Farmers Weekly August 23 2021 by AgriHQ

20 A taste for opportunity Vol 19 No 32, August 23, 2021

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Climate work on track Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz

ONCERNS about the effectiveness of Overseer by an independent panel will have little effect on agriculture climate change partnership He Waka Eke Noa, which is well on track to meeting its targets. Programme director for the partnership between Government, industry and Māori Kelly Forster says Overseer is on its list of approved tools when it comes to raising awareness of farmers knowing their greenhouse gas (GHG) numbers and having a plan to measure and manage their emissions, but He Waka Eke Noa does not look at it as a regulatory tool and its ability to provide realtime data, which is the problem raised by the panel. “We’ve said it’s suitable for building awareness, for getting an understanding of tracking direction,” Forster said. “If you’ve already got Overseer reports you can see what your emissions were and what will happen to them when you pull some different levers. It’s that trajectory of change that you’re looking for. “But when it comes to pricing emissions, we’ve always said you can’t have a whole lot of different ways of calculating them. “What we’ve been working on is, how will you calculate your emissions in a pricing scheme? Will it be one method to rule them all?” Forster says more detail on that will be available in November, when He Waka Eke Noa’s

VALUED: Bay of Plenty dairy farmer Fraser McGougan says farmers are being listened to through the work of a He Waka Eke Noa reference group.

We are on track for 50% of farmers to know their greenhouse gas numbers by the end of this year. Kelly Forster He Waka Eke Noa industry partners start to rollout information to farmers about pricing options to get their views

on the recommendations being worked on. That engagement with farmers will be both face-to-face in regions and online. It will include a questionnaire for feedback on the options. The feedback will be worked through and reflected in recommendations due to be made to government ministers at the end of March. She says during the past few months representatives from industry groups, government policy, scientists and farmer

representatives have been working through questions around sequestration, farm definitions, reporting and pricing. “(That’s) in the context of lots of information and regulatory change that is coming at farmers. Knowing your greenhouse gas numbers and having them in a written plan might not be a really high priority for farmers, but we are quietly making great strides,” she said. “We are on track for 50% of farmers to know their greenhouse gas numbers by the end of this

year. “We also aim for 25% of farmers to have a written plan to manage them (by then). This will usually be in farm environment plans and our partners are working hard to roll these out.” Having half of New Zealand farmers know their GHG numbers by the end of the year is double the target He Waka Eke Noa had been set. Forster says the dairy sector is already at around 100% in this

Continued page 3

NEWS

21 Feed variety pays off A set of trials treating research sheep to a four-course meal of varying forages served throughout the day has provided valuable insights for farmers wanting to improve stock productivity and animal welfare while reducing their environmental footprint.

REGULARS Newsmaker ��20 New Thinking ��21

12 Shift in fussy consumer behaviour

Editorial ��22

New Zealanders are spending more on food while not being so fussy about the shape of their fruit and vegetables, according to research conducted by Rabobank and food rescue charity KiwiHarvest.

Pulpit ��23 Opinion ��24 Real Estate ��26-30 Employment ��31 Employment ��31-32 Classifieds ��32 Livestock ��33-35 Weather ��37 Markets ��36-40

10 PGW delivers solid result

15 Covid stalls honey hearing

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

B+LNZ calls for forestry chop A FARMING group is urging the Government to limit the use of forestry to offset carbon emissions as a dispute erupts over the amount of pastoral land being converted to forestry. A Beef + Lamb NZ commissioned report by BakerAg claims 139,500ha of new forestry was planted from 2017-2020, underpinned by carbon offsetting, but Agricultural Minister Damien O’Connor countered that officials have calculated the area planted over the same period at 87,200ha, 37% lower. B+LNZ chair Andrew Morrison says it is disappointing “the Government deliberately mischaracterising our recent report from BakerAg on land-use change from pastoral farming to large-scale forestry”. He attributed the discrepancy to the criteria used, saying the Government data is based on the actual planting of trees in the ground, while the BakerAg report measures land sold with the intention to plant. “There is often a two to three year lag between the farm sale and seedlings going into the ground

Continued from page 1 area and the work that meat processors are doing to support the rollout of Beef + Lamb NZ’s new emissions calculator is getting real cut through with sheep and beef farmers, who up until recently have not had a simple tool they could use. She says achieving the goal of 25% of farmers having a written plan to manage GHG emissions by the end of this year is challenging because there’s a lot involved in farm plans. “You’re talking about additional bolt-ons to systems that have been rolled out for a while,” she said. “But industry partners have pulled out all the stops to get

We want to work with the Government on integrated land-use programmes to achieve New Zealand’s climate change aspirations, while integrating forestry and protecting food-producing farmland and the rural communities it supports. Andrew Morrison B+LNZ LIMIT: B+LNZ chair Andrew Morrison wants the Government to legislate a time-bound limit on the ability to offset carbon on food-producing farmland.

and so the Government’s response is lagging behind the reality farmers are seeing,” Morrison said. Morrison wants the Government to legislate a time bound limit on the ability to offset carbon on food-producing farmland.

“We want to work with the Government on integrated land-use programmes to achieve New Zealand’s climate change aspirations, while integrating forestry and protecting foodproducing farmland and the rural communities it supports,” he said.

Morrison says B+LNZ commissioned the study to validate farmer concerns and to provide a credible and up-to-date picture of what is going on. “The report clearly shows there has been a significant increase in the sale of sheep and

beef farms into forestry,” he said. Morrison says demand for land to convert is expected to increase. “With the carbon price expected to continue to increase sharply, this will lead to an even greater increase in land sales. “We cannot wait two years until the official data catches up.”

climate change included in those farm plans and so, while we still need to do a push on that, we have a reasonable level of confidence that we will get to that target.” As policy questions and implications of different approaches are worked through, details are sent to a farmer reference group, made up of farmers and growers around the country who play a critical role in crunching through that analysis, providing feedback on what they think. “We genuinely seek their feedback and expertise,” she said. Forster says they are a technical reference group but it’s more than that. “It’s also the buy-in side of it; how things will land, what’s

important to farmers, those sorts of things. Not just how practical it is to implement,” she said. Bay of Plenty farmer Fraser McGougan is one of two farmers representing the dairy industry in the group. There are also two farmers or growers each representing B+LNZ, Horticulture NZ, Deer Industry NZ, the Foundation for Arable Research and Federated Farmers. He says the crux of the issue facing farmers and growers is that in the need to decrease their contribution to climate change there are two options. “One is to go into the ETS, where no farmer wins, or it’s He Waka Eke Noa, where we come up with mitigations ourselves that will enable the adaptation of

farming within climate change,” McGougan said. “The thing people have to remember is that this is not going to go away, no matter what political party is in power or what the flavour of the day is. “This is something that is here, it’s real, it’s now and we’re going to have to talk about emissions pricing. “There’s no escaping that emissions from farming are going to be priced but we want some of that money to be reinvested back into helping us decrease our footprint. He says they’re also looking at the big picture and that includes profitability. “We want sustainability but we still want to be able to continue

farming, although within new rules,” he said. The reference group has been meeting through Zoom, with one meeting so far also held in person in Wellington. Another is scheduled for September 1, although with the current lockdown that may need to be pushed back. McGougan says the co-design approach to policy from He Waka Eke Noa that involves farmers is a good one. “We are being listened to. As farmers we see some of the problems that they don’t see,” he said. “Sometimes there’s simple ways of doing things and we can bring those to the fore, to bring in the practicalities of farming.”

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Dairy prices break losing streak Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz THE Global Dairy Trade price index rose fractionally during the latest online auction, the first upward movement since early April. The rise of 0.3% broke a sequence of eight fortnightly auction decreases, during which the GDT index fell by 10% overall. The small improvement in the latest auction was a result of butter increasing by 4%, cheddar by 2.8%, anhydrous milk fat (AMF) by 1.5% and skim milk powder (SMP) up 1.1%. But whole milk powder (WMP) prices fell by 1.5%, including falls for all contract periods, and that product has fallen 18% since its recent peak in early March. Westpac’s senior agri-economist Nathan Penny says the GDT

RESULT: The small improvement in the latest auction was a result of butter increasing by 4%, cheddar by 2.8%, anhydrous milk fat by 1.5% and skim milk powder up 1.1%.

results showed a divergence in dairy prices that stemmed from

New Zealand’s strength in WMP, versus the European emphasis

on SMP, butter and AMF. NZ milk production was up 10% in autumn compared with 2020, whereas dry weather in Europe and lower milk production was reflected in improving prices for its products. “For WMP, the strength or otherwise of NZ spring production will begin to provide fresh impetus for prices in either direction, with official spring production data first becoming available in mid to late October,” Penny said. ASB economist Nat Keall thought the GDT results were positive overall. After larger-than-expected falls recently, WMP’s descent had slowed and the contract curve had begun to flatten. The futures market was predicting a floor in WMP just under US$3500/tonne. “It was good to see SMP and the

It was good to see SMP and the fat products come to the party and offset WMP. Nat Keall ASB fat products come to the party and offset WMP,” Keall said. Neither economist was moved to change his farm gate milk price forecast at this stage, because it is early in the new season and dairy commodities remain at historically high levels. Westpac is on $7.75 and ASB is $7.90.

Education key to venison market Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE country’s largest venison processor is eyeing China as a potential game-changer for the struggling market. Silver Fern Farms (SFF) has dedicated staff in its China office to build on recent market success, which has seen a 180% increase in year-on-year sales of venison with indications that growth will continue. Foodservice sales in Beijing and Shanghai alone have increased 100% on last year. In a newsletter to suppliers, SFF says its focus is on retail but with the pandemic changing consumer buying behaviours, it has three

venison products for sale on the e-commerce platform Newdodo. “This continues to be an ongoing test-and-learn channel, however, it holds significant potential going forward,” SFF said in its letter. Venison’s use in premium pet food has also grown. Promotion of venison was boosted by inclusion this year in Asia’s largest foodservice show, SIAL Shanghai for the first time. “SIAL is Asia’s largest foodservice show, with over 4500 companies from around the world showcased and over 100,000 attendees throughout the threeday expo,” it said. “SFF introduced two new

PERCEPTION: A lack of consumer knowledge about venison has hampered development of the Chinese market to date.

products, being our grass-fed venison ribs and venison cubes.” A lack of consumer knowledge about venison, hesitancy due to the perception it is a game meat and its relative unavailability, has hampered development of the Chinese market to date. SFF is rectifying that by educating chefs and consumers through workshops, demonstrations, food shows and on-the-ground research.

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“Chinese consumers’ knowledge about venison is low and improving this awareness is a major part of our strategy,” it said. It was recently awarded funding from DINZ to help accelerate a market development programme in China, dubbed the Venison Recovery Plan. “Venison’s current market size is still small and it’s a niche product within the red meat category,” it said. “Venison is not a well-

recognised product in retail and in the covid environment retailers have looked to narrow their product base, rather than launch new ones.” In other venison markets, exporters continue to face spikes of outbreaks creating varying states of uncertainty, which SFF says stresses the need for the industry to break the traditional reliance on EU and US foodservice and find new markets and channels.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

An exciting chapter for wool Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz WOOL growing as a business has been tough going in recent times but that is about to change as two major wool entities shore up a merger. Wools of New Zealand (WNZ) and Primary Wool Co-operative are on the road promoting the benefits of their proposed merger ahead of the groundbreaking vote in November. Primary Wool chair Richard Young told farmers at a meeting in Darfield the merger will mark the start of an exciting chapter for the wool sector. “This is structural change that will act as a launch pad for NZ to truly realise the full potential of wool,” Young said. “There’s been too much fragmentation for too long, woolgrowers have been in the doldrums for long enough, we need to reimagine what the future can be and strategise the pathway to get there. “Our strength apart has been good but together we can change the game.” Primary Wool Co-op is purchasing 100% of CP Wool that will then combine with WNZ to become one trading entity under the brand Wools of New Zealand. Consumer awareness of the natural and sustainable qualities of wool is growing rapidly with the movement towards a more sustainable world. “This initiative can shift the

dial and deliver better outcomes, not only for growers but for all stakeholders in the value chain,” he said. “As shareholders, you will be able to positively influence our sector and your endorsement will enable the opportunity in front of us to come to life and give our sector a chance to regain some of its past glory. WNZ chair James Parsons says the two entities have been working together for the past 12 months to answer the demands of growers for consolidation and develop a strategy to lift strong wool sales volume and farm gate returns. He says linking growers to consumers through a more integrated supply chain with the scale of both companies will help break the industry model that has failed growers for many years. “We haven’t created the wealth we set out to create 10 years ago, we haven’t had that brand value on strong wool as an ingredient,” Parsons said. “As growers we sell an ingredient – greasy wool – we have only been branding the ingredient. “The consumer gets a product and the loyalty is not so much what goes into it as an ingredient but on the branded product. “It’s been a complex commodity supply chain from grower to broker, exporter, scourer, importer, spinner, carpet manufacturer, retailer, consumer. “It’s a struggle to push the ingredient right along the supply

GAME-CHANGER: Owning the distribution channels to market selling products and not ingredients is the future for the strong wool industry, roadshow presenters John McWhirter, William Oliver, Hamish de Latour, James Parsons and Richard Young told farmers at a meeting in Darfield.

chain, we need to change the model, shorten the chain, to a value capture strategy. The merged organisation’s strategy will be underpinned by a shift from wool as a raw commodity to grower-owned and branded consumer wool products. “When WNZ keeps the ownership of the product right along the value chain, we can capture the value back to the grower,” he said. WNZ chief executive John McWhirter says the problem is growing inventory versus declining demand. “With 10,000 supplier growers and 10 buyers, that’s a very ugly situation,” McWhirter said. Total NZ production sits at 736,530 bales, with 44,713 bales unsold, effectively unaccounted oversupply. “Buyers can sit back and relax,

as they can buy what they want knowing there’s 45,000 bales sitting out there – 45,000 bales is the size of the problem,” he said.

We will own the brand and be no more than one step removed from the consumer. John McWhirter Wools of New Zealand “We have a plan to increase demand by more than 45,000 bales, this will create buyer tension – in the next 12 months we can be on the same path as the housing market. “We are going to increase

demand for wool by creating viable commercial business models that will endure over time. “We will own the brand and be no more than one step removed from the consumer. “We need to convince people they want wool, so we have priced our carpet so that we are in the volume market.” WNZ became the first carpet brand to have grown its own wool fibre and taken a finished product to market when it put proof to its concept, launching a partnership with NZ’s largest flooring retailer, Flooring Xtra, in July. The combined trading entity and fully-integrated supply chain business will ultimately enable strong wool to realise its potential. “This is not just about WNZ, this is for you, the growers, for everyone, as we build a $200 million global brand,” he said.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Spilt views on Water Services Bill Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz RURAL groups are at odds over the merits of new rules designed to improve drinking water quality. Federated Farmers is up in arms over the Water Services Bill, what it deems a bureaucratic boxticking process, while IrrigationNZ is welcoming the reforms. The Bill, part of the Three Waters reforms, obligates rural and small suppliers to ensure safe drinking water to avoid a repeat of the 2017 Havelock North water contamination. But the Bill also captures private landowners supplying two or more households. Feds president Andrew Hoggard says the proposed laws are compliance-heavy for small users who often have voluntary supply arrangements with neighbours. But IrrigationNZ welcomes the legislation, especially the three years small water suppliers have to assess and mitigate issues to ensure drinking water is safe. “We wholeheartedly agree with the intent of the Three Waters Reform and want to ensure rural communities have access to safe drinking water and prevent what happened in Havelock North from occurring again,” IrrigationNZ chief executive Vanessa Winning said. Local Government Minister

SWAMPED: Feds president Andrew Hoggard says the deluge of compliance and regulation engulfing the sector means many people will not hear of or understand the drinking water requirements.

Nanaia Mahuta says the Government is committed to ensuring all New Zealanders, no matter where they live, have access to safe, affordable and sustainable drinking water. “Taumata Arowai (NZ’s new drinking water regulator) will continue to work with the rural sector on appropriate solutions to enable compliance with safety standards in an affordable and realistic manner,” Mahuta said in a statement. But Hoggard is disappointed

the group’s submission to exempt small schemes was ignored. “There are potentially cases of neighbours supplying water to sports clubs, marae and this will lead to people thinking do they want to fill in the paperwork or discuss the increases that are required or ignoring it completely,” Hoggard said. “I think a number of people will ignore it.” He says the deluge of compliance and regulation engulfing the sector means

many people will not hear of or understand the drinking water requirements. “Rural people have been in this situation a very long time, they understand rural drinking water and they do not want to poison themselves and make themselves sick so they take personal responsibility,” he said. Asked about the consultation with councils on the Three Waters policy, Mahuta says indicative findings from discussions are that most will be better off following reform. The country’s 67 councils have seven weeks to consider and comment on the effects of the proposal, which will see one of four public entities take over management and control of council drinking, waste and stormwater assets. The Government estimates councils face between $120 billion and $185b in costs over the next 30 years to maintain, replace and upgrade aging water assets. It calculates ratepayers currently paying $2100 a year for water services, could by 2051 be charged $1640 with reform, or $8690 without. Asked about the impact on council balance sheets from losing water assets, Mahuta says reforms will provide councils with additional capacity to borrow to fund other community activities.

We wholeheartedly agree with the intent of the Three Waters Reform and want to ensure rural communities have access to safe drinking water and prevent what happened in Havelock North from occurring again. Vanessa Winning IrrigationNZ

To deliver the projected benefits she says central and local government need to work together on the reforms to ensure the impact of the reforms are understood. She says councils will have to account for costs somehow and most are not in the position to do so without impacting their bottom line. The Government and councils are still in consultation after which the Government will consider the feedback and suggestions, which could include “transition and implementation pathways” and revised timing for decisionmaking.

IrrigationNZ gets behind water reforms Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz IRRIGATION New Zealand has welcomed the final report on the Water Services Bill, taking a different stance to many of the industry bodies on the release of the Three Water proposals. “I do not believe the sky is falling and that our farmers and growers are being unfairly penalised or pressured,” IrrigationNZ chief executive Vanessa Winning said. “This is ultimately about safe drinking water and our rural and

small communities are our most vulnerable. “We have been granted three more years over the rest of the water suppliers to conduct assessment and put in place mitigation measures to ensure safe drinking water. “We are working with local government, the Ministry of Health and Three Waters on acceptable solutions with incentives and workable frameworks for reporting. “I believe a negative approach to all change is causing unnecessary

stress and anxiety.” IrrigationNZ published its submission on the Water Services Bill to the health select committee in March 2021. The submission sought a better outcome for small drinking water users in rural areas while still delivering on the intent of the Bill. Winning says the submission was well-received with acknowledgement for a more workable approach for rural suppliers. “We would like to see a healthy homes approach, where councils

and regulatory bodies incentivise adoption of acceptable solutions such as UV filters or backflow preventers,” she said. “We would also like to see existing frameworks, such as the integrated farm plan or farm environment plan, used as an approach for water registering and mitigation, meaning certified farm consultants would be authorised to sign this off after appropriate training, reducing the cost and time burden on farmers of additional compliance mechanisms.”

For irrigation schemes supplying water in bulk or for council distribution, IrrigationNZ will work with Taumata Arowai on how to get practical access to required water and who is then considered a supplier. Winning says treating water at source when its primary use is for application on plants and soils is impractical and potentially damaging to those plants, so workable solutions prior to being used as drinking supply will need further consideration to ensure supplementary use can continue.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Advisors wary of Overseer review Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz ALARM bells are ringing among farm advisors on Overseer’s future and what a possible replacement could be if the nutrient management programme is ditched by the Government. The recently published review on Overseer has challenged aspects of the software’s ability to model nitrogen flows, dismissing the 20-plus years old programme as providing nothing more than a “coarse” understanding of a farm’s nutrient losses. But the review has farm consultants across the country concerned the model has been assessed for purposes it was never intended for and any rejection of it as a nutrient measuring tool leaves the door open for top-down regulatory controls. Canterbury consultant Charlotte Glass says Overseer was never developed to give an absolute real-time number on nutrient losses, as the review panel suggests it should. “Overseer is a beautiful scenario tool for comparing different farming systems’ effects on a property. It is an excellent effectsbased process model that enables us to innovate with techniques, as we learn more on nutrient losses. However, it should never have been used is as an absolute number linked to compliance,” Glass says. Now up to its seventh version, Overseer has over time incorporated more science, including most lately the effect of deeper-rooted grasses like plantain in absorbing nitrogen. The panel lambasted Overseer for a lack of on-surface nitrogen movement, soil profile modelling and for using average climate data, versus real-time. But Glass was optimistic over time better understanding of hydrology and nitrates would be incorporated into it, as other factors have in the past. Rob Macnab, Waikato farm consultant and fellow board member with Glass on the NZ Institute of Primary Industry

OUTCOME: Like other consultants, Rob Macnab was concerned about what would fill the vacuum if Overseer was ditched.

A lot of alternatives I have seen still rely upon Overseer as the measurement tool, they are just using a different model to allocate the resource. Lee Matheson Perrin Ag Management, says his concern was the Government picked up on the panel’s criticisms and the door opened to greater top-down regulatory rules. He says the panel’s extensive criticisms have blindsided the industry on where it should head with nutrient modelling. “We had expected there to be some flaws noted, but to come back and say ‘not fit for purpose’ and to only give it a year to find an alternative?” Macnab questioned. So far water quality regulations have focused on outcomes, leaving the industry to develop and innovate with new methods

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to meet the required outcomes. The one key exception to date is the 190kg of nitrogen a hectare a year limit imposed this year. The Government has undertaken to continue funding Overseer in its current form for another year as alternatives are investigated. “Going to absolute values shuts down the path to looking at innovative approaches to dealing with nutrients,” he asked. He acknowledged Overseer had sometimes made things more difficult than needed to be in the past by delaying the incorporation of new science into its modelling algorithms. “But that was probably down to a resource issue and it has responded better over time. Overseer could also have been more upfront in what was or was not included and it was affecting modelling,” he said. Macnab says if Overseer was tossed out, it left questions over training courses and accreditation for the software unanswered. “And then there are regional councils. They are left high and dry where it has been used as a tool for incorporating

nitrogen limits. There have been challenges, including by Dr Doug Edmeades on its suitability for regulation, which were tossed out by courts,” he said. He says the immediate impact on farmers was very real. He had clients in Western Lake Taupō district required to furnish their nitrogen discharge levels and had to rely on Overseer to do it. “This is highly impactful upon their business. And virtually every irrigation company in the country has set their N limits on Overseer – are these to become null and void?” he asked. Rotorua-based Perrin Ag director Lee Matheson says any uncertainty over Overseer’s future only provided farmers with less reason to comply, preferring to wait to see what alternative tools are presented. His business covers Rotorua Lakes and Taupō catchments, two iconic natural regions where nutrient loss has been determined by Overseer for the past 10-15 years. Lake Taupō includes a globally unique nitrogen trading programme, with allowances based on Overseer calculations

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in a scheme that has won OECD recognition for its success. His company has been involved from an early stage advising NZ regional councils on how Overseer should be used and cautioned them about how they used it in regulation. Matheson shares Glass and Macnab’s concerns about ‘where next’ for Overseer. In its review response, the Government has outlined some options, including a next generation of Overseer to address issues, a new risk index tool using elements of Overseer, or a completely new approach using a new nutrient loss model. “You have to be able to come up with a viable alternative,” Matheson said. “A lot of alternatives I have seen still rely upon Overseer as the measurement tool, they are just using a different model to allocate the resource.” He cautioned farmers criticising Overseer to be careful that if they pushed for Overseer to be dropped, whatever replaces it has to be better. “Getting rid of it does not get anyone off the hook,” he said.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Review impacts councils’ plans Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz REGIONAL councils and the legislative machine behind Overseer have stalled with the release of a report challenging the system’s validity as a tool for measuring nutrient losses. Past Environment Court and regulator decisions have endorsed the use of the system in setting nutrient limits in regional catchments. Only last year a paper to Overseer’s peer review panel stated “as a general principle regional plan provisions and resource consent conditions should be designed in a way that is consistent with Overseer’s assumptions and limitations”. But the recent decision has councils backpedalling, with policymakers assessing where it leaves major water quality decisions. These include the requirement for farmers to complete farm environment plans (FEPs) and stalls Environment Court hearings on significant regional plan changes. It also throws into question farmers’ ability to use Overseer to assess greenhouse gases (GHG) by the end of next year. This is required by the He Waka Eke Noa industry agreement with the Government. Canterbury, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Horizons are catchments most immediately and deeply affected, all having Overseer nutrient limitations enshrined in their regional plans. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council chief executive James Palmer says the most immediate impact for his council is the review’s effect upon council’s assessment of Tukituki land-use consent applications. He says these will now need to be revised, based on Overseer’s future pathway.

