Dairy News 13 October 2020

Farmers welcome sale of loss-making China Farms. PAGE 3 NEW CHAIR COMPACT ALLR0UNDER Coull takes reigns PAGE 16

OCTOBER 13, 2020

Krone baler PAGE 32

ISSUE 457 // www.dairynews.co.nz

DREAM TEAM, DREAM RESULTS Tatua chairman Stephen Allen, chief executive Brendhan Greaney attribute record result in a challenging year to hardworking staff.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

NEWS // 3

Pleased to see China farms go SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

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NEWS ������������������������������������������������������ 3-17 OPINION ����������������������������������������������18-19 AGRIBUSINESS ����������������������������� 20-21 MANAGEMENT �������������������������������22-24 ANIMAL HEALTH �������������������������� 25-26 MILK COOLING ��������������������������������27-31 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS �������������������������������������� 32-34

FONTERRA FARMERS are happy to see the back of the cooperative’s loss-making China Farms.

The cooperative is offloading three farming hubs to Chinese companies for $555 million. Over the past 10 years it has invested over $1 billion in the farms with very little return.

The sale of China Farms was part of a review announced 18 months ago, where Fonterra halted overseas expansion and moved away from overseas milk pools in favour of growing its New Zealand milk base.

Fonterra farmers were unhappy with the co-op’s investments like China Farms, which ran at a loss.

Fonterra’s 2020 annual report reported that China Farms’ gross profit was $11 million compared to a $14 loss the previous year.

Federated Farmers dairy section chair Wayne Langford told Dairy News that overall the response from farmers has been positive towards the sale of the farms.

He noted that the farms have “been a constant burden on the balance sheet and a talking point at most shareholder meetings I have attended in the last 10 years”.

“While the farms have struggled to make money and pay themselves off, I think most farmers are aware of that the role they played for

Fonterra’s China Farms failed to deliver a decent return on investment for farmer shareholders.

the co-op was not just for financial returns.

“The farms opened up many new doors and trading opportunities that need to be factored into the assessment of performance over time.”

He says Fonterra is an evolving cooperative and it’s great to see strong decisions being made.

“They will make good investments and poor ones, just as our farmer shareholders do. So it’s great to see that these are being analysed and evaluated with a clear focus towards future direction.”

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says, in building the farms, Fonterra has demonstrated its commitment to the development of the Chinese dairy industry.

“We’ve worked closely with local players, sharing our expertise

in farming techniques and animal husbandry, and contributed to the growth of the industry.

“We don’t shy away from the fact that establishing farms from scratch in China has been challenging, but our team has successfully developed productive model farms, supplying high quality fresh milk to the local consumer market. It’s now time to pass the baton to Youran and Sanyuan to continue the development of these farms.”

Hurrell says the sale of the farms will allow the co-op to prioritise the areas of its business where it has competitive advantages.

“For the last 18 months, we have been reviewing every part of the business to ensure our assets and investments meet the needs of the co-op today. Selling the farms is in

line with our decision to focus on our New Zealand farmers’ milk.

“China remains one of Fonterra’s most important strategic markets, receiving around a quarter of our production. Selling the farms will allow us to focus even more on strengthening our Foodservice, Consumer Brands and Ingredients businesses in China.

“We will do this by bringing the goodness of New Zealand milk to Chinese customers in innovative ways and continuing to partner with local Chinese companies to do so.

Our investment in R&D and application centres in China will support this direction,” says Hurrell.

Completion of the sale, which is subject to anti-trust clearance and other regulatory approvals in China, is expected within this financial year.

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

4 // NEWS

Team effort brings record results Despite challenges posed by Covid-19, Waikato milk processor Tatua posted record revenues of $381 million last financial year.

Chair Stephen Allen and chief executive Brendhan Greaney sat down with Sudesh Kissun to discuss the great team effort behind the results.

BEING SMALL and

nimble has always been the strength of small Waikato processor Tatua.

For almost a decade the cooperative has been the top performing milk processor in the country.

So when Covid-19 reached NZ shores in early March, Tatua was ready. Chief executive Brendhan Greaney recalls that within 24 hours about 100 workers were set up by their IT team to work from home.

“Those who had roles requiring they remain on

site worked in discrete groups and operated within social distancing ■■ rules,” he says.

With many ■■ people away from ■■ the office, there was ■■ space to set up several cafeterias to ■■ keeps groups apart.

Milk was continuing to come into the plant for processing and customers around the world still required products.

“We were fortunate to be able to keep going,

Tatua results

CHINA IS BACK TATUA CHIEF executive Brendhan Greaney says the Chinese market has bounced back after slowing through March.

The real issue was getting products to customers as ports became congested, which flowed through to disruption of global shipping schedules. Getting boxes back into NZ to export again was also a challenge.

Greaney says Tatua’s international trade group based in NZ, and Tatua’s teams in market, used their networks and relationships to keep things moving.

“If we didn’t have the team on the ground in China, it would have been very difficult to serve our customers from here.”

Tatua’s new China business head was in NZ for his induction in March when Covid restrictions came into force. He ended up in NZ for six months, leading the business remotely.

Greaney says that when demand slowed in some areas, the company was able to redirect plant capacity to make products for other markets.

Tatua exports to over 60 countries. It has offices in the US, China and Japan.

Record Group revenue of $381 million Earnings of $151 million Processed 15.15 million kgMS Group earnings of $151 million equates to $9.96/kgMS Final cash payout of $8.70/kgMS - $1.26/kgMS or $19.1m before tax retained for investment.

as well as to avoid any Covid-19 cases,” Greaney says.

Communication was a key factor with farmer shareholders and staff receiving regular updates.

One of the first messages to staff was that no one was going to lose their job.

Greaney says everyone played their part and there was massive commitment to looking after each other and the business.

Chairman Stephen Allen attributes the record financial results to its hardworking staff, both here and abroad.

“In the context of the pandemic, it was a huge effort to keep the business running, and on top of that, our people galvanised together and produced a stunning result,” Allen says.

Greaney commented that, “we have a team of people at Tatua, including those in our offshore sub-

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Tatua chairman Stephen Allen and chief executive Brendhan Greaney.

sidiaries, who have shown exceptional commitment in taking care of each other and the business through one of the most challenging and uncertain times we can recall.

“Our result is a credit to them.”

Allen says the camaraderie among staff has been great, noting that during the Covid lockdowns, the management team and sales & marketing staff helped load containers.

Allen believes Tatua’s strong performance over the years strengthened the business’ resilience.

Tatua did not apply for the Government’s Covid19 wage subsidy.

“We have built a very strong balance sheet and we have invested in infrastructure and systems

FUTURE PLANS TATUA CHAIRMAN Stephen Allen says the co-op is closely watching the animal protein versus plant protein debate.

However, he says Tatua is concentrating on dairy and has no immediate plans to tap into plant-based protein.

He says Tatua will be using the next 12-18 months to “bed down” major projects like its new wastewater plant and a new engineering workshop.

He says planning and research is underway for the next phase of growth.

over the past few years”.

Tatua has 107 farmer suppliers, running familyowned farms with a long history of association with the co-operative.

Every year after the September board meeting, Allen and his board members contact each farmer supplier to personally relay the annual results.

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This year, the response was overwhelming.

Allen says he’s very pleased with the way farmer shareholders conducted themselves during the lockdowns.

He says Tatua farmer suppliers were proud to be part of essential services and continued to operate their farms within

restrictions.

“The feedback we got from our farmers is that they feel that they have really contributed something to New Zealand.

To be told that you are really making a difference to your country is very inspiring and motivating,” he says.

“In recent years, many farmers have felt they have been put on the spot and it’s hurting a lot of them.”

Allen says the primary industry sector should be commended for its contribution to the national economy during Covid.

“It’s remarkable what the primary sector has done for NZ, not just dairy farmers, but orchardists, sheep and beef farmers and the fisheries sector.”

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

FONTERRA BOARD ELECTIONS // 5

Waikato farmer and Fonterra board aspirant Mike O’Connor says the time is right to give something back to the industry.

Time to give back to the industry SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THE DAIRY industry has been great

to Waikato farmer Mike O’Connor and he thinks the time is right to give something back.

O’Connor started in the dairy industry as a farming cadet. After studying agriculture at Massey University, he went sharemilking.

Today he heads the Spectrum Group, a family business with eight dairy farms in Canterbury and Waikato, plus two heifer growing blocks. The business runs 7600 cows and produces over 3 million kgMS. “We have come from the bottom all the way through,” he told Dairy News.

“I guess through association with other smart people, some luck, some good timing, we came through and managed to grow into a reasonably large business.”

O’Connor never wanted to be anything but a farmer and he’s still actively involved on the family farm at Te Kawa, south of Te Awamutu.

He points out that his family wouldn’t have done well if the industry had not been good to them.

O’Connor now has some very good people working around him and this gives him more time.

“It’s probably now or never…going through the independent assessment confirmed my skills and attributes.”

O’Connor was one of four candidates endorsed by the independent assessment panel as having the right skills to serve on Fonterra’s board.

He says the decision to stand for the Fonterra board was triggered by “suggestions”.

But after going through the assessment process and being endorsed

POSITIVE CHANGE MIKE O’CONNOR says he has noticed a positive change in Fonterra after two years of financial losses.

He says many other businesses would have reacted in the same way after two years of losses shocked its shareholder base.

“When businesses have lack of capital or financial woes with the bank, instead of growing the business they think about making the best of what we’ve got. Fonterra is doing exactly the same.”

O’Connor says he understands the co-op’s strategy over the last 12-18 months.

“I feel that the business is less broken that it was 18 months ago.”

helped him make up his mind.

“That process is quite robust and appropriate…I didn’t expect to get through. Going through the process and getting the panel’s support for my application led me to believe that I have the skills required.”

On Fonterra’s performance, O’Connor makes one thing quite clear – he won’t criticise the co-op.

“I’m not political and have a view that Fonterra has had a very difficult job: to be all things to all people across a whole country.

“It was put together and supported by all shareholders of those original dairy companies…no easy task.

“I I think you have to talk about the long game, therefore it’s very easy to be critical, but I am not.”

There’s less criticism now from shareholders.

“I can understand the current strategy…you can only languish in losses for so long.

“Any business has to turn a profit otherwise it will continue to lose shareholders.”

He says NZ needs a strong Fonterra.

“We need the nation to be proud of us and of what we do.”

He noted that the recent final accounts meetings with shareholders were very positive.

“We need to keep that momentum so the shareholders feel privileged to be part of the co-op. We can’t have an All Blacks team if some players are not interested.”

O’Connor says he has learnt how difficult it is to restructure companies.

His company Spectrum was formed 25 years ago by three shareholders. Following the global financial crisis its assets were restructured.

“I have learnt how difficult it is.

Restructuring Spectrum was a very difficult task and it is minute to what forming Fonterra would have been.”

O’Connor believes all Fonterra leaders, past and present, have done their best make the co-op an entity that shareholders would be proud of.

“There are many things that it does very well. It’s a very large and complex and dynamic business.

“Perhaps they can’t do everything well all the time and it ends up getting some criticism.”

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

6 // FONTERRA BOARD ELECTIONS

Critical time for co-op SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WAIKATO-BASED

FINANCIAL

consultant Annabel Cotton believes this is critical time for Fonterra in getting back on path.

Cotton, who owns a 252ha farm west of Hamilton with her husband and brother, is one of the six candidates vying to get on the co-operative board.

Cotton told Dairy News that it feels like she’s been “training for this my whole career”.

“This is a critical time for Fonterra to assure us it is back on path,” she says.

“It needs serious grade financial and analytical skills, proper risk assessment and strong sets of financial and nonfinancial metrics to monitor strategy implementation and measure asset performance. You really need to understand how big business models work and that different, value based outcomes are going to be delivered.”

Cotton says she has talked to some of NZ’s leading public relations reputation and crisis thinkers.

“I think more open financial market communications is a critical element that’s been missing, and the need to build confidence for investors.”

Cotton says Fonterra’s good performance over the last two years has been a relief.

In her work, she meets board chairs and chief executives and they tell her that Fonterra has the right combination to get the business back on track.

She notes that the 2020 financial year performance was good.

