Dairy News 28 June 2022

PM’s charm offensive in Europe. PAGE 3

M.BOVIS IS BACK Investigation underway PAGE 7

P0WER OF GENETICS

Reducing emisssions PAGE 24

JUNE 28, 2022 ISSUE 497 // www.dairynews.co.nz

GIVE IT A GO! Bay of Plenty farm manager Dayna Rowe urges young people to give dairy farming a go . PAGE 9

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

NEWS // 3

Trade talks ‘going down to the wire’ PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

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THE CHANCES of NZ having a quality comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union seem to be fading.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Trade Minister, Damien O’Connor are in Europe at the moment talking to EU politicians and officials in an attempt to get a quality FTA. International trade consultant and former diplomat, Stephen Jacobi, says it’s believed that the negotiations have reached a critical stage and that officials are working around the clock to try and get a satisfactory agreement.

“But the leaks that have come out of Brussels suggest that an EU offer on agriculture has been met with distain by our dairy and meat organisations and there is a big push to improve the ambition of that offer,” Jacobi told Dairy News.

“We understand that in other areas like horticulture there is a good offer already on the table, but the big trade barriers apply to dairy beef and to a certain extent, sheepmeat,” he says.

Jacobi says in addition to the EU’s poor offer on dairy, beef and sheepmeat, the Europeans are taking a tough stance on the issue of geographical indications. These are names mainly given to cheese, but also wine and some meat, that relate

International trade consultant, Stephen Jacobi believes FTA negotiations with Europe have reached a critical stage.

to the name of a particular town or region from where that produce originates.

“Most of the names they want to protect are not problematic for us but the more generic ones such as feta, parmesan and mozzarella certainly are.

“If NZ were to put in place a regime, which we will need to do as part of the price of this FTA – it is quite clear we have to have some regime to protect geographical indications – but if that includes these generic cheese names then we are going to be restricted in our ability to sell those products internationally,” he says.

The third sticking point in the FTA negotiations, says Jacobi, is a mixture of issues including

intellectual property regulations – particularly those applying to pharmaceuticals. He says there are also some issues around sustainability which need to be sorted, with NZ favouring an enforcement regime and EU not so keen on that.

In many ways this trip by Ardern and O’Connor mirrors similar visits over 40 years ago by then Prime Minister Rob Muldoon and Trade Minister, Brian Talboys. They were fighting the same battle with the same arguments to the EU trying to get access for NZ agricultural exports. They were faced with identical opposing views to what the EU is offering up today, the only difference is the EU is a much larger organisation now than what it was in the 1970s and ‘80s.

“So right now there are three issues: market access for dairy, beef and sheepmeat, geographical indications and a bunch of other problematic areas,” says Jacobi.

“I don’t think it will be possible for the Prime Minister to sort out all of these things – that’s really the job for the negotiators.

“But her visit is important because she will be underlining to the senior leadership of the EU the importance of these matters to NZ and a at time when we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Europe on Ukraine. We would hope therefore they would take into account our particular economic interests,” says Jacobi. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

4 // NEWS

Bank lifts milk price forecast to a record $10/kgMS! sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

DAIRY PRICES dipped

in the latest global auction but this didn’t stop ASB Bank from revising its 2022-23 season forecast milk price to $10/ kgMS. The 80c jump makes the bank’s latest forecast its first double digit milk price on record.

The dramatic rise is based on two factors: low global milk supply and the New Zealand dollar’s direction of travel.

ASB analyst Nat Keall says that dairy prices underperformed a tad at last week’s auction, where whole milk powder prices slipped 0.6%.

But he says the last

auction result “is not a biggie”.

Keall says, most dramatically of all, cheddar prices tumbled 9%.

“The result represents a little bit of an underperformance on futures market expectations, which had pointed to a bit more price movement.

“A modest dip isn’t a big deal. It’s been a volatile end of autumn and beginning of winter with markets still finding their feet after the lockdowns in China and Fonterra’s decision to flex the balance of regular and instant WMP on offer over recent auctions.”

Keall points out that WMP prices only need to sit around their current levels to deliver a record farmgate milk price, so

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“Despite mounting headwinds circling the global economy, dairy demand continues to hold up well and prove relatively inelastic.”

ASB economist Nat Keall says low global milk supply and the New Zealand dollar’s direction of travel has prompted the decision.

PRICES TO REMAIN HIGH WESTPAC SENIOR agricultural economist Nathan Penny expects prices to remain elevated as global supply remains very tight.

However, the bank is sticking to its forecast milk price of $9.25/ kgMS for this season.

Penny says, at some stage, they anticipate that Covid restrictions in China will ease further and take dairy demand higher as a result.

“At that time, global dairy prices are likely to get a further boost.”

However, he says last week’s Global Dairy Trade auction result

is consistent with its current forecast.

Fonterra has a wide ranging forecast milk for the season – $8.25/kgMS to $9.75/kgMS. Penny notes that the mixed nature of the result suggests prices are in a holding pattern.

“At the last auction the market factored in better Covid news in terms of easing restrictions in China.

“But with no fresh news to digest on that front, the price moves reflected changes in product mix rather than any underlying factors.”

every auction where they hold their ground is effectively a win.

“And as we’ve repeatedly emphasised, it’s important not to panic off the back of modest auction-to-auction shifts.

“The dairy market fundamentals remain the same.

“Despite mounting headwinds circling the global economy, dairy demand continues to hold up well and prove relatively inelastic.”

Chinese buyers appear to be lifting their purchasing, but with ‘North Asia’ still below where it usually is at this time of year in terms of market share, there is more room for growth.

Keall notes that the most important development recently has been the lower NZD. He says that a fresh bout of risk aversion among investors and aggressive moves by the

Federal Reserve in the US to boost US interest rates have helped snuff out any tentative lift in NZD/USD. “We’ve adjusted our currency view and think it will be a while before the Kiwi takes flight again.

“Fonterra will have done something like 60-70% of its hedging for the season but, with the NZD dramatically underperforming what we once forecast, the impact on its effective exchange rate for the season will be significant. We think a $10/ kgMS farmgate milk price could well be on the cards.”

Keall says it may seem odd to boost their forecast after an auction where prices have underperformed.

“But it’s our view on the fundamentals – and more significantly the change in our expectations for the season’s effective exchange rate – that really matter.”

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

NEWS // 5

Good news for farmers FARMERS GRAPPLING with rising

costs received some good news last week.

Fonterra lifted its 2022-23 forecast Farmgate Milk Price range to NZ$8.75-$10.25/kgMS – a 50c rise.

This increases the midpoint of the range, which farmers are paid off, to $9.50/kgMS. Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the lift in the forecast milk price reflects the milk supply and demand picture and the current strong US dollar.

The cooperative also announced a 2022-23 earnings guidance range of 30-45c/share.

Hurrell says that the strong earnings guidance for next financial year reflects an expected recovery in some of the co-op’s key markets which have experienced margin pressures this

Interest rates and inflation have lifted well above our assumptions, as have commodity prices. financial year, coupled with ongoing favourable Ingredients margins.

“The wide earnings range for 2022-23 reflects the current high level of uncertainty that comes with operating in a globally-traded, volatile market,” he says.

While the co-op is in the position to be forecasting both solid earnings and a healthy milk price for the next year, significant volatility remains.

Hurrell says this these near-term headwinds have the potential to impact some of the co-op’s targets.

“When we released our 2030 long-term

aspirations in September 2021, we committed to updating farmers and the market on our progress

along the way.

“We’re still on track for our 2030 financial targets, but the last few months have shown that there will be some bumps along the way.

“A series of global events have changed some of the assumptions the co-op’s aspirations were based on. In particular,

interest rates and inflation have lifted well above our assumptions, as have commodity prices in response to the continued strong demand for dairy.”

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the lift in the forecast milk price reflects the milk supply and demand picture and the current strong US dollar.

WICKHAM STEPS DOWN FONTERRA’S HEAD of Africa and Middle East business Kelvin Wickham is stepping down after 34 years with the co-op.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says this is the right time for him to step away from Fonterra as the next generation of leadership takes forward the co-op’s long-term aspirations.

“Kelvin and his wife are keen to stay in Europe and I wish them all the best for their next great adventure. We’ve worked closely together for a number of years and I will miss his friendship, guidance, and support.

“I thank Kelvin for his extensive contribution to the co-op. He has been with Fonterra for over 34 years, holding multiple roles across many markets, and has been a tremendous advocate for Fonterra and New Zealand throughout this time,” says Hurrell.

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

6 // NEWS

Cow collars a ‘positive’ for herd welfare NIGEL MALTHUS

SUSPICION THAT the

Halter system is cruel and unnatural is misplaced, say panellists at the Halter-organised Dairy 2032 event in Christchurch recently.

Animal Health expert Dr Scott McDougall and Waikato farmer Pete Morgan, a Halter user, told Dairy News that cows quickly understand the Halter system.

Halter replaces break fencing with GPS mapping, and trains cows with solar-powered collars to tell them when and where to move, by way of audio beeps, tactile buzzing and ultimately electric shock.

It also monitors their activity for early warning of any problems.

Morgan said that any worries of harm were outweighed by the good the

system does in terms of monitoring and early intervention on animal welfare, farm efficiency and staff experience.

People outside the industry worried about dairying’s social license “quite rightly” question the electric shock, but it’s not a big jolt and only a last resort.

“The negative reinforcement is not to punish them but to reinforce a command that they already ignored,” he said.

“The pulse that you get from it I’ve had many times – it’s a tiny fraction of an electric fence and they get plenty of those.”

McDougall said cows all know they will get a belt from an electric fence. “So what we’re doing is replacing that physical cue with an audible cue and a vibration cue before they get the

Cows quickly understand the Halter system, says Waikato farmer and the technology user Pete Morgan.

electric. So it is a step-up thing, it’s not like they’re getting slammed with a high voltage.

“They are getting the signal, they’re trained, they learn and so it it’s stepping up the response

to get the behaviour that they’ve learned.

“It’s nuanced, they learn. They’re smart animals, they get it,” said McDougall.

Morgan said the system had the capacity

to understand the behaviour of every single cow and what cues she needs.

Unlike the one-size-fits-all inflexibility of an electric fence, some cows were comfortable in crossing a virtual fence for

short periods knowing they would soon need to wander back.

Far from forcing cows into unnatural responses, the collars allowed more natural behaviours, he said.

For example, a worker on a quad bike coming up behind a herd to hurry them towards the shed will be forcing those lowest in the pecking order to push into those ahead, stressing them out and maybe prompting them to misstep and injure themselves. Cows in a Halter herd could pace themselves and respect the pecking order.

In a keynote address to the event, the general manager of Ngāi Tahu Farming and Forestry, Will Burrett, said Ngāi Tahu adopted Halter in a “leap of faith” by the board and management, but now has Halter collars on 25% of its 8,000 dairy cows. “I tell you what, the functionality of what we’re seeing out in the paddocks, the pasture utilisation, allocation accuracy perspective is really exciting.”

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NEWS // 7 Simon Andrew, MPI, says it’s really critical that farmers fully comply with the NAIT process and keep accurate records.

SETTING THE BENCHMARK

M.bovis outbreak ‘under control’ PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

THE GOVERNMENT says it’s got a high degree of confidence that Mycoplasma bovis found on a Mid-Canterbury dairy farm isn’t widespread.

A couple of weeks ago the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) revealed that a case of M. bovis had been confirmed on a farm near Ashburton. But Simon Andrew, MPI director of the M. bovis programme, told Dairy News that the investigation is still in its early stages.

