Farmers Weekly NZ January 30 2023

Wool socks for Ukraine winter

$1 return shear hell for wool

Neal Wallace NEWS Wool

INCREASING numbers of farmers are finding it will cost thousands of dollars more to shear their sheep this season than they will earn from wool revenue.

The financial equation has worsened this year with valuations for full ewe fleece from $1/kg not uncommon. The sector is being squeezed between a 4.4% increase in shearing costs and a global wool glut after demand from China slowed while the country focused on eliminating covid.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief economist Andrew Burtt said the average shearing cost per farm this year is estimated at $28,200, up 4.4% on last season. For most farm classes the average revenue from wool sales exceeds the average cost of shearing.

The scenario is worse for North Island crossbred farmers, with average wool revenue estimated at $17,100 for 2022-23, while shearing costs for the same period are estimated at $23,200.

Andy Caughey, the chief executive of Wool Impact, a collaboration between the government and sheep sector partners under the Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund,

acknowledged the difficulties but said there is reason for optimism.

“I understand the challenging situation farmers face at the moment and the last thing we want to do is give false hope,”

Caughey said. “But the reasons for our optimism are fact-based.

“We’ve been in market and seen quantifiable changes that are real and were shown to us by influential people and companies in the marketplace.”

Shearers are the meat in the sandwich. Demand for wool is low and that is the pressure point.

Phil Holden Shearing Contractors Association

Caughey said that innovation includes the development of wool acoustic tiles, a global shift to natural products, and pending legislation in Europe and the United Kingdom requiring manufacturers, from 2025, to be responsible for products that have reached the end of their life.

That will be especially telling on synthetic products.

Caughey said the covid lockdown highlighted for people the

Continued page 3

Shed at sharp end of costs squeeze

For one Hunterville farmer James Kilmister the input-profit sums just don’t add up. NEWS 3

Finding a fix when you’re at breaking point

Young rural men can get the help they need if they are told where to look, says study.

PEOPLE 13

Sector leaders draw up their wish list for new PM Chris Hipkins.

POLITICS 5

Top performers

Fertiliser prices have eased off historic highs over the past year.

NEWS 8

Not much room to manoeuvre when it comes to on-farm GHG.

OPINION 15

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WHEY HEY: Fonterra’s chief operations officer, Fraser Whineray, is hailing NZ’s success in butter and cheese sales in Japan, where the country is the number one imported source in both categories.

Craigmore appointments

Former Kathmandu chief executive Reuben Casey has been appointed chief operating officer at farming, horticulture and forestry company Craigmore.

Con Williams, formerly with MyFarm and ANZ Bank, also joins the company, as general manager horticulture. Casey resigned from his role with Kathmandu in July last year.

New bovis case

One new Banks Peninsula farm has tested positive for Mycoplasma bovis and two have been cleared of infection, leaving five properties confirmed with the disease. All properties in the high-risk area in Wakanui, which is under a Controlled Area Notice (CAN), have now been cleared of cattle. The CAN is on track to be lifted in mid-March.

Nutrients find favour

Consumer interest in eating more nutrient-dense foods continues to rise, according to a New Nutrition Business study.

Nutrient density was mentioned by 18% of people looking for food that packed beneficial nutrients relative to their energy content. This rose from 12% in 2021. Brazil had the highest level of interest in nutrient density, at 37% and the United Kingdom the lowest at 7%.

Grazing deadline looms

The deadline for farmers to apply for intensive winter grazing consents is three months away, but the Otago Regional Council is encouraging farmers to act now. The intensive winter grazing consents can be for the next three to five years. Applications for winter 2023 and beyond should be in by mid-April 2023.

Back in 1860, exporting meat to the other side of the world seemed about as easy as nailing gravy to the ceiling. But a few determined kiwis took the bull by the horns and now our grass-fed beef and lamb is sought-after all around the globe.

At AFFCO, we see the same pioneering spirit alive and well in farmers today. We’re playing our part too – exploring every opportunity to take New Zealand’s finest farm-raised products to the world.

pioneering spirit tells us nothing’s out of reach

Shed at sharp end of wool costs squeeze

Neal Wallace NEWS Wool

JAMES Kilmister estimates the financial breakeven point for his crossbred wool clip is between $4 and $5/kg. This year the Hunterville sheep farmer will get about $1/kg for his 30,000kg – and face writing out a cheque for $25,000 to cover his shearing costs.

His last financially decent year was 2015, when wool revenue exceeded costs by about $70,000.

Ideally he believes the wool should be fetching $10/kg but said some brokers and exporters have for years not put in the effort to promote the fibre and maintain a reasonable income, let alone generate that return.

If prices remain this low, he fears that in two to three years there will not be a wool industry left given the costs of production.

Kilmister says higher wool prices would be the third income cog to his sheep and beef business and would also help the viability of hill country farmers facing competition from forestry.

When shearing costs exceed fetch from clip

Continued from p1

noise from wood floors that are predominant in homes overseas, which has created interest in acoustic tiles to soften sound.

Manufacturers are also investigating using wool in duvets, pillows, furniture, mattresses and felting.

The other strategy is for NZ exporters and processes to work alongside manufacturers and their brands to promote the attributes of wool.

“We need to work with brands and build a desirable value proposition around wool being a natural fibre, its length, strength and colour,” said Caughey.

Phil Holden, the executive director of the Shearing Contractors Association, said the association last year recommended shearing and woolhandling rates

increases to reflect inflation and to help retain workers.

It was left to each business to decide whether to lift their rates.

“Shearers are the meat in the sandwich,” he said. “Demand for wool is low and that is the pressure point.”

Farmers generally understand the cost of shearing, and many have reduced the number of shed hands to reduce costs, but until prices improve, he said, it is a cost that will be questioned.

“On the whole, they are generally understanding of the cold hard reality of the current situation.”

Burtt said in addition to falling demand from China, global stocks of strong wool are high.

“Wool is still a low-cost commodity with considerable supply worldwide, especially in stronger categories, so sustained

price upside is still unlikely with economic uncertainty in China mainly and worldwide,” said Burtt.

It is a different story for fine wool, where returns on average remain ahead of costs.

About 30% of fine wool farmers’ total gross revenue is from fine wool but the shearing bill reflects greater sheep numbers, averaging $117,000 to $126,000/farm over the past few seasons.

BLNZ figures show fine crossbred export prices were $2983/t in July 2021, $3711/t in July 2022 and $3612/t in November last year.

Strong wool export prices were $2938/t in July 2021, $3532/t in July 2022 and $3695/t in November last year.

Fine wool export prices were $19,984/t in July 2021, $13,592/t a year later and $19,613/t last November.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME: Hunterville sheep farmer James Kilmister says wool prices need to lift substantially in the next three to four years to preserve the industry.

Photo: Bryan Gibson

TURNAROUND: Andy Caughey, the chief executive of Wool Impact, says he doesn’t want to give false hope, but there is reason for optimism when it comes to the market for wool.

Forestry petition seeks better way forward

Richard Rennie NEWS Forestry

ORGANISERS of a major petition seeking change to how Te Tāirawhiti forests are managed say they do not want a shutdown of the region’s forestry, but are looking for a collaborative approach to stop communities being devastated by flood events.

The petition of 8500 signatures was presented to Gisborne District Council this week as the region moved from emergency to cleanup mode after its sixth major flood event in two years.

The most recent event earlier in January again flushed millions of cubic metres of logs, trees and vegetation into vulnerable catchments around Tolaga Bay and further north.

Productive crop-producing country in the district has had millions of dollars’ worth of ripening maize, corn, squash and feed inundated, and entire properties’ fence lines wiped out. In some cases this was the second or third time in less than 18 months.

Petition organiser and Tolaga Bay resident Hera Ngata-Gibson said organisers are not there to play the blame game, and want to work with the industry and local

council on a better way to manage the resource.

“But we are very angry, angry at ourselves for letting it get this bad.

“These images are just a drop in the ocean of what is sitting out there in our catchments. I feel for our whanau further north, because the challenges are a lot worse there.

We are very angry, angry at ourselves for letting it get this bad.

Hera Ngata-Gibson Petition organiser

“Unfortunately this is going to continue. This is the legacy created before us, and by us.”

She likened the situation for many on the coast to being in an abusive relationship, such are iwi ties both to the land and to the forestry industry, which supports one in eight families on the coast.

Federated Farmers board member and East Coast Farmer Toby Williams said 8500 signatures is a good effort, given it took just over a week to gather them.

“It shows to me the level of frustration from locals, and the level of concern is across the community,” Williams said.

He is also encouraged by

foresters’ willingness to engage in an investigation into forestry practices.

“They do not want to see this [flood damage] either. This is not a call to end forest harvesting.”

Philip Hope, CEO of Eastland Wood Council, said a collective review was a far better option than a Wellington-sourced top-down solution.

“Government has a role to play here but we would like the Tairāwhiti community to be involved too, as any decisions have the greatest impact upon them,” Hope said.

High on the agenda of issues to address is the log waste wood generated at skid sites. Some companies have made efforts to move the scrap away from vulnerable gullies and cliffs, but there is a call for it to be trucked off site.

Williams and Grant Dodson, president of the Forest Owners Association, said a bio-fuel processing plant for such waste is an option.

But Williams said given its low value this would require a localised processing plant, and this is where the government may have to step in with an initiative.

Receiving the petition, Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz said the council is very ready to have a discussion about how the

TRAPPED: Hera Ngata-Gibson from Tolaga Bay says locals are living with a legacy of poor forestry that she likens to living in an abusive relationship as many iwi on the coast also work in the sector.

community can deal with the problem.

“This is the sixth extreme weather event since 2021,” Stoltz said.

“I do want to acknowledge the angst, and the emotional impact

NZ wool to keep Ukrainian feet warm

Neal Wallace NEWS Wool

CHRIS Childerhouse looked in horror at the war in Ukraine, wondering what someone from Wellington could do to try to ease their burden.

With winter looming, the answer soon came: he would work to provide woollen clothing, not only for its thermal attributes but also to send a message that people on the other side of the world care about the plight of Ukraine.

“I thought ‘What do we have in NZ that the Ukraine could use?’

I read about how cold it gets in winter in Ukraine and thought we have the best wool in the world,” Childerhouse said.

Having settled on supplying socks, specifically those made from strong crossbred wool, he set himself the target of raising enough

funds in a month to supply 10,000 pairs.

The venture also provided the Wellingtonian with an insight into the parlous state of crossbred strong wool prices.

He has launched a Give A Little Page with the socks to be

YOU’RE NOT ALONE: Chris Childerhouse of Wellington –pictured on page 1 – launched the initiative to send the message that people on the other side of the world care about the plight of Ukraine.

produced by the NZ Sock Company in Ashburton.

He is aiming for a minimum of 1000 pairs, at a cost of $20,000, the volume needed to fill an airfreight pallet.

They will be airfreighted to Poland and, through contacts of the New Zealand-linked group Mahi for Ukraine, will be taken across the border and distributed.

With temperatures falling as low as minus 20degC and Russian missiles destroying energy infrastructure and damaging homes, Childerhouse said, warmth is crucial for Ukrainians.

upon our community is difficult to quantify. Our staff have been putting together some responses on what we can do.”

For the petition to trigger an investigation it will require approval from the governor-general.

WARMING: The socks are made from strong crossbred wool.

Sector leaders draw up Hipkins wish list

Neal Wallace NEWS Politics

PRIMARY sector leaders are mostly in the dark about what their industry can expect from newly elected Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

The Food and Fibre Leadership Group is seeking a meeting with the new prime minister, with most members saying they have not had dealings with him.

Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard said Hipkins has not been part of the government ministerial group, headed by the prime minister, that regularly meets with food and fibre leaders.

He fears the change in prime minister could mean a loss of contacts within the leader’s office as staff are replaced.

Sector leaders said they hope Hipkins will slow the speed, pace and breadth of legislative change, singling out indigenous biodiversity and the Resource Management Act (RMA) as policies that could be paused.

They also want the new prime minister to ensure the He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) legislation to address agricultural greenhouse gases is passed.

They are in agreement that immigration restrictions must be lifted to allow more foreign workers into the country to address the sector’s labour shortage.

One of the few sector leaders who does know Hipkins is Nathan Guy, a former National Party MP and agriculture minister who is now the independent chair of the Meat Industry Association (MIA) and Apiculture NZ.

Guy said Hipkins is personable and accessible, and he is optimistic the new prime minister will be accessible to the sector.

We need a more permissive [immigration] policy. It is too restrictive and we are at the point where people are going to Australia instead of coming here.

Barry O’Neil Horticulture NZ

One issue he will be advocating for is that a proposed trade delegation to China – which was to have been led by outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern –continues as planned given the economic headwinds China’s economy is facing.

“A prime minister can open doors for the primary sector and this is an important period given the volatility in the Chinese economy.

“We need to be seen there, waving the flag and reminding the Chinese that we are honest brokers when it comes to trade.”

Guy said the biggest issue facing the MIA is a shortage of workers

that will slice an estimated $600 million in added value from the sector in the coming year.

He said they need halal butchers and qualified knife hands.

Beef + Lamb NZ chair Andrew Morrison agreed that the labour shortage must be addressed, but he also wants the new prime minister to resolve the carbon farming issue, which he said is distorting the property market.

Pending policies such as that on indigenous biodiversity should be put on hold given the deluge of policies the sector is dealing with, and Morrison said there is an urgent need for the government to deliver on promised farm plans as part of freshwater policies.

DairyNZ chair Jim van der Poel is also looking for guidance about how the new prime minister views HWEN.

He would also like access to more migrant labour and a commitment that new policies will be fair, practical and underpinned by common sense.

Horticulture NZ chair Barry O’Neil would like Hipkins to be more cognisant of the risk to food security, especially fresh vegetables, given rising costs and restrictions on land use.

He said the volume of new legislation needs to slow as groups and individuals cannot keep up, and he would like the RMA reforms to be put on hold.

He also wants immigration rules eased.

“We need a more permissive policy. It is too restrictive and

we are at the point where people are going to Australia instead of coming here,” O’Neil said.

O’Neil would also like to see legislation to make it easier for growers to change land use within the horticulture industry.

Hoggard said policies such as RMA reform need to slow because

they are far reaching and could mean activities that are currently permitted could require consent. He wants to know if Hipkins is going to continue with Ardern’s promise to take some policy initiatives off the table and, if that is the case, what those policies will be.

Bishop to drive National’s RMA response

NATIONAL party leader Christopher Luxon has started the new political year with a limited reshuffle of his shadow cabinet, putting third-ranked MP Chris Bishop in charge of the response to the government’s massive Resource Management Act reform agenda.

Otherwise, one of the primary winners in the relatively lighthanded reset for election year is former leader Judith Collins, whose rehabilitation continues with a move to 10th from 18th in the rankings.

She picks up two new portfolio areas that signal where National may seek reform – “digitising government” and foreign direct investment – along with

The line-up National will take into the election is a mixture of experience and emerging talent.

her science, innovation and technology portfolios.

She also becomes deputy shadow leader of the House, understudying Michael Woodhouse in the senior role of organising National’s parliamentary activity. Woodhouse picks up that role from Bishop.

Another former leader, Todd Muller, secures a permanent slot as the agriculture spokesperson and picks up climate change from Scott Simpson, who retains the environment portfolio but

effectively cedes the RMA reform responsibilities and their focus on urban development to Bishop.

Muller replaced Barbara Kuriger last year after she resigned over her handling of a conflict of interest involving family farming interests and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

MORE:

Todd Muller outlines National’s plan for agriculture P18

Sam Whitelock Farmstrong Ambassador

I perform at my best when I build rest and recovery into my daily schedule.

THE LINE ON PINES: Beef + Lamb NZ chair Andrew Morrison wants the new prime minister to resolve the carbon farming issue, which he said is distorting the property market.

Christopher Luxon National Leader

ON FARM: Former National leader Todd Muller has secured his spot as National’s agriculture spokesperson.

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Farms ‘soft targets’ as rural crime spikes

Craig Page NEWS Safety

FARMERS are seen as “soft targets” by thieves who are increasingly being driven to crime by the rising cost of living, says Federated Farmers.

Statistics supplied by rural insurer FMG reveal theft and burglary claims lodged last year were at a five-year high.

Figures for the 12 months ending October 2022 show the company settled 1283 claims lodged for theft and burglaries from rural properties throughout New Zealand. That compared with 1182 the previous 12 months, 1162 in 2020, 1232 in 2019 and 1085 in 2018.

FMG declined to say how much last year’s claims cost the company, but its Rural Crime Prevention Advice Guide says it paid out $21 million in burglary and theft claims over a five-year period.

“It’s not unexpected when you consider the cost of living has risen,” said Federated Farmers’ dairy industry group chair, Richard McIntyre.

“People are looking for alternative ways to make some money and farmers are often seen as soft targets. You also have to remember a lot of this crime goes unreported.”

The increase has prompted Feds to launch another joint rural crime survey with police in March and April, just two years after the previous one.

The 2021 survey drew responses from more than 1200 farmers. Over half – 52% – said they had

Some people treat farmers’ stock like going to the supermarket or butchery. They will take just one or two sheep out of a paddock on a regular basis.

Richard McIntyre Federated Farmers

been affected by crime in the previous two years. That was up 10% on the 2016 survey and McIntyre, who has the Feds’ rural policing portfolio, said he expects

those figures will be even higher this year.

He said the survey data is vital as it highlights crime trends and regions of concern. This enables Feds to advocate with police over what resources are required, and where.

“Police don’t know if we don’t respond,” he said.

Asked if police are doing enough to protect farmers, McIntyre said they “need to be appropriately resourced to do their job and I’m not sure they are, across the board”.

Last year police began trialling a Rural Lookout app in the North Canterbury districts of

Waimakariri and Hurunui which enables people to log suspicious activity quickly and easily using a smartphone or via a website.

McIntyre said he has heard of an instance where a tractor was stolen but, more often than not, thieves are taking smaller items.

“It’s the chainsaws, motorbikes, tools and fuel. Those things that can easily be converted into cash.”

He encouraged farmers to install security cameras – and signage alerting thieves to the cameras – and said it is also important to notify police of suspicious activity. Drones are increasingly being used to case properties. McIntyre said there have also been instances

of would-be thieves calling at farms, claiming they are lost or looking for work. He urged farmers to take note of vehicles and registration plates, and report these to the police.

Livestock thefts continue to be an ongoing issue. Thefts of large quantities of stock make national headlines, but most stock thefts never make it into the public arena.

“Some people treat farmers’ stock like going to the supermarket or butchery. They will take just one or two sheep out of a paddock on a regular basis.

“When you’ve got thousands of sheep it’s hard to keep track of them all.”

