Farmers Weekly NZ October 19 2020

16 MfE firm on winter grazing dates Vol 19 No 40, October 19, 2020

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FEPs must be farmer-led Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz

W

ITH the need for farm environment plans (FEPs) confirmed in freshwater regulations, farmers are casting about in a crowded market for what constitutes a definitive template.

Waikato farm advisor Rob Macnab has been working closely with King Country River Care, facilitating FEP workshops and says it may be a catchmentdriven approach that defines plan development.

The group, comprising 300 drystock farmers, recently received $844,000 from the Government to work on improving freshwater quality and adjusting farming practices.

The group has been increasingly regarded as a benchmark for farmer groups seeking a way forward through regulations using farm environment planning.

“At the moment, there are a lot of people jostling in this space, with good intentions but not always the best outcomes for farmers. It is almost as though we are trying to change jockeys in the middle of the horse race – farmers are on board, but are being told they have to change,” Macnab said He is confident more clarity around FEP sourcing and implementing will develop in coming months, but is urging farmers to stand up and be clear about what their plans should look like, and how they come together.

“The King Country River Care group is the best I have seen so far.

It is one where farmers are saying

‘this is what we want for our area’,” he said.

He is urging professionals and industry groups to go back and talk to farmer groups, and be guided by them.

“Otherwise farmers will get something designed by a committee,” he said.

He believes there will ultimately be certified FEP providers who are able to provide an approved version of a FEP, without it necessarily being a fixed template.

“A certified FEP provider could have the ability to allow for what farmer groups need, and as long as the FEP meets regulatory requirements, it could be used,” he said.

He expects the farmer groups may be defined on a catchment basis, but acknowledges this may cut across industry group efforts to formulate a plan.

“But what works in Waikato will But what works in not work in Southland. It is not heresy to challenge the industry Waikato will not work groups’ work, but they may have in Southland. It is not to become quite nimble in how heresy to challenge the they respond to what farmers need,” he said. industry groups’ work, AgFirst director James Allen says but they may have to at present the FEP situation has become quite nimble become frustrating and complex.

“There is a lot of confusion in how they respond to around the plans and it risks what farmers need. causing some inertia among farmers who may want to get an FEP done,” he said.

Rob Macnab He says it was now well Total Ag accepted a FEP would be required, but the devil was in the details around aspects of slope, fencing good base to start from,” he said. and wintering, for example.

He was confident any additional “This is causing uncertainty. But on the flip side, we are encouraged FEP requirements could be worked into these plans. by the efforts being made by Hey says there also seems to processors, including Fonterra, be widespread support for a Miraka and Tatua. TheyCERTIFICATE have been OF LICENCE catchment process andasthat they chipping away. TheirThisplans a grants the Certificateoffer of Licence use of the New Zealand Made trademark a trusted

INERTIA: James Allen cautions that confusion around FEPs risks losing farmers who want to be proactive and get their plans together sooner than later.

are in support of that approach.

Canterbury consultant Charlotte Glass says her company’s approach under the region’s Land and Water Plan has been to develop a customised plan for each client.

“If you have a property that requires a consent, then usually FEPs are scheduled under that consent, so no matter what else we provide it has to comply with that (Land and Water Plan),” she said.

She says it was vital to any FEP and its requirements were recognised as only one part of the entire farm system.

She maintained most Canterbury farmers were accepting of FEPs, having operated under numerous plan changes over the years.

“But in Southland, it is all a bit new. But it also comes down to the way you ask someone to do a job,

that makes a difference,” she said.

“I think most of our farmers right now are just experiencing some issues about the way they are being engaged with, that’s what they don’t like.

“After all, the primary industry strategy for the past 100 years has been production focused and now they are being asked to turn it into an environmental focus.

“They just seek a bit more understanding that the direction has been changed on them.”

She challenged the Government to make the funding that was tagged for helping farmers to transition more readily accessible.

Farm consultants have confirmed that behind the scenes government officials are working on developing a standardised approach to FEPs and a certification process is being developed for rural professionals to sign off on FEPs.

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ON FARM STORY

32 Our attitude determines our altitude

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10 Farmer support initiative wins award The winner of the Cuisine Local Hero category at the recent NZ Food Hero Awards says the honour is recognition of everyone who helped her Collective Hug initiative, which distributed food parcels to Hawke’s Bay farmers up against it during this year’s drought.

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8 Gender equality needed in

meat sector

The New Zealand meat industry says it is committed to getting more women employed in the meat sector after a new report showed they accounted for 36% of the industry’s global workforce.

12 Lewis Road changes ownership

Top end dairy foods brand Lewis Road Creamery has been acquired in full by Southern Pastures, the agricultural investment fund that owns 20 dairy farms in Waikato and Canterbury.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

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GHG study a ‘snapshot analysis’ Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz A STUDY concluding most NZ sheep and beef farms are carbon neutral is a snapshot in time and does not mean a farm’s greenhouse gas inventory will not change.

Climate change experts have welcomed the independently prepared report for Beef + Lamb NZ ( B+LNZ) which found sheep and beef farms are close to carbon neutral, with farms offsetting between 63% and 118% of their emissions.

The midpoint is 90%.

NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) director Harry Clark praised the report, describing it as rigorous, but tempered his enthusiasm by noting it only provides a static snapshot of a farm’s greenhouse gas inventory.

Sequestration rates will change over time, such as when exotic trees are harvested.

“The issue with all carbon sequestering is you have to look at carbon sequestration over time,” he said.

“You can have a high sequestering rate at one point in time but over time as vegetation matures, sequestering goes to zero.

“Net zero may apply today but does it apply in the future?”

Report author Bradley Case from the Auckland University of Technology’s ecology department agreed.

“We did not consider sequestration rates through time and how they might change overall,” he said.

“It is indeed a static snapshot analysis.

“The idea here is that it’s a picture of where things stand at the moment, spatially, across the sector.”

Managing the cycle of exotics for example, will change a farm’s net emissions.

FIRST STEPS: NZAGRC director Harry Clark welcomed the B+LNZ greenhouse gas study as the first significant attempt to quantify the carbon status of sheep and beef farms.

You can have a high sequestering rate at one point in time but over time as vegetation matures, sequestering goes to zero.

Harry Clark NZAGRC “The story can change quite a bit in any given year, depending on what gets harvested and replanted,” Case said.

Exotic plantations account for about 17% of vegetative area on sheep and beef farms but contribute up to 50% of a farm’s carbon sequestration.

“What happens to them in the future is quite important, and we need to consider this and what the impact on the net carbon balance may be as these get harvested and also in terms of when they get harvested,” he said.

B+LNZ’s environmental policy manager Dylan Muggeridge says the next step is to develop technology and a system so individual farmers can calculate and manage their greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration.

Clark says because they grow rapidly, exotic trees sequester carbon at 22 to 31 tonnes/ha/ year compared to slower growing natives at three to six tonnes/ha/ year.

Carbon is released once an exotic plantation is harvested and to balance that the harvested

block has to be replanted and another block of trees grown to compensate for the released carbon and to continue sequestration.

Clark welcomed the B+LNZ study as the first significant attempt to quantify the carbon status of sheep and beef farms.

Victoria University weather and climate researcher Professor James Renwick has not studied the report, but says regular farm monitoring was needed to account for vegetation changes such as tree harvesting.

He says the report shows NZ potentially has more carbon sinks than has been acknowledged, but he is uncertain as to what that will mean to the country’s carbon inventory.

Muggeridge says the report’s findings do not automatically

mean farmers will have carbon credits to trade as legal issues remain such as the definition of qualifying vegetation as well as how to measure emissions and sequestration.

“There is a lot of sequestering happening with vegetation onfarm and vegetation that does not meet the definition under the Emissions Trading Scheme,” he said.

According to the report, sheep and beef farms have 1.52m ha of native bush and woody vegetation and 0.48mha of exotic vegetation.

Muggeridge says the study addresses several issues facing farming: emissions and sequestration, which is potentially a game changer for the sector’s greenhouse gas inventory, a boost for biodiversity and an opportunity to underpin the marketing of carbon-neutral NZ meat.

“This is not only about the sequestration value from vegetation but also contribution to managing biodiversity and similar aspects available onfarm,” he said.

The study also honours the sector’s obligation to He Waka Eke Noa, the agreement between industry and government to address on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.

“I certainly think this is significant in terms of how we think the contribution from sheep and beef farmers makes towards climate change and carbon sequestering on their farms,” he said.

The carbon that is being sequestered by woody vegetation is not currently acknowledged by international agreements as carbon sinks, which Muggeridge is an issue that needs to be addressed at an inter-government level.

Muggeridge says as the study’s release coincided with the election, government feedback has been limited.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Ag uni staff facing job cuts Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz STAFF cuts at Lincoln University and Massey University’s College of Sciences have raised concerns about the impact they could have on future teaching and research of agricultural and horticultural science.

Earlier this month, Massey science staff received a discussion document that says the college’s expenses urgently need to be cut, with most of its curriculum affected by unsustainably low enrolments as a result of New Zealand’s border closure to overseas students.

When you make academics redundant you’re cutting off the core of your business.

Jon Hickford Lincoln professor The document set out two options to address the situation, with both requiring changes to the curriculum, along with a reduction in staff numbers of around a third – which equates to about 100 jobs.

It says decisions need to be made quickly and that although the process will not be easy for anyone “we need to work together to secure the future of sciences at Massey University.”

“It is clear that whatever we do to our curriculum we are going to face reducing the number of staff positions over a 1-2 year period, beginning next year,” the document says.

In a statement to Farmers Weekly, a Massey spokesperson says the university is committed to working with staff, students and stakeholders to hear their feedback and to collectively work towards creating a sustainable financial future for the college.

“While this process is under way, and no decisions have yet been made, we cannot make any comment about potential outcomes,” they said.

It’s a similar situation further south.

A Lincoln spokesperson says as a result of an expected drop in international student numbers, the university has forecasted a significant fall in revenue for 2021.

To compensate, targets have been set to reduce staffing levels next year by 5%, about 30 full-time equivalent positions, to keep the loss to a maximum of $3.5 million.

The spokesperson says learning, teaching and research will be the least affected areas and that initially Lincoln will offer voluntary redundancy options.

“Depending on the uptake of the options, further decisions will be considered.

“While this process is under way, and no decisions have been made, we are unable to comment about potential outcomes,” they said.

The spokesperson says the demand for NZ’s premium food and fibre is increasing, and Lincoln is well-positioned to deliver a highly-skilled workforce to meet that demand.

“Lincoln is the only university to provide training under the Government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund, with six qualifications on offer, all of which are classified as food and fibre qualifications,” they said.

“These practical-based courses

GAMBLE: Lincoln professor and Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science president Jon Hickford says universities have placed too much emphasis on international students.

will produce graduates with the knowledge and skills to hit the ground running and help drive the New Zealand economy, and potentially a wider global influence.”

NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science president and Lincoln University professor in animal breeding and genetics Jon Hickford says the universities have placed too much emphasis on overseas students and the extra money they pay for course fees.

“It’s been a dangerous gamble and one that is proving to be costly,” he said.

He says while it’s not new, the over-reliance on international students has been exposed this year.

“When so much of your income is tied up in a single, at-risk income stream, covid has illustrated what a big problem that is when those students are no longer there,” he said.

Universities like Lincoln and Massey need to be more cautious

about relying on overseas students and more effort needs to be made to increase the number of domestic students.

“We’re not producing enough of our own agriculture students.

We need to back more locals to do agriculture and support the industry we’re all proud to be a part of. We’re just not producing the young people that we need,” he said.

“But it’s hard to get (NZ) kids into agriculture in substantial numbers, although we might get a lift (post-covid) now that they’ve seen it’s a good sector to be in.”

Hickford says Lincoln has sailed close to the wind before and paid the price, with redundancies in 2013, 2014 and 2017 leading to the loss of academic staff.

He says without that staff to teach and research universities cannot function properly.

“When you make academics redundant you’re cutting off the core of your business,” he said.

He says because of the earlier

job losses Lincoln cannot afford to cut its academic staff any further.

It is down to about 150-160 academic teaching staff for about 3000 students, with those academics supporting another 500 full-time equivalent staff, roughly three people for every academic.

“That represents a huge number of bureaucratic and administrative staff. If you run your business like that, you’re not running a very good business,” he said.

The job losses are compounded by what Hickford says is a continual attrition on staff budgets that can leave jobs unfilled or filled by people with less experience or expertise.

“When you see job cuts, you can feel like you’re on a bit of a downhill slide, which can be a bit worrying,” he said.

“We need to stand up and be counted and show that we can do better by agriculture in NZ and acknowledge how important it is to the country as a whole.”

Food science research excellence recognised A PALMERSTON North-based food science research centre has been awarded $38.25 million of funding to be spread over the next seven-and-a-half years.

The Riddet Institute, hosted by Massey University on behalf of partner organisations AgResearch, Plant & Food Research and the universities of Otago and Auckland, will receive the money after being reselected by the Tertiary Education Commission as a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence.

The institute’s new research programme, Future Foods in Harmony with Nature, will include not only the food materials science, nutrition and health that has been an institute strength since 2008, but several new areas of research.

It will explore new plant and combinatorial proteins and explore new transformative

technologies – the fast-moving areas of food innovation that have the potential to disrupt existing food production systems and markets.

Institute director distinguished professor Harjinder Singh says the covid-19 pandemic highlighted NZ’s strengths in the agri-food industries and the institute is pleased it will be able to continue its contribution to technological and scientific innovation and the development of a highly skilled workforce.

“I am excited to see the new research programme take shape and to continue our collaborations with industry, iwi and Maori enterprises.

“It is a privilege to lead the institute into its next phase,” he said.

Massey vice-chancellor Jan Thomas says the funding recognises the world class

research the institute delivers and coordinates.

“The globe is currently facing huge challenges in regards to food production, security and climate, and this funding is going to allow for the progressive science research that is under way to continue and for it to continue in a way that will actively benefit Aotearoa and the rest of the world,” she said.

“This funding will enable the institute to continue to invest in our students and the next generation of researchers by giving them the opportunity to be innovative and creative with their research through the resources, teaching staff and facilities that are available.”

Alongside the five partner organisations, the institute involves a number of collaborators, including Auckland University of Technology, Lincoln University,

University of Canterbury, University of Waikato and Victoria University Wellington.

The Centre of Research Excellence funding, a government research investment established in 2001, is determined through a contestable process and aims to encourage the development of tertiary education-based collaborative research that is strategically focused and creates significant knowledge transfer.

The centres are interorganisational networks, with researchers working together on commonly agreed work programmes. They also build research capacity and capabilities through post-graduate programmes and the training of new researchers.

As a result of the latest funding round, nine other research programmes will share a further $335.25m.

INVESTMENT: Massey University vice-chancellor Jan Thomas says the funding will allow the Riddet Institute to continue its world-class research.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

5

Fonterra farmers get GHG profiles Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz FONTERRA suppliers are getting their first profiles of farm and cow greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the same way they have been receiving annual assessments of nitrogen (N) surpluses.

More than 10,000 farm environmental reports have been emailed and posted out this month, this year containing GHG assessments for the first time.

Methane and nitrous oxide emissions average around 10,000kg of CO2 equivalent a hectare and range between eight and 12kg for each kilogram of milksolids produced, according to the generalised information published by Fonterra.

But it is not planning to publish nationally or regionally aggregated figures because of the considerable differences between farms.

Some 80% of the standard GHG emissions are methane and most of that is enteric, produced in the rumen by methanogenic microbes in digestion.

Fonterra’s director of on-farm excellence Charlotte Rutherford says when farm owners know their numbers they can look at ways of improving their GHG efficiency.

The He Waka Eke Noa partnership between the Government, industry and Maori aims to equip farmers and growers with the knowledge, tools and support they need to reduce emissions and adapt to a changing climate.

Rutherford says annual emission reports for each farm are a big first step.

Reducing the GHG emissions footprint of milk production requires effort to maximise the percentage of farm dry matter utilised for milk production while also minimising other farm inputs.

New Zealand milk was already among the most sustainably produced in the world.

But with increasing concern from consumers, Fonterra and its farmers needed to position themselves for the challenges in the regulatory and market future.

Big dairy customers were setting themselves bold targets – Nestle for net zero emissions by 2050 and Starbucks to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030.

Wairarapa dairy farmer Aidan Bichan agreed that the carbon footprint requirements of major customers were a motivator for Fonterra farmers to monitor and plan for reduced emissions.

A climate change ambassador

What is good for the environment is also going to be good for our GHG emissions.

Aidan Bichan Dairy farmer

ENHANCEMENT: For Wairarapa dairy farmer Aidan Bichan, knowing his farm emissions profile has prompted changes.

for the dairy industry, Bichan had used the N assessments over the past few years to change the timing and rate of application of N fertilisers.

Total N use has come down from over 200kg/ha annually to under 100.

“That has significantly reduced our nitrous oxide emissions by one third but we haven’t lost much milk production because we are now more efficient with our N use,” he said.

Cropping has changed from conventional cultivation to direct

drilling, reducing the ground passes from five or six to two.

He thought methane reduction would be harder to achieve because the main drivers are cow numbers and feeding levels.

Some 300 winter milkers already got one-third of their diet from kale and a lower herd replacement rate would give some win-win benefits.

“First you have got to know your numbers, then make a plan and execute,” he said.

“What is good for the environment is also going to be good for our GHG emissions.”

Bichan is an equity manager with five other partners in the 900-cow Kaiwaiwai Dairies near Featherston, which was the 2020 regional supreme winner in the Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

7

Dairy forecast skewed, says analyst Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com THE dominance of China as the dairy industry’s number one customer has been challenged by a Rabobank analyst who predicts Southeast Asian countries will take a much larger share of New Zealand’s exports in the next decade.

The Dutch bank is forecasting a nearly 50% increase in the annual milk deficit of the socalled ASEAN 6 – Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam – from 12.9 billion litres this year, to 19 billion litres in 2030, as a large population, growing middle class, and continued development of supply chains all boost demand for dairy imports.

“Per capita dairy consumption rates in the ASEAN-6 are also currently low in comparison to other advanced Asian economies providing significant headroom for growth,” Rabobank’s senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey said.

At the same time, Chinese demand can be expected to weaken as income growth slackens and its relationships with Western trading partners come under strain.

“Coming into 2020, China’s trade relations with key trading partners were already on shaky ground – particularly so for Australia and the US,” he said.

“And while dairy trade has largely been immune so far, there has been a notable deterioration in trade relations which has the potential to reverberate far and wide.

“With over 35% of NZ dairy

With over 35% of NZ dairy trade bound for China and less than 20% heading to Southeast Asia, now is a good time for NZ dairy companies to evaluate their portfolios to determine if they are overweight in China and/or underweight in Southeast Asia.

Michael Harvey Rabobank

OPPORTUNITY: Rabobank’s senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey says NZ needs to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian countries before competitors fill the gap.

trade bound for China and less than 20% heading to Southeast Asia, now is a good time for NZ dairy companies to evaluate their portfolios to determine if they are overweight in China and/or underweight in Southeast Asia,” Harvey said.

The Melbourne-based analyst says while Australasian dairy exporters currently have a slight tariff advantage by virtue of their 2009 trade agreement with the ASEAN economies this was expected to lessen over time as competitors inked their own agreements with the Southeast Asian trading bloc.

Furthermore European and Chinese rivals were doubling

down on investment in the region.

“Given the current push and pull forces at play within the Asia-Pacific region, if there is not the right commitment to these growing markets, competitors will move quickly to fill the demand gap,” he said.

Harvey says given the NZ dairy industry’s relatively heavy reliance on exports it was crucial that it did not miss shifts in global demand.

The Rabobank report contrasts to one earlier in the month from rival Westpac in which it predicted continuing strong demand from China for NZ dairy products.

Westpac economist Nathan Penny assessed which export industry would be most at risk to a

deterioration in NZ’s relationship with China and found dairy to be one of the least exposed even though China accounted for nearly a third of the industry’s annual sales.

The low risk stemmed from the fact that China was more reliant on NZ for dairy imports than NZ was on China as an export market.

“Last year NZ accounted for over half of China’s (dairy) imports,” he said.

“In other words, China has very few other options available to fill its dairy production deficit.”

Chinese dairy farmers struggled to compete with imports.

“Anecdotally, production costs

are in excess of NZ$10 kg per milk solids compared to NZ’s average cost of circa NZ$6 per kg.

“More broadly … China is a relatively efficient producer of pork and chicken, and thus over the long-term we suggest that it is likely to focus its scarce agricultural resources (land and water) on production of these instead of dairy.”

Furthermore, Chinese dairy products were viewed as unsafe by locals who preferred imports.

“Thus any disruptions to supply potentially could be a social and political flash point that Chinese officials will be keen to avoid,” he said.

Penny ranked the dairy and wine industries as the least exposed to a deterioration in NZ’s relationship with China and tourism, seafood and gold kiwifruit as most exposed.

Rural stakeholders meet over Mackenzie fires Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz FEDERATED Farmers and the Forest and Rural Fire Stakeholders Forum are calling for urgent action following two major fires in South Canterbury’s Mackenzie district.

The embers had barely cooled on the most recent, the Ohau fire, before the debate turned to causes and Feds and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage crossed swords on what degree fire fuel loads on Department of Conservation (DOC) land were a factor.

“We definitely need some answers sooner rather than later,” Feds high country chair Rob Stokes said.

At a rural stakeholders meeting, including farming and DOC representatives, Stokes said it was a matter of absolute urgency to start planning now before the next fire.

“And it is the next one (fire), not if there is another one,” he said.

“We have been very lucky until now that no human lives have been lost, but that will be just a matter of time if this fire

PROGRESS: Feds representative on the Forest and Rural Fire Stakeholders Forum Colin Hurst says the meeting was constructive in that farmers, DOC and LINZ agreed to further engage.

loading on ungrazed areas is not addressed.”

Farmers reiterated their stance on fire loading and grazing, the key focus for the meeting called to address the concerns.

“We’re going forward into summer, Fire and Emergency NZ have been supportive here in North Canterbury and there’s no doubt we all want to work together on this,” Stokes said.

“We need to look at grazing to get the tag off some of these highrisk areas.

“Grazing around some of these alpine villages will be hard for farmers to do, but for the safety of

the public and the environment, farmers will do it.”

Farmers acknowledge that there are some areas of the DOC estate where it’s totally inappropriate to have livestock but in less sensitive areas, low numbers of sheep and cattle can keep combustible grass, scrub and immature wilding pine levels down.

“We just need to get collaborative planning in place to make it happen,” he said.

Feds representative on the Forest and Rural Fire Stakeholders Forum Colin Hurst says the meeting was constructive in that farmers, DOC and Land

Information NZ (LINZ) agreed to further engage.

“There’s consensus to try and work together and the next step now is to get all stakeholders on board, including regional and local councils,” he said.

“Farmers have been highlighting the risk of this increase in fuel loading since land was retired from grazing.

“It’s been ongoing for years and not going to improve unless we all work together to resolve the problem.

“The Ohau wildfire claimed 40 homes, several buildings and a good number of livestock, it could easily have claimed human lives too.

“We are getting to the start of the fire season, so there’s real immediate need to identify the high-risk areas and just get on with it.

“We don’t want to see the issue kicked to touch until property and lives are again put at risk.”

Hurst says the recent Ohau and the Pukaki Downs fire in August are by no means the first instances DOC land has been front and centre in wildfires.

The Old Dunstan Road wildfire

near Middlemarch in November last year highlighted the same issues with the majority of the 5000 hectares burnt within DOC conservation park.

“One could argue that given the time since these lands were retired from grazing through the land tenure review, DOC has allowed the flammable fuels to build up to dangerous levels,” he said.

“Wilding pines have also been allowed to build up over the past 15 to 20 years.”

Forest and Rural Fire Stakeholders’ Forum co-chair and former national rural fire officer Murray Dudfield says it is an issue of land management.

“With the land cover and fuel loads which now exist on such lands, it’s not a matter of if, but when we will have uncontrolled wildfires on these lands,” he said.

“Action is required to reduce fuel loads by either grazing or fuel reduction burning when conditions are suitable.

Hurst says they just want to get some rational and considered discussions going and is hopeful this preliminary meeting is the beginning of working together to get safe and sensible solutions.

8

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Gender equality push in meat sector Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz THE New Zealand meat industry says it is committed to getting more women employed in the meat sector after a new report showed they accounted for 36% of the industry’s global workforce.

The Gender Representation in the Meat Sector 2020 report, commissioned by the organisation Meat Business Women, shows women are under-represented at every level above junior positions, holding just 14% of board-level director roles and just 5% of chief executive roles.

It drew on survey data from five nations – the UK, Ireland, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

NZ’s data sample size was too low to be considered robust enough in the report.

That data taken from 14 NZ companies representing 6700 employees showed that 38% of all staff were women – women held 11% of board-level director roles and 7% held chief executive roles.

Meat Industry Association (MIA) chief executive Sirma Karapeeva

There are some remarkable women in the industry at the moment, but my sense is that they tend to be the exception rather than the norm.

Sirma Karapeeva MIA chief executive says the survey shined a spotlight on the issue and provided an incentive for addressing it.

“There are some remarkable women in the industry at the moment, but my sense is that they tend to be the exception rather than the norm,” she said.

“Hopefully, that report will allow us to change that statistic.”

The research was the first of its kind looking at women in the meat sector and uncovered five themes that could help reduce that gender imbalance.

These themes included changing the sector’s negative perceptions including those

looking for a career in the industry.

“That is very valid to New Zealand,” Karapeeva said.

Report-co author, Niteo Development director Fiona Smith, says inclusion had to be something done now.

“There’s a strong perception at a leadership level, the sector is still a bit of a white old boys club,” she said.

Karapeeva agreed, saying it applied to NZ. “When you look at the executive leadership of all of the New Zealand meat companies, I think that particular line applies quite well,” she said.

Another theme was fixing what the study called “rungs in the broken career ladder.”

It employed fewer women on the whole and those it did employ faced those broken rungs which prevented career progression.

It suggests women find it easier to pursue careers in marketing, finance, human resources, research & development and quality fields, however those disciplines rarely act as steppingstones into the most senior positions.

CATALYST: Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva hopes a new report highlighting the low levels of gender representation in the meat industry will provide an incentive to address it.

Mentors also mattered.

Women in the sector who went through a mentoring programme were 50% more likely to be promoted compared to women in informal networks.

Workplaces also had to be gender proofed. That meant the need for flexibility and an understanding that if in a senior role, they could not be available 24/7 because of other responsibilities around childcare.

To initiate change, Karapeeva

says the MIA, along with Beef + Lamb New Zealand, have signed a partnership agreement with the global chapter of Meat Business Women.

They will examine the report and come up with a plan to incorporate its findings in the sector.

“I’m hoping we’ll start work on that fairly smartly and then start discussing it with the HR leaders of the various companies as well as CEOs and boards,” she said.

LIC shareholders vote to streamline council Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz LIC shareholders have passed a resolution to have their shareholder council replaced with a reference group, and to allow for a liquidity mechanism on cooperative shares.

At the LIC AGM last week the resolution to streamline the company shareholders’ council

received 83% support from those who voted, while the resolution to put a “money maker” share trade facilitator in place received 81.5% support. Under LIC constitution resolutions require 75% support to be passed.

The resolution’s changes also included proposals for a smaller board, equal weighting of directors across North and South Islands and streamlining of elections.

The resolution to disband the shareholders council had been met with some concern by past council members, including past chairwoman Jenny Morrison.

She told Farmers Weekly her greatest concern was streamlining down to a smaller reference group would see a loss of the council’s constitutionally granted powers to keep LIC board focused on the company’s key strategies and goals

(see Farmers Weekly October 12).

She said she remained concerned over what checks and balances would remain in place for LIC shareholders at LIC in wake of the decision.

However, if a reference group enabled a more effective level of communication and trust between the two, then it may be the way forward, she said.

LIC board chairman Murray

King said the changes would establish an efficient and effective governance structure for the future that was truly representative of the company’s shareholder base.

The second resolution to bring in a “money maker” for aid LIC share trading aimed to create price stability and increase liquidity by ensuring consistent two -way quotes in LIC shares traded on NZX.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

9

Alarming rise in NAIT infringements Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz OVERALL compliance of the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) system has improved despite latest figures revealing a big rise in infringements.

Ospri head of traceability Kevin Forward says compliance statistics over the past 18 months are showing significant improvement, but there is some way to go yet.

He says despite the overall statistics, industry is naturally concerned with the latest NAIT non-compliance figures.

In the year to date, 944 infringements have been issued, compared to the 687 issued last year.

The number of written warnings issued so far this year is at 1969, well up on the 266 in 2019.

So far this year, advice and education has been provided to 215 farmers compared to the total of 291 in 2019.

Cases recommended for prosecution at just six may look low, but Ospri reports there are several investigations in progress, where charges are likely to be filed.

Forward says an alarming 25,000 animals are moved every fortnight in New Zealand without being registered.

While in 2018, 42% of all animals were unregistered, in the three months July to September 2020 it had 88% registered.

“So, we have gone from 58% to 88% (registered) and we

CONCERN: Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson for livestock Wayne Langford says the tags are getting in the ears, but the animals are not then being registered.

acknowledge that is a significant improvement, but we did start low.

“And there has been a concerted effort with industry and regional partners to educate farmers at field days and events,” he said.

“We are getting there, but slowly.”

Everyone who has moved unregistered animals is sent a NAIT nudge, or reminder, of non-compliant activity and they have three months before infringements are started.

“It has taken infringements and prosecution to get the improvement in compliance,” he said.

Ideally, 100% compliance is the target, but realistically

Forward says the focus now is on strategically targeting areas of greatest disease risk.

“Over the coming 18 months, Ospri’s focus will be on targeting high risk areas for the likes of TB and making sure farmers have an understanding of the (NAIT) system, have the resources to do it and know we are here to support them.”

