Dairy News 21 January 2025 by Rural News Group

BREAKING THE MOULD

DairyNZ deputy chair

Reduces costs, lifts yield Page 22

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Processors take Canada to task

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews co nz

THE CANADIAN government’s utter disdain for international trade rules has come under fire yet again.

This time the NZ Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) has joined forces with similar organisations in the United States and Australia in writing to their respective agriculture ministers over Canada’s dumping of subsidised dairy products on the world market. The move is distorting the market and affecting dairy farmers’ returns in other dairy exporting countries such as NZ.

The dispute comes about because of the way the Canadian milk pricing system is structured and subsidised. In essence, Canadian milk processing companies are able to access milk at below the cost of production from farmers, allowing them to sell their products at a much lower price than processing companies in NZ, the US and Australia.

DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther says the letter highlights that action to curb these harmful Canadian policies is a matter of urgency, with the imminent prospect of further Canadian processing investment premised on this access to below-cost milk protein. She says the joint-call is for the governments of New Zealand, US and Australia to actively pursue the issue using all available tools.

“Canada’s policy approach is at odds with its international trade obligations in much the same way as previous Canadian dairy pricing policies were found to breach WTO export subsidy rules in the past. This is an ongoing battle to ensure Canada upholds its trade commitments on dairy,” she says.

This latest spat with Canada is in addition to a separate ongoing dispute that has seen Canada refuse to open up its market to NZ dairy

products as part of an agreement and rules of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP). Under CPTTP rules, Canada is required to give NZ access to its market, and despite NZ winning a mediation dispute to have access, Canada blatantly refused to budge. This dispute has been going on for almost two years.

This has led Crewther to label Canada “a recidivist breaker of international trade rules”. Previously high-ranking MFAT trade negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis, said “putting it frankly, Canada’s approach to administering its dairy quotas is protectionist and undermines the market access

agreed between CPTPP parties”. And to top it off, Canada has also had a blast from Trade Minister Todd McClay who described their actions as “cynical”.

Behind this dispute is a somewhat fragile political imperative for the Canadian government who, like many other countries, are hell bent on bowing to a small but vocal domestic dairy industry and thumbing their noses at binding trade agreements. It will be interesting to see if, and how, the new Trump administration will deal with the Canadians.

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DCANZ chief executive Kimberly Crewther says this is an ongoing battle to ensure Canada upholds its trade commitments on dairy.

Farmers faring well amid summer heat

DAIRY FARMERS are faring well despite data showing above average temperatures for most of the country.

DairyNZ head of regional teams, Claire Bekhuis, says that dairy farmers are doing well although the weather has varied from region to region.

“The Waikato and Bay of Plenty have experienced some summer rain combined with good growth conditions, season to date, meaning there is lots of feed available as well as supplementary feed on hand,” Bekhuis says.

She says that patches in the South Taranaki and Northland regions are experiencing relatively dry conditions,

worsen.

The rest of the lower North Island is experiencing relatively normal summer

“While conditions are comfortable for most dairy farms right now, we are only halfway through summer, and conditions may change in the coming weeks.”

impacting pasture growth and day-to-day operations.

She says these regions are being watched and regularly assessed to see whether or not conditions

FARMERS ARE calling for Kiwi banks and their overseas parent companies need to follow the lead of America’s six biggest banks and urgently withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance.

Federated Farmers points out that since the start of December, heavyweights JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs have

temperatures and has seen some rain in recent weeks, meaning that while those regions are slightly dry, it is not at a concerning level.

Bekhuis says in the South Island,

all exited the UN-backed banking alliance.

“These big US banks have seen that their involvement in the Net Zero Banking Alliance is about to come under huge scrutiny,” says Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre.

“They’re leaving in droves because of lawsuits for anti-competitive behaviour within the banking sector

conditions are similar, with Canterbury experiencing recent rain and Southland seeing consistent grass growth in the past month. However, the latter is still impacted by the extreme wet conditions that hit the region in the spring.

“While conditions are comfortable for most dairy farms right now, we are only halfway through summer, and conditions may change in the coming weeks,” she says.

“It is key for farmers to constantly assess and monitor their situation, and plan on how to handle feed, reduce stress and minimise the impacts on next season.

“This could include

and growing political pressure.

considering different flexible milking options to reduce pressure on cows, demand on feed and people,” she says.

According to recent data from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), 2024 marked

“Federated Farmers are now calling on our banks to do the same. They need to do the right thing and withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance - and fast.”

In December, Federated Farmers lodged a formal complaint to the Commerce Commission, requesting an urgent investigation into the lending practices of New Zealand banks.

New Zealand’s 10th warmest year on record. According to NIWA’s 2024 Annual Climate Summary, annual temperatures were above average for much of Northland, northern Waikato, Bay of Plenty, coastal Hawke’s Bay,

The complaint relates to alleged anti-competitive and coordinated behaviour from the banks, driven by their involvement in the international Net Zero Banking Alliance.

The Net Zero Banking Alliance is an international group committed to aligning their lending, investment, and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

southern Taranaki, Whanganui, eastern and southern Wairarapa, Tasman, inland northern Canterbury, Banks Peninsula, and eastern Otago.

McIntyre says with five major banks dominating 97.3% of the agricultural lending market in New Zealand, Kiwi farmers should be asking serious questions of their bank managers.

“All five of those banks are either directly members of the Net Zero Banking Alliance or are indirectly affiliated through their parent companies.”

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DairyNZ head of regional teams, Claire Bekhuis.

A career riding waves of many changes

SUDESH KISSUN

MARISE JAMES describes her 38-year career as a rural and farmer advisor as one that has ridden the waves of many changes.

These range from aggregation of dairy companies, to the formation of Fonterra, to the demise of the small family farm as it gave way to larger-scale operations to stay viable and meet increasing compliance pressures.

“We’ve also ridden the wave of milk growth that flooded the South Island, and other traditionally non-dairy areas of the country, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, followed by the Global Financial Crisis in 2008,” she told Dairy News.

“I’ve seen the industry go from one that was

regarded as the backbone of the New Zealand economy to an industry now threatened by idealistic and impractical responses to climate change, Covid and the ongoing consequences of various fiscal policies.”

James, who retired last month from her role as Business Advisory Services director, Taranaki, at Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, says throughout it all, she has supported farmers through the everchanging attitudes of banks to rural lending.

“There is always something to deal with and it hasn’t always been about crunching numbers. Often it is about counselling and guiding people to make the best decision to suit them and their situation.”

James has decided to “stand aside for the next generation of advisers”.

CHALLENGING TIMES

THE RECENT economic downturn, with low commodity prices, high interest rates and soaring input costs, was one of the worst Marise James has seen.

“Mainly because it has lasted the longest,” she says. “The GFC was bad, but we came out of that pretty quickly.

The drop in milk price in 2015 and 2016 was devastating but we managed to get through that with sensible support from the banks, and interest rates were relatively low.

“Many of my clients are my age, and I am now starting to advise their children as they take up their place in the industry, so it makes sense to let them work alongside people with similar interests and outlooks on life.”

Commenting on the Taranaki region, James notes that small family farms have merged into bigger units to remain viable.

“It is hard to support a family on a 40ha dairy farm these days. Also, capital gain is much less of a backstop these days. Farms need to be operationally profitable to manage debt.

“Higher equity ratios are also important in managing milk price volatility. And technology is changing the landscape and infrastructure of dairy farms.

“Who would have thought that you could

sit at home having a coffee, and at the same time change your virtual fences to shift your cows to a new paddock or get them to come to the dairy shed for milking?

