NEWS
ANIMAL HEALTH
AGRIBUSINESS
Farmers send a clear message. PAGE 8
Trial looks at the rattling of fewer dags. PAGE 19
More farmer trainers needed PAGE 12
TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS JULY 27, 2021: ISSUE 731
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Devastation! PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
DEAD STOCK are being quickly removed and heavy machinery brought in to deal with silted pastures and damaged infrastructure on farms in the flood-devastated Buller area. This latest flood is being described as the worst anyone in Westport has seen in their lifetime. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, who comes from that town, says the flood waters rose to what was beyond historic levels. He told Rural News that it’s still too early to get an accurate assessment of the damage including stock losses. It’s estimated that more than 200 homes in the town may be uninhabitable and more than a dozen dairy farms have been damaged – some severely. But others escaped the effects of the deluge, and the floods are seen as more of an urban than a rural disaster. O’Connor says one dairy farm in particular was badly hit, with many cows drowned in the raging floodwaters. He says the same farm suffered major pasture damage and its ability to milk in coming weeks might be limited. He expects stock losses to be in the hundreds. “I have spent the best part of a week in the Buller area and what I saw on the north side of the river was some pasture damage and fences that needed repairing. But the chances are, farmers will be able to graze their stock on these pastures during spring, provided
Deluge: The huge scale of the flooding around the Buller region earlier this month can be seen on Joan Hamilton’s farm, which is just a few minutes out of Westport heading out to Cape Foulwind on State Highway 67A. Photo: Jules Anderson Photography.
there is some fine weather,” O’Connor told Rural News. “But there will be some on the south side of the river and in the gorge who may not be able to get production out of that land for five or six months.” The floods have come at a personal cost to O’Connor’s brother Bede, who runs the family farm just out of Westport, but that farm has been subject
to flooding in the past and they have learned to live with this. “Right now, up to 40 hectares of the farm is covered in silt – in some places half a metre deep. My brother has indicated that he will have to sell cows and make adjustments for next season,” O’Connor says. “It’s a tough call, but it’s one that, if you farm next to major river flats, you have to deal with.”
O’Connor says local farmers are helping each other out and there is a great spirit of cooperation within the Buller district. He has praised the efforts of the Rural Advisory Group, which is coordinating the response and recovery operation, and also the Rural Support Trust. He says the Government will look at providing extra help if it’s needed
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and he’s been briefing his colleagues on the situation. “As usual, farmers will get through calving and help one another and maybe shift stock off the milking platform where they can access feed,” he says. “In my view there is inbuilt resilience in West Coast farmers, especially those who have been here for a long time.”
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
NEWS 3 ISSUE 731
West Coast resilience tested
www.ruralnews.co.nz PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
NEWS ���������������������������������������1-11 AGRIBUSINESS ���������������������� 12 MANAGEMENT ���������������������� 14 HOUND, EDNA ����������������������� 16 CONTACTS ������������������������������ 16 OPINION �����������������������������16-18 ANIMAL HEALTH ������������������� 19 MACHINERY AND PRODUCTS ����������������������� 20-21 RURAL TRADER ��������������22-23
HEAD OFFICE Top Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622
DAIRYNZ HEAD consulting officer in the South Island, Tony Finch, says his first priority has been to get an accurate assessment of the extent of the damage on the farms affected by the floods. Finch says initially it’s been about making sure that people and animals are safe – after that the focus will shift to the recovery mode. “Once we know the extent of the problem our aim is to help get them back to the state of ‘business as usual’.” Finch says silting creates all sorts of challenges and the objective is to get the land back to its productive capacity as quickly as possible, as well as repairing any damaged farm infrastructure. In the meantime, Finch says they are making sure there is sufficient feed for stock, and helping farmers with feed budgeting.
This cow, most likely in-calf, ended up at Carters Beach, Westport after being washed down the river from a farm at Whiteclifts in the Buller region that lost an estimated 600-700 cattle during recent flooding. Photo: Jules Anderson Photography
He says there is a squeeze on the availability of supplements due to previous adverse weather events on the West Coast and floods on the East Coast. He adds that the floods have come at a critical time of the year for
“For DairyNZ, it is around how we give those farmers as much support as we can to help them recover through this challenging time.”
dairy farmers. “We are on the cusp of calving and in a couple of weeks there will be a lot of calves on the ground, so right now there are a lot of heavily pregnant cows around,” Finch explains.
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Fonterra reacts to feedback FONTERRA’S BOARD is getting some kudos for listening to shareholder concerns as it works on a new capital structure. Waikato farmer Andrew McGiven says the co-operative cannot have a ‘one size fits all’ capital structure. “But at first glance it appears they have taken a lot of the shareholder feedback and concerns on board, and obviously there will be no ‘one size fits all’, but I think they have enough options now to craft something fit for purpose,” he told Rural News. Fonterra is facing a challenging operating environment in New Zealand with new processing plants being set up by rivals, despite the milk pool remaining static. The co-op faces the danger of being left with surplus stainless steel as farmers take their milk to
Phone: 09-307 0399 Fax: 09-307 0122 POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Published by: Rural News Group Printed by: Inkwise NZ Ltd CONTACTS Editorial: editor@ruralnews.co.nz Advertising material: davef@ruralnews.co.nz Rural News online: www.ruralnews.co.nz Subscriptions: subsrndn@ruralnews.co.nz ABC audited circulation 79,553 as at 31.03.2019
other processors. A revised preferred option was unveiled by Fonterra last week. McGiven says farmers realise that the national milk pool is static and could possibly shrink if impending environmental and climate regulations are implemented. “Fonterra needs to maintain and entice suppliers to continue to be the dominant player in the NZ milk industry, if only to continue to maintain the mandate of setting the national milk price,” he says. “Because if the corporates were allowed to do that, I don’t think we would be enjoying the milk prices we are getting today.” Fonterra is proposing a number of changes to its preferred option released in May. These include allowing share-
milkers and contract milkers to hold shares in the co-op if it moved to a farmer-only market. The minimum shareholding requirement has been raised to 33% of milk supply (or 1 share/3kgMS), rather than 25% (or 1 share/4kgMS) as originally set out in the preferred option. Entry timeframe is also being extended from five to six years. It has also extended exit timeframes for all farmer owners on the date of the vote to up to 10 or 15 years, including those who have already ceased in the past few seasons, but who still hold shares. The co-op is also reviewing its market-maker role and looking further at how potential share buy-back options might support liquidity in a farmer-only market.
The capital structure is causing angst among farmers and has led to a slump in Fonterra share price in recent months. Fonterra chairman Peter McBride has acknowledged the uncertainty that comes along with the capital structure review. “We also acknowledge the significant challenges that it’s creating for some farmers,” he says. “The best way to give certainty is to ensure we have a full discussion as a co-op and get to a quality outcome." He says Fonterra’s board and management have consulted with over 5,000 farmer shareholders in the past three months. More meetings are planned in the coming weeks. McBride says the board is open to further tweaks to its preferred option. – Sudesh Kissun
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
4 NEWS
Shine off dairy prices
HAVE YOUR SAY LAST ISSUE we asked Rural News readers if they thought farming leaders have stood up enough to the Government over new regulations. A massive 86.1% said “no”! When asked why they believed this, many said farming leaders like Federated Farmers, DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ and HortNZ are too quick to compromise with the Government. Others said the leadership does not stand up strongly enough for farmers or were not consulting with farmers enough. A further 13.9% said that farming leaders are doing enough to stand up to the Government with some claiming the Government is not listening to them. This week’s poll follows on from this and asks: Did you support the Groundswell NZ protest on July 16? Why or why not? Go to www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz and click on the ‘HAVE YOUR SAY’ banner to have your say.
SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
RESURGING COVID-19 across the globe is continuing to take the shine off previously high dairy prices. Whole milk powder prices fell between 1.5% and 3.5%, for the fourth consecutive Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, last week. The latest GDT result prompted ASB to lower its 2021-22 forecast milk price by 30c to $7.90/
kgMS. ASB economist Nat Keall says it is clear that prices are losing momentum as New Zealand moves deeper into the season, which started on June 1. He says this may reflect the fact that stockpiles are now much better covered after the frenzy earlier in the year. “We knew dairy prices wouldn’t sustain these heights forever, but prices are falling a bit faster than we’d anticipated,” Keall told Rural News.
Resurging COVID-19 across the globe is continuing to take the shine off previously high dairy prices.
“The fact that prices have continued to fall, even as Fonterra has
reduced the amount of product on offer, clearly shows that the demand and supply balance is shifting in the direction of buyers rather than sellers. “The key question is where prices will find their floor, and on that front we are still positive.” Keall notes that its $7.90 forecast milk price is “still lofty”. Westpac is sticking to its $8/kgMS forecast milk price, but senior agri economist Nathan Penny says it is keeping a close eye on Covid and dairy demand in the coming weeks. “On the demand side of the equation, the renewed Covid concerns have clouded what was previously a very rosy picture,” says Penny. “That said, it will take some time to digest what this means for dairy markets and prices. As a result, we’ll be keeping a close eye on Covid and dairy demand developments over the coming weeks, with a particular focus on key dairy mar-
kets in Asia.” Penny says, on balance, the risks to the milk price outlook have clearly shifted to the downside. “However, for now we stick with our 2021/22 milk price forecast of $8/ kgMS.” Keall agrees that the surge in delta variant cases overseas has added a bit of uncertainty to the economic outlook. But he still expects the uptick in global demand and ongoing supply chain issues will keep commodity prices supported across the board. Fonterra has issued a wide $1.50 forecast payout range for this season: $7.25 to $8.75/ kgMS. With whole milk powder prices slipping from the highs of US$4,000/metric tonne to just over US$3,700/MT, the co-operative could lower its forecast range soon. That said, Fonterra will benefit from favourable forward exchange rates and reports of stronger prices off the auction platform.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
NEWS 5
Unlikely to get all our way with FTAs PETER BURKE
UK MORE LIKELY
peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
A HINT from recent trade talks suggests that New Zealand may not get everything it wants in its free trade negotiations with the European Union and Britain. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has just returned from a two week trip to the northern hemisphere, where he met with politicians and officials from both the EU and UK. He says it was a worthwhile and essential trip, from a timing perspective, to give impetus to both the FTA negotiations. However, O’Connor pointed out to Rural News that in the case of the EU, the commissioners and negotiators told him they have to be mindful of their constituents in the 27 member states and that NZ has to be conscious of that. “Ultimately we have to reach agreement that might not be everyone’s ideal, but it will be a compromise that offers value to both them and us.” O’Connor says the great value in the trip was being able to meet in person some of the top people in both the EU and UK. These included meetings with UK Trade Ministers Liz Truss, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Agricultural Commissioner Janusz
Damien O’Connor concedes that we may reach agreement on FTAs that might not be everyone’s ideal, but a compromise that offers value to both parties.
MIQ REFLECTIONS FOURTEEN DAYS in managed isolation gave Damien O’Connor time to reflect on the trip and says he’s pleased with the outcome. He says during the 14 days, it was full-on work and catching up with reading. “Two weeks in the one place is not everyone’s cup of tea and certainly not mine, but I think most people who have been through it realise that it is essential to keep our country free of Covid,” O’Connor told Rural News. “During the weekends, when I wasn’t working, there was Netflix and some sporting events such as the Tour de France, the rugby and football.” O’Connor says he accepts being in MIQ is part of the job of remaining connected with the rest of the world and probably won’t be the last time he’ll be in this situation.
Wojciechowski. “Those meetings were invaluable and provided me with an opportunity to counter some of the misunderstandings of what we are trying to achieve under the FTAs,” he told Rural News. “I assured them that
New Zealand doesn’t want to undermine the value of their or our products in the marketplace. Also, that we produce high quality goods for high value customers and we want to complement what their producers put into the market
and not openly compete.” O’Connor says he reminded UK sheep farmers that if they produced high value product, they would now have the opportunity to look for export markets beyond the EU where their meat has traditionally been sold. He believes they understood his message and took it on board. O’Connor added that he took the opportunity to remind them that, while NZ may be a large player in the export of sheep meat and dairy products, we are still only a small proportion of world dairy production. He emphasised that much of our product arrives in their off-season and is complementary to their local production. “It was a case of reassuring them that we are
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DAMIEN O’CONNOR says the situation with the UK FTA is different and both parties have agreed to try and reach an agreement in principle by the end of August. However, that doesn’t mean that an agreement will be signed then. It may take several more months before any FTA could be ratified. “The pressure is on and I hope that we can reach that self-imposed deadline,” he told Rural News. O’Connor concedes that there are some “sensitive issues” – code for agriculture – that need to be negotiated and some of those haven’t changed over the years. But he adds that it is a different world now in which both parties are reliant on trade for our existence. “The UK is coming to terms that being separate from the EU means they have to embark upon a global strategy of connecting with as many markets as possible. This includes through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which they have requested to join. “I think they realise it’s a big challenge and they only have the capacity to progress these trade deals one at time.” O’Connor says he assured the UK of NZ’s support for seeking membership of the CPTPP, but also highlighted to them the high standards of trade policy required to reduce barriers to trade.
just as committed as they are to high animal welfare standards, high environmental management prac-
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“These reassurances are important, as they will speak to their constituents in both the UK and across the EU member states.” In respect to the EU FTA, which has been going on for a number of years, O’Connor praised the efforts of the NZ negotiators whom he says have done an exceptional job on behalf. He says his meeting with EU politicians and officials were positive. “We met with a whole lot of people from trade commissioners, agricultural commissioner’s members of key committees and trade unions,” he added. “All were concerned that the trade agreement would not undermine any of their interests globally and we gave them that absolute assurance.” O’Connor hopes that early next year, they will reach a point where they can get a general agreement with the EU.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
6 NEWS
Changes given tentative nod PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
BEEF + LAMB New Zealand (B+LNZ) has given a tentative nod of approval to the Government’s change of heart over fresh water farm plans. However, the industry good body says the devil will be in the detail. In particular, B+LNZ is pleased by proposed changes to the stock exclusion regulations and the low-slope map. Chief executive Sam McIvor says the Government’s original low slope map identified thousands of hectares of steep land as low slope and therefore required fencing, which was unworkable and wouldn’t deliver good environmental outcomes. “That’s why we are pleased the Government has listened and changed the stock exclusion trigger from a 10 degree slope to a five degree slope and introduced an altitude limit,” he told Rural News. “That means if the area of an exten-
Beef+Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor says the devil will be in the detail of the changes in freshwater plans.
sive farming operation is at a certain altitude, or/and above five degrees slope, it will not be required to be fenced. That’s a common sense solution.” McIvor says the industry good organisation also supports the improvements to the spatial resolution of the low slope map, but says they are still concerned that a level of inaccuracy remains. He says the outcome is that the
bite of the regulations has been reduced and, overall, the regulations are far more workable and effects-based. “However, we now need to discuss the practical implications with our farmers.” McIvor says B+LNZ has been clear from the outset that farm planning should be farmerowned, effects-based in relation to environmental outcomes. He
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says it needs to enable innovation, adaptation and be flexible enough to respond to different farms, not one size fits all. “There are indications in the document that the Government has responded to that.” However, McIvor says there is still a lot of concern among farmers about the Government’s proposed Certified Freshwater Farm Plan. He says this relates to the extent it will prescribe what farmers can do, the costs associated with certification and auditing, as well as the extent to which farmers’ personal or business information will become publicly discoverable. “Farmers need workable and relevant rules and B+LNZ has been calling for effects-based approaches at the paddock scale to both winter grazing and to stock exclusion, delivered through effective farm planning,” McIvor says. “Our expectation is that the Government will further consult with the sector on these regulations.”
