Farmers Weekly NZ May 20 2024

Fonterra weighs anchor on brands

FONTERRA is considering selling some of its most iconic brands, including Anchor and Mainland as it embarks on a new strategic direction away from its consumer business.

It intends to focus its resources on its ingredients and foodservice portfolios.

The decision came after the company completed a strategic review, which Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell said reinforced the role of its core business.

That role is to work with farmers to collect milk and make products to deliver strong returns to farmers and unit holders.

“We believe we can grow further value for the co-operative from being a business-to-business dairy nutrition provider and working closely with customers through our high performing ingredient and foodservice channels,” Hurrell siad.

As a result, it is exploring divestment options for its global

consumer business and its integrated businesses in Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.

“Our consumer product range includes everyday staples such as fresh milk, cheese and yogurt that are enjoyed in homes around the world.”

Sitting within its consumer portfolio are brands that include Anchor, Mainland, Kāpiti, Anlene, Anmum, Fernleaf, Western Star, Perfect Italiano and others.

The majority of Fonterra’s milk goes into its ingredients and foodservice channels, which return most of its revenue.

In 2023, ingredients represented 80% of its milk solids sold and returned $17.4 billion in revenue. Its foodservice channel represented 13% of milk solids, returning $3.9bn, and the consumer business represented 7% of milk solids, making $3.3bn.

“We believe there’s greater value to be had by focusing our milk and resources on ingredients and foodservice,” Hurrell said.

When combined with milk collected from outside New Zealand, 15% of milk solids were

Continued page 3

Finding our future farmers

Pāmu has launched a two-year Apprenticeship Scheme for school leavers with a passion for agriculture. Starting in January, the programme is part of Pāmu’s commitment to growing future farmers like Anika Rogers, a shepherd on Mangatoa Station in Northland.

Feds say banks create an emotional toll on farmers as bid launched for inquiry into rural banking sector.

NEWS 5

Being a real farmer in NZ

Steven Bierema, pictured with son PT, left the Netherlands with his family in 2004 and soon found himself right at home on the prosperous soils of Mid Canterbury.

ARABLE 40-44

Zespri will have to turn shipload of SunGold kiwifruit into biofuel after contamination by mice.

NEWS 6

The choice between efficiency and resilience is everywhere –with resilience usually losing, says Daniel Eb.

OPINION 19

Gerald Piddock NEWS Fonterra

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Contents

News in brief

1-15

40-44 Federated Farmers . 45-48

Estate

. 49-51

52-53

53-57

LACKLUSTRE: A lack of clear direction and strong leadership to drive a Green Deal will cost NZ farmers market access as sustainability standards tighten, says OANZ CEO Tiffany Tompkins.

Growers are being asked to have their say in a referendum on the Horticulture New Zealand levy.

The levy is paid by all commercial growers on the sale of New Zealand-grown fruit and vegetables. Growers have been sent a levy proposal document and voting papers have been sent to all eligible growers. Voting opened on May 14.

Levy referendum Road improvements

The government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to improve connections between cities and regions. The initiative is part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown said. “Expanding this programme to roads that are regionally significant will ensure that our cities and regions are well-connected, and our economy thrives.”

Fonterra appointment

Fonterra has announced the appointment of Andrew Murray as its chief financial officer.

Murray joined Fonterra in February 2023 as commercial director for Fonterra’s global markets business and will step into the chief financial officer role on August 1 of this year.

Murray previously was chief financial officer at Simplot Australia and he spent more than 10 years at Mondelez in a variety of senior finance roles.

Solar farm

Lodestone Energy’s second utility scale solar farm, Rangitaiki, is now producing power in the Bay of Plenty region.

Located a few kilometres from Edgecumbe, the site’s official name, Rangitaiki, was gifted by Ngāti Awa. Construction of the solar farm started in March 2023, with a team of more than 130 construction staff, many of whom were from the local community.

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

Fonterra drops bombshell on consumer arm

Hugh Stringleman ANALYSIS Fonterra

FONTERRA’S proposed divestment of its consumer brands and businesses is the most dramatic major structural change in its 23-year history.

Almost no one suggested such a widespread change in strategy ahead of the 2030 targets of the 2021 strategic plan, although a review had been foreshadowed.

Now we have revolution rather than review.

Fonterra has highlighted the natural synergies and

complementary products between ingredients and foodservice, while consumer businesses require different product formats and specialised marketing.

The rationale behind widespread divestment looks compelling.

It is effectively an end to international expansion and a circling of the wagons.

Releasing capital from consumer businesses in 14 markets and 17 plants would create greater longterm value when reinvested within the company, chief executive Miles Hurrell said.

This could include a complete sale of the nine Australian plants, total withdrawal from Sri Lanka,

Continued from page 1

allocated to businesses the co-op was considering divesting from in 2023 with $3.4bn in capital employed in these busiascnesses.

“They’re capital intensive with consumer business requiring continual investment in capital expenditure and operating expenses to grow. They generated $5.4b in revenue and returned $127m in underlined operating earnings last year.”

Its consumer business is also capital intensive, requiring continued investment in capital

expenditure and operating expenses to grow.

In comparison, the other areas of Fonterra’s businesses use most of its milk and generate most of its revenue and earnings.

These channels are also the best place to use the co-operative’s dairy science and innovation. The two also complement each other from a product and processing perspective, “whereas our consumer business utilises different product formats and requires specialised expertise and marketing approaches to reach consumers around the globe”.

and exit from the home market for dairy foods.

The inclusion of Fonterra Oceania, including the foodservice divisions, is an invitation to multinationals in the same way that Canada’s Saputo swept into Australia when Murray Goulburn foundered five years ago.

Fonterra’s only competitor of size in New Zealand’s retail markets is Goodman Fielder.

Its major shareholder is the Singaporean Wilmar International, with which Fonterra has collaborated in the past.

Perhaps it could raise the billions of dollars required to bid for all Australian and NZ plants and brands.

But the scale of the wider purchasing opportunities in southeast Asia and the Middle East suggests multinationals like Nestlé, Kraft, Lactalis, Danone, Unilever and Friesland Campina.

Farmers with long memories will recall the late Craig Norgate sharing a platform at the International Dairy Federation congress in Auckland in 2001 with Kerry Group CEO Denis Brosnan.

Speculation then was whether the newly unified Fonterra farmers wanted to go the Kerry route and grow consumer products and nondairy brands.

Kerry’s farmers in Ireland

The manufacturing footprint across the divestment includes 17 manufacturing sites, the majority in Australia, three in New Zealand and some in southeast Asia and one in the Middle East.

While Fonterra Oceania and Sri Lanka are “great businesses”, ownership of them is not required for the co-operative’s core functions, Hurrell said.

“We believe that prioritising our ingredients and foodservice channels and releasing capital in our consumer and associated businesses would generate more value.

achieved a one-generation wealth boost, but lost control over milk collection and processing, essentially killing the co-operative spirit.

Fonterra debated that fundamental direction of travel for the following decade, never finding or agreeing on a capital structure.

Now it has announced the opposite – withdrawal from consumer products and brands to concentrate on early-stage milk collection, processing, export

and foodservice. Divestment is expected to take 12 to 18 months, perhaps more if the Overseas Investment Office must be involved.

Hurrell said Fonterra’s preference is to sell all the “in-scope” assets named, rather than piecemeal achievement and a halfway house.

Farmers will have to be consulted and presumably vote on any major sales.

They have many months of debate ahead.

Judith Swales bows out

Gerald Piddock PEOPLE Fonterra

FONTERRA has announced that global markets CEO Judith Swales has decided to leave the co-op.

This comes as the cooperative announces that it is considering selling its consumer brands businesses.

CEO Miles Hurrell said the change in the co-operative’s strategic direction presents a natural juncture at which Swales has considered her future.

“Judith has been an important part of Fonterra since 2013,

“At the same time, we believe Fonterra is not the highest value owner of the consumer and associated businesses in the longer term and a divestment could allow a new owner with the right expertise and resources to unlock their full potential.

“This presents a great opportunity for these brands and businesses. While I recognise there’s a strong connection to brands such as Anchor, a new owner could help these businesses to flourish.

“We have also received unsolicited interest in parts of

having started her time in our Australian business. She has held a variety of significant leadership roles across the coop and has been a critical part of the Fonterra management team.”

Hurrell said Swales is a highperforming executive with achievements including the standing up of its global markets region, which is currently performing very well, and the successful turnaround in the performance of its consumer business that has put it on a pathway for a stronger future. Swales will remain with Fonterra until July 31.

these businesses, making now a good time to consider their ownership.”

Hurrell said he expects Fonterra to continue to supply milk to these brands through supply agreements.

Looking ahead, the co-operative will appoint advisers to assess divestment options. He expects the process to take 12-18 months and it will also require shareholder approval. That approval would come via an ordinary resolution approved by at least 50% of shareholders entitled to vote and voting.

STRATEGY: Releasing capital from consumer businesses in 14 markets and 17 plants would create greater long-term value when reinvested within the company, says chief executive Miles Hurrell.

Bank move exposed Alliance vulnerability

Neal Wallace NEWS Production

ALLIANCE was forced to renegotiate a banking covenant that it risked breaching in February after it had to deal with early stock flows.

Chair Mark Wynne said bankers’ concern at the financial implications of the early season forced the board to address the broader issue of its working capital requirements – and is indicative of the pressure the co-operative faces from its banking syndicate.

Alliance has met with hundreds of suppliers to discuss a board decision requiring them to increase the number of shares they must hold from 12 to 16 shares per stock unit processed.

Meetings have been a mixture of woolshed gatherings in both islands and online and Wynne said they have gone better than expected.

“Farmers are frustrated. They’re doing it tough, it’s tough on farm and they’re hurting and when we

are openly saying they are ‘out of here’ after the co-op turned to its shareholders to raise working capital.

explain that Alliance is hurting as well, they kind of get it,” he said.

It is difficult to judge the mood so far, Wynne said, and early indications could be quite different from what eventuates.

“My gut feeling is 80% of the

room get it and 20%-ish need to go away and consult with their accountant or board. Very few are openly saying they are ‘out of here’.”

The co-operative is seeking to increase its capital base by

Analysts expect modest growth in farm earnings

Hugh Stringleman NEWS Trends

EARNINGS in the agriculture sector are expected to modestly improve this year, according to the Westpac economics team in its latest Quarterly Economic Outlook.

Earnings will rise due to a recovery in global commodity prices and increased production in weather-impacted industries.

“Operating cost inflation has moderated but interest rates remain a significant constraint on profits,” the team’s report says.

“Dairy prices will rise modestly reflecting still constrained global (particularly European) supply and somewhat improved demand in key export markets.”

Westpac has forecast $8.40/kg milksolids for the farmgate milk prices in the new 2025 season, which begins on June 1.

Beef prices should tilt upwards because of strong demand out of the United States, but weak consumption in China will put a cap on prices as major exporters redirect product out of that market.

Record lamb production in Australia and still-tepid demand

in China should keep a lid on lamb prices this year.

“Orchardists should benefit with a big harvest and increased volumes for export set to offset lower prices, particularly for kiwifruit and apples.

“Log prices will move sideways due to lack of demand from China’s housing sector,” the Westpac economists said.

“Curtailed supply from New Zealand should provide a price floor.”

A resilient US dollar and weak NZ economic growth implies a flat NZD/USD performance in 2024, they said.

between $100 and $150 million through a mixture of increased shareholding, reducing inventory, shortening the credit cycle for customers and cutting costs.

Suppliers are having $4 for each stock unit deducted to bring their shareholding up to the required standard shareholding of 16 shares/stock unit processed.

Wynne said most farmers will be fully shared in 14 to 18 months.

Deductions have started but it will be the full 2024-25 season before the board can fully gauge the level of support.

Stock flows this season are up to 8% ahead of normal, which Wynne said will distort processing flows for the remainder of the season.

“If there are few animals supplied over winter it could be that they have been processed already, they’re not there or the farmers are not there.”

Wynne said the board is acting responsibly by working on backup options should farmers reject the capital raising.

Options being considered are attracting an investment partner in a hybrid model such as Silver

Fern Farms has with Shanghai Maling, or selling the company outright.

A version of those options includes issuing preference shares.

Wynne said these alternatives will only be actioned should cooperative shareholders not support the programme.

My gut feeling is 80% of the room get it and 20%-ish need to go away and consult with their accountant or board.

Mark Wynne Alliance

He stressed the board does not have an investor or buyer waiting, nor has it started looking.

“No one is knocking at our door and we have not yet started looking.”

A further 20 meetings are planned. So far the main concerns raised are the timing and the lack of communication about the issue the board is seeking to address.

COMPETITIVE: Record lamb production in Australia and still-tepid demand in China should keep a lid on lamb prices this year

RECEPTIVE: Alliance chair Mark Wynne says very few suppliers

Feds guns for rural banking in submission

FNigel Stirling NEWS Finances

EDERATED Farmers is playing up the emotional toll of increased pressure on farmers from their banks in a bid to persuade parliamentarians to launch an inquiry into the rural banking sector.

Parliament’s Primary Production Select Committee invited submissions from banks, farmers and other interested parties as it weighs up the possibility of a formal inquiry.

In its submission, Federated Farmers said over the past five years it had noticed a “steady and significant decline” in communication, service and willingness to lend to farmers.

It cited its latest twice-yearly banking survey from November, which showed one in four of its members said they faced “undue pressure” from their bankers, compared to just one in 10 a decade ago.

It said it was concerned this was placing a “severe mental health toll on farmers”.

Without quantifying the scale of the problem for older farmers, the

lobby group said some were facing being left with nothing to show for decades of toil after being ordered by their banks to sell their farms.

Younger farmers, meanwhile, were facing “changing and unrealistic” expectations from their banks, enough to put “many farmers into a poor state of mental health”.

And half of sharemilkers surveyed said “issues relating to banking have impacted their mental health”.

Are we sure the medicine isn’t worse than the disease?

Federated Farmers Submission

Furthermore, farmers were unable to make the investments needed to meet the environmental standards being demanded of them and to boost productivity so that the country could meet the government’s goals of doubling exports in the next decade.

The federation said experts it had consulted had noted the impact of requirements by the Reserve Bank for banks to hold increased amounts of capital

against rural loans in recent years.

In its own submission, the NZ Bankers Association, representing the major banks, said the increase in capital requirements were “a significant factor” in interest rates being higher on average for farm loans than for residential mortgages.

It said higher capital requirements for farm loans relative to other types of lending reflected the higher risk of losses to lenders.

“In the case of a home loan, the ability of the borrower to repay the loan largely depends on their employment status and income, which tends to be fairly predictable,” the association said. Farmers’ incomes, by comparison, were subject to the volatility of international commodity prices, while opportunities to reduce expenditure to meet interest payments were more limited compared with households.

The association said the higher capital needed for rural loans came at a cost to the banks, and they were simply passing this on.

Furthermore, because of the large size of agricultural

lending in New Zealand it was important that appropriate risk weightings be used to assess capital requirements to ensure the stability of the banking system.

However, Federated Farmers questioned whether the Reserve Bank had gone too far.

Official papers had estimated that the cost to borrowers of capital rule changes in recent years was between 0.5% and 1.2%, or between $310 million and $720m for farmers, more than the costs forecast for the He Waka Eke Noa policy before it was scrapped.

“Are we sure the medicine isn’t worse than the disease?” the

federation’s submission asked.

The farming lobby also questioned whether the banks were using the capital increases as an excuse to pad out their interest margins.

It noted media comments by a senior Reserve Bank official last month who observed the return on capital being made by NZ banks was higher than in other countries and could be attributable to a lack of competition.

The chair of the Primary Production Select Committee, ACT MP Mark Cameron, said members would make a decision in the next few weeks on whether to proceed to a full inquiry.

Now Scion chops into research jobs

THE axe continues to fall on New Zealand’s scientific community with the latest announcement that Scion, the Crown forestry research institute, will lose 10% of its staff.

Estimates are 30 of the Rotoruabased research body’s staff will be leaving, with scientists, technicians and support staff likely to go.

The latest move has prompted an angry response from the Public Service Association, with assistant secretary Fleur

Fitzsimons of Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi describing the move as “just more dumb stuff” from the government.

Scion’s losses follow the loss of similar positions in Callaghan Innovation and at NIWA.

“This again shows how little the government understands how science is key to our future prosperity and ensuring we can adapt to challenges like climate change,” Fitzsimons said.

In a written response to Farmers Weekly, Scion CEO DR Julian Elder said the researcher had been looking ahead at the work expected to be contracted for and

it became clear that for the next year Scion is facing a reduction in the work it expects to be doing, and so is not able to retain the number of staff currently on board.

“As well as identifying areas where we can cut costs, we have been thoroughly assessing our work across all scientific and support areas.

“We have identified about 30 positions for review. We’ll consider these positions further in discussions with those affected staff over the next few weeks.

“We can’t give more specific detail on which roles may be affected until after the

consultation process has concluded.”

Fitzsimons challenged the government’s priorities regarding adding value to forestry and addressing climate change in light of the cuts.

“How come that is no longer a priority? Do forest owners and wood processors agree with this downsizing?”

Elder said the steps Scion is taking are essential to secure its viability to enable it to continue to provide leading scientific research important for sustainable development and growth of NZ’s forestry and biotech sectors.

PRESSURE: Half of sharemilkers surveyed said ‘issues relating to banking have impacted their mental health’.

Richard Rennie NEWS Research

CHOPPED: Dr Julian Elder, Scion CEO says 30 jobs are on the line at the Crown research institute.

Search on for tutors as wool classers leave SIT

Neal Wallace NEWS Skills

THE resignation of the country’s only two wool classing tutors and possible changes to the classing tertiary qualification have the wool sector worried.

The Certificate of Wool Technology and Classing course has been delivered by the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) through its Telford campus since 2019, but it has announced there will be no student intake for the coming semester while it looks to replace Laurie Boniface and Richard Gavigan, who have retired and resigned.

Daryl Haggerty, SIT’s interim operations lead, said the programme is not being terminated.

“The recent vacancies resulting from the resignation and retirement of the two current wool technology tutors have prompted Telford to advertise for replacements.

“The recruitment process for qualified individuals to fill the vacant positions is underway, and we are dedicated to ensuring continuity in delivering this programme.”

Telford Farm board chair

Richard Young agreed that SIT is committed to replacing the retiring tutors, and the board has been assisting them through that process.

Complicating the issue has been uncertainty caused by restructuring of Te Pukenga.

The two retiring tutors have both offered to assist in the interim with marking and running a block courses in Napier.

Bill Dowle, the former chair of the NZ Wool Classers Association (NZWCA), said the course is valued by the wider industry.

“The wider industry is worried because this could mean there is no formal classing education available,” Dowle told the annual meeting of the NZ Wool Classers Association in Mosgiel last week.

Boniface said student numbers

fluctuate but in recent years have been increasing, with between 50 and 55 currently enrolled in the two-year course.

A recent block course attracted 22, the most ever.

Since Massey University stopped delivering the NZ Certificate of Wool Technology and Classing in 1998, the course has been shuffled between multiple providers.

From 1984 until his pending retirement, Boniface has delivered the course, and told the association’s annual meeting this week that SIT had shown it little attention, something that concerned him.

Speaking on his own accord, Boniface said SIT offered him or the course little support despite its importance in maintaining wool quality and standards.

SIT is advertising for an appropriately qualified wool technology tutor based at Telford responsible for leading courses and work-based learning in wool technology and holding block courses throughout NZ.

Dumped SunGold fruit to fuel Europe

Richard Rennie MARKETS Horticulture

A SHIPLOAD of SunGold kiwifruit is destined to be turned into biofuel after Zespri opted to meet customer concerns about the fruit’s safety following contamination by mice.

Late last month the first European shipment of SunGold fruit of the season, on board the Zespri chartered ship Crown Garnet, was found to have a mouse infestation across all 16 of its holds on arrival in the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

At the time Zespri’s chief operating office Jason Te Brake

said a wholesale infestation across the entire ship would pose some serious challenges for the company if it was to be 100% confident that food safety was not at risk.

After assessment and in response to customer feedback, the entire cargo’s fate has been sealed.

Te Brake said Zespri had inspected 2600 pallets, or 54% of the entire load, with a team that included staff that had travelled to work alongside its European team, along with food safety experts.

“It’s become clear that we can’t fully mitigate the potential food safety and reputational risk to the brand with enough certainty to release any fruit.”

health of the herd is often intertwined with not just the health of the farm and the farm team, but sort of the health of the business as well.

WANTED: Daryl Haggerty, SIT’s interim operations lead, says the resignation and retirement of the country’s last two wool classing tutors ‘has prompted Telford to advertise for replacements’.

Final figures in for MPI jobs cull

Neal Wallace NEWS Employment

THE Ministry for Primary Industries is shedding 391 posts or about 10% of its staff as it complies with a government requirement to find savings of 7.5%.

Even if fruit were examined and repacked, Zespri was still unable to remove the entire risk associated with the mice having been on board.

The total value of the fruit and costs associated with unloading, assessing, and disposing it are estimated at about $34 million.

Across this year’s SunGold crop that amounts to a reasonably material amount of 30c a tray.

However, the full impact on the entire crop’s value will not be fully determined until insurance issues have been resolved between insurance companies, Zespri and the shipping company, Cool Carriers.

In an email to staff last week, MPI director-general Ray Smith says this is slightly higher than the initial proposal to reduce the staff count by 384 and follows more than 1500 submissions from staff and unions.

He confirmed there have been no reductions to frontline services or statutory roles such as veterinarians, animal welfare, fishery and food compliance officers, or biosecurity teams at the border.

Smith said 133 current staff will be made redundant.

The balance of the 391 job cuts include 65 positions from people who have left MPI since

the consultation started through natural attrition or early redundancy.

A further 193 are vacant positions that will not be filled as they are not considered critical roles.

“We have been able to reduce the impact on affected staff through holding vacancies, offering early redundancy, and retaining additional roles in some business units,” he says in the email to staff.

Smith said the changes retain the existing business unit structure and will not “fundamentally disrupt the way we are organised so we can continue delivering excellent service and support to our sectors”.

Submissions from unions and staff have influenced his decision.

Smith said the changes apply from July 1 and the MPI is offering those being made redundant the opportunity to apply for vacancies.

Dairy season ending on a high

Senior reporter Hugh Stringleman wraps up the dairy commodity season following the latest GDT auction. Bryan also chats with Katrina Roberts (pictured), who is the new Dairy Woman of the Year. She’s a Waikato vet, working with dairy farmers to not only maintain cow health but also improve the efficiency of their farm systems.

The

Katrina Roberts, Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year

Cautious optimism for beef bull sales

Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Sheep and beef

AVERAGE prices paid for two-year-old beef bulls this winter may hold steady with last year’s results, but softer clearance rates are likely, PGG Wrightson national genetics manager Callum Stewart says.

Stewart expects the market for bulls will feel the effect of the industry’s financial challenges.

“Almost everyone on the farm is doing it tough at present, with rising costs and static or falling returns.

“That means commercial cattle farmers will be cautious when buying bulls, ensuring they make every dollar work as hard as possible.

“While there will be no compromise on genetics, some are likely to reduce bull numbers, mirroring what we have seen with ram sales.”

With sheep markets in the doldrums, that sentiment will spill over into more cautious buying of beef bulls this winter.

“The lamb price has a big

influence on what sheep and beef farmers will pay for bulls, and how many they will buy,” veteran Carrfields stud stock agent Bruce Orr said.

“And we have been saying for 10 years that the numbers of bulls on offer will exceed the demand – this might be the season that comes true.”

While there will be no compromise on genetics, some are likely to reduce bull numbers, mirroring what we have seen with ram sales.

Callum Stewart PGG Wrightson

Having spent months on the east coast during summer and autumn, Orr said the loss of beef farms to forestry has been driven home.

NZ Farmers Livestock agent Brent Bougen said the growing season has been outstanding in Waikato and King Country and the condition of the sale bulls is the best he has seen.

“Good bulls will continue to sell

well, and I have seen a lot of good bulls in my travels.

“Weaner prices were good for steers and heifers and that might help confidence in bulls. We have to be optimistic,” Bougen said.

