Farmers Weekly NZ January 27 2020

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Land values slide Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz

D

AIRY land values will slide over the next five years as farming is put under increased economic and environmental pressure, Rabobank says.

Tighter credit, reduced foreign capital and pending environmental change will all lead to softer dairy land prices in the short to medium term, Rabobank’s Afloat But Drifting Backwards – A Look at Dairy Land Values Over the Next Five Years report says.

And an erosion of farmgate milk prices could put more stress on dairy land prices, author and dairy analyst Emma Higgins said.

The bank forecasts an average farmgate milk price of $6.25/ kg milksolids for the five years – above the 10-year average but below recent prices.

Fonterra’s last forecast in December has a mid-range milk price of $7.30/kg MS. Operational and compliance

costs are expected to rise and production slow down as genetic improvements and management are offset by reduced stocking rates and fertiliser use in some regions, she said.

“Based on this view, cash returns to dairy assets will fall and the price ratio of land relative to its revenue potential will rise – both of which will put downward pressure on the value of the asset itself.”

The decline in values means investors needed to do longer and costlier due diligence before buying dairy land. That slows the land-buying process and removes some of the drivers of market tension that have previously inflated land prices.

Reduced capital has been the key factor restricting land value growth over the last decade, she said.

But the big unknown variable is the Government’s freshwater proposals.

“The impacts have the potential to reverberate across the entire dairy land buying/selling process.”

The report comes days after

MORE:

Full story in next week’s Farmers Weekly.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Pure Oil company men Nick Murney, left, and Keith Gundry, centre, check on the sunflower crop with farmer Stu Pankhurst.

Photo: Annette Scott

Blooming heck, what a crop CROPPING farmers in Canterbury are growing sunflowers as an alternative break crop to help meet growing demand for Pure Oil NZ’s latest product – high oleic sunflower oil.

Sunflowers in full bloom on Stu Pankhurst’s Aylesbury farm

are a first for him and he’s pretty happy with how they’re shaping up.

With a short crop rotation of just 120 days the flowers fit his system well and so long as the wind and birds stay at bay he hopes three to four tonnes a hectare at harvest in March,

Farmers Weekly columnist Keith Woodford pointed to changes in the lending policies by the banks, looming environmental regulations and the Government’s tightening of the rules for overseas investor buying dairy farms as

reasons why dairy farm values had declined. In March last year the Dairy Farmer magazine also pointed to a change in attitude with young farmers basing offers on a farm’s earning potential and rather than overpaying like

Getting about $900 a tonne will also sit well in his farm budget.

Pure Oil managing director Nick Murney said after a couple of trial seasons the Rolleston company has 300ha under contract this year but more growers will be needed to meet the consumer demand.

previous generations who banked on capital gains.

“The crunch will really come if dairy prices should ever decline below $6/kg MS,” Woodford said.

Continued page 3

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NEWS

WEATHER OVERVIEW High pressure will dominate most of New Zealand for the rest of January and February kicks off with high pressure too. That means already dry places will get drier before the month finishes. In fact, the high pressure belt will likely extend across the first week of February too. It appears to be the beginning of true peak summer. We see a few showers off and on around the West Coast and some might spill further east, like Southland. There might also be a few drizzle patches and odd isolated showers in the North Island providing relief for those who get them but are very isolated and hit and miss.

10 Key rural supporter calls time Long-serving Northland Rural Support Trust coordinator Julie Jonker will hang up her phone and power down the laptop this year.

The easing of venison and velvet prices last season has not stopped another record-breaking season of sales at deer studs across the country.

Pasture Growth Index Above normal Near normal Below normal

7-DAY TRENDS

Wind

Rain It is drier than average for the next seven days in most regions except coastal Southland and the West Coast, which have about normal rain forecast. A few isolated showers in the North Island are possible.

A northwest flow will form in some regions but with so much high pressure smothering NZ for the next week expect light winds, afternoon sea breezes or the local prevailing wind flow kicking in during the afternoon. Otherwise calm.

Highlights/ Extremes

Temperature

17 Waikato stag sets new record price

NZX PASTURE GROWTH INDEX – Next 15 days

Many places are leaning hotter than average in the week ahead. There might be some briefly cooler coastal changes from time to time here and there but the overall trend is warm.

Pasture growth rates will continue to slow down as grass dies off. Drought conditions are now expanding across Northland, Auckland and parts of Waikato. It’s also very dry in Manawatu, Whanganui, Wairarapa and Canterbury. We don’t have a lot of positive news for this week but some isolated properties might get a shower or two, which, very locally, could bring some relief. February will bring some increased chances of wet weather.

WeatherWatch.co.nz has told the Ministry for Primary Industries it believes Northland, Auckland and parts of north Waikato are now in drought. It is optimistic about the chance of rain in mid February.

14-DAY OUTLOOK

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

3

Low water tables dry the north

for Dargaville and nearby Baylys Beach to manage pressure on the local supply.

It suggested Maungaturoto would be the next town to be restricted, an eventuality for which Fonterra bought a lake about 10km from its processing plant.

Whangarei District Council has not imposed restrictions and its two main storage dams, Wilson’s

and Whau Valley, are at 75% and 81% capacity.

Northland Regional Council regulatory services manager Colin Dall said information on low river levels and water tables is being shared with the Government.

He was responding to some speculation an adverse weather event might be declared, saying that is not the council’s call.

Agriculture Minister Damien

O’Connor visited the region on Friday to see for himself and hear the positions of farmers and growers.

The Rural Support Trust has called a committee meeting for this week but has not made an application for an adverse event declaration.

Trust co-ordinator Julie Jonker said the region is in a hydrological drought, with very low water levels affecting vegetable and fruit growers but not so much livestock owners, who have conserved fodder.

The NIWA Drought Index shows the whole of Northland and Auckland provinces and north Waikato extremely dry.

There are also patches of drought around the east coast from Whangarei to Matakana, Great Barrier and Waiheke Islands and the Miranda area on the Firth of Thames.

Northland’s hydrology team is gauging some of the more critical rivers in the region to ensure it has the most up-to-date data and figures to work with.

“Preliminary information suggests a number of rivers are already below minimum flow levels and though this isn’t

be a lot of capital expenditure required to meet the tougher regulations and if there is less scope to meet that investment from retained earnings then how will farmers get the money if banks are getting tougher on their lending?”

He said the report underpins what the group has told the Government for the past few years around the pace and amount of change occurring on farms.

“Normally, people can cope with one but we’ve got a perfect storm where they all want to chuck them into the same cake mix.

“It’s creating a lot of uncertainty and this report highlights that

with all of the uncertainty out there and the policy changes … is dairy farming going to be affordable in the future?”

Lewis said it also brings into question whether dairy farm values should continue to underpin land values in some areas.

The latest data from the Real Estate Institute shows dairy farm values have declined 6% over the past year, with the median price a hectare now $38,152.

Institute rural spokesman Brian Peacocke said the decline was offset by big increases in values in horticulture and while drystock farm values are static they showed big increases a year ago.

Discussion of the decline in dairy values needs to be put into context with what is happening in other sectors.

“She is correct in that values have been sliding. The unknown is that will they continue to slide.

“She’s underpinning the reasons why they will continue to slide and I’m saying those reasons need to be challenged because I’m not sure they are correct.”

Peacocke said there is nothing new in Higgins’ assertion of increased due diligence before farm sales.

“That’s been a trend for the last three years. The land buying process has already reacted to that.”

Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz WATER restrictions are being imposed in Northland as dry summer months have followed very low rainfall last year.

Some farmers with consents for irrigation on pasture from bores in the Awanui and Mangere catchments have been required to cease because of low water tables.

Far North District Council has notified level 3 restrictions on people who draw water from the Kaitaia, Kaikohe, KawakawaMoerewa and Opononi-Omapere schemes.

Garden and lawn watering are banned along with swimming pool filling, vehicle washing and house or paved area washing.

Infrastructure and asset management general manager Andy Finch has asked all Far North residents to reduce water use by 25%.

That would delay the imposition of more stringent restrictions and might avoid the worst-case scenario of an interruption to treated water supplies, he said.

A week earlier Kaipara District Council published a level 3 notice Continued from page 1 Federated Farmers dairy chairman Chris Lewis said farmers will make a loss if Rabobank’s milk price forecast proves correct because the actual breakeven milk price including debt repayment is closer to $7/kg MS than DairyNZ’s break-even of $5.95/kg.

“The cost of tougher environmental regulations will not only increase the cost of production but will likely put a cap on or even reduce production so has implications for farm revenue, even if the milk price remains over $7/kg MS. “Meanwhile, there will likely

FIRST HAND: Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited Northland on Friday so farmers could tell him how they are coping with the dry conditions.

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Rivers are already below minimum flow levels and though this isn’t unusual over a dry summer this wouldn’t usually happen until February or March.

Colin Dall Northland Regional Council unusual over a dry summer this wouldn’t usually happen until February or March and is linked to last year’s drier conditions,” Dall said.

Last year was one of the driest on record in Northland, going back over a century.

Puhipuhi, north of Whangarei, got 1100mm compared with its 2000mm average and that was the second driest since 1914.

Kaitaia received the lowest rainfall since records began in 1949, being only 58% of average.

Kerikeri had its third lowest on record since 1943.

The cost of tougher environmental regulations will not only increase the cost of production but will likely put a cap on or even reduce production so having implications for farm revenue, even if the milk price remains over $7/kg MS. Chris Lewis Federated Farmers

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Grains harvest shaping up well Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz CROPPING farmers across the country are chomping at the bit eager to get their headers onto what is shaping up to be a late but good harvest season, Federated Farmers arable sector grains chairman Brian Leadley says.

Canterbury growing conditions, in particular, have been favourable and with cooler temperatures this summer crops are running a couple of weeks behind normal harvest time.

But that’s not a problem yet with crops looking good and with a spell of warm, sunny weather over the next couple of weeks harvest will kick into full swing.

“So long as the weather plays ball crunch time will be in two to three weeks, later than normal but that’s not creating any panic just yet,” he said.

“There are some beautiful looking cereal crops out there and when we get rid of these damp, overcast mornings and see some sun and more heat in 10 days or so there will be headers out everywhere.”

Farmers generally are positive about the harvest ahead.

“Most people are pretty happy.

There have been some early grass crops and dryland barley harvested but there hasn’t been enough to give a real indication overall but the talk is positive that crops will come in better than last season.”

While taking the edge off some crops the damage from hail storms is not looking to be as extreme as first feared.

“Things are shaping up to be reasonable though until the headers actually get into it it’s difficult to tell but crops are looking very good.”

Early winter and dryland barley harvests have started in Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay with condition not too bad but the weather from here on will be key, Leadley said.

Growers have been trying to clean last season’s harvest out of silos but the going is tough with

SLOW: Keen to get a start Colin and Greg Maw check the fitness of a Nui grass crop on their Barrhill cropping farm. Typical of Canterbury crops this season it is later maturing.

Photo: Annette Scott

We’re realistically hopeful of a good average harvest this season and that will be a big improvement on last year.

Colin Maw Farmer not many buyers.

Canterbury farmer Colin Maw said 2019 wheat was still leaving his Barrhill cropping farm last

week and he doesn’t expect there will be a total clearance before the new harvest.

The latest Grain and Feed Insight report suggests it’s unlikely that all the 2019 crop will be sold before the 2020 harvest because demand is fairly weak.

That largely seems to be an issue with dairy farmers being unwilling to spend much.

Maw said a crop of early rape seed has been headed and yielded well.

“It was twice as good as last season and the Nui grass we have down is looking to be pretty good too.”

In a couple of weeks the cereal

crops will be ready and then there’ll be process peas, clover and carrots.

“We’re realistically hopeful of a good average harvest this season and that will be a big improvement on last season,” Maw said.

Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures for March have continued to lift since September from about US$4.80 to US$5.60 a bushel.

Wheat prices are likely being influenced by conditions in Russia where drier-than-average conditions are expected to limit yield.

Wheat planted in the United States is estimated to be about

30.8 million acres, which continues a downward trend started in the 1980s and puts this season’s plantings at their lowest level since 1909.

The decrease in plantings is also in alignment with Russia’s shift as the largest supplier with land previously used for wheat in the US now being geared to corn and soybeans.

The market expects Western and South Australia grain harvests to be smaller than originally expected, having a positive impact on prices.

Wheat prices have lifted A$15$20 a tonne since the beginning of January.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

5

Rabobank climbs rural loans ladder Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com RABOBANK has leapfrogged ASB to become the country’s third largest rural lender in yet another sign the Australian banks are backing off lending to farmers.

The Dutch bank had $10.7b on loan to farmers at the end of September, behind ANZ with $17.4b and the BNZ with $14.1b, official figures show.

ASB, which is culling jobs at its rural lending division as it sets itself for a slow-down in lending growth, slipped to fourth place with $10.6b of rural loans. Westpac rounded out the top five with loans of $8.6b.

The switch in rankings follows a strong period of lending growth for Rabobank at the same time as three of the four Australian-owned banks throttled back their lending to the sector.

Reserve Bank figures show the specialist agri-lender increased its loan book by $622m or 6.2% in the year to the end of September.

Over the same period ANZ trimmed its rural loan book by $14m or 0.08% while the BNZ reduced lending by $289m or 2.1%.

Just making it onto the positive side of the ledger, ASB had $8m more in farm loans on its books compared to the previous September while Westpac came closest to matching Rabobank’s pace with lending growth of $390m for a 4.7% increase.

After years of strong lending growth to farmers the Australian banks have signalled a more cautious approach after the Reserve Bank last month confirmed an increase in the capital they must hold from 10.5% of risk-weighted assets to 18% by 2027.

The measures are designed to help the banking system withstand a 1-in-200 year economic meltdown.

The non-Australian banks are seen as less of a risk to the financial system should they fail because they are smaller. That

means they have to increase their capital to only 16% of riskweighted assets.

The Australian-owned banks were further disadvantaged when their own regulator restricted the capital their parents can pump into their NZ subsidiaries to meet the new requirements.

Because farm loans carry a higher risk they soak up more capital per dollar of lending and are seen as more vulnerable to a credit squeeze by the capitalstrapped Australian banks.

Rabobank gives every appearance of being ready to further increase its share of the market if that happens. It has taken a number of rural lending managers from the Australian banks in recent months.

It also has the considerable firepower of its Dutch parent’s €590b balance sheet to call on.

Chief executive Todd Charteris said since entering the NZ market in the 1990s the bank has funded its capital requirements by retaining profit.

FAITH: Rabobank sees good opportunities to support good agri businesses and is doing that, chief executive Todd Charteris says.

“Whether that is going to be enough to get us to the capital requirements that have now been confirmed we are still working through that.

“We have had discussions, as you would expect, with our parent around potential for a capital injection if it is required.”

While the percentage of nonperforming loans – those 90 days in arrears – has crept up from 2.4%

at the end of March to 3.5% at the end of September Charteris does not accept the bank is in danger of sacrificing asset quality for growth.

While he is keeping an eye on the measure it remains low and compares well to the other banks.

“We are not chasing growth and our risk appetite has not changed.

“What we are seeing is good opportunities to support good businesses and we are doing that.”

Top flight advice offer for winter grazers Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz AERIAL inspections of forage crop paddocks to identify those that might cause water quality issues when fed to stock this winter are being made by Environment Southland.

Beef + Lamb and DairyNZ staff will accompany council land sustainability officers on the flights and farmers identified as having potential issues will be offered advice on how to avoid damaging the environment.

Environment Southland land sustainability officer Karl Erikson says the initiative

came out of discussions with industry leaders last year, which followed publicity from environmental and animal welfare activists who highlighted instances of what they termed poor winter grazing practice in Southland.

That also led to Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor convening a winter grazing task force.

Erikson says it is about education not enforcement but the advice to farmers, being provided free, could change paddock selection criteria.

“We’re not going out to say ‘you shouldn’t have done it’.

Rather we’re saying ‘this is the

best way to do it’.”

The flights will be looking for buffer zones, critical source areas and slopes that could create overflow into waterways in winter.

Erikson says advice could include fencing a buffer area beside a waterway or changing the way a crop is fed.

“I am optimistic farmers will look at this as being a proactive offer with no obligation and because of that they will say ‘why not?’”

The two flights will focus on farms in eastern and western Southland where the undulating land is more likely to lead to environmental issues.

GOOD: An example of ideal winter grazing practice being promoted in Southland.

Photo: AgResearch.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

7

New policy might limit farming Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS fear new biodiversity policy could force councils to make them restore areas of indigenous flora and fauna on their land.

The Government has released its proposed draft National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, which leans heavily on councils to identify, monitor and manage areas with significant indigenous biodiversity.

Within five years councils will have to identify and map significant natural areas using standard national criteria, manage any adverse effects on those areas and survey native wildlife in and outside the areas to determine if they are threatened or affected by land use activities.

But Federated Farmers fears the new policy could restrict farmers’ land use, limit practices, broaden activities needing resource consent and require restoration of indigenous biodiversity.

“Our concerns are the goal posts have shifted to where restoration initiatives could now be considered part of councils’ legal obligation to maintain biodiversity,” an assessment of the policy by the federation warned.

“The implications for farmers are significant.

“This potentially gives legal grounds for imposing requirements on farmers to actively manage pests and weeds, fence off SNAs and other costly restoration actions, perhaps even retire land altogether.”

It is also concerned the criteria for determining the areas will capture all indigenous vegetation.

“As noted in the discussion document, SNAs represent the most iconic and highly valued indigenous biodiversity. The criteria should not capture wider than that.”

Local Government NZ president Dave Cull says the Government

GO BACK: Farmers might have to restore indigenous animals and plants on their land.

Our concerns are the goal posts have shifted to where restoration initiatives could now be considered part of councils’ legal obligation to maintain biodiversity.

Federated Farmers has consulted councils in developing the national policy statement, with elements tested by councils.

“We know that there’s often a difference between theory and practice, and between proposed cost and actual cost.

“All too often local government and communities get lumped with undue costs, so we’re hopeful

that the council testing and wider consultation provides central government with a good sense of what will work, and what support will be needed to make it work.”

The federation says restoration initiatives should be non-regulatory but support landowners and community groups with conservation initiatives as has proven successful in Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki.

The proposed policy raises the threshold farming activities must meet to be permitted in the areas by including disruption of ecosystems or reducing the population of threatened species.

“This will be a very high bar to cross to be able to establish new activities in SNAs.” New criteria to manage any adverse effects from new farming activities on the areas include avoidance where possible then mitigate, offset or compensate.

“Ecological advice is that in

practice very few new activities would be able to manage adverse effects within an SNA based on the hierarchy, which means new activities are unlikely to be allowed unless effects are minor,” the federation warns.

Existing activities in an area can continue provided they remain the same in character, intensity and scale but landowners face issues if they want to cultivate or clear scrub that has not been touched recently.

“Proving when you last cultivated or cleared scrub in an area of your farm is hard to do when most farmers don’t document these activities.”

Resource consent will be required to clear indigenous vegetation regrowth considered significant and where adverse effects from proposed clearance are greater in character, scale or intensity than what occurred previously.

Farmers who have nesting

indigenous wildlife on their land might need a plan to ensure the nests are not destroyed or damaged by farming activities.

Resource consent will be required if a landowner cannot provide adequate information to demonstrate a proposed clearance is part of a regular cycle or it is an area of at risk species or alluvial land forms that have not been cultivated, for example the South Island’s Mackenzie Basin.

If adopted, the proposals will require councils to promote biodiversity restoration to a minimum 10% in urban and periurban areas, potentially creating issues for lifestyle block owners.

The same criteria apply to rural areas where there is less than 10% indigenous vegetation cover but there is no detail on what those targets are or the timeframes to achieve them.

“This recognises that restoring 10% of rural areas would likely be cost-prohibitive and in many cases unachievable,” the federation says.

Priorities for restoration are wetlands, degraded SNAs, areas providing connectivity or buffering for ecosystems and biodiversity protection.

The proposals include the creation of plantation forest biodiversity areas for plantation forests, which can be habitat for kiwi and falcons.

These areas have their own management requirements to maintain long-term populations of indigenous fauna and control the adverse effects on native flora.

The federation says the proposed national policy statement will impose significant costs on councils and landowners but details on the extent are light.

