Dairy News 27 March 2018

Warning on cow numbers. PAGE 6 REDUCING TOUCH OF EMPTY RATES GRAPHITE Power of selenium Driving value PAGE 25

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MARCH 27, 2018 ISSUE 397 // www.dairynews.co.nz

TIME TO GO “The normal tenure of a global chief executive is between five and seven years.” – Theo Spierings, Fonterra chief executive PAGE 3

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

NEWS // 3

Farmers query timing SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FARMERS are questioning the timing of the announcement of chief executive‘s Theo Spierings departure.

Federated Farmers Waikato president Andrew McGiven believes the board has been “disingenuous” in bringing the announcement forward.

At its half-year results announcement last week, Fonterra chairman John Wilson revealed Spierings will leave the co-op at the end of this year: the co-op announced a $348 million loss on the back of a disastrous investment in Chinese company, Beingmate.

The co-op board is drawing up a short list of candidates; an international search for a new chief executive started in November last year.

McGiven says in many peoples’ minds Spierings will now be tarred

FONTERRA

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Fonterra chairman John Wilson (right) and chief executive Theo Spierings share a light moment at the announcement.

with this result.

“Rightly or wrongly, although he must accept some of the criticism the ultimate accountability must remain with the board who sign all of these important decisions off, and I feel through this announcement that they are almost trying to keep this result at an arm’s length,” McGiven told Dairy News.

Wilson says the board brought forward the announcement by a month.

“We had hoped to make an announcement later but in reality, we are at shortlisting stage…we have started carrying out referee checks and having those kinds of conversations globally,” he says.

“More and more people are starting to be aware of it.”

Wilson could not say when an announcement would be made on new appointment.

However, he says Spierings will continue to drive the co-op strategy

“with special emphasis on China”.

“The board and Theo are committed to a high-quality transition to a new CEO and when we have more information in regards to timing we will let our farmers and the wider market know,” says Wilson.

“Until then it is business as usual with the focus on driving returns to our farmers and unitholders.

“We envisage that even after the announcement of our new CEO, Theo will be involved in an advisory role so that we make best use of his knowledge and expertise during the transition.”

Spierings accepted that the timing of the announcement could be linked to the poor result.

“But if there’s a risk of leakage of process that’s the worst case scenario for our co-op; we have to protect our co-op, our people, our farmers,” he says.

“It’s not a one-man show.”

Spierings joined Fonterra in September, 2011.

High quality handover OUTGOING FONTERRA chief executive Theo Spierings says the normal tenure of a global chief executive is between five and seven years.

Spierings, who will complete seven years at Fonterra in September, says he will be working towards “a high quality handover”.

Discussing his exit from Fonterra was “an awkward moment that doesn’t happen too often in life”.

But he says in big companies it was very normal to look at succession plans.

“When I came I said I see really Fonterra

as the envy of the dairy world; actually that’s what it is.

“We are the highest paying co-op in terms of cash payout in the world and I’m extremely proud of it.”

Spierings admits not everything has gone according to plan over the last seven years.

The controversial Beingmate investment in China remains an issue for the co-op.

Spierings says choosing Beingmate was the right decision.

He noted that when Fonterra chose Beingmate in 2014, it was the leading local infant

nutrition brand in China; founder and majority shareholder Xie Hong had been named entrepreneur of the year.

“Yes, that was the right decision but we have certainly learnt lessons since then.

“China evolves very quickly; to have 18.8% stake in a publicly listed company in China with regulations increasing pretty quickly is not easy, to say it mildly.”

He says Beingmate and its founder were also slow to embrace e-commerce.

But he says Fonterra is not looking for a new partner in the infant formula sector in China.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

4 // NEWS

Mixed bag results for shareholders SUDESH KISSUN sudeshl@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA FARMERS says the co-op’s half

year results is a mixed bag; they welcome the lift in forecast milk price but are unhappy with the drop in dividend.

Waikato Federated Farmers president Andrew McGiven is pleasantly surprised with the 15c/kgMS lift in the forecast milk price.

“This is a great bonus to farmers who have struggled with the adverse weather events this season,” he told Dairy News.

But he is critical of the co-op reducing the dividend range from 45-55c to 25-35c, on the back of a $405 million impairment on the Beingmate investment.

“My concern as a supplier is that this is Fonterra’s point of difference from the other corporate

STAY IN CHINA WAIKATO Federated Farmers president Andrew McGiven believes Fonterra should remain in China.

However, he wants the co-op to revisit the strategy of its Beingmate investment.

“Personally I think Fonterra needs to stay in China and I hope that the lost value in Beingmate can be restored, but they will need to revisit the strategy around the Chinese investment to realise this,” he says.

Fonterra invested $750 million in Beingmate in 2014 for an 18.8% stake and launch its Anmum infant formula products in China.

The co-op has written off $405m of that investment.

processors and if it is not providing a reasonable rate of return for capital invested then suppliers will possibly look at other supply options,” he says.

“We know the competitive environment in the Waikato; it is starting to heat up with new factories either being built or in the pipeline.

“Suppliers and shareholders would like some more transparency around these issues, and I hope that some of this is provided in the upcoming

results meetings.”

McGiven questioned why the Beingmate asset write-down was not adjusted on the balance sheet instead of a dividend reduction.

“It isn’t income related to the suppliers, unless they were budgeting on a substantial dividend from Beingmate itself which obviously hasn’t eventuated.”

Fonterra Shareholders Council chairman Duncan Coull says the interim results “as a whole

painted a disappointing picture for the first half of the financial year”.

“The total forecast payout of $6.80 - $6.90/ kgMS is encouraging for our farmers given the tough conditions over the preceding period.

“However when looking a little deeper into the results, past the Beingmate impairment and the Danone pay-out, the declines in normalised EBIT and gross margin together with headwinds in the Consumer

Andrew McGiven, Federated Farmers.

and Foodservice segments point to a tough six months for the business.”

On Beingmate, Coull noted that while the council viewed the latest impairment as reflective of the reality of the situation he understood farmers’ frustrations with what the council has described as an unacceptable situation.

“Council had asked farmers to be patient until

the interim results had been announced.

“And now that we understand what we’re dealing with in regards to the impairment I encourage Fonterra farmers to attend this week’s roadshow meetings with an expectation that their board will provide full, frank and transparent conversation on its learnings to date and most importantly what actions

will be undertaken to rectify matters.”

Coull also urged farmers to read the half-year figures in “the context for which they are intended”.

“Ultimately the numbers that matter the most are those that are announced at full year and as such there is an opportunity and expectation that management will turn these figures around within that timeframe.”

BOARD STEPS IN TO SALVAGE INVESTMENT FONTERRA HAS appointed a board

sub-committee to salvage its disastrous investment in Chinese infant formula trader Beingmate.

The co-op says a board working group – that includes independent directors Simon Israel and Clinton Dines - is “providing guidance and oversight” as the senior management team work to recover the investment.

Both Israel and Dines have signifi-

cant China experience and expertise.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says the co-op is “working hard in the background” on the Beingmate investment.

Spierings acknowledged that revising the Beingmate investment is unacceptable to shareholders and unitholders. “The recovery of the value of this investment is the number one immediate priority for me and the

senior management team.

“To be blunt, the investment in Beingmate has not gone the way we expected and there are things we would do differently knowing what we know now. We are very focused on doing all we can to get things where they need to be.”

As an 18.8% shareholder, Fonterra doesn’t have direct control over the Beingmate, which was the number

one infant formula in China until two years ago.

But the co-op is working with Beingmate founder and majority shareholder Xie Hong to “influence its direction and an urgent business transformation”.

“We see there are a number of opportunities to reverse the current performance, unlock the distribution network and meet customers’ prefer-

ences for e-commerce,” says Spierings.

“While this seems like a slow process and we’re not allowed to share all of the information about Beingmate’s business, we are working hard in the background to get ourselves in a position where there is a tangible action plan for transforming Beingmate that we can share more widely and monitor progress,” says Spierings.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

NEWS // 5

Don’t lose heart over China PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

THE CHINA infant formula market

has been very challenging for several dairy companies operating there for the last 18 months – not just Fonterra, says Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey.

“That challenge comes from the fact that a lot of regulatory change has been taking place,” he told Dairy News.

“That has brought a lot of competition, irrational commercial behaviour in the market, because there is uncertainty around who will have registration, who will not, who will have access to the market, what will that mean in

terms of product availability and all those sorts of things.”

The Beingmate write-down is a “big hit” for Fonterra shareholders. Clearly there are other issues as well, but they are not the only company to have faced challenges in the China infant formula market.

But looking at the long term fundamentals, the infant formula market in China is still a very good market compared to other markets globally.

“It is the bigger infant formula market so it is hard to ignore. It is still growing because their population is still growing, demographics still suit infant formula usage and they are relaxing the one child policy,” Harvey says.

Michael Harvey, Rabobank.

“So it is still a very good market and it is still growing, so if you are an infant formula company and you want to be in that market you have to be in China.

“It has been challenging, there will always be risks and challenges in the China infant formula market but it looks like in the next 12 months some of the uncertainty and some of the challenges should ease a bit because we have now come through a big change of regulation.

“The outlook is for a better market environment for the infant formula market which bodes well for companies operating in that market.

It will not be all smooth sailing but things should start to settle down a

little bit.”

Shareholders will be frustrated by the Beingmate write-down, he says But Fonterra has faced a lot of challenges in the Australian market as well.

That market has also undergone considerable change in the last 12 months.

“Fonterra has come out of the challenges in the Australian market as a bigger, more efficient player and hence that is flowing through to a better performing business in Australia.

“That is encouraging to shareholders, that the Australian business which has been challenging for a long time has started to get its act together. So it is not all bad news.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

KEEPING AFLOAT ON POWDER CHINA DEMAND for whole milk powder has been keeping prices elevated, says Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey.

Last week’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) result of the overall price index down 1.2% was a “benign” result, he says. And farmers would be encouraged

by Fonterra increasing the milk price forecast from $6.40/kgMS to $6.55/kgMS. New Zealand farmers have had a challenging season grappling with everything from drought to cyclones.

They should take some confidence that the payout has increased from a global perspective;

in other export milk markets farmgate prices are actually falling, he told Dairy News.

“Prices are coming

down in places like the US and Europe. So to be getting a step up in their payout at a time when global prices are falling is

encouraging for NZ farmers.”

The global market is transitioning from the Oceania season to the

European peak, he says.

Because NZ has been dry through the shoulder of the season, there’s been a bounce back since late

last year for Oceania commodity products.

“There has been a premium for Oceania products particularly whole milk powder (WMP). We are starting to see that stabilise and hence you get the result (of last week’s GDT) where there wasn’t much of a movement across the dairy complex.

“What you are likely to see, particularly in the next three months, is pressure coming back in the market.”