“Ten years of bad performance has been addressed, so close to a 10 for performance.

“The debt level is okay but we still have some non-core assets and there are still some big decisions to be led from the top on which products milk will be allocated to.

“A 3-5 year turnaround is okay from a position where people were telling me Fonterra was on a knife edge: 2021 is the start of the end of that time frame.”

On the dairy industry, Cotton is very positive and optimistic.

However, she says entry provisions for new farmers are a worry.

“For example, new farmers coming

Fonterra board candidate Annabel Cotton says the co-op must assure shareholders that it is back on path.

in, being able to sell shares if we’ve hit peak milk production – who do you sell them to?”

Cotton, who consults on capital markets communications and corpo-

rate governance, says Fonterra must engage on this and strengthen its reputation.

Cotton comes from a family well connected to the dairy industry.

Her great grandfather, Thomas Blackett, was chair of the New Zealand Dairy Association and drove the merger in 1919 that created the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, enabling supply to remain farmer-controlled.

Some parts of the family farm have been in the family for over 100 years; one of the very few dairy properties in NZ to have never changed hands.

Cotton has held governance appointments at a range of large New Zealand companies across a range of industries, including chairing the audit and risk committees for many of these companies.

Her current appointments include directorships of NZX Regulation, Waikato Regional Airport and a fund manager, Trust Investments Management.

Cotton’s consultancy business advises NZX and ASX listed boards and executives on governance and communication of value and operational and financial performance.

She is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Chartered Accountants Australia & NZ, Institute of Finance Professionals and Australasian Investor Relations Association.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

NEWS // 7

Firming WMP prices reflect market confidence SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THE FIRMING of whole

milk powder (WMP) prices in the latest Global Dairy Trade (GDT) is good news, according to analysts.

WMP prices sit above the key psychological barrier of US$3,000/metric tonne for the first time since August.

WMP price is the key driver of the farmgate payout that farmers get.

Last week’s GDT auction recorded a 1.7% rise in WMP prices to US$3,041/ MT. The GDT price index rose 2.2%.

Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny

Whole milk powder prices topped the key psychological barrier of US$3,000/MT for the first time since August.

says the price strength points to firm demand.

“The firm overall result points to global dairy demand remaining relatively firm, despite the impact of Covid,” he says.

“Importantly, WMP prices topped the key psychological barrier of US$3,000/MT for the first time since August, indicating a degree of confidence in the market.”

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Moreover, prices have firmed as New Zealand production hits its seasonal peak. And that is despite recent data suggesting a strong start to the season. August pro-

duction is running 4.7% ahead of August 2019, according to Penny.

He says Westpac remains “cautiously optimistic” on the dairy price outlook.

“The result overnight reinforces our $6.50/kg milk price forecast for 2020/21. If anything, the result introduces some upside risk to our forecast.”

In the short-term, he says, strong New Zealand spring production still has the potential to put pressure on prices, although for now, firm global (Chinese) demand is dominating.

ASB economist Nat Keall says farmers will be pleased to see the improvement in prices over the past two events.

ASB’s forecast payout sits at $6.75/kgMS. Keall is encouraged by the result. “We had shifted our forecast up

from $6.50 back in July after a couple of bumper auctions, but falls in subsequent auctions in August put a bit of pressure on that number.

“Given that fact, it’s encouraging to see WMP lift a second consecutive auction and is now up above US$3,000/tonne.

“Notably the curve across the forward contracts has flattened too.

There is still a bit of a kink in the near term as buyers secure supply, but the other four contracts have stabilised with prices above the US$3,000/ tonne mark.

“That’s what we need to see to have confidence in our $6.75 milk price forecast.”

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

8 // NEWS

OAD arrives early in Southland PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

SOME DAIRY farmers

in Southland are already moving to once a day

(OAD) milking because they don’t have sufficient good pasture on which to graze their stock.

Bernadette Hunt, Southland Federated Farmers, told Dairy

News that in parts of the province, pastures have been very badly damaged by recent floods. She says the pastures are just so wet it’s impossible to graze animals on the land

and there is insufficient grass for stock.

“It is obviously very early in the season to be thinking of OAD milking.

A lot of dairy farmers had to take their stock

Bernadette Hunt, Southland Federated Farmers.

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off pasture because the paddocks were so waterlogged and the pasture damaged,” she says.

Hunt says while they were expecting rain, a huge amount fell in a twelve hour period and that caught people in some areas by surprise.

She says flooding was localised, with small creeks and culverts overflowing, cutting off stock and making roads impassable.

On some farms, effluent ponds filled up rapidly, but she says the flooding went down quickly, although there is still pasture damage.

Feed supplies in the region are said to be good, due in part to a mild winter. Ironically, Hunt says it feels like they are getting their winter weather in spring.

But she says people do have surplus baleage,

which will be available for farmers with damaged pastures. She says it’s now a matter of how long it takes for the sodden pastures to dry out.

“This is delaying contractors getting on to the land. Normally the first crops start going in during October with others following in November.

“We have effectively lost a fortnight. There is a shortage of contractors due to Covid and the immigration challenges, and the rain has compressed the planting season, which is going to make it tough on contracting staff,” she says.

Hunt says with farmer morale already pretty low, this is just another blow that they really don’t want and adds to the challenges they face. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

10 // NEWS

Danone plans carbon neutral NZ business FRENCH DAIRY giant Danone says its popular NZ-made infant formula Karicare will become carbon neutral by 2030.

The company says it is working with its New Zealand suppliers and farmers to “foster regenerative agricultural practices and

improve soil health, continue to invest in decarbonisation of operations and focus on packaging”.

Karicare carbon emissions associated with operations is a significant area of focus for Danone.

A $30 million biomass boiler to provide renew-

able heat at its spray drying facility in Balclutha will be operational next year, eliminating around 20,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Danone will also move to 100% renewable electricity for all its New Zealand plants next year. It

says between the move to renewable energy and biomass-based heating, the total operational CO2 emissions at the Balclutha plant will be reduced by 95%.

It is also working to eliminate unneeded packaging, or design it for

Keeping it local READERS MAY have

noticed the pages of Dairy News have been whiter and brighter of late – the product of higher grade paper and sharper printing quality.

Rural News Group has teamed up with another 100% Kiwi-owned business, Inkwise, shifting our publications Rural News, Dairy News, Hort News and NZ Winegrower to their presses in Rolleston.

In a Covid world, the call to “keep it Kiwi”, where possible, is stronger than ever. Our move to Inkwise achieves this, and has the added benefit of giving readers better quality paper and sharper printing than we’ve ever had.

The web offset presses at Inkwise were the first of their kind in the coun- Dairy News’ sister publication hot off the press try to utilise a Staccato at our new printers, Inkwise, in Rolleston.

FM screen, which basically An added bonus is that Inkwise is produces a smaller dot to achieve a smoother looking colour – a bit like having a high defi- accredited to the standards of both FSC and PEFC sustainable forestry certification nition TV. The result is an easier reading experience programmes, so you can read with a clear conscience. Enjoy! and sharper images.

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Managing director Nutricia Oceania, Rodrigo Lima, says Karicare’s journey to carbon neutrality is greatly aided by its production in New Zealand.

“At Danone, our core belief is that the health of the planet and health of people are interconnected.

“That’s why we’re committed to taking real steps that help us bring

our products to market in a way that minimises any impact on climate change, including transitioning production of our milk formula products to practices that are more sustainable.”

LELY INNOVATION LAUNCH LELY HAS launched three new products to make on-farm tasks easier for farmers.

A new barn system called Lely Sphere, Lely Exos, an electric vehicle that mows, loads and dispenses grass in the barn and Lely Horizon, a “decision support platform” to replace its T4C management system.

Lely says some of its innovations are compatible for all markets around the world. However, pilot farms trialing the new products are mostly in Europe.

The innovations were launched at the Lely Future Farm Days digital event last week.

The company says the vision of the farm of the future is centred on livestock: repetitive tasks are automated, allowing dairy farmers to concentrate on things that are important to them.

Farms are completely robotised and operational 24/7. The farm of the future is based on the principle of allowing cows to move freely, so they can behave

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naturally, and their welfare is guaranteed, it says.

“We live in a rapidly changing world where the population continues to grow,” says André van Troost, chief executive of Lely.

“We desperately need farmers, because we expect the

demand for food to increase by 70% by 2050. The impact of farming on the environment is also coming under increasing scrutiny, and regulations are becoming stricter.

“Dairy farmers therefore have to change the way they work to guarantee their future.”

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

NEWS // 11

Aspiring rural leaders wanted FOR THE 16th year in a

row, Fonterra is gearing up to help aspiring rural leaders take their governance knowledge to the next level.

Applications opened last week for Fonterra’s 2021 Governance Development Programme (GDP), a one-year programme custom-designed to develop governance acumen specific to the New Zealand co-operative context.

Almost 150 developing leaders have completed the programme, which has been developed in partnership with Massey University Business School specifically for Fonterra.

It’s open to all Fonterra shareholders and herdowning sharemilkers supplying Fonterra, with some places also available for members of LIC, Foodstuffs and Silver Fern Farms.

Between February

full course fees and Novemare on offer to ber, around Fonterra farm20 successful ers. The Campapplicants parbell Shearer ticipate in workScholarship, shops, tutorials, provided by assignments Gareth Lash Fonterra, is and coaching open to particiaround goverpants actively involved in nance best practice, leadthe on-farm operations ership, board processes, of a Fonterra supplydirectors’ duties, finance, ing shareholder. The Ian risk, strategy, and critical Elliott Memorial Scholthinking, as well as hearing from experienced gov- arship provided by Trinity Lands, is awarded to ernors, participating in a participant of Māori board simulations and descent who has deminteracting with memonstrated leadership bers of Fonterra’s board, potential in the Māori management and Sharecommunity. holders Council. This High praise year, monthly assignThe programme earns ments involving reports high praise from parand discussion on books, ticipants, who call it “a case studies and current step above the rest” and events have included the “pretty unique in New Pike River mine disaster, Zealand”.

Covid-19 and fibre secuA common theme is rity (a recent issue for the the unexpected value NZX). gained from the ‘softer’ Again this year, two aspects of the curricuscholarships covering the

Lash says he found real lum, such as the opporvalue in the workshops tunities to network and and discussion sessions, share experiences with and that being able to and learn from others, talk through the personal including the facilitators, guest presenters and their experiences of the other programme members and fellow participants. experienced directors Whanganui farmer really brought the learnColleen Sheldon says ing to life. the GDP “sur“We got rounded me to talk govwith an aweernance with some bunch of past and prespeople amongst ent Fonmy cohort and terra directors course facilita(farmer and tors to bounce indepenideas off”. The Colleen Sheldon dent), as well programme also as with very experienced helped her to understand and skilled directors from her own strengths and other major companies weaknesses.

“Having been on quite including Port of Taua few governance courses, ranga, Z, LIC, Foodstuffs, I found the Fonterra GDP Silver Fern Farms, First NZ Capital and Fletcher”, course was a step above he says. the rest. It took me on Campbell Shearer a deep dive of my own Scholarship recipient and governance personality Southland sharemilker and the value I bring to a Jono Bavin noted that board.”

Waikato farmer Gareth “the beauty of this group

SAFE SPACE TO SHARE IAN ELLIOTT Scholarship recipient in 2020 and Canterbury sharemilker Victoria Trayner describes the programme as “a safe space to share our experiences”.

She has especially appreciated being surrounded by positive, like-minded people who are passionate about the industry and motivated to make a difference. “You can teach a book but you can’t

teach that pas‘the fluffy stuff’,” she sion,” she says. says. “It’s been really For her the helpful to me to learn programme’s about that huge skill early focus on set around underpersonality and standing the personself-awareness alities in a boardroom added a surprisand how to get the ing dimension to best out of them.” her understanding All the particiVictoria Trayner of governance. “I pants interviewed didn’t realise the importance highly recommend the GDP, of what I would have called seeing it as a way to set your-

self up to be more effective as a leader.

“Our agricultural bodies need a farm gate, shareholder perspective, but a high level of governance knowledge would take them to the next level,” says Victoria.

“Why wouldn’t you take advantage of a programme designed to deliver a premium and targeted learning experience?”

is that although we are all involved in dairy or co-ops, everyone is different in what they are doing, where they are from, and the organisations they are part of.”

