STRATEGY REFRESH
Farmers hope GDT price dip a one-off
SUDESH KISSUN
sudeshk@ruralnews co nz
FEDERATED FARMERS
Richard McIntyre believes farmers won’t be too concerned with last week’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) price drop.
He points out that while the price drop across the board wasn’t something farmers wished to wake up to, it was just one auction.
“We know the GDT auction has ebbs and flows throughout the year and a lot depends on demand and supply throughout the world,” he told Dairy News McIntyre says milk processors factor these things in when forecasting milk price to their sup pliers.
“This is just one auc tion. Farmers will be watch ing closely the next few auc tions.”
Last week’s auction saw big
icant run up in ‘fats’ prices – especially anhydrous milk fat –may have run their course and that the current higher price levels are encountering buyer resistance.” Southeast Asian buyers took up a higher proportion of product and Middle Eastern buyers stepped
Demand from China/North Asia appeared relatively stable in last week’s auction.
Eckhold says such a large fall in prices naturally increases uncertainty on future auction develop-
“The fall in prices balances up our previous upside risks on our 2025 milk price forecast of $8.40. Futures market prices still look consistent with that kind of outcome.” Fonterra has a forecast midpoint of $8/kgMS.
McIntyre says an $8 milk price “is only break-even” for most farm-
“For the average farmers, there’s not huge amount of headroom with a $8 payout. If it drops, then that will make things quite uncomfortable for a lot of them,” he says. McIntyre says that while on-farm inflation is easing, interest rates remain high.
Richard McIntyre says that while the price drop across the board wasn’t something farmers wished to wake up to, it was just one auction.
Woodchip bioreactors to treat nitrates win award
DEVELOPING WOOD-
CHIP denitrifying bioreactors for mitigating nitrogen loads to New Zealand waterways won DairyNZ and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) the research and science category in this year’s Primary Industries NZ Summit Awards.
The win recognises the work DairyNZ – led by senior scientist Dr Lee Burbery – has done in partnership with ESR over the past 10 years to research the ‘edge-offield’ practice.
DairyNZ chief execu-
tive Campbell Parker says the award highlights the organisation’s scientific expertise, which lends itself to world-leading research.
“Credible science is our point of difference. We take a collaborative approach to science and research, to help farmers get ahead of environmental challenges. The evidence we gain from our science and research also underpins our advocacy on behalf of farmers to achieve fair and pragmatic policy outcomes – and helps build trust across the sector.”
CREAM OF THE CROP
ONE OF New Zealand’s largest dairy farmers won the 2024 ‘Food, Beverage and Fibre Producer’ award at the NZ Primary Industries Award.
Southern Pastures own 20 farms around the country. The company also owns boutique milk company Lewis Road Creamery.
Judges were impressed by their focus on refining on-farm efficiencies, improving livestock outcomes, and mitigating environmental impact.
They now operate 20 farms, with premium products in most supermarkets and a market presence in the US, achieving notable sales growth and international awards. Their innovative practices include introducing 350 tonnes of earthworms and dung beetles to improve farm outcomes and soil health.
The 300ha dairy farm of Jane
and Damian Roper at Alton in South Taranaki is living proof that dairy farming and biodiversity can exist side by side.
The Ropers, who have 20 years’ environmental leadership in their community, won the Guardianship and Conservation Award.
Their successful farming business funds their passion for the environment, retiring land for native biodiversity habitat, restoring Lake Ohurai, and leadership on community projects to bring back kiwi to the Tarere Conservation Park.
The ‘Rural Hero of the Year’ is Alastair Macgregor, a retired farmer who demonstrated his practical skills to great effect with the Farmy Army, helping Hawke’s Bay landowners slammed by last year’s cyclone. Away from his home four or five days at a
where bacteria convert reactive nitrate nitrogen to innocuous nitrogen gas as part of their respiration process.
Burbery says a woodchip bioreactor’s role is primarily to treat nitrate, yet their research has shown they can also filter for contaminants such as phosphorus and E. coli.
“So, there are secondary benefits. This aligns with DairyNZ’s holistic approach to farm systems management and waterway health.”
By seeking to foster a more holistic view of waterway health,
DairyNZ’s Healthy Waterways programme aims to inform sensible and pragmatic regulations that will enable farmers ongoing stewardship of the land.
Burbery – who has a PhD from the school of environmental science at Lancaster University in the UK – has spent most of his 25-year science career working on New Zealand groundwater resource management issues.
He came to New Zealand from England in 2005 as a postdoctoral fellow at Lincoln Uni-
versity, to research and develop a practical way to measure nitrate reaction rates in groundwater.
He started with DairyNZ in 2021 after nine years as a senior groundwater research scientist at ESR.
The research and science award recognises scientists and/or researchers based in New Zealand who have developed new processes/ initiatives or made discoveries that add value to New Zealand’s primary industries.
Julian Raine, an innovator and entrepreneur in horticulture and dairy, took out the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award. His leadership in the primary industry and commitment to giving back, both nationally and in his Nelson community, including involvement in the Waimea Community Dam project, spans three decades.
The primary industries ‘Champion’ is the late Dr Warren Parker. Warren’s outstanding academic career, including 18 years as professor of Agribusiness and Resource Management at Massey University, included involvement at the highest levels of primary sector governance. The former chair of Pāmu, he had a passion for leaving the environment better for future generations, and sharing his wisdom and knowledge as a mentor.
Bioreactors are pits filled with woodchip that act as a water filter and support denitrification –
time and staying in a school camp, he put in well over 200 hours helping
restore fences in Tutira and Waipukurau.
Judges were impressed by Southern Pastures’ focus on on-farm efficiencies, improving livestock outcomes, and mitigating environmental impact.
DairyNZ scientist Lee Burbery.
More collaboration, less duplication
DAIRYNZ HAS launched its new strategy with a great focus on impacts and outcomes for its levypaying farmers.
The new strategy, launched June 1, follows consultations with farmers which included shed meetings. It will see DairyNZ collaborating more with rural professionals and industry groups like Dairy Women’s Network to help farmers achieve their desired outcomes.
DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker, who took over eight months ago, says DairyNZ cannot continue to be everything to everyone.
“For an industry good organisation, being everything to everyone can be a challenge,” he told Dairy News.
The new strategy is based around three key principles: accelerating on-farm productivity; powering more adaptable and resilient farms; and enabling sustainable and competitive dairying.
The new strategy includes de-establishing some roles and creating new ones. As a result, there has been net reduction of “less than 10%” in
the workforce.
At the same time, field-based teams in regions have been boosted back to preCovid levels.
Parker says DairyNZ has “run the ruler” over the business, which has historically run deficits.
“We take that seriously and our vision is to
make the best use of the levy investment and run a sustainable business.”
Parker says the new strategy includes increased clarity and focus, a willingness to partner more with others across the sector (including rural professionals), and a greater focus on the impact and outcomes.
“What will we see less of is doubling up with the work of others, or playing where others are best placed to take the lead.
“To continue achieving positive progress for New Zealand dairy farmers and the sector, we need to adapt with farmers in a world that is becoming more com-
plex,” he adds.
Parker says DairyNZ has achieved some great outcomes with farmers to date, through its science-based solutions, topic-based events, advocacy activity with government, and working with partners in the sector to deliver a range of different support services and
KEY CHANGES
Long-term focus
Research and farm systems expertise means DairyNZ is well placed to address key long-term challenges to help farmers to remain profitable and sustainable and the sector to remain internationally competitive Farmers can still access the good work that’s been done in the past, but going forward DairyNZ will be focusing on what they, as a sector, need for the future
Fewer, better events
Approach to events changing DairyNZ will still offer opportunities for farmers to connect with other farmers, however, to provide an experience with greater value, events will be larger and replace the many small, more frequent events we have been running It will strengthen digital platforms so that farmers and others in the sector can access our farming knowledge more easily
High-impact partnerships
Achieving positive progress for the New Zealand dairy sector is not something DairyNZ can do on its own This new direction means it will stop duplicating what others do at an individual farm level and collaborate across the sector through high impact partnerships to solve the longer-term challenges It will focus on sharing our knowledge, working together on events, and acting as a navigator to services provided by partners This will provide stronger reach and impact of its work
opportunities.
“However, while we currently offer a broad variety of tools and services, farmers have told us the value we add and what sets us apart, isn’t clear.
“So, we have taken a good look at what we do and how we do it. We have looked at what our strengths are, and the unique difference we can offer to provide the most
value to farmers and the sector.
“We need to be clear on why we are here and what we offer, to provide a more valuable experience when connecting with us. We also recognise that while we have a unique, science-based approach to on-farm and sector solutions, there are some areas of support where others are better placed to assist.”
SUDESH KISSUN
Campbell Parker says going forward there will be more collaboration, less duplication.
Breeders rewarded for top black and white cows
RANGIORA’S BEL-
BROOK Farming Ltd
should have been used to standing by the end of the 2024 HFNZ-Semex On-Farm Competition last month after having its name called not once, but six times throughout the awards ceremony.
The awards night, held at Distinction Hotel in Hamilton as part of the 2024 Holstein Friesian NZ AGM & Conference, saw champions announced in six categories, including the Comestar Leader – threeyear-old cow category, in which Belbrook Impress Eruption and Belbrook Impresion Ashlyn placed first and second respectively (Belbrook Farming Ltd, John and Robbie Wakelin).
The annual competition aims to promote the Holstein Friesian breed by judging individual Hol-
stein Friesian cows on type at their home property in natural conditions, without being fitted or halter led.
This year, 739 Holstein Friesian cows from 90 herds were judged across
eight regions, evaluated for their inherent structural correctness using specially developed linear scoring.
The top two regional place getters in each of the six classes qualified
for the national final, which was judged by Jamie Taylor (Taranaki). Of the six champion cows in 2024, four were from the South Island: Rangiora, Timaru and Wallacetown; and two
from the North Island: Stratford and Palmerston North.
The Parkes family had a positive competition, with three animals owned by Parkes Brothers Farming Ltd (Picton) and Johnson & Parkes Partnership (Hawera) placing in three classes in the national competition.
Schnuriger Family Trust (P & S Schnuriger, Rotorua) had four animals place in four classes, and Ferdon Genetics (Otorohanga) and Ferdon-Barron Partnership also had four animals place in the top six, over three classes.
Semex NZ’s Ryan Lett said the HFNZ-Semex On-Farm Competition is always one to look forward to.
“For 21 years now Semex has been running this competition with Holstein Friesian NZ,” Ryan said.
“This is a tremendous effort, not only for the length of time it’s been running, but for how successful the competition is, from the involvement of all the HFNZ members to the size of the competition.
“And the competition continues go from strength to strength: this year we saw a big increase in the number of cows entered across the country, which was awesome.”
National Judge Jamie Taylor said the opportunity to judge the national competition was huge.
“It certainly was a privilege to be asked to judge this competition.”