McIntyre warned stock thieves that they could be putting themselves at risk. If stolen stock have recently been drenched they are under withholding periods, which makes the meat unsafe to eat.

FMG’s manager of advice services, Angela Taylor, said there are steps farmers can take to prevent becoming an easy target for thieves.

“Lock houses and buildings, and the fuel tanks too – even though it seems like you’re isolated on farm or on the lifestyle block.

“Criminals prey on you feeling safe and not protecting yourself. Put the valuables away and make sure that the shed is locked too.”

Taylor said farmers should take the keys out of the vehicles at night and when they will be left unattended for long periods.

“Yes, it may be annoying. But no way near as annoying as trying to muster or bring the cows in on foot the next day because someone pinched the bike overnight.”

Stinging setback, but NZ mānuka fights on

Craig Page MARKETS Apiculture

THE battle to retain New Zealand control over the term mānuka honey is not over, despite a high court appeal in the United Kingdom being abandoned by local producers.

Australian Mānuka Honey Growers (AMHG) this week announced that legal proceedings by NZ’s Mānuka Honey Appellation Society (MHAS) in the UK and Europe have collapsed, and they are now free to sell their produce in those parts of the world under the globally recognised “mānuka” name.

MHAS discontinued its High Court appeal in the UK just before Christmas, and the UK Intellectual Property Office’s 2021 rejection of MHAS’s application to trademark the words “mānuka honey” will stand. Earlier, NZ producers also withdrew their application for the “mānuka honey” certification mark in the European Union.

“Leptospermum, the plant which produces mānuka, is a native of both New Zealand and Australia, and the term mānuka honey

has long been used in Australia to describe this unique honey.

Australian growers have every right to use the word to describe their produce, as upheld by the UK Courts,” AMHG chair Paul Callander said.

Unique Mānuka Factor Honey

Association chief executive John Rawcliffe confirmed both challenges have been withdrawn, but he warned that local honey producers are not ready to give up.

The Mānuka Charitable Trust will now re-file both claims, based on more detailed information.

“The industry has still voted to continue the fight and they have been prepared to put their hands in their pockets for the next five years to do that,” Rawcliffe said.

“We have taken a lot of learning from this process. We know what we need to do, and what we need to do better .

“This was never going to be an easy journey. But this is a journey of generations.”

In September 2019 the MHAS was granted $5.7 million through the Provincial Growth Fund, including a $1.7m loan to help in its bid to secure international trademark rights.

The new legal action could cost up to $700,000 a year for the next five years, Rawcliffe said. Local producers believe the issue is too important not to fight for and “that is not accounting for what is right”.

“Mānuka is from New Zealand, just as champagne is from France.”

Mānuka Charitable Trust chair

Pita Tipene previously told the Farmers Weekly that word “mānuka” is from te reo Māori and itself a taonga the group has a responsibility to protect.

Callander said the appeal

This was never going to be an easy journey. But this is a journey of generations.

John Rawcliffe

withdrawal means there is no restraint or trademark on mānuka naming rights.

The international mānuka honey market is forecast to be worth about $1.27 billion in annual trade by 2027, and mānuka honey products can sell for between A$300-500 (about $325-541) per kilo. Callander said there is growing demand for the product both for consumption and for use in medicinal and wellbeing products, and the greater certainty in the UK and Europe will allow Australian mānuka growers to enjoy their share of this demand.

“This victory provides our industry with a noble precedent against some in New Zealand who are attempting to monopolise the term mānuka honey for their own commercial gain,”Callander said.

PICTURE PERFECT: Federated Farmers’ dairy industry group chair Richard McIntyre encourages farmers to install security cameras, and signage alerting thieves to the cameras.

BATTLING ON: New Zealand mānuka honey producers say they believe the issue of intellectual rights is too important not to fight for.

Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association

Fertiliser prices come off historic highs

Gerald Piddock NEWS Fertiliser

FERTILISER prices have eased off their historic highs over the past 12 months, with both of New Zealand’s two fertiliser cooperatives lowering their prices for nitrogen.

Ballance Agri-nutrients has dropped its urea prices 15% since October.

In October it reduced its nitrogen prices by $100 a tonne and reduced them a further $100/t earlier this month.

It has also reduced the cost of superphosphate by $80/t.

Rival co-operative Ravensdown has reduced its price of N by $100/t, with prices falling 20% since last year’s peak. Superphosphate prices have come down by about 10%.

Its urea (N-Protect) price is down to $1199/t, 20% lower than last year’s peak.

Ravensdown supply chain general manager Mike Whitty said the easing in prices has been

caused in part by Europe coming out of winter but also because countries stockpiled products in response to earlier supply constraints.

“The big question will come up in the next month to six weeks about what demand is like in the northern hemisphere and will that

The big question will come up in the next month to six weeks about what demand is like in the northern hemisphere and will that see a rally in prices.

the past two months there has been some strengthening of the currency – but that will need to continue if there are going to be any benefits, he said.

outlook as “unstably stable”, but that outlook will rest on the actions of India and the northern hemisphere – particularly Ukraine.

“So the big question mark in the market is what happens in India with their really high demand for fertiliser, what happens in Europe in spring and what gets planted in Ukraine.”

The factors that caused prices to lift – food insecurity, inflation, the economic instability caused by the Ukraine war and China’s policy of export restrictions around fertiliser – had not gone away, he said.

see a rally in prices,” Whitty said. “I think it’s lining up pretty positively as long as we don’t see above expected demand in the northern hemisphere,” he said. The exchange rate will also affect the price. After a 15% depreciation of the New Zealand dollar over the past year, in

Sector holds head high with stag tally

with 10.02kg of velvet, is a son of Emerson out of a Bronx daughter. He had a sale day weight of 257kg.

“With so many factors at play, including energy prices and world politics, we remain on a watching brief. This period will set the outlook for our spring.”

Ballance Agri-nutrients general sales manager Jason Minkhorst said having two farmer-owned co-operatives dominating NZ’s fertiliser market largely protects farmers from seeing the large price spikes seen overseas.

He described the fertiliser

bought stags for their primary purpose.

THE deer industry received a welcome confidence boost with the recent series of strong stag and bull sales, headlined by a Netherdale red deer stag in Southland making $80,000. That confidence was further underpinned by $52,000 paid for a stag sold by Deer Genetics NZ.

Another Southland vendor, Altrive Deer near Gore, sold a velveting stag for $46,000. Peel Forest in Geraldine made $35,000 for a velveting stag, and Black Forest Park at Clinton in South Otago sold a stag for $20,500.

Netherdale owner David Stevens said the top priced stag, Yellow 312, has bloodlines linked back to Emerson, a sire bought several years ago from the Arawata Stud. Yellow 312, a three-year-old red

Stevens said Emerson is having a major impact on his herd.

He said the stag sale season maintained its momentum right through the 18 sales, which was welcome given recent uncertainty in the velvet and venison markets.

Prices were back on last year when the top-priced stag, also from Netherdale, sold for $135,000.

PGG Wrightson deer livestock agent Graham Kinsman described the market as strong given the uncertainty with velvet and venison returns. He said buyers noticeably favoured sires with clean heads of velvet.

In recent years buyers have been less concerned about whether they are buying stags with trophy and velvet heads, but this year they were more selective, ensuring they

Netherdale sold 23 of the 26 stags it offered for an average of $13,804 in what was Stevens’s 36th and second-to-last stag auction. Next year will be his last, and his hinds and young stock have been sold to Donald, Kathy and Ben Hudson from Geraldine.

At this year’s sale, Deer Genetics NZ sold all 14 offered for an average of $22,892, the highest average achieved this year, and 16 of the 19 hinds offered for a sale average of $3312.

Peel Forest sold all 37 stags offered for an average of $11,714, Altrive Deer sold all 24 offered for an average $15,958 and Black Forest six of the 11 offered for an average of $5722.

Other leading sales were: Forest Road Farm, Hawke’s Bay, $15,000; Peel Forest Est, $13,000; Rothesay Deer, Methven, $19,000; Arawata

Deer, Edendale, $16,000; and Wilkins Farming, Ardlussa in Southland, $14,000.

The top priced wapiti sold was $15,000 for a bull from Tikana

But people have adjusted to the challenges by finding alternative sources and farmers have also adjusted the amount of fertiliser they use.

It took 18 months for prices to escalate and it will take time for them to come down, he said. It would be optimistic to expect prices to keep falling because of these reasons, and it will take time for prices to ease further, he said.

“So unfortunately for those reasons, we are still in a period of high fertiliser prices.”

Wapiti, Browns, in Southland, while a bull from Clachanburn Elk in the Maniototo sold for $10,000. Clachanburn sold 60 of the 62 bulls offered for an average of $4180.

Neal Wallace NEWS Deer

GLOBAL FORCES: With factors such as energy prices and world politics at play, ‘we remain on a watching brief’, Ravensdown supply chain general manager Mike Whitty says.

TOP STAG: This three-year-old red stag, sold by the Stevens family from the Netherdale Stud in Southland, topped this year’s stag sales at $80,000.

Mike Whitty Ravensdown

UBCO chasing 50% increase in capital

Hugh Stringleman TECHNOLOGY Transport

UBCO, the electric bike company, has raised the minimum $35 million sought in a Series B capital raising and is continuing towards an upper target of $53m over the next month.

Those figures in New Zealand dollars equate to $20m and $30m in United States dollars.

The Series B information memorandum is directed at qualified investors with a minimum investment of $1001.

Lead investors who are already shareholders have committed the first $17m and stand to benefit from a share split when the Series B round closes.

Chief among them is TPK Holdings of Taiwan, an electric component manufacturing company providing the large volumes of bike parts, and UBCO’s New Zealand founders, Daryl Neal and Anthony Clyde.

UBCO has sold over 4000 of its electric work and outdoor recreational bikes and has published very ambitious sales targets, mainly aimed at the US market.

Revenue in FY22 was $8.4m, and revenue in the current financial year, ended March 31, is forecast at NZ$25m, increasing to $73m next financial year. The company expects to be cashflow positive by the end of FY24.

Those revenue figures are based on sales of just under 2000 units this financial year and projected sales of 8000 next year.

UBCO had previously signalled a public listing within 12 to 24 months, but it says current market conditions and related uncertainty have given rise to more caution about timeframes.

It currently has a pre-money valuation of $88m (before the Series B capital raising), and a share price of 88c after a proposed 1 for 7.3 share split to cover all existing shareholdings and capital notes.

Existing shareholders are participating in the Series B round, including TPK of Taiwan, because of their belief in the bright future of UBCO.

Simeon Burnett Snowball Effect

The retail part of the offering is being managed by Snowball Effect, a licensed equity crowdfunding platform.

Snowball chief executive Simeon Burnett said the new capital, from new and existing investors, would comprise about a third of UBCO’s restructured shareholding.

“Existing shareholders are participating in the Series B round, including TPK of Taiwan, because of their belief in the bright future of UBCO,” he said.

Burnett said the offer is attracting participation from

institutional and retail investors, big and small, from a number of countries, chiefly NZ and the US.

Former UBCO chief executive Katherine Sandford is now chair of the board of directors and the new

CEO is Oliver Hutaff, previously chief financial officer. He will divide his time between NZ and the US and is more able to travel than Sandford, the company said.

OSPRI study sets out to keep tabs on tag loss

change and yellowing of the plastic, but this was deemed to be a visual change only and did not impact the durability of the tags.”

A YEAR-LONG study on the sturdiness of national animal identification and tracing tags has shown product degeneration is not the cause of them falling out of ears.

Callaghan Innovation collected NAIT tags from slaughterhouses and tested them for chemical and physical defects, and visited farms to inspect tag application and risks.

“The results found there was no significant change in the chemical composition and hardness of the samples, regardless of age or region,” a report by OSPRI’s head of head of traceability, Kevin Forward, says.

“Some tags showed some colour

Forward says now that chemical composition has been excluded as a cause for tag loss, work will look at other reasons.

In response to media questions, OSPRI said about 1% of cattle

arriving at meat processors over the past year were untagged when they were expected to be tagged. This includes animals that were never tagged, those whose tag was lost before the animal was

transported, and those that lost their tag while they were being transported.

Forward said tag retention is the primary concern of farmers when trying to adhere to livestock

traceability and there is a perception that tags are falling out earlier than expected.

Callaghan researchers spent time on farms investigating tag design features, tag applicators and the tagging process.

Forward said this revealed fencing wire getting lodged behind the tag to be the main cause of tag failure.

Another cause of tag loss is scrub getting caught behind the tag when cattle are grazing or fossicking.

Tag application is another point of failure, specifically using different applicators to that recommended by the tag manufacturer.

TAGLESS: About 1% of cattle arriving at meat processors over the past year were untagged when they were expected to be tagged, OSPRI says.

National Open Farm Day

Sunday 12 March, 2023

We’re bridging the urban-rural divide. One open day at a time.

Forward said using the wrong brand of applicator could damage the tag and result in the tag being more prone to failure.

Nationwide Numbers

Your

Host an open farm day. Visitor

Farms hosting an open day

Neal Wallace TECHNOLOGY Biosecurity

Some tags showed some colour change and yellowing of the plastic, but this was deemed to be a visual change only and did not impact the durability of the tags.

Kevin Forward OSPRI

GETTING AROUND: UBCO has sold over 4000 of its electric work and outdoor recreational bikes and has published very ambitious sales targets, mainly aimed at the US.

Japan opens up to NZ butter and cheese

Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Dairy

FONTERRA has reenergised the longestablished and traditional Japanese market for imported butter and cheese, emphasising the grass-fed origin of New Zealand products.

NZ is now the largest countryspecific source of butter in Japan after its domestic production, and in 2022 overtook Australia as the country’s leading source of imported cheese.

Last year NZ sold US$275 million (about $422m) worth of cheese and US$35m in butter in Japan. Cheese revenue has fluctuated over the past decade, but butter receipts have grown steadily.

The European Union’s 27 countries, collectively, sell more cheese in Japan than NZ does, but individually the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Ireland and France each sell about half of the value NZ does.

France is number two in butter.

All countries must contend with the tariffs and quotas that Japan believes protect its small domestic dairy farms, although some barriers are coming down within the Comprehensive and

Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership.

Noteworthy is new duty-free quota access for NZ whey products and processed cheese, and the same for butter and milk powders, as well as the elimination of tariffs on nearly all cheeses by April 2033.

Japan is also a strong protein ingredient market for Fonterra, as its aging society looks for advanced nutritional products for active living, Fonterra chief

operations officer Fraser Whineray said.

Japan’s domestic milk production is falling as market access is opening, creating many good opportunities for further long-term growth.

“Reaching number one for imports of butter and cheese is very positive, because we haven’t been in that position before in over 40 years of our presence in Japan.

“Japan has a falling population

and static economic growth, but with our partners we have introduced specialty ingredients and new types of butters.

“Japanese people have long had a very positive image of New Zealand, helped by the Anchor billboards,” Whineray said.

“When they come here many are astonished to find that Mt Taranaki, blue skies and the green grass are real, not made up.”

Fonterra has not sold liquid or UHT milks in Japan, and the osteoporosis need for Anlene is not like that in other southeast Asian countries.

Japan has its own large, wellestablished dairy companies and about 1.3 million dairy cattle and 14,000 herds, mostly kept on small feedlots and fed grain.

“Farmers buying grain feeds in US dollars and selling their milk in yen have been squeezed recently,” Whineray said.

Anchor Food Professionals chefs work with hospitality and food service employees to make cakes and confectioneries from Fonterra ingredients like butter, cream, hard cheese, mozzarella, cream cheese and sour cream.

“Those chefs demand high quality, consistency, on-time delivery and a steady stream of new applications and suggestions,” Whineray said.

Fonterra’s grass-fed marketing highlights the origin and the aesthetics of NZ products.

“Higher colour from betacarotene links back to how our dairy products are produced, and where.

Reaching number one for imports of butter and cheese is very positive, because we haven’t been in that position before in over 40 years of our presence in Japan.

Fraser Whineray Fonterra

“It helps explain the connection to the provenance and what cows eat.

“Producers in other countries are not readily able to change to grassfed, because of their climates and farming systems.

“If a cow is grass-fed it has to walk around and graze for itself – just sunlight, grass and water –and that becomes the foundation for our low-carbon positioning; far less than our competitors.”

Attributes of grass-fed dairy products, aside from taste, flavour and composition, are still being discovered, Whineray said.

Tough season, but Synlait goes greener

methane production and 30% in carbon dioxide.

SYNLAIT Milk says it has made continued improvements to its greenhouse gas emissions, with “significant progress” on farm through the efforts of its farmer suppliers.

The listed dairy company has published its sustainability and greenhouse gas inventory reports.

In 2018, Synlait released a plan to “significantly” reduce its environmental impact over a 10-year period.

Chef competition spreads the grass-fed gospel

Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Dairy

JAPANESE trophy winners of a bakery and confectionery recipe competition, the Fonterra Grand Prix, have visited New Zealand to see where its grass-fed butter and cheese are made.

Seven chefs who won categories in the 2019 and 2020 competitions are now grass-fed ambassadors in the Japanese market.

The 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the competition were suspended because of covid restrictions.

The competition, open to pastry chefs in large bakeries, hotels and restaurants in Japan, is hosted by Fonterra with support from the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo.

More than 60 chefs compete for six awards and the winning creations need to be on offer in stores, bakeries or hotels within 12 months.

At a welcome function in the Fonterra headquarters in Auckland, the winners spoke about their recipes and creations using grass-fed butter from brands such as the Anchor, Anchor Food Professionals and NZMP.

Some of the cakes and sweets featured silver ferns and rugby balls, and the chefs spoke about the influence of the All Blacks in Japan.

They were hosted on farms and in Fonterra plants, seeing how dairy cows forage outdoors and how butter and cheese are produced sustainably.

It planned to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35% per kilo of milk solids (kg/MS) on farm and 50% per kgMS off farm by 2028.

The on-farm reduction included 50% cuts in nitrous oxide, 30% in

At its results announcement, Synlait said its farm suppliers experienced a particularly challenging 2021-22 season, leading to reduced milk volumes.

Due to reduced production, Synlait’s on-farm emissions intensity per kg/MS increased 1% over the past year.

That equates to a 9% reduction compared with the 2018 target.

However, Synlait’s “absolute” onfarm emissions decreased by 3.2% compared with the 2021 financial year.

That reduction was despite growth in its supply base.

Alongside GHG reduction, Synlait’s farmers reduced nitrogen loss per kg/MS solids by 29% against the 2018 base, and by 9.4% since FY21.

Total off-farm emissions have remained steady since last year, with a 1% reduction.

Emissions intensity per kilogram of product was reduced by 21% compared with FY18.

