IN TH IS ED ITI ON
Bulletin WINTER 2022 EDITION
+ GREENLEA... WE’RE WAY MORE THAN BEEF + FARM WITHOUT HARM + MORRINSVILLE UPDATE
GREG’S COLUMN What do I know, eh?! In the Autumn Bulletin I stated we had dodged the drought bullet, and in mid-May parts of the Waikato were placed into drought by the Minister for Agriculture. Thankfully, rain has arrived, and temperatures remain in the high teens still. I’m thinking too little too late for most to get winter feed levels anywhere near appropriate, but something is better than nothing. The East Coast took a hammering from the weather gods. Flooding has led to massive disruptions in stock management. This scenario reiterates something I often highlight; just how large a part the weather plays in what you and we do for a living. The season to date is really one out of the box. We have filled every hook available to us, but it is looking like we will end up between five to seven thousand cattle behind last season. Most of the disruption can be put down to the effects of Covid, both on the workforce and the supply chain. We are still having shipping schedule issues with China as they look to eliminate Omicron altogether. Despite the current issues the market is still buoyant, the NZ dollar is at pleasing levels, and farm gate prices are at historically high levels. There are no immediate signs to discourage a continuation of this good news through winter and on to the end of the season. Schedules historically bottom out in April and peak in September across all species. So, if we look at prime, from its bottom in April/May to its peak in
September there is historically a $1 change. The export industry has bottomed out at $5.90 for a P2 top weight animal this month. So here I am predicting we could well break the $7 barrier this Sept/Oct for the appropriately conditioned cattle. It’s great to see our borders finally opening. Long may it last. Already I am aware of some brave souls hopping on planes and heading overseas. What the agriculture industry needs though is for bodies to come the other way and get behind the wheel of a tractor, into a cowshed or in our case into a boning room. The big bosses have committed to a round of supplier meetings through the rest of the season to underpin Greenlea’s commitment to help our farmer suppliers navigate the maze of compliance and regulation relative to greenhouse gas numbers, carbon emissions, Farm Plans and Farm Assurance Programs. These meetings are also an opportunity to gather and get to hear Tony Egan’s opinions on everything from the marketplace to how Covid 19 has affected the workforce. We will see you there.
GREENLEA.CO.NZ
GREENLEA... WE’RE WAY MORE THAN BEEF While it’s safe to say that I’m often in the doghouse at Greenlea (as Business Development Manager all my slightly crazy new ideas tend to exhaust everyone), last Friday was the first time that I literally found myself in the rubbish bin. Besides annoying everyone with new ideas, I also serve as Greenlea’s sustainability manager … an equally irritating job apparently. One component of developing our sustainability framework was to measure our greenhouse gas emissions. We’ve now started to look at ways to decrease our emissions … and that’s where the dumpster diving comes in. Waste to landfill is one of the top 5 contributors to our total emissions, and there is no better way to know what’s going to landfill than just to climb right in! Our sustainability journey started about 3 years ago, and I am pleased to report that I have watched attitudes and opinions change considerably in that time. What started out as an annoying squeaky wheel, I now see the full weight of the Greenlea team in behind our efforts. And when that weight gets behind you, you just stand aside and watch them go. I’m incredibly proud of our team and think it is worth sharing how we’re creating a circular economy and a more sustainable world. • Our hides go to our new tannery to make high value, long lasting leather goods • Rendered proteins will soon be transformed in our new state-of-the-art protein plant into high quality meals for pet food and organic fertilisers • Our bones are slow cooked into nutrient rich bone broth sold under our new brand, Restore • Paunch grass and other organic material from the factory get turned into compost at our Waitoa Compost facility • Blood is further processed into a variety of products for the pharmaceutical industry Greenlea … suddenly we’re way more than just beef. by Julie McDade
GREENLEA.CO.NZ
D U M PSTER D IVING AT G REENLEA Greenbiz at Greenlea is our new legacy Making us all more earth friendly We’re supporting the folks in the country By growing our circular economy We’re dumpster diving at the factory Watching our waste being set free With landfill audits, recycling and compost ability Exploring every new opportunity In hides of high value, for long lived leather quality Rendered materials for pharmaceutical activity Paunch grass into soil adding fertility And bones to bone broth in a drink that’s healthy Meat and blood products processed to support humanity All in packaging that’s used harmlessly By the time we have finished our dumpster will be empty!