Federated Farmers biosecurity spokesperson for livestock Wayne Langford says the noncompliance and infringement figures clearly indicate more education is needed.

“The majority of these cases are around registering the animals,” he said.

“The tags are getting in the ears,

but the animals are not then being registered.”

The message is clear – make sure every tag you put in an animal is then registered to that specific animal in the NAIT system.

If you don’t have any access to technology, a simple phone call to NAIT (0800 482 463) will do the job,” he said.

“Education is the best key at the moment.

“It is unfortunate that in this day and age the system can’t be made simpler, so (meantime) farmers do need to persevere.”

Langford says NAIT has now been in for seven years and farmers are beginning to see the sharper end of the compliance stick.

“At the end of the day we all want 100% compliance, so we are highlighting education as the key to achieving that,” he said.

Feds, along with all industry stakeholders are working together to help Ospri make it happen.

“Mycoplasma bovis is such a huge cost to our farmers and our country, that’s why we need to create this system and get it right,” he said.

“Enforcement after seven years is important but we still need to encourage education as well, as the NAIT system evolves.”

Meanwhile, new rules are being introduced around NAIT tag management.

The new legislation is expected to strengthen on-farm biosecurity and assist with the tracing of animals that have not been

properly registered.

It also brings NZ in line with international best practices for animal traceability.

The new rules will mean persons in charge of animals (PICAs) will no longer be able to take NAIT tags with them when they move NAIT locations or share tags between locations.

Ospri advises PICAs not to stockpile tags if they intend to move farms in the future.

Enforcement after seven years is important but we still need to encourage education as well.

Wayne Langford Federated Farmers If you are moving, use up your tags or leave them behind for incoming PICA to use at that NAIT location.

Large farming operations will need to purchase tags specific to each individual NAIT location, as it will not be permissible to tag animals with tags assigned to a different location number.

This means a farming corporate or business with multiple farms will require the location number and its own associated tags for each farm.

The new legislation comes into effect on December 14.

Farmers fined for NAIT non-compliance ROTORUA dairy farmer Ian Bell has been fined $3364 for not registering 424 cattle under the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme.

At the time of the offending, Bell was in charge of 700 dairy cattle and 40 calves on his farm

in Reporoa, Bay of Plenty.

The cattle were NAIT tagged, but not registered against his NAIT location prior to their movement.

In another prosecution, Otago farmer Michael Power was fined $3000 for failing to register 149 NAIT deer.

The animals that were moved to Alliance Group were tagged but not registered against Power’s

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Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) national manager animal welfare and NAIT compliance group Gray Harrison says the rules are an important part of New Zealand’s biosecurity system.

“This importance is reflected in amendments to penalties in the NAIT Act, which have increased the maximum penalty from

$10,000 to $100,000 for future prosecutions,” he said.

“We certainly take it very seriously.

“Our ability to trace cattle and deer through the NAIT system is a critical factor in managing biosecurity threats, which could have a devastating impact on NZ’s agricultural sector.

MPI has now secured eight

successful prosecutions under the NAIT scheme, with another eight prosecutions currently before the court.

Harrison says MPI will continue to work with OSPRI and the sector to ensure people understand their responsibilities.

Farmers needing help can call the OSPRI contact centre on 0800 482 463.

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News

10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Farmer support initiative wins food hero award FOOD HERO: Diana Greer accepts her award with the support of Poppy Renton, who established the Hawke’s Bay Drought Facebook page.

Photo: Supplied

Does your NAIT tag match your NAIT location?

6 – 15

– 1 23

12345

1 23 4 5

– 1 23

From December 14, there are new rules for managing NAIT tags...

6 – 15

NAIT tags are only usable ...

AT

... the NAIT location they were purchased for.

Before tagging, make sure the tags’ NAIT number matches your location’s NAIT number. www.ospri.co.nz/managemytags

Remember to register your animals after tagging. Failure to comply with NAIT obligations may result in fines or prosecution issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

NAIT is an OSPRI programme

ospri.co.nz

Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz THE winner of the Cuisine Local Hero category at the recent NZ Food Hero Awards says the honour is recognition of everyone who helped her Collective Hug initiative, which distributed food parcels to Hawke’s Bay farmers up against it during this year’s drought.

On receiving the award at a ceremony in Auckland, Diana Greer, who farms with her husband Jerry near Waipawa, thanked everyone involved who contributed to and helped collect and deliver the parcels.

“There’s no way it would have come together without an amazing team – everyone who contributed,” she said.

Initially her plan was to bake a couple of cakes and sell those, with the proceeds going towards supporting farmers under pressure.

However, a post from Greer on the Hawke’s Bay Drought Facebook page asking for a show of hands for baking and meals changed all that – with people responding from all over the country.

A team of volunteers helped sort through a wide range of donations, which included baking, prepared meals, soup, fruit, juice, meat patties, sausages and dog food.

“It was very humbling to see the support that we farmers were being given,” she said.

More than 1200 goodie bags were delivered to farmers across Hawke’s Bay as part of the initiative.

Greer says it was logistically challenging, trying to make sure they got to as many affected farmers as possible.

Her goal was to try and visit as many farms as possible, with the intention of showing appreciation to the rural sector undergoing stress from drought conditions compounded by covid-19, “to try to bring a bit of cheer into a farmer’s day and let them know someone cares.”

Hours were spent collating names, phone numbers and working out maps to reach as many people as possible.

The first food parcel run was staged near the end of May, with a second one in mid-July.

Although pleased to be helping what she saw also provided a sad insight into how many were struggling.

“But it was absolutely wonderful giving them a package of homemade goodness and other treats, as well as a genuine smile to show we cared. And we do care,” she said.

She says many farmers in the region are far from out of the woods yet, with a lot more rain needed to catch up.

“Farmers are very stoic and proud people who do not readily accept help.

“Farming is not for the faint hearted. We work tirelessly in all weather situations, doing what we do best, growing food to sustain the human race.

“It is hard, challenging and very often dangerous work. It requires mental skills, business acumen and fortitude, the ability to smile under duress and to keep on going, because we have to. We are so often up against it with the negative criticism we get, this mostly is totally unfounded. It can be an incredibly lonely existence for both husbands, wives and our single shepherds. Add in covid-19 to the hideous drought and you have the perfect storm.

Greer dedicated the award to the two Hawke’s Bay farmers who recently lost their lives in farm accidents.

The NZ Food Hero Awards were a pandemic twist on the annual NZ Food Awards. Instead of celebrating innovators across all sectors of the food and beverage industry, this year’s event showcased compassion and innovation while at a time of unprecedented global challenges.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

11

Action needed on rising emissions Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz NEW Zealand’s climate is changing significantly and not addressing it will have a big impact on future generations, a new report from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ says.

Our Atmosphere and Climate 2020, which includes analysis of temperature data from 30 sites around the country, shows the climate is warming, with every site recording increasing winter average temperatures.

It details an increase in extreme weather events, including rainfall, heatwaves and dry spells, with the number of frost days decreasing in some areas.

Changes to NZ’s climate mirror those happening around the world.

MfE chief executive Vicky Robertson says both local and global action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting impacts on society’s future wellbeing.

“Covid reminded us that large-scale disruption to our lives can be abrupt, unwanted and unforeseen, and that some people, places and sectors are likely to be disproportionately affected,” she said.

“Climate change is here to stay, but the window to create the best possible future for our young people and their children’s children is closing.”

The report acknowledges agriculture’s role in producing short-lived greenhouse gases such as methane, which is estimated to last 12 years in the atmosphere, but it discusses in-depth the effect of long-lasting gases such as carbon dioxide, which can stay in the atmosphere for thousands of years.

Road transport made up 43% of NZ’s gross carbon dioxide emissions in 2018, with vehicle preferences affecting the rate of emissions.

Light commercial vehicles such as utes, SUVs and vans, made up 16% of the light vehicle fleet in 2018, 75% of which run on diesel.

These larger, heavier vehicles are increasingly popular, while sales of smaller petrol-engined vehicles show a corresponding decline.

That means transport emissions are not reducing despite improvements in engine technology.

On top of that commercial vehicles, especially those that run on diesel, generally travel much further than their petrol equivalents, particularly in the first 10 years when an average diesel vehicle travels 30% further.

GNS Science radiocarbon science leader Dr Jocelyn Turnbull welcomed the report, saying it contains information on how and where people can focus their efforts to cut emissions.

“One example is that while road transport accounts for around 20% of New Zealand’s overall emissions, for most households transport makes up around 90% of their personal emissions,” she said.

That’s good news, because this is a problem that we can solve.

“With our highly renewable electricity network, switching to electric vehicles immediately reduces NZ’s emissions,” she said.

“Active and public transport and working from home are all ways that each of us can reduce our time spent stuck in traffic and help the climate at the same time.”

University of Canterbury School of Earth and Environment professor Simon Kingham says the report emphasises the need to find ways to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases from transport.

He says options include travelling less, using alternative modes of transport and changing fuel types.

“The covid-19 pandemic has shown that some people can work at home effectively and reduce travel. People may also choose to live closer to their regular destinations such as the workplace, and/ or buy more locally produced goods and services,” he said.

Kingham says using alternative means of

transport, such as public transport, or for freight rail and coastal shipping, only works when investment in those modes is supported.

Although the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on NZ roads is increasing, he says it’s not happening fast enough.

“Perhaps now is the time to look at whether we can pass on the full and true costs of transport, including greenhouse gas emissions, to consumers,” he said.

IMPACT: Road transport made up 43% of NZ’s gross carbon dioxide emissions in 2018, with vehicle preferences affecting the rate of emissions.

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News

12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Lewis Road changes ownership Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz TOP-END dairy foods brand Lewis Road Creamery has been acquired in full by Southern Pastures, the agricultural investment fund that owns 20 dairy farms in Waikato and Canterbury.

It will purchase the remaining Lewis Road shares it does not own after progressively increasing its stake since 2017.

Lewis Road founder Peter Cullinane will step down.

Under new ownership further development of Lewis Road will be in exported products like the premium butter now sold in Whole Foods stores in the United States and Woolworths in Australia.

Exporting has been part of the business model for 18 months and represents 15% of turnover currently.

The export butter is produced from milk from Southern Pastures cows, which are grass-fed and ethically farmed.

Further processing for Lewis

We have a longterm vision to produce carbon-neutral dairy in NZ and we see Lewis Road Creamery as part of that grass-to-glass journey.

Prem Mann Southern Pastures

TRANSFER: Lewis Road founder Peter Cullinane with Southern Pastures executive chair Prem Mann.

Road is done by Green Valley Dairies at Mangatawhiri, north Waikato and by the Organic Dairy Hub in Hamilton.

Southern Pastures executive chair Prem Mann says Cullinane had created an amazing brand

and his company was proud to take the opportunity to build the best premium dairy products from New Zealand.

“We’re convinced that farming can be a powerful tool for environmental good in addition

to providing economic returns,” he said.

“We have a long-term vision to produce carbon-neutral dairy in NZ and we see Lewis Road Creamery as part of that grass-toglass journey.”

Cullinane says Lewis Road began on his kitchen table in 2012 and to see the brand safely in the hands of investors who are farmers of such integrity was a great conclusion for him.

General manager Nicola O’Rourke will continue to manage Lewis Road, with its 24 employees.

Mann also announced that Southern Pastures had earlier this year taken full ownership of NZ Grass Fed Milk Products, previously a joint venture with Westland Milk Company.

New genetics company created by farmers Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz A GROUP of farmers have created a new company to challenge the status quo of how genetics are delivered to the New Zealand dairy industry.

Called Matriarch Genetics Ltd, after the maternal bloodlines that bull breeders contribute to the national herd, its objective is to accelerate the genetic gain and genetic diversity of dairy animals.

Spokesperson Kevin Clark says it was born out of a combination of frustration and opportunity.

Dairy bull breeders were

The pool of genetics we have got to tap into is as good as any.

Kevin Clark Matriarch Genetics Ltd frustrated at the decline in the number of bull genetics companies were accepting into their programmes over recent years.

This had resulted in good bulls with great genetics not being utilised.

“The current

Take a break!

restrictions placed on farmers by AB companies are very limiting.

They often result in bull calves of high genetic merit having limited use because the AB company restricts the owner from selling to other AB companies or collecting semen from the bull even though they may not want to progeny test it,” Clark said.

Those breeders – around 30 located across NZ – formed Matriarch Genetics to create a model to give breeders and likeminded people the opportunity to use some of those genetics.

Its current membership contributes about 50% of the bulls whose semen is used by genetics companies and spans across the three main dairy breeds – Friesian, Jersey and Crossbred.

“The pool of genetics we have got to tap into is as good as any,” he said.

The company is open to any dairy farmer to join and after paying a joining fee, get access to genetics that are free of the current IP restrictions imposed by breeding companies.

By effectively trading genetics amongst themselves as well as selling semen and animals to the public, Matriarch will sire prove bulls across a number of herds.

Members may choose to purchase or lease bulls from other members, or purchase semen if it is a proven bull.

“A lot of it is about sharing the genetics and not being restricted by the IP clauses of current companies and that has gone up

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OPTIONS: Matriarch members can choose to purchase or lease bulls from other members, or purchase semen if it is a proven bull. Their genetic pool spans across the three main dairy breeds – Friesian, Jersey and Crossbred.

a couple of levels since it was first introduced to the point that if we were to offer our females to a particular AI company and they decline that bull, it leaves up with no other alternative for those genetics. We can’t offer it to an alternative company.”

He says it forced those farmers to think long and hard before they offered up their stock to these companies.

“They might only purchase 5% of cows that are contract mated, that leaves a lot of cows that produce bulls that we can’t seek an alternative for,” he said.

He says Matriarch’s model was to share those genetics amongst its members without those IP restrictions.

If they do get proven bulls, it will be offered to AI companies to be marketed on the basis they exchange genetics on a like-forlike basis.

He says they hope over time to be able to have at least 25 bulls from the three main dairy breeds and use those bulls as the seed stock for the next generation.

Clark wants to work alongside the main two genetics companies LIC and CRV rather than view them as competition as most of its members had existing relationships with these companies.

Over the next few years, Matriarch will build up IP on a large genetic pool of females and male cattle.

“Matriarch is really about putting farmers in the driving seat. Our shareholders want more control over their herd IP, and more choice about the type of genetics they use in their herd.

Matriarch will deliver that.” Clark said.

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News

14 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Beijing campaign gives beef a boost NEW Zealand grass-fed beef is drawing crowds during the first few days of a Taste Pure Nature campaign at a chain of high-end Beijing retailers.

The campaign by Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and Anzco Foods, working with Anzco’s Chinese distributor Beijing Zhou Chen, is focused on raising awareness and creating preference for NZ grass-fed beef in China.

Anzco Foods’ general manager of sales and marketing Rick Walker says in-store experiences so far indicate good potential for NZ beef in China.

“While it’s early days, our monitoring shows sales volumes have increased and we are pleased with the results so far,” he said.

B+LNZ’s market development general manager Nick Beeby says on top of the in-store experiences at 13 of the high-end 7 Fresh retail stores, the campaign uses a multi-channel approach through enlisting Chinese social media influencers, along with elevator and social media advertising.

“It’s great to work with Anzco Foods on this integrated campaign that starts telling the New Zealand beef story online, and in the elevators of high-end apartments in Beijing, right through to the instore experiences and tasting the product,” he said.

As part of the campaign on popular Chinese social media channel Weibo, influencer Hu-

POTENTIAL: B+LNZ’s market development general manager Nick Beeby says there’s a growing demand for grassfed beef among Chinese consumers.

Hu-Sheng-Wei-Er (Tiger) talks to his followers about NZ grass-fed beef in a video post that has been viewed more than 284,000 times.

Beeby says a growing amount of people in China are talking about fresh, tasty, lean and grass-fed beef, all qualities associated with NZ beef.

“So, this campaign is joining the dots to let them know about our amazing product,” he said.

The campaign is also running during Golden Week, celebrating the founding of the People’s Republic of China, where the Chinese government encourages domestic tourism.

This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon or Mooncake Festival, landed within the Golden Week, putting an extra spotlight on family gatherings and food.

It’s great to work with Anzco Foods on this integrated campaign that starts telling the New Zealand beef story online, and in the elevators of high-end apartments in Beijing, right through to the in-store experiences and tasting the product.

Nick Beeby B+LNZ

Happy Valley Nutrition wins OIO approval NEW Waikato dairy company Happy Valley Nutrition has been granted Overseas Investment Office (OIO) approval to buy 309.25 hectares of land for the development of its dairy factory near Otorohanga.

The factory will produce infant

milk formula and other dairy ingredients.

Happy Valley Nutrition chief executive Greg Wood says the OIO approval was a key milestone for the company.

“We now have in place a much stronger foundation to advance

the project to the next stage,” he said.

“We look forward to updating shareholders on our progress more regularly now we have this consent locked down.”

The OIO approval allows Happy Valley to progress

discussions with financiers, advance early site works, tender the main contract for the dryer process plant and progress securing conditional customer supply agreements.

The company had previously obtained resource consents

for land use, water take and to discharge air, stormwater and wastewater for the factory.

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News

16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

MfE steadfast on winter grazing dates Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz DATES by when grazed winter cropped paddocks must be resown were included in freshwater legislation to provide regulatory compliance, Government officials say.

The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) says in response to questions from Farmers Weekly, the resowing dates provide “regulatory certainty” and that they will not be changed.

“Without a fixed date the status of the activity, that is whether it was permitted or needed a consent, could remain unresolved after it concluded. This would have made it difficult for councils to enforce,” they said.

Introduced as part of the Government’s essential freshwater rules, most of NZ-grazed winter crop paddocks must be resown by October 1.

For the next four years, Otago

and Southland farmers will have a resowing deadline of November 1 to account for longer winters.

From 2024, that date will come back a month to October 1.

The temporary, month-long extension for Southland and Otago was a result of feedback on the National Environment Standard draft regulations and the MfE says there are no plans to review it.

MfE officials say the dates were chosen to balance the potential environmental impact of months of bare ground with uncertainty about growth cycles.

However, farmers argue that crop agronomy works on soil temperature not an arbitrary date.

Officials say farmers need to plan for potential sowing delays.

“If farmers are not confident they can meet all the requirements for intensive winter grazing to be a permitted activity, then they should apply for a resource consent,” they said.

In most cases, these do not

RATIONALE: Ministry for the Environment officials say the dates were chosen to balance the potential environmental impact of months of bare ground with uncertainty about growth cycles.

need to be applied for until after October 31 next year.

They say farmers could also undertake ground preparation work in accordance with specific winter grazing standards set in certified freshwater farm plan.

The Government is currently working on these plans with councils, sector groups, iwi, farm advisors, scientists and environmental non-government organisations.

The statement confirmed a review is under way of the muchmaligned slope maps, which farmers say in many cases do not match the actual topography.

Officials say this is the only

aspect of the freshwater policy being reviewed.

“We are receiving information from farming organisations and farmers,” they said.

“We are asking any farmer to get in contact if they have large areas of steep land or high-altitude land that have been included in the maps.

“We are currently assessing the information that is coming in before providing advice to ministers about possible adjustments.

“This is likely to take several months.”

MfE is hosting a series of seven weekly webinars from

If farmers are not confident they can meet all the requirements for intensive winter grazing to be a permitted activity, then they should apply for a resource consent.

MfE October 21 for people working in organisations involved in implementing the regulations.

Dairy disrupters on the horizon Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

FORECASTS: NZX analyst Amy Castleton says slightly drier weather in the upper North Island and the looming La Nina would restrict New Zealand’s milk production.

LA NINA’S drying effects in the southern hemisphere and the end of Foodbox buying in the United States loom as disruptive events for global dairy supply and demand.

Speakers in a NZX Virtual Global Dairy Seminar last week differed as to how these major influences would impact world prices.

Chicago-based StoneX director Nate Donnay says prices for whole milk powder had held up better than expected around US$3000/tonne.

But he expected them to fall to $2750 in the first quarter of 2021, followed by a recovery to $3100-$3200 in

We don’t expect any drop in production, but the earlier prediction of an increase may not eventuate.

Nate Donnay StoneX Q2 and Q3.

Monica Ganley, the principal of Quarterra in Buenos Aires, Argentina, expected price weakness in the short-term followed by milk production declines next year because of La Nina, leading to higher prices for powders.

NZX analyst Amy Castleton says slightly drier weather in the upper North Island and the looming La Nina would restrict New Zealand’s milk production and hold prices around $3000. Adding the slower pace of Chinese buying would depress prices during 2021.

Donnay says the $1 billion US government buying of dairy products, especially cheese, to distribute in schools and to needy people in the covid-19 disruption, was due to end in October.

If the Democrats prevailed in the US election then he did not think the Foodbox programme would be renewed, but rather a more personalised, targeted welfare card system.

“We estimate Foodbox has taken 2-3% of all dairy solids and that has been a big boost in cheese prices,” he said.

He ruled out a boost in farm payments because he says dairy margins didn’t justify that approach at present.

Castleton says a La Nina weather pattern would exacerbate already dry conditions in the upper North Island and Canterbury, but with a $6/kg milk price farmers would make or buy in supplementary feed to keep production level.

“We don’t expect any drop in production, but the earlier prediction of an increase may not eventuate,” he said.

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News

18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Fonterra Shareholders’ Council set to change Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz THE future shape and functions of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council will be debated during November and changes will be implemented.

The culmination of a longdrawn-out process will begin with the release within a week of an official report from the review committee chaired by James Buwalda.

The council says it will implement as many changes as practical.

But an alternative reform package put up by Southland shareholder Tony Paterson and a group of other farmers will be discussed and voted upon at the annual general meeting (AGM) to be held at Masterton on November 5.

Paterson has three proposals included in the Notice of Meeting and he will be there to speak in person.

He has suggested a $1 million cut in the council’s budget and use of qualified external advice to review Fonterra’s performance, measuring its achievements against its statement of intentions.

The Shareholders’ Council does not support Paterson’s proposals and the Fonterra

directors say these are matters best considered by shareholders and it will therefore not make a recommendation.

Paterson will be seeking a simple majority of votes cast on the three interlinked proposals, but under Fonterra’s constitution the result will be non-binding on the council and the board.

Our proposal is that the Shareholders’ Council stick to its constitutional functions, provide farmers with independent and expert financial analysis, and look for significant cost savings.

Tony Paterson Remit proposer However, the council may be obliged to cut its proposed $3.155m budget for FY21 if Paterson’s smaller budget gets more farmer support.

At last year’s AGM he proposed an independent review of the council, but attracted only 45% yes votes.

The council and the board did not support his proposal last year, on the grounds that a comprehensive review process had begun.

One year on, steering committee chair Buwalda says its report and recommendations will be DEADLINE: Fonterra’s AGM is set to vote on proposed big changes to the Shareholders’ published within a week.

Council role and funding. Council chair James Barron says as many recommendations Reforms are inevitable because a majority of more would be implemented as quickly as possible. than 1400 farmers surveyed earlier this year said they were dissatisfied with the review before they are finalised not necessarily have an ability performance of the council. and communicated to farmers, or to critically assess Fonterra’s Paterson picked up on that the recommendations have been performance. groundswell, saying in his notes acted on and implemented,” it Paterson’s proposals also seek to this year’s proposals that said. an annual levy on milksolids for overwhelming farmer feedback The council has seen a draft the council, which for FY21 would was that the council had not final report and is confident be 0.0015c/kg to raise $2.27m. performed. changes can be made to address A cut of $500,000 is proposed in “Our proposal is that the the issues identified by farmers. council operating costs and the Shareholders’ Council stick to its Council chair James Barron says transfer of $590,000 worth of costs constitutional functions, provide as many recommendations as under the heading of Connection farmers with independent and practical would be implemented to the company – the My Connect expert financial analysis, and as quickly as possible. conference, Understanding ook for significant cost savings He regretted that the final report Your Co-operative Programme, by transferring some activity to had not been available in time to councillor development and the management team,” he put any constitutional changes others. said. into the Notice of Meeting for the The council says Paterson’s He says the council has AGM. proposal preempts the outcomes extended its scope to the Further consultation with of the Buwalda-led review and detriment of its overall farmers was not planned that changes have already been performance. because their views had been signalled.

Although councillors are comprehensively surveyed “It is premature for farmers to committed, passionate cogive a view on the outcomes of the beforehand. operative members, they would

Why NZX wants to grow dairy derivatives market SHIFTING New Zealand’s suite of dairy derivative contracts to the Singapore Exchange’s trading and clearing platforms will pave the way for significant growth.

“This is pretty exciting as far as we are concerned, we see the growth opportunity as being

huge,” NZX chief executive Mark Peterson said.

While it does mean the listing shifts offshore, head of derivatives Nick Morris says the proposed partnership would see the product continue to be branded with NZX’s name while listed on SGX.

The two stock exchange operators signed a non-binding heads of agreement to explore the listing. They will consult with their respective market participants and other stakeholders and seek regulatory approvals. If successful, the partnership is expected to be

confirmed in the first half of 2021.

Ten years ago, the NZX developed the milk price futures and options contracts to address the growing demand from farmers and purchasers of milk products who wish to manage risk relating to price fluctuations.

In the nine months through September, almost 287,000 lots were traded. There are currently five accredited NZX derivative participants and a contract suite of eight futures and options contracts.

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20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Whitebait enticed through riparian care

GUARDIANS: Northland dairy farmers Jarrod and Phillipa Halse, left, and their farm workers Obet and Alena Canlas are caring for riparian zones on the Ruakaka river where whitebait spawn.

Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

WHITEBAIT spawning sites on Northland rivers are being improved by landowners, environmental groups, local iwi and schools with financial and physical help from Fonterra.

Northland regional manager Mike Borrie says the grassroots efforts to survey and enhance riparian zones are some of the most effective and enjoyable community involvements.

“Smaller projects within sustainable catchment projects on the Ruakaka River and at Maungaturoto with Otamatea Harbour Care are among the most satisfying I have ever participated in,” he said.

“We have considerable community involvement and we get plenty of feedback from the project coordinators and the farmers.”

In these instances, Fonterra has sponsored the work of Whitebait Connection and its

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confirmed site was known.

Landowners were all pleased to know of their special habitats and to move fences and plant riparian zones.

“We find that whitebait habitats are a really good motivator for water quality improvements,” she said.

In the Ruakaka River the water quality issues are E. coli, clarity and cyanobacteria.

She kayaks up the rivers as far as the tidal influence extends and searches for eggs in the root crowns of vegetation on the banks.

Spawning is triggered by spring tides during the months of April to July.

We have considerable community involvement and we get plenty of feedback from the project coordinators and the farmers.

Mike Borrie Northland regional manager Subsequent high tides or floods wash the eggs into the sea where whitebait hatch and swim back up the rivers about six months later.

Riparian fencing and planting had been carried out with the financial support of Fonterra to help stabilise banks and provide shade to help improve water quality.

She says hardy pioneer species were planted like manuka, flaxes, cabbage trees and native grasses and rushes, grown by volunteers at the He Kakano Whangarei nursery.

All plant seeds were eco-sourced locally and an especially suitable lowland ribbonwood had been propagated and used from the Ruakaka district.

Whitebait Connection also runs an education programme in schools to increase understanding through monitoring and participating in planting and care effects.

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parent Mountains to the Sea Conservation Trust.

“This Northland community effort has been well-organised and executed and the co-operative gets regular reports of progress,” he said.

Fonterra suppliers Jarrod and Phillipa Halse milk 340 spring-calving Jersey cows on 140ha effective on both sides of State Highway 1 at Mata, 20km south of Whangarei.

Through the underpass, 20ha of the farm in nine paddocks border the Ruakaka River, with riparian fencing set back up to 15m and subject to annual flooding from heavy rain events.

Whitebait Connection established the extent of the salt water and tidal influence, about 5km from the sea, and identified a natural spawning site at the zone with fresh water.

The Halses were keen for the riparian zone to be planted and the new native trees and shrubs to be weeded and maintained.

During last summer’s big dry, they asked farm workers Obet and Alena Canlas to bucket water the young plants to ensure survival.

In August, children, teachers and parents from two local primary schools, the Bream Bay College, the local hapu Patuharakeke and Fonterra staff members in Northland came to a planting day.

They planted flaxes, pittosporums, hebes and kawakawa, while tea trees seem to self-seed and establish.

Some hay bales have been placed in quiet zones in the river and Whitebait Connection conducts fish egg counts on the vegetation.

“We have no intention of fishing the river as now we know there are some quite rare kokopu and inanga species and we don’t want to be eating them,” Jarrod said.

Beyond fencing and planting, the Halses have not changed their comparatively low-intensity stocking and farm management.

One of the first in Northland to have a Fonterrafacilitated Farm Environment Plan, the Halses say totaras for riverbank shade and stopping sedimentary runoff are now sustainable and permanent features.

They look forward to having larger riparian plants that will not need maintenance and enhance the environment for the whitebait species.

The nine riverine paddocks out of 66 on the farm are about 2.5km from the dairy and fit into the rotation without amendment.

Lime is spread every two years and some nitrogen for stimulating early-spring grass growth.

Fonterra’s Northland sustainable dairy advisor Ben Herbert worked with the Halses and 14 other farms in the catchment on their FEPs to improve biodiversity by planting and management changes.

Whitebait Connection’s national coordinator Kim Jones, who lives in Whangarei, says about 14 whitebait spawning sites had been identified in Northland, many of them on farms, whereas previously only one

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

23

Onside secures cash to expand Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz THE developers of on-farm check-in app Onside are poised to expand internationally after a successful capital raising exercise that generated $2.5 million in equity for the Canterbury-based company.

Onside enables farm managers and owners to ensure all staff and contractors entering the property are registered online through the company’s app, with full details of farm hazards, access points and layout all available through their smartphone.

“We were actually oversubscribed for this, we went out seeking $1.5m and had a significant amount of interest,” Onside chief executive Ryan Higgs said.

