Dairy News 31 May 2022

Fonterra takes $81m hit in Sri Lanka. PAGE 5 DAIRY SHOWCASE Monk family’s saviour from space PAGE 28

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Bottled sheep milk canned PAGE 19

MAY 31, 2022 ISSUE 495 // www.dairynews.co.nz

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

NEWS // 3

‘Buckle up for a bumpy ride’ PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

Cream of the crop. PG.8-9

Dealing with springer cows. PG.24

Dead or alive!. PG.29

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BUCKLE UP and prepare for a bumpy ride in the coming season.

That’s the message to dairy farmers from Rabobank’s senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins who says there are more risks now than last season and these are building, especially in our main market – China.

She says, while Rabobank is forecasting a $9 milk price, there is still a great deal of uncertainty about what might happen in the coming months.

The focus is on when the hard lockdowns in Shanghai might lift.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is saying it could be mid to late June before any sense of normality returns to the city, which is a major port through which many of NZ’s exports go through.

Higgins says questions remain about how and when that might happen in the coming weeks.

“This is a key watching point and obviously there are still conversations going on around the risk of secondary sanctions being applied to China should they enter into the geopolitical tussle between the US and Russia. If that were to happen, there is a risk that our major market could evaporate overnight, which would have dire consequences for NZ. “We are not there yet, but as I say, the risks are building and that is only one market, let along things like rampant inflation and other reces-

Emma Higgins, Rabobank says the next season will be a challenging one.

sionary risks as well,” she says.

On top of the Covid lockdowns in Shanghai, Higgins says the Chinese economy is slowing and economists the world over are slashing forecasts for global growth.

She says there are other factors taking place within China that are of concern to our dairy industry – in particular the phenomenal growth of their domestic dairy industry.

Higgins says, in the last two years, milk production in China has grown by 15% and a staggering 8% in the first quarter of this year. She says the expansion of the Chinese dairy herd has been a target for their government and that has implications for NZ. “The consumption data in China

is quite bumpy but we don’t think consumption has grown at quite the same rate as production yet. At the same time, their imports have been incredibly strong. NZ has obviously been a major player in that and so when you build that picture up… we do think that the China market is well stocked and we do expect to see some weakness appearing across the course of this year, in terms of their import demand.

“In the first quarter of this year our shipments to China actually slowed down by 20% year on year for quarter one.”

Given all this information, one could be forgiven for thinking that China is moving towards what happened in the then EEC in the 1980s

– over supply called ‘milk lakes’.

Higgins’ view is that China is “well stocked” with dairy products and there are other factors which have contributed to this during the pandemic, such the broken supply chains.

“Also, the fact that companies may have changed their buying strategies and perhaps moving from ‘just in time’ to ‘just in case’ which could have contributed to some of the import growth,” she says.

Higgins says adding to the woes is the Ukraine conflict which no one could have predicted a year ago. She says talking through some of these scenarios is “uncomfortable” and not nice but the risks need to be put out there.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

4 // NEWS

‘It’s all part of farming’ PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

“THAT’S FARMING,

New Pamu chief executive Mark Leslie says the SOE faces the same issues as other dairy farmers.

Leslie took up his new role with Pamū in March, having previously worked as the chief operating officer for Silver Fern Farms and Fonterra. At Fonterra his roles included being head of the operations and supply chain component of the brands business in New Zealand, and before that being in charge of operations at 94

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two previous roles, Pamū was a supplier. At a personal level he knows the Pamū farms at Wairakei Pastoral which are fairly close to the family farm at Reporoa.

Since taking on his new role at Pamū, Leslie has met a lot of people in the office and around the farms and says he’s impressed with the dedication and passion of the farm teams.

He says this probably shouldn’t have been sur-

prised him. He says they are great teams and, like any farmers, they face the challenges of weather – be that on the East Coast or down south with the drought, and now problems obtaining processing space due to labour shortages in the plants.

“That’s been one of the highlights, the people side of it and the personal commitment they take in treating a lot of those farms like their own,” he says.

“The challenges facing Pamū are no different to other farming operations.

Attracting staff [and] ensuring the company continues to operate as a profitable business. There are challenges of dealing with climate change or adapting to some of these extreme weather events or water quality and things like that. There is a large amount of change there and it’s a case of managing that through in a practical sense.”

HAPPY WITH STRATEGIC DIRECTION MARK LESLIE is happy with Pamu’s general strategic direction and says there will continue to be a focus on looking at emissions reduction.

He says also important to the organisation is the number of partnerships that have been developed with industry-good organisations, Crown Research Institutes (CRI’s), fertiliser co-ops and other companies.

He says they will also continue to test and trial new ideas and share this information with the wider farming community.

Leslie says he knows there is criticism of some of Pamū’s ventures and, while he acknowledges they have

the advantage of scale, he points out the company has to operate profitably.

“We need to acknowledge that many of our farms are on challenging lands.

“Someone once said to me, the reason we have got this land is because nobody else wanted to farm it, and remember a number of our farms are on the steep hill country that is six, seven and eight class country,” he says Leslie says current dairy operations will remain virtually the same.

The company has 51 dairy farms which produce 165 million litres of milk annually and he says from a purely volume perspective they will do the same. But he says they will

continue to look at diversification around organics and some of the different farming systems based on the economic benefits.

He says equally and importantly is how their dairy operations align with Pamu’s beef units. He says, apart from breeding replacements for the dairy herds, Pamu is making sure it gets the right genetics for breeding dairy beef which can be integrated into their beef farming operations.

Leslie says they are looking at all options in this regard including new generation beef, but also taking animals through to 24 months.

Overall Leslie says they face the same issues as other

dairy farmers, albeit on a larger scale.

“We are facing difficulties in attracting staff, equally we are making sure with our current staff that we develop and grow them.

“While we want to keep our best people, if we see some of the really good farm managers take the next step into a larger job or sharemilking or ultimately to farm ownership, then that gives us a level of pride… that we have provided that stepping stone for them,” he says.

Finally, Leslie says that while Pamu is a large farming operation, it has to pay taxes, rates and interests and also pay a dividend to its shareholder – the Government.

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isn’t it?” This is the reaction of new Pamū (Landcorp Farming) chief executive Mark Leslie to the uncertainty in the global markets and the issues farming is facing in New Zealand.

He told Dairy News that the uncertainties caused internationally by Covid-19 are well known.

He points particularly to the lockdowns in Shanghai, which have severely disrupted shipping schedules, and war in Ukraine preventing one of the world’s major grain producers shipping product out of the country. He says this is fuelling uncertainty over dairy prices and in recent weeks prices on Global Dairy Trade (GDT) have fallen.

ingredients plants across 27 sites, along with the associated milk collection activities.

Leslie was brought up on the family dairy farm at Reporoa in the central North Island. He holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) and a Masters of Business Administration (with Distinction), both from Massey University. Over the years he’s always had a positive impression about Pamū and in his

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

NEWS // 5

Fonterra takes $81m hit in troubled island nation sure on margins from the significantly higher milk price, on-going Covid-19 disruptions, and the rapid decline of the Sri Lankan Rupee.

This was also reflected in Fonterra’s net profit, down $131m to $472m.

Hurrell says despite significant market disruption, the co-op continued to deliver a strong milk price and solid earnings.

“As an exporter, many of the markets we operate in have been prone to sudden shocks, which can impact what we sell, where we sell it and when, but right now we’re feeling the impact of multiple events across multiple

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA HAS

copped an $81 million hit in the key market of Sri Lanka, which has been facing political turmoil.

A rapid decline of the Sri Lankan rupee means it takes more Sri Lankan Rupee to pay for Fonterra product purchased from New Zealand, which is sold in US dollars.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says this resulted in an $81 million adverse revaluation of the co-op’s Sri Lankan business payables owing to New Zealand.

The Sri Lankan business, part of Fonterra’s Asia-Pacific (APAC) division, impacted the coop’s profitability. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were down $132m for the third quarter this financial year compared with the same period last year.

“While our Australian business and Ingredients channel continued to perform well, this was more than offset by the unprecedented economic challenges in Sri Lanka, margin pressure from the higher milk price and other Covid-19 related challenges,” says Hurrell.

“While historically a good business for us, the significant deterioration of economic conditions

The turmoil in Sri Lanka has wiped off $81m from Fonterra’s books.

in Sri Lanka has seen the rapid devaluation of the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US dollar.”

Sri Lanka was plunged into turmoil as the country struggled to pay for essential imports, while foreign exchange reserves have been depleted to critically low levels.

As lines for cooking fuel, gasoline, diesel fuel and food grow longer and crippling power cuts leave homes in darkness for hours, public anger has increased, with spontaneous protests by people from all walks of life – students, the middle class and low-income workers.

Sri Lanka is one of the few countries in the world where Fonterra collects and processes milk.

According to its website, since 1997, Fonterra Brands Lanka has been collecting milk from its local farmers for set and stirred yoghurt, drinking yoghurt, fresh milk and flavoured milk. Currently, milk is collected from 4,500 local dairy farmers.

Sri Lanka is also a key market for milk powder from NZMP. While Sri Lanka impacted Fonterra’s APAC business, the co-operative’s Africa, Middle East, Europe, North Asia and the Americas division (AMENA) continued to deliver a strong performance.

Normalised EBIT for AMENA was $406 million, up 30% due to improved gross margins in the

ingredients channel, and a strong performance from the Chilean business.

However, Fonterra also took a hit in its Greater China divisions, thanks to Covid lockdowns in key cities.

In Greater China, ingredients continued to benefit from increased sales of higher margin products. However, normalised EBIT was down 17% to $317 million, due to continued pressure on margins from the higher milk price, particularly in foodservice, as well as the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Hurrell says he expects the impact of the lockdowns to show up in our fourth quarter results.

“Aside from some supermarkets, all res-

taurants and other food outlets were closed in Shanghai in early April to contain the Omicron outbreak.

“While restrictions have started to ease, a number of food outlets remain closed, while other cities across China are facing Covid-19 restrictions.

“The impacts of this, and the disruptions to supply chains, have been felt across the market and are reflected in our Greater China sales volumes which are down on the same time last year.”

For nine months ending April 30, total normalised EBIT was $825 million, down $134 million, reflecting lower sales volumes, continued pres-

markets.

“We are actively managing the challenges arising from Covid-19 and other geopolitical and macroeconomic events.

“However, increasing market volatility and uncertainty, on-going supply chain disruptions and growing inflationary pressures have added increased complexity.

“I want to thank our employees for delivering a solid financial performance despite the challenging global conditions, and also our farmer owners, sharemilkers and contract milkers who are managing increasing costs on-farm.”

IN BRIEF Capital return FONTERRA REMAINS on track to deliver around $1 billion of capital to farmer shareholders and unit holders in two years.

The co-op is continuing the ownership review of its Australian business and the divestment process for its Chilean business, Soprole, is underway.

Fonterra chief financial officer Marc Rivers says both processes are running smoothly.

He expects a lot of interest in the Soprole business which has been performing strongly.

The Australian business review is more complex, he says, given its connection to Fonterra’s New Zealand business.

Rivers says the co-op is not rushing to make a decision on both businesses.

“We’re taking our time to ensure the best outcomes for both businesses and remain confident on delivering on our intention to return to our shareholders and unit holders by FY24,” he says.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

6 // NEWS

A wide range for the new season’s forecast milk price reflects the volatile global market.

New season starts on a high note SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

FONTERRA FARMERS start the new

season this week on a high note.

