Farmers Weekly NZ January 24 2022

7 Nait consults on levy increase Vol 20 No 2, January 24, 2022

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Demand drives record prices Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz

D

RIVEN by unfulfilled global demand, beef and lamb prices reached historic highs in December.

AgriHQ senior market analyst Mel Croad says when measured in cents/kg, farmers are currently receiving more than ever for prime livestock, with global demand such that it slowed the traditional New Year farm gate price correction.

“It’s a great news story,” Croad said.

“Values have gradually risen, enabling steady upside to farm gate prices rather than a boombust pricing scenario to develop.”

Global market prices for key indicator cuts such as US95CL bull, are currently $US3.10/lb compared to $US2.34/lb a year ago and a five-year average of $US2.20/lb.

In-market lamb values eased slightly in the past week, but are still substantially ahead of previous years.

Legs are selling in the UK for just under £7/kg compared to £5/ kg a year ago, and French racks in the US are selling for $US11.75/ lb compared to $US6.50/lb a year ago and a five-year average of $8.90/lb.

Flaps in China have eased US20-25c/kg in the past week, but are still selling for $US9.10/kg, $US1.70/kg higher than a year ago and $US2.80 above the five-year average.

Croad says demand is driving prices while a softening in the value of the New Zealand dollar is also assisting returns to NZ suppliers.

“Unfortunately for processors, rising transport and supply chain costs continue to account for a larger slice of the pie,” she said.

Silver Fern Farms supply chain manager Dan Boulton says current prices come with the caveat of risks from logistics, covid and labour shortages.

He expects beef prices to stay firm for the first half of the year, while sheepmeat prices have softened and could continue to do so over the next few weeks.

Alliance sales manager Shane Kingston says prices remain strong and the co-operative is confident that will continue.

Lamb consumption in the UK and EU was pleasing over Christmas and early indications are that it will continue for Easter.

“However, the latest covid outbreak in the UK and Europe is impacting the foodservice sector,” Kingston said.

North America retail and foodservice sectors remain strong, but there is some concern rising inflation could curb consumption and put pressure on prices.

He said the Chinese sheepmeat market is being reset, especially affecting forequarters and flaps, which constitute about 40% of the carcase.

Beef prices remain strong but are under some pressure from the lifting of Brazilian embargo, while US markets remain firm.

He says some importers are concerned about confirming prices and volume given present levels at a 30-year high.

Croad says there are several clouds on the horizon, including Omicron.

“The ever-present threat of Omicron entering the NZ community becomes a greater concern the deeper into summer we head,” she said.

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GOOD RETURNS: Farmers and stock agents in the South Island have been enjoying strong on-farm sales in the past week with buyers emboldened by strong schedule prices. Hazlett livestock auctioneer Madison Taylor says lamb sales have been strong this summer as buyers recognise long-term is the way to go on a schedule not looking to dim any time soon.

Above, PGW auctioneer Rod Sands presides over the Orari Gorge Station on-farm sale, which saw prices improve on last year. For a full wrap of South Island on-farm sales, see P40.

Photo: Annette Scott

The ever-present threat of Omicron entering the NZ community becomes a greater concern the deeper into summer we head.

Mel Croad AgriHQ “Processing plants are already struggling for staff.

“If this were to reduce processing space further, then farm gate prices will be impacted.”

Other risks include rising

transport costs and China, where there has been some softening in lamb prices, albeit off a very high level.

“We have in the last week seen China soften,” she said.

“Some of that is seasonal, with the lead up to the Chinese New Year on February 1 and with the Olympics next month creating some issues with product shipped now not arriving in time.”

The North Island lamb kill has been slow as lambs have not been yielding as desired due to a tough winter and spring, but the East Coast is now starting to dry and burn off.

She said lamb flows in the South Island appear to be following a more normal pattern.

NZ-born China-based venison importer and marketer Hunter McGregor says covid is impacting the country with travel restrictions over the Chinese New Year and a softening in demand for meat.

Each city or province is dealing with the virus outbreak differently.

“For example, Xi’an has been in a full lockdown, Tianjin and some other cities have tested or are testing the whole city population a number of times,” McGregor said.

“Shenzhen has closed all bars and restaurants for a period, while Beijing and Shanghai only lockdown apartment buildings or individual shops or restaurants and do track and tracing.”

He said pork production is also rising.

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18 Back to the classroom Lincoln University Professor Bruce McKenzie says it has been an honour to serve as acting vicechancellor, as he now looks forward to starting the new phase of his career.

REGULARS Newsmaker ���������������������������������������������������18 New Thinking �����������������������������������������������19

8 Book highlights soils’ value to NZ

Editorial �������������������������������������������������������20

For the first time in a generation, anyone with a connection to soils and their management has a new text to reach for – one that is likely to set a reference benchmark not only in New Zealand, but internationally.

Pulpit �������������������������������������������������������������21 Opinion ���������������������������������������������������������22 Real Estate ����������������������������������������������24-30 Tech & Toys ����������������������������������������������������31 Employment �������������������������������������������������32 Classifieds �����������������������������������������������������32 Livestock �������������������������������������������������33-35 Weather ���������������������������������������������������������37

11 Velveting stag tops sales

14 Strong carbon prices blow

A velveting stag sold by long-time Southland breeder David Stevens set this season’s deer selling calendar alight, making $135,000 at auction earlier this month.

A new year surge in the New Zealand carbon values has caught the market by surprise, with traders anticipating values may well impact upon the first carbon auction of the year due to be held in midMarch.

down south

Markets ����������������������������������������������������36-40

into new year

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

3

TPN tastes further success Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz TASTE Pure Nature (TPN) marketing in the United States and China has gone from strength to strength in the past year and plans are in place to build on the programme in 2022, Beef + Lamb New Zealand global manager – red meat story Michael Wan says.

However, despite the positive outlook he says the challenge for the industry is to continue to service demand through the supply chain.

“It’s a worldwide problem that’s probably going to be around for a while. However, NZ companies are very smart, very savvy and innovative in their approach, so we’ll find a way, if they’re not already finding a way to service that demand,” Wan said.

“We’ll just have to be a bit smarter about how we work around those challenges.”

During 2021, the TPN programme generated more than 100 million paid media impressions in the US, over 324,000 website visits, 980m public relations campaigns and more than 210,000 social media engagements.

In the US it continues to be focused on California, primarily because of the high concentration of its target consumer group, the ‘conscious foodie’.

He says much of the time and investment in the US is on digital marketing and advertising, partnering with other brands to leverage each other’s equity and awareness to generate greater reach.

In China, the programme generated more than 40m paid media impressions during 2021, over 157,000 social media engagements and more than 21,000 in person engagements.

Wan said TPN’s China strategy is different to the US. “Our strategy in China is to

TEAMWORK: A co-branded marketing campaign using the Taste Pure Nature brand lifted the sales of Anzco Foods New Zealand grass-fed beef threefold across Beijing’s high-end 7Fresh supermarket stores during a weeklong promotion.

Our target consumers have sought out foods that are better quality, that are fresher, that are likely to improve their health and wellness and immunity.

Michael Wan B+LNZ spend more time in partnership with our NZ exporters and their in-market customers and retailers, designing campaigns around locations where NZ grassfed beef and lamb is,” he said.

“We’re not totally focused on

jurisdictions or geography, we will go and develop campaigns in a much more targeted fashion, where that product is visible and available in retail supermarkets.”

He is predicting greater success this year, including through a partnership with Silver Fern Farms to launch its Toitū Certified Net Carbon Zero Angus Beef range in selected US retailers, and delivering targeted media campaigns in China similar to a co-branded TPN/Anzco Foods collaboration last year through Anzco’s in-market partner Beijing Zhouchen, which lifted sales of Anzco’s grass-fed beef threefold across 24 of Beijing’s high-end 7Fresh supermarkets during a week-long promotion, with an ongoing increase in sales post campaign.

There are also new campaigns planned for the US, one of which is a partnership with Meredith Digital, one of the leading publishing houses in the US that includes top-tier outlets such as Martha Stewart, Eating Well and Food & Wine.

He said the impact of covid on foodservice has benefited TPN. “The Beef + Lamb strategy with TPN has been almost a singular focus through the retail channel, direct to consumer, we haven’t really invested a lot of effort in foodservice,” he said.

“So as covid hit, I guess that played into our hands quite nicely.”

He says NZ red meat exporters have pivoted towards more investment in retail strategies and building those out.

COLLABORATION: Beef + Lamb New Zealand global manager – red meat story Michael Wan says partnerships with meat processing and exporting companies are a key driver behind the growing success of Taste Pure Nature.

“It’s made a lot of sense that we work collaboratively together,” he said.

Covid has also affected the way consumers in those markets think about food.

“It’s actually been a positive thing for red meat protein, particularly grass-fed,” he said.

“Our target consumers have sought out foods that are better quality, that are fresher, that are likely to improve their health and wellness and immunity and things like that.

“Red meat protein, particularly grass-fed from NZ, goes really nicely in helping them achieve those kinds of goals.

“Demand has been pretty incredible, the challenge has been getting that product onto shelves and in front of consumers so they are able to buy it.”

Together, Creating the Best Soil and Feed on Earth

4

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Harvest yields hit by early rains Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz A SPELL of ideal harvesting weather has been welcomed but Canterbury cropping farmers are counting the cost of the extended wet period in December that is denting crop yields.

The lack of sunshine, heat and pollination is taking its toll.

“It’s certainly not shaping up to be a bumper harvest, average at best,” Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury arable chair Darrell Hydes said.

With a good spell of weather over the past couple of weeks farmers have made a good start to harvest but yields and quality are down.

“Early ryegrass crops are disappointing; the cocksfoot was not too bad and the rape pretty good but these early crops are suffering from the wet weather when pollinating.

“Early autumn barley is only average and autumn wheat is not looking flash with a bit of hail damage and late disease setting in, again because of the December weather.”

Clover was looking good on his Methven farm.

“It was starting to dry out nicely but it didn’t need the rain yesterday (Wednesday),” Hydes said.

A spell of ideal harvesting weather was interrupted with rain that recorded between 17 to 37mm across the region.

Coastal farmer Chris Rickard is counting his blessings with six consecutive days of harvest before the rain arrived.

“We had the header in the paddock six days in a row, we have been very lucky to have our crops in the window that’s been.”

But Rickard is not so happy with the reap.

“The kale has been quite disappointing; it battled a waterlogged winter and the lack of

QUALITY CONTROL: Canterbury cropping farmer Chris Rickard checks on his kale seed crop being harvested by neighbouring farmer Eric Watson.

Photo: Annette Scott

This harvest is one of our biggest certified crop areas so the pressure will be on storage.

David Birkett Federated Farmers sunshine in December didn’t help.”

While he is still waiting on the weights for his fescue crop Rickard says he’s expecting, at best, average.

With cereal crops, peas, red clover, radish and spinach yet to harvest another spell of hot

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weather is wished for.

“Cropping farmers just want good hot, settled weather at this time of the year,” Rickard said.

South Canterbury cropping farmers are paddling the same canoe, with similar reports as harvest gets into full swing.

While crops look good, grains are light in kernel weight and yields have been disappointing, again with the wet December weather taking its toll on crops at an important stage of growth.

Federated Farmers vice chair seeds David Birkett says one of the challenges for seeds this season will be the capacity in seed dressing plants.

“This harvest is one of our biggest certified crop areas so the pressure will be on storage.

“And that’s not such a bad

situation – this is the first time I have had options in what contracts to grow,” Birkett said.

He encouraged farmers to communicate with their agents and seed processors.

Birkett says early crops have generally come off “pretty average”.

“It’s the lack of sunshine that they just didn’t get in December; early barley and grasses have been disappointing.

“Clover will be interesting after this rain. It’s just a wait and see now what the later crops will do.”

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan reports a high pressure system parked over Tasmania is going to influence Canterbury’s weather pattern encouraging more

days with southerly quarter winds, therefore it may not be as hot as it’s been in recent days.

Daytime highs across Canterbury range from 16C to 24C over the next week, according to RuralWeather.co.nz.

The southerly flow at times will also mean a bit more cloud and shower activity mostly in coastal areas.

Rainfall accumulation may not be great, but there may be a few cloudy-drizzly or showery days in the mix as well as mild and dry days.

Rainfall for the next week ahead is around 10 to 20mm for most places.

The next seven days lean drier than average but there are shower risks for half of those days.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

5

Access added to high country reform Bill Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz A LAST minute addition to the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill will require purchasing leaseholders to make greater efforts to provide better public access when buying a lease.

The Environment Select Committee inserted a clause in the Supplementary Order Paper to the Bill requiring the Commissioner of Crown Lands to decline the transfer of a Crown pastoral lease unless he is satisfied the applicant has made reasonable endeavours to enhance public access.

“It does not require a leaseholder to provide reasonable access,” says LINZ head of Crown property Sonya Wikitera.

“The provision does not change the need for any individual or group to seek permission from the

leaseholder to access a pastoral lease.”

Federated Farmers high country committee chairman Rob Stokes says details about the change are vague.

“We haven’t seen enough detail to be convinced so we are seeking discussion with Land Information NZ (LINZ).”

Pastoral lessees are guaranteed under law to exclusive possession and the right to quiet enjoyment of their lease.

The commissioner of Crown lands, who has to approve the transfer of pastoral lease land, will determine if reasonable endeavour has made by lessees to enhance public access on a caseby-case basis.

“The commissioner can consider a range of factors including the public access already available, the impact on farming operations, situations

when access has been declined, and whether there has been any engagement on access with interested parties,” Wikitera says.

The Bill was reported back to the house by the select committee last July and the Government intends to pass it early this year.

Wikitera says the select committee recommended including the public access provision in response to submissions on the Bill.

She noted that people wanting to access a pastoral lease still need permission from the leaseholder.

“The proposed provision would not alter this approach.”

Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor asked officials to look at the additional provision which meant working with the High Country Accord Trust, Department of Conservation and Walking Access Commission.

“LINZ has now provided

CLARITY: Federated Farmers high country committee chairman Rob Stokes says details about a change to the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill are vague and he’s seeking more information.

advice to the minister on how the provision could be amended further via a supplementary order paper, so that the Bill better meets the aim of ensuring that

reasonable requests for public access over Crown pastoral leases are not unreasonably refused while respecting leaseholders’ existing property rights.”

Hort industries to support recovery in Tonga Staff reporter THE horticulture and wine grape industries in New Zealand are collecting donations to help with the recovery in Tonga, following the recent tsunami.

“Our industries, in particular those who employ workers from Tonga, have been saddened by news of the tsunami and its impact,” the horticulture industry labour collective, comprising NZ Apples & Pears, NZ Kiwifruit Growers, Summerfruit NZ, NZ Wine, NZ Ethical Employers and HortNZ, said.

“Our focus is on helping the economy of Tonga recover. That’s because the immediate response

is in hand, thanks to the efforts of governments, civil defence and agencies like the Red Cross.

“We are using the Growers Relief Fund to collect donations to support the recovery. As has happened previously, money donated by our industry will be used to help small businesses, such as market gardens, recover.

As well, in some areas, the donations will be used to rebuild community buildings.

“Our industries will also be ensuring the approximately 1000 workers from Tonga currently in New Zealand working are wellsupported now and in the coming months. We are working with our growers and employers on that.”

AID: The horticulture industry labour collective is using the Growers Relief Fund to collect donations to aid recovery in Tonga.

MORE:

Growers, employers and other parts of the horticulture and wine grape industries can go here to donate: https://horticulturenewzealand.formstack.com/forms/grower_relief_fund_donation_form

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

7

Nait consults on levy increase Staff reporter THE National Animal Identification and Tracing Scheme (Nait) manager, Nait Limited, has begun formal consultation with farmers and collection agents on proposed increases to Nait levies.

Together with proposed increases in Crown and deer industry contributions, these levies will be used to continue the important work Nait Limited has been doing since the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak in 2017 to improve the traceability system, so that it is easy for farmers to use and it performs in the event of a disease outbreak.

Head of traceability Kevin Forward said farmers rely on Nait to provide the tools and information they need to help reduce their on-farm biosecurity risk and manage disease.

“Having accurate, up-to-date on-farm data and a reliable animal

tracing system plays a vital role in limiting the impact of a disease outbreak, supports food assurance and helps NZ maintain access to international markets,” Forward said.

“However, the M bovis outbreak in 2017 showed us that the Nait system was not performing as it should, and farmers have told us that the system is difficult to use.”

Since then, Nait Limited has been working with its stakeholders to improve the system, to make it easier for farmers to understand and meet their obligations and to ensure the system performs in the event of a future outbreak.

In 2012, the tag levy was set at $1.10, then reduced over time to $0.90.

The slaughter levy was set at $1.35 and was reduced to $0.50 per head.

An increase in the tag levy to $1.35 and the slaughter levy to $1.77 has now been proposed.

Forward says levies have historically been kept low.

“But they were designed to be flexible – to change when we needed them to – and they haven’t been reviewed or increased since 2014. We have delayed any increase for as long as possible while we used reserves and established a plan to deliver,” he said.

“We acknowledge the proposed increases come at a time when many farmers are already under financial pressure, but we also know from our experience with M bovis and bovine TB that, if we have another disease outbreak, not having the right systems in place will cost much more.”

Formal consultation will take place between January 21 and February 25.

MORE:

For more information about the consultation go to: https://www. ospri.co.nz/nait-levy-consultation

MUST-HAVE: Nait head of traceability Kevin Forward says levies have historically been kept low, but recent experiences with M bovis and bovine TB show that not having the right systems in place will be costly.

Animal identification compliance improving Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz ANIMAL identification compliance is on the rise but livestock farmers are warned not to get complacent.

The Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) push on national animal identification and tracing (Nait) has paid off with 2021 records showing a 30% jump in compliance over the past three years.

But MPI is warning against any complacency as rates of compliance with the scheme continue to rise.

The scheme, which maintains a national database of cattle and deer movements, is a critical part of New Zealand’s ability to respond quickly to biosecurity threats.

Over the past three years compliance has risen from 60% in 2018 to 90% at the end of 2021.

“We take non-compliance seriously because of the potentially devastating effect

BETTER: Over the past three years compliance has risen from 60% in 2018 to 90% at the end of 2021.

these threats can have on industry and communities,” MPI national manager of animal welfare and Nait compliance Gray Harrison said.

Up to 2018, only about 60% of tagged animals were being registered before first movement.

Since 2019, MPI and Ospri, which maintains the Nait database, have renewed efforts to improve compliance and the percentage of livestock farmers meeting their obligation is up to 90% this year.

MPI prosecuted 18 people in charge of animals for failing to meet their obligations under the NAIT scheme in 2021.

In addition, 1782 infringements and 2372 written warnings were issued.

“It’s having the desired effect, but we can’t afford complacency.

“Our message to people with animals which come under the Nait scheme is that we all need to do our part to protect NZ. “For our part we will continue to keep a close eye on Nait compliance,” Harrison said.

He says amendments to penalties in the Nait Act, which increased the maximum penalty 10-fold to $100,000 in late 2019, send a strong message that people need to treat the scheme very seriously.

Harrison urged people who are unsure about what they need to do, to reach out.

“There is plenty of information, advice and support available.”

MORE:

To learn more, go to the Ospri website https://www.ospri.co.nz/ourprogrammes/nait-programme

8

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Book highlights soils’ value to NZ Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz FOR the first time in a generation, anyone with a connection to soils and their management has a new text to reach for – one that is likely to set a reference benchmark not only in New Zealand, but internationally.

University of Waikato professor of earth sciences David Lowe and his colleague Dr Megan Balks, along with Dr Allan Hewitt of Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, spent more than three years compiling The Soils of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The 18-chapter text offers a technically detailed, but highly accessible insight to NZ’s complex soil types and their properties.

“It is partly a reflection of how good the previous work by Dr Les Molloy was when it came out in 1988 that we have not had much since then,” Lowe said.

However, a change in how NZ soils were classified after that release prompted Hewitt to consider the potential for a new technical guide.

He oversaw a new system of classification in 1992 that was based on 15 large groups of “soil orders”, classifying soils that had similar properties, origins and management needs. The new book is based on chapters that deal with the soils in each order.

Earlier books had focused upon soils on a regional basis and used older classification systems.

Described as a labour of love, Hewitt started the work about 10 years ago with Balks; Lowe joined the team in 2018 and much of the work was completed in the authors’ own time.

