41 minute read
Farmers urged to get writing
from Farmers Weekly May 31 2021
by AgriHQ
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 31, 2021 5 Letter campaign gains momentum
Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz
A LETTER writing campaign aimed at highlighting the effects staffing shortages are having on the primary industry has revealed the heart wrenching decisions being made by farmers to keep their businesses running.
The campaign launched by Federated Farmers in May came as frustrations at the Government’s refusal to allow more overseas workers into New Zealand to ease staffing shortages for the new milking season boiled over.
The organisation urged farmers to email their concerns directly to the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor or Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi.
Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Chris Lewis says there had been a good response so far. Many of the messages from emails and on social media highlighted what farmers were doing to keep their farms working without the staff they needed.
“It just reinforces why we’re doing this,” Lewis said.
“For example, we have had one couple who have to take their three young kids to the cowshed every day because both husband and wife have to milk because they can’t get staff.”
In another case, a contract milker is stuck in India instead of Southland where he is supposed to be starting a contract milking job.
“He’s an Indian-Kiwi who went to the wrong place at the wrong time, and his absence puts strain on a wide bunch of people,” he said.
It highlighted the impact the shortage was having on families.
While there had been responses from all over NZ, the bulk of the emails and messages had come from Southland.
He says anywhere more than 30 kilometres away from a major city or town was affected.
The shortages could see some farmers reduce their milking from twice-a-day to once-a-day or every 16 hours, which will reduce their production and income.
“Farmers could also be taking shortcuts. It could mean two things: the existing workforce will have to work even longer hours with no time off, which is not ideal for health and safety, or they’ll cut corners,” he said.
Lewis says this could potentially hurt New Zealand’s farming brand.
“I’m not just concerned about the wellbeing of staff, I’m also concerned about the wellbeing of employers and everyone who works on a farm,” he said.
He urged farmers to keep the emails coming and called on other industries also affected by shortages to join them.
“We aren’t only in the team. Truckies, café owners, rest homes and everyone else who is struggling with not getting the support they need to join us.
“Let’s put our boots on and kick the ball down to Wellington for a better response to the worker shortage than we’ve had already,” he said.
RESPONSE: Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Chris Lewis says there had been a good response to the campaign so far, with most coming from the South Island.
Chris Lewis Feds
Farmers urged to get writing
Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz
FARMERS are reverting to good old fashioned letter writing so they can keep running their farms.
In a last ditch effort to be heard by immigration decision-makers Federated Farmers has put the call out to farmers to get writing.
South Canterbury dairy farmer Rebecca Miller took up the challenge.
Miller and her husband Brent are equity dairy farming in a mix of contract and sharemilking businesses, taking in a total 2600 cows.
They employ 10 fulltime staff and at calving take on an additional six calf rearers.
They have had their ups and downs over the years but not being able to fill their full complement of staff at a critical time is seriously worrying, Miller said.
“For our staff, we want them to be happy, healthy and safe, that is number one for us.
“We are desperately advertising for three more staff, but the people are just not there.”
The Millers work in the strategic sector of their business across both farms.
“For us not to have calf rearers we will have to go back into operational ourselves, and we will have to do the strategic at nights, that will impact on our family, we have three children, and for me I will be doing the job of two to three people.
“It hits us at all levels, it impacts on our staff and their families too.
“At the end of the day we will not have enough people, we will all be stressed out of our nuts (heads). What are the coping mechanisms? We will be at the bottom of the cliff.
“We have been in the good employer awards, we have a beautiful house available, we pay above average wages.”
Up to 4000 workers are required for the coming season, 1800 in Southland alone.
“Dairy farmers are doing their bit – come on Immigration you are the stumbling block.”
Rebecca Miller Dairy farmer
SHORT-STAFFED: Calving is just around the corner and Rebecca Miller is worried. Photo Annette Scott
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 31, 2021 7 Upside of EU-UK carbon surge
Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz
SOARING carbon prices in the European Union point to continuing upside in the New Zealand market, which continues to sit significantly below its Continental counterparts.
The EU carbon market has gone on a record-breaking run in past weeks, pushing above €50 a tonne ($84) for the first time, almost doubling where it was before the covid pandemic began.
Only in December the price had been sitting at €30. The surge comes as estimates are that carbon prices will need to reach $200/t (€117) to have the desired effect of achieving tough European targets of 55% carbon reductions by 2030.