Last week the co-operative announced its 2022/23 opening forecast farmgate milk price, set at a range of $8.25 - $9.75/kgMS, with a midpoint of $9/kgMS. The co-op is maintaining its 2021-22 forecast price of $9.10 - $9.50/kgMS. At a midpoint of $9.30/kgMS, this would be the highest forecast milk price in the coop’s history.

Chief executive Miles Hurrell says this would see the co-op contribute almost $14 billion into the New Zealand economy through milk price payments.

Dairy prices have eased in recent Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, however prices are expected to remain at historically high levels due to subdued supply and surging demand.

China’s recent lockdowns of cities hit

by Omicron has created a dip in demand but this is expected to be short lived.

Hurrell says the strong opening fore-

cast reflects continued demand for dairy coupled with constrained global supply.

“The long-term outlook for dairy remains positive, despite recent geopolitical and Covid-19 related events impacting global demand in the short-term.

“On the supply side, growth from key milk producing regions is expected to remain constrained as high feed, fertiliser and energy costs continue to impact production volumes.

“These demand and supply dynamics are expected to support dairy prices in the medium to long-term.”

But Hurrell warns that we are in an increasingly volatile global environment and are managing a wider range of risks than usual.

This includes the potential for further impacts from Covid-19, financial markets and foreign exchange volatility, global inflationary pressures, a tightening labour market, increasing interest rates, geopolitical events, as well as the possible impact on demand from higher dairy prices.

“This is why our 2022-23 forecast range is so wide at this point in the season,” he adds.

HOME ADVANTAGE EMMA HIGGINS, Rabobank, says grain, oil and livestock feed are being caught up in the Ukraine war and producers in the northern hemisphere are going to face higher cost of milk production this year and into next year.

She says producers in NZ are also being caught up in higher input costs and, while prices for dairy prices could be good, she believes that the margins for the 2022/23 season will be lower.

She notes the challenges farmers have been experiencing this past season right around the country.

“Anecdotally we have heard that farmers in the Waikato for example have tried to change some of their calving patterns so they can get as much milk as possible before the Christmas cut off when things start to be become a lot more fickle and volatile,” she says.

Despite this, Higgins believes that while NZ dairy farmers are being challenged by the weather gods, new regulations and geopolitical chaos inflating input costs, theoretically they should be

in a better position than northern hemisphere farmers. This is because we operate an extensive pasture based system.

She says there is a whole body of regulation that farmers are working through right now, some of which requires more clarity on how it will impact on them, which may lead to some changes faming systems.

“Climate change is global challenge and it’s not just us facing the uncertainty of how to deal with it. If we look offshore, it is front and mind for European producers as well. The difference in NZ is we are being led towards what that new normal looks like by regulation, whereas in places such as America it’s more being led by markets. Ultimately we are moving towards the same direction, it’s just in different ways and places,” she says.

Finally Higgins says Fonterra has really stepped up their game and got good information out to farmers about the nuances of markets and need for change. – Peter Burke

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

NEWS // 7

New milk plant on track for 2023-24 season opening SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

WAIKATO’S NEWEST

milk processing plant is on track to start operating in July next year.

Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) New Zealand operations director Paul Rennie says farmers are being signed up to supply the plant at Tokoroa.

Rennie says the milk supply market remains “pretty competitive”.

“We are working hard: we started having conversations with farmers a few years ago,” he told Dairy News. “We are making good progress and more work needs to be done.”

Sustainability will be

a key feature of the new plant.

“We’re pleased to see our plans coming to life as the plant construction progresses and we are looking forward to playing a constructive role in the New Zealand dairy sector’s sustainability journey in the future,” says Rennie. ofi has recently announced a range of actions to support its sustainability goals across its New Zealand operations, including building its sustainability team and enhancing a sustainably-minded approach at its plant.

It has appointed Warren Landles as sustainability manager for ofi

Olam Food Ingredient’s new milk plant taking shape in Tokoroa. Inset: Warren Landles

New Zealand.

Landles will be leading sustainability initiatives on-farm and in operations as well.

“We are delighted to have someone with his depth of experience join

our team,” says Rennie.

Landles joins ofi from Miraka, where he held senior sustainability and on-farm excellence roles.

At a global level, ofi works to a comprehensive sustainability framework

that is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact, says Rennie.

“Technology plays a key role in ofi’s global approach, and the same will apply here in New

Zealand, where we are adopting technology that helps us minimise our environmental impact.

“All aspects of our new plant are being designed to maximise renewable energy use, minimise pollution and water use and ensure waste is handled in the most sustainable way possible.

“One of the key commitments is that we will operate a biomass boiler that will be fueled with sustainably-sourced wood fiber. This will help us ensure our milk processing is energy efficient and low impact,” he said.

Landles says on farm the focus will be supporting existing efforts and partnering with ofi farm-

ers to help them achieve their goals under He Waka Eke Noa, the industry blueprint for reducing emissions and building resilience to climate change.

“At a farm level, one of our focus areas is methane, so we are looking at tools and technologies that can support farmers to achieve meaningful onfarm emission reductions through methane mitigation.

“We will also help them with riparian planting by providing costprice native plants that we will grow in a nursery facility on site, using treated wastewater from our milk processing operations in the nursery.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

8 // NZ DAIRY AWARDS

‘A huge honour’ SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND 2022

Share Farmer of the Year Will Green says it’s a huge honour to be recognised in such a competitive industry.

“Especially as NZ is

renowned worldwide for being a leader in dairy and providing a clear career progression pathway,” he told Dairy News.

Originally from the UK, 34-year old Green is a sharemilker on the 270ha Dairy Holdings Ltd property in Hinds, mid-Canterbury, milking 1,060

cows.

A lot of hard work and sacrifice is behind Green’s rise to the top.

Along the way he tasted success, winning the 2018 Canterbury/ North Otago Dairy Manager of the Year and then being the 2018 national runner-up.

Green says the efforts of him, his partner Sally Eames and his workers have been recognised.

“Our efforts have been justly rewarded to help us work towards our goals; it’s been a lot of fun along the way too.”

Apart from his hard work, Green attributes his

success to strong mentors, a simple pasturefocused system and a great team of staff and rural professionals.

“Having hugely supportive parents and partner has been really helpful too. Without have a great team around us we wouldn’t be able to take

Share Farmer of the Year Will Green says it’s an honour to be recognised in a competitive industry.

time away from the dayto-day to achieve things like the dairy awards.

“We have a strong focus on team culture and you are only as strong as your weakest link so we do our utmost to ensure that our team members are not only happy, but feel motivated, engaged, and [are] adding real value to the progression of the business.”

Green says his win was also well received in the UK where many friends and family members

watched the livestream of the awards night.

Green’s advice to anyone entering the dairy industry is to find “a good boss/mentor who is willing to invest time and knowledge in you”.

“Attend as many discussion groups and courses as you can, get your face out there, ask lots of questions and get involved and become an active member of your local community.

“And, of course, enter the dairy awards.”

Peter O’Connor loves being outdoor with animals.

Opportunities galore DAIRY TRAINEE of the Year Peter O’Connor is both honoured and surprised with his win.

“There were a large number of entries across New Zealand and when I signed up I did not expect to be the national winner.

“There were a range of skills all the trainee finalists brought to the awards and I was lucky enough to be the one that came out on top for the challenges we were judged on,” he told Dairy News.

He is currently 2IC on Leighton and Michelle Pye’s 242ha, 900-cow Mayfield property and will progress to a new role managing a 400-cow farm near Lauriston in the 2022-23 season.

For other Kiwis looking to dairying as a career, O’Connor says there are so many opportunities waiting to be taken and the outdoor lifestyle is great.

“I love always being outdoors and with animals, every day is different and there’s always something new to learn or and improve on the farm.

TO PAGE 9

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

NZ DAIRY AWARDS // 9

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Jaspal Singh says the NZ dairy industry has lots to offer.

From IT to cows JASPAL SINGH came to New Zealand from India in 2014 to study information technology (IT).

Two years later, upon completion of his degree, he started working as a farm assistant in Mossburn and is now farm manager on Mark and Carmen Hurst’s 220ha, 800-cow property at Waimate.

His dedication to learn and grow as a dairy farmer is paying off. This month he was crowned the 2022 Dairy Manager of the Year.

Singh says he feels proud of his achievement.

“It is quite joyful and a mix of emotions,” he told Dairy News.

Singh says he entered the NZ dairy industry because of career opportunities.

“The NZ dairy industry is different from my country’s industry. Here, the dairy industry provides a lot of career opportunities step-by-step and personal growth of knowledge and responsibilities.

“It provides a standard accommodation, healthy lifestyle and the freedom of working outside in an open environment with cows.”

There were challenges, including overcoming the language barrier when Singh arrived from India.

“The biggest challenge was English language when I got here and then from moving from IT student to dairy farmer.

“I faced those challenges and found my way out.”

Singh puts his success down to a great team, including his wife Ruby, supportive employers and his keen and positive attitude.

He says his employers have given him opportunities to run the farm.

“I treat the farm as it’s my own, which helps me drive the farm in an efficient way and it helped me to be successful in the industry.”

His future plans include becoming a sharemilker and then eventually owning his own farm.

Singh believes he has good advice for immigrants eyeing a future in NZ dairying.

“The industry provides a lot to learn, to do, great career opportunities, healthy lifestyle, work life balance and freedom to work and be successful,” he adds.

Opportunities galore FROM PAGE 8

“Lots of great employers are out there who will help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to move up positions and the dairy industry has a great pathway to go from just starting out on-farm, to owning your own business and potentially your own farm.”

O’Connor says his employers Steve and Rosie Ketter have always answered any questions he had.

They given him more responsibility as

his knowledge and experience has grown.

“They have involved me in discussions with the farm consultant and other professionals who come on farm.

“Being exposed to that side of the farming business as well as the day-today tasks has been great.

“The high standards we work to ensure I do jobs properly and learn the correct way things should be done, which not only helped me in the competition but will also set my standards high in years to come.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

NEWS // 11

Farmers brace for uncertain times PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

RURAL SUPPORT

Trust chair Neil Bateup says there is a lot of apprehension among farmers about the future as they follow and experience the disruptions caused by Covid and also by the war in the Ukraine.

Bateup says the costs for fertiliser, fuel and feed have risen dramatically and says farmers are becoming nervous about supply chain issues and the ongoing effects of the Ukraine crisis which could see the price of grain world-wide rise.

He says there’s concern about what effect a high grain price might have on milk and beef production in those jurisdictions, such the US and Europe where grain is a significant component in feeding cows and cattle.

He says as well as the international issues, farmers have been dealing with significant adverse weather events, be they floods or droughts.

“The Rural Support Trust is still getting a number of requests and these are slightly up; overall I think the general mood of farmers is not good,” Bateup told Dairy News.

“Covid has caused a lot of issues. People haven’t been able to get off farm and some are reluctant to do so. As a result they haven’t connected with friends and neighbours.

“A lot of events have been cancelled or not well attended because people are unsure about going

out. The recent rain in the Waikato will probably have lifted the mood because farmers can actually see the rainfall, but it’s still going to be hard to get there.”

Bateup says the situation varies from farm to farm and depends on the farming system being used.

He says people will be looking more long term rather than short term and seeing what tweaks they can make to the system, not making wholesale system changes, which is not easy to do.

He says farmers have to take a good look at costs and returns to see where the opportunities are and see whether or not they can make money by using supplements now or focusing on next season.