Stewart said the loss of cattle land to forestry was a big market influence in 2023 but this year the number of cows has stabilised, possibly slightly increased.

“So long as they have the genetics that buyers demand, breeders who have read those signals, limiting the number of bulls they offer, should meet the market satisfactorily,” he said.

Most buyers will set three to five priority genetic objectives, such as increasing profitability through carcase weight traits and performance.

Good selections made at the coming sales will roll on down the generations.

“Genetics is the major influence on your herd.

“Progeny from a bull purchased now will be born over the next three years, slaughtered over the next four, and female progeny used for breeding over the next 10 years, so selection decisions have long-term consequences and will

pay you back over an extended period,” he said.

“From the purchasers’ perspective, so long as the quality of bulls is at a high standard, increased competition among breeders is good news.”

PGG Wrightson’s auctioneer in the north, Cam Heggie, said King Country and Waikato bulls are looking superb, while in Northland

some breeders need rain ahead of their sales.

Catalogues have 10-15% fewer lots in some cases and breeders have said they would be happy to get clearances at perhaps lower price averages.

“Remember, bull breeders are beef farmers too and they understand the financial factors at work this year,” Heggie said.

Illustrious the bull still living up to his name

Staff reporter NEWS Livestock

AN ELITE Holstein Friesian bull

that has sired 17,313 daughters and more than 90,000 granddaughters across New Zealand has been inducted into the LIC Hall of Fame.

It is an honour reserved for animals that have delivered a significant contribution to the dairy industry.

LIC livestock selection manager Simon Worth said the bull, Farside M Illustrious S3F, well and truly lived up to his name.

“Illustrious’s career as an artificial breeding bull has

been full of achievements that have extended far beyond his retirement. His ability to help farmers breed outstanding cows that are efficient milk producers with quality udders makes him a standout.”

Illustrious spent three seasons in LIC’s Premier Sires bull team, from 2011-2014. He also sired 33 sons that have been used for artificial breeding, with nine of these bulls following in their father’s footsteps by joining a Premier Sires team.

Worth said Illustrious was predicted to be a star performer as a young bull.

“Based on his DNA and ancestry, Illustrious ranked No 1 for genetic

merit compared to his Holstein Friesian peers.

“Fast-forward to today, that prediction was spot-on, as Illustrious is recognised as the highest production bull used in the artificial breeding industry that year [2011].”

Worth credits the bull’s impressive parentage.

“Take a super cow family, combine it with another Hall of Fame legend in the form of Fairmont Mint-Edition, and you can see how a special recipe was created.

“It’s great to see that his daughters and sons have continued his legacy for him many years

beyond his retirement, and it’s for this reason he is being recognised as the 60th animal to enter the Hall of Fame.”

The induction took place at the Livestock Improvement Corporation’s annual Breeders’ Day event, where the country’s top bull breeders convened to celebrate their contributions to the dairy industry.

Illustrious’s breeders, Graeme and Jacki Barr from Tokoroa, said they are surprised by the bull’s induction but are equally delighted It is the first time they have had a bull inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“We knew he was a good bull. He did well in the LIC breeding

programmes and in both the national and international market,” Graeme said.

“Illustrious is from one of my best cow families, his mum, known as No 8 cow, had fantastic longevity, a superb udder, and always produced well.”

This cow family is known for good temperament and for being easy to interact with, so it was no surprise to Graeme that Illustrious was too.

“I remember the Breeders’ Day we attended when Illustrious was in a Premier Sires team. One of the LIC team told me he had a great personality and was the easiest bull to work with.”

CHALLENGES: PGG Wrightson national genetics manager Callum Stewart says he expects the market for bulls will feel the effect of the industry’s financial challenges.

Milk price optimism for new dairy season

Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Dairy

DAIRY market analysts are agreed on their forecasts for the farmgate milk price in the 2025 season and dairy farmers can take comfort from their $8plus predictions.

Four economists and analysts from the big banks along with the computer model of the SGX-NZX dairy insights team have thrown their darts into the range $8.35 to $8.50.

They expect Fonterra to publish its own first, conservative forecast range on May 30 at around $7.30 to $8.50, with a midpoint of $7.90, on which the advance price schedule will begin on June 1.

The recovery in Global Dairy Trade prices during April and May has strengthened the jumping-off point for the new dairy season.

Based on the prices paid in the May 7 GDT for forward deliveries, the farm gate “spot” milk price was $9.25.

That is a milk price derived solely from current dairy commodity prices, compared with the $8.42 generated by the NZX milk price model.

Other forecasters run their own computer models – ANZ has come up with $8.50, ASB $8.35, and Rabobank and Westpac both $8.40.

Models are refined over time and include supply and demand factors, weather forecasts, forward

STEADYING: Milk futures prices on the SGX-NZX dairy derivatives market for the three seasons currently trading have evened out over the past seven months. Graph by Westpac.

prices, foreign exchange and historical patterns.

One such pattern is the much lower volatility of milk production in the major producing regions that export large quantities –Europe, the United States and New Zealand.

“The US still has the potential to ramp up milk production, but the output of the European Union is no longer artificially boosted by quotas,” ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby said.

“Big producing countries like the Netherlands and Ireland are now constrained by environmental regulations.”

Kilsby said NZ farmers are battling higher input prices such as fuel, fertiliser, insurance and interest rates.

The current break-even figure is $7.75 for both the 2024 and 2025

seasons, according to the DairyNZ economic tracker, updated on March 31.

ANZ also factored in a slowly increasing NZ dollar against the US dollar, forecast to reach US63c by the end of the year.

Fonterra will have foreign exchange hedging in place for a big portion of the new season’s production, along with forward sale contracts, Kilsby said.

Any global milk supply growth is presently elusive, Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said.

Low profitability has reduced dairy herds in the US and South America, and bad weather has impacted Europe.

“This subdued global milk supply growth should help underpin a continuation of the dairy market recovery and an

improvement in milk prices for dairy producers in most regions around the world.”

ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown said the prevailing supply and demand balance looks sufficient for prices to retain reasonable support.

“This means another season where the farmgate milk price will be above its 10-year average of $7,” he said.

Tennent-Brown also expects the 2024 milk price to finish in the top half of Fonterra’s present range, therefore between $7.70 and $8.10.

Westpac senior economist Kelly Eckhold said the current season will end on $7.90 and the new season will begin 50c higher, on $8.40.

“Futures and auction prices have been variable and it is very early in the year.

“However, there could be some upside creeping into our forecast should recent GDT auction prices and exchange rate trends be sustained.”

Market prices for SGX-NZX milk price futures contracts, for 2025 and 2026 seasons, have fallen from $8.60 in January to $8.25 and $8 respectively.

The MKP25 contract trading level is optimistic but slightly behind the NZX model.

This stems from the unexpectedly good outcome of the May 7 GDT auction, when milk powder prices were ahead of where the futures market expected them to be, NZX dairy analyst Rosalind Crickett said.

All analysts will weigh their own forecasts against Fonterra’s more informed, but broad, range due out on May 30.

National land policy tangle a threat to pig farming

Annette Scott NEWS Livestock

THE New Zealand pork sector fears misinterpreted policy wording is threatening the future viability of pig farming.

The pork industry has expressed concern that the government’s National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPSHPL) will prevent pig farming on productive land.

The directive on the policy was supposed to protect productive land from encroaching urbanisation such as housing. Consultation on the proposed NPS-HPL stated the intention to protect highly productive land for primary production purposes. This was to avoid the loss of HPL to two key risks – uncoordinated urban expansion and rural land fragmentation associated with rural lifestyle living, NZ Pork chief executive Brent Kleiss said.

NZ Pork supports this, Kleiss said, but the published version of the statement changed that wording to “land-based primary production”.

NZ Pork, which represents NZ’s commercial pig farmers, is concerned that the wording of the policy is now being interpreted to exclude pig farming from land suitable for agriculture.

“We believe the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and councils are saying land impacted by the

policy should only be for certain types of farming, not including pig farming,” Kleiss said.

“This is being interpreted by MfE staff to mean that despite being a primary production foodproducing activity, indoor primary production activities such as pig farms are an inappropriate land use on highly productive land.”

The pork industry is also seeing this interpretation from councils as they begin to implement the NPS-HPL.

“Pig farms are often part of bigger farms where they use the pig manure as a natural fertiliser on cropping or pastoral land,” Kleiss said.

This is why many pig farms are on land that’s considered good for farming under the policy.

If the policy isn’t changed, it could make it difficult for pig farmers to construct new buildings to meet any new welfare rules in the future.

• Granulated products for precision farming

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CRYSTAL BALL: The NZX milk price calculator model and the MKP25 futures price are tracking together.

Array of factors in livestock-solar mix

Piddock TECHNOLOGY Energy

AWAIKATO farm consultant says sheep farming under solar panels can be complementary and profitable.

There are, however, conditions to its success, Total Ag’s Rob McNabb said.

McNabb was involved in the consenting process of some of the proposed solar farms being installed around Waikato.

That process included showing a farm system on behalf of the applicants that can be presented to local government as part of the farm’s consenting application.

He presented the system at a Beef + Lamb New Zealand field day on Lance and Robyn Kerr’s beef finishing farm in north Waikato.

The Kerrs are building two solar farms on their property – a 6 hectare private farm and a110ha venture with Island Green Power.

McNabb calls the system “agrivoltaics”, the integration of livestock production with solar energy.

“The whole aim of this is to

increase the profitability of the land while maintaining the productive capability,” he said.

The height of the solar panels dictates what kind of livestock can be farmed under them. The cost of elevating the panels to a height that would allow cattle to be farmed underneath is horrendous and most are designed to be no higher than around 800mm.

This limits options to sheep or goats, he said.

The whole aim of this is to increase the profitability of the land while maintaining the productive capability.

Rob McNabb Total Ag

There are also other considerations. Soil temperatures under solar panels are generally lower, which for regions such as northern Waikato is a bonus. Light penetration under the panels also limits pasture growth.

Animal welfare considerations also dictate farm system options.

On a farm like the Kerrs’, where

there is no woolshed or sheep yards, infrastructure has to be considered.

One of the biggest benefits of farming under solar panels is shading. A Canterbury study showed that woolly ewes produced more and spent 54% of their time under solar panels.

“A lamb will eat 18% more if you give it shade.

“Any time we can give our animals an opportunity to operate at a lower temperature, we tend to get more production out of them.”

Water usage is less and solar panels in drier climates produce more forage than they do when exposed to the sun.

There is also potentially an increase in clover yield if the land is not fully shaded because of soil and ambient air temperatures, he said.

In the case of the Kerrs’ 6ha farm, Oakridge Solar, challenges included constrained shepherding during lambing because of visibility issues, matching feed demand with supply in late spring-summer and infrastructure requirements.

McNabb’s model for the Kerrs’ 110ha farm sees ewes with lambs at foot bought in during October-

November, thus eliminating lambing on the farm and any potential welfare issues.

Additional lambs are also purchased in November-December and those ewes bought in with their lambs will be culled in December.

The lambs are traded over summer and carried over through winter. The winter lamb stocking rate is around 9 per hectare, he said.

McNabb acknowledged that it requires a good relationship with the meat processor to have ewes culled in December.

“It’s about forward planning,” he said.

The net figure off 110ha will be around $1778 a hectare.

McNabb said it will require infrastructure investment into yards, a drenching race, shearing, fencing and water.

There are solutions to reduce the costs, including portable yards and shearing systems. As well as infrastructure considerations, it also requires a high level of sheep farming skills.

Solar farming and sheep and goat production will have to go hand in hand because of the maintenance costs if the grass is not grazed.

The alternative is mowing, which risks dirtying the solar panels and means they would have to be more frequently cleaned.

Gerald

COMPLEMENTARY: Farm consultant Rob McNabb calls his solar-livestock system agrivoltaics. It integrates livestock production with solar energy arrays.

Gas and dollars at odds in regen ag

Richard Rennie NEWS Regenerative agriculture

ARECENT survey of regenerative farming systems has raised as many questions as it has provided answers about the farming method’s definition, and its profitability.

This includes whether regenerative farming will result in a lower greenhouse gas footprint compared to conventional farm systems.

AgFirst consultant Steve Howarth revealed the results of a survey funded by Our Land and Water comparing production, profit, and meat quality outcomes from North Island sheep and beef farms.

The study paired 16 properties, eight regenerative and eight conventional, ranging in size from 115 hectares to 800ha for the conventional and 25ha to 380ha for the regenerative.

Howarth pointed to a Beef + Lamb New Zealand report that identified a market of “conscious foodies”, 50% of whom said they were prepared to pay a premium up to 20% for regeneratively sourced food.

This is supported by a high level of global food company interest in regenerative farming methods,

including the likes of Mars, CocaCola, Kellogg’s and Unilever. Little discernible difference was found in terms of the meat quality from the two systems.

However, it was in areas of farm profitability and GHG production that distinct differences arose.

Taking four years of farm data and averaging it out revealed an average revenue per hectare for conventional farms of $1470/ ha, compared to $1090/ha for regenerative.

Regenerative farming fits well with the values and goals of the farmers surveyed, but conventional farmers placed a higher emphasis on profitability and this creates a barrier.

This was largely driven by a lower level of feed conversion efficiency on the regenerative farms.

Regen farms averaged a net of 200kg of product (meat and wool) per hectare, compared to 326kg/ha for conventional.

With costs for both systems very similar, conventional farming systems came out significantly on top for profitability, by about $340/

ha on average at $613/ha, versus $273/ha for regenerative.

That lower level of feed utilisation on the regenerative farms also impacted GHG emission efficiency.

Outwardly, regenerative farms achieved lower GHG emissions per hectare at about 3.9t/ha per year, compared to 5t/ha per year.

However, the regenerative farms were let down by their lower feed conversion efficiency, which played into higher emissions intensity, being 25% greater than

conventional farms’ emissions.

The kilograms of emissions of GHG generated per kg of product produced were 20kg per kg of product for the regen farms, compared to 16.3kg of GHG per kg product for conventional.

Among the surveyed farmers, those classing themselves as “regenerative” ranked “land health and development” significantly higher than their conventional counterparts.

Conventional farmers tended to place significantly higher focus

on “financial performance” as a goal, while both ranked stock and pasture performance similarly as a priority.

“Regenerative farmers tended to have a wider focus on nutrient type for their fertilisers, which was an exhaustive list for some, but had no synthetic fertiliser use,” said Howarth.

In contrast, conventional farmers tended to stick to the basics of N P K and S when it came to applications.

In both cases farmers wanted to reduce their chemical inputs but acknowledged a “needs must” approach when it came to using chemicals to deal with pests and diseases in crops and livestock.

“Regenerative farming fits well with the values and goals of the farmers surveyed, but conventional farmers placed a higher emphasis on profitability, and this creates a barrier,” said Howarth.

He said premium pricing for the products of regenerative farming would be required to encourage a switch from conventional farmers.

He also pointed to the vagaries about defining “regenerative” farming systems here in NZ.

“We need a narrative in NZ on how we define regen farming especially given the contrast between US feed systems and NZ’s pastoral systems.”

Steve Howarth AgFirst

GREENER? Steve Howarth’s survey work on conventional vs regenerative farming systems has highlighted marked differences in farm system profitability and GHG emissions efficiency.

Wool cosies up to the influencers

Neal Wallace NEWS Food and fibre

ACHARITABLE organisation promoting the use of wool is expanding its reach into tertiary and early childhood education sectors.

Ryan Cosgrove, the chair of the Campaign for Wool NZ, told a NZ Wool Classers Association professional development day at Mosgiel that the move builds on the success of the Wool in Schools programme.

He told about 90 people that the aim is to get the message about the attributes of wool to decision makers and influencers, hence the move to target tertiary students involved in architecture and construction with an eight-week programme.

Campaign for Wool NZ is also looking at tailoring the wool message for early childhood education.

Cosgrove said the Wool in Schools programme, in which two converted containers decked out with information about wool travel to primary and intermediate schools across both islands, is designed to educate pupils.

They then go home and ask questions about the use of synthetic fibres in their homes, informing their parents of the merits of wool.

Cosgrove said the campaign has helped nearly 7000 primary school students have wool floorings and coverings installed in their schools and more than two million New Zealand consumers have seen the campaign’s advertising.

He said a comparison of international surveys between 2021 and 2023 reveals increasing numbers of consumers are increasingly choosing natural over synthetic products.

“We measured consumers and found that, empirically, the decisions consumers are making are changing, which is positive for wool.

“This study is telling us where to look and where to invest.”

The campaign has joined forces with Wool Impact with the aim of having joint communications and engagement with stakeholders and developing a collective NZ story to provide information and support the promotion of NZ wool.

Cosgrove said he is working with government ministers to encourage the greater use of wool products in public buildings.

Responding to a question, he said the issue last year when a school

MAKING PROGRESS: Ryan Cosgrove, the chair of Campaign for Wool NZ, told the NZ Wool Classers Association that progress is being made educating consumers on the merits of wool.

chose synthetic floor coverings over wool was due to an issue with procurement policy.

He said wool absorbs moisture but then releases it as the fibre breathes, but this was seen as a negative by procurement policies instead of the functional attribute that it is.

“We had to go back and educate those decision makers so they understand the attributes of wool.”

NZ’s strong wool story to be told on German television

THE New Zealand strong wool sector is set to benefit from exposure to an international television audience of millions.

A German documentary team is in the country filming at wool carpet manufacturer Bremworth and is also interviewing wool processing and farming industry representatives in other parts of NZ.

The Association of Public Broadcasting Corporations in the Federal Republic of Germany (ARD) filming the documentary is the largest public broadcasting network in the world.

The documentary will be produced for its flagship Das Erste (The First) channel, which 60% of Germany’s population, about 50 million people, watch every week.

Bremworth chief executive Greg Smith said the producers approached the company having seen details of their move to eliminate 2500 tonnes annually of synthetic yarn from the production of carpets and replace it with NZgrown wool.

Smith said Germany is seen as one of the world’s most environmentally conscious countries and Germans’ interest in how NZ is transforming its wool sector to meet growing global demand for natural fibres could help open

new export channels in the European Union’s largest population centre.

The 71-year-old Das Erste is seen as Germany’s most credible TV network and the exposure in the eight-minute documentary would be otherwise cost-prohibitive to access.

“A 15-second spot on Das Erste would cost $225,000, meaning the value of this eight-minute documentary to NZ’s wool sector is around $7.2 million.”

NZ’s wool and animal hair fibre product exports to Germany are about $6 million annually.

“This makes it a relatively

untapped market for us and presents a significant opportunity within a well-aligned consumer group that is highly focused on sustainable living.”

ARD German Television correspondent Florian Bahrdt said strong wool production is one of the most traditional sectors of the NZ economy.

“We’ve travelled the country from farms to factories to show our German audience the many challenges faced by the industry as it combats competition from synthetic fibres and strives to maintain its agricultural heritage,” Bahrdt said.

“We get a health aler t to the app on our phone when a cow’s active minutes are down, or she is not ruminating as much We can do a quicksor t and draft her out when she comes into the shed so we can visually inspect her,” says Justin.

“The system has picked up at least two cows that were having issues that the team wouldn’t have other wise known.“It meant we were able to get ahead of the issue before it became a real problem. One of them had mastitis which we were able to catch early and treat,” says Justin.

Talk to us today about getting collars on your herd www.sensehub co.nz

Annette Scott NEWS Food and fibre

SCREEN TIME: The German television crew filming at Bremworth has travelled NZ from farms to factories for a documentary to showcase NZgrown strong wool.

Productivity continues to slide at ports

SHIPPING reliability

remains on a knife edge despite covid’s disruption being well in the rear view, while port productivity around the country also remains in a slump.

Latest shipping and port productivity data from the Ministry of Transport sheds some light on how the shipping and logistics sector has, and has not, recovered in the wake of the pandemic.

A dashboard of key industry productivity metrics indicates that, as a sector, the throughput experienced prior to early 2020 is still elusive.

Data for Port of Tauranga, the country’s largest export port, has “vessel rate”, the number of containers moved by stevedores on and off a ship per hour, languishing at around 60 an hour average for the first quarter of this year.

That compares to a port peak of 77 per ship per hour back in late 2019, slumping to half that in early 2021.

Napier’s productivity has been progressively declining since 2019 from 40 to 25 an hour.

Meantime the number of container ship visits to New

Zealand also remains in the doldrums compared to pre-covid levels, with visit numbers down by almost 15%.

Back in 2018 NZ had 956 container ship visits, slumping to 685 in 2021.

The post-covid recovery had numbers at 830 by 2023, still well short of 2018-2019 visits.

That decline reflects a consolidation of shipping routes, lower frequency of visits and outright cancellations in the past two years.

Mark Scott, general manager for Cosco NZ, confirmed the sector still faces issues.

“Port reliability is better, but it has its moments. These can often be the usual issues, but the problem is there is not a lot of resilience in the system, it’s pretty tight and it can mean a snowballing effect if one thing goes wrong,” he said.

He could see there was never going to be any surplus capacity in the current port system while every port is also still trying to lift its productivity.

The pressures come as fresh produce exporters are looking at opportunities in overseas markets to grow sales.

The International Fresh Produce Association, of which NZ is a member, has recently had a delegation return from South

Korea, eyeing opportunities there as increasingly discerning South Korean consumers seek out new food products.

Domestic horticultural production in South Korea has traditionally been, and continues to be, important. However, severe weather events in 2022 significantly impacted apple and tree crops, leading to increased imports. South Korea now relies heavily on imported food with annual imports totalling

approximately $50 billion (food and agricultural products).

It is now importing $1.7bn worth of fresh fruit, nuts and processed fruit and expects a further increase in imported fresh fruit.

This is due to climate change and the need to diversify and satisfy a population of some 51 million that has an appetite for healthy, fresh produce.

Shipping to South Korea has proven a fraught avenue for NZ’s chilled meat trade, despite the

market’s high value opportunities. Delays in transhipment in Japan exceed importers’ acceptable limits for chilled shelf life on arrival in South Korea.

Port reliability is better, but it has its moments.

Ken Harris, managing director of NZ’s largest container company, ContainerCo NZ, said port productivity indicators are all going in the wrong direction, and have been for some time.

“There are structural problems there.

“These include the time taken to get consents for approval on things like port space and facilities.”

He has taken five years to get approval for a container facility on the outskirts of Tauranga that is still not finalised.

Port of Tauranga has been embroiled in a lengthy consent process to lengthen its wharf by 280m; it has dragged on for over seven years. The port may be eligible to apply for a fasttrack consent under the new government’s infrastructure programme.

Pre-winter sale just the ticket

Suz Bremner MARKETS Livestock

AS THE days get shorter and colder the Lorneville saleyards have come alive for a pre-winter offload of cattle. The timing and volume of this annual event is dictated by the season each year, and Southland has been one region to enjoy a more user-friendly summer and autumn, which meant the sale was held slightly later than other years.

As the need arose, though, it was calendared for Friday, May 10 and offered up just over 1200 cattle. Nearly 80% of the yarding was 18-month cattle, and there was an almost even split of steers and heifers within this section.

WAITING PATIENTLY: Eighteen-month Hereford-Friesian steers await their time in the spotlight at the Lorneville prewinter sale. This line sold for $980, $2.68/kg.

Photo: www.bidr.co.nz

We were just wanting a good clearance for sellers, and we got that.

PGG Wrightson regional livestock manager Andrew Martin said the aim of the sale was to get a good clearance.

“We were just wanting a good clearance for sellers, and we got that. Locally we’ve had a good season and it wasn’t surprising to see most of the cattle stay in the region with a small amount heading to Otago.

“Bidr also played a significant role with around 15-20% of the cattle selling online to mainly local buyers”.

Andrew Martin PGG Wrightson

While traditional lines had a good showing, the yarding was dominated by dairybeef, and true-to-type lines sold well.

In the steer pens, Angus and Angus-Hereford reached $3.00/kg, while 500510kg beef-Friesian were able to achieve $2.74-$2.82/ kg.