PROMOTING THE BREED
OVER 100 HOLSTEIN Friesian breeders, sponsors and supporters gathered at Distinction Hotel to see awards presented to breeders whose animals excelled in production, performance, progeny, components, youth, showing and photography categories
The 2024 Valden Cow of the Year was awarded to Royson Oman Cybil EX2 11* ET, bred by Eddie and Kath Lambert of Whakatane (Royson Farms Ltd)
Chosen from six finalists, 2008-born Cybil was deemed to be the cow that had contributed the most to the Holstein Friesian breed on a continual basis
“We’re not only tremendously proud, but exceptionally humbled to be in the company of such successful breeders, particularly in the Valden Cow of the Year,” Eddie Lambert says
The Lamberts were also the recipients of the 2024 Mahoe Trophy for Royson MG Currency S3F, with 517 points
Henley Farming Company Ltd (Nathan and Amanda Bayne, Oamaru) was again the convincing winner of the 2024 Holstein Friesian NZ Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Senior and Junior Progeny Competitions with San Ray FM Beamer-ET S2F (455 points) and Lightburn Blade Gusto (320 points) teams respectively
These awards are presented to the Junior and Senior Progeny teams with the highest points for classification based on the 2023/24 seasons inspections, scores for udder overall and final score, production worth and protein BV
Lakeside Dairies Ltd (David and Carrie Johnson, Putaruru) was the overall winner of the 2024 Nutritech Performance Awards with $6,317 41 This prize is awarded to the herd owner with the highest dollar earning herd average for their region based on the Fonterra A+B-C payment system for the 2022-23 season
In the Black & White Youth Awards, Jacoba Gread of Ohinewai won the Kingsland Trophy, awarded to the Senior Black & White Youth Member who earned the most points in the 2024 All NZ Calf Class Competition Jacoba was also the overall winner of the 2024 All NZ Black & White Youth Calf Class Competition, and the winner of the 2024 Frank Pfister Award, awarded to the highest scoring youth member at an official Holstein Friesian NZ Judging School
In the 2024 Black & White Youth Photo Competition, Hayley Ferrier placed first in the Junior section and Jacoba Gread placed first in the Senior section The winners were judged on calf conformation, background, presentation of animal and presentation of handler by 2024 judges John Wakelin and Karl Wood
There was also several special awards presented at the awards dinner, including a Distinguished Award to Dave Mitchell (Penistone Holstein Friesians) and two Honorary Life Memberships to Wayne Taylor (Muritai Holsteins) and Doug Courtman (Carse-O-Fern Holstein Friesians)
ANNE BOSWELL
HFNZ Patron Denis Aitken with Eddie and Kath Lambert, Whakatane.
Fonterra working on reducing food waste
JESSICA MARSHALL
FONTERRA SAYS it is constantly looking at how to reduce food waste.
Simon Tucker, the cooperative’s director global sustainability, stakeholder affairs & trade, says Fonterra joined the Kai Commitment as a founding signatory in 2022 because of its belief in maximising “every drop of dairy nutrition”.
“We’ve committed to the Target, Measure, Act framework and are keen to collaborate with industry partners and play our role within New Zealand’s food system,” he told Dairy News.
“Our priority is to avoid food waste wherever possible, however when surplus does occur, our partnership with New Zealand Food Network ensures that product gets to the communities that need it most,” Tucker says.
Fonterra’s partnership with New Zealand Food Network kicked off in 2020 and since then the co-operative has donated approximately 34 million serves of dairy through its surplus and international donation programmes.
“As part of our waste to landfill reduction targets, we actively continue to find ways we can further reduce our food loss and waste,” Tucker says. “We have numerous projects underway to identify possible value streams, including food donation programmes and partnerships with upcycling organisations like Rescued Kitchen.”
Tucker’s comments come after the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (PMCSA), Dame Juliet Gerrard, released 27 recommendations to the government to reduce billions of dollars of wasted food each year.
The recommendations, released late last month, were also released to
‘A roaring success’
ORGANISERS OF the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) 2024 say it was a ‘roaring success’, with over 400 attendees.
SIDE held its 25th event at Lincoln University in Canterbury last month.
Event committee chair of SIDE 2024, Jonathon Hoets says the event is not just about sharing knowledge; it’s about fostering innovation and pushing boundaries.
“The dairy industry is constantly evolving and events like this are crucial in helping farmers adapt to change.”
One of the highlights of SIDE 2024 was the participation of BrightSIDE attendees. Abby Rawcliffe, the BrightSIDE coordinator, emphasised that young attendees play a vital role in shaping the future of the dairy sector.
“Empowering our youth to take on roles within the industry is essential for its longevity,” says Rawcliffe.
“BrightSIDE provides a platform for students and young farmers to ignite curiosity and ambition among young individuals in the industry, connect with experienced professionals, and learn some hands-on skills.”
The conference featured a lineup of keynote speakers, including former Australian SAS medic Dan Pronk, Jeremy Hill, Fonterra, farmer Siobhan O’Malley, and economist Cameron Bagrie. Attendees also enjoyed a field trip to Ashley Dene and Lincoln University Research Farms, and informative sessions with workshops and panels covering a wide range of topics.
more than 50 large food businesses, including Fonterra, Woolworths NZ, and Nestlé at an event hosted by New Zealand Food Waste Champions.
Gerrard says the recommendations are a call
to action and aim to shift NZ towards a zero-waste economy by reducing the economic, environmental and social impacts of food waste. “Reducing food loss and waste is a win-win-win,” she says.
Simon Tucker, Fonterra
Feds support live animal exports
FEDERATED FARMERS
have reiterated their support for the coalition Government to abolish the present ban on the live export of animals.
Board member and dairy farmer Richard McIntyre says they support the reintroduction of live exports, with the proviso that the welfare of the animals can be assured. His comments came after he attended a recent function at Parliament, following the presentation of a 50,000-signature petition by animal welfare lobbyists to keep the ban.
The function was hosted by former agriculture minister Damien O’Connor and Green MP Steve Abel, along with Dr John Hellstrom,
who organised the petition. There was also a wide range of animal welfare groups represented, including the SPCA and three overseas experts on the subject.
These included Australian ‘whistle-blower’ veterinarian Dr Lynn Simpson who worked for ten years as a vet on ships carrying sheep and cattle from Austra-
lia to a range of destinations around the world. At Parliament she gave a graphic presentation showing photographs of some of the conditions she encountered. “Hell on the high seas, floating ovens and coffins” was how she described it.
“No voyage was a good voyage and there was no gold standard,” she says.
McIntyre, who sat through the presentation, noted that most of the ships were out of Australia, but he agreed that if the same things had happened on an NZ ship, they would have to look more closely at the situation. He says he’s spoken to NZ vets who have been on such voyages and who have told him the care of animals has been good.
McIntyre says the frustration that Feds had with the previous government was that they introduced the ban on live exports without investigating ways to improve the care of animals on such trips and meeting the concerns of the animal welfare lobby. He says they also failed to consult properly and instead just slapped on the ban. “We are pleased that this Government is having a really good look at it and seeing what can be done to improve the practice and therefore alleviate animal welfare concerns,” he told Dairy News
McIntyre says some of the images shown by Simpson were of injuries suffered by animals on the voyages, but he says injuries like these can occur on any farm at any time. However, many of injuries shown by Simpson featured animals living in their own excrement.
