in summer and get under cover if it rains. It’s an ideal use of the land while we’re getting electricity out of it at the same time.”

attraction but it also means less impact on the environment. We all want to reduce our footprint but it has to stack up financially. If it

makes sense financially, then we want to do it.”

Having land-based panels in a paddock, like many solar farms,

Previous innovations carried out on the farm have already been recognised with the Stanleys among the winners in the 2020 Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards and the Hills Laboratory Agri-Science award.

DEMAND: ANZ Bank CEO Antonia Watson says growing demand for sustainable products from global food and fibre businesses is an opportunity for New Zealand farmers and agri businesses.

COSTS: The indoor piggery has around 500 sows and 5000 grower pigs at any one time and the major power costs to the business are heating, ventilation, lighting and running electronic equipment such as feed mills.

Karl Stanley Oaonui

MORE: See page 16

Fonterra defends ‘cold message’ on brands

Gerald Piddock NEWS Fonterra

FONTERRA’S strategy

refresh is a necessity if the co-operative is to keep maximising value to dairy and navigate new risks in a changing global environment, chair Peter McBride says.

While Fonterra will always be a New Zealand farmer-owned co-op, it is also a global export business, he told the company’s annual meeting in New Plymouth.

“When considering our strategy, we need to challenge ourselves to look beyond the back fence, and past the here and now. The world is changing.

“We are moving out of an era of trade liberalisation and cooperation and into a world that is more expensive, competitive and volatile.

“Expectations are evolving and

New Zealand milk is becoming scarce,” he said.

Fonterra is governed through a set of financial settings and a risk appetite that is now more appropriately aligned to that of farmer owners.

Consumer businesses are inherently more capital intensive and riskier businesses to operate.

That, combined with the potentially higher geographic risk in the markets where Fonterra’s consumer businesses operate, means a respectable return on capital for the consumer business should be something north of 15%.

“Our consumer business had one of its better years in 2024, but despite that, its return on capital was just 6.8%, up from 3.9% in 2023 and 0.2% in 2022. We cannot justify investing your money into a business that generates returns lower than your opportunity cost of capital, whilst at the same time exposing you to more risk.

“We are better off returning that capital to you, reinvesting it into the parts of our business where we have a comparative advantage, or a mixture of both.

“That might seem like a cold message to the many people in the room that have an emotional connection to those brands. We understand that. Those brands and the associated assets that go with them do hold a lot of value, but to the right owner.”

Fonterra is not the natural owner of a consumer business, he said.

The evolved Fonterra that remains will be a simplified business focused on its comparative advantages. It will be lower risk, be less capital intensive, and achieve an increased return on capital overall.

Chief executive Miles Hurrell said there is untapped potential in Fonterra’s foodservice and ingredients businesses.

“We can go further, faster by focusing our resources on these

Concern at Fonterra’s shrinking supply

Gerald Piddock NEWS

Fonterra

FONTERRA’S board and senior management have been urged by its farmers to do more to reverse its declining milk supply.

The supply issue is one of the key performance measures of Fonterra’s Co-operative Council that were not achieved in 2024, Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson said in his speech at the co-operative’s annual meeting in New Plymouth.

“Council is concerned to see further decline in Fonterra’s share of NZ milk collected to 78.1%, below the 79% target set,” he said.

The issue was also raised by farmers in general business.

One farmer questioned Fonterra’s rules around milk retention, asking if the rules are too rigid compared to other companies.

“I think there needs to be an urgency in retaining milk. If you want to see an example of that, you don’t need to look far to see what’s happening in Synlait.”

CEO Miles Hurrell said they have to do something about it.

“The legislation that enabled us to happen enabled this to play out unfortunately. We believe there is a conversation that needs to happen in Wellington as well.

“Has DIRA run its course? We would argue that it has.”

He acknowledged that farmers will make their own choice and hopefully Fonterra is giving them a reason to stay based on its recent performance.

businesses. It’s in this context that we believe a divestment of our global consumer businesses is in the best interests of the co-op.”

UPTAPPED: Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says there is untapped potential in Fonterra’s foodservice and ingredients businesses.

Farmer shareholder support remains critical and the senior management team remains committed to presenting an option for farmers to vote on, he said.

Plan B for co-op’s consumer division

FONTERRA has a backup plan to retain its consumer brands and businesses should they not attract enough buyer interest or shareholders vote to retain them, the co-op’s annual meeting heard.

Chief executive Miles Hurrell said the process of separation and untangling would show shareholders exactly what constitutes the consumer division.

“In New Zealand it is pretty well Takanini and Eltham, but overseas the resources and people are shared. We are not conducting a forced sale, as we believe there is a different natural owner than Fonterra.

“If the decision is ultimately made to retain, either by shareholders or management, you will know exactly what the consumer businesses look like and how they can be structured to deliver the returns you would seek.”

Shareholders also voted to elect McBride and John Nicholls to the Fonterra board. Shareholders Mike Pavletich and Richard Stalker were elected unopposed to the Directors’ Remuneration Committee.

INVESTMENT:

Chair Peter McBride says Plan B would look like more investment with capital, mergers and acquisitions and research.

File

Chair Peter McBride said Plan B would look like more investment with capital, mergers and acquisitions and research.

“You can’t run a consumer business by being in and out and transactional.

“If you are in for the long haul you must be prepared to double down when the going gets tough.

“That doesn’t really fit in a co-operative, in terms of capital sources,” he said.

Photo: File

Photo:

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Hawke’s Bay deer farmer Harry Gaddum was one of more than 30 farmers who contributed to the Getting Through initiative.

Photo: Supplied

Getting Through with Farmstrong book

Staff reporter

THE stories of farmers impacted by severe weather events in 2023 have been captured by Farmstrong in a bid to give others in the primary sector more tools to get through tough times.

The main takeout from these resources is a hopeful one ... farmers and growers do find a way through.

Gerard Vaughan Farmstrong

More than 30 farmers, growers and industry leaders were interviewed as part of a series that has been pulled into a book, website and resources to support those going through the recovery process from the weather events. The book and accompanying website, titled Getting Through, were launched in Wellington on November 14.

The launch was attended by Minister for Mental Health and ACC Matt Doocey and Getting Through contributor, Hawke’s

Bay deer farmer Harry Gaddum.

Farmstrong programme director Gerard Vaughan said there is a wealth of knowledge that farmers and growers can tap into and use as a roadmap to move forward following tough times.

“The main takeout from these resources is a hopeful one. As awful as these events are, farmers and growers do find a way through. A longhaul recovery, however, is a marathon, not a sprint. That’s why people’s mental and physical wellbeing has to be a priority, despite the upheaval.”

Vaughan said the tools and insights from Getting Through are relevant for anyone facing tough times.

“There are practical mental skills that people can draw on to help them manage the emotional rollercoaster of a recovery. We know that different things work for different people.

That’s why Farmstrong’s call to action is always ‘Find out what works for you and lock it in,’ said Vaughan.

MORE:

Copies of the book can be requested via emailing info@farmstrong.co.nz and the website can be accessed via https:// gettingthrough.farmstrong.co.nz/

China scans horizon for US tariff attack

PNigel Stirling POLITICS Trade

RIMARY exporters say their Chinese customers aren’t hitting the panic button yet as the country prepares for a renewed trade war with the United States.

Seventy New Zealand companies had the opportunity to gauge anxiety levels among customers when they attended the annual CIIE import expo in Shanghai recently alongside 3400 other international exhibitors.

Some economists believe US president-elect Donald Trump’s threatened 60% tariff on all Chinese exports to the US could lop as much as two percentage points off Chinese growth just as it struggles to pull out of an economic slowdown which saw annualised GDP growth fall from 5.3% at the end of the March quarter to 4.6% at the end of September.

Trump clinched victory in the US elections just as the CIIE was winding up.

Alliance Group global sales manager James McWilliam said there had been signs that prices in the Chinese market were picking up again after a difficult couple of years.

The US election result has created “huge uncertainty” but McWilliam is optimistic the recovery in red meat prices is sustainable.

In the past week China has announced it will spend US$1.4 trillion recapitalising local government balance sheets.

Chinese leaders also travelled to Indonesia and Europe recently to shore up trade relationships which will grow in importance if the US market is shut off to the country’s exporters.

“The Chinese were well prepared for a blue or a red result and have already invested trillions into their economy and invested in their trade relationships outside of the US,” McWilliam said.

Rival red meat exporter ANZCO’s general manager of sales Rick Walker said Trump’s election was “not something our customers are wringing their hands about at the moment”.

“Once [Trump] gets into power in January and there is a clearer sense of how aggressive he is going to be – that is when customers will begin to assess the implications for them.”

Walker said the Chinese government has “shown its hand” with its attempt to reboot the economy with more spending.

More money could find its way into the pockets of Chinese consumers should the economy take another hit from Trump’s tariffs.

“There is an expectation they would respond in some way to try and offset any adverse implications.”

Ben McLeod, head of sales and marketing at Mr Apple, said China accounts for 25% of the Scales Corporation-owned apple exporter’s sales.

He said demand is recovering slowly but remains below its

pre-covid levels, particularly in the Tier 1 cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, where the property downturn hit hardest.

“There are still those saying there is still a way to go and the next 18 months will be tough.”

However, McLeod said, there is some optimism that Trump’s tariff attack will not be as severe as during his first stint as president when he imposed tariffs of 25% on US$200 billion of Chinese imports.

There is an expectation they would respond in some way to try and offset any adverse implications.

Rick Walker ANZCO

“And one very big reason for that is Elon Musk.”

Several customers told McLeod they believe Trump will not carry out his tariff threats because of the extensive business interests in China held by the US tech billionaire and Trump backer. These include the second largest market for his Tesla electric car brand outside the US and his largest production plant outside the US, in Shanghai.

THREATS: Some economists believe US president-elect Donald Trump’s threatened 60% tariff on all Chinese exports to the US could lop as much as two percentage points off Chinese growth. Photo: Files

Minister eyes closer Thailand ties

FISH farming, agritech and even coal mining are all on the agenda for Regional Development Minister Shane Jones when it comes to investment opportunities between New Zealand and Thailand.

Jones opened the options as he saw them via a Zoom call to delegates at the inaugural Thailand-New Zealand business matching event, held in Bangkok.

The occasion aimed to increase not

only trade with this country’s 10th largest trading partner, but also the level of capital flow and investment, as the NZ government ramps up plans to make foreign investment in NZ easier.

Meantime the Thais are showing they are also open for business as the Thai economy continues to struggle to gain solid growth in a post-covid funk.

“We are very eager to expand and deepen our connections. We are developing one of the most unique pieces of legislation to gain consent to invest in NZ for the likes of infrastructure and food production,” said Jones.

“It’s been complicated in the past.”

Jones highlighted proposals for Northland fish farm expansion as one lessconventional option for Thai investors to consider.

While trade between the two countries is healthy on an annual basis, foreign fund flows remain low at about $350 million a year.

The Thai ambassador to NZ, Waravuth Pouapinya, noted that agritech, food processing and renewable energy were promising areas.

NZ has enjoyed trade relations with Thailand for almost 70 years, and a 20-year

free trade agreement signed in 1995 will have the last remaining tariffs and quotas on dairy lifted on January 1.

Indications are, however, that Thailand is having second thoughts about possible implications of this as trade officials scramble in the background prior to the January 1 deadline.

Dairy, accounting for $600m of last year’s $1.5 billion export trade there, was also highlighted by Jones.

Thailand is ASEAN’s largest dairy exporter, despite only having about 800,000 dairy cows, which have 40% of their milk channelled to milk in schools. The importation, processing and repackaging of many Fonterra products and their re-export throughout southeast Asia account for Thailand’s dairy export volume scale.

The country has a rapidly developing food processing sector, rising alongside a growing pharmaceutical production industry.

Jones also highlighted opportunities in mining, particularly coal and rare earths, classing NZ coal as “highly sought after”, despite the global pushback on coal mining.

“The mining sector is also one that has been overlooked in NZ,” he said.

But other options outlined include cleantech-renewable energy, agritech and tech for their growing food processing sector, tourism and technology innovation.

Several NZ-Thai businesses used the occasion to confirm their moves to working closer together by signing memorandums of understanding.

They included Auckland Biosciences, a company stepping into Thailand with its specialist blood serum tech using blood collected from cattle processing for a new generation of large molecule drug treatments.

Auckland-based NIG Nutritionals, with investments in goat milk processing and milk component extraction in NZ, also aligned in its MoU with Revomed Group, a Thai skin nutrition company.

NIG director Leon Fug said his company is looking for an opportunity for growth in the health and wellness sectors.

The Thai population is very attuned to components in food that contribute to health and wellness, such as collagen and protein, happy to purchase in convenient “ready to eat/drink” form.

“This is a great opportunity to work together to bring nutrition and wellbeing products to the Thai market,” he said.

Following a visit from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon earlier this year, NZ and Thailand have undertaken to triple their two-way trade by 2045.

Richard Rennie in Thailand MARKETS Trade

TARGET: Thailand’s ambassador to NZ, Waravuth Pouapinya, is keen to see financial investment between the two countries grow as much as the targeted trade growth between now and 2045.