In the meantime, NZ’s carbon market has enjoyed a run of its own, coming off a peak of $39.20 last month to its latest spot price of $36.55.
The surge in EU prices has been partially attributed to speculative investment, but has also been welcomed by environmental groups as hastening the development of genuinely cleaner technology as a result.
Jarden director of institutional commodities Nigel Brunel says the United Kingdom, now decoupled from the EU, is also experiencing a surge in carbon values.
The UK had its first post-Brexit carbon market auction on May 19, exceeding £50/t ($98), making the cost of polluting there even greater than in the EU.
“Some of this is speculative, but there is also a view that carbon prices need to be higher to achieve the emissions reductions being sought,” Brunel said.
If $200 a unit is a benchmark for tipping into new technologies, the upside from the present $84 value is significant.
But Brunel pointed out that not all carbon markets around the world are as high as the UK and EU.
Californian carbon units are priced at US$17/t, and Australia’s units at AU$23.
“If you look at NZ and Australia, they do look too cheap,” he said.
NZ’s price has been partly held back by last year’s emissions being at $35 a unit and emitters holding onto units.
He says while there may be an element of speculative purchasing by non-emitters on the NZ market, it was likely to be well under 50% of trade.
“We have the NZX exchange traded fund the CO2 Carbon Fund as an example,” he said.
The CO2 fund is trading at $1.33 a unit, up from 90c a unit prelockdown.
NZ had its first governmentsponsored carbon trading auction in March, with the next one scheduled for June 23. The last one cleared $2 a unit below the market price, but Brunel was uncertain how the next would shape up.
Beyond Carbon director Lizzie Chambers says call options to buy units by year’s end at €100 suggested investors could see significantly more upside in that market.
“There are some big targets being set and big reforms occurring in that market to drive it,” Chambers said.
She says changes next year to NZ’s unit auction prices where the floor price and trigger prices were lifted from $20 to $30/unit and $50 to $70/unit respectively, would only raise the corridor that NZ unit prices would move into over time.
The EU is also considering a carbon border tax to ensure imported goods from countries without an equivalent carbon price would not put EU manufacturers at a disadvantage.
Brunel says under Article 6 of the Paris Accord there were plans to link individual carbon markets globally, which would result in prices converging, but this was still several years away at best.
Forest Owners Association president Phil Taylor says an overhang of NZ units in the national register will mitigate some of the likely price increases.
“But if you look at most established cap and trade schemes, such as the EU, you would expect NZ to move in the same direction. The difference will only be when, and how quickly,” he said.
He says the prospects for farmers wanting to participate in the carbon market are highly positive, with integrated farmforestry looking like an appealing option.
“If you look back at the integrated farm-forestry work done back in the late-80s on South Otago drystock farms, those farms are now among the most profitable sheep and beef units in the country, and that was done before carbon was an income factor,” he said.
CHASING TARGETS: Beyond Carbon director Lizzie Chambers says the European carbon market is being driven in part by major reforms and targets set on reductions.
Phil Taylor Forest Owners Association
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News Workshop on rural mental health
SURVIVAL SKILLS: Pup Chamberlain, Matt Chisholm and Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins digest the powerful messages delivered in the Agri Connect workshop aimed at helping rural folks survive.
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Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz
ASKING a mate how they are feeling is saving a life, specialist suicide prevention counsellor Pub Chamberlain says.
Speaking at the Agri Connect Rural Professionals’ Wellbeing workshop in Ashburton, Chamberlain told the audience suicide is nothing new.
“But finally, we have given ourselves permission to talk about it,” Chamberlain said.
More than 150 rural professionals and others servicing the rural community turned out to the Agri Connect workshop.
Organised in conjunction with Whatever with Wiggy and Farming Families, and supported by the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust, the workshop aimed at equipping rural professionals and those working within rural communities with the tools they need to help farmers struggling with stress.
Rural advocate Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins was inspired to organise the seminar after being approached by rural professionals and farm service providers saying their staff are regularly finding farmers who want to discuss their mental state of mind.
“The people I have spoken to have realised that they are dealing with a turning point in a client’s life, a cry for help to relieve the pressure,” Wiggins said.
“As a rural representative you may be the first to recognise when a client or colleague needs support.”
Chamberlain says this is when you need to have the conversation.
“Don’t be scared, you can’t do any damage by caring about someone,” Chamberlain said.
“But hey, don’t ask the question if you don’t have time to listen.