“None of us who saw those photos would find that acceptable. We all care about animal welfare we don’t want to be sending our animals away to suffer.”
CREDIBLE CRITIC
DR LYNN Simpson is arguably one of the more credible critics of the live export trade She made her first trip as a vet on a livestock carrier in 2001 and went on to complete a total of 57 trips going to all parts of the world including the Middle East, Turkey, Libya, Egypt and Russia
Right from her first trip, just after graduating as a vet, she voiced her concerns about what she was seeing She says while you have these concerns, they soon disappear when you arrive at the destination, have a shower, change into clean clothes and fly back home Simpson says at that point you have no control of the animals you have looked after on the trip
But the reality of working daily on a livestock carrier was a long way from what the average vet encounters at their practice
“It was the veterinarian’s equivalent of being in a war zone Trying to treat injured and stressed animals in appalling conditions where many lived their daily lives in rivers of excrement and hot conditions In many cases it was impossible to treat them – I regularly had to euthanise them,” she says
But if the voyages were bad, worse was to come for Lynn Simpson when she was asked by the Australian government to work for them and write a report on what she saw, with a view to the government setting new welfare standards for live exports Her report, just like her presentation, showed confronting images of life on board a livestock carrier and the government officials were not happy – especially when her report was leaked to the media worldwide
“It was just like I put a venomous snake on their desk,” she told Dairy News
Following that she says she was vilified by the Australian government and the live export sector, suffered death threats and was blacklisted by the industry, which led to health problems She is medically retired and suffers from PTSD as a result of what she describes as her very public career assassination
Former Ag Minister Damien O’Connor and Federated Farmers board member Richard McIntyre at Parliament.
Missed a beat?
DID THE Coalition Government miss a beat when picking a new panel to advice on methane emissions target? Some farmers think so
Outspoken Gore farmer Hugh Gardyne was critical of the Government failing to include representatives of the Methane Science Accord, set up by some South Island farmers, who are pushing for zero taxing of ruminant methane
He describes the fivemember panel of academics as “potentially self-serving”
“It overlooks the valuable contribution to the proposed methane panel that should come from a broader crosssection of NZ I for one have lost confidence in the panel already,” Gardyne told Government ministers in an email The Government could have appointed at least one farmer representative, although we acknowledge chair Nicola Shadbolt is a dairy farmer
No time to slow down
RABOBANK NZ chief executive Todd Charteris delivered a frank message to the NZ Primary Industries Summit in Wellington last week- this is no time for NZ ag to take the foot off the pedal when it comes to tackling ag emissions
With the farmer-friendly Coalition Government offering the sector respite from various regulations, including taxing emissions from ruminants, Rabobank is encouraging farmers and the Government to avoid coasting Instead, Charteris is urging everyone to use the reset of dialogue and timeframes to move the sector forward to protect its preeminent role in global food production
“Being New Zealand’s only specialist food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank believes that what’s good for the planet is also good for our clients’ businesses,” he told the gathering
Rabobank suggests New Zealand’s food and agriculture sectors will be well served to read the economic signals and maintain a focus on reducing emissions despite the current respite from local regulations
Farmer feedback
STICKING WITH the NZ Primary Industries Summit, Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell’s quip about the milk price has been doing the rounds on twitter Hurrell told the gathering that: “When I put the milk price up, I can count on one hand the number of emails I get If I put it down, though, I could spend all day scrolling through the valuable farmer feedback I receive”
One farmer replied that “all feedback was valuable”
“So, why doesn’t he just keep outing it up,” quipped another
“Santa only comes once,” said another
100-year old milk powder
A 100-YEAR-OLD sample of milk powder from Ernest Shackletons’ first solo expedition to Antarctica has been analysed by scientists It came from a Fresian cow, and it was either Spring or Autumn was it was milked way back in the early 1900s and was made at a milk plant in Bunnythorpe
According to Radio NZ, Fonterra Research and Development Centre lead investigator and principal research scientist Dr Skelte Anema told its Nights programme it had been an exciting time for his team
“It takes a lot to get a scientist excited but once we heard this powder existed, we were absolutely thrilled it was the fact that it was 100 years old, it was made in New Zealand it was made only about 20km down the road from where we are in Bunnythorpe
But how did New Zealand made milk powder end up with Shackelton in the first place?
New Zealand company Glaxo donated about 450kg of milk powder (enough for 3500 litres of milk), some butter and cheese for the expedition
EDITORIAL
RMA must go
NEW DATA out last month shows why farmers want the broken Resource Management System fixed, quickly.
Councils are processing fewer new resource consents, doing so more slowly than ever, while at the same time employing a record-high number of staff to do it. That’s according to the Ministry for the Environment’s National Monitoring System data report for 2022-23.
During the 12 months, the proportion of new resource consents being notified remained below 2.5%. At the same time, the median processing time for new resource consents increased from 46 working days to 57 working days and councils employed their highest number of full-time equivalent staff for resource management. A total of 2262 staff were employed across all of New Zealand’s councils, nearly 400 more than the 1891 staff employed in 2020-21.
According to Federated Farmers, all the key trends continue to go in the wrong direction and shows just how badly the current resource management system is serving New Zealanders.
Feds spokesperson for RMA reform, Mark Hooper points out that numbers don’t lie.
“We have a problem with the RMA, and it needs urgent attention,” Hooper says.
Farmers are rightly urging the Government not to take the foot off the gas when it comes to RMA reforms. The Government agrees that the current process for making or amending national direction is unnecessarily onerous, costly, and takes too long. A lot of on-farm projects get caught up in lengthy and expensive litigation.
Resource consents should be limited to those activities that are truly unique. Everyday farm activities can be managed more efficiently through farm plans, farmers say.
As Federated Farmers says, the country needs a new resource management framework to drastically reduce the number of resource consents Kiwis are subject to. Replacing the RMA is the most meaningful long-term economic reform this Government can deliver for farmers.