“The impact on rates for councils with large geographic areas and small ratepayer bases is a particular concern for Federated Farmers.”

Submissions close at 5pm March 14.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Wet weather hits South Island output Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz OTAGO and Southland farmers hope forecast improved weather will let them make inroads into a backlog of harvesting winter supplement, sowing crops and sending lambs to processors.

Most of the south has since spring been cooler and wetter than usual with cultivation and harvesting six to eight weeks behind.

NIWA data shows average January temperatures in the south almost 2C below average and that most of the South Island recorded more than 50% more rain than average in December.

Forecaster Maria Augutis says the unsettled weather is caused by the prevalence of southwesterly weather being pushed on to the south as high-pressure systems in spring and early summer were locked over Australia.

And southern stratospheric warming created higher pressure over Antarctica that moved lower-pressure systems over New Zealand.

Last year Invercargill recorded 150mm more rain than average and its average annual temperature for the year was about 1C cooler.

The rest of the south had average rainfall and slightly lower temperatures though spring and early summer were decidedly cool and wet.

Meat companies report a slow start to the year in the south with the processing season yet to kick in to gear.

Southland agricultural contractor Daryl Thomson says cultivation and harvesting are six to eight weeks behind where he planned to be.

“It’s been very challenging.”

Usually by Christmas farmers are planning their second cut of silage but many are still waiting for their first.

“We’ve virtually missed a round of harvesting prior to Christmas and it is hit and miss after Christmas whether they will get it.”

A lack of sunshine is affecting the quality of regrowth on paddocks that have been harvested and crops planted have struggled or parts of paddocks are waterlogged.

If you didn’t get a weaning draft away, then you’re not getting much away after it.

Dean Rabbidge Farmer Wyndham farmer Dean Rabbidge says after weaning drafts lambs have not grown out as usual.

“If you didn’t get a weaning draft away then you’re not getting much away after it.”

Rabbidge can’t recall the last day it didn’t rain in Southland but unlike other years temperatures have been cooler than usual, affecting pasture and livestock performance.

He has made balage because it had reached the stage where it had to be cut but the quality was poor.

Pourakino dairy farmer David Diprose says other than a lowerthan-usual seasonal peak his milk production is as expected.

His cows are on top of any

grass growth, which is helping to maintain quality and production but left little surplus.

Diprose says the sowing of crops on his coastal Southland property is at least a month late.

Agribusiness Consultants principal Ivan Lines says as grass growth has fallen away some dairy farmers have turned to concentrates to maintain production and cow condition.

Unless average temperatures increase in the next few weeks farmers face some tough decisions as they prepare for autumn.

“February is the key date to think about cow condition rather than cow production.”

Silver Fern Farms supply chain manager Dan Boulton says stock flows in October-November were lower than expected because of poor lamb growth in the early regions of the East Coast, Canterbury and Marlborough.

The situation is worst in the south.

“Southern lamb volumes have been very slow with many farmers not supplying their traditional, normal, first weaning draft in December or taking only a small skim draft of lambs, and lambs weaned to pasture have struggled in their first weeks.”

Boulton says while SFF has met orders the slow season has delayed by a week the recruitment of extra shifts at plants.

The southern lamb season is still running late and unless the weather improves lambs could be sold to Canterbury as stores.

Alliance livestock and shareholder services manager Danny Hailes says lambs were slow to finish, meaning processing through its southern South Island plants is keeping up with demand.

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TOO WET: Grass has fallen away and farmers are feeding concentrates to maintain animal condition and production, Invercargill farm consultant Ivan Lines says.

The co-operative is operating overtime at its Lorneville plant near Invercargill.

NIWA forecasts temperatures up to March for the west of the South Island, the foothills and inland Otago and Southland to be near or below average, rainfall to be above

or near normal and soil moisture and river flows to also be near normal.

Temperatures for Canterbury and east Otago are expected to be near average, rainfall near normal and soil moisture and river flows below normal and near normal.

Where the rain fell

Oamaru

2019 rain (mm)

Average annual rain

% change

591

589

-

Dunedin

712

775

-9%

Clyde

417

432

-

Balclutha

682

686

-

Gore

934

987

-6%

Invercargill

1239

1066

+16%

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

9

Winter crops help meet feed deficit Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz SOUTHERN farmers may have to consider sowing alternative winter crops as cold weather reduces the time available to establish traditional spring-sown varieties.

Contractors estimate the

cold, wet spring and early summer in the south has put the sowing of winter crops six to eight weeks behind where they should be, but Barenbrug Agriseeds agronomist Shannon Morton warns yields of crops sown so far could be back 15 to 20%.

She is urging farmers to do a

winter feed budget to identify any deficit and says it is not too late to sow rape or Italian ryegrass to fill a void.

But time is running out and she says farmers need to act quickly.

“Interval rape sown in January will typically produce 5-6 tonnes dry matter/ha for winter and can

reach 7-8 t DM/ha with good conditions.

“Alternatively, Tabu+ Italian ryegrass is very fast establishing, so it will give one-to-two grazings before winter, if sown early.

“Typically, it will then provide 3-4 tonnes DM/ha to be strip grazed in winter, holding its feed quality much better than a

normal permanent pasture.”

She says interval rape is better where bulk winter feed is needed but being able to graze Italian ryegrass before winter makes it easier to manage.

Fast growing Tabu+ will provide pasture in spring for set stocking lambing ewes or feeding cows.

Zero Carbon Bill already uses new gas measure Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz A NEW system of measuring the impact of individual greenhouse gases on climate change instead of carbon dioxide equivalent has already been incorporated into the Government’s Zero Carbon Bill.

The new global warming potential (GWP) measurement, created by researchers at Oxford University, is known as GWP* and provides a more accurate indication of the net impact of all pollutants on climate change.

Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium manager Mark Aspin says GWP* does not alter New Zealand’s greenhouse inventory but splits the methane reduction target from nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide.

NZ’s greenhouse gas volumes remained the same in absolute terms but GWP* changes how they are dealt with and is reflected in the Zero Carbon Bill.

The Bill sets a goal of a 10%

reduction in methane below 2017 levels by 2030 and a 24-47% reduction by 2050 along with net zero emissions of all other greenhouse gases by 2050.

Previously emissions were termed as carbon dioxide equivalent but an Oxford briefing paper said in the case of methane, that does not reflect its relatively short 10-year life span in the atmosphere.

Under the original carbon dioxide equivalent measure, 1kg of methane was equivalent to 28kg of carbon dioxide but did not contribute 28 times the warming of carbon dioxide because of its short lifespan.

GWP* adds a one-off permanent increase in methane to the greenhouse gas inventory when emissions are rising along with a one-off pulse emission of carbon dioxide.

Conversely, when emissions are reducing it provides a one-off permanent decrease in methane and a one-off removal of carbon dioxide.

NOT THERE YET: The science of soil carbon is a developing field, Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium manager Mark Aspin says.

The paper says the warming effect of methane is determined more by the rate of emissions in any given decade while the warming effect of carbon dioxide is determined by its accumulation.

Temperatures continue to rise in response to falling carbon dioxide emissions so long as they remain above zero but

temperatures fall when methane emissions decline.

“In contrast, constant methane emissions hold temperature at an elevated level but cause no further warming.”

Aspin described the science of soil carbon as a developing field being helped by a research grant in which 500 different sites from

around NZ will be sampled.

The research will provide a snapshot of NZ’s soil carbon levels. Resampling those sites will show whether NZ’s carbon stocks are increasing or decreasing.

Aspin says the fact most of NZ was covered in trees up to 150 years ago indicates carbon levels could be still relatively high.

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News

10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Key rural supporter calls time Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz LONG-SERVING Northland Rural Support Trust co-ordinator Julie Jonker will hang up her phone and power down the laptop this year.

Trustees have begun a search for her replacement but chairman Jim Rhynd says Jonker has a very special set of skills and will be sorely missed.

Retirement beckons after a decade in the role with two years as a trustee understudying Helen Moodie, who pioneered the rural community work, before that.

After 20 years dairy farming with husband Brent at Mata, south of Whangarei, they moved to the 56ha run-off in the Brynderwyn hills near Waipu before the trust work came along.

It has been one of the busiest trusts in the country with an average of one adverse event a year plus, most recently, a high number of Mycoplasma bovis properties and cattle movement restrictions.

M bovis now takes about half of Jonker’s working week and she does five or six hours a day versus perhaps one hour when she started the contracted position.

“I guess I have never charged the full hours that I worked but there have been lots of rewards in the job,” she said.

She lists the great people she works with, the training courses she

has attended and the satisfaction of giving back to the primary sector.

Among the most difficult tasks was trying to keep connected with the ever-changing local departmental people in the Ministries of Social Development and Primary Industries, Inland Revenue and the Northland District Health Board.

We have been blessed to have her for so long.

Jim Rhynd Northland Rural Support Trust A telephone directory of hundreds of farmers, growers, rural professionals, local and central government representatives and community organisations is her main work resource.

In a home office Jonker also does the accounts and calls the meetings while endlessly liaising with the widening circles of seven trustees, 12 ag-facilitators, government departments and collaborating community representatives, which include Ospri, Worksafe and the police.

Northland Regional Council offered a workspace when major adverse

events occur, which she has never taken up, and now runs the Taskforce Green people when needed.

Rhynd says the $80,000 to $100,000 annual budget in Northland delivers a cheap and effective rural community support system, as Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and his predecessors have acknowledged.

Asked if lack of money has ever been an impediment Jonker said the work just gets done, paid or unpaid.

Adverse events are not always weather-related but include biosecurity issues and the consequences of the low milk payout in 2015.

Her qualities include empathy and integrity along with the ability to relate to all people from ministers to struggling farm staff members, Rhynd said.

An 0800 number provides a steady stream of concerns, many of which are on behalf of someone the caller knows.

Jonker then must make a careful approach and pair up the stressed person with a skilled facilitator who can listen and advise.

“She doesn’t categorise or prejudge people and is levelled and measured in what she does,” Rhynd said.

“We have been blessed to have her for so long.”

Jonker says there are many farmers’ wives whose children have left home who have the skills and qualities needed.

HEAT: Northland Rural Support Trust co-ordinator Julie Jonker with the tools of her role, telephone and laptop.

Farmers face reduced water takes and shorter terms Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE rights of 356 mostly farmers who hold historic deemed water permits in Otago will be terminated within seven years and they could face reduced access to water.

Otago Regional Council has decided to introduce an interim consenting process that will give

it time to implement a new Land and Water Regional Plan from December 31, 2025, under which longer-term water use consents will be considered.

The proposal is consistent with a directive from Environment Minister David Parker who ordered a review of the council performance because he was not confident it could process hundreds of expiring deemed

water permits by the due date of 2021.

Otago Water Users Group spokesman Ken Gillespie said the decision was expected but farmers in his Manuherikia Valley catchment in Central Otago still intend to lodge applications for new water consents but after this decision do not expect to have them granted for the terms being requested.

Gillespie says there is a fear limiting consents to up to seven-years could affect farmers’ options and financial arrangements.

“Seven years is not bankable for sale, for purchasing or for development.”

Parker’s investigation recommends a plan change be notified to provide an interim planning and consenting

framework for deemed permits until a new land and water regional plan becomes operative.

Council chairwoman Marian Hobbs says councillors voted for an option that most closely aligns to Parker’s recommendations, is relatively low cost and will give the council time to have its land and water plan operative by late 2025.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

11

New York foodie now a Kiwi fan Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz EVERY day Ben Hon is invited to eat at six to eight New York restaurants, each hoping he will accept its invitation and share photographs and comments on his meal with his 56,000 Instagram followers.

He’s a food influencer, a new vocation created by social media, which, in Hon’s case, allows him to combine his twin loves of photography and food.

What I am taking back with me is how much care farmers show towards their animals and how that is reflected in the final product.

Ben Hon Food influencer But for grass-fed meat exporting nations like New Zealand, influencers like Hon provide a direct link to a crucial demographic labelled conscious foodies, people who are digitally engaged and who care about what they eat.

“A food influencer influences people on what they buy, what they try and what they explore.

It’s a silly name to have and I don’t care for it,” Hon says.

“I consider myself a photographer first who happens to be an influencer.”

Hon and five other food influencers from the United States were recently brought to NZ by Beef + Lamb and several meat companies, to visit farms and restaurants from which they posted videos, photographs and comments about their experience.

Hons says the eight posts he put up attracted 30,000 to 40,000 views.

B+LNZ marketing manager Nick Beeby says research before the United States launch of Taste Pure Nature identified conscious foodies as a core target.

They are active on social media and trust influencers to help them decide what food to buy and where and what to eat.

Hon has lived his whole life in New York city but after a 12-year career in finance decided he needed a change.

His mother ran a restaurant and he had experience in the industry but loved photography – especially of food dishes.

After he posted images on Instagram a magazine approached him and featured them as part of a food influencers series.

From there he was asked to manage a restaurant’s Instagram account for a monthly fee.

“It is crazy but this is what happens,” he says.

He now manages Instagram

FOOD INFLUENCER: New Yorker Ben Hon has been in New Zealand extolling the virtues of our farming system and red meat to his 56,000 Instagram followers.

accounts for five restaurants in addition to appraising restaurants and chefs for his Instagram followers.

“My palate is different to everyone else’s palate.

“I may love it but someone else may hate it so I say what I like but I don’t post what I don’t like.”

Beeby says the visiting influencers contrasted the US public’s perception of feedlot farming with NZ’s free-range, all grass system by seeing how animals are raised, talking to farmers and tasting the end product.

“These guys literally have no idea of NZ farming systems and

when they see it they understand how unique we are and they tell our story through their eyes.

“It’s not us, a meat company or a retailer telling this story.”

Hon says he was impressed with the space available to sheep and cattle and the natural environment in which they are farmed.

But he was similarly impressed with the taste and texture of NZ lamb saying US lamb has a much more gamey taste.

“What I am taking back with me is how much care farmers show towards their animals and how that is reflected in the final product.

“I want to share that with chefs and people.”

Word of mouth is a powerful link with a food audience.

In addition to extolling the virtues of NZ livestock farming, farmers and the quality of food Hon will use his posts to direct consumers and chefs to supermarkets that stock NZ red meat.

Beeby says the beauty of social media is that its reach, engagement and impact can be measured by the number of clicks and comments on a post and those who click through to retailers or to a B+LNZ landing page it has established.

News

12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Dodgy credits send wrong message Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz A “DEEPLY-FLAWED” carbon credit scheme likely to be adopted by the Government under a reviewed emissions trading scheme will only delay efforts to reduce carbon and send the wrong signals to New Zealand emitters.

Euan Mason, Canterbury University professor at the New Zealand school of forestry, has criticised plans to continue using carbon credits in the ETS that are not backed by carbon sequestration schemes or technology.

Mason has submitted strongly against the proposal as the Government seeks input to proposed changes.

“My concern is that people buy credits because they want to offset their carbon emissions while they continue to emit, believing action by someone else is absorbing their emission. This would mean purchasers could genuinely call themselves ‘greenhouse gas neutral’.

“That is not the case if the credits are not actually cleaning up the emissions.”

The ETS is based on such credits and proposed amendments to it will not change this, he said.

The failure of ETS to make a substantial difference to NZ’s net emissions is already apparent, with an increase of 54% from 1990 to 2016 and gross annual emissions of 80 million tonnes.

Under current ETS terms emitters are grandfathered carbon credits called NZ Emissions Units (NZUs) for allowed pollution.

The price of these units took a hit in 2011 when NZ began importing cheap “hot air” credits,

Auctioning promotes the fundamental irrationality that has plagued our ETS so far. Fraudulent credits are always going to be cheaper to manufacture than those with environmental integrity.

Professor Euan Mason University of Canterbury

DODGY: Professor Mason maintains NZ’s latest pathway for ETS credits is as dodgy as the last.

or European Units, from eastern Europe.

The Ukrainian credits were a legacy of original thin air credits known as AAUs, or assigned amount units, established under the original Kyoto agreement in 1990.

These had no genuine carbon reducing technology or actions backing them and still don’t.

They flooded global markets pulling the NZU price to as low as 17c a unit. They were outlawed in 2015 by the National Government.

However, under proposed changes to the ETS the Government appears intent on continuing to allow use of credits not backed by technology, trees or other actions, and will change little, Mason said.

He said backed by an auction system the ETS was even more flawed. The auction system gives government a lever with which to appease politically strong interest groups, while also adding some cash to government funds.

The potential for appeasement only undermined attempts for NZ to meet its targets.

“Auctioning promotes the fundamental irrationality that has plagued our ETS so far. Fraudulent credits are always going to be cheaper to manufacture than those with environmental integrity. This is so obvious it is astonishing auctioning is going ahead.”

Mason has challenged Ministry for Environment (MfE) officials on the lack of substance behind the revised NZ credits and the auction system being used to distribute them.

In response MfE officials have stated the purpose of the ETS is not to make covered sectors carbon neutral, but to help deliver

the Government’s emission reduction targets and meet associate emissions budgets.

Near term emission budgets allow for some emissions to continue and with that NZ ETS credits will continue to be released onto the market, and not backed by actual sequestration.

In their response officials maintained this is the way nearly all emissions trading schemes work, including the EU, USA, and South Korea.

But Mason is less than impressed.

“The argument that ‘everyone else is doing it’ carries no weight when global anthropogenic (man-made) GHG emissions are rising as rapidly as ever. Clearly what everyone else is doing isn’t working terribly well.”

Mason is proposing a “gold standard” approach to credit issuing, where they are only issued if backed by actual sequestration technology, or forest plantings that absorb carbon.

“So if you want people to emit without purchasing a credit, just say that they can emit 90% credit free, then they have to purchase the remaining 10% of real credits.

“At present that 90% has credits issued to it that are simply hot air credits.”

Given there is a 30 year time line remaining for NZ’s 2050 zero carbon target the reductions would not be overly drastic each year.

“I do not think it would be terribly painful to reduce by one 30th every year in a linear way.

“Companies will either pay to actually mitigate their carbon emissions, or if the cost of doing so is greater than purchasing a genuine credit, then they will purchase the credits instead.”

Integrity problems hit hot air units Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz DESPITE the flaws in the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS), the head of a new

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says the portion of “hot air” carbon credits in circulation in New Zealand used as offsets to emissions will decline over time and the validity of the credits is challenged by trading partners and consumers.

Drylandcarbon is a NZbased carbon farming afforestation partnership company backed by Air New Zealand, Contact, Genesis and Z Energy. It is establishing a forestry portfolio aimed at securing a long term supply of forest Meeting business includes: backed carbon credits as New • Updates from the Zealand Units (NZUs).

Chairman and CEO So far the company has • Quota Allocation purchased a steep Wairoa hill Mechanism Review country property, which will • Brexit and quota have its most marginal land administration planted in permanent forest and some in 35 year rotation forestry planting.

The farm manager is remaining on the property, operating the remaining higher value pastoral country.

Beverley described the NZUs from Drylandcarbon as “true blue” NZUs backed by forestry.

forest company sees a bright future in New Zealand for carbon credits backed by real forest plantings.

Drylandcarbon executive director Anthony Beverley

“My sense is that as the world gets more focused on these carbon credits, people will be more focused upon the integrity of the units.

“We have already witnessed the ruckus over the eastern European hot air credits. Over time I would expect to see them decline as a portion of total carbon credits.”

This was backed by the acknowledgement in NZ that this country’s most powerful mitigator to meet the Paris Accord was planting trees.

“Trees are the only way we can avoid the costly impost we will otherwise face.”

Confidence in the revamped ETS scheme is also higher than it was a few years ago when the scheme was all but gutted by the flood of dodgy hot air credits.

Beverley said Drylandcarbon had a preference to invest in permanent forests, given the land was usually cheaper.

Interest from farmers has also been high, although many remain wary about how permanent afforestation for carbon

sequestration actually works.

“A lot are aware of it and know they should not be farming the worst of their country, but don’t want the debt that goes with putting it into trees.

“We bring the capital and expertise, they bring the land and we can split the carbon credit income. Our preferred approach is to use land farmers own.”

Carbon forestry can also mean the land owner can receive the carbon royalties up front, rather than wait five-plus years for the first carbon returns to flow.

