Farmers Weekly September 23 2019

3 Water plans can change

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Vol 18 No 37, September 23, 2019

farmersweekly.co.nz

They like you Luke Chivers luke.chivers@globalhq.co.nz

P

UBLIC perceptions of farming are more positive than farmers think, a survey shows.

“The strong theme we have heard from farmers in the past is that they do not feel wellliked by their urban counterparts.

However, when you poll the general population, this is simply not true,” UMR research executive director Marc Elliot says.

UMR surveyed more than 1000 people last month and found the response at odds with the view held by many in primary industries.

New Zealanders are almost five times as likely to hold a positive view of sheep and beef farming than a negative one, the research showed.

They are more than twice as likely to hold a positive view of dairy farming than a negative one.

Horticulture starred with 68% declaring a positive view and only 4% negative. Forestry also rated well with 56% positive and only 9% negative.

Just under half rate fisheries positively, 47% compared to 16% negative so those with a positive view outweighed the negative by almost three to one, Elliot said.

But he warned urbanites expect more from farmers and they know which side their bread is buttered on.

“One in five New Zealanders declaring a negative view of dairying is not insignificant and it shows that our primary sector has some work to do to improve its environmental performance.

“However, anyone who takes the time to look around our primary industries will see a lot of activity towards becoming more sustainable.”

They are more than twice as likely to hold a positive view of dairy farming than a negative one.

For example, land and environmental plans, retiring erosion-prone land into native reserves, fencing off and planting around rivers and streams, Elliot said.

“From working in this space over many years we have observed that New Zealanders on this topic are concerned, particularly about impacts on water quality.

“However, almost in the same breath, they acknowledge both the many jobs and the fantastic quality of food coming out of our primary industries that they directly benefit from.”

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said “Auckland, our

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We asked some townies for their views Generally, what’s your view of the primary sector?

Colart Miles, 45 Technology consultant, Auckland

Robert Read, 30 Stay-at-home father, Christchurch

“I have a neutral-to-negative view. What’s got us this far in our primary industries has generated a lot of value for our economy but it’s causing more problems than I think it solved. Issues like climate change and our shift toward becoming more natural and sustainable are growing in prominence and awareness and I certainly worry about these. The primary industries need to clean up their act.”

“I think it could be doing more to protect the environment but a lot of our economy has been built on the rural sector and I think if we lost that or put too much pressure on that and people weren’t willing to invest in it the entire country’s economy would start to fail. I see forestry and fisheries as the least damaging.

I think that’s just because we hear more about the damage done by the other sectors.”

Bethany Garland, 24 – Learning experience designer, Wellington

Edward McKnight, 26 Economist, Auckland

“I feel neutral about it. I have a couple of friends who have been doing a lot of research into the environmental effects of the dairy industry.

Originally, I was quite positive about it but their research has skewed my view. To be honest I don’t feel like I know enough about it. I’d like to know more.”

“I have a very positive view of the sector. I grew up in Taranaki and many of my friends were living on farms. I view dairy particularly favourably though recognising the environmental impact it has. But, generally, I’m very pro it because of the number of jobs it provides. Plus, New Zealand is world-leading in its ability to produce dairy, which is fantastic.”

Continued page 4

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NEWS

WEATHER OVERVIEW

7 Nitrogen limit worry unnecessary Farmers must take a step back from the rhetoric and emotion of the nitrogen in waterways debate world environmental management expert Professor Troy Baisden says.

Newsmaker ������������������������������������������������������26 New Thinking ��������������������������������������������������27 Opinion ������������������������������������������������������������28

Spring roars back to life this week as high pressure slowly moves away to our north allowing a windier, colder, wetter week ahead. On Tuesday a cold front moves up New Zealand and a developing low helps give it energy. Normally, around this time of year, cold fronts weaken as they head north but this one might produce heavier falls as it tracks northwards thanks to being partially fuelled by the sub-tropics. Wednesday and Thursday see peak cold reaching NZ as the south to southwest change blows through with snow on the ranges and temperatures tumbling by up to 10C. Remember it’s been several degrees warmer than average lately. By this weekend another high returns to the north with westerlies elsewhere.

NZX PASTURE GROWTH INDEX – Next 15 days

Pasture Growth Index Above normal Near normal Below normal

7-DAY TRENDS

Rain

Wind

A period of rain on Tuesday might see a few heavy falls here and there over the country, mainly central, western and northern areas. The rest of the week has showers, mostly affecting western and southern regions.

ON FARM STORY

Temperature This week kicks off warmer than average by several degrees with subtropical north to northwest winds then we have a several degrees temperature drop on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, so, many go back to normal.

It is milder by Friday and warmer this weekend.

Warm sub-tropical winds kick off this week but over Tuesday and Wednesday a cooler change moves northwards with windier southwesters dominating over Wednesday and Thursday and easing on Friday. This weekend westerlies blow through with high pressure to the north.

Highlights/ Extremes Monday: Sub-tropical weather in the north. Tuesday: Heavy rain in some central western areas. Wednesday and Thursday: Wintry again with snow in the Southern Alps and southern ranges and a temperature drop. This weekend: Milder again.

14-DAY OUTLOOK

The forecast now is excellent for pasture growth nationwide. While we are now seeing some drying out it is, generally speaking anyway, bang on normal for this time of year based on historical soil moisture maps. Nowhere is too extreme on the wet side or dry side and the much warmer than average weather recently, coupled with the burst of rain this week and more sunlight late week, bodes very well for positive growth.

SOIL MOISTURE INDEX

34 Partnerships build success

– 19/09/2019

Hard work, careful planning and a strong business focus helped George and Luce Williams win the 2019 Wairarapa Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year Award but, as the Tinui couple told Colin Williscroft, it’s been a team effort.

REGULARS Real Estate �������������������������������������������������36-45 Employment ����������������������������������������������46-47 Classifieds ��������������������������������������������������������47 Livestock ����������������������������������������������������48-51 Markets �������������������������������������������������������52-56 GlobalHQ is a farming family owned business that donates 1% of advertising revenue to the Rural Support Trust. Thanks to our Farmers Weekly and Dairy Farmer advertisers this week: $1112.

Need help now? You can talk to someone who understands the pressures of farming by phoning your local Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.

Source: WeatherWatch.co.nz

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Water rules are open to change The pressure mounts Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz PROPOSALS in the Action for Healthy Waterways document are just that – proposals open to change through consultation, Environment Minister David Parker says.

In a speech to the Water NZ conference he dampened down some of the criticism levelled at the Government since the document was released a week earlier, stressing its details are open to consultation.

Lower permitted levels for nitrogen contained in amendments to the National Policy Statement (NPS) are expected to be the most contentious issue and the most difficult to impose fairly and Parker says farming leaders were told the Government wants to consult on the details.

“To try and deal with that misapprehension we emphasised in the days following that we are consulting on whether the NPS dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) attribute should be different in lowland streams than higher rivers and lakes.”

The NPS begins taking effect from 2025 and is progressively

introduced over a generation.

“In other words, whatever bottom lines are ultimately adopted in the NPS, it will be up to councils, working with their communities, to decide the time frames for achieving them.”

But he was less accommodating on interim rules restricting land use change saying it is difficult to balance the need to reduce high nutrient discharges while enabling flexible land use activities with lower nutrient discharges.

“However, we can’t allow total discharges to increase in already over-allocated catchments in the meantime.”

Parker says it is untrue he and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor have not given farmers credit for environmental measures they have adopted and provided examples of how the ministers have acknowledged farmers’ efforts.

He described as a myth the claim the Government wants freshwater outcomes achieved within five years and that it has a goal of returning waterways to the pristine or pure state before urban centres or farming.

“We do, though, want them to be swimmable and to sustain aquatic communities.

“Many more of our rivers were that clean just a few decades ago.

It’s not an impossible task.”

Existing riparian fences less than 5m from a waterway will not have to be moved immediately.

“The proposals would allow existing fences that don’t comply to stay until 2025 or 2035

3

DON’T PANIC: Measures in the Government’s water proposals are open to consultation and change and the final rules will be phased in, Environment Minister David Parker says.

depending on how close they are to waterways.

“In addition, landowners may seek exemptions or an extension to the time frame.”

Parker says the costs of implementing National Environmental Standards have been done and officials are now calculating the impact and costs of the NPS. On criticism the six-week consultation time frame is too short Parker said it is similar to that used for submissions to select committees but also reflects the urgency of addressing declining water quality in many rivers.

The Government is responding to rural concern at the lack of action on improving urban water quality.

“We now are and we have, at the request of the rural sector, put some emphasis on that.”

The latest Environment Aotearoa report shows 70% of the total river length in pastoral farming areas has nitrogen levels harmful to aquatic species while erosion of pastoral land results in the loss of about 80 million tonnes of soil into waterways each year.

While only 1% of NZ rivers are in urban areas about 90% of river length is polluted including nitrogen levels that can harm sensitive aquatic species and is unsuitable for swimming because of the risk of infection by campylobacter.

Four Fonterra contenders so far PART one of the revamped Fonterra director election process for 2019 has delivered four candidates, two seeking reelection and two newcomers.

The independent assessment panel has put forward leading lawyer Cathy Quinn and South Island businessman Philipp Haas.

Incumbents Donna Smit and Andy Macfarlane also went through the assessment process and automatically go to the ballot.

The assessment panel, consisting of Tony Carter, Joan Withers and Rob Campbell, was authorised to recommend up to four candidates for the two board seats being contested.

A second phase of the election process provides for individuals to put themselves forward as non-assessed candidates, provided they have the support of 35 different shareholders.

That option is open until Friday, September 27, after which the full list of candidates will be announced.

First-past-the-post voting

HIGH-FLIER: Minter Ellison Rudd Watts senior partner Cathy Quinn, of Auckland, is a trustee for two Waikato dairy farms and will seek election as a Fonterra farmerdirector. papers will be mailed to eligible Fonterra shareholders on October 15 along with candidate biographies, platform statements and assessment results, if applicable.

In a contested election the two candidates with the highest numbers of votes will be elected.

The result will be announced on Tuesday, November 5.

Lamb survival is the secret Justin and Deanna McCarthy farm northwest of Taihape at Tiriraukawa. They run 2000 Wairere Romney ewes and 100 MA Angus cows.

“Ten years ago we were topping out with 120% lambing and no lambs prime off mum.

Today we expect 150 to 155% survival to sale, with a weaning weight in the early thirties and up to 800 POM. This is set up by a very low 12.5% wastage from scanning.

We are also mating our hoggets and lambing at 90% from mating with weaning weights similar to the MA ewes. All our ewes and hoggets are completely unshepherded.

The ability of our ewes to lose weight during lambing and lactation and then bounce back always surprises me, especially at weaning, when most are back at mating weight.”

“They are such good mothers I had to get pet lambs from the neighbour”.

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4

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Kiwis do back their farmers Continued from page 1 largest urban area, are bigger fans of dairy farming than anywhere else in the country.

“If you read below the headlines and hear more than just a comment from both urban and rural NZ there is a level of appreciation, if not a comprehensive understanding, of what happens on farm.”

Misconceived ideas of farming have at times stemmed from political beat-ups in the lead-up to elections.

“The rural sector can be used

What Kiwis really think • 55% of respondents hold a positive view of primary industries, compared to 12% with a negative one.

• Horticulture is seen in the best light with 68% positive and 4% negative.

• 56% hold a positive view of forestry and 9% negative.

• 54% hold a positive view of sheep and beef farming with 12% negative.

• 51% are positive to dairy farming while 20% are negative • People aged 18-29 and women are generally less positive.

• Those over 60 and men are generally more positive.

(as a scape goat) in convenient political opportunities.

“But in the end we have to live with the reality that we all live busy lives and often we don’t have time to understand fully how other people operate.”

The research isn’t going to change anyone’s mind but should reassure farmers there is a wide level of appreciation of farmers and growers across the entire country, he said.

Since the survey was done the industry has faced a hefty backlash over winter grazing practices in Southland and stood in the firing line over the Government’s freshwater reforms, openly pleading for an extension to the consultation period.

Still, the poll results wouldn’t have shifted by much, Federated Farmers president Katie Milne believes.

“Listening to radio in the past couple of weeks where farmers have put their hands up and said ‘we don’t know how much more we can take of this’, the outpouring of support from the general public has been absolutely stunning,” she said.

“There is support for farmers and the plight we’re going through and that it’s not easy to turn these things around.”

Southland sheep, beef and

dairy farmer Dean Rabbidge was pleasantly surprised by the findings.

“They make a bit of sense because, just like anything, the vocal minority against something tends to get a lot of coverage and a lot of publicity.”

“You don’t often hear in the mainstream (media) the positive thoughts and feelings towards farming. You only really hear about activist groups like Greenpeace, Fish and Game and Forest and Bird speaking out against us.

“You don’t often hear from Joe Public.”

In a recent television interview with BakerAg director Chris Garland said the Government’s approach to environmental policy is undermining the mental health and well-being of the pastoral sector where morale is low, farmers are feeling marginalised and say they are made out to be villains.

“It was a fantastic story but the only images shown were of all the negative stuff that farmers are getting a bad rap for,” Rabbidge said.

“Sure, they spoke about the good things but they didn’t show anything positive. Instead, they showed pictures of dirty water and cattle in unsatisfactory conditions.”

GOT YOUR BACK: Public support for farmers has been stunning, Federated Farmers president Katie Milne says.

But Southland farmers have made drastic improvements and nearly all comply with the Land and Water Plan set by Environment Southland, he said.

“Now we’re going to have to start paying massive compliance costs just to prove that we are (compliant).

It is going to have a dire impact on the environment, Rabbidge said.

“These regulations are going to cost me at least $20,000 in compliance costs. That’s what I’m spending annually fencing and planting riparian strips so if you knock that on the head we’re just

UNBALANCED: Southland sheep, beef and dairy farmer Dean Rabbidge says farmers don’t often hear from Joe Public so information is often misconstrued by urban news media.

going to have a negative outcome.

“Many farmers just don’t realise they’re already doing this environmental work and neither does the Government so we’ve just gotta keep doing what we’re doing and make a big song and dance about it.”

Milne said “Get your friends out on-farm and if anyone in the public doesn’t understand something about our industry then stop and chat to them about it.”

MORE:

Read the UMR report: umr.co.nz

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News

5

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Under-siege farmers must engage Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz SHEEP and beef farmers are under pressure on several regulatory fronts but still need to engage in the process, South Canterbury farming leader Mark Adams says.

“It’s really important that individual farmers get into this arena that they’re not comfortable in to convey their views and situations to the people making the decisions.

“Those people need to hear from farmers on the ground.”

There will be positive as well as negative impacts from the environmental change process, one positive being the use of carbon footprint audits to bring about production efficiencies so they can turn the exercise into a value proposition.”

Fairlie farmer Adams is a former South Canterbury Federated Farmers president who heads the Beef + Lamb environmental reference group as well as chairing his local water catchment group in the wider Opihi/Opua area.

“Farmers are overwhelmed and overly sensitive and they feel like they’re under siege.

“There’s just so much policy, science and economic detail to get their heads round,” he said.

“But if we’re not careful we could miss some key messages that we need to engage and

The pressure mounts

need to lift our game on the environment.”

He is, like all farmers, an owneroperator and when he is in the office reading policy papers and preparing submissions he isn’t on the farm working.

We are being measured on what was happening 15 years ago, not on what we’re doing now.

Mark Adams Farmer While he accepts the need for further improvement, he’s frustrated sheep and beef farmers are not being given credit for what they’ve already achieved.

“This needs to be acknowledged by the people making the rules.

“We are being measured on what was happening 15 years ago, not on what we’re doing now.”

Adams has just completed his submissions on ECan’s plan change 7 on land and water management – a big enough task on its own – and now has to start working through the national freshwater policy, thankful that at least there’s a two-week extension to the submission period.

He says there’s been a

LACKING: There’s no economic analysis to tell farmers how new policies will affect their businesses, South Canterbury farm leader Mark Adams says.

cumulative impact on farmers from the raft of regulatory changes – national, generational and sub-regional – over the last several years, topped off by Mycoplasma bovis and firearms legislation.

“I’m a farmer, not a policy person, so I have to read a policy several times to understand it and that is very time-consuming.

“Then writing a submission needs time as well to make sure it’s accurate or in case

you’re not pitching it right.”

While a lot of the change is interconnected, the processes aren’t, with each policy being quite defined.

“It’s important we engage but it comes at a cost to our businesses.

That’s not a complaint but a reality.”

A major problem is that the various policy statements have no economic analysis behind them, no information on the

impact on farm businesses.

“There’s no rigour on the economic side.

“We can do our own numbers but we’ve only got an idea of what they might be. We don’t know exactly so it’s like throwing darts at a dartboard.”

In that situation farmers were less likely to prepare submissions.

One aspect he’s sure of is that local and central governments need to encourage farmers to set up and run their own catchment groups, rather than imposing measures on them.

His Otop catchment group, broadly covering Opihi, Opua, Pareora and Temuka, is a topdown structure put in place under prescriptive rules by ECan. The result has been an anaemic outcome with very little innovation and farmer goodwill and that should be a lesson to the Government.

Though the group is a long way from where it should be Adams believes it will get there in time with a lot of work at community level.

Generational timing a spark of hope INDICATIONS the Government will allow a generation for freshwater improvement work to reach required levels gave hope to farmers in Timaru on Thursday night.

The devil will be in the detail but the comment from

Environment Minister David Parker pointed to a more realistic time frame and away from shortterm thinking, Fairlie farmer Mark Adams said after the meeting.

“If we can stop the degradation now and have 30 years or 25 to 30 years to get our water back to 1990s levels that’s very important and pragmatic.”

The longer time frame means

farmers can play round with it more and have discretion to tinker.

There will still be difficulties and there will be areas where there is no previous testing to show nitrate leaching had ever been below 1%, the target figure being used by the Government.

There will also still be differences between what

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politicians want and the outcomes farmers want, making it more important for farmers to make a formal written submission on the proposals.

“It’s the weight of submissions we need because they’re aggregated for and against and they don’t need to be substantial or complicated.

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how the proposals would impact your farm and convey to them the thinking behind what you’re saying.”

Adams said the industry took several generations to reach the water quality levels in place now so if this generation is going to take up the task to make improvements it needs to be given a realistic time frame.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

7

Nitrogen limit worry unnecessary FARMERS must take a step back from the rhetoric and emotion of the nitrogen in waterways debate, world environmental management expert Professor Troy Baisden says.

Baisden, a Waikato University lake and freshwater scientist, has experience studying major environmental issues across the globe including acid rain in the United States.

Early farmer meetings on the Government’s freshwater proposals package have raised concerns about setting dissolved nitrate level limits in waterways to 1 part per million.

Some catchments have been farming assuming they can work to limits of 6.9 ppm and concern has been raised about the ability of farms in those catchments to lower their nitrogen losses to meet the 1ppm limit.

Canterbury is one area experiencing the higher nitrogen levels in waterways.

Claims have been made by Federated Farmers an 80% reduction is required in nitrogen in parts of NZ. But Baisden is concerned the debate confuses and distorts discussion about how agriculture’s nitrogen loss affects waterways.

“The value of 6.9ppm in old frameworks was precise but nearly meaningless.

“It corresponded to nitrate levels actually killing organisms due to direct toxicity.

“The new focus is on the water system’s ecological health.

The pressure mounts “Too much nitrogen causes too much algal growth, somewhere between 0.5 and 1ppm, seen as slime in the water,” Baisden said.

However, the actual proportion of waterways exceeding 1ppm is relatively small, estimated at 10% outside the conservation estate.

“In many places, including Waikato River, nitrate levels are only just starting to exceed those ecological health levels and can still be brought back under control with good limit-setting.

That needs to be done before we see more rapid exceedances over toxicity level limits like those in areas converted to irrigated dairying in Canterbury.”

Farms in the ManawatuWanganui (Horizons) catchment are already required to farm well below the 1ppm level, with the dissolved nitrogen level set at 0.4ppm of nitrogen. Ruataniwha in Hawke’s Bay is set at 0.8ppm.

While 1ppm of nitrogen does not define a pristine waterway it provides a limit to preserve some of the resident macro-invertebrate and fish populations.

A pristine waterway is defined in N terms as one that has levels of 0.2ppm.

“So, that dissolved nitrogen level of 1ppm leaves some room for leniency.”

Veg still a barrier for wool buyers PRICES were slightly mixed but steady at Thursday’s Napier wool sale.

The problem continues to be high vegetable matter in the fleece, PGG Wrightson North Island auctioneer Steve Fussell said.

It has become a real concern, affected fleece is being discounted and oddments are hard to sell.

In contrast, better oddment

wools sold to good demand. The pass-in rate was about 24%.

Sales, all by micron level, price/kg clean: Full wool, good to average: 32, $3.68; 35, $3.20, up 3c, 38, $2.65. Crossbred second shear: 33, 3-to-4 inches, $2.84; 37, 3-to-4 inches, $2.73, down 7c; 2-to-3 inches, $2.50; 39, 3-to-5 inches, $2.65; 3-to-4 inches, $2.73; 2-to-3 inches, $2.55, up 7c.

– Alan Williams

CALM DOWN: Professor Troy Baisden says many farming catchments are already below the one part per million nitrogen level.

Freshwater campaigner and agricultural science graduate Marnie Prickett said nitrogen won’t be the main focus in some farming catchments.

“It could be for some catchments where drystock farming is more common then it may be sediment that becomes their focus. The majority of the country is already below that 1ppm.”

She is concerned misinformation and emotion around one number in the proposals is causing farmers unnecessary stress.

“Nitrogen reduction is still likely to be a goal for some communities with catchments under 1ppm of nitrogen because their water quality is already good and they cannot degrade it further or they want it to be better.”

Massey University freshwater ecologist Professor Russell Death

Will Jackson Piquet Hill Farms, Te Akau

Will Jackson Phone 07 825 4480 william@piquethillfarms.co.nz 0

said he was frustrated in his attempt to explain the nitrogen limits to farmers at the Palmerston North meeting on the proposals.

“The fact is that anyone there farming in the Horizons catchment is already required to farm at a nitrogen limit lower than 1ppm, actually at 0.4ppm as set under the regional plan.

“I did try to explain this but they did not really seem to want to listen.”

The technical advisory group he was on advising the Government about the limits in the proposals had faced strong pressure from farming leaders to focus more, not less, on nitrogen limits than it already had.

“We were wanting to put in levels for fish and bugs and so on and they really pushed hard on us as scientists to set nitrogen limits.”

Both Death and Baisden said the proposals are valuable

The fact is that anyone there farming in the Horizons catchment is already required to farm at a nitrogen limit lower than 1ppm, actually at 0.4ppm as set under the regional plan.

Professor Russell Death Massey University marketing tools for NZ’s food exports, where overseas markets expect standards to be clear around water quality.

“Australia have them, the United States have them, we need to have them as well,” Death said.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Truss fails to soothe exporters Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com EXPORTERS are not buying the suggestion from new British Trade Minister Liz Truss that quota access falling as a result of Brexit can be fixed up again in subsequent talks with the United Kingdom for a free-trade deal.

Truss was in Wellington for talks with Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker.

The free-trade agreement that we are poised to start negotiating will see a better deal for both the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Liz Truss British Trade Minister The pair discussed a timetable for free-trade negotiations following the UK’s scheduled split from the European Union at the end of next month.

Truss said NZ, Australia, the

United States and Japan are first cabs off the rank for a free-trade deal with the UK once it leaves the EU. Also on the agenda were plans to carve up quotas for third countries selling to the EU after the UK departs.

Truss told media before her talks with Parker the plans are fair.

“That is currently under discussion under Article 28 of the WTO. “Those discussions will take place but I think that the freetrade agreement that we are poised to start negotiating will see a better deal for both the UK and NZ and I’m very keen to progress talks on that.”

But exporters say the plans to split the quotas based on historical trade flows are unfair.

For the meat industry it will cost NZ exporters their flexibility to send up to the quota limit of 228,000 tonnes of sheep meat to either the UK or continental Europe without incurring tariffs.

Instead they will be allowed to send only 114,000 tonnes to either market before incurring high tariffs.

The split in the quota is based on exports to the EU from NZ between 2013 and 2015 but has not been agreed by NZ.

TRUST ME: British Trade Minister Liz Truss says export quota New Zealand losses because of Brexit can be regained in a freetrade deal.

Beef + Lamb policy and advocacy general manager Dave Harrison opposed Truss’s suggestion quota lost after Brexit could be restored in a free-trade agreement.

“We do see there are opportunities through the FTA but making good past wrongs is not something for the FTA … that should be about improving access not trying to restore access that is taken away.”

For the dairy industry the split will mean 63% of NZ’s 74,000 tonnes EU butter quota allocated

to continental Europe based on the proportion of butter sent to continental ports between 2013 and 2015.

The industry has previously argued the trade statistics used overstate the amount of NZ butter consumed in continental Europe.

That’s because significant amounts landed in the Dutch port of Rotterdam were then shipped on to British customers.

Fonterra’s global stakeholder affairs director Simon Tucker said NZ won existing quota in previous

trade negotiations by giving up access in other areas.

“I do not think any of us buy the idea that we should have to pay to address this issue through the FTA negotiating process given that this is a unilateral diminution of our existing rights.

“We have already paid for them once through the Uruguay round.

We don’t have to pay for them again.”

A spokesman for Parker said quotas were discussed with Truss but no progress was made in resolving the disagreement.

Plenty of California eyes on Taste Pure Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz MOST California people tuning in to Beef + Lamb’s Taste Pure Nature promotional video are watching it to the end.

The figure of just over 50% is double the industry average and exciting progress, Red Meat Project global manager Michael Wan said.

In six months more than five million views were counted.

Anecdotal evidence is the combination of the video, extensive digital advertising, social media and use of influencers to boost in-store promotions are proving useful for the brand partners, though actual sale details aren’t available, Wan said.

There have been 63m impressions of the advertising on computer and mobile screens– that is the number of times it has appeared on a screen.

B+LNZ is targeting an estimated market of up to 16m Californians it identifies as conscious foodies.

In ongoing consumer surveys more than a quarter of respondents recognise the campaign, 24% when an advertisement is shown to them and 3% without prompting.

Wan said 77% of them recognise it as a NZ campaign and take in the key messages of grass-fed, extensive pasture-raised sheep

and cattle. The number saying a brand is highly relevant for them is 67% and more than half of those people said they are likely to consider or buy a New Zealand product if they see it in a store.

They are positive readings, given the project started from nothing in March this when a survey indicated very low awareness of NZ as a supplier of high-quality red meat, he said.

There have also been 180,000 sessions on the group’s United States website.

“It tells us our messaging and targeting are accurate and bangon where they need to be.”

B+LNZ’s brand partners include the NZ Lamb Co and its shareholders, Alliance, Silver Fern Farms, Anzco and smaller, niche exporters Atkins Ranch, First Light, Angus Pure and Coastal Spring Lamb.

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10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Big shortage of farm planners The pressure mounts Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz A DIRE shortage of assessors capable of completing farm environment plans looms under the Government’s proposed freshwater quality standards.

Institute of Primary Industry Management estimates are at least 150 skilled farm environment planners will be required in coming years as the plans become mandatory.

There are 28,000 properties nationally that will require a plan, institute chief executive Stephen Macaulay said.

“And once you break it down there are anywhere between 150200 farm environment planners

needed to get through that work and they are just not out there.”

His estimate is on the conservative side, given it assumes the planners will be engaged full time in writing plans, something that is unlikely.

So there will have to be a significant shift in numbers over the next two to five years for any effective implementation of plans.

He believes there might be 40-50 people in the field today capable of writing plans.

However, there is no formal farm environment plant qualification. One is being established in conjunction with the Government.

“But those people are doing farm environment plans as part of their overall business. It is not their sole business so there’s a definite gap out there.”

A recent Local Government New Zealand report on the implications estimates Southland alone will need another 34 employees capable of doing plans and 26 more staff will be needed to deliver back office and

administrative support.

That number will peak in 2024 when 1440 plans will have to be completed.

Costs per farm are estimated at about $5200 and plans will take at least two days to do.

Those figures were based on Bay of Plenty Regional Council experience in the Rotorua catchment, where seven staff can do 300 plans a year, about one staff member per 40 farms.

Auditing the Southland plans every three years is estimated to cost $3700 a pop.

But Macaulay said the shortage will be even more dire when allowing for the auditors required to assess farm compliance.

“If you look across 28,000 farms an audit could take two days to do.

We estimate you would need 120 auditors on top of the planners to do that job.”

Auditing the plans will require suitable staff to not only have an understanding of farm systems but to have also completed an internationally recognised auditing assessment.

And it remains unclear whether the auditors will be employed directly by regional councils or be contracted.

Environment Canterbury uses accredited independent auditors for its farm plans.

Even in the absence of a formal qualification the planners still face some stringent requirements.

After completing a degree in an aspect of agriculture and with three years’ experience in the industry they are required to complete Massey University’s advanced nutrient management course followed by assessment in the field of their core competency then pass a final exam.

Macaulay said doing plans might give young graduates a foot in the agri sector door.