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How homegrown tech is making the business of farming easier
KIWI FARMERS are the best in the world at innovating to solve whatever is thrown at them.
From the electric fence to world-leading science and everything in between, New Zealand farmers can be proud of how they’ve adopted new technologies and practices to overcome challenges, boost production and take greater care of the environment.
That ability to innovate is being called on more than ever – it feels like everything in farming is on the move. Regulations are coming and going. The weather is becoming less predictable and more severe. Input prices have certainly been on the move.
The changing nature of the sector means many farmers are having to manage larger or multiple farms, as scale becomes increasingly important to the economics. It has become harder to attract and retain good employees. On-farm inflation is high, and interest rates have jumped in a short period. Demands on working capital are
increasing, and fluctuating more.
New Zealand’s economic health depends on a strong, stable and growing primary sector. That requires greater efficiency and productivity, and finding ways to keep improving what we do so well. The challenges we face require more innovation than ever.
The benefits of new on-farm technologies, like cow wearables and automatic milking systems, offer opportunities for New Zealand farmers to farm smarter, increase production and better manage their farm environments.
But new technology and practices can come with complexity and a hefty price tag. Those considering large investments must weigh up whether the tech is actu-
“We heard a lot from farmers about how they wanted greater flexibility to trade their shares – to be able to do this from the paddock or the milking shed as they saw production come in, enabling them to make decisions in real-time.”
ally worth it. The old notion of ‘iron disease’ –overspending on plants and machinery – is as relevant to farming today as ever.
Amid constant change and growing complexity, sometimes it can be best to just take stock and see what can be done to simplify what you’re already doing. The best new technologies are ones that simplify what you need to do and how you do it.
Sharesies has been developing new technology to make investing easier, simpler and more accessible to everyday Kiwis since 2017. So when Fonterra asked us to develop a new platform for farmers to trade Fonterra Co-operative Group shares among themselves, our first question was, “what opportunities could we create for farmers by making share trading easier and simpler?”
With so much in farming on the move these days, demands on working capital are increasing. Being able to make the right call to invest in your farming systems at the right time is important. It necessitates being in control of your financial situ-
ation, and the flexibility within that to make quick decisions.
We heard a lot from farmers about how they wanted greater flexibility to trade their shares –to be able to do this from the paddock or the milking shed as they saw production come in, enabling them to make decisions in real-time. They wanted notifications for when prices were moving, and the ability to more easily place share orders. Everyone wanted greater liquidity in the market, so farmers were better placed to access capital or make investments by selling and buying when they needed to, at the right price.
This has been backed
up by conversations we had with farmers at Fieldays, ahead of the new trading platform launching this week.
A mobile-first platform allows for decisions to be made ‘live’ on the farm instead of requiring farmers to be tied to the desktop. Introducing the ability to order shares before funds are in trading accounts means financial decisions can be made when they need to be. These were two of the key innovations we were able to incorporate into the new platform.
The easier it is to manage the financial side of the business and the easier it is to access capital, the less pressure there is out on the
farm. Connecting users to a savings account as part of the new offering allows farmers to maximise interest earned on cash on hand, while being able to make withdrawals when needed. No strings attached.
By focusing on simplifying a core component of farming in an environment where so much is on the move, we hope the platform will make the business of farming that bit easier. Change doesn’t have to bring uncertainty and complexity. Sometimes, finding a way to take the pressure off can be the best way to get ahead.
• Susannah Batley is Sharesies general manager company partnerships
SUSANNAH BATLEY
Susannah Batley
Fonterra farmers are now using Sharesies to trade from the paddock
Science showcase works well
WHAT YOU want from your pasture? That’s the question top Massey University scientists were asking farmers at the ‘Science for Farmers’ site at Fieldays recently.
The Massey portion of the site was set up as part of the Whenua Haumanu research project which compares diverse and standard pastures, and regenerative and contemporary management. This is funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and led by Massey University and includes partners such as Lincoln University, many of the CRIs, Beef+Lamb NZ and DairyNZ.
The setting up of the site was an initiative by
MPI’s Dr John Roche, the head of their on-farm support team. Roche has experience of the work that Teagasc, the Irish Agricultural Institute, does in his native Ireland by getting scientists and farmers to freely engage. As a result, the initiative for the site was based on his experience in Ireland.
The aim was to connect farmers and scientists, much like they did many years ago at Fieldays. Back in the 1970s and ‘80s when MAF’s Ruakura Research facility held a two-day conference ahead of Fieldays. This enabled farmers to see first-hand the agricultural research being done and talk to scientists.
What Massey did at the Fieldays was to create a miniature farm where people could see the vari
ous types of diverse pastures they are studying. Massey brought swards of different pasture types up from their research plots and laid them out for farmers to see. They also erected a fence around the plots so farmers could lean on it and chat away as they used to 30-plus years ago at the Ruakura Farmers Conference.
The leader of the Whenua Haumanu project, professor of dairy production, Danny Donaghy, says they brought along several pasture mixes, ranging from the standard ryegrass/clover to one containing 18 different grasses, legumes and
herbs. He says the reaction to the site was phenomenal and his team were flat out engaging with farmers and members of the public. He says a lot of farmers were keen to share their experiences on pasture diversity and survival.
Donaghy says many were interested in different pasture species, especially given that in the recent summer dry weather, the standard ryegrass/clover has not performed overly well.
“But the key point I kept making when it comes to diversified pasture is that firstly farmers should think about functionality – what do they want from their pasture.
Is it greater summer production or lower use of nitrogen fertiliser? Once they have answered that question, then look at the pasture options available,” he says.
Donaghy says the Whenua Haumanu project has just finished the second of the seven years it is designed to run for. He says the site at Fieldays was a chance to give farmers an opportunity to see what is being done, but equally to let them engage with Massey scientists. He says they are steering people to their website and will be putting out regular updates.
