Farmers Weekly NZ March 21 2022 by AgriHQ

5 Milk cost trims Fonterra earnings Vol 20 No 10, March 21, 2022

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Omicron wave disrupts sector Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz

ome primary sector processors have access to only half their usual workforce due to staff infected with Omicron or isolating because they are a close contact. Staff shortages have forced meat plants to reduce throughput or shut down chains, truck companies to plead for extra drivers and disruption to dairy processing and the grape harvest. Rural health leaders are nervous medical staff will be next to face disruption as the Omicron wave moves down the country.

We will soon lose clinical staff because they will test positive and be out for seven days or they will be required to stay home to care for children. Jeremy Webber Rural GP Network Jeremy Webber, the clinical director of rural health with the Rural GP Network, is urging the public to get boosted, stay at home if ill and take precautions to avoid medical services being overwhelmed. “We will soon lose clinical staff because they will test positive and be out for seven days or they will be required to stay home to care for children.”

WE’RE HIRING: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett says Omicron absences have created supply chain gaps prompting a search for truck drivers.

The Omicron outbreak in Northland and Auckland saw St John ambulance calls increase 25% at a time 35% of their staff were affected by the virus, he says. The impact is affecting farmers on multiple levels. AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad says a poor North Island spring slowed stock conditioning then staff shortages in meat plants slowed processing and now Omicron is biting. For the 20 weeks up to February 19, 585,000 fewer lambs were killed in the North Island and 96,000 fewer in the South Island compared to a year earlier. BLNZ is forecasting an 18.3m export lamb kill this year, but to February 19 7.7m have been killed.

Croad says the season looks similar to 2018 which was also late. “Farm gate prices are still high which will help offset those delays and feed supplies are generally good which will help farmers navigate this period.” Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says processors have tried to mitigate the impact of Omicron. This includes moving livestock to other plants so animals are processed as quickly as possible, extending processing seasons, reconfiguring their shifts, reducing carcass cuts and increasing minimum hourly rates to attract new employees. “Fortunately, recent rain has alleviated feed concerns in most

parts of the country, although there are some dry areas in regions such as Southland and Northland.” Silver Fern Farms chief supply chain officer Dan Boulton says absenteeism was an issue in North Island plants but has now eased but has affected plants in the south, especially Finegand in South Otago. “Our other South Island sheep and beef plants should be getting closer to normal by the end of next week.” The sheep backlog in the North Island should ease within the next two weeks. He says previous indications of processing wait times are still current at six to eight weeks for beef, two to six weeks for sheep

and two to four weeks for venison. Alliance chief executive David Surveyor says absenteeism from Omicron was an issue in its North Island plants, but capacity there is starting to recover. “We are doing everything we can to mitigate the impact of the situation including consolidating day and night shifts and moving livestock across our network to maximise our processing volumes.” Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell said covid-19 remained a challenge causing supply chain disruptions as well as forcing its staff to isolate. “There’s no question that Omicron has hit our staff as most NZ businesses are experiencing. “That said, the teams have gone above and beyond and have got products either on vessels for international markets or into the domestic market here.” Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett says Omicron absences have created supply chain gaps prompting a search for truck drivers. “Now, more than ever, we need every available truck on the road delivering to supermarkets, pharmacists, hospitals, doctors, and everyone else who requires goods to get through this challenging time.” NZ Wine chief executive Philip Gregan says Omicron has accentuated an existing labour shortage, with some grape growers having half their harvesting workforce unavailable due to covid. “The industry is following similar processes to the first lockdown, with separate teams and bubbles to reduce the chance of spread and to keep people safe.”

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26 The best of both worlds Combining a family focus with the best aspects of a corporate model are making a difference to a Taihape farming partnership.

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4 Devold set to boost wool industry Woollen garment company Devold of Norway has committed to its New Zealand growers, offering fixed premium contract pricing in a move proposed to funnel more than $40 million into the NZ wool industry.

Pulpit ��23 Opinion ��24 On Farm Story ��26-27 World ��28 Real Estate ��29-38 Tech & Toys ��39 Employment ��39-41 Classifieds ��41 Livestock ��42-43 Weather ��45

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Dual emissions pricing proposed Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz THE group of sheep and beef farmers who recently challenged the two emissions pricing options being put forward by He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), saying they created an unfair imbalance between extensive and intensive farming systems (Farmers Weekly, March 14), have put forward an alternative approach they say recognises cross-sector differences.

RECOGNISE DIFFERENCES: Rick Burke says He Waka Eke Noa pricing options need to reflect the fact that extensive and intensive farming operations do not operate in the same way.

Everyone will still equally contribute, relative to our contribution to (global) warming. Mark McCoard Farmer In a letter to HWEN programme director Kelly Forster, Bay of Plenty farmer Rick Burke, one of the farmers involved, said HWEN is trying to deliver a single pricing framework across the spectrum from the most extensive to the most intensive farm systems, from the most complex to the simplest of farm systems. “This is like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole and will only create winners and losers, which is not fair or equitable,” Burke said in the letter. He said the differences between livestock industries are starkly reflected in their metrics of success; dairy farms monitor it through measures of production (per kilograms of milk solids), while drystock farms focus on measures of intensity (per hectare). “It is of no surprise then that the key drivers and principles (between extensive and intensive farming) on how we manage our landscapes/natural capital and

use of nitrogen and imported feed and what success looks like, are also distinctly different,” he said. “Recognising these differing approaches and mindsets could perhaps provide an alternative approach (to emissions pricing), whereby the extensive and intensive farming systems adopt the pricing system that best allows them to determine how they will independently achieve behaviour change to attain required target reductions. “This would remove any suggestion of one industry subsidising another.” In the letter, Burke suggests that the different industries should instead follow pricing approaches that suit their emissions profile, based on their level of intensity. That would mean most sheep, beef, deer and organic/System

1 dairy farms would be priced on emissions per hectare, with increased pricing for farmers with higher emissions, while some finishing farms, feedlots and most dairy farms would be priced on emissions per kg of product. “We consider that this dual approach is equitable and reflects the different drivers and levers of the different production systems,” he said. Burke said the dual approach would enable each industry to meet emission targets in its own way and remove the disparity of emissions pricing between extensive and intensive farms. Another member of the group, Rangitīkei farmer and NZ Deer Farmers Association executive committee member Mark McCoard, said they have been heartened by the

response from Beef + Lamb NZ. “They’ve been actively working with us to achieve a result for sheep and beef farmers and the communities that we live in,” McCoard said. McCoard acknowledges that a lot of work will need to be done between sectors to get the group’s ideas across the line. “There is a crossover between the intensive end of the sheep, beef and deer industry, and the lighter end of the dairy industry. “Our point is that it highlights the difference between extensive and intensive, but the other is (that) dairy (focuses on) kilograms of product,” he said. “That’s not how the sheep, beef and deer sector operates. They’re per hectare, so the metrics that each industry uses is fundamentally different.

“It’s not how they measure success.” He said it makes more sense to implement a system where each sector works with what it understands best and can achieve agreed goals in their own way. “Everyone will still equally contribute, relative to our contribution to (global) warming,” he said. “The last thing we need is one fighting with the other. We’re just trying to highlight that there are clear differences. “There’s some clear disparities that need addressing.” Feedback on the HWEN options can be sent to yourfeedback@ hewakaekenoa.nz by March 27. The HWEN partnership then has until May 31 to report its recommendations to Government Ministers.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Devold set to boost wool industry Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz WOOLLEN garment company Devold of Norway has committed to its New Zealand growers, offering fixed premium contract pricing in a move proposed to funnel more than $40 million into the NZ wool industry. Initially, on its one-year basis, the new contract regime is valued at $9m as growing European sales demand more NZ wool. The new contract pricing goes against the current wool contract system, whereby growers are paid a fluctuating rate depending on the market average. Devold Wool Direct, the buying arm of the company, NZ-based general manager Craig Smith says the increase is a natural evolution. “At Devold we have always valued quality; to produce the very best garments we need the very best wool, so naturally the sentiment must be reflected in what we pay our growers,” Smith said.

Our growers are very important to us and we will do our utmost to ensure their contribution is valued. Cathrine Stange Devold Wool Devold is the first in the industry to place such value on its supply chain. “I hope we won’t be the last,” he said. “By increasing the current contract price and fixing it for one year to begin with, we are giving certainty in an ever-changing world. “Showing loyalty to our growers, as they do to Devold, is providing opportunity for reinvestment back into the land, which

PLAN: Bendigo Station co-owners Dan and Stu Perriam discuss the new fixed premium contract pricing set to funnel millions of dollars into the NZ wool industry with Devold Wool Direct general manager Craig Smith.

ultimately benefits us through the quality of wool produced.” Under the new contract growers will receive a fixed price per kilogram, higher than the market average, for 16 to 20-micron wool. Initially it will be a one-year contract with steps in place to grow it out to five years. Devold will also offer a bonus payment of $2/kg above the new contracted base rate for wool meeting certain quality criteria. This differs from the previous model in which growers are at the mercy of market fluctuation. Devold chief executive Cathrine Stange says the company will be looking to fix the contract for a further four years, to five in total,

once the uncertainty in Ukraine has levelled. When a five-year contract is concluded it will push the value of the new contract to more than $40 million. “We remain confident in the Devold brand’s strong market position and continued growth. “Our commitment to our sheep-to-shop programme and quality strategy remains the same and current demand looks to indicate that we will need more wool than originally planned this year,” Stange said. Devold launched sheep-toshop in 2017, with a pledge of full traceability and total transparency at every step of its value chain, recognising that quality today is

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about operating in the right way across the entire value chain from the sheep growing the wool to the finished product. “Our growers are very important to us and we will do our utmost to ensure their contribution is valued,” she said. Otago’s Bendigo Station coowner Stu Perriam says the new contract has reaffirmed a strong relationship with the brand. “One of the big positives of the contract is that it rewards us as growers, it gives us certainty as we move forward,” Perriam said. “From my perspective, Merino has always been in my family and we are very proud of the Bendigo name. “Having this contract in place

gives us the confidence to produce the very best wool we can. “It’s quite special really.” Devold, which recently opened its flagship NZ store in Wanaka, operates a vertical model where every step of the process from the wool to the yarn, to the final finished garment is managed and controlled entirely by Devold. “What we are trying to do is redefine how clothes are made from the ground up,” Smith said. Meanwhile, European sales are driving demand for more NZ wool. “Sales in Europe have been fantastic, so we are on the drive for more, particularly longer, wool to meet growing demand,” he said.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Fonterra sticks with record milk price Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz FONTERRA has reaffirmed its $9.30-$9.90kg MS milk price at its 2022 interim result, saying it will pay a five cents dividend to its shareholders. The $9.90kg MS midpoint milk price would inject $14 billion into the economy, chief executive Miles Hurrell said. “That’s about $2.5 billion more than last year,” Hurrell said. He said the result showed the cooperative was performing well. “We have the highest forecast farm gate milk price, we’re paying a dividend and our earnings are being achieved at a time when input costs have been significantly higher.” It would also be a welcomed relief to farmers facing increased costs on-farm, he said. “In the medium-term, we expect the supply-demand outlook to go some way to underpinning strong milk prices for next season,” he said. Hurrell said the cooperative was very comfortable with its guidance range this late into the milking season and saw no change to its forecast at this stage. Looking ahead, he said pricing in its ingredients business was supportive of both milk price and earnings and he expected this to continue in the second half of the year. “In the medium-term, we expect the supply and demand outlook to go some way towards underpinning a strong milk price next season,” he said, adding there were several risks in the market that the cooperative was continuing to watch.

“The conflict in Ukraine has added to an already complex covid-19 operating environment, impacting global supply chains, oil prices and the global supply of grain,” he said. “However, our lower debt levels mean we are in a stronger position to weather the heightened levels of uncertainty and market volatility the world faces right now.” While Fonterra suspended its shipments to Russia, it still had an obligation to people in that market. It had seven staff in Moscow and 35 people involved in a joint venture in that country. “We are assessing and looking at what the impacts are on our people at this point of time and no further decisions have been made,” he said. Covid-19 was also continuing to be a challenge in the market, causing supply chain disruptions, as well as forcing its staff to isolate, he said. Work was also well under way on its long-term strategy, six months after it was launched. Part of that strategy included focusing on New Zealandproduced milk and divesting itself from operations in Chile and Australia. “Our priority is to maximise the value of these businesses to the co-op and we will take our time to ensure the best outcomes for these processes and we remain confident in delivering our intention to return a billion dollars to shareholders and unitholders by 2024,” he said. In responding to a question that investment banks Jarden and UBS were working on an IPO for Fonterra’s Australian

Our obsession doesn’t sleep in

business, Fonterra chief financial officer Marc Rivers said the cooperative was still looking at its options. “It’s very much in its analysis phase. What we have said is that we want to look at the Australian business and see what the options are,” Rivers said. Work was also continuing with the Government around its new flexible shareholding structure. Hurrell expected to be able to provide a timeline around regulatory changes in the next month.

FORECAST: The $9.90kg MS midpoint milk price would inject $14 billion into the New Zealand economy.

Milk cost trims Fonterra’s earnings Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz FONTERRA’S gross margin and earnings have fallen in the FY2022 interim results because of the average cost of milk for further processing being up almost 30% on the same time last year. In entirety, Fonterra reported group revenue up 9% to $10.8 billion, profit after tax down 7% of $364 million, and group normalised earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) down 11% to $607m. The giant cooperative appears to be on track for a full-year revenue over $22b, of which $14b will be passed back to farmers, a 20% increase on the $11.6b paid out in FY2021. Chief executive Miles Hurrell reaffirmed the record farmer payout forecast and full-year earnings guidance of 25 cents to 35c a share, while commenting on the significantly higher input cost of milk. The giant ingredients division reported earnings of $413m, up $117m on the previous corresponding period. Foodservice division took a big hit, down 66% to $85m, and consumer products were down 19%. Geographically, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North Asia and the Americas returned $350m, up $50m or 25%, compared with Asia Pacific down 33% and Greater China down 20%.

Chief financial officer Marc Rivers added that net debt was down to $5.6b, with a gearing ratio of 44.1%, compared with $6.1b and 47.3%. Operating expenditure was in line with last year, but total normalised gross margin at 14.9% was down from 17.4%. That measure shows the headwinds against Fonterra’s earnings because of the record milk price and the inflationary effects of increased costs like labour, fuel and freight. It also helps explain why the interim dividend is only 5c a share and investor unit, notwithstanding the confirmed guidance. Directors preferred to be cautious and retain the bigger portion of the expected dividend for the end of the financial year. Hurrell explained that the higher milk price particularly impacted gross margins in foodservice and consumer businesses in South East Asia and New Zealand. “In Greater China, we have continued to see firm demand for dairy as our team finds new ways to drive demand,” Hurrell said. “Ingredients benefited from strong demand and good margins. “However, normalised Ebit is down 20% to $236 million, particularly in foodservice where, despite steady volumes, the higher milk price impacted gross margins.” He did repeat Fonterra’s intention to return around $1b of capital to shareholders and unitholders by FY2024.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Three Waters battle far from over Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz THE fight being mounted by a breakaway group of councils, including many that are ruralbased, over the Government’s proposed three waters reforms is not over yet, the group’s chair and Manawatū District mayor Helen Worboys says. She said Communities 4 Local Democracy (C4LD) had 25 mayors from around the country ready to fly into Wellington to meet Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta earlier last week to discuss the proposed reforms, but the meeting had to be postponed because of a positive covid test. However, Worboys said negotiations are now under way to hold the meeting in April, at a date yet to be confirmed. The meeting was in response to the recent release of an independent working group’s report on the proposed reforms that Worboys said was “predictably disappointing”, given the working group was stymied by its terms of reference, as it was tasked to provide feedback on the Government’s model rather than also considering alternatives. “Our intention was to have a free and frank discussion with her (Mahuta), to let her clearly know that we believe that the working party recommendations were nothing more than a tweak to the Government’s model,” Worboys said. “They didn’t address many of the concerns we raised or some of the areas (where) we believe that their model is flawed.” Despite Mahuta welcoming the report on its release and saying Cabinet will now consider its recommendations before finalising reform plans and introducing legislation, Worboys is hopeful there is still time for C4LD’s concerns to be taken on board.

AIMING FOR INFLUENCE: Local Government NZ president Stuart Crosby says councils around the country are not completely united on their view of proposed Three Waters Reform, but LGNZ has been working to make sure concerns are being heard. Photo: LGNZ

“We are trying to help her save face by saying ‘these aren’t going to work, you need to rethink them now before you go so far that it tips the whole thing over’,” she said. Worboys said the National, Act and Green parties have all said they support repealing legislation based on the current proposals.

She said C4LD was also disappointed with the reaction of Local Government NZ (LGNZ) to the working group report, with LGNZ president Stuart Crosby saying on its release that the recommendations should go a long way to providing councils and communities with the added protection they were asking for.

“They’re just like a puppy dog to the Government,” Worboys said. “We have ongoing discussions with them (LGNZ), but the only reason C4LD exists is because LGNZ signed an agreement with the Government in June last year and in it, it says they will not oppose the Government’s approach. “They did that without even asking their members.” She said C4LD now has 32 councils behind it, which is almost half of the councils around the country, and many of those have motions on the table to review their LGNZ membership. “There are a number of councils around the country who are saying this is not good enough, and they are going to review their membership. “But that’s playing right into the Government’s hands,” she said. “They’re (the Government) going to look at local government (and say) ‘they can’t even get their own act together’, which is really disappointing.” Crosby said councils’ concerns about Three Waters Reform came through strongly during the eightweek feedback period that LGNZ negotiated with the Government last year and LGNZ had already raised its own concerns with aspects of the Government’s proposed model. He said LGNZ acknowledges that not all councils are at one with their views. “That is the nature of democracy,” Crosby said. “But LGNZ has been amplifying all those concerns to the Government and strongly advocated for the creation of the working group so they could be addressed.” He said the working group that looked into the proposed reforms was set up thanks to the partnership agreement negotiated by LGNZ with the Government. “We’re pleased to see the working group recommend much

greater clarity around who owns the assets, by introducing a public shareholding that councils will hold proportionately on behalf of communities,” he said. Crosby said LGNZ endorses the process that the working group followed, which he says was robust and transparent.

There are a number of councils around the country who are saying this is not good enough, and they are going to review their (LGNZ) membership. Helen Worboys Communities 4 Local Democracy “It’s interesting to note that every group that presented to the working group (including C4LD) wanted change,” he said. “No one wanted to keep the status quo, which isn’t able to fund the future infrastructure that New Zealand needs. “Realistically, any delay may mean reform won’t proceed, which doesn’t serve anyone’s interests, especially future generations. “Ultimately the Government gets to make the call and no model is ever likely to satisfy all councils and communities.” He said LGNZ is committed to having real influence on how any government progresses reform. “We will always work with the Government of the day constructively, rather than take a purely oppositional stance. “That is about outcomes, not politics. “Partnerships can be messy, and are often hard, but they mean you can influence reforms rather than passively take it or simply oppose it.”

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Harvest woes highlight need for improved food security AS FARMERS move on from one of the most difficult harvest seasons, New Zealand must address its future food security, NZ Grain and Seed trade Association (NZGSTA) general manager Thomas Chin says. “All that is going on both in NZ and globally is exposing a very strong case for industry and others to think about NZ food security and security of the supply chain,” Chin said. “It’s been a tough one for farmers getting the crops harvested and the challenges don’t stop there, right across the industry every sector is counting the costs.” He said NZ is exposed to volatility and global pricing and must be more self-reliant. “This is about resilience and a timely reminder to look at NZgrown, NZ-produced – it’s not just a matter of ploughing up a few more acres, there’s a few more challenges for all of industry to ponder,” he said. NZ grains and pulses chair Ed Luisetti said the ongoing industry challenges from this season’s poor harvest are still being evaluated. What is glaringly obvious is that milling wheat will be in short supply. “Last year milling wheat prices offered resulted in 50% of the

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normal area being sown, then we had a wet season and wet harvest resulting in germination and poor grain quality, with 50% of milling wheat harvested not meeting the quality standard requirements rendering crops worthless for the mills,” Luisetti said.