LANDCORP ESCAPES FLOOD DAMAGE STAFF FROM Pāmu or Landcorp dairy farms have been busy helping with the recovery operation around Westport. Cameron Walker, Pāmu’s business manager in the district, says as the flood waters recede the full extent of the damage is becoming more obvious. He says it is clear that some farmers have suffered significant stock losses and damage to the infrastructure on their farms. Pāmu owns seven dairy farms at Cape Foulwind, just 10km west of Westport on a sandy headland. According to Walker, the farms were virtually unscathed by the floods. He says this was mainly due to the location of the farms, which are away from the river and also on higher ground. Walker told Rural News that the company’s stock are safe and well but there will be some clean-up work to be done. However, some of their staff – who have houses in Westport – have been affected by the floods and the company is supporting those staff. “But a lot of our staff are working with the Rural Advisory Group (RAG) which is coordinating the recovery. We have been helping to dispose of dead animals and other clean-up work, given that we have equipment to do some of this work.” Walker says Pāmu also has some spare accommodation at some of its 18 farms on the West Coast and these are being made available to people who have been left homeless by the devastating floods. – Peter Burke
RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
NEWS 7
We messed up – Minister MORE ACCEPTABLE?
PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
AGRICULTURE MINISTER Damien O’Connor admits the Government “made mistakes” with its initial freshwater farm plans. However, believes new proposals are more practical and have greater flexibility for farmers than the original ones put out by government last year. All arable and pastoral farms over 20 hectares in size and horticultural blocks over five hectares in size will have such a plan in place by 2025. But the phasing in of this will begin next year. Last week, O’Connor and the Minister for the Environment, David Parker put out a new document on this proposal for consultation, which will run from July 26 to
WHILE THE new freshwater regulations focus on intensification with dairy in the spotlight, the trend over the past two seasons has seen a drop in cow numbers and virtually no new dairy conversions. Just how the wider farmer population will react to what’s now being put in front of them remains to be seen. However, the Government claims that the main farmer groups – such as DairyNZ, Beef+LambNZ and Horticulture – have had input into this proposal. Whether this will quell opposition from farmers is a moot point. “There are many farmers who have contacted me and said don’t back off - we need to make progress,” O’Connor claims. “But obviously there all those people on the fringes who don’t see the need or have either seen the proposals as impractical. Hopefully, this new proposal goes a long way to answer the why and that what for those farmers.”
September 12. Last year’s original proposal drew much anger from the primary sector, as it was seen as a very broad brush approach and impractical
for farmers to implement. In particular, there was concern about the stock exclusion maps and the suggestion that stock on steep slopes needing to be excluded from small
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor believes new freshwater proposals are more practical and have greater flexibility for farmers than the original ones put out by government last year.
streams. The intent, says O’Connor, is to exclude stock from wide rivers, lakes and wetlands on what is essentially flat land. He concedes that the initial proposals that were put out included land that was never intended to be there and didn’t take account of the variability of slopes on individual farms. O’Connor
admits they knew, when the initial proposals were rolled out, a few mistakes were made. “This new proposal says anything over 10 degrees will be excluded from the regulations, but anything from 5 to 10 can be covered by fresh water environment plans,” he told Rural News. “That will give the flexibility to protect the waterways
but also the application of a local, farm-based solution.” O’Connor says while there is flexibility in the new document, there is still a bottom line regulation underpinning it. He hopes that the new proposed regulations with the flexibility will enable farmers, who are doing the right thing now in terms of the environ-
ment, will be able to continue dealing with the issues in a practical way. “I believe that the proposed new regulations are more practical and farmers will see their way through this, whereas the original proposals for many farmers seemed impractical and impossible,” O’Connor says. An issue that is likely to be raised again during this new consultation phase is who will do these plans and what this might cost the individual farmer. As part of the process, a ‘risk assessment’ has to be undertaken and while the farmer may be a part of this, someone else – likely to be a rural professional – will have to be employed. Then the plan will have to be certified and, again, it would beat a cost to the farmer.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
8 NEWS
Farmers send clear message A cacophony of sounds – barking dogs, the roar of tractors and tooting ute horns – descended on towns and cities around the country on Friday, July 16. Fed up with ongoing government regulations, many thousands of farmers, rural contractors and tradies joined the Groundswell NZ protest, clogging up traffic in towns and cities across NZ and gaining strong support from onlookers. Rural News reporters were in a number these centres and their reports follow… THE PEOPLE of the Horowhenua rural town of Levin came out to cheer on a huge turnout of Groundswell protestors, as they drove down the main street of the town. According to locals, it was the largest protest they have ever seen, with the vehicles taking nearly an hour to pass down the main street. The protest was led by about 30 tractors followed by at least 200 utes
and other vehicles. Those taking part in the protest came from various towns around the Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast, but there were others who came from as far away as Taihape to take part in the protest. As well as farmers, there were rural contractors, other rural professionals and trades people. Their concerns ranged from the way the environmental reforms are being rushed through by government
without proper consultation, to the ute tax, which was seen by all as an outright attack on rural NZ. Denis Collins says he saw this is an opportunity to put a stake in the ground because some of the government regulations are quite blunt and not really fit for purpose. He says the objective was to make a statement and says the solutions to the challenges lie within the communities. “The ‘we know best
Farmers and tradies gather in Morrinsville before they took to the streets in their tractors and utes.
from Wellington’ is not usually the best way,” Collins told Rural News. When told about reports by Labour MP Kieran McAnulty that the Groundswell movement “didn’t represent farmers”, people just rolled their eyes in disbelief at
his remarks. Even Auckland’s southern motorway saw numerous tractors heading into the CBD from Pukekohe, Drury and the Franklin district. While northern satellite towns of Orewa and Warkworth became a sea
of tractors and utes. A big rally was also held in Morrinsville and organiser Lloyd Downing reckons around 1,100 people, 90 tractors and 50 utes turned out, and the mood was very positive. He says farmers are
questioning what organisations like Fonterra, Beef+Lamb NZ and DairyNZ are doing. It is understood that staff from these organisations were told not to attend the protests. “They claim to be having regular meetings
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‘Flying the flag’: A flag-bearing protestor leads the procession of tractors in Taupo.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
NEWS 9
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Timaru’s main street was clogged with tractors and utes for more than 2 hours during the protest.
with Government, but are not taking the farmers’ messages to Wellington,” Downing says. “They seem happy to be in the tent looking out… perhaps they should be outside with the people who pay their wages and throw a few bombs into the tent.” Waikato Federated Farmers president Andrew McGivern told the Morrinsville crowd that everyone is feeling overwhelmed by a host of poorly thought out policies. “Farmers are fed up with the ‘we know best; one size fits all’ mindset of the current Government.”
Meanwhile, Timaru’s main street morphed into a slow-moving, twoand-a-half hour tractor and ute parade, with an estimated 700 tractors and 1,500 utes taking part. Crowds of people lined the street to cheer the farmers on and voice their support for the protest. South Canterbury protest organiser Roger Small said the turnout had exceeded expectations and gridlocked Timaru with several hundred joining a convoy through the town. “It was way ahead of our expectations. It was massive and shows the feeling that there is and
it’s right across South Canterbury.” Small said farmers, growers and producers that power our economy are some of the most efficient in the world. “We have been carrying the economy through the Covid pandemic, with the help of our tradies and service industries. We have a very good reputation in our markets and have a pretty good story to tell. “We want clean air and water like every New Zealander does, but regulation, over-taxing and farmer bashing won’t achieve this.”
