Farmers Weekly NZ November 9 2020 by AgriHQ

Vol 19 No 43, November 9, 2020

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No room for ag workers A Staff reporters

LACK of space in isolation facilities will delay the availability of 210 foreign agricultural machinery operators coming to work for NZ contractors this season. Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) chief executive Roger Parton says while visas have been issued for these workers, by the time they are available for work, they will be three months too late. “The current information I have is that we won’t be able to get any isolation facilities until the middle of December, which means they won’t be out of isolation until Christmas, which is absolutely nonsensical because the season’s halfway over,” he said. “They’ve got the visas, they have got the travel booked, but they can’t get into the country because they can’t get a voucher for isolation. That’s causing a huge amount of stress out there.” “Secondly, there will be places where we won’t be able to harvest because we won’t have the skilled operators to take the machinery up the hills.” He understood that while the Government could bring more isolation facilities into service, there was not enough health staff to man those facilities. The inability to source skilled and unskilled foreign workers due to border restrictions to control covid-19 has impacted NZ’s entire primary sector. Investment, Skills and Performance director at the Ministry for Primary Industries Cheyne Gillooly says industries facing labour shortages include dairy, horticulture, viticulture,

shearing, apiculture, pork, meat processing, agricultural and horticultural contracting, deep sea fishing and veterinary sectors. Shortages range from 200 vets, 800 dairy farm workers, 1300 wine makers to thousands of fruit pickers. Sector leaders attribute the lack of interest in primary sector jobs to lower than expected unemployment, the Government’s wage subsidy and a reluctance for those looking for work to relocate. Central Otago District Council Mayor Tim Cadogan says a job promotion seminar in Queenstown – within commuting distance of short-staffed Central Otago orchards – attracted 600 registrations, of which only 20 were NZers. “I can’t fathom it. If you are unemployed in Otago and Southland you should look at it as an opportunity to get your lives started again,” he said. The Bay of Plenty kiwifruit industry is looking for 14,500 people in the coming months to prepare vines for the 2021 harvest with industry players expecting a shortage. The dairy industry needs 800 people and signs were promising with 575 registering for the threeweek DairyNZ GoDairy training courses. Of those, 72 graduated and 35 have found employment. DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says the results reflect how tight the labour market is. “It’s a complex issue and you can’t flick a switch,” he said. This year’s cherry crop is headed for a record 8000 tonnes of which 6000t will be exported, but growers are concerned they may not have enough pickers. The summerfruit harvest

The primary sector labour crisis

• 800: Dairy vacancies • 575: Registered for GoDairy courses • 72: GoDairy graduates • 35: Completed the course and found employment • 6100: RSE workers available for start of summer fruit harvest • 16,000: Usual number of RSE workers available for start of harvest • 13,000: Current working holiday visa holders • 70,000: Usual number of working visa holders • 170: Extra vets needed • 250: New forestry staff employed

requires 7000 people at its peak with the subsequent kiwifruit and pip fruit harvests needing 16,000 workers. Difficulties getting international winemakers into the country has the wine industry worried. Wine Marlborough manager Marcus Pickens says each year 1000 highly-skilled international winemakers descend on the province to make the latest vintage, with another 300 or so going to other wine regions. Winemakers follow the vintages around the world and Pickens says it is unknown if they are travelling due the pandemic, let alone if they can enter NZ. The forestry industry has had some success, recruiting an extra 250 staff through a scheme run through the Ministry for Social Development. The Ministry for Business

Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Immigration Policy manager Andrew Craig says since the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme was introduced in 2007, the cap has increased from 5000 to 14,400 people, a total that will be maintained for the coming season. He estimates about 6100 RSE workers were unable to return to their home countries before the pandemic, and they can now stay and work in NZ for another six months. At this stage, they will not be joined by RSE workers from outside NZ. Changes to NZ visa conditions mean about 14,000 Working Holiday Visa holders have been granted extensions allowing them to work until June 30. He says 600 lower-skilled visa

They’ve got the visas, they have got the travel booked, but they can’t get into the country because they can’t get a voucher for isolation. Roger Parton RCNZ holders, including those who work on dairy farms, have had their duration extended six months. A further 850 temporary work visa holders who are “normally resident” here and have enduring links to NZ, can also return, and these include dairy farm managers.

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NEWS

29 Sea pest destined for culinary treatment

A move from the land to the sea to learn more about a seaweed’s value as a human food source marks a step into alternative protein research for AgResearch scientists.

REGULARS Newsmaker �� 28 New Thinking �� 29

21 Top ram breeder’s offer of a lifetime More than 70 years of sheep breeding comes to an end for Northland’s Gordon Levet when his best rams and ewes are sold this summer.

Editorial �� 30 Pulpit �� 31 Opinion �� 32 Real Estate �� 35-49 Employment �� 50 Classifieds �� 51 Livestock �� 52-55 Weather �� 57

5 Fonterra’s shape-shift not easy 7 Biosecurity seeking lab boost Fonterra’s ongoing capital structure review has not produced any easy answers because every structure involves trade-offs, chair John Monaghan told the cooperative’s annual meeting.

Markets �� 56-60

With Damien O’Connor firmly reinstalled as minister for agriculture and biosecurity, the Government is positioned to act on some key biosecurity priorities.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Sector short of hands for harvest Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz DESPITE thousands of workers available in covid-free Pacific Islands to work in New Zealand, the horticultural sector continues to struggle getting traction with officials to allow them back into NZ. Apples and Pears New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard says a delegation of sector heads including pipfruit, summerfruit and kiwifruit have prepared a briefing document for government officials outlining the massive gap between workers on hand, and those required. “We know we have a deficit of 11,000 people and the challenge is, how are we going to fix that?” he asked. He confirmed that 11,000 allows for more New Zealanders who have lost their jobs in sectors like tourism filling roles usually taken by overseas seasonal workers. “We have assumed half the existing jobs will be taken up by locals,” he said. Pollard says apple growers were fortunate to at least have some time on their side to try and arrange harvesting, but summerfruit growers did not have that luxury, with harvest due to

SHORTFALL: Apples and Pears New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard says the entire horticultural sector is looking at a shortfall of 11,000 workers this season.

kick off in a few short weeks. About 80% of NZ’s crops are picked by seasonal workers, the bulk of them as Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) staff coming from the Pacific Islands. The Pacific Islands are clear of covid, and this has left many in the industry questioning why RSE staff cannot come here, while

staff for other sectors have come in carrying the risk of covid from other countries, including Russia. Pollard says he understands the challenges facing government, and sees three things stopping it giving RSE workers the green light. “The Government wants to know we are doing all we can to engage with New Zealanders first,” he said. He says the horticultural sector has been working closely with the Ministry for Social Development to get more locals on board. “But there has not been a lot coming our way,” he said. The horticulture sector has launched a recruitment initiative Pick Tiki. This links young New Zealanders with fruit growers around the country, encouraging them to turn their summer job into a road trip at the same time, and is getting some traction now. He says there had been 25,000 engagements on that website so far, with 1400 jobs listed. The scheme kicks off with summer fruit in Otago, moving up through the country to Nelson and Hawke’s Bay for apples, and then Bay of Plenty for kiwifruit in autumn, offering a mix of accommodation options throughout the journey. It is suggested employers offer

a minimum of 30 hours of work a week to pickers, with a minimum hourly rate and the opportunity to pay extra for staff who do additional work. Student Job Search has also launched with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) its Pick this Pick that campaign on its website, linking students to jobs. This initiative is the first through MPI’s Opportunity Grows Here campaign, targeting staff for the primary sector. The second barrier to RSE workers coming in was the government needing to know it had a clear pathway that if they came here, they could return home again. “Thirdly, government is also limited by managed facilities,” he said. “At present the Government is insisting they do need to be in these facilities, despite no covid being in the islands. We are arguing that this should not be the case.” He says the industry’s case includes putting up local hotels and hostels to accommodate staff. Last season the industry had been seeking 16,000 RSE staff for this season. At present about 5000 RSE workers remain in NZ from last

The Government wants to know we are doing all we can to engage with New Zealanders first. Alan Pollard Apples and Pears NZ season, and are likely to remain for the new season. Pollard says unemployment is expected to peak at a lower than expected 8% and not until MayJune next year, after crops have been harvested. He says members know of people who have been displaced from their work, but are opting to stay where they are, rather than uproot and move to where the seasonal work is. “This is in the hope they will keep their job and be able to restart,” he said. Pollard says he was heartened by the reappointment of Kris Faafoi as Minister for Immigration, someone who had proven receptive in his time in the role. “He does understand the situation,” he said.

Forestry picks up cadets with covid support Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz AFTER picking up an additional 250 staff through covid work initiatives, the forestry sector is feeling positive about its harvest and planting capacity over coming months. Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) chief executive Prue Younger says initially the industry had been seeking about 500 additional staff for

silvicultural training through a covid scheme run through the Ministry for Social Development. The scheme provided $2.5 million in subsidies to support employers and employees. “We ended up with 250 through that subsidy, and it included payments to contractors who maybe had part time employees,” she said. “Some contractors had hoped to get maybe 15 new staff, but instead got 10, but they have

turned out to be good quality staff.” The course includes formalised unit standards and to offer further work-ready standards that Competenz, the Industry Training Organisation (ITO), launched this year. It promises to give the sector a valuable injection of young talent over the coming years. “It has been successful enough for us to want to continue the conversation about training

for next year, given there is also possibly greater uncertainty next year about income support and jobs.” The industry had also been seeking seasonal workers for tree planting and Younger says so far there did not appear to be any significant shortage of people to complete this season’s planting programme. “If anything, the hold up has been more at the nursery end than on the ground,” she said.

She says in the longer-term the industry has been looking at dropping staff numbers in high risk areas, with mechanisation being able to replace people. “This was not so much the case 18 months ago, but covid has made us look at how we operate, with a push to get people off the slopes. We will be looking at quite a different profile for forestry workers in a few years,” she said.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Vote falls short as council looks ahead Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz A BID to change the way the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council operates failed to get the required support at the co-op’s annual meeting last week, but the man behind it is not too disappointed, as he says the proposal has driven change anyway. Lumsden farmer Tony Paterson spoke at the Masterton meeting in person in support of three resolutions he had put forward for farmers to consider and vote on. In summary, they were that the Shareholders’ Council engage an external expert to produce reports that include commentaries on the company’s performance and achievements compared to the board of directors’ statement of intentions; that the council’s annual budget be reduced, in line with its constitutional purpose, by about $1 million; and that the council’s funding be in the form of a milk levy. To be successful, each resolution needed the support of at least 50% of those who voted.

They received 39.70%, 37.65% and 35.62% respectively. Paterson says he always knew it was going to be a close vote and he is happy to have garnered the support received. He says the council needs to acknowledge that more than a third of those who voted did want the change he was asking for. “I’m humbled by the support and I thank those people (who voted for the resolutions),” he said. He is pleased that after he called for change to the council’s structure and operations at last year’s annual meeting, which attracted about 45% of yes votes, a review of the council’s activities was undertaken. “Without the resolutions this year and last year that wouldn’t have happened,” he said. “There will be change and we will be watching.” Shareholders’ Council chair James Barron is confident that once the changes recommended in the report that followed the review are implemented over the

next 12 months, concerns raised by dissatisfied farmers will be addressed. The review of the council’s activities was conducted by a steering group that had a majority of members independent of the council and board. Barron says those members who were not independent provided knowledge of what the council’s role was. He says all shareholders had equal and ample opportunity to make their views known to the steering group, which sent an issues and options discussion paper to farmers in late August. That was followed by a nationwide series of meetings to hear farmers’ opinion of the proposals. About 1500 farmers, with more than 2500 comments, made their views known to the steering group. The report contains 27 recommendations that Barron says will help unlock the benefits the council can provide to shareholders. He says the review shows the

MOVING FORWARD: Fonterra Shareholders’ Council chair James Barron is confident the council is on the right track to making sure farmer needs will be met.

majority of Fonterra farmers place a high value on the council’s representation, monitoring, connection and guardianship functions, including wanting the council to help them feel connected to their co-op, but that they want greater visibility of councillors in their wards to hear their views. A significant switch in focus highlighted by the review will see the council move towards a more proactive stance. “We need to move past talking about what our concerns are and instead articulate more what our expectations are,” Barron said.

Without the resolutions this year and last year that wouldn’t have happened. There will be change and we will be watching. Tony Paterson Farmer “Let’s have some discussions about what we expect and how they might be delivered. “That’s going to be a key part of us all moving forward together.”

Fonterra’s new directors announced Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

VOTED IN: Brent Goldsack was one the two directors elected by Fonterra’s farmershareholders’ board.

FONTERRA’S farmershareholders have re-elected one-term director Brent Goldsack to the board and added corporate law high-flier Cathy Quinn to the top table on her second time of asking. The unsuccessful candidates were former Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy, farm management academic Nicola

Shadbolt seeking a return to the board, Waikato-based corporate dairy farmer Mike O’Connor and investment analyst and adviser Annabel Cotton. The voting figures showed that Goldsack and Quinn were successful by a comfortable margin over the other four candidates for two farmerdirector positions. A chartered accountant formerly with PwC, Goldsack

and his family have 1500 cows on three farms in Waikato. Quinn was managing partner of MinterEllisonRuddWatts until stepping down late last year and is a director of Fletcher Building, Tourism Holdings and Rangatira, is on the advisory board of the New Zealand Treasury and a council member of the University of Auckland. Her dairy farming connection is through a family trust-owned

business in Waikato for which she has been a director for nine years. She says her skills, experience and attributes would positively contribute towards Fonterra delivering on its full potential. Both successful candidates were in their professional careers formerly advisors to Fonterra and the dairy industry, Goldsack as an auditor and Quinn for legal advice.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Fonterra’s shape-shift not easy Hugh Stringleman Monaghan also spoke hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz about Fonterra’s risk appetite statement, which he called a more conservative approach FONTERRA’S ongoing capital on the balance sheet, for structure review has not investments and general produced any easy answers business operations. because every structure “It is a critical piece of work involves trade-offs, chair that gives us a much clearer John Monaghan told the coview of the risk adjusted operative’s annual meeting. return, particularly for offshore “The objective of our investments, before we make review is to ensure our our investment decisions,” he capital structure is fit for the said. future. We’re not trying to fix In his farewell address on something that is broken,” he retirement from the chair and said. the board, Monaghan said The review group had Fonterra had delivered stable identified the key elements of governance over the past two a financially sustainable coyears of financial recovery and operative and then looked for any potential problems to solve. a new strategy. There was a high level of “To address these challenges, uncertainty about 2021 and we are now looking at a whole beyond about how global range of alternative structures, recession and new waves of as well as options within our covid will impact demand. current structure, and we are “The best way of coping thoroughly testing them against with uncertainty is to stay on the design principles,” he said.

strategy and to focus on what is within our control,” he said. “We were match fit when covid struck, with a new strategy, structure, and culture. “That has us well positioned to come out the other side where there will be new opportunities.” Fonterra’s continued success would be to generate sustainable returns along with more regeneration of the environment, and Monaghan firmly believed it could do both. “As a farmers’ co-op, we pride ourselves on values such as loyalty, hard work, and being humble,” he said. “Collectively, we have had to take the past few years of public criticism on the chin and just get on with the job. “So, off the back of an improved culture and financial performance, it is great to see a fresh appreciation and respect for what we do.”

LOOKING AHEAD: Fonterra chair John Monaghan said Fonterra had delivered stable governance over the past two years of financial recovery and a new strategy.

Hurrell confident of earnings guidance Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

POSITIVE: Fonterra’s chief executive Miles Hurrell says the most important financial achievement of last year was the $1.1 billion reduction in debt.

FONTERRA’S management is still confident the earnings guidance of 20c to 35c is achievable with the 40c/kg milksolids higher milk price forecast, chief executive Miles Hurrell said at the annual meeting. But he drew attention to key assumptions in those forecasts, including recovery from covid-19 in China and other Asian markets, along with lower financing costs and less significant one-off items like impairments. Nor was Fonterra expecting a repeat of the changing price relativities between reference

and non-reference products as occurred in the second half of FY2020. The big unknowns included currency exchange rates, what will happen to milk supplies out of Europe and the United States and further waves of covid-19. Fonterra could only focus on what it could control – staying on strategy, being agile and drawing on its strengths across the supply chain to manage and adapt to changes around the globe. Hurrell says the most important financial achievement of last year was the $1.1 billion reduction in debt. The balance sheet was in

a much healthier state and the debt ratio target had been achieved. “But perhaps most importantly because we made good inroads in the first half of the year, we were able to focus on our covid-19 response, delivering on our strategy and continuing to get your milk to market, he said. “The $1.1bn debt reduction meant we weren’t drawn away from what needed to be done to manage the challenges we faced.” Subsequently, agreement had been reached to sell China Farms for $555 million and this would allow further priority to be placed on NZ milk and more debt to be retired.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Biosecurity seeking lab boost Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz WITH Damien O’Connor firmly reinstalled as minister for agriculture and biosecurity, the Government is positioned to act on some key biosecurity priorities. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Penny Nelson told delegates at this year’s Tauranga Moana biosecurity symposium that improving capacity to bring germplasm into NZ was one of those key areas. “We will be very focused on looking at the import health standards around germplasm. We are seeking to take a more strategic approach to the importation of material,” she said. The move will be welcomed by plant breeders seeking out new varieties to meet either changing consumer demands, or to develop more climatically robust and productive varieties.

At present, our facilities for germplasm importation are booked up for the next four years. Penny Nelson Biosecurity NZ “At present, our facilities for germplasm importation are booked up for the next four years. That is a long time to have to wait for anyone seeking to develop plants to grow here in New Zealand,” she said. She says funds have been secured to build some interim facilities in Auckland to house additional material, and these were to be up and running next year. The deputy director says Biosecurity NZ was also looking to ramp up NZ’s lab testing facilities in the wake of covid-19’s outbreak and the M bovis eradication decision. “We have learnt how critical the lab services we provide are. We are taking a real close look at lab capability and how we grow that for the future,” he said.

She says the ability to manage two major disease outbreaks at the same time was critical, and not an unreasonable scenario given past experiences of disease incursions. Also high on the priority list was the need to review the Biosecurity Act, now 27 years old. “There are factors like climate change and increased demand for good biosecurity standards that mean it is a good time to review the Act,” she said. “We see greater collaboration between groups in things like M bovis control and we need an Act capable of enabling that sort of partnering.” She also outlined some important lessons learnt from the covid crisis that could be kept in mind for future incursions. One was the importance of trying to limit damage of a response, across economic, social and environmental areas, rather than singular focus on removing the disease without considering these. “The importance of communication with your trading partners was also important. If you communicate with them frequently they will trust you, and it will keep your exports flowing,” she said. Aligning with key decision-makers among industry groups and companies was also important, a move MPI made a point of early on in the outbreak. The crisis had also gifted policy makers with a “team of five million” who now understand biosecurity, and the terms used like quarantine, elimination and contact-tracing. “This is a huge opportunity through Ko Tatou (this is us) to build on that five million for biosecurity,” she said. The M bovis response has also seasoned the agricultural sector to biosecurity’s value, and like the general population’s experience with covid there was the opportunity to make it easier for farmers to know what “good” looks like when defining biosecurity standards. She says the value of the Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital (TMBC) programme helped communities establish those standards, and a template of the initiative was due to be put in place at the top of the South Island soon.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

How could Biden fix Trump’s America? Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com AMERICA looks certain to dial back the aggressive trade tactics of the Trump era if Joe Biden is confirmed as President. Big questions, however, remain about how much the Democrat will be able to do to reverse course and pursue a genuinely tradeliberalising agenda. Votes were still being counted as Farmers Weekly went to press last week, but a Biden victory looked the more likely outcome, even as lawsuits in several states promised to drag out the final result. Donald Trump swung a wrecking ball through America’s trade relationships during his four-year term. Abandoning its championing of the rules-based trading system since World War 2, Trump used the US’ leverage as the world’s biggest economy to the maximum extent possible against China, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and others. Trump’s complaint against China’s trade policies is not controversial in the US. Theft of American companies intellectual property and the subsidisation of Chinese industry is seen as a

worsening problem by both main political parties. But his decision to start a trade war using tariffs to bludgeon the Chinese with was a wild departure from the general direction of previous administrations in reducing trade barriers. Former trade negotiator Charles Finny says Biden will be less inclined to use tariffs as a weapon and more likely to call on the WTO to resolve disputes with trading partners. Trump stymied the WTO’s dispute settlement system by refusing to approve the judges needed for it to operate. “There will be a more constructive engagement with the WTO and a different approach to dealing with trade disputes than the tariff first approach followed by Trump,” Finny said. “It is going to be more like how we have been used to dealing with the US for decades, as opposed to what we have had with Trump.” But while Biden looked less likely to use the threat of tariffs as a negotiating ploy, there was little to suggest that he would be particularly active in pursuing new trade agreements to roll them back either. As Barack Obama’s vice-

DAMAGE CONTROL: Donald Trump ruined many of America’s trade relationships during his four-year term, but if Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden comes out on top, the world will be watching to see how he attempts to reverse its course. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

president, Biden backed the US’ leadership of the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks, which aimed to break down barriers to trade and investment in the Pacific Rim region. Trump took the US out again just days after taking office. Former agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen says the closeness of the election and limited support among the current crop of Democrats in Congress for free trade generally meant Biden would be wary of rushing to rejoin the 11-country Pacific Rim agreement, which still remains New Zealand’s best shot at a trade deal with the US. “The Democrats effectively engaged with us in TPP under Obama and that was likely going to take us through … to an agreement,” Peterson said. “But Biden was part of an administration then, which is quite different to what it is now. “Now we have a Democratic party, which has probably gone more to the left, and there are

more of the Bernie Sanders-type supporters that are harder and tougher on trade.” Even if Biden could convince his party to use its majority in the House of Representatives to vote for his trade deals they potentially faced a further hurdle in the Senate which the Democrats had been unable to win back in last week’s elections. Dairy Companies Association chair Malcolm Bailey says it remains to be seen whether the Republican-controlled Senate would forward deals passed in the Democrat-controlled House to the President for signing. “Are they going to revert to form and be more supportive of trade liberalisation or are they going to be the protectionist party we saw under Trump? We just don’t know,” Bailey said. He says many of the targets identified by Trump, such as the WTO and Canada’s use of subsidies to protect its dairy farmers from imported competition, were the correct

ones but he was dubious about the way he had gone about trying to reform them. “The way of going about that is not to bring the dispute resolution process to a halt,” he said. “We were pretty dismayed by that. The US, in economic terms, can engage in brinkmanship with a lot of trading partners but we certainly cannot. “NZ’s interest is very much aligned with getting the WTO disputes system up and running again.” But Bailey says he was hopeful Biden would use Trump’s trade deal with Canada to force it to live up to its commitment to rein in subsidies which, as well as blocking imported competition, were distorting the world price for dairy products by creating huge surpluses of milk powders which were finding their way onto the international market. “Whoever is in charge of the US, we would be supportive of them trying to nudge Canada in a more sensible direction,” he said.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

NZ questions US farm subsidies Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com NEW Zealand is questioning whether Donald Trump’s payments of billions of dollars to American farmers go beyond the limits allowed under international trade rules. The Trump administration forked out US$12 billion in subsidies in 2018 to buffer American farmers from the fallout of the President’s trade war with China. It topped that up with another US$16bn in 2019. Billions more were set aside after covid-19 dealt a further blow to US farm incomes, which are forecast to drop this year by 15% even after subsidies are accounted for.

If it is a case of the commitment (by the US) not being lived up to, then the process is that the countries can seek a consultation on that which is a precursor to lodging a dispute. Kimberly Crewther DCANZ According to one US report, payments from the federal government will make up 36% of American farm incomes this year – the highest share since 2001. At the most recent meeting of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Committee on Agriculture in late September, officials from NZ asked US counterparts when the committee could expect formal notification of the payments and whether they expected the amounts to exceed the WTO’s annual limit for the US of US$19.1bn. NZ officials also asked if more subsidies were in the pipeline and how the US planned to reduce programmes already in place. American officials responded that the WTO would be notified

in due course. The most recent subsidies were short-term measures to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on US farmers and consumers, they said. Similar questions of the US came from the European Union, China, India and Canada. The barrage of questions led one former top American trade official to speculate that countries could be preparing a lawsuit against the US. The Dairy Companies Association of NZ’s (DCANZ) executive director Kimberly Crewther says the questions were designed to find out the exact nature of the payments and whether they were likely to exceed the limits allowed for by the WTO or fall into some other category. “If it is a case of the commitment (by the US) not being lived up to, then the process is that the countries can seek a consultation on that which is a precursor to lodging a dispute,” she said. Crewther says the US could be expected to argue that the subsidies fell into a category that did not distort international trade and did not need to be notified to the WTO. “The question around whether they should be notifying it … is NZ officials suggesting that from what they are seeing it does look like it fits into that category and should be notified,” she said. NZ has long argued subsidies distort agricultural trade by sending a signal to foreign farmers to keep on producing even when prices are falling. Prices take longer to recover their former levels while excess production is worked through as was the case in 2018 and 2019 when the EU dumped subsidised skim milk powder on the global market. Crewther says while other countries had propped up their farmers since the start of the pandemic the US was “way out in front” with the size of its support programmes. That was concerning given the growth trajectory the US dairy industry was currently on. “They have the potential to

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PREDICTION: According to one US report, payments from the federal government will make up 36% of American farm incomes this year – the highest share since 2001.

become the world’s largest dairy exporter, but that is going to come at a high cost to unsubsidised producers and not just exporters like NZ if that growth is coming from subsidies,” she said. The NZ dairy industry was concerned the subsidies could become permanent.

Ironically, the US industry had loudly criticised the abuse of subsidies by rivals in recent times. In May America’s National Milk Producers Federation slammed the EU for restarting “governmentincentivised stockpiling” of dairy products, which it said had

disrupted global markets in recent years. The US also won a WTO case last year against China after complaining the country had exceeded its limits on subsidies to cropping farmers. “You do wonder sometimes whether these people own mirrors,” Crewther said.