“And it’s not the question ‘you are not thinking about committing suicide?’
“You don’t commit suicide, you die by suicide. Try asking how they are feeling about issues on the farm, financials, marriage – you have opened the door, then go by your gut feeling and don’t be afraid to call 1737 for help.”
Chamberlain revealed figures that showed 700 people died from suicide last year, twice the number of those who died on roads.
In 1973, 800 people died on New Zealand roads.
“What does that tell you? There is not a lot of cavalry coming over the hills to help us; it’s our job, rural communities, we have to do it,” he said.
Rural GP Anibal Martinez says there is not an identified specific problem for rural suicide.
“There are many, many factors, but it is definitely genetic,” Martinez said.
“Farmers breed more farmers, and farmers are very differently genetically wired to the rest of the world in how they think and how they work.
“Instead of finding a solution, they work harder and burn out.”
In a powerful keynote address, well-known media personality Matt Chisholm shared his experience and struggles with anxiety and depression.
“I was an outside boy at home on the farm, in the bush, but I’m also curious and I also love communicating. I could talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything, I thought I’d be good at journalism,” Chisholm said.
“I always said yes to work and no to everything else. I became a perfectionist. Eventually I had nothing more to give (and) I discovered booze.
“Getting pissed and getting nude for me went together like bacon and eggs, but privately the booze and my behaviour was gradually killing me; the anxiety, shame and guilt was tortuous.
“After a decade in the game I was buggered, broken, wondering how I would get off the treadmill.
“I’d had enough, I wanted to die, my New Year’s resolution was to survive.
“Then, for the first time in my life I was asked if I needed to see a doctor. I said yes.
“Not being okay is surprisingly normal and we have to open up to that.
“I no longer have to prove anything to anyone, this stuff is real, I’m in my happy place back home on the farm in Central Otago. I should have put my hand up sooner.”
Southland dairy farmer Jason Herrick talked of his experiences as a farmer and what drove him down a rabbit hole, how he clawed his way out, highlighting the impact it had on his family.
He is helping other farmers now.
“We all need to talk, and we all need to do something about it. I would like to see these (Agri Connect) meetings go nationwide to encourage and educate,” Herrick said.
Presentations were also heard from organisations specialising in physical, mental and business wellbeing.
Craig Wiggins Whatever with Wiggy
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
Free health assessments at Fieldays
Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz
THE Glob healthcare caravan will be at Fieldays, offering farmers free health checks.
Farmer health checks project manager Michelle Thompson says given the high number of people who visit the Fieldays Health and Wellbeing Hub where the caravan will be located, the aim is to target self-employed agricultural people.
She says the rationale behind that is that they are the people who often find it most difficult to take time off work for a health check and when they do become ill they are the hardest people to replace, or the business falls over.
Anyone who receives abnormal test results at other organisations within the hub, such as a suspicious skin lesion from Melanoma NZ or abnormal blood pressure from the Heart Foundation, will also be referred to the Glob.
Thompson says the GlobalHQ healthcare initiative has partnered with the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network (NZRGPN) for Fieldays to provide a comprehensive, credible and valuable service for the target audience.
It also provides a unique training opportunity for the next generation of rural health practitioners, as the pre-work-up components of each check will be completed by a group of sixthyear rural medical students.
She says the partnership will also draw attention to the dire workforce shortages for rural general practices across NZ.
About 600 farmers have already had farmer health checks at events around the country, with one in four “fit” farmers identified as having a health condition that needs further intervention.
The health checks include measures such as blood pressure, pulse, weight, lung capacity, smoking status, blood sugar, cholesterol level, BMI and significant family history.
Each person is also given information on current alcohol intake recommendations, a mental health “how are you” screening questionnaire, as well as the 1737 Need to Talk free phone information.
There is also the opportunity to discuss other health-related concerns, including stress, prostate symptoms, and cervical and breast screening.
Those who have a check are given a written record of their visit and where areas of concern or abnormal results have been identified, they are encouraged and supported to make an appointment to see their own GP.
NZRGPN chief executive Dr Grant Davidson says the team are looking forward to coming together with GlobalHQ and Students of Rural Health Aotearoa to offer a valuable health service.
“As a network concerned with encouraging healthy rural communities, we want to promote the benefits of farmers and their families having regular health checks with their GP. Catching problems early leads to long and healthy lives,” Davidson said.
“We are happy to be working with our partners to offer free health checks at Fieldays to show how easy and nonthreatening doing this is.”