Farmers Weekly team scoops Rongo Award

AFARMERS Weekly team of Richard Rennie, Bryan Gibson, Neal Wallace and Steve Wyn-Harris took out this year’s top award in the New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators’ annual journalism awards for a feature where they revisited Cyclone Gabrielle six months and one year on.

Farmers Weekly was intent on not letting the damage and ongoing implications of Cyclone Gabrielle sink below the headlines, given the widespread and unforgiving damage the extreme weather event had inflicted on largely rural areas.

A decision was made to review Gabrielle’s impact at six months, and again at one year.

The feature drew on Farmers Weekly’s multi-platform approach, including a podcast feature conducted by Gibson, and a video interview with a kiwifruit farmer.

The Ministry for Primary Industries’ Rongo Award recognises excellence in

agricultural journalism for its originality, exceptional storytelling, and depth of quality research. This was the 51st year of the Rongo Award being awarded. Judges commended the feature, calling it “an astounding compilation that vividly captures the heartbreak and the hopes. The series delves into all that the cyclone left in its wake – the people, livelihoods, infrastructure, farming, the devastation and the recovery. A blueprint for how such projects should be executed.”

This year there were two runners-up for the Rongo: Sally Rae, for a compelling and comprehensive series – part of a regional competition –that champions growers and farmers; and Kate Evans for two articles, one on the concept of “urchinomics” and one on farming native species of fish in completely new ways.

AgriHQ publisher Dean Williamson said the award was fantastic recognition for the entire Farmers Weekly team.

“News media organisations are under immense pressure at the moment and this special report showcased the value Farmers Weekly brings to the rural sector.

With content across multiple platforms – our print edition, podcast and video – rural media is meeting these challenges with new thinking and great insight.”

The full list of award winners:

• Ministry for Primary Industries Rongo Award, won by the Farmers Weekly team of Richard Rennie, Bryan Gibson, Neal Wallace and Steve Wynn-Harris, for a feature where they revisited Cyclone Gabrielle six months and one year on. Runners-up: Sally Rae and Kate Evans.

• AgResearch Science Writers Award, won by Anne Lee for two CountryWide Media NZ Dairy Exporter stories on gene editing and genetic modification.

• Federated Farmers Broadcast Journalism Award, won by Sally Round for two items broadcast on RNZ’s Country Life programme, one on agrivoltaics and one on lameness in dairy cows.

• Beef + Lamb Hard News Award, won by Tim Cronshaw for two articles for Canterbury Rural Life, ODT online showing the pressure farmers are coming under from the burden of red tape, and farmers sending to the works tripletbearing ewes because it is getting so dry in North Canterbury.

• Alliance Group Ltd Red Meat Industry Journalism Award, won by Shawn McAvinue for two articles published in Southern Rural Life, one on farmers selling to forestry companies and another on a visit to a field day, focusing on rising on-farm costs.

• Wools of New Zealand Rural Photography Award, won by Aaron Smale for a photo included in a six-part series about forestry slash on the east coast.

• DairyNZ Dairy Industry Award, won by Riley Kennedy for articles for BusinessDesk, one on the dairy goat industry and another on Australian legislation being used

to New Zealand’s advantage. • Pāmu Agricultural Journalism Encouragement Award, won by Gianina Schwanecke for items for Country Life on farm sales, working dogs, and Wellington’s wild kiwi.

• NZGAJC Primary Sector Communications Campaign Award, won by the team behind Rere ki uta rere ki tai, which included a range of videos to raise awareness of sustainable land management practices by connecting people with Mātauranga Māori and scientific expertise from organisations like Tainui Group Holdings and Lincoln University.

WINNERS: Former columnist Steve Wyn-Harris, senior reporter Neal Wallace, MPI deputy director-general Gillon Carruthers, and Farmers Weekly managing editor Bryan Gibson. Absent is senior reporter Richard Rennie.

Photo: Mark Coote

Looking for new paths to ownership

Annette Scott NEWS Land

DISILLUSIONED with the trajectory of farm ownership in New Zealand, Sarah How and Tara Dwyer are shaking up the agricultural sector with a plan to disrupt the ongoing trend of farm consolidation.

Recognising the persistent challenges younger farmers face in securing capital for farm ownership, the pair developed Landify to open ownership pathways and make farming partnerships accessible to the next generation.

“​We are seeing first hand the difficulties that families are having finding options for succession and retirement planning which avoid the sale of the family farm.

“We also know that the road to land ownership is untenable for many young people.

“It is difficult to conceive how many will ever get a crack, and go on to build the agile, future-facing and innovative businesses the industry now demands,” the cofounders said.

“It’s no secret that many of our established farmers are nearing retirement and looking for ways to step back,” How said.

“At the same time we have a

generation of skilled, passionate younger farmers who want to gain and grow a stake in the industry but lack the capital to compete in traditional markets.

“We knew there had to be a better way to connect these two groups.”

Landify serves as a secure, anonymous platform for exploring a variety of farming partnerships, from leasing and equity partnerships to share farming and vendor financing.

“These types of partnerships are underexplored, partly because of the lack of accessible ways for families to consider them discreetly,” Dwyer said.

The Landify platform connects established farmers, aspiring farm owners, and investors throughout NZ, supporting those ready to explore partnership possibilities that may otherwise be out of reach.

“We have a long way to go, but seeing farmers and investors on our platform reassures us that we’re moving in the right direction.

“The ultimate goal is to see established farmers consider partnership options that support the next generation before defaulting to the open market.”

Meanwhile 2024 Nuffield scholar and fifth-generation Southland dairy farmer Peter Templeton

It does take significant capital but there are ways to support people coming into the industry.

Peter Templeton Nuffield scholar

suggests “there is more hope out there than a lot of people see”.

Templeton’s scholarship is looking at the challenges of farm ownership, transition planning and how ownership structure is

being influenced by farming trends whether it be corporate farming models, family succession or firstgeneration farmers working their way into the industry.

“Yes, it does take significant capital but there are ways to support people coming into the industry.

“What I do see as part of the problem is the difference between capital value and productive land value, as in how much debt it can service and it’s really hard and conflicting to correct.”

To buy land in 2024 it’s either “go big or go weird” – finding a different way.

ACCESS: Sarah How and Tara Dwyer developed Landify to, they say, open ownership pathways and make farming partnerships accessible to the next generation.

“The capital requirement to get in the game is too hard and if we continue like we are seeing the trend of bigger landowners holding bigger parcels of land then ultimately the sufferer is the small-town community with profit taken away by cities and other countries.”

The solution is being dictated by who the owns the land and how much capital they can leave in.

“We don’t have the answers yet, but I think we only need to have a certain amount of hope and a pathway towards land ownership that does enable people to find their own way.”

Council, university formalise collaboration

LINCOLN University and Environment Canterbury have strengthened their collaboration with a formal partnership.

The two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that builds on their longstanding informal relationship and paves the way for future collaborations and closer cooperation.

The new strategic partnership between the council and the university will see the two organisations working together

on a series of research projects that will have significant and farreaching benefits for the wider Canterbury region.

The list of topics earmarked for consideration under the new collaborative approach features many of the major challenges facing land-based sectors.

Potential joint research projects include impacts and mitigations of agriculture on the environment; farm economics under changing climate, legislation and market forces; climate change adaptation and mitigation; resource manage-ment planning; peri-urban planning

and management; and waterways management.

Under the new agreement, ECan is committed to facilitating and extending the work of the university through co-creation and delivery of research projects, providing training, supervision and resources for suitable student-led research projects, providing work assignments and internships for high-quality student candidates, and contributing expertise to Master’s and doctoral students.

Lincoln University ViceChancellor Professor Grant Edwards said the MoU is a natural fit between two prominent like-

minded organisations that are committed to ensuring a more sustainable future for the region.

“Lincoln University’s purpose is to facilitate excellent research and education in the landbased sectors, to help shape a world that benefits from a greater understanding of the relationship between land, food and ecosystems.”

Council chair Craig Pauling said Lincoln University and ECan have a long-established history of sharing knowledge and expertise, and the new agreement will build on the past to benefit the future.

“It makes sense that, as the

regional council, we work closely with a leading learning organisation such as the university to benefit us all.”

Selwyn constituent councillor John Sunkell has been a strong advocate for the MoU.

“Those in education, research and innovation can bring so much to our work by way of new ideas and ways of doing things.

“By working together, we are setting a powerful example of how we can unite to protect our natural world, our land-based productive sectors and create a more sustainable future for generations to come,” Sunkell said.

Photo: Supplied

Annette Scott NEWS Research

Crossbred wool price hits seasonal high

Annette Scott MARKETS Food and fibre

CROSSBRED wool reached a seasonal high at the latest South Island wool sale, cementing the strengthening of wool sales across the country.

With the strong wool indicator up 12 cents to a best price of $3.67 for crossbred fleece and $3.52 for second-shear, South Island auction manager for PGG Wrightson Wool Dave Burridge said demand was driven by a need to fill time-pressured orders.

“The market saw very active bidding for a reduced offering of crossbred wool reaching to a seasonal high.”

Limited new fine wool business for Merino types saw values correct themselves compared to the previous Christchurch wool sale.

“A good offering of mid-micron wool types saw values largely stabilise with support coming from China,” Burridge said.

In Hawke’s Bay the most recent wool sale in Napier had the market heating up as buyers scrambled to

Industry

Annette Scott NEWS Seed and grain

buy wool to cover orders.

“As I suggested previously, the supply and demand principle is continuing to have a positive flowon for growers with the market indicator moving another 10 cents today,” North Island procurement and sales manager Steve Fussell said.

Crossbred fleece values were up 5%-10% across the quality offered.

“Some early ewe shearing is

underway and the quality thus far looks to be excellent.”

PGG Wrightson general manager wool Rachel Shearer said it’s pleasing to share the broader upward trends shaping the industry.

“We have seen positive updates in the wool market this month, with record-breaking fine-wool achievements and improved demand across both islands.

“In the South Island, our Christchurch wool exchange has produced positive results for those in the fine wool sector with ultrafine Merino prices continuing to improve.”

Shearer highlighted an exceptional 12.5-micron merino bale that achieved $155 per kilogram greasy.

“This record price for our PGW wool auction room, purchased by the Schneider Group, speaks to the quality and reputation of New Zealand fine wool.

“It was particularly rewarding to see our growers’ hard work recognised at this level.

“This wool is destined for processing at a renowned Italian mill, reinforcing the demand we see for NZ’s premium fine wool in the global market.”

Ultra-fine wool remains highly sought after with strong competition from international buyers, especially those from Australia.

Additionally, mid-micron wool prices have stabilised, supported by steady interest from China, which has kept this category strong.

In the North Island, the recent

body rebrands as Seed and Grain NZ

fresher, modern look while still linking back to the original logo and the association’s 106-year history of representation.

IN A move to better represent its business the New Zealand Grain and Seed Trade Association has gone for a name change.

At its recent Seeds of Tomorrow conference members of the association voted in favour of a change from the current registered name and logo branding.

The association will now be known as Seed and Grain New Zealand (SGNZ) with a newly designed logo to provide a

“It’s about having a name that can act as an umbrella to the diverse range of activities that we participate in as the current name does not encapsulate the breadth of activities the association is involved with,” president Charlotte Connoley said.

“Gene tech is going to be a critical debate for our industry. We need to ensure we are seen as the voice of the industry on all matters, not just trade.

“Our depth of involvement

is far beyond that of trade but includes all the areas that interface with trade – plant breeding, intellectual property, standards and certification, education and training, advocacy and regulatory, market access, phytosanitary, biosecurity, research and development, events and communications.”

The change in name also signals the willingness of the membership to evolve and align with changes to come elsewhere, with a soon to be appointed chief executive, implementation of mentoring and governance opportunities

for young seed and grain employees and the beginning of a combined conference with the Australian Seed Federation.

“Having a name that aligns with other industry representative bodies, such as Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, Hort NZ, Potatoes NZ, creates better brand awareness and a seat at the same table as these organisations.

“Trade-enabling advocacy is core to our activities. With our current heavy programme of regulatory consultations and policy review, profile has never been more important,” Connoley said.

The market saw very active bidding for a reduced offering of crossbred wool reaching to a seasonal high.

Dave Burridge PGG Wrightson Wool

Napier auctions have seen a notable upswing in hogget wool prices with the greasy mark reaching $3.

“The dynamics of supply and demand continue to benefit our growers, and this robust bidding in Hawke’s Bay is a promising sign as early ewe shearing progresses, yielding high-quality results for our growers.”

Crossbred wool had a more balanced month, with values adjusting after an improved period.

“The reduced supply in both islands is helping support prices, and we’re watching closely as summer shearing begins in the North Island to see how the market develops over the coming weeks,” Shearer said.

BENEFITS: PGW general manager wool Rachel Shearer says the dynamics of supply and demand continue to benefit growers.

CRITICAL: Seed and Grain NZ president Charlotte Connoley says gene tech is going to be a critical debate for the industry going forward.

M bovis project on track for OSPRI handover

Annette Scott NEWS Animal health

NEXT year will see the transition of the Mycoplasma bovis programme to the sole responsibility of animal disease management agency OSPRI.