The rate of production growth is slowing, but it is still growing as the Europeans head into their peak.

“That all lends itself to some pressure in the short term on oversupply

on the global market,” says Harvey.

“There’s been a small correction in the last couple of GDT events but you have also had chartered import programmes being quite healthy. They have been buying WM… because it is seasonal to be buying product late last year and early this year to meet the tariff window, but you also have China on a sustained growth pattern.

“When you’ve got China in the market buying WMP and you have a challenging season that leads to the healthy WMP price we have been seeing. That is why Fonterra has been able to increase the farmgate payout for the current season.” – Pam Tipa

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

6 // NEWS

Warning on cow numbers PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

A WARNING is sounding to dairy farmers that environmental policy is likely to restrict cow numbers.

The Ministry for Primary Industry says in its March update on the pri-

mary sector that environmental policy is likely to restrict cow numbers and the land available for dairy farming in the future. It predicts the sector’s growth coming more from productivity increases and higher value products.

MPI predicts dairy will hold its own this season

and into next season. It says dairy exports in 201718 will earn $16.7 billion, not $16.8b as it forecast in December 2017.

It predicts milk production overall will be 1% lower this season due to the 2017 wet spring weather and then December drought. That bizarre weather hit all New Zea-

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land, and especially Taranaki, Manawatu, West Coast, Central Otago and Southland.

The report highlights a continuing decline in cow numbers -- down by about 220,000 since 2016.

But this is seen as unlikely to impact production due to farms getting more efficient and better genetics improving per-cow performance.

Good news, MPI says, is that strong export prices are expected to offset the decline in milk production this season.

Average butter prices are up almost 50% on the previous year, and whole milk powder prices are at least 10% higher than in 2017.

MPI sees manufacturers increasing the proportion of high value products they make from farmers’ raw milk, so driving a higher value dairy

exports. And China’s demand for imported milk powder and infant formula remains strong.

But some caveats appear in the MPI report.

It notes that if M.Bovis gets entrenched it will harm dairy production, and farm management costs may increase. It also warns that continuing growth in European dairy production will tend to depress international dairy prices.

Because the overall outlook for primary product exports for 2018 is strong, MPI has revised its earnings forecast upwards to $42.23b instead of the $41.35b it predicted in December 2017.

This results from better dairy prices, rising red meat prices and record forestry volumes.

All sectors are performing well, MPI says.

INTERNET WOES COMMUNICATIONS AND Digital Media Minis-

ter Clare Curran was scheduled to meet with Federated Farmers last week to discuss the rollout of rural broadband.

This follows Federated Farmers vice-president Andrew Hoggard saying that dealing with woeful rural-broadband coverage should not be delayed while the Government pursues the roll-out of 5G cellphone technology.

Spark and Vodafone have been reported as saying they are trialling 5G -- the next generation of digital communications.

“Meanwhile plenty of towns and the provincial hinterland are without broadband, and with patchy or non-existent mobile coverage,” Hoggard says.

However Curran told Dairy News she expects to say more about rural broadband and 5G projects over the coming months.

“Absolutely everyone should share in the benefits of new technology and we need to be improving rural access and pushing for the best technology available, and we are doing exactly that,” she says.

“The Government is prioritising rural communities as it recognises their contribution to our nation.”

She was to meet with the Feds last Thursday.

“The Rural Broadband Initiative 2 (RBI2) work is progressing in parallel with the 5G work; it’s not either-or and I want the pace of that work to increase as much as is possible.

Hoggard says when there is poor or no access to ultra-fast broadband and mobile, farming businesses and family life suffer. – Pam Tipa

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

NEWS // 7

More products, expansion driving Synlait’s growth NIGEL MALTHUS

INFANT FORMULA volumes remain

the key driver of Canterbury-based Synlait Milk Ltd’s increasing profits, says managing director John Penno.

But he has highlighted geographic expansion into Auckland and Waikato, and a move into domestic retail, as drivers of future growth.

Penno was speaking as the company reported a record half-year net profit of $40.7 million for the six months ending January 31 – up from $10.6m for the same period last year.

Total net debt for the period was $49.7m, down from $147m, despite big capital spending of $34.5m, mainly on the Synlait Auckland blending and canning facility ($11.2m), a new wetmix kitchen at Synlait Dunsandel ($18.4m) and a new R&D centre in Palmerston

SUPERMARKET MILK SYNALIT IS planning to enter the domestic market with a range of products, initially white milk, to be retailed by Foodstuffs under the Everyday Dairy brand.

John Penno says the domestic market was worth about $2 billion at a wholesale level.

“It is an important market for a company of our size, one that we believe we will be able to develop over some time to become an important part of our overall portfolio.

“It starts with the relationship that we have started with Foodstuffs but we intend to grow into a range of products alongside that liquid product, and products that will in time open up export opportunity.”

North. Now it is planning to spend $260m more to set up a nutritional powder plant at Pokeno, Waikato, and $125m on an advanced liquid dairy packaging plant at Dunsandel.

Penno told journalists the increased profit was from increased volumes of

canned infant formula and much better performance in its ingredients business coming from better plant throughput, improved quality, improved sales, and overall better margins.

Penno said the Munchkins Grass Fed brand infant formula was now

John Penno, Synlait.

available right across Australia via the Coles network.

“In the last six months we have also renewed the agreements for the Akara product with the New Hope Nutritionals Company and with Bright Dairy for Pure Canterbury. These new agreements reflect the value of the brand slot that they occupy and reflect a new commitment on behalf of those partners to grow their businesses to substantial volumes in the coming year.”

However, he did not expect such strong growth in infant formula in the second half of the year.

“There will be growth [but] it will

be modest and that’s because the registration processes for Grass Fed into the United States and for Akara and Pure Canterbury brands into China are all pending” The company was very confident of getting the approvals but did not expect significant orders of the products before 2019.

Meanwhile Synlait had announced that it was buying 28ha of land at Pokeno.

“That enables us to develop further spray drying and tap into and develop a new milk supply pool in Waikato,” Penno says.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

8 // NEWS

Fieldays chief retraces 50-year journey MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THE NEW Zealand

National Fieldays Society is going for gold in celebrating its 50th anniversary year and its journey since launching at the Te

National Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation.

Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton in 1968.

The society earlier this year at the racecourse launch those celebrations and unveiled the commemorative artwork ‘Origin 68’. This intriguing creation is made from native timber and the very

same roll of copper wire a band of farmers threw onto an ANZ bank manager’s desk as collateral for a $62,500 loan to launch the field days on a rundown farm at Mystery Creek.

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at the Te Rapa event.

It’s all very poignant, says Fieldays chief executive Peter Nation, because of “its inherent value, its signifying communication and its ability to transfer information -- all key facets of the current event”.

In another first, the society on March 13 hosted a function at the Great Hall at Parliament in Wellington for 90 guests including MPs and go-to people who gave support over the years in helping bridge the gap between town and country.

And a formal dinner to be held at Fieldays’ home, Mystery Creek, in April, will say ‘thanks’ to 80 exhibitors and individuals long associated with the event. Thirty of these have a 50-year connection, as do some brands and service providers, public relations companies and, of course, ANZ Bank. Cumulatively they have poured thousands of hours and millions of dollars into Fieldays.

The Number 8 Wired Award event will be launched in May, challenging artists to use the stuff that holds NZ farms together; their works will be showcased in May and June at Hamilton’s Arts Post building.

Also in May, the Mystery Creek Expo will open at Waikato Museum, presenting the Fieldays history, educational pieces for discussion,

and again help create a bridge between urban and country, especially for children.

Later in 2018 a children’s book will break cover, portraying a brother and sister and their adventures at National Fieldays.

Then comes mid June and the 2018 Fieldays, themed ‘The Future of Farming’, with exhibits including Kiwi’s Best Kitchen looking at the imbalance of protein, the rural health and education hubs, and a re-vamped Rural Bachelor competition to be called ‘The Fieldays Rural Catch’, setting four boys against four girls, underscoring the key role of women in farming.

All exhibition space is sold, says Peter Nation, and there’s a waiting list for the 2018 and future events.

Reckoned the biggest such event in the southern hemisphere, National Fieldays attracts and hosts many overseas visitors, including this year from the Czech Republic and Korea.

In the run-up to Fieldays, the Association of Agricultural Field Days of Australasia will hold its annual meeting at Mystery Creek – 60 people from 40 field day events, who will also tour farms and businesses in the region. Michael Lambert, chief executive of the Royal Ag Society of the Commonwealth, will attend.

BOOK LAUNCH AFTER THE event, a yet-to-be-named Fieldays book, written by Geoff Taylor, will chronicle it all in 20 chapters: 50 years in 700 pages including interviews with key participants over the years.

An annual dinner will be held to say thank you to the many staff and volunteers, recognising that without them and their predecessors the Fieldays would not be the event it is today.

Discussing the future, Peter Nation says “We always have plans in the melting pot – a new campus layout, maybe a return to our roots with a working demo, which will make greater use of our surrounding land, but always a focus on food and ag technology”.

“Just as the technology keeps moving at a swift pace, we will need to learn to move faster too.

“I believe we’re approaching a zenith in that, as a not-for-profit organisation, we can’t continue to deliver a showcase of New Zealand agriculture on our own.

“There’s a compelling need for government investment in the project.”

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

NEWS // 9

West Coast dairy leader passes away PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

KIWI DAIRYING has lost one of its stal-

warts and advocates with the death last week of West Coast dairy farmer John O’Connor – the father of the Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor.

O’Connor, aged 90, was known as a passionate advocate for the dairy industry and was regarded as a pioneer in introducing dairy to the Buller district of the West Coast.

He was a Nuffield Scholar, Federated Farmers national dairy chair and West Coast provincial president and he served for 48 years as a director of Buller Valley, Karamea and Westland Dairy Companies.

He received the ONZM for his services to the dairy industry.

Federated Farmers national president and fellow Coaster, Katie Milne, says O’Connor deservedly achieved recognition for dedicating his life to the rural community, and he was a life member of Federated Farmers.

“He was always genuine and encouraged those he met with an interest in farmer politics, offering advice freely from his wealth of knowledge and experience.

If you’re a Coaster you’ll really appreciate the challenges there are farming near the mighty Buller River.

“Mr O’Connor epitomised the true West Coaster spirit through his determination and resilience to withstand the local climatic extremities,” she says.

Milne says John O’Connor valiantly battled the scourge of TB in cattle and served on the RAHC -- now called Tb Free.

“The West Coast farming community has lost one it its biggest battlers; he will be sorely missed,” she says.

He was a keen sports follower and marathon runner and an active member of the West Coast Rural Support Trust even in later life.

West Coast dairy farmer and close friend Ian Robb remembers O’ Connor’s engaging sense of humour and strong morals.