“I think the key point for us at the moment is that given the level of surveillance we are undertaking and the very low level of infection we are finding, this would indicate the disease isn’t widespread,” he says.

News of this outbreak comes just weeks after the Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture proudly announced that M. bovis had all but been eradicated and was confined to a single farm. But Andrew says it’s not uncommon to find an additional case of M. bovis when you get to the tail end of an eradication programme or in the spring or autumn.

Through their bulk tank milk testing, they tested every dairy farm

across the country on a monthly basis, now twice monthly, so “we do a huge amount of surveillance,” he says.

“Last year we did close to 100,000 tests on bulk tank milk samples and, in addition to that, close to 400,000 cattle were sampled on farm,” he says.

Andrew says he’s not prepared to give any details about the infected farm, to protect the privacy of the farmer and their family. He says MPI’s role is to manage the disease and look after the welfare of the farmer involved.

“First and foremost we have to make sure the farm is well supported because when this happens, it has a profound impact on the farmer, the family and the wider community and that is really important.

“Then we work with the farmer to understand the movement of cattle and ensure that there are good NAIT records. Another phase is working with the farmer and the epidemiology team to undertake the analysis of the infection on the farm,” he says.

Andrew says they then look at what movement restrictions of animals to apply on an infected farm, but at the same time endeavouring to minimise the impact of this on

the overall farming operation, which is not always easy.

As well as the ongoing testing programme on the infected farm, MPI will be checking neighbouring farms to make sure the disease hasn’t spread. They’ll be checking NAIT records – a very important part of the process to determine animal movements. Simon Andrew says it’s really critical that farmers fully comply with the NAIT process and keep accurate records.

“In a situation like this, accurate NAIT records improve the chances of finding the disease quicker and this applies not only to M. bovis but to other biosecurity risks and responses.”

Farmers must remain vigilant and adopt good on-farm biosecurity practices, says Andrew.

He says it’s not just NAIT, but also making sure they have secure boundary fences so that animals on one farm cannot interact with animals on an adjacent property. He says farmers on larger properties can create separate units within a farm to keep a mob of animals away from another mob.

Finally, Andrew says, “broadly speaking” there is still room for improvement in NAIT compliance.

POWER PLANT TO CLOSE ENERGY COMPANY Contact

is closing its 44-megawatt Te Rapa power station in June next year.

The Te Rapa plant, operating since 1999, is a gas-fuelled co-generation plant, providing steam and electricity to Fonterra’s Te Rapa dairy factory, and directing surplus electricity back to the grid.

Contact says its contract to supply Fonterra with electricity expires in June 2023. Fonterra

will acquire the plant’s auxiliary boiler and will continue to use these assets for its dairy operations beyond June next year, but the gas turbine used to generate electricity at Te Rapa will be retired.

Contact says the decision to close the plant will reduce its longterm scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 20% per annum.

Contact chief executive Mike Fuge said it had been an unsettling

time, but it was good to be able to provide the 16 staff at Te Rapa with more certainty.

“It is business as usual until June next year, and everybody in our team at Te Rapa will be looked after. After the power station closes, there will be some opportunities for people to move across to Fonterra’s Te Rapa team or be redeployed elsewhere within Contact.”

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

8 // NEWS

Plan against rising costs AFTER A good 2021

season, rising costs are now starting to hit farmers. Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Taranaki rural advisor Amanda Burling says it’s time to start planning because the 2023 season could be bumpy.

Some dairy farmers are facing $70,000 to $100,000 in additional costs per 100,000 kgMS this year, she says.

The 2022 forecast Farmgate Milk Price of $9.60 has been revised back to $9.30 and escalating costs over the past six months have brought profits down.

However, going through to the 2023 season (which has a midrange forecast farmgate milk price of $9), dairy farmers are facing 12 months of high prices for fuel, feed, freight and fertiliser, not to mention rising interest rates and inflation – and no way of knowing how bad things might get.

“We haven’t seen the full impact of these costs yet because expenses have only been increasing significantly over the past six months,” she says.

“It’s still a really good milk payout, but we’re expecting those costs to come up anything from $0.70 to $1/kg of production, so if your farm does 100,000 solids, that’s $70,000 to $100,000 of additional costs. It is going to hurt.”

Buerling says it’s important that everyone who is affected gets to grip with their financial position, considering everything from their break-even milk prices to pasture and feed requirements.

From there, it’s important to form a financial plan and establish goals for the year ahead.

“It’s quite a volatile environment… so our approach to that is going to be, know your position and keep an eye on it, and

Some dairy farmers are facing $70,000 to $100,000 in additional costs per 100,000 kgMS this year.

then you can make timely decisions,” she says.

“Now, when it’s not

as busy on the farm, is a prime time to be nailing down a forecast for the

year. Instead of thinking at the end of the season, ‘we haven’t done very

well’, you can assess every couple of months and go, ‘right we’re not tracking where we want to be – what can we do?’”

Other farming sectors are facing the same cost increases, while those in the agricultural and horticultural industries are also dealing with labour shortages, she says.

“It’s not necessarily just labour shortages, but the pressure to pay a really good wage to secure your people, or at least provide decent housing, otherwise you’re generally expecting people to travel and they’re not going to travel if the fuel costs too much.”

If you’re in agri-business, budgeting may not be a top priority – or maybe you track the business’s performance in your head.

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important to know your financial position and have an up-to-date forecast.

“For example, an increased interest rate of two percent might double your interest bill, and it’s got the potential to unravel your business, so you’ve got to take preemptive steps to avoid that,” says Burling.

There are software programmes that can provide an accurate and upto-date view of farmers’ current position.

“You create your forecast at the start of the year and as you update it every couple of months (in line with GST works well), the software overwrites your previous forecast with actual data, so you’ll always have a current forecast closing position.

“The key thing is to use the winter season to keep on top of forecasting and build good habits for the future,” she says.

DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

NEWS // 9

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Dayna Rowe won the 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year award and now manages her parents’ farm.

Youngsters urged to give dairy farming a go JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

WITH A third of dairy farms seek-

ing to fill vacancies ahead of calving season, Kiwis are being encouraged to give dairy farming a chance.

And giving dairy farming a chance is something 2021 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year Dayna Rowe knows a little about.

“Initially, I didn’t quite know if I liked it or anything,” the 23-year-old says of her start in the industry.

Rowe started out as a farm assistant back in 2017, now she’s farm manager on her parents’ Bay of Plenty farm, managing a team of four.

“What attracts me to it [the industry] now is the opportunities you get to create whatever pathways you want out of it because the industry is so broad,” she told Dairy News.

“I think when I went into it, I thought you just had to be a farmer and a lot of people don’t really know what that is or what that means, but once you get into the industry and start working in it you realise that

there’s so many different aspects of farming, animal health, all that sort of thing and you can decide what you’re interested in and what pathway you want to go down and hone into.”

She says it’s an industry that’s flexible in how it allows its workers to cater to their own interests and run their own lifestyle.

Not so easy is the sexism Rowe says she’s experienced as a young woman in the industry.

“I think initially, just being a young female and trying to start my progression… I started as a farm assistant in 2017 and being ambitious and wanting to try and progress, I received quite a lot more pushback for my ambitions than males in my similar position just because it is a historically male-dominated industry and not everyone was taking me seriously.”

She says that when she entered last year’s Dairy Industry Awards, she didn’t enter for the same reasons other entrants to, like adding a commendation to their CVs or opening doors for jobs.

“I always had my family farm that I was going to hopefully be able to take over if I had the skills to, but I did it to prove myself to people and prove myself to people that I want to be able to employ in the future… which is a bit of a shame that I feel like I have to do that.”

Rowe says that it’s become her biggest challenge and her greatest reward because she’s gotten herself far and fast.

“There is a silver lining to it.”

Rowe’s advice for other young women in the industry is simple: don’t sit back, don’t be afraid to challenge the processes.

“Find other women in the industry because we’re out there and we’re all really willing to support each other, or men there are many men in this industry.

“Until I hired women, I pretty much only worked with men and they really built me up to be able to be in the position I’m in.”

Rowe says communication is key.

“Just communicate with people and keep pushing and know that you’re doing your best.”

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10 // NEWS

Another stable season ahead – OCD “In summary, the business is in a good place and we are managing all areas in our control well.”

SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz

THE COUNTRY’S

second largest processor believes we are heading for another stable season with regards to milk price.

Open Country Dairy chief executive Steve Koekemoer has told suppliers that milk supply around the world remains tight.

While there will be some price volatility due to global issues, Koekemoer says the milk price will remain elevated for a while yet.

“With the supply/ demand remaining in balance and input costs rising significantly for all farmers and processors, I expect an elevated milk price will need to be maintained for some time,” he says.

He notes that supply

Open Country Dairy chief executive Steve Koekemoer expects milk supply around the world to remain tight.

from the various export regions typically focuses on a different product mix to NZ, which may challenge Open Country facilities to continually switch products.

“We have planned for this and will maximise our flexibility to drive best returns at the farm gate.

“There is no doubt that we will be very com-

petitive at the farm gate as always.”

Most of Open Country’s factories are now shut with winter maintenance programmes underway.

Koekemoer says this is an ideal time for project teams to ensure interface work is carried out for factory upgrades prior to August milk ramping up.

“Engineers will be carrying out a multitude of tasks in the next 6-8 weeks to ensure our fac-

tories will roar into action when the milk starts flowing.”

He also gave an update on major projects underway at its processing plants.

“Our wood pellet boiler conversion at Waharoa has gone extremely well and initial trials for replacing coal at that site have exceeded expectations.

“Although the official switch from coal to

INFLATION REMAINS A BIG WORRY – BANK PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz

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wood pellets was planned for 2023, we will accelerate the switch and start replacing coal progressively in the coming months.

“This is an outstanding result from the project and site teams.”

Open Country has progressively worked to remove coal as an energy source for a number of years and after the Waharoa conversion it will only have two remaining coal-

fired boilers in the business.

Koekemoer says these are located in Southland and plans are already well developed to convert those boilers or alternatively install electrode boilers.

He says, as shared at recent farmer meetings, all site projects will be operational this calendar year as planned.

“There are some slight delays due to supply chain disruptions but no impact on the outcome.

“In summary, the business is in a good place and we are managing all areas in our control well.”

industry despite a ‘normal’ pricing outlook.

That’s the view of the ANZ Bank’s latest Agri Focus report which predicts that the farmgate price for the 2022-23 season looks strong, but says dairy farm operating costs for such items as fuel and fertiliser are “rocketing away”.

This, along with rising inflation, is a worry.

It says farmer confidence remains low as they grapple with a tsunami of legislative changes associated with improving environmental standards.

The report adds that interest rates are also on the rise but that in the recent good years, dairy farmers have managed to pay down a lot of debt, which means that the

rises will have less impact. It goes on to say that average interest rates are still quite low and those farmers with fixed interest rate loans won’t be impacted by the change until they have to renew their loans.

The other niggling issue raised in the report is the potential impacts of farmers having to deal with methane emissions. ANZ says while the actual emissions pricing has yet to be agreed by government, the recently announced proposal by He Waka Eke Noa would see the price set at 11 cents per kg of methane emissions.

“These costs will have a greater impact on less efficient farms and those with no options to off-set methane costs,” says the report.

On the international front the ANZ report says that global dairy prices are picking up following a fall in March and April and that this bodes well for the 2022/23 season.

Meanwhile, the Ministry for Pri-

mary Industries’ (MPI) latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report paints a similar picture, but also points to the volatility that continues to haunt the dairy sector. It notes that while export revenue for dairy is up by a record 13% to $21.6 billion, it will drop to $21.1 billion for the following two years. But in another twist, it says that weakening global supply of dairy products is being countered by strong demand from importing nations.