The book provides essential information on each of the 15 soil orders, including the likes of Allophanic soils (soils with properties dominated by a special clay type), Brown soils, Semiarid soils, Recent soils, Gley soils and Pumice soils. Their main physical, mineralogical and chemical features, origins, relationships with landscapes, and management aspects are all covered.

BEST-SELLER: Professor David Lowe hopes Soils of Aotearoa will become a reference for farmers and academics alike.

We have always found most NZ farmers are very well educated and have a good appreciation and understanding of how their soils differ from place to place on the farm, often requiring different management depending upon their use.

Professor David Lowe University of Waikato The book also places considerable context around soil’s value to NZ’s environmental and economic soundness. The authors have also been at pains to highlight the fact NZ’s most valuable, productive soils only comprise 5% of the total available.

Of that, a mere 0.7% of NZ’s land is classified as falling into

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the highest-quality Land Use Capability (LUC) 1, and 4.5% into LUC 2.

Despite this, over 10% of these most highly productive soils have already been lost to lifestyle blocks and housing, with a shocking onethird of the best land in Auckland and Waikato lost for good to urban expansion under an accelerating process.

The case for protecting these soils from further losses to housing and roading is raised as a compelling one by the authors.

Lowe says the extremely highvalue soils of the South Auckland area (Pukekohe-Bombays) have been facing “death by a thousand cuts” over the past several decades under housing pressure.

“With the introduction of the Resource Management Act, we saw the rapid urban expansion onto land previously protected under the Town and Country Planning Act, something only now being recognised through the 2019 National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land,” he said.

He said Minister for Environment David Parker has been the first minister to

recognise the value of these soils and the urgent need to protect their future loss.

“And we have seen Hawke’s Bay as one area where this has been recognised through the Save Our Plains campaign, helping councils recognise the value of these soils and the need to control expansion,” he said.

Lowe said the authors have tried to keep the book’s language accessible and as useful for undergraduates as it is for farmers, council staff and advisors.

“We have always found most NZ farmers are very well-educated and have a good appreciation and understanding of how their soils differ from place to place on the farm, often requiring different management depending upon their use.

“The book documents the relationships between soils and landforms, which is how most farmers see their soils,” he said.

The book is the 31st volume in a global initiative under the Springer World Soils Book Series to update publications on countries’ soil types, coming out after countries including Egypt,

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Bangladesh and Serbia.

Unlike many, all its chapters are written by the one team, and Lowe said this has ensured greater continuity of style and detail compared to edited volumes with multiple contributors.

Independent Aotearoa book review website Kete noted Soils of Aotearoa NZ was not necessarily a straightforward read, but one that contained a wealth of fascinating information of value to anyone with any connection to the land and soil.

“A lot of NZ’s wealth has come from our soils and farmers are part of the solution to preserving those soils. I have always found they are very open and happy to help look after them. Our hope is as many farmers as possible will want to have a copy to improve on the knowledge so many already have,” Lowe said.

MORE:

Soils of Aotearoa New Zealand is available as both a hard copy and digital download: https://link.springer.com/ book/10.1007/978-3-030-64763-6

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Farming vulnerable to volcanic impact Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz THE Tongan volcano eruption has heightened awareness of New Zealand’s shared risk on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and what such an event closer to home could mean for the primary sector.

As Tongans grapple with ash deposits that have turned much of the main island into a moonscape, scientists here say an eruption of even a fraction of Hunga-TongaHunga-Ha’api’s intensity could cripple a whole region’s primary production capacity here.

Tom Wilson, a University of Canterbury professor in disaster risk and resilience, has studied volcanic risks in relation to farming in depth.

He says the Ruapehu eruptions of 1995 and 1996 that spread ash across large swathes of the North Island were the prompt for NZ getting a better understanding of volcanic behaviour, and the country’s response to eruptions.

“Until then it had fallen between disciplines. Now there is information the likes of MPI have made available specifically on responding to eruptions, all as part of adverse event response.”

He also says a rare silver lining from the horror of the Whakaari/

White Island event was a renewed focus on volcanic research and response.

“One of the big areas we are working on now is trying to model losses from events, on a district, regional and national level.”

The possibility of a Tongan type of eruption is not ruled out by researchers here.

A string of multiple undersea volcanoes extend from Tonga through to Whakaari/White Island in Bay of Plenty, with a composition similar to the Tongan volcano.

Raoul Island, which is only 1100km north-east of NZ, is a centre of frequent earthquake activity as recently as last year and has also experienced intense volcanic eruptions in the past.

Until now rough estimates have been a major volcanic event could impact to the tune of $1 billion to $1.5 billion on GDP, and researchers are working to try and get more exact modelling.

The 1996 Ruapehu event that occurred right at the start of the ski season sliced $100 million from ski field income alone and affected 100,000 people in the central North Island.

Stock losses were reported from fluoride poisoning in water supplies and in ash content.

9

BIG BLOW: Professor Tom Wilson says the Whakaari/White Island disaster prompted a renewed interest in better understanding the implications of a major volcanic event for the primary sector.

Earlier in his academic career Wilson was involved in a Taranaki project that focused on the impact a Mt Taranaki eruption would have on the region.

Mount Taranaki is classed as one of a dozen “active” volcanoes in NZ, and its last major eruption was reported in 1854.

His earlier modelling work done in 2009 estimated 50mm of ash coverage would force the relocation of almost quarter a million dairy cows out of the region. It was a task rendered almost impossible within a reasonable time frame, even if there was sufficient grazing for those animals out of the region.

Wilson also spent time on a 116ha Bay of Plenty dairy farm to better understand the farm-level impact of a major volcanic event.

In something of a bull’s eye location, the property was deemed to be at risk from the Okataina Caldera complex only 5km away, Whakaari/White Island to the north, Taupō and Tongariro, both to the south.

His work identified the vulnerability of dairy farms to loss of electricity supply, water supply impacts, and building damage.

He concluded if ash fall was over 100mm it would be hard for a farm to recover.

“Really, if you get over 300mm of ash you are looking at land use change. But less than that there are a whole bunch of other factors that come into play. Can you cultivate that ash back into the soil, that could help mitigate its effects, for example.”

In the course of his work Wilson spent time in Chile and Argentina, countries that suffered three major eruption events between 1991 and 2011.

“It is a good area to visit because the farming systems are getting closer to NZ systems, being pastoral based.”

The Hudson event in 1991 and the 2011 Cordón Caulle eruption were the most severe with ash layers over 300mm extending across Argentinian steppe country with major stock losses of up to 40% reported by some farmers.

On-going losses included very poor fertility rates due to poor feed quality, and wool becoming unmarketable due to ash contamination.

“And some of those areas were affected for years later by a dust bowl effect.

“Even though they may have only got 2-3cm of ash, it kept getting lifted and blown by the wind for 10 years later. Stock looked terrible, and horticulture

One of the big areas we are working on now is trying to model losses from events, on a district, regional and national level.

Prof Tom Wilson University of Canterbury like cherry orchards were really hit hard.”

Lessons he observed from those areas included the importance of ensuring farmer organisations are given the freedom and resources to organise recovery themselves, rather than a central agency trying to dictate resources and actions.

Wilson said a large portion of his work now includes helping farmers appreciate the risks of farming in volcanic areas, helping them with disaster mitigation, and improving resilience to an eruption’s effects.

“This could include things like having a generator, which many may do. It also requires raising awareness at a regional and central government level on the strategic national risks volcanoes pose.”

Rural Taranaki lifts preparedness level Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS in Taranaki will soon have the opportunity to learn more about how to improve their resilience to natural disaster, including a major eruption from Mount Taranaki.

Taranaki Civil Defence group controller Todd Velvin said the group is poised to release a video highlighting how local farmer and industry leader Katrina Knowles has added layers of resilience to her farm operations to ensure they can continue operating in the event of loss of power and water supplies after a natural disaster.

The campaign comes as Taranaki Civil Defence ramps up efforts to improve communications between farmer groups, farmers and agencies in a region particularly vulnerable to volcanic eruption.

“With a 50% chance of erupting in the next 50 years, Mount

VULNERABLE: For Taranaki it is a case of when, not if, the mountain blows.

Taranaki is the second most likely major geological hazard after the Alpine Fault,” Velvin said.

The Alpine Fault has a 75% chance of rupturing within 50 years.

A 2012 review of the region’s Civil Defence emergency management plan acknowledged hazard management, risk assessment and mitigation were fragmented and lacked consistency across a broad range of organisations.

In the years between then and the 2018 plan several flood and tornado events had prompted better coordination.

This has coincided with the 2018 opening of the National Geohazards Management Centre, run through GNS Science to better funnel and interpret data from earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity for decision makers at the National Emergency Management Agency.

Velvin said there is now greater recognition that farmer and primary industry groups are best placed to manage and allocate resources in the event of a disaster.

“Even changing the name in

our emergency plan from rural advisory group to rural coordination group speaks volumes.

We are not experts in rural recovery, we are the enablers.

“Preparedness is getting better, there would now not be too many farmers who have not experienced some level of adverse event.

Our advice has been to make incremental improvements every year to your farm business.”

Living on the flank of an active volcano had created a highly fertile, productive region, but Velvin said there was also a great responsibility to future generations to ensure the region was resilient to an almost inevitable eruption event.

At a national level, MPI’s director of rural communities and farm support Nick Story said local Civil Defence organisations take the lead role in immediate responses, with MPI convening a National Adverse Events Committee comprising

representatives from across the sector to share information during an adverse event.

“During a response, our efforts might include coordinating of the evacuation of animals, the rescue of animals, and the provision of food and water after ash contamination of pasture and waterways.”

He said through recent experience with the Whakaari/ White Island eruption, the regional Bay of Plenty primary sector cluster regularly met to assess and respond to potential impacts.

Advice on how rural communities can prepare for major climate events or natural disasters is available on the MPI website.

This includes information on preparing for volcanic eruptions, with detailed information available to assist livestock, lifestyle block, horse, and pet owners.

10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

News

Tight supply boosts dairy prices Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz EXTREMELY tight global supply has helped push dairy prices up 4.6% at the 300th GDT auction.

The lift is the largest price index gain for six months. Prices averaged US$4463, with whole milk powder (WMP) prices the highest moving, jumping 5.6% to $4082 a tonne. Skim milk powder (SMP) and butter both lifted 5% to $3963 and $6158 respectively.

AMF and cheddar cheese had small rises of 0.6% and 1.1% to reach $6720 and $5546 respectively.

Butter milk powder (BMP) was not offered for auction, while lactose and sweet whey powder prices were not available.

All regions across the globe participated in the auction, with North Asian buyers securing well over half of the total volume sold, NZX dairy insights manager Stu Davison said.

He called the result a “secure at any cost” situation.

“It seems the market has also taken full stock of the tightness of milk supply globally and are now increasingly willing to pay the price to secure product,” Davison said.

Evidence of this was the SMP

market, which he labelled “a shambles”.

“What used to be normal price differentials have been smashed to bits, as buyers secure the product they need in any shape possible,” he said.

Where supply goes, prices will go.

Supply is driving things and will be the dominant factor for at least the next year, if not the next couple.

Nathan Penny Westpac Westpac senior agri-economist Nathan Penny said the lift was expected, given the futures market had predicted prices would rise. It predicted a 5% lift in WMP prices, which was very close to the 5.5% lift in the auction.

Demand outstripping extremely tight supply was the

major reason for the result.

“Where supply goes, prices will go. Supply is driving things and will be the dominant factor for at least the next year, if not the next couple,” Penny said.

In New Zealand, the cold wet spring had given way to an extremely hot, dry summer which had weakened production.

This was indicative in Fonterra’s announcement of a reduced production forecast earlier this month, which undoubtedly influenced buying, he said.

“Given that supply is already weaker than we already knew, the markets are scrambling to get hold of products and hence prices are going higher again.

“It is essentially a supply story, given that New Zealand’s production is weak and similarly weak in most other exporting countries,” he said.

He said prices will continue to be underpinned by this supply weakness in the short-term. The result also supported the bank’s $9/kg MS milk price forecast for this season.

Over the medium- to longerterm, supply should rebound, which he said is why the bank forecasted a $7.50/kg MS for the new season.

EVERYBODY: NZX dairy insights manager Stu Davison says all regions across the globe participated in the auction with North Asian buyers securing well over half of the total volume sold.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Velveting stag price cut above the rest

TOP STAG: The toppriced stag, which sold for $135,000 at the recent Netherdale stud sale in Southland.

Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz A VELVETING stag sold by long-time Southland breeder David Stevens set this season’s deer selling calendar alight, making $135,000 at auction earlier this month.

Bred by the Netherdale stud near Balfour, the three-year-old was sold to a South Canterbury syndicate of commercial deer farmers.

Stevens says the stag is the son of Bronx, a high performing stag that fathered half the stags offered at this year’s annual Netherdale sale.

The stag was originally going to be the heir to Bronx, but Stevens says that role will go to an impressive two-year-old he has bred.

The top priced stag cut just over 10kg of velvet last season and had a sale day weight of 242kg.

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The stag is the son of Bronx, a high performing stag that fathered half the stags offered at this year’s annual Netherdale sale.

Stevens says while the $135,000 was $45,000 more than his previous highest auction price, he was heartened by a sale day average of $20,000, which showed his stock is in demand.

The stud sold 20 of the 24 stags offered while 50 of the 57 hinds offered sold for an average of $1984 and a top of $3400.

A further 77 velveting stags offered averaged $1677.

The top priced stag at Otago’s Black Forest Park was $70,000 with 13 of the 23 offered selling for a sale average $10,962.

All eight hinds offered sold, averaging $1962 with a top price of $5800.

Peel Forest Estate had a top price of $56,000 for a Forrester (CRRT) stag, a breed specific to the vendor.

All 55 stags on offer sold with a sale average of $10,000.

In a separate sale of velveting stags, Peel Forest Estate sold a top priced animal for $67,000, with 23 of 25 stags offered averaging $13,782.

The top-priced velveting stag offered by Gore stud Altrive Red Deer made $51,000. The stud sold 24 of the 25 stags offered for an average price of $13,396.

Altrive also sold all 96 hinds offered for an average of about $1600.

Deer Genetics NZ also had a strong sale with a velvet-trophy stag selling for $35,000 and all 12 offered selling for an average of $14,545.

It had a complete clearance of 18 hinds with a top price of $18,000 and an average of $3641.

The top-priced velveting stag offered by Wilkins Farming in Southland was $33,000 with the vendor selling 45 of 49 stags offered.

The top-priced stud stag sold by Methven stud Rothesay Deer was $23,500, with eight of the 12 offered selling for an average of $8937.

The stud sold all six hinds offered with the top price $2300.

Central Southland Wapiti stud, Tikana Wapiti, sold 13 of the 20 bulls offered with a top price $17,500 and a sale average of $7731.

It also sold nine cows for a top price of $2600 and an average $1956.

11

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News

12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Don’t sweat what you can’t control With 40 years’ experience in the kiwifruit industry, Sean Canarchan has some clear ideas about what it takes to last the distance.

SEAN Canarchan wears multiple hats in the kiwifruit industry.

He is a grower based in Katikati, growing all three varieties of kiwifruit – red, green and gold.

He is also a contractor, managing orchards for growers and runs a small postharvest operation.

He holds several directorships in the industry and is very involved in New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers (NZKGI).

In the 40 years he has been in the industry, Carnachan has seen plenty of ups and downs.

It’s a great industry to be in, he says, but there are always challenges.

“When you think things are going swimmingly well, there’s always something around the corner to challenge you. And generally, the things that challenge us in this industry are not of our own making. They are normally outside influences.”

The big outside influence for growers at the moment is labour shortages, says Carnachan, who employs around 35 staff.

“We’ve got 95% current employment in this country, which is what I deem to be full employment. And every industry is competing for the small number of workers who are available.

BE WELL: Kiwifruit grower and contractor Sean Carnachan is a strong believer in looking after his own wellbeing as well as contributing positively to the wellbeing of others.

“In the horticulture sector, 25% of our labour has been backpackers in the past and now with covid they are not there. We’ve got RSE staff as well, but we don’t have a full complement of those people in New Zealand at the moment either, so the market is extremely tight.

“Labour shortages mean there’s a lot of work that’s not getting done and it’s costing more and more to get it done. It definitely is a worry for growers.”

When it comes to dealing with stress, Carnachan has developed a Wednesday 09/03/2022 – Thursday 10/03/2022 clear philosophy for handling the Farmax Conference uncertainty which is part and parcel The Farmax Conference is a platform for thought of the industry.

“I always talk about two and discussion around how we can advance New things: the controllables and the Zealand’s pastoral farm systems into the future. uncontrollables. All the things you For more information: agritechnz.org.nz/event/ can control, you need to have a plan farmax-conference-2021/ in place to deal with them, but don’t sweat the things you can’t control.

Wednesday 30/03/2022 – Thursday 31/03/2022 “The classic example is when DigitalAg it rains, and you can’t work and DigitalAG 2022 brings together technology you think ‘I’m going to get further leaders, agritech developers, early adopters and further behind.’ Yes you are, and the next generation of primary industry but it doesn’t matter how much operators. This event showcases the digital worrying you do, it won’t improve the technologies transforming the agricultural and situation. horticultural sectors. Formally MobileTECH Ag, “What you can do is discuss the this is a must-attend event for NZ’s agritech work programme, prioritise what community. needs to be done and have a good Venue: Distinction Hotel & Conference Centre, plan in place so when the weather Fenton Street, Rotorua comes right, you have retained To register: agritechnz.org.nz/event/digitalag/ everybody, and you can get on with it. That’s critical.”

Wednesday 15/06/2022 – Saturday 18/06/2022 When it comes to the labour NZ National Agricultural Field Days shortage, Carnachan has identified some controllables that he hopes Visit the traditional Fieldays favourites, like will alleviate the situation. His Tractor Pull competitions and the Fencing key strategy is to maximise staff Championships. Or experience something a little retention. different at the Ag Art Wear show, the Innovation “You have to look after the staff Centre, or the Festival of Logging. you have got so you can retain them Witness extreme air displays, cuisine throughout the year. We employ demonstrations, machinery exhibitions, a lot of staff for 12 months of the stock handling and many more in one of the year, so they have a permanent job, demonstrations areas. If you’d like to learn rather than a seasonal job. We house something new, join one of the many seminars, some of them on our property and and enhance your presence in the rural sector. we try and be a good employer. Not Venue: Mystery Creek Events Centre everybody is focused on the money, 125 Mystery Creek Rd, Ohaupo, Hamilton there are other things that make For more info: www.fieldays.co.nz/welcome people get up in the morning to go to work. You have to identify those Should your event be listed here? needs.”

Phone 0800 85 25 80 Carnachan is a strong believer or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz in looking after his own wellbeing LK0109662©

Agrievents

as well as contributing positively to the wellbeing of others.

Taking time out for regular exercise and socialising with others to achieve balance in his life are priorities. If you don’t have that kind of support in place, you have to go looking for it, Carnachan says.

“It really helps if you can socialise with like-minded people so you don’t have to discuss your issues at work. If you can get exercise along with socialising happening on a regular basis, it gives you that balance.

Socialising with good company is so critical.

You want to surround yourself with positive people, so you get good vibes off that.”

Carnachan’s outside interests include “a bit of mountain biking and fishing. They are my two things, but it can be as simple as walking your dog around the orchard or going to the beach”.

You have to look after the staff you have got so you can retain them throughout the year. We employ a lot of staff for 12 months of the year, so they have a permanent job, rather than a seasonal job.

Sean Carnachan Kiwifruit grower “I also have a group of guys I get together with for a beer once a week and most of them don’t grow kiwifruit. It’s something different. We have quite a bit of accommodation here on the farm, people from different backgrounds. We manage to catch up and have a friendly natter once or twice a week over a couple of cold beers we brew ourselves. It’s always at the end of the day and a good unwind. It’s not a drinking culture, it’s a catch-up.”

Typically, there is not much downtime in the kiwifruit industry so finding ways to share the load and take breaks is important.

“There are not many months when we are not working seven days a week to manage the orchards. If we waited til there was a lull in our work programme we would have very little time off. This year we managed to run a six-day-a-week business right through the winter which was good because it meant

farmstrong.co.nz

everybody knew they could have a Sunday off.”