This is going to lead to considerable pain in the bread aisle and shopping trolley generally. Ed Luisetti NZGSTA “The result is we have 25% of what we normally do in the South Island, where the bulk of the milling wheat is produced.” If NZ wants to, and it will need to, import the shortfall, then it will be competing in a fierce global market impacted by the RussiaUkraine conflict. NZ does not normally import from the Black Sea region but with global sanctions and ships unable to get into ports, countries that would normally get grain from the region are seeking to secure supply elsewhere. “Prices are skyrocketing and NZ is now competing with

SOURCE: New Zealand imports about 70% of its milling wheat, the bulk, 90%, of this going into the North Island is sourced from Australia. countries that are swarming regions, such as Australia, to buy grain,” he said. “All of this is going to lead to considerable pain in the bread aisle and shopping trolley generally.” The risk of geo-political uncertainties is also likely to impact on NZ’s seed breeding programmes. “We have world-leading wheat breeding programmes, including specialist varieties with reduced gluten content and varieties especially bred for climate change resilience,” he said. “These breeding programmes are at severe risk if NZ continues to import wheat.” Up until this season, the South Island has been very close to reaching self-sufficiency with the Eat NZ grains initiative. but poor

contract pricing and dire harvest has put a spanner in the works. NZ imports about 70% of its milling wheat, the bulk, 90%, of this going into the North Island is sourced from Australia. “There could be a surge in interest in growing milling wheat (for the 2022-23 harvest) but that will very much depend on pricing contracts,” he said. The NZ Flour Millers association says flour is used as the basis for many cereal products, including bread, pasta, pastries, cakes and biscuits, while it also plays an important role as an independent ingredient and component in sauces. Most wheat is purchased on a protein basis as this dictates the potential end use of the flour. With a lot of rejection of sub-

standard grain on arrival at mills this year it will be interesting times, association chair Mark Lawrence says. “NZ mill wheat will be in short supply and bakers will have to look at adding bread improvers to increase the quality of flour,” Lawrence said. It will push prices up and inevitably that can’t be absorbed by the mills, so it will have to be passed on to the consumer. Luisetti said there is also a looming shortage of grasses and clovers in the NZ retail market. “We know there have been some clover crops that haven’t and won’t be harvested and germinations of some varieties will deem them unsuitable, which will impact on reduced exports,” he said.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Conflict motivates sanction rethink Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com RUSSIA’S invasion of Ukraine has set off a chain of events, which could open the door again for New Zealand meat exports to Iran. Meat exporters were poised to dive back into the market six years ago after Western sanctions were lifted in return for Iran agreeing to scale back its nuclear capabilities. But the trade failed to get off the ground after claims the Iranians were testing missiles prompted former US President Donald Trump to reimpose American sanctions. But the jump in oil prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has the United States reconsidering its position and negotiations with Iran have moved closer to a conclusion in recent weeks.

It all comes back to having more choices about where we put our products and keeping that global competition strong is an advantage for us. Peter Robinson Silver Fern Farms Russia is the world’s thirdlargest oil producer and moves by the West to wean itself off the country’s energy has prompted a scramble for replacement supplies. While a deal is not a certainty, the possibility of Iranian sanctions being lifted once again is being watched by NZ meat exporters who looked at the market last time sanctions were lifted.

MONITOR: While a deal is not a certainty, the possibility of Iranian sanctions being lifted once again is being watched by NZ meat exporters.

Silver Fern Farms group sales manager Peter Robinson was a member of a delegation led by former Trade Minister Todd McClay to Iran to investigate the market in 2016. Robinson had been looking for back-up markets for sheepmeat to offset weakening demand in the United Kingdom following the Brexit vote and plunge in the purchasing power of the British pound earlier in the year. In the early 1980s, the Iranians took one in four lambs processed in NZ as traditional markets like the UK struggled to absorb a surge in production brought on by Muldoon’s subsidies. “Iran has pretty much been a market that NZ looks to when we have some issues … in 2016 we

were in a position when markets were not that strong and we were looking at alternatives to take supply off global markets and help firm those up,” Robinson said. Robinson met several Iranian importers, but the reimposition of sanctions meant sales were never completed. “Trump locked down again on the transfer of money out of Iran, but there was genuine demand,” he said. The trade was made harder again in 2019 following the suspension of direct services to Iranian ports by Maersk and MSC under threat of secondary sanctions on shipping lines from the US government. “Whether you are going to

be able to get product there in a timely manner and with consistent and regular shipping routes and payment … they would be the two big things you would be looking at, along with their ability to match global pricing,” he said. Robinson said global sheepmeat prices had shifted considerably higher since 2016. “The UK situation has turned around and we are probably at record levels in terms of pricing of legs into that market … we have seen a move in the global market such that Iran would struggle to compete,” he said. “That is not to say it is not something we should be looking at. “It all comes back to having

more choices about where we put our products and keeping that global competition strong is an advantage for us.” Taylor Preston and Affco were the only two NZ meat exporters to re-enter the Iranian market in 2018 before sanctions were tightened again. Sales were in the low millions of dollars. Taylor Preston chief executive Simon Gatenby said he would welcome the opportunity to do business with Iran again. “Unfortunately, there is no prospect of that at the moment,” Gatenby said. “Our customer is very quiet and even if he wanted something, the payment problem is still a major impediment.”

0800 942 006 www.donaghys.com

THURSDAY 7 APRIL 11am - 1pm • Hear from Morrinsville dairy farmer Mitchell Coombe about his experience using the N-Boost system. • Advisors from the AgriBusiness Group will cover the performance of the N-Boost system over the past season on this local farm, and others across the country. • Learn how you could apply the system to meet or exceed your obligations under Essential Freshwater Policy and maintain profitability in your farm business.

“MEET 190KG NITROGEN

with BBQ lunch provided

“The aim is to demonstrate how N-Boost is working, it’s impact on farm financials, as well as understand practical tips from farmers so other dairy farmers can seriously consider this as an option when putting together next season’s fertiliser plan” Tim O’Sullivan Donaghys GM Crop Protection and Export • This field day is part of a project monitoring the impacts of using N Boost as a possible solution to maintain profitability while reducing your N inputs.

FERT CAP WITHOUT LOSING PRODUCTION”

Allen Road Dairy 191 Wilton Road, Morrinsville Tatua Supply #58 TO RSVP PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TM:

BB 027 278 2765 Tim 027 479 1289 Allan 027 435 3068

Gavin 027 479 8470 Dave 027 633 3640

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Live exporters call on Govt to review ban Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz EXPORTERS have implemented a gold standard for the export of livestock by sea that could see New Zealand lead the way globally in animal welfare. They now urge the Government to give them a chance with their plan. The Animal Genetics Trade Association (AGTA) and Live Exporters NZ (LENZ) presented their case to the primary production select committee on the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill. The industry asks that government reconsider its proposed ban to end the export of livestock by sea in April 2023. Government claims upholding NZ’s reputation for high standards of animal welfare is at the heart of the decision. But LENZ, a collective of affiliated livestock export companies representing 80% of the participants of the livestock export by sea, said rather than ignoring animal welfare issues by banning export, it should take the opportunity to show NZ is at the forefront of caring for livestock. Industry is willing to lead change in partnership with government, that rather than ban, should focus on providing a healthy regulatory environment under which the industry can operate and achieve government goals. “We believe there is a way that we can manage animal welfare in a way that is positive and worldleading,” LENZ spokesperson and director of Hedley John Exports Mark Willis said. “In order to do that we need government to provide a regulatory environment that

ensures all participants are operating to the gold standard. “The problem now is regulation hasn’t kept pace with the movement of the industry. “We’re saying rather than banning, provide regulatory tools and a regulation environment that allows us to ensure that everyone operating in this industry is operating to the gold standard.” Exporters have worked to develop a new gold standard, which is establishing and already implementing world-best practice. The gold standard provides transparency through reporting to the Government through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), recognising sentience as one of the measurements of livestock welfare.

We can’t forget the underlying benefits of the trade, that we are supporting the social development and food security objectives of our most important trading partners. Jim Edwards AGTA This recognition is based on onboard welfare research and includes the banning of poor vessels, phasing out of pregnant cattle and a post-delivery welfare programme. Willis said LENZ supports the findings and recommendations of both the MPI review and

CAMPAIGN: The Animal Genetics Trade Association has challenged the Government to develop a regulatory environment that allows quality licensed exports to continue to deliver the benefits of livestock export and food security to the world through the implementation of the gold standard for the export of livestock from NZ by sea.

the Heron report that livestock exports should continue on an improved basis. “The improvements recommended in the gold standard are evidenced based utilising the latest information, knowledge and scientific developments to ensure animals maintain a positive sentient state throughout the export process and beyond,” he said. “The gold standard is unprecedented internationally in scope and depth and when fully implemented would position NZ as a world leader in animal welfare regulations and reform.” Presenting for AGTA that represents the livestock and germplasm export and import sectors, retired veterinarian Jim Edwards ONZM agreed that better regulation is needed. Edwards is former president of the World Veterinary Association and Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations and the NZ Veterinary Association. While expecting better regulation of exporters who should meet the requirements of a more robust registration system, AGTA disagrees with the

THE ALL NEW COOPER

reputational impacts of the ban that were assessed by MPI. “AGTA recommends that MPI be empowered through a better regulatory framework to upgrade the limited powers they currently have,” Edwards said. “My view is a global perspective; we can’t just look at this from inside NZ.” Livestock exports deliver NZ international trade and economic benefit. “The level of urbanisation and population growth around the world is affecting food security and we are in a position that we can and should help. There are opportunities for NZ to penetrate existing and new markets that are opened initially by livestock exports. This is evidenced by the purchase of other agricultural, horticultural, forestry and seafood products from NZ. Edwards said loss of these opportunities would have a potential impact on the sale of other NZ goods as buyers move to purchase from other markets. “We can’t forget the underlying benefits of the trade, that we are supporting the social

development and food security objectives of our most important trading partners,” he said. “Livestock exporting allows us to maintain tight trading relationships with some of the largest importers of NZ agricultural products and that provides a significant source of export revenue for our small country.” With the Government’s concerns around the welfare of NZ livestock appropriately addressed, the benefits to NZ from the continuation of export trade in maintaining important trade relationships would be greater than the risk posed by a ban. “Our reputation will be damaged if we refuse to help other nations with their food security,” he said. “We challenge the Government to develop a regulatory environment that allows quality licensed exports to continue to deliver the benefits of livestock export and food security to the world through the implementation of the gold standard for the export of livestock from NZ by sea.”

RUGGED TREK

@coopertiresnz www.coopertires.co.nz

0800 453 418

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Crush protection can be lifesaver THE thought of phoning a worker’s family about a serious farm accident is always in the back of farmer Andrew Hurst’s mind. Hurst farms 2300 hectares of alpine hill country at the foot of Mt Dobson ski field near Fairlie. He purchased a crush protection device (CPD) for his quad bike more than a decade ago after a chance landing on a matagouri bush saved him from serious injury. “I bought it and never thought I’d need it, but it has saved me twice. A bull was chasing my dog and flipped my bike over on top of me. It came out of nowhere in a perfectly flat paddock,” Hurst said. “Then the second time, I flipped in a swamp. I ended up lying face down and I felt it go over me. It was like someone pushing firmly on my back with both hands. Then I looked up and here’s the bike back on its wheels again.” Crush protection devices were deemed a personal choice by WorkSafe back in 2014, but a thorough review of the research led them to take a firmer stance. Along with Safer Farms and ACC, they “strongly recommend” the use of professionally designed and manufactured CPDs on the back of quad bikes, alongside training, maintenance, protective gear and careful use. Farmers are still being crushed under the weight of quad bikes during

a rollover, when CPDs could absorb this weight and create a gap between the bike and the ground that could aid survival. The recommendation led to a cashback offer on CPDs for farmers, which is provided by ACC. Safer Farms chair Lindy Nelson supports the initiative and said they’re installing CPDs on the bikes on their Wairarapa farm. “As a wife, I want to know my husband is going to come back safely. As an employer, I want to know we have done everything we can, practically, to look after the people on our farm,” Nelson said. There’s increased stress on farmers due to regulations, covid-induced supply chain disruption and labour shortages; 24% of on-farm injuries are caused when farmers are overtired, overworked and under pressure. “As farmers grapple with all these external stresses, there’s simply never been a more important time to prioritise our on-farm safety,” she said. “If farmers find themselves in a situation they did not intend to be in, rollover protection could make all the difference.” ACC offers a $180 (+GST) cashback offer on the Quadbar, Quadbar Flexi and ATV LifeGuard crush protection devices. Farmers can redeem the cashback on two crush protection devices. For more information visit acc.co.nz/cpdcashback CONTROL: Safer Farms urge farmers to consider crush protection devices to control rollovers.

Dr. Abi Chase Boehringer Ingelheim

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT COPPER ― OR THE LACK OF IT. NZ’S COPPER DEFICIENCY IS COSTING NZ AND YOU. Copper is vital for life and essential for growth, reproduction and immune function. Naturally occurring copper is low in New Zealand agricultural systems and it’s because of this that it’s vitally important to supplement copper in livestock. This is particularly important with your young cattle to ensure they enter the herd in peak condition with strong bones, a strong immune system and ready for a productive life.

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Talk to your vet about everything you need to know about NZ’s copper deficiency and the best way to manage it for long term gains.

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PROUDLY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL PARTICIPATING VETERINARY CLINIC Restricted Veterinary Medicine; available only under veterinary authorisation. Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. Level 3, 2 Osterley Way, Manukau, Auckland, New Zealand. COPAJECT® is a registered trademark of the Boehringer Ingelheim Group. Registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997, No. A011573. © Copyright 2021 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved. NZ-MSP-0001-2021.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Rural GPs get skin in cancer game Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz SKIN cancer, so often the curse of New Zealand farmers, will be subdued if not banished by a new initiative to educate rural health professionals on its detection. With the backing of the Skin Cancer College of Australasia (SCCA), skin cancer expert Dr Franz Strydom is leading an initiative to train up more doctors and nurses throughout NZ on dermoscopy, a relatively new diagnostic technique proven to significantly improve detection rates of skin cancer. “Coming from Tauranga where skin cancer rates are high, we have been dealing with it for a long time. Fifteen years ago, GPs were not diagnosing it and I stuck up my hand to help educate more of them,” Strydom said. Strydom had witnessed first hand the invasive effects skin cancer was having on patients, many of them farmers or retired farmers, the sector with the highest rate in the country with the highest mortality rate in the world. Those early education efforts dropped Tauranga District Health Board’s elective surgery waiting list by 30%, with more GPs performing often minor procedures to remove early stage cancers. “We now see 60% of skin cancers performed by GPs, compared to only 5% earlier,” he said. The effort has trained up over 1000 GPs and nurses. But despite that success skin cancer mortality has remained stubbornly high, with one New Zealander a day dying from it. “You have an almost equal chance of getting skin cancer here as in Australia, but a greater

chance of dying from it here. Despite the good training, we just need to do more,” he said. Early detection remains the key, with a superficial mole’s removal ensuring a 98% chance of cure. “The alternative is the woman who waited too long at 18, now has $110,000 every three months spent to try to keep her alive on treatment,” he said.

The older you get, there is an exponential increase in skin cancers you get. The other problem is farmers spend their whole life working in the sun, then retire and play golf in the sun. Dr Franz Strydom Skin cancer specialist Rural areas were already under stress prior to covid and farmers rarely visit the doctor unless properly sick. This means the opportunity to also check for moles and diagnose properly is a fleeting but potentially life-saving opportunity. The use of a dermoscope enables the lesion to be magnified and viewed under polarised light, helping identify subtle and otherwise invisible changes in a mole. “The machines are about $2000 each, but like any piece of kit also require training to operate and diagnose properly,” he said. “But the results say a lot. Under normal examination a GP may

remove 10-30 lesions, of which only one is melanoma. “With training using the dermoscope that is cut down to 4-6, a significant saving in time, money and unnecessary procedures. You save money and you are saving lives.” He said he was particularly heartened by the interest rural nurses were taking in the training courses. Their presence has added considerable manpower to rural clinics’ ability to identify at risk patients. “Here in NZ, we can use nurses for these sorts of things, but it’s not allowed in Australia,” he said. Strydom said he and his team were committed to running “as many courses as required” and also have an online course to outline the basics of dermoscopy to practitioners. Recognising the isolation rural practitioners can face, the SCCA also ensures access to experienced colleagues to assist with diagnosis. Run as a not-for-profit organisation, the SCCA is aiming to make the training valid as a university-level medical qualification. As the farmer population continues to age, he did not expect to see cancer rates in that older demographic drop off any time soon. “The older you get, there is an exponential increase in skin cancers you get. The other problem is farmers spend their whole life working in the sun, then retire and play golf in the sun,” he said. However earlier, accurate detection would ensure the cancers are treatable. Direct healthcare costs for skin cancer in NZ are estimated at $123 million a year.

UPSKILL: Dr Franz Strydom says rural GPs and nurses can become 50% more accurate in detecting melanoma once trained in dermoscopy.

WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS TOWARDS YOUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS? “We want to leave the land in a better place for our kids, and our kids’ kids.” Aaron Waite, Waimacher Farms, Taranaki. Adopting sustainable farming practices and meeting changing regulations requires bold change. For this, you need the right team around you; your family, friends, fellow farmers and trusted advisers - with fresh ideas for your business model, finances and accounting. Like most, Aaron’s team are on a journey. But each win is a step towards that better place. What’s your next step?

WATCH THE WAIMACHER FARMS STORY

LEAVING THE LAND IN A BETTER PLACE

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NOW AVAILABLE IN A LARGER 500ML PACK New Zealand farmers are world-renowned for our high-performance farming systems. However, fast growing/high producing stock grazing new pastures, crops or supplementary feed are more vulnerable to clostridial disease and sudden death. That’s why we created Covexin®10. Made here in New Zealand specifically for our conditions, Covexin 10 offers the most comprehensive clostridial protection available on the market today. Talk to your vet about upgrading to Covexin 10 and get peace of mind that you are providing the best clostridial protection for your stock.

ASK FOR COVEXIN 10, FOR PREMIUM 10-IN-1 PROTECTION AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION ACVM No: A9028. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz NZ-BOV-211100001 © 2021 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Confidence in natural dairy foods Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

HUGE investments into alternative foods should not impact the growing demand for natural dairy products and the confidence consumers have in dairy, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) chief scientist John Roche says. “Population growth means that in the next 30 years we will need as much protein as we have produced in the past 2000 years,” Roche said. “As a species, we will need every scrap of protein we can get our hands on.” He told the Northland Dairy Development Trust annual conference on webinar that the global retail markets for total dairy products are forecast to grow at 5% annually to reach US$464 billion in 2026. By contrast, the alternatives to dairy have global markets about 10% that size and they are growing at a similar rate. “Dairy alternatives are yet to build momentum off the back of the demand for dairy,” he said. “Their growth also tends to be cannibalistic, with consumers switching between various nondairy options.” Surveys show that milk has majority support, with low levels of dislike, but alternatives have larger numbers of dislikes. The huge investment into alternatives will address those dislikes, such as soy’s gritty taste. However, the dairy industry must have regard to consumer trends and concerns, such as their lack of confidence in dairy cattle having a “good life”. New Zealanders have awareness and confidence in dairy, in the way it is produced, nutrition and food safety. But that can rebound when consumers find out something they don’t like that they didn’t know. Delving into ethical considerations when making consuming choices, Roche said high animal welfare standards and environmental considerations were right up at the top. Support for workers and farmers’ welfare was also high on the list. “The vast majority of NZ consumers think farmers are doing a good job and potentially could do a better job,” he said. Two groups of consumers are those who are value-driven and those who are values-driven, looking for products that align with their personal values. “NZ production can meet both expectations, with foods that have some of the highest natural values produced at some of the lowest costs in the developed world,” he said. Roche said market growth of sustainable products exceeded conventionally marketed products by five times. Fortunately, dairy products like milk, yoghurt and cheese are well-represented in that sustainable category. Roche pointed to the strong demand for dairy fat products, which helped boost the Global Dairy Trade Index to its highest level, in contrast to the 2013-14 boom led by milk powders. Russia’s trade in dairy products, now suspended, would not impact world prices as it had in the past. MPI was projecting a new record export revenue from dairy products this financial year, on top of the record set last year. “The forecasts for farm gate milk prices next season are all high and may prove to be conservative,” he said. However, the past two years of inflationary pressures were also noteworthy, with almost all farming inputs now 15-20% higher in price than they were 10 years ago. “Dairy grazing is leading the way, being 5060% more expensive than it was 10 years ago,” he said.

The vast majority of NZ consumers think farmers are doing a good job and potentially could do a better job. John Roche MPI

Ensure all your flock has adequate protection against Campylobacter.

Remember, it’s not just maiden ewes at risk of Campylobacter. Your mixed age ewes are still at risk1 and need an annual booster shot of Campyvax4 ®. Vaccinating with Campyvax4 provides protection against abortion storms and the less obvious effects such as increased dry rate and loss of early pregnancies. Ensure all your ewes are protected ahead of time, with Campyvax4.

ORDER CAMPYVAX4 FROM YOUR VET TODAY. AVAILABLE ONLY UNDER VETERINARY AUTHORISATION ACVM No: A9535. Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz NZ-CVX-211100004 © 2021 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved. 1. Dempster et al (2011), NZ Veterinary Journal , 59:4 155-159.

CHANGING TIMES: Ministry for Primary Industries chief scientist John Roche says the dairy industry must have regard to consumer trends and concerns, such as their lack of confidence in dairy cattle having a “good life”.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Waikato opts out of GMO provisions Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz THE Waikato District Council’s (WDC) new district plan will not include provisions around the development, release and use of genetically modified organisms, a hearing panel has found. The panel determined it was unnecessary to provide GMO provisions in the plan because these provisions can be appropriately managed through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval process. “It is clear to us that the matter is a polarising one, with one group of submitters generally seeking greater restrictions or prohibition on GMO and another group seeking to ensure the ongoing use and development of GMO, where appropriate,” the panel said. The submitters were heard at a hearing at the council office in January 2020.

It was fantastic that a number of organisations got together and presented a coordinated and rational approach and argument and I think that made a big difference. Dr William Rolleston Life Sciences Network The panel said it accepted Life Sciences Network representative Mark Christensen’s submission that the development, release and use of GMO can be appropriately managed through the EPA approval process. “We consider it unnecessary to replicate the EPA approval process in the PDP,” it said.

TURNING POINT: Life Sciences Network chair William Rolleston says a hearing panel’s decision not to include GMO regulations in the Waikato District Council’s new district plan was a watershed moment.