The Government has given the system a year to continue running as it is, while improvements or alternatives are assessed. “For us this means we will continue to implement our Tukituki plan as the law requires us to and farmers can still use Overseer to collate and record farm data,” Palmer said. “We know there are water quality problems in the Tukituki catchment and farmers are making changes and working constructively with the council to address this. It is important that this work continues.”

We now need to take the time to consider the review so we can be clear about how these processes may be impacted. Stefanie Rixecker ECan Farmers still need to submit Tukituki land-use consent applications and updated FEPs. In Canterbury, the regional council has been forced to hit the “pause” button on FEP audits while the future of Overseer is determined. The council has made the plans a high priority and it wanted to see their formulation reinstated as soon as possible. Environment Canterbury (ECan) chief executive Stefanie Rixecker says Overseer is used extensively both for modelling and in the regulatory framework. “We now need to take the time to consider the review so we can be clear about how these processes may be impacted,” Rixecker said.

The council has also been forced to seek an extension of time from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) on deciding to adopt both PC7 of the Land and Water Regional Plan and PC2 for the Waimakariri River regional plan. The region’s multiple irrigation schemes also have nutrient allowances tied to Overseer. These are to remain subject to a “robust” approach to ensure the effects of irrigated land use will remain wellmanaged. In Waikato, Overseer is integral in regulations around both the Taupō catchment’s nitrogen management plan and Healthy Rivers PC1 and also used to inform consent. Overseer was used in PC1 to determine farms’ nitrogen leaching loss rates and in turn the applicability of rules and nitrogen loss management. At present, PC1 is under appeal in the Environment Court and the council estimates it will take two months to determine the impact of the Overseer review on this appeal. It intends to contact appellants with developments. In a written outline of its intentions, the council noted Overseer’s shortcomings were not new and its variability has been widely understood and recognised. This is why applicants can sometimes be required to also supply other data and evidence. Like all councils, Waikato also has a statutory obligation to continue applying its regional plan rules and it will continue to assess new applications against the plan and the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater. Horizons also has Overseer embedded in nutrient regulations under PC2. This too is also under appeal at the Environment Court and the council intends to work through

PAUSED: Environment Canterbury Stefanie Rixecker chief executive says the council has put farm environment plan audits on pause and council has sought more time for adopting two plan changes affected by Overseer’s assessment.

the issues the review raises in coming weeks. Environment Southland chief executive Rob Phillips says while Overseer is used in several ways in Southland for the land and water plan, it is not the only tool used to manage nutrient losses. “Unlike other councils, Environment Southland has not used Overseer in our proposed water and land plan to identify a

target to reach. Rather, it has been used to help chart a direction of travel in improving our freshwater,” Phillips said. Setting a nutrient budget has to be completed using Overseer or “an alternative model”. He says the council is considering the review and preparing guidance for farmers with FEPs and applying for consents.

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10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

PGG Wrightson delivers solid result Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz

POSITIVE: PGG Wrightson chief executive Stephen Guerin is pleased with how the company performed during the past 12 months and says it is well-positioned for future growth.

added technical offering and advice,” Guerin said. He says the company’s Fruitfed Supplies business has registered another record year for both operating Ebitda and revenue. “The horticulture sector is growing and remains buoyant,

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and we are continuing to see investment and development,” he said. “We enjoy impressive market share across a broad range of horticultural crops and with particular strengths in the grape, pip fruit, stone fruit and kiwifruit,

“That hasn’t been the case in recent times. It’s been more weighted towards horticulture and possibly property going into forestry. “What we’re seeing is farming families wanting to expand their portfolio and some of the corporate investment that may have previously gone into commercial property going into the farming sector. “And syndicated investments. We are seeing some different investors coming into the sector at that more commercial, corporate end.”

This will effectively bring the total fully imputed dividends paid for the year up to an impressive 28 cents per share, which I am sure all shareholders will be delighted about. Roger Finlay PGW Although there’s early signs of a positive spring for rural real estate sales, Guerin is not expecting the real estate sector to be as strong as it has been during this past year. “There is a shortage of properties around, so that will impact us,” he said. Despite some global uncertainty around covid-19 and its effect on supply chains, Guerin is confident that PGW can continue to grow. “We’ve seen some market share gains, commodity prices remain strong and there’s been strong early season demand in several of our sectors,” he said. “We’ve also got a strong balance sheet. “We’re wanting to grow our Go products in the livestock space. It’s a funding model for our livestock clients. “We’re also looking at how we can grow the business through possible acquisitions.

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STRONG performances across its businesses have delivered PGG Wrightson (PGW) a healthy financial result for the latest financial year. Chair Rodger Finlay says the financial year ended June 30 started and finished strongly for the company, with yearend operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) of $56 million, up $13.8m or 33% on last year’s covid-19-affected result. “PGW also delivered a net profit after tax of $22.7 million, which was up $15 million. These results further vindicate the decisions taken over the last two years in divesting the Seeds business and with the concomitant recalibration of our cost base and systems,” Finlay said. “Based on the strong full-year earnings, the board declared a fully imputed final dividend of 16 cents per share.” The dividend will be paid on October 4 to shareholders on PGW’s share register as at 5pm on September 10. “This will effectively bring the total fully imputed dividends paid for the year up to an impressive 28 cents per share, which I am sure all shareholders will be delighted about,” he said. “The directors are particularly pleased that the business has backed up its strong first-half result and has continued to trade well over the second half.” Chief executive Stephen Guerin says the company’s retail and water group’s Ebitda was a very pleasing $37.5m, up $4.4m on the prior year’s result, an increase of 13%. “Our Rural Supplies business experienced particularly strong growth this year, which is a fantastic result in a highly competitive market. This success is attributable to both new customers who have shifted business to PGW and also growth in our market share as customers respond positively to our value-

and we continue to grow in the avocado and cherry sectors.” Guerin says PGW’s whole subsidiary, Agritrade, which manufactures, sells and distributes products, continues to show positive momentum. “Maintaining inventory during the worldwide supply chain disruption created by covid-19 caused Agritrade to place orders and receipt stock earlier than usual,” he said. “While the inability to travel internationally has hampered product development opportunities, it is nevertheless pleasing to note that five new products were registered during the year and are being commercialised.” He says PGW reshaped its water business to align with market conditions, which resulted in an improved Ebitda compared to the previous year. “Our full-service water and irrigation packages to customers through Rural Water have seen an increase in sales. However, shipping delays will likely push out some delivery timelines in the short to medium-term,” he said. “The water business has had its challenges over the last few years, with legislative changes, but it’s come through and delivered a good result.” The company’s Agency Group, which incorporates its livestock, wool and real estate business also performed well, with operating Ebitda of $25.2m, up $9.5m or about 60% on the previous year. “The real estate business has seen particularly strong demand across all sectors of the rural property market, which has also been fuelled by low interest rates,” he said. He put that down to two factors. “The lifestyle space is a different story to the rural property market. We’ve seen people wanting to move into provincial areas and that’s driven the demand for lifestyle blocks, underpinned by lower interest rates,” he said. “In the rural market we’ve seen demand right across the sector, be it dairy, sheep and beef, or horticulture.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Increase in ute sales Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz MORE than 7000 additional utes were sold in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period last year, with the surge attributed to buyers beating a new Government tax which comes into force in January. That carbon emissions tax, estimated at $3000 a vehicle, will offset the price of electric and hybrid cars, part of a clean air discount package announced in June to reduce transport emissions. From July, feebates of $8625 for new and $3450 for used became available for electric and hybrid cars, although it only applies to cars priced less than $80,000. But sales of petrol and dieselpowered utes are growing. Ministry of Transport (MoT) figures reveal 24,327 were sold from January to July compared to 16,989 for the same period a year earlier. In the month of July, MoT

figures show 1934 new and imported used electric and plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) were registered, receiving $5.7m in rebates for 1422 qualifying vehicles. Of those sales, 51 electric vehicles were registered to public authorities and qualify for rebates, with one claim for $3000 paid so far. Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford expects sales of petrol and diesel utes to rise even further later in the year, with distributors in discussions with manufacturers to accelerate production. “I would expect to see not only the rush on utes that we have already had in July, but more to be sold in the last quarter ahead of the feebate,” Crawford said. He says he heard that the price of second-hand utes has also increased on the back of growing demand ahead of the new tax. But there is some uncertainty with supply. Normally distributors will

IN DEMAND: Motor Industry Association chief executive David Crawford expects sales of petrol and diesel utes to rise even further later in the year, with distributors in discussions with manufacturers to accelerate production.

have three to four months’ stock, but shipping disruptions since covid-19 have impacted vehicle manufacturing and shipping. There are also supply issues with microchips used in motor vehicles that are also disrupting supply. Crawford says light commercial vehicles, such as utes, constituted 21% of the national fleet in 2002 and 30% currently. A Ministry spokesperson says Cabinet considered a fee

exemption for those working in the primary and trades sectors, but it was felt such a scheme would be too difficult to administer. The spokesperson says increasingly utility vehicles are purchased for private use. “The Clean Car scheme provides for a rebate or fee to encourage the uptake of zero or low-emissions light vehicles entering the NZ light vehicle fleet,” they said.

Ministry of Transport figures reveal 24,327 were sold from January to July compared to 16,989 for the same period a year earlier.

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12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Shift in fussy consumer behaviour Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz NEW Zealanders are spending more on food while not being so fussy about the shape of their fruit and vegetables, according to research conducted by Rabobank and food rescue charity KiwiHarvest. The research found Kiwis are spending significantly more on food than in 2019, while they are also more likely to be buying imperfect-looking fruit or vegetables. It also revealed an increased willingness to try meat alternatives, with more Kiwis buying imperfect fruit and vegetables in 2021 rather than paying full price. The research, part of a wider study also undertaken by Rabobank and KiwiHarvest, found 35% of New Zealanders live in households that are spending more than $200 a week on food, up from 26% in 2019, with 12% of households spending more than $300 a week, up from 7% previously. Rabobank head of sustainable business development Blake Holgate says there’s also been changes at the lower end of the scale, with only 14% reporting their household spends less than $100 a week on food, well back on the 23% of 2019. “Increases in food prices are a key factor in this lift, while the significant rise in the use of food delivery services is a further potential contributor to this higher spend,” Holgate said. The survey found a marked increase in the use of almost all food delivery services such as My Food Bag, Hello Fresh and Uber Eats. “The variety and convenience offered by these services has seen their usage surge over the past five years, both in NZ and in many other countries around the globe,” he said.

GROWING DEMAND: Rabobank head of sustainable business development Blake Holgate says things are looking up for imperfect fruit and vegetables, with more supermarkets selling them and 60% more people likely to buy them now than they would have two years ago.

It is really positive to see New Zealanders’ attitudes toward imperfect fruit and vegetables improving.

Gavin Findlay KiwiHarvest “We anticipate this trend will continue in the years ahead.” Covid is only likely to have further fuelled this growth, given the associated restrictions which have, at times, limited access to supermarkets and other food

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Since 2019 there’s been a jump in awareness of a range of meat alternative categories, including burgers and sausages made from vegetables, food produced from insect-based ingredients, meat produced from algae and meat-like products grown in a laboratory. The research found preferences remained split between cheaper, imperfect fruit and vegetables and more expensive regular produce. A total 39% of respondents indicated they would opt for regular-shaped fruit or vegetables at $4/kg, while 43% would choose misshapen produce at the lower cost of $1.30/kg. KiwiHarvest chief executive Gavin Findlay says it is pleasing to see these figures have increased over the past two years given

negative attitudes towards imperfect produce were one of the key factors contributing to the estimated $2.4 billion of food that goes to waste in NZ every year. Imperfect fruit and vegetables make up a considerable portion of the food redistributed by KiwiHarvest. “It is really positive to see New Zealanders’ attitudes toward imperfect fruit and vegetables improving and more Kiwis reporting that these items are stocked by their local retailer,” Findlay said. “As a result, improving attitudes towards imperfect fruit and vegetables is a major focus of the work we do educating New Zealanders on food waste and what they can do to minimise it.”

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outlets over the past 15 months. When it came to meat consumption, 30% of New Zealanders indicated they were trying to consume less, compared to 33% previously, while 5% were planning to increase their meat intake. Health reasons were cited by almost 75% of respondents wanting to reduce meat intake, while impact on the environment, cost and animal welfare concerns were the next most-noted reasons. “With these numbers relatively unchanged from two years ago, it’s clear that meat remains a fundamental component of most Kiwis’ diets.” However, Holgate says the survey also highlighted that many Kiwis are willing to give substitutes a try.

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farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

HONEST, HARDWORKING, NZ MADE LEGENDS SOON: An agreement in principle between New Zealand and the United Kingdom could be announced in a matter of weeks.

UK-NZ deal imminent A DEAL allowing New Zealand far better access for dairy products into Britain is now looking virtually certain. Farmers Weekly understands an agreement in principle (AiP) on a Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and the United Kingdom (NZ-UK FTA) will be announced within three weeks. Farmers Weekly further understands the dairy segment of the agreement will broadly match a similar AiP between the UK and Australia. This envisages a five-year wind down of import tariffs for dairy products. At present, NZ faces 45% tariffs on dairy sales to the UK outside a limited quota. And even exports within that quota face tariffs of 5-17%. It now appears that those barriers will be overcome for NZ exporters. In return, UK exporters would get lower tariffs on sales of motor vehicles such as buses and camper vans. Further concessions would help the trade in services, as well as making it easier for the Overseas Investment Office to approve British purchases of NZ assets. The easier access for NZ dairy goods to Britain is greatly valued by the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ). Chair Malcolm Bailey says Britain was the second biggest dairy importer in the world after China and it was good to have the option of selling products there. But he cautioned against expecting a bonanza. Output would not be immediately directed away from Asian markets towards Britain in any significant volume. Nor did NZ have large amounts of unsold dairy product, sitting idle, available to be sent to the UK. Further, there were limited opportunities to further expand dairy production here for environmental reasons.

Despite that, the deal would be a good one. “We think it is very worthwhile in terms of optionality,” Bailey said. “Just think of the mantra that is worldwide at the moment that far too many industries are too reliant on the Chinese market. “So having the option of developing a market further in Britain is something of real value.” Bailey argued there could be synergy with Britain, rather than large-scale, one-way trade. That was because Britain had a well-developed dairy industry of its own, but it could not produce enough quantity to feed its own people.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Call to organise GHG pathways

BE PREPARED: DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle says the Government needs to get all its regulatory ducks in a row so farmers can access future tools to deal with on-farm emissions.

We’ve got to make sure we’ve got that system really wellgeared up to not only do it as quickly and effectively as we can but to make sure that it’s robust. Tim Mackle DairyNZ feed additives or a slow release approach that does not easily translate to NZ’s farming systems. “Being pasture-based extensive systems we’ve got to have our own focus, particularly for implementation, the application of the technology. “There’s so many benefits when it comes to free-range pasture-

based systems, but one of the challenges we face is how do you apply this methane knockdown technology?” Dairy farming has long been targeted by some parts of NZ society as not doing enough to curb its emissions, but Mackle says he has recently seen a change in some of those perceptions. “In the last few months the general narrative around our challenge has shifted to be more balanced and the Climate Change Commission has helped with that because they said ‘hey, if we don’t (address) CO2, we’re all down the gurgler’,” he said. “If I stand back and look at the data and stats (around media coverage), which we do, there has been a shift to a greater acknowledgment that it’s no longer all about ag. Having said that, he says there is one thing that still does concern him. Mackle says some of those

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Covid stalls honey hearing l

Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz EFFORTS by Australian honey producers to oppose the registration of the description mānuka honey have been stalled by covid in Wellington last week. A united stance by iwi, government and the mānuka honey industry to have the honey’s name protected was due for a hearing at the Intellectual Property Office, but is now on hold. Australian honey producers have already contested the registration of the mānuka honey label in the United Kingdom, after the New Zealand government committed more than $1 million towards trademark action by NZ producers to protect the label.

UNITED: Apiculture NZ chief executive Karin Kos says the industry was united on the need to protect the mānuka brand.

Three years ago, the UK awarded trademark protection to the mānuka

honey label exclusively to NZ producers under its UK Trade Mark Registry. Trademark protection is also being sought in China, the United States and Europe. Mānuka Charitable Trust chair Pita Tipene says the goal to protect the term was so it could only be lawfully used on honey produced in NZ. “For Māori, this means our reo is respected and a precious taonga is being honoured and protected. For consumers it means they can trust they are getting genuine honey produced in NZ from our mānuka trees,” Tipene said. “We are strongly of the view that it is not appropriate for honey producers in another country to use the name mānuka honey when the

plant the nectar came from did not grow in Aotearoa.” Unique mānuka Factor (UMF) Honey spokesperson John Rawcliffe says the irony was the Australian producers were unable to sell their honey product here in NZ and mānuka had proven to be an exclusively NZ descriptor. Apiculture NZ chief executive Karin Kos says the industry was united across iwi, government and producers about the need to protect and manage the mānuka brand in the interests of NZ. Tipene says all countries, including Australia, have their own unique honeys and for the international honey industry to advance the use of names specific to indigenous honeys should be encouraged.

who advocate a move away from livestock exaggerate the impact of reducing NZ’s agricultural methane emissions on global outcomes and a time-poor NZ general public who is also focused on covid-19 can read too much into soundbites that are not necessarily accurate. He says the agricultural sector needs to get its own message across. “This is about us making a contribution to a global effort. But, and this is not a reason for doing nothing, we’re not going to solve this issue by ourselves. You’re not going to stop sea level rise at Takapuna Beach from the 10% methane cut that we’re looking to do by 2030,” he said. “That does not mean that reducing our methane (emissions) is unimportant because it is part of a collective global effort and it’s also what our customers and their consumers are demanding from us.”

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DAIRYNZ is calling on the Government to get regulatory pathways and processes organised now, so that when potential tools for helping farmers address biological emissions are ready to be commercialised, there are no unnecessary hold-ups to them being applied on-farm. Chief executive Tim Mackle says nothing can be fed or applied to an animal in New Zealand without having certain approvals for their importation and use, an example being medicines and treatments needing to be authorised under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act. Bearing in mind the work currently being done to create new technologies to help farmers cut on-farm emissions, Mackle says the Government needs to look now at what regulations or Acts will have to be met before the new technologies arrive. “Because of the urgency of needing to help our farmers have technology in their hands to knock down methane, we need to do everything we can from a government point of view to expedite the whole thing, to speed things up,” Mackle said. “There should be no excuse for us not to run those processes as quickly as we can. “That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t run, because you can’t just throw anything out there, but at the same time we should have it running like a well-oiled machine.” He draws a parallel with covid vaccines, saying internationally there has been a massive amount of time, effort and money put into developing them, and for many countries they had to get through regulatory systems quickly. “It’s no different to that,” he said. “If the urgency’s there, and the

latest (IPCC) report has said it is, then we should do everything we can to expedite that. “We’re calling on the Government to get those pathways and processes sorted out now so we’re not coming from a standing start. So we can get things moving as soon as something arrives and is ready.” At the same time, Mackle says because food safety is one of the most critical values of NZ food to customers around the world, that’s also got to be paramount. “We’ve got to make sure we’ve got that system really well-geared up to not only do it as quickly and effectively as we can, but to make sure that it’s robust.” He says a lot has changed with R&D aimed at addressing pastoral greenhouse gases since work began on it. In the early days there was a discovery phase but now sectors are at the sharp end of getting tools into the hands of farmers, although there is still work to be done to make that a reality. “We’re at a different phase now, we’re not at discovery, we’re into commercialisation and implementation and working these things into the farm system itself,” he said. He says DairyNZ is currently running trials looking at a variety of technologies but it needs to be able to look at the process as a value chain and ask: ‘“what are all the parts that need to be sorted in order to ultimately get these in the hands of farmers as quickly as we can?” “Because that’s the endgame. The goal is getting cost-effective technologies that have jumped through all the hoops and satisfied all the key issues into the hands of farmers,” he said. He says from a global perspective there is a lot of work going on targeted at reducing biological emissions, which is positive, but most are focused on

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Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz

News

16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Govt monitoring shipping delays Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz INTERNATIONAL shipping lines are committed to servicing New Zealand ports in spite of current supply chain disruption, says Transport Minister Michael Wood. Some exporters are worried the ongoing disruption to shipping schedules could lead to a global reset of services, meaning fewer calls to NZ ports, but Wood says shipping lines say they are committed to servicing NZ exporters and importers. “I am continuing to monitor the situation, and officials are constantly working with the sector to support supply chain collaboration and keep me well-informed,” Woods said in a statement. Wood is also working with other ministers and seeking advice about the appropriate response by the Government, which he says he is open-minded about.

CONCERN: Some exporters are worried the ongoing shipping disruption will lead to a global reset of services.

He says the Government has already facilitated applications by the Ports of Auckland to bring in skilled workers to improve

productivity, KiwiRail has added more weekly freight services between Auckland and Tauranga and introduced a new booking

system to improve utilisation rates of its trains. “Officials have also facilitated critical imports, new capacity, such as Maersk’s Sirius Star service, reported on global developments and provided businesses access to supply chain management experts,” he said. Since May last year, the Government-initiated International Airfreight Capacity policy has enabled more than 8500 flights carrying over 156,000 tonnes of airfreight worth about $12.5 billion. Ministry of Transport supply chain manager Harriet Shelton expects current disruptions to continue at least for the next 12-18 months. She says industry and the market are best-placed to respond to the disruptions, but the Ministry is leading a cross-agency group of officials to address congestion issues and determine assistance. It has also initiated discussions

with industry about collaborations such as chartering ships. In June, the NZ Council of Cargo Owners suggested steps it says the Government could introduce to assist supply chains. That included working all elements of the supply chain around the clock, recruiting key people from overseas to alleviate staff shortages, urgently addressing rail choke points between Tauranga and Auckland and prioritising road improvements to lift transport capacity and efficiency. Chair Simon Beale says those suggestions are still current. He also raised concerns the stress and demands of the disruption is causing burnout among logistics staff. “It is worrying that the pipeline of those with logistics, supply chain skills is small. “In short, there is a very real issue around the supply chain workforce,” Beale said.