The successful investment companies include packhouse technology company Compac, with support from other investors including K1W1, NZ Growth Capital Partners and Icehouse Ventures.

Developed four years ago, the app now claims 20,000 registered users across New Zealand, with

CASHED UP: Onside chief executive Ryan Higgs welcomed the additional $2.5 million raised as a means for the company to expand further in NZ and beyond.

rural Australia now firmly in its sights.

Higgs says Onside has enjoyed some benefit of timing by coming on stream as NZ experienced some significant biosecurity challenges in the primary sector, tightening health and safety requirements in farm businesses and the implications of a lockdown.

The biosecurity issues include PSA and M bovis, both which have

required significant improvements in knowing who is on a property at any given time.

He says the greatest gains in users has come from kiwifruit orchard owners in the Bay of Plenty.

Orchardists’ tendencies to use a wide range of contractors and the biosecurity concerns around PSA spread had necessitated the use of such an app.

However, other types of primary industry enterprises are offering good opportunities for the company, particularly poultry and viticultural operations.

Higgs says Onside was now used by 80% of the meat poultry sector to monitor entry to sites in an industry that has very tight biosecurity standards.

“The funds we have raised will enable us to further develop the market here in NZ, but also to get more users on board in Australia,” he said.

“NZ’s viticulture sector is known to be progressive, then the Australian wine industry is even bigger, and the US even bigger again.”

He says Onside had evolved rapidly in the past couple of years to now offer more than just a health and safety compliant app, to deliver more operationally useful information to its users.

“So when a contractor turns up at a farm and registers with Onside, they will also get full information on where access is, farm hazards, a contact number for someone at the farm and even where the toilet is. It ensures the entire job becomes seamless,” he said.

He believes the $2.5m would give the company capacity for two years to expand before seeking further funding.

“Then we would be looking at what is known as a ‘Series A’ funding exercise. This latest one enables us to show we are able to develop more markets and expand,” he said.

The funds we have raised will enable us to further develop the market here in NZ, but also to get more users on board in Australia.

Ryan Higgs Onside Onside was founded in 2015

by Juliet Maclean, co-founder of Synlait, Higgs and Michael Falconer, executive chair of Orion Health.

It has received support from Callaghan Innovation and AgMardt.

Taihape farmers thrive in RMPP action group “SETTING goals, going about them and actually seeing results gives you a huge confidence boost,” says farmer Dan Cottrell, who is part of a Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) action group based in Taihape.

Cottrell says being involved in a small group has been really beneficial for his business, providing a good opportunity not only to be part of, but to get together as a group of farmers to share expertise from various people and engage experts of our choosing.

The RMPP Action Network model supports small groups of seven to nine farm businesses working together to explore ideas and sharing expert resources to help them make positive changes on-farm.

The Taihape group of sheep and beef farmers started in July 2018 and meets every two months.

Member Tom Wells says that the group is strongly farmer-driven and has evolved over time.

“The initial focus of the group was on profitability but we have branched off into all sorts of areas,” he said.

Setting goals and establishing business plans is a key aspect of being involved in an action group and the Taihape members say working through these together has been valuable – as has the sharing of farmer experiences and knowledge.

Cottrell says setting goals, going about them and seeing results

gives farmers a huge confidence boost, while fellow member Derek White says doing that in a group setting promotes accountability.

“The farm action plan is about having some goals and objectives and putting what is in your head down on paper,” he said.

“Expressing that to other people may make you more accountable.

“The members are proactive in what they are doing and it has made it easier to learn. It’s a good vibe to be in.”

Being involved in the action group has helped us to focus on aspects of our business where we maybe weren’t as strong.

John Gordon Farmer Farmer John Gordon says the diversity of age and experience among members is a big advantage.

“It ranges from those starting out to people looking at different ways of doing things and some starting to look at succession,” he said.

“Everyone has something to offer and the diversity means that young people can ask others what they did when they hit a particular

problem. That’s a golden thing.

“Being involved in the action group has helped us to focus on aspects of our business where we maybe weren’t as strong. Sharing that with the group and going through it together has really been brilliant.

“Being a small group helps it flow along. If there is anything we need to ask, we can ask it in the group. It gives us a snapshot in time as to where we are now, where we want to be and, through the action group, the stepping stones – and that will make it easier in the future to advance those goals.”

Rabobank facilitator Byron Taylor says the way action groups are structured is critical to their success.

“Having very small groups and good ground rules and structure about how groups communicate gives farmer members confidence to share knowledge, because, as well as the experts, there is a huge amount of knowledge among group members,” he said.

“These are a great bunch of farmers. They are knowledgehungry; some are coming into the business, some have kids coming into business and they are all enjoying their involvement.

“At every activity we’ve had, someone has learned something new and taken it back to their farm business.

“Being in a small group gives everyone the chance to speak and ask questions, no one is

KEY: Facilitator Byron Taylor of Rabobank says the way action groups are structured is critical to their success.

down the back hidden. There is a social aspect too, the small group size means they get to know one another.

“The group has been together for two years now and everyone is still coming along to the meetings.

That shows how engaged they are and how strong the trust is – we embedded that early in the piece.”

Equally, Cottrell says good facilitation is key to the success of the group.

“Having a good facilitator has been key for our group.

Byron (Taylor) is exceptional.

He is a good guy and a great

communicator. It can be hard to direct a group of busy farmers, but he does a great job,” he said.

“Another reason for the group’s success is we’ve got a bunch of people who have become friends.

There is a lot of respect and experience within the group.

“We are all keen to continue the group in its current form with the current facilitator. There is a very good dynamic – we are starting to build a history.”

WATCH THE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=u8RUfd-rm8Q

News

24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Changing tactics in covid-hit markets Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz PATIENCE is the nature of the game as venison marketers mark time with their traditional northern hemisphere customers.

While the long-term future for venison remains positive, in the shorter-term marketers are having to be supportive and patient with customers, most of whom are anxiously going into winter fearful of a further upsurge in covid-19.

With covid far from being defeated, that was the message from marketers to New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (NZDFA) chairs at their 2020 annual meeting.

Disruption from sales in the United States, New Zealand’s largest market for chilled venison, has been severe, Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) marketing manager Nick Taylor says.

He cited 50 counties in California, each of which has its own covid-19 restrictions based on the incidence of the disease.

In counties with lowest level of risk, indoor restaurants can operate at 50% capacity and in counties at high risk, nearly half the state, indoor restaurants must stay closed.

IMPACT: DINZ marketing manager Nick Taylor says disruption from sales in the United States has been severe.

Despite this, Taylor says there are encouraging signs of recovery with the number of restaurant meals served in the US starting to trend upwards.

In September, weekend sales had climbed to about 80% of the same time last year and about 60% during the week.

“So, there is still some way to go,” Taylor said.

In Germany, the recovery has gone better with July and August restaurant sales back to near normal levels from being down to 40% in May. But Taylor says because most countries in Europe and states of the US have had to deal with waves of the virus with pandemic responses being imposed, then lifted, then reimposed, there are huge levels of uncertainty.

DINZ has seen the covid crisis as an opportunity to review all its market-support activities.

DINZ chair Ian Walker and chief executive Innes Moffat have met with chief executives of all the marketing companies to ensure that DINZ priorities are aligned with those of the companies.

“It is interesting to see the different approaches they are taking, but all are placing a greater emphasis on retail and online sales to augment sales to food service,” Taylor said.

As a result, DINZ and the marketing companies will introduce a new Passion 2 Profit (P2P) project, co-funded by the Government, focused on retail in the US. DINZ is supporting marketers in

the US with chef demonstrations, marketing materials and coverage by food writers.

“We are exploring the place of venison in meal kits and are funding market research to get insights into consumer preferences.”

In Europe, while contracted chef Shannon Campbell is being much appreciated by food distributors and retailers, with the need for social distancing, he has had to make big changes in the ways he presents to an audience.

DINZ is working with a German-speaking NZ deer farmervideographer to add deer farming content to its German Facebook page.

The page, which normally targets chefs, is being realigned to engage consumers as well.

“Some investment will be made to increase the audience size, as was successfully done with the NZ venison Facebook page,” Campbell said.

Taylor says three of the five venison companies are active in China with more awaiting plant approval.

All support continuing work in this market where DINZ has recently launched a Mandarin language website.

“We are increasing our budget for China including developing more Chinese-style recipes as well and setting up our own WeChat account,” Taylor said.

It is interesting to see the different approaches they are taking, but all are placing a greater emphasis on retail and online sales.

Nick Taylor DINZ Meanwhile, venison marketers have cautioned deer farmers carrying excess numbers of older stags intended for the sale to game estates, not to expect good prices for them as venison.

Velvet producers are encouraged to talk with their venison processors about capacity for their cull stags.

“They are not what venison marketers want, they will be going into manufacturing and prices will reflect that,” marketers said.

Velvet trade steady – but uncertainty looms Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz COVID-19 has created huge economic damage, but it is not a bad space for New Zealand velvet producers to be in right now.

Deer Industry NZ velvet marketing manager Rhys Griffiths says NZ deer velvet products are enjoying strong underlying consumer demand in a very uncertain world.

But it is not known how current opposing factors will influence

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prices to farmers in the 2020-21 season.

“Covid has caused huge economic damage and disruption across the globe but in major velvet markets consumers are looking for products that support immune function, one of the key attributes associated with velvet,” he said.

“It’s not a bad space to be in right now.”

Businesses have suffered in the pandemic, their working capital has been eroded, so they might be more cautious than ever about taking forward positions.

Rhys Griffiths DINZ Embassies in South Korea and China are reporting that NZ products with health attributes are doing well.

In Korea, despite covid disruptions, 20 new consumer products containing NZ velvet have been launched in the past six months.

“Just like in NZ, people in Korea avoided visiting their medical professionals at the peak of the pandemic for fear of picking up the virus,” he said.

“Patients are reported to be returning now, which will hopefully continue during the new velvet season.”

South Korean companies are further investing in consumerfriendly velvet products and in Taiwan the first branded consumer-friendly velvet-based product has been launched by South Korea-based KGC, a major NZ velvet customer.

But Griffiths says on the other side of the ledger, business confidence is an issue.

“Businesses have suffered in the pandemic, their working capital has been eroded, so they might be more cautious than ever about taking forward positions,” he said.

Buyers should, however, be reassured by the fact there is no evidence yet that production in NZ is getting ahead of market demand.

“We estimated last year’s production would be about 850 tonnes and it looks like it might fall just short of that, much less than some market pessimists were predicting,” he said.

While deer farmers would like certainty of what all this means in terms of farm gate prices, Griffiths says it is a question he is not able to answer.

“Certainty is not something I can offer,” he said.

“Because of covid-19, this is a unique season and prices will be what buyers and sellers agree on.”

DINZ is working closely in major markets with NZ Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) staff who will be visiting major velvet customers on the industry’s behalf.

GOOD PLACE: NZ deer velvet products are enjoying strong underlying demand, but this season will be unique and prices will be what buyers and sellers agree on.

“NZTE staff, particularly in Korea, China and Taiwan, have been very supportive of our industry,” he said.

“This connection is hugely helpful in a world where exporters cannot travel, Griffiths said.

Despite covid-19, DINZ is maintaining its long-term market development strategies designed to create new demand, especially for branded health food products, with China a major focus.

Griffiths says health food companies regard product quality assurance and traceability as critically important so DINZ is developing VelTrack, a sophisticated web-based traceability system that producers in competing countries will likely be unable to match.

AginED Ag

#

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

G

Volume 29 I October 19th, 2020 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz

did you know?

1

Go the AgriHQ market snapshot page

Carbon sequestration -

2 What was the South Island lamb price last week?

This is the process by which carbon dioxide is absorbed during photosynthesis, and in trees it is stored as carbon in trunks, branches, foliage, and roots.

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

STRETCH YOURSELF:

This graph shows carbon prices in NZ dollars per tonne and Euro per tonne. Carbon prices demonstrate the ‘cost’ of carbon dioxide (CO 2)/greenhouse gas emissions. This is in an effort to put some responsibility back on those who are responsible for it/produce it. In June 2020 the carbon price began to rise. This is due to the government moving the price cap/limit from NZ$25/t to NZ$35/t.

1

Why do you think the government has lifted the price limit on carbon prices? Hint: What are they trying to achieve for the environment and why?

2 Carbon farming is a rapidly growing industry. This is leading to many farms being sold and converted to pine forests. What is your opinion on farms being sold for forestry?

3 If the number of sheep and beef farms decline, what will happen to NZ cattle and sheep numbers?

Why Pine trees?

According to calculations from the Emissions Trading Scheme, in forests under 100 hectares pinus radiata (pine trees) absorbed almost

1000 tonnes of carbon over 25 years,

1

Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz

while native forests absorbed

2 Find and watch the OnFarm Story of Dawn and Glen Bendall “You can’t help but smile” and read the article “Duck eggs hatch into growing business”.

less than 300 tonnes.

4 What other stock to Dawn and Glen carry?

3 How long has Dawn been farming ducks?

STRETCH YOURSELF:

Animal Science How does milk influence bone development?

Dairy heifers sometimes suffer fractured humerus bones during their first lactation, possibly as a result of inadequate bone development as calves. Heifers that break their shoulders have a visible weak line in their bones indicating a distinct period of inadequate bone growth has occurred. Is variation in bone growth and development related to the type and quantity of milk/milk replacer the calves drank when they were younger? The Animal Science group at Massey University are currently investigating the bone structure and strength of lambs reared on different milk/milk replacer diets, as a model for calf bone development.

Alpacas are cute but don’t be fooled Alpaca are very social, have a very strict social hierarchy and a strong need of companionship with other alpaca. The codes of animal welfare require that alpaca must always live with a companion.

1 If alpaca are hand-reared and have too much human contact when young they can lose respect for people and become dangerous to handle, this is called ‘berserk syndrome’. Alpaca have soft fleece that can be used to make clothing.

Test your knowledge!

1

What minerals in milk may be important for bone growth and development?

3 What are the benefits of duck eggs vs chicken eggs?

4 Can you buy duck eggs locally where you live? Do you think that there would be enough demand to see these in places like supermarkets in the future?

?? ?

2 Where is the humerus bone located?

3 How much milk does a cow produce per day at peak yield in her first lactation?

4 Why might producing high volumes of milk impact on bones?

5 What is the resting position of an alpaca called?

6 What is the name of baby alpaca?

7 What term is used to describe an alpaca giving birth?

8 What noise do alpacas make when they are nervous?

9 Why do Alpaca like to dust bathe?

Find out the answers at https://www.facebook.com/BAnScMassey

WANT TO LEARN THE SCIENCE BEHIND ANIMAL PRODUCTION? CHECK OUT THE BACHELOR OF ANIMAL SCIENCE (www.massey.ac.nz/bansci).

How much land do the Bendalls have?

2 How many ducks do they keep? What do they use them for?

5 How would you effectively market duck eggs?

Share your AginEd photos on our Farmers Weekly facebook page Remember to use the hashtag #AginEd Letters to: agined@globalhq.co.nz For more related content please head to our website at: www.sites. google.com/view/agined/home

26 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Newsmaker

Blade shearer hits a century South Canterbury farmer and world shearing champion Tony Dobbs has clicked his shears into the world record books. He talked to Annette Scott about a shearing journey that has taken him around the globe and bought him a farm.

T

ONY Dobbs took up commercial shearing as a young school leaver, the plan being to shear his way into

a farm.

Thirty years later he has the farm, and he has also become the world’s first competitive shearer to win 100 open shearing titles after claiming victory in the open blade shearing competition at the Waimate Shears New Zealand spring championships last week.

The 58-year-old sheep and beef farmer from Fairlie has had little time to celebrate, with the lambs calling him back to the farm for tailing.

Dobbs bought his 347-hectare farm in 1990 and 30 years on to the day that he cracked a world shearing record with his 100th blade-shearing championship win.

Farming and shearing have long been in his blood.

“I went out as a commercial shearer after school, it seemed like a good way to make a living,” he said.

For 13 seasons Dobbs was pretty much shearing year-round.

“I was on the blades from May until mid-November and then the machine from then until March, I was nearly shearing 12 months of the year for 13 years,” he said.

His shearing took him to many parts of the globe including South Africa, the UK and Australia.

“My intention always was to shear my way into a farm and I have done that,” Dobbs said.

His sheep and beef farming operation runs 2000 breeding

ewes and 250 bull beef at Cricklewood just out of Fairlie.

“We finish all our own lambs and depending on the season, buy lambs in as well,” he said.

While his shearing these days has focused on competitions, he did take up his own shed stand under covid-19 lockdown.

“With the shearer shortage, I thought I’d take up the machine during lockdown and get a few of my own sheep done.

I have had a great innings at it (shearing) and enjoyed every moment. I’ll see what happens next, and live the moment meantime.

Tony Dobbs World champion shearer “That was a bit of a learning curve again, fronting up three days in a row to shear all day, I hadn’t done that for a few years,” he said.

With little training ahead of the big event, that three days on the machine may well have been the catalyst to his world record fame.

The lack of practice on the blades barely seemed to matter in Waimate.

“I shore one sheep, it was wet, but I needed to test my gear, so that one was it,” he said.

Dobbs did wonder if his 100th title would ever come with countless shearing events having been scrapped this year because of covid.

“I did my 99th in France in July last year whilst representing NZ in the team championship,” he said.

“We won the teams event, but it took the gas right out of my tank and I didn’t fire in the individual, so I’ve had to wait a while.”

Once full-time farming Dobbs put his competitive shearing aside for several years.

“I was committed to being a full-time farmer, I couldn’t keep up the shearing fitness, had a young family and was really just keeping my hand in competition as a judge rather than shearing,” he said.

In 2013 a friend encouraged him to qualify for the world champs.

“I got the disease again, I made it to Ireland and placed third,” he said.

The next world champs were in Invercargill in 2016, here Dobbs moved up a peg to finish second.

Three years later in France, the NZ team pulled off the win to take the world title.

Dobbs says shearing for his country has been a highlight of his competitive shearing career.

“Any chance to pull on the black singlet is an honour, shearing for your country really is the next level.”

On home turf, Dobbs first competed in the Waimate Shears NZ in 1979 and two years later he won the intermediate blades final and in 1985 had the first of

GOAL: Shearing his way into the world record books is a bonus for Tony Dobbs who took up commercial shearing with the sole intention of shearing his way into a farm.

Photo: Shearing Sports NZ

RECORD: World shearing champion Tony Dobbs says pulling on the black singlet to represent his country has been a highlight of his very successful competitive shearing journey.

Photo: Jills Angus Burney

his now 13 wins at the annual Waimate Shears NZ event.

Three days out from the event Dobbs had barely shorn any sheep with the blades since he won the world teams title with fellow South Canterbury shearer Allan Oldfield in France, July 2019.

He was doubting whether he had anything like the right sort of preparation to win the first event of the season.

He also acknowledged being just a little nervous before taking the stand for a crack at his 100th title.

“Nervous? A bit yes, but I just had to keep positive,” he said.

“It’s a big monkey to have on your head, it’s only a number, but.”

He was certainly in the right form for the six-man showdown of four sheep each, finishing third-off in just under 15 minutes and beating individual runnerup and reigning individual world champion Oldfield, on both time and in the final count, with a winning margin of 1.645pts.

Third was 2019 Waimate winner, 2019-20 number oneranked blade shearer and 2012 world championships representative Mike McConnell of Waikari, North Canterbury.

The other big winner of the night was veteran Hawke’s Bay gun and 2017 world champion John Kirkpatrick who won the open machine-shearing final.

Having done his time on both the blades and the machine,

Dobbs says blade shearing is a lot easier on the body.

“With the blades we shear around the sheep, so (you’re) not moving like on the machine,” he said.

“Yes, you need a good wrist but if you sharpen the gear right you’re all good, and you do need to be strong in the top six inches – mentally, and on a good day you’ll put through 200 (sheep) on an exceptional day, 250.

“On the machine you’re constantly turning the sheep, continually shifting an average 80kgs of sheep from A to B to C, to put through 300-odd sheep in a day there’s a lot of turning and moving and it is hard on the hips.”

Dobbs is uncertain of what competitive shearing he will do in the future.

“I am committed to shearing at the Canterbury A&P shearing event next month, so that’s the next challenge but after that I’ll see how I feel,” he said.

“The clock is ticking for me, it’s really a young man’s occupation.

“It would be nice to stay at the top, but the time will come for me when I don’t feel right and that’s when I’ll bow out.

“I’ve just found out I have a major health problem, so after Canterbury I will reassess what I can do.

“I have had a great innings at it (shearing) and enjoyed every moment.

“I’ll see what happens next, and live the moment meantime.”

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

27

Scientists get handle on farm soil carbon levels Work to measure the amount of carbon stored in New Zealand soils has been under way for some time, but resarchers are finding not all soils are created equal.

Richard Rennie spoke to a pair of scientists who want to give farmers some concrete data they can use to either boost or maintain soil carbon.

L

ATEST research by Plant and Food Research scientists will help farmers ultimately identify where on their farms carbon levels are highest and where they may be most vulnerable.

In a State of Science webinar hosted by NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, Plant and Food scientist Dr Sam McNally and Dr Mike Beare said the challenge put out to scientists has been to try and determine an upper limit on carbon in NZ soils, and then apply that theory in a practical manner on-farm.

“Soil holds large amounts of carbon globally; there is about three times the amount in soil than in the atmosphere,” McNally said.

“Our focus is on the large pool that is in the farm environment.

It can be both a source and a sink, and can form part of the climate change mitigation process.”

Internationally, NZ soils are regarded as relatively high in their carbon levels, raising conjecture about how easy it may be to alter that level and sequester more carbon within them.

However, not all soils are created equal when it comes to carbon capture.

Landcare work back in 2012 revealed a range of carbon stock in the country’s soils.

“It was quite regionally specific, depending upon soil type. Soils from volcanic activity tended to have a high level of carbon compared to other soils,” he said.

Those high carbon soils included ones in Waikato and Taranaki.

McNally says taking the theory on where carbon lay to a practical on-farm level raised three key questions.

“If we know the maximum amount of carbon that can be held, we can identify where it can be increased, a targeted approach of mitigation practice to soils that respond the best,” he said.

“Secondly, if you know what soils already have a high carbon level, you can reduce the risk of carbon loss from those specific soils.”

Thirdly, the knowledge would make research more relevant and applicable.

“If we know soils with the greatest carbon capacity we can test those practices (to lift carbon) on those soils,” he said.

A key property determining soil’s carbon holding capacity was its surface area.

“So, if you know across your farm what soil has the higher surface area, they are likely to respond to carbon maintenance and protection the best,” he said.

The scientists’ latest research also indicates soils with greater deficits look like they can retain more carbon, and early work indicates it may be possible to develop an indicator for what a soil’s upper carbon sequestration capacity is.

Taking the work to Lincoln University’s 160ha dairy farm, which is extensively soil mapped in 200 sample spots, the scientists

DIRT: Dr Sam McNally says the challenge for scientists is to link carbon research to practical mapping tools for commercial farmers.

If we know the maximum amount of carbon that can be held, we can identify where it can be increased, a targeted approach of mitigation practice to soils that respond the best.

Dr Sam McNally Scientist have been able to develop a map highlighting low and high carbon zones within the farm boundary.

They can also detect areas where there is potential to lift carbon levels.

“There is a wide range of

surface areas of different soils across the farm. Carbon stored varied from 60 to 100 tonnes a hectare, corresponding to the surface area of the soil types,” he said.

They were also able to identify specific soil zones that had potential to lift carbon, and those that had the least, and ultimately determine the farm’s entire carbon stock.

“All up it was 1200 tonne of carbon. It does not seem a lot, and is equivalent to 5.5 ha of exotic trees,” he said.

Efforts to map the farm’s vulnerable carbon stocks could help influence future management when it comes to activities like winter grazing or cultivation in those zones.

Beare acknowledged the work is presently confined to the top 30cm of the soil zone, and that

deeper rooting plants on farms may have a beneficial effect on carbon sequestration.

“We do not know yet how much carbon those sorts of plants can contribute,” Beare said.

The scientists also say despite support for biochar as a means of adding carbon to soils, it remained an expensive option and probably not cost effective.

At present MPI is advising that due to uncertainty about how NZ’s soil carbon stocks are changing within a land use and how much management may influence those stocks – current green-house gas inventory does not account for soil carbon stock change in a land use type.

This is instead limited to accounting only for soil carbon stock change when the land use itself is changed, for example from pasture to forest.

Late log boost for Napier Port A LATE jump in Septemberquarter log exports through Napier Port wasn’t enough to restore total freight volumes to year-earlier levels.

Log exports in the period, the fourth quarter of the firm’s financial year, jumped to 717,000 tonnes.

That was 9% higher than a year earlier, and 54% higher than in the June quarter when covid restrictions halted forest harvesting and POSITIVE: Napier Port chief executive Todd Dawson says they’re prevented exports of other happy with the recovery seen in their key trades since the end of non-essential goods. the lockdown period.

Napier Port is the

country’s fourth-largest container terminal and the sixth-largest bulk cargo operator.

Its bulk cargoes for the year ended September 30 fell to 3.1 million tonnes, down 8.3%.

That was driven by an 8% decline in log exports to 2.37 million tonnes due to the lockdown in March and April, but also weak Chinese demand late last year.

Total container movements for the year were marginally lower at

the equivalent of 268,000 twenty-foot units. A slight increase in refrigerated fruit and meat exports partially offset weaker dry container volumes of timber, wood pulp and canned foods.

“We are pleased with the recovery we have seen to our key trades since the end of the lockdown period and the positive recovery we have seen in log exports,” chief executive Todd Dawson said.

“Similarly, the local pipfruit sector has managed to export virtually the

same quantity as last year’s record season, despite the challenges seen due to covid-19.”

The port’s shares fell 0.6% to $3.60, taking their loss so far this year to 13.5%.

In August, the firm forecast a $20m full-year profit, based on steady freight volumes through June, July and August. The company plans to pay a dividend but will not determine its size until next month.

– BusinessDesk

Opinion

28 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

EDITORIAL

What is lost is hard to get back

T

HE education sector has been hit hard by covid-19 with the loss of many international and post-graduate students and the inability to hold classes in person during lockdown.

Now, some universities are taking a long hard look at their makeup with staffing cuts and course consolidations being discussed.

That’s not good news.

Anyone with a brain knows that it’ll take well-funded research to help bring New Zealand out of this pandemic-induced recession.

As well as covid-19, NZ and the world face other big challenges like climate change. If we’re to prosper while reducing emissions and protecting biodiversity food producers will need to adopt new practices and techniques that have been honed in the labs and fields of our research institutions.

If the pool of academic and research staff is emptied even a little bit, our ability to keep up with the rest of the world in these key areas will take a hit.

In last week’s Sarah’s Country Election Special, spokespeople from almost every political colour emphasised the need for more research to help the primary industries stay competitive and sustainable.

For some it would focus on knowing more about natural biological cycles. For others, it was genetic modification that would be key.

Either way, to find success we’ll need more researchers, not fewer.

And, it’s not just the on-farm gains that we’ll be able to bank if we invest in science and technology. Our farming systems are already world leading and further innovations can be commercialised and sold globally. Agritech is already a growing sector bringing good rewards to NZ but it needs capital – both monetary and human – to flourish.

This time of great disruption is no time to make big decisions that could reverberate for decades to come. What is lost is hard to get back.

It’s often said one shouldn’t waste a good crisis. Surely, covid-19 has shown us that good science is vital to overcoming a big challenge. Now is the time to invest in our futures.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Pamu, am I missing something?

I AM rather confused by a recent article “Pamu profit steady despite covid” – I think it should read “Pamu profit steadily bad but better due to covid.”

I’m not sure why Steve Carden is so happy with the $24 million loss after tax, especially when this is a significant improvement on 2019.

From my observation, Pamu owns prime land in just about every location in New Zealand and if the average farmer was doing as badly financially, the bank would be asking serious questions and probably selling them up.

Having such a diverse portfolio of farming enterprises should benefit Pamu due to increased profit in some areas balancing

others. For example, when dairy or deer prices are down lamb and beef are up. Pamu should be setting an example of how farming in NZ can be both environmentally sustainable and profitable.

All farmers have to deal with fluctuating values, both land and stock, plus covid frustrations and climatic challenges, but still have to farm profitably.

Also, I understand that Pamu receives a premium at the works for their beef, lamb and venison which the average farmer does not, and this should benefit Pamu making them even more profitable.

A question to peruse: “What percentage is the Government receiving on their (or our) investment when they receive the $5m dividend on their (or our) total investment on land and stock?

Pamu so often come across as doing so well and it is time they stop patting themselves on the back and step into the real world of farming.

Lynda Baines Matiere

Evidence of the need for change I HAVE a question for Anita Erskine of Papatotara, Southland.

I’m familiar with your winter crop grazing practices, my father used to do the same.

But he could resow usually in a gap in the weather.

But you’ve got bare, cold, wet ground for perhaps four months?

I completely agree that every area in New Zealand and every farm is different but I seriously suggest that

is now indefensible farm management and it’s exactly why the Government is trying to limit or control intensive grazing practices. And trying to create a standard for water that NZ as a whole can achieve.

I understand that in the face of climate change and the expectations of our trading partners we simply must do better.

We are struggling ourselves up here with the requirement to increase the width of exclusion from drains, both in time, effort and money. My sympathies for the challenges you face.

Your letter is evidence of the need for change – in thinking and practice.