Significant reductions in offfarm emissions were expected in FY23, with the completion of two key decarbonisation projects.

The dairy company’s chief executive, Grant Watson, said disruption had tested its resilience in recent years, but it remains committed to building a future where food production positively impacts people and the planet.

“We continue to make notable progress against our environmental targets, and the effort by our farmer suppliers towards reducing their impact on the environment stands out in our FY22 results,” he said.

WHEY HEY: Fonterra’s chief operations officer, Fraser Whineray, hails NZ’s success in butter and cheese sales in Japan, where it is the number one imported source in both categories.

FIELD STUDY: Japanese chefs on tour in New Zealand after winning a Fonterra-sponsored bakery competition.

PLANNING: Synlait’s Grant Watson says it remains committed to building a future where food production positively affects people and the planet.

Egg giant sees gold in them thar shells

NEW Zealand’s largest egg producer says it will continue to expand its business despite the rising production costs and regulatory changes that have driven some from the industry.

Zeagold Nutrition CEO John McKay said the egg shortage that has plagued NZ in recent months is the result of regulatory changes and low profitability in egg production, but is “likely to be a short-term issue”.

There are rising costs in the industry – particularly feed for hens – but he remains confident there is a strong future for egg production in the country.

“Right now the cost of feed is at a record high – 60% of the total cost of producing an egg is the cost of the feed,” McKay said.

“We are also grappling with higher operational costs, with increased costs across shipping, transport, wages and packaging.”

Zeagold has just developed a large barn-egg farm in the North Waikato region, and is in the process of opening a large freerange farm in the South Waikato region.

“We are excited about the future of the industry, and that is why we continue to invest in new farms and utilise the latest technology and genetics from around the world so we can keep producing the best eggs possible,” McKay said.

According to the Egg Producers Federation NZ, covid has pushed some farmers out of the industry, particularly free-range farmers, and others had to consider their future because of new regulations that ban cage farming. The changes were agreed to by the federation in 2012, at a time when 84% of NZ’s eggs were produced by caged hens.

At its peak, NZ had 4.2 million commercial laying hens but that figure dropped to 3.55 million prior to Christmas, which has contributed to the egg shortage.

Zeagold operates nine farms throughout the country. Its 1.16 million laying hens produce about 540,000 dozen eggs a week, which are sold domestically under the Woodland and Farmer Brown brands.

McKay said the move to ban cage farming had been a “phased process” over six years for Zeagold, which lessened the impact.

“During this time of transition, we have invested in other

production methods and built new farms to continue to supply eggs to the New Zealand market,” he said.

Zeagold takes a balanced approach to egg production, using colony, barn and free range methods across its farms, he said. Two major supermarket chains have signalled they will stop selling colony eggs from 2025/26, but McKay said it is important consumers retain the option to purchase the product.

“We know that eggs are a highly nutritional, natural product and a great source of protein. For many New Zealanders, especially with the high cost of living we are currently experiencing, the price premium of a free-range egg is not an option,” he said.

“The cost of a free-range egg is around 40% higher than a colony egg. Many New Zealanders want and need to be able to provide a nutritious meal as cost-effectively as possible for their families.

“Colony eggs remain an important part of our business –we believe it is important to offer consumers a choice of eggs across various production methods.”

McKay said NZ has an advantage over its rivals because of its significant biosecurity and food safety advantages. The country has so far avoided the salmonella and avian flu outbreaks that have

caused issues for international egg production recently.

“Like all agricultural sectors, we need to continue to improve our biosecurity practices and protect our borders, so we maintain the privileged position we have here in New Zealand,” McKay said.

“This is critical for the future of egg production in New Zealand, and it is something we will continue to work on proactively with the Ministry for Primary Industries, both as a company and through the Egg Producers Federation.”

We are excited about the future of the industry, and that is why we continue to invest in new farms and utilise the latest technology and genetics from around the world so we can keep producing the best eggs possible.

John McKay Zeagold Nutrition CEO

Craig Page NEWS

OUT AND ABOUT: The cost of producing a free-range egg is about 40% higher than that of a colony egg, but while some flee the industry, Zeagold has plans to expand.

Photos: Zeagold

BIG BUSINESS: Zeagold’s Woodland Farm at Dunback in North Otago is one of nine farms owned by the company.

EXPANSION: The site of Zeagold’s new free-range farm in the South Waikato area.

Fruitless waste gives Otago council the pip

and consumer end of the supply chain.”

ALMOST 6155 tonnes of fruit in Central Otago goes to waste each year, prompting the local council to launch a campaign to try to find a use for it.

The Central Otago District Council (CODC) has introduced the initiative together with local company LILO, Summerfruit New Zealand and the Bioresource Processing Alliance, and with $21,750 support from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.

CODC economic development manager Nick Lanham said food and horticulture innovation, and consumer awareness around waste, are increasing and the time is right to look at options to reduce fruit loss.

There is also an aspect of doing right by others too. If the produce has nutritional value then why waste it?

Nick Lanham Central Otago District Council

In 2021 the CODC commissioned a report – Understanding Fruit

Loss in Central Otago – to determine how much fruit doesn’t get used.

Lanham said the report was the first of its type in New Zealand “in that it quantified how much fruit waste (fruit loss) happens on farm”.

“Most food waste projects quantify the waste at the retail

About 13% of cherry, peach, apricot and apple crops go to waste as they’re unable to be exported, sold on the domestic market, or processed into a valueadded product such as juice, dried fruit, or concentrate.

Fruit loss is fruit that does not end up being sold for human consumption and is lost on farm or in production – in the orchard and packhouse.

Local company Thrive Consulting, specialising in horticulture consultancy services, conducted the research. The report’s data came from surveys and interviews with Central Otago horticulture growers and quantified fruit loss for apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that globally 33% of food produced for humans does not end up being consumed.

Lanham said if there is fruit with nutritional value that can be consumed but isn’t, there are good reasons to find a use for it.

“This project supports the resilience of our horticulture sector by supporting the development of new products and markets, and contributing to a more diversified economy.

“Fresh produce will always be a premium product. But it is vulnerable to weather events, market changes and supply chains.

“Having alternative options for fruit supports industry resilience. There is also an aspect of doing right by others too. If the produce has nutritional value then why waste it?”

Growers have been supportive

of the project to date and it has attracted interest from around NZ.

Lanham said waste in any sector has both a real and an opportunity cost to it and horticulture is no different.

“The financial gain to orchards could be just the cost savings of not having to dispose of unused fruit or it could generate income. The level of potential income depends on commercial markets and on how far growers are prepared to move along the value chain.”

There are several potential uses for the waste fruit but Lanham said the challenge is finding the commercially viable options.

Following the 2021 report, Central Otago growers, processors

and community members discussed options for progressing the plan.

Three work streams were agreed to: understanding the processing already taking place in the district, the health benefits and global product trends, and the region’s ability to compete and command a premium price globally.

Lanham said reports from those discussions are close to being finalised and will be publicly available early this year.

“We are helping establish a base of accessible knowledge to help growers and food entrepreneurs develop products, and are bringing people together to collaborate and realise opportunities they couldn’t achieve alone,” he said.

EDUCATION: Nick Lanham said food and horticulture innovation, and consumer awareness around waste, are increasing.

Foulbrood bee vaccine welcomed, with caution

is found throughout the world with the exception of the Chatham Islands.

stopping the infection. [Fewer] larvae died, but it looks like the hives are just slower to die.”

NEWS of a vaccine to protect bees from American Foulbrood disease has received a cautious welcome from a New Zealand expert.

United states bio-tech firm Dalan Animal Health has been granted a conditional licence for a vaccine to combat AFB, administered through a colony’s queen bee.

The vaccine works by incorporating the disease’s bacteria into the “royal jelly” that worker bees feed to the queen bee.

She in turn passes it through to her larvae that develop an immunity to AFB as they hatch.

The company has claimed reductions in hive mortality rates of 28-50% from a disease that currently has no known cure and

In NZ the disease initially devastated early beehives, wiping out 70% of the country’s production in the late 1800s. Today disease levels are low at between 0.26 and 0.31%, but the outcome for any infected hive is complete collapse.

Clifton King, compliance manager for NZ’s AFB pest management plan, is cautious about how effective the vaccine may yet prove to be, although “the fact that there is even a vaccine out there is an exciting development”.

“Having read through the safety and efficacy report the company published for USDA approval, it appears the vaccine results in a reduction in bee larvae mortality of 28-50%, but there is a ‘but’,” King said.

“Reducing the number of larvae that die is not the same as

Slowing the rate of spread could be problematic in that it could take beekeepers longer to diagnose AFB infection in hives, and also give it more time to spread to other hives via infected bees – “and in NZ what really matters is the spread of AFB from hive to hive”.

“But the paper gives no indication either way of that effect, and being a conditional licence means there is more research to be done,” King said.

However, he said it is exciting that there is a vaccine in play for such a disease and over time a better understanding of its full effect will hopefully reveal itself.

On its website Dalan Animal Health cites a development pipeline that includes pre-clinical trials for European Foulbrood vaccine. At present NZ does not have European Foulbrood in hives.

WANT NOT: About 13% of cherry, peach, apricot and apple crops go to waste as they’re unable to be exported, sold on the domestic market, or processed into a value-added product.

Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Apiculture

VAXED: Clifton King of New Zealand’s American Foulbrood pest management plan says the vaccine technology is welcome, but there is some way to go before knowing the new vaccine can do more than slow the disease’s spread.

Finding a fix when you’re at breaking point

Wallace PEOPLE Mental health

ASTUDY of the state of mental health services for young rural men has found many of the perceived barriers for those needing help can be overcome.

Southland counsellor and researcher Kathryn Wright has completed a project to determine the barriers to young rural men, aged 16-30, needing help with mental illness.

Following a survey of nearly 300 people, five in-depth interviews and discussions with nine mental health service providers, Wright found three main barriers prevent young people from accessing help. Many had no idea when and where to seek help.

“They don’t know where the bar is when they need to seek help, and they didn’t know where to start looking for that help,” she said.

“‘Am I bad enough or are there people worse off than me?’”

She said a general practitioner is a starting point for those thinking they need help, a fact that needs to be more widely promoted and understood.

The second perceived barrier is the stigma and feeling of shame associated with needing help, a fear that can be viewed as the end of the world.

“The perception is that it is more acceptable to seek help as you get older, towards 30.”

Another fear is that seeking help or treatment for mental illness could result in the forfeiture of a firearms licence and firearms.

Wright said she has spoken to the police about that issue and was told each situation is treated in its individual merits, and that there is no blanket ruling resulting

in the forfeiting of licences.

“Hunting is so important, a way to interact and socially connect with friends but also providing exercise and a source of healthy fresh food,” she said.

The accessibility of counselling sessions is considered another barrier, but Wright said technology means consultations do not need to be in person but can be done over video.

“Covid has taught us how to use that technology and I know in my own experience it is very effective.”

It can be a challenge for someone from a rural area to travel to a centre for a session with a health professional, which requires time off work. Video allows engagement with counsellors anywhere in the country and it can remove the potential discomfort of someone running into their counsellor in the local community.

Cost is also considered an impediment, but Wright said there are multiple funding sources a general practitioner can access.

“There are so many funding streams. It shouldn’t be a barrier.”

Her study also reinforces the importance of social connection with other people, addressing a situation where young rural people can feel quite isolated.

Wright said studies show rural people are twice as susceptible to suicide as those in the general population.

Almost all New Zealand rural suicides (92%) are male, whereas in the general population 75% of suicides are males.

Studies show 50% of rural suicide victims are aged 15-40.

Wright said young rural men have an aversion to seeking help at school, a trend that continues once they enter the rural workforce.

For many school leavers aged 16 or 17, it is their first time

Kathryn Wright Southland counsellor

living away from home and their traditional family support structures.

Living on a farm or in a small community, she said, young men can struggle to cope with the pressures of relative isolation, dealing with a relationship breakdown or conflict with their employer, working long hours while living on a nutritionally poor diet, capped off with easy access to alcohol, vehicles and firearms. This makes social networking through clubs, teams and organisations crucial.

“It’s a matter of feeling a sense

of belonging, being needed and not being isolated.”

Wright said employers and managers should be aware of mental health symptoms so they know when their staff need assistance.

Mental health symptoms can include isolation, changes in appetite, mood and sleep patterns, and short temper.

She said the world is more complex and faster paced than 30 years ago and this is reflected in the workers.

Employers should not judge staff who are struggling but offer help such as time off to attend counselling.

Wright also urged managers and owners to be supportive and to praise young workers, when warranted, for the effort they are making.

“By doing that you will get a more productive and happy employee and there is a whole lot of benefit in that for you.”

Wright is promoting the study to

practitioners and interest groups as a source of knowledge for how to help young rural men. Having graduated from the Otago Polytechnic last year, Wright is applying to complete a doctorate by proposing a study that looks at what structures connects rural communities and the risk to those entities from threats such as forestry and anti-farming rhetoric.

MORE: Suffering from depression or stress, or know someone who is? Where to get help:

RURAL SUPPORT TRUST: 0800

RURAL HELP

DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757

LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 NEED TO TALK? Call or text 1737

SAMARITANS: 0800 726 666

YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633 or text 234

DON’T JUDGE: Southland counsellor and researcher Kathryn Wright said employers should not judge staff who are struggling, but offer help such as time off to attend counselling.

Photo: MG Photography

Neal

They don’t know where the bar is when they need to seek help – ‘Am I bad enough or are there people worse off than me?’

Letters of the week

This attitude will sink us

Andrew Luddington

Lincoln

IN THE 1950s and early ’60s the British motorcycle industry was at its zenith, and the industry ruled the road. The Japanese saw this and wanted a slice of the action, producing bikes that were faster, usually cheaper and much better built. And they did not leak oil.

So what did the British motorcycle industry do in the face of this competition?

Well, combined with the bone-headed unions of the day, it committed suicide.

I see now that farming in New Zealand is at the zenith of its career. Milk prices are strong, we were little affected by covid (in comparison to the tourism industry) and Putin’s war has actually benefitted us.

And yet we continue to moan our heads off.

When Jacinda Ardern first arrived on the scene, some moron from Morrinsville arrived at a protest with a sign reading “She’s a pretty communist”.

Now we hear from the media that our prime minister, probably the most respected in the world right now, has resigned largely because of relentless misogynistic and vile abuse.

Working together to reduce crime

LOCK it or lose it: some sage advice for farmers throughout New Zealand as rural crime continues to rise, seemingly on the back of tougher economic times for many in the community.

Rural insurer FMG statistics show rural claims for theft and burglary lodged with the company last year were at a five-year high. And those figures are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.

Most in the sector will know of someone, if not themselves, who has been targeted by thieves.

Much of those thefts are considered minor – a chainsaw, some tools or a bit of fuel from the on-farm storage tank – and many are never logged with police or insurance companies.

Police have previously said that more

than three-quarters of crime on farms goes unreported.

But the recent spike in thefts has concerned Federated Farmers enough for it to schedule another rural crime survey, in conjunction with police, in March and April, just two years after the last survey. The survey was previously held every five years.

Federated Farmers’ dairy industry group chair, Richard McIntyre, says the crime increase is not unexpected when you consider the cost of living has risen significantly.

Farmers, he says, are considered soft targets because their security is often lax.

The day-to-day running of the farm takes precedence over ensuring sheds and homes are locked, farm equipment put away and keys removed from vehicles.

It is not just petty thefts that farmers are having to contend with.

McIntyre says some criminals treat farmers’ stock “like going to the supermarket or butchery”, regularly taking sheep or cattle from paddocks to replenish their freezers.

The crime increase has raised questions about the police’s commitment to rural communities. Are they doing enough?

The police, like many businesses and organisations, are under resourced and the reality is they simply cannot be everywhere.

But improved reporting of crime by those in the rural sector will go a long way towards helping police focus on the areas where

their services can be best utilised.

Last year the police began trialling a Rural Lookout app in the North Canterbury districts of Waimakariri and Hurunui, which enables people to log suspicious activity quickly and easily using a smartphone or via a website.

It is designed to capture incidents that often go unreported.

Some criminals treat farmers’ stock ‘like going to the supermarket or butchery’, regularly taking sheep or cattle from paddocks to replenish their freezers.

Richard McIntyre Federated Farmers

The launch of the app is part of a twoyear trial that aims to increase reporting and take a preventative approach to reducing rural crime.

The police say the first step is to increase reporting, then identify trends and determine what crime prevention measures could be used and where.

It is a great initiative but it will require buy-in from the those on the land, and at the end of the smartphones or computers, for it to be really effective.

Given the latest spike in crime, it is certainly worth a try.

NZ Farm Forestry Association

And some of this would have most certainly come from farmers.

I saw on TV at the first Groundswell march in Dunedin a woman being assaulted for opposing that march. Her sign was torn from her and she was nearly thrown to the ground.

She managed two words in the aftermath, “F**king hick” – and she was absolutely right.

We stand on a precipice, just like the British motorcycle industry did back in the day.

Our exports are so small we could be dismissed at the stroke of a pen and no one would notice.

We have to embrace change and go greener and kinder.

We could follow this backward, misogynist, blame-everyone-else lead exhibited by the Groundswell hick, the “respected farmer”, and so prove ourselves the laggards that we have recently been called.

And if we do we will inevitably go the way of that once proud but now defunct industry.

Best letter WINS a quality hiking knife

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Craig Page Deputy editor

GHG: no magic bullets or overnight fixes

Phil Journeaux

HOW to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions at farm level is rapidly becoming a hot topic, especially given the emissions levy due in 2025. I want to run through some of the lessons learnt and issues raised as a result of modelling 32 casestudy farms over recent years as part of a New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre programme.

The first issue is the size of the current mitigation tool kit, which is rather slim. The three main drivers of GHG emissions at a farm level are:

• The amount of dry matter consumed. This is the key driver, as the amount of dry matter consumed has a direct correlation with the amount of methane produced and a strong correlation with nitrous oxide emissions.

• The level of protein in the diet. Our pastures are generally quite high in protein content, which is why we’re very good at producing meat and milk. But high protein levels in the diet are a key driver of nitrous oxide emissions.

• The amount of nitrogen fertiliser used. While there are some direct nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from applying nitrogen fertiliser, the key issue here is that most of the nitrogen fertiliser used is to increase dry matter production, which then takes us back to the first point above.

The key thing is that, in order to reduce GHG emissions, you need to reduce one, if not all, of the above, especially dry matter consumed.

A vital aspect of the modelling work done, using Farmax and Overseer, was to look at ways to reduce dry matter eaten, while at the same time keeping the farm financially viable. One of the first scenarios modelled was simply to reduce the stocking rate, and adjust any bought-in supplement and/or nitrogen fertiliser accordingly.