Back blue this September RIDE a blue bike, bake a blue cake, wear a blue cape, row across a lake, go for a run, or hit a hole in one. These are just some of the ways people can join the fight against prostate cancer by supporting Blue September this year. Today, 10 Kiwi men will be told they have prostate cancer. It is the most common cancer in New Zealand men, with more than 3500 men diagnosed each year – more than the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Blue September is the major annual fundraising and awareness campaign for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand (PCFNZ), during which they aim to raise $1 million so they can carry on providing vital support, funding essential research and advocating for

patients and their loved ones. PCFNZ chief executive Peter Dickens says that more than 650 Kiwi men will die from prostate cancer this year. “That’s 55 mates, fathers, sons, brothers, grandfathers dying each month,” Dickens said. “We receive no government funding so by supporting Blue September, you can help make a tangible difference in people’s lives.” “Every dollar raised during Blue September helps to improve the health outcomes of New Zealand men.” The 2021 Blue September campaign is all about encouraging people to ‘do something blue to help a mate through’ “The options are endless and the sky’s the limit when it comes to

doing something blue,” he said. “It could be anything from arranging an office morning tea to baking a blue cake or wearing blue on the golf course.” Over 42,000 men in NZ are living with prostate cancer and early detection is key to survival. Most men won’t experience symptoms so regular check-ups are essential. “Early detection leads to better outcomes so it’s important to get checked and tell your friends and family to get checked too,” he said. Testing for prostate cancer can now be done with a simple blood test, called a PSA test. “It’s really easy to get a test and have that peace of mind. We encourage men over age 50 to get regular check-ups (age 40 if there’s a family history) and ask their GP for a PSA test,” he said.

IMPORTANT: Over 42,000 men in NZ are living with prostate cancer and early detection is key to survival.

Blue-doers are encouraged to share their “blue do” on social media with the hashtag #DoSomethingBlue to help spread the word. There are also lots of other ways to support Blue September this year, including

making a donation, buying sponsored products or Blue September merchandise.

www.blueseptember.org.nz

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News

18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

COMPREHENSIVE: WOMOlife shearing trainer Luke Mullins says the course offers so much more than just shearing, it teaches about body movement, nutrition, financial literacy and managing stress.

A life in wool

Agrievents

Shearing’s traditionally been all technique and tallies, but a new training programme is encouraging shearers to regard themselves as rural athletes, mentally and physically.

Know Your Mindset. Grow your influence Programme run across two sessions: Module 1: Online Zoom • Invercargill (1) - Southland, Monday 6 September, 7.00-8.30pm • Invercargill (2) - Southland, Monday 6 September, 7.00-8.30pm • Lake Karapiro (1) - Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Wednesday 22 September, 7.00-8.30pm • Lake Karapiro (2) - Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Wednesday 22 September, 7.00-8.30pm Module 2: In person • Invercargill (1) - Southland, Tuesday 21 September, 12.00-2.30pm • Invercargill (2) - Southland, Tuesday 21 September, 6.00-8.30pm • Lake Karapiro (1) - Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Wednesday 29 September, 9.00-11.30am • Lake Karapiro (2) - Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Wednesday 29 September, 12.30-3.00pm Light refreshments (lunch or supper) will be provided at the face-to-face workshops. Cost: $30 per person, covering both sessions To register: https://www.awdt.org.nz/applying/

farmstrong.co.nz

Wednesday 29/09/2021 AWDT – Generation Change Do you know a young woman about to embark on a career in food and fibre? Tell her about Generation Change. New from @AgriWomensDevelopmentTrust, Generation Change is a oneday workshop and support community preparing young women for a life of meaningful work and positive impact. Designed for women in tertiary study or training with agri-food career ambitions, ‘Generation Change’ is about starting the journey with a clear sense of their values, strengths and purpose. By connecting with a community of supportive peers, inspiring primary sector leaders and a mentor, it’s also about going the distance together. For more information and to register: www.awdt.org.nz/generationchange-2/

Saturday 06/11/2021 – Sunday 07/11/2021 Marlborough A&P Show Horse classes, Livestock, Animal Nursery, Childrens Entertainment, Trade Exhibits. Town and Country Together Venue: A & P Park Blenheim For more infomation, phone 03 578 5822 - www.marlboroughshow.co.nz Email: marlborough.show@xtra.co.nz Should your event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz

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Wednesday 20/10/2021 Whangarei A&P Society - Rural Business Network Karen Williams, Arable Chairperson, Federated Farmers New Zealand “Insights into the NZ Arable Industry” Where: Barge Showgrounds Events Centre, Whangarei Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm Tickets $20 from EventFinda https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2021/rbn-karen-williams-insights-into-the-nzarable-industry/whangarei

LUKE Mullins hails from Taihape but is now based in Te Awamutu. He’s been shearing all his life and his passion for it remains undiminished. He and his wife recently purchased a shearing run in Otorohanga. “I’ve been in the shed pretty much all my life. The thing I like about shearing is seeing everyone work hard, but still having a laugh and enjoying themselves. If you like being around people, it’s a great job,” Mullins said. But there’s a competitive side to shearing – you get paid according to your tally. He likes that side of it too. “I’ve always been a competitive person, so I’ve fed off that vibe. But I also enjoy watching people improve, especially guys who’ve gone from the wool press to the stand. You see people’s skills evolve over the years, which is cool,” he said. Which brings us nicely to one of Mullins’ current roles – training the next generation of shearers as part of WOMOlife, a $1.8 million pilot training programme to upskill 120 existing shearers and provide a training pathway for 150 new shearers. WOMOlife has created an extensive library of online video content supported by practical, hands-on training days in the woolshed with accredited trainers like Mullins. The courses provide training in movement techniques designed to reduce the risk of injury while increasing performance and productivity. But there are other aspects to the training as well. “It’s been a really cool thing to

get off the ground,” he said. “The training is designed to be as broad as possible. So, as well as learning to shear, people will learn about body movement, nutrition, financial literacy and managing stress. “These things are important. For example, I was never great with money. I’d work hard during Main Shear and think ‘okay, let’s go and spend it’. Obviously, as you get older you realise you need to put something away for a rainy day. I’d really like to see people new to the industry being a bit more savvy with their money.” He says the training also covers managing stress and the “top two inches”. “There is stress in every industry, so it’s important to have coping mechanisms, isn’t it? Obviously if you’re really feeling under the pump, it’s good to talk to someone, but it’s also good just to go and chill out and have five minutes to yourself each day with no distractions. A bit of mindfulness. Just relax and breathe and realise you can’t control everything in the world,” he said. “I also find a walk at night can be a good way to just relax and unwind. Get off your device and find a bit of solitude and quiet. I find during the day if I have five minutes to myself, closing my eyes and chilling out it really helps manage stress and then in the evening, my wife and I will discuss how the day’s gone. So, there’s a time for talking and also a time for a bit of self-reflection.” Mullins says managing “the top paddock” is more important to running a shearing business than people might think. “Shearing is a bloody hard job at the end of the day. You put your body through a lot of stress. And

there are plenty of things out of your control. We rely on farmers to present the sheep in the right way and provide good facilities. So, you need to develop some resilience and strategies for when things don’t work out as expected. The last thing you want is people in your crew flying off the handle. You need to work as a productive team,” he said. “A lot of what I’ve learnt about dealing with stress came with experience. When I was 28, I thought I was bulletproof, but looking back, you realise you’re not that mentally mature. That’s why it’s helpful to learn techniques and strategies that help you cope when unexpected things come into your day. You need to give yourself time to process things and communicate to resolve issues rather than nutting off. “One thing I’ve also learnt about managing people is that if you see someone struggling at work, ask them ‘is there something else going on in your life?’ Do something to actually help rather than let them bottle things up, because that’s when it all goes pear-shaped.” He says despite its pressures and physical demands, shearing remains a great career option. “I take my kids to the woolshed and (when) they go home and my wife asks them ‘how was your day?’ and they say ‘Oh, it was mean. We were out on the farm, we were playing on the bales, we saw the farmer drench the sheep and Dad got me to shear the last side of a sheep’. That’s what a life in shearing is – it’s full of stories. That’s why I always wanted to be a shearer and that’s why I still love it.” is the official media partner of Farmstrong

AginED Ag ED

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

Volume 70 I August 23rd, 2021 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined

HI AginED READERS!

MASSEY UNIVERSITY’S TOP TIPS FOR LAMBING SUCCESS STRETCH YOURSELF: 1

According to these tips, what is the ideal stocking rate for ewes?

2 They talk about the ideal kg amount of dry matter per hectare, what do they mean by this?

Have a go: 1

Go to https://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/ about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle _ uuid=AAD8B30E-0475-D943-5B1A-CB6C78176F10 Watch the video “Top tips for lambing success” from Massey University and read the accompanying article.

3 Reference is made to light ewes having a body score of 2.5 or lower. What is a body score? Can you find a sheep condition body score chart and work out the body score of a medium-good ewe and a very good ewe? 4 Their research has shown that grazing ewes on a herb mix has multifaceted benefits, what are these? What is in the herb mix that they refer to? 5 What could happen to ewes which have been lambed down on herb mix, if they are suddenly changed to other forage? What causes this problem?

When does lambing season usually start in NZ?

My name is Harriet Bremner; I am an author, speaker, farmer, ex-primary teacher and advocate for health, safety and wellbeing in agriculture. I have been on a journey of grief, trauma, finding my grit and why, changing my career and following my dreams for the last 4.5 years.

This graph shows the average prices at the recent Feilding and Marton Hogget Fair.

Have a go:

Through this I have great pleasure in helping others based on my own personal experiences. In this space in the AginED page, I am aiming to give our teenagers quick tips on a wide raft of topics from how to identify stress and manage it, how to talk about grief, suicide and trauma, working with anxiety and how to always put yourself first, just to name a few. When I grew up we still wrote letters and didn’t see people for 6 weeks over the summer holidays, there was no social anxiety attached to this as none of us knew what each other were doing. Now, things have changed in the world we live in. Every second of every day we are influenced by our devices and what we are seeing on them. We are exposed to all things, good and bad and can be made to feel like we aren’t achieving or that we should constantly overachieve. It can seem as though we are missing out or not good enough and the list goes on - as do the repercussions that come with feeling like this as it builds over time.

1 What does the term ‘hogget’ mean? 2 How do 2021 values for both male and ewe hoggets compare to 2011? 3 How do values compare to the previous year? 4 In what year were the average values at their lowest on this graph?

2 What is the percentage difference between the average male hogget in 2021 and 2015?

So join me in talking about the ‘tough stuff’ and learning how to follow that gut feeling while finding your own ‘why’ in life. Life is full of wonderful and also really tough times but we must remember that we all have our own path to walk in life and the only person who can find it is you.

3 Why do you think the average male hogget is worth more than the ewes? (Think about how each sex matures)

‘Without speaking out there is no voice. With no voice there is no hope.”

4 In previous weeks we have looked at how strong lamb farmgate values are. Do you think this has impacted the market at this year’s hogget fair? Why or why not?

See you next time.

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1 What are some factors that caused values to dip last year?

Herbicide resistance in weeds has always been seen as something that will likely occur in the future. However, it appears to have already become a reality. AgResearch scientist Dr Trevor James stated that the instance of resistance was more than 10 times greater than had been estimated. It was estimated that around 5% of properties would have weed resistance but their survey found that 54 out of 87 properties had herbicide resistance in weeds. Researchers are exploring methods and alternatives that may help to rectify the problems weed resistance poses. To read the full article head to: https://farmersweekly.co.nz/section/agribusiness/view/herbicide-resistance-surging

Harriet

FILL YA BOOTS: Pick another country that farms sheep such as Australia or the UK. How do farming practices differ between countries? Are there any similarities?

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Newsmaker

GROWTH POTENTIAL: Hawke’s Bay squash grower Shane Newman says having direct connections with Asian markets will help identify opportunities for new products.

A taste for opportunity A plant-based milk made from New Zealand buttercup squash has found its way to supermarket shelves in Asia. Colin Williscroft reports.

HANE Newman and his family have been growing squash in Hawke’s Bay for more than 40 years, but he’s excited about the potential opportunities from his latest project. Kabochamilk is a collaboration between Newman, one of NZ’s largest buttercup squash growers, and Sachie Nomura, a Japanese celebrity chef and owner of Auckland cooking school Sachie’s Kitchen, who is also the brains behind avocadomilk, a world-first, award-winning plant-based milk. Like its avocado equivalent, Kabochamilk is 100% vegan, free from artificial flavours and colours and, according to Newman, “tastes outstanding”. Kabocha is a type of winter squash, sometimes referred to as Japanese pumpkin. Newman produces around 12,000 tonnes of fresh squash annually that is packed and shipped into Asia. He has a partnership with a Gisborne squash grower and an Auckland-based fresh produce export business to market squash under their own brand, known as Three Good Men. They’ve built that around three promises: consistent quality, total traceability and customer happiness. “We’ve established a strategy on having direct retail distribution and contact with a value-added story. We spend quite a bit of time up in the market space with

promotion and supporting our retail customers,” Newman said. However, his fresh produce export partners are not involved with the milk product, with Newman coming up with the idea after seeing the success of avocadomilk. “We’ve always thought this (squash) is a fantastic product and we wanted to add more value to what we’re currently doing,” he said. “We wanted to get better utilisation of our product, so we came up with this idea and concept.” He contacted Nomura with his idea for the plant-based milk, which led to the development of a recipe and the result is now being exported into Asia. He says Kabochamilk uses a similar heat-treated process to that used to make avocadomilk and the result is a product that’s shelf stable for at least 12 months. Other than a couple of small imported ingredients, everything involved with it is grown, produced or manufactured in NZ. “While all our product will go offshore, we’re using local farmers, local R&D, local manufacturers, packaging and domestic logistics companies, so the benefits to the New Zealand economy are considerable,” he said. The product utilises a range of squash varieties blended to create a stable flavour and one of the big advantages for Newman is that it uses squash that wouldn’t be exported as fresh produce.

“Kabochamilk uses unexported tag-3 fruit, creating a high-value, sustainable and exportable product from produce that would otherwise go to waste,” he said. “Tag-3 is the minimum grade for acceptable quality produce under T&G standards. He says kabocha is a staple and regular healthy part of the Japanese and east-Asian diet and it’s very satisfying to have hit upon a new opportunity for local growers.

Kabochamilk uses unexported tag-3 fruit, creating a highvalue, sustainable and exportable product from produce that would otherwise go to waste.

“There are no other comparable kabocha milks in any of those markets and it became a really exciting opportunity to fill that gap,” he said. It’s positioned as an everyday ‘milk alternative’ product that can be consumed at any time as a simple, tasty way of introducing healthy nutrients into the family diet. NZ is one of the largest exporters of squash to Japan and Korea and by tapping into the

distribution and retail channels that Newman and his family have established through their fresh horticultural and export business, they have been able to gain access to a distribution network of around 5000 Asian retailers, supermarkets and convenience store chains. “Our business experience in Asia is very strong. We send our fresh product right through Asia, so we’re pretty familiar with the markets, the taste attributes and what the customers are looking for, especially with the direct contacts we have with the retail sectors up there,” he said. “We think this is a huge opportunity, not just Japan but Korea, China and there’s other South-East Asian markets that we feel would fit really well, especially at that high-end level, being a health beverage.” However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, with the pandemic creating challenges, particularly around shipping and staffing but also in other areas. “We’re forecasting ongoing issues with disruptions to shipping and the shipping elements of costs but it’s not only that, there’s the operational side of not being up there amongst our customers,” he said. As part of his fresh produce export business, Newman used to visit Asia three or four times a year but he’s not been for two years. “It’s a big part of our business, the relationships we have in our

markets, and while Zoom and technology has been good to bridge that gap, that direct contact has been taken away,” he said. “We want to open that up again and build on it as soon as this thing starts to get under control. “The direct costs we see. Staffing and shipping are definitely real and they are challenging but we underestimate the (importance of the) direct contact we have with our customers and the relationships we have in our markets. They are valued heavily and that’s why we do this.” Kabochamilk received more than $95,000 through the Ministry for Primary Industry’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund and Newman says the story of the product being grown and produced in NZ is an important part of the branding. “New Zealand growers already have very high credibility among consumers, so we emphasise the product’s origin story in our marketing,” he said. “The market feedback already has been extremely positive, from product concept to taste, to brand.” He can see other opportunities in the sorts of spaces Kabochamilk is being positioned in. He says those markets are opening up and consumers’ tastes are shifting all the time, so it’s about finding those opportunities and having direct connections with the market to understand those types of shifts and opportunities.

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Dietary diversity brings benefits A set of trials treating research sheep to a four-course meal of varying forages served throughout the day has provided valuable insights for farmers wanting to improve stock productivity and animal welfare while reducing their environmental footprint. Richard Rennie reports.

HE prospect of eating the same meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner day in, day out holds little appeal for humans. But work by Lincoln University Pastoral Livestock Production Lab PhD student Konagh Garrett indicates sheep feel the same way and a more varied diet will see them repay farmers as happier, higher-producing and more environmentally-friendly livestock. She says given New Zealand’s reliance upon pastoral systems it is surprising more work has not been done on how different pasture plant species and more functional dietary combinations could improve animal productivity, while reducing environmental impact and enhancing animal welfare. She is just finishing up her work on that very subject, completing her PhD in animal science with results on dietary combinations that offer practical solutions that could be applied relatively easily to existing commercial pasture systems. “We were working on the hypothesis that dietary diversity, when functional, will improve animal production and welfare while reducing the environmental impact of agricultural practices, compared to monotonous diets,” Garrett said. While including indoor cutcarry regimes, the main focus of her work was on feeding ewes and lambs outdoors with grazeable forages. These comprised plantain,

chicory, ryegrass and lucerne, fed either in mixed swards, or individually, while compared to conventional and monotonous diets of either ryegrass or lucerne. The outcomes supported the hypothesis, with 20% greater dry matter intake of feed compared to conventional ryegrass pastures when it was offered separately in four ‘serves’ and 10% greater when offered as all four in a pasture mix.

We would feed them rye and plantain in the morning and then chicory and lucerne in the afternoon. Konagh Garrett Lincoln University The weight gains for the lambs on all four offered in a mixture were 296g a day but when offered separately it was an impressive 378g a day, compared to 227g a day on lucerne, so often considered the gold-standard feed for weight gain. “We would feed them rye and plantain in the morning and then chicory and lucerne in the afternoon,” she said. Researchers suspect the animals, just like humans, prefer to have a rotating variety of feeds and even when that variety is incorporated into a single mixture they tend to get bored with it. Another aspect of Garrett’s

work that puts it at the leading edge of dietary study is examining the trans-generational effects of grazing diverse pastures. She followed twin-bearing ewes and then their lambs grazing each diet. One lamb was removed from the mother at birth to determine the effects of each in-utero and early life dietary experience and the influence on preference and performance in later life. The results have been promising, providing evidence supporting improved production and welfare compared to those on conventional monoculture diets. The work has some parallels with the world-leading research conducted by Sir Peter Gluckman and his team who examined the links between maternal diets and the ongoing health of offspring, including links to childhood obesity and diabetes. Garrett’s work also has relevance to the current attention regenerative agriculture is receiving. “This provides some insights to pasture mixes and proves how spatially separating species gives farmers another option if you cannot plant all species together,” she said. Her work is also leading to a better understanding of animal “wellness” and whether a varied dietary offering is contributing to happier animals that are more productive and releasing fewer nitrates. “The diverse diet appeared to show improved wellness in that happier animals tend to be more productive. But we also found that the ewes on the diverse diets

OPTIONS: Lincoln PhD student Konagh Garrett says sheep display a preference for a variety of pasture types.

had higher antioxidant status and lower non-esterified fatty acid levels 24 hours after lambing, indicating lower oxidative stress levels,” she said. Meanwhile, a diet that included alternatives to high protein, high nitrate-generating ryegrass has also proven to have significantly (30%) lower nitrate losses and up to 90% greater daily weight gains. Garrett has just been awarded sponsorship from farmer co-

Keep an eye out The latest issue of Dairy Farmer will hit letterboxes on August 30. Our OnFarmStory this month features a Taranaki couple who are passionate about caring for the land. We also catch up with the Canterbury farmers who bought a restaurant to showcase their Red Devon meat, the two South Island farmers behind the Meat the Need and Feed Out charities and take a look at some beef breeds to use over the dairy herd.

farmersweekly.co.nz 0800 85 25 80

operative Ruralco to continue with further research while her PhD is being graded. Longer-term, she would like to see her work extended to study an even wider range of pasture species and to apply the different dietary regimes to commercial farming situations. “There has been a lot of interest, including 10 publications in peer reviewed journals, and it is work that could be applied to farms relatively easily,” she said.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | $8.95

Caring for the land Taranaki farmers on an environmenta l journey PLUS:

Paddock to plate ➜ Red Devon on the menu ➜ Helping those in nee d ➜ Better bulls better calves

Opinion

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

EDITORIAL GHG mitigation plan is needed

AIRYNZ’S call for regulations to be ready so greenhouse gas mitigations can hit the ground running is a good one. The path from idea to research, to testing, to commercialisation is a long one and no one needs red tape getting in the way of addressing emissions. New Zealand has had many successes when it comes to commercialising scientific breakthroughs over the years, but it still seems to be a bit hit-andmiss. With the world watching what we’re doing to improve farming sustainability, now’s not the time to hold up vital advancements with bureaucracy. That’s not to say every tool should be waved through the gate, however. The genetically modified ryegrass being trialled in the United States, for example, is caught up in a larger discussion about what the future of our primary industries will look like. And with good reason. We can’t afford to fix one problem by possibly creating another. But that doesn’t mean that where we can, we should identify any speed bumps there are in the path of the tools farmers will need and make sure they’re smoothed. The Government has set the rules for farming’s emissions reductions, and now it needs to do its part in helping that happen. Food producers are keen to play their part in ensuring the footprint they leave behind is palatable to both NZ and the consumers around the world who we rely on for export returns. But we need a fighting-fit regulatory system to give them the best chance of success. Technology isn’t a silver bullet. It’s just one tool in the toolbox. But it’s an important one and every effort needs to be made to get those tools into the hands of farmers as quickly as possible when the time comes.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Covid’s a convenient excuse THE controversy over the Government’s Three Waters proposal has the underlying principle of democracy being at stake (letters, Tony Orman, August 16). It is not new to the Government’s style. The firearm laws following the “Ides of March” 2019 shooting were a travesty of democracy. The Government resorted to a “pretend consultation” of considering 12,000 submissions in two to three days. It ignored sincere, law abiding citizens and expert views. The resulting law was poor and ineffective, ending up targeting the recreational public and farmers and because of ‘under table’ sales, gangs and criminals gained forfeited firearms. Gang arsenals were increased. The rushed law was

unbelievable in its stupidity. It seems the Government sees a convenient excuse with covid to push new law through under “urgency” with a pretence of consultation. However, it is not just the central government showing arrogance. Local government councils, which seem increasingly run by bureaucrats instead of the elected council, are showing the similar trait. There is growing reactionary frustration by all New Zealanders to the arrogance of the Prime Minister, Cabinet and bureaucrats. Not surprisingly, the Groundswell protests had much off-farm support from people. Andi Cockroft Council of Outdoor Recreation Associations

An ever-inflating helium balloon THE Government has subsidised one side of the seesaw with carbon credits, which can be likened to an ever-inflating helium balloon. If the Government in turn loads the other side with the burden of taxes on ‘thin air’ or methane taxes on ‘ruminant burps’, what will happen? Well, Steve Wynn-Harris touched on it in his riveting August 9 ‘Carbon prices drive land-use change’ article. If Steve’s landvaluer’s estimation is correct that for every $10/tonne the carbon price increases any forestry suitable land goes up $3000/ha and if the Climate Change Commission

estimates are correct, then, solely due to artificial Government-induced carbon trading, land prices increase 300% by 2030 and 500% by 2050. While the helium balloon is overinflating, ready to pop, the Government is talking of introducing a ‘thin air’ methane tax burden on the other side of the seesaw. What is the combined effect? Farms become unaffordable, production falls, rural unemployment, gutted communities, closed schools, food prices soar, ‘a piece of bread becomes worth a bag of gold’ and millions of people starve, especially the poorest of the poor. Dave Stanton Geraldine

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

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Keep using Overseer Stuart Ford

HE recent review of Overseer carried out by the Government has formally identified many of the already known inadequacies with its use as a modelling tool, but it has also identified a few other issues with the way that the model calculates the results and the way that they are being used that have caused us to pause and re-examine its use. We at the AgriBusiness Group are confident that the Overseer farm modelling tool can emerge from this period stronger. New Zealand farmers are building up a head of steam in reducing nitrate leaching to the benefit of our waterways and our market position. OverseerFM has been pivotal in helping farmers on this path because it’s been the only readily available tool that gives them an idea of their performance in terms of nitrate leaching. The recent release of the Overseer Whole-Model Review report expresses a lack of confidence in Overseer and as a result, the Government plans to look at improvements or alternatives for use in regulation. There’s no question that

The

Pulpit

Overseer can be improved, but it’s important we keep using it in the meantime as a tool to support decision-making, because there is no other readily available option for farmers to model what’s happening to nutrients on their farm. The AgriBusiness Group provides advice to farmers all over NZ. My colleagues and I know the majority of farmers are striving to reduce nitrate leaching and improve their environmental footprint.

