Farmers Weekly NZ June 28, 2021 by AgriHQ

7 Govt’s $4m flood relief fund Vol 19 No 25, June 28, 2021

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Store lamb prices skyrocket Colin Williscroft

colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz

TORE lamb prices at Feilding and Stortford Lodge have been going gangbusters in recent weeks, with prices blowing the five-year average out of the water. AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner says she has not seen prices anything like those being paid at this time of year before. Bremner says at the latest Stortford sale, male and ewe lambs between 32-34kg sold at an average of about or just under $4.80/kg, which is $1.40/kg higher than the five-year average. She says as weights drop away, the price increase is even more significant, with 28-29kg lambs up $1.50-$1.60 on the five-year average. That average includes the 2019 year, which she says is regarded as a benchmark because of the strong prices paid that year.

It will come down to supply and demand and how much meat companies are willing to chase it. Dave Wright Stock agent “I cannot recall a gap like this before. It’s quite mind-boggling,” Bremner said. Bremner says in 2019 the current level of prices was only

MARKET FORCES: Hazlett procurement representative Angus Hazlett says the recent high store lamb prices are being driven by supply and demand. Photo: Colin Williscroft

reached in October/November, so this year is uncharted territory, adding that at Stortford ewe lamb prices have jumped about $40 a head in the past fortnight. Central Hawke’s Bay farmer Richard Ellis paid between $4.05-$4.25/kg for lambs at the latest Stortford sale and says the schedules available from meat companies are providing farmers with a level of certainty, which is better than waiting and hoping, although he is wary about a bottleneck in lambs heading to the works around September and October.

He says recent rain in Hawke’s Bay is being complemented with weather warm enough for grass growth, which is giving farmers some certainty around feed. Farmers in the region also recognise the lesser footprint impact lambs have on paddocks compared to cattle, which is influencing what stock they want to carry over winter. Ellis says another reason for the higher prices for lambs is that numbers available are well down over the past calendar year, so demand is high.

Manawatū farmer and stock agent Dave Wright agrees that the current high prices are because of contracts being offered by meat companies. However, he is unsure whether the market is going to get much stronger. “There might be too much heat in the market,” Wright said. “It will come down to supply and demand and how much meat companies are willing to chase it.” He says farmers still need to make a profit and the way prices are now, margins are very short. “It all comes back to how high

the schedule will go. I don’t think it’s going to get too far over $9, but we’ll have to see. “Not all the meat companies are chasing heavy lambs.” The high yardings of store lambs at Feilding and Stortford Lodge in recent weeks will also push up paddock prices but Wright says there won’t be much stock sold there. “When prices get this strong there’s limited lambs available in the paddock because people are chasing the saleyard price,” he said. Hazlett procurement representative Angus Hazlett says the good prices being paid by meat companies, with good contracts available until September/October, are driving up store lamb prices at sale yards, although he admits some of those prices are “huge”. He says recent rain in Hawke’s Bay and subsequent grass growth is encouraging some Hawke’s Bay farmers to make a late run on store lambs, which means they are buying significant numbers of lambs at once, whereas they might have filled up their numbers sooner if they could have relied on earlier grass growth. “There looks to be a bit of confidence as there’s some big money being spent,” Hazlett said. He says the high sale yard prices are being driven by supply and demand. “There’s a lot of people who are lamb finishers and not enough lamb breeders,” he said. “It’s good that breeders are getting good money for store lambs. “If those breeders are making good money from store lambs, then it’s worth them having ewes on the hills.”

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8 Ruralco chair wins leadership award Mid Canterbury-based rural service co-operative Ruralco scooped a double win in the Women in Governance Awards.

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18 Commodities drive up index

20 Clear need for water use plan

With the new farming year kicking off, high commodity prices are continuing to push positive views from analysts on the new farming year’s prospects.

Rex Graham recently stepped down as chair of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for health reasons. Although he is pleased with its achievements in recent years, there is more work to be done.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Deadline set for UK-NZ deal Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com THE pressure is on Trade Minister Damien O’Connor to deliver British dairy market access equal or better than Australia’s, or fail to live up to one of his key goals for a free trade deal with the United Kingdom. Australia earlier this month clinched an in-principle agreement with the UK for all of its dairy products to enter the British market tariff-free after five years. Now New Zealand and the UK have set an August deadline for their own in-principle agreement. “For NZ that means receiving a market access offer that eliminates tariffs and provides commercially meaningful access from day one of the agreement,” O’Connor said in a statement following his recent talks in London with British Trade Secretary Liz Truss. Australia surprised many observers with the quality of its deal with the UK, which also featured tariff-free access for unlimited imports of beef and sheep meat within 15 years.

But there is uneasiness about how much of the Australian deal NZ can replicate, especially for its biggest industry, dairy. Australia is a relatively minor player in global dairy markets, routinely ranked towards the bottom of the top 10 exporters globally, compared to NZ’s number two ranking and the European Union at number one. A source in regular contact with the NZ negotiating team says British dairy farmers viewed tariff-free competition from NZ as a much larger threat. “It is sensitive quite clearly and that sensitivity is rising because of the Australian deal,” the source said. A report in the UK Farmers Guardian warns of a “Domino Effect” following the free trade deal with Australia, and that eliminating tariffs on NZ dairy imports would price local and Irish farmers off the market because of a 25% cost advantage NZ had over its Northern Hemisphere rivals. Unsurprisingly, the NZ dairy industry is unsympathetic. “You could run that argument but it ignores the fact that the

Europeans, who are by far and away the biggest exporters in world dairy, have complete and open access to the UK market,” Dairy Companies Association chairman Malcolm Bailey said. “To run the sensitivity argument with that backdrop really does not have credibility.” But the source close to the NZ negotiators says while that was a sound argument, there was a high chance it would fall on deaf ears in Whitehall. “It is a good argument but politics is politics and it is sensitive, quite clearly,” they said. The source says it was possible that NZ would be offered equivalent or better access for sheep meat and beef but less for dairy than the Australians received. “We are looking at something that is approximately equivalent to what the Australians got,” they said. But one senior dairy company executive, who did not want to be named, says any less access than now available to EU competitors, and would soon be freed up for Australian rivals, would put NZ at

PRESSURE’S ON: Trade Minister Damien O’Connor is tasked with negotiating a better-than-most trade deal with the United Kingdom and the European Union. a competitive disadvantage and cost exporters a chance to build market share. “Certainly if you were unable to compete on a level playing field with your key competitors, then that puts you at a commercial disadvantage,” they said. “All we are asking for is an ability to compete on a level playing field.”

High tariffs restricted NZ dairy exports to the UK to just US$10 million in 2020, despite it being the fourth largest importer of dairy products globally and the largest importer of cheese. O’Connor travelled to Brussels after visiting London to try to advance free trade talks with the EU, which have been stuck in first gear since the middle of last year.

Farm sector seeks to fill knowledge gap Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS and growers fear a lack of knowledge will hinder their ability to manage their businesses to meet climate change expectations, a survey of rural professionals has determined. The survey of New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management (NZIPIM) members found coping with environmental compliance and adapting to climate change are the biggest challenges facing farmers. Institute chief executive Stephen Macaulay says at 44%, a lack of

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farm system resilience was second in the survey section on gaps in knowledge behind greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at 58%. Macaulay believed the two were linked, that farmers and growers see a gap in knowledge in how to manage their GHG emissions at scale, while also staying profitable. Compliance and regulation at 42% was considered the biggest challenge facing farmers in the next three to five years, increasing from 37% in the 2018 survey. “Farmers’ ability to meet the sheer weight of new regulations associated with new freshwater

requirements and capacity to reduce on-farm biogenic methane levels are seen by farm advisors and rural professionals as the biggest challenges ahead for farmers,” Macaulay said. An example is research and information about alternative land-use. “There has been a lot of noise about shifting to horticulture and possibly other niche production, but where is the research?” he asked. “Is there sufficient research to allow farmers to discuss or the opportunity to explore new areas based on farm-type, soil, climate

and the capability of farmers?” The survey also showed more than half of respondents saw increasing market value from products as an opportunity for the sector, payback for meeting increased compliance and regulation. “They see it as potential payback for investing large amounts of money in environmental compliance, strategies to reduce greenhouse gas and strategies to improve water quality,” he said. While seen by some as a marketing opportunity for exporters and marketers, new

rules and regulations remain a concern. “Overall, there is real concern around farmers’ ability to stay on top of all the new environmental regulations, while also ensuring they can continue to operate sustainable and profitable farm businesses,” he said. Institute members believe increased research is needed to help farmers and growers mitigate on-farm GHG emissions and greater investment in farm systems research to help them meet increased environmental regulations while their businesses remain sustainable and profitable.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

M bovis programme ‘poorly handled’ Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz THE authors of a damning report critical of the Government’s handling of the Mycoplasma bovis response says the emotional and mental impact on farmers came second to an excessive bureaucratic process. This is the conclusion of University of Otago researchers who interviewed affected farmers in Otago and Southland and it pulls no punches. They label the response “a badly planned and poorly executed process, leaving farming families feeling isolated, bewildered and powerless”. They also found that “a dominant theme of the research was the intrusive, impractical and inhumane nature of the MPI eradication programme, in which local knowledge, expertise

and pragmatism were ignored in favour of inefficient bureaucratic processes, which made no sense to farmers”. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says uncertainty in the early days of the M bovis response created stress and disruption but says changes have been made. “It was an extremely challenging and serious situation, and the decision we made to eradicate it required swift action,” O’Connor said. “There were mistakes and the lack of a robust traceability system also hindered progress,” he says in a statement. The study was conducted by the university’s Department of General Practice and Rural Health, and its lead author Fiona Doolan-Noble says the mental stress and anguish experienced by New Zealand farmers was similar to that documented during the

2001 Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in the UK and Ovine Johne’s disease in Australia. It was exacerbated by MPI’s approach. “MPI worked in relative isolation, they alienated farmers, they would not talk to farmers about what would work or how to work with them,” Doolan-Noble said. “They imposed this centralised approach, what was called during FMD in the UK as death by computer modelling.” An estimated 180,000 animals were culled and while compensation was paid, farmers told the researchers it was often perceived as inadequate and onerous to secure. The researchers are calling for MPI to seek solutions from rural communities and for these to be integrated into responses to future incursions.

They also suggest a standing army of rural-based experts be formed to guide the response to the next incursion, part of a package of changes it urges MPI to adopt.

It was an extremely challenging and serious situation, and the decision we made to eradicate it required swift action. Damien O’Connor Agriculture Minister “One of MPI’s key principles in terms of biosecurity is fair restoration – ‘no better or worse’. We believe this should not just

apply to the financial impact on farmers but should be applied to both the mental health of all involved, and also the social wellbeing of rural communities,” Doolan-Noble said. O’Connor says MPI is working with programme partners to improve the response, including establishing an independent M bovis Governance Group. “I have been briefed by the authors of the study and listened carefully to their insights, which have focussed on the early stages of the response, 2017 to 2019,” he said. “We’ve listened to a lot of farmer feedback and our programme staff have been very focused on farmer welfare, including getting farmers through the process faster with more support and shorter turnaround times for farms under movement restrictions.”

Farm know-how essential to eradication effort Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz BEN and Sarah Walling have experienced every possible emotion in their dealings with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) during three Mycoplasma bovis incidents on their Southland farm, but their overriding sentiment is to laugh. “You’ve got to learn to laugh about it or it just eats you up,” Ben, a Five Rivers calf rearer and bull finisher, said. Despite that, he has a daily reminder of his situation; an ongoing legal dispute involving “hundreds of thousands of dollars” compensation sought from MPI, which he attributes to a rigid and inflexible system that ignores the reality of farming. The dispute relates to the impact of falling beef schedule prices and supply contracts being cancelled while his

compensation claim was settled. Walling was interviewed for a University of Otago psychosocial study looking at the impact on farmers dealing with MPI over the M bovis outbreak, for which he describes his dealings during his first outbreak in December 2017 as “horrific”. Some staff were excellent but others were difficult, he says, which drew the process out to seven months. “There are a lot of really good MPI people who tried really hard but they were stuck in a bureaucratic process which was horrific and which hamstrung them,” he said. Excellent MPI staff made dealing with the second outbreak on his farm efficient and relatively seamless, completed in just two months. Walling says those staff were subsequently let go and dealing with MPI for his third

infection was worse than the first. “They had let those people go and I was dealing with people in Christchurch and Wellington who thought they knew what they were doing but didn’t,” he said. “It was horrific, but they let so much knowledge and trust that had been built up walk out the door.” He says MPI needs to use people who understand farmers and farming, such as those he dealt with in his second outbreak. “Their knowledge took the stress down several notches because you knew what was the end point, what the goals were and how we were going to get there,” he said. Despite Walling’s reservations about MPI, he says M bovis must be eradicated. “No matter what, we don’t want to farm with this disease when you see what it does to young stock,” he said.

CHALLENGING: Southland farmers Ben and Sarah Walling have dealt with MPI during three outbreaks of Mycoplasma Bovis on their farm at Five Rivers. Photo: Natwick

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

MPI says lessons have been learned Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz NOT being privy to the full content of the damning report slamming the management of the Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme is concerning, programme director Stuart Anderson says. While he was aware of the impact study being carried out at Otago University, it came as a surprise to hear results with no formal report. “We weren’t aware of the process for release of the findings, as we had not been directly involved and we had not been provided a copy of a report or its recommendations,” Anderson said. “It is surprising to find there is no report available that we can include into our lessons learned process along with other reviews undertaken. “We expect to see a full report with results and recommendations, and we are keen to work through that and look at what more we can do.” The M bovis programme records 56 properties infected and now cleared in Southland and Otago, the vast majority of these being in 2018.

Following a full review in 2019, there was a massive reset in the programme. “We know the eradication effort has been challenging for the farmers involved and even when the process goes as intended, it is tough for those affected,” he said. “It is really concerning to hear the unfortunate experiences of those farmers in the early stages of the programme, we acknowledge some things did not go so well, some mistakes were made – 2018 is historical now for the programme. “In the 2019 reset a lot was changed; we have worked really hard to support the wellbeing and recovery of those impacted by M bovis so farmers are having a better experience.

We’re seeing grown men absolutely broken still, and MPI thinks it’s better. Duncan Barr M bovis Affected Farmers

REVIEW: MPI M bovis programme director Stuart Anderson says he expects to see a full report with recommendations to look at what more the programme can do.

“We have listened to a lot of farmer feedback and we are always open to listen and learn more, and very keen to review the full report of this study and its recommendations.” Mark Bryan of Vet South Winton is an advisor to the study. From a veterinarian perspective, he says there has been some important information pulled out. In the early stages, vets were powerless and local knowledge was lost, and reports of changes for the better are mixed. “Some say better, some say still diabolical, but later in the process things did improve through more engagement with local vets,” Bryan said. “We have to have decisionmaking as local as possible, we haven’t seen the real veterinary shift we would like to see. “This is the first study that has

singled out vets and some great work has come from this. “This is an independent, academic study that carries no baggage and when it’s through the peer review process – whether that’s three months or three years, there will be a full report released. M bovis Affected Farmers founder and Ashburton dairy farmer Duncan Barr says the report tells the truth. Barr was struck with M bovis in 2018. “The report is absolutely correct about the disgusting behaviour of MPI,” Barr said. “Yes, overtime things got better, but that’s better from absolutely chaotically horrendous.” But of late it has slipped. “From what I hear, it has gone back to the bad old days and that is the result of ongoing staff turnover, anyone good has got out,” he said.

“It’s been bad for farmers, especially now for those here (Ashburton) coming into second and even some third time infected, but it’s also bad for MPI staff who are not backed by their employer. “They (MPI) say they are learning. I don’t think they are learning; they made mistakes and they’re still making mistakes.” Barr says it took two years to mentally get his head in the right space after his experience. “I know emotionally I wouldn’t handle it again, it’s like a freight train hit you,” he said. “We’re seeing grown men absolutely broken still and MPI thinks it’s better, that’s how out of touch they are. “What’s being said publicly does not reflect what’s happening on the ground. “It’s all a talk-fest, it’s just not good enough, it breaks your heart.”

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Bobby calf days are numbered Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz DAIRY farmers and bull breeders have to front foot the changes to farm systems needed when the killing of bobby calves will no longer be acceptable, AgFirst sheep and beef consultant Bob Thomson says. The transition will be forced on the dairy and beef industries within a decade, he told the Holstein Friesian New Zealand annual conference in Whangarei. “Meat processors want bobby calves at this time but soon they won’t, because of changing consumer attitudes,” Thomson said. “This is becoming an issue loaded with emotion and targeted with antibobby messages.” In the NZ dairy industry, two million calves don’t make it to one week of age and 500,000-700,000 never get off the farm on which they are born. Thomson warned that in future dairy companies would require that bobby calves be reared and not killed as a condition of milk supply agreements. The dairy industry contributes 79% of the beef supply in NZ, including 50% of the prime beef and 85% of the cows that are killed. Those percentages are going to increase because of the dominant size of the NZ dairy industry and the growing need to keep and rear more

cattle of dairy origin, rather than kill them as bobby calves. Those two million-plus calves will have to be reared on pasture, not housed and fed on meals like the veal industries of some other countries. “Dairy-beef is just as good as that from traditional beef breeds and the dairy-beef cow is by far the best in the whole industry, as has been proven by numerous trials,” he said.

This is becoming an issue loaded with emotion and targeted with anti-bobby messages. Bob Thomson AgFirst Despite some farmer prejudice against them, dairy-beef cows subsequently mated to terminal beef sires are the most profitable combination. He says now is the time to treat it as a money-making resource for those calves born to dairy cows that are not wanted as herd replacement heifers. The 2021 results of the Dairy Beef Progeny Test from Wairakei Renown have recently been released. Bulls of any breed with EBVs that indicate they will be excellent for

dairy-beef systems are AIed to cows in the Pamu Renown dairy herd, and the progeny reared under commercial conditions. The 2018 born calves have been processed and the carcase data generated, the 2019 born calves measured to 600-day weights and the 2020 born calves to 200-day weights. Leading the bulls for 600-day weight (469kg) and carcase weight (298kg) is Charolais bull Kakahu Gerry, also with 39.1kg birth weight, 77.7 days weaning age and 282 days gestation length. Thomson says some of the top 20 bulls in the progeny test were available from LIC and CRV Ambreed at $14 or $15 a straw. “Kakahu Gerry is only $13 a straw and he is a calf marker, so that all his calves will come out distinguishable from the dairy calves,” he said. Dairy farmers should add to their revenue by supplying easy-calving, fast-finishing dairy-beef progeny that beef finishers will seek out. Meat companies should also be part of the solution by paying premium prices for different categories, rather than averaging across all types. “You should have annual contracts with beef finishers, who then have contracts with meat companies. You will be leading positive change in the dairy industry by using a programme like this, because the days of bobby calves are numbered.”

CHANGING MARKET: AgFirst consultant Bob Thomson warns that in future dairy companies would require that bobby calves be reared and not killed as a condition of milk supply agreements.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

$4m flood relief fund Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS have welcomed the government’s $4 million relief funding to support flood-ravaged Canterbury farmers, but they are hopeful it is just a start. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Government support package for farmers recovering from the damage of a historic one-in-200-year flood, while on-farm in Mid Canterbury on Thursday. An additional $100,000 will also be provided to the Mayoral Relief Fund to support Canterbury communities. “Our Canterbury farmers are dealing with a massive recovery effort following the recent floods and facing significant costs that aren’t covered by insurance,” Ardern said. “The flooding has caused widespread and significant damage across a number of districts and recovery efforts are ongoing and considerable. “It’s clear that extra funding is needed to relieve pressure on farmers. “This new funding will help ensure that they are supported and can get on with the job of fixing their farms and get their farming operations under way again.” Ardern acknowledged it is early days. “It is too early to have a full assessment of the scale of the damage and what will be required to repair farm damage,” she said. “It’s $4m at this stage and I have not ruled out more funding in the future.” The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has started

depositing grants into the bank accounts of severely floodaffected farmers and we will continue to work closely with Federated Farmers, Rural Support Trusts, councils and industry organisations to support farmers with their recovery. Acting Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri says the region’s farmers and their communities have a big clean-up job ahead of them. “The Government remains committed to helping them get through,” Whaitiri said. Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust chair Peter Reveley welcomed the $4m but says it will barely scratch the surface. “We have farms out there that will easily cost $500,000 to fix; one or two of the most severely damaged farms are looking at up to $1m,” Reveley said. “We need to get a comprehensive assessment of all farms and that will take some time. In the meantime, the immediacy is to get these farmers back into some scale of business.” Reveley confirmed $25m was the figure put to the Prime Minister at this stage for the removal of shingle from farms and rivers. “The rivers are exceedingly weak. This is a massive job and it’s not one that farmers are individually responsible for,” he said. Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers president David Clark says the meeting with the Prime Minister was constructive, focusing on how to deal with the immediate need tempering stress and anxiety, and relieving pressure in the meantime.

ON THE GROUND: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, farmer Chris Allen, MPI deputy director-general Karen Adair and Feds Mid Canterbury president David Clark survey flood damage in Mid Canterbury. Photo: Annette Scott Clark says much of the damage relates to uninsurable land and infrastructure. “We need to be realistic in that traditionally no government of any flavour gets involved in funding of insurable assets on private land, urban or rural. Farmers decide on their view of risk and insure to a level they are comfortable with,” Clark said. “What needs to be clear is that farmers are not asking for government help for a flood event, this is very different. “The natural process in Canterbury is shingle works its way down from the mountains, that’s how the Canterbury Plains formed. “We have held rivers in specific locations as towns and cities developed, but the natural background process has not

stopped, shingle still makes its way out into rivers. “Arguably we have not given enough regard to the removal of that shingle to maintain the flood capacity of the river channels. “In this case, rivers have burst, carrying with it that excess shingle, so these (affected) farmers have taken a significant hit in the process of saving the rest of Canterbury from flooding. Clark says they are looking for a whole of community solution to remove that shingle from the land, so that is how this $4m will be spent, with some very clear criteria. “This is a very specific instance, there is a lot of money to be spent on these rivers, big tasks, millions of dollars,” he said. “We do hope there will be more (government funding) to come.”