“There have probably been more supplements bought and fed this year, mainly because of the good payout for meat and milk. People are prepared to pay for supplements if they can see a dollar in it for them, but the costs are going up dramatically in the feed sector, so next year will be a different year. Silage is certainly in short supply and while there are supplies of PKE available, prices are high. And in some of the drought-hit areas, grazing options are limited,” he says.

All this, says Bateup, points to the fact that right now the options are limited.

He says while some dairy farmers have engaged in some form of diversification, he’s seen

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very little of this where he lives in the Waikato. What he has seen is owners of some of the small dairy farms calling it quits and just grazing cattle or

diversifying into bull beef.

“A lot of cows have been dried off and farmers are making decisions about next year and not jeopardising next year’s

production. I think farmers see past that opportunist type of thing and the majority are planning well for next season,” he says.

Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

12 // NEWS

National leader woos farmers PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE LEADER of the National Party is accusing Labour of painting farmers as villains and effectively the enemy, which he says is certainly not the case.

Christopher Luxon’s comments came in the small Manawatū township of Rongotea at a dairy farmers’ forum organised

by DairyNZ. About 100 people turned up for the event which was also used as a networking event. Luxon had earlier attended the Friday Feilding sale where he also met informally with farmers. His speech was not focused on specific farming issues so much as the lack of positive outcomes from government spending.

His time at the podium, to a largely sympathetic audience, was mainly spent trying to woo and assure the rural community that National always was, and still is, the farmers’ party. It was unashamedly electioneering.

“We are back and are serious about our com-

GEOGARD

mitment to the agricultural sector,” he proclaimed.

Luxon then went on to say that NZ is an agricultural nation and this is something everyone should be proud of. He listed a series of statistics such as the fact that NZ feeds 40 million people, employs 350,000 people, generates 80% of our exporter earning and for every man, woman and child generates $9,000 dollars a year.

“That is a phenomenal record. We have seen tourists and education go backward post Covid; agriculture is more important to us than it’s ever been and it should be celebrated.”

Chris Luxon told Waikato farmers that National is back and is serious about its commitment to the agricultural sector.

SEARCHING FOR PROBLEMS CHRISTOPHER LUXON says the present government has spent much of its time running around with problems in search of solutions.

He says a lot of stuff has been piling in on the rural community and likened it to sitting on the other end of tennis court, getting 10 tennis balls thrown at you at the same time and you can’t hit any of them. He points to the problems of rising inflation,

increasing fuel and other input costs and supply chain challenges.

“We have had a situation where fruit has been sitting on trees rotting because orchardists can’t get workers into this country.

“You are buried under a mire of regulation and this is coming from a culture within government that is really rooted in centralisation,” he says.

Luxon hit out at the expansion of the bureaucracy during Labour’s time in office, claiming the addition of 14,000 more ‘pen pushers’ in four and half years. He also points to what he describes as some dumb ideas being generated by bureaucrats, such as the plan to spend $800 million on a walking bridge across the Auckland harbour that might draw 3,000 people on a good day.

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Winter grazing inspections underway MINISTRY FOR Primary Industries (MPI) inspectors are on the ground in Otago and Southland to support animal welfare as farmers enter the winter grazing season.

“MPI inspectors are conducting proactive visits to Otago and Southland properties to check farmers have good plans in place to manage the welfare of their livestock on crops,” says MPI’s director compliance services Gary Orr. The visits will initially focus on 50 farms identi- Gary Orr fied as being potentially at risk. “We’ll use these first visits to check in with farmers to make sure they’ve made the necessary preparations. It will include taking farmers through a practical check list developed with industry and councils to help improve animal welfare outcomes.

“A well-planned winter grazing system supports good animal health and welfare. It ensures animals have sufficient and appropriate feed, access to clean water, and comfortable areas to lie down and rest.

“Some farmers will need to continue adapting their systems to ensure they have more robust back-up plans during extreme weather.”

Follow-up visits will be conducted in June.

For the follow-up visits, MPI will prioritise those farms which were identified as high-risk in their first phase of visits, as well as any property where they have received complaint.

“Most farmers work hard to do the right thing and have carefully planned ahead to look after their animals,” says Orr. “Where we find evidence that an animal is suffering or is likely to suffer, we will take action. The welfare of the animal will always be our priority, so we look for practical actions to correct the issue.

“At the low end of the scale it could be the issuing of a directive to move stock or provide access to stand off areas away from the feeding area. For more serious issues we might bring in vets to make an independent assessment, require the farmer to bring in extra feed, and in the most serious cases taking a prosecution.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

14 // NEWS

BNZ offers loan incentives for ‘green’ farmers SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

BNZ AIMS to have a

$10 billion sustainability financing portfolio by 2025.

This month the bank launched an Agribusiness Sustainability Linked Loan (SLL) product available to all New Zealand farmers and growers.

The term loan, a SLL available to all farmers no matter the size of their farm or industry, offers interest cost savings for achieving environmental and social targets including: greenhouse gas reductions; eco-system protection; improved care for staff; protecting waterways; improving biodiversity; and animal welfare.

The launch follows a pilot with corporate dairy

farmers, Southern Pastures Ltd. Dana Muir, BNZ head of natural capital, told Dairy News that the bank is keen to align with leading farmers and growers.

“BNZ is aiming for $10b sustainability financing by 2025 and we are talking to all farmers and growers; agriculture will be part of this,” she says.

Muir says the new loan will be another tool in the toolbox for farmers to improve sustainability on-farm.

The loan will complement work done by major milk processors with their own farmers around sustainability.

Fonterra has ‘The Cooperative Difference’ where 10c/kgMS of the milk payment is linked to milk quality and sustainable practices on farm.

Dana Muir, BNZ head of natural capital, says the bank is keen to align with leading farmers and growers.

Canterbury processor Synlait has the ‘Lead with Pride’ scheme where it rewards suppliers who achieve dairy farming best

practice.

Muir says this is the first time a SLL has been available as a loan product to all New Zealand

farmers. Environmental and social targets are set and agreed with BNZ and progress independently verified annually.

“New Zealand’s farmers are working hard to achieve environmental and social goals and we want to support and incentivise their efforts,” says Muir.

Muir says this is the first time lending that rewards both environmental and social ambition has been available to all New Zealand farmers.

“Reduced loan costs incentivise farmers to go harder and faster on environmental and social improvements while independent audits ensure the work is meaningful and contributes to a better future for New Zealand,” she says.

BNZ’s Agri SLL Product was developed off the back of individual SLLs with large primary sector customers. It is designed to be complementary to

work underway across leading assurance programmes in the primary sector that also incentivise improved environmental and social outcomes on-farm.

Unlike previous versions which have supported farmers with one off environmental projects, an SLL can be used for any purpose on a farm. It is designed to work like regular term debt with cost savings only realised when environmental and social targets are achieved.

“Farmers can choose from a range of environmental and social measures which they want to tackle, but emissions reduction is a nonnegotiable. It is crucial we reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the structure of our SLL reflects that,” says Muir.

A2 MILK, LINCOLN UNI JOIN FORCES THE A2 Milk Company is partner-

ing with Lincoln University to launch a new sustainability fund, designed to support sustainability dairy farming projects in New Zealand.

The Farm Sustainability Fund was launched earlier this month and will provide up to $500,000 in the first year to enable grants for farm projects that demonstrate an integrated approach to a sustainable future and enable a positive impact across the

community and environment.

The Fund is open to New Zealand farms that supply milk under contract with Mataura Valley Milk Limited or Synlait Milk Limited for use in the manufacture of products for The a2 Milk Company.

David Bortolussi, a2 managing director, says the company is excited to be involved in the venture.

“The fund brings together a2MC’s determination to deliver on our sus-

tainability strategy and Lincoln’s internationally-renowned knowledge in all facets of agriculture and agribusiness – along with the commitment and operating excellence of our milk supply partners,” Bortolussi says.

“We know there are farmer suppliers with innovative and important projects they would be keen to get underway.”

Bortolussi says the fund has the potential to help with many of those

projects by providing additional financial support to make them more viable.

Lincoln University research management office director Professor Travis Glare says the university is committed to researching, teaching and showcasing practices and approaches that will advance a more productive and sustainable future for New Zealand.

“It’s through like-minded partnerships such as with The a2

Milk Company, that we can effectively make the most of our collective expertise in helping shape a better, more sustainable world,” Glare says.

Applications for this year’s awards will be open from 23 May and close on 4 July 2022.

Applications will be assessed by The a2 Milk Company and Lincoln University New Zealand Farm Sustainability Fund Investment Committee. – Jessica Marshall

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With Moving Day on the way, we are encouraging Farmers to do their bit to maintain the integrity of our biosecurity system.

Moving with the herd?

Moving farm without the herd?

1 Create a new NAIT location number.

2 Create a movement within 48 hours of moving.

3 Deactivate the old NAIT location number.

Register any new grazing blocks you are in charge of and record movements in NAIT for any animals sold or sent away to grazing.

If you have followed all of the instructions to update your NAIT details and are still struggling, our Support Centre is geared up to assist you. Call 0800 482 463

Complete and sign a PICA change form at your current NAIT location and make sure you become the registered PICA if you are moving to another farm.

For more Moving Day information see

OSPRI.co.nz NAIT is an OSPRI programme

Failure to comply with NAIT obligations may result in fines or prosecution issued by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

For more information about your obligations as a PICA, please visit our website ospri.co.nz.

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

16 // NEWS

Striving to help farmers succeed CRV’S NEW regional sales manager for the Upper North Island, Michelle Bratty, has a mantra: to help farmers succeed.

Bratty likes farmers and is thrilled to see them do well.

“If you go up the driveway of farmers and you don’t believe you can

make their lives better, you may as well not be there,” she says.

Bratty is passionate about farmers because she’s been one, albeit for a short time.

“Only for a short time, but I know how hard it is to keep that bottom line from sinking. It’s a constant battle to get the best

out of your herd, so I’m thrilled to be in a company that helps farmers do that.”

The “short” stint Bratty refers to is her time on a farm in New South Wales, Australia.

Born in Upper Hutt and schooled in Auckland, she wasn’t born and bred on the land. But the 55-year

old has been attracted to rural life for as long as she can remember.

“I’d always wanted to be in farming. Something about the lifestyle appealed to me. A few years ago, a friend offered me the opportunity to work on a farm in Australia. I’d done agricultural studies and had special-

ised in dairy production, so I jumped at the chance to live that out on the land.

“I became the assistant manager and worked in every aspect of farming – driving tractors, milking, inseminating cows and pulling out calves. I took it all on and felt at home… until the accident.”

CRV’s new regional sales manager for the Upper North Island, Michelle Bratty.

In June 2011, severe rains hammered the Dorrigo district in New South Wales, causing a series of flash floods. Bratty was on her way to get the herd in for milking when the floodwaters rushed through the farm and she was caught in the surge.

The current carried her for over 2km, dragging her through posts and trees, until she finally landed safely in a neighbouring field. Her legs and arms were broken.

After six months of recovery, she returned to the farm but was unable to cope with the physical workload. That’s when she turned to a different sphere of farming: animal breeding.

“I’d learned a lot about animal breeding during my studies, so I decided to pursue it as a career,” Bratty says.

“It was a way to stay involved with farming.

After working for several breeding companies in Australia, I came back home to New Zealand and found my place at CRV.” At CRV, she manages a team of 10 field consultants. Their job is to help farmers tap into the genetic solutions and products offered by the company.

“Providing training is probably my most important contribution. It’s kind of like developing a rugby team. One training session won’t help much on game day, but if you train often, you’ll be better when it counts. I take the same approach with my team.