There’s no question that Overseer can be improved, but it’s important we keep using it in the meantime as a tool to support decision-making, because there is no other readily available option. It’s important they have the right tools to help them and Overseer is a useful tool when used in the right context to understand the impact of practice changes and inform plans. I have confidence in the application of Overseer when it is used in this way. It gives farmers an indication of whether they are improving in terms of reducing nitrate leaching and gives them information to report to their regional council. Regional councils require proof that farmers are making the changes needed to achieve regional goals for water quality. That can be demonstrated by developing a farm environment plan and monitoring progress

against that plan, as is already happening in a number of regions. Overseer is a tool to provide information on which to base farm environment plans and model progress in terms of the potential impacts of system changes. When using such tools, the relative accuracy of their use should be kept in mind when the farmer is considering the results. There’s evidence that this approach, using Overseer as a farm management tool, is working. In Canterbury, farmers are making changes. Overseer modelling informs their farm planning and through this planning they are increasing the efficiency of their systems both in the use of inputs such as nitrogen fertiliser and in terms of outputs such as milksolids or meat. This approach to improving water quality means decisions about what to do on-farm are in the hands of farmers. That’s vastly preferable to the alternative, which is when the Government decides what farmers can do by setting input controls. We currently have one example of this, where the Government has set a limit on nitrogen fertiliser use on dairy farms. To avoid further input controls

SUPPORT: AgriBusiness Group director Stuart Ford says they are confident that the Overseer farm modelling tool can emerge from this period stronger.

of this type, we need to keep using and improving Overseer to demonstrate that farmers are reducing their environmental footprint.

Who am I? Stuart Ford is the director of AgriBusiness Group

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

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Opinion

24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Go hard, go early Alternative View

Alan Emerson

LET me start by saying that I don’t like lockdowns. People have also suggested, hurtfully in my submission, that they make me grumpy. In one case it was “more grumpy than normal”. Let me add that in the current case, I totally support going into lockdown for the entire country. We were holidaying in Australia when the borders shut and took advantage of the week-long amnesty to come home. Watching the Australians attempt to control covid and comparing it with ours was a little like chalk and cheese. For a start, in New Zealand we know exactly what’s going on and why. We have the Prime Minister and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, along with the Director-General of Health, giving us the news and then taking questions from journalists. In Australia it wasn’t as precise. When the Delta variant of covid hit Sydney it didn’t seem to create many waves. It was believed to be started by a limo driver carrying foreign air crew. The driver wasn’t vaccinated and didn’t wear a mask. Since then, it has spread far and wide.

New South Wales (NSW) didn’t go into immediate lockdown because they had a “gold standard” contact tracing app. They then went into selective lockdown before locking down the state when the daily total reached 100. Conversely, Victoria went quickly into lockdown and has less infections than its neighbouring state. Queensland, where we were, closed its borders quickly and had just a few cases. At the time of writing, there were no new cases in Queensland compared with NSW who had a massive 633 cases and three deaths. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says “we haven’t seen the worst of it”. Watching the TV news was interesting. Despite the lockdown, the Sydney beaches were packed. People were there despite attempts to move them on. Then, when the state did go into lockdown there was a huge and unruly riot. The NSW police said if there was another similar riot they couldn’t control it. The state government called in the army to assist and they were certainly visible on the streets. By comparison, in NZ we had 100 protesters in Auckland led by conspiracy theorist and political wannabe Billy Te Kahika. The spread of covid to Victoria has been well-documented. A removal company whose employees weren’t wearing masks moved a Melbourne resident back home. They infected the family. One of the family members went to the Melbourne Cricket

Ground to watch a football game and spread it around the crowd. What was sobering was seeing a map of the spread. People several rows and many seats from the infected person caught the virus. It spreads that easily. The main issue for me, certainly in NSW, was that people didn’t take warnings seriously. Despite the lockdowns you could see people in the streets. Others were playing on the beaches. Everybody was blaming someone else, with immigrants getting a real hammering. On one side of the argument you could read that many immigrants didn’t understand English and that communicating by press conference didn’t work. On the other side it was “ignorant immigrants”. My prediction is that the Delta variant of covid has a long and happy life in Australia unless there is dramatic change. It made me glad I was a Kiwi comfortably ensconced in rural Wairarapa. The differences between the two countries over the handling of covid has been considerable. For a start, in Australia you have federal and state governments. It often appeared to me that politics between the states and the federation were all-consuming and that controlling covid was secondary. The federal government was responsible for vaccinations and that effort was roundly criticised. In NZ we had National leader Judith Collins, to her credit, agreeing with the lockdown. I

CHEESE AND CHALK: Alan Emerson says the differences between how New Zealand and Australia is handling of covid makes him proud to be a Kiwi.

couldn’t imagine that happening in Australia. Here we’ve largely played the game over lockdowns. The normally busy road outside our place is dead. In Australia it seemed by the television coverage I saw that the rules were made to be broken. Locally we went hard and fast. In NSW it was anything but. International reaction to our lockdown has been interesting, with the Washington Post incredulous that we would go into lockdown with just one covid case. CNN echoed the Post’s sentiments, as did many other media outlets. Just one case can quickly grow,

as we’ve found out. I was pleased with the local reaction to the lockdown. The first email I received was from the RSA promising support if I needed it and giving me the necessary contacts. That was followed by Federated Farmers and Rural Women. So I’m pleased I’m in NZ where we play the game and not politics over covid. Hopefully, that will also mean the NPC can resume sooner rather than later.

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

Bad but definitely not the worst From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I DON’T know about you, but personally I think we need something self-affirming, something uplifting, something positive this week. Most of us knew that it was just a matter of time before the Delta variant managed to weasel itself across the border and get into us. A population that has been so well-protected that we have no acquired immunity, just a million having had both shots of the vaccine and 1.5m of us having had one shot, means that the rapid health response at the time of writing may still not be enough to shut this incursion down. Then we’ve got something decent to be concerned about and for good reason as we look towards Sydney and Suva. Level 4 lockdown has little effect on busy farmers, but much of the rest of the country is seriously

impacted. Hold on Steve, we thought you were writing about something positive. Yes, yes but I’m just setting the scene. Bear with me. Then there is the weather and climate. Some of you have had devastating floods. It seems churlish to mention, here we are still dealing with a second cumulative drought. My annual rainfall here in Central Hawke’s Bay is around half of what I should have had by now and this towards the end of August. The usual windy, dry months of spring are ahead but of course, nowadays, anything could happen. It was so dry underfoot that I had a fertiliser truck driving around on my heavy Hatuma clay soils in July, spinning a bit of nitrogen on to build some feed covers for lambing. That truck could have gone through any gully that usually would have running water in it at this time of the year. I pump from spring-fed creeks so am fortunate, but have mates out towards the coast who are struggling to keep water up to their cows. In August for goodness sake. There’s the pace and scale of legislative change weighing heavily on our minds.

TAKING STOCK: Steve Wyn-Harris says while it’s human nature to count all the things that are going wrong in NZ, one should take a moment to appreciate the fact that it could be a lot worse.

Don’t forget the impact on our sheep and beef sector of the rapid increase in the carbon market that Keith Woodford’s excellent series is highlighting. Gee thanks Steve, I feel really uplifted now. Well, we get to my point now. It could be a heck of a lot worse and our worries are trivial to those experienced by others. Look at the poor beggars in Afghanistan, for example. Because it sits at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, it has

had a hell of a history of foreign invasions and wars. Its mountainous and tough terrain is considered unconquerable and is nicknamed ‘the graveyard of empires’. The three most recent of these being the British Empire, the Soviet Union and now America. The country has high levels of terrorism, poverty, child malnutrition and corruption. And now we have seen the Taliban rapidly retake control of the country after the US forces

and their allies left after 20 years’ involvement. The Taliban are talking a conciliatory game but they have been brutal and cruel in the past and it’s no wonder so many Afghans would rather be anywhere but in their own country. Then there is poor, benighted Haiti. Eleven years ago, an earthquake there killed up to 300,000 people, although no one is sure of that terrible toll. One of the poorest nations on the planet, their corrupt president has recently been assassinated, another devastating earthquake has just killed thousands, injured many more and made tens of thousands homeless. Then a tropical storm followed up to add to the misery and suffering. The majority reading this have their own homes, guaranteed jobs, decent balance sheets and have been getting good returns for our produce for several years with near record prices forecast for the season ahead. Yes, it’s tough out there but we also have much to be grateful for.

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

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

NZFAP vital to future farming Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

THE New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP) had its origins as an integral function of the Red Meat Profit Partnership (RMPP), which was established in 2014 under a joint funding model between the Government under the Primary Growth Partnership and nine industry partners, including B+LNZ, six meat processors and two banks. The meat companies decided to abandon their own assurance schemes and pursue a standardised approach, although Alliance was initially reluctant. Seven years down the track, RMPP ended its activities in March, as was always the intention, after developing its programmes to the point where they have reached maturity and, in the case of NZFAP, ownership has been transferred to an incorporated society representing the original stakeholders. Other important developments include the transfer of the farmer Action Group model to B+LNZ who will provide a support payment of $2000 per group until September 2022; Affco and Wilson Hellaby’s decision to roll their suppliers onto NZFAP when they next come up for audit; 22 wool companies joining NZFAP; and the launch of NZFAP Plus on October 1. The success of the programme to date is shown by the fact 8000 farmers have already committed to NZFAP, which has a series of modules recording farm performance across the dimensions of environment and sustainability, origin, traceability and farm inputs, security and food safety, animal health and welfare, and farm to processor movements. NZFAP Plus will see the addition of three further aspects to the programme covering farm and natural resources, people and biosecurity, although farmers will not, at least initially, be obliged to commit to these for their audits. However, industry climate

OPPORTUNITY: Allan Barber says because there is as yet no universally accepted definition of regen ag standards, NZ has the opportunity to establish an acceptable definition, as opposed to being stuck with whatever the big brands decide it should be.

Another perspective on farming regeneratively comes from those farmers who have decided they wish to farm using less inputs, because of the improved ecosystems and greater diversity on their land, combined with improved mental health from farming less intensively. change commitments to the Government under He Waka Eke Noa, as well as regulatory changes emanating from Three Waters Reform and Carbon Zero by 2050, suggest the full suite of performance measurements contained in both farm assurance programmes will soon become the minimum requirement. The parallel probability is there will be a growing number of influential consumers, pressured by large corporate retailers and consumer goods marketers, who will demand to be assured their food comes with a host of guarantees as to their methods of production and distribution.

The challenge for industry representative organisations like B+LNZ is to keep ahead of the regulators, ensuring enough progress is being made voluntarily to minimise the level of regulation. Unfortunately, the dire predictions of the planet’s destruction will heighten the level of noise directed at the politicians, which will make it increasingly difficult to maintain farming’s freedom to operate. While the threat of regulation will be driven domestically in the first instance, international trading partners may also start to apply non-tariff barriers which will hold NZ to account for its methods of production, however environmentally-friendly they are. Because our food trade is so heavily weighted towards exports and, on a global scale, we are a very small trading partner, NZ can be bullied, but has very limited capacity to exert any influence in response. When it comes to consumer trends, the important thing is to ensure we do not overreact to every new fad. Given the fact we had hardly heard of regenerative agriculture a year ago, the temptation might be to think it is just a fad, rather than a distinct trend which will become permanent. Silver Fern Farms (SFF) has conducted research

in the US, the UK, Europe and China, which has identified six key consumer concerns: soil health; emissions management; farming intensity; biodiversity; water use; and food system sustainability – although a cynic might suggest either the research used leading questions or the sample groups came from a very narrow segment of society. It is a stretch to believe these concerns are top of mind for the average consumer on a tight budget with a family to house and feed. B+LNZ’s Nick Beeby agrees regenerative agriculture is a concept which is being driven by big brands, for their own purposes, but it appears to have enough momentum to become an important trend. There is as yet no universally accepted definition of the standards and criteria to be met, therefore NZ has the opportunity to establish an acceptable definition, as opposed to being stuck with whatever the big brands decide it should be. Another perspective on farming regeneratively comes from those farmers who have decided they wish to farm using less inputs, because of the improved ecosystems and greater diversity on their land, combined with improved mental health from farming less intensively. The most impressive book I have read this

year is English Pastoral by Lake District farmer James Rebanks, whose family has worked the same land for six hundred years. He reaches the conclusion that the way his father and grandfather have farmed the land no longer works economically and must change for the family farm to survive for future generations. Without ever lecturing his reader, he eloquently tells the story of his progress towards less intensive, more sustainable farming and the benefits gained. If NZ farmers can be helped to farm sustainably following some key principles, which could be termed traditional or regenerative without removing their ability to make an acceptable living, global consumers will be willing and eager to buy our food. The farm assurance programme and its extension into NZFAP Plus will become an essential tool enabling all farmers to justify their licence to operate in an increasingly critical world. There is little alternative, if we wish to continue earning our livelihood as a major exporting nation.

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

RICK ALEXANDER

for the RAVENSDOWN BOARD

I will bring a life time of practical farming experience to the Ravensdown Board. Multiple years of governance experience running a large commercial multi-site healthcare organisation strongly supports my candidacy. Hard working, genuine and honest, I care deeply about the success of New Zealand’s agriculture sector. For many years I have benefited from sound management at Ravensdown and wish to contribute to the future success of the co-operative.

Rick Alexander Standing to ensure strong farmer representation on your board.

Nominator: Chris Grace Seconder: Hugh Donald Area: 5

r_alexander@xtra.co.nz

027 979 8900

linkedin.com/in/rick-alexander-52b033219/

Rural market update Dairy farm sales across the country over the last 12 months have shown the biggest rebound in a decade. Annualised NZ dairy farm sales to the end of June 2021 equalled 249 sales, up 233% on the same time last year, with total sales by value equalling $1.1b to 30 June, again 247% up on last year.

Our view is that this season 21/22, will be stronger again for dairy farm sales, as supply better matches demand, particularly as investor appetite favours dependable investment returns that can beat the cost of capital over the longer term.

The rebound over the last 12 months has been faster than any other time over the last decade. This time last year, the dairy real estate market was at a very low ebb, despite year-on-year gains in the dairy commodity cycle. In fact, it equalled the period immediately post GFC (June 2010) with only 104 sales for the entire season (12 months to June 2020) and a median sale price of $3.2m. This June, the median sale price is now $3.7m up, 16% on the previous 12 months on 2.3x the value of annual dairy sales ($1.1b) on the prior year. We ran an investment seminar in Auckland last November, encouraging those considering a dairy investment opportunity to weigh it up sooner rather than later. Our view was that the market offered exceptional value against proven returns. We still hold this view, particularly if the investment horizon is ten years plus. Despite significant swings in the commodity cycle post–GFC rural land values, and notably dairy, have stood up to the volatility well. In tough times farmers dig in. While external pressures may lead to farmers’ contemplating a sale, their ability to shut the farm gate, keep costs down and repay debt whilst absorbing compliance costs, has been a real feature of the last decade.

We also expect to see greater numbers of dairy farmers buying and selling dairy farms, given the billions of dollars of repaid rural debt over the last three seasons. Property Brokers’ leadership position in the NZ dairy real estate market has been built around trusted advice and our True Team approach up and down the country. Our success in connecting vendors with purchasers through disciplined marketing campaigns is something we take considerable pride in. For rural and lifestyle property advice from a national team of committed salespeople, supported by our expert marketing team, right across New Zealand, call 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz. Conrad Wilkshire, GM Rural for Property Brokers Ltd conrad@pb.co.nz

National Dairy Sales 20 ha+ rolling 12 months to June 2021 No of Sales

Total Sales Value

$1,200,000,000

300

$1,000,000,000

250

$800,000,000

200

$600,000,000

150

$400,000,000

100

$200,000,000

$lnformation gathered from online sources

Jul 2020

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | 0800 367 5263 | pb.co.nz

Aug 2020

Sep 2020

Oct 2020

Nov 2020

Dec 2020

Jan 2021

Feb 2021

Mar 2021

Apr 2021

May 2021

Jun 2021

PB053098

Central Hawke's Bay 708 Old Hill Road Tender

Stoneridge Farm 609 ha breeding property in the Porangahau district of Central Hawke's Bay, 40 km south of Waipukurau and on the boundary of the Porangahau Village. An approx. 30 min drive from Waipukurau. Contour is classified as easy, medium, steep hill rising from sea level to 260 m. The country is relatively clean with poplars and willows providing shade and erosion control. Reticulated water from elevated dam reservoirs. Improvements include, four bedroom and office, renovated homestead with views to the coast and over the farm. Four stand woolshed, covered yards and an excellent set of cattle yards. A feature of the property are two lane systems providing for good access to the farm. The property is run in conjunction with other land and is utilized as a breeding property for lambs and cattle. Being offered as a 609 ha block Stoneridge does comprise four titles. The vendors have sold their capital stock ewes and are committed to selling.

Tender closes Thursday 30th September, 2021 at 2.00pm, Property Brokers, 98 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WR94108

Pat Portas M 027 447 0612

E patp@pb.co.nz

Queensberry 40 Fay Lane Deadline Sale

Ultimate lifestyle opportunity Tucked away in the hills of Queensberry is this unique private 8.43 ha(approx) lifestyle block with a spacious 223 m2(approx) home that offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms plus a large games room/study. Throughout this home there is plenty of storage to fit the whole family's belongings. Exuding character and charm with its villa doors, double butlers sink, Canadian wood flooring and high ceiling in the open plan lounge/dining/kitchen area, this family home fits well into this picturesque Queensberry location. Argon gas-filled windows and the 6x2 insulation ensures you are nice and toasty throughout the winter. Sit on the deck with a cold drink in hand and enjoy the good life. Watch over your horses in their paddocks, which have equine fencing, irrigation, and exceptional soil quality for this area or go and work them out in the round pen. A large three-bay shed with one bay enclosed and concrete floor throughout means you can fit all that equestrian gear and the family toys in.

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

Deadline Sale closes Wednesday 8th September, 2021 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/WAL91488

Angela Cross M 021 900 665

E angela.cross@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

NEW LISTING

Hawera 155 Mangawhero Road

Magnificent dairy farm This outstanding 129.49ha (more or less) flat rectangle shaped dairy farm is situated on the Mangawhero road, between Auroa and Kapuni. An excellent 44 bale rotary cowshed with cup removers, as well as a built in afiMilk system to manage and monitor animal health. Centrally raced provides easy access to and from the cowshed, along with a good range of support buildings. The farms best production was done from autumn calving from 360 cows producing over 220 000 milk solids, high input feed made on farm has seen the land resown over the past two and a half years. The property comes with the added bonus of three houses. This is an excellent opportunity to buy your dream size quality dairy farm, with strong infrastructure and proven results.

bayleys.co.nz/2600944

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 1pm, Fri 10 Sep 2021 256 High Street, Hawera View 11am-12pm Thu 26 Aug & Thu 2 Sep or by appointment Brendan Crowley 027 241 2817 brendan.crowley@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY TARANAKI LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

South Canterbury 363 Elders Road, Maungati

Cambridge 859 Maungatautari Road Rare lakeside opportunity Rarely does an opportunity such as this present itself in our district. This supremely positioned 19.48 hectare (more or less) property with access to Lake Karapiro has a choice of building sites offering magnificent views. Here you can build your dream home and enjoy rural living and all the water sports Lake Karapiro has to offer, while being only a short drive to the busy and vibrant town of Cambridge. There is also a two-level concrete block house which was built in the 1970s and in original condition. This is a rare lakeside opportunity which a savvy property investor will not want to miss.

bayleys.co.nz/2312580

bayleys.co.nz

Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Tue 7 Sep 2021 Lakewood Block C, Unit 1, 36 Lake Street, Cambridge Phone for viewing times Dave Kilbride 027 436 7082 dave.kilbride@bayleys.co.nz Alistair Scown 027 494 1848 alistair.scown@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

'Glenshee' Located in the heart of Maungati this 555ha (more or less) breeding and finishing property features multiple income streams from sheep, beef and venison with strong productivity and with scope and capacity to lift production to an even higher level. Numerous farm sheds including a large fully accredited covered deer shed, sheep yards, cattle yards and a large family home complete this package.

bayleys.co.nz/5515919

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 2pm, Thu 9 Sep 2021 Unit 7/50 Theodosia Street, Timaru View by appointment Hamish Lane 027 685 6204 hamish.lane@bayleys.co.nz Georgie Robson 027 562 4100 georgie.robson@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – August 23, 2021

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

SITTING ON THE

If the chatter around your place has been “will we sell?” or “shall we wait?”, then jump off the fence and be part of Bayleys’ next Country portfolio – there’s no time like the present to secure your future.

Our rural and lifestyle sales team is hard-wired to do the ground work for you – that’s why Bayleys is recognised as New Zealand’s number one rural real estate brand.

Planning for the eagerly-awaited Spring edition of Country is underway now.

So talk to your local Bayleys team today and lock in your Country spot now.