Applications for the Fonterra Governance Development Programme close on 4 November 2020. For more information contact governancedevelopment@fonterra.com

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

12 //  NEWS

Miraka’s final payout – $7.14/kgMS is a certain irony in that the outlook is really positive due to the fact that China, where 100% of our UHT goes, is one of the only countries in growth. “We have seen the demand really go through the roof since they have got through Covid and

PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

MIRAKA DAIRY paid

out on average $7.14/kgMS to its farmer suppliers last season.

The payout includes payments under the Te

“We have seen the demand really go through the roof since they have got through Covid and our two key customers have actually asked us for more UHT.� our two key customers have actually asked us for more UHT. “We are currently running at capacity and so we are stretching the plant at the moment. “There was certainly a short-term blip last season, but for this current season the demand is very strong for UHT,� he says.

Wyeth says a positive for Miraka during Covid has been that the Chinese authorities have been encouraging their people to drink more milk. He says it’s interesting that when Covid first hit,

Ara Miraka scheme that allows farmers to earn up to 20c/kgMS more for improving their milk quality and meeting strict environmental and management standards.

Miraka chief executive Richard Wyeth told Dairy News that the payout is slightly behind where they would have liked it to have been, but points out that Covid-19 had quite an impact on the second part of the year.

He says the March lockdown impacted its UHT business. “As far as the new season is concerned there

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Miraka chief executive Richard Wyeth says last season’s payout is slightly behind where they would have liked it to have been.

people were saying don’t focus on China. “Three months later the same people were saying, aren’t we lucky we have China,� he says.

Wyeth says Miraka has always been prudent and canvassed several markets from a risk management perspective. He says long term they are working with their partners in a bid to get more certainty from those partnerships to help de-risk their business. “We have a refreshed

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strategy and are in the middle of executing that

at the moment. This is going well for this season

but at the end of season we will review that and

see what if any changes we need to make.�

FROZEN MILK EXPORTS RICHARD WYETH says their farmer suppliers are relatively happy and understand that last year was a challenging year with Covid-19.

He says the payout range for this season is $5.75 to $6.75 with the midpoint at $6.25, which he acknowledges is down on last season. He says this price reflects the disruption, nervousness and uncertainty created by Covid and what the next 12 months might look like. “The dollar has come off and then strengthened quite quickly, then come off again, and just that uncertainty as to where the dollar is going to land and where prices are going has made for a slightly more pessimistic view

than last year. But overall, the signals we are seeing at the moment are positive,� he says.

Wyeth says Miraka has launched its frozen milk concentrate this year, designed for the Asian market. He says that is a major focus of its growth strategy. “The frozen milk concentrate is made by taking the concentrates out of the evaporator and freezing it and shipping into the market, where they defrost it and use it as a milk product. The product is packed in a 20 litre bag and box,� he says.

With solid demand for its UHT products, business for Miraka has been good. Wyeth says its milk powder business is solid

and there is steady demand for this. Down on the farm, things are also looking good with the milk flows up 4% on last year.

Wyeth says its farmers are now starting to see the benefits of the Te Ara Miraka scheme, which incentivises them to focus on good environmental production systems. He says as a result of this scheme, its farmers are in a good position to deal with the new regulations. “A lot of our farmers have already got farm environment plans in place, they have got GRIS maps of all their land, so they are long way down the path already to be compliant, which is pretty fantastic,� he says.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

NEWS // 13

Wintering research launch in Southland SOUTHERN DAIRY

farmers will have a frontrow seat in designing, approving and testing a new wintering system in Southland.

Invercargill’s Southern Dairy Hub research farm is hosting a new project to take a cost-effective wintering system into a full on-farm trial in 2022.

The research is the first time this infrastructure has been trialled in New Zealand.

The $3.2m project is led and co-funded by DairyNZ, with investment of $1.75m from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food & Fibre Futures (SFF Futures) fund. MPI and DairyNZ expect to finalise the contract for the project by the end of this month.

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said the project is researching two concepts for uncovered structures where cows are kept during winter.

“As well as being effective for the environment and animal wellbeing, the infrastructure needs to be good for people working in it and cost-effective for farmers,” said Mackle.

“Investing in new systems and infrastructure is a big decision and cost. This work will not only stress-test the solutions, but also put farmers and their animals at the centre.

“Environmental protection and animal care will be pivotal components during the design stage – ensuring the concepts integrate with a pasture-based system, are in line with New Zealand’s water and air quality values, and cow care is a priority.”

Southern Dairy Hub was established to help develop and test new options for dairying in the southern South Island.

Integrating off-paddock infrastructure into pasture systems was a

THREE-PHASED PROJECT PHASE ONE of the project has identified two design concepts. Phase two will take these concepts and produce detailed designs.

“These designs will be accurately costed and assessed against ‘fit for purpose’ criteria for environmental impact, cow comfort and health, working conditions, and international cost competitiveness,” says DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle.

“Phase two will also research alternate technologies for cow loafing surfaces.”

A core innovation goal is identifying a new ‘super surface’ that supports cow comfort to a much greater degree and at less cost than current options.

“We aim to leverage off technologies and developments, such as recycled plastics and rubber used in other industries. Ultimate spinoffs could include new New Zealand manufacturing opportunities to service other sectors and international markets,” says Mackle.

The project will also look at other approaches such as innovation in infrastructure design and contract arrangements for harvesting and feeding winter forage supplements, to reduce the need for expensive farm machinery.

Southern Dairy Hub is pleased the project has been influenced by farmers, involving local farmers in every phase.

“Farmers will contribute to the concepts’ design and what will work on farms in reality,” says Tim Driscoll of Southern Dairy Hub. The build will begin in 2022, with trialling underway June 2022. This new integrated hybrid wintering system will be compared with the best of the hub’s current grazed winter crop systems.

research area identified by farmers in 2017.

MPI director investment programmes Steve Penno says fit-for-purpose facilities will help farmers manage through winter

and other weather events.

“We see real benefit in investing in this project through SFF Futures, as it’ll help to ensure more options are available to farmers for their stock,

particularly during winter.

“A key part of the project will be developing and road-testing a solution that is practical and accessible for farmers and, importantly,” says Penno.

Tim Mackle

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

14 // NEWS

UK/EU trade scrap worries exporters PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

BRITAIN’S DECISION

to break its deal with the EU over Brexit is creating uncertainty for NZ dairy exporters, according to Malcolm Bailey -- chair of the Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ).

In the past week, Britain has passed what is known as the Internal Market Bill which changes the way that the UK will deal with the contentious issue of the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The UK has

acknowledged that this breaks international law.

The EU has said it will take legal action against Britain.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says Boris Johnson is breaching the good faith promise both sides signed up to in the withdrawal agreement struck last year.

This move by the UK is having repercussions back in NZ. Bailey says DCANZ is concerned that the UK appears to have taken a unilateral approach to change the rules. He says that is quite disconcerting especially given that NZ is in the middle of an FTA

negotiation with the UK “You start to question as to whether they mean what they say and will stick to their word,” he told Dairy News.

“This creates some uncertainty and uncertainty has plagued NZ exporters ever since the whole Brexit thing emerged.

“We still have ongoing action at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the rest of the EU around quotas. This latest move

by Britain has added uncertainty and is very troubling.”

Bailey says NZ believes that, as far as quotas are concerned, it has a rock

Malcolm Bailey, chairman Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ).

solid position because these are historic agreements that are locked in at the WTO. He says any FTA discussions we are having are based on this current access – plus something.

“We should not be negotiating to get something back. Uncertainty is the number one word.

We want to be negotiating with good faith with the party on the other side.

Your word is your bond and it is something you stick too.”

Bailey says they have yet to be briefed by the UK High Commissioner to NZ and are hoping to meet with her soon.

DCANZ are also talking with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to try and figure out what is going on.

“There is nothing

worse for exporters than not knowing, in effect, what rules they are having to work to,” he adds.

On top of the Brexit issue, there have also been major changes in the top jobs at the EU Commission. This follows the ignominious departure of Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan who was forced to resign for breaking Covid 19 rules in his native Ireland. There are now new EU Commissioners for both Agriculture and Trade. Bailey says this, combined with Covid travel bans, means that building relationships with these new people.

“Relationships are vital in trade and it’s about getting that level of trust and the ability to work things through. Now those relationships have to be developed afresh

IRISH SEE RED THE COUNTRY most affected by Britain’s Internal Market Bill is Ireland.

The Irish have fought long and hard to preserve the seamless border, which arose out of the 1998 Good Friday agreement. They are furious that Britain has taken unilateral action as embodied in the Bill and have expressed their concerns to the EU, which is now planning international legal action against the UK. Dairy News is aware that the Irish government have made it clear that any unilateral departure from the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement is not acceptable. Such a departure could seriously erode and damage political trust in Northern Ireland and between the EU and the UK. With this power-play going on in Europe – along with the implications of the impending elections in the US – there is a clear risk that NZ trade issues will get put on the backburner.

when you get a change of people and that is real issue,” he told Dairy News.

“With it being harder to travel, virtual is no sub-

stitute. It is hard to build a relationship on a zoom call and there is really no substitute for that physical interaction.”

TRADE POST-COVID MALCOLM BAILEY says the Covid story for dairy has been one of remarkable resilience in terms of our market access and trade flows.

He says everything has stood up amazingly well and government agencies in NZ, and elsewhere, have to be thanked for that.

“MPI have dug deep and made things happen. It’s been a standout as to the way we have coped,” Bailey told Dairy News.

“Companies have done well and

been agile and everyone such as shipping lines and logistic people have pitched in and helped in getting us through,” he says.

While there are problems with Europe at present, Bailey’s confident that the dairy industry won’t fall over because of what’s happening there. He says NZ has diversified its markets over the years and this now paying off.

“Nevertheless, the UK is the world’s number two dairy

importer behind China and it’s a great opportunity for us and we certainly want to see some certainty going forward. We want to know what future looks like and the need to plan for it,” he says.

Bailey says while individual dairy companies will work out their own strategies for the future, DCANZ will remain focused on making sure that international trade issues are dealt with appropriately.

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

NEWS // 15

Phosphorus deficit in the spotlight CHRIS BALEMI

WHEN I started work-

ing with farmers 40 years ago, if you asked a farmer what fertiliser he used, he would invariably tell you how much super he was applying.

Back then, fertiliser was either straight super or potassic super. Most farmers could readily rattle off the units of P being applied per acre. It was common to see soil ‘Olsen P’ levels in excess of 60 on loam soils and as high as 110 on some pumice soils. Pasture commonly came back at levels in excess of 0.55% P on a dry matter basis.

At the time, if you had the courage to suggest to a farmer that he consider cutting back the phosphorus he used, he would give you a very nervous look.

Jump forward to the present day, farmers haven’t just been weaned off their P addiction, many have gone cold turkey. Because of environmental constraints around feed brought onto the farm, many farms see little or no P fertiliser being applied. As the fertiliser budget is reduced, this situation has seriously decreased plant P levels. Adding to the issue is that NZ cows used to be fed mainly grass. They are now fed a variety of feeds, many being P deficient yet supplying high soluble sugar or starch levels. Where it used to be rare to see a case of phosphorus deficiency it is now becoming a common problem.

A developing concern There is hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear from a farmer describing what they think are normal cal-

cium deficient downer cows. When questioned, the symptoms often don’t quite fit – these cows don’t always respond so well to normal treatment.

Sometimes a bottle of calcium in the vein will get them up, only for many to go back down again later. Often these cows will only respond to a calcium phosphorus combination into the vein, or if given calcium borogluconate, can tend to go down again.

Phosphorus deficient cows are commonly called crawler cows, for good reason. Their symptoms are different to those of the classic sleepy milk fever cow. Crawler cows are bright in the eye, they will fight to get back on their feet, they simply lack the hind end coordination that allows them to stand up and stay up, hence the tendency to crawl.

Why is phosphorus so important?

Phosphorus is key to carbohydrate metabolism - it controls insulin release and excretion.

It forms ATP, which is the primary energy source for body cells.

Phosphorous is important in saliva production.

Along with calcium, phosphorus forms the matrix of bones.