This sort of thing is game-changing.”

But she says the fact that farms can no longer

rely on capital gain to achieve wealth creation has been one of the biggest changes over her career.

“Our firm spends a lot of time these days assisting farmers with budgeting and variance reporting to ensure they have real-time

information that assists them with timely and logical decision-making.

“We also assist with things such as bank financing, using hedging tools for interest rates and milk prices, and generally just being a sounding board for them.

“Quite a few of our

clients operate advisory boards that we help with, and we find this format invaluable when it comes to sharing ideas and solutions before coming to a decision the client is happy with. The old saying ‘two heads are better than one’ still rings true”.

FORMER FONTERRA director Marise James says the future of the dairy industry depends upon the direction of travel with respect to climate change.

“The current downturn is a triple whammy with volatile milk/product prices, massive on-farm inflation and exorbitant interest rates. Many farmers were getting up to milk every morning knowing they were losing money over the past two to three years.”

James believes 2025 will remain a challenge for some farmers.

“I think it is always challenging in the ag sector. Not only are farmers at the whim of the weather, but they are the ultimate price taker - they get paid last.

“Volatility is part and parcel of being a farmer, so systems need to be resilient enough to withstand these vulnerabilities. And when times are good, farmers need to be sensible with those bonuses and ensure debt is maintained at sensible levels and repairs and maintenance is optimised.”

“Farming has always been the backbone of the New Zealand economy, seeing us through really tough times and creating a place in the world that recognises the value of highquality food, fibre and health production.

“However, I fear that the industry’s ability to continue to deliver in that space is being compromised by poorly thought-through strategic responses to climate change that will result in many of our farming enterprises being unable to continue.

“We only need to look at the stance that banks are taking regarding funding fuel stations to realise that the flow-on effect could be catastrophic for

farmers, either directly or indirectly.”

She’s reluctant to comment on Fonterra’s plans to offload its consumer business in NZ, Australia and Sri Lanka.

“I am not close enough to it anymore to know much detail. I have always believed that Fonterra’s strength was to be a “preferred ingredients supplier” to the big brands.

“Having said that, there are a few long-serving brands that have served the business well over many decades and I am nervous to think we might let them go. Brands like Anmum, etc are synonymous with the New Zealand dairy industry.”

James says winning the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year competition with her husband in 1994 was a highlight. Being awarded a Nuffield Scholarship in 1998 is also right up there, she adds.

“But the biggest highlight has been meeting so many amazing people, who have become very special friends through being clients and/or colleagues through the years.

“Farming is one of the few industries I know where people are so willing to share knowledge and experience to help others. It has been amazing.”

Over the years small family farms in Taranaki have merged into bigger units to remain viable, says Marise James.

Marise James

Industry leader not afraid to break the mould

the platform.

Irrigation is from six wells via three pivots, K-lines and laterals.

NORTH CANTERBURY dairy farmer and recently elected deputy chair of DairyNZ, Cameron Henderson is not afraid to break the mould when it comes to finding farming systems that work for him.

In a region where fodder beet or kale wintering, often off-farm, is very much the norm in dairying, Henderson has reverted to all-pasture wintering – and uncovered several benefits.

In a region where fodder beet or kale wintering, often off-farm, is very much the norm in dairying, Cameron Henderson has reverted to allpasture wintering – and uncovered several benefits.

In another mark of his willingness to innovate he is also trialling a soil oxygenation system. While the jury is still out on that, it has already shown a huge side benefit in irrigation efficiency.

Henderson recently hosted a field day on his farm near Oxford, which he converted from sheep in 2011.

The property is 237ha, 220ha effective, and peak milking about 750 crossbred cows. A nearby 200ha is used for rearing young stock and growing grain and grass silage for

Henderson told the field day he had become increasingly dissatisfied with wintering on kale and fodder beet on the 200ha block, with constant difficulties with crop management and animal health.

Especially in wetter winters, the crops ruined the soil and it was costing more and more to get the needed yields.

“Anyone that’s growing their own fodder beet on the platform, you know what the soil looks like after a fodder beet crop, it’s pretty devastated.”

But he said the “nail in the coffin” for fodder beet wintering was the rumination data provided by the collars which the cows have now worn for the last two years. Even though they were “not killing any cows”, the collars gave evidence of minor acidosis events that would otherwise go unnoticed in cow behaviour.

Cumulatively they were seeing lower calf rates and higher abortion rates throughout the winter.

He therefore took the opportunity of leasing an adjoining 110ha dryland pasture block which has now been used for one full winter.

Henderson said it was old sheep pasture that hadn’t been renewed in decades. They simply added a little nitrogen then cut the grass in November, leaving the plasticwrapped bales where they fell and allowing the grass to continue growing around them.

“And we don’t touch them til winter. So it will just grow whatever it grows, then the cows go in.

“We’re still trialling a number of different ways of how to feed it. But we landed at the end of last winter, on 3-day breaks. We just go in on day one

and whip all the plastic off the bales.

“On day one, the cows clean up all the baled silage then the next two days they’re just eating the grass around it.”

Henderson said it was costcompetitive with fodderbeet and the dry pasture meant the cows were “happy as” even on the wettest days.

“Results were positive overall, with very low labour requirement, zero machinery use, no mud and satisfied cows, and collar data showed rumination time far more consistent

than when grazed on crop.

“Overseer modelling on the pasture wintering calculated nitrogen loss between 15-19 kgN/ha. Compared to 90 kgN/ha on fodder beet and 50 kgN/ha on kale.”

Other positives were no need for feed transition at either end of the winter, and that cows could successfully calve on the winter block.

Cons included high stock water need due to the high DM percentage and a reduced surety of pasture yield due to the block being dryland.

Henderson said they had learned a lot from the first season. They had used machinery to move some bales around but this year they would aim not to put a tractor on the block at all except for the baling. They were also trying different methods of cutting the bales, such as leaving the bottom half of plastic on, to reduce wastage.

“But yeah, we’re really happy with year one.”

NIGEL MALTHUS

Cameron Henderson explains features of the drip-tube irrigation system he is trialling, to attendees at a field day on his North Canterbury farm.

Two18m wide x 80m long Composting barns, Ohaupo, Waikato

$10 milk price still on

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WHOLE MILK powder prices on Global Dairy Trade (GDT) remains above long run averages and a $10/kgMS milk price for the season remains on the card, says ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown.

ASB is forecasting a milk price of $9.75/kgMS while Fonterra lifted its forecast milk price range last month to $9.50 to $10.50/kgMS with a mid-

point of $10/kgMS.

Tennent-Brown says that like Fonterra, they will be keeping a careful watch on the global supply and demand dynamics over the coming months.

“We see a balance of risks around our $9.75 pick, with some of those risks pointing to a milk price closer to Fonterra’s midpoint, even if prices ease a little bit more from current levels.

“The lower NZD can help this year’s milk price at the margin but can be

Karen Williams

IRRIGATION NZ GETS NEW CEO

WAIRARAPA SHEEP and beef farmer Karen Williams is the new chief executive of Irrigation New Zealand. Williams, the national client propositions manager at FMG, starts in her new role on February 24.

She’s a former Federated Farmers leader, having served as chair of its arable section, national vice president and board member.

Williams farms an irrigated 560ha mixed cropping, beef, and lamb finishing property in the Wairarapa with her husband Mick. They are past Supreme winners for the Wellington region in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

She’s a graduate of the Agri-Women’s Development Trust’s Escalator Programme and also received the Biosecurity Farmer of the Year Award in 2019 for her work on the pea weevil biosecurity incursion, and the couple won the Environmental and Sustainability Award at the 2022 NZ Arable Awards.