This year Fieldays is also being utilised as an opportunity to introduce the new collective organisation Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network.
Davidson says it will be the first time the network is working under the umbrella of Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network.
“It will give us a good chance to talk to people about the network’s transition to the new collective organisation and how it will put us in a stronger position to advocate on behalf of rural health,” he said.
“More importantly, it provides the opportunity to hear from people we may not usually be in contact with about their struggles with healthcare in their areas and what changes they would like to see in rural health.”
PRIORITY: The GlobalHQ healthcare initiative has partnered with the NZ Rural General Practice Network for Fieldays to provide a comprehensive, credible and valuable service for farmers, specifically for self-employed ag workers.
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MOVEMENT: The Maersk Shams collected a record number of containers from the Port of Tauranga last Monday.
News Shipping bottleneck beginning to ease
Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz
THE country’s exporters received some welcome relief from ongoing congested global shipping services last week, with a record 5326 containers loaded aboard a vessel at the Port of Tauranga.
This was the largest single shipment of containers to ever leave New Zealand following the visit by Maersk Shams, with another sizable consignment planned for June 11 when the Sally Maersk is due to call at Tauranga.
Two smaller Maersk vessels will make oneoff visits to South Island ports in June to ease congestion.
Freight logistics company Kotahi, shipping line Maersk and the Port of Tauranga collaborated to allocate extra space for NZ cargo aboard the Maersk Shams, which is part of a service linking Latin America with North Asia via Tauranga.
Kotahi chief executive David Ross says the worst supply chain issues in 25 years continues to plague international trade, causing problems for ports and exporters, which prompted Kotahi, Maersk and the Port of Tauranga to combine and provide extra capacity.
The service usually collects 2000-2500 containers in a visit to Tauranga, but the arrangement enabled Maersk Shams to receive a record 5326 TEU (20-foot equivalent) containers, of which 1914 were refrigerated.
“It is exciting to be loading vessels to this capacity at a single port and to set a record.
“It is a very good time for that to happen,” Ross said.
It was opportune to provide some relief for congested ports and for exporters.
“Exporters are seeing constant schedule slippage, loss of capacity and shortages of containers from lengthening cycle times as the global supply chain disruption continues.”
Ross says 80% of the containers were Kotahi customers, with the balance customers from other freight logistics companies.
He says trading conditions are currently as bad as they have ever been and the hope is that the traditional winter slowdown could provide a reprieve.
“Traditionally there is breathing space from the end of July to early October when demand eases,” he said.
“We hope that will give the supply chain some breathing space.”
Ross says this week’s consignment was mainly dairy products, meat and fish, while the vessels calling at South Island ports will predominantly load dairy cargo.
“That is where it appears there are gaps we are dealing with,” he said.
“We are aiming to reduce congestion and allow regular services to function.”
Maersk Oceania managing director Henrik Jensen says the shipping line has added a seventh vessel to Maersk’s Southern Star Service, boosting reliability and capacity for exporters.
FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – May 31, 2021 11 Striking the right safety balance
WORKING on massive farming operations in the United States highlighted the importance of New Zealand’s focus on health and safety for Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year Dale McAlwee.
McAlwee grew up near Timaru on the farm that’s been in his family for over a century. After gaining a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, he headed to the US for a year. He is now assistant manager at Singletree Dairies, a 2500-cow farm five minutes northeast of Ashburton.
“In the US, I was working in massive farming operations for the wheat harvest. There were very large staff teams and the main focus was on employing experienced people who were expected to already have the knowledge to work safely with heavy machinery,” McAlwee said.
“At Singletree, there is an emphasis on ensuring people are well-trained for all the tasks they need to do, including using vehicles and machinery and working with livestock – and that’s ongoing. There’s also a focus on ‘shared responsibility’ and everyone knowing the rights and wrongs and how to mitigate risk.
“We are very strong on maintenance of machines and vehicles. If there are any problems with these, staff are expected to report it right away and to stop using the vehicle/machine until it can be checked or repaired. We only have one quad bike on-farm and that has crush protection fitted,” he said.
McAlwee says working with large animals is a critical risk and it’s important to consider the dangers of zoonoses as part of that.
“Leptospirosis is the biggest concern,” he said.
“We make sure all the animals are vaccinated, but that isn’t enough on its own. You need to have a focus on good hygiene and make sure you provide facilities for people to wash properly.”