This new funding will help ensure that they are supported and can get on with the job of fixing their farms and get their farming operations under way again. Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Flood closes roads but farms safe Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz EAST Coast farmers appear to have been largely unscathed from the flash floods that hit the region, temporarily closing roads around SH35 between Tolaga Bay and Gisborne. The flooding, which occurred overnight on June 20 prompted some evacuations among homes around Tokomaru Bay as rivers around Te Araroa and Wharekahika flooded, according to RNZ. The rain caused numerous roads to be washed away, including a

bridge at Waipiro Bay. In Ruatoria, more than 200mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours. Federated Farmers GisborneWairoa president Toby Williams says the damage appeared to be minor to medium-scaled, ranging from broken fences, slips, flooded paddocks generally cleaning up and removing silt and debris. “It’s nothing outside of normal farm maintenance,” Williams said. There are some reports of stock losses, but these were in the tens, rather than larger figures. He says he was glad the flooding had happened in June rather than in a few months’ time during lambing.

CLEAN UP: The Gisborne District Council closed several roads across the region, while crews removed debris and slips following recent floods. “We’d be having a different conversation,” he said. He says the damage was nowhere near the scale of what occurred in Canterbury earlier this month. The flooding was part of a low pressure system that moved slowly across the North Island, bringing rain for much of the North Island

and northeastern South Island, causing the flooding. “Parts of Gisborne received around 220mm of rain, while over 150mm fell in parts of the Coromandel Peninsula, the ranges of Hawke’s Bay, all the way down to the greater Wellington region over Saturday and Sunday,” MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo

Makgabutlane said Williams says many farmers had also welcomed the rain as it had refilled aquifers, which had been emptied from the prolonged dry. The Gisborne District Council still had several roads up and down the region closed while crews removed debris and slips.

Ruralco chair wins leadership award Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

INVESTED: Women in Governance’s Inspiring Leader of the Year Jessie Chan will not shy away from the hard work it takes to deliver results.

MID Canterbury-based rural service cooperative Ruralco scooped a double win in the Women in Governance Awards. Administered by Governance New Zealand, the awards are held annually to recognise and celebrate innovation, excellence, creativity and commitment to diversity by both organisations and individuals. In what is traditionally perceived as a conservative, male-dominated industry, Ruralco shattered stereotypes, winning the 2021 Gender Diverse Organisation Award, while board chair Jessie Chan won Inspiring Leader of the Year for her role in the agricultural co-operative. In her role as the first female chair of a major NZ rural service co-operative the judges described Chan as an inspirational role model, who as a mum of two young sons, balances raising her boys, alongside dairy farming, several directorships and board representation. Proud to receive the award, Chan dedicated it to her father.

“He taught my siblings and I that we could be whatever we wanted to be and instilled in us that along the way we should help others to reach their potential, in whatever shape or form that might be,” Chan said. She has spent much of her career breaking down barriers and perceptions. “When you pause and consider it, farming has always been a family effort of both a husband-and-wife team,” she said. “The role of women in farming is a critical one and in our business partnership, we play to each other’s strengths.” In the past women had roles that were less visible. What has changed, Chans says, is women are now taking on more public roles in industry or corporate leadership, governance or executive management. “Men and women have to work just as hard as each other to be leaders,” she said. “Do not underestimate yourself because you are female, or too young or old, or a different colour. “I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe in, take responsibility for my

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decisions, nor do I shy away from the hard work it takes to deliver results.” Ruralco chief executive Robert Sharkie says Chan’s mantra is to lead by example. “This award is recognition of the passion and dedication in the way that she leads and inspires others,” Sharkie said. In accepting the Gender Diverse Organisation award, Sharkie says Ruralco is always about the best person for the job. The team at Ruralco is proud that more than 60% of its people represent gender diversity across all levels within the organisation. “We have created an environment that treats everybody equally, fostering an open-minded culture, not just putting quotas around gender,” he said. Ruralco has led the way, with the cooperative members voting women to four of the seven seats on the board of directors. “By having that diversity of thought around the board and executive table means the organisation is much better placed to understand their customers and stakeholders, and benefit from fresh perspectives, new ideas, vigorous challenge and broad experience,” he said.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Meat producers bag top award Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz A PASTORAL sector food producer has claimed the top award in this year’s annual New Zealand Food Producer Awards with their paddock-to-plate approach to meat marketing. Masterton couple Dion and Ali Kilmister took their sheep and beef farming business to the next level in 2017, creating the Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats brand, and have claimed a food producer award for the second time. They also claimed the paddock award in 2018 for their gourmet lamb pack. The Supreme award this year went to their mixed box of beef and lamb cuts, and they once again claimed the Giesen Paddock Champion award. The couple run 1500-head of cattle and 15,000 sheep across the lower North Island and a deli and butchery shop in Masterton, alongside their online store. They earnt high praise from head judge and food critic Lauraine Jacobs, who says the company’s mixed box was an “absolute standout”. “Every single cut of meat in that box was incredibly flavourful and tasty, a testament to good farming practices and the natural

New Zealand grass-fed lamb and beef that is the envy of farming countries around the world,” Jacobs said. The couple’s store was forced to close only six months after opening due to the covid lockdown, prompting a separate online store for the butchery.

Every single cut of meat in that box was incredibly flavourful and tasty, a testament to good farming practices and the natural New Zealand grass-fed lamb and beef that is the envy of farming countries around the world. Lauraine Jacobs NZ Food Producer Awards The couple are half of a duo of Wairarapa businesses to claim an award, with Tora Collective named Seafood NZ Water Champion for its fresh paua caught sustainably off the Wairarapa coast. Jacobs says this year’s awards

WINNERS: Homegrown Meats owners Dion and Ali Kilmister claimed the supreme award at this year’s food producer awards. comprised 10 judging panels of three experts assessing 300 food and drink entries from 126 producers around NZ. Entries this year included a mix of traditionally produced pastoral-type products, and a new wave of dairy alternative products. These included natural coconut kefir yoghurt from Raglan Food

Company and Mango Lassi dairy-free gelato from Little ‘Lato. More traditionally sourced winners included black doris plums in pinot noir syrup from Augustines in Central Otago, who claimed the Earth Champion award, while the Peoples’ Choice award went to Oliff

Farm premium pasture eggs from north of Auckland. “It is comforting to see that amongst numerous clever food innovators and food producers there are still many natural unadulterated products that shine, showing just how good fresh-fromthe- farm or sea New Zealand food is,” she said.

Kiwis want to buy their food direct

HANDBRAKE: Our Land and Water Science leader Dr James Turner says high food prices and the influence of large market players are seen to be preventing sustainable farming outcomes.

URBAN New Zealanders surveyed after attending this year’s Open Farms event see buying direct from farmers as the most effective action they can take to support sustainable farming. That’s one of the findings of research conducted by the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge and Open Farms, which suggests developing direct relationships between farmers and those who live in urban areas is a potential pathway towards more sustainable farming practices. Our Land and Water Science leader Dr James Turner says high

food prices and the influence of large market players are seen to be preventing sustainable outcomes. “We also found a standout potential solution from urban respondents – buy food direct from a farmer,” Turner, who is also a senior AgResearch scientist, says. The research was compiled from a post-event survey of 263 respondents (83% from an urban base), a host farmer survey (25 respondents) and qualitative phone interviews. Urban and farmer respondents agreed that the biggest barrier to sustainable farming is the

purchasing and pricing power of large market players, like supermarkets. “Respondents generally understood the nuance of food systems issues – like how demand for cheaper food can drive unsustainable practices, or how supermarkets can act as a gatekeeper to market, excluding more sustainable producers through price setting,” he said. “These findings echo concerns raised by the Australian Commerce Commission and Consumer NZ around the vulnerability of farmers in this type of competitive price market.”

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The price of food in NZ is the elephant in the room, with about 60% of those in urban areas surveyed saying food is already too expensive. “In the past few years, food prices have been rising faster than the rate of general inflation. Statistics NZ’s Food Price Index shows fruit and vegetable prices increased 8.9% last year, while general inflation sat at 1.4%,” he said. “But we need to recognise that selling direct is currently challenging because our food system is set up for mass production and big retailers.”

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10 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Farming with the right mindset Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

ONE, TWO, THREE: Keynote speaker psychology therapist Dr Ceri Evans says resetting mental power can be as simple as three steps.

flooding has created for many Canterbury farmers. In his address, Van der Poel highlighted the positives in the sector. “Global demand for dairy is on the rise, prices are strong, and we are on the brink of landing a free trade agreement with the UK,” Van der Poel said. “Our public perception of dairy has also improved due to covid, as the rest of New Zealand remembered what a huge economic contribution our dairy farmers make.” A recent survey showed 73% of the NZ public are positive towards the dairy sector. “It is a great time to be a Kiwi dairy farmer, even if it may not always feel like it with all the regulation that has been coming our way,” he said. NZ dairy farmers are the most

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sustainable dairy farmers in the world and had evidence to prove it. “We are making great progress in reducing our footprint,” he said. “We should be proud of this and the work we are doing.” The future is about evolving. “And that is not something we should be scared of, it’s just the next stage of our industry’s evolution,” he said. The event opened with keynote speaker, psychology therapist Dr Ceri Evans who discussed mental performance under pressure and how to respond better to challenges. Evans’ mind model is used by people serious about performing under pressure, from doctors to lawyers, executive teams to professionals, to amateurs. He has provided specialist consultancy to the All Blacks since 2010.

Performing under pressure is about the situation we find ourselves in and the choices around that situation. Pressure and high performance are intimately connected. “We act different and behave different, because of the context we are in,” Evans said. “People often respond with an instinctive response under pressure. “In these states people can overreact and have difficulty thinking or acting – you need to know your state to control how you respond. “People can also choose to respond in a more positive way, involving thinking, curiosity, exploring and connecting. Evans says if you want to reach your potential, you need to explore your limits. “Mindset and attitude are the

Photo: Annette Scott

big things that you can change,” he said. “If you want to get physically stronger you go to the gym – that’s easy. “If you want to get mentally stronger, where’s the mental gym? That’s a problem.” Mental strength is a sliding scale, but finding mental superpower can be as simple as three steps. Step back to gain emotional control, step up to see better options and step in to take the initiative. When problem-solving it’s important not to get too complex. “It’s a profound choice, complete or complain – go for completion culture,” he said. “Chunk it down, get it done, feel good – it’s a simple thing. “I promise you your life will change.”

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CONNECT, listen and lead together will be the way forward for the agricultural sector in the changing farming environment. SIDE MC and NZX head of insights Julia Jones urged the 460 farmers attending the two-day event in Ashburton to lean into the learning. “The biggest risk in the agricultural sector is us, we are the biggest risk of not being able to move forward,” Jones said. “We need to connect, discover and grow – and don’t give change the chance to get its hands around your throat.” The power of the future will be about perverse thinking. “Listen, absorb, ask and understand – all of you are investing in your future and the future of your sector by being here,” she said. SIDE chair Andrew Slater says dairy cannot ignore the need for businesses to evolve and meet upcoming challenges. “The agricultural sector is constantly facing multifaceted challenges and change,” Slater said. “We have all survived these challenges to date, relying on resilience, foresight and getting on with it. “With continued environmental challenges, changes in the finance sector and increasing demands from the end users of our products; our farming systems need to evolve to not only survive, but to prosper and grow sustainably while continuing to be the backbone of the economy.” These challenges include the recent Canterbury flooding that affected many farms throughout the region. Acknowledging the impact on local farmers, SIDE’s organising committee donated $1000 from the event to the Rural Support Trust providing support for farmers affected by the recent flooding. DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel also acknowledged the unprecedented challenges the

News

farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Wiggy has a rural passion RURAL personality and farming advocate Craig ‘Wiggy’ Wiggins has been awarded the Ravensdown Agricultural Communicator of the Year 2021 title. The award recognises and honours individuals and groups that have made important contributions to the agricultural community by using their skills to effectively communicate issues, events and information that are relevant to the rural communities and the wider agricultural sector. A passionate farmer, horse trainer, commentator and announcer, Wiggins became more famous for his work in rural communities over the past year with the launch of Whatever with Wiggy, a weekly Zoom forum for farmers to engage with industry leaders and politicians to discuss issues of importance to the agricultural community. Whatever with Wiggy was the result of the covid lockdown and Wiggins’ initiative to keep farmers and rural communities connected. He was a leading organiser and facilitator of the recent Agri Connect rural mental health seminar, which taught attendees the tell-tale signs of mental strain and where to direct farmers for help. “I am pretty humbled, this is the first time I have really been acknowledged for what I do,” Wiggins said. “I’m still a bit struck by it really. “I have done a lot of different agricultural commentator roles and a lot of people have supported me along the way. “I am passionate about agriculture and rural New Zealand and rural community health, both physical and mental, is driven by strong farmers – that’s what drives me. “Hopefully, this award will help me do more to help people, rural communities and for mental health.” Involved with farming himself,

Wiggins has the gift of the gab when it comes to relating to farmers. “I’m in a pretty lucky spot and the honesty comes from the fact I am not here to make money, I just want to make sure the right tools are available to help those in need,” he said. “When you see the good outcomes, see success for farmers and rural communities, and a farmer pats you on the back to say thank you for what you do – it is gratifying.” Wiggins is grateful to have such a good support team. “I couldn’t do this without the support of my wife Annabelle, my two daughters and my Mum, who turns up to help too.” He acknowledged the Farming Families team of Jayne, Bruce, Frances and Rebecca who have helped make a lot of events happen, and Heidi Sixtus from Manawatū for joining the management of Whatever with Wiggy to keep the wheels rolling. “To everyone who has supported me and contributed to our industry and let me be a part of your piece of the pie – thank you,” he said. “This award belongs to all you good buggers.” President of the NZ Guild of Agricultural Journalists and Communicators Jackie Harrigan says Wiggins is a deserving winner, having facilitated much-needed discussions within the agricultural sector, keeping political and industry leaders apprised of the mood on-farm. “His passion and advocacy for NZ’s agricultural communities has engaged and connected farmers, industry leaders, politicians, NGOs and the public,” Harrigan said. “Whatever with Wiggy has been an invaluable communication platform for members of the agricultural community, especially during the covid-19 lockdown and restrictions when many were feeling isolated and overworked.” Wiggins has played an important role in promoting farming and agribusiness as a viable career pathway for the next generation.

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12 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

DoC defends grazing licence u-turn Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS are worried the exclusion of cattle from an area of the Haast River Valley, which has been grazed for over a century, will allow an influx of weeds and accentuate flooding issues. The Department of Conservation (DoC) has reversed a decision last year to renew a concession held by South Westland farmer John Cowan for 35 years who sought a renewal of the licence to graze 60 cows and 50 calves on 736ha for six months. Westland Mayor Bruce Smith says removing grazing pressure will allow weeds to infiltrate, creating obstacles for flood waters, which will cause more environmental damage than cattle. DoC South Westland operation’s

OUTCOME: DoC director general Lou Sanson says advice revealed that alternatives to fencing were impractical, making containment of stock “difficult and probably impossible”.

manager Wayne Costello says it already actively manages the area and will continue to do so, and he does not anticipate any issues with weeds and river blockages or flooding. “DoC has maintained a programme of weed control in the

valleys above this land and there are very low levels of gorse and other weeds, both on the block and in the general area,” Costello said. “We expect that our current work programme of weed control in the wider area will be expanded

slightly to include this land and will successfully maintain low weed numbers there.” Last year’s decision to approve Cowan’s application came with fencing conditions to keep stock out of the Mt Aspiring National Park, an adjacent conservation area and pockets of native vegetation. Cowan subsequently asked for some of those requirements to be reconsidered, saying they were impractical, raised animal welfare issues and were economically unviable. In his decision, DoC director general Lou Sanson says advice revealed that alternatives to fencing were impractical, making containment of stock “difficult and probably impossible”. “As there are no means in your case to contain stock within the licence area, the licence which was granted on the basis that such

containment was possible, is of no effect,” Sanson said. He says in a statement that DoC tried to find a workable solution but without fencing it, made grazing inconsistent with the Conservation Act and other statutory planning documents it must abide by. In a letter to Cowan, Sanson noted he has two other licences in the Haast Valley that are farmed alongside land he owns, with DoC considering an application to renew one. “I am confident that each application will be assessed in accordance with the information you provide in support of the application together with the legislation and relevant planning instruments and reports, and my decision in no way sets a precedent for other South Westland grazing licences,” he said.

Sector’s rising stars acknowledged A 50% jump in the number of nominations for the 2021 Primary Industries New Zealand (PINZ) Awards underpins the amount of innovation and leadership going on in the sector and growing awareness of the need to celebrate it, Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland says. With 65 nominations, up from just over 40 last year, judges have had the tough task of selecting finalists in seven categories. Winners will be announced at the PINZ Summit in Christchurch on July 6. “With a whole set of gnarly challenges in front of us – from global warming, biosecurity threats, cost pressures and demand for more community water storage, to name a few – robust science, entrepreneurial spirit and cross-agency

teamwork is needed,” Copeland said. “The PINZ Awards acknowledge and honour the teams, individuals and businesses striving to make a difference in the primary industries sphere, and by doing so boost the employment prospects and standard of living of all New Zealanders.” Finalists in the 2021 PINZ Awards are: Outstanding Contribution • Malcolm Bailey – Dairy Companies Association of NZ • Tony Cleland – FarmRight • Richard Lucas – Lincoln University Industry Champion Award • Frances Clement – Policy & Issues Manager, NZ Pork • Tam Jex-Blake – Farmer, Mangapoike

• Kerry Allen – HOD Agribusiness, St Paul’s Collegiate School Producer Award • The True Honey Co. • NIG Nutritionals • Silver Fern Farms Science & Research Award • Professor Jon Hickford, Dr Huitong Zhou, Freeman Fang – Lincoln University • Bevan Harris – LIC • NIWA Led Irrigation Insight Programme Emerging Leader Award • Emma Boase – Horticulture New Zealand • Angus Dowson – Ballance Agri Nutrients • Coadette Low – Rathkeale College Innovation & Collaboration Award • Tōtara Industry Pilot – Scion • Cellulose nanocrystals from

REWARDING EFFORTS: Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland says the PINZ Awards acknowledges and honours the teams, individuals and businesses striving to make a difference in the primary industries sphere.

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14 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Gallagher sees a virtual future Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz GALLAGHER, the animal management company best known for the electric fence, has moved into the new frontier of virtual fencing after purchasing virtual fence company Agersens. The Australian company are the creators of eShepherd, a virtual fencing system that uses GPSconnected collars fitted around a cattle beast’s neck that uses audio cues and pulses to direct the animal. Gallagher first began investing in eShepherd in 2016 and moved to full ownership earlier this month. Speaking at Fieldays, Gallagher chief executive Kahl Betham said the farming industry had reached a tipping point where older technology was being replaced by digitisation. Gallagher’s purchase of Agersens fitted into the company’s future of farms strategy. “The eShepherd product provides us with a critical component of this future farm platform, which adds animal monitoring and also automated pasture management,” Betham said. Individual precision animal management was the way of the

future for farming, Gallagher global strategy and new ventures manager Sarah Adams added. “It’s where a lot of the productivity gains can be made,” Adams said. Everything is becoming digitised and individual precision animal management was a big opportunity for increasing productivity in the near future. She says eShepherd pulled together Gallagher’s other animal monitoring technologies, and farmers can manage every animal as an individual, providing a quantum lift in productivity. Adams compared it to the productivity lift sheep farmers obtained when sheep pregnancy scanning became available. “This is another technology that will enable you to identify individual animals and manage them completely differently,” she said. Using eShepherd, farmers can set up virtual paddocks and fence lines to effectively manage their stock. They create the virtual fence from either their tablet or computer, using GPS coordinates on a digital map of their property. Each animal is fitted with a solar-powered neckband around its neck, which monitors its location and controls its

movement. The collar is connected online by a base station. As they near the GPS fence, they are alerted by an audio cue from the neckband – a loud beep. If they move away from the fence, nothing further happens. If they ignore the cue and cross the boundary, the neckband delivers a short aversive electrical pulse; a training approach similar to that used for a traditional electric fence. This ensured the cattle stayed out of waterways or other sensitive areas. The neckband also contains software designed to alert farmers if the animal is behaving abnormally. “It’s a real game-changer in how we manage our pasture and our animals,” she said. The product has been trialed on Australian farms and Gallagher is working with Pamu to trial eShepherd on New Zealand farms ahead of its expected commercial release next year. The GPS-driven interface also has the capability for farmers to create exclusion zones within the inclusion area, allowing overgrazed paddocks, areas prone to pugging or waterways within a paddock to be virtually fenced off. All trials have been run under

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AGRITECH: Cattle grazing pasture fitted with an eShepherd neckband. animal ethics approval. The technology will detect if an animal is being chased or has bolted through the eShepherd fence and will automatically turn off. Farmers can set up as many virtual paddocks as they need. When cattle are ready to be moved, the farmer selects the virtual paddock destination and, if it is contiguous, the system pushes them to the new paddock from the back. While the cost of the neckband was still being finalised, Adams estimated it would cost around $300 each. Gallagher global marketing manager Mark Harris says farming

was a tough profession, with fewer people wanting to go into it for a career. “But with new technology and new ways of doing things, we can put the fun back into farming – how farming was when people had more time to spend with their families and to do the things they enjoy,” Harris said, adding technology can take us to that place. Sir William Gallagher says company founder Bill Gallagher would have been very surprised by the technology, but the world was heading in that direction. “It’s a big step from where he came from,” Gallagher said.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

NZ must address its food waste Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz NEW research has found New Zealand households are throwing away an average of $1229 of food per year, totalling $2.4 billion across the entire population. The research by Rabobank and KiwiHarvest found that while New Zealanders were taking positive steps to reduce food waste, the estimated value of food being thrown away was continuing to increase. Released at Fieldays, it found that 8.6% of New Zealanders’ weekly food spend has been wasted, a slight fall from 10.2% found in a previous survey in 2019. The research by independent research agency KANTAR involved interviews with 1509 New Zealanders in April this year.