“They might start in terms of getting a portfolio established of plans and from there it becomes an opportunity to build a career in a rural profession.”

It is possible farmers who share a catchments or even irrigation scheme might get together in working groups to write plans.

NOT THERE: Institute of Primary Industry Management chief executive Stephen Macaulay says there is a dire shortage of skilled staff to compile farm environment plans.

However, when consents to farm are required things get complicated and might require other experts like freshwater ecologists to be involved.

The LGNZ report said the shortage of staff in the early stages might result in price hikes for plans, placing a burden on farming communities.

No surprise in water proposals for deer Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz THE deer industry has for several years been encouraging its farmers to not only do farm environment plans but to keep them up to date.

In light of the Government’s latest freshwater proposals the industry is now alerting farmers to prepare for change.

Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) is evaluating the Government’s freshwater policy proposals in preparation for making a considered response.

Chief executive Dan Coup says the proposals have not come as a surprise.

DINZ and the Deer Farmers Association have for several years been encouraging farmers to do a farm environment plans and

regularly review how they are tracking.

“These plans are almost certain to become compulsory in all regions so, if you haven’t done one, it’s a good time to get your head around what’s involved.

“That said, it’s important to bear in mind that the FEPs that the Government wants in place on all farms by 2025 are likely to include new requirements that we don’t yet know about,” Coup said.

“As with all plans, environmental plans will change over time in response to new knowledge, farmer experience, regulations and council rules.”

DINZ Passion 2 Profit (P2P) manager Innes Moffat said the industry is well prepared to help farmers with FEPs to meet required and pending environmental regulations.

It includes DINZ working with regional councils on a one-toone approach to get specific understanding of individual regional regulations.

That arms DINZ with the information needed to work with and fully inform farmers.

The industry is six months into its new Deer Industry Environment Groups (DIEGs) programme led by DINZ environment manager Lindsay Fung.

The DIEGs work as an extension of the industry’s already established Advanced Parties set up to be a catalyst for change by demonstrating new or different deer farming methods or technologies to inspire change for increased profit.

Moffat said DIEGs are groups of five to eight farmers who get together in a catchment area.

The groups appoint an environment consultant to facilitate and support farmers doing FEPs. “There’s no specific template.

More importantly, it is about putting some changes in place using collective wisdom of the group with the specific skills of an environmental consultant.

“Knowing what needs to be done to meet regional council requirements in a farmer-friendly directed way is getting a good response from farmer groups,” Moffat said.

So far 13 farmer environment groups have been established, taking in 80 farmers mainly in Canterbury, Southland, Hawke’s Bay and Waikato.

It’s planned to put together about another six groups.

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Moffat said the industry is not seeking to duplicate what other organisations might be doing.

“We are seeking to extend a model we have developed through the Advance Parties and this is not necessarily just for deer farmers. It could also be followed by other livestock farmers and catchment groups.”

Moffat said it’s important solutions are farmer-led for better environmental management rather than being blanket regulation imposed on farmers.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

11

Farm environment plans need skill Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz GETTING the right people to complete the right sort of farm environment plan is going to be a challenge, Total Ag farm consultant Rob Macnab says.

If not done properly they could threaten farm profitability and environmental success.

The plans are a requirement in the Government’s freshwater proposals.

Macnab, who compiles plant for Waikato farmers, has run 65 workshops for more than 600 farmers on how to formulate a plan. He also works one on one with farmer clients.

He believes the Government’s latest water quality proposals hold no great surprises for Waikato farmers but he is conscious the regulations will cause some stress.

And that can be heightened if the plans are not based on a well-founded knowledge of farm systems.

“The greatest changes and often the most profitable will be made by knowing what the lowhanging fruit are in the existing farm system and being able to adapt that in a way farmers can understand.”

He has already had to redo a plan done by a consultant because

The pressure mounts it was too heavily based on theory with little practical application.

“Any plan requiring major capital expenditure and technology input is unlikely to be effective. Over 80% of progress will be made just by making relatively simple changes to the farming methods used.”

He doubts there is anywhere near the 200-plus people needed for the plans available in New Zealand with the skills to provide them.

“And you risk seeing the entire thing being dumbed down, becoming a tick-box exercise, so in 10 years’ time we look back and say ‘the FEPs, they did not work.’

“It will because we never had the right people doing them in the first place.

“I worry they will just shove through the numbers they need.”

He points to the ManawatuWanganui (Horizons) sustainable land use initiative in Manawatu.

“It was a fantastic initiative but was so technical and disconnected

from farmers it was hard to get them to engage with it.”

In contrast, one of the best examples of successful plan implementation comes deer Deer Industry NZ’s workshop groups, the Advance Parties.

“They have tight clusters of seven to eight farmers and it takes them through the FEP process over four-five days.

“It is staggering how good these plans are.”

The greatest changes and often the most profitable will be made by knowing what the low-hanging fruit are in the existing farm system.

Rob Macnab Total Ag The workshops have helped keep the cost of FEPs down to about $1500 a farm, with farmers doing most of the work.

Those done one on one can cost $5000 to $7500 and costs of about $200 an hour can arise.

AgFirst director James Allen agrees FEP skills are another level above relatively simple nutrient budgeting skills, often held by fertiliser company reps and farm advisers.

They usually involve using Overseer to develop fertiliser plans and determine nutrient runoff from farms.

Allen is on the Nutrient Management Adviser Certification Programme and estimates there are about 200 certified members in NZ. “But when it comes to FEPs we are talking another set of skills around farm systems.

“But we may find some of these people do become a source for FEP planners.”

Waikato Regional Council will allow programme members to set farm nitrogen limits under Healthy Rivers but requires another level of skills to complete environment plans.

“The issue will be the timeframe to roll out FEPs and the number of people on hand to do them. For companies like ours, though, the issue is if you put several people on FEPs who will do the other work they are no longer doing?”

He is getting a reasonable number of very capable agricultural graduates applying for work, many with a strong

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“Overall, I think we will be all right but things may not move as quick as some may like.”

Macnab welcomed the Government funding in the last Budget to help farmers transition, including FEP development.

“But farmers have to be part of the process to allocate that money otherwise it will be swallowed up by bureaucrats and consultants,” he said.

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12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Big policies have local impact Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz RURAL voters in local body elections should expect candidates to demand greater co-operation from central government, given the demands coming to regional and local councils.

Ex-Western Bay of Plenty mayor and farmer Ross Paterson has farm businesses in Waikato and Western Bay of Plenty.

There is a need for more

Regionally you cannot ignore these important roads for access to the likes of the port.

Ross Paterson Farmer central government help for local authorities to fulfill the infrastructure, housing and environment demands on them.

“And the efforts need to be the total package rather than a

piecemeal approach where one area of concern may be dealt with but another is ignored.”

A typical example in Western Bay of Plenty is the special housing zone at Omokoroa, 25km north of Tauranga.

While helping with the intensive development of a small town into a satellite of Tauranga city the Government left the region short by failing to also fund the proposed new highway from Tauranga to Katikati.

When Paterson stepped down as mayor two years ago that road had been given priority and was ready to go, only to be halted by the new Government’s curtailed roading spend.

“Regionally, you cannot ignore these important roads for access to the likes of the port. If these are not funded for 10 years you will have a massive catch-up to do in coming years.”

At a local level the Western Bay District Council has had to spend over $300 million in the past 10 years to try to keep local roads up to scratch amid strong population growth.

With the Government issuing policy statements and national standards on water and climate

Local body elections 2019 change, regional councils will also need to work closely with rural communities affected by such demands.

“This is a pretty dogmatic approach central government is taking. They are big hurdles to jump.”

He is also conscious of Western Bay of Plenty being rated the second most expensive in the country for rates.

“But you have to remember that 10-15 years ago the region’s drinking water standards were rated an F for quality and distribution. Today that is a B but after three out of five towns had to be upgraded due to E coli levels in water.

“That work’s done, at least it means the region has almost paid it off just as central government starts to require it around the country in other council districts.”

Further east in the Opotiki District retiring long-term Mayor John Forbes is impressed with the number of younger candidates starting to step up for local body politics.

“It has traditionally always been gray haired old guys but that is changing. I think we are seeing more young people who value community and community facilities coming on board. It’s a good thing. It means they have time to learn the ropes of local government and be able to step up to something like a mayoral role and have five-10 years in it without being too old.”

A personal frustration in the mayoral role has been the attitude of central government employees, rather than ministers themselves, who take a do-as-we-say approach to local councillors.

Looking into the future he is concerned some of the national policy statements coming out of central government might have reach that extends too far. The drinking water standards policy due out soon is one example.

“One big problem for councils will be having the people with the skill to monitor these standards.

They simply are not out there.”

GROWTH: Grappling with strong growth has been a big challenge for Western Bay of Plenty, ex-mayor Ross Paterson says.

On the upside he is optimistic about the future for eastern Bay of Plenty, thanks in part to the success of SunGold kiwifruit.

“As a council we have been able to provide rating relief to iwi to enable them to free up capital to set up these orchards.”

The region’s long-awaited open ocean mussel farm is also proving to have had a good start, getting a recent $20 million boost through the Provincial Growth Fund.

Concerns will drive high turnout Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz

WARY: Waikato farmers are likely to be drawn to ballot boxes thanks to national policies impacting locally, farmer Peter Buckley says.

FARMERS in Waikato are likely to turn out in higher numbers than usual for local body elections this year, in part thanks to the welter of policy changes coming down the track to farm businesses.

Farmer and former Waikato Regional Council chairman Peter Buckley is getting increasing feedback from farmers concerned about the costs and profit impacts of water and climate change policies.

For Waikato the impact is more distinct than for some regions, given Plan Change One Healthy Rivers was formulated, notified and now in the submission phase.

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“And for farmers in the Hauraki District it is concern over what is coming.”

Hauraki is not included in Plan Change One but the recently released freshwater standards cite the Piako and Waihou Rivers as two requiring immediate attention to reduce nitrogen levels. That is also causing more farmer concern.

Buckley is encouraged regional council chief executive Vaughan Payne is making the right noises about the need to balance economic values against water quality goals.

“The question in many farmers’ minds will be ‘are they batting hard enough for us?’”

Concerns are also strong about the costs water compliance will

put on regional councils and ratepayers.

“When I left office there were 400 staff at WRC. That has gone up to 580 and estimates are they will need 2000 staff, largely involved in consenting and compliance.

“These national policy statements are creating a big bureaucracy.”

Plan Change One will require compliance staff to cover 10,500 farms before Hauraki is even included.

Buckley said there are also concerns among rural communities about how much the council will spend on the proposed Hamilton-Auckland commuter rail link and the wisdom of it.

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Concerns were also there about roads, many coming to the end of their 50-year life.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

13

League tables highlight high rates Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz WESTERN Bay of Plenty District has the dubious honour of being the second most expensive place in the country for rates, behind only Auckland Council.

The latest rating league table for 2017-18 published by the Taxpayers Union provides an insight to council performance and costs to ratepayers across the country.

Western Bay of Plenty ratepayers are billed an average of $3192 for residential rates, just ahead of Carterton, Manawatu and Tasman, all averaging more than $3000 a year.

The report, now in its third consecutive year, also shows Western Bay of Plenty is the only council in the country to fail to

have a separate audit and risk committee.

Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke said the results come at a useful time as ratepayers start to consider voting in the local body elections.

“We have already seen residents in the Carterton District Council area put together a rates resistance group, centred around the figures in the league tables,” he said.

A meeting in Carterton in August attracted 350 concerned ratepayers giving councillors a hostile reception as they tried to defend their rates.

Houlbrooke said the league table researchers found there is a tendency for mission creep where rates increase to fund a project but fail to drop back again once the project is completed and paid for.

But Western Bay of Plenty

Mayor Garry Webber said the council’s high rates partly reflect a district with five separate wastewater plants and their associated costs.

Four have required upgrading in the past decade alongside $300 million of spending on roads to help meet population growth of 34% in a decade.

“We are actually well ahead of most councils now in terms of water supply quality while they are only just starting to face up to the costs heading their way for water quality improvements.”

He also defended the absence of an audit and risk committee.

“We have taken audit and risk up to be an agenda item for full council at every meeting. We have a full review every six weeks, every quarter has a full review of our risk profile and once a year KPMG does a peer review of audit and

We have gone far above what the Taxpayers Union challenge us on.

Garry Webber Western Bay of Plenty District Council risk. We have gone far above what the Taxpayers Union challenge us on.”

Meantime, four rural councils have the lowest rates in the country, with Southland, Mackenzie, Grey and Ashburton averaging $1700-$1850 a property.

Figures were not supplied for Westland, Waikato or Buller districts.

EXPENSIVE: Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber defends his council’s rates.

Rural areas lead way in economic performance Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz SMALLER regions lead the way nationally in the latest threemonthly scorecard of economic activity monitored and published

by ASB Bank analysts.

Gisborne, like Northland, has been on an excellent run with its diverse mix of export industries.

While not specifically included on the scorecard, good primary product prices are behind the enhanced economic activity of the smaller regions like Gisborne, Taranaki and Northland.

Six of the top 10 positions were filled by outlying regions of the country, having improved their rankings in the June quarter when compared with the March quarter.

Gisborne region was in first place, up two places, Northland was third, having jumped a massive 10 places, Taranaki was fourth, up five, while Hawke’s Bay and Southland were fifth-equal.

Among the urban regions Wellington was second, Auckland 10th-equal and Canterbury 13th.

The ASB Regional Economic Scorecard is based on measures such as employment, construction, retail trade, housing permits, property prices and new car sales.

Gisborne topped the nation for house sales and house price growth, with 13.2% for the year ended June 30, and led the way with growth in retail sales of 8.7%.

“Gisborne, like Northland, has been on an excellent run with its diverse mix of export industries.

The one storm cloud on the horizon is the recent weakening of log prices,” ASB economists commented.

Northland topped the country in guest nights and new car sales, underpinned by what ASB said are well-performing forestry,

LOOKING GOOD: Taranaki is seeing growth in employment, housing consents and milk prices.

horticulture and beef industries.

Taranaki looks good in employment growth, housing consents and milk prices.

ASB summed up the scorecard

by saying annual residential consents were the highest numbers since the mid 1970s and non-residential consents values also hit a new record.

“Capacity constraints suggest construction activity is close to topping out with the large pipeline of work expected to prolong the boom,” ASB said.

0098657

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Shareholders, suppliers and those interested in the co-operative are warmly invited to the 2019 Alliance Group Roadshows

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ALLIANCE GROUP ROADSHOWS September / October 2019

Please join our directors and management for an update on the co-operative’s performance, progress on our strategy, our exciting plans for the future and the outlook for the year ahead.

D I ST R I C T

DAT E

TIME

VENUE

Feilding

Monday 30 September

1.30pm

The Strong Room

Whanganui

Monday 30 September

7.30pm

Collegiate Motor Inn

Dannevirke

Tuesday 1 October

1.30pm

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

Dannevirke Services & Citizens Club

Bridge Pa

Tuesday 1 October

7.30pm

Hawkes Bay Golf Club

Masterton

Wednesday 2 October

1.30pm

Masterton Club

If you know anyone else who is interested in the co-operative, please encourage them to attend.

For further roadshow locations, visit alliance.co.nz

News

14 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Growers see red over picker delay

“

least 100 RSE workers this year.

“But the time delays already mean that things are too late.

“It takes a month to allocate workers by area and until the end of February before you get them.

“It’s just too late and I have been singing this song for three years.”

Northland vegetable grower and RSE instigator Brett Heap said Horticulture New Zealand’s ambitious target of $10 billion by 2020 has real issues around staff for harvest.

“I have land that I won’t develop and have left in pasture because I have serious doubts about being able to harvest whatever I grow on it.”

We ended up with 250 tonnes of strawberry crop rotting in the ground because we did not have enough staff to pick it.

Francie Perry Perrys Berrys

Perry said while the immediate shortage caused by LeesGalloway’s delay will be felt by growers like her it will extend to later harvesting sectors quickly.

Lees-Galloway has said a decision on RSE numbers and allocation would be made shortly.

However, the meat industry hopes to have enough staff to run plants at capacity and fully process all products in the new season, starting on October 1.

The Government has invited the Meat Industry Association to negotiate a sector immigration agreement.

“Labour shortages have been an ongoing issue for the meat

”

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processing sector, which affect our ability to run our plants to the desired capacity and fully process all products,” chief executive Tim Ritchie said.

“That deprives processors and farmers of revenue and rural communities of income.”

The sector is committed to training and employing New Zealanders first and works closely with the Ministry of Social Development and regional agencies to recruit locals.

“However, we still struggle to fill roles from NZ’s rural communities and the meat processing sector is approximately 2000 employees short at present. That’s about 8% of our workforce.

“To fill this immediate gap we must recruit people from overseas.”

A sector agreement is likely to include how the meat industry will attract New Zealanders, improve productivity, offer training and continue to uphold employment standards, Ritchie said.

“The meat processing sector, with 25,000 people, is NZ’s largest food manufacturer, offering modern technology, training, career progression and competitive wages.

“Meat processors are mainly based in the regions so residential accommodation is available for people coming from overseas.

“Enabling meat processors to operate at full capacity for the season will provide additional money to the communities in which they operate.”

Employing people from overseas is typically more expensive than employing New

WASTED: Perrys Berrys had to let 250 tonnes of strawberries rot last year because of a shortage of pickers that is being repeated this year.

Zealanders with costs including visa support, travel and pastoral care, he said.

“The MIA has advocated for some time for a tailored scheme for the sector to help meet the employee shortfall.

“It is vital our members have

a labour framework and policies which provide flexibility and agility so the sector can respond to the challenges such as unpredictable livestock supply and weather conditions and the opportunities of the dynamic markets we serve.

Firm milk price still expected Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

LK0099109©

GOVERNMENT announcements on immigration worker changes have left crop growers firmly in the cold as harvest looms but have pleased other agricultural sectors.

The has been no resolution to Recognised Seasonal Employer worker shortages that left crops rotting in paddocks last year.

But the meat industry has welcomed the move as eliminating its 2000 worker deficit and allowing plants to run at full capacity.

A new employer-assisted temporary work visa process aims to make employing staff from overseas simpler and quicker.

But Perrys Berrys owner Francie Perry said the scheme does little to help early harvest horticultural growers, many facing the new harvest season well short of the workers they need.

She has led a plea to Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway after months of being frustrated by his failure to state how many more RSE workers the sector will get this year.

“Last year we asked for 85 workers and we only got 20 out of the 1200 people we employ.

“We ended up with 250 tonnes of strawberry crop rotting in the ground because we did not have enough staff to pick it.

“We have been trying for months this year to find out what the cap number for workers will be, originally being told it would be July, then August and now September and we are harvesting already.”

Last harvest season the Government granted access for 12,850 RSE workers.

But calls have been growing for significant increases as the horticulture sector grapples with growth in almost all regions of the country.

Perry said she invested heavily in accommodation for staff, anticipating she would need at

FONTERRA should be able to narrow its farmgate milk price forecast range for the 2020 season around a healthy $7/kg milksolids if the latest Global Dairy Trade results are a guide.

An updated forecast will be provided along with the 2019 annual results on Thursday, September 26.

The GDT market index rose 2% on September 18 and the all-important whole milk powder category rose 1.9% overall to sit at US$3133/ tonne.

Most analysts agree $3000plus WMP prices should deliver a $7 milk price.

NZX analyst Robert Gibson said the GDT auction results and subsequent movements on the dairy futures exchange boosted his milk price model by 23c to $7.04.

The spot price prediction rose 14c to $7.63, which is an extension of the latest GDT price over the whole season at the current exchange rate.

The September 2020 milk price futures contract rose 2c to $6.82.

ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny said the GDT result underpins his milk price forecast of $7 though it is still early in the season.

Chinese demand is resilient despite the trade war with the United States and the ASB expects dairy markets will remain relatively stable this season despite global headwinds.

“The Chinese household sector is growing faster than the rest of the Chinese economy while food purchases, including for most dairy products, are less susceptible to general

economic slowdowns,” he said.

Westpac analyst Imre Speizer said all major dairy products recorded price gains in the GDT with skim milk powder up 3.4%, butter up 2.7% and anhydrous milk fat up 0.6%, along with the WMP gain.

North Asian buyers, mainly Chinese, accounted for more than half of the sales.

“We continue to expect a further loss in momentum in China’s economy into yearend, which should constrain demand somewhat.

“However, over the longer term its pro-active responses to recent adversities via monetary policy stimulus, export diversification and efficiency gains should pay dividends.”

Speizer confirmed the morepessimistic Westpac forecast at $6.50.

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News

16 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Electric boiler to cut emissions Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz SYNLAIT Milk’s emissions savings after 10 years of its electrode boiler at the Dunsandel plant will be equivalent of emissions from 9600 houses.

The change is part of the company’s ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas inventory, both in its own activity and the onfarm emissions of its farmers.

Off-farm it wants to reduce total greenhouse gas per kilo of product by 50% by 2028 from the 201718 base measurement of 1.13kg carbon dioxide equivalent.

On-farm the target is a 35% reduction from the base figure of 11.87kg of carbon dioxide equivalent a kilo of milksolids.

Synlait has provided all its supply farmers with their gas emissions profile since the 2017-18 season. A new incentive for reducing gas levels has been included in the company’s Lead With Pride farm assurance programme.

Farm emissions make up 83% of total group emissions.

Synlait’s own contribution of 17% gives it large emitter status because of its energy-intensive manufacturing processes.

Its new strategy is aimed at having a net-positive impact on the planet, with commitments on-and-off farm to eliminate water degradation, remove waste and improve animal and ecosystem welfare as well as the gas reductions.

The overarching goal is to work alongside farmers to boost farming systems towards being regenerative, Synlait says in the latest annual report.

Taking action on the climate crisis is an absolute necessity.

The boiler installed for process heat in the new advanced liquid dairy packing system at Dunsandel is the first at the plant to be powered by electricity. The others are coal-powered but the

CLEANER: Synlait has put in an electrode boiler to heat the new drier at Dunsandel.

Taking action on the climate crisis is an absolute necessity.

Synlait company says it plans to move away from coal.

Synlait has estimated total on and off-farm emissions in 2018 were 912,731 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Most, 755,583/t, were produced on-farm and included 119,758/t of carbon dioxide, 442,268/t carbon dioxide equivalent of methane, and 193,559/t carbon dioxide equivalent of nitrous oxide.

The off-farm count was dominated by 108,301/t from coal

use, 30,162/t from sea freight and 6923/t from electricity.

The report said New Zealanders have rightly become increasingly concerned about the degradation of waterways.

Synlait is determining baseline figures for its water use and having them independently reviewed. The goal is a 20% reduction in water use per kilo of milksolids by 2028 and a 45% reduction in nitrogen loss to waterways.

Synlait is providing farmers with access to environmental advisers for guidance on how they can be achieved through changed irrigation practices, modernising equipment and soil, fertiliser and feed management.

Off-farm, the goal is also a 20% reduction in water use by 2028 and a 20% improvement in the quality of waster water. More meters are being installed at Dunsandel for

precise water-use monitoring.

Process heat, energy in the form of steam or hot water, is used to turn fresh milk into powder and to pasteurise and sterilise milk at Dunsandel.

With the electrode boiler electricity flows through electrodes submerged in water, releasing steam as contact with liquid is made. It is very energy-efficient at scale and is on-demand, in that water can be heated from cold in five minutes or from standby in about one minute. The report said the electrode boiler is 99%-efficient and up to 30% more efficient than coal boilers.

The infrastructure and running costs are significantly higher than coal but the business case assumes an increased cost for carbon over the next 10 years.

It is the electrode boiler’s carbon

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savings over that period that are estimated to roughly match the output from those 9600 houses.

The report said Synlait is also planning to improve the outside environment through whakapuawai – meaning to blossom, develop, flourish, prosper or thrive.

About 15ha of grazing land behind the Dunsandel factory will be planted in native trees and shrubs in a development to include walking tracks and wetlands.

Synlait is working with farmers to identify on-farm areas that will benefit from regeneration projects.

It is also forming partnerships to restore community areas.

One of the projects is likely to be Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) with extensive planting and wetland development planned at Cooper’s Lagoon.

News

DAIRY Farms New Zealand is being encouraged to pursue an initial public offering as controls on land sales depress farm prices but also restrict the firm’s ability to raise funds from foreign investors.

The company, which counts United States billionaire Sam Zell as a cornerstone investor, was set up in 2014 as a direct investor in dairy farms and has seven properties with a peak milking herd of 6187 cows.

It has always flagged an IPO as the eventual goal and chairman David Belcher noted in the company’s annual report the board’s frustration at the slower-than-expected progress.

The company’s management team has reviewed more than 100 farms as potential acquisitions and identified groups in Waikato and Southland as fitting its portfolio, Belcher said.

Dairy Farms had planned to raise capital in the first quarter of 2019 but that fell through when one of the parties involved in the proposed transaction effectively withdrew by making an unacceptable offer.

In previous years Dairy Farms NZ said it planned to raise $30-50 million before a public offering to fund the purchase of more farms and repay debt.

In his latest report Belcher said tighter rules for overseas investment limit equity raising to NZ investors only.

However, the firm’s lead adviser, Deutsche Craigs, gained more confidence that it’s an attractive IPO candidate provided it can grow its asset base.

“We are progressing multiple opportunities to work with vendors whose previous route to monetisation through a traditional sale is now also severely restricted,” Belcher said.

“The opportunity of participating in a stock exchange listing as part of DFNZ is increasingly compelling as potentially the only route for them to exit or monetise part or all of their farm investments.”

The company should raise capital by issuing shares as partial consideration for farm assets so farm vendors can crystallise their investment in an IPO. Dairy farm prices have dropped about 10% in the past two years with fewer sales since the Labour-led coalition introduced tighter restrictions for foreign investment in rural land. It is also planning greater environmental controls, including on freshwater quality, animal welfare and methane emissions.

Real Estate Institute figures show the average sale price for dairy farms was $32,701 a hectare in the three months ended July 31, down from $36,332/ha in the corresponding period in 2017. Twenty-five farms were sold in the latest period compared to 36 two years earlier.

Dairy Farms NZ noted the impact of lower farm valuations in its 2019 annual report and recognised a net $638,000 loss on revaluations and asset sales compared to a $1.2m profit a year earlier.

It valued its land and buildings at $45,525 a hectare, down from $46,947/ha a year earlier.

The company reported a loss of $131,000 in the 12 months ended May 31, compared to a profit of $2.5m a year earlier. Operating revenue fell 4.7% to $7.7m, which Dairy Farms said was caused by the lower milk price paid by Fonterra.

The price the company received for its A2 milk supplied to Synlait Milk was also lower.

As a result, the board decided against declaring a dividend for the year.

Belcher said the company is more upbeat about the 2020 season.

– BusinessDesk

17

New operator wanted for Taratahi campus Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THERE is confidence Taratahi will once again become a vocational training centre.

Liquidator Grant Thornton is seeking expressions of interest from groups wanting use the campus for vocation education and training and local community leaders believe there are providers wanting to be involved.

William Beetham, part of a regional leaders group looking at options for the Masterton campus, says he is confident vocational training will be resurrected on the site.

“We are not trying to set up as a provider but setting up of the regional leaders group was to work to facilitate agricultural training and make sure it is the right training, the right provider at the right level and the right number and this fits in perfectly with what we are trying to achieve.”

Beetham says an operator could be in place next year but it is much more important to have the right provider than to rush it.

“Unquestionably, there are providers interested.

“We are very confident but the key is to have the right training delivered.”

Liquidators are seeking an operator to own the campus assets, run the farm and provide education, which it says could involve one or multiple entities.

Any operator will require approval from the Tertiary Education Commission, Ministry for Primary Industries and the ministers of education and agriculture.

The liquidators say the request for proposals is designed to enable all creditors to be repaid or agreement reached that satisfies those still owed money.

Reintroducing training will also restore the original intent of the farm, which was given to the Crown for vocation education.

It says a further goal is to create a lean vocational training centre offering quality education at the right scale, a partnership between industry and education and for it be considered part of the Primary Industry Centre

IT WILL RETURN: Wairarapa farmer William Beetham is confident vocation training will again be done on the Taratahi campus.

of Vocational Excellence programme.

Beetham says the proposal is potentially exciting because it will be led by the farming industry and community and is consistent with the Government’s vocational training sector reforms.

Unquestionably, there are providers interested.

William Beetham Farmer

All Taratahi staff have been paid Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz EMPLOYEES caught up in the collapse of the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre have been repaid their full entitlements, totalling more than $2 million.

A second report by liquidator Grant Thornton said nearly $19.5m was raised from asset sales, farm income, cash on hand and outstanding debts but there are still outstanding

claims for more than $16.5m from 254 unsecured creditors.

It paid $10m in costs associated with the liquidation in fees and to secured and preferential creditors along with $3m in farm operating expenses.

Taratahi was put in liquidation before Christmas and since then Grant Thornton has been selling assets to try to pay debts.

The Mangarata Farm was sold in April for $6m,

enabling repayment of a $5.9m mortgage but that creditor is still owed a significant amount of money, the report said.

Leasehold interests in farms, surplus stock, plant and equipment have been sold and there has been income from milk receipts and cash on hand at the time of liquidation.