Phosphorus is essential to conception and required at high levels for foetal growth.

Phosphorus can be identified as a key element in over 400 metabolic processes.

While this list is a very simple description of just a few of the processes, you can see why this element is so key to health, production and reproduction in all living creatures.

Phosphorus demand also increases with higher

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levels of carbohydrates and soluble sugar consumption, as these energy sources require higher levels of phosphorus to utilise the energy. Given we are feeding grasses that supply higher levels

of soluble sugar, as well as crops with the same attributes, is it any wonder that phosphorus requirements are increasing?

• Chris Balemi is managing director of Agvance Nutrition

Phosphorus deficient cows are commonly called crawler cows.

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

16 // NEWS

Coull takes over as Ballance chair SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FORMER FONTERRA

Shareholders Council chairman Duncan Coull has taken over as chairman of fertiliser co-op Balance.

The Otorohanga farmer replaced David Peacock who retired at last month’s annual general meeting after fifteen years as a director and seven as chair.

“David’s farmer focus, willingness to take risks, and commercial acumen will be missed,” says Coull. “Ballance has a strong legacy of good

leadership throughout the organisation. As a board we are aware of our responsibility to ensure this continues.

“I’m very passionate about the role co-ops have and can play in securing the future success of the primary sector.”

He says the cooperative has a history of investing in innovation backed by science, which will help farmers and growers navigate the changes ahead and continue to thrive and succeed on a global stage.

“We are cautiously optimistic about the foreseeable future. While it’s important to reflect on

New Ballance chair Duncan Coull says he’s passionate about the role co-ops have and can play in securing the future success of the primary sector.

EDNA CALENDAR 2021

the huge amount we have achieved over the previous year, it’s even more important that we look forward together and focus on the challenges and successes for FY21 and beyond,” says Coull.

Also at the AGM, Ballance shareholders voted to amend the cooperative’s constitution to allow all shareholders to be able to vote for any vacant ward position regardless of where their principal residence is.

This is in line with further provisions that have been previously modified to remove outdated references to legislation and bring the constitution in

WORKSHOPS ON ANIMAL HEALTH A SERIES of workshops on animal

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line with current market practice.

The constitutional change is effective immediately and will apply to the next board elections and AGM. Meanwhile King Country sheep and beef farmer Dani Darke beat five other candidates for the North Ward seat on the board.

Beef+Lamb NZ chairman Andrew Morrison was also re-elected uncontested for the South Island Ward.

There are nine Ballance directors, three independently appointed and six elected from North and South Island wards.

health are being organised next month.

The programme is a joint initiative between Dairy Women’s Network, Allflex Livestock Intelligence, MSD and IDEXX. The workshops will focus on Allflex’s monitoring system technology and how that technology can help with heat detection as well as overall animal health.

The second part of these free threehour practical sessions will cover the importance of the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) dairy framework as well as some information about BVD from the MSD Animal Health team and IDEXX. Attendees will receive insights into Allflex’s collar technology: what, how and why the technology is used; BVD testing and vaccination strategies; and how both Allflex collars and BVD testing ultimately have a positive impact on a farmer’s bottom line.

“This season we are seeing an increase in monitoring enquiries and sales as farmers are quickly seeing the benefits of using a monitoring system,” says Allflex’s national sales manager Austin Heffernan.

“There is good value in monitoring your herd, not just to detect heat but to provide accurate and early insights into individual cow health, meaning fewer down cows and more days in milk.

“These workshops are a great chance for those farmers who are interested to ask any questions directly to a farmer who is using the technology in

a farmer-to-farmer knowledge share.”

Following the new partnership between IDEXX and the Dairy Women’s Network, IDEXX representatives have come on board to showcase the ease and success of testing for BVD in successful control programmes nationwide.

IDEXX says it is excited to be working with DWN, MSD and Allflex on this important initiative.

“Infectious diseases, especially BVD, negatively impact productivity and fertility on farm: with this new partnership, IDEXX hopes to make significant improvements to improve the health and wellbeing of New Zealand livestock.”

DWN chief executive Jules Benton says it wants to equip farmers with the knowledge to protect herd health.

“Utilising technology such as Allflex collars is a big part of that. When it comes to BVD eradication implementing a strong testing and vaccination programme is key – we want attendees to understand how this disease works so that they can make decisions in the field and adapt when they need to,” says Benton.

Six workshops will be held at farms around the country, with the first session in North Otago on Tuesday November 3. Following sessions will be held in Manawatu, Southland, Waipa, South Waikato and Kaipara.

• Visit dwn.co.nz/events for more information on the workshops and to register. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

NEWS // 17

DairyNZ says it expects to find more infected herds.

M.bovis numbers down but no time to drop our guard

GET SOCIAL WITH DAIRY NEWS Join the conversation - follow us at @Dairy_News

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M

Rethink cups on

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DairyNZ says investigations are continuing into five dairy farms which returned September BTM ‘detect’ results, a much smaller number than in August.

Bulk tank milk screening plays an important role in looking for infection outside the tracing network.

It will also play an important longterm role in gathering the evidence we need to declare freedom from M. bovis in New Zealand.

Beef surveillance The National Beef Cattle Surveillance programme covers screening of beef cattle not connected to the known network of infected properties, sampled at meat processing or alongside TB testing.

As of 16 September 2020, some 58,000 animals, from over 2400 farms have had samples collected for testing and only six farms have required further on-farm investigation.

Results from the beef surveillance programme provide an important indication that the disease is not widespread in New Zealand’s beef cattle population.

DairyNZ says as we continue to find fewer and fewer cases, the programme’s efforts will be focused on national surveillance to provide confidence that the disease is absent.

An independent Technical Advisory Group will be convened to review plans for this ‘evidence of absence phase’.

FASTER

$175.9 million has been paid out in compensation.

Bulk Tank Milk screening The August Bulk Tank Milk screening (BTM) has been completed and, as anticipated for this time of year, it has returned a number of ‘detect’ results.

There has been a rise in reported movement restrictions (NODs) as on-farm investigation is carried out to determine the infection status for these farms progresses.

DairyNZ says farms with detect results are contacted by programme staff to work through next steps.

“Currently we have two new confirmed properties and one that is still under investigation, which may be confirmed once final test results come back. These newly identified properties show our national surveillance programme working as it should – by detecting possible cases and showing us where we need to look to eliminate the infection.

“It’s difficult to say how many new infected dairy farms will be identified throughout the spring 2020 bulk tank milk screening. We have always said we would see more infected properties over spring.

“This is when we do more tests, so it makes sense that we also report more detects during this time. It’s when the animals are under stress from calving and milking. We also have 2018-born animals on the milking platform for the first time.”

TO LIF R

significant progress made in driving down the numbers of farms affected

by Mycoplasma bovis.

However, it is reminding farmers to remain vigilant. It says not easing off is critical if we are to track down and eradicate this disease.

“Although we are on track to achieve eradication, there is still a lot of hard work ahead of us and we do expect to find more infected herds as the programme continues,” DairyNZ says.

The industry-good organisation continues to be actively involved in the M. bovis Programme, at both the governance level and on the ground supporting farmers.

As at 23 September 2020: There have been 252 confirmed properties to date with just three Active Confirmed Properties and the remaining cleared.

Of these, 135 confirmed properties have been beef, 62 dairy and 55 classified as others, such as calf rearer, grazing and lifestyle.

There are currently 36 farms under notices of direction (movement controls when there’s a high risk that cattle on the farm may be infected).

There are currently 170 active surveillance properties (farms with a low risk of having been exposed to M. bovis are required to undergo testing to ensure that there is no infection in their cattle).

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

18 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

It’s game on

MILKING IT...

Timed out

Conflicted

Cow power

Hard to please

THE POOR state of rural internet and mobile services revealed in a recent survey needs to be sorted. The results of years of neglect and foot dragging by politicians on the rural broadband roll-out were there for all to see in the Fed’s Rural Connectivity Survey 2020: One-in-four farmers are still lumbered with copper line dial-up speeds; 68% have download speeds under 20Mbps; a third cannot get mobile coverage on 50% of their farm; many have no access to unlimited data internet services; and comically, many couldn’t complete the survey online, so slow was their internet. The country’s most important sector in a post-Covid recovery is missing out on the productivity gains that decent internet and mobile services can deliver to businesses. The new government must make this a priority.

A STORY in Rural News last week revealed a Ministry for the Environment (MfE) appointment that was, at best, extremely unwise, at worst, a potential conflict of interest. The story included comments from a North Otago farmer calling for an inquiry into the process that led to Minister David Parker’s much maligned freshwater reforms and winter grazing restrictions. The farmer called out the employment

by MfE of senior policy analyst Rowan Taylor – “an animal liberation vegan who is publicly opposed to livestock farming…essentially being paid by the taxpayer to be an internal activist”. A simple Google search by MfE was all that was required to reveal that Taylor is inherently biased on any issues related to livestock farming.

FORGET HORSEPOWER, it’s cow power that could soon be delivering a pint for the morning cuppa in Wales, where farmers are recycling their herds’ dung to fuel dairy delivery trucks.

Trials are underway by farmers from the UK’s dairy cooperative Arla to turn stinky slurry from 500 cows into a whopping 27,000 litres of biofuel to power the trucks delivering the milk.

The tankers are expected to cover around 90,000km and along the way help reduce their carbon impact by 80 tonnes – the equivalent of 23 car journeys around the world.

In addition to turning poo into fuel, the process will also create nutrientrich, neutral fertiliser farmers can use on their farms – a handy by-product that’s not to be sniffed at.

With effluent management under the blowtorch in New Zealand, isn’t it time we look at this?

LOOKS LIKE anything Fonterra does on sustainability isn’t enough for some people.

From this week, Anchor is set to launch New Zealand’s first plantbased milk bottles. Anchor Blue will be available in recyclable two-litre bottles made from sugarcane.

In addition, the plant captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it grows, resulting in a bottle that has a lower carbon footprint.

While the co-operative has received positive feedback from many people, some aren’t satisfied.

The Greyhound Protection League of NZ tweeted, “too bad about the contents”. Another twitter user added, “Exactly don’t buy the crap and make an ever better impact”.

However, in spite of the anti-dairy whingers, it’s great to see the Anchor brand making an effort for the environment.

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A SITTING director, an ex-director, an ex-politician, a lawyer who came within a whisker of winning last year and two new candidates make up the Fonterra board election list this year.

Campaigning has begun in earnest. Dairy News understands some candidates are already visiting farmers around the country.

Fonterra elections can throw up surprises. Remember 2018?

Of three successful candidates, two of them – Leonie Guiney and John Nicholls – weren’t endorsed by the board.

This year’s election will be intriguing. Sitting director Brent Goldsack will be fighting to win his seat back.

Fonterra chairman John Monaghan is retiring this year, ensuring at least one new director on the 11-member board.

The full list of candidates: former director Nicola Shadbolt, former Agriculture Minister Nathan Guy, lawyer Cathy Quinn, Spectrum Group general manager Mike O’Connor, Waikato financial analyst and company director Annabel Cotton and Goldsack.

Shadbolt, who served three terms on the board, was endorsed by the board for another three-year term in 2018, but an independent panel rejected her candidacy. A champion of the cooperative model, she is looking forward to finishing the work cut short by her departure.

Guy, who retired from Parliament this month, is well recognised in the ag sector, but will that be enough to carry him over the line?

O’Connor is a well-liked and respected farmer and has successfully grown the family-owned business to produce over 3 million kgMS. Goldsack has served his first term on the board.

Cotton, who missed out in the candidate assessment panel process last year, has self-nominated with the signatures of 35 farmer shareholders.

Quinn, who came a close third to the two winning candidates last year, is having another go.

After the general election dust settles down next week, the six candidates will take part in a roadshow, pitching their case to Fonterra farmer shareholders.

Voting packs with candidate profiles will be arriving in farmer mailboxes this week.

Fonterra shareholders will be making up their own minds on who will represent them on the board. The co-op has just announced a healthy profit after two years of losses. Feedback from the farmer meetings held around the country spoke of positive vibes among shareholders. Fonterra has shed excess baggage and is back on solid ground. The new board members, whoever they are, will join a vibrant board under new chairman Peter McBride.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

OPINION // 19

Agritech is one of our fastest growing export sectors, and a key area of focus for investors globally, says LIC chief executive Wayne McNee.