Seventy-nine percent of New Zealanders say they care about reducing food waste, however, there remains a significant disconnect between New Zealanders’ attitudes towards food waste and the action they are taking. Todd Chateris Rabobank

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was at the release of the report, says it showed New Zealanders had a long way to go to reducing food wastage and it was having big socioeconomic effects. “At the same time that we’re throwing away nearly 3000 tonnes of food waste a year, New Zealanders are facing financial pressures and struggling to put food on the table. We all know we need to turn this around,” Ardern said. She says reducing food waste was important from both a community wellbeing and environmental perspective. Ardern also confirmed an extra $153,000 funding from the Waste Minimisation Fund for KiwiHarvest to expand its services in rescuing food along the value chain and distributing it to those in need. Rabobank chief executive Todd Charteris says it was staggering that New Zealanders wasted around 330,000t of food across households, retailers and commercial operations every year. He says there had been positive behavioural changes. In comparison to 2019 research, New Zealanders are more likely to be eating leftovers, considering portion sizes and eating food past its use-by date. While those changes are a step in the right direction, he says the research identified opportunities to turn New Zealanders’ concerns about food waste into action. “Seventy-nine percent of New Zealanders say they care about

WORK NEEDED: New Zealanders have a long way to go to reducing food wastage, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. reducing food waste, however, there remains a significant disconnect between New Zealanders’ attitudes towards food waste and the action they are taking,” Charteris said. Rabobank head of sustainable development Blake Holgate says fruit and vegetables accounted for two-thirds of all food waste, followed by bread, which made up a little over one-quarter of all wasted food, and meat, which contributed 6%. The survey found food going off before it could be eaten continued to be the major contributor. Food going off before the use-by or best before date and food not tasting as good as expected were the next most significant reasons for throwing away food. It also found differences in behaviour among younger and older generations of those surveyed. “Older Kiwis were found to be

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much more likely than younger generations to be practising household food behaviours that reduce food waste. And, as you’d expect, this translates through to older generations having a lower percentage of their household food spend wasted,” Holgate said. “The research found Baby Boomers estimate they throw away just 5% of their household food spend with Gen X not far behind at 6%. Then comes a sizable jump to Gen Y at 12%, with Gen Z estimating they waste the largest proportion of food spend at 16%. “What I find interesting is that if you look at their key concerns over the next 10 years, climate change and the impact on natural environments were number two and three.” He says if they can make these consumers aware of the connection they have to the supply chain, it would help better drive positive change.

KiwiHarvest founder Deborah Manning says one in five children lived in households where food often ran out. That ratio was one in three for Māori children and one in two for Pasifika children. “Clearly we have a problem with the adequacy of food supply to our households,” Manning said. There were also hundreds and thousands of tonnes of food being produced in NZ and ending up as waste. This was a lost opportunity to feed these people and it was also an environmental issue because of the methane the dumped food emitted. Manning says food waste occurred throughout the food chain and there was little data to quantify the extent of that part of the problem. An example of this has been the issues facing the horticulture industry around labour shortages and weather events, which left produce still on the tree.

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Contact South Island Brian Ferns (+64) 027 5970 198 Brian.ferns@crystalyx.co.nz

Crystalyx NZ

IT’S NOT ONLY FEEDING KIWI COWS

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

NZ behind in covid-19 recovery Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz WHILE New Zealand is not at risk of dying, its covid recovery pace is falling behind, ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says. Speaking at the NZ Grains and Seed Trade Association (NZGSTA) forum in Lincoln Tuffley told arable farmers and industry stakeholders it was the global backdrop that would grow NZ’s agricultural markets. China rebounded very sharply from covid and that had been a real strength globally. Tuffley says the US, a strong key market, is adding to that this year, creating income in other parts of the world that hopefully NZ can benefit from. But for NZ, he says that will depend on how quickly it can get parts of its economy growing. “It will be how quickly we can get borders open and at the moment that is really challenging,” Tuffley said. “We are not at risk of dying but getting our economy growing links to the border opening and the vaccination programme – and we are behind.” While strong spending growth in US manufacturing is expected to help the global economy, seaborne trade capacity remains under pressure with not enough ships,

not enough containers and delays at ports. “There will be a lot more uncertainty in these shipping lanes as we are not expecting change anytime soon, and our biggest port, Auckland, is functioning very poorly at present,” he said. “The logistics challenges are expected to linger into next year and they are import and export challenges we didn’t expect as we come out of the pandemic.” Tuffley says while the border remains “shut tight”, the agricultural industry will battle the labour challenges. “Government wants local labour but it’s not working, there’s not the right skills – even to teach how to set the alarm clock and wake up to it and get up and shower and go to work,” he said. “The border will not open materially until sometime into next year. “There will be a lot more need in NZ to do on-job training. “It’s going to be very important over the next couple of years to look after and retain staff.” In the meantime, NZ’s agricultural commodity export prices remain resilient as growth lifts further following the US stimulus and pressure to supply whenever, wherever possible. While there is still a lot of variation across dairy and meat,

There is very strong demand for different commodities with encouraging growing demand for NZ food and grains. Nick Tuffley ASB

STATUS QUO: ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says while the border remains shut, the agricultural industry will battle the labour challenges.

grains are showing a tighter supply and relative to demand, prices have tipped sharply higher. This has been driven by hefty Chinese feed imports throughout 2020 seeking to ramp up domestic agricultural production, but China’s domestic land is not large enough to meet needs. Tuffley says the wheat market is looking to be tight with feed grain prices in the driver’s seat because of the strong outlook for meat and dairy. Maize and coarse grain crops are not looking to be enough to meet supply, again in the driver’s seat given the outlook for meat and dairy.

While the global economy is bouncing back, Tuffley says the pace of recovery will be determined by the success and speed of the covid vaccination. Commodity and food demand is strong particularly in terms of grain and feed related prices. “There is very strong demand for different commodities as we come out of this cycle with encouraging growing demand for NZ food and grains,” he said. “We expect strong performance as we head through the end of the year with good underpinnings for the next while for agriculturally produced prices.”

Coalition of the willing GREATER collaboration is being called on to better coordinate and fund agritech solutions to mitigating agriculture’s carbon footprint. These solutions were critical to efforts to mitigate the farming industry’s carbon emissions, British High Commissioner Laura Clarke said in a panel discussion at Fieldays. There was a huge amount that New Zealand and the United Kingdom could do together to enhance agritech development. “We’re doing a lot together between the UK and NZ on agritech development, developing partnerships with real world benefits,” Clarke said. She says collaboration was a key component of Great Britain’s climate change strategy. “It needs to be a ‘whole of society, whole of economy’ effort,” she said. Callaghan Innovation agritech general manager Simon Yarrow says innovators needed to be included in discussions around climate change research and technology. NZ’s private sector investment in climate technology was tiny compared to other countries with advanced economies. “These other economies were investing 1000 times more than NZ is on climate tech,” he said, adding there was a huge opportunity for NZ to do better.” Yarrow says there is a “coalition of the willing” among this sector to drive this technology forward. He backed Clarke’s call for collaboration in the sector. “We need to be working in the ag

sector with the food companies and the ag companies. We need industry organisations and government agencies to be working together and we need investors,” he said. Former Agritech NZ executive director Peter Wren-Hilton says he would love to see in the UK-NZ free trade agreement that is currently being negotiated some focus on collaboration between the two countries within the agritech space. “There’s certainly ambition in NZ to scale up our agritech sector,” Wren-Hilton said. He hoped it would extend to more collaboration around licencing and IP between the two countries. “It’s absolutely possible and we see that happening today,” he said. The British High Commission’s head of trade Colin Leeman says trade agreements did provide a vehicle to look at cooperation for businesses.

What are you looking for in a maize seed provider?

Yarrow says the right kind of regulatory framework was going to be very important to help drive this technology. For Callaghan, that regulatory framework had to help them create commercial solutions. “If you’re doing environmentally well, you’re probably reducing your inputs and hopefully increasing your outputs,” Callaghan said. “We need that right framework to drive good behaviour.” Wren-Hilton says there was a pretty unanimous response on regulations when speaking to growers and farmers at Fieldays, that there is lots of it. “What we need are the tools and applications to be able to address the challenges and that is one area where agritech has a hugely important role to play,” Wren-Hilton said. “Regulation without innovation is, I wouldn’t say pointless, but it’s not going to have the same effect. There has to be a carrot as well as a stick.”

“I’m looking for innovation and research, good productivity and genetics.” GRAY BALDWIN 185 ha in seed from Corson Maize

Gray and Marilyn Baldwin are passionate about maize - so much so they have 185 hectares of their Putaruru farm planted in a range of Corson Maize hybrids, and for good reason. They have transformed an uncertain and weather-dependent feed supply into an all-year-round, nutritious complement to pasture that provides more certainty of revenue. Why Corson Maize? With a significant amount invested in maize, they wanted a maize seed provider that aligned with their specific needs.

NETWORK: More collaboration in the agtech sector could help find solutions to climate change, a panel of tech experts and diplomats at the Fieldays say. The panel included former Agritech New Zealand executive director Peter Wren-Hilton, Callaghan Innovation agritech general manager Simon Yarrow, British High Commissioner Laura Clarke and the British High Commission’s head of trade Colin Leeman.

Come on over and grow with us. PWS 2123

Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz

Inflation is currently spiking at 3%, but Tuffley expects it will settle in the 2-2.5% range over the next two years, with the Reserve Bank starting to lift interest rates mid-2022, as the rebound happens quicker than initially thought. NZGSTA gains and pulses chair Ed Luisetti says the forum brought industry stakeholders together to collaborate around key changes and opportunities for the sector. The cereals and pulses sector remains a vital component of the arable industry, with growers producing 994,000t of wheat, barley, oats, and maize grain from 112,000ha in the 2020 harvest. “Underpinning the industry is the top-class breeding of new and improved cultivars to help growers improve their productivity and profitability,” Luisetti said.

corsonmaize.co.nz 0800 4 MAIZE (62493)

News

18 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Farmer debt landscape changing Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz AS THEY locked down with the rest of the country last year during the covid pandemic, farmers were also nailing down debt levels and focusing strongly upon principal repayments. Amid this year’s buoyancy at Mystery Creek Fieldays, there was also an underlying belief among rural bankers that their clients’ spending spree comes as debt levels lower and balance sheets strengthen. Latest Reserve Bank data on the rural lending to the end of March this year indicates the sector holds $60.5 billion in debt, down 1.6% on the same time a year ago, and expected to fall further in the coming season as strong commodity prices boost early season cashflows. ASB’s head of business banking Tim Deane says there has been a complete shift in attitudes of farmers to debt, with expectations principal payments will be included from the start in farm loans and interest-only loans largely in the past. Interest-only repayments on large farm business loans became commonplace through the mid2000s for several years, coinciding with double-digit capital gain values on dairy land in particular, pushing that sector to record $41b in debt in November 2018. “We are seeing farmers embracing principal repayments, and they understand a strong balance sheet means a more resilient business and ultimately

that means they will be in a position to make the most of opportunities as they come along,” he said. Deane was adamant ASB had not shut shop in lending despite more debt being repaid and farmers with good equity levels were exercising their ability to take on new farm businesses. “Our criteria for equity has not shifted much, we have been remarkably consistent and will definitely say no if the equity position is too low, or if cashflow will put too much pressure on the business,” he said.

We are seeing farmers embracing principal repayments, and they understand a strong balance sheet means a more resilient business and ultimately that means they will be in a position to make the most of opportunities as they come along. Tim Deane ASB Acknowledging the tendency of the dairy sector to capitalise stronger cashflow value into land value capital gains, Deane says this has been far less apparent now. “We have seen a significant lift

in dairy payouts, but dairy farm prices have remained relatively stable. People are increasingly focused upon cash flow, production, rather than farming for capital gain,” he said. ANZ’s managing director for business Lorraine Mapu says farmer clients were recognising the capital demands likely to come in order to comply with sustainability demands, driven by regulatory bodies and consumer expectations. “This could result in fewer cows, maybe lower output, so you need to have some headroom in your balance sheet for these requirements,” Mapu said. Her lending staff were also seeing greater interest among farmers in diversifying their farm business, incorporating kiwifruit, for example, into a dairy farm operation. A tool ANZ uses for mapping the farm’s spatial layout can highlight opportunities that not only provide an additional income source, but help mitigate the property’s overall nutrient footprint. “In terms of succession, we are also seeing the younger generation of farmers managing to bring their older generation, maybe their parents, along with them when it comes to looking at opportunities and considering sustainability,” she said. Mapu’s experiences are in sharp contrast to those her predecessor Mark Hiddlestone shared with Farmers Weekly at Mystery Creek two years ago. At that stage dairying was emerging from the

PULLED ALONG: ANZ’s Lorraine Mapu says the younger generation of farming clients is drawing the older along the sustainable pathway.

hangover of high debt, tough climatic conditions and lower payouts from 2014 until then. The bank was moving then to reduce its exposure to the rural market, which reached a historical high of 36% some years earlier. Today that share sits at about 27%. The ANZ commodity price index is now at an all-time high, having experienced eight consecutive lifts, up 1.3% to the end of May, and coming despite a

1% firming in the NZ currency. Chief executive Todd Charteris says Rabobank was sharing a similar reduction in interest-only loans, with significant portions of principal being repaid. He says Rabobank was working hard on behalf of its clients who were struggling to source staff. “We have engaged with the Government where we can to provide some background and views from on the ground about this challenge,” Charteris said.

High prices across sector drive up index Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz WITH the new farming year kicking off, high commodity prices are continuing to push positive views from analysts on the new farming year’s prospects. Speaking at Mystery Creek Fieldays, ANZ commodities analyst Susan Kilsby says the strength lay across the board, with the exception of wool, and has pushed the bank’s commodity

price index to an all-time high. “Logs are the only commodity actually at their highest point. The other sectors are not at their peak, but rather it is just that all sectors have combined at the same time to be close to their peaks, driving the entire index up,” Kilsby said. Log prices have increased by 25% on a year ago, with China driving demand just as global supplies of exported logs have tightened.

RECORD: Susan Kilsby says a combination of historically high prices for all commodities has pushed the ANZ Commodity Index to its highest point ever.

Up to May, the ANZ’s commodity price index had experienced eight consecutive increases, with the last one in May jumping 1.3% month-on-month. Underpinning the increases is a steady lift in oil prices since the global pandemic’s peak, rising from US$42 a barrel in November to US$73.53 this month. In the primary sector grain prices have experienced major surges in value, with wheat increasing from US$229 a tonne in March to US$278/t. Corn prices have lifted 19% from US$257/t in March to US$305 in May. This has been largely driven by China’s efforts to restock its devastated pig population, recovering from the impact of African swine fever. “They have a less efficient pig population, with stock that may not have normally been kept, requiring more feed per kilo of pork produced,” she said. The Chinese pork industry is undergoing changes similar to what the dairy sector has undergone, with multiple smaller operators exiting the industry, and large European-style pork farming systems being installed to help improve productivity and reduce disease risk. The trade war with the United States and the impact of covid

on food supply lines has resharpened China’s awareness of its inability to completely feed itself, with the country doubling down on efforts to expand its production capacity.

There has also been a lot of talk about China growing its milk supply. I keep going back to the fact they do not have enough land and face constraints. Susan Kilsby ANZ However, Kilsby cautioned that New Zealand processors were facing real and lingering constraints to production that were taking the cream off what could be even higher returns. Global shipping costs have rocketed, while container supplies particularly for refrigerated units have been in dire shortage. Globally, she says milk supply growth has been slowing, with increased environmental considerations affecting much of the world, with the exception of

South America. “There has also been a lot of talk about China growing its milk supply. I keep going back to the fact they do not have enough land and face constraints,” she said. There is no cheap shipping for importing feed. The days of cheap backloading are gone.” In the meantime, she doubts efforts by NZ to stop live trading in dairy cattle to China will significantly dent the country’s efforts to improve genetic stock, with stock likely to be sourced from Australia and Uruguay in future. In coming years, she anticipates there will be more specific price signals paid to farmers for red meat supplies, reflecting the carbon footprint of rearing stock to certain ages. “It is likely to be a bit like what the dairy companies are doing where they pay a premium for meeting certain targets,” she said. “Sheep and beef are a bit further behind, and the longer-term trend is likely to be linking consumers’ needs to what is happening on-farm in the form of a more contracted supply agreement. Processors will have to price in at some point the emissions for different aged livestock. There is little incentive to do so at this point.”

AginED Ag ED

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

Volume 62 I June 28, 2021 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I w w w.farmersweekly.co.nz

Why is Matariki celebrated? Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster. It rises during Pipiri (June/July) and marks the beginning of the Māori new year. Traditionally, Mãori iwi, or communities, would gather together at night during a time of the constellation's prominence, making use of the period between harvests to celebrate and make offerings for a bountiful future. When Matariki disappeared in April/May, it was time to preserve crops for the winter season. When it re-appeared in June/July its appearance was said to predict the success of the season ahead; clear bright stars are a good omen and hazy stars predict a cold, harsh winter. The brightness of each individual star predicts the fortunes of a specific thing that star represents, such as the wind or food that grows in trees.

What are the Matariki star names?

Although there are actually 1000’s of stars that make up the pleaides cluster, and there are technically 9 stars that make up the constellation, there’s just 7 stars you can really make out with the naked eye. It’s these 7 stars that have traditionally been known as the 7 sisters, or the Matariki.

Can you name the stars of Matariki? SIMPLE WAYS TO CELEBRATE MATARIKI WITH YOUR FAMILY

A New Harvest Use Matariki as a time to clear the winter vegetables, and prepare your vegetable garden for the new planting. It could become a family tradition to do the gardening all together – at least for one day of the year.

Tree Planting Contact your local Department of Conservation to find out if there are any regeneration projects happening in your area. Organise to plant a tree on Matariki, or better still, get together with a group of friends and plant several. Head to https://youtu. be/30V9 _ BUPt50 to watch a great video that explains what the stars of Matariki represent.

DID YOU KNOW?

When Matariki does arrive it will be the last Matariki to go unmarked by a public holiday. Next year, Matariki will be celebrated on June 24 with a day off.

Have a go: This graph shows the average 475-525kg Friesian bull values from the Feilding Store Cattle sale.

We’re at the peak of the long dark nights with the winter solstice now behind us. The winter solstice was at 3:31pm this past Monday and marks the shortest day of the year (or, to put it far more accurately: the day with the least amount of available sunlight). After this point the earth begins to slowly swing back allowing the Southern Hemisphere to receive increasingly more sunlight. However, temperatures are at their lowest usually a few weeks later with our coldest weather normally in July and August. The solstice is a precise moment in time. So next week, yes, the days start to very very slowly get longer again…but only by a few seconds or minutes to begin with. (which you won’t notice for another four weeks or so). When do you think that farmers and early risers will properly notice the longer days/extra sunlight again?

PASSING THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR:

BRIGHT SIDE Days gradually start to get longer again from July The solar winter (the three months of the year with least available sunlight) is now more than halfway through You can tell yourself we’re on the slide to Summer (even if only in your head at this early stage!)

What was the average value at the most recent sale?

2 How does this compare to last year? 3 How does this compare to the five-year average?

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1

The bright & dark sides of the Winter Solstice

Describe the typical pattern of values for this class of cattle at Feilding from March to September.

2 A line of 22 R2 Friesian bulls weighing 496kg sold well at $1465. How much did these bulls make in $/kg? 3 The heaviest bulls at this sale weighed 655kg and earned $2.82/kg. What was the per-head price of this line?

DARK SIDE Usually gets wetter and colder for the next two months ahead Limited sunlight before and after school/work Increased risk of wind chill affecting livestock Higher risks of depression and anxiety due to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) (And to help with that, turn on more lights, the brightness literally cheers people up)

What are your bright side and dark side lists?

e.g. Is it harder to get motivated to do your jobs/chores in the evenings since it gets dark early? Do you like it getting dark earlier as it is easier to get to sleep?

On the flip side:

Do some research and find out when the longest day occurs. Are temperatures at their highest at this point of the year? Why or why not?

BE IN TO WIN WITH Head to www.honestwolf.co.nz and answer these questions to be in the draw to win an Honest Wolf wool cap! 1

What is the name of the farm where the wool for Honest Wolf products comes from?

2 What four colours do the wool caps come in? Simply send your answers to agined@globalhq.co.nz with your name, age, and school and we will randomly pick a winner. This competition is open for students 18 years and younger.

Got your own question about how the weather works? Ask Phil! Email phil@ruralweather.co.nz with your question and he could answer it on the Weather Together podcast!

Newsmaker

20 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Clear need for water use plan Rex Graham recently stepped down as chair of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for health reasons. Although he is pleased with its achievements in recent years, there is more work to be done. Colin Williscroft reports.

T WAS water use that led to Rex Graham being involved with the regional council about seven and a half years ago, and it’s water use that he sees as the biggest challenge facing the region long-term. Prior to being elected to the council, Graham spent his working life in the horticulture industry, beginning as a pruner and working his way up the ranks before winding back his fruit growing business when he was in his early 60s, with retirement in mind. However, three leading growers from the Twyford area on the Heretaunga Plains had other ideas and asked if he would stand for the regional council. Graham says growers were having problems around irrigation, which were not helped by them all having single wateruse consents and being put on bands when it got dry, which led to overwatering. “It was a classic case of the law doing the exact opposite of what it was intended to do, which is quite often the case,” Graham said. Within two or three months of being elected, with council staff’s help, Twyford was put on a single “global” consent that all growers operate under.