Over the years Carnachan has seen the kiwifruit industry face major threats. When the Psa disease attacked kiwifruit vines in 2010 and crippled the industry, he got involved personally in supporting growers who were at the end of their tether and ready to walk away from their orchards.

Once again it was a case of controlling what you could control.

“It was very serious. What I did was sit down with them and show them there was a pathway through this. ‘I don’t know how it’s going to end up but there is a pathway.’

Just talking to them about their personal situation, their cashflow, and encouraging them to have a conversation with the bank who were supportive of us through that period.

“I did the same thing in 2020 when it looked like we might not be able to get our entire crop harvested because of covid.

Encouraging growers to sit down early with the bank manager and understand their financial position so they had some clarity about what they can and cannot do. Once you have clarity, it improves your mental wellbeing about how you can stay in business.”

Carnachan is a supporter of Farmstrong’s focus on proactively looking after your own wellbeing, and the wellbeing of your family and community.

“I like what Farmstrong is on about. Now is the time to discuss these ideas and act before things get potentially even tougher.

Have the conversations now. It’s well worth it. People have different levels of anxiety and stress in all jobs so it’s good to reach out. It takes an ongoing commitment to look after yourself, it’s not a short fix.”

MORE:

Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and their families cope with the ups and downs of farming. To find out what works for you, check out farmstrong.co.nz is the official media partner of Farmstrong

Groundswell NZ’s position

News

14 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Carbon price heat continues to rise Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz A NEW year surge in the New Zealand carbon values has caught the market by surprise, with traders anticipating values may well impact upon the first carbon auction of the year due to be held in mid-March.

Values for mid-January are now trading at $72.10 a unit, with a bullish sentiment on the market also reflected in future spot prices.

The contracted market has April 2023 values trading at $75.20, and April 2026 at $83.40 a unit.

Lizzie Chambers, director of carbon trading company Carbon Match, said trading is now characterised by a myriad of buyers and sellers across the breadth of the market, including investors, farmers and emitters requiring credits to operate.

So this time it would seem that the market would already see $70 a unit as being quite low, and those additional CCR units may well be gobbled up again in this first upcoming auction.

Lizzie Chambers Carbon Match “Over the new year the market really gapped it from $69.50 to $71.50 a unit very quickly. It appears almost as if there was a decision made by many buyers first off at the start of the year to get in and tick the box on buying,” Chambers said.

As part of NZ’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) market there are four auctions held a year for credits, with the first up in mid-March.

The auctions operate with the

Government releasing additional credits from a cost containment reserve (CCR) of seven million additional units when a trigger price is met for the 4.75m units offered on the open market.

This year’s CCR trigger price of $70 a unit already sits below where the market is at now, making it highly likely additional CCR units will have to be released by the government.

Last year when prices surged above the then trigger price of $50 a unit, the Government’s entire CCR allocation of seven million units was released in a single auction event. All were still purchased at over their $50 price point at $53.85 a unit.

“So this time it would seem that the market would already see $70 a unit as being quite low, and those additional CCR units may well be gobbled up again in this first upcoming auction,” she said.

“We have already had 40,000 units go through this week at $72 flat.”

The Government’s ability to raise the $70 a unit trigger price on its CCR credits is limited by year-to-year increases to match growing carbon unit demand, with 2023 being set at $78.40 a unit.

However, with signals already so strong that the $70 a unit value will be exceeded, there appears to be some wriggle room in the fine print for the minister of climate change to lift that figure before the year ends.

The ETS rules allow for changes to the trigger price under “special circumstances”.

This could include the release of the Emissions Reduction Plan later this year, and any changes it brings to emissions reduction levels.

While acknowledging the inevitable uncertainties that plague global markets in any traded item right now, Chambers said it was hard to be bearish about carbon.

“Two years ago it would often be foresters coming to the

SOARING: Despite global uncertainty, Carbon Match director Lizzie Chambers says it was hard to be bearish at this point about the global carbon market.

market. Now, with compliance requirements, financial institutions, and growing investor interest in carbon, the ETS market is a broad church with good liquidity and capital flow, even more than only a year ago,” she said.

Jarden head of commodities trading Nigel Brunel agreed with Chambers’ sentiments.

“There does not seem to be a lot of supply out there, ergo we are seeing higher prices and clearly

more buyers,” Brunel said.

“It is potentially on the cards that we see the same thing happen at the next auction that happened last year. This is not a bad thing, the CCR is there for a purpose and it would not surprise me if this year’s credits were also taken out in the first auction.”

As the ETS scheme picked up pace it was being increasingly viewed by overseas investors and carbon emitters as a transparent, valid and robust system, built

on solid policy and regulatory framework.

“You have to remember this is the second-oldest ETS in the world and is well-respected internationally – there are traders who want to add liquidity to this market,” he said.

Brunel reiterated the Climate Change Commission’s estimate that carbon prices would have to touch $140 a unit to initiate decarbonising changes in processes and technologies.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

15

WISPA challenges ex-PM’s fibre desire Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz SIR John Key’s praise of the ultrafast broadband network he initiated has been tempered by wireless providers who caution other options exist for rural areas blighted by slow internet services.

In a published column, Sir John says he is staggered by what was achieved with the $1.5 billion ultra-fast broadband rollout, citing Australia as an example of what not to do when initiating a national fibre optic network project.

With 87% of the country covered, he has pushed for maintaining the momentum to the tens of thousands still without fibre connectivity.

But Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA) chairman Mike Smith said as the number of homes in rural and provincial NZ not connected becomes fewer and fewer, fibre may not prove the best investment to achieve better connectivity for those customers.

The last investment round

to lift high-speed broadband was targeting about 84,000 households.

“I felt that Sir John sees fibre as being the only solution for the ones that remain, but the technology is moving at a pace to deliver other options that bring a near-fibre experience,” Smith says.

This includes a range of wireless, radio system networks capable of being installed rapidly and cost effectively to service

I felt that Sir John sees fibre as being the only solution to the ones that remain, but the technology is moving at a pace to deliver other options that bring a near-fibre experience.

Mike Smith WISPA

more remote areas.

“And putting fibre into homes is not the only challenge. You also have the additional challenges of ensuring connectivity within homes and within farms.”

As the number of homes and farms needing faster broadband reduces, Smith says there is a case for “picking the right horse for the right race” when choosing from the expanding range of technology becoming available.

“Short distance wireless at faster speeds for example may be a good approach.”

Similarly, WISPA has been concerned at the focus on 5G technology being rolled out, detracting from other lower establishment cost options.

“But the big challenge for wireless providers this year is to see how much of the next round of spectrum will be offered to us, versus the large carriers’ 5G network. Spectrum is increasingly scarce and no doubt a pretty penny will have to be paid for it.”

He is hoping providers will have some indication of how much they will be allocated by

QUICK: Mike Smith says new technology is emerging that can offer internet speeds close to fibre, without the expense.

the end of the first quarter.

Meantime, along with TUANZ, WISPA is continuing to push for a comprehensive 10-year plan for NZ’s broadband connectivity to ensure the momentum of

the programme initiated by Sir John continues, particularly as technology installed under the first Rural Broadband Initiative demands upgrading in the next two-to-five years.

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Summer treasures

CARBON

Carbon sequestration, pine plantations, overseas investors and grazing land being sold to forestry conversions are all hot topics right now. So, we thought that we would take a look at what exactly “Carbon” is.

Carbon is a chemical element, like hydrogen, oxygen, lead or any of the others in the periodic table. Carbon is a very abundant element. It exists in pure or nearly pure forms – such as diamonds and graphite – but can also join with other elements to form molecules.

These carbon-based molecules are the basic building blocks of humans, animals, plants, trees and soils. Humans are 18% carbon and plants are 45% carbon. Some greenhouse gases, such as CO 2 and methane, also consist of carbon-based molecules, as do fossil fuels, which are largely made up of hydrocarbons (molecules consisting of hydrogen and carbon).

18% 45% CARBON PL ANTS

When we are talking about carbon in relation to climate change “carbon” is usually shorthand for carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas that works to trap heat close to Earth.

In a simple form, CO 2 helps Earth retain some of the energy it gets from the sun by not allowing it to leak back into space. So up to a point CO 2 and other greenhouse gases are necessary and serve us well. However, even a small increase in CO 2 in the atmosphere can cause Earth to get even warmer. Historically when Earth’s CO 2 levels have increased so has the temperature of Earth and when Earth heats atmospheric CO 2 levels rise again.

Check out a niftyl “Climate Time Machine” at https://climatekids.nasa.gov/timemachine/ to see how carbon dioxide levels have changed from 2002-2016.

Did you know that animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants then take in the CO2 and keep the carbon but give away the oxygen.

Meaning that plants and animals depend on each other and most of us are well aware of the need for this symbiotic relationship.

Do some research and see if you can answer the following questions: 1

How much CO 2 does the average human produce each year?

2 Is there a need to start thinking about how much CO2 we produce here on earth?

3 Why or why not?

4 What are some of the largest producers of CO 2 throughout the world? (Activities or industries rather than countries).

5 What are carbon credits?

A great place to start for more climate information for all ages is Climate Kids https://climatekids.nasa.gov/carbon/. gov/carbon/ where there is lots of interesting climate based information.

Make sure that you check out the Sea Ice, Sea Level and Global temperatures as well as the Carbon Dioxide links on The Climate Time Machine.

We look forward to delving a little deeper into Carbon Sequestration next week.

STRETCH YOURSELF: The Stats NZ provisional sheep and beef numbers update estimate that the 2021 beef cattle numbers have increased 142,000 head or 4% compared to 2020, to 4 million head. Beef numbers have been increasing since the historical low of 3.5 million in 2016.

1

The latest dairy institute statistics, produced by Dairy NZ and LIC, showed milking cow numbers fell from 4.92 to 4.9 million for the 2020-21 season, while average milk production per cow was 397kg of milksolids, a 3.1% increase from 385kg last season and the highest on record.

1

Why do you think dairy-cow numbers are dropping?

2 What are ‘milk-solids’? Why do farmers want to increase their per cow milk solid production?

3 Who are LIC? What do they do?

4 Who is Dairy NZ? What is their purpose?

One driver of the increase in beef numbers is good prices. Why does this encourage farmers to farm more stock?

2 What other drivers do you think can impact sheep and beef numbers?

3 Breeding ewe numbers have decreased in recent years. Can you think of any reasons behind this?

Think about how land use changed in the last few years in particular.

4 How do you think sheep and beef numbers will track this year? Why?

1

Can you find/name three different types of summer fruits?

2 Can you find/name three different in season vegetables?

3 What does “in season” mean?

Do you grow any of your own fruit and vegetables at home or maybe in a shared local garden? We would love to see photos of what you grow.

Send them to us at: agined@globalhq.co.nz

PODCAST CORNER: BallanceEx Future Farming BallanceEx Future Farming takes a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities Kiwi farmers are experiencing today and into the future.

Farmers are increasingly looking to change the way they use their land to improve both profitability and environmental impact. In this episode, host Tangaroa Walker is joined

by Ballance Science Strategy Manager Warwick Catto and Agresearch sustainable production export Dr. Robyn Dynes to break down what you need to know about land use diversification. https://farmersweekly.co.nz/s/ podcasts/ballanceex-future-farming

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Waikato water supply put under pressure Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz HIGH temperatures and lack of rain has prompted Waikato Regional Council to ask farmers and other consent holders to check that they are complying with low-flow restrictions.

The council has also heard from some bore owners who are struggling to access water for stock due to falling groundwater levels.

Senior water scientist Bevan Jenkins said soil moisture levels are drier than the same time last year and much drier than the historical average.

“There are signs of climate change-related water stress in a number of areas and this is being expressed as reduced water availability, which is placing increasing pressure on water users,” Jenkins said.

“There has been a year-onyear increase in groundwater bore drilling permits since 20162017 and preliminary analysis shows increased total volumes of surface and groundwater take applications since 2008.”

He said the region has had a number of consecutive dry summers since 2007-2008 and Niwa recently called 2021 the hottest year on record.

“What we are seeing is that the river flows that are low at the moment are the ones that are spring flow dominated,” he said.

Streams in South Waikato

that are strongly groundwaterfed are close to or are at record low flows for this time of year.

This is due to the lower rate of precipitation recharging groundwater over recent years during winter.

One of these is the Oraka River that runs between Tokoroa and Putāruru.

However, other rivers in the region are running close to normal levels, having benefited from winter rain.

For larger groundwater systems, it was difficult to put a number on how much water was needed to replenish them, because so much is lost through usage and evaporation.

At the end of 2021, groundwater level measurements indicated a range of conditions – bores with close to record high levels, record low levels and average condition had all been recorded.

The low levels of water would have triggered restrictions for some farmers in the region, he said.

Council water allocation team leader Donna Jones said farmers should contact the council to discuss options if the reduced availability of water for stock supply is becoming an urgent issue.

For waterways in parts of the region already starting to experience low-flow conditions, Jones said surface water take consent holders had a responsibility to ensure

compliance with their consent conditions.

“As the weather heats up and stream flows drop, there may be a requirement for consent holders to reduce or cease their take. The specific action required will depend on the low flow restriction conditions in the consent,” Jones said.

A consent was needed for any new bore or if an existing bore was deepened.

A separate resource consent may also be required to take water depending on the proposed take location and volume required, she said.

Low-flow conditions of a consent will refer to an appropriate river flow monitoring station and low-flow value. Current river levels should be checked against the consent.

Regular water use records are also required, she said.

Waikato Federated Farmers president Jacqui Hahn said low flows matched what other farmers had reported from around the region.

Reduced groundwater levels over summer was not new, but increasing soil moisture deficits have increased over the past 50 years, so the trend is clear.

“Those with takes, regardless of use, need to be thinking of improving efficiency; some systems are much more efficient,” Hahn said.

Providing stock with shade was also important as it reduced water demand, she said.

DECLINE: Hot dry weather and ever-increasing demand for water has seen groundwater levels fall in some parts of Waikato.

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Handbook for honey bee health Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz A HANDBOOK offering practical guidance on how to plant strategically to feed bees is now available free to New Zealand farmers.

The book brings together knowledge from 10 years of field and laboratory research by the New Zealand Trees for Bees Research Trust and is published with financial support from several funders, including the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

Trees for Bees NZ farm planning adviser and trustee Dr Angus McPherson says the handbook is a useful tool to assist farmers support bees and incorporate planting for biodiversity and other environmental benefits that customers are now demanding.

“The beauty of our approach is that farmers don’t need to set aside land especially for this planting.

“We show farmers how to incorporate a low-maintenance bee forage planting plan into planting they’re already establishing to increase production and improve their

farmland, McPherson said.

“We aim to help build more resilient and sustainable farms by taking the best possible care of our star performer – the honeybee.

“Bees all around the world are facing a number of threats, including pests, disease, and pesticides.

“The best weapon against these threats is to provide our bees with a steady supply of forage to help them stay healthy and strong,” McPherson said.

“That includes ensuring a wide range of flowering plants in spring and autumn when bees are most at risk of pollen and nectar shortages.”

The handbook covers 10 different types of plantations – riparian protection; land stabilisation; shelterbelts; paddock shade and shelter; native bush biodiversity; roads, avenues, and laneways; amenity; edible plantations; apiaries and beekeeper yards; and mānuka plantations.

Each plantation type is described with examples, illustrations, advice, and plant lists.

McPherson says the

handbook’s principles and guidelines can be adapted to any type of farm, from pastoral to arable and horticultural farms.

“The same principles can also be applied when deciding what to plant in public parks, on lifestyle blocks and in home gardens.”

MPI director of investment programmes Steve Penno says MPI is proud to support this important research.

“Honeybee health is crucial because bees are the foundation of agricultural production in the NZ economy.

“Planting essential bee forage as part of farm management will ensure a viable and sustainable future for our bees, beekeepers, and farmers,” Penno said.

Since 2011, Trees for Bees has planted more than 75,000 bee forage plants on 32 demonstration farms throughout NZ.

MORE:

The handbook for planting trees for bees on farms is available as a free PDF on the trees for bees website at https://treesforbeesnz.org/ handbook

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1. Geldard, H, Scaramuzzi, R.J., & Wilkins, J.F. (1984) Immunization against polyandroalbumin leads to increases in lambing and tailing percentages.

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18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Newsmaker

KEY: Professor Bruce McKenzie says Lincoln University’s strategy remains the key driver for its ultimate realisation of becoming a globally ranked, top-five landbased university.

Back to the classroom Lincoln University Professor Bruce McKenzie says it has been an honour to serve as acting vice-chancellor, as he now looks forward to starting the new phase of his career. Annette Scott reports.

A

FTER three years as acting vicechancellor of Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University, Professor Bruce McKenzie will return to the classroom when teaching resumes this year.

As a professor of agronomy, he will rejoin his former faculty to teach plant science to a new cohort of Lincoln University students.

His association with Lincoln University began in the early 1980s, when he attended as a postgraduate student, completing a diploma and then a PhD in agronomy and crop science.

From there, he started a 22year post at the university as an associate professor of soil science, responsible for teaching a range of classes in plant science, statistics and annual crop production.

In 2008 he became Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which involved managing 150 staff members in four departments.

He worked in this role for more than seven years before becoming the university’s chief academic officer, overseeing Lincoln’s academic faculties, as well as the library, teaching and learning department and the research management office.

He was appointed to the position of deputy vice-chancellor in 2018 and in January 2019 he began his appointment as acting vice-chancellor, and said it has been an honour to serve as acting vice-chancellor and looks forward to starting the new phase of his career.

“I’m very grateful for being given the opportunity,” McKenzie said.

“Teaching is one of my great passions and I’m really looking forward to taking up the mantle again, as well as easing myself back into doing some research.”

He believes he is stepping aside at the right time.

“The university is in a good space and we’ve been financially stable for an extended period,” he said.

“Our Lincoln University strategy 2019-2028 remains the key driver for our growth, financial sustainability and ultimate realisation of becoming a globallyranked, top-five land-based university.

“We have also created a vibrant and inspiring campus for our students through the launch of our campus development programme and we have successfully completed a number of our key projects, on time and on budget.”

Initially appointed as acting vice-chancellor in January 2019 for a term of 18 months, McKenzie was reappointed for a further 18-month term in July 2020, ending on December 31, 2021.

Appointed at a time when the Government was considering a proposal, later shelved, for a formal partnership between Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury (UC), McKenzie delivered the solid, stable stewardship and engaging, inclusive leadership needed to guide the university through the change process.

One of the more formidable challenges faced during his tenure

came in his second-term in the job, when he skilfully steered Lincoln University through the devastating effects of the global covid-19 pandemic.

“The last two years have presented unparalleled challenges for our university, but our academic staff continued to provide teaching and research of the very highest-quality, while our professional staff have safeguarded our reputation and maintained the smooth running of our operations,” he said.

Teaching is one of my great passions and I’m really looking forward to taking up the mantle again, as well as easing myself back into doing some research.

Bruce McKenzie Lincoln University “I feel deeply proud of the ways in which all our whānau have risen to the challenges that confronted them in a period of time like no other.”

Despite pandemic-related constraints on international enrolments, Lincoln’s student headcount in 2021 achieved a 10year high.

He said getting through covid challenges together has given New Zealanders an increased understanding of where their food comes from.

“Our country’s agriculture sector is almost solely responsible for pulling us out of a very big economic hole and people’s interest in food and fibre production has taken off in the past two years,” he said.

“Being a specialist land-based university, Lincoln University is well-placed to contribute significantly to a more productive and sustainable future for Aotearoa and beyond.

By the second quarter of 2019, a comprehensive programme of campus development projects spanning 2019-2028 had been approved and set in motion.

Major projects included two new science facilities, an ambitious makeover for the recreation centre, the creation of new student social spaces and a reimagined landscape master plan that will connect the university’s built and human environments, while also showcasing its landbased values and incorporating its unique cultural narrative.

In June 2020, McKenzie climbed into the cab of a digger and turned the first sod at a ceremony that marked the beginning of the construction phase of a new fitfor-future science facility, dubbed Science South.

Barely 13 months later, the ceremonial ribbon was cut to officially open the new building before a crowd of dignitaries, project partners, staff, students and invited guests.

Just north of the new Science South building, Lincoln University’s flagship science facility, known as Science North, is taking shape.

Throughout his time as acting

vice-chancellor McKenzie remained focused on developing strategic relationships with likeminded organisations including CRIs, iwi, central and local government agencies, industry and other universities.