The end result was remarkably similar across farms – GHG emissions reduced almost linearly in line with the reduction in stocking rate, but farm profitability (measured as EBITDA) dropped significantly more.

There was the odd exception to this – one farm was using significant amounts of nitrogen fertiliser, so when we reduced the stocking rate, we also eliminated the need for the

nitrogen fertiliser, resulting in the farm making a higher profit relative to the base situation.

The main response to this was to reduce stocking rate and increase the productivity of the remaining animals. For dairying this meant increasing per-cow milk production. For sheep/ beef/deer farms this meant lifting lambing/calving/fawning percentages as well as increasing liveweight gains/slaughter weights.

The end result of this was still a reduction in GHG emissions, but usually much less than in the “reduce stocking rate/no productivity gain scenario”, as there is a direct tradeoff: when you reduce the stocking rate you reduce dry matter consumption and hence GHG emissions. When you increase per animal production, they have to eat more dry matter to achieve this, which increases GHG emissions. For most farms, we met somewhere in the middle. Essentially, the reduction in dry matter consumed, as reflected in reduced GHG emissions, was the reduction in maintenance requirement from the stock now gone.

The good news is that for most – but not all – the farm profit was similar to if not better than the base farm’s profit.

A range of scenarios were modelled, with the key aim being to increase the efficiency of the farming operation. In simple terms this means similar if not more production from less dry matter consumed. For example, if you are finishing animals and you can finish them to similar weights 1-2 months earlier, you will reduce total dry matter consumed and reduce GHG emissions.

Reducing bought-in supplement and/or reducing nitrogen fertiliser inputs certainly reduced GHG emissions. The impact on farm profitability varied, depending on the proportion of the total dry

matter consumed they made up. In many respects many of these approaches are probably more dairying orientated, given the greater amount of supplement feed/nitrogen fertiliser used in dairying.

The upshot from the farm system modelling is that we achieved biological GHG reductions of up to 10% (median was about 5-6%), while (mostly) still maintaining the profitability of the farm.

A key thing to think through is the impact of the “lower dry matter consumption” scenarios – most of which related to reducing stocking rates – on real farm management. If the intent is to have a lower stocking rate/ higher per animal performance operation, then grazing management becomes very critical.

The reason for this is that it is often more difficult to maintain pasture quality at a lower stocking rate, and if pasture quality is lost, animal performance will deteriorate.

Within the modelling we reduced the metabolizable energy (ME) in the pasture over spring as a proxy to reducing pasture quality. Once we got to around a 10% reduction in ME, on-farm production started to suffer significantly. It’s interesting to note that some of the low stocking rate/low input farmlet trials have

also run directly into this issue.

Another aspect to keep in mind when altering farm systems is that we are dealing with biological systems, which means it can take time to achieve the change. This was certainly true for some of the more complicated changes we modelled, for example reducing breeding ewes by 20% while increasing lambing by 30%; this was technically feasible, but a fiveto 10-year programme to achieve for those farms involved.

The upshot from the farm system modelling is that we achieved biological GHG reductions of up to 10% (median was about 5-6%), while (mostly) still maintaining the profitability of the farm.

So, no magic bullets and no overnight solutions.

The other aspect we looked at was land use change, both with respect to horticulture/arable and forestry. Forestry is a big subject on its own, which I would like to come back to in a future article.

The idea of land use change into horticulture/arable is that essentially you average down in GHG emissions. Using dairy as the example, the average biological emission is 9.6T CO2e/ ha, compared with around 0.2T CO2e/ha for many horticultural crops. For every hectare planted, therefore, the farm emissions reduce by 9.4T CO2e/ha. For arable cropping the reduction is less; mixed arable has an average biological emission of 2.95T CO2e/ha. Increasing arable cropping on sheep & beef farms, with an average biological emission of 3.6 T CO2e/ha, meant the averaging down was relatively small. (Just to note that emissions vary widely between farms, so in some instance the averaging down was more significant.)

The issue is very much around the question of scale. To take a simplistic example, assume a (national average) dairy farm of 155ha, looking to plant 5ha into

kiwifruit. This is 3% of the area, and results in a 3% reduction in biological GHG emissions. To have any degree of significant impact, therefore, the farm needs to plant say 10-15% into kiwifruit. This is a reasonably significant exercise, with the business now a horticultural one with a dairy farm attached.

This also applies at the national level. Assuming we have around 9 million hectares in pastoral farming; say 7 million in sheep & beef, and 2 million in dairying, then a 10% land use change is 900,000ha. That’s a big area; currently we have around 70,000ha in horticulture, 180,000ha in arable, and 45,000ha in vegetables.

Changing land use, particularly into horticulture, involves a wide range of issues, including significant barriers such as access to water for irrigation, access to labour for both management and on-farm operations such as pruning and harvesting, and access to a value chain/marketing. In our modelling we’ve looked at some alternative crops, for example oats for milk, peas for protein, and chestnuts for flour. All potentially growable in New Zealand, although the economics are somewhat unknown, but the key issue is that there is either no value chain, or it is very fragmented.

A key question, therefore, is that, if we grow all this stuff, where can we sell it? Which means our 900,000ha, while possible, is not very probable. This means we’ll measure land use change in a few thousands of hectares rather than tens or hundreds of thousands of hectares.

Another little issue is that when we modelled land use change into arable cropping, in many cases we also increased the level of nitrogen leaching – another issue to manage through. A key gain, mostly on the horticultural side, is that the business made more money, so at the very least it had increased funds to pay the proposed carbon levy.

While farm system change/ efficiency gains, and/or land use change can reduce GHG emissions at a farm level, most of the reductions achieved were relatively modest. The third leg of the trifecta, forestry, has quite a significant impact in terms of offsetting, and we’ve modelled a range of scenarios using forestry. But that’s another article.

MORE:

The reports on the GHG modelling can be found on both the AgFirst and AgMatters websites.

Got

Agricultural economist with AgFirst, based in Hamilton

BALANCING ACT: Agricultural economist Phil Journeaux says a vital aspect of the modelling exercise was to look at ways to reduce dry matter eaten while at the same time keeping the farm financially viable.

DON’T COUNT ON IT: Even working with the relatively simply tool kit that’s available, reducing a farm’s GHG emissions is not as simple as reducing its stocking rate, says agricultural economist Phil Journeaux.

PM switch puts party policy back in play

Alternative view

Having followed politics over the decades, I’ve seen lots of leaders come and go but not with the painless transition of Hipkins. That tells me there is a united caucus that has risen above personal aspirations and ambition. In New Zealand politics that’s highly unusual.

I’ve never met Hipkins but, like you, have followed him with his education portfolio, the covid response and as minister of police. He comes across as practical and capable.

We have but nine months to the election.

LAST week was certainly interesting politically. For a start, the past prime minister has my respect. The trauma that occurred during her leadership was massive and the personal abuse deplorable.

Further, as Feds president Andrew Hoggard said, “Jacinda did meet and engage with agriculture far more than any previous PM”.

I’ve seen quite a few of the anti-Jacinda emails and found them personal, offensive and misogynistic.

No one, let alone a prime minister, should have to put up with that rubbish and it is an indictment of our country that we allowed it to happen. The vitriol and malicious rumours from the National Party machine didn’t impress me either.

After the PM resigned we had a bloodless leadership competition with just one starter – Chris Hipkins.

With Labour we have a new prime minister and deputy in Carmel Sepuloni, who is also capable in her portfolios. It will have to overcome the baggage of Three Waters and the limp-wristed resource management rejig.

There’s a cabinet reshuffle about to happen and that will dictate Labour’s direction and election chances.

I believe National would have inevitably won the election with Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, but with Chris Hipkins I’m not so sure.

Gone is a polarising, albeit able, prime minister, replaced by a basic Kiwi bloke that people can identify with. Moreso, I’d suggest, than they can with Chistopher Luxon.

Reality is that the cakewalk is over for National and the party is going to have to produce some solid policies if it wants to convince the electorate it is fit to govern.

For a start, its stance on Three Waters is muddy and confused. There are billboards around the country telling me that National will repeal Three Waters. That’s all

well and good, but repeal it with what?

The legislation has been passed, staff are being employed and the four mega entities are about to be put in place.

I intensely dislike the Three Waters package but tell me what National is going to do about it? Just mouthing “repeal” with no follow-up doesn’t convince me any real change will be made.

I also intensely dislike the phrase National continues to utter to the effect that its MPs are more capable and have more business nous than those in Labour. Again, I’m not interested in a mine-isbigger-than-yours argument; I want to know what a National government will do.

Looking at the top five on National’s new list, you have an ex-CEO of Air NZ, an English graduate, ex-tobacco lobbyist, a medical doctor and an historian. It isn’t an experienced crew when it comes to either business or management.

Having said that, I rate Dr Shane Reti extremely highly.

With agriculture and the provinces I get frustrated with the lack of understanding on both sides of the House.

We have some ridiculous antifarming policies coming out of Labour, combined with a raft of new regulations that will turn food producers into clerks.

Again, the problem is that National isn’t promising anything different. Just saying “National will simplify the regulations” is fine, but by doing what?

I’m also unconvinced that National can be an effective advocate for the primary sector and in addition agriculture doesn’t

I believe National would have inevitably won the election with Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, but with Chris Hipkins I’m not so sure.

make the top 10 on its list – and trade is further down. Food production comes behind social investment, workplace relations, social development, youth and Auckland.

Conversely, with ACT I know they won’t tolerate co-governance, they will encourage decisions at a local level, increase infrastructure spending and rationalise legislation.

With agriculture they will enable live animal exports, and they remain totally opposed to He

Waka Eke Noa. Further, they want to cut form filling and encourage food production “without being a martyr or pariah”.

It’s also important to consider that ACT was the only political party to oppose both the zerocarbon legislation and the kneejerk gun laws. National voted for both.

It will be an interesting election. Without personalities voters will be voting on policy, which is good. It will therefore be up to the parties to refine their policies and then sell them.

That means that there is a level playing field and the election could go either way depending on the policies on offer, which is the way it should be.

The downside is that policies tend to be boring so, tragically, the turnout is likely to be low. I hope I’m wrong.

Manners ought to maketh man behave better

From the ridge

RUDE AWAKENING: The level of vitriol directed at former prime minister Jacinda Ardern gave Steve WynHarris pause about the kind of country New Zealand is becoming.

SOCIAL discourse is the tool of social interaction that acts as a carrier of meanings, ideas and values in society.

Wrapped up in that are manners and etiquette.

Etiquette is the set of norms of personal behaviour in polite society, usually occurring in the

form of an ethical code of the expected and accepted social behaviours that accord with the conventions and norms observed and practised by a society. Manners are a way of behaving towards other people.

I attended Takapau Primary School in the 1960s, and the school motto was and still is on the gate in wrought iron: Manners maketh man. Man means our species, so we don’t have to spoil its lovely alliteration by replacing it with people.

The Knowledge Hub says: “The proverb ‘manners maketh man’ derives from a shared understanding that courtesy and good manners are essential to the preservation of human interaction and relationships. Good manners can be applied to several aspects of human life, including how we speak, the words we use, the tone of our voice, our gestures and our actions.”

I know I’m not alone in thinking that what seems like an old fashioned idea – that good

manners are important – is still as relevant today as always.

I’m not religious but the Bible’s Golden Rule, “so in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you …” (Matthew 7:12) is a sound principle. So sound that all other religions have similar rules of conduct.

I’ve been increasingly uncomfortable about the change in social discourse in recent years. Not just in this country but all around the world.

Social media is not the primary cause but it certainly allows keyboard warriors to express their outrage and nastiness, often behind anonymity.

We hear of software such as troll farms. A troll farm or troll factory is an institutionalised group of internet trolls that seeks to interfere in political opinions and decision-making.

These groups of people have the ability to generate massive amounts of propaganda and

BLOKE: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is, says Alan Emerson, ‘a basic Kiwi bloke that people can identify with’.

Alan Emerson Semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com

Steve Wyn-Harris Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer: swyn@xtra.co.nz

Next generation needed to feed the world

Alexandra Tomkins, was keen to share New Zealand’s story and put high quality and nutritious products on the world stage.

Our agricultural scholarship winners have moved on to established careers, from vine managers to nutrient specialists, business managers and consultants. Some went on to complete overseas scholarships before taking on management positions in NZ.

So it was surprising to discover at a recent Animal and Plant Health NZ leadership forum that fewer students are choosing to study horticulture and agriculture.

Mark Ross Chief executive of Animal & Plant Health NZ

YOUNG, bright, passionate all-round high achievers” are a few words to describe the horticulture and agriculture scholarship winners we’ve celebrated over the years.

The calibre of young people we’ve met through our longrunning programme has been phenomenal – their enthusiasm for our industry is inspiring, and most have gone straight to paid employment in their chosen fields.

Their backgrounds and reasons for choosing agriculture as a career are as varied as the goals they set out to achieve. Common to them all is a passion for agriculture – embracing it as a desirable career for the diverse opportunities and experiences that come with it.

Some recipients have been inspired by those already working in agriculture and the fascinating stories they have to tell; others have seen the potential of science and sustainability working together, and those more business–minded individuals claimed agribusiness as their chosen pathway.

Our 2014 scholarship winner, Yvette Jones, wanted to work on solutions for horticulture, with her friends forced to move away from her hometown in the Bay of Plenty after the PSA virus decimated their kiwifruit crops.

Intent on becoming a leader in consumer-centric and sustainable food production, our 2020 winner,

Continued from previous page misinformation and get it directly to people through social media.

And because the social media companies financially thrive on clicks, they do their best to not limit the activity.

A lot of the commentary in the past week about Jacinda Ardern’s resignation and the reasons behind it have pointed to the amount of vitriol, hate and misogyny directed at her.

Ardern didn’t say that was the reason; she said she simply lacked the fuel in the tank to go through another year with a potential term after that. But she couldn’t say that,

It raises a sense of unease for the future, especially given the trajectory of the primary industries. Now, more than ever, we need progressive, smart and educated individuals to help innovate and drive change for growers and farmers – to enable them to survive in a changing climate, during a time of increasing political interference and escalating consumer demands.

NZ is touted as the food basket of the world, but with intense regulation from governments –both here and overseas – people are needed to seek solutions to meet these demands and drive productivity in farming. With pressures to slash emissions, be productive and support the economy, New Zealand farming is in a vise.

It must find solutions to producing more with less –using fewer resources, emitting less, and on less available land. Managing these pressures requires innovative thinking and ideas.

Farming industries are crying out for Bachelor of Agricultural Science students to help manage the myriad issues the sector faces. High demand also exists for horticultural graduates to keep pace with our booming horticultural industry.

Tragically, New Zealand universities have experienced a downturn in student numbers in recent years, resulting in too few agricultural and horticultural graduates to meet industry demands.

Associate Professor in Weed Science at Massey University Dr

because it would only empower those who decide they don’t like Chris Hipkins or Chris Luxon and employ similar tactics in the future.

When you hear that your prime minister – whoever that may be – has protection because of the number of death threats but, worse, so do her partner and four-year-old child, also because of threats, a rational and sane person has to believe that this is not the country we want it to be.

The threats need to be taken seriously because the mosque shootings show there are individuals even within this society who go beyond being keyboard warriors.

Now, more than ever, we need progressive, smart and educated individuals to help innovate and drive change for growers and farmers.

Kerry Harrington suggests some causal factors for this downward trend. The covid restrictions created difficulties for secondary school students. NZ is also in a period of low unemployment combined with a high cost of living, so the temptation for people to earn an income versus studying and accumulating debt could be a contributing factor.

Despite there being no fees in the first year of study, the cost of university education is a major turn-off for many. Student allowances have barely increased in many years.

Universities have had few funding increases and this, in turn, affects future fee structures for students.

It’s not just the likes of politicians and journalists who have hate and unpleasantness directed at them in these times.

I’ve written this column for 28 years and for the first 24 would either get nice feedback or the correspondent and me would agree to disagree, amicably.

I’m by no means a controversial opinion writer but over the past few years have had some heated and unpleasant opinions of my views.

I reply by thanking them for the feedback and say let’s agree to disagree and not trouble each other again.

It works for some but appears to incense others.

I’ve learnt not to try to argue

Another thorn in the side of agriculture is the negative publicity that the industry endures, especially around issues such as methane emissions and leaching of nutrients into waterways.

Schools can also put students off studying ag, for similar reasons. But perhaps what they’re missing is the pathway to solutions. Trained professionals are needed more than ever to help farmers modify their practices to ensure the continued sustainability of agriculture.

Studying agriculture or horticulture at university doesn’t require a string of prerequisites. Secondary students interested in either degree must only have studied some sciences at secondary school. It’s not obligatory to have studied agriculture or horticulture.

Studying from home is one way of tackling the increasing costs of tertiary education as it can make it easier for students to work and keep costs down. This is becoming increasingly popular, says

rationally with these people but instead block the email or phone number so that both of us can move onto other, more agreeable things.

This is only a small taste of what folk with higher profiles get and I don’t much like it.

None of us is ever going to agree with everyone else’s ideas or policies, and there are some people

Social media is not the primary cause but it certainly allows keyboard warriors to express their outrage and nastiness, often behind anonymity.

Harrington. Massey University and other universities have developed expertise in distance education over the past couple of years. The pitfall is that students miss social interactions, one of the highlights of university life.

Scholarships are more important than ever to convince more people to study horticulture, according to Harrington.

“Some of the larger funding bodies, such as DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb, have stepped back from scholarships, just when help is badly needed with attracting students into these programmes,” he says.

Agricultural graduates are essential for our primary industries, as people with the vital role of producing food seek to front-foot the various challenges and pressures affecting them –now and into the future.

Schools, industry, parents and universities need to encourage more people into these fields of study to ensure that New Zealand can continue to feed the world and support our economy.

we may not particularly like. But don’t we all want to live in a civil society that functions peacefully and where manners are important and other people aren’t threatening our own family members or directing public hatred in our direction?

Well, I do, and it may be a naïve position to take but we as a society should learn from this recent experience and as individuals do everything to discourage this behaviour.

Little things like not forwarding links or memes or stuff that is dressed up as humour but is just plain nastiness.

As my mum used to say, “If you haven’t got something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

ROOM TO GROW: Horticulture and agriculture scholarship winners such as Alexandra Tomkins, awarded the hort grant in 2020, go on to fulfilling careers, Mark Ross says.

not needed, but challenges the view that rules must be set by the centre and followed regardless of how impractical they are.

Muller backs the primary sector proposals on He Waka Eke Noa and would use them as a starting point:

“I’ve always held the view that from a point of principle you need to have solutions in the kitbag before you aggressively start taxing a sector to respond.