Life Sciences Network chair William Rolleston said the decision was a victory for science. The covid-19 pandemic had given the public a better understanding of how science worked, as well as the value of trusting science. “The public and decisionmakers are much more cognisant of science and also the dangers of false equivalence,” Rolleston said. It was also the first time members of the science industry had put up a proper case to keep GMO regulations out of a local government plan. While the decision will not create a precedent for similar cases within local government, the arguments put forward by the network did create a template for other hearings in the future. “It’s the first real competition

that’s been put up and it’s a watershed moment in terms of councils putting in place [GMO] rules that are unworkable and unusable in the future,” he said. “It was fantastic that a number of organisations got together and presented a coordinated and rational approach and argument and I think that made a big difference.” At the hearing, submitters, including GE Free New Zealand, argued for controls and the release of GMOs to be included in the plan. These included adding a resource management framework for the management of GMOs that is specific to the Waikato district, taking into account environmental, economic and social wellbeing considerations It also wanted strong

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precautionary and prohibitive policies and rules relating to the management of GMO that are same or similar to those in the Far North District Plan, Whangārei District Plan and Auckland Unitary Plan. Representing the Whaingaroa Environmental Defence Incorporated Society (WED), Malibu Hamilton raised concerns of risk and liability, particularly concerning the removal and elimination of escaped GMO. He requested the panel insert strong precautionary and prohibitive GMO provisions in the plan. In response, Christensen said the concerns raised by these submitters are generally the same concerns that were raised before the Royal Commission of inquiry that took place in 2001.

At the time, the commission and the Government were satisfied that appropriate decisions on the use and development of GMOs can be properly made by the EPA. He submitted that having GMO provisions in the plan are unnecessary because it would duplicate the functions of the EPA and are inappropriate because it would act as a de facto ban on research and development of the technology across NZ. Gavin Forest of Federated Farmers also spoke against the inclusion of GMO provisions in the plan. He said the regulation of GMO as sought by the submitters would undermine Waikato’s position as a leader in agricultural science, would erode scientific capability and would limit access to new technologies.

AginED Ag ED

FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U E N E R P

Volume 97 I March 21, 2022 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined

☞

Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@globalhq.co.nz This graph shows the North Island lamb slaughter in thousand head.

Head to https://farmersweekly. co.nz/s/podcasts/ideas-that-grow and select the Blue Ducks and greener Farming podcast. Blue Duck station demonstrates another farm that has diversified into providing tourist experiences.

Head to https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/s/fwarticle/cultivating-creativity-to-tell-farming-storiesMCEFLYOSNSQFE3VH32QKWCRQPS5Q to watch “Fostering the connection between art and Agriculture” and read the article “Cultivating creativity to tell farming stories” 1

Where in NZ do Richard and Laura Morrison farm? What is the name of their farm?

As s well as accommodation, what else does Blue Duck station offer?

2 Why did the Morrison’s want to share their farm with others?

2 Where in New Zealand is Blue Duck station located and how did it get its name?

STRETCH YOURSELF:

3 What main river surrounds Blue Duck Station?

STRETCH YOURSELF:

Both Richard and Laura were surprised by the interest amongst farmers for the residency. Why do they think that farmers are so enthused?

2 What are some of the things that the Morrison’s think fine art and farming have in common? 3 How did their farm get its name? How big is their farm? What stock do they carry? 4 Why do you think that artists would like to be part of the residency program? 5 What breed of sheep do they carry? What are the benefits of this breed? 6 How long have the Morrison’s been farming?

SEQUESTERING CARBON

Many news stories about climate change include the opportunity for landowners to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to reduce overall emissions and also earn income from selling carbon credits. In NZ, 1 carbon credit is equal to 1 tonne of CO2 and is currently worth about $75.00. Farmers can sequester carbon by planting trees which store carbon in stems and branches - wood. Many farmers, especially those on hill country have established plantations of Pinus radiata and other non-native species. An alternative option is to plant native species.

What is the Nuffield Scholarship?

2 What does Dan think NZ producers need to do to best market and capitalise on the uniqueness of NZ agriculture? What needs to change? 3 Dan discusses issues around being reliant on one market/country for our products. What issues might this cause? 4 What are the different sources of income on this farm? Name at least three.

2 When are slaughter rates typically at the lowest level?

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1

Total North Island slaughter rates for this season to the middle of February are more than 500,000 behind year-ago levels and the five-year average. What month/months on this graph were slaughter rates most below historical levels?

2 Slaughter rates through March are unlikely to pick up too much as processors have had difficulty maintaining staff levels causing backlogs. What has been driving that in the last few weeks? 3 One factor behind low slaughter levels has been slow lamb growth which means lambs have been taking longer to reach finishing weights. What are some requirements for lambs for good growth?

5 How did the diversification to tourism come about?

CAN YOU ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: What would you plant? Justify your answer. Pinus radiata (top) and native forest (bottom).

PUZZLE TIME

Use the following link (https://mpi.govt.nz/ dmsdocument/44575/direct) to determine the amount carbon sequestered by Pinus radiata in Hawkes Bay and Southern North Island (H/SNI; page 6) and indigenous/native forest (page 7) after 10 and 25 years. Pinus radiata is able to sequester much more CO 2 and generate more income through carbon credits than natives over the same time period. Pinus radiata is also less costly to establish and can produce income through log sales. But there are other factors. Both radiata and natives are good at preventing erosion. Natives are better for indigenous biodiversity – more native bird species can be found in native forest than radiata, and most people think that natives are visually more appealing.

When are slaughter rates typically at the highest according to this graph?

How many words of three letters or more can you make from the word

DRENCHING (there are five 7 letter words that can be made from “drenching”. How many can you get?) Photo credit to Dr. James Millner

Want to learn more about agricultural science? Check out the Bachelor of Agricultural Science https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/learning/programmecourse/programme.cfm?prog _ id=93425

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Origin Capital seeks more funds

Huge agritech prospects available in Japan: NZTE Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz CONSIDERABLE opportunities exist for New Zealand agritech companies to develop business and relationships in Japan, a new NZ Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) publication says. The agritech sector in Japan is worth over $2 billion annually and the NZ opportunities are in livestock, horticulture and dairy. Growth in the agritech sector is being driven by an ageing workforce in farming, the drive towards national food security, shifting dietary preferences, growing international demand for Japanese foods, declining arable land and the Japanese government’s encouragement of higher productivity. The $2b agritech sector services Japan’s primary sector worth over $90b annually. More specifically, NZ companies need to target harvesting applications, trimming and cutting machinery, pollination, fruit and vegetable sorting, and cattle management, barn cleaning and biotech solutions. “Opportunities exist for partnerships and investments with shared values and real support to connect with farmers. We are seeing a lot more partnerships,” NZTE said. Japan’s farmers are not using data but continuing to rely on

intuition and tradition, which the Government wants to change. They lack soil and pasture management applications like remote-sensing technology, soil nutrient management, mapping and irrigation systems. “Many Japanese farmers do not practise livestock management and health, animal husbandry, parasite management and do not have a good on-farm quality assurance system,” it said. The partnership between Robotics Plus of Tauranga and Yamaha Motor on-orchard and packhouse labour-saving technology was cited by NZTE. However, for the most part, NZ companies need to ensure agritech solutions will fit smaller-scale growers because 80% of farmers work on 2ha land parcels. A way of forming relationships would be through Japan Agricultural Cooperatives, which holds significant influence. Companies with established products such as tractors, pregnancy scanners, fencing tools and milking machinery, should collaborate with large, well-connected corporate partners who have the marketing budgets. “Agritech businesses with disruptive products should collaborate with a partner who is mission-focused, ideally privately owned, and an influential innovator and disrupter in the industry,” it said.

OPPORTUNITIES: NZTE says the partnership between Robotics Plus of Tauranga and Yamaha Motor on orchard and packhouse labour-saving technology is an example of the opportunities open to New Zealand companies in Japan.

he anticipates significant interest will come from existing investors. “We have established something of a track record now, having already paid out $3 million to investors six months after closing, which is just over 7% cashflow yield, on an annualised basis,” Jones said. In total, Fund 1 is expected to return 25% to investors in its first year, a mixture of cashflow yield and capital gain. He said the decision this time around to focus on SunGold, RubyRed and Green is about balancing the risk and reward of each variety. While the outlook for RubyRed is positive, as a new variety it does carry greater risk. “It is still really quite early in RubyRed’s lifecycle and work is still being done developing its cropping ability,” he said. “Site location is important for its success and Psa risk can be higher. Red is good now, but we expect in five to 10 years it will be even better. “There is a lot to learn and we’ve deliberately structured Fund 2 in a way that will allow us to be flexible – as we learn more about Red and gain

confidence, we can increase the exposure to Red if it makes sense to do so”. Jones did not expect RubyRed to be quite the revolutionary variety SunGold has proven to be. “It has a smaller storage window and, therefore, the total volume will never be that of SunGold,” he said. Zespri expects to export up to 30 million trays by 2030, this compares with 110m of SunGold this year. “However, SunGold has been a runaway success and Red does not need to be at this level to still be a very attractive place for investment. Including it in our investment mandate this time around means we have the option to increase our exposure to it as our portfolio develops,” he said. RubyRed also brings a higher level of orchard infrastructure requirements, particularly in terms of shelter needs. With investment levels set at a minimum of $100,000, Jones said there was significant interest in the first round from private investors, including in some cases kiwifruit orchard owners. “We had some orchardists

who sold to us, then reinvested back into the fund. They were looking for an exit strategy, but wanted to keep some of their proceeds in an industry they knew well,” he said. Origin continues to carry some well-known industry faces on its board of directors, including ex-Zespri chief executive Lain Jager, Craig Greenlees of DMS Progrowers, and Zespri deputy chair Paul Jones. Origin also includes current Zespri director Tony Hawken in its investment committee, and EastPack director Dylan Barret. Jones said respected industry grower Robbie Mayston has also agreed to come on board for Fund 2 as an independent investment committee member. “Robbie is an exceptional grower, who consistently achieves leading results, and has also been involved in RubyRed for a number of years as a pre-commercial trialist and so brings another set of skills to the team,” he said. Applications to invest are now open, with the fund expected to have its first close in the second half of April.

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FOCUS: Origin Capital’s Dominic Jones says the fund intends to focus more on RubyRed and Green orchards in its second round.

LESS than a year after successfully raising its first fund, kiwifruit investment company Origin Capital is again seeking funds exclusively for kiwifruit sector investment. The first fund closed last June, raising $85 million from 153 investors and subsequently purchased or developed nine commercial orchards, totalling 101 canopy hectares. The company’s largest orchard is 17ha held in the Bay of Plenty, while Gisborne accounts for about 50% of the company’s acquisitions to date, including a large 16.3ha operation Origin managing director Dominic Jones said the latest funding round is intended to capture between $50m and $60m of investor capital, and

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Team tames tough times For eight days the four Goldpine Go Fence team members averaged just three hours sleep a day, as they competed in the gruelling GODZone Traverse adventure race across the South Island. It attracted a team with rural links, prompting Neal Wallace to ask Jeremy McKenzie and Kieran Hickman about adversity and how such events are relevant to rural mental health.

ADVENTURE RACERS: Goldpine Go Fence team members Kieran Hickman, Jeremy McKenzie, James McCone and Sara O’Neill.

M You can find yourself in the deepest darkest place, tired and struggling to continue on, but team members look after each other and help you bounce out of that. Kieran Hickman Farmer

ENTALLY one of the deepest, darkest spots for the Goldpine Go Fence adventure racing team hit in the small hours of the morning in a remote northern Southland valley. They were close to midway through the 710km GODZone Traverse adventure race across the South Island, from Jackson Bay in Westland to Brighton on the east coast. Having snatched two hours sleep, the four team members woke still sore and sleep deprived, with battered bodies and bleeding feet. They had travelled 280km on about 10 hours of sleep and the relentless previous two stages, a 155km trek through the Fiordland wilderness and 90km mountain bike ride from Glenorchy, had taken its toll. Awaiting them was another taxing 56km trek through Southland’s Eyre Mountains from the Mavora Lakes to Garston. Team member Jeremy McKenzie said there was discussion about whether they should continue but after some running repairs to battered bodies and motivation restored, gear was shared around and the decision was made to continue. Goldpine Go Fence consisted of McKenzie, a Marlborough viticulturist and wine maker, Kieran Hickman a cropping, sheep and beef farmer from Taimate in Marlborough, and Culverden dairy farmers James McCone and Sarah O’Neill.

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McKenzie said they all have backgrounds in multi-sport or adventure racing, but were weekend warriors. In addition to achieving their goal of a top 15 finish and the challenge of completing a mentally and physically taxing event, the team also wanted to promote the importance of physical activity and having interests off-farm in ensuring mental wellbeing. McKenzie said it is a message their sponsor, Goldpine, is also keen to spread. He said communication is vital in adventure racing but also in everyday life, especially in stressed or pressured situations,” McKenzie said. During the race they constantly talked to each other. “We did lots of talking about family, what we enjoy, what is happening, nutrition and ensuring teammates were eating and keeping up their electrolytes,” he said. “We were making sure we were all on, that we kept each other in a good space whether it was jokes, games or just having a laugh.” The team relied on each other. “No one is better than each other, it’s a team and you can’t carry on without the team,” he said. “It’s fundamentally the same as in life.” Hickman agrees, saying in an adventure race team members need each other but for a farmer that team can be family members, neighbours, friends or professionals. “You can find yourself in the deepest darkest place, tired and struggling to continue on, but team members look after each other and help you bounce out of that,” Hickman said. While the race was the toughest he has been involved in, he said his lasting memory was during a 170km mountain bike leg that took racers into the alpine section on the Old Man and Old Woman ranges, which run parallel to the Clutha River between Alexandra and Roxburgh. “We were up on top during the sunrise and I could see the light towards the east coast, I could see the path to the finish line,” he said. “For me mentally it flicked a switch and even though I was quite tired and we had several days to go, I could see we were on the homeward leg, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.” During stage three, a 150km trek and packraft leg through Fiordland, McKenzie said the team didn’t sleep for 36 hours until they hit the wall during the night, stopping for a four-hour nap under a rock ledge. Spirits were lifted when they resumed racing in daylight and the warmth of the new day. He said his lasting memory is packrafting on

Lake Onslow, high in the hills between Roxburgh and the Maniototo, as the sun set and its effect on the colours on the mountains and surrounding landscape. “It looked like a (artist) Grahame Sydney painting,” McKenzie said. He also recalls noticing he was paddling harder, only to turn around and see his teammate asleep in the rear of the raft. The tidal impact on the Taieri River meant it was closed during the night, forcing the team to delay until morning the final kayak leg across the Taieri Plains and up a gorge to the coastal settlement of Taieri Mouth. Once completed they made the final 18km coastal trek to Brighton, finishing last Saturday, seven days, 23 hours and 30minutes after leaving Jackson Bay. They were 15th out of 62 starters, but just 33 teams finished the 10th ever staging of GODZone Traverse. Hickman has raced four of those and says the unrelenting physical demands of this race, along with tight cut-off times by which you had to be at certain points, made this the toughest he has been involved in. McKenzie said preparation for such events is built up through endurance from years of tramping and with a pack in the hills, rather than acquired through a short-term fitness regime. “A lot of it is being out in that terrain and being able to handle carrying a heavy pack, moving through scrub, bush bashing and being steady on your feet as you move over tree roots and fallen trees, energy-sucking stuff,” he said. This was the first race for this team, and McKenzie describes his teammates as incredibly tough, resilient and able. They never lost their sense of humour and never took it personally when tension was heightened. “Sometimes a spade has to be called a spade,” he said. “Everyone knew if something came across the wrong way, it wasn’t meant to be taken that way, it is just the way it has to be.” The 710km was split over 10 stages, consisting of 379km of mountain biking, 38km kayaking, 179km of trekking and 114km of packrafting (inflatable rafts they carried in their packs). Having finished the race and recovered, the team adjourned to a Dunedin restaurant to fulfil a longed-for steak dinner, complete with craft beer and a Central Otago Pinot Noir. It’s what you do, having battered your body while racing for eight days.

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Students’ startup raises $1m Massey University PhD students have attracted $1 million in investment to further develop their smart ear tag sensors, which have been likened to a Fitbit for livestock. Colin Williscroft reports.

GRITECH startup ProTag has raised $1 million to fast-track the development of its smart ear tag sensors, which transmit health and location data to dairy farmers within seconds. ProTag’s small internet-enabled device clips onto a cow’s ear, allowing farmers to continuously monitor the animal’s health, grazing and breeding habits. Machine learning is used to process data from the device’s temperature, movement and location sensors, helping farmers map animal behavioural patterns and detect the early onset of illnesses in real-time. Company co-founders and Massey University PhD engineering students Tyrel Glass and Baden Parr formed ProTag last year, which joined the Sprout Accelerator programme in July. Since then they’ve raised $1m through Sprout’s investment partners, which include USbased Finistere Ventures, Kiwi dairy giant Fonterra and Israeli venture builder OurCrowd, with support from government agency Callaghan Innovation’s Technology Incubator Programme. Glass said they see a future where every farmer has detailed information on the health and wellbeing of every animal. “The power of remote sensing in animal health is huge. And ProTag is the gateway into this data, providing advanced analytics for each animal that can map the whole story of the cow and at an accessible price point for all farmers.” He said early detection of mastitis, lameness (leg and foot pain) and reproduction issues – the top ailments facing dairy

cattle – can pave the way for more sustainable farming and improves animal welfare. The idea behind the product, which has been likened to a Fitbit for livestock as it uses movement data to extract behavioural information, came after meeting a young farming couple who wanted help to invent a smart ear tag that could give them insights into their herd’s health.

The power of remote sensing in animal health is huge. Tyrel Glass ProTag The ProTag team said there are several aspects that make their approach different to others. The first is the incorporation of GPS with other metric data into a small, formfactor ear tag. Other products incorporating the same hardware features are usually attached to an animal’s neck, which can cause problems through being caught on objects around the farm. The second advantage is a holistic, integrated approach to data analysis, as information from an animal is not viewed in isolation, but rather against a backdrop of geographic farm features such as shelter belts, water troughs and boundary fences. All the data collected can be fed into continually improving machine learning models targeted at identifying early illnesses.

INNOVATION: ProTag founders Tyrel Glass and Baden Parr will use newly raised funds to fast-track product development and validation.

He said the company’s small, lightweight device is 100 times more power-efficient than other GPS-based devices using bulkier battery packs. The newly raised funds will be used to accelerate the company’s product development and validation in preparation for largescale trials planned for later this year, with several expressions of interest generated from farmers in Waikato and the South Island. While the company has its immediate sights on the New Zealand market, where a farmer’s average dairy herd is 440 cows, Ireland and Brazil have been identified as future markets. ProTag’s founders credit

the Sprout team’s extensive international agritech experience and connections for opening the company’s doors to future growth. Sprout investment manager Warren Bebb said the ProTag team embodies much of what it looks for in entrepreneurs: a big vision coupled with engineering smarts that use a clever combination of the latest remote-sensing technologies to bring crucial insights. “We are excited to back Tyrel and Baden as they strive to advance the health and profitability of the dairy industry in a sustainable way,” Bebb said. Prior to their acceptance into the July 2021 cohort of the Sprout

Accelerator, ProTag’s founders were the winners of two global engineering competitions, receiving $US25,000 at the Keysight Internet of Things (IoT) Innovation Challenge and winning the 2021 Microsoft Imagine Cup. Massey computer engineering associate professor and Glass and Parr’s PhD supervisor Fakhrul Alam said they have created potentially game-changing technology for the agritech industry. “Their engineering smarts, combining cutting-edge remotesensing technology and artificial intelligence, will bring crucial insights to dairy farmers,” Alam said.

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

EDITORIAL

Reopening welcome but caution required

AST week’s news that the borders will reopen over the next couple of months will be music to the ears of exporters who rely on good relationships to make sales. We’ll be open for business here in New Zealand as well, which will hopefully clear up some of the labour issues that have posed such a headache for food producers for the past few years. Our meat processors are back in the game and their marketers are heading out to press the flesh and ensure customers are happy. Horticulture and dairy exporters will also begin to head out into the world, but it’s a world that’s changed since the last longhaul flight. It won’t be business as usual. With Omicron rampant, many of those calling for fewer restrictions are finding out people make their own choices when it comes to keeping themselves safe. Some tourism and hospitality operators have called for fewer restrictions, only to find that given the choice, the punters are choosing health over holidays. A cautious approach is still required if we want to avoid making the same mistakes other nations have made when opening up. It appears our exporters are taking it slowly right now, which is good to hear as there’s a lot riding on keeping supply chains intact. Increased movement means an increased risk of spreading the virus and having come so far, now’s not the time for companies, processors and farmers to drop their guards. For business, Zoom has been a substitute for in-person meetings, but we all know it’s far easier to build lasting partnerships in person. As Omicron circulates it’s not only warm greetings that are exchanged, though, and that’s bad news. But we’re highly vaccinated and many other nations can only dream of coming through the pandemic so far as well as we have. That should give exporters another talking point.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

We need to hold on to our native bush WHEN I was a little girl in the 1930s-early ‘40s, I used to spend holidays with my grandma who lived deep in the indigenous forests. I loved it in the trees with undergrowth to play in, the birds, the berries, the mystery – but it always rained long, misty rain. I would complain to my grandma and she simply said, “We old people all know forests attract continuous rain.” Old Māori used to tell how cool it was in the bush – always damp, the earth soft underfoot with all its undergrowth, mosses, fallen leaves and pools of water running clear streams, all year round fresh water springs. Now nearly 100 years later, scientists are proving the old people were right. But there is

no money in it – pine trees are lucrative, so give them ETS. Have any MPs walked in undisturbed native bush? Felt the cool, damp air? Admired the variety of all the understory of climbing lianes, bush lawyers, epiphytes, pungas, ferns, mosses, lichens and fungi, all busily converting CO2 out of the air? It’s unmeasurable. The simple monoculture pine forests are more easy to measure – no bothersome under growth. Have those ETS scientists ever walked in a pine forest? Felt the hard, dry ground littered with poisonous needles – nothing will grow there, it won’t even absorb the rain water, which gushes away in muddy streams. Then as soon as the trees

mature, destructive heavy machinery gouges out the ground as logs are pulled along hot, hot fires to burn the slash. When the poor naked land dares to re-establish some green groundcover, in come the helicopters to spray, killing every blade even the greenery along the water flows. Two or more sprays as tiny new pines try to grow, five years or more to start converting a tiny amount of CO2. Years of continual infernal heat and dry. They never attract a single rain cloud. You call this a sensible ETS scheme for NZ? Pine forests are good for harsh cold, dry climates, but we can do so much better.