He says O’Connor had a kind, wonderful personality and he could relate to most people and the trials they faced as farmers. He always backed the underdog and sought out those doing it tough, and this was before the days of the rural support trusts.

“As his name goes, he definitely had that Irish charm. He was also a great orator and was adept at getting his point of view over in difficult conversations without offending anyone.

“In his seventies O’Connor was so formidable and respected that he was still being re-elected to the Westland Dairy Company when up against strong candidates,” he says.

Robb says John O’Connor didn’t always agree; for example he opposed merging the Coast’s dairy companies, but he soon got on with it because he wanted farmers to succeed collectively. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY

Diary

DATE

EVENT

DETAILS

March 27-28

Mobiletech Primary Industries Conference

Rorotua, it will bring together technology leaders, innovative developers, early adapters and the next generation of primary industry operators.

April 4

Smaller Herds and Supply Herds seminar.

Tui Brewery, Mangatainoka. To review the current situation and increase understanding about the causes and prevention of the disease Mycoplasma bovis.

April 10

Smaller Herds and Supply Herds seminar.

Silver Ferns Farms Event Centre, Te Aroha. Hear from experts on how to prevent lameness and mastitis on your farm.

April 14-15

NZ Ploughing Championship

Competitors will come from all NZ to Thornbury, Southland, to vie for the right to represent NZ at the World Ploughing Championships.

May 8-9

DairyNZ Farmers Forum

Get the latest insights and opinions on global trends from influential dairy leaders and commentators.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

10 // NEWS

$30m revamp for formula launch SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WINSTON NUTRITIONAL, a new

participant in the processed dairy sector, has poured almost $30 million into its infant formula facility in South Auckland.

In December last year, Winston entered the global infant formula market, shipping its first containers to Hong Kong.

The Mt Wellington plant was taken over from Danone in August 2016, extensively upgraded and commissioned last year.

Winston Nutritional general manager Leon Fung says with modern equipment and technology, the plant is ready to produce 20,000 tonnes of

formulated powder products annually.

“We are excited and looking forward to building our dairy products business worldwide,” he told Dairy News.

Dairy is an important new focus for Winston Nutrional’s parent company Hai Feng group, which is headquartered in Hong Kong.

For five years it has sold Hoeslandt infant formula in the China market, including Hong Kong and Macau, which has been made in Europe and Australia. Production will soon shift to Winston Nutritional’s plant at Mt Wellington.

A new brand is being developed for the global market in the meantime; Winston has applied its current brand registrations in China and accreditation for CNCA and CFDA certification

RICH HISTORY THE WINSTON Nutritional plant in Mt Wellington, Auckland made history when it launched NZ’s first Karicare infant formula.

It was built in the early 1990s by Douglas Pharmaceuticals, making the well-known formula brand Karicare, which originated in a formula developed by Sir Truby King, a child health reformer and founder of Plunket. In 2007 the factory became part of the Danone group, before being acquired by Winston.

Leon Fung says as new owner of the manufacturing plant, Winston Nutritional is continuing a high standard of manufacturing at the site.

Infant formula on the production line at Winston Nutritional. Inset: Leon Fung.

is progressing well.

The company is also fast-tracking export opportunities in South East Asia, North America, Middle East and Europe.

Winston Nutritional also plans to move beyond infant formula, into making and selling nutritional foods: due for launch later this year is an innovative supplement product range for the Australia and New Zealand markets.

“With our new production line commissioned we’re seeing increasing enquiries from many different customers and markets,” Fung says. “It’s an encouraging start to fulfilling our ambition to be an exporter to the world.”

New equipment at the plant includes RA Jones modified atmosphere packaging plant, an Eagle Vision 360-degree visual inspection system, a Swiss Ferrum seamer and a Hamson case packer from Canada.

Fung says the company’s board chose New Zealand for its first overseas investment after careful study.

“We prioritised our own source of premium dairy products so we can manage product quality throughout the supply chain,” he says.

“New Zealand was chosen because it has good food resources and an excellent reputation for high quality and safety; the Chinese market regards New Zealand food very highly.”

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

12 // NEWS

P****d off Feds want straight thinking PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

WHEN PEOPLE say New Zealand should be a leader in agricultural climate change technology and systems, Feds climate change spokesman Andrew Hoggard says he gets “pissed off”.

“We are already a leader, if you look at carbon footprint per km of land or per kilo of milk solids or whatever,” he told Dairy News.

“Most things we produce we are already producing at world’s best or

we are setting the target for world’s best. I don’t know how much more of a leader you can be.

“People need to eat food so the goal surely is to produce the food at the lowest possible footprint which NZ farmers are doing. To me that is leadership.

“Undoubtedly there are things we can do even better, because other countries will try to take that leadership mantle off us.

“But I get really pissed off when I hear these people saying ‘we should be leaders’. They

are ignoring the reality that we are already doing pretty bloody good on a whole range of things in this space.”

He was responding to the report ‘A Zero Carbon Act for New Zealand’ by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE), Simon Upton, which makes nine recommendations, among them to set up a climate change commission similar to a UK model. The idea is supported across the political spectrum in NZ. The Feds insist that actions to tackle climate

change can work if there is cross-party support backed by a climate commission informed by science.

Hoggard says more thinking is needed globally about how agriculture is treated. Rather than lumping everything together, action needs to be more strategic in recognising the world’s populace needs food, he says.

“We need to produce food at the lowest possible footprint… and have a scheme that works well across the planet,” says Hoggard.

“I heard a great pre-

Andrew Hoggard

sentation a couple of years ago from the international vice-president of the World Wildlife Fund who advocated strongly for more free trade as one of the solutions.

“Where you have countries trying to be selfsufficient in producing all their own food, often they are trying to go against nature.

“All these dairy farms in the middle of Saudi Arabia are a great example. What a waste of resources and energy: they are sucking out of the ground the water they desperately need, they are buying in feed from half the world away, all so they can produce [dairy] locally. Why not just buy it from any one of the

other countries – NZ, US, EU? It makes more sense.

“That is part of the solution. It is quite humorous in the fact that mostly if you look at the likes of CPTPP and most trade deals, it is generally the green and environment groups that seem to be opposed to them. In fact they should be right behind them.”

METHANE NOT A VILLIAN

IN BRIEF MANY PEOPLE do not grasp that methane is a short-lived gas that recycles, says Hoggard.

This statement in the PCE report is important, he says: “Given its shorter lifetime, emitting methane will not [cause] the same irreversible inter-generational warming that carbon dioxide or the release of nitrous oxide have.”

“It was good to hear that being mentioned,” says Hoggard.

“I don’t think a lot of people really get that; they just see that all agriculture produces 50% of our gases, not realising that is a static figure and that gas is recycling, it breaks down over 12 years, then it gets used to grow the grass, it produces the next lot of methane which sits in the atmosphere for 12 years and then breaks down. It all just goes round in a circle.

“We have only increased that methane by 5% since 1990, so if we want to get back to 1990 it requires just a 5% reduction by NZ ag and we will be there.

“Carbon dioxide has a 700year cycle; it is an accumulating gas – it is up there for 700 years.

“So even if you reduce the gases you are still putting more and more up there. That will be there a long, long time.”

Hoggard says he hopes people pay attention to Upton’s talk on the importance of going hard on these long-lived gases.

“Particularly in NZ’s case, whereas methane has gone up 5% since 1990, transport has gone up 78%.

“If we are serious about it and it’s not just a case of making big virtue signals, then we have to look at solutions [in respect of] transport needs and

energy needs.

“We are already bloody good energy-wise -- 80% renewable.

Can we get more there? That will certainly help things out.”

Hoggard says you often hear the Greens go on about how we must get agriculture into the ETS (Emission Trading Scheme).

“If you go back to those numbers, the methane has only increased by 5% of the overall 16% [increase in agricultural emissions] which includes nitrous oxide which is another thing we will have to work on – and that is outside the ETS. “Transport has gone up 78% and that is inside the ETS. Just having an ETS isn’t a solution.”

Much more work is needed on technological change in transport which will require more renewable energy, he says.

Put $10 on rural wellbeing WAIKATO FARMER Zara Cosh admits “it’s been tough” dealing with the death of her close friend Colby Harris.

Harris, who was second-incharge on a 300-cow dairy farm, took his own life last December.

“Not having Colby around anymore has been hard,” says Cosh.

“I miss him so much.”

They were both active members of NZ Young Farmers. In the weeks before he died Harris had qualified for his first Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.

The contest was held in Rotorua earlier this month.

“It was a tough day for me, having to compete without Colby there,” said Cosh, who was also a finalist. “As I was completing the modules, I imagined him laughing at all my little stuff-ups and safety violations.”

Harris’ spot on the day was left

vacant as a mark of respect and finalists’ hats were embroidered with his name.

Cosh also had the words “in memory of Colby Harris, much loved friend” embroidered on her sleeve.

“Colby’s mum was messaging me throughout the day and his dad was there and told me he was proud of my performance,” said Cosh. “That support meant a lot.”

Cosh is urging people in rural Waikato to get off the farm and attend a special comedy night on April 21.

Popular comedians Andre King, Nick Rado, Paul Ego and Tarun Mohanbhai will perform at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Karapiro.

“Tickets are just $10 each, with all proceeds going directly to Farmstrong,” says NZ Young Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland. “It should be a great night with lots of laughter.”

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

OPINION // 13

Making the most of the good AS HUMANS we tend

to remember both the very good times and the very bad times.

I am sure even though we may want to forget it, last season will be one we will remember for a long time. Most of us survived it and for most regions the summer was very good for plant growth.

And we also remember the good times. One of the great maize silage seasons was 2011-12. We had everything great maize needed – heaps of heat, sun and moisture at the right time. As a result farmers produced outstanding maize silage, as reflected in Table 1:

■■

Ask your contractor or merchant to walk your crop and give you some idea when it will be ready for harvest.

Then give your maize contractor a ring and let him know so he can schedule you in.

2 Harvest the maize crop when it is ready.

We often says that when the kernel is twothirds hard starch and one-third soft starch it is ready to harvest.

This season that guideline is probably not too important.

Because most areas have been getting regular rain and the crops are still green,

Table 1. 2011-12 maize silage quality vs long term average Season

DM%

NDF%

Starch %

ME (mjme/ kgDM)

Long term average1

37.8

38.0

30.4

10.8

2011/12

39.0

34.6

33.5

11.2

The exciting thing is that this current season is looking to be like 201112. In nearly every region, high temperatures, lots of sunshine and adequate rainfall after flowering has meant we are looking at fields of high yielding, high quality maize silage.

■■

maize silage can be harvested safely from the two-thirds milk line to full starch (i.e. black layer) as long as there is enough moisture in the plant to allow fermentation to occur.

3 Make sure the kernel

Many farmers will be able to take their maize to almost full starch and yet still have enough moisture in the plant to ensure great compaction and fermentation.