McAlwee says fatigue is another risk factor which farmers need to be aware of, on their own behalf and that of workers – and sometimes people need to be reminded of the importance of managing that.
“It’s a big issue, particularly in spring. You need to keep an eye on people, talk with them and check in on them, be aware of individual personalities and recognise if there is a drop in enthusiasm or motivation, which might indicate they are tired or struggling in any way,” he said.
“If someone is tired, they’ll need to take a break and get some rest but if it’s caused by doing too much out of work – such as socialising – then you need to have that conversation about striking the right balance.
“You don’t have control over people’s lives or social lives but they do have a responsibility to turn up for work in good shape and if their lifestyle is affecting their work, then it’s not appropriate.”
Dale McAlwee Farmer
HOLISTIC: Aorangi FMG Young Farmer of the Year Dale McAlwee says there’s more to on-farm health and safety than ensuring people know how to use the equipment.
LEFT TO RIGHT: CALVIN BALL NORTHERN, JAKE JARMAN TARANAKI/MANAWATU, KIERAN MCCAHON WAIKATO/ BAY OF PLENTY, SAM HODSELL OTAGO/SOUTHLAND, ROSHEAN WOODS TASMAN, DALE MCALWEE AORANGI, JOSEPH WATTS EAST COAST
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News Nitrate link in adverse births
Colin Williscroft colin.williscroft@globalhq.co.nz
NEW research released by the University of Otago has highlighted growing evidence linking nitrates in drinking water with adverse birth outcomes.
A blog written by Dr Tim Chambers, Professor Nick Wilson, Professor Simon Hales and Professor Michael Baker of the university’s Department of Public Health says while there is growing evidence that nitrates in drinking water are a risk factor for bowel cancer, there is also emerging evidence concerning adverse birth outcomes, such as prematurity.
They say nitrate is one of the most common drinking water contaminants in New Zealand, largely driven by agricultural activity (nitrogen fertiliser application and livestock urine) and that nitrate leached into water from dairy farming has increased substantially since 1990.
The blog says recent studies linking nitrate levels as low as 0.87 milligrams per litre in drinking water to bowel cancer have raised public concerns about nitrate contamination, with a recent study of current nitrate levels in NZ showing as many as 800,000 people could be on water supplies with a nitrate level above 1mg/l.
However, that is well below the current World Health Organisation (WHO) limit of 11.3mg/l, a level the university researchers say is only designed to prevent methaemoglobinaemia (where tissues cannot get enough oxygen) in infants.
“Attracting less public attention is the link between nitrate exposure during pregnancy and poor birth outcomes,” the authors said.
It says two studies published this year link prenatal nitrate exposure to low birth weights and preterm births.
“These studies build on existing evidence linking prenatal nitrate exposure and adverse birth outcomes, including neural tube defects, small for gestation age, low birth weight and preterm births,” the authors said.
The blog’s authors say what differentiates the new studies from previous research is their scientific quality, with one a US study that looked at 1.4 million births between 2001 and 2011.
That study found nitrate above 5mg/l increased the odds of a preterm birth (20-31 weeks) by 47%, while exposure above 10mg/l increased the odds of a preterm birth 2.5 times.
The Otago University researchers say a recent study of current nitrate levels in NZ drinking water estimated that up to 138,000 people could be on water supplies with nitrate above 5mg/l.
They say another study, published earlier this year in the international journal Agricultural Water Management, has shown that the push for increased water efficiency through pivot irrigators has actually accelerated the rate of groundwater degradation.
In NZ, around 6% of live births have a low birth weight (OECD average is 6.5%), while around 6% of births are preterm (before 37 weeks).
Low birth weights and preterm births are associated with adverse health, social and educational outcomes in later life, including cerebral palsy, visual and auditory deficits, poor respiratory outcomes, impaired motor and cognitive ability, and psychiatric disorders.
NZ has an average of 4400 preterm births a year, which works out at a cost of $396 million a year.
They say the latest evidence reinforces the need for a precautionary approach to setting lower nitrate limits in drinking water for human and ecological health and they have called for better reporting systems for nitrates in the environment and drinking water, and more research into the health implications of nitrate contamination internationally and in a NZ setting.
DairyNZ strategy and investment manager responsible dairy Dr David Burger says the industry agrees that there is a need for further study and a comprehensive review of current research findings.
“If we are going to review current drinking water standards, we need robust and independent information to support that and this needs to be led by the Ministry of Health,” Burger said.