Farmers, hold on to your native bush, your riparian strips, your lush permanent grasslands, invite those MPs and scientists to feel the cool shade, the damp earth, the clear streams. Convince them, all over the world, it is the forest’s cooling that brings the continuous misty rain we so need. Helena Thorpe Tākaka

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

GHG pricing feedback is critical The

Pulpit

Kelly Forster

ITH a week of consultation to go, thousands of farmers and growers have already had their say about options for pricing greenhouse gas emissions – whether that’s at face-to-face or online meetings, taking part in surveys or providing feedback direct through the He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) website. Your feedback is critical to making these options fit for purpose. HWEN partners are absorbing the feedback as it comes in, looking at where the options could be amended or improved and where farmers’ and growers’ preferences lie. There are a few points I want to clarify to make sure everyone has the facts in front of them, including how the HWEN options will deliver reductions and how much they might cost farmers. Let’s be clear that both options put forward by the HWEN partners have the potential to reduce emissions by much more than 1%. The 1% figure is an estimate of how much emissions would reduce from pricing alone, but HWEN is not proposing ‘pricing alone’. The partners are committed to a framework where the pricing system motivates and rewards actions to reduce emissions,

including investing in incentives to uptake technology or change practices and research. Modelling shows this framework would achieve around 4% reductions in methane. Combined with reductions from other existing policies and the commercial availability of emissions mitigation tools such as methane inhibitors and lowemissions livestock genetics, this would see New Zealand meet its targets. We’ve modelled the potential reductions of methane separately from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide – the split-gas approach – to recognise the different impact of long-lived and short-lived gases on the ultimate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5degC. Our calculations use the actual weight of methane emissions instead of converting them into carbon dioxide equivalent-weight using the GWP100 comparison. This is in line with growing scientific consensus that the alternative GWP* methodology more accurately reflects the impact of methane. I also want to clarify the different approaches to calculating emissions levels for pricing in the two options presented by HWEN. The processor-level system would use a national average amount of emissions per kg of product (farm outputs) and per tonne of synthetic fertiliser sold. The farm-level system does not calculate emissions on outputs. Rather, actual on-farm emissions are calculated to reflect an individual farm footprint, using inputs such as stock numbers and fertiliser use. I’ve also seen comments suggesting that the proposed approach to sequestration means every tree on every farm is included and any tree felling will incur a liability. In fact, farmers would have the choice of including areas of forest in the HWEN scheme; if you don’t claim your trees as sequestering carbon, then you won’t face any consequences if you cut them down. One of the main questions is ‘how much will this cost me’? The

partners realised this would be important to farmers, so put some numbers alongside the options using prices equivalent to current Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) prices. These numbers will change. They are there as an indication only. The levy per tonne of emissions may go up if reductions are not happening quickly enough or may go down if emissions reduce quickly.

What HWEN is proposing is a transparent way of setting prices, involving farmer representatives, while recognising the final decision on the price will be made by central government. What HWEN is proposing is a transparent way of setting prices, involving farmer representatives, while recognising the final decision on the price will be made by central government. The partnership is also exploring a price ceiling. An example would be that the overall cost would be no more than if agriculture entered the ETS. So what’s next? Behind the scenes, partners are looking at all the feedback that’s coming in, including considering alternative options that have been put forward. There have been a lot of well-considered and thoughtful comments that will help guide and inform the partners as they consider what to recommend to government. We’ll provide a summary of what we’ve heard after consultation closes at the end of March. The HWEN partners will take time in April and May to consider the feedback and develop recommendations that are due to government by the end of May. It was never going to be easy to come

GOAL: Programme director Kelly Forster says the HWEN partners are committed to a framework where the pricing system motivates and rewards actions to reduce emissions. up with a credible and practical scheme in the timeframe available, but we’re on track. The Government will consider the recommendations and likely consult the wider public later this year, before making a final decision in December on a pricing system for agricultural emissions. The partners are clear that recommendations will be in line with HWEN’s core principles: to recognise and reward on-farm changes that reduce emissions; apply a split-gas approach to recognise the difference in climate impact between different gases; recognise on-farm sequestration that the ETS does not; and ensure that revenue generated

helps reduce emissions in the agricultural sector. I encourage those who haven’t already had their say to use the feedback form on the HWEN website hewakaekenoa.nz/yoursay by March 27.

Who am I? Kelly Forster is the He Waka Eke Noa programme director.

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

Family at Core of Taihape Farming Partnership Spring Farms is run under what farmer director Mark Chrystall describes as a hybrid model, which he says acknowledges the importance of family to the people behind it. Watch the video now at youtube.com/OnFarmStory This episode was made possible with support from Rabobank On Farm Story

On Farm Story

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

ETS proposals crazy, confused Alternative View

Alan Emerson

OVER the last week, climate change and both the Government and the world’s reaction to it has reached absurd levels. In addition, the so-called reforms planned for the ETS are, in a phrase, crazy and counterproductive. It started with Climate Change Minister James Shaw telling the High Court in Wellington that the New Zealand climate target of limiting global warming to 1.5degC was “aspirational”. That was in response to a bunch of lawyers who took the Government to court claiming it needed greater action on climate change. Perhaps those lawyers could tell me the numbers of their profession who biked or walked to work, those who wore woollen clothing, so as not to pollute the oceans, and those who had vegetable gardens to reduce their environmental impact. My view is they should get their own houses in order before interfering in mine. That ‘aspirational’ 1.5degC will also be cold comfort to the people

who have worked tirelessly on He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN), to try and prevent the rural sector getting railroaded into the ETS. As I’ve also written, Shaw has made no commitment to any of the solutions we may offer. The harsh reality that Shaw and others seem to be ignoring is that the world is increasing its global footprint and massively so, in part as a reaction to the Ukrainian war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is increasing the UK’s oil and gas production, along with their emissions. America is to boycott Russian oil and will purchase supplies from both Venezuela and Iran. Again, increasing emissions. Australia is also ignoring climate change and ramping up both coal and oil production. The production of global electricity from coal increased a massive 9% last year. Last year global CO2 emissions increased 4.95%. NZ’s corresponding reaction is to try and tax the burps and farts of cows and sheep. One of the mitigation systems available in NZ is planting pine trees to absorb carbon that has led to a lot of good farmland being taken for forestry. Big polluters doing that sends totally the wrong messages to consumers. Basically they are saying ‘drive whatever you like, fly wherever you want, we’ve got you covered.’ Now in a typical politically

inspired bureaucratic lurch, we have the Government proposing new rules for the carbon farming of exotic forests. Ministers James Shaw and Stuart Nash have said they want to consult, but reading their media release the decisions have been made. They want to exclude new permanent exotic plantations from the ETS. That will be counter productive and I’d describe the brains trust that came up with that shambles as naïve. Ollie Belton runs Carbon Forest Services. I rate him. His reading of the proposal is that it will mean more good productive land will go into forestry. “If you can’t find rubbish country to plant in permanent forests, your option is to plant pines on good country near to a port,” Belton said. “You can then plant your trees, claim carbon for a period and harvest. “The current government flip-flopping is crazy and isn’t doing anyone any good. We have purchased poor land, ordered the trees and arranged for planting. We’re getting confused signals.” ‘Confused signals’ is right. The simple answer is to require councils to give consent for forestry on anything but the roughest country. That has been Labour policy for the past three years. It was shepherded through the Caucus by our local MP Kieran

RECOMMENDATION: Alan Emerson believes the Government should address emissions at source-level, because planting pine trees to absorb carbon has led to a lot of good farmland being taken for forestry. McAnulty and I support it. There’s no need for further consultation, just do it. Instead, we’ve got yet another consult fest followed by a knee-jerk reaction of reducing permanent forests on any class of country. The further irony of the Government position is that if they are trying to reduce the planting of forests on good farmland their current proposal will have the opposite effect. So my advice to government would be two-fold, with the first being to address emissions at source. We’re not doing that except for the puerile ute tax that affects the productive sector and will have no effect on central Aucklanders buying big gas guzzlers to use to take their kids to school. In addition, according to the University of London a third of NZ businesses will miss their 2050 carbon targets.

The second is to implement their policy and make the planting of forests on anything but class six and seven land a consented activity. Instead, we’re getting a tortuous, convoluted policy suggestion of removing permanent forestry from the ETS. It is a policy that will increase the amount of good farmland going into forestry. It will also require the international purchase of carbon credits to meet our current obligations, which is crazy. Another factor for government to consider is that if NZ did become carbon neutral tomorrow it would have absolutely no effect on the world’s climate.

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

We need to talk about the dogs From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

WHILE people have been focusing on the rapidly increasing cost of things like fuel, food, fertiliser and a cup of coffee, they’ve completely lost sight of what’s been happening in the dog market. This is where the real inflation is going on. Let’s start with house dogs, or whatever the name is of the ones that hang around the home. Puppies of breeds like spoodles, retrievers, dash hounds, and the wonderfully named Shih Tzu have been selling like hot cakes and going for astronomical prices. Only a few years ago they would sell for several hundred dollars but now fetch up to $6000. I’ve just had a look online and could snap up eight-week-old Hungarian Vizslas from Dunedin for the bargain price of $5000. The blurb tells me that Hungarian nobles bred them to be excellent

family dogs, great hunters, and the clincher, the least smelly of dogs. What attracted my eye to this sale is the litter has 13 in it and there are only five left. That’s 65k for a litter of pups! I just rechecked my calculator and it was right the first time. Do these sellers pay tax? What on earth am I doing dagging and drenching sheep? I think I’ll look for something cheaper. Here’s one, a made-up breed from West Auckland called a Westiepoo, which it says is the product of someone’s terrier getting it on with a poodle. These are $4500 and a more modest litter of half a dozen to choose from. Labradors are more familiar to most of us and these pups are fetching a more reasonable $2000. It seems that covid is driving these crazy prices. People working from home and unable to travel overseas are falling over themselves to pay this sort of money so it’s the demand that is driving things. One would think that the supply would quickly catch up. After all, most bitches can have two litters a year, with an average across breeds of half a dozen pups each litter.

You might imagine that folk buying those Vizslas would be thinking that to recoup that outlay I might have a little dabble at breeding myself and an exponential increase in Hungarian hunting dogs would see them filling every available kennel and dog box. I had intended to write this column about farm working dog prices but as you can see, I

became distracted quickly. The prices paid for these fancy pants breeds makes some of the recent soaring prices paid for heading and huntaway dogs look relatively reasonable now. There have been sale reports of trained dogs selling up to $10,000. Many trained farm dogs with good genetic backgrounds have been selling for $5000 or more. Apparently, a shortage of good

dogs available and time-poor cockies now often prefer to buy a trained dog, rather than the task at the end of a long working day of training the young pup. I must be honest here. I haven’t spent much money on dogs myself in my nearly 40-year farming career. Dino, my first bitch, a beardie pup cost me $10, from Dan and Wag was 10 times that of Max, but I did buy the young student a pup last year for $400, which brought tears to my eyes. All the rest have been products of accidental pregnancies and of course I found Ditch dumped in the water table a number of years ago. None of them have been useless, but none of them have been brilliant either. You do get what you pay for in life. I do marvel at other farmers’ dogs and sometimes think if I hadn’t been so busy for so long and spent a decent amount of time on training good genetics just what I could have had. We will never know.

Your View GONE TO THE DOGS: Steve Wyn-Harris believes he has found another rising cost as a result of the covid pandemic, and it comes in the form of furry companions.

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

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

House prices looking vulnerable Straight Talking

Cameron Bagrie

ANYONE in the rural community wanting to cap the rise in interest rates or see the New Zealand dollar fall needs to be eyeing house prices. The sharper the turn in the residential property market, the less pressure the Reserve Bank will be under to keep lifting interest rates, provided it flows into some key areas of inflation pressure. The housing market has turned, yet market expectations are we are going to see even larger rises in the Official Cash Rate over 2022. We look headed for a showdown between inflation that could prove sticky, but house prices that look vulnerable to very sharp declines. Inflation is more broad-based than housing alone and much of it beyond the Reserve Bank’s control. However, the tentacles of the residential property market spread widely across the economy both in terms of house prices, building activity and employment. Residential property is a key pro-cyclical part of the economy. It moves up sharply in booms and can quickly reverse. Taming inflation is not growth, asset price or housing friendly. Housing is a sizable component of the consumer price index. Purchase of housing is 9% of the consumer price index and rent’s another 10%. Housing and household utilities are more than 28%. Home ownership inflation increased 15.7% in the past year. The finger is being pointed at covid supply chain issues, but the story is simpler than that; it is a function of a booming housing market where demand

ONGOING: Some, including the Reserve Bank, predict a modest fall in house prices over 2022 of 5%, but the supply and construction of houses to remain buoyant.

for materials and labour is outstripping supply. Falling house prices are an inevitable part of a receding inflation equation. House prices lead construction costs by almost a year. Falling house prices also remove the wealth effect, or positive impact of rising wealth on spending. When your wealth recedes, people tend to spend less too.

House prices fall a bit, but activity generally holds up, keeping inflation cooling, but a bit sticky.

House prices are falling. National house prices are down 2.3% in the past three months. Auckland has seen a 5.5% decline. It is still early days in the housing cycle, but indications

are it is turning fast. The number of days to sell a house is rising and jumped from a seasonallyadjusted 32 days in January to 37 days in February. Volumes sold in the month of February 2022 were down 32% versus February 2021. The level of inventory is rising. Rising days to sell and less sales volumes typically lead house prices. Some, including the Reserve Bank, predict a modest fall in house prices over 2022 of 5%, but the supply and construction of houses to remain buoyant. This is one reason the Reserve Bank is projecting the Official Cash Rate needs to head above 3% and market expectations are the same. House prices fall a bit, but activity generally holds up, keeping inflation cooling, but a bit sticky. Indications are the housing market is turning more aggressively. Building consents fell 9.2% in the month of January and have fallen for three of the past five months. Fifteen percent construction cost inflation,

challenges getting credit, rising interest rates, signals some areas such as Auckland may now be building too many houses and negative migration (a driver of demand) are changing the landscape for housing supply. Activity is coming from an extreme level of strength with 48,700 consents issued in the past year and monthly data can be volatile. But turning points can occur quickly. Financial markets are ramping up expectations the Reserve Bank will start raising the Official Cash Rate faster. A further 185 basis points of increases in the Official Cash Rate are priced into 2022 and 85 basis points in the next two meetings, implicitly betting the odds are high we could see two 50 basis point rises. The current and expected inflation picture can be argued to validate this. Expectations for inflation two years ahead are above 3% and outside the policy band. Things could soon get very awkward if the housing market

continues to turn. Traditionally this has helped eased inflation. But inflation pressures are looking more broad-based and not being helped by splurging government spending. How much bludgeoning will the Reserve Bank be prepared to dish out in the name of inflation? The answer is of course enough until they are comfortable that their objectives of 2% inflation and maximum sustainable employment (think of an unemployment rate above 4% not below 4%) are within reach. We could be on a collision course between the current inflation objective and the necessary bitter medicine required to achieve it.

Your View Cameron Bagrie is the managing director of Bagrie Economics and a shareholder and director of Chaperon – helping businesses navigate banking. His views do not constitute advice.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

On Farm Story

It’s the best of both worlds Combining a family focus with the best aspects of a corporate model are making a difference to a Taihape farming partnership. Colin Williscroft reports. SPRING Farms is run under what farmer director Mark Chrystall describes as a hybrid model, which he says acknowledges the importance of family to the people behind it while picking out what they see as the best aspects of a corporate model. “Family is really important in our business,” Mark says of the operation he runs with his wife Jane, brother Richard and sisterin-law Ju, and Rob and Amanda Collier. Part of that is the three couples either have or have had kids at university and they always make a point of employing them during that time. “If they want a job, we find one for them. That’s important to us,” he says. However, they also recognise that bringing in aspects of the corporate model, such as a focus on governance and financial management, has its advantages. The couples, who farm 2531 hectares across six properties, meet four times a year as the Spring Farms board, planning early on, then working through challenges and opportunities, revised cashflow, as the year unfolds. The family approach extends to looking after the people who work on the farm, which includes four full-time staff who all have young children. “We run a very flat structure,” he says. “You’ve got to treat your staff as an asset.” He says in their farm production meetings there’s no ‘I’m the boss’. “To run this business we need to get the best out of our staff and give them a voice. “We’re really adamant about that, hearing from them.” He says traditionally run workplaces often have a pyramid structure, with bosses and 2ICs at the top, with other staff down the bottom. “We invert that, we put ourselves down there,” he says. “The reason behind that is if

anything goes wrong with those guys, then it’s probably our fault because we haven’t explained something properly.” One of the couples’ goals is to leave the land in a better state than when they received it and they use the three-legged stool sustainability model to achieve that – financial, environmental and social goals are all important and have to work together. “We come back to that concept quite a bit, asking ourselves: what are we doing around those three things?” he says.

One of the most important things in business is to enjoy what you are doing. Mark Chrystall Farmer The brothers are the third generation of their family to farm in the area, but the business has changed a lot from their forefathers’ times. Mark says when he and Richard took over it quickly became apparent that he would need to get outside his comfort zone and develop skills that would complement his brother’s, for the good of the overall operation. When they first started the business Richard was working for Brownrigg Ag in Hawke’s Bay, while Mark was working on the farm for their father. “Richard had the experience on the production side but we needed more on the finance side,” he says. “So, I had to upskill on that.” That led Mark to completing Rabobank’s Executive Development Programme for Primary Producers in 2005. He’s since completed an Institute of Directors NZ course.

PARTNERSHIP: Family is important to Jane and Mark Chrystall, which is reflected in the way Spring Farms operates. Photos: Alistair Thom Some of the benefits of strengthening his business skills were not immediately obvious but have become more apparent over time, he says. “Instead of looking at your attributes and your positives, you’ve actually got to look where your weaknesses are,” he says. “I remember speaking at an event since then, where I said the biggest inhibitor to our business growing was not the weather, not the size of the operation or where we were, it was me. “It was about upskilling myself and growing, thinking outside the square.” The brothers’ combined skills led them to changing the business farming system between 2008 and 2010, with class 1 country switched to focus on lamb-finishing crops, the hill country stocking rate reduced and specialist crops utilised to weight-gain cattle over winter.

ADDING VALUE: Prime heifers, destined for the Alliance handpicked beef programme, grazing on new grass at the Marua block.

A lasting relationship THE Chrystall family’s long-standing relationship with Rabobank has led to its wool contributing to the carpet on the floor of the bank’s Hamilton office. When the bank built the new office they wanted carpet made from wool from their clients around New Zealand, which included the Chrystalls. After it was shorn the wool went to be spun, made into yarn and then into carpet. “So it’s our wool in the carpet, which is pretty cool really,” Mark says.

Today, Spring Farms is a sheep and beef enterprise running about 27,000 stock units, with a sheep to cattle ratio of 70:30. It’s a breeding/finishing operation, with that ratio 65:35. The cattle policy is broad, driven by what type of animal suits individual blocks, along with margin return. Production crops include about 120ha of chicory/clover, 95ha of winter/summer brassicas, 15ha of triticale for whole crop cereal silage and 90ha of annual ryegrass. The farm system changes have helped them move towards a focus on adding value and being part of branded programmes. They are part of an Alliance handpicked beef programme that’s based on eating experience. “We’re producing an animal that’s got a big focus on the marbling side of it,” he says, with buying bulls through Te Mania Angus showing its worth in building intramuscular fats (IMF). He expects that to continue. “Once we start to see that come in the female progeny, then we’ll start to get a double whammy and we’ll see that rise even more,” he says. “With that product they have an even nutritional plan from the day they are born to the day they are processed.

“When you have a dip, the first fats you lose are the intramuscular fats, so we have a big focus on growing animals through the winter, trying to achieve the magical kilo mark on brassica crops and baleage.” Sheep go through Anzco in Marton and the business was earlier part of the Waitrose Producer Group. “That’s come to an end but we’re still focused on delivering a quality product, so all of our lamb comes off a crop-based system, whether that be chicory or brassicas. “We’ve really lifted our yields, probably about 5% since 2008 when we ran a high stocking rate in our hills, and gone to more of a consistent supply.” A key change to the business focus has been a change in its hill country policy so that it’s now set around the resource, rather than making the resource fit the policy. “We use our hills as a cost centre and the flats as a profit centre,” he says. “It’s about not having heavy cattle on wet country over the winter months. “With the hill country it’s probably more around sustainability and simplicity, while our flats a lot of it is around sustainability and cents per kilo returns.”