OSPRI has been delivering the day-to-day operational and disease control functions for the M bovis programme on behalf of the Ministry for Primary Industries for almost a year under a government and industry agreement between the MPI, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

The task of eradicating M bovis is expected to be incorporated within a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) early next year, heralding the transition of full programme responsibility to OSPRI, general manager disease control, planning and integration Simon Andrew said.

Currently, NZ has no confirmed cases of M bovis.

“This is a remarkable industry milestone that has been hard

won by farmers, especially those who have undergone further on-farm testing and/ or lost herds due to infection,” Andrew said.

“The focus now moves to surveillance to give certainty it’s no longer in our cattle herd.”

National surveillance through livestock and bulk tank milk (BTM) testing remains an important tool as it continues to protect all farmers by finding any underlying disease in the national herd while gathering enough data to confidently claim M bovis is absent from the national herd.

From July to September, BTM screening tested samples from 10,280 farms, a total of 95 farms, returned detect results, of which 89 farms required onfarm investigation following risk assessment.

Eighty-seven farms were found to be not infected following on-farm investigation, while two farms are currently undergoing onfarm investigation.

The National Beef and Drystock surveillance programme screens blood

samples taken either at meat processing plants or on farm when cattle are yarded for routine management activities.

From July to September, 63,238 animals were sampled by the programme including results reported from 202 properties sampled on farm and about 2133 meat processing plant suppliers.

The findings indicate there is a high confidence that M bovis is not present in the beef and drystock sector.

The projected $16 million failure of OSPRI’s Information Systems Strategic Programme (ISSP) is not expected to impact the organisation’s ability to take over management of the M bovis programme.

OSPRI was tasked with delivering the online portal for farmers, eventually integrating a replacement NAIT and other disease management programmes including bovine TB and M bovis with the existing MyOSPRI portal.

This project was scrapped last month after significant issues were identified with the governance and technology management practices,

TRANSITION: The task of eradicating M bovis is expected to be incorporated within a National Pest Management Plan early next year, heralding the transition of full programme responsibility to OSPRI, says Simon Andrew.

complexity, and likely ongoing costs.

Andrew said a variety of systems and data are being used, including the current NAIT system, to run the M bovis programme.

“The data and processes we are using are constantly improving, including NAIT data volume and accuracy, so we’re confident it won’t impact our delivery of the programme.”

Tracy Brown confirmed as chair of DairyNZ

Staff reporter NEWS Dairy

DAIRYNZ’s chair and deputy chair have been confirmed as Tracy Brown and Cameron Henderson respectively.

Brown had previously been announced as chair-elect in June 2024 when Jim van der Poel signalled his impending retirement from the role.

Brown said she’s enthusiastic about the new direction and future of DairyNZ.

“We are changing things at DairyNZ to focus more on the long-term success of the sector, as opposed to the day-to-day farming that farmers already do so well,” she said.

“We represent all 10,600 dairy farmers and have a powerful data set and science base with which to crack our future challenges.

“Our new strategy focuses on key issues such as genetics, climate resilient pastures, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and strong biosecurity systems.”

Henderson said he is excited by the appointment and looks forward to bringing the positive, progressive and pragmatic approach that he uses on farm to his board leadership role.

DairyNZ’s board of directors is made up of five farmer-elected directors and three independent directors.

NZAB flags ‘unjustified’ loan difference

Hugh Stringleman NEWS Finance

BANKS are charging about one percentage point in interest more than can be justified by the supposed higher risks of agri lending compared with housing lending, agricultural loan broker NZAB says.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into banking competition said that there is a difference in average margin on agri lending of 1.7% compared with the average home loan.

The RBNZ also said that additional regulatory capital weighting on banks for agri lending, due to perceived extra risk, explains only 0.6% of the difference.

NZAB said an unjustified difference of 0.9-1.1% equates to a loss of about $600 million from the rural economy each year.

“That is money that could be used for reinvestment, debt reduction and above all, additional confidence in the sector” NZAB director Andrew Laming said.

GOOD JOB:

Andrew Laming says banks are structurally set up to not lose money on agri lending and they do a good job of it.

“Banks are structurally set up to not lose money on agri lending and they do a good job of it.”

The maximum loan-to-value ratios are about 60% and the average is much lower.

“It would take a very large drop in asset value at sale before a bank loses any money.”

Loans are well secured against land and livestock in which typically there is an established

market, regardless of the performance of the individual business.

Commodity prices are volatile but also cyclical, enabling borrowers and banks to wait it out.

“Banks are very adept at managing stressed accounts with early intervention to ensure their position is protected,” Laming said. This includes supporting a

Dairy farmers continuing to improve wintering practices

Staff reporter NEWS Environment

MORE dairy farmers are improving their wintering practices, resulting in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection, a DairyNZ survey has found.

This year, 86% of wintering survey respondents implemented at least five good management practices, to support their cows and manage winter conditions, an increase from 74% in 2023.

DairyNZ senior environment specialist Justin Kitto said the improvement is the result of an intense five-year focus on optimising animal wellbeing and

productivity, while protecting the environment.

“It’s not a simple task, but one that farmers are clearly focused on achieving,” said Kitto.

“The work involved in improving wintering practices includes providing comfortable lying surfaces, excluding stock from waterways, and protecting critical source areas.”

Kitto said the findings emphasise the expanding range of tools available to farmers.

“DairyNZ’s role is to support that depth of options for farmers to run their businesses sustainably and profitably. A range of farm-specific tactics is the best bet to ensure the best outcomes for both cows and environment.”

Other strategies used to minimise mud and improve lying conditions include back fencing (temporary fences to protect previously grazed areas), portable troughs, providing extra straw as a dry bedding material and moving the break fence multiple times a day.

The number of farmers who have written plans remains stable at 80%, which is significantly higher than earlier years, and important because farmers with wintering plans implement more good wintering practices than those without one. Use of contingency plans for bad weather also increased to 74%, which was substantially higher than the year before.

Additionally, the results showed

deteriorating lending position with further capital at times of downturn so that the eventual asset realisation (and debt recovery) can occur at times of better farm sale liquidity.

NZAB delved into the banks own provisioning for poor-performing loans, as declared to the Reserve Bank, and the actual outcomes.

“From experience, banks prefer to budget or ‘provision’ a higher number than they actually do lose, as they don’t like surprises,” Laming said.

The long-term average provisioning for agricultural loans is 0.14%, or 140 basis points (bps).

“Banks don’t publicly report the actual losses they make so we can only use the provisioning data as a proxy for this detail.

“However, when ANZ NZ chief executive Antonia Watson was asked at the banking inquiry how many defaults they were running in their agri loan book, her answer was just two, in over $15 billion of loans.”

Loan provisioning in housing is just 0.01%, showing that the supposed extra risk for agri loans might be just 0.13%, 130bps.

Using the RBNZ extra 1.7% bank

margin for agri lending, it suggests that banks could lose $930 million of agri loans every year and still be “even” with their home loans provisioning.

It would take a very large drop in asset value at sale before a bank loses any money.

Andrew Laming NZAB

NZAB said from its long experience in rural banking and discussions with the banks that actual defaults are nowhere near that figure.

“The low losses and higher margins may suggest the risk is materially lower than what the banks are allowing for.

“In other words, banks now have a situation where they have an excellent risk and a premium return.”

Laming said the inquiry should be asking for the justifications for higher margins on agri lending and what are the actual loan losses.

that 99% of respondents had their stock excluded from waterways, while 100% had buffers around waterways to filter contaminants before they reach a waterway.

“Farmers should be proud of the

work they have done to improve winter management practice over the past few years, and especially the continued dedication this past season. This work is being recognised.”

Photo: File

FOCUS: DairyNZ senior environment specialist Justin Kitto says the improvement is the result of an intense five-year focus on optimising animal wellbeing and productivity, while protecting the environment.

Photo: DairyNZ

Govt details rural health initiatives

HEALTH Minister Shane Reti says delivering sustainable rural health services is challenging but the government has a number of initiatives underway.

“Through the Government Policy Statement on Health, I have set clear expectations for improving timely access to quality healthcare to all New Zealanders, including rural communities,” he said in a statement.

In July this year Associate Minister for Rural Health Matt Doocey launched a Rural Health Strategy, which details five priorities for improving rural health.

They are: considering rural communities as a priority group, steps to prevent ill health, having health services available closer to rural communities, support for those accessing services from a distance and having a valued and flexible rural health workforce.

Reti was responding to a survey of rural general practices by the Rural Health Network that found rural areas are short about 130 doctors.

It also found 39% of rural practices are not open to new enrolments, 24% offer no hands-on after-hours care and that rural health services are in a critical state. This culminated in the conclusion that rural people are not receiving equitable health services compared to their urban cousins.

Reti said addressing the rural workforce shortage is crucial to improving access to health services for people living in remote communities.

Initiatives to grow the workforce include a $9100 accommodation allowance for General Practice Education Programme trainees who live within 30km of their rural GP practice.

It is also increasing GP training to 300 by 2026 and funding general practices that offer community-based placements for Postgraduate Year 1 and 2 interns.

The government is also supporting the placement of locum GP, nursing and rural hospital doctors and the establishment of a National Rural Hospital Locum Coordination Service. It is implementing initiatives to attract and grow the number of New Zealand-based and international locum doctors.

When it comes to clostrid ial vaccines, lam b sur vival is what truly mat ters.

Recent adver tising from MSD Animal H ealth N ew Zealand sugge st s that choosing Ultravac ® 5in1 over their 5in1 produc t for your lambs is a gamble Their claim , based on a small study of 120 lambs , argue s that more lambs re sponded to vaccination with their produc t at docking and weaning based on antitoxin blood titre change s

B ut when it come s to clos tridial vaccine s , lamb sur vival is what truly mat ters Ultravac 5in1 is the clostridial vaccine proven to reduce lamb los se s under N ew Zealand farming conditions

“Recently, the West Coast received accreditation to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Training, which will help boost the number of doctors trained with the skills needed to support rural communities,” Reti said.

The survey criticised aspects of the Telehealth service, which Reti defended as part of the solution for rural people accessing primary care.

“Health NZ is committed to ensuring that communities have access to urgent care and after-hour services and values the contributions made by our primary care and urgent-care partners.

“For areas experiencing challenges providing 24/7 care, services such as Ka Ora can complement other health services such as GPs, other primary urgent care services and emergency departments.”

Health NZ has launched a Rural Unplanned Urgent Care project to enable equitable access to urgent-care services within rural communities.

Work is also underway with sector representatives to review the primary care capitation funding.

“We have made some gains in rural health, such as the opening of an overnight health service in Wanaka last month, but I acknowledge there is still more to do.”

Highest intake yet for veterinary bonding scheme

Staff reporter NEWS Veterinary

THIRTY-five graduate vets will join rural communities this year through the Voluntary Bonding Scheme for veterinarians.

It’s the largest intake in the scheme’s history, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said.

“Supporting 35 new vets to work in 28 rural areas across New Zealand strengthens on-the-ground support for our hardworking farmers and producers,” McClay said.

The scheme awards each recipient $55,000 over five years, in exchange for work focused

on production animals and working dogs.

“Incentivising vets to practice in rural regions addresses the rural vet shortage while ensuring livestock health, which is critical to boosting primary sector productivity,” Hoggard said.

“Upholding the highest standards of animal care is fundamental to our agriculture sector’s success and reputation. This programme ensures farmers have access to the best possible animal care.”

McClay said vets are vital to rural economies.

“With this scheme, we’re not only bringing essential skills to rural areas but also helping young vets pay down their student loans while serving communities that rely on healthy, productive animals.”

A peer-reviewed trial of over 3 ,4 0 0 lambs showed that vaccinating with Ultravac 5in1 at docking and pre -weaning reduced lamb deaths by 2 3 6% in the first year of life You can read more about it at SheepSolu tion s co nz

At Zoetis , we’re commit ted to suppor ting your succe ss with science -backed produc t s and ser vice s We consider that it ’s choosing not to vaccinate which is a gamble, not whether you choose Ultravac 5in1 or another produc t

Veterinarians are animal health exper t s: we strongly recommend you talk to your vet about the par ticular clostridial vaccination needs of your farm and follow their trusted advice

Kind regards ,

Vane ssa Macdonald

G eneral Manager Zoetis N ew Zealand

Low dose, h ig h ef ficac y ewe a n d l a m b vacci n es .

Neal Wallace NEWS Health

EXPECTATIONS: Minister of Health, Dr Shane Reti says he has set clear expectations for improving timely access to quality healthcare to all New Zealanders.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Farmer role a strength, says Fish & Game chair

Staff reporter PEOPLE Hunting

WEST Otago farmer Adrian McIntyre believes his experience living and working on the land will be an advantage in his new role as chair of Otago Fish & Game Council.

McIntyre is a game-bird hunter, angler and seventh-generation farmer at Waikoikoi

with a proud track record of wetland development on the family-run Point Farm. He was elected chair by fellow Otago Fish & Game councillors on October 31, marking the start of a new three-year council term.

This is McIntyre’s fourth term on Otago Fish & Game Council.