The balance of the dairybeef steers weighed 334-

480kg and better lines made $2.63-$2.72/kg and third cuts, $2.50-$2.61/kg. Traditional cattle featured more in the heifer section and most sold for a premium at $2.60-$2.80/kg. Prime dairy-beef heifers made $2.55-$2.57/kg while the balance weighed 333-450kg and ranged from $2.30/kg to $2.52/kg. Most of the cattle offered were to be wintered and finished in spring and summer.

MORE: For more market insights, browse the range of AgriHQ’s livestock reports. Tailor a subscription to suit your needs at www.agrihq.co.nz/livestockreports

Richard Rennie NEWS Transport

SLIDING: Port productivity nationally has been on the slide since covid, with recovery to pre-covid levels still elusive.

Mark Scott Cosco NZ

Ag lacks direction in sustainability challenges

Richard Rennie MARKETS Sustainability

RGANICS Aotearoa CEO

OTiffany Tompkins is warning New Zealand farmers not to breathe too great a sigh of relief at news the European Union has ditched plans to halve pesticide use by 2030.

The target had been part of the big Green Deal environmental policy but had become what the EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen described as a “symbol of polarisation”.

Tompkins has been part of an Our Land and Water (OLW) roadshow throughout NZ, discussing the Green Deal and its implications for NZ’s primary sector.

“Some of the ambition behind the policy has had to take a back seat due to inflation, the war in Ukraine and energy costs, but the reduction in pesticide use change is one of the biggest changes,” she said.

In some of the largest farmer protests in European history, farmers made it abundantly clear they were not on board with the proposals.

“There is an important message for us here in NZ, that is that farmers have to be engaged and need the support to be able to make these sorts of changes,” Tompkins said.

Efforts to get NZ’s organic sector harmonised with the rest of the world through the passing of the Organic Products Act last year were driven strongly by the sector recognising a need to comply with EU and United States standards before the decade’s end.

Market access is now assured legislatively, leaving the road clear for processors and marketers to develop new opportunities.

However, Tompkins is not so sure there is as much unity within the

conventional farming sector to meet the Green Deal’s impending standards, possibly compromising future market access if they are not met.

“I don’t really see a lot of strong leadership out there, and feel it is all falling back on farmers who are just being told what they will need to do. We can do better with better leadership and clearer goals – where is New Zealand’s Green Deal?”

Ireland’s Origin Green sustainable food and drink programme was born over a decade ago as the world’s first national sustainability policy.

It has been held up by some as a vision NZ should have pursued more strongly to get a unified, goaldriven approach into its food and beverage sectors.

I don’t really see a lot of strong leadership out there, and feel it is all falling back on farmers who are just being told what they will need to do.

Tiffany Tompkins Organics Aotearoa NZ

“It is simply too difficult for farmers to be expected to bring together all those elements of water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and welfare on their own.”

She believes NZ is already falling behind on what global consumers are expecting, and what this country is capable of offering.

While the pesticide goal may have been dropped, Tompkins maintains it will mark more of a postponement than a cancellation, with the EU’s zero carbonsustainability targets still running strongly through the remaining policy.

“There is already a ban of products that use certain pesticides already banned in the EU. The EU has 195 banned products, compared to 27 in NZ. They may not necessarily be ones we use, but do include neonicotinoids. The agenda has been set, it may just take a bit longer to fulfil.”

Rules are also coming into play around green label claims.

“This is a greenwashing rule. You cannot use terms like ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘green’ or ‘environmentally friendly’. If you say you are ‘carbon neutral’ it must capture all your Scope 3 emissions as well and has to be certified by EU accredited processes.”

Similarly, the same requirements are being laid down in the United Kingdom, including increased expectations around food companies’ environmental, social and governance, or ESG, standards.

Standards around deforestation’s role in a product’s life cycle have also been set. These apply to cocoa, timber, rubber and beef production, but not yet to dairy.

“It means you have to provide proof that the likes of the soy and PKE you use is all sustainably produced and not linked to deforestation.”

Tompkins has completed over 15 OLW seminars in recent weeks.

“Farmer feedback has included some who have an ‘oh shit’ moment, particularly when I start talking about the potential of border bans on products that don’t meet standards.”

She said the boldest EU moves are yet to come, in the form of an all-encompassing sustainability labelling scheme.

Rather like the five-star food nutrition rating, it will rank a food on multiple environmentalsustainability factors, with products expected to meet a certain standard to gain entry to market.

Autumn Bull Sales

Large-scale dairy business in receivership

Staff reporter NEWS Agribusiness

A LARGE-scale dairy business that operates three farms in Taupō and North Otago has been placed into receivership.

The business, the Waitonui Group, was placed into receivership on April 15 with Andrew Grenfell and Kare Johnstone of McGrathNicol appointed by Bank of New Zealand as receivers.

The company names of the group are Waitonui Milltrust Agricultural Holdings Limited Partnership, Waitonui Milltrust Agricultural Holdings Farm Management Limited Partnership, Waitonui Milltrust Agricultural Holdings General Partner Limited and Farm Management General Partner Limited.

NZME reported that the

business owed its bank $36.5 million.

The group formerly had United Kingdom asset manager Milltrust International as a major stakeholder.

In a statement, Milltrust International said it had exited from Waitonui Milltrust Agricultural Holdings in November 2021 through the sale of its subsidiary, Milltrust Agricultural Investments (MAI), to Future Planet Capital.

“It is important to note that while Waitonui Milltrust Agricultural Holdings includes and retains the Milltrust name, Milltrust International Group no longer holds any shareholding or management role in Waitonui Milltrust Agricultural Holdings,” it said. “The management and control of these entities were entirely transferred to new ownership post the 2021 transaction.”

LACKLUSTRE: A lack of clear direction and strong leadership to drive it will cost NZ farmers market access as sustainability standards tighten, says OANZ CEO Tiffany Tompkins.

Rhinos more than ready to shake the pitch

Olivia Caldwell PEOPLE Sports

ONCE hailed as the rugby club with the most All Blacks per capita, Glenmark-Cheviot Rugby Club also has a proud rural grounding.

The club boasts 10 former All Blacks including Alex “Grizz” Wyllie, Graeme Higginson, Andy Jefferd, Robbie Deans, Bruce Deans, Craig Green, Richard Loe, Andy Earl, Todd Blackadder and Scott Hamilton.

But a recent challenge brought a different breed of rugby player to its club day – the battered farmer coming out of footy retirement is a reasonable description of its golden-oldie Rhinos rugby team.

More than 40 players signed up to play on Saturday May 11 against the visiting Alnwick Rugby Club

from Northumberland, England – a team full of similar farming stock.

It all started when the English players were having a few drinks in 2020 and decided they wanted to tour and play a bit of rugby.

Glenmark-Cheviot lock George Fox had played for the English side when he took a working holiday farming six years ago, and suggested the two clubs play against one another.

“They got talking over a few beers during covid I think, and they all decided to come to New Zealand. They are a similar rural team.

“They say rugby is for all shapes and sizes and that team is going to be living proof of that, I’d say.”

That could be the kettle calling the pot black. Many of the Rhinos rugby players are well into their 40s and strapping on the boots after considerable periods of not playing, some having over a

decade’s hiatus from the game.

“There is a heck load of them that have come out of the woodwork. Some I haven’t seen in years,” Fox said.

One of those is Hawarden sheep farmer Ben Cassidy. Farming 5000 sheep and 400 cows, Cassidy has always fit rugby around the busy lifestyle and after 12 years out of the game he was hoping for 20 “easy” minutes in the forwards.

The 51-year-old had done next to no training for the runaround but wasn’t too worried about injuries and tweaks.

“Nothing, absolutely nothing, couple games of squash and drinking a bit of beer, that’s all I have been doing.

“I am probably good for 10 minutes of it and then hoping that someone is going to replace me. I am hoping I get the last 10 because then you feel like you deserve beer, that’s sort of the goal.

“Even if I am still alive at the end, I will be happy I think.”

Aside from the undercooked preparation the majority of the players have had, the one thing they all agree on is rugby has always been a nice reprieve from the pressures of farming.

“It is incredibly good mentally, it would be one of the best things out. A lot of fun and a lot of laughs and good stories.”

Fox, who farms 4500 sheep and 200 beef in the Scargill Valley, has played over 75 matches for the club that he says is the heart of the community, or close to it.

“Rugby is sometimes the only social contact a lot of us will get during the winter so I guess it is good to get out and about and know everyone else is going through the same stuff as you especially at the moment the way things are. Farmers are hurting bad around here.”

The Cheviot Hill country has been one of the hardest hit farmlands in regard to drought this year. Farmers have been relying on outside feed for months through a

dry autumn and early winter. While Fox and neighbouring farmers have seen a tough few seasons in the sheep industry, he keeps optimistic.

A couple of years ago I played golden oldies like this and couldn’t walk for a few days, it was a struggle to get out of bed. But we will worry about that Sunday, Monday.

Jonty Horrell

Glenmark-Cheviot Rugby Club

“I guess you’ve just got to keep taking it day by day. We have to keep looking ahead to what’s next.

Club stalwart Jody Horrell is another who came out of the rugby retirement village after 12 years to play for the Rhinos. Having played

more than 250 matches for the club over 18 years, he’d worked out how to prepare for the big match.

“I bought a heap of Voltarens the other day and I will start loading up with them, I think. I start a couple days out, I did it last year and it took the edge off a wee bit.

“A couple of years ago I played golden oldies like this and couldn’t walk for a few days, it was a struggle to get out of bed. But we will worry about that Sunday, Monday.”

The 47-year-old was born in Cheviot and runs the family farm as well as running a contracting business. Rugby has always been a huge part of checking in with his mates and getting his mind off the job,

“I remember when I was playing it was one of the main things you focus on, you did your work and rugby was it, work was all planned around rugby, really.”

“ Farmers Weekly is progressive, and still faithful to how people are farming. It’s helping us future-proof how we farm by staying positive and still challenging us at times with your wide range of voices.”

Laura Morrison Rangitikei sheep & beef farmer and Federated Farmers regional meat and wool chair

ALL WELCOME: Glenmark-Cheviot lock George Fox says rugby is for all shapes and sizes and their team is living proof of that.

TIME OFF: Hawarden sheep farmer Ben Cassidy says rugby has always been a nice reprieve from the pressures of farming.

Scientist, breeder Jock Allison dies at 80

JOCK Allison, a scientist described as the greatest contributor to improving New Zealand sheep reproductive rates, has died at the age of 80.

Allison had a wide-ranging career, starting as an animal reproduction scientist, moving to become regional research director at the Invermay Research Centre near Dunedin. He was an importer of exotic sheep breeds, and helping establish Abacus Bio, a biotechnology and agribusiness consulting company.

Through his company LambXL, Allison was instrumental in importing new sheep breeds, including Texel, Fin, Oxford Down, East Friesian, Beltex, Awassi, German White Headed Mutton and Gotland Pelt.

Allison’s work has been widely recognised.

In 2000 he received the NZ Society of Animal Production’s Sir Arthur Ward Award and was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for services to agriculture.

In 2003 he received the Bledisloe Medal for distinguished contributions to NZ’s land-based industries. Never shy to stand up for what he believed, in the early 1980s Allison successfully fought to have the Invermay complex rebuilt.

In retirement, in 2014 he and other highprofile scientists battled a proposal by AgResearch to consolidate its campuses that would have seen most Invermay scientists relocate to Lincoln and Palmerston North.

Such a move, he argued, would lessen farmer accessibility to scientists and make their work geographically less relevant.

The shift still happened but they succeeded in convincing AgResearch to modify its original proposal.

Latterly he had been active in the climate change debate, arguing there is no climate emergency.

Born on a farm at Hawea in Central Otago, Allison graduated in 1968 with a Master’s of Agricultural Science from Lincoln with First Class Honours in sheep production.

A profile published by the NZ Society of Animal Production says that his PhD in Agricultural Science was earned from Sydney University, where he studied as a Commonwealth Scholar.

On completion of those studies, he returned to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), where he focused on improving the then low reproductive rates of NZ sheep.

His work looked at extending mating ratios in sheep and the then industry norm of one ram to 50 ewes, which Allison showed was conservative.

He determined that with sound fertility and the right rams, one ram could service 250 ewes without any statistically significant effect on conception rates.

reminded fellow directors that research could not be divorced from its extension to the farming industry.

To him success was measured in both scientific publication and industry adoption.

In the 1990s he was involved in biotechnology strategies for what was then the NZ Meat and Wool board

In 2005 Allison had a kidney transplant but did not allow it to slow him down nor dent his interest in science.

He is survived by his wife Hilary and two daughters.

Allison told the Farmers Weekly in 2018 that his research made him unpopular with ram breeders.

From 1978-86 he managed the Invermay campus, overseeing its rebuild and using cunning and guile to ensure MAF built it to expectations.

When approval was finally granted for its construction, Allison reputedly seized the moment to gain approval for an additional lecture theatre, conveniently described as a farmers hall.

Later, when funds in the appropriate category were exhausted, Allison purchased an accessory for a hay baler – a tractor.

Allison served for many years on the AgResearch board, where he constantly

Neal Wallace PEOPLE Sheep and beef

WIDE RANGE: As well as being an animal reproduction scientist, Jock Allison was regional research director at the Invermay Research Centre near Dunedin, an importer of exotic sheep breeds, and helped establish Abacus Bio.

From the Editor

Securing a place in the sun

Gerald Piddock Senior reporter

SOLAR farming seems to be having its moment in the sun right now. It seems like every week another consent is being granted that is seeing farmland converted to energy production.

Earlier this month, Farmers Weekly reported that the government has approved the sale or lease of 2900 hectares to foreign investors for the construction of solar farms since July 2022.

In OIO decisions for 2023 and up to March this year, 16 applications were approved under the advertising-exempt provisions, covering the lease of 2636ha.

A further two covering 127ha went through the normal OIO process.

And that doesn’t include the well over two dozen farms that do not need to go through the OIO process that are spread across both islands.

I visited one earlier this month at a Beef + Lamb NZ field day, where Lance and Robyn Kerr had two farms going on their land –a 6ha farm and a larger 110ha project in

conjunction with Island Green Power.

The larger farm is going on land that is a former dairy farm.

Their other enterprise, a beef finishing operation, is left untouched.

They were asked by one farmer whether they were tempted to convert all of their land to solar and they said no.

“We still love farming,” Robyn told them. It also helped set their family up for succession, they said.

So is this the new forestry – a threat to pastoral farming in the same way people argue forestry is wrecking pastoral farming?

Probably not.

For a start, the panels can only be installed on flat or slightly undulating land – that rules out the bulk of hill country land used for sheep and beef farming.

It’s also dependent on being close to the grid, so location is critical for where these farms can go.

There’s also potential to farm sheep under solar panels.

It’s not a perfect system – it relies on cooperation from processors to get stock away at critical times as well as infrastructure investments that the landowner may not necessarily be able to make, but it’s certainly not impossible.

There also may be sheep farmers with flat areas on their hill country who could convert that land to solar panels, assuming it doesn’t upset the farm balance and those panels can be connected to the grid – and those are big ifs.

Then there’s the profitability. From that

perspective it was a no-brainer, to quote Lance Kerr.

An Our Land and Water study published last year found that adding solar panels to a 6ha sheep paddock in Canterbury could increase income for the farm by close to $1 million, with net profit (after debt servicing and depreciation) increasing over $420,000.

The solar panels were assumed to be funded through borrowing, which would increase the farm’s loan debt by $5.6m.

Then there’s the consenting process. As Trilect Solar director Andrew Beckett says, the consenting process is long and includes a grid study to ensure that the farm can insert energy into the network without overloading it.

On larger land sites, the process can take years.

That means all these planned farms will come on more like a drip feed than a flood.

There’s also a limit to how much the grid can take, so if the neighbour puts in several hectares of panels, you’ll probably miss out because it risks overloading the grid.

That alone will prevent a blanket of panels on farmland.

Then there’s the small issue of the country needing more energy to power the lifestyle we have come to expect.

We all saw this just last week when Transpower said there could be insufficient supply during the day because of cold weather and low wind generation.

That energy has to come from somewhere and solar, like or not, will be part of that equation.

Letters of the week

No power, no phone, no help

Marie Lepper Morere

IN “ALARM bells as landline rings off” (May 13), Anna Mitchell, Chorus’s GM, states: “We have not yet found a site that cannot be served by alternative technology.”

She has obviously never been to our property. When there is no power there is no internet and only patchy cell phone reception, and then only if you do a headstand in the corner.

We once had the head of an overseas telecommunications company booked in my then farmstay. That day a wind storm took out the landline. Unable to communicate by cell phone, she ended up four hours out of her way, when her GPS directed her to a similar-sounding township.

I am not averse to moving with the times. Indeed, when we first moved to a rural area, almost 50 years ago, it took months even to get a new phone installation and then it was a party line.

I remember that first year, the day after the Christmas work shout, being pregnant and having to trudge up the hill in the heat to use the neighbours phone to let my father-in-law know his son was too ill to go to work, never before having witnessed the symptoms of a hangover.

The following Christmas I was once again heavily pregnant and my husband once again unwell. By then I had wised up, was no longer sympathetic and at last we had a phone.

Half a century later I am not quite so naive.

Our no-power-required landline was out for over a week recently yet we still had power, and the internet. The Spark network was almost impossible to contact and I thought it was either our phone or the landline connection. It was not, it was at the exchange.

So, Anna Mitchell, either you are telling porkies or you just don’t get it. In an emergency, rural folk are reliant on our communication devices and in some areas there simply is no reception.

No power, no phone, no help.

In my view ...

Many moving parts to land use decisions

Sue Edmonds

Edmonds is a Waikato-based

science and farming writer

IN RECENT years I’ve read a number of articles which complain that, while new science from individual teams and organisations is good, the collective outcome is complex because there is little communication and sharing between them to produce rounded results and systems that farmers can relate easily to their own operations.

I feel that this has consistently got worse since science institutions were turned into Crown Entitles and expected to make profits, and where competitiveness has replaced camaraderie.

More recent news is that the decade-long research projects, such as Our Land and Water (OLW) National Science Challenge, will be ending in late June this year. Thus, when I was advised of an upcoming roadshow day at Karapiro sponsored by Landcare Research, AgResearch and others on the work that has been done by the various teams, I rang and got myself included.

This particular one was for rural professionals and attracted about 50 people, some local and some from as far away as Wanganui and Tauranga.

There were seven speakers on different topics, but it was obvious that while each team had done an enormous amount of research, and most were offering free access to apps and databases, there had been no attempt to produce, as yet, an overarching result (apart from the idea of land use change) that farmers could relate to and from which they could choose the most appropriate system for their own needs.

For instance, those looking at optimising policy to achieve environmental goals for agriculture appeared to come down firmly on the idea that Pinus

Letters of the week

radiata planted everywhere suitable would solve our gas problem through sequestration.

However, it was pointed out that this would require fewer workers, and drastically reduce the profits for animal farming, which would then go to whoever would receive the carbon credits.

The whole idea of land use change and its complexities is little understood by most of the population. Yes, we could drastically reduce our animal population and grow other foods instead, but to date our whole industrial setup is geared to milking, processing, killing and exporting substantial animal products to familiar markets. And trees don’t grow overnight.

Land use changes involve complex natural systems as well as complex considerations by farmers, communities and policymakers.

For a start, we need to bring together the social, economic, cultural and environmental impact of potential changes, to help policymakers and land stewards identify the changes with best outcomes for the wellbeing of our land, while realising that there are trade-offs, compromises and unexpected outcomes.

Another speaker took us through some novel financing solutions for land use change, the cost of which would be considerable. The problem was seen as aiming for a future “where a catchment contains mosaics of land uses that are more resilient, health and prosperous than today”.

The need for new thinking is because there is a squeeze on public funding, the alternative uses may have lower financial returns, the cost is high, and the current system would produce a challenge for whenua Māori where traditional debt funding isn’t accessible.

However, solving any of these would require discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, and

6): what a lot of hypothetical scaremongering.

To talk of something that may or may not happen in the future as if it is a forgone conclusion is scaremongering at its worst.

To talk of “banks’ profits fell by $32 billion” almost reads as if it has already happened.

That some of this is still 25 years away is just stretching the hysteria too far.

Federated Farmers has called for an inquiry into rural banking and a cynic might ask if this is the banks’ opening shot to protect their margins.

a lot more engagement, research and evaluation criteria. Given the current uncertainties with the government, and the weather, it would seem there is a great deal more thinking to be done to bring a satisfactory result.

In the meantime we need to improve the way we monitor improvements in our freshwater systems. Currently monthly testing is done by local councils at scattered sites.

The whole idea of land use change and its complexities is little understood by most of the population.

However, this is inadequate to cope with changing weather, and farm practices.

Obviously many more sites need to be tested in every region and more often, and those who have been studying this have concluded that it will need to be done by communities (presumably voluntarily).

The research has produced three dashboards relating to different freshwater environments (rivers, lakes and groundwater), each containing modules to help design or review monitoring programmes for detecting improvements in water quality.

Richard McDowell, leader of the OLW Challenge, gave a presentation on building resilience in land and water for the next generation. This looked at whether land use change could enable us to lower our emissions, meet water quality objectives for algae and grow us a healthy diet

Banks are very well secured against farmland and if there is a stressed sale it is usually the farmer who loses, followed by unsecured creditors like the rural service industry – but seldom the bank itself.

This report is looking far enough ahead to think that many of those farms would change hands over the next 25 or 30 years and the banks would reassess any new loan against any perceived risks at that time, once again protecting their margin and leaving any risk squarely with the purchaser.

domestically while still meeting export levels.

Nationally there are already 20 established simple actions being or able to be applied, with the list in order of most effective, least cost guidelines, and indicative uptake has been measured 1995-2015.

However, for us to begin to attempt the harder stuff, there are 26 developing actions now listed with the same criteria, focused on variable rate irrigation and effluent and nutrient use, constructed wetlands, slowrelease fertilisers and additives, remote fencing etcetera.

While some areas are managing with mitigation, there are those that cannot do this low enough and these areas will have to consider land use change soon. And to achieve “good” freshwater status, we can expect to see “green shoots” within five years, but realistically it is going to take 20 if we do it right.

On a more cheerful note, one group has spent its time pulling a huge mass of data together to produce a free Data Supermarket that will give enlightened users access to a huge raft of information.

To date it covers suitability and production for crops and rotations, pasture potential production for dairy sheep and beef, and a production index for Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus fastigata and Douglas fir.

There is a section on economics, environment (giving freshwater states for N and P, E coli and sediment levels, gas trade-offs, and leaching and runoff details across the country), and another on climate change, including

It is also too easy for banks to lump all farms into a high-risk category and so deem it necessary to hold high reserves on all loans, and in that need to charge high margins for rural loans.

This broad-brush approach is a lazy way for banks to take excessive profits out of agriculture.

A lot of the problem lies with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and the power it has to direct the trading banks.

If the RBNZ can look at climate risk and direct banks to hold more reserves today, what could the risk be in years to come? How could the

RESILIENCE: At a recent roadshow, Richard McDowell, leader of the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, gave a presentation on building resilience in land and water for the next generation.

drought risk, heat stress, barber pole worm and fire risk. There are also Emissions Trading Scheme look-up tables.

This augurs to be an extremely useful tool, although the speaker did comment that it could be made enormously better if the research was allowed to continue for two more years.

While all of these research projects have achieved much in their area, I asked McDowell what was being done to bring it all together, so that farmers, and farm advisers could achieve a comprehensive overview to use the most useful parts for each individual farm.

He recommended that the last speaker would answer my question. She gave what seemed to be the overarching view of the decade-long project, and that was on the need for storytelling, mainly by the farming community and rural communities.

So togetherness is required where stories of successes and failures are supposedly critical for inspiring others to get cracking. Not only face to face but there are already internet platforms on a Catchment Journey Template, Healthy Waterways, and ArcGIS StoryMap.

However, I am still of the opinion that the Challenge itself should produce a document, in farmer friendly language, that ties it all together and produces workable suggestions for the individual farmer, wherever they may live in Aotearoa.

But, with our current government unsure of what it really wants to achieve, getting the time and resources for this may be difficult!

RBNZ be directed by government policy, directly or indirectly?