While the Wairoa property Drylandcarbon bought could have been blanketed in trees, Beverley maintains preserving some pastoral area was the right approach, integrating carbon farming while retaining a livestock element.

He said his company has been in talks with afforestation protest group 50 Shades of Green.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

15

Water scheme gets a $7m grant Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz MOMENTUM is building behind a Wairarapa water storage project after a further $7 million grant from the Provincial Growth Fund.

The money for completing feasibility studies, lodging a resource consent application and preparation for construction comes on top of $800,000 from the fund last May and community contributions of $300,000 – $160,000 from potential water users including farmers and $140,000 from local and regional councils.

The fund is also giving a further $110,000 for the development of a Wairarapa Water Resilience Strategy.

Wairarapa Water chairman Tim Lusk said the grant puts Wairarapa Water in a strong financial position to finalise the storage project’s development phases.

“We can now engage comprehensively with landowners, iwi, councils, businesses and the wider community knowing we have the means to conclude together just what it must look and operate like before we move into construction, which, all going well, will be in 2023.

“The target must be stored water available in 2026.”

The proposed Wakamoekau Community Water Storage Scheme is a reservoir in the hills northwest of Masterton holding up to 19 million cubic metres of water to supply about 28m cubic metres a year.

Chief executive Robyn Wells said the earlier community support, including that from farmers, was important. Not only did it release the final $200,000 of last year’s funding, it showed the community’s commitment to the project.

Those who contributed did so as a matter of goodwill because there were no water rights attached.

Assessing demand for water is ongoing and will help determine its final design, with an aim of

applying for resource consents by the end of this year.

The Wakamoekau scheme is just one that will come under the water resilience strategy and Wells said she looks forward to working with the strategy committee.

“It’s exciting being part of an overarching plan.”

Water security is about future-proofing the prosperity of all sectors of our regions.

Chris Allen Federated Farmers

Wairarapa Federated Farmers president William Beetham said the latest funding is outstanding.

“It’s sprung from a realisation that if we don’t have improved water supply some of our biggest companies and employers are under threat.

“Water storage and security is also crucial as back-up when domestic supply in our towns is under strain during dry seasons.

“It’s also important for our environment. With good storage we can lessen the need to take water from our rivers in the summer low flow periods.”

Beetham, who is on the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy (WEDS) governance group, said all sectors of the region including rural water users, the regional council and three local authorities, businesses and all local MPs put differences aside and worked together on the project.

“There is no rural-urban divide in this case. And credit to the Government for listening to the science and the strong business case.”

The need for the water strategy primarily emerged out of the WEDS, which looks at freshwater supply in the context

LOCATION: The proposed Wakamoekau Community Water Storage Scheme is in the hills northwest of Masterton.

of community resilience rather than solely rural irrigation, its chairwoman Margaret Bazley said.

The money will help develop a strategy that will prepare the region for the impact of climate change and make the necessary changes to drivers of the economy that arise from it.

The strategy will aim to continue to develop the economy through a period of change and create jobs to keep pace with population growth.

“The development of a Wairarapa water resilience strategy is crucial for the future water needs of our region.

“All water users in Wairarapa need to be aware of the need for a water strategy to ensure the continuous supply.”

Parliamentary regional economic development undersecretary Fletcher Tabuteau said water is a critical enabler for the Wairarapa economy and supply is increasingly under threat from demand caused by a growing

population and economy, rising temperatures and declining rainfall and river flows.

The strategy will create a framework for planning for water management, with a particular focus on mitigating the impact of climate change.

“Significant work has been done on individual components of the supply, storage and use of water in Wairarapa but this work has not previously been brought together into a comprehensive plan through a broad resilience lens. Business as usual is no longer an option to address the single most important need facing the region.”

Federated Farmers national board member and water spokesman Chris Allen said the prosperity of drier regions will increasingly hinge on water security as the effects of climate change accelerate.

“I take this as a sign we’re getting beyond the thinking that water storage is code for irrigation for dairying alone.

LOOKING AHEAD: Wairarapa Water chief executive Robyn Wells is pleased the Wakamoekau Community Water Storage Scheme is moving forward.

“Water security is about futureproofing the prosperity of all sectors of our regions.”

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News

16 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Chinese consumers embracing diversity Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz SHRINK-WRAPPED quail eggs, lifestyle choices and social media are all playing their parts in what and how Chinese will eat heading into the new decade.

Chinese media platform company Radii has analysed latest market trends in the country’s enormous food market as the middle class continues to grow and become a more sophisticated, discerning customer for food imports from the likes of New Zealand.

In its report food journalist Mayura Jain identifies takeout food delivery showing no signs of growth experienced in the past five years slowing down.

The US$40 billion sector is now dominated by two main players, Ele.me, backed by Alibaba, and Meituan-Dianping.

The Meituan-Dianping operation represents a union of a heavyweight food app company with Dianping, a restaurant review service.

However, Jain points to the burgeoning waste problem the takeout service has bought with it and growing pressure by the government on companies to deal with the mounting rubbish problem.

The increase in single person households in the larger cities is also resulting in an increase in the meals-for-one category, even for traditionally communal dishes like hot pot.

The increase is put down to more millennials choosing to stay single, with the cost of childrearing a major disincentive, particularly for the growing numbers of young, educated, single women keen to advance their careers.

Despite China ending its One Child policy five years ago the birth rate has continued to plummet with 2018 recording the country’s lowest since 1949.

Chinese social media also abounds with comments from women wary of the expectations having a child will put on them and the costs of child care.

The fastest growing sector of the Chinese food industry is the snack food market, valued at almost half a billion United States dollars by the end of this year.

As awareness of health and wellbeing rises consumers are also checking out snack items for their salt and fat contents.

Latest releases include cherry blossom flavoured chips intended to give a sense of reaching into a cherry blossom tree and plucking the flower to eat.

Shrink-wrapped quail eggs are aimed at the post-gym recovery market wanting a protein shot and chicken flavoured Oreos for eating with pineapple beer all now feature in the growing market.

As the pork shortage resulting from African swine fever continues to bite the world’s largest consumers of pork are also starting to embrace vegetarianism.

With pork supplies down to 1970s lows, non-meat companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are eying the world’s largest market.

Jain notes, however, the irony

IMPACT: The owner of a Chinese fried rice stall recommended by an online influencer needed police for crowd control and now runs a two-storey restaurant.

is that China is regarded as the home of mock meat, with replicas of pork and mutton dating back to the Tang Dynasty.

But the chance for nonmeat meat to grow now is also attributed to the impact greater livestock numbers would have on the already compromised environment.

A company, Dao Foods, is among China’s first foray into non-meat meat products while another company, OmniPork, has developed a pork type meat from pea protein.

The Economist reports despite only 2% of the country being vegetarian, flexitarianism is on the rise with a third of those surveyed in big cities intending to eat less

pork, poultry and red meat.

The influence of wanghong or social influencers is also playing a big part in dictating a food’s or food outlet’s success.

One example is a small Shanghai street stall selling fried rice enjoyed by an influencer who shared it online with fans. Demand for the simple dish exploded in a matter of days, requiring police to control the throngs crowding the stall.

The outlet, Hermes Fried Rice, has since grown to a two-storey restaurant with 3000 orders a day being taken.

The influencer market is valued at US$800m with 10,000 influencers on social platform Weibo with over a million followers each.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

17

Waikato stag sets new record price Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz THE easing of venison and velvet prices last season has not stopped another recordbreaking season of sales at deer studs across the country.

Waikato deer breeder Todd Crowley set a new national record when one of his velvet-trophy stags was bought for $390,000 in December.

The price more than doubled the previous record of $155,000 set at his sale the previous year.

A new record was also set for a velvet stag in Southland earlier this month when two Hawke’s Bay buyers paid $102,000 for a three-year-old at Brock Deer’s annual sale.

Velvet last season made $132 a kilogram and while it was still too early to know how this coming year would play out, DINZ markets manager Rhys Griffiths said he expected it to be 5-10 per cent back.

Similarly, venison has come off its schedule peak of $9.57/ kg last year to $8.37/kg. DINZ marketing manager Nick Taylor said it was too early to know what this coming season’s price would be.

While prices had come back, it was still up on the five-year average for venison, he said.

Crowley said the rise of syndicate buying - where deer farmers pool their resources together to buy a specific stag - contributed to the high prices.

“The very top stags are creating a lot of interest and getting really good money,” he said.

Once bought, the syndicate then sell the stag’s semen and earn back the purchase price.

“Then a lot of people have access to the very top genetics.”

The buyer of the recordbreaking stag wished to remain confidential, he said.

“The rest of the sale went really well. We sold another one for $75,000 and one for $30,000 and a few in the twenties [thousand]. They averaged $51,500.”

Eddie Brock of Brock

RECORD SETTER: This stag grown by Waikato deer farmer Todd Crowley was sold for a record $390,000 at the farm’s 2019 sale.

The record eclipsed the previous record price of $155,000 for a stag produced by the same farmer at his sale the year before.

Deer said their stag won the people’s choice award at the National Velvet Awards in December, where deer farmers voted for what they thought was the best stag.

The very top stags are creating a lot of interest and getting really good money.

Todd Crowley Waikato deer farmer He said the final price was close to where he thought it would land and he immediately knew it was a record as it broke the $90,000 mark paid for a velvet stag last year.

Two thirds of Brock’s catalogue at this year’s sale featured sons of the recordbreaking stag’s sire, Joseph.

He was pleased with the rest of the sale, with the stags on offer averaging just under $17,000 and the next top

price after the record price at $50,000.

While the velvet market had dropped slightly on last year, Brock said farmers were still prepared to pay top prices for good genetics.

“Things are still good, even though velvet is back around 10%. It’s a slight correction from two years ago.”

On a velvet head, the most valuable part of it was above its trez and as a two-year-old its velvet weighed just under six kilograms.

“It had a huge proportion of top-quality velvet above that point and it was very thick and round.”

PGG Wrightson stud coordinator Graham Kinsman said the sales have gone well.

“Prices in some cases are back a little and bear in mind venison is back a little, velvet is back a little and the bigger part of the industry is made up of older established deer farmers so when they go to improve those genetics they go to something at the top end as opposed to further down the ladder.”

This in part explained the record price achieved at the Brocks sale, he said.

New Zealand Deer Farmers Association chairman John Somerville said the syndicate buying tended to be done by those purchasing stags at the top end of the market.

The bulk of the buying is still undertaken by individuals.

One factor that stood out this year among the velvet sales was more people buying on style.

“There was quite a differential. In the velvet, they wanted nice, tidy clean heads and there tended to be lesser interest in rougher heads.”

There was a price difference between non-typical heads and the more sought after heads in that velvet market, he said.

“That’s a reflection of where prices went because there’s quite a price difference that farmers get per kilogram on that.”

Somerville said overall the sales had good crowds and the averages were close to last years.

“I think people should be pretty happy with how they went. There were good clearances, which is important.”

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Thieves strike Young Farmers YOUNG Farmers has replaced equipment stolen ahead of the first Young Farmer of the Year regional final in Northland.

Thieves broke into four storage containers next to the Young Farmers office at Templeton south of Christchurch on January

10, stealing eight Stihl MS 461 chainsaws and a Honda generator donated by sponsors.

Chief executive Lynda Coppersmith said an angle grinder was used to cut the locks on the containers holding the gear, tools and equipment used in regional finals.

A trailer from a nearby business was also stolen and

used to cart the goods away.

“We’re obviously completely gutted and disappointed by the theft.

“Our teams and volunteers across the country work so hard preparing and organising our regional finals, which are always amazing events,” she said.

Stihl, a major sponsor, has replaced the equipment.

“Our contestants also

put so much effort into the competition, studying, practising and planning for everything, sometimes for months on end.

“So, to have such a thoughtless act of theft, right on the verge of our first regional final has been a kick in the teeth for all our Young Farmers across the country.”

The goods are insured and police are investigating.

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News

18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Big partner for Sprout start-ups Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz

FUNDED: The partnership with Callaghan will give greater impetus to agri-tech startup investment, Sprout chief executive Dean Tilyard says.

AGRI-TECH start-ups will get a much needed boost from a new funding arrangement between tech sponsor Sprout and Callaghan Innovation.

The deal means once a start-up has put up $250,000 Callaghan will provide a repayable loan of $750,000, Sprout chief executive Dean Tilyard

said. It could finance up to 40 projects over the next eight years.

Tilyard is optimistic the arrangement will do much to help New Zealand tap into what has been an unprecedented flow of capital into agri-food start-ups over the past five years.

More than US$25 billion has gone into more than 2500 new ventures but NZ missed the first wave of this investment tide.

“I think over time NZ has done well in transferring tech through traditional channels.

“Globally NZ is quite unique.

“We have a large proportion of investment into research and technology at a public level, about $500 million.

“The challenge is the system is not translating to start-ups. From an innovation perspective we are still highly fragmented.”

Callaghan will help ramp up the volume of startups moving through the system, building greater critical mass in the agri-tech system.

Joining with Callaghan answers one side of the financing equation by making loans possible while Sprout’s partnership with venture investors Finistere Ventures and Our Crowd from Israel helps provide initial angel funding.

The challenge is the system is not translating to start-ups. From an innovation perspective we are still highly fragmented.

Dean Tilyard Sprout Finistere, based in San Diego, was started by Kiwi Arama Kukutai and is soon to open an office in Palmerston North.

Our Crowd has raised more than US$1.3b since establishment in 2013, with a focus on food technology start-ups.

Sprout also has partnerships with established NZ agri-tech groups including LIC, Fonterra, Massey University and Gallagher.

Fonterra strategy and innovation director Mark Piper said the partnership with Sprout fits well with the co-op’s new strategy focusing on sustainability, innovation and efficiency.

While the fragmentation of NZ’s agri-tech startups has been a problem in the past NZ still has a number of real advantages.

On top of its substantial public investment in research the country’s single system of governance helps keep a simple layer of legislation through the country.

“One of our strengths is we are small enough to be cohesive.

“What is new, though, about innovation in the last 10 years is the role start-ups are playing in emerging agri-tech but have not always been doing as well in the market here.”

The deal further reinforces Manawatu’s emergence as something of an agri-tech hub, following the official launch of the Rural Innovation Lab last February.

The lab was aided with $400,000 of funding from the Provincial Growth Fund.

Manawatu farmer Mat Hocken’s work, the lab is based on taking ideas from farmers seeking solutions and putting them out to start-up companies to work on.

Tilyard said Sprout has so far accelerated 46 start-ups that have raised $11m in seed funding. Companies that have gone commercial include Koru Diagnostics, OnSide and Farmote Systems.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

19

Sage softens lease land changes Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE Government appears to have softened the sharpest edges of proposed changes to the management of pastoral lease land while confirming farming will continue in the South Island high country.

The bill detailing changes to the Crown Pastoral Lands Act appears to back down on initial proposals that included greater political oversight of the activities of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, traditionally an independent position.

It seems also to accept submissions from farming sectors that lessees have legal rights to pasturage and quiet enjoyment of their land, which would have been compromised by the original recommendations.

Farming groups argued those proposals would fundamentally challenge existing property rights by imposing other activities that would have made pastoral farming subservient.

The bill said “It is important to acknowledge that this is a pastoral farming regulatory system and the proposed changes are not intended to prevent or reduce the amount of pastoral farming activity happening on Crown pastoral land.”

Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage last year proposed changes that attracted more than 3000 submissions.

It included an end to tenure review, where lessees can negotiate to freehold of part of their lease while surrendering areas of conservation value.

That process has, over 21 years, grown the conservation estate by 302,000ha and enabled another 345,000ha to become freehold.

The Crown is still landlord to 171 lessees who lease about 1.2m hectares of pastoral land over which they have 33-year terms with perpetual right of renewal.

BETTER: Pastoral lease changes will encourage farmers to reduce their impact on or enhance inherent high-country values, Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage says.

The proposed changes are not intended to prevent or reduce the amount of pastoral farming activity happening on Crown pastoral land.

Lessees have property rights and own improvements such as buildings and fences, fertiliser and soil quality but require discretionary consents from the commissioner to disturb the soil, burn vegetation or increase stock numbers.

The bill shifts management from a process-based approach, which the Government says delivers discrete decisions and actions, to an outcomebased approach that considers cumulative impacts over the

whole Crown pastoral estate.

“The changes will encourage leaseholders to undertake pastoral farming activities in a way that reduces their impact on or enhances inherent values so these values are sustained.”

Sage last year said she was responding to public concerns about the management of Crown pastoral land, the tenure review process and the loss of biodiversity and landscape values.

The changes increase the protection of significant inherent values on pastoral leases by establishing classes of activity for discretionary consents that reflect the impact of activities on inherent ecological, landscape, cultural, heritage and scientific values.

Weed and pest control will be a permitted activity but soil disturbance, oversowing and topdressing will require consent.

A prohibited list will be created

and include activities such as draining and cultivating natural wetlands.

Previously, commissioners considered consent applications by balancing the desirability of protecting inherent values against the desirability of making it easier to farm the land.

The commissioner will be required to seek more expert advice from the Department of Conservation than is done now when considering consent applications.

Sage is also increasing transparency by publishing the commissioner’s consent decisions including their rationale and every three years requiring the publication of the office’s strategic intention, which requires ministerial approval.

The rent-setting process is outside the scope of the changes but applications for discretionary consents for burning, cultivation, oversowing and topdressing

Mark and Robyn Copland Successful in sheep breeding, dog trials and recently being voted in as ambassadors for the Christchurch Agricultural Show, even following a tragic family event Mid-Canterbury farmers Mark and Robyn Copland are navigating life’s trials with humility.

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will incur charges based on cost recovery.

Monitoring and enforcement of activities will also be strengthened, including enabling the Crown to take remedial action and recover costs where a breach is identified.

It also establishes an alternative to court proceedings for a breach, allowing a leaseholder to agree to actions in exchange for Land Information NZ not proceeding with charges.

Similarly, it also introduces an administrative penalty for an activity done without consent.

The changes also allow the commissioner to have an advocacy role, providing comment or input into processes and decisions that might impact their role as representing the Crown as the landowner.

The bill will be introduced to Parliament in the next few months then sent to a select committee.

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Newsmaker

Connection is the key Growth can be good but at some stage you have to stop and fine tune what you do. That time is now for Jessie Chan-Dorman. She talked to Annette Scott.

G

down from his role. Come June this year when she takes up the reins Chan-Dorman will be the first female to head a major New Zealand agribusiness co-operative and the incoming chairwoman has a clear vision for her role.

“I want to add value and make a contribution to our rural community and society in general using my skills in a governance context.

“Alister (Body) has set a high standard to follow and I look forward to further growing the business from the good work that’s moved the co-op forward under his leadership,” ChanDorman said.

A director since 2011, in the past two years as chairman Body initiated and led a full governance review leading to an overhaul of the board function, rebrand of the business, reorganisation of senior management and a return to profitability.

Body also chaired the joint venture with Ravensdown that saw the creation of the Ruralco brand.

Established as the Ashburton Trading Society AWDT Understanding Your Farming Business & Wahine Maia, Wahine Whenua in 1963, the co-op 3 full-day workshops and an evening graduation ceremony now has 3000 run over four months. Equips and supports women involved shareholders in sheep and beef farming to lift business performance. and a discount Registrations for 2020 programmes are now open, visit the card accepted website for more information and to register.

Locations and dates (3 modules & graduation): nationwide by • Drummond: 5 Feb, 5 Mar, 2 Apr & 30 Apr more than 3000 • Reporoa (WMWW): 12 Feb, 11 Mar, 7 Apr & 6 May retailers and • Tarras: 13 Feb, 12 Mar, 8 Apr & 7 May service providers.

• Raetihi: 13 Feb, 12 Mar, 8 Apr & 7 May Chan-Dorman • Westport: 19 Feb, 18 Mar, 15 Apr & 13 May • Hokitika: 20 Feb, 19 Mar, 16 Apr & 14 May has served six years Website: To register visit www.awdt.org.nz/programmes as a director on the Contact: keri@awdt.org.nz or 06 375 8180 for more info ATS-Ruralco board and says she’s quite AWDT Future Focus programme Programme designed for red meat farming partnerships to deliberate in what plan their business together. 2 full-day workshops delivered she takes on. over two months.