BEYOND FIELDAYS
THE HEAD of the Agriculture and Environment School at Massey, Professor Paul Kenyon, says the Whenua Haumanu project is the most comprehensive pastoral research project ever undertaken in NZ
He says it involves everything that is going on under the ground, through to the plants and animals, right through to taste panels to determine the quality of the product produced He says this is a rare opportunity to research a whole gambit of matters covering the whole system – not just ‘component research’ which has a much narrower or silo-style focus
Kenyon says the project involves scientists and researchers from a wide range of disciplines including food research and technology as well as farm systems He says the project is also helping bring on the next generation of scientists because they currently have about twenty PhD and Masters students on the project
As well as Massey, research on diverse pastures is being carried out at research stations in Northland, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury
“We also have international collaborations and are working with researchers from Teagasc in Ireland, Melbourne University and Tasmania All are looking at pasture diversity and doing similar research to us, which means we have a huge pool of data we can share for our mutual benefit,” he says
Kenyon says working with Teagasc, the Irish agricultural research organisation who are dealing with similar issues, is a massive benefit to both countries He says it makes for quick science because, by working collaboratively, you can get two seasons in a year
In addition to the interaction with farmers, Kenyon says the Science for Farmers site also supported the other Massey University site at Fieldays to attract young people and those wishing to make a career change to do a degree at Massey He says an added incentive is that the university has some very good scholarships on offer
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The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith, says the purpose of the site is about getting a wide range of information out to farmers on major issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, making them aware of the tools available to them and what is coming down the pipeline.
“We have had really positive feedback about the project from the crowds who have visited the site,” he says.
When it comes to diversified pasture firstly farmers should
Massey University. Inset John Roche, MPI.
Planning with farm team to reduce stress at calving
PLANNING AND preparing for calving with your farm team will reduce stress when calving is in full swing, and will help keep everyone safe and healthy. Calving is one of the busiest times of the year. Spend time with your team prior to calving to create a plan that works for everyone and
lar time off to rest and recharge, helps to prevent fatigue which can lead to mistakes or compromise health and safety. If casual or relief staff are part of your plan, make sure you have access to them when you need them.
3. Discuss and plan any upskilling your team
and for transferring heavy loads of milk and feed to calves.
5. Make sure the whole team is eating wellensure everyone has 3 nutritious meals a day and access to snacks to maintain energy levels.
6. Share what goes through your head as a manager - create a list of
Use a simple agenda of ‘what happened yesterday’ and ‘what’s happening today.
8. Work as a team and lead by example.
9. Watch for signs of stress and fatiguethis includes yourself and in your staff. If you do notice any stress or fatigue, be proactive in Your future herd needs all the help it can get to go from good to great. Calf Max with its high starch content is just what a calf needs to energise rumen microbes and develop the rumen to ensure good nutrients in grass
Improved genetics helps boost
NUMBERS DON’T LIE
LIFTING PRODUCTION
by 30,000 kgMS without increasing cow numbers has demanded extra feed and better genetics for Bay of Plenty dairy farmers, Nigel and Dianne Payne.
The couple milk 200 cows with contract milker Rob Davey through a 22-a-side herringbone on 70ha of rolling country at Rerewhakaaitu, 30 minutes out of Rotorua. When they started dairying in the 1990s, they were told that the most profitable way to milk dairy cows was to milk fewer of them, and to get more milk per cow. They didn’t pay much attention at the time.
Fast-forward and they now look back at that statement with clarity
THIS SEASON 25% of the herd produced 500 kgMS (including 12 cows with more than 600 kgMS) The two-yearolds averaged 406 kgMS, the threeyear-olds averaged 466 kgMS, and the cows aged nine years or over averaged 511 kgMS
The challenges of their dryland farm – which includes a 40-minute peak walk to the dairy – is that the heavy Rotomahana mud takes time to warm up in the spring, potentially slowing grass growth if it remains cold and wet They graze their young stock off-farm, but everything that is in-calf returns on May 1 – often shorting their season to around 290 days in milk
“For a basic system here, with no run-off for our dry cows, no cropping, no feed pad – just in-shed and grass feeding – our goal is to average 500kg-plus MS per cow,” Nigel explained “We’re closing in on that now
and a first-hand understanding that it was the right advice.
Nigel has always
Nigel says there is no doubt in his mind that they needed the right genetics to sustain the increased production STgenetics New Zealand has been a positive decision It includes a breeding consultant that he respects in Jean Macky and bull selections he is excited about
Jean has been a part of their breeding decisions for five seasons
“This is about Nigel’s dream and [to] help him keep improving his herd,” Jean said “Nigel tells me what traits he wants – like better feet and legs, udders, and capacious black daughters We usually put together a bull team of five ”
Nigel adds, “We are reliant on Jean to bring her knowledge to breakdown the figures in the catalogue It’s a bit like having a good bank manager and accountant Jean is one of the key people in our business ”
enjoyed his cows and he takes notice. When they employed nutritionist Andre Reidel, of All Farm
NZ Ltd, it didn’t take long for a critical knockon effect to come to Nigel’s attention.
FUTURE-PROOFING BUSINESS
STGENETICS NEW Zealand has been a global pacesetter in the race towards sexed semen with its advanced Sexed Ultra 4MTM, genomic testing programme, and now its EcoFeed research, which measures how well an animal performs in converting each unit of feed into growth or milk
For Nigel, STgenetics’ commitment and focus on the industry’s future is good news for his business It allows him to concentrate on his own future – his heifers – when he visits their next generation at their grazier’s property every six weeks
“The heifers are looking magnificent,” he said “You can see the jump in conformation from generation to generation They are big and strong – as opposed to NZ genetics – and they show more general quality I’m certainly getting my money’s worth out of my grazing Cows are due this spring to sires:
“It formed part of the jigsaw for us, because this had been a pasture-based farm with a bit of hay and silage on the shoulders of the seasons,” Nigel said.
“When we added in-shed feeding with a customblend meal and focused on our minerals and lead feed, I realised just how much New Zealand farmers have been underfeeding their cows.