In terms of China, NZ’s largest dairy market, the SOPI report says demand uncertainty there has increased as a result of the Covid lockdowns and the food service sector there has been greatly impacted. There are reports that sales in this sector could be down by as much as 15% in 2022.

Back in NZ, the MPI report says unfavourable weather caused a 4% drop in production.

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

12 // NEWS

DWN secures state funding “The Government is committed to working with regional communities to help them reach their economic and social potential.”

JESSICA MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz

A DAIRY Women’s Net-

work (DWN) programme has been named as the recipient of two years of funding support from the Government.

The funding, which totals $473,261, comes from the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund and will go towards the Farming for the Future Leader’s Programme.

“Supporting these women to reach their farming leadership potential will deliver long lasting economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits to New Zealand,” Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri says.

The programme will

Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri says the Government is helping women to reach their farming leadership potential.

pilot a programme of wrap-around services for women, developing training content and a central knowledge hub as well as providing coaching to support female business group leaders in the dairy sector.

“The members of the programme will create a positive impact that is far reaching, by providing channels to share solutions and innovations with their businesses, partners, farm teams, neighbours and communi-

ties,” says Whaitiri.

“The Government is committed to working with regional communities to help them reach their economic and social potential.

“These strong social connections and access

to tools and support from this programme will help build resilience, both for these women and for their farming businesses,” Whaitiri says.

Jules Benton, chief executive of DWN, says the programme will

empower farming women to create innovative solutions to a variety of challenges and issues facing farmers.

“But the truly exciting part of this programme is the ability of those who are part of it to share their learnings with their communities and the 11,000 DWN members,” says Benton.

She says the primary goal of the programme is to enable and empower DWN members to farm for the future so the sector, which she says is experiencing rapid change, can grow and adapt with a positive

focus. “We encourage our members to challenge the status quo and this programme will allow, not only that, but an on-sharing of their experiences and knowledge to help others in the group drive change in their own environments, community and businesses,” Benton says.

“I truly believe that this professional development will lead to great things in our farming sector; creating knowledge, leadership and innovation to empower the industry and aid with decision making in the future.”

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

NEWS // 13

THINKING MONITORING? THINK ALLFLEX

When the Chinese Government banned imports of waste plastic in 2018, it disrupted recyclers around the globe.

Team effort to move mountain of waste plastic farm or they can bring them into our yard.

“Since we took over Wastebusters, we have increased the number of bins on farms by 50 percent. We now have about 1,500 bins in circulation. Some large operations have more than 20 bins on multiple farms.”

Although the business has expanded, Brent and Maureen were not able to resume exporting farm plastic.

Brent says at one point they were in discussion with an entrepreneur who planned to set up a pyrolysis plant that would turn waste plastic into diesel. That fell through, and Wastebusters’ stockpiles grew so much that it became difficult to process some other material on the main collection site.

When Plasback commercial manager Neal Shaw learned of the problem, he approached Brent and Maureen to see if together they could come up with a solution. With some creative thinking and good will on both sides they agreed on a way forward.

Wastebusters is providing the plastic at no cost to Plasback, and in turn Plasback is covering the cost of processing it and shipping it overseas. Neither party is making a financial gain, but they are addressing a significant waste issue that could impact the local environment.

Another part of the agreement is that Wastebusters has now become

Plasback’s collection contractor for Mid Canterbury. This means it collects silage wrap, silage covers, twine and other waste plastic from farms using Plasback’s bin and liner system.

“Plasback had the capacity to take on the huge job of dealing with Wastebusters’ stockpile. We collect more than 5,000 tonnes of plastic every year and we have both local and overseas partners to recycle the product,” Neal says.

“In addition to the sheer amount of plastic Wastebusters had collected was the fact that it was in stacks of loose sheets. When farmers put their recyclable material in our plastic liners, it is easier to handle, has less contamination and is more presentable to our overseas clients,” Neal says.

Southern Xpress is playing a vital role in the clean-up effort. The Christchurch company runs a unique mobile baler designed to bale tyres to ship overseas for recycling. It has carried out a number of contracts for Plasback to bale farm plastic in both the South and North Islands.

Southern Xpress operations manager Kyle Woods says the company’s custom-built baler can produce bales weighing up to 2 tonnes.

“Because the baler is mobile, we can bale the waste material wherever it is. It is much cheaper to transport bales than bulk waste,” Kyle says. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

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FARM PLASTICS recycler Plasback is helping an Ashburton business solve a daunting problem – cleaning up a massive stockpile of waste plastic.

Plasback is working with specialist company Southern Xpress to bale and remove about 1,000 tonnes of silage wrap, silage covers and baler twine that have been accumulating for several years.

The story begins in 2018, when the Chinese government banned imports of waste plastic. For decades China had imported and processed about half of the world’s scrap plastic. When it abruptly stopped, it disrupted recyclers around the globe.

One that was hit particularly hard was Wastebusters, a charitable trust based in Ashburton that collected a range of farm plastics as well as other recyclables and waste from farms throughout Mid-Canterbury.

The loss of revenue from its exported plastic was enough of a setback that Wastebusters was set to shut down. Coming to the rescue were Brent and Maureen McLaren.

Brent and Maureen had the contract to compost the green waste that Wastebusters collected. Rather than lose a big chunk of their income if Wastebusters were to stop trading, they took over its operation.

“We provide farmers large wooden bins so they can separate their waste,” Brent says. “When they are full, we collect the bins from the

DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

14 // NEWS

Deer milk wins global award DEER MILK made by state-owned farmer Pāmu has won the ‘Best Dairy Ingredient’ category at the prestigious World Dairy Innovation Awards.

Pāmu chief executive Mark Leslie says the win in these awards is a validation of the hard work and innovation that has gone into creating an

all-new product for the agri-sector.

“All New Zealanders, as shareholders in Pāmu should be really proud of this win, at what is

essentially the World Cup for the dairy sector,” says Leslie.

“Our deer milk product has been steadily growing in popularity

Pamu chief executive Mark Leslie says the award validates hardwork and innovation gone into creating the product.

among high end chefs and as a unique new ingredient in cosmetics.

“This win recognises the extensive application and unique properties of deer milk, and the growing recognition of deer milk as an additional milk product alongside bovine and sheep milk.”

Pāmu Deer Milk is sourced through a partnership with Peter and Sharon McIntyre, who run a deer farm near Gore and now through the company’s own pilot farm Aratiatia, in the North Island’s central plateau.

“While Covid has seen demand for deer milk fall in the short term, the reopening of the world means deer milk can once again make its way back on the world stage, and this win is an incredible boost to that,” Leslie says.

The company is excited about the potential for the product and the opening of a new deer milking facility near

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Taupo, to complement the existing supply from the McIntyre’s, is a testament to that.

Pāmu has also developed a world first deer milk nutritional supplement range called Doe Nutrition containing Pāmu Deer Milk which they say offers a range of nutritional benefits. They go on sale in Vietnam soon.

Leslie says the growing recognition of deer milk’s unique properties – which make it an excellent ingredient in cooking, as a cosmetic and as a nutritional supplement – shows the versatility of deer milk, and the potential it has to be a contributor to our primary sector.

“This award is a very important milestone as we continue to take deer milk global. The sky is the limit for Pāmu deer milk,” he says.

CHINESE DAIRY giant Yili topped the tally at the World Dairy Innovation Awards held recently in France.

Yili, which operates two dairy companies (Oceania Dairy and Westland Milk) in New Zealand, and its subsidiary Ausnutria picked up awards for packaging design, infant nutrition, intolerance-friendly dairy products, ice cream, cheese, and dairy snacks.

The judges noted that: “Yili have their finger on the pulse when it comes to identifying gaps in the market and creating brilliant innovative products that both taste and look great while simultaneously serving a purpose.”

“Best Cheese” winner was an ambient cheese lollipop that can be safely stored at room temperature. Revisiting traditional Chinese aesthetics, the Xujinhuan 3D Fresh Milk Ice Cream has been designed into the shape of a Chinese fan, featuring traditional painting carved on the surface.

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

16 // OPINION RUMINATING

EDITORIAL

Europe, can you hear us?

MILKING IT...

Feds exodus

Hang on, mate!

Cow and cars

Tinder for cows!

EXPECT SOME big changes in the Federated Farmers leadership team at their annual meeting next month.

Three board members – vice president Karen Williams and board members Chris Allen and Chris Lewis – are standing down.

Milking It understands Feds dairy chair Wayne Langford will become the new vice president at its annual meeting in Auckland on July 8.

Tradition dictates that the vice president takes over the presidency after three years. Current president Andrew Hoggard steps down in July 2023.

Why Williams decided to step down just one year away from being eligible for the top job is a mystery.

AGRICULTURE MINISTER Damien O’Connor’s hurried exit from a farming radio interview has left farmers perplexed.

Last week, O’Connor fielded some tough questions on The Rural Roundup including the animal welfare code changes.

“I’ll let you carry on and talk, okay mate, see you….,” said O’Connor before hanging up.

Some farmers took to Twitter to have a dig at the Minister.

“O’Connor was aggressive from the start. Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of his electric ute?” says one tweet.

COWS ARE the favourite target of vegans, Greenpeace, the Green Party and plant-based food advocates.

Now the ‘woke brigade’ and the plantbased food army are claiming that cows emit more pollution than cars.

One farmer has this interesting proposal for anyone falling for that fallacy.

“If you believe that, I’ll make a deal with you, you lock yourself in a garage with a running car overnight. I’ll do the same with a cow and we will discuss it in the morning.”

Fair enough, we think!

IRISH FARMERS can now swipe right on a tinder type dating app for cows!

Sunday World reports that in a bid to find the most suitable breeding partner, farmers can go to an app called Sire Advice to select a suitable partner for the pride of their herd.

Sire Advice is allowing up to 4,000 farmers to swipe left or right to match their cows with the best bull and sire for them. The dating service for cows contains a database of information including fertility, weight, ancestry, milk production and quality.

And stats show that farmers are buying into the idea.

A report from the Irish Cattle Breeders Federation, (ICBF) in 2021 revealed that 3,260 dairy farmers availed themselves of the sire advice facility.

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ONCE AGAIN there’s a flurry of activity as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Minister of Trade Damien O’Connor and a band of dedicated officials and leading agricultural representatives fly into Brussels where the powerful European Union is based.

The prize they are seeking is what is called a ‘quality, comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement (FTA)’ – in other words, a bloody good trade deal for us.

Sadly, while many EU politicians talk about free trade and its importance, the political reality is different. Farmers in the EU hold great sway and the politicians are beholden to them electorally. The farmers’ vote is powerful and protectionism is in their DNA. We shouldn’t be surprised at what is happening now. This is déjà vu. The same thing happened 40 years ago; Different politicians – Muldoon (former PM Robert Muldoon) and Talboys (former senior minister Sir Brian Talboys), but the same issues and arguments and a stubbornness on the part of the EU to yield meaningful access to NZ’s agricultural exports. Only this time it is much harder because the EEC, as it was then, has grown exponentially and now the EU has 27 members.

And, oh yes, we don’t have the UK at the table batting for us.

Our trade negotiators are among the best in the world and our politicians of all colours over the years have done a good job to get us this far. The reality is any FTA with the EU was never going to be as good as the recent FTA with Britain. But the pressure is on because the Europeans take their summer break in a few days time and the aim of NZ is to get a ‘deal in principle’ before then.