EU SMP dump cost NZ farmers $500m THE dumping on world markets of subsidised skim milk powder (SMP) by the European Union two years ago cost New Zealand dairy farmers half a billion dollars in lost income, a recent study concluded. The European Commission shifted nearly a quarter of the continent’s SMP production into storage in 2016 before dumping it on the world market in 2018 and 2019 at discounted prices. The commission made the initial purchases in a bid to put a floor under low EU farm gate milk prices. EU government stocks

BRIDGES

reached 378,000 tonnes in 2017, equal to 16% of global production. A study published in July by America’s National Milk Producers Federation estimates the release back onto the world market of those stockpiles over the following two years led to the world price for skim milk powder being 3.6% lower than it otherwise would have been in 2018 and 8.7% lower in 2019. The impact on US farm gate milk prices was a reduction of 1.7% in 2018 and 3.9% in 2019. The total cost to US dairy producers is calculated at US$2.2bn.

The cost to NZ farmers is estimated at 30c per kg of milk solids in 2018 or 4.7% of that year’s payout. The EU’s intervention also had the effect of robbing market share from rivals. As the EU flooded the world with cheap milk powder it was able to undercut its competitors and increase its share of the global skim milk powder market from 30.6% in 2016 to 42.3% in 2019. The US’ share was stable at 31% but NZ’s fell from 23.5% to 16.3% over the same period. Australia’s market share fell from 8.3% to 5%.

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10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Covid-19 concern causes dairy to dip

BOUNCE BACK: Westpac senior agri-economist Nathan Penny says they anticipate that the dip in dairy prices is likely to prove temporary.

Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

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DAIRY prices in the first Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction of November gave up half of the 3.6% gain they made during October but the market is still sound, analysts say. The GDT price index fell 2%, including whole milk powder prices down 2%, skim milk powder down 4.4% and anhydrous milk fat down 2.6%. The positive balance came from butter prices, which were up 3.9%. Dairy analyst Amy Castleton says the net effect of the GDT movements and the reaction on the dairy derivatives market was to reduce the NZX farm gate milk price by 11c to $7.01/kg milksolids, WMP, SMP and AMP futures have eased over the past fortnight while butter futures have risen slightly. It seems the futures market accurately predicted what happened in the November 4 GDT sale. Milk futures for September 2021 delivery have also fallen 10c over the past fortnight and now sit at $6.85, a little above the midpoint of the Fonterra price range forecast, $6.30-$7.30.

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Westpac senior agri-economist Nathan Penny says covid-19 impacts are worrying the buyers for short-term shipments. Covid cases have hit fresh high numbers and lockdowns have been reimposed, especially in Europe. “These developments are likely to dampen global dairy demand and thus prices, at least temporarily,” he said. “With that in mind, we note that China and the rest of Asia have led the rebound in dairy demand and prices and on that front covid developments are more benign. “Accordingly, we anticipate that the dip in dairy prices is likely to prove temporary,” Penny said. ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby says demand for dairy products has been surprisingly resilient in recent months. Additional volumes of dairy products have readily been absorbed by global markets, but there are mounting concerns that stocks may be building in-market rather than being consumed. In the latest GDT results, regular WMP prices for different delivery times were confined to a narrow band between US$2950 and $3025, averaging $2985. The nearest, December delivery contracts were down 4.7% and the farthest, April delivery, were down only 0.9%. ASB economist Nat Keall says the shape of the contract curves had shifted. “Demand is now lower at the nearer term and then rising out to longer dates,” he said. “That might suggest buyers have built up good stockpiles for the time being after the lifts over recent auctions.” The shifts in GDT prices were not enough to convince ASB to change its milk price forecast of $6.75.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Call for accurate measure of methane emissions

GOAL: NZRSB chair Grant Bunting is calling for a more accurate approach for calculating livestock methane emissions.

Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz NOT all greenhouse gases are created equally, prompting a call for the beef industry to rethink on how it calculates methane emissions. Greenhouse gases behave differently and the New Zealand Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (NZRSB) is calling for a new, more accurate, approach to be adopted for calculating methane emissions. The new approach, Global Warming Potential Star (GWP*) has been developed based on the traditional emissions calculation method GWP100 that assumes all greenhouse gasses are cumulative, meaning they never reduce. While this is correct for carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, methane has a lifespan of about 10 years before it breaks down into carbon dioxide. NZRSB chair Grant Bunting says modifying the use of GWP* so that it accounts for the differences between short-lived and long-lived gases will better connect emissions and warming. “For countries with high methane emissions, this can make a big difference in how reducing emissions is understood and progressed,” Bunting said. “We acknowledge that methane has a climate impact and we are not advocating for this impact to be treated softer than other greenhouse gases. “But given that methane survives in the atmosphere for 10 years, while the other two main greenhouse gases survive for thousands of years, we think methane emissions should be accounted for differently from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.” For the beef industry, GWP* means that if herd numbers remain the same after 10 years then methane levels remain constant, with the quantity emitted equalling the quantity disintegrating. “Importantly, if methane emissions are held constant, climate impact will remain constant,” he said. “The NZ red meat sector has already reduced methane emissions by more than 30% since 1990, so we’re already making good progress.” Bunting says if all GHG emissions are treated the same, as they are using GWP100, short-lived emissions are unequally accounted for. “As we learn more and the science develops, we need to ensure our approach remains relevant,” he said. With a lot going on in this space, NZRSB is offering people the opportunity to learn more about GWP* and climate impact through a webinar with greenhouse gas guru, University of California professor and air quality specialist Dr Frank Mitloehner. Mitloehner is committed to making a difference for generations to come and is passionate about understanding and mitigating air emissions from livestock operations. “The GWP* approach is gaining traction around the world and if NZ wants to be a world leader in this space it is time we started using an accurate measure that correlates to actual warming,” Bunting said. The webinar will take place on November 17 at 1pm.

To register go to: https://www.nzsustainablebeef.co.nz/

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News

12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Few surprises in Cabinet appointments Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz IT’S mainly business as usual for the primary sector following the announcement of the Labour government’s new Cabinet positions. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor retains the job, while picking up Trade and Export Growth, taking that role from David Parker. In the previous government O’Connor was Associate Minister (later Minister of State) for Trade and Export Growth, so he should be well-placed for the step up. O’Connor also retains responsibility for Biosecurity, Rural Communities and Land Information. Parker keeps his position as

Minister for the Environment, which is likely to be timeconsuming this term with reform of the Resource Management Act already signalled. He picks up Oceans and Fisheries – essentially Fisheries renamed – which was with Stuart Nash last term. Nash instead picks up Forestry and Economic and Regional Development. Foreign Affairs, which had been tipped as a choice between Parker and Andrew Little, instead goes to Nania Mahuta, the first woman appointed to the role. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Mahuta will bring the experience she built when holding an Associate Trade and Export Growth portfolio last term. Kris Faafoi keeps his

RETAINED: Damien O’Connor has kept his portfolio as Minister of Agriculture.

Immigration role, so groups trying to get overseas workers into the country as soon as possible will hope his understanding of the portfolio will help expedite that process. Other appointments that will have a bearing on the primary sector include Meka Whitiri picking up Associate Agriculture,

with responsibility for animal welfare; first-term MP Kiri Allan being the new Minister of Conservation, along with the associate minister for the Environment portfolio; while Megan Woods retains Research, Science and Innovation. Former Minister of Transport Phil Twyford is now outside

Cabinet, although he picks up the roles of Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth, Associate Minister for the Environment and Associate Minister of Immigration. Also outside the Cabinet, Green Party leader James Shaw will keep his Minister for Climate Change position.

New ships strengthen ties Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz CAPACITY for New Zealand’s kiwifruit exporting has received a significant boost with the commissioning of three new specialist vessels servicing Zespri markets. The first of the vessels arrived at Port of Tauranga late last month, owned by operator Fresh Carriers, Zespri’s long-time shipping partner. The company freights 190,000 tonnes of NZ’s kiwifruit exports every year, or about 40% of this country’s total export production.

The company supplies 35 vessels to Zespri throughout the season, largely shipping to North Asian ports. The new vessel, named Kowhai after the gold kiwifruit it transports, will be followed by the Kakariki (green) and Whero (red), representing the full fruit portfolio from Zespri. The company gave NZ kiwifruit growers the opportunity to name the new ships. Charter vessels have long formed a key part in Zespri transportation, enabling specific loading and timing of shipments to coincide with harvest volumes. The new vessel includes

remote monitoring technology to gauge fruit quality in transit. The ships will typically be loaded with secondhand cars from Japan, bananas and pineapples from the Philippines when they arrive in NZ. Zespri global supply officer Alastair Hulbert says the charter vessel programme has been a significant contributor to the sector’s success, and continuity of supply over the covid crisis. The departure of the Kowhai marks the second to last charter reefer vessel this season, stopping at Tokyo and Kobe.

BRAND NEW: The Kowhai arrives for a late season shipment of kiwifruit to Japan.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Wall of wood to threaten processors NEW Zealand needs to get ahead of a wall of subsidised wood products heading this way as overseas players shore up their processing industries in response to the covid-19 pandemic, local manufacturers say. An export log ban announced by Russia a month ago is the latest in a string of measures that are going to drive “major shifts” in the direction of wood product flows out of China and Europe, Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association chief executive Jon Tanner said. He says the Russian ban, proposed from January 2022, will reduce log supplies to China and likely increase that country’s demand for logs from NZ and Australia. At the same time, cheap loans will be available from next year to encourage Russian wood processors to modernise and expand their operations. The Russian measures come just as Canada opted to join the US in imposing high tariffs on Chinese wood products. The ongoing spruce beetle infestation in Europe continues to kill forests which are then felled, pushing more volume into international log and timber markets. Tanner says those combinations will see more subsidised wood products heading this way and into NZ’s export markets and officials will have to act. “We can’t wait for this for another couple of years,” he told BusinessDesk. “It’s getting more and more difficult by the day because of the trade restrictions being put in place.” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern appointed Stuart Nash as the new Forestry Minister, replacing NZ First minister Shane Jones, who held the portfolio in the last Parliament. NZ manufacturers were already pushing for stronger controls against dumped and subsidised imports before the pandemic as part of a programme of initiatives to help reinvigorate the sector. Forest owners and processors were also looking for ways more local processing could be developed in the face of subsidised log buying by Chinese processors. Since then, all countries have poured billions of dollars into their economies to maintain industries and jobs. Some of those initiatives are specifically directed at export expansion, while others, such as a A$1.5 billion programme announced last month to help modernise Australian manufacturing, will have the same effect. Tanner says officials are monitoring other countries’ economic initiatives and is not convinced their potential impact on NZ’s economy is understood. Last Friday, more than 70 forestry sector executives participated in a scoping exercise for an industry transformation plan the Ministry for Primary Industries is developing with the sector to identify ways to target investment and increase productivity. Tanner says there was an encouraging focus on how change could be effected and generally broad agreement on what needed to change. But he says officials were thinking about long-term transformation of the sector, whereas participants were pressing for action that could be taken in the next one to three years. “We need urgent changes, the competition is moving quite fast,” Tanner said.

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

EXPECTATION: Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association chief executive Jon Tanner says Russia’s export log ban will reduce log supplies to China and likely increase that country’s demand for logs from NZ and Australia.

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16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Pass mark for Fonterra on its sustainability Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz FONTERRA awarded itself green pass marks on 10 of 16 targets for core indicators in the latest annual Sustainability Report. It made no progress and got red marks on two main targets of diversity in leadership – 50% females and 20% ethnic leadership by 2022. In those areas during FY2020, it achieved 29% female representation and 8% ethnic representation and it has now reset the female target to 35% in FY2021. Fonterra did not achieve its work injury target of less than five recordable injuries per million work hours, reporting 5.8 in 2020. It is also making slow progress on wastewater treatment at manufacturing sites – 29% of which achieved the standard two years in a row versus the 100% target. Little reduction was made in

around 16,000 tonnes of solid waste sent to landfill last year, and the year before when the target is zero by 2025. The report also said more work is needed for all of Fonterra’s consumer products to meet endorsed nutritional guidelines. Its performance against that measure rose from 70% to 73% in 2020. Another goal is to have 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging in 2025. The majority of the progressively achieved sustainability targets – the green marks – came in two areas, healthy business and healthy environment. In healthy business the four 2020 interim targets were met or exceeded; 6.7% return on capital, 24c earnings per share, $1.8 billion free cash flow, and debt which is 3.4 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda). The FY2021 targets for these

GREEN TICKS: The majority of the sustainability targets came in two areas, healthy business and healthy environment.

metrics are not particularly challenging, but Fonterra has challenging financial goals ahead; 10% ROC by 2024, 50c EPS and debt that is 2.5-3.5 times Ebitda. In the healthy environment category, achievements were one-third of farmers now having farm environment plans, a second consecutive 3% reduction in water use at manufacturing sites in water-constrained regions, plus a further reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from

manufacturing and from dairy farming. Another goal accomplished was 100% of sites having independent certification for a leading food safety management system. Fonterra reported progress on its longest-running environmental ambition; a 20% reduction in energy intensity in manufacturing since the baseline set in 2003. “Combined, that is enough energy saved to power all New Zealand homes for one-and-a-half years,” it said.

Another goal accomplished was 100% of sites having independent certification for a leading food safety management system.

Hoggard elected to international dairy board FEDERATED Farmers president Andrew Hoggard has been appointed to the board of the International Dairy Federation (IDF). Earlier this week representatives of more than 40 dairy producing countries, representing over 75% of global milk production, elected new and returning representatives to the IDF board and committees, with Hoggard elected as the sole farmer representative on the governing board.

He’s not new to the organisation, having served on its animal health, farm management and environment standing committees. He’s also just finished his second two-year stint on the IDF’s scientific programme coordination committee. That’s the body that decides which potential work streams, covering everything from research to nutrition, processing, marketing and more, should be the priority for IDF resources. In at least one respect, Hoggard

says he’ll be pushing the same principle he’s used to arguing on behalf of farmers in New Zealand, and that’s policies, regulations and proposals need to pass the SPA test: is it sensible; it is practical; is it affordable? “An emerging opportunity for the IDF is the United Nations food systems dialogue. It’s a focus of NGOs and other bodies and individuals all around the world, not just in NZ, to try and describe what a sustainable food system looks like,” he said.

“This dialogue is the opportunity to move beyond the sometimes emotive views gaining traction on how we should farm, and what we should produce, to ensure it is grounded in science, is practical, and rational in terms of the global challenge to ensure nutritionally adequate diets, while also maintaining sufficient food production for future generations. “My aim is to make sure the farmer voice and knowledge base is heard loud and clear among the other voices.”

ELECTED: Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard is the only farmer representative on the International Dairy Federation board.

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18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Range expanded to meet demand Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz TWO new products in Silver Fern Farms’ venison range reflect growing popularity for farmed venison. Silver Fern Farms (SFF) group marketing manager Nicola Johnston says 41% of premium meat consumers are now regularly buying venison. This is up from 30% five years ago. SFF has expanded its retail range to meet the growing consumer demand, adding venison cutlets and venison minute steaks.

The result is a consistent, delicate flavour and in addition to its great taste and versatility, it’s incredibly nutritious. Nicola Johnston Silver Fern Farms “We’ve responded to that by ensuring our venison range offers something for everyone, from cuts that can be used to create special occasion meals to impress, to those that are quick, easy and nutritious for family week-night meals,” Johnston said. “These additions to the range reflect growing consumer demand in this category as a result of growing awareness of the high

nutritional value and delicate flavour and versatility of farmed venison.” Each of the two new products in the venison range caters to different needs and complements the wider range of venison products. Johnston says the 300g venison cutlets are the first bone-in product in the range and look exquisite on the plate, as well as being beautifully tender. The 400g venison minute steaks can be prepared as fast as the name promises and open a realm of possibilities such as a quick and easy lunch, canape or snack to enjoy on the go. “Our venison is all pastureraised, grass-fed on New Zealand farms, with no hormones added, ever,” she said. “The result is a consistent, delicate flavour and in addition to its great taste and versatility, it’s incredibly nutritious – so good that it has been said by experts that if a scientist could create an ideal meat it would be venison.” North Canterbury deer farmer Sam Zino produces deer to meet the premium venison market demand. His many years of livestock farming have taught him that understanding what the processor and consumer wants is the way he needs to produce his stock for the market. He says there are still legacy misperceptions about venison in that its flavour is too gamey or that it’s only for fine dining, which hold some consumers back from trying it. “Though more and more we hear people asking ‘where can

BAD REP: North Canterbury deer farmer Sam Zino says there are still legacy misperceptions about venison in that its flavour is too gamey or that it’s only for fine dining, which hold some consumers back from trying it. Photo: Phil Stewart

we buy some venison to cook at home?’” he said. Zino’s deer operation runs 500 hinds and 275 velveting stags that fit into the wider farming operation that also includes sheep, beef and cropping on the family’s 1100-hectare property in North Canterbury. While lamb and beef remain the red meat staples, Zino says venison, with its differing nutritional and environmental qualities, is emerging as a popular red meat. Venison is higher in iron and

selenium than beef and lamb, and lower in fat than skinless chicken. With its higher proportion of energy from protein it is a great choice for those who want to benefit from the nutritional value of meat while reducing saturated fat intake. It is also a great choice for conscious consumers who care about the provenance of their food and the relative environmental footprint of its production. “As an industry we are encouraging it (venison) for the local market,” he said.

“It will take time and it does need to be price competitive, that could be the stumbling block for the farmer and the consumer.” The increasing on-farm expenses to comply with the environmental challenges make venison more costly to produce. “New rules such as the cost of fencing to farm (deer) makes it significantly more expensive than keeping cattle behind a fence,” he said. “We are more mindful that may stop expansion in deer if it gets too hard, that’s the danger in the equation.” Meeting the consumer demand is also about following rules. “At my end, it’s about making the best economic decisions, targeting weight at specific times of the year, killing down on scheduled contract prices and killing inside the criteria of processing demand,” he said. Supplying deer to SFF, Zino sells 70% of his yearling stock in the spring chilled market. “I would only be carrying about 5% after Christmas and that’s because that’s what the market demands,” he said. Like all other products in SFF retail range, the venison cuts come trimmed and portioned, ready-to-cook and eat. “I haven’t had any to try as yet, so I really can’t tell you from a taste experience just how good it is, but I can tell you it’s produced sustainably with passion and commitment to deliver the best quality I can,” Zino said. SFF’s new venison cutlets and minute steaks went into supermarkets nationwide last week.

SFF takes cautious forecast approach Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz A TRADE deal between Europe and the United Kingdom looks unlikely by the end of the year, which a New Zealand meat exporter fears could disrupt the movement of product between the two markets. Silver Fern Farms supply chain manager Dan Boulton says customers have secured early orders and apart from the possibility of disrupted movement of product between Europe and the UK, he did not expect issues for NZ meat, at least in the coming few months. Boulton told suppliers at a company road show in Balclutha that customers were playing a short game, which gave the company confidence to only forecast prime stock prices through to January. Its forecast ranges are prime beef $5.20-$4.90, bull $5.10-$4.80, cow $4-$3.60, lamb $7-$6.30, mutton $5.30-$4.50, venison $6.20-$5. With the demise in demand from restaurant and food service, meat exporters have been forced to divert product to retail outlets, but Boulton says consumers still

WATCHING BRIEF: Silver Fern Farms supply chain manager Dan Boulton says customers were playing a short game, which gave the company confidence to only forecast prime stock prices through to January.

want safe food sourced from a secure, credible food chain. The impact of covid-19 has been devastating for meat exporters. Before Christmas 2019, 50% of SFF lamb was going to China. By February that had fallen to

less than 10%, but by May it had recovered to 60%. Beef exports to China halved between Christmas and February. With between seven to 10 days cool storage capacity, Boulton says maintaining product flow was crucial to assisting farmers through autumn. As China shut down, Boulton said its shareholding in freight logistics company Kotahi allowed product to be quickly diverted to markets such as the US. “That was a big part of why we were able to maintain our processing levels,” he said. “It highlights our need to be agile.” Boulton says it was not simply a case of diverting product to other markets as relationships had to be built with retailers, new formats developed, specifications met and new packaging. For example, food service buys larger format cube rolls, whereas retailers want smaller portions which have to be prepared, packaged and labelled. Shanghai-based online and e-commerce retailer Good Farmer sells SFF meat but has become a key outlet and the first to stock SFF-branded product. Boulton says the growth in

online and e-commerce sales of SFF product in the last three months has exceeded total sales for the last five years. US speciality meat retailer Marx Foods has increased its instore and online capability to sell SFF meat, while the number of retail outlets in three West Coast states stocking product has increased from 40 to 200. SFF was also looking to develop other Asian markets. Boulton says with the South Island cattle herd increasing 100,000 in three years, the company last season took steps to reduce the space bottleneck created by the cow cull. They began the season earlier, made changes to shifts, maintenance and downtime so by the time covid-19 struck, the kill was 12% ahead of the previous year. Delays caused by the virus meant those gains were soon lost, but a similar approach to ease congestion has been taken this year. SFF Co-op chair Richard Young told shareholders increasing numbers of suppliers were wanting to become fully-paid-up shareholders. He welcomed the interest saying

last season 65% of stock came from shareholders, up from 62% three years earlier. Ideally, he wants 80-85% of stock to come from shareholders, saying that level of product flow will enhance the company’s performance.

That was a big part of why we were able to maintain our processing levels (and) it highlights our need to be agile. Dan Boulton SFF supply chain manager This year SFF is investing $55 million in its plants including extending cold boning, its valueadded programme, environmental compliance and health and safety. The company is also increasing its international presence, employing 10 people in China, up from one a year ago, and looking to add staff in the US.

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PROUDLY

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Open Farms is proud to be sponsored by: OUR LAND AND WATER WA

Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai

Thanks to our supporting partners: Agriculture & Investment Services Ministry for Primary Industries Manatū Ahu Matua

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Top ram breeder’s offer of a lifetime More than 70 years of sheep breeding comes to an end for Northland’s Gordon Levet when his best rams and ewes are sold this summer. Hugh Stringleman reports. SHEEP bred for worm resistance is the Holy Grail quest that has energised Gordon Levet for the past 35 years, which is about half of his working lifetime on Kikitangeo, the family farm near Wellsford first settled by his grandfather in 1874. His objective has been to breed sheep with strong, quickly responsive immune systems, which will ensure survival and productivity, particularly in less challenging environments further south. Degrees of immunity to parasites and diseases are available through careful challenges, recording and selections to avoid the increasingly ineffective anthelmintic drenches.

These two sales are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for other sheep breeders to buy the benefits of my hard work and achievements. Gordon Levet Ram breeder Sheep farming in Northland has in recent decades been replaced by beef cattle, dairying and horticulture and the number of ram breeders has declined. Unfortunately, with their departure goes the proven geographical shifting gains that ram buyers can obtain with sheep bred in Northland and its greater animal health challenges. Levet’s final ram sale will be on December 2 at his property, followed by an elite ewe dispersal on February 24. His three daughters and their partners will continue to own and work the farm through a family trust and Gordon, now aged 88, and Trish, a very fine artist, will live on in the homestead first built by his grandfather. Gordon will be busy with farm forestry and community activities, but he has not been able to attract a manager with the same passion for sheep breeding. The stud dispersal should be the biggest event in sheep breeding in decades for the genetics available to intending buyers, he believes. The Dual Purpose WormFEC (DPF) mean for Kikitangeo Romneys is approximately twice those of all other flocks recorded through WormFEC (faecal egg count) for eight or more years. Since 1995, when WormFEC was launched as a commercial service, Levet has dung sampled and measured his ram lambs each year as a major part of his selection pressure.

He has made more progress in breeding for worm resistance in the past five years than in the previous 20. The DPF flock mean took seven years to go from zero to 100, the next seven years to reach 300, and this year’s sale rams have an average of 716, including 180 over 800, 70 over 900 and 17 over 1000. One super sire with 28 sons has more than half of them testing over 1000. “When you buy one of my DPF 1000 rams and use it over your flock ewes, the immunity levels in the progeny will be right up there with other WormFEC flocks,” he said. “To put this in perspective, sheep with a DPF of 500 should be able to withstand worm challenges in most areas of the country in which Barber’s Pole is not the dominant species.” More than 100 Romney rams will be offered on December 2, the majority of them having never been drenched. There will also be Suffolk rams, Suffolk Texel-cross and Southdown rams. While improving the resistance to internal parasites, the Kikitangeo Romneys have also consistently improved facial eczema (FE) tolerance and continued to make progress in lamb growth rates. Levet is adamant that he is not following a one-track selection, but rather building immune strength in sheep that can cope with many diseases, like tapeworms, footrot, viral pneumonia, liver fluke and even cattle ticks. Most of his flock is not drenched to be continually challenged by parasites, and he has veterinary advice that animal welfare is not compromised. The biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world are no longer interested in finding and proving new anthelmintics because their effective life is short and the markets are much smaller than those in human health. Drench resistance in parasites is a huge and growing problem. “The natural genetic selection of an enhanced immune system in sheep is now the only long-term solution to internal parasites,” he said. “We need to expand breeding for worm resistance throughout the national flock and use AI to get the best rams distributed.” Levet was the inaugural chair of the Wellsford Vet Club when formed over 50 years ago and was awarded a life membership recently. He served 23 years on the NZ Romney Sheep Breeders Association council; two years as president and is a life member. Levet also received The Royal Society medallion and citation in 2009 for services to NZ agriculture and Beef + Lamb NZ’s Industry Innovation award in 2016.

ASSESSMENT: Gordon Levet, wool consultant Lance Paganini and PGG Wrightson agent Cam Heggie look over the top Romney sale rams.

ANCESTORS: Gordon Levet on the veranda at Kikitangeo, Wellsford, with representations of his Albertlander forbears made by his wife Trish.