Williams says she’s excited to take on a new challenge and sees the chief executive officer role at Irrigation New Zealand as a natural progression to her career.

“Having held other executive and Board roles, this is an opportunity for me to combine my skills and experience, while also allowing me to help advocate for a sector I’m passionate about. There are synergies with the work I’ve been doing at FMG too – we’re both about getting better outcomes for farmers, growers and rural communities and that includes wider water users too.”

Chair of Irrigation New Zealand, Keri Johnston says Williams’ appointment to CEO comes at an interesting time.

“It’s a critical time for New Zealand in terms of how we safeguard our water for different uses, so getting Karen at the helm now is timely for advocating the best direction for irrigation in New Zealand.”

a bigger help for the next season if the weakness continues and is captured as we expect within Fonterra’s FX hedging.”

WMP prices, which has the biggest impact on Fonterra’s milk price, have dropped in the last two consecutive auctions.

The first auction of 2025

saw WMP slip 2.1% and skim milk powder 2.2%.

WMP sits at US$3804/ tonne – the highest level since July 2022, when it was fetching US$3961/t.

Tennent-Brown says that WMP prices have been declining from the recent peak, but remain significantly higher than a

year ago, and above long run averages.

The latest GDT auction saw the price index ease 1.4% to an average price of US$4,029/t.

NZX dairy analyst Rosalind Crickett says the index movement was weighed down by decreases seen to the

milk powder products, despite lifts to butter and cheese products – with results spot on with their pre-event expectations.

“In what normally is a quieter start to the year, 87% of product on offer was still sold, but saw weaker demand from both North Asia and the

Southeast Asia/Oceania regions.”

Crickett says that despite there being -15.7% less WMP and -15% less SMP on offer since the last event, traders have been describing a “hand to mouth” purchasing pattern by regions over the holiday period.

Dairy earnings bounce back

“WE AT Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and you at Dairy News said over six months ago that the dairy industry would bounce back, and it has done so with interest.”

MPI Director General Ray Smith made the comment as his organisation released its latest outlook report on the primary sector, which shows that in 2024, export returns from the sector dropped 11% from a high of $26 billion in 2023.

But MPI is now saying that export returns from dairy in 2025 will hit $25.5 billion, just as Dairy News reported last year. The reason for the bounce back is the higher returns for whole milk powder (WMP) – now predicted to be $8.4 billion – up over a billion in 2024. Butter, AMF and cream are predicted to reach a high of $5 billion this year – again a billion more than last year. The one product that is not doing well is infant formula, with export returns down

last year and likely to fall further again this year.

The MPI report says global dairy prices are expected to be higher in the 2024/25 seasons due to strengthening global demand and tight supply. It says favourable weather conditions around NZ will likely lead to an increase in export volumes and predicts a $9.60 per kg/MS in this season.

With the exception of casein and protein products, China remains the biggest market for all other dairy products and overall China imports nearly $17 billion of our total primary products.

Smith says the reason

the dairy industry is so successful is that the fundamentals of it are just so strong. He says global demand for ingredients is very strong and the range of things you can do with those ingredients is enormous.

“Look at the amazing things the food service sector produces by using high-fat products, creams and so on. I think you are going to see ongoing demand for NZ’s dairy products because we have a competitive advantage in producing high quality products at relatively low prices,” he says.

Smith says the good weather will probably increase the amount of

milk produced on farm, but he believes this won’t be a problem because volumes across the world are down. He notes that the size of the US dairy herd is down due to climate related matters, and heat stress in some countries is reducing milk production.

On climate change, Ray Smith says NZ has an advantage over other global dairy suppliers.

“This is because of where we are located and that means that climate change is not going to impact us as greatly as other countries. Remember we are not trying to grow grain to feed animals,” he says.

APP FOR SMARTER FORAGE DECISIONS

A NEW app designed to simplify forage planning and boost farm productivity has been launched.

ForageSelect will help deliver smarter, more practical solutions that respond to the needs of New Zealand farmers and retailers, says app owner Cropmark Seeds.

ForageSelect was originally developed by Cropmark Seeds’ plant breeder, Nick Cameron. As part of his side hobby in app development, Cameron wanted to create something that would make forage decisions easier and more effective. It was a collaborative approach, with Cameron working closely with the technical staff within the company, utilising their expertise and regional knowledge to develop the tools found within it.

“The app was so innovative and practical that it quickly became clear it was too good not to share with the wider farming community,” says Callum Davidson, NZ sales manager, Cropmark Seeds.

ForageSelect provides detailed, up-todate descriptions of all commercially available forage cultivars in New Zealand.

This includes guidance on the best fit for each cultivar, considering your region, animal type, soil acidity, and summer rainfall. With ForageSelect, you’ll have everything you need to make informed decisions, even when working in areas with limited cell phone coverage, says Davidson.

He says ForageSelect offers financial benefit tools by assessing the economic advantages of different forage options, accurately projects crop yields for smarter planning and evaluates pasture performance and identify areas for improvement.

“No other resource consolidates this level of information and functionality into a single platform. ForageSelect not only helps you choose the right cultivars but also provides critical tools for analysing potential returns and maximising yields.

“ForageSelect works offline, so you can use it anywhere—whether you’re on the farm, in the back paddock, or out of cell phone range. It’s the practical tool you need for smarter farming decisions.”

Davidson says ForageSelect is free to download.

Keep your milk production steady and profitable even during the hottest months. Farm Source’s team of experts offer

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ForageSelect app to help farmers make better decisions.

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

MPI director general Ray Smith

Ready to walk the talk

DAIRYNZ’S KIRSTY Verhoek ‘walks the talk’, balancing her interests in animal welfare, agricultural science and innovative dairy farming.

Kirsty and her husband Nic are 50/50 sharemilkers just north of Morrinsville in the Waikato region. With a PhD in ruminant nutrition, Kirsty has a passion for dairy farming, because of the variety and because “there’s not just one way” to run a successful dairy operation.

As 50/50 sharemilkers, Kirsty and Nic don’t own the land they farm but are responsible for operating it on behalf of the owner. Their arrangement involves sharing both the costs and profits with the farm owner.

This means that Kirsty and Nic own and manage around 750 dairy cows. Alongside the dairy operation, they also lease a 120-hectare block where they rear beef cattle and graze young stock.

Kirsty is a senior science manager at DairyNZ near Hamilton and a mother of three young kids. She has a research background in ruminant nutrition and methane emissions and has recently expanded her areas of interest to include animal wellbeing and cow comfort (in particular, mitigating thermal – or heat – stress). Wearable cow devices such as

collars, tags, and rumen sensors – think Fitbit or Gamin watches in the human context – play a role in informing both her and Nic’s farm management, as well as research.

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While these devices are just one aspect of farming, the technology provides valuable insights that help guide decision-making and contribute to her research into more sustainable

and efficient farming practices.

With farms producing more data than ever, the challenge lies in figuring out how to harness it effectively and unlock its full potential. Kirsty has recently been involved in research alongside DairyNZ partners, AgResearch, and Fonterra through the New Zealand Bioeconomy in a Digital Age (NZBIDA) programme.

This research focussed on how farmers can leverage digital technologies and data to improve farm management and enhance animal care, providing practical insights into the future of farming in a more connected and data-driven world.