On Farm Story

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

We haven’t done it as a business because of my involvement, we’ve done it because as an industry we need to get these young kids into farming.

HOME BASE: The homestead and yards at the Spring Farms Tikirere block, north of Taihape.

Mark Chrystall Farmer

Spring Farms also has a goal of having the whole operation under a reticulated water system within the next five years. Mark says they are probably about halfway there, with two big solar reticulated systems that have been installed working very well. That focus on the environment, which also makes good business sense, began in 2008, with all the farm’s blocks now mapped into Horizons Regional Council’s Sustainable Land Use Initiative (SLUI) system. On top of that about 50-55km of waterways fencing has been completed in what’s an ongoing project, while a wetland has been established just below Mark’s woolshed, in an effort to improve waterways. “A lot of the issues within our catchments are around woolsheds and yards,” he says. “Because of the nature of the hill country a lot of the sheds and yards are down the bottom.” That means rain coming down

the hills flows through those areas into waterways. “So, we decided to put in a wetland below the woolshed to capture the run-off from the yard,” he says. As part of the project, they planted 4000 native trees, with another 5000 planned for this year. “And we’ll probably do another 7km of fencing (this year), mainly around waterways and streams,” he says. The focus on the environment includes rodent trapping, with plans to potentially liberate some whio (blue ducks) in the future. Mark is also deputy chair of the Rangitīkei Rivers Catchment Collective, which covers 700,000ha, basically incorporating the whole Rangitīkei basin, along with the Whangaehu and Turakina basins. Around 65% of that land area is under sub-catchment groups, one of which is the Upper Moawhango River Catchment Group, which Mark chairs.

CROP-BASED SYSTEM: Lambs grazing on a chicory/clover paddock at the Spring Farms’ Tikirere block.

He says the latter group has been running for about three years, starting with water analysis for nutrients, the main ones being phosphorus, nitrogen, E.coli and sediment (turbidity). But there’s more to being involved in catchment groups than just water quality, he says. “It’s not just about water and it’s not just about the environment, it’s also biodiversity, it’s mental

WATER FEATURE: Shepherd’s Falls, with Tikirere Stream running into the Moawhango River. Mark chairs the Moawhango River Catchment Group.

health, there’s a whole range of things that come into it,” he says. “It brings people together, so they can have a chat, have a cup of tea or a beer afterwards.” That sense of community is part of the social aspect of the threelegged stool. “For us as a business, community is big,” he says. “My brother Richard is chairman of the local hall committee. They’ve got a fundraiser, the Moawhango School 4WD, which has been going for 17 years. “It’s very successful and brings a lot of money into the community, the school and the hall.” Which is all part of helping to look after future generations. “We need to have families coming back into Moawhango to keep the school going, not only for the community but also for us, for employment,” he says. “We’re pretty passionate about our local community and do everything we can to bat for it.” Also helping to look after future generations is Spring Farms’ involvement in the Growing Future Farmers (GFF) programme, which aims to attract more young people into the red meat sector and provide them with the skills to thrive on-farm. Mark says they have two GFF cadets working for them, one out of Feilding High School and another from Napier Boys’ High School. His initial involvement with GFF was through the Rabobank Client Council, which funded the programme in its first stages. He chairs the bank’s regional client council, but says he didn’t

take the cadets on just because of that. “We haven’t done it as a business because of my involvement, we’ve done it because as an industry we need to get these young kids into farming,” he says. “We just said from the start, ‘we will support this 100% and we will find a way to make it work’.” GFF has more than 160 first- and second-year cadets working on sheep and beef farms around the country and Mark says that has got to be good for the sector’s future. “It’s an investment in the future that’s got to be incredibly advantageous for the industry,” he says. “It takes some commitment from us, but we’re right behind it.” Mark says he and his wife Jane are very proud that their two children see their future in agriculture, with their daughter working as an agronomist in Hawke’s Bay and their son studying towards a B Ag Com at Lincoln. Back on the farm, he says a large amount of time is put into planning with their five Ps approach of ‘prior planning prevents poor performance’, which is not only good for the farming business, but also makes for a more positive experience for everyone involved. “One of the most important things in business is to enjoy what you are doing,” he says. “We all have a passion for farming in this business. We very much enjoy the team environment and by working together we can get the best out of everyone.”

World

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Further UK border delays anticipated FOOD and farming leaders have raised concerns over the state of readiness of border control posts (BCP) ahead of a July deadline. The BCPs are part of the UK Government’s post-Brexit plans to impose tougher checks on EU imports and were supposed to be in place by January 1, 2021. But 18 months later, and after three revised deadlines were missed, the open-door policy for EU food is continuing, while UK exports still face stringent checks and costly red tape when going the other way. The disparity has prompted calls from farmers for the Government to prioritise BCPs and establish a level trading platform between the EU and UK. The latest target date is July 1 and Defra is confident it will meet the deadline this time around. However, a document seen by UK Farmers Weekly shows a huge workload remains, with three months to go. The document lists 90 sites to be used as EU import checkpoints. But it notes alongside each entry reveal almost all are awaiting further designation or construction work to process different types of goods. Some of the control posts are existing facilities that handle

URGENCY: British farmers have called for the Government to prioritise border control posts and establish a level trading platform between the EU and UK. imports from third countries and need upgrading to cope with the surge in inspections for EU imports. But others on greenfield sites are yet to enter the construction phase. Potential operators for at least two of these sites in England have

only just submitted tenders for a £10 million government grant. And in Wales, the go-ahead for a facility at Holyhead has only recently been granted, with a completion target of April 2023. Meanwhile, a major recruitment and training programme, to find

hundreds of staff needed to run the sites, is ongoing. NFU chief livestock adviser John Royle said there was “little or no chance” that all the sites would be operational by the deadline. He also pointed out that the Government was only stating

checks would be operating for certain agricultural goods. “Inspection sites for livestock movements are not included under the July 1 deadline,” Royle said. “This is a continuing blow to the UK’s high-quality, high-value breeding stock trade.” He explained that until the BCPs are in place in the UK, there is no incentive for EU ports to reciprocate and establish facilities to check breeding stock in transit. Until BCPs are constructed abroad, breeding stock exports would effectively remain blocked, he said. A spokesperson for the British Meat Processors Association said she expected the Government to miss the deadline. She also questioned whether the Government would wish to impose checks and restrictions on food imports amid the current political upheaval. “With food prices so high due to global trade influences, it would be a difficult time to impose restrictive regulations on imports,” she said. “We are expecting the government to, once again, kick the can down the road, at least for some elements of the checking procedure.” UK Farmers Weekly

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Matiere 920 Ohura Road Tender

Brookbank This 85.57 ha (more or less) farm was the home of Brookbank Romney Stud for many years and now the property offers an exciting opportunity to purchase a productive bare land block to either support your existing farming operations or to get you on the first rung of the farm ownership ladder. The farm lies 35 km northwest of Taumarunui and mostly lies to the north putting it in a warm and sheltered position for stock. Fenced into 25 paddocks, it has maintained a consistent fertiliser history over many years and is supported by satellite sheep yards. The contour is made up of approximately 25 ha of flat land, the balance is rolling hills to some steeper hills, all safe for cattle and it could be suitable for dairy support, maize growing or fattening beef cattle and sheep.

Tender closes 4.00pm, Wed 13th Apr, 2022, Property Brokers, 27 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui View Wed 23 Mar 11.00 - 1.00pm Wed 30 Mar 11.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TUR11879

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

E katiew@pb.co.nz

Tokirima 3779 Whanganui River Rd (State Highway 43) Tender

Hawea Hills Owned by the Tocker family since 1929 and presented to the market for the first time in over 90 years, Hawea Hills is a traditional sheep and beef breeding property located in the Tokirima district, 37 km west of Taumarunui • 955 ha contained in 19 titles; 900 ha effective, wintering 8,400 - 8,600 stock units; 60% sheep 40% cattle • Predominantly class 6 and 7 hill country with a small proportion of class 3 and 4 flats • Consistent fertiliser history and well subdivided into 82 main paddocks • Extensive road frontages bound and dissect the property enabling good access • Good level of farm infrastructure including six-stand woolshed and three brick dwellings This offering represents a superb opportunity to acquire a genuine hill country block with good scale. Contact Dave for open day details. Pre-registration with agent required, 4wd quad bike & helmet essential Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes 4.00pm, Wed 27th Apr, 2022, Property Brokers, 138 Arawata Street, Te Awamutu View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/TWR13954

Dave Peacocke M 027 473 2382

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

Pongaroa 173 Waikakahi Road Tender

Waikaka - 886 ha Waikaka provides an exceptional sheep and cattle breeding and finishing property located in the Pongaroa farming district. Available as one, or three separate properties of 372 ha, 338 ha and 175 ha. As soon as you enter this property you will appreciate the work that has gone into this productive farm. With improvements spread evenly over the three properties include three houses, three woolsheds, ample farm buildings, 180 ha productive flats, good fertiliser history, airstrip and excellent reticulated water throughout. Contour is a mix of flats to easy rolling hills with some areas of medium hill with 850 ha classed as effective grazing. Well subdivided into 124 paddocks with a mix of conventional and electric fencing in very good order. Seldom do properties of this quality come to the market, with the flexibility of purchase options or a genuine turn-key scale property, Waikaka provides for all.

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 21st Apr, 2022, to be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR14845

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

Sam McNair M 027 264 0002

E sam.mcnair@pb.co.nz

Tauherenikau 1942 State Highway 2 Open Day

Kemptons - 155 ha Located on State Highway 2, just 2 km south of the boutique and bustling village of Greytown, Kemptons offers to the discerning buyer, multiple options as either a smaller sheep and beef breeding and finishing unit, or dairy support and or fattening farm.

Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 14th Apr, 2022, Property Brokers Ltd, 84 Chapel Street, Masterton View Thu 24 Mar 11.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/MR12467

With two existing access points from the State Highway, the property is currently being utilised as a fattening unit in conjunction with two other properties. Kemptons is in very good heart and has been farmed and maintained to an excellent standard with a consistent fertiliser history and has stock water provided by the central Moroa water race. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to own this outstanding property. Call for more information or to book a private viewing, or come along to one of our open days. Property Brokers Pahiatua Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tony McKenna M 027 901 0246

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

Porangahau 634 Cooks Tooth Road Tender

Coastal bareland 309 ha, situated on Cooks Tooth Road, approximately 50 km south of Waipukurau and 6 km from Porangahau Village. Medium to steep hill country with an area of mature native bush providing shelter and adding to the aesthetic appeal of the property. The block is on the coast with access to rocky coastline.

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 31st Mar, 2022, 98 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WR13561

Improvements include small sheep yard and recently cleared tracks. Watered by way of dams and natural water courses. Presently run, in conjunction with other land as a breeding block of both sheep and cattle. An ideal opportunity to purchase a large breeding block on the coast.

Pat Portas M 027 447 0612

E patp@pb.co.nz

Pahiatua 297 Oparatai Road Tender

Tuivale - 46 ha Located in the Mangatainoka farming district and under 8 minutes from Pahiatua township, the property offers a turnkey arable or intensive finishing or dairy support property. Featuring some of the Tararua Districts best soil types with the property being fully regrassed in the last five years with 10 ha currently in well-performing Maize. Tuivale features an excellent level of farming infrastructure including a two stand woolshed, covered sheep yards, cattle yards and conventional post and batten fencing with electric outriggers throughout. Adding aesthetic appeal is strategic plantings and a 1.1 ha QE11 wetland. Tuivale is complemented with a very comfortable three bedroom house with subdivision options available. Sales options include; Tuivale - 46 ha, Tuivale - Bareland 45.4 ha Tuivale - Three bedroom home 6,470 m2 (subject to boundary adjustment) - Also available to purchase separately, see Web ID PL100155. Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes 2.00pm, Wed 13th Apr, 2022, to be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR14525

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

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

Methven 337 Reynolds Road Tender

204.10 ha - Greenvale Pastures Greenvale Pastures is an inter-generational farm that the vendors have carefully developed and nurtured into a high quality intensive arable, dairy support/livestock property.

Tender closes 12.00pm, Fri 22nd Apr, 2022 (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR99033

The farm combines its natural resources, climatic conditions with leading edge technology and excellent infrastructure to place it at the forefront of NZ and worldwide nutrient, environmental sustainability, irrigation and arable best practice. With proprietary seed contracts planted and in place plus arable and nutrient IP this is a leading farm that stands apart. The sale of Greenvale Pastures presents a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to secure one of Canterbury's finest arable farms at the top of its game.

Greg Jopson M 027 447 4382

E gregj@pb.co.nz

Paul Cunneen M 0274 323 382

E paulc@pb.co.nz

Leeston 311 Knyvetts Road Tender

Together Stronger

Our combined strengths complement each other, creating more opportunity for our customers and Farmlands shareholders across provincial New Zealand. • A nationwide network from Northland to Southland • Sound, trustworthy advice from market-leading experts • Shareholder benefits and preferential commission rates means more money in your pocket Bigger networks, more buyers, better results For more information call 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz/together PB053815

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

382.4 ha - Namirembe Dairy A lot of thought has gone into every aspect of developing this quality and high-specced dairy unit. The focus has been on the farm efficiencies, for stock and staff, providing a productive easy to manage dairy unit. 252 ha centre pivots, 47 ha rotorainer and 23 ha k-line irrigation from three strong, reliable wells with some capacity to extend to dry land corners. The farm has an "A" audit for its recent Farm Environment Plan. Currently milking 1,200 cows and produced 572,815 kgMS in 20/21 season through a near new 80 bail rotary shed with automatic cup removers, Protrac and in shed feeding system. The results of strong pastures from good fertility levels are evident.

Tender closes 3.00pm, Mon 28th Mar, 2022 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers (Canterbury) Limited 217 West Street Ashburton View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR12075

Paul Cunneen M 0274 323 382

Proud to be here

TAKE YOUR PICK

OF THIS SEASON’S BEST

Country is altogether better at bringing this season’s finest selection of rural property and industry insights directly to you. As the leaves begin to turn, we’ve had our eyes and ears to the ground to deliver you 84 of autumn’s freshest farm, specialty and lifestyle property opportunities for sale. Brought to you by Bayleys – New Zealand’s number one rural real estate brand – Country is the market-leading publication and forum for rural property and commentary. In the latest edition, Country looks at how Kiwi exporters are leveraging what’s unique about this country to market their products to global consumers. We also look at the water as a resource and the need to get the balance right for the primary sector and our communities’ futures. For your copy of Country magazine, including the latest insights and editorial content on key topics of interest to the rural property sector, call 0800 BAYLEYS or visit bayleys.co.nz/country. It’s altogether better in the country. LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

NEW LISTING

Maraekakaho Aorangi Road

Quality and location, with options

230ha

Located in the popular Maraekakaho district, approximately 10 kilometres up Aorangi Road, this 230 hectare bare land block provides an excellent opportunity for the purchaser to secure a quality land holding. The property is predominantly of easy rolling contour with good flats at the eastern end. The western boundary has a steeper, bush-clad valley which hosts numerous red deer, ideal for the hunting enthusiast. The farm has been used for finishing stock and is well subdivided into approximately 15 paddocks with a high standard of fencing. Near the entrance there are several potential building sites which offer exceptional views. Water is sourced from a spring-fed creek and dams, and there is a haybarn along with sheep and cattle yards. The easy terrain and wellformed tracks provide excellent access and the close-knit Maraekakaho community is only ten minutes away.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Thu 21 Apr 2022 17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tim Wynne-Lewis 027 488 9719 tim.wynne-lewis@bayleys.co.nz Luke Dee 021 158 3152 luke.dee@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2852874

EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

FINAL NOTICE

NEW LISTING

Boundary lines are indicative only

Kaukapakapa 382 Jordan Road

Okaihau 329 Mangamuka Road Picturesque dairy farm - selfcontained On offer is this picturesque self-contained dairy farm that boundaries the Hokianga Harbour, located only 53km from the popular destination of Kerikeri. Comprising of 191.66 hectares (more or less) in eleven titles, this farm presents as an ideal opportunity for a buyer, who is looking for a farm where scope and potential are unlimited. The contour of this productive farm is a mixture of flat to easy rolling with semi-volcanic and river silt soils. Currently, 250 cows are milked once a day through a tidy 18ASHB cowshed, on track to do 80,000kgMS, with the farm's best production achieved of 96,000kgMS.

bayleys.co.nz/1020682

bayleys.co.nz

Set Sale Date (unless sold prior) 2pm, Thu 24 Mar 2022 62 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri View by appointment Catherine Stewart 027 356 5031 catherine.stewart@bayleys.co.nz Craig De Goldi 027 287 7544 craig.degoldi@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Hi-tech waterfront setup! Superbly positioned on the banks of the Kaipara Harbour lies this 179ha (approximately) dairy farm in three titles. The farm employs four state-of-the-art Lely "Astronaut" milking robots, which provide a continuous 24/7 service. This high-tech "autonomous" system not only milks the cows, it will also draft, feed, and keep a full animal health record. Currently milking 200 cows, producing a high of 69,564kgMS, and rearing 200 calves, this hands-off system allows you more time out on the farm, or out on the water! The farm is well subdivided into 58 paddocks with an extensive race network system, and a full range of support infrastructure. A rare opportunity with snapper and Auckland on your doorstep!

bayleys.co.nz/1202899

179ha

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 20 Apr 2022 41 Queen Street, Warkworth View by appointment John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

Orini 170 Woodward Road Quality 98 hectares This highly fertile property has been generously farmed by the same family for the past 34 years. With its flat contour, quality soils and excellent management, the land is well positioned for future endeavours. A multitude of ventures could be explored with consolidated peat soils ideal for dairy support, cropping or even horticulture to maximise your potential return. Infrastructure includes two implement sheds and a large set of cattle yards, with load out ramp. Located in the heart of Orini and Whitikahu’s rural landscapes, the potential to build could also be an option. This property is a credit to the owners for their consistent management, which offers the ability to secure a highly productive unit at its best.

Central Hawkes Bay 414 Te Apiti Road, Elsthorpe 98.29ha Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 7 Apr 2022 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Wed 23 Mar & Wed 30 Mar or by appointment Scott Macdonald 027 753 3854 scott.macdonald@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Waimoana Waimoana consisting of 492ha can be said to be a pure New Zealand coastal paradise. Situated 50km from Havelock North, the property encompasses its very own private beach with grandstand views East over the Pacific Ocean. Waimoana considered to be strong limestone country, at present carries approximately 3,500 stock units across a sheep breeding and cattle system. Approximately 38ha of flat land at the front of the property with the balance medium to steeper contour. Two additional ideal holiday homes, three stand woolshed, cattle and sheep yards. Excellent reticulation spring water system. Only four kilometres to the local Kairakau beach resort.

Lower Hutt 940 Pencarrow Coast Road, Pencarrow Head

Rolleston 35 McClelland Road

A coastal sanctuary with city convenience

Balance lifestyle and income

It offers privacy, spectacular views, a 205ha backyard full of bushclad hills and wild game together with frontage to a coastline that gives access to some of Wellington’s most productive diving and fishing spots. What more do you need?

bayleys.co.nz/3254470

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 12pm, Thu 28 Apr 2022 26 Takapau Road, Waipukurau View by appointment Andy Hunter 027 449 5827 andy.hunter@bayleys.co.nz Andy Lee 027 354 8608 andy.lee@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2870866

bayleys.co.nz/2313099

Situated on Wellington’s rugged South coast and accessed by a 20-minute drive along a private coastal road from Eastbourne, (or less than five minutes by helicopter for those in a hurry) Pencarrow Lodge is ideal for those seeking a unique slice of Godzone to get away from it all.

492.4205ha

205ha Tender Closing 4pm, Wed 27 Apr 2022 Level 14, The Bayleys Building, 36 Brandon Street, Wellington Mark Hourigan 021 427 603 mark.hourigan@bayleys.co.nz James Higgie 027 444 7656 james.higgie@bayleys.co.nz CAPITAL COMMERCIAL (2013) LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

The return on investment on this property is hard to beat and comes with a fabulous home and lifestyle opportunity. The threeshed poultry operation provides steady revenue with the current contract in place until 2035 with Tegel Foods. Very easily managed by a fully automated system with very good profitability. Those looking for a new challenge or a hands-off investment, whether it be an absentee owner or living on-site, could enjoy good monthly returns with a manager in place. Perfect for large families or those who desire plenty of space to entertain, the five-bedroom family home boasts a games room and indoor swimming pool, plus a separate two-bedroom home. This lifestyle block is well suited to pursuing a wide range of hobbies.

4.0469ha Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Thu 31 Mar 2022 3 Deans Avenue, Chch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225 craig.blackburn@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5517819

bayleys.co.nz

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 21, 2022

Timaru Surrounds 139 Phar Lap Road

'Fairview Holsteins'

Retiring after a number of years, our vendors are genuine sellers who have improved the main dairy platform. This property is held in 12 titles which allows many options so will suit a variety of purchasers. 'Fairview Holsteins' has been farmed successfully for the last 42 years. The farm, approximately 330ha effective is fully self-contained and utilises a large wintering barn which also doubles as a feed platform. Currently carrying approximately 570 MA cows (approximately 460 milking at any one time) as well as 100 replacement heifers and 100 calves. Feed is also cut and carried from two support blocks. Block one for sale: offers over $8,800,000 plus GST (if any). Block two for sale: offers over $2,200,000 plus GST (if any).