Zealand should be focusing on industries that can help drive our economic recovery and growth over time.

While some of our key sectors have been hit hard, the dairy industry – and wider food sector – is wellpositioned to continue to deliver for Kiwis through Covid-19 and help our economy get back on its feet.

But like all sectors, particularly at the moment, the dairy industry needs to keep evolving to meet new challenges head-on and maximise new opportunities.

With Kiwis relying on the primary sector to help lead them out of this crisis, agritech has a vital role to play.

Agritech is one of our fastest growing export sectors, and a key area of focus for investors globally.

The reason the sector is attracting so much interest from investors is because food demand, including demand for dairy, continues to grow.

With food security a top concern and dairy considered a stable commodity through Covid-19, the agritech sector has shifted further into the spotlight and more companies are likely to raise capital in the near future.

Agritech encompasses a broad variety of on-farm technologies and innovations, from cow genetics based on genomic evaluation to the software that helps farmers run their day-to-day operations.

New technologies and innovations stand to revolutionise the dairy industry by enabling farmers

It’s also important that the innovation pipeline that brings our farmers new ideas and technology solutions is supported and that we have the money to take great ideas from incubation through to full commercialisation.

Over the last five years, we’ve seen significant capital flow into agritech start-ups worldwide. New Zealand’s emerging agritech businesses will struggle to scale in the global market without access to the capital they need, so early stage investment will be important in addressing that capital gap.

LIC invested $16m on R&D last year, but we know we also need to look externally. That’s why we recently launched a new agritech start-up investment fund, LIC’s AgCelerator™ Fund. This aims to identify and support individuals and entities seeking to develop innovations that will drive improvements in the health and wellbeing of the national herd, aid in more sustainable milk production and ultimately disrupt the dairy industry in a positive way.

It’s important New Zealand retains its leading dairy reputation at this critical time and investing in new innovations and technology is central to that.

Harnessing investment interest in New Zealand agritech companies will not only support our economic recovery, create jobs, help businesses to scale faster and be a great export earner. It will also help our dairy industry evolve to meet new challenges and keep our farmers (and country) ahead of the game.

• Wayne McNee is chief executive, LIC

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IN THE wake of COVID-19, New

to increase cow productivity, while achieving better environmental outcomes.

It is critical that New Zealand continues to invest in our agritech sector to cement our position as a world leader and to keep our farmers leading the global pastoral dairy system. To do this, we need innovative products and services to propel us forward. New Zealand’s strong reputation in pastoral systems and in producing high-quality products means we have a sound foundation to build upon.

The amount of investment pouring into the agritech sector globally continues to grow – as does the $1.5 billion value of agritech to New Zealand’s export economy, highlighting the sector’s importance with further opportunities for growth.

Given we are competing globally in one of the most well-capitalised sectors it’s encouraging to see the Government looking to support the transformation of our agritech sector, announcing $11.4 million direct investment in implementing the Agritech Industry Transformation Plan. But more private investment in R&D is also required.

Last year $97.3m was spent on R&D by the top 20 New Zealand agritech companies, according to the TIN Agritech Insights 2020 Report.

LIC spends the highest percentage of revenue on R&D of any established primary sector company. Our R&D spend makes up about 20% of all agritech R&D spend in New Zealand.

Increased investment in R&D will help to secure our leadership in the fast-growing agritech market.

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WAYNE McNEE

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

20 // AGRIBUSINESS

Certification, co-op family enables $10-plus payout Record payout

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA’S RECORD payout for

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Fonterra organic milk payout 2019-20$10.19/kgMS

organic milk reflects the value of being certified organic, according to Brendan Hoare, Buy Pure NZ managing director.

“Without being certified and in a family like Fonterra other dairy farmers would struggle to get a record result,” Hoare told Dairy News.

“Those in the Fonterra team need to be congratulated.”

The dairy co-op’s organic farmers have become the first in the country to receive a double digit milk payout: its 60 organic suppliers, last season, have set a record price for cow milk in New Zealand at $10.19/ kgMS.

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2020-21 forecast payout- $8.50 to $9/ kgMS

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74 suppliers this season

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Fonterra’s organic suppliers are based throughout the North Island, with most of the milk processed in Waikato.

Brendan Hoare

Fonterra’s global business manager organics Andrew Henderson says the final price was driven by a combination of factors – including organic protein sales in the US, a favourable exchange rate and a number of efficiency improvements right across the supply chain.

He says the record result is a culmination of work put in by a wide group of people.

“It starts with the effort of our organic suppliers to meet and exceed organic certification standards,” Henderson told Dairy News. “Then it’s the endeavours of our transport, manufacturing,

sales and marketing teams who all help make the most of that milk to drive returns and deliver value to the co-op.”

Hoare, a former chief executive of Organics Aotearoa, is contracted through Buy Pure NZ to undertake OANZ’s 2020 Organic Market Report.

The results of this will be published in early 2021.

“We expect this result to remain positive and continue to demonstrate

that organic is the fastest growing multi-food sector in the world,” he says. “NZ is extremely well placed to truly capitalise on this opportunity.”

He cautions that being from NZ is an advantage but says this alone is not enough.

“Global customers are demanding authenticity and measured outcomes,” Hoare adds.

“Communicating

clearly that being certified organic from NZ actually means you are also certified: grassfed, non GMO, hormone and antibiotic free, follow additional animal welfare standards, contribute to critical factors like biodiversity are all what customers and buyers want to hear and be assured of.”

Hoare believes with a payout of $10.19, there will be plenty of interest from other farmers. However, he adds that it is important to stay focused and get it right.

“While the sector truly welcomes renewed interest in our healthy soil, food and people maxim we have been espousing for 70 years, we have real work to do to go to scale and get the transition strategies right.

“For example, we have the Organic Products

Bill to work through. It affects the whole supply chain, so will take the right leadership to maintain momentum now and well into the future.”

Hoare claims that in countries like the US, family farming has been decimated and overtaken by corporate models.

Organic is no exception.

“This does not sit well with buyers’ customer base who recognise that the true cost of food supports family farmers to get good returns for honest work that protects the social fabric of rural communities and the environment they gleam their livelihoods from.

“Being certified organic assists this and a Fonterra being a cooperative gives value back to its shareholders – in this case dedicated, certified organic farming families.”

TREV’S HERE TO HELP! FARM REPORTING software Trev is now lending a helping hand to Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) members.

Launched last month, the collaboration provides DWN members with an offer to connect their farm, staff, directors, owners, rural professionals and discussion groups.

As a not-for-profit organisation, the network aims to provide dairy women around the country with access to the technology and training to help them progress in the industry,

says Jules Benton, DWN chief executive.

“Our collaboration with Trev provides another tool for our members’ on-farm toolboxes,” she says. “Farm reporting software is right up there when it comes to making timely decisions, maximising productivity or minimising loss.”

Trev allows farmers to build their own database of operational information in an easy-to-use, easy-to-share format. Designed to take the pain out

of on-farm reporting, it replaces the monthly spreadsheet with smaller weekly reports and the ability to record things like livestock and feed events while out in the paddock. The reports take less than ten minutes per week.

“As farmers we’re expected to manage a complex business, and the process of gathering and sharing information can sometimes be challenging and time consuming,” explains Scott Townshend, chief executive of Trev.

Thinking outside the [tree and fence lined] box Trev chief executive Scott Townshend and Dairy Women’s Network chief executive Jules Benton.

Dung beetles will deliver upon the promise to restore and protect our freshwater while increasing production and drought tolerance.

We need to be smarter than just focusing on planting and fencing. MPI supports planting, fencing and “other initiatives to prevent farm runoff ”.

Without question that is where dung beetles fit in.

Thinking outside the [tree and fence lined] box

Thinking outside the [tree and fence lined] box

There is absolutely no better scientifically proven way of reducing overland The solution is right under our feet flow than dung beetles.

They deliver an up to 80% reduction in overland Dung beetles will deliver upon the promise to restore and protect our freshwater while Dung increasing beetles offer a remarkable natural flow.

This results in a 97% reduction in sediment, and equally includes production and drought tolerance. sustainable solution to revitalise our soils and reduced e. coli and phosphorus.

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We need to be smarter than just focusing on planting and fencing. MPI supports planting, fencing and “other initiatives to prevent farm runoff ”.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

AGRIBUSINESS // 21

Anchor Blue 2L in the new plant-based bottle will land on shelves across New Zealand’s North Island from this week.

for good; to purchase a product that comes in more sustainable packaging.

“This plant-based milk bottle is an important component in Fonterra’s wider sustainability strategy. We have also committed to moving towards renewable energy in transport and manufacturing and finding ways to manage and reduce our emissions over the whole supply chain.”

Initially the new plantbased milk bottle will be available in the North Island, with a view to expand distribution and product ranging based on consumer response.

Anchor will launch with 300,000 Blue 2L bottles per month.

Research into the new bottle shows that people are looking for products that are sustainably pro-

duced and they liked the plant-based bottle concept versus traditional fossil fuel based plastic alternatives.

Anchor commissioned an independent life cycle assessment of the bottle, which concluded this plant-based HDPE also has a lower carbon footprint than the conventional fossil fuel-based HDPE that most plastic milk bottles in New Zealand are made from.

According to research from the Sustainable Business Council, sustainability is becoming increasingly important for New Zealanders – 71% of Kiwis are actively researching the sustainability practices of brands before making a product purchase.

Two prominent New Zealanders – Richie McCaw and Stacey Mor-

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Fonterra Brands NZ managing director Brett Henshaw.

rison – say sustainability is increasingly important for them too and have welcomed the move by Anchor.

Richie McCaw says he grew up on a farm, and his sister is now a dairy farmer. “Innovations such as this are really important for the environment, as well as our dairy industry.”

Broadcaster Stacey Morrison noted that as a family they always look at ways to reduce their footprint or make small changes that help them live more sustainably.

“That mindset is important to me because it’s an effort to look after Aotearoa for our kids, and future generations.”

The Sustainable Business Network has also supported the announcement.

Kate Haselhoff, Project and Partnership Manager, the Sustainable Business Network commented that responsible businesses have an important role to play in addressing sustainability in packaging.

“So it’s really encouraging to see a prominent business like Fonterra undertake new trials and innovation in the packaging space as we look to transition to a circular economy.”

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FONTERRA IS taking another step towards its commitment to having all packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

The co-operative’s consumer business brand Anchor last week launched New Zealand’s first plant-based milk bottle, which is 100% kerbside recyclable.

Anchor Blue 2-litre in the new plant-based bottle will land on shelves across the North Island from this week.

The co-op says while the bottle is still filled with the same fresh milk, it is made from sugarcane.

The sugarcane is natural, renewable and sustainably sourced, and is an alternative to bottles made from non-renewable sources like fossil fuels. It also captures CO2 from the atmosphere as it grows, resulting in a bottle with a low carbon footprint. The sugarcane is made into plantbased HDPE plastic in Brazil and the bottle itself is made here in New Zealand.

Fonterra Brands New Zealand managing director Brett Henshaw says sustainability is important to Kiwis and Fonterra wants to offer consumers an option to make change

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Plant-based milk bottles landing on shelves

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

22 // MANAGEMENT

Unique Christmas calving A WAIRARAPA dairy

farm has adopted a unique calving pattern to boost milk production and maximise its livestock income.

Rob and Nicola Bassetts’ herd is made up of 410 spring-calving Holstein Friesian cows and up to 50 cows, which calve in December.

The 100-hectare irrigated Carterton farm produced 228,300 kilograms of milksolds (kgMS) in the 2019-20 season.

“No other farms in our area calve in December. We are quite unique.

We started doing it seven years ago,” Rob Bassett claims.

“Milk production jumped by 18,000 kgMS in that first season.”

The shift to Christmas calving was driven by the farm’s soil type. The land,

Farm facts Owners : Rob and Nicola Bassett Location: Carterton, Wairarapa Farm size: 100 hectares and a 129 hectare support block Cows: 410 Holstein Friesians, plus 50 December calvers Production: 228,300 kgMS 2019-20 Stud name: Manukorihi Holsteins

which has been in the Bassett’s family for 109 years, sits on a drained swamp.