The 2017 Dairy Delivered in 20 locations around NZ, registrations for 2020 Woman of the Year programmes are now open. Visit the website for more has a management information and to register.

Locations and dates (2 modules): and governance • Geraldine: 25 Feb & 24 Mar career spanning • Darfield: 26 Feb & 25 Mar more than 15 years • Rotorua: 10 Mar & 7 Apr across a range of Website: To register visit www.awdt.org.nz/programmes sectors including Contact: keri@awdt.org.nz or 06 375 8180 for more info not-for-profit.

Red Meat Profit Partnership- Farm Business Transition “I am quite and Succession workshop series deliberate where Designed to take farm businesses through transition and I go and all my succession, the series includes three half day workshops governance roles spread over a three-four-month period followed by a one-onone clinic. inter-connect in a Workshops begin March 2020 in 20 locations across New way that serves my Zealand, fully funded for sheep or beef farmers. For more community.” information and to register go to www.rmpp.co.nz.

Chan-Dorman Red Meat Profit Partnership- Aspiring to Farm Business has an Honours Management and Ownership workshop degree in Animal A one-day workshop developed for individuals or couples Science and wishing to manage or own a sheep or beef farm business. has completed Available in 10 locations across New Zealand from Marchthe Fonterra June 2020, the workshop is fully funded by RMPP. For more information and to register go to www.rmpp.co.nz.

Governance Development Programme, Should your important event be listed here? the Food and Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz Agribusiness

RASSROOTS dairy farmer and rural professional Jessie Chan-Dorman never lets an opportunity go by, especially if it’s a chance to make a meaningful contribution to the rural community.

The 42-year old mum of two young sons, Adam, 6, and Noah, 1, farms in partnership with her husband Hayden on a leased 420 hectare property at Dorie in Mid Canterbury.

Their Riverstone farming business milks 850 cows, having halved in number over recent years as the couple moved to a self-contained system, improving their own operational efficiencies and significantly lessening their farming footprint.

Chan-Dorman has this year been appointed chair-elect of the Ruralco rural supply chain, following the decision by current chairman Alister Body to step

agrievents

JUST RIGHT: Jessie Chan-Dorman says getting the balance right is key to her enthusiasm and passion to give back to the industry that has given so much to her.

Photo: Annette Scott

Marketing Experience, the Professional Development Course for Co-operative Directors and the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

In 2014 she received the 2014 Canterbury Institute of Directors Aspiring Director Award and in 2017 was crowned Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.

Last year she became a director of Alpine Energy and Ngai Tahu Farming and she’s also a director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre.

Chan-Dorman has previously served as a Fonterra Shareholders’ councillor, on the board of Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury, Business Mid Canterbury and as an associate director of DairyNZ. She is a member of NZ Asian Leaders, a professional organisation aimed at accelerating Asian leaders’ contribution to NZ and Super Diverse Women, an organisation showcasing female leaders across all sectors of the community from agriculture, arts, law, and accounting to wider industry business.

Working for a range of organisations in research, policy and development roles has given Chan-Dorman a sound grounding in the agricultural sector and sustainable farming.

While she believes that skills are important it is ultimately one’s attitude that determines the effectiveness of those skills to lead with integrity, consistency and flexibility in order to drive change.

Focusing on her strengths developed from a strong moral anchor and driving work ethic Chan-Dorman is passionate and enthusiastic about her governance roles over the next 10 years.

“It’s important we know why we do what we do and what’s the end goal – for most farmers it’s about generations to come.”

While there are challenges in meeting market and consumer expectation while producing a sustainable product, ChanDorman said the biggest challenge for the industry is in its own backyard.

“That’s in terms of public perception and how we look after our animals and the land, it’s about people and how we train people.

“I am keen to get a more global context for our primary sector and to help inspire others to take up leadership roles and contribute to their industry.

“We have seen exponential growth in dairy over the past 20 years, we need to be in the transition phase now for the next 10 years to reset and look at farm systems and farm in a way that that delivers sustainability.

“Over the last 20 years the industry’s been sold as get rich quick but the reality is the core of our industry is the family farmers in for the long haul, not necessarily the owner-operator model but those with skin in the game.

“We need to resist the temptation to buy the neighbour – let’s get real serious and improve what we do, we have a lot of groundwork to do to get technology installed, used and implemented well.

“Growth can be good but at some stage we have to step back and fine tune what we do and for Ruralco that means always having to think about why it was formed.

“It was because a group of farmers got together, had a plan to get better, worked out how they could, and did.

“The challenges of the next 10 years is what can, and how can, Ruralco help to guide our future farming.”

Chan-Dorman is not afraid to have the tough conversations.

“I am really excited about our

Over the last 20 years the industry’s been sold as get rich quick but the reality is the core of our industry is the family farmers in for the long haul.

Jessie Chan-Dorman

future, if we can get this right as farmers on the ground, and farmers have to be more robust in taking their own steps, then by fine-tuning our systems we will be better placed to meet the outcomes on the horizon.

“We know there are changes coming in freshwater, greenhouse gases, employment and immigration laws, Reserve Bank policy – we just don’t know what, or when.

“That’s led to a lack of confidence to invest and it’s that uncertainty where farmers need to adapt over the next 10 years, and we can, farmers can and do adapt very well.

“We just need a more accelerated adaption to get where we need to be with our food producing systems in this next decade. Everything is done for the future, we must forge ahead with courage.”

With all that’s going on in her life it’s just busy enough but getting the balance right is key and Chan-Dorman said her enthusiasm and passion to give back to the industry that has given so much to her is only possible with much support.

“Without Hayden’s support and the huge support from our families, friends and the local community it just couldn’t happen.”

New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

21

Seaweed, the methane buster Development of a feed supplement aimed at reducing methane emissions is well advanced, as Colin Williscroft reports.

T

HE methane-busting seaweed technology developer who got $500,000 from the latest Provincial Growth Fund round expects to do product trials here this year and maybe have a product commercially available by next year.

CH4 Global, based in New Zealand and the United States, is focused on commercial scale aquaculture and processing of native asparagopsis seaweed in Southland, Marlborough and Northland and initially in the Port Lincoln area in South Australia.

Company director and cofounder Nick Gerritsen says the goal is to make it easy and cost-effective for farmers to adopt a simple and viable approach to address climate change by harnessing the power of seaweed native to NZ and South Australian waters to produce a supplement for cattle that will cut the amount of methane produced by ruminant animals.

It plans to supply 10% of the Californian market by the end of 2022. California is home to 1.8 million dairy cows, about 20% of the US dairy herd, and accounts for about the same amount of US milk production.

“California has already enacted legislation targeting 40% reduction by 2030 and so globally it is the most advanced and a sensible starting point for us. The NZ target is at the bottom end of the scale and while it is a start we hope to demonstrate that farmers can make money out of what we are doing and so provide impetus for a solid business reason for increasing the methane-reduction target.”

He expects CH4 (the brand name is the chemical formula for

methane) Global to be involved in a variety of studies and trials in NZ this year that might also lead to some limited market penetration in 2021 but warns that in all high-growth companies access to scaling capital is the biggest limitation.

“For the last 12 months we have been operating in stealth, solidly building the proposition and to date we have had no indication that this will be a limiter for us. We have partners and key relationships in large global capital markets. What is true, though, and is important to note, is that the scale of capital required is not generally available in NZ.” The long-term goal is to develop a feed supplement suitable for a range of ruminant animals including dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep and goats but the immediate focus will be on dairy as the supplement could be fed in the shed when cows are milked.

In the longer term CH4 hopes to work with farmers to discover the best way to feed supplements to grazing ruminants.

Gerritsen says there are about 6.5m dairy cows in NZ and simply supplying that market will require an aquafarm of more than 10,000ha. There are aquaculture farms in Korea and China that are much larger.

“We are simply bringing some of that scale to NZ for a specific seaweed and there is sufficient allocated water space available right now. CH4 is not about taking over the ocean but rather working within the natural environmental envelope to produce sufficient quantities on a sustainable basis.”

It’s estimated about 50,000 cows could be supplied annually from 100ha of farmed water space.

Scaling to supply that market will be hard work but achievable

What we do know is that we will see dramatic reductions in methane from cows.

Nick Gerritsen CH4 Global

IN-DEPTH RESEARCH: A CH4 Global survey team at work during a recent expedition to Port Pegasus at the southern end of Stewart Island.

because of the approach and business model being developed.

“Indications are that only 100 grams per day per cow is all that is needed – but the size of this dose is driven by the quality of the seaweed, hence our focus on quality.”

Most seaweed grows quite quickly and asparagopsis is no exception.

“We expect to be able to have at least three sustainable harvests per year, perhaps more once we refine and optimise the growing conditions around seasonality, light, nutrient level and a variety of other conditions.”

The supplement is not intended to be a magic bullet doing everything on every aspect of cow physiology, Gerritsen says.

“Cows produce phosphorus and nitrogen as a part of the digestive process of proteins. We aren’t giving any appreciable amounts of protein nor does asparagopsis do anything specific to protein metabolism that we are aware of.

“What we do know is that we will see dramatic reductions in methane from cows as bromoform, the active ingredient, blocks the last step

of methanogenesis so that other materials are produced that the cow can reabsorb that give additional energy for the cow rather than wasting that energy and simply burping it out as methane.

“So, not only will we mitigate methane, we will also either optimise a cow’s production or minimise total feed requirements if it is already optimised. There is evidence going back centuries suggesting that livestock that have seaweed in their diet perform better, are healthier and more reproductive.”

Despite concerns shown by some NZ scientists, Gerritsen says studies show asparagopsis does not seem to affect the taste of milk or meat.

“There is a lot of misinformation out there around this specific approach. Much of that misinformation is either factually incorrect or simply personal viewpoints from individuals or groups that perhaps have vested interests why they’d not want this approach to work.

“Not only will this work, it is our company mission to scale this and truly move the needle on climate

impact through reducing methane at scale – and by doing so provide the farming sector with a straightforward, drop-in solution.

CH4 is all about enabling farmers to future-proof themselves and by doing so open up new financial benefit and revenue.”

Studies into taste should be published later this year. CH4 did not do the studies but is aware of the findings.

The CH4 project is separate from a Cawthron Institute proposal that received $100,000 from the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund to look into a seaweed-based cattle feed supplement.

“As we understand it Cawthron is focusing on the science of landbased cultivation of asparagopsis.

This is certainly in line with their skills and well-known capabilities,” Gerritsen says.

“Our collective skills and capabilities are on growing and scaling businesses. We are focused on the commercially scaled aquaculture of existing locally sourced asparagopsis and we view the Cawthron project as complementary. We are more development focused and they are sensibly more research focused.”

CH4 Global has already processed its first 100 grams of finished product and Gerritsen is confident it will be the first commercial-scale producer and the leading global supplier into Australasia, California and other livestock-centric areas around the world.

1

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Incl $8.95 GST

20

February 20

The latest Dairy Farmer hits letterboxes on February 3.

Our On Farm Story features Waikato assistant manager Ella Wharmby. Coming from a big city, she had a different career path in mind but fate had other ideas.

She talks about the challenges she faced to get into the industry, the chance she was given and how she is now revelling in being a dairy farmer.

Autumn calving Preparing for autumn calving, we take a look into what it takes to make the switch and talk to farmers about why they choose to autumn calve and the benefits of it.

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Have you read Dairy Farmer yet?

Opinion

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

EDITORIAL Don’t feed the trolls

I

T’S only one month into 2020 and New Zealand’s Parliament is still in recess, but already it feels like political overload.

In the United States, the Democrats are currently arguing to remove President Trump from office.

In the United Kingdom, the Government is preparing to leave the European Union this week.

Across the Tasman, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is battling criticism of his handling of the bushfire crisis.

Once our politicians get back to work we’ll be officially in election mode, with each party beginning its push for votes later in the year.

If the last election is any marker, farming will be front and centre.

This is not surprising. Polling consistently shows that freshwater and climate change are two of the major issues for voters, no matter where they live. Farmers have an impact on both.

With social media being the main form of connection between many people these days, discussion of the topics people care about can get nasty.

The algorithms of Facebook and YouTube don’t care about who’s right and wrong, they only care about what generates clicks. Usually, that’s the most confronting or offensive voice. Often the most marginal voices are amplified and then they can seem mainstream.

It’s no way to have a civil discussion about our nation’s future.

So what can farmers do? How about doing what we have always done? Talk to people face to face. Show them the good work being done to look after the environment. Acknowledge that there are issues and agree on a way forward.

There’s a great initiative called Open Farms where farmers across New Zealand are opening the gates to anyone who wants to know more about our unique food production systems.

Why not open your own gates?

People are far more likely to find common ground when they’re face to face. Online, the screens between us provide a convenient barricade to lob insults over.

So this year, keep it civil, and don’t feed the trolls.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Wholesale forestry not the answer IN THE article Forests must be in land rules (Farmers Weekly, December 16), forestry consultant Garth Cumberland appears to be suggesting bureaucrats determine which of our land is high risk so they can specify reforestation systems that can be compulsorily implemented based on fairly negotiated landowner arrangements.

Farmers should be very wary of the word compulsorily and of the fact this report has been sent to Forestry Minister Shane Jones for his deliberations.

Cumberland obviously has a great deal of faith in our bureaucrats to make rational decisions in designating land uses for landowners.

Well, I disagree and, after all, it is our land they are talking about, not theirs.

The article then bemoans

that some farmers want to continue with the same land use seen on their properties for the last 100 years.

So what? So what if we enjoy producing food in a sustainable way on our own private property? So what if people care enough about their communities that they are prepared to turn down lucrative offers from European aristocrats and carbon speculators to keep on farming? So what if demand for lamb and beef is at record highs and profitability of sheep and beef farming is six times that of logs once you strip out all the subsidies and speculation?

And if, after 100 years of traditional sheep and beef farming, most of us can still drink from our little hill country creeks then why shouldn’t we continue farming

in this entirely legitimate and sustainable manner?

Perhaps before Cumberland and Jones look to inflict more regulation and compulsion onto our farming sector they might look at some of the environmental outcomes of their own sector.

Here are a few suggestions they might wish to compulsorily implement: Clean up the mess forestry has left behind on Tolaga Bay beach; Restore the Marlborough Sounds seabed and Whangamata estuary that have been smothered in sediment from forestry runoff; Compensate landowners and Gisborne District Council for last year’s flood damage to infrastructure, exacerbated by forestry slash from steep hill country;

Fix the newly created potholes as increasing fleets of logging trucks ply our rural roads and; Provide a tax-credit to sheep and beef farmers whose lands already contain 24% of our national indigenous forest and are yet to receive a fig from the Government.

And when they have finished all that perhaps they could write a robust report that seeks to quantify how many rural schools will close, how much employment will be lost, how many billions of meat/wool export earnings will be sacrificed and how many tonnes of sediment will be injected into our creeks and harbours by their pipe-dream to blanket afforest a large part of this country.

Jason Barrier Waikato

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

23

Sheepmeat fundamentals strong Ben Hancock

W

HILE the impacts of African swine fever (ASF) on pork production are benefiting farmgate prices in New Zealand, our sheepmeat exports are on a solid foundation that underlies the present upheaval – giving cause for optimism once the disruption subsides.

The outbreak and spread of ASF in China, elsewhere in Asia, and Europe is one of the largest disruptions to global meat trade since the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) in North America in 2003.

So, what are the foundations and my optimism built on? Let’s start with China.

The demand from China is genuine import demand.

Their domestic consumption of sheepmeat has outpaced their growth in domestic production.

New Zealand’s sheepmeat exports to China are perishable and consumed there, which is unlike iron ore or wool that is manufactured to be on-sold to multiple markets, or timber, which can be sourced at scale from other countries when prices lift.

In contrast, New Zealand and Australia are consistently around 80% of the international sheepmeat trade.

Sheepmeat and beef generally occupy the premium segment of the protein market in China, with cheaper poultry and pork a greater proportion of protein consumed. In general, China’s sheepmeat consumers are urban, wealthier, middle aged and dining out.

Globally, sheepmeat has become what chicken was once to us – a premium meat for special occasions or dining out. Therefore, it’s less suitable as a substitute for pork, which had made up two-

The

Pulpit

thirds of China’s animal protein consumption.

One of the most popular restaurant dishes in China is hot pot that has risen in popularity over the last decade, first in the major centres and then in secondtier cities. Mutton is a central ingredient in many traditional styles of hot pot.

Strong demand for mutton imports has expanded into purchasing lamb flaps and other value cuts, noticeably since 2016-17. The lift in export value for traditionally lower-priced cuts has complemented other markets that are dominated by cuts such as racks or legs.

In 2018-19, China was our largest red meat export market overtaking the US in the previous season before ASF really took hold. Growth in New Zealand beef exports to China in 2017-18 – particularly processing cuts – helped this country overtake the US. However, China’s dominance in our lamb and mutton trade began earlier.

Export sheepmeat prices began to take-off in the first half of 2017, climbing from the lows in early 2016.

Two general policies have been

operating in China to transform their domestic sheep production – grazing restrictions due to conservation of grasslands and the industrialisation of agriculture.

These general directions have been occurring for a while but in 2016 they were stepped up.

Policies were introduced to conserve grasslands – in part by preventing over-grazing, promoting large-scale animal systems to improve food safety and meet demand, and developing feed and fodder production to supply this intensification.

In 2016, a drought in China reduced breeding ewe numbers in grazing systems and, combined with the policy direction, limited recovery of smaller operations.

Compared to poultry and pork, it’s more difficult for the backyard farmer to switch into beef and sheepmeat production.

Let us think back to what was happening in our own backyard as the Chinese demand has grown.

Broadly, 2015-16’s processing got off to a fast start with dry weather and reductions in breeding ewe numbers early in the season. This was followed by a widespread facial eczema outbreak in the North Island in autumn 2016.

Livestock prices began to strengthen halfway through 2016-17 and by the time 2017-18 arrived they were getting into record territory. Relatively higher sheep prices to high lamb prices drove higher mutton production in 2017-18, while more ewe lambs were carried through as replacements. This tightened New Zealand mutton exports in 201819 by 13%.

At Beef + Lamb New Zealand, our outlook is for the New Zealand flock and production to remain relatively steady in coming seasons, although climatic variation could drive ups and downs around the mean.

Meanwhile, our Australian counterparts have had a torrid

time. They’re significant to international trade, but the weather generally hasn’t helped over the period discussed. In the decade to 2010, the Australian sheep flock decreased by over 4% – from 119 million to 68 million.

Then it rose – to 75 million in 2013 – but was back to 68 million in 2016.

In simple terms, if the weather improves in Australia livestock prices surge as competition for replacements increases, but numbers retract again with the next drought. If Australian supply is uncertain or limited, that leaves New Zealand.

As this was happening, the British held a referendum on Brexit in June 2016. In the following season, New Zealand exported 20% less lamb to the UK, largely due to the fall in the value of sterling, which hindered consumer purchasing power.

The rise of Chinese demand minimised Brexit’s impact on kiwi farmers.

In the medium-term, New Zealand’s sheepmeat trade is based on fundamentals that are strong, and that is sometimes overlooked given the current ASF disruption.

Who am I? Ben Hancock is the senior insights analyst at Beef + Lamb New Zealand, a 2019 Nuffield Scholar, has a PhD in Ecology and is still lending a hand on his family’s Martinborough hill country farm.

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Opinion

24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Get the children into playing sport Alternative View

Alan Emerson

LAST weekend was great. I went to Timaru to see grandson Jack Houstoun play cricket. He was selected in the South Canterbury year seven cricket team and was justly proud of the fact.

He and young sister Carla are really keen on sport and both are very good, in my view at least.

The competition I went to see also involved two teams from Mid-Canterbury and an Otago Country team which seemed to be mainly from Central Otago.

The cricket was amazing from all the youngsters as was the behaviour on the sideline from parents and supporters. The parent coaches, umpires and managers controlled with a light hand.

It was cricket as it is meant to be played.

The bowling, pace and spin were impressive. Country Otago had a couple of quicks who were really good.

The batting was also great to

see. The range of shots and the determination of all teams was impressive.

The fielding, the catching and returning the ball in and over the stumps was excellent.

Each team was committed to winning but was friendly and courteous to the opposition.