“The priority needs to be about measurement and innovation and if you have the tools, then you can have a subsequent conversation.”

Abandoning HWEN would be untenable, he says, both from a social licence and market perspective.

“It comes back to, can you demonstrate to a marketer, a consumer or a customer that you are managing your farm in a sustainable manner and have a plan in place to improve that over time?”

A matter of trust for National’s Muller

The top of the to-do list for the National Party spokesperson on agriculture and climate change is fixing the toxic relationship between Wellington and the primary sector, he told Gerald Piddock.

RESTORING trust between local and central government and farmers is National Party agriculture spokesperson Todd Muller’s first priority if his party is able to form a government after the election later this year.

The relationship breakdown has become so toxic and punitive that it has created huge tension and frustration between councils, central government and farmers, he says, speaking at his home in Tauranga.

“I’m going to look at that through a tripartite lens because you can’t sit there in Wellington and say you want there to be more trust,” Muller says.

“You have to demonstrate through leadership from the top and the expectation that your ministry is going to be far more able to sit and work alongside with farmers to navigate these difficult challenges.”

The discussion also has to include farmers’ relationship with the community and the councils tasked with implementing unworkable rules from central government, he says.

Environment Minister David Parker has to share the blame for that relationship breaking down because of his longstanding view that intensive land use change away from sheep and beef led to farmers getting wealthy without helping to mitigate the effects on the land.

Parker’s “punitive”, “centralised, one size fits all” regulations make farming more difficult, Muller says.

“No one argues that waterways should deteriorate, but the idea that every waterway should be treated exactly the same and is directed from the centre as

opposed to a local conversation around what is the best way to do this ... I’m very much more in favour of trying to pursue that model.”

Muller was confirmed as National’s spokesperson for agriculture and climate change following a January reshuffle. He had planned to exit parliament after the current parliamentary cycle ended but was asked to stay on by National leader Chris Luxon and deputy leader Nicola Willis.

After discussing it with his family, Muller says, he agreed to it.

He is arguably better placed than many to understand the pressures that come with being a highprofile political leader, having resigned after a brief stint as party leader in 2021 due to mental health issues.

He says what former prime minister Jacinda Ardern said when she announced she was stepping down was 100% authentic. It is clear, he says, that the job has cost her both physically and mentally.

“You could see it in her face and you could see the cost of the job eat away at her over the last few years.

“When she said she had nothing left in the tank, she was right.”

When you go beyond your normal reserves, it starts to cost you as a person, he says.

“I wish her all the best.

“You can disagree with someone and it’s political not personal and she certainly had to endure a fair amount of personal abuse.”

Muller says it was telling that when new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he would reset some of the government’s policies, none of them were those that affect the primary sector.

It shows that primary sector

issues are not a high priority, Muller says, despite recent surveys showing that farmer confidence is at its lowest level ever at a time where returns are still good.

That low confidence is because of the “tsunami of regulations” farmers are facing, he says.

In December at the Mystery Creek Fieldays, Muller stood beside Luxon as the National leader said the government is putting the farming sector into regulatory overload because of the new rules around emission reductions, Significant Natural Areas and freshwater.

“When you load them all up together, for a number of farmers it just sucks the joy out of it,” Muller says.

But rather than throwing these rules out, he wants to reset the relationship between the parties and take a more community and catchment-led approach to resolving the sector’s environmental challenges.

“If you have to pause some stuff while you do that, then so be it.”

It would also mean balancing the sector’s community and international obligations as well as maintaining its reputation in the marketplace, he says.

“But for goodness’ sake, the East Coast is different to Southland, which is different to Northland and different to Taumarunui.”

Communities should be able to manage the challenges specific to their region with more flexibility. If a particular community gets dominated by a particular interest group leading to a poor environmental outcome, you reserve the right to have a different conversation, Muller says.

He is not saying regulations are

system, be it carbon capture and storage, greater sequestration on farms, grasslands, mangroves or overseas units.”

Muller says he is frustrated that this land use change is being influenced by politics rather than market demand. Instead of companies investing in emissions reductions, they spend their money on buying units because it was cheaper.

“The other bit is that we’re a party of property rights. For all of the understandable frustration, there are farmers saying, ‘Actually I’ll take the money because it sets me and my family up. It’s our property and we’ll make that decision.’”

Muller says he wants more work done to develop a single farm environment plan model accepted across the sector – one that will avoid paperwork duplication while providing clear direction for the landowner to demonstrate their progress in lowering their environmental footprint.

“If we have an obligation on farmers to measure more and demonstrate their environmental performance, the ease of that needs to be top of mind.”

Muller does not see any conflict of interest in being both agriculture and climate change spokesperson, calling it an old argument.

“Agriculture and our $52 billion worth of exports is a far larger contribution to New Zealand than just its emissions profile,” he says.

Key to progressing NZ’s decarbonisation is finding a solution to animal emissions and Muller sees the two portfolios as complementing each other.

He rejects any view that it will bring a distorted view to discussions about climate change mitigation.

The country’s emissions profile include both carbon dioxide from energy and transport as well as animal emissions, and both are difficult to reduce.

There are few technological options available to reduce animal emissions while options to reduce CO2 levels are expensive for the size of NZ’s population.

“This is the challenge. You have to have those debates and for a country of 5 million that has to wrestle those emissions down –how best do you do it?”

He is optimistic that a solution will come to reduce animal emissions but it will require a commitment from farmers and the sector and may need to be done in partnership offshore.

Addressing farmland to forestry conversions, Muller says the party is watching the issue very closely but it is not a sustainable model if the only carbon units available are from the conversion of a sheep and beef farm to forestry as people or companies look for ways to lower their emissions.

“You need to have other units available for the New Zealand

On genetic modification, Muller says there has to be a conversation around whether it should be integrated into NZ’s food production system and what that would look like. It will not be a conversation that is driven from Wellington or is ideological, he says.

“That’s a conversation that involves our marketers and our scientists and I would expect government agencies to be listening closely and working out how they can best enable that to happen.

“This should not be a political call, it should be a commercial call. My sense is that the appetite from the commercial and science sector for New Zealand to at least have the capacity to be trialling some of this is significantly higher than it was a decade ago.

“If it is, then what do we need to change in regulations to make that happen?”

Muller says he supports the direction that government-owned farmer Pāmu has taken in terms of using its platform to demonstrate new technologies, industries and solutions that can be shared with the wider industry, particularly around methane mitigation.

Muller says he wants get closer to the Māori farming sector and recognises the huge potential that exists there.

“I would be interested in hearing what structural changes are necessary to really amplify it.”

Turning to agricultural science and funding, Muller says there are huge opportunities within the agri-tech space and he wants to work with the National Party’s technology spokesperson, Judith Collins, on that.

He also supports the Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures fund as a means of exploring new science and technology, particularly around methane reduction.

But Muller is cautious about overcommitting to funding:

“The economic conditions are pretty perilous and if we have the privilege of winning in October, we will take over books that are highly inflated and there will need to be some constraint.”

On rural education and getting more young people interested in farming, Muller says farmers on social media are the best way to get people into agriculture. Using that medium to show life on the farm is the “single most important tool that could get younger people interested in what’s going on, on the farm”, he says.

OVERLOAD: National Party agriculture and climate change spokesperson Todd Muller says regulatory overload ‘sucks all the joy’ out of farming.

Driving positive change through technology

there are 500,000ha and the sector is growing by up to 10% per year.

NORTH Shore-based WayBeyond develops technology solutions that allow growers across the globe to do more with less: to harness new technologies, connect disparate systems and leverage plant and environmental data to optimise farming processes.

The WayBeyond story begins in late 2015 when Darryn Keiller had a vision for the future of global agriculture.

This vision was Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), combining advanced plant science and the latest technology with an open ecosystem, to provide highyielding and sustainably produced crops.

In January 2016, Keiller pitched his vision at an Agritech investor event. Reaction was ambivalent — few understood what CEA was.

Six years later Keiller is recognised globally as one of the pioneers and thought leaders in the CEA sector, which is growing rapidly.

Investment is projected to increase from US$2.4 billion in 2018 to US$18b by 2026.

CEA is the umbrella term for different forms of farming that includes indoor or vertical farming, protected cropping (crops that are grown outdoors with some protection against the elements — for example, hoop houses, tunnel houses or canopies) and greenhouses. Vertical farming dominates the headlines when it comes to CEA but greenhouses are the most mature category.

In New Zealand, there are between 180ha and 250ha of commercial greenhouses. Globally

The size of the prize and the complexity of the challenge attracted Keiller to the industry.

“Our focus is almost completely offshore because that’s where the opportunity is,” he says.

“We’ve got people on the ground in key markets — for example, Mexico — and we’ve partnered with some great companies in other countries including Vietnam. We’re working with the large multinational corporate growers (MNCs) and the seed and agrochemical giants because they’re trying to solve the same problems we are. These MNCs are a channel to the customer and they’re hugely influential. WayBeyond is closely aligned with these MNCs around where the industry needs to go and how it’s likely to get there, and the potential collaboration with these companies is very exciting.”

Keiller’s introduction to the horticulture sector came in 2014 when he started working with Autogrow, a climate computer and farm automation company that develops systems for small-tomedium fresh produce growers to control the growing environment — heating, cooling and so on.

Initially an investor, he was appointed Autogrow’s chief executive in 2016 and saw an opportunity to transform the sector.

With an extensive career in business technology behind him, Keiller was surprised at how little innovation there was in horticulture.

“I could see a way to harness technology,” he says. “Using technology to solve problems is something I understand really well. When I first started, growers were essentially farming the same

way they had for the last 100 years. There was no significant investment in robotics, artificial intelligence [AI], or data.

“The thing is, robots are not the answer for many farmers. Apart from the huge conglomerate growers, most operations in New Zealand and globally are not set up to optimise that type of advanced technology. They need an alternative way to increase yield and productivity.”

Folium is WayBeyond’s climate monitoring system that analyses the temperature, humidity, radiation and carbon dioxide levels in a greenhouse, giving growers a comprehensive overview of the microclimate and optimal growing conditions.

Plant sensors monitor the physiological response of the plant to the environment, nutrients and other inputs.

Traditionally, growing decisions were largely based on the farmers’ expertise and intuition. Now, the data supports the grower to make more informed decisions based on science and technology.

“The goal [of growers] is consistent output. Consistency is not just a function of volume, it’s a function of quality.”

The company’s FarmRoad crop management software enables growers to bring together all of their farming data in one powerful, unified, and easy-to-use platform.

“We’re creating a knowledgebased system for farmers,” Keiller says.

“Our technology is based on a framework developed by the plant research industry: genetics x environment x management.

Those are the three big levers you can pull to optimise a crop.

“Currently, there’s no silver bullet for more predictable and stable yields because of the

complexity involved in trying to control these different levers. The goal is consistent output. Consistency is not just a function of volume, it’s a function of quality.

“The big challenge for the horticulture industry is quality control. If you’re growing apples, oranges, kiwifruit, or whatever, the grower wants to be able to regulate outlier events that impact quality. For a premium fruit or vegetable, you get anywhere from three to five times more dollars per kilo than you do for second-grade output.

“We’re moving from gathering and analysing data to prescribing solutions. You can take a photo of a plant and the system will give you feedback on what it needs. Then you will be able to start looking at patterns and predictions to avoid pest outbreaks, for example. That will also allow us to advise growers on more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices using data and AI.”

Agritech entrepreneurs in NZ have to deal with what Keiller calls “the tyranny of distance”.

“The other centres of Agritech

innovation around the world, including Israel, the Netherlands, Belgium and certain parts of the USA, have easy access to corporate growers, willing partners and massive markets,” he says.

“They’ve got access to more capital and so when they roll out a new piece of technology it can scale really quickly. Trying to do that from New Zealand, you’re up against it.”

Another challenge is the fact that farming and horticulture are typically conservative, risk-averse industries.

“You build something that works, that is innovative and potentially game changing and you think, ‘Well, of course companies will want to buy it,’” Keiller says. “But usually they will want to trial it over an entire season, which is a long time. You’re talking nine months to a year before the customer feels confident in what you’re selling, before they’re prepared to pay for it. By that stage you’ve invested a lot of money in developing and building the product and you’re burning cash all the time. So you’ve got to be patient and be prepared for it to take longer than you think.”

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY Agritech

VIRTUAL FARMERS: WayBeyond’s ultimate goal is to develop virtual agronomists using an interactive system that is smarter than the grower, Darryn Keiller says.

Aussie lamb exports hit new high, beef down

AUSTRALIAN lamb exports hit record highs in 2022 but beef exports fell back 4% in a year of turbulent global conditions.

Lamb exports were up 7% from 2021 to 284,257t, with 45% of exports heading to the United States and China, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

MLA said the two markets represented “huge opportunities for the future” as lamb consumption is still relatively low, particularly in the US. The increasing diversity of export destinations was highlighted, with South Korea and Papua New Guinea growing by 60% and 68%, respectively.

Milk, cheese and eggs stoke UK inflation

THE cost of milk, cheese and eggs is responsible for keeping inflation in the United Kingdom at a 40-year high, according to the latest official figures.

Britain’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that while the annual rate of inflation saw a small fall to 10.5% in December from 10.7% in November, food prices continued to soar, reaching the highest rate since 1977.

According to the report, food prices rose for the 17th consecutive month, hitting 16.8% in the year to December.

Basics, such as milk, cheese and eggs, rose by 4.1% between November and December. Prices for bread and cereal also rose, but more slowly than in the same month for 2021.

The slight decrease in overall inflation as measured by the consumer price index could be attributed to the fall in the price of fuel, said the ONS.

Patty Clayton, lead analyst at AHDB dairy, said the figures were “to be expected” following the price hikes that had occurred earlier in the year,” Clayton said.

“Consumers have been paying far too low a price for a long time, so have faced a rapid increase to keep up with general inflation.

“This was accelerated by inflationary costs in other areas, such as production, which has been hit by energy price rises, and supply, as processors have had to encourage farmers to keep the milk flowing.”

Clayton said cheese too has been “held back” in terms of retail price.

“For the cheese sector, the effects of the pandemic are still in evidence with stocks remaining low,” she said.

“Retail demand had been bolstered so much by the pandemic and our domestic stocks have not been able to catch up with retail demand, which has fuelled the retail price inflation.

“It is important to note that both of those products, in terms of retail pricing, have not kept up with general food inflation, so part of the recent increase is almost to catch up.”

Consumers have been paying far too low a price for a long time,

Smaller markets, such as Fiji, Switzerland and Ghana, also upped their consumption of Australian lamb, with important beef markets, such as Japan, starting to get a taste for it too.

Mutton exports also showed a positive trend, up 2% for the year to 144,005t, but exports to the US dropped by 23%.

Beef exports totalled 854,596t, down 4% from 2021 and the lowest total exports since 2003.

Export volumes fell in most major markets, with Japan and the US each falling 8%, southeast Asia, the Middle East & North Africa falling 6%, and South Korea falling 3%.

The exception was China, where beef exports rose by 7% to 158,000t for the year.

Australian prices were kept high by strong demand, while cheap US beef flooded into Japan

Australia says the US and China represent “huge opportunities for the future” as lamb consumption is still relatively low there.

and South Korea as US producers liquidated herds. Brazilian exports also ramped up to China.

“Australian exporters have responded by emphasising what makes Australian beef different, especially regarding traceability, product consistency and taste,” Tim Jackson, MLA business analyst, said.

“This has allowed Australian beef to maintain a premium image in the global market, even with constrained supply.”

He said this year is looking “positive” as herd liquidations in the northern hemisphere are likely to moderate or stop altogether as drought in livestock-producing regions falls away.

“This would happen as

Australian exporters have responded by emphasising what makes Australian beef different, especially regarding traceability, product consistency and taste.

Australian production ramps back up, supported by years of solid conditions on farm, creating strong opportunities for exporters over the next year,” Jackson said.

Farmers Guardian

Analyst casts pall on UK milk price

ARRIVING on stage dressed as an undertaker and playing a tonguein-cheek character mourning the demise of the recent high milk price, dairy analyst Chris Walkland could not offer delegates at this year’s Semex International Dairy Conference much in the way of positive news in terms of milk price, and he gave a stark warning about what the future might hold.

Speaking at the event in Glasgow, Walkland began by taking a look back at the “magic and madness” of 2022.

His figures showed 214 positive milk price moves and no price reductions in the UK last year.

But, as was widely predicted, the start of 2023 had marked the start of some change, and Walkland said it was time for the industry to “get real”.

“The biggest threat to the industry right now is not discretionary pricing, or the large milk price cuts coming, because right now the gap between what you are being paid and what the processor is getting is the biggest I have ever seen,” Walkland said.

“And as a consequence, the risk of a processor failing is as big as it has ever been.”

He said there are no “safety nets’ as there are no co-operatives out there to pick up the stranded farmers.

“If a processor fails, it will be carnage.”

But while Walkland said the prospects are not looking good due to the “bearish market”, he said there were some stabilising factors that could help.

These included the possible impact a spring flush could have and the buoyant cull cow market.

Robert Gooch, chief executive of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association, said that while dairy farmers have seen an uplift in farmgate prices, it is not the same story for egg producers, who have continued to struggle.

“Eggs are lumped into the dairy category by analysts, but have not seen the same increases as milk and cheese.

“Dairy prices for both farmers and in shops have risen far more than eggs,” he said, adding egg farmgate prices still need to “catch up”.

Farmers Guardian

The new pricing pledge announced by dairy giant Müller at the end of last year could help stabilise prices but this would be reliant on retailers holding their price on milk on the supermarket shelves, and other liquid processors holding the line with Müller .

And despite his early stark warnings, Walkland said there are a huge amount of positives, highlighting the organisation and communication of the industry.

He said the UK has strong co-operatives, good efficient producers, great products and a great story to tell.

so have faced a rapid increase to keep up with general inflation.

Patty Clayton AHDB dairy

HARD CHEESE: Basics such as milk, cheese and eggs rose by

4.1%

between November and December in the UK.

MORE TO COME: Meat and Livestock

Farmers Guardian

THE END IS NIGH: Dairy analyst Chris Walkland dressed all in black to bring the bad news to an international dairy conference in Glasgow.

Tim Jackson Meat and Livestock Australia

Waihi Waitete Road

Auction

Owhango 205 Tunanui Road

Open Day

Mature forest block - Prime location

This 40.26 ha block is located just 2.5 km from the centre of town, 33 km from Whangamata and 63 km from Tauranga and therefore has a distinct 'location advantage' over most other forestry blocks.