“We have a completely different type of soil to our neighbours. The property is wet in the winter, but it grows grass in the summer,” he explains.

“We had to think outside of the box to get the most out of the farm.”

Instead of empty cows being culled when livestock prices are low, they

are kept milking and run with Hereford bulls in March.

Cows that get in-calf are dried off with the rest of the herd in late May. They follow the milking herd in the spring and tidy up uneaten grass.

“Having a higher stocking rate at that time of the year is extremely beneficial,” Bassett says.

“Those dry cows help us hit residuals and maintain pasture quality and

Farm staff Andrew Pike and Campbell and Lachie Bassett feed calves.

it means we don’t have to top paddocks with a mower.”

The cows, usually 40 to 50, calve in December and are milked until late March or early April, when they are solid to a winter milk producer.

“They produce cheap milk for us because we can grow between 130-150

kg/DM/ha of pasture a day in December and January,” he said.

The Bassetts calves are sold to a rearer.

Eighty-five hectares of their farm is irrigated with a centre pivot. Water is sourced from a bore, with no restrictions.

“We have an instantaneous take of 45 litres

of water per second and we are guaranteed 150 days of irrigation every 12 months,” Bassett says.

“It doesn’t take much to keep our soil wet and in the last decade we have only used half of our yearly allocation.”

The farm is wellequipped to combat weather extremes, such as

a drought. It has a 40-bale rotary milking shed with in-shed feeding and a 450cow feed pad.

“Our annual milk production has only fluctuated by 2,500 kgMS over the last five years.”

The herd is fed crushed barley, which is grown on a 129-hectare support block, five kilometres down the road.

That block of land is not irrigated.

The Bassetts grow 70-80 hectares of a barley each year, which they plant themselves using minimum tillage practices.

“The soil at the runoff is quite stony, but we have noticed a huge difference by not disturbing it as much,” Bassett explains.

“We’re onto our fourth and fifth rotation of barley in those paddocks and we now plant into

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

MANAGEMENT // 23

boosts milk production GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY ROBERT BASSETT is a trained artificial insemination technician and does his own AI for six weeks.

“We used to use LIC’s Premier Sires bull team, but we switched to the company’s economy pack when the payout dropped in 2014.”

Cameron says they have continued using that pack, as he believes it’s good value for money and they only use semen from daughterproven sires.

“The price of semen is important to me. If it is Holstein Friesian, the price is right and the bull has plenty of daughters, then I will use him,” he explains.

The spring herd’s empty (not in-calf) rate sits at 14-15%, but the figure is only 2-3% across the entire herd. The Bassetts have one staff member, Andrew Pike, who is an integral part of the business and has been with them for 28 years.

Rob’s father Don, who has lived on the farm for the past 75 years, also helps out.

The Bassetts joined Holstein Friesian NZ in 2005, when they started leasing a neighbouring farm and bought the pedigree herd on the property.

“We saw how favourably our grade cows stacked up against the pedigree animals, so we began registering them on the supplementary register,” Cameron says.

About 75-80% of the herd are now registered pedigree Holstein Friesians.

“It’s very little extra work for us to register the calves each year and has increased the value of the animals if we ever wanted to sell them,” he adds.

The couple have two young sons Campbell, 12, and Lachie, 10.

“Both boys are really interested in showing calves and the farm,” Cameron says.

“It’s a driving factor behind how we operate. We’d like to do further expansion in the future to help both of them get into farming.”

The Bassett’s young cows wait to be shifted onto a winter kale crop.

black soil, rich in organic matter.”

The barley is stored in silos beside the milking shed with a combined holding capacity of 400 tonnes.

“We feed about 350 tonnes of barley through the shed each year. We crush what we need each day and add minerals to the mix,” he adds.

The Bassetts started

growing their own barley to give them more control over feed costs.

“We can grow it for a third of the cost of what we could buy in straight barley for. It’s a huge saving,” Cameron claims.

The straw left behind, after the crop is harvested, is not wasted.

It is baled and used to hold the cows’ gut capacity and give them fibre

while they are on a winter kale crop at the runoff block.

Growing all their own supplements has led to major changes in young stock management.

Replacement heifers are now grazed with Wanganui Vets from May to May, leaving just 70-80 R1 heifers at the runoff.

“We aim to have them weighing 240 kilograms

when they go to the grazier,” Cameron says.

The heifers arrive home from grazing weighing 525kg and calve at 550kg. The Bassetts mature cows weigh an average of 600kg.

The heifers are mated to Ezicalve Hereford bulls, sourced from Mike and Cath Cranstone. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

24 // MANAGEMENT

The grass can be greener improving paddock values SIMON PONTIN

PADDOCKS ARE

among a farmer’s biggest and most important assets but occasionally they need a makeover in the form of regrassing.

There are several reasons why paddocks need to be regrassed. It maybe there are too many weeds, animals have damaged the paddock over winter, species have run out or low producing native grasses have taken over. Or it could be that the paddock has been in a crop and is now being ready to be rotated back into pasture.

The regrassing objective is to achieve a quality pasture producing paddock that will optimise the use of the land for your location and the farming system you use. If you’re not sure, get advice from your local seed merchant technical advisor and work through a plan with your farm advisor. They’re there to help you achieve the best from your land; with good species selection and preparation key components in a newly re-grassed paddock being really productive.

Walking the talk I encourage all farm-

ers to undertake pasture walks during the season noting down any poor performing paddocks. Pasture measurement information can also be added to MINDA (in the Land and Feed section) to enable farmers to see pasture gaps upfront and a more accurate ‘feed wedge’.

Once paddocks have been identified, there are several options for regrassing.

Crops – undertaking a cropping programme before re-establishing in grass Whether summer or winter crops, the paddock can go through a crop before being put back into pasture. This has the benefit of having the paddock sprayed out typically three times for weeds before grass is re-established - thus minimising unwanted plants taking hold.

Direct drilling grass seed into the paddock Direct drilling is the preferred method where possible to minimise nitrate losses or working a paddock up (cultivate) and then drilling and sowing. The process is to spray a paddock out and then after a few days direct drill or cultivate.

FarmWise consultant Simon Pontin says the regrassing objective is to achieve a quality pasture producing paddock.

If you go to the effort of regrassing then I suggest the work is done as well as possible. It’s also an opportunity to fix a wet spot or rid the paddock of stubborn weeds.

If there’s a particular weed issue then add targeted sprays to eradicate the problem. Correct the pH of the paddock at the start along with any capital fertilizer required to achieve the fertility desired. If there is a pan or the soil structure is compacted, a sub soil or deep cultivate would be

beneficial.

Weeding out the good from the bad I often see paddocks sprayed out and resown shortly afterwards that regresses to the original state quickly. These paddocks often have a large component of native grasses in them to start with.

Spraying them out is only half the problem as they have normally seeded and produced a great deal of seed dormant in the soil. Given some light and a little cultiva-

tion these seeds germinate competing with the seed sown. The answer is to invest three weeks of time to allow these weed seed grasses to germinate along with any broad leafed weeds and then do a second spray out. This will help increase the lifetime of the pasture by several seasons.

There’s a number of techniques to regrassing a paddock to consider depending on soil, terrain and rainfall amounts.

Over time most paddock’s production will fall and at

some stage they will need to be renewed to maintain a farms performance.

I recommend that care is taken to put right drainage, soil structure, and fertility, along with weed control to allow the grass sward the best possible start and optimise your land pasture production.

Grass seed – getting the right seed is critical The best pasture will be one that suits your location, system and resources. Use the Forage Value Index (FVI) to review what seeds will

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perform best. Have a chat with your seed supplier and discuss availability and optimal choice for your location, soils and management system.

Once confirmed, get the order in to avoid delays so that it is ready for you once you are ready to sow. The sooner it’s in the ground, the sooner you’ll be on the way to improving the health of your paddocks and cows this coming season.

• Simon Pontin is a LIC FarmWise Consultant.

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

ANIMAL HEALTH // 25

Easy to identify cows on heat THE KEY to a successful mating period starts with accurately determining when a cow is on heat.

FIL says farmers need a clear process, good observation and effective use of a reliable heat detection tool. Tail paint is a tried, tested and proven method.

“With an effective painting plan in place, you can identify almost 90% of cows on heat,” says FIL. “Applied properly, it will reliably provide a visual indication of when a cow has stood to be mounted, and conse-

quently rubbed, to show that she’s on heat. It also helps to pick up cows that are on heat for a short time and might otherwise be missed.”

FIL Detail tail paint comes in six fluorescent colours, which enables a systematic painting plan to identify each stage during the ‘detection to pregnancy’ 12-week cycle.

For example, paint all cows with red tail paint approximately three weeks after calving. Check the paint strip at each milking. In most cases, much of the paint will be

APPLYING TAIL PAINT 1. Remove loose hair and dirt along the backbone above the tail and ensure cow is dry.

2. Ensure both the cow and conditions are dry.

Although Detail is faster drying compared to oil-based paint, it will take 10 minutes to dry.

3. Paint a strip 50-60mm wide and 150mm long along the ridge of the backbone immediately above the tail. It’s best to apply the paint from the tail pushing up the cow’s back – this lifts the hair and makes it easier to detect when a cow is rubbed.

FIL says its Detail 10L bucket is gaining popularity as a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option, ultimately minimising waste on farm.

“It’s just as effective as oil-based tail paint, with similar adhesive and visibility for up to 21 days.

“Being water-based, it’s gentler on skin, so it’s better for cows. Plus, there’s less harm to the applicator’s skin and can be easily cleaned with water.”

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rubbed off when a cow is on heat.

Paint cows on heat with green tail paint.

After insemination, paint the cows with blue

tail paint. If the paint rubs off, the cow is not pregnant.

Once pregnancy is confirmed, paint the cows with yellow tail paint.

Tail painting can be a reliable heat detection tool.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

26 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Reproductive performance – failing to plan is planning to fail IT IS no secret that the

reproductive performance of any herd is very closely associated with the overall financial outcome of the farming enterprise.

Top performing herds benefit from more cows calving in time to take advantage of the spring flush and fewer empties, meaning managers have a greater opportunity to cull underperforming cows.

Reproductive performance is not just a chance event but an area where focus and effort pays dividends. The old adage of failing to plan is simply planning to fail definitely applies here.

The two measurements that are key to benchmarking your herd’s performance are 6 – week in-calf rate and not in calf

rate (empty rate).

Many would argue, that the most important of these two parameters is the 6 – week in-calf rate, because empty rates decrease as mating duration increases.

This effect of shorter mating length pushing up empty rates has been very noticeable since the banning of routine inductions more than five years ago where subfertility was masked by mating

Reproductive performance is not just a chance event but an area where focus and effort pays dividends.

for a longer period and inducing more late calving cows.

With the majority of herds now mating for no longer than 10 – 11 weeks, it is now more important than ever for managers

to be on their game and aware of all of the components contributing to a top reproductive performance. There are multiple factors to consider and failure to address them all is very risky. For example,

the impact of a lease bull persistently shedding BVD entering a naïve herd after AB, would trigger a catastrophic abortion storm wiping out the 6-week incalf rate and driving the empty rate sky high.

For this reason, investing some time into setting up a reproductive plan with a trained in-calf advisor is the first step.

Advisors are trained to methodically cover all of the components contrib-

uting to reproductive performance in your herd giving you the best shot to optimise your performance.

Unfortunately, once pregnancy testing rolls around, the horse has bolted.

As a veterinarian, pregnancy testing in autumn, there is nothing pleasant about being the bearer of bad news when empty rates are high.

So, if you have not reviewed your mating plan already – now is the time to act.

• Greg Jarratt is a vet and director of Matamata Veterinary Services.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

MILK COOLING // 27

Giving farmers the edge with new vat monitoring units FONTERRA IS installing new milk vat monitoring systems to support their farmers’ production of high-quality milk and make the co-op’s milk collection more efficient.

Richard Allen, group director of Farm Source, says the new milk vat monitoring systems are part of Fonterra’s commitment to help make farming easier.

“We’re always looking for the latest technology and tools that can help our farmers, and through The Cooperative Difference we are committed to supporting them in producing high-quality milk in a sustainable way.