We’ve ruthlessly used resources without consideration for the consequences. And that’s got to end. Rex Graham Retired fruit grower Graham says not only is there now no overuse of water in the area, during a significant drought in the area in 2013, they only used 47% of their consented water. He says farming and growing underpins the Hawke’s Bay economy and it frustrates him that some people don’t want to recognise that. “Instead of going forward and maintaining a dynamic economy, which works in harmony with the environment, some people want

to go back and take all the water off the growers,” he said. “Not many growers want to misuse water. They are all pretty good and they are getting better.” As regional council chair, Graham says he was always trying to push the economy forward but in harmony with the environment. He says the area is internationally acknowledged as the most successful apple growing region in the world. “When I was growing fruit, we were doing 3-3500 cartons per hectare, they are now doing 5000 cartons per hectare, using less water,” he said. “That’s about 80-100 tonnes (per hectare). When you think the Chinese are getting 10t to the hectare, that’s how good these guys are.” However, he says being the most intensive horticulture region in NZ brings its challenges, especially around chemical use. “We’ve got to take superphosphate out of the economy. I know there’s a big resistance to that but we have to, because it leaches,” he said. “Every paddock on the Heretaunga Plain has got a waterway through it. Every single one. “It’s either tile drained, which is a waterway, or it’s got a drain or a creek, or it’s got a river. “So, every single one has got a waterway and if you put a huge amount of NPK on it will get into the waterways no doubt about it. “Minimal use and sensible use of fertiliser has got to be a big factor (in the future).” He is optimistic that although there have been mistakes made in the past, lessons have been learnt. “We’ve ruthlessly used resources without consideration for the consequences. And that’s got to end,” he said. “But you don’t want to go too far to the left either. You don’t want to destroy the productive sector that’s underpinned our entire economy.” Graham says the environment, people and business should not be prioritised over each other, rather they should be considered in parallel. Another challenge in the region is hill country erosion and he’s a big supporter of the council’s ‘right tree, right place planting’

CONTRIBUTION: Rex Graham spent his working life in the fruit growing sector before being elected to the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

scheme to address that. “Protecting the sheep and beef industry is really important. But to do that and not have erosion, you’ve got to plant up some gullies, so ‘right tree, right place’ will be a really big thing in the future,” he said. “We don’t want mass forestation of our sheep and beef farms.” He says most sheep and beef farmers understand the benefits of planting unproductive areas of their properties, but they often don’t have the resources to put that into practice. “They’re being hugely influenced by their kids. Their kids are coming home, their kids are marrying people who have a different outlook, so the rape and pillage of farming, which it was, has gone. Has absolutely gone,” he said. “Most farmers are really working hard, they have got a lot of balance sheet value but they

haven’t got a lot of income so we have to help them. “The whole thing is a community problem because the community was responsible for cutting down all the trees. “We deforested NZ faster than any other country in the history of the world. And the community did that, not farmers. “It was government policy, so we can’t walk away from farmers now and say ‘oh, by the way we’re in the shit, it’s your problem’. “Which is what some people are keen to do. “Everyone’s just got to be shoulder to the wheel really.” Despite the challenges ahead, Graham is happy that he has left the council with it heading in the right direction. He says although staff shortages are the most immediate problem, particularly in horticulture, solutions will be found down the track.

“The industry will adapt, but you have to give it time to adapt,” he said. “It’s very hard to take manual labour out of horticulture. It will happen, but it could take another 20 years.” He says the long-term challenge is developing a water use concept that everyone is happy with, that includes farmers and growers, Forest & Bird, tangata whenua and the wider community. That’s where the council’s proposed Tank plan comes in, he says, as it aims to manage water quality and quantity for the Tūtaekurī, Ahuriri, Ngaruroro and Karamū catchments. As for Graham, he aims to focus on a few things he hasn’t had time for recently, like his garden and cleaning out his shed, as well as looking forward to seeing his grandchildren, who are coming home from Germany.

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Pet formula a hit in China With a population of over 100 million registered pet dogs and cats, China is the new frontier for companies seeking opportunities in pet care and feeding. Richard Rennie spoke to the head of Christchurch-based PetNZ James Gu, a company with first-mover status in the emerging pet milk market.

HILE infant formula has been the go-to market for many New Zealand dairy processors in the past decade, James Gu believes there will be more mileage in supplying milk to pets as Chinese birth rates continue to decline. “The rising costs of bringing up children and an aging population mean pet ownership is becoming the new option to having kids in China for many households. The country has over 100 million pets, yet last year only 10 million babies were born, the lowest number ever,” Gu said.

The rising costs of bringing up children, and an aging population mean pet ownership is becoming the new option to having kids in China for many households James Gu PetNZ Ltd This has come despite the Government freeing up the restrictive ‘one child’ policy in 2013, and more recently opening it further to allow three children per family. But a growing level of independence and education among the female workforce, high childcare costs and increasing

single-person households are all tipping households more towards pets than children for doting owners. Last year’s Singles Day ecommerce event recorded cat food as the top selling item on Tmall Global, the Alibaba ecommerce site. The pet industry sector has enjoyed an average annual growth rate of 8.3% a year for six years. “And over covid-19, there were a lot of people who wanted to address their loneliness by owning a pet, particularly in single-person households,” he said. The growth in single-person households in China has matched the interest in pets, with about a third of adults living alone. In particular, the number of singles aged 25-35 living alone has surged in the past decade. Almost 60% of pet owners are in this age group, and often university educated with high income occupations. Meanwhile, as China ages more rapidly, almost two-thirds of those aged over 65 also live with a pet. Gu says the company has developed a line of powdered milk formula developed specifically for the different life stages of cats and dogs. “We did not want to do a ‘one size fits all’,” he said. “Pets have very different needs at different stages of their life, so we offer eight varieties across different life stages of cats and dogs. “For example, in the infant stage the tolerance to lactose is higher and the need for calcium for bone development is greater

than in an older cat or dog.” Formulations for older pets are fortified with collagen for joint health and colostrum to boost immune systems. The company is sourcing NZ goats’ milk and drying it at the Food Waikato specialist spray drying plant in Hamilton. The company’s website emphasises the same aspects human infant formula companies use, espousing NZ’s wide open green spaces and the pastoral nature of goat farming. The similarities also extend to the reasons why PetNZ has chosen goats’ milk as its core ingredient. “As in humans, goats’ milk is easier for many pets to digest; containing the A2 protein, the lactose component is more easily

processed by the pet,” he said. “Often pets can be tolerant of lactose in cow’s milk up to about 6-8 weeks, then the ability to digest it declines over time.” Gu says vets may often recommend pets do not receive any milk in their dietary intake, despite them being mammals. “This often relates to the lactose issue. You can remove lactose from milk, but it is an expensive process to do so, very time-consuming, requiring a fermentation process to remove it,” he said. He says the acceptance of the milk product in China had been helped by the long history NZ enjoys there as a high-quality producer of dairy products for humans. In addition, NZ’s expertise at

producing high-quality, finelyformulated dairy powders was recognised and respected in Mainland China, giving this country an edge over larger European counterparts. “And while there are some very large pet food manufacturers globally, the skill level to produce a milk formulation is quite different, and often that experience is absent within those companies,” he said. With almost 90% of pet products now sold online, Gu says the company is working on distribution through JD.com and Alibaba. The formal launch in NZ was staged at the GoChina+ Summit earlier this month, sponsored by NZ Trade and Enterprise and Woolworths.

PRODUCT: James Gu, Bradley Meredith and Yali Li of PetNZ Limited with goat milk powder for pets at their premises in Christchurch.

Keep an eye out

JULY 2021 | $8.95

The latest issue of Dairy Farmer will hit letterboxes on July 5. Our OnFarmStory this month features Waikato farmers David and Sue Fish, who adopted a people-first culture in their farming business. We also catch up with the Taranaki farmer who is helping others get farm fit ahead of the busy calving period, and chat with a Bay of Plenty couple who is back working the family farm.

Notion to live by

Waikato farm run by a multi-talented team PLUS:

Going full circle ➜ Back to the family farm ➜ Keeping farm fit ➜ More ag workers allow ed in

farmersweekly.co.nz 0800 85 25 80

Opinion

22 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

EDITORIAL

Empathy is the best policy

NTRUSIVE, impractical, disregarded, inhumane, undervalued, bewildered and a badly planned and poorly executed process. These damning words are how farmers described their dealings with the Ministry for Primary Industries over the eradication of Mycoplasma bovis to University of Otago researchers looking at the human toll of the disease. These phrases are an indictment of the bureaucratic approach from MPI officials and confirms what farmers have been saying privately for years, but were too scared to say publicly. Instead of working alongside emotional, stressed and scared farming families about to have their herds culled and their livelihoods tainted with uncertainty, MPI adopted a “we know best, so stand aside and do as you are told” approach. There is no disputing officials require a degree of control in a biosecurity crisis, but that need not be at the expense of respect, empathy or cooperating with farmers and their vets. As one farmer who has had three M bovis incidents noted, the difference in his dealings with MPI in each case was chalk and cheese, depending on the officials he was dealing with. There also needs to be some common sense. Washing and scrubbing individual nuts and bolts on an infected farm and disinfecting a shed when a new one could be built for half the cost may meet the “no better no worse” legislative requirement for compensation, but by any measure is impractical and a wanton waste of taxpayer’s money. There are underlying lessons to be learnt, starting with developing a pragmatic approach to incursions, with input from rural people, followed by recruiting an army of people with knowledge, understanding and who can relate to farmers, which can be mobilised to deal with future biosecurity issues. The truth needed to come out and while MPI says relationships and their approach has improved, this study shows it definitely needed to.

Neal Wallace

LETTERS

Fresh thinking around the board table I AM aware of some quality discussion about the directors fees for such positions at those on the Beef + Lamb and similar industry good boards. So often in the past these positions were taken up by older farmers (now perhaps referred to as PMS, or pale, male and stale) who had the time and financial backing to be able to spare time off-farm. However, if we are to attract younger, more dynamic members to these board positions, we should take into account the opportunity cost of them being away from their own businesses to focus on board matters. In discussions with one of our new, fresh, dynamic and well-proven elected members, it was quite clear to me that they would make more money staying at home to keep focus

on their own business than going off-farm to attend board meetings and the like. We should ask ourselves: what price and value are we prepared to put on quality leadership and governance? Yes, we need to keep a sharp eye on cost all the time, but when is a cost an investment in the future? Or put another way, fresh oats can be expensive. But if you are prepared to accept them when they have been through the horse, then they are a bit cheaper. Food for thought. Mark Warren Hawke’s Bay

SNAs are a last resort THE recent rant by Alan Emerson (June 7) about

Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) didn’t surprise me. He just can’t stand any scrutiny of conventional farming, despite our more than 150 years of deforestation, wetland drainage and our nutrient and other impacts on freshwater systems. This happened in both North and South islands, and is well documented. SNAs were actually introduced with the Resource Management Act (1991) and are provisions for local authorities to identify and secure areas of distinctive natural biodiversity on private land. Local authorities do this when they are reviewing their District Schemes. Some do it sensibly and successfully, others do not (for example, Northland), so the practice is inconsistent across

the country. Work to produce a national policy and standards for biodiversity is being overseen by the Ministry for the Environment, but I won’t be holding my breath. SNAs are a last resort for our remnant ecosystems, but need to be understood and administered sensibly. David Field Rotorua

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Reducing nitrous oxide on-farm In the second of two articles about nitrous oxide, AgResearch principal scientist Dr Cecile de Klein outlines research into technologies and practices aimed at reducing nitrous oxide emissions from New Zealand farms.

The

Pulpit

and less urine and dung excreted, so less nitrogen ends up in the soil where it can be converted to nitrous oxide. On the cropping side, some growers are using precision technology to calculate and deliver exact doses of nitrogenbased fertiliser and irrigation water only to those parts of the farm that need it. Targeting and optimising inputs of nitrogen in this way ensures crop yields are maintained while minimising the amount of nitrogen available in the soil for conversion to nitrous oxide. There are some great videos on the Ag Matters website showcasing the positive results achieved by NZ farmers who have taken these and similar steps to reduce their inputs. Their actions might not transfer to all farms, but their stories might inspire other farmers on their journey towards improved sustainability. But what about technologies and practices for reducing nitrous oxide emissions that might be available in the future? Nitrification inhibitors The search for new nitrification inhibitors suitable for NZ environments and regulatory standards is well-advanced. Nitrification inhibitors are chemical compounds that suppress the action of nitrifying microbes in the soil which convert

CLARIFIED: In a two-part feature series, AgResearch principal scientist Dr Cecile de Klein explains why NZ should focus on reducing nitrous oxide emissions too. nitrogen into nitrate and emit nitrous oxide as a byproduct. Nitrification inhibitors can be added to fertilisers or spread directly onto grazed pasture. They are widely available overseas and, until 2011, an inhibitor called dicyandiamide (DCD) was used on some NZ farms. However, the discovery of residues in milk led to the withdrawal of DCD from the NZ market. Recent research in the laboratory has identified promising alternative compounds, and testing is now under way in the field. The research will rigorously assess the long-term impacts of these compounds on the environment, animal health and welfare and product quality. Alternative feed crops Comprehensive research is also exploring the potential of alternative feed crops to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. We’ve already proven conclusively that when animals consume sufficient quantities of alternative feeds such as plantain, fodder beet and maize silage, they excrete lower concentrations of

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nitrogen in their urine and dung. This is simply because these feeds contain less nitrogen than the pasture and feed species typically used on NZ farms. However, more work is needed to understand the proportion required in the animals’ diet for the nitrogen reduction to be meaningful. We also need to assess whether results are consistent across different farm systems, soil types, climate zones and seasons, and how best to incorporate the different feeds into our predominantly grass-based systems, including understanding any unintended consequences for soil carbon stocks. Researchers are particularly interested in plantain, as well as demonstrably reducing the amount of nitrogen excreted by animals that consume it. There’s evidence that growing plantain reduces the activity of some of the soil microbes responsible for nitrous oxide emissions. We need to learn a lot more about the mechanisms and variables behind this effect, but if it’s confirmed that plantain has

this double impact that’s great news for livestock farmers. Any solutions put forward by the research community need to be practical, cost-effective and proven to work across the range of NZ farm systems and physical environments. And those solutions must be rigorously tested to ensure reduced emissions of nitrous oxide aren’t offset by increased emissions of other greenhouse gases – or by some other adverse environmental impact. You can keep up to date on all of our research into reducing nitrous oxide emissions on the Ag Matters website: www.agmatters.nz/

Who am I? Dr Cecile de Klein is a principal scientist with AgResearch, based at Invermay near Dunedin. She is an internationally recognised expert on nitrous oxide emissions from soils, leading work to develop methodologies for estimating and measuring nitrous oxide emissions at the paddock and farm scale. Cecile co-leads the NZAGRC’s Plants and Greenhouse Gases research programme.

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N MY first article, I described how naturally occurring microbes convert nitrogen in the soil into nitrous oxide, which is emitted into the atmosphere. I explained that nitrous oxide is a potent and longlived greenhouse gas that needs to be addressed if NZ is to achieve its emissions reduction targets. I also explained that some common agricultural practices, as well as the urine and dung of grazing livestock, add significant amounts of nitrogen to the soil. This can lead to increased emissions of nitrous oxide. In this article, I’ll look at some of the work my colleagues and I have been doing to identify and test technologies and practices aimed at reducing emissions of nitrous oxide from NZ farms. Research in NZ, funded by the NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC), has two broad goals: •Identifying ways that farmers and growers can reduce the amount of nitrogen entering the soil •Finding ways of reducing the microbial activity in the soil that converts nitrogen into nitrous oxide. That research – along with the actions of forward-thinking NZ farmers – has already proven conclusively that some currently available practices can reduce the amount of nitrogen entering the farm system. Many livestock farmers have worked hard to improve the productivity of individual animals so that stock numbers can be reduced without compromising overall farm productivity. Fewer animals with the same total farm production means less feed eaten

Opinion

24 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

We’re facing a pest crisis Alternative View

Alan Emerson

CLIMATE change mitigation is certainly the name of the current game and it’s moving at a frenetic pace. Last week I wrote about the taxing of utes, which I found offensive as farmers have little choice. Mind you, that didn’t stop Radio NZ running an extensive interview

with one Alistair Woodward, who I hadn’t heard of, but is professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the esteemed University of Auckland. Woodward started by telling me that “utes cause more pollution, more traffic congestion and more dangerous driving”. More traffic congestion? Not out here they don’t. And as for dangerous driving, how does he know? It gets better with the university saying that “two-thirds of ute and van trips on the city’s roads were for non-work purposes and 20% were for shopping”. Then comes the king hit – “utes were being used in ways they’re not designed for”. Woodward has, we’re told, five

VIEW: Alan Emerson believes that giving farmers the right to arm themselves with semi-automatic weapons will aid the Government’s pest control efforts.

bikes and a Mazda 3, which may be fine for Auckland, but not much use for transporting a pen of rams. Why RNZ decided to highlight all this is beyond me and the answer is simple: only allow farmers to own utes or let anyone buy one but give farmers a tax break. It’s easy if there was the political will to do it. But fellow farmers, there’s a new threat in our fight against the demon that is climate change and it’s “feral pigs and other invasive mammals”. I’m not joking, it was on the front page of the local paper and in the electronic media. We’re facing a crisis. Apparently these pests need to be eliminated so forests can regenerate and absorb “15% of New Zealand’s yearly gas emissions”. The report from Forest & Bird consulted with both Scion and received “independent estimates” of the number of feral animals and how eradicating them could benefit the climate. There are a variety of pests identified: possums, deer, wallabies, goats, pigs, chamois and tahr. We’re in a crisis as “the number of deer, goats and possums are out of control – and that could topple our carbon-holding forests”. In addition, the methane belched by deer, goats and other feral animals was also a significant contribution to (global) warming. Also “impacts are multiplied if more than one invasive species is

present”. It means forests release carbon instead of sequestering it. We are also told “that by eating seedlings and killing young trees these introduced pests also consume future generations of forest and our future carbon sinks”. So fellow farmers, we have a crisis indeed. On the positive side by comparison it reduces the climate change effect of burping farm animals to near zero. On the negative side, we have a major problem of carbon sequestration made much worse by feral animals effectively killing forests. We have our native forests overrun by pests. Deer, wallabies and goats are a huge issue, followed by possums, chamois and tahr. I’m only surprised that we haven’t called a crisis conference on the issue fronted by politicians and overseas experts. The answer is quite simple, and it is to rearm farmers. Give us back our guns – in the interests of climate change, of course. In many parts of the country we have deer, goats and pigs causing havoc on farms. It was interesting to me that Forest & Bird were concentrating on forests not farms. A burping deer or goat is the same anywhere, as is the devastation they cause. In the past we’ve been able to control them with semiautomatic rifles and we did. The Government, ably supported by a gullible minister and an aggressive police force, removed our ability to

control pests. Now those same pests are not only devastating pastures and forests, they’re warming the planet and need to be stopped. We’re repeatedly told that our survival depends on it. There is an additional problem and that would be the police’s ability to give farmers the necessary licences to control those invasive animals. I’ve a mate who applied to renew an Arms License four months ago, who has heard absolutely nothing. At that rate, the police speed of licencing for semi-automatics would be guaranteeing several breeding seasons would have passed, with the resultant explosion of global warming pests. The solution is simple really. Allow farmers to have semiautomatic rifles now under their current licence. That would allow us to kill pests, preserve forests and help to slow global warming. We’d be saving the planet. They could also exempt farmers from the ute tax, so they could drive to the forests and pick up the deceased pests, stopping them from rotting and causing further pollution. It’s simple really. Stop global warming, let farmers kill pests – now.

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

Winnie, is that you? From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

FROM the Ridge (FTR): Winston, you are back! Winston Peters (WP): Of course I’m back, I’ve never gone away. FTR: Well, it’s just that you were ubiquitous before the election and then after your electoral defeat, you completely disappeared from sight. Until this month. WP: What do you mean by ubiquitous? FTR: You are the wordsmith. You know perfectly well what I mean. Omnipresent, universal, pervasive and abundant. Everywhere. You probably had as much media attention as Judith Collins. WP: Why do you media types try to ascribe words to my actions? I was just doing my job. I was holding the Government to account. FTR: Hold on. Weren’t you part of the Government? You were in coalition with Labour, as far as I remember. WP: We were in there to keep

Labour honest, and you only have to see what has happened since to see what a good job we were doing. I’m told daily by New Zealanders that they regret greatly that NZ First is not there doing what we did for the previous three years. FTR: But if folk thought you were doing such a great job, how come only 2.6% of those who voted, voted for you? WP: I’ll tell you why. Because the media misrepresented us, because the Serious Fraud Office conducted a James Comey-like investigation into our affairs and because sometimes the voters don’t know a good thing when they see it. FTR: Thanks for reminding me about the SFO investigation. Given almost every other party has an investigation going on, I’d forgotten about yours. Where’s it up to? Those two fellows look in a degree of trouble. WP: You know I can’t talk about it. It’s subjudice. Did you even listen to my speech to the NZ First annual conference? You should be more interested in what we are going to do for NZ politics than what has gone before. FTR: Yes, I listened to it. All eight pages. I have to say it went from one grievance to another. You seemed to have a real bee in your bonnet about the prevalence

of NZ being called Aotearoa, which I hadn’t come across as a troublesome issue but maybe there’s currency in it, who knows? Getting stuck into the Greens, the Government, the proposed cycle bridge across the harbour, electric vehicles, National, separatism, te reo, the media, wokeness, cancel culture and a host of other irritants are sure to appeal all over the place, but is dog whistling enough to regather the troops? WP: Look here, sonny. These aren’t grievances, they are justifiable concerns of many New Zealanders. The sooner the likes of you realise this, the better. FTR: You even went on later to accuse National of being “sex maniacs”, which is a bit rough and unnecessary. WP: Don’t you read the papers? FTR: The crux of the matter is whether you seriously believe NZ First can make a comeback at the next election? WP: I don’t see why not. We have a well-regarded brand and a great team and yes, we will be back at the next election. FTR: When you lose loyalists and good performers like Ron Mark and Tracy Martin, one must wonder about the depth of that team. WP: No one is irreplaceable. FTR: What about you though? It’s difficult to see NZ First having

COMEBACK?: Steve Wyn-Harris weighs in on NZ First party leader Winston Peters’ return to the spotlight and what it means for his plans to return to Parliament. any chance of getting back in if you are not the leader. Have you got another round in you? WP: I’ll lead the party in the 2023 campaign if the party wants me to, and if I’m fit and motivated. FTR: They will want you for sure, but it will be interesting to see how the latter two provisos pan out. I’ll be honest, I’ve missed you. And Trump. It’s no fun or

point having one of these chats with the likes of Biden or Ardern. I’ll be watching with interest what you decide to do in 18 months. WP: You’ll find out in good time. Now I must go. Thanks.