Moist soils have meant that plants are still green, and the cobs are rapidly filling with starch.

In fact, many farmers will be able to take their maize to almost full starch and yet still have enough moisture in the plant to ensure great compaction and fermentation of the harvested maize silage.

How do you ensure you make the most out of a season like this? There are four things you need to do: ■■

1 Get the crop checked by your merchant and communicate with your contractor now.

With the extra heat in the day followed by cool nights, the maize will be maturing reasonably quickly.

■■

processor/shredder is working well. With such high starch levels and potentially hard kernels, it is vital that all kernels are broken into pieces as small as possible. This requires the harvester to have tight kernel processing or accurate shredding.

4 Apply a proven inoculant that will prevent heating at feed-out. With high starch levels present in the maize silage, there are also likely to be high lactic acid levels in the maize silage. This can make controlling heating during feed-out difficult. A product like 11C33 contains L. buchneri which helps reduce the likelihood

of heating occurring during feed-out.

Buying in maize silage Some farmers have written in their contracts that maize silage needs to be delivered at 32 38% DM (dry matter).

This season maize silage buyers need to consider

what is driving the DM of their maize. If it is drought or disease, then you are likely to get drier plants. However, if it is because of lots of grain in the maize silage, as we saw in 2011-12, it is possible dry matter will exceed 40% as the grain is drier and makes up a

larger proportion of the total plant.

If the maize silage you are buying in is 40% DM and 35% starch, be thankful for the extra starch and the extra quality you are getting.

In fact, you may want to buy your grower a bottle of wine to thank him.

Ultimately, higher quality maize silage will mean more milk in the vat and more money in your pocket.

• Ian Williams is a Pioneer forage specialist. Contact him at iwilliams@genetic. co.nz @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

14 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

A fresh start

MILKING IT...

Big chief Rivers?

DID JOHN Wilson give something away at Fonterra’s half-year results media conference last week? At the start he introduced Fonterra’s new chief financial officer Marc Rivers as “our new chief executive”.

Journalists probably took that as a slip of the tongue but later Wilson stunned the room by saying chief executive Theo Spierings will leave by the end of the year; a search is on for a new chief executive.

Rivers, formerly chief of a global pharmaceutical company, joined the coop in October last year. Is he in the mix?

Pay cut?

FONTERRA’S OUTGOING chief executive Theo Spierings’ 2017 pay packet of $8 million caused an outcry among politicians and some farmer shareholders.

The co-op explained that $5.6m was bonus payments for 2016 and 2017.

Now that Fonterra has reported a half-year loss of $348m, thanks to the disastrous Beingmate investment in China, will Spierings face a pay cut?

Cows from space

Getting round the fence

US FARMER Derek Klingenberg is kind-of a farmer celebrity. His YouTube channel draws 70,000 subscribers for ag-themed pop-music parodies, trombone covers and, more recently, cow art made with satellites.

Recently, the farmer from Peabody, Kansas took his cow art to the next level – or altitude. He posted a video showing his cows forming a giant “Hi” as seen from the heavens.

Klingenberg started out making cow art a few years ago, taking lower-altitude pics of his herd. He was just looking for some new tricks to do with his drone.

Then the camerafriendly farmer saw that a company offered daily satellite images of farms.

They’re marketed to give farmers a way to monitor the health of their crops.

Klingenberg saw more aesthetic potential. He realised the service could be used to photograph his cow art from space.

THE TINY Middle East nation Qatar is expected become self-sufficient in dairy products in about two months. It results in part from efforts of the Gulf state to overcome an air, sea and land blockade imposed by four Arab countries since June 2017.

The company expects to increase the production of fresh milk and yoghurt to 500 tonnes a day, enough for domestic demand, with a surplus of 100 tonnes for export.

With the blockade by its four Arab neighbours in its second year, Qatar has flown in cows from around the world to build its own dairy herd. Another 3200 cows are being shipped from the US.

THE DEPARTURE of Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings later this year could see a bigger change of guard at the co-op.

The last time Fonterra changed its chief executive, the chairman, Henry van der Heyden, also announced his retirement from the board.

Spierings joined Fonterra in September 2011; Van der Heyden used the 2011 annual meeting in Whangarei in December to announce he would leave at the next annual meeting.

Van der Heyden’s replacement John Wilson has chaired the board for the last six years; he’s been a board member since 2003. Under Fonterra’s constitution, sitting directors retire every three years; nominations for director elections open in July and the list of candidates will be announced in September.

Three directors – Ashley Waugh, Nicola Shadbolt and Wilson retire by rotation but they can put themselves up for re-election.

With Fonterra’s board in the middle of a search for a new chief executive, Wilson is likely to stay on. He may opt to follow Van der Heyden’s path, announcing at the next annual meeting that he will go at the end of 2019, allowing time for a smooth transition to a new chairman.

Spierings and Wilson have worked well together; Fonterra is well-placed on the global stage as a dairy processor. However, the focus on China hasn’t been plain sailing.

There is no doubt the integrated Greater China business is delivering positive results for shareholders and unit holders and continues to have high growth prospects. Fonterra’s enterprise value (market value of equity plus net economic debt) is $16 billion; China’s share of EV is $4.7b.

But Fonterra’s farmer shareholders have been patiently waiting for the China Farms and Beingmate investments to deliver; they are still waiting.

Wilson made it clear last week that Spierings’ departure is not linked to the Beingmate debacle.

When announcing the Beingmate deal in 2014, Spierings said it was a game changer. He said the strength of Beingmate is its distribution network of 30 branches, through 1000 flagship stores – a network that reaches 80,000 stores.

The reality is that Fonterra’s Anmum products are hardly reaching many stores because Beingmate relies on distributors and they have deserted the struggling company.

Sperings is still counting on the Beingmate JV to turn around; John Wilson and the board are backing him.

The Beingmate JV has failed; even Fonterra farmer shareholders know that. Fonterra has to bite the Beingmate bullet. Having taken a $400m hit on the balance sheet, it should go all the way.

Write off the remaining $250m and say goodbye to the JV. A new chief executive and chairman will be in a better position to do that.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

OPINION // 15 Charlotte Montgomery barrel racing.

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OUR DAIRY farming work life is full on: we love our cows, put their needs first in our decision making, and our success proves our decisions have been and are correct.

But there was a cost -- our social life.

We are keen New Zealand rodeo circuit followers -- making lifelong friends on the circuit and seeing our children growing up with our friends’ children.

They have loved packing up and going away for weekends to the rodeo, spending hours in the car in family chats, laughs and games. We loved taking our horses on the road and showing our children how to care for them while seeing the countryside.

When the dairy industry took a downturn we decided to stop rodeo and focus on the farm;

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SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES FARMERS Charlotte and Daniel (Monty) Montgomery have been 50/50 sharemilkers for seven years, with their own herd, in Leeston, Mid Canterbury. They have three children.

They bought their herd, as a part of an equity Share milking partnership before dairy boomed and grew the herd during the high milk-price years.

They went out on their own moving from South Otago to Canterbury, growing from 250 cows to now 400 cows.

They have built the herd with good

we decided this because our cows needed to come first, so our time away from the farm took lower priority.

We made a full time employee redundant, which imbalanced our work/social life, making it work-heavy.

With this came an emotional battle; NZ has terrible mental health statistics and we know how they can arise.

We threw ourselves into our business: no weekends off, no family trips away and only our

breeding, hand choosing the cows’ sires to enhance the traits that best suit their goals, farm and longevity of the offspring.

Farming has been their way of life since they left their parents’ homes.

Monty left home to go to Telford Rural Polytechnic, then landed his first full-time role on a dairy farm, later going into partnership with those employers. Charlotte grew up dairy farming, went vet nursing then became a rural technician when the dairy industry boomed.

five-year-old getting to ride her pony on the farm.

With work the sole focus of each day, the days can quickly become endless and weekends no different.

We had made the correct decision businesswise, and we learned a lot about ourselves and the value of time off; when life is well-balanced, all aspects are more enjoyable.

But we learned that time off the farm helps us make better business decisions and focus on

goals. In contrast, when we were always at home, with only short breaks from daily routine, our judgement got clouded.

Rodeo is our way of finding balance during time away – perhaps as simple as an evening ride in the arena with the kids on their ponies, or heading to a friends’ place for practice, going to jackpots in the region or taking a weekend away at a rodeo.

We believe all farmers need to find a balance that suits them, their business and family.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

16 // AGRIBUSINESS

Co-op’s butter award spreads a hat trick IT’S OFFICIAL:

Australia’s best butter is made at Fonterra’s Cobden site in Victoria.

Cobden’s Western Star Chef’s Choice unsalted cultured butter was last month -- for the third

Western Star by Fonterra is sold in Australia.

year -- named Champion Butter at the 2018 Australian Grand Dairy Awards.

Now in its 19th year, the awards recognise and reward Australia’s top producers for their

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expert craftsmanship in 18 products. In a rigorous judging process, 24 dairy experts sampled hundreds of gold medal winning products to crown their champions.

Cheeses, ice creams, milks, yoghurts and other products were assessed for flavour, aroma, texture, body and appearance.

The judges, led by dairy educators Russell Smith and Mark Livermore, commended Fonterra Brands’ Cobden’s Western Star Chef’s Choice butter for its distinctive cultured butter flavour and wellworked texture.

Caitlin Croft, quality manager Fonterra Brands, Cobden, says it’s an honour to be recognised by the awards for quality and craftsmanship.

“Hats off also to our farmers in the western district for producing the high-quality milk that becomes the key ingredient for Western Star; without them this award would not be possible.”

Amanda Menegazzo, convener of the Australian Grand Dairy Awards, says the awards are a great opportunity for local farmers and producers to be recognised on a national scale for their talent, hard work and making a positive contribution to the industry.

“The calibre of our 2018 champion products is testament to our dedicated dairy producers and the ingredient all these products have in common – Australian milk.”

DANES THE BEST IN THE WORLD EUROPEAN DAIRY co-op Arla Foods’ Lurpak

butter was judged the best butter brand at the biannual World Championship cheese contest in Wisconsin, US. Winning in the salted butter category with a bestin-class score of 99.8%, Danish-made Lurpak won ahead of 30 other butters.

In this premier cheese, butter and yogurt competition, the accolades are awarded by 56 technical judges and dairy scientists from around the world. The 120 categories attract 3000 entries from 26 countries.

Hanne Sondergaard, executive vice president of marketing and innovation at Arla, says Lurpak has a heritage of Danish excellence that only uses the best natural ingredients.

“Since 1901 we have been at the forefront of quality butter, setting the standard.”

Lurpak, sold in 75 countries including NZ, blends traditional methods and modern technology at Holstebro Dairy.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

18 // DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS

More regional finalists l More regional winners have been named in the 2018 Dairy Industry Awards. They will contest the national titles at the awards dinner night in Invercargill on May 12.