During his time at the helm, the university has made great strides in internalising the cultural narrative of its whakapapa and embedding a bicultural approach in its educational programmes, its day-to-day operations and in the actualisation of new campus buildings and landscapes.

“I’ve had the privilege of working within a really tight management team who have worked closely and collaboratively together for three years,” he said.

“It was a stable group of skilled individuals who got on well and worked together effectively and cohesively.

“We didn’t always agree on everything, but we always came up with good solutions.

“We accomplished a lot in those three years.”

On a parting note, he says he is handing over to a capable pair of hands.

Professor Grant Edwards took over the role of vice-chancellor on January 1, from his former role of deputy vice-chancellor.

“I’ve known Grant (Edwards) since he was a student here at Lincoln,” he said.

“As well as being one of the smartest people I know, he is a great leader and an astute judge of people.

“Under the stewardship of Grant and the team, I’m confident that Lincoln University has a very bright future.”

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

19

Smart way to track pests A Northland man is carrying on his father’s legacy of conservation by keeping predators under control. Hugh Stringleman caught up with Gotcha Traps’ Marcus Agnew.

P

EST control of rodents and mustelids needs a monitoring system devised and there’s one sold here and around the world by Gotcha Traps called Black Trakka.

Lures and pre-inked tracking cards are placed inside light and very portable tunnels to show what pests are active and where to place traps effectively.

Black Trakka will also show the presence of desirable species like gecko and wētā, building a picture of biodiversity and restoration.

Gotcha Traps principal Marcus Agnew says pest management is then more efficient and targeted, making sure expenditure can be analysed and justified.

Relatively new to the job and recently relocated from Hawke’s Bay to Northland, Agnew is carrying on the business founded by his late father Warren, a passionate conservationist and Black Trakka inventor.

Systematic tracking of smaller pest species is an essential element of control programmes funded and delivered by the Department of Conservation (DoC), wildlife sanctuaries, predator-free islands and landcare groups.

It is also being introduced to conservation programmes run by schools and universities and in consent applications and regeneration reports by land developers.

There is an increasing interest coming from farming groups, as they look to get more involved in pest control and to demonstrate their sustainable and vermin-free practices to other stakeholders.

Orchards are another potential site, with research overseas using inked tracking cards to establish

the numbers of rats in orchards and the effectiveness of their pest control, with a move toward accreditation requirements in areas of food production.

One tunnel, or several randomly scattered, will not provide a systematic picture of the vermin problem.

Mustelids like stoats and weasels, if controlled, may leave room for rats and mice to flourish.

There are protocols for tunnel placement, spacing and card reading and refreshing, developed by conservation scientists.

In the biggest and most ambitious conservation schemes, like Sanctuary Mountain: Maungatautari, hundreds of Black Trakka tunnels are used along more than 20 north-south grid lines as long as 1km at 50m intervals.

The monitoring shows continued freedom from excluded rats, stoats, ferrets and weasels, but not yet mice.

An example of where the tunnels are being used to excite interest and action in pest management is the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust in Wairarapa and its programme called Schools Behind Our River.

Trustee Campbell McLean says sponsors and partners have put together $1000 predator kits for schools for the purposes of tracking and trapping.

“Tracking sparks the curiosity of children to be like detectives, using the Gotcha Trap booklets of the feet patterns of different species,” McLean said.

“Some will get into the monitoring and data collection side, others into trapping.

“It gets schools participating in the Predator-Free NZ process

POPULAR: The basics of Black Trakka are increasingly used in pest management, vendor Marcus Agnew says.

without incurring additional costs.”

Another example of the Black Trakka effectiveness has been on Gough Island in the South Atlantic where the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has been waging war on mice.

Over two million seabird chicks are lost every year, pushing some species towards extinction.

Albatross chicks can be attacked and eaten in the nest while their parents are away.

Agnew says tracking cards and monitoring provides feedback to RSPB sponsors, reassuring them that mice are being controlled and chicks saved.

Exporting to Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaiian Islands and US Virgin Islands has put him in touch with control systems for pests not found here, like mongoose.

Although the Back Trakka components are not expensive, a common question for Agnew is, “Why not go straight to trapping?”.

Without pre- and postmonitoring of the pest species,

Keep an eye out The latest issue of Dairy Farmer will hit letterboxes on January 31.

Our OnFarmStory this month features a Waikato farmer who is benefiting from his late father’s vision.

We also catch up with Bay of Plenty farmers who focus on environmental issues and meet the man behind the rapid expansion at Dairyworks.

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sections of the cards, making their distinctive tracks.

The ink doesn’t wash out or dry out and the tracks don’t fade or disappear before they are read and cards replaced.

It is non-toxic and sensitive to treasured species, and is the right viscosity to leave footprints, but not too sticky to trap insects.

The standard tunnel is 500mm long and 100mm wide and high, and costs $12.65 plus GST, while the cards are $1.65 each.

They are very light and portable, able to be carried long distances before on-the-spot assembly.

Alternative tunnels are either much heavier (wood) or are made from corflute, which lingers in the environment as it breaks down.

Warren worked through all the stages of development, including ink-it-yourself options, taking feedback from rangers and receiving encouragement and financial assistance from the DoC. Former teacher Warren and his wife Lois also developed a native bird centre on the Mahurangi river, near Warkworth.

trapping could end up as harvesting a self-replacing animal that persists in numbers to threaten native species like birds and lizards.

“You need to know what the infestation level is and, afterwards, how many are left out there,” Agnew said.

“In mainland sites we may be aiming for suppression of rats, say below 5%, whereas on island sanctuaries every last one must be killed.”

Warren designed and perfected the tunnels and tracking cards, making what appears to be a straightforward monitoring system – weather-proof, reliable, portable, reusable and recyclable.

The lightweight polypropylene tunnels come flat for backpacking and are quickly assembled and anchored with two wire staples.

The pre-inked cards are unfolded and placed lengthwise down the tunnels, with speciesappropriate lures in the middle.

Pests stand on the inked sections to eat and then retreat across the white absorbent end-

doing their bit

in leadership

Opinion

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

EDITORIAL

Accounting for the price of carbon

C

ARBON is the common element of all known life on earth.

It’s also the common element in every disagreement over earth’s future.

Or so it seems, these days.

As a species, we’re changing the climate, quickly, and now we’re taking steps to rectify that.

But here, those efforts to balance carbon emissions with carbon capture are having profound effects on families, communities and our primary sector.

These land-use changes have happened before but our most recent transformation, from sheep and beef to dairy, tended to involve farm owners staying in charge and staying in profit.

What is clear is that the world is only headed in one direction and while the clean transition will be a bumpy ride, it will happen.

The free market will reward those who develop sustainable tools and strategies and who emit less.

Our primary sector could, perversely, sustain collateral damage despite being the poster child for efficient protein production.

The solution is to take stock of what’s important to us.

There are many ways to reach our targets and we must implement a plan that reflects our unique nation.

There are not many developed countries in the world that rely so heavily on food production to make their living.

As it stands the market is rewarding the replacement of that food production with trees.

Capturing carbon is important, but surely we can do that while sustaining our farming sector and meeting our emissions targets.

To do that, the market needs checks in place to protect what we hold dear.

And we need to relearn a lesson from the past – that evolution has always been a part of farming and those that adapt quickest will reap the benefits.

Enabling that evolution to occur in a way that reflects our values is the challenge right now.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Trusting the tried and tested I WRITE in reference to Sue Edmonds contribution from the Pulpit on December 13.

It is time people understood that we are already amongst the most regenerative farmers in the world. We have soil carbon levels at world best, caused by 100 years of rotational grazing and use of legume-based pastures.

I have two scientist friends who have led successful ‘regenerative agriculture’ projects restoring depleted and overgrazed soils in Outer Mongolia and China. This was largely done by stopping overgrazing and starting rotational grazing systems using location specific legumes.

Just like we have done in New Zealand.

Some of the regenerative practices advocated by Edmonds and others will have

profound effects.

Examples include using up to a dozen pasture species in a sward and grazing them, when they are like hay crops. We know that won’t sustain dairy production at current levels, and have a high probability of producing half the DM we currently do. The science has been done on this – and published.

Regeneralists also don’t like weed sprays or ‘chemical’ fertilisers. We know that low rates of specific herbicides are very effective. Stopping the use of them will see the hills covered in nodding thistles and ragwort, while the heavy soils will be covered in buttercup. This is inconsistent with the principles of kaitiakitanga and takes a heavy toll on labour and productivity. I have always regarded superphosphate as

guano treated with sulphuric acid, to add sulphur and make the nutrients more plant available. It is not ‘evil’ and has made this country what it is today.

Edmonds can do what she likes on her one-hectare smallholding, and listen to as many overseas podcasts as possible.

Just don’t preach to us who farm for profit and sustainability.

John Dawson Dairy farm owner, Marotiri

Methane taxes will starve people WE MAY be able to stomach methane taxes, if the price of food doubles we will just eat less and be healthier for it, but poor people will starve to death.

Taxing their rice, dairy and

meat will devastate them and they have no options to mitigate or avoid these essential foods.

While the rich continue to fill their tanks with high carbon fossil fuels, the poor will starve to death, due to methane taxes on their food.

Is this what we want?

Who will fight for the poor?

Dave Stanton Geraldine

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

21

Filling labour shortages is complicated The

Pulpit

Nick Mason

M

EETING labour requirements for the 2022-23 dairy and cropping season are front of mind for many employers.

New Zealand farmers and growers rely on approximately 9000 migrant workers, many of whom were on tenterhooks for most of past year following the prolonged suspension of the skilled migrant category Residency pathway from March 2020 onwards.

Approved visas in the 202021 financial year for the sector nationally were around 2200, or almost 25% of the migrant labour pool for agriculture.

The announcement in October of a new residence pathway for 165,000 migrant workers already in New Zealand helped assuage some fears, but not all.

Now, following extensive lobbying by the dairy industry, Immigration New Zealand will allow up to 200 dairy farm employees (assistant dairy farm managers, dairy herd managers and dairy farm assistants) to enter New Zealand to provide support for the upcoming dairy season.

All three groups are able to apply to bring their partners and dependent children with them.

This process is being facilitated

by DairyNZ, Federated Farmers and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) working with Immigration NZ. This process differs from the usual visa application process as it requires DairyNZ and MPI to nominate each individual employer and potential international employee.

If approved, INZ will then invite your worker to apply for a Critical

Purpose Visitor Visa, which will have work rights.

Each international employee must also enter MIQ (or selfisolate depending on the government rules at the time) and employers are responsible for these costs and paying wages during that time.

Visa applications for these groups opened on January 17 and migrant employees must enter NZ before April 2022, so there is a narrow window in which to act.

DairyNZ recommends obtaining professional immigration advice given the complexity of the entire process.

Meanwhile, farm and horticultural employers looking to employ new migrant workers or retain existing migrant workers will be impacted by this year’s introduction of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) - a new temporary work visa that opens to applications from July 4.

INZ is replacing the Essential Skills Work Visa, the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa and the Long-Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa with the AEWV. It says the AEWV will reduce reliance on lower paid temporary migrant workers and increase the overall skill level of migrants coming to work in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand says the Accredited Employer Work Visa will reduce reliance on lower paid temporary migrant workers and increase the overall skill level of migrants coming to work in New Zealand.

Nick Mason Pitt and Moore Lawyers INZ also says this change will combat migrant exploitation and misuse of the immigration system by filtering out employers, who have previously breached immigration requirements or employment standards, at the accreditation stage.

However, it will also introduce more red tape for employers, who will have to deal directly with INZ and go through the accreditation process before advertising jobs.

The process is more complex and bureaucratic than anything

we have seen before in New Zealand and we recommend employers be aware of the requirements and get ahead of the game.

In short, INZ is introducing a three-check process to manage AEWV applications and ensure that employers and migrants fit the new requirements.

The three checks are: • Employer accreditation • Job check • Migrant check The first step sees employers able to apply from May 9 to ensure they can get accreditation before migrant applications open on July 4. Employers don’t need to be accredited until they want to start employing migrants but delay in obtaining accreditation means delay in an employer’s ability to support a migrant’s application.

Standard accreditation is required for up to five migrant workers on AEWV and highvolume accreditation is for those employing six or more migrant workers on AEWV. The requirements for standard accreditation include being IRD registered and holding a New Zealand Business Number, having no recent history of regulatory non-compliance, having appropriate employment documentation, and taking steps to minimise the risk of exploitation.

In addition, for high-volume accreditation, jobs must meet a minimum pay requirement of 10% above the minimum wage or be covered by a collective agreement.

There are further requirements for franchisees and for businesses that place AEWV holders with third parties, as it is considered that the risk of migrant exploitation is increased in such work environments.

The second check INZ will carry out is a job check or labour market test to ensure that, for any job offered through the AEWV scheme, the employer holds accreditation, the employment is acceptable, and no New Zealanders are available.

The labour market test requirements vary for jobs paying above and below the median wage and depend on whether the job is located in a city or a region. There are also specific job advertising requirements to ascertain availability of New Zealanders to do the job.

A labour market test is not required if: • the job pays 200% of the median wage, currently the median wage is $27 an hour

COMPLEX: Lawyer Nick Mason says the new work visa for skilled migrants should help, but also add red tape for agriculture employers.

• the job is in the regions and pays at, or above, the median wage • the job is on a skill shortage list, in a city, and pays at, or above, the median wage.

For entry level workers into the agricultural sector that pay below $27 per hour, there is still a pathway, but it is more complex.

We recommend talking to an immigration lawyer to help you navigate this route.

The final step is the migrant check, ensuring the applicant meets the visa requirements.

This is done through online applications, available from July 4 and ensures that the applicant is suitably qualified and meets requirements in terms of health, character and bona fide credentials.

A migrant will not be able to submit their application unless the employer is already accredited, and the job has passed the job check stage.

It is not yet known how long it will take INZ to process an accreditation application or to complete the three-check process.

As a result, we recommend that employers don’t leave applying for

accreditation to the last minute – we are already helping many agricultural employers prepare for the new process.

We also don’t know if employers will have review or appeal rights where negative decisions are made.

We expect further information from INZ to come, including tools for employers and migrants, a definition of ‘franchisee’ for accreditation, and details around fees for the three-check process.

Initially, this system change will undoubtedly increase costs, time and red tape, and support for navigating the processes involved will be needed. Once in the system as an accredited employer things should become more streamlined.

Who am I? Nick Mason is a partner at Pitt and Moore Lawyers.

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

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

Opinion

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

NZ Post fails to address problem Alternative View

Alan Emerson

IF YOU want to work for an organisation that doesn’t seem to care about communications and isolates itself in an insulated cocoon, then NZ Post is the place for you.

What happened initially is that we were in Cairns flying back to New Zealand. We had to fill in an online immigration form, which was fine, but when it came to the address it wouldn’t accept any we offered.

Our address is RD12 Masterton 5872. Put that in the system and it tells you there is no such address.

Further we have a fire number as rural addresses do. We put in our fire number, the road and the RD number to be told again there was no such address.

We then inserted the general area for the same result. At this stage, the plane is about to depart and we’re sweating. Finally it came to us. It was our name, the fire number and the road with the suburb required as the beach five kilometres distant.

That took an hour of stressful playing around and anything containing our RD number wouldn’t work, meaning our immigration application couldn’t be completed.

Obviously, some clown at NZ Post HQ doesn’t have the faintest clue there’s a rural mail service they’re supposed to be serving.

It also creates a larger problem when you order a parcel to be delivered. You tell the enterprise you are RD12 and they tell you there is no such address.

My thought was to go to NZ Post and ask what is going on or words to that effect. That’s when the stupidity really advanced at pace.

I wanted to talk to someone and that is nigh on impossible with that hide-bound bureaucracy.

On the website they have an 0800 number. I rang it and received a variety of options all dealing with letter or parcel deliveries. There was no instruction to hang onto the phone if you had an enquiry that didn’t cover mail or parcels.

Google NZ Post corporate and you get the same 0800 number.

You can go onto the website and find out all kinds of ‘exciting and riveting’ information.

You are told that NZ Post is now carbon neutral and that you can write a letter to Santa in Te Reo. I found the information less than riveting.

You can find out the names of

all their executive team, with more about their qualifications than what they actually do. There are some grandiose titles, I tell you.

Amazingly, there are no contact phone numbers or even emails reinforcing my belief that NZ Post HQ is in an ivory tower with the drawbridge up. They also send out media releases without contact phone numbers attached. I don’t know any other organisation that does.

I finally came across a division headed ‘Datam’, which isn’t in my dictionary. The word progression there is from data-to-date and doesn’t include Datam. Maybe it is an internal NZ Post word to describe Data Missing?

At Datam HQ there were several names and phone numbers.

Finally, the excitement was getting to me.

I carefully phoned the said number and a voice answered, a human voice. I was half expecting a robot.

I was duly greeted and asked what I wanted. I explained at length that all I wanted to know was why NZ Post had taken an arbitrary decision to change my address to an official one of their choosing without telling me what it was.

I was told that it wasn’t their department.

“Can you please look up your computer and tell me who I can phone,” I asked politely.

EXPERIENCE: Alan Emerson recounts dealing with NZ Post after discovering that his address had miraculously changed.

She paused for a while to let the excitement build and then told me she couldn’t help as her computer was turned off. “Can’t you turn it on and let me know who I can talk to?” I asked, once again as politely as was possible.

I was told no at 4.25 on a Tuesday afternoon. That told me that NZ Post has a customer focus second to none.

Out here in the sticks Sharyn our mail lady does an exceptional job. If RD12 is on the envelope she’ll deliver it.

NZ Post corporate is different as it usually takes a week for a package or letter to get from Masterton to Timaru. A horse would be quicker.

But fellow farmers there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If you have an employee who is useless you could write them a glowing reference and suggest they get a job at the executive team of NZ Post. The termination won’t cost you a cent and the mail system could only improve.

Finally, if an ex-farm worker did get a job at NZ Post HQ, it would mean at least one person in the organisation would know what rural delivery meant.

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

Country halls taking on new life From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

SMALL country halls have been on my mind this week.

I’m told that there are at least 52 here in Hawke’s Bay. A simple, although dodgy, extrapolation means there could be somewhere between 500 and 1000 of these halls scattered throughout rural New Zealand.

Before the advent of the modern motorcar, these halls were an important facet and hub of rural communities.

Our local hall was in the Hatuma settlement about 10km from here.

It was built in 1932 on a reserve controlled by the Hatuma Domain Board and cost the district £626.

It was used for a variety of functions in those early years including dances, social functions, children’s fancy dress balls, meetings and an annual social where newcomers were welcomed and departers farewelled.

I well remember the annual Christmas party and the anticipated and exciting appearance of Father Christmas.

Thirty years later I inherited the mantel of Father Christmas from Roger Bronte and for my first year had what seemed like an excellent idea of appearing upon a horse with antlers strapped to its head.

What is even more surprising was that noted horseman Tim also thought this a good idea and supplied the horse.

What was not surprising in hindsight was that the horse didn’t think it a promising idea at all to have antlers on its head and a padded bloke wearing a large white beard and a bright red billowing costume on its back.

We had to take the antlers off the horse and as a non-horse rider I pleaded with Tim not to let go of the reins as he led this distraught beast, whose eyes managed to swivel backwards to look at me whilst snorting and trying to rear up and bolt.

That year Father Christmas walked back to the North Pole and reverted to arriving in old cars and fire engines in following years.

We used to have weekly badminton nights which were good fun.

FANTASTIC: Singer-songwriter Reb Fountain put on a wonderful performance at the Mangakuri Chapel a couple of weeks ago, Steve WynHarris says.

The hall also served as a war memorial with the names of the five men who lost their lives in WW1 and the four who died in WW2.

But the Hatuma district is near to Waipukurau, with those of us further out only taking 15 minutes

in modern cars to get to town.

The two schools in the district closed in 1963, ending the school’s use of the hall.

Our hall’s usage fell away but the neighbouring district of Flemington lacked a school hall, so it was relocated there where it is now also used as their district hall.

There has been a great initiative over the last couple of years to give some of Hawke’s Bay’s halls a new use.

It’s called The Small Hall Sessions and the man behind this idea is Jamie Macphail, who amongst other things has been a music promoter.

I first met Jamie when he turned up at Central Hawke’s Bay College in my history class and told us he was a Baha’i and then brought Barry Crump into the classroom to have a chat with us.

So, he was an interesting rooster even back then.