“I never loved the crossbreds, but we did have them. And when we started adding those higher-end feeds, the
Farnear-Tbr-Bh FALLON, Cillwalsh WONDER, Hanrahan MAGNIFICO, Castleterry VICTOR, Carenda Perseus (PILBARA), Hul-Stein Butterbull COWBOY, REDROCK -View Klutch, Eclipse Akino Uno (SINGULAR), Warramont Superhero DAVE,and Cedarwal REVOLVE
The sires set to use for the spring of 2024 are: Crohanedairy SONNY (Irish), Busybrook Flyin WIRED (Matriarch), Aot HIGHCLASS, Sjk HELIUM, and Cogent Gc LINCOLN
Nigel repeats some advice for young farmers that he wished he had taken onboard when it was first offered to him
“People that are starting out with their herds have the ideal opportunity over their career to breed these high producing cows – especially with the high analysis feed we can put into them, and the technology that is available to us now
“Believe me, it will pay dividends ”
cows that were producing 38 litres plus a day started blowing the centre ligaments in their udders.
“They weren’t holding together, and it quickly became clear that their conformation wasn’t good enough to sustain the extra production.”
Dianne added, “He’d get really frustrated because they were producing well, and next minute their udders would blow apart, and they’d have to be culled.”
Nigel decided to change tack and source
Holstein Friesian genetics coming out of North America, the United Kingdom, Italy and France. His first choice of Genetic Enterprises (was acquired by Genetics Australia, and STgenetics New Zealand would later assume the marketing rights).
Today he sits at his kitchen table sharing that he has a four-yearold Galactico ‘daughter’ (Galaxy x Bookem x Shottle) which produced 753 kgMS in 256 days (averaging 2.9 kgMS
DIANNA MALCOLM
Nigel and Dianne Payne enjoy a great working relationship with STgenetics New Zealand’s Jean Macky (right)
milk production
a day throughout her lactation) on her recently completed season with a Breeding Worth (BW) of 303 and a Production Worth (PW) of 906. She has given him two daughters, and she is due again this spring to REDROCKView Klutch.
His top-producing two-year-old – an ErnestAnthony Cold P daughter – has finished with 535 kgMS with a BW of 165 and a PW of 385.
The herd average at the completion of the 2022-2023 season was 470 kgMS in 258 days, and
Nigel couldn’t be happier with the direction his genetics are heading in with STgenetics New Zealand.
“We tested the waters for the first three years, and only used 50% of those international Holstein Friesian sires, but it didn’t take long for us to see a noticeable difference in the young stock,” Nigel said. “They were bigger, longer, and they had more capacity. Once I realised I wasn’t going to have calving problems with them, I made the complete change.
“I remembered seeing those cows in the 1990s that were capable of averaging 27 litres (2 kgMS) for weeks on end. But when we first came here 30 years ago, we were lucky to have got two or three days with those averages.
“Now we get weeks of
that production, and we peak at 30-plus litres and 2.2 kgMS. We’ve come full circle on our own farm. It’s a good feeling, and given the environmental restrictions coming in now, it’s been a great move for us.”
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THE WHOLE TRUTH.
When it comes to animal nutrition, whole milk is hard to beatthat’s why Ancalf™ is developed primarily with whole milk powder, to provide optimal nutrition.
Whole milk powder based CMRs provide a high casein component for the perfect curd, just like nature intended. Start with your herds future in mind by ensuring effective nutrition supply and uptake.
Like many farmers – If you’ve made the decision to switch from VAT milk, and enjoy the potential savings with CMR – ensure your future herds performance with New Zealand’s quality CMR.
The top cow - Holstein Friesian four-year-old Galactico daughter which produced 753kgMS on her recently completed lactation with a fat percentage of 5.5% and a protein percentage of 4%.
Explore calving conditions when winter grazing
will help protect cow and
Remove animals from intensively grazed
paddocks at least two weeks before their expected calving date.
If a calf is born on crop, promptly collect and remove the calf and cow to a drier area. Know what you will do with a slip or early calver (include actions to take for cow and calf).
Providing the right environment for calving gives the best outcome for calves and dams.
Timed pregnancy diagnosis allows you to be well organised by identifying the animals closest to calving to move to the springer/calving area. Talk to your vet about dating pregnancies at scanning.
Be careful in mobs fed fodder beet or high yielding swedes, as bagging, or
KEY TAKEAWAYS
■ Cows prefer 10-12 hours of lying time every day
■ Calving in muddy environments can increase risks for calves and cows, so you should consider measures like grouping cows by calving date and removing them from crop paddocks well before calving
■ If a cow is clean and dry and there is little wind or rain, cold stress is rare until ambient temperatures fall below -10°C
springing up, is limited in cows on low-protein feeds. If feeding fodder beet, detail how you observe springing udders
since cows might not bag up as much.
When designing your plan, consider the welfare of your cows and any potential environmental impact. Remember to factor in cold stress as it can have a greater impact on cows with low body condition score.
If a cow is clean and dry and there is little wind or rain, cold stress is rare until temperatures fall below -10°C.
The factors that increase the risk of cold stress are:
■ Combination of cold temperatures, rain and wind
■ Wet muddy ground conditions
■ Low body condition score
■ Low feeding levels
■ Sickness
■ No access to shelter Article- DairyNZ
Providing the right environment for calving gives the best outcome for calves and dams.
Revamped automatic calf feeder
JFC AGRI, the familyowned manufacturer of agricultural products from Galway, Ireland, used Fieldays to launch its innovative Evolution range of automatic calf feeders, including the state-of-the-art Evolution S4 Automatic Unit
The Evo S4 Automatic offers advanced features and user-friendly technology, including a dual hopper system, each with a 30kg capacity, and dual mixing bowls.
This allows the dispensing of two different types of calf milk replacers simultaneously, offering the flexibility to ensure each calf receives the precise nutrition needed for optimal growth and health.
Able to feed up to four calves simultaneously, with individual calf registration via RFID technology, the control unit manages each calf’s feeding schedule, with each animal able to be assigned one of seven predefined feed curves tailored to
their nutritional needs and rearing objective, while also. ensuring no calf exceeds its allocated feed amount.
Calves are monitored through a traffic light system, with any deviations in feed consumption highlighted for immediate inspection and historical feed performance recorded and displayed via dynamic charts on a 7-inch touch screen display, online or via the Evolution App.