CENTRAL PLATEAU

SHAREFARMER OF THE YEAR TIM AND Melissa Parsons are contract milking 920 cows on Trinity Lands’ Tokoroa 330ha farm and won $17,180 in prizes.

Tim (32) began farming 15 years ago as an assistant. Melissa (33) joined him seven years ago in progressing to the contract milking position they have held since 2015.

They were runner-ups in the 2015 Taranaki Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year.

Their goal is to own a oncea-day milking farm to achieve a rural lifestyle for their three young children and to remain working on the land with animals.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

TRAINEE OF THE YEAR

BAY OF PLENTY

DONNA MCKINLEY was

REECE AND Natasha Cox believe they have age on

runner-up in the 2017 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee category and says she gained much personally from entering last year.

Donna is second-in-charge for Davison Trust Partnership, milking 330 cows on the 116ha farm. Her short-term goal is to manage a farm by 2020, she says.

“My long-term goal is land and herd ownership and I have financial plans in place to ensure this happens.

“Being a woman in our industry will always have its challenges, but I have learnt how to use my strengths. I have also gained a lot of resilience and recognition of my own mental wellbeing and that of others around me.”

• The Central Plateau awards winners’ field day will be held on April 4 at 184b Poaka Road, Tokoroa.

their side in growing their business and achieving their goals.

They are contract milking 700 cows for David and Lesley Jensen on their 240ha Tauranga farm and won $12,823 in prizes and five merit awards.

They both grew up in farming environments and enjoy the outdoors and the farming lifestyle.

Their goal is to build equity through a profitable and sustainable business, as a foundation for buying their own farm.

“We’re at a good age to start a business, as we have the time to expand and reach our goals,” they say.

SHAREFARMER OF THE YEAR

BAY OF PLENTY

MANAGER OF THE YEAR BRIDIE VIRBICKAS

COLIN TREMAIN, three times an

award entrant, enjoys the personal planning, and developing his presentation skills and industry profile.

Tremain (30), a licensed builder, spent seven years building then returned to farming in which he grew up.

He is farm manager on the Tumunui Lands Trust 982ha, 1750cow farm at Rotorua.

He is proud of his career progress and the development of Tumunui South into a sustainable profitable dairy unit.

(27) won $6975 in prizes plus five merit awards.

She is farm manager for Bernard and Linda Virbickas on their 58ha Whakatane farm, milking 235 cows. She was runner-up in the 2017 Dairy Manager competition.

She graduated BAgSc from Massey University and worked as a fertiliser rep for Balance Agri-Nutrients for three years, before leading the North Island farm sustainability team.

Family is a strength of her business, she says.

“It’s a family-orientated business so we are all working towards the same goal.”

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TRAINEE OF THE YEAR WINNER ZOE Gleeson (25), a first-time entrant,

heard about the awards and decided to “give it a go”.

“This is my first year as a full-time farm assistant,” she says. “I followed my husband into the industry four years ago and have always been the relief staff.

“I didn’t consider farming a career until this position where I’ve discovered a whole different side of the dairy industry and I’ve realised it can offer me a satisfying career and a lifestyle I am happy to raise our child in.”

She is farm assistant for Margaret Wright on her 450-cow, 220ha property at Whakatane.

• The Bay of Plenty awards winners’ field day will be held on April 5 at 504 Taumata Rd, Tauranga.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS // 19

s line up for the big prize WAIKATO

SHAREFARMER OF THE YEAR

TRAINEE OF THE YEAR

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

STEVE GILLIES (31)

AARON COURAGE (19) is

and Amy Johnson (31) are contract milking 470 cows for Peter and Marian van der Heyden at Putaruru and won $13,750 in prizes. They aim to progress to sharemilking positions.

Gillies, a mechanic, has worked in the industry eight years since moving from Scotland in 2010 and changing career.

Johnson, BAppSc(Ag), grew up on a farm. She worked as a DairyNZ consulting officer and is now an agri-manager with ANZ, and works on the farm.

passionate about the industry and would like to gain a leadership position. He grew up on a West Coast dairy farm.

“I would like to breed quality animals that have a positive impact on the industry,” says Courage. “I’m focused on breeding a bull into the team of premier sires, working towards this via quality stock investment and working with other successful breeders.”

Courage is farm assistant for Stewart and Kathryn Anderson on their 146ha, 430-cow property at Otorohanga.

He is also training to be an AB technician.

CHELSEA SMITH (28) was previously a ‘travelling winemaker’ before she decided to enter dairying full-time in 2015.

She is farm manager on Steven and Amy Van Der Poel’s 250ha farm at Otorohanga, milking 1180 cows.

“I treat the cows like they are my own; they are the most important part of the business and need to be looked after and cared for. They all have their own personalities,” says Smith.

She believes good communication is a core strength of the business.

“I always converse with the farm owner and staff to ensure everyone is up-to-date with the day-to-day or week-to-week happenings on the farm,” she says.

• The Waikato awards winners’ field day will be held on April 5 at 455 Whites Road, Putaruru.

AUCKLAND / HAURAKI

SHAREFARMER OF THE YEAR

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

CHRIS AND Sally Guy have a clear vision and believe farming offers a great lifestyle for families.

Chris (31) grew up on a dairy farm and qualified as a carpenter. Sally (35) is a secondary school teacher who grew up on a sheep and beef station in NSW. The couple are in their second season 50/50 sharemilking on Allan Guy’s 80ha Papakura property, milking 200 cows. Their goals include increasing their herd size and moving into a larger job, repaying debt and building equity, and owning a farm.

TERENCE POTTER

NORTHLAND

(24) entered the awards to test his skill level and get feedback from judges.

Potter early-on decided the outside life was for him, and loves going to work each day with new goals. He is farm manager on Graham and Lorraine Bell’s 325ha, 1100-cow property at Ngatea and takes pride in running the large-scale business with three staff. “With a fair amount of dedication and goal planning I’ve succeeded in getting this amazing position.”

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

SHAREFARMERS OF THE YEAR

awards to challenge himself and learn how management decisions onfarm directly affect the economic and environmental sustainability of the property.

Moscrip, graduated BAgComm from Lincoln University and has farmed full-time since then. He aims to own a herd by 2023, enter an equity partnership by 2025 and own a farm. He is herd manager on Alan and Jill Moscrip’s 200ha Hikurangi farm, milking 400 cows.

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was inspired by his grandmother to look at the dairy industry as his career.

Youngman heard about the awards through PrimaryITO and thought it would be an excellent way to gain experience. “I love the diversity of the job and working outdoors.

He works on David Dean’s 245ha, 600-cow farm at Mercer.

• The Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards field day will be held on 4 April 4, 2018 at 540 Karaka Rd, Papakura.

TRAINEE OF THE YEAR

SAM MOSCRIP (21) entered the

DAN AND Gina Duncan -- both aged 32 and BAgSc graduates -- were rural valuers and knew the lifestyle was what they wanted for their family.

They run a low-input system with all young stock reared on an adjoining run-off. The Duncans are 50:50 sharemilkers for the Pouto Topu A Trust milking 1020 cows on the 460ha Pouto property.

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TRAINEE OF THE YEAR QUINN YOUNGMAN (21)

WOMEN WON first, second and third places in the 2018 Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year contest: Eden Ritchie (22) came first.

This is the first clean sweep by women.

Ritchie is a farm assistant on Jean Jeff’s 550-cow, 380ha Dargaville property; she entered to benchmark herself against others and to advance her skills and confidence.

• The Northland awards field day will be held on March 28, 2018 at 329 Opuna Rd, Pouto.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

20 // MANAGEMENT

Rumen research does NZ proud PAM TIPA pamelat@ruralnews.co.nz

A GLOBAL scientific

project led by New Zealand researchers, which gives greater understanding of how the rumen operates, has been published in the respected international scientific journal Nature Biotechnology.

The project findings could lead to identifying targets for vaccines and inhibitors to reduce methane emissions and improve productivity.

The project generated a reference set of genome sequences of microbes found in the stomachs of sheep and cattle.

Called Hungate1000,

the project was led by former AgResearch scientist Dr Bill Kelly and AgResearch scientist Dr Sinead Leahy. They brought together nearly 60 scientists from 14 research organisations in nine countries, who collaborated to generate a reference catalogue of 501 rumen microbial genomes; before Hungate1000, only 15 rumen microbial genomes were available to the scientific community.

Kelly says the project was named after Bob Hungate, an American scientist who trained the first generation of NZ rumen microbiologists in the 1960s and 1970s.

Kelly says the project gives a new understanding

Research author William Kelly and Sinead Leahy.

of what exactly is taking place inside a rumen.

“Hungate1000 means we can now start to reveal the intricacies of how the rumen microbial community functions and provides a roadmap for where to take the science

next,” he says.

“This data can be translated into interventions that are useful, such as identifying targets for vaccines and inhibitors to reduce methane emissions and improve productivity, among other things.”

Leahy, who is seconded to the NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) as its international capability and training coordinator, says the project represents a major scientific advancement in

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digestible plant material to energy, and gives us a much better understanding of how we might be able to use science to influence that process,” he says.

“This will help us find ways not only to enhance productivity but also to achieve emissions reductions and deliver solutions to farmers — such as inhibitors and vaccines — that don’t affect their bottom lines.”

The Hungate1000 was funded by the NZ Government through the Ministry for Primary Industries in support of the Livestock Research Group of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), which is administered by the NZAGRC. The genome sequencing and analysis component of the project was supported by the US Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute (JGI), via its Community Science Programme.

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the field of rumen microbiology, an area of science that until recently had largely been unexplored.

“These microbes in the stomachs of ruminants are crucially important: they convert grass and other dietary components into smaller compounds that the sheep or cow uses to make meat and milk,” she says.

“The data we’ve made available with Hungate1000 will underpin the development of technologies to target these microbes and aid productivity or reduce greenhouse gas emissions; you need to know what you’re targeting to make a specific impact on the rumen microbiome environment.”

Dr Andy Reisinger, the NZAGRC’s deputy director (international), says Hungate1000 is central to the work the NZAGRC is managing.

“Hungate1000 shows what a powerhouse the rumen is in converting

* Previous advertisements stated that Bio Power Gold had been “proven on farm”.

This was incorrect. Use of the product by Judge Valley Dairies Ltd involved normal, on farm usage, not a scientific trial which proves Bio Power Gold’s performance.

DR HARRY Clark, the director of the NZAGRC who also co-chairs the GRA’s Livestock Research Group, says Hungate1000 would not have come about without the financial support of the NZ government.

“The investment by MPI to support good science delivers multiple benefits, not just to NZ but globally too,” he says. “This project shows the power of international collaboration; we’ve been able to bring scientists together from around the world to create this resource that can benefit all countries, and NZ can be proud we made it happen.”