The liquidators have retained the home dairy farm, Telford and Ballentrae leased properties, but surrendered

the lease on the Telford campus to the Southland Institute of Technology, which took over the delivery of education in February.

“The home dairy farm, Telford dairy, beef and sheep farms and the Ballentrae farm all have agreed plans in place to operate throughout the 2019-20 farming years and we anticipate increased production from the dairy farms as they now have a more commercial focus to them.”

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Dairy farms owner might go public

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

News

18 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

OPPORTUNITY: Sunflower trials for the oleic oil niche market are proving an exciting development as a new arable crop and food product for Canterbury.

FAR testing future food crops Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz DURUM wheat and sunflowers are likely to become a common site on the Canterbury Plains.

The two crops are part of food products for the future industryfunded projects looking at novel crops on a national scale.

Foundation for Arable Research general manger Ivan Lawrie said a key driver of the arable industry’s seed research is the fledgling Seed Industry Research Centre.

The centre supports education and training at all levels ranging from seed technology courses to scholarships for university

students doing seed research.

The centre is about succession planning for the sector, Lawrie said.

In 2018 the centre funded two postgraduate scholarships and is looking at the same this year.

And it has taken on postdoctoral seed researcher Nick Davies to focus on future seed

NOTICE OF CHANGE TO TB SLAUGHTER LEVY RATE Pursuant to Clause 10 of the Biosecurity (Bovine Tuberculosis – Cattle and Deer Levy) Order 2016 notice is hereby given that commencing 1 October 2019 the rates of slaughter levies for Dairy Cattle will change.

Levy rates from 1 October 2019 are (GST exclusive): • Dairy cattle $10.00 per head (reduced from $13.00 per head) • Beef cattle $6.30 per head (no change) • Cattle and Deer exported live $11.50 per head (no change)

BACKGROUND TO CHANGE The National Pest Management Plan for Bovine Tuberculosis is funded by agreement between Government, DairyNZ Inc, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Limited, Deer Industry New Zealand and TBfree NZ Ltd. Funding is through a combination of fixed funding and levies charged on the slaughter of cattle and the live export of cattle and deer.

The respective industry shares of this funding are subject to annual adjustment based on shifts in the relative size and value of each industry. The funding received is also affected by the actual cattle slaughter volumes for the dairy and beef sectors. Each financial year a reconciliation is made of the amount contributed by each industry and levy rates may be adjusted accordingly.

Stephen Stuart, Chief Executive, TBfree New Zealand Limited.

FURTHER INFORMATION For further information on OSPRI’s TBfree programme, please visit www.ospri.co.nz

production in a changing environment.

Scholarship student Joe Faulkner will be on contract to FAR this season to help in new research projects.

“In this way SIRC is meeting the challenge that was set out two years ago with its mission to support the New Zealand seed industry through the provision of world class research.”

Lawrie said FAR is involved in two Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) projects looking at new or alternative crops to provide more diversity and resilience for arable and mixed arable rotations.

One of the programmes, alternative crops for Wairarapa, aims to expand the limited crop options in the area, an issue highlighted when pea growing was banned because of the pea weevil incursion in 2016.

Of the crops we are looking at some are not new but recent trends around eating local and artisan cooking open doors for them to make a comeback.

Ivan Lawrie FAR The second programme is food products for the future where opportunities like the development of a high oleic sunflower industry exist.

“Of the crops we are looking at some are not new but recent trends around eating local and artisan cooking open doors for them to make a comeback,” Lawrie said.

Such is the case for amber durum or pasta wheat, used mostly for coarser grind semolina.

It is a basic ingredient for highquality dried pasta and couscous.

A one-hectare block has been tested using the NZ cultivar Farina with the harvested crop, processed through a stone mill

in Canterbury, producing a whole durum wheat flour sample proving to be excellent quality with appealing colour and characteristics for artisan baking and potentially fresh pasta.

“It’s early stages yet. We are still developing the product and market for the product but it’s showing some good promise.

“From historical data there’s not been much progress in terms of varieties in the past two decades so there’s work to be done on that but we know from growing it in the past, especially in South Canterbury, we can get good yields up to nine tonnes to the hectare.”

Lawrie said FAR will work with bakers and the food industry to do some product testing while simultaneously working with the agronomy of the crop to ensure yield and quality can make it competitive.

FAR will have some durum plots at its annual Arable Research in Action field day at Chertsey on December 4.

Sunflowers are also colouring the industry with optimism with specially-bred varieties with seeds that produce high oleic oil, a high-grade cooking oil sought by commercial food manufactures, being trialled in Canterbury.

“This is another exciting development with expectation at this stage that this will be a new arable crop and food product for the region.”

The high oleic sunflower oil is at the high-value end of the cooking oil market rather than competing with the big volume commodity oils.

It is also deemed a more healthy option than standard sunflower oil.

Imported sunflower hybrid cultivars have been trialled to gauge crop yields and oil potential over the past two seasons with 150 hectares harvested in April this year.

Planting is expected to double this season for the 2020 April harvest.

The Canterbury production is being driven by Pure Oil NZ at Rolleston with a clear market for an end niche product both domestic and for export, Lawrie said.

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News

20 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Too much short-term thinking Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS and others in the primary sector must adapt to a changing world or risk stagnating, economist Cameron Bagrie says.

Unfortunately, there is no clear consensus on what direction should be taken for the sector to thrive in future.

Bagrie told a meeting organised

by Bayleys Whanganui on the state of the rural economy there has been no hard analysis of where the sector is going to find future growth streams when a coherent strategy to drive change is needed.

The former ANZ chief economist who now heads Bagrie Economics asked what NZ is doing to explore further developing its own aquaculture prospects.

Increasing the amount of value-added red meat products for export and getting a free-trade deal with China were steps in the right direction to base future growth on but won’t be enough on their own.

There’s a need to turbocharge ideas now to regenerate prosperity further down the track.

It’s not a scenario restricted to agriculture.

Along with dairying, former key economic drivers now facing headwinds also include nonrenewables, house and land prices, rapid credit accumulation and migration. They have contributed to a lot of economic

The pressure mounts growth but not high-quality growth.

“What are the replacement sources to lift productivity? Where is the plan?”

The dollar value of NZ dairy exports has risen 8% a year since 1990 but land use capacity and dairy’s environmental impact mean that won’t continue so growth has to come from elsewhere.

Bagrie is not expecting dairy’s export value to drop between now and 2030 but predicts it will be flat. Taking the 8% annual rise out of the economy will leave a $20 billion hole by 2030 in terms of what would have been earned if it had continued.

One of the biggest problems is too much focus on short-term goals rather than an eye on the longer game. There’s been a lot of emphasis on near-term profit cycles but not enough thought given to the bigger picture.

That’s been coupled with a shortage of quality advice from local and central government bureaucrats with the election cycle also driving short-term decisions.

WRONG WAY: Growth is slowing and costs are rising, economist Cameron Bagrie told a Whanganui audience.

It all adds up to a drag on sustainable growth and while Bagrie can see what the Government is trying to achieve its execution is not working.

Farms are businesses needing certainty when planning ahead and making investment decisions.

When that’s not there they hold fire and now the finer points of a lot of Government policies and their financial cost is up in the air, creating uncertainty.

In recent years the rural sector has been hit by what Bagrie calls grumpflation where growth is slowing and costs are rising.

“Income generation is being whacked by rising costs,” he said.

Farm costs are rising at double the inflation rate. That is hard to pass on so margins are being squeezed.

Healthy commodity prices mean farm incomes don’t look too bad, with the exception of forestry.

However, banks are keeping a close eye on debt, particularly in the dairy sector, which, at $41b,

accounts for about two-thirds of the rural sector’s $63b debt.

Despite banks saying publicly they are still open to lending money to dairy farmers Bagrie does not believe that’s the case.

Where is the plan?

Cameron Bagrie Bagrie Economics

Instead, they are looking to diversify their lending with strong growth in sectors like horticulture.

They are looking closely at their rural loans, leading to some tough discussions with some farmer clients because repricing risk is not easy.

There’s been a lot of attention paid to Fonterra’s balance sheet, with many co-op members unhappy with the performance of

some of its investments, especially overseas.

Fonterra has invested a lot of money in stainless steel, based on production rising.

That’s not going to happen so he expects more asset write-downs.

What’s happened so far is just the start and he does not think the co-op’s China business is worth as much as shown.

Change is needed at Fonterra and Bagrie hopes it comes soon because NZ needs a strong Fonterra.

The global economy is being plagued by a lot of uncertainty, with a significant part of the problem caused by political and economic problems overlapping, whether they be the China-United States trade war or the growing uncertainty of Brexit.

Economic problems are easier to fix than political ones but governments will need to show leadership.

In the meantime, the next couple of years will continue to be volatile, he said.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

21

Truckers don’t want the blame for Nait Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS rather than truck drivers should be responsible for correctly tagging their animals to safeguard New Zealand’s biosecurity, Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett says.

“We strongly object to livestock transporters potentially being penalised for actions that are beyond their control,” Leggett told the Primary Production Select Committee review of the National Animal Identification and Tracing legislation.

Drivers are being asked to do something well beyond their mandate as livestock transporters.

“It is proposed that truck drivers will be severely penalised with fines if they transport animals that do not have Nait tags.

“Truck drivers have no control over the Nait tagging system as getting those animals tagged is solely the responsibility of the farmers that raise them.

“We accept that animals must be traced to ensure their lifetime movements can be monitored

in the event of any disease outbreaks but there have been long-standing problems with the Nait system that cannot be fixed by punishing the people who drive trucks.”

Leggett said livestock transporters are prepared to help improve Nait and have been involved in actions to positively change farmers’ behaviour around animal welfare and safe travel for stock.

“They are just not prepared to shoulder this blame and cost when clearly the person in control of the animals, the person sending them on the transport and the person receiving them at the other end, have primary responsibilities.

“This is especially so given the legislation changes mean that livestock transporters would be issued $400 fines for transporting untagged animals when clearly no untagged livestock should ever be presented for transport if the Nait system was working properly.

“We want livestock transporters removed from the penalty schedule in this Bill,” Leggett said.

Visually checking for tags is

impossible because it is sometimes dark when animals are loaded, the number of animals and the speed with which they are loaded and the method used to load and unload.

“We strongly object to livestock transporters potentially being penalised for actions that are beyond their control,” Leggett said.

Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ also addressed committee.

“We see no value in transporters having to become policemen,” Feds Nait spokesman Miles Anderson said.

Adding transporters to Nait will complicate an already clunky and hard to navigate system.

“We urge the Government to enable Nait to be implemented to achieve its purpose.

“Support is far more effective than additional layers of complexity.”

While farmers recognise they have ultimate responsibility for stock traceability, concern remains about Nait’s usability.

“Implementation and education on Nait are lacking. We know

DON’T DO IT: Federated Farmers sees no value in turning stock truck drivers into policemen, Federated Farmers Nait spokesman Miles Anderson says.

a system that actually works would mitigate most of the noncompliance issues.”

And Feds disagrees with the Crown owning Nait data.

Anderson questioned why the Crown wants ownership when it has access to the data now.

DairyNZ said the Crown’s data grab is a step too far.

“As a major shareholder in Nait and a partner in the Mycoplasma bovis programme, DairyNZ has a genuine interest in this legislation,” biosecurity manager Liz Shackleton said.

“While DairyNZ is largely

supportive of the proposed changes to Nait we have serious concerns about data security and want to send a clear message that we are firmly opposed to any attempt to take ownership of farmers’ Nait data.

“The Crown does not need to own the data to manage the risk,” Shackleton said.

“DairyNZ supports the minister and appropriate Government agencies having access to data for the purposes of the Act but believes that anything further would constitute a significant privacy breach.”

Shareholders, suppliers and those interested in the co-operative are warmly invited to the 2019 Alliance Group Roadshows

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ALLIANCE GROUP ROADSHOWS September / October 2019 DISTRICT

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DAT E

TIME

VENUE

Waiau

Thursday 26 September

1.30pm

Rotherham Hotel

Omihi

Thursday 26 September

7.30pm

Omihi Community Hall

Nelson

Thursday 3 October

1.30pm

Waimea Olds Boys Rugby Clubrooms

Blenheim

Thursday 3 October

7.30pm

Quality Hotel Marlborough

Darfield

Tuesday 8 October

1.30pm

Darfield Recreation & Community Centre

Mayfield

Tuesday 8 October

7.30pm

Mayfield Memorial Hall

Fairlie

Wednesday 9 October

1.30pm

Fairlie Golf Club

Oamaru

Wednesday 9 October

7.30pm

Brydone Hotel

Omakau

Thursday 10 October

1.30pm

Matakanui Rugby Club

Tarras

Thursday 10 October

7.30pm

Tarras War Memorial Community Centre

Middlemarch

Monday 14 October

1.30pm

Middlemarch Golf Club

Milton

Monday 14 October

7.30pm

Milton Coronation Hall

Heriot

Tuesday 15 October

1.30pm

Heriot Community Centre

Gore

Tuesday 15 October

7.30pm

Longford Function Centre

Mossburn

Wednesday 16 October

1.30pm

Mossburn Community Centre

Fortrose

Wednesday 16 October

7.30pm

Tokanui Golf Club

Tuatapere

Thursday 17 October

1.30pm

Waiau Town & Country Club

Winton

Thursday 17 October

7.30pm

Midlands Rugby Club

Banks Peninsula

Tuesday 22 October

1.30pm

Akaroa Golf Club

News

22 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Sustainability audits are next our extensive, pasture-based production systems already aligning closely to what the market is asking for.

“However, producers will be increasing required to demonstrate through verifiable evidence exactly how they are meeting these standards.”

Alan Williams alan.williams@globalhq.co.nz BEEF farmers will increasingly have to prove their farming systems meet sustainability rules, Rabobank says in its latest quarterly report.

The last 12 months has seen a noticeable step-up in the number and variety of mostly market-led initiatives as beef production comes under more scrutiny over the impact on animals and environment.

The impetus is coming from food retailers, food service companies, processors and producers in response to the changing dynamics, it said.

And the pace of change will increase further.

New Zealand farmers are already doing most of what is required by markets and Rabobank’s NZ-based sustainability and proteins analyst Blake Holgate said documenting that might be the biggest challenge.

Initial compliance can be at a processor level but for really high-end orders paying the best premiums, verification might require independent audit.

A Global Roundtable of Sustainable Beef (GRSB), set

WEBSITE

At a global level we stack up well against other producers.

Blake Holgate Rabobank TEST: Kiwi beef farmers will have to prove their farming systems meet sustainability rules, Rabobank says.

up as far back as 2012, defined sustainable beef as a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable product that prioritises planet, people, animal and progress.

Beef + Lamb NZ and Rabobank are members.

The report noted exact performance criteria varies between regions, depending

www.crmcphail.co.nz

EMAIL

on local conditions, but the organisation covers all major beefproducing countries.

Holgate said there will be opportunities for suppliers here who can meet required standards while suppliers who can’t are likely to find it increasingly difficult to access markets.

“NZ is in a strong position to capitalise with many of

enquiries@crmcphail.co.nz

Grass-fed farming is seen as a strong health feature and NZ’s extensive pasture farming is strong from an animal welfare viewpoint, compared to grain-fed systems.

“We’ve already got robust environmental regulations so that all stands us in good stead.

“At a global level we stack up well against other producers.”

A planned move to emissions pricing will become another selling point when it is introduced.

International developments

PHONE

(06) 357 1644

cited in the report include: • Fast-food group McDonalds committing to buy beef based on the GRSB criteria. Holgate said that move is right at the top as an industry marker.

• Canada’s GRSB launching certified sustainable beef.

• Big US processor Tyson launching an independently audited Progressive Beef programme.

• Brazil setting up a carbonneutral production group.

• Another big processor, Cargill, committing to reducing greenhouse gases in its North American operations by 30% by 2030.

• Australia setting a goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030.

Rabobank also noted the proposed NZ regulation requiring livestock producers to cut gross methane emissions by 24% to 47% by 2050 and associated farm-level pricing of emissions starting in 2025.

The report, written by Sydneybased senior analyst for animal protein, Angus Gidley-Baird, said the market will continue to be the main driver of change, supported by governments’ actions, nongovernment organisations, pressure groups, investors and the rise of alternative proteins.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

23

Suicide strategy divides leaders Luke Chivers luke.chivers@globalhq.co.nz THE Government will set up an office dedicated to reducing suicide rates as it tries to tackle worsening statistics.

But primary industry leaders share the disappointment of many in the rural sector there is no specific rural suicide prevention strategy.

The long-awaited strategy and action plan, Every Life Matters, is an outcome of the recommendations from a sweeping inquiry into the state of the country’s mental health services.

Key changes include moving from a largely mental health service-based response to a community-based approach and supporting people bereaved by suicide.

Federated Farmers rural health spokesman Andrew Maclean is concerned the strategy won’t drive change in rural communities.

“Urban issues take the bulk of attention purely by volume and numbers but we need more specifics on rural.

“We tend to be the poor cousin,” he said.

The plan aims to find and address gaps in suicide prevention information, support for the bereaved and progress a national research plan, review the coronal investigative process and implement a free national suicide bereaved counselling service.

It also aims to increase wellbeing support for children and young people in places of learning, work with Maori and people with experience of suicidal behaviour to develop national guidelines for managing suicide risk to be used by health boards and other organisations.

Joint funding options to enable better cross-government co-ordination and support

INCOMPLETE: Federated Farmers rural health spokesman Andrew Maclean is concerned the Government’s suicide strategy and action plan lacks detail necessary for driving change in rural communities.

for community participation in preventing suicide will be explored.

Last month it was revealed New Zealand’s suicide rate hit the highest level since records began with 665 deaths in the year to June.

Suicide rates are higher in rural areas at 16 per 100,000 people compared with 11.2 in cities, Statistics NZ says.

The action plan and strategy recognises rural communities as a group needing specific interventions but how some of that will be done still has to be determined. The Government did not provide a time line for that work.

There’s a lot of talk from the Government of the rural lens being run over things but if you look at some recent legislation it looks like there’s been an oversight in doing that.

Andrew Maclean Federated Farmers The big gap is in rural, community-based activities, Maclean said.

“We’ve seen the dispersal of rural communities for a whole range of reasons and quite a bit of depopulation, which has resulted in the withdrawal of services, outlets, rural churches even.”

That tyranny of distance means access to any kind of services, including wellbeing and mental health, is more difficult.

Health training hubs in far-flung

towns, which Health Minister David Clark gave his express support for at the GP Network conference in April, which surprised some, should be tapped into, Maclean said.

“If you’ve already got activity going on that has a certain amount of infrastructure and support let’s see what we can build around that.”

“We have a poor track record of duplicating existing services and activities,” he said.

“Better communication between agencies, good leadership and building better events and promoting them would go a long way in making it much lighter in the end in terms of overall expenditure and resources.”

Rural Support Trust and FarmStrong are examples of industry organisations leading the way.

“Whether it’s at community halls or schools we need to bring people together off the farm to take time out to help prevent mental health issues.

“There’s a lot of talk from the Government of the rural lens being run over things but if you look at some recent legislation it looks like there’s been an oversight in doing that.”

Farmer and mental health advocate Doug Avery said the plan is a service delivery stepping stone.

There are a series of other blocks that need to be put in place, such as positive attitude change, Avery, whose The Resilient Farmer biography tells of his descent into despair during the Marlborough droughts of the 1990s and his journey back to hope, said.

He insists money cannot fix the problem when disconnection is the issue.

“You can have the best mental health system in the world but be too scared to open up and talk about it. It’s pointless.

“Most of the people I work with have more money in the world than you care to imagine but most of them have no way to manage the problems that have come across their desk – for instance, relationships or just absolutely stressed out with their work.”

The messaging has to shift from urging people to reach out. It also has to ask what is being done to make it okay for people to ask for help, he said.

“We also need services that are creating more resilient mind patterns so people have their own self toolkit to recognise the signs of trouble and to understand how to deal with it.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said change will take

OPTIMISTIC: The Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan set us on a path towards fewer deaths from suicide, Health Minister David Clark says.

CHANGE TACK: We need services that are creating more resilient mind patterns, farmer and mental health advocate Doug Avery says.

time but the announcement is an important start.

“There are no easy answers or quick fixes but the range of actions we are taking will mean better support for people in distress,” she said.

“I firmly believe the Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan set us on a path towards fewer deaths from suicide. And the Suicide Prevention Office will provide strong leadership and monitor progress in delivering on the plan,” Clark said.

“It will take time to build new services and new facilities and expand and upskill our mental health workforce but we’re getting on with the job.”

“We congratulate the Government on a strong, innovative strategy that envisions a future where the devastating impact of suicide is no longer felt in Aotearoa,” Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said.

“Most New Zealanders are aware of the devastation suicide is causing in our communities.

“But it is preventable and this new strategy gives us the road map and tools we need to prevent it.”

The foundation is dissatisfied there is no specific Maori suicide prevention strategy

but acknowledges the strategy strengthens the Government’s commitment to Maori and has a focus on reducing inequalities.

Earlier this month, the Government said it is boosting funding of more than 20 existing underfunded mental health services.

It is also allocating $30 million to create new front-line services that will start operating early next year.

The investment is part of the $455m the Government set aside for front-line mental health services in this year’s Budget.

WHERE TO GET HELP • 1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor • Rural Support Trust, 0800 787 254 • Lifeline, 0800 543 354 • Youthline, 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat • Samaritans, 0800 726 666 • Depression Helpline, 0800 111 757 • Suicide Crisis Helpline, 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) • In a life-threatening situation, call 111

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

25

Pressure opens lease options THE swirl of regulatory changes washing around farm businesses is prompting more people to consider leasing their properties to those happy to work in the more challenging environment.

Lincoln University agribusiness lecturer Edward Percy, a registered valuer, said a sector like dairy is in something of a perfect storm with water regulations, greenhouse gas limits, Mycoplasma bovis concerns and tighter bank repayment conditions all biting at farmers’ heels.

And fewer properties are selling, thanks in part to regulations on overseas investment in farmland limiting the market for what are often high capital cost land holdings.

Many farmers are also concerned about Fonterra’s future.

“You suspect there will be people thinking about getting out and maybe leasing is an option,” Percy said.

The dairy market is in an unusual place where sentiment is low yet payout predictions are reasonably positive.

Leasing for sheep and beef farms is already reasonably common and he was involved in a family venture in the North Island that had worked out well.

“It can be a good pathway for succession, for the parents to step off and lease to their son/daughter.”

In the past six months there has been more inquiry about options for dairy farm leases in an environment where sales are relatively light, though properties in good areas are still fetching good prices.

Bayleys national country manager Duncan Ross said the move to leasing also represents an age-and-stage moment in the rural property market.

“Leasing offers the opportunity to manage your exit from the farm, at a personal and business level.”

Lease-to-buy agreements can also provide a stepped pathway, with younger blood capable of keeping the property compliant with new regulations and materially up to scratch.

And younger farmers struggling to meet tighter bank lending conditions can find leasing helps them get a farm under their feet they can treat as their own.

A long-time Waikato valuer confirmed more interest in dairy leasing over past

The pressure mounts months, with farmers having the option to quit their Fonterra shares, livestock and plant, move off the farm but keep land ownership if they are not happy with the sale price they maight have to accept.

“Under past circumstances, with supply being tight, the cost of leasing has tended to be propped up fairly firmly by that. Now, with less sharemilking opportunities around, leasing presents an appealing option if there are more properties on the market and available for lease.”

Leasing offers the opportunity to manage your exit from the farm, at a personal and business level.

Duncan Ross Bayleys The level of debt plays a factor in determining if leasing is an option and the historically lower debts on drystock farms often make it viable. Returns can typically fall between $15-$25 a stock unit a year.

For dairy units returns of about $1200 a hectare a year can be expected.

For an average sized 140ha dairy unit that represents a return equal to the annual interest payment on an average dairy debt of $20-22/kg milksolids.

But for an average dairy farm with no debt the $170,000 a year return might prove more appealing than selling the farm and having to invest at a time when interest rates are falling.

With regional plan changes like Plan Change 1 (Healthy Rivers) in Waikato

starting to kick in, land capable of running livestock might also become more sought after, given changing land use into livestock is all but ruled out under the new regulations.

Total Ag farm adviser and director Rob Macnab said when the farm is a farmer’s main asset there can be a reluctance to sell it, even if they no longer want to work on it and leasing is a viable alternative.

“And increasingly we are finding more guys who have not sold the farm have died, leaving them OPTIONS: Bayleys country manager Duncan Ross maintains leasing will in trusts, often to offer a younger generation of farmers another option to access land. beneficiaries who don’t have the skills to run them.

“We have not quite got there yet in dairying but I believe it is going to be more likely. At present contract milking Agrievents 2019 and 50:50 positions are still the pathway.

“But long-term leases for sheep and beef are more common.”

High livestock prices also give older Whangarei A&P Society Rural Business Network sheep and beef farmers the chance to exit meetings 2019 Thursday 26th September 2019 and live somewhere else.

Mark Wynne - CEO Ballance Agri-Nutrients He agrees for many the prospect of Wednesday 16th October 2019 Dr Bruce Campbell tighter environmental and regulatory - Dr Bruce Campbell Consultants Ltd laws dampens their enthusiasm to Mix and mingle and finger food from 5.30pm to 6.00pm, continue and often they are better dealt prior to the speaker commencing. with by a younger generation coming Venue: Barge Showgrounds Events Centre. onto the land.

Attendance to the meetings FREE to members of the The historic return for leased farmland Whangarei A&P Society and any TeenAg members. has typically been low at about 2-3% a Join today to attend two meetings and get the third FREE! year but that looks increasingly attractive Contact: 09 438 3109 or email in a low-interest environment, Macnab events@wap.org.nz to RSVP said.

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Fairton pelt house will close Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz CLOSURE of the last part of the century-old Fairton meat plant has been confirmed.

Silver Fern Farms will close the Fairton pelt house and consolidate pelt processing at its Finegand site in Balclutha, south Otago.

A depressed global pelt market and low sheep numbers in the South Island have been cited as the two key reasons.

Those factors coupled with the

high overhead costs on the large site made pelt processing unsustainable at Fairton.

SFF operations general manager Mark Leslie said all 44 people at Fairton have been offered redundancy and work options at other SFF sites.

“We have set up a resource centre to assist our people with decisions around their employment.

“We have roles available for them at our other sites should they wish to take them up.”

The main Fairton plant shut down

in May 2017. It was one of Ashburton’s main employers for 120 years.

At peak it was a three-chain sheep meat operation employing more than 700 staff.

SFF will continue to operate its 450-hectare Fairton farm as it considers options.

Leslie said the company has investigated alternative further processing options for pelts with others in the industry.

It will use specialist pelt processors to finish the products.

education, recreation, conservation, community outreach - they are all dependent on plants. Botanic gardens were established to gather plants for economic purposes, for medicinal purposes then alongside private collectors for the joy and privilege that plants can bring.

Where: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Time: 9.00am to 6.00pm Wednesday 06/11/2019 – Thursday 07/11/2019 Red Meat Profit Partnership Lead Facilitator two-day workshop An opportunity for rural professionals to gain an understanding of what facilitation is all about and learn the skills required to effectively facilitate groups and learning.

Location: Commodore Airport Hotel, Christchurch Cost: $500+GST To register or to find out more visit www.rmpp.co.nz or call us on 027 565 7887.

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26 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Newsmaker

Muller is up for the challenge The Institute of Primary Industry Management’s new president Carla Muller says there’s often a disconnect between what policy and research are trying to achieve and what is happening on-farm. It’s an issue Muller is determined to solve. She spoke to Luke Chivers.

F

EW 27-year-olds can claim they have more than half a decade of governance experience.

But Carla Muller, of Hamilton, can.

The former Bay of Plenty lifestyler turned rural sector advocate never planned to end up in the primary industries but she’s now leading the peak industry body for rural professionals, the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management.

“I just fell in love with the sector,” she said.

Muller grew up in Pahoia, 20km north of Tauranga, in the 1990s.

In 2010 she began a business degree at Massey University in Palmerston North.

But a year in, after realising job prospects were drab, Muller changed course and now has Master of Environmental Management and a Bachelor of Applied Economics degrees.

“You can’t really escape agriculture when you’re at Massey University,” she said.

“So, I was quickly fully immersed in the culture.

“I haven’t really left the ag sector ever since.”

I’ve always been passionate about the big picture so, naturally, I fell into governance.

Carla Muller NZIPIM Muller began her career at DairyNZ in Waikato in late 2016, working as a graduate economist specialising in the environment.

In her three-and-a-half years at DairyNZ she took over the management of its environmental economics work.

Ranging from Northland to Southland, her projects included looking into water quality policies and working on feed projects, greenhouse gases, the DairyNZ economic survey and a nationwide data collection project for environmental information.

Muller moved onto research institute NIWA in 2017 to gain experience beyond dairy.

“I’ve remained heavily involved in freshwater-related science and became involved in everything from irrigation and biosecurity to pollution and policy and economics and climate change.”

It also gave Muller the chance to interact with different stakeholders.