Yes, the RBNZ is independent (‘Yeah right,’ I hear you say) but if New Zealand never signed up to the Paris Accord would we even be talking about this? Could a new Labour/Greens government bring in a new form of Three Waters or significant land protection policy that poses a risk that will be priced into your loans?

Federated Farmers calls into rural banking and the Reserve Bank Act are well overdue and this just highlights the concerns farmers have.

High time we reined in regional councils

Alternative view

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

IMENTIONED regional councils in last week’s column – how their workload was reducing but their rates kept increasing at ridiculous levels considering the current climate.

Your feedback was interesting. I obviously struck a chord.

As I also pointed out last week, there is absolutely no use in central government giving tax cuts when local government takes more from us. That means the tax burden on the productive sector actually increases.

Let me state my position up front: I see absolutely no reason for regional councils to be increasing rates as they are doing.

Wherever you look there are blaring inconsistencies in regional councils’ approaches. The only consistent factor is their ignoring government direction and fleecing their constituents.

Getting local government back to core infrastructure and services would be a little like asking NZTA to stop using road cones.

I attended a woolshed meeting recently where Minister for Primary Industries Todd McClay spoke, as did Minister of Rural Affairs Mark Patterson. Their message, succinctly put, was the government’s intention to get Wellington out of farming.

I support that. For too long we’ve had eco-warriors putting meaningless regulations on farmers for little benefit and great expense. The coalition government has told me that is about to change. I’m pleased.

That begs the question as to why the Otago Regional Council is going to enforce laws that it knows are about to change. Otago Feds described it as “charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities”. I agree.

Councillors there voted 7-5 to move forward with notifying its controversial draft Land and Water

Plan. You’d have to ask why, other than for sheer bloodymindedness.

Farmers in the Southland Regional Council area have similar problems along with a rate increase of 23%. Local farmer Hugh Gardyne told me that “they were talking their heads off on nature-based solutions and yet the long-term plan talked about infrastructure such as stop banks and flood control”.

He felt they were listening to iwi and Fish & Game while ignoring the productive sector. “My view is that they’re talking out of both sides of their mouth,” he told me.

Environment Canterbury is just as bad with its estimated 24.2% rates increase. Feds vice-president Colin Hurst was his usual forthright self.

“It’s pretty hard to stomach councils having to plough ahead, spending money they don’t have on a new freshwater plan they won’t need. It’s a total waste of ratepayer’s money.”

I’d agree 100%.

In April the Wellington Regional Council wrote to farmers telling them they needed “a Regional Certified Farm Environment Plan by 30 September 2024”.

It went on to say how the plans were required for farms over 20 hectares. If farmers don’t file a plan by the due date they will need resource consent to farm, which is ridiculous.

On the Wellington Regional Council website there’s a list of approved advisers who farmers will have to pay to get a plan drawn up. This is despite McClay telling me that farms need one plan and that the farmer should be able to do it themselves rather than spending thousands of dollars on “advisers”.

Carterton farmer Steve Wagner told me that the Wellington Regional Council “needs an attitude change”. In his view it is “adversarial and removed from reality”.

I’d encourage them to listen to the signals coming out of the coalition government. I’m watching with interest, as they need to get back to core infrastructure and services.”

While I agree, getting local government back to core infrastructure and services would be a little like asking NZTA to stop using road cones.

Patterson has, with McClay and Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard, completed a series of woolshed meetings around the country.

“Currently rates are totally unsustainable and farmers are in no position to pay them,” he told me. “Farmers have welcomed the signals from the coalition government as to its direction of travel.

“They have strongly expressed the view that regional councils aren’t accepting the coalition governments direction.”

That ostrich-like approach adopted by the regional councils

while possibly pandering to councils’ egos is putting their constituents at a major disadvantage. They need to change and reduce their rates, immediately.

Worst possible timing for Alliance move

Meaty matters

Why do we need certified farm plans now when the coalition has promised a single farm plan within the next 12 months?

Moving north, our old friends at Horizons Regional Council are up to their old tricks.

Local Feds president Ian Strahan said that “while Horizons is proposing an average rate rise of 12.9%, rural properties are being stung with increases of 20%, 30% and even 40%”.

In the current climate that isn’t sustainable. Strahan went on to describe the rates increases as “daylight robbery” and I’d agree.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is hitting farmers with effective increases of between 24% and 27%. Once again, that isn’t necessary or sustainable.

Feds board member and spokesperson on local government Sandra Faulkner feels the councils are in limbo waiting for the new legislation.

“They need to hold their horses.

Allan Barber

Meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic.co.nz, http:// allanbarber.wordpress.com

UNLESS it was forced on the co-operative, it is hard to understand why Alliance felt it necessary to choose this moment in time to announce to shareholders they would immediately be docked $3 per livestock unit on stock supplied, as well as being required to lift their shareholding by 25%.

The co-operative’s balance sheet obviously took a horrible battering last financial year and in February banking covenants were breached. Although rectified, this may indicate the banks’ patience is close to breaking point.

There aren’t many options and the solution has to be a combination of positive cashflow from operations, cost cutting, asset sales and new equity. Consequently, in the worst season for sheep farmers in decades, the directors have decided

shareholders must pay up, when it is absolutely the last thing cashstrapped farmers would want.

Last month’s press release announcing the capital raise makes much of the benefits to be gained from this unwelcome prescription, including preserving 100% farmer ownership and driving towards “our goal of being New Zealand’s most efficient processor”, as well as expanding product offerings and delivering more value to farmers, but at what a cost?

Alliance’s past and present chairs, Murray Taggart and Mark Wynne, have both told me last year’s performance and the continuing depressed state of the market have affected the whole processing industry equally. The inventory value downgrade at the beginning of last financial year and Silver Fern Farms’ loss for 2023 provided some justification for this view, but ANZCO’s pre-tax profit of $60.9 million has shown this to be a delusion.

The rumoured profitability of other meat companies in the difficult trading conditions has been confirmed by ANZCO’s encouraging performance.

While farmers may be suspicious of meat company profits at any time, it should be possible for efficient companies to procure, process and sell product for a positive margin even when market conditions are poor.

Farmers ought to be happy to see their processor making money at all times, provided they are paying a fair price for livestock;

this does not mean the price paid will always be as much as desired, but it should reflect the state of the market.

The reasons for Alliance’s capital raise underline the importance to farmers of their company being profitable.

Alliance has signalled its requirement for additional capital of $100-150 million over the next three years to meet the cooperative’s objective of restoring its balance sheet, but a rough estimate suggests the capital raise from farmer shareholders will achieve less than a third of this.

In the worst season for sheep farmers in decades, the directors have decided shareholders must pay up.

However, the terms of the equity-raising exercise are somewhat unclear, to me at least. At what point will an individual shareholder be deemed to have contributed enough capital under the specified terms?

How much are shareholders expected to contribute, and will there be a specified end point to the process?

In the absence of a formal prospectus, shareholders will hopefully get a clear explanation of what they must contribute in “the individual letters with information on what these changes will mean for them”.

Continued next page

STAND AND DELIVER: Alan Emerson agrees with Feds regional leader Ian Strahan, who called the rates increases ‘daylight robbery’.

The cost of a free lunch

Eating the elephant

Daniel Eb

Daniel Eb helps Kiwis connect with farming through his agency Dirt Road Comms and Open Farms. His family farms in Kaipara. eating.the.elephant.nz@gmail.com

WHEN I was born, in 1987, global GDP was US$17 billion. This year, we’ll likely top US$104 trillion ($172 trillion). Like the majority of people reading this article, I’ve lived my whole life under this umbrella of steady economic growth. What’s caused it? Depending on who you talk to, this boundless economic growth is a thanks to great leaps forward in technology (like the container ship and internet), exploitation of the Global South, globalisation and free trade, dodgy accounting, mass education, cheap money, nitrogen fertiliser, untethering currency from the gold reserve, contraception or the presence

Continued from previous page

The implications of the present situation for Alliance’s future ownership structure and survival as a 100% farmer-owned co-operative are huge. Major questions the board should be asking are whether its stated goals are remotely realistic under the present constrained ability to raise new capital.

While remaining wholly a cooperative may be a virtuous aim, it would be interesting to know how Silver Fern Farms’ shareholders feel eight years on from going through the divisive process of agreeing to sell half the company to an outside investor. That exercise resulted in a $267m investment including the repayment of all core debt, $57m paid to the co-operative and a special dividend to all shareholders.

I suspect a substantial proportion of Alliance’s shareholders may now feel sacrificing half their company in return for a dividend and financial security would be preferable to the imposition of $3 a lamb at a time when they are probably losing money.

But it may be too late to negotiate a deal remotely as

of the United States Navy in the world’s shipping lanes.

Let me throw one more into the mix – a mindset that lurks behind each of those factors: the drive for efficiency.

“Doing more from less” is pretty much a religion these days. It’s taken as given that the best strategy is the one that uses the least amount of resources (usually money) to achieve the goal. Generally, we like things cheap and fast and clearly it’s worked.

It’s only now, still reeling from covid supply chain issues, climatecharged cyclones and destabilising wars abroad, that our confidence in the efficiency mantra is starting to falter.

Instead, we hear a lot more talk about designing for the flipside of efficiency – resilience. On the tin, it says that resilience is about building adaptability into a system. Ensuring that when the conditions change, the farm, business or family can make it through by drawing on saved resources, pivoting to new ways of doing things and banding together with people they trust.

The problem with resilient systems is that they appear extravagant in the good times.

Piles of spare parts, unprofitable side hustles and neighbourhood meetings look like waste. And efficiency hates waste.

Once you start looking for it, this choice between efficiency and resilience is everywhere –with resilience usually losing. It’s playing out across our screens and papers right now via the government’s redesign of the

favourable as the Shanghai Maling investment in SFF in light of the changed economic environment globally and in China, even if Alliance shareholders were to give their board approval to seek an external investor.

Another big problem is the procurement of livestock from non-shareholder suppliers, which is always brushed under the carpet, but everybody knows forms an important component of supply outside the peak season.

Wynne told me third parties and non-shareholders make up only a relatively small part of supply, but they would be penalised through lower schedule payments, which sounds idealistic if not downright impossible to achieve.

It is difficult to see a mechanism for differentiating between schedule payments when one category of supplier will supposedly receive $3 less per livestock unit, let alone agree to supply on those terms.

Wynne emphasises Alliance’s progress towards best in the industry, pointing to more than $400m of capital expenditure in the past 10 years on plant upgrades, automation, and the lengthy ERP installation to

In choosing to chase a paltry 0.06% of efficiency savings ... we’ve chosen a simple, brittle system, for peanuts.

Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch programme.

In finding $107 million in savings and expanding to another 10,000 kids, the redevelopment is classic “do more with less”. The savings will be found by bulk procuring basic food through corporate caterers for intermediate and secondary schools, rather than having more diverse food prepared on site, often by locals. What sparks of resilience are we losing for that $107m? Heaps. Like opportunities to connect local farms, food and farmers directly to the school cafeteria. Or thriving

replace an outdated computer system, supported by independent processing efficiency benchmarking.

He also maintains confidence in the co-operative structure, which he says is just as capable as a corporate structure of building a high performing business, although profits over the same period total $166m, nearly quarter of a million dollars less than the capital expenditure.

on-site kitchens where kids can learn about nutrition and different food cultures, and practise community service. Reduced waste from less plastic and transport needs. The ability for schools to transform into centres for wider community care in the wake of disasters. And don’t forget the upfront nutritional gains for kids from eating diverse, fresh and unprocessed food.

In choosing to chase a paltry 0.06% of efficiency savings in government expenses, we’ve lost sight of the uncosted benefits that designing for resilience in a place as foundational as the classroom can deliver.

We’ve chosen a simple, brittle system, for peanuts.

The efficiency vs resiliency battle isn’t confined to the classroom. It’s in a government’s reluctance to fund New Zealand’s coastal shipping network because it can’t

This indicates the banks have been funding the difference.

Although there are successful co-operatives in New Zealand, especially Foodstuffs, Mitre 10 and to a lesser extent Fonterra, the key ingredients of success are shareholder capital, profit retention, continuous investment in the right assets, and the ability to exert market control.

The main concerns for Alliance are its inconsistent profitability,

compete with the bulk liners –until a cyclone washes away our highways and it’s all we’ve got to keep communities supplied. Or how a decision by the Chinese to accept only dried velvet now threatens an industry that ended domestic drying decades ago. Or hospitals that outsourced catering to a dodgy multinational, only to reintegrate the service years later following patient complaints about food quality, allegations of workplace misconduct and a rethinking of the role of good food in healing.

The efficiency vs resiliency battle also underpins the debate about regenerative agriculture, which flares up again in this week’s story “Gas and dollars at odds in regen ag’” (see page 10).

The report rightly raises some tough questions about how farmers struggle to stay profitable while implementing landscape resilience practices. Considering these tight economic times, that’s a hard ask. I would have preferred the report to take a more holistic view of the competing needs of efficiency and resilience in farming systems – also evaluating the unseen, uncosted factors that really matter in a crisis, like farmer health and wellbeing, soil moisture retention, animal health and energy use.

Thankfully, though, there is sometimes a no-man’s land where efficiency and resilience do meet on the farm. Like the Beef + Lamb NZ and Quorum Sense Catching the Rain soil moisture retention programme, for example.

On our farm, we have “insurance blocks” – niggly bits or steep slopes that will be taken out of production and planted in forage trees like tagasaste and poplars.

One hot day in a hot March, we’ll drop the fence on these blocks, give the stock a much-needed feed and buy ourselves a few more days through the dry.

insufficient equity, and competition from companies with deeper pockets.

Unless farmers are prepared to stump up three to four times as much as they are being asked for, the best hope must be a white knight that sees Alliance as a worthwhile investment in partnership with its suppliers. If not, it will be a tough challenge to generate the cash it needs to flourish.

PROSPECTUS:

Allan Barber says that, in the absence of a formal prospectus, shareholders will hopefully get a clear explanation of what they must contribute in ‘the individual letters’ the co-op has undertaken to send out.

EMPTY LARDERS: The choice between efficiency and resilience is playing out across NZ right now via the government’s redesign of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch programme, says Daniel Eb.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

SFF lands a big one with Boulton

RISEN: The promotion for Dan Boulton is the culmination of a 20-year career in the primary industry.

Dan Boulton is no stranger to the primary sector. Neal Wallace meets Silver Fern Farms’ new chief executive and discovers he has a varied career but one that is very relevant to the meat industry.

THERE weren’t too many South Island-based jobs that ticked all the boxes on Dan Boulton’s wish list.

Up to seven years ago Boulton

was working for fishing company Sealord, variously based in Nelson, Auckland and Sydney.

The born and bred Mainlander wanted to return home to the South Island but there were few

options for someone at such an advanced stage of their career.

The role of chief supply chain officer at Silver Fern Farms had an appeal.

“There weren’t many large brands in the South Island but the opportunity at Silver Fern Farms meant I could be closer to family.”

Further attractions were being able to continue his involvement in a primary sector business while he was drawn by the progress SFF was making differentiating itself through growing its brand internationally and domestically.

In SFF he found a business where its staff, vision and profile were all built around its brand and plateto-pasture strategy.

“In our sector, do not underestimate the power of brands,” Boulton says.

He was employed as SFF’s chief supply chain officer and three months ago replaced Simon Limmer when he retired as chief executive.

The promotion for Boulton was the culmination of a 20-year career in the primary industry, during which he worked his way up the management ranks.

Born and raised in Timaru, Boulton was one of three children and part of a family that loved being outdoors fishing and hunting.

“There was never a dull day in the Boulton family.”

He attended Timaru Boys’ High School and through family and friends spent time on farms, which nurtured a love and appreciation of the primary sector.

On leaving school, Boulton headed to the University of Canterbury, where he studied forestry, attracted by a job that involved being outdoors but also by a comparatively healthy salary.

His first job was with Carter Holt Harvey in Tokoroa, where he managed wood flow before moving into production planning.

Manawatū couple win national Share Farmer title

THIS year’s New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year, Will Hinton and Kali Rangiawha, have been described as an incredibly driven couple in a strong, balanced partnership.

The Manawatū couple are contract milkers for Tim and Victoria Gorton on their 350-cow, 113 hectare farm near Halcombe. Hinton and Rangiawha impressed the judges with the strength of their partnership and how they balanced each other, Share Farmer category head judge, ANZ’s Michele Cranefield said.

“They are a very good team and one could pick up where the other left off. They are impressive with numbers and are extremely passionate about the dairy industry, what they’re doing and how they’re doing it.”

The judges noted that through

the process of the awards, Hinton and Rangiawha discovered a creek on their farm, dry riverbed that they now plan to plant to avoid nutrient loss.

“Will is a quick thinker, enabling him to make fast decisions and apply his knowledge to be more efficient,” they said. “He understands soil types and he farms to the abilities or limitations so the pasture has the right nutrients on the right place.

“Will isn’t an academic who’s gone farming, he gets in and does the work. As a couple, they are practical, innovative and forward-thinking.”

The judges were also impressed by their community involvement, noting that when they see a need or gap, they step up to fill it.

Born in the United Kingdom, Hinton holds a BSc Agricultural Business Management from Reading University and a National Diploma in Agriculture from Lackham College.

He later headed overseas and on his return joined AS Wilcox, one of the country’s largest growers of onions, carrots and potatoes.

Starting as operations manager, which included overseeing the operations of three packhouses, he was responsible for introducing the Perla potato variety to New Zealand.

Boulton was eventually promoted to NZ manager.

His next move was to Sealord, where he was commercial manager running the aquaculture division overseeing salmon, mussel and barramundi production in NZ and Australia.

I am confident we are seeing a real shift in the buying behaviour of large-volume high-value customers.

While at Sealord, Boulton also worked as commercial manager, which exposed him to the sales and marketing department.

Coming into the meat sector, he has been able to use knowledge from his previous roles, with many similarities such as working with growers and producers, overseeing a process that breaks down items and generating value for growers through exporting.

As supply chain manager, one of Boulton’s roles was managing livestock, which meant interacting directly with farmers.

It proved ideal preparation for his elevation to chief executive.

“It really grounds you, sitting around a table with farmers having a cup of coffee. You can’t help but have empathy and an understanding of what the pain points are.”

It reinforced the need for clear signals to flow both ways between

farmers and processors, he says, to understand the situation of suppliers and to be clear about SFF’s vision and strategy while also being an efficient processor.

He is optimistic the current economic challenges for the sheepmeat sector will pass.

The issue, he says, is driven not by lack of demand, but by the prices consumers are prepared to pay.

“I’m really confident the tipping point is just around the corner.”

That confidence stems from signs that high-worth customers are becoming more discerning in their purchasing selections.

“I am confident we are seeing a real shift in the buying behaviour of large-volume high-value customers.”

Those consumers are singling out companies that Boulton says show leadership and share their values on issues such as climate change, environmental management and animal welfare.

“A number of high-end retailers want to do business with us on the back of Net Carbon Zero and Nature Positive [programmes].

“We are seeing these customers coming to SFF because we align with their direction of travel and that means we can move from wholesale supply to high-end retail.”

With SFF measuring and reducing emissions within its supply-chain, its customers are also benefiting from its low emissions profile.

Boulton says the key to improving returns and profitability to farmers and SFF is to do things differently.

This is a track SFF is pursuing that will position its grass-fed NZ sheepmeat and beef at the top end of the market and reduce exposure to the commodity cycles that are plaguing the industry at present.

“I am excited about the future of what we farm and how we sell it.”

He built a farming partnership with his dad, comprising 500 sheep and 30 cows.

Hinton travelled the globe as a shearer, working in New Zealand, where he worked as a farm consultant and data analyst for two and a half years.

He met Rangiawha, who had realised dairy farming was her future while relief milking to fund her university studies.

Rangiawha has worked her way through the industry from farm assistant through to the couple’s current role at the Gortons.

Also picking up awards were Northland’s Kieran McCahon, who became the 2024 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and Kirwyn Ellis from Waikato who was the 2024 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.

James and Debbie Stewart from Manawatū were the recipients of the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award. The winners were announced at

Dan Boulton Silver Fern Farms

a gala dinner held at Coronet Peak, Queenstown, on May 11. McCahon stood out as an intelligent, well-educated farmer

who is passionate about adding value to the New Zealand dairy industry as a whole, the judges said.

Staff reporter PEOPLE Awards

HALCOMBE: New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year Will Hinton and Kali Rangiawha are contract milkers for Tim and Victoria Gorton on their 350-cow, 113 hectare farm near Halcombe.

Solar venture a no-brainer

The numbers made a lot of sense when these northwestern Waikato beef finishers looked into a new kind of farming. Gerald Piddock reports.

CONVERTING part of their farm to solar farming was a no-brainer for Lance and Robyn Kerr.

The beef finishers are involved in two solar projects on their 704 hectare (641ha effective) farm near Glen Massey in northwest Waikato.

The first of these is a 6ha solar farm development and the other, a much larger 110ha solar farm.

The passive income derived from the two projects is greater than what they would receive from other land uses, Lance told farmers at a Beef+Lamb New Zealand field day that the couple hosted.

Work is already underway on the

WORKING:

Trilect Solar uses a specialised machine to drive in the foundation posts on which the solar panels will be mounted.

6ha site with Trilect Solar using a specialised machine to drive in the foundation posts on which the solar panels will be mounted.

The second proposed farm will lease 110ha to Island Green Power.

Lance considers himself a contrarian and likes to do the opposite of what most people do.

“One of my philosophies is that if you do what you’ve done, you’ll get what you’ve got, and I’ve never been one to follow everybody else,” he says.

He realised there was money to be made in solar farming with companies wanting to lease land off farmers.

He did his own investigating and the first company that came up on Google when he searched for NZ solar farms was Trilect Solar.

He established a relationship with its director Andrew Beckett and over the course of three years it developed into a partnership where Beckett owns a 20% share in the 6ha farm, called Oakridge Solar.

The 6ha site is the farm’s least productive area from a grass growth perspective.

“It will now become the most productive block of land. It’s very exciting,” Lance says.

The venture was also the first solar farm that the Kerrs’ bank, Rabobank, had issued a loan for. Lance says the bank was happy to support it because it was viewed as an extension of the farm business.

“All they are looking at is return on their capital and whether you can service the debt.”

The projected returns were also very good.

“It’s far more than we are making off our beef operation and even what we were making off

our dairy operation and with less input, so it was a no-brainer.”

The bank analysed its impact on their overall cashflow on the current business. It doubled net income and once the larger solar farm starts up, it will be tripled –for less work, he says.

Beckett says Oakridge will have 5740 panels, 12 inverters to transform DC into AC and a transformer in an 18 tonne, 20 foot container.

It will also have weather stations and a web portal and smartphone app to allow them to see how much power is being made any time.

“In terms of energy production, it’s around 6000MW hours of energy a year, which is 6 million kilowatt hours. To put that into perspective, a typical Kiwi house uses about 25 kilowatt hours in a day.”

The process to install a solar farm is long. Aside from the resource consent process, a grid study needs to be completed to ensure that the farm can insert energy into the network without overloading it.

For this farm, 3.3MW is the limit before the lines are overloaded, he says.

Design and construction also take three to six months.

An ideal site for a solar farm includes suitable powerlines with a grid connection. The land must also be flat, he says.

Rather than selling the energy itself, Trilect partners with an energy retainer that sells it on its behalf to the wholesale market.

Another option is signing a longterm power purchase agreement with a retailer for a set period of years.

The 110ha solar farm is still in the planning stage, but the Kerrs plan to farm sheep under the panels with the finishing farm being unchanged.

The consent for the project was fast-tracked and approved through the Covid-19 Recovery Act and will generate 130MW when completed.

The land was previously used as part of a 220ha dairy farm, milking 600 cows in a highly intensive System 5 operation.

However, Lance says, he had grown disillusioned with the industry. They were also concerned about the sustainability of their dairy operation, being an intensive system.

“It was a System 5 and I was sick of pouring nitrogen into our system and the amount of feed we used to feed those cows and I just got sick of it.”

“We haven’t regretted it – no way,” Robyn added.

They are getting older and saw it as an opportunity to earn passive income over the term of the 30-year lease and with succession looming.

“This is part of our passive income and what we are trying to do is simplify all of our systems and increase our cashflow.