Kelly says he and the rest of the Hungate1000 team are delighted to see their work published in Nature Biotechnology.

“It’s the culmination of a long journey and a lot of work, and we have achieved something that I think is really worthwhile,” he says.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

MANAGEMENT // 21

Be careful working around waterways BALA TIKKISETTY

WORK IN and around

waterways can affect bank stability, water quality and aquatic life. But farmers and their contractors can do plenty to protect fresh water.

With autumn now here it’s the time for in-stream works. We’re keen to lift awareness of the issues involved and the responsibilities of farmers and others when working in and around water bodies.

These works can include stream straightening and excavating the beds of rivers and lakes for a wide range of purposes, including to install bridges or culverts, remove a build-up of sediment or manage an unstable stream.

Sediment build-up or instability may be caused by stock trampling the banks, or cultivation of paddocks too close to waterways without an adequate buffer zone or enough sediment control measures.

Deal with these to avoid recurring problems; their effects on aquatic life and water quality can be exacerbated through inappropriate in-stream excavations or inappropriate removal of bank vegetation.

Besides hurting water quality and aquatic habitats by increasing sedimentation, destabilising banks and beds can change the course of rivers and streams, resulting in loss of land and property and infrastructure damage.

Structures such as bridges, culverts and water intakes are essential features of most farms, but they must be well planned and constructed to ensure they are not at risk from the stream, and to protect stream values. These structures can obstruct or divert flows, or obstruct fish passage up and down rivers, blocking access to spawning grounds and migration generally, including to traditional or

recreational fisheries.

The Resource Management Act clearly prohibits any disturbances to river, stream and lake beds unless the disturbance is specifically allowed by a resource consent issued by a regional council.

That’s why our council policies cover the use, erection, reconstruction, placement, alteration, extension, removal or demolition of structures in, on, under or over the beds of rivers, streams and lakes and any disturbance of the bed as well, such as stream straightening or cleaning.

If you are planning such works, check the rules first.

However, Waikato Regional Council also recognises some activities in and around waterways are not harmful. The regional plan has many rules enabling ‘everyday’ activities, provided certain conditions are met to avoid the sorts of problems described above.

Those rules identify what activities are permitted without consents, and the conditions those activities must meet.

All parties involved can be held responsible for unlawful in-stream works – property owners, managers, earthworks contractors, etc. So check the regional rules and seek good quality advice when planning any activity in or near a stream.

That will ensure our rivers and streams are cared for as complex, delicate ecosystems in a productive agricultural landscape.

We all know farming depends on good quality water for stock and, generally speaking, better water quality means healthier animals and higher productivity.

Managing the margins of waterways – the so-called riparian zones – helps protect water quality on farmers’ own properties and those of their downstream colleagues.

Waikato Regional Council is organising

a field day on soil conservation and riparian management on April 4 at the Waitanguru Hall, RD1, Piopio. Farmers and landowners will benefit from hearing from the

experts.

• Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable agriculture advisor at Waikato Regional Council. For more information contact him on 0800 800 401.

Farmers and their contractors can do plenty to protect fresh water.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

ANIMAL HEALTH // 23

Plan to reduce empties to below 10% SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

HIGH EMPTY rates had

been a thorny issue on the Mahuta Ridge dairy farm, Hauraki Plains.

For the past few seasons, 13% of the herd have returned empty at the final herd pregnancy test. So the farmer, Sarah Wilson, planned to bring empty rates below 10%.

Visiting National Fieldays last year, Wilson,

who milks 210 cows with her mother and stepfather, discovered BEC Feed Solutions’ Selisseo organic liquid selenium supplement.

BEC Feed Solutions country manager Trina Parker told Wilson about Selisseo, which she introduced to her cows in late June last year; this season empty rates dropped to 9.6%.

“That was a really good result for us,” Wilson told Dairy News.

“We had quite a wet spring and we were expecting an empty rate higher than before…. The only other thing we did differently was put heifers and second calvers on once-a-day over mating.

“But I attribute the drop in empty rates largely to Selisseo.”

The trace mineral in liquid form is given to cows with water at a rate of 0.25mls/cow/day.

The cost of Selisseo is about $21/cow/season;

Wilson says the cost is covered “pretty easily” by the resulting reduction in the cows’ empty rates.

The trace element also helps keep somatic cell counts down, lifting milk quality and suppressing mastitis-related costs, Wilson says.

“Somatic cell count has never been an issue for us but using Selisseo has seen it go down further. It dropped 11% for the season…. At one point it was down 46% for the

Sarah Wilson with 18-month old Quinn.

month in early calving.”

For Wilson, the only downside to using Selisseo is its pungent smell.

“It doesn’t upset the water or the animals but it has a distinctive smell…. but not too much of a problem……like if my boss is feeding out I know, even while working in the cow pit, that he has given the cows Selisseo.”

The farm gets about 1500mm of rain every year; summers can get really hot. Adequate selenium levels in cows help reduce heat stress.

Cows are fed 1-2kg of PKE daily; production on the farm has topped 78,000kgMS -- about 380kg/cow.

Wilson’s husband Hayden works in for-

estry, and she gets to milk the cows. She has a son, Quinn, aged 18 months and finds being a farmer and mother a juggling act. Her mum looks after Quinn when she milk the cows.

Having happier, stressfree cows make the tasks easier, she says. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

ORGANIC SELENIUM DEALS TO COW HEALTH DEALING WITH the adverse effects of selenium deficiency is a reality for many dairy farmers, with some completely unaware of its effects, says Trina Parker, country manager for BEC Feed Solutions.

Selenium is known to be deficient in New Zealand soils, and so in plants and livestock.

Parker says as the modern dairy cow becomes more produc- Trina Parker tive, her nutritional needs are amplified.

“In NZ dairying systems, selenium has historically been supplemented using cheap yet poorly bio-available inorganic selenium sources,” she says.

But selenium supplements for

ruminants have improved, says BEC, which recently toured NZ with Adisseo, which makes a fourth-generation, water-soluble organic selenium called Selisseo.

They spoke to ruminant nutritionists, feed companies, veterinarians and farmers about recent research on supplements and promoted their product, said to be the first and only liquid 100% organic selenium available in NZ. Selenium deficiency impairs animals’ immune function and so their health and production; it has a bearing on empty rates, somatic cell counts and mastitis, says Parker.

“With similar rising trends in NZ

dairy production, I see no coincidence given the fact that baseline diets are likely to be deficient too. Good operators, once ruling out all other contributing factors, often continue to face rising animal health costs, production limitations and fertility concerns; they put much of their best genetics on a truck.”

According to Parker, while NZ farmers know their stock need selenium, many know little of the difference between inorganic and organic forms and what is actually available to the cow.

The source is vital in determining its adequacy.

She says NZ dairy farmers using Selisseo are improving production and saving money by reducing empty rates and somatic cell counts.

FARMERS’ RESULT SPEAKS BEC FEED Solutions has been monitoring bulk-tank milk selenium levels on NZ farms using Selisseo supplement; the company presented results of this at its recent seminars.

“Milk selenium levels help us to validate dose rates and adequacy and assess herd selenium status,” says Jen Ross, technical officer BEC Feed Solutions.

BEC estimates a 3:1 return on spending on its selenium supplementation, as a result of lower somatic cell counts and greater milk solids production. The cost of treating an average NZ dairy cow with 5mg of selenium via Selisseo for 300 days is about $21, says Ross.

With dry-off just a few months away for spring calving herds, some farmers who attended the BEC seminars are said to have acknowledged they are under pressure to reduce or stop dry-cow therapy interventions, and so are looking at preventing mastitis by other means.

Speaking in Waikato, Manawatu and Canterbury, Dr Haihong Peng, a ruminant nutrition manager from China, told audiences Selisseo works on a cellular level to reduce antioxidant stress, improve immunity, reduce somatic cells and allow and maintain pregnancy in the animal.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

24 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Farmers not in the loop on M.bovis NIGEL MALTHUS

Mark Bryan, VetSouth.

THE VETSOUTH veterinary practice at Winton, Southland is still coming

across clients unaware of the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis, says director and vet Mark Bryan.

Winton is close to one of the two main disease

clusters, associated mainly with the Zeestraten family’s Southern Centre Dairies Ltd. The other cluster is around the Van Leeuwen Diary Group in South

Copper levels

Canterbury, where Mycoplasma bovis was first identified in July 2017.

Suspecting the disease has been around at least a year earlier than 2017, VetSouth has posted an online survey form on its Facebook page, calling for anyone who has received animals or who knows of animal movements from a Zeestraten farm “anytime from 2016,” to either fill in the form or contact MPI directly.

Bryan says about 18 people have filled in the form, but VetSouth is passing responses straight to MPI. He cannot say whether any of the responses has led directly to new finds of the disease.

“The purpose of [the form] is the number of people who have lifestyle blocks and small numbers of calves, who don’t get access to normal communication channels such as DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ,” said Bryan.

“We quite often come across people who didn’t know about M.bovis; they’re just not in that loop.”

MPI also is calling for information on past contact with Southern Centre Dairies, asking for dairy or beef farmers with animals at high risk to make contact immediately.

“MPI is especially interested to hear from people who have received cattle or calves from Southland-based Southern Centre Dairies Ltd any time after January 1, 2016 and have not already been contacted by the ministry,” MPI said in a statement.

“Right now, we need to hear from any farmers who have bought cows and calves or milk for calf feed from farms that have been publicly identified as infected. If these farmers haven’t already heard from MPI through our tracing work, we would dearly like to hear from them.”

Bryan says it looks “very much” as though the disease has been around longer than thought, although that is “total supposition”.

The tracing indicates that cattle born in 2016 were infected, he says.

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MYCLOPLASMA BOVIS is a serious threat to farming, but much uncertainty remains about how best to protect farm businesses from the disease, says Smaller Milk and Supply Herds (SMASH).

It will run a seminar on April 5 at the Tui Brewery, Mangatainoka to review the M.bovis situation and inform farmers about causes and prevention.

“We have been too complacent,” says David Hands, SMASH Hawke’s Bay. “We farmers need to take ownership and not rely on MPI. “We have already had [infected] stock drive through our area on the way to Hawke’s Bay. It is going to change the face of farming and we have much to lose, from the local Calf Club through to RP visits; it’s all going to be radically affected.”

Dairy farmers will get answers to their questions about M.bovis and biosecurity measures in general from a local veterinarian, DairyNZ and OSPRI. They will talk about the disease, its signs and how it affects stock, also farm biosecurity methods and how to manage NAIT obligations.