“In the science world you learn a lot – you learn from people who are experts in their field.”

Now Muller is a dubbed an

environmental economist. It’s a rather unusual title but one she defends.

“Economics is all about the scarcity of resources. A lot of people think it’s just about money.

“If we’ve got a scarce resource then we need to decide as a community and as a society how we use that resource and, obviously, the environment underpins all of that.

“We can’t live without it and we can’t mess it up.”

The big picture is an area Muller has long been passionate about.

“So, naturally, I fell into governance,” she said.

Muller began her governance career in 2012, age 18, with the Massey University College of Business board and the university’s Young Farmers club.

“I have always believed in giving back to my community and hadn’t worked out that the local trusts and committee roles I had held were, at their heart, governance.”

In 2017 she was rewarded for her efforts and named a finalist in the Westpac Women of Influence Awards in the rural and young leader categories and a winner in Hamilton’s 30 Under 30 awards.

Muller is also a former recipient of an AGMARDT leadership scholarship, an initiative that helps individuals improve their leadership and governance skills and she is a past participant in the Agri-Woman’s Development Trust Escalator, a leadership and governance programme for women involved in primary industries.

In 2018, she won the Institute of Directors’ Waikato branch Emerging Director Award.

“I love being an economist and the technical detail of what I do but I was always frustrated by not being able to influence and contribute the bigger picture.”

So, in the past year, Muller became an associate director of Wintec and a director of Primary ITO before becoming institute president. She has been a board member for three years.

The institute aims to build capability of rural professionals.

It has more than 1300 members from a range of occupations, including farm management advisers, rural bankers, farm accountants, fertiliser consultants, rural valuers, representatives from industry organisations, universities and agribusiness service providers.

Muller said her focus is on building greater alignment between regulation, research and market demands and the capability of people working with farmers.

“I was seeing a disconnect between what policy and regulation was trying to achieve and what was actually happening on-farm.

ACTING ON IT: I love being an economist and the technical detail of what I do but I was always frustrated by not being able to influence and contribute to the bigger picture, new Institute of Primary Industry Management president Carla Muller says.

“The people in the middle who have to help the farmers get to where we need them to go is the rural professional and this role is growing in importance and complexity.”

Muller wants the institute, in her three-year term, to provide a platform for its members to really engage in policy and strategic conversation to help ensure what it gets from places like Wellington reflects the voices of those on farms as well as those who work with farmers.

“At that policy level, often the implementation voice is missing.”

She pointed out water reforms, consumer preferences and the Zero Carbon Bill as matters front of mind for her stepping into her new role.

“We’re having a lot of really good science and research go on and a lot of policy come out but that adoption and implementation pathway isn’t as strong or considered as much as it could be.

“So, we’re often getting solutions

but then struggling to implement them.”

For instance, farm plans are a good idea but getting the resource to implement them by a certain date isn’t something that can just be created overnight or at least the amount and quality needed to have good outcomes.

“A big part of the solution is thinking one step ahead so the primary sector has the right resources and personnel in place.

“It’s a challenge I’m up for,” she said.

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

27

REBOUND: Hemp fibre has a long history of human use dating back thousands of years and is now having a strong resurgence given its excellent environmental credentials.

Hemp, a fibre for our future Hemp has a long history of human use but has been shunned in modern times. Now it looks like a fibre of the future with multiple uses and credentials as and environment-friendly product that can replace synthetics made from petroleum. Annette Scott spoke to the people investing in that future.

A

NEW joint-venture hemp factory established by Hemp New Zealand and NZ Yarn is set to spin a ground-breaking yarn.

Hemp has been stigmatised and under-appreciated for decades but that’s about to change, Hemp NZ chief executive Dave Jordan said.

“We’re working to change people’s perception of this highly valuable commercial crop,” Jordan said.

The strategic partnership will be the catalyst for market-leading hemp fibre processing.

The Christchurch plant is set to open the way for ground-breaking research and development into products made from hemp and linseed flax fibres with a huge range of potential applications from yarn to construction materials.

Under the partnership established late last year Hemp NZ, which grows and processes hemp nationwide, has acquired a 15% interest in NZ Yarn that produces wool yarn for the carpet industry.

Hemp NZ is installing the stateof-the-art hemp fibre processing equipment, the first of its kind in NZ, in a 3000 square metres

space at the NZ Yarn factory in Burnside.

It will transform the NZ Yarn building from a wool yarn plant into a fully-fledged, modern fibre factory with leading-edge equipment purpose-built and engineered specifically for hemp processing, alongside its existing wool yarn spinning equipment.

The new hemp processing facility, called a decorticator, is being imported from Britain in two separate shipments.

The decorticator will separate hemp stalks into fibres that can be woven and hurd, a woody core material with fire-retardant and insulating properties.

Once the machinery is commissioned at the end of this year NZ Yarn and Hemp NZ will begin what is thought to be the first-ever commercial processing of hemp stalks into fibre in NZ using crop from the 2019 harvest.

Following the 2020 harvest good quantities of hemp crop are expected to be available.

A joint research and development team made up of NZ Yarn, Hemp NZ and Ashburtonbased agribusiness group Carrfields, a 50% owner of NZ Yarn’s parent company Carrfields Primary Wool (CP Wool), is exploring possible consumer and

industrial applications for hemp fibre.

NZ Yarn and CP Wool chief executive Colin McKenzie said the research team will use fibre from the new machinery to try various innovations.

This will help place New Zealand at the forefront of hemp and natural fibre innovation globally.

Dave Jordan Hemp NZ “There are many potential uses for hemp and flax fibre in woven products and it has tremendously exciting potential across a variety of sectors.

“Among the possible uses we are exploring are wool and hemp blends for use in soft flooring and we know from conversations with our customers that there is already strong interest in this type of product.”

Blending hemp with Merino fibre to produce yarn for use in clothing is also on the research

and development check sheet with a leading European fabric weaving company having expressed strong interest in the blend.

Non-woven products are also on the cards for development and testing including a natural hempbased material that could replace single-use plastic food packaging, as well as a hemp-based replacement for the permeable synthetic geotextile fabric used to stabilise soil in infrastructure works.

“Further down the track we’re also looking at how hemp fibre could be used to produce a natural replacement for carbon composites, which could be moulded and used for building materials as well as in many other industrial applications.”

Using hemp in such a wide variety of sectors is relatively uncharted territory globally, which means significant investment in tests and trials will be required, McKenzie said.

“We know hemp is an extremely versatile, environmentally friendly natural product that definitely has a place in a wide variety of consumer and industrial sectors, given the environmental damage being caused by synthetic fibres and plastics.”

Jordan said the installation of the new processing facility is a major step forward for the fledgling hemp industry.

“We’re expecting to be able to produce a very high-quality fibre using efficient processing techniques.

“This will help place NZ at the forefront of hemp and natural fibre innovation globally,” Jordan said.

“There is some commercial hemp production being developed in Europe but we’ve now caught up to where they are in terms of technology, infrastructure and innovation.

“The resurgence in popularity of hemp is based on its excellent environmental credentials.

“It is pest-resistant, easy to grow organically and produces a very good yield of fibre per hectare compared with many other crops.

“Hemp fibre also doesn’t require chemical processing or bleaching, it blends very well with other fibres and it has excellent strength and durability.

“Overall, hemp can provide a very good return for both farmers and processors as well as a high-quality, natural endproduct for the consumer,” Jordan said.

Opinion

28 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

EDITORIAL

Survey shows truth behind all the noise

T

HE timing of a New Zealand Institute of Economic Research report that states the Government’s freshwater plan is unlikely to have great impact on the dairy industry, which it surprisingly described as relatively small, was either unfortunate or intentional.

Commissioned by habitual farming critics Fish and Game, Forest and Bird and Greenpeace, it has been roundly criticised as taking a myopic approach by solely measuring dairy in terms of GDP. It ignored the sector’s disproportionate clout in generating overseas’ funds and its role in regional economies.

The selective use of data supports the antifarming stance of those who commissioned the survey but glosses over the broader message coming from the sector that farmers can live with parts of the Government’s freshwater plans. There are plenty of concerns but most have not condemned it outright.

As we reported last week sector leaders are concerned at stress levels among farmers from a lack of public appreciation and the deluge of new and uncertain Government legislation with insultingly short consultation periods and issues such as Mycoplasma bovis and Fonterra’s poor financial performance.

Some appreciation and positive endorsement of the efforts being made by farmers to clean up the environment would do wonders. But, instead, we get continued attacks from groups like Fish and Game, Greenpeace and individuals pursuing their own agenda as we saw recently with social media campaigns against winter grazing in Southland. How would society react if another sector was vilified and continually attacked on the scale farmers have been?

Interestingly, a UMR survey on the opinion of primary industries showed on average 55% of New Zealanders have a positive view of the primary industries. The results also show 4% are negative towards horticulture and 9% forestry but, of concern, 12% to sheep and beef farming and 20% to dairy. The survey’s mixed message might lead to the conclusion the Fish and Games and Greenpeaces of this world do not have the public backing to warrant the media coverage their messages get. Hopefully, this is evidence the silent majority is more complimentary towards farming than daily media coverage portrays.

Neal Wallace

LETTERS

Sanity will prevail over woe A NORTH Canterbury farmer whose life was turned upside down by the Kaikoura earthquake recently said he is excited to be a farmer in 2019. I could give many examples of such optimism.

Meantime, the airwaves and the print media are dominated by tales of woe and worst-case scenarios.

The uninformed city media buy into these tales of tribulation and believe they represent the great mass of farmer opinion. It all reminds me of another time and another revolution that took place in the 1980s.

In 1984 the Muldoon government, based economically around an East European model of central control, was swept from power and the Lange Labour government came to power

determined on change. In November Roger Douglas presented his first Budget.

It declared the end of farm subsidies and began a time of great upheaval for the farming industry.

I suggest today’s farmer uproar has not reached the crescendo of caterwauling that was kicked up in the 1980s. To a great many farmers the sky had fallen in, fuelled by the fact it was a Labour government.

And we all know Labour governments are the enemy of farmers, don’t we?

But to many farmers the Douglas measures were a long overdue return to economic sanity.

Federated Farmers, bravely and clear-sightedly led by Peter Elworthy, supported change and he enjoyed the solid support of the organisation at provincial level. Certainly, though, there were many

farmers who were angry and bitter and that bitterness rumbled on for years.

I well remember meeting in Wairoa along with about 200 other farmers to discuss the issues with Elworthy. He gave a lucid and persuasive case for change. As a local branch chairman I moved a vote of thanks and gave him my full support. Not everyone was persuaded but most farmers there bought into the necessity for change.

Today the farming industry faces a whole new raft of challenges. As another Labour government begins to tackle issues that are critical to maintenance of our business model – clean, green and healthy – and the preservation of our planet’s life-support system exactly the same dynamic has reared its head.

Very few farmers today would dispute the contention

that after the dust settled the revolution of the 1980s left the farming industry well placed for success. The progress made since can largely be credited to that revolution.

Today we are preparing for a completely new world, yesterday’s model is not good enough. There will be farmers who are positive about the challenges and opportunities and those who are not. There’s nothing new in that.

Geoff Prickett Waikanae

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

29

Take your time and get it right Charlie Bennett

A

N Open Letter to the New Zealand Government.

I am 24 years old and come from a small rural community, Tiniroto, an hour inland from Gisborne.

I was raised and have worked on a family hill country sheep and beef farm. That has given me a passion for agriculture and a respect for the way we farm in New Zealand.

I recently finished my agricultural science degree with first class honours at Lincoln University. I then travelled for two years and work as a gardener on a lavender farm in British Colombia, Canada.

Gardening gives me a lot of time to think. Recently it has been about the debate on the Zero Carbon Bill designed by yourselves for the future of NZ. I am not writing as a disgruntled farmer but as a young Kiwi who has an understanding what it’s like to live in rural NZ. What do you picture NZ’s countryside will look like in the future? And how far past the year 2050 are you looking?

I have pondered over the Bill and I feel the Government is in a race to be the first country to become carbon neutral, leaving me with a worrying feeling this important process is being rushed and the foresight for the country short.

An area that stood out is the mass planting of pine trees and the idea that is carbon farming.

I have read a number of news articles on these issues and it has me wanting a few more facts and a whole lot less gray area. I understand rotational forestry is the harvesting of mature trees for timber with the area replanted.

Carbon farming is the permanent planting of trees to sequester carbon from the atmosphere and in turn owners are paid carbon credits for the duration the trees are in the ground, which can provide a permanent and longterm income for the owners.

These two types of forestry should remain distinctly separate from one another if NZ’s native forest, pine forest and farmland are to remain balanced.

Further confusion arose for me around who can buy into this scheme. It seems to be anyone except farmers, whether it be a NZ or foreign company that needs to offset carbon emissions or get an easy payout for the lifetime of the trees.

In a Farmers Weekly article, Pine tree debate ratchets up, NZ Carbon Farming founder Matt Walsh said his company will plant trees only on marginal land with no other productive purpose and the easier land will be sold back and maintained as farmland.

Is that the case with all overseas investment? In the first six months of 2019 there were 47 farms sold to overseas companies, totalling nearly 14,500ha. With these entire farms, marginal and productive land, lost to a blanket of pine at

The

Pulpit

what point do we need to get off this bus or have we already missed our stop?

If you are unaware of the uncertainty this is bringing to rural communities then the Government is very out of touch.

I have no issue with planting trees on very marginal, erosionprone land to balance greenhouse gas emissions. It is a key method for reducing carbon dioxide but I won’t go as far as saying it is the solution. There is a lot at stake for the future and this needs to be 100% correct.

I feel the Government is in a race to be the first country to become carbon neutral, leaving me with a worrying feeling this important process is being rushed and the foresight for the country short.

Our good, productive land should remain in pasture because it is valuable to our economy and with the exponential global population growth it will continue to be so, far beyond 2050.

Those wanting to plant trees on marginal land should have regulation or perhaps restriction – either a permanent carbon farming forest with native trees only or rotational pine forest based on viability, so most planted trees will native trees and I believe that is what you promised.

If we are going to allow and even help companies buy NZ farmland at prices inflated beyond the reach of farmers then every single tree planted should be a native species helping return NZ back to the way it was. There should not be a single hectare of pine trees planted unless they are guaranteed to be cut for forestry.

When a forest is planned and planted it must remain economically viable until harvest, a big cost is infrastructure (roading) to get logs from forest to port. That is mitigated by either scale in planting large areas or desirable access/location with

less roading. When Walsh talks about planting only permanent forest on marginal land some red flags pop up if they are to be pine plantations.

Marginal farmland is generally small, scattered faces/blocks, not large scale, and is typically away from access roads.

These factors will make harvesting this marginal land unviable unless you want some of the world’s most expensive pine timber on the world’s cheapest and most dangerous logging roads. This is an area we need to get right well before anyone is allowed to plant a tree.

If pine trees are planted in a marginal area that is unviable to harvest they will remain there. If that happens there is little chance the land will ever revert to native forest. If marginal pine planting occurs on a large scale because the policy isn’t thought through our countryside will become a second-rate northern hemisphere forest.

In Canada I am surrounded by the large expanse of native pine forests that range from Scandinavia to North America.

They are an amazing place, full of birds and animals. At home we don’t have the squirrels and the woodpeckers, the bears or the wolves. Pine forests in NZ are second rate.

Our native forests and wildlife are so unique they rely on each other to thrive. If we don’t support our native forest’s natural ecosystems there will be a flowon effect from biodiversity to tourism. We should be doing all we can to return NZ to the way it was, to protect the future of our environment and economy. Any new permanent forest (carbon farm) should be required to plant native species exclusively.

Native forest should be a priority over pine plantations even if NZ takes longer to reach our emissions target.

The afforestation of farmland is not the silver bullet to our emissions problem. There needs to be action across the whole country to realistically achieve the goals outlined in the Bill.

Solutions will develop given enough time and resources, kind of like growing a tree.

The more articles I read on this debate the sadder it gets for hill country farmers with an increasingly higher number of farms being bought by non-agricultural investors.

The Bill appeals to companies with poor carbon footprints and buying farmland is too good to pass up. All they have to do is plant trees, leave them to grow and then get $25/t of sequestered carbon.

What baffles me is that the companies producing far more greenhouse gases than any poor cow can do this but a landowning farmer cannot plant trees on his own land to offset his business emissions.

Perhaps we should first

EYE ON HOME: Kiwi farmer Charlie Bennett is working at Okanagan, in British Columbia, Canada, but is keeping up to date with events in New Zealand.

be looking at helping farmers plant native trees before we look to foreign buyers to fill farmland with pine trees.

You mighty even find you fill your tree quota and retain beautiful native forests beyond 2050.

I have a lot of hope for the future balance of NZ’s native forests and productive agricultural land.

Don’t rush.

We have enough time to ensure this law is done right so Kiwis and visitors can enjoy an even greater area of native bush well beyond 2050.

So, next time you are going to Wellington to make a hasty decision regarding our future, why

not drive? Take in the beautiful rural landscapes and native forests but please stretch your legs in a pine forest on the way. Then tell me how you would like NZ’s future to look.

Who am I? Charlie Bennett is a young Kiwi farmer working on a Canadian farm but still watching and caring about what’s going on at home.

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

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Opinion

30 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Critics note: People back farmers Alternative View

Alan Emerson

THE recent UMR research showing most urban Kiwis support farmers is good news for farmers and a salutary lesson for politicians and detractors.

The research shows 54% support sheep and beef while 51% support dairy.

That should be a warning for the many who slag off our industry.

For example, Fish and Game should remember that while the population accepts farmers produce food, Fish and Game’s sole contribution to the economy is killing fish and ducks.

The multi-million dollar multinational Greenpeace’s encouragement of donations by abusing farmers could also be doomed, especially as facts are seldom part of their rhetoric.

Now we have the venal Australian banks putting the squeeze on farmers.

They’ve inevitably read the antifarming frenzy and figure they’re better off elsewhere. They should read the UMR research.

Forest and Bird have a document circulating regarding the water reforms and they have moved into the anti-farmer brigade with indecent haste.

The Wellington Regional Council has also gone anti-

farming with a set of fencing rules that will put many farms into trees.

The problem is that by their rhetoric they haven’t the slightest idea of what life is like on the farm. They would be better off trying to run a train service.

With Labour, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor certainly understands farming but his voice seems to be a lone one.

In National no-one has put their hand up to support farmers.

That across the board lack of support has manifested itself in many ways.

Starting with the firearms legislation the Government rates Conservation Department and regional council staff more trustworthy than farmers when it comes to pest control.

That National didn’t question it says heaps.

We then had the Zero Carbon Bill.

The Ministry for Primary Industries told Cabinet a 25% reduction in methane by 2050 is consistent with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton agreed.

That advice was ignored and a target of 24% to 47% was inserted into legislation, such is the Government’s arrogance.

The point has been made the upper limit for methane is setting farmers up to fail. Why a Government would do that when it is completely contrary to the Paris Agreement is beyond me.

The zero carbon issues are further exacerbated by the Government’s refusal to allow

DOWN: Vicar Steve Thomson says farmers are dejected and sullen.

methane-mitigating technologies such as gene editing. It could also invest considerably more in research.

That was followed by another anti-farmer blow in the form of the Environment Minister David Parker’s freshwater legislation, about which I’ve written.

It is an absolute insult by Parker to assemble what I’d call a ragtag of anti-farmer types and give them the thick end of 12 months to come up with some loopy ideas while excluding Federated Farmers, Beef + Lamb and DairyNZ. To then give the rest of the country a month, since extended to six weeks, for feedback is arrogant in the extreme and shows, without doubt, the Government has no intention of listening to anyone.

That the consultation has

happened during the busiest time of the farming year confirms that.

Finally, the science is halfbaked and there hasn’t been any independent costing of the stupidity by Treasury.

That an independent review of the science was commissioned is creditable.

That Federated Farmers were refused a copy and it hasn’t been made public is an appalling abuse of the democratic process.

New Zealand First Agricultural spokesman Mark Patterson tells me the party is consulting and will take a position once that consultation is complete. I look forward to that and remember the proposed Capital Gains Tax. Other than a good campaign

by Feds we’ve had only an open letter to PM Jacinda in the paper sponsored by DairyNZ, B+LNZ and the Meat Industry Association

trying to put the farmers’ case.

My view is it was woolly, overwritten, self-promoting and ineffective.

And so it goes and people wonder why farmers are depressed even though prices are good.

Steve Thomson, the local vicar and depression counsellor, tells how farmers are dejected and sullen.

“People are pretty down – they don’t know what’s going to happen next,” he said.

Farmers are feeling shellshocked.

It is important to acknowledge that 16 people per 100,000 commit suicide in rural NZ compared with 11 in the cities. That’s if anyone is worried about well-being in the provinces.

NZ farmers can produce quality food with a lower carbon footprint than anyone else. We produce sustainable and natural wool clothing and plant the right tree in the right place to sequester carbon.

In addition, out of the total of $58.3 billion worth of goods exports to June the primary sector accounted for $46.4b.

That should tell everyone that without farming the country is well and truly stuffed.

According to UMR research the general population does support us. Politicians, protest groups, snake oil scientists and the clown industry should take note.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath-emerson@wizbiz.net.nz

I want to give a townie a big hug From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

TIME for a more uplifting piece methinks.

We have plenty to grizzle about it is true but I think we are in danger of putting ourselves into a blue funk.

A what, I hear anyone younger than 60 ask?

The word funk arrived in the United States from Scotland in the 20th century and meant a state of despair or gloom. Blue was an intensifier of the gloom.

Hence, blue funk, in this instance, means low in spirit, gloomy, melancholy, pensive and moody.

There are a lot of good things happening out there but we are all focusing on the bad and challenging stuff.

This isn’t just those of us in the rural sector. Surveys show confidence is low yet there are

record employment levels and, if I gauge economic activity by the business of Hawke’s Bay roads and the building industry, things are booming.

Everyone around the globe is saying things have been too good for too long and the manure is shortly to hit the fan.

If Trump doesn’t do something really silly then Brexit will surely bring the whole house of cards down.

There are always economic cycles but it’s getting to the stage where it will become a selffulfilling prophecy if we are not careful.

Many of us have had a brilliant winter.

Now the spring is not too bad either at the moment. My pastures are full of clover about to start extracting all that free nitrogen just wafting about in the air doing nothing.

It’s been several years since we have had a nasty drought on the east coast of the North Island.

The dollar has steadily dropped down to near 63 US cents and doesn’t look like it’s going to climb much by the time we are selling our export goods off our farms.

I just borrowed $400,000 from the bank and am paying 4%.

It’s likely to go lower. A great improvement on the 27% I was paying at one stage back in the 1980s. That’s just $16,000 for the use of that money over the next year. I’m pleased I’m not an investor.

I cleaned up the rest of last season’s lambs several weeks ago.

They were the hobbits, dwarves and poor doers from the autumn.

They fetched $180 each. The dry ewes back in the winter were $130.

People who had bigger ones did much better.

Sheep meat forecasts for the season ahead look very good. Like many others, I’ve had a terrific lambing with no nasty storms and look like getting a decent percentage out there so will have plenty to sell on a strong market.

It’s understandable if you dairy folk aren’t quite so chipper but if Fonterra’s forecast remains around that $6.75 level, it will be okay.

I’ve got a great family and many good friends so have much to be grateful about.

One of our bugbears is we are not feeling the love from city dwellers.

Given what we see via the mainstream media, it is reasonable to think there is a lot of antipathy towards the rural sector.

WATCH OUT: Steve Wyn-Harris is threatening to run to the city to give some one a great big hug.

I’ve wondered if it is likely to be the vocal minority, the activists and such who are dominating the debate. When I bump into someone from the city, they always appear friendly and positive towards farming.

And it turns out most are actually quite fond of us.

A survey has just come out from UMR with some great news.

New Zealanders are almost five times as likely to hold a positive view of sheep and beef farming as a negative one – 54% positive compared to only 12% negative.

They are more than twice as likely (51%) to hold a positive view of

dairy farming than a negative one (20%).

Okay, so one in five aren’t fans but the other 80% appreciate the environmental work that is being done on farms, our contribution to the economy and export earnings and the good food that is delivered to their dinner plates.

It’s such uplifting news, I want to run into a city and give one of them a great big hug.

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 – September 23, 2019

31

The money spinner has stopped moving The Braided Trail

Keith Woodford

FONTERRA’S short-term problem is asset sales, asset values and earnings.

The longer-term problem is a capital structure that is no longer fit for purpose.

Fonterra’s delay in announcing its results, driven by its need for discussions with its auditors about appropriate asset values, provides a chance to reflect on its capital structure and whether it is still fit for purpose.

The simple answer is that it is not.

The value destruction that has occurred and which is now coming to light means inherent conflicts between the interests of farmer shareholders and investor unit holders have become too great to be papered over. Cooperatives do not survive longterm unless everyone’s interests align.

Two former directors of Fonterra, Colin Armer and Nicola Shadbolt, have both recently said reworking Fonterra’s capital structure is not the immediate priority. I agree with them.

The immediate and urgent priority is to sell assets and create a new, slimmed-down and financially-efficient organisational structure with many fewer highpaid executives.

However, asset sales and creation of the slimmed-down and non-bloated operating structure can be only the first stages of traumatic overall restructuring.

Fundamental flaws in the hybrid structure of farmer shareholders and non-farmer unit investors mean a new capital structure will also be needed.

Fonterra’s structure was created in 2012 following at least five years of angst searching for a new

structural pathway. The leader of that journey was chairman Henry van der Heyden, now Sir Henry.

The key argument was that Fonterra needed to have permanent capital, whereas in a traditional co-operative the farmer shareholdings are not guaranteed as permanent.

If a farmer leaves a traditional co-operative, the shares owned by that farmer have to be redeemed, though the redemption can be delayed. Hence, the argument was there had to be a mechanism to allow cash outflows from share redemptions to be balanced by new cash inflows from non-farmer investors.

The challenge in finding such a mechanism was that farmers were not willing to let non-farmers have a vote on company policy.

The supposed solution was to create a structure where nonfarmer investors could buy units in a new structure listed on the NZX and called the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund. These units would have the same economic rights as shares but no voting rights. If farmers quit then the number of units would be correspondingly increased and hence the redemption risk would be solved.

The name Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund is an inappropriate name. In fact, it is aimed at non-farmer investors.

The legal structure of the fund is complex. The overarching principle is the Fonterranominated custodian can hold shares in Fonterra and sell the units’ economic rights. The shares themselves stay with the custodian but hold no voting rights for anyone.

The fund is a key part of the overall capital structure called Trading Among Farmers (TAF).

This, too, is an inappropriate name because much of the trading actually occurs between farmers and non-farmer investors.

It can be useful to think of the fund as a balloon, with a two-way umbilical cord to Fonterra that is managed by the custodian.

If farmers sell their shares then new, balancing investor units are

created in the fund. In this way the number of units in the fund gets pumped up and a payment passes via the custodian through the umbilical cord from the buyers of the units to the departing Fonterra farmers.

Conversely, if farmers are buying shares from Fonterra the custodian can sell shares to the farmers and buy units from the fund at the same price. These units are then cancelled. The money the farmers have paid the custodian is shovelled on to the departing unit-holders and the size of the fund shrivels.

It sounds complex and it is complex. However, the system has now been working for close on seven years and it has indeed worked, at least until recently, largely as intended.

The longer-term problem is a capital structure that is no longer fit for purpose.

Over these years farmers have been able to buy and sell shares, unit holders have bought and sold units and the custodian has managed the process such that the price of shares and units is always within a cent or two of each other.

Two other outcomes have been that Fonterra has received no new capital when farmers buy shares and Fonterra has not had to pay out money when farmers leave.

A key insight relevant to how the fund works in practice is that the size of the fund is largely determined by farmer decisions to buy and sell shares. The decisions are driven largely by their need to hold one share for each unit of production, measured as one kilogram a year of milksolids.

Another key insight is that though the number of units in the fund is largely determined by farmers’ decisions, the price of units and hence the price of

BROKEN: Fonterra’s capital structure set up under Sir Henry van der Heyden has worked as intended till now.

Fonterra shares is determined by willingness of non-farmer investors to buy and sell units.

Once the fund was bedded down at the end of the July 2013 financial year it had 108 million shares valued at $7.30 each and the total fund value was $788m.

Fast forward to January 1 2018 and the fund had ballooned to 139.7m shares valued at $6.38 with a total value of $891.6m.

That shows farmers were predominantly selling shares, unit-holders were predominantly buying units and prices were holding up reasonably.

Fast forward again to September 1 2019 and the fund had shrivelled to 102.1m shares, each valued at $3.18, and the fund value was $325m. That shows farmers had predominantly been buying shares, allowing unit holders to exit and hence the fund to shrivel but still the price of units had tanked.

It might seem surprising that farmers have continued to buy shares despite Fonterra’s total production no longer increasing.

The reason is that many farmers were using a Fonterra scheme called MyMilk that allowed them to delay the purchase of shares for five years. There are still some farmers who need to buy shares because of this scheme.

The longer-term problem is that Fonterra is now likely to lose production, in part because of competition for milk from

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other processors who can afford to outbid Fonterra and in part because of farmers exiting the industry linked to compliance problems.