This is where Jacinda Ardern comes into play: Like or dislike her, she has a high positive international profile and this is exemplified by her recent one-on-one meeting with President Joe Biden. In Brussels she will meet with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission – the top person in the EU. The word is that the pair will click because they share similar values and will get on personally. If this is the case, it may add that little bit of extra leverage to making a deal that is not necessarily great, but liveable; A deal that will lead to other FTA’s and much needed access for the high quality exports of our primary sector.

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

OPINION // 17

Calling for fairer methane reporting and targets JIM VAN DER POEL & ANDREW MORRISON

DAIRYNZ AND Beef + Lamb NZ are calling on the Government to give farmers a fairer deal by using the latest and best science when setting methane targets.

While New Zealand farmers overall are reducing emissions, agriculture is currently being blamed for a far bigger share of

Andrew Morrison

Jim van der Poel

New Zealand’s warming than it actually causes.

It’s important all sectors play their part, including agriculture, transport, energy, towns and cities.

The method the Government uses to calculate emissions data, GWP100, is accurate for carbon dioxide but hugely overstates the warming impact of methane.

Although agriculture accounts for around 50% of New Zealand’s emissions, it does not account for 50% of the warming.

That’s because methane has a half-life of around 12 years so disappears from the atmosphere much faster than CO2, which can last up to 1,000 years.

So alongside other primary sector organisations, we’ve written to the Government asking for all

government agencies and independent bodies, such as the Climate Change Commission, to take a split-gas approach when reporting all emissions and delivering emissions budgets.

This would clearly demonstrate that shortlived gases like methane and long-lived gases like CO2 have different warming impacts. Perspective and sound science matter for the Government’s response to climate change.

It’s so important we get this right because key climate change decisions are made using that data – including methane targets that impact what farmers can do on-farm. This doesn’t just affect a farm’s bottom line, but also has a flow-on effect on mental health and wellbeing.

If farmers aren’t able to run successful and sustainable businesses, their contribution to their families, the economy and local communities reduces – affecting the wellbeing of all New Zealand.

Also, because New Zealand dairy farmers have the lowest carbon footprint for on-farm milk and sheep and beef production for meat, there’s no silver bullet to further reduce emissions. We need new technologies – and the sector is investing millions in R&D to achieve this.

The focus needs to be on reducing warming The whole point of reducing emissions for international agreements is to reduce warming – so it’s important we have a more accurate picture of what’s going on, so we can take the right actions.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirms the way emissions are currently calculated, using GWP100, overstates the warming impact of methane by 3-4 times, when methane emissions are stable (as they are in New Zealand).

Since New Zea-

land’s agricultural methane emissions have been stable for almost two decades, since 2005, they’re not contributing additional warming each

year. A 2022 paper published in the prestigious Nature Journal by 33 scientists also highlights the need for countries to accurately consider the

warming impacts of different greenhouse gases when putting forward their targets for emissions reductions.

To address this, we

want the Government to adopt a more advanced method (such as GWP*) for calculating and reporting agricultural methane emissions, in line with the

recommendations of leading scientists.

• Jim van der Poel is chairman of DairyNZ and Andrew Morrison is chair of B+LNZ.

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

18 // AGRIBUSINESS

Profitable season, with lower margin DAIRY FARMERS are set for another profitable season but profit margins will shrink compared to last season, says Rabobank senior analyst Emma Higgins.

She notes that New Zealand farmers, like many farmers around the world, are juggling inflationary input cost pressures.

“We anticipate key input costs for dairy farming in New Zealand — fuel, fertiliser, feed, and labour – to remain elevated throughout 2022 and into 2023,” Higgins says.

“Farm profitability remains likely for most New Zealand dairy farmers, but with a jump in their cost base for 2022/23, profit margins will be smaller than the previous season.”

Rabobank is forecasting a milk price of $9/ kgMS for the season that started June 1.

While the bank’s forecast remains unchanged, Higgins notes that there are both considerable upside and downside factors to this price given the heightened uncertainty in the operating environment.

“In recent weeks we have seen geopolitical tensions — one of downside risks flagged in our Seasonal Outlook report — jump front and centre after China voiced their

Gongs for Fonterra’s top sites WHEN IT comes to processing milk, three Fonterra manufacturing sites stood out last season.

The Te Rapa site in Hamilton, Kauri, Northland and Studholme, South Canterbury were the big winners in the co-operative’s 16th annual best site cup awards.

Te Rapa secured the best large site cup through their commitment to sustainability, safety, consistent quality, productivity and compliance performance.

Kauri received the best medium site cup for the second year in a row.

The site was awarded for its quality and productivity, as well as sustained health and safety and sustainability performance.

Studholme took out the win for the best small site cup due to their performance across safety, compliance and sustainability.

Alan Van Der Nagel, Fonterra’s director of New Zealand manufacturing, says this year’s awards are the perfect way to recognise success on the back of a challenging year.

“On top of the tight Covid-19 conditions we’ve seen in recent years, sites also faced ongoing disruptions to staffing levels due to the Omicron outbreak.

“This was quite a challenge, but it was good to see teams putting their heads together and supporting each other to get the work done.

“Despite these challenges, our sites still managed to process up to 79 million litres of milk per day during our peak season.

“These awards are a great opportunity to recognise the hard work our manufacturing sites are doing.”

Awards were handed out in 17 categories.

Emma Higgins, Rabobank, says farmers are set for another profitable season but profit margins will shrink compared to last season.

WEAKENING DEMAND DESPITE GLOBAL milk production to continue decreasing, weakening global demand is expected to create a scenario that will see moderate price declines in dairy commodities during the second half of the year, according to new global report by Rabobank.

The report says milk production in the “Big-7” dairy export regions (New Zealand, Australia, the EU, the US, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina) has contracted year-on-year for three consecutive quarters and is forecast to contract for a fourth consecutive quarter in quarter two 2022 — something which hasn’t happened since 2012-2013.

“The current slowdown in global

displeasure at New Zealand’s recent joint statement with the US that followed Prime Minis-

milk output is directly related to higher costs of production and weather events. In the past, production has recovered and surpassed previous peaks, but now there are structural issues that could limit a significant rebound in production from some key exporters,” says Rabobank senior analyst Emma Higgins.

“Dairy herds in New Zealand and Europe have limited scope for growth and are more likely to contract under current and proposed regulations and environmental pressures. In South America, competition from grains and oilseeds for land and capital continues to intensify, limiting dairy expansions.”

ter Ardern’s meeting with President Biden at the White House late last month.

“The statement was critical of China, and this has raised uncertainties over the ongoing trade

relationship between the two countries.”

Higgins notes that around 40% of New Zealand’s dairy exports sail to China, its largest trading partner.

China also relies heavily on New Zealand’s dairy imports, with nearly 90% of China’s whole milk powder, 80% of butter and fats, 40% of skim milk powder and 60% of cheese coming from New Zealand.

“In a worst-case scenario, the geopolitical tensions could further escalate leading to New Zealand, even temporarily, losing part or all of its Chinese market access.

And this would be a huge blow to both countries and the wider global dairy market,” Higgins says.

ENVIRONMENT AWARD MAUNGATAROTO RECEIVED the sustainability cup for delivering an “amazing result” from their Wetland Condensate recovery project, through which they are reducing water usage by up to 25%.

On top of this, they have significantly reduced waste to landfill. There is a strong sustainability culture on site, making them very worthy winners, Fonterra says.

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

AGRIBUSINESS // 19

Elite HF cows scoop awards HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN

cows from Waikato and Canterbury were well-represented at the 2022 Holstein Friesian NZ-Semex on-farm competition prizegiving last week.

This year, 717 Holstein Friesian cows from 92 herds were judged across eight wards, evaluated for their inherent structural correctness using specially-developed linear scoring.

This number was up from 2021, in which 627 cows from 77 herds were judged.

Well-decorated Charbelle Tatoo Pix S3F of Charbelle Farms, Hamilton won the Maughlin Storm - Two Year Old Cow Champion title with her sister, Charbelle MWB Prancer S2F, winning Reserve Champion in the Townson Lindy - Four Year Old Cow category.

Te Hau Windbrook Cleo-ET and Locknee Cup Gertrude S0F, both of Te Hau Holsteins, Morrinsville, won the Champion and Reserve Champion titles respectively in the Conant-Acres JY Broker Mature Cow category.

Down South, Belbrook Bardo Plum of Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora won the Champion title

in the Comestar Leader - Three Year Old Cow category with herd mate Belbrook Crushabul Sara placing Reserve Champion in the Maughlin Storm - Two Year Old Cow category.

Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd of Timaru also had a successful competition, with three cows placing in three categories.

The annual competition is aimed at attracting entries from members and nonmembers alike to promote the Holstein Friesian breed.

Individual cows are judged on type at their home property in natural conditions without being fitted or halter led.

Six in-milk age groups classes are open to all Holstein Friesian cattle.

Breeders enter their cattle for regional judging and the top two animals in each class in each region then move on to the national competition to compete for the Champion and Reserve Champion titles for each class.

The top animals are judged again by a national judge – in 2022, Graham Stewart of Rangiora – with the results announced at the Holstein Friesian New Zealand Annual Conference.

Stewart says the HFNZ-Semex On-Farm competition was the most prestigious competition the Association was involved with, and the sheer number of entries this year, which far surpassed previous years, was indicative of how worthwhile it was.

Mature cow category winners.

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20 // MANAGEMENT

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw is passionate about the ability of genetics to create the most efficient herd of cows.

Science, genetics help elevate farm credentials CANTERBURY DAIRY farmer Julie

Bradshaw has applied lessons from a five-year National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) irrigation study to make science-based decisions while also using genetics to improve her herd – with the overall goal of reducing the farm’s environmental footprint.

Julie is participating in a six-month farming innovation project, which examines how the next generation of farmers are using innovative approaches to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ. From 2016 to 2021, Julie and a group of five neighbouring farmers at Fernside participated in a co-innovation study which provided landowners with real-time data and forecasts to make science-based irrigation decisions.

The data included measured rainfall, soil moisture, soil temperature, drainage, and estimated evaporation as well as two, six and 15-day rainfall and weather forecasts.

Julie says the practical study gave each farmer a fantastic insight into their own land and irrigation practices while also providing a broader picture of what was happening in the catchment.

Having access to precise data has helped Julie and her neighbouring farmers to apply exactly the right amount of irrigation and fertiliser at the right time which helps to mitigate environmental impacts.

“It was amazing. We had so much data and information that we had never had before which has helped us make decisions about irrigation and fertiliser used that are backed up by facts and scientific data.

“Having the records also makes it much easier when it comes time for your FEPs and audits. We can show that we have been using our water resource correctly.”

All the farmers involved in the study were able to see each other’s data and this high level of transparency helped the group to understand what was happening in various parts of the catchment.

“We have always been very open. It is just information and data about water and getting to know more about other farms is helpful because we are learning from each other along the way.”

Although the study has ended, Julie still logs in to the group’s website most days to enable her to make accurate decisions about water allocation for the Cust Main Drain Water User’s Group.

The group was established 25 years ago to manage water allocation during the irrigation season when water takes are restricted.

“It has been such a bonus to be able to see where everyone is sitting in terms of the moisture on their paddocks as this helps me to allocate the water more accurately to where it is needed. Not only do you see today’s moisture levels but you also get a future reading so you can see where things are heading.”

Last year Julie and her husband Peter received the Sire Proving Scheme Farmers of the Year Award from the Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC). The couple have been working with LIC for 15 years and the award recognised their record keeping and commitment to having their entire herd DNA tested.

“We have a KiwiCross herd which is a cross between Holstein-Friesian and Jersey cows. I am really passionate about the ability of genetics to improve your overall herd quality.