The vet, Keith Christensen, Levin & Horowhenua Vets, will tell of his experience of helping deal with foot and mouth disease in the UK. Register for the event on the SMASH website.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 25

Flexible way to feed MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

CATCHING THE eye

GRAPHITE EDITION ADDS VALUE A LIMITED-EDITION Holden Colorado -- just 100 units nationwide – will become the prized possession of a select bunch of Holden fans when it goes on sale this month.

The Holden Colorado Graphite Limited Edition builds on the popularity of the 4 x 2 light commercial vehicle segment and delivers owners $10,000 of added value thanks to an enhanced specification.

Sales of 4 x 2 vehicles have tripled over the last five years, from 5000 in 2012 to 15,000 during 2017.

Holden says customers love to accessorise and customise their vehicles, so the Limited Edition will offer several accessories for a bold, attractive new look.

The Graphite uses the 4x2 LTZ Crew Cab as a base, including a powerful 2.8L Duramax 2 Diesel engine developing 500 Nm torque and a whopping 3.5-tonne towing capacity.

A Holden My Link infotainment system with 8” colour touchscreen and built-in satellite navigation, plus rear-view camera, are also standard; LED tail lights and daytime running lights round out the exterior aesthetics.

The Colorado Graphite comes in three exterior colours: Summit White, Mineral Black and Satin Steel Grey.

Specification over and above the standard vehicle includes Graphite leather seats, black with Graphite perforated inserts and ‘Graphite’ embroidered headrests, Graphite exterior decals on all faces, and 18-inch Graphite painted wheels.

And the fender flare, sports bar, tinted windows, black tubular side step and exterior mirrors are all painted in Graphite.

Three years scheduled servicing, roadside assistance and warranty apply. – Mark Daniel

on the Agbits site at Central Districts Field Days, Feilding, the Flexifeeder caters for all types of livestock -- sheep, deer, calves or full-grown cattle.

This offers a simple, robust way to prevent wastage that can occur when stock are fed on the ground.

It’s made from polyethylene sheeting folded to a hopper profile then secured by stainless steel

Roger Dalrymple with his Flexifeeder at the Central Districts field days.

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They are supplied in kit form for easy onfarm assembly.

Available up to 10m long in a range of sections to suit specific livestock types, the units are easy to tow; a 10m cattle feeder weighs only 200kg.

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DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

26 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Room with a great view MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THE DICTIONARY defines ‘panoramic’ as “an unbroken view of the surrounding region”, so the new Claas Arion 400 series tractors should be worth a closer look.

The six-model series has machines from 90 to 140hp, but the New Zealand market will see the existing Tier 3, 420 and 430 models continuing, and supplemented by the new 440 and 460 Premium models, delivering 120 and 140 hp respectively.

The 440 and 460 are configured to meet Tier 4 Final emission regulations, achieved with the use of SCR. Built at the company’s Le Mans plant in France, the new 400s are powered by four-cylinder, 4.5L Fiat Power Train (FPT) engines with no need for exhaust gas recirculation for emission control.

A huge improvement to the layout of the cooling package, and forward mounting, allow easy access to all the machines’ radiators and air cleaners.

The Quadrashift semi-powershift transmission has four ranges and

four powershift steps to deliver 16 forward and 16 reverse speeds, and it has the Quadactiv function that allows fully automatic shifting of all speeds, alongside field and transport modes. To complement this set-up, the Revershift function enables clutch-less forward or reverse shifts via a column-mounted shuttle lever or multi-function controller.

Also useful is the SmartStop function which at speeds less than 9km/h brings the tractor to a stop by pressing the brake pedal, which in turn cuts the drive. Lifting the foot off the brake reinstates drive and the tractor moves off.

At rear, a GIMA axle has a lift capacity of 5750kg with the aid of twin lift rams, and offers 540, 540E and 1000 PTO speeds. Diff lock function sees 100% locking to the rear and LSD to the front axle with automation via speed or linkage position.

The hydraulics have a tandem opencentre set-up with one pump delivering 60L/min to the hydraulic valves and the other 40L/min to the rear linkage.

Locking both pumps together creates a combined flow of 100L/min for

Claas Arion 400 series.

high-speed loader operations. Three rear remotes are fitted as standard, alongside two mid mount valves dedicated for loader use and controlled by the ElectroPilot system.

The jewel in the crown, the Panoramic cab, allows unrivalled forward and upward views that make the tractor ideal for loader operations. The view through the arc of the MX-sourced FL120 loader is unsurpassed, and although large areas of glass and laminate are used, the 6-post structure still meets all ROPS

and FOPS safety regulations.

When not being used for loader duties, a clever sliding roof screen can be moved into place, and a folding sunscreen. The cab has rear mounted 2-point suspension working in combination with a solid front axle.

A load bearing sump assembly removes the need for chassis rails, and the resulting ‘wasp waist’ allows tighter turns, making loader fitment easier with the use of cast towers.

In the cab, the obligatory air suspension seat works with the tilt

and telescope steering column to make the operator comfortable, and a multifunction lever to the right takes care of all key functions including powershifts, range changes, loader operation, engine memories and rear linkage. A CIS display at the front A-pillar gives a clear view of essential tractor information.

Looking at the complete package, the New Arion 400 series raises the bar in loader tractors in the all-important 100-140hp sector, with the Panoramic roof putting it clearly in a league of its own.

SPECIAL REPORTS

MATING High technology is now employed to assist dairy farmers through cow mating. Make sure your products and services are included in this special feature.

To be in this special report contact your advertising representative now to promote your products and/or service to all NZ dairy farmers and sharemilkers.

Contact your closest Sales Representative

National Sales Manager Stephen Pollard .... Ph 09-913 9637 Waikato Ted Darley ............ Ph 07-854 6292 Wellington Ron Mackay ......... Ph 04-234 6239 Christchurch Kaye Sutherland ... Ph 03-337 3828

FEATURE: BOOKING DEADLINE: MATERIAL REQUIRED:

10 April 2018 28 March 2018 3 April 2018

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

TRACTORS & MACHINERY // 27

Big 4-rotor rake easy to power A NEW Kverneland 12.5m, 4-rotor rake, dubbed KV91530C, follows on from the larger 15m KV97150C to New Zealand in 2017 harvest.

It offers many features seen on its larger sibling.

Despite its large working width the machine can be powered with a 100hp tractor and needs only one single-acting and one double-acting rear remote.

The KV91530 uses a maintenance-free ProLine gearbox with an adjustable cam track and Terralink Quattro rotor suspension.

The front 3.35m diameter rotors and the faster

moving 3m rear rotors can be hydraulically lifted in tandem or separately by an electronic in-cab controller; this also offers enhanced headland management with an adjustable time delay between the front and rear rotors.

Likewise, adjustments to the working and swath widths can be made in the transport or working positions, to make settings of 10m to 12.5m working width and 1.2m to 2.2m swath width; these allow the operator to configure the rake for crop conditions or a following machine’s pick-up width.

Transport width (3m) falls inside the local reg-

ulations, and transport height is 4m with all tines fitted, although this can be reduced to 3.45m by removing a few tine arms.

Switching the machine

from transport to work mode, and vice versa, is by a single push-button on the main controller. www.powerfarming. co.nz

SAVE OVER $12,000 WITH A

BONUS LOADER

*

VALTRA GOING GREEN WE MAY be used to tractor manufacturer Valtra

offering a choice of colours, but now it appears it’s gone green?

Not literally, but in being the world’s first tractor manufacturer to use Neste MY Renewable Diesel as the start-up fuel for all its tractors. This will result in 700,000L of fossil-derived diesel being replaced by a 100% renewable mixture.

Says the company, “In today’s world it is important that we demonstrate to our customers that we are taking decisive steps to protect the environment.”

Neste MY is made from renewable wastes and residues, and produces 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional fossil fuel. That cut roughly equals what you’d get by taking 560 cars off the road for a year or running tractors for 46,000 hours with no emissions.

It’s said to be high quality and to allow cold starts down to -34 degrees C, ideal for Scandinavian condition. Valtra will use the fuel to power the large fleet of forktrucks (no engine modifications) at its Suolahti site in Finland.

Neste MY Renewable Diesel is classed as a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), whereas the more traditional bio-diesel is known as fatty-acid methyl ester (FAME), not to be confused even though they both derive from organic sources.

MF 5610 CAB 105 HP Pick up a MF 5610 CAB and receive a BONUS LOADER worth $12,000 plus there’s a competitive 1.99% Finance rate available. The MF 5600 Series provides excellent manoeuvrability for hard work in the yard, in the field or on the road.

• Unique Power Control Lever for full transmission control on the shuttle • Fully integrated loader system from factory

1.99% ^

FINANCE

• Brake to neutral and shuttle sensitivity adjustment for customised operation • Fuel efficient and powerful AGCO POWER engines

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER TODAY Offer ends 31st May 2018, while stocks last. * Loader offer refers to MF 5610 tractors and MF 949 or MF FL 4018 loaders only. ^ 1.99% finance with 30% Deposit over 36 months, GST paid in month 4. Contact your local Massey Ferguson dealership for full terms and conditions.

MASSEYFERGUSON.CO.NZ | FREECALL 0800 825 872 MASSEY FERGUSON®, MF®, the triple-triangle logo® is a worldwide brand of AGCO. © 2018.

A world of experience. Working with you.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

28 // TRACTORS & MACHINERY

Kuhn keeping up with fastmovers STAND-ALONE BALE

with modern, high speed balers.

The new Kuhn RW 1810 bale wrapper cycles 30% faster, applying six layers of wrap to up to 100 bales per hour.

It has a new appear-

NE W

!

Kuhn’s new RW1810 bale wrapper.

wrappers have fallen from favour over the last decade, the job going instead to baler/combination units. This is because older models were not able to keep up

120 - 140 HP TRACTORS

NEW TO NEW ZEALAND AVAILABLE NOW

FROM

Room with a view 1%

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Offer valid until 30/06/2018 or while stocks last.

New CLAAS ARION 440 & 460 high performance tractors Superb all-round visibility with the PANORAMIC cab Integrated loader design provides tight turning circle CLAAS comfort concept for uncompromised driver comfort Smarter transmission for ease of use and better control

Gearing you up for success.

FINANCE*

claasharvestcentre.com Ashburton Christchurch Dunedin Feilding Gore Hamilton Hastings Hawera Hokitika Invercargill Rotorua Timaru Wanaka Waipara Whangarei

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ance, an extended loading arm that loads bales faster and more gently, larger mudguards that prevent film damage during transport, a hydraulic unit protected by a large side cover that allows excellent access for maintenance, and the unit can be towed sideways with wider or larger tractors thanks to its long drawbar.

The machine achieves optimum crop quality using a combination of Kuhn’s 3-D wrapping and the maker’s IntelliWrap, resulting in well-shaped tightly sealed bales. The 3D wrap first applies film to the corners of the bale then wraps the barrel, excluding more air.