Born and raised at Merino Downs, McIntyre runs the farm with his wife Lesley. Their daughter Kirsten is the stock manager and their son Adam runs a contracting business.

“I think everybody knocks Fish & Game because we are a bunch of middle-aged gentlemen out there in our retirement zone. Well, I’m not retired,” McIntyre said.

“I’ve got a mortgage. I’ve got a farm. I’ve got a grandkid. I’m here doing it. If anybody wants to ask me about farming practices and how we do it, I know the answer.”

McIntyre said he also knows how to create wetlands, and how to retain water on the farm, and “I’m learning about the political side of Fish & Game, and how to be a councillor and a chair”.

“I probably won’t get that perfectly right, but I am going to try my hardest to do it.”

Angling and game-bird hunting licence holders normally elect councillors to 12 regional Fish & Game councils in New Zealand every three years.

However, no election was required in the Otago region this year after only eight candidates stood unopposed for nine places.

The Otago Fish & Game Council includes two new faces, John Preedy from Roxburgh and John Cruden from Mosgiel, for the new term.

Councillors Mike Barker, Colin Weatherall, Vicky May, John Highton and Blair Trevathan were reappointed. Trevathan was named vice-chair.

McIntyre said the technology and science he had learnt from Fish & Game had helped him to build a network of wetlands across the farm.

1

2

“They improve my water quality. They slow down my nutrients and everything getting into the streams.”

Using METACAM 20 mg/mL Solution for Injection o or METACAM 40 mg/mL

Solution for Injection along with local anaesthetic at disbudding provides an improved, more comfortable experience for calves Studies have proven that relieving pain with METACAM has an impact on the physiological, neuroendocrine and behavioural responses we can measure in calves undergoing this routine husbandry procedure1 2 3

Critically, METACAM helps to mitigate the delayed pain that we know occurs once the effects of local analgesia wear off Trust in METACAM at disbudding to give the calves in your care, the best t care

Serving with Fish & Game had added to his own growth through attending meetings and dealing with people.

The extensive wetlands he had created at Point Farm provided habitat for waterfowl and his favourite annual pastime, duckhunting, for which family and friends gather from far and wide.

McIntyre said improving access to trout fishing and game-bird hunting is a primary goal of Otago Fish & Game Council.

Point Farm grazes R1 and R2 cattle through intensive winter grazing, grows oats for Harraways, and finishes lambs, which are sold to Alliance.

McIntyre said being a farmer is an advantage for his role on the council.

“No matter how you argue against what I do, how I make a living, what I graze, where it goes, Lesley and I have done it.

“The winter that we’ve gone through right now has tested everything that we have got, infrastructure-wise, the whole lot, on our environmental farming practices. And we are winning.

“If you do it right, it works. But you’ve just got to think about it. To be honest, farmers think about it every day of the week.”

IN CHARGE: The new Otago Fish & Game Council chair, Adrian McIntyre, at one of his wetland developments on Point Farm in Waikoikoi.

Photo: Bruce Quirey, Otago Fish & Game

Business urged to heed environmentalists

BUSINESS leaders have been confronted by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment with a list of inconvenient truths about their practices.

Simon Upton also advised they should listen to environmentalists or risk creating a polarised society.

Upton presented his list at a meeting of Chapter Zero NZ –similar to how he delivered one to environmentalists earlier this year. His message then was to be aware that environmentalists’ tactics could stop people from listening to them.

His message to business was not to treat the environment as a lightning rod for economic and social failures. He warned that, should NZ become a polarised society, it will prevent change from occurring.

“If you’ve stopped listening to environmentalists, you are halfway down the road to the polarised society that we have in the United States today,” Upton said. His list of inconvenient truths for business include that the environment is deteriorating, certainty is not something to demand of governments or the environment, environmental regulation is necessary, environmental taxes, levies or charges are unavoidable if a more environmentally sustainable economy is going to be affordable, and greenwashing is alive and well.

His message about the state of the environment was stark.

Since 1990, New Zealand’s gross emissions of greenhouse gases have climbed 14%, wetlands continue to be drained, one-third of catchments have degraded water quality and even current limits can’t be met

without some degree of land use change.

“It seems to me obvious that the economy is a subset of the physical environment in which it operates.

“There are still people in denial about that, a denial that is usually rooted in some hazy idea that technology will bail us out.”

In 2022 an ocean heatwave spike killed 1300 tonnes of farmed salmon, causing salmon exporter New Zealand King Salmon to lay off more than 100 staff and closing farms in the Marlborough Sounds.

Last year’s North Island weather events reduced business turnover by around half a billion dollars and cost businesses between $2 billion and $3 billion.

“If these examples carry alesson, it is that you can’t ignore climate change. It will impact on your business one way or the other.”

Environmental disruption creates uncertainty for business but so do changes in government, which are driven by an electoral cycle and

voters who may think differently from business.

Upton said environmental regulation ensures individuals and businesses cannot degrade publicly owned environmental resources.

“Regulating the claims we make on that capital base is, in a trivial sense, about stopping free riders who hope to swipe some of that capital and leave others to clean up,” he said.

It is also about managing risks.

“Indeed, it can provide a measure of certainty that an absence of regulation cannot.”

Minimum river flows ensure a suite of ecosystem services remain available and maximum contamination values guarantee continued access for others.

He worries that farm plans could become a box-ticking exercise as governments go for what he called “soft bureaucratic measures” to manage the environment instead of pricing pollution, which has proven to work.

Sector must speak up on ETS: Upton

THE pastoral sector has been challenged to say what New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme should look like.

Simon Upton, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, says heavy emitters such as the oil and gas sectors have tailored the ETS to their needs, allowing them to offset their emissions through planting trees.

This has left farmers lobbying to restrict tree planting – “a clunky regulatory intervention if ever there was one”, Upton said in a speech to business leaders.

He said he is intrigued that the pastoral sector complains about the NZ ETS – which “almost guarantees a failure to reduce gross emissions, while we cover the country in pine trees” – but the sector has yet to say

what it should look like.

The government has said it will price methane by 2030, and Upton said it has to be a price that incentivises lower emissions.

“You may be aware that I have suggested phasing forestry out of the fossil NZ ETS but establishing a separate new NZ ETS for biological emissions that does allow forest offsetting.”

The pastoral sector has also yet say how its emissions should be regulated.

“To both the oil and gas and pastoral sectors I would say: do you accept there is an emissions problem?

“If so, you must expect the government to come up with policies that address the collective action problem they pose.”

Upton also told the meeting New Zealand businesses are too focused on volume over value, singling out Fonterra for special mention.

He said regulatory approval had been granted to allow the formation of Fonterra under the proviso that the country would benefit from a large multinational that added value to its exports.

“That hasn’t happened. The main driver of economic growth in recent decades has been volume rather than value, “importing more people, working longer hours, using land more intensively”.

NZ needs to add more value to exports, he said, comparing Fonterra to Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company as a business that is focused on adding value to products that it then exports.

Upton also singled out the Ministry for Primary Industries, which he said spends $700 million a year mostly on business as usual.

“The vast majority of that spending [is] going to protect status quo industries rather than transformative investment.”

Neal Wallace NEWS Environment

Neal Wallace NEWS Environment

ENSURE: Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton says environmental regulation ensures individuals and businesses cannot degrade publicly owned environmental resources.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

From the Editor

Our interests come last in ‘America first’

TNeal

Wallace Senior reporter

he resounding United States election result delivered an unwanted shot across the bows of our exporters.

President-elect Donald Trump’s protectionist America-first policy had been well forecast, but the size of his victory, and the fact his Republican Party also controls the Senate and Congress, gives him extensive influence and power.

US voters delivered him a mandate to pursue his policies, which includes the imposition of blanket import tariffs of between 10% and 20%.

The primary target of this policy is China for what he cites as intellectual property theft and unfair competition that enable imports to undercut domestic US industry.

His answer is to impose tariffs of 60% to 100% on Chinese imported goods.

It is a view partially shared by the European Union, which last month imposed a 45.3% tariff on Chinese-made electric cars.

Reuters reports that an EU anti-subsidy probe found Chinese EV manufacturers had preferential financing and grants as well as land, batteries and raw material costs at below market prices.

With 100% tariffs in EV sales to the US and Canada, EU leaders feared Europe would become a dumping ground for China’s excess production capacity of 3 million EVs a year, twice the size of the EU market.

Unfortunately New Zealand risks being caught up in this scrap.

Sense Partners economist John Ballingall told Farmers Weekly that the bill for US importers of NZ goods with a 20% tariff could reach $1.76 billion based on total exports of $8.8bn.

Dairy, meat and wine exporters make up nearly two-thirds of NZ exports to the US and are already subject to variable tariffs and quota controls.

The US is our biggest market for beef and wine and second biggest for lamb, with sales of beef last year worth $2.2bn, lamb $1.2bn, wine $800 million and dairy $1.2bn.

The threat is especially concerning for sheepmeat, given the US market is growing while the key Chinese market remains flat.

Naturally NZ exporters have been cautious in their assessment of this potential threat.

The new president isn’t inaugurated until

January 20, but there are several factors to consider as we assess what could happen.

The first is that he is unlikely to specifically target NZ exports as we are small fry at $8.8bn.

While our low-fat grinding beef is valued for complementing US beef, lobby groups from the US sheep and dairy industries, historically not allies of NZ, are likely to be lining up at Trump’s door pleading their case for even higher tariffs.

He is unlikely to specifically target NZ exports as we are small fry.

The president-elect may decide tariffs and quota controls on NZ imports are sufficient but the Republican Policy manifesto specifically mentions agriculture as an industry it seeks to protect.

Regardless of the political spin, consumers ultimately pay the cost of tariffs and one of the reasons Trump won the election was the perceived failure of the previous administration to address the high cost of living.

It may prove unpalatable for him to hike food bills further.

Hopefully NZ can stay under the radar and avoid direct impacts of his protectionist policy, but equally we could become collateral damage in a far bigger scrap.

Letters of the week Put the dam in perspective

Gren Christie Waipukurau

IN THE farming world Mike Petersen has the ear of many, from high to low, so it’s easy for him to promote his projects as the best thing ever, “Council accepts Tukituki trust deed” (November 11).

However, some things do need to be challenged to get a true perspective.

The Hawkes Bay Regional Council report Mike Petersen draws attention to has more than the one scenario for future water demands. One scenario shows the potential of a surplus of 16 million cubic meters of water by 2040.

This same report points out that central HB has the highest water take per capita in Hawke’s Bay, for the lowest return. Basically it’s saying we are squandering water in central Hawke’s Bay.

I’m sure most thinking people would agree that we should do something about that before building a dam with all its environmental and financial risks. Petersen is essentially arguing that we need to buy an expensive water tank when the biggest problem is a broken tap. It is disingenuous to make the case there will be no more cost to ratepayers. The roads and bridges to the dam site would need major upgrading and maintenance, there’s the replenishing of shingle to the coast and the charge to ratepayers to get our own water back to maintain minimum river flows.

First they will imprison our water behind a concrete wall and then charge us for its release.

It’s bit of a double whammy when one considers the main driver of low river flows is over- extraction from intensive farming, the very thing the dam will expand.

That expansion of mass irrigation will lead to more nitrate pollution in our rivers, which are already vastly over the levels set by the board of inquiry. A poisoned river system will be the highest price we will all pay.

Climate change is a very serious issue emphasised by the dam promoters but I am yet to hear any loud denouncements about the 49% of NZ’S greenhouse gases that come from behind the farm gate, so I’m guessing more of a PR ruse than genuine concern.

Lake Whatuma is very degraded simply because it was lowered by the stroke of a government pen.

To reverse the situation we don’t need $1 billion-plus dam. All we need is a $2 pen in the right hands.

Lessons from elephant eaters: Richard Green

In this series, the regular Eating the Elephant contributors hand the pen to four farming New Zealanders with a history of taking on big challenges.

RICHARD Green has built a career around innovation, creating value by being customer focused and working with good people. His governance career has included interests in retirement living, arable seeds, dairy farming, honey, irrigation, healthcare, lamb and rural leadership. Organisations such as AGMARDT, Headwaters, FAR and Cultivate Ventures continue to benefit from his contribution.

Why did you choose a life in food & fibre?

My father was an electrician and my mother a school teacher, however my maternal grandparents and then uncle and aunty farmed. I used to spend most of my spare time working on their property. I loved the lifestyle and people and decided this was the life I wanted. I completed a degree at Lincoln in the 1980s and then went farm consulting to learn the skills and earn the capital to buy my own farm. Somewhere along the journey I realised my range of skills better suited creating value from products produced on farm.

What are you most proud of and why?

Outside of my family it would be investing and actively growing 15 different businesses over eight different sectors over the past 25 years. All these businesses were at some stage equity partnerships.

The majority have been successful, but I have probably learnt more from the two or three that weren’t.

What is something unusual about yourself that you love?

My love of endurance events and adventures including mountain running, multi-day tramping adventures and long-distance biking. These taught me about goal setting, working with others, looking after yourself and enjoying the journey.

What is the best investment you’ve ever made (time, money, energy, product etcetera)?