The youngsters imitated their Black Cap heroes in every respect.

Appeals for leg before would have done Trent Boult proud.

The century maker in Jack’s team acknowledged his achievement as Ross Taylor would have done.

When a wicket was taken it could have been an international, barring Australia of course.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The competition was impeccably organised, the cricket was great and I was able to talk to a lot of people in a relaxed and friendly way.

There was a twenty-twenty between South Canterbury and Otago Country that was fiercely fought.

South Canterbury ended up winning on the second to last ball, such was the commitment of both teams.

It was a superb experience and revived my interest in the game of cricket, dented as it was by the recent Australian experience.

For the record, my view of that debacle is simple – coaching.

As Black Caps’ coach, Mike Hesson developed the best allround New Zealand cricket team I’ve seen. Those players are still in the team. The only difference is the coaching staff and it is those people I blame for the Australian fiasco.

If they wanted to recover from Australia and see some positive cricket they could have come to Timaru.

I hadn’t realised it was part of a national primary schools programme and NZ Cricket is to be congratulated for that.

There was a major year-eight tournament in Westport a fortnight ago and there are similar events throughout the country.

It is, in my view, really positive and why it has been totally ignored by all media is beyond me.

The media are quick to report ad nauseum about all of the unfit, indolent and obese youngsters in NZ. Last weekend you could read on the front page of the paper that an additional third of Kiwi youngsters are so consumed by their online lives that they are going without food and sleep.

To play cricket at the level they did those 11-year olds at the tournament would have had to practice for hundreds of hours.

The game of cricket doesn’t come naturally. You have to

HEALTHY: Rural kids playing cricket are hale and hearty and shouldn’t be tarred with the same brush as city kids.

work at it and these young Kiwis obviously did.

These youngsters at the cricket were also trim and fit. There wasn’t anyone I saw who was even slightly overweight.

In the space of three days they played two games of 35 overs each plus a twenty-twenty.

That’s hard work for anyone, especially in the searing Geraldine heat.

The issue I have is that those stories are seldom if ever told yet they are a regular occurrence in NZ. We hear at length about delinquency and obesity but not about the normal well-adjusted youngsters.

We also hear of the evils of sugar.

While I’m sure sugar is an issue so is exercise.

Looking at the Ministry of Health website one in nine kids between the age of two and 14 in NZ are obese and that’s a problem.

A closer look indicates it is primarily a big city problem.

So, instead of considering rules and regulations covering everyone I’d like to see the bureaucrats get outside the 50 kilometre an hour limit and see what life is like away from the cities.

Don’t tie country and provincial youngsters with their city counterparts.

If there’s an obese youngster locally I’m certainly unaware of it.

The local rugby for youngsters is incredibly well attended as it is in South Canterbury.

So I felt really good as a result of the cricket in Timaru. All the teams played well and promoted the spirit that is the game that is cricket.

My sound and simple belief to solve many of our social and health issues is to get kids out of the house and onto a sports field, any sports field playing any sport.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath-emerson@wizbiz.net.nz

Fight for the beaches, Greenpeace From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I SEE our old mates at Greenpeace are up to their tricks again.

I don’t doubt their ultimate intentions. Like me, and you, they want to make the world a better place. And overall, they are helping to do that.

To get any change someone needs to be pushing, cajoling, agitating and advocating for a cause and they are very good at that.

Those of you who resent any agitators for change and see them as stirrers, don’t forget that all the freedoms you hold dear such as democracy, freedom of speech and the like are from stirrers going back thousands of years who prodded and poked at the establishment and those with the power and money to eventually deliver the benefits of our current civil society.

We are seeing some of those benefits being eroded in countries

like the US and even here and must resist this erosion ourselves.

I’ve got a mate who is a bit of a fifth columnist from within the Greenpeace ranks.

A fifth columnist by the way is a term originating from the Spanish Civil War when a Spanish general talked about his four columns of troops and also a fifth column of citizens from within Madrid who would rise up and help him relieve the siege of the city.

My mate has just been sent an impassioned email from the irrepressible Gen (no not the Spanish General but Genevieve) Toop who has been somewhat a thorn in the rural sector’s side.

Gen says “Our rivers and lakes are filling up with slime and toxic algae.

“Now’s our chance to get the Government to clean up freshwater for good.”

Nothing new in that.

She goes on to say “For decades politicians have chosen to put the profits of the dairy and fertiliser industries before the health of the rivers, lakes and drinking water that we all rely on.

“But, over the next couple of months the Government is finally drafting new water rules. This is our chance to act and ensure that our rivers are swimmable for generations to come.”

OK, more of the same and not unexpected.

However, her link to the petition that is currently bombarding minister Parker’s office says, “Join us to demand the Government ban chemical fertiliser, cut cow numbers and clean up our rivers and lakes”.

Here’s a change in their rhetoric. They have had their sights set on nitrogen in the past but now seem to be widening the net to include other fertilisers including our beloved superphosphate. Or, they don’t understand the difference.

This is a bridge too far Gen. It’s akin to attacking Hillary or Lahore or McCaw. There is absolutely nothing wrong using super (or nitrogen) if it is applied appropriately and away from waterways. It is one of the foundation stones that this economy is built upon.

If we are to feed eight billion people compost alone is not going to cut the mustard Gen. I shouldn’t be surprised their latest campaign on cleaning up waterways again makes no mention of urban rivers or harbours.

Where is their outrage over Wellington City spewing millions of litres of raw sewerage and wastewater directly into their

harbour just before Christmas?

Is it because that’s where they mostly live? Maybe because they don’t want a massive increase in their own rates to upgrade 100-year-old pipes and infrastructure that are obviously no longer fit for purpose.

Wellington City’s slogan “Let’s get Wellington Moving” takes on a whole new meaning.

Where is the outrage from mainstream media or even an intent by Greater Wellington Regional Council to prosecute over this appalling breach of standards? Maybe because the regional council is a part owner in Wellington Water along with Wellington, Hutt and Porirua councils.

No outrage Gen over the sewerage spill by Wellington on August 5 last year? Or Porirua’s dumping of sewerage into the sea in October 2018?

Where is the indignation and petitions about Taupo’s 800,000 litres of wastewater and sewerage spill into Lake Taupo in early July last year?

Are there any petitions flooding parliament about the 40 Auckland beaches deemed too high risk to swim at in November because of sewerage from leaking and ageing pipes?

No, I didn’t think so.

Because these are the very people who send donations to Greenpeace and who sign your petitions.

Asking them to agitate so that they are forced to maybe triple their own rating burden to upgrade not fit-for-purpose infrastructure is too tough even for the fearless Greenpeace warriors.

Much easier to get them to put the boot into a bunch of unknown cockies whose world and lives they have little inkling of.

If this debate is truly about safe swimming, then wouldn’t we want to be getting the most bangs for our bucks?

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders want to be able to go to their local beach when its hot for a swim.

A few thousand want to head for a river.

Come on Gen, get that petition going to demand that city folk borrow money to pay their rates to upgrade their infrastructure to help make the world a better place.

I’ll happily sign it.

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 27, 2020

25

New dawn or more of the same?

Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

ASSUMING the new decade has already begun, unless one takes the pedantic view it won’t start till next year, there are plenty of signs it will be completely different from the past 10 years.

In many ways it will be a continuation of what is already under way with 2019 providing a sea change in several significant areas, notably the accelerating impact of climate change both from higher temperatures and extreme weather as well as projected government regulation to reduce greenhouse gases.

Other issues of significance include domestic freshwater policy, global trade agreements, bank capitalisation, debt tolerance and lending policies and public opinion, which is increasingly strident in its condemnation of the environmental impacts of animal-based food production.

Against this challenging background farmers could be forgiven for burying their heads in their hands and hoping for the best but clearly that won’t get them very far.

The immediate challenge is to work out what their priorities are, who to listen to for sensible

advice then develop an achievable strategy.

The first priority remains what it has always been: to identify the most profitable farming method for the property while working within the limitations of soil type, weather patterns and carrying capacity. Increasingly, this entails complying with environmental targets and assurance programmes while maintaining accurate farm production records.

The agricultural sector has committed to a programme, He Waka Eke Noa, which guarantees by 2025 all farming enterprises will have a farm environment plan and be able to identify their carbon emissions as well as being equipped with the technologies to offset their carbon emissions.

The Government has accepted this programme but reserves the right to take control away from the sector and put it in the ETS if not enough progress has been made by 2022. This commitment puts huge responsibility on the farming sector and advisory groups to move mountains in pursuit of this goal. The clock is ticking.

The most obvious change in the last two years is the growing assertiveness of public opinion, boosted by the ubiquitous nature of social media. Key targets of social media are those industries seen as polluting and exploiting the environment, such as animalbased food production.

Strident critics don’t differentiate between methods of production, such as grass fed versus grain fed, naturally raised or fed with growth promotants

REACTIONS: Some farmers will be unable to handle the challenges while others will welcome it as a chance to prove they can thrive.

but tar everything with the same brush.

Conversely, plant-based and alternative proteins are promoted as good for the environment and consumers, regardless of the number of ingredients they contain or their relative lack of essential vitamins. Meat and dairy production, whether justifiably or not, is inevitably associated with environmental degradation.

So the new decade, which actually started in 2019 or earlier, is certain to see these trends continue. Farmers will feel increasingly isolated and misunderstood, which makes it essential for their industry bodies, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb, and their processors to deliver the tools to ensure they meet the sector’s undertaking. If that happens they will be able to stand tall in the knowledge they have met their obligations.

Though it is impossible to

predict prices 10 years out, present demand patterns give some confidence of price stability at the higher end of expectations for at least the next two years.

African swine fever has virtually halved China’s pig population and the speed of recovery is very uncertain, which means there is a massive protein shortage.

Although the growth of the Chinese economy has slowed, the middle class will continue to expand with positive implications for red meat and dairy consumption.

Trade with traditional markets, the United States, the European Union and Britain, is unlikely to expand dramatically but there will continue to be solid demand for what NZ produces, reinforced by the probability of free-trade agreements with the last two markets after Brexit has finally been concluded.

The Taste Pure Nature

programme will increase the higher-value end of beef consumption in the American market and might well start to have an impact on other parts of the world such as China. Dairy, especially A2, will remain sought after, enabling prices to retain their strength.

The final factor to watch carefully will be the attitude of the banking sector to debt-equity ratios. The major banks, all Australian owned, will inevitably become more risk averse, therefore, less tolerant of high debt, particularly where there is insufficient asset backing. It will be extremely important to keep a close eye on property valuations – what was previously a mortgage secured against a realistic value can quite easily become a doubtful debt and banks might decide to foreclose. It will be very important to borrow conservatively and communicate openly with a lender about any developments.

Whether the new decade is a new dawn or more of the same depends on the perspective but what is certain is it will bring an unprecedented set of challenges, which, some farmers might decide they can’t handle.

Others will welcome the challenge and have a strong desire to prove they can thrive in the new environment.

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

Energy – the next ag evolution?

PRICES are good and interest rates are low but farmers’ moods are down because the regulatory pressure gives them little hope for the future.

Researchers are furiously searching for more sustainable ways of farming food and fibre but what if there was a whole new sector that could provide a light at the end of the tunnel?

As kiwis we are all rightly proud of having over 80% of electricity come from renewable energy.

But it’s a statistic that has made us complacent.

If you consider all energy sources in New Zealand – natural gas, oil, coal and other fuels used for industry and transport – we are only 40% renewable.

All that fossil fuel energy is responsible for about 40% of our total greenhouse gas emissions and that’s a discussion that gets lost in the shadow of the agricultural methane debate.

So, what if there are solutions that not only bring down agricultural GHG emissions but in

doing so bring down our energy emissions too.

It turns out some of NZ’s largest ag-producing competitors have already figured this out.

In California every electricity user pays a levy that goes into a fund to support large, onfarm solar installations. Farms with 1MW of solar installed on about a hectare of panels are not uncommon, providing the farmer and the state with renewable power at a fraction of the capital cost to the farmer.

In Ireland dairy farmers are incentivised to put solar on their roofs as are farmers across the European Union.

In Germany, Northern Ireland and California biodigestors are being subsidised to take in slurry and excess food and crop waste to produce biogas that can be further refined into biomethane. It can then be injected into the existing natural gas network.

The opportunity that really shows promise is energy crops for biofuel.

NZ has a short, rocky history with biofuel but we are now lagging the world in biofuel development and are one of the few Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries without a minimum biofuel level in our fuel.

The International Energy Agency outlook sees biofuels as the major renewable transport fuel at least until 2050.

The simple truth is fossil fuels will always be the cheaper option.

And, yes, that beats out electric vehicles.

Biofuel is already a big user of corn in the United States and of sugar beets in the EU. In NZ we have huge potential for energy crops – sugar beet and corn to get us started then tree crops of willow, pine, miscanthus and other high-volume cellulosic crops as technology develops.

So, as a dairy farmer I can picture having an acre of solar panels in an unused corner of the farm perhaps complemented with a wind turbine and a pipe

or a tanker to take my slurry to the local biodigestor with the nutrients being returned in dry form to spread on my land and 10-20% of my dairy farm in an energy crop rotation that provides animal feed and allows me to economically drop my cow numbers, methane emissions and urine nitrates by the same amount.

And all using technology that is already available.

But the underlying success factor internationally might be hard to swallow here.

It will take more policy and regulation. But this time it would be to the benefit of farming.

The simple truth is fossil fuels will always be the cheaper option.

If we want change then we need the Government to intervene to create the right environment.

Policy makers in the EU and US are still trying to perfect that policy and it requires discussion from many sides but the US Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy are now working together to explore further renewable energy generation opportunities.

And that would be the first step here in NZ, a conversation that unites our national energy and agriculture strategies.

Wouldn’t it be great for New Zealanders to see agriculture not as the climate change problem but the climate change solution?

LK0100715©

This is the first in a series of articles written by the latest crop of Nuffield Scholars. This week Canterbury farmer Cam Henderson looks at the possibility of farmers generating energy while combatting climate change and being easier on the environment.

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1pm, Wed 4 Mar 2020 3 Deans Ave, Chch Kurt Snook 027 256 0449 kurts@bayleysmetro.co.nz Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz OTAGO REALTY GROUP LTD, BAYLEYS METRO, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

Puhoi 121 Krippner Road Full of history and grace "Oakdale" homestead and 150 hectare farm, in five titles, was developed in (circa) 1900 by Charles Straka (of Puhoi's Bohemian founding families). The three bedroom Kauri home was entirely renovated and restored in 2000, with classic period features on display throughout. Notably, elevated 13-foot board and batten ceilings, a converted loft, leadlight panels, and original Kauri timber floors. The farm is well sub-divided into 13 large paddocks and is well supported by an all year water supply, a good set of cattle and sheep yards, the original two-stand woolshed and a flying fox through the "large" Kauri plantation. Cherished by the same family for over 120 years, its time to build your family legacy!

Waharoa 497 Mowbray Road 3

2

3

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Thu 20 Feb 2020 41 Queen St, Warkworth View Sun 12-1pm John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Take a virtual tour: www.umoview.co.nz/15213

Matamata equine gem This well located 40 hectare slice of equine heaven will be sure to attract attention. Close to Matamata with level contour, predominately free draining soils, central race, plus the bonus of two road frontages. The infrastructure provides all the equine facilities necessary, including a large barn style stable complex, truck shed and hay barn, five bay implement shed, covered breeding and vet crush, and an 800 metre sand track. The entire property is equine fenced, and subdivided by a mix of hedging and post and rail fencing. The main residence is a comfortable four bedroom brick home, with additional accommodation offered by way of a tidy three bedroom cottage. Now available to view.

Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 20 Feb 2020 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 12-1pm Fri 31 Jan & Fri 7 Feb or by appointment Sam Troughton 027 480 0836 sam.troughton@bayleys.co.nz Alistair Scown 027 494 1848 alistair.scown@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED T/A BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2400155

bayleys.co.nz/1201955

NEW LISTING

Carters Beach 27 Marine Parade Carters by the Sea - Beachside studio apartments

Greta Valley 634 Motunau Beach Road For Sale $1,950,000 + GST (if any) View by appointment Gill Ireland 022 184 2483 gill.ireland@bayleys.co.nz

Gorrie Downs - highly productive

Land, buildings and business for sale.

Location, contour and stock performance, coupled with very-well maintained infrastructure and mature forestry blocks, are the hallmarks of this 380ha beef, deer and sheep grazing and finishing unit. Cropping and/or dairy support on the deep-silt soils of the river flats could add further to the property’s renowned versatility. Approximately 4km from the coast, the farm captures coastal rain and coupled with a mild climate, promotes year-round pasture growth. Infrastructure includes a well-maintained fourbedroom homestead in a wonderful, elevated garden setting, a very tidy two-bedroom cottage, three-stand woolshed, deershed, cattle yards and support buildings. Gorrie Downs is a great stand-a-lone unit or support for a larger property.

bayleys.co.nz/4002675

bayleys.co.nz/5511571

An executive upmarket beachside studio apartment complex offering a relaxed lifestyle within a super modern freehold business. Located at Carters Beach, Westport overlooking the Tasman Sea, Carters by the Sea comprises of 10 contemporary studio apartments and a well appointed, beautifully presented private two bed, two bathroom owner's accommodation. Both the managers residence and the studio rooms have high ceilings creating a lofty feeling of space. The business would suit an owner operator that seeks the very best in boutique accommodation.

VINING REALTY GROUP LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

4

2

2

For Sale

by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior)

12pm, Wed 19 Feb 2020 3 Deans Ave, Chch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Peter Foley 021 754 737 peter.foley@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Small dairy operation/finishing/support

The complete package

DEADLINE SALE

WEB ID PR70577 PAHIATUA Post Office Road * Utilised as a dairy unit last season, contour consists of 40 ha rolling to easy hill with the balance flat/undulating this 66 ha* property offers options. Comprised of several titles, and access off both Post Office and Ballance Gorge Roads, provides subdivision options for the incoming purchaser. Improvements include a 32 bail rotary cowshed with other shedding, which provide purchasers with the option to carry on the dairy operation or change use to calf rearing, dairy support and/or finishing. Act now to secure a property that has some real options with immediate possession available. *STS

OPEN DAY

DEADLINE SALE View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 28th February, 2020 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior), to be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua

Jared Brock

Mobile 027 449 5496 Office 06 376 4823 Home 06 376 6341 jared@pb.co.nz

John Arends

Mobile 027 444 7380 Office 06 376 4364 johna@pb.co.nz

WEB ID FR73913 FEILDING 154 Te Rakehou Road VIEW 5 & 12 Feb 10.00 - 11.00am TENDER closes Wednesday 4th March, 2020 at 11.00am, Located 5 minutes from Feilding, is this picturesque Property Brokers Ltd, 54 Kimbolton Road, Feilding 100.5667 hectare (more or less) drystock property, which has been meticulously developed by the current owners over the past 30 years. Featuring an easy rolling contour with some medium sidlings and versatile soils, Stuart Sutherland approximately 15 hectares have been planted in a variety Mobile 027 452 1155 Office 06 323 5544 of timber and amenity trees. Excellent fencing, access 7 Home 06 323 7193 and multiple water supplies ensure ease of stock stuarts@pb.co.nz management. In addition, quality farm improvements 3 and two outstanding dwellings make this property the Blair Cottrill complete package.

Mobile 027 354 5419

TENDER

Office blair@pb.co.nz

06 323 1538

4

Hirawai - 603 ha

TENDER WEB ID PR73645

DANNEVIRKE 235 Otope Road Hirawai, an exceptionally well located intensive finishing property 5 km east of Dannevirke.

Hirawai features an estimated 510 ha of tractor country currently in a mix of superior pastures and crops, including 70 ha of alluvial flats along the boundary of the Manawatu River. An aesthetically pleasing property with well tended wood lots and native plantings completing a highly productive property. Infrastructure includes a centrally located 5 stand woolshed and covered yards, 3 x cattle yards, 2 smaller woolsheds and

pb.co.nz

satellite sheepyards all serviced by a central lane way.

Accommodation is provided by three homes with the main home a superior 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom recently refurbished family home.

Hirawai has benefited from an extensive development programme over the last three years which coupled with the property's superior soil types, contour, fertility and infrastructure make it an unequalled opportunity in the Lower North Island.