Throughout her research career Kirsty has contributed to projects both nationally and internationally that aim at enhancing ruminant production efficiency and sustainability.

In the future, she aims is to continue to publish research that has been through a robust process, so it can be used by others to continue moving science forward and towards solutions and tools that help farmers make solid decisions on farm.

Getting in early is always a good thing. Order your Allflex tags before 30th April and we’ll pay the NAIT Levy. A saving of almost a dollar a tag! (Actually $0.97 plus GST if you want to crunch the numbers).

The saving applies to the entire range of Allflex NAIT-approved cattle tags (including eID Calf packs, Birth eIDs and Replacement eIDs).

If you’re running large numbers of stock that can add up to a handy discount. So get your order in today and be the early bird that wins... Just another reason why you should always ask for Allflex.

Order your NAIT cattle tags between 6 January 2025 and 30 April 2025 and Allflex New Zealand will discount the order to the value of the applicable NAIT levy ($0.97 plus GST per tag).*

Kirsty Verhoek, DairyNZ

Comprehensive Dairy Solutions: Grundfos Pumps for Every Stage of Dairy Processing

Pumps used in dairies can be divided into two basic categories:

•Sanitary pumps are used to handle milk products and all media with which they come into direct contact. Sanitary pump designs include centrifugal pumps for low-viscosity products, positive displacement pumps for gentle treatment or high viscosities and liquid ring pumps for high air content.

•Auxiliary pumps are used for secondary processes such as heating, cooling, water and wastewater treatment, and cleaning processes.

The core process in a dairy is usually designed and built by an engineering rm working as a general contractor. As a rule, the rms recommend or select the pumps to be used. However, they will often accept a dairy’s wishes regarding a speci c pump supplier.

Whereas single-stage centrifugal pumps are generally used for gentle circulation in processing stages such as milk intake and treatment, with especially high-performance standard pumps often used in pasteurization, positive displacement pumps are also used in the production of products such as yogurt or sour cream. Chemical feed pumps that dose only the required amount of cleaning agent are used in CIP circuits. With high-precision dosing, dairies can save money by minimizing the amount of time and water needed for cleaning.

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variants for aggressive liquids, high temperatures and more. It is a one-stop shop philosophy that simpli es the selection for users who often operate several such auxiliary circuits. The Grundfos portfolio includes solutions for virtually all key industrial processes:

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Process water treatment with reverse osmosis in combination with meas-urement, analysis and dosing of additives

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Treatment of wastewater prior to discharge, or before being returned to the industrial processes for reuse, or routed to other points of consumption

Pumping process-critical liquid and high-viscosity media with solids

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EU dairy co-ops to merge

TWO EUROPEAN dairy co-operatives are set to merge and create a €14 billion business.

The FrieslandCampina and Milcobel boards have signed an agreement on the main points of the proposed merger; a proposal for discussion by farmer owners should be ready by the middle of this year.

The merger agreement will then be submitted for approval by the FrieslandCampina and Milcobel boards and for approval from relevant competition authorities.

Based on the combined 2023 annual figures of FrieslandCampina and Milcobel, the combined organisation will have revenues of over €14 billion, operate in 30 countries, employ nearly 22,000 staff worldwide, and process 10 billion kgMS of milk. This milk will be supplied by nearly 11,000 dairy farms owned by 16,000 member dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Northern France.

The two co-ops say joining forces creates a “leading dairy cooperative

and dairy company”. “The merger of FrieslandCampina and Milcobel will create one international, future-oriented organisation that can seize opportunities and address challenges more effectively in the global dairy market,” they say.

“Both merger partners, owned by dairy farmers for many generations, complement each other well in market positions and product portfolios.

“The merger offers further business development opportunities in market segments such as consumer cheese,

mozzarella, white dairy products (such as milk, buttermilk, and yoghurt), and ingredients, as well as benefits in efficiency and expertise, for example in the area of sustainability.”

FrieslandCampina board chair Sybren Attema points out that the combination of FrieslandCampina and Milcobel is bigger than the sum of its parts.

“It creates a future-oriented, combined dairy cooperative that is resilient and capable of capitalising on

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opportunities in the dynamic global dairy market,” says Attema. “This strengthens our appeal to member dairy farmers, business partners and employees. Moreover, this step supports us in realising a leading milk price for our member dairy farmers.”

Milcobel chair Betty Eeckhaut notes that the cooperative philosophy, deeply rooted at both Milcobel and FrieslandCampina, is the bedrock for this proposed merger.

“Our goal remains to create added

value for our member dairy farmers. Through our regional complementarity we will become the cooperative dairy partner of choice for current and new members, with a solid milk supply for a successful future.

“For employees, the new organisation provides great opportunities to grow in an international environment. For customers, this merger means more innovation, an expanded product portfolio and further ‘professionalisation’ of our services.”

Milcobel is owned by 1500 family dairy farms. It has six branches in Belgium and one in Northern France. In 2023, Milcobel had a turnover of €1.3 billion, had 1550 member companies, processed 1.3 billion kgMS, and 1600 employees. In addition to its own brands and private label cheese for large supermarket chains, Milcobel produces raw materials and ingredients for the food industry (including mozzarella, grated cheese, butter, cream).

FrieslandCampina is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the world, with 9417 member dairy farms and 14,634 member dairy farmers in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

…with the Lely Astronaut milking robot!

Reduced physical strain and fewer staff issues are some of the main benefits we’ve heard from many of our customers about their robotic milking system. Additionally, the individual cow data from the Lely Horizon system helps farmers with decision making and overall farm management. Are you looking for more efficiency on your farm? Are you looking for a better-quality family time and less strain on your body? Scan the QR code to learn more, and feel free to inquire about an obligation-free visit to a robotic milking farm near you.

Bright farming is yours by choice

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FrieslandCampina board chair Sybren Attema (left) and Milcobel chair Betty Eeckhaut.

EU processors eye more cheese, powder exports

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

EUROPEAN MILK

processors are eyeing more cheese and milk powder exports into South America following a landmark trade agreement signed last month.

The European Dairy Association (EDA) says the trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur (comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) will boost EU dairy exports to the region. The deal comes after two decades of negotiations.

Alexander Anton, EDA Secretary General, says the agreement, involving over 780 million citizens, highlights the EU’s commitment to fostering robust international trade and mutual economic

growth.

“In today’s troubled international environment and trade arena, this is a real breakthrough that underscores the EU’s trade ambitions and the remarkable performance of its negotiation teams,” says Anton.

He notes that from a dairy perspective, all four countries forming the Mercosur area have a great dairy culture, with a self-sufficiency rate between 98% and 281%.

So far, dairy trade has mainly taken place within the Mercosur region. The cheese and powder imports from the EU have not reached a significant volume, he adds.

“But this is where opportunities lie. The signing of this deal will allow both parties to work on the final

implementation and secure unhindered access for our European dairy exports, including the reduction and abolishment of tariffs as well as nontariff barriers.

“The adopted legal safeguards to protect over 350 high-quality European food and drink products like Fromage de Herve (Belgique) or Comté

(France), from imitation in Mercosur countries will also strengthen the well-deserved highquality reputation of all European dairy products.”

It’s not a done deal yet. The deal needs ratification by the four South American nations and the EU.

The EU expects the ratification process is to

proceed at two different speeds.

Mercosur countries are likely to ratify the trade agreement relatively quickly in the coming months. Currently, the deal excludes Venezuela (suspended since 2016) and Bolivia, which joined Mercosur only in July 2024. Bolivia has four years to comply with all

Mercosur treaties and regulations before it can ratify the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement.