“Having 99 per cent of the ancestry of the cows recorded is an immense help when doing the breeding,” Julie says.

DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

MANAGEMENT // 21

Right genetics lift milk yield MANAWATU DAIRY

farmers Gregory and Brooke Dorn have tapped into some excellent Holstein Friesian genetics to not only raise the quality of their herd’s milk, but to ensure the future of the herd’s best cow families is guaranteed.

Milking 300 cows on 150ha at Rangiotu, under First Hill Dairies, the couple was seeing milk going into the vat, but protein and fat components had fallen away.

“There was a lot of milk, but we were struggling to get the fat content up,” Gregory says.

“Using carefully selected Holstein Friesian bulls, we are now turning that around.”

The Dorns, who also raise beef cattle and young stock on farm, have a 100% pedigree Holstein Friesian herd under Lowland Stud. Gregory grew up on the property, his family farm, and he and Brooke purchased the neighbouring 58ha property in March 2020.

Brooke grew up off-farm in Dunedin.

Gregory and Brooke have four children: Alec (10), Hazel (8), Harry (7) and Gretchen (3).

Gregory says they are working towards a herd that reflects their ideal cow.

“When we bought the property next door, we bought some cows from up north; we had a bit of a selection!

“I like having a ‘clean’ herd with no crossbred cows. My uncle bred a few nice, big Holstein Friesian cows and I really admired those cows.”

The herd is in its third season split calving 150 cows in autumn and 150 in spring, a decision the Dorns made to try and overcome a few challenges that arose on farm.

“We were having some fertility problems at the time and split-calving was a way to keep some of our top producers in the herd, rather than culling them,” Gregory says.

“Secondly, it allowed us to grow more maize on our milking platform, therefore increasing kilograms of dry matter grown on farm. Because we have a bit of sand on our property, which

Farmer Gregory Dorn says he has tapped into some excellent Holstein Friesian genetics.

Two of the outstanding cows in the herd: Lowland Police Fia S0F and Lowland Stan Dina S0F EX.

Farm facts

doesn’t do well in ❱❱ Owners: Gregory & Brooke summer Dorn trading as First Hill but which Dairies Ltd we can ❱❱ Location: Palmerston North use in ❱❱ Farm size: 150 hectares winter, ❱❱ Cows: 300 Holstein Friesians split calving ❱❱ Production: 500 kgMS/cow is working ❱❱ Stud name: ­Lowland well in our system. It also have been using to try and means the cows increase our milk solids don’t have to go too far.” recently include WestGenetic selection has coast Alcove and Delta played a big part in overEverton,” he says. “Their coming these challenges, alongside careful manage- progeny are still calves at the moment, so we are ment by Gregory. Seven weeks of AI is undertaken unsure of their capabilities just yet. There were from October 20, finishalso changes we made to ing with bulls in December. Bulls are put over the our feed sources recently to push fat higher: more whole autumn mob from fibre and bypass fat.”

June 5.

With the herd producWith fertility being ing around 500 kgMS/ their number one issue, cow, Gregory looks for the Dorns made some bulls with good udder very specific genetic capacity traits. selections. “The cows “We are pushing a lot were cycling, but they of milk through the cows, weren’t holding,” Gregso we don’t want frail, ory says. narrow udders,” Greg“We had high empty rates in the region of 20%. ory says. “We also look So, we now include fertil- to breed cows with good pin width and height, high ity in the top three criteria by which we make our udders and a good tembull selections. It is still a perament.”

Calving dates are July work in progress, but we managed to reduce empty 25 and March 15, with 45-50 replacements usurates to 14% in the spring ally born over the year. mating.”

With milk components However, the Dorns also a focus area, Gregory ended up with 60 this season. looks for bulls that can Gregory says cows develop those traits. that stand out in the herd “We were struggling include Lowland Police to get our fat percentFia S0F and Lowland Stan age up, so the bulls we

Dina S0F EX. “Dina in particular is an outstanding cow, although Fia is a ripper too,” Gregory says. “Lowland Halak Ren S1F and Lowland Firenze Fia S0F VG87 are also awesome cows. We also have some really nice Ralma O-Man

CF Cricket-ET and CRV Delta Paramount daughters in the herd.”

The Dorns use the Semex OptiMate mating programme.

“It’s incredibly easy to use,” Gregory says. “It helps eliminate crossbreeding and maximises

genetic gain.”

OptiMate provides mating suggestions and forecasts genetic progress, helping Gregory build herd strategies quickly via highly visual and easy-tointerpret reports.

Gregory also uses the Semex Elevate Pro-

gramme, which helps identify the best females through a genomic testing programme.

“The in-depth information we now have access to means we can move forward faster,” he says. @dairy_news facebook.com/dairynews

DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

22 // MANAGEMENT

Consumers seek milk only from happy, healthy cows NIGEL MALTHUS

DAIRY FARMERS

being able to prove to

consumers that their animals are happy, healthy and well cared for will be vital for the industry’s next ten years, a panel

discussion on “Dairy 2032” has been told.

“One part of that is using science, using information, using data to be

able to say that’s actually a happy and healthy cow,” said Animal health expert Dr Scott McDougall.

“We need to be able,

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Scott McDougall, left, and Pete Morgan take part in the Halter-organised Dairy 2032 panel discussion looking at the future of the industry.

hand on heart, to show information that says that is a happy cow. It’s eating, it’s drinking, it’s walking, it is behaving as a cow.”

“If we don’t have social license, we ain’t got an industry.”

A Professor at Massey Veterinary School, McDougall said having the data to tell when a cow does “not quite fit the pattern” allowed early intervention on problems, which was good for her, and for the farm.

Ultimately it was also good for the environment because a healthy cow isn’t burning energy and protein fighting disease rather than producing products.

“Being able to measure more things about the cow, to be able, hand on heart, to say that cow’s eating and drinking and walking and doing all the right things is going to be really important in telling our story internationally.

“We can talk to our consumers and say, look, we’ve looked at this, we understand what happy healthy cows look like, and by the way, here’s my smartphone, and there’s Betsy the cow and she’s very happy and healthy, thank you very much.”

McDougall was one of the speakers at the event, put on by the cow monitoring and virtual fencing collar manufacturer Halter, and hosted at the Ngāi Tahu Farming Dairy Hub in Waimakariri.

Other speakers were Canterbury environmental consultant Charlotte Glass, Waikato sustainable dairy farmer Pete Morgan, Lincoln University Agribusiness Professor Hamish Gow, and Halter founder Craig Piggott.

Morgan and his wife, who run 630 cows on 265ha at Pokuru, Waikato, were named the 2021 winners of the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award. He said that

when they started farming it was all about empirical evidence and operational profit but they later realised there was a lot more to the bottom line than just profitability.

Letting go of the belief that every square metre of pasture had to be retained at all costs, they began planting native bush on their more marginal land.

Starting with about 10 plants, they now plant 2,000 to 3,000 a year.

It was a “quite profound” realisation that they could do it while retaining profitability, he said.

There were tangible benefits in terms of water quality and biodiversity.

Morgan said their farm is now on a number of native birds’ flight paths between the surrounding mountains and they bring their own seeds.

A Halter customer, Morgan said that in the next 10 years farmers would use “some amazing technological advances” to get better connected with their pastures and animals, also with their staff as an integral part of the management system.

But it will also be critical that farmers “stay in control” by contributing in discussions with government and regional councils, and by taking consumers along in understanding farmers’ stories.

Glass said the next 10 years would be about farmers taking charge with evidence-based farming and “moving from compliance into strategy”.

Environmental compliance was challenging for Canterbury farmers facing “about four different levels of rules,” so the key was to get beyond rules and customise a strategy for each farm, she said.

By getting into compliance early, Canterbury has a head start on the rest of the country.

DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

Make sure your feed is FeedSafe NZ accredited

ANIMAL HEALTH // 23

US genomic stats on elite cows dwarfs NZ database

Do you know if your f Find out at the

NZFMA Fielda

cifically for the needs of THE VOLUME and global markets”. depth of genomic data on “In New Zealand elite dairy cows in the US that translates to sires dwarfs what is available in uniquely suited to our New Zealand. pastoral dairying – with At more than 6 million huge components, fertility samples, the US genomic and longevity. platform – owned and “Farmers all over the operated by the indepenworld face the pressure dent Council of Cattle of improving the health Breeders (CDCB) – is said and productive capacity to be the most extensive of their herds as quickly in the world. as possible to offset the The size difference increasing cost of probetween the US and NZ duction. The prospect of is not surprising, accordreducing cow numbers ing to Craig Robertson, The size difference between the US and NZ data on elite cows is not surprising, according to Craig globally will need to be Robertson (inset), sales and marketing manager for World Wide Sires (WWS). sales and marketing manoffset by more producager for World Wide Sires tive and efficient cows to eczema.” been developed. The abil- and raises the potengenetic interval.” become. With increased (WWS), whose team of produce the same, if not Robertson says that ity for producers to select tial for future evaluaThe genetic interval is accuracy there is an bulls is selected based more milk.” the CDCB database is sires whose daughters are tions which will enable effectively the period of from the CDCB database. increase in benefit to the resistance to diseases like enabling companies like time between generations. genetically less susceptiend user, whether it be He says 70 countries @dairy_news WWS “to breed cows speJohne’s, BVD and facial ble to mastitis is possible The shorter the interval in making selection decifeed genomic data into facebook.com/dairynews the US database, whereas sions on-farm or selecting the more rapidly genetic improvement takes place. the best sire possible for the databases being comReducing the genetic the farm’s breeding stratpiled in New Zealand use interval shouldn’t come egy.” genomic data from aniRobertson believes the with a reduction in premals tested here. diction accuracy, which is accuracy of genomics is “As of today, there are vital for sire analysts look- where high genomic accunow more dairy animals with genomic samples on ing to breed sires for vari- racy is so important, says Robertson. ous systems around the the US system than we “In a population like world. For example, he have living in the whole says a US genomic sample NZ where genomic platof New Zealand. And forms are, by comparison, on a young calf is curthere are more genomimuch smaller and comrently a more accurate cally tested Angus beef cows in the US than there predictor of genetic ability bined with the crossbred are tested dairy animals in than a New Zealand sire’s nature of the population, the disparity from using first daughter proof.

New Zealand. unproven sires to father He says this allows “The number of counthe next generation of US farmers and breeding tries feeding genomic sires becomes greater and data into the US database companies to make cullONCE A DAY accuracy is quickly lost.” ing and breeding deciis the reason it has now FEEDING WITH He says the size of the reached a record 6 million sions sooner and more US genomic database not accurately. samples. only improves accuracy “The ability for farmRobertson claims in predictions but, also ers to remove animals the size of the data pool which are genetically infe- the ability to develop and relates directly to farmer identify genes, or a comrior from the system not confidence. only offers significant sav- bination of genes, which “Farmers select the result in phenotypic sires of their future herds ings in rearing costs but based on the reliability of also increases the produc- expression – for example susceptibility or resistion level of the remainindexes which assess the Crossbreeds 6L once-a-day (OAD) by day 7 tance to disease or illness. ing age group. traits most desirable for Live yeast stabilises rumen supporting “In recent times, for “The ability to identify commercial dairy cows. digestion example, evaluations for genetic outliers to father “In respect to genomDigestive enzymes increase meal hay and mastitis, lameness, metrithe next generation draics, the larger the refergrass intake matically advances genetic tis, milk fever, calf scours ence Do population you know if yourthe feedmore is FeedSafe accredited?

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

24 // ANIMAL HEALTH

Genetics can help herds lift efficiency, reduce emissions erence population with respect to feed intake data from individual cows.”