Jamie has been bringing some of the country’s biggest acts to these small intimate venues over the past year or two.

A couple of weeks ago, Jane and I travelled out to the Mangakuri Chapel and with just 50 others were privileged to watch and listen to Reb Fountain in this very cool space.

She is a fantastic singersongwriter and despite a sixmonth break from performing after the Auckland lockdown put on a terrific show.

And then last week we didn’t have to travel so far to see Tami Neilson and her opener Hera as they came to the Takapau Hall and again we were treated to a wonderful show with two exceptionally talented performers giving their all.

Tami’s set was her songs interwoven with anecdotes and stories of her life as a musician.

We are all aware of how tough this pandemic has been for hospitality and tourism, but we forget how difficult it’s been for the performing sector and musicians such as these.

Performers of this calibre usually play to crowds in the many hundreds and thousands, so we are truly fortunate to have them on our own doorsteps.

So, if you are in this part of the world and see these gigs coming to a hall near you, don’t miss the opportunity.

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 – January 24, 2022

23

Sector faces tumultuous 2022 The Braided Trail

Keith Woodford

THIS year is not going to be just any year for the food and fibre industries. On the price front, things should go well for most products. However, on the policy front, it is the second year of the three-year political cycle, and that has implications.

This is the year when key implementation decisions must be made on multiple political issues. It is all about setting up the glide path for the next election.

For the food and fibre industries, and this includes carbon farming, these key decisions have potential to determine the path for the next decade. I reckon there is going to be quite some heat, and I am not referring here to the weather.

First of all, the good news.

There is no obvious reason why the current excellent prices for dairy, sheep and beef should not be retained. The next six months are going to be complex as Omicron works its way across the world, but pastoral agriculture has shown that it can prosper in covid-dominated times.

The biggest covid challenge this year for New Zealand at home is going to be having Omicron spread through the community.

There is also a high likelihood that China will have an Omicron epidemic this year.

One way or another, I expect that the cows will still get milked in NZ despite whatever disruptions are upon us. But how Omicron will affect China is going to be of some importance.

I consider it unlikely that the Chinese authorities will be able to keep Omicron at bay the way they have with other variants. Also, their existing vaccines are unlikely to be particularly effective. It is going to be a challenging year for our most important trading partner.

The food and fibre product with the greatest short-term risk is lumber. Remember, China is the dominant export market for NZ’s forestry products and most of that is unprocessed logs. Those logs are primarily used in construction, providing the formwork that holds wet concrete in place.

On the policy front, this is the year when the Government will have to be explicit as to what the long-term nitrogen leaching rules are going to be. Last year’s requirement to reduce nitrogen applications to no more than 190kg a hectare will not be the last that we hear on that front.

When it comes to nitrogen leaching, the science tells us much of what has to be done. The big answers come from durationcontrolled grazing, with cows off-paddock except when they

RISK: Keith Woodford predicts that the food and fibre product with the greatest short-term risk is lumber.

are eating during winter and the second half of autumn. We know how to achieve that in a cow-friendly and economic way using ‘composting mootels’ and ‘composting shelters’. But a small number of farmers are having to lead the way, with the research, development, extension and education (RDE&E) elements of the industry yet to seriously engage.

I am hugely frustrated that most of the urban community, and many of the politicians, do not understand that it is food and fibre exports that provide the overseas funds that allow NZ to purchase the fuel, vehicles, machinery, computers, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals that make our lifestyles sustainable.

Last year, with support from AGMARDT, I brought together in one document what we know and what we need to learn about these farming systems from a RDE&E perspective. Now we need some action. One of my challenges is to try and bring that about. Progress is not as fast as I had hoped.

Greenhouse gases (GHG) are another key issue. There is no easy way around this. Given the

politics, the GHG issue will not go away.

The best way for agriculture to achieve science-based outcomes is for agricultural methane and nitrous oxide to remain outside of the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). But let there be no doubt, one way or another there is going to be a charging system for agricultural methane and nitrous oxide.

The Government has indicated that it is open to a methane and nitrous oxide charging system, whereby all charges are recycled within the industry so as to reward innovations and develop new emission-reduction technologies. That will not be the case if agriculture is inside the ETS. These decisions will have to be made this year, with He Waka Eke Noa playing the leading role on behalf of industry, but with support, albeit grudging, from farmers.

Carbon farming is another issue where big decisions will need to be made both by the Government and farmers. There is talk that government might restrict who can and who cannot farm for carbon.

The National Party has yet to decide where it sits in relation to the specifics of carbon farming. I remain to be convinced that there is an appropriate level of expertise in any of the political parties, or within government departments.

There is no doubt that carbon farming is currently a more economic land use than sheep and beef. The first worry is that it is an artificial market controlled by government and so anything can happen.

Putting restrictions on carbon farming is not in the personal interests of many existing pastoral

farmers, despite this apparently being advocated by Beef + Lamb.

It is carbon farming that is driving pastoral land values. Also, there is a lot of land that could be better off in forest. Converting two million hectares of the harder hill country to permanent radiata pine forests would more than balance all of the emissions from pasture-based land uses for the next 80 years.

Once again, I see carbon farming as generating great heat within the community as the year progresses. I reckon I will be writing a lot more about it this year. All decisions are going to require trade-offs between competing objectives.

Despite all of these issues and challenges, food and fibre is where NZ’s future lies. Agrifood is the key sector where NZ has an international competitive advantage, particularly for pastoral agriculture but also some specific areas of horticulture. The latest figures from MPI are that food and fibre comprise 82.4% of physical exports, with this figure increasing over the past 10 years.

In particular, NZ cannot afford to destroy its pastoral industries, with these alone earning $30 billion of foreign exchange per annum. But strategies for emission reduction will be needed and there are ways that this can be achieved.

I am hugely frustrated that most of the urban community, and many of the politicians, do not understand that it is food and fibre exports that provide the overseas funds that allow NZ to purchase the fuel, vehicles, machinery, computers, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals that make our lifestyles sustainable. They simply do not ‘get it’.

Just recently I heard for the umpteenth time on television how ‘agriculture has to pay its way’.

The idea was that agriculture has to contract. I could only sigh and shake my head, because there was no point in screaming at the box that food and fibre is how all of NZ ‘pays it way’.

In recent weeks, I have written elsewhere for an urban audience at interest.co.nz about the strategic issues that NZ faces.

For the last 12-month period to September 2021, NZ ran a record deficit on its external current account with the rest of the world of $15.9 billion. This is in part because earnings from export services, largely tourism and the education of foreigners, have crashed. Conversely, imports have ballooned to record levels.

This deficit has been financed by capital flows from overseas. At some stage the rest of the world is likely to question the economic sustainability of NZ. If that occurs then the exchange rate will crash.

If the exchange rate crashes, then that will be very bad for most New Zealanders. The exception will be for those New Zealanders who produce products for export.

A significant decline in the exchange rate may be what is needed to convince New Zealanders that export industries lie at the heart of our national wellbeing.

Your View Keith Woodford was Professor of Farm Management and Agribusiness at Lincoln University for 15 years through to 2015. He is now Principal Consultant at AgriFood Systems Ltd. He can be contacted at kbwoodford@ gmail.com Previous articles can be found at https://keithwoodford. wordpress.com

Ongarue 1916 Ngakonui Ongarue Road Open Day

Beauly "Beauly" could be considered one of the best sheep and beef farms in the district. The farm is 1,075.57 ha in total with 820 ha effective wintering 8,800su. It has a superb balance of contour as it gradually rises from the roadside to the top of the farm at a steady and easy grade. The farm mostly faces west so is sheltered and warm considering its altitude. All weather metal roads provide excellent connection to the centre of the farm and very good farm tracks flow on from the central points to allow easy movement of stock and machinery to the higher reaches of the farm. A solid and impressive fert history is indicative of the attention to detail. Good infrastructure supports the farm, with ample satellite yards, both sheep and cattle, a sound woolshed, covered yards, implement sheds, very good housing and there is plenty of outdoor recreational features to add to the enjoyment of this property. Helmets are essential for viewing.

Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 3rd Mar, 2022, Property Brokers, 27 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui View Thu 3 Feb 10.00 - 2.00pm Thu 10 Feb 10.00 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TUR101065

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

E katiew@pb.co.nz

Hokio Beach 148 Hokio Sand Road

Land of opportunity Exceptional opportunity to own one property of 72.88 ha, or two smaller holdings. This incredible farm is in two titles, each with a separate entrance from opposite ends of the farm. Block one is 53.63 ha, block two is 19.25 ha. Buy one or buy both. Located a few minutes drive from Levin town centre, on town water, superb grazing land with a handy percentage of flat and cropable areas and a balance in easy, rolling pasture. Modern five bay implement or hay shed, sound fencing and useful set of cattle yards. This property ticks all the boxes. Currently grazing dairy and beef cattle throughout the summer and winter season, crops, hay and baleage plus a strong fertiliser history. This property could also be suitable for forestry. Plenty of scope for development here. Build your dream home, a place to live and enjoy rural panoramas of the Tararua Ranges, or utilise the land as a super handy support block for your existing operation.

Properties this size seldom come on the market.

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

For Sale Buyers $2,750,000+ View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/LR10905

Paul Beckett M 027 555 7810

E paulb@pb.co.nz

Murray Doreen M 027 490 4773

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

Matawai 313 Te Wera Road

Grass factory – Matawai country Exceptional opportunity to purchase 325 ha of great contour farmland located in the renowned Matawai farming district. Currently run as dairy unit, there is an opportunity to continue as a dairy unit and take advantage of the record pay-out or this farm could easily be decommissioned and utilized as a top-class finishing farm. All the hard work has been done on this property it is now up to you to decide how you want to run it.

• Opotiki 68km • Gisborne 80km • Three houses • Modern farm infrastructure • Well subdivided

For Sale By Negotiation View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/GIR84474

Tom Lane M 021 058 7018

E toml@pb.co.nz

Te Karaka 1750 Kanakanaia Road Tender

Punawai farm – spring water Strong Gisborne hill country farmland that has been in the same family for three generations. This property is located 48km north of Gisborne at the top of the Kanakanaia Valley.

• 388 ha or 960 acres • Well subdivided: 36 paddocks approximately • Strong stock water • Spring fed dams and creeks • Three bedroom homestead • All weather airstrip

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

Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 10th Mar, 2022, 66 Reads Quay, Gisborne View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/GIR93328

Tom Lane M 021 058 7018

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

Pahiatua 1988 Mangaone Valley Road Auction

Chessfield - 119 ha Located under 10 minutes drive from Pahiatua, Chessfield is a 119 ha dairy farm that will satisfy the most discerning of buyers. Regularly high producing with last season 149,000 kgMS off a 100 ha platform, the property boasts superior soils, modern pasture species, quality farm infrastructure and two dwellings. Improvements include a 24 ASHB shed complete with modern plant and 300 cow round yard, 280 cow covered feed pad plus concrete feed storage and a good range of shedding. Dwellings include a large three bedroom plus office superior home with subdivision plan in place and a four bedroom home providing ample accommodation or sell down potential.

This unit will attract interest from across a range of agricultural sectors with its high productive capability and superior infrastructure.

Auction 2.00pm, Wed 2nd Mar, 2022, to be held 2.00pm, Bush Multisport Complex, 57 Huxley Street, Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR10584

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

Eketahuna 343 Parkville Road and South Road No.2 Tender

Kaimoa dairy & support - 374 ha Kaimoa provides rare scale and superior infrastructure to the market which will suit the most discerning purchasers.

Located just 8 km west of Eketahuna township in a location renowned for regular summer rainfall. Multiple purchase options include a 227 ha (effective platform) dairy unit which is well apportioned with a centrally located 40 ASHB cowshed complete with cup removers and compliant cooling system. Further dairy infrastructure includes a covered feed barn complete with concrete feed storage and an independent effluent system.

With five dwellings spread over the properties, Kaimoa provides flexible purchase options ranging from; Parkville and South Road No.2 - 374 ha (Entire property) or split options; Parkville Platform - 256 ha, Parkville Road support unit - 58 ha, South Road support (Bull block) - 59 ha

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

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 10th Mar, 2022, to be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR11567

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

John Arends M 027 444 7380

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

North Taieri 108 Wairongoa Road

Country homestead on the Taieri This impressive 24.70 ha exudes charm, tradition and a style uniquely its own. Attention to detail is evident around every corner of the magnificent new build homestead set on quality North Taieri land. The professionally designed home was built in 2019/2020 by an award-winning building company which is evident in the quality craftmanship and attention to detail and the use of high-quality materials and fittings throughout. Set across a single level, this four bedroom, two bathroom (master with ensuite) home is generously proportioned. The well-appointed farm-sized kitchen/dining room operates as the social hub integrating seamlessly to the family room while offering easy flow to the extensive verandas as does the separate lounge. Both the lounge and living room have log burners plus electric radiator heating throughout the house, ensuring it is kept toasty warm. Additional rooms include laundry/mudroom, double garaging, a quality three bay lockup barn & three bay open shed.

For Sale $3,860,000 + GST (if any) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/DNR100287

Ray Kean M 027 435 7478

E ray.kean@pb.co.nz

Together Stronger Our combined strengths complement each other, creating more opportunity for our customers and Farmlands shareholders across provincial New Zealand.

• • • •

A nationwide network from Northland to Southland Sound, trustworthy advice from market-leading experts Shareholder benefits and preferential commission rates means more money in your pocket

Bigger networks, more buyers, better results For more information call 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz/together Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 PB053815

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

Proud to be here

28

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

Accelerating success.

New Listing

Sheep/Beef

When location, contour and soil fertility count Tenders closing Wed 23 February 2022 at 4pm (plus GST if any) 19 Flat Hill Road & 967 Matahorua Road, Hastings, Hawke’s Bay

Roundhill Station 509ha (more or less)

Hartings Farm 171ha (more or less)

High performance sheep & beef breeding units

Good balance of contour

Outstanding soil fertility

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67017499

Rare opportunity to purchase two quality properties, beautifully positioned in the Tutira/ Putorino districts. Both properties have excellent balance of contour, high soil fertility and a consistent history of producing quality livestock.

Roundhill Station, comprising 509ha, has been family owned by the vendors since the 1950s and Hartings Farm, at 171ha has been owned by the same family for almost 40 years.

The properties are available either as a single purchase, or as separate entities.

This is an exceptional opportunity for discerning purchasers wanting to invest in their future, and one not to be missed.

Call us today.

Gary Brooks 027 444 3756 gary.brooks@colliers.com Hamish Goodwin 027 291 2156 hamish.goodwin@colliers.com

CRHB Limited Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

Farm For Sale or Investment Opportunity 234.5 hectares

Boundary lines are indicative only

Te Pahu 1050 Te Pahu Road Excellent location, lifestyle, and facilities This specialist property is sure to excite buyers with its delightful location, expansive family accommodation and superior level of amenities suitable for equestrian, racehorses and other stud stock.

The horse facilities have washing, stalling and handling requirements all catered for. The shedding and infrastructure includes a hi-stud three bay shed, five box and two box stables and an implement shed. Family accommodation is catered for with a contemporary four bedroom home and two bedroom cottage This is the one you’ve been waiting for, call now to secure a viewing appointment.

bayleys.co.nz/2313083

37 Karewarewa Road, Rangiwahia 4

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Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 2pm, Thu 3 Mar 2022 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View by appointment Sharon Evans AREINZ 027 235 4771 sharon.evans@bayleys.co.nz Stuart Gudsell AREINZ 021 951 737 stuart.gudsell@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

By Negotiation

• 234.5 hectare dairy farm Call Richard for more information or to arrange a time to view.

• 205 hectare milking platform • 160 hectares under irrigation • 50 bale rotary shed • Automatic cup removers and in-shed feeding • 2 houses • The Dairy farm was converted from a stud bull, beef unit and dairy runoff in 2008/09 with the first season being 2009/10 • This is an excellent opportunity to invest in a growth industry and maximise returns for your future 37 Karewarewa Road

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Property ID RAL891

ruralandlifestylesales.com

227 Karewarewa Road

3

1

1

1

Richard Anderson 027 543 1610 richard@rals.co.nz

Rural and Lifestyle Sales.com Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

TENDER

29

OPEN DAY

A Quality Opportunity

Open Day: Thursday, 27 January 11.00am - 1.00pm

A good strong commercially-sustainable dairy unit with a very good standard of improvements situated in the Pokuru district, within an easy drive of Te Awamutu.

• • • • •

515 Candy Road, Pokuru - approx. 12 kms to Te Awamutu 129.6 hectares - Waipa River on western boundary easy rolling contour with strong flats & some sidlings soil types include mairoa ash & puniu silt loam good subdivision & races; consistently well fertilised & water reticulation system sourced from two bores • carrying approx. 380 cows & producing 3 yr average of approx. 143,000 kgs milk solids

• 24 aside hb farm dairy, 48 sets of cups, auto cup removers, adjoining feedpad and effluent ponds; 500t silage bunker; large calf rearing & feed storage shedding • attractive 3 yr old homestead, panoramic views to Mt Pirongia; 4 brms, ensuite, 2 living areas, attached dble carshed; additional 3 brm cottage recently renovated • alternate land use options; established kiwifruit orchard on northern boundary • a great district, well known for very good primary schooling; school buses for primary and secondary at the gate

Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113 / TradeMe search # R1408

Tenders Close: Friday, 18 February 2022 - 4.00pm

PRL Enterprises Ltd t/a PRL Rural

021 373 113

Licensed REAA2008

MREINZ

TE ONE A MARA 465 State Highway 49, Tangiwai An opportunity here for the astute investor to secure a diverse property with scale, contour in a stunning scenic environment.

Currently a productive 356,000 KG/MS 800 cow herd (2 year average) standalone dairy unit. Comprising of 508 ha total (448 ha effective) plus 278 ha lease of adjoining support land. Free draining volcanic soil types opens up for diversification from other land uses or to run in conjunction with existing model.

Improvements include a 60-bail rotary shed, 3 dwellings, 3 bay feed shed, 10 bay calf shed and a reticulated water scheme.

bjp@prl308.co.nz

508 Hectares Tender

nzr.nz/RX3147048 Tender closing (unless sold prior) 11am, Wed 9 Mar 2022 NZR, 1 Goldfinch Street, Ohakune Jamie Proude AREINZ 06 385 4466 | 027 448 5162 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Ltd | Licensed REAA 2008

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farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

NEW LISTING

ALBURY, STH CANTERBURY Wilfred Road 'Athlone Station' - Mt Nessing - 2,300 Hectares 'Athlone Station' represents a rare opportunity to purchase a well improved mid-altitude run property.

Good mix of contour and land types with 90 hectares of cultivated and well subdivided paddocks that then rises to medium improved tussock hill and further up to higher hill country. 'Athlone' is currently operated as a beef breeding unit running 500 Angus and Angus Hereford cross cows and replacements.

The property is also suitable for sheep and has run half breeds. With an extensive fencing subdivision programme undertaken and an excellent stock water scheme sourced on the property.

2003 Tahuna Road

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Plus GST (if any) No Prior Offers Closes 1.00pm, Wednesday 2 March

37.3 ha

Te Hoe Lifestyle/Dairy Opportunity A very tidy 37.3 hectare dairy farm at Te Hoe with a raft of opportunities for the new owners. A mixture of flat to hill pastures with approximately 3 hectares of native bush. 9 year old 17 ASHB shed with updated effluent system. Races and fences are in excellent order. 28 hectares have been regrassed in the past 3 years, a 3 bay gable barn, 5 bay barn and 1 bay lockable adding to a very good farm infrastructure.

3 bedroom brick home with 2 toilets and double garage support this very tidy unit. 10 minutes to Tahuna, 14 minutes to Ohinewai. Lots of opportunity awaits. Auction 10th February 2022 (Unless sold prior).

Simon Richards M 027 457 0990 E simon.richards@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TIM34961 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Auction Thursday 10th Feb at 1:00pm (Unless sold prior) ___________________________________ Agent Dave Young 0274 579 060

LJ Hooker Morrinsville (07) 889 8015 Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

Central Waikato Realty Limited. Licensed Real Estate Agent REAA 2008. All information contained herein is gathered from sources we consider to be reliable. However, we cannot guarantee or give any warranty about the information provided. Interested parties must solely rely on their own enquiries.