Mildly dyslexic, Levet never had any academic training for qualifications in agriculture but has pursued sheep breeding and farm forestry with enthusiasm, challenging conventional thinking and calling himself a practical geneticist. He debates with the scientists, warming to those who come and see his sheep and systems, and sets up trials for all manner of management issues. For example, he has sourced, multiplied and sold the scotch thistle gall fly for biological control, donating half of the fees charged to Red Cross. Kikitangeo Romney Stud was

founded in 1922 by Gordon’s father and uncle, and was a joining member of the first national recording scheme in 1967, then Sheeplan, Animalplan and now SIL (Sheep Improvement Ltd). Levet began managing the property and the flock in 1951, when 21 years of age and he was just 17 when he first bought a Romney ram at the Feilding Ram Sale. He was captivated by genetics and recording, first on index cards, then on computer and through breed associations and bureaux.

He was the first breeder in the country to pay for embryo transfer in sheep in the 1970s to quickly multiply the progeny of super sires or, as he calls them, outliers. In the past 30-plus years Levet believes he has spent over $250,000 on parasite resistance trials, sampling and recording. “I have paid for my own research work and done all the dirty jobs, like pulling pellets out of bums,” he said. “These two sales are a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity for other sheep breeders to buy the benefits of my hard work and achievements.”

GROW SOME ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TIME TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

EQC makes deal to simplify claims Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz THE road to recovery following a natural disaster has been made more straightforward through a new Earthquake Commission and private insurers partnership. The Earthquake Commission (EQC) and private insurers’ new partnership will provide an improved, more collaborative approach to supporting New Zealanders through natural disasters in the future. Under the new partnership, anyone with home insurance whose home or land is damaged in a natural disaster will only need to lodge one claim through their private insurer.

This will ensure a more effective and efficient response, delivering simplicity and certainty for customers. Tim Grafton Insurance Council of NZ “These arrangements will ensure that customers can deal with their insurer who will assess, manage and settle their claim,” Insurance Council of NZ chief executive Tim Grafton said. “This will ensure a more effective and efficient response, delivering simplicity and certainty for customers. “Customers must always come first and developing these arrangements in partnership with EQC will ensure NZ has one of the best natural disaster response platforms in the world.” Eight private insurance companies – FMG, AA Insurance, Chubb, Ando (Hollard), IAG, MAS, Vero and Tower – have worked

with EQC on the partnership model with a singular focus on improved customer outcomes. EQC chief executive Sid Miller says the partnership builds on the model used following the Kaikoura earthquake and more recently in responding to the Northland floods in August. “The response to the Canterbury earthquakes highlighted that NZ’s dual insurance system meant customers had to make two claims; one to EQC up to a capped level of the damage and the other to their private insurer for top-up cover losses. “This was inefficient and frustrating for our customers,” Miller said. Under the new agreements, private insurers will manage the total claim, including the EQC portion up to the statutory capped level of damage, and then any claim under their private insurance to cover additional losses up to their sum insured. Under the partnership, insurers will also provide data to EQC about where insured homes are located so EQC can better model its exposure to natural hazards. The new approach builds on the findings from the Government’s Public Inquiry into EQC, as well as the lessons learned from the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes. “We know that EQC cannot respond to a large, natural hazard event alone, and this new partnership will streamline the insurance process and ensure we make best use of existing sector capability and expertise to meet the needs of New Zealanders when the next natural disaster occurs,” Miller said. “Once set up, it will double our capacity to manage claims from a natural disaster. “This much improved customer experience, improved data sharing and increased claims capacity is a milestone for improving our readiness to deal with future

HELPING HAND: The new approach recognises that EQC can not respond to a large, natural hazard alone.

natural hazard events.” Leading rural insurer FMG says the Natural Disaster Response Model (NDRM) is great news for farmers and rural communities. FMG chief product and pricing, underwriting and claims officer Nathan Barrett says FMG has been a strong advocate for the NDRM following the 2010 Canterbury earthquakes, instigating discussions for this change. “With this new model, if our clients are impacted by a natural disaster and need to make a claim, all they need to do is contact us,” he said. “At an already stressful time, we’re now able to make the road to recovery much simpler.” FMG, together with other private insurers are working with EQC on a partnership to deliver the NDRM.

“After the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake we had a temporary agreement to manage claims on behalf of EQC and we know from many of our clients that this worked well for them,” he said. When the change comes into effect Barrett says FMG will act as an agent for EQC and will add to its claims and assessing teams to support this. “We want to make sure our employees are supported and that we continue to offer the same level of service to our clients,” he said. The new model is expected to be in place from the second quarter of 2021. Meantime, EQC is working with individual insurers to satisfy requirements needed for the model.

PEACE OF MIND: FMG claims officer Nathan Barrett says under the new collaborative approach insurers will be able to make the road to recovery much simpler.

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alleva.co.nz TURBO®, BOSS and CORPORAL are registered trademarks of Alleva Animal Health Ltd. TURBO pour-on (A011722), BOSS pour-on (A010817), CORPORAL Tape (A011351) and BOSS Triple combination mineralised drench for sheep (A011614) are registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997. See www.foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions. Ham received may differ from advertised image. Barker gift box received may differ from advertised image. Ham and Barkers gift box available while stocks last.

RIGHT? THAT’S ALRIGHT! NOT ALL

5 ways to wellbeing

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give” Neil Bateup, Rural Support Trust “Giving doesn’t always need to be about money or material items, it is also giving time, skills and kindnes” Throughout my life I have always tried to give back. Giving doesn’t always need to be about money or material items, it is also giving time, skills and kindness. Sometimes we can lose sight of the fact that we all have something we can offer. I have always found it rewarding being part of, and giving back to my rural community. When I was younger I was involved with my local Young Farmers Club. As our family grew, Eilen and I gave time and supported the local schools and sports groups. There have been so many things over the years and now I give time on various Boards and organisations including the Rural Support Trust. When Eileen and I started our farming careers it was not always easy to give as much time or money so we choose things we were passionate about and offered what we could. There was no expectation to do more than we could, we were always upfront about what we could commit to doing and did not take on more than was practicable at the time. Research has found many reasons why giving improves our well-being, but for me, I just know it makes me feel good and I have made many great friends and connections from the things I been fortunate to be involved with. I have also learnt quite a bit from them too, so doubly good for my wellbeing! Helping and supporting others and working towards a shared goal is really neat. I am proud of the things I have given time to and I have lots of great memories. The people and organisations have helped give me a sense of purpose and made me feel more satisfied and happier about life. There are so many ways to give back, it is just finding the right one for you.

Simple ways you could give today:

THE

TOP

SIX

By Paul Rangiwahia, with original artwork

INCHES

Growing up in South Taranaki, farming was a big part of our community. Many of my friends were farmers and farming itself was an integral part of our local DNA. In recent times the agricultural sector has been painted in a negative way that creates undue pressure. The truth, however, is behind the headlines are people our farming brothers and sisters who are doing great mahi. So, when I met Mike Green from the Rural Support Trust it was "meant to be" and I was able to give back to the rural community through the creation of a "Top Six Inches" which is an artwork aimed at providing people with positive messages to help them navigate the ups and downs of life that we all face. The “Top Six Inches” is printed on canvas 750mm x 455mm and is available to purchase. A percentage from each sale is given to Rural Support Trust. If you are interested and/or would like more information, please get in touch with your local Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254.

say thank you to someone for something; phone a mate; volunteer in your local community

BE KIND TO YOURSELF IF SOMETHING DOESN’T GO WELL TODAY; give a compliment to someone or just take the time out to have a cuppa with someone you know is struggling

0800 787 254 www.ruralsupport.org.nz

rural people helping rural people

offer to help a neighbour; give a smile and a friendly hello to everyone you come across today

Lindsay Wright Southland Coordinator

There is a different vibe when engaging with people on a voluntary basis - they know you are there because you want to be, not because you have to Rural living and voluntary work go hand in hand. That’s what keeps it all going. From school working bees and kids' sports teams, through to membership of a variety of clubs and trusts, voluntary involvement has kept me involved and grounded in my rural community and beyond for 40 years. Being involved in the SRST since I retired from farming has been my way of giving back to an industry that has provided me with a full (and at times challenging) life. To be able to use that lifetime experience to help others as they make their own rural journey is very rewarding.

KSocialatrina Thomas Media & Comms It has been great to be able to give back and improve the wellbeing of our rural communities

After 8 years of volunteering as a Regional & Hub Leader for the Dairy Womens Network, it was time for a change. In February I joined the Southland RST Flood Recovery team, where I was able to utilise my Social Media skills and experience gained with DWN to manage the communication for the SRST during that time and emphasise how the RST can assist Southland‘s rural and farming community. It has been great to be able to give back and improve the wellbeing of our rural communities. Working alongside a very passionate, genuine, and positive Southland RST team is extremely rewarding, and I’m really chuffed they invited me to come on board! Won the Dairy Community Leadership Award in 2017.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

What drives high-performing farms? Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz NEW research has revealed attention to detail, measuring and recording performance and consistency of execution are critical to driving high-performing sheep and beef farms. The research commissioned by the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) and carried out by UMR Research suggests highperforming sheep and beef farmers are front footing the challenges facing their sector. Report author Marc Elliott says high-performing farmers do not blindly follow trends, rather they introduce new practices and then tweak to suit both their style of farming and the environment in which they operate. The 2020 research aimed at identifying the main drivers of their performance follows a similar study conducted in 2015. Elliott says the latest study identified five challenges that stood out as being at least more prominent than five years ago. The five main challenges detected were around an increasing need to farm sustainably with proof of activity; increasing negative public perceptions linked to growing regulations; climate change; changing consumers preferences and covid-19. This year’s research also focused on what had changed for these farmers and how they were responding to the issues. The research found there was a stronger focus among highperforming farmers on addressing environmental challenges through quality assurance programmes. Farmers noted that additional regulations had led to an increasingly negative public perception towards farming. Many high-performing

FINDINGS: The research commissioned by the Red Meat Profit Partnership found that high-performing farmers recognised changing consumer preferences and what this meant for the long-term viability of their businesses.

farmers want to take ownership of this issue with some keen to help show the public how they farm with integrity, especially regarding animal welfare and the environment. Facing droughts, dealing with climate change, and the need to map pathways towards becoming carbon neutral were also more prominent issues. Farmers recognised the changing consumer preferences and what this meant for the longterm viability of their businesses. Covid-19 threw in a range of challenges and opportunities. The research shows most high-performing farmers are continuing to do what they have already been successfully

focusing on for many years. The study suggests highperforming farmers, through a strong sense of self-awareness, are particularly good at translating their values or what is important to them into a style of farming that is profitable and sustainable for the environment they occupy. The research also highlights ways to support other farmers to improve their performance by helping them to understand what they value most in farming and translating this into a plan that suits their circumstances. “This will be a several year journey and is likely to require facilitation and peer support,” Elliot said. “The capacity to consistently

execute will be hard to build among other farmers who may not be interested in working the long hours required to achieve this.” While each plan may be slightly different, measuring and recording performance should be universal and small steps adopted. The decision on what to measure and focus on first should be driven by what the individual farmer values and enjoys the most about farming. The ultimate outcome from this approach will be sustainable ways of farming. The study also suggested a range of other high-performing farmer practices that other farmers could consider adopting. These include using technology

to target inputs more efficiently, especially fertiliser and animal health interventions. Making early decisions to pre-empt the loss of stock and pasture condition using an indepth knowledge of their farm and animals via close observation over many years. These observations are almost always recorded, generally via technology, but also in some cases via extensive handwritten diary notes. Having a clear picture of the three to five aspects of their farm that drive performance. Investing in quality infrastructure, as the consequences of not doing so, are a distraction from focusing on what is most important – animals and grass. Remaining alert to what is happening on the farm as while planning and office work are important, more money can be lost if farmers are not continually observing what is happening on the farm. Working alongside other well-regarded farmers, rural professionals, and family members to test and tweak ideas and find new ones. Elliot says the decision on what to measure and focus on first should be driven by what the individual farmer values and enjoys the most about farming. “Other farmers seeking to lift their performance could consider which ones they would like to introduce into their own style of farming,” he said. “The ultimate outcome from this approach will be sustainable, in every sense of the word, ways of farming.”

The full report can be read here: https://www.rmpp.co.nz/site_ files/13089/upload_files/UMRHighperformingfarmerOct2020.pdf?dl=1

Foreign investors get land purchase approval Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz TWO foreign-owned forestry companies have been given Government approval to buy land in multiple transactions without requiring approval for each purchase from the Overseas Investment Office. Known as standing consent, Oji Fibre Solutions and Nelson Forests can both buy up to 15,000ha of sensitive land up to a maximum single purchase of 2500ha of land that is exclusively or nearly exclusively in forestry. The approval also allows the two companies to buy a maximum of 500ha of land per transaction that is not currently in forestry. The permission is capped at 25 transactions, excludes residential land and expires on 30 September 2023. The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) must be notified

when the transaction is settled. The decision to grant standing consent was made by the ministers responsible in the previous government, Grant Robertson (finance) and Eugenie Sage (Land Information). Oji Fibre Solution, a company 86% jointly-owned by Japanese interests, owns and operates the Kinleith Mill at Tokoroa and Tasman Mill at Kawerau and sought the consent to secure supplies of wood fibre. “The Applicant submits that securing long-term fibre supply will combat uncertainties in the fibre market and help ensure viability of its mills, which provide a livelihood for its employees,” the OIO decision states. Oji is restricted to land purchases in proximity to its Central North Island mills.

Nelson Forests is wholly owned by Australian company OneFortyOne Plantations Holding, which owns the Kaituna Sawmill near Renwick in Marlborough. The OIO decision says it requires standing consent to secure wood supplies to grow its Trans-Tasman forestry and forest product’s business. “The Applicant submits that having a larger estate will enable it to increase its wood supply, allowing greater commitment and longterm security to domestic suppliers,” it said. In a report released on its performance, the OIO between July 1 and September 30 this year approved 11 sensitive land transactions and declined one, with a further three withdrawn. Four applications lodged under the special forestry test were approved, none declined and one was withdrawn.

REPORTED: The Overseas Investment office approved 11 sensitive land transactions between July 1 and September 30, while declining one.

News

26 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

A missed opportunity for hemp industry Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz THE no vote majority in the referendum asking whether to legalise cannabis usage in New Zealand has been called a missed opportunity by New Zealand Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA) chair Richard Barge. A yes vote could have given the hemp industry a means to further push for regulatory change, allowing growers the chance to utilise the cannabidiol (CBD) parts of the hemp plant. Under current regulations, products containing cannabidiol (CBD) with less than 2% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are classified as medicine. NZHIA would like to see hemp regulations transferred to the Ministry for Primary Industries. “If there had been a yes vote, there would have been a select committee established to look at the cannabis bill and that would have given us a forum to talk about the wider cannabis industry, including medial and low THC, industrial hemp and recreation,” Barge said. “It would have given us that platform to have that serious conversation around all aspects of the cannabis legislation, because of course if you are going to allow

It comes down to a political conversation which is motivated by consumers. We need consumers to get out there and talk to their MPs and say that they want access to CBD. Richard Barge NZHIA

high THC products for adult use, then it strengthens the case for the Government to accept that low THC industrial hemp needs to be controlled in the same way.” He says that conversation was still an important one to have and the association was interested in pursuing it once the new government was up and running. “It comes down to a political conversation which is motivated by consumers. We need consumers to get out there and talk to their MPs and say that they want access to CBD,” he said. The preliminary results of the cannabis referendum

fibre, the regulations preventing utilising parts of the plant containing CBD mean growers are unable to create and sell products in the lucrative nutraceutical industry. A report released in September by NZHIA predicts this market could be worth $1.5 billion by 2030. Barge says they had already prepared briefings to the relevant ministers and plan to send copies

of NZHIA’s report to new ministers. He says the referendum decision had little direct impact on the hemp industry as it has had regulations in place since 2006 and an established industrial framework. In the meantime, the industry will continue to develop and grow the hemp fibre and hemp seed industries, which the report said could be worth $500 million by 2030.

Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

AWDT Future Focus Programme designed for farming partnerships to plan their business together. Locations and dates (2 modules): • Winton: 10 Nov & 1 Dec • Milton: 11 Nov & 2 Dec Website: To register visit www.awdt.org.nz/programmes Contact: keri@awdt.org.nz for more info Saturday 05/12/2020 Whangarei A&P Show – 140th A&P Show One Epic Show Day where ‘country comes to town’ for competitions, animals, trade and food stalls and loads of fun, family friendly activities and entertainment. Where: Barge Showgrounds, Maunu Road, Whangarei Time: 9.00am - 4.30pm Admission: $10 adult, $5 student, 5 & under free More info? Holly 09 4383109 ext 2 website: www.whangareishow.co.nz

LK0096008©

Wednesday 02/12/2020 Crops 2020 Since it’s inception in 2002, CROPS has become a ‘mustdo’ for farmers and industry personnel. Over 600 people attended CROPS in 2016, making it New Zealand’s largest one day agricultural extension field event. Where: Innovation Park, 185 Krik Road, Christchurch Time: 9.00am - 7.00pm For more information: www.far.org.nz

Should your important event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz

showed 53.1% of voters said no to a question of whether the Government should legislate to legalise recreational cannabis. The Government said it will abandon the draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, with former Justice Minister Andrew Little saying he would respect the result. While the cultivation of hemp is permitted in NZ to produce hemp seed oil products as well as

Century farms deadline looms

agrievents

Thursday 04/03/2021 – Saturday 06/03/2021 The Golden Shears The Golden Shears has become an internationally recognised competition for its quality and excellence in the skilful art of shearing and wool handling. The three days of competitions encompass open shearing, wool handling, wool pressing as well as the coveted triathlon award. Where: 2 Dixon Street, Masterton Time: 8.00am - 5.00pm For more information: www.goldenshears.co.nz

SETBACK: New Zealand hemp industry representatives will push on with efforts to get regulatory changes to hemp products despite the referendum result on cannabis legalisation.

THE deadline for New Zealand farming families to apply for the annual heritage awards is fast approaching. Farming families with a long heritage of farming their land have until the end of the month to apply in time for this year’s NZ Century Farms and Station Awards (NZCFSA). Families who have owned and farmed their land since 1920, or earlier, are eligible to apply for the special acknowledgement of their hard work and perseverance. NZCFSA chair Karen Roughan says covid-19 impacted the award ceremonies to honour 2019 families and these have now been rolled over until May 2021. “It was to be a particularly significant milestone with the highest number of applications the programme had received to date, resulting in two awards weekends being planned to cope with the numbers,” Roughan said. The committee attributes the rise to both the increasing popularity of the awards and the timing of the land dispersal for the WWI soldier settlements. The awards ceremony to honour 2020 applicants has been affected because of the delay and will now be held in May 2022. Eligible families are still

DO IT: Heritage awards chair Karen Roughan encourages eligible families to get in the awards queue in case of any snowball effect in the coming years.

encouraged to apply this year to get in the queue in case of any snowball effect in the coming years’ awards. The committee recently introduced a first in, first served policy and will use discretion on whether they carry applications over into a following year. The deadline for 2020 applications is November 30. The NZCFSA Committee and the Lawrence township are committed to the programme and believe that keeping any farm or station in a family through the generations is an impressive achievement-worthy of being recognised. “It’s a great opportunity for families to get together and reflect on where they have got

to over the past 100-plus years, and to share those stories with others that have been down a similar path,” she said. The programme began in 2005 in Lawrence with an aim to capture and preserve family histories of pioneering families and their descendants. Eligible families submit narratives of their farm history, together with copies of related photographs and supporting documents which are then archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, ensuring all records are kept in perpetuity. To date, more than 500 families from across NZ have joined the exclusive circle of centenarians and sesquicentenaries.

It was to be a particularly significant milestone with the highest number of applications the programme had received. Karen Roughan NZCFSA MORE:

Further information including application the form can be found on the NZCFSA website www.centuryfarms.co.nz or by emailing info@centuryfarms. co.nz

AginED Ag

Volume 32 I November 9, 2020 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz

Go the AgriHQ market snapshot page

2 What was the North Island mutton price last week? 3 How is this tracking compared to year-ago levels?

STRETCH YOURSELF:

This week we are going to look closer at one of New Zealand’s popular export cuts of lamb. Frenched lamb rack is a premium product and is predominantly sold into the hospitality industry. This is a cut of lamb where rib bones are trimmed and exposed, leaving the rib eye attached (as the photo demonstrates) and is a tender and flavourful cut of meat. The graph to the left shows the value for NZ frenched rack cuts in $US/lb. 1

How much lower than last-year and the five-year average have values been through October?

2 Discuss with your teacher about what is currently happening in the US, why might this be affecting demand and therefore values?

Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz

2 Find and watch the OnFarm Story of “I love seeing how happy they are” and read the article “Dairy with a delicate touch”. 3 Where is Felicity located? 4 What breed/s of sheep does Felicity use for milking?

3 Create a poster marketing premium NZ lamb products on the global stage and send it in to us at agined@globalhq.co.nz

Sheep milk is what is known as a ‘complete protein’ source, this means it contains all 10 essential amino acids. They are essential because the body cannot make them itself and must be consumed in one’s diet.

Did you know?? A1 milk is digested easier by some people. Cow’s milk is either A1 or A2, whereas sheep milk sheep milk is naturally A2.

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 How many ewes does Felicity carry? 2 In NZ milking sheep isn’t completely new but as an industry it is still in its infancy, which other countries use sheep’s milk (both fresh and in products)? 3 What traits are they looking to improve or change in their sheep? Why do they want to do this? 4 What is the seasonal milk production for one of Felicity’s ewes? How does she plan to increase this? 5 Who does Felicity supply her sheep milk to? What do they then do with the milk?

Sheep milk naturally contains up to 60% more protein and calcium when compared to goat and cow milk. Sheep’s milk is naturally homogenised, this means the fat globules are smaller and evenly dispersed, allowing the milk to be digested easier.

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH WEEDS Have you ever thought about why people get rid of weeds? The reason depends on the situation. Often weeds stop animals eating as much grass as they would if the weeds weren’t there. What self-respecting cow wants a mouthful of thistle spines, or evil-tasting buttercup leaves mixed in with the grass? Some might get eaten by cows, but the farmer doesn’t want that. If they eat twin cress or stinking mayweed, the milk they produce has a horrible taste, so the milk factory might get upset with the farmer. Did you know that cows eating hemlock might end up with deformed calves? Ever tried shearing a sheep that has walked through thistles and got prickles all through the fleece? Gorse makes it painful pruning pine trees and it isn’t that nice picking strawberries with lots of nettle and thistles present either. In many crops, competition for light, nutrients and water is the big issue. WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MANAGING PASTURES AND CROPS?

To find out what problems are caused by each weed species, what the weed looks like and how to control them, students and farmers alike often look at: www.massey. ac.nz/weeds which deals with over 75 weeds that cause problems in New Zealand agriculture and horticulture. Follow the link and try using it to see how you tell hawkbit from catsear, or to see what twin cress looks like. One of the most visited pages is the one about how best to control Californian thistle, something most farmers struggle with and also features how to get rid of Onehunga weed that puts prickles in your feet from lawns each summer.

Why does staggerweed have that name? Can you tell water pepper from willow weed?

Check out the Bachelor of Agricultural Science www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/programme-course/ programme.cfm?prog _ id=93425 Or the Bachelor of Horticultural Science www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/ programme-course/programme.cfm?prog _ id=93578

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For more related content please head to our website at: www.sites. google.com/view/agined/home

Newsmaker

28 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Back from the Beehive It was a brief three-year career, but South Otago farmer Mark Patterson enjoyed his term as a Member of Parliament. He spoke to Neal Wallace about his time in Parliament.

ARK Patterson has come home to the farm as he decides his next political move. But first, he has some fencing to do. After three years commuting from his South Otago farm near Lawrence to Wellington, the one-term NZ First list Member of Parliament (MP) has stored his suits, cleaned out offices in Wellington and Gore and parked his NZ First sign-written car in a garage. To some degree his political future is out of his hands given NZ First has no MPs after being voted out of Parliament at the last election, but he is confident the party will rise again. Regardless, Patterson says he was fortunate his time as an MP was with a party that was in a governing coalition, which meant he had influence in political decisions. “As a backbench MP your only currency is being able to influence the Cabinet who make the decisions,” he said. He left his mark with the passing of the Farm Debt Mediation Bill, which started out as private members Bill under his name but was picked up by the Government. Patterson was also influential in the Dairy Industry Restructure Act, a process he says was an example of how Parliament can work. Initially the Act retained an open entry provision for new suppliers to Fonterra, something he was unhappy with and convinced his caucus needed to be changed. NZ First supported it through to the Select Committee stage despite elements they were unhappy with, but then worked with Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, the National and Green parties to make the desired changes. “It was a really good example of Parliament working well,” he said. He was also proud of his role in watering down the harder elements of the Employment Relations Act, specifically multiemployer agreements which would have been difficult for regional employers. That aside, Patterson says politicians and Wellington bureaucracy do not understand farming, with the freshwater and firearm policies being the most notable examples. O’Connor and Patterson were the only two MPs in the last government with farming experience, a scenario he says should concern all farmers. “It is a concern to me, but it is

reality as it reflects wider society,” he said. Patterson says more than ever farmers and rural communities need to mobilise and constructively engage with the Government and officials. That means arguing issues based on science and practicality, an argument made easier by hosting decision-makers on farms to show them the impact of their proposals. The Essential Freshwater policy is an example of officials not understanding the impact of their work. Being a regulatory rather than legislative process driven by Environment Minister David Parker and his ministry, it was not subjected to political scrutiny, but Patterson is no fan of the policy. “Some of that stuff is so impractical,” he said. “I’m not saying the direction of travel isn’t right, it’s a matter of getting it into a workable form.” Being collaborative achieves more than being confrontational, and he cites the He Waka Noa primary sector agreement to reduce its carbon footprint as an example. Patterson warns animal welfare issues will become more contentious as well-funded and organised groups motivate their cause, but the hard edges could be softened by farmers meeting these groups. “I always found behind closed doors there is more common ground and goodwill with nongovernment organisations than is publicly expressed,” he said. Before joining NZ First, Patterson was politically active within the National Party, but frustration with the meat industry led to a political rethink. A member of the Meat Industry Excellence group seeking reform of the industry, Patterson went to Wellington to lobby for political support with the then Nationalled government. “I was struck by the apathy of the Government,” he said. “It was very much hands-off. They were not interested in the industry, which at that stage was in a dire situation both behind the farm gate and at company level. “It struck me that the National Party could do that because they knew we would go home and vote for them anyway. “It got me thinking that they need more competition for votes from rural NZ.” His Road to Damascus experience was cemented by his opposition to Silver Fern Farms’ Shanghai Maling partnership, which would result in foreign

BACK ON-FARM: Former NZ First MP Mark Patterson and wife Jude.

ownership of a strategic NZ asset. “At the same time (NZ First leader) Winston Peters won the Northland by-election on a platform of neglected rural regions and opposition to foreign ownership of strategic assets and farmland,” he said. Realising he had more in common with NZ First, Patterson joined the party and expressed an interest in standing for Parliament. Surprisingly, he found himself at number seven on the NZ First list for the 2017 election. “I guess I was the right person at the right place. I offered a rural voice and being a farmer, I fitted the description of the rural people from whom we were seeking support,” he said. On being elected, he found himself involved in the coalition agreement between Labour and NZ First. “It was a baptism of fire,” he said. “I went from a private individual in a small town to walking through the lobby in Parliament full of journalists trying to squeeze every bit of information about what the future of the country will look like.” He describes the next three years as a privilege, but also provides a broad insight into NZ few get to see. “It’s a bit surreal but an incredible education in our own country,” he said. “You think you know a reasonable amount of stuff, in my

case agriculture, but the breadth of issues you have to get your head around is phenomenal.” Being a small caucus, Patterson had responsibility and had to gather an understanding of portfolios as diverse as agriculture, food safety, Crown Minerals, intellectual property and the Christchurch earthquake rebuild.