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 – June 28, 2021

Why B+LNZ matters Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

TO AMALGAMATE or retain separate sector organisations? That is the question. The six-yearly referendum to decide whether Beef + Lamb New Zealand should continue to exist closes on July 9, after which sheep and beef farmers will find out the outcome of the referendum. DairyNZ conducted its referendum in April and May and gained a 74% yes vote by milksolids and 69% by eligible voters. While it would be a surprise if B+LNZ fails to secure enough support to continue, there are some voices suggesting the agricultural sector would be more cost-effectively served by a single body. The vote against continuing the wool levy provides a warning of how easily representation can be lost to a sector’s detriment. Getting it reinstated is hard, if not impossible. My colleague Alan Emerson promoted this argument a few weeks ago, providing some compelling reasons for his viewpoint, including the paucity of funding for Federated Farmers, which is not levyfunded compared to the relative prosperity of those organisations that are. Nonetheless, I remain unconvinced farmers would be

better served by amalgamating the bodies established to represent the specific needs of their sectors. I decided to explore the topic to find out if there are convincing arguments for the alternative view, in the belief there had to be some advantages of the status quo. I contacted an old university and retired farming friend to ask for him about the UK’s levy-funded Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board, which he struggled to remember much about, but was able to tell me it was formed in 2008 by the amalgamation of British Potato Council, Home-Grown Cereals Authority, Horticultural Development Council, Meat and Livestock Commission and Milk Development Council. Earlier this year, the potato growers voted 66% to abolish it, closely followed by horticulture with 61% against it. The minister is considering these votes at the moment, but the board has signalled 140 job cuts. Nothing here suggests a ringing endorsement of a single sector representative organisation. The UK also has the membership-funded National Farmers Union (NFU), akin to Feds, so if implemented in NZ, that structure would not solve the problem of the funding imbalance between the different types of organisation. It would merely combine the resources of the levy payers under one roof, which Justin Courtney, until recently Silver Fern Farms’ communications manager, maintains would not produce clear policy advice for farmers; the one-stop shop would become ‘masters of the fence sit’. The UK experience suggests at least

some sectors end up feeling underrepresented Feds chair Andrew Hoggard made the point that NZ’s farmer representative structure is less fragmented than almost every country apart from the UK, while there are great efforts made here to cooperate and avoid duplication. With its regional and board structure, Feds concentrates on policy work with its regional offices supported by Head Office, but leaves all work behind the farm gate – like genetics, scientific research and information – to the individual sector groups. Hoggard emphasised the value of the Food & Fibre Leaders Group, which combines the different sector viewpoints and ensures alignment before agreeing on its position to take to government. Mike Petersen chairs this group, which acts as an informal agricultural sector umbrella and enables the huge range of matters confronting agriculture to be narrowed down to a small number of major issues for engagement with government ministers. Prime examples of the success of this bottom-up approach are the split gas targets, He Waka Eke Noa, freshwater policy and winter grazing. In contrast to Feds, B+LNZ spends 80% of its budget on research and only 20% on advocacy. But some levy payers feel the organisation should work more closely with other rural sector bodies and at all costs avoid throwing each other under the bus, questioning why they should pay separate levies to DairyNZ, B+LNZ and a membership fee to Federated Farmers. Chief executive Sam McIvor hears

TIME WILL TELL: Allan Barber says it would be a surprise if B+LNZ fails to secure enough support to continue.

that message loud and clear, but is at pains to point out the different bodies take great care to cooperate to avoid duplication of effort, reinforced by the Leaders Group. Somehow this needs to be communicated more clearly to farmers. According to Andrew Morrison and Petersen, one of his predecessors as chair of B+LNZ, the terms of engagement have changed since the tub thumping days of the 1970s when the chairs of the Meat Board and Federated Farmers were almost on a par with the usually National prime minister, united in the battle against the unions. Today, it calls for a more subtle approach to get the message across. As a result, farmers get the impression their representatives are being ineffective, because what is now perceived as the right approach to achieve a desired outcome is much less confrontational. For good or bad, times have changed and politicians are driven by different social, financial and environmental pressures, as well as appealing to the wishes

of a more politically correct and environmentally conscious electorate. Morrison believes the present referendum system imposes tight disciplines on the levyfunded bodies. They must seek levy payers’ approval for their existence through the six-yearly vote; directors, apart from the independent directors, are elected with two up for re-election each year, and the board rather than the minister of agriculture sets the levy for approval by levy payers. On balance, the present system of representation prioritises each individual sector’s needs without losing focus on one at the expense of others, while the different groups combine where appropriate to ensure combined strength and present a common viewpoint.

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

Time to champion Kiwi farmers Off the Cuff

Andrew Stewart

IT’S NOT what you think, Prime Minister. We live in a cluttered world, where there are billions of sounds and images. That landscape is also filled with the cancer that is social media, a mainstream media that struggles to display journalistic integrity and a general public that is sometimes disconnected from hard truths. But sometimes one clear voice has the power to cut through. Two years ago, out of sheer frustration, I wrote you a letter outlining my concerns about proposed climate change legislation and the impact it will have on farmers. None of us could have predicted what has happened over the past two years and I certainly understand you have had

a lot to deal with. And I would like to commend you on the way you have handled incredible pressures in remarkable times. I have heard you saying in the media how you believe climate change to be our “nuclear moment” and to be honest, this scares me. I cannot see how the testing of nuclear bombs in the South Pacific compares to taxing our Primary Industries out of existence, although the effect on farmers will indeed be nuclear. I feel like we need to have a summary of exactly where farmers stand at the moment as it is a much more precarious position than then. Climate change has been joined by other legislative nightmares – freshwater, indigenous biodiversity and Resource Management Act reforms, to name a few. There is a saying that doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. To me, a better definition of insanity is forcing legislation on the main contributor to our national economy, the farming sector, without displaying any common sense, understanding of the impacts or meaningful

consultation with those it affects most. But let’s deal with climate change, as I know it is important to you and your government. The recent climate commission report has really just cemented what farmers have been facing for some time. There is a real possibility now that legislation will be introduced that “taxes” farmers annually on their emissions, based on questionable science and calculators that are still being built. I hear over and over again the reporting that agriculture in this country makes up nearly half of our emissions profile, and is repeatedly painted as the villain. The truth is New Zealand red meat has a very low carbon footprint. That is because we rely on a farming system called rotational grazing, not feed lotting or industrial farming, as in many other developed countries. Other countries that produce red meat in particular would sell their souls to have the low carbon footprint that we have currently. And they would be incredibly grateful to the NZ government for introducing

legislation that hamstrung Kiwi farmers and was ruthless in their exploitation of any advantage they would gain. Now, I understand that we need to get better in regards to our climate. We farmers don’t need to be told that as we are the “frontline workers” in this regard. We knew this years ago, which is why we have spent tens of millions of dollars on our own farms without any legislative pressure to fence off waterways, plant trees and retire productive farmland forever. Here’s another hard fact to chew on. The climate commission has suggested livestock numbers may need to be reduced by about 15%. The sheep and beef sector has already done exactly what they are asking, twice as good in fact. Livestock numbers in the sheep and beef sector have dropped by 30% since 1990, and will continue to organically decline as land-use change continues. So in terms of nuclear moments, I am in total agreement with you about this being such a point in time. But that is not because NZ is going to change the world and its behaviour regarding climate change. It is because if

I cannot see how the testing of nuclear bombs in the South Pacific compares to taxing our Primary Industries out of existence, although the effect on farmers will indeed be nuclear. the farmers of this country are legislated out of business, the effect on our economy and our country will indeed be nuclear and catastrophic. If you are looking for something to champion on the international stage to encourage behavioural change regarding the climate, it’s really quite simple. Just tell the world what a great job your Kiwi farmers have already done.

Your View Andrew Stewart is the RangitikeiManawatu Federated Farmers meat and wool chairman and a sheep and beef farmer in Rangitikei.

Opinion

26 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

A recipe for inflation Straight Talking

Cameron Bagrie

THE economy has heaps of demand. The problem is increasingly how to meet it. Outside of tourism, the economy is not in recovery mode as postulated by the Government. It is in a full-blown expansion. The challenge is to ensure the expansion continues. That means paying attention to supply. The supply chain – getting stuff in and out – and the availability of capital and intermediate goods used in the production process, and shipping costs are issues impacting whether the economy can meet demand. One big factor is labour, and the lack of it. Australia has the same problem; cue more Australian firms looking in New Zealand to fill vacancies there. The job vacancy rate (the share of jobs in the economy unfilled) has reached its highest level on record. Some rural regions are seeing job ads 50% above levels seen in 2019. Border closure is one factor constraining the availability of

labour. Net migration has gone from a trend of 60,000 a year to around 7000. The absence of the mobile workforce (backpackers) has hurt too. Skill shortages are widespread. There are also key structural problems in the labour market. Mobility is one. Declining education attainment – and school attendance – is another. NZ has underinvested in the trades. The Reserve Bank currently assesses employment as being closer to but still below its maximum sustainable level. Talk to any employer and they will say we have scant labour resources left. That is despite 195,000 being on the jobseeker benefit (45,000 higher than precovid) and 355,000 on all main benefits. Gisborne has 9.3% of the working-age population on the jobseeker benefit, yet booming job ads. The Reserve Bank noted in February, specifically in relation to Māori, but it also applies across the board that “if structural constraints on Māori employment were resolved, the New Zealand economy would be able to support a higher level of overall employment without generating inflationary pressure”. Labour force participation and incomes are lower for Māori. The consequences of labour constraints for businesses are obvious. Orders cannot

UNREALISTIC: Cameron Bagrie says the Treasury is upbeat when it comes to how fast the economy can grow in a supply sense, somewhat disconnected with the realities the rural sector is experiencing sourcing labour.

be completed. Fruit stays on trees. Investment is deferred. Productivity is lower. Wage costs are rising. That is positive but increases unit labour costs if you are not getting productivity uplifts. The impact is wider. Two aspects of restrained supply get insufficient attention. The first is rising pressure for interest rates to rise, as the economy finds itself with ample demand, but problems meeting it. That is a recipe for inflation. Incredibly low interest rates have fuelled asset prices, creating huge gains in wealth and increases in spending. It could work in reverse. The Reserve Bank noted in the May Financial Stability Report “…asset valuations are vulnerable to a rise in discount rates reflected in long-term yields, which have already crept up but could do so more sharply if inflationary

expectations rise further”. Inflation is on the ascent. Central banks believe rising inflation will be transitory and not stick around. If inflation pressure proves to be sticky, it will mean bigger increases in interest rates. The second is the implications of a supply-restrained economy for tax revenue. For now, the glass is half full, as a stronger economy is reflected in a buoyant tax take. That will not last if the economy’s ability to grow is constrained. Each 1% change in gross domestic product is worth around $900 million in tax revenue. By 2025, the Treasury estimates that if nominal gross domestic product was 1% higher each year, tax revenue would be $5.8 billion higher. It also works in reverse. Less growth because you cannot meet demand means less tax. The Treasury is upbeat when it

comes to how fast the economy can grow in a supply sense, somewhat disconnected with the realities the rural sector is experiencing sourcing labour. For now, we are in that honeymoon phase; the economy is on track and tax revenue is up strongly. The real story will appear three years out. Higher interest rates and a failure to lift the economy’s growth potential/ alleviate supply side blockages, including the availability of labour, could provide a reality check. • While Bagrie Economics uses all reasonable endeavours in producing reports to ensure the information is as accurate as practicable, Bagrie Economics shall not be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any person relying on such work whatever the cause of such loss or damage. The content does not constitute advice.

Deliver together for our sector Simon Saunders FARMING brings constant challenges. A dry autumn is affecting many farms, particularly on the East Coast and supply chain volatility is likely to impact farm gate returns. Added to that are frustrations over new government policies and the practicalities of implementing them. It’s in this environment that we approach the Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) levy referendum. My view is that a yes result is critical to our sector. Farmers are at our most powerful and effective when we work together through an industry-good body. Losing B+LNZ would set our industry back decades in terms of the work that it does and the opportunities lost. For me, B+LNZ’s value is threefold. First, there are the on-farm productivity and profitability benefits through knowledge transfer to farmers, ranging from online to hands-on in the paddock. This comes from all sorts of incredible people and organisations funded by B+LNZ to deliver this critical knowledge to farmers. This includes genetics, feeding animal health, business

advice, human resources, training for the next generation and debating future trends. Second, there is the work to make sure we are reducing tariffs and addressing impediments to market access. Developing high-quality trade deals around the globe is critical to our future success. We will need B+LNZ to support the Government to achieve this. Taste Pure Nature is a great example of B+LNZ promoting our grass-fed product to the world, working with exporters, increasing consumer awareness and developing new markets. Third, there is significant advocacy work to make sure policy is fit for purpose. Understandably, there is frustration among farmers around the practicalities of some current policies. Many of our current farming practices will need to change to keep pace with our community and consumer demands. We must keep innovating, understanding these demands, create stronger connections with consumers and local communities to build profitable, sustainable farming systems that can deliver high-quality food and protect our natural resources for future generations.

My view is we were always going to have policy change, but it has come more rapidly than we are used to and that has caused challenges. With a majority in our Parliament, the current government has pushed forward at a pace that has not allowed farmers to gain a full understanding of the policies and some are totally impractical.

This isn’t easy, but the leadership of all our industry groups must step up together, drop egos, patch protection and deliver together for our sector. Every industry organisation, including B+LNZ, is working hard behind the scenes to advocate for sensible policies, but the nature of this work means it is often invisible to farmers. Where we do see the benefits is He Waka Eke Noa, which averted the prospect of agriculture entering the Emissions Trade Scheme (ETS) and a $70m per year tax imposed on farmers. We also

saw the Government defer the winter grazing rules for a year. There are numerous other national and regional initiatives that B+LNZ has also delivered independently, or with others that have benefited farmers. The breadth of policy change is bigger than one organisation can deal with and we need as many organisations as possible fighting in our corner – including B+LNZ, the Meat Industry Association, Federated Farmers and DairyNZ. We need different voices bringing different thinking and ideas, both at a national and local level to develop practical workable policy that delivers the best possible outcomes for farmers. This still means there needs to be a united voice on the issues farmers have with unworkable policy. Our sector groups generally funded by farmers must challenge themselves and each other in three areas: • How they listen to farmers and understand the issues we’re facing, especially at a practical grassroots level • How do they work together to better understand the differing needs, utilising specialist skills and limited resources to get the best outcome? • Communicate to all farmers

more clearly the outcomes they are seeking and the reasons why. Less maybe is more in this space, as I too often hear farmers’ inboxes are drowned in endless communications with too much detail. This isn’t easy, but the leadership of all our industry groups must step up together, drop egos, patch protection and deliver together for our sector. A number of grassroots farmer groups have formed recently, frustrated at proposed government policy. It’s great to see farmers standing up and highlighting how unworkable some policies are. It has prompted a discussion on how effective current advocacy has been and what advocacy needs to look like in the future. This is vital as what has worked in the past may not deliver results in the future. These groups can play an important role alongside our industry organisations, but they need to work together to ensure we have a coherent voice. But we first must make sure we get a positive levy vote. Farmers need to vote yes to make sure we have a strong sector voice, with a mandate to deliver the support we need to continue to have a profitable sustainable sheep and beef sector.

World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

NFU demands trade strategy THE NFU is demanding that the Government produces a comprehensive strategy to ease the impact of cheap food imports on British farmers. The UK government has agreed in principle to a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia, which includes the phased removal of tariffs on imported foods, including beef, lamb and sugar over a 15-year period. Speaking at a press briefing on June 21, NFU president Minette Batters said the UK government had placed British farmers in the “most extraordinary” situation of raising domestic standards on animal welfare and environmental protection, while negotiating trade deals with a “profound impact” on markets. Batters says granting Australian farmers tariff-free access to the UK market is “incredibly significant” and she warned that large-scale increases in imports could pile pressure on farm gate prices and cause significant harm to farm businesses. Other large agri-producing countries, such as Canada, the US and Argentina, will be expecting similar FTAs and access to the UK market, which she described as “one of the most prized food markets in the world”.

“(The Australia deal) is a precedent. The New Zealanders will be expecting the same treatment on dairy. The Canadians will be expecting the same treatment, as will the US,” Batters said. Two weeks ago, Batters and NFU director of trade and business strategy Nick von Westenholz met with the New Zealand agri-trade negotiating team, who told them they were seeking completion of a UK-NZ FTA for this August. Negotiations are “happening at pace” and Batters made a direct plea to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “press pause on the press release moment” and develop policies that will secure a long-term, thriving UK agricultural sector. Latest figures from the Food and Drink Federation have revealed that in the first three months of 2021, UK food and drink exports into the EU fell by 47%, compared with the same period in 2020 because of the ongoing impacts of covid-19 and changes in the UK’s trading relationships. Von Westenholz says if the UK government was to argue that Australian imports were merely displacing trade with the EU, it could still have a big impact on farm gate prices.

GO SLOW: NFU president Minette Batters has appealed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “press pause on the press release moment” and develop policies that will secure a long-term, thriving UK agricultural sector.

“It is difficult to know what will happen once we have opened up access. But if it is displacing imports from the EU, then that’s obviously still going to be putting downward pressure on prices. “They will be undercutting those (EU) imports, which will have an impact on prices here,” Von Westenholz said. According to the NFU, the UK

government must also give more support to farmers who want to export to countries across the globe. Batters says one of the union’s key asks is for the Government to create a UK Food Council that “puts agricultural boots on the ground in other parts of the world to open up new markets”. But says it can take five to 10 years to break into new markets.

She noted that Australia has 22 full-time agricultural counsellors, The Netherlands has more than 100 people totally focused on agricultural exports and Ireland has massive investment in this area. By contrast, she says the UK has two full-time agricultural counsellors, 80% of which is paid for by levy payers (AHDB). UK Farmers Weekly

Mentoring on food exports capitalise on these openings by encouraging farmers to consider exporting food.

The world is a big place and the more people who get involved and shout about British food and drink, the better. Mary Quicke Quickes Farms The programme will run in partnership with the AHDB and NFU, and match

experienced exporters with businesses looking to sell on the global stage for the first time. The first round of unpaid mentors is under way and will focus on dairy and red meat, with further programmes following later in the year. Mentors will give practical help and advice to wouldbe exporters through roundtables, mentoring sessions and newsletters, and include established Devon cheesemaker Quickes. Quickes Farm managing director Mary Quicke says exporting offered opportunities to small food producers to grow their sales. She says she is looking forward to encouraging

farmers to understand markets such as Japan and the Middle East and to help producers tackle daunting issues such as paperwork. She is already paired up with two cheesemakers and will begin discussions via a roundtable shortly. “This is such an important initiative and shows the Government has recognised the potential and importance of the British export market,” Quicke said. “The world is a big place and the more people who get involved and shout about British food and drink, the better. “If I can help exporters do a better job, then that helps us all.” UK Farmers Weekly

INITIATIVE: The DIT’s mentoring strategy will attempt to capitalise on post-Brexit opportunities, by encouraging farmers to consider exporting food.

Agrievents Building Your Farm and Family Futures Presented by Family Business Central & Whanganui and Partners. Workshop #3: Wednesday July 7, 1pm – 5pm How to Succeed at Succession – A Plan? A Process? Or is it a Transition? Workshop #4: Wednesday July 21, 1pm – 5pm How to have the Family Conversations regarding the Farm, the Business, the Family. For more information go to: https://www.whanganuiandpartners.nz/resources/ building-your-farm-and-family-futures Wednesday 04/08/2021 – Friday 06/08/2021 The Horticulture Conference Wellness in all aspects of our lives – health including mental health, our relationships, work, and the environment in which we live and grow our food – is increasingly seen as a must, not a nice to have. The Horticulture Conference brings together People, Land and Innovation under the imperative of Growing Wellness. Venue: Mystery Creek Events Centre 125 Mystery Creek Rd, Ohaupo Wednesday 10/11/2021 – Friday 12/11/2021 The New Zealand Agricultural Show 2021 The New Zealand Agricultural Show brings a touch of tradition to the city and celebrates all that is great about rural life. Venue: Canterbury Agricultural Park 102 Curletts Rd, Hillmorton, Christchurch Show office for general enquiries: 03 343 3033 Email: info@theshow.co.nz Should your event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz

LK0105355©

A MENTORING programme to help UK farmers and food producers boost exports has been launched by the Department for International Trade (DIT). About 97% of food and drink businesses are classified as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and just one in five exports produce. But the DIT suggested that trade deals being pieced together with third countries in the wake of Brexit could help open up new markets for these businesses. By 2030, two-thirds of the world’s middle classes will be in Asia, creating new export opportunities for British farming, it pointed out. The DIT’s mentoring strategy will attempt to

On Farm Story

28 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

FAMILY TIES: From left, Michael Hall, Jessica Hall, Georgia Hall (in front), Joanne Gardyne, John Gardyne, Kayla Gardyne and Jono Gardyne. Photo: Heidi Horton

Caring for the rural community An endless appetite for work is a feature of many young farming couples, but as Neal Wallace discovers, by any measure Southlanders Jono and Kayla Gardyne have shown an exceptional commitment to their futures – albeit in different areas.

HE tribe of magpies chose the wrong time to invade the Gardyne property. A shotgun resting against a wall was evidence Kayla could no longer handle the disruptive noise and activity outside her home office window, as she studied for her medical degree. The pests progressively came off second best with six magpies dispatched, reinforcing that not only were they unwelcome, but that Kayla needed to focus on her studies. “They (magpies) got cunning and knew when I was moving and going to have a pop at them. I had to be prepared,” Kayla said. Several rabbits that attacked her prized vegetable garden as she studied suffered a similar fate. The small dent in the local pest population is symptomatic of a hectic past six years for the Gardynes.