“What Robyn and I really wanted to create was long-term longevity for our family,” he says.

AgriZeroNZ funds methane vaccine search

Gerald Piddock TECHNOLOGY Emissions

AGRIZero NZ is to invest $9.9 million into United States agbiotech start-up ArkeaBio’s search for a methane vaccine.

The vaccine would be for ruminant animals, including cows, sheep and deer, with an initial focus on cattle.

It is AgriZeroNZ’s second investment in vaccine development, having already invested in the New Zealand research programme.

AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee said the joint venture is backing two vaccine projects to increase the chance of delivering the highly sought-after, world-first solution.

“A methane vaccine for ruminant animals is internationally recognised as the ‘holy grail’ to deliver methane reduction at low cost and mass scale.

“It could be one of the best longterm options to really shift the dial on agricultural emissions in New

Zealand without compromising farm profitability, as well as a powerful tool globally.

“It would be a particularly useful tool for our grass-fed animals and a good fit for our pastoral farms as vaccination is already commonly used to support animal health.

venture, meaning there is no duplication.

“It’s exciting for us to have two investments in this area. These are the only two vaccine programmes we are aware of in the world looking at methane vaccines.

“We’re keen to see if one of these two approaches will deliver.”

The research has been underway for a while and is now at the animal trial stage. This funding will help scale the trials out, and when the time is right, conduct trials in NZ.

It is too early to say when that could happen, he said.

FUNDS: ArkeaBio chief executive Colin South says the funds raised from AgriZeroNZ will play a pivotal role in expanding the research, development and deployment of a methane vaccine. It could be one of the best long-term options to really shift the dial on agricultural emissions in New Zealand without compromising farm profitability.

Wayne McNee AgriZeroNZ

“We’re really pleased to be supporting ArkeaBio and its innovative approach to develop this important solution to help farmers curb emissions.”

While details around the nature of the research are confidential, he said it takes a different methodology to the New Zealand

“We do have a commitment from them to bring the technology to NZ, that’s part of the investment.”

ArkeaBio is based in Boston and led by Kiwi expat Colin South, who said AgriZeroNZ provides both funding and a close relationship with an important and motivated early market for the global solution.

“A vaccine is the lowest cost path to global scale enteric methane reduction and is applicable to cattle worldwide. This singular

solution, distributed globally with large-scale adoption, can change the trajectory of global warming and demonstrate a path to meeting major climate mitigation goals.” He said the funds raised will

play a pivotal role in expanding the research, development and deployment of the vaccine, including large-scale field trials and engagement along the supply chain.

EASY MONEY: Lance and Robyn Kerr with some of the newly constructed solar panels on their farm in north Waikato.

After a tough year for farmers, this year’s National Fieldays offers the chance to take a break, visit a host of exhibitors’

“Let’s be honest, I don’t think there’s going to be record sales. But the thing is, at events like Fieldays, companies still make really good sales and there will be deals.”

He confirmed that a handful of companies had decided not to come to Fieldays because of the economic climate. In contrast, both car and farm machinery companies are fully allocated for in terms of their site holdings.

“Tractor and machinery are full and that is pleasing as they are not having a great time at the moment.”

Heavy machinery company sites such as those selling diggers and others are also “chocka”, he said.

Nation emphasised that Fieldays is not just an agricultural show. It is four days of knowledgesharing, networking, and making valuable connections within the industry.

“We are committed to providing a platform that fosters innovation, collaboration, and growth, ensuring that New Zealand’s agricultural sector remains competitive and sustainable for generations to come,” he said.

Visitors to this year’s event can expect to see a variety of offerings from state-of the art farm machinery to cutting-edge technology, artisanal food, new-tothe-market vehicles, financial and insurance products and services, and everything in between.

New for this year is the Rural Advocacy Hub, which will bring together various rural organisations that advocate for farmers and champion their interests as a team under one roof for the first time.

The hub also reinforces what Fieldays is all about at its core:

bringing together the agricultural community as well as industry professionals, government agencies, international delegations, researchers, and enthusiasts to celebrate a shared passion, exchange ideas, and forge lasting connections.

The Advocacy Hub will join the other Fieldays Hubs – Innovation, Careers & Education, Health & Wellbeing, Forestry, Digital Futures and Sustainability.

These are all looking really strong and well supported, he said.

“The whole hub strategy is deliberate, to pick up challenges in

the market, profile it and try and grow it.”

The Health and Wellbeing Hub has been operating for several years while more recent additions such as the Forestry Hub are in their third year.

That hub took six years to get created as Nation tried to gather support in the industry.

Fieldays is also trialling a “Business Plus Lounge”, which Nation described as a “Koru Lounge for corporates”.

The concept is to provide a place for corporate entities to gather and network.

NEW PRODUCT!

NETWORKING: Peter Nation says Fieldays is not just an agricultural show. It is four days of knowledge-sharing, networking, and making valuable connections within the industry.

VARIETY: Visitors to this year’s event can expect to see a variety of offerings from state-of-the-art farm machinery to cutting-edge technology.

MPI supports journey from farm to global markets

Visitors to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Fieldays site will be able to explore the journey of New Zealand’s primary sector products from our farms, orchards, and forests to our global markets.

MPI works to help create a strong and sustainable future for our rural communities and to support best practice as the food and bre sector strives to achieve its ambitions for growth and prosperity.

To help support our farmers, producers and growers, MPI sta will be at Fieldays to explain the wide range of services available to them – including On Farm Support, farm advisory services, Māori agribusiness, animal welfare advice, and information about on-farm veri cation and stock assessments.

Exports of primary industry products are critical to New Zealand‘s economy, and MPI helps food and bre producers to maintain the quality and reputation needed to compete on the global stage. That in turn supports export growth.

Our export advisers will be on-site to help make it easier for farmers and growers understand export requirements and chart new pathways to send their products to international markets.

The latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report will provide an update on the export performance of the food and bre sector – and the road ahead.

Fieldays is also the ultimate platform to highlight cutting-edge innovation across the food and bre sector, and MPI collaborates with a wide range of industry partners to develop new products and technological solutions to drive growth in the primary sector.

A particular focus of MPI’s Fieldays site this year will be showcasing the growth opportunities and innovations under way to further energise New Zealand’s strong-wool sector.

From carpets and throws to felt toys, building materials and even cosmetics, the immense potential and versatility of wool will be on show with case studies from industry organisations such as Bremworth and Wisewool.

Protecting our environment, our economy, and our way of life is also crucial for helping to strengthen our country’s future. Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and we all have a role to play in keeping harmful pests and diseases

MPI will showcase innovation and best practice for farmers and growers, highlight its support services, and promote an agile and diverse workforce at Fieldays.

out of New Zealand.

As part of this, Biosecurity New Zealand will have an interactive display to show Fieldays visitors – and particularly the younger ones – the best practices to help protect New Zealand’s future wellbeing.

Animal welfare will also be a focus, with visitors to MPI’s Fieldays site invited to take part in another interactive display that will highlight what they can do to protect their animals from weather-related problems and heat or cold stress.

Interactive displays from New Zealand Food

Science for Farmers site to showcase world-leading innovation

A one-stop shop showcasing some of New Zealand’s best science and innovation to help boost on-farm pro tability, protect the environment, and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions will be at National Fieldays 2024.

The ‘Science for Farmers’ site is a new collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) On Farm Support service and research partners AgResearch, AgriZeroNZ, LIC, Manaaki Whenua –Landcare Research, Massey University, and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC).

MPI’s On Farm Support director and chief science adviser, Dr John Roche, says the initiative aims to better connect scientists and researchers with farmers and growers on the ground.

“The Science for Farmers site will enable farmers and growers to learn rsthand about the science helping New Zealand’s agricultural sector to become even more e cient and adapt to change,” Dr Roche says.

“It will have interactive features giving farmers more information about practical actions that can be taken now to reduce on-farm emissions. Importantly, it will provide details about tools and technology being developed to help the sector in the future.”

The site will cover pasture, genetics, and other mitigation tools that can sustainably increase on-farm pro tability, while improving long-term business resilience.

“A diverse pastures exhibit will see Massey University and AgResearch share the science and innovation behind the latest pastoral practices giving farmers options around their most important

home-grown feed,” Dr Roche says.

“Breeding climate-friendly sheep and cattle that can reduce emissions without sacri cing productivity is the focus of a segment presented by LIC and AgResearch.

“An exhibit hosted by AgriZeroNZ and NZAGRC will share information on what’s coming next, with future potential tools and the research pathways behind successful, adoptable emission reduction options, environmental stewardship, and the latest research investments.

On Farm Support director and chief science adviser Dr John Roche and team members will be on hand at the ‘Science for Farmers’ site at Fieldays.

“Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research is also part of the site and will give farmers and growers practical tips to increase soil carbon and build resilience to climate change such as small plantings of diverse trees.”

An interactive display at the site, delivered by On Farm Support regional advisers, will also help farmers understand what their emissions are today and steps they could take going forward to reduce them.

Safety will highlight best practice on how people can keep themselves and their whanau safe.

Visitors can also learn about the forestry sector from multiple organisations and companies under one roof at the Fieldays Forestry Hub, backed by Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service. The hub is a dedicated space giving visitors the chance to explore the many facets and range of opportunities within forestry and wood processing.

MPI site: PD44 Forestry hub: Site G80

Finding your place in food and fibre

The food and bre sector powers New Zealand’s economy, with export revenue hitting more than $57.4 billion last year.

At the heart of that success is an agile and diverse workforce working to help drive growth and build new momentum.

MPI is once again supporting the Fieldays team this year to deliver the Careers and Education Hub at Mystery Creek, to highlight the wide range of job opportunities available throughout the primary sector.

The Fieldays Careers and Education Hub is a place for school and tertiary students, job seekers and visitors to discover food and bre career pathways and to help them consider options for joining a thriving and essential part of New Zealand’s economy.

Presentations and interactive displays from a range of education providers and sector groups – including Fonterra – will showcase career pathways for all those interested in nding their place within New Zealand’s primary sectors.

The Careers and Education Hub will help visitors explore employment opportunities – from on-farm roles, science and technology, and animal welfare, to business management, marketing, and research and development.

Events planned include panel discussions highlighting opportunities and experiences for women within the primary industries, and talks speaking to the potential of youth in New Zealand’s food and bre sector to help propel our products into global markets.

Visitors to Mystery Creek will also be able to use the Fieldays Careers and Education Trail on the Fieldays App to explore more information about opportunities from exhibitors across the wider site.

Biosecurity New Zealand detector dogs will be at the MPI Fieldays hub.

South Americans seek out sustainability

Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Forestry

ASTRONG South American presence at this year’s Fieldays reflects growing interest from the continent in what New Zealand can offer its farmers seeking out more sustainable, traceable farming practices to meet market demands.

Stephen Blair, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s (NZTE) newly appointed regional manager for South America, said he has already registered interest from Uruguay and Chile, while NZTE’s business development manager based in São Paulo will also be accompanying delegates.

“NZTE has for many years had an international visitors centre, and we will be presenting at a global insights workshop while at Mystery Creek,” he said.

Blair said agriculture is one of three areas NZTE is focusing upon in South America, along with manufacturing and technology. Agritech, he said, encompasses all three.

“We have a good number of NZ companies we work hands-on with in the agritech space, more than 30, and a number of others that we assist to be part of that pipeline.” Companies including Waikato Milking Systems, FIL and Gallagher have a long-established reputation in South America, and have often played integral roles in countries like Chile in converting farmers to pasture-based systems.

Sustainability and traceability are becoming part of the lexicon for South American farmers as their export market customers demand greater proof of product provenance.

“The hunt is on for technology to lift both. The EU has such strict rules now and that is who Brazilian beef farmers are exporting to, including the hides of animals for the leather trade.

“It is shifting the rules on where cattle are raised, and questioning them closer on what was there before the cattle.”

The European Union passed a deforestation law in May this year requiring producers of cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, and wood to provide proof that their supply chain is entirely free of deforestation.

Brazil is the largest meat exporter in the world, there is a great opportunity there for NZ to play a role in helping them become smarter and more sustainable.

Stephen Blair New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

GPS mapping and satellite imaging are all expected to play a part in identifying farms that meet the laws.

He said interest is likely to

be strong among the South Americans in technology like Gallagher’s eShepherd collar system that allows remotely controlled free range grazing.

Blair said it is also a timely effort, given this year marks the 60th year of NZ-Brazilian diplomatic ties.

“The visit also fits well with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes Chile, Peru and Mexico.”

NZ has also signed a memorandum of understanding for trade with Ecuador.

He is also heartened by renewed discussions about the possibility of a direct air link between Brazil and NZ.

At present travel there requires a stopover in Santiago, Chile, before connecting to another flight.

Blair said with the government aiming to double the value of NZ’s exports over the coming decade, stronger ties with large populous nations including the likes of Brazil are vital.

“And Brazil is the largest meat

exporter in the world. There is a great opportunity there for NZ to play a role in helping them become smarter and more sustainable.

LINKS: Stephen Blair says with the government aiming to double the value of NZ’s exports over the coming decade, stronger ties with large populous nations including the likes of Brazil are vital.

We have the tech that helps with waste reduction, water use and livestock monitoring and wellbeing.”

GREENER: NZ has the technology to help South American farmers meet rapidly advancing requirements from their customers for traceability and improved sustainability, says Stephen Blair, NZTE’s regional manager for South America.

Short rotation an option for some growers to power a greener grid

Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Forestry

WHILE a 30-year rotation is often accepted as the norm for exotic forestry, research led by Scion has shown promising opportunities in shortening that rotation to tap into bioenergy production opportunities.

The results of a two-year research project will form part of the research organisation’s work display at this year’s Mystery Creek Fieldays.

It will include a “how to” guide for farmers and silviculturists wanting to consider their short rotation options.

Forest carbon scientist and silviculturist Alan Jones said Scion’s modelling shows using short rotation forests as feed stock for bioenergy has the potential to replace 6% of New Zealand’s annual fossil fuel demand, off less than 1% of its land area.

Short rotation forestry (SRF) is defined as a forestry practice that grows trees on a shorter than usual rotation, typically based on 12-18 years compared to the 28-30 year cycle.

Scion’s research is recommending SRF can be established on lower value land, typically that with a Land Use Capability rating of Class 5 to 7, in locations where transport distances to processing locations can be minimised.

Regions Scion has highlighted include the central North Island,

Northland, the east coast and Otago.

Thanks to its versatility, robustness and fast growth rates, P radiata is recommended across all growing areas but other options include eucalyptus for its ability to rapidly yield large volumes of woody biomass from young trees.

Trees are generally planted in dense stands and managed to intensify rates of wood production for renewable energy, including wood pellets, or liquid biofuels for marine and aviation sectors.

Acting as a feedstock for biofuel production, SRF has the ability to provide a steady supply for energy production, while also reducing GHG emissions by displacing fossil fuels and promoting carbon sequestration in the form of sustainably harvested living trees.

“We have built on research from a decade ago and assessed the feasibility of rapidly upscaling

bioenergy production from forests.

“We have found there are particular regions well suited to SRF, which provides a real opportunity for communities to transform their economic base and reshape NZ’s energy future,” Jones said.

Industry interest in biofuels as an energy source has been growing with the move to remove coal from NZ’s industrial energy profile, with operators like Fonterra opting for electricity and wood-fired sources to power boilers.

Late last year Genesis labelled its trial of wood pellets imported from Canada as a success in its

Huntly coal fired boiler, reporting minimum efficiency loss for the 90% reduction in emissions that resulted.

Huntly alone contributes to half of the NZ energy sector’s GHG creation, and accounts for about 4% of the country’s total emissions.

The BioEnergy Association of NZ estimates that as a fuel source bioenergy from the likes of forestry is estimated to be capable of meeting 100% of the country’s fossil fuel energy needs by 2050, including all imported LPG.

of growth rates, optimal density, and tree health for different species, including Pinus radiata and eucalyptus varieties.

The collaboration represents a step in moving from theoretical models to practical implementation, addressing the complexities and uncertainties associated with on-the-ground application.

INFORMED: Scion’s short rotation forestry handbook will be available at Mystery Creek for farmers and silviculturists considering their planting options.

Providing bio-methane as a fuel source to fuel gas turbine generators will also help reduce the reliance upon wind and solar, while still meeting renewables expectations.

Present market conditions limit the value of bioenergy forest feedstock, often further compromised by land cost and distance to processing facilities. Scion’s analysis proposes integrating the Emissions Trading Scheme carbon value of standing trees into SRF forests, providing additional incentives for investment.

Scion is collaborating with the Ministry for Primary Industries on developing designs for forest bioenergy trials.

These trials will involve testing

We have found there are particular regions well suited to SRF which provides a real opportunity for communities to transform their economic base and reshape NZ’s energy future.

Alan Jones Scion

By 2035, one scenario suggests, 150,000 hectares of dedicated bioenergy forest could contribute to at least 5% of domestic energy demand, displacing the equivalent of 3 Mt of CO2 emissions from oil combustion per year, or 4 Mt CO2 from coal.

Scion will be based in the Forestry Hub at Mystery Creek.

ENERGY: Scion’s Alan Jones says short rotation forestry provides another valuable land use option that could also help meet NZ’s sustainable energy needs.

The Farmer’s Voice makes itself heard

“It’s time we had better farming conversations where your voice matters.”

THE Farmer’s Voice, an initiative of Farmers Weekly publisher AgriHQ, will be showcased at this year’s Fieldays as part of the Rural Advocacy Hub, which brings together organisations that champion the interests of farming.

The Farmer’s Voice acts as a tool to facilitate better farming conversations.

At Fieldays, it will be asking attendees about their thoughts on the farming sector.

Farmers Weekly publisher and AgriHQ CEO Dean Williamson said The Farmer’s Voice is about establishing a framework for New Zealand farmers to speak up and share their thoughts on farmingrelated issues.

“The Farmer’s Voice is a new community for New Zealand farmers to participate in a range of surveys and discussions that will help give insight to leadership, inform decision-making, and take our industry forward,” he said.

“By joining The Farmer’s Voice, you’ll be working with AgriHQ and partners to provide more measurable transparency around the issues you’re experiencing, and you can expect greater accountability as a result.

It’s time we had better farming conversations where your voice matters.

Dean Williamson AgriHQ

CONVERSATIONS: Farmers Weekly publisher and AgriHQ CEO Dean Williamson said The Farmer’s Voice is about establishing a framework for New Zealand farmers to speak up and share their thoughts on farming-related issues.

At the Rural Advocacy Hub The Farmer’s Voice will be with other organisations that champion the interests of farming.

The hub was formed as a partnership between Federated Farmers and the New Zealand National Fieldays Society (NZNFS).

It will serve as a central platform for discussions, announcements and initiatives to amplify the voices and concerns of the country’s farmers and rural communities.

With almost a dozen exhibitors in its inaugural year, there will be strong representation for farmers and diversity of representation.

Exhibitors include Federated Farmers, Young Farmers, Groundswell, Rural Women and Future Farmers NZ.

NZNFS chief executive Peter Nation said it’s great to be able to work alongside Federated Farmers to deliver a dedicated advocacy space.

“This new hub delivers on Fieldays’ purpose of advancing agriculture through both education and collaboration.

“We know it’s incredibly tough out there this year. It’s never been more important for farmers to be heard and to have advocates amplifying their voice.”

Federated Farmer president Wayne Langford said the hub builds on Federated Farmers’

for

and concerns

vision to unite rural advocacy groups as one team supporting farmers.

“Farmers want to see the different advocacy groups who represent them working together constructively to get the best outcomes we can for our rural communities.

“If we work as a team, with everyone playing in the right position, we can achieve a lot more for farmers than any one organisation can working alone.

and

“We’ve all got our own positions and roles to play in the team, but we need to be working together and communicating well or we risk knocking the ball on. This hub will bring all of those players together under one roof for the first time and we look forward to continuing to build on the concept in future years.”

MORE:

The hub is located on site D70, in the Gallagher Building.

PLATFORM: The Rural Advocacy Hub at Fieldays will serve as a central platform

discussions, announcements

initiatives to amplify the voices

of the country’s farmers and rural communities.

Hybrid ute with extras to be unveiled

Gerald Piddock TECHNOLOGY Transport

ONE of the first hybrid utes to be commercially available in New Zealand is set to unveiled at Fieldays by Transport Minister Simeon Brown.

You’re able to use the electricity in the car and plug straight into the deck and run an electric weed eater, barbecue – anything from the car.

Warren Willmot BYD

The new vehicle from Chinabased company BYD is the BYD Shark and was first unveiled in Mexico on May 14.

BYD NZ manager Warren Willmot said the ute “redefines what a utility vehicle is”.

The Shark has dual mode offroad technology, which he said is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

“The ute drives like an electric car. There’s also a 1.5 litre petrol engine in there that as well as turning the wheels, acts as a generator.

“You’re able to use the electricity in the car and plug straight into the deck and run an electric weed eater, barbecue – anything from the car.”

This allows farmers to use the ute as a battery to power electric

REVEALED: The BYD Shark as pictured on the company’s Instagram page. The vehicle is expected to be unveiled at Fieldays.

tools for jobs out on the farm, he said.

The electric battery has a range of about 100km and the engine, 900km.

It has a 2.5 tonne towing capacity, an 860kg payload capacity and is fully off-road, having been designed for New Zealand and Australian conditions.

The vehicle is slightly larger than

a Ford Ranger and has both AC and DC charging.

“It’s probably the first time in the world that a ute has been designed for this market.

“It’s 500 horsepower. It’s zero to 100km/hour in 5.5 seconds, it’s cutting edge technology and the battery is super sustainable –they’ll last 100 years – at least 30 years in the car.

“It’s designed to be off-road and compete against the very best of the industry and it’s fully loaded with BYD technology. It’s a battery and a computer on wheels that happens to be a ute as well.”

Willmot said people can reserve a production slot for the Shark at Fieldays with production starting on the ute in September and delivery expected in October.

Prizes and prototypes at DairyNZ site

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY Dairy

DAIRYNZ has cutting edge innovations at its site, as well as something for the kids and something to win.

People may also notice that DairyNZ is doing things differently, as it sharpens its focus to make the levy the best investment of every New Zealand dairy farmer.

Innovations showcased at its site include the latest from its Reducing Sprains and Strains project, which were co-designed with farmers.

Also on site will be the EasyEntry Calf Trailer Gate and Easy-

Access Calf Pen Gate prototypes, which are now being produced by Kea Trailers and Gallagher, respectively. The Milk Bucket Trolley prototype will also be on site.

Our DairyBase programme is celebrating its 20th anniversary, with the team ready to show how they can support farmers through the online platform, including where they may sit on regional benchmarking graphs.

Farmers can also learn more about how to enhance waterways on their farms. This includes the benefits of adopting a holistic approach to waterways, supporting biodiversity, and looking at the positive drivers of waterway health.

On Saturday June 15, bring the

kids along to meet dairy farmer and author Rachel Numan, who will be reading her Tractor Dave books onsite from 10am to 11am. There will be an opportunity for a lucky listener to win a set of the books at each of the three readings.

DairyNZ is also giving farmers the chance to win this Fieldays. At its stand people can go in the draw to win one of two eDNA kits, with a DairyNZ team member to support them every step of the way on farm.

If farmers sign up to DairyBase at Fieldays and complete the Level 1 questionnaire, they will go in the draw to win a 20-yearold bottle of Scotch whisky as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations. Farmers who are

already registered with DairyBase just need to visit the DairyNZ stand in the main pavilion to go into the draw.

TIME: Dairy farmer and author Rachel Numan, who will be reading her Tractor Dave books at the DairyNZ site from 10am to 11am on Saturday June 15.

STORY

It’s business time at Mystery Creek

FIELDAYS is set to once again offer opportunities for both local and international businesses with its New Zealand International Business Centre.

Located at the heart of the event, the NZIBC will serve as a central point for international visitors, exhibitors, delegates and VIPs to build connections in a bid to drive economic growth in the industry in New Zealand and overseas.

“We welcome all participants, and we continue our commitment to provide a platform to facilitate meaningful conversations and introductions that support us in playing a vital part in driving industry advancement,” NZ National Fieldays Society CEO Peter Nation said.