I went from a private individual in a small town to walking through the lobby in Parliament full of journalists trying to squeeze every bit of information about what the future of the country will look like. Mark Patterson From Despite its small size, Patterson says NZ First delivered 86% of what it promised in the coalition agreement. The job of an MP required long days, plenty of travel and little time at home with wife Jude and daughters Amelia, 13, and Annabelle, 11. When Parliament was not sitting, Patterson was travelling,

meeting primary sector leaders and was especially active throughout the South Island as he was the party’s only MP from the island. Jude ran the 500ha sheep and beef farm for the first winter, but then the two blocks were split with short-term agreements with a share farmer and the other leased to a neighbour. Patterson describes Peters as naturally introverted, someone who values his privacy and is markedly different in private to his public persona. Having fought 16 elections and served 42 years as an MP, Patterson says Peters’ knowledge and understanding of the political process is second to none. NZ First played a pragmatic role in the last government and Patterson says that will be missed given the makeup of the incoming government. Because of that, he says it is vital farmers become more involved either politically or through Federated Farmers to influence policies and decisions being made about their business. Given his insight, Patterson is looking forward to watching NZ’s 53rd Parliament, saying it has a radically different sheen to the previous government. He is especially interested in the influence of the Green Party, saying it could give Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a convenient cover to go further and faster than she has previously indicated.

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Sea pest destined for the table A move from the land to the sea to learn more about a seaweed’s value as a human food source marks a step into alternative protein research for AgResearch scientists. Richard Rennie spoke to Dr Linda Samuelsson about her new project.

HE seaweed Undaria pinnatifida that laces the east coast of New Zealand from Hauraki Gulf to Stewart Island is a prolific pest that chokes out native seaweeds, and has spread rapidly in the 30-something years it has been here. AgResearch scientist Dr Linda Samuelsson heads a team intent on extracting value from the high protein pest, but this round of research has started from a very different perspective to the usual, with a view to matching scientific discovery with consumer preferences. The project that has received $6.6 million of funding from NZ and Singaporean governments owes its consumer focus to researchers partnering up early on with the edgy culinary skills of chef Dale Bowie. Bowie is an acolyte of legendary wizard chef Heston Blumenthal. Bowie’s career has included working at Blumenthal’s Michelin three-star restaurant The Fat Duck in the United Kingdom, but having returned home is now working with Ideas2plate, a Wellington-based food innovation company. The pest species Undaria pinnatifida is known as the “gorse of the sea”. “It is prolific around NZ, and this is the opportunity to turn something that’s a pest into something that’s useful,” Samuelsson said. The Undaria species is listed as one of the 100 most invasive species world-wide, and past eradication efforts in NZ have failed. The potential is there for the research to encourage the wild harvest of the pest from heavily

infested coastlines, giving native species a chance to re-establish. Originally from Japan, it is a popular dish known as wakame, and consists of the seaweed mixed in a dressing comprising soy, mirin, miso, sesame oil and sesame seeds. The species has a remarkably high protein content, calculated at 15-20%, compared to 5% for peas and meat’s 20-30%. “But the challenge is that seaweed protein is not as easily digested as meat protein,” she said. “We are hoping that by bringing Dale on board, with his culinary talent and experimental approach to food preparation, we may find some means to prepare it that will ensure it will also taste good – and look good. “As scientists we can assess the nutrition and digestibility. It is a good skill combination. I firmly believe the wider the perspectives you can add to this research the better the outcomes will be.” The scientists will also be employing some cutting-edge technology recently developed by AgResearch using Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (REIMS) tool. The machine has a surgical knife that cuts a sample, and the smoke generated can be analysed by a mass spectrometer giving a molecular fingerprint of the food. Samuelsson says all ideas were literally on the table with Undaira, but she was particularly interested in examining how it responded to fermentation. “It is well known that fermentation kickstarts the breakdown of food and it is an area we also hold quite a level of expertise in,” she said.

RESEARCH: AgResearch scientist Dr Linda Samuelsson says seaweed may become a new protein income source for New Zealand if the right means of preparing it can be developed.

Scientists will be examining how the seaweed interacts with the human gut microbiome, or bacterial population in the digestive tract. Researchers are also working with Paeroa-based seaweed company AgriSea, long-time processors of seaweed for soil nutrition. AgriSea co-owner Clare Bradley says the company’s involvement was a natural next step as they start to examine opportunities in the human food market for seaweed products. The company’s separate brand Ocean Organics already has some seaweed-based products, including chai and seaweed tea. “We like the approach to the research, to utilise the whole

food versus extracting only the bio-actives from it. As NZ’s land resources come under greater production pressure, looking to the ocean makes sense,” Bradley said. She says the company is also involved in other seaweed projects that include studying how different species can be used to help clean up waterway systems, absorbing excess nutrients. For Samuelsson the project represents a departure from her previous land-based food research projects including sheep’s milk and red meat. “Regardless of what people may think individually about alternative proteins, it is a rapidly growing area, one where there is opportunity for NZ to diversify our

It is prolific around NZ, and this is the opportunity to turn something that’s a pest into something that’s useful. Dr Linda Samuelsson AgResearch

food production, and the research methodology we have developed in those more traditional areas can be transferred to other types of food, so it’s quite a natural step,” she said.

NOVEMBER 2020 I $8 .95

Have you read Dairy Farmer yet? The latest Dairy Farmer hit letterboxes on November 2 Our OnFarmStory this month features Waikato farmers Aidan and Sarah Stevenson who have been named the 2020 Share Farmers of the Year.

Bes t o f the bes t

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 Building

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With the cancellation of the Effluent Expo, we are bringing information on effluent systems and what is available along with some advice direct to farmers.

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We also talk to Peter Schouten from Canterbury about his farming journey.

Opinion

30 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

EDITORIAL Monaghan’s efforts paved Fonterra’s way

OHN Monaghan has ended his chairmanship of Fonterra and can be pretty pleased with where the big co-operative stands. Having taken the reins from the late John Wilson, who together with former chief executive Theo Speirings oversaw a strategy that looked to grow milk supplies across the globe, Monaghan has reshaped Fonterra into a company that knows what it does well and is happy to do just that. The losses of recent years are behind them and debt has been reduced. Chief executive Miles Hurrell appears to have been a great choice to steer the ship through these unsettled times. And now with Zespri guru Peter McBride in the chair Fonterra is well-placed to thrive in a world that is crying out for highquality protein. As well as holding its annual meeting last week, Fonterra released its sustainability report. It showed good progress on a number of fronts – processing in particular – but there’s still a lot of work to do. More than a third of suppliers now have farm environment plans and that number needs to keep growing. Methane emissions will always be a sticking point but Fonterra, and the industry in general, can’t just wait for a silver bullet to arrive. The new Government will no doubt continue its push towards a more sustainable food production sector and the likes of Fonterra must work with it to meet the goals in a way that also sustains farmer incomes. The New Zealand public has made its voice heard on issues like emissions and freshwater quality, and that call is also starting to come through loud and clear from key trading partners. The nation is proud of its farmers, but that feeling isn’t static and the social license must be constantly renewed. There’s a whole heap of details to work out as the industry works to implement recent regulations, but if they’re approached in good faith they are not insurmountable.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

What about the carpet beetle? WHILE almost as proud a Kiwi as Alan Emerson, I can’t wax nearly as lyrically about woollen carpet as he did in his Alternative View of November 2. This is because of my personal experience of the damage caused to wool carpets by ravaging carpet beetles. While I apprecite that carpet beetle damage can

Letters to the Editor Letters must be no more than 450 words and submitted on the condition The New Zealand Farmers Weekly has the right to, and license third parties to, reproduce in electronic form and communicate these letters. Letters may also be edited for space and legal reasons. Names, addresses and phone numbers must be included. Letters with pen names will generally not be considered for publication.

be controlled by regular applications of insecticide, this doesn’t align at all well with the sustainability benefit promoted by Alan – not to mention the hassle of moving heavy furniture twice a year. I also wonder how durable wool insulation is. While in-wall insulation will be less exposed to the beetles than carpet, with a size range of 3mm to 5mm, I guess that carpet beetles can crawl into quite small gaps. My question for the strong wool industry is: what are you doing to make woollen products unpalatable to carpet beetles and the like – without poisoning the planet, of course?

Fish broke my rod I AM a first-time reader, an 11-yearold spending a couple of days at a

Northland beach with my dad fishing. Last night, I had fun catching my biggest Kahawai off Langs Beach under a huge full moon. The fish fought hard and having landed it and while taking a photo (to show mum) the fish broke my rod! I wonder what it would be like to live on a farm, and how do you catch eels in farm streams? Peter Ferguson Keen fisherman Epsom

Cliff Walker Wainui

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

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Driving change on the Chathams Ruby Mulinder

’M ONE of those people whose ideas often come at night, and it was a 2am thought that had me thinking: have farmers on our most remote islands had the opportunity to benefit from one of our most effective extension programmes? I have been a facilitator for the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP) Action Network for one-and-a-half years. The RMPP Action Network model supports small groups of seven to nine farm businesses to work together to explore ideas and share expert resources to help them make positive changes on-farm. Kickstart funding of up to $2000 per farm business is pooled to fund facilitation and expertise. I’m based in the South Waikato and was already facilitating two RMPP Action Groups, but my family has farming contacts in the Chatham Islands. From my knowledge of the Action Group model, I felt it could add value to this remote community of farmers that face a number of agricultural challenges not experienced by the average farmer in New Zealand. So, in February 2020 I found myself on a very charming but bulky looking plane – that one day soon could feature in a museum – coming in to land at Tuuta Airport, Chatham Islands. It’s open, expansive country wrapped around a network of large lagoons and sculpted by the mighty Pacific Ocean and coastal winds. It is an island of character and you are bound to feel as weathered as one of the windswept trees if you are out in the elements on a gusty day. The RMPP Action Network was created to engage red meat farmers in structured and facilitated Action Groups to focus on specific topics the group wants to explore. These groups are about connections, sharing the knowledge that is already in the room, as well as tapping into experts to help provide in-depth knowledge on specific subject matter. Having established an RMPP Action Group on the island, it didn’t take long to realise that farmers faced a number of farming challenges that needed to be clearly understood before being able to identify solutions that would be fit for purpose. The farmland is primarily made up of clay and peat soils. Low pH levels – as low as 4.4 – are a fundamental issue. However, there are deposits of lime on the island and by exploring the options to crush this product, it could be used more effectively in future, something the group is keen to focus on. Freight costs for product and livestock make up a large portion of farms’ annual working expenses. The Action Group has identified a more collaborative approach to bulk buying as one way that product can be sourced more competitively and are in the process of setting up a system.

WORTH IT: RMPP Action Network facilitator Ruby Mulinder says after establishing an Action Group on Chatham Islands, it didn’t take long to realise that farmers faced a number of farming challenges.

The

Pulpit

From my knowledge of the Action Group model, I felt it could add value to this remote community of farmers that face a number of agricultural challenges not experienced by the average farmer in New Zealand.

The island also grows a healthy crop of gorse, with small pockets of mature and regenerating natives. There are also small areas of pine and macrocarpa, planted post-1990 as a timber source.

REMOTE: The Chatham Islands are primarily made up of clay and peat soils with low pH levels.

With this in mind, we engaged experts to support us in identifying if there were Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) opportunities. The farms within the group have had historical vegetation maps created, with a number now exploring the prospect of joining the ETS, due to existing carbon sinks. This farming group sees a true value in biodiversity and prefers to focus on native woodlots that either naturally regenerate or are planted. Retiring and planting areas strategically has also been

discussed, as it will provide shelter and shade for livestock on properties which are exposed to the elements. These are only a handful of the subjects that have been explored and discussed to date. As farmers, it is important to focus on taking control of what happens inside our farm gates. However, as a group of farmers on the Chathams, there is also a real opportunity to work collectively to help overcome some of the external impacts that challenge this remote farming community. I look forward to seeing the

outcomes we can drive from our Action Group. Who doesn’t enjoy a good challenge?

Who am I? Ruby Mulinder is a Red Meat Profit Partnership Action Network facilitator and FarmWise Consultant, LIC.

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

Opinion

32 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Parker has a difficult job ahead Alternative View

Alan Emerson

YOU certainly can’t accuse the incoming government of letting the grass grow under its feet. Just over two weeks out from the General Election we have a standalone Labour government, an agreement with the Greens that I’m relaxed about and a new Cabinet. That new Cabinet is an interesting mix. It is both able and diverse. If the last Labour government was steady until covid came along, this government promises to be energetic. It also shows the Prime Minister is prepared to make the hard calls as the demotion of Phil Twyford showed. For a start, I’m pleased that Damien O’Connor is back at agriculture, although he has a massive job to do. As well as Agriculture, Biosecurity, Land Information and Rural Communities, he has Trade and Export Growth. O’Connor has been there before and knows the ropes. He’s also capable of carrying a large workload and is a safe pair of hands. My position is that in the current crazy postBrexit world and the volatility of

the America – China trade war plus the complications of covid-19 – that the job of being minister for Trade and Export Growth is huge. Whether it needs a dedicated minister, time will tell, but I’d like to see the O’Connor portfolios ranked well above where they are at 11. The rest of the Cabinet is predictable. Grant Robertson has shown himself a good, cautious Minister of Finance and the promotion of Dr Megan Woods to Housing, Energy and Resources, and Research, Science and Innovation is also positive. Keeping Chris Hipkins in charge of the covid-19 response is sensible. He has done a good job thus far. I believe Andrew Little will do well as Minister of Health. It is a job I wouldn’t want, especially in the current environment. That brings me to David Parker as Minister for the Environment, where I have some concerns. The first is that his department shows a blissful total ignorance of the practicalities of farm life. Their suggestion that we should plant all of our hill country in trees to offset and carbon liability is witness to that. Their maps of the 10-degree slope is a joke. I know areas they have deemed flat where you’d need crampons to traverse. Add to that the November 1 resowing requirement in Otago and Southland, and you have a department that I would strongly argue isn’t fit for purpose. Whereas in the past Eugenie

NEED FOR CHANGE: Alan Emerson says the Ministry for the Environment shows a blissful total ignorance of the practicalities of farm life. Hopefully, under David Parker’s guidance, the advisory groups won’t be filled with anti-farming types.

Sage was the associate minister, we now have two in the Greens’ James Shaw and Labour’s Kiri Allen who as well as being an associate environment, is also Minister of Conservation. I feel considerably reassured with those two in place than I ever did when Eugenie Sage was there. Kiri Allan is interesting. She left school at 16, initially working at KFC. Subsequently gaining a law degree from Victoria, she certainly shone as a backbench MP. While I don’t agree with Shaw’s politics, he is approachable and unlike Sage, I wouldn’t paint him in the anti-agriculture camp. Getting back to Parker, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and

start with a clean slate. My hope for going forward with a majority Labour government is that laws and regulations are evidencebased, he gets some practical agricultural knowledge into his Ministry and he doesn’t fill his advisory groups with anti-farming types. Finally, one size doesn’t fit all and there needs to be flexibility in any regulations or statements that recognises and acknowledges local conditions. Minister Parker will have a difficult job with the promised reform of the Resource Management Act (RMA). While it will be impossible to please everyone, we do want something

that is workable, relevant and evidence-based. We’ve been promised reform of the RMA for the last twelve years, so it will be interesting to see what the Minister comes up with. For the record, I think Nanaia Mahuta will do an excellent job at foreign affairs. There are also few newbies on the Ministerial list. Jan Tinetti is both Minister of Internal Affairs and Women. I’ve always found Internal Affairs a great amorphous blob when I’ve dealt with it, so I wish her well. Having been born on the South Island’s West Coast, I’m sure she can handle whatever’s thrown at her. Water storage will be a massive issue for the provinces and hopefully we’ll have some evidence-based, good sense solutions coming forward. The fact that in the first week of government a water storage scheme was approved for Northland is encouraging. Federated Farmers played the election campaign well by outlining the policies that were required to take agriculture and the country forward – and by not taking sides in the political debates. They are well-positioned to put the farmers’ case forward. The challenge for the new Cabinet will be to listen.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com

Rooting for a better America From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

“KATHY, I’m lost,” I said, though I knew she was sleeping. “I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why.” Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike. They’ve all come to look for America. Four years ago, in a column trying to understand Trump’s win of the presidency, I used these lines written by Paul Simon from his wonderful ballad America. That song describes a young couple hitchhiking across the United States seeking their fortune, but ends in a longing and angst for an America that seems to have disappeared. And this was written fifty years ago. That disillusionment, particularly out of the rust belt, is what fuelled the support for Trump then and now. The American middle-class has shrunk as more people

have become rich and more have become poor. Trump has successfully played to their fears and concerns. It is one of the richest countries in the world with some of the biggest inequalities. It’s no wonder folk are pissed. Since the 2016 election, over the last four years we have watched the US become increasingly divided and riven down party lines. It is the United States in name only for now. Some say that the country is as divided as it was in 1860 and we know what happened after that. Their election last week was important. Naturally, to elect their president and Senate and Congress seats that were up for election. But also, to maintain and demonstrate a functioning and stable democracy. There is a long-running study that reports on the health of global democracies and for the last 14 years, there has been a decline in that health. The usual suspects like China, Russia, Iran, and scores of other states remain totalitarian and repressive of any alternative internal views. But more disquieting, is the number of democratic nations whose populist leaders are using

nationalism and jingoism as an excuse to breakdown institutional safeguards that protect the rights of critics and minorities. There are only 41 established democracies, and 25 of those have seen their democratic freedoms and rights deteriorate over these 14 years. Our country is fortunate that we haven’t seen this decline and we need to make damn sure we don’t, and not take what we have for granted. We have just had a free and fair election, and the results accepted by all whether they liked the outcome or not. But the US, along with the likes of India and Israel, have seen declines in their democratic health. And that is why the US needs a robust result in this presidential election. At the time of writing, it would appear that Biden has won the presidency. But by a fine margin in several of these battleground states, which doesn’t allow them to move on easily. Compounding this is that Trump has sent out teams of lawyers to contest any result they can. They are throwing the kitchen sink at any voting outcome they don’t like. Which could tie this whole election result up in knots for weeks, maybe months. This

will not only delay any final result but continue to fan the seeds of discontent. He is claiming voting fraud and that Biden is stealing the election but there is no actual evidence of this. All the independent parties overseeing the various states’ counting procedures are insisting that it is a proper process. But that lack of evidence of voting fraud will do little to assuage his fervent supporters. To insist that the early postal votes, which are a valid and legal method of voting, shouldn’t be counted purely because they favour the Democrats is a further attempt at eroding democracy. And the confidence in it. Of all the bad things Trump has done, purposely destroying Americans’ faith in their own democratic process for personal ambition is easily the biggest crime. With the scenes of cities boarded up should violence erupt and earlier footage of heavily armed gangs of black militants and white supremist prowling streets of various cities, we know that country is a powder keg of emotion. It remains the biggest economy, it has been a bastion of democracy, it’s one of our important export markets and it is full of good people.

UNCERTAIN TIMES: Since the 2016 election we have watched the US become increasingly divided and riven down party lines.

It is not in the interests of that nation or anyone else except perhaps China, Russia, and a few others that the US gets through this election process safely and then works on healing the rifts within that society. But that wish is increasingly looking like an optimistic view. I hope I’m wrong in that opinion.

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 – November 9, 2020

Farming will change but pastoral ag will survive

ONE of the regular questions I am asked about is the future of pastoral agriculture. It reflects a perspective that, given the issues of water pollution, greenhouse gases and changing consumer attitudes, perhaps New Zealand’s pastoral agriculture belongs to the past rather than the future. A good starting point for a response is to reflect as to why NZ developed as a pastoral-based economy. Nature blessed NZ with a temperate maritime climate combined with a hilly and mountainous topography that is well-suited to pastoral agriculture, but much less suited to crop activities. Compared to much of the world, NZ’s natural competitive edge still lies in pastoral sheep, beef and dairy. In contrast, the economics of broad-acre cropping and vegetable production are challenging in an environment where flat land is limited and where rain can occur, or not occur, at any time. NZ can grow wheat, barley, potatoes and lettuce for the local market, but selling them profitably on world markets has never worked particularly well. More than 75% of NZ’s physical exports come from primary industries. Despite the great successes of kiwifruit, wine, apples, subtropical fruit, timber and fish, some two-thirds of primary exports still come from pastoral agriculture. Bringing the above numbers together, that makes pastoral agriculture the rock on which half of the export economy is built. It is helpful to remind ourselves of the biophysical processes that underpin pastoral agriculture. It starts with conversion of carbon dioxide and water into plant carbohydrates, using nature’s own wonderful energy source called the sun. The process is called photosynthesis. However, plants need protein as well as carbohydrates. Nature has organised that as well, by creating a plant family called legumes, with clovers the most important, but others such as lucerne

MONEY-MAKER: Despite the great successes of kiwifruit, wine, apples, subtropical fruit, timber and fish, some two-thirds of primary exports still come from pastoral agriculture.

philosophy comes from the US, where many of the traditional farming methods of the last 100 years were depletive. Many American soils are naturally highly fertile, and American farmers were able for prolonged periods to apply depletive practices that NZ farmers could never apply. Regenerative agriculture has a focus on soil improvement, and surely no one should argue about that. The problem occurs when regenerative farming becomes a mantra devoid of science. And that is why scientists sometimes get their backs up. The starting point has to be a focus on nutrient cycling and fixing up some of the holes in the system through which nutrients escape. NZ pastoral agriculture was built on regenerative principles, with clover-based pastures on almost all classes of land, combined with cropping rotations that included an animal phase on the better soils. Dairy farming has subsequently moved to placing much emphasis on bag nitrogen, with consequent improvement in production, but sheep and beef farming still rely to a great extent on legumes. I started my career a long time ago as a Ministry of Agriculture farm adviser. I used to collect soil samples, send then to the laboratory for analysis, and then

convert the results to fertiliser recommendations. Most of the Canterbury soils were very low in organic matter. Now, when I revisit those farms 50 years later, the changes that have occurred – for the better – are remarkable. Our farming systems of those days, including cultivation and wind-blown soils, were totally unsustainable. There remains a widespread notion among urban folk that crops, including lots of vegetables, are what NZ needs to focus on. There is a poor understanding that some of NZ’s worst nitrogen leaching is associated with vegetable production. In any case, most of the world thinks it is quite capable of producing its own vegetables, and they are expensive to transport. The other suggestion people give me, sometimes with great confidence, is that much of our pastoral land must go to timber. Sometimes I have to bite my tongue. Carbon credits are all very well, but they are primarily for internal use within the NZ economy. They are not an export substitute. I also gently remind people that much NZ timber is used in China for formwork and subsequently burned. There won’t be much need for formwork when today’s newly planted trees

are ready for harvest. Before then, China’s big infrastructure development phase will be well over. Of course, this would all count for nothing if market demand for NZ’s pastoral products was likely to decline. I have written about that before and will do so again. There will always be challenges and there will always be volatility, but there is lots to be positive about as long as we get our act together. As for the biophysical environment, I remain confident that we can solve the big issues facing pastoral farmers. But both our systems and our thinking will have to change. The biggest transformational technology will be the ‘composting mootel+pasture’ system. It will still be pasture-based farming, but uniquely suited to NZ. I have written about that before, but industry understanding remains low. However, the technology exists and mootels are being built. I expect to be writing more about it.