In contrast, the ratification process for the EU will be lengthy and might stall. The agreement requires a legal review before its ratification by the Council of the European Union and a majority in the European Parliament. Thereafter it requires the ratification of every EU member state, though the trade chapter could be accepted by a qualified majority if the EU decides to separate the trade elements.

The landmark deal is the largest ever concluded by the EU and the only one Mercosur has with a major trading bloc—which means that European products will enter its market under much better conditions

TOUGH YEAR FOR UK FARMERS

VOLATILE INPUT costs, fluctuating commodity prices, a reduction in direct payments and one of the wettest periods in decades that resulted in a disastrous harvest, have left their mark and many UK farming businesses worse off.

That’s the New Year message from National Farmers Union president Tom Bradshaw.

He says to cap a wretched year, farmers saw a new Labour govern-

ment, which, after 14 years in opposition, promised to reset its relations with British farmers and deliver a much-needed lift to farmer confidence.

“Instead, it delivered an inflationary budget and all but removed the tax reliefs for agriculture property and business property,” he says.

“In all my years in the industry I’ve never experienced the anger, despair and sense of betrayal follow-

ing the Chancellor’s announcement to changes to inheritance tax, which has long protected farming’s ability to pass on farm businesses to the next generation, thereby protecting food producing businesses and the nation’s food security.

“We saw these raw emotions play out at our mass lobby of MPs in Westminster, the farmer rally in Whitehall, and at the various tractor protests in London and around the UK, with

tens of thousands of farmers expressing passionately how this tax will devastate their businesses, families, rural communities and national food security.

“We are keeping up the pressure on government, targeting those rural labour MPs, and with a powerful visual reminder from the banners going up all over the UK that the fight is far from over.”

Bradshaw says that pre-election,

than US or Japanese products.

It eliminates tariffs on over 90% of bilateral trade, saving European exporters €4 billion annually while granting South American products preferential access to European markets, particularly for agricultural goods where Mercosur holds a strong comparative advantage. The agreement is set to change this dynamic, opening Mercosur’s highly protected market to European industrial goods. For instance, previous tariffs on automobiles, textiles, and machinery ranged from 14% to 35%. The agreement also ensures the protection of 357 European geographical indicators, boosting exports of specialty agricultural products like wines and cheeses.

there were several policies within Labour’s election manifesto that provided optimism, and “we all need to see those delivered and at pace”.

A robust system of core standards for food imports is essential to protect farmers and consumers from imported food that would be illegal to produce here and allow the economic marketplace to function properly, rather than NFU members being constantly undermined, he says. – Sudesh Kissun

Flow ve/Below Water Mount

•Ideal for Cattle Troughs •High Flow •Side/Bottom Mount •Detach to Clean •Compact/Robust •Ideal for Small/Low Demand Troughs

in Check-Valve

•Ideal for Compartment Troughs/Tanks •High Flow •Top Mount •Detach to Clean •Compact/Robust

Alexander Anton

EDITORIAL

O Canada

THE CANADIAN government’s love affair with its lifestyle dairy farmers has got it into trouble once again.

This time the Agriculture Ministers of New Zealand, Australia and the US are being asked by their respective dairy processing organisations to lean heavily on Canada to stop it selling its heavily subsidised dairy products on the world market.

A move which is distorting the market and reducing returns to honest dairy producing countries such as NZ.

This is a significant move and shows Canada that it now has some formidable opponents.

Bouquet for bank GROUNDSWELL HAS given ANZ a shout-out for, so far, being the only one of the big four Aussie-owned banks not to set emissions reduction targets for its dairy sector loan book. While some banks are busy imposing emissions limits on farms they lend to – a practice critics say exceeds their mandate – ANZ is resisting the PC pressure to do the same. “At the moment, we’re not setting a dairy target, and the reason is that we don’t see the pathway clearly for our dairy customers to reducing emissions,” ANZ’s New Zealand chief executive Antonia Watson told The Post. ANZ’s stance comes amid a banking inquiry and mounting criticism by farmers of their banks, plus anger at three of the four Aussie banks for setting tougher farm emissions reduction targets in NZ than they did in Australia.

Follow the leaders

FARMERS ARE urging Kiwi banks and their overseas parent companies need to follow the lead of America’s six biggest banks and urgently withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance.

Since the start of December, heavyweights JP Morgan, Citigroup, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs have all exited the UNbacked banking alliance.

Federated Farmers says that these big US banks have seen that their involvement in the Net Zero Banking Alliance is about to come under huge scrutiny.

“They’re leaving in droves because of lawsuits for anti-competitive behaviour within the banking sector and growing political pressure.

“Federated Farmers are now calling on our banks to do the same. They need to do the right thing and withdraw from the Net Zero Banking Alliance - and fast.”

ODH ordeal over

THE DEMISE of Organic Dairy Hub is official.

The final liquidators report, issued last month, says every creditor has been paid in full. The report shows that $451,000 was paid for ordinary shares held by farmer shareholders. The company will be removed from the companies register.

ODH, touted as New Zealand’s only 100% farmerowned organic milk producer, was placed into voluntary liquidation one year ago. ODH collected milk daily from its farmer base, stretching from Northland to Wairarapa.

About 20% of that milk was turned into milk powders and nutritional products, processed at Waikato Innovation Park in Ruakura and generally exported to Australia and Asia, with some New Zealand customers as well.

It also produced Our’s Truly brand liquid and UHT milk, cheese and milk powder using third party processors. The products were sold locally and exported.

‘Bee wear’ Simeon

A KEEN pair of eyes wandering down the main street of the hub of the Horowhenua, Levin recently came across a ‘pop up shop’ designed to show locals the new toll road bypass from Otaki and past Levin.

Being a tad curious, the mutt started to read the signage in the window which has apparently been there for several months.

Great idea, but pity about the spelling – NZTA or waka whatever it is, states that work is due to STARRT in 2025. It seems that despite having a colony of coms people in NZTA, none can use spell check or proofread.

Maybe the Minister responsible, Simeon Brown needs to get his get CEO to employ an official spell checker or we could see signs in the future that read “bee wear –rode wirks a hed”

The Canadian dairy industry is small by our standards; its average herd size is in the 80’s. But as they say, empty vessels make the most noise and Canadian dairy farmers have long done that and captured the ear of successive politically fragile governments, to the extent that when the cow bells ring, the government goes head over heels to help. This sort of behaviour is not limited to Canada. We have seen it in Europe too where farmers hold considerable political power.

However, Canada has always professed to be a free trader and signed up to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP) which requires it to do just that. The problem is that when Canada signed up to CPTTP they were being blatantly dishonest as it seems they were never going to stop indulging their lifestyle dairy farmers.

In doing this, Canada has gone from being a respected free trader and supporter of rules-based trade to being a bornagain rogue protectionist colony – a very un-statesman-like action.

In theory, NZ and Canada should be friends and to be fair on most issues we are and will remain so. But their antiquated return to protectionism continues to sour that relationship.

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UAE trade deal – a game changer

DANIEL RAD

IN A landmark move that could reshape New Zealand’s agricultural export landscape, the recently signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates opens up unprecedented opportunities for our farming and dairy sectors. This isn’t just another trade deal – it’s a strategic masterpiece that positions New Zealand at the doorstep of one of the world’s most dynamic (and growing) regions.