• Planted in a variety of species over approximately 30 ha

• Most of the trees are Pinus Radiata (approximately 22 ha) planted 1994-1996

• Purchase of this property will include approximately 3900 NZU's (Carbon Units)

This property is a prime candidate for investors who see sustainability, both environmentally and financially, as the prerequisites to their investment decisions.

Papamoa 502E Reid Road

Auction 12.00pm, Thu 9th Feb, 2023, Mount Maunganui Golf Club, 15 Fairway Avenue, Mount Maunganui View Wed 1 Feb 10.30 - 11.30am Web pb.co.nz/WTR109043

Phillip Berry M 027 478 8892

Tender

Opportunity awaits

This property at 205 Tunanui Road, Taumarunui is a 42.29 ha (more or less) farm located 17 km south-west from Taumarunui and just 9.2 km to Owhango. The property is situated west facing with 8 ha of flat to rolling easy country. There is an existing three bedroom home, as well as a selection of farm buildings. While these may require some maintenance to be fully usable, they provide the opportunity for a new owner to put their own personal touch on the property. The possibilities are endless and if you are looking for land at a great value, this block will be perfect for you.

Contact us today to schedule a viewing of 205 Tunanui Road.

You can have it all

Nestled and sitting proud on the enviable Reid Road, this peaceful and alluring 376 m2 architectural home, resides on 10.05 ha / 24.83 acres of gently contoured land and is accessed via a long sweeping driveway with turning area. Greeted by the double internal access garaging, and elevated paved lush garden. Your eyes immediately focus in on the stunning atrium. Moving inside, the exterior is matched with Rimu feature ceilings and a sleek modern kitchen. The adjoining sleek open plan kitchen is every entertainer's fantasy with double ovens, generous soft close cupboards, drawers and extended feature windows, filling the area with natural light. The two living areas are large and impressive. The magnificent butler's door leads you into the multi layered living space with the option of the games area with full size billiard table, creates a perfect space for separation and entertaining. Floor to ceiling windows throughout most of the home lets that natural light beam in.

4 3 3 2

Tender closes 1.00pm, Thu 23rd Feb, 2023 (unless sold prior),

OB 1, 7 Gravatt Road, Papamoa

View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/PPL114647

Tim Short

M 027 631 0446 E tim.short@pb.co.nz

Brooke Robertson

M 027 587 0795 E brooke.robertson@pb.co.nz

Alwin Thorne George M 027 208 1414 E alwin@pb.co.nz

Eureka 964 State Highway 26

Tender

In the heart of the Waikato

• 43 ha currently run as a very tidy dairy unit

• 10 ASHB and a comfortable home

• All flat land with silt and sandy loam soils

• Centrally located - midway between Hamilton, Cambridge and Morrinsville.

No one ever regrets buying quality. Contact the agents for details.

Tauwhare 958 Victoria Road

Tender

3 1 2

Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 16th Feb, 2023, Property Brokers, 78 Studholme Street, Morrinsville, 3300 or PRL Rural, 308 Pickering Road, Tamahere, 3283

View Tue 31 Jan 11.00 - 12.00pm Tue 7 Feb 11.00 - 12.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TWR113840

John Sisley

M 027 475 9808 E john.sisley@pb.co.nz

Real heartland Waikato

• 32.3 ha in a very central Waikato location

• Currently run as a bull finishing unit

• A dairy support option for all local farmers

• Three bedroom home

• Contact the agents for details

3 1

Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 16th Feb, 2023, Property Brokers, 78 Studholme Street, Morrinsville, 3300, or PRL Rural 308 Pickering Road, Tamahere, 3283

View Tue 31 Jan 1.00 - 2.00pm Tue 7 Feb 1.00 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TWR113841

John Sisley

M 027 475 9808 E john.sisley@pb.co.nz

Tokoroa 62 Newell Road

Auction

Simply stunning!

Superb quality buildings comprised of 339 m2 house and apartment with commanding view of the professionally designed stable complex, 336 m2 of stables includes 10 loose boxes, four covered foaling pens, twin hot water wash down bays, tack rooms and vet rooms PLUS 450 m2 high stud building designed to accommodate all weather equestrian training.

Simply stunning South Waikato stud potential. The 1 km all-weather training track in good repair is an added bonus. 11.34 ha. Our vendor's farming policy is finishing cattle for the prime beef market. In the past this property supported 60 brood mares each season.

Bell Block 132, 216b, 310 Henwood Road

Bell Block 132, 216b, 310 Henwood Road

Bell Block 132, 216b, 310 Henwood Road

4 3 2

Auction 1.00pm, Fri 10th Feb, 2023, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Ltd, 19 Swanston Street, Tokoroa View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/TOR114128

Paul O'Sullivan

M 027 496 4417 E paulo@pb.co.nz

Sjaan Sikking

M 027 746 3940 E sjaan@pb.co.nz

Block 1 - 132 Henwood Rd

14.42 ha

$3.5m plus GST (if any)

Block 2 - 216b Henwood Rd 15.37 ha (subject to final survey) $2.5m plus GST (if any)

Block 3 - 310 Henwood Rd 16.76 ha $2m plus GST (if any)

For Sale

Henwood Road - Bell Block

Henwood Road - Bell Block

Three grazing blocks located on Henwood Rd, Bell Block. Property Brokers and Robert Angus Real Estate are pleased to bring to the market these three great blocks of land. All three blocks are ideal for grazing of dairy heifers or beef cattle.

Three grazing blocks located on Henwood Rd, Bell Block. Property Brokers and Robert Angus Real Estate are pleased to bring to the market these three great blocks of land. All three blocks are ideal for grazing of dairy heifers or beef cattle.

Three grazing blocks located on Henwood Rd, Bell Block. Property Brokers and Robert Angus Real Estate are pleased to bring to the market these three great blocks of land. All three blocks are ideal for grazing of dairy heifers or beef cattle.

Block 1 is suitable for land banking / potential subdivision and both blocks (1 & 2) are suitable for growing maize or harvesting hay and silage.

Block 2 has great building sites plus a new set of cattle yards and small hayshed.

For Sale $8,000,000 + GST (if any)

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/NPR114361

For Sale $8,000,000 + GST (if any)

View By appointment

View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/NPR114361

Web pb.co.nz/NPR114361

Block 1 is suitable for land banking / potential subdivision and both blocks (1 & 2) are suitable for growing maize or harvesting hay and silage.

Block 1 is suitable for land banking / potential subdivision and both blocks (1 & 2) are suitable for growing maize or harvesting hay and silage.

Block 3 has an older three bedroom house and sheds. It also adjoins block 2.

Block 2 has great building sites plus a new set of cattle yards and small hayshed.

Block 2 has great building sites plus a new set of cattle yards and small hayshed. an older three bedroom house and sheds. It also adjoins block 2.

If you are looking for land with possibilities and close to New Plymouth, contact the agents for further details.

Block 3 has an older three bedroom house and sheds. It also adjoins block 2.

If you are looking for land with possibilities and close to New Plymouth, contact the agents for further details.

If you are looking for land with possibilities and close to New Plymouth, contact the agents for further details.

Greg O'Byrne M 027 598 3000 E greg.obyrne@pb.co.nz

Greg O'Byrne M 027 598 3000 E greg.obyrne@pb.co.nz

Darrel Nicholas - Robert Angus Real Estate 248 4011 E darrel@robertangus.co.nz

Pongaroa 1337 Coonoor Road

Tender

Coonoor -230 ha *STS

A well developed sheep breeding and cattle finishing property located in the sought after Coonoor farming district just 13 km from Makuri Village and within commuting distance to Pahiatua and Dannevirke.

Well subdivided and presented, the property has been run in conjunction with the vendors other properties with breeding ewes and Friesian bulls fattened. The contour of the property is a mix of easy to medium hill, with underlying geology of limestone and complemented by reliable summer rainfall provides favourable growing conditions. Infrastructure is provided by a four stand woolshed complete with sheep yards, cattle yards and satellite sheep yards. Coonoor provides an excellent entry property or summer safe add-on to an existing business.

*Subject to Survey

Pongaroa 343 Korora Road

Tender

Tender closes 2.00pm, Wed 1st Mar, 2023, to be submitted to Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street Pahiatua.

View By appointment

Web pb.co.nz/PR111193

Jared Brock

M 027 449 5496 E jared@pb.co.nz

Sam McNair M 027 264 0002 E sam.mcnair@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith

M 027 220 8311 E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz

Ruawai -352 ha

Ruawai provides an exceptional sheep and cattle breeding and finishing property located in the Pongaroa farming district.

With improvements of a high calibre which include a three bedroom family home, four stand woolshed with covered yards, cattle yards with handling facilities, good fertiliser history and excellent reticulated water throughout. Contour is a mix of easy rolling hills with some areas of medium hill and 325 ha classed as effective grazing which is well subdivided by conventional fencing in excellent order.

Ruawai provides an excellent first farm opportunity or summer safe add on to an existing business.

Tender closes 2.00pm, Fri 10th Mar, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers, 129 Main Street, Pahiatua

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR111180

Jared Brock

M 027 449 5496 E jared@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith

M 027 220 8311 E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz

Pongaroa 146 Kaituna Road

Together Stronger

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

Broken

Hill -208 ha

A first farm or add on opportunity well located under 10 km from the Pongaroa village & under 50 minutes drive from either Dannevirke or Pahiatua. Currently operated as a stand alone sheep & beef breeding and finishing property, Broken Hill is well suited to continue its current practice or provide an excellent young stock growing or finishing property. Well apportioned with farming infrastructure that includes a 3 stand woolshed, sheep & cattle yards as well as satellite sheep yards. The recently renovated home has 3 bedrooms plus sleepout and provides encompassing views from the north facing deck. The home is well supported by an internal access garage and a 3 bay pole shed with workshop.

Eketahuna 172 Kakariki West Road

• A nationwide network from Northland to Southland

• Sound, trustworthy advice from market-leading experts

• Shareholder benefits and preferential commission rates means more money in your pocket

Bigger networks, more buyers, better results

For more information call 0800 367 5263 or visit pb.co.nz/together

Kakariki West - 201 ha

A hunter or fisherman's paradise, this fully self contained dairy operation is surrounded by all the great outdoor activities that the Tararua district has to offer.

Nestled near the Tararua ranges and bounding the Mangahao river, this 201 ha property provides an opportunity for large scale finishing, dairy support or to continue as a dairy operation. The property sits on three separate titles providing multiple purchase options. The main four bedroom home provides stunning views of the Mangahao River and surrounding bush, with numerous sheds providing more than adequate storage. Farming infrastructure includes a 24 ASHB cowshed complete with rectangle yard and compliant effluent system with lined storage. Sitting on nature's doorstep, Kakariki West provides flexible purchase options ranging from a 39 ha bareland property, 2 x 80 ha portions with separate dwellings through to the entire unit of 201 ha.

Fox Glacier Cook Flat Road

Tender

Glacier Horned Herefords

It is with great privilege that we offer to market this iconic, South Westland property which has been owned by the Williams family for over 140 years and are widely recognised for the superior breeding and genetics of their stud Hereford cattle. Deer breeding and velvet production is also a big part of the operation. This drystock operation has been developed to a very high standard with excellent farm infrastructure and provides ideal scale as a standalone unit or alternatively a strategic acquisition not often found in this tightly held location. The farm is offered to market in two main blocks, the main 474 ha freehold block located on Cook Flat Road, plus additional DOC grazing licences, and the second 75 ha freehold block 3 km south of Fox Glacier. There are options to purchase separately or as a combined package. With unrivalled views of the world renowned Fox Glacier, Mt Cook and Mt Tasman in the background, we recommend your inspection of this iconic South Westland farm.

Woodbury 133/141 Four Peaks Road and 1006 Te Moana Road

Tender

Tender closes 3.00pm, Thu 23rd Feb, 2023 (unless sold prior)

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/HKR112456

219ha (approx) - Te Moana Dairy Limited

Seldom do we get to offer for sale a property in this favoured farming location of Woodbury / Four Peaks. The property is semi self contained being approximately 166 ha of dairy platform and a further 53 ha of dairy support.

The dairy platform was converted approximately 8 years ago and has a modern 40 ASHB shed with Waikato plant and circular yard that holds 500 cows. Excellent supporting infrastructure including in-shed meal feeing system, excellent calf sheds, lined effluent pond that irrigation water is added too and then pumped out via a boom irrigator (approximately 10 ha).

The proven production from 460-480 cows is approximately 181,000 kgMS average.

The farm has two very tidy family homes plus an additional one bedroom unit.

This is a very tidy farm with a proven track record, excellent rainfall and quality infrastructure. The dairy support unit is located close by and is used for wintering young stock and silage support for the dairy unit.

Gareth Cox

M 021 250 9714 E gareth@pb.co.nz

8 3

Tender closes 12.00pm, Wed 1st Mar, 2023 (unless sold prior),

Property Brokers Ashburton

View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR115024

Greg Jopson

M 027 447 4382 E gregj@pb.co.nz

Chris Murdoch

M 027 434 2545 E chris@pb.co.nz

Ashburton 170 Tinwald Westerfield Mayfield Road

Waimate 33 Crouch Road

Tender

8 ha - Premium lifestyle - prime location

It is clear the exacting planning has morphed into this elegant sundrenched 320 m2, five bedroom family home built in 2001. Designed for family life and hosting friends with ease through interwoven living and dining options configured to enjoy connected indoor and outdoor spaces. There is a warmth to this home that invites you to enjoy the large lounge opening to a patio shared by the family/dining area which in turn opens to a north facing breakfast patio overlooking the tennis court. The generous open kitchen stacked with storage and benching overlooking the formal dining space and allows the occupants to be involved in the daily hum.

Makikihi 413 Lower Hook Road

5 2 2 2

Tender closes 12.00pm, Thu 2nd Mar, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Ashburton View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AL113358

204.20 ha - Crouch Farm

Crouch Farm, is situated only 4 km from the township of Waimate offering a comfortable three bedroom home.

The property has historically been wintering 1,000 dairy cows, 300 R2 heifers, 300 R1 heifers, 120 calves beef up to 100 kg, plus 40 extra cattle. The farm has good access from mainly all-weather connecting to most paddocks. Good array of farm buildings, and two silage pits.

Tender

148.13

ha - Hook Farm

This 148.13 ha farm could be your start in the dairy industry or an add-on to your portfolio, currently milking 430 cows through a 30 ASHB shed, supplying Oceania Dairy Factory.

Fully irrigated from own wells via K-Line. There are two good four bay calf rearing sheds plus a two bay workshop and implement shed plus other sheds.

The home is a three bedroom 16 years old warm home with a large shed and a fully self contained sleepout. Located only 9 km from Waimate.

Paul Cunneen M 027 432 3382

Currently, full dairy support farm growing grass, Fodder Beet, and Kale. Own wells for irrigation and stock water including 190 ha irrigated via K-line.

Mabel Bush 84 Hanning Road

3 2

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 23rd Feb, 2023, Property Brokers, 83 Sophia Street, Timaru View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/TMR107176

Established dairy unit, milking 500 cows

This property is located on a good balance of soils in an established dairying location.

Originally converted by the current owners in 2000, the effluent storage pond and sludge beds were built in 2016 and the current consent for 590 cows expires 31st May 2032. The shape and layout is excellent with a 40 ASHB cowshed with new Hecton feed system installed this year. Good standard of accommodation and farm buildings including an exceptional storage workshop and hay barns. 2022/23 production target 212,000 kgMS.

For Sale $7,450,000 + GST (if any) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/IR112136

Dallas Lucas M 027 432 5774

Michael Richardson M 027 228 7027

Michelle Lucas M 027 564 0737

3 1 Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 23rd Feb, 2023, Property Brokers, 83 Sophia Street, Timaru View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/TMR107179

Michael Richardson M 027 228 7027

Tender

Boundary lines are indicative only

Kaihere 1339 Kaihere Road

Great scale, premium improvements

This prime 191 hectare (more or less) dairy unit in Kaihere is a beauty. The property is contained in four titles which provides the buyer with future proof options. An excellent, fully spec’d 54 bail rotary cowshed is well positioned with central race systems fanning out to all 111 paddocks. The shed is complete with automatic cup removers, a meal feeding and a teat spray system, and stock management is well catered for with a 600-cow capacity yard with dung buster backing gate, a weight station, feed pad with yards and rubber matting. Currently milking 580 cows, production supplied to Fonterra was 221,517kgMS last season. The main home is a 1990’s four bedroom, with two further houses on the farm. Just a 13.4km drive makes Ngatea your closest township with your everyday requirements. This is a top-quality, very well set-up unit in a sought-after location. bayleys.co.nz/2314179

Central

Canterbury 671-699 Sharlands Road, Bankside

Combine lifestyle with dairy success

This 213.4735 hectare (more or less) dairy farm presents an exciting opportunity to combine farming success with an idyllic family lifestyle. The established dairy operation produces an average of 330,000kgMS per year from 680 – 690 cows at peak milking, although the property is consented for 750 cows. The infrastructure is in place for continued success including four pivot irrigators and one RotoRainer and 54-bail rotary dairy shed equipped with ACRs, in-shed feeding, lame cattle crush and ProTrack for stock management. Water for irrigation comes from Central Plains Water Limited along with one groundwater well. The farm boasts four separate dwellings including the spacious four-bedroom manager’s home. Situated a stone’s throw from the Rakaia and Selwyn Rivers, offering a huge variety of outdoor adventures. bayleys.co.nz/5520146

bayleys.co.nz

191ha

Tender (unless sold prior)

Closing 4pm, Wed 22 Feb 2023

96 Ulster Street, Hamilton

View 11am-12pm Wed 1 Feb & Wed 8 Feb

Karl Davis 0508 83 83 83 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz

Lee Carter 027 696 5781 lee.carter@bayleys.co.nz

213.4734ha

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior)

12pm, Tue 28 Feb 2023

3 Deans Avenue, Chch

Phone for viewing times

Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz

Craig Blackburn 027 489 7225 craig.blackburn@bayleys.co.nz

Mangawhai 685 Ocean View Road, Te Arai

Farm, lifestyle & location!