The NZIBC, hosted by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

– Te Taurapa Tūhono (NZTE) and representing a diverse array of business support agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Manatū

Aorere, Callaghan Innovation’s specialist team and Treasury’s New Zealand Export Credit, provides a space for attendees to network and collaborate.

No 8 Wire art award takes a break this year

innovation,” said Peter Nation, CEO of the New Zealand National Fieldays Society.

THE organisers of the Fieldays No 8 Wire

National Art Awards have opted to take a hiatus in 2024 to rejuvenate and restructure the programme after 27 years.

The break aims to refresh and invigorate the initiative, ensuring its future as a significant tribute to Kiwi creativity in the arts.

“We’ve chosen to pause this year to replenish our energy and uphold the enduring importance of this homage to Kiwi artistic

The awards spotlight and honour artworks embodying the “No 8 wire” spirit, showcasing

We’ve chosen to pause this year to replenish our energy and uphold the enduring importance of this homage to Kiwi artistic innovation.

Peter Nation NZ National Fieldays Society

innovation, resourcefulness, and the essence of New Zealand. Artists are annually challenged to create artworks using No 8 wire and other agricultural materials.

Following the hiatus in 2024, the awards are scheduled to resume in 2025 with a fresh perspective.

This presents a unique sponsorship opportunity for organisations and businesses wanting to align with the art world and the ethos of No 8 wire.

“We’re excited about potentially engaging new sponsors for 2025 who share our enthusiasm for creativity, problem-solving, and the celebration of New Zealand’s can-do spirit,” Nation said.

Richard Cotman, NZTE’s sector lead for manufacturing, technology and services, said Fieldays presents a unique global platform for NZ agritech.

His team will be available to assist international visitors in finding the solutions and expertise they seek.

“We are also providing New Zealand exhibitors and businesses with the opportunity to explore global agritech opportunities, including markets where NZ solutions are highly regarded and in demand.”

International visitors can connect with NZ’s food and fibre producers exhibiting at Fieldays, opening doors to potential export ventures and market expansions.

The NZIBC will facilitate B2B meetings, leveraging the expertise of its supporters and government agencies to navigate regulatory landscapes and access incentives and support mechanisms.

Educational seminars will

provide insights into the latest agricultural trends and developments, empowering attendees to apply new knowledge to practices in their respective markets.

We are providing New Zealand exhibitors and businesses with the opportunity to explore global agritech opportunities, including markets where NZ solutions are highly regarded and in demand.

Richard Cotman

New

Zealand Trade and Enterprise

International participants are encouraged to register with Fieldays to maximise their access to key agencies, exclusive events, and helpful sessions. This can be done via the International page on the Fieldays website.

BUSINESS CENTRAL: The New Zealand International Business Centre at Fieldays will serve as a central point to build connections in a bid to drive economic growth in the industry in NZ and overseas.

AWARDS: Auckland artist Gina Ferguson was the 2021 No 8 Wire National Art Award winner.

Researchers keen to try on their genes

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY Genetics

GRESEARCH scientists

Awill be showcasing genetic technologies while also gauging people’s feelings about their use when it fronts up at National Fieldays.

Technologies such as genetic modification (GM) and gene editing (GEd) have been the subject of debate for decades, and recently there have been calls for changes to regulation to allow their greater use in New Zealand.

We know that having acceptance from farmers who may use the modified pasture... will be critical as the landscape changes for use of these technologies.

Axel Heiser AgResearch

The coalition government has signalled that a process to change the laws around use of these technologies is likely to begin later this year, with the introduction of legislation to Parliament.

In the area of farming and food production, work has been

underway in NZ – largely confined to labs or glasshouses due to current regulations – to look at the potential of GM or GEd to provide enhanced pasture for increased productivity, animal health, and reduced environmental impacts.

“We see the National Fieldays as a great opportunity to talk directly to farmers and other visitors about the work that is going on, and what the opportunities and risks are,” AgResearch chief scientist Axel Heiser said.

“We know that having acceptance from farmers who may use the modified pasture, and other affected communities in New Zealand, will be critical as the landscape changes for use of these technologies.

“We’ll be doing an informal poll to gauge people’s thoughts on the issues. Additionally, the personal conversations we have with visitors will be extremely valuable.”

The work AgResearch is doing with commercial partners on GM and GEd technologies includes the modification of ryegrass and clover by introducing genes from other plants.

High metabolisable energy (HME) ryegrass is seen as having potential to reduce methane emissions from livestock by more than 10%, as is the high-

we keep working at it,” Heiser said.

ONE TO ONE: AgResearch chief scientist

Axel Heiser says Fieldays is a great opportunity to talk directly to farmers and other visitors about the work that is going on, and what the opportunities and risks are around genetic modification.

result in serious harm or death.

“We know climate change and building climate resilience is front of mind for many people now, so if there are further tools science can deliver to farmers to help with this, then it’s important

In another programme using these technologies, endophytes (fungi) that live inside ryegrass are being gene-edited to maximise their ability to deter insect pests, while also reducing the toxicity they can sometimes cause in animals feeding on the endophytecontaining ryegrass.

AgResearch will this year be sharing a stand at Fieldays with another Crown Research Institute, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research.

Another feature will be research on the practice of deferred grazing and the proven benefits it can offer livestock farmers, with some interactive elements for visitors to the stand.

condensed tannins white clover, which is also expected to reduce the incidence of bloat in livestock, a condition that can

Innovation awards entries hit their highest in a decade

year’s awards promise to showcase some of the most innovative ideas and technologies in line to launch into the agricultural industry.

PARTICIPANT numbers for the Fieldays Innovation awards have reached a 10-year high with 64 entries this year.

The participants have made it to the next stage of judging, and are a step closer to a share of a total prize package of cash, services and products worth more than $70,000 to help launch or accelerate their new product.

Showcased at the Fieldays 2024 Innovation Hub, the awards are the ultimate launch platform for primary innovation in New Zealand and a globally renowned programme.

Judged by a panel of 15 sector experts who represent a wide range of experience from around the NZ innovation eco-system, this

Fieldays programme manager

Steve Chappell said it is superb to see so many great entries of such a high calibre.

“I’m really impressed with the ideas coming through this year, and I’m sure the visitors and investors will be too,” Chappell said.

Entries ranged from something as modest in size as a wool plaster to something as large as an autonomous grapevine pruner, and come from as far away as Ireland and as close to Mystery Creek as Hamilton.

There are 27 participants in the prototype category, 21 in the early-stage category and 16 in the growth & scale category.

Five participants are also in the running for the Young Innovator

of the Year award for entrants 19 years old and under.

This year’s awards see the introduction of a new judging process, with first round judging happening currently, and a short list of finalists in each category due to be announced soon.

Those finalists will participate in both an online judging preevent, and onsite judging at Fieldays.

This year a special twist will be added to the awards: a People’s Choice award, Chappell said.

IMPRESSED: Fieldays programme manager

with the ideas coming through

and is sure visitors and investors will be too.

Dual Fieldays focus for University of Waikato

Waikato Medical School.

THE University of Waikato will have a presence in two areas at Fieldays this year, the Health Hub and the Innovation Hub.

At the Health Hub, the university will be promoting its wider health offering including its nursing programme, its new programmes in pharmacy and midwifery set to launch next year, and its proposal for a

Under the theme Responding to New Zealand’s Health Workforce Needs, the university is inviting people to complete one or more short online surveys on general practitioners, maternity, nursing and

The grapevine pruner robot that ensures consistent, quality pruning decisions.

pharmacy about their access to healthcare and time taken to get an appointment with a GP, to name a few.

The results will be displayed on a screen in real time and from here, the data will be used to spark conversation. The university’s biomedical sciences human torso will also be at the stand as an interactive display.

The university’s engineering team will be on site in the Innovation Hub showcasing its robotics.

“All participants are in the running for this award.

“The innovator with the most votes will take home $2000 cash prize from Fieldays, while one lucky voter will win a voucher for $500.

“Visitors can vote by tapping their Fieldays Smart Band at the kiosk located inside the Fieldays Innovation Hub during the event.

I’m really impressed with the ideas coming through this year, and I’m sure the visitors and investors will be too.

Steve Chappell Fieldays

The participants’ innovations can be viewed at the Fieldays Innovation Hub Additionally, the Fieldays Innovation Trail layer can be turned on in the Fieldays App to explore Innovation awards entries at the exhibitor’s sites.

Steve Chappell says he’s impressed

this year,

Memories are made of this

Staff reporter MARKETS Community

EVERY year, more than 100,000 people head to Mystery Creek for New Zealand’s four-day agrievent Fieldays.

Visitors look forward to the return of fan-favourite attractions like the various Fieldays competitions and a chance to see the latest innovation and technology on offer.

It’s also the perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends and family.

Regardless of who you talk to, and regardless of where they come from, it seems just about everybody has a Fieldays memory or story.

Whether it’s attending as a child on the back of their granddad’s shoulders, getting mud all over their boots during a particularly wet year or wandering up and down the streets checking out the latest utes and state-of-the-art farming equipment, the stories are plentiful.

Many visitors come from the surrounding upper North Island, but data shows that more and

more visitors are travelling from all over the country, including the bottom of the North Island and the deep south.

There are also the regular outof-town visitors, fondly referred to as the Fieldays Faithful, who make the journey to Fieldays every year.

Bronwyn Weir, from Wellington, has been attending for more than 30 years now. She first started coming down from Auckland to visit her dad who was working on site as an exhibitor.

Later, as an adult, it stayed part of the tradition. Now every year the family makes the trip to Mystery Creek to reconnect with each other and with industry friends made over the years.

Spending this time together is a treasured moment as the event also happens to coincide with some key family birthdays –including Weir’s.

Nowadays she flies to Hamilton and stays with her sister, who lives in Cambridge with her family.

The family attends at least two of the four days, continuing traditions and making memories.

The next generation are now in tow with her nine- and sevenyear-old nephews enjoying their

Being able to see those massive diggers up close blew their mind. Not even a bribe of some hot chips would help move them.

Bronwyn Weir Wellington

Fieldays visits with gumboots on and cattle sticks in hand.

The family have fond memories of the former tractor drag racing, and excavator competitions. In fact, so strong are their links to this event and the rural sector, that they proudly have a cousin who won the excavator competition as

well as another who won a regional heat in a further agricultural competition held at Fieldays.

“The boys spent most of the time around by the heavy machinery area and had a ball. Being able to see those massive diggers up close blew their mind. Not even a bribe of some hot chips would help move them,” said Weir.

“It’s not just Fieldays in their blood, it’s diesel.”

Niklaas Jacobs, from Auckland, moved to New Zealand as a retired farmer from South Africa having sold up and relocated to be closer to his children.

The 60-plus-year-old said farming will always run through his veins.

To him, Fieldays is a lifeline,

connecting him with his former life and career. Having lived on a farm his entire life, he is passionate about the industry and an event like Fieldays helps him keep his finger on the pulse, keep up to date and aware of how the sector is changing, but most of all it has become a way to keep his farming memories alive and share his stories with his family and others.

This year will be Jacobs’s 11th trip to Fieldays. He said he will never miss one and will be there rain, hail or shine. When the gates open on June 12 there will be many more folk like Weir and Jacobs walking down the hill ready to create more memories.

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS: Bronwyn Weir’s nephews Beauden and Jayden check out the heavy machinery at last year’s Fieldays.

New Zealand sheep and beef farmers are fueling our Olympians

As an official partner of the New Zealand Team, Beef + Lamb New Zealand is celebrating our amazing beef and lamb and the edge it gives our athletes.

Find out how we’re feeding the fern these Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Visit the Beef + Lamb New Zealand site at Fieldays® (No.PB48/PB50) and test your skills against one of our Olympic athletes.

Proud partner of

Surf and turf fert product to be launched

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY

Fertiliser

SEAPHOS is a new farming fertiliser being launched at Fieldays from two New Zealand companies seeking to reduce costs and increase farm productivity and nutrient efficiency.

SeaPhos combines the minerals, trace elements, amino acids, vitamins, and growth promotants found in AgriSea NZ seaweed biostimulants with phosphorus, sulphur and calcium from fertiliser company Fertco in a granulated form.

This hybrid technology (fertiliser

plus stimulant) allows farmers and growers to have sustained nutrient availability through a slow-release format while stimulating root growth and soil biology to aid in applied nutrient uptake and soil function, AgriSea CEO Clare Bradley said.

“As we uncover more and more about the role of soil biology to enhance yields and performance of our crops, we see this vital combination of biology and nutrients as a step towards helping farmers get the best out of their nutrient program for farm productivity, profitability while reducing the potential for nutrient runoff into rivers, lakes, and streams or loss to the

atmosphere as greenhouse gases.”

The granular dicalcic phosphate in Seaphos provides a more controlled form of phosphate than water soluble super phosphate, resulting in higher nutrient efficiency and lower losses to the environment.

It has a much lower dust fraction, which reduces bridging and improves safety for aerial applications.

The product’s biostimulant improves nutrient use efficiency and nutrient cycling, improves soil health and stimulates interaction between plants and soil microbes. However, it does not replace the macronutrients removed off the farm in livestock and crops. Seaphos replaces essential nutrients as well as improving availability. It can also be easily blended with other nutrients such as potassium and micronutrients.

Fertco CEO Warwick Voyce said the company invested in granulation technology for its dicalcic phosphate fertiliser range a few years ago.

“This improvement allowed us to consider including other products in our fertiliser granules. Biological stimulants is an area of particular interest to us, and the collaboration with AgriSea turbocharged our understanding and ability to innovate.

MAKEUP: SeaPhos is a combination of the minerals and elements found in AgriSea NZ seaweed biostimulants and the phosphorus, sulphur and calcium from Fertco’s products in a granulated form.

“Working with Agrisea has come very naturally as we share a vision to innovate to allow farmers to grow more and use less.”

Bradley said their collaboration with Fertco will be a key lever for the long-term sustainability of the farming industry.

“And it’s been great to see that all across the primary industry this has been happening both at government and industry level but also in businesses and areas of research collaboration.’’

Farmers are saving in application costs from either aerial or ground spread plus cartage with the reduced amount of applied product.

It provides a hybrid product working with the soil and the plants’ needs and getting an all round more efficient and ecofriendly product.

It saves time and money with a one pass application.

Farmers are looking for ways in which they can reduce the total amount of nutrients applied while maintaining their productivity and SeaPhos provides that balance of economic and environmental outcomes.

The product will be on display at AgriSea’s main site in the Pavilion as well as the Innovations site, where the company has entered it into this year’s Innovation Awards.

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DELIVERY: SeaPhos being loaded onto a truck for delivery. The product is a combination of minerals and elements from seaweed and phosphorus, sulphur and calcium.

Volunteers the heart and soul of the operation

taking a break from the farm or city dwellers exploring rural life.

FIELDAYS brings together farmers, innovators, industry leaders and rural enthusiasts.

But it’s not only the visitors who make Fieldays an unforgettable experience; there’s a community of volunteers who work closely with the wider event team to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

These valued volunteers dedicate their time and effort to ensure that visitors have a memorable experience and leave Fieldays having learnt something new.

Whether they have volunteered for more than 50 years or just lent a hand once, being part of the organising team for this event is an experience that leaves an indelible mark.

Chris Kay’s six-year stint as a VIP driver in the events team has done just that.

He relishes meeting different people and ensuring they enjoy their day, whether they’re farmers

But it’s the volunteer gettogethers that Kay looks forward to the most – breakfasts, lunches and shared moments of connection.

His advice to future volunteers is simple:

“Enjoy what you do and know you are making a difference in your community.”

Alexandra Perry joined the Fieldays Event Team as a volunteer in 2016 and has been an integral part of it ever since.

Assisting visitors at the Information Booth, a crucial place for seeking guidance, Perry said her passion for Fieldays runs deep. “Since I was young, Fieldays has always been a special place for me. When I saw the opportunity to volunteer (2016 was the first year I was old enough), I knew I had to help out,” Perry said.

It’s a busy week, with very early starts, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Wendy Morgan Fieldays volunteer

• Honda ATV range

• Pioneer side-by-side range

• Two-wheel farm bikes

• MX and Kids range

• Honda Outdoors power equipment

• Honda Marine range

Last year, she had the privilege of working as a second-in-command, which was another great learning experience.

What she loves most about volunteering is the camaraderie,

the chance to catch up with fellow volunteers and staff she’s known since her very first event.

Wendy Morgan, who has been volunteering at Fieldays for 26 years, said that it’s more than just an event for her; it’s a chance to catch up with long-time friends.

She has worn many hats throughout her volunteering journey, from being part of the Fieldays Fencing committee to

serving on the judging panel for the Exhibitor Site Awards.

For Morgan, the best part of working at the event is 4pm on Saturday, she laughs. “It’s a busy week, with very early starts, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

And her advice to future volunteers?

“It’s easy to avoid the traffic if you arrive early before 6.30 am and wait until after 6pm to leave.”

COMMUNITY: Fieldays has a community of volunteers who work closely with the wider event team to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

It’s a buyer’s market for tractors

Gerald Piddock TECHNOLOGY Transport

IT’S a buyer’s market for farm machinery in New Zealand as dealers grapple with high stock inventories caused by the economic downturn.

The situation is a complete reversal to the shipping issues facing the industry during the height of the covid lockdown, which led to long delays in machinery arriving in the country. That supply challenge has flipped, Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) president Jaiden Drought said.

What we are seeing is that the 200Hp plus tractors are significantly down compared to this time last year.

Jaiden Drought Tractor and Machinery Association

“It was a bit of a perfect storm in some ways.”

The holding costs for that stock, given where interest rates were at, made this a potential burden for them.

This was applicable not just to tractors but across all farm machinery. For farmers and contractors, it has become more of a buyer’s market, Drought said.

With Fieldays just around the corner, dealers will be looking forward to showcasing the latest machinery.

He predicted there should be good pricing with competitive interest rate deals that people will be trying to lure buyers in with.

On-farm inflation and high interest costs have seen tractor purchases fall as farmers look to cut their spending.

Drought said uncertain commodity prices and the general lack of confidence among farmers are also taking their toll as people take a “wait and see” approach to their spending decisions.

For the year to April, sales of tractors over 200Hp were down 53% while tractor sales across the board were back 24.4%.

“It’s nearly tracking twice as much as the average. But if you look at this time last year compared to the year before, we’re

overall well over 1000 tractors down.”

However, bucking the gloomy economic forecast were April sales, which were up 3.4% for the month of April compared to 12 months ago, with 211 tractors sold compared to 204 in 2023.

The bulk of the vehicles being sold ranged from 100-200Hp and were sold across both islands, he said.

“What we are seeing is that the 200Hp plus tractors are significantly down compared to this time last year.”

Drought said the medium-term outlook is still good as it appears on-farm inflation is tracking down.

Dairy prices are looking solid with banks predicting forecasts over $8/kg milk solids. If those predictions hold firm, it should

lead to more optimism in the market, he said.

“The short to medium outlook for some of the commodities in NZ agriculture are starting to look a lot better than they were six months ago.

“It’s definitely not all bad.”

DEALS: TAMA president Jaiden Drought says there should good pricing with competitive interest rate deals for farm machinery at this year’s Fieldays.

ATTENTION: Farm machinery displays will attract plenty of attention at the upcoming Fieldays.

SHOWCASE: With Fieldays just around the corner, dealers will be looking forward to showcasing the latest machinery, says TAMA president Jaiden Drought.

Sector Focus

‘I will go to NZ and be a real farmer again’

Annette Scott ON FARM Succession

HEN Steven

WBierema was on a student exchange trip to Australia from the Netherlands, he heard the Mid Canterbury region of New Zealand had good prosperous cropping soils, with water.

Still not certain of what his future would be, he returned to the family farm he had been brought up on – an intensive cropping and horticulture farm.

“Farm sizes are much smaller in the Netherlands, we were very intensive crop and horticulture with specialised seed potatoes, carrots, sugar beet and tulips with our own processing and storage,” he said.

“Very different to the vastness of NZ.”

After eight years on the board of Agrico, a powerful co-operative and a force for innovation within the potato sector, creating, strengthening and increasing the sustainability of potato value chains to destinations around the world, Steven had a rethink about his future, with NZ springing to mind.

“It was what will I do from here, go to NZ and be a real farmer again,” he remembered deciding.

In 2004, together with his wife Freda and their three sons, the family headed for the “down under and prosperous soils of Mid Canterbury”.

Twenty years on there have been no regrets.

“The climate allows for a lot more here, especially for offseason production, than a lot of other countries in a farming sense.

“We started a whole new farming business, redeveloped the whole farm and learnt the cropping scene in NZ.”

The farm, Leafmore, is a 500 hectare cropping and livestock operation near Rakaia on the Canterbury Plains.

Steven immersed himself in all he could “to learn as quick as I could about cropping with water in Mid Canterbury”.

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) became a key source of information and learning.

“It was the desire to learn the right things the right way that led me to FAR and that has been a huge source of information as we developed the farm system.”

Steven has been on the FAR board for seven years with the past three as chair, and on the water front his learning and involvement now have him a director of Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Ltd (ALIL).

“We believe we [FAR] are on top of where the industry is going but aware as an arable sector we must invest in our own future. We cannot wait for others to invest in

our industry’s future because it’s not going to happen.”

FAR’s new initiative, Cultivate Ventures, is set up as an investment vehicle to deliver “a modern version of a co-operative” where individuals participate by choice.

“I am convinced we will deliver, but still the market has to work, just like our own farm.”

With farm succession successfully completed 18 months ago, Steven has more time for his board work, though he likes to still be available to help his son Pieter

Taco (PT) and there’s not many days he misses a trip out to the farm from his “townie house” on the outskirts of Ashburton.

Steven believes getting off farm and leaving PT “to run the show” has been key in the succession.

“The next generation are not kids anymore. We had a family meeting with our three sons. With only PT interested in the farm, it was then for me about letting go the reins.

“The opportunity to move to town came at the right time and it’s working.

“PT makes the decisions on the day-to-day running of the farm. The business has not changed but not everything gets done the way it used to – but you must accept that, and change is not necessarily all bad.

“I still have my responsibilities, namely the spraying and then help when called, sometimes not always making it on time. I do get distracted with board work these days, but most days I’m out to the farm for something.

“If parents are in a lucky situation that they have a successor they have to be willing to make it work. There is no place for two chiefs and no Indians.”

PT was nine years old when the family moved to Mid Canterbury so has grown up on the family farm that he now runs.

“Succession can be hard work. People still call Dad seeming to be non-accepting he is not the one making the decisions anymore,”

PT said.

That aside, PT has a good handle on his intensive cropping and livestock farming systems and the way forward.

The 500ha farm is fully irrigated under a combination of the ALIL scheme and bore water, growing small seeds, clover, ryegrass, Asian brassicas, pak choi and mustard together with garden and marrowfat peas, wheat, barley and maize for silage with ground leased out for potatoes and export lilies.

This is all worked into a six-year cropping rotation operating two lateral irrigators and five pivots.

“There’s a lot of variety and we can pick contracts as they come about. We grow with merchants that we have grown with for a very long time. We are not chasing the market and are consistent in our approach.

“I have a gut feeling that pays off,” PT said.

Winter grazing of livestock plays

SUPPORT: Steven Bierema likes to still be available to help his son Pieter Taco (PT) Bierema, and there’s not many days he misses a trip out to the farm from his ‘townie house’ on the outskirts of Ashburton.

an important role on the farm, which is fully cropped in summer.

“We trade 4000-6000 lambs and they are all on now for this winter and will be offloaded August through October under contract to Anzco, the meat company that we have supplied for 20 years.

“We also winter-graze dairy cows with the livestock rotation working very well for us.”

PT said finishing lambs is closely linked with ryegrass, with the lambs grazed on former clover seed paddocks until the end of May and off the ryegrass paddocks,

Diversification is the strength of our business, with the different revenue streams of crops, lambs and cows all playing in different markets.

PT Bierema Ashburton

which are closed for seed production by mid-October.

Left to regrow after being harvested in February, these paddocks produce 3000kg of dry matter a hectare and after grazing are sown in milling wheat, using the extra nitrogen in the soil from the nitrogen-fixing clover.