“Whether they’re in the milking shed or out in the paddock, this new technology will enable our farmers to monitor their vat from the palm of their hand,” says Allen.

Farmers will be able to choose the type of monitoring solution that best suits their farm.

The co-op will cover the cost of the base model and farmers can choose to upgrade and pay their chosen solution provider directly for any extra features.

HALO, Levno, and DTS have been approved as milk vat monitoring system providers. Fonterra is also working with other providers to understand whether their solutions are compatible.

The new milk vat monitoring systems are being rolled out on farms region by region. Taranaki will be final region to get the systems, currently scheduled for installation in May 2021.

Fonterra undertook a pilot programme in 2019 with about 80 farms in the Waikato and Canterbury. The feedback received helped to validate assumptions about the benefits that could be realised by both farmers and the co-op.

Farmers who participated in the pilot say it helped them make more informed decisions and address issues quickly.

“I have been farming for 34 years and this makes life easier for both workers and relief milkers. Especially the notifications when the vat chiller has been left off,” says Tirau farmer Adam Wainman.

Winton farmer Peter Hancox says he’d definitely recommend the system to others and Geoff Stevenson, who farms just outside of Christchurch, says the technology was easy to use.

“Really good system, good for watching temps.

I’m not a computer buff but easy enough to access,” Geoff says.

Richard Allen says there will be benefits for both farmers and the wider co-op.

“The technology will help farmers make more informed decisions and address issues, quickly helping them to avoid lost milk or grades. By avoiding grades, farmers will also be a step closer to achieving recognition, including Farm Source Reward Dollars, under The Cooperative Difference.

“For Fonterra, the milk vat monitoring systems will help improve collection efficiency as it will provide more precise information about available volume and milking time. This will also save farmers time as they will no longer need to manually update their milking time window throughout the season.”

One month after installation on-farm, milking time windows will begin to be calculated using a rolling monthly average determined by the milk vat monitoring system. Farmers will no longer have to manually update their milking times and Fonterra’s collections will be more efficient.

Fonterra needs a certain level of volume accuracy in order to deliver the collection efficiencies.

Many existing systems do not have volume or at the level of accuracy needed.

On-going collection efficiencies will result in savings that will fully cover the cost of this new technology. There will also be benefits of improved milk

quality and flexibility in consistently being able to make products that meet customer specifications.

Allen says this kind of support and innovation is

The new milk vat monitoring systems are being rolled out on farms region by region.

Fonterra is installing new vat monitoring systems to make milk collection more efficient.

another benefit of supplying the cooperative.

“Our co-op sets out to deliver the highest sustainable return to our farmers every day. If we can help our farmerowners produce the best quality milk, and then transport and process it in the most efficient way, it all adds up to the return we deliver to our farmers and their co-op at the end of the day.”

In addition to the volume and milking time information, Fonterra will also receive a Milk Quality Indicator (MQI- farms will also receive this). The MQI is an estimate of the bacterial level in a vat based on the milking time

and temperature data.

The MQI is determined by a theoretical model using the volume, agitation, and temperature profile. Fonterra says the MQI will inform their discussions with farmers to improve milk cooling systems and milk quality where necessary.

Starting September 2021, once all farms have a base model installed and have had time to review their MQI, Fonterra will use the MQI to inform testing. At first this could lead to more grading and demerits as farmers adjust and improve their systems to meet the standard Terms of Supply.

The application of

milk cooling grades will continue to be based on the tanker temperature at time of collection but will be based on the more precise milking times. For example, if the tanker arrives to collect the milk and the temperature as assessed by the tanker is not at the appropriate temperature, the farm may receive a grade as per the current terms of supply.

The co-op is offering up Smart Finance, a new financial tool that provides low-interest loans in support of improving milk cooling on-farm.

• *This article first appeared in Getting the Basics Right 2020 edition.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

28 // MILK COOLING

Clean shed, clean milk MACHINE CLEANING systems maintain

milk quality by aiming to remove all milk residues from the plant and destroying any resident

bacteria.

The benefits of selecting the right cleaning system include: Increased milking efficiency: installing a well

designed system will ensure efficient operation.

Reduced costs: installing the right system will keep operating costs to a minimum.

Maintain milk quality by aiming to remove all milk residues from the plant and destroying any resident bacteria.

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Automation of the cleaning process can be advantageous as it provides consistency of operation, eliminates human error, and prevents health and safety issues associ-

■■

■■

turned on.

Cause minimal liner stretch and distortion.

A high flow, rapid dump hot water service to save time filling drums.

An easy-to-operate method of cleaning the pit and milking platform is essential. Some larger dairies are installing automatic washing systems on their milking platforms. ated with handling strong chemicals and hot water.

If the cleaning process is automated the operator needs to periodically check the automation to ensure the plant is cleaning properly.

An easy-to-operate method of cleaning the pit and milking platform is essential. Some larger dairies are installing automatic washing systems on their milking platforms.

This is especially useful if the dairy is used for long periods of time.

Features of a cleaning system ■■ A cleaning system should have the following features ■■ Adequately sized and configured wash line.

■■ Minimum flow rate of 3 litres per minute per cluster.

■■ Flow rate through the first jetter should not greatly exceed the last.

■■ A flushing pulsator/ air injector may be installed at the end of the milk line to ensure it is cleaned effectively. If the milk line is a loop line then a tap is installed near one of the milk line entries to the receiver with a flushing pulsator/air injector installed before the tap, at the top of the milk line.

During washing the tap is closed and the flushing pulsator/air injector

Ensure liners and jetters are compatible.

Circulation cleaning systems This type of system is recommended for all dairies.

At the completion of milking, the clusters are connected to ‘jetters’ that are in turn connected to a wash line.

When the milking plant is turned on the vacuum created by the plant draws water from the wash tub through the wash line.

When hot washing, the water should be circulated through the plant for 5-7 minutes, or until it reaches the minimum dump temperature (about 55°C). This is done by connecting a recycle line from the delivery line to the wash tub.

To ensure effective cleaning a minimum water flow of 3 L/min is required through each cluster.

To clean the milk line effectively a flushing pulsator/air injector is normally needed. The flushing pulsator injects air and water into the milk line every 30-45 seconds. This injection of water and air creates a turbulent flow of wash water through the milk line which helps to effectively clean the milk line.

■■

@dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

MILK COOLING // 29

Never too late for technology BAY OF PLENTY couple Andrew and Lynette Stuart are thankful for opting for a vat monitoring system.

The couple milk 150 cows on a 52ha dairy farm at Pongakawa. They also own a 10ha kiwifruit orchard.

Not big fans of technology, they were reluctant to invest in vat monitoring, but are glad they did.

Andrew says he and his wife, and their 14-herringbone shed, were all three looking forward to retirement at the end of the season.

“I suggested to Fonterra that they didn’t put a vat monitoring system in. I thought it was a waste of money for only 12 months or so.”

But Andrew says they ended up investing in the technology, opting for DTS Vat-Man. “There are a few options out there but the most important thing about any technology is the service behind it, and the people behind the

service. DTS had maintained our refrigeration over the years and we thought, why change a good thing?”

A day after installing Vat-Man, a pipe broke on farm, causing water loss from its main tank.

Then, this Vat-Man alert went off on the phone saying, ‘your milk is too warm’.

“I thought the platecooler wasn’t operating correctly because there wasn’t enough water flow.”

The text alert prompted an unscheduled check at the shed.

“I’m standing there, the stirrers are going, lights are on, but the vat

OR

wall was warm. Then it clicked, the refrigeration unit was not running and required resetting.”

Andrew says disaster was averted. The refrigeration had tripped, so within the first 24-hours of going live Vat-Man saved two-day’s production.

Andrew says the next day the refrigeration went off a second time.

The problem was tracked 6down to an unrelated issue causing instability with the three-phase power supply.

“Vat-Man means there’s nothing to worry about and it’s never too late for a great monitoring system.”

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

30 // MILK COOLING

Cleanliness of the milking system is critical THE CLEANLINESS

of the milking system and the dairy is critical. The New Zealand Food Safety Authority has strict guidelines about cleaning relating to maintaining milk quality standards.

The benefits of ensuring you have the correct

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cleaning process include: Maintaining milk quality. Put in place a process to ensure cleaning is done properly, so that all residues are removed and bacteria are destroyed.

Ensuring safety issues are considered.

Cleaning must be done

properly as bacteria can build up in the plant and contaminate milk. The bacteria affect milk quality by breaking down the components in milk. This reduces the shelf life of milk and milk products, and produces off flavours in cheeses and milk pow-

ders.

The plant cleaning process Bacteria can enter the plant from cows (teat skin and infected udders) and the environment (drawn into the cluster). The milking environment is ideal for bacterial growth.

The milking environment is ideal for bacterial growth.

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Effective machine cleaning will control the presence of bacteria in the plant. The quality of the water used is very important in achieving a successful clean.

The four key elements of the cleaning process Thermal Water which is too cool leads to redepositing of the milk residues removed, and water which is too hot denatures protein, breaks down detergents and damages seals and rubberware.

Aim for a temperature of 80-85°C as water exits the hot water storage cylinder.

Hot water washes should be dumped when wash water temperature falls to below 55°C. Time Hot water must contact the surface for a minimum of 4 minutes; this should be extended to 7 minutes by re-circulating during an alkali wash.

Pre-heating the plant will help achieve at least 5 minutes of contact time at the recommended temperature.

For the milking plant, 10 litres of hot water per cluster is recommended to achieve sufficient contact time.

For the bulk milk tank, hot water should be a minimum of 2% of the bulk milk capacity or 120 litres for 5700 litre tanks or smaller.

Kinetic energy Air injectors and a reservoir of water at the end of the milk line can create a slug formation for cleaning the top of the milk line.

Small flushing pulsators used to induce turbulence are largely ineffective and regular brushing or use of a large flushing pulsator/air injector may be required.

Milk lines generally require turbulence created via an effective flushing pulsator to fill the line and clean the milk line or some alternate effective cleaning system.

Chemical energy Acid detergents remove mineral deposits. They can be used in hot or cold water but are more effective in hot water. Acid sanitisers commonly incorporate chemicals which also kill bacteria. These sanitisers are intended to stay in the plant after washing to provide extended protection. Acid sanitisers should always be added to the final wash.

Alkaline detergents remove fat and protein. If left in the plant, they can cause damage to rubberware so they must be followed with an acid wash to neutralise the alkali and leave the plant sanitised. The alkaline detergent is almost always chlorinated, or chlorine added.

PLANT CLEANING ROUTINES As a minimum the following steps need to be carried out: ■■ Cold water rinse after every milking.

■■

An acid wash after every milking.

■■

An alkali wash at least twice weekly.

■■

An acid rinse after every alkali wash.

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

MILK COOLING // 31

Cool milk quickly MILK COOLING affects

milk quality. The quicker the milk is cooled after milking, the better the quality when it is collected from the farm.

Choosing the right cooling system for your farm means: Lower energy costs Milk cooling accounts for about 30% of the total energy costs of operating a dairy: energy demand and farm diary operating costs can be reduced using different options that involve heat recovery from your cooling system.

Less risk of penalties due to milk temperature Raw milk grows bacteria rapidly above 7°C. Meeting the new milk cooling standards, which came into effect for all farms two years ago has meant changes on many farms.

The Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand Code of Practice for the design and operation of Farm Dairies has new milk cooling standards.

The rules apply to: ■■ Converted farms immediately ■■ All farms from 1 June 2018 The rules state that raw milk must: a) be cooled to 10°C or below within four hours of the commencement of milking; and b) be cooled to 6°C or below within the sooner of: i) six hours from the commencement of milking, or ii) two hours from the completion of milking; and c) be held at or below 6°C without freezing until

OTHER OPTIONS IF YOUR current plate heat exchanger and refrigeration unit combination are not capable of meeting the new milk cooling regulations you may need to consider a secondary cooling option.

These can involve a large capital outlay and long payback period but may come with the benefit of heat recovery, enabling you to save on hot water costs. Other options include: ■■ Cooling towers ■■

Ice banks

■■

Snap chillers

■■

Thermal stores

■■

Vat wraps

Are you hitting your target market?