RUA-WAI

DANNEVIRKE

VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT

OUTSTANDING TARATA DRYSTOCK FARM 163 Oapui Road, Tarata

Productive, picturesque and position perfect, 111 hectare Dairy Unit in renown Maharahara dairying district. 5 year average 92,779kg MS, predominantly flat fertile Kopua and Kairanga Silt Loam soils, consented irrigation system, quality three plus bedroom homestead, two bedroom employees cottage, 25 aside Herringbone cowshed, full range of farm buildings.

This 625 hectare top calibre farm comprises superb contour being a large proportion of flat to easy with the balance medium hill. Previously dairyed on, the farm has excellent all weather metalled lanes accessing most parts of the farm to the 135 main paddocks, making stock movement a breeze. Two very good water systems reticulate water through initially 40mm and 32mm lines to troughs in all paddocks. Fencing is mainly post and batten and is very good quality with mains electric power reaching approximately a third of the farm. There is also around 80 ha which is deer fenced. There are three dwellings with the main five bedroom plus office home set in attractive surrounds of mature trees. The other two homes are four and three bedrooms respectively. Farm buildings include a 3 stand woolshed, a new four bay lock up shed, hay sheds, deer facility and yards plus both sheep and cattle yards. This very attractive and appealing farm is currently carrying a mix of dairy heifers, breeding cows, sheep and bulls but is very suitable to being a cattle only farm with either dairy heifers and or beef or a mix of both.

Last season 1000 bales of wrap silage were harvested with a lot more land capable of being harvested or cropped. Seldom do we see a farm of this size in Taranaki with such a large percentage of excellent contour on offer. We highly recommend inspection to those seeking a very good sizeable and very appealing family farm and being only Owen Mills 20 minutes from town.

Craig Boyden M: 027 443 2738 O: 06 374 4105 E: craigb@forfarms.co.nz

www.forfarms.co.nz - ID FF3335

LK0110285©

Rua-wai is an attractive, special place to farm, conveniently located 9km to Dannevirke.

Offers Over $4,800,000 + GST (if any) Viewing by appointment.

625 hectares

M: 027 477 7302 E: owen@fntaranaki.co.nz

Tender Close Thursday 10th February 2022 at 1pm, 201 Broadway Stratford, Taranaki

201 Broadway, Stratford

Licensed Under REAA 2008

www.fntaranaki.co.nz

06 765 8550

Tech & Toys

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

farmersweekly.co.nz/advertising 0800 85 25 80

31

Heavy duty means made for heavy work - and quality built BERTI mulchers have the design and construction to power through any task.

HEAVY DUTY BERTI MULCHERS

• Mulches tree prunings • Thick standing gorse and scrub • Heavy duty, swinging hammer or tungsten carbide fixed tooth options • For tractors up to 300hp

MAKE SHORT WORK OF ANYTHING. WHEN IT COMES TO HEAVY PRUNING AND TOUGHER STANDING GORSE AND SCRUB, FORESTRY MULCHERS HAVE THE POWER AND CAPABILITY TO GET THE JOB DONE.

FGD1176

Talk to us now for mulchers up to 6.0m working width and for tractors up to 300hp. To see videos of these mulchers in action visit our website.

CALL FARMGARD 24 HOURS

FIND OUT MORE AT

Nationwide Dealer

0800 FARMGARD

farmgard.co.nz

Service Network

35

35 years, Generations of

Experience

0800 901 902

7 NORTH ISLAND AGENTS

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

Northland to Manawatu

10 SOUTH ISLAND AGENTS Nelson to Invercargill

INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURE EQUIPMENT

Require a feed system or an upgrade?

• Rotary & Herringbone Sheds

• Skiold Disc Mills and Silos

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

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

Waste Treatment Systems

LK0109872©

REQUIRE SPARE PARTS? Call PPP and get the BEST price

WHERE RELIABILITY & PERFORMANCE ARE GUARANTEED

Supplying and installing separators since 2002 Dairy and Pig Farms, Meat Works & Truck Wash Stations

Serving NZ farmers since 1962

INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURE EQUIPMENT

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

1962 - 2012

0800 901 902

50 years

LK0107794©

• Inspection door to check screen • Reinforced stainless steel screen • Tungsten tipped auger

by CP Lime

The smarter way to healthier soil

Pelletised lime is easy to apply, fastacting and doesn’t cost the earth (financially or environmentally).

Start by ordering your soil test today at cplimesolutions.net.nz or calling 0508 678 464

Primary Pathways – Jobs, Education & Training

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

GENERAL MANAGER – GLENARAY STATION

Livestock Marketing Manager

FARM ASSISTANT Dairy Farm Taranaki

Over three years experience essential in milk harvesting, tractor driving etc.

Glenaray Station is one of the largest scale breeding and finishing properties in NZ with 80,000su sheep, cattle and deer. It is based in the Waikaia Valley, Northern Southland and is made up of 4,000ha cultivated flats and downs, 5,000 ha oversown tussock and the balance being native.

We have an exciting role for someone who enjoys working with farmers, has great communication and organisational

Please email CV and two references with phone number to: ventureklloyd@gmail.com or phone 021 065 8373 for further information about this position.

Our values: respect for our people, careful husbandry of our animals and good stewardship of our land and waterways.

skills, relationship-building abilities, and an innate talent for creating and developing new business opportunities.

A strategic change in direction creates this new General Manager role, who will report to the board of directors (Chairman), and be responsible for achieving agreed livestock and financial performance levels for the business.

You will bring a passion for the agricultural industry, and have qualified (or at least intuitive) marketing capabilities. You will

JOBS BOARD

The GM will have had senior farm management experience, an ability to lead and empower staff, experience with high pasture productivity and utilisation, and feed requirements for optimum production from livestock.

be working with farmers and livestock industry stakeholders to bring their marketing, promotional and advertising budgets to life in Farmers Weekly and in digital media.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proven performer to play a key role in the management and development of a large scale livestock farm. A modern 4-bedroom house is available.

Only apply if you’ve looked into the work of GlobalHQ, and feel you can add real value to our team. You must have

To take a ‘virtual look’ at the property and to see a full job description or to apply, go to www.no8hr.co.nz (Ref#8HR1422).

a good understanding of the G-suite cloud computing tools and all the usual office computer products. Efficient

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

Agricultural Specialist Farm Manager

www.no8hr.co.nz | ph: 07-870-4901

administration skills and good writing accuracy is also

General Manager

expected.

Labourer

Your base will be at our head office in Feilding and your

Livestock Marketing

Run off your feet?

Farmers Weekly delivered each week to over 77,000 rural letter boxes.

All ads in Primary Pathways go online to FB Jobs, (7000 monthly page views) and FaceBook - Primary Pathways Aotearoa, (current followers over 6.7k).

To list your vacancy, training programme or education opportunity:

We look forward to your application, sharing our vision, and

Applications close Friday, January 28, 2022.

LK0110291©

getting to know you. Please request a job description and application form by emailing Cushla: hr@globalhq.co.nz

Manager

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

Contact Debbie Brown 06 323 0765 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz LK0109661©

remuneration will reflect your skills and experience.

LK0110295©

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

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Phone 06 323 0765 Email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Noticeboard ANIMAL HANDLING

Rakaia Island combines leading farming practices with a people-centric culture built on strong family values.

We are looking for a General Manager to lead the business forward, continuing the legacy of passionate and forward-thinking farmers delivering excellent business performance.

For more information about this leading NZ farming business visit www. rakaiaisland.co.nz

The Role: General Manager The General Manager will deliver excellent performance across this farming business. Responsible for implementing the strategic plan, the role reports to the supportive family Board and independent Board Chair.

With a diverse team of 40 employees and contract milkers, a core part of the role will be leading our people and supporting them to develop their capability: we are looking for a leader with the skills and passion to grow more leaders. A highly capable business team, leading-edge technology, quality infrastructure and assets support the General Manager.

What we are looking for: We are seeking a forward thinking and motivated individual who can offer solutions to the challenges of our evolving primary sector. You need to be comfortable balancing hands-on, day-to-day operational oversight with providing leadership across the broader business.

To be successful you will also bring the following attributes: • A positive and inspirational leader who fosters a cohesive culture based on shared purpose and strong family values; • A proven history of delivering high performance outcomes in a large-scale farming business; • Strong business and technical farming knowledge and skills, with the credibility to lead and influence in the paddock and the Board room; • Experience of successfully providing direction, empowering, motivating, mentoring and coaching others to achieve goals and objectives with personal accountability for performance.

This position is based at Rakaia Island and offers an attractive remuneration package. A full position description for the role is available online at www.primarypeople.co.nz/current-jobs If you are ready to apply for this opportunity, please submit your resume and cover letter by email to lynsey@primarypeople.co.nz.

Applications close 28th January 2022.

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To Apply

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 CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance.

Unbeatable pricing.

Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

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

0800 436 566

ATTENTION FARMERS SOUTH ISLAND FARMERS. Fixed premium price for your yearling beef X calves this year - your estimate MARGIN OVER $1000/head. Contact Annie 021 825 198 for more detail of the program.

BALAGE FOR SALE 600 BALAGE UNITS available. $85 per bale.

Taihape. Phone 027 303 8956.

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

Ph 021 047 9299

12-MONTH HEADING dog and bitch. Fast, strong, good stop, pulling sides.

Station and trial potential.

Nolan Timmins. Phone 027 932 8839.

WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80.

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

FREE CRATE OF beer with every working dog purchased! Buying NZ wide. email:mikehughesworking dogs@farmside.co.nz 07 315 5553.

FORESTRY WANTED

RENTAL FARM cottage wanted for small family, Northland. 09 436 3628 / 027 385 8209.

DEERLAND TRADING LTD

GOATS WANTED

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.

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

DOGS FOR SALE

Heavy duty long lasting

DOGS FOR SALE

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide.

We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase.

NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 04 293 2097 Richard.

COTTAGE WANTED

LK0109558©

The Turner family have grown the Rakaia Island business from humble beginnings to milking 9000 cows across six dairy units with integrated support blocks in two Canterbury locations (Rakaia Island, Southbridge and Woodstock, Oxford).

AG JOBS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

The business

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

SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE Huntaways and Headers. Deliver NZ Wide. Trial, Guaranteed! www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos – 07 315 5553.

ONE 18-MONTH Huntaway dog AND one 5-month old Heading pup. Phone 027 243 8541.

GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds.

Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten.

Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

LOG BUYER HAULER CREW available for summer harvest.

Wairarapa area.

Phone 027 489 7036.

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

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

PINNACLES WILTSHIRES 2th rams. Ph 06 346 6230, 027 416 8188.

WAITOHI WILTSHIRES Est. 2005.

Certified organic commercial purebred Wiltshire flock rigorously farmed in North Canterbury, with proven Arvidson Wiltshire genetics (high FE rams last 5 years).

All stock (ewe lambs, rams) enquiries: David 027 556 6895.

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

WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Don’t leave it to rust away! We pay cash for tractors, excavators, small crawler tractors and surplus farm machinery.

Ford – Ferguson – Hitachi – Komatsu – John Deere and more. Tell us what you have no matter where it is in NZ. You never know.. what’s resting in your barn could be fattening up your wallet!

Email admin@ loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin on 0274 426 936 (No texts please) WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80.

WORK WANTED LOOKING FOR Stock Manager or Shepherd role NI. Current Farm has sold.

Available April. 027 820 7901.

•

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

STOCK FOR SALE

15MTH FRSN BULLS 350-400kg STORE LAMBS M/SEX or MALE 25-35kg Shorn 550 COOPWORTH 2TH EWES TBD

Estimated to be 420 cows after non livestock@globalhq.co.nz – 0800rejection 85 25 80 33 older cows & 5% Livestock Noticeboardpregnant, culls, • Production last season 347kgs ms/cow, 1000kgs ms/ha, on rolling to steeper SALE TALK On Farm Cattle Foror Sale contoured farm, noDairy meal, palm kernel maize Capital Stock There was a group of tourists visiting a crocodile farm in the Florida fed. Ewe Sale Ayrshire herd, 200 from 250 complete herd, Keys and they were standing on a floating structure in the middle of Anerley Station an enormous lake, surrounded by crocodiles. longstock established, lot of available young cows, LIC and • Young replacement also Tinui Valley Road Masterton

Semayr bred, well recorded, due from 10/7/22.

Also very well grown in calf heifers and rising (approx 20km from Outstanding geneticsyearling & heifers. potential to2022 bedelivery. one of Tinui Village and will be End of May The silence was deafening. People were looking at each other with Suddenly, the farm’s owner shouts, “The first person to jump into the lake and successfully swim to shore, will receive 10 million dollars.”

STOCK REQUIRED

15MTH STEERS 330-380kg 2YR STEERS 450-560kg 15MTH HEIFERS 370-400kg PERE OR PERE X MA EWES

signposted) leading suppliers of Genetics to the countries Jersey herd, approximately 170 cows, milked Tuesday the dairy for OAD, years to well come.

Then suddenly, a man jumps into the water and starts swimming like 15thindustry February CRV bred, recordedFull plus in details calf heifers 11.30am start his life depended on it. available. and rising yearling heifers. End of May 2022

As the other visitors watched events unfold, the man headed for the shore, with a dozen crocodiles chasing in hot pursuit, all anticipating an unexpected meal.

Farm sold – Genuine Capital Ewe Flock Comprising 5000 Ewes • 1200 2 Tooth Romney Ewes • 1200 4 Tooth Romney Ewes • 1100 6 Tooth Romney Ewes • 1000 4 Year Romney Ewes • 500 5 Year Romney x Ewes

delivery.

Enquiries to the sole marketing agents:

All enquiries to: Brian Robinson The crocodiles were fast but the man swam like greased lightning, Brian Robinson BRLL and he managed to reach the shore unharmed.

Livestock Ltd PH: 0272 410051 or Ph 070272 8583132 410 051 As the man staggered up the beach, the owner announced, “Ladies

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

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

and gentlemen, we have a winner!”

East Friesian

Gary Falkner Jersey Marketing Service The man’s face was still ashen, as he said to his wife, “I didn’t jump.

2th - 4yr Ewes are PH: 027 482 8771 or 07 846 4491 I was pushed by someone.“ Meldrum Romney and After receiving the reward, the man and his wife returned to their hotel.

Enquiries 027 444 5379

Need to mooooove stock?

Friday 11th February 2022

Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more!

Last 5 years, 145% lambing (Ewes to ram) off hill country

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.

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

Ewes are shorn

STUD DISPERSAL SALE

FRIDAY 18TH FEB 2022 - 1PM

Waipara Downs Texel Estate K Berry/Account Ruth Berry & Family Amberley Showgrounds, viewing from 11am Flock No 9 First registered in 1991 This is a top quality flock of Texel sheep.

The Berrys have been breeding top Texel sheep for years.

Further Enquiries: Travis Dalzell (Hazlett) 027 202 0196 Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126

Contact Ella: 06 323 0761 / 027 602 4925 livestock@globalhq.co.nz farmersweekly.co.nz

MORRINSVILLE EMPTY COW SALES

David Giddings (vendor) 027 229 9760

FIRST SALE FOR YOUNG EMPTY COWS

Morrinsville Dairy Complex Thursday 27th January 2022 and every Thursday thereafter Empty Cows 12 Noon Approximate tally of 150 - 200 Good milky Friesian, Crossbred & Jersey Cows. Good demand for High BW Empties.

Clients are looking for good sound Young Empties.

If you are looking for good milky empties you should attend this sale.

Give your local NZFL Agent a call or for more details phone: Darryl Houghton 0274 515 315 Hybrid Auction Sales streamed live via MyLiveStock

Grant Bros. Property 517 Reaby Rd, Croydon Bush, Gore 60 kelso. Terminal rams

Plus a selection of our maternal breeds, including some of our top Hill-bred Romneys and kelso. Maternals ideal for hogget mating.

Conditions apply

>110 Mixed Age Texel Ewes > 80 Texel Ewe Lambs > 60 Texel Ram Lambs > 10 Flock 2th Texel Rams > 3 Stud Sire Rams

Advertise your stock in Farmers Weekly.

Southern Ram Sale

Te Mai Iti Romney

Under 5 in 1 program toxo/campy/salvexin

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LK0110371©

His wife smiled and with a wink of her eye, said, “I know dear, it was me!“

Stay ahead of the rest Sign up to AgriHQ’s free upcoming saleyard notifications to find what’s on offer before sale day.

Choose which sale yards you want to LK0110297©

2th rams, reg for over 20 yrs

True to type, breed under commercial condition in Southland for milking and commercial use with emphasis on conformation. Limited female stock available.

LK0110280©

expressions of absolute horror on their faces.

follow and find out the number and class of stock being entered at the next sale.

farmersweekly.co.nz/enewsletters

hazlett.nz

®

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

Livestock Noticeboard

Ready to talk some Bull?

WANTED AUTUMN BORN 2021 FRSN HEIFERS F12+: $1700 + GST / head F8-F11’s: $1600 + GST / head F7/Unrecorded: $1400 + GST

Get in touch with Ella to discuss the best advertising options to suit your needs this sale season!

SPRING BORN 2021 FRSN HEIFERS F12+: $1600 + GST / head F8-F11’s: $1500 + GST / head F7/Unrecorded: $1300 + GST Min Weight 190kg Delivery Date Late April 2022

Light Luncheon provided

Approximately

600 Ewe lambs 100 2th ewes

1019 Mangaorapa Rd. Porangahau Mary Taylor - Ph: 068555322 Emma & Andy Martin - Ph: 068555348

Email: taylors@glenbraestud.co.nz www.glenbraestud.co.nz

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Simon Smith, Genetics Specialist - 027 444 0733 Callum Stewart, National Genetics Manager - 027 280 2688 Sam Wright, Livestock Representative - 027 247 9035

NORTH & SOUTH ISLAND

L

TONY WI SON IVESTOCK ON FARM CLEARING SALE - Capital Stock On account of SR & SA Barrow

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard Tuesday 25th January

12.00pm Frankton Cattle Sale 1.00pm Southern Shedding Sheep Sale

Wednesday 26th January

10.30am Stortford Lodge Store Cattle Sale 11.30am Tuakau Prime Sale 6.00pm NZ Dairy Event-Summer Sensation All-Breeds Sale

Friday 28th January

11.30am Feilding Store Sale

Monday 31st January 12.00pm Wellsford Store Cattle Sale

Tuesday 1st February

12.00pm Frankton Cattle Sale

11.00am Feilding Dairy Beef Sale 12.00pm Tuakau Store Cattle Sale 7.30pm Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud Shire Hair Ram Sale

(sign posted from main road)

WAVERLEY

Thursday 27th January 2022

Livestock advertising?

Going Going Gone!

Contact Ella:

0800 85 25 80

livestock@globalhq.co.nz

Regular Livestream coverage of five North Island Saleyards Head to bidr.co.nz to find out more.

MACHINERY – 10.30AM

John Deere 4WD Gator, Set 10 Tandem Side by Side Discs, Cambridge Roller, Easy Flow Cultivator, Tyne Harrows, Suzuki Eiger 500 Quad Bike, Transport Tray, Set Prattley Yards (Galvanised Pipe), Tandem Axle flat deck trailer, Te Pari Weighing System, Tip Spraying System- Electric eye 500 Litre Plastic Tank, Honda Motor, Hay Elevator & Sweep, Spray Unit for Toyota Landcruiser, 24 H.P Petrol Fergusson Tractor, 35 H.P Petrol Fergusson Tractor, Fergusson Saw Bench, Fergusson Power Take off Pullies, Electric Fence Reels & Standards, 3 Point Linkage Bale Feeder, Tractor Back Blade, 200 Bales Lucerne Haylage - (12), 140 Bales Annual Haylage - (12), Lamp Feeding Equipment, Vet Marker, Hydraulic Hoist for Trailer, Chemical Pump/Oil Pump 2 Quad Bike Trailers & Crates, C-Dax Boom/Z Wiper/ Tank & Gun & Hose, Fence Posts / Gates, Kiwi Sizzler Portable BBQ, 2 Fisher & Paykel Fridges, 2 Fisher & Paykel Freezers, Cane Furniture and Sundry Tools & Equipment.

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook

WAIRARAPA TEXEL DEVELOPMENTS Tried, tested, proven and matched perfectly to New Zealand conditions for efficient, cost effective lamb production.