TENDER

VIEW By Appointment TENDER closes Thursday 5th March, 2020 at 2.00pm, to be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua

Jared Brock

Mobile 027 449 5496 Office 06 376 4823

John Arends

Mobile 027 444 7380 Office 06 376 4364

Jim Crispin

Mobile 027 717 8862 Office 06 374 8102

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 27, 2020

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

29

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

colliers.co.nz

CASH COW

Connect with the right audience at

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Our retiring vendor offers for sale his specialised deer velvet operation which shows excellent financial returns. Option to purchase as going concern with 380 top class velveting stags. Buy one title or buy them both.

Improvements include 3bdrm homestead set in mature grounds, deer sheds, implement sheds, woolshed, Fordell water scheme, sheep and cattle yards. All this just five minutes from Whanganui. The land contour gives a range of farming options.

Tender closes 4pm, 4 March 2020 (will NOT be sold prior)

David Cotton

M: 027 442 5920 E: davidc@forfarms.co.nz

John Thornton

M: 027 443 0045 E: johnt@forfarms.co.nz

Inspection is needed to fully understand the great lifestyle you can enjoy with this property so call today to arrange a viewing. Rateable Value $1,795,000.

We welcome your inspection at our Open Day or by appointment.

OPEN DAY: Thursday 30 January 2020 12 noon to 2.00pm

LK0100934©

Land is the biggest asset to any farming business so it pays to stay up to date with the market.

728 No. 2 Line, Fordell

www.forfarms.co.nz – Property ID FF2956 www.forfarms.co.nz

Property ID FF1299

LK0068450©

THE DESTINATION FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE

TWO TITLES – 34 + 21HA = 55HA

LIS TI N G N EW

RUAPEHU ALPINE ESTATE Matapuna Road, Horopito

nzr.nz/RX178538

Tender Closes 11am, Thu 12 Mar 2020, NZR, 1 Goldfinch St, Ohakune Jamie Proude AREINZ 06 385 4466 | 027 448 5162 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

N EW

LIS TI N G

Possibly the best property investment opportunity for 2020.

Ruapehu Alpine Estate is a stunning 129 ha Sub-Alpine flat contoured property held in 22 titles ranging in size from 3.26 ha to 14.89 ha giving the astute investor options in the future to land bank or simply sell off titles when the timing suits.

Currently farmed as part of a milking platform of an existing dairy farm but land of this contour opens up numerous other farming practices to the likes of vegetable market gardening, or just a fattening unit to support a larger breeding unit.

129 hectares Tender (unless sold prior)

WELL DEVELOPED, HANDY TO THE CITY 537 Tennent Drive, Palmerston North Only 6km from the edge of the city, this bareland property has been significantly developed in recent years incl. trenching in over 20km of drainage coil, with washed stone, at 40m spacings. A well formed central race provides excellent access to the recent cattle yards, where electricity is connected to, with mains pressure water right to the trough. With 46ha in barley, you will inherit a large area of new grass. In 3 titles, incl. a 1.50ha bareland block that can be incl. or excl. Easy to run from a distance or build here on the farm or smaller title.

Open Farm 11am, Wed 29/1, Sun 2/2, Wed 5/2, Sun 9/2.

107.50 hectares Video on website

nzr.nz/RX2173344 Tender Closes 11am, Thu 20 Feb 2020, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

TE ONE A MARA 465 State Highway 49, Tangiwai An opportunity here for the astute investor to secure a diverse property with scale, contour and a stunning scenic environment. Currently a productive 345,000 KG/MS 800 cow herd (5yr average) standalone dairy unit. Comprising of 512 ha total (448 ha effective) plus 278 ha lease adjoining support land.

The 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, reticulated water scheme. Te One A Mara will be available for inspection from 12th January 2020 by appointment.

512 hectares Tender

nzr.nz/RX2076585 Tender Closes 11am, Thu 27 Feb 2020, NZR, 1 Goldfinch St, Ohakune.

Jamie Proude AREINZ 027 448 5162 | 06 385 4466 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 27, 2020

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

31

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

NEW LISTING

AUCTION

ONEWHERO, WAIKATO 216 Nolan Road Scale, Balance and Character Wairamarama Valley is around one hour south-west of Auckland. Highgate Hill Farm has two homes on 880 hectares. Currently leased. Prior to the lease the property was farming a mixture of bull grazing, finishing and breeding, running 70% cattle and the balance in sheep. Well fenced to 95 paddocks. The property has two reticulated water systems supplying water to over half of the farm with natural water accessible to all of the balance. Well-formed tracking provides ease of stock movement to three sets of cattle and sheep yards. Highgate Hill Farm, provides that great investment opportunity.

4

2

1

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

GV $6,210,000 Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes at 4.00pm, Thursday 12 March

VIEW By Appointment Only

TE KUITI 2627 State Highway 3, Mahoenui Dairy Farm or Grazing Unit - You Decide • •

• •

Adrian van Mil M 027 473 3632 E avanmil@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/PUK31808

•

388 hectares freehold with another 75 hectares of lease 50 bail rotary with feed pad, three dwellings, calf sheds, implement shed, tractor shed, workshop and hay barns Fertility, races and comprehensive re-grassing have all been done to the highest order Would make a fantastic bull, fattening or cattle grazing unit The vendors have expressed strong motivation to meet the market and intend of selling this property at auction

3

1

AUCTION

(Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Friday 21 February Panorama Motor Inn, Awakino Road, Te Kuiti

VIEW 11.00-12.00 noon

Tuesday 28 January, 4, 11, February

Peter Wylie M 027 473 5855 B 07 878 0265 E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEK31351 Helping grow the country

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Do you want your farm SOLD? With over 20 years collective experience in dairy farm sales in New Zealand and Australia, Les could have the solution for the sale of your dairy farm!

• What is my farm worth?

• How should I sell it?

• Are there any buyers out there?

• What about my herd and stock?

• What has been sold lately?

• What will it cost me?

Sallan Realty

Looking for the complete package?

2480RE90X265

We’ve got you covered with digital and print options.

Contact Shirley Howard phone 06 323 0760, email shirley.howard@globalhq.co.nz

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

LK0101156©

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANSWERS?

LES CAIN 0274 420 582

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

32

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

Shepherd

Agri Job Board

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 27, 2020

We got noticed!

Drumcairn – South Wairarapa

EMPLOYMENT

“ Advertising with the Farmers Weekly gave us

A shepherd is required for our 1100ha hill country Romney/Angus breeding and fattening property, running 10,000su, 14km east of Martinborough.

REACH EVERY FARMER IN NZ FROM MONDAY Please print clearly

confidence that we had covered as many bases as possible, cast the net as widely as we could.

Sara, Mt Cass Station (Advertised for a Block Manager)

“

90% stock work and three broken-in dogs required.

Phone: Address: LK0100578©

Must be hard working, honest and reliable.

Name:

Email CV to: stu.nicol@hotmail.com or call Stu on 06 372 7707

Email: Heading:

LK0101136©

Comfortable 4-bedroom home which includes landline/internet. Primary/ secondary bus at gate.

EXCITING LARGE SCALE FARM MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Advert to read:

• Two roles • Sunny Central Hawke’s Bay location • 1300 cows and 2300 cows With nine dairy farms and a number of dairy support blocks, BEL Group is the pride of Central Hawke’s Bay dairying, providing employment for over 65 people and supporting thriving rural communities.

RUN OFF

YOUR FEET?

BEL Group offers excellent career and training opportunities, and each year excellence is recognised at their annual awards.

Turn to Farmers Weekly first for your employment advertising needs

To find out more about these two roles, go to www.no8hr.co.nz (Ref#s 8HR1261 and 8HR1262).

LK0101145©

They are now looking for two progressive, experienced operators to lead two of their flagship farms. You will need to have at least five years’ dairy management experience and the skills and mana to lead large teams.

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

Phone Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 or email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Stock Manager Opportunity

Casual sale yard job opportunity

Seeking a Stock manager for a 570ha farm with 5500 stock units. The farm location is close proximity to Napier with comfortable farm house provided and usual farm benefits.

Feilding sale yards Join the frontline team at AgriHQ.

We want to hear from you if: • You have experience, qualification and enthusiasm to achieve our performance targets • You seek a working environment and lifestyle on a developed unit with potential • You are a competent horseman • You want a competitive salary

information hub GlobalHQ, AgriHQ is at the forefront of livestock market information.

This role is an integral part of the foundations that make up AgriHQ’s business and while down at the sale yard, you will be the face of AgriHQ for many of our customers.

Accuracy and attention to detail is key as information collected at LK0101151©

We invite applications by 29th February 2020 to: Steve Bignell

steve@strettons.co.nz

027 473 2134

Operated by the country’s most innovative multimedia agri-

this point flows through to AgriHQ’s sound and respected reports and make up part of the commentary on the market pages in GlobalHQ’s flagship newspaper, Farmers Weekly.

Role: Weigh crate operator – Feilding sale yards, Feilding

JOBS BOARD

days as and when required. Alongside another team member recording the data. The role is on a casual employment basis.

Attributes needed: • A good level of physical fitness • Excellent stock handling skills • Be able to work as a team in close quarters with other staff members • Be able to operate the portable weigh crate • Be able to work around other persons operating in the Feilding sale yards in a professional manner and without causing conflict • Be able to work efficiently and effectively to ensure the job is completed under time pressures

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

Training will be provided.

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

For more details please contact suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

LK0100828©

*conditions apply

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

Here, you will attend the Feilding store sale each Friday plus extra you will efficiently weigh as many lines of store lambs as possible,

Casual Sale Yard Job Commercial Manager Contract Milker Farm Business Manager Farm Manager Feedlot Manager Large Scale Farm Managment Opportunites Livestock and Pasture Manager Shepherd Shepherd General Stock Manager Weigh Crate Operator

Return this form either by fax to 06 323 7101 attention Debbie Brown Post to Farmers Weekly Classifieds PO Box 529, Feilding 4740 - by 12pm Wednesday or Freephone 0800 85 25 80

Get in amongst the action with this hands-on role.

LK0101153©

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

GET IN TOUCH

For all your employment ads Debbie 06 323 0765 classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Noticeboard

ANIMAL HANDLING

FORESTRY

PUMPS

STOCK FEED

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

WANTED

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.

HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts.

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

HAY 12 EQUIVALENT squares $70; SILAGE rounds $80; STRAW 12 equivalent $50; HAY rounds. All orders supplied in unit loads. Phone 021 455 787.

FOR ONLY $2.10 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds. Phone Debbie on 0800 85 25 80.

CASUAL HELP required in rural Marlborough.

Small renovated cottage available for rent. Suitable single mature person.

Reply with two references, some general background and contact details to: advertiser.PO BOx 5001, Springlands Blenheim 7241.

DEERLAND TRADING LTD 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.

12-MONTH-OLD heading dog and bitch, fast, strong, pulling sides, good command, station and trial potential. Nolan Timmins 027 932 8839.

END OF SEASON clearance sale. Deliver, trial, guaranteed. www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

HUNTAWAY DOG, 12 months old, basic command in training paddock. Phone 021 137 2714.

TWO YOUNG HEADING dogs. Ready to start training. Huge potential. TWO YOUNG HUNTAWAYS, ready to start, both with good barks.

Phone 06 388 0212 or 027 243 8541.

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

BUYING NZ WIDE! No one buys or pays more! Mike Hughes 07 315 5553.

FARM MAPPING SIMPLE AND CLEAR farm maps with paddock sizes will help you achieve your daily goals. Get a free quote from farmmapping. co.nz

2 YEAR WARRANTY. NZ ASSEMBLE.

LK0101134©

TOWABLE TOPPING MOWER

GST $4200 INCLUSIVE

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

www.moamaster.co.nz

Ph 027 367 6247 Email: info@moamaster.co.nz

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz

Phone: +64 6 357 2454

DE HORNER

HOOF TRIMMER

EARMARKERS

HOLIDAYS

2020

Next Stop BRAZIL

R to 3 MA AR M 1 3 TUES

FRI 1

Available in kitset & fully build packages.

Available NZ wide.

CRAIGCO

Further information phone 027 963 5390

powered by

SHEEP JETTERS SHEEP JETTERS SINCE 1992

CRAIGCO SENSOR JET

NEW HOMES SOLID – PRACTICAL

WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

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

Guaranteed Performance Save time and Money . Flystrike and Lice cost $$$ Quick to Set up . Easy to use . Job Done Robust construction. Auto shut gate. Adjustable V panels Total 20 Jets. Lambs 5 jets. Side jets for Lice.

Davey Twin Impeller Pump. 6.5 or 9.0 Hp motors

Call or email us for your free copy of our plans Email: info@ezylinehomes.co.nz Phone: 07 572 0230 Web: www.ezylinehomes.co.nz

06 8356863 . 021 061 1800

www.craigcojetters.com

ATTRACTIVE KING COUNTRY LEASE OPPORTUNITY

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

Colin Mackenzie Trust 1221 Waitewhena Road, Ohura

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

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

• Farm accommodation • Horse stables • Small buildings

FOR FARMERS

GREYTOWN CENTRAL, 5ha flat block of land available March 2020.

Currently growing grain.

Phone 022 376 2220.

RAMS FOR SALE

www.highcountrycabinsandconstruction.com

ZON BIRDSCARER

HORTICULTURE

LAND FOR LEASE

DOGS FOR SALE

11.5HP Briggs & Stratton Motor. Industrial.

Electric start.

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

027 643 0403.

High Country Cabins & Construction

WEBSITE

www.crmcphail.co.nz EMAIL

enquiries@crmcphail.co.nz PHONE

(06) 357 1644

• 10,000 plus su. Approx 1100 eff ha. Summer safe • 3+3 years from 1 July 2020 with first right of refusal offering compatible tenants a longer term relationship on this 3rd generation family property

STRONG 1200 LUMEN SOLAR FLOOD LIGHTS / SOLAR SENSOR LIGHTS

• Suited to sheep and cattle breeding and finishing • Well maintained infrastructure including two dwellings To inspect please contact Stuart Mackenzie 027 289 1115 Detailed information pack with basic terms and conditions and proposal requirements available from:

Geoff Burton Farm Business Management, Taumarunui Phone 07 895 8052 • gtb@xtra.co.nz

Do you have an issue with theft on farm? See our shop for our range of simple and easy to install solar lighting. www.gengreen.co.nz @gengreen.co.nz @gen_green_nz

LK0101138©

GORSE SPRAYING SCRUB CUTTING. 30 years experience.

Blowers, gun and hose.

No job too big. Camp out teams.

Travel anywhere if job big enough. Phone Dave 06 375 8032.

0800 85 25 80

T H IN K PRE B U I L T

STOP BIRDS NOW!

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

SELLING

• Meadow Hay • Baleage (AR37 or Annual) • Rye Grass Straw • Barley Straw • Wheat Straw Quality Product Quality Service Competitive Prices Order anytime 0800 STRAW4U Neville 027 500 3554 • BJ 021 051 5149 Hannon Road, Cambridge

LK0101068©

CONTRACTORS

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.

w w w. e l e c t r o t e k . c o . n z

0800 436 566

33

SOMETHING?

LK0099532©

DAGS .25c PER KG. Replacement woolpacks.

PV Weber Wools.

Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

STOCK FEED MOISTURE METERS Hay, Silage dry matter, grain. www.moisturemeters.co.nz 0800 213 343.

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

LK0101135©

ATTENTION FARMERS

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

LK0101155©

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

WANTED HOUSEKEEPER/ GARDENER

DOLOMITE

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

LK0101114©

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 27, 2020

Livestock Noticeboard

WANTED

DAIRY SHEEP GENETICS

5TH ANNUAL

2019 Spring born Friesian heifers

SOUTHDOWN RAM SALE

Rams and semen available from top imported bloodlines

Phone Dave on Ph 06 327 7843 or 027 416 8188

• True to type Friesian Heifers • Standard Chinese Protocol, heifers must

have been on the property for a minimum of

1000 ROMNEY 2 TOOTHS

20MTH FRSN HERE & FRSN ANG

"Maximising your return through personal livestock management"

STEERS 400-440kg STOCK REQUIRED

STORE LAMBS 15MTH HEIFERS / STEERS 300-400kg 15MTH ANG STEERS 400kg

LK0100913©

6 months at the time of delivery.

STOCK FOR SALE

LK0101139©

Friday 21st February 2020, 1pm Inspection from 11am On Account of A D Gillespie 56 McGraths Road, Oxford We will offer 50 Southdown Rams Contact Anthony Cox (RLL) 0272 083 071 Brent Macaulay (RLL) 0212 200 850 Aaron Leckie (RLL) 0274 730 808 www.rurallivestock.co.nz Catalogues available online

Delivery Date – Approx 10th June 2020

2YR BEEF BULLS

_______________________________

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Beltex and tex Bel

No shearing • All born twins

Contact Art & Jill Eastham 027 419 8768 www.talla.co.nz

All prices are plus GST and less commission

tj@dairylivestock.co.nz

For Sale Pinnacles Wiltshire Rams

High yielding imported bloodlines

- F12 and Above $1450 / head - F8 to F11 $1350 / head - F0-F7 $1150 / head

Please phone TJ on 027 314 8833 for more information

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 27, 2020

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 byllivestock.co.nz

byllivestock

07 823 4559

Beltex X ram la mb s

Beltex X Ram Lamb Sale

Are you looking for

Friday 6 March 2020

in your crossbreed?

Simon Eddington

0275 908 612

Hamish Gallagher 027 550 7906

• Beltex X Texel Ram Lambs • Beltex X Poll Dorset Ram Lambs • Beltex X Suffolk Ram Lambs • Beltex X South Suffolk Ram Lambs

WHEN: 21st February 2020 10:30am to 1pm

Are ewe looking in the right direction?

John Tavendale 027 432 1296

Sale consists of approximately 200 Ram Lambs sired by top pure Beltex Rams:

AYRSHIRE NZ ARE HOLDING AN ON FARM FIELD DAY IN CONJUNCTION WITH DAIRY NZ. Come along and find out how you can benefit from putting Ayrshire into your herd. Featuring Farmer speakers and Sue Macky (Dairy Consultant for DPS Ltd)

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

Blair Gallagher 021 022 31522

Sale Day: Tuesday 10 March 2020 AUCTION at Gore Showgrounds Viewing from 12pm – Sale starts 2pm

and

Viewing from 11am, Sale starts 1.30pm ‘Rangiatea’, 571 Upper Downs Rd, Mt Somers, Mid Canterbury

027 587 0131

This includes some 3/4 Beltex X Ram Lambs

WHERE: Green Family Property 43 Dunsandel/Brookside Road Dunsandel, Canterbury (Fonterra S/N 37517) ALL ENQUIRIES WELCOME: Donald Green (President) 027 2218024 Audrey Stevenson (Director) 027 2010488

All Ram Lambs are showing the unique double muscling and the higher yielding density characteristics of the Beltex breed.

Open Day: Monday 24 February 2020 at 133 Robinson Road, Glenham, Wyndham Viewing from 1-3pm

Call HANNAH

Callum McDonald PPGW 027 433 6443 Brent Robinson 03 206 4958 or 027 206 4958 Michael Robinson 027 210 5977

0800 85 25 80

livestock@globalhq.co.nz

NZ CHEVIOT

LUNCH PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:

Tried and Proven

Special Ram Sale

USE A REGISTERED CHEVIOT RAM FOR: • • • • • •

50 kelso. Terminal rams

Better constitution, mobility and longevity Less labour and costs High worm tolerance Potential for heavy carcase weights with top grades Unrivalled for hogget lambing survival More and better quality stock to sell

For further information contact the secretary Phone 03 318 8260 • jcpascoe@xtra.co.nz See our website www.cheviotsheepnz.com 06 329 1822 06 374 3888 06 388 7871 06 754 4311 06 762 5520 09 439 5885 06 870 0732

• • • •

Katee Herdman Brenda Coleman Todd Johnson Neil Langlands

South Island: • Beverley Hay • Anthony Gray • Malcolm McKelvie

027 460 3027 07 824 5978 09 423 9574 07 896 8660 03 314 9388 03 329 7977 03 206 6603

• • • • • • •

John Minty Ray Mitchell Brent Mackie Francine Murray Ian Alach Blair Gallagher Grant Midgley

03 225 4631 03 415 7187 03 415 7220 03 318 3678 03 525 9038 03 303 9819 027 446 886

To be sold at our display site 502 at the

Southern Field Days Waimumu, Southland

Thursday 13th February 2pm Food and drinks provided (followed by Southland vs Fiji rugby) David Giddings 027 22 99 760 George Giddings 027 656 3323

LK0101103©

North Island: • Clive Akers • John Hendrickson • Barry Cleaver • Wayne Frank • John Herlihy • Ross Pellow • David Allan

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

Glenrobin Stud

Third Annual Sale

Callum Dunnett

LK0101164©

LK0101109©

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

LK0101025©

34

Callum Dunnett Roger Keach Callum MacDonald Keith Willson

027 587 0131 027 417 8641 027 433 6443 027 412 5766

Livestock Noticeboard

FARMERS WEEKLY – January 27, 2020

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

SALE TALK

An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig-pen when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary.