Jane Russell Bowen Cropping Parewanui, Rangitikei

Letterof theWeek EDITOR Bryan Gibson 06 323 1519 bryan.gibson@globalhq.co.nz EDITORIAL Carmelita Mentor-Fredericks 06 323 0769 editorial@globalhq.co.nz Neal Wallace 03 474 9240 neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz Colin Williscroft 027 298 6127 colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz Annette Scott 021 908 400 annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz Hugh Stringleman 09 432 8594 hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz Gerald Piddock 027 486 8346 gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz Richard Rennie 07 552 6176 richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz Nigel Stirling 021 136 5570 nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com Riley Kennedy 027 518 2508 Cadet journalist riley.kennedy@globalhq.co.nz

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

29

Science key to farming’s future Neville Wallace

I

GREW up during rapid changes in farming techniques from Blue Stone drenching of sheep for parasite control to anthelmintics, rubber rings for animal castration and tail removal. The wool boom of the late forties and fifties led to dramatic changes in farming practice such as the application of fertiliser by Tiger Moth biplanes, which could only carry a eighthundred weight payload.

Our schooling was scientifically orientated so that we were taught horticulture by the late Rod Syme, who’s career as a horticulturist was to visit schools and demonstrate how to grow a vegetable and potato garden, and the science included how to use artificial fertiliser to increase crop growth and production.

A leading Taranaki dairy farmer was at the forefront of developing the plastic ear tag for cattle, which ultimately led to the electronic ear tag of today.

Facial eczema (FE) was the bane of the livestock industry, which was eventually solved by Te Aroha-based dental nurse Gladys Reid who, through diligent research, solved the problem with zinc. I recall when farming at Eltham asking the local vet what he learned at a seminar on FE control and how much zinc you need to put in the trough.

He replied, “When we asked Gladys (Reid) that question she said ‘depends on the size of your sharemilkers’ hand’.” Practical science application.

As a shearer and an AB technician, I was able to get enough money together to buy a herd and farm on my own account. Since those days, technology has expanded tremendously as science has come to the aid of many of today’s farmers.

In the 1970s we had a series of

The

Pulpit LACKING: Retired farmer Neville Wallace says that while the regenerative farming conversation is heard more frequently these days, it’s never been peer reviewed in NZ.

droughts and the Government of the day gave out suspensory loans to get us through that particular first drought. We invested our money into a paddock of lucerne.

Feeding out had its problems, as it had to be mown and wilted beforehand, which was more cost and work. But the point I learned here was we were able to feed out; standing lucerne so long as it had about 10% flower.

This was with assistance from our local Department of Agriculture (DoA) Advisory services, which was a free service until the Lange government changed the structure of the DoA in 1984.

Regen works well in other parts of the world, but in NZ we have a different climate.

This was a hell of a change for the advisory services and many of the DoA staff set up their own advisory services. So, it was with some trepidation that we hired an independent advisor and

were able to remedy many farm traits such as grazing heifers off, changing the fertiliser application from ground spread to helicopter when contour, weather or ground conditions were a hindrance for timing. Twenty-odd tonnes could be put on in about an hour. Job done and no strainer posts broken with trucks.

All life moved on and our advisor moved on to greener pastures, but we had not overcome the high empty rate, which was put down to several causes, Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVD) being one of them.

One of the hindrances of the personal advisor was that they could not cross over into veterinary advice.

Our local veterinary services did a lot of research, but did not appear to have any answers either. We were incredibly fortunate to be able to obtain the services of a Waikato consultancy.

During our first herd inspection several trends were noted such

as the colour of a black cow’s forelock that was blondish in colour, which it should not have been. The prescription that followed was extensive and raised more than eyebrows when it came to obtaining trace elements. I was told that we were doing something very new, which had not been accepted into local veterinary practice.

However, if you are in the Waikato it’s standard practice and I was served there with no questions asked.

To wrap up this farming article, we do have to figure our future and acknowledge that science plays a significant role in our farming future and salute some of those great names such as the late Gladys Reid OBE, the pioneer of FE control.

But one of our challenges is the advocacy or politicisation of regenerative farming. Regen works well in other parts of the world, but in NZ we have a different climate. NZ farming

is not subsidised like our agricultural competitors. Regen farming in NZ has never been peer reviewed. Considering NZ’s present parlous economic situation we need all the export dollars we can create. This is where ideology versus reality, a very weak policy of this present Labour government’s economic madness.

Who am I? Neville Wallace is a retired farmer, with a passion for farming and has been hosting the weekly rural radio programme Neville Rides the Boundaries for 10 years, which can be heard from Access Radio Taranaki and Arrow Radio Masterton

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

The Pulpit offers readers the chance to have their say. farmers.weekly@globalhq.co.nz Phone 06 323 1519

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Opinion

30 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Fires are fine, farming isn’t?

Alternative View

Alan Emerson

WHILE I’m writing this before the election, you’ll likely be reading it after the result is announced. I trust you are relaxed about that result and are looking forward to three years of wealth, happiness and fulfilled election promises.

On a more serious note, I really enjoy the Mackenzie Basin country and have for decades.

I’ve travelled serious distances to shoot, fish and camp there.

I can also remember around 30 years ago, the place was a desert covered by rabbits and the noxious weed hieracium. No one was remotely interested in the area. There was nary a murmur from the ubiquitous Fish and Game, Forest and Bird or that cacophonic fringe group that is Greenpeace.

Then farmers wanted to introduce myxomatosis to control rabbits. The cries from those groups were thunderous. If the virus is introduced it will kill rabbits. You can’t fool Fish and Game and the team can you?

It gets better. As a result of myxomatosis, there will be ferrets and stoats in abundance eating dead rabbits. After the rabbits are all dead, those pests will chase

the venerable Black Stilts, an endangered bird.

So, what the so-called environmental groups were telling me is that it is okay to have the Mackenzie as a desert plagued by an army of rabbits and noxious weeds. It isn’t okay to kill those rabbits and regenerate the Basin.

Now that the rabbits are gone and the Black Stilt has survived, everyone has suddenly and passionately fallen in love with Mackenzie. An area regenerated by farmers who killed the rabbits and removed the hieracium.

However, it seems that farmers are the enemy to those protestors based in Wellington, who wouldn’t have a clue.

I would conservatively describe their actions as hypocritical.

We now have another enemy in the Mackenzie in the form of fire.

Fire would have destroyed native plants and animals with infinitely more surety than a centre pivot would.

There have been two fires in short order burning in total 8500 hectares of land and Department of Conservation (DOC) estate.

DOC has told us that more fires are likely.

I find that situation appalling.

So far, by the grace of God no one has been killed. With fires becoming more frequent that will, inevitably, change.

There has been devastation to property, native vegetation and animals, yet I haven’t heard anything from any of the socalled environmental groups. It seems hypocritical. Fires are fine, farming isn’t.

DEVASTATION: A home and general countryside caught in the path of the Lake Ohau fire in the Mackenzie Basin.

Photo Gary Kircher

Mind you, the commentary on the fires has been at times ridiculously stupid.

Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage, never one to either let scientific fact get in the way of a good story or resist the urge to criticise farmers, hit the headlines running.

Her statement that “farmers were just looking for free grazing” in the wake of Federated Farmers suggesting that DOC wasn’t state of the art when it came to pasture management was ignorant, offensive and insulting.

Feds high country chair Rob Stokes described Sage’s comments as a “cheap shot”. I’d say cheap shot is a reasoned and conservative description.

I’m aware that both Feds and local farmers have been telling the DOC and Sage for years about the fire risk created by their management of the Mackenzie Basin. They’ve been ignored.

Feds went on to say that some areas of the DOC estate were

inappropriate for livestock but that in other areas “low numbers of sheep and cattle can keep combustible grass, scrub and immature wilding pine levels down”.

That’s what happens in Australia, the UK and the US but we seem to be happy going in the opposite direction.

I’ve had some good mates in DOC over the years and have respected the organisation. That respect is wearing thin.

Talking to a farmer mate from the area and on condition of anonymity he was livid.

His statements included: “DOC has no ability to manage land,” and “they just want to lock the gate and bugger off.” Most telling was “DOC needs to adopt a partnership approach and not that of what we know is best.”

DOC operations manager Katrina Morrow was quoted as saying that “grazed tussock still burns very well”. What an idiotic statement. Yes, it does burn, but

not at the intensity of non-grazed tussocks.

I believe it was Prof Derrick Moot of Lincoln University who told Farmers Weekly that grazing reduced the fire risk. That fact is recognised internationally, so why is DoC so blinded?

The Mackenzie fires need to be a wake-up call for the next government. The DOC’s nongrazing regime isn’t working and I remain unconvinced they have any expertise in this area.

They need to change and be open-minded and consultative.

They also need a minister who heeds scientific advice and is not blinkered against farmers.

Finally, may I respectfully suggest that irrigation could be the answer. Green grass doesn’t burn.

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

A time for reflection, gratitude From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I’M BRIMMING with joie de vivre.

A cheerful enjoyment of life. An exultation of spirit.

There are several reasons for being so chipper, but it’s probably because I’ve just come back from two continuous days off-farm, although I went out and shifted some cattle this evening in the fading light.

Only my second time out of Hawke’s Bay since early March and the longest farming break given the drought, various lockdown levels, lambing, docking and the other stuff that needs doing. So, the break was good.

Driving up to Auckland in the middle of October reinforced what a beautiful part of the world we live in.

The day was a perfect spring day and the trees just coming into leaf with their soft spring hues looked glorious. To date, not

battered by any spring gale winds.

Splashes of various colours from the flowering Prunus and Pyrus along the way. And the intensive plantings of natives beside SH1, the expressways and motorway have really hit their straps and look brilliant.

The drive the next day was into the teeth of a southerly bringing much needed rain from Auckland to home and even some sleet as I passed over the high point of the Titiokura Saddle on the Napier/ Taupo road.

These valuable pennies from heaven were another boost to my pleasure of being.

I thought of Marian as I passed Huntley. A friend of ours walked in that rain as she completes the last section of the Te Araroa Trail, keen to nail the last few hundred kilometres of her epic feat.

The previous day we had met up and I’d given her sandwiches as we sat in the sun. I walked a whole 400 metres of that 3000km trail with her, although in my defence, I had to walk 400m back to the ute as she carried on her relentless march towards Taumarunui.

I had an invitation to attend a function in Auckland to note the lifetime governance achievements

of a woman I hold in extremely high regard.

Dame Alison Paterson was my chair nearly twenty years ago when we were on the Landcorp Board.

When she had interviewed me for a role that I’d been shoulder tapped for, I told her my governance experience was limited. She said that Landcorp was great at training shepherds, dairy workers and all the others and could do so at director level as well.

She became my mentor and friend.

But not just me, nearly everyone else she has ever worked with.

She would be the most gracious person I’ve ever met.

KPMG had organised the function to acknowledge Alison’s career and contribution to NZ’s business environment. She had been the first woman appointed to the board of a listed company.

She has served on the boards of the Apple and Pear board, Wrightsons, Abano, the Reserve Bank, Stevenson Group and Vector, to name just a few.

When Ross Buckley, our host and KPMG chair, met me at the door and thanked me for driving

up from Hawke’s Bay, I said Alison was the only person I would drive 12 hours for drinks. I was even more excited to hear from him that the function also included dinner – and a fine one at that.

In his introduction, Ross rightly said we should be paying to listen to the speakers that evening. And he was right.

I took the opportunity to later chat to two of them, Hugh Fletcher and Dame Marilyn Waring, a woman I have always admired for her bravery, tenacity and intelligence.

And of course, Alison spoke at the end of the evening and those of you aspiring to be top governors would be well advised to read these three quotes to finish. Better value than attending a director training course.

“Successful board leadership is not about being an island – it is about getting the best out of the board and senior management team, appointing the right chief executive and treating people with respect,” she said.

“If the governance model has any weaknesses, it comes from having too many underachievers on board. Too many egos, too much vested interest and too much testosterone around

RECOGNITION: KPMG had organised the function to acknowledge Dame Alison Paterson’s career and contribution to NZ’s business environment. She had been the first woman appointed to the board of a listed company.

the table can be dreadfully destructive.

“Directors’ individual capability and ethical work standards is what delivers organisational performance and success.”

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

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

31

Composting mootels makes for a warm and happy cow The Braided Trail

Keith Woodford

SOME readers will know that I have been writing about composting mootels for the past three years. I have been suggesting that these mootels can transform New Zealand dairy. I remain of that perspective, but only if we get things right.

When I first wrote about composting mootels, I referred to them as composting barns.

Subsequently, I have stepped back from using the term barn because it was leading to misunderstandings. For many folk in the NZ dairy industry, the word barn is like the mythical red rag to the bull.

Composting mootels are like no other type of barn. They are open structures that focus on cow comfort. Cows love them. They can be a great enhancement to animal welfare. There is minimal smell – very different to most barns. They can fit seamlessly into NZ pastoral systems and in the process solve key environmental problems.

I first envisaged the potential for composting mootels when I saw two of them in high-rainfall Western Oregon, in country every bit as wet as the NZ West Coast.

I figured if they could make the composting process work there, then so could we.

When I returned to NZ, I quickly became aware through Waikato veterinarian and farm consultant Sue Macky that there was already a successful composting mootel in the Waikato on the Allcock family farm. Since then, I have visited Tony, Fran and Lucas Allcock at least fifteen times and also pointed many farmers in their direction.

On my first visit, it was a

miserable winter’s day and my gumboot-clad feet were more than a little cold on arrival. After standing on the cow bedding for a few minutes my feet were warm again. The reason was simple: the combination of urine and poo that the cows were depositing was composting beautifully in combination with the bedding.

The simple message is that if the infrastructure and management are correct, then the poo soon disappears and the water in the urine evaporates up through the roof-venting system. Hence, the cows have a lovely warm and dry bed to lie on.

Dig down 30cm and the temperature is around 50C. We have even recorded it to 60C. On the surface where the cows lie, it is 35-40 C. It’s cow bliss.

I have also learned over the intervening years that there are people who are not getting it right. This last winter I have been contacted by several farming groups who have been puzzled as to why they are not getting the necessary heat in the compost. My standard response is to send me some photographs showing the design. The problems often start right there.

There can also be issues with management.

As Macky points out, if you want the composting mootel to be successful, then you need to start tilling it right from the start and if a problem develops, then you have to be on to it straight away.

Once compost dies, it won’t come back to life by itself.

The Allcock composting mootel is now into its seventh year. I see the animal performance figures and I see the accounts, so I know it is working. I also have the pleasure of nice warm feet when I am in the mootel talking to the cows to see what they think.

Rainfall at the Allcock’s farm can be anywhere between 1200mm and 2000mm per annum. It has worked in all of those years.

Fran tells a delightful story as to the thinking behind their mootel.

She figured that the humans had a nice house to live in, the

THE GOOD SOIL: Tony Allcock and cows inspecting the compost.

hens had a henhouse and the dog had a kennel, but the poor cows that were earning all the money had to live outside in the mud and the rain. So she decided, and then convinced Tony and Lucas, that they should build a house for the cows.

She searched around on the internet and came up with a specific design focusing on cow comfort. The word mootel also comes from Fran.

At the outset, the Allcocks did not expect that the bedding in the mootel would compost. That was a bonus and it was a huge bonus.

It means that the bedding only has to be changed once a year.

With hindsight, the Allcocks would make some design changes if they were starting again. The inverted V-shaped roof would have a higher pitch and the venting system and shelter cap on top of the vent would be constructed somewhat differently.

Perhaps the bedding would also be a little deeper. Despite those limitations, it is the Allcocks to whom I always send prospective mootel farmers. Fortunately, the Allcocks are always welcoming of visitors.

There are other designs of composting mootels that sometimes work and sometimes don’t, depending on the specifics of the design and the location.

We might, therefore, need to be

more specific in future referring specifically to an Allcock composting mootel.

Lucas tells a story how once he went into the mootel to fetch the cows for milking, but one cow stayed behind lying prone. Feeling gutted that somehow it had died, Lucas was greatly relieved to see an ear twitch. A gentle tap on the rump and the cow sprung to life, having been in a deep sleep.

I don’t ever recall a cow sleeping like that in a paddock.

The key reason that mootels can be transformational is that they provide a mechanism to solve the leaching problem from urine nitrogen, and do so within a pastoral grazing system. The cows still go out to graze every day but then they come back into the mootel to do their resting, pissing and pooping. The compost, which is replaced once per year, is then used as fertiliser. The nitrogen is bound within the compost and is released at a rate that the grass can use rather than being leached.

What we also know is that happy warm cows need considerably less energy for maintenance in the winter, and pastures grow much more quickly when not turned into a winter mud-bath. It is a case of getting cows out to have a feed and then getting them back into the mootel.

They can also be fed within the mootel. On hot summer days, the

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mootel also provides shade from the midday sun.

The other question I get regularly asked is about greenhouse gases. There is also good news there.

I am confident that the release of nitrous oxide (N2O) will be less in these systems than in current grazing systems. The issue of the methane that the cows burp up is going to be more challenging, but colleagues are exploring options for transforming it into much more benign carbon dioxide as it exits the barn.

There is still lots of work to be done in understanding the nuances of composting mootels and in the optimisation of associated farming systems.

Accordingly, I do get a little grumpy when some members of the research and development (R&D) community are quick to criticise from a position of ignorance. Composting mootels require new ways of thinking, and for some people that can be challenging. There is some inertia to be overcome.

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

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32 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

On Farm Story

‘Our attitude determines o Grant McNaughton’s path to farm ownership did not follow the most orthodox route, but it worked. Neal Wallace visits the McNaughtons on The Dasher Station in North Otago.

S

TUDENTS affectionately called him Mawsy.

To Grant McNaughton, Waitaki Boys High School agriculture teacher Brent Maw was the reason he stayed at school to Year 13 which, unbeknown to him at the time, set up a career path that led to farm ownership.

McNaughton says Mawsy was the type of teacher who related to students, offered encouragement and had their respect.

“I’d say this for a lot of boys who went through Waitaki Boys High School, Mawsy was a really nice guy who knew the balance required at high school,” he said.

“He believed in me but he had a real connection with all the students.”

Today, McNaughton and wife Charlotte own The Dasher Station, a 6300ha high country pastoral lease property at Kauru Hill on the eastern end of the Kakanui Range, the border between North Otago and Central Otago.

The path he and Charlotte took to farm ownership was successful, but certainly varied.

McNaughton confesses to not being the most enthusiastic of scholars at high school, but encouraged by Mawsy he stayed the course, earning a B Bursary.

The son of North Otago sheep and beef farmers, a farming career was in the mix for McNaughton, but not a given until his last year, even though agriculture was his strongest subject.

Armed with confidence in his academic ability from gaining that bursary, McNaughton went to Lincoln University where he studied commerce and agriculture for three years.

The decision to continue studying was in part motivated

by less than flattering comments from his school rector, who questioned his application to study and said he needed a change in attitude to be successful.

“It was the best decision I could have made to go to Lincoln,” he said.

“The rector’s comments certainly motivated me to succeed.”

He relished university life and interactions with like-minded people from around the country.

His academic scores improved but importantly, he discovered a love for the primary sector.

“To me I’d found a passion and it was agriculture,” he said.

On graduating McNaughton had two choices: farm management or agribusiness. He chose agribusiness and began a career with fertiliser co-operative Ravensdown.

Not afraid of work, the 21-yearold still wanted a lifestyle, to travel, but to also help out on his parent’s property, and to one day own his own farm.

“My goal was always to own my own farm,” he said.

After five years working for Ravensdown in Central and South Canterbury and North Otago, during which he reached the role of key accounts manager, McNaughton was offered a position managing a 500-cow dairy farm at Leeston.

“That was a really good learning experience,” he said.

“It was about stepping back, gaining skills and knowledge and growing.”

After one year as manager, McNaughton intended to go sharemilking, but the absence of a suitable job curtailed that move.

Instead, he was offered a role with the former Fonterra chair,

WORK FROM HOME: Grant McNaughton with his dogs at The Dasher Station in North Otago.

the late John Wilson, who owned several Canterbury farms milking 10,500 cows with a further 5500 replacements.

For three seasons McNaughton oversaw the conversion of several farms to dairying, alongside roles managing the young stock and 2500 milking cows; a position he thoroughly enjoyed and learned plenty from.

“John was an awesome person to work for. You couldn’t meet someone more inspiring,” he said.

It was a busy period for McNaughton.

FAMILY: Grant and Charlotte McNaughton with their children Fletcher, Greer and Matilda on their North Otago farm.

He met and later married Charlotte, an early childhood teacher from Christchurch, and in 2010 entered and won the National Bank Young Farmer of the Year, which was held in Gore.

Among the many benefits from winning the young farmer contest, was the boost to his confidence, knowledge and meeting other young farmers.

“That was a really cool experience and I am really honoured to have won it,” he said.

Farm ownership was still well and truly their goal but having unsuccessfully tried to buy some properties, they realised they needed to knuckle down and save some more money.

The dairy industry would remain the vehicle towards farm ownership, but for family lifestyle reasons, Grant and Charlotte

decided to buy a sheep and beef property.

In 2012 they had the opportunity to buy The Dasher, a historic 6300ha high country pastoral lease.

A 40-minute drive south of Oamaru, the property is highaltitude, cold and it can be wet, but it had plenty of appeal.

“When we looked at it, it was the worst house in an okay street,” McNaughton said.

“We saw a lot of potential in the place, a lot of challenges and that really appealed.

“It is an iconic high country property with a bit of charisma and heart, something that these places capture.”

The homestead sits at 550 metres above sea level (asl) and the property rises to 1425m at its peak on Mount Obi.

PLENTY OF SCOPE: Young cattle on paddock country on The Dasher Station.

On Farm Story

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

33

our altitude’

To me I’d found a passion and it was agriculture.

Grant McNaughton Farmer From the homestead, the McNaughtons look over the coastal towns of Oamaru and Moeraki and the Pacific Ocean. At Mt Obi they look south west over the Maniototo in Central Otago and to the north there is a clear view of Mt Cook.

The Dasher was broken up from a larger run in 1919 for soldiers returning from WWI, and the McNaughtons are just the third family to have farmed it in 101 years.

Hard hill country, The Dasher is

a breeding property running 7000 sheep and 700 cattle.

McNaughton says those who farmed The Dasher were pioneers who achieved much with basic tools and technology, least of all its size, accessing the property which is 21km long. Getting around the property can be difficult with quad bikes and four wheel drive tractors, let alone relying on horses.

“Full credit to those guys who did the hard yards now it’s us to continue the property’s legacy,” he said.

“We want to make a sustainable intergenerational business. We have got to make incremental gains to achieve that goal.”

The property is virtually all native vegetative cover due in part its size, access difficulties and steepness.

The snow line is about 1000m asl and snow generally sits on the tops all winter. its presence keeps winter temperatures low, but McNaughton says it is not something he can worry about.

“We can’t control it so (we) don’t overthink it. Our attitude determines our altitude,” he said.

That mantra also reflects his glass-half-full approach to life about not overthinking managing such a challenging property by keeping it simple.

His Romdale ewes lamb in October and are tailed in November.

Tailing can be challenging, with ewes lambing on blocks up to 400ha, but three sets of stock yards helps with management.

Lambs are weaned in JanuaryFebruary and McNaughton says he aims for 130% lambing.

However, a spring storm last year hit that figure.

The bulk of lambs are sold as store and are bought by regular buyers from Canterbury to Southland, something relished by McNaughton.

“I enjoy talking to those

ON-FARM: The Dasher is a breeding property running 7000 sheep and 700 cattle.

regular buyers of my lambs to see how they have gone. These relationships are important to me,” he said.

Being bred on hard hill country, McNaughton says his lambs shift well when moved to easier country.

After weaning, the ewes are put in one mob on the hill country for the summer, an area covering about a third of the farm.

The altitude attracts moisture and provides some protection from the dry North Otago summers with fog on occasions engulfing the property for days on end.

The ewes are brought down to lower altitude in a traditional Autumn muster in April ahead of the ram going out in May followed by scanning and shearing in August.

He grows about 50ha of swedes, which are fed prior to lambing.

Replacements stay on the farm, but management does not follow any set regime.

“We just try and provide them with the best nutrition to exploit their production potential,” he said.

“We still have plenty of scope to improve on this.”

His 700 Angus cattle spend most of their lives in the tussock hill country and are described as low maintenance.

“They are genuinely commercial cattle,” he said.

BIG COUNTRY: Grant McNaughton takes in the views at his North Otago station.

Calves have traditionally been sold as weaners to his parents for finishing, but this year have been retained as he reviews his management options.

McNaughton has developed a relationship with Mt Linton Station in Western Southland, one of the country’s largest privately owned properties, from whom he buys bulls and has sold store lambs.

The first few years at The Dasher were busy, getting to grips with the property and starting out on their farm ownership career.

At the same time, the couple had three children aged under two. Greer is now about to turn seven and twins Fletcher and Matilda are aged four.

One of the key skills McNaughton learnt while working for Ravensdown and managing farms was to nurture and develop relationships with staff and clients.

Lachie Kingan arrived at The Dasher to help out for three months over summer.

That was six years ago and he is still there.

“We are very fortunate to have Lachie who works for us. He is part of our family and a really valuable part of the farm,” he said.

McNaughton has enjoyed watching Kingan develop his skills and abilities to the point where he is an accomplished and capable farmer.

We saw a lot of potential in the place, a lot of challenges and that really appealed.

Grant McNaughton Farmer Looking to the future, McNaughton says his goal is to refine his management to create a sustainable business.

“To be environmentally sustainable you have got to be economically sustainable,” he said.

“It’s imperative our systems are robust, simple and effective.

“We need to do the basics right every day to get the outcomes we need.

“It’s about getting right here and now, all those little things give incremental gains.”

Managing the environment is a crucial issue for McNaughton, both on The Dasher and for the farming industry.

“It isn’t about lifting the bar but lifting the floor,” he said.

“If we can raise the floor and identify the laggards and help them lift their performance, it will be beneficial for NZ Incorporated.”

The headwaters for the Kauru River are on The Dasher and the family swim in it over summer and McNaughton is proud of the high water quality.

“If everybody makes small incremental gains, we’ll all be better off,” he said.

The other priority for Grant and Charlotte is to ensure their family have an enjoyable, happy farming upbringing.

“We feel honoured that we can own a farm,” he said.

“It’s not an easy occupation, but we really enjoy farming and want to infuse that enjoyment in our family.”

>> Video link: bit.ly/OFSnaughton

Opinion

34 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Trade chess game reaches endgame Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

DESPITE the high-profile attempt to maintain flexibility with New Zealand’s tariff rate quotas into the European Union and United Kingdom post Brexit, this is by no means the only set of negotiations under way at the moment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is simultaneously engaged in negotiating free trade agreements with both the EU and UK, working with 18 Cairns Group members to achieve commitment to reducing agricultural subsidies, as well as the NZ-Pacific Alliance with Chile, Peru, Mexico and Colombia, and an upgrade of the ASEAN FTA. The PACER Plus agreement between 11 Pacific countries is expected to come into force by the end of this year when a minimum of eight signatories will hopefully have ratified it.

Others include the World Trade Organisation-based (WTO) negotiations on trade-related aspects of ecommerce, which aims to facilitate economic growth for both individuals

and businesses, while ensuring adequate safeguards for quickly evolving policy areas online, such as personal privacy, consumer protection, data flows, cyber security and customs procedures. The Digital Economy Partnership with Singapore and Chile is also being negotiated at the same time – and then there is the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability, which has the goal of using trade rules to tackle climate change and environmental issues.

In the event that isn’t already enough, NZ is hosting APEC next year, which has become more complicated because of the pragmatic decision to chair the conference virtually. Policy priorities will be finalised after the election, but key areas for discussion will include progrowth policies that promote sustainability and inclusion, regional trade integration and liberalisation, harnessing disruptive technologies, and implementing APEC’s post 2020 vision.

This list illustrates the supreme importance of trade to our economy, as well as demonstrating continuing efforts to ensure our agricultural sector is well diversified.

A traditional view of our agricultural trading partnerships would assume NZ depends disproportionately on a few key markets, like the USA and

China for beef, UK and EU for sheepmeat and China for dairy products.

While these markets are undoubtedly important, this view is simplistic, especially when our red meat for example is exported to more than 150 different destinations.

One bank economist recently warned meat companies against putting too many eggs in the China basket on the basis of recent trading patterns, but this ignores the huge disruption to normal export conditions since the beginning of the year.

When China emerged from the pandemic and the restricted activity around Chinese New Year, the rest of the world was moving into lockdown; with the world’s hospitality trade virtually at a standstill, China’s demand for product was the sole and shining light, until activity levels in the rest of the world started to recover.

In August, China made up less than 30% of total red meat exports which demonstrated tremendous resilience as a result of the sector’s diversification.

Analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA) shows exports increased 13% by volume and 5% by value year on year, with highlights being a 13% fall in sheepmeat sales to China more than offset by a 43% lift to the UK and substantial increases in exports to the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium.

Beef exports to the US were at their highest for August since 2015, while there were also big increases to Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

China’s purchases were down on last year because of the impact of African Swine Fever in 2019 and the favourable price of Brazilian beef.

MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the growth in sheepmeat exports to the UK and Europe highlights why the EU and UK must not be allowed to split NZ’s WTO country-specific tariff rate quotas following Brexit.

“Trade patterns are continuously changing. The red meat sector’s ability to maintain steady overall export volumes and value during these difficult times underlines the importance of flexibility and responding to constantly evolving market dynamics,” she said.

“It also illustrates the difficulty of predicting future trends based on historical trade data.

“We remain deeply concerned about the proposal for the EU and UK to split the World Trade Organisation tariff rate quotas, which would reduce that flexibility and disadvantage New Zealand.”

NZ’s trade negotiators are very frustrated by the unwillingness of the EU and UK to engage in finding a suitable solution to the impasse and, as it stands, the quota split will be implemented as proposed on January 1, when

they will ask the WTO directorgeneral to certify the adjusted schedules.

NZ and other affected members – including the USA, Canada, Thailand, Brazil and Australia among others – will be asked to agree with this course of action, but will reject the request.

Chicken, rice, beef and sugar are among the products with quotas to be split.

There is nothing to stop them trading as they are, but it will be embarrassing, especially for the UK, which is trying to present itself as a responsible WTO member.