The key question is who will buy the units that will then flow across the umbilical cord from the Fonterra custodian to the fund?

Over the past 18 months the dominant perspective of nonfarmer investors has been a wish to exit the fund, not enter it.

Most of the major institutional investors have now done that.

Most of the unit-holders are now retail investors who, operating generally with weaker information, did not see the bad-news tsunami coming along.

Now, with Fonterra’s aura so badly damaged, they, too, will be looking to exit.

What this means is that the redemption backstop is no longer reliable. Hence, Fonterra’s problems have now got a whole lot bigger.

So how did Fonterra’s leaders and its high-priced consultants not see this scenario back at the start when the new structure was introduced in 2012? That is part two of this story.

Your View Keith Woodford was Professor of farm management and agribusiness at Lincoln University for 15 years to 2015. He is now principal consultant at AgriFood Systems. He can be contacted at kbwoodford@gmail.com

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Opinion

32 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Fonterra farmers must stay loyal Jason Trower LIKE most younger farmers I’ve been busy over calving, focused on getting our season under way, keeping our cows healthy, staff happy and the bank at bay.

I’d not normally speak out in this way but at some point your voice has to be heard.

I’m not from Kiwi Dairies or New Zealand Dairy Group, my generation are Fonterra farmers and I’m proud of our industry and our co-op.

It would be easy for me and my generation to switch our allegiance to foreign-owned milk processors and just be suppliers but we all believe in the co-op model and we know we must stick together.

I fully understand the need for competition and welcome it in our market but just remember every one of those foreign-owned milk processors is using Fonterra’s milk prices as their base price.

Without Fonterra there is no base price and the price we are paid for our milk will fall – just like it did in the United Kingdom.

It’s so frustrating for me to see week after week the business New Zealand farmers brought into being attacked again and again by the very people who should be supporting it – it’s owners.

Time and time again shots are fired at Fonterra from senior

The

Pulpit

members of the industry, often ex directors and larger-scale farmers.

This continued criticism from within our industry is destroying value for us all.

It’s bad for our reputation, it’s bad for the share price and it’s bad for morale.

I don’t like the state of play any more than you do.

But I am not going to put the boot in.

I can’t help but think how ironic it is that the parent who brought the child up is now criticising the child for who they have become.

Little wonder the rest of NZ

thinks we are a cot case.

It’s time for this to change.

You don’t see ex All Black captains criticising the ABs when they lose a game, miss a tackle or drop the ball.

Ex All Blacks know the jersey is more important than they are, than their opinions are and they know the jersey needs their support to stay at the peak of world rugby.

They also know you can’t win every game.

What’s more, players support their jersey long after they have left the team.

They support it for life.

From where I stand we need to call time on Fonterra bashing that is motivated by politics, it’s dragging our co-op’s reputation through the mud.

Why am I’m speaking out now?

When I hear people calling for a change in chairman or the board at a time like this I am sceptical at their motivation.

The co-op has taken a long, hard look at itself and identified assets it believes are overvalued. These need to be revalued in line with their true worth. The chairman has been in the role for a year, how can this be his mistake alone?

There’s no doubt Fonterra has not performed as we would all like.

Nobody is happy about the past mistakes, the write-downs and the results.

HOLD YOUR FIRE: Young farmer Jason Trower is surprised at industry leaders, often former directors, continually firing shots at Fonterra.

We know there’s a hell of a lot of work to do to turn things around but that journey has started.

The write-downs are part of that journey, selling non core assets is part of that journey. It’s not a smooth road but it’s taking us in the right direction.

I don’t know the leadership team and I’m sure they aren’t perfect but I think they’ve shown enough backbone to be given time to show us that their new strategy can work.

We face enough problems on-farm with new environmental standards, animal welfare, social licence issues, financial pressure

from banks and the headwinds in the world economy. We don’t need to start our own fires in our own backyard.

Come on team, let’s get in behind Fonterra, let’s find our Fonterra Black Jersey and support it to the ends of the earth and when we get there we just might find a bag of our milk powder there waiting for us.

Kia kaha Fonterra.

Who am I? Jason Trower is a young farmer from Cambridge. He is a Fonterra supplier and supporter.

We are good farmers, very good Conall Buchanan PASTORAL farming is an efficient way to turn sunshine into food – high-quality, nutrient-dense food.

Our New Zealand pasturebased systems have much lower greenhouse gas emissions than most global meat and milk production.

For dairy it’s an estimated 40% lower per litre of milk than the global average.

NZ is the world leader in pastoral food production. We are good, very good.

Any decrease in NZ milk production will likely be filled by production with a larger greenhouse gas footprint elsewhere.

More than 80% of the milk produced in the world comes from cows living under a roof. Grass forms only a portion of their diet.

The situation for meat is the same in principle though the gap is smaller because pastoral grazing is somewhat more common in the global beef sector.

Most milk and virtually all meat produced in NZ comes from animals that eat 90% to 100% of their diet as pasture. Total emission in our systems are lower than the global average because of minimal use of machinery, cultivation, spraying, harvesting, processing, transport of fodder and subsequently, effluent.

Our net emissions are lower still because grass removes carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphere.

This is a natural cycle that has

BE STAUNCH: New Zealanders need to be proud of their farmers who are already ahead of those overseas and who want to do more for the environment, farmer Conall Buchanan says.

been happening for eons.

Pastoral systems also have the potential to sequester carbon and nitrogen into the soil as humus, which builds up the topsoil. Any doubts about this can be put to rest by visiting the farms near Rerewhakaaitu, which have built thick topsoil from what was originally a very light soil on top of volcanic scoria and pumice from the Tarawera eruption.

The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change recommend increasing production from low greenhouse gas systems and decreasing that from high GHG systems.

Comparing agricultural

emissions with industrial emissions is misleading.

The fuel for cows and sheep is pasture, which takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere only weeks before it is eaten then keeps on removing it as it starts growing again straight away.

The fuel for much industrial activity liberates carbon that has been out of global circulation for millennia. Petrochemicals are a major driver of costs for much of the global food production system. They are a small portion of the costs for NZ food production.

The impact of methane needs to be acknowledged, though, and is something we need to keep working on as an industry.

Unfortunately, many people in NZ aren’t aware of these positive aspects of NZ pastoral production.

We need to raise awareness of just how environmentally natural and animal-friendly our systems are.

We need to be proud of the positive aspects of our production systems.

While farming does have some negative environmental impacts, many of the negative trends have halted or are reversing.

A recent Ministry for the Environment report shows five out of eight water quality attributes show a majority of improving trends from 2008 to 2017.

It said “None of NZ’s river lengths exceeded the bottom line for nitrate-nitrogen or ammonia toxicity, the point at which impacts on growth and mortality

of multiple sensitive species are expected.

“Measured data for 10year trends (2008–17) showed improvements (declines) in ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations at most monitoring sites in all land cover classes and improvements in nitrate-nitrogen in the urban land cover class.”

More sites had improving rather than worsening trends

We need to be proud of the positive aspects of our production systems.

Our national water quality is in the top five on the Global Open Data Index. Our rivers compare well to many in the world.

We still have plenty of work to do.

Our waterways can and should be better than they are. But let’s be clear, we are not in a terrible place.

We need to have pride in the work completed to date, the programmes in place and where we sit in the global picture.

Continuing the work with pride is much better for everyone’s head space.

Constant negative chipping away at farming by people and entities pointing out only bad stuff distorts public opinion. Selective or misleading reporting makes it worse.

We need to call time on that.

The above points are just a start.

Constant negativity is taken to heart by some, particularly younger farming people. It does make a difference to people coming into then staying in our industry.

Public opinion matters.

Public opinion is now a major driver of government policy.

The recent Essential Freshwater package is an example.

Some proposals look sensible and some ignore excellent work and programmes in place with heavy-handed, counterproductive, onesize-fits-all, ineffective and disproportionately expensive regulation.

We need to speak up on this.

Remember, if we are not at the table there is a good chance we’ll end up on the menu.

Let’s keep up the good work that’s happening.

And, most importantly, let’s keep the whole scenario in perspective. Spread the word about the good stuff.

We have plenty to do in NZ but cutting production here, which will be replaced by products with a greater negative footprint from elsewhere, is very like cutting off our nose to spite our face.

Who am I? Conall Buchanan is a Hauraki Plains dairy farmer who believes farming can be both profitable and environmentally responsible.

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Know the truth about your farms Sam McIvor THERE’S a consistent theme running through my conversations with farmers – they’re experiencing some of the best returns in living memory but there is a sense of pessimism in the face of what feels like an endless tirade of accusations about environmental vandalism.

I can understand how sheep, beef and dairy farmers feel.

For three years as chief executive at New Zealand Pork dealing with animal welfare issues I had daily accusations that questioned my breeding, my heritage, my integrity and my morals.

I was threatened and to this day my home phone number isn’t listed.

So what is my response and my advice to farmers right now?

It is to remember what is true.

It is to ask yourselves if any of these accusers have a point. Do I need to respond? Finally, consider what steps you can take to be in control of your situation. What is true and what do I know to be true?

Having worked at all levels of the sheep and beef sector over a career of 25-plus years the sheep and beef sector has undergone the most successful transformation of any industry in NZ over the last 30 years.

Remember these facts.

You’ve halved the ewe numbers you farmed in 1990 while producing about the same amount of lamb.

But at the same time you’ve conserved 2.8 million hectares of native vegetation, half of which is native scrub, bush, and tussock and the other half is native forest, making up a quarter of all native vegetation in NZ, and planted 180,000ha of plantation forests.

You’ve reduced your absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 30% over that time, one of the few industries in NZ to have done so.

You’re globally ranked first equal for animal welfare standards.

You’ve become NZ’s largest manufacturing sector with more than 80,000 people employed and have doubled the value of exports.

At the same time you’re the backbone of rural communities.

UMR research tells us the public respects you for it.

New Zealanders are almost five times as likely to hold a positive view of sheep and beef farming than a negative one with 54% positive compared to only 12% negative.

So, don’t believe a vocal minority who say otherwise.

I realise some days it might feel like everyone is against our

BRIGHT SIDE: Almost five times as many Kiwis have a positive view of farming as hold a negative one, Beef + Lamb chief executive Sam McIvor says.

The pressure mounts farmers but every business sector is under increased scrutiny for its activities.

It’s the new reality as consumers think more about the environmental and ethical impacts of the choices they make.

There is a positive side to this scrutiny too – we’re seeing more and more global consumers scrambling to buy your free-range, grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic free products – and who can blame them?

What’s driven this?

It’s a dedication to farming excellence, a passion for what you do for your community and your nation.

That’s what’s true, so hold on to it.

So, do any of these people levelling criticisms at farmers have a point?

It’s about sifting through the information and assessing what things are true.

From an environmental standpoint some of them do and we need to acknowledge that.

33

There are some issues with our waterways, whether it be nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment or pathogens. On a similar note, there’s ongoing work to do to address our contribution to climate change.

It’s our job on your behalf to work out the complexities and the detail on what the targets are and what they mean then advocate on your behalf but this leads me to my third point – take control of your situation.

This means from an environmental perspective doing your homework for your farm and your catchment and knowing where you’re at.

Make a plan to deal with any issues in a logical and realistic way and keep a record of what you’ve done so you and we can tell your story.

Some specific actions to help you do this include attending B+LNZ land and environment

plan workshops to understand your resources and risks and getting involved in a catchment group or Red Meat Profit Partnership Action Group and working with your farming community to learn from and solve issues together.

Take heart in the truth. You are part of an outstanding industry, you are doing a great job and people recognise it.

Yes, we do have environmental issues to deal with as an industry and sheep, beef and dairy farmers are taking positive action to address them.

Finally, B+LNZ, along with industry partners, will continue to advocate strongly to ensure the Government’s policy decisions are based on objective facts. You can help by knowing the issues on your farm and catchment, by taking action and being in a position to talk about what you’ve done. We’re here to help.

Who’s the last rural knight standing?

The Voice

Craig Wiggins

WITH the loss of our two elder statesman, Sir Brian Lochore and Sir Colin Meads, who had a direct connection to the land and were seen as legends by rural and urban people have left a big hole as far as rural ambassadors, leaders, mentors and boys’ own heroes.

This leads me to ask who is left as rural sirs and dames.

The only one who springs to mind who has made the world take notice in his sporting and professional life is Sir David Fagan.

He is recognised for his achievements in shearing and his support of many things rural.

A true knight or sir. However, is Sir David to be our last knight standing?

Rural New Zealand is in desperate need of mentors and outstanding people recognised for their abilities and human spirit to be showcased in our schools and inspire our youth, someone to

rub shoulders with in life be it in a pub or walking down a street, in media commenting and carrying the mana earned across all facets of NZ culture.

With sentiment among rural people that we are on a hiding to nothing as far as the Government and mainstream media treat us we need those beacons of hope, men and women who have come from the grassroots and won against the best. It’s these people we see as our champions.

I can think of some of the people I have commentated in rural sports or have filmed for the Farmers Voice who deserve to be in the realm of knighthood. Paul Van Beers and Richard (Ricky) May, for example, have led their respective sports and industries, receiving higher status than most, have always given back to their communities and the youth who follow their footsteps.

Van Beers, a fencer, is 14 times Wiremark Golden Pliers and 12 times Silver Spades doubles competition champion, has also competed four times in the Invitational World Championship with two wins a second and a third. He now coaches and trains young fencers and organises many fencing competitions nationwide.

May is seven times winner of the biggest harness race in the world, the NZ Trotting Cup. He

TAKE A BOW: Sir David Fagan is the last rural knight.

is the epitome of harness racing, which he has the outright most wins as a driver. He puts countless hours back into his local trotting club and community in Methven and helps many young people in the harness racing industry.

Both of the men I have mentioned have been nominated for the Norwood NZ Rural Sports Awards lifetime legacy award.

Van Beers has won the award and May should be in the mix again. Van Beers is now a judge on the awards panel. This year’s awards have a new category, the Sir Brian Lochore award for an outstanding sportsperson from a rural background. It was awarded

to Sarah Hirini (nee Goss) our outstanding women’s rugby player, captain of the Black Ferns and past Golden Shears finalist.

Hirini has since been made a member of the NZ Order of Merit.

Recently, for the Farmers Voice video series, I filmed a young man who is made of the right stuff to be in line for further accolades on the same level as the likes of Hirini and Sir David.

Jack Jordan from Taranaki has already won six world titles in underhand chopping, farms a 1600ha family farm on the Wanganui River and was in the Chiefs rugby team at the young age of 23. He is also a winner

of a Norwood Young Rural Sportsperson of the Year title.

The Norwoods were set up to showcase our rural champions and those who dedicate life to sports as competitors, volunteers or both. If you have someone in your community or organisation you think can be lifted to the surface and in return benefit the rural community in the recognition they might receive it’s our responsibility to see they get nominated.

We need more rural heroes showcased to the rest of NZ. Nominations for the 2020 Norwoods are open now and the national honours nominations can be found online.

Of course. rural NZ can claim Richie McCaw as its ultimate honours recipient with his farming family background and his Order of NZ, which surpasses a knighthood, and so we should.

Children can only dream of greatness if greatness is shown to them by those who aspire to be the best humans possible.

Rural NZ is full of the best and most humble of the human race.

Put these people on a pedestal, nominate them, build community spirit and give children aspirational dreams.

Brought to you by PGG Wrightson Livestock.

On Farm Story

34 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

TEAMWORK: George Williams, left, works closely with shepherd Tamsin Harvey, manager Joe Wyatt and shepherd Billy Hayes.

Photos: Damon Hyland

Partnerships build success Hard work, careful planning and a strong business focus helped George and Luce Williams win the 2019 Wairarapa Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year Award but, as the Tinui couple told Colin Williscroft, it’s been a team effort.

W

ELL used to analysing their on-farm performance George and Luce Williams are forever grateful to the many other businesses that contribute to their farm’s smooth operation.

The Williams run Grassendale Genetics, a 1570ha (1040ha effective) farm on challenging hill country on Wairarapa’s east coast.

Though the location might be seen by some as isolated the couple have tapped into a community of talented rural and urban people to help build the strength of their business.

It’s a form of teamwork that, though commonplace around the country, does not get the recognition it deserves.

“We’re not unique.

“Working with a wide range of other people and businesses is modern-day farming,” George says.

There are at least 50 people not solely employed to work on their property who are still directly associated with the farm in some way and that does not include their roughly 100 ram clients.

Most hill country farms rely on a similar number, he says.

They include all manner of

contractors from digger and tractor drivers to top-dressing pilots and loaders, fencers and shearers along with urban professionals such as data analysts, farm advisers and bankers.

Working with a wide range of other people and businesses is modern-day farming.

George Williams Farmer They all play key roles by providing quality services and advice allowing sustainable land management options.

It’s about identifying the best uses for particular classes of land then maximising opportunities through the most appropriate tools to use the land to the best of its ability, George says.

“It’s a collective effort from so many people with a diverse range of skills, which enable us to run a sustainable, hill-country property.”

FOCUSED: Setting goals helps George Williams keep sight of the business’ long-term development.

What is not always immediately obvious is that while it’s acknowledged how important agriculture is to rural communities there is also a significant urban group who also rely on farming businesses.

Working with them provides a great opportunity to interact with different people and implement different ideas and skills to make

the farm run efficiently, George says.

“It’s definitely a two-way street with the way expertise and knowledge changes hands. It’s a partnership.”

The couple say the interaction they have with other people is a highly enjoyable part of their operation and a great vehicle for learning.

Some of the most important relationships are with staff and George says it’s important to trust them and respect their opinions.

It’s also important to identify people and personalities who will work well together and that everyone understands where others are coming from and they have to achieve.

On Farm Story

But in the end it’s about respect, he says.

“And you never take that for granted.”

He has always believed in treating people in a way he wants to be treated.

One of the benefits is people feel valued so tend to stay. And if they do leave to extend their experience elsewhere they will more than likely go back and work where they felt appreciated if they return to the area.

Learning from other farmers is also part of the strategy.

Discussion groups are one way of learning, whether through talking to other ram breeders, farm discussion groups or wider networks like the Red Meat Profit Partnership.

“Farmers are great when it comes to sharing information with others and also adapting to new information,” Luce says.

There is a lot of new information coming into the agriculture sector. Much of it is coming from urban businesses with their systems and process and some of it can be very helpful in running farming businesses.

At Grassendale they are not afraid to embrace technology.

Among other things they use Trimble Nomad hand-held computers to record information linked to each sheep’s electronic ear tag.

Though they have both lived and worked in other parts of New Zealand and overseas the couple have long-standing connections to eastern Wairarapa.

George grew up on a horse stud called Little Avondale at Wainuioru, east of Masterton. His passion was always stock and dogs so by the time he was 16 it was no real surprise he was ready to go shepherding.

After initially working in Wairarapa, including at Wairere

for Derek Daniell, he went to the South Island for a few years, spending time on high-country stations including Molesworth, Argyle in northern Southland and Mt Nicholas near Queenstown, each carrying more than 40,000 stock units.

He then went overseas, where he met Luce.

Luce grew up on Grassendale with her three sisters and parents John and Sue Dalziell.

She studied physiotherapy in Auckland then veterinary physio in London before working in Britain as a human and horse physiotherapist.

As well as a passion for horses she always had a genuine love of the farm so she and George set their hearts on farm ownership.

Today they are living and breathing the dream and, thanks to hard work, a succession plan and the help of both families, the fourth generation farmers now works the property where Luce grew up.

In July 2005 they bought Longridge, a neighbouring 311ha property, before buying Grassendale four years later.

Today the two properties are run as one. It is a steep, summerdry, hill-country farm with a particularly high wind run.

The area was once considered for what would have been NZ’s largest wind farm. The farm is one of the highest in the area so when it’s windy there’s no hiding from it.

As well as dry summers they also have to cope with late winter/ early spring storms.

One that came through in August last year was particularly tough, given they were in the middle of lambing.

While a lot of lambs were lost there was an upside. The number found in rushes around the property showed the mothering instincts of the ewes trying to care for their lambs while in the multiples that survived they identified genetics they are keen to use further.

The main focus at Grassendale is production, efficiency and constitution. They like to think of their genetics as a hardy, resilient, medium-framed package.

They strive to continually

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

35

IMPORTANT: Prioritising family time, including with children Sophia, 10, and Harvey, 9, is important for George and Luce Williams.

challenge and consolidate their high performing genetic package in the harsh conditions and are totally committed and passionate in their endeavour to produce the perfect ram for their clients.

In the end it’s about repect. And you never take that for granted.

George Williams Farmer The recorded flock is monitored with information collated for eye muscle, pelt thickness, survival, growth, reproduction and wool weight as well as noting mothering ability, which is analysed by SIL, to ensure an ever-improving genetic package.

There is a zero tolerance of poor feet and poor constitution, regardless of the figures. As part of that policy all rams and ewes are

KEEN HORSEWOMAN: Being on the farm has enabled Luce Williams to retain her passion for horses.

tipped over and feet checked.

Ram lambs are challenged with severe mob pressure and minimal drenching, which identifies the ones that will thrive in the harsh hill-country environment.

Since buying Longridge the Williams have quadrupled their farm property footprint while at the same time developing a ram breeding business across four studs.

Today they farm about 9500su, including Romney, Coopworth, Romworth and Texel studs.

They also host the central progeny test flock of about 1250 ewes in conjunction with the Wairarapa Romney Improvement Group and Beef + Lamb Genetics.

They also run about 350 Simmental/Angus. The cows perform the key task of cleaning up pasture for ewes to graze ahead of their peak lactation.

As part of winning the Wairarapa farm business award the Williams hosted a field day in March that allowed them to showcase their success to about 250 people.

ON THE GROUND: Lambing is a busy time of year for shepherd Joe Wyatt.

Those attending heard how setting goals is an important part of the couple’s approach.

They set themselves both personal and business goals, which are written down. One of those goals was farm ownership, another was winning the farm business award.

Not only do the goals help keep them on track and give them targets to hold themselves accountable to, Luce says realising them provides a great sense of achievement.

They encourage others to take a similar of approach. Sometimes outside circumstances will put goals out of reach but knowing what they were and why things turned out the way they did is all part of the learning curve.

It’s that sort of honesty and determination that appealed to the Wairarapa farm award judges who, in recognising them as the region’s top sheep and beef farm business, noted the Williams’ leverage of joint ventures with other parties, genuine business planning and goal-setting, continuous selfassessment and personal growth, an objective and measured approach to running the business, well-structured career paths leading to business ownership and strong commitment to and understanding of genetics.

One of their biggest commitments is to community.

Not only the wider farming community but also the local one.

Top of the list though, is family, and always included in their personal goals is making sure enough time is spent as a family with their children Max, 11, Sophia, 10, and Harvey, 9.

Like any farming parents they would love to see their children take over the farm and do things better than they have done.

For now, though, they see themselves as custodians of the land they farm, working with other people to do the best for the land that’s there. >> Video link: bit.ly/OFSwilliams

FINAL NOTICE

Wairoa Ponui Station, 217 Ponui Road

Clean healthy hill country Offering extensive scale in Northern Hawkes Bay, Ponui Station provides approximately 800 hectares of clean hill country with the opportunity to further extend production levels and capability. Currently run in conjunction with a neighbouring farm, a robust fertiliser history combined with sound fencing provide the opportune platform to add to ones farming operation or begin a new hill country project. Strong leading north/south ridges provide excellent sheltered country, the majority below 200m ASL, and exceptional natural water sources â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ponui offers good hill country farming conditions. Views over the Pacific Ocean, the homestead site provides an aesthetically inviting position for an owners or managers home, whilst other farm infrastructure being the airstrip, satellite yards and fencing are in good order. Sought after scale and opportunity to increase production.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 9 Oct 2019 10 Reads Quay, Gisborne Simon Bousfield 027 665 8778 simon.bousfield@bayleys.co.nz Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/2751431

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

NEW LISTING

Motunau 1553 Happy Valley Road

An outstanding coastal property

5

'Motunau Homestead' is a unique and well-farmed 193.76ha property with around 2km of spectacular North Canterbury coastline. An easy-rolling to flat property situated above a sandy beach with a substantial and wellcared-for five-bedroom character homestead, two-bedroom cottage, excellent fencing, new cattle yards and panoramic sea views out to Pegasus Bay, Banks Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean. The productive and healthy property has supported strong animal performance and is currently running breeding ewes and fattening cattle.

Well-set-up for ease of management, it has excellent subdivision and fencing, complemented by good stock yards and a full range of well-maintained support buildings. Fishing and diving are on your doorstep, vineyards are close-by and Christchurch is just over an hour's drive away - a property like this rarely comes to the market.

For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty

bayleys.co.nz/5510191

bayleys.co.nz

1

1

(unless sold prior)

4pm, Thu 17 Oct 2019 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch Peter Foley 021 754 737 peter.foley@bayleys.co.nz Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Te Awamutu 670 Pirongia Road

Te Awamutu 154 Johnson Road

A majestic dairy farm

Established Waikato kiwifruit orchards

This trophy dairy farm covers two hundred and seventy four hectares (subject to subdivision) of easy rolling downs country.

755 cows are currently share milked through a 44 ASHB dairy shed, supported by a 1,100 sqm feed pad. A second dairy shed used colostrum collection and there are five homes. Groundwater bores provide water for dairy shed washdown, stock water and domestic use. Effluent is by way of a two pond (unlined) system and contents are spread via hydrants using spray irrigation.

Options to purchase are for the entire 302 hectare dairy farm and two kiwifruit orchards. The subdivision can be completed allowing the kiwifruit orchards to be purchased independently of the farm.

Also created would be separate lifestyle blocks.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Mon 21 Oct 2019 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 11am-12pm Tue 24 Sep Stuart Gudsell AREINZ 021 951 737 stuart.gudsell@bayleys.co.nz Mike Fraser-Jones 027 475 9680 mike.fraserjones@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Two Kiwifruit Orchards on fertile free draining soils. The Johnson Road Orchard has 9.29 canopy hectares with 1.1 hectares of new development. The proposed subdivision plan is to expand to a total of 18.8100 hectares (subject to subdivision) as well as an additional 5045sqm (subject to subdivision) lifestyle block. Penny Road Orchard is 7.6 canopy hectares with loading out area on 10.1 hectares (subject to subdivision). Options to purchase are for the entire 302 hectare dairy farm and two kiwifruit orchards as they exist or the subdivision can be completed allowing the kiwifruit orchards to be purchased independently of the farm.

bayleys.co.nz/2310680

bayleys.co.nz/2310681

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

Taranaki 606 Waitara Road, Waitara

Taranaki 2090 Eltham Road, Kaponga

88.4 ha Dairy farm in a sought after location This impressive 88.4 ha dairy unit, with four bedroom dwelling and ample out buildings, should be on your radar. 606 Waitara road is in the heart of Huirangi which is a very popular farming district.

This self-contained farm has flat to rolling contour and is in four titles leaving prospective purchasers plenty of options. Couple this with good fertile pastures and you have a great dairying investment or dry stock opportunity.

bayleys.co.nz/2600274

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 1pm, Wed 23 Oct 2019 15 Courtenay St, New Plymouth View 1-2pm Fri 27 Sep, Fri 4 Oct & Fri 11 Oct or by appointment Neville Moratti 027 440 9790 neville.moratti@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY TARANAKI LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Auction - Awatuna grazing opportunity Positioned in an excellent dairying province is 55.7904ha of prime Awatuna grazing land. The property is serviced by the Waimate West Water scheme, with a disused cow shed and yards, Good out buildings gives this property plenty of options. The three bedroom dwelling with sleepout has great bones. So if you have been looking for an excellent quality grazing block or run off then this opportunity is one you should seriously consider.

Tender (will not be sold prior) Closing 4pm, Mon 21 Oct 2019 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Tue 24 Sep Stuart Gudsell AREINZ 021 951 737 stuart.gudsell@bayleys.co.nz Mike Fraser-Jones 027 475 9680 mike.fraserjones@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Auction (unless sold prior) 1pm, Fri 18 Oct 2019 15 Courtenay St, New Plymouth View 1-2pm Thu 26 Sep, Thu 3 Oct & Thu 10 Oct or by appointment Neville Moratti 027 440 9790 neville.moratti@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY TARANAKI LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2600230

bayleys.co.nz

38

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

NEW LISTING

Boundary lines are indicative only

Cheviot 318 Sisters Road

Sheffield 3716 Old West Coast Road

Deer, support, finishing

'Westacre Farm'

Connemara is a well-tracked and fenced 167ha bareland property currently run as a dairy support unit, but also ideally suited to sheep and beef, or as it has been previously run, a 550-hind breeding unit. Well-farmed with a strong fertiliser history and pasture-renewal programme, it has around 90ha irrigated via two pivots and long lateral sprinklers. Good cattle yards and a centrallylocated deer shed accessed from a central lane-way, enable ease of management. This would be an excellent finishing adjunct to a larger property, or a stand-alone intensive unit. Numerous building sites provide panoramic mountain and hill views. Only 15km from Cheviot, this is the perfect property to farm and build your family home, or use as a run-off for your existing property.