Bayleys’ Country portfolio has given owners of rural New Zealand property the opportunity to access motivated and serious buyers for over 21 years.

Fence sitters welcome!

It’s a proven way to get in front of the market and to tap into Bayleys’ extensive local, national and international databases at the same time.

To learn more about Country magazine, call 0800 BAYLEYS or visit bayleys.co.nz/country LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services

Accelerating success.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

FARM LAND FOR LEASE An area of approximately 306ha is available to lease. Situated in Delaware Bay, Wakapuaka, Nelson. Currently used for Sheep and Cattle grazing.

Investment opportunity For Sale By Tender closing Thursday, 9 September 2021 at 4pm (will not be sold prior) 52 Main Street, Pahiatua

Land area 2039m2

Floor area 635m2

Renewed 3 year lease

$80,533 net rental pa

Ash Hames 021 0242 8523 ash.hames@colliers.com

If you are looking for a textbook example of a dependable hands-off passive investment opportunity look no further. With the added advantage of being leased to one of New Zealand’s largest companies you have a strong tenant covenant that is underpinned by the local rural sector. This is an outstanding opportunity for astute investors looking to acquire a quality, 70% NBS commercial property with a strategic focus on the longevity of their investment. colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67016007

Colliers Hawke’s Bay, Tremain Commercial Limited. Licenced under the REAA 2008.

colliers.co.nz

Please reply by mail to: Wakapuaka 1B PO Box 10 Nelson 7040 or by emailing John.Rollston@Findex.co.nz

LK0108240©

Expressions of interest are invited with replies required by 5pm, Friday 3rd September 2021.

Multi-National Tenant, Don’t Miss this Cash Cow

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – August 23, 2021

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

NEW LISTING

EALING, MID CANTERBURY 'Aberystwyth Dairies' - Tier One with Scale • • • • • • • • • •

298 hectare MHV irrigated dairy unit Seven pivots with k-line fed from two ponds 618 stall barn with additional loafing barn Excellent array of farm buildings 60 bail rotary shed with ACR's, ADF teat spraying and auto flushing Excellent standard of housing with five homes Environmentally resilient dairy unit currently running split calving MHV authorised land use (ALU) for 1100 cows Current N loss 60kg/year Turn-key operation with scale, for genuine sale

GERALDINE, SOUTH CANTERBURY

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 1.00pm Wednesday 29 September

'Holmwood' - Productive Deer Farm - 100.7ha A productive deer unit subdivided into 23 paddocks with an excellent balance of hills and flats. The flat has a central lane system that leads to an MPI compliant deer shed (power water and hydraulic crush and circular type yards). The property is well fenced with good access to mixed aged pastures with water reticulated to mostly deer troughs on the flat and springs and creek water on the hill. The property is supplied with 1.8 units of Te Moana water with approx 50,000 litres of storage. 'Holmwood' has a comfortable three bedroom, plus office home and an excellent array of farm buildings.

Tim Gallagher M 027 801 2888 Robin Ford M 027 433 6883

pggwre.co.nz/ASH34685

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) Closes 4.00pm Thursday 9 September 2021

VIEW By Appointment Only

Richard Scott M 021 352 701

pggwre.co.nz/GER34703 Helping grow the country

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Farm for sale State Highway 2, Takapau Plains

Your one stop shop for rural Real Estate

338ha available • 135ha irrigated • 102ha silt flats • 101ha silt loam

Get in touch with your agent today

Get in touch farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Two valley electric pivot irrigators Irrigation dam – capacity 200,000 cube with consent to take 350,000 cubes

with your agent today to list your property next to news that farmers read.

Extras: 4 stand woolshed Covered and uncovered sheep yards Cattle yards

Contact your agent to advertise today.

Various sheds

All enquiries please email: takapaufarm@gmail.com

LK0108124©

3-bedroom cottage with deck and vegetable garden

0800 85 25 80 farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Tech & Toys

FARMERS WEEKLY – August 23, 2021

THE ALL NEW COOPER

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Primary Pathways – Jobs, Education & Training

GENERAL MANAGER

1500ha Drystock Operation Taringamotu Otamakahi Trust operates a 1500ha sheep and beef enterprise 20 minutes northeast of Taumarunui carrying 16,500 stock units. With a mixed stocking policy including both sheep and beef with a focus on both quality breeding and finishing, this is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the running of a diverse farming operation. You will be working alongside the Farm Manager and two other permanent farm staff to ensure a smooth-running operation. The position will include some additional responsibility overseeing one of the farm blocks with the support of the Manager so is a great opportunity for someone looking for a shepherd position with that “little bit extra”. You will have: • The ability to work efficiently on your own and as part of the team • Good pasture and stock management skills • A strong work ethic to “get the job done” • Excellent communication skills and an attention to detail • A team of dogs under good command We offer excellent remuneration for the right skills, good quality housing and a location close to town and schooling. Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and will be required to have a clear pre-employment drug test.

Send CV and covering letter directly to: Dion Mathieson 1050 Ngakonui Ongarue Road, RD 4 Taumarunui 3994 or email tot@farmside.co.nz Applications close: Friday 27 August 2021

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For more information phone Manager, Dion Mathieson on 022 423 6451 / 07 894 5987.

Mt Gambier, South Australia, or location as agreed The role Your primary function will be to lead the operations of Chris Procter Dairies, staff, planning, procurement and oversee execution of the business plan and subsequent production activities, all with a dedicated focus on quality, productivity, efficiency and cost control. Responsibilities • Provide leadership to Share Milkers and Farm Managers on day-to-day operational management • Manage bank dealings and negotiate key supply contracts • Ensure assets are well maintained and project manage • Contribute to the development of CAPEX & OPEX budgets and provide sensitivity analysis • Identify business opportunities and threats which influence potential profit and growth • Maintain regular communication with the Owner and strategic input to the Family Advisory Board • Continually review and improve systems and practices, ensuring capacity for continual growth • Provide leadership of new business ventures • Promote and foster a safe and healthy work environment across the operation About you You’ll be able to simultaneously apply strategic and practical technical knowledge. With extensive experience in a leadership position within the agricultural or closely related industry, you’ll have drive and determination to achieve growth and be a respected leader. Your integrity will be appreciated and provide inspiration to those you lead. Analytically you’ll be precise, proactive and an effective communicator as you interpret data. You’ll identify problems and advocate solutions in a timely manner. What we can offer you • A comprehensive and supportive introduction and handover into the company and role • Ongoing direction with clear vision for growth • Base salary in the circa of AUD$150,000 (neg.) + superannuation • Phone, laptop and home internet costs • Company vehicle with private use permitted • Expense account • Living away from home allowances • Consistent administrative support to fulfill the role How to apply To be considered for this position, a professional resume and cover letter addressing skills and experience is essential. Further enquiries can be made to Kim Stoney, Compass Agribusiness: kim@compassagri.com or on +61 417 503 000.

Head Shepherd Position The Salvation Army Jeff Farm

Our Head Shepherd is moving on to a Management role and his position has become available here at Jeff Farm. Jeff Farm is situated on Old Coach Road, Kaiwera, Eastern Southland. The property is 2360ha and runs 28,000su comprising of 18,000 sheep,1100 cattle and 1350 deer. Jeff Farm is a Training Farm for young people passionate about farming. There are four cadets here at one time over a two-year cadetship. You would be working with the Farm Manager, four other permanent staff members plus the four cadets and several casual staff The successful applicant will receive: ➩ A very competitive remuneration package ➩ A warm and comfortable 3-bedroom cottage with garage and tidy, fenced section The successful applicant will also have these essential skills: ➩ A good team of dogs and experience working with large mobs of stock ➩ Be willing to teach young cadets in all aspects of farming and H & S inconjunction with our Farm Plan ➩ Be excellent with communicating and working with other staff ➩ Have a great work ethic and lead by example ➩ Have the ability to keep records and have good IT knowledge ➩ Be competent with fencing and maintenance ➩ Have the ability to operate tractors and machinery competently and safely at a high standard when required The successful applicant would also need to be: ➩ Fit and healthy (must disclose any existing medical conditions for Health & Safety) ➩ Hold a current NZ Drivers Licence Contact Information For more information about this role please contact John Chittock by email: jefffarm@yrless.co.nz Applications To apply please send your cover letter and CV (including referee details) and application to: John Chittock jefffarm@yrless.co.nz Or post to John Chittock Jeff Farm 2150 Old Coach Road, 2 RD Gore 9772 Southland

See Page 32

Business development and key partnership manager role

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Shepherd

Primary Pathways

Noticeboard

Business Development Role

GlobalHQ is an innovative multimedia agri-information hub and digital community. We invest in great people to create best-in-class products that include daily newsletter Pulse, flagship newspaper Farmers Weekly, online community www.agripreneur.com, the AgriHQ suite of data and analysis products, leading weather forecaster WeatherWatch and specialist site www.ruralweather.co.nz, Dairy Farmer magazine, the On Farm Story video series, vocational training system Agricademy and AginED, a wide range of podcasts, education and information resources, and various social and website destinations.

DOGS FOR SALE

GOATS WANTED

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

BLUE HEELER PUPS. 8 weeks old. Vet checks completed. Phone 021 848 457. NZ HEADING DOG / ISDS working Border Collie X pups,11 weeks old. Two tri-males available. $800 each. 021 406 026.

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.

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

ATTENTION FARMERS

We have an exciting new role for someone with great communication skills, relationship-building abilities, and an innate talent for creating and developing new business opportunities.

25/35c PER KG dags fadges/bales. Replacement woolpacks. PV Weber Wools. Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

You will bring a passion for the agricultural industry, and already have a good understanding of the new media, social, and digital spaces. Be prepared to learn, grow and lead by example, among a team that is driven by a strong sense of social purpose and a determination to share knowledge and build a successful, connected, agripreneur community.

BALAGE FOR SALE

Only apply if you’ve looked into the work of GlobalHQ and agripreneur.com, and feel you can add real value to our team. You must have a good understanding of the G-suite cloud computing tools and all the usual office computer products. Efficient administration skills and good writing accuracy is also expected.

BALAGE $75+gst. Unit loads available. Top quality. Phone 021 455 787.

CALF TRAILER MATS

Your base will be at our head office in Feilding and your remuneration will reflect your skills and experience.

SUREFOOT MAT 1.5m x 1m x 24mm $99ea + freight and gst. Phone 0800 686 119.

We look forward to your application, sharing our vision, and getting to know you. Please request a job description and application form by emailing Cushla: hr@globalhq.co.nz

CONTRACTORS LK0108171©

Applications close Wednesday August 25, 2021

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

DOGS FOR SALE NZ BIGGEST SELECTION. Deliver NZ Wide. www. youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

JOBS BOARD

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

FARM MAPPING SIMPLIFY YOUR farm planning with practical, affordable and accurate maps from www. farmmapping.co.nz – contact us for a free quote.

FOR SALE CONCRETE CULVERT PIPES. Farm grade pipe stocked in Taupo. 450mm & above. Call Wayne for more info. 027 405 6368. WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80.

GIBB-GRO GROWTH PROMOTANT PROMOTES QUICK PASTURE growth. Only $6+gst per hectare delivered. 0508-GIBBGRO [0508 442 247] www. gibbgro.co.nz. “The Proven One.”

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Experienced musterers available. Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

LAMB DOCKING / TAILING CHUTE

Assistant Manager Business Development Manager General Hand General Manager Head Shepherd Labourer Livestock Auditor Shepherd

GRAZING AVAILABLE for dairy heifers or weaners. Bay of Plenty. Ph 027 632 7457.

HORTICULTURE

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

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

RAMS FOR SALE WILTSHIRE & SHIRE® Meat rams. Low input. www.wiltshire-rams.co.nz 03 225 5283.

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

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

0800 436 566

FEED TROUGH TRAILERS Welded marine alumininum troughs

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

• Durable welded marinealloy troughs / galv RHS chassis. • Sizes: 5.4 metre – 1.6 cu/m 6.6 metre – 2.0 cu/m

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556. RED DEVON BULLS. Waimouri stud, Feilding. Phone 027 224 3838. SOUTH DEVON R2 BULLS, 750+kg. EBVs available. Polled and scurred. Rosewood Stud, Manawatu. Ph 027 230 6686.

Freephone 0800 30 30 63

sales@transtak.co.nz www.transtak.co.nz

Heavy duty long lasting Ph 021 047 9299

GOATS WANTED

VETMARKER

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

GRAZING AVAILABLE

PUMPS

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Business development 97.14x175 and key partnership manager

ANIMAL HANDLING

LK0106266©

0108171

With automatic release and spray system. www.vetmarker.co.nz 0800 DOCKER (362 537)

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We are dedicated to delivering our farmers the best service and best returns.” ASSISTING WOOL GROWERS since 1983

WOOL

Independent wool brokers

Passionate about your wool and committed to its future p.06 835 6174 e.office@kellswool.co.nz

www.kellswool.co.nz

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

Promote or find your next adventure in our Travel & Tourism section published monthly. Next issue – September 13 Booking deadline: Wednesday September 8– 12 noon To advertise your travel products and services contact: Debbie 06 323 0765 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

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T H IN K PRE BU IL T

NEW HOMES

BTZ Forestry Marketing and Harvesting

SOLID – PRACTICAL

WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

Our homes are built using the same materials & quality as an onsite build. Easily transported to almost anywhere in the North Island. Plans range from one bedroom to four bedroom First Home – Farm House Investment – Beach Bach

Call or email us for your free copy of our plans Email: info@ezylinehomes.co.nz Phone: 0800 399 546 (EZYLINE) Web: www.ezylinehomes.co.nz

(Obtaining the best profits for our customers) Farmers/Woodlot owner Tired of waiting for someone to harvest your trees?

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Travel further with Farmers Weekly

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*conditions apply

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

We are not committed to one buyer that is how we get our customers the most profit we can. Set up to do the smaller, trickier wood lots. No job too big or too small.

Free quotes Markets for all species Email: BTZforestry@gmail.com

FARMERS WEEKLY – August 23, 2021

Wanted to buy – Friesian Beef Cross Heifers

Livestock Noticeboard Wanted to buy – Holstein Friesian, & Kiwi Crossbred Heifers

Paying top prices Spring born 2020

UPCOMING AUCTIONS Tuesday, 24 August 2021 12.00pm Frankton Saleyard - Store Cattle Sale *Covid alert levels permitting Friday, 27 August 2021 11.30am Feilding Saleyard - Store Cattle Sale *Covid alert levels permitting Tuesday, 31 August 2021 7.00pm Canes Deer Hind Sale

Delivery date mid to late September.

Contact: Sharon Browne Ph: 07 843 7577 or 027 490 6146

Wednesday, 1 September 2021 12.00pm Te Atarangi Angus Yearling Bull Sale Tuesday, 2 September 2021 12.00pm Waimaire & Otengi Hereford Bull Sale

LK0108278©

Delivery date mid to late September.

LK0108279©

Min weight at delivery -270kgs.

Must have been on property for 6 months and meet Chinese Export Protocols.

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

Paying top prices Autumn & Spring born 2020

Must have been on property for 6 months and meet Chinese Export Protocols.

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

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

AUSTREX NZ LTD

GRAZING WANTED

LIV E STOCK EXPORTERS

North Island – South of Auckland

NEW SALE DATE!

Payment options to meet your requirements. Register your interest now. Contact: Nick Dromgool 027 857 7305 Email: Nick Dromgool nick.dromgool@geneticdevelopment.co.nz or Genetic Development NZ 07 843 7577 Email: PurchasesHFM PurchasesHFM@geneticdevelopment.co.nz

YEARLING BULL & HEIFER SALE

BUYING NOW F1 WAGYU

Yearling Heifers For China Export

THURSDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2021 12 NOON, 662 RANGITATAU EAST ROAD, WANGANUI

A QUALITY SELECTION OF 26 IMPRESSIVE YEARLING BULLS WITH LOW BIRTH WEIGHT & EARLY GESTATION + HEIFERS WHICH ARE SOLD IN LOTS.

Enquiries to: Paul Tippett 027 438 1623

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DON'T MISS OUT - ENQUIRIES TO: LINDSAY JOHNSTONE (027 445 3211)

Price on Application www.austrex.co.nz

MARIA JOHNSTONE (021 610 5348) OR YOUR LOCAL LIVESTOCK AGENT.

Be fully informed. Join the community of farmers who turn to Livestock Outlook each month. Contact Grant on 027 887 5568 or head to agrihq.co.nz to subscribe today.

agrihq.co.nz | info@agrihq.co.nz

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

Livestock Noticeboard

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook

FARMERS WEEKLY – August 23, 2021

Auahi Charolais

STOCK REQUIRED

See the bulls in action on facebook

Looking for a bull for

Contact John 027 633 1775

Think Mahuta – Herefords & Angus

2021 STOKMAN ANGUS

HEIFER MATING

STORE LAMBS 36-42kg R1 YR FRSN BULLS 190-230kg R1 YR BEEF BULLS 220-280kg R2 YR BULLS 400-480kg

2yr old Bulls available now

LK0108283©

YEARLING BULL & HEIFER SALE Wednesday 15th September 2021 100 REGISTERED BULLS SELL!

40 R1 COMM HEIFERS SELL Same sires as Bulls

STOCK FOR SALE

29 2YR HERE BULLS (Dairy) BVD etc 28 2YR ANGUS BULLS (Dairy)

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

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

Can’t make it on Sale Day? We work with BIDR, so you can bid from a location convenient to you.

WEANER HEIFERS WANTED

- EBV’s available Sale Day

NATIONWIDE

Recorded Heifers by Recorded Sires

* FERTILITY AND SEMEN TESTED * CARCASS SCANNED * HD50K TESTED FOR HIGHER EBV ACC. * SUPER QUIET DISPOSITIONS * GROWN WELL TO BREED HEIFERS OR COWS * C10 TB STATUS, BVD VAX AND TESTED

Offering: 56 Hereford bulls & 4 Angus bulls BLNZ recommend specialist bulls for yearling heifer mating and troublefree calving sets a heifer up to produce a good weaner. LK0107843©

These bulls are well grown [500kg], have high calving ease EBVs [top 5%] and many above average growth.

CALL FOR A CATALOGUE OR TO VIEW BULLS AT YOUR CONVENIENCE

Contact: John Allen 09 233 3097 or 027 440 7504 jvmeallen@xtra.co.nz

Mark, Sherrie and Jake Stokman Phone 07 333 2446 Mark 027 640 4028, Sherrie 027 499 7692, Jake 027 787 4008 Email: mtkiwi@farmside.co.nz Facebook: Stokman Angus Farm Sale Location: 1708 Te Kopia Road, Waikite Valley Rotorua

CHARWELL POLLED HEREFORD STUD

SELECTION TO COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY – INDUCTION MID OCTOBER 2021

Chinese protocol, 6 months residency on-farm, IBR & BVD vaccination free

21 ANNUAL SPRING SALE

FRIESIANS NORTH ISLAND

Breed Description Friesian Heifer F12 – F16 Friesian Heifer F8 – F11 Friesian Heifer Unrecorded

Wednesday 8th September at 11.30am at 659 Matahi Road, Manawahe Near Lake Rotoma, SH 30

FRIESIANS SOUTH ISLAND Breed Description Friesian Heifer F12 – F16 Friesian Heifer F8 – F11 Friesian Heifer Unrecorded

Representing 102 years of pure bred genetics We welcome clients, friends and visitors to our sale which comprises approx:

JERSEY NORTH ISLAND

72 13 40

JERSEY SOUTH ISLAND

Breed Description Jersey Heifer J12 – J16 Jersey Heifer J8 – J11 Jersey Heifer Unrecorded

2-year old bulls

Breed Description Jersey Heifer J12 – J16 Jersey Heifer J8 – J11 Jersey Heifer Unrecorded

18-month bulls Well grown yearling bulls

All TB & BVD clear & vaccinated These animals are from a CLOSED herd and have never left the property or been leased out.

Weight >250kg + NZD$1,950.00 plus GST NZD$1,850.00 plus GST NZD$1,400.00 plus GST

Weight >200kg – 249kg NZD$1,900.00 plus GST NZD$1,800.00 plus GST NZD$1,350.00 plus GST

Weight >250kg + NZD$1,925.00 plus GST NZD$1,825.00 plus GST NZD$1,375.00 plus GST

Weight >200kg – 249kg NZD$1,875.00 plus GST NZD$1,775.00 plus GST NZD$1,325.00 plus GST

Weight >250kg + NZD$1,225.00 plus GST NZD$1,125.00 plus GST NZD$825.00 plus GST

Weight >200kg – 249kg NZD$1,175.00 plus GST NZD$1,075.00 plus GST NZD$775.00 plus GST

Weight >250kg + NZD$1,200.00 plus GST NZD$1,100.00 plus GST NZD$800.00 plus GST

Weight >200kg – 249kg NZD$1,150.00 plus GST NZD$1,050.00 plus GST NZD$750.00 plus GST

Hereford North Island >220kg+ R1 NZD$1,100.00 plus GST >220kg+ R2 NZD$1,150.00 plus GST <300kg+

Hereford South Island >220kg+ R1 NZD$1,075.00 plus GST >220kg+ R2 NZD$1,125.00 plus GST >300kg+

Simmental North Island >220kg+ R1 NZD$1,300.00 plus GST >220kg+ R2 NZD$1,350.00 plus GST >300kg+

Simmental South Island >220kg+ R1 NZD$1,275.00 plus GST >220kg+ R2 NZD$1,325.00 plus GST >300kg+

BOOKINGS

All Correspondence must be sent to exportsnz@yarracorp.com

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For more information Contact Peter or Penny Davies - “Taharoto” 716 Matahi Road, RD 4, Whakatane 3194 Phone 07 322 1080 or email: pstdavies@ruralinzone.net

Contact: Barry Ward 027 413 0687 Email: Barry Ward barry.ward@geneticdevelopment.co.nz or Genetic Development NZ 07 843 7577 Email: PurchasesHFM PurchasesHFM@geneticdevelopment.co.nz

PENE VISSER YARRA CORP NZ OPERATIONS m : 027 433 0497 e : pene@dairylivestock.co.nz

BARRY PURCELL YARRA CORP NZ MANAGER m : 027 263 5095 e : purcellbarry@hotmail.com

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Annual Yearling Bull Sale Friday 17th September 2021

F12 + with Friesian sire 100kg plus J12 + with Jersey sire 80kg plus

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THE STOKMAN BULL . . .

FARMERS WEEKLY – August 23, 2021

Livestock Noticeboard

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

SALE TALK

Need an Angus bull

A mother was teaching his child about the sideeffects of alcohol. She gets two short glasses, filling one with water and the other with whiskey.

ving and Heifer mating Specialising in Ease of Cal

CONSIDER THIS . . .

She says “I want you to see this.” She puts a worm in the water, and it swims around. She puts a worm in the whiskey, and the worm dies immediately. She then says, feeling that she has made her point clear, “what do you have to say about this experiment?” The child responds by saying: “If I drink whiskey, I won’t get worms!”