Definitely personal development including formal training programmes, international travel, learning from mentors and reading. I believe personal development has a 10X return on dollars and time invested.

What book changed your life and why?

Three books, one over each decade. 1990s: Tony Robbins, Awaken the Giant Within –I purchased 25 copies of this book and gave it to all my clients. This book really helped me understand that we are in control of our lives and can determine our own future. 2000s: Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad, Poor Dad – this book gave me a way of thinking about assets, passive income and leverage.

I think about and use these

principles every day. 2010s: Jim Collins, Good to Great – I read this book every year, particularly the Hedgehog Concept chapter and guides to making a great company.

What advice would you give to a young person today?

Successful businesses in the future will need leaders who understand consumers, can develop and innovate around products, have great people skills and know how to build valuable partnerships.

The best way to build these skills is to have lots of experiences during your younger years. Travel and live overseas, work with good people regardless of their business. Remain a generalist as long as you can.

What is the biggest thing that makes you optimistic for the future?

The quality of the food products we produce and the demand for natural food products. The fact that we are a water-rich, temperate island nation – better able to manage our biosecurity and less susceptible to climate change than other countries.

What is the biggest thing that makes you pessimistic for the future?

Our lack of ambition as a country with no real burning platforms to drive change.

As food producers we seem to

have become conservative and are not investing fast enough in product innovations and shorter value chains to break out of the commodity cycle. On-farm inflation of 30% over the past five years has made our old commodity business models uneconomic.

What will the food & fibre sector of 2040 look like?

The drivers of change will be consumers, technology innovations on farm and in logistics, climate change and the social licence to farm. As a farmer the things I am focusing on now are:

• Looking for food and fibre products that have a unique point of difference for consumers. The first step in this process is installing climate stations so we know our unique climate on the farm.

• Looking for marketing partners that are building short value chains, working back from the

CHANGE AGENTS: Richard Green says the drivers of change will be consumers, technology innovations on farm and in logistics, climate change and the social licence to farm.

customer and happy to share value with the producer.

• Surrounding myself with good people with positive mindsets.

• Building as many income sources from the farm as possible to make our business more resilient.

• Building our financial buffers. At some stage in the future, we will need to invest capital in new production systems and postfarmgate value chains that will lead to the next wave of “land use” change.

• Experimenting with new technology on farm. Looking for the next breakthroughs that might come from individual technology, or more likely from stacking a range of technologies to modify our farm systems.

• Keeping investing in smart irrigation systems as water will be critical.

• Doing the right thing on farm and keeping working to reduce our environmental footprint.

Role for rural accounting beyond the books

In

my view …

NEW Zealand may be a small, humble country but we lead in a number of areas when compared to our global counterparts – particularly in farming.

Rural accountants play a pivotal role in continuing the success of our country’s largest GDP contributor, as their decision making and expertise are integral to the success of their clients’ farming business. However, I believe we’re at a crossroads with the challenges we face.

Traditionally, many in the chartered accounting industry have tended to lean towards a fiscally conservative approach. This can have its merits in tough times, but the future prosperity of New Zealand’s farming sector is in need of a shift towards a growth mindset – one that balances caution with innovation. There is a wealth of opportunity

when you switch to a growth mindset, and Kiwi farmers are no stranger to creativity, innovation and experimentation – even in times of uncertainty.

In stark contrast to the conservative mindset seen in many boardrooms, New Zealand farmers are natural innovators. Running their farms often resembles managing small startups, where they must adapt rapidly to changing conditions, experiment with new practices,

and diversify their operations to stay competitive.

Farming doesn’t afford the luxury of leaning on fiscal predictability; instead, farmers must evolve and tinker to keep their businesses thriving. This spirit of adaptability and ingenuity – often summed up by the “No 8 wire” mentality – captures the essence of how Kiwi farmers approach their work: with creativity and resourcefulness. Unlike larger corporations, where

OPPORTUNITY:

uniformity and predictability might dominate decision making, farmers work in environments that are as varied as the land itself. No two farms are alike because each is customised to the specific conditions of the land, geography, climate, and market demands.

Because of this, I believe rural accountants have an opportunity to look at their clients’ books with a fresh perspective, leaning in to a mindset that considers new and out-of-the-box thinking that illuminates unique business opportunities for each individual farm, backed by data.

Through the wealth of data available, farmers can clearly see what’s working, what’s not, and develop a concrete plan with the help of their advisor trio – the bank manager, the accountant, and themselves. It’s a perfect adaptability recipe, driven by the combination of data, expert collaboration and a growth mindset.

Our highest performing farms are among the best in the world, across both the working capital position but also the precisionbased decisions made more granularly every day. Indeed,

conversations with those in the global agritech space consistently highlight how impressed people are by Kiwi farmers’ understanding of their cash flow, trends and financial direction.

The expertise and experience rural accountants offer is invaluable. However, as farming continues to evolve, rural accountants must adopt a growth mindset to fully unlock future opportunities.

Beyond managing numbers, rural accountants play a pivotal role in helping farmers identify new revenue streams and assess the viability of innovative practices. By embracing this growthoriented perspective and moving beyond a purely conservative approach, accountants can empower farmers to expand their operations, aligning purpose with profit. This forward-thinking, collaborative approach will ensure that New Zealand remains a global leader in agriculture, continuing to set an example for farming innovation and optionality.

Auriga Martin Martin is CEO of Farm Focus

Martin. Photo: Pexels

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Sector Focus

NZ blackcurrants build brains: research

Annette Scott NEWS Food and fibre

NEW Zealand blackcurrants are outdoing global competitors when it comes to powering the brain, according to new research – but it’s not enough to just eat the fruit.

In a world first, the secret weapon in the humble blackcurrant had been discovered by cGP Lab, a NZ business that has been successful in harnessing a dipeptide called cyclic glycineproline (cGP) found in NZ blackcurrants.

The cGP Lab has three products in its range, all made from Kiwi blackcurrants and all proving their worth in promoting cognition, energy and alertness.

Former grower, industry leader and cGP Lab co-founder and chair Jim Grierson said the specific cGP blackcurrant product range offers many health benefits, but that

IDENTIFIED:

Research by cGP Lab chief scientist Dr Jian Guan identified where the cGP was located within blackcurrants and how to obtain its highest efficacy levels.

NZ blackcurrants in particular uniquely support brain health.

More than 30 years of research carried out by Auckland University fellow and world-leading scientist Jian Guan revealed the cGP benefit following a chance meeting with two blackcurrants growers and cGP Lab co-founders Grierson and David Eder.

Sensing a chance to innovate beyond the known benefits of blackcurrants, the three embarked on a journey of discovery to understand the relationship between blackcurrants and cGP.

Research identified where the cGP was located within the berry and how to obtain its highest efficacy levels.

As part of the research, blackcurrants from other key global growing countries and blocs, including Ukraine, Poland and other European countries, were tested along with 31 other fruits and vegetables to compare cGP levels.

Guan’s cGP publication showed that when given as a supplement

to Parkinsons patients, the cGP crosses the blood brain barrier and can deliver benefits to the brain.

“This was a world-first finding,” Grierson said.

“This was the most influential thing that gave us the confidence to pursue this innovation.”

So why the NZ blackcurrant?

NZ blackcurrants are rich in active compounds ranking significantly higher in levels of antioxidant activity than other fruits with mental performance associated with anthocyanins, major antioxidant compounds.

After finding the NZ fruit was the most potent source of natural cGP, all commercially available NZ grown blackcurrants were independently tested to identify the highest and most consistent level of cGP.

“They appear to help the body’s own response to oxidative stress and conditions such as agerelated degenerative diseases, but you could never eat the amount of blackcurrants as the fruit itself to make the difference. It is the process of extraction and producing the supplement.”

Further research showed the NZ fruit has the unique attributes because of the growing conditions.

“The climate, the soil and, believe it or not, the lack of ozone layer, all fit with the warm summer and a chill in winter making for the best growing conditions.”

While the volume of fruit required to produce the cGP supplement is not huge, it has created boutique demand and is increasing value to growers.

Blackcurrants NZ chair Hamish McFarlane is in a family operation that has been growing

This was a world first finding and ... the most influential thing that gave us the confidence to pursue this innovation.

blackcurrants commercially since the 1980s on a 110 hectare mixed cropping and horticulture property in South Canterbury. He said climate is a key advantage factor.

“It gives us the benefits of growing colour and flavour, also getting very high anthocyanin content, (key to cGP) compared to anywhere in the world.”

Plant breeding programmes

also play a big part in establishing varieties most conducive to achieving these health benefits.

“This is a niche market for growers and while currently the industry is in a relatively small but stable scale with supply matched well to demand, it is encouraging to see new and evolving opportunities and health benefits helping to solidify the market in the future.

“Every new benefit is a good news story for us.”

Presently the NZ blackcurrant harvest is largely sold through the industry’s marketing arm, the grower-owned NZ Blackcurrant Co-operative, with 75% going export, mainly to Japan and China, while domestically the remaining crop is used three ways equally for concentrates, extracts and powders.

ETS settings ‘will close food greenhouses’

GREENHOUSE food growers will be forced out of business because the government has reduced industrial allocations to businesses affected by the Emissions Trading Scheme, according to Vegetables NZ chair John Murphy.

Calculations by growers show the reduction may add costs of up to $30,000 per hectare, Murphy said.

According to the Ministry for the Environment website, the government provides industrial allocations of emission units to industry for activities that are both emission intensive and trade exposed, because it recognises that ETS costs might affect competitiveness.

The Environmental Protection Authority website says these businesses are not able to pass increased costs on to their

customers, due to the level of competition in the market from other businesses who may not face the same costs, such as overseas suppliers.

Murphy said industrial allocations limit emissions trading taxes by a percentage based on the import exposure of a product.

In August Vegetables NZ asked the government to delay the industrial allocation baseline change until July 2025 to allow time for gas contracts to expire and for growers to make further efficiency or fuel changes.

“Growers are already decarbonising because of skyrocketing power costs.

“Growers going out of business will reduce supply and increase consumer prices.

“Government raised taxes on food to limit emissions. The result will be more imports and therefore higher emissions.”

Vegetable NZ also asked for the establishment of a Sustainable Food Systems Fund to reinvest ETS proceeds from greenhouse growers

in greenhouse decarbonisation that supports fuel transition. “Greenhouse growers capture CO2 for use in production.

This sets them apart from other process heat users and gives the government scope to treat greenhouse food growers

differently within the ETS.

“If climate change is the key concern being addressed through this policy, the ability for New Zealand to produce food in increasingly challenging conditions should have been considered.

“The real-world effect is that greenhouse growers will be paying more per hectare in ETS fees without reducing emissions.”

The allocation is in place because “there is no point limiting business activity in New Zealand if that activity is just taken up overseas in a place where the same or more CO2 will be emitted to produce a similar product”.

Murphy said cucumber growers, for example, are exposed to this as cucumbers can be imported.

“Documents released by the cabinet show heavy government concern about the local steel industry’s exposure to international markets. The steel industry is supported to the detriment of food production,” he said.

BENEFITS: cGP Lab co-founders Jim Grierson and David Eder. Grierson says NZ blackcurrants uniquely support brain health. Photos: Supplied

Jim Grierson cGP Lab

Gerhard Uys NEWS Horticulture

ALLOCATIONS: Greenhouse growers will pay up to $30,000/ha more if their industrial allocations in the Emissions Trading Scheme are reduced. Photo: Supplied

FEDERATED FARMERS

Aussie-owned banks unfairly targeting New Zealand farmers

Federated Farmers have slammed Westpac Bank for setting tougher emissions reduction targets for farmers in New Zealand than for their Australian farming customers.

But Westpac isn’t the only bank in Federated Farmers’ sights, with the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) also in the firing line for an “outrageous” double standard.

“Both Westpac and BNZ have some serious questions to answer after it’s come to light in the past week or so that they’re both unfairly targeting Kiwi farmers on emissions reductions targets,” says Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre.

“Their rural customers will be feeling very rightfully put out, confused and angry.”

Westpac’s new climate targets will require Kiwi farmers to reduce their emissions to 0.75 tonnes of CO2equivalent per tonne of milk.

At the same time, they’re asking their Australian farming customers to reduce their footprint to only 0.85 tonnes.

In 2023 Westpac estimated the emissions intensity of their New Zealand dairy farming portfolio to be 0.77 tonnes of CO2-equivalent per tonne of milk.

“What that means is New Zealand farmers are already well ahead of where Westpac are asking Australian farmers to get to by 2030.

“Where’s the fairness in that?” McIntyre says.

“By setting a more ambitious target for New Zealand, Westpac are making it clear they expect our local farmers to go further and faster than Australian farmers – and unfairly carry that cost.”

Meanwhile, Federated Farmers says BNZ demanding an 11% reduction in farming emissions by 2030 has exposed a Trans-Tasman double standard.

National Australia Bank, BNZ’s parent company, does not have the same emissions reduction target for their Australian farming customers –in fact, they don’t have a target at all.

“This is outrageous,” McIntyre says.

“It’s a disappointing case of ‘do as I say, not as I do’ from another big Australian-owned bank.

“What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander. This is an appalling double standard and BNZ’s farming clients in New Zealand deserve an explanation.”