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THEY HAVE A POINT! processing plants have lost a lot of sleep making this happen,” he says. “All that angst is playing on people’s minds.” Morrison believes the Groundswell movement is about the unworkable nature of some of the proposals that have been put to them. He says their concerns about the essential fresh water plans were 100% legitimate. He also believes that the ute tax was an ‘oversight’ on the part of the Government. “If you live in the Maniototo, or down at Nightcaps where I have been in the last few days, these places are miles away from anywhere and are very isolated and the roading networks are compromised,” he told Rural News. “You need a pretty robust vehicle, and if you don’t have an option you would obviously be a bit upset if you had to pay more than somebody who has got an option.” Morrison says as a result of the protest he hopes that everyone will work together to achieve quality outcomes.
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BEEF+LAMB NZ chair Andrew Morrison says he understands why the Groundswell protest was so big. He told Rural News it’s really good that NZ has got farmers who love their sector so much they want to stand up for it. “I think that is a strong message,” Morrison says. “What I was really pleased with was the fact they conducted the protest in a really respectful way. “We have been telling the Government the same thing, that the pressure on farmers is just too much, and it’s really powerful when farmers give them the same message.” Morrison says he’s not sure if the Government gets the huge effort the primary industry has put in during Covid to achieve some amazing trade results – such as increasing the value and volume of meat exports. “I think they look at the figures and that masks over the effort that has gone in to achieve that. People on farm and in the
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
10 NEWS
BLNZ happy despite low voting turnout PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
BEEF+LAMB NZ chairman Andrew Morrison says he’s pleased with the response to the levy vote, which saw 89.8% farmer support for the continuation of the levy. Morrison’s happy with the result despite the fact that only 35% of those eligible to vote in the referendum actually cast a vote. He says despite the low turnout, the vote showed that farmers support the work of the industry-good organisation, but he can’t pinpoint the reason for voter apathy. “I don’t really know the answer, but one thing I would say is that if people aren’t happy
they will engage and vote against you,” Morrison told Rural News. “We went into this knowing two things: people who were disillusioned with us would vote ‘no’, and that there would be a degree of apathy. That’s why we scheduled all those roadshow meetings. We engaged heavily with Māori and held five hui, as well as holding 34 regional meetings in an attempt to break the apathy mould.” Morrison says B+LNZ is pleased with the result, particularly given the amount of farmer concern about the wave of regulation coming at them. He says the result validates what the organisation is doing.
BLNZ chair Andrew Morrison is pleased with the result, particularly given the amount of farmer concern about the wave of regulation coming at them.
He says it was heartening to hear from farmers during the roadshow that there’s a lot they like – especially around
B+LNZ’s farming excellence work and programmes such as Taste Pure Nature. “Farmers strongly
endorsed B+LNZ’s role in advocacy, but we also heard loud and clear from them that there’s a lot of frustration out there about the scale and pace of regulatory change,” Morrison added. “They want us to fight as hard as we can on their behalf, working more closely with Federated Farmers and DairyNZ in responding to this. I can assure farmers we are taking this on board.” Morrison believes, more than ever, farmers need a strong voice representing their interests domestically and internationally. The new levy runs for six years, and the sheepmeat levy will increase from 70 to 75 cents per head.
NEW RED MEAT AWARDS A CHANCE to celebrate all the good work being done in the red meat sector and tell this to the nation. That’s how the Beef+Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor is describing the new awards being organised by the industry good organisation. He says the Beef+Lamb New Zealand Awards will celebrate the people, the science, technology and innovation that makes NZ’s red meat sector world-leading. The awards are open to all those in the sheep and beef sector, including dairy beef. The categories include, Emerging Achiever Award, People Development Award, Significant Sector Contribution Award, Rural Champion Award, Science and Research Award, Technology Award, Innovation Farming Award and Market Leader Award. “It is the first time that the red sector has had an opportunity to showcase its excellence, to the industry and the wider public, through an event such as the Beef+Lamb Awards,” McIvor says. “I really encourage anyone working within the sector to consider either entering or nominating a person or organisation that has, or continues to, make a difference to the productivity, profitability, sustainability or well-being of our sector.” Farmlands are the platinum sponsor for the new awards. Entries are now open and close at the end of August with the winners being announced at a Gala Showcase in Napier on 20 October. – Peter Burke
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
NEWS 11
Fit for a Better World
MPI using delay tactics? DAVID ANDERSON
BUREAUCRATIC OBFUSCATION is being used to stall the provision information about the costs and achievements of the Ministry of Primary Industries’ (MPI) ‘Fit for a Better World’ strategy. On June 16, Rural News sent MPI an Official Information Act (OIA) request seeking more information relating to Fit for a Better World. The request asked only five questions relating to meetings, minutes, costs and outcomes of the programme. However, on July 14 – on the last of the day of the 20 working day timeframe when an OIA must be answered – MPI replied that it would not be able to answer within the mandated timeframe. In a classic stalling move, which has become a common tactic used by government departments around OIA requests, MPI has extended the
time it will provide any answers till, “no later than September 8, 2021”, which adds another 40 working days, making it more than three times the mandated OIA response timeframe. MPI claims: “consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot be reasonably made within the normal 20 working day time limit”. It goes on to say, “the request… necessitates a search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with operations of the department or the venture or the Minister of the Crown or the organisation”. However, the Fit for a Better World programme, which has been pushed by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, was only released in July 2020. It is described by MPI as a roadmap “to
IN BRIEF
bring together opportunities the Government considers will accelerate the productivity, sustainability, and inclusiveness of the primary sector, to deliver more value for all New Zealanders”. At this year’s Fieldays, MPI released an update on the programme – an expensive-looking, 30
page glossary document – which claimed to set out “three ambitious targets to achieve a more productive, sustainable, and inclusive economy within the next decade”. According to the Fit for a Better World update, the ‘roadmap’ will help the primary sector add $44 billion in export earn-
2021 Progress Update
ings over the next decade, reduce farming’s biogenic methane emissions to 24–47% below 2017 levels by 2050 and 10% below by 2030 and employ 10% more New Zealanders by 2030. MPI has stalled providing any information about the costs and achievements of the ‘Fit for a Better World’ strategy.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
12 AGRIBUSINESS
More farmer trainers needed! DAVID ANDERSON
THERE APPEARS to be no shortage of school leavers wanting a career in the sheep beef and deer industry, but rather a lack of training farms. That’s the view of the Growing Future Farmers (GFF) chair John Jackson. He says five open days – recently held by the trust in Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Te Kuiti and Taihape – saw 38, 46, 29, 28 and 21 students turn-up at each venue, respectively. Jackson says there are more GFF open days planned for the South Island in mid-August at Winton, Omarama, North Canterbury and Blenheim. “However, at this stage less than 20% of these students will get an opportunity because we have not an adequate number of training farms
on which to place these students,” Jackson told Rural News. “Our problem is not the inability to attract potential staff to the industry, but an inability to train the numbers we require.” He says the GFF model requires sheep and beef farmers to integrate students into their workplace and give them an opportunity to grow their experience and skill set, with the help of locallybased industry experts and backed by a formal qualification process. The farm trainer makes an investment in the student by providing a weekly sponsorship payment to their student of $180 per week – as well as providing appropriate accommodation, WiFi and power. “Provision of a safe and encouraging work-
GFF chair John Jackson says the problem is not attracting potential trainees, but an inability to train the numbers required.