INVER & LITTLE RIVER STUD DISPERSAL SALE ASHBURTON SHOWGROUNDS Friday 7th February 2020 Sale commencing at 12.30pm

Cheviot Ewe Lambs Suffolk Ewes

Empty Cows – 12 noon Approximate tally of 150 Good milky Frsn/Frsn Crossbred & Jersey Cows Boner Cows – 11.30am Give your local NZFL Agent a call or for more details phone: Darryl Houghton 0274 515 315

South Suffolk Ewes

All born twins

South Suffolk Ewe Lambs

Ideal for hogget mating

LK0100834©

Suffolk Ewe Lambs

Very meaty

For further information please contact:

Weekly Auctions

Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131 LK0100945©

Enquiries phone Greg or Charles 06 388 7555

Wednesday night – North Island Thursday night – South Island

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

FEATURE AUCTION: South Island Store Lamb Sale Friday, 21 February 2020 at 3.00 pm - listings wanted

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

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

Are you looking in the right direction?

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

farmersweekly.co.nz

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

Key: Dairy

350 XBred Cow

DAIRY HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE

BW 107

83 Frsn/Frsn X Autumn Calving Cows $1,850+GST

PW 138

•

Benefit from the nationwide team that is dedicated to matching herds with the right buyers and achieving an optimal outcome for your business.

NATIONAL TEAM. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE.

$1,950+GST

•

RA 99% Calving 24th July, 35years one owner, closed herd DNA profiled.

Chris Ryan – 027 243 1078

$1,800+GST

•

Calving 10th March to Hfd Bull.

Chris Ryan – 027 243 1078

280 Jsy/Jsy X Cows

320 Top DNA’d F12 & X/Bred Herd

Agonline ref: 5555

BW 100

PW 130

$1,850+GST

•

Agonline ref: 6085

BW 69

PW 92

$1,850+GST

•

RA 93% Calving 14th July, ave 415 MS, 44 years one owner.

Todd Van Berlo – 027 529 7748

Agonline ref: 5679

145 Frsn/Frsn X Cows BW 79

PW 117

$1,780+GST

•

RA 99% Calving 10th July, 3 digit herd code, 50 years one owner.

Kent Stove – 027 224 0999

PW 147

$1,800

+GST

•

RA83% Calving 10th July, ave 380 MS, young herd.

Shaan Featherstone - 027 666 1198

Agonline ref: 6128

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

BW 117

PW 158

$1,930+GST

•

RA 100% Even Computer Split 546 2-8 year F12 - X/Bred Herd. BVD blood tested clear & averaged 472 MS on a System 3 last season Peter Forrest – 027 598 6153

175 MA Friesian Cows BW 54/46

PW 42/65

$1,850+GST

•

Lic bred long established (66 years) herd.

Low somatics farmed on a grass 2/3 system & wintered on the farm & in calf to friesian sexed lic semen for 3 weeks.

Peter Forrest – 027 598 6153 Agonline ref: 5874

115 Top DNA’D F12 & X/Bred Heifers BW 118

140 XBred Cows BW 112

Agonline ref: 5588

Agonline ref: 5949

225 Frsn/Frsn X Cows

Agonline ref: 5514

370 Frsn/Frsn X Cows

PW 162

RA96% Calving 22nd July, ave 330 MS, off hill country farm.

Dean Cook – 027 243 1429

RA 93% Calving 14th July, young herd.

Chris Ryan – 027 243 1078 PGG Wrightson Dairy representatives are specialists at marketing and selling dairy herds.

BW 102

PW 130

Cattle

Sheep

Other

TARATA HILLS WILTSHIRES ON FARM AUCTION

NORTH ISLAND HERDS & IN-CALF HEIFERS FOR SALE

Agonline ref: 5981

Starting Thursday 30th January 2020 and every Thursday thereafter.

The farmer scratched his grizzled head. “Gee, Dorothy,” he finally answered, “I don’t see why the pig should take the blame for something that happened fifty years ago.”

Cheviot Ewes

PW 98

Our empty cow and surplus Dairy Sale recommences at Morrinsville Dairy Complex.

“Let’s have a party, John,” she suggested.

“Let’s kill a pig.”

Viewing from 10am

BW 81

PREMIUMS PAID FOR YOUNG EMPTY COWS

After having a quick look around her, the wife came up with an idea to celebrate the occasion.

A/c Stuart & Theresa Sinclair

No shearing

MORRINSVILLE EMPTY COW SALE

$1,650+GST

•

715 South Hillend - Dipton Road RD 1, Dipton,Southland Wednesday 12th February 1.30 pm A/C MT & SM Day Ltd Offering comprising approx: • 200 MA Wiltshire Ewes • 40 2th Rams A great opportunity to purchase easy care sheep that come from a top Commercial farming operation.

Ewes will be drafted into lines on Sale Day. Contact: Tom Day 027 585 5048 Callum McDonald (PGW Genetics) 027 433 6443 Barry McAlister (PGW) 027 441 6432

List Your Dairy Herd Now

Complete replacement line of LIC heifers, all well grown. Vendors are exiting the industry so the herd is up for sale as well.

Get in quick or miss out on this quality lin.

Mark Crooks – 027 590 1452 Andrew Leggett – 022 038 3216 Agonline ref: 5984

pggwrightson.co.nz/dairyherdsales

Helping grow the country

LK0101071©

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook

For Sale Wiltshire Rams

35

MARKET SNAPSHOT

36

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Suz Bremner

Mel Croad

Nicola Dennis

Cattle

Reece Brick

Graham Johnson

Caitlin Pemberton

Sheep

BEEF

William Hickson

Deer

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.50

5.60

5.50

NI lamb (17kg)

7.55

7.75

7.20

NI Stag (60kg)

8.40

8.40

9.95

NI Bull (300kg)

5.55

5.65

5.00

NI mutton (20kg)

5.35

5.40

5.00

SI Stag (60kg)

8.50

8.50

9.95

NI Cow (200kg)

4.20

4.20

4.00

SI lamb (17kg)

7.55

7.70

7.00

SI Steer (300kg)

5.20

5.35

5.15

SI mutton (20kg)

5.20

5.40

4.95

SI Bull (300kg)

5.35

5.55

5.00

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

4.10

4.20

3.90

UK CKT lamb leg

US imported 95CL bull

7.72

8.03

6.80

10.0

US domestic 90CL cow

8.07

8.00

6.58

9.0

7.5

8.0

6.5

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

6.5

South Island lamb slaughter price

$/kg CW

8.0

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Coarse xbred ind.

5-yr ave

2018-19

Dairy

Aug 2019-20

Apr 2018-19

Jun

Aug 2019-20

Last week

Prior week

Last year

-

-

2.90

6.25

320

Dec-18

vs 4 weeks ago

Feb-19 Apr-19

Jun-19

Aug-19

Oct-19

Dec-19

420

SMP

3060

3070

2970

400

$/tonne

3225

Butter

4000

4000

4150

Milk Price

7.40

7.35

7.38

380

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Close

YTD High

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

5.32

5.4

4.9

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

22.85

22.86

21.2

The a2 Milk Company Limited

16.02

16.3

14.37

Auckland International Airport Limited

8.97

9.21

8.81

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.6

4.69

4.33

Ryman Healthcare Limited

16.5

17.18

16

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

5.22

5.35

4.93

YTD Low

Contact Energy Limited

7.45

7.74

7.09

Port of Tauranga Limited

7.85

8.08

7.55

Fletcher Building Limited

5.61

5.65

5.07

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

16.02

16.3

14.37

Comvita Limited

2.9

3.25

2.9

Delegat Group Limited

11.9

12.1

11.4

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

4.03

4.06

4

Foley Wines Limited

1.85

1.91

1.85

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.8

0.8

0.8

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.195

0.197

0.194

340

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

2.22

2.25

2.06

320

PGG Wrightson Limited

2.42

2.47

2.36

Sanford Limited (NS)

8.1

8.2

7.96

360

Dec-18

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

813

Listed Agri Shares

440

3140

5175

787

Company

400

3155

4750

787

Top 10 by Market Cap

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

4750

315

DAP

WMP

AMF

650

314

5.00

Oct-19 Dec-19 Sept. 2020

Prior week

616

314

-

360

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T)

616

-

$/tonne

6.75

Last price*

Aug 2019-20

Urea

30 micron lamb

440

Nearby contract

Jun

Last year

2.75

7.25

Aug-19

Apr 2018-19

Prior week

-

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT

Jun-19 Sept. 2019

Feb

Last week

2.65

480

Apr-19

Dec 5-yr ave

NZ average (NZ$/t)

37 micron ewe

7.75

Feb-19

Oct

Fertiliser Super

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

5.75

7.5

FERTILISER

(NZ$/kg) Jun

8.5

6.5

WOOL

5.0 Apr

South Island stag slaughter price

9.5

7.0

5.0

5.5

Feb

8.5

10.5

6.0

Dec

9.5

6.0

South Island steer slaughter price

Oct

Last year

10.5

11.5

9.0

4.5

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

7.0

10.0

6.5

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

$/kg CW

North Island lamb slaughter price

5.5

4.5

$/kg CW

8.72

5.0

5.0

$/kg MS

11.45

6.0

6.0

Feb-19 Apr-19

Jun-19

Aug-19

Oct-19

Dec-19

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

Scales Corporation Limited

4.84

5.17

4.84

SeaDragon Limited

0.002

0.003

0.002 4.51

Seeka Limited

4.7

4.74

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

8.9

9.1

8.6

2.89

2.93

2.84

3400

320

T&G Global Limited

3300

300

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

16926

16941

16713

S&P/NZX 50 Index

11901

11901

11538

S&P/NZX 10 Index

11722

11722

11233

$/tonne

US$/t

Last year

11.5 11.40

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer slaughter price

Last week Prior week

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Ingrid Usherwood

3200 3100 3000

280 260 240 220

Jan

Feb Mar Latest price

Apr

May 4 weeks ago

Jun

200

Dec-18

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Feb-19 Apr-19

Jun-19 Aug-19

Oct-19

Dec-19

16926

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

11901

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

11722

37

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

7.55

SI SLAUGHTER STEER ( $/KG)

5.20

SI SLAUGHTER MUTTON ( $/KG)

5.20

YEARLING ANGUS STEERS, 380-435KG, AT STORTFORD LODGE ( $/KG LW)

3.02

Dusty days on the land NORTH ISLAND

P

ARTS of Northland haven’t grown any grass this year.

Kikuyu is growing on heavier soils but even it’s struggling in the heat and the dry. It feels like late February. Bull farms are trying to sell stock where they can but there are so many animals headed to the works some people are able to get only 20% of the stock they want to unload, killed. Some farms have silage or balage on hand but others don’t so those farmers are just making sure there’s good water and are accepting cattle will put on only a fraction of the weight they would typically gain at this time of year. Milk production on dairy farms is slowing down considerably.

The bull schedule has dropped 50 cents a kilogram.

Some useless drizzle fell on Pukekohe on Friday morning. There’s been no significant rain for a month. Main crop onions are being dried off and moved to the packing sheds with harvesting machinery creating dust clouds so thick the operators are struggling to see what they are doing. The ground is very hard so unless irrigation has been applied to potatoes before the digging machines operate, skins are being damaged during harvest . Some growers are having issues with insects in crops. They enter the ground through the cracked soil and that might get worse if dry weather continues.

Southern and eastern Waikato aren’t as dry as central and northern parts of the region. Feed is getting tight and lots of farms have moved to once-a-day milking, which, in some cases, is months earlier than usual. If there’s no significant rain it’s expected lots of herds in the driest areas will stop milking by the end of February.

A lot of supplement is being fed and the price of palm kernel has jumped. On sheep and beef properties the hills are drying out. Southern King Country’s not looking too bad because it had some rain.

Lamb prices have dropped back a bit.

Apart from a scanty two millimetres parts of Bay of Plenty haven’t had any rain since Christmas. Two weeks of wind followed, which will have caused wind rub damage in kiwifruit. A lot of thinning is taking place, an indication pollination was good. There are signs there could be record volumes of kiwifruit this year.

Kiwifruit orchards are selling but the same can’t be said of dairy farms. They still have feed after a good October, November and December but need rain now. Unfortunately, it’s not in the forecast.

The farmer we speak to is milking once a day, in the morning so the team’s finished by nine and is relieved not to have to work in the heat of the day.

The first three weeks of December were wet in Taranaki and since then there’s been one day of rain that delivered between 10mm and 18mm. The ag consultant we speak to says Taranaki is on target to have the driest January in the 40 years he’s been collecting rainfall data but there is another week to go. Then there’s February to come, which is usually a dry month. He says it’s been unpleasantly dry, cold and windy and the sea’s pretty cold too. The province is still reasonably green though. Some herds are still on all

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NUMBERS GAME: More than 5000 genuine hill-country lambs were sold at the Orari on-farm lamb sale last week.

grass but others are being topped up with supplementary feed. Milk production’s holding quite well.

Rain 10 days ago around Gisborne was enough to keep the region ticking over.

There’s plenty of feed but water is a bit of a worry. Autumn didn’t deliver its usual storms to fill up dams so they’re drying up more quickly than most years. It’s all go for the squash and corn harvests.

Hawke’s Bay’s plum growers are in the thick of their harvest and the fruit’s looking great this year, big and juicy. And there are lots of varieties to choose from.

Pastoral farms have turned their Hawke’s Bay summer hue but a farmer says it’s nothing out of the ordinary and stock are doing fine.

Manawatu and Rangitikei farms are starting to get a bit dry in places and farmers are unloading stock. Killing space is hard to get.

There’s been precious little rain in Wairarapa and people are buttoning down for a big dry. The wind’s been horrible. It went on a month longer than usual and does a lot of damage to already dry soils. Lambs have done well though.

They’re nice and heavy.

SOUTH ISLAND Apple growers in the Nelson region are flat out thinning smaller and marked fruit from trees. Thinning’s under way in kiwifruit orchards too. It’s very dry and temperatures are above average so irrigation systems are going full bore.

Water restrictions on Waimea Plains are expected to start next week.

A hill-country farmer near Blenheim in Marlborough says only 2mm of rain has gone into his water gauge for January but there’s still feed on hand. Most hill farms have finished weaning while highcountry properties are just getting into it. The lamb schedule has dropped back a bit from the record pre-Christmas high of $150. It’s a busy time in the province’s

vineyards. Our contact says his pinot noir and chardonnay grapes are moving into the veraison or onset of ripening stage.

The sauvignon blanc variety’s not far behind. The vineyard’s carrying 19 to 20 tonnes a hectare. That will be reduced to 17 tonnes for harvesting. Everyone’s busy with botrytis control programmes and making sure the vines are getting enough water.

A West Coast dairy farmer at Rununga says it’s hot and dry. Some of his paddocks are starting to go brown in patches.

There’s there still enough grass for his cows but he says farmers are starting to buy in supplementary feed. Milk production this season’s doing okay but is down on last year. Most bulls have been taken out of paddocks and pregnancy testing’s under way. Spraying’s required on this winter’s brassica crop because of an infestation of hungry insects.

So far Canterbury is experiencing a hot, dry summer and the forecast is set for it to continue. Region-wide fire bans are now in place. It’s not all bad as the weather is great for harvest on cropping farms – it’s just beginning.

Central Otago had a good amount of rain last year but so far in 2020 there’s not been a drop. A farmer at Oturehua says everyone’s into weaning and crutching and they’re sending the first draft of lambs to the works.

Coastal Southland’s gone from very wet and windy to hot and dry. Out contact who farms at Waimahaka says the ground’s starting to crack in places and fire restrictions are in place. Cows are getting a top-up of fodder beet and scanning’s due start next week. All the tractor work’s done and winter crops that went in before Christmas are growing well but could do with a drink. The farmer, who also has sheep, says he’s weaning late because he’s had the sheep on young grass before the cows. They have a lighter footprint and they clean up the weeds.

Courtesy of Radio New Zealand Country Life You can listen to Country Life on RNZ at 9pm every Friday and 7am on Saturday or on podcast at rnz.co.nz/countrylife

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NI SLAUGHTER LAMB ( $/KG)

DON’T STOP HERE...

38

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

Sale raises funds for Aussie farmers Fifth generation Orari Gorge Station farmers Robert and Alex Peacock saw an opportunity to help their Australian neighbours when they held their on-farm lamb sale last Tuesday. From their 4300 hectare property they run a Hereford stud and three sheep studs as well as commercial flocks, and each year donate to charity at their stud bull sale. At their annual lamb sale they generously donated close to $6000 to Rural Aid Australia’s Disaster Recovery Appeal www.ruralaid.org.au, which is providing relief to those affected by the fires.

NORTHLAND Wellsford store cattle • Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 530-563kg, held at $2.70$2.71/kg • Three yearling Hereford steers, 413kg, were well-received at $1125, $2.72/kg • Fifteen yearling Murray Grey-cross heifers, 254kg, reached $3.09/ kg • Five autumn-born weaner Angus heifers, 269kg, earned $755 A smaller yarding of just over 370 cattle was on offer at WELLSFORD last Monday, with most lines seven head and under. Yearling Hereford-dairy steers, 213-342kg, traded at $2.56-$2.65/kg. Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 243278kg, returned $2.88/kg to $3.02/kg. Results varied for Hereford-dairy lines, though heavier 315-348kg firmed to $2.84-$2.86/kg. A consignment of Charolais steers and heifers made up most of the weaner pens, with all well-contested. Steers, 105-122kg, earned $490-$570, and heifers, 109kg, $460.

Kaikohe cattle sale • Two-year traditional steers earned $2.60/kg to $2.74/kg • Two-year Hereford and Friesian bulls traded at $2.40-$2.50/kg • Better two-year beef-cross heifers returned $2.50-$2.60/kg • Dairy and beef cows with calves-at-foot earned $1000-$1220 per unit • Weaner Angus Stablizer-cross bulls, 220kg, managed $726, $3.30/kg A smaller yarding of 135 cattle was on offer at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, with dry conditions and reduced schedules softening the market, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. The handful of yearling steers made $3.00/kg. Weaner dairy-beef bulls fetched $400-$450, with heifers at $360-$400. Lighter boner cows traded at $1.40/kg, and heavier types reached $1.60/kg.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Prime steers eased at $2.66/kg to $2.79/kg • Prime heifers managed mainly steady returns at $2.62/kg to $2.80/kg • Boner cows held over a range of $1.38/kg to $1.92/kg Hot dry conditions continued to soften the market for most at PUKEKOHE on Saturday 18 th January. Quality varied throughout the yarding, with prime heifers and boner cows the only older cattle to hold on recent results.

Light 18-month steers eased at $2.43/kg to $2.72/kg, while medium 15-month heifers earned a similar $2.40/kg to $2.73/kg. Medium weaner steers managed $555-$680, with heifers at $465-$555.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Hereford-Friesian steers, 503kg, made $2.71/kg • Good prime heifers sold to $2.76/kg • Heavy Friesian cows traded at $1.94-$2.04/kg • Top prime ewes fetched $220 TUAKAU drew a small yarding of store cattle last Thursday, Carrfields agent Karl Chitham reported.

Good Hereford-Friesian steers, 430kg, made $1145, $2.66/kg, with 180kg lines fetching $695 and 100kg, $485.