The numbers tell a compelling story. With the CEPA eliminating duties on 98.5% of New Zealand’s exports immediately – rising to 99 per cent within

three years – NZ’s agricultural products will gain unprecedented access to not just the UAE’s affluent market

premium products and also offsets potential trouble on the horizon with East Asian markets.

of 10 million people, but potentially to the broader Middle East region of 400 million consumers.

This is particularly significant for the dairy and horticultural sectors, which have long sought reliable, highvalue markets for their

But here’s why the agricultural sector needs to act decisively and quickly: the UAE isn’t just a destination market – it’s a springboard. With its world-class logistics infrastructure and strategic location (see DP World HQ), Dubai and Abu Dhabi serve as vital re-export hubs connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. For New Zealand’s farmers and dairy producers, this means their products could reach previously challenging markets with greater ease and efficiency (see Iran, Iraq and potentially even calorie deficit Afghanistan).

Consider the current context. New Zealand’s economy recently

Daniel Rad

faced headwinds, with technical recession in the third quarter of 2024. Yet, as Prime Minister Luxon pointed out, business confidence is at a 10-year high, and farmer confidence is the strongest it’s been since 2017. This combination of optimistic sentiment and new market access creates the perfect storm for agricultural expansion.

The opportunity is particularly golden for the dairy industry.

The UAE’s growing population, increasing tourism, and role as a regional food distribution hub make it an ideal market for New Zealand’s dairy expertise. With immediate dutyfree access, dairy products – from milk powder to specialty cheeses – can compete more effectively against global competitors (see Kalleh in Iraq and Iran).

Seizing the opportunity requires more than just shipping products. New Zealand’s Agricultural sector must consider several crucial strategies for success. The development of UAE-specific product lines that cater to local tastes and preferences should be a priority.

Just as important is

the establishment of distribution partnerships with UAE-based logistics companies to leverage their regional networks and to do that fast. Investment in halal certification and compliance will ensure seamless market access, whilst creating value-added products specifically for the luxury market, where the UAE excels, will help capture premium pricing.

The government’s ambitious goal to double export values in 10 years suddenly seems more achievable with this agreement. As Luxon noted, “We don’t get rich just selling stuff to each other in the South Pacific.” This deal provides the platform for New Zealand to demonstrate its agricultural prowess on a larger stage.

Meanwhile, for farmers and dairy producers, the message is clear; the door to the Middle East has been thrown wide open, and the timing couldn’t be better (see post Assad Syria now open to trade again).

The CEPA isn’t just a trade agreement – it’s a vote of confidence in New Zealand’s agricultural capabilities and an invitation to play a larger role in global food supply chains. For farming and dairy sectors, the question isn’t whether to engage with this opportunity, but how quickly and effectively they can scale up to meet it.

Daniel Rad is a rural and geopolitical studies expert based in the UK.

Workers a big part of the farming business

“WE COULDN’T do this without our team. They are integral to everything.” That’s the first thing that Te Awamutu dairy farmers Jayson and Stacey Thompson have to say about their team.

“Everyone brings different ideas, knowledge and perspective to set us up for success, and are a key part of the story we are generating. That’s why it’s important to us that we support our staff, making sure the farm is a happy place to be, and they come to work because they want to.”

Jayson and Stacey share how they care for their team, and how they are supported themselves on farm.

“We have a budget for personal

development for every team member to progress their growth – whether that be attending a work-related course, getting a licence, or signing up to a gym. This is important because we know that if they care for their wellbeing, that brings better outcomes for the farm and animals,” explains Jayson.

Outside of this, everyone is encouraged to have hobbies and interests off the farm, including joining the local Young Farmers club and getting involved in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards in the next year.

“Getting off the farm gives you a break, takes your mind off work,

Clipping dairy Solutions

and provides something to work towards. For me I have an interest in motorbikes which helps put me in a different mindset as it must have my whole attention and focus,” says Jayson.

“But it also includes catching up with friends and family, going to the zoo with our boy, and just enjoying life.”

They do regular one-on-one catch ups with the team, celebrate birthdays, and have nights off the farm as a whole team, including with the farm owners, to help build team morale. Different roster options were also available depending on what suited the team, with some prioritising extra income, and others wanting more

work/life balance.

“While we are trying to be the best managers we can, we couldn’t achieve that without the support of our farm owners, Sarah and Andy Storey. They are a big part of the farm, always available to bounce ideas off, and are willing to share their expertise, to support our success, and the success of our team,” says Jayson.

“At the end of the day, they acknowledge that we are part of the same community, and they want both us and our team to have the opportunity to achieve our goals.”

Jayson and Stacey have a team of 6 full-time staff, along with casual staff, and contract milkers on 500ha of land across three blocks, with

ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF

DAIRYNZ PEOPLE lead, Jane Muir, says that it is important to take the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our farmers and their teams.

“I often take time to reflect on the hard mahi of every person working on a dairy farm. Every year brings new challenges, and across the country, farm teams step up and face these, getting on with it – like they always do.

“It is not an easy job, but it is a critical and rewarding

around 1200 cows.

Their staff are also ready to sing their praises, with team members Jordan and Kharn appreciative of having great managers, farm owners, and working in a supportive team.

“Jayson and Stacey really show that they care for us as people, not just employees, and go out of their way to support us, with both work goals and personal growth, or dropping off meals if someone is really unwell,” they explain.

“They listen to different ways of doing things, take on feedback, all while staying focused on caring for their team, land and animals.”

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role nurturing cows and land to produce quality food. Working together as a team is what makes it happen and why it is important to recognise our people and the good work they are doing.

“It’s key for us all to take time to celebrate, and thank, people who work on dairy farms across New Zealand and reflect on how great leadership makes farm teams thrive. Investing in your people will always improve outcomes for your farms, and the wider sector.”

Jayson and Stacey Thompson with their team.

Jayson and Stacey Thompson with son Reg.

Make summer mineral supplements a priority

CHRIS BALEMI

SUMMER CHALLENGES dairy farming in unique ways. Heat stress, paired with changes in pasture quality can affect milk composition and overall productivity.

However, an often overlooked solution is targeted mineral supplementation, which offers a pathway to maintaining milk quality and profitability through the warmer months.

‘Summer

pastures can lack the mineral density found in cooler seasons, affecting essential nutrients cows depend on for milk production’.

Why milk quality suffers in summer

As the temperature rises, cows experience heat stress, leading to reduced feed intake, dehydration, and nutrient imbalances. Summer pastures can lack the mineral density found in cooler seasons, affecting essential nutrients cows depend on for milk production. These nutrient gaps often lead to drops in milk yield and changes in composition, particularly in protein and fat content, directly impacting the milk’s quality and, by extension, farmers’ incomes.

While other practices like strategic grazing and shade provision can support cow comfort, mineral supplementation addresses these challenges at a fundamental level, helping to keep the herd resilient under stress.

Ca and Mg for metabolic health

Calcium and magnesium play

significant roles in maintaining milk quality. Calcium is essential for milk production and muscle and nerve function. During summer, calcium helps cows remain active, supporting regular feed and water intake – both important for consistent milk output.

Magnesium is necessary for energy production and supports good nervous system function and other key metabolic processes that can come under increased strain during heat stress. Supplementing during this time can improve milk production and composition.

Mineral supplementation should be viewed as a protective measure that helps dairy cows cope with the season’s demands.

Small amounts, big impact

In addition to calcium and magnesium, trace minerals like zinc, selenium, and copper are essential for maintaining milk quality during summer. Zinc supports skin and hoof health, which is vital in summer as cows are more active and may spend more time standing.