“We care a lot about

farmers, so I make sure we’re giving them the best genetic solutions and products to help their herds reach full potential.

That’s why I run refresher training sessions.”

Behind Bratty and her field team is CRV’s team of experts in breeding programming, progeny testing, on-farm data sourcing, herd testing, as well as DNA and artificial breeding specialists.

Every area of dairy herd improvement covered.

Bratty believes that the more her team can tap into these resources, the better they’ll be at helping farmers.

There are two other skills that Bratty is training into her people. The first is cold calling.

It’s not easy walking up a farmer’s driveway to start a conversation about herd improvement.

The other skill Bratty’s team needs is empathy – the ability to really understand someone else’s situation.

“I developed empathy from running the family violence unit in the Rodney District police force. I heard some tragic stories, and I learned to listen and read the person sharing their life with me.

It’s an emotional-intelligence skill.

“We need that when we’re with farmers. They have goals they’re trying to reach, and obstacles that frustrate them. Our first job is to make them feel heard. Once we’ve understood their situation, we can give them the breeding resources that fit.”

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

NEWS // 17

THINKING MONITORING? THINK ALLFLEX

Water security for rural communities for stock and high-value horticulture is critical.

‘No need to panic’ The New Zealand dairy sector has a lot of positives going for it as it sets about tackling a range of challenges globally and at home. That’s the view of Ministry for Primary Industries chief science advisor John Roche. He talked to Peter Burke about how he sees the industry coping.

sion is a ‘half full glass’ person and is positive about NZ dealing with the myriad of challenges.

For a start he says the climate is good and the country has a strong background in innovation in the broader farming sector. From his home in Hamilton he notes he’s close to where ‘old’ Bill Gallagher (senior) invented the electric fence and where Ron Sharp developed the first herringbone shed.

“NZ has a really strong and proud history of collaboration or what the modern people call co-innovation between farmers and scientists and that has served us extremely well.

There is a challenge around climate but I think our innovation will see us through that,” he says.

Roche acknowledges the effects of climate change right around the country, such as droughts in the Waikato and Southland and rain on the east and west coasts of the country. He says in the Waikato the soil is fertile and warm and with rain the landscape will look very different in a month’s time.

“I don’t want to play that down, it is a challenge,” he says.

“These episodic rainfall events do seem to be coming more frequently.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer but we have had more than one swallow in the last 12 months alone. For 12,000 years farmers have battled those climatic challenges but I am not saying that all is tickety boo because farmers and orchardists will have to adapt.

“That will involve looking at their system and looking at those points at which the climate puts pressure on

the operation and then seeing how that can be managed. For some, that might mean de-intensification and for others it may mean having a feed supply available when they didn’t in the past,” he says.

According to Roche, farmers worldwide are learning to adapt to similar situations and adjust their farming systems accordingly by working out when to feed out supplements and in what quantities.

He says farmers are smart enough to work out the best solution for their individual enterprises.

He has interacted with farmers a lot John Roche and says they want to address environmental issues, but they need solutions. He says the recent government announcement of $339 million to set up a new government-funded organisation in partnership with industry to fast track greenhouse gas (GHG) emission solutions is a great idea.

He says this is a world first and no other country has invested so much to find practical GHG tools for farmers.

Water quality is another one. Part of Roche’s job in the last 12 months has been helping develop Overseer to address some of the concerns with it. He says Overseer is a key tool in farmers’ hands for addressing water quality issues.

In this regard, he says there is a huge amount of technology already being applied to use water more efficiently, such as variable rate and

deficit irrigation systems where soil moisture is closely monitored and enough water applied to grow the plants, but not cause drainage problems and nutrient loss by overwatering.

He says in NZ the average rainfall has dropped by an average of 10% over the past 25 years and in some areas, such as Northland, it’s dropped by as much as 20%.

“Water security for rural communities for stock and high-value horticulture is critical. I think both the industry bodies and farmers are already shifting and recognising that dry summers are coming more frequently, the hot days are hotter and nights that follow are hotter. What we need to do collectively – both government and industry – is to help farmers with solutions such as the use of trees in productive landscapes.

This will provide shade for stock and potentially another source of income to farmers,” he says.

Roche says a lot of this is about diversification where possible. He says there are plenty of examples of dairy farmers planting crops of kiwifruit and avocados to hedge their bets.

“Change is needed, but as one farming leader told me, ‘panic slowly’. This is not a time to run off and sell the dairy farm tomorrow. It’s a case of, let’s look at what’s happening and assume this is going to continue and plan for these hotter days, longer summers.”

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How can you reduce your reliance on imported feed?

MAYBE THE ANSWER IS SIMPLY TO GROW A BIT E With the air of uncertainty around imported feeds in both the short and long term, now is a good time to explore alternatives. And you don’t have to look far. Planting an extra paddock in maize at home, or ordering more maize silage in, may be all that’s needed.

Maize silage is the ideal supplement to pasture. The cows love the stuff, it helps you maintain high production and milk quality when your feed levels dip (and will keep for years if they don’t). To find out about adding more maize to your farm system, contact your local Pioneer representative, call 0800 PIONEER or visit pioneer.co.nz/maize-silage

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

NEWS // 19

Modest sales force end of bottled sheep milk NIGEL MALTHUS

CHRISTCHURCH PEOPLE are too con-

servative in their tastes, says a Canterbury sheep milking pioneer who has stopped producing bottled sheep milk because of modest sales, Covid, and his own advancing years.

But Guy Trafford continues to see a rising potential for sheep dairy, is encouraging “the younger generation” into the industry, and continues to sell bottled sheep milk from other producers through his retail outlet.

Trafford and his wife Sue, then both Lincoln

University lecturers, set up their dairy sheep farm at Charing Cross after the Canterbury earthquakes.

They built up to full production by 2017 with a range of products including bottled milk and cheeses, and in 2019 took up retail space in the popular Riverside Market in central Christchurch.

His wares now include milk from Matt and Tracey Jones, who have recently begun producing bottled sheep milk as part of an ambitious expansion plan for their Kirweebased operation.

Matt Jones says their Jones Family Farm brand bottled sheep milk went on sale just before

Christmas. It is available through a number of outlets (mainly Foodstuffs) around Christchurch and as far south as Mosgiel.

“Not every one of their shops have picked it up but it’s gaining momentum,” he says.

Jones couldn’t give sales numbers but said people were beginning to ask for sheep milk specifically. He described it as tasting a bit like ice cream because it is creamier and sweeter than normal milk and very attractive to a child’s palate.

“The biggest issue with it is, people still have this fear or phobia of sheep milk – until they try it.

That’s why we went out

There is quite a bit of interest in setting up sheep milk farms in Canterbury.

Inset: Guy Trafford says he stopped selling bottled sheep milk because of poor sales.

EXTRA GOAT MILK COMING SHEEP MILK farmer Matt Jones has revealed that he is talking with a number of dairy goat farmers with a view to producing a range of goat milk products by the 2023 season.

Making his Kirwee plant available for goat milk would meet a need that South Island goat milkers have been talking about for years.

While there are some niche goat cheese producers, many say compliance costs for public sale are prohibitive and there is not yet a South Island processor of the scale of Waikato’s Dairy Goat Co-operative.

Jones says the dryer he is planning to install will have spare capacity and they could potentially make a similar range of goat milk products as they do with sheep milk.

“There’s nobody in the South Island so we’re working with a number of suppliers and seeing what I can do to help them develop an outlet.”

Matt Jones

with a 450ml bottle retailing at four bucks. So it’s not a big cost to try it.”

Jones says they originally looked at using glass bottles but have gone with recyclable plastic because they proved more economical and, he believes, more environmentally friendly than the resources and logistics needed to make and reuse glass.

Their next big developments include a UHT plant and a 440kg/hour spray dryer to produce powdered milk, which he hopes will be operational for 2023.

The Joneses got into milking sheep in 2019 after investigating the health benefits of sheep milk, and up to now have been selling cheese and a range of sheep milk-based cosmetics.

Their own milking flock numbers about 600 but they also take and process milk from five other South Island sheep milkers, from as far afield as Ashburton and Oxford.

Those suppliers currently make up about 75% of the total bottled milk volume but Jones says that will grow to about 85% in the coming season with one more supplier lined up to join, and many more wanting to come on board.

Trafford said they decided to concentrate on the shop after the Covid lockdown.

“We’ve still got the sheep here [on the farm], and we can still make cheese here, but we’ve backed off from the milk production side of it.”

However, he admits that they never had a lot of interest from the general public for sheep milk, even when they tried chocolate flavouring with their own brand.

He says that’s a shame because sheep milk is a great product.

“Christchurch is quite a conservative population when it comes to new products,” says Trafford.

“I think people still see sheep as a dual-purpose wool and meat animal, rather than a dual-purpose meat and milk animal.

“But it has picked up.

We sell a lot more cheese and things like that now than we used to.

“But not the yogurts and not the fresh milk.”

However, he sees “quite a bit of interest” in setting up new dairy sheep farms in Canterbury, with at least one other producers’ group

getting established in addition to the farms now supplying the Jones operation.

“I suspect once they see some bricks and mortar go in that will grow, because there’s certainly plenty of interest from the production end of it.”

He is suggesting the groups get together and go to MBIE in a joint funding bid because there’s been “no government money at all” going into South Island sheep dairying.

“It’s all gone into the North Island hub, which is a bit of a shame because sheep do really well in the South Island.”

DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

20 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Another solid season looms

MILKING IT...

No surprise!

Formula crisis

WHATEVER the Labour Government decides on climate change, it never pleases the mob at Greenpeace.

This month, when the Government announcement that it will spend $339 million researching technological advancements, including methane inhibitors for the ag sector, Greenpeace was furious.

It’s unhappy that the Government, rather than cut herd sizes, is spending hundreds of millions of dollars in the hope of reducing emissions in the sector.

So why has the Ardern Government done this?

Because New Zealand’s farming sector continues to perform for the nation’s economy while maintaining our world-leading, efficient dairy carbon footprint.

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES of infant formula are being flown into the US but the crisis is far from over.

A military plane carrying enough to fill half a million baby bottles arrived in the US last week, but its contents were rushed to health system outlets to feed babies with specific allergies.

The 35 tonnes of formula, shipped from Switzerland via Germany, arrived in Indianapolis.

The cargo was a specialty hypoallergenic formula to be distributed through channels such as hospitals, doctors’ officers and pharmacies for babies intolerant of the protein in cows’ milk.

Parents across the US have been scrambling to find infant formula after supply chain disruptions and a product recalls saw supermarket shelves stripped bare of the product.

Goats the winner?

WILL THE US infant formula crisis be a lifeline for NZ dairy goat farmers? It seems not.

The NZ Dairy Goat Co-operative has been forced to slash the milk payout to suppliers and cut milk production quotas due to oversupply of baby formula. The moves have caused hardships for highly leveraged dairy goat farmers.

The Infant Nutrition Council of Australia and New Zealand says some exporters may look to test the waters and send formula over, but the window of opportunity is small.

It’s incredibly difficult to get products into the market in the United States as regulations are very tough, with a number of hoops for suppliers to jump through.

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Oz Ag Minister

ISSN 1175-463X

THE POLLS were right.

Australia’s general election has seen Scott Morrison booted out of office by a Covid-fatigued population looking for change.

A new government is being put together by Labor leader and new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

This means a new Agriculture Minister for Australia. Will Labor be appointing its first female Agriculture Minister or will a former, high-profile Labor leader be given the role?