Superbly positioned in the heart of Te Arai, close to Mangawhai, popular surf & swimming beaches, great fishing, world-renowned golf courses, Tomarata Lakes and just over an hour to Auckland is this 120 hectare grazing property. Its fertile flat to undulating contour has been well subdivided into 66 paddocks and linked by an extensive limestone race network. As a former dairy farm, it’s has a full set of farm infrastructure already in place; including a 30 ASHB milking shed, an undercover set of cattle yards, a calf shed, bore and recently renovated three-bedroom character bungalow. Enjoy this premium location, spectacular views across the Hen & Chicken Island, Little Barrier Island, Mangawhai Heads, Whangarei Heads, and beyond. bayleys.co.nz/1203356

NEW LISTING

120.8128ha

Tender (unless sold prior)

Closing 4pm, Tue 28 Feb 2023

41 Queen Street, Warkworth View by appointment

John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz

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

Wairoa 174 Clydebank Road

Well located bare land options

The options to build and farm are fantastic on these three bare land options located only 6km from Wairoa township. The parcels of easy to medium/steep hill country include pockets of native bush and poplar plantings with excellent finishing flats on Clydebank Road for an ideal small farm or lifestyle block, or build and live the good life while practising self sufficiency only a stones throw from Wairoa. Purchase one, two or three of the titles being 21.8ha, approximately 147ha (subject to survey) or 165ha (total 334.8ha). Ideal handy grazing land these would also be suitable for the forestry/carbon market being approximately 103km to Gisborne Port and 124km to the Port of Napier. Call now to view these attractive parcels of bare land. bayleys.co.nz/2853193

Hawke’s Bay 3986 Puketitiri Road, Patoka

Quality dairy farm and herd

Are you looking for summer safe farming on fantastic free draining fertile ash soils? Then look no further. Ben Alpin, a 351ha dairy farm, located in the premium Hawke's Bay farming district of Patoka. Boasting approximately 200ha of mainly flat and easy milking platform with 90ha of support land and a further 51ha of QEII bush for recreation, this well set up dairy unit must tick all the boxes, and with a quality herd, the combination provides an amazing opportunity. Improvements include two dwellings, staff quarters, a 2009 built 60 bail rotary shed with cup removers and in shed feeding, excellent housed calf rearing facilities for 350 calves and numerous implement sheds. An ideal self contained unit providing an excellent return on investment. bayleys.co.nz/2853182

351.8563ha

Tender

Closing 4pm, Wed 1 Mar 2023

17 Napier Road, Havelock North

View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Monty Monteith 027 807 0522 monty.monteith@bayleys.co.nz

EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED

334.8ha

Tender Closing 4pm, Tue 7 Mar 2023

17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment

Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz

Stephen Thomson 027 450 6531 stephen.thomson@bayleys.co.nz Monty Monteith 027 807 0522 monty.monteith@bayleys.co.nz

Hawke’s Bay 168 Darkys Spur Road, Tangoio

270ha grazing block with forestry/carbon, hunting

Located only 40km north of Napier city is this desirable 270ha farm providing several land use options and potential income streams with house sites providing panoramic views in a good rainfall zone. Currently a sheep and cattle grazing block with excellent natural water sources, there are good areas of hay country near the top and extensive tracking through the property. The Waikoau river provides trout fisherman with their own slice of private fishing paradise and deer hunters will enjoy the opportunity that the native bush and kanuka provides. A well located property with options as a forestry/carbon investment. bayleys.co.nz/2853181

270.6652ha

Tender Closing 4pm, Thu 2 Mar 2023

17 Napier Road, Havelock North

View by appointment

Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz

Monty Monteith 027 807 0522 monty.monteith@bayleys.co.nz

EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

THE GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME TAKAPAU

20HA OF FERTILE FLATS DANNEVIRKE

24 Hectares

Grass factory located only 5km from Takapau.

• 24 hectares (59 acres)

• Currently run as beef fattening and calf rearing unit

• Excellent fertiliser history

• Reliable water supply

• Very good infrastructure

• Predominantly flat to rolling hill

• 3 bedroom home set in gorgeous mature gardens

Call me today for more information. www.forfarms.co.nz - ID FF3513

NEW LISTING

Buyer Enquiry Over $1,125,000 + GST

Jerome Pitt

M: 027 242 2199

H: 06 374 4107

E: jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

68 Hectares

In one Title, this 68 hectare (170 acre) bareland block has a least 20 hectares of fertile flats with the balance of land being medium-steep hill country.

Part of Waipunga Station, this block is available with separate access off Route 52, Weber. The property has a set of satellite sheep yards and is fenced into 10 paddocks with water via streams and dams.

Priced to Sell at $895,000 + GST

Jerome Pitt

M: 027 242 2199

H: 06 374 4107

E: jeromep@forfarms.co.nz

Call me today to view. www.forfarms.co.nz - ID FF3531 LK0114582©

Manawatu 2115 Ridge Road, Pohangina

Quality breeding unit

Located 11 kilometers East of Kimbolton are 276 hectares of easy to medium hill country used primarily as a sheep & beef breeding platform. The well-presented property features quality improvements and strong fertiliser history dating back 50-plus years. The main four bedroom home situated back off the road has recently benefited from internal renovations and in addition, there is also a three-bedroom cottage. Farm improvements include 3 stand woolshed, new near steel TePari cattle yards, 2 & 3 bay implement sheds, hay shed and reticulated water scheme gravity fed from a storage tank. Ridge Road and an internal laneway provide excellent access over the farm with the property subdivided into 21 main paddocks. bayleys.co.nz/3100467

276.9578ha

Deadline

Advertise with us

WAIPUNGA STATION WEBER

CALF REARING & FINISHING BLOCK 42.0676 HA

692 Hectares

Welcome to Waipunga Station, a 692ha (1712 acre) sheep and beef farm situated in Weber, in the heart of the Tararua.

• Approx 494 hectares effective

• 48ha flat-easy country

• 4-stand shearing shed with associated infrastructure

• Good balance of contour

• Good balance of soil types

• 4-bedroom Lockwood home with renovated kitchen

• Only 37km from Dannevirke

www.forfarms.co.nz - ID FF3529

For Sale by Deadline Sale on 17th February 2023 (if not sold prior)

QUALITY GRAZING BLOCK 33.4842 HA

Why wouldn’t you? Situated 32km in either direction from Waipukurau and Dannevirke is 42 hectares (103 acres) of flat-easy contour, with approximately 4 hectares being mowable, located in the Southern Hawke’s Bay. With well set-up infrastructure for calf-rearing, excellent fencing for sheep and cattle finishing, and a reliable water supply, this turn-key operation is waiting for its new owner.

The property is complemented by a tidy three bedroom home with a large deck and swimming pool and the land even has its very own waterfall!

Call me today to book your appointment to view.

www.forfarms.co.nz - ID FF3542

VERSATILE GRAZING BLOCK 31.6666 HA

Dannevirke

33.4842 hectares (82.74 acres).

Easy contoured, productive grazing block presently dairy support.

Majority mowable for supplement.

Well fenced, reticulated water system, extensive road frontage for ease of management

Purchase options of adjoining 31 hectare block.

Viewing by appointment.

$700,000 + GST

Dannevirke

31.66662 hectares (78.24 acres).

Very well contoured grazing block, presently dairy support, deer, lamb. Multi purpose barn, woolshed, deer shed, calf rearing and loadout facilities and small deer shed. Deer fenced into 14 paddocks with lane.

Spring fed dam, water pumped to tank and reticulated to troughs.

Extensive drainage system in place.

Viewing by appointment. www.forfarms.co.nz - ID FF3538

$725,000 + GST

Southern Hawke’s Bay

TUTIRA, HAWKES BAY 536 Waikoau Road

Northbrook Farm

376.5 hectares of easy medium hill, 47km from the port of Napier. It has been farmed as a sheep and beef unit by the same family for three generations encompassing a 98 year tenure and been very well maintained. It is well tracked and easily accessible and workable. There is a lot of road frontage which greatly assist access also. Some of the front country has been cultivated and planted in plantain and rape. It shares approximately 1.5km of river frontage with the Waikoau River which provides fishing and aesthetic appeal.

One feature of this property is the on-farm quarry which may be of significant value to a forestry entity or as a standalone earner from a roading contractor.

Improvements include a large home, four stand woolshed plus the usual farm buildings. The farm land may be sold separately to the buildings. There is a survey underway to create a separate 5.3ha title to include a home and shedding.

pggwre.co.nz/WAR37230

NEW LISTING

4 1 3

TENDER

Plus GST (if any)

Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 9 March

PGGWRE Hastings

VIEW By Appointment Only

Carl Van Der Meer

M 027 493 5525

E carl.vandermeer@pggwrightson.co.nz

Mark Johnson

M 027 487 5105

E mark.johnson@pggwrightson.co.nz

ARIA, WAIKATO 333 Waitewhena Road

Rivendell - 537.6778 ha (more or less)

A fertile sheep and beef breeding finishing property with excellent infrastructure. Finishing lambs and bulls, this is a productive farm. Contour ranges from river flats to easy rolling to steep hills in the south. Water is reticulated via a new solar system to a majority of the farm. Very appealing four bedroom homestead with additional sleep-out. Renovated three bedroom managers house. Four stand woolshed and covered yards, covered cattle yards, three bay implement shed, and three bay stables. The fencing and livestock production is very good. The vendors have their eye on another property so this farm will be sold. This very well managed property is to be offered with three different options. Please bring your own bike to Open Days.

TENDER (Unless Sold By Private Treaty)

Closes 11.00am, Friday 10 March

PGGWRE, 57 Rora Street, Te Kuiti

VIEW 10.00-12.00pm

Wednesday 8, 15 & 22 February

pggwre.co.nz/TEK37319

Peter Wylie

M 027 473 5855

E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

WAITOMO, WAIKATO 537 Tapuwae Road

Tapuwae-Picture Perfect 302ha

Consistent pasture renewal & high fertility

• Five yearr average production 188,477kg MS

• Two newly built Golden Holmes in 2009 and the other being the original dwelling

• Located some 14km south of Benneydale and 49km southeast of Te Kuiti

Great opportunity to purchase a large-scale, easy contoured Land package. Converted to dairy in 08/09, held within two adjoining titles with a milking platform of 248ha + support land (18ha) balance being native bush/riparian. Modern 54-bail rotary cow shed centrally located with good infrastructure.

pggwre.co.nz/TEK37300

EXCLUSIVE

$7.4M Plus GST (if any)

VIEW By Appointment Only

Peter Wylie

M 027 473 5855

E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

Tony Foreman

M 027 654 7434

E tony.foreman@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

SOUTHBRIDGE, CANTERBURY

'Karetu' - The Land of Milk and Money

An amazing opportunity to purchase a superb 144.7ha unit with an enviable production track record. Consistently milking 510 cows with production around 255,000-260,000kg MS. Spray irrigated from storage pond with water sourced from groundwater and surface water take from the Rakaia River. Modern three-bedroom, two bathroom home with office built by Peter Ray Homes in 2009. Staff accommodation consists of two one-bedroom selfcontained 'gottages'. Handily situated near the service town of Rakaia (11.5km) and Leeston (13.9km) and approx 55km to Christchurch airport.

pggwre.co.nz/LCN37238

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any)

Closes 2.00pm, Thursday 23 February

VIEW By Appointment Only

OPAKI, MASTERTON

Wee Red Barn

We are proud to present the very well-known Wee Red Barn to the market for the first time. This iconic property specialises in berry fruit of many descriptions but is famous for its top-of-line Strawberry production (noted as one of the bestyielding berry fruit farms in NZ). The 13.3983ha is very productive with many tunnel houses and systems that ensure protection from the elements to enable consistently high yield all year around. There is capacity for further intensification if that is required. The shop is located on SH2 with permitted signage for the iconic Wee Red Barn shop.

pggwre.co.nz/MAS37298

FINAL NOTICE

3 2 4

TENDER

(Unless Sold By Private Treaty)

Closes 2.00pm, Wednesday 8 March

VIEW By Appointment Only

Andy Scott

M 027 448 4047

E andy.scott@pggwrightson.co.nz

Stephen Hautler

M 021 997 790

E stephen.hautler@pggwrightson.co.nz

John Davison

M 027 436 4464

E john.davison@pggwrightson.co.nz

For more great rural listings, visit www.pggwre.co.nz

ASHBURTON, CANTERBURY Dawsons Rd

Low Cost Dairy Unit Less Than 15km From Town

• 151ha dairy unit 14km from Ashburton milking 520-560 cows

40 bail rotary shed with in-shed feeding and new ACR's this season

• Sitting on Longbeach and Waterton soils, the farm is irrigated from a bore with long term consent for 90L/sec via rotorainers

• Accommodation: 4-bedroom home, 3-bedroom home & a single persons unit (unconsented)

4-bay calf shed, 3-bay calf shed and a 2-bay high stud shed (one bay is a concrete bunker) plus workshop

pggwre.co.nz/ASH37039

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior)

Closes 3.00pm, Thursday 9 February

Tim Gallagher

M 027 801 2888

E tim.gallagher@pggwrightson.co.nz

TENDER

Dress Circle Gem

• 964 State Highway 26, R D 6, Hamilton

• 42.9 hectares

• flat contour

• sandy loam and silt loam soils

• well raced and subdivided

• water from shallow well and district supply

TENDER

• 135 - 140 cows producing 3 year average of 52,678 kgs milk solids

• 10 aside herringbone farm dairy

• large enclosed lockable implement shed with workshop

• very good fertiliser bin with roll-back roof

• quality, low-maintenance brick homestead, 3 bedrooms; ensuite; open plan living; double garage attached; in -ground pool

A well located dairy support property offering a variety of land -use options, situated in the Central Waikato district of Tauwhare, approx. 16 kms from Morrinsville, 12 kms from Hamilton and 10 kms north of Cambridge.

• 958 Victoria Road, R D 7, Hamilton

• 32.38 hectares

• flat to easy rolling contour

• clay loam and silt loam soils

• central race accesses multiple paddocks

• on-farm water supply

• versatile farming with variations of dairy heifers, beef cattle & bulls

• basic stock handling facilities

• 3 bedroom dwelling with garaging situated on elevated north -facing site giving views over the property

An excellent small dairy unit, nicely presented and well farmed, situated in a high profile main road location in the Eureka district, approx. 18 kms north of Cambridge, 15 kms from Morrinsville and 10 kms from Hamilton.

Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113 (in conjunction with Property Brokers Ltd)

Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113 (in conjunction with Property Brokers Ltd)

Well Located Heifer/Beef Finishing Unit

• 847 Bayley Road, R D 3, Te Awamutu

• 31.3 hectares

• versatile land use options

• easy rolling contour; predominantly mairoa ash soils

• well subdivided with good access races

• disused 12 a/s h.b. farm dairy with in -shed feed system

• large combination hayshed/implement shed

• spacious 4 brm homestead with ensuite off the master bedroom; open plan living areas opening onto outdoor decking area; nicely situated on an elevated site with sunny, picturesque views across the property; good garaging

• a competitive range of options for schooling

TradeMe search # R1418

• 912 Ngahape Road, R D 3, Te Awamutu

• 34.2 hectares

• lovely flat to gentle rolling contour

• free draining volcanic ash soil

• currently farming dairy heifers - ideal also for beef finishing or growing maize

• very well subdivided with well -located races

• very good near new galvanised steel cattleyards with roof covering over cattle crush / headbail / drenching race; very good loading race

• new 4 -bay implement shed; one bay lockable workshop; 4 -bay ½ round hayshed

• no dwelling but great options for a building site Ph Brian Peacocke

TradeMe search # R1417

An attractive and well -presented finishing / dairy support unit, enhanced by a scattering of mature specimen trees , situated in the Wharepuhunga district, approx. 27 kms south -east of Te Awamutu.

A top quality, versatile, dairy support property situated in the Ngahape district, 22 kms southeast of Te Awamutu, and 19 kms north-east of Otorohanga.

Lower North Island Partnership Manager

The lower North Island is brimming with opportunities for an experienced media professional to work alongside key agri stakeholders to provide recommendations for reaching rural audiences.

Representing Farmers Weekly, Dairy Farmer, On Farm Story and AgriHQ you will strengthen existing relationships, form new ones, and become a trusted advisor in a crowded landscape.

Wellington will be a key focus, as will Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki.

You’ll be a proven self-starter with great relationship building skills who loves the agricultural industry and, more importantly, loves to build long lasting and meaningful relationships.

We invite you to register your interest and request a job description and application form by emailing: hr@agrihq.co.nz

Applications close: Monday February 13, 2023.

Informing rural New Zealand

Farm Manager – Muriwai Downs

The stunning landscape of Muriwai Downs is 500 ha of easy rolling coastal country currently running sheep and beef cattle as well as cash cropping for sales. The property is located 42km northwest of Auckland city and within close proximity of Auckland’s West Coast. This farm has both high-quality pasture and includes covenanted bush and wetlands, two magnificent waterfalls and a private lake. The Owners of Muriwai Downs are committed to a very clear, continuous improvement vision for the future including driving excellent environmental outcomes.

THE OPPORTUNITY…

Due to the ongoing development of the property, there is an evolving, flexible stock policy, hence our clients are seeking a hands-on Farm Manager with a modern thought process who is keen to drive animal production to optimise profitability on this farming operation. The Farm Manager will be responsible for the planning and day-to-day running of the farm in a way that will improve the aesthetics and physical performance of the property, resulting in financial growth. The appointee will have a sound understanding of stock health and will work to a plan with the capital stock whilst also seeking out new business opportunities and watching the market for trade opportunities.

A BIT ABOUT YOU…

The Owners of Muriwai Downs are committed to a very clear, continuous improvement vision for the future including driving excellent environmental outcomes. It is essential that the successful applicant can work with the wider team and has strong communication skills to articulate plans to multiple stakeholders. If you enjoy being hands on, setting goals and achieving results along with the below skills – apply today!

• Excellent stock and pasture management skills.

• Skills in logistics and forward planning.

• Able to display strong work ethic and organisational skills.

• Computer & reporting skills (Farmax is used, some experience in this area would be beneficial).

• Understanding of farming markets in relation to the buying and selling of stock.

ON OFFER…

Included in the excellent remuneration package is a recently renovated four-bedroom homestead, with various schooling options available and plenty of leisure opportunities nearby.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO APPLY please visit http://bit.ly/3R0fmUh or give the Rural Directions team a call on 06 871 0450 for a confidential chat (Ref# 1018842). Only job seekers who have NZ working rights will be eligible for this role.

Applications close Sunday 19th February 2023

ANIMAL HANDLING

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 www.electrodip.com

ATTENTION DAIRY FARMERS

COWSHED PAINTER

AVAILABLE. Experienced. Old and new sheds. Herringbone and Rotary. Southland / Otago. Phone 027 517 9908 or email: raymond.d@slingshot.co.nz

ATTENTION FARMERS

ARE YOU OR a loved one battling the effect of alcohol or drugs? The Retreat NZ is a discreet residential facility offering a 30 programme to recovery. Set in 7 hectares of native bush it offers a private and healing place to be. Phone 0800 276 237 or email: reception@theretreatnz.org. nz Website: https://www. theretreatnz.org.nz

30c/20c PER KG dags fadges/bales. Replacement woolpacks. PV Weber Wools. Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

FARM FINANCE WANTED

LOOKING FOR FARMERS who want to help farmers, who can lend to an experienced farmer. 7½% return, secured by first mortgage for 8 years on a re-grassed productive farm all legally secured. Text or phone The Farmer 027 396 9134.