Quality was patchy in the heifer section, but HerefordFriesian, 333kg, returned $845, and 117kg, $425. Heavy prime steers sold at $2.72/kg to $2.85/kg last Wednesday.

Heifer prices eased by 5c/kg, with heavier types earning $2.72-$2.76/kg. Medium Friesian cows returned $1.56-

$1.64/kg and lighter boners, $1.21/kg to $1.34/kg. Top prime lambs fetched $166 on Monday, with good-mediums making $143-$155, and lighter primes, $107-$129. Store lambs in forward order returned $84-$102, and mediumgood ewes, $145-$167, with lighter ewes at $62-$95.

WAIKATO Frankton dairy-beef weaner fair • Red Hereford-Friesian steers, 110-160kg, held at $425-$555 • Charolais-Friesian heifers, 142-147kg, were well-received at $520$590 • Angus-Friesian heifers, 112kg, varied at $380-$410 • Charolais-Friesian bulls, 126-163kg, traded at $580-$655 Just on 826 weaners were penned at FRANKTON last Tuesday. Most steers eased as Hereford-dairy, 154157kg, softened to $500-$510, and 114-125kg, $400-$450.

Hereford-Friesian heifers, 122-138kg, held at $420-$455, while 108-114kg eased to $355-$385. Most Hereford-dairy, 95-115kg, held at $320-$350. Hereford-Friesian bulls, 132134kg, managed $545-$595, with 106-117kg mostly steady at $520-$535. Friesian bulls, 136-165kg, strengthened to $500-$545. Most 104-128kg traded at $350-$390, though ten at 117kg pushed to $430.

Frankton cattle • Two-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 542-575kg, traded at $2.68$2.72/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 334-430kg, softened to $2.65$2.71/kg • Yearling Hereford-dairy heifers, 308-338kg, fetched $2.43-$2.50/ kg • Yearling Friesian bulls, 429-449kg, eased to $2.42-$2.43/kg • Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 490-559kg, softened to $2.66$2.67/kg A slightly reduced yarding of 572 cattle was penned at FRANKTON last Wednesday. Two-year beef-dairy heifers, 413-438kg, were consistent at $2.45-$2.50/kg. Ten yearling Speckle Park steers, 412kg, returned $2.56/kg, while Hereford-dairy, 317-393kg, improved to $2.49-$2.50/ kg. Prime Angus steers, 548-574kg, held at $2.75-$2.76/ kg, as did Hereford-dairy heifers, 507-521kg, $2.63-$2.71/ kg. Twelve Hereford bulls, 628-655kg, sold at an improved $2.83-$2.96/kg. Boner Friesian cows, 474-531kg, held at $1.60-$1.67/kg, and cross-bred, 477-215kg, earned $1.52$1.61/kg.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Two-year Murray-Grey bulls, 477kg, made $3.00/kg • Two-year Hereford bulls, 588kg, earned $2.86/kg • Prime steers fetched $2.84-$2.85/kg • The top lambs made $141 Bulls were a big feature of all sections at RANGIURU last Tuesday, and in the 2-year category were significantly heavier than the best Hereford-Friesian steers, 343kg, that made $2.92/kg. Yearling Hereford bulls proved popular, with a pen of 246kg sold for $3.21/kg. A rate of $2.78-$2.88/ kg covered most of the yearling steers that were largely 321413kg beef-cross. The best heifers were Hereford-Friesian, 364kg, that made $2.75/kg, with most other lines of this breed $2.32/kg to $2.61/kg.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero sheep • Romney breeding ewes made $152 • Two pens of prime ewes $120-$140

Store lambs were the main attraction at the sheep at MATAWHERO last Friday with over 1100 yarded.

Enthusiasm to purchase these was less than a week ago and even the lightest pens had decent weight behind them.

The heaviest pens were males that made $95-$112, while medium weight lines of wethers and ewes made $85$91.50.

TARANAKI Taranaki dairy-beef weaner fair • Friesian bulls, 102kg, sold for $600 • Hereford-Friesian bulls, 140-143kg, earned $635-$655 • Speckle Park-cross heifers, 141kg, sold well at $580 The market at last Thursday’s TARANAKI dairy-beef weaner fair was steady to softening, helped by an outside buyer taking home a large portion of the yarding. Weaner Friesian bulls averaged 145kg and fell to $450, although heavier types at 187-192kg held at $565-$600. Weaner steers also held with most Hereford-Friesian, 111-150kg, $570$650, with reds discounted to $420-$530.

Taranaki cattle sale • Good purebred yearling Angus bulls, 390-428kg, fetched $1380$1400 • Yearling Jersey bulls, 374-429kg, sold well at $1000-$1070 • Prime steers, 580-590kg, softened to $2.68-$2.73/kg There was a small yarding at last Wednesday’s TARANAKI cattle sale, with most of the yarding ex-service bulls. At the top end, Angus, Hereford and Red Devon bulls, 587-727kg, sold in a range of $1700-$2110, $2.88-$2.92/kg, with lighter types around $2.70-$2.80/kg. Limited yearling steers held, and most earned $2.61-$2.73/kg, while same aged heifers were mostly 262kg Angus-Friesian off the hills, which made $2.65/kg.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime cattle and sheep • Most very-heavy ewes held at $143-$145.50 • Good to very-good ewes also held at $120-$127.50 • Light-medium ewes improved to $90-$94 • Heavy mixed-sex lambs softened to $130-$140 • Heavy ram lambs eased to $136.50 Ewe throughput halved at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday, though with solid interest from the rails most held value. A small top end improved to $155.50, while mediumgood types came back $2 to $117.50, and medium held at $107-$117. Just over 100 lambs were penned and most eased, though twelve heavy mixed-sex held at $148.50.

A handful of Hereford-Friesian cows were penned and four, 698kg, reached $1.50/kg, while the balance, 448475kg, earned $1.31/kg.

Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Yearling Angus steers, 380-435kg, firmed to $3.02/kg • Yearling exotic-cross heifers, 393-424kg, also firmed to $2.84$2.88/kg • Yearling Angus heifers, 324-363kg, varied from $2.62/kg to $2.78/ kg • Good male lambs firmed to $100-$113 While it was a quiet day at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday, quality was prevalent through both sections of the sale. Traditional and exotic yearlings featured and drew a good local crowd. Angus steers, 462kg, made $2.82/ kg, and Hereford-Friesian, 326-379kg, $2.69-$2.70/kg. One line of 2-year Angus-Hereford steers, 589kg, fetched $2.80/ kg. The sheep sale took half an hour with 500 yarded. Most were lambs and a line of 215 medium-good cryptorchid sold for $113. Two small lines of good ewe lambs made $107-$109.

MANAWATU Feilding prime cattle and sheep sale • Hereford cows, 515kg, made $1.91/kg • Jersey bulls, 430-565kg, dropped to $2.30/kg • Over 200 mixed-sex lambs made $169 Wellington Anniversary Day meant an unusual Tuesday sale day at FEILDING. A small yarding of 3325 sheep and 22 cattle was offered. There was plenty of action in the lamb pens with prices up around $5 per head. Heavy types sold for $154-$169 and medium-good $131-$137. The ewe market softened, with heavy lines at $140-$145 and good $119- $129. The bottom end featured the bulk of the tally, with medium and medium-good sold for $81-$118.

Feilding store sale • Traditional two-year steers, 505-590kg, were $2.92-$2.99/kg • Straight beef cows with calves-at-foot made $1970-$2020 • Good Hereford-Friesian heifers, 380-390kg, sold for $2.84-$2.86/ kg • Average store lamb made $98.50 • Good male lambs were $111-$123 It was a small sale all-round at FEILDING. A little more

SALE YARD WRAP

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020

39

WHO’S BUYING: PGG Wrightson agents Matt Gibbs, Rod Sands and Greg Cook look for bids at the Orari on-farm lamb sale last week.

than 400 cattle were yarded and sold to a mostly steady market. R2 traditional and exotic steers, 340-425kg, were consistently $3.00-$3.09/kg. The bulk of the R2 heifers were red or brindle Hereford-cross lines, 310-375kg, all making $2.48-$2.59/kg. Two lines of 430-455kg Friesian bulls met limited interest, only one pen selling for $2.47/ kg. Only 3300 store lambs came in and sold to a steady or occasionally firmer market when quality was taken into account. The sale opened with a number of good male and terminal mix-sex lambs at $111-$123, while three goodsized pens of medium-to-good ewe lambs closely followed at $86.50-$111. Other lambs were mainly short on either numbers or weights, with a number of bottom-end cuts at $56.50-$65 and the step above these making $76-$83.

Rongotea cattle • Two-year Hereford bulls, 603-705kg, eased at $2.65/kg to $2.85/kg • 18-month Jersey bulls, 403-435kg, held at $2.34/kg to $2.55/kg • Yearling Angus-cross steers, 257-365kg, traded from $2.30/kg to $2.72/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 315-377kg, ranged from $1.62/ kg to $2.30/kg • Weaner Friesian bulls, 112-170kg, eased to $370-$450 The threefold effect of falling schedules, lack of processing space and continued dry conditions meant older cattle were harder work last Wednesday at RONGOTEA, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported.

Two-year Friesian bulls, 490-590kg, earned $2.57-$2.69/ kg, and Angus, 485-649kg, $2.74-$2.79/kg. All steers, 335440kg, traded from $2.18/kg to $2.38/kg. Weaner HerefordFriesian steers, 109-163kg, managed $550-$670, and heifers, 106-190kg, $460-$560. Friesian boner cows, 415-620kg, ranged from $1.45/kg to $1.94/kg.

CANTERBURY Orari Gorge Station on-farm lamb sale • Total lambs averaged just over $105 • Blackface mixed-sex sold well at $95-$124 • Romney cryptorchid varied from $86 to $122 • Prime lambs returned $134-$158 The annual on-farm lamb sale at ORARI GORGE last Tuesday was a successful day, with 5400 genuine hill country lambs sold on a solid market given the current environment, PGG Wrightson agent Rod Sands reported.

Buyers mainly originated from mid and south Canterbury, with several repeat customers in the mix. All lambs were progeny of the property’s own sires, with a Romney, Romney-Texel and Terminal stud part of the farming operation. Ewe lambs were small to medium types and averaged just over $87, while male and blackface mixed-sex averaged $109.50.

Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 400-580kg, lifted 18c/kg to $2.56/ kg

• Prime Red Poll heifers, 485kg, topped their section at $2.69/kg • Ewes prices lifted $2-$3 with very-heavy types sold for $197-$240 • Light store mixed-sex lambs held at $71-$80 Prime cattle throughput was high at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday, with the top steers at $2.68-$2.78/kg. Two-year steer prices eased at $2.23/kg to $2.52/kg, as did a mixed quality yarding of yearlings.

The on-going dry had little impact on sheep results with markets essentially steady. The top cut of the prime lambs made $177-$192 with the bulk of the sale $120-$168.

Medium to good store male lambs made $94-$112, and similar mixed-sex, $90-$121.

Coalgate cattle and sheep • Yearling Angus-cross steers, 333kg, fetched $2.85/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 270kg, made $2.44/kg • Prime Angus steers, 510-551kg, earned $2.72-$2.79/kg • Top cuts of prime ewes made $180-$194 Triple the long-term average of store lambs turned out at COALGATE last Thursday, and two-thirds traded at $90$108, while heavier types fetched $110-$131. Prime lamb top cuts made $180-$198, with medium types $140-$169.

Prime ewe volume also climbed, with the majority medium types at $130-$139. Yearling cattle featured and AngusFriesian or Angus-cross steers generally earned $2.27/ kg to $2.55/kg. The top heifers were Hereford-Friesian, 260-303kg, $2.24-$2.31/kg, while others of the same breed traded from $1.39/kg to $1.95/kg.

In the prime pens, traditional bulls and steers were mostly $2.68-$2.79/kg, and dairy-beef steers $2.40/kg to $2.63/kg.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle; all sheep • Ex-service traditional bulls, 635-680kg, lifted to $3.09/kg • Ex-service Jersey bulls, 505-620kg, firmed to $2.67/kg • Boner Friesian cows, 460-615kg, firmed 10c/kg to $1.86/kg • Capital stock Merino wethers largely sold for $133-$142 • Prime lambs and ewes eased, and most ranged from $110 to $179 Lower throughput and shorter wait times at the processors resulted in a stronger cattle market at TEMUKA last Monday, though that did not flow through into the sheep pens. Most cattle classes firmed 10-12c/kg, and the bull market gained up to 30c/kg. Steers traded at $2.55$2.60/kg for most, and prime heifers, $2.45-$2.56/kg, with two pens up to $2.60/kg. Top boner cows made $1.98-$2.05/ kg, second cuts $1.86-$1.96/kg and third, $1.62/kg to $1.81/ kg. Store lamb demand wavered due to dry conditions, though medium mixed-sex held at $85-$115.

Heavier types eased to $102-$109.

Temuka store cattle and sheep • Yearling Angus heifers, 296-396kg, made $3.04-$3.13/kg • Yearling Angus heifers, vetted-in-calf and 321kg, sold for $3.01/kg • Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 315-340kg, earned $2.43/kg

• Yearling Murray Grey-Friesian, 356-368kg, made $2.48-$2.49/kg • Yearling Angus bulls, 430kg, were $2.30/kg Offloading due to the dry weather continued at TEMUKA last Thursday, but buyers generally kept their hands firmly in their pockets. Yearling Angus steers, 341-371kg, topped out at $2.82/kg to $2.95/kg, while Hereford-Friesian, 350-370kg, dropped 19c/kg to average $2.52/kg. HerefordFriesian heifers, 342-351kg, sold for $2.37-$2.43/kg. Most weaners were Friesian bulls, 107-156kg, that all made $250$290, although the heaviest pen made $445, with the best Hereford-Friesian bulls at $580.

OTAGO Balclutha sheep sale • Heavy prime lambs lifted $10-$20 to $150-$180 • Medium prime lambs gained $5-$10 to earn $125-$140 • Heavy prime ewes held at $140-$160 • Top store lambs improved slightly for the top end, up to $110$117 • Medium store lambs held at $100-$105 A good yarding of prime and store lambs sold well at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday, PGG Wrightson agent Russell Maloney reported. Most traded on a steady to lifting market, though lighter store lambs did ease $5-$10, back to $50-$70. Light prime lambs held at $110. Light to medium prime ewes eased $10 to $70-$105.

SOUTHLAND Charlton sheep • Heavy prime lambs held at $155 • Heavy prime ewes lifted $10 to $170 • Top store lambs were steady at $110 • Local trade rams earned $90 A medium sheep yarding was penned at CHARLTON last Thursday, with most steady to firm. Medium prime lambs held at $135-$145, with lighter types up $5 to $130. Light to medium prime ewes held at $100-$130. Medium store lambs eased $15 on average to $80-$90.

Lorneville cattle and sheep • Heavy lambs lifted $13-$20 to $153-$165 • Heavy ewes improved $3-$17 to $148-$182 • Top store lambs gained $5 to trade at $105-$115 • Prime steers, 480kg+, returned $2.50-$2.60/kg • Prime cows, 500kg, held at $1.55-$1.62/kg Sheep sold at improved levels for most at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday. Light to medium prime lambs lifted to $115$146. Medium ewes strengthened to $110-$136, and light held at $80-$100. Light to medium store lambs improved to $70-$95. Good prime bulls, 560kg+, earned $2.70-$2.85/kg.

Yearling beef-cross bulls managed $2.67-$2.74/kg, though $2.36-$2.38/kg was common across the board for all other classes. Calves eased with Hereford-cross bulls, 100-125kg, at $350-$500 and heifers of the same and 100-120kg, $300$420.

Markets

40 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – January 27, 2020 NI SLAUGHTER BULL

NI SLAUGHTER COW

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

($/KG)

($/KG)

WEANER BEEF-DAIRY BULLS, 120KG AVE, AT FRANKTON WEANER FAIR

($/KG)

($/HD LW)

5.55

4.20

7.55

535

$95-$124 high $190-$200 mixed-sex lights Top 2-tooth Perendale Blackface lambs at Orari Gorge

Dry feeds higher prices Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

D

RY weather in most of the dairying regions has raised the expectation that the prices of dairy commodities will go higher, analysts

believe.

The Global Dairy Trade index of prices rose 1.7% in the second auction of the new year, following a 2.8% rise in early January.

Whole milk powder prices increased by 2.4%, rennet casein by 4.7% and butter by 5.5%.

Skim milk powder prices grew a more modest 0.7% but have climbed an extraordinary US$678/tonne or 28% since June.

The margin between WMP and SMP is now $200/tonne, which ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny said was more like the long-term average premium for WMP of 6-7%.

Over the period 2017 and 2018 the margin had widened to $1000/tonne, which was an over-statement because of the depressing effects of the European Union stockpile of SMP. Now that had been cleared, and the Chinese demand for dairy protein was as buoyant as the demand for milkfat, SMP had regained its relativity to WMP, he said.

The developing dry weather in New Zealand was likely to depress milk production during the rest of the dairy season, putting further upward pressure on prices.

Westpac has lifted its farm gate milk price forecast by 30c to $7.40/kg.

Senior economist Michael Gordon said the dry weather was a short-term upward influence but he still expected some easing in prices during the year as China’s economic growth slowed and trade tensions remained high.

Although NZ milk production was up 0.5% at the end of November, dry weather since then was expected to cause milk production to fall short towards the end of the season.

The effects of the Australian bush fires

UPWARDS: ASB senior rural economist Nathan Penny says dry weather was likely to depress milk production during the rest of the season, putting further upward pressure on prices.

The Global Dairy Trade index of prices rose 1.7% in the second auction of the new year, following a 2.8% rise in early January. on dairy production were not yet known, but that country’s output in 2019 was down 7% over 2018.

Penny’s conclusion on the constrained milk production prospects, here and across the Tasman, was a long-run farm gate milk price of $6.50 to $7.50.

When NZ had the capability of increasing milk production 5% or even

10% in a season, we were the marginal producer in the world and that tended to result in lower and more volatile prices.

Now that volatility had diminished, as evidenced by the narrower range of GDT index movements during the past three years – plus or minus 10-15% around the index level of 1000.

During that time NZ milk prices had risen to the levels of Europe and the United States.

Milk powder prices in the range 3000 to $3500/tonne with a current NZ dollar exchange rate would consistently deliver milk prices of $6.50 to $7.50, he said.

His forecast for this season and next is $7.50.

ewes at Feilding Ewe Fair

Station On-Farm sale

ACROSS THE RAILS SUZ BREMNER

Shaky start to the new year at the saleyards NOW that we are a few weeks into sales for 2020, we have a pretty clear picture of how they are playing out.

It would be fair to say it has been a shaky start, with drops in schedules over the break continuing to hamper any upwards movement in the prime markets. The store markets are always at the mercy of the weather gods at this time of year and when one looks at a soil moisture deficit map and it shows nearly 80% of the country being somewhere between orange and red (dry or very dry), then it is hardly surprising to see that demand for stock has also dried up.

After the two-week break North Island store lamb prices started below where they finished in December and have tracked along that path.

Stortford Lodge and Matawhero averaged $93$98 for the first two weeks of the year, for average weights at 27-29kg. Many in Manawatu would rather forget the first Feilding sale, where 22,000 lambs struggled to find homes and the market averaged $93 for 31kg. That was rectified to some extent the following week, though, as 7000 averaged $101 for 32kg.

In the South Island, throughput has been steady for the time of year and since sales kicked off Temuka has averaged $84-$99 for 2329kg, while Canterbury Park sits at $83-$90 for 24-26kg.

A snapshot of a few classes of cattle around the North Island yards has seen 2.5-year traditional steers, 500-580kg, make $2.90-$2.99/ kg, though most of the limited action has been in the yearling pens. Traditional steers varied from $2.98/kg to $3.10/kg and heifers, $2.60/kg to $2.85/kg. Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers have largely ranged from $2.90/kg to $3.20/kg, though weights have also varied significantly from 260kg up to 420kg. Heifers of same breed have also been variable at $2.54/kg to $2.85/kg for the majority. South Island trading has been very limited with no market indicators to gather up.

Ex-service bulls are abundant in dairy regions and generally selling well to a mixture of fatteners and dairy farmers. suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

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