Auction (unless sold prior) 12pm, Thu 3 Oct 2019 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Peter Foley 021 754 737 peter.foley@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5510713

Situated within one of Canterbury’s most well-regarded farming locations due to the soil quality, rainfall, and its proximity to local amenities and Christchurch City. 'Westacre Farm' is certainly a stand-out within this prime location, a proven history of growing quality crops and vegetables, along with fattening lambs and wintering cows. Good rainfall meaning lower irrigation costs and fertile Templeton and Barhill soils. Water supplied by the CPW (Sheffield) Irrigation Scheme. At the western end of the farm is the immaculately presented homestead perfectly positioned to ensure shelter whilst retaining stunning views. Our vendors will consider offers on the separate titles. 81.2533ha on the home block and 47.7706ha on the block at the Eastern end.

2

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 4pm, Fri 18 Oct 2019 3 Deans Avenue, Christchurch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225 craig.blackburn@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Shalloch dairy farm

Dunrobin - A trophy property

Oamaru 363 Peebles Siding Road • • •

DEADLINE SALE

DUNBACK 1750 State Highway 85 View By Appointment Dunrobin presents a unique opportunity to purchasers DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 31st October, 2019 at of a large scale 729 ha, specialist deer & beef breeding 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) property or potential suitability for fine wool or Greg Jopson forestry. Located at Dunback just 19km inland from Mobile 027 447 4382 Palmerston and 73 km from Dunedin to the south and Office 03 307 9196 gregj@pb.co.nz Oamaru to the north. Natural breeding country with tussock and spring fed creeks, close to all services & port access. The property is fully deer fenced to a high Merv Dalziel standard with well-planned subdivision of 5 blocks and Mobile 027 439 5823 5 paddocks plus lane system leading to the deer merv@pb.co.nz complex, cattle yards and woolshed.

pb.co.nz

1

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

211 Thames Street OAMARU Office 03 307 9176

WEB ID OMR70439

1

bayleys.co.nz/5510618

RURAL Property Brokers Limited Licensed REAA 2008

4

• • • • • •

pb.co.nz/OMR70300

134 ha (subject to survey) high performing Waitaki Plains dairy farm.

Totally flat and fully irrigated via wide laser levelled borders, with the majority of the borders on fence lines.

Well laned ensuring easy access to dairy with a variety of well established shelter belts, complete with duck pond and maimai.

36 aside HB dairy with Reed plant plus an in-shed feed system for grain 129 ha milking platform currently milking 495 cows producing 258,800 kgMS in the 2018/19 season (these figures include a further 8 ha not included in the sale).

Farm improvements include 2 x 8 bay calf rearing/implement sheds, 40 tonne grain silo plus a PK bunker.

Housing consists of 4 bedroom Oamaru Stone house with log fire and heat pump, 3 bedroom house with 2 x heat pumps and a 1 bedroom cottage with heat pump. All houses have garaging.

Ideally situated 20km from Oamaru.

This low cost irrigated property ($58 per ha/per annum) with majority Pukeuri Silt Loam soils and an appealing location is a must view.

DEADLINE SALE Deadline Sale closes Thu 24th Oct, 2019 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) Merv Dalziel Rural Sales Consultant M 027 439 5823 merv@pb.co.nz John Sinnamon Real Estate Manager M 027 457 0710 john.sinnamon@pggwrightson.co.nz

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Wainui - 607 ha

What a cracker!

WEB ID TOR69351 TOKOROA 726 State Highway 32 View By Appointment Adjacent to Tokoroa Downs dairy farms in the South Waikato District is this exceptional drystock / dairy support unit comprising 607.32 ha (subject to survey), being 535.36 ha effective.

Fenced into 97 paddocks with all improvements of a very high standard including all-weather lane access to all paddocks, reticulated trough water, Stockwell cattle yards with covered weigh and vet bail and 260-cow concreted yard. Nearby is a 4 bay tractor/implement shed and covered fertiliser bin located midway along the Paul O'Sullivan private access road.

Mobile 027 496 4417

BY NEGOTIATION

Office 07 280 8502 paulo@pb.co.nz

4

Mobile 027 321 1343 dougw@pb.co.nz

Dairy farm with subdivision options

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

WEB ID WGR70369 WHANGANUI 468A Kauangaroa Road View By Appointment TENDER closes Thursday 31st October, 2019 at 4.00pm, at Not often does a property with so many options and a Property Brokers Ltd, 51 Taupo Quay, Whanganui great location come to the market. Currently used as a runoff to the milking platform at 788 No 2 Line, the option to purchase both should be appealing. The past two seasons winter stocking figures have included 330 dairy cows, 72 R2Y heifers, 89 R1Y heifers, 112 mixed age beef cross cattle and 18 bulls, supplements grown include 200 tonnes maize, 100 tonnes grass silage and 44 bales of balage. The options include 41 ha of quality Mark Lourie river flats, free draining river silt soils suitable for grazing Mobile 027 273 3458 or horticulture.

Office 06 281 3714

TENDER

pb.co.nz

BY NEGOTIATION

Doug Wakelin

2

Grazing, forestry, bees or kiwifruit

Home 06 342 7734 markl@pb.co.nz

WEB ID TOR70313 WHAKAMARU 1957 State Highway 32 View By Appointment A 482 ha property, comprising 367 ha of effective dairy pasture, the balance in Eucalypt forest and native plantings along the wetlands. Past three seasons milking 950 jersey cows, with best production of 330,000 kgMS. This season there are 900 Friesians targeting Paul O'Sullivan 340,000 kgMS. Developed to a high standard, the 60 Mobile 027 496 4417 bail rotary is equipped with all the computerised Office 07 280 8502 technology needed for todays hi spec world. A full range paulo@pb.co.nz of support buildings adds to the easy management. 4 modern brick homes.

WEB ID WGR70367 WHANGANUI 788 No 2 Line View By Appointment Not often does an opportunity like this come to market TENDER closes Thursday 31st October, 2019 at 4.00pm, at Property Brokers Ltd, 51 Taupo Quay, Whanganui so close to town. This 132 ha dairy farm is situated just 5km from Whanganui in the highly regarded Fordell farming district, it boasts a sound four bedroom home with a combination of beautiful rolling hills and picturesque valleys, not to mention flat working platforms. This attractive proposition comes with all the trimmings and consists of 125 ha dairy platform currently milking 360 cows in a 24 a side HB shed. 2 x 3 Mark Lourie bay calf rearing and implement sheds, 65 paddocks.

Mobile 027 273 3458 Once a day average 98,805kgMS, twice a day average Office 06 281 3714 112,234kgMS. Home 06 342 7734

TENDER

markl@pb.co.nz

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

colliers.co.nz

Cabbage Tree Flat Station offers unique slice of Hawke’s Bay RURAL & LIFESTYLE

Located in a unique microclimate with Waimarama Beach at its doorstep, Cabbage Tree Flat Station presents an outstanding Hawke’s Bay farming and investment opportunity.

On the property are four dwellings: the main homestead, a three- and two-bedroom cottage and a newly built three-bedroom Lockwood home.

Colliers International Rural and Agribusiness experts Hadley Brown and Mike Heard are marketing the station by way of tender closing on Tuesday 22 October at 2pm.

The main home provides four bedrooms of comfortable family living. An open plan kitchen/lounge and dining area features a free-standing log fire and double doors that open out to an expansive 74.5sq m deck with stunning views over the station to the Pacific Ocean.

Comprising some 1,075ha of quality limestone country, Brown says the station is one of the best opportunities to secure a highly productive property with economic scale.

“The vendor is also currently farming a number of adjoining blocks that have been under long-term lease, which could mean an additional opportunity for the new owner to increase scale with less capital requirements.

“Located in a highly regarded farming district, just a 25-minute drive east of Havelock North and Hastings and within the Maraetotara Climate, it traditionally benefits from much higher rainfall than surrounding areas.

Subdivided into approximately 120 paddocks across eight titles, the farm is currently being run as a sheep breeding/finishing and cattle finishing farm.

The land contour is mainly easy rolling hills with excellent finishing flats and a portion of steeper hills that are ideal for breeding.

The farm is highly productive, which has been achieved through a comprehensive cropping and re-grassing programme that has been in effect for many years.

An additional feature of the property is the approximately 26 hectares that’s been consented for the irrigation of crops and stock finishing.

An abundant water supply is reticulated around the farm via a series of pumps and holding tanks as well as having troughs in most paddocks.

The home also has a separate office, games room, boot room, storage shed and carport.

All bedrooms have double wardrobes, while the master bedroom has an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

The three-bedroom cottage was built in the 1950s and renovated earlier in the year. It offers some 135sq m of living with an attached garage and recently added underfloor insulation.

A Lockwood home built on the property in 2018 provides another three bedrooms of accommodation. Located on its own 2.41ha title, there is the option to exclude from the purchase if required.

Building and stock facilities include two woolsheds, three sets of sheep yards, two of which have covered areas, four sets of cattle yards and three implement sheds.

Several storage sheds, lean to structures and garages completes the package of quality infrastructure and improvements on the station.

Heard says that discerning purchasers should enquire today to avoid disappointment.

“Cabbage Tree Flat Station is a truly stunning property offering exceptional quality and scale, that is hard to find.”

A high standard of both conventional and electric fencing and several laneway systems make for easy stock movement.

colliers.co.nz | 06 833 6437 COLLIERS RURAL SELLING FARMS • HORTICULTURE • VITICULTURE • LIFESTYLE CRHB Limited, Licensed under the REAA 2008

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42

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

OPEN DAY THURSDAY

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

VENDORS WANT THIS SOLD

TENDER

|

W E N

AFFORDABLE CROPPING/GRAZING

Waitotara Valley Road, Waitotara Are you looking for the perfect cropping/supplement block?

Or an entry level grazing block?

Tender Closes 4pm, Thursday 17 October 2019 at McDonald Real Estate Ltd 274 High Street, Hawera

If you are, this 23.3495 hectares (57.6978 acres) located approx.

6 km up the Waitotara Valley Road could be just what you are looking for! Currently being used to grow grain and with some improvement this property would be ideally suited to graze your young stock and/or perfect as a starter for your own beef stud!

With a drenching race plus loading ramp and a good hay barn and being flat in contour this block is sure to appeal.

Motivated Vendors look forward to your offer.

E C I PR

OFFERS OVER $750,000 + GST (IF ANY) CONICAL HILL, WEST OTAGO Rodney Perrett 027 241 3979

Web Ref SWG1906

17.1879 HA FH

Lifestyle block Well set up lifestyle block with fenced lanes to all paddocks leading to and from the sheds • Water troughs to all except one paddock • Very tidy and well maintained • Duck pond and maimai • Recreational hunting with deer and pigs close by in the Blue Mountains • Outstanding home kill facilities as shown in pictures • Small one stand older woolshed and basic cattle yards 39a Medway Street, Gore 9710 MARK WILSON p 03 208 9283 f 03 208 9284 e gore@swre.co.nz m 027 491 7078 e mark.wilson@swre.co.nz w www.southernwide.co.nz •

Open Days: Thursday 26 September 1:00pm - 1:30pm Thursday 3 October 1:00pm - 1:30pm Thursday 10 October 1:00pm - 1:30pm

eieio.co.nz # H00823

Gemma Heath 021 169 1010

LK0098055©

•

LIS TI N G N EW

WELL DEVELOPED BARELAND UNIT WITH ATTRACTIVE BUSH AND WETLAND AREAS 76 Brandon Hall Road, Bulls Located less than 2km from Bulls, significant development by the current owners over a long period has created a versatile, easy to run unit within the character the attractive bush and wetland areas provide.

A feature is the mix of soil types and contour here that provide season round options; flat silts over a clay/gravel base with over 40 hectares mown for silage and hay, often twice a year complement the highly consolidated, gentle sand ridges. These ridge soils have a significantly developed A horizon, while a large red metal pit has been the source of all tracking on the property. Completely re-fenced, re-watered and drained approx 15 years, a fully metalled ring race provides excellent access to the majority of paddocks. The robust water reticulation system resembles that of a dairy unit, with the farm having a range of sheds and cattle yards.

Well situated to support a Rangitikei or Manawatu based business, a plethora of building sites could make this your perfect spot to be building on, whether you are looking to step down and take it easy or want something easy to run as you have a busy off-farm life. Divided into four titles.

Open Days 11am, Tues 24 Sep & Fri 27 Sep 2019 (great access means 2WD vehicles are fine!), or call for a private inspection.

PRODUCTIVE SAND COUNTRY 909 Raumai Road, Bulls, Rangitikei 15km west of Bulls, this property comprises an approximate 209ha finishing component and 65ha of well-tended production forestry, with options around the trees. Essentially flat, the pastoral area comprises mainly wide plains with large areas of heavier Pukepuke sand and dryer Himatangi sand.

A very tidy woolshed/sheep yards, good lockable storage shedding, cattle load-out facilities and a great duck pond.

Call to inspect.

274.75 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2002959 Tender Closes 11am, Wed 9 Oct 2019, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

107.25 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2043197 Tender Closes 11am, Wed 16 Oct 2019, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

PREMIUM FINISHING BLOCK Riverbend, 73 Stoddartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road, Bideford, Masterton Riverbend is a 80 hectare finishing property boasting 43 hectares of redeveloped fertile flats, rolling cultivable hill paddocks and some medium hill country, complemented with a substantial home, stables, implement sheds, 3 stand woolshed with new sheep yards, hayshed and newish centrally located cattle yards. This premium unit is located just 10-15 minutes from Masterton in the renown Bideford farming district.

Offers Close 4pm, Thu 10 Oct 2019, (unless sold prior) NZR, Level 1, 16 Perry St, Masterton.

81.76 hectares (STFS) Video on website

nzr.nz/RX1866254

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

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

PRIME TATUA SUPPLY DAIRY FARM

FOX GLACIER – 170.1698HA

For Sale by Public Auction Friday 18th October 2019 Fox Glacier Heartland Hotel at 1pm

Greg Daly AREINZ 027 478 3594

Web Ref GDR3364223

122 No 9 Road, Waitoa Six titles of 186.5507 hectares. Made up of 159.42 hectares of Tatua supply dairy farm land and 27.13 hectares of adjoining prime support land.

This outstanding farm is located 15km North West of Morrinsville. Milking 700 cows with a four year production average of 395,456kg MS, with 339,697 Milksolids Supply Entitlements.

LK0099076©

Breeding and finishing block in renowned cattle country, South Westland. Majority area effective grazing. Half- round hay barn, fert bin, cattle yards.

Rarely do grazing properties of quality come to the open market in this highly desired location. www.gregdalyrealestate.co.nz

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

Mike Curragh AREINZ 027 959 1267 Real Estate Agent REAA 2008

“60 YEARS SERVICE TO FARMERS ON THE WEST COAST”

Also offered for sale are shares, livestock and a separate highly productive 49.77 hectare run-off property located at 538 Whakahoro Road (or otherwise by negotiation).

Improvements include four dwellings, 50 bail rotary cowshed, feed pad, bunkers, and full complement of farm support buildings, excellent subdivision, races and underpass.

Private Sale by Deadline Private Treaty closes Friday 18 October 2019 at 3pm To request an Information Memorandum please email: office@hoogeveen.co.nz

LK0099142©

44

06 323 3363 Farm & Lifestyle Sales 357 Kellow Road, Manawatu

TENDER

Yaldhurst 95 Ryans Road 4.6 Hectares Deadline Sale Lifestyle Property With Unsurpassed Quality.

Immaculate 360m2 two-storey home boasts four double-bedrooms plus office. Master bedroom downstairs with en-suite and walk-in wardrobe. Open plan living with double-sided gas fire and spacious modern kitchen. Remodelled private outdoor BBQ area and salt treated heated pool. Attached three car garage plus 2 x 3 bay, fully enclosed shed and extensive workshop. | Property ID RX2039363

Closing 2pm, Friday 18 October 2019 (no prior offers)

Contact Malcolm Garvan 027 678 8888

0800 200 600 | farmlandsrealestate.co.nz

OPEN FARM: Wednesday 2, 9 & 16 October 10.30am - Midday ▪ A well located 90.9ha dairy unit close to Rongotea & 24km from Palmerston North.

▪ Averaging 104,180kgMS over the past four years and 525kg per cow.

▪ A great balance of heavier flats and free draining consolidated sand soils enabling the 200 cows to be wintered on.

▪ A modern 20 aside herringbone dairy built in 2008 with a 300-cow capacity yard.

▪ Four bedroom house.

▪ In three titles: 42ha with the dairy shed, house and most of the other farm buildings ; 32ha and 16ha bareland. Tenders may be considered as a whole or combinations of.

Tenders Close 4.00pm Wednesday 6 November at our office 56 Stafford Street, Feilding Web ID RAL657

Robert Dabb

M 027 255 3992 E robertd@ruralandlifestylesales.com

Richard Anderson

M 027 543 1610 E richarda@ruralandlifestylesales.com

www.ruralandlifestylesales.com

THE DESTINATION FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE

Land is the biggest asset to any farming business so it pays to stay up to date with the market.

Connect with the right audience at

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

MATAMATA, WAIKATO 965 Tauranga Road Outstanding Dry Stock Property Without doubt one of the finest dry stock/fattening properties in the Waikato comes to the market. Immaculately presented, this 101.32 ha block (more or less) sits on the foothills of the Kaimai Ranges just 10 minutes from Matamata and 30 minutes to Tauranga. Comprising 100 paddocks and raced with flat to gentle rolling contour. The water supply is via a stream from the Kaimais and gravity fed to the farm. Infrastructure is impressive featuring state of the art cattle yards (500 head) plus draughting system, computer read out scales, crush and vet bale. A large concrete silage bunker plus effluent system, including a

stirrer and irrigator. There is ample shedding including a 7 bay implement shed plus another 4 bay haybarn. Currently carrying over 500 rising two-year old heifers, the property could have many land uses including equine, beef fattening and other options. Finally, a very well presented five bedroom homestead featuring a large open plan country kitchen, dining room, two spacious lounges, office, two bathrooms, three toilets and separate garage, all set in park like gardens with sealed drive and entrance way. Seldom do properties of this calibre come to the market. A must view!

5

2

4

AUCTION Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Wednesday 30 October 965 Tauranga Road, Matamata VIEW 12.00-2.00pm, Wednesday 25 September & 2 October Trevor Kenny M 021 791 643 E trevor.kenny@pggwrightson.co.nz

Michael Swney M 027 624 8214 E michaels@pb.co.nz

www.pggwre.co.nz/MAT30741

AUCTION

TAKAPAU, CENTRAL HAWKE'S BAY 39 Edgecombe Road Quality Farm - Quality Location • • • • • •

310.2049 ha (766 acres) approximately Mainly flat to gently rolling contour Well fenced, fertilised and watered Spacious four bedroom home plus three bedroom cottage Excellent shedding 31 kilometres south of Waipukurau

AUCTION

Plus GST (if any) 2.00pm, Tuesday 22 October Waipukurau Club

VIEW By Appointment Only

Max Lyver M 027 597 5818 | B 06 858 6780 E mlyver@pggwrightson.co.nz pggwre.co.nz/WPK31025 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

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

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under the REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

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Helping grow the country

NZ’s #1 Agri Job Board

Senior Shepherd – 1010ha Hauhungaroa 2C Block Incorporated is a breeding and finishing property located on the Western Shores of Lake Taupo. An opportunity has arisen for a Senior Shepherd to assist the Farm Manager and Shepherd in the day-to-day management of this semi intensive property.

This breeding and finishing property runs 6500 ewes and 800 cattle with a focus on finishing a high percentage of stock. While significant development has been undertaken over the years there is a heavy focus on further improvement which offers the right candidate the opportunity to be part of this journey.

This is a great opportunity for an innovative thinker to work with the Manager and help maximise productivity and business profit. You will be able to bring the following to the role: • Exceptional stockmanship and an eye for detail • Self-motivated, honest and reliable • A great attitude • Four to five working dogs • The ability to take charge and make decisions in accordance with management policies • An accurate record keeping and good communicator In return we offer a competitive remuneration package, a 3-bedroom home within close proximity to a primary school and a supportive team environment.

To find out more, phone Cam Brown evenings on 07 386 5652 Send your CV with references to: rotorua@agfirst.co.nz noting REF#H2C before 30th September 2019

LIVESTOCK PROCUREMENT AND MARKETING MANAGER

WE ARE THE SOLUTION

Brownrigg Agriculture is a significant privately owned farming operation in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. The Brownrigg livestock business pivots around lamb finishing along with significant Wagyu genetic/breeding and bull finishing programmes. The focus and efficiency of our procurement and marketing strategy sits at the very heart of our ongoing success.

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

GET IN TOUCH

For all your employment ads Debbie 06 323 0765 classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Reporting to the GM Livestock, you will be managing the livestock procurement and marketing programmes and functions. You will be responsible for the daily management of livestock contracts ensuring well-aligned supply of both the volumes and classes needed to meet customer requirements. You must be a strong relationship builder connecting farm staff, livestock agents, market customers, and leading New Zealand meat processing companies.

While office based, you will also be comfortable out and about on farms and in the yards. You must be commercially savvy, comfortable with technology, have strong analytical skills, have a high engagement level to be able to build credibility, cement relationships and secure livestock at the right price and time, while staying close to the ever-changing livestock markets.

KING ISLAND, Tasmania A full-time Overseer and Farmhand(s) positions are available on a large family owned property at King Island, Tasmania. All applicants must have experience in the cattle industry, be enthusiastic with a great attitude, have good communication skills and be willing to work alone or as part of a team. All positions are available for an immediate start.

We are flexible about your experience: an Agri degree and/or experience in farming, Agri-business or livestock agency would be highly regarded.

You may be a graduate with 5 plus years of experience or a proven livestock industry manager looking for a change.

This is an excellent opportunity to take a pivotal role in our business, joining our management team based in the stunning Poukawa Valley.

Go to our website to see further details and apply online: www.brownrigg.co.nz

Email your CV and cover letter to jobs@brownrigg.co.nz For further information or enquiries please contact Brent on 024 777 046

Parengarenga Station

Are you a passionate farmer keen on progressive farming practice?

Do you like fishing, hunting and having family time in the great outdoors?

Have we got a role for you!!!!!!

Come North to Parengarenga Harbour and work for us on Parengarenga Station as our new Stock Team Leader.

The station is 5100 effective hectares of rolling pasture, 37,000 stock units of premium Angus, Charolais, Hereford cross and an early lambing Texel /Dorsett flock.

We have already a team of four talented shepherds and a great Station Manager whom is highly qualified in farming and land optimisation.

The total farm staff is 14 persons and only recently we launched our own 9-man forestry harvesting operation.

On farm we do our own excavations, own drainage, own fencing and own water reticulation and we have a substantial workshop to service all our machinery so wherever possible we aim to be self-sufficient.

We are growing our cross-sector development in apiculture by planting 100,000 Manuka each year and have launched an amazing new development in BioChar to enhance pasture and animal growth.

This role comes with spacious accommodation and fresh farm meat wrapped up in a great lifestyle for the family.

From the gate transport to local schools and a local village just 20 minutes down the road with Kaitaia only 40 minutes away. We stretch from coast to coast, so it is never far to a beach and that fabulous white Northland sand.

You will be working for Parengarenga Incorporation and helping with the delivery of our strategic plan towards excellence in farming, forestry, apiculture, horticulture and tourism.

Auckland Council’s farming operation spans across 19 Regional Park locations throughout the Auckland region and at 1430ha is thought to be one of the world’s largest urban farming enterprises.

The farming operations comprise 6650 sheep/1200 cattle in total, both breeding and finishing. Stock class management, breed type, stocking rates and sheep to cattle ratio are set on the best fit for managing public land without compromising the park resources and wider objectives.

Dairy Grazing Herd Manager

This Regional Work Programme Coordinator (RWPC) role is the logistics pivot point for the operational aspects of this farming business. Auckland Council farming has many outcomes that sit outside a typical farming business and this role is to deliver the seamless continual improvement process that has been adopted. The appointee will be responsible for the management of commercial leases, overseeing physical works contracts and will work with key stakeholders to organise critical times in the farming calendar. Delivering programmes such as repairs and maintenance, farm asset maintenance and capital projects such as fencing are all part of this organisational role. There must be excellent cohesion and alignment between those operationally farming and the RWPC as this will drive the culture internally and externally across the region.

WHL Group is a large Dairy Farming business based in the Mid and South Canterbury areas. Our expanding Dairy Grazing operation is run across 900ha of rolling hills 10 minutes from the strong farming community of Pleasant Point, 25 minutes from Timaru.

We require a motivated person to join our team who excels in pasture management and stock health, working under guidance of the Operations Manager to achieve targets and drive performance. We have a culture that is supported by like-minded individuals that are passionate about farming.

To be effective in this role the appointee will have a sound understanding of farming systems and will have knowledge of how a programme might be deployed across the regional parks. Your ability to develop strong relationships and work across multiple workstreams with prioritised actions will ensure your success in this position and ultimately Auckland Council Farm Business.

The property raises over 3700 replacement heifers and some dairy beef for placement back to our dairy farms. This is a high performance farm with cropping programs in place plus 80ha irrigation to maximise outputs and achieve outstanding breeding/ growth results. We utilise modern machinery and technology to maximise production.

You must have an open and forward-thinking mind as the environment we farm in is diverse and challenging.

Applications close 5pm Monday, 7th October 2019.

For further information and a Position Description, contact our Station Manager at station@parengarenga.co.nz..

This position would suit someone wanting to learn and advance their career towards farm management with opportunities to grow within the company. An agriculture qualification preferred with opportunities to advance learning

LK0099340©

Above all, your stock management and animal welfare knowledge must be of the highest standard.

To view a Job Information Pack or to apply, please visit www.ruraldirections.co.nz or phone the Rural Directions team in confidence on 06 871 0450 (Reference #8002).

Applications close at 5 pm, Friday 27th September 2019

If you wish to apply for the above positions, please send your CV and cover letter to waverleyoffice@waverleystation.com Please stipulate in your application which position you are applying for. All applications will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

Auckland Council stands for excellent environmental, social and farming outcomes and has committed a specialised business unit to ensure the farming strategy is executed. Apply your logistical and relationship expertise to this farming business where quality land, livestock, infrastructure and the best people are central to its goals.

We are looking for a person with a minimum of 10 years’ experience at a senior level, whom has met and exceeded the challenges of past farming roles. You are a team leader; and a coach and you are conversant with modern farming practice. You must be computer literate, have business acumen particularly in cash flow forecasting and be familiar with up to date farming systems such as FarmAx and FarmIQ.

The successful applicant will be offered a competitive salary relative to knowledge and experience.

An attractive remuneration package will be negotiated based on individuals’ skills and experience.

Regional Work Programme Coordinator Auckland Council

Are you keen to be part of the Northland scene?

Overseer position The successful applicant will demonstrate: • Experience with pasture management and animal husbandry • The ability to work methodically and autonomously • The ability to adapt to new on-farm technologies • Effective leadership and people management skills Farmhand positions Duties include but not limited to: • Handling livestock • Checking and repairing water infrastructure • Fencing • General farm duties

LEADING ROLE – STOCK TEAM LEADER

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Applicants for this position must have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa and will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

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RECRUITMENT & HR Register to receive job alerts on www.ruraldirections.co.nz

The successful applicant must: • Ideally tertiary qualified but not necessary • Have high level analytical and interpersonal skills • Motivated by stock and farm presentation • A full NZ drivers licence A tidy 3 bedroom house available on farm, school bus at gate.

Please email cv and cover letter to: dan@whlgroup.co.nz Applications close September 27, 2019 For more information contact Daniel Holt – Operations Manager 021 666 306

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

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46

Agri Job Board

Noticeboard

We run an Angus cattle stud, have an annual 2-year-old bull sale on the property, and also run a Romney stud and sell rams in the late spring.

The successful applicant will need 2-3 fully broken working dogs. They will need some experience in stock work, fencing, tractor work and enjoy a variety of work within the 5000su property.

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The position would include a comfortable 4 bedroom sunny house. There is a primary school right next door and college buses in the area.

Wainuioru is a great rural community.

For more information email: oregonangusstud@gmail.com

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance.

Unbeatable pricing.

Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

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

ATTENTION FARMERS

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

JOBS BOARD Cadet Manager Positions

FAST GRASS www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT Only $6.00 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 brianmace@xtra.co.nz DAGS .25c PER KG. Replacement woolpacks.

PV Weber Wools.

Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

Dairy Farm Assistant Farming Operations Manager

IF YOU’RE THINKING of logging your pine woodlot, our totally independent assessment will tell you what you’ve got, what its worth, and how to achieve your share. Contact Ray Hindrup 027 353 4515 or hindrup.logs@gmail.com.

BOOK AN AD. For only $2.10 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80 to book in.

Fencer/General Livestock Procurement Livestock Saleyard Manager Manager Overseer and Farmhands Regional Work Programme Coordinator

GRAZING AVAILABLE

JOHN DEERE 6410, 6600, 6610, 6800, 6900, dismantling Andquiparts.

Phone 027 524 3356.