LIVESTOCK – 12.00 Noon Sheep – Capital Stock 750 1100 470 700

Romney 2 Tooth Ewes Romney 4 TH 6TH 4YR Ewes Romney 5 & 6 Ewes Romney Ewe Lamb Replacements (Multipules) 700 Store lambs 15 Suffolk Rams 30 Romney Rams

WTD STORE LAMB DIRECT BUY-BACK PLAN

Cattle 112 3 ½ year Charolais, Sim, Angus, W/H Steers 30 2 ½ year Charolais, Sim, Angus, W/H Steers 33 18-month Angus, W/H Steers All stock comes forward in excellent condition: Mixed aged ewes scanning 173 %, 2th ewes scanning 159 % (which have been supplied to the Waverley – Waitotara Dog Trial Club for their annual trials in the past).

For further information please contact: Tony Wilson 06 3465 900 Don Newland 027 2424 878 Steve & Shirley Barrow 027 466 6015

UPCOMING AUCTIONS

Thursday 27th January

174B Barrow Road

Wairarapa Texel Developments is proud to offer this exciting option to our genetic user clients, to sell surplus Texel Cross store lambs directly back to us.

For further details regarding this program please contact Andy 027 238 4961.

WAIRARAPA TEXEL DEVELOPMENTS THE TERMINATOR -PACKING MEAT

“Meating the Market” With 120 plus Texel 2th rams and 50 plus Suftex 2th rams

All fully SIL recorded for sale 2021

LK0110188©

Eftpos will be available.

250 Cast for age ewes 30 Ram lambs

Terms: Cash on the day unless PGG Wrightsons current a/c holders. Eftpos available

PHONE TIM ON 027 443 7420 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Covid compliance will apply.

Wiltshire On Farm Auction

8th Feb 2022 at 12pm

06 323 0761 / 027 602 4925 livestock@globalhq.co.nz farmersweekly.co.nz/advertising

SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: • True to type Friesian Heifers, including the F8-F11 unrecorded heifers.

• Standard Chinese Protocol, heifers must have been on the property for a minimum of 6 months at the time of delivery.

Romney Rams have been purchased from Holly Farms – Karere Holdings Suffolk Ram Breeder – Paki-iti Farms

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

Plus – 130 plus ram hoggets available for 2022 ewe hogget mating.

Inspection and enquiry are always welcome, or visit our Facebook page wairarapa texel development Andy 027 238 4961 • halfy490@gmail.com Stewart 06 372 2770 • texels4u@gmail.com

PUNCHBOWL EWE DISPERSAL Waiareka Saleyards

Tuesday 15 February, 1pm PGG Wrightson in conjunction with Hazlett Livestock will offer the following: Approx: • 170 Suffolk Ewes • 400 Suff/tex Ewes

Waiareka Saleyards

Tuesday 22 February, 1pm Approx: • 100 Poll Dorset Ewes • 500 Poll/Texel Ewes

WAIKATO HERDS FOR SALE 438 Frsn/Frsn x Cows $1850 BW 106 PW 124 RA 85% Calving 15th July, young herd doing 400m/s system 2.

Ref: 1869 Kent Stove 027 224 0999 380 Frsn/Frsn x Cows $1975 BW 141 PW 181 RA 97% Calving 22nd July, big capacity herd, will computer split.

Ref: 2247 Andrew Reyland 027 223 7092

This is the complete ewe dispersal for Punchbowl Genetics, a top selection of SIL recorded sheep. A genuine opportunity to purchase stud sheep with a long history in the sheep industry.

Catalogues are available on request or download at www.bidr.co.nz For further information on the sale go to www.punchbowlgenetics.com Callum McDonald (PGW) 027 433 6443 Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Doug Brown (Vendor) 027 222 3809

Helping grow the country

Pick 250 out 600 Frsnx/ Jerseyx Cows $1990 BW 123 PW 164 RA 79% Calving 10th July, 370m/s on system 2. Great pick.

Ref: 2225 Dave Stuart 027 224 1049 190 XBred/Jersey Cows $1875 BW 150 PW 159 RA 84% Calving 19th July, 380m/s on system 3.

Ref: 2410 Hamish Wills 027 232 4813 Check out Agonline for more herd quotes.

Helping grow the country

LIST your dairy herd NOW! Take advantage of our nationwide network of buyers and industry leading terms.

Contact your local representative today. www.pggwrightson.co.nz/dairy

Helping grow the country

Stock sale coming up?

Give Ella a bell: 0800 85 25 80

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 24, 2022

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

KIWITAHI ROMNEY STUD FLOCK DISPERSAL Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions

35

ON FARM COMMERCIAL ROMNEY FLOCK DISPERSAL AUCTION

This sale will be hosted by bidr® www.bidr.co.nz

STUD FLOCK TO BE SOLD THURSDAY 3RD FEBRUARY ON THE PROPERTY - 1PM

THURSDAY 27TH JANUARY - 12PM

A/C KIWITAHI TRUST, PADDY & BRIGID LOWRY

1274 POIHIPI ROAD, TAUPO

A/C KIWITAHI TRUST, PADDY & BRIGID LOWRY

OFFERING:

1274 POIHIPI ROAD , TAUPO

• 900 Romney 2th ewes, August shorn, 60% lambed as hoggets • 1800 Romney 4th-5yr ewes, December shorn, to be sold in age groups

COMPRISING OF: 1000 MA ROMNEY STUD EWES • The flock to be split into 10 equal lots of 100 • The age split will be even across all lots 2th to 5yr and lots of 100 offered individually • A sample of sheep will be on display on Thursday, 27 February at the Kiwitahi commercial dispersal sale • Unless sold prior Inspection welcome any time please contact: Cam Heggie - Livestock Genetics Rep/Auctioneer | Northern North Island M +64 27 501 8182 | Email camheggie@pggwrightson.co.nz

A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase top Romney ewes.

The Flock was established in 1962 with Warere, St Ledger, Wai-Iti, Glenhope and Kiwitahi Romney bloodlines.

Average flock scanning of 175%, Toxo, Vibrio and Salmonella vaccinated.

All enquiries welcome: Paddy Lowry - M 0274 472 339 | Richard Lamb - Livestock Rep - M 0274 930 739 Kiwitahi Romney Stud flock to be sold in February, enquiries to: Cam Heggie - Livestock Genetics Rep/Auctioneer | Northern North Island M +64 27 501 8182 | Email camheggie@pggwrightson.co.nz

Paddy Lowry - M 0274 472339 | Richard Lamb - Livestock Representative - M 0274 930 739 www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Helping grow the country

www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Helping grow the country

MOERANGI CAPITAL STOCK FEMALE WILTSHIRES CLEARING SALE Sharbor Ltd - Farm sold | c/o Steve Borland & Bob Sharp Thursday 10th February, 2022 | Te Kuiti saleyards -1pm

Last opportunity to buy into one of the largest commercial Wiltshire sheep flocks in the country.

Bred on genuine coastal hill country - 12 years of breeding on this country.

All lambs finished, Milk lambs consistantly killed out at 19kgs and better, over a number of years.

Bred for growth, meat yield with strong conformation, eczema and parasite tolerance.

Ram sires - Arvidson and Moerangi breeding.

Dispersal consisting of approx: • 750 2th Ewes • 2000 4th to 5yr Ewes • 200 6yr Ewes

• 1000 Ewe lambs • 100 Ram lambs • 25 2th Rams Tested Bruccellosis clear

Note: To suit all purchases we will be offering runouts of the sheep on the day.

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

Enquiries: Rhys Hughes (Farm Manager) 07 280 7678

This auction will be livestreamed on bidr®

bidr.co.nz

Paul Mitchell (PGGW) 0272 733 538

Hybrid Livestreamed Auctions

Helping grow the country

MARKET SNAPSHOT

36

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Mel Croad

Suz Bremner

Reece Brick

Fiona Quarrie

Hayley O’Driscoll

Caitlin Pemberton

Deer

Sheep

Cattle BEEF

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

6.10

6.15

4.90

NI lamb (17kg)

8.70

8.80

6.50

NI Stag (60kg)

7.05

6.90

5.60

NI Bull (300kg)

6.10

6.15

4.90

NI mutton (20kg)

6.05

6.10

4.80

SI Stag (60kg)

6.90

6.90

5.60

NI Cow (200kg)

4.60

4.60

3.50

SI lamb (17kg)

8.40

8.40

6.40

SI Steer (300kg)

6.00

6.00

4.50

SI mutton (20kg)

5.90

5.90

4.80

SI Bull (300kg)

5.90

5.90

4.60

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

4.50

4.50

3.40

UK CKT lamb leg

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

10.17

7.27

10.0

US domestic 90CL cow

9.00

8.88

6.73

9.0

North Island steer slaughter price

7.0

14.03

North Island lamb slaughter price

9.0 8.0 7.0 5.0

6.0

5.0

10.0

5.5

4.5

9.0

South Island lamb slaughter price

5.0

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

5.0

(NZ$/kg)

4.5

Coarse xbred ind.

5-yr ave

Jun

2020-21

Dairy

Oct

Dec

Aug 2021-22

Feb

Apr 2020-21

Jun

Aug 2021-22

Apr

Last week

Prior week

Last year

2.58

2.55

1.97

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Urea

1190

1190

619

368

368

300

1308

1308

799

37 micron ewe

-

2.10

1.68

Super

30 micron lamb

2.80

-

1.75

DAP

Top 10 by Market Cap

Jan-21

Mar-21

May-21 Jul-21 Sept. 2021

YTD High

YTD Low

30.4

33.4

30.12

480

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

4.65

4.97

4.55

Auckland International Airport Limited

7.41

7.885

7.41

460

Mainfreight Limited

87.6

94.4

87.6

440

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.485

4.6

4.42

420

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

5.945

6.36

5.905

Ebos Group Limited

39.1

43.13

38.5

380

Contact Energy Limited

7.82

8.15

7.7

Infratil Limited

8.05

8.34

8

360

Fletcher Building Limited

7.12

7.44

7.07

400

340

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

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Close

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

$/tonne

$/kg MS

9.50 9.00 8.50 8.00 7.50 7.00 6.50 6.00 5.50

Aug 2021-22

Fertiliser

Company

MILK PRICE FUTURES

Jun

2020-21

FERTILISER

Grain

Data provided by

Feb

5-yr ave

WOOL

Apr

7.0 5.0

5.5

Feb

8.0

7.0

6.0

Dec

9.0

6.0

South Island steer slaughter price

Oct

South Island stag slaughter price

6.0

8.0

6.5

4.0

$/kg CW

11.0

7.0

North Island stag slaughter price

7.0

10.0

Last year

6.0

8.0

5.0

Last week Prior week

10.0

9.82

6.0

4.0

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

6.5

$/kg CW

$/kg CW

$/kg CW

10.27

Last year

11.0 13.86

Export markets (NZ$/kg) US imported 95CL bull

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Sarah Hilhorst

Ingrid Usherwood

Nov-20

Jan-21

Mar-21

May-21

Jul-21

Sep-21

Nov-21

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

Listed Agri Shares

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.255

0.265

0.24

The a2 Milk Company Limited

5.72

5.96

5.62

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

480

Comvita Limited

3.73

3.78

3.52

WMP

3920

3890

4130

460

Delegat Group Limited

14.05

14.45

13.85

3.74

3.76

3.62

3760

3655

3650

440

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

SMP

Foley Wines Limited

1.53

1.57

1.51

Greenfern Industries Limited

0.225

0.235

0.205

AMF

6085

6085

6085

Butter

5250

5250

5250

Milk Price

9.23

9.10

9.05

$/tonne

Last price*

400

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

1.3

1.3

1.3

380

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.23

0.26

0.23

360

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.26

1.38

1.26

340

PGG Wrightson Limited

5.69

5.7

5.1

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.5

0.5

0.435

Sanford Limited (NS)

4.78

5.07

4.78

Scales Corporation Limited

5.43

5.59

5.22

Seeka Limited

5.27

5.36

5.18

3.46

3.54

3.39

3

3.01

2.89

Nov-20

* price as at close of business on Thursday

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Jan-21

Mar-21

May-21

Jul-21

Sep-21

Nov-21

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

4600

450

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

4400

400

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

14184

14293

14111

S&P/NZX 50 Index

12497

13150

12497

S&P/NZX 10 Index

12053

12725

12053

4200

$/tonne

US$/t

420

4000 3800 3600

T&G Global Limited

350 300 250

Jan

Feb Mar Latest price

Apr

May 4 weeks ago

Jun

200

Nov-20

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Jan-21

Mar-21

May-21

Jul-21

Sep-21

Nov-21

14184

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

12497

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

12053

37

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

Analyst intel

WEATHER

Overview While Tropical Cyclone Cody just missed us by a whisker, by tracking a little further out east, it was enough to make a dramatic difference at ground level, meaning no heavy rain or strong winds for the eastern North Island. The pattern looking forward this week isn’t as dramatic, although today and Tuesday may see some rain or showers for the upper North Island, thanks to a northeasterly subtropical feed coming in, while the South Island is fairly settled with high pressure. Wednesday the airflow starts tending to the southwest with a few showers about, then showers clear on Thursday before a high moves in on Friday, with the weekend looking mainly settled.

14-day outlook A trough extending out of the subtropics into the Tasman Sea brings a muggy northeasterly airflow to the North Island today and Tuesday; this airflow will hopefully bring in some rain/showers for upper NI, while the South Island is mainly dry. Wednesday may see some unstable activity in the north as the air mass shifts to the southwest, while a few showers can be expected from Southland, up the east coast, through to Nelson. Thursday showers clear, then it’s mainly dry. A weak southerly flick moves through on Sunday, bringing the risk of showers in the east, then from mid next week onwards there’s a chance of more subtropical activity for the North Island.

T

Soil Moisture

Highlights

20/01/2022

Wind

Winds are not really an issue looking ahead this week. Northeasterlies may be a little fresh today and Tuesday for some North Island parts.

On Thursday, southerlies through Cook Strait, about East Cape and coastal Fiordland may be strong, then conditions ease on Friday.

Source: NIWA Data

7-day rainfall forecast

Temperature

A humid northeasterly airflow lies over the North Island today, with potential for some rain/showers in the upper NI; rain or showers may be a little more widespread on Tuesday. The South Island is mainly dry. Wednesday brings a change as southwesterlies develop and this may lead to an isolated downpour/ thunderstorm somewhere for NI, and a few showers for SI’s south, east and north. Thursday showers clear for eastern regions, then it’s mainly dry.

0

5

10

Slow lamb kill could present problems

Highs in the early to mid-20s across NZ; gets a bit warmer for eastern regions on Tuesday. Hot again on Wednesday for a time but as the air mass changes to the southwest, it will start to cool down; the upper North Island remains hot till Friday.

Mel Croad mel.croad@globalhq.co.nz

HE slow start to the processing season hasn’t been a bad thing for those that could get lambs away. Tighter supplies and strong export markets have enabled lamb prices to start 2022 at record levels. Unfortunately, not all have been able to capitalise on these strong prices. Farmers in the North Island, particularly along the east coast, are finding lamb growth rates compromised. A challenging early-spring for grass growth, combined with higher lamb survival rates, meant more lambs and less feed. A cooler November didn’t help and many lambs that would normally have been drafted before Christmas started the new year on-farm.

Weekly kill rates for the North Island in the lead up to Christmas reflect these hard spring conditions. Some of the lowest kills for several years were recorded, forcing some processors to bring forward ewe bookings to keep plants ticking over.

Reports from North Island processors indicate that even well into January, lamb numbers are still not moving as freely as expected. Feed crops coming online will naturally slow kill rates. But the underlying theme is very few lambs pushing the upper weight limits, with yields poor in many cases. The North Island average carcase weight leading into the Christmas break struggled to hold its head above 17kg CW, which was much lower than normal.

Reports indicate there hasn’t been much change into this year and 16kg CW lambs are still common.

In the South Island, a wet December challenged normal lamb kill patterns across the island. Most farmers took the opportunity to pull back on drafts, instead opting to take advantage of the fresh feed in front of them. New year drafts are under way in many cases and lambs appear to be yielding better than through December.

Weights have improved and those with ample space booked earlier are taking advantage of the strong pricing levels still on offer. Those with unbooked lambs ready to be offloaded are struggling to find space though. Mutton is also being put on the backburner as lamb numbers increase.

The South Island lamb kill tends to remain elevated right through to March, aligning with spring lambing dates. Up to Christmas Day (latest stats available), the South Island kill was tracking in line with previous years. Based on earlier industry estimates, the remaining kill for the rest of the 2021-22 season in the South Island appears void of any major wave of lambs for slaughter compared to last season.

However, there is still a lot of summer to go and any plant inefficiencies due to covid-19 could easily change the processing outlook, as could a sustained dry period.

As noted, the lamb kill in the North Island is well behind where it should be, which is creating some concern. This combined with forecasts of extra lambs for the export processing this season mean there will be more lambs to process than last season to September 30. The flow of these lambs into processing plants over the balance of summer and into autumn will be critical to pricing direction. Already plants are battling staffing shortages, any sustained wave of supply will soften prices, regardless of market strength.

Highlights/ Extremes

20

30

40

50

60

80

100

200

400

Rainfall accumulation over seven days from 7am on January 24 till 7am on January 31. Forecast generated at 1am on January 21.

NOT MOVING: Many North Island lambs that would normally been drafted before Christmas started the year year onfarm.

Some rain or shower activity for the upper North Island early this week.

Potentially Wednesday may deliver a downpour or two, but these are looking to be more isolated in nature and may be about more central parts of NI.

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

Don’t let it rain on your parade.

Next time I’ll check WeatherWatch

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

DAILY FORECAST

www.weatherwatch.co.nz

38

SALE YARD WRAP

Dry sinks its teeth into NI After lulling the country into a false sense of security most regions, particularly in the North Island, have turned brown rather quickly.

This was already noticeable at some cattle sales the first week back, but it’s starting to soak its way into North Island lamb and ewe prices to a lesser extent. However, everything is running more smoothly in the South Island where prices have held strong even with a huge number of lambs trading at auction this week. South Island store cattle are holding their ground too.

NORTHLAND Kaikohe cattle • Yearling Simmental bulls earned $2.78/kg • Shorthorn cows and calves achieved $1180 • Yearling whiteface and Angus-Friesian heifers made $2.80/kg to $3.00/kg There was just a small sale of 220 head at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. The market eased alongside the dry conditions, dropping schedules and lack of space. In the steer pens, 20-month whiteface were able to reach $3.20-$3.30/kg and more crossbred types $3.00/kg to $3.15/kg. A big line of 129kg Friesian bulls sold well at $565.

Wellsford store cattle • Selected yearling traditional and beef-dairy steers, 296-440kg, earned $3.09-$3.15/kg • Better Hereford-Friesian heifers, 290-401kg, returned $2.94-$2.97/ kg • Quality weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, 108kg, realised $595 Summer conditions in full force at WELLSFORD though quality types were still sought-after last Monday. Yearling Hereford-Friesian, 372kg, and Simmental-Friesian steers, 455kg, topped their section at $3.41-$3.43/kg respectively.

Hereford-dairy steers, 324-334kg, held at $2.99-$3.09/kg.

Charolais-cross heifers, 259-354kg, returned $2.57-$2.63/ kg. Hereford bulls, 241kg, realised $3.15/kg while Friesian, 422kg, had to settle for $2.77/kg. Autumn-born weaner beef bred and dairy-beef heifers, 212-255kg, realised $665-$780. Weaner Murray Grey-cross steers, 109kg, earned $450. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 110kg, topped their section at $500. Angus-Friesian, 126-130kg, were the next best at $460-$495. Angus-cross and Angus-Friesian bulls, 160-176kg, traded at $420-$500. Read more in your LivestockEye.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Good crossbred weaner steers earned $620-$700 • Good crossbred weaner heifers made $485-$600 • Boner cows sold at $1.68/kg to $2.61/kg, $850-$1700 The market eased at the first PUKEKOHE sale for 2020 on Saturday 15th January. Prime steers made $2.85/kg to $3.00/kg, $1560-$1980 and medium prime heifers $2.80/kg, $1420. Medium 18-month steers achieved $2.83-$2.90/kg, $1015-$1170, and crossbred heifers $2.63-$2.72/kg, $1000$1100.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Charolais-Friesian steers, 186kg, made $710 • Heavy prime steers, 640-750kg, eased to $2.71-$2.78/kg • Medium-heavy prime ewes fetched $154-$183 TUAKAU drew a small yarding of 250-head last Thursday and the market softened, Carrfields Livestock agent Karl Chitham reported. Hereford-Friesian steers, 380-450kg, traded at $2.77-$2.86/kg, with 244kg fetching $2.95/kg and 110kg, $580. Hereford-Friesian heifers, 350-420kg, returned $2.37/kg to $2.55/kg with 310kg Limousin-cross making $725 and 105kg Hereford-Friesian, $430. Prime steer and heifer prices eased 20-30c/kg on Wednesday. Medium steers, 550-630kg, managed $2.66-$2.71/kg, with 520-600kg heifers at $2.56-$2.65/kg and 450-520kg, $2.40-$2.55/kg.