Tasmanian MP Julie Collins has been the shadow ag spokesperson for the past three years.

However, media reports say Bill Shorten, who as Labor leader failed to beat ‘ScoMo’ in 2019, may get the job.

GIVEN WHAT’S happening around the world, New Zealand dairy farmers are on to a pretty good thing with its internationally envied farming system.

A record milk price this season and another solid opening forecast for the new season bodes well for farmers’ income.

Dairy demand is still quite strong and supply remains constrained globally, especially in the US and Europe.

However, there are some short-term challenges: Covid, China’s most recent lockdowns and the unrest in Sri Lanka – a key market for Fonterra milk powder.

Milk prices are expected to remain at elevated levels this new season. While some economists downgraded their opening forecast payout for 2022-23, it remains at historically high levels. Dairy commodity prices are expected to continue to fall in the coming months but relatively low global milk supplies are expected to put a floor under prices later in the year.

Global risks are highly elevated at present, driving uncertainty; the Ukraine situation is adding pressure to what was already an overheated commodity market.

Oil prices have skyrocketed but continue to seesaw on headlines about how the war is progressing. Energy commodities were already in tight supply before the invasion and the supply situation is now a lot less certain.

High gas prices are pushing up fertiliser prices which, in turn, is pushing up the prices of grain and food in general.

The cost of producing milk is rising, particularly in the northern hemisphere, where indoor farming systems mean much greater exposure to high prices for fertiliser, grain and fuel. All this means New Zealand’s mostly pasture-based farming can still expect solid returns for its products.

Normally, high milk prices trigger a jump in production, but there is no strong evidence that production has rebounded.

And the models say it will take until the second half of the year to get significant production growth, with the risk being that input costs increase further, the weather holds back production or some other unexpected event comes along and knocks milk production back again.

Most economists believe dairy prices globally have probably peaked, but the downside should be limited by the high input costs, unless demand absolutely tanks. So NZ dairy farmers can look forward to another solid season, which has just kicked off.

When we work through the numbers, the record high milk price should more than offset the expenses. For most NZ dairy farmers, they will be somewhere between profitable and achieving record profitability. Yes, costs will remain high but the high milk price will ensure good times will continue.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

OPINION // 21

Changing landscape offers opportunities SAMANTHA TENNENT

WE ARE a far cry from the old days where what happened within the farm boundary was only the farmer’s business.

It feels like all eyes are on our farms and everyone wants information about every aspect. This can be challenging, it’s creating confusion and a bit of anxiety.

But if we step back and look at the bigger picture we start to understand the why, and more importantly, how we can take advantage of some of the must-dos.

Milk processor requirements are continuing to evolve and we question why they are interested in topics like genetics or how herds are managed in extreme weather conditions. It’s not that they are looking for ways to devalue your product and pay you less, they are focused on their primary role which is to sell your milk at the highest value possible.

And we can’t forget how differently New Zealand farms compared to the rest of the world.

We are trying to showcase the good things that happen with our animals and the positive life they lead but it can be like speaking Spanish when everyone else understands English.

Milk processors aren’t in the business of making us do things for the sake of it, they are trying to run efficient businesses and they need to back up their claims and build evidence to provide assurance and seek premiums for New Zealand products. So we need to find the opportunities that can benefit us at our personal and business levels.

Efficient management Using an animal health plan or wellbeing plan to proactively manage a herd helps both the farm and veterinary business save time, effort and money. By reviewing performance, identifying opportunities and making plans to manage the herd accordingly, it could prevent production loss or

losing animals, which creates a significant return on investment.

Plans are a good basis for the seasonal relationship between your vet and the farm. They provide an overview, highlighting current performance and where there are opportunities to improve. The plan is the framework to determine which activities

we must appreciate the opportunities it offers too.

Data is king and having clear information at your fingertips supports relationships as well as the outcomes businesses are striving for.

It feels like all eyes are on our farms and everyone wants information about every aspect.

Check out the tips and info section on our website to explore more ways you can use your data to help your business: welfarm.co.nz.

• Samantha Tennant is general manager WelFarm Ltd

IT TAKES

WelFarm general manager Samantha Tennent.

should happen and when for what is relevant for the individual herd.

It also creates accountability, if we agree to do something we can hold each other accountable and make it happen. And if we tried but didn’t get the results we were after, we can determine another tactic and keep a record of what has and hasn’t been working.

The topics covered also help bring the vet onto the same page as the farmer. It encourages conversations that vets generally might not get a chance to dive deeper into and helps them understand some of the motives or identify where they could add value with information and considerations.

Thorough discussion and data collection can also help identify areas a clinic can concentrate resources on. Perhaps there is a pressing issue surrounding lameness, or clinical mastitis and with limited time and resources, it can be hard to cover everything.

Having information can help them identify where their farmers are struggling the most and help focus efforts on those areas to get the best return.

While it can be challenging adapting to our changing landscape,

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

22 // AGRIBUSINESS

Waikato farm a role model for riparian planting it off and it’s not dairy pasture now, it can still grow a productive income in years to come.”

They have also widened riparian buffers extensively in some places to take in and protect slumping and eroding hillslopes, which will help to keep this material from moving down into streams.

“We’ve tested the water where it enters the property and where it leaves, and it shows

A WAIKATO dairy farm

which began its first riparian planting project 20 years ago now stands as an exemplar for rural land users, backed by science and clever long-term planning.

Grant Wills and Karo Preston operate ‘Tremeer’, a 244ha dairy farm at Walton in the MatamataPiako district.

The farm has been in family ownership since 1931 and was originally a sheep and beef operation. Grant and Karo took over in the late 1980s and slowly shifted into dairy.

A 50-50 sharemilker now looks after the farm’s 780 cows on the 215-ha effective platform.

Grant and Karo began fencing off waterways and riparian planting in 2002, just before subsidies for such projects were available.

“We have two main water ways through the property, so I divided those into five areas and came up with a plan to plant one area each year.

their riparian plants have performed and advise on future projects.

Fleur Matheson is the leader for NIWA’s mitigation systems programme which includes research on riparian buffers.

She said science has advanced our understanding of how riparian buffers can make a positive difference.

“A grass buffer will be best for trapping sediment in overland runoff, and a buffer with trees and

NIWA researcher Fleur Matheson with farmer Grant Wills on his family’s property in the Waikato region.

“Subsidies for riparian planting started in 2003 and we applied up until 2008. After that I didn’t bother applying anymore because I could see the benefits from a farm management perspective.”

Fencing slopes meant losing some grazing area but that was offset by other benefits.

“We originally had our fences close to the waterways but where we had steep slopes, we moved

fences to the top.

“We had been losing about one or two cows a year which had got bogged down in creeks or fallen down slopes so moving the fences higher eliminated those problems.”

Grant points out one steep riparian slope near a stream where there is a trial planting of rewarewa and other bee-loving native shrubs.

“So while we’ve fenced

Riparian species now flank streams which run through the property as part of a planting programme which started about 20 years ago. CREDIT: NIWA / STUART MACKAY

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shrubs will be best able to remove dissolved nutrients from shallow groundwater.

“Including any small wet areas or wetlands within a riparian buffer to protect them will also help with nitrate removal.”

Fleur said the best riparian buffers will be ones that combine a grass buffer at the field edge

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the water quality has improved through our farm.”

Grant and Karo won the Supreme Award at the 2013 Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards, part of which recognised their efforts improving water quality.

In recent years, the couple have been working with NIWA to gain insights into how well

with trees and shrubs closer to the stream, and flexible sedges on the stream margins.

“This is the basic design that we recommend to farmers. We think that a buffer width that is about 10% of the length of the hillslope draining to the stream channel is ideal.

“On average we expect this to trap about 75% of sediment in runoff and it will also trap the nitrogen and phosphorus that it bound up in that sediment.”

Riparian buffers also have an important role to play in climate change.

Trees and shrubs store significant amounts of carbon as they grow by removing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the air.

“Our best estimates at present are that a 1ha area of riparian buffer planted in actively growing native shrubs and trees may be able to sequester up to about 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.”

Grant said it was easy to make a farm management decision when it was backed by science.

“Since NIWA has got the science behind it, to back up these sorts of projects, then I have full confidence that it’s going to be good for the environment and for the farm.”

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

MANAGEMENT // 23

The practice of feeding calves once daily on limited volume of liquid feed is not acceptable for the first three weeks after birth, says NAWAC.

State plan to ban feeding calves OAD ‘unpopular’ ers to help get them to safely feeding a high rate of milk early on OAD mary Industries (MPI) to ban onceusing Calf Xtreme. The live yeast a-day (OAD) calf feeding will be we use helps stop those nutritional unpopular, says Chris Collier, Probiscours, but of equal importance in otic Revolution. this system is that Calf Xtreme also Collier says he speaks to a lot of boosts digestion in the developing calf rearers, and he isn’t the only one rumen. that thinks the National Animal Wel“Helping calves digest meal, hay, fare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) and grass early in their life results recommendation to ban OAD calf in growth and rumen feeding is flawed. development; to the NAWAC is seeking dairy extent that a OAD feedsector feedback on changes “If calves are barely getting to ing regime also works to the existing code of wel- 20% with ad-lib feeding, how fare for dairy. can we possibility expect them extremely successfully within the first week of It notes that the standard to get to 20% intake on TAD a calf’s life. practice of providing calves “For many farmers a milk allowance equivalent feeding?” this is a godsend when to 10% of their body weight has been widely used as a strategy to litres of milk in one feed without they are extremely busy in the spring reduce the feeding and labour costs probiotic support, most of the milk is and labour is at a premium.”

In contrast, he noted that calves associated with rearing young calves going to end up in the rumen – which and as a way of increasing starter can trigger nutritional scours,” says reared on an ad-lib system often have poor hard feed intake – because of intake to promote rumen develop- Collier.

Collier, a former farm consul- their high reliance on milk. He noted ment and lowering weaning age.

However, calves reared on such tant, launched Probiotic Revolution it often results in a check in their restrictive feeding programmes show in 2017, refining a high-volume OAD weight gain when they are either feeding philosophy with the sup- pulled back to OAD (towards weanincreased signs of hunger.

NAWAC therefore considers that port of powerful probiotics, which ing) or weaned.

He acknowledges that the industhe management practice of feeding includes a live active yeast and 11 calves once daily on limited volume biological compounds that support try all wants the same result and that there is more than one way to of liquid feed is not acceptable for the digestion.

He says in its first year, 22,000 get there. first three weeks after birth.

“We all want healthy, fast-growIt has proposed a new minimum calves were reared using Calf Xtreme standard requiring that for the first 3 probiotic. By last season those num- ing young calves, because we know weeks after birth, calves must be fed bers had swelled to 80,000 in the through overseas research that calves which are grown faster in the first a suitable good quality liquid feed at a year.

He claims farmers on OAD feed- three to five weeks of their lives will rate of no less than 20% of their body weight divided into no less than two ing with Calf Xtreme have reported give 10% more protein in their first faster uptakes of hay, grass and meal, season. feeds per day.

“I believe that calves should be But Collier says that while MPI is earlier weaning weights, and more suggesting that calves should be fed contented calves. They have also fed high rates of milk when they are 20% of their bodyweight on twice-a- noted significant labour and work- young, but that the MPI should not take a blanket approach to enforce day (TAD) feeding, a research paper load savings.

“We have been working with farm- one system on all farmers.”

by James K. Drackley, University of

A PROPOSAL by Ministry for Pri-

Illinois, contends that ad-lib intakes range from 16% to a high of 20%.