National Australia Bank are yet to put in place an emissions reduction target for Australian farmers because of concerns about the

impact on food supply and regional communities.

“Clearly, they don’t share the same concerns for New Zealand’s rural communities or the food production that underpins our economy,” McIntyre says.

“That’s a total slap in the face for Kiwi farming families who already have a significantly lower carbon footprint than farmers across the ditch.”

McIntyre says BNZ, and their parent company National Australia Bank, should be ashamed of the way they’re treating Kiwi farmers with this unfair Trans-Tasman double standard.

“They might be called the Bank of New Zealand, but they’re clearly not a bank for New Zealand – or New Zealand’s farmers and rural communities.”

Federated Farmers’ latest banking survey showed that only one in 11 farmers supported banks setting climate change targets.

“There is absolutely no need for banks to be getting involved in setting climate targets for Kiwi farmers. It’s shameless corporate greenwashing,” McIntyre says.

“We already have ambitious emissions reduction targets set by the Government, and further targets

DOUBLE STANDARD: Richard McIntyre says it’s appalling that National Australia Bank, BNZ’s parent company, has an emissions reduction target for Kiwi farming customers but not Australian farming customers.

set by our milk and meat processing companies.

“Having another target from our banks just adds extra layers of needless cost, complexity and reporting that won’t lead to any further emissions reductions. They should stay out of it.”

Federated Farmers wrote to Westpac New Zealand CEO Catherine McGrath in May raising these concerns on behalf of farmers. Disappointingly, she never even replied.

“If we had more banking competition in New Zealand, banks like Westpac and BNZ wouldn’t be able to get away with setting these kinds of unfair targets,” McIntyre says.

“In a more competitive banking environment farmers would simply be able to leave them and seek a better service elsewhere, but that’s just not an option for most at the moment.

“Farmers tell us that the lack of banking competition means they have to accept banks’ policies, no matter how unreasonable, as if it were another layer of government regulation.”

McIntyre says Westpac and BNZ should be ashamed of the unfair way they’re treating their New Zealand farming customers.

“This is something Parliament’s banking inquiry, which is currently underway, should be taking a much closer look at.”

STAND WITH

Feds secure Gore district plan hearing delay

Federated Farmers Southland has welcomed Gore District Council’s decision to delay its next hearing of the proposed district plan, giving farmers much-needed time to prepare.

“We pushed hard for the council to postpone this hearing until next year,” says Bernadette Hunt, executive member of Federated Farmers Southland.

“Farmers just don’t have the headspace to take part right now, so it’s great news the council have taken that feedback on board and pushed the hearing back until February 2025.

It’s a great outcome and we’re pleased the council has acknowledged what farmers are going through.

Bernadette Hunt Federated Farmers Southland executive member

“While it’s not as late as we’d hoped for – at least April 2025 would have been better – it’s a great outcome and we’re pleased the council has acknowledged what farmers are going through.”

Hunt says Southland farmers are battling through an incredibly challenging time after months of rain, a major flooding event, and a horrific lambing and calving season for many.

“Grass growth has been affected, there’s flood damage to be repaired, and farmers are miles behind on getting crops into the ground.

“There’s no way farmers could have put enough thought into the

hearing scheduled for December, or to fully participate in the process.

“Postponing the hearing until February will give farmers some breathing space and allow them to prepare their evidence properly.”

Hunt says rural communities in Gore are particularly concerned about the Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori (SASMs) chapter within the proposed plan.

“This SASM hearing will be the most contentious of the entire plan process, so the extra time to prepare is much needed and certainly welcomed.

“Gore District Council has put out a report which has an option of pulling the whole SASM chapter and replacing it with a Ngāi Tahu Cultural Values chapter.

“This is a shift in approach, so we’re still working through this, but we feel it’s important that everyone can have a say on the new content being introduced.”

She says Federated Farmers stands by its three bottom lines on SASMs.

“Whatever approach to SASMs we land on, it must allow most farmers to get on with farming, without needing external input or approval.

“Those areas needing extra care must be identified, there must be transparency around the reason, and those affected must know what they need to be careful of and how.

“Thirdly, if a farmer is expected to alter land use or protect something for the ‘greater good’, that should not have to be at their cost.

“Those are the firm bottom lines Federated Farmers Southland will be sticking to.”

INFORMATION: Gordonton farm owner Brendon O’Leary, pictured here with Federated Farmers Waikato vice president Mike Garrud, says the Morrinsville sharefarmer event was eye opening for him and his son.

Sharefarming workshops are off to a roaring start

There was standing room only as more than 50 farmers packed into a Morrinsville rugby clubroom for the first in a series of workshops focused on managing risk in sharefarming.

Federated Farmers is running the workshops around the country this month, designed to help new and existing contract milkers, sharemilkers and farm owners.

Gordonton farm owner Brendon O’Leary headed along to the first workshop in Morrinsville on November 7, mainly to support his son Alex.

“He’s looking at taking up a sharemilking role because it’s part of his equity growth, so we thought we’d go and seek some information as we’ve never delved into sharemilking before.

“The big take-home message for us was communication – with your bank, your insurance people, the sharefarm owner, and anyone else you’re working with. That’s what came through strongest for us.”

O’Leary says it was helpful to learn about all the risks involved in sharefarming – and how to mitigate them.

“You need to go in with your eyes wide open and you need to do your homework and know your limitations before you take that step.

“That way there’s no surprises for you or the other party.

The big take-home message for us was communication – with your bank, your insurance people, the sharefarm owner, and anyone else you’re working with.

Brendon O’Leary Waikato dairy farmer

“The workshop identified things we hadn’t thought of like the insurance side of things. It’s about making sure you have your back covered as much as possible.”

He says the length and style of the presentations was spot-on.

“As farmers, we go along to these things, and we can only take in so much information. There’s no point having three-hour presentations or we’ll just go to sleep.

“So, the length was good: short, informative, hit the nail on the head and then move onto the next topic.

“There was a panel at the end, so we could put questions to them.”

Federated Farmers ‘Managing risk in share farming’ events are running throughout November, free for both members and non-members.

Head along to hear industry experts sharing advice on contractual changes, farm assessments, and how to build and main strong, enduring working relationships.

MORE:

Upcoming locations include Dunsandel (19 November), Hawera (26 November) and Winton (26 November). Details at fedfarm.org.nz/events.

8 0 0 3 2 7 6 4 6

THE RESTORING FARMER CONFIDENCE TOUR

Farmers and rural communities are invited to join Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford for a public meeting about how we can restore farmer confidence

Tuesday 26 November

Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waikato, 12pm – 2pm

Friday 29 November

Ashburton Event Centre, Canterbury, 12pm – 2pm

Wednesday 4 December

Southern Field Days Site, Southland, 12pm – 2pm

T hr ow on your gumboots, jump in the ute, and we’ ll see you ther e.

Otago farmer’s battle for fairer rules

Fighting the farmers’ corner in an escalating stand-off with Otago Regional Council has taken up a lot of Luke Kane’s time and energy this year – but he has no regrets.

“It helped that we weren’t just in the fight, we were also completely in the right,” the Federated Farmers Otago president says.

“Their data on environmental progress was flawed, and on the economic impacts of their land and water plan it was pretty much totally absent.

“Even so, certain councillors and council staff were determined to bulldoze the plan through, despite knowing the Government will be changing the national direction on freshwater management.

“Their refusal to back down would have wreaked havoc on farming families and the livelihoods of rural businesses, and it just wasn’t right,” Kane says.

He says it was a big result when the Government intervened last month to tell councils they could not bring in any new freshwater rules until the new National Policy Statement Freshwater Management is out.

“We pushed hard for the ORC to stop work on that plan, so it’s really satisfying to see our advocacy pay off.”

Kane, in his second year as the province’s president, admits he seriously thought of standing down last year.

He and wife Nicole are busy running a 700-cow dairy farm near Tapanui, and have a two-year-old daughter.

Kane estimates his work for Federated Farmers takes out up to a day a week, sometimes two.

“There’s a fair bit of pressure at times but I’m thankful for a very supportive wife, and that I stuck with it; I guess I’ve settled into the role a bit more.”

Seated in a digger out on the farm as we interview him for this story, he’s become better at managing his time well.

It’s very satisfying when a farmer tells you the work you and Federated Farmers do makes a difference.

Luke Kane

Federated Farmers Otago president

He also acknowledges the work and “great knowledge” of Harriet Jopp and other Federated Farmers policy staff, and mentors such as Stephen Korteweg, Simon Davies and former Otago president Mark Patterson.

“They help me out with thinking issues through, or just general advice.

“We might not always agree but it’s about finding that balance.”

Vice president Anna Gillespie and the other members of the Federated Farmers Otago executive have also

done great work for local farmers, he says.

“We’re by no means heavily dairyoriented. We span all the land uses and we find commonality and learn from each other.

“That’s one of the really good things about Federated Farmers – it widens your network,” Kane says.

“You make so many connections and it’s very satisfying when a farmer tells you the work you and Federated Farmers do makes a difference.”

Kane says Federated Farmers Otago’s work with ORC councillors and council staff won’t stop, even though the council has been forced to delay any new freshwater regulation.

There’s also work to do with the general public to bridge “gaps in understanding,” he says.

“Go back a generation or two, and pretty much every family had some sort of connection to a farm and rural New Zealand. Not everyone is privileged to enjoy that now.

“We’ve got a Government that understands farming better but we need to get our messages through to a section of the general public – and councillors – who perhaps still don’t believe us.”

Another big issue for Otago in 2024 has been pest animal populations.

In September, farmers and forestry owners in the Lawrence district clashed over pigs and deer damaging fences and pasture.

The local cop called a community meeting to defuse tensions.

With a Federated Farmers survey showing feral animals are costing farmers nationally at least $213 million a year, Kane says an agreed pathway needs to be forged on sharing the costs of pest control.

“The wider challenge, I guess, is future land uses for generational farms in Otago.

“I think it’s going to get uglier before it gets pretty.”

STAUNCH:

Luke Kane says Federated Farmers Otago has stood firm against unfair regional council rules – and will continue doing so.

It’s not just the threat of forestry gobbling up productive farmland,

Kane says.

“It’s about making sure there are pathways for families and businesses to choose to go down.

“No-one wants to be the generation that feels pressured into taking over the family farm knowing full well that it doesn’t stack up financially.

“Whether the choice is forestry, dairy, dairy grazing, arable or whatever, there should be mechanisms in place to allow that to happen, without impractical regulation thrown up as an obstacle.

“If it can be shown that the outcomes won’t have adverse outcomes for the environment, then it shouldn’t be so regimented,” he says.

“Achieving that fairness is a mission I feel strongly about, and Feds Otago is committed to promoting that approach to central and local government.”

Rerewhakaaitu 219 State Highway 38

Retiring vendors seek new adventures

On offer is this 120 ha dairy farm of flat to easy rolling contour and located on fertile Rotomahana soils. Most of the farm infrastructure is located on 89 ha comprised of two titles, with a 31 ha title accessed via a stock underpass 320 cows milked for a three year average of 136,000 kgMS with the best production being 147,000 kgMS under system 3 management. Farm infrastructure includes a modern 20 ASHB shed with in-shed feeding. The range of support buildings includes multiple barns/implement sheds/calf sheds. A modern effluent storage and dispersal system is fully consented until 2031. The main home is a four bedroom unit with open plan living and north facing deck The second house has three bedrooms with separate lounge The farm is situated in a superb rural community and is a well regarded farming district, with proximity to major centers, offering convenient access to supplies, services schooling and recreational activities.

Taumarunui opportunities await

204.48 ha (more or less)

A rare opportunity to increase your farming operations or future forestry investment. Located in the Ruapehu District, renowned for its outstanding tree growth and agriculture. Comprising 204.48 ha (more or less, subject to title council consent has been approved).

An attractive rural property with a natural water source, ease of access, well tracked, skid site options 14 paddocks cattle yards, 12 ha (approx) of bush and a two bedroom sleepout. The sheltered property is part of 1339 Hikumutu Road. Access is on Pokatea Kokakonui Road, which runs along the property’s eastern boundary and is only 15 minutes from either Taumarunui or Owhango.

Tender closes 11.00am, Wed 20th Nov, 2024 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Rotorua, Redwood Shopping Centre - 5 Tarawera Road, Rotorua View Thu 21 Nov 12.30 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/WTR193158

Phillip Berry M 027 478 8892 E phillip.berry@pb.co.nz

Phil Badger M 027 357 5704 E phil.badger@pb.co.nz

Marton 443 Tutaenui Road

Country living at its best

New Listing

An outstanding opportunity to own arguably one of the most well presented small farms on the market This property boasts 21.22 ha of easy, flat contour. This exquisite 332 m2 homestead offers a perfect blend of comfort and luxury. With multiple spacious living and dining areas, it's designed for both relaxation and entertaining Featuring five generously sized bedrooms, including a master with an ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe, there's ample space for family and guests. Nestled within beautifully maintained grounds, the property includes a floodlit tennis court, perfect for evening games. Revel in breathtaking views of the serene pond and picturesque surrounding farmland. This property not only has visual appeal but is also a highly productive piece of land with quality soils and extensive drainage that has the ability to breed and finish any class of livestock. With outstanding infrastructure this is a property that you will not want to miss out on. 5 3 2

Mangamaire 431 Mangamaire Road and State Highway 2

Discover a rare opportunity to own 239 ha of prime flat land located in the heart of the lower North Island

This expansive property features fertile soil types, perfect for all agricultural farming practices including intensive finishing, cropping, dairy and support. The properties are made up of two former dairy units of 138 ha and 101 ha in a total of 17 records of title, providing purchase options for all sectors of the market The farming infrastructure is well apportioned over the properties which includes 2 x HB cowsheds handling facilities and a huge range of shedding to suit. Three well maintained family homes provide excellent accommodation or future sell down options

With intensive land use and effluent consents still being in place allows for all purchasers to take advantage of the reliable growing climate the Tararua District offers.