Burger says the dairy sector is actively reducing its environmental footprint and farmers use farm environment plans (FEPs) to manage their footprint and ensure best practice nutrient use.
He says a new nitrogen fertiliser cap will soon take effect under Action for Healthy Waterways regulations and many farmers are already making significant reductions in nitrogen to meet local requirements, for example in Selwyn-Hinds.
“Providing peace of mind to our communities is important – we all want safe drinking water,” he said.
CONTAMINATION: Nitrate leaching into water from dairy farming has increased since 1990.
Farmers work for a sustainable balance
Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz
NORTH Canterbury farmers have banded together to investigate practical solutions that balance farm profitability and environmental sustainability.
The three-year, farmer-led sustainability project launched in the Waimakariri district will see farmers working together to identify and monitor new onfarm practices to help address environmental concerns.
The Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT), formerly Next Generation Farmers, initiated the $700,000 project that has attracted a 60% funding boost from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.
Industry bodies and local authorities are partnering with WLT and contributing additional funds.
Project partners include Environment Canterbury, DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Waimakariri Irrigation Limited and Ballance AgriNutrients.
WLT chair and fifth-generation dairy farmer Sam SpencerBower says it is an opportunity to investigate practical solutions that balance farm profitability and environmental sustainability.
“Waimakariri farmers face significant water, environmental and sustainability challenges,” Spencer-Bower said.
“Environmental stewardship is already part of our daily operations, it is part of our social licence and responsibility as caretakers of the land.
“We are bringing the farming sector together to investigate and test new on-farm practices and tools to help farmers continue reducing environmental risk, while still remaining profitable so they can farm into the future.”
Farmer confidence and farm viability plays a key role in achieving environmental improvement.
“There are lots of fancy ideas out there, but they need to be practical and proven to give farmers the confidence to invest in them,” he said.
“We are serious about making a difference and driving change from the farm gate.”
During the past few weeks, farmers involved with the project have been meeting in groups and collaborating with industry experts to brainstorm ideas.
These include demonstration sites for application of liquid fertiliser, using exemplar farms as case studies to showcase the journey towards a highperforming, sustainable system, investigating the concept of an informative walkway between town and country to increase community engagement and working with industry specialists to undertake research on the economic value of environmental mitigation.
For dairy farmer and WLT member Richard Stalker the project is an opportunity to understand future options and new technologies, while promoting the value of farming to the wider community.
“Farming is an integral part of this district. My family has farmed here for 140 years, and my two daughters are sixth generation,” Stalker said.
“It’s important that we adopt sustainable land-use practices to ensure the community continues to thrive for future generations.”
He says addressing environmental issues is just good business.
“Farmers are already investing in new technology to reduce their environmental impact,” he said.
“We are very receptive to sensible, pragmatic solutions that are supported by science| and research.
“For the past eight years, I have been applying reduced rates of nitrogen with an online GPS tracking system, which means I can apply precise amounts to certain areas of the paddock, instead of a blanket approach.”
Stalker has partnered with rural electricity company Solagri Energy to install a first of its kind solar panel system, which has greatly reduced the farm’s energy requirements.
“WLT is now providing us with a vehicle to communicate our progress and share what we are doing with other farmers and the wider sector,” he said.
MPI director investment programmes Steve Penno says the project is a great example of the farming community rallying together to tackle a shared challenge.
“Reducing environmental impacts is a key goal in Fit for a Better World – Accelerating our Economic Recovery, the roadmap for the food and fibres sector launched last year to boost NZ’s recovery efforts from covid,” Penno said.
MORE:
To read the blog, go to https://blogs. otago.ac.nz/pubhealthexpert/nitratecontamination-in-drinking-water-andadverse-birth-outcomes-emergingevidence-is-concerning-for-nz/
LOOKING AHEAD: Annabelle Stalker is the sixth generation on her family’s Waimakariri dairy farm, with her father now joining dozens of other local farmers in a project to ensure the community continues to thrive for future generations.
News Hemp industry needs partners
Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz
FIND trusted partners through the supply chain and put the customer at the core of everything.
That is the advice New Zealand Merino (NZM) marketing and development manager Hadleigh Smith has for the hemp industry as it looks to capitalise on the worldwide megatrends around heath and sustainability.
In many ways, the industry is at the same point the fine wool industry was 20 years ago, before it embarked on its own and partnered with companies such as Icebreaker and Swanndri.