The lambs are grazed on greenfeed oats in the winter, which are drilled after either peas or cereal crops, while the cows are winter-grazed on kale and some short rotation Italian ryegrass after peas.

“It sounds complicated, but it isn’t. The cropping and the lambs in winter really complement each other.

“We try to maximise it as much as possible with the farm in full production all year.”

Everything is done “in-house”

Continued next page

Photos: Annette Scott

IN CHARGE: PT Bierema was nine years old when the family moved to Mid Canterbury, so he has grown up on the family farm that he now runs.

Holding our own in a world of seed and grain

A sector that encompasses far more than pastures and crops is increasingly essential to meeting global food needs – and NZ is right there at the forefront.

Sector perspective

Charlotte Connoley Connoley is president of the New Zealand Grain & Seed Trade Association

THE acronyms of the organisations and the systems that represent the seed and grain industries in New Zealand are enough to wallpaper the inside of your silo: NZGSTA, NZPBRA, NZSA, SGRR, SIRC, AFIC, FAR, FFA, UWG, CPT, AIMI, FSSS, SCID, SCIS, APSA, ISF, ISTA to name a few. It may be asked whether all of these bodies are necessary.

But with an industry whose diversification has evolved significantly over the pasts two decades in particular, and for which global demand continues to grow (the industry’s compound annual growth rate is in the region of 6.5%), they each serve a valid purpose for industry stakeholders. Does some rationalisation of our industry organisations need

Continued from previous page

other than using the services of a baling contractor and a livestock transporter.

“We dry and store our own seed and do a bit for third parties too.”

PT said while it’s tough at the moment, it’s a case of riding the ebbs and flows of the industry with the biggest challenges currently being the scarcity of contracts amid the economic conditions, inflation and high interest rates.

“The long-term plan is how much debt level you are comfortable with and riding it out.

“We think we have a very good business plan and we have slowed down this year with machinery replacement.

“We are in a reasonably solid crop rotation and being realistic. Not every year does every crop perform though all crops

to occur? More than likely. As we work towards what that might look like, one thing is certain: we will ensure all parts of our diverse industry continue to be represented.

Wrongly, in my opinion, the seed and grain industries are referenced as “arable”, which for me primarily conjures up the production of cereals, pulses, forages, maize, grass and clover. However, the range of species that is encompassed within this industry is far more diverse than this, including vegetable, herb and flower seeds, oils seeds such as canola and hemp, and ancient grains such as spelt, quinoa, amaranth and others.

It is these more niche crops that possibly stand to have the greatest growth opportunities outside of New Zealand’s traditional crops/ industry, as the world seeks a reliable supply of seeds and grains for the growing global population – ones that are produced with integrity.

And it’s not just about producing seed and grain, either.

Stakeholders range throughout the value chain from growers to plant breeders, researchers, services like laboratories, verification, processing, treating and packaging, shipping and logistics, merchants, seed companies, food manufacturers, millers, brewers, feed companies and much more.

The stage these businesses play on has gained significant international traction as more global partners recognise the advantages of building relationships with New Zealand companies.

This collaboration spans various domains including in IP and R&D, such as the creation and licensing of plant traits and genetics used in breeding programmes, development of new varieties, the improvement of seed quality, the services of counter-season

performed reasonably well this year with yields off cereal crops good.

“Clover really stood out for us as the cream of the crop this year, so we’ll be okay because of the clover.

“Diversification is the strength of our business, with the different revenue streams of crops, lambs and cows all playing in different markets and the efficiencies we have implemented have worked in our favour.”

Going forward, PT is optimistic.

“I think cropping is positive, there are plenty of options, including plant proteins. The world needs plants and grass and the world needs feeding.

“We live in a world with a growing population so food production will always have a place if we move with the consumer demand.”

breeding nurseries and seed multiplication, and the supply of seed and grain backed by strong certification systems and endorsed by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

As global demand for grain and seed continues to grow, the more necessary it becomes for New Zealand to have representation in the global seed and grain industry.

Does some rationalisation of our industry organisations need to occur? More than likely.

Later this month industry players from NZ and all over the world will converge on the Netherlands for the 100th International Seed Federation (ISF) Conference. Punching above our small island status, NZ has representation on many global committees, including the ISF Phytosanitary Committee.

Our contribution is valued due to our performance internationally as a producer of high-quality seed and grain backed by strong innovation in variety development, seed production, processing and our highly respected seed verification and certification systems.

Having a seat at the global table cannot be underestimated at

this time when the goalposts are constantly moving in response to the biosecurity, trade and geopolitical issues of the day.

In the global context, NZ plays a crucial part in seed and grain trade, particularly in species such as radish, clover and ryegrass seed, where in some cases 50% of the world’s requirement is being produced here.

To achieve this level of performance at home and globally requires a cohesive industry that is invested in collaborating on plant variety protection, technological advances, world-leading quality assurance systems and then just good old grit to deal with the ever-changing environmental, regulatory, and political landscape.

Effective collaboration with the MPI remains crucial, to ensure both market access offshore for trade opportunities and import requirements onshore to facilitate trade for our horticulture industries, plant breeding and counter season production.

So aside from some rationalisation of our industry organisations, what would benefit our industry the most?

• More cost-effective shipping to land South Island seed and grain into the North Island competitively, creating greater opportunities for the utilisation of NZ-grown grains by NZ millers and the like.

DIVERSE: The range of species encompassed in the grain and seed industry includes vegetable, herb and flower seeds, oils seeds such as canola and hemp, and ancient grains such as spelt, quinoa, amaranth and others.

• The reduction or even cessation of palm kernel imports, which pose a very real threat to our country’s biosecurity, to provide further opportunities for NZ maize and grain growers.

• Plant breeding. Capturing the IP could be the single biggest benefit to the industry. NZ could strive to emulate the successes seen in the seed industries of the Netherlands and France. Such an aspiration could greatly benefit and evolve our smaller industry.

• A regulatory environment that continues to allow access and the sustainable use of key crop inputs including fertilisers, access to irrigation water and the latest agrotechnology’s including synthetic and biological control agents.

Make no mistake, co-operation between the individuals and organisations that make up the seed and grain industries could not be better, and this has been endorsed by those that know better and have been around longer than I. With better cooperation comes an opportunity to discuss and debate the future of the industry. Whatever the future of the seed and grain industries, effective collaboration between stakeholders and through to policy makers and government will remain our strength.

COMBINATION:

Steven and PT

Bierema’s 500ha family farm is fully irrigated under a combination of the ALIL scheme and bore water, growing small seeds, clover, ryegrass, Asian brassicas, pak choi and mustard together with garden and marrowfat peas, wheat, barley and maize for silage with ground leased out for potatoes and export lilies.

Green shoots for Germinal’s NZ programme

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY

FIONA Foley jokes about liking straight lines. But they do help when you are the New Zealand plant breeding trials manager for multinational seed company Germinal and you’re looking at a patchwork of plot trials most days.

“Everyone laughs because I always say I like straight lines. But in research, you’re always trying to reduce variables and get really good data sets, so straight lines really help,” she said.

Everyone laughs because I always say I like straight lines. But in research, you’re always trying to reduce variables.

Fiona Foley

Germinal

She’s been with Germinal for the past year and is enjoying the responsibility of guiding the company’s plant breeding strategy for NZ, including testing cultivars developed by the company’s large breeding and research team at Germinal’s site at Aberystwyth in Wales. Her journey to plant breeding in New Zealand started during an industry placement year with agrichemical company BASF while she was studying for her Bachelor of Science degree in the United Kingdom.

It was during her placement year based in East Anglia that she met her NZ-born husband, who was doing grain and seed harvest work while travelling overseas.

They shifted to NZ in the early 2000s and Foley joined PGG Wrightson Seeds as an agronomist, staying for three years before the couple returned to the UK.

Agronomy roles were scarce in Scotland, she said, so after starting a family she retrained in primary education.

“What I got from that change in career is I’m a person who likes to plan and prepare, so honing my skills in that has proved useful in my future roles back in plant breeding.”

The couple and their children moved back to NZ in 2013 and she began working for PGG Wrightson Seeds as an agronomist, progressing to technical manager then product development manager, before moving to Germinal as the company’s NZ plant breeding and trials manager.

Foley said the main attraction of the role with Germinal was the chance to establish a plant research programme in NZ from scratch.

“I’ve worked in research programmes over a number of years, but I’ve never been there from the very start-up at a research station.”

Germinal purchased land two years ago and the first set of trials were planted in 2023.

Some of Foley’s work involves screening a range of mostly high sugar ryegrass cultivars from Germinal in the UK, but she is

also building a NZ plant breeding programme starting from a base population of NZ and overseas stock.

“We’re looking at a number of plots now that we’re assessing for yield and that will dictate what we actually continue to breed as our own cultivars.

“Productivity or yield is important, but we are also looking at quality because that brings that sustainability piece in as well.“

Her role is varied and broadly follows the seasonal requirements of a plant breeding site, from doing research on a particular trial, scoring plants for disease, taking samples for testing a range of quality traits, through to harvesting a trial plot and writing up reports.

“I’m also a member of the forage technical committee for the National Forage Variety Trials and on the endophyte technical committee, so there are regular meetings and commitments to meet for that.

“I’m quite lucky because I’ve got a combination of operational and a bit of the strategic in my role.

“But what I really like the most is having my boots on the ground. I like being in the technical space because I think it’s the way that you can keep your eye on things and understand how things are going.”

Science and computer power are delivering some benefits but Foley said there are no shortcuts in plant breeding. Early stage plant

SCREENING: Some of Fiona Foley’s work involves screening a range of mostly high sugar ryegrass cultivars from Germinal in the UK, but she is also building a NZ plant breeding programme starting from a base population of NZ and overseas stock.

selection usually involves tedious harvesting of seed from individual plants.

She’s pleased with the investment Germinal has made in land and infrastructure to continue its plant breeding efforts in NZ.

“It’s about investing for the future, and that’s why Germinal purchased its own block of land. I’m fortunate to have the backing of the research team back in the UK; it definitely is a team effort.”

Foley said breeding plants that cope better with climate change or mitigate its impacts is a regular topic of conversation among researchers and plant breeders. But continued effort to produce high yielding, quality forage cultivars is still a high priority.

Foley is attending this month’s Women in Seed forum in Christchurch on May 21 to hear a range of speakers on a variety of topics including science, innovation and climate change.

MORE:

For more information on the forum, organised by the Grain & Seed Trade Association Inc, visit https:// www.nzgsta.co.nz/women-in-seedforum-2024/

Portal eases payment of seed royalties

Annette Scott TECHNOLOGY Regulation

THE launch of an online farmsaved seed royalties payment portal will make it easier for farmers to meet their seed royalty obligations.

Plant Breeding and Research Association (PBRA) general manager Thomas Chin said the payment portal follows extensive consultation and will enable growers to record the amount of seed saved and reused during a production year.

He said members of the grain and seed and plant breeding industry together with Federated Farmers Arable have worked together to introduce the voluntary system to collect royalties on farm-saved seed. The system is built on new provisions under the recently enacted Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 to ensure fair returns to plant breeders.

Varieties in application for and granted Plant Variety Rights (PVR) will automatically enter the eligibility list.

Under a voluntary declaration, farmers who save and replant PVR-protected seed pay the rightsholder an annual royalty based on usage per calendar year.

The parties have acknowledged that royalties support breeding and varietal improvement.

With the online payment portal growers will log on to a userfriendly web portal, record the quantity of seed saved by variety, complete their details and make secure online payment to the collection entity.

Chin said under the provisions of the Act, breeders of plant varieties are enabled to receive royalties from farmers who save and reuse protected seed varieties.

To facilitate this, process growers will be asked to voluntarily declare their usage of protected varieties and make corresponding payments.

For the current year, a flat rate royalty payment will apply with the barley seed rate set at $150 a tonne, and for wheat seed $300 a tonne.

These rates will be reviewed annually and published for transparency.

Funds remitted through voluntary declarations are passed on to the relevant plant breeder or rights holder.

These royalties in turn incentivise the research and development of improved cultivars to enhance farm productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Chin said the ability to collect royalties is an important part of ensuring incentives for research and development in plant breeding.

“Plant breeding delivers traits such as improved disease resistance, enhanced yield and greater tolerance to drought and insects.”

Royalties will apply only to those farmers who use saved seed

varieties that are on the eligible list and protected by law.

Chin said the law recognises that farmers can continue to freely use non-PVR protected or common varieties without paying royalties.

Similar farm-saved seed royalty systems operate worldwide, including in markets NZ often competes in, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and France.

MORE:

For

WELLIES: Fiona Foley, the plant breeding trials manager at Germinal, enjoys the combination of operational and strategic work – and ‘having my boots on the ground’.

LIST: Seed royalties will apply only to farmers who use saved seed varieties that are on the eligible list and protected by law.

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Awesome prize packs up for grabs for all category winners and an international irrigation study tour travel voucher for the Supreme Award Winner

Consider entering or nominating someone who embodies sustainable irrigation today

Plant breeder keeps an eye on future demands

Staff reporter TECHNOLOGY

Research

PATIENCE and predictive ability are helpful traits for any plant breeder, says Justine Ferguson.

To navigate the 10-plus-year timeframe to breed a new cultivar and get it to the point of release to the market takes patience, she said.

Predicting the traits needed by a new cultivar in 10 or more years also means good plant breeders always have one eye on the future.

Ferguson is nearing the end of her first decade as a plant breeder after starting her career in 2016 with multinational company DLF Seeds. Following its merger with PGG Wrightson Seeds three years later, she is now based at the company’s Kimihia farm near Lincoln University, south of Christchurch.

She said she enjoys the blend of outdoor, practical work on

the research site, and the inside laboratory work.

“I love the science of plant breeding and the responsibility that goes with having a job that has influence over quite a big industry. What you do [in this role] does have an impact on New Zealand.

“Part of our work is just the dayto-day standard plant breeding, but we’re always trying to achieve continuous improvements and looking for the next best thing as well and asking ourselves ‘What’s going to be that standout product that we need in 10 years?’”

Ferguson said there is constant selection going on, starting with thousands of individual plants but over time that is reduced to just a small number of lines that may deliver one new variety.

“It really is a big funnel of just picking the best out of a large number of plants and ... just narrowing it down to get the very best for the traits that we’re aiming for excellence in.

“It’s usually a trade-off – if

SUPPORT: Justine Ferguson says she expects the farming sector to look more to the plant breeding sector to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and the associated environmental regulations being introduced by regional councils and governments.

you’re really good in one trait, you often lose a bit in another trait.”

Every line of seed under test is reviewed regularly on its performance. Yield is still a major consideration in the selection of new cultivars in the programme, but environmental traits are also high priority at present.

Creating cultivars with clever endophyte fungi that enhance the plant’s ability to withstand pests like black beetle and mitigate livestock-performance-limiting challenges like ryegrass staggers are also a focus.

“Black beetle is moving south all the time and becoming more of an issue for farmers now. That’s where endophytes fit in and give the plants resistance to attack from our major insect pests.”

She said it is exciting to see the relative performance of different plants especially in the early stages of selection. Some plants are obvious standouts.

“We’ve got one that’s just super quick out of the ground and I know from past trials that it continues to grow really well. So yeah, you do have your favourites.”

Harvesting time in early summer is hectic and requires almost painstaking attention to detail. Plants are harvested and bagged individually and details of the location are documented to ensure the accuracy required.

“A lot of what we do in the field is very manual as we do a lot by hand. We’re not going in with the machine.

“As we get later in the trial stage, you might get to harvesting a few hundred grams of seed.”

Clever technologies are helping reduce some of the manual labour required in the field and laboratory.

“For instance, we’re using more biotech tools like genetic markers, which allow us to screen large numbers of plants for the few that have the piece of DNA that we’re particularly looking for.”

Drones capable of taking detailed photographs of plants in their trial plots are also used to help record performance traits.

Looking ahead, Ferguson said she expects the farming sector to look more to the plant breeding sector to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and the associated environmental regulations being introduced by regional councils and governments.

“We’re already breeding plants that can withstand more variation in our climate and contributing to the team looking at endophytes that can deal with different insects, so it’s an exciting time for plant breeders.”

Ferguson is attending this year’s Women in Seeds forum in Christchurch on May 21.

MORE:

To find out more, visit https://www. nzgsta.co.nz/women-in-seedforum-2024/

Fall armyworm spreads further afield

Annette Scott NEWS Pests

THE latest update on fall armyworm for the 2023-2024 season shows the pest has spread further but the overall count for the season is down 26 on the same time last year.

Over the past three weeks there have been two new confirmed finds of the crop pest, both from Northland, bringing the 202324 growing season count to 113 confirmed reports from Northland, Westland, Tasman, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Waikato, Marlborough and Canterbury.

This time last year there were 139 fall armyworm (FAW) finds nationwide, including Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki and Canterbury.

Westland, Tasman and Bay of Plenty are new regions with FAW finds this year.

Northland FAW moth flights are still being consistently observed in pheromone traps, however moth numbers are falling.

Adult FAW have the potential to travel significant distances in one flight and in the absence of maize they may travel interregionally to seek suitable locations to mate and initiate the next generation.

The Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) urges farmers who have been monitoring traps to keep checking them even after crops have been harvested.

While many susceptible crops around the country have been harvested, or are close to harvest, meaning a reduction in FAW’s preferred food source, maize grain crops are still at risk.

FAW larvae will typically enter the cob through the side and observations of population dynamics and kernel damage will be beneficial to help develop New Zealand-specific economic damage thresholds.

The Foundation for Arable Research urges farmers who have been monitoring traps to keep checking them even after crops have been harvested.

FAR reports that as temperatures decrease, the life cycle has begun to slow, but along with a reduction in surveillance, it is important to stay vigilant and scout harvested and any neighbouring paddocks as FAW will predate a large variety of crops.

In NZ they have been observed on ryegrass and clover in a harvested maize paddock.

Crop residues should not be overlooked, nor should any volunteer maize that may emerge in the coming weeks or months.

FAW will feed on a large variety of crops in the absence of maize and sweetcorn. Research has shown they will happily travel to an acceptable alternate host.

WILL TRAVEL: FAW will feed on a large variety of crops in the absence of maize and sweetcorn. Research has shown they will happily travel to an acceptable alternate host.

THREAT: Creating cultivars with clever endophyte fungi that enhance the plant’s ability to withstand pests like black beetle are a focus, says Justine Ferguson.

LONG HAUL: It can take a decade or more to breed a new cultivar and bring it to market, so patiences is a job requirement, says Justine Ferguson.

FEDERATED FARMERS

Jason Herrick: from fed up to Feds leader

It was only a year ago that Jason Herrick had decided to chuck farming in and start a new career.

After dairying for more than two decades, the pressure from excessive regulation had become unbearable, his health was shot, and any joy he’d once known from farming was long gone, he says.

“We’d been hammered over the past six years by the previous Government, and I had lost all hope that things would start to improve. I just couldn’t see a future in farming.

“But that’s all changed in the last few months. I’ve seen a real shift in Federated Farmers’ message and tone, and the results we’re getting for our community.

“I can also see a bit of common sense and realism coming back into Government. It feels like farmers are being listened to again – not just talked at. It’s been a refreshing change.”

Herrick, a variable order sharemilker with his wife Sandy in Mossburn, is so fired up about farming again that he’s just stepped into the role of Southland Federated Farmers president, taking the reins from Chris Dillon in early May.

The 46-year-old admits it’s a big shift to go from wanting to walk away from farming to stepping into a role as the leading voice advocating for Southland farmers.

“I’ve taken on this role because I

think I can make a real difference and contribution.

“I want to be there to stand up for our local farmers who can’t stand up for themselves – they’re just too busy running their businesses and raising their families.

“I can do that because I’m one of the biggest voices in the room, but also because of what I’ve experienced personally.”

I want to be there to stand up for our local farmers who can’t stand up for themselves – they’re just too busy running their businesses and raising their families.

Jason Herrick Federated Farmers Southland president

Herrick says he’s been through a lot of personal changes that have left him wanting to make a difference in the sector.

After suffering five heart events before the age of 46, and a mental breakdown in 2018, he has been on a transformative journey over the past year, he says.

He’s eating well, has dropped weight, and learned to talk about how he’s feeling.

“The first thing my cardiologist told

me was to give up farming because the pressure of it was causing my heart problems.

“Instead, I’ve focused on looking after myself, making some big lifestyle changes, and now I’m in a position where I can put my hand up and help other people.

“That’s one of the reasons I want to do it: I don’t want others to go through what I went through.”

Herrick says one conversation he’s been having with a lot of farmers lately is about diet and nutrition.

“You can ask a farmer about the diet of their animals, and they’ll answer in great detail. They know exactly what their animals are eating and why.

“But they’re very, very poor at putting themselves first – they don’t eat well. Farmers put their animals first, at the expense of their own mental and physical health.

“If you don’t look after yourself, it’ll catch up on you like it caught up on me. When I hit rock bottom, it came very close to me not being around anymore.”

Alongside being a mental health advocate, Herrick wants to continue the good work of previous presidents in helping ease the regulatory load on Southland farmers.

“Chris Dillon and Geoffrey Young had to deal with a tonne of red tape coming out of Wellington, but the

new Government is now cutting a lot of that back.

“That means I’ll probably get the luxury of focusing my efforts on local issues,” Herrick says.

He says he believes in doing what’s right, not what’s easy.

“I’m not afraid to call people out when they need to be, and I’ll be working hard with the council to make sure they’re actually listening to farmers.”

Herrick wants to be as available as he can for Southland farmers, whether they’re Federated Farmers members or not, and can be reached on 0272821830.

“That’s how we’re going to grow our membership, and the size of our voice, here in Southland.”

TURN IT AROUND: After a number of health issues, Jason Herrick has focused on looking after himself, making some big lifestyle changes, and is now in a position to put his hand up and help other people.

FED UP WITH RED TAPE?

W E H E A R YO U !

That’s why Federated Farmers handed the Government a 12-point plan to cut unnecessary cost, compliance, and complexity from your business.

S O, H OW A R E T H E Y G E T T I N G O N W

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12. A l l o w y o u n g f a r m e r s t o a c c e s s t h e i r K i w i S a v e r

We’re making great progress but need your support to maintain the momentum. Our message is louder when we speak as one voice. That voice is Federated Farmers.

Local roading emergency repairs may fall on ratepayers

There are good reasons for farmers to be wary of a proposal to cut back on the government’s share of fixing roads damaged by storms, Federated Farmers transport spokesperson Mark Hooper says.

The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport pledges about $200m more for local road maintenance per annum over the next three years.

But the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has just opened consultation on proposals to reduce funding for emergency repairs following adverse weather events, subtracting an estimated $90 million a year from NZTA money available.

“I think we have to accept the practical reality that the Government is going through cost cutting when there are so many demands on the tax dollar.

“But with less money from NZTA to fix and re-open local roads and bridges after landslips, floods and cyclones, the extra cost will fall on councils/ratepayers,” Hooper says.

“If they can’t afford it, it probably won’t get done.”

The NZTA proposals are to push more of the funding burden onto councils by: Increasing the threshold from 1-in-10-year events to 1-in-20-year events, meaning fewer emergency repairs would qualify for NZTA funding assistance.

Reducing the Enhanced Funding Assistance Rate (FAR) from +20% to +10%, so councils will have to cover more of the cost themselves. (For everyday road projects councils

might get a standard FAR rate of 51%, leaving ratepayers to fund the rest. Enhanced FAR kicks in for special circumstances.)

When councils are unable to cover the local share for emergency works, they’ll instead need to negotiate directly with the Government – not NZTA – to try and get more money.

Federated Farmers said in its submission on the draft GPS earlier this year that it supported the focus – and extra money – for maintenance and resilience.

“Rural roads and bridges have endured decades of underinvestment, with road funding seeming to be prioritised towards more densely populated areas,” the submission said.

“We especially appreciate investments towards pothole prevention will also go towards drainage maintenance.

“We are aware of many instances where poor maintenance of culverts and drains meant that water volumes escalated to a point where damage was caused to nearby properties during cyclone and storm events in recent years.”