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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playing an important role. These legumes extract nitrogen from the atmosphere with the help of rhizobia bacteria and convert the nitrogen into protein. When animals eat clover and other legumes, there is typically more protein than the animals need. The excess gets excreted, mainly in urine but also in animal faeces. This provides the nitrogen to the soil that is needed by nonlegume species, including grasses. Nature truly is wonderful the way it has organised itself. However, a big problem arises when humans start removing large quantities of animal products from the pastoral environment, leading to a deficit of key nutrients. If these are not replaced, then nature’s natural processes cannot work. Also, nature does not always get things quite right from a human perspective. Nature’s geological processes have bequeathed much of the South Island with a deficiency of selenium. This does not trouble the plants but it does trouble farm animals. Similarly, the volcanic Central North Island lacks cobalt, the absence of which causes ‘bush sickness’. There are many more deficiencies in specific regions. I also get asked a lot about organic agriculture and regenerative agriculture. Organic agriculture is relatively easy to talk about. The rules are clear-cut. The systems can be made to work on good quality soils, but in general, significant price premiums need to be achieved if the systems are to produce economic returns. It’s hard work when farmers cannot use modern cost-cutting technologies. I applaud farmers who are able to make these organic systems work. However, I also know farmers who have had to forego their organic systems because of a lack of resilience to pests and climate when nature turned against them. Within any farming system, marketable products and the nutrients therein are removed from the land. Within organic systems, it can be challenging to bring enough nutrients back to the farm. For that reason, and unless the human waste is brought back to the farms, including from overseas, then it is very hard to scale up organic systems to a national level. As for regenerative farming, that does get confusing. This is because regenerative farming is a concept that has no clear rules and hence there is no certification. Regenerative agriculture

Cents

The Braided Trail

Opinion

34 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Trip south shows country in limbo Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

FOUR of us spent the last two weeks of October touring the top half of the South Island with a couple of nights in Wellington at the beginning, and while it was wonderful to be on holiday in a beautiful part of the country, the sheer normality of everything was almost surreal. The election was done and dusted, there were no cliffhanger negotiations happening, the country was back in Level 1 unlike most of the rest of the world and, best of all, there was no sense of compulsion to watch the news, listen to the radio or read the papers. As we moved into some decent spring weather, to paraphrase PG Wodehouse, the sun was in his heavens, birds were singing and all was right with the world. We stayed in a delightful cottage outside Blenheim, looked at some superb gardens which were busy preparing for the Marlborough Flower Festival, tasted wine (preferably not Sauvignon Blanc) at boutique wineries and visited the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre. Marlborough farmland, especially along the Waiau and

Awatere Valleys, has become home to a monoculture of vines apart from the less suitable extremities of the province. Although the demand for Sauvignon Blanc continues unabated and New Zealand represents a fraction of global wine production, such dependence on a single variety makes me uneasy about the rate of planting, which keeps stretching further south and west of Blenheim. We headed south next to Kaikoura where, on the very professional Whale Watch cruise, we saw families of orca, dolphins and the two largest species of albatross taking off from the water. After that we stopped in Waipara, where we lunched at Black Estate and stayed at a vineyard, before heading north via Hanmer Springs to Motueka and the Abel Tasman. The last time Vanessa and I had driven through the Lewis Pass snow forced us to stop and put chains on, but this time we drove through very rainy beech forests before stopping to see the Maruia Falls in flood after nearly two days of solid rain. The drive north to Motueka was an eyeopener for me, never having taken that particular road before. On the flats beside the Maruia River there were lots of paddocks full of ewes and lambs, almost making me wonder whether the decline in sheep numbers was true. From Tapawera northwards, hectares of hops and fruit trees took over from pastoral farming. After the dry hills around Blenheim, admittedly before recent rain which may have

greened them up, the Tasman district looked in fantastic shape. The only negative on the horizon appeared to be the uncertainty about where the fruit pickers would emerge from to pick the apple and pear harvest or who would be available to perform all the necessary tasks in the orchards and vineyards. I spoke to one vineyard owner who had less than half the normal workforce to prune the vines with the inevitable impact on time and workload. Access to contractors and essential machinery will pose an even bigger threat at harvest time. Before finishing our holiday in Nelson, we spent two nights at Awaroa Lodge, accessible only by water shuttle from Kaiteriteri, where there is a sense of remoteness and total peace. But in this pandemic-restricted world it was a bit confusing to hear American accents and French speakers around us, while the waiters and bar staff included Australians and Irish. Having been accompanied on the Whale Watch cruise by several Chinese, it was tempting to imagine the world was back to normal, although there were no large groups, only small groups in cars. Nelson itself was buzzing with no indication of coronavirus, apart from dutifully recording visits on the Covid tracer app, or the recession we are supposed to be in. The atmosphere on the streets, at the market and in the cafes and restaurants was uniformly cheerful and

SWEET SPOT: Compared to the concerns among our trading partners, particularly the United States, UK and Europe, New Zealand is an oasis of calm.

positive, reflecting everything we experienced elsewhere on our trip. The mood was definitely more upbeat than in June when we toured the East Cape and Gisborne, although the country had only recently come out of lockdown at that stage and the mood was still somewhat nervous. Now, the sense of everyday life having returned to near normal reinforced by a number of apparently overseas tourists and the sudden absence of political noise after the election, all combined to create a strange impression of the country being in limbo. Compared to the concerns among our trading partners, particularly the United States, UK and Europe, NZ is an oasis of calm. Now that the Government has achieved agreement from the Greens to cooperate on matters of confidence in return for two Ministerial posts, the new Cabinet has been announced and Labour

can get on with governing the country after a period of inaction. Political noise will increase and the hiatus in new regulation will come to an end. I suspect I will soon look back on the two weeks of holiday in NZ with limited exposure to the media and no election to worry about as a unique moment in time, unlikely to be repeated for another three years. It is now a case of hoping the Government can show tolerance and understanding towards both hospitality and agricultural sectors, as they cope with increasing regulation and try to find enough workers to perform essential tasks.

Your View Allan Barber is a meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic. co.nz, http://allanbarber.wordpress. com

Statistics highlight farming’s importance Cameron Bagrie DIVERGING export and import trends highlight two key issues. The first is the importance of the farming sector to the New Zealand economy. The world has needed to eat. The second has been the importance of keeping the supply chain open. Looking ahead, it will not be enough just to keep it open. We are going to need a huge focus on inputs into the supply of goods, such as labour for horticulture. This is a major issue that will need pragmatism from the Government. And we need to be mindful of risks to the supply chain sourcing key imports which are inputs into the production process. Tourism is touted as NZ’s largest export earner. This might have been technically true, with jousting with dairying for pole position from year-to-year. But covid-19 has led to offshore spending by New Zealanders being redirected into the local economy and reinforces that it is the net spend that ultimately matters. On that

FORECAST: At the end of the day, merely keeping the supply chain open won’t cut it, NZ is going to have to focus on supply of goods too.

front, international tourism’s contribution was a couple of percentage points of gross domestic product (GDP). When it comes to net exports (exports minus imports), food (farming) rules by a long way. It is now a $30.6 billion dollar net export earner. That is around 10% of GDP. Net food exports have risen 8.3% in the past year. Food exports are up 7.6%, milk powder and butter are up 9.4%, meat 8.6% and fruit 11.2%. NZ has seen demand for what

we produce, and we have been able to supply – both the former and latter have been key. The export of food has been a key reason total exports since the onset of covid-19 in February this year have tracked higher in 2020 than 2019. Such performance is unlikely to be repeated in the coming year with softening already taking place in monthly figures. As covid-19 drags on, commodity prices are coming under pressure as discretionary spending is pared back and eating out is limited.

We are not immune from global challenges. Markets will become more difficult and consumers more discerning. The figures nonetheless illustrate farming’s importance to the economy. They are numbers the Government should be mindful of when they roll out their economic and social agenda. With border control here for an extended period, farming will be critical for achieving growth and producing income. The performance of the export sector can be contrasted with imports. Imports in the year ended September are down 9.1% on a year ago. Timely monthly and quarterly figures show doubledigit declines on the prior year. Cumulative good imports from February to mid-October are down 13% on the same period a year ago. Some reflect reduced demand. But supply is also an issue. There are waiting lists for some goods, such as upper-end cars. China threw the initial spanner into the mix over March and

April, but imports from China have recovered. That chain is open. The focus is on Europe, which supplies 20% of NZ’s imports – roughly the same as China – and covid-19 is not friendly when it comes to maintaining the supply chain. It throws it around. Cumulative imports from the United Kingdom between February and October are down 19% on a year ago. Imports from Germany and other key nations are showing big falls too. We can do without consumption goods for a while, but two-thirds of imported items are capital (machinery and plant and transport goods) and intermediate goods. We import $10bn of plant and machinery and another $25bn of intermediate goods. They are part of the investment and production landscape. They are critical for maintaining growth, but also fostering it. Capital goods depreciate, can break down and need replacing. Many items will remain easy to source, but expect challenges and waiting lists for some items.

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Auckland Rural Investment Seminar Wednesday, 18th November Conrad Wilkshire | 027 643 7437 pb.co.nz/ruralseminar

For over 30 years, provincial New Zealand has been our home. Our kiwi owned family business now has over 100 rural and lifestyle specialists from Northland to Southland. We work together, supported by a wider team all committed to getting you the best possible result because, where we come from, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just the way things are done. Looking to buy, sell, invest or have your property managed? Call us on 0800 367 5263 or go to pb.co.nz

Omanawa 848 Taumata Road, RD 3 Open Day

Dairy opportunity in Tauranga 174.4 ha in five titles located 15 minutes south of Tauranga at 848 Taumata Road. This dairy unit is a reliable production unit milking around 415 cows generating a five year average production of 162,559 kgMS. There is a good range of housing with a four bedroom lockwood and a modern three bedroom managers home. Farm buildings include a 36 ASHB dairy, large calf shed/workshop, implement shed and a half round hay barn. Contour of the property is gentle rolling to rolling with 38 ha of steeper country planted in an assorted range of forestry timber trees (not registered in the ETS scheme). This property provides a great sharemilker operated farm investment and may well provide a sound mix to investment given the Bay of Plenty thirst for horticulture investment.

Tender closes Wednesday 9th December, 2020 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Real Estate. 20 Taurikura Drive, Tauriko, Tauranga View Sun 15 Nov 11.00 - 1.00pm Wed 18 Nov 11.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/MAR72597 Ian Morgan M 027 492 5878

E ian.morgan@pb.co.nz

Peter Foley M 021 024 19121 E peter.foley@pb.co.nz

Matamata 774 and 761 Buckland Road Open Day

The cream of dairy An extremely desirable and well-located dairy farm situated 18km from Matamata and 21 km from Cambridge • 154 ha in six titles with extensive road frontage • 375 cows, 5-year average 155,868 kgMS with 220 calves reared • 44 ASHB dairy with in-shed meal feeding and concrete feed pad • Main block 123 ha; flat to easy undulating contour with small area of sidlings - may be purchased separately • 31 ha across road with stock underpass; mixed contour with some sidlings in native bush • Predominantly free draining ash soils and loam on sidlings, excellent fertiliser history • Substantial six brm brick homestead, four brm weatherboard and three brm fibre cement houses • Property enhanced by specimen trees and shelterbelts plus large duck shooting pond

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes Thursday 3rd December, 2020 at 4.00pm, Property Brokers - corner Arawa & Tui Streets, Matamata View Tue 10 Nov 11.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TWR02972

Dave Peacocke M 027 473 2382

E davep@pb.co.nz

Malcolm Wallace M 021 357 446 E malcolm.wallace@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Taupo 3723 State Highway 5 Open Day

Central Plateau dairy • 1,022 ha dairy farm located 38 km south-east of Taupo in the Rangitaiki district • 2,830 cows producing 949,546 kgMS with 650 kgDM per cow imported feed • Contour predominantly flat to undulating with small area of easy hill • Pumice and loam soils with good fertility levels and 15% of pasture re-grassed annually • 160 paddocks with access via wide stock races maintained from on-farm quarry • Run as two separate units with independent water supplies sourced from three bores • Two 80 bail rotary dairies with in-shed meal feeding systems • New lined effluent storage ponds, 335 ha covered by travelling irrigators • Dwellings include eight modern brick homes plus additional single staff quarters • Offered for sale as turn-key operation including livestock, plant and machinery • Attractive yield forecast with option available to purchase with management contract in place

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes Tuesday 15th December, 2020 at 4.00pm, Property Brokers Ltd - 138 Arawata Street, Te Awamutu View Thu 12 Nov 11.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TWR02952

Dave Peacocke M 027 473 2382 E davep@pb.co.nz David McGuire M 027 472 2572 E david.mcguire@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Te Kowhai 30 Mathers Road

Owhango 1729 Kawautahi Road Tender

Open Home

Kohaka Station

When location matters • 137 ha dairy farm on the Hamilton City boundary • All flat and easy contour with quality soils (soil tests available). • 36 ASHB (4 years old) with v.g. effluent system and in-shed feeders; two good homes and plenty of shedding • An easy farm to manage with good races & fencing • Two bores plus metered town supply • Three titles with road access off both ends of the property • Best production in last four years 157,600 kgMS • Plenty of options here so inspect with confidence

Tender closes Thursday 26th November, 2020 at 4.00pm, Farmlands / Property Brokers - 120 Norton Road, Hamilton View Tue 10 Nov 12.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/HMR02944

John Sisley M 027 475 9808

• 992 ha total with approx. 930 ha effective plus a neighbouring lease block of 51 ha • 7,900 SU's wintered made up by sheep, beef and deer • Very good dwellings include, main homestead, second house plus shepherds cottage. • Two woolsheds and sheep yards, two cattle yards, central satellite yards, large implement and hay sheds • Contour breakdown 100 ha rolling flats, 630 ha of medium to steep hills and the balance steeper hills

Tender closes Thursday 3rd December, 2020 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) View Thu 12 Nov 11.00 - 2.00pm Thu 19 Nov 11.00 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TUR78597

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

Eketahuna 339 Mangaroa Road Tender

Mangaroa - 82 ha This first farm opportunity provides options to the market, located just 30 km south of Pahiatua and centrally located to the Manawatu and Wairarapa in the farming district of Nireaha. This property is suited to continue as a well established dairy unit or a summer safe finishing or support property. Featuring virtually all flat contour, excellent races and superior pastures resulting in a production average over 70,000 kgMS on a low cost system. Infrastructure is well provided with a 18 ASHB with round yard, feedpad, inshed feeding and a excellent array of farm shedding. A four bedroom brick home set in mature grounds completes an excellent entry to the dairy industry or finishing/support to a larger property. Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes Thursday 10th December, 2020 at 2.00pm, to be submitted to Property Brokers 129 Main Street Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR77832

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

John Arends M 027 444 7380

E johna@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Central Hawkes Bay 410 Ellison Road Auction

A real change in real estate.

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Winchmore 676 Winchmore Lauriston Road

An appealing 114 ha small farm situated 38 km west of Waipukurau in a genuinely summer moist area under the ranges of Central/Southern Hawke's Bay. Mainly all flat contour, presently leased and utilized as a dairy support unit. Littered with Totara trees and with two small areas of QEII a park like setting is created. Prior to leasing a portion of Ramarua was utilized as a deer unit running both hinds and velveting stags. The balance breeding and finishing both sheep and cattle. Three bedroom plus sleepout home set amongst mature trees.

'Winchmore Downs'

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Pat Portas M 027 447 0612

Ashburton 188 Adam Jackson Road Tender

• Highly profitable dairy farm • Sustainable best practice and Low environmental foot print • Quality ALIL/bore water & irrigation • Excellent pasture, soils, lanes & climate • Reliable proven production • Efficient 45 ASHB shed • Executive main home & three other homes • For sale as 3 irrigated options - Total = 160.017 ha, Lot 1 = 140.4638 ha or Lot 2 = 19.5540 ha

Auction 2.00pm, Thu 3rd Dec, 2020, Waipukurau Club, Russell Street, Waipukurau View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WR76414

Tender

Quality dairy - Quality irrigation - 202 ha Tender closes Wednesday 2nd December, 2020 at 3.00pm, (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR78820

Chris Murdoch M 027 434 2545

• 54 bail modern rotory dairy shed, cup removers, meal feeders • Excellent shape with central lines system • Lateral move, pivot and long line irrigators • Mayfield Hinds Valette Irrigation Scheme (low cost water) • Three Homes, two of which are modern • Good shedding - new effluent system • Excellent farm looking for new owners to take to the next step

Tender closes Tuesday 1st December, 2020 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR79054

Chris Murdoch M 027 434 2545

Proud to be here

NEW LISTING

Ngahinapouri 99 Livingstone Road

'Drumlea' - a trophy property

This 336ha (more or less) property comprises 17 titles of which 14 are lifestyle section size which allows for an immediate return on your investment. Hamilton is quickly expanding into the very popular Ngahinapouri landscape and this property lends itself to that end very nicely. The contour is flat to gentle rolling with soil types of Hamilton clay loam (approximately 74ha) with the balance all sandy loam soils which may allow for a number of high end land use activities in the future â&#x20AC;&#x201C; horticulture, equine or urban expansion. Currently operating as a low input dairy unit milking 750 cows. The centrally located 50 bale rotary shed, with Protrac auto draft and Gallagher weight system, also has an in-shed meal feeding system. There are five dwellings including the main home which has been extensively renovated throughout. There is so much more to tell, come and see it yourself.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 2pm, Thu 10 Dec 2020 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Thu 12 Nov Mike Fraser-Jones 027 475 9680 mike.fraserjones@bayleys.co.nz

SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2311841

Tokoroa 3069 Old Taupo Road

Scargill 1166 Scargill Valley Road

56.4 hectare dairy unit

Profitable beef finishing

Located just minutes from Tokoroa, this attractive farm offers proven productivity and quality infrastructure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ideal first farm or a perfect addition to compliment a larger dairying operation as highperformance dairy support. Currently milking approximately 160 cows, with production levels to 75,716 kgMS. The farm comes with quality improvements, including an excellent 18 aside dairy with inshed feeding, new lined effluent pond, ample shedding plus fourbedroom brick home. Contour is flat to gentle rolling in nature, complemented by quality fertile free draining soils.This prime property has been well farmed and comes to the market in great heart, with a simple farm layout and quality centrally located infrastructure making farm management a breeze. Call now.

bayleys.co.nz/2400276

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Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Thu 26 Nov 2020 65 Arawa Street, Matamata View 12-1pm Tue 10 Nov or by appointment Sam Troughton 027 480 0836 sam.troughton@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Glenkari is a versatile and solid-performing 221.0682ha beef finishing unit, notable for its quality pastures, underpinning good growth-rates in bulls. It has a good mix of soil types ensuring a wellbalanced farm, easily managed through all seasons. This simple farming operation has been focused on profitability, setting a great platform to continue into the future. Complementing the aesthetically-pleasing, well-treed farmland is a well-maintained three-bedroom home, set in a sheltered, sunny position in established grounds. A full array of farm buildings, well water and good access through two road frontages, provides for a solid farming package. Close to amenities and an easy commute to Christchurch further enhances Glenkari's numerous attributes.

bayleys.co.nz/5513441

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior)

12pm, Thu 26 Nov 2020 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch 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

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Unique Realty Ltd

NEW LISTING

FOR SALE Waipara 279 Waipara Flat Road Waipara Valley Estate Location, scale, water and diversity are some attributes of this exceptional 572ha property. With its water consents, versatile soils and around 180ha presently in irrigation, coupled with the excellent growing conditions of the Waipara Valley, opening up a potentially diverse range of high-performance land-use options, including viticulture and horticulture. The property is currently trading lambs and ewes, fattening early lambs, grazing dairy stock, growing crop and specialist seeds. It has extensive areas of flat land with excellent shelter for stock or crop, supported by wellcared-for farm infrastructure and two homes, and is well-set-up for ease of management. Within an hour’s drive of Christchurch, properties with these attributes are rare to the market.

uniquerealty.co.nz/FGF747

2 HA to play with 4

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior)

12pm, Thu 3 Dec 2020 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch 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

bayleys.co.nz/5513067

Your destination For Rural real Estate

- 62 bays on 5 acres approx - Water and power on site - Private and flat land - Title to be issued

SALE

PRICE $395,000+

AGENTS Tim Belcher 027 565 2846 tim@uniquerealty.co.nz Jana Dahoud 021 422 445 jana@uniquerealty.co.nz

ADDRESS 295 Forest Road, Bulls Unique Realty Ltd uniquerealty.co.nz

REAA 2008

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

LIS TI N G N EW

SUPERB BALANCE WITH POTENTIAL PLUS - PURCHASE OPTIONS - 496HA Hutinga, 96 Bruces Road, Kopuaranga, Masterton With links back to 1853, historic Hutinga is located just a 10min drive north of Masterton. With around 175ha of flats, and other easy/medium hill country, the balance and location offer flexibility of farming systems; dairy support, finishing, trading, viticulture, cropping; or subdivision development potential. Hutinga has existing irrigation infrastructure that could be redeveloped to a large centre pivot with a new consent. Our retiring vendor is right to say Hutinga has untapped potential which could be released by further fertiliser, irrigation, re-grassing and paddock subdivision - if you have the energy Hutinga has the substance - the 19th century pioneers chose well! There is a tastefully renovated five bedroom homestead, garage, whare & tennis court set in attractive mature grounds, older three stand woolshed, sheep & cattle yards, hayshed and old stables & shearers’ quarters. Purchase options will include; Front Flats 141ha, Front Hills (& farm buildings) 72ha, Back Hills 278ha, Homestead 2.7ha, and section 1.7ha; or the whole property. You can’t change a farm’s location or contour- Hutinga is an extremely well balanced property waiting for a new owner a short drive from town- call Blair or Dave at NZR today to arrange an inspection! Detailed property report available. Tender Closes 4pm, Tue 8 Dec 2020. NZR, Level 1, 16 Perry Street, Masterton, or email by arrangement.

TURN-KEY BUSINESS - OUTSTANDING PERFORMER- 722HA Taki Taki, 1791 Whangaehu Valley Road, Masterton Taki Taki is a hill country sheep breeding and bull finishing unit of exceptional quality. Situated a short 20min drive north of Masterton most of the land faces away from the drying north-west wind. Access is excellent with a metalled central track that feeds into well established lane ways. The effective area is 682ha with 93 main paddocks being made up of 19ha of flats, 69ha of mowable hill country and 594ha of well developed medium hills, parts steeper, with the balance being forestry and native bush. The current farming policy based off exceptional grass growth winters 4000 breeding ewes, 1650 ewe hogget replacements, 750 finishing lambs and 250 R1Y & 140 R2Y Friesian bulls. A very consistent fertiliser policy since the late 1960’s shows with soil test results averaging pH 5.6 and P 35. Water supply is a robust combination of reticulation and dams, with back up capability. There is a 4 bedroom homestead, 3 bedroom managers house and a 3 bedroom cottage. 3 woolsheds (5 stand main with covered yards), cattle yards, 13 sets of sheep yards and a double access airstrip also support the farming operations. Taki Taki presents a turn-key opportunity for those who value high quality land, excellent infrastructure, great location and a property with a big high performance engine! Tender Closes 4pm, Thurs 3 Dec 2020. Address for Tender Delivery; NZR, Level 1, 16 Perry Street, Masterton 5810, or via email by arrangement.

496 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2561340 Blair Stevens AREINZ 027 527 7007 | blair@nzr.nz Dave Hutchison 027 286 9034 | dave@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate - Wairarapa | Licensed REAA 2008

722 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2537741 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

GREAT BALANCE - SELF CONTAINED UNIT - 264 HECTARES 189 Thorburn Road, Dannevirke

nzr.nz/RX2510099 Dave Hutchison 027 286 9034 | dave@nzr.nz Blair Stevens AREINZ 027 527 7007 | blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

FIN AL

N O TI CE

189 Thorburn Road is a fully self contained and consented dairy and dairy beef finishing block with excellent balance . Situated a short 15min drive west of Dannevirke, the property is in a recognised summer safe environment. Access is excellent with well developed laneways and shelter belts on the milking platform and 4WD tracks on the runoff blocks. The effective area is 190ha with 100ha being dairy platform and the farm is subdivided into around 80 main paddocks. Current farming policy milks around 200 cows and keeps all replacements on as well as taking 50-60 beefies through each year. Recent soil tests confirm excellent fertility with average pH at 6.0 and average Olsen P at 27. Good quality reticulated water is sourced from a reliable spring. Farm infrastructure consists of a 30 bail herringbone dairy shed with 450 cow yard, ten bay implement shed/one bay a workshop, nine bay calf shed, cattle yards and fertiliser bins. There is a four bedroom home and second two bedroom house supporting the farming operations. This property presents an opportunity for those looking for summer safe country with strong on farm infrastructure and with options to continue the current operations or look at changing direction to a drystock finishing farm - the choice is yours! Tender Closes 1pm, Wed 02 Dec 2020 (Unless sold prior). Address for Tender delivery; Dorrington Poole Lawyers, 38 Denmark Street, Dannevirke 4972.

264 hectares Video on website

WELL DEVELOPED GRASS FACTORY WITH APPEALING INFRASTRUCTURE Moaland, 425 Daggs Road, Alfredton, Wairarapa Moaland is a well-regarded easy to medium hill country sheep and beef unit, located 40 mins 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 & inground pool. The outbuildings include a very sound 2 bay lock up workshop and attached 3 bay shed. The woolshed features a 4 stand raised board with attached covered yards and a 1,000NP. There are 2 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. 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! (There is an adjoining 126ha on the market with NZR that could be added to Moaland). Tender Closes 4pm, Thu 19 Nov 2020. NZR, Level 1, 16 Perry Street, Masterton.

409 hectares Video on website

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

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN 87 Stewarts Loop Road, Taihape This attractive, versatile 359 ha farm with favourable contour opens up opportunities to a range of farming policies. Superbly located only 12 km north of Taihape and a stone throw from SH 1. Infrastructure includes a 4-bedroom home, 4-stand woolshed, a new 3 bay implement shed and an excellent cattle facility with all-weather load out as well as 2 sets of satellite sheep yards. Wintered 1800 in lamb sheep and 200 cattle. A well balanced farm with ample area of easy, flat to undulating contour giving the ability to winter/ summer crop. The property has undergone a pasture renewal policy over the last 2 years.