After attending Fieldays last year and hearing the insights of farmers from across New Zealand, JFC have adapted the Evolution for New Zealand farms and launched it at this year’s show.
“We’re thrilled to introduce the JFC Evolution range to the New Zealand market,” saYS Damian Concannon, Evolution Manager at JFC Agri.
“It’s more than just a feeding system; it’s a game-changer for farmers looking to optimise efficiency, improve animal welfare, and achieve better results in calf rearing.”
Stephen Pollard Ph 021-963 166
Ph 027-369 9218
Kaye Sutherland Ph 021-221 1994
MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews co nz
The control unit manages each calf’s feeding schedule.
JFC have adapted the Evolution range of calf feeders for New Zealand farms.
Calving brings about massive physiological changes in cows
DURING THE transition from dry to milking cows, it’s crucial to manage their health effectively to ensure their reproductive performance, production, and longevity aren’t compromised.
Watch out for warning signs like difficult calvings, retained foetal membranes, lameness, clinical mastitis, or other health issues.
Calving brings about significant physiological changes in cows, increasing the risk of mastitis and lameness. However, there are strategies to support them during this time. Avoid overfeeding springers, check them regularly, provide magnesium to prevent milk fever and grass staggers, and supple-
ment with trace elements for immune function.
Hygiene, patience, and proper teat care are also essential.
As dairy cows transition from dry to milking animals, they undergo big changes that leave them at risk to many health conditions.
Therefore, it’s vital that cows are properly managed during this time because diseases can have
far-reaching effects on their reproductive performance, production, and longevity.
Trigger points
It’s important to recognise what a normal
level of disease is around calving, so you can identify when to intervene. Look out for any of these red flags:
■ More than 5% of the herd require hands-on
assistance to calve.
■ More than 2% of the herd have retained foetal membranes 24 hours after calving.
■ More than 5% of cows become lame in a
month.
■ More than 5% of the herd have clinical mastitis in the month after calving.
■ More than 5% of the herd suffer any other health problems at calving or during early lactation.
Physiological changes
The calving process causes big changes in the body. A cow’s immune function is compromised, and teat canals open during a time when unfavourable ground conditions are common. These risk factors can lead to an increase in mastitis rates.
Many of the clinical mastitis cases seen in the first two weeks after calving, when the cow comes into milk, are contracted in the late dry period.
To make calving easier hormones relax the cow’s pelvic tendons and ligaments. However, the hormones affect all the tendons and ligaments in the body including the foot. This creates a less stable foot that’s more prone to damage. In addition, body condition loss after calving affects all areas of fat in the body including the fat cushion in the foot, reducing the foot’s ability to absorb shock. These two factors make the risk of getting lame much higher. Poor stockmanship and management around calving can result in increased lameness (more than 5% of the herd per month) around mating and further into the season.
Article; DairyNZ
Automatic solution for clean floors
THE DAILY chore of hosing or floodwash could be a thing of the past if you have Discovery Collector C2 on your milking shed floor.
The Lely Discovery Collector, a common product in many countries, is now available in New Zealand.
It operates at times of your choosing and follows a route that you select, 24/7, year round. The company says it will save time and money while reducing total effluent storage capacity.
Lely says that since 2005, its Discovery 90 S and 90 SW have been cleaning slatted barn and shed floors around the globe. In 2016, Lely entered the market for automatic cleaning of closed floors with the Discovery Collector C1 – where effluent is collected by a vacuum pump. The recently
released Discovery Collector C2, which is available in New Zealand, has an increased driving capacity and charges wirelessly.
Rather than pushing the effluent forward, the robot collects it and unloads above a dumping point at the pre-
ferred location, before recharging again for the next route. For an optimal cleaning result, the Discovery Collector C2 can use water to thin the manure at the front and to prevent new manure from sticking to the floor in the back. This water is tanked independently and
stored in two water bags in the effluent tank. As the effluent tank becomes fuller, the volume of the water bags decreases so that more space becomes available for effluent.
As a result, the machine is compact. Cows can easily get around it and the Dis-
covery Collector C2 can drive under (separation) fences and through cross alleys. With an efficient 24V lithium battery, the robot only takes around 3 kWh per day in electricity consumption. “All by driving programmed routes based on your planning, specif-
ically made for a shed’s daily rhythm and that of cows,” says Lely.
The Discovery Collector C2 navigates independently using built-in sensors. The preferred route can be programmed and schedule set around peak and off-peak traffic times
BELGIAN TANKER, TRAILER MAKER EXPANDS
BELGIAN TRAILER and tanker manufacturer Joskin is in expansion mode, building a new facility in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to manufacture large tipping trailers and a range of muck spreaders. Meanwhile, the manufacturer is also expanding its Leboulch facility in France.
Completion of the new 15,800m² facility, located on a 6.2ha plot at Esch-sur-Alzette (south of Luxembourg), is scheduled for the end of October, with installation of major internal equipment in January 2025 and the new factory expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of next year.
The French Leboulch trailer and muck spreader facility in La Vieille-Lyre (Normandy) sees the addition of a new 6,000m² building to increase production capacity by 40%. The extension will include new welding bays, an automatic shot-blasting machine for large parts, and a painting area, scheduled for commissioning before the end of this year- Mark Daniel.
Lely Discovery Collector doesn’t need cables, corner pulleys, and raised cross alleys as with, for example, an effluent scraper. Fewer obstacles allow cows to move more safely through the barn and/or shed. It also allows for more flexibility in the design of the total farm concept, for example, when considering automatic milking.
Lely says with the Discovery Collector C2, floors are cleaned automatically to the farmer’s needs. The compact robot navigates between cows, sorting gates, cubicles, and waiting areas. This ensures a clean floor which is conducive to, free cow movement and cow comfort.
The first four Lely Discovery Collectors have been installed on Bruce Dinnington’s farm in Dacre, near Invercargill.
The first four Lely Discovery Collectors have been installed on Bruce Dinnington’s farm in Dacre, near Invercargill.
Joskin is building a new facility to manufacture large tipping trailers and a range of muck spreaders.