But Feds said there was a big backlog of work because councils around the country had been unable to keep up with the volume, and cost, of projects.

Many once-sealed local roads have been left to deteriorate back into gravel.

Federated Farmers ManawatūRangitīkei president Ian Strahan says with road and bridge repair and renewal costs blowing out, there are parts of his province where some

At Mt Messenger in Taranaki, for example, they’ve burned through nearly two thirds of the $280 million budget for a new bypass, but hardly built any road yet.

Neil Holdom New Plymouth mayor

roads “are hanging on by the skin of their teeth”.

“The district council can’t meet all of the costs.

“We’re probably only one big storm away from a complete meltdown.”

NZTA is also proposing that enhanced FAR money be conditional on councils’ activity management plans having considered, in advance of an emergency event, which parts of the network are the priority for restored service, and which could be suitable “for a different level of service”.

Hooper warns that requirement could propel some councils into accelerating plans for reducing maintenance levels on remote/ lesser used rural roads, or even abandoning them where there are alternative routes – even if those alternatives involve hours of extra travel for rural families and businesses.

“If NZTA needs to save money, they should focus on wastage, poor decision-making and cutting down on expensive consultants in favour of actually building and better maintaining roads.

“At Mt Messenger in Taranaki, for example, they’ve burned through nearly two thirds of the $280 million budget for a new bypass, but hardly built any road yet.”

New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom recently noted a previous National government was able to fund ‘Roads of National Significance’ (RONS) by raiding road maintenance budgets.

They got away with it then, he says, because the roading assets of 2010

WHO PAYS? If an NZTA proposal is adopted, ratepayers could end up shouldering a greater share of the cost of restoring roads after storms or other emergency events.

were in fairly good condition.

Today’s coalition Government also has an ambitious RONS programme, but unlike 14 years ago, there is nothing left in highway and local road assets to be “sweated”, Holdom says.

Hooper says the reality is there isn’t enough money for the National Land Transport Fund (NLFT) that is reliant on fuel excise duties and current Road User Charges (RUCs) – even with new RUCs on electric vehicles added in.

The fact the government in recent years has had to provide around 30% of NLTF funding as either grants or loans highlights the importance of finding a more sustainable means of funding land transport projects.

“Federated Farmers supports the Government’s investigation of funding transport on a more efficient ‘user-pays’ basis, and potential for the likes of toll roads and privatepublic partnerships.

“The sooner the better,” Hooper says.

Emotional task choosing tractor winner

It was heart-breaking to read the stories of Hawke’s Bay farming families hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle, Federated Farmers Farmy Army coordinator Ben Moore says.

“Unless you have lived through it yourself, it’s difficult to fully comprehend the overwhelming feelings of utter despair these farming families experienced.”

Moore, alongside Robby Smith from Stevenson & Taylor, had the unenviable task of reading screeds of deserving nominations for a tractor give away and shortlisting it down to just five.

You needed time with no distractions, and quite frankly you needed a beer and a handkerchief as well.

The stories of what those farmers had been through were very moving.

Ben Moore

Federated Farmers Farmy Army coordinator

Stevenson & Taylor, Hawke’s Bay’s Case IH and New Holland (CNH) dealer, donated two tractors as workhorses for Commence the Re-fence in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne.

After nearly a year of work restoring over 90 kilometres of fencing on 170 farms, the tractors are to be given away to deserving farming families who still have recovery tasks ahead.

The Hawke’s Bay giveaway will happen on 21 May at a field day hosted by the province’s 2024 Farmer of the Year winners

Michael and Karen Toulmin.

“I’m really proud of the team’s effort,” Moore says.

“Ninety kilometres of fencing is more than the distance between Rotorua and Taupō, or Christchurch to Ashburton.

“For many farmers Commence the Re-Fence and the Farmy Army broke the back of the immediate recovery workload and those helped have been so grateful.”

Moore says he and Smith set up a 10am meeting to sort through the 67 nominations for the Hawke’s Bay tractor.

“Five minutes in, we knew we’d need to take more time and do it independently.

“You needed time with no distractions, and quite frankly you needed a beer and a handkerchief as well. The stories of what those farmers had been through were very moving.”

Moore says the nominations, often written quietly by neighbours or community leaders who knew what people had been through, were sobering to read.

“This wasn’t just someone pleading their own case, but people who witnessed the devastation and the endless grind of recovery efforts – they knew the toll the cyclone had taken.”

As well as the tractor that will be given away, there will also be four $10,000 vouchers awarded to the runners up to support their cyclone recovery efforts.

Moore also acknowledged the support of J K Fencing, Ruahine Timber, the Hawke’s Bay District and Regional Councils, RePost and the Hawke’s Bay Rural Support Trust.

QUALITY CONTROL:

Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst, who is on the Fertiliser Quality Council executive.

Getting more bang for your fertiliser buck

With farmers spending more on fertiliser than ever before, it’s good to know they have somebody in their corner helping them get the best bang for their buck, Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says.

Although volumes were down, New Zealand spent nearly $1.5 billion on fertiliser and raw ingredient imports in 2022, the most ever in a single year.

While the spikes in the cost of some fertilisers in 2022 and 2023 have come back down, prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels and fertiliser is still a significant component of farm budgets.

Hurst says farmers are keenly interested in maximising benefits of their fertiliser use for cost, production and environmental reasons.

The Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC) have a big role to play in supporting that mission, he says.

“Federated Farmers were the founder member of the FQC when

it was incorporated in 2001. The council probably flies under the radar more than it should.

“Now comprising over 30 representatives from across the agricultural industry, it’s an important forum to drive the strategic direction of fertiliser product quality and application,” Hurst says.

The FQC promotes Fertmark (independent auditing of fertiliser quality and awarding the Fertmark tick) and Spreadmark (the accreditation scheme driving proper and even placement of fertiliser for maximum agronomic benefit, and protecting the environment from undesirable ‘offtarget’ waste).

Hurst says independent auditing sits at the heart of Fertmark.

“Fertiliser is unusual in that you can’t tell the nutrient content by how it looks – so the importance of independent validation and assurance is clear,” he says.

Increasingly, the FQC is widening its mandate to include new products

and additives, “checking they do what their makers claim they do”.

As well as farmers looking for value for money, regulators are looking for the confidence that Spreadmark certification brings.

“Regional councils are increasingly concerned that fertiliser doesn’t end up in waterways.

“Using one of the 75 operators with Spreadmark certification is a good way of giving them assurance the operators know what they are doing.”

Newly appointed FQC director, Tyler Langford, has honed her strengths on the Federated Farmers Dairy Council advocating for legislation that is practical for farmers.

With every piece of compliance farmers are made to fill out, Langford points out that that is another committee meeting or school event they can’t support.

“So, providing clear, accurate, and verifiable information, to foster accountability in the fertiliser industry is of critical importance.”

Breeding unit with scale

Located 12 kilometres North of Kimbolton 'Flock Hill' is 869 hectares in 15 Titles primarily utilised as a sheep breeding unit with options to sell in blocks or as a whole The farm has access from Rangiwahia & Bluff Road and contour ranges from a mix of easy to medium hill with the balance being developed flats and steeper hill

The property benefits from excellent access with metalled main tracks and the farm is well subdivided with ongoing fence maintenance programs in place Further improvements include two dwellings with the main home being four bedrooms set in mature grounds a modern eight-stand woolshed with covered yards plus two additional woolsheds satellite yards and an airstrip with concrete bunker Flock Hill provides an opportunity to secure a well-positioned hill country farm offering scale in the Manawatu bayleys co nz/3100622

Manawatū legacy farm

A dairy farm with a fine lineage, amazing stewardship and future potential Braeside Dairies comprises 433ha of land that is held within 12 titles The portfolio of prime flat land with high class soils and an excellent array of infrastructure is beautifully sited between the Manawatū River and the ranges close to Palmerston North This is a truly generational opportunity for new custodians to own a superbly maintained and faithfully-farmed large scale dairy farm with an exceptional production record One of the most impressive dairy farms in the Manawatū, Braeside milks approx 1,400 cows with an average production of 662,133kgMS The farm has been extensively fitted out with no expense spared and supports top-of-the-range infrastructure including a modern 80-bail rotary, extensive calf-rearing facilities, five well-maintained homes, and a high standard of fencing and laneways bayleys co nz/2315393

869 7616 ha

Tender (will not be sold prior)

Closing 1pm, Thu 30 May 2024

49 Manchester Street, Feilding

View 12 30-1pm Thu 23 May

Mark Monckton 021 724 833

mark monckton@bayleys co nz

Jack Monckton 027 394 3705

jack monckton@bayleys co nz

Manawatu 202 Bluff Road, Rangiwahia

Linton 345 Te Puna Road

WAIKATO 152 Makomako Road

Cattle and Sheep Grazing

Located just minutes away from Aotea harbour you will find this long-established 265 hectare (more or less) sheep and beef grazing farm. The contour runs from river flats to medium, and steeper hills leading to plateau country, it is subdivided into 15 paddocks. There is approximately 50 hectares of virgin bush located near the middle of the farm. Historically the vendors have run 45-50 big MA cows and 1000-1200 sheep, mixture of ewes and hoggets. Older threebedroom dwelling with sleepout is located on the river flats. Bountiful natural water

Please bring own bike to Open Days.

TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 2.00pm, Friday 21 June VIEW 10.00-12.00pm, Wednesday 22 & 29 May, & 5 June

Richard Thomson

M 027 294 8625

E richard.thomson@pggwrightson.co.nz

Peter Wylie

M 027 473 5855

E pwylie@pggwr ghtson.co.nz

LARGE CHICKEN FARM FOR SALE

Located at 29A Arrowville Road, Pukekohe on 7.0320 hectares of flat land are four quality broiler chicken sheds, with a total 8528 square meters, running close to 150,000 chickens per run.  The sheds have the latest equipment and strong maintenance programme, which keeps this farm in top order. The office block has the usual amenities, including the generator room and pumping station. The stunning four bedroom house has been completely refurbished, with new kitchen, bathrooms (2) carpet and a large deck around half the house from which the rural vistas are impressive.

Contracted to Van Den Brinks Poultry Ltd who have been operating for 60 years in NZ, a company that has the following motto: quality, integrity, positive attitude, accountability, honesty and prosperity. Chicken farming has proven to be robust, and reliable with consumption surpassing that of beef. An editorial in the Washington Post in 2014, said that chicken consumption throughout the world would outstrip other meat by 2023, this happened years earlier.

If you are considering a change in your life, then chicken farming will change your lifestyle. This would suit a farming family who enjoy rural life and working from home without long extended hours. Even if you are just thinking of a change, then please call and discuss this opportunity. The agent has previously been a chicken farmer and is able to give a complete insight into chicken farming. You are welcome to call and discuss this success story. Owner motivated to sell.

AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS AUCTION

ONLINE AND LIVE AUCTION

Viewing: Monday 20th & Monday 27th May 10.00am-3.00pm both days and 8.30am day of sale

Due to the owners deciding to restructure their business they are offering for sale quality late model Agricultural equipment that has been well maintained and is presented for sale in excellent condition.

Items include:

JCB Farm Master 435S, Massey Ferguson 7724, CASE Puma 220 x 2, CASE Puma 240, Bednar Omega Seeder 6000L, Krone Big X1100 Harvester, Krone Big X850 Harvester, Kuhn FBP 3135 Balers x 2, Claas Disco 8500c Mower, Claas Liner 3600 Swather, 2013 Freightliner Argosy 8x4 with Tipping deck & TMC 4 axle split deck tipping trailer, Smyth 18t Tractor Trailers x 4, Alpeego Power Harrow, Strautmann Hopkins muck spreader, Scania ground spreader truck and more.

and Online

GOATS WANTED

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.

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

& Hillview Simmentals

PULLETS AVAILABLE NOW. Hy-line brown, great layers. 07 824 1762. Website: eurekapoultryfarm.weebly. com – Have fresh eggs each

DOGS FOR SALE

3-YEAR HEADING dog, No vices, $3500. Great nature. Phone 027 591 1501

Masterton. HEADING DOGS –WORKING. 10 months old. 8-week heading pups. All sired by Scope (23810). Labrador gun dogs, 1 x gold, 1 x black. 3 months old. Phone 027 450 6095. YOUNG, HARD WORKING huntaway and heading dogs. Check them out on Working Dogs New Zealand website. Phone Jack 027 248 7704.

BOOK AN AD. For only $3.30 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email wordads@agrihq.co.nz FOR ONLY $3.30

PUMPS

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

SALE TALK

Recently, I was flying into Barcelona from London, and as we were descending to land we passed through some very dark clouds. The plane began to be buffeted by turbulence like I’ve never experienced before in my life. Suddenly, a blinding light exploded outside and an explosion of noise enveloped us. Lighting had struck the plane!

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON.

Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.

WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone 0800 85 25 80.

RAMS FOR SALE SHEEP SCANNING AVAILABLE

OVER 20 YEARS experience. Owner/operator. Three way draft. Marking included. Approved marker supplied. No mileage or set up fee. To identify empty/single/twins and lates if required .65c. To identify triplets please contact me to discuss best economical options. Areas covered Hawkes Bay, Taihape, Wairoa, Whanganui, Wairarapa, Central Plateau. Contact Greg on 027 588 900. STOCK FEED

BALAGE $75 a bale +GST. Hay rounds 15 equiv. $85. Straw rounds, 15 equiv $60. Unit loads available. Phone 021 455 787.

WANTED TO BUY

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

WORK WANTED

EXPERIENCED FARM SITTER. Semi-retired sheep/ beef farmer available. Shortterm, all areas. Weekly fee $600. Phone David 027 448 4022.

Bring your own 4X4 on a guided tour to discover more of the South Island.

Tour 1: Tour 1 Molesworth Station, St James, Mailings Pass & Rainbow Stations

Dates: Nov 11-14, Feb 3-6, 17-20, March 17-20, 24-27, April 7-10, 14-17 Tour: 2 D’Urville Island & Marlborough Tour

Dates: Feb 19-23, March 24-28 Tour 3: North Otago Tag-along Tour Dates: March 11-15

ANGUS BULL SALES JUNE 2024

> Monday 10th June

MARTIN FARMING, Wakefield - 1pm

30 Angus Bulls

CLEARDALE, Rakaia Gorge - 11am

30 Angus Bulls

MT POSSESSION Ashburton Gorge - 2 30pm

20 Angus Bulls

> Tuesday 11th June

FOSSIL CREEK Five Forks - 2pm

83 Angus Bulls

> Wednesday 12th June

GLEN R Darfield - 11am

30 Angus Bulls

MEADOWSLEA Fairlie - 3pm

75 Angus Bulls

> Thursday 13th June

SUDELEY, Irwell - 12pm

57 Angus Bulls

> Friday 14th June

KAIWARA, Culverden - 10.30am

30 Angus Bulls

GRAMPIANS, Culverden - 1pm

70 Angus Bulls

RED OAK, Weka Pass - 4pm

50 Angus Bulls

Further Enquiries: Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Anthony Cox (RLL) 027 208 3071

Simon Eddington (PGGW) 027

The cabin erupted in screams and cries as the plane dropped hundreds of feet in a single moment, but the worst was yet to come. The strike seemed to have impacted the plane’s environmental controls and we were all suddenly sprayed with water from above. It was as if the humidifying system had become short circuited and began streaming everyone with a wet mist. Amongst all the yelling and sputtering wet cries the plane struggled to gain control. After what seemed an eternity of terror the plane suddenly dipped into daylight, and regained a controlled descent. We sat there dumbstruck and drenched a few drops of water dripping on our heads.

A musical tone gonged and we were met with the calm and polished accent of the British Airways pilot that advised, “Hello, this is Captain Higgins speaking. I apologise for the turbulence and rather unexpected weather conditions, but as one knows, the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plane.”

Pictured: Limehills Stard

INAUGURAL SALE

MANGATARA LIMOUSIN

BULLS Monday 27th May 2024

VIEWING 11am

SALE 1pm

111 Rakaiatai Road, Dannevirke

18

12 IC FEMALES

We are NZ’s largest registered Limousin herd 250+ cows. Mangatara genetics always well sought after at sales.

Further enquiries:

Lyn

White & Roans of our world

Markets

Proudly sponsored by

Low prices cull flock organically

Weak mutton and lamb prices – still a factor 12 months after the first warning signs from China – are flowing through to low returns for breeding ewes and store lambs.

Mel Croad MARKETS Livestock

CHINA upping sticks this time last year threw a spanner in the works for our entire sheep industry. It was the first signal that sheepmeat prices were about to spiral downwards.

There was plenty of expectation it would be temporary, but here we are 12 months later, battling low prices and a fragile outlook. There has been plenty of focus on the demise of the lamb job, but mutton has also imploded.

Current farmgate prices for mutton are $2.35/kg behind the five-year average for May. On a 25kg CW cull ewe that equates to a per-head loss of $59.

Between June 2017 and January 2023, mutton prices never fell below $4/kg, buoyed by strong export demand out of China. Yet the average return at the farmgate over the past 11 months ranges from $2.87-$2.95/kg.

The low prices for cull ewes at the farm gate are directly connected to the amount of money exporters are receiving inmarket. Average export values for mutton are the lowest they have been in over five years.

To put it in perspective, firstquarter 2024 average export values sat at $5.10/kg, $1/kg below the same period last year and well below 2022 levels when

mutton was in strong demand. These lower values are completely influenced by the low prices on offer from China. China still takes 75% of our mutton despite growing concerns that market demand from China has a long road to recovery.

Therein lies the problem. With China effectively on the sidelines, there is no market in a position to step up and demand mutton at a price anywhere near to what has been on offer over the past seven years.

We have seen a rally in exports to the Middle East and United Kingdom this season and the values attained have been stronger than what can be achieved out of China. But the volumes are still small, accounting for 7.5% of total mutton exports this season, therefore not having any sway on what other markets will pay for mutton.

Australia is also having an impact on the global market for mutton. Increased availability has dampened its own domestic market, meaning mutton can be sold for less into export markets while still creating a processor margin. Year-to-date, the Australian mutton kill stands at over 3 million head, 400,000 head above the same period last year, but close to 1 million head above the five-year average for this period.

This has seen Australia outpace us in export terms, shipping

There is no market in a position to step up and demand mutton at a price anywhere near to what has been on offer over the past seven years.

nearly double the amount of mutton NZ has this year.

Meat and Livestock Australia are forecasting peak mutton kill in 2024, as producers work to return sheep numbers to more

normal levels following the earlier rebuild. All going to plan, this will reduce their presence within export markets but volumes will still be higher than through 2020-2022.

The ban on live sheep exports from 2028, announced this week, could also impact ewe slaughter rates as Western Australian producers come to grips with what this means for the industry.

Fresh data from StatsNZ points to a significant readjustment to breeding ewe numbers in NZ as of June 30, 2023.

This situation is not expected

to reverse, especially given the current low returns across the sheep sector.

Weak mutton and lamb prices flow through to low returns for breeding ewes and store lambs. Low purchase prices usually are enough to generate some demand as buyers take a punt. But the sheep industry is reeling from a lack of confidence and who can blame it after 12 months of going backwards?

There needs to be a new game plan to mitigate current losses and re-establish confidence in the sector before it’s too late.

HERE TO STAY: Fresh data from StatsNZ points to a significant readjustment to breeding ewe numbers in NZ as of June 30, 2023 and, says Mel Croad, this situation is not expected to reverse.

Weekly saleyards

After a very quiet summer and autumn, store lamb tallies across the country are starting to make up some ground. Feilding has had three large yardings in a row and Temuka cracked 11,000-head last Monday. Reasons for the larger numbers vary between the islands. North Island breeding blocks have been holding onto lambs to grow them out in the tough economic climate, but the challenge of dry conditions and low feed levels going into winter are forcing the hand of vendors. A decent line-up drew a good crowd to the South Canterbury yards and returns lifted for the right types.

Weaner Angus-Friesian heifers, 189-263kg

Prime beef-cross steers, 475-578kg 2.95-3.03

heifers, 379-427kg

Weaner dairy-beef heifers, 165-221kg

Rangiuru | May 14 | 301 cattle

bulls and heifers, 105-166kg

Prime steers, 595-760kg

Boner cows, 401-562kg

Frankton | May 14 | 1039 cattle

or $/hd Mixed-age Angus cows, VIC, 535-586kg

R3 Hereford heifers, VIC, 424-464kg

R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 418-478kg

R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 303-383kg

R2 Friesian-cross heifers, 400-453kg

Weaner beef-cross, Friesian-cross steers, 216-283kg 800-880

Weaner Hereford-Friesian, Friesian bulls, 171-213kg

Weaner beef-cross heifers, 215-254kg

Weaner beef-cross heifers, 155-212kg

Prime Angus cows, 559-643kg

Prime Angus bulls, 587-639kg

Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 454-520kg

Boner Friesian, Friesian-cross cows, 443-514kg

Feilding | May 9 | 718 cattle

Mixed-age Angus cows, VIC Angus, 544-649kg

Mixed-age Angus, Angus-Hereford cows, VIC Angus, 449-519kg

R3 Angus heifers, VIC Angus, 486-598kg

R3 Hereford heifers, VIC Hereford, 547-591kg

Feilding | May 10 | 1147 cattle, 19,534 sheep

R3 traditional steers, 518-563kg

R2 Angus steers, 318-472kg

R2 traditional heifers, 402-440kg

Aut-born yearling dairy-beef heifers, 235-289kg

Weaner dairy-beef steers, 156-213kg

Weaner dairy-beef heifers, 149-181kg

or $/hd

AgriHQ market trends

Cattle Sheep

NZX market trends

Winter’s bane – but where’s the rain?

WE ARE now in the solar winter – the three months of the year with the least amount of available sunlight. The long, colder, starry nights trigger something inside me – a bigger appreciation of the vacuum of outer space. Throw on top of that an incredible aurora and suddenly my attention is focused on Earth as a planet, rather than earth as a surface where I need to make a weather forecast.

Truly appreciating the uninhabitable vastness of outer space and the magnificent power of our sun suddenly puts our own localised weather (and maybe even life dramas) into perspective.

The solar radiation from the sun heats the space near our planet to 120degC. But if you’re an object in space and on the shady side, with no sunlight, then those temperatures plummet to -100degC or colder. So when our nights become as long as they are now, and Earth’s tilt means we in the southern hemisphere are

facing more into outer space than we are looking towards our own sun, you can really get a better appreciation as to how much the sun keeps us warm and alive. Having the aurora at the weekend literally highlighted this even more.

But the appreciation of our planet – and the thin layers of gases that keep us all at mostly safe temperatures – are cold comfort if you’re farming and need the right conditions right now.

The weather pattern around New Zealand and Australia is one of high pressure and drier than usual weather. If you thought it was dry at your place in NZ, just ask a farmer or grower in Tasmania, Victoria or South Australia. Some locations haven’t had rain this year – or if they did, it wasn’t much. This stubborn high pressure belt is going to dominate for the entire month of May around the Tasmania and South Australia areas. This means NZ is on the edge of it – giving us better chances for rain, but also explaining why we’re having so many westerlies and southerlies in our forecast (although this past week we’ve had an autumnal

DAMP: Rainfall accumulation over seven days starting from 6am Sunday May 19 through to 6am Sunday May 26.

classic with northerlies, easterlies, southerlies and westerlies all in the mix for a number of regions!)

The west to southwest lean and the added high pressure near Australia is why many areas that need more rain still aren’t

getting it. Despite news stories about La Niña, we’re very much in an end-of-El-Niño set-up and the highs south of Australia are so powerful they are reducing the chances of chaos forming and increasing the likelihood of this pattern continuing. We see no immediate end in sight to this – but are optimistic the “neutral” pattern we have now is going to eventually be kind to both us and Australia and bring in some overdue rain.

Loan to value ratio (LVR): 37%

Term: 12 months

Interest rate: 11%p a paid

Purpose of funds: Refinance the

Exit strategy: Refinance to a main bank once the borrower’s accounts are ready

Philip Duncan NEWS Weather

RAYS: 12 noon on Monday May 20 shows most of the UV rays are now north of the equator. IMAGE: earth. nullschool.net