As Kayla, 29, studied medicine, husband Jono, 31, was cementing their partnership in a large complex family livestock and arable farm near Waikaka, about 30km north of Gore. The Gardynes farm 550ha, with Jono’s parents John and Joanne, on which they run 3000 ewes, winter 2000 dairy cows, grow cereal and winter feed crops and finish between 6000 and 7000 lambs a year. Their farm is run in conjunction with Jono’s sister and brother-inlaw’s nearby property of a similar size and diverse mix. It is a complex and busy business. The 480ha cropping business is based on core crops of oats, autumn and spring-sown feed barley and feed wheat, fodder beet and kale, but they have grown other crops, such as canola, on the home farm, as well as under contract on neighbouring properties.

HARVEST TIME: Headers at work on the Gardyne family farm in Southland.

In addition, they run a contracting business to utilise their two harvesters. Last season they harvested 1100ha. “Cropping is a large part of our year,” Jono said. Lamb trading is an additional busy activity. They aim to have their own lambs killed by February and then buy replacement store lambs which are finished and killed, with the last gone by the end of April.

Medicine alone won’t fix the workforce issues, with shortages of almost all allied health professionals being a very real reality in rural areas. Kayla Gardyne Trainee medical intern For the past six years, Kayla has had an additional focus. Since 2012, she was working as a nurse at the Gore Medical Centre but was keen to advance her career. She started postgraduate study to become a nurse practitioner, which involved a Master’s degree. A postgraduate degree would provide Gardyne with new skills to increase her nursing scope of practice and ultimately could have given her a choice of pursuing a more advanced clinical or research career. But Gardyne realised this could create job security challenges locally, but also the timeframe for the qualification was similar to that for medicine.

“It became obvious that medicine was the better choice for me,” she said. And that is what she did. “I was incredibly well supported by my medical centre colleagues and of course by Jono, family and friends as I undertook this major career change. “I could not have made it this far without so many of these wonderful cheerleaders.” Kayla saw on a daily basis the struggle rural practices have recruiting general practitioners (GPs), many surviving by recruiting predominantly foreign locums. Although short-term locums have been a regular feature of rural general practice, Kayla says they often only provide temporary solutions to long-term staffing issues. She says information from the Royal College of General Practitioners Division of Rural Hospital Medicine highlights the perilous state of rural New Zealand practice, with an impending GP workforce shortage. “Rural areas are likely to be disproportionately affected,” she said. Last year, half of GPs working in rural-based practices obtained their first medical degree overseas, compared with 34% of GPs in urban-based practices. She says around 10% of New Zealanders depend on rural hospitals for their healthcare and half of rural hospital doctors also work in general practice, reflecting the diverse and dual training pathway for those choosing to specialise in this area. Despite the pressures of working in rural medicine, data supplied by the Royal College

has found 80% of rural hospital doctors say they are likely to recommend it as a career, with only 5% saying they were unlikely to do so. However, succession planning for rural hospital medical staff is crucial given more than 25% intend retiring in the next five years and a further 18% in six to 10 years’ time. “The medical staff shortage really adds importance to my decision to undertake further study and into the Nursing Council’s development of the Nursing Practitioner’s role,” she said. “I do think it (the Nursing Practitioner’s role) is filling a healthcare gap and providing nursing pathways to upskill and extend practice scope. “I think the value of Nursing Practitioners is being increasingly realised. “Medicine alone won’t fix the workforce issues, with shortages of almost all allied health professionals being a very real reality in rural areas. “We all need one another to provide the best care.” For five years Kayla spent Monday to Friday predominantly living in Dunedin while studying at the University of Otago Medical School, then she would return home to the farm and help out as she was needed, shifting stock or doing other farm chores. “At weekends it was back to being a farmer’s wife,” she said. To stay focused, she treated her studies as a job, devoting specific times when she would hit the books. During her first year of medical studies when Kayla sat and had to pass the competitive Health Sciences course to progress to

On Farm Story

medical studies, it dawned on her that she could be without a job locally, as her role had been filled, if she did not make the grade for medical school. She passed and for three years continued to work one day a week either at the Gore Medical Centre or West Otago Health at Tapanui, relying on recorded lectures to maintain her medical studies. Kayla has enjoyed exposure to rural medicine, which included spending five weeks of her elective assisting on the Mobile Surgical Unit, which tours rural communities around the country performing day surgery. Last year she was placed at Clutha Health First in South Otago, part of the University of Otago Medical School’s rural medicine immersion programme. “I spent a whole year there. It was so good because I was handson,” she said. “On the first day, I was suturing up and treating patients. “I had people looking out for me when they had interesting patient presentations, giving me the opportunity to see and practice what I had been taught.” This year Kayla is based at Southland Hospital in Invercargill under the supervision and direction of senior consultants. As an intern she says working in this centre provides variety, enabling her to rotate through various specialties every four to six weeks, gaining knowledge, experience and helping her decide if she wants to specialise in one area of medicine. “It gives me a taste of every specialty,” she said. She also gets more opportunity to practice her skills sooner than if she was assigned to a larger hospital, where hands-on patient care is shared among multiple students. Kayla says knowledge, confidence and patient interaction gained from her nursing background has helped her. “My nursing has come into its own during my clinical work,” she said. “It has made me a much better and hopefully more practical clinician.” Having to soon start applying for jobs, she hopes to continue working at Southland Hospital

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

as a new graduate doctor for a few years before determining her specialty. Options include working either in a regional hospital such as Invercargill, a rural hospital such as Balclutha or Gore, in which case she will be a generalist doctor, or working in a GP practice. In a bigger hospital such as Southland, she is surrounded by specialists who can provide advice and access to quickly turned around blood tests and imaging. As a generalist in a rural hospital or remote practice, she may be largely on her own, able to seek advice over the telephone, but left to make key diagnosis and decisions and, in serious incidents, keep patients stable while waiting airlift to a larger hospital. SPRINGTIME: Ewes and lambs graze rolling Southland hills on the Gardyne family farm.

It’s a challenge to keep up with the paper trail to prove we’re doing the right thing. Jono Gardyne Farmer “I’m not 100% sure where I will end up. I love emergency departments, hospitals and especially women’s health. Everything really,” she said. Jono says having Kayla commute an hour’s drive to Invercargill is also easier on family life. When she is on night or late shift she stays with family in the city. Having a rural upbringing makes Kayla different from many of her fellow Otago medical students, even though they all have placements in rural health centres as part of their studies. Getting them to commit to a rural practice is complicated. Many come from an urban background and the vast bulk of training is done in urban centres, both as under graduates and during specialty training. The longer they stay in an urban centre, Kayla says their lives become connected to the city as they meet and need to consider their partners, have children and become entwined in urban life. “I think considering working rurally at that stage is really tough, uprooting partners and families,” she said. “Many consider Dunedin too small, therefore the idea of working in the likes of Invercargill might seem too much of a contrast to other big cities. “It’s a real shame, as these

smaller centres are often overlooked. “My experience is that they are fabulous places to learn and grow as a clinician and put down longterm roots. “They are often highly supportive, collegial and frequently have better work-life balance.” Kayla’s family moved to West Otago from Tauranga in 2001 to milk a newly converted dairy farm at Heriot, so her roots are well and truly with rural communities. She loves farming and the rural lifestyle, but also the ability for rural doctors to follow families through their lives. “You get continuity of care, seeing patients and families grow and change, seeing babies, schoolage kids, teenagers, parents and grandparents,” she said. “I find that quite satisfying that it’s possible when part of a small community.” That degree of connection also gives rural doctors a better understanding of their influence on a patient’s health and an understanding why some treatments would not work for everyone. “So many things in rural life intersect, playcentres, schools and community events,” she said. Although uncertain exactly what medical route she will pursue, Kayla intends to continue contributing to the family farming business as she can. Most roles in the business are shared but Jono tends to manage the livestock, harvesting and compliance, while his father looks after crop care, the drying and dressing of grain and movements in and out of the grain plant. Last season feed wheat yielded about 12 tonnes a hectare, feed barley about 9t/ha, oats 8t/ha. The cultivation work is shared.

BIG GEAR: A line up of machinery at the Gardyne family farm in Southland.

Joanne oversees the bulk of the paperwork and shepherding. “There is a lot going on. It’s a matter of being organised,” Jono said. He says the biggest immediate challenge is keeping track of environmental and broader Government legislation. The 2019 winter was especially stressful when animal welfare critics travelled throughout Otago and Southland looking for images of stock on crops to publish. “I worried the cows were going to get out into a wet area and I’d be on the news,” he said. He did not, but it is symptomatic of the increasing amount of his time spent assessing their practices and systems comply with new environmental rules. “It’s a challenge to keep up with the paper trail to prove we’re doing the right thing,” he said.

Waterways are fenced, sediment traps installed and dairy cows grazed on a flat, dry and free draining area. The past six years have been busy for the Gardynes and the pace is unlikely to ease in the next few between their increasingly busy farming business and Kayla establishes her medical career.

They (magpies) got cunning and knew when I was moving and going to have a pop at them. I had to be prepared. Kayla Gardyne Trainee medical intern

FARMING COUPLE: Jono and Kayla Gardyne.

>> Video link: bit.ly/OFSkayla

Photo: Heidi Horton

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – June 28, 2021

Photo not taken from site

Boundary lines are indicative only

Helensville 1493 South Head Road

Mangawhai Heads 213 Black Swamp Road Landbank, farm or develop!

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Wed 21 Jul 2021 41 Queen Street, Warkworth View by appointment John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz

A once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a strategically positioned, 50 hectares of land in Mangawhai is now a reality. Located near to the internationally recognised 'Tara Iti' Golf Course, within a short drive to Mangawhai Central development and surf beaches, make this property a prime prize for those with an eye on the future. Presently Kaipara Council zoned as 'Rural Harbour' provides the potential for subdivision for up to 25 lots. Rich fertile black peat and condensed sand soils on a flat contour provide a great base for the property’s current use as a dairy support and cropping farm or for horticultural options.

MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Farm it, call in the diggers or landbank it for your future!

Farm, game or subdivide! Well located on the popular South Head peninsula, with two road boundaries and stunning views across the Kaipara Harbour, this beautiful 40 hectare grazing farm certainly boasts the 'X-factor'! The property is blessed with a good mix of flat to undulating contour which has been subdivided into approximately 11 paddocks. Currently used for dairy grazing, it will also suit those wanting quality land for their horses, sheep or cropping. Support infrastructure includes two hay sheds, an all-year round water supply and a set of cattle yards. Other special characteristics include visits by wild fallow deer, a healthy duck population and the potential to create a further title (or more).

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 4pm, Tue 20 Jul 2021 41 Queen Street, Warkworth View by appointment John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz Jayne McCall 021 606 969 jayne.mccall@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, KUMEU, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/1202588

bayleys.co.nz/1202589

DEADLINE SALE

Easy To Manage - Smart Start 308 Kneebone Rd, Orini

Rakaia 562 Thompsons Track Irrigated arable and grazing With a prime location, diverse soils, irrigation, a full complement of farm buildings plus two homes, this 179.5 hectare irrigated property must be considered as an add-on to support a larger operation or as a stand alone property. Currently growing crops including cereals, grass seed, peas and radish plus bulbs, and finishing cattle and lambs. Irrigation is sourced via a groundwater consent and the Barrhill Chertsey Irrigation Scheme, and applied by lateral, pivot and a fixed boom irrigator. Complemented with a full range of farm buildings including workshop, implement sheds, two stand shearing shed, sheep yards and cattle yards.

bayleys.co.nz/5515376

83.7 ha

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Wed 21 Jul 2021 201 West Street, Ashburton View by appointment Mike Preston 027 430 7041 mike.preston@bayleys.co.nz Simon Sharpin 027 631 8087 simon.sharpin@bayleys.co.nz

All systems are go, ready for a new owner. Two good homes on this well subdivided, easy to run 83ha (more or less) property, with an 18 AS/HB which consists of both primary and secondary cooling, with Protrack installed. A brand new compliant effluent bladder system, large calf sheds, hay sheds, barn and feed pad, complete the picture. Water is a bore at the end of the farm with a filtration system, and the longest walk to the shed via the central race is 20 minutes. The farm currently supplies Open Country with a winter contract. Located at Orini, it's no more than 30 minutes to Morrinsville, Huntly or Ngaruawahia. It really is the perfect spot, a fabulous little community and great local schools.

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

ljhooker.co.nz/HSVHR1

Deadline Sale Closes Thurs 22nd July, 4pm (unless sold prior) ___________________________________ View

Thurs, 1st & 8th July 11am - 12.30pm

___________________________________ Agent Paula Jelaca 027 227 4842 Jack Van Lierop 027 445 5099 LJ Hooker Ngaruawahia 07 824 8601 Twin Rivers Real Estate Ltd. Licensed Agent REAA 2008

FARMERS WEEKLY – June 28, 2021

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Alfredton 14666 Route 52 Tender

Pori Station - 592 ha Pori Station provides a turn-key sheep/beef breeding and semi-finishing property well located in the Alfredton district. Currently farmed in conjunction with another property, Pori has been through a development program with investment in fertility, fencing, an extensive laneway system and pasture renewal. Infrastructure includes 4 stand woolshed, covered yards (1,000 np), cattle yards and 2 sets of satellite yards. Reticulated water from the Pori water scheme and the bonus of a lime quarry and airstrip provides a walk-in farm opportunity. There are 2 dwellings, a 4 bedroom homestead complete with billiard room & 2 bathrooms set in mature grounds on a separate title providing purchase options. The 2nd home is a 3 bedroom modernised villa providing ample accommodation. Pori provides well balanced contour with over 35 ha of developed flats and cultivatable hill in superior pastures. Alternative income opportunities include 15 ha of near mature pine trees and high yielding Manuka. Property Brokers Pahiatua Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes Wednesday 7th July, 2021 at 2.00pm, to be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR90025

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

John Arends M 027 444 7380

E johna@pb.co.nz

WAIHI 87 Mathers Road 65.0608 ha

Ex Dairy Farm This property offers many options, for example reinstatement back to dairying, possible subdivision or a dairy support block. When operating as a dairy farm the average production was 65,000 kg MS. The total area is 65.0608 hectares with the contour being flat to easy rolling. The property is fully raced and fenced into 41 paddocks, with the water supplied by farm bore and pumped around the farm. Farm buildings include a calf shed, two round barns and the 16 aside dairy shed with a 200 cow yard that is still in operation for calf rearing but would need to be upgraded for supply. The home is brick with three bedrooms and a separate double car garage with workshop. The property is in a great location being 5 km from Waihi town and 6 km to Waihi Beach. The local primary school is just 1.2 km away. Open Days are being held on Monday 28 and July 5 at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Boundary lines indicative only.

TENDER: Closes 4:00 p.m. Thursday 8th July 2021 NZSIR Rotorua Office (unless sold prior) VIEW: nzsothebysrealty.com/RORU00135 Open Home: Monday 21 and 28 June and 5 July 11.30am - 12:30pm or view by appointment ALAN DUNCAN: M +64 27 478 6393 alan.duncan@nzsir.com Each office is independently owned and operated. SRLD Ltd (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

nzsothebysrealty.com

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – June 28, 2021

countryandco.nz

650 Cow Dairy Unit 254.529 hectares

Southland

This operation currently winters 650 cows achieving 220,000kg MS for the 2020/21 season. Contour is rolling, predominantly north facing with approximately 24 hectares of 14 year old pines planted post 1989. The cow shed is a 40-aside herringbone including Protrack and in-shed feeding with a good sized circular yard. The effluent system is clay lined with a pumping station and 3,500m3 storage pond applied via pods with all consents in place until 2026 for 650 cows. Currently there is further work and investment being undertaken, future proofing the effluent system. There are two homes on the property and numerous farm buildings and infrastructure including a 800m2 feed pad and a large silage pit with concrete floor. The farm has been operated by lower order sharemilkers since its purchase in the early 1990s, the Waikato based owners have been overseeing from up north. This dairy farm offers genuine production upside. If you are looking for an investment in the dairy sector that provides solid returns then inspection is a must.

Price By Negotiation

Ref: CC20340 LK0107599©

Hayden McCallum 027 896 2644 hayden@countryandco.nz

Licensed under the REAA 2008

PLATINUM BLUE LTD

MREINZ

Team

TOBY RANDALL

Despite all the challenges that 2020/21 threw at us, the Rural Sector as a whole really pulled through and kept the country going. This resulted in a very busy year in the Rural & Lifestyle market and we sold more properties this year than any other year previous. We are pleased to be awarded the

#1 SOUTH ISLAND RURAL & LIFESTYLE Sales Team for our fourth year in a row 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 Prime Irrigated Waimea Plains 20ha

Thank you very much to all of our amazing clients, we are geared up and looking forward to a great 2021/22. If you’re considering a move in the rural sector, give us a call now.

Tender closes 1pm Thursday 15th July (no prior sale) Open: By Appointment View: www.harcourts.co.nz/NN24965

Toby Randall M: 027 233 9170 P: 03 548 3034 E: toby.randall@harcourts.co.nz

www.harcourts.co.nz

Sharyn Miller M: 021 377 930 P: 03 548 3034 E: sharyn.miller@harcourts.co.nz

LK0107656

They say lightning never strikes twice in the same place, but here we have not one but two freehold titles of productive irrigated land in the highly sort after Waimea Plains. If you are looking for prime land in this location you will be aware of its rarity, and we are open to discussing and looking into various potential buying options. The total area is approximately 20 hectares and is made up of two 10ha blocks. Our vendor has had a change in personal circumstances creating this very one-off opportunity for you. Buildings include the winery, being 1414m2 consisting of insulated chiller space, winery/tank storage space, indoor and covered storage space, offices, staff facilities, tasting room. Other improvements include a four-bay implement shed, with one lockable workshop bay. There are two resource consents to irrigate the retrospective titles that combine to 13.7ha of irrigated land or 4795m3 per week. The soil structure is a stony and free draining alluvial soil that is what makes this area so highly sought after and productive. If this has your attention, we are very keen to talk.

Platinum Blue Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008

TOBY RANDALL 027 233 9170

toby.randall@harcourts.co.nz Platinum Blue Limited Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Tech & Toys

FARMERS WEEKLY – June 28, 2021

HEAVY DUTY BERTI MULCHERS

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

farmersweekly.co.nz/advertising 0800 85 25 80

Heavy duty means made for heavy work - and quality built BERTI mulchers have the design and construction to power through any task. • Mulches tree prunings • Thick standing gorse and scrub • Heavy duty, swinging hammer or tungsten carbide fixed tooth options • For tractors up to 300hp

FGD1176

Talk to us now for mulchers up to 6.0m working width and for tractors up to 300hp. To see videos of these mulchers in action visit our website. CALL FARMGARD 24 HOURS

FIND OUT MORE AT

Nationwide Dealer

0800 FARMGARD

farmgard.co.nz

Service Network

35 years, Generations of

Experience

New Zealand owned and operated, Trax Equipment are proud to have been serving New Zealand’s farmers for nearly 50 years. We specialise in the design and manufacture of quality accessories for ATVs and UTVs.

0800 782 376 www.traxequipment.co.nz

What’s the point of pelletised lime? Well, Optimise® transports easily, spreads evenly, stays where you put it, you need 10x less and it breaks down readily. Oh, and doesn’t cost the earth (financially or environmentally). To start seeing the benefits, order your soil test today at cplimesolutions.net.nz or by calling 0508 678 464

by CP Lime

Primary Pathways

TRAINEE DRONE PILOT REQUIRED (Based in Whanganui) Due to an increase in our workload, we are looking for a motivated person to complete our team. You may be self-employed or maybe a smaller farmer / life-styler looking for extra income. Initially we’ll bring you in as an observer / loader, if suited to the job, you’ll train as a drone pilot. You must have the ability to travel as you could be away from home on a semi-regular basis. A rural background would be an advantage. Find out more about us at: dronespraying.co.nz If interested in the position, please call Warrick on 027 442 8322.

Attention Farmers!

PILOT TRAINING in Whanganui

For far less than the price of a new tractor, you could invest in a Private Pilot Licence. Book a 20-minute trial Flight of Discovery for $69. NZICPA has several private, self-funding pilot students who ﬂy with us part-time/weekends and pay as they go. Have a go at ﬂying look around our facility and talk to the instructor about the six PPL theory papers. Starter packages / part-time and full-time options available.

Noticeboard

Sales Support & Administration GlobalHQ is the country’s most innovative multi-media agri-information hub. We work hard to create valuable content that informs, inspires and entertains. We invest in great people and products including the AgriHQ suite of data and analysis products, Farmers Weekly, Pulse, On Farm Story and Dairy Farmer.

We have available a full-time position for a Sales Support and Administrator based in Feilding. This is a wide and varied role that requires an ability to prioritise and manage a range of duties to maintain effective and efficient sales administration systems. It requires utmost attention to detail. You will be assisting the partnership managers in enabling them to promote and sell our publishing assets and advance customer relationships. You will be a people person who works as a team player with colleagues, is bright and friendly and professional while communicating with external relationships. You will need to have the following skills and experience: • Past experience in the administration environment essential. • Minimum NCEA Level three preferred. • An ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of MS Office Suite including Excel, MS Word is essential. • A full NZ driver’s license. • Some work experience in and /or an understanding of the New Zealand agricultural sector would be an advantage.

ANIMAL HANDLING

DOGS FOR SALE

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

5-MONTH HUNTAWAY, excellent breeding, bark and nature. 14 MONTH Huntaway dog, working. 2 YEAR Heading bitch, good farm dog. Phone 027 243 8541.

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com STS SHEEP JETTER. C/W 4-horsepower condor motor / pump plus two tanks. $2500. Phone 021 781 324. Cambridge.

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

DOGS FOR SALE 12-MONTH HEADING dog and bitch. Fast, strong, good stop, pulling sides. Station and trial potential. Nolan Timmins. Phone 027 932 8839.

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

DOGS WANTED 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195. BUYING DOGS NZ Wide. email: mikehughesworkingdogs@ farmside.co.nz 07 315 5553.

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

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

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.

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556. MILKING SHEEP. East Friesian. 30 ewes, lambing September and 15 hoggets. Located Marton. Phone 027 244 6730 RED DEVON BULLS. Waimouri stud, Feilding. Phone 027 224 3838. RED DEVON BULLS, one and two year olds. Purebred. Members of RDCBA. Phone 06 762 8803. Taranaki.