FARM LEASE WANTED

FARM LEASE OR grazing block. 800 to 8000 stock units for sheep and beef cattle or finishing prime stock. Phone Robbie Hughes 027 23 24 104.

FOR SALE

VINTAGE GIG plus two sets of harness. Phone 09 409 3883. Far North area.

FORESTRY

WANTED

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide. We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase. NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 027 688 2954 Richard.

GOATS WANTED

FERAL GOATS WANTED. Pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule. Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916 / 027 363 2932.

LEASE FARM WANTED

DAIRY OR GRAZING.

Rangitīkei / Manawatū through to HB. Regenerative farming practiced. Open to developing land in partnership. Phone Michael 027 223 6156.

LEASE LAND AVAILABLE

41 HECTARES, Paeroa, from June 1st - ex dairy farm. Phone Lyn 027 276 2156.

PERSONAL COUNTRY ROMANCE. A country lady who is seeking a like minded gentleman. Standing at 5’5 with a slim build, blonde hair and hazel eyes. She enjoys fishing, tramping, cooking, travelling, gardening and spending time with that someone special. To meet, please call and quote code 58 – 0800 446 332.

PUMPS

LEASE LAND WANTED

THINKING ABOUT RETIRING but don’t want to sell the family farm? Looking to expand our drystock property. Northland drystock / finishing farms of 100ha or more preferred. If bigger than 500ha then further away would be considered.

Five year lease with option to extend to 10 years preferred. Enquiries ring Marty Vermeulen 09 439 0004.

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

RAMS FOR SALE

2T FULL SHEDDING Wiltshire Rams for sale. All rams brucellosis tested negative. For more information please ring Kevin New 07 878 4758.

HAIR SHIRE® Low input meat rams! www.organicstud. nz 027 225 5283. tim@ organicstud.nz

RURAL MASSAGE

RELAXING FULL BODY massage in rural Ohaupo. Unwind. De-stress. www. ruralmassage.co.nz or call 027 529 5540.

STOCK FEED

MOISTURE METERS Hay, Silage dry matter, grain. www.moisturemeters.co.nz 0800 213 343.

WANTED TO BUY

CONTRACTORS

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

DOGS FOR SALE

BUYING / SELLING. Huntaways. Heading dogs. Deliver NZ wide. www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.co.nz

HEADING DOG, 20 months old. Strong eyed, genuine dog. BOP. Phone 027 471 1042.

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.

WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Don’t leave it to rust away! We pay cash for tractors, excavators, small crawler tractors and surplus farm machinery. Ford –Ferguson – Hitachi – Komatsu – John Deere and more. Tell us what you have no matter where it is in NZ. You never know.. what’s resting in your barn could be fattening up your wallet! Email admin@ loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin on 0274 426 936 (No texts please)

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

GENUINE AUTUMN CALVING JERSEY & CROSSBRED A2/A2 HERD AUCTION

A/c G & R Barlow

Wednesday 15th February 2023

Start time 11:30am

Cambridge Saleyard, Hickey Road

Cambridge will be available for online bidding

COMPRISING:

217 Genuine Mixed Aged Jersey & Crossbred Autumn Calving Cows

DETAILS:

BW: 180 PW:181 NZMI: 203

Milk Solids: 450 per/cow

Breed Breakdown: 90% Jersey

10% Crossbred

DTC 18th March, Calving (6 Weeks of AB) –

Tailed Jersey Bull removed 02/09/22

BVD Milk Tested & Lepto Vaccinated

TB Status: C10

10 years of A2/A2 Breeding – Individually A2 tested.

AUCTIONEERS NOTE:

A well-bred autumn herd with a long CRV history. These cows have been in the family for 2 generations (54 years). They are milked by robots, will come forward in great condition and are all dried off with dry cow. Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase outstanding autumn calving cows.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

Collars to be removed from cows after sale and prior to trucking.

PAYMENT TERMS:

Payment to be made 14 days after sale.

CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENT: Matt Hancock 027 601 3787 matthew.hancock@carrfields.co.nz

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

PLANT & STOCK CLEARING SALE

A/C M/S LJ & GE WILSON

Thursday, 9th Feb 2023 – Start time 1:00pm

1036 Lillburn-Monowai Road, Lillburn Valley Tuatapere Food van onsite – EftPos available

Due to the sale of their property, Carrfields will offer on behalf of their clients, their complete range of livestock and items of plant.

LIVESTOCK:

• 630 Romney & Ultimate X 2th Ewes (1/12 Shorn)

• 600 Romney & Ultimate X 4th Ewes (28/12 Shorn)

• 630 Romney 6th Ewes (28/12 shorn)

• 200 Romney & Ultimate X F & FM Ewes (28/12 Shorn)

• 30 M/A Rams

• 200 Works Ewes Shorn

• 2500 Romney & Tex X M/S Lambs undrafted, males are wethers, crutched, dipped & 5 in 1 vaccine at tailing

DETAILS: Ewes have been scanning 180%, Lambing 155%. Toxo & Campy programme. Motonui South Romney Rams and Avalon Ultimate Genetics, (X Barnhill).

AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Ewes are coming through in good order. Recommended.

PAYMENT TERMS: Payment due 23rd February 2023

PLANT:

Racewell 3-way portable drafter. Hydraulic sheep conveyor. Tru Test Scales & 2x load bars. 3x Gold Lister shearing machines. Sunbeam shearing machine. Sunbeam grinder. Suzuki 750 motorbike. Suzuki 80cc 4-wheeler. Grimme potato planter 2 row. Grimme potato digger. Grain dresser. 3 PL bin with hydraulic auger 2T. 5 furrow Overrum plough vari width. drain plough. 12’ one-way discs. Willet 2 F semi swamp plough. Digger quick hitch 18T. Weed wiper. Tailing chute. Grousers for digger 600 wide. Concrete culvert pipes. Spray boom 8m. Portable diesel tank. 1000L pods. Gravel screen & conveyor with 3-cylinder Isuzu motor pump. Deer ramp. Steel pellets. Scissor lift & trailer. Loader mounted. Spray boom. Deer box. Cattle crush. Tandem trailer. 20’ container. Hilux canopy. LX Landcruiser front bumper. Hilux stock crate. Concrete slabs. 2nd hand deer netting. 2nd hand waratahs. Slabs mac timber. Bridge planks & sides. Steel beams. Cattle yard posts. Ins panels. Truck tyres & rims 10 stud. Suzuki 750 motorbike tyres. M/B lamb warmers. Jute sacks. Selfpropelled lawn mower x2. Chest freezers x2. Heat pump. Coffee tables. LG washing machine (good order). Qty Baleage (good quality). Various sundries. Heavy roller 6T empty 16T Full. New deer netting. Deer gates. Oak log. Silo base. Donald no tramp wool press. Tru test wand (new). Metal detector. Leaf blower. Stihl weed trimmer. 20x telephone poles. Dog kennel. Grain bin trailer. Deer box pinto 3.7.

FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES CONTACT:

Carrfields Livestock Agent Kelvin Lott 027 226 6153 or

VENDOR: Lindsay Wilson 027 433 0029

For full details please refer to

RUAVIEW SIMMENTAL

Complete female dispersal sale

Wednesday 1st March 2023

Online

9

9

9

A man was driving down the road when a policeman stopped him. The officer looked in the back of the man’s truck and said, “Why are these penguins in your truck?”

The man replied, “These are my penguins. They belong to me.”

“You need to take them to the zoo,” the policeman said.

The next day, at around the same time, the officer saw the same guy driving down the road. He pulled him over again. He saw the penguins were still in the truck, but they were wearing sunglasses this time. “I thought I told you to take these penguins to the zoo!”, the officer said.

“I did,” the man replied. “And today I’m taking them to the beach.

Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more!

If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@agrihq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you. Conditions apply

STOCK REQUIRED

Dairy Cows Wanted to lease

80-100 Autumn Calving cows required. North Island preferred. Will consider lease with guaranteed purchase at end of lease term.

Ph 027 526 5994

Puketi Angus Stud

Seeking long term land lease or land with equity partnership

Current land lease ends in June 2023

• Do you have quality farmland that you’re not sure what to do with?

CAPITAL STOCK DISPERSAL SALE

A/C

> Wednesday 15th February

At Lees Valley Station

5800 Romdale Mixed Age Ewes

Auctioneers Note: This is a unique opportunity to purchase large lines of Capital Stock Hill-Bred Ewes

Further

Clevedon Cattle Corporation Limited

We are offering joint venture grazing to interested parties.

– We buy them

– You graze them

– 50/50 on all profits

Large to small scale. South Auckland & Waikato regions.

Call Hugh Green Jnr on 021 888 412 or email admin@clevedoncattle.co.nz for all enquiries.

WELL CLOTHED GATTON

PARK SPECIAL

Entry – Temuka Adult Ewe Fair 1 February 2023

Registered high peforming, quality attractive Romney MA Ewes. Including 18 one-shear. Average 176% easy lambing.

PGG Wrightson

DA & SJ Wyllie Phone 03 308 0284

Email: d.s.l.wyllie@gmail.com

• Perhaps you would like to retire, don’t want to sell, but don’t have family willing or able to take over management of the land?

• Or perhaps you’re looking for a sound investment opportunity?

Look no further!

We come with an established 250 cow pedigree Angus herd, a full suite of modern machinery and no debt. We are seeking either long term land lease (>200ha) or land with equity partnership through which we can grow and develop our stud breeding operations.

No debt means we have the financial means to maintain and even improve upon your property investment, as opposed to it just surviving on minimal input.

Prepared to look anywhere in North Island for the right farm or opportunity and to buy some or all of the capital stock on farm.

CAPITAL STOCK

SHEEP DISPERSAL SALE

A/C HIGHWAY FARM LTD

IAN & ANNA HUNTER

1352 MAHENO-HERBERT ROAD

SH1, OAMARU

Thursday 9th February, 2023

Commencing 1.30pm

Due to the lease of the property, we will offer the following:

400 2 Tooth Romney Ewes

360 2 Shear Romney Ewes

320 3 Shear Romney Ewes

360 4 Shear Romney Ewes

160 5 Year Romney Ewes

500 Romney Ewe Lambs

500 Prime Lambs

630 Romney Wether Store Lambs

590 Poll Dorset & South Suffolk X Mixed Sex Store Lambs

Approx 750 Romney Wether Lambs

Approx 1250 Poll Dorset X Mixed Sex Store Lambs

Ewes are bred by Mulholland Rams, Ranfurly, consistently lambing 160%+ tailed.

Late May shorn and on a full vaccination programme, Toxo, Compo, Salvax and 5n1.

Farm Assured, AB Free and registered for Alliance Handpicked Lamb.

For full details go to:

www.agonline.co.nz/upcoming sales

Further enquiries:

Kelvin Wilson (PGW) 027 478 6190

Ian Hunter (Vendor) 027 2478 102

PGG Wrightson Oamaru

Full CV and references available.

#1 Angus Stud in the country for Calving Ease, Birth Weight and Short Gestation Bulls

For a conversation in full confidence, please contact Craig Davie-Martin on 0274 733 765 or email mvpagriculture@gmail.com

Ewe fair action alive and well, for now

Throughput levels for breeding ewes are down on a decade ago – but prices have almost doubled in the same period

Suz Bremner

EWE fairs are always a big feature in the early part of the new year and many onlookers have followed these with interest. It’s been a shaky 12 months for lambs and that generally will dictate what breeding ewe prices will look like, along with returns for cull ewes, which have also found themselves on unsteady ground at times.

Supply of breeding ewes has been inflated over the past few years since a significant number of properties started to sell for forestry, and there have been changes in farming policies as farmers try to find the best fit economically and environmentally for their properties and lifestyle.

But even with that abnormal increase in volume, throughput levels continue to fall away year on year. Stortford Lodge held three ewe fairs over the season and totalled 19,400 – a tally that 10 years ago covered just the early January fair. At Feilding recently, just over 10,000 were offered compared to an average of 15,000 10 years ago. Volume has been steadily declining over the years and once the farm sales trickle off, so too will the ewe numbers.

There does still appear to be plenty of appetite for breeding ewes in the lower volumes that are now the norm. A reasonable portion of the ewes being offered are capital stock, due to the motivations behind selling, and therefore the quality of the top

end at the North Island yards has been high. Again, that has given the market an inflated look and there has been a clear divide between these better-end ewes and the balance of culled-for-age, trading and carry-over types.

Romney is still the dominating breed in terms of supply at the North Island ewe fairs – a tradition that has stood the test of time through New Zealand’s farming history. Prices at the January 2023 sales lifted $10-$40 on the limited amount of trading that occurred at Stortford Lodge prior to Christmas but, compared to last year, average values reduced by a similar margin. Then again, 2022 was the strongest year in AgriHQ records, which date back to 2009, with 2-tooth to 4-tooth ewes averaging $242 and 4-year to 6-year, $184. This year’s averages calculated out to $189 and $160 respectively, while 10 years ago $104 and $80 was recorded, meaning ewe prices have almost doubled in 10 years. While there have been fewer breeding ewe sales in the South Island, those that have been held have been significant and followed with interest. The Temuka 2-tooth fair is a prestigious event that never fails to reach high-end prices, relative to market. Prices were on average $50 back on last year but Border LeicesterRomney achieved $276-$286 and most of the balance $220-$252, though they were surpassed by a small line of Romney at $290. But a more regular occurrence of medium-type carry-over hoggets, as well as trading ewes,

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meant a big divide between the top offerings and the balance: $170-$215 was common for the top Romney, Romdale and Coopworth and the balance traded at $100-$160.

A sign of the times in North Canterbury was the popularity of shedding sheep sales. These sold at two locations. Mount Cass Station, Waipara, presented 1550 Wiltshire ewe and ewe lambs, followed by 1250 from various vendors at the Hawarden

saleyards. The Mount Cass sale is in its third year and Hawarden its second, and given the popularity, they will continue to be annual events.

Hazlett agent Alby Orchard said Mount Cass Station has invested heavily in good genetics from NZ, Australia and the United Kingdom, and they are now getting some very pleasing results of full shedding sheep. A decent attendance of return and new buyers ensured good competition throughout the sale, and bidr also played a role.

Annual draft ewes sold from $95 to $230 while 2-tooths made $185-$300. A large portion of the sale were ewe lambs at $100$230. Two-tooth rams returned $1700-$2000.

Hawarden saleyards hosted

vendors from Nelson, North Canterbury and central Canterbury. Competition was strong with bigger orders satisfied on the very good types while the inclusion of smaller lines catered for small block holders. Overall, mixed-age ewes returned $110$230, 2-tooth ewes $220-$350 and ewe lambs, $125-$200. Features at this sale included Wiltshire ewes from Andrew and Sara Heard, Waitohi Peaks, Hawarden. Their top 2-tooth ewes made $350 and ewe lambs $200. Belborough Holdings, Hawarden, offered up Australian White Dorper ewe lambs at $260 and annual draft ewes at $200. Arko Farms, Nelson, sold ewes and lambs due to a change in farm policy and the ewes sold up to $140 and ewe lambs up to $150.

LIVESTOCK

$35* per month

STANDING OUT: These exceptional Wiltshire 2-tooth ewes, sold by Andrew and Sara Heard of Waitohi Peaks, Hawarden, reached $350 at the recent Hawarden shedding sheep sale.

There does still appear to be plenty of appetite for breeding ewes in the lower volumes that are now the norm.

Weekly saleyards

The new addition of a January weaned calf sale at Canterbury Park was included to better meet the needs of sellers and buyers. It was intended to give sellers the chance to grow later-born dairy-beef calves out to more appealing weights for buyers and therefore provide better returns. The sale was deemed a success by selling company Rural Livestock Limited and looks likely to become a regular feature on the January calendar.

Stortford Lodge | January 25 | 210 cattle, 1827 sheep

Feilding | January 24 | 27 cattle, 2850 sheep $/kg or

sheep

The ryegrass every ruminant has been waiting for.

Array perennial ryegrass

MEETING THE NEED: Canterbury Park hosted a January dairy-beef calf sale to accommodate vendors with later-born calves.

Cattle Sheep

Slaughter prices are weighted average gross operating prices, including spot premiums, but excluding breed premiums for cattle.

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It’s summer, Jim, but not as we know it

Philip Duncan NEWS Weather

THE eastern side of the North Island has had a complete reversal of previous summers, which were hot, dusty and peppered with drought.

This summer has been cloudier and much wetter than usual thanks mostly to La Niña easterlies driving in rain – with ex-cyclone Hale hammering those north of Gisborne with flooding rain.

Over the coming week or so we see some longer dry spells with the bulk of the rain likely falling in the very upper North Island (and maybe East Cape), not so much down the eastern side.

However, there is no immediate end in sight to the frequent east to northeast winds, so the daytime highs will continue to be lower than usual – but your overnight lows will remain mild, often in the

mid to late teens. There may also be a few inland afternoon downpours.

Hopefully there will be a bit more of a positive balancing act for your weather over the coming two weeks with more sunny days than there have been lately (that is, not looking wetter than normal).

Soil moisture levels remain normal to wetter than normal in the North Island, while the South Island continues to lean drier than average.

This is a classic La Niña set-up, and although La Niña is fading, it’s doing so very slowly – continuing the series of low pressure systems in the sub-tropics and Tasman Sea areas.

The lower South Island remains exposed to the odd Southern Ocean southerly – but the week coming up starts off hot (like the weekend was for many).

As we leave January and go into February, there is no major change in this current

weather pattern.

Although La Niña continues, it has weakened from its peak in spring 2022. As we head through autumn we should be in a neutral phase.

Over the next two weeks we’ll still be seeing this La

Upcoming highlights

Niña weather pattern – but the more neutral side of the forecast basically means a return to the more usual westerly flow of weather, which can bring variety to the country. One thing is certain, we’re confident of most places remaining warmer than average going into February. For those in the South Island worried about how dry it’s becoming, neutral weather patterns do give us variety – but that can also make some eastern regions drier due to more westerlies blowing again.

This week kicks off with the same pattern we had at the end of last week

• Low pressure stuck near Northland and powerful high pressure parked just east of the Chatham Islands

• Windy nor’easters at times in the upper North Island due to the squash zone between the low and the high

• Rain most likely in the top half of the North Island and in the West Coast, driest in the east

• Inland thunderstorms

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One thing is certain, we’re confident of most places remaining warmer than average going into February.