Price by Negotiation View by appointment Hamish Lane 027 685 6204 hamish.lane@bayleys.co.nz Georgie Murray 027 562 4100 georgie.murray@bayleys.co.nz

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5517856

Albury 524 Rocky Gully Road 'Kerry Downs' 'Kerry Downs' is a 288.851 hectare (more or less) dryland dairy support block for a larger dairy operation for the past 14 years. Subdivided into approximately 43 paddocks all with reticulated water fed to majority 1,500-litre troughs sourced from the eight units of Albury Water. Currently carrying approximately 450 calves, 450 18 month old heifers (supplied as calves), 50 assorted bulls and up to 1,100 cows to be wintered this season for 10 weeks which is the current stocking rate. Support buildings and infrastructure include cattle yards with a Te Pari crush, two haysheds, implement shed, silo, three-stand raised board woolshed and a four-bedroom dwelling.

bayleys.co.nz/5517824

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 2pm, Wed 20 Apr 2022 View by appointment Hamish Lane 027 685 6204 hamish.lane@bayleys.co.nz Georgie Murray 027 562 4100 georgie.murray@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

GREAT LOCATION WITH VIEWS 538 Puketawai Road, Otorohanga Fenced into 11 paddocks by way of permanent 8-wire batten fencing with some 4-wire electric internal fences. Well fertilisted and also limed. Rolling contour with four hay paddocks making between 45-60 bales of baleage annually. Wonderful views from proposed building sites. 55-75 15 month cattle purchased each year and taken through to primes. Water easement for stock water into 16 troughs. Excellent location being so close to Te Kuiti, Waitomo and Otorohanga. If you ever had a dream to own your own small farm, this could be it. Well suited to run replacement heifers.

21.3937 Hectares Deadline Sale

nzr.nz/RX3189704 VIEW BY APPOINTMENT Deadline Sale Closing 11am, Wed 6 April 2022 1 Goldfinch St, Ohakune Gary Scott 027 484 4933 | gary@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 21, 2022

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

EXCELLENT RETURNS ON YOUR INVESTMENT

$11.5m + gst Located in the central heart of the Taranaki, this chicken broiler farm offers a solid business income and may be the perfect opportunity to make the change and embrace a unique country lifestyle. Set on 5.0425ha (approx. 12.5 acres) and enjoying stunning open rural views the property is only a short drive to good schooling and community hubs and 15km (approx.) to New Plymouth with all that has to offer. The 3-bedroom family home is very comfortable and has recently been fully refurbished. A separate double garage has an adjoining rumpus/games room for the family to spread out. All of the 8 broiler units have been well maintained, fully upgraded and automated to a high standard. An array of support buildings including implement shed, office, feed silos, generators and other assets make this a very attractive property. Recent improvements to the operation include natural energy and water harvesting facilities that have received recognition and environmental awards. Currently operated as an investment with one full-time manager plus a further fulltime labour unit, the property and business includes all necessary equipment required day to day along with training and assistance for new operators. An extremely profitable business showing exceptional returns – don’t delay, enquire now.

Ross Christensen

0204 051 0527 ross@countrywiderealestatesales.co.nz Licensed REAA 2008

Geoff Pridham

LK0111049©

www.trademe.co.nz/a/property/rural/listing/3210321089

027 232 1516 geoffp@abcbusiness.co.nz www.abcbusiness.co.nz

CARBON COUNTRY

234 HECTARES

DEADLINE SALE

9.45 ha

Matamata Progressive investors are recognizing the chicken industry for its secure and enticing return on capital. Iron Hill Farms has a secure contract with Inghams Enterprises and consists of six automated growing sheds totaling 9024m2 on 9.45ha. The property is fully compliant and will be sold as a going concern including two very good homes plus a neat two bedroom unit. The icing on the cake here is the location part way between Matamata and Cambridge. What more could you ask for, the figures stack up and the industry is thriving - look no further.

matamata.ljhooker.co.nz/JHHHR1

326 Creek Road, Whanganui Deadline Sale Closes Thurs 7th April, 4pm (unless sold prior) ___________________________________ View By Appointment Only ___________________________________ Agent Peter Begovich 027 476 5787 Rex Butterworth 021 348 276 LJ Hooker Matamata 07 888 5677 Link Realty Ltd. Licensed Agent REAA 2008

An opportunity to join the Carbon investment industry at a scale that is affordable. Plant your own forest and watch your investment grow three ways—Carbon, Timber, Land Values—all this while enjoying income from bees. You can watch all this from the hunter’s hut, situated at the back of the property. Takeover dates are flexible with the option to lease back to the current owners. Another 250ha may also become available to the Purchaser. This property would also suit an individual or syndicate buyer.

David Cotton M: 027 442 5920 H: 06 342 9666 E: davidc@forfarms.co.nz

We welcome your inspection by appointment with Vendor’s agent.

FOR SALE BY TENDER

Tender closing 5 April 2022 (will not be sold prior) www.forfarms.co.nz - ID FF3360

JW110814©

Iron Hill Chicken Farm

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

GOWAN LEA FOREST

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 21, 2022

FOR SALE

Davies Road, Malvern Hills Canterbury Arotahi Agribusiness Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent REA Act

Situated near the foothills of the Southern Alps between the Christchurch CBD (76km*) and Mount Hutt Ski Area (46km*), Gowan Lea is a well-located, medium-scale, mixed species forest with both investment and recreational appeal. Stands of professionally managed crop and existing registration in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), gives the incoming purchaser flexibility of future returns through a cost-effective harvest program and/or via immediate exposure to the burgeoning carbon markets.

Deadline Offers:

Thursday 14 April 2022 at 4pm (NZST) Wyatt Johnston Chan Singh Jeremy Keating *Approximately

+64 27 8151 303 +64 27 767 7113 +64 21 461 210

+ + + + +

316.6ha freehold land, 185.4ha* net stocked area Pinus radiata and Douglas fir trees – all 1999 plantings 10,637* carbon credits earned 2021, 133,930* credits available Additional post-1989 land potentially eligible for ETS registration Large concrete block building, 4WD tracks, native bush

• Situated 15 mins east of Palmerston North is this 204ha farm. • This property is in five even sized titles and in a summer safe area on free draining Matamau and Kopua silt loam soils. • Has been milking around 340 cows on a level 2 system with Most of the herd wintered at home. • Infrastructure includes a modern four bedroom family home set in lovely treed grounds. • 40 aside herringbone Dairy with cup removers, large 400 cow feed pad, five bay hay shed and numerous other farm sheds. • Very well raced with own metal, good access to all paddocks. • With good fertility, excellent layout and convenient location This could be your next farm. Takeover to suit. Tender closing 4 pm on 31st March, 2022 (if not sold prior) Call Les on 0274 420 582 to inspect

Sallan Realty

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

Your destination for rural real estate. Add another touchpoint to your campaign on the website built for farmers, and align your brand with the content they read. Geotargetting, print packages, and premium positions are available. Market your property to an audience that counts. Contact your agent to advertise today! www.farmersweekly.co.nz

JW110780©

GROWS GRASS ALL YEAR

CALL 0800LESCAIN

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Tech & Toys

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 21, 2022

farmersweekly.co.nz/advertising 0800 85 25 80

0800 901 902

7 NORTH ISLAND AGENTS

www.pppindustries.co.nz sales@pppindustries.co.nz

Northland to Manawatu

10 SOUTH ISLAND AGENTS Nelson to Invercargill

INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURE EQUIPMENT

Require a feed system or an upgrade? • Rotary & Herringbone Sheds

• Skiold Disc Mills and Silos

Spare Parts: • Drive Units & Control Units • Flexi augurs, elbows

• Unloaders & Anchor bearings • Stainless pool cables 48mm & 90mm pulleys

LK0109872©

REQUIRE SPARE PARTS? Call PPP and get the BEST price

LOG SPLITTER 35T PETROL The log splitting beast! This heavy-duty 35T splitter is the biggest and toughest of them all. A grunty machine that can handle 35T of splitting pressure, splitting both vertically and horizontally, making heavier logs easier on the back.

$2699

Promo code: Farmer50 to receive and additional $50 off the total order value

• 9hp 4-stroke petrol engine • Cutting capacity 650mm length

• Ram size 5inch • Splitting time 5-10 seconds • Net weight 280kg 0800 3325 6278 contact@dealmart.co.nz www.dealmart.co.nz

LK0111048©

$2499

The best priced splitter for its size in the country!

Primary Pathways – Jobs, Education & Training

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Mangaohane Station is a 4800ha hill-country property located approximately 50 minutes northeast of Taihape and 1.5 hours from Napier. The property has a grazing area of some 4000ha and winters 38,000su, including 17,000 ewes and 1100 Angus cows. The property is well developed with good access and farm infrastructure. We require General Hand and Station Cook combo: The general hand role is to provide day-to-day farm maintenance and to assist with general farm work alongside other staff when required. Tractor driving experience for feeding out and general farm work would be beneficial. The cooking role involves preparing three meals a day for up to six permanent staff, plus occasional casuals. A good cook shop with appropriate facilities is available. These roles will suit a couple and comes with a tidy three-bedroom cottage and an attractive remuneration package. The Station bounds the Rangitikei River with good opportunities for outdoor recreation, Pukeokahu primary school is located 20 minutes from the property and serviced by a school bus. Mangaohane is part of the Rimanui Farms group of Properties.

Contact: Bryce Gilbert bryceg@rimanui.co.nz Phone 06 388 0064

Limestone Downs is a large-scale commercial beef, sheep and dairy operation owned by the C. Alma Baker Charitable Trust (which operates in NZ and the UK) for the purpose of funding agriculture research and tertiary scholarships. The Trust regularly hosts Massey University scientists and students and hosts young farmers from the UK every four months (although this has paused during the global pandemic). The Trust makes regular awards in support of research projects and postgraduate scholarships in agriculture. Consisting of 3200 hectares (1700ha sheep & beef and about 520ha dairy), the farm supports 15,000su (9000 sheep (with trials in progress on Wiltshire) and 1200 head of dairy beef). It has a good balance of hills and flats, a wide range of soils varying from peat to volcanic in origin, a favourable micro-climate and 1000ha of native bush. Working under the General Manager, key functions of this working manager role are team leadership & training, having great stockmanship with the ability to achieve good livestock growth and finishing to maximising the farms potential, and assisting with the research projects being undertaken. Accommodation is a good 3 bedroom plus office home, with log burner heating and double attached garaging, a farm swimming pool with barbeque/socialising area is nearby. Primary school is available locally, with secondary 45 minutes away, with van pickup at the gate. Suitable applicants would have a genuine passion for the industry and its future in NZ, be progressive and interested in the research being undertaken, and have: • A proven ability to work within a larger team and successful team leadership • Exceptional livestock and pasture management skills • A strong understanding of farm policies including Health & Safety and adherence to these • Effective communication and record keeping skills including IT competency, Farm IQ & NAIT • A team of up to five working dogs under good command • NZ residency An attractive remuneration package is offered for the successful applicant. Applications close Friday 8 April 2022. Please apply by email sending a cover letter and your current CV, including at least three recent referees, to: anne@cardon.co.nz. For queries please contact 027 271 1733. Anne Burdon – Cardon Rural Recruitment

LK0111067©

Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email

Chances are if you’ve flown south from Auckland airport you’ll have had a bird’s eye view of the farm which lies some 15km south of Port Waikato in steep hill country and was a location in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. With 5km of beach access and native bush on farm, fishing & hunting are at your doorstep.

LK0084725©

With 7000 monthly page views, 5000+ Facebook likes, and delivered to every rural mailbox in New Zealand each week, Farmers Weekly Jobs is the #1 place to list your rural vacancy.

SHEEP & BEEF MANAGER

MANGAOHANE STATION

LK0111030©

Run off your feet?

GENERAL HAND & STATION COOK

Noticeboard YOUNG PERSON looking for a house or unit to rent in the Morrinsville/Matamata district, working full time. Phone Matt on 027 507 4462.

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

DAIRY SUPPORT OR OTHER. Good Facilities and experienced grazier. Long or short term options. Waikato area. Call Mike for further details 027 487 8633.

WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Don’t leave it to rust away! We pay cash for tractors, excavators, small crawler tractors and surplus farm machinery. Ford – Ferguson – Hitachi – Komatsu – John Deere and more. Tell us what you have no matter where it is in NZ. You never know.. what’s resting in your barn could be fattening up your wallet! Email admin@ loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin on 0274 426 936 (No texts please)

WANTED

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

This role has scope for reporting and you are expected to contribute to the editorial leadership group.

ANIMAL HEALTH LK0111075©

For a job description and application form, email:

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

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

CONTRACTORS

JOBS BOARD

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

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

DOGS FOR SALE

Exotic Animals Keeper

2½ YEAR Huntaway bitch. Running well. Pups available, black and tan, Huntaway. Phone 027 848 4408. WORKERS FROM $1.14 per day! Deliver NZ wide. Trial, guaranteed! www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

Farm Manager General Hand and Station Cook General Manager Head Shepherd / Stock Manager Operations Manager PIPI - Pathways into Primary Industries Senior Business Manager

GIBB-GRO GROWTH PROMOTANT

HAULER CREW available for harvesting. Wairarapa area. Phone 027 489 7036.

PROMOTES QUICK PASTURE growth. Only $6.50+gst per hectare delivered. 0508-GIBBGRO [0508 442 247] www. gibbgro.co.nz. “The Proven One.”

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

LOG BUYER

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

RONGOTEA LIONS FUNDRAISER

FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS and rescue helicopter. Spring balayage auction. Te Kawau rec grounds Rongotea. 2nd April, 10am start. Registration required, covid pass and masks please. Contacts: Ash Hazlitt 027 246 6559. Graham Lavin 027 640 7486.

WANTED TO BUY HOUSES FOR REMOVAL. North Island. Phone 021 455 787.

LAND FOR LEASE

The Mana Ariki Marae Trustees and Te Kotahitanga Society Inc wish to advise there is the opportunity to lease approximately 300ha located at 476 Ongarue Back Rd, Taumarunui.

Call Debbie

Open days to inspect the property will be held on Friday 25th March and Tuesday 29th March at 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Please bring your own four wheeler/motorbike.

Supply Chain Coordinator

For health and safety reasons please register in advance by either emailing peter@perrinag.net.nz or ringing Peter on 027 444 5876.

Tractor/Truck/Machinery Operator

An information pack will be available to registered parties.

*FREE upload to Primary Pathways Aotearoa: www.facebook.com

HEALEY AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT Looking For & Selling All Farm Machinery Market Gardening Valuations Cropping Dairy Orchard Contracting Machinery Brokers Pukekohe Contact Ph Brian Healey 027 231 5913 healag@xtra.co.nz

WANTED TO LEASE FARMLAND TO LEASE. Experienced farmer looking for land 100 acres+. Suitable for sheep / beef grazing. A building with power and water essential. Good quality pasture. East Taranaki. Other areas considered. For more info call: 020 4018 9927.

Plenty of driveshafts available

SHARE FARMING OPPORTUNITY

Quality Hereford cows available. Guaranteed incalf to Hereford stud bull. Term starts April, (negotiable). No cost way to increase herd numbers. 50-200 available. Call Mark for more info. 021 330 425

CONTROL FLYSTRIKE & LICE Includes • Jetter unit • Pump & hose kit • Delivery to nearest main centre

76 80 +GS

SUPPLYING FARMERS SINCE 1962

Selling something? 0800 85 25 80 classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Sub-Editor

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

Interested parties will be asked to submit a lease proposal and price by 5.00pm Thursday 14th April. A commencement date during May will be determined with the successful applicant.

Sheep and Beef Manager Stock Manager

HORTICULTURE

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide. We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase. NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 04 293 2097 Richard.

0800 436 566

JW110988©

You will have qualifications and experience in journalism, an excellent standard of grammar and spelling, an understanding of media law, meticulous attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines. Ideally you will also have sub-editing experience including headline writing, page layout and photo management along with experience with content management systems and news website management.

FORESTRY

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

LK0111083©

WANTED TO BUY

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

If you have all the necessary skills to be a first class subeditor, an interest in the New Zealand agricultural sector, and you want to work alongside an award-winning team of rural journalists, then please apply.

Applications close: Tuesday 12 April 2022

GRAZING AVAILABLE

ANIMAL HANDLING

Farmers Weekly is New Zealand’s most respected, trusted and reliable source of agricultural news and information.

hr@globalhq.co.nz

DOGS WANTED

JW110646©

Due to an internal promotion, we’re looking for a new subeditor based at our Feilding head office.

DOLOMITE

ACCOMMODATION WANTED

LK0111077©

Farmers Weekly Sub editor

Industries Ltd

0800 901 902 sales@pppindustries.co.nz www.pppindustries.co.nz

TOP QUALITY ROUND BALEAGE (10 equivalent) Collect from Taihape

550 mixed bales of - surge italian rye grass, ruby red clover, sophie white clover, optimised poncho repel mixed and ﬂourish grass. Seed/Agronomy - H&T Feilding Contractor - Bruce Gordon Marton (they will quote on collection and freight)

LK0111052©

Primary Pathways

DISCOUNT for total bales 550 at $80.00 + gst Mokai Station 027 3038956

*conditions apply

MOWER MASTER 12HP, diesel, electric start, 50 ton Heavy duty construction for serious wood splitting. Towable. Supplied flatpack or inquire for assembled pricing

JW110826©

Noticeboard Mark Copeland LLB, CMInstD Available to assist with resolving rural disputes, or for appointment as a Sharemilking Conciliator, Rural Arbitrator or Farm Debt Mediator Ph: 07 345 9050 | e-mail: copeland@copelandlawyers.com

LK0109558©

Rural Disputes Expert

Heavy duty long lasting Ph 021 047 9299

Splitter with hydraulic lifting table $4800

Splitter

$4200

To find out more visit

LAND WANTED TO LEASE An established dairy farming business, wish to lease additional land within the Mid/South Canterbury area. The land must be capable of running dairy calves and R1 heifers. This family operation has the capacity and the skill level required to lease land, offering competitive rental and stable tenants. Ideally, longer term leasing would be preferred with a minimum area of 100 hectares dryland or 50 hectares irrigated. All enquiries will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. In the first instance, please contact Ross Polson 027 450 8372

www.moamaster.co.nz Phone 028 461 5112 Email: mowermasterltd@gmail.com

JW111015©

LK0105354©

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

Livestock Noticeboard

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

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 21, 2022

AUSTREX NZ LTD L IV E STO CK EXPO R T E R S

OUTSTANDING YOUNG JERSEY COWS & HEIFERS

MORRINSVILLE EMPTY COW SALES

GRAZING REQUIRED

On Farm Auction A/C: H E DAIRY LTD

High Premiums Paid For Young Empty Cows

in the North & South Island from May 1st For a 12 month term (negotiable) For 8mth old Steers

Tuesday 5th April - 12 Noon 75 Rapurapu Road, Matamata DN 78199

Morrinsville Dairy Complex

Comprising: 100 x 2-5yr Incalf Jersey Cows BW 254 PW 278 28 x R2yr Incalf Jersey Heifers BW 255 PW 253 Our vendors have purchased a small farm and are putting forward an elite line of 2-5yr cows (however they are retaining a small number for family breeding purposes). Having used Nominated Semen for 22yrs with an emphasis on Capacity, Protein, Fertility, Udder Confirmation and Developing Cow Families. Excellent production Averaging 400kgms for the last 3 seasons on System 3. Cows DTC 20.7.22. 5 wks AI with 80% Incalf then tailed to Vendors DNA Profiled Jersey Bulls. Heifers DTC 20.7.22 to Vendors DNA Profiled Jersey Bulls. TB C10. Lepto Vaccinated. M. Bovis and BVD undetected. A2A2 results will be available with the catalogue. Payment 20th May 2022 Purchaser has the option to take immediate delivery or Vendor is happy to retain until 31st May 2022. Dams of some of the sale cows will be presented alongside their progeny on Sale Day for viewing purposes. Jersey Breeders - if you are looking for well-bred exceptional type cattle with high Indexes this sale is a must attend. Viewing welcome prior to sale. This auction will be screened live via mylivestock.co.nz with online bidding available

Thursday 24th March 2022 and every Thursday thereafter Empty Cows 12 Noon Approximate tally of 450

Good milky Friesian, Crossbred & Jersey Cows. Good demand for High BW Empties. Clients are looking for good sound Young Empties. If you are looking for good milky empties you should attend this sale. Market Report Autumn Incalf Cows $1300 - 1000 Elite Empty Cows $1800 - $2200 Top Frsn & XBD Cows $1150 - $1400 Good Frsn & XBD Cows $900 - $1050 Top Jsy Cows $900 - $1000 Good/Medium Jsy Cows $600 - $700 Lesser Empties $400 - $650

www.austrex.co.nz

Stay ahead of the rest

Give your local NZFL Agent a call or for more details phone: Darryl Houghton 0274 515 315

Sign up to AgriHQ’s free upcoming saleyard notifications to find what’s on offer before sale day. Choose which sale yards you want to follow and find out the number and class of stock being entered at the next sale.