“If calves are barely getting to 20% with ad-lib feeding, how can we possibility expect them to get to 20% intake on TAD feeding?”

He reminded the industry that the abomasum of a newborn Friesian calf’s abomasum holds just 1.2 litres.

“If you tried to give a calf four

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

24 // MANAGEMENT

Dealing with springer cows CHRIS BALEMI

MAKING KEY decisions

around feeding and supplementation for springer cows can have a bigger impact on a dairy farm’s profitability than any other single set of management decisions made throughout the rest of the season.

Both the period prior to calving and the period after calving are equally important to ensure a cow will produce at her potential. A well transitioned cow will normally produce more milk, have fewer disease issues, and a better reproductive outcome, than cows that don’t receive as much attention around this time.

A cow that is not transitioned correctly leading up to calving can suffer

from clinical or subclinical metabolic disease leading to a host of issues that can last through next lactation.

This can be caused by a true calcium deficiency, or the limited ability to mobilise sufficient calcium, this can be further complicated by ketosis, fatty liver disease, or even a combination of these problems.

For any cow, this is a period of vast metabolic change. Their hormone levels are kicking into gear as the body gets ready to mobilise many of the key minerals required for calving and lactation, as well as preparing the body to mobilise the vast amounts of energy required. Transition is the single highest stress period a cow will experience each year.

A good transition diet

A well transitioned cow will normally produce more milk, have fewer disease issues, and a better reproductive outcome.

will ensure that the transition cow receives at least minimum levels of calcium, phosphorous,

and sodium, while magnesium and trace elements are also being well maintained. The pre-calving

diet should also be as low in potassium as possible so as not to limit calcium uptake.

Cows will also most likely be low in at least some of the trace elements during this period, and unless addressed, a deficiency can negatively affect the capacity of the liver to metabolise the necessary energy levels required through calving and early lactation. Correct supplementation can be critically important at this time, especially if body storage levels of these required minerals are already low.

The simple process of correctly transitioning a cow throughout this period will ensure good blood calcium levels are maintained and a high rate of calcium mobilisation can be achieved throughout lactation.

Research has consistently shown that cows with high blood levels of calcium during early

lactation also have a higher neutrophil function (increased immunity). Over the years there has been a large body of research linking blood calcium levels with metritis, RFM’s, displaced abomasum’s and issues with poor reproductive performance, clearly showing the importance of achieving adequate blood calcium levels (>8,59 mg/dl) in dairy cows at key times.

Agvance Nutrition in association with your vet have the software tools to accurately calculate the ideal transition diets for your cows. We can build blends for both the precalving and post-calving periods, and we also offer free advice around correct feeding and management throughout this period.

• Chris Balemi is Managing Director of Agvance Nutrition Limited

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

MANAGEMENT // 25

Maize growers are urged to soil test to determine the right amount of fertiliser to apply to their crops.

Controlling feed costs EVERYWHERE I go, whether it be in town or on farm, I hear a similar topic being discussed. It’s the fact prices have risen and as a result farmers and growers have become very focused on controlling on-farm costs.

It seems ironic to me that the last time dairy farmers were very focused on controlling costs, we were in a totally different situation. It was the 2013/14 season and payout was low at $4.40/kgMS, having dropped from $8.40/kgMS the prior season. In contrast, this season’s price is predicted to be a record of more than $9.00/kgMS. However, some of the excitement associated with high returns has been taken away by the large rise in on-farm costs. Some commentators are saying the average price rise is ranging between 15-20% but some inputs have nearly doubled in cost (e.g. urea).

In situations like this, it is important to focus on things you can control and leave what you can’t. Costs are one thing you can control and when it comes to costs, there are three very important questions you should ask yourself. These are: Do I really need this?

A good example of this is nitrogen on your maize crop. A few years ago, Plant and Food, FAR, Waikato Regional Council, DairyNZ and Pioneer conducted a series of trials looking at whether there was a yield response to fertiliser on long term dairy effluent paddocks.

The trial used a split plot design and compared

Table 1. Yield response to fertiliser in maize grown in long term effluent paddocks (tDM/ha)1.

Site

1

2

3

4

5

No fertiliser

25.8

25.4

31.1

24.6

26.4

Fertiliser

26.7

26.1

31.9

26.0

26.9

Significance

NS

NS

NS

NS

NS

industry fertiliser recommendations versus those grown with no base, starter or sidedress fertiliser.

This research showed there was no significant (NS) yield response to fertiliser on the effluent paddocks. In other words, farmers would’ve wasted their money fertilising these maize crops.

We recommend maize growers soil test to determine the right amount of fertiliser to apply to their crops, but by choosing effluent or high fertility paddocks, it is possible to reduce the cost of growing maize significantly.

The costing in the new 2022 Pioneer maize silage catalogue puts the cost of fertiliser at nearly $900/ ha or 4.1c/kgDM (based on a 22tDM/ha yield).

Another example is feeding supplement when there is enough pasture to fully feed cows.

Response to supplements can be as high as 180 gMS/kgDM in situations where there is a genuine short term feed defi-

cit, but as low as 20 gMS/ kgDM when there isn’t!

A great rule of thumb to avoid feed wastage is this: when the cows are consistently leaving less than 1,500-1,600 kgDM/ha pasture residual, feed more supplement, if they are leaving more than 1800 kgDM/ha feed less.

Is there a cheaper alternative?

The price of maize silage and PKE have historically been closely aligned. Many farmers have fed both, with the ratio varying according to price. Now, with the price of PKE sitting well above $500/tDM, whether grown on farm or bought in, maize silage is most likely a cheaper alternative.

Another example is urea. With the price of nitrogen being at an alltime high, consider using effluent from the dairy shed or feedpad as a fertiliser source.

How can I maximise the return from the money I have spent?

While reducing feed cost is important, a focus on minimising losses and maximising returns can be more profitable.

An example of this is as follows. Both Farmer A and Farmer B buy in 200tDM maize silage.

Farmer A stacks theirs for 35c/kgDM and Farmer B stacks theirs for 36c/ kgDM. Farmer A doesn’t manage the stack well

which results in 20% wastage of the feed they purchased. The true cost of the maize in the stack, including the cost of wastage is now 43.8 c/kgDM. Farmer B keeps stack wastage to 10%. The true cost of the maize is $40.0 c/kgDM. Although farmer A may have initially paid less, their substandard stack management has meant that their feed has actually cost them more than Farmer B. Both farmers feed their silage to their cows and let’s assume they have the same feed out cost of 8 c/kgDM and milk return of $9.30/kgMS. Farmer A feeds their 160 tDM maize silage when they have plenty of pasture.

They get a 50 gMS/kgDM response and a net milk return (after feed and feeding cost is deducted) of -$8,400. Farmer B feeds their 180tDM when there is a genuine feed deficit and gets a feed response of 100 gMS/kgDM. Their income from their 180 tDM maize silage is $167,400 and the net milk return of $81,000.

Through better stack management and feeding the silage when it is genuinely needed, Farmer B has made money off their silage where Farmer A has lost money.

• Ian Williams is a Pioneer forage specialist. Contact him at iwilliams@genetic. co.nz.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

26 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Make sure your feed is FeedSafe NZ accredited

you know your f MilkDo production, animalif health Find out at the top priorities when picking bulls The herd split calves, RON AND Amy Baker with AI for four weeks in are a busy couple. They the spring, and six weeks are not only the owners in the autumn; the herd of a 60ha dairy farm on undertakes no natural the outskirts of Palmermating whatsoever. ston North but are also The couple keeps the holders of a 14-yearold contract milking posi- around 15% of total calves as replacements. tion on the neighbouring Ron says they have farm.

Ollie, 2, completes the always had Holstein Friesian cattle, and when picture of a driven, yet they took over the farm family-oriented couple they ended up with a few who are fully focused on more. achieving their goals.

“We like the fact that Ron, born in Taranaki, the gene pool of the Holand Manawatū-born Amy work together but apart in stein Friesian breed is so much bigger to breed their wider farming busifrom,” Ron says. ness.

“There is always a bull Amy has been conout there to correctively tract milking on Grant mate a cow to.” and Nicky Kearins’ farm He says they have been for 14 seasons, milking 450 cows. The Bakers pur- more milk-driven in their breeding decisions in chased their own farm recent years. four seasons ago, with “Milk components are Ron taking responsibility our current priority when for the home farm. choosing bulls, whilst There he milks 160 cows year-round: 60 pure- continuing to protect bred Holstein Friesians, 15 udders, feet and legs.”

Last autumn they used Ayrshires, and a couple of a young Semex bull called Jerseys, with the balance Claynook Barolo. commercially-bred cross“He is a really balanced bred Holstein Friesians.

Do herd you know if your feed is FeedSafebull, accredited? both in terms of type The averages 670Find out at the NZFMA Fieldays stand and production,” Ron 680 kgMS/cow. feedsafe-15x11.pdf

1

20/04/21

5:09 PM

NZFMA Fielda SHOWCASE SUCCESS

Manawatu farmers Ron and Amy Baker with two-year old Ollie.

says. “He is a new bull, and we hope to get ahead of the game. We already love the calves coming through.”

Other standout cows in the herd include three impressive cows sired by Gillette Windbrook.

“They are prize producing cows,” Ron says.

The herd’s Dundee

NZFMA Fieldays stand number AG 7C

Do you know if your feed is FeedSafe NZ accredited?

Lilly family is also a favourite in terms of highproducing cows.

Te Awhata Dundee Lilly EX, born 2010 and sired by Regancrest Dundee-ET and whose dam is Te Awhata Mike Lill, has had several outstanding daughters.

Larkspur Beemer Libby-ET VG87, born 2017, in particular has proven to be a very successful cow in recent years.

Sired by Pol Butte MC Beemer-ET, she was the 2019 Holstein Friesian and All Breeds Reserve North Island Champion Cow, winning the twoyear-old in-milk class, best udder in her age group, and placing second

in the All Breeds Twoyear-old In-Milk class.

In 2021 she was the NZDE Holstein Friesian Intermediate Champion Cow and NZDE All Breeds In-Milk Intermediate Champion, and also the 2021 Semex New Zealand Comestar Leader – Three-Year-Old Cow New Zealand Champion.

Her sister, Larkspur Windbrook Lil-ET EX, won Intermediate All Breeds Champion at the 2019 Stratford Show.

Libby was first in the 2020/21 HFNZ Production Results Top Cows for Protein and Fat by Ward and Age (Ward 5, three-yearold) with 422kg protein and 449kg fat (12,018L milk).

THE BAKERS attended the 2022 New Zealand Dairy Event and enjoyed success with another up-and-coming heifer, Larkspur Lauthority Whip.

Whip, a Comestar Lauthority daughter, won 2022 NZ Dairy Event All Breeds Junior Champion, 2022 NZ Dairy Event Junior Holstein Friesian Champion, All Breeds Junior Yearling Heifer, 2022 NZ Dairy Event Junior Youth Show Reserve Champion, Holstein Friesian Junior Yearling Heifer, and 2022 North Island Junior Holstein Friesian Champion.

Whip, who was exhibited by Lara Honeyfield, is the grand-daughter of the top-producing cow in the couple’s herd, Rewa GW Final Wish EX2.

This season, at nine-years-old, Wish produced 1,114 kgMS (14,761L) in a 305-day lactation, a herd record for the Bakers.

“She was our first cow to crack 1,000kgMS,” Ron says.