PUMPS

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

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 FOR SALE SHED STORED SQUARES $75+gst. Baleage $75+gst. Unit loads available. Top quality. Phone 021 455 787.

WANTED TO BUY

HORTICULTURE NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp. The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

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

DOLOMITE

To register your interest and request an application form and job description, please email: hr@globalhq.co.nz Applications close 5pm Monday 12 July 2021.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

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.

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

0800 436 566

JW107650©

Email enquiries@nzicpa.nz or call us on 06 927 6332 today.

Located 45 minutes east of Taihape, Makokomiko Station is a 2,259 hectare (ha) hill country property, running 17,300 stock units (52:36:12 sheep:cattle:deer ratio) across an effective area of 1969 hectares. The property contains a range of land management units which enables a multitude of farming enterprises. About 7% of the property is flat to undulating, 18% is rolling to strongly rolling, 41% is moderately steep hill country & the remaining 34% being steep to very steep hill country. This position is a broad & exciting challenge for any successful manager & team of dogs to enjoy. Through recent & ongoing investment, the Station has superb access, infrastructure, machinery & vehicles.

R angitikei

Excellent accommodation is provided, consisting of a 4 bedroom fully insulated house with double glazed windows. Pukeokahu Primary School is only 6 km away.

BTZ Forestry Marketing and Harvesting

The Station bounders the picturesque Rangitikei River, providing easy access to the opportunities of the great outdoors.

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

A competitive remuneration package will be offered, based on the applicant’s skill sets.

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

To register your interest for further information (including a detailed farm information booklet & job description) please enquire with your CV & Covering letter to:

Heavy duty long lasting

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

Secretary Maata Kotahi Partnership Trust Messrs Ryan, Thomas & Co 8 Tui Street, P.O. Box 181 Taihape 4742

LK0105454©

Due to the incumbent longstanding manager retiring after 33 years of service, this rare & rewarding opportunity has opened up for an experienced, competent & enthusiastic Farm Manager to take over the reins of Makokomiko Station.

R UAPEHU

Ph 021 047 9299

Primary Pathways

+64 6 388 0666 office@ryanthomas.co.nz

JOBS BOARD

Registration of Interest Closes 5pm Friday 16th of July 2021

The position is seeking a collaborative & motivated applicant to work with progressive & experienced management & team of staff.

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

Communications & Marketing Manager

Sales Support and Administration

Farm Manager

Senior Business Manager

General Hand

Sheep and Beef Position

Labourer

Stock Manager

Pilot Training

Trainee Drone Pilot

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

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

LK0105354©

Makokomiko Station, Pukeokahu, Taihape Position available from December 2021

LK0105415©

FARM MANAGER

Noticeboard

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

Livestock Noticeboard

CAPITAL STOCK

LK0107367©

BARLEY & WHEAT STRAW RYE GRASS STRAW MEADOW HAY LUCERNE & MEADOW BALEAGE Available in Squares & Rounds Phone Mark 0800 478 729 or Tracey 027 554 1841

930 ewes. 380 2-tooth Perendale. 295 4-tooth Perendale and Romdale. 255 6-tooth Pere and Romney. Inland Suffolk and Poll Dorset. 1st February, all scanned, drenched and liced. Shorn on 24 April. Selling due to health reasons. Phone 027 600 2791 Kaihere.

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard EARMARKERS

BIRDSCARER DE HORNER HOOF TRIMMER

Under Woolshed/Covered Yards Cleaning Specialist www.underthewoolshed.kiwi

QUALITY Feeds You Can TRUST

SCOTTY’S CONTRACTORS

BEEKEEPING BUSINESS FOR SALE

TON AMILEAS H A ANGGLAN AR OW] N ROH OTOWHIA RAR SHED KA K YOU [BOO

• 180-200 hives all wintered down; includes honey supers mostly FD some 3/4. All gear is in reasonable order, all on sites in the Marlborough region close to Blenheim and in the Sounds area. Honey production is predominantly mono Manuka. Sites availability is dependent on landowners. • 2010 Mitsubishi Canter 4wd diesel 5 speed manual with lifting tailgate car licence only required. • 20 foot high sided container for storage • Sugar tank and pump, hot water blaster • In hive 2 frame feeders, escape boards, hive barrow, and hive tools, smoker overalls gloves and sundry items • Average annual gross income from 2019 to 2021 was $156,000

✁

We also clean out and remetal cattle yards – Call Us! FROM THIS

Nominate a school on booking and we’ll donate $100 on payment of your account.

LK0107646©

✁ ✁

New Zealand’s Number 1 service provider for under woolshed and covered yard cleaning since 2004

MOWER MASTER SPECIAL

® Assembled with SKF bearings FIELDAYS

TOWABLE FLAIL MOWER

GO THE MOA!

13.5HP. Briggs & Stratton Motor. Electric start. 1.2m cut Assembled with SKF bearings.

Phone Rod on 0276532964 Or email rodandmargi@gmail.com

Assembled by Kiwis for Kiwi conditions – built to last. GST $4400 INCLUSIVE

$4100 GST INCLUSIVE

To find out more visit www.moamaster.co.nz

Ph 028 461 5112 • Email: mowermasterltd@gmail.com

Farmer wants a Wife - International

LK0107662©

Bauer sucht Frau International” (Farmer wants a Wife International) is a successful German TV-show, broadcast on RTL Germany. More than 4 million viewers so far have excitedly followed our farmers on the quest for true love. We are currently starting production of the fourth season and are looking for German-speaking cowboys, vintners, cattle farmers, coffee planters, grain growers; in short anyone who works in agriculture full time or as a hobby. If you are single, between 20 and 70 years old, looking for love and you’re up for a TV-documentary, we would love to hear from you! Are you a German-speaking farmer living abroad and looking for a partner? Apply now! Further information and online-application www.ufa.de/casting/bauer-sucht-frau-international Or send us an email at: bauersuchtfrauinternational@ufa.de

TH INK P R EB UILT

Livestock Noticeboard SALE TALK

My newly retired husband was watching as I went about my daily routine. I vacuumed, cleaned, ironed and sorted the laundry, and after making us both a cup of coffee, I sat down. Hubby looked at me thoughtfully. Was he finally realising he could help, I wondered? My hopes were dashed when he said, “Isn’t it wonderful how you always find ways to keep yourself so busy.”

STOCK REQUIRED STORE LAMBS EWES 28-40kg MALES 36-48kg

R2 YR BULLS 400-480kg

R1 YR FRSN

BULLS 170-230kg

R1 YR HEIFERS ANG/ANG X 180-220kg

SIL EWES Mar Ram

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

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

Brookland & Hillview Simmentals

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

Bulls for sale by Private Treaty Herd established 1972

Colin & Catherine Hutching Phone 06 374 1802 Karl & Louise Humphreys 06 374 1786

LK0107642©

Inquiries and inspection always welcome LK0105297©

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

LK0107622©

Buy the total package for $150,000

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

TO THAT

Phone Scott Newman Freephone 0800 2SCOTTY (0800 27 26 88) Mobile 027 26 26 27 2 scottnewman101@gmail.com

UPCOMING BULL AUCTIONS

Monday, 28 June 2021 9.00am Tangihau Angus 4.00pm Kaharau Angus Tuesday, 29 June 2021 12.00pm Whangara Angus 3.30pm Turihaua Angus Wednesday, 30 June 2021 9.00am Rangatira Angus 4.00pm Turiroa Angus Thursday, 1 July 2021 10.30am Mokairau Hereford Friday, 2 July 2021 1.00pm Glenrossie Shorthorn and Santa Gertrudis

MARKET SNAPSHOT

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Mel Croad

Suz Bremner

Reece Brick

Nicola Dennis

Sarah Friel

Caitlin Pemberton

Deer

Sheep

Cattle BEEF

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.60

5.55

5.30

NI lamb (17kg)

8.10

8.00

7.05

NI Stag (60kg)

5.50

6.05

NI Bull (300kg)

5.60

5.50

5.35

NI mutton (20kg)

6.10

6.00

4.85

SI Stag (60kg)

5.60

6.05

NI Cow (200kg)

4.10

3.90

4.00

SI lamb (17kg)

8.00

7.90

6.80

SI Steer (300kg)

5.20

5.15

4.70

SI mutton (20kg)

6.30

6.10

4.50

SI Bull (300kg)

5.15

5.10

4.65

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

3.20

3.55

3.30

UK CKT lamb leg

12.13

12.06

9.56

US imported 95CL bull

9.14

9.00

8.38

US domestic 90CL cow

9.14

8.56

8.79

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

5.0

5.00

9.0

4.50

8.0

4.00

$/kg CW

South Island lamb slaughter price

Oct

4.50 Apr

Jun

2019-20

Aug 2020-21

Dec 5-yr ave

Jun

Aug 2020-21

Last year

Coarse xbred ind.

2.59

2.52

1.89

37 micron ewe

2.65

2.10

30 micron lamb

2.45

8.00

405

7.50 7.00 6.50 6.00 Oct-20 Dec-20 Sept. 2021

Feb-21 Apr-21 Sept. 2022

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Last price*

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

3940

3960

4175

SMP

2835

2830

2825

AMF

4140

4100

4050

Butter

3500

3460

3430

Milk Price

7.61

734

672

567

1.90

Super

329

319

314

2.08

DAP

1017

990

787

Top 10 by Market Cap

$/tonne

3800 3600 3400

36.55

27.1

The a2 Milk Company Limited

5.21

9.94

5.04 6.65

400

Spark New Zealand Limited

4.745

4.97

4.37

395

Ryman Healthcare Limited

75.1

77.3

64.85 12.5

390

Aug-20

Oct-20

Dec-20

Feb-21

Apr-21

Jun-21

Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

12.96

15.99

Port of Tauranga Limited

8.09

11.16

6.6

Mainfreight Limited

7.52

7.99

5.67

Contact Energy Limited

7.6

7.9

6.74

Listed Agri Shares Company

5pm, close of market, Thursday Close

YTD High

YTD Low

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.22

0.245

0.161

410

The a2 Milk Company Limited

6.56

12.5

5.42

405

Comvita Limited

3.28

3.6

3.06

Delegat Group Limited

400 395 390

Aug-20

Oct-20

Dec-20

Feb-21

Apr-21

Jun-21

15.5

13.75

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.75

5.15

3.61

Foley Wines Limited

1.67

2.07

1.66

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

1.16

1.2

0.81

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.275

0.65

0.24

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

1.51

1.72

1.43

PGG Wrightson Limited

3.41

3.65

3.11

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.395

0.61

0.37

Sanford Limited (NS) Scales Corporation Limited

300

5.23

4.3

4.88

5.09

4.22 4.66

Seeka Limited

5.1

5.68

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

3.68

5.24

2.85

T&G Global Limited

2.92

2.85

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

13656

15491

12865

S&P/NZX 50 Index

12587

13558

12085

S&P/NZX 10 Index

12310

13978

11776

250 Jul

Aug Sep Latest price

Oct 4 weeks ago

Nov

YTD Low

5.79

350

4000

YTD High

31.85

7.6

400

4200

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

7.99

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

4400

Company

7.35

Jun-20

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

NZ average (NZ$/t)

6.505

375

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Fertiliser Urea

385 380

7.61

Aug 2020-21

Last year

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY Prior week

Jun

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

Jun-20

$/tonne

Nearby contract

Apr 2019-20

Auckland International Airport Limited

380

Jun-21

Feb

Prior week

385 Aug-20

Dec

Last week

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT 410

Jun-20

Oct

FERTILISER Prior week

$/tonne

$/kg MS

Apr 2019-20

Last week

8.50

3200

Feb

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

5.50

7.0

5-yr ave

(NZ$/kg)

Feb

8.0

5.0

WOOL

Dec

9.0

6.0

5.00

Dairy

US$/t

10.0

5.50

5-yr ave

South Island stag slaughter price

11.0

5.0

Oct

7.0

6.0

6.00

4.00

8.0

5.0

7.0

South Island steer slaughter price

6.50

9.0

6.0

$/kg CW

5.50

$/kg CW

6.0

Last year

10.0

7.0

6.00

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

8.0

$/kg CW

North Island steer slaughter price 6.50

North Island lamb slaughter price

9.0

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

William Hickson

Ingrid Usherwood

200

Jun-20

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Aug-20

Oct-20

Dec-20

Feb-21

Apr-21

Jun-21

13656

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

12587

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

12310

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

Pulse

WEATHER Soil Moisture

Overview Winter is finally here. A significant polar blast will spread over NZ this week, with Monday being the coldest day for the South Island and Tuesday/Wednesday peak for the North Island. Snow is expected on low levels (100200m) but some snow flurries may make it to sea level in Southland and Otago, with a reduced risk further north in Canterbury. Snow will be heavy on the ranges and mountains, with 40cm possible. Monday will be several degrees colder than average for Southland and Otago and parts of Canterbury, with some places struggling to climb over +3degC. Wind chill in exposed parts of Southland and Otago will be below zero at the warmest part of the day.

The human side of M bovis cull

24/06/2021

Source: NIWA Data

Highlights

Wind

Southerly quarter winds dominate the start of this week, then high pressure brings light winds into both main islands. By the weekend, expect a windier northerly, replaced by another colder southerly early next week, then more calming high pressure is likely midweek.

14-day outlook

Temperature Colder than average this week in most places. Milder by the weekend. Another colder week next week.

Highlights/ Extremes Wind chills below zero during the day on Monday and Tuesday in southern parts of NZ and the high country. Snow will be heavy in the ranges early in the week in both islands. Some flurries are possible at sea level in southern NZ. High pressure midweek.

7-day rainfall forecast

The polar blast kicks off this week and dominates until Wednesday and then eases. Temperatures will remain low all 0 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 100 200 400 week though, because a powerful high Showers and snow flurries will be the main theme pressure system is coming in next – and this week, with wet weather on Monday moving that means frost. Heavy frosts are likely into the North Island by Tuesday. Rain will turn across both islands (don’t forget to to snow along the ranges and across parts of the check the NZ Frost Forecaster at www. Central Plateau, with snow likely on State Highway RuralWeather.co.nz for your local frost One, Desert Road. Parts of South Canterbury, risks). Warmer northerlies this weekend, Marlborough, Bay of Plenty and eastern Northland but another colder southerly (much look to be driest regions in the coming week or weaker) comes in to kick off next week two. followed, yet again, by another frosty high. Weather brought to you in partnership with weatherwatch.co.nz

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.

Nicola Dennis nicola.dennis@globalhq.co.nz

HEY say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Many South Island farmers got a very good look at that road as the Government “helped” them through the Mycoplasma bovis (M bovis) eradication programme. So far, there have been over 171,600 cattle forcibly slaughtered from 260 farms. A recent University of Otago study found that the “poorly managed government response to the 2017 Mycoplasma bovis outbreak inflicted significant and lasting trauma on farmers”. If you farm in the South Island, where 75% of the culled properties were located, then this finding is no surprise. The heavy-handed, whole-herd eradication strategy that MPI adopted cast a very wide net. In addition to “depopulating’’ farms, a further 2000 properties were thwarted by movement restrictions and many more were under the scrutiny of “active surveillance”. If southern farmers weren’t directly involved, or consoling someone who was, then they were at least feeling it via the sluggish cattle prices over the past three years. M bovis was first detected in July 2017. The market was slow to react to this incursion through the rest of 2017 and early 2018. There was some extra caution around calf trading, but prices were comparable to previous seasons. By March 2018, the decision was made to cull 28 herds thought to be exposed to the bacteria. Many local farmers breathed a sigh of relief. That relief was short-lived, however, when further herds showed antibodies for M bovis. That May it was announced that MPI planned to slaughter an estimated 190 farms and 126,000 cattle over a 10-year program. Market confidence unravelled rapidly from that point. M bovis, in the NZ beef setting, is almost entirely asymptomatic. Testing stock prior to trading was impossible. In fact, any farmer-led testing at all was off the table.

With contact tracing running months to years behind actual trading and farmers ever-fearful of getting “the call” from MPI. The store cattle markets issued a vote of no confidence on any cattle that had originated from a South Island dairy farm. Prices for South Island dairy-beef cattle, particularly the calves and yearling stock, fell into a hole that they are still struggling to climb out of three years later. Relative to slaughter prices, which were at record highs heading into the pandemic, the store prices for Friesian bulls weakened significantly. Meanwhile, prices for weaner Friesian bulls and dairy-beef calves have been dangerously close to the cost of production for the past two seasons. On the flip side, prices for straight beef calves pushed up to unsustainable levels as buyers targeted stock that had never set foot on a dairy farm. When high calf prices were not backed up by strong slaughter returns, buyers were reluctant to re-enter the straight-beef market in the following seasons. The South Island has limited beef slaughter capacity and has been dealing with persistent prime cattle backlogs over the past three seasons. The main culprit recently has been storage concerns brought about by covid-19 disruptions, as well as a growing South Island beef breeding herd. But, it has to be said that the extra cattle in the system from the M bovis slaughters didn’t go unnoticed. M bovis culls were taking priority when processor throughput was already overwhelmed. This put further pressure on beef prices, particularly for prime cattle, which always get the short end of the stick when there is plenty of manufacturing beef available. While the world has been distracted by covid-19, the number of farms on the M bovis cull list has quietly shrunk to single digits, with a few farms popping up occasionally in Canterbury. The markets are almost ready to forget the M bovis issue. South Island dairy-beef prices have shown buoyancy in recent weeks and calf rearers are making hopeful enquiries about the upcoming calf rearing season. But the farmers that were swarmed by bureaucrats in boiler suits may carry their scars for much longer.

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SALE YARD WRAP

Lambs on a golden run this year The golden year of 2019 is getting a run for its money in 2021, as lamb prices continue to climb to new heights. Recent lifts in store lamb pricing at the sale yards has meant that levels have pushed to those seen in October-November of 2019. But 2021 has achieved those levels in June, both when the lambs are younger and there are still later-born lambs to come out. Schedule prices are still improving so the market has gas left in the tank, which will likely mean that 2021 will surpass 2019 in being the year that others are benchmarked against. NORTHLAND Kaikohe sale • R2 beef bulls made $2.60/kg • R2 heifers improved to $2.65-$2.68/kg • Boner cows held at $2.00/kg Cattle throughput eased to around 350 head at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. R2 steers were of lighter weights around 320350kg though good beef and beef-cross types sold well to $3.05/kg to $3.20/kg. Yearling steers fetched $3.25/kg, and heifers $2.50/kg to $2.80/kg. Wellsford store cattle • R2 Angus-Friesian steers, 379kg, improved to $2.74/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 325-396kg, firmed to $2.69/kg to $2.84/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 361-421kg, improved to $2.58-$2.62/ kg A smaller yarding of 372 cattle was well-contested by locals at WELLSFORD last Monday. R2 steers accounted for just under 40% of the offering and quality was rewarded. Angus-Hereford, 356kg, returned $2.58/kg with AngusFriesian, 373-409kg, at $2.63/kg. Hereford-dairy sold in two bands as 414-426kg strengthened to $2.54-$2.63/kg and 350-351kg reached $2.78-$2.86/kg. Three 430kg HerefordFriesian bulls topped their section at $2.52/kg. R1 Angus steers, 214-278kg, returned $660-$840, $3.02-$3.08/kg. Hereford-Friesian, 133-192kg, realised $550-$735. Beefbred heifers, 155-171kg, fetched $455-$480, $2.81-$2.94/ kg. Ten Friesian bulls, 191kg, were well-contested and managed an improved $580, $3.04/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle • Medium R3 crossbred steers earned $2.60-$2.65/kg, $1460-$1680 • Medium yearling whiteface heifers sold to $3.10-$3.18/kg, $635$675 • Boner cows made $1.89/kg to $2.04/kg, $1170-$1640 Throughput tightened at PUKEKOHE on Saturday 19th. Prime heifers improved to $2.77/kg, $1620. Medium R2 Angus steers fetched $2.62-$2.67/kg, $1180 and same breed heifers $2.65, $1125. Weaner whiteface steers realised $480$495, and heifers $415-$500.

COUNTIES Tuakau sales • Hereford-Friesian steers, 227kg, made $860 • Heavy Friesian cows managed $2.02-$2.14/kg • Prime ewes sold strongly and reached $278 Prices for some classes of store cattle firmed by 10-20c/ kg at TUAKAU last Thursday, Carrfields Livestock agent Karl Chitham reported. The 700-head yarding included 407kg Hereford-Friesian steers, which made $2.94/kg with 361kg Hereford-Friesian at $3.15/kg. Angus heifers, 404kg, realised $2.65/kg and 291kg Murray Grey made $760. Hereford-Friesian weaner heifers, 151kg, managed $520. Prime steers, 580-700kg, returned $2.84-$2.97/kg on Wednesday and 470-520kg heifers fetched $2.76-$2.81/ kg. Medium Friesian cows traded at $1.58/kg to $1.87/kg. Monday’s sheep market was strong. Heavy prime lambs returned $187-$203 with medium at $164-$178. Mediumgood store lambs made $111-$153 and medium prime ewes, $135-$170.

WAIKATO Frankton cattle 22.6 • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 386kg, firmed to $3.23/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 346-395kg, strengthened to $2.72$2.83/kg • Prime beef-dairy heifers, 469-555kg, improved to $2.71-$2.81/kg Just under 400 store cattle were penned at FRANKTON last Tuesday by PGG Wrightson and most traded on an improved market. Most R2 beef-dairy steers, 339-511kg, fetched $2.84/kg to $3.03/kg. South Devon-cross heifers, 321kg, earned $2.83/kg. R1 Hereford-Friesian steers,

179-185kg, realised $665-$730. Speckle Park-cross heifers, 210-235kg, managed $675-$680 with Hereford-Friesian, 194-236kg, at $630-$670. Friesian bulls, 191-262kg, returned $575-$700. Autumn-born weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 110kg, lifted to $540, and same breed bulls, 116kg, $630, while the balance of beef-dairy, 100-112kg, earned $490$530. Friesian, 110kg, softened slightly to $490. Prime throughput lifted to 133 head. Friesian cows, vetted-in-calf and 529-641kg, were well-contested at $1175-$1410, $2.20$2.32/kg. Top end empty Friesian, 493-561kg, managed $1.83-$1.91/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Frankton cattle 23.6 • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 413kg, improved to $2.91/kg • Five R2 Hereford-dairy steers, 442kg, pushed to $2.96/kg • Eight quality autumn-born yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 259kg, fetched $3.42/kg Throughput lifted to just under 340 head for New Zealand Farmers Livestock at FRANKTON last Wednesday and a good bench of buyers was competitive throughout. R2 Hereford-dairy steers, 445-498kg, lifted to $2.79-$2.83/ kg. Six Hereford-Friesian heifers, 373kg, firmed to $2.72/kg. Friesian bulls, 338-402kg, improved to $2.51-$2.66/kg. R1 beef-cross heifers, 156-178kg, were consistent at $455-$465. Better Angus-cross bulls, 168kg, fetched $3.54/kg while beef-dairy, 163-185kg, returned $3.35-$3.47/kg. Friesian bulls, 197kg, realised $545, $2.77/kg. Autumn-born weaner Angus-Friesian heifers, 100kg, traded at $405 with Friesian bulls, 119-124kg, $430-$460. Prime cattle numbered 163 head. All prime steers, 517-598kg, fetched $2.76-$2.88/kg, and heifers, 435-549kg, $2.78-$2.83/kg. Boner Friesiancross heifers, 479-520kg, realised a solid $2.47-$2.49/kg. Top boner Friesian cows, 537-747kg, reached $2.14-$2.21/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

KING COUNTRY Taupo cattle sale • R3 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 367-435kg, sold to $2.99-$3.07/kg • R2 dairy-beef heifer average improved to $2.54/kg • R1 steers, 210-249kg, earned $3.14-$3.21/kg • R1 Angus heifers, 248-277kg, made $2.94/kg to $3.14/kg • R3 Angus heifers vetted-in-calf to Angus sold in a range of $1090-$1240 The market was strong at the TAUPO cattle sale last Thursday. Keen buyers battled to secure a great quality line up of 487 head. R3 steers were sought after with the bulk around $3.10-$3.20/kg though vendors of goodquality 657kg Angus were rewarded reaching $3.26/kg. R3 traditional and Charolais-Angus heifers, 445-5310kg, fetched $2.82-$2.91/kg. A highlight in the R2 steers was 374kg Hereford-Friesian which realised $3.29/kg and the next cut earned $3.13/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Te Kuiti Sheep • Heavy 2-tooth ewes made $150-$174, medium $125-$137 and light $118 • Top store male lambs eased to $160-$170 with medium $145$158 and light $108-$130 • Vetted-in-calf cows, 469-561kg, sold to $2.03-$2.13/kg • Yearling Angus bulls, 357kg, traded to $2.68/kg • R2 South Devon heifers, 446kg, achieved $2.81/kg Around 2000 sheep were penned at TE KUITI last Wednesday. Prime lambs sold to $190-$206 with medium $150-$165 and light $142. Prime ewes held with heavy types $172-$194, medium $130-$165 and light $99-$117. Store ewe lambs made $168 and mixed-sex $140. In the cattle pens on Friday, the best of the R2 HerefordFriesian, 628kg, made $2.85/kg with the bulk around $2.78-$2.80/kg. Autumn-born 2-year Charolais-cross steers, 624kg, made $3.25/kg with the next cut $2.87/kg. Good R2 Angus and Angus-cross steers, 424-490kg, fetched $2.95$3.00/kg. Good R1 Angus-Friesian steers realised $3.23/kg with the next cut $3.17/kg.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Thirteen Hereford-Friesian bulls, 730kg, returned an impressive $3.14/kg

• R2 Charolais heifers, 438kg, traded at $2.63/kg • Lambs were popular and made $151-$187 while ewes mostly earned $135-$187 The prime section featured plenty of heavy cattle at RANGIURU last Tuesday. 80% of the steers clocked in over 590kg and included Angus-cross, 665-674kg, that achieved $2.95-$3.03/kg while most of the balance were HerefordFriesian, 675-790kg, that managed $2.85/kg to $2.99/kg. The bulk of the store section were found amongst a mixture of R2 and R3 heifers from a variety of breeds. They were typically 372-457kg and returned a consistent $2.58/kg to $2.71/kg. R2 traditional steers, 330-380kg, earned $2.70$2.82/kg while some Hereford-Jersey, 446kg, fetched $2.71/ kg. R1 Hereford-Friesian and Hereford-Jersey steers and heifers, 264-308kg, provided the bulk of their category and these returned $650-$790. Read more in your LivestockEye.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero sheep • Very heavy store ram lambs fetched $190 • Romney ewes scanned-in-lamb with twins made $200-$230 • Run-with-ram ewes varied at $150-$240 • Prime 2-tooth ewes earned $190t Store lamb numbers lifted at MATAWHERO last Friday. Male lambs lifted with the top end to $155-$160, medium $132-$140 and light $92-$125. Top ewe lambs strengthened to $140-$157, medium $115-$139 and light $100. Prime lambs improved with heavy types $190-$192, medium $156-$170 and light $114. Read more in your LivestockEye.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle • Most R2 heifers earned $2.60-$2.70/kg • R2 Friesian and Friesian-cross bulls were well contested at $2.71$2.78/kg • Better R1 Friesian bulls earned $2.13/kg • Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 648kg, realised $3.00/kg • Prime heifers fetched $2.86-$2.90/kg Throughput eased at TARANAKI last Wednesday though demand was strong which pushed values upwards across the board. R2 cattle improved at least 10c/kg and the steer average settled at $2.97/kg with top end firming to $3.05-$3.13/kg. In the R1 steer pens, those that ticked boxes fetched $3.12/kg to $3.26/kg and lines with horns or broken markings were around $2.60-$2.67/kg. R1 heifers were mostly bought for $2.30-$2.40/kg. Top-quality Angus mixed-age cows vetted-in-calf to purebred Angus bull and due September 1st achieved $1600.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime cattle and sheep • Eight very heavy mixed-age ewes firmed to $207 • Very good ewes held at $159-$179 • Very heavy ram lambs returned $183-$200 The rain was still falling at STORTFORD LODGE last Monday, following a decent deluge over the preceding weekend. A smaller yarding of 498 sheep was presented and they met plenty of interest from the rails. Ewes traded on a steady market as heavy types returned $180-$187 and medium to good types maintained levels of $132-$155. Lighter types earned $91-$129. A limited lamb section included very heavy mixed-sex which fetched an improved $169-$173. No cattle were penned. Read more in your LivestockEye. Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Vetted-in-calf R3 and R2 Angus heifers sold for $940-$1100 • R3 Angus steers, 515-567kg, lifted to $3.13-$3.26/kg • Four-year Romney ewes, scanned-in-lamb to Romney and blackface, reached $211 • Good male lambs firmed to $146-$161 • All ewe lambs lifted $10-$25 per head Vendors were offered a good quantity of breeding stock at STORTFORD LODGE last Wednesday, in the form of traditional cows and heifers, and mainly Romney ewes. Heavy Angus cows, 613-698kg and vetted-in-calf to Angus, varied from $2.41/kg to $2.62/kg and the top pen reached

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 28, 2021

SOUTH-CANTERBURY

HOW MUCH AM I WORTH? These ewe lambs sold at Feilding on June 18 for $178, but the market has continued to strengthen from there. $1830. Medium types, 424-476kg, returned $1080-$1220, $2.55-$2.56/kg. Small lines occupied the rest of the pens and sold accordingly. Breeding ewes started the sheep section and the top pen of run-with-ram Romney mixedage ewes firmed to $208.50 and Romdale, scanned-in-lamb to Romdale, fetched $194. Nearly 8000 lambs were offered, and prices improved for the second week running. Heavy male lambs sold to $170-$197 and mixed-sex from the Chatham Islands returned $144-$179. The top pens of ewe lambs reached $186-$190 and good lines, $152-$176. Light to medium lambs sold well at $132.50-$148. Read more in your LivestockEye.

MANAWATU Feilding prime cattle and sheep • In-calf Friesian cows, 510-646kg, were often $2.20/kg to $2.34/kg • Empty Friesian cows, 560-700kg, generally made $1.91/kg to $2.15/kg • In-calf Angus and Angus-Hereford cows, 544-647kg, made $2.27$2.37/kg • Empty Angus and Angus-Hereford cows, 480kg, earned $2.21/kg All but one of the main lamb pens sold for at least $150 at FEILDING last Monday. A pen of mixed-sex lambs traded at $225, top of the very heavy pens that made $186-$225. These were followed by the heavy pens at $156-$184. One heavy pen of ewes fetched $199 but the bulk of the section was centred around good types that made $147-$179. The cattle pens featured almost 250 cows, but steer and heifer numbers were limited. A pair of Angus and AngusHereford steers, 710kg, reached $2.98/kg with the next best 615-870kg Angus at $2.84-$2.87/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Feilding store sale • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 345-455kg, lifted to $3.00-$3.10/kg • R2 Friesian bulls, 445-550kg, were mostly $2.85-$2.95/kg • R2 traditional heifers, 315-440kg, made $2.80-$2.90/kg • Store male lamb average firmed to $162 • Store ewe lamb average jumped to $157 Around 1500 store cattle sold well at FEILDING. In-calf beef cows were mainly medium-to-lighter conditioned, making $2.20-$2.35/kg at 410-575kg. Traditional R3 steers, 580-780kg, were $3.00-$3.20/kg, with 470-595kg straightbeef R2 steers making $3.05-$3.25/kg. Some 440kg R2 Friesian bulls were $3.00-$3.05/kg while 415-460kg R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers at $2.75-$2.80/kg. Good-sized lines of 165-185kg R1 Hereford-Friesian steers were $770$805, $4.40-$4.65/kg, followed by 175-190kg HerefordFriesian heifers at $510-$600, $2.95-$3.25/kg. The 14,000 head store lamb sale pushed further into record-breaking territory for this point in the year. The heaviest male lambs were $180-$192, with good lines mainly $165-$180, mediums $150-$160, and the lighter-end $130-$145. Topend ewe lambs were $175-$186, with the good lines around $155-$170, mediums $140-$150, and $125-$135 covering the lights. The in-lamb ewe market was very even, at $210$230 for anything decent-quality, with lighter types at $165$185. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Rongotea cattle • R2 White Galloway steers, 370kg, earned $2.42/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian bulls, 445kg, sold to $2.58/kg • R2 White Galloway bulls, 580kg, fetched $2.47/kg • R1 Friesian bulls, 200-248kg, made $2.35-$2.42/kg and 278kg Hereford, $2.56/kg • Beef boner cows, 375-440kg, realised $1.70/kg to $1.87/kg There was a good yarding of R1 cattle at RONGOTEA last Tuesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. Hereford-Friesian steers, 133-200kg, made $2.00/kg to $2.79/kg and 115-198kg heifers $2.50/kg to $3.67/kg. Better exotic-cross and Angus-cross R1 steers sold to $3.30/kg to $3.80/kg. In the calf pens, HerefordFriesian bulls made $175 and Hereford-cross heifers $140$155.

CANTERBURY Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • Prime Angus steers, 430kg, traded at $2.98/kg • Prime traditional cows, 468-563kg, often made $1.89-$1.96/kg • R2 Speckle Park heifers, 305kg, returned $2.46/kg • R2 Angus heifers, 309kg, traded at $2.33/kg • A pair of prime 2-tooth wethers reached $329 Heifers were the main feature of a small prime cattle offering at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday. Charolais and Charolais-cross heifers, 480-660kg, made $2.80-$2.87/ kg but were pipped to the top price by a pair of 482kg Speckle Park-cross at $2.88/kg. Dairy-beef and traditional types, 457-560kg, were $2.62-$2.73/kg. The best of the heavy steers was 585-630kg Charolais-cross at $2.90-$2.91/ kg while other breeds over 500kg largely sold within $2.65$2.75/kg. In the store section, dairy-beef filled the R3 pens and better Hereford-Friesian steers, 410-438kg, made $2.57$2.59/kg while second cuts traded from $2.21/kg to $2.38/ kg across the sexes. Only 12 pens of store lambs were offered, and they typically made $115-$140. Heavy prime lambs earned up to $235 with good types mostly $140-$174. The best ewes earned $185-$230 with the balance mostly spread from $130-$170. Read more in your LivestockEye. Coalgate cattle and sheep • Prime steers over 500kg returned $2.78-$2.88/kg • R1 Angus steers, 281kg, earned $710 • Twelve prime ewes achieved $300 • 136 breeding ewes managed $192-$220 R2 Hereford-Friesian dominated a small store cattle section at COALGATE last Thursday. Pens of 383-431kg steers managed $2.44-$2.45/kg while 341-383kg heifers traded at $2.20-$2.28/kg. Ten percent of the prime ewes offered made $256-$300 while a third sold from $200 to $236. The rest made at least $123. A budget of at least $150 was needed for most prime lambs as they earned $150-$199, however the top 10% pushed further to $201$220. The bulk of the store lambs sold for $100-$131 with a few lesser pens at $60-$75. Read more in your LivestockEye.

Temuka prime cattle and all sheep • Angus and Angus-Hereford steers, 516-656kg, earned $2.79/kg to $2.90/kg • Hereford-Friesian steers, 575-625kg, made $2.81-$2.88/kg • Angus heifers, 507-600kg, fetched $2.70-$2.81/kg • Hereford heifers, 542-615kg, were priced at $2.68-$2.71/kg The TEMUKA sale featured plenty of very forward Chathams and Pitt Islands store lambs that often made $154-$198 while those from the mainland were lighter and typically $110-$145. Prime lamb volume stopped short of the 500 head mark but what was available tended to be of very good quality. Close to half traded from $190 to $210 with the remainder evenly spread from $130 to $189. Ewe quality was more variable, but the best pens sold to $202-$254 with the core of the offering $160-$199. The balance were small lines bought across a wide range of $50 to $156. Boner cow volume halved to just under 120 head. Heavy Friesian pens, 540-715kg, traded from $1.71/ kg to $1.85/kg while lighter 480-525kg sold from $1.60/kg to $1.72/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Temuka store cattle • R2 Shorthorn and Hereford-Friesian steers, 388-405kg, earned $2.57-$2.67/kg • R2 Charolais and Hereford-Friesian heifers, 398-410kg, earned $2.62-$2.68/kg Much of the action at last Thursday’s TEMUKA store cattle sale was centred around 160 R2 Devon, Devon-cross and Hereford-Devon heifers shipped from Pitt Island. Of these, the lighter end at 259-302kg typically fetched $1.95-$2.02/kg while 305-366kg managed $2.11-$2.20/kg. Some 225-271kg R1 Angus-Friesian and Hereford-Friesian steers made good returns of $630-$680 with the next most numerous breed Speckle Park, 127-136kg, that made $345$450. A pen of 272kg Hereford-Friesian made the most per head amongst the heifers at $600 followed by 170-222kg traditional pens that earned $450-$550. Read more in your LivestockEye.

OTAGO Balclutha sale • Heavy prime ewes made $170-$220, medium $130-$150 and light $80-$120 • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers earned $2.70/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers fetched $2.50-$2.60/kg Demand lifted for prime sheep which pushed values upwards at BALCLUTHA last Wednesday. The top end of prime lambs lifted $10 to $160-$180 with light to medium types at $140-$150. A full yarding of store lambs sold well with the top end up $15 to $130-$150, medium $110-$120 and light $90. Store cattle were met by a strong buying bench and values improved significantly compared to a month ago. R2 beef steers, 400kg, achieved $2.80/kg and heifers $2.60-$2.70/kg.

SOUTHLAND Lorneville sale • Top store lambs lifted to $125-$135, medium $110-$120 and light $95-$105 • Local trade rams made $72 • Boner cows, 450-500kg, sold to $1.50/kg to $1.80/kg • R2 Hereford-cross heifers, 412kg, fetched $2.52/kg • R2 Friesian-cross steers, 390kg, earned $2.13/kg The prime market strengthened at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday with heavy lambs up to $166-$196, medium $140-$160 and light $120-$138. Heavy ewes improved to $200-$270, medium $154-$178 and light $120-$140. Prime steers above 550kg firmed to $2.50-$2.60/kg and the next cut, $2.40/kg. Good prime heifers, 440kg, earned $2.40/kg. R2 Angus steers, 450kg, made $2.67/kg and Hereford-cross, 498kg, $2.65/kg. R1 Hereford-cross steers, 208kg achieved $520 and same breed 220kg bulls $550.

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Markets

40 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – June 7, 2021 SI STEER

NI LAMB

SI LAMB

($/KG)

5.20

8.10

8.00

PRIME BEEF-DAIRY STEERS, 665KG AVERAGE, AT RANGIURU ($/KG)

2.92

high $1080-$1220 $221-$230 cows, vetted-in-calf Good-quality scanned lights Angus to Angus and 424-503kg, -in-lamb ewes, at Feilding at Stortford Lodge

Turnover satisfying for bull sale vendors Hugh Stringleman

hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

OANUI Polled Herefords, Maraetotara, made a top price of $29,000 for lot 3, Koanui Gallway Q570, sold to Eric and Sue Taylor of Corriebeg Farm Te Kuiti, a long-term commercial client. Koanui sold 61 of 63 bulls offered and averaged $10,057. Vendor Chris Chesterman says the turnover of bulls was excellent and the line-up strong right through, despite the past 18 months of challenging weather conditions and covid-19 disruption. Next year will be Koanui’s 50th onfarm sale, dating back to the foundation of the breeding operation in 1972, which now numbers 800 registered females. The Chestermans then travelled south to Kaikoura and paid the top price at the Matariki Herefords sale, $20,000 for Matariki Memphis. Matariki offered 59 and sold 58, with an average of $8448. Co-vendor Woodbank Angus offered 58 and sold 54, with an average of $9204 and a top of $15,000 paid three times by Kaiwara Angus, Sudeley Angus and Puke-Nui Angus. Nearby at Conway Flat, the next day Te Mania Angus offered 149 bulls and sold 116, for an average of $8278 and a top price of $34,000 paid by Whangara Angus and Turihaua Angus. Silverstream Charolais in Ataahua, near Christchurch, sold 46 Charolais out of 60 offered, averaged $9098 and made a top price of $23,000. It also sold 10 Herefords out of 13, averaging $6950, with a top of $10,000. Hemingford Charolais, Culverden, sold 41 of 47 bulls offered, averaged $7860 and topped the sale with $28,000, paid by Kia Toa Charolais.

CLEARANCE RATE: Koanui Polled Herefords sold 61 of 63 bulls offered and averaged $10,057.

Taimate Angus at Ward sold 66 out of 68 offered and made a top price of $21,000 for bull Q13. Burtergill South Devon, in the same

The turnover of bulls was excellent and the lineup strong right through, despite the past 18 months of challenging weather conditions and covid-19 disruption. sale, sold 10 of 13, with a top of $15,000 and averaged $8111. Kakahu Angus, Geraldine, sold 72 out of 82 offered with an average of $10,368 and a top price of $27,000, paid by a commercial farm. Waiterenui Angus, Hastings, had a full clearance of 41 bulls to average $8200, with a top of $22,000 paid by a commercial farm. Red Oak Angus, Amberley, made a top

price of $20,000 paid by Sudeley Angus, sold 30 out of 36 offered and averaged $7450. Grampians Angus, Amuri, had a full clearance of 35 bulls, averaged $10,957 and had a top price of $16,000, paid three times. Fossil Creek Angus, North Otago, sold 62 of 67 offered, averaging $7637, with a high price of $19,000 to a commercial buyer. Waitawheta Angus, Waihi, offered 24 and sold 22, averaged $5618 and topped the sale with $12,000, paid by Te Atarangi Angus. Kaiwara Angus, Culverden, averaged $7068 across 23 out of 27 sold and twice made the top of $10,000. Brackenfield Angus, Seddon, cleared its 12 lot catalogue, averaged $7333 and had a top of $14,500. Blacknight Angus, near Blenheim, sold nine out of 13, making an average of $6166 and a top of $10,000. Leefield Station Angus, Blenheim, had a full clearance of 11 bulls, averaged $8045 and a top of $13,500.

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ACROSS THE RAILS SARAH FRIEL

Interest high in Wellsford Wagyu sale LAST Wednesday marked a significant day for New Zealand Wagyu. The foundation NZ Purebred Wagyu herd was partially dispersed at the Wellsford sale yards, one year after herd master Michael McCool’s death. McCool was widely described as a pioneer of the NZ Wagyu scene and established his herd by importing three embryos from Australia in 1992. McCool’s breeding is evident throughout most NZ Wagyu herds and the decision to disperse the herd at auction was met with a high level of inquiry. While Wagyu is a limited market in NZ, the sale was well supported by determined local buyers, South Islanders, seven bidr users and there was also a strong Australian interest. Over 500 cattle went under the hammer and breeding stock was the main attraction. Over 200 VIC cows were offered and agents had taken care to pen up a variety of line sizes for buyers. The market took a moment to find its level, however, most of the cows flowed through the rostrum quickly. Demand lifted in the second half of the sale and two pens of cows shared the top price of $3350, selling for $6.35-$6.86/ kg, while the average price for the section was $2422. A smaller consignment of heifers achieved full clearance. Two-year-old VIC options averaged $1442 and yearling heifers averaged $1192. Bidding was spirited over the younger section, with buyers excited to snap up future capital stock. Buying was particularly heated over a 23-head 151kg line, which was knocked down for $1360, $9.00/kg. Yearling steers moved smoothly through the rostrum and buyers absorbed the offering with ease. The top line sold for $910, with an average price of $810, $3.82/kg. The tail-end of the sale consisted of yearling bulls and tested sires. This section of the sale lacked the competitive spark that was evident through the females and the clearance rate eased. Sire bulls shifted for $2500-$3500, while younger bulls weighing 168kg-255kg sold for $2000-$2600. Overall, the sale was regarded as a success and the McCool family is preparing to sell remaining stock soon. The dispersal of McCool’s herd has sparked the imagination of the NZ Wagyu Association, who are considering holding an annual sale to grow the breed.

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Farmers Weekly NZ June 28, 2021

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