FA RM W I T HO UT HA R M
HAVE YO UR SAY O N T H E ST R AT E GY We’re proud to support Farm Without Harm – a sectorwide strategy and commitment to protect farming people from preventable harm. Together, we’re drawing a red line under our sector’s high harm rates. The Farm Without Harm movement will be launching soon. For now, we’re asking all farming people interested in the wellbeing of their team, family or community to visit the website, review the draft strategy and share your feedback on the practical changes needed to protect farming people. To learn more about the strategy and have your say, visit www.farmwithoutharm.org.nz
M O R R IN SVIL LE CO O LTE C TUN N E L UP DATE Towering above the existing cold store, the Morrinsville Cooltec tunnel is all but complete and commissioning is underway. As with many (if not all) projects around the country, we have seen some lengthy delays with the construction due to availability of parts and labour shortages. That said, engineers, builders, and sparkys have worked many weekends to catch up, and there’s a great sense of satisfaction seeing this project coming to completion on budget and within an acceptable time frame given the challenges over the last 12 to 18 months. With commissioning just starting at the time of writing, it’s too early to say this project is finished as the highly automated machinery will take some bedding in; however, it is fair to say Greenlea Morrinsville now holds the title of having the most advanced freezing and sorting system in the world.
GREENLEABUTCHER.CO.NZ
ADRIENNE LOVES FUNDRAISING FOR THE GREENLEA RESCUE HELICOPTER! Fundraising has become a passion for Adrienne Nairn since she required help from emergency services, three times in one month, two years ago. “I wanted to give a little back, so I did some fundraising for the service, culminating in a donation of $2,760.” A published writer, Adrienne had planned to organize readers’ and writers’ events in Rotorua and Tauranga to fundraise for some of her favourite causes, however COVID lead to a ‘pivot’ of her fundraising ideas. “The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter has always been on my list of charities to support. Now I’ve decided to do things a little differently.” “I regularly visit two Taupo markets and sell books, as well as the Car Boot Sale at Central Market Taupo. I also asked market vendors to provide gifts for three hampers to raffle in February, March and April.” “I have really great feedback when I tell people I’m supporting the important work of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter.
I know every little bit helps keep this valuable service in the air, especially in our area, with many people enjoying the great outdoors in the Central Plateau and Lakes Region.”
“Proceeds from my sales and donation bucket go directly to the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter. It’s important to me to keep funds raised in the area, so the rescue helicopter is ready to help anyone when they need it.” ADRIENNE Adrienne is very active in her community, volunteering for local organizations and supports local events as well – so much so that she has been awarded a Local Heroes Award! We’re so grateful for Adrienne for all her fundraising efforts! With every mission costing an average of $9,500, we rely on the support of
amazing fundraisers like Adrienne to help fund life-saving missions.
If you would like to learn more about fundraising for your rescue helicopter please get in touch on fundraise@rescue.org.nz or call us on 0800 11 10 10.
LIFE-SAVING MISSIONS YOU’VE MADE POSSIBLE
MISSION
COUNT 2021 - 531
2022 - 179 (UP TO APRIL 2022)
WANT YOUR VERY OWN RESCUE HELICOPTER? You can purchase your very own Greenlea Rescue Helicopter! Perfect for someone who’s been rescued by the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, has a passion for aviation, or just wants to donate to charity and receive a gift back. These are available to purchase via our website link below. We have a limited number of replica helicopters, so get in quick!
RESCUE.ORG.NZ/DONATE/#SECTION-MERCHANDISE The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter is dedicated to serving the central North Island community 24/7, 365 days of the year. Thank you to Greenlea Premier Meats and their farmers for continuing to support the lifesaving service of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter. You’re helping us touch the lives of many people.
Discover more and donate today |
rescue.org.nz |
0800 11 10 10 |
@rescuehelicoptersNZ |
info@rescue.org.nz @rescuehelicoptersNZ
THANK
you