Fusion Beemer Delish was also exhibited at the 2022 NZDE, coming away with first in the Youth Show Intermediate/ Senior Heifer Calf Class; third in the All Breeds Senior Heifer Calf Class; and third in the Holstein Friesian Senior Heifer Calf Class. Delish was also exhibited by Lara Honeyfield.

It was a proud moment for the couple, who have had to step back from showing as much as they used to.

“Before we bought the farm, we used to take cows to the Waikato and Taranaki Shows,” Ron says.

“But since we have taken on the other farm, we just don’t have time to get away as much as we’d like to.

“Ollie loves the farming lifestyle, so hopefully when he’s a little bit older we’ll be able to take him along with us.”

Fusion Genetics is also enjoying more general farm business successes: the Bakers won the Ward 5 2021 Nutritech Performance Award, achieving the highest dollar earning herd average in their region, based on the Fonterra A+B-C payment for the 2019/20 season, with $4,530.54.

They were also second in the 2020/21 HFNZ Production Results Protein Herd Averages by Ward (Ward 5) with 289kg protein at 3.5%, and sixth in Fat Herd Averages by Ward (Ward 5) with 325kg fat at 3.9% (8,232L milk).

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

ANIMAL HEALTH // 27

Calf rearing expos coming A SERIES of calf rearing

expos are being planned over the next months by Dairy Women’s Network.

The first expo takes place in Stratford, Taranaki on June 9 followed by events in Matamata, Ashburton and Invercargill.

Dairy farmers and calf rearers are invited to hear SealesWinslow nutrition and quality manager Natalie Hughes and AgriVantage technical advisor and nutritionist Natalie Chrystal present on how to maximise the genetic potential of calves in their early weeks for a lifetime of high performance.

With a focus on ‘turning today’s calf into tomorrow’s cow’, Hughes and Chrystal will share best practice and recent science to help calf rearers and farm owners get their calves off to the

right start.

Topics covered will include first principles of calf rearing, housing and care for newborns, feeding and understanding the different feed options available, weaning to pasture, and achieving liveweight gains for heifers.

“It all starts before day one of the calf’s life; planning and preparation before calving sets us up for a successful season,” says Hughes.

“Knowing the ‘what and how’ of our own calf system, with the latest tips and tricks, takes some of the weight off when calves hit the ground.”

Chrystal says the care of the newborn has the potential to dramatically impact lifetime productivity.

“We want to provide calf rearers with information to allow them to

Attendees at the Dairy Women’s Network 2021 Calf Rearing Expo in Waikato.

develop the best possible rearing system for their situation. The aim is to break down the science into practical application so rearers achieve the most profitable results.”

Calf rearing is a critical time on farm for both

people and animals, with future performance determined by the quality and management of newborn calves from the time of birth through to 12 weeks of age.

“We want attendees to walk away from the

day feeling prepared and ready for the calf rearing season. It’s a time that can be overwhelming so they need to be able to walk away not only with knowledge around best practice, but tools and resources they can

action,” said DWN chief executive Jules Benton.

At each expo attendees will have the opportunity to book a problem-solving slot with Hughes or Chrystal for any farm-specific challenges and questions.

With sector partners and organisations hosting trade stands, dairy farmers will be able to tap into the knowledge of experts in animal care and nutrition under one roof, making calf rearing preparation easier than ever.

Confirmed exhibitors include DairyNZ, Fonterra, LIC, NAIT, IDEXX, Milk Bar and Strong Woman – who will take attendees through some simple exercises to keep physically fit during calving.

The expos align with the Dairy Tomorrow Commitments 4 and 5: “We will be world-leading in on-farm animal care, and, We will build great workplaces for New Zealand’s most talented workforce”.

Visit dwn.co.nz/events for more information and to register.

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SHOWCASE MAY 31, 2020 ISSUE 495 // www.dairynews.co.nz

Is space-based internet the answer for rural NZ? HELP FROM THE SKY

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

BEN MONK owns and operates the South Westland Salmon farm and café near Fox Glacier.

Frustrated with patchy, slow internet that made things “just about impossible”, the family made the switch from a wireless service to a satellite service in 2020.

“It’s a real lifeline to have good satellite internet,” says Ben. As mobile phone services don’t reach into the valley, Gravity has set up connections at Ben’s home, his business, his parents’ home, and even at their whitebait hut, so everyone can keep in touch day-to-day.

IT’S CLEAR the internet

has become a fundamental service for New Zealanders, with a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) paper on connectivity finding a “clear upwards demand” for internet services in NZ – rising by around 40% each year.

However, the challenge for many rural addresses and lifestyle blocks centres around fast, reliable connectivity. Fibre is not an option, copper lines are becoming increasingly unusable, while wireless doesn’t suit everyone as there may be no line of sight to the existing cell towers. Additionally, the local tower may already be at full capacity, so no more homes can

The Monk family from Fox Glacier is happy with their satellite based internet.

be connected, or connection plans may be incredibly expensive, restrictive or slow.

It’s estimated there are

around 40,000 rural families who suffer from lack of access to fast, unlimited, affordable broadband, and might be able

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Its spot beams have been designed for spectrum re-use, which means more efficiency, that in turn dramatically lowers the cost of data for users.

Gravity Internet can deliver download speeds of up to 30 Mbps, depend-

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

DAIRY SHOWCASE // 29

Covering all the bases with new products, great deals!

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

JUNE ON the farm is

often a quieter time with the opportunity to relax and reflect on what has worked well in the past and think about what can be improved to make your farming operation more efficient for the year ahead.

New equipment or products are evaluated for the benefits they can bring. Just as important is taking time to assess the relationships you have or can form with the people you do business with. Do they really understand farming and the products you need? Do they really

value your business and make every effort to make your life a little easier?

Are they really good to deal with?

Taragate says its customers consistently tell them the importance of product knowledge and product accessibility is a main concern when making purchasing decisions.

Taragate co-founder Barbara Powell says, “With no Fieldays to attend this June, Taragate is covering all the bases with new products, great deals and new ways of doing business, as Covid has changed everything”.

Taragate has had a number of new products in development which

Taragate’s new ‘dead or alive’ handle.

will be released over the coming months. A ‘Dead or Alive’ handle is now

added to the range as well as a retractable 19 metre tape gate – great for feed

pads and controlling stock around yards.

The recently released

ZerO range of fence standards, including an allnew Live Post, is now

available.

No two farming operations are the same, and Taragate is very focused on tailoring packages to suit individual requirements.

The company says at the moment it is concentrating on winter grazing deals.

“As a smaller manufacturer we are nimble enough to do this quickly and efficiently. Our website makes it easy; you can choose where you purchase and goods can be delivered to store or to your door. Most importantly, we know farming and we have some excellent deals,” says Powell. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

30 // DAIRY SHOWCASE

New tractor series – a cut above the rest MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

DESCRIBED AS the Swiss army knife of tractors, built in Finland, the 5th generation G Series comes in G105, G115, G125E and G135 models.

Each model is available with Valtra’s familiar powershift transmission, with HiTech versions having open centre hydraulics with mechanical rear remotes and Active variants offering load sensing hydraulics.

Versu specification tractors feature the SmartTouch armrest with electronic rear remotes. A wide range of options allows tractors to be tailored to suit

The G Series have been described as the Swiss army knife of tractors.

individual needs, while those needing a little extra bling can use the in-house Unlimited Studio to provide everything from custom paint jobs

the 5th generation takes it a step further, offering good forward visibility thanks to a short, rounded bonnet and large sunroof, with a high air intake

to forestry/municipal equipment fitting.

While the 4th generation was well known for operator comfort and visibility,

and exhaust also hidden behind the A-pillars.

Air-suspended seats, adjustable spring cab suspension and a 360degree roof mounted A/C system makes the cabin a very comfortable workplace, combined with up to 5.7 square metres of glass. Versu models are equipped with the SmartTouch Armrest which allows easy access to all tractor settings as well as Valtra Guide and Precision Farming technologies.

A 24F+24R transmission offers four ranges and six Powershift gears, built in cooperation with GIMA in France, incorporating a heavyduty casing that is unique to Valtra.

The G Series adopts all the control systems from the N4 and T4 series tractors, including AutoTraction (braketo-neutral, Hill Hold, automated range shifts, kick-down and cruise control.

Versu models with the SmartTouch armrest allows the tractor to be operated by the throttle pedal or driving lever like a CVT, while using radar to deliver Automatic Slip Regulation. HiTech models offer a 100l/min, open centre hydraulic system, while Active and Versu models have loadsensing hydraulics that deliver 110l/min.

Up to 3 mechanical or 4 electronic valves are available at the rear,

with up to 4 electronic mid-mount valves as an option. The rear linkage is rated to 5,000kg across the entire lifting range, rising to a maximum capacity of 6,000kg.

Power is provided by a Stage V, four-cylinder, 4.4litre AGCO Power engine, with the G105, G115 and G125E models all offering an additional 5hp boost, while the G135’s 10hp boost allow it to achieve a maximum output of 145hp. All models also offer Sigma power to ensure maximum boost is always available based on PTO demand, even when the tractor is stationary, while extra tractive boost is available from the B5 gear, at around 6km/h and above.

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DAIRY SHOWCASE // 31

Mowers make cutting easy MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

KRONE FRONT

mounted mowers have become increasingly popular with users who recognise the versatility and output increase when such machines are used in tandem with rear units, or alone where they allow cutting sensitive crops before being run over by tractor wheels.

The Krone EasyCut F series offers a broad range

of cutting widths from 2.7 to 4 metres, with the EasyCut F 320 M standard 3.2m stock model being the preferred choice for the New Zealand market, although importer and distributor Tulloch Farm Machines says there is increasing demand for the EasyCut F 360 M with a 3.6m cutting width.

Looking at the machine in a little more detail, at the heart of all Krone EasyCut machines is a fully welded, sealed and permanently lubricated

The Krone EasyCut F series offers a broad range of cutting widths.

cutter-bar designed for performance, hard work

and durability.

The driveline enters

the bed via a right-angled gearbox, removing the

CONNECT IN CONTROL OF DATA COST EFFECTIVE data exchange has become a reality with the PÖttinger Connect telemetry unit providing access to the world of networked data, looking after the functions for controlling, recording and transmitting data of ISOBUS-controlled machines Available from August 1, the module has a certified data interface to Agrirouter, the internetbased data exchange platform.

The system is being released for worldwide implementation, meaning that numerous, localised farm management information systems can be connected.

Used in conjunction with PÖttinger’s Next Machine Management and Next field index-

Pӧttinger Connect telemetry unit provides access to the world of networked data.

ing software, the system offers the possibility to visualise data and document it over the long term. Automated recording and transmission of data ensures automated, permanent back-up, ensuring a complete and pro-

fessional documentation trail is compiled, while avoiding data chaos.

Simple operation sees the telemetry unit and the respective farm implement are operated using ISOBUS-capable terminals

or alternatively using the tractor terminal. For this purpose, PÖttinger offers its intelligent terminals; power control, Expert 75 and CCI 1200, as solutions for every application. This concept, without the need for multiple monitors, offers a better overview in the cab, by using just one terminal.

Pöttinger Connect also offers the possibility of using precision farming applications, base around ease of use and cost efficiencies, with the module taking over task controller jobs, enabling applications such as section and variable rate control, so reducing the number of passes required and saving on running costs.

– Mark Daniel

need for an inner shoe, then is transmitted through large-diameter satellite and spur gears with up to 66 teeth, resulting in slower rotational speeds, reduced load and quiet operation.