After finishing the 3D wrapping cycle, the conventional wrapping will cover the remaining bale surface with stretch film.

In this, IntelliWrap offers full wrapping flexibility in the layers of film applied

to match the user’s crop conditions and intended storage duration.

Driver comfort is said to be enhanced by the AutoLoad function that gives fully automatic loading, wrapping and unloading, allowing the operator concentrate on driving.

Meanwhile, AutoSwitch controls the switching of the wrapper from transport to field mode at the touch of one button.

In the cab, the new Kuhn VT 30 control box gives the operator a complete overview of the wrapping process via a 3.5” colour touchscreen, a user-friendly interface and intuitive software.

ProcessView software updates the operator on the stage of wrapping and ongoing and upcoming wrapping processes, and allows pausing and restarting a process at any time. www.kuhn.co.nz

JCB telehandler.

ORDERS PILING UP FOR JCB BRITISH MANUFACTURER JCB reports a huge jump in global demand for its machines, thanks to having launched 46 units in the last two years.

It will create 600 jobs over the next three months, it says.

A bulging order book means 200 positions will be up for “immediate start”, 400 more in the coming weeks and 100 more engineering and staff positions at its plants at Rocester, Cheadle and Foston, Derbyshire.

JCB is among Britain’s largest private employers, employing 12,000 staff worldwide; 50% work in the UK, where the company spends GBP2 billion with 2500 UK-based suppliers.

Its iconic machines include backhoe loaders, excavators, Fastrac high-speed tractors and Loadall telescopic handlers; the company also makes Dieselmax engines for its own and OEM use.

Its latest development is electrically powered X-series excavators.

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

TRACTORS & MACHINERY // 29

Purple feeder stands out, gets results MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

LIVESTOCK FARMERS’ quests for

maximum animal production make it no surprise that an innovative feeder has won first prize in the recent South Island Agricultural Field Days Innovation Awards.

The Zeddy Dry 1250 mobile feeder, sporting a less-than-rural purple colour scheme, gets optimum feed stocks to calves, cows, goats and deer, to help increase daily liveweight gains and maintain animals’ health.

It transports feed to paddocks in its 1.25cu.m hopper mounted on a robust galvanised steel chassis. It handles and dispenses pelletised feeds, loose grains or any free-flowing supplementary feed equally well.

It dispenses feed into one of four feed stalls located around the unit and is said to be suitable for mobs of 200 - 300; it can deliver as little as 15g per visit, right up to 3kg for larger animals. And it can be set to deliver smaller amounts several times daily, so encouraging better development of younger stock.

It has an integral RFID tag reader that identifies animals by their eartags then prompts dispensing of a predetermined amount of feed from the hopper.

Key benefits are feed storage in a weather-tight hopper, and the pre-set feed quantities that prevent over-feeding and waste.

The unit is powered by an integral 12V battery whose charge should last four days, and it can be connected to 230V mains power if used indoors.

Controlling software can send text alerts to smartphones, tablets or PCs if the unit malfunctions; the software also produces monthly user reports.

Zeddy Dry mobile feeder.

FOR WHERE THE SUN DON’T SHINE UNDER-HOOD LIGHTING using

LEDs conveniently replaces the oldstyle torch or inspection lamp that needed holding by hand, hook or magnet.

Mounted on an adjustable clamp, Narva’s SeeEzy rechargeable LED lighting clearly illuminates the entire engine bay, allowing the use of both

hands to inspect and work.

The lamp has three 5W long-life LEDs that give 6000K of white light.

It comes with a lithium ion battery that lasts 6 - 15 hours depending on the light output selected -- using one, two or three of the LEDs, providing 350, 675 or 1000 lumens respectively.

Each of the three LED housings

can be swivelled up to 40 degrees for light where it’s most needed.

Battery charging is via a USB socket using a supplied cable and AC adaptor; this takes 6.5 hours from fully discharged to a full charge. An easy-to-read battery level indicator shows how much charge remains.

Components are made tough from

aluminium, ABS and polycarbonate to take the knocks of workshop environments, yet lightweight for easy installation under bonnet and boot, or for stowage for camping or caravanning.

They have adjustable, padded arms that extend from 1200 - 1750 mm; the lights can then be slid along the arms.

00 6 M N O R T AGRO RM A F R U O Y BUILT FOR

4

FFER

UTZ-FAHR O

R A E Y WARRANTY

LIMITED DE

**

Powerful and environmentally friendly, the Agrotron M600 is perfect for New Zealand farming operations. With low fuel consumption, smooth gear shifting, four PTO speeds and a hydraulic system with a lift capacity of up to 9200kg, the M600 encompasses the Deutz-Fahr philosophy of Power Efficiency, implementing the best technological solutions in every aspect while ensuring the tractor remains cost-effective.

FROM

38,470

$

+GST DEPOSIT

Over 150 years in the making, the Deutz Common-Rail (DCR) turbo diesel engine works seamlessly with the fully synchronised transmission and hydro-pneumatic suspension to ensure a safe and comfortable ride, every time. With one of the largest, best designed tractor cabs and programmable operation sequences this is the tractor you’ve been looking for. Contact your local Power Farming dealer for a demonstration, you won’t regret it.

OR TRADE

+

1/3

IN 12 & 2*4 MONTHS

0800 801 888 deutztractors.co.nz

* Deposit plus total GST or use your trade, then pay 1/3rd in 12 months then 1/3rd in 24 months at 2.99%. ** 2 year 2000 hour full manufacturer’s warranty plus additional 2 year 2000 hour Deutz Agrocare power train warranty.

O N E N AM E COV E R S I T A L L

deutzNZ

DAIRY NEWS MARCH 27, 2018

30 // TRACTORS & MACHINERY

Tractor dealers bag awards CASE IH recently held

South Island dealer Cochranes of Canterbury won 2017 Dealer of the Year NZ for two or more outlets, and Whyteline, Paeroa, won Dealer of the Year NZ for one or two

QUALITY PRE-OWNED TRACTORS AND MACHINERY

JOHN DEERE 6830

2007, 140Hp, 8813 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, Pearson 20-42 loader, premium cab, passenger seat, Power Beyond and 3 SCVs.

REF: 503785 ROT

$57,000

JOHN DEERE 6125R

2014, 125Hp, 2100 hrs with a AutoQuad Plus transmission, cab suspension, TLS, 10 weights and 3 SCVs. REF: 503465 HST

$95,000

JOHN DEERE 6520

2003, 103Hp, 7850 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, John Deere 731 loader and 3 SCVs. REF: 503522 ROT

$49,000

JOHN DEERE 6630 PREMIUM

JOHN DEERE 6630

REF: 503817 STF

REF: 503830 ROT

2008, 130Hp, 5633 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, Stoll Robust F51 loader with 3rd service, multi-coupler, soft ride, Power Beyond and 3 SCVs. $68,780

JOHN DEERE 6110RC

2014, 110Hp, 1439 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, John Deere H310 loader, passenger seat, Power Beyond and 3 SCVs.

REF: 503733 STF

$89,900

JOHN DEERE 6320

2005, 100Hp, 6330 hrs with a PowrQuad transmission and 2 SCVs. REF: 503221 WPK

$29,900

2012, 130Hp, 4300 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, John Deere 683 loader, hydraulic trailer brake, remote control rear hitch, Power Beyond and 3 SCVs. $78,950

JOHN DEERE 6420

2005, 110Hp, 7470 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, John Deere 631 loader, 8 weights, passenger seat, Power Beyond and 3 SCVs.

REF: 503206 STF

$49,000

AGRITECH SAM 14CU

Feed wagon, 14 cubic metre.

REF: 503514 ROT

$11,000

on being Dealers of the Year, Fanning said they “hit the mark across a range of performance criteria, achieving excellent results and establishing a strong platform for ongoing success and advancement”.

Cochranes, family owned and operated, has served South Island farmers and contractors for 65 years from five outlets in Amberley, Leeston, Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru.

Whyteline, family owned and operated for 40 years, started as Paeroa Motors in 1976 then moved to larger premises and changed its name to Whyteline Ltd. – Mark Daniel

JOHN DEERE 6125R

2014, 125Hp, 2490 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, John Deere H310 loader, bucket and 3 SCVs. REF: 503470 MTU

$99,000

JOHN DEERE 6105M

2014, 105Hp, 1732 hrs with a PowrQuad Plus transmission, John Deere H310 loader, Power Beyond and 2 SCVs. REF: 503714 MTU

$89,000

HUSTLER CH 2000

2006 bale feeder, 3 point linkage mounted.

REF: 503851 STF

$4,200

ADDITIONAL STOCK AVAILABLE ONLINE, CONTACT CERVUS EQUIPMENT TODAY TO LEARN MORE. 0800 333 734

branches.

The awards recognise performance in finance, business management, sales, marketing, parts and servicing, the company’s Advanced Farming Systems Certification and dealers’ total market share.

Norwood’s operations manager for Case IH NZ, Tim Fanning, said it was the first time NZ dealerships had been recognised with the awards, and that the inaugural winners were worthy of their titles, setting the highest standards for their businesses and always giving customers the best support and service.

Congratulating Cochranes and Whyteline

CervusEquipment.co.nz

*CONDITIONS: All prices exclude GST. Price, hours and condition are accurate on day of print and are subject to change without prior notice.

NOT ALL HOT AIR MASSEY FERGUSON is showing its hand in the

alternative energy stakes.

La France Agricole magazine reports the AGCOowned company is developing a bio-methane powered version of its MF 7700 series tractor.

At the Axema technical event in France, Agco designer Bruno Sap revealed progress so far on what is believed to be the company’s first look at alternative fuels for its Beauvais-built tractors.

It has considered hydrogen propulsion, but biomethane is favoured mainly as a better compromise between the storage capacity required for a tractor and the resultant power that can be delivered at the wheels and PTO. In practice, 1600L of fuel pressurised to 250bar is held in nine cylinders beneath the cab plus two 130L reservoirs at the side of the tractor.

The tractor has no standard fuel tank and the engine is repositioned to make room for the fuel storage tanks.

The position of the Dyna-VT stepless transmission is said to be unchanged due to its compact size, although overall the tractor will sit 20mm higher and be slightly longer in the overall wheelbase. AGCO is not saying when it will show the prototype to the public.

Its rival New Holland says its methane tractor will go on sale in the next three years.

RAV-27MAR-DN

Whyteline dealer award (from left): Tim Fanning, Norwood operations manager Case IH New Zealand; Mark Whyte, Whyteline; Bruce Healy, brand leader Case IH Australia/New Zealand; and Kerry McCauley, brand leader Case Construction (formerly commercial business manager NZ, CNH Industrial).

its annual awards ceremony for New Zealand and Australian dealers during its 2018 dealer conference in South Africa.

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RAV-27MAR-DN

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Smarter farming for a better New Zealand™