The UK also wishes to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as a key plank of its post-Brexit trade policy, but NZ, Australia and Canada would reject their application on the grounds they are not ready to join. This would be a serious embarrassment, given the British rhetoric about their intention to liberalise once free of Europe.

Trade negotiations have been described as a multidimensional game of chess. Fortunately, NZ is well served by the chess playing expertise of its negotiating team.

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

Scream inside your heart this spring

LK0100740©

THERE’S a lamb in my yearling paddock bleating blue bloody murder. Having followed the wrong set of white legs for quite some distance, it is now issuing hunger cries at the hocks of a Murray Grey steer. The steer doesn’t seem bothered by the lamb. He has found the end of the

Heavy duty long lasting Ph 021 047 9299

baling twine that holds the gate closed and he is blissfully chewing the bejesus out of it.

Meanwhile, inside the house, we fret about how much pasture we don’t have and how little our cattle will be worth if we have to sell them on the weak store cattle market. This conversation is punctuated by the occasional chicken blowing past the window like a tumbleweed in the savage equinox winds.

Spring is always a stressful time as we anxiously wait for things to fall into place at the start of the season. But this spring is something else. Here in Dunedin, there are floods to the south of us and fires to the north. Covid-19 has the world’s restaurants chasing their tails, which means the meat export markets are tenuous at best. Tenuous would also be the best way to describe our grasp on the firehose of regulations streaming out of central government. There is no shame in that – even the regional councils are shaking in their boots.

And, that’s not to mention the general election and the triennial farmer bashing that we have come to expect with it. Farmers are taking more than their fair share of the political digs now that there are no immigrants to vilify and the growing pool of beneficiaries have safety in numbers.

It is pretty easy to get into a defeatist frame of mind. But, if we

keep focusing on the obstacles, we run the risk of missing the beautiful things happening around us. Joy is always there to be found even in the grimmest of situations. Seriously, some of the happiest people I know are funeral directors.

So, here are a few things that have made me smile lately.

First, the Town and Country Hui tractor trek. To be honest, when I heard that a tractor protest was in the wind, I was opposed.

There was a huge risk that the farmers involved would look like they were protesting against the environment rather than the unworkable and bewildering rules that have been foisted at farmers and regional councils to “help” the environment. I thought that tactical frivolity (to be explained in a future column) would be a better strategy, but I need to earn a lot more credibility before anyone is going to follow me down the rabbithole of glitter bombs and Pastafarians. So, when I turned on the news and saw a convoy of gleaming tractors and kind faces patiently explaining the crux of the problem in crisp soundbites, I was tickled pink.

Farmers shouldn’t have to protest. But, it is good to see that practise really does make perfect.

Second, the heartwarming #Bales4Blair fundraiser. Through a collaborative effort with wool brokers and New Zealand Wool

Scouring Ltd, farmers can donate wool bales to provide wool insulation and carpets for the Southland Charity Hospital. It is such a tremendously practical way to keep the late Blair Vining’s battle for health equality alive.

I almost wished I was a wool producer so that I would be able to contribute.

Third, I was also chuffed to see the breeding ewe numbers holding static in the Beef + Lamb NZ stock survey results. NZ’s ewe flock has been tanking since the 1980s and really couldn’t get much smaller without neglecting some of our lamb export markets. So, it’s good to see the sheep industry showing some signs of confidence, however tentative that confidence may be.

And, finally, the election campaigning is almost over.

Actually, by the time you read this it really is over. Election night might be a very tough gig for the farmers who have pinned their hopes on a change of government.

But if it is any consolation, I have crunched the numbers and most people are going to be let down in some way.

With the general election and the two referendums, there are three chances to be bitterly disappointed. When the votes are in, you may be jubilant that the leadership has or hasn’t changed. You may be smug that 400 legal tinny houses are or aren’t

The recovering academic Nicola Dennis

about to be dishing out cannabis throughout the country. You may be comforted to learn that lethal medication will or won’t be at hand during your final days.

But, the probability of anyone hitting the trifecta and sitting in a warm bubble of self-righteous contentment on election night are less than one in five, based on current polling. Yup, roughly 18% of people will get exactly what they want and the rest of us will have to take a compromise. Technically, it’s even lower than that if we consider the electorate seats, but I am from Dunedin, where both the major parties are standing disgraced members, so I am not sure how to work the maths on that one.

So, I guess my point, if I am at any risk of making one, is that in a world of hungry lambs and wind blown chooks, it pays to be that steer – taking a quick break from a spot of unplanned ovine parenthood to see if he can get the gate open.

IT’S ALTOGETHER BETTER IN THE

New season, new start – the spring edition of Country, New Zealand’s forward-thinking rural property magazine, showcases 122 fresh-to-the-market farm, specialty and lifestyle property opportunities.

Brought to you by New Zealand’s number one rural real estate brand, Bayleys, these properties could jump start your new direction.

To secure a copy of Country magazine, with insightful commentary about the rural sector, call 0800 BAYLEYS or view it online at bayleys.co.nz/country If the change of season has put a spring in your Country property step, your search for something altogether better starts here.

LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

#1

RURAL REAL ESTATE BRAND

A new approach to farm ownership

In a tough financing environment, equity partnerships could offer valuable options for farm ownership.

New ways to market

Rural-based food producers got creative to protect their income streams during straitened times and discovered the rise of the conscious consumer.

FEATURING

122 FARM, SPECIALTY AND LIFESTYLE PROPERTIES FOR SALE ISSUE 2 – 2020

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

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Ngakuru 145 Totara Road

First farm opportunity

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Milking 215 cows off 90 effective hectares with average production around 90,000kgMS, R2 heifers, grazed off the property, R1 heifers grazed on the property. 16 ASHB shed featuring in-shed meal feeder and new flexi tank for effluent. Support buildings include a very good range of calf rearing and other sheds. Contour is easy to rolling with a good race system. Soils are Taupo ash with excellent fertiliser history. Good water system, sourced from bore and two springs reticulated throughout the farm to storage tanks via a 32mm main line with 25mm feeder lines to troughs in every paddock. There is one main home with four bedrooms plus self contained unit attached.

School buses for both primary and secondary at the gate.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Thu 5 Nov 2020 1092 Fenton Street, Rotorua View 11am-12pm Wed 21 Oct & Wed 28 Oct Derek Enright 027 496 3974 derek.enright@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2450504

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SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Atiamuri 270 Galatos Road

Profitability, fertile and consistent

5

Seize the opportunity to purchase this fantastic farm. 189ha of quality country with 60% of easy to rolling contour balance being strong hill country providing the ability to finish all classes of stock and offering the opportunity to further introduce feed crops to extend production. This farm has wintered up to 1,000 dairy cows for 8 weeks, finished 2,500 winter lambs, traded 8,000 summer lambs and also carries 200 one & two year bulls with an excellent fertilizer history and regrassing programme, fencing is in excellent order and water system upgraded.

Improvements include a superbly positioned home with five bedrooms. A three stand woolshed, covered yards, cattle yards, on two titles.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 4 Nov 2020 View 12.30-1.30pm Wed 21 Oct & Wed 28 Oct Derek Enright 027 496 3974 derek.enright@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2450536

bayleys.co.nz

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SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

Boundary lines are indicative only

Boundary lines are indicative only

Oruanui 1450 Mapara Road

'Tau Ke' - A magnificent dairy farm

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Calling all investors! If you are looking for a solid investment in the dairy industry with a sustainable return, look no further - ‘Tau Ke’ - sure to deliver on all fronts. farm comprises 446 hectares (more or less) of land for the Dairy Platform, 242 hectares of that is freehold and a further 204 hectares leased. The freehold dry stock area is 58 hectares with a further 148 hectares leased, therefore the return on your investment will be derived from a total of 654 hectares (more or less). We are offering scale with 1050 Dairy cows that can be purchased as a going concern. Current production is 380kgMS/cow based on a low cost system. Infrastructure is of a high standard from the modern 60 bale rotary shed with Waikato Milking System technology, auto cup removers, auto teat spray, ProTrack, and in-shed feed systems. if you would like more information or a viewing contact me today.

Asking Price $9,250,000 + GST (if any) View 11am-12.30pm Thu 29 Oct or by appointment Stan Sickler 021 275 7826 stan.sickler@bayleys.co.nz

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WESTERMAN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2652454

Hawke’s Bay Hawkston Road, Patoka

Patoka dairies provide enviable returns Located in the green belt of Hawke's Bay are three adjoining dairy farms which boast excellent fertility and contour. Buy either title or all three (799 hectares). Patoka One being 313 hectares, Patoka Two - 302 hectares and Patoka Three - 182 hectares. Consolidated production peaked at 699,377kgMS (2017/2018).

With one 60-bail rotary and two 50-bail rotary sheds, a total of nine dwellings, five of which are modern homes, excellent calf rearing facilities and effluent ponds - these farms are well set up and ready to go. The free draining ash soils provide the perfect platform and with excellent pastures and water, these farms make good money.

Financials available to genuinely interested parties. The vendors offer the going concern purchase of these farms with approximately 2,000 cows, plant and machinery.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 2 Dec 2020 17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2852336

bayleys.co.nz

Hastings Pirau Road, Fernhill

Build (or duck shoot) on top of Hawke's Bay With views to die for, this 38 hectare title, subject to survey (includes a portion of Lake Oingo) has several components which provide the purchaser with options galore. Build your dream home and live the good life yourself or with several other house sites the options to further subdivide are plentiful.

Owning part of Lake Oingo you have prime duck shooting for life, and with a seven hectare cropping flat there are good horticultural options.

This unique property is topped off with a three bay lockable workshop and self contained unit.

To get all this only 15 minutes from the Napier Airport and 14 kilometres from Hastings CBD, it's a must view.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Thu 5 Nov 2020 17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2852337

Taihape 605 Mokai Road

Ruapuke - 330 hectares of clean hill country

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Located only 18kms off State Highway 1 east of Taihape, and 7kms from Taoroa Primary School, with exceptional vistas towards Mount Ruapehu and the Ruahine Ranges. The Mokai district is renowned for producing healthy livestock. Ruapuke has been leased for a long time, and now offers a rare opportunity in this tightly held district.

Run mainly as a sheep breeding operation, with the opportunity to finish most progeny, alongside flexible cattle options. Mainly easy to medium clean hill country is complemented with over 24 hectares of fertile free draining flats bounding the Rangitikei River. A permanent stream and large lagoons provide reliable stock water on the farm. Improvements include a three bedroom bungalow and four stand woolshed plus workshop/stables.

For Sale offers invited by (unless sold prior) 4pm, Thu 26 Nov 2020 View by appointment Pete Stratton 027 484 7078 peter.stratton@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2900247

bayleys.co.nz

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

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

Poroti 528 Carruth Road

Ruakaka 174 Gilbert Road

109 hectare runoff with big opportunities Here is an opportunity to build a house or spend a weekend off the grid. Situated at the end of Carruth Road, Whatitiri and approximately 19km to the Maungatapere Village, this property will attract the attention of farmers and hunters alike. Old woolshed converted into a hunter’s lodge (non-compliant) Approximately six hectares of croppable country.

Set Sale Date (unless sold prior) 2pm, Thu 19 Nov 2020 84 Walton Street, Whangarei View by appointment Stewart Ruddell 027 273 6860 stewart.ruddell@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Purchase price is plus GST (if any).

bayleys.co.nz/1050531

Peninsular dairy unit on the water's edge Perfectly positioned on the northern edges of Whangarei Harbour, with waterfront on roughly 60% of its boundary, this 118.8ha productive dairy unit in six titles provides a great opportunity for land bankers, farmers, developers or those that appreciate premium property. The beautiful Bream Bay approximately 10 minutes drive to the South boasting unmatched fishing and the white sandy beaches. Dairy production is around the 70,000kg/MS range, providing good income. Infrastructure includes a three bedroom bungalow, 22ASHB, plus farm support buildings.

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Auction (unless sold prior) 1pm, Wed 11 Nov 2020 84 Walton Street, Whangarei View by appointment Stewart Ruddell 027 273 6860 stewart.ruddell@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/1050538

Boundary lines are indicative only

Waingaro 1392 Ohautira Road

Bream Bay 850 One Tree Point Road Premium address, premium investment You will want to take the time to view this property. Great location containing 42.67ha in three titles and two dwellings. Offering flat north facing land less than 3km from the white sands of Ruakaka and less than 5km from Marsden Cove. This farm comes to the market in good heart as a result of regular fertilizer applications, maintained fences, races and is subdivided into 23 paddocks.

Holdings of this size and nature in multiple titles are rarely available in this popular location – here’s an opportunity for the astute investor.

bayleys.co.nz/1020550

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Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 2pm, Thu 26 Nov 2020 84 Walton Street, Whangarei Phone for viewing times Catherine Stewart 027 356 5031 catherine.stewart@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

The perfect balance Available for the first time in over 20 years is this 614ha property in eight titles. The land has been exceptionally well farmed with good fertiliser and regrassing history, high quality fencing and irrigation consent. A great mix of contour comprises 110ha of mowable country with the balance being medium hill with some steeper sidlings. Predominately used as dairy support, over 700t of bulk silage and 400 bales of wrapped silage have been harvested, with the property also utilised for grazing and upto 7000 lambs fattened annually. Quality infrastructure includes two woolsheds, implement shedding, sheep and cattle yards and two dwellings.

Location is a key feature of this property, only 42km to Hamilton and 28km to Raglan.

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Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Tue 17 Nov 2020 View 12-1pm Tue 20 Oct & Tue 27 Oct or by appointment Peter Kelly 027 432 4278 peter.kelly@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2311724

bayleys.co.nz

NEW LISTING

Norsewood 296 Gundries Road Affordable 96ha going concern dairy farm Located in the summer rainfall belt, this 96-hectare dairy unit provides an excellent opportunity for the first farmer. Milking 250 cows once a day, the simple low-cost farming model suits an owner operator. Improvements include a tidy three-bedroom home, extra two-bedroom cottage, 26 aside (with space for 10 extra cups) herringbone shed with in-shed feeding and a large feed pad. This is a must view for the first farmer or as an additional dairy/runoff. The vendor has invested in another farm so has decided to sell. Do the math on this farm, which represents great value for money, selling cows, plant and machinery.

North Canterbury 387 Eggleston Road, Cheviot Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 11 Nov 2020 17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Andy Hunter 027 449 5827 andy.hunter@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Lowry Hills - farming at its very best A well-balanced and productive 732.1451ha property in excellent heart, Lowry Hills is a mix of north and south facing country with good shelter. It has an excellent fertiliser history, great water supply and productive, cultivated pastures, allowing a simple and profitable farming system. Exceptionally well-fenced and tracked with a high standard of infrastructure including a cottage, fourstand woolshed and covered yards, hay and implement sheds, sheep and cattle yards. The elegant Heathcote Helmore designed homestead has been tastefully refurbished and offers the convenience of modern amenities paired with timeless dĂŠcor and style. It is set in well-sheltered gardens with a swimming pool and tennis court. A quality and high-performing property.

bayleys.co.nz/2852338

bayleys.co.nz/5512982

FINAL NOTICE

FINAL NOTICE

A solid investment opportunity

Rural Fields Limited

bayleys.co.nz/5513230

bayleys.co.nz

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For Sale

by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior)

12pm, Tue 3 Nov 2020 3 Deans Avenue, Chirstchurch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Peter Foley 021 754 737 peter.foley@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Canterbury 284 Goulds Road, Springston

Darfield, Canterbury

All the hard work has been done, a very well presented and well maintained fleet of machinery equipped with the latest technology enables the continuation of high profitability. A large loyal customer base is boasted from years of quality advice with dedication to precise timing and quality results for clients.

Perfectly located just outside of Darfield with about 90% of clients within a 30km radius from the yard, keeping travel time to a minimum. A very consistent solid cash flow is achieved from specialising in all types of cultivation, drilling and mowing, leaving future up-side with the possible expansion by providing additional services or further maximise the machinery to capture the ever increasing Canterbury Contracting market.

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Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Wed 28 Oct 2020 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225 craig.blackburn@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Situated in a prime location and boasting an excellent productivity record, this 123 hectare (subject to survey) dairy unit warrants your full attention. The availability of water combined with an efficient dairy farm system promises a solid future for this desirable property. The majority of the land is covered by a Wiper Pivot, with the balance of irrigation via the combination of a Southern Cross Gun and Turbo Rainer. The existing platform area of approximately 133 hectares has been running around 430 cows and producing an average of approximately 195,000kg/MS. The 40-bail rotary dairy shed has been fully upgraded in the last two years. The property is situated in the heart of a wonderful community, close to all local amenities.

bayleys.co.nz/5512848

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Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Thu 29 Oct 2020 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Evan Marshall 027 221 0910 evan.marshall@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

41

Fairlie

23 Awarima Road 4

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LOCATION AND POTENTIAL

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Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 2pm, Wed 4 Nov 2020 Unit 7/50 Theodosia Street, Timaru Hamish Lane 027 685 6204 hamish.lane@bayleys.co.nz Georgie Robson 027 562 4100 georgie.robson@bayleys.co.nz

TENDER closing 5 November 2020 at 4pm with our office 1227 Ranolf Street, Rotorua 60 SCRIVENERS ROAD, LICHFIELD, PUTARURU

Open Days: Wednesday 21st and 28th October. 11.30am-12.30pm

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED REAA 2008

'Awarima' - the complete package Amazing opportunity to purchase a 1312.6967 hectare (more or less) breeding and semi finishing property situated near Fairlie. Irrigation is fed via a Briggs Roto Rainer 200, supplied by the Opuha Water Scheme. Stock wintered on ‘Awarima’ includes 2450 Perendale ewes, 750 Hoggets, 73 MA Angus cross cows, 23 Angus cross replacement Heifers and 18 Steers.

bayleys.co.nz/5513176

Fairlie

121 Three Springs Road 5

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Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 2pm, Thu 5 Nov 2020 Unit 7/50 Theodosia Street, Timaru Hamish Lane 027 685 6204 hamish.lane@bayleys.co.nz Georgie Robson 027 562 4100 georgie.robson@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED REAA 2008

'Punaroa Downs' Ideal opportunity to purchase a 240.0594 hectare (more or less) well-balanced farm. Stock on hand at the end of June includes approximately 400 cattle and approximately 500 deer.

Approximately 215 hectares is deer fenced with a mixture of contour from flat to rolling hill with some steep faces and is subdivided into approximately 50 paddocks.

This 124 hectare dairy farm located in the renowned area of Lichfield. Milking 300 cows, wintered on production averaged over the last 3 years, 110,000 kg MS. Contour mainly easy rolling with some steeper sidling’s. The farm is well laid out with the dairy shed centrally located and raced to 45 paddocks with an ongoing refencing and re grassing programme. Also growing annually 11 hectares of maize. Farm water from bore.

Farm buildings, older 30 aside herringbone shed in good order with feed pad. New above ground effluent system. Three barns used for calf rearing and implements. Main home is modern with 3 bedrooms, ensuite plus bathroom. Second home 4 bedroom older home with office, large living area, double car garaging.

The farm can be purchased as a full going concern if required.

colliers.co.nz/NZL67012493

Alan Duncan 027 478 6393 alan.duncan@colliers.com CRRLD Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/5513235

FOR SALE BRACKENFIELDS SHOPPING CENTRE NORTH CANTERBURY

Open Days: Friday 30th October and Friday 13th November 12noon

EASTERN TARANAKI SHEEP & BEEF FARM 6822 Ohura Road, Kohuratahi Situated on the main road in the heart of the Kohuratahi Valley is this excellent 518 hectare sheep and beef farm. Typical of the district, the farm has mainly strong papa based soils which reflect in the quality of stock produced in the area. Long recognised as one of the better farms in the district in terms of a good balanced contour and ease of accessibility through generous road frontages off both the main road and Kohuratahi Road. The 46 paddocks are subdivided with good quality post and batten fencing with paddock water supply from numerous spring fed dams and drains. Wintering approximately 4500 stock units made up of 1700 ewes and around 160 Breeding cows plus supporting stock. The buildings consist of a four bedroom home with two detached double garages, a four stand woolshed with accompanying sheep yards (900 night pen), extensive cattle yards at frontage (ex Stock company sale yards) plus two haysheds. Farms of this carrying capacity, good contour balance and strong soil type do not appear often in the Taranaki market. This may well be the Owen Mills opportunity you have been waiting for.

For Sale By Deadline Private Treaty Closing M: 027 477 7302 Thursday 3rd December 2020 (if not sold prior).

E: owen@mgfn.co.nz Licensed Under REAA 2008

201 Broadway, Stratford

www.mgfn.co.nz

06 765 8550

SUPERMARKET ANCHORED SHOPPING CENTRE A rare opportunity to acquire a supermarket tenanted investment in a growing regional centre on high profile State-Highway 1.

+ Long term Countdown lease

The centre is anchored by supermarket giant, Countdown, providing outstanding security of cashflow with a term of 8.6 years remaining.

+ High profile - State Highway 1

+ High quality post-EQ build + Near exclusive growth catchment + Further development opportunity + Fully leased NOI: $1,335,502pa (estimated)

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Thursday 5 November 2020 at 4.00pm (unless sold prior)

TIM ROOKES 027 562 3700

CAMERON DARBY 027 450 7902

www.cbre.co.nz CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

Motivated vendor will meet the market Substantial Dairy Farming Portfolio An outstanding opportunity for an astute investor seeking a competitive yield to acquire a large-scale self-contained dairy portfolio located in South Waikato.

• Total area 2,724 hectares including 1,978 hectares dairy platform, 541 hectares support block and 90 hectares in trees

• Turn-key operation, available as a going concern including livestock, plant and machinery at valuation

• Four dairy units with four-year average production of 1.505 million kgs of milksolids from 4,810 cows

The properties are located on State Highway 32, in close proximity to Tokoroa and Whakamaru and are offered to the market with excellent, near new infrastructure having been converted in 2015. Two farms bound the Waikato river, giving access to Lake Maraetai for recreational boating and fishing.

• Support block carries all replacement heifers plus harvests 130 hectares of grass silage • Excellent accommodation provided by 16 modern brick homes

Capitalise on the efficiencies created by significant scale and the strong fundamentals of global demand for dairy products by investing at an opportune time in the property cycle.

Motivated vendor will meet the market for this portfolio of dairy properties that are generating very attractive returns. Properties will be offered in the first instance collectively; and then as individual farms by way of public auction.

For more info about these properties please contact Property Brokers sales consultants:

Brian Peacocke M 021 373 113 P 07 870 2112 brianp@pb.co.nz

Dave Peacocke M 027 473 2382 P 07 870 2112 davep@pb.co.nz

Dairy Support

RURAL TOKOROA Wainui Road • • • • • • • • • •

WEB ID TWR02686

541.2446 hectares (subject to title) Taupo sandy loam soils Easy to medium rolling country with some sidlings Approx. 480 ha in pasture with 130 ha mowable Bore water supply to troughs in all 98 paddocks Grazes all replacement heifers through for two years Near new 250 head capacity steel cattle yards 3-bay implement shed plus lockable workshop Covered double-bay 200t fertiliser bunker 1 modern brick dwelling

SOLD by private treaty

Atiamuri

RURAL WHAKAMARU 2603 Whakamaru Road

WEB ID TWR02688

• 612.7273 hectares • Atiamuri sandy loam soils on flats, Ngakuru hill loam on higher country • Flat to easy undulating contour with some easy hill on higher country • 594 hectare dairy platform; 1,420 cows • 4-year average 418,741 kg milksolids • 60 bail rotary dairy with in-shed meal feeding • 600 cow capacity concrete feed pad • 4 modern brick homes

SOLD by private treaty

pb.co.nz/atarangi

TOKOROA Telephone 0800 367 5263

Price expectation based on yield Tokoroa Downs

AUCTION TOKOROA 726 State Highway 32

WEB ID TWR02689

• 593.1596 hectares • A mix of Tirau silty loam and Taupo sandy loam soils • Flat to easy undulating contour with some sidlings • 546 hectare dairy platform; 1,330 cows • 4-year average 428,574 kg milksolids • 60 bail rotary dairy with in-shed meal feeding • 600 cow capacity concrete feed pad • 20 hectares in eucalypt plantation deriving lease income • 4 modern brick homes VIEW 21 Oct 11.00 - 1.00PM AUCTION Friday, 6th November, 2020 South Waikato Sport & Events Centre 25 Mossop Road, Tokoroa

Twin Lakes

AUCTION WHAKAMARU 1957 Whakamaru Road

WEB ID TWR02690

• • • • • • • •

482.8841 hectares Atiamuri sandy loam soils Flat to easy undulating contour with some sidlings 367 hectare dairy platform; 935 cows 4-year average 290,094 kg milksolids 60 bail rotary dairy with in-shed meal feeding 600 cow capacity concrete feed pad 37 hectares in eucalypt plantation deriving lease income • 18 ha ex forestry suitable for pastoral development • 3 modern brick homes VIEW 21 Oct 11.00 - 12.00PM AUCTION Friday, 6th November, 2020 South Waikato Sport & Events Centre 25 Mossop Road, Tokoroa

Whakamaru

AUCTION WHAKAMARU 2362 Whakamaru Road • • • • • • • •

WEB ID TWR02691

494.0799 hectares Atiamuri sandy loam soils Flat to easy undulating contour with some sidlings 470 hectare dairy platform; 1125 cows 4-year average 368,030 kg milksolids 60 bail rotary dairy with in-shed meal feeding 600 cow capacity concrete feed pad 4 modern brick homes

VIEW 21 Oct 1.00 - 2.00PM AUCTION Friday, 6th November, 2020 South Waikato Sport & Events Centre 25 Mossop Road, Tokoroa

Te Awamutu 1287 Te Kawa Road Open Day

Ellerton Farm A quality dairy unit, uniquely located with the Waipa River on the western boundary, in the southern sector of the Pokuru district, midway between Te Awamutu and Otorohanga.

• 154.73 ha situated at 1287 Te Kawa Road (West), 17 km from Te Awamutu • attractive flat to easy rolling contour with a small area of sidlings • predominantly Mairoa Ash, some peat loam; well subdivided; Tihiroa District Water Scheme • aesthetically pleasing with numerous deciduous specimen trees • calving approx 455 cows; 3 year average of 142,000 kgMS • 28 ASHB farm dairy with in-shed feed system, adjoining feed pad and concrete races; large range of farm buildings • 4 brm brick homestead with ensuite, good living areas, inground pool; 2 additional 3 brm brick dwellings • a great district with good schooling options available

Auction 1.00pm, Thu 5th Nov, 2020, Te Awamutu Sports Club Albert Park Drive, Te Awamutu View Tue 20 Oct 11.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TWR02902

Brian Peacocke M 021 373 113

E brianp@pb.co.nz

Te Awamutu 8 Cottle Road Open Day

Quality property - quality location A particularly attractive dairy unit situated in the very good farming district of Korakonui, 25 km south east of Te Awamutu and a similar distance north of Otorohanga.

• 8 Cottle Road, off Happy Valley Road, Korakonui, Te Awamutu - 136.2265 ha; free draining Mairoa Ash soils • a pleasing mix of flat to easy rolling contour; attractive with numerous autumn colouring specimen trees planted around the property; well subdivided; good water supply • 420 cows calved produced 138,258 kgMS 2019/2020 season; excellent 60 bail rotary dairy with in-shed feed system • large high-stud workshop / implement shed plus support buildings • spacious 5 brm brick homestead with tennis court set in established grounds • additional dwellings include a well maintained 4 brm home plus a smaller 3 brm home • bus service to very good primary and secondary schooling Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Auction 1.00pm, Thu 5th Nov, 2020, Te Awamutu Sports Club Albert Park Drive, Te Awamutu View Thu 22 Oct 11.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TWR02901

Brian Peacocke M 021 373 113

E brianp@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Te Poi Tauranga Road Tender

Unique money spinner here Here is your chance to buy a well set up farming operation milking 290 cows autumn calving cows with all young stock and fifty head of beef cattle also farmed on the property. Production is consistent around 150,000 kgMS and with maize silage and grass crops grown on farm, this operation is profitable. This property has provided for three generations of family and hasn't been on the market since 1919 which sums up the enjoyment and pleasure that all have had with this unique farm. The farm consists of 216 ha with 136 ha in grass along with two adjoining leases of 28 ha. The noneffective area is native bush that has no restrictive covenants in place. The location of the farm is ideal being approximately 10 km south east of Matamata and a leisurely 20 minute drive to Tauranga. Farm infrastructure is good and the buildings include two herd homes, implement sheds, 3 x 250 T silage bunkers, calf sheds, workshop, haybarns and a 26 ASHB with a modern De Laval swing over plant.

Wairoa 1720 Lake Road

Tender closes Tuesday 3rd November, 2020 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Cnr Arawa & Tui Streets matamata View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/MOR02871

Ian Morgan M 027 492 5878

E ian.morgan@pb.co.nz

Central Hawkes Bay 1200 State Highway 50 Auction

Entry level farming

Brinksway

• 251 ha of Wairoa hill country • 3 stand raised board woolshed • Sheep and cattle yards • 2 satellite sheep yards • 17 main paddocks • Great stock water

Auction 12.00pm, Thu 26th Nov, 2020, (unless sold prior), 66 Reads Quay, Gisborne View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/GIR78453

Great addition to any farming operation or an opportunity as a first farm.

Tom Lane M 021 058 7018

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender

176 ha, 20 km west of Waipukurau. Flat Takapau soils, free draining, ideal for cropping or finishing both cattle and lambs. Four bedroom homestead set in a mature gardens plus second three bedroom home. Full set of farm improvements. Adjoining Brinksway is 44 ha bare land providing an opportunity to purchase 220 ha.