Tender closes 11.00am, Thu 12th Dec, 2024, 54

Road, Feilding

View Wed 20 Nov 1.00 - 1.30pm

Web pb.co.nz/FR185644

Ted Shannon M 021 833 536 E ted.shannon@pb.co.nz

Blair Cottrill M 027 354 5419 E blair@pb.co.nz

Stuart Sutherland M 027 452 1155 E stuarts@pb.co.nz

Tender closes 2.00pm, Tue 26th Nov, 2024, Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street Pahiatua View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/PR191930

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496 E jared@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith M 027 220 8311 E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz

John Arends M 027 444 7380 E johna@pb.co.nz

Kimbolton

Taree and Clover Pastures - 239 ha

Kumara 262/200 Nicholas Road

Dymac Farm

This 392 ha dairy farm at Taramakau Settlement, 35 minutes from Greymouth, is a rare opportunity for anyone looking to step into a larger-scale dairy operation with modern infrastructure Currently milking 450 cows with production steadily increasing, reaching 174,387 kgMS in the 2023/24 season. Supplying milk to Westland Milk Products (WMP) on an A2 contract supply agreement which attracts a $0.10 kgMS premium, in addition to WMP’s offer of $0.10 kgMS above Fonterra’s FGMP. The farm boasts a modern 50-bail rotary cowshed with meal feeding, a range of outbuildings, two x 3 bedroom houses plus a substantial four bedroom brick homestead, offering excellent accommodation options. This farm provides a well rounded investment with modern facilities, scope for increased production, and located in a reputable dairy district. It’s an exceptional option for anyone looking to expand in dairy or transition to a more substantial operation.

Arahura Valley 1340 Old Christchurch Road

Premier dairy investment

Located in the scenic Arahura Valley, just 20 minutes from Hokitika, Cranley Farms offers a rare chance to acquire a premier dairy farming enterprise on a grand scale Spanning a freehold title area of 1,102 ha, with approximately 729 effective ha, this property is further complemented by an adjoining leasehold of 127 ha, making it a standout asset in the region. The farm has been well developed with modern infrastructure including two modern 50 bail rotary cowsheds, a comprehensive range of shedding to support daily operations as well as a multitude of accommodation options. Currently milking 1,450 cows, five year average production of 622,511 kgMS, with the majority of the herd wintered on the farm. Available as an outright purchase or as a partial share sale, Cranley Farms offers flexibility for investors with this attractive opportunity to invest in a large scale sustainable dairy operation.

10 4

Tender closes 3.00pm, Fri 6th Dec, 2024, Property Brokers Hokitika, 97 Revell Street, Hokitika View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/GYR193052

Gareth Cox M 021 250 9714 E gareth@pb.co.nz

Anna Hart M 027 294 9678 E anna.hart@pb.co.nz

Tender closes 3.00pm, Thu 12th Dec, 2024 (unless sold prior), 97 Revell Street, Hokitika 7810

View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/HKR13024

Gareth Cox M 021 250 9714 E gareth@pb.co.nz

Anna Hart M 027 294 9678 E anna.hart@pb.co.nz

the fully

a rare opportunity for those seeking a versatile agricultural lifestyle property. This 167 ha

in the

farming area and in close proximity to Timaru, Temuka and Geraldine for services, amenities and schools. The 103.22 ha dairy platform has been developed with quality and well maintained overall infrastructure and includes an efficient 30 ASHB shed (ability to increase to 36 AS) with in-shed feeding and ACR's Well designed effluent system and capacity with a feed pad.

boasts a thoughtfully renovated 70 m2 three bedroom cottage with one bathroom, set amid picturesque, rolling downs and flats Well equipped with three hay barns, a utility shed centrally located sheep yards and main yard cattle facilities, Glenroy Downs is an ideal setup for dairy support or deer farming. Recently re-grassed and farmed in conjunction with a 400 ha block, Glenroy Downs offers robust infrastructure to support future farming endeavours

Grant McIlroy M 027 345 9262

Situated on State Highway 56, Tiakatahuna at an intersection affectionately known as The Rocket sits this superbly presented 102ha dairy farm. A highly productive farm with infrastructure to match, it's hard to fault the work that has gone into making this farm one of the most admired in the district. Talk to us about ease of entry terms available - including vendor finance and 16.3ha which the vendor would consider retaining and leasing back. Centrally located 35 aside herringbone shed with in-shed feeding and adjacent

Hororata 828 Downs Road

Glenroy Downs

Nestled between

serviced rural villages of Darfield and Methven, Glenroy Downs offers

farm

Tender closes 12.00pm, Mon 25th Nov, 2024 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 68 South Terrace, Darfield View By appointment

pb.co.nz/DFR108706

• 184B Kuranui Road, R D 2, Morrinsville

• 123 84 hectares – 1 title

• contour varies from flats to easy rolling with some areas of steeper sidlings

• variable soil types include a mix of silt loam & clay loam

• v g farm layout, well subdivided and raced, with the dairy shed in a central location

• water supply is based on a deepwell bore, alkathene pipelines & strategically located manacon tanks; additional secondary bore at dairy shed

• 36 bail rotary dairy shed; auto cup removers; in-shed feed system

• amenities include implement/calf shedding, airstrip with covered fertilizer shed & bin

• comfortable 5 brm dwelling with garaging

• great location, handy to town, with a good range of options for schooling

The availability of a well -developed & well-managed kiwifruit orchard provides a unique opportunity to acquire a significant inc ome-producing investment with potential for growth, situated in a great location 11 k ms from Te Awamutu - available as a stand-alone entity or can be purchased with the adjoining Mangahana dairy unit

• 150 Cruickshank Road, Tokanui district, Te Awamutu

• 26 7 hectare land area; 19 24 canopy hectares of green kiwifru it

• attractive flat to gen tle contour; free -draining mairoa ash soil

• significant production currently; potential for increase as newer plantings come to full production

Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

• 2024 harvest - 201,107 class 1 trays - 814,822 to tal kgs of kiwifruit

• 2 x deepwell bores supply an extensive irrigation system throughout the orchard

• large packhouse / workshop building

• an attractive 2 storied 5 brm homestead, nicely positioned with lovely north -facing views

Following two generations of diligent ownership, a once -in-a-lifetime opportunity is now presented with the availability of an e specially good, larger scale dairy unit, situated in a great location, 11 kms from Te Awamutu

• 130 Cruickshank Road, Tokanui district, Te Awamutu

• 269 2 hectares (s t s) - free-draining mairoa ash soil

• high percentage of easy rolling country suitable for hay, silage or maize

• very attractive presentation with deciduous trees producing shade and shelter and native plantings occupying some less productive areas

• well subdivided & raced; extensive water reticulation system supplied by several bores

• 3 year average - 800 cows calved: 298,000 kgs milk solids

• 50 bail rotary dairy shed; adjoining feed -pad; extensive areas of concrete; substantial calf-rearing shedding; 2 x disused h b cowsheds utilised for vet work & stand -off areas

• quality 5 brm brick homestead in a prominent site with spectacular panoramic views; 3 additional 3 brm homes

• excellent lo cation, a very good district, well -situated for a variety of schooling options

TradeMe / Realestate.co.nz - search # R1431 Sale by Auction: Thurs, 28 Nov 2024 - from 1 00pm

Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

Clover Hills

Spanning 330 hectares of prime farmland in the heart of Central Hawke’s Bay Clover Hills is located 29km South East of Waipukurau and is held in three titles The well-balanced contour with 21ha of fertile flats with a history of squash and peas to a mix of rolling hills and a small area of steeper country where a QEII block gives a stunning backdrop Stock policy is a Sheep & Beef breeding and finishing operation Well subdivided into approximately 46 paddocks with 23ha in deer fence easy plateau country along with 12ha QEII Clover Hills is watered by natural springs rivers and a reticulated system Four-bedroom homestead and self-contained cottage A three-stand woolshed sheep yards satellite sheep yards and Te Pari cattle yards along with implement shed and haybarn Opportunity to purchase 90ha STS on the boundary Call today for early inspection bayleys co nz/2871068

Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior) 12pm, Wed 11 Dec 2024 26 Takapau Road, Waipukurau View by appointment Andy Hunter 027 449 5827 andy hunter@bayleys co nz

PAPAMOA, BAY OF PLENTY

Fishing or Surfing Minutes After Milking!

• 113ha dairy farm on one title

• 38ASHB shed with GEA plant (replaced 2018)

Currently milking 750 cows utilising additional lease land, 5yr avg production 334,146kg MS 450 cow feedpad with concrete supplement bunkers

• Modern effluent system, spread via travelling irrigators

Three dwellings plus numerous sheds

Only minutes away from beaches, boat ramps, shops and cafes

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 3.00pm Thursday, 12 December VIEW By Appointment Only

M 027 801 2888

E tim.gallagher@pggwrightson.co nz

M 027 223 3366

E dmclaren@pggwrightson.co nz

PUTARURU, SOUTH WAIKATO

384 Overdale Road - Drystock Cropping Gem

For the first time in nearly 50 years this beautifully presented dry stock/cropping block of 236 hectares (503 acres more or less) is coming to the market.

Located within a short drive to Putaruru, this oftenadmired property has a mix of 1/3 cropping 1/3 easy hill and 1/3 medium to steeper contour Currently cropping approximately 70 hectares maize/chicory, as well as beef fattening, some dairy support and balance of sheep. The property is maintained to a very high level, with lanes, fences and sheds in great presentation, as are the two established homes Ring Trevor for more information.

pggwre.co.nz/MAT40506

PIOPIO, WAIKATO

450 Ngapaenga Road - Ruatawa

Located in a high rainfall area northwest of Piopio, this 334-hectare (more or less) property is a solid productive farm ideal for breeding and finishing quality stock. 2024 it wintered 1175 MA ewes, 440 ewe hoggets, 35 rams, 100 top R1 steers and 55 MA breeding cows. Proven for breeding and finishing operations. Laneway for easy stock movement Dependable Water Supply- stream feed A wellmaintained fertiliser history. A tidy five-bedroom house with an in-ground pool offers north-facing views of the property, balancing comfort with functionality.

Service Manager Stockyards / Livestock and Site Environs

Auckland Meat Processors is a large manufacturing business located in Mount Wellington, Auckland and is the processing arm of the Wilson Hellaby group of companies. Our core business is centred on providing a quality platform for the processing/further processing of red meat. Our vision is “Great Meat Delivered with Pride”

As a key member of the management team and reporting to the operations manager the appointee will work closely with a number of stakeholders within the operation and will be responsible for the following:

Providing leadership to a group of 18 livestock staff who receive and handle beef, lamb and goats over both day and night operations.

• Ensure continuous improvement within the department/process is achieved along with being a key member in facilitating the commissioning of the livestock side of our new processing site.

• Ensure all obligations and responsibilities under the Health and Safety legislation are met.

Be responsible for our Animal Welfare program as the welfare officer.

• Facilitate the daily logistics plan with our key customers / suppliers.

• Oversee aspects of the site Environs which includes grounds maintenance.

The position would suit someone with livestock experience and is a full time role however should some flexibility be required along with areas the successful candidate needs to grow in, they will be fully supported to gain those skills.

If you think this role sounds like something you would be keen to be part of, apply now by sending your CV and Cover Letter to shane.baty@auckmeat.co.nz

Applications must be in by: 29 November 2024

Rural Building Services

Earthmoving Equipment

Viewing: 10.00am onwards day of sale or prior by appointment, items will be live online for bidding from 8.00am Monday 11th November

Stock Includes: Excavators, Compact Tracked Loaders, Rollers, Buckets, Rams, Excavator Under carriage, Parts and more.

This is an opportunity not to be missed!