place is critical to a successful outcome,” Jackson says. Beyond the formal national qualification, GFF delivers 20 essential farm skills deemed nec-
essary by farmers. These include pup training (all students start with a pup), health and safety in action, advanced farm vehicle training, work readiness, financial liter-
acy and farming operations, to name a few. “Over the last three years GFF, have built and trialled a holistic approach to training,” Jackson adds. “It is real training in the workplace (not the classroom), where robust qualifications – utilising the best of industry expertise and delivery, as well as wrap-around pastoral care – is delivered.” Liaison managers are employed in the regions and are a key point of difference in the GFF model, with regular (at a minimum weekly) contact with students and farm trainers. “This is absolutely a farmer-led initiative, where we have tried to take the best processes from New Zealand’s most sought after traditional training institutions and use these – along with
our own requirements – to develop the GFF model,” Jackson explains. However, he claims the GFF scheme is much more scaleable than the traditional model. “In an ideal situation, we will have eight students on farms within an hour’s drive of each other and a liaison manager assigned to that cluster of students and farm trainers.” With 44 first year students currently in the programme nationwide, GFF has examples of these types of clusters working well in King Country, Gisborne and two in the Wairarapa. In a typical week, a GFF student is on farm from Monday to Thursday, with a training day off farm (with other students in their cluster) on the Friday. Meanwhile, students are also encour-
aged to go home on the weekend where possible. Jackson concedes that a farm trainer’s commitment is considerable but adds that more than half of GFF’s 50 current farm trainers have opted to take on an additional student for the 2022 intake. “So, these guys will have both a first and second year student on farm for the duration of the 2022 year.” Student accommodation is another constraint to the programme’s expansion. However, despite the challenges of accommodation and farm trainers, Jackson says the GFF model has proven to work well – both on farms where the farmer trainer is the sole operator, as well as larger properties with multiple staff. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
Update from Beef + Lamb New Zealand By Andrew Morrison, Chairman
The Government has changed the stock exclusion trigger from a 10 degree slope to a five degree slope and introduced an altitude limit. If the area of an extensive farming operation is at a certain altitude, or/and above five degrees slope, it will not be required to be fenced. The spatial resolution of the low slope map has also been improved, although we are still concerned a level of inaccuracy remains. Ultimately, the bite of the regulations has been reduced and overall the regulations are far more workable and effects-based.
Farmers have had their say in the 2021 sheepmeat and beef levy referendum. Those farmers that voted have overwhelmingly supported the continuation of the sheepmeat and beef levies while they also backed a proposed increase in the sheepmeat levy from 1 October 2021. I’d like to thank everyone who had their say during what is an incredibly challenging time for farmers. I know there is a lot of concern out there about the speed and scale of regulatory change. It’s important farmers have a strong voice representing their interests and have access to the right tools and the support they need on-farm to run more sustainable and profitable businesses. The B+LNZ team will continue to fight for practical and sensible rules which work on the ground for farmers. The proposed changes to the stock exclusion regulations and the low-slope map announced by the Government recently is a good example of this. The original low slope map identified thousands of hectares of steep land as low slope and therefore required fencing, which was unworkable and wouldn’t deliver good environmental outcomes.
However, we are still concerned about the Government’s proposed Certified Freshwater Farm Plan, the extent it will prescribe what farmers can do, the costs associated with certification and auditing, and the extent to which farmers’ personal or business information will become publicly discoverable. As with all these things, the devil will be in the detail about the Government’s approach to farm planning. What’s critical is for us to see the farm planning regulations and guidance in detail because the Government has not defined exactly how they will work. We are pressing the Government to further consult with the sector on the regulations. We have said all along that farm planning should be farmer-owned, effects-based in relation to environmental outcomes, enable innovation, adaptation and be flexible enough to respond to different farms, not one size fits all. The only information that should be made available to the public about an individual Certified Freshwater Farm plan is its most recent audit outcome – basically whether it passed, similar to public-facing food safety grade certificates at a restaurant or café, or a WoF sticker on a car. We want the relevant sections of the B+LNZ farm plan to be recognised as the Certified Freshwater Farm Plan because we know the approach outlined in our farm plan will work for farmers, their emerging market needs, and the environment.
Every farm is unique, even if they’re neighbours. That’s why you need a vaccination programme that fits your farm’s unique requirements.
Schering-Plough Animal Health Ltd. Phone: 0800 800 543. www.msd-animal-health.co.nz. NZ-NLV-210500001 NZ/NLX/0518/0003e © 2021 Intervet International B.V. All Rights Reserved. 1. Baron Audit Data. March 2021.
RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
14 MANAGEMENT
Robots to boost profitability SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
A NEW generation of milking robots is promising greater profitability for farmers. GEA claims its DairyRobot R9500 and DairyProQ automatic milking systems bring significant enhancements to the milking process, including a software package to optimise milking. The company says a new service concept also ensures improved serviceability, lower maintenance costs and minimised system downtimes. “All in all, dairy farms benefit from increased availability, more milkings and milk per day, and reduced operating costs of up to 35% compared to the predecessor model, for greater profitability,” says GEA. The company says
GEA reckons its new generation of milking robots will mean greater profitability for farmers.
its In-Liner Everything technology performs every step of the milking process – stimulation, cleaning/pre-dipping, premilking, milking and dipping – in just one single procedure.
“The dipping agent in the In-Liner Everything process is applied to both in the teat cup and teat, which means the teat rubber surface is also wetted,” it explains. “As a result, the dip-
ping agent disinfects the teat skin as well as the teat cup. “This can eliminate the need for intermediate disinfection with peracetic acid… the camera and teat cup are now cleaned
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Meanwhile, it claims the new software package brings another important innovation to the DairyRobot R9500: with just one click in the MView control, a convenient separation mode is activated. This allows cows whose milk is being separated to be milked as a group without intermediate rinsing or cleaning after each individual cow. “This saves time and significantly reduces water, detergent and energy consumption. It also means that milking systems are ready for use again more quickly for the following cows.” GEA says its milking technology modules have also been improved. “With the milking technology modules, which contain the sensors for milk analysis and metering. “Optimised techni-
cal components in these modules now ensure a significantly longer service life. Their design allows better accessibility to the module components and faster replacement of control service parts for continued milking and minimised downtime.” Up to four milking robots can be connected to the supply unit of the DairyRobot R9500. The company says this not only enhances the energy efficiency of the operation, but also provides sufficient flexibility for future expansion. GEA says optional empty space modules have been developed for the DairyProQ milking carousel, which can be used to reduce investment costs and increase throughput capacity by retrofitting additional milking shed modules.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
16 OPINION EDITORIAL
EDNA
Message delivered! DESPITE CLOGGING up traffic in towns and cities throughout NZ, the recent Groundswell NZ protest gained huge support from onlookers and the public. Organisers can take a bow. This was a massive turnout that was well supported, well managed and generally respectful (except for a couple of outliers). Attempts by critics – mainly urban liberals, government apparatchiks and ticket clippers on social media – to label it as just a ‘ute tax’ protest have failed miserably. Fair-minded people saw a group of New Zealanders expressing their utter exasperation and legitimate complaints about the way their sector is being mistreated. That message has been delivered loud and clear. There is now talk of another protest on August 16; let’s hope that is just talk. A soufflé does not rise twice, and Groundswell NZ needs to ensure the goodwill and support of the country has for farmers isn’t lost by overdoing the protest thing. Meanwhile, although not unexpected, Labour MPs – especially those supposedly representing rural and provincial NZ – were conspicuous by their absence. These same MPs, who were only too happy to run around at Fieldays this year fighting over who would carry the PM’s handbag, did not have the guts to front up to their constituents. Rural and provincial NZ will remember this and vote accordingly in 2023. Surely a Member of Parliament’s job is to hear electorates’ concerns – even if they don’t like them – and report these back to the powers-that-be. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor was another unsurprising no show, his weasel words claiming that ‘plenty of farmers’ support the Government’s direction is about as accurate as a leaky rain gauge. The other question farmers should be asking is why organisations like Fonterra, Beef+Lamb NZ, DairyNZ and the big rural retailers reportedly sent out directives telling staff not to take part in these protests. As Morrinsville organiser Lloyd Downing says: “They seem happy to be in the tent looking out… perhaps they should be outside with the people who pay their wages and throw a few bombs into the tent.” It’s clear where the loyalties of the leaders of these outfits lie, and it is not with farmers who pay their huge director fees. Farmers need to decide if these organisations really have their best interests at heart. The evidence so far is debatable.
RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS
HEAD OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 331100, Takapuna, Auckland 0740 Phone 09-307 0399 PUBLISHER: Brian Hight ......................................... Ph 09 307 0399 GENERAL MANAGER: Adam Fricker ....................................... Ph 021-842 226 CONSULTING EDITOR: David Anderson .................................. Ph 09 307 0399 davida@ruralnews.co.nz
“Some #@!!&*@ townie cop gave me a ticket for driving with tax-exempt fuel, no warrant of fitness and no registration plates!”
Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound? Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz
THE HOUND Hypocrites!
Oh yeah?
It’s coming!
Your old mate finds it rather ironic that the Government is going to open up the border to allow in 300 overseas educators to help fill the gap of teacher shortages in schools around NZ. This is the same Government that has been telling farmers, growers, fishing companies, rural contractors and others that they should just employ and train more New Zealanders – and pay them extra! So, the question needs to be asked: Why isn’t the Government just employing and training additional New Zealanders as teachers and paying them more – instead of importing ‘cheap’ overseas labour? Obviously, this is a ridiculous argument because if there were suitable local teachers available, they would be hired. Yet, exactly the same argument applies to the farming, horticulture and rural contracting sectors.
The Hound reckons that meat company Silver Fern Farms is now drinking from the same Kool Aid trough as the anti-farming types at Greenpeace. The company claims it wants to be the “world’s most sustainable grass-fed meat company” and this new strategy includes “committing to a ‘Regenerative’ future”! As the Hound’s mate says, this is interesting, when no one can actually define what ‘Regenerative Ag’ (RA) actually is. How will the 50% Chinese-owned company define what qualifies as RA and what does not? Will it be employing its fellow RA advocates from Greenpeace to audit its suppliers to ensure they are meeting RA measures? Does this mean that SFF will no longer take part in the Sunday night auctions and will only take livestock that is produced on farms by approved regenerative methods? Or is this just greenwash marketing, as many suspect?
This old mutt reckons the ‘woke’ epidemic – currently rife in left wing and government circles – is now starting to spread its ugly wings into the ag sector. Recently the Ag Twiterati (those who have far too much time on their hands) were demanding more ‘diverse’ – that is Māori and women – representation at Fed Farmers one would think competency and ability is more important than what a person’s gender or ethnicity is. Following the recent Primary Industry Conference there were howls of outrage on Twitter about the lack of diversity in Fed Farmers representation. Problem for the wokesters on social media is that Feds is a membership organisation, where its reps are democratically elected by members. Are these ticket-clippers on Twitter now suggesting that a quota system must be imposed on a private organisation such as Feds.
PRODUCTION: Dave Ferguson ...................... Ph 027 272 5372 davef@ruralnews.co.nz Becky Williams .......................Ph 021 100 4381 beckyw@ruralnews.co.nz REPORTERS: Sudesh Kissun ........................ Ph 021 963 177 sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz Peter Burke ........................... Ph 021 224 2184 peterb@ruralnews.co.nz MACHINERY EDITOR: Mark Daniel ............................. Ph 021 906 723 markd@ruralnews.co.nz
Real or reel? Your canine crusader reckons people should be very sceptical of video footage supplied to TV news by vested interests. Two examples of this were recently played on the forever-going-broke tabloid TV channel Newshub. The first was footage of a security guard appearing to kick an anti-marina protestor in the face at Waiheke Island. However, trouble was the video, supplied by the protestors, cut out the part where the same protestor had first kicked a security guard in the head numerous times and nearly drowned him! The other footage shown on Newshub was of cows deep in mud in Southland, displaying terrible winter grazing practice. However, this video was supplied by an anti winter-grazing activist who is funded by Greenpeace. Questions have now been raised about this footage being doctored and not even current, but from last year.
AUCKLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Stephen Pollard .......................... Ph 021 963 166 stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz
WELLINGTON SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Ron Mackay ................................. Ph 021 453 914 ronm@ruralnews.co.nz
WAIKATO SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Lisa Wise .................................. Ph 027 369 9218 lisaw@ruralnews.co.nz
SOUTH ISLAND SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Kaye Sutherland ....................... Ph 021 221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz
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Rural News is published by Rural News Group Ltd. All editorial copy and photographs are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions or comments expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of staff, management or directors of Rural News Group Ltd.
RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
OPINION 17
Is it history or whose story? TIM GILBERTSON
THEY’RE ABOUT to start teaching New Zealand history in schools. This is long overdue. As Henry Ford famously said, “History is bunk” – by which he meant interpreting the past is hopelessly compromised by the views and prejudices of the present. Our new syllabus is no exception. It is shaping up as a reflection of the current fashion that says England /Pakeha bad: Maori /Polynesia good. A more accurate account suggests that history is the constant repetition of the same human faults and frailties in slightly differing form. For example: Witches. Back in the day, identifying witches was easy. The suspect was thrown in the village pond. If
With 90% of NZ’s population is urban, farmers are politically irrelevant.