Fully Registered 300 cow herd Specialising in ease of calving and heifer mating All our best bulls offered at our annual yearling sale

Dairy bull education day

Full EBVs on all animals

11am - 1pm, Wed 8 September 451 Mangamaire Rd, Pahiatua

Good selection of bulls with growth and carcass attributes without compromising ease of calving

Excellent Temperament

Chris & Karren Biddles, RD1, Te Kopuru, Northland P: 09 439 1589 | m: 021 795 929 e: chris@teatarangi.co.nz

M: 027 4888 635 E: info@koanuiherefords.co.nz

www.koanuiherefords.co.nz

Ready to talk some Bull?

Contact Ella: 0800 85 25 80 livestock@globalhq.co.nz

WHO ELSE IN NZ TICKS ALL THOSE BOXES?

FERTILITY Calve as 2 yr old Only 43 days mating - cows Only 30 days mating - heifers Cull everything that doesn’t rear a calf

AngusGS 72K SNP tested

All welcome, BBQ lunch provided.

Our complete program (all 300 cows) is focused on ease of calving and heifer mating

100 Yearling Angus bulls On Farm Sale and Hybrid bidr Auction

1st Sept 2021, 12.30pm

NE WITH

BID ONLI

11:30am TUESDAY 7 TH SEPTEMBER 2021 Richard and Christine Lansdaal and Family 200 Luck at Last Road RD2 Cambridge Sale held Under Cover with Lunch + free coffee van on site

25th Annual On Farm Sale

On Offer:

15 R2 Jersey Bulls BW up to 308 190 R1 Jersey Bulls BW up to 304 10 R1 Murray Grey x Bulls

Thursday Sept 16th 2021, 12 Noon

Enquiries to Richard and Christine

183 Mangaotea Road, Tariki, Taranaki

027 353 5693

Angus, Hereford, Murray Grey and Jersey.

Full Traceability and Strict Biosecurity Policies. Contact Robin Blackwell 06 762 4805 • mangaotea@xtra.co.nz

Online sale at

Kokonga iPod 6003

379 Kokonga East Road RD5 Tuakau (end of road by woolshed)

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170 Registered and Purebred 1 year and 2 year Ollie Carruthers 0274 515 312

Catalogue available soon, on mylivestock.co.nz and http://www.linklivestock.co.nz/upcoming-sales/

Ross Riddell 0272 111 112

MARKET SNAPSHOT

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Mel Croad

Suz Bremner

Reece Brick

Nicola Dennis

Sarah Friel

Caitlin Pemberton

Deer

Sheep

Cattle BEEF

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

6.20

5.60

NI lamb (17kg)

9.20

9.15

7.25

NI Stag (60kg)

6.10

6.25

NI Bull (300kg)

6.15

6.10

5.55

NI mutton (20kg)

6.60

6.50

4.95

SI Stag (60kg)

6.20

6.00

6.25

NI Cow (200kg)

4.60

4.50

4.15

SI lamb (17kg)

9.10

9.05

7.00

SI Steer (300kg)

6.10

6.00

5.10

SI mutton (20kg)

6.75

6.70

4.65

SI Bull (300kg)

5.90

5.80

5.00

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

4.90

4.80

4.00

UK CKT lamb leg

12.11

12.05

9.73

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 9.24

9.16

8.07

US domestic 90CL cow

9.24

8.80

7.53

North Island steer slaughter price

$/kg CW

6.50

5.50

5.0

$/kg CW

South Island steer slaughter price

6.50

$/kg CW

South Island lamb slaughter price

Jun

2019-20

Dairy

9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0

Oct

Dec

Aug 2020-21

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2019-20

Jun

MILK PRICE FUTURES

Apr

Jun

Aug

2019-20

2020-21

Fertiliser

Aug 2020-21

FERTILISER Last week

Prior week

Last year

Coarse xbred ind.

2.86

1.97

37 micron ewe

2.85

2.80

30 micron lamb

2.45

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Urea

844

572

2.00

Super

339

294

DAP

1135

750

Grain

Data provided by

Feb

5-yr ave

(NZ$/kg)

5-yr ave

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Top 10 by Market Cap

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

Company

YTD High

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

33.65

36.55

YTD Low 27.1

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

5.095

9.94

4.925

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.07

7.99

6.65

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

6.8

7.6

5.79

8.50

430

8.00

420

7.50

410

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.775

4.97

4.37

400

Mainfreight Limited

86.5

64.85

390

Ryman Healthcare Limited

14.52

15.99

12.46

Fletcher Building Limited

7.84

7.99

5.67

380

Contact Energy Limited

8.22

11.16

6.6

370

Infratil Limited

7.49

7.9

6.74

$/tonne

$/kg MS

10.0

WOOL

Apr

South Island stag slaughter price

11.0

4.50 Feb

7.0 5.0

5.00

Dec

8.0

7.0

5.0

Oct

9.0

8.0

5.50

4.00

10.0

6.0

6.00

Last year

6.0

9.0

4.00

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

7.0 6.0

4.50

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

8.0

6.00

5.00

Last year

North Island lamb slaughter price

9.0 $/kg CW

US imported 95CL bull

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

William Hickson

Ingrid Usherwood

7.00 6.50

…

Sept. 2022

Sept. 2021

J…

… A

F…

D …

O …

5.50

…

6.00

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Jul-20

Sep-20

Nov-20

Jan-21

Mar-21

May-21

Jul-21

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

Listed Agri Shares

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

YTD High

YTD Low

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.315

0.335

0.161

The a2 Milk Company Limited

6.94

12.5

5.42

Comvita Limited

3.26

3.6

3.06

Last price*

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3630

3515

3675

420

Delegat Group Limited

13.34

15.5

12.9

SMP

2835

2830

2825

410

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.74

5.15

3.61

400

Foley Wines Limited

1.54

2.07

1.54

390

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

1.2

1.35

0.81

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.24

0.65

0.24

380

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.4

1.72

1.39

4140

4100

4050

Butter

3500

3460

3430

Milk Price

7.61

$/tonne

AMF

430

7.61

370

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Jul-20

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO 3700 3650

$/tonne

US$/t

Nov-20

Jan-21

Mar-21

May-21

Jul-21

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

3750

3600 3550 3500 3450

Sep-20

PGG Wrightson Limited

3.6

3.79

3.11

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.42

0.61

0.37

Sanford Limited (NS)

4.79

5.23

4.3

Scales Corporation Limited

4.4

5.09

4.22 4.66

Seeka Limited

5.2

5.68

400

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

3.58

5.24

2.85

T&G Global Limited

2.98

2.85

350

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

13538

15491

12865

S&P/NZX 50 Index

12957

13558

12085

S&P/NZX 10 Index

12761

13978

11776

300 250

Sep

Oct Nov Latest price

Dec

Jan 4 weeks ago

Feb

200

Jul-20

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Sep-20

Nov-20

Jan-21

Mar-21

May-21

Jul-21

13538

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

12957

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

12761

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

Analyst intel

WEATHER

Overview Westerly weather systems are now dominating New Zealand for the most part – at least that’s where the bulk of our weather and airflows are coming from. High pressure around northern NZ may see some areas with easterlies for a time this week, but overall it’s a west to northwest flow now moving in. About one month ago we first mentioned this, saying it was a sign of a spring weather pattern already forming, despite the cold first-half to August. Now, we’re seeing some mild days in the mix across both main islands. With high pressure to the east of the North Island, this week will have plenty of northerly-quarter winds. In the 10 days ahead, we have southerlies and easterlies too.

14-day outlook For all of this week, high pressure is parked just east of the North Island, encouraging a northerlyquarter flow nationwide (NW, N and NE winds mostly). West Coast rain sets in with some heavy falls. By Friday and the weekend a weakening low moves in from the west with a burst of rain/showers, then a sou’west change for Sunday nationwide. Next week there may be some easterlies for a time and some chance of brief eastern wet weather.

Sarah Friel sarah.friel@globalhq.co.nz

Soil Moisture

Highlights

19/08/2021

Wind

Northerly-quarter winds this week, for the most part, with NW winds strongest through the Southern Alps at times and around Cook Strait. Expect a southerly change this coming weekend. Next week, perhaps more easterly quarter winds. Nothing too severe at this stage. Source: NIWA Data

7-day rainfall forecast

Temperature

The bulk of the rain will be on the West Coast this week, with a few hundred millimetres forecast over the coming days for central and southern (less remote) parts. Elsewhere across NZ it leans drier than normal although some wet weather is likely in northern and eastern parts of the North Island next week – not 100% locked in, but an easterly flow and some northern low pressure may help spark that.

Delta disrupts cargo flows

This week is warmer. In fact, some parts of Southland are almost 10degC milder than they were on Friday last week. However, temperatures do drop again later in the week in southern NZ. Generally speaking, a milder week for most.

Highlights/ Extremes

100

200

400

Rainfall accumulation over seven days starting from 6am on Monday, August 23 through to 6am on Monday, August 30. *Forecast generated at 12am on Friday, August 20.

Heavy West Coast rain. Still no immediate rain relief for dry Hawke’s Bay, but some chances of wet weather for a time next week. Keep an eye on your hourly hyper-local RuralWeather.co.nz rain totals (the most accurate in NZ, powered by IBM).

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

EW Zealand’s return to lockdown is another reminder of how contingent logistics are on covid-19 alert levels. The announcement of a community case on Tuesday afternoon has closed sale yards and complicated processor supply chains. However, exporter complications have been longstanding. According to reports from major domestic ports, logistics has been a balancing act all year, brought on by teething issues felt at the Port of Auckland due to automation of the container terminal and complications caused by crews on ships testing positive for covid-19. But the biggest pain point for exporters has been outbreaks at global ports. The recent outbreak in China is particularly concerning. In the year to July, China has absorbed 88% of our log exports, 31% of our beef exports, 51% of our lamb exports and 79% of our mutton exports. In a year when export values have gone from strength to strength, any disruption with a major trading partner is nervewracking. Throw in China’s categorically tough response to covid-19 and their pivotal role in global trade, and it’s enough to bring sweat to anyone’s brow. Detection of covid-19 amongst port workers at Ningbo-Zhoushan has prompted Chinese authorities to close the port’s Meishan terminal. Reportedly, Ningbo is doing the utmost to accommodate freight via the port’s open terminals and Meishan is expected to reopen in early September. However, given Ningbo is the third busiest container port in the world and Meishan absorbs a quarter of its cargo, backlogs are inevitable. At this stage, Ningbo is only servicing ships which berth within two days of their expected arrival date. In response, ships are changing routes to avoid the port. The Port of Los Angeles quickly anticipated there would be severe flow-on

effects from this and as of August 17, there were reportedly 31 ships waiting to berth. That’s close to twice the amount waiting in mid-July and represents a 9.1% increase in net congestion from April. These disruptions and increased wait times will create added costs for NZ exporters. Chilled container costs were already on the rise, with forecasts pointing to further inflation this year. The Drewry Global Reefer/chilled Container Freight Index rose 32% over the second quarter of 2021, with expectations of a 50% rise in the third quarter. Log exporters have also faced rising shipping costs this year. This month, exporters reported shipping costs of US$65.8/JASm3, $66.7/JASm3, $75.9/ JASm3 for China, India and Korea respectively. For reference, the 10-year average respective August shipping costs are $28/JASm3, $39.3/JASm3, and $28.03/ JASm3.

In a year when export values have gone from strength to strength, any disruption with a major trading partner is nerve-wracking.

As of Wednesday, updates were still streaming out of the Ministry of Transport regarding domestic logistics. Reportedly, anything already on port can be shipped, and essential cargo will continue to come and go. However, the stream of cargo has weakened. It’s worth remembering that processors have been shouldering extra freight costs and harder access to global markets for nearly a year. Despite this, the value of NZ beef has continued to propel high export volumes. In July, NZ exported 52,700t of beef, which is the highest volume for the month on record and processors are reporting low inventories. Paired with processors’ investment in new freight strategies to avoid container costs, we are certainly in a better position than in March 2020.

Don’t let it rain on your parade.

Next time I’ll check WeatherWatch

Plan your day with WeatherWatch and get New Zealand’s most accurate rain forecasting available across the country, anytime.

DAILY FORECAST

www.weatherwatch.co.nz

SALE YARD WRAP

Short yet strong week of sales Though transactions through the sale yards were limited to just Monday and Tuesday last week, there was plenty of evidence to support the claim that prime livestock continue to be the sale yard sweethearts. South Island prime cattle reached new heights yet again, as August sales set new pricing benchmarks. They hit levels only seen in the past for cattle sold within the Canterbury A&P Show competition in November and hit that mark just before the sale yards were shut down for Level 4. Since the first sale of August, a few cents per kilogram have been added onto the prime steer prices each week and that reached a climax on Tuesday, as high-yielding steers achieved $3.60-$3.64/kg and the next cut returned $3.46-$3.57/kg. Heifers followed in a similar vein, as buyers on the top lines were pushed to $3.35-$3.44/kg and Hereford-dairy chased close behind at $3.25-$3.35/kg. NORTHLAND Wellsford store cattle • Better R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 343-395kg, returned a mostly improved $2.90-$2.97/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 355-399kg, strengthened to $2.76$2.79/kg • R1 Angus-Friesian steers, 166kg, firmed to $3.52/kg • R1 Angus-Friesian heifers, 160kg, softened to $2.94/kg A smaller offering of 318 cattle was presented at WELLSFORD last Monday. A limited bench of buyers met with a mixed-quality yarding. R2 cattle accounted for 55% of the total tally. Hereford-dairy and Angus-Friesian steers, 473-482kg, realised $2.90/kg with the balance of steers above 400kg mostly $2.74-$2.86/kg. R1 Murray Grey-Friesian steers, 147kg, fetched $340 while HerefordFriesian, 184-197kg, softened to $500-$700 and varied from $2.99/kg to $3.53/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 194198kg, returned $590-$325 and 145-169kg, $430-$525. A handful of autumn-born weaner steers included Friesian, 129kg, which were picked up for $300. Read more in your LivestockEye.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Pukekohe cattle • Medium crossbred prime steers made $2.80-$2.88/kg • Prime heifers held at $2.89-$2.95/kg • Medium R2 heifers sold to $2.41-$2.50/kg, $845-$900 • Boner cows earned $1.94/kg to $2.15/kg, $1030-$1500 Cattle sold above expectations at PUKEKOHE on Saturday 14th. Good whiteface weaner steers were able to reach $560-$580, $4.85/kg to $5.93/kg, and heifers to $505$580, $2.77/kg to $3.83/kg. Light crossbred R1 steers shifted from $2.58/kg to $3.10/kg, $600-$740.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Prime lambs averaged $188 • Prime ewes reached $290 • Top Hereford-Friesian bull calves made $265 TUAKAU drew a small yarding of sheep last Monday but the market continued to strengthen, Carrfields Livestock agent Karl Chitham reported. The best prime lambs made $241, with lighter types selling down to $118. Store lambs traded at $139-$164 and averaged $150. Prime ewes averaged $165, selling up to $290. Ewes with lambs-at-foot managed $109. At Monday’s feeder calf sale, HerefordFriesian bulls realised $155-$265 and Hereford-Friesian heifers, $55-$175. Charolais bulls returned $225 and most Friesian bulls earned $60-$90, though the top pen reached $130.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle • R2 Charolais-cross steers, 379-548kg, firmed to $3.06-$3.17/kg • Very good R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 531kg, fetched $3.00/kg • R1 Hereford-Friesian steers, 196-197kg, firmed to $3.70-$3.73/kg • Prime Angus-cross steers, 732-836kg, fetched $3.22-$3.24/kg Store cattle throughput increased to 318 head at FRANKTON for PGG Wrightson last Tuesday. A good turnout of buyers in the rostrum met fresh competition, in the form of online interest through the bidr platform. Several online buyers contested the yarding, which pushed those on-site to dig a little deeper and improved results for some. R2 Angus-Friesian and Hereford-Friesian steers, 368-467kg, returned $2.95-$3.07/kg. The balance of heifers, 364-376kg, managed $2.82-$2.85/kg. R1 Angus-Friesian steers, 214kg, improved to $3.46/kg. Hereford-Friesian filled most of the heifer pens in this age-group and those 221kg

firmed to $3.24/kg. Three autumn-born weaner HerefordFriesian steers, 97kg, realised $410 while the balance of Angus-Friesian, 103-118kg, earned $335-$400. Friesian bulls, 113kg, traded at $490. Prime cattle increased to just over 60 head and the balance of steers, 550-625kg, held at $3.17-$3.21/kg. Heifers, 425-457kg, managed a mostly steady $2.92-$2.95/kg. Boner cows, 364-515kg, firmed to $2.13-$2.24/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Paeroa cattle fair • R1 steers ranged from $470 to $1090 • R1 heifers started at $460 and reached $955 A total of 617 cattle arrived at the PAEROA spring cattle fair on August 13th. The market was solid and there was good demand from the local buyers for purebred Hereford steers and heifers. R2 steers sold in a range of $715 to $1240, and heifers varied from $610 to $1200.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Prime Charolais-Hereford steers, 696kg, topped the section at $3.36/kg • Other Charolais-Hereford steers, 653kg, made $3.22/kg • Prime lambs generally fetched $186-$195 with a few lighter pens $155-$172 Proceedings kicked off with a good-sized yarding of prime cattle at RANGIURU last Tuesday as high prices attracted plenty to market. Many of the steers were 610710kg Angus and Hereford-Friesian that earned $3.17$3.24/kg, a level that also included eight Angus and AngusHereford heifers that weighed 557kg and made $3.18/kg. Friesian cows were of good weight at 547-600kg and earned $2.10/kg to $2.30/kg. The popularity of short-term cattle was evident in the store pens with healthy competition throughout. One pen of 393kg R2 Hereford-Friesian steers made $3.18/kg while other pens of short-term beef-cross often managed $2.94/kg to $3.06/kg. A sizable consignment of 383-386kg Hereford-Friesian heifers were popular at $2.94-$2.95/kg, as was a 300kg pen that earned $3.00/kg. Good tallies of the same breed were also popular in the R1 steer pens, particularly those at 169-187kg that returned $640-$720, $3.79-$3.85/kg. This rate was also equalled by a pen of 152kg heifers that made $585, $3.85/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime sheep • Top cryptorchid and ram lambs realised $242-$254.50 • Top ewe lambs softened slightly to $217 • Very heavy mixed-age ewes held at $221-$232 • Good to very good ewes returned $164-$190 and light-medium to medium, $120-$141 • Lighter ewes held at $60-$110 Lambs were the main feature at STORTFORD LODGE prime sale last Monday and at 795 head accounted for 65% of the total tally. Most lambs were very heavy and traded on a firm market. The balance of cryptorchid lambs held value at $235 and ram lambs $200-$225. Very heavy male lambs sold in two bands as half firmed to $246-$248 while the balance earned $232-$239. Mixed-sex volume was low and most traded at a softer $186-$190 though nine top lambs reached $243. The balance of ewe lambs held at $167. Prime ewe throughput eased to just under 400, but the lower volume did not increase competition and all traded on a steady market. Good to very good ewes returned $164-$190 and light-medium to medium, $120-$141. Read more in your LivestockEye.

MANAWATU STAR ATTRACTION: A special entry of purebred Hereford steers and heifers from north of Whitianga were the star attraction at the Paeroa Cattle Fair held on August 13.

Feilding prime cattle and sheep • Charolais heifers, 495kg, traded at $3.29/kg

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021

$2.89/kg while 525-565kg Angus, both empty and in-calf, fetched $2.50-$2.60/kg. Better yielding Friesian, 550-600kg, averaged $2.29/kg although a few reached $2.72/kg. Of the 4600 store lambs offered 80% were either Merino or Halfbred. The heaviest managed $178-$194 while medium pens often earned $118-$169. High prices attracted more prime lambs in with a noted lift in the quality. The top 15% achieved $251-$269 with a further third of the tally at $201-$248. The balance was evenly spread from $140 to $199. There was a wide range of quality for buyers in the ewe pens and included the heavier end that reached $284 followed by the majority that sold for $150 or better. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUTHLAND

FINE WOOL FEATURE: Fine wool-cross lambs featured in volume at Temuka, as the old season store lamb market moves into the next phase of late-born types. The season is now winding down yet, 4600 store lambs were still offered up at this sale. This consignment of Merino-cross blackface lambs from Morven Hills sold from $105 to $137. • Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers, 490kg, made $3.22/kg Favourable prices continued to attract a steady flow of lambs to FEILDING last Monday. Very heavy lambs were first in the line-up and reached $222-$248. The lion’s share of the balance were heavy lambs that held at $190$221 while medium-good pens were $161-$186. Quality was more limited in the ewe pens than previous sales and most sold within a range of $160 to $192. Dairy cows were the main feature of the cattle section, but buyers did not respond with the same degree of enthusiasm as they had at the previous sale and Friesian over 545kg mostly earned $2.49-$2.54/kg. The top cut of a small entry of beef cows ranged from $2.29/kg to $2.54/kg. There was a noted absence of male cattle which were represented by a lone Charolais bull that was passed in. Read more in your LivestockEye. Rongotea cattle • R2 Angus-cross bulls, 555kg, made $3.10/kg • R1 Hereford-Friesian and Friesian heifers, 217-255kg, earned $2.08-$2.12/kg • Weaner Angus-cross heifers, 168kg, sold to $340 • Friesian bull feeder calves achieved $20-$85 Wet weather put the brakes on both cattle supply and buyer numbers at RONGOTEA last Tuesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. In the R2 pens, Hereford-Friesian steers, 459kg, made $3.16/kg, and 445kg Friesian bulls $3.01/kg. R1 Hereford-Friesian and Murray Grey steers, 220-290kg earned $2.16/kg to $2.27/kg. R1 Friesian bulls, 230-332kg, sold in a wide range of $2.17/ kg to $3.08/kg. Weaner Hereford-Friesian and Angus-cross steers, 93-125kg, traded to $400-$490, and 128kg HerefordFriesian bulls, $460. In the feeder calf pens, HerefordFriesian bull calves realised $80-$170 while same-breed heifers traded at $30-$140 and Speckle Park-cross heifers $60.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • One prime Murray Grey steer, 630kg, earned $3.64/kg • Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 512kg, fetched $3.44/kg

• R3 Charolais steers, 440kg, made $3.32/kg while a 380kg pen of R2’s earned $3.37/kg • A pair of prime lambs achieved $290 Much of the attention was on the prime market at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday as limited supply continued to push prices on an upwards trajectory. Buyers were hard-pressed to find any traditional or beef-cross steers under $3.30/kg, and $3.36/kg to $3.54/kg was common. The top six however were a cut above the rest and earned $3.57-$3.64/kg, a level that had only been exceeded by competition cattle in the past at this venue. Prime heifers over 450kg traded at $3.26-$3.38/kg regardless of breed, but there was the odd pen valued at $3.39-$3.44/kg. R3 Hereford-Friesian steers, 408-419kg, made $2.88-$2.89/ kg while their R2 equivalents, 323-330kg, earned $2.79/ kg to $3.03/kg. R2 Hereford heifers sold well and 229261kg fetched $2.68/kg to $3.04/kg. Sheep numbers were again very low and just the prime lamb pens offered up reasonable volume. Two pens which held close to 20 head each earned $282 and $276. The balance was mostly spread from $165 to $251. Prime ewe prices generally ranged from $120 right up to $258. The best of a small store lamb section earned $138. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Lorneville cattle and sheep • Boner cows above 500kg achieved $2.25-$2.35/kg • The top end of beef bull feeder calves achieved $110-$250 and heifers $65 • Heavy prime ewes made $200-$240, medium $160-$190 and light $100-$140 • R1 beef-cross bulls, 196kg, earned $2.50/kg $490 • R1 Hereford-cross steers, 240-280kg, achieved $2.92-$2.93/kg, $700-$820 A medium yarding of prime cattle sold on a strong market at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday. Prime steers, 550kg, sold to $3.00-$3.10/kg, and beef heifers, 460-520kg, $2.92/ kg to $3.04/kg. In the store pens, R2 Hereford-cross steers, 408-440kg, made $2.89-$2.93/kg, $1180-$1250 and 377kg heifers $2.70/kg, $1020. R1 Hereford-cross heifers, 280kg, made $2.86/kg, $800 and lighter types $2.89/kg, $500.There was a small yarding of prime sheep. Heavy lambs fetched $190-$220, medium $170-$190 and light $150-$169. Top store lambs earned $115-$140 with medium $100-$110 and light $80-$90.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle, all sheep • A Charolais-cross steer, 575kg, earned $3.40/kg • Speckle Park steers, 670kg, traded at $3.35/kg • Traditional steers, 545-645kg, achieved $3.27-$3.36/kg • Hereford-Friesian steers, 580-706kg, made $3.25-$3.27/kg A marked increase in volume was obvious at TEMUKA last Monday as a large offering of dairy cows ventured forward and were joined by an equal sized entry of traditional cows. Combined with a good-sized entry of steers and heifers, it was the busiest August prime sale at this venue in over 10 years. Traditional heifers, 470646kg, averaged $3.16/kg while dairy-beef over 450kg were concentrated into a range of $3.08-$3.15/kg. Dairy heifers tended to be lighter, but some bucked the trend, such as 598kg Friesian that traded at $3.11/kg. Angus and AngusHereford cows, 578-655kg, traded on a firm market at $2.77-

Feeder calf sales Results were good for beef-cross amongst the 450 head yarding of feeder calves at MANFEILD PARK last Monday. Hereford-Friesian bull calves made $180$220 while Angus-cross managed $90-$140. This was reversed in the heifer pens where Hereford-Friesian made $90-$150 and Angus-cross $130-$225. Buyers have had their fill of Friesian bulls and they fetched $50-$80. Feeder calf tallies lowered to 383 head at FRANKTON for PGG Wrightson last Tuesday and some new faces increased competition. Good Friesian bulls held at $80-$120 and small to medium improved to $45-$70. Medium to good Hereford-Friesian bulls eased slightly to $160-$260 while smaller calves held at $120-$140. Good Angus-cross bulls managed $190$220 with small to medium at $80-$160. HerefordFriesian heifers mostly firmed and top calves reached $170-$210 while small to medium traded at $50-$160. Crossbred bull and heifer calves earned $40-$70. Just over 430 calves were penned at TIRAU last Tuesday with quality good throughout which lifted returns for most. Hereford-Friesian bulls and heifers all firmed with good bulls up to $225-$270 and small to medium, $120-$190. Same breed heifers reached $135-$180 and medium, $80-$125. Good Angus-cross bulls improved to $130 as did small to medium at $40-$80. Medium heifers of the same breed lifted to $70. ] A good-sized yarding of calves turned out at REPOROA last Monday. The top Friesian bull calves held up well and consistently earned $100-$135 with medium pens $50-$90. The best Hereford-Friesian bulls fetched $350 but $135-$205 was more common for the majority. Heifers of the same breed were mostly $85-$105.