DOGS FOR SALE VIEW DOGS on video.

Deliver, trial, guaranteed. www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

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

QUICK SALE! No one buys or pays more NZ Wide! 07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

FARM MAPPING FOCUS ON YOUR strengths with a farm map showing paddock sizes.

Contact us for a free quote at farmmapping.co.nz or call us on 0800 433 855.

FOR SALE RAM PUMP, brand new with fittings. $800. Phone 03 526 8883. Evenings.

SERIOUS INCINERATORS. Heavy duty long lasting. w w w. i r o n t r e e p r o d u c t s . co.nz Phone 021 047 9299.

GOATS WANTED GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds.

Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten.

Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

Senior Leadership Roles

STOCK FEED HAY 12 EQUIVALENT squares $70. STRAW 12 equivalent squares $55.

BALEAGE at $80. Unit loads available. Phone 021 455 787.

NOVEMBER TO MARCH. Adult beef dairy cattle.

Located Central Hawke’s Bay. Phone 06 855 5039.

HORTICULTURE NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp.

The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

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

HEREFORD BULLS, purebred yearlings. BDV negative and vaccinated.

Phone 027 4944 262.

PROPERTY WANTED HOUSE FOR REMOVAL wanted.

North Island.

Phone 021 0274 5654.

PUMPS 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

Senior Technical Advisor

LAMB DOCKING / TAILING CHUTE

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

4X4 TAGALONG TOURS

TRACTOR PARTS

UTE MATS UTE MATS. Non slip, durable easy to clean mats to fit any ute. For a free quote contact Burgess Matting & Surfacing Ltd. 0800 808 570. website: www.burgessmatting.co.nz

WANTED TO BUY

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

Tour 1: Molesworth Station, St James, and Rainbow Stations Dates 2019: Oct 21-24 Dates 2020: Jan 13-16, Feb 22-25, March 1-4, March 15-18, April 5-8 Tour 2: D’Urville Island and Marlborough High Country Dates 2019: Dec 1-5 Dates 2020: March 22-26 Other dates available for either tour for groups on request.

Ph: 03 314 7220 Mob: 0274 351 955 Email info@southislandtoursnz.com www.southislandtoursnz.com

WANTED TO BUY small bulldozer, up to 4 tonne, with good tracks and steering clutches. Phone 027 8444 610.

DOLOMITE 2019 Notice of Election NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call ....

0800 436 566

SCOTTY’S CONTRACTORS NZ’s #1 Under Woolshed/Covered Yards Cleaning Specialist For Over A Decade Now in Manawatu area

We also clean out and remetal cattle yards – Call us!

Nominations for board members are called. Two are to represent forests larger than 1000 hectares and one member for forests less than 1000 hectares.

GO TO Forestvoice.org.nz for a NOMINATION FORM or email: glen.mackie@nzfoa.org.nz

www.underthewoolshed.kiwi

Ph: Scott Newman 027 26 26 272 0800 27 26 88

to FGLT Board

Nominations close 5pm Friday 4 October.

Join the

World’s Biggest Reserve Bench

NEXT BLOOD DRIVE

T H IN K PRE B U I L T

Shepherd

VETMARKER

Dargaville, Monday Mangawhai, Tuesday Warkworth, Wednesday

Shepherd / General Stock Manager

NEW HOMES

Are you a rural professional keen to learn the art of facilitation?

Stock Team Leader *FREE upload to Farmers Weekly jobs: farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz *conditions apply

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

Monday 7 October 1:00pm – 6:00pm

SOLID – PRACTICAL WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

Tuesday 8 October 12:00pm – 5:00pm Wednesday 9 October 10:00am – 3:00pm

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

Gain an understanding of what facilitation is all about and the skills required to effectively facilitate groups and learning on our two-day practical workshop.

Cost $500 + GST

NOTICEBOARD ADVERTISING

Copthorne Hotel Palmerston North 12-13 February 2020

Call or email us for your free copy of our plans Email: info@ezylinehomes.co.nz Phone: 07 572 0230 Web: www.ezylinehomes.co.nz

Register now or find out more www.rmpp.co.nz or call 027 565 7887

Have something to sell?

Advertise in Farmers Weekly Phone Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

2 YEAR WARRANTY. NZ ASSEMBLED. ELECTRIC START & QUALITY YOU CAN RELY ON 13.5HP. Briggs & Stratton Motor. Electric start.

1.2m cut

TOWABLE TOPPING MOWER

TOWABLE FLAIL MOWER GST $4400 INCLUSIVE

12Hp Diesel. Electric Start

Information packs are available for the 2019/20 season 11.5HP Briggs & Stratton Motor.

Industrial. Electric start.

GST $4200 INCLUSIVE

50 TON WOOD SPLITTER

GST $4200 INCLUSIVE

To find out more visit www.moamaster.co.nz

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

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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a new Saleyard Manager to join our Tuakau Saleyard team.

You will be responsible for carrying out the management of day-to-day Saleyard operations, running of livestock sales, and repairs and maintenance to the facility.

The applicant must have experience in handling livestock, people management and have excellent communication and organisational skills.

This role requires knowledge and management skills of the compliance issues relevant to the saleyards environment. Ongoing training is available to the successful applicant.

This is a salaried position 40 hours/4-day work week with an agreed overtime rate. Remuneration will reflect the successful applicant’s experience. Position start date November/early December.

If this sounds like an opportunity for you, please email your CV and cover letter, or any questions to mhull@associatedauctioneers.co.nz or phone 027 777 8285

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LIVESTOCK SALEYARD MANAGER – TUAKAU SALEYARD

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Commodore Airport Hotel Christchurch 6-7 November 2019

TE KUITI LIVESTOCK CENTRE

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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

DEERLAND TRADING LTD buying deer velvet this season and paying above the average. Also contractor required to buy deer velvet. Payment on commission basis. Contact 021 269 7608.

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

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An opportunity has arisen for a Shepherd General, at Morland Estate in the Wairarapa.

We are situated 20km east of Masterton, in Wainuioru.

DEERLAND TRADING LTD

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OREGON ANGUS AND ROMNEY STUD

ANIMAL HANDLING

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SHEPHERD GENERAL

info@nzadventures.co.nz Ph: 03 218 8569 027 550 6727 or 027 435 4267

www.nzadventures.co.nz

48

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

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

S

STOCK FOR SALE FRSN BULL CALF CONTRACTS Nov Del

18MTH FRSN HERE STEERS 380kg STOCK REQUIRED

Nikau Coopworth has confidence in a vibrant sheep industry

YOUNG EWES with LAF 1YR FRSN BULLS 170-260kg

2YR FRSN BULLS 450-520kg 1YR ANG & A X HEIFERS 250-300kg

Efficient productive ewes with high disease tolerance and low drench input has been the successful policy of Nikaus breeding program for over 40 years

2YR ANG & ANG X STEERS 450-540kg

Tackle FE head on and reduce ewe wastage, increase weaning % Maximize refugia and protect the effective life of your drenches – top FEC genetics and no drench ewe flock.

Sale on Monday 4 November Tuakau Saleyards

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 Increase lamb Survival and Weaning Weight great mothering ability and milk production Successfully mate hoggets

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

www.nikaucoopworth.co.nz  09 2333 230 QUALITY IN MILK SALE 11.00 AM 26th SEPTEMBER 632 TE KAWA RD, TE AWAMUTU D & S FORSYTHE Currently in their 40th Season 550 In milk Fr & XB Cows consisting of: 55 In milk Spring Calved Cows 130 In milk Autumn Calved unmated Cows 370 In Milk & In Calf Autumn Calving Cows In Calf to 5½ weeks of AB-A2 Bulls 2½ weeks run with Hfd Bull DTC 8/3/20 - 3/5/20 G3 profiled and A2 Cows have been identified, average BW69 PW102 RA 97%, TB C10, Lepto Inoculated, AV 455 m/s per cow, has produced up to 550 m/s per cow, currently doing 1.9 m/s per cow.

Bulk SCC 125.

These cows come forward in very good condition ready to produce!!

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Lunch will be provided.

View Listing: mylivestock.co.nz WAI74058 for photos and profiles Enquiries to Steve Morton 027 246 5165

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Payment deferred until 20th October and finance available (terms and conditions apply).

Have you got a bull sale coming up?

Advertise in Farmers Weekly To advertise Phone Andrea 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@globalhq.co.nz

2523 RAM SALES

Deliver your ram sale messaging to every farm letterbox nationwide with a weekly publication that farmers choose first for news, opinion, market updates and even their own advertising.

For further information contact our Noticeboard sales team on 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@globalhq.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

Livestock

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

49

RIVERLEE HEREFORDS

Spring Bull Sale 30th September 2019, 11am Held under cover on farm 2354 Rangiwahia Rd Rangiwahia, Manawatu

YEARLING SPECKLE PARK BULL SALE

33 2yr Polled Hereford Bulls 35 1yr Polled Hereford Bulls BRED FOR CALVING EASE, MODERATE BIRTH WEIGHT AND TEMPERAMENT.

2nd October 2019, 12pm 400 Brunskill Road, Cambridge

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Selling Agents: NZ Farmers Livestock: John Watson 027 494 1975 Carrfields Livestock: Hamish Manthel 027 432 0298

www.herefords.co.nz

Enquiries & Visitors Welcome Murray & Fiona Curtis 06 328 2881 or 027 228 2881

Email: mfcurtis@farmside.co.nz

MEADOWSLEA ANGUS Spring Bull Sale

FRIDAY 4th OCTOBER 2019 1pm, on-farm Fairlie

Meadowslea F540 - ranked 3rd for Short Gestation Top 10% breed – Calving Ease, Short Gest, Low Birth Wt, Days to Calve, Scrotal, Milk, Rib and Rump Fat

55th Annual Hereford Bull Sale

Offering:

Wednesday 25th September, 12noon

(BLNZ Dairy Beef Progeny Test July 2018)

40 2yr Angus Bulls 60 1yr Angus Bulls

Top picks included from leading bloodlines

ON FARM - LUNCHEON PROVIDED 660 Ngaroma Rd, 26km off SH3, Sth East of Te Awamutu.

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Selected for mating Cows and Heifers

Featuring Low birth weights with calving ease, suitable for both Beef and Dairy Strong NZ Bloodlines with powerful maternal & fertility traits and exceptional rib & rump fats All bulls tested clear for EBL and BVD and vaccinated

Vendor: D S Giddings 03 685 8027 www.meadowslea.co.nz Auctioneers: PGW: John McCone 027 229 9375 PWA: Madison Taylor 021 656 851 6% purchasing commission to all other companies

34 TOP YEARLING BULLS & 70 2-YEAR OLD BULLS

60 YEARLING BULLS SALE THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER - 2019 1PM

Sound bulls with exceptional temperament • Full EBV details in catalogue.

Selection of Short Gestation & Low Birth weights.

Bulls ideal for Beef & Dairy. • Free delivery 80kms.

KELVIN & CYNTHIA PORT • P: 07 872 2628 • M: 022 648 2417 E: kelvin@bushydowns.co.nz • Web: www.bushydowns.co.nz ROBERT & MARIAN PORT • P: 07 872 2715

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING Advertise your stock sales in Farmers Weekly

farmersweekly.co.nz

Rearing Calves?

Think PINK!

Pinebank

Glanworth

70 Yearling Bulls

by Private Treaty from October

35 Yearling Bulls

by Auction 3rd October – 12 Noon Viewing from 10.30am

CONTACT WILLIE Ph 06 372 7041 falloon.waigroup@xtra.co.nz

CONTACT SHAUN Ph 06 376 8869 Glanworthfarm@gmail.com glanworthangus

anguswaigroup.co.nz

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Only calves sired by a registered Murray Grey bull wear the PINK tag.

Take the guess work out of your calf selection.

For more information contact Mike Phillips on 027 404 5943 or visit: www.murraygreys.co.nz

BREEDING ANGUS BULLS FOR HEIFER MATING YOU CAN TRUST

50

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

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

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

BEXLEY HEREFORD 10TH ANNUAL YEARLING BULL SALE

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

All home Bred Bulls 27th September 2019 - 12 Noon A/C Colin & Carol King Awakino Gorge SHW 3 50 Hereford Bulls 470kg av, 421 to 582kg 20 Angus Yearling Bulls

Conditions apply

BVD Tested & Vaccinated, TB Tested, C10 Viewing from 10am

There’s no substitute for Romney substance

Contact Grant Ross 021 174 8403 Carrfields

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Brent Bougen 027 210 4698 NZ Farmers Steve Sutton 027 442 3207 NZ Farmers

MEMBERS

P Cook, Kerikeri M & S Quinn, Kaikohe A Priest, Hikurangi P Morresey, Dargaville G Levet, Wellsford M. Finlay, Waimauku J Kuizinas, Waihi C Swann, Raglan K Haywood, Piopio H Tucker & Co, Aria T Johnson, Ohura C Dempsey, Owhango M Forlong, Owhango K Abbott, Raglan

FA Crawford, Ohinewai

Colin & Carol King 06 752 9863

Murvale Farm Ltd, Ohinewai Hillcroft Ltd, Ohinewai

COMPRISING OF: 150 Fsn & Fsn X in-milk cows BW 105, PW 133, R/a 100% Herd test data available Cow 156 contracted to LIC DETAILS: • TB C10 – M Bovis not detected & BVD negative • All In-Milk – in rotary shed twice daily • 4th Annual Auction – 1st & 2nd calvers • High selection criteria and only sourced from South Taranaki AUCTIONEERS NOTE: All cows personally guaranteed by our Vendors offering 1 week trial. The cows are purchased to supply calf milk, then sold. The offering includes a CRL of heifers from M/S R & H Whyte whom sold their outstanding herd last season – bred to LIC 40yrs+.

PAYMENT TERMS:

Deferred payment to 20th January 2020

Reeves Farm Ltd, Ngaruawahia C Brears, Ongarue

Contact your local Carrfields Agent for details & photos Carrfields Agent: Brent Espin 027 551 3660

ANNUAL YEARLING BULL SALE TWIN OAKS ANGUS STUD A/c Roger & Susan Hayward

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

ON FARM Thursday 26th September 2019 163a Clemett Road, RD1, Ngaruawahia Start time: 1.00pm COMPRISING OF:

Long Established In-Milk Herd Auction

50x R1 Bulls

A/c AR (Russell) Thomson Date: Thursday 3rd October 2019 Address: 145 Judge Road, Te Awamutu Start time: 11.30am (under cover) Complementary BBQ lunch provided

Bred for performance, maternal, production.

MID-NORTHERN ROMNEYS

The Catalogue has a mix of bulls with over 80% suitable for heifer mating.

This sale is going into recess. We are grateful for the clients and vendors who have supported us over the last 34 years.

A selection of rams from the Mid-Northern Group will be offered at the Te Kuiti Sale November 18, 2019.

VENDORS: Roger & Susan 07 828 2131 PGGW AGENT: Richard Johnston 027 444 3570 CARRFIELDS AGENT: Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131

BEECHWOOD, RICHON, LEES VALLEY, WOODBURN HEREFORDS W OOD B UR N S PE CKL E PAR K / H ER EF ORD S

2nd ANNUAL YEARLING BULL SALE

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Brent Bougen NZ Farmers Livestock 07 848 2544, 0272 104 698

Contact:

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Cam Heggie PGG Wrightson Stud Stock 0275 018 182

A/c Troy Stevenson Date: Friday 4th October 2019 Address: 437 Patiki Rd, Pihama, South Taranaki Start time: 11.30am (under cover) Complementary BBQ lunch provided

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MEMBERS

Outstanding Young In-Milk Cow Auction

COMPRISING OF: 120 Predominantly Jersey & Jersey X Cows BW 118/42, PW 183/56, R/a 97% Cows will be A2A2 identified DETAILS: • TB C10 – M Bovis not detected & BVD negative • All cows calved, in-milk – milked OAD • Farmed on wet to rolling country • 3rd best conception rate, in local vet club • System 1 feeding, HB shed, HTested on 6/9 • 3 GP available on request AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Russell is a very good farmer and loves his cows. The cows are a good size and have capacity to produce. Totally recommend you can purchase with confidence. The cows will be presented in good condition, in the best of health to maximise mating conceptions.

Being sold as unmated.

PAYMENT TERMS: Deferred payment to 20th November 2019 Contact your local Carrfields Agents for details & photos Carrfields Agents: Kelly Higgins 027 600 2374 Mike McKenzie 027 674 1159 Vendor: Russell 027 600 2959

T U E S D AY 8 T H O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

At 2pm – Viewing from 12pm

7 7 M A S K E L L S R O A D, A M B E R L E Y

Vendor Contact: Rob Burrows: 027 263 3582 76 Yearling Herford Bulls For Sale Rob Stokes: 027 757 1673 8 Speckle Park/Hereford Bulls For Sale Helen Molloy: 027 203 3854

All BVD/EBL Tested and Vaccinated

Agent Contact: Anthony Cox: 027 208 3071

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Old Adam walks into a confessional, ‘I am 92 years old and widowed after having a wonderful life with my darling wife of 70 years. I’ve many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Yesterday, I picked up two women hitch-hiking. We went to a motel, where I did things to them that I haven’t done in years, and three times!!’

The Priest asked: ‘Are you sorry for your sins?’

Adam replied: ‘What sins?’

The Priest exclaimed: ‘What kind of a Catholic are you?’

‘I’m Jewish,’ he replied. ‘Then why are you telling me all this?’ asked the Priest.

Adam grinned and said, ‘I’m 92 years old, I’m telling everybody!’

Supplied by Lindsey Thompson

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

with Farmers Weekly PHONE ANDREA 0800 85 25 80

Livestock

Gisborne Angus & Carrfields Livestock are pleased to announce

AUsTREX NZ LTD

Resurgam Angus Inaugural Yearling Angus Bull Sale

LIVEsTOCK EXPORTERs

BUYING NOW

Sean & Jodi Brosnahan On A/c Waitangihia Station Ltd, Waikura Valley Matawhero Saleyards – Friday 4th of October 2019 At completion of sheep sale or approximately 12.30pm

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Auctioneers Note These R1 bulls come to the public from NZ’s most remote farming area. They are truly station bred from hill country and are mainly NZ genetics. They are of impeccable temperament, soundness, type. 100% grass only – no haylage.

Never seen a flat paddock. Closed herd. TB = C10.

For Further Inquiries: Sean & Jodi Brosnahan Waitangihia Station Neville Clark – Auctioneer 0275 986 537 06 864 4468, 021 997 519 Bruce Orr – Stud Stock 0274 922 122 resurgamangus Andrew Gordon – 0274 872 044 www.resurgamangus.com

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

HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN Yearling Heifers F8 to F11 & F12 to F16 Chance Mated November Delivery FOR CHINA EXPORT Enquiries to:Paul Tippett 027 438 1623 Colin Jordan 027 667 0903 David Kelk 027 644 1285 or contact your Agent www.austrex.com

Bid, buy, sell all things rural

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

CHEVIOT SPRING CATTLE SALE Cheviot Saleyards, Friday 4th October, 10.30am

Further inquiries to:

Enquiries: Grant Midgley 0274 446 886 Callum Dunnett (Carrfields) 0275 870 131 Jonty Hyslop (PGGW) 0275 956 450

Nic Denton (Pggw) 027 4344094 Jon Waghorn (Hazlett) 027 4620121

Key: Dairy

HIGH QUALITY IN MILK SALE

IN MILK CLEARING SALE

XBRED/FRSN IN MILK SALE

Tuesday 1st October 11.00am On Farm: 18 Hairini Road, RD5, Te Awamutu. A/C JM & KD Nicholson Comprising: 250 Frsn/Frsn X Spring Calved In Milk Cows.

BW 9 PW 30 RA 30% SCC 72.

Long established herd producing 2.1 m/s last season 340 m/s at factory on system 2.

Herd test figures available.

AB bred for over 30yrs using nominated.

CRV & A2 bulls for the last 6 years.

Predominantly young herd showing excellent confirmation & will come forward in good order. Milked in a H/B shed.

C10, EBL Free, & MBovis tested clear.

Catalogues available at www.agonline.co.nz Vendor Contact: John & Karen 027 503 8058 Agent Contacts: Chris Ryan 027 243 1078 Andrew Reyland 027 223 7092

Tuesday 24th September 11.30am

Wednesday 25th September 11.30am Morrinsville Saleyards. A/C St Isadore Farm Selling pick of 100 XBred/Frsn In Milk cows out of 160 cows. Herd BW 61 PW 70 RA 77%.

Herd tested 3rd September, ave 1.94 m/s SCC 87.

BWs up to 154 PWs 241 LW 509.

Top cow producing 2.70 m/s.

All cows 6yr & younger, have been A2 tested (awaiting results).

TB C10, EBL Free, BVD Neg, MBovis not detected. Further details to follow.

Contact: Dean Evans 027 243 1092

A/C SP & SL Coombe On Farm: 609 Tahuna Road, RD4, Ohinewai T/N 71829 Comprising: 250 Friesian/Friesian X & Ayrshire Spring In Milk Cows.

Due to our vendors relinquishing a neighboring lease the spring calving herd will be offered for auction.

These Ambreed cows have an average BW 19 PW 48 RA 90%.

The cows are currently producing 1.96 milk solids per cow, 4.3 fat test & 3.5 protein - averaging 25 litres per cow.

Individual BW’s up to 146 & PW’s up to 354.

KAURI DOWNS YEARLING ANGUS BULL SALE

TB Status C10, EBL free & MBovis milk tested clear.

Wednesday 25th September 12.30pm

Catalogues available on www.agonline.co.nz

Secure your bull team now

Vendor Enquires: Shane 027 2964885 Agent Enquiries: Allan Jones 027 224 0768 Andrew Reyland 027 223 7092

pggwrightson.co.nz/deferabull

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

On offer will be; • 50 Yearling Murray Grey Bulls • 35 Yearling Angus Bulls • 20 Yearling Hereford Bulls • 20 Yearling Angus/Hereford x Bulls All bulls are EBL, BVD & Lepto Vaccinated and BVD boosted.

Herd is M Bovis Negative.

A line of very well grown, forward bulls, suitable for Heifer or Cow mating.

6% Purchaser Rebate available

700 traditional bred yearling steers 250 traditional bred yearling heifers

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

If you’re in search of quality cows we encourage you to attend this fixture.

Recorded Friesian yearlings.

Paying top price.

Convert your low BW or late born heifers into cash.

Call Brian Riddle on 027 490 6146

Friday 11th October 2019. Commencing 1pm Signposted from SH8, Twizel, Ben Ohau Road Viewing from 10am.

Wednesday night – North Island Weekly Sale

Thursday night – Feature Auction, Waitaha Station R1 Dispersal Sale 150 Angus & Angus Hereford X steers 170 Angus & Angus Hereford X heifers

WANTED TO BUY

ON FARM BULL SALE GRANTLEIGH FARMS LTD, TWIZEL – C10

Weekly Auctions

Thursday night - South Island Weekly Sale & Spring Cattle Fair 110 yearling bulls 90 yearling Angus steers 60 yearling Angus heifers 25 2 year beef X steers 25 2 year beef X heifers

51

LK0099348©

FARMERS WEEKLY – September 23, 2019

Cattle

Sheep

Other

Talk to your local PGG Wrightson Livestock rep about buying and selling on bidr .

468 Waihi Whangamata Road, Waihi Comprising: • 26 Yearling Recorded Bulls • 4 Grade Yearling Bulls grade • 1 2yr Bull These are performance bulls.

Contact:

Bid, buy, sell all things rural

Dave Stuart 027 224 1049 Rhys Mellow 027 664 5143

FIND US ON INSTAGRAM Follow instagram.com/pgwlivestock

Helping grow the country

MARKET SNAPSHOT

52

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Suz Bremner

Mel Croad

Nicola Dennis

Cattle

Reece Brick

Caitlin Pemberton

Sheep

BEEF

William Hickson

Deer

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

6.00

6.00

5.90

NI lamb (17kg)

8.60

8.60

8.45

NI Stag (60kg)

9.40

9.30

11.40

NI Bull (300kg)

5.70

5.70

5.50

NI mutton (20kg)

5.55

5.55

5.20

SI Stag (60kg)

9.30

9.20

11.40

NI Cow (200kg)

4.60

4.60

4.45

SI lamb (17kg)

8.45

8.35

8.25

SI Steer (300kg)

5.90

5.85

5.90

SI mutton (20kg)

5.60

5.60

5.20

SI Bull (300kg)

5.50

5.50

5.20

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

4.35

4.35

4.30

UK CKT lamb leg

US imported 95CL bull

8.34

8.24

6.44

US domestic 90CL cow

7.82

7.72

6.73

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

7.5

Feb

Apr

5-yr ave

Jun

2017-18

Dairy

$/kg CW

2018-19

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2017-18

Jun

MILK PRICE FUTURES

Last week

Prior week

Last year

2.75

2.74

3.37

Dec-18 Feb-19 Sept. 2019

Apr-19

Last price*

WMP

3090

2980

2530

AMF

5620

5830

5900

Butter

4750

4955

5100

Milk Price

6.82

6.77

6.75

753

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

YTD High

5.17

5.54

3.38

480

Auckland International Airport Limited

9.05

9.9

7.065

The a2 Milk Company Limited

13.36

18.04

10.42

440

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

16.97

17.8

12.3

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.48

4.705

3.54

400

Oct-18

Dec-18

Feb-19

Apr-19

Jun-19

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

5.185

5.62

3.51

Ryman Healthcare Limited

13.05

13.62

10.4 5.82

Contact Energy Limited

8.32

9.05

Port of Tauranga Limited

6.31

6.7

4.9

Fletcher Building Limited

4.99

5.55

4.28

Listed Agri Shares Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

13.36

18.04

10.42

Comvita Limited

2.71

5.42

2.5

Delegat Group Limited

11.8

12.5

9.4

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.2

4.85

3.15 1.47

Foley Wines Limited

1.8

2

0.85

1.08

0.75

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.22

0.24

0.192

340

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

2.39

2.98

1.76

320

PGG Wrightson Limited

2.35

2.5

0.47

Sanford Limited (NS)

6.89

7.06

6.35

Scales Corporation Limited

4.99

5.13

4.34

SeaDragon Limited

0.002

0.003

0.001

Seeka Limited

4.85

5.35

4.2

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

9.11

11.35

8.45

360

Oct-18

Dec-18

Feb-19

Apr-19

Jun-19

Aug-19

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL 350

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

$/tonne

2950 Oct

Nov Dec Latest price

Jan

Feb 4 weeks ago

Mar

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

380

Aug-18

3000

YTD Low

Aug-19

440

3050 US$/t

787

Close

Aug-18

3100

2900

787

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

320

* price as at close of business on Thursday

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

304

DAP

400

2455

523

314

-

420

2425

616

314

-

3005

SMP

Aug 2018-19

616

-

vs 4 weeks ago

Jun

Urea

30 micron lamb

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY Prior week

Apr 2017-18

Last year

3.45

$/tonne

Nearby contract

Feb

Prior week

2.85

Jun-19 Aug-19 Sept. 2020

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T)

Dec 5-yr ave

Last week

-

$/tonne

Oct-18

Oct

NZ average (NZ$/t)

37 micron ewe

360 5.75

7.5

Super

7.25

6.25

8.5

FERTILISER

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

6.75

9.5

Fertiliser

Aug 2018-19

Grain

Data provided by

South Island stag slaughter price

5.5

Coarse xbred ind.

Aug

8.5

6.5

6.5

(NZ$/kg) Dec

9.5

10.5

WOOL

Oct

10.5

11.5

5.5

4.5

North Island stag slaughter price

6.5

4.5

5.0

Last year

6.5

8.5

South Island steer slaughter price

Last week Prior week

7.5

South Island lamb slaughter price 5.0

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

7.5

4.5

5.5

6.0 $/kg CW

9.26

5.5

4.5

$/kg MS

10.08

North Island lamb slaughter price

8.5

$/kg CW

$/kg CW

6.0

Last year

11.5 10.32

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer slaughter price

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Ingrid Usherwood

300

2.55

2.81

2.43

15673

17434

15063

S&P/NZX 50 Index

10801

11219

8732

S&P/NZX 10 Index

10439

11001

8280

250 200

Aug-18

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Oct-18

Dec-18

Feb-19

Apr-19

Jun-19

Aug-19

15673

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

10801

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

10439

53

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019 NI SLAUGHTER STEER ( $/KG)

6.00

NI SLAUGHTER LAMB ( $/KG)

8.60

SI SLAUGHTER BULL ( $/KG)

5.50

TWO-YEAR BEEF-FRIEISAN STEERS, 405535KG, AT TARANAKI CATTLE FAIR ( $/KG)

3.18 - 3.30

Rural activity bursts out NORTH ISLAND

N

ORTHLAND has been drying out quite quickly and grass is slowly starting to turn the corner. The store markets are strengthening with good demand for well-bred cattle but not so much for the lesser types.

There’s more than the normal distinction between the two price-wise, 60 to 70 cents a kilo difference. People are paying for quality. Soil conditions have improved.

It was a fine spring week in Pukekohe, resulting in a flurry of activity as the rain stayed away and light winds prevailed.