Hybrid Auction Sales streamed live via MyLiveStock

LK0111031©

For more information contact: Paul Tippett 027 438 1623

Further Enquiries: Vendor: Herb Wuest 021 565 464 NZFLL Agent: Michael Conwell 027 226 1611

farmersweekly.co.nz/enewsletters

PALMERSTON 1ST CALF SALE Key: Dairy

Friday 25 March, 10am Palmerston Saleyards All cattle yarded overnight and sold over scales. Approx: • 350 Angus & Angus X Steer Calves • 60 Hereford Steer Calves • 95 Charolais X Steer Calves • 40 Simmental X Steer Calves • 10 Red Devon Steer Calves • 40 Shorthorn Charolais X Steer Calves • 155 Angus & Angus X Heifer Calves • 85 Charolais X Heifer Calves • 30 Simmental X Heifer Calves • 10 Hereford Heifer Calves • 16 Red Devon Heifer Calves • 30 Shorthorn Charolais X Heifer Calves Enquiries: Gerard Shea (PGW) 027 442 5379 Don Roney (RLL) 027 435 7434 Hamish McAslan (Carrfields) 027 281 0377

Helping grow the country

Stock sale coming up? Give Javier a bell: 0800 85 25 80

Other

UPCOMING EAST COAST SALES

OKAWA HOLSTEINS COMPLETE DISPERSAL SALE

Tuesday 12th April 11.00am

MATAWHERO WNR STR & BULL SALE

Thursday 7th April 11.00am

240A Strange Road, RD2, Te Aroha

Tuesday, 29th March 2022, 11am

Comprising:

MATAWHERO HFR & OLDER CATTLE

Comprising: • 160 Autumn & Spring Cows • 25 Spring Calving Heifers • 47 R1yr Heifers Capacious cows with great udders, temperament & eye appeal greet you as you walk through the herd at Okawa. Nominated AI sires have always been selected to improve & produce functionally correct animals that last for many lactations, pay the bills & have given a lot of pleasure to the whole family over the years. Cows will be in-milk on sale day. C10, Lepto vaccinated, M/B not detected. This is your opportunity to buy genuine stock bred by farmers with a passion for their cows.

A/C Greg & Jake Lochead

280 Jersey & XBred Incalf Dairy Cows BW 170 PW 194 RA 93% DTC 15th July, incalf to nominated sires: Carrick, Connacht, Dominator, Enterprise, Quigley, & Showan for 3 weeks tailed Jersey & Angus. 385 Milksolids per cow - feed system 3.

Wednesday, 30th March 2022, 11am

WAIROA WEANER SALE

Thursday 31st March 2022, 11am Contact: Jamie Hayward Chris Hurlstone Ian Rissetto Mason Birrell

027 434 7586 027 598 6542 027 444 9347 027 496 7253

Delivery immediate or no later than 29th April due to farm sale. Hybrid On-Farm BIDR sale available for Catalogues will be available late March at

Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions

Sheep

JERSEY & XBRED CRV INMILK CLEARING SALE

clients online saleday. Watch and Bid from anywhere. For more info visit www.bidr.co.nz

Cattle

If buying on Bidr please register well prior to sale day. Catalogues available on AgOnline on for a hard copy phone the auctioneers.

www.agonline.co.nz Contact: Greg (Vendor) 021 331 031

Tim & Jo Barclay (Vendors) 027 484 7356 Andrew Reyland (PGW) 027 223 7092

Allan Jones (PGGW) 027 224 0768 Watch and Bid from anywhere. For more info visit www.bidr.co.nz Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions

On Farm: 893 Otorohanga Road, Te Awamutu

Secure Your Dairy Herd Now Contact your local rep

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

Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions

Helping grow the country

Assist farmers to make the right purchasing decisions for their herd with Dairy Farmer’s May feature

Better Bulls, Better Calves Talk to us now about your Dairy Farmer 2022 bull sale advertising 0800 85 25 80

Watch and Bid from anywhere. For more info visit www.bidr.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – March 21, 2022

SALE TALK

The teacher said, ‘I need your real name boy’, to which the lad replied, ‘It’s Wagon Wheel, sir....Really.’ The teacher, rather annoyed, re-joined, ‘All right young man, take yourself right down to the principal’s office this minute.’ The youngster pushed himself out of his chair, turned to his sister and said, ‘C’mon, ‘Chicken Feed’, he ain’t gonna believe you, either.’ Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more! If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the Farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@ globalhq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you.

FOR SALE

Complete Hereford Herd Dispersal Sell Privately On Farm

100% Koanui Bred wk Apr 4th 20 Hereford Bull 2 cycles 205 R3YR Heifers VIC 10th Nov 400 R4–8YR Cows VIC 25th Nov 100 R2YR HEIFERS 12 R3-6YR Koanui Bulls

To view the catalogue & to register to buy visit: bidr.co.nz

TH DAIRY SPECIALISTS 15NATIONWIDE MARCH Visit:Brecon www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz 7.00pm Milking Shorthorns Sale ND to register your requirements and be 22Login MARCH 8.00pm Wainuka Devonarrive. Stud informed whenSouth new listings Female Sale SELECTION OF LISTINGS: 23RD MARCH • DH2521 - 140 x Frsn/FrsnX Herd 11.00am Allerton Farms Herd Clearing Sale BW154 PW223 RA90% DTC 27/7. 24TH MARCH Low-cost system 400ms $2000 ono 1.30pm Torrisdale Murray Grey Stud Call Colin: 027Female 646 8908Sale (Taranaki) Annual 7.00pm Beltex NZ Pure Bred Ewe Lamb Sale • DH2518 - 210 x OAD Xbred Herd 7.30pm Beechwood Polled Hereford BW71 PW110 DTC 5/7 Heifer Sale

Hard Farm Low inputs $1450

Call Michael: 027 439 4023 (Northland)

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

• DH2516 - Pick 100 from 126 x Frsn cows BW74 PW105 RA94% DTC 20/7 www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

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

TUESDAY 22 MARCH 8.00pm Wainuka South Devon Stud

Call Karl: 027 207 4767 (Waikato) • DR2506 - 86 x Jrsy/JrsyX I/C Heifers BW193 PW181 DTC 20/7 CRL of capacious heifers $1650

WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH 11.00am Allerton Farms Herd Clearing Sale

Anerley Station

On-Farm Capital Stock Cow Sale

THURSDAY 24 MARCH 1.30pm Torrisdale Murray Grey Stud Annual Female Sale 7.00pm Beltex NZ Pure Bred Ewe Lamb Sale 7.30pm Beechwood Polled Hereford Heifer Sale 2022

Tinui Valley Road, Masterton

(approx 20km from Tinui Village & will be signposted)

Monday 4th April – 11.30am start

Call Jack: 027 823 2373 (Waikato) • DR2509 - 77 x Frsn/FrsnX I/C Heifers BW166 PW188 DTC 17/7 CRL out of established herd $1600 Call Andrew: 027 487 2044 (B.O.P.) Contact your local agent or call:

FRIDAY 25 MARCH 10.00am Palmerston 1st Calf Sale

Farm sold – Genuine Capital Stock Cows

Comprising 300 cows & 5 Sire bulls • 70 Rising 3 yr Angus Cows • 50 Rising 4yr Angus Cows • 70 Rising 5yr Angus Cows • 70 Rising 6yr Angus Cows • 40 Mixed Aged Composite X Cows • 5 Mixed Aged Angus Bulls VIC 24-11-21 to 1-2-22

“BIG” cows out of the herd $2000

UPCOMING AUCTIONS

LK0110878©

It was the first day of school and the teacher asked each child their name. When he got to one of the farmer George’s sons, the boy replied, ‘Wagon Wheel.’

CROPPING MACHINERY CLEARING SALE

Due to pine trees

Paul Kane: 027 286 9279 National Dairy & Live Export Coordinator

MONDAY 28 MARCH 11.00am Merchiston Angus Stud Cow Dispersal Sale Regular Livestream coverage of five North Island Saleyards Head to bidr.co.nz to find out more.

TB Status C 10

Angus Cows and Bulls are 100% Kakahu Angus stud breeding. Composite cows are Rissington cross breeding Note. The sale will be conducted in the middle set of cattle yards on the farm so 4wd vehicle is recommended No trucking on day of sale

Please call for any further info Craig Nelson 021 457 127 Or vendor Hamish & Penny Johnson 06 372 6879

JW110962©

George, the farmer, had so many children that he ran out of names. So, he started calling his kids after something around his farm.

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook

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

Ready to talk some Bull? Contact Javier: 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@globalhq.co.nz

Conditions apply

Te Awhata Complete Dispersal Sale Jerseys & Ayrshires A/c Barry & Deidre Tippett Friday 1st April 2022 at 168 Lower Arawhata Rd, R.D 31 Opunake 4681 Start time: 10:30am will be available for online bidding

COMPRISING: 272 head – TB Status C10 – Lepto Vacc • • • • • • • • • •

DETAILS:

128 Jersey in-calf cows 10 Jersey empty in-milk cows 25 Jersey in-calf heifers 32 Jersey R1 heifers 41 Ayrshire in-calf cows 3 Ayrshire empty in-milk cows 18 Ayrshire in-calf heifers 11 Ayrshire R1 heifers 2 Friesian in-calf cows 2 Friesian R1 heifers

IS NOWHIGH THE TIME? INDEXING JERSEY & JERSEY CROSS HERD

Foundation Female Sale

BW 143/50 PW 161/67 RA 100% Due to sale of the farm and a change of lifestyle, our Vendors (in top 10 All Breeds for NZ )offer this very attractive, fully

• •

recorded herd. Milked once a day for the last 4 seasons, they are cattle of very good conformation good udders. Cows and heifers are due to Many cows contracted to LIC forwith 2011 matings calve from mid-July. No inductions and no cidrs Due to calve from 16-7-12,used.6.5 weeks The herd (which is 24hr grazed) is milked in a 22 bale rotary shed, they are fed 1.2kgs/cow of AB Jersey and Kiwi cross a PKE/Soya mix in shed. No crops are grown with Estimated to be 420 cows after non hay and silage made on farm. Cows will be in-milk on sale day with delivery asap after sale but not pregnant, culls, older cows & 5% rejection on sale day. This is an attractive herd of cows first Production last season 347kgs establishedms/cow, in the 1990’s by the selection of top is recommended to those farmers in 1000kgs ms/ha, on rollinggenetics to andsteeper need of genuine replacements.

160• MA ANGUS COWS PTIC • Approx.

contoured farm, no meal, palm kernel or maize 28 MARCH – 11am – on farm fed. at Rata

Viewing 27 March 1-4pm•

Young replacement stock also

A catalogue giving all details is available online at: www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz or www. available jersey.org.nz or www.ayrshire.org.nz PLEASE NOTE:

See catalogue online at www.merchiston angus.com or contact Richard Rowe for a catalogue mercang@farmside.co.nz • 0272798841

merchiston angus

Luke Gilbert 027 849 2112 or

Enquiries to the sole marketing agents: Luke.gilbert@carrfields.co.nz or Brian Robinson BRLL PH: 0272 410051 or 07 8583132

Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd 027 241 0051

Jw110975©

This be auction date isof scheduled subject to any Outstanding genetics & potential to one changes due to Covid-19 regulations. the countries leading suppliers of GeneticsENQUIRIES: to the dairy industry for years to come. Full details CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENT Neko McDonald 027 429 8674 or available. Neko.mcdonald@carrfields.co.nz

MARKET SNAPSHOT

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Mel Croad

Suz Bremner

Reece Brick

Fiona Quarrie

Hayley O’Driscoll

Caitlin Pemberton

Deer

Sheep

Cattle BEEF

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.95

5.00

NI lamb (17kg)

8.30

6.50

NI Stag (60kg)

7.95

5.35

NI Bull (300kg)

5.90

5.00

NI mutton (20kg)

5.75

5.80

5.10

SI Stag (60kg)

8.00

5.35

NI Cow (200kg)

4.15

4.30

3.50

SI lamb (17kg)

8.15

8.20

6.25

SI Steer (300kg)

5.85

4.50

SI mutton (20kg)

5.50

5.55

5.00

SI Bull (300kg)

5.75

4.50

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

4.05

4.15

3.25

UK CKT lamb leg

13.67

13.62

10.63

US imported 95CL bull

10.27

10.11

7.50

10.0

US domestic 90CL cow

9.00

9.10

7.15

9.0

6.0

8.0

5.0

$/kg CW

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer slaughter price

$/kg CW

7.0

6.0

5.0

$/kg CW South Island steer slaughter price

7.0

South Island lamb slaughter price

5.5 4.5 Apr

Jun

Dairy

Aug 2021-22

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2020-21

Jun

Prior week

Last year

Coarse xbred ind.

2.58

2.64

2.39

37 micron ewe

2.65

2.70

30 micron lamb

2.75

2.85

$/tonne Jul-21 Sep-21 Sept. 2021

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

4795

5000

4675

SMP

4375

4150

4025

AMF

6650

6750

6850

Butter

6200

6550

6000

Milk Price

9.70

9.77

9.55

Apr

Jun

Aug

2020-21

2021-22

637

2.30

Super

373

305

DAP

1345

891

May-21

Jul-21

Sep-21

Nov-21

Jan-22

Mar-22

Jul-21

Sep-21

Nov-21

Jan-22

Mar-22

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

5000

450

$/tonne

4400 4200 Aug 4 weeks ago

Sep

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

27.52

33.4

25.93

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

5.05

5.36

4.33

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.485

7.885

6.88

Mainfreight Limited

4.71

4.75

4.3

Spark New Zealand Limited

5.86

6.36

5.45

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

78.58

94.4

75.11

Ebos Group Limited

37.85

43.13

36.11 7.55

Contact Energy Limited

7.77

8.42

Infratil Limited

7.815

8.34

7.5

Fletcher Building Limited

6.47

7.44

6.23

Listed Agri Shares

400

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.225

0.27

0.215

The a2 Milk Company Limited

5.69

6.39

5.31

Comvita Limited

3.45

3.78

3.22

Delegat Group Limited

13.4

14.45

12.5

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.4

3.78

3.29

Foley Wines Limited

1.5

1.57

1.42

Greenfern Industries Limited

0.17

0.25

0.17

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

1.61

1.3

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.23

0.26

0.21

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

0.94

1.38

0.94

PGG Wrightson Limited

4.7

5.76

4.69

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.405

0.53

0.39

Sanford Limited (NS)

4.58

5.07

4.38

Scales Corporation Limited

4.86

5.59

4.75

Seeka Limited

5.01

5.36

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

3.22

3.54

3.12

T&G Global Limited

4800 4600

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Top 10 by Market Cap

400 350

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

US$/t

Feb

1190

450

Mar-21

Jul

Dec

1165

500

* price as at close of business on Thursday

May Jun Latest price

Oct

Urea

400

Mar-21

$/tonne

Prior week

Apr

7.0

Last year

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

Last price*

4000

8.0

Prior week

450

350

Nov-21 Jan-22 Mar-22 Sept. 2022

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

9.0

Last week

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

$/kg MS

May-21

South Island stag slaughter price

FERTILISER Last week

500

Mar-21

7.0

Fertiliser

Aug 2021-22

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES 10.00 9.50 9.00 8.50 8.00 7.50 7.00 6.50 6.00

8.0

5-yr ave

(NZ$/kg)

2020-21

9.0

5.0

WOOL

5.0

Feb

10.0

7.0

6.0

Dec

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

6.0

8.0

5.0

5-yr ave

Last year

6.0

6.5

Oct

Last week Prior week

10.0

9.0

4.0

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

11.0

10.0

4.5

$/kg CW

North Island lamb slaughter price

5.5

4.0

Last year

7.0

6.5

5.0

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Sara Hilhorst

Ingrid Usherwood

2.89

3.01

2.82

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

13352

14293

13195

S&P/NZX 50 Index

11999

13150

11733

S&P/NZX 10 Index

11645

12725

11311

350 300

Mar-21

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

May-21

Jul-21

Sep-21

Nov-21

Jan-22

Mar-22

13352

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

11999

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

11645

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Analyst intel

WEATHER

Overview

La Niña peaks, autumn sets in

A large broad low pressure system lurks over or near New Zealand early this week, but there is likely to be some change in the exact movements of this low between the time of writing this piece and events as they unfold. Suffice to say, it is looking a bit unsettled early this week. Showers for many North Island regions today and on Tuesday, some may be heavy with thunderstorms in the north and west. The upper South Island has showers while it is drier further south, on Wednesday conditions start to ease. Thursday is calm but a cold front does approach the far south, this moves northwards on Friday then high pressure sneaks in behind.

14-day outlook Unsettled for the first half of this week, especially pertaining to the North Island, thanks to a broad low pressure system. The South Island is calmer by comparison but showers are still likely for the upper half, more settled further south. We calm down on Thursday, however, a cold front moves into the far south then moves northwards on Friday, high pressure moves in behind. The weekend and for the first half of next week it’s looking more settled than not thanks to high pressure, there still could be showers though. The second half of next week north westerlies bring rain in the west, dry weather in the east.

I Highlights

17/03/2022

Wind

Source: NIWA Data

Easterly quarter winds are blustery at times for the North Island today and Tuesday, breezy northeasterlies in the east on Thursday. Southerlies strong through Cook Strait later on Thursday. Southerly quarter winds gusty about the lower and eastern North Island on Friday then easing.

7-day rainfall forecast Wet for the North Island today, Tuesday and also Wednesday although conditions do start to ease mid week. Precipitation may be heavy in areas with thunderstorms especially in the west and north of the North Island, the South Island has showers for the upper half, drier further south during this time. Showers move into the far south on Thursday with a cold front then moving north on Friday.

Temperature Warm for western regions and lower South Island till Wednesday, eastern regions are cooler. Cool for the eastern South Island on Thursday with southerlies, this moves to the eastern North Island on Friday. Temperatures bounce back on the weekend.

Highlights/ Extremes A broad area of low pressure brings unsettled weather to the North Island for the first half of this week, thunderstorms and downpours may occur. And an outside chance a small tornado is possible, considering the unstable conditions.

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

CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES?

T’S hard to believe we’re already into the late half of March and with the autumn equinox this year on March 21, it means we’re now officially leaving summer and properly going into autumn. The nights will now become longer than the days and for the next half year we have more hours of darkness than daylight each day. La Niña La Niña has peaked, but here’s a new headline: its departure has actually been stalled by a few weeks. This is due to the easterly trade winds, which blow around the equator, picking up and becoming stronger than average lately. It’s these trade winds that help blow warm water on the surface of the Pacific Ocean from the middle to eastern side over to our side (western Pacific) and create a La Niña event. So La Niña is definitely on the way out, but it’s been delayed by these easterlies, which is why we’re still seeing some chances of northern rainmakers. Meanwhile, the usual Southern Ocean roaring forties are quiet for New Zealand, with the windy westerlies well south over the Southern Ocean, keeping more variety in NZ for now with highs still crossing us. Dry But the rainmakers for NZ are very patchy. As we go into late March it’s remarkable how dry some parts of NZ remain. The upper half of the North Island is now entering its fourth year with rainfall deficit. It’s so noticeable now that some established plants/trees are showing signs of not coping so well. There is some rain coming for northern NZ in this part of March and for some it will be helpful, but for others it may again mean you’re missing out on what you need. Expected rainfall to April 1 There are rainmakers in the forecast, but it’s incredibly patchy. We don’t have any clear nationwide rain event that sweeps right over NZ and brings widespread rain. We do, however, have a number of low pressure zones surrounding us and these will brush us with rain and showers. But

high pressure will still be in the mix, but breaking up a little more. Southern NZ will be driest and north eastern NZ looks to be wettest. As for areas most likely to get rain in the coming two weeks, it looks to be Northland, Bay of Plenty (especially eastern), East Cape, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, where between 80 and 200mm is possible (the highest totals around East Cape and Gisborne Ranges). Incredibly, parts of the lower South Island may remain almost completely dry for the rest of March, with a large portion of South Canterbury, Otago and Southland leaning drier than average for the rest of March, with as little as 1-14mm coming. High pressure belt may be breaking up We have had a steady stream of powerful high pressure zones impacting NZ from the Southern Ocean throughout summer and March. But this month we do have a little change. Firstly, some high pressure zones are becoming less powerful. Then, there are more gaps between the highs with lows and rainmakers. Finally, there are signs the highs may shift further north in April, which ultimately may limit subtropical rainmakers but boost the chance of Tasman Sea and Southern Ocean rainmakers. Overall NZ needs rain top and bottom of the country and we need the temperatures to remain basically where they are (above normal). For now, we do have some relief coming for northern NZ but areas like Auckland and Waikato are on the cusp of the rain, meaning, yes, some may get a good soaking, but others may still be left wondering at the end of March, “where is my rain?”