Don’t you hate it when bad ideas become law! Another good idea is to adopt the European model, developed over thousands of years, of planting forests on the poorer land while cultivating or grazing the best country. This idea has
rage across vast swathes of Aotearoa – as climate change kicks in. Firearms reform was way overdue well before the mosque massacre. It made sense to create a special license for those needing high powered semi-automatics and take
also gone to the bottom of the pond in favour of disfiguring the countryside, annihilating rural communities and enriching urban investors and foreign corporates for no long term benefit. Not to mention the California type fire storms that will
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the big guns off everyone else. Down that sank. The new law denies these weapons to everyone – except gang members who need them to defend themselves against Australian interlopers. Building flood retention and water storage dams throughout the land is an urgent priority given the increasing incidence of flood and drought. In 1921, the Local Rivers Board minuted the fact that flood retention dams in the hills were essential to control flooding on the plains. A century later, we are still waiting! Farmers aren’t much smarter. Now that 90% of our population is urban, we are politically irrelevant. Our local Fed Farmers branch held their provincial AGM last month. Fifteen famers out of a potential
500 turned up. Not one mayor, councillor, MP or local dignitary showed his /her face. Meanwhile, Greenies, Maori and marijuana smokers have all started their own parties with spectacular success. Farming has Groundswell, carrying on the sacred country tradition of complaining bitterly about everything, setting up a committee and then heading home to milk the cows. A broad-based country coalition party with a few seats in Parliament would transform our prospects overnight. That concept rarely gets its head above water before sinking without trace. I’m thinking of starting one – if there’s nothing on Netflix. • Tim Gilbertson is a central Hawkes Bay farmer
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she sank she was innocent. If she floated, she was guilty, dragged out and burnt at the stake – a system not dissimilar to modern problem solving. Good ideas sink without trace while the dross is hauled ashore and enshrined in legislation. Hate speech is a case in point. It defies explanation or classification. Making it illegal will make no difference because hatred is caused by ignorance and stupidity. The cure is open discussion, reasoned debate and education. Voltaire said: “I despise you for what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it” which sums it up. He was drowned in the village pond soon afterwards. It would make more sense to pass a law making breathing compulsory.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
18 OPINION
Soil carbon context important SOIL CARBON is important. It makes up approximately 58% of organic matter, which is the first of seven soil quality indicators in the New Zealand assessment. The prime position of organic matter is because of the attributes associated with it. It holds water
and nutrients; soil organisms live in it and decompose it for energy (and nutrients) for their own growth and multiplication; the organisms and the organic matter aid soil structure which in turn assists aeration, infiltration and percolation of water. A considerable
The increasing frequency of the Australian mouse plague has been associated with surface trash and spilt grain that used to be buried on a regular basis with conventional cultivation. COMMENT
Jacqueline Rowarth
amount of research has been done on building up soil carbon, and on what to avoid in order to pre-
vent a decrease. Some of the results appear to be conflicting. Should we cultivate, strip till or no-
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till to do our best for the environment? Should we flip soils? Can we actually sequester carbon in our soils as other countries are promising to do and so benefit from becoming part of the ETS? The answer, as so often, is ‘it depends’ – on starting point, soil type, season, crop and all the other usual variables. Context is vital, but sometimes overlooked in enthusiasm for a technology. The effect on soil carbon of conventional cultivation or conservation (reduced) tillage depends on the measurement depth. It is generally understood that conservation tillage (mintill, strip-till or no-till) will conserve soil carbon in the top 300mm of soil in comparison with traditional cultivation. Measure deeper, to greater depths than 300mm, and the balance is towards conventional ploughing conserving more carbon than min-till. This is because the surface vegetation and stubble has been buried where the soil is cooler and less aerated. This means biological activity is slower than at the surface. Full Inversion Tillage (FIT) is the extreme example of burial. It recognises that permanent pastures reach an equilibrium with the top 150mm of soil being rich in soil organic carbon, but the 150-300mm layers holding lower quantities. Research involving Massey University and Plant and Food found that FIT can increase the depth of soil organic carbon and allow new grass to build organic matter at the exposed subsoil surface. The researchers suggested that FIT could be of benefit where the soil organic carbon was at least two times higher in the topsoil than subsoil, and that it was probably appropriate only every two to three decades. Of importance is that
reduced tillage is often associated with a lower yield of crop, due in part to a lower soil temperature for seed germination and hence slower growth and shorter growing season. Reduced yield affects productivity data – how much resource used or environmental impact per unit of food. A recent meta-analysis showed that there was no difference between conventional and reduced tillage for nitrous oxide generation per hectare. But because of lower yields from the reduced tillage plots, nitrous oxide was higher per unit of food produced than from the conventionally cultivated area. There are many good reasons to reduce tillage including minimising potential erosion, reducing production costs, and decreasing fossil fuel use (and the associated greenhouse gases). Weed and pest control is, however, easier with cultivation. The increasing frequency of the Australian mouse plague has been associated with surface trash and spilt grain that used to be buried on a regular basis with conventional cultivation. New Zealand has large quantities of soil carbon in the top 300mm, built up over decades of pasture management including fertiliser application, irrigation in some areas, and appropriate animal management. Speaking at the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas conference in June, Maanaki Whenua Landcare scientist Dr Peter Millard warned that the challenge ahead is maintaining soil organic matter in the face of warming temperatures and increasing drought in some areas. Conservation tillage has a part to play, but so does FIT and conventional ploughing for some crops in some seasons. Context is always important! • Dr Jacqueline Rowarth, Adjunct Professor Lincoln University, is a farmerelected director of DairyNZ and Ravensdown. The analysis and conclusions above are her own. jsrowarth@gmail.com
RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
ANIMAL HEALTH 19
Trial looks at the rattling of fewer dags Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics’ Low Input Sheep Progeny Trial is identifying the genetics that will futureproof this country’s sheep industry. In part one of this two-part series, we take a look at how the trial is set up and the focus on dags. AS CONSUMERS are increasingly demanding meat produced with minimal inputs and intervention, B+LNZ Genetics’ Low Input Sheep Progeny Trial aims to identify environmentally-efficient sheep that perform without docking, drenching or dagging. Run on Orari Gorge Station – a 4,500ha hill country farm in South Canterbury – the trial is testing the genetics put forward by 16 futurefocused sheep breeders. The property is the ideal testing ground for genetics. Orari Station is 75% tussock country, 15% lower hill with only 10% flats. Average annual rainfall is 1,200mm. Owner Robert Peacock says it is wet more than it is dry, so worms are a constant challenge. Speaking at a recent B+LNZ Genetics Progeny Trial field day, Peacock said another significant driver in the need for low input sheep is the shortage of farm staff. “It’s becoming harder and harder to find staff to do the tailing, the dagging and the dipping.” Ironically, for a low-
input sheep trial, there is a huge amount of work involved. This involves a lot of monitoring and measuring, which includes artificially inseminating ewes, measuring methane production – as well as the standard performance and production recording associated with any progeny trial. Peacock says he has been passionate about low input sheep farming for years and is concerned the industry as a whole doesn’t know what’s ahead of it – “or does it have its head in the sand?” He says the steering committee for the Low Input Progeny Trial, which Peacock is part of, wants to encourage other stud breeder to select for traits such as worm resistance and dags to help the industry move forward. “But it is up to commercial farmers to be asking their stud breeder for these traits,” he says. Lambs under pressure The trial involves 17 rams representing 10 breeds, which predominately through artificial
insemination, are mating 1,000 ewes. The first cohort of lambs was born in 2019 and the third mating has just finished. Ewes lamb un-shepherded on the hill, and at docking lamb tails are measured and male lambs are left untailed. “The way the world is moving we may not be able to tail and everything changes when you leave the tails on,” Peacock says. “You have issues with dags and flystrike.” At weaning, weights are taken and the lambs are given a dag score (but not crutched). All lambs are then drenched and dipped. A control group of lambs is selected and while these are run with the rest of the lamb mob, unlike the others, they are drenched at regular intervals. Without drench, the hill country lambs were growing at 140g/day between December and May. Even when they are pushed hard, Peacock says they were still gaining 100/g a day. A clover crop was used to lift condition and he
Dags are a very heritable trait which can be selected for.
says this worked well. In the ewe lambs, Peacock found that growth rates dropped off after shearing. “You’ve really got to be at the top of your game with low input sheep, you’ve got to get the management right when you’re cutting corners with drench.” Dags Peacock believes that dags will be one trait that will break the industry as it moves toward low input sheep. However, these are very heritable and can be selected for. On SIL, there are only 34 breeders selecting for dags. “It is the easiest, cheapest trait you can measure and commercial farmers need to start asking for it.” Peacock says, in this trial the dags were “horrendous.” “We were getting 4kg of dags off a single
animal.” He says at weaning there was no difference between the male
and female lambs, but in March the difference was huge. The average dag score
for the females was 1.5 (one a scale of one to five with five being the worst) and 2.5 in the males.
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
20 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
Tractor and machinery sales on a roll, but challenges ahead MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
MACHINERY DEALERS around the country have reported a substantial increase in sales of both tractors and farm equipment compared with the same time last year. The Tractor and Machinery Association of New Zealand (TAMA) president Kyle Baxter says the big increases reflect
a continuing catch up in on-farm vehicle investment, as farmers look to the future. “This significant increase isn’t an accidental one, nor a blip,” he told Rural News. “It requires sustained customer and supplier confidence over a 12-month period – because any required product is ordered and arrives in the country to
meet that demand.” For the first six months of 2021, overall unit sales were up 35%, representing 450 more tractors sold than the same period in 2020. When broken down into individual horsepower sectors, the under 50hp lifestyle sector increased more than 40%, while the 60-80hp segment – largely delivered into the horticulture sector
Kyle Baxter
– rose by 50%. The mainstream 100-140hp segment
was up more than 30%, while 180-250hp cropping and contracting tractors increased by more than 50%. While the market is predicted to remain strong for the rest of 2021, there are several challenges impacting on it, says Baxter. “We are hearing from our members that ongoing production stoppages in global factories, due to Covid lock-
downs and community outbreaks, continues to affect manufacturing timeframes. “Europe continues to be a rapidly changing space by the day. As one country announces a ‘return to normal’ date, another country announces new control measures to help stem the spread of the virus.” Meanwhile, global logistics dominate many discussions between TAMA members and their suppliers and customers. There appears to be no relief in sight, with increased shipping times looked set to continue well into 2022. “Almost every point of the logistics supply chain is affected, with reports of delays of an extra 90 days in receiving a container load of equipment from Europe, not being uncommon,” Baxter says. “Reduced air cargo space, due to fewer flights globally, is also adding to the cost of air freighting spare parts and causing delays in getting urgent parts into the country.” He says the cost of shipping a container here has also increased drastically, coupled with the fact that some containers only carried one to four machines, driving up the freight cost of each item shipped.