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

359 hectares Tender

www.nzr/RX2143830 Tender (unless sold prior) Closes 11am, Thu 10 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

Excellent medium-sized Dairy Farm For sale as a going concern or land only 135 Whataroa Road, Te Kuiti

FINAL NOTICE

Think Outside The Box

Full Information packs available from Jeni at jeni@osbornesca.co.nz or 07 873 8189

181 Douglas Rd, Matamata

LK0104761©

• 215ha dairy farm. Milking platform 209ha • 80% flat and 20% rolling contour. 85 paddocks in total. The soils are Mairoa Ash (25%) and clay/sedimentary soil mix (75%) • Milks 525 cows. Three-year average production of 165 000kg MS • 40-bail rotary platform cowshed. Waikato Plant with near new pre-cooling system • Recently upgraded effluent system • New 5-bay implement shed and four other hay/storage sheds • Two 3-bedroom houses recently painted and in good condition • TradeMe Property Number GZE631 Buyer inquiry over $6,200,000

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 contract. All discerning buyers need to follow this one up.

matamata.ljhooker.co.nz/H6BHR1

Auction

Thurs 26th Nov, 1pm Matamata Club (Unless sold prior)

___________________________________ View

Thurs 12th & 19th Nov, 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

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

WHAKAMARUMARU STATION TENDER to be held Wed 25 November 2020 at 2pm (plus GST if any) 1960 MATAPIRO ROAD, CROWNTHORPE, HAWKE’S BAY

NEW LISTING

1035 hectares (more or less)

Sheep/beef breeding/finishing

Good balance of contour

Historic homestead

All weather access

30 mins to Napier/Hastings

Exceptional contour and scale are key features of Whakamarumaru Station, historically run as a sheep and beef breeding/finishing unit. The majority of the farm contour is best described as easy rolling to medium hills with a portion of finishing flats. With environmental sustainability in mind any steeper marginal areas and most of the water ways have been fenced off and planted for many years. An ongoing passion to improve pastures and stock performance has seen a comprehensive cropping and regrassing program implemented over time across the property. A fully automated water system is pumped from a bore and is reticulated around the farm. The farm provides an extensive network of laneway systems and all-weather tracks making stock movement and access very easy. The six bedroom homestead was originally built in 1903 and has pride of place on an elevated site overlooking the station. There is also a tidy three-bedroom manager’s cottage plus a full complement of farm infrastructure including woolshed and covered sheep yards, cattle yards, hay barns, workshop and implement sheds all conveniently located. Having been tightly held for over 100 years this is an opportunity not to be missed for discerning purchasers wanting to invest in their future.

Hadley Brown 027 442 3539 hadley.brown@colliers.com

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67012596

CRHB Limited Licensed under the REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

HINERUA STATION - A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY WITH OPTIONS TENDER to be held Wed 9 December 2020 at 2pm (plus GST if any) 684 LOOKOUT ROAD, ONGAONGA, HAWKE’S BAY

1131 hectares (more or less)

Sheep & beef finishing farm

Two dwellings

Hunting

Trout fishing

Forestry potential

A transformed, genuine hill country station located on the doorstep of the Ruahine Ranges in Central Hawke’s Bay, with great rainfall, there are a number of excellent options for a purchaser. Hinerua Station comprises of approximately 1131 hectares and is a mix of rolling hill country, steeper sidlings and some attractive native bush areas. Hinerua Station has undergone a huge transformation over the last three years as a sheep and beef breeding and finishing farm, it is a credit to the current owner. The two houses have had renovation work completed with the second home now fully double glazed and large deck extensions, both houses are five bedrooms. Both homes enjoy views and sunshine. This property offers an opportunity to continue farming as a sheep, beef unit or exploring the options of outdoor recreation with great hunting and trout fishing from the Tuki Tuki River which bounds the southern end of the property. There is also the option to consider trees for production or maybe carbon farming. Properties like this rarely become available, so here is your chance to be the next owner. For more information or to arrange a viewing call Mike or Warwick today.

Mike Heard 027 641 9007 mike.heard@colliers.com .

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67012667

Warwick Searle 021 362 778 warwick@forestrysales.co.nz CRHB Limited Licensed under the REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

20 3-20 201 Re al E ies state A g e n c

130 WI DUNCAN ROAD, DANNEVIRKE

FOR SALE BY TENDER

PRIME DANNEVIRKE BARELAND 48 hectare (subject to survey) flat dairy run-off or finishing block within 6kms of Dannevirke. ✓ Olsen Ps of 26-48 ✓ Dairy run-off or finishing ✓ 16 paddocks ✓ Free-draining silt loam ✓ 54m² hay barn ✓ Ideal investment opportunity to lease out ✓ 30 ha neighbouring block also available ✓ View by appointment ✓ forfarms.co.nz/property/FF3018 Jerome Pitt M: 027 242 2199 O: 06 374 4107 E: jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

FOR SALE BY TENDER 4pm Thursday 10 December

178 WI DUNCAN ROAD, DANNEVIRKE

There’s Money in MILK, but which type of MILK?

On offer are two independent, back to back dairy farms with a combined land area of 304.7ha, comprising 4 titles. Offered for sale as four lots. Purchase any lot or any combination of lots or all four lots. This is a huge opportunity for corporate investment or multi-family members to continue with milking COWS or convert one to milk SHEEP or GOATS while retaining cash-flow with the other farm. All flat contours, fertile soils, 5 dwellings and a single person unit. Approximately 10km north of the Hamilton City boundary and handy access to the new Waikato Expressway. If attending an open-day, please register your interest at Fonterra Supply No 72609. 391 Piako Road, Gordonton.

304.7ha

For Sale

Deadline Sale 1:00pm 4 December 2020 View 11am -1pm Monday 9, 16 , 23 & 30th November or by appointment. harcourts.co.nz/ML4473

30 HECTARES OF PREMIUM FLATS 30 hectares (subject to survey) of flat bareland ideal as a dairy run-off, finishing block or investment to lease out. ✓ Within 6kms of Dannevirke ✓ 10 paddocks ✓ Free-draining silt loam ✓ Gallagher electric fence unit ✓ 48 ha neighbouring block also available ✓ View by appointment ✓ forfarms.co.nz/property/FF3105 Jerome Pitt M: 027 242 2199 O: 06 374 4107 E: jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

Noel Smith

AREINZ

RURAL SALES CONSULTANT

M 027 448 0331 | P 07 889 8200 E noel.smith@harcourts.co.nz www.harcourts.co.nz Kevin Deane Real Estate (Morrinsville) Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008

For Farms (NZ) Ltd 138 High Street DANNEVIRKE

FOR SALE BY TENDER 4pm Thursday 10 December

LK0104756©

Gordonton 391 Piako Road

FOR SALE BY TENDER

www.forfarms.co.nz www.forhomes.co.nz 06 374 4104

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Rural

Opportunity knocks 1232 Ngaroma Road, Matapara • • • • • •

278.53 hectares (approx) 219 hectare dairy platform 570 crossbred dairy cows Low nitrogen risk farm with low inputs 19 hectare pine forest ready to harvest Forestry share transferred to purchaser

• • • •

42 AS herringbone dairy shed Two comfortable homes Opportunity to improve production or diversify to beef farming Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted

Tender Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday 25 November at Ray White Te Awamutu, 223 Alexandra Street, unless sold prior. Price will be + GST (if any). View Thursdays 12, 19 November, 12.00 - 2.00pm

rwteawamutu.co.nz/TEA23734

Howard Ashmore

027 438 8556

Rosetown Realty Ltd Licensed REAA2008

Rural

Boundary Indication Only

Prime Waikato dairy 1078 Pokuru Road, Te Awamutu Extremely tidy 102ha dairy farm, located only 13km from Te Awamutu. Predominantly flat, very fertile with excellent races, fences and an underpass. 36 ASHB Waikato Dairy, covered feedpad, modern effluent system with a weeping wall. Bore water is pumped to all paddocks on the farm. Main accommodation is three bedroom plus office brick home, with views over the farm, and there is the benefit of a smaller secondary two bedroom dwelling. Price will be plus GST (if any).

rwteawamutu.co.nz/TEA23708 Rosetown Realty Ltd Licensed REAA2008

Established Waikato Dairy Deadline Sale Closes 3 December at 1.00pm at Ray White Te Awamutu office, unless sold prior View Thursdays 12, 19, 26 November, 11.00am-1.00pm Noldy Rust

027 255 3047 Neville Kemp

027 271 9801

898 Ormsby Road, Pirongia This well established 98ha dairy farm in three titles enjoys good infrastructure and has consistently strong production from 280 cows. Strong pastures, an up to date effluent system and a good 24 aside dairy add appeal to this property. Two houses and a good range of support buildings complete this package. Located only minutes south of Pirongia, the contour, location and layout are sure to appeal. Price will be + GST (if any). Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

rwteawamutu.co.nz/TEA23768 Rosetown Realty Ltd Licensed REAA2008

Tender Closes 1.00pm, Thursday 26 November at Ray White Te Awamutu, may not be sold prior View Tuesdays 10, 17, 24 November, 11.00am - 1.00pm Noldy Rust

027 255 3047 Neville Kemp

027 271 9801

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

FINAL NOTICE

ROTORUA 2028 State Highway 5 'Pukemara' - 305 Hectares in Two Titles Situated some 25km south-east of Rotorua, the property is currently leased. Contours are a portion of easy, with the main part being undulating to medium hill. 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 wood 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. This property is part of the four hectare bare land lifestyle block Tender (ID#ROT33082) which can be purchased separate to the farm.

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Friday 20 November

VIEW 12.00-1.00pm Wednesday 11 & 18 November Graham Beaufill M 027 474 8073 E graham.beaufill@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/ROT32912

TENDER

KIMBOLTON, MANAWATU Top Class - Hill Country A well presented 611.5 hectares of genuine Manawatu hill country, 48km north from the rural servicing town of Feilding. This property has it all featuring good balance of contour and strong soil types. Complemented with top improvements consisting of: • Sound three bedroom home, • Four-stand woolshed with covered yards 2000NP • Cattle yards • Four bay implement shed with one bay lockup • Large four bay machinery shed • Three satellite yards A turn key operation with scale, not often found in this location.

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) Closes 2.00pm, Tuesday 15 December

VIEW By Appointment Only

Wayne Brooks M 027 431 6306 E wayne.brooks@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/FDG33197 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

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

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

NZ’s leading rural real estate company

Helping grow the country

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

NEW LISTING

DARGAVILLE, NORTHLAND Look No Further - Beef and Sheep Farm 332 hectares with large four bedroom family home, internal garaging, family room, covered deck and patio area, tennis court. Three stand woolshed, three bay implement shed. Spring water to tank. This would have to be a great buy; the property has our beautiful Kai Iwi Lakes on its back boundary. Omamari beach not far away. Some stunning views from the farm out towards the coast, makes this an attractive property. Make your next investment this one!

AUCTION

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 12.00pm, Friday 11 December 117 Victoria Street, Dargaville

Megan Browning M 027 668 8468 E mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz

DARGAVILLE, NORTHLAND •

147 hectares productive fertile land, 70% tile drained • Large four bedroom modernised and renovated kauri villa • Three bedroom villa second home • 27 ASHB cowshed with in-shed meal feeders • Feed pad, calving pad, maize bin • Milking 290 cows once a day this season A great opportunity to purchase this very productive dairy farm, with only minutes to town, flat contour and good infrastructure.

pggwre.co.nz/DAG33167

pggwre.co.nz/DAG33151

OPEN DAY

FINAL NOTICE

WHAKAMARAMA, BOP 297D Ross Road Land of Opportunity and Income! Private lifestyle gem on 2.2ha presents purchasers with serenity amongst a lush garden and tree landscape. Double storey home and self contained cottage. 150m² (approx) shed with concrete floor. Are you looking to become self sustained through organic food production or to establish an organic kiwifruit orchard? Visionaries should consider adding value through renovation and further development of the land? Grazing, covered orchard, cherry trees, boysenberries, raspberries, blue berries, avos and more! All conditional AND unconditional buyers should act without delay!

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 9.00am, Friday 27 November

VIEW 12.30-1.30pm

Sunday 15 & 22 November

Anton Terblanche M 021 324 702 E anton.terblanche@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TAR32700

PIOPIO, WAITOMO 1151 Mairoa Road 'Stony Bush' - 743ha, Dairy or Premium Grazing Approximately 690ha effective of easy rolling to stronger rolling contour, 60 bail rotary, calf sheds, implement sheds and feed pads. Five dwellings, good water, Mairoa ash soils and approximately 130 paddocks. Stock wintered – six-year average – 1050 cows, 685 beef, 320 dairy stock and carryover cows. Fantastic opportunity to purchase dairy or grazing unit at scale. To be Tendered with three options as follows: Option 1 – The entire farm / Option 2 – 456ha dairy shed and platform with grazing area / Option 3 – 287ha cattle grazing farm

DEADLINE SALE

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 2.00pm, Wednesday 9 December

Megan Browning M 027 668 8468 E mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 11.00am, Wednesday 2 December

VIEW 11.00-1.00pm

Monday 9 & 16 November

Peter Wylie M 027 473 5855 E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEK31339

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

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

Ready for That Next Move

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

NZ’s leading rural real estate company

Helping grow the country

NZ’s #1 Agri Job Board

Tractor/General

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

JOBS BOARD Block Manager Cattle Data Collector Dairy Farm Assistant Farm Manager Fencer General General Hand General Manager Home based telephone interviewers

General Manager

A full-time Tractor/General position is available with Westview Farming Partnership based in the Pohangina Valley, Manawatu.

Livestock Manager

Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence This nationally strategic role provides an opportunity to make a real difference for Aotearoa New Zealand’s agriculture, food and fibre sector.

The job will consist of: • Tractor operating for groundwork, spraying, weed control, supplements harvesting and feeding out • Machinery maintenance • Record keeping • General maintenance and property upkeep (fence and water system maintenance) • Weed and pest control • Calf rearing in the Spring • Assisting with stockwork when required

Marketing and Communications Shepherd Shepherd General Stock Manager Strawberry Pickers and Packers Vintage Cellar Hands

Agriculture, food and fibre sectors underpin New Zealand’s economy, the wellbeing of our communities and will be at the forefront of our exportled recovery. The Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) will play a significant role in driving innovation and excellence in vocational education and training so that the food and fibre sectors have a skilled, agile and diverse workforce to meet their current and future needs. Increasing specialisation in production and processing, social change and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi responsibilities round out an exciting capability and workforce development landscape.

The base of operations is located 30 minutes from Palmerston North and Feilding with a 3-bedroom house provided and a primary school a paddock away.

*FREE upload to Farmers Weekly jobs: farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

Expectations of the education and training system are high, especially if industry is to take full advantage of changing consumer demands, new value-added products, advances in technology and a greater focus on sustainability and biodiversity.

The successful applicant will have to pass a preemployment police check and drug and alcohol test.

*conditions apply

Contact Debbie 06 323 0765 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

TAUMATA MOANA STATION – TE KUITI

General Manager

Reporting to the Board and working with an established team, the General Manager will oversee livestock company operations and financial management, ensuring the achievement of high levels of efficiency, quality, compliance and service. Key areas of focus include the provision of leadership across 50 staff, strategic growth of the business, continual improvement of business performance and a strong focus on health and safety. The administration office is based in Christchurch however location can be flexible, with regular travel to Christchurch expected. The successful candidate will possess strong operational, human resource and financial management experience at an executive level, with proven success building critical relationships with key stakeholders and large scale farmers across the livestock and rural sector. Experience in an agricultural service setting is required, along with a good knowledge of livestock and a strong network in the agricultural sector. Proven experience leading a positive team culture and driving organisational performance is a prerequisite to develop the sustainable foundations this growth-focused business requires.

WE ARE THE SOLUTION

You’re reading the Farmers Weekly and so are the people you want to employ.

Candidates can download the Candidate Briefing Information and apply online at www.sheffield.co.nz or email cvchc@sheffield.co.nz quoting 7317FW. Closing Date: 15 November 2020. For more information please phone Louise Green on 03 353 4367.

GET IN TOUCH For all your employment ads Debbie 027 705 7181

Reporting to the CoVE Chairperson and Board, the General Manager is also supported by an industry-led pan-sector Consortium formed around strong principles of collaboration and partnership.

FENCER GENERAL

Please email Caren Field & Administration Coordinator field@cinta.co.nz | www.cinta.co.nz

Rural Livestock established in 1988, is the largest privately owned stock and station firm in the South Island. It has in excess of 40 specialised agents across the SI in all areas of the livestock industry (sheep, beef, dairy, deer and stud stock), also providing auctioneering, livestock valuation and clearing sales services. The Directors are committed to drive growth for the livestock business and are seeking a General Manager to implement the strategy.

This five year contract position offers an opportunity to make a real difference for Aotearoa New Zealand’s agriculture, food and fibre sector. Based at EIT’s Taradale Campus in Napier this is a nationally strategic role with a small team to build and share excellence by focusing on the success of learners/employees, employers, Maori, industry and education.

Applications close 22 November. For a job description and to apply please insert link in your browser https://eit.qjumpersjobs.co/ or visit Jobs@EIT on our website www.eit.ac.nz

If you have the following qualities: • Reliable and able to work to time deadlines unsupervised • Professional telephone manner • Clear and confident speaking voice • Conscientious approach to work • $19.50 per hour + completion bonus. Higher rate for subsequent projects

FLEXIBLE SOUTH ISLAND LOCATION LEAD THE BUSINESS DRIVE GROWTH

Building excellence for learners, employees and employers and communities will be critical to food and fibre’s success and competitive advantage.

The Consortium members see this industry-led model as a decisive step forward in the partnership between the food and fibre sector and government.

Cinta Research is looking for homebased telephone interviewers who wish to work on a casual temporary basis and able to work from home. It is preferable if you have an understanding of NZ farming or have a rural background.

LK0104738©

• Challenging management role • High-performance sheep and beef station • Unique opportunity We are looking for an enthusiastic and focused Farm Manager to take up the day to day management of Auraki Station, located on the Parapara Road, 60km north of Wanganui and 25km south of Raetihi. Auraki Station is a 1457ha hill country breeding and finishing property-carrying 13000su consisting of Romney ewes, Angus and Charolais cows. This property supplies stock to finishing blocks around Wanganui. The Manager will be responsible for all stock decisions, pasture/ feed plans and management of permanent, casual and contract staff to achieve the production and performance goals of the station. The Manager will also be responsible for reporting regularly along with working as part of the overall wider team. This position calls for an energetic, hands-on approach from a proven performer who is self- motivated and good manager of time. The ideal candidate will possess: o A high level of stockmanship skills o Proven farm management ability o Good communication skills (both oral and written) o A team player as well as an ability to work independently o A team of 5-6 dogs. Offered with this role is a warm five-bedroom home and a competitive remuneration package. For further information about the role call Wayne Harding, Supervisor on 027 596 5048. Or apply by sending your application including CV to chrisbristol@xtra.co.nz Applications close on Friday 20th November 2020

HOME-BASED FARM RELATED TELEPHONE INTERVIEWING

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AURAKI STATION

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For more information please contact Matt Carroll 027 257 1425 matthewescarroll@gmail.com

FARM MANAGER

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Taumata Moana Station, a subsidiary of Steelfort Engineering Company Ltd, has a vacancy for a Fencer General. This is a full time position on a 3300ha coastal station situated 75km west of Te Kuiti Taumata Moana has developed a ‘Farm Pride’ programme which encompasses all facets of highly motivated farming business with a culture of producing premium stock from top facilities. Duties will include, maintenance and repair of existing post and batten and electric fencing, new fencing (this position has all tools provided), some building maintenance, potential to operate heavy machinery and assistance with livestock duties during peak times. Applicants should have the following: • A strong work ethic • Be a team player • Display high quality workmanship • A clean, tidy ‘can do’ attitude • The ability to drive heavy machinery would be an advantage A 3-bedroom house with the normal range of outbuildings along with excellent employment package will be offered to the appropriate candidate. Please apply in writing with all relevant details to: Mr Brent Gowler Station Manager, Taumata Moana Station 767 Taumatatotara West Road, RD 8 Te Kuiti 3988 Phone: 07 8767422 or 027 220 2161 Email: tmsmanager@outlook.com Applications close: 20th Nov 2020

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

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Noticeboard

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

ATTENTION FARMERS 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

GOATS WANTED

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195.

NAKI GOATS. Trucking goats to the works every week throughout the NI. Phone Michael and Clarice. 027 643 0403.

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556. TOP TROPHY FALLOW, 35 years breeding, strong Hungarian / Danish lines. Phone 021 886 065.

FARM MAPPING

DOGS FOR SALE 8 - M O N T H - H U N TAWAY bitch, b&t. Noise, energy and breeding aplenty. Phone 022 508 0611. DELIVERING DOGS South and North Islands 22/11/20 www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos – email: mikehughesworkingdogs@ farmside.co.nz BOOK AN AD. For only $2.10 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds. Email Marie at wordads@globalhq.co.nz HUNTAWAY DOG 4-yearsold. Works well in yards. Mustering and on cattle. $3000. NI. Phone 021 557 119.

GET PADDOCK SLOPE estimates for winter grazing from farmmapping.co.nz or phone 0800 433 855 for a free quote.

GOATS WANTED 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.

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

PINE WOODLOT VALUES Ltd. Thinking of logging your pine woodlot?

Transportation throughout NZ – monthly runs Further details see www.petbus.co.nz Ph 027 332 1991

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.

HORTICULTURE

WANTED TO BUY

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

14th November at Totara Estate, 565 Alma-Maheno Road, Oamaru Visit Totara Estate Like our page and go in to win tickets

w w w. e l e c t r o t e k . c o . n z STOP BIRDS NOW!

P.O. Box 30, Palmerston North 4440, NZ

Bring your own 4X4 on a guided tour to discover more of the South Island.

Heavy duty long lasting

Tour 1 Molesworth Station, St James,

Ph 021 047 9299

ZON BIRDSCARER

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz DE HORNER

Phone: +64 6 357 2454

HOOF TRIMMER

EARMARKERS

and Rainbow Stations Dates 2021 Jan 25-28, Feb 21-24, March 28-31, April 25-28.

Marlborough High Country

Other dates available for groups of 6 or more people on request

Maximise your share of the profit and achieve your fair share.

Phone 0274 351 955 Email info@southislandtoursnz.com www.southislandtoursnz.com

Contact Ray Hindrup 027 353 4515 or email: hindrup.logs@gmail.com – pinewoodlotvalues.co.nz

Picnic

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

Tour 2 D’Urville Island and Dates 2021 March 5-9, March 21-25, April 11-15.

LK0104373©

Special rates for working dogs Safe and secure transport 100% care throughout your dogs transport Large roomy kennels Also working pups and family pets

LK0104806©

2021 Notice of Elections Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd (B+LNZ) give notice that nominations are now open for B+LNZ Directors. Written remits for the 2021 Annual Meeting are now being accepted.

WOOL

Independent wool brokers Est. 1983

Under section 42 of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand constitution, two electoral district directors will retire by rotation at the annual meeting. This year, Martin Coup (Northern North Island) and Phil Smith (Northern South Island) must retire by rotation but may stand for re-election. Martin Coup and Phil Smith have both indicated they will be seeking re-election in 2021. Nominations are being called to fill two Board of Director vacancies, one for each of the following electoral districts:

Dedicated to delivering farmers the best service and best returns

Northern North Island (NNI) Northern South Island (NSI) Remits that, if passed at B+LNZ’s annual meeting would not be binding on the organisation, require the signatures of 10 farmers who are registered on the B+LNZ electoral roll. Remits that, if passed at the annual meeting, would be binding on B+LNZ, require the signatures of at least 1,000 registered farmers or five percent of the total number of registered farmers, whichever is the lesser. All nominations and written remits must be made on the official forms. The official forms and other useful information regarding the elections are available by: • visit www.electionz.com/blnz2021 • emailing iro@electionz.com • phoning 0800 666 049

Live Auction . Online Auction

Adding value from shed to sale! 4 3 S ever n S tr eet Pandor a, Napier

. 06 835 6174 . www.kellswool. co. nz

FOR SALE NOTICEBOARD

50 TON WOOD SPLITTER 12HP, Diesel, Electric Start

Heavy duty construction for serious wood splitting. Towable.

REACH EVERY FARMER

Board of Directors and Annual Meeting Resolutions and Remits

Voting will be conducted by postal and internet voting, with voting papers being posted to all farmers who appear on the B+LNZ electoral roll on Monday 1 February 2021. B+LNZ Board elections will close on election day and postal and electronic voting for company resolution and remits will close on the same date, Friday 12 March 2021 at 2pm. Farmers can vote in person on company resolutions and remits only, at the Annual Meeting on Wednesday 17 March 2021. To be eligible to vote in the B+LNZ director elections and for annual meeting Remits (if any), a livestock farmer must, on 30 June 2020, have owned at least 250 sheep, or 50 beef cattle, or 100 dairy cattle. Voters must farm within the respective electorate to be eligible to vote for the Board of Directors and be on the B+LNZ electoral roll and meet the minimum livestock threshold. To be eligible to vote for the annual meeting resolutions, farmers must be on the B+LNZ electoral roll and are not required to meet the minimum stock numbers stated above.

– The only farming newspaper delivered to every farmer, every week.

To check if you are on the electoral roll please contact B+LNZ on 0800 233 352. The electoral roll will close at 5pm on Friday 15 January 2021.

Advertise in the Farmers Weekly - Nationwide 77,216

A copy of the roll for is also available for inspection at the office of Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd, level 4, Wellington Chambers, 154 Featherston Street, Wellington 6011.

$2.10 + GST per word

Call Marie Willis. Freephone 0800 85 25 80 or email: wordads@globalhq.co.nz and send us your word only ad by 12pm Wednesday for the following week’s issue.

All nominations and written remits must be received by the Returning Officer by 5pm on Friday 11 December 2020. Voting for the B+LNZ Board, annual meeting resolutions and remits (if any) will all be conducted at the same time.