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SALE YARD WRAP

Taupō fair in black and white Taupō sale yards turned into a black and white affair last Monday, as just over 1700, mainly Friesian, weaner bulls converged. Behind the auctioneer’s stand was Central Livestock’s Shane Scott, who saw a need for a special fair to accommodate the volume. “Logistically we would have struggled to sell steers and heifers as well as bulls in one day. Nine hundred of these bulls came from one vendor and were sold jointly by Central Livestock and PGG Wrightson.” He said the calves were presented in good order and were a credit to vendors. Buyers came from the wider North Island and bidr was utilised as well. “Interest prior to the fair was high but rain did not eventuate and older bulls still need to go to the processors before they can be replaced. That impacted buyer numbers on the day but those that did make the journey were after decent numbers,” he said. The Friesian bulls averaged 165kg and $590, $3.54/kg, which was up on recent yard sales. Weights mainly varied from 120kg up to 205kg and most sold from $500 to $640, though a line of 111 at 209kg returned $740. AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Good R2 heifers realised $2.63/kg to $2.78/kg, $880-$1060 • Quality weaner heifers achieved $660-$840 • Boner cows made $1.69/kg to $2.12/kg, $840-$1100 • Prime bulls earned $2.70/kg, $2010 Quality cattle had good interest at PUKEKOHE on Saturday 12th March. Medium prime steers sold in a range of $2.73/kg to $3.20/kg, $1640-$1760 and heifers held at $2.71-$2.79/kg, $1350-$1550. Good store steers earned $2.85/kg, $1300 and light R2 steers $3.00/kg, $850. Light weaner steers traded at $4.31/kg to $4.81/kg, $535-$550.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 640kg, made $2.93/kg • Forward store lambs fetched $98-$114 • Younger paddock cows sold well at $1.48/kg to $1.66/kg Quality prime steers were in demand at TUAKAU last Wednesday, Carrfields Livestock agent Karl Chitham reported. Steers, 580-730kg, traded at $2.85-$2.96/kg and local trade heifers, 460-500kg, $2.79-$2.85/kg. Boner prices eased and heavy Friesian, 550-600kg, earned $1.49-$1.63/kg, with medium boners, 460-500kg, at $1.31-$1.46/kg. Lighter cows, 300-400kg, fetched $1.10/kg to $1.28/kg. Thursday’s store cattle sale drew a yarding of around 350 head, including 240kg Speckle Park steers at $730, and 225kg Speckle Park heifers earned $605. Red-bodied whiteface heifers, 408kg, managed $2.77/kg. Prime lambs sold well on Monday with medium-heavy at $136-$162. Light-medium store lambs earned $58-$86. Ewe prices eased, heavy types sold up to $172 and medium, $108-$130 with lighter types at $51-$79.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle 15.3 • Mixed-age Angus cows, 471-599kg and vetted-in-calf to Angus, earned $1220-$1270 • Mixed-age Angus-Friesian cows, 477-530kg and vetted-in-calf to Angus, earned $1040-$1080 • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers and steers, 322-363kg, eased to $2.51-$2.55/kg Just under 295 store cattle were penned by PGG Wrightson at FRANKTON last Tuesday with a consignment of vetted-in-calf cows making up most of that tally. Heavy mixed-age Angus cows, 601-705kg and vetted-in-calf to Angus, realised $1110-$1345 with lighter types, 390kg, at $750-$960. R2 exotic-cross steers and heifers, 437-471kg, earned $2.61-$2.74/kg. Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, 166-167kg, realised $680-$710 and Friesian bulls, 179kg, earned $400. Prime dairy-beef heifers, 478-563kg, held at $2.70-$2.73/kg. Better boner Friesian cows, 557-663kg, also held at $1.52-$1.55/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Frankton cattle 16.3 • R2 beef-cross heifers, 330kg, firmed to $2.52/kg • Prime steers, 566kg, improved to $2.85-$2.87/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 355-518kg, were consistent at $1.51/kg New Zealand Farmers Livestock penned 116 store cattle at FRANKTON last Wednesday. The only pen of R3 cattle contained Hereford-dairy steers and at 401kg they earned $2.78/kg. Better R2 steers, 372-376kg, fetched $2.90-$2.91/ kg and 315-338kg, $2.60-$2.70/kg. Dairy-beef bulls, 320355kg, traded at $2.76-$2.82/kg. Weaner Hereford heifers, 149kg, earned $490 and Hereford-dairy bulls, 155kg, $580. Prime heifers, 441-507kg, firmed to $2.72-$2.82/kg. Eleven Jersey-cross cows, 464kg, were well-contested at $1.82/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Reporoa feeder calf sale 170 calves were offered at REPOROA last Thursday and prices mainly held. Top Hereford-Friesian bulls made $330$360 and heifers $250 with a $160 average. Friesian bulls sold for $160-$200 and Angus-cross, $130 while Anguscross heifers returned $60.

KING COUNTRY Te Kuiti cattle and sheep • Heavy prime ewes made $140-$154, medium $110-$128 and lighter types $90-$98 • R2 traditional heifers, 346-363kg, realised $2.70/kg to $2.87/kg • R2 Simmental-cross heifers, 392kg, earned $2.79/kg Store male lambs firmed to $130-$136 at TE KUITI last Wednesday with lighter types $118-$125. In the store cattle pens, R3 Angus steers, 572-634kg, made $2.87-$2.88/kg the best of the heifers were 472kg and fetched $2.69/kg. Best of the R2 steers were South Devon, 416kg, which made $3.10/ kg and 338-362kg Angus $2.60/kg to $2.90/kg.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • R2 Hereford bulls, 338kg, traded at $1300, $3.85/kg Small entries of R2 steers and heifers made up the store section at RANGIURU last Wednesday. Dairy-beef lines included plenty of R2 steers in the 340kg to 490kg range that earned $2.60-$2.67/kg. Good heifers were generally traditional or well-marked dairy-beef at $2.54-$2.63/kg. The pick of the prime section was 605kg Hereford bulls that made $2.66/kg followed by 712kg Angus-Friesian at $2.50/ kg. Boner cows made $1.31/kg to $1.50/kg dependant on condition while a big line of in-calf Murray Grey-cross, 583kg, returned $1.90/kg. Most of the sheep available were prime lambs that maxed out at $162. Read more in your LivestockEye.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero cattle • Better R3 heifers reached $2.94-$2.99/kg and the next cut $2.77$2.84/kg • R2 heifers above 350kg realised $1040-$1170 and lighter types typically $800-$930 • R2 beef bulls, 370-435kg, were secured for $1020-$1245, $2.76/kg to $2.97/kg The cattle market lacked a bit of spark at MATAWHERO last Tuesday. The traditional R3 steer average dropped 12c/ kg to $3.06/kg though a good line of 580kg Angus held at $3.08/kg. The top end of the R2 steers were 380-405kg traditional and Simmental-cross which traded at $1280$1350, $3.33-$3.37/kg. Mixed-age Angus cows earned $1100-$1250 and traditional cows with calves-at-foot $1290 per unit. Read more in your LivestockEye. Matawhero sheep • Top male lambs firmed to $131-$149 and the balance $100-$126 • Store ram lambs fetched $151 • Heavy prime lambs improved to $160-$177, medium $150 and light $120-$130 • Heavy prime ewes made $190, medium $130-$161 and light $80 Store ewe lambs firmed at MATAWHERO last Friday with heavy types $132-$137 and the balance $100-$121. The top end of mixed-sex store lambs achieved $122-$144, medium $104 and light $49-$82. Store ewes typically achieved $110$128.50 with 4-5-year capital stock Romney able to reach up to $141.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle • R3 steers around 600kg were on par to the previous sale $2.90/kg

• Better R2 dairy heifers made $2.00/kg and crossbreds $1.45/kg to $1.85/kg • Weaner Friesian bulls, 154kg, achieved $490 and Angus-Friesian steers $410 The market lacked spark at the TARANAKI cattle sale last Wednesday. The best of the R2 steers earned $2.60-$2.72/ kg, though the balance was more commonly $2.40-$2.50/ kg. The bulk of R2 dairy-beef heifers sold around the $2.30/ kg mark. Most boner cows were secured for $1.37-$1.48/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • R3 traditional steers, 500-626kg, eased to $3.01-$3.10/kg • R2 Angus steers, 390-398kg, firmed to $3.31-$3.38/kg • Medium R2 Friesian bulls, 418-420kg, firmed to $3.06-$3.07/kg • Good shorn wether lambs made $129-$145 Cattle volume lifted to 700 head at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday as more heavy cattle were penned. R3 cattle sold on a softer market yet R2 lines firmed. R3 traditional heifers, 408-556kg, made $2.73-$2.75/kg and dairy-beef lines $2.48-$2.65/kg. R2 Angus steers, 328-377kg, reached $3.36-$3.48/kg and heifers, 345-366kg, $3.16-$3.20/kg. Other traditional lines at 299-480kg made $2.89-$3.01/ kg. Light-medium Friesian bulls, 318-344kg, sold for $3.02-$3.17/kg. Wether lambs featured and medium types returned $116-$126. Heavy cryptorchid sold for $151-$152 and light-medium ewe lambs $71-$108. Read more in your LivestockEye. Stortford Lodge prime sheep • Heavy to very heavy mixed-age ewes held at $145-$171 • Most light-medium to medium mixed-age ewes firmed to $103$130 • All heavy lambs earned $173-$181 Just over 520 ewes were offered at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday. Good to very good mixed-age ewes held at $130.50-$144. Lighter types also held at $80-$90. A small number of lambs were presented, and good mixed-sex fetched $152-$170.50. Read more in your LivestockEye.

MANAWATŪ Feilding prime cattle and sheep • Prime Hereford bulls, 497kg, returned $2.98/kg The lamb, ewe, and cattle sections were all smaller than usual for the time of year at FEILDING last Monday. Twothirds of the lambs managed $153-$177 while the balance mostly earned $140-$151. The top end of the ewes fetched $139-$149 while many others were priced at $100-$136. A handful of better-quality Friesian cows, 610-720kg, sold in line with recent weeks at $1.41/kg to $1.56/kg, but lightmedium filled most other pens and returned $1.27-$1.35/ kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Feilding store cattle and sheep • R3 traditional steers, 520kg plus, made $3.10-$3.15/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 335-520kg, were $2.75-$2.80/kg • Store male lambs averaged $133 • Store ewe lambs averaged $121 Only 600 cattle were sold at FEILDING last Friday. R3 Angus steers, 445-515kg, sold for $2.95-$3.05/kg. One pen of 430kg traditional R2 steers were $3.15/kg with a large line of 335kg Red Devon making $3.00/kg. Some 455kg R2 Hereford bulls made $3.40/kg. R3 dairy-beef heifers, 485500kg, were $2.80-$2.85/kg while 135kg weaner Friesian bulls were $470. The sheep yards held 15,000 store lambs. Heavy male lambs were $150-$155, good lines $135-$145, mediums $125-$135, and lighter pens $105-$120. Ewe lambs were around $125-$135 for good lines, $115-$125 for mediums, and $85-$105 for lights. Read more in your LivestockEye.

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022

Weaner fairs

BLACK AND WHITE AFFAIR: A yarding of 1700 mainly Friesian bulls meant that a special sale day was needed at the Taupō sale yards. Rongotea cattle • Heifer feeder calves earned $175-$220 • Three-year Hereford bulls, 805kg, made $2.48/kg • R2 Friesian bulls, 340-495kg, achieved $2.19/kg to $2.77/kg • In-milk Friesian cows realised $1250 • Boner cows sold at $1.23/kg to $1.52/kg Strong demand continued for feeder calves at RONGOTEA last Tuesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Friesian bulls earned $150-$250 and beef cross mostly $150-$280. R2 Hereford-cross heifers, 518kg, made $2.63/kg and 300kg Speckle Park-cross, $2.50/kg. Weaner steers fetched $620-$630 and Hereford-Friesian bulls $400-$530.

CANTERBURY

A handful of prime lambs managed $200-$203 with the remainder mostly $121 to $196. Ewes made up to $161 while the best store lambs traded at $130. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle; all sheep • Prime Angus steers, 624kg, achieved $2.97/kg • Prime heifers typically realised $2.60/kg to $2.756kg Boner cows and heifers made up the majority of the 426 head yarding and values continued to decline. The bulk of the cows dropped to $1.10-$1.20/kg, and heifers averaged $2.01/kg. Prime dairy-beef steers sold on a steady market. The average earned $2.83/kg and better types mostly $2.86$2.90/kg. Temuka store cattle • Better R2 dairy heifers traded from $1.90/kg to $2.07/kg • Weaner dairy-beef steers mostly made $450-$540 and heifers $350-$510 • Weaner Friesian bulls typically realised $430-$520 There was a solid market at the TEMUKA store cattle sale last Thursday. R2 steers, 400-524kg, fetched $2.77-$2.87/ kg regardless of breed though lines of 440kg Simmental and 380kg Angus were able to reach $3.05/kg. Good R2 traditional heifers, 420-462kg, realised $2.98-$3.12/kg though Angus and Hereford, 311-396kg, dropped to $2.68$2.81/kg. Better dairy-beef held at $2.60-$2.70/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Canterbury Park prime cattle and all sheep • Prime Hereford steers, 473-530kg, returned $2.89-$2.91/kg • Prime Angus-Friesian steers, 480-545kg, earned $2.73-$2.74/kg Volume was lower than usual in all sections at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday. The store lamb section was of high-quality and values of $110-$132 was common for shorn lines of all sexes. Heavy prime lambs returned $169-$179 followed by a big contingent of medium-good types that made $129-$139. The top ewes achieved $181 followed by a few other heavy pens at $166-$174. Quality was biased towards the lower end of the scale though and many were either medium types that returned $90-$135, or light-medium pens at $74-$80. Read more in your LivestockEye. Coalgate cattle and sheep • Prime Murray Grey-cross steers, 638kg, earned $2.94/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 168-180kg, mostly returned $480-$520 • Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 156-182kg, traded at $400-$460 Weaners came forward in good numbers at COALGATE last Thursday. This included some big pens of steers such as Herefordcross, 135kg, that fetched $390 and Belgian Blue-cross, 126kg, $370. In the R2 section, 385-449kg Speckle Parkcross steers were priced at $2.67-$2.71/kg and HerefordFriesian steers and heifers, 321-359kg, $2.65-$2.68/kg. Most prime steers and bulls over 500kg sold in a range of $2.70$2.80/kg with heifers $2.60-$2.70/kg.

OTAGO Balclutha sheep • Prime rams fetched $76-$112 • Prime wethers earned $170-$172 Store lambs sold by PGG Wrightson held at $63-$128 at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday. Prime lambs earned $138$172 and prime ewes $60-$164.

SOUTHLAND Lorneville cattle and sheep • Prime 2-tooths fetched $130-$164 • Local trade rams made $70-$124 • Top store lambs held at $115-$125, medium $105-$112

Heifers numbered 845 at WELLSFORD last Monday. Angus, 137-310kg, made $3.44-$3.58/kg and tops, $3.62-$3.76/kg. Angus-Hereford, 194-260kg, fetched $665-$835. Charolais weighed 222-258kg and earned $770-$795. Well-marked Hereford, 183-227kg, realised $3.29-$3.39/kg. Top Hereford-Friesian reached $800$940 with smaller options, 145-213kg, at $565-$695. KAIKOHE offered 1200 exotic and traditional heifers last Wednesday and the market ticked along well considering the dry conditions. Autumn-born heifers made $2.75/kg to $2.90/kg. Medium to heavy springborn heifers achieved $3.00-$3.17/kg and smaller $3.30-$3.50/kg. Good competition for a nice line of Hereford pushed them to $850 $3.75/kg. Weaners held at RANGIURU last Wednesday. Traditional beef and beef-cross steers, 220-278kg, collected $810-$900 and six Angus-cross, 308kg, reached $1050. Charolais-cross, 225-286kg, made $840-$1020. Traditional and beefcross heifers, 200-250kg, traded at $685-$760. Better exotic-cross, 236-271kg, fetched $800-$840 while those just under 200kg were nearer $700. Hereford bulls featured and the tops made $1000 and the balance under 200kg $580-$640. There was a good line-up of calves at the TARANAKI 1st run weaner fair last Thursday but buyers were very selective. Top steers consisted of 268-329kg exotic which made $950$1080. The next cut was typically Charolais-cross and traditional around 260kg which earned $800-$940. Heavy Simmental and Simmental-Angus heifers, 309-322kg, returned $820-$980 though over half were 230-280kg and made $655-$780. Traditional and Charolais bulls realised $1000-$1100 and the balance sold from $675 to $926. Northland weaner heifer fairs finished up at BROADWOOD last Thursday with 1300 offered. The sale featured some big lines at 40-70 head though buyers were selective, and most largely traded at sub-$3.00/kg levels. Those 280-350kg sold for $805-$975, $2.80-$3.04/kg. Most were 210-270kg and while per head prices were $550-$780, per kilogram levels varied from $2.60/kg up to $3.07/kg. Lines 185207kg sold for similar per kilogram levels for $565$610. Approximately 900 exotic and traditional calves sold to Otago and Southland buyers at the OWAKA calf sale held at Balclutha last Thursday, and prices were up $50 on last year PGG Wrightson agent Craig Dempster reported. Regular vendors topped the steer section which included Simmental, 323kg, $1200 and Charolais, 279-311kg, $1010-$1065. Angus steers, 245287kg, made $900-$1010. Simmental and Charolais heifers, 266-271kg, returned $850-$900 and capital stock Angus, 251kg, $805. Purebred Murray Grey bulls weighed 288kg and returned $1220. and lighter types $95-$100 • Two to five-shear Romney ewes traded at $180 • Prime steers eased to $2.50/kg to $2.70/kg Heavy prime lambs made $154-$185 at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday with medium at $133-$148 and light $126-$132. Heavy prime ewes lifted to $156-$181, medium $130-$152 and light, $80-$124. Capital stock 2-shear Coopdale ewes traded at $215 and 3 to 5-shear, $180-$185. There was a large yarding of mainly boner cows and heifers. Better heifers made $1.40/kg to $1.80/kg and the best of the cows earned $1.20/kg with lighter types at $0.60-$0.95/kg. R2 Speckle Park-cross steers, 405kg, realised $2.35/kg and 376kg bulls, $2.39/kg. Weaner Hereford-cross bulls above 160kg shifted for $450-$500 and 169kg Friesian $430.

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Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – March 21, 2022 NI COW

NI LAMB

SI MUTTON

($/KG)

8.30

4.15

AVERAGE STORE LAMB PRICE AT CANTERBURY PARK ($/KG LW)

5.50

$121

$3.29-$3.36 high $590 R2 Angus and AngusFriesian bulls, lights Weaner Hereford steers, 310165kg average, at Taupo

GDT flattens due to war and pandemic Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

UYERS of dairy commodities on the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) platform have paused for breath after months of strong price rises, to consider the war in Ukraine and rapidly spreading stealth covid in China. The GDT price index of all products and all contract periods registered its second small fall in eight months, since the beginning of August, during which the index has risen 35%. It went down by less than 1% and whole milk powder (WMP) prices fell 2.1%. Westpac senior agri-economist Nathan Penny said that uncertainties arising from surging covid numbers in China are likely to have weighed on dairy prices. “The fact that WMP and butter posted the largest price falls points to conditions in China as being the key development for dairy markets,” Penny said. “New Zealand is the largest exporter of WMP and butter to China, so any factors affecting demand there will soon be reflected in these prices on the auction platform.” Before the auction the futures market had predicted a 5% increase for WMP, instead it fell by 2%. But WMP prices are still 20% higher than at the start of the year. Despite the latest fall, the GDT price index at 1579 remains at a record level, higher than April 2013 during the shortlived commodities boom. Skim milk powder (SMP) bucked the latest downward trend, adding 1.6% and registering US$4545/tonne, and is now an extraordinary $50 lower than WMP rather than the usual $500. Anhydrous milk fat (AMF) also rose in price and remains above $7000/t. Both

IMPACT: Westpac senior agri-economist Nathan Penny says that uncertainties arising from surging covid numbers in China are likely to have weighed on dairy prices. AMF and SMP are at record levels. “Price rises for these products suggests that the Ukraine-Russia conflict and its impact on grain feed prices is continuing to put the squeeze on European dairy production,” he said. ASB dairy analyst Nat Keall said the dairy market fundamentals still support prices holding their ground or even advancing further in the short-term. “There is not much sign that supply conditions will ease with any alacrity,” Keall said. “Stretched capacity and rising cost pressures remain constraints on output globally, while much of the southern hemisphere has unfavourable weather conditions, like the recent flooding in Australia. “According to NZX, in some parts of the Waikato milk output is still running

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about 12% behind year-ago levels.” Southland farmers are dealing with an unusual dry period, with pasture growth rates and pasture covers well below historical averages, which is starting to lead to concerns about feed levels for winter. The latest Rabobank Global Dairy Quarterly Report said milk production in the first half of 2022 in the seven main producing regions would fall by 0.7% compared with 1H 2021. It says inflationary pressure is running rampant around the world, with an increasingly worsening outlook, begging the question “how high, for how long?” when it comes to dairy prices. But the bank expects dairy commodity prices will stay elevated through to the middle of the year amid the constrained supply.

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ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

Throughput varied at sale yards KEEPING with the norm seems to be a hard fought battle in any facet of life at present, and throughput at sale yards is no different. South Island yards covered by AgriHQ’s LivestockEye reports have shown persistently lower than normal throughput for sheep over the last month. Compared to the five-year average, at Temuka throughput for both store and prime lambs dropped 23%, while ewe volume was down 51%. At Canterbury Park store lamb volume has fallen 51% and prime lambs 40%. Prime ewes have had the smallest drop at 23%. While Coalgate throughput is also down, the prime pens are not so significant at 9% for lambs and 7% for ewes, but store lamb volume has the biggest drop at 57%. PGG Wrightson agent Rod Sands cited a few factors influencing that decrease for store lambs at Temuka. “Store lamb numbers are generally down as South Canterbury has good feed levels this year and there is no hurry to sell,” Sands said. “Store lamb prices are ticking along, but could be better and many are happy to play the waiting game. Also, private and on-farm sales have had an influence on numbers at the yards.” The good feed levels have also meant that lambs have finished faster, which has essentially taken them out of the store system and into the line waiting for the processors or into the prime pens. Limited processor space is impacting prices for prime sheep and that has meant limited demand for stock at the yards. Ewes are generally selling below schedule, though the extra grass around has meant that some buyers are taking the opportunity to buy grazers to hold over until some sort of normality returns. Those low prices are doing little to entice more out and since farmers aren’t under any pressure to sell, they simply aren’t. Sheep volume traditionally picks up as the days get shorter and with limited trading up until now, it may be a busy start to winter.

Find out more about AgriHQ at agrihq.co.nz

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Farmers Weekly NZ March 21 2022

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