Live Auction will be held onsite at Garland St, Matamata Items are in Auckland, Matamata, Christchurch, Gore

HIGH COUNTRY JOURNEYS

• Self drive your own 4WD from Blenheim to Cardrona in Central Otago including Molesworth through a network of high country tracks with a 7 day

2025 Notice of Elections and Call for Remits

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd (B+LNZ) give notice that nominations are now open for B+LNZ Directors and Directors Independent Remuneration Committee

Written remits for the 2025 Annual Meeting are now being accepted

Under section 41 of the B+LNZ constitution, two electoral district Directors will retire by rotation at the annual meeting This year, Scott Gower (Western North Island) and Nicky Hyslop (Central South Island) must retire by rotation but may stand for reelection

Scott Gower and Nicky Hyslop have both indicated that they will be standing for reelection

Nominations are being called to fill two Board of Director vacancies, one for each of the following electoral districts:

• Western North Island (WNI)

• Central South Island (CSI)

Nominations are also being called to fill one vacancy on the Directors Independent Remuneration Committee (DIRC)

The successful candidates for the Director positions will also be appointed to the Board of Directors for the New Zealand Meat Board

Remits are called for under section 12 of the Second Schedule: Proceedings at Meetings of the B+LNZ constitution Remits are a matter that the proposing farmers are raising for discussion and resolution at the annual meeting The B+LNZ remits policy, and guidelines can be found here https://beeflambnz com/about/corporatedocuments

All nominations and written remits must be made on the official forms

Nomination forms and information regarding the elections are available:

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.

HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts. Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz

RAMS FOR SALE

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

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

a live-in position. To learn more phone Krystyna 027 443 5418.

WANTED TO BUY

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

WANTED TO RENT OLD HOUSE or cottage with garden and garage. I’m a retired handyman. Can do repairs if needed. Quiet Whanganui area. Phone 027 672 6435.

• at www electionz com/BLNZ2025R

• by emailing iro@electionz com

• or phoning 0800 666 032

Remit Policy and forms are available from B+LNZ:

• at https://beeflambnz com/about/corporate-documents

• by emailing enquiries@beeflambnz com

• or phoning 0800 233 352

All nominations must be received by the Returning Officer, and written remits received by B+LNZ, by 5pm on Friday 6 December 2024

Director nominations will be confirmed by electionz com and B+LNZ by media announcement in the week commencing 9 December and the date of the annual meeting and voting timelines will be advised at that time.

Board of Directors and Annual Meeting Resolutions and Remits

To be eligible to vote in the B+LNZ Director elections, or for annual meeting resolutions and remits (if any), a livestock farmer must, on 30 June 2024, have owned at least 250 sheep, or 50 beef cattle, or 100 dairy cattle and be on the B+LNZ electoral roll Additionally, voters must farm within the respective electorate to be eligible to vote for the Board of Directors

If you have previously received voting papers you are on the electoral roll and do not need to re-register To check if you are on the electoral roll contact B+LNZ on 0800 233 352 The electoral roll will close for those who wish to vote by post at 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025, although new registrations will be received after that date (for online voting only)

All queries regarding B+LNZ elections should be directed to the Returning Officer on 0800 666 032

All queries regarding annual meeting remits should be directed to B+LNZ Chief Operating Officer, Cros Spooner, on 0800 233 352

Warwick Lampp

Returning Officer – Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd PO Box 3138, Christchurch 8140 iro@electionz com, 0800 666 032

ATHLONE STATION

6th Annual Ram Sale 80 2th Suftex Rams Friday 29th November

Viewing from 1pm, Auction 2.30pm

Wilfred Road, Albury or online at www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Facial Eczema Rams for Wiltshires

• FUTURE FOCUSED - 30 Years of Performance Recording Shedding Sheep.

• FIRST for FACIAL ECZEMA - Ramguard™ since 2006, 0.55.

• FIRST for PARASITES - Carla™ antibody test since 2012.

• FIRST for MEAT, FERTILITY - AnimalPlan/SIL recording since 1995.

• TOP MEAT YIELDING RAMS - Low Input Trial Results.

• HOOF SCORING - Every Ewe and Ram Hogget.

Growth + meat = profit

• Ram weaning weights 40-58kg at 100 days

• Suffolk/Texel, stabilised for 20+ years

• Constitution and longevity

• Winner, best pen of rams for prime lamb production, CHB Show (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Weightlifter Sheep Genetics 25th Annual Sale Stortford Lodge Saleyards, Hastings 27th November – 2pm

Thursday 28th November 2024

A/C Trevor & Trish Johnson

4557 Ohura Rd, Taumarunui (Ram Selling Complex)

600 Yearling Steers

500 Yearling Heifers

These later born great shifting hill-country Yearlings are Angus, Angus/Hereford Cross and Hereford

Angus Bulls have been purchased from Stokman and Waitangi with Herefords from Kokonga

The Cattle will be drafted into lines and weighed 10 days prior to the sale with viewing on Sale Day from 9 30am - 12 30pm

A list of yard addresses will be available upon request from the Auctioneers.

A Catalogue will be available on Bidr and MyLivestock prior to the sale

A 2% Purchasing Rebate will be paid to recognised Companies making arrangements prior to the Sale. The Cattle will be shown at the Auction via video taken at drafting and weighing.

For more information contact:

Marty Cashin (PGW) 027 497 6414

Vaughan Rogers (NZFL) 027 452 1568 PAPARATA STATION 2ND ANNUAL ON FARM YEARLING CATTLE SALE

Charollais Sheep Genetics NZ

Peter Ponsonby, Lawrence 027 299 2871

Matt Ponsonby, Lawrence 0274

Scott Linklater, Feilding 0175 483 578

Chris Hampton, South Canterbury 0272 025 679

Murray Smith, Rangiora

Alastair Brown, Pleasant Point 022 188 6601

Duncan & Casey MacKintosh, Rangiora 03 312 8192

Mitch Taylor, Fairlie 0274 054 527

Nigel Jay, Rangiora

& Shaun Lawlor, Gore

For further information on private ram sales contact participating flocks The breed that offers fast growth rate and high yielding carcasses. The Charollais wedge shape gives easy lambing and ideal for hogget mating.

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Maternal composite (FE testing @ 6.7)

Sheddmaster (FE testing @ 4.0) Romney (FE testing @ 7.2)

Blackface terminal composite

Enquiries and viewings welcome Will Jackson 027 739 9939 william@piquethillfarms.co.nz www.piquethillfarms.co.nz

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Young Wet Dry Ewes, prefer Romney Friesian & Beef X Bull Calves 1YR Friesian Bulls <300kgs

2YR Exotic X Heifers 400-450kgs

1YR Beef & Dairy X Heifers

TOTARA VALLEY LAMB SALES

Annual Draft Ewes

MT

WILLOWHAUGH SOUTHDOWNS BLENHEIM

An elderly couple went to dinner at the home of some friends, also elderly. After dinner, the wives went into the kitchen and the two men were talking.

One said, “We went out to dinner last night at a really good restaurant. I’d highly recommend it.”

The second man said, “What’s the name of it?”

The first man thought and thought, then said, “What’s the name of that flower you give to someone you love, the one that is usually red that has thorns?”

“Oh, you mean a rose?” said the second man.

“Yes, that’s it,” said the first man.

Then he called to the kitchen, “Rose, what’s the name of that restaurant we went to last night?”

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

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

ANNUAL RAM SALES NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024

SALE TALK

MANU POLL DORSET

Markets

Sun shines on top station’s on-farm sale

ON TUESDAY November 12, Hazlett Livestock facilitated another successful on-farm lamb sale at one of the North Island’s most iconic farms, Tautane Station.

The property is a leading example of resilience within the industry with a rich history that dates back 120 years. The land has persisted through changes of ownership, countless market fluctuations and hardships, not to mention the most recent –Cyclone Gabrielle.

The lambs were in outstanding condition.

Angus Hazlett Hazlett Livestock

At 3700 hectares, this station is one of the few original stations of its size operating in Hawke’s Bay, expanding over 12km of rugged coastline between Dannevirke and Waipukurau.

Coastal hill country doesn’t always make for easy farming.

However, the lambs presented at this sale were a testament to their management.

The proven shifting ability and hardiness of the South Dorset Down-Romney & Hampshire Down-Romney lambs were a fantastic reflection of the character and resilience of the land they come from.

This, and the world-class hospitality of the Gunson family, is what drew the crowd of return buyers from across the country to the small coastal settlement of Herbertville.

Livestock agent Angus Hazlett spoke highly of the lambs on offer and was pleased with the results.

“The lambs were in outstanding condition, so it was great to see so many repeat buyers back this year. These are tried and trusted station-bred lambs with proven shifting ability. Everything on offer today was also NZFAP, ABF and GAP accredited so overall, truly deserving of a strong result.”

Setting vied with hospitality and the weather at Tautane Station, but ultimately the excellent ewes outdid the lot. Get ahead

After a hard year for lamb sales in 2023, the decision to carry on and persist with a second on-farm sale was well rewarded. Last year the heavens opened at the drop of the first hammer.

It had been pouring with rain for weeks and the lambs were

These

Across the five pens of 700 Romney ewes, prices

desperate for sun. In the end, prices were vulnerable to the weakness of demand and averaged somewhere close to $80 per head.

In the space of a year, the conditions to sell have changed dramatically. This year’s crop of lambs had more than their fair share of sun on their backs. So, although the grass may have slowed, the lambs presented at the sale were in superb condition.

Given the amount of growth happening outside the region,

demand for lambs outside of Hawke’s Bay’s local market has been fairly robust. On average, results on the day were nearly $20 per head more compared to last year, in part due to a buoyant schedule that had just recently shifted upward to a high of $8.20/ kgCW.

Overall, the entire crop of 7200 mixed-sex lambs averaged $108, close to $19 per head above the local market average. The top pen of 500 lambs found a new

Make

home in Waikato at a top price of $147. The following seven pens of 6700 made $78-$131.50 and were trucked all over the North Island, most notably to Central Plateau and Manawatū.

The 1000 Romney cryptorchid lambs made $81-$112.50, averaging $98.50. The 6-year station-bred ewes generated fiery competition. Across the five pens of 700 Romney ewes, prices ranged from $109 to $138 and averaged $127.

Alex Coddington MARKETS Livestock

Photo: Alex Coddington

Cattle Sheep Deer

Weekly saleyard results

These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports

OUTSTANDING CATTLE: These autumn-born yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers were an outstanding feature at the Rangiuru sale last Tuesday. At 388kg, they sold for $1390, $3.59/kg.

Rongotea | November 7 | 252 cattle

Weaner

Coalgate | November 12 | 104 cattle, 1381 sheep

Temuka | November 7 | 891 cattle

DRY STARTS TO BITE: Farmers in Hawke’s Bay are offloading stock, and store lamb volume lifted to 5900 at Stortford Lodge last Wednesday. Limited local interest resulted in a softer lamb market and

lambs

$104 a head.

Active spring is getting a bit sluggish

Philip Duncan NEWS Weather

IT’S not yet summer, but we’re on the summer side of spring now and much of New Zealand is in fairly good shape going into the season, although not too hard to find regions leaning wetter and others leaning drier.

As far as “most concerning dry spot” goes, I’d have to say the emerging candidate is now Hawke’s Bay. As for wettest candidate, from a soil moisture deficit point of view it’s probably Westland, which is often wet but now wetter than usual underfoot by quite a lot.

The weather pattern surrounding New Zealand this spring, from a weather forecasting point of view, has been fairly standard – with a lot of westerly-driven weather, more southwest twists but still some hot sunny and dry days as we turn the corner here in the last part of spring.

The Driest Regions

When it comes to areas drying

out, we’re seeing the uptick mostly in the North Island and leaning to the east. Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne stand out the most. The usual spring dry-out is underway there, fanned by some hot days and plenty of windy westerlies and nor’westers this spring. Then there’s eastern Northland, northern parts of Auckland and some parts of Bay of Plenty, all leaning drier than usual for mid-November.

Otago isn’t having major wet problems and Southland is seeing some improvements now.

In the South Island it’s really only Canterbury (mid to north Canterbury) in that dry area – and please write to me and tell me if I’m wrong, but North Canterbury doesn’t look too concerning based on historical soil moisture maps that NIWA has.

The Wettest Regions Westland, in particular the southern half, is much

wetter than usual thanks to an onslaught of westerly-driven weather in winter and spring. Even if it’s not a cold front arriving, there have been a number of large lows in recent months dominating the Tasman Sea. The most recent one was just this past Thursday and Friday, which saw more rain fall there but without all the drama of damaging winds or squally westerlies.

It’s these lows helping bring the wetter weather over and into Otago too.

Meanwhile, Southland is open to the spillover-from-the-west effect and is also exposed to the southwest flow off the Southern Ocean. Even at the other end of the island, in Nelson, it’s leaning wetter at the moment. But Otago isn’t having major wet problems and Southland is seeing some improvements now.

In the North Island it’s Horowhenua and coastal Manawatū with the wettest conditions underfoot compared to normal – and like Westland it’s due to the frequent Tasman Sea lows, or the frequent westerlydriven showers.

Highlights this week

ACCUMULATE: Rainfall accumulation over seven days starting from 7am Sunday November 17 through to 7am Sunday November 24.

• Monday warms up, especially in the South Island as windy nor’westers move northwards

• Tuesday has westerlies more nationwide

• Wednesday and Thursday have another showery southerly quarter change moving in

• High pressure may dominate NZ for much of next week (not locked in yet)

• Northern and eastern NZ leans driest. West Coast leans wettest

• Major rain events less likely nationwide next week or two

D

Samuel Whitelock – Plant Science Graduate, Lincoln University

has helped farmers from one end of the countr y to the other create and