The New Zealand dairy industry is yet to find technology to accurately measure feed efficiency on our pasture-based system. But Smallwood says work is underway.

“With the development of agri-technology, such as wearable neckbands, work is already happening to measure the time animals spend grazing and their rumination levels, which could help measure their feed efficiency.”

GENETICS CAN help

dairy farmers take steps this season to reduce their emissions while they wait for further new tools and technologies to be developed, says CRV managing director James Smallwood.

“Dairy farmers in New Zealand want to breed cows that are more productive, last longer in the herd and convert feed more efficiently into milksolids.

“And as they achieve these results, herds will naturally have a lower environment impact.

Breeding for lifetime production also means farmers require fewer replacement heifers, which is a significant cost

Farmers in New Zealand want to breed cows that are more productive, last longer in the herd and convert feed more efficiently into milksolids.

saving,” he says.

For some farmers, efficient production is more

important than maximum production.

Smallwood says breed-

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ing for efficiency means cows require fewer raw materials, such as feed and fertiliser, to produce each kgMS, which is more important than ever given rising input costs.

“Breeding feed efficient cows will help New Zealand produce more milk from less feed while reducing agricultural emissions. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Smallwood says there is no doubt that genetics will play a key role in helping dairy farmers meet their emissions reduction targets, while maintaining milk production.

“However, the seasonal nature of dairy farming means trial work takes several years of data generation and analysis to prove the solutions work before those genetics can be delivered to farmers.

“But they don’t have to wait. I urge dairy farmers to look at health and efficiency traits they can breed into their herds this

season so they can start locking in genetic gains that will have long-term future benefits for their business.”

CRV’s feed efficiency trials in the Netherlands are an example of the investment the company is making in longer-term research and development to find solutions.

“Back in 2017, CRV was the first breeding company in the world to invest in collecting feed intake data from individual cows on commercial dairy farms,” he says.

“Since December 2021, our team in Holland has collected feed intake data from over 8,700 cows. With 4 million records of feed intake measured per

year, CRV has the biggest ref-

CRV managing director James Smallwood

BULL METHANE EMISSIONS STUDY ANOTHER PROJECT in the pipeline is a pilot trial by CRV and LIC, with funding from the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGGRC), to measure bulls’ feed intake and methane emissions – in the form of burps.

By 2024, the first sires included in the trial will have lactating daughters. Then the methane emissions of those daughters

can be measured and compared to those of their sires to confirm if there’s a genetic link.

Smallwood says farmers’ animals are one of their biggest assets, so potential solutions to reduce cow emissions from genetics will offer real value to our industry.

“All this research and development takes time, but it has the potential to give farmers

more solutions to help lower methane emissions per unit of feed eaten. Maintaining our competitive advantage on the world stage depends on it.

“Farmers need to start breeding for health and efficiency traits this season to help them unlock the future potential of their farm business while reducing environmental impacts going forward.”

DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 25

The three-cylinder versions of the 5E Series will be available from next year.

New 5 Series tractors set to touch down in 2023 MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

JOHN DEERE has

announced updates to its 5 Series Utility Tractors, scheduled for production in November 2022.

For 2023, the three-cylinder versions of the 5E Series will be available in 5050E, 5060E, 5067E and 5075E versions, with the former as an open station and the three larger models in open platform, standard or a new premium cab format.

The Premium Cab features a redesigned righthand console for easy operation and includes electronic, quick raise/ lower buttons that allow a single button activation to raise or lower implements to pre-set positions. Improved operator

The Premium Cab features a redesigned right-hand console for easy operation and includes electronic.

comfort is provided with an adjustable air seat, factory-installed instructor seat, Bluetooth radio, USB port and cab microphone for hands-free operation of mobile devices. In addition, the engine emissions systems remove the need for a DPF engine regeneration function.

There will also be

updates to the 5M Series Tractors, with the availability of more, horsepower and transmission options and the integrated AutoTrac™ system.

Engines from the larger 6M tractors will be used in the four-cylinder versions of the 5M, bringing with them an extra 5hp five additional horse-

power, in the 5095M, 5105M, 5120M and 5130M. The 5075M remains in the range as a three-cylinder, 74hp option, available with a cab or open station. Meanwhile, highcrop and low-profile models will also receive the additional hp boost and include the 5105MH, 5105ML, 5120ML and 5130ML versions.

Transmission options include the PowrReverser, a two-lever option to change ranges and gears, available on the 75- to 120-horsepower models.

The PowrQuad™ PLUS and Powr8™ transmissions, available for the larger 95- to 130-horsepower models, offer a single shift lever that allows range and speed changes, without the need to use a foot clutch. All 5M transmissions con-

tinue to have a left-hand reverser for direction changes.

Said to increase the range’s versatility, the 5M

is will be available with a bar-axle option, allowing tyre spacing up to 90 inches, allowing the tractor to straddle wide wind-

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

26 // MACHINERY & PRODUCTS

Lending weight to milking cluster helps beat mastitis OPERATING IN con-

junction with automatic cluster removal (ACR) and gently supporting the cluster, Lactalign is a relatively simple retrofitted device designed to counter the often-costly impact of uneven weight and vacuum distribution of a traditional milking cluster.

The product was developed after herd management software, used at Metcalfe Farms in North Yorkshire UK, revealed twice as many mastitis cases were affecting front, compared to the rear quarters, despite the herd having very low cases overall.

Manufactured from

Since fitting Lactalign, the farm has seen a 59% reduction in liner slip, a 47% reduction in kick-offs, a 65% reduction in reattachments and importantly, a 50% reduction in mastitis cases affecting the front quarters. high-density polyurethane, the support eliminates any weight bias between the front and rear quarters, a problem that may go undetected, but can be the underlying cause of many of the increased mastitis incidences in the forequarters.

The support takes the form of an individ-

ual pivot at each milking point, trialled initially from 2019, on Metcalfe Farms 72-point rotary parlour. Once the cluster is attached, the milk and pulsator tubes are dropped into one of three slots in the support, largely driven by the shape of the animal’s udder.

The ACR cord is placed

Manufactured from highdensity polyurethane, the support eliminates any weight bias between the front and rear quarters.

in the same or a lower slot, so that when milking is completed and the

ACR activates, the retracting cord causes the pivot to move back to its rest

position.

Since fitting Lactalign, the farm has seen a 59%

reduction in liner slip, a 47% reduction in kick-offs, a 65% reduction in reattachments and importantly, a 50% reduction in mastitis cases affecting the front quarters.

Designed and manufactured by a local agricultural engineering company, the patented supports typically cost about $300 each, meaning that they would typically pay for themselves in around four months, factoring the loss of milk and the time needed to get back to the typical preinfection yield. Lactalign can be fitted to rotary, rapid exit and herringbone configurations.

– Mark Daniel

MOWERS. TEDDERS. RAKES. www.webbline.co.nz

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DAIRY NEWS JUNE 28, 2022

MACHINERY & PRODUCTS // 27

Beauvais hits one million!

MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz

MASSEY FERGUSON recently announced

that its Beauvais factory in France has produced its 1,000,000th tractor, having started manufacturing tractors on the site 62 years ago, in late 1960.

During the celebrations the keys of a MF 8S.305 Dyna-VT – the 1,000,000th tractor – were handed to farmer and contractor Thierry Aubrée from Brittany.

He said, “I’m passionate about new technologies including RTK guidance, section control with a focus on soil preservation and sustainable farming practices. The MF 8S exudes this modernity thanks to its efficient engine, smooth transmission, perfect wheelbase and offers visibility, cab comfort and precision farming connectivity capabilities”.

The Beauvais tractor story started with the MF 825 in 1960. From there, the site grew continuously, producing favourites such as the MF 3000 series in 1986 – the first tractor with on-board electronics, and the MF 8600 in 2008, introducing

the efficient power concept, reducing environmental impact courtesy of the first use of SCR technology on an ag machine.

In 2020, the new MF 8S arrived, featured a 24cm gap between the cab and the engine installation, said to reduce heat, noise and vibrations being transmitted to the cab, while at the same time improving cooling and performance.

On an operational front, from 2010 the site saw a major transformation through the implementation of Lean Manufacturing, contributing to improved quality and response to the growing demand of customers.

In 2013, a factory extension programme commenced with the start of the Beauvais 2 cab assembly line. From 2019, vertical integration saw a new logistic centre, and the launch in 2020 of a Tractor Customisation Workshop.

Along the way, the plant was named Factory of the Year 2016, while also introducing additional manufacturing capability for small parts and prototypes using 3D printing. Key components, produced in house include hydraulics (1,340

JOZ expands into robots DUTCH SLURRY and feed pusher robot man-

ufacturer JOZ has added milking systems to the portfolio, following the acquisition of Fullwood Packo, and created a new brand called Fullwood JOZ, ensuring continuity in the conventional and robotic milking ranges.

Operating an extensive dealer network in more than 80 countries, the Fullwood headquarters and production site will remain in the UK, alongside offices in the Netherlands and Belgium.

JOZ says that Fullwood JOZ dealers now have automatic access to JOZ solutions, such as manure robots, feed pusher robots and the new Gazoo nitrogen cracker. They add that the company will invest heavily in product innovation in the next few years and will continue to refine the milking systems, especially in the area of software and data collection.

Originally established in Britain in 1785, Fullwood Packo has been innovating in the dairy sector for over 200 years. Its first milking machine was launched in 1948, with production of cooling solutions starting in Zedelgem, Belgium, in 1964.

parts references), gearbox reconditioning, the printing of tractor decals (300 references) and more recently the launch of a new unit to produce fuel and AdBlue tanks.

Staff at Massey Ferguson’s Beauvais factory in France celebrate production of its 1,000,000th tractor.

VOLUME 8. June 2022

SEE INSIDE FOR

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NEW CASE STUDIES

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EXPERTS CORNER - GRANT RICHARDS

High Payouts - Rising Everything.

Record milk solid prices are being eaten away on many fronts.

As the post pandemic world shifts and re-balances itself for the new normal, market forces are creating a constantly changing and, seemingly unforeseen, uncertain future for farmers.

HIGH PAYOUT - HIGH FERT PRICES With the dairy payout approaching $10/kg of milk solids it is easy to sit back and say, ‘let the good times roll’. However, as we have all seen, the rising cost of fertiliser, in particular ‘N’ based fertiliser, has seen a consistent whittling away of the gains and profits that have been obtained from these high prices. The ‘N’ based fertiliser market has been going through a series of ‘perfect storm’ style changes, delays and events that have seen prices rise to historically high levels with no end in sight.

Long before the war in Ukraine took hold there were problems with Natural Gas supplies in Europe, a key component in the manufacture of Urea. The UK, Ireland, and Europe in general saw prices double and European Fertiliser plants shutdown due to the rising price of Natural Gas. Production dropped to a staggering 45% of capacity.

The Ukraine war has only served to exacerbate the problem with products such as Potash no longer being bought from Belarus and Russia due to the imposition of sanctions.

Whilst all this is a long way from us here in New Zealand the impact filters through and we have seen the large fert companies, Ballance and Ravensdown, lift prices significantly in the last 12 months as the impacts of these issues overseas affect world markets.

The impacts of these supply constraints have seen the proposition for the building of new Urea and Nitrogen production plants in Australia, however these take significant time to come onstream so the likely impact of more supply from these plants is some time off yet.

With prices now topping $1270 (Ravensdown 1st May pricelist) and Ballance putting their price up above $1400 a ton late last year (only to drop them again after Ravensdown failed to ‘meet’ them at that level) the short to medium term outlook for fert prices is in one direction – UP.