GST Special Price $4200 INCLUSIVE Very limited stock

To find out more visit

LK0104137©

• • • • •

GOOD QUALITY SURPLUS land available May to May 50-70 cattle. King Country. Phone 07 877 6854.

DOLOMITE 4X4 TAGALONG TOURS 0800 436 566

Specialising in working dog transportation

GRAZING AVAILABLE

Shepherds

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

LK0104647©

ANIMAL HEALTH

GORSE AND THISTLE SPRAY. We also scrub cut. Four men with all gear in your area. Phone Dave 06 375 8032.

DOGS WANTED

All queries regarding B+LNZ elections should be directed to the Returning Officer on 0800 666 049. All queries regarding annual meeting remits should be directed to B+LNZ Chief Operating Officer, Cros Spooner on 0800 233 352. Warwick Lampp Returning Officer – Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd PO Box 3138, Christchurch 8140 iro@electionz.com, 0800 666 049

LK104615©

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

CONTRACTORS

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ANIMAL HANDLING

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

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FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

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

Livestock Noticeboard

RAM SALE HELMSMAN

Ram your message home here!

12 Noon Monday 16th November 2020 Te Kuiti Saleyards

12.30pm, 25th November 2020 312 Tutaenui Road, R D 2, Marton

If your rams have genetics farmers should invest in this season contact Ella and discuss options to get your message across.

70 Top Rams for sale by 9 North Island Breeders Rams all selected from top 20% 26th Annual NI Perendale Ram Sale of Vendors flock

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

PINE PARK

Promote 2020 ram sales

27th Annual NI Perendale Ram Sale

TERMINAL COOPWORTH ROMWORTH

Ella Holland: 06 323 0761, 027 602 4925 or livestock@globalhq.co.nz

1pm Monday 18th November 2019

Contact: SaleTeSecretary Kuiti Saleyards Philip Brandon 07 873 6313 e: pa.brandon@farmside.co.nz Cam Heggie, PGG Wrightson 027 501 8181 Catalogue available online 10th November wwwperendalenz.com New Venue

70 Top

farmersweekly.co.nz

Rams for sale by 9 North Island Breeders

Rams all selected from top 20% of Vendors Flock Sale Secretary:

Cam Heggie PGG Wrightson Ph: 027 501 8182

FE Tolerant

Philip Brandon

Ph:07 873 6313

E: pa.brandon@farmside.co.nz

Muscle Scanned

Ed Sherriff 021 704 778 06 327 6591 edsherriff@farmside.co.nz

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Catalogue available online 12th Nov: www.perendalenz.com

SIL Recorded

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Contact:

Ryan Shannon PGG Wrightson 027 565 0979

ORARI GORGE GENETICS FAST GROWTH, HIGH YIELD, LESS DRENCHING, GUARANTEED PERFORMANCE

EXPORT WANTED

DO YOU WANT LESS WORK?

J a n u a r y 2 0 2 1 D e liv e r y

19 Born PTIC Friesian Export Heifers

Orari Gorge Romney, RomTex and Terminal actively select for FEWER DAGS AND GREATER RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE TO WORMS.

F12 + $2000 F8-11 $1850 F7 UNRECORDED $1600 2020 Autumn Born Hfrs $1400

Breeding MORE PROFITABLE & MORE SUSTAINABLE sheep in the HILL COUNTRY for the HILL COUNTRY.

GET PAID ON TIME EVERYTIME

“Home of the Beef + Lamb Genetics Low Input Progeny Test”

Please Contact

NOW ALSO SELLING TERMINAL RAMS

North Island

Luke McBride Wayne Doran

027 304 0533 027 493 8957

Richard Harley Greg Collins

021 765 430 027 481 9772

Please contact us any time for more information or to arrange a visit.

South Island

Robert & Alex Peacock |

03 692 2893 |

robert@orarigorge.co.nz

Orari Gorge Station, RD 21, Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand

“If one of our Romneys or Maternal Composites break out with facial eczema, we will refund your entire ram purchase.”

Beltex

Will Jackson

Romney • Composite • Perendale • Suffolk

x and Beltex Cross Rams Belte

• FE testing for 35 years, and above FE Gold Standard for 8 years

First Annual

TWO TOOTH SALE

19 November 2020

• Romney sires tested at 0.7mg of Sporidesmin/kg of live weight and Maternal Composites 0.65mg

Viewing from 11am, Sale starts 1.30pm ‘Rangiatea’, 571 Upper Downs Rd, Mt Somers, Mid Canterbury Purebreds (10) Suffolk Cross (22) Texel Cross (10) Perendale Cross (10) Cheviot Cross (3)

• Ewes run in commercial conditions under no drench policy • Modern and prolific ewes lambing between 140-150% on hard hill country • All rams guaranteed for soundness and structure for 2years

Rams for sale in January 2021 by private treaty 0

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• Romney and Maternal Composites have a lifetime guarantee against FE

Will Jackson phone 07 825 4480 william@piquethillfarms.co.nz www.piquethillstud.co.nz

Callum Dunnett

027 587 0131

Simon Eddington

0275 908 612

Blair Gallagher John Tavendale 021 022 31522 027 432 1296 Hamish Gallagher 027 550 7906

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

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

WANTED

Breeding the difference

2019 SPRING BORN FRIESIAN HEIFERS $2000 + GST / head

LK0104729©

SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: • True to type Friesian Heifers, including the F8-F11 unrecorded heifers. • Standard Chinese Protocol, heifers must have been on the property for a minimum of 6 months at the time of delivery.

CROSS RAM SALE Second Annual Ram Sale Thursday, 12 November, 1.00pm Viewing from 11.00am 506 Batley Road, Maungaturoto, Northland Sons of top-priced Beltex ram $22,000 46 Romney Beltex Cross Rams 14 Suffolk Beltex Cross Rams Higher dressing yield and meat ratio

Saturday 9th January 2021 @ 1pm

20/1/21 delivery 150 kgs min live weight 2020 AUTUMN BORN FRIESIAN HEIFERS $1600 + GST / head

BELTEX

38TH ANNUAL ELITE SIRE STAG SALE

2020 SPRING BORN FRIESIAN HEIFERS F12+: $1400 + GST / head F8-F11’s: $1300 + GST / head F7/Unrecorded: $1100 + GST

FEATURING FULL BROTHERS TO:

MORDECAI, TITANIC, ROBERT HAY, PHOENIX, ICONIC

Plus sons of: CANE, ORLANDO, FITZROY, KALLIS, RIGBY, APEX, ADIDAS, MUNRO, MCCAW. WALTER (DAVIDSON SON), ABRAHAM (LINCOLN SON), AND BOSS (PURE GERMAN). SCAN FOR CATALOGUE

Enquiries to: Rex Roadley 09 4318 266 rex.roadley@farmside.co.nz Or PGG Wrightson Livestock Agents Cam Heggie 0275 018 182 (Genetics) Darryl Williamson 0294 329 285 All rams scanned

Catalogues will be posted out in December

ALL ENQUIRIES: Barry Gard 021 222 8964 bgard@foverandeerpark.co.nz www.foverandeerpark.co.nz

NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND

PHONE TIM ON 027 443 7420 FOR MORE INFORMATION

GOLDSTREAM F A R M

THIRD ANNUAL RAM SALE

ANNUAL SALE OF PERFORMANCE RAMS

IN CONJUNCTION WITH PGG WRIGHTSON

GOLDSTREAM TERMINALS

Tuesday Tuesday 24th 24th November November 2020, 2020,12 12 Noon, Noon, Te Kuiti Selling Centre Te Kuiti Selling Centre

Goldstream Suffolks: This year’s offering includes sons of NZ No.1, NZTW 2119Suffolks: and No.2,This NZTW 1786 ranked sires insons “Suffolk Goldstream year’s offering includes of NZ Across Flock”. They 2119 are also ranked No.11786 & No.2 for sires Growth and No.1 & No.6 No.1, NZTW and No.2, NZTW ranked in “Suffolk Across for meat. Sale Rams average Genetic Worth is our best to date, Flock”. They are also ranked No.1 & No.2 for Growth and No.1 & No.6with the top individual NZTW 2003, in flock. for meat. Sale Rams average Genetic Worth is our best to date, with

Goldstream Dorset the top individualPoll NZTW 2003, in flock. The sires of this years’s sale Rams have indexes of NZTW 2070 and Goldstream Poll Dorset NZTW 1661. These 2019 born rams on offer have Growth and Meat sires of this NZTW year’s sale Rams indexes of NZTW fiThe gures average 1600. withhave a top of NZTW 2111 2070 and NZTW

LK0104583©

Equal genetic worth to Suffolk & Poll Dorset

www.nzsheep.co.nz/suffolk/goldstream

Visit CONTACT our page for more information ENQUIRIES www.nzsheep.co.nz/suffolk/goldstream Bruce & Thelma Rapley Phone: 07 873 2818 ENQUIRIES CONTACT: RD 2, Otorohanga Bruce & Thelma Rapley Warwick & Rebecca Rapley Phone: 07 873 2818 Phone: 07 870 1714 RD 2, Otorohanga Email: info@goldstreamfarm.com Warwick & Rebecca Rapley Phone: 07 870 1714 or 027 843 6662 Email: info@goldstreamfarm.com

do you want sheep that:

• Are commercially farmed on the hills? • Never see a hand-piece? • Are free lambing with high survivability? • Simple and profitable?

WE HAVE SHEEP FOR YOU

1661. These 2019 born rams on offer have Growth and Meat figures Goldstream Crossbreds: Suffolk x Poll Dorset average NZTW 1600, with a top of NZTW 2111. Goldstream Crossbreds: Suffolk x Poll Dorset Visit our Equal genetic worth to page Suffolk &for Poll more Dorset. information

why wiltshires?

16 years selected for: • Genuine fleece shedding • Facial eczema tolerance • Meat production

MONDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2020 RD

11AM TE KUITI SALEYARDS

CONTACT:

Marty Cashin PGG Wrightson Mob: 027 497 6414 A/H: 07 895 7985

SELLING AGENTS: Paul Mitchell Cam Heggie

110 2TH RAMS

027 273 3538 027 501 8182

LK0104736©

no wool, no worries

Stratford A&P Show November 28 & 29

Entries now open NZ Royal Titles for Beef, Dairy & Pigs

www.stratfordshow.co.nz

LK0104725©

Email: stratfordap@xtra.co.nz • Entries close November 15

Livestock Noticeboard

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook

ADVERTISING CALL ELLA 0800 85 25 80

• Open Headed, Upstanding sheep • High Fertility – 5 year average 170% • Fine Wool Corriedales – 26.8 micron ram hogget average • Footrot Resistant – ALL rams tested • SIL recorded • Drought Resistant, Long Living and Fence Friendly • Proven Genetics and Quality Assured

WILFIELD CORRIEDALES

1213 West Coast Road, West Melton, Christchurch Contact Robin Wilson • robin.wilfield@xtra.co.nz • 021 1583866 www.wilfieldsheepstud.co.nz • www.facebook.com/Wilfield sheep stud

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

SOUTHDOWNS WILTSHIRE

Ewe lambs with L.A.F

– Ready when U R Find a registered breeder at:

www.southdownsheep.org.nz

Ewe lambs fully moulting

Phone Stu 06 862 7534

JW104684©

PAKI-ITI ROMNEY

PAKI-ITI RAMS • 160 clients purchased or leased Paki-iti rams last year • Rams bred on a 870ha hard hill country property rising up to 637m asl (2090f asl)

PAKI-ITI ROMTEX

PAKI-ITI ROMNEY • Breeding for constitution, structural soundness and performance • All round performance – fertility, growth, ewe efﬁciency, survival • Five year lambing average – 150% unshepherded

PAKI-ITI ROMTEX • • • •

Enhanced growth and meat yield option Rams sold from a stabilised ﬂock focused on fertility Added beneﬁts of hardiness Rams sold as 22ths

paki-iti.co.nz

Visit to view our breeding programs

Stewart Morton 06 328 5772 • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 RD 54 Kimbolton, Manawatu • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz

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

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IN CONJUNCTION WITH

Waterfields Wiltshires Selling approximately 65 Full Shed 2T Rams SALE DAY MONDAY 23RD NOVEMBER, 2PM ON FARM AT 495 POTAKA RD, ARIA

SHIRE® (hair) & WILTSHIRE (shedding) BOOK HARDY MEAT BRED 2 TOOTH RAMS NOW! HARDY low input EASY CARE MEAT SHEEP NO FLY STRIKE, NO DAGGING, NO SHEARING, NO VACCINES, NO DIPPING NO DRENCHING SINCE 1989 Reduced work, high fertility, hardy, fast growing lambs. Stud established 1987 ALSO TUFTY® (POLLED HIGHLAND) BULLS, COWS & CALVES AVAILABLE ✓ No shearing

✓ No dagging

✓ No dipping

✓ SIL Recorded

✓ FE dosing

IPURUA WILTSHIRES: Peter & Caroline Foss 495 Potaka Road, Aria (07) 8777 881 • pcfossy@xtra.co.nz

Also live streamed on bidr®

Certified BioGro (215) Organic since 1989. Deliver all over NZ

Phone Tim & Helen Gow 03 225 5283 www.organic-rams.co.nz • Email: tim@organic-rams.co.nz

WATERFIELDS WILTSHIRES: Anna Martyn 021 247 2278 • akmartyn@yahoo.com.au

.co.nz 0800 TO BIDR (0800 86 2437)

Bid online Bid on farm

LK0104641©

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – November 9, 2020

SALE TALK

“Proudly Based in Hawke’s Bay”

BYLLIVESTOCK.CO.NZ

2YR BEEF BULLS 450-550kg

RAMGUARD TESTING SINCE 1985 • • • • • •

"Maximising your return through personal livestock management"

FOR SALE

2YR ANGUS STEERS 480-600kg

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

1 & 2YR EXOTIC HEIFERS

STOCK FOR SALE 100 Top CS 1YR ANGUS HEIFERS ANG & ANGX 1YR STEERS 300-350kg

Yearling Friesian Bulls 250 - 300kg

Quotes on Store Lambs

Large numbers of Weaner Here/Frs Heifers

R1 Friesian Bulls

R2 Friesian Bulls

Beef Weaner Steers & Heifers

R1 Here/Frs Steers 250kg +

_______________________________

@waiteikaromneys

Richard Seavill Chris Smith Chris yle Jason Roberts Bryce Young

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 A Financing Solution For Your Farm E info@rdlfinance.co.nz

BLACK C O L O U R MATTERS

021 169 8276 027 96 7 13+ |

06 756 8968

027 96 7 12

07 883 7 12

027 707 1271 027 96 7 11

07 823 4559

byllivestock

Raupuha Studs Where every day is an open day

– NO. 1 TERMINAL BREED THAT

WILL GIVE YOUR LAMBS 100% BLACK COLOUR

How much has eczema cost you? Start your genetic progress here.

BLACK COLOUR = PROVEN STORE PREMIUMS it’s real, just ask your stock agent BLACK COLOUR = 100% HYBRID VIGOR that’s more growth, more meat and more live lambs

Follow the leader

RAUPUHA #1

That’s more money for you, proving that BLACK COLOUR DOES INDEED MATTER when using terminal sires

Suffolk and Suftex

terminal 2ths are available

Perendales & Romdales are

Raupuha Shorthorn bulls

PERENDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6

are available for sale

ROMDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6

FOR YOUR NEAREST SUFFOLK BREEDER VISIT

E PERFOR

SEA

Please enquire for more info

OPEN DAY Tues 3rd Nov, 1pm-3pm at SH3, Mahoenui

FOL UF K

nzsheep.co.nz/suffolk

Weaner Friesian Bulls 100kg +

WANTED

360kg

KEITH ABBOTT, RAGLAN 027 463 9859 | www.waiteikaromneys.co.nz

SUFFOLK

STOCK REQUIRED

ECZEMA TOLERANT ROMNEYS

A cabbie picks up a Nun. The cab driver stares at her. She asks him why he’s staring and he says, “I’ve always wanted to kiss a Nun.” She says, “I’ll kiss you if you’re single and Catholic.” The cab driver says, “I’m both!” The Nun says, “Pull into an alley.” The Nun then kisses him in a way that would make a anyone blush. Back in the cab though, the driver starts crying. “I lied. I’m married and Jewish.” The Nun says, “That’s okay. My name is Kevin and I’m going to a Halloween party.”

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

ON FARM SALE Tues 17th Nov 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

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

KAAHU GENETICS

UPCOMING AUCTIONS Thursday, 12 November 2020 1.00pm - PGG Wrightson Spring Cattle Sale South Island 1.00pm - Batley Beltex Ram Sale 7.00pm - National Livestock - PER KG 7.30pm - National Livsetock - PER HEAD

KAAHU WHITE SHEDDING RAMS 1st INAUGURAL SALE

1st time available in NZ

Are you looking in the right direction?

Friday, 13 November 2020 1.00pm - Ashgrove Coopworth & Suftex Tuesday, 17 November 2020 12.00pm - Raupuha Stud Ram Sale , livestream only

Call Ella

Amazing.... Fantastic.... Incredible Approximately 100 2th rams for sale by Auction. Sale day Friday November 20th 1pm On farm @154 Whakamaru Rd, SH 30 Whakamaru. Livestreamed on Open Day Wednesday 4th November, 1pm - 3pm.

0800 85 25 80

For more information go to bidr.co.nz or contact the team on 0800 TO BIDR

Breeding on steep hill country since 1974, we produce an easy care, high output flock to improve your genetic gain without compromising physical structure.

ELITE CHAROLLAIS RAM SALE

Key areas of selection include: - FE tolerance - Growth & Muscle - Worm FEC - Reproduction

24 November 2020, 12 noon Feilding Saleyards We will be offering approximately 50 Charollais Rams. This will be livestreamed on bidr® online Auction. Contact: Tony Gallen 0275 901 711 Ryan Shannon 0275 650 979 Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions

Freephone 0800 10 22 76 | www.pggwrightson.co.nz Helping grow the country

SALE DAY

WED. 18 NOVEMBER - TE KUITI SALEYARDS Viewing from 11am, Sale starting @ 1pm

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 yielding EMA muscle scanned Great eating quality

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

KAAHU GENETICS Murray Sargent 027 392 7242 | murraysargent@hotmail.com kaahu.co.nz

Kevin Mortensen - 027 473 5858

MARKET SNAPSHOT

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)

5.45

5.50

6.20

NI lamb (17kg)

7.10

9.00

NI Stag (60kg)

6.20

9.40

NI Bull (300kg)

5.40

5.45

6.20

NI mutton (20kg)

5.00

5.10

6.10

SI Stag (60kg)

6.00

6.20

9.40

NI Cow (200kg)

4.00

4.85

SI lamb (17kg)

7.00

9.00

SI Steer (300kg)

5.00

5.05

6.05

SI mutton (20kg)

5.05

5.00

6.00

SI Bull (300kg)

5.00

6.00

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.60

3.80

4.60

UK CKT lamb leg

9.35

9.46

11.59

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 7.52

7.44

9.84

US domestic 90CL cow

7.52

6.40

8.00

North Island steer slaughter price 6.50

8.0 7.0 6.0

8.0

5.0

7.0

10.0 $/kg CW

South Island lamb slaughter price

9.0 8.0

8.0

6.0

7.0

5.0

Oct

5.00

WOOL

4.50

(NZ$/kg) Dec

Feb

5-yr ave

Apr

Jun

2019-20

Dairy

Aug 2020-21

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2019-20

Jun

Prior week

Last year

Coarse xbred ind.

2.26

2.29

2.79

37 micron ewe

2.25

2.40

30 micron lamb

7.00 $/tonne

6.00

Urea

602

616

Super

297

314

DAP

768

787

N …

… S

J…

… M

…

J…

N …

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Last price*

Oct-19

Company

Feb-20

Apr-20

Jun-20

Aug-20

Oct-20

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

405

2950

3065

3030

400

SMP

2700

2775

2825

395

AMF

4000

4160

4050

Butter

3775

3600

3430

6.84

6.90

$/tonne

WMP

Milk Price

Dec-19

6.77

YTD Low

37.89

21.1

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

5.39

5.9

3.61

The a2 Milk Company Limited

14.35

21.74

13.8

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.08

9.21

4.26

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.61

5.09

3.445

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

5.37

5.62

3.595

Ryman Healthcare Limited

14.5

17.18

6.61

Contact Energy Limited

7.63

8.15

4.54

Mainfreight Limited

53.24

55.5

Port of Tauranga Limited

6.99

8.14

4.9

Listed Agri Shares Company

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

14.35

21.74

13.8

Comvita Limited

3.19

4.97

1.66

Delegat Group Limited

14.78

15.08

6.39 3.41

4.4

4.72 2.13

1.35

390

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.78

0.9

0.68

385

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.255

0.26

0.17

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.62

2.3

1.29

PGG Wrightson Limited

2.95

3.01

1.55

Sanford Limited (NS)

4.92

8.2

4.92

Scales Corporation Limited

4.95

5.35

3.3

Seeka Limited

3.93

4.74

3.4

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

5.11

9.1

4.36

Dec-19

Feb-20

Apr-20

Jun-20

Aug-20

Oct-20

400

T&G Global Limited S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

350 $/tonne

US$/t

3050 3000 2950 2900

5pm, close of market, Thursday

1.84

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

3100

YTD High

36.9

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

Oct-19

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

Foley Wines Limited

380

* price as at close of business on Thursday

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Top 10 by Market Cap

400

380

Aug 2020-21

Last year

390

Sept. 2021

Jun

Prior week

410

6.50

Apr 2019-20

Last week

420

7.50

Feb

FERTILISER Last week

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

Sept. 2020

Dec

Fertiliser

Aug 2020-21

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

5.50

Oct

5-yr ave

5.50

Oct

7.0

6.0

6.00

4.00

South Island stag slaughter price

11.0

4.50

$/kg CW

9.0

South Island steer slaughter price

Last year

10.0

5.00

6.50

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

5.0

5.50

4.00

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

6.0

6.00

$/kg MS

Last year

North Island lamb slaughter price

9.0 $/kg CW

US imported 95CL bull

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Ingrid Usherwood

2.68

2.93

2.35

15261

16959

12699

S&P/NZX 50 Index

12250

12544

8499

S&P/NZX 10 Index

12563

12861

9100

300 250

Oct

Nov Dec Latest price

Jan

Feb 4 weeks ago

Mar

200

Oct-19

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Dec-19

Feb-20

Apr-20

Jun-20

Aug-20

Oct-20

15261

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

12250

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

12563

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

Pulse

WEATHER Soil Moisture

Overview Great news, this week kicks off with another rainmaker for the North Island. It also comes with a colder southerly though, which will be more noticeable in the South Island. Low pressure is likely to linger around the North Island (or to the east) as we go into Tuesday but high pressure is trying to move into the South Island, so central NZ may also get some rain, while southern NZ notices that high pressure. The low is likely to fall apart by Wednesday or Thursday, then high pressure expands back over the North Island. This weekend, warm sub-tropical and Tasman Sea nor’westers return with rain on the West Coast by Saturday night and a southerly (a weak one) for Southland/Otago by Sunday.

05/11/2020

Who foots the bill for environmental reform? Nicola Dennis nicola.dennis@globalhq.co.nz

Source: NIWA Data

Highlights

Wind

Southerly quarter winds look to be the main windflow across NZ for the start of this week, then high pressure brings lighter winds for Thursday/Friday. However, over Friday and Saturday back come the nor’westers, with a Sunday southerly in the south.

Highlights/ Extremes

Temperature Some in the east will be a little cooler than average this week and others may be returning to normal, but it won’t last long with warmer than average weather returning again as the week wears on and especially Saturday.

14-day outlook

This week high pressure lies south of NZ, while low pressure forms around the North Island (and maybe central NZ too). By around Thursday this week, high pressure is the dominating force across the nation and should hold firm into the weekend – but a southerly change with rain moves up the South Island into Sunday. Next week looks dominated by more high pressure, but the sub-tropics and Southern Oceans both look a little bit active, so it may not be perfectly settled.

More rain earlier this week for dry parts of the North Island, with a little into the South Island’s north east too. The weather looks great for AgFest over in Greymouth later this week and Saturday, thanks to a big high.

7-day rainfall forecast

100

200

400

More great news, as parts of the North Island are again leaning wetter than average this week thanks to the wet weather around at the start of this week. Also, this weekend we may see some wet weather move into the eastern South Island again – not 100% locked in but possible. We do see more high pressure returning to northern NZ next week though, so we’re not entirely flicking the switch to “wet” yet either.

Weather brought to you in partnership with weatherwatch.co.nz

EW Zealand agriculture is facing a raft of environmental reforms under the Government’s Freshwater Management National Policy Statement amendments. These include further stock exclusions from waterways, restrictions around winter grazing, audited farm environment plans and enforcing nitrogen caps. This is in addition to greenhouse gas mitigation policies and biodiversity measures that are yet to be announced. In general, farmers are very motivated to reduce their environmental impact, but the cost of doing so competes with rising running costs and servicing debt on land. So, who is footing the bill? Politicians are quick to point to the export markets, which they believe will pay a premium for clean, green, NZ products. AgriHQ asked a number of NZ exporters if this was feasible. They all thought it wasn’t. Large portions of NZ meat is sold to manufacturing customers (the US beef grinding market or sheepmeat to China) to mix with their domestically-produced meat or other ingredients. Therefore, many international consumers will not even be aware that they are eating NZ meat. As such, it will be difficult to extract more value from these price-sensitive markets. However, beef exporters are hopeful that NZ manufacturing and trimming beef will one day be recognised for its ethical attributes (for example, grass-fed and hormone free) in the US market, which would significantly boost beef returns. That seems a long way off despite efforts from exporters over the years. With most of the carcases traded as commodity meat, that leaves the highervalued, lower-yielding meat cuts that are sold via restaurants and retailers to pick up the slack. Currently, it would be nice to be able to sell these for their usual prices, let alone command a premium for them. Exporters point out that it is difficult to

prove if NZ products receive a premium since there is no way of being sure what customers are paying for competing products. However, most believed that high-valued NZ cuts, such as lamb racks, were already capitalising on the NZ image. With a lot of restaurants shut and lamb racks trading for bargain prices, those premiums will be dwindling. There does seem to be extra demand for the NZ “raised without antibiotics” assurance program in the US retail markets, which is encouraging. However, it is arguable that NZ is being rewarded for food safety rather than for environmental efforts. Consistent with this, NZ meat producers have secured good market access into China by excluding growth hormone promotants and by avoiding zoonotic diseases like BSE (Mad Cow). Even with those benefits in play, a NZ plant could expect to be swiftly excluded from the Chinese market if its staff contracted covid-19. Exporters were skeptical that international consumers could stump up with additional money for environmental reforms here. But, even if consumers are prepared to reward NZ for its efforts, this would likely be for about 10% of the total carcase, which is unlikely to translate to large price gains at the farm gate. Most assurance programs add an extra 10c/kg to the farm gate price. This is roughly $1.90 per lamb and $30 per steer slaughtered. That won’t go far to fencing 32,000km of waterways, even at the Government’s proposed bargain price of $14/m. If the politicians are to be proven correct, then the most obvious way to deliver value back to farmers would be to turn NZ’s environmental glow into free trade agreements with major international markets, such as India or the US. It would also be a bonus to be able to remove trade barriers on existing beef markets such as chilled beef exports to China, which are hampered by the number of Chinese-approved plants within NZ. This might be a big ask when we consider that covid-19 has most nations focused solely on their home turf and that NZ politicians are, hopefully, busy protecting NZ lamb’s market access into the UK market.

GET THE EDGE... Discover how we can help you keep up to date with market conditions. Head to agrihq.co.nz or call 0800 85 25 80

Livestock Outlook

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

Livestock Insight

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

LivestockEye

We create transparency for the industry with these independent, objective reports providing full sale results and informed commentary covering 10 sale yards across NZ that are emailed directly after the sale. 2476AGHQ

If you love the information you get from these pages, you will love AgriHQ’s livestock reports.

SALE YARD WRAP

Grass market emerges Farmers and stock agents alike breathed a sigh of relief as a grass market finally emerged in the North Island, bringing more buyers to sale yards around the island. Two weeks of warmer temperatures intermingled with some rain has boosted pasture levels significantly, and all classes of store cattle have been subjected to a lift in competition. Large volumes were again available last week as Matawhero yarded 2100 store cattle and Feilding split their 2300 head yarding over two days. Dairy-beef weaner fairs also added to those tallies. NORTHLAND Wellsford store cattle • Two-year Angus steers, 411kg, lifted to $2.93/kg • Yearling Angus steers, 233-276kg, held at $2.90-$2.92/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 350-361kg, improved to $3.01$3.07/kg Throughput swelled to just under 1150 cattle at WELLSFORD last Monday after no sale the week prior. Buyer interest improved as grass levels continue to increase. Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 434-466kg, lifted to $2.78-$2.85/kg. Yearling Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, 277-383kg, fetched $2.85-$2.98/kg. Quality HerefordFriesian steers, 237-340kg, strengthened from $2.80/kg to $3.00/kg. Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers, 235kg, improved to $2.98/kg as did Hereford, 247kg, $2.63/kg. Most HerefordFriesian held at $2.72-$2.77/kg, though better lines achieved $2.92-$3.02/kg. Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 129-145kg, realised $480-$515. Friesian bulls, 110kg, improved to $380. Read more in your LivestockEye.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Medium 2-year steers sold up to $2.75/kg • Weaner Angus steers earned $610 • Bulls fetched $2.50/kg to $2.86/kg • Boner cows made $1.74/kg to $2.03/kg The yards were nearly at capacity at PUKEKOHE with solid demand for quality and finished cattle. Prime steers sold at $2.76-$2.80/kg, with light prime heifers $2.70-$2.75/ kg. Quality weaners sold well with better heifers at $440$560, though off-types were less interest at $350-$400.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Simmental-Hereford bulls, 332kg, fetched $1000 • Hereford-Friesian steers, 266kg, made $800 • Prime Charolais steers, 665kg, reached $3.03/kg • Heavy prime ewes fetched $228-$250 About 600 store cattle sold on at steady market at TUAKAU last Thursday, Carrfields Livestock agent Karl Chitham reported. Hereford-Friesian steers, 505-540kg, traded at $2.82$2.87/kg, with 370-440kg at $2.82-$2.91/kg. Heifers, 370420kg, earned $2.68-$2.82/kg and 250-305kg, $2.85-$2.95/ kg. Heavy prime steers, 560-665kg, sold at $2.93-$3.03/ kg on Wednesday, and 520-560kg realised $2.78-$2.85/kg. Angus heifers, 510kg, reached $2.82/kg and trade heifers, $2.78-$2.85/kg. New-season prime lambs sold up to $197 on Monday. Medium-good spring lambs returned $164-$183 and light, $134-$151. Medium to good prime ewes managed $145-$185 while lighter types fetched $76-$95.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle 03.11 • Two-year Angus-Friesian steers, 434-496kg, improved to $2.76$2.82/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 310-356kg, mainly held at $2.72-$2.78/kg • Top end yearling Friesian bulls, 386kg, improved to $2.84/kg A good quality yarding of just over 600 cattle was presented last Tuesday at FRANKTON by PGG Wrightson. Two-year beef-dairy steers, 338-495kg, softened at $2.67/ kg to $2.85/kg while same breed heifers, 403-479kg, held at $2.70-$2.78/kg. Yearling Angus-Friesian steers, 347-383kg, improved to $2.81/kg. Better Hereford-Friesian, 282-310kg, realised $3.06/kg to $3.24/kg. Most Hereford-Friesian heifers, 258-301kg, held at $2.87-$2.91/kg. Yearling bulls improved and Friesian, 295346kg, realised $2.61-$2.76/kg while traditional, 354-443kg, earned $2.75-$2.86/kg. Prime dairy-beef steers, 529-635kg, held at $2.80/kg-$2.91/kg. Traditional heifers, 455-531kg, returned $2.80-$2.88/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Frankton cattle 04.11 • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 330-349kg, fetched $3.01-$3.07/kg • Yearling Hereford-dairy steers, 319-353kg, lifted to $2.90-$3.02/kg • Better yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 292-330kg, held at $2.81-$2.91/kg New Zealand Farmers Livestock penned 480 store cattle at FRANKTON last Wednesday. Two-year cattle traded well as Hereford-Friesian and Hereford-dairy steers, 423-506kg, lifted to $2.74-$2.81/kg while Hereford-Friesian heifers, 350-385kg, held at $2.74-$2.75/kg. Top yearling HerefordFriesian steers, 441kg, realised $2.93/kg with 233kg solid at $3.23/kg. Hereford-dairy steers, 271-312kg, managed $3.00$3.11/kg. Hereford-dairy heifers, 332kg, improved to $2.82/ kg though 300-327kg lines struggled at $2.58-$2.68/kg. All autumn-born weaners, 194-211kg, managed $505-$590. Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 606-706kg, held at $2.74$2.81/kg, though four at 658kg pushed to $2.90/kg. Heifers softened and all 402-588kg traded at $2.70-$2.80/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Frankton dairy-beef weaner fair • Autumn-born weaner steers fetched $500-$580 • Better autumn-born weaner Friesian bulls mostly earned $575$595 • Better weaner heifers traded at $500-$560 Good pasture growth encouraged more buyers to the FRANKTON dairy-beef weaner fair last Thursday and the market strengthened across the board. Just under 1000 bulls were offered, where the top end of Friesian fetched $445-$535, while better Hereford-Friesian bulls earned $560-$665. Weaner steers lifted by an average of $90 to $535, helped by a large line of early born HerefordFriesian, 136kg, which achieved $660. Read more in your LivestockEye.

KING COUNTRY Te Kuiti sheep and cattle • Heavy prime hoggets made $143-$166 with the balance at $124$134 • Store hoggets fetched $85-$92.50 • Yearling Simmental-cross heifers, 361kg, made $2.89/kg There were 249 sheep on offer at TE KUITI and prime two-tooths fetched $137. The top end of new season lambs earned $135 with the balance at $104-$107.50. There were 800 cattle yarded on Friday with a good bench of buyers from Feilding, Waikato, Bay of Plenty joining the locals. Yearling steers were in good demand with 336kg Angus sold for $3.50/kg and Simmental-cross, 352kg, at $2.85/kg. Better two-year dairy-beef steers, 418-543kg, traded up to $2.72/kg to $2.85/kg, with 543-566kg Angus at $2.94-$2.99/ kg.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Prime Speckle Park steers, 580kg, achieved $3.02/kg • Prime Murray Grey heifers, 512kg, fetched $2.71/kg • Lambs earned $70-$124, while hoggets made up to $126 and ewes $146 The prime section at RANGIURU last Tuesday was almost exclusively steers over 580kg. Hereford-Friesian and Hereford-Jersey traded at $2.87-$2.97/kg while AngusFriesian were $2.78-$2.82/kg. Demand was strong from local buyers in the 2-year pens. Steers, 400-475kg, made $2.70-$2.80/kg followed by heifers at $2.71-$2.77/kg regardless of breed. The better steers reached $1000, which included a pen of 328kg Simmental-cross that made $1020, $3.11/kg, and 355kg Angus-Friesian, $1070, $3.01/kg. Most of the yearling heifers were Hereford-Friesian, 253-319kg, and these managed $650-$885, $2.61/kg to $2.96/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero cattle • The two-year traditional steer average lifted to $3.18/kg • Two-year Angus bulls mostly fetched at least $3.09/kg • Very nice yearling South Devon-Hereford steers, 305kg, sold well at $4.16/kg

• Yearling traditional heifers, 240kg, sold at $3.52/kg • Mixed-age cows and calves earned $1450 per-unit The market improved at the MATAWHERO cattle sale with around 2000 good-quality cattle penned. Top end 2-year traditional steers, 440-505kg, realised $3.21-$3.32/ kg, with just a small number under 380kg unable to surpass the $3.00/kg mark. A limited offering of 2-year heifers included 445kg Charolais which lifted to $2.91/kg. Better yearling traditional and exotic steers fetched $3.30-$3.40/ kg. Demand for yearling heifers lifted with the average traditional at $3.11/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Matawhero sheep • Heavy prime ewes traded at $190-$230 with medium $167-$173 and light $80-$157 Heavy prime hoggets at the MATAWHERO sheep sale last Friday achieved $204, with medium $169 and light $106$116.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle • Yearling Angus-Friesian heifers, 265-267kg, sold well at $3.21/kg • Yearling Ayrshire bulls, 255kg, returned $3.51/kg • Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 363kg, traded at $2.99/kg • Better 2-year beef-cross heifers held at $2.63-$2.65/kg Yearling cattle strengthened at the TARANAKI cattle sale last Wednesday, helped by good pasture growth recently. Most of the yearling steers traded above the $3.00/kg mark, with the top end consisting of Angus-cross, 216kg, which were secured for $3.41/kg to $3.56/kg. Prime pens were very limited and softened a few cents with steers and heifers at $2.54-$2.66/kg. Friesian-cross boner cows, 562kg, earned $2.00/kg, with better prime cows at $1.98/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Taranaki dairy-beef weaner fair • Autumn-born Hereford-Friesian weaner steers, 192-217kg, made $580-$630 • Autumn-born Hereford-Friesian bulls, 220-240kg, earned $695$795 • Weaner Simmental-Friesian steers, 120kg, sold well at $650 The market improved at the TARANAKI dairy-beef weaner fair last Thursday. Friesian bulls lifted an average of $85 to $420, with those above 120kg at $445-$465. There were some nice Hereford-Friesian weaner steers offfered which fetched $580-$635, while over half of the dairy-beef weaner bulls realised $545-$630. Better-quality weaner heifers traded at $400-$470. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime cattle and sheep • Very heavy mixed-age ewes held at $161-$179 • Good mixed-age ewes also held at $129-$135.50 • Very heavy mixed-sex lambs fetched $160-$171 Sheep throughput increased to just over 2500 at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday with more buyers in as grass levels lift. Very good to heavy ewes held at $138-$158 and lighter, $100-$113. Prime lamb throughput increased to 712 with good competition from the rails. Heavy mixedsex lambs returned $135-$146. Top ram lambs realised $182-$186 with heavy at $148.50. Mixed-sex hoggets earned $150-$152. Very good two-tooth rams managed $147.50. Just three pens of cattle were offered. Two good Hereforddairy heifers held at $2.71/kg while cows traded at $1.85$1.87/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Two-year beef-cross bulls, 502-511kg, firmed to $3.17-$3.19/kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 193-222kg, firmed to $620-$730, $3.21$3.29/kg • Yearling Angus heifers, 238-305kg, firmed to $750-$990, $3.13$3.22/kg • Hoggets with lambs-at-foot sold for $91.50-$101 all counted • Light wether lambs made $79-$91 Momentum built at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday as store cattle sold on a grass market and prices firmed overall. Two-year beef-dairy heifers averaged 435kg, $2.81/

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020

• 128 ewes with 176 lambs-at-foot made $96 all counted An unusually large yarding of sheep filled pens at COALGATE last Thursday. The store lambs featured several large consignments which included 1100 from Marlborough that traded at $72-$107. The remaining store lambs also sold well from $70 to $118. A very large yarding of prime ewes met good competition. Heavy ewes fetched $170-$196 and medium $140-$168. One line of prime new season lambs sold to $184 and most better types traded at $150-$173. Quality was sought after across both cattle sections. Prime heifers were generally 500kg and $2.50$2.52/kg while most of the store section were yearlings. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY

READY: New season lambs sold at the Annandale on-farm sale on Bank Peninsula hills that are drying off at an alarming rate.

kg and one pen of Angus, 443kg, reached $1340, $3.02/ kg. Yearling Angus steers were mainly later-born types and at 233-256kg sold for $3.59-$3.65/kg, while 301-351kg returned $3.11-$3.14/kg. Autumn-born Friesian-cross weaner bulls made $460-$550 and a consignment of Angus cows, 569-594kg, sold for $2.10-$2.16/kg. Male-only lines increased in volume in the lamb pens and rams sold for $93.50-$118. Light mixed-sex returned $84-$93.50 and the balance $107-$132. Read more in your LivestockEye.

MANAWATU Feilding prime cattle and sheep • Dairy cows, 470-570kg, were priced from $1.69/kg to $1.81/kg • Friesian bulls, 580-740kg, sold well at $2.87-$2.90/kg New season lamb numbers inched upwards at FEILDING last Monday. They sold in three main pens which included the only heavy pen at $171, while a pair of medium-good pens were $147-$150. Heavy hoggets fetched $157-$171 and medium-good, $141-$153. Better ewes made up two-thirds of the tally and sold for $149-$180. Medium ewes made $107-$147. Read more in your LivestockEye. Feilding 2 and 3-year cattle sale • Two-year Angus steers, 500-545kg, were $3.30/kg • Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 400-510kg, made $2.95-$3.05/ kg • Two- year heifers of all breeds, 370-490kg, were $2.85-$2.95/kg Just under 600 older cattle were shifted to Thursday to accommodate large bookings at FEILDING. Everything sold at this sale held relative to the week prior. Heavy beef steers, 500kg plus, were mainly $3.20-$3.30/kg, whereas 410-485kg usually made $3.05-$3.15/kg. Two-year dairy-beef steers, 400-515kg, ranged from $2.80/kg to $3.05/kg. All 370490kg heifers were $2.85-$2.95/kg. A pen of 515kg 2-year Angus-Friesian bulls returned $2.85/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Feilding store sale • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 330-365kg, jumped to $3.20$3.30/kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 220-275kg, lifted to $3.10-$3.30/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 290-340kg, lifted to $3.00$3.15/kg • New season lambs averaged $100.50 • Wiltshire ewe hoggets made $238 A packed gallery hotly contested the 1500 head yearling cattle sale, lifting prices across the board. Heavy beef steers, 310-380kg, sold for $3.20-$3.40/kg, but it was the 220-290kg traditionals that were the crowd favourites at $3.50-$3.75/kg. The bulk of the dairy-beef steers were 290kg plus, with several pens of Angus-Friesian $2.80-$3.00/kg

and Hereford-Friesian 20-30 cents stronger. Light Friesian bulls, 220-250kg, were $3.20-$3.30/kg, while the remainder up to 420kg were $3.00-$3.15/kg. Some ex-stud Angus heifers, 285kg, made $1020, $3.60/kg. For commercial lines, basically all beef and Hereford-Friesian lines above 280kg were $3.00-$3.25/kgIt was a good sale for the 3600 new season lambs. Top cuts were $125-$130, the next tier $100-$115, while smaller lines were mostly $80-$95. A small selection of ewes with lambs-at-foot were mainly $80-$90 all counted. Standard ewe hoggets averaged $105, but some Wiltshire went as high as $238. Read more in your LivestockEye. Rongotea cattle • Two-year Angus bulls, 730kg, earned $2.75/kg • Better Hereford-Friesian steers strengthened up to $2.96/kg • Yearling Speckle Park bulls, 393kg, firmed to $2.93/kg • Yearling Angus heifers, 198-410kg, made $2.42/kg to $2.81/kg • Friesian boner cows, 470kg, lifted to $2.02/kg Continued pasture growth encouraged bigger cattle to RONGOTEA, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Two-year heifers varied, though better types fetched $2.40/kg to $2.60/kg. Yearling HerefordFriesian steers, 267-345kg, improved to $2.67/kg to $2.87/kg, with 340kg Charolais-cross at $2.79/kg. Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 100kg, traded at $400, with samebreed heifers at $320.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park prime cattle and all sheep • Traditional steers, 540-755kg, made $2.66-$2.76/kg • High-yielding dairy-beef steers over 600kg were $2.50/kg to $2.66/kg The steer market was resilient at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, helped by a good quality line-up. High-yielding dairy-beef over 600kg were $2.50/kg to $2.66/kg. Very little differentiated the top beef heifers from the dairy-beef and nearly all traded from $2.33/kg to $2.48/kg. The first significant run of both store and prime new season lambs were entered and store lambs fetched $60-$87 while prime were $131-$180. Interest held up for prime hoggets and they traded at $130-$209. A decent number of the mixedage ewes earned $180-$217 and the balance made $120$179. Read more in your LivestockEye. Coalgate cattle and sheep • Prime Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, 477-519kg, achieved $2.70-$2.79/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian and Angus-cross steers, 252-267kg, fetched $2.40-$2.52/kg • 350 of the 2000 prime ewes made $205-$249

Temuka prime cattle and all sheep • Murray Grey steers, 592-630kg, made $2.56-$2.57/kg • Hereford-Friesian heifers, 496-587kg, were $2.51-$2.63/kg • Prime hoggets generally sold for $110-$185 and new season lambs, $125-$175 A lack of traditional or purebred cattle was noted at TEMUKA last Monday. A few pens of Hereford-Friesian steers managed $2.61-$2.64/kg but the majority were 520580kg and $2.41-$2.51/kg. Heifers outperformed the steers as they were higher yielding. Angus, 510kg, earned $2.64/ kg and Murray Grey, 548kg, 2.60/kg but Hereford-Friesian, 496-587kg, made up the majority at $2.51-$2.63/kg. The prime ewe pens attracted more interest with 10% good yielding types that managed $200-$251. Most others were $113 to $194. The store pens were quiet and hoggets made $101-$145. Read more in your LivestockEye. Temuka store cattle • Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 419-457kg, firmed to $2.34$2.42/kg • Yearling Charolais-Angus steers, 298-349kg, earned $2.88-$2.95/ kg • Yearling Charolais-Angus heifers, 304-338kg, sold for $2.57-$2.62/ kg Very few 2-year cattle were offered at TEMUKA last Thursday and the sale moved quickly into the yearling pens. A consignment of 60 Angus steers, 325-353kg, met keen interest and mostly sold for $2.95-$3.01/kg. Other Angus were lighter at 202-232kg but earned $3.10-$3.22/ kg. Many of the remaining pens were Angus-cross or Angus-Friesian, 229-349kg, that made $2.20-$2.31/kg while Hereford-Friesian, 311-353kg, traded at $2.54-$2.62/kg. Nearly 50 yearling Hereford heifers, 246-301kg, sold from $2.41/kg to $2.59/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

OTAGO Balclutha sheep • Heavy prime lambs made $150-$170, with medium $120-$140 and light $100 • Coopdale ewe hoggets fetched $160 There was mixed demand for prime sheep at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday and heavy prime ewes fetched $140-$170, with medium $110-$130 and light $70-$100.

SOUTHLAND Lorneville sale • Two-year Hereford-cross steers, 393-403kg, made $2.48-$2.51/kg • Yearling Charolais-cross heifers, 328kg, returned $2.58/kg • Boner cows above 500kg earned $1.60-$1.70/kg • Heavy prime ewes fetched $156-$180, with medium $130-$150 and light $103-$128 A small yarding of cattle was penned at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday. Prime steers, 500kg, made $2.30-$2.40/kg, with 450-500kg heifers in the same range. Store cattle mostly consisted of yearling cattle where 316-357kg Angus and Charolais-cross steers traded at $2.55-$2.65/kg, and Hereford-Friesian, 350kg, $2.49/kg. Two-tooths were bought for $90-$110. Ewes with lambs-at-foot traded at $99 all-counted.

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60 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 9, 2020 NI LAMB

NI BULL

SI MUTTON

($/KG)

7.10

5.40

5.05

YEARLING HEREFORD-FRIESIAN STEERS, 262-315KG, AT WELLSFORD ($/KG LW)

2.95

Matawhero

MIA wary as second covid-19 wave emerges Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

EW Zealand’s red meat trade continues to generate crucial export revenue but with the full economic impact of covid-19 yet to hit, the industry cannot afford to be complacent. Meat Industry Association (MIA) chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the red meat processing and exporting sector has been NZ’s success story during the covid-19 crisis but with further disruptions in the global markets expected, she urged caution. “The red meat processing and exporting sector has been a real success story during the covid-19 crisis and continues to generate crucial export revenue for the country when other sectors are facing significant headwinds,” she said. “However, we cannot be complacent, we are yet to see the full economic and social impact of covid-19. “With the UK, Europe and parts of the US going into a second lockdown, we can expect further disruptions in our global markets. “We are also concerned about potential disruptions to shipping lines from Europe, the impact of the last drought in NZ and the prospect of extreme dry conditions in the coming months. “This means the uncertainty and volatility will continue for some time.” Meanwhile, the NZ red meat sector continued to demonstrate its agility in the third quarter with exports to the US growing by 50% over the three months from July to September compared to a year earlier. Total exports to the US reached

GOOD OUTCOME: Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the trade data was positive, especially given the volatility because of covid-19.

$400 million for the quarter, closely followed by a 42% rise to the UK to $71m, and Germany a 25% increase to $70m. The growth in the third quarter offset a 25% decline, $530m, to China despite the value of sheepmeat and beef exports to China remaining at an historically high level. Overall, exports in the third quarter were $1.69 billion, unchanged from the same period in 2019. For the year ending September 2020, exports were up 8% to $9.39bn compared to the previous year. The value of exports to almost all of the top 10 markets, except the Netherlands, increased. In the September month, overall red meat exports were worth $501m, down 6% from September 2019. Both China and Japan were down, but there were increases to the US, Germany and UK. Sheepmeat exports to the US,

$70-$118 high $4.16 New season store lambs South Devonlights Yearling Hereford steers, 305kg, at at Coalgate

Germany and the UK rose, as did beef exports to the US and Canada. Karapeeva says the trade data was positive, especially given the volatility because of covid-19. There has been some shift from chilled to frozen product for sheepmeat as the industry pivoted away from the challenging food service sector into retail and e-commerce. There was also some rebalancing to other markets from the record levels that were going to China last year. “This demonstrates the industry’s ability to adjust product specifications and destinations to meet the demand from our global markets,” Karapeeva said. “There are indications that demand in China will continue to increase and we anticipate strong buying patterns as China prepares for its Chinese New Year celebrations next year.”

ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

New season lambs out the farm gate DRY conditions are biting in some areas of the South Island and that is cause for concern as a long summer potentially stretches out ahead. Some farmers are taking action early and both Coalgate and Canterbury Park sale yards have reported higher than usual entries of new season store lambs for this time of year. Two big events on the new season lamb calendar are the Annandale and Sinai on-farm lamb sales and while both have been held on their usual days, they could not have come at a better time as both farms are in alarmingly dry areas. Annandale is situated on Banks Peninsula, which is one of the driest areas in the country at present. In its 15th year, this sale of around 1700 terminal-cross lambs is always targeted by repeat buyers and Southland was a big support, PGG Wrightson agent Stu Uren reports. “We knew, going into this sale, prices would be well back on last year. Banks Peninsula has missed out on any decent rain since autumn and so lamb weights were down but combined with lower meat schedules and no grass-driven demand, expectations were not high,” he said. “But the repeat buyers from Southland were present and at the end of the day everyone was pleased with the results.” The top pen of 89 prime terminal-cross mixed-sex achieved $121. The store lambs were sex drafted and most sold for $69-$97, which was in line with recent results at sale yards. Sinai on-farm lamb sale in Oxford was also wellsupported by Southland buyers, as well as midCanterbury, Hazlett general manager Ed Marfell reports. The combined Hazlett and Rural Livestock-hosted sale featured 3000 store and prime lambs and sold to expectations, but the standout was the 2200 cast-forage ewes. “Timing of these ewes hitting the market was ideal as the hogget season winds down, but a few cold weeks has meant that new season lambs are taking longer to head to the processors,” Marfell said. The ewes sold in two main lines at $169-$190 with a sale average of $177. The best of the terminal-cross lambs reached $165 with most of the offerings selling for $82-$165 at a sale average of $108. suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

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