Boners were in plentiful supply and the heavier cows, 500570kg, made $1.64/kg to $1.90/kg and medium boners, 430500kg, $1.37/kg to $1.59/kg. Heavy prime lambs realised $168-$183 on Monday, with medium at $147-$159 and light $123-$137. Small store lambs fetched $28-$64, and light ewes, $60-$112.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle 18.1 • Four yearling Red Devon-cross steers, 332kg, realised $2.89/kg • Yearling dairy-beef and Exotic heifers, 356-423kg, were discounted to $2.22-$2.34/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, heifers, and bulls, 115-145kg,

traded at $500-$505 Hot temperatures continued at FRANKTON last Tuesday and PGG Wrightson offered up 387 cattle. Hereford-Friesian accounted for close to 55% of the yearling steer tally and the bulk, 303-346kg, softened to $2.80-$2.86/kg. Yearling bulls traded at good levels with Hereford, 479-489kg, steady at $3.24-$3.27/kg while Jersey, 373-380kg, improved to $2.82/kg and 366-371kg, $2.53-$2.54/kg. Prime steers, 526640kg, traded at a softer $2.81-$2.93/kg. Charolais-cross and Galloway-cross, 563-589kg, topped their section at $2.87-$2.90/kg. Hereford bulls, 636-756kg, realised $3.01$3.05/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Frankton cattle 19.1 • Three 2-year Hereford-Jersey steers, 446kg, earned $2.53/kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 307-346kg, held at $2.69/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 101-161kg, improved to $530$535 New Zealand Farmers Livestock penned 460 cattle at FRANKTON last Wednesday. Yearlings numbered 100 head and Murray Grey-cross steers, 382kg, took top spot at $2.62/ kg with the only other steer pen to match this level 271kg Hereford-Jersey. Angus-cross, 313-336kg, eased to $2.49$2.54/kg. Top quality Murray Grey heifers, 369kg, rivalled the boys at $2.61/kg and Angus-cross, 300-305kg, managed $2.53-$2.62/kg. Weaners provided over 50% of the store tally. Better Friesian-cross bulls, 140-156kg, eased to $450$455, while the bulk at 97kg improved to $400. Prime steers, 560-565kg, earned $2.62-$2.73/kg and heifers, 437-508kg, $2.54-$2.67/kg. Top boner Friesian-cross cows, 544kg, returned $1.76/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

KING COUNTRY Ongarue ewe fair • Best of the 5-year Romney earned $170-$182 and the next cut $159-$165 • Good Romdales reached $180 and the 2nd cut $142.

• 6-tooth to 4-year ewes made $140 Approximately 8000 ewes were yarded at the annual ONGARUE ewe fair last Tuesday and it was tough going.

The best of the 2-tooth Coopworth and Romney ewes earned $153-$182. Two-tooth Wiltshire achieved $290 and other lines of capital stock 4-tooth Wiltshire $245 and 6-tooth $165.

Te Kuiti sheep • Prime ewes earned $125-$157 • Four-year Coopworth ewes achieved $171 • Four to 5-year year capital stock ewes achieved $191, and 6-tooth Perendale $150 • Best of the 6-year Romney traded at $171 It was another hot day at the TE KUITI ewe fair last Wednesday. Heavy prime lambs made $190 and the next cut $156-$175. It was tough going in the store lamb pens.

Heavy male lambs reached $123 and the next cut $100-$119 though a large portion traded at $65-$85.

Approximately 7000 ewes were offered at the mixed-age ewe fair and buyers came from South Auckland, Waikato and local. There were good-quality ewes presented and the top annual lines of Romney reached $211 and the next cut $182-$195.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Prime Hereford-Jersey heifers, 575kg, topped their section at $2.70/kg • Ten Hereford bulls, 610kg, collected $3.02/kg • The top pen of 76 blackface store lambs earned $100 Prime steers sold on a softer market at RANGIURU last Tuesday and all pens traded between $2.57/kg and $2.77/ kg. Dairy-beef heifers, 432-530kg, returned $2.57-$2.66/ kg. More calculated store purchases were made as 2-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 490kg, made $2.80/kg and their 380kg sisters $2.24/kg. Yearling dairy-beef steers, 368-451kg, earned $2.88-$2.91/kg and lighter lines were 10c/kg below.

The best of the autumn born weaner steers and heifers received $630-$780. Heaviest prime lambs made $170 and ewes $140. Read more in your LivestockEye.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero cattle • Two-year Hereford-Friesian and exotic steers made $2.88-$2.92/ kg • Two-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 385kg, achieved $2.73/kg There was around 440 head of cattle at the MATAWHERO cattle sale last Tuesday.

A good line-up of excellent 2-year traditional steers, 505-585kg, sold well to $3.09-$3.12/kg. A good line of 410kg yearling Angus steers fetched $3.17/kg, though most were 330-350kg at $3.24/kg to $3.37/kg. The yearling traditional heifer average dropped to $2.99/kg though a tide line of 290kg Angus traded at $3.21/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Matawhero sheep • Mixed-age Coopworth ewes made $131 • Five-year Romney ewes achieved $132 • A smaller yarding of prime lambs sold in a range of $121-$143 Store lambs eased at MATAWHERO last Friday with the best consisting of ram and male lambs at $106-$109. The balance was typically around $70-$90. Better prime ewes earned $168-$177 and the balance $141-$159. Read more in your LivestockEye.

TARANAKI Taranaki ewe fair and cattle sale • Capital stock 6-tooth and 5-year ewes were secured for $186$192 • Very good Suffolk rams sold well at $600-$650 • Two-year heifers mostly earned $2.64-$2.74/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 385kg, were on par to the previous sale at $2.77/kg • Better yearling heifers were steady at $2.40-$2.50/kg The focus was on breeding ewes at TARANAKI last Wednesday and this market seemed to be a game of two halves.

Very good capital stock ewes had good demand with 2-tooths able to reach $236 and 4-tooths $192. While the balance of the remainder had 2-tooths at $150-$180, 4-tooth $140-$160 and 5-year $135-$150. Heavier 2-year dairy-beef and beef lines eased and most traded at $3.00/ kg to $3.12/kg with the next cut around the $2.80-$2.90/kg mark. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime sheep • Heavy to very heavy mixed-age ewes eased to $154-$164 • Medium to good mixed-age ewes mostly held at $122-$138 • Seven heavy ram lambs fetched $160 • Good mixed-sex lambs improved to $149-$160 Some light drizzle was a welcome start to last Monday’s sale at STORTFORD LODGE. Unfortunately, it was shortlived as the sun broke through by mid-morning. Just under 800 sheep were penned with ewes providing the bulk of that tally at 672 head.

Very good mixed-age ewes softened to $140-$149, while light-medium firmed slightly to $117-$117.50. Light types held at $86-$89. Lambs numbered 107 head and traded at steady to improved levels. Very heavy mixed-sex lambs firmed to $189-$198 with medium-good at $140. Read more in your LivestockEye. Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • The heaviest store mixed-sex lambs averaged $121-$147.50 • Medium lambs typically eased to $80-$90 • Special entry 5-year Wiltshire ewes were secured for $201 • Quality 2-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 550kg, made $2.79/kg Store lamb numbers dropped back to more typical levels at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday with just over 2000 penned. They met with a small bench of local buyers.

Reduced demand was evident in the market with a clear preference for shorter-term lambs. Shorn ewe lambs fetched a premium in this category at $120. Just 22 head of store cattle was offered. Yearling Angus steers, 383kg, achieved $3.11/kg and 415kg Hereford-Friesian $2.87/kg.

Read more in your LivestockEye.

39

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022

• Heavy prime lambs held at $180 or more, medium $140-$178 and light below $138 • The best prime steers firmed a few cents to $3.25-$3.35/kg • Boner cows mostly sold around the $2.00/kg mark A mixed-quality yarding of store lambs sold on a steady market at TEMUKA last Monday. Medium-good blackface lambs collected $135 and medium, $109 for medium. Top lambs traded at $120-$142. Ewes met a steady market and the heaviest made $282. Prime bulls were the focus in the prime cattle pens.

Top end beef types lifted to $3.17-$3.27/kg and the next cut $3.00-$3.10/kg. Prime dairy-beef heifers sold on a similar market to the previous sale at an average of $3.13/ kg, though better Angus and Speckle Park-cross reached $3.20-$3.24/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUGHT AFTER: The North Island is beginning to dry out but that didn’t deter buyers at last week’s Feilding ewe fair, who showed strong interest in the 12,000 ewes offered.

MANAWATŪ Feilding prime cattle and sheep • Angus bulls, 725-830kg, fetched $3.49/kg • Five Simmental cows, 664kg, earned $2.17/kg A large proportion of cattle yarded at FEILDING last Monday were service bulls of which most beef types and the top condition Friesian returned over $3.00/kg.

Hereford-Friesian steers, 610kg, topped their section at $2.95/kg. Boner Friesian cows over 600kg made $1.95$2.00/kg. A smaller yarding of prime lambs was sold to fewer buyers and the market was on the softer side of steady. The best pen collected $182 while the majority traded at $140-$157. A smaller but better condition line-up of ewes were presented and the heaviest reached $180.

Read more in your LivestockEye. Feilding ewe fair • Two-tooths averaged $240 • Five-year ewes averaged $163 The yarding of 12,000 ewes at FEILDING met strong interest on younger and well-bred lines. Top Romney and Coopworth two-tooths were frequently up at $260-$280, with other good lines $230-$250. Though other breeds and smaller-framed sorts were tougher going, either around $200 or passed in. The better sorts of five-year and mixedage ewes were around $180-$200 but others were softer going, mostly between $130 and $170.

Feilding store cattle and sheep • Three-year Hereford bulls, 710-755kg, were $3.30-$3.40/kg • Yearling straight-beef steers, 350-440kg, made $3.00-$3.20/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 290-390kg, eased to $2.55$2.75/kg • Store lambs averaged $83 Prices were down on the 1000 store cattle at FEILDING. Two-year traditional steers, 560-720kg, were $3.05-$3.15/kg with 460-565kg Hereford-Friesian at $2.85-$2.90/kg. Twoyear Jersey bulls, 440-535kg, made $2.25-$2.60/kg. Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 385-510kg, were $2.70-$2.90/kg while 375-400kg Friesian bulls weakened to $2.60-$2.75/kg.

Sub-300kg Hereford-Jersey heifers were $2.20-$2.40/kg. The 4500 store lambs were tough selling, though poorer quality and a larger portion of ewe lambs pulled prices back too.

Good shorn male and mixed-sex lambs were $110-$125,

while mediums and woollies were mainly $90-$105. Lighter pens and ewe lambs were mainly $60-$80, with tail-enders $30-$50. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Temuka store cattle and calf sale • Nine yearling Speckle Park-Friesian steers, 383kg, fetched $3.29/ kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 265kg, reached $3.32/kg • Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 174kg, collected $620 Tidy yearling steer and bull sections were met by demand at TEMUKA last Thursday. Yearling Angus-Friesian and Hereford-Friesian steers mostly received $3.00-$3.10/kg.

A smaller and mixed-quality heifer section had a 10-15c/ kg drop in market. All Hereford-Friesian traded at $2.83$2.90/kg excluding the lightest pen and the rest tapped out at $2.74/kg, but most were $2.57-$2.67/kg. Yearling bulls firmed as Speckle Park-Friesian, 400-430kg earned $3.15-$3.19/kg and Belgian Blue-Friesian, 288-320kg, made $3.30-$3.31/kg.

Across all sections weaner Speckle Park-Friesian and Belgian Blue-Friesian were popular and fetched $490-$580.

Well-marked Hereford-Friesian steers returned $490-$600 while their sisters made $425-$565. Best Friesian bulls, 188kg, collected $570. Read more in your LivestockEye.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • One Belgian Blue-cross steer, 695kg, received $3.38/kg • All Angus heifers above 432kg fetched $3.17-$3.27/kg • Four top prime lambs made $219 A large yarding of mostly well-finished prime cattle met a steady market at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday. Most beef-bred steers and Hereford-Friesian over 545kg traded at $3.30-$3.38/kg. Dairy-beef, 450-530kg, generally collected $3.17-$3.27/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers above 465kg earned $3.16-$3.26/kg. The strong bull-beef market held and an Angus, 580kg, made $3.25/kg. A large yarding of store lambs was predominantly whiteface with a fine-wool base. Heavier lines earned $110-$124, mediums $90$105 and lights $60-$85. The prime lamb market held as mediums traded at $161-$181. The bulk of ewes traded at a softer $180-$194. Read more in your LivestockEye. Coalgate cattle and sheep • Hereford-Friesian steers, 563kg, earned $3.27/kg • Angus heifers, 513kg, made $3.28/kg • Weaner Friesian bulls, 259kg, received $600 on a softer market • Top Corriedale wether lambs fetched $127 A smaller yarding of cattle had mixed results at COALGATE last Wednesday. Prime steers Murray Greycross steers, 535kg, collected $3.19/kg. Heifers were mostly over 500kg, and Hereford-Friesian and Murray Grey-cross generally traded at $3.16-$3.25/kg. Bulls, 532-614kg, returned $3.16-$3.18/kg on a firm market. Top yearling Hereford-Friesian steers averaged 362-383kg and traded at $3.08-$3.12/kg. Three Hereford-cross heifers, 403kg, earned $2.83/kg. Good store lambs managed $110-$119 and medium $94-$105. Heavy prime lambs fetched $207-$209 and medium $150-$171. The top seven ewes made $222$224 with other good types at $176-$205. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle, all sheep

OTAGO Balclutha sheep • Prime ewes fetched $150-$170 with medium at $130 and light $80-$120 • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 250-300kg, made $2.60-$2.70/ kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 250-300kg, traded at $2.50$2.60/kg Heavy prime lambs reached $140-$170 at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday and medium types $120-$130. Quality eased a little in the store lamb pens and the top end made $100-$120, medium $80-$100 and light $70.

SOUTHLAND Lorneville cattle and sheep • Prime bulls above 450kg fetched $2.70/kg to $2.94/kg • Better boner cows earned $1.90-$2.00/kg • Weaner Angus-cross bulls, 140-158kg, made $460-$500 • Heavy prime ewes achieved $156-$205, medium $130-$150 and light $98-$120 A large yarding of prime cattle sold on a sound market at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday. Steers earned $2.92/kg, and better heifers $2.70/kg. In the store pens, 15-month Simmental-cross steers, 484-520kg, achieved $1520-$1600.

Heavy prime lambs realised $160-$190, medium $140-$159 and light $120-$138. Top store lambs lifted to $115-$125, medium $100-$110 and light $85-$95.

Charlton sheep • Heavy prime ewes sold at $170-$200, medium $140-$165 and light $80-$130 • Top store lambs fetched $110-$118, medium $105-$110 and light $85-$100 • Better local trade rams achieved $70-$100 and lighter types $40$60 There was a small yarding of prime sheep at CHARLTON last Thursday. Heavy prime lambs made $160-$180, medium $135-$155 and light $120-$130.

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Markets

40 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 24, 2022 SI STEER

NI MUTTON

SI LAMB

($/KG)

($/KG)

($/KG)

6.00

6.05

YEARLING HEREFORD-FRIESIAN STEER,255-315KG, AVERAGE AT TEMUKA ($/KG LW)

8.40

3.05

high $261-$280 2-tooth ewes at lights Top Feilding Ewe Fair

$3.09-$3.12 2-year traditional steers, 450-585kg, at Matawhero

Rain boosts on-farm sale prices Annette Scott & Neal Wallace

P

RE-CHRISTMAS rain helped boost prices at the Orari Gorge Station on-farm sale, with prices up on previous years, standing it up as a feature South Island on-farm lamb sale.

“It was a good sale, up on last year, I’m very happy,” fifthgeneration farmer Robert Peacock said.

“The bit of rain before Christmas helped with the grass both here and for the buyers, there’s plenty of feed and the prices reflect that.”

The 430-hectare Orari Gorge Station, farmed by the Peacock family since 1856, offered 6000 Romney and Sufftex lambs and 450 annual draft ewes at its fifth annual on-farm sale.

“The on-farm sale works for us, it’s not a weaning sale, a lot were weaned before Christmas and that allows us to wean the fawns from our 1800 hinds, otherwise the lambs are on where we need to have fawns,” he said.

The station carries 25,000 head of stock in a proportion of 50% sheep, 25% fully recorded Hereford stud cows and 25% deer in a mix of venison and velveting.

The hill country September onwards born lambs are all bred from the station’s stud stock, with the Orari genetics attracting regular buyers back each year.

The Sufftex lambs sold from $165-$173, while Romney crypt lambs sold from $93-$129 and smaller Romney ewe lambs $93$112. Annual draft Romney ewes sold from $145-$183.

The Hakataramea Valley sales took in three different vendors and was the first of the South Island fine wool sales taking in Corriedale and half-bred lambs.

Hazlett livestock auctioneer Madison Taylor says the lambs were mostly bought for winter

finishing, with a view to attacking the spring sales.

“The buyers got good returns last year so they were happy to spend their cash this year, with the regular buyers buying larger consignments,” Taylor said.

Across the board prices were up $20 on last year, with 10,000 lambs sold over the three sales and only three pens under $100.

Corriedale mixed sex lambs sold up to $155, Poll Dorset-Suffolk lambs fetched $115-$194 and halfbreds $85-$$135.

“There’s optimism in the whole market with buyers recognising long term as the way to go on a schedule not looking to dimmer any time soon,” he said.

The Springfield-Sheffield three-farm run offered very good quality lambs, with more notable competition for the smaller lambs.

“It was a bloody good line-up this year and buyers were going for the longer-term lambs, with the averages up on last year in line with current store prices, and even prime lambs were certainly on schedule,” he said.

Rural Livestock agent Donald Cooke said they’re seeing a trend where finishers are prepared to pay a premium over market price for wether lambs in preference over crypt and ram lambs.

Year-on-year prices were also up in Otago.

East Otago farmers Gerard and Laura Heckler from Stoneburn sold 3800 lambs, with a top price of $165 for those in prime condition.

PGG Wrightson agent Gerard O’Shea said those in prime condition sold from $144-$165, those in good forward condition $119-$124 and lower quality $65$90.

Buyers were mostly local or from North Otago and South Canterbury, and O’Shea said prices were on average $25 ahead of last year.

IN THE THICK OF IT: PGW agents Rod Sands, Greg Cook and Joe Higgins look for bids at the Orari Gorge Station on-farm sale.

Photo: Annette Scott

A similar improvement in average price was realised for lambs sold by the Nichol and Howie families from Lee Stream, inland from Dunedin.

PGG Wrightson agent Jayden Crawley says the Nichols averaged $111 for 5150 lambs and Howies $119 for 1600.

The best lambs sold for close to $160 and buyers were mostly from Canterbury.

The Nichols also sold 800 cast for age ewes, which made $153.

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REPORTS SO ACCURATE, EVEN THE LIVESTOCK TAKE NOTICE.

Shedding sheep attract top dollar Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz A GOOD gallery of buyers attended Mt Cass Station’s second annual Wiltshire sheep sale that attracted 50 registered buyers to the sale, with another 12 who registered to buy online through bidr.

Hazlett Livestock agent Alby Orchard said buyers from Kerikeri, Gore, Marlborough,

Otago and right across Canterbury were prepared to pay a good premium for any good shedding-type sheep, with heavy shedders selling from $210-$325, medium shedders $135-$260 and lighter shedders $110-$160.

The two-tooth ewes sold from $220-$380, AD ewes $190-$350, ewe lambs $110$325 and two-tooth rams $900-$4600.

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Wellsford Rangiuru Frankton Taranaki

Feilding

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Matawhero Stortford Lodge

Coalgate Cantebury Park Temuka