Selenium and iodine work together to offer antioxidant properties. These elements combat oxidative stress caused by high temperatures. Heat stress particularly impacts liver function, and selenium and iodine are key to maintaining good liver

health during stress periods. Copper is important for immune function. Without good nutritional support, immune function will take a hit when the animal is under heat stress.

Zinc, in particular, has been linked to reproductive health, making it beneficial for autumn calving mobs. A healthy immune system, supported by these trace minerals, also directly affects milk quality. Cows that are resilient to heat-related illnesses can better maintain milk protein and fat levels. By integrating zinc, selenium, and copper into summer mineral plans, you’ll provide cows with the foundation for optimal milk composition.

One trace element often overlooked

Two days of exhibits, demonstrations & seminars for East Coast sheep & beef farmers

but important during heat-stress conditions is chromium. Trial work has repeatedly shown that chromium in the correct form is particularly important in mitigating heat stress.

Timing and type

When it comes to mineral supplementation, timing and formulation matter. Research shows organic mineral forms offer higher bioavailability, meaning cows absorb them more efficiently than inorganic options. With organic forms, cows benefit more from each dose, making them more cost-effective.

Starting your supplementation plan early is also beneficial. Introducing these minerals before peak summer helps cows build nutrient stores that

they’ll draw on as temperatures rise.

Economic benefits

The economic case for mineral supplementation is clear: it is very cost-effective to identify the risk of heat stress early and take action before it takes a toll on your livestock.

Left untreated, heat stress can interfere with rumen function, increase lameness and empty cow rates, and reduce immunity and production.

A strong mineral programme can help protect herd health, and a good supplementation strategy offers stability in what can otherwise be an unpredictable time of the season.

• Chris Balemi is the managing director of Agvance Nutrition.

Mineral supplementation helps keep the herd resilient under stress.

Chris Balemi

Putting theory into practice

HAMISH AND Rachel Hammond jumped at the chance to put their university learning into practice by taking up a contract milking offer right after graduation.

What started as a five-year plan quickly became a passion, and they are now in their second season as 50:50 sharemilkers on Hamish’s family farm in Wairarapa.

“The farm manager was leaving so Dad proposed we come home to try contract milking,” Hamish explains.

“He was offering the opportunity to run our own business and apply the theory we’d been learning.”

The farm borders Greytown, where Hamish’s greatgrandfather started farming in the late 1920s, making Hamish a fourthgeneration farmer.

The couple met at Massey University. Hamish had taken a break between his undergraduate studies and master’s degree in Agribusiness and Farm Management to compete as an international triathlete. Rachel was chipping away at her master’s in Animal Science.

It was 2017 when Hamish’s father, Stephen Hammond, made the proposal. Until then, Rachel’s minimal

experience of dairy farming amounted to a summer placement and some relief milking during her studies. She had grown up on an apple orchard in Nelson. But the couple were confident enough to give it a go.

“We’ve enjoyed the challenge and opportunities that farming provides versus other post-study job options we were considering,” Rachel says.

“A farm is a great place to bring up a family, with our children spending time outdoors and with animals every day.”

The couple have two sons, three-year-old George and Lou, who is approaching one. Hamish is full-time on the farm, with Stephen and another team member keeping the ship running. Rachel helps part-time during busy periods.

The farm is 175 hectares, and they have 200ha worth of support blocks within walking distance of the platform. Some of the platform and support is leased.

Operations run on both owned and leased land. The main farm is 175ha, and there are 200ha of support blocks nearby, all within walking distance.

They are milking 600 spring-calving cows once

AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE

THERE ARE several environmental initiatives on the farm, and they try to be as efficient as possible with any inputs they use.

“We’ve got soil moisture meters, which are great to prevent over-using the irrigation,” Rachel explains. “Especially in the wetter periods like autumn and the start of the irrigation season.

“It helps with applying fertiliser too; if we know it’s too wet or the soil temperature is too low, we won’t apply any.”

Their effluent storage has a weeping wall that removes the solids, which are used on the crop paddocks. It recycles the greenwater and they use that to wash the yard, which reduces their water usage in the shed significantly.

Hamish chairs the Wairarapa Water Users Society, which advocates for fair and science-based decision-making on regulations and compliance. The society promotes best-practice irrigation methods and organises training and field days.

On the farm, the Hammonds have been

a day (OAD) for the full season.

“OAD milking gives us flexibility. We still have a good workload, but we’re not tied to the shed in the afternoons, and we feel more efficient,” Hamish explains.

“The cows have adapted well and are producing just as much milk as they did on twicea-day milking, which has helped us chase that efficiency,” Rachel adds.

Hamish and Rachel are particular about breeding. They aim for a highly productive, efficient, robust animal with a strong udder and high milk solids but low volume. The herd

planting alongside the stream and boundaries, providing shade and shelter for animals.

The couple enjoy collaborating with fellow community members to protect and improve the Pāpāwai stream and the nearby bush block. As part of the small Pāpāwai Stream Care group, they have been actively involved in yearly planting efforts and managing the established plantings.

Rachel says the group started many years ago and Hamish’s granddad, Malcolm Hammond, and father Stephen were involved in some of the first plantings.

“We are committed to best practice in everything we do, including breeding the best cows and being efficient with feed and fertiliser use. We want a really sustainable farming business that’s resilient to change,” Hamish says.

“We don’t think we’re doing anything flash, we’re just focused on getting the

right while balancing

and

averages about 470kg in liveweight.

The top 60% of the herd, based on breeding worth, are mated to nominated sires and the remainder go to Angus semen.

“Using Angus, as well as a heifer synchronisation programme, has allowed us to improve our selection intensity and make significant herd improvements,” Rachel says.

They keep all of the Angus calves and finish them on one of their support blocks, a venture they started in 2019 to earn some extra money while they were contract milking.

They operate a System 3, with pasture making up the majority of the herd’s diet. Grass silage is made on the support blocks and fed in the

shoulders of the season.

They use in-shed feeding to provide a small amount of barley grain and minerals, which helps encourage the cows to enter the shed.

The barley quantity is adjusted as needed, based on the season.

“It’s a typical Wairarapa climate: we are wet in winter and dry in summer, with 1000

to 1100mm of rainfall mostly in autumn, winter and spring,” Hamish says.

They use turnips and chicory to keep the cows fully fed and the farm is 70% irrigated with two centre pivots and some long lateral irrigation. The irrigation has allowed them to trial growing two crops of turnips from one paddock over summer.

Last season they grew close to 20t; 13t from the first crop and 7t from the second.

“The irrigation enables us to have better crops and we’re making good use of the water.

“Otherwise, we would finish the crop in midJanuary when it’s hard to establish pasture, so we are basically irrigating weeds.”

Hamish and Rachel Hammond are now in their second season as 50:50 sharemilkers on Hamish’s family farm in Wairarapa.

Hamish and Rachel Hammond with sons George and Lou.

How to make perfect silage

MAX YOUR SUMMER DEFENCE

Have you stopped to ask why the hot weather might be affecting your herd’s health?

It can mean lower quality pasture, fewer minerals, a higher risk of facial eczema and stress on the rumen.

That’s why we have a range of summer nutrition essentials like Zincmax+, mineral blocks, mineral pellets and more. Call one of our technical sales reps at SealesWinslow to ask which option will work best to protect your girls.

AI-powered robotic feed pusher

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

WHILE MOST New Zealand farmers operate with animals at pasture all year round, unlike their European counterparts, several operations in the South Island have invested in cow barns to beat the often-inclement weather. Whilst there are many benefits in terms of increased production and animal health, a key part of the equation is presenting animals with constant access to high quality forage blends.