“It’s an infant. We’ve seen massive growth in it all around the world,” Smith said.
It also needed a cohort of the willing – a passionate group to band together and drive change in the industry, he said at the iHemp Summit and Expo in Rotorua.
He says customer intimacy – understanding what customers wanted – was critical.
“We really do believe it is about getting as close as possible to your customer. We’re a relationship business and those relationships are what stands the test of time,” he said.
“It’s about listening to your customers and realising what they want, what are their paying points and what are their consumers asking them – and delivering solutions for them,” he said.
That connectivity enabled companies to ask for market premiums.
He says one of the early initiatives the merino industry did was hold a conference to bring the industry together in a way similar to what the hemp industry was doing in Rotorua.
“What we learned is that we had to do something different. We couldn’t rely on the traditional industry and players who wanted to keep rolling on as they were,” he said.
Smith says it was good to see people from different parts of the supply chain at the event because one of the early challenges NZM faced was its traditionally combative and isolated nature. “Only through working together and long partnerships can you make a shift to value,” he said. “Creating that value in the wool industry was complex, sophisticated and resource-intensive.”
The industry needed to create the fibre and materials that would perform for their customers, but with substance – a deep connective story – behind it.
He says NZM was open to working in partnership with the hemp industry, given that one of NZM’s philosophies is “blend with friends”, which was to look at ways of building partnerships with growers of natural fibres, such as the hemp industry.
NZ Hemp Industries Association chair Richard Barge says the current political and regulatory environment was a “perfect storm” for the hemp industry to continue its growth.
Licences for growing hemp have soared from 72 in 2015 to 1335 nationwide in 2020.
The Government was looking to shift away from fossil fuels and consumers looking for more sustainable products.
“And we’ve got an industry based on a natural fibre. Industrial hemp has a lot to offer in that space,” Barge said.
Barge believed the industry’s biggest issue was perception. People still confuse hemp with marijuana and medicinal cannabis.
It was not an easy industry to be profitable in currently, but he expected that to change as a result of that perfect storm.
“Until we get full plant utilisation, it’s always going to be an uphill struggle.
“We need the revenue streams from all parts of the plant,” he said.
“It’s a wonderful fibre to be using and when people wake up and see these inherent qualities in hemp, they’ll be saying that’s where we need to be in the natural fibre world.”
Hadleigh Smith NZM
NETWORK: The hemp industry has to find trusted partners and get as close as possible to its customers if it is to grow.
Agrievents Friday 11/06/2021 Future Farming Expo 2021 Brought to you by the ACE Catchment Groups. With increased awareness of our impact on land and water as well as shifting consumer behaviour, there is a real opportunity for the food & fi bre sectors to meet these challenges. Time: 12.00-5.00pm Venue: Otautau Combined Sports Complex New regional fund announced20 Hulme Street, Otautau Tickets: www.thrivingsouthland.co.nz/ace THE Government has post-covid recovery efforts. Nash says the $200 million launched a regional strategic “Today we are launching fund will be seed funding Wednesday 16/06/2021 – Saturday 19/06/2021 National Agricultural Fieldays® 2021 Time: Gates open daily Wednesday to Friday 8am to 5pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm. Tickets on sale now. fund to replace the provincial growth fund. Economic and Regional Development Minister the $200 million Regional Strategic Partnership Fund (RSPF), which delivers on a manifesto commitment to for regional priorities, with further funding decided on a case by case basis. The investments will be For the latest information regarding COVID-19 Stuart Nash told the annual keep supporting economic strategically designed to and our event please see our venue site https:// conference of economic recovery in the regions,” Nash unlock various other sources mysterycreek.co.nz/covid-19/ development agencies, local said. of capital to get projects under government representatives “Over this Parliamentary way. Wednesday 04/08/2021 – Friday 06/08/2021 and chambers of commerce term the RSPF has three “The PGF invested more The Horticulture Conference the new fund is a vital part of goals. It will work in local than $3.11 billion in regional Wellness in all aspects of our lives – health partnerships to enable economic development in its including mental health, our relationships, work, economic and business three-year life. Existing PGF and the environment in which we live and grow Our regions are development, accelerate projects will continue to be our food – is increasingly seen as a must, not a nice to have. The Horticulture