Options: 176 ha Brinksway plus 44 ha Bareland (neighbour) 220 ha Total

Tender closes Thursday 12th November, 2020 at 2.00pm, Property Brokers Limited, 98 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WR78223

Pat Portas M 027 447 0612

Proud to be here

46

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; October 19, 2020

Feilding 2522 Kimbolton Road Open Day

Moorfield Within 15 minutes easy commute of the township of Feilding is a 150 ha (more or less) property, available in one or two titles, which has many credible features. These include the complementary balance of contour spread over three terraces, including winter valuable river flats. A large proportion of the farm consists of alluvial and naturally fertile Kiwitea loam.

Well maintained improvements including the five-bedroom homestead, four-stand woolshed with covered yards, large shedding and 2 bay workshop, plus all-weather metaled access tracks and the district water scheme adds to the appeal.

These are some of the many qualities that will make you rank "Moorfield" as your number one opportunity this year. The home of the nationally renowned sheep stud "Moorfield", this is a must inspect property if you are in the market for a farm that could be either an outstanding sheep/beef finishing, breeding, cropping unit or an excellent dairy support property.

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes Tuesday 24th November, 2020 at 11.00am, Property Brokers Ltd, 54 Kimbolton Road, Feilding View Tue 27 Oct 10.00 - 11.00am Web pb.co.nz/FR77582

Stuart Sutherland M 027 452 1155 E stuarts@pb.co.nz Blair Cottrill M 027 354 5419

E blair@pb.co.nz

OPEN DAY

66B Washbourne Road

176.507hectares

Morrinsville Kiwitahi Dairy Situated 15kms from Morrinsville in the rolling farmland of Kiwitahi, this 176ha dairy farm waits for you.Milking 400 cows for 125,600 m/s, calves on, modern 33AS H/B with feed pad and well raced with two hot wire fences. Streams are fenced as are the numerous tree plantings.. 4 bay calf shed, workshop with 3ph power, 2 x 4 bay hay barns, 3 good homes - 1x 5 bedroom Hardiplank, 1x 3 bedroom brick and 1x 3 bedroom Hardiplank. The cowshed has town water as do two of the homes. 2 water rams supply to the header tank then gravity fed, 10ha of maize grown and 100 ton of PKE bought in.

The farm is well worth your inspection and has been leased for the last four years to a family member.

AUCTION

Think Outside The Box 181 Douglas Rd, Matamata

For Sale Expressions Of Interest around GV $7,100,000 ___________________________________ View Thurs 22nd & 29th Oct 11am-1pm ___________________________________ Agent Terry Court 021 754 233

It's rare to be presented with a proposition as exciting as this.

Purchase 75 ha freehold & lease the adjoining 52 ha, then milk off the lot through a 2012 built 40 ASHB fitted with Pro-trac. This dairy farm has been under the same ownership for the past 18 years. Their operating model has proven to be very successful creating the corner stone of the family business enabling continued growth. Producing approx. 160,000kgs/ms.

Reduce your risk by investing less capital per kg/ms. Our semi retiring clients have decided to downsize and take things a little easier. They are willing to consider all options ranging from going concern through to surrendering their winter milk

LJ Hooker Morrinsville (07) 889 8015

contract. All discerning buyers need to follow this one up.

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

matamata.ljhooker.co.nz/H6BHR1

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

Auction

Thurs 19th Nov, 1pm Matamata Club (Unless sold prior)

___________________________________ View

Thurs 22nd & 29th Oct, 11am - 12pm

___________________________________ Agent Rex Butterworth 021 348 276 Peter Begovich 027 476 5787 LJ Hooker Matamata 07 888 5677 Link Realty Ltd. Licensed Agent REAA 2008

LIS TI N G N EW

WELL DEVELOPED GRASS FACTORY WITH APPEALING INFRASTRUCTURE Moaland, 425 Daggs Road, Alfredton, Wairarapa

nzr.nz//RX2235087 Blair Stevens AREINZ 027 527 7007 | blair@nzr.nz Dave Hutchison 027 286 9034 | dave@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

N EW

LIS TI N G

Moaland is a well-regarded easy to medium hill country sheep and beef unit, located 40 minutes drive north of Masterton. Moaland is a very well set up and easy to run unit with quality improvements- the hard graft and development have been done. The five bedroom homestead is set amongst a tennis court and inground pool. The outbuildings include a very sound two bay lock up workshop and attached three bay shed. The eye catching woolshed features a four stand raised board with attached covered yards and a 1,000NP. In addition, there are two sets of satellite sheep yards placed at the ends of the laneways for easy stock movement and a set of cattle yards near the road. Moaland has had consistent fertiliser applications over many years with good Olsen P and pH levels. The annual rainfall averages 1,200mm, there is excellent natural water supply and most paddocks have access to the laneways. A unique feature is the popular tar-sealed airstrip which delivers non-farm income. This is a genuine hill country unit with enviable infrastructure that is well located, well laid out for easy management, producing renowned stock from good inputs with bonus non-farm income. Moaland is humming- this is an excellent opportunity to purchase a quality property ready to go!

Tender Closes 4pm, Thu 19 Nov 2020. NZR, Level 1, 16 Perry Street, Masterton.

409 hectares Video on website

UNIQUE SCALED INVESTMENT & HUNTING OPPORTUNITY - $420,000 LEASE "Manuka Wilderness" 884 Surreydale Road, Pahiatua, Tararua Manuka Wilderness is an 842ha property situated 15 min east of Pahiatua. Manuka Wilderness is a unique property - a large scale mono-floral Manuka site - much sought after in the market. Manuka Wilderness is offered to the market for freehold purchase based on a 20-year lease-back (5yr x3 ROR) The lessee will stock with 2,000 hives and is achieving circa UMF 20+. There is a comfortable Hunting Lodge, implement shed, Hunters hut, deer traps and boundary (with some internal) deer / sheep & beef fencing and well-formed access tracks. Prior to the current ownership the property was utilised as a hunting and safari block. Currently there is a high deer (Red & Fallow) resident population. The vendor is seeking capital out of this property to further develop their international retail Manuka honey business.

The lease payment is set allowing the purchaser to determine their return based off their purchase price. Hunting rights are on offer to the purchaser as well. With the current low interest rate environment (and likely to lower further) we would expect strong demand from high net worth individuals or syndicates seeking a proven recreational hunting block with the opportunity to have a cashflow return as well - a unique combination. Property Report & Lease available upon request.

Deadline Sale Closes 4pm, Thu 12 Nov 2020. NZR, Level 1, 16 Perry Street, Masterton 5810.

842 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2496214 Blair Stevens AREINZ 027 527 7007 | blair@nzr.nz Dave Hutchison 027 286 9034 | dave@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

LIS TI N G N EW

PICTURESQUE SHEEP/BEEF/DAIRY OPERATION WITH QUALITY HOME - 305.4 HECTARES 451 Table Flat Road, Apiti, Manawatu

nzr.nz/RX2530415 Tender Closes 11am, Wed 25 Nov 2020, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

N EW

LIS TI N G

Options abound on this highly attractive property, that is currently operated as a mixed sheep/beef and dairy business; continue with the current blend or re-deploy the quality flats as finishing country and have a superbly balanced property. With the ability to also split by land-use or by title, various options are described online.

Underpinned by superb volcanic loess soils, around 123ha is flat with the balance clean medium hills and appealing bush margin along the 3.5km of Oroua river boundary. Approx. 86ha is milked on through a well appointed 28aside HB shed, supported by quality sheds with 3 and 1 bedroom homes close-by. Operated under regenerative principles with focus on biological inputs, along with leased land, 365 cows are being milked. A 3 stand woolshed supports the sheep and beef operation which currently utilises the hill country as a high performing breeding unit.

The well appointed modern main home enjoys a dramatic panorama to the ranges and mountains beyond; 286m² in size comprising five bedrooms, plus office and two living areas, and is double glazed. A separately owned 127 hectare property is currently for sale across the road, creating potential to create a larger operation.

Open Days - led ride commences at 11am, Wed 21/10, Sun 25/10 & Wed 28/10 (bring bike & helmet), or call for private inspection.

305.4 hectares Video on website

BALANCED UNIT WITH QUALITY HOME 482 Table Flat Road, Apiti, Manawatu Quality volcanic loess soils are the key productive assets here, while a modern home provides superb creature comforts.

The medium hills are complemented by 35ha of well subdivided flats, connected via a central laneway, all reticulated with spring sourced water. The eight year old, 5 bed plus office home, enjoys spectacular views over the district and beyond.

305ha for sale over the road, provides further scale options.

Open Days 1pm, Wed 21/10, Sun 25/10 & Wed 28/10 (bring bike & helmet), or call for private inspection.

127.8 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2524361 Tender Closes 11am, Wed 25 Nov 2020, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

PRIVATE & HANDY TO TOWN - 59.1HA 254 Te Rakehou Road, Feilding, Manawatu Only 5 minutes to Feilding is this attractive rolling and flat farm.

Quality conventional fencing in the main with stock water reticulated from a bore, the farm has been used to finish cattle.

Farm buildings include a four bay shed, while another, built for calf rearing, could easily convert to a woolshed. The circa 275m² home, privately set well back from the road, was extended 20 years ago, is within a lovely woodland garden.

59.1 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2496390 Tender Closes 11am, Thu 5 Nov 2020, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

OPTIONS TO SUIT ALL - 260 HA

4 BED | 2+ BATH | 6+ CAR Video on website

155 James Road, Halcombe, Manawatu An unparalleled combination of attractive land, quality infrastructure and a striking home. Close to two country schools, just 10 minutes from Feilding on a quiet "country lane", the immediate environment is predominated by quality homes.

Understated in style, the home features expansive living areas, with wide openings to hardwood decks on two sides. Well fenced, with great stock handling facilities and reticulated water.

Impressive high stud shed with deep bays and a woolshed.

314 Kawautahi Road, Owhango

nzr.nz/RX2514327

Looking for that start to your farming career or increasing your farming portfolio? This attractive medium hill country farm is held in 3 titles. A 4 bedroom quality home, tastefully renovated recently, with large outdoor decking overlooking the established gardens. Other infrastructure includes a tidy 4-stand woolshed with smaller covered yards, cattle yards with good all-weather access as well as additional satellite stock yards and an airstrip with a 100-tonne fertiliser bin. Three purchasing options: 1 - entire property; 2 - 149 ha with home and woolshed; 3 - 112 ha Satellite sheep, cattle yards and air strip.

VIEW BY APPOINTMENT Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz Nicola Barnett 027 482 6831 | nicola@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

Tender Closes, 11am Wed 4 Nov 2020.

Here’s a great opportunity to invest in a 128 hectare (317 acre) deer farm with an excellent production history, outstanding infrastructure and a quality 4 bedroom home. Located 15 kms east of Dannevirke, the property overlooks the Waitahora Valley and enjoys a fantastic rural outlook. With 32 deer-fenced paddocks, a circular race, deershed, yards and 3-stand raised board woolshed this is your opportunity to upsize, downsize or to expand you portfolio into the lucrative venison market.

Tender closing 4.00pm Thursday 12th November 2020.

Call me today for more information about this superior property. www.forfarms.co.nz - FF3014

DANNEVIRKE

HILL COUNTRY FINISHING

260 hectares Tender

nzr.nz/RX2143830 Tender Closes 11am, Thu 3 Dec 2020, NZR, 1 Goldfinch St, Ohakune.

Jamie Proude AREINZ 027 448 5162 | 06 385 4466 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

DANNEVIRKE

Viewing by appointment.

125 hectare (309 acre) hill country farm in the

Viewing by appointment.

FOR SALE BY TENDER

reputable Mangahei farming district. The farm

$1,850,000 + GST

is located just 20 minutes from Dannevirke and has a range of contours, including 20 hectares of flats at the back of the farm. The property enjoys

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

good soil types, 3-stand woolshed and a reliable water supply. The 3 bedroom Villa homestead is very well presented and is complimented by the

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

pool and established gardens.

In addition there is a single self-contained cottage for family, friends or a worker. The opportunity LK0104259©

DEER TO BE DIFFERENT

49

to own a first farm or add to your existing farm as a finishing or grazing block is worth making the phone call for more information.

www.forfarms.co.nz - FF2908

LK0104258©

UNPARALLELED COMBINATION - 25HA

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

50

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

Licensed REAA 2008

WAITUNA WEST, MANAWATU 'Momona Farm' Location, Contour, Size 472ha ideal breeding and finishing farm in a soughtafter farming area 26km from Feilding. Features a very appealing balance of contour from extensive flats to rolling/medium to steeper hill. Two fourbedroom homes, a full range of farm buildings including stables. Good subdivision, water, pasture and farm access. An impressive property.

PURCHASE OPTIONS: a) 472ha - (as above) b) 213ha - House, woolshed/yards, flats/medium hill c) 129ha - House, sheds, stables, easy/medium hill d) 129ha - Bare land, medium/steeper hill

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) Closes 2.00pm, Tuesday 24 November 2020

VIEW By Appointment Only

Ian Ross M 027 235 4676 E iross@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/FDG33063 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

ruralandlifestylesales.com

Helping grow the country

Rural and Lifestyle Sales.com Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

Your destination For Rural real Estate

Market your property to an audience that counts

Add another touchpoint to your campaign on the website built for farmers.

Align your brand with content farmers read: • Geo and agri sector targeting options available • Post campaign analysis of your adverts performance • Advertise on our Real Estate page alongside relevant editorial content • Enrich your print ad - Click through to your property videos or websites from the virtual edition.

Get in touch with your agent today

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

ROTORUA, BAY OF PLENTY 2028 State Highway 5 'Pukemara' - 301 Hectares

4

2

1

TENDER

Favoured with instructions from the vendors we present this 301 hectare more or less dry-stock farm to the market. Situated some 25km south-east of Rotorua, the property is currently leased.

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Friday 20 November

Contours are a portion of easy, with the main part being undulating to medium hill.

VIEW 12.00-1.00pm, Wednesday 28 October

Infrastructure comprises of a main four bedroom, master with en-suite, dwelling in mature grounds, a second dwelling of three bedrooms, master with en-suite and an office, transported on some years ago.

Sundry buildings include a three-stand woolshed with sheep yards, cattle yards and several farm sheds. Water is via a bore pumped to storage tanks and gravity fed around the property.

Given the close proximity to Rotorua, the port of Tauranga and several processing mills, this farm has a number of future options, to continue as a dry stock farm or alternatively be transformed into a carbon forest or any number of wood forests.

Graham Beaufill M 027 474 8073 E graham.beaufill@pggwrightson.co.nz pggwre.co.nz/ROT32912 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

‘Property Express’ rural property magazine out now – www.pggwre.co.nz/property-express www.pggwre.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008.

Helping grow the country

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

EXCLUSIVE

DARGAVILLE, NORTHLAND Large Holding with Options 375 hectares in eight titles with location. GJ Gardner family home with large deck and captivating views.

Fattening 300 Friesian bulls (from four day old through to finishing). Mixture of flats, rolling hills with some steeper. 64 paddocks with internal four and two electric wires. Covered calf rearing shed, three bay implement shed, half round barn, three sets of stock yards - two with loading facilities and head bails. Water supply is by way of a bore and dams. Call us to discuss the options available for purchase.

3

2

2

AUCTION

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Tuesday 24 November PGG Wrightson, Whangarei Office

Megan Browning M 027 668 8468 E mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz Tom Hackett M 027 498 2908 E tom.hackett@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/DAG32873

WAIKARETU, TUAKAU 'Pairama Station' In 1913, a young 17-year-old came north from Wellington to develop 1700 acres of scrub land.

Three generations of his descendants have continued his dream and today 'Pairama Station' is 867ha of extensively developed pasture with pockets of native bush. The 5-stand 2-storey woolshed, and concreted cattle and sheep yards is at the hub of the farming operation. The homestead was extensively renovated in 1985. The workers cottage is situated to capture the morning sun. Pairama is a turn key operation. Do not miss this opportunity to invest in this historic and well-managed station.

4

3

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Friday 11 December

VIEW By Appointment Only

Adrian van Mil M 027 473 3632 E avanmil@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/PUK32992

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

TAUMARUNUI, RUAPEHU 14 Knight Rd Ongarue Quality 364 hectares, more or less and home to McMillan Shedding Sheep. Excellently farmed and presented property - attention to detail throughout.

Two houses, woolshed, covered yards, implement shed and own airstrip. Very strong fertiliser history, good water from four springs. An extremely appealing breeding and finishing "turn key" property.

Please bring your own motorbike to Open Days.

3

2

2

AUCTION

TAUMARUNUI, RUAPEHU 58 Tunanui Rd 'Fernleaf'

(Unless Sold Prior) 1.00pm, Friday 27 November Panorama Motor Inn, Awakino Road, Te Kuiti

•

VIEW 11.00-12.00pm

•

Wednesday 28 October

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

pggwre.co.nz/TEK32768

•

• •

183 hectares from croppable flat, rolling and medium hill contour Home of both Fernleaf Romneys and Fernleaf Farmstays Buildings include two dwellings, woolshed and a four-bay machinery shed Water is ex Owhango water supply The contour is the stand out feature on this long established farm

4

4

TENDER

(Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 1.00pm, Friday 20 November PGGWRE, 57 Rora Street, Te Kuiti

VIEW 11.00-12.00pm Thursday 29 October

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

pggwre.co.nz/TEK32918

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

‘Property Express’ rural property magazine out now – www.pggwre.co.nz/property-express www.pggwre.co.nz

1

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008.

Helping grow the country

Farm Trader

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

farmersweekly.co.nz/advertising 0800 85 25 80

53

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FWT/FERRIS/2020

LK0104030©

• Manufactured from stainless steel • Electric Eye • 800-1000 sheep per hour

NZ’s #1 Agri Job Board

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

Shepherd/General

Stock Manager (Young stock and bull farming operation)

Regional Livestock Manager - Waikato/BOP

The Otiwhiti Westoe Farming company is a large progressive and high performing farming business farming around the Rangitikei district farming 1700ha of hill country and 400ha of inclusive finishing land.

A lead position is available for a youngstock and bull farming operation covering approximately 1000 head across three properties on the Hauraki Plains.

HAMILTON

A position has become available for a Shepherd/General on the

Essential skills required for the role include: • Pasture management and feed budgeting skills • A high level of livestock management capability • Basic computer and spreadsheet skills • General farm maintenance skills • People leadership capability

1700ha, 1000ha effective Otiwhiti Station Block 16km inland from Are you looking for a senior sales leadership role with influence?

The Waikato and greater region have a significant impact on the profitability of our Livestock business, and this role is key to our business success.

Hunterville.

Otiwhiti Station winters 6000 sheep and 500 cattle.

The role is 50% stock work and 50% general work.

You will lead Area Livestock Managers and their Livestock Representatives in the region to drive existing business and develop high performing sales culture. The role reports to the North Island Livestock Manager and will be based in Hamilton

Otiwhiti Station is the home of the Otiwhiti Agricultural Training School.

This job role will involve working with and mentoring trainees.

Optional skills: • An interest in genetics and stud stock • A heavy traffic licence

To find out more or apply; https://careers.pggwrightson.co.nz/search and enter reference number 14742FARWEE.

The successful applicant must have a minimum of three years’ experience but also could be someone looking at stepping back from

Housing and remuneration to meet requirements and skill sets.

For more information on this opportunity, please contact Peter Moore on 021 526 747.

farming, shearing or contract fencing. They must have a team of at least 2-3 dogs under good command. Whilst being part of the staff team the

The ability for the successful applicant to have investment opportunities.

Contact – office@townshend.co.nz

applicant must be able to manage themselves and their workload whilst contributing to the team and overall objectives of the business.

www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Helping grow the country

SHEPHERD

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A good level of fencing and practical knowledge is required.

A tidy 3-bedroom home with a garage is included in the package.

Both Primary and Secondary School buses are close.

Please send your CV in the first instance to Blair Rhodes, Farm Manager – Ph 027 371 1908, Email countryrhodes@xtra.co.nz

CATTLE DATA COLLECTOR

Rangiatea Station

FARM MANAGER

We are seeking a Shepherd to join our team of five on our Sheep, Beef and Deer operation situated in the Turangi area.

The Farm Manager we are looking for will be primarily responsible for creating a fantastic working culture that promotes teamwork whilst developing and growing the skills of your 3 direct reports.

Rangiatea Station is 2865ha spread over three locations. It is a breeding and finishing farm wintering 26,700 stock units with a farm policy to finish all progeny on the property.

The key aspects of the role are as follows: • Creating an exclusive culture where everyone feels valued and enjoys farming.

• Developing and training your staff to prepare them for their next step • Willing to support and muck in on farm, and become part of the local community • Take responsibility for and own our well-established procedures in Health & Safety, Animal Husbandry and Environmental • Responsible for the execution of the farm system including delivery on the agreed physical and financial performance targets

The successful applicant must: • Be self-motivated with an excellent work ethic • Be a good stockperson • Have 4-5 well trained dogs • Be keen to work in a team situation • Be honest and have a positive attitude towards their work and other staff • Be willing to learn and take on responsibility

We are looking for a progressive person who is ready for next step.

Frankton Sale Yards – Casual Vacancy

We will provide significant support to ensure you are successful in the role. Our objective is to enhance your skills that assist with your personal development and ultimately your future career progression.

Join the frontline team at AgriHQ, NZ’s leading livestock market information provider. We have a casual employment vacancy to join our team of data collectors at Frankton sale yards.

There is a great variation of work within the farming operation. The role will be mainly stock work, with some general duties as required.

If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you. We offer a very attractive remuneration package which includes a comfortable 4-bedroom house.

The role: If you have a good knowledge of cattle breeds (particularly dairy beef) and ages, and the ability to ‘condition’ cattle, then keep reading. You will need to attend Frankton’s Tuesday sales and Thursday weaner fairs, and be available to provide cover for other sales when needed. This may include Rangiuru sale yard cover.

Send CV with references included to: Colene@maxwellfarms.co.nz Phone: 027 446 9556

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Farm location is the Patoka district, 45km North West of Napier.

This role requires you to be able to follow the sale process efficiently and without distraction, inputting data from each pen of cattle into the tablet as they are sold. Some knowledge of operating a tablet is preferred. Training and guidance will be provided.

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

JOBS BOARD JOBS BOARD

Start date Tuesday November 24, 2020.

Contact Debbie Brown 06 323 0765 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz LK0104407©

For more details please contact suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz or 027 622 9217

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

ANIMAL HANDLING

ATTENTION FARMERS

FLY OR LICE problem?

Electrodip – the magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides.

Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness.

Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m

FAST GRASS www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT Only $6.00 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 brianmace@xtra.co.nz

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

ATTENTION DAIRY FARMERS FOR SALE. Stainless Steel A.I. pistolettes, minis and maxis. As new cond. $38 ea. Phone Peter 022 590 0326.

DAGS .20c PER KG. Replacement woolpacks.

PV Weber Wools.

Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone Marie on 0800 985 25 80.

BIRDS/POULTRY PULLETS HY-LINE brown, great layers.

07 824 1762. Website: eurekapoultryfarm.weebly. com – Have fresh eggs each day!!!

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Otiwhiti Westoe Farming Co

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

DOGS FOR SALE DELIVERING. BUYING MOST NZ 24/10/20. www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos – email: mikehughesworkingdogs @farmside.co.nz 07 315 5553

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

In recent years the owners have put a lot of resources into developing the Station to enable its production to be lifted, you could be part of the team that takes Rangiatea to the next level.

There is a good local farming community with excellent hunting on the property.

We offer a competitive salary package, as well as ongoing training and personal development to enable you to obtain your personal career goals.

A recently renovated 3-bedroom home is available with school bus at the gate to the local primary school (Kuratau School).

Please e-mail CV and cover letter to: rangiatea.station@xtra.co.nz

Applications close 22nd of October 2020.

For more information contact Andrew Bolton-Riley – Farm Manager on 027 247 7320

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

Noticeboard FORESTRY

GOATS WANTED

LAND WANTED

PUMPS

WANTED

NAKI GOATS. Trucking goats to the works every week throughout the NI. Phone Michael and Clarice.

027 643 0403.

RETIRED RURAL MAN seeking land to park camper. Buy, lease, rent or caretake. Rural BOP 027 864 5092.

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.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

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

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide.

We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase.

NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 04 293 2097 Richard.

WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone Marie on 0800 985 25 80.

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

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

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

BOOK AN AD. For only $2.10 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds. Phone Marie on 0800 85 25 80 to book.

MACHINERY WANTED RETIRED RELIABLE logging bulldozer. Loader.

Digger. Trailer. To buy, lease, loan or caretake.

BOP 027 864 5092.

RAMS FOR SALE WILTSHIRE & SHIRE® Meat rams. Low input. www.wiltshire-rams.co.nz 03 225 5283.

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

PERSONAL

Your Perfect Partner Does exist & she is closer than you think!

At CCN we help lonely COUNTRY gentlemen in finding their Soul Mates and Romantic partners.

We specialise in introducing couples the old fashioned way, the only way that assures a high rate in success.

To find your special partner please call

0800 446 332 Seniors Welcome

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54

www.countrycompanionship.co.nz

0101843 Cabins High Country & Construction 63.57x50

Est. 1983 Dedicated to delivering farmers the best service and best returns

43 Severn Street Pandora, Napier . 06 835 6173 . www.kellswool.co.nz

High Country Cabins and Construction www.highcountrycabinsandconstruction.com

CRAIGCO

FO SALR E

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

Do you have something to sell?

powered by

LK0104545©

SHEEP JETTERS SHEEP JETTERS SINCE 1992

Specialising in working dog transportation

CRAIGCO SENSOR JET

Available in kitset & fully build packages. Available NZ wide.

• • • • •

Further information phone 027 963 5390 Highcountrycabins66@gmail.com

Special rates for working dogs Safe and secure transport 100% care throughout your dogs transport Large roomy kennels Also working pups and family pets

Transportation throughout NZ – monthly runs Guaranteed Performance Save time and Money . Flystrike and Lice cost $$$ Quick to Set up . Easy to use . Job Done Robust construction. Auto shut gate. Adjustable V panels Total 20 Jets. Lambs 5 jets. Side jets for Lice.

Davey Twin Impeller Pump. 6.5 or 9.0 Hp motors

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Further details see www.petbus.co.nz Ph 027 332 1991

T H IN K PRE B U I L T

ADVERSE PUBLICITY ORDER

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

4 Hippos Farm Limited (SECTION 153 HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ACT 2015)

TOWABLE FLAIL MOWER

When only the best will do!

LIVESTOCK & MACHINERY FOR SALE

FARM MACHINERY • 2004 New holland TL 90 4X4, brand new front tyres • Mower UFO 240HL hydraulic lift • Gilltrap G2 bales feeder • Spreader Walco allspread 6.75 • SamTip trailer • 6 tonne tandem axle • Hustler bale clampers • Silvan spray tanker 800 litres with boom • C-dax bike spinner • All calf feeders portable and tow behind bike All machinery is serviced yearly, shedded and maintained. Many other bits and pieces as well.

Price is $490,000 - $495,000 + GST depending on final numbers

2 YEAR WARRANTY. NZ ASSEMBLED. ELECTRIC START & QUALITY YOU CAN RELY ON

4 Hippos Farm Limited was convicted and sentenced in the Invercargill District Court on 2 August 2019 for an offence against sections 38(1), 48(1) and (2)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. The charge attracts a maximum fine of $1.5 million. The charge arose from an incident in which a worker’s hand was seriously injured when he was operating a wood splitter machine.

027 499 9745 or 027 587 9862

TOWABLE TOPPING MOWER

13.5HP. Briggs & Stratton Motor.

Electric start.

1.2m cut 11.5HP Briggs & Stratton Motor.

Industrial. Electric start.

GST $4400 INCLUSIVE

GST $4200 INCLUSIVE

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

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

LK0104532©

4 Hippos Farm Limited operates a dairy farm in Wyndham, Southland. Since 2016 it has also operated a firewood business from the farm, trading and selling firewood. The victim had been working for 4 Hippos Farm Limited for approximately two weeks. He was operating a wood splitter when he noticed some bark stuck near the blade. He reached for the bark with his left hand and at the same time, he inadvertently pressed one of the control levers with his right hand activating the blade. The blade descended and crushed the victim’s left hand resulting in serious injuries.

✁

SCOTTY’S CONTRACTORS We also clean out and remetal cattle yards – Call Us!

RU THIN GNG N EA I I R K K ORORAPAERAAPDANOW] WW AIORUR SHE TAWIH KY

BTZ Forestry Marketing and Harvesting

FROM THIS

(Obtaining the best profits for our customers)

O

Farmers/Woodlot owner Tired of waiting for someone to harvest your trees?

[BO

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✁

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

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

TO THAT

We are not committed to one buyer that is how we get our customers the most profit we can. Set up to do the smaller, trickier wood lots. No job too big or too small.

LK104530©

Nominate a school on booking and we’ll donate $100 on payment of your account.

LK0103214©

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

WorkSafe’s investigation found that 4 Hippos Farm Limited failed to ensure that the wood splitter was without risk to the health and safety of the victim in that it failed to have an effective lock out tag out system for cleaning and maintenance, a safe procedure covering all aspects of the machine’s operation, to ensure that the machine could only be operated using both hands to depress the levers and provide effective training and supervision.

Judge Callaghan stated that the culpability of 4 Hippos Farm Limited was such that an appropriate fine was in the amount of $273,288. However, for reasons that cannot be published, no fine was imposed. The Judge ordered that reparation of $25,000 be paid to the victim plus an additional $16,110 for consequential loss and ordered the publication of this notice of the offence, its consequences and the penalty imposed.

Our homes are built using the same materials & quality as an onsite build.

Easily transported to almost anywhere in the North Island. Plans range from one bedroom to four bedroom First Home – Farm House Investment – Beach Bach

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

frigidair@xtra.co.nz

Start of calving will be 15 July 2021 for 4 weeks of AB and then herd run with Hereford bulls until 22nd December.

LK0102277©

Have something to sell?