In practice, cattle will eat material directly in front of them, nudging material forwards until they cannot reach everything on offer. This means that feed must be manually pushed back closer, using a tractor or loader device, often many times during the day.

Swedish company Sveaverken helps remove

this labour-intensive and time-consuming task, leaving it to be done automatically by a robot.

Equipped with numerous ultrasonic sensors to help guide itself within the barn, the artificial intelligencepowered RoboPusher Nimbo pushes the feed without human intervention.

The feed pusher uses cameras as ‘eyes’, identifying different barn environments, and continuously adjusts its path based on the obstacles in its way, alongside the cattle’s feed requirements.

“If there’s not enough feed available to the cows, the Nimbo will push it closer towards them, and if there’s too much feed, it will move some of it further away from the fence,” says company representative Felix Tian. “This ability to adjust to different situations eliminates any manual work.”

Featuring a 1.08m wide body, the feed pusher’s compact design takes up less space in the feeding bays and allows the robot to fit in a small charging station.

Equipped with numerous ultrasonic sensors to help guide itself in a barn, the battery powered robot is smart enough to return to its charging station after its feed pushing is completed. This ensures that it is always at an optimal charge level for future operation.

A mobile app also comes with innovative technology, allowing customers to set feed pushing schedules exactly to their liking.

Customers can use this to receive live barn images, monitor the Nimbo’s performance and check on the herd at any time.

With some customers using Nimbo to feed push up to 20 times a day, the company says

the more the feed is pushed, the more the animals increase dry matter intake, leading to better milk production.

One customer that is already reaping the benefits of the technology is Achim Behrens, who works

alongside his parents at their property on the border of the Netherlands and Germany. With a herd of approximately 220 cows, Behrens decided to invest in Sveaverken’s RoboPusher Nimbo due to its automative

benefits.

Originally facing the challenges of manually pushing feed for the cattle, particularly late in the night, Behrens says the innovative solution has proved to be a game changer.

“Thanks to the feed

TELESCOPIC FRONT-END LOADER

AN INTERESTING concept emerged at the recent EIMA show in Italy, where Italian company Aries - a front linkage manufacturer - showed its concept FL S3 Tele-End telescopic front-end loader for tractors.

Featuring a telescopic section that is concealed within the lower front arms of the loader, the set up provides up to 1000mm of extension, complemented with up to 16 degrees of articulation in the mid-section.

pushing robot, we no longer have to manually push feed in the evening. The robot automatically pushes feed up at night, so saves us at least one to one and a half hours of work every day.” Visit www.sveaverken. com for more.

Initially designed to be used by 80-120hp tractors, ongoing development will include product testing and customer potential, although if it does eventually reach production, the purchase price could be 30 to 40% more expensive than a standard front-end loader.

Featuring a telescopic section that is concealed within the lower front arms of the loader, the set up provides up to 1000mm of extension.

In the fully retracted position, the FL S3 offers a maximum lift height of 3.79m, which increases to 4.13m when fully extended, although in this position, the payload drops by approximately 600kg.

The artificial intelligencepowered RoboPusher Nimbo pushes the feed without human intervention.

Auto feeding system keeps cows well fed in paddocks

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

DUTCH

MANUFACTURER

Hanskamp, perhaps best known for its Cow

Toilet that collects urine, has developed a mobile unit to automatically feed concentrates to individual dairy and beef cattle while they are out in the field.

The FeedStation Mobile is claimed to reduce feed costs, optimise milk and meat production, while also improving cow health.

Equipped with 4G internet connectivity and integrated solar panels,

the system is controlled by the Dutch company’s Spider feeding computer, which can be linked to

Easily moved to the paddock by a tractor or 4WD vehicle, the bulk storage hopper has a 2230 litre capacity.

a management system for full integration, with the system recognising individual animals by RFID ear or neck transponders.

Easily moved to the paddock by a tractor or 4WD vehicle, the bulk

storage hopper has a 2230 litre capacity and can be refilled by a frontend loader equipped tractor.

Brought to the field using a tractor or other 4wd vehicle, the Dutch manufacturer says the integrated 2230-litre hopper can be easily refilled using a tractor or loader.

Configured to allow two or four animals to feed at once, the system also offers the ability to feed two different rations, and can be connected to the power supply, allowing the station to be used all year round, indoors and outdoors.

NEW PARTS DISTRIBUTION CENTRE

MARK DANIEL

markd@ruralnews.co.nz

AGCO CORPORATION has unveiled plans to build a new Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) at Amnéville (Les Portes de l’Orne) on the outskirts of Metz in the Mosselle region, just 12km from its existing Ennery site.

As part of a total investment of approximately €87 million, the €17

million low-emission, sustainable PDC will primarily serve Europe and the Middle East (EME) and be the master depot for supplying parts into North America, South America and Asia Pacific from Europe.

Intended to be operational by the end of 2026, the new development further commits to the existing 30 years that the company has in the Metz metropolitan area and delivers a facility that covers 84,000m² under

roof on an approximately 200,000m² site.

Over the past 30 years, the existing Ennery site has expanded to accommodate the growth of brands, Fendt, Massey Ferguson, PTx and Valtra. The new facility will continue to serve all AGCO brands by consolidating five facilities into one operation with enhanced environmental, safety and operational excellence, including 24/7 ecommerce

parts ordering for dealers and farmers.

The new development will also focus on sustainability, with solar panels on the entire roof, to produce renewable energy to help power operations, including automated processes, air conditioning and recharging of electric vehicles.

Rainwater will also be harvested at the new site by collecting, filtering, storing and reusing rainwater for cleansing areas and sanitary usage, ensuring

We design and build production automation machinery engineered to reduce downtime and keep your production moving.

efficient use and conservation for freshwater resources.

Additionally, the relocation to Amnéville (Les Portes de l’Orne) will contribute to revitalising an area that has been vacant for more than a decade, starting with soil decontamination, followed by recultivation and minimising artificial land coverage.

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The Hanskemp FeedStation Mobile is claimed to reduce feed costs, optimise milk and meat production.

Kuhn bags tech award

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

FRENCH COMPANY KUHN has won a EIMA Technical Innovation Award for its Baler Automation Technology

The Task Controller Section Control baling system makes the VB 7100 series round balers the first Section Controlled balers in the world with a GPS automated pick-up, taking another step towards autonomous baling, boosting profitability for customers and bale quality and operator convenience.

In operation, the machine’s pick-up is only down when there is crop available for baling, improving operator comfort and reducing machine wear, especially when turning onto the headland.

Tractor Implement Management (TIM) helps operators to constantly achieve high daily outputs, because the VB 7100 baler essentially controls the tractor. In practice this means the entire baling cycle is automated, stopping the tractor when the bale chamber is full and during binding,

ejecting the completed bale, and stopping the tractor for any blockage and subsequent unblocking, with automated knife cleaning.

The integral Task Controller records progress, including information on the number of bales, customer and field information, yield, and bale weight. Recorded data can be transferred to KUHN EasyTransfer or a Farm Management Information System through an agrirouter.

Auxiliary Control offers optimal ergonomics and comfort during highspeed baling, with the baler able to be controlled directly with the CCI A3 joystick, which displays all functions, or the AUX-N joystick from the tractor knives.

Complementing the introduction of Baling Automation, a next generation user interface ensures easy and pleasant operation, with all information from the baling process is directly visible in the new working screen thanks to Process View, while several work counters can be managed by adding a name and a date for customer or field management.