HIGH PAYOUT - HIGH INFLATION The result of two years of monetary policy easing, or printing money, historically low interest rates, logistics and shipping delays, tight labor markets, an out-of-control property market and a booming economy have come sharply to an end. The lockdowns that kept us all shut at home and the predicted recession when the pandemic began has never eventuated. The government, indeed, world governments, threw everything they could at the pandemic, and we fared very well in comparison to other places around the world. However, the result of the money printing, government expenditure, supply chain disruptions etc has seen the inevitable rise in inflation.

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AROUND THE WORLD - WALES

Of course, the current focus on “Regenerative Agriculture” uses methodologies that help use natural sources of ‘N’ through the growing or addition of red and white clovers, plantain, chicory, and other legumes, all of which help to fix vital nutrients from the atmoshpere the plant can then use to grow.

Rising inflation has now seen inflation rates head beyond 6% and the resulting pressure on business to raise wages by that amount at least, has resulted in prices rising significantly across many sectors in the market.

For farmers they will know all to well the problems in getting new machinery and the time delays in importing these machines due to shipping lines delaying or cancelling ships whilst raising prices. And whilst we cannot blame the shipping lines alone, theirs is a unique set of circumstances they have managed to take advantage of to capture record profits after many years of very low returns due to low prices and over-capacity.

And who can forget the property market. The government have long paid lip-service to the ever-increasing prices of property throwing ‘solution’ after ‘solution’ at it with little to no impact whatsoever. It seems now though that market forces have returned to control the out-of-control price inflation in property as mortgage interest rates increase and are set to increase further still.

The labor shortage, especially for dairy farmers, due to border closures and travel restrictions has left many working extremely long hours to make up the shortfall and trying to attract labor with increased wages and benefits.

All the above have led to a perfect storm of influences leading to inflationary pressure in many areas of the economy and serving to eat away at the gains that have been coming the way of dairy farmers in recent years.

HIGH PAYOUT – LOWER N LIMITS It is one area that has bucked the trend, at least as far as this article goes. The imposition of N limits at 190 Units of N/ha have now been in place for almost a year and farmers have responded almost universally by finding ways of dropping below the cap.

This has resulted in several positive outcomes – reduced spending on fertiliser and reduced environmental impact of fertilisers to name two. However, if you have followed our Tow and Fert Times and the articles over the last 7 Volumes we have published you will know of the focus we have had on these lower ‘N’ inputs. Our very first edition was released just after the government indicated it would be looking at regulation to reduce the impact of ‘N’ on our waterways. Volume two also looked at regulation and how it might impact on the dairy industry. Volume three was released shortly after the introduction and passing of the legislation to limit the input of ‘N’ and Te Mana o te Wai – “The Mana of the Water” National Water Policy Statement.

Releasing locked up ‘N’ in the soil takes time but can free up $$$ and reduce costs by reducing the amount of Urea required as an input.

A SHAMELESS PLUG - TOW AND FERT Tow and Fert users across the world are seeing the benefits of fertiliser efficiency on their farms. They are saving significant amounts of money on inputs and improving their environmental footprint in the process. And whilst many are looking at the immediate impacts of changing to the Tow and Fert System the benefits are ongoing and long term.

Fertiliser efficiency in today’s market of high pay-outs, high inflation and low input levels is essential to making the most of the high payouts. For too long farmers have had to contend with low prices. For high prices to arrive and for these external factors to then eat away at the profits these high prices should afford is disappointing but ultimately out of the control of individual farmers and businesses.

Working in areas on the farm that farmers can control is imperative to creating a business that runs well and creates a lifestyle for the families that rely on the farm for employment.

A Tow and Fert is one-way farmers can save money without compromising on their grass growth or milk production. They are an incredibly versatile machine that once learned can be used in many ways to apply many different products that will benefit the farm.

See inside for:

CASE STUDy

Taranaki Farmer Jeff and Petri Bellamy: Coming from a high intensity System 5 farm in the Waikato to a smaller boutique farm in The ‘Naki has completely changed Jeff and Petri’s views on Dariy Farming.

EXPERTS CORNER The first three editions of the Tow and Fert Times, from 2019/2020, focused on the prospect of regulation being brought in to control the environmental impact of fertiliser application down on the farm.

Now, two years later, we are seeing the impacts on farmers across the country.

Global inflation rates have soared since late 2021 to now reach rates not seen in over 20 years. New Zealand has not been immune.

www.towandfert.co.nz | 0800 337 747

Throughout these early editions we maintained that the introduction of these limitations was not the be-all and end-all for dairy farming but were in fact a chance for farmers to really look at their systems and find better ways of growing grass and producing milk. To a large degree this has happened across the country. Most farmers we speak too have taken these changes in their stride and found ways to reduce their ‘N’ inputs whilst supplementing their fertiliser inputs with other products such as biological stimulants, fish hydrolysate, seaweed products, humates and many others.

Grant Richards Man on a Mission:

A trained animal and human nutritionist and agronomist, Grant’s work has taken him all over New Zealand helping farmers turn around their farming practices.

Case Study Followup One year on with the Tow and Fert.

Georgie Galloway of Southland In Volume 6 we caught up with Georgie on her farm in Southland. We catch up with her again to track her progress.

Experts Corner: Grant Richards a man on mission to change farming for the better A trained animal and human nutritionist, and agronomist, Grant’s work has taken him all over New Zealand helping farmers turn around their farming practices.

Contributor article.

A commercial nutritionist’s “hands on” approach to value adding on dairy farms with foliar spray systems.

Foliar spray systems provide a valuable tool to better control seasonal variations, external forces and achieve a more profitable business.

As a commercial nutritionist and farm consultant I am often asked about the benefits of a dairy farm changing from a traditional solid fertiliser regime to a regime that is based around foliar application of products.

Below is a table of what a typical farm can expect to see when this change is made and managed well.

Lime should be managed as a scarce resource and applied only when and where required. With optimum N fixation via the nitrification cycle being in the 6.0-6.4 pH range, excess acidic fertilisers are not helping clovers nor the environment. Options exist such as the Tow and Fert to foliar broadcast clover and N fixing bacteria to make innate nitrification more self-sufficient.

Weed spraying should be done before applying clovers. Carbon conditioning and elevating agents can be applied also in a foliar form where carbon % and quantity are low or C:N ratio is low.

“Why lose 40% to leaching each year?”

Less leaching and runoff are the goals.

Annual Overview

Autumn

Winter-Early spring

Summer

Yield & Harvest

Late or Early Lactation

Dry Period

Mid Lactation

+0.5 TDM/Ha Year 1

Longer growing period

Faster growth

More grass

+1-2 TDMH Years 1-3

Less reseeding

Quicker rounds

Greener growth

Faster Tillering (LEI)

Less clover shading

Open up earlier

More roots alive

More round per year

Faster LEI

Less protein deficits

Quicker LEI

More uniform cover

Confidence to milk longer

Operate with less cover build up

Quicker comeback after rain-roots alive!

Less Fertility patches

Mores DIMs

Less clover shading

Less Pulling

Cleaner residuals

Stagger dry off

More silage potential

Less fibre NDF issues

More even growing points

More even BCS per cow on average

More leafy buttery, easy to harvest grass

Less protein imports required as greener

Less clumps

Less supps required

Better “base” quality

Less open swards

Fewer weeds, less openness in pastures

Single, double spray pasture post crops

Options beyond low soil temps (<12 deg)

Compete with summer weeds better

Less pulling

Grow more clover

Less Leaching

Crop spraying at est.

2nd silage cut potential

Clover broadcast

Foliar leaching is minimal especially when rain-fast sticking agents including salt, or molasses are used strategically at minimal levels. Applications should be set up around leaf emergence.

Spraying 3-4 days before and after the tillering date means volatilisation, wash off and leaching are minimal.

An integrated foliar and granular fertiliser system means less acidic granular fertilisers are required. This allows soil pH levels to hold up better. When foliar fertilising, less lime is required to neutralise the added acidity per annum an all granular (SOA, DAP, Urea etc.) system would create. The neutralising value of lime application for some clients has been up to 1.5 Tonne of Aglime per hectare per annum.

Listen to our Podcast

Fert Focus

Episode 4

Joining the Dots .... with Grant Richards of Newtrition. https://anchor.fm/fertfocus

Strategic use of UAN, Liquid Urea, Liquid Sulphur, Progibb, Lime, salt and molasses featured strongly in this farms foliar fertiliser planning, as well as the vital $10 soil thermometer. As you can see from the figures in the previous table the payback on the investment in the machine was only 6 months.

On-farm marginal growth responses were 6-9c/kgDM grown in the initial early days of measuring responses. That compared to PKE costs of 20-25c/kgDM at the time. Growth responses under low soil temperature (June, 8 degrees) were an additional 28kgDMHa/ day.

Comparative and marginal DM costs.

While all costs have ramped in todays terms, costs per extra kgDM grown are still 12-20c/kgDM for a 15-25 kgDM/Ha response.

Compared to PKE and Soy hulls as grass/DM replacers, that are costing $45-55c/kg right now, the value add to your business of purchasing a Tow and Fert and growing more grass is easy to calculate.

FE, Zinc spraying

LEI = Leaf Emmergence Interval, DIM = Days In Milk, BCS = Body Condition Score

Foliar application of fertiliser leads to bio-economic, environmental and sustainability benefits with no known side effects.

White Clover is one the best ways to fix Nitrogen from the atmosphere in the soil to maximise growth, and developing organic matter in poorer soils. Red clover is a taprooted legume diving deeper into the soil.

Alternate plans to minimise the need for palm kernel and additional supplements on dairy farms are needed.

Excess reliance on external feeds and market forces means the industry needs some urgent “re-set” critical thinking around supplementary feeds. With supply, logistics, pricing, pay-out volatility, compliance regulation barriers and other external factors it is necessary for farmers to find and implement more flexible options on farm to accommodate these growing dilemma’s and business risks. Foliar spraying is becoming an essential tool towards more on-farm self-sufficiency.

Days In milk and cash are king!

Growing grass faster and for longer are vital if this objective is to be met. Improving harvest outcomes in winter, early spring, summer and late autumn can be achieved with strategic foliar spraying especially when soil temperatures are less than 12 degrees, heat energy is low and soil temperatures are dry.

Return on investment: Can it work?

A retrospective client case study Productivity

Outcomes Year 1 - Actual

Extra Harvest

+0.63 TDM/Ha

Extra Milk

+20,000 kgMS

Extra DIM

+20 days

Equiv PKE Tonnes

126 TDM

Extra Income

+ $138,240

Energy Audit

+ 7000MJ/Ha

Sprayer Cost

$72,000

Margin

$66,240

Payback

6 Months

Farm details: 200Ha, 540 Cows, Feed Silo, Molasses, Tow and Fert Multi 2800

Home grown grass is the “bird in the hand”, whereas being at the mercy of all the external uncontrollables loses attraction quickly when you are growing more grass through foliar fertiliser application.

The bottom line is: do your homework. Profit proof your farm system and enlarge your farm management toolbox to live above and beyond the weather, supply chains, and pricing so that these do not dictate and control your business.

Do a worms eye view at grass level of the day to day operation and find out what the problems and issues are, is it animal health? is it poor soil health? or not enough grass being grown? Then take a birds eye view of your entire operation and look for ways that you can change your systems or your whole operation to achieve a different outcome and fix the problem. Finally be sure to search out integrationist experts who are independent of outside forces with a track record of helping as needed.