Advertise in Farmers Weekly

entries close Mon 19th Oct 2020 enter online at theshow.co.nz

021 441 180 (JC)

We are hanging up our gumboots for good and retiring. This allows us to offer up our beautiful: • 180-190 kiwi cross herd BW 136 PW 192 ancestry 92% • 51 R1 Heifers BW 170 PW 194 • 43 calves BW 181 PW 199

SOLID – PRACTICAL WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

ADVERTISING

udly NZ Made Pro Since 1975

Fabulous opportunity to purchase everything you will need to start your sharemilking career or a second job.

NEW HOMES

NOTICEBOARD

Become self-sufficient

Call Debbie

06 8356863 . 021 061 1800

Elite Ram & Ewe Sale

See TradeME #2251190054 [For farmers and hunters]

0800 85 25 80

www.craigcojetters.com

FOR SALE

CHILLERS & FREEZERS

NOTICEBOARD ADVERTISING

0800 436 566

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With automatic release and spray system. www.vetmarker.co.nz 0800 DOCKER (362 537)

Independent wool brokers

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LAMB DOCKING / TAILING CHUTE

• Farm accommodation • Horse stables • Small buildings • Animal Shelters • New farm buildings • Old farm buildings restoration

DOLOMITE

WOOL

55

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VETMARKER

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

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Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

Free quotes Markets for all species Email: BTZforestry@gmail.com

56

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

Livestock Noticeboard

KAAHU GENETICS

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

WE’RE GROWING

NEW!

THE CASHMERE INDUSTRY

Coopworth | Romworth | Coopdale

GOING GOING GONE!

GROW WITH US. Call now & join the renaissance of this exciting industry.

+64 27 228 7481 info@nzcashmere.com

www.nzcashmere.com

Have you got a sale coming up?

Advertise in Farmers Weekly

Follow us on

WormFEC™

To advertise Phone Ella Holland 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@globalhq.co.nz

2020 PRICING:

$110 - $150 PER KG

Private Treaty Sales on farm from mid November BOOK NOW!

LK0104017©

■ FE Tolerant ■ Worm Resistant/Resilient ■ SIL Recorded ■ Top Performance ■ Meaty carcase & good bone – MyoMAX™ muscling gene

Enquiries Phone Murray Sargent

027 392 7242 Email murraysargent@hotmail.com

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING CALL ELLA 0800 85 25 80

www.kaahu.co.nz

MANA STUD

PERFORMANCE SHEEP GENETICS

Malcolm Wyeth 06 3727875

2020 RAM SALE Tuesday 10th November at 1.30pm

On Farm 127 Admiral Road, Gladstone, Masterton.

Inspection invited from 12 Noon.

Romney and Romdale rams also available for private sale Rams selected on structural soundness and high performance data

LK0104458©

FE tested rams at .5mg/kg LWT available for sale

40 Stud and Top Commercial Romney Rams to be sold at Auction

SIL Maternal worth indexes from 2000 to 3300

WHAT ABOUT DRENCH RESISTANCE? Do you want to Farm Sustainably?

All enquiries: Please contact Malcolm Wyeth 027 252 7151 or Ryan Shannon/PGG Wrightson 027 565 0979 or Tom Suttor/Carrfields 027 616 4504

PAKI-ITI ROMNEY

Check details for our parasite resistant Rams

95% never drenched

30% had Zero faecal egg count at 9 months

PAKI-ITI ROMNEY & ROMTEX

Contact us for details: Melvin, Ian & Justin Forlong 58 Tunanui Road, RD 1, Owhango, Taumarunui 3989 Ph: 07 895 4847 • Mob: 021 027 538 47 Email: fernleaf.farm@xtra.co.nz Follow us on facebook

www.fernleaframs.co.nz

LK0104529©

35 YEARS BREEDING FOR FACIAL ECZEMA TOLERANCE

Visit

PAKI-ITI ROMTEX

paki-iti.co.nz to view our breeding programs

Stewart Morton 06 328 5772 • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 RD 54 Kimbolton, Manawatu • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz

LK0104425©

Worm egg count given for every ram 40 years performance recorded

• 160 clients last year purchased or leased Paki-iti rams • Bred on a 870ha hard hill country property rising up to 637m asl (2090f asl) • Breeding for constitution, longevity, structural soundness and then performance • Constitution = moderate frame, deep bodied type of sheep • Performance = Growth, fertility, survival, meat yield, incorporating FE tolerance and parasite resistance • 10 years of breeding Romtex, utilizing a stabilised SIL recorded Romtex flock • Paki-iti maternal Romtex offer faster growth rates and higher meat yields • Romtex rams sold as 22th rams

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

Livestock Noticeboard

57

Raupuha Studs

ECZEMA TOLERANT ROMNEYS RAMGUARD TESTING SINCE 1985 • • • • • •

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

Where every day is an open day

5 star rating Structurally sound Robust functional sheep that survive Minimum input Selecting for less parasites and dags No ewes worm drenched, dipped or vaccinated

How much has eczema cost you?

Start your genetic progress here.

Follow the leader

RAUPUHA #1

KEITH ABBOTT, RAGLAN 027 463 9859 | www.waiteikaromneys.co.nz @waiteikaromneys

Perendales & Romdales are

PERENDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6 ROMDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6

Suffolk and Suftex

terminal 2ths are available

Raupuha Shorthorn bulls are available for sale Please enquire for more info

MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR:

OPEN DAY Tuesday 3rd November, 1pm-3pm at SH3, Mahoenui

– ON FARM SALE –

Tuesday 17th November 2020 at 12 Noon Russell and Mavis Proffit: 2033 State Highway 3, RD, Mahoenui 3978 Cellphone: 027 355 2927 Email: raupuhastud@gmail.com • www.raupuhastud.co.nz

you can trust Dual Purpose Flocks Dual Purpose Flocks

NZ Standard Maternal Worth (NZMW) NZ Standard Maternal Worth (NZMW)

Deliver your stud stock messaging to every farm letterbox nationwide with a weekly publication that farmers choose first for news, opinion, market updates and even their own advertising.

Don’t be fleeced with substandard rams.

Not all facial eczema breeding programmes are the same!

Ask the questions. the ✔ Dosing at 0.6 (to earn 5 star rating)

For further information contact our Noticeboard sales team on 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@globalhq.co.nz

✔ Shown me their certificate RAMGUARDFACIAL ECZEMA TOLERANCE TESTING SERVICE RAMGUARD-

FACIAL ECZEMA TOLERANCE TESTING SERVICE

FA C I A L EC ZEM A C ER T I FI C A T E.

FACIAL ECZEMA CERTRAMG I FI C A T E.

0

TESTING HISTO RY Address: 111Address: ANY RD111 ANY RDFOR: Name : Anyone R DC2 Name RD2 Flock : Anyon : eC Flock

ANY Addres s:

Year tested

farmersweekly.co.nz

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FLOCK F TESTING HISTORY FOR:

LK0104550©

2525 STUD STOCK

minimum ✔ been testing for a of 10 years

:

SIL

CATE. ICA Years TE . tested:

37 SILrating: flock rating: (on dose SIL flock (on dose rate)rate)

< 0.2

< 0.2 *

*

0.5 - **** 0.59 **** 0.5 - 0.59

Test seaso C n: TOWN 1111 0.2**- 0.29Test ** >= ***** 0 ANY Flock TOWN 1111 0.2 - 0.29 0.6>=:0.6 ***** 2019 season : -2020 SIL 0 SIL 0.3 -flock 0.49 *** 2019111Addres SIL : ANY s:RD111 0.3 - 0.49 *** SILrating flock rating: ***** 2020 Year Number of ANY Number Number of ramsYears Dose rates (mg/kg) used for RD of tested ***** Years :for 2 ramsNumber of rams Dose rates (mg/kg) usedtested: R D 2of tested Number 37 37 tested tested rams tolerant SIL flock challenge: SILrating flock rating: TOWN ANY tested rams : (on dose TOWN

by UNTESTED tolerant Sires to final dose:challenge: 1 1111 (on 2

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1111

dose rate)rate) < 0.2 < 0.2 * * 0.5 2 Sires to final dose: 20 1 1983 by UNTESTED 33 0.10 0.5 -- 0.59 - **** 0.59 **** Year Year 0.2 - 0.29 0.2 - 0.29 ** 1984 38 ** 1983 33Number 20 0.10 0.10 -->= -of 57Number of Number of 0.3 0.3 - 0.49 tested - 0.49 *** >= 0.6 0.6 1985 tested 21ramsNumber 16 0.10 -- ***** tested of Number rams 1984 57 38 -- ***** *** tested Number of0.10 rams 0.20 of rams tested rams tested rams 62 46 rates Dose ratesDose 1985 211986 -- -(mg/kg)(mg/kg)

by UNTEST 16tolerant 17 tolerant0.10 used forused for0.24 5 1987 1983 50 0.15 challeng 33 e: 19861983 62 331984 by UNTES 46 Sires to final dose: 0.20 -TED Sires ED challeng 1988 41 14 0.23 -e: to final dose: 57 1 5 19871984 501989 17 0.24 0.29 8 20 0.15 1 0.24 571985 52 21 2 0.10 20 1985 38 1986 1988 411990 14 0.23 -41 62 18 2-- -21 0.100.26 1986 5 5219911987 1989 8 38 36 16 0.24 0.300.10 0.29 ---51 50 62 5 -0.10 0.10 1987 1988 10 52 41 23 46 0.26 0.35 1990 411992 18 16 -- ---- -501989 0.10 0.20 1988 10 52 10 4 17 0.30 0.35 1991 511993 36 46 -- -- -- -411990 0.200.350.15 10 41 4 2 14 0.35 1989 10 1992 521994 23 17 -- -- -- 0.24 521991 0.15 0.350.23 1995 12 51 6 9 8 -199010 1993 10411992 10 4 14 0.35 --0.24 -0.24 0.23 0.37 1996 1252 0 7 18 --0.29 1991 8 0.26 1994 10 4 2 0.35 -36 1993 51 10 -- -- -15 1997 1010 0 5 0.24 0.40 1992 0.30 1995 1252 918 0.35 0.42 -1994 1998 1010 6 010 4 23 0.29-- -0.26 0.35 1993 1995 1996 12 0 736 0.37 0.44 ---- -1999 12 04 44 10 12 0.30 0.35 -1994 1996 2000 13 06 22 15 1997 10 523 0.40 0.48 ---- - -10 12 010 15 0.35 0.35 1997 1995 12 00 49 0.48 1998 10 44 0.42 ---- - -10 04 122001 0.35 0.35 0.50 1998 199620 2002 15 00 97 1999 12 42 0.44 ---- --10 06 0.37 122003 15 0.35 0.55 1999 16 00 45 1997 12 0 2000 132000 29 0.48 --- --0.40 10 0.35 0.55 2004 13 0 74 --1998 7 13 0.42 0 2001 122001 4 0.48 0.60 4 10 -0.37 2005 13 6 00 12 -1999 59 00 20 200220 152002 0.50 0.44 27 12 2006 13 0 0.60 0 -0.40 15 --2000 44 2003 4 200325 16 0.55 0.48 2007 15 00 12 0.60 00 13 --- -0.42 16 0.48 2001 47 2004 97 2004 13 0.55 0.50 2008 0.60 00 12 20 1314 00 --- - 0.44 2005 44 2002 26 2009 0.60 00 2005 0.60 0.55 1315 0 0 1513 --- - 0.48 2006 711 2003 47 00 2010 0.60 2006 0.60 0.55 1316 0 0 25 1613 -- -0.48 2007 610 00 0.60 2004 912 1516 0 0 25 2007 152011 0.60 0.60 132008 - - - 7 9 0.50 0 0 30 2012 0.60 2005 47 14 170 0 2008 14 0.60 0.60 12 6 132009 - 0.55 0 0 2013 0.60 15 200 2006 7 4 - 2009 152014 0 0.60 0.60 7 14 132010 25 - - - 0 0 0.60 0.55 16 22 2007 6 11 0 0 4 8 2010 162015 0.60 0.60 0 0 152011 - - - 0.60 16 22 30 0.600.60 2008 7 10 11 6 0 2011 162016 0.600.600.60 0 0 142012 - -- 17 12 0 12 9 2009 10 80 0.60 2013 0 0 0 30 2012 172016 Nat. 20 200 152014 - 2016 - -Apr 0.60challenge 0.600.60 9 2010201335 7 0 0 0 0 9 202017 6 22 20 162015 - -- 0.600.600.600.60 6 20112014 0 0 4 14 18 0.60 0 0 222018 22 19 162016 30 - -- 14 0.600.600.60 0 20122015 0 11 8 9 0 0 0.60 0.60 222019 12 24 -172016 8 0.600.60 0 10 6 20132016 200 0 35 0.60 12 0 -6 202017 0.60 0.60 20 0 2014 9 0.60 2016 222018 200 80 80 Nat. challenge -Apr -2016 0 0.60 Nat. 19 0 challenge 2015 6 35 2017 22201920 0 9 9 0 -Apr 2016 0.60 0.60 24 0.60 14 2016 0 0 2018 12 19 0 18 18 0.60 0.60 -0.60 8 2016 9 0 2019 200 24 0 9 -35 0.60 0.60 0.60 6 2017 20 0.60 80 2018 0 Nat. challen 19 ge 9 2019 0 Apr 2016 24 0.60 18 0 0.60 9 0.60 -

James Parsons Ashgrove Coopworth 021 206 3208

Bob Steed ARDG Romney 09 433 2616 Kate Broadbent Nikau Coopworth 09 233 3230 Alastair Reeves Waimai Romney 07 825 4925

Jenny & Adrian Savannah ARDG Romney 09 427 6393 John & Jan Marchant ARDG Romney 09 232 5613 Craig Alexander ARDG Romney 07 888 1703 Ross Alexander ARDG Romney 027 222 0247

Keith Abbott Waiteika Romney 027 463 9859 Ken Haywood Puketotara Romney 07 877 8586

Carol & Tony Hodge Pikowai Coopworth 07 322 2067

Russell Proffit Raupuha Perendale/ Romdale 07 877 8977 Travis Carter Kirikau Coopworth 07 895 3348 Ross Richards Romani Coopworth 07 895 7144

If you want the best, buy from the best

Brett Teutenberg Hinenui Coopworth/ Romney/Romworth 027 446 3684 Sam & Gemma Hain Hain Romney 06 867 8097 Murray Sargent Kaahu Coopworth and RomxCoop 027 392 7242 Steve Wyn-Harris Marlow Coopworth 06 855 8265 www.fegold.co.nz GENETICS you can TRUST

Livestock Noticeboard

SALE TALK

STOCK FOR SALE

Driving down the road one day, a man sees a sign in front of a farm. MULE FOR SALE $50.

He stops, talks to the farmer and buys the mule.

Handing the farmer his $50, he says “I’ll be back tomorrow with my trailer and pick him up.”

The man comes back the next day and the farmer has some bad news. The mule has died.

“Well, just give me back the $50.”

“Can’t do that,” says the farmer. “I already spent it.”

“OK, help me load it in the trailer.”

“What are you going to do with a dead mule?” asks the farmer.

“I’m going to raffle him off.”

“How do you intend to do that?”

“Easy. I just won’t tell folks that the mule is dead.”

A couple of months later he runs into the farmer.

“How did the raffle go?”

“Better than I expected. I sold 500 tickets at $1 each.”

“Did anybody complain?”

“Just the fellow who won but I gave him his dollar back.”

“Proudly Based in Hawke’s Bay” 2YR ANG & EX STEERS 450-580kg

1 & 2YR HERE & ANG BULLS

1YR FRSN BULLS 330-380kg R2YR FRSN HERE HEIFERS 320kg

STOCK REQUIRED EWES with LAF

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 A Financing Solution For Your Farm E info@rdlfinance.co.nz

Weaner Heifers Wanted NATIONWIDE Recorded Sires F12 + with Friesian sire 100kg plus J12 + with Jersey sire 80kg plus Deposit paid on commitment.

Contact Nick Dromgool

Grazing or Lease Blocks Wanted

FARMERS WEEKLY – October 19, 2020

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook

Wednesday, 21 October 2020 at 10.00am

HELMSMAN SALE Sale Date 29th October - Start: 6pm to Finish Date: 2nd November - 8pm finish TURANGANUI ROMNEYS RD 2 Featherston

For more information go to bidr.co.nz or contact the team on 0800 TO BIDR

30 Elite Romney Rams All rams are in the top 5% of the flock on SIL records WILLOWHAUGH SOUTHDOWNS RD 1 Blenheim 15 specially selected SIL performance recorded terminal sires AuctionsPlus for viewing

LK0104090©

PRELIMINARY NOTICE FRIDAY 30TH OCTOBER

CONTACT:

Tom Suttor 027 616 4504

nick.dromgool@geneticdevelopment.co.nz

CASTLEROCK 2ND SPRING CATTLE SALE

Videos & ram info will be available on

Payment: Options structured to meet your business Register your Interest Now

nick.dromgool@geneticdevelopment.co.nz

1,100 beef yearlings comprising of: 210 Angus yearling steers 60 Angus Hereford X yearling steers 190 Charolais X yearling steers 80 Hereford yearling steers 260 Yearling angus heifers 100 Angus/Hereford X heifers 120 Charolais X yearling heifers 50 Hereford yearling heifers Further enquiries: PGG Wrightson - Glen Peddie 027 200 2232 Rural Livestock - Aaron Leckie 027 473 0808

ONLINE SALE AUCTIONSPLUS ELITE RAMS FOR SALE

Region: North Island south of Auckland Time: Mid-October onwards

Contact Nick Dromgool 027 857 7305

JG & DA Crawford 2nd Annual Yearling Beef Cattle Sale CANTERBURY PARK SALEYARD

Mike Warren 06 307 7841 or 027 446 5312

027 857 7305

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

Christina Jordan 027 628 5308 Graham Sidey 027 572 7189 Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131

LK0104457©

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

Sign up early with AuctionsPlus here: https://auctionsplus.com.au/auctions/sheep Any queries on registering with AuctionsPlus, call Lisa on 027 255 4872

Commencing 10.30 am Approx: • 1000 Beef Yearling Steers and Heifers • Full advert next week Special Entry: • Nokomai Station, Athol C10 • 160 Hereford Yearling Heifers ( Capital stock ) • 120 Angus Yearling Heifers ( Capital stock ) Enquires: Barry McAlister 027 441 6432

Freephone 0800 10 22 76 | www.pggwrightson.co.nz Helping grow the country

LK0104403©

58

Specialist breeder of fast growth rate and high meat yielding rams that will increase farm profitability.

Breeding on steep hill country since 1974, we produce an easy care, high output flock to improve your genetic gain without compromising physical structure.

Key areas of selection include: - FE tolerance - Growth & Muscle - Worm FEC - Reproduction

Are you one tup ahead?

ANNUAL SALES COMMENCE 1 NOVEMBER: SECURE YOUR PICK TODAY.

Open Day: Friday November 27.

ROMNEY

The mainstay and back bone of our breeding operation. Over 40 years’ of high selection pressure under commercial conditions has put these rams on the map. Sheep that ‘hold it together’ during tough times and deliver predictable and repeatable performance.

FE tolerant Romney sires now available.

On Farm Auction; Friday December 18.

Garth & Chris Shaw, Wharetoa T: 03 415 9074 E: wharetoa@farmside.co.nz www.wharetoagenetics.co.nz

SALE DAY

WED. 18 NOVEMBER - TE KUITI SALEYARDS Viewing from 11am, Sale starting @ 1pm

SELLING AGENTS

CAM HEGGIE 027-501-8182 CALLUM MCCROSTIE 027-472-8441

ENQUIRIES & INSPECTION WELCOME: Travis Carter & Julie Matthews 07-895-3348 Robert & Suzanne Carter 07-896-7020 151 Kirikau Valley Road, RD3, Taumarunui 3993 www.kirikaucoopworths.com thepoplarsfarm@gmail.com @KirikauCoopworths

ROMTEX

Bred out of our replacement stud Romney ewe hoggets (genetic gain) by robust and structurally sound high index Texel rams. Robust and meaty rams run under the same conditions as the Romneys and subject to the same strict culling standards.

SUFTEX

A nationally proven and predictable terminal ram. We understand and appreciate the need for culling/selection pressure so have a strong focus on providing structurally sound rams with a focus on longevity.

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard UPCOMING AUCTIONS LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

HAVE A SALE COMING UP? Call Ella

ZANDY WALLACE H. 06 372 2551 M. 022 658 0680

www.waiitirams.co.nz

0800 85 25 80

farm@waiitirams.co.nz

livestock@globalhq.co.nz

Wednesday, 21 October 2020 10.00 am – JG & DA Crawford 2nd Annual Yearling Beef Cattle Sale, Canterbury Park Saleyard Thursday, 22 October 2020 7.00pm – National Livestock – PER KG 7.30pm – National Livestock – PER HEAD

For more information go to bidr.co.nz or contact the team on 0800 TO BIDR

King Country Self - Shedding Ram Sales KAAHU GENETICS

KAAHU WHITE SHEDDING RAMS 1st INAUGURAL SALE

Kaahu Genetics White Shedding Rams 1st Inaugural Sale 154 Whakamaru Rd, SH 30 Whakamaru | Friday 20 November, 2020 - 1pm ‘Amazing...Fantastic...Incredible’ Approximately 100 - 2th rams for sale by Auction - SIL Recorded, all traits measured and recorded - Top Production - Low input extremely high output - Ewe hoggets scanned 163% all hoggets mated - Carcass meaty and high yeilding EMA muscle scanned - Great eating quality

Open Day: Wednesday 4th November 1pm - 3pm Enquiries: Murray Sargent 027 392 7242 murraysargent@hotmail.com | kaahu.co.nz Alan Aldridge 027 472 0901 PGG Wrightson Livestock

McMillan Shedding Sheep | Te Kuiti Saleyards | Monday 23 November, 2020 - 11am 3rd Annual 2th Wiltshire Ram Sale 120 - 2th Wiltshire Rams - On behalf of Sandra McMillan we offer an outstanding line of 2th Wiltshire rams - Selected from approx 800 rams and all were born as twins - Flock established 2004 and a lot of selection pressure has been put on them to only offer the genetically best rams

- Farmed commercially on Ongarue hill country - Bred for full shedding ability, eczema tolerance, fertility and growth rates Open Day: Wednesday 4th November 10am - 3pm On farm, Knight Road, Ongarue Enquiries: Marty Cashin 027 497 6414 - PGG Wrightson Livestock

Ipurua Wiltshires | 495 Potaka Road, Aria | Monday 23 November, 2020 - 2pm Genuine Full Shed Sheep 60 - 2th Wiltshire Rams

Open Day: Tuesday 3rd November 11am - 3pm with on farm presentation and discussion

- No shearing - No dagging

Enquiries: Peter and Caroline Foss 07 877 7881 Kevin Mortensen 027 473 5858 PGG Wrightson Livestock

- No dipping - FE Dosing Sept 2020 @.24 - SIL recorded

Moerangi Wiltshires | Te Kuiti Saleyards | Wednesday 25 November, 2020 - 1pm Shabor Ltd 2nd Annual Sale - ‘No wool, no worries.’

70 hill country bred Wiltshire 2th rams - Selected from an elite flock within one of New Zealands largest commercial flock of Wiltshires - Bred for growth, meat yield, strong conformation, eczema & parasite tolerance - All rams tested bruccellosis clear

Open Day: Wednesday 4th November 11am - 3pm Enquiries: Rhys Hughes 07 280 7678 Paul Mitchell 027 273 3538 PGG Wrightson Livestock

Additionally 100 - 2th Wiltshire ewes - vaccinated for toxo and campy

Otangiwai Shedding Sheep 1st Annual 2th Sale | Te Kuiti Saleyards | Wednesday 25 November, 2020 - 1pm 50 - 2th Wiltshire Rams The Cowdrey Family who farm at Otangiwai near Matiere in the King Country are well on their way to consolidating their flock of 2500 fully shedding ewes and will have achieved their goal in the next 2yrs.

The shedding sheep are farmed commercially on eczema prone hill country, they are challenged environmentally and put under constant scrutiny to identify the sheep that best suit the farm conditions and expectations. The shedders are now close to performing as well as the Cowdrey’s eczema

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

tolerant Coopworth-Romney flock performed and with no wool harvesting, noticeably lower death rate and ease of management, the Cowdrey’s are really looking forward to moving into the next era of their sheep farming era.

Open Day: Wednesday 4th November 10am - 3pm 725 Mangapapa Road Matiere Enquiries: Richard Cowdrey 07 893 7824 Marty Cashin 027 497 6414 - PGG Wrightson Livestock

Helping grow the country

MARKET SNAPSHOT

60

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Suz Bremner

Mel Croad

Nicola Dennis

Cattle

Reece Brick

Sarah Friel

Caitlin Pemberton

Sheep

BEEF

William Hickson

Deer

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.60

5.65

6.10

NI lamb (17kg)

7.20

7.20

8.70

NI Stag (60kg)

6.20

6.20

9.60

NI Bull (300kg)

5.50

5.55

6.00

NI mutton (20kg)

4.90

4.90

5.75

SI Stag (60kg)

6.65

6.65

9.60

NI Cow (200kg)

4.10

4.15

4.80

SI lamb (17kg)

7.00

7.00

8.55

SI Steer (300kg)

5.15

5.20

6.00

SI mutton (20kg)

4.75

4.75

5.75

SI Bull (300kg)

5.10

5.15

5.75

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.95

4.00

4.50

UK CKT lamb leg

9.78

9.79

11.60

US imported 95CL bull

7.29

7.51

8.91

US domestic 90CL cow

7.29

6.62

7.56

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

5.50

5.0

5.00

9.0

4.50

8.0

4.00 South Island steer slaughter price

6.50 $/kg CW

10.0

South Island lamb slaughter price

7.0

Oct

Dec

Feb

5-yr ave

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr

Jun

Aug

2019-20

2020-21

Aug 2020-21

Apr 2019-20

Jun

Fertiliser

Aug 2020-21

FERTILISER

Coarse xbred ind.

Jun

2019-20

8.0

5.0

(NZ$/kg) Apr

9.0

6.0

4.50 Feb

South Island stag slaughter price

11.0

WOOL

Dairy

Last week

Prior week

Last year

2.17

2.05

2.78

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Urea

602

578

616

297

294

314

768

768

787

37 micron ewe

2.05

1.95

-

Super

30 micron lamb

-

-

-

DAP

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

Top 10 by Market Cap

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

Company

Close

YTD High

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

34.86

37.89

YTD Low 21.1

5.9

5.9

3.61

7.50

420

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

7.00

The a2 Milk Company Limited

15.75

21.74

13.8

410

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.445

9.21

4.26

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.695

5.09

3.445

5.5

5.62

3.595

14.85

17.18

6.61

8.1

8.15

4.54

$/tonne

$/kg MS

5.0

5.00

5-yr ave

6.50 6.00 Oct-19

Dec-19

Feb-20 Apr-20 Sept. 2020

Jun-20 Aug-20 Sept. 2021

Mercury NZ Limited (NS) Ryman Healthcare Limited

Last price*

Sep-19

Contact Energy Limited

Nov-19

Jan-20

Mar-20

May-20

Jul-20

Sep-20

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3020

3015

2875

SMP

2830

2880

2660

AMF

4100

3950

4050

Butter

3460

3430

3430

Milk Price

6.84

6.71

6.49

$/tonne

2800

5pm, close of market, Thursday YTD Low 13.8

Comvita Limited

3.16

4.97

1.66

400

Delegat Group Limited

14.6

15.08

6.39

395

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

4.08

4.1

3.41

Foley Wines Limited

1.85

2.13

1.35

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.78

0.9

0.68

390

Nov-19

Jan-20

Mar-20

May-20

Jul-20

Sep-20

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.197

0.21

0.17

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.73

2.3

1.29

PGG Wrightson Limited

2.82

3.01

1.55

Sanford Limited (NS)

5.7

8.2

5.46 3.3

Scales Corporation Limited

5.1

5.35

Seeka Limited

4.05

4.74

3.4

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

5.6

9.1

4.36

T&G Global Limited S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

350

2900

Listed Agri Shares

21.74

400

3000

4.9

YTD High

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

3100

24

8.14

15.75

Sep-19

3200

52.8

7.56

Close

380

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

52.05

The a2 Milk Company Limited

385

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Mainfreight Limited Port of Tauranga Limited

Company

405

$/tonne

Nearby contract

380

Oct-20

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T)

2700

400 390

5.50

US$/t

6.0

5.50

Dec

7.0

7.0

5.0

Oct

8.0

6.0

6.00

4.00

Last year

9.0

7.0 6.0

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

8.0

6.00

$/kg CW

$/kg CW

6.50

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

10.0

North Island lamb slaughter price

9.0 $/kg CW

North Island steer slaughter price

Last year

$/kg CW

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Ingrid Usherwood

2.71

2.93

2.35

15835

16959

12699

S&P/NZX 50 Index

12487

12544

8499

S&P/NZX 10 Index

12764

12861

9100

300 250

Oct

Nov Dec Latest price

Jan

Feb 4 weeks ago

Mar

200

Sep-19

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Nov-19

Jan-20

Mar-20

May-20

Jul-20

Sep-20

15835

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

12487

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

12764

61

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

Pulse

WEATHER Soil Moisture

Overview This week kicks off with nor’westers moving up the country (sub-tropical for parts of the North Island) along with rain on the West Coast – but then high pressure becomes the dominant force over New Zealand from Tuesday to Friday. Most showers fade this week and most regions lean drier than average. For this time of year, it’s quite a settled week. High pressure looks to linger over the North Island into Labour Weekend too, as windier nor’westers return to the South Island.

Refer to our online forecasts at www. farmersweekly.co.nz/weather to get rainfall and weather trend updates across this week as we head into the long weekend.