Baxter also notes that raw materials used to build equipment are also under upward price pressure. He says many manufacturers are already signaling or passing on manufacturing price increases related to increased raw material costs. “Our members are particularly concerned about the strong inflationary surge of raw materials, which is affecting many components used in the build of equipment,” he adds. Steel, representing 30 to 40% of the average production cost of farm machinery, has more than doubled in price from €550 to €1250 per ton. Meanwhile, aluminum has risen by 22%, copper by 63%, rubber is up 67% and foundry products have increased by over 90% during the last nine months. “Labour shortages remain another major concern for the tractor and machinery industry,” Baxter says. “We need to be able to access overseas workers to help with the immediate shortfall for the upcoming season. “We’ll be working on behalf of our members, to ensure that these issues are highlighted and implementing possible courses of action to address this shortfall.”
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 21
Keen on easy-to-use spaceship MARK DANIEL
“The value for money is exceptional. I would love a fleet of them.”
markd@ruralnews.co.nz
REPOROA BASED Murdoch Agricultural Contracting, owned and operated by couple Harry Murdoch and Samantha Parker, started by targeting a niche. Murdoch’s background includes working for other contractors and a spell in sales at a tractor dealership. This was before he decided that there was a niche for someone to service lifestyle blocks in the area. He started out with two old and slow ROPS tractors that, although reliable, didn’t endear themselves to his staff. This led to the arrival, in 2017, of a 2009 vintage Valtra N141 with a loader, cab, and 50 km/h gearbox, making the trip to Taupo fast and comfortable. Still with the business, the tractor still starts first time, lending itself to tasks like raking, wrapping and stacking. Next to arrive was a 2013 Valtra N163. “It’s one of the nicest loader tractors I have ever owned or driven,” Murdoch says. “It’s a four-cylinder, so it’s compact and turns on a dime – yet it delivers 160hp so it is big enough for any job.” He also praises its front and rear suspension, the 160 l/min
Murdoch says. “She got in the T174 and said, ‘it’s a spaceship’ but she worked it out in about 10 minutes.” Offering exceptional weight distribution, the tractor is very stable, so much so, that when a driver forgot the front weights when taking a 4.5m roller drill to a job, he discovered they were superfluous as the tyres were biting in and gripping even on sloping cultivated land.
Murdoch Agricultural Contracting’s Valtra T174 is the pride of its fleet.
hydraulic output and electric control. The latest Valtra in Murdoch’s shed is a T174, spotted at a demo day pulling a set of deep rippers at 400mm depth. The machine exceeded expectations for power, torque and fuel efficiency. “It died down to 1000rpm, but just kept going,” Murdoch adds. “It’s obviously 170 stallions, not gerbils, but it behaves more like a 250hp machine.” He says the T174 is specified with auto-steer, front PTO, a smart touchscreen, a high-spec Evolution seat, LED light package, fridge and rear and side window wash-
ers – all at a price he says was “considerably cheaper” than other leading brands. It is fitted with a powershift transmission, like the other Valtra’s in the fleet, and Murdoch says that a powershift is safer on hills as it doesn’t run away on the operator. “The driver just picks a gear for uphill and a gear for downhill,” he explains. “The system also has an auto function, so it can be driven like a vario set up, while also offering a set of creeper speeds, that we used last summer on a conventional baler at speeds of around 100 metres per hour in a heavy double
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RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
22 RURAL TRADER FLY OR LICE PROBLEMS?
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Grow vegetables all year round Very affordable and easy to install New Zealand designed and made 40 years producing tunnel houses Range of models sized from 2m - 10m t/f
03 214 4262 |
e
T T T T T
info@morrifield.com
www.morrifield.com THE STANLEY LUNCH BOX durable, with huge capacity for a hearty lunch
Stock Whips The Stanley Flask has been keeping coffee hot around the clock since 1913
BEST QUALITY | BEST Price | BEST ADVICE WE’RE KNOCKING THE GST OFF BEST QUALITY | BEST Price | BEST ADVICE
ALL OUR OUTBACK OIL SKINS AND STANLEY PRODUCTS
BEST QUALITY | BEST Price | BEST ADVICE WATER TANKS, PUMPS & FILTRATION WATER TANKS, PUMPS & FILTRATION
The Stanley Food Jar keeps food hot all day and the insulated lid doubles as a handy bowl.
• SUITABLE FOR ALL
WEATHER CONDITIONS • LOW-MAINTENANCE • LONG-LASTING SYNTHETIC WHIPS
WATER TANKS, PUMPS FILTRATION DEVAN CALPEDA • PURETEC • OASIS CLEARWATER DEVAN •• PROMAX PROMAX • •CALPEDA • PURETEC •& OASIS CLEARWATER
DEVAN •TANKS, RX • CALPEDA • AQUA • OASIS CLEARWATER WATER PUMPS &207 FILTRATION High Street, Solway, Masterton • 06 378 9964
www.stockwhips.co.nz DEVAN • PROMAX • CALPEDA • •PURETEC • OASIS CLEARWATER P: 326 8888 www.thetankguy.co.nz P:0508 0508 326 8888 • www.thetankguy.co.nz A: A: 30 30 Turners RoadRoad – Feilding Turners – Feilding
P: 0508 326 8888 • www.thetankguy.co.nz A: 30 Turners Road – Feilding FREE SHIPPING! 175% more crack resistant
RAINWEAR! FLEXISKIN MAX
ENDS 31 AUGUST
$88
JACKET
$99
$20
valued at $160
valued at $230
100% Waterproof Fleece Collar Hood Visor
Acid Resistant Durable Seams
0800 16 00 24
LEGGINGS
ONLINE
earthwalk.co.nz
$155
$150
STEEL TOE X (with Scuff Guard)
STEEL TOE X (with Scuff Guard)
valued at $280
STEEL TOE (without Scuff Guard)
PLAIN TOE (without Scuff Guard) Colour = Dark Brown Buffalo Leather
$77
9am-5pm
SLIP ON
LACE UP
sold out of size 8
PLAIN TOE (without Scuff Guard)
sold out of size 5
Stitched On Soles
valued at $140 PHONE
175% more water &
in stock now crack resistant
valued at $320
FLEXISKIN MAX
Flexible
BUFFALO BOOTS! ZIP STRIP quick lacing
BIB OVERALLS
Solway Masterton • 06-378 9964 www.stockwhips.co.nz • stockwhips@xtra.co.nz
175% more crack resistant than normal leather ONLINE BANKING
EARTHWALK 06 0746 0177988 02 (ANZ)
New Zealand owned & operated
sizes: BOOTS 5 - 13 (NZ)
RAINWEAR XS - 4XL
RURAL NEWS // JULY 27, 2021
RURAL TRADER 23
RURAL ONLINE READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER. GO TO WWW.RURALNEWSGROUP.CO.NZ
QUADBAR “I have no doubt that if