Where livestock market insights begin LivestockEye • • • •

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Markets

40 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – August 23, 2021 NI BULL

SI BULL

NI LAMB

($/KG)

5.90

6.15

9.20

STORE LAMB AVERAGE AT TEMUKA ($/HD)

129.80

$3.70-$3.73 high $290 prime mixed-sex lambs R1 Hereford-Friesian steers, lights Top 196kg, at Frankton at Canterbury Park

Buyers bid up large Annette Scott

ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

Lockdown shuts yard gates again

annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

ECORD high South Island lamb prices, coupled with encouraging activity in export markets, have sparked industry optimism heading into the new season. The lamb slaughter indicator has officially cracked a record high $9 a kilogram mark, with further upside still expected ahead of spring. Canterbury prime lamb sales offered up good yardings, as high prices attracted larger numbers of lambs to the sale yards. A lift in the quality was also noted as buyers bid up large. The tops of the prime lambs at Temuka sold up to $260, while the bulk of the yarding ranged from $201$248. Canterbury Park followed suit and while a smaller yarding, prices pushed up to an impressive $290 for one pen of blackface lambs, the highest price at Canterbury so far this year. Most of the heavy lambs offered sold at $276 and $282, with the balance of the better types making $219-$251. PGG Wrightson Canterbury livestock manager Grant Nordstrom says current buying is generally buoyed by a dismally low lamb supply for this time of year. He says normally in other years prime lamb weight is capped, but this is not the case this year. “Processors are desperate to get their hands on whatever they can and weight capping hasn’t come into it this year,” Nordstrom said. “Pretty much it’s all third party buying on weight, so the bigger the lamb the more they pay and we have seen some good-sized lambs coming through the yards.” While the covid lockdown will temporarily settle the pressure with limited kill because of adjusted processing capacity, Nordstrom says

QUALITY: Canterbury prime lamb sales offered up good yardings, as high prices attracted larger numbers of lambs to the sale yards.

Pretty much it’s all third party buying on weight, so the bigger the lamb the more they pay and we have seen some good-sized lambs coming through the yards. Grant Nordstrom PGG Wrightson the season’s rush is yet to come. “It’s been a good winter and there’s a lot of lambs out there yet and with grass seed crops coming in later, farmers are hanging on to the lambs for a bit but come spring the cropping farmers will be looking to get lambs off,” he said. With prices stronger early, predictions are they will stay high for longer. “It’s hard to say where new season’s pricing will settle, demand will dictate that, but it’s looking towards staying higher for longer,” he said. Nordstrom says this would more likely be the case in the South Island, where numbers are down as a flock

rebuild happens following the decline last season because of the severe drought. Encouraging activity in the export market means that processor margins are still looking agreeable for this time of the season. The AgriHQ Insight reports the EU lamb rack market is making a good recovery with frozen boneless short loin prices in the EU very nearly back to pre-covid level. The US lamb rack price is also showing some buoyancy and while still some way off the highs achieved prior to the pandemic, this indicator and the exchange rate are heading in the right direction. While pre-Christmas minimum price lamb contracts at $7.50/kg have hinted some ambition from processors to ratchet back the lamb price when the new season lambs boost supply, a new contract from a smaller processor is playing a different tune with December pricing at $8.40/ kg. Meanwhile, export markets for lamb remain solid with tight production levels through August combined with higher interest, enabling farm gate prices to remain strong. AgriHQ still expects prices to be averaging above $8/kg through December.

THE livestock-selling market was again put on hold as the country moved into Alert Level 4. This followed confirmation of the covid-19 Delta variant in the community and meant sale yards were not able to open their gates for the rest of the week. PGG Wrightson North Island livestock manager Matt Langtry says the options were slightly limited last week. “Under Level 4 all sale yards are closed, however, we will continue to re-evaluate the situation as Government and MPI updates come to hand. As an essential service provider under Level 4, PGG Wrightson agents can operate in private sales (farm-to-farm) and prime (meat processor) consignments, where there needs to be a focus on animal and farmer welfare and feed levels,” Langtry said. “We are operating under strict MPI protocols, which includes a very transparent traceability and audit process for our team. Through this challenging time, it is imperative we keep communicating with the industry, we are in this together. It’s a bugger of a situation again, but we will pull through.” The previous week played host to several larger spring cattle sales and that helped ease the pressures that the current lockdown could have created. At Stortford Lodge, a moderate tally of 220 cattle had been advertised for Wednesday’s sale due to the first spring fair the week before. Taranaki was also only expecting 320 on the back of a 720-head fair the week prior. However, sheep tallies were higher than expected at Stortford Lodge, as 4750 were advertised and the sale would have featured the biggest yarding of ewes with lambs-at-foot so far this season. Redshaw Livestock agent Dean Freeman says most vendors have put selling on-hold. “Most are in wait-and-see mode now, until further announcements are made. Last time we had 50 days out of the yards and the market went into limbo, so unless vendors need to urgently move stock, no one is ready to make any decision on selling just yet,” Freeman said. During the last nationwide lockdown, sale yards were able to reopen in Level 2, 50 days after they closed. All livestock agents are deemed an essential service and can continue to operate under MPI protocols. suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

Find out more about AgriHQ at agrihq.co.nz

TURANGANUI ROMNEYS “The team behind the sheep”

Michael Warren 06 307 7841 or 0274 465 312 Guy Warren 027 848 0164 William Warren 027 824 9327

Ron Lett

Mike Warren

Guy Warren

William Warren

Nico Butler

TURANGANUI ROMNEYS RD 2 Featherston 5772

LK0107877©

Kieran Brown

you can trust

GENETIC TRENDS GE Analysis #38568 23/07/2021

FE Gold Flocks Dual Purpose Flocks

NZ Standard Maternal Worth (NZMW)

RAMGUARDFACIAL ECZEMA TOLERANCE TESTING SERVICE RAMGUARD-

FACIAL ECZEMA TOLERANCE TESTING SERVICE

FA C I A L EC ZEM A C ER T I FI C A T E.

FACIAL ECZEMA CERTRA I FI C A T E. MGUARD

FACIA

L ECZEMA TOLERANC ACFLOCK IALTESTING E TE RA MGST E HISTORY FOR:

FLOCK F TESTING HISTORY FOR:

21 20

13 20

03 20

C EM A Test season: 2019-2020 UARD CIAL ECZE RVseason: - SE ICE 2020-2021 Test 2019-2020 MA FACZ CERFAT LERANCE TE IA FLOCName IFICATOT STrating: K TEST:ING Anyone C:LAnyone SIL flock ECZCE ING SErating: SIL flock ***** RVICE ***** MA C E HIName STORY . tested: E R FOR: T I Flock : FLOCFlock 0 TEST: ING SIL Years 37 37 F I K 0 SIL Years tested: C ATE HIS . TORY FOR: Address: 111 ANY RD SIL flock rating: (on dose rate) Address: 111 ANY RD SIL flock rating: (on dose rate) Name : An Nane R DC2 < 0.2 * 0.5 - 0.59 0.5 - **** 0.59 **** R D 2 yo < 0.2 Te *st me Flock : Anyone seas : C on : ANY TOWN 1111 0.2 0.29 ** >= 0.6 ***** 0 Flo Te ck st ANY TOWN 1111 0.2 - 0.29 >= 2019-202 se 0.6on: ***** : SI Addre 0 SIL L**-flo 0.3 0.49 2019-20 ck***flotinas ss: 111Ad SIL 020 AN 0.3 - 0.49 *** SILra dreY ckg:rating: **** ss: RD11 arsrates of1 ANY Number Number of ramsYe Dose for RD of tes ****** tedtes Ye(mg/kg) ars RYear :forused D 2 Number Year Number of Number of rams Dose rates (mg/kg) used ted: R D 2of tested Number 37 37 tested rams tested rams tolerant SIL flo challenge: ck SILra ANY TOW tested flo tin ck AN tested rams tested rams tolerant challenge: rat g: Y (oing TO N 1111 n :do by UNTESTED 1 WN 1111 Sires to final dose:< 0.2 < 0.2 (on se2do rase te)rate) * *

Don’t be fleeced with substandard rams.

Not all facial eczema breeding programmes are the same!

Ask the questions. um

minim ✔ been testing for a of 10 years

✔ Dosing at 0.6 (to earn 5 star rating) ✔ Shown me their certificate

the

ING

* 0.5 20.5 -Sires to final dose: 20 1 1983 by UNTESTED 33 0.10 - 0.59- *** 0.59 Year Year 0.2 - 0.29 0.2 - 0.29 ** 1984 57Numb er of 38 ** mber of 1983 33Nu 20 0.10 0.10 -->= -- * **** Number of 0.3 tested Numb tes - 0.49 *** >= 0.6 0.6 - 0.49 1985 16mb 0.30.10 0.10 -- ** ***** ram 1984 ted 57 38mber Nu -- *** *** s tested 21rams tested er of test Nu er of ram s of ram Do0.20 ed rams se rates (mg tested rams 62 46 s Dose -rat /kg 1985 211986 16 0.10 -use es tole ) (mg/kg) use d for rant by UNTE tolera 17 5 1987 1983 by 50 UNTE 0.15 challenge:d for -- 0.24 33 ST ED Sir ST ED 19861983 62 33198 46 Sires nt to final dos 0.20 es to ge: 1988 41 14 0.23 -e:challen 4 57 5 19871984 501989 17final dose: 0.24 0.29 8 20 0.15 1 0.24 1 571985 52 21 0.1 20 19 0 85 1988 411990 14 -- 2-- 2 41 62 18 38 0.230.1 0.26 211986 5 -0 0.1 1986 1989 521991 8 38 36 16 0.24 0.30 0 0.29 ---- -51 50 621987 5 0.10 0.1 1910 198 87 52 41 23 46 0.26 0.35 0 1990 411992 18 16 -- ---- -50198 8 0.100.350.20 17 1993 10 10 4 -9 46 19 1991 88 51 41 36 0.30 -- -- -52 0.200.350.15 1990 10 41 4 2 14 0.35 1989 10 1992 521994 23 17 -- -- -- 0.24 521991 0.15 0.350.23 1995 12 51 6 9 8 -199010 0.24 1993 1041199 10 4 14 0.35 --0.2 -18 4-0.2 2 1996 12 0 7 0.37 3 1991 52 0.26 1994 1051 28 0.35 0.40 -- -- --0.29 1993 10 15 1997 1010 4 0 5 36 0.24 0.3 -18 1992 0 1995 1252 6 9 0.35 -23 199 1998 4 1010 010 4 0.29-- -0.26 0.42 0.35 1993 1995 1996 12 0 736 0.37 0.44 ---- -1999 12 04 44 10 12 0.30 0.35 -23 1994 1996 2 10 2000 13 0 2 0.48 15 1997 10 0 5 0.40 -6 12 15 10 -- -0.35 0.35 1997 1995 12 00 49 0.48 1998 10 44 0.42 ---- - -10 04 122001 0.35 0.35 0.50 1998 199620 2002 15 00 97 1999 12 42 0.44 ---- --10 06 0.37 122003 15 1999 0.35 0.55 16 00 45 1997 9 12 2000 13 0 2 0.48 0.4 0 10200 -- --0.35 0.55 0 2004 13 0 74 19 7 -13 98 0.42 0 2001 12200 4 0.48 0.60 4 10 -1 0.3 2005 13 6 00 7 0.44 12 -19 59 9920 0 20 2002 15 0 0.50 200 2 2006 13 0 7 0.60 2 0 12 -- --0.40 0.48 15 20 4 00 200 4 200325 162007 4 0.55 0.60 3 15 00 12 00 13 --- -0.4 16 2 0.48 20 47 01 200 97 4 2004 13 0.55 0.5 2008 0.60 00 12 20 1314 00 --- - 0.4 4 0 200 44 202005 26 02 5 2009 0.60 00 0.60 0.5 1315 0 0 1513 --- - 0.4 5 8 200 7 202006 4 6 2010 16 0 11 0.60 0 0325 7 0.60 0.55 13 0 0 1613 -- -0.4 2007 610 8 00 912 202007 04 1516 0 0 25 152011 0.60 0.60.60 0 13200 - - - 7 9 0.5 8 0 0 0 2012 17 0.60 4 202008 14 05 30 0.6 0 0 0 14 9 7 12 6 13200 - - - 0.50.60 0 0 2013 5 0.60.60 15 200 2006 7 4 0 2009 152014 0 7 14 13201 0 25 - - - 0 0 0.50.60 5 0.60.60 16 22 2007 6 11 0 0 0 4 8 1 2010 162015 0 0 15201 - - - 0.60.60 16 22 30 0 0.600.60 2008 7 11 201 0 2011 10 0.600.6 0.60 0 0 6 14 1622016 - -- 17 12 0 0.60 0 12 9 2009 10 80 201 0 0 0 30 2012 1732016 0.60 Nat. - 2016 20 200 15201 0.60challenge - -Apr 9 9 0.60 2010201335 7 6 0 0 0 0 2042017 0.600.600.60 22 20 16201 - -- 0.6 0 6 5 0 20112014 2018 0 4 14 18 0 0 22 19 0.600.60 0.60 -- 1620122 30 14 0.6 0 62019 12 24 0 20122015 0 11 8 9 0 0 0.60 0.60 -1720122 8 0.600.60 6 0 10 6 20132016 200 0 0.60 35 0 -6 2020112 0.60 0.60 7 20 0 2014 9 0.60 2016 22201200 80 80 Nat. challenge Apr 2016 8 0 0.6Na 0 t. challenge 19 0 2015 6 35 2017 22201920 0 9 9 - 6 0 -Apr 201 0.60 0.60 24 0.60 14 2016 0 0 2018 12 19 0 18 18 0.60 0.60 -0.60 8 2016 9 0 2019 200 24 0 9 -35 0.60 0.60 0.60 6 2017 20 0.60 80 2018 0 Nat. challe 19 nge 9 2019 0 Apr 2016 24 0.6 0 18 0 0.60 9 0.60 -

www.fegold.co.nz GENETICS you can TRUST

If you want the best, buy from the best

he journey of breeding for facial eczema (FE) tolerance began in the 1970s. It was a massive undertaking for those dedicated breeders – imagine picking your top rams, submitting them to a dose of sporidesmin in order to assess tolerance and tipping most of them over. In the early days successes were few, so tolerant rams became very precious. They gradually started lifting dose rates in order to increase tolerance, continuing to knock out some great rams. We owe a huge debt to the courage these breeders showed in doing this. Experienced breeders of FEtolerant sheep still wait for their FE test results with anxiety – hoping for a good pass rate. Years of selection have meant often only having a few reactors and

very often nothing clinical. The power of selection and high heritability has resulted in a good range of genetics, which carry the valuable genes and produce progeny with the ability to grow and produce in high FE challenge areas. Historically, the north was considered the FE-risk area. And, whether you believe in climate change or not, things are changing. Parts of the country that had never seen a clinical animal have been hit with FE in the past few years and it is gradually being realised that nowhere is completely safe. As FE became more of a problem, there were concerns raised by some FE breeders regarding the misrepresentation of FE genetic stock. This was happening where top FE genetics were potentially being diluted and the resulting progeny being presented for sale as FE-tolerant,

Genetic progress (profit $)

FE Gold: Now and then

Generations even though the flock wasn’t testing. This led to a lot of confusion for the commercial farmer. So, in 2012 a group of breeders who had made a long-term commitment to breeding FEtolerant stock decided to band together to form a group called FE Gold.

Their mission is “to produce a brand that protects the investment sheep breeders have made developing the FE-tolerant gene pool, while providing greater clarity to the commercial farmer in regard to selecting FE-tolerant rams”. Its objectives are to : • promote breeders of elite

ECZEMA TOLERANT ROMNEYS RAMGUARD TESTING SINCE 1985 • • • • • •

5 star rating Structurally sound Robust functional sheep that survive Minimum input Selecting for less parasites and dags No ewes worm drenched, dipped or vaccinated

KEITH ABBOTT, RAGLAN 027 463 9859 | www.waiteikaromneys.co.nz @waiteikaromneys 2

GENETIC TRENDS GE Analysis #38568 23/07/2021

FE Gold Flocks Dual Purpose Flocks

NZ Standard Maternal Worth (NZMW)

21 20

• All rams used are Ramguard tested. The FE Gold steering committee reviews and decides on all applications. The steering committee is made up of

03 20

FE Gold breeders out perform the Dual Purpose National flock average. Selecting for FE tolerance and performance.

FE – tolerant rams; • raise awareness amongst ram buyers of the value of buying from FE Gold breeders; • establish and maintain a website containing information on FE and FE Gold breeders; • encourage other sheep breeders to work towards accreditation; • produce an annual article promoting FE Gold breeders, for publication in a farming magazine; • and to breed healthier sheep stock which will enhance the clean green reputation of New Zealand. The FE Gold brand is applied to breeders who have achieved the highest level of FE tolerance within their flocks. FE Gold is open to all breeds who meet the criteria set out by FE Gold, which includes: • Testing with sporidesmin at 0.60mg/kg. • At least 10 years of testing history. • 10% of sale rams tested for facial eczema tolerance.

Perendale, Coopworth and Romney breeders. The group’s focus is on education and helping the commercial farmer understand which questions to ask in order

to make the right decisions when sourcing FE tolerant genetics. It is so encouraging to have different breed groups working together for the good of the industry.

ashgrovegenetics.co.nz On farm ram auction auction 12th November We offer a 2 year guarantee on rams *conditions apply Contact us TODAY and get access to our superior Coopworth stock

Ashgrove - located in the Kaipara District north of Dargaville on some of Northlands steepest hill country.

• High fertility 160% weaning off steepest Northland hill country • Hardy If they can thrive in Northland, they’ll thrive anywhere • Great Mothers Highly indexed on NZ Maternal Worth • Worm Resistant Selected for WormFec and Longevity

Our philosophy • We are deeply passionate about profitable hill country farming • We build strong and lasting relationships with our partners and clients - “excellence through partnership” • We believe superior genetics multiplies the profitability of farming families Sheep performance is the main driver of our production with a high fertility rate weaning 160% of lambs from our Coopworth commercial and stud ewes. We breed thriving, easy care, hardy FE and worm tolerant ewes. If our sheep thrive on hard Northland hill country, they will thrive anywhere!

Ashgrove is a founding member of the FE Gold group and is selecting for WormFec and longevity.

James Parsons 021 206 3208 james@ashgrovegenetics.co.nz www.ashgrovegenetics.co.nz

james@ashgrovegenetics.co.nz

FE genetics to enhance your flock Trevor Cook, DMV

F Years of testing and selection have gone into producing the top FE genetics in the country – a sound investment for your flock.

acial eczema (FE) is much more than a production limiting disease. It is an animal welfare disease that should not be allowed to occur in sheep. One of the most successful breeding programmes in the world to manage a disease began in New Zealand in 1973, when a group of sheep breeders set out to select sheep that did not get FE. From this selection, rams were bred that carried the genes which enable sheep to tolerate being exposed to sporidesmin. This has resulted today in breeders being able to provide rams that not only carry these FE-protecting genes, but also the genes that support high production. It takes many years to breed sheep that have a high level of tolerance to FE.

HINENUI GENETICS www.hinenuigenetics.co.nz GISBORNE

COOPWORTH – ROMNEY – ROMWORTH SIL Recorded Flocks– NZMW + Meat DNA Parentage + Genomic Evaluation FE Gold status – Testing for FE tolerance for over 30 years Nil drenching of ewes

Proven performance genetics with leading facial eczema tolerance Ryan & Claire Teutenberg - 021 610 664 ryanteutenberg@hotmail.com

Phil & Deana Cook – 0279526048 philandde@hotmail.com

Brett & Lucy Teutenberg - 027 446 3684 brett@hinenuigenetics.co.nz

“For commercial sheep breeders to fully capture the protection that these genetics can provide, the rams must come from breeders that are certified to have engaged in an intensive and prolonged selection programme.” For commercial sheep breeders to fully capture the protection that these genetics can provide, the rams must come from breeders that are certified to have engaged in an intensive and prolonged selection programme. Such certification gives the assurance that the rams being sold carry those genes. These breeders are identified as FE Gold breeders.