About Grant Richards Grant has a simple philosophy “Join the dots”. Simply put, this means when he meets with a new client he is looking for the causes of the problems they are facing and working through the processes to diagnose, treat, and fix any problems down on the farm. He is looking to join the dots to find the cause and then fix the problem. He is no ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ man and he keeps a very transparent and simple business model: he doesn’t sell fertiliser, or animal health products or anything else. In fact, Grant is simply your farm consultant and he will recommend what he knows will fix the problems a farmer is having.

Grant helps his clients to create a farm that is thriving for the animals, the environment, and the business. It is a holistic approach to farming that renders remarkable results when put into practice.

(Grant Richards (Newtrition Solutions Ltd) is an independent animal and human nutritionist with 35 years of commercial experience.

Contact Grant on 027 437 9741 or newtrition@xtra.co.nz)

“Joining the Soil-Plant-Cow-Human optimum nutrition ‘dots’ towards better productivity, profitability and sustainability outcomes is essential.”

Where there is a problem there is always an opportunity.

It’s what you learn after you think you know everything that’s really important.

Case Study

Jeff & Petri Bellamy, Taranaki Coming from a System 5 farm with 850 cows in the heart of the Waikato to a small boutique style farm in Taranaki was a change that Jeff and Petri Bellamy were not expecting.

Originally, they had wanted to stay in the Waikato however prices were prohibitive for entering into owning your own farm.

Jeff and Petri spent almost 9 months looking for their perfect farm including looking on the West Coast of the South Island.

During this time Jeff was also looking at farm equipment and specifically a fert spreader when he “stumbled upon” the Tow and Fert.

Jeff says “I think it was a YouTube video that started our journey down the rabbit hole of Tow and Fert” For Jeff and Petri that Tow and Fert video became the catalyst for a complete change in thinking and eventually they found their perfect farm in South Taranaki.

Now at home on the farm in Mokoia, South Taranaki their farm is an open book.

Both Jeff and Petri have had to ‘learn farming all over again’ due the complete change in system. On this farm they walked onto a farm that presented a clean slate. It had had minimal inputs over the years so there were no pre-ordained input systems or products to follow or wean the property off. Instead, Jeff and Petri have been able to begin a journey to a different type of dairy farming.

“Michael came and visited us with a Tow and Fert machine and that was an eye opener that started our thought patterns to go somewhere different to where we had been. The Tow and Fert became the catalyst to thinking outside of where we had normally been.”

Jeff says

Oxide, Lime flour and other animal health products onto the grass, ensuring each of the cows is getting what it needs. Additionally, they have begun to apply Fish Hydrolysate and Molasses to begin the process of feeding the soil biology helping to release locked up nutrients in the soil.

“For us the animal health side of things has been fantastic. We are 6 X less cost per cow than what we were in terms of animal health costs, which is mind-blowing for us.

We have staggering animal health” Petri adds “We have such a calm herd in the cow shed. We had no down cows, no jittery or unsettled cows putting the Mag Oxide through the Tow and Fert. It’s been so good to be able to spread the whole paddock and to know that there is not one patch of white and one patch of nothing.”

Jeff says “Our goal or plan is to not just deal with the here and now and chuck Urea on the grass. We are wanting to feed the ground and look after the biology in the soil.”

The animal health side of things has been an unexpected bonus for Jeff and Petri highlighting the versatility of the Tow and Fert Multi 1000. And Jeff is all too aware that they are only scratching the surface of what the machine can do for them.

“We know we are only at the start of our Tow and Fert journey, and we are excited about what it can still do for us.”

“Even if the machine was only to save us on the animal health side, as it already has, it would still have been well worth the investment.”

u o y D I D W O KN File

#01

Foliar feeding fertiliser Little and often gives the plant the nutrients it needs to grow when it needs it most In conventional fertiliser circles it is often a case of dump on the capital fert once a year. However, plants go through cycles of growth where they need different nutrients at different times of the year depening on the seasons.

At Tow and Fert we have long been proponents of the idea of applying fert ‘little and often’ when the plant needs it to maximise its growth and Tow and Fert users know that this type of system works.

#02

MICHAEL SMITH, TOw and Fert Sales Manager was once a Dairy farmer and Tow and Fert Contractor He’s been called Mr Tow and Fert and there is a reason for it. Michael has been both a dairy farmer and was one of our very first Tow and Fert Contractors in and around Southland.

“In the end no matter which system we decided to run, we locked in on the Tow and Fert.”

And now on the farm in Taranaki Jeff says that he has not even used the Tow and Fert for Urea “On our farm here we had no history of fertiliser input.”

Jeff says that he has done everything but Urea application with the Tow and Fert. Instead, they have been applying their Mag

he t m o Fr

Animal Health the big winner!

Jeff applying animal health products such as Mag Oxide to one of his paddocks in South Taranaki with a Tow and Fert Multi 1000

He has an incredible knowledge of dairy farming, and when coupled with his knowledge and experience of being a Tow and Fert Contractor, you have a resource that can assist most farmers with advice on how to improve their farm changing to the Tow and Fert system.

Wintering in the Deep south.

Georgie Galloway continues to change things up

CASE STUDY FOLLOW UP

down on the farm with remarkable results.

Georgie Galloway has come a long way in the last

few years. Running a wintering farm with her boss Georgie Galloway

Graeme in Southland, Georgie has been the catalyst for

change and growth in finding a new and better way of growing grass for bailage and kale crops. When Graeme ran out of solid Urea halfway through application in a paddock they thought they would clearly see the difference. They didn’t. And that led them down the path of trying new things.

perfecting of the system has taken all of 4 years. This would be our ‘where we want to be year’. Last year we came up with 20kgs of Urea and 20l of fish just to give the Kale that boost when it needed it and to keep the insects at bay and keep it nice and healthy. That has meant that this year it has been really easy to implement across the farm and keep it going. Even at canopy time I’d waited 3 weeks to apply that little bit of Urea and little bit of Fish and I could see that the Kale was starting to yellow so it needed that boost just a little bit sooner. I was able to head out and do that when the plant needed it.”

Left: Listen to Georgie on our

Their path has taken them to a Fish Hydrolysate, FishIt, and in combination with other products they have developed and evolved their farm over 3-4 years with amazing and inspiring results.

Q: Thats a great example of watching what is going on on the farm and making decisions based on what you see. How do you use the ‘eye-ometer’ on the farm?

Q: So, Georgie, since we last saw you, 12 months ago you hadn’t had to bring in any additional bailage. Is that still the case?

Georgie: “Yes, absolutely. Because we have focused on getting those healthier soils working for us, during that dryer time this year it has meant that we have been able to maintain grass growth.”

Q: The changes you have made to the farm have taken time. Have you perfected what you are doing?

Georigie: “I say that the transition has been fast in that we made the changes in one go. The

Georgie: “To me that is farmer led science. We make decisions based around what we know and what we see, then trial and error. We find what works and keep doing it.”

Q: And are you putting on Urea now?

Georgie: “We do put small amounts of Urea, along with the fish, on to our Kale plants because Kale loves Urea, but on our grass paddocks we have not put any on so the clover has to send its roots down and exchange N with all the other grasses.”

Q: You’ve come a long way, so where do you see it going in the future?

Georgie: “We are looking down the regenerative pathway in a way and improving our soil health. We are tossing around ideas of how we can improve the Kale crop and we are going to try a couple of hectares where we mix up a multi species paddock.

We are still looking into where to from here but that is what is exciting.”

Q: And what would you say to farmers wanting to give this a go?

Georgie out in the paddock applying FishIt to one of her paddocks with a Tow and Fert Multi 1200

Georgie: “Just talk to the crazy neighbour that is doing something different and give it a go.”

PodCast Fert Focus: Episode 5 Wintering in the Deep South

Below: Clover is prolific in the grass paddocks on Georgies farm.

AROUND THE WORLD

Saving 63% in Nitrogen use after just 2 years.

From Dannevirke to .... Wales

The growth in Tow and Fert over the last 2 years has been driven by an increased focus on the impacts of fertiliser on the environment. Across the world farmers of all sorts are looking for better ways to run their businesses, reducing the impact they have on the environment around them.

each paddock.”

Andrew now also adds Humic Acid and Molasses into the Urea solution helping to increase the uptake of Nitrogen and feed the soil bacteria to help improve soil health.

It’s not just local farmers struggling with the price of Urea and the impact of Nitrogen fertilisers on the environment. With prices increasing for Urea, Farmers around the world are discovering the benefits of foliar applied Urea and enjoying the versatility that their Tow and Fert Machine provides by developing their own brews and recipes.

Andrew Rees

Over the last few years, we have sent Tow and Fert’s out to Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Wales, and England. In all these markets the push has been to reduce Urea use and to assist in beginning to transition the farm away from a reliance on Urea and Nitrogen. Longer term most of these clients are looking to apply multiple products with a view to improving their soil health and growing more grass with less reliance on imported fertiliser.

For Andrew and Vicky, the high capital cost of the machine, manufactured and imported from New Zealand, has already been recouped through fertiliser savings, however it is the machines versatility that excites Andrew moving forward.

“We have used it (Tow and Fert Multi 2800) for over-sowing chicory, plantain and clover and the seed can be applied at the same time as the fertiliser.”

In Wales one farmer, Andrew Rees has led the way. Late last year we held a webinar with Andrew for our European clients and Andrew has since featured in several publications as pioneering a new way of working with fertiliser inputs on the farm.

His story begins when he and wife Vicky decided to take the plunge and purchase a Tow and Fert Multi 2800 for their Dairy farm in 2020.

The newspaper in Wales Featuring Andrew Rees’ story.

Left: At Moor Farm in Wales Andrew Rees’ cows are healthier, an unexpected benefit from the change to a foliar fertiliser system. Right: A multi-species paddock on Andrews farm.

After just 2 years Andrew had saved 63% on his ‘N’ use compared to the first year dropping the milking platform down to 82 kg/ha of ‘N’ compared to 220 kg/ha in 2019.

Other changes Andrew has made to the dairy are to increase the round length slightly and follow the cows a little later than previously to enable the grass sward to regrow enough to be able to absorb the applied liquid fertiliser. Andrew says he always looks to apply product in the early morning or late evening when there is a little bit of atmospheric moisture around. This helps to minimise the potential for any leaf burn.

Additionally, the farm is now able to target specific paddocks with the products it requires to maximise growth. Andrew says, “We targeted the fields with a phosphorus product in spring, the versatility of the Tow and Fert Machine means that we can potentially customise every mix for

Up to 12 percent of Moor Farm is growing multi species pasture with another considerable number of paddocks containing clovers, chicory, and plantain. Andrew says that now “20% of the farm will have some type of herb in it.”

For Andrew and Vicky, the measures they have taken are playing a significant role in supporting Nitrogen efficiency.

“You will get a gain from switching from granular to foliar application, but you are not going to get the same level of gains without focusing on other aspects that might be limiting nutrient uptake by the plant.”

“The cost savings cannot be ignored but we need to be able to meet nitrate legislation and a way to do that is to do what we can to reduce the amount of N we are losing to the environment. By feeding the plant what it needs, we are not losing anything through leaching.”

Andrew has also seen improvements in animal health since making the change to foliar application, an unexpected benefit. His advice to other farmers wanting to head down this route is to do their own research thoroughly, visit a farm with a Tow and Fert operating, and he says, “It might also be worth doing a small, split paddock trial, a proof of concept on your own farm is worthwhile.”

The Tow and Fert Range.

MULTI 500

MULTI 1000

MULTI 1200

MULTI 2800

MULTI 4000

For more information or to BOOK A FREE on-farm DEMONSTRATION CALL 0800 337 747 or email sales@towandfert.co.nz www.towandfert.co.nz