Gold kiwifruit buds are out and the green is following. The last of the Pukekohe Long Keeper onions have been sown and weed control in earlier crops has been a priority. Potato plantings were delayed by a wet August but last week was catch up time as many have now gone in the ground.

In Waikato reasonable weather means the pasture’s growing well, calving is virtually over with just a few tail-enders to go. Cows are milking well. Some of the hill country has been quite slow to recover from the drought. Lambing is largely over but the King Country is still in the thick of it. Most of the action has been off the farm and there’s been a lot of talk about the freshwater plan. A Waikato asparagus grower says the season started quite slowly because the weather has been cool but there’s now some very nice quality on the supermarket shelves. The flush of the season happens at Labour weekend.

A small amount is going into Japan and some to Taiwan.

In Bay of Plenty the farmer we called was standing in the sun outside his cowshed and says calving’s just about finished. Grass growth is good after a slow August and they’re ahead of last year in milk supply. In the kiwifruit orchard bud break is just happening. Growers are on the alert for frosts.

On Taranaki farms pasture growth rates are picking up. They’re entering into the surplus time of the year. Farmers are in good spirits and many have a huge determination to fight proposals on the freshwater management front. Coastal farms are at the tail end of calving.

Further inland they’re two thirds of the way through.

Around Gisborne it’s been a fine, warm week. There was a bit of rain earlier on, which was needed. Eighty per cent of farmers have finished lambing. It’s been an exceptional spring in terms of lamb survival. Docking hasn’t started yet in the middle country or back country. Farmers are holding their breath regarding the water proposals.

In Hawke’s Bay vineyards a few blocks of chardonnay are in leaf and in others bud burst is almost there. There were no frosts last week but growers are on the alert given the sudden stratospheric warming in the Antartctic and the impact that might have. Grass is growing at 110 miles an hour.

In Rangitikei and Manawatu the week started pretty awfully with cold, horrible winds but it’s been absolutely magnificent the last few days ... a reminder that spring

Farmers optimistic at yearling bull sales, though less enthusiasm for dairy beef This year’s yearling bull sale season began a few weeks ago at the top of the North Island, with auctions progressing throughout the country since, mainly in the South Island between now and mid-October.

PGG Wrightson Livestock National Genetics Manager Callum Stewart says the market has been steady.

“We had a great yearling bull sale season last year, and this year the two-year-old bull sales were exceptional, well up on previous years.

This year’s yearling bulls are also attracting strong market attention, with farmers confident about red meat prices and keen to put these young bulls out to work, introducing proven new genetics into their herds.

“Breeders are producing a good product, with better genetics enhancing returns for farmers. Those taking yearling bulls to the market this spring are receiving the rewards for that success in the saleyards,” he said.

Meanwhile, the well-documented challenges for dairy farmers, and the consequential degree of uncertainty surrounding that sector, has had an effect on sales.

“Some dairy clients are mindful of their balance sheets and are restricting what they are prepared to pay for yearling bulls. They still require bulls, of course, though may be making decisions primarily based on price.

BRIGHT: Taranaki farmers are in good spirits with growth rates picking up on farms and blue skies above at last week’s cattle fair.

brings all sorts. The farmer we spoke to is just finishing ewe lambing, which has gone well. Hoggets are next. It’s very dry but grass growth is booming. While it’s all good on the farm and with decent market prices farmers say they should be happy but they’re in a grump with so many regulatory restraints on the horizon.

In Wairarapa it’s been beautifully sunny and when it hasn’t been windy, wind machines have been in action to protect the vines from morning frosts.

SOUTH ISLAND The Nelson region’s had a warm week but there’s still a good snow cover on the ranges near Tapawera. Our contact, who grows hops, says they are starting their move out of the winter dormancy.

The stringing team is working through his 28 hectare hop garden. The strings are run up into the trellis for the hop plants to climb. That should be finished this week, assuming the forecast for rain doesn’t halt things for too long. The weeds have all been subdued by the spraying programme and the first application of the solid fertiliser is under way. Hop training starts later next month.

A farmer in Marlborough who has a sheep and beef farm in the outer Sounds says the ewes are getting well through lambing and survival is looking good.

Calving is on the move too. Prime steers are contracted for sale in late October and mid December at good prices. The farm team is either working on maintenance of equipment or doing scrub control. Top dressing is under way in preparation for the warmer weather after some hold-ups with windy conditions in late August. He says 143 tonnes of fertiliser went on. On local mussel farms the harvesting season

should start late next month or soon after depending on their condition.

Parts of the West Coast had a good dollop of rain last week with 100mm in 12 hours causing some flooding up the Grey Valley but in true West Coast fashion conditions have quickly changed to blue skies and sun. Our contact at Lake Brunner says she’s about three-quarters of the way through calving. Once the milking’s done and the calves are fed, she heads out into the paddock to feed and check on her heifers. They are last year’s calves and need to be ready for mating in early November.

A good clear week of weather in Canterbury has meant a lot of agricultural work’s been done. On a cropping farm at Hororata the last of the spring barley and grass for pasture have been sown and hybrid radish planted.

Paddocks for next year’s fodder beet have been sprayed and cultivation will occur over the next few weeks. Pasture growth rates have been high with better temperatures.

Conditions have been good for lambing in south Otago but with soil temperatures at only 6C or 7C, grass growth is sluggish.

There’s some snow on the hills and the farmer we talked to at Balclutha says he could do with both rain and some sun.

Tailing and lamb tallying are due to start in the next couple of weeks.

Calving’s well through now on most Southland dairy farms but milk flows are slightly back on last year. Farmers are looking forward to getting their cows into the second round or rotation of grazing as there’s not much energy in the first round’s long winter grass. Calves that are old enough are being put into paddocks and the ground’s being prepared for new grass and oats.

Courtesy of Radio New Zealand Country Life You can listen to Country Life on RNZ at 9pm every Friday and 7am on Saturday or on podcast at rnz.co.nz/countrylife

“Herefords are the principle breed of choice in yearling bulls for the dairy industry, providing good value for those seeking to finish dairy beef.

“Values of stock going through our sales are steady rather that spectacular, ranging between $1,800 and $2,000 per head for most of the yearling bulls transacted, which is in line with prices for the past few years,” he said.

North Island yearling bull sales conclude with the Waiterenui Yearling Angus sale, at Hastings, on 27 September. In the South Island they commence on 25 September with a sale at Shrimptons Hill Hereford in Cave, running through until 18 October with the Okawa Polled Herefords sale at Mt Somers.

Helping grow the country

Better stud stock for better business Every advantage counts.

pggwrightson.co.nz/ yearlingbulls

54

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

Spring sun brings lots of cattle out IT’S been all about store cattle this past week, especially in the North Island. A bit of spring sunshine has pulled both buyers and sellers out of the woodwork though it’s fair to say vendors will have been happiest with how sales have played out. There’s a few potential buyers reassessing their options after being pushed out the market with where prices are sitting.

NORTHLAND Wellsford store cattle • Two-year Angus & Angus-cross steers, 307-545kg, lifted to $3.00$3.18/kg • Two -year Hereford-Friesian steers, 320-472kg, improved to $3.04-$3.17/kg • Two-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 391-417kg, were chased to $3.02-$3.07/kg • Yearling Angus heifers, 155kg, softened to $3.81/kg • Yearling Angus & Angus-Hereford steers 234kg, strengthened to $3.72/kg Mild weather increased positivity at WELLSFORD last Monday, with a moderate buying bench selective on a mixed-quality yarding. Two-year Hereford-dairy steers, 429440kg, held at $2.96-$3.02/kg. Murray Grey-Friesian cross, 487kg, returned $2.94/kg, with most Friesian and Friesiancross, maintaining levels of $2.58-$2.79/kg.

Yearling Angus Friesian steers, 168-220kg, traded at a solid $3.10-$3.36/kg, and Hereford-Friesian, 186-224kg, $3.55-$3.79/kg. Friesian bulls, 197-225kg, eased to $2.84$2.96/kg. Two pens of yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, both weighing 173kg, varied from $3.47kg to $3.99/kg.

Autumn-born beef and exotic weaner bulls, 164-173kg, returned $485-$590, with dairy bred bulls, 157-167kg, earning $420-$460.

Kaikohe • Two-year heifers varied at $2.88-$3.00/kg • Two-year bulls made $2.75-$2.80/kg • Autumn-born weaners, 150kg, fetched $590 Last Wednesday’s KAIKOHE sale had around 400 head PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. Supply is not quite meeting demand, and this is helping keep the market firm.

Two-year Murray Grey-cross and Hereford-cross steers sold well at $3.00-$3.15/kg, with Friesian-cross at $2.65$2.85/kg. One-year beef-cross steers sold for $3.40-$3.60/ kg, beef type bulls were $3.00-$3.20/kg and a limited number of heifers made around $3.00/kg.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Medium prime heifers made $2.92-$3.12/kg • Light Jersey cows made $1.72-$1.95/kg • Weaner steers fetched $470-$630 • Weaner heifers traded at $400-$460 It was another strong sale last Saturday at PUKUKOHE, where killable cattle had good competition. Prime steers varied, although the top end lifted to $3.22/kg. Despite mixed quality young cattle sold well, with crossbred oneyear steers earning a varied $3.05/kg to $3.44/kg, and same age crossbred heifers at $3.16-$3.20/kg.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Hereford-Friesian weaner steers, 112kg, made $590.

• Hereford-Friesian heifers, 323kg, earned $1015 • Prime steers sold to $3.22/kg About 750 store cattle were yarded at TUAKAU last Thursday and the market remained firm, Carrfields agent Karl Chitham reported. Hereford-Friesian steers, 453kg, made $3.07/kg, with 379kg at $3.45/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 393-418kg, traded at $3.05-$3.11/kg and weaner heifers, 112-115kg, $445-$510.

Heavy prime steers fetched $3.08-$3.22/kg last Wednesday, with medium making $3.05-$3.12/kg. Heavy heifers earned $3.06-$3.17/kg and medium, $2.97-$3.05/kg.

Good prime lambs sold at $185-$217 on Monday.

Medium primes earned $166-$183 and stores eased to

$81-$124. The best of the prime ewes fetched $174-$193, with medium making $145-$162.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle and feeder calf sale • Most two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 356-416kg, lifted to $3.34-$3.47/kg • Most two-year Angus heifers, 400-461kg, earned $3.11-$3.18/kg • Yearling Hereford Friesian steers, 190-227kg, eased to $3.39$3.49/kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 236-255kg, improved to $3.22-$3.31/kg • Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 586-686kg, strengthened to $3.14-$3.30/kg Throughput lifted to 970 cattle at FRANKTON last Wednesday. Two-year Angus-Friesian steers, 406kg, returned $3.39/kg, while Hereford-Jersey, 400-421kg, managed $3.15-$3.18/kg. Friesian bulls, 408-449kg, found common ground at $2.82-$2.90/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 354-501kg, held at $3.01-$3.16/kg.

Friesian improved as the weights increased with, 346398kg, earning $2.59-$2.77/kg, while 436-439kg, managed $2.76-$2.81/kg, and 498-519kg topped them both at $2.98$3.06/kg.

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 270-275kg softened to $3.80/kg, and 311-316kg, $3.54/kg. Heifer results varied though $3.00-$3.20/kg was common ground for a good portion 200kg and above.

Friesian bulls, 358-360kg, held at $2.78-$2.81/kg, while 236-345kg, improved to $3.01-$3.02/kg. Just on 550 feeder calves were penned. Top Friesian bulls improved to $265, with medium up to $70-$120, and small steady. Good Hereford-Friesian bulls came back to $200-$260, with medium also discounted to $140-$180, though small calves improved to $80-$120.

Good Angus lifted to $140-$180, with small and medium improving to $80-$120. Good Simmental bulls sold well at $380-$405. Top Hereford-Friesian heifers strengthened to $130-$165, with medium up to $80-$110.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Prime Hereford-Friesian, 758kg, achieved $3.25/kg • Prime Angus bulls, 711kg, made $3.46/kg • Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 465-615kg, eased to $3.06/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 380-433kg, sold for $2.24-$2.26/kg • The top prime lambs made $227, and the best ewes fetched $168 A very mixed quality yarding was on offer at RANGIURU last Tuesday. Store steers were mainly Hereford-Friesian, and most sold for $3.02-$3.10/kg. Two-year heifers outnumbered steers 2:1, and the top cut, 381-447kg, earned $2.94-$3.00/kg.

A number of two-year Angus bulls were trucked from Gisborne, and the best 13, 436-466kg, made $3.26-$3.30/kg.

Half of the store yarding could be found in one-year pens, where the best steers were Hereford-Friesian, 190-194kg, returned $4.00-$4.02/kg.

Thirteen Simmental-cross, 184kg, topped the one- year heifers fetching $3.48/kg.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero sheep • Ewes with lambs-at-foot made $108-$116 • Store rams earned $107 • Top 2th ewes made $238 There was a very limited number of store lambs at MATAWHERO last Friday, with most mixed sex which earned $136. Prime lambs earned $228-$230 at the top end, while the balance was mostly $170-$191. The majority of prime ewes earned $170-$181, with the top end at $218.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle • Two-year Angus-Friesian steers, 379kg, made $3.54/kg • Two-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 377kg, earned $3.26/kg • Autumn-born 18-month steers, 321-390kg, earned $3.24-$3.42/kg Last Wednesday’s TARANAKI cattle fair penned just under 1000 head of cattle, and the market was strong. Two-year steers sold well with the majority earning above $3.15/kg, while most of the heifers sold in a range of $3.04-$3.13/ kg. One-year steers above 288kg sold for $960-$1050, while the average heifer was 215kg and made $545, $3.02/kg.

One-year Charolais-cross and Shorthorn-cross, 206-248kg, fetched $720-$740, $3.56-$3.59/kg.

HAWKE’S BAY Wairoa cattle fair • Top two-year Angus steers earned $1780 • Top two-year Angus-Hereford heifers made $1455-$1475 Last Thursday’s WAIROA cattle fair had just under 500 mainly one-year and two-year cattle. Average steers earned $1515, while the top end strengthened slightly on last year with most earning $1540-$1700. Top one-year steers also sold well at $1250-$1295, with the balance of lighter types at $640-$980.

Stortford Lodge prime cattle and sheep • Top ewes lifted to $199.50-$227 • Very-good ewes strengthened to $156-179.50 • Top male lambs held at $226-$234.50 • Most very heavy ewe lambs held at $200-$207.50 • Heavy male and mixed sex lambs improved to $180-$198 Total sheep throughput at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday was steady at 2130. Ewes sold to good demand with buyers having to work hard to secure numbers.

Medium-good ewes improved to $133.50-$143, while light to medium types held at $87-$131. Lambs enjoyed good competition from the rails, though most very heavy types eased. Very heavy males, rams and mixed-sex softened to $204-$221. Heavy ewe lambs improved to $173-$179.50, with good mixed-sex and ewes well sought at $141.50-$164.

A smattering of cattle sold to good demand, with buyers left unsatiated due to the limited numbers available. Anything with good weight traded at a solid $3.10-$3.26/kg, leaving only dairy-cross heifers below this.

Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Two-year Hereford steers, 537kg, made $1820, $3.39/kg • Two-year Angus and Angus-Hereford heifers, 386-391kg, firmed to $3.10-$3.12/kg • Top annual draft Romney ewes with lambs-at-foot firmed to $128.50-$129.50 all counted • Medium-good ewes with multiple lambs-at-foot sold for $106$112 all counted • Good to heavy ewe lambs firmed to $165-$175 The cattle sale was largely based around beef-dairy at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday. Short term types continued to sell well, though restricted grass growth limited interest in yearlings. Two-year Simmental-cross steers, 387-427kg, made $3.23/kg to $3.39/kg, with Angus &amp; Angus-Hereford similar. Beef-dairy heifers varied from $2.74/kg to $2.89/kg. Yearling beef-dairy steers averaged 255kg and $835, $3.28/kg, though heifers were well off that pace at $645, $2.71/kg for 240kg. Bulls of similar breeding and 212-245kg returned $590-$800.

Store lamb volume continued to fall, and prices firmed.

A small yarding of heavy male lambs largely traded at $174$191 and medium ewe lambs proved popular at $146-$159.

MANAWATU Feilding Prime cattle and sheep; feeder calves • Boner Friesian cows, 520-680kg, made $2.50/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 540-555kg, improved to $2.43/kg • Boner Friesian heifers, 470-540kg, fetched $2.78/kg • All 1300 very-heavy male lambs earned $200-$227 • One pen of 527 mixed-sex lambs made $206 Old season lambs filled the prime pens at FEILDING last Monday, rising the overall yarding to 6412. The strong lamb market continued, with mixed-sex contributing 3200 to the tally, where the best 650 made $211-$233, and the next 2000 were $200-$209.

Ewe numbers lifted and the tops sold for $202-$220, while very-good to heavy lines were $171-$181. The MANFEILD PARK calf sale has moved to Monday only, where beef-cross pens sold on a solid market with Hereford-Friesian bulls $220-$250. Angus-cross bulls improved, with good pens selling for $200 and mediums $170.

Feilding store • Two-year South Devon steers, 465-520kg, were $3.40-$3.43/kg • One-year traditional steers, 240-280kg, made $4.21-$4.50/kg • One-year Friesian bulls, 285-335kg, went for $3.18-$3.26/kg

SALE YARD WRAP

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019

55

PEEK-A-BOO: Mt Taranaki played it coy at last week’s Taranaki cattle fair.

• Mid-range ewes with LAF held at $116-$121 all counted • Average store lamb price was $159 The cattle yards were fully packed, but all that did was attract more buyers to the rostrum. Two-year steers mainly sold for the same as the week before, with a small lift on the Hereford-Friesians. Some 2-year bulls, 485-495kg, were $3.28-$3.29/kg, while 370-425kg Angus heifers were $3.23$3.30/kg. Straight beef yearling steers consistently broke $4.00/kg. Four pens of 310-375kg Hereford yearling bulls went very well at $1580-$2120, $4.86-$5.76/kg. Various lines of 250-285kg Hereford-Friesian heifers were consistently $3.07-$3.26/kg. It was all very quiet down in the sheep pens.

A smaller, but reasonable sized selection of ewes with LAF mainly met the same market as a week earlier – good lines up around $123-$128.50, mediums $116-$121, and the rest $96-$113 all counted. The 2500 store lambs lifted a level on lighter weights. Good males were $175-$191, down to $146-$167 on the mediums. Two top ewe lamb pens were $187.50-$188, but $152-$169 was where the medium-togood lines sat. Tail-enders were mainly $113-$134.

Rongotea cattle • Two-year Angus-cross steers, 453kg, lifted to $3.02/kg • Two-year Friesian bulls, 485-570kg, earned $2.91-$2.96/kg • Friesian boner cows, 473-527kg, made $1.58-$1.92/kg • One-year Hereford-Friesian heifers fetched up to $3.92/kg • One-year Friesian bulls, 175-284kg, traded at $2.40-$3.32/kg At RONGOTEA last Wednesday prices strengthened across all classes, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 400-417kg, made $2.65-$2.83/kg, with same breed heifers, 430kg, at $2.74/kg. Yearling cattle varied with Angus-cross steers, 293-315kg, earning $2.83/kg to $3.27/ kg, and same breed heifers at $2.15/kg.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park sheep and cattle • Top store lambs earned mostly $143-$157 • Very heavy prime ewes strengthened to $206-$231 • Two-year Speckle Park steers, 431kg, made up to $3.20/kg • One-year Angus heifers, 265kg, fetched $900, $3.40/kg • Top prime heifers earned up to $3.20-$3.21/kg Store lamb numbers improved at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday. Heavier lines sold well, though lighter lines were harder work. A small number of ewes with lambsat-foot varied, with better types making $120 all-counted.

There was good quality in the prime lamb pens, and heavy types lifted to $222-$260. Quality was mixed for store cattle.

Better two-year steers typically earned $2.98-$3.07/kg, with lesser-types at $2.87-$2.97/kg, regardless of breed. Oneyear traditional heifers had strong interest, with 236-257kg selling for $3.08-$3.17/kg. In the prime pens, anything with weight and condition were well contested, with the top end of the heifers often selling for $3.04-$3.13/kg.

Coalgate store and prime cattle; all sheep • One-year Angus-Friesian heifers, 300kg, made $3.17/kg • One-year Hereford-Friesian bulls, 241-264kg, fetched $2.70-$2.73/ kg • Prime steers, 535-585kg, eased to $2.98/kg • Prime heifers, 653-663kg, traded at $3.18-$3.24/kg • Ewes with lambs at foot sold from $100 to $125 all counted A nationwide record price for prime lambs was set at COALGATE during the previous sale at $286, and Corriedale ram lambs now hold second place, selling for $262 last Thursday. Prices rose at the top end, with other very-heavy lambs earning $210-$254, heavy $191-$208, and mediumgood types $181-$189. Store lamb volume fell to only 255, with 150 Corriedale ewe lambs making up the lion’s share, fetching $135-$150.

No boner cattle presented in the prime pens, but the store tally numbered 90. The best prices were found in the heifer section with Speckle Park cross, 217kg, returning $2.76/kg and Galloway-cross, 209kg, achieving $2.63/kg.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle; all sheep • Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 540-635kg, lifted to $3.04/kg • Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 460-500kg, improved to $2.92/kg • Seventy-five Friesian Boner cows, 485-590kg, strengthened to $2.05/kg • Border-Romney store ewe lambs made $197, with a second cut $178 • Top prime lambs made $197-$238, with the next cut $160-$189 There was a buoyant tone throughout the sale at TEMUKA last Tuesday, with boner cattle continuing to defy usual price drops. Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 545-715kg, all improved to $3.08-$3.15/kg, with some nice exotic lines also within this price range. Other beef types traded at $2.89-$2.99/kg, with lesser cuts making $2.85$2.87/kg. Angus, Hereford and Murray Grey heifers 560kg and over sold for $3.00-$3.10/kg. The store lamb pens

featured the strongest yarding for some time. Prices rose $5-$8/head at the top end, with most ewe lines $150-$158 and mixed-sex $144-$173. Top ewes were $224-$263.

Temuka store cattle • Two-year purebred Shorthorn steers, 452kg, earned $3.11/kg • Good quality one-year traditional steers made $3.75-$3.81/kg • One-year Angus heifers, 209-237kg, fetched $3.21-$3.31/kg There was a good-sized yarding of just under 1000 cattle last Thursday at TEMUKA. The majority of the offering was dairy-beef, and quality was mixed which was reflected in prices. In the steer pens two-year Santa Gertrudis-cross made the same money as the top end of the HerefordFriesian steers with 415-441kg making $2.91-$2.96/kg. The top end of two-year traditional and exotic heifers earned $2.85-$2.95/kg. One-year bulls remained a difficult sell although the top end of better-quality Friesian bulls were able to reach $2.70/kg.

OTAGO Balclutha sheep • Heavy prime lambs made $180-$200 • Top store lambs made $115-$130 At BALCLUTHA last Wednesday demand for prime ewes was very strong with heavy types making up to $165-$185.

The store lamb market softened, with light to mediums earning $60-$115. Two-year steers sold to keen interest, earning $1250-$1550.

SOUTHLAND Lorneville cattle and sheep • Prime steers, 500kg upwards, made $2.80-$2.85/kg • Better prime heifers, 475-525kg, earned up to $2.85/kg • Prime ewes held at $180-$216 • Ewes with lambs-at-foot traded at $105-$120 all-counted • Beef-cross bull calves fetched up to $220 At LORNEVILLE last Tuesday there was a medium yarding of prime cattle. Most were predominantly cows and heavier types sold well at $1.90-$2.05/kg. Numbers were limited in the store pens, one-year beef heifers, 269kg, sold for $3.09/kg, while same age Friesian steers, 250kg, earned $2.80/kg and Friesian bulls, 269kg, $2.30/kg.

Prime lambs strengthened to $190-$210 at the top end, while light to medium types softened slightly at $135-$183. Top store lambs lifted to $130-$145.

Markets

56 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – September 23, 2019 NI SLAUGHTER BULL

SI SLAUGHTER STEER

SI SLAUGHTER STAG

($/KG)

($/KG)

GOOD EWES WITH SINGLE TERMINAL LAMBS-AT-FOOT AT STORTFORD LODGE

($/KG)

($/HD ALL COUNTED)

5.70

5.90

9.30

128 - 129.50

high $1450-$1660 $2.67-$2.78/kg of traditional Two-year beef-Frieisan lights Majority heifers, 350-440kg, at 2-year steers at Wairoa Cattle Fair

Chilled meat moves start

A

SMALL technical delegation from the meat industry is going to China at the end of the month hoping to start a move to extend chilled red meat exports.

It will be followed in November by a larger group of senior industry leaders, Meat Industry Association trade and economic manager Sirma Karapeeva said.

Ten processing plants owned by six meat companies, the big four of Alliance, Silver Fern Farmers, Anzco and Affco plus Greenlea and Ovation, were licensed two years ago for chilled lamb and beef exports to China and the trade is operating well but further development has stalled.

The objective is to get all processors licensed.

There has been a level of frustration at delays in getting market access issues resolved but the system is the system, she said.

In the meantime, Chinese demand for New Zealand red meat has boomed and pushed prices to new levels but most of it is frozen product.

In March last year there was a major restructuring in China, in which the organisations the NZ industry worked with were disestablished and replaced by new bodies.

“The new system has settled down and that is part of the reason for these visits.”

Karapeeva will lead the technical delegation, taking three experts from meat companies to a seminar in China focusing on standards and cold-chain infrastructure. The Chinese are very keen to learn from NZ’s expertise.

Developing a top-quality cold-chain system in China is a must for chilled exports.

Anzco sales and marketing general manager Rick Walker said beef is more robust and can handle the existing supply chain set-up better but chilled lamb is a real challenge. Anzco is licensed for both but is taking a slowburn approach, especially for chilled lamb until full integrity of the supply chain across the multiple parties involved can be assured.

IN CHARGE: Meat Industry Association trade and economic manager Sirma Karapeeva is leading a technical group to China to start a move to extend the chilled meat trade.

It gives us the option of saying to customers that if we can’t get the right price for chilled lamb in those markets then it can go frozen to China.

Rick Walker Anzco “Lamb will be very small for us until we have that.”

Facilities are better in tier-one cities such as Shanghai and Beijing and Anzco also has beef customers outside tier one.

Karapeeva and Walker said the Chinese demand for frozen exports does not mean the industry has taken its eye off the opportunities for chilled sales in other markets. All companies are mindful of being over-exposed to one fast-growing market that can also be volatile.

Anzco’s focus has been on chilled lamb and volumes to other markets have not

necessarily changed, Walker said.

But the Chinese volume and price boom has put pressure on other markets.

“It gives us the option of saying to customers that if we can’t get the right price for chilled lamb in those markets then it can go frozen to China.”

So far that has not happened and is not expected to happen because retailers need a consistent supply for their consumers so are prepared to pay up.

“But it is a lever for us.”

North America, Britain and Germany are key chilled lamb markets for Anzco.

It hopes to have Christmas chilled prices agreed on with British customers in the next couple of weeks. There is no great concern among customers over access to the supply chain from Brexit uncertainty.

Germany is a strong customer for chilled lamb from Christmas to Easter.

GlobalHQ analyst Mel Croad said Chinese demand for frozen lamb is an easy-sell but more plants need to be licensed for chilled sales to allow NZ to fully capitalise on China’s increasing wealth, especially if the industry is reducing its reliance on the Christmas chilled markets in Britain and Europe.

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Temuka

ACROSS THE RAILS MEL CROAD

Oh, to be in such demand NEW Zealand lamb and beef exports are frontfooting it on the global stage with red meatproducing powerhouses earning favourable respect and returns.

The country’s export footprint might pale in comparison with some of the big guns but by no means is that a limitation. NZ beef exports will come in about 480,000 tonnes this season compared to the likes of Brazil at 1.5 million tonnes, Australia 1.13m tonnes and the United States 1m tonnes. For lamb, export accolades swing in our favour, being the largest exporter of lamb globally. Australia is closing the gap but its exports will now be hamstrung for a few seasons until it can rebuild its flock.

Demand for NZ lamb and beef has soared this year as key markets grapple with supply shortages. Demand from China has been unwavering and while it might feel like we are redirecting all our lamb and beef into that market our exports are still filtering into other markets. Some of our traditional markets are noting reduced availability of product from our shores but China’s market share, on a volume basis, has lifted to only 40-42% of our total beef and lamb exports this season. While this is a notable jump on previous seasons it has, in many cases, caused other markets to stump up with higher prices to secure a portion of our quality offerings.

As a result, average export values for lamb and beef have soared into uncharted territory.

This has enabled farmgate prices to lift to historical, if not record levels. And this is something farmers should be proud off – we are doing a mighty fine job of producing some of the highest-quality red meat the world demands and that is not going to change any time soon. If anything, we will see further commitment from our farmers to fine tune the quality of the lamb and beef they produce.

This will go a long way to differentiate and future proof our stance on the global market – as leaders in producing premium red meat products that consumers are increasingly demanding. mel.croad@globalhq.co.nz

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