While there are other ways to minimise the impacts of FE, none are totally effective and all have negative aspects to them. To not use FE-tolerant rams in flocks that are likely to be exposed to that disease could be seen as an animal welfare transgression. Whereas to use these rams is production enhancing.

Facial Eczema tolerant genetics into a flock is an uphill climb – progress is made with each step!

With the Kaahu FE Gold flock now under our ownership, we are delighted to offer FE Gold and FE tolerant rams for sale from November 2021 Interested in FE tolerance, fertility, growth rate and meat yield GET IN TOUCH TODAY

Hamish Bibby 027 777 6619 | Olivia Ellis 027 515 5102 | Matt Holden 027 437 1550 5

tested at .65 since 2007 tested at .67 since 2019

industry leaders in FE, Worm Tolerance and MZMW

Craig & Tina Alexander Buckland Road, RD2, Matamata Ph: (07) 888 1703 • Mob: 021 746 646 email: calexander@outlook.co.nz Maunga Awa Station Farm Manager: Gavin Mutch Ph: (06) 212 7540 email: maunga.awa.station@gmail.com

Dargaville

ARDG Breeder Locations

Kaukapakapa Maramarua Matamata

Marchant Farms Trust

Dimmock Road, RD1, Pokeno, Maramarua John Marchant: Ph: (09) 232 5613 email: marchant.farms@farmside.co.nz Greg Marchant: Mob: 0272 815 386 email: gregm@farmside.co.nz

Glenbrook Ltd.

Adrian & Jenny Savannah Glenbrook, RD3 Kaukapakapa Ph: (09) 427 6393 Mob: 0274 816 599 email: info@glenbrookfarms.co.nz

Bob Steed/Rhys & Helen Dackers Kereru Station, 136 Paradise Road, RD1 Tangiteroria Ph: (09) 4332616 • Mob: 0272 415 564 email: helsnz1@xtra.co.nz or kereru_station@xtra.co.nz

Paul Crick & Daynne Almeida

1683 Longbush Road, RD4 Masterton 5884 Mob: 0274 504 085 • email: los.pastores@outlook.com

www.ardg.co.nz 6

TRY LEAD

Supplying Elite Romney Genetics to Ram Breeders & Commercial Farmers

Alexander Farming Genetics Ltd.

YEARS

EBRATIN EL

Dannevirke

Masterton

FE levels explained

When first established in 2012, the FE Gold group set criteria for membership. The goal was to provide clarity to the commercial farmer regarding the level of tolerance a flock had achieved. To be eligible for membership in FE Gold, a ram breeder must meet the following criteria: • Testing with sporidesmin at 0.60mg/kg. • At least10 years of testing history. • 10% of sale rams tested for facial eczema (FE) tolerance. • All rams used are Ramguard tested. The brand has been very successful and the industry now recognises the elite status of FE Gold flocks. More breeders are now focusing on breeding for tolerance. To acknowledge those committed to a FE breeding programme and making good progress, the FE Silver brand was created.

Would be available to breeders if these criteria were met: • Testing with sporidesmin at 0.50mg/kg or greater and sires tested have passed. • At least 10 years of testing history to ensure there is a good level of tolerance in the flock (exceptions will be considered). • 10% of sale rams tested for FE tolerance • All rams used are Ramguard tested. • Can only be FE Silver for five years before graduating to FE Gold or membership will be reviewed; basically there needs to be a clear commitment to graduate from FE Silver to the FE Gold standard of a 0.6mg/ kg dose rate.

The Carters have been breeding Coopworths since 1974 on steep Taumarunui hill country. We produce easy care, low-input, high-output sheep to improve your flock’s performance without compromising physical structure. • FE GOLD for 8 years; Ramguard testing for 15 years • Routinely scanning at 180% • No dipping for past 4 years • Conservative drenching regime • Worm FEC & Dag recording since 2017 • All stud hoggets muscle scanned • Recorded flock put to the test under commercial conditions • Strong emphasis on phenotype/composition • Benefit from collaboration within the Coopworth Genetics group

The FE brand There are several other breeds working towards FE tolerance and, while they are testing at a lower level than the FE Gold required (0.6 mg/kg), these breeders are serious about achieving tolerance and are investing seriously in the process. Provision exists for a ‘Best of Breed’ leading breeder in FE tolerance whose breed is not represented already amongst the membership to also be a member, as they are unable to source better FE-tolerant genetics within their breed. Best of breed must replicate the FE Gold criteria, but at a minimum of 0.4mg/kg dose level. The aim is to provide ram buyers with a clear picture of those breeders, of any breed, who are producing FE-tolerant stock and which breeders are at the highest testing level.

BELTEX-COOPWORTH RAMS ALSO AVAILABLE

SALE DAY

Wednesday November 17th Te Kuiti Sale Yards Enquiries and inspection welcome

Travis Carter & Julie Matthews 07-895-3348 Robert & Suzanne Carter 07-896-7020 151 Kirikau Valley Road, RD3, Taumarunui, 3993 thepoplarsfarm@gmail.com

www.kirikaucoopworths.com

@KirikauCoopworths

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Loss of ewes throughout the year Number of ewes pregnant Number of lambs on board LWT and BCS gain across the year Weight of lambs at weaning

testing? The more the better. • What is the dose rate? The higher the better. • Can I see your Ramguard certificate? It will show the number of rams tested, dose rate and years of testing. • Can I see a genetic trend graph? This will provide an indication of the rate of improvement in the flock and that they are

Sub-clinical

moving FE tolerance in the right direction • Are all the rams offered for sale sired by tolerant and tested rams? Be aware of diluting the genetics if rams are described as tolerant but not sired by FEtested sires. Choosing a ram Working with a breeder who

OPEN DAY

SALE DATE

Tuesday, 2 November 2021, on farm in Waikaretu

Friday, 5 November 2021, Tuakau Saleyard

As providers of genetics ram breeders shape the future of the sheep industry – market signals dictate that breeding programs must focus on animal welfare, social and environmental impact and a genuine promotion of NZ’s clean green grass fed systems. Commercial farmers are demanding disease and parasite tolerance, reduced inputs, longevity and efficiency. The sheep of the future. www.nikaucoopworth.co.nz • 09 2333 230

Clinical

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Questions to ask prospective breeders include: • How many years have you been

Sub-clinical =

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choose a breeder? To research a breeder visit sil. co.nz, select the “tools” category, then select the “flocks focussed on health traits” option, followed by “facial eczema tolerance”. This will provide a list of breeders selecting for FE in their flocks. Look at this list and the number of stars, which indicates testing level. Five-star flocks are the top level. Also look at the number of years of testing. As FE becomes more prevalent the number of breeders testing rams is increasing. This is a very positive step but be aware that the higher the number of years and the stars, the better. FE Gold flocks are leading FE genetics. RamFinder and Flock Finder are two tools on the B+LNZ website to help refine the search.

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s the incidence of facial eczema (FE) increases and it is being seen in parts of the country previously considered safe, the interest in FE-tolerant genetics is rising. Some commercial farmers who are at the start of the journey to breed FE tolerance into their flocks may resist change of genetics as they “don’t want to lose anything”. While it is understandable that the type/performance/attributes of the current flock may be desirable, incorporating FE genetics will improve the flock, not the opposite. The impact of subclinical FE guarantees that ‘something’ will be lost if tolerance is not part of the breeding programme. FE-tolerant flocks are some of the most productive in the country. But, how do you

➡

How to choose a breeder

Nikau Coopworth has a long term commitment to producing robust maternal genetics to future proof your flock. •

Sheep Industry Award Winner Maternal Trait Leader for Parasite Resistance

•

No drench ewe flock since 2002

•

Moderate sized ewes weaning their weight in lambs

•

Selected for performance under pressure in a tough environment for FE, viral pneumonia & parasites

•

Focus on structure, efficiency & longevity

“As FE becomes more prevalent the number of breeders testing rams is increasing. This is a very positive step but be aware that the higher the number of years and the stars, the better.” has put in the hard yards selecting for FE genetics will ensure that basically any ram you chose will impart tolerance to his progeny. From these breeders you can confidently select a ram the way you usually would – focused on traits important to your breeding programme, visual assessment and price. FE tolerance will be part of the package. If your breeder is in the early stages of selecting for FE, you will want to look at the DPXDual Purpose Plus FE index. Ask the questions and have good open conversations with your breeder about testing levels and where they are going with their programme. Some commercial farmers will choose to go on the FE journey with their breeder, slowly breeding tolerance as the breeder

FE outbreaks likely to occur more often and over a greater geographical spread than historically observed Susceptible animals have decreased production = lost income Breeding is an important part of the FE Toolbox Improvement not immediate but can be permanent Need to make selection of Facial Eczema Tolerant Rams a priority when buying your rams – Overall genetic merit is important – but irrelevant if your animals can not tolerate an FE challenge

incorporates it into their flock. If a faster rate of gain is needed, then choosing a breeder with an established high level of tolerance is the route to take. Stick with a breeder Once you have found a breeder, stick with them for the long haul. Tolerance to FE is highly heritable so improvement will be made with each cross, but it will still take a minimum of six years to have a significant amount of FE tolerance across your flock. Remember the last six-year-old intolerant ewe has to be replaced. Genetics is the only sustainable permanent solution to this horrible disease. The sooner the genetics are incorporated into a flock, the better. For more information visit fegold.co.nz or sil.co.nz

Investing in FE tolerant genetics will point your flock inthe right direction.

Raupuha Studs

PERENDALES

Where every day is an open day

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

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Raupuha Shorthorn bulls

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NZ Maternal Worth + Facial Eczema (MW+X)

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ROMDALES   

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All Flocks Dual Purpose Average

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NZ Maternal Worth + Facial Eczema (MW+X)

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Raupuha Romdales Stud Average

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Russell and Mavis Proffit: 2033 State Highway 3, RD, Mahoenui 3978 Cellphone: 027 355 2927 Email: raupuhastud@gmail.com • www.raupuhastud.co.nz

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OPEN DAY Tuesday 2 November, 1pm-3pm at SH3, Mahoenui Tuesday 16th November 2021 at 12 Noon

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– ON FARM SALE –

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terminal 2ths are available

MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR:

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Please enquire for more info

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ROMDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6

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Raupuha Perendales Stud Average

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PERENDALE 2TH RAMS TESTED 0.6

Perendales & Romdales are

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RAUPUHA #1

Suffolk and Suftex

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Follow the leader

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Climate change boosting FE awareness

The prevalence of FE is increasing every year. Many areas considered safe in this 2016 map are now under threat.

body weight. FE Gold breeders are dosing at .6mg/kg and up. Dosing a 70kg ram is $300, plus vet fees. Another method for assessing tolerance is to take blood samples following a “hot” FE season. Animals which are affected subclinically – they have not broken out with FE but have had a reaction – will have elevated liver enzymes. A rise in this enzyme, GGT levels, give a good indication of tolerance after a natural challenge. This is not a bulletproof test, but is used by some breeders to screen both ewe and ram hoggets. In 2015, breeders, commercial farmers, industry representatives, vets and scientists got together and formed the FE Working Group. This pan sector group – sheep, beef, dairy and deer – worked tirelessly for several years in an

or years ram breeders have relied on the Ramguard service, based at Ruakura, to test rams for tolerance to the fungus sporidesmin – the culprit behind facial eczema (FE). The ability to grow the fungus and the method for testing rams was developed in the 1980s. The Ramguard service has been the driver behind breeding for tolerance. Growing the fungus, collecting, and processing it for use is labour and time intensive. It is expensive stuff. The test involves giving the ram a specific amount based on genetic history of breeding for tolerance. Naïve flocks will start at a low dose rate and raise it as tolerance is achieved. The dose rate is set at mg sporidesmin/kg of

attempt to draw attention to the problem of FE and source funding for research. There has been no FE research in New Zealand since the closure of the Mycotoxin Department at Ruakura in the mid-80s. Ramguard testing worked and we had zinc to use as a preventative, so FE has not been viewed as a priority. This is changing. Climate change has resulted in FE becoming evident in more of the country than ever before. The ability to use zinc as a preventative is finite, there is more awareness of the animal welfare implications of FE and commercial farmers are asking for tools to aid in selection. Breeders have long been asking for an alternative test that’s non-invasive, cheap, easy-to-do and has a fast result. There is good news.

Romani Coopworths

• Selected for top growth and muscling, less dags, parasite tolerance, minimal drench. Not dipped since 2013. • Romani commercial hoggets winner of 2017 NZ Ewe Hogget Competition Large Flock Award. 2018 winner Coopworth section

• Romani flock finalist for 2017 NZ Sheep Industry Awards Maternal Trait Leader Parasite Resistance • Romani rams are top performers in B+LNZ Genetics Low Input Progeny Test.

Ross Richards, Taumarunui • Phone 07 895 7144 • romani@farmside.co.nz 10

94568

• Fully SIL recorded under true commercial conditions

“There has been no FE research in New Zealand since the closure of the Mycotoxin Department at Ruakura in the mid-80s. Ramguard testing worked and we had zinc to use as a preventative, so FE has not been viewed as a priority. This is changing.” Gribbles complies spore count information to provide national trends.

Ag Research scientist Dr Axel Hieser is heading up an FE Research programme. Supported by B+LNZ, initial results from a pilot study investigating the potential for a laboratory test to determine FE tolerance are positive, paving the way for more detailed work.

Initial results look promising, with the establishment of a cell culture method using sheep and cattle blood to demonstrate a reaction to sporidesmin (the toxin that causes FE toxicity). This indicates that animals could be tested for tolerance without needing to be exposed to the toxin.

While it is still in developmental stages, the hope is for the development and production of a simple non-invasive lab test that could easily be done in large numbers, on-farm, inexpensively and quickly. Wouldn’t it be great if we could test ewes, as well as rams?

What if commercial farmers had a way of testing incoming ewe hoggets? The industry has made huge progress by testing and selecting top sires. Identifying top female genetics would speed up the rate of genetic gain and will help future-proof our less tolerant flocks. Watch this space.

150 FE Gold

SIL recorded Romney Rams

HAIN ROMNEYS28

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FE Gold Rams

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FE costs and implications

hat is facial eczema? Facial eczema (FE) is caused by the ingestion of sporidesmin, a potent mycotoxin produced by the fungus Pithomyces chartarum that grows on dead leaf litter in the late summer and early autumn. Not all isolates of Pithomyces produce sporidesmin, however, 95% of New Zealand isolates do, versus 2% in Brazil. Aren’t we the lucky country? This fungus requires 100% humidity and temperatures in the range of 10-30degC for sporulation. Sporidesmin primarily damages the liver, especially the bile duct cells, where it causes an obstructive jaundice, resulting in the degradation products of chlorophyll

accumulating in the blood. This accumulation of chlorophyll byproducts results in secondary photosensitivity, due to UV reactions with these byproducts and the release of histamine. This outward reaction to sporidesmin only happens on a proportion of animals and only on those animals that have lightcoloured skin. The primary damage is to the liver and it is this liver damage that gives rise to most of the production losses both short and long-term. Spore counting and what it means Spore-counting pastures over periods of risk can alert you to increasing spore counts. Farmers that have had problems in the past will know what areas of their farm will be affected first. Interpretation of these spore counts would be in relation to the

time of year and weather factors. One-off spore counts of 100,000 or more are dangerous but spore counts of 40,000 over a number of days can also be significant, especially when animals are grazing close to the ground. What does FE cost you? When we have seen severe outbreaks of FE, the costs have been obvious. In the early 90s,

some farmers lost a third of their ewes and had to send another third to the works. Some other years, scanning percentages have been reduced by 20%; the first cycle conception rate was reduced and the empty rate was increased 4-6%. These are district averages, so some farmers would be affected more than others. The simple costing on this

Zinc is a short term preventative.

PUKETOTARA STUD (SIL 1776)

CAN KILL ONE OF THESE!

A SMALL NUMBER OF THESE …

Breed Facial Ezcema tolerance into your flock by using our high genetic merit, structrually sound ROMNEY Rams. Contact Ken & Rebecca Haywood at Piopio 07 877 8586 Or email krhaywood@farmside.co.nz Also available Poll Dorset and Black face rams 12

Spores from the fungus Pithomyces chartarum look like hand grenades and are just as damaging.

would be greater than: • 2000 ewes less 20% of lambs at $120 each = $48,000 • 2000 ewes less 4% of lambs at $120 each = $9600 Of course losses will be greater than this, because we have to take into account that later-born lambs stay longer on the farm, hogget mating may need to be called off and some ewes will die over winter, for example. Zinc Supplementation Zinc is very effective in controlling the harmful effects of sporidesmin. Zinc acts by forming a complex with sporidesmin, eliminating its ability to form

Genetics are the long term solution

oxygen-free radicals, which are responsible for its toxicity. In sheep, the only practicable method of applying zinc is in the form of a bolus. The cost of this is not cheap and we see lots of farmers wrestle with this every year. To treat 2000 ewes will cost about $7300 applied. Zinc is a preventative not a

treatment. The Zinc bolus must be administered before the spore counts are high enough to do damage. The use of zinc is finite, as it is a heavy metal and on the radar for use in animal production systems. If we lose zinc, there is not much else in the tool box to prevent FE. Genetics is the only sustainable permanent solution.

Ramguard – breeding for tolerance This is the long-term fix. Genetic gain is rapidly achieved by incorporating genetics with a high level of tolerance. This means buying rams from breeders that have been on this course for some time. This is a sound investment in the future of your business.

Don’t just buy a RAM - buy into a progRAM. Focusing on FE tolerance, worm resistance, dags, body condition, fertility, growth and structure. Piquet Hill Rams – Romney, Maternal Composite, Suffolk For Sale by private treaty, on farm January 2022 Penciling in Ram Orders Now Will Jackson – Phone 07 825 4480 william@piquethillfarms.co.nz

0 13

Signs of subclinical FE Edward Dinger

very late summer when conditions are right, Pithomyces chartarum, the facial eczema (FE) causing fungus, grows in almost all the paddocks of the North Island and the north of the South Island. Even in low numbers, the spores cause subclinical FE, which is in some ways worse than clinical, simply because farmers don’t see any external signs and so have no idea that the natural immunity has been suppressed because of the mycotoxins. The result is the production of their ewes can sometimes be severely curtailed. The ewes without a properly functioning liver are prone to ill health, cannot put on weight, do not ovulate to their genetic potential, do not grow as much wool and cannot produce as much

milk. So if you have more dry ewes than you can explain, a lambing percentage that remains static, ewes that run dry before weaning, and hoggets that don’t want to grow when there is plenty of feed about, for example, it is possible that subclinical FE could be the root of your problems. By increasing FE tolerance in your flock you naturally limit the effects of FE. And it gets better still: the tolerance for FE also gets you tolerance for a host of other bad fungi that produce toxins that can inhibit production. The family of mycotoxins is large, and the bad news is that they all live, or seem to prefer to live on ryegrass. Amongst them is the fusarium group, which includes zearalenone, trichothecenes and others. The spores of these fungi, once eaten, are transformed in the digestive system into a toxin or toxins. Zearalenone produces an oestrogenic effect in that it

will stop ovulation in ewes and can cause reduced lambing percentages from 5-50% and is considered the main cause of a long, drawn out tupping season. Trichothecenes causes inflammation of the gut lining and produce scouring, poor growth and is the main cause of ill thrift in lambs. Meanwhile, you think your lambs need another drench. Fusarium will produce zearonal, a sort of anabolic steroid in the meat and can cause rejection in overseas markets because they think a growth promotant has been used. Endophytes (fungi that live inside the plant) produce the mycotoxin lolitrem B, the major toxin responsible for ryegrass staggers. The long and the short of it is that these mycotoxins significantly reduce production, and you may not be aware of it. The surprising side effect of breeding for tolerance of only one

mycotoxin is that the increased resistance gives suppression to all of them. The good news I can give to you is that if you start using FEtolerant rams, many other effects of mycotoxins will also be lower. Ryegrass staggers, fusarium and zearalenone all diminish along with the worst aspects of FE. To top it off, because of the superior immune system in the sheep, viral pneumonia, the effects of internal parasites and other diseases will be less severe, and total production will rise sharply. Why everyone isn’t buying FEtolerant rams is totally beyond me.

• Edward Dinger is a well respected Coopworth breeder. Multiple Sheep Industry Awards winner. Edwards breeding career was dedicated to producing genetics with top performance and FE tolerance.

Improve Your Flock with Facial Eczema Tolerant & Worm Resistant Rams • Member of the ARDG Romney FE Genetics Group and one of the highest SIL FE and WormFEC indexed flocks in New Zealand • No compromise on production traits • Run under commercial hill country conditions in the Wairarapa • Full flock DNA tested that guarantees accurate breeding values

Cre8ive 9231

Arahura Sheep Genetics

Talk to Paul Crick & Dayanne Almeida

027 450 4085 | arahuragenetics@gmail.com

Marlow C O O P W O RT H S n Over 50 years of performance recording with full SIL figures available for all sale rams and over 2500 MW+M. n Marlow qualifies as a FE Gold stud with all sale rams sired by rams who passed nil at .6 n Marlow (712) sheep rank very high on the SILACE lists n All sale rams carcase scanned for eye muscle area n Guaranteed sound

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Steve Wyn-Harris • 06 855 8265 or 027 222 3284 swyn@xtra.co.nz • www.marlowcoopworths.co.nz Find us on Facebook - Marlow Genetics

Breeding Profitable Sheep

•

Facial eczema testing for over 30 years, so all you need to focus on are the traits that make you money.

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On-site 841 Waimai Valley Rd Thursday 4 November, 1pm and also by private treaty

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Thursday 14 October 10am – 4pm ALASTAIR REEVES +64 (0) 7 825 4925 waimairomney@gmail.com waimairomney.co.nz

you can trust James Parsons Ashgrove Coopworth 021 206 3208 Bob Steed ARDG Romney 09 433 2616 Kate Broadbent Nikau Coopworth 09 233 3230

www.fegold.co.nz Jenny & Adrian Savannah ARDG Romney 09 427 6393 John & Jan Marchant ARDG Romney 09 232 5613 William Jackson Piquet Hill Romney/ Maternal Composite 07 825 4480

Alastair Reeves Waimai Romney 07 825 4925

Craig Alexander ARDG Romney 07 888 1703

Keith Abbott Waiteika Romney 027 463 9859 Ken Haywood Puketotara Romney 07 877 8586

Carol & Tony Hodge Pikowai Coopworth 07 322 2067

Russell Proffit Raupuha Perendale/ Romdale 07 877 8977

Brett Teutenberg Hinenui Coopworth/ Romney/Romworth 027 446 3684

Travis Carter Kirikau Coopworth 07 895 3348

Sam & Gemma Hain Hain Romney 06 867 8097

Ross Richards Romani Coopworth 07 895 7144

Hamish Bibby Kelso X 027 777 6619 Paul Crick ARDG Romney 027 450 4085

Steve Wyn-Harris Marlow Coopworth 06 855 8265 www.fegold.co.nz GENETICS you can TRUST

Farmers Weekly August 23 2021

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Opinion

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