Contact your local sales representative for more information Auckland

Stephen Pollard ....... Ph 021-963 166

Waikato

Ted Darley ................ Ph 021-832 505

Wellington

Ron Mackay ............ Ph 021-453 914

collection or the next milking; and d) must not exceed 10°C during subsequent milkings.

In situations where there is continuous or extended milking, such as automated milking systems, the milk must enter the bulk milk tank at 6°C or below.

“Continuous or extended milking” is defined as milking for six hours or longer from the time that milk first enters any bulk milk tank.

Farmers are still being urged to check the performance of their current milk cooling systems, including plate heat exchanger.

The quicker the milk is cooled after milking, the better the quality when it is collected from the farm.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

32 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Compact, all-round Comprima Plus MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

THE KRONE Comprima

Plus is the latest addition to the German company’s range of variable chamber round balers.

It features increased performance in the intake and wrapping areas, while also offering automatic oil and grease lubrication as standard specification for minimum service and maintenance.

The machines are fitted with a camless pick-up with helical tines, sourced from the company’s forage wagons and round balers. The come with a patented arrangement seeing the tines aligned in five wavy rows to ensure a consistent and fullwidth flow to the rotor cutter for better cutting performance and reduced peak loads.

The XCut rotor cutter, manufactured from tempered steel, incorporates a helix layout, which distributes material uniformly across the full width of the feed chamber.

This ensures firm edges to the bale in all types of crop. The cutting system is available

BATTERY CHARGER RANGE RECHARGED Krone Comprima Plus is the latest addition to the German company’s range of variable chamber round balers.

with 17 or 26 blades that cut to 42mm and 64mm nominal lengths.

This can be selected in groups of 17/8/9/0 and 26/13/13/0 blades, said to offer greater flexibility in various crops.

Consistent bale rotation is carried out using a combination of the belts Novogrip and horizontal slats.

Meanwhile, an electric density control allows operators to adjust density from the seat and respond rapidly to varying crop materials.

The solo Comprima V 150 XC Plus, offers bales from 1.00–1.50 metres, while the CV 150 XC

$12,995

Plus is a combined baler/ wrapper combination.

In the case of the latter, the combi boasts twin dispensers that orbit around the bale at 36rpm for shorter wrapping cycles.

Bale transfer is carried out by the integral bale lifter onto a wrapping table made up of tubes and chains.

All Comprima Plus machines can either take film or net wrapping and a weighing system is available for the CV model.

The machine can also store up to 12 film rolls in dedicated compartments where they are protected

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The Charge N’ Maintain range begins with a 4-stage, 0.8 Amp 12V model (AC008). It them moves to a 4-stage AC015 model, rated at 1.5 Amp 12V, to the 8-stage, 4 Amp 6V/12V model (AC040).

The latter can be used for charging flat or low batteries, including 6V batteries that are sometimes found in older vehicles.

The largest unit is the 8-stage, 8 Amp 12V AC080, which has adjustable output to suit the battery type but is exclusive for use with 12V batteries.

Said to be easy to operate, AC008 and AC015 models feature colour code charge indicators showing ‘Power on’, ‘Charging’ and ‘Fully Charged’. Meanwhile, the AC040 and AC080 variants are equipped with LCD screen displays to monitor charging status.

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ON DEMAND TRUE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE (AWD)

$20,995

SAVE $1,000 FREE ROOF^

Hand and Thumb Warmers Variable Speed Limiter Steel Racks Heavy Duty Features Engine Braking System & Active Descent Control (ADC)

44 HP

from the ingress of dirt.

Those who are working long hours can equip the baler with optional LED lights, which help operators monitor the wrapper and the net application system.

There are more LEDs under the panels make servicing easier.

Additional options include tyres up to size 500/60 22.5, the KRONE Comfort control unit or the CCI ISOBUS terminal as an option.

Although the standard specification is the TIM (tractor implement management) system, this reduces operator stress by automating such functions as opening and closing the rear door.

PROJECTA’S POPULAR ‘Charge N’ Maintain’ automatic battery charger range has now been recharged – with the introduction of new features across four new models.

Ideal for agricultural, automotive and marine applications. The compact new ‘connect & forget’ charger variants are ‘Smart Chargers’ because they contain technology that provides switchable charging stages, to ensure accurate and efficient battery charging and maintenance. This allows longer life and improved battery performance over an extended period.

All models in the Charge N’ Maintain range are able to ascertain the battery’s level of charge, allowing the charger to regulate its load and optimise charging and stopping when the battery reaches capacity.

Along with their smart-charging capabilities to prevent overcharging of batteries, the range also provides sparkfree operation. It is protected against accidental reverse connection, signif-

61 HP

ON DEMAND TRUE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE (AWD)

VERSATRAC TURF MODE

1134KG TOWING CAPACITY

DUMP BOX CAPACITY 453KG

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING

24.8 HP

KUBOTA DIESEL ENGINE

DONALDSON AIR FILTER

DUMP BOX CAPACITY - 435KG & 1134KG TOWING CAPACITY

VERSATRAC TURF MODE

ON DEMAND TRUE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE (AWD)

*Offer ends 31/10/20 or while stocks last. Offer only available at participating Polaris Dealers. Not valid with any other offer. Excludes fleet clients. ^Accessories offer only valid with the purchase of a new Ranger 1000 EPS and Ranger Diesel HD EPS. #Models shown with optional extra accessories.

0800 440 290 | www.polarisnewzealand.com |

/PolarisNZ |

/polarisorv_nz

DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 33

Mako goes after Raptor MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

WITH FORD holding the reins of the ute marker since about 2014, particularly at the top-end adventure segment with its WildTrak and Raptor offerings, it was always going to be a case of when – not if – Toyota NZ would deliver a model to compete.

The recent launch of the MY 2021 Hilux gave us the answer, with the inclusion of the Hilux Mako. Which arrive by air, under an ex-US military Blackhawk helicopter, at a windswept beach in Taranaki.

Taking its name from the efficient predator that is said to be the smartest and fastest shark in the ocean and designed by kiwi’s, the Mako will be

The Mako will be built to order at Toyota NZ’s vehicle operation facility at Thames.

built to order at Toyota NZ’s Vehicle Operation Facility at Thames. This plant is already familiar with personalised fitouts for the likes of fire, rescue

and utility companies.

Toyota NZ chief executive Neeraj Lala suggests that initial response from dealers, including the placement of orders,

means the company expects to sell 250 Mako’s each year – or more as we emerge from the troubles of Covid-19.

Based around the

range-topping Hilux SR5 Cruiser, the Mako will feature the same 2.8 litre turbodiesel, upped to 150kW and 500 Nm torque for 2021, and featuring the

same towing and carrying capacities of 3500kg and 970 kg. respectively.

Available in automatic transmission only, the Mako gets a steel front bullbar and a unique front fender, model-specific flared wheel arch extensions and 18-inch black Rhino alloys fitted with Maxis Razr, off-road rubber. The rear bumper incorporates a step and like the front, a pair of towing hooks – while along the flanks – heavyduty running boards sport the Mako logo. In the cabin, RVE sourced leather bucket seats offer a well-supported ride, with the ‘chunky” leatherclad steering wheel ensures the driver stays in control on the rough stuff.

For those intending on taking this Hilux trackbashing, the suspension has been reworked to fea-

ture ARB’s Old Man Emu layout. This gives the truck a 40mm front and 50mm rear lift.

As part of the package, BP-51 bypass dampers, with user-adjustable compression and rebound damping settings, allow the user to configure the Mako to the job in hand. Further upgrades include large brake rotors and braided stainlesssteel brakes lines to resist brake-fade and a soft pedal during extended use.

Also, worth a special mention is the Mako nameplate, located in the engine bay, announcing in typical Kiwi fashion that the vehicle is “handcrafted by the good buggers at Toyota.”

• Be sure to catch our drive review of the new 2021 Toyota Hilux in the next issue of Rural News.

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• Creeper transmission standard fitment (RC).

• MaxiVision 2 Cabin with suspension as standard with optional pneumatic upgrade.

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• Hydraulic pump output of up to 170 L/min with a rear lifting capacity of up to 10,000kg • Indent now to personalise your German engineered Pro-Series tractor.

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DAIRY NEWS OCTOBER 13, 2020

34 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Mower line-up gets makeover John Deere has updated and expanded its mower conditioner line-up for 2021.

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

JOHN DEERE has updated and expanded its mower conditioner lineup for 2021.

These come in the form of the new fivemetre centre pivot C500 and a redesigned fourmetre centre pivot C400.

Quick change knives come as standard and an industry-leading five-year cutter-bar warranty across the range.

Eight new Zero Series models are available, rang-

ing in cutting widths from 2.5 metres to five metres – replacing all 600, 800 and 900 Series models. Conventional, trailed offset machines are dubbed S250, S300 and S350, while centrepivot machines carry the C300, C350, C400, C450

and C500 numbering.

For producers wanting to cover ground more quickly, the C500 is 10% wider than the previous model, the 956. It also utilises an overshot cross auger design, used on the JD 500R Rotary Windrower platforms, to move

the crop from the cutter-bar to the conditioner rolls more efficiently. The layout is said to deliver improved cut quality and reduced trash content, while promoting faster drying through an improved windrow formation.

The all-new C400 is lighter, offers better weight distribution and features wider conditioning rolls than its

predecessor, the 946.

It also features a repositioned driveline above the main beam of the tongue to improve access for easier servicing. All Zero Series Mo-Co’s include an extended five-year cutterbar warranty that covers parts and labour.

All models utilise a low-profile cutter-bar and

large, reliable shear-hubprotected drive gears with a single oil-check location. Additionally, the new Quick-Change Knife system, standard for 2021, reduces knife replacement times by more than 50% - compared to a standard bolted knife.

At the rear of the machine, a Wide Swath Kit attachment using spreading vanes, is now standard equipment on Mo-Co’s from three to four metres wide. The C400 can be adjusted to create windrows up to 330 cm wide.

Conditioning options, to suit crops being harvested, include a simple impeller; a urethane roll conditioner for thicker stemmed grasses and leafy crops; or steel V-10 or Tri-Lobe roll conditioners that provide added durability.

On the three and four metre machines, a new swivel hitch provides improved manoeuvrability and ease of transport.

These also also allow for greater than 90-degree turning without chatter, noise or damage to the driveline.

LET AURA FEED THE MOB IN A move that appears to have been

repeated by many equipment manufacturers, Kuhn confirms it currently working on several autonomous solutions – particularly in the area of feeding.

The first to break cover is AURA, a selfpropelled ‘feeding solution’ that loads, weighs, mixes, distributes and even ‘pushes up’ feed to the barrier. Part of the ALFS (Autonomous Livestock Feeding System) that started as a concept in 2015, the finished version recently walked away with an innovation award at the recent French Space 2020 Expo.

Up front, a rotary cutterhead and conveyor system – like the one already used on the company’s full-sized mixer wagons – cuts silage directly from the clamp face and

delivers it to the machine’s 3 cubic metre capacity tub.

Said to be suitable to feed a mob of up to 280 animals, the AURA tips the scales at 6.2 tonnes empty. It can travel at speeds of up to 7km/h around the yard or 2 km/h when feeding.

Currently powered by a 56hp diesel engine, Dairy News understands that a hybrid option is in the pipeline.

This will use the engine for loading and mixing and then switch to an ‘electric mode’ for feeding – helping to reduce both noise and emissions.

Guidance at the clamp is taken care of

by GPS/RTK in conjunction with an odometer, while at the feeding area, LIDAR and the odometer is the chosen solution.

FINANCE OFFER No loan payments for 3 months (except for GST clawback in month 3) and

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Preapproval is now a lot easier with online tools that can give a definitive answer within a few minutes.

TO ALL FARMERS. FOR ALL FARMERS. www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz

Preapproval can also be granted by answering a few simple questions over the phone, which makes the process simple and straightforward. * Interest rate of 3.5% over a 36 month term. 25% deposit of GST inclusive purchase price up front. This loan also consists of a $375 documentation fee and $20 Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). Any documentation needs to be preapproved and supplied prior to the 31st December 2020 to ensure the order is met. Valid for delivery prior to 31st December 2020. Lending criteria, fees, terms and conditions apply.

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RURAL NEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS

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