Export prices weaken farm gate returns

15/10/2020

Source: NIWA Data

Highlights

Wind

We still have some spring surges of wind, but the increase in high pressure means next week will be a lot calmer in many parts of NZ. Light variable winds until about Saturday 24, when nor’westers kick back in again for a time.

Highlights/ Extremes

Temperature Generally speaking, the next seven days see temperatures about normal for this time of year – perhaps leaning above normal slightly by day and cool nights due to the calming nature of high pressure.

14-day outlook

Spring surges continue every couple or few days, but generally high pressure is the dominant force over the next week or two.

This means lighter winds across more days and more days with dry weather. Labour Weekend is likely to be dry to begin with, but perhaps some rain will move into the Southland and south Westland on Sunday.

Generally speaking, it’s a fairly settled week or two ahead.

Many regions are still leaning drier than normal, especially northern and eastern regions of both islands.

7-day rainfall forecast

0

5

10

20

30

40

50

60

80

100

200

T

Mel Croad mel.croad@globalhq.co.nz

HE recently completed 2019-20 export season has been very different from the previous two seasons. Prior to the 2019-20 season, unwavering demand from key markets and favourable exchange rates supported export returns and underpinned strong farm gate prices right through the season. In comparison, last season could almost be split in three sections.

Insatiable demand from China between October and late December last year drove export and farm gate prices to record levels.

Other markets were immediately on the back foot and scrambled to compete for New Zealand exports.

However, by the start of 2020, export returns felt the impact of lower Chinese buying demand and of course the global spread of covid-19. By June, export markets had settled into a steadier rhythm, allowing NZ the opportunity to ship more lamb and beef, therefore making up for the weaker demand through autumn. This in turn supported some marginal upside in prices at the farm gate.

While export prices have been influenced by the covid pandemic over the last season, the dominance of China on our export market hasn’t wavered too far.

In the last twelve months to September 30, China accounted for 43% or 386,000 tonnes of NZ’s total lamb, mutton and beef exports. This was down slightly on the 201819 export season, where China took 45% of NZ’s total red meat exports. The dominance

of China on our red meat export markets means that when asking prices there ease, as they have done in the last season, we feel it more acutely in our export returns and farm gate prices.

A quick look back over the season that has just wound up and it’s safe to say it finished on a softer note for farmers and processors. The record highs of $9/kg last November for lamb masked what has been a challenging time for prices in 2020. Since February, lamb prices at the farm gate endured much stronger downside, only managing to come to a rest in May. Export values and, therefore, lamb farm gate prices have been lower than last year but still in line with historical levels, which is quite a feat during a global pandemic.

As a result, farm gate lamb prices still made a respectable season average of $7.50/ kg in the North Island and $7.36/kg in the South Island. This was down from $7.73/ kg and $7.45/kg respectively in the 2018-19 season.

For beef, the messages have been a little mixed. The frenzied buying through November and December last year again masked the weaker market conditions through early 2020. As a result, the overall North Island average bull price lifted higher than the previous season to $5.51/kg and $5.09/kg in the South Island.

Interestingly, AgriHQ data shows you would need to go back five years to see averages push over these levels. Prime beef prices basically averaged the same as bull for the 2019-20 processing season, coming in at an average of $5.52/kg in the North Island and $5.08/kg in the South Island, however these were both lower than the five-year average of $5.59/kg and $5.34/kg respectively.

400

A few scattered showers, but generally this week is mostly dry across NZ. The West Coast has about normal rainfall.

MIXED: AgriHQ analyst Mel Croad says the season that has just wound up finished on a softer note for farmers and processors.

Weather brought to you in partnership with weatherwatch.co.nz

South Island farmers eye climatic conditions through spring cattle sales

Spring cattle sales in the South Island have started with plenty of cattle coming on to the market, particularly in those areas where dry conditions have sent warning signals to farmers wary of a repeat of last year’s drought.

PGG Wrightson South Island Livestock Manager Shane Gerken says traditional beef cattle are particularly sought after.

“This year’s Cheviot Spring Cattle Sale, in early October, was a prime example. Strong demand for traditional cattle was evident.

Pending weight, steers sold anywhere between $3 and $3.30 per kilogram, while heifers sold in the $2.70 to $2.90 per kilogram range, with well-bred Angus heifers changing hands for breeding.

This year the buoyancy the market experienced over the past two years has deflated, due mainly to feed conditions and caution around the market outlook. In those areas beginning to dry out, particularly North Otago and South Canterbury, where the winter has been mild and the north west wind is already prevailing, farmers are particularly cautious around how the rest of the season will proceed.

“Meanwhile, the bottom half of the South Island has been wet and cold. In Otago and Southland the usual buying power of local farmers has been delayed as they bide their time for the grass to start growing before seriously entering the market for stock. That may not be too far

away as late September’s severe winter weather appears to have passed by with minimal lingering effects,” he said.

While traditional beef cattle have been well sought after, cattle with a dairy base have been discounted.

PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics Manager Callum Stewart says yearling bulls have sold well.

“Eighty per cent through the 2020 yearling bull sale season, we are achieving excellent clearances and highly satisfactory values.

Stock numbers have increased on previous years, with animals in fine shape, reflecting the mild winter, also the hard work put in by breeders to raise these bulls,” he said.

62

SALE YARD WRAP

Lamb selling season starts The new season store lamb market officially started last week as Stortford Lodge penned 2600, and small lines appeared at other yards around the country. The majority at Stortford Lodge were an annual draft consignment which would usually be the sole entry, but other vendors looked to take advantage of the premium prices that tend to be paid for the first draft and a further 600 lambs were offered by four other vendors. Prices tend to start at the highest level for this sale and then as more come on stream they settle.

NORTHLAND Kaikohe cattle sale • Two-year Angus-cross bulls made $2.50/kg • Two-year beef-cross heifers earned $2.60-$2.65/kg • Lighter yearling whiteface steers traded at $3.00/kg • Boner cows returned $1.80/kg There were around 400 cattle at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. Two-year steers were mostly Simmental-cross, Angus-cross and Hereford-cross and fetched $2.75-$2.80/ kg, while Friesian-cross made $2.20/kg. Yearling beef-cross bulls earned $2.60-$2.65/kg and heifers, $2.55-$2.65/kg.

Wellsford store cattle • Traditional 2-year steers, 310-333kg, returned $2.41-$2.57/kg • Sixteen 2-year Angus heifers, 402kg, earned $2.61/kg • Yearling Angus steers, 281kg, fetched $3.04/kg • Twelve yearling Hereford heifers, 295kg, fetched $3.00/kg Throughput swelled to 917 head at WELLSFORD last Monday and yearlings made up the bulk of the offering.

Two-year beef-dairy steers, 412-575kg, eased to $2.54$2.72/kg. Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers, 332kg, earned $2.41/kg with Angus-Friesian and Charolais-cross, 290377kg, similar at $2.40-$2.43/kg. Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 197-222kg, managed $3.05-$3.09/kg. The balance of better beef-dairy, 311-405kg, held at $2.80-$2.93/kg though 250-282kg softened to $2.75-$2.82/kg. Hereford steers, 307-373kg, returned $2.76-$2.77/kg, and lighter traditional, 232-288kg, mainly held at $2.95-$2.97/kg. Top heifers matched the males, whilst the balance of traditional types, 202-279kg, returned $2.82-$2.98/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Small yearling crossbred steers sold in a wide range of $2.55/kg to $3.05/kg • Boner cows earned up to $1.92/kg The market softened for all classes of cattle at PUKEKOHE last Saturday as schedules decline. Prime steers sold down to $2.72-$2.77/kg, with prime heifers at $2.68$2.77/kg. Small crossbred weaner steers and heifers traded up to $450.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Hereford-Friesian steers, 496kg, made $3.10/kg • Hereford-Friesian heifers, 318kg, sold at $870 • Prime beef cows returned $2.05-$2.20/kg • Prime ewes averaged $131, selling to $180 Heavier store steers and heifers held value at TUAKAU last Thursday, PGG Wrightson agent Chris Elliott reported.

Steers, 450-460kg, traded at $2.86/kg to $3.10/kg and 350-450kg made $2.70/kg to $3.02/kg. Demand for 250350kg steers was limited, with most at $2.55/kg to $2.81/ kg. Hereford-Friesian weaner steers, 207kg, fetched $675, and 147kg, $590. Beef bulls, 375kg, managed $2.58/kg and 317kg Friesian earned $825. Most heifers, 445-470kg, sold at $2.73-$2.83/kg, while 300-400kg eased to $2.54-$2.74/ kg. Hereford-Friesian weaners, 130-199kg, made $460-$595.

About 1000 cattle were yarded on Wednesday and prime steers firmed by 3-4c/kg. Heavy steers returned $2.86$2.96/kg and medium, $2.78-$2.86/kg. Heavy beef heifers managed $2.78-$2.85/kg and medium, $2.70-$2.78/kg.

Boner prices lifted by 5c/kg, well-conditioned Friesian sold at $1.88/kg to $2.05/kg, with medium cows making $1.70$1.85/kg, and light, $1.40/kg to $1.65/kg.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle 13.10 • Most 2-year beef-dairy steers, 380-417kg, traded at a softer $2.49$2.51/kg • Well-presented 15-month beef-dairy steers, 422-457kg, improved to $2.71-$2.79/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 195-326kg, strengthened to $3.07-$3.10/kg

PGG Wrightson penned just over 300 store cattle at FRANKTON last Tuesday. Good rain encouraged a few more buyers to sale, though bids were still cautious for long-term options.

Eleven 2-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 351kg, softened to $2.59/kg. Beef-dairy bulls, 422-466kg, were consistent at $2.59-$2.61/kg. Yearling Shorthorn-Friesian steers, 285312kg, traded at $2.44-$2.46/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 293-345kg, softened to $2.57-$2.58/kg though well-marked lines, 179-198kg, improved to $3.03-$3.18/kg. Prime steers eased in line with reducing schedules and all 544-843kg softened to $2.76-$2.94/kg. Heifers held as 461-596kg returned $2.78-$2.89/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Frankton cattle 14.10 • Most 2-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 398-461kg, held at $2.73$2.76/kg • Better yearling Hereford-Friesian and Hereford-dairy steers, 251276kg, improved to $2.90-$2.99/kg • Yearling Hereford heifers, 278-296kg, strengthened to $2.70/kg Good local rain increased buyer numbers at FRANKTON last Wednesday for New Zealand Farmers Livestock. Twoyear Hereford-dairy steers, 439-533kg, improved to $2.73$2.84/kg. 15 to 18-month dairy-beef steers, 309-388kg, returned $2.63-$2.88/kg with same bred heifers, 335-425kg, at $2.67-$2.69/kg. Most yearling beef-dairy steers, 172305kg, returned $2.62-$2.77/kg. Angus-cross heifers, 210232kg, lifted to $2.36-$2.39/kg, as did Hereford-Friesian, 216-293kg, up to $2.66-$2.78/kg.

Hereford-dairy, 231-244kg, returned $2.52-$2.62/kg.

Prime throughput reduced to 91 head. Seven South Devon steers, 544kg, took top honours at $2.94/kg whilst the balance of beef-dairy, 617-843kg, eased to $2.76-$2.82/kg.

Dairy-beef heifers, 426-464kg, also softened to $2.67-$2.76/ kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Frankton dairy-beef weaner fair • Autumn-born Hereford-Friesian steers, 157-176kg, fetched $610$660 • Autumn-born Belgian Blue-cross heifers, 131-157kg, made $440$474 • Dairy-beef bulls above 110kg mostly earned $450-$480 • Friesian bulls, 100-120kg, traded at $400-$470 It was a cold day at the FRANKTON dairy-beef weaner fair last Thursday. There was a decent number of buyers present, however values were well below year-ago levels.

Autumn-born Belgian Blue-cross steers were a highlight as most weighed 157kg and reached $690.

It was tough going in the heifer pens with some light weights, however those above 100kg made $290-$390. Top Friesian bulls weighed up to 146kg and sold for $490-$530.

Read more in your LivestockEye.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Prime Angus steers, 573kg, made $2.93/kg • Prime Friesian steers, 461-525kg, fetched $2.73-$2.80/kg • Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 396kg, made $3.01/kg • Charolais cows with calves-at-foot sold for $1500-$1660 all counted • Hoggets made $115-$143 and ewes $110-$147 There was something for everyone at RANGIURU last Tuesday. Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 420-570kg, earned $2.77-$2.89/kg and 355kg Angus-Friesian, $2.82/ kg. Heifers were variable and 350kg plus dairy-beef ranged from $2.65/kg to $2.83/kg.

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 241-275kg, made $2.86/kg to $3.13/kg, and a pen of Angus-Friesian, 354kg, $1030, $2.91/kg. The main highlight of the heifers was 411kg Hereford that made $2.87/kg. Boner cows sold on a good market as 612kg Friesian earned $1.93/kg and 508587kg, $1.63-$1.75/kg.

Read more in your LivestockEye.

KING COUNTRY Taupo cattle sale • Autumn-born yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 308-347kg, returned $2.50-$2.61/kg

• Yearling Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, 173-216kg, reached $3.40-$3.41/kg • Yearling Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers, 165-201kg, sold for $2.94-$3.03/kg • One line of yearling Friesian bulls, 235kg, made $2.83/kg Feature lines of yearling cattle drew in buyers to TAUPO last Thursday, and good rain added some optimism. Quality cattle sold to expectations and a line of 2-year Angus steers, 470kg, reached $3.15/kg. Weight and yield potential piqued interest on yearling Simmental and Limousin-cross steers and at 282-319kg they made $3.17-$3.19/kg, while their sisters, 247kg, achieved $2.75/kg. Autumn-born weaner Friesian bulls, 158-167kg, made $490-$535 and Hereforddairy heifers, 132-149kg, $350-$430. Read more in your LivestockEye. Te Kuiti sheep and cattle • Heavy prime ewes made $140-$149 • Medium prime ewes sold for $125-$138 and light $90-$95 • Medium store hoggets fetched $90-$95 • Two-year Simmental-cross steers, 493-510kg, earned $3.03-$3.10/ kg There were around 500 sheep at TE KUITI last Wednesday and heavy prime hoggets held at $138-$137 with medium $120-$138 and light $114-$120. Fresh 2-tooths firmed $5-$10 as heavy types earned $146-$158, medium $114$130 and light $95-$100. 700 cattle were yarded last Friday, and better-bred cattle were keenly contested. Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 586-621kg, made $2.97-$3.00/kg, while same-bred heifers were of lighter weights at 348393kg and reached $2.76/kg. Yearling Angus steers, 324kg, sold well at $3.50/kg with the balance around $3.21/kg to $3.32/kg. Crossbred cattle were harder to shift, and yearling steers sold for $2.48-$2.60/kg.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle fair • Top 3-year steers sold well at $3.00-$3.09/kg • Yearling Speckle Park-cross steers fetched a premium at $3.12/kg to $3.52/kg • The average yearling dairy-beef heifer, 275kg, firmed to $2.48/kg • Yearling Speckle Park-cross heifers, 252-277kg, fetched $2.60$2.70/kg The buying bench lacked enthusiasm at the TARANAKI cattle fair last Wednesday. Short-term cattle were sought after and 516kg Angus-Hereford achieved $2.94/kg, with the balance mostly steady on previous weeks and better dairybeef at $2.84-$2.89/kg. A large portion of the 2-year heifers were vetted empty Hereford-Friesian and sold for breeding, while nice Charolais-cross made good values at $2.79$2.88/kg. The best yearling Hereford-Friesian steers traded at $2.92-$2.99/kg, while very nice Friesian, 376-429kg, sold below expectations at $2.07-$2.17/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime cattle and sheep • Very good to heavy mixed-age ewes held at $130-$154 • A pen of 71 heavy new season mixed-sex lambs fetched $150 • Very heavy mixed-sex hoggets improved to $148-$171.50 Ewe numbers increased to 750 at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday and most held value. Top mixed-age ewes held at $159-$189 though medium ewes eased to $101.50-$124.

Fresh cut male 2-tooths returned $125-$137 while heavy 2-tooth ewes managed $150. More hoggets were offered and most traded at steady to improved levels. All top pens softened slightly to $175-$186. Heavy males held at $150$155. Good to heavy mixed-sex strengthened to $136.50$144. Very heavy ewe hoggets also lifted to $164.50-$170. No cattle were offered. Read more in your LivestockEye. Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Top new season mixed-sex lambs made $127-$144.50 • Remainder of the new season lambs traded from $93 to $119.50 • Two-year Friesian bulls, 473-507kg, eased to $2.80-$2.89/kg • Yearling annual draft Angus bulls, 366-436kg, varied from $3.30/ kg to $3.60/kg • Yearling Angus steers, 198-231kg, sold for $3.52-$3.63/kg

63

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020

SOUTH-CANTERBURY NEW YEAR: Reece and Debbie Whitelock sold an annual draft consignment of nearly 2000 Southdown mixedsex lambs at Stortford Lodge last Wednesday to kick off the 2020 new season store lamb market.

The new season lamb market kicked off at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday and values were above expectations. Later shipping of Chatham Islands hoggets meant these made up the bulk of the hogget section and the mixed wether and ewe lines made $115.50-$145.50. Two big lines of ewes with lambs-at-foot sold well at $86-$94.50 all counted. Cattle volume was high at 1200 and yearling traditional steers dominated. Lines 300kg plus eased to $3.12-$3.20/kg. Yearling Angus heifers averaged 205kg, $2.80/kg and beef-dairy, 185kg, $2.47/kg. Friesian bulls of same age and 275-329kg eased to $2.64-$2.72/kg and 2-year beef bulls, 509-511kg, $3.11-$3.14/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

MANAWATU Feilding prime cattle and sheep • Friesian heifers, 452-488kg, made $2.21-$2.32/kg • Friesian cows, 400-558kg, earned $1.98-$2.05/kg • Prime ewes earned $133-$164 Hoggets continued to flow into FEILDING with a further 5000 penned last Monday. Demand for those with lamb’s teeth was still high, but as plenty were available prices held. Some very heavy hoggets made $181-$186, but the bulk sold for $157-$177. Medium-good types provided the balance and returned $137-$156. A small calf sale returned to the sale yards. Prices were like the previous sale with good Hereford-Friesian bulls at $170-$200 and heifers $110$125. Read more in your LivestockEye. Feilding store sale • Two-year Angus steers, 485-520kg, made $3.15-$3.25/kg • Yearling Angus steers, 245-280kg, held at $3.25-$3.40/kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 235-305kg, were $2.80-$3.00/kg • New season lambs averaged $113 • Ewes with lambs-at-foot mostly made $84-$92.50 all counted Another big cattle sale had variable success. The older steers were unchanged, in the low $3/kg’s for straight beef lines, but around $2.50-$2.70/kg for mixed-marked dairybeef lines. Two-year bulls eased, with 400-475kg making $2.55-$2.65/kg. Traditional heifers, 380-415kg, sold for $2.85-$2.95/kg. Yearling steers struggled outside of some better-quality traditional pens. Clean-marked HerefordFriesian, 295-340kg, were $2.65-$2.75/kg, matching mixed-quality beef types and various weights. The lighter yearling bulls did well, but 365-410kg lines were held back at $2.55-$2.60/kg. A pen of 285kg Angus heifers sold for $955, $3.35/kg. Two consignments of new season lambs sold well, ranging from $123.50-$126 for top cuts with the rest $93-$113.50.

An even line-up of medium hoggets sold consistently afterwards. These were usually $120-$132, with the remainder mostly $95-$114. A good-sized showing of ewes with lambs-at-foot mostly contained medium ewes with mid-sized terminal-cross lambs, which centred on $90 all counted. Lines with smaller or mixed-bred lambs were $61$82 all counted.

Read more in your LivestockEye.

Rongotea cattle • Two-year Hereford-Friesian bulls, 433kg, firmed to $2.84/kg • Yearling Friesian and Hereford-cross bulls, 246-325kg, made up to 2.43/kg • Autumn-born Hereford-Friesian weaner steers, 171kg, sold at $580 • Crossbred boner cows fetched $1.47/kg Rain encouraged better-quality cattle to RONGOTEA last Wednesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Two-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 481-494kg, held at $2.68-$2.73/kg, while same breed steers, 415-535kg, fetched $2.31/kg to $2.65/kg. Yearling HerefordFriesian steers, 197-313kg, traded at $2.85/kg to $3.05/kg, with same breed heifers, 280kg, also at $3.05/kg.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • Prime Hereford steers, 613-680kg, made $2.60-$2.68/kg • Prime heifers over 450kg sold in a tight range of $2.33-$2.44/kg • Two small pens of prime new season lambs made $118 and $125 Store cattle were hard going at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday. The best-selling 2-year steers were 413kg Hereford that made $2.75/kg with 466kg at $2.58/kg. Most other steers over 440kg earned $2.31-$2.37/kg which included dairy-beef and exotic. Yearling steers were generally traditional, 182-298kg, that made $2.47-$2.56/kg. Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers, 188-253kg, sold from $2.14/ kg to $2.41/kg. A third of the prime hoggets were $150$177 with the majority $120-$149. The top ewes made $201 with heavy pens $170-$176 and good $140-$169. The store pens were quiet with hoggets $51-$81. Read more in your LivestockEye. Coalgate cattle and sheep • Two-year Charolais-cross steers, 364-460kg, sold well at $2.46$2.50/kg • Two-year Charolais-cross heifers, 328-400kg, pushed further to $2.53-$2.60/kg • Prime Limousin bulls, 700-703kg, made $2.96-$2.98/kg • Prime Angus steers, 627kg, fetched $2.70/kg • Top prime new season lambs made $144-$167 with a second cut $125-$130 It was snowing at COALGATE before the auction started last Thursday. Charolais-cross dominated the two-year section with most of the balance Hereford-Friesian steers, 400-459kg, $2.18-$2.17/kg. Most yearling steers were 191221kg Hereford-Friesian that earned $2.98-$3.08/kg. Angus, 266kg, made $2.52/kg, but Angus-cross of similar weight were $1.92-$1.99/kg. Prime steers and heifers over 500kg returned $2.50-$2.61/kg. Friesian and crossbred heifers, 430-446kg, mostly made $2.18-$2.26/kg. In the sheep section the best prime hoggets earned $201-$211 and heavy $170-$197. Most of the remainder were $127-$169. The ewe market had a good week as the top 10% earned $206-$269 and the remainder $130 to $182. Good lines of new season lambs were included in the store pens and the majority made $83-$110. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Temuka prime cattle and all sheep • Traditional steers, 510-650kg, sold for $2.55-$2.65/kg • Friesian cows, 440-670kg, fetched $1.62-$1.72/kg • Chatham Islands store hoggets made $122-$160 • Thirteen pens of ewes with lambs-at-foot made $60-$89 all counted Store hogget volume was above normal at TEMUKA last Monday. Fine-wool hoggets sometimes performed better than meat breeds with prices of $80-$115 common. Heavy prime hoggets made $180-$232 though most sold for $130$176 with lesser types $90-$124.

Ewes held and some very heavy types returned $190-$210 though most traded at $120-$186. Dairy-beef steers had a much better sale with 525-550kg mostly $2.52-$2.64/kg.

Most heifers were Angus, 525-631kg, that earned $2.50$2.58/kg or Hereford-Friesian, 503-605kg, that made $2.48$2.56/kg.

Read more in your LivestockEye. Temuka store cattle • Two-year Murray Grey-cross steers, 468-492kg, fetched $2.45$2.48/kg • Yearling Angus steers, 326kg, were priced at $2.64/kg • Four yearling Angus-Hereford steers, 273kg, fetched $2.79/kg The gallery was more active at TEMUKA last Thursday.

Hereford-Friesian provided most of the steers and 310405kg made $2.13-$2.26/kg. Top Hereford-Friesian heifers, 409-436kg, earned $2.20-$2.25/kg while moderate numbers of lighter lines sold in two cuts that overlapped depending on quality; 344-384kg made $2.09-$2.13/kg and 291-375kg, $1.84-$1.95/kg.

Yearling entries were spread across all classes including bulls that were a hard sell. Hereford-Friesian and Friesian, 227-320kg, earned $2.01-$2.04/kg. Most steers were Hereford-Friesian and 310-395kg averaged $2.37/kg and similarly weighted heifers, $2.27/kg. A good number of Angus-Friesian, 258-256kg, sold for $2.22-$2.29/kg, while nearly 30 Friesian heifers traded at $1.32-$1.39/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

OTAGO Balclutha sheep • Prime ewes held with heavy types at $140-$160, medium $110$130 and light $80 • Good ewes with lambs-at-foot made $90 all-counted A reasonable yarding of prime hoggets were offered at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday, with heavy types at $150$170, medium $130-$140 and light $120.

SOUTHLAND Lorneville sheep sale • Boner cows above 500kg fetched $1.60-$1.70/kg • Ewes with lambs-at-foot made $93-$97 all-counted • Heavy prime two-tooth ewes firmed to $148 • Store hoggets sold at $50-$85 Prime heifers, 480kg and above, firmed to $2.50-$2.55/ kg at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday, while 395kg prime steers earned $2.35/kg. Two-year Hereford-cross steers, 443kg, sold at $2.44/kg, while 400-449kg Friesian steers made $2.33/kg to $2.47/kg.

Yearling Charolais-cross steers, 361kg, fetched $2.66/kg with 335kg same breed heifers at $2.63/kg. Heavy prime hoggets eased to $157-$168 with medium $136-$149 and light $123-$134. Prime ewes strengthened with heavy types at $154-$178, medium $128-$147 and light $90.

Charlton sheep • Heavy prime ewes sold at $150-$170 with medium $130-$145 and light $110-$120 • Ewes with lambs-at-foot made $85 all-counted Throughput was low at CHARLTON last Wednesday and heavy prime hoggets fetched $150-$162 with medium $130$140 and light $115-$125.

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Markets

64 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 19, 2020 NI STEER

NI LAMB

SI STEER

($/KG)

($/KG)

($/KG)

5.60

7.20

5.15

YEARLING BEEF-DAIRY STEERS, 275KG AVERAGE, AT TARANAKI ($/KG LW)

2.81

$2.45-$2.48 high $96-$127 2-year Murray Grey-cross new season lambs lights Most steers, 468-492kg, at at Stortford Lodge

China demand lifts milk price forecast Hugh Stringleman

S

hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

TRONG demand from China for whole milk powder (WMP) has enabled Fonterra to lift the farm gate milk price forecast range and midpoint by 40c/kg milksolids.

The new range is $6.30 to $7.30 and the midpoint now $6.80, upon which the advance schedule for future payments is based.

The new level will not apply to farmers’ October payments for September milk.

Chief executive officer Miles Hurrell said demand from China had recovered quickly from the impact of covid-19 and Global Dairy Trade (GDT) prices had responded.

The increase in the milk price forecast, when paid to dairy farmers, would inject an additional $600 million in the rural economy.

Should $6.80 be the final milk payment for the 2021 season, it would be the fifth consecutive $6-plus seasonal result since the slump in dairy prices in 2014-16.

During the past four years world WMP prices have stayed in a band between US$2600 and $3300/tonne, Fonterra’s head of commodity trading Dave McGowan told a NZX Virtual Global Dairy Seminar on the same day as the new forecast.

He says WMP supply and demand factors were not expected to result in any dramatic price movements.

In more general terms for dairy products, supply and demand were in the most balanced position of the past decade.

Excluding butter, which had been knocked by the drop in foodservice demand, dairy products had recovered well from the initial impact of covid-19.

However, there were large potential impacts on the marketplace horizon,

OUTLOOK: The increase in the milk price forecast, when paid to dairy farmers, would inject an additional $600 million in the rural economy.

If the US dollar falls further it is likely to lead to more volatility in currencies and commodities.

Dave McGowan Fonterra like major economic shocks from covid lockdowns, high United States butter stocks, the US election, geopolitical tensions between the US and China and the recent weakening of the US dollar.

“If the US dollar falls further it is likely

to lead to more volatility in currencies and commodities,” McGowan said.

Hurrell says the wide range in the forecast milk price indicated a high number of demand and supply factors.

“It is still relatively early in the season and a lot can change,” he said.

“For example, we could experience volatility with exchange rates and milk supply from Europe and the US is increasing.

“Another uncertainty is how a potential risk from further waves of covid-19 and a global economic slowdown could impact demand.

“While increasing demand and supply would retain balance, given there are still a number of risks, we are still recommending our farmers be cautious with their decision making.”

Temuka

ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

Wait is over for new season lambs LAMB finishers have been patiently waiting for the first draft of new season store lambs, but that wait, at least, is now over.

As is tradition, the first decent offering to appear, did so at Stortford Lodge and were provided by annual sellers Reece and Debbie Whitelock from Te Aute. These lambs always kick-off the season in style and nearly 2000 of their early August-born Southdown-cross lambs were drafted off their five-year-old mothers first thing on Wednesday morning, and made the pilgrimage to Hastings.

According to Reece, this is a scheme that works well within the Whitelocks’ farming system between their Te Aute and Te Pohue farms.

“Our two farms have very different climates and we offload these lambs (and their mothers which will be sold at Stortford Lodge in a few weeks’ time) early to make way for the lambs coming down from Maunganui Station in Te Pohue,” he said.

“We have sent in most of the early lambs from Waikareao (Te Aute), though there are still a few smaller ones at home.”

Drought conditions at tupping meant that the ewes scanned more singles this year but, as survival rates were very good, that simply gave the Whitelocks more weight in the pens. That was notable especially on the top cut, which was 35kg compared to 31kg last year.

“We use Southdown rams mainly from Stephen Baker at Te Mara Southdown Stud, as they produce fantastic lambs that grow out well,” he said.

And a regular buyer from Taupo would second that, coming back for the third year in a row to battle with local and Manawatu buyers to take them home.

Crops already have the lamb’s name on them, and he again was successful on several lines offered. It was not an easy-won battle though and the top mixed-sex were pushed to $141 with subsequent lines ranging from $96 to $127. suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

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