Conference brings together People, Land and Innovation under the imperative of Growing Wellness. Venue: Mystery Creek Events Centre 125 Mystery Creek Rd, Ohaupo a vital part of New Zealand’s economic strength but have been neglected in Māori economic aspirations, and support sector transformation. Each region will help decide its own priorities. REGION-SPECIFIC: Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash says the new fund will give each region the scope to help decide its own priorities. progressed,” he said. “Our regions are a vital part of New Zealand’s economic strength but have been neglected in the past, Wednesday 10/11/2021 – Friday 12/11/2021 The New Zealand Agricultural Show 2021 the past, stifling economic growth “Central government will partner with local government, iwi, businesses, The first year of funding stifling economic growth and living standards in regional communities,” Nash said. The New Zealand Agricultural Show brings a and living standards community organisations was set aside in Budget 2021 The PDU will adopt a new touch of tradition to the city and celebrates all that is great about rural life. Venue: Canterbury Agricultural Park in regional communities. and other agencies to identify priorities and co-funding opportunities. from reprioritised funding administered by the Provincial Development Unit (PDU). name to reflect its new focus. It will be known as Kānoa, or the Regional Economic 102 Curletts Rd, Hillmorton, Christchurch “Regions will identify Further reprioritisation Development and Investment Show offi ce for general enquiries: 03 343 3033 Email: info@theshow.co.nz Stuart Nash priority investments which support the Government’s will occur by the PDU to reflect the Minister of Unit. Kānoa has a broad meaning through proverbs Should your event be listed here? Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz LK0105355© Regional Development Minister vision of creating more productive, resilient, inclusive, sustainable and Māorienabling regional economies.” Finance’s expectation of value for money and targeted investment where it is most needed. and whakataukī, with reference to home fires, and to the guardian of the storehouse who helped others to thrive.
#AginED ED FOR FUTURE AGRIPRENEURS! G
Volume 58 I May 31, 2021 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz
Have a go:
1 Go to www.farmersweekly.co.nz
2 Find and watch the OnFarm Story of Brent Lilley
“Very precise at the one thing we do“ and read the article “Doing what works for you “ 3 Where in NZ does Brent Lilley farm? 4 How many generations of his family have farmed this land?
STRETCH YOURSELF:
1 Brent runs a finishing operation. What exactly does this mean? 2 Does Brent prefer heifers or steers? Why is this? 3 His system needs to have flexibility. What is the main reason for this? 4 How does Brent monitor his cattle’s weight gain? What information does he record from his cattle? How does this/will this help his business? 5 What is one of the biggest challenges on their farm?
How do they deal with this? Would there be a reason why their farm may have more prevalence of this problem compared to a farm somewhere else in NZ? 6 Due to the close proximity of their farm to beaches and several rivers, estuaries and waterways they are very aware of helping to maintain the cleanliness of all of these. How do they actively do this on their farm?
Last Monday (24th May) marked 139 years since New Zealand’s first frozen sheep meat shipment successfully arrived in Britain. A trip that was so successful, it kickstarted what is now a multi-billion-dollar export industry.
To mark this anniversary Marty Shanahan ‘The Backyard Cook’ was inspired to bring the two kiwi classics of lamb chops and L&P together, in celebration of all things Kiwiana and our proud heritage of producing the best food and drink in the world. Head to https://www.recipes.co.nz/ people/marty-shanahan to view the recipe and watch the video. This AgriHQ graph shows the North Island bull slaughter price ($/kgCW).
Have a go:
1 When has the bull price been at the highest level on this graph? 2 When has the bull price been at its lowest level on this graph?
STRETCH YOURSELF:
1 A farmer has paid $2.50/kg for a 450kgLW R2
Friesian bull on the current store market. How much per head would they have paid for this bull? 2 If that farmer was to hold onto the bull until
September when current predictions expect the price to hit $5.70/kg, how much would be paid for a 300kgCW? 3 Without taking expenses such as grazing into account what would the margin be for that bull? 4 What would the margin be if the farmer had to pay What would the margin be if the farmer had to pay $2.60/kg for the same bull? A Kiwi inventor has developed a product called Keravos, which is made from an acid derived from corn starch and strong wool. Which could be a replacement for some current plastics. 1 Approximately how much plastic is ordinarily used to manufacture a boat the size of the one that they developed? 2 What is strong wool? What is fine wool? Is there a price difference between the two?
FILL YA BOOTS:
NEW ZEALAND INVENTOR CREATES WORLD’S FIRST BOAT MADE FROM WOOL