A wedge-shaped profile ensures the quality of cut is maintained at all times, while the clever SmartCut configuration sees the overlap of any outward cutting discs increased for a cleaner cut, blades turning inwards set further apart to ensure a smooth crop flow and disc perimeters staying inside the extremity of the bed to reduce the chance of impact damage.

Featuring a push-type headstock that allows close-coupling to the tractor and minimised overhangs, a three-dimensional pivoting system

allows the units to deal with undulating terrain, while heavy-duty support springs at the headstock are easily adjusted for optimal ground pressure and minimal sward damage.

Clever design detail within the cutter-bar is emphasised by the SafeCut protection system, with each disc having its own assembly, where a roll-pin sitting in the driveshaft to the disc is designed to shear, protecting the bed and individual discs.

The cutter-bar also allows a choice of disc rotation for topping or centre delivery for hay/ silage mowing. In addition, EasyCut F320 models are equipped with powered swath forming drums to deliver of a tighter and narrower swath width.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

32 // DAIRY SHOWCASE

Heavier, more powerful 6C series boost tractor range MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

POWER FARMING has announced an upcoming addition to its Deutz Fahr tractor range in the shape of the new 6C Series.

Designed and developed to suit a wide range of applications, the new three model range encompasses 115 to 135hp, featuring a 4-cylinder powerplant and a heavier build than the current 5 series it will complement.

Available in three transmission configurations, the powershift option features 5-speeds, 4 ranges and 3 powershift steps to offer 60F and 60R speeds – enough to

undertake any task, with the added convenience of an auto powershift function to vary forward speed based on engine load.

The all-new RV transmission offers a 20F/16R full Powershift concept, with uninterrupted torque delivery via a clutchless layout. A new 3-way joystick is located on a multifunction armrest mounted on the driver’s seat. Pushing forward creates an upshift, pulling back vice versa, while two driving strategies, Field and Transport, are activated by a single button push, with automation also provided by an auto powershift function (APS). Ease of operation also sees a new Stop

The Deutz Fahr tractor range has been boosted by the new 6C Series.

and Go system, Stop and Hold that keeps the tractor stationary until the throttle is pressed and a hydraulic parking brake as standard.

The TTV option provides stepless speed control in all conditions, with a choice of manual, PTO and Auto modes and inherent benefits such as

a 50km/h transport speed at only 1,900 engine rpm.

As an option, all models are available with front axle suspension, with double-acting hydraulic cylinders for effective self-levelling, and together with the mechanical cab suspension, substantially improves driver comfort in the field and

on the road. Front axles are designed to maximise traction and safety in all conditions, incorporating in-board disc brakes and automated control and engagement of 4WD and 100% locking differentials.

Many of the features and functions of the new 6C variant have flowed down from Deutz-Fahr’s

professional series range, including the Agrosky and Deutz-Fahr’s integrated Connected Farming Systems package that, depending on configuration, offers 2.5cm pass-to-pass accuracy.

Additionally, operators can take up options like section and automated rate control.

At the business end of the new 6C, customer feedback for high capacity has resulted in a 120l/min CCLS hydraulic pump from the larger DeutzFahr 6-cylinder products.

Ideally suited for loader operations, combining high flow with compact dimensions, the system can also offer up to five pairs of rear remotes with

a combination of electronic and mechanical control. All 6C tractors have a supplementary 40 l/min pump and optional 29 l/min additional pump dedicated to the hydraulic steering system and operation of auxiliary utilities such as Easy steer and integrated steering system for GPS guidance.

Operator comfort sees a 4-post cabin provides unobstructed views in all angles while single piece doors provide clear access into the cabin. Highlights include a new multifunction armrest, a new dashboard and additional features such as USB sockets, optional cooling box and storage compartments.

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

DAIRY SHOWCASE // 33

Storage needs all boxed up MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

WELL KNOWN for their polyethylene Smart Silos for bulk dry storage, alongside a range of innovative storage solutions for urea and other bulk farm commodities, Advantage Plastics has added

a new product line to its Smart Stakka Series.

The Smart EZI bin is an easily portable silo/ hopper designed for safe, controlled storage and discharge of bulk, dry granular products for all purposes.

Food grade rated and fully UV-stabilised, the 7mm thick hoppers are

mounted in a durable, galvanised frame, offering a 700l capacity that lends itself to accommodating half-tonne bulk bags, or can be filled with individual 20kg bags.

Clever design details see integral lifting fork pockets to aid easy movement, while a large, removable lid for easy

filling, is accessed via integrated side steps.

Meanwhile, a directional, fold-down discharge chute allows controlled discharge into all types of receptacles.

Measuring 1300mm long by 1300mm high, with a width of 1200mm each unit weighs in at 150kg empty, offering a

The Smart EZI bin is designed for safe, controlled storage and discharge of bulk, dry granular products for all purposes.

500kg capacity (wheat), while the steeply sloped base offers complete emptying.

Jake Hickmott for Advantage Plastics says it

introduced the new Smart EZI bin in response to multiple requests from customers.

“We are also able to offer a broad range of

extras to customise the range to individual applications, including offering a customised leg height.” www.advantageplastics.co.nz

The Steketee EC-Steer parallel steering frame from German manufacturer Lemken.

Precision guidance WITH GROWING interest in mechanical weed control to avoid the spiraling costs of herbicides, the Steketee EC-Steer parallel steering frame from German manufacturer Lemken turns un-steered hoeing machines from other manufacturers into implements with joystick or camera-controlled steering.

Offering a simple option for farmers or growers looking to upgrade their existing hoeing technology or swap between systems, a three-point mounted steering frame enables smooth and precise steering. Working with open lower

link stabilisers at the tractor means there are no lateral movements being transferred between the tractor and the steering frame. Drivers can control the machine from their seat using a joystick or the IC-Light camera steering system. Camera steering enables the machine to differentiate between crop plants and weeds by recognising different shades of green or the RGB colour spectrum, resulting in automated hoeing to within two centimetres of the plant.

The parallel steering frame is available as an integral part of

standard Steketee machines or as a stand-alone unit that can be used to upgrade other hoeing machines. Available in two versions, the EC-Steer 7 is suitable for hoes weighing up to 2,500kg and a maximum working width of six metres. An open three-point headstock allows a camera to be positioned centrally on the steering frame to cover a large field of view.

The EC-Steer 9 features a reinforced frame, so is suitable for larger hoes weighing up to 4,000kg and a working width of up to nine metres.

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34 // DAIRY SHOWCASE

Legen-dairy Kubota tractors!

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

ALASTAIR NEVILLE

is a third-generation dairy farmer, at Reporoa in the central North Island, running the family’s 320-cow operation.

Over the past five years, Neville has transitioned from a traditional spring calving to a 100% autumn high input system.

Like any high-output system, a range of tractors and machinery is required, but for the last 40 years, since their first purchase in 1982, the Nevilles have relied on Kubota for tractors, owning 13 different examples over that time. Currently the operation uses four Kubota tractors, including a 2004 M110, 2006 L5030, 2013 M126GX and a 2021 M7152.

Reporoa farmer Alastair Neville says Kubota tractors have enabled him to run bigger, more efficient equipment on the farm.

Neville says the business needs reliable machines that pull their weight, to avoid any production related interruptions.

“Despite the increased demands placed on us by the switch to autumn calving, our Kubota tractors have always kept up,”

he says.

A high input system requires different machines and tractors to be running daily at different times of the year.

Between February and September, a mixer wagon pulled by the Kubota M7152 plays a key role in producing a mixed ration

for the feed pad.

Neville says that Kubota tractors have enabled him to run bigger, more efficient equipment on the farm and allowed him to take on larger projects.

“As well as being able to take on larger jobs such as cultivation, general

farm work and harvesting, our Kubota tractors have been nimble and compact too, with the ability to get into tighter spaces,” he says.

Of particular interest, Neville feels confident that whoever works on the farm will feel comfortable from the moment

they are in the cab, with clear key operating controls, a logical layout and easily accessible service points, making them user friendly and safe.

“Kubota machines stand out because they are simple and reliable.

There aren’t any fancy tricks with our tractors,

they’re simple to start, easy to put it into gear and just get on with the work,” Neville said.

Having recently been through the exercise of buying an extra machine for the operation, the Nevilles looked at four other competing tractor brands.

“Knowing how reliable Kubota machines are, with excellent components and build quality, it was really a no brainer to choose Kubota again.

“We have continually purchased Kubota tractors because of excellent service and back up, so mixed with quality of construction, comfort and evolving technology, they really stand apart and get the jobs done efficiently, without costing you a bomb.” www.kubota.co.nz @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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DAIRY NEWS MAY 31, 2022

DAIRY SHOWCASE // 35

Helping hand for inline dispensing LOCAL COMPANY

Inflex International claims to have made the job of inline dispensing of water medication a whole lot easier.

The Palmerston Northbased company notes that mixing soluble mineral powders has become increasingly popular in supplying concentrated minerals for daily use in inline, water-based medication systems.

Inflex chief executive Mark Bell Booth says that the current system can be a messy and time consuming on many New Zealand dairy farms.

He says a quick look into the dose tanks under

inline water medication systems shows how the problem of undissolved minerals makes many dose mixing tanks look more like a “battle scene where expensive assets are constantly left behind each day, rather than being a fully integrated mixing system for daily dispensing of inline water medication”.

Bell Booth claims his company has developed internationally recognised expertise in safe chemical dispensing.

It has just released its two-part solution to solve the problem of poorly mixed dry mineral dosing into stock drinking water

HOW IT WORKS FILL THE MixM8 to the first water line mark then add the contents of the first bucket carefully onto the top of the water/mesh sieve.

Use the hose to wet down the dry minerals so they dissolve through the mesh sieve with the bubble agitator turned on.

Add more water to the 2nd fill mark then add the 2nd bucket to the mesh sieve and repeat the dissolving process.

Complete the ‘top up’ process by filling to the 200 litre mark, leave the bubble agitator on for 45 minutes to complete mixing, occasionally turning on the agitator during the week to stir in again any minerals that may have dropped out over the week.

That’s where the Dose M8 takes over: a medication control system that measures out and dispenses the correct volume of mineral mix from the MixM8 tank directly into the inline water medication storage tank under the dispenser each day.

– under the Flowcoach Dose M8 and Flowcoach MixM8 brands.

“We have created a two-part solution to the problem,” he says.

“Mixing powders needed a back to basics first principles solution; you need a recipe, a proven method of mixing and a simple process anyone can easily follow.

Inflex chief executive Mark Bell Booth (inset) says his company has relased a twopart solution to solve the problem of poorly mixed dry mineral dosing into stock drinking water.

“The reaction we have had from mineral suppliers in the market has been unanimous – it’s about time someone

developed a solution.”

Bell Booth says MixM8’s recipe book is very straightforward. He advises to eliminate dust

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THE EFFICIENT & SIMPLE ANSWER FOR FEEDING, BEDDING & LAND STABILISATION 852 MOUNTED BALE CHOPPER • • • • • •

and mess by splitting the dry bagged minerals into two buckets before mixing anything. “The MixM8 tank connects to com-

2m3 chamber Convient and simple self loading Round or square bales Straw, hay and silage Single drum feed system Up to 20m throw

Kverneland NZ | www.kverneland.co.nz |

Power Farming NZ

Terms and conditions apply. Contact your local dealer for more information. Images may show optional extras and may differ from product advertised.

pressed air, water and the Dose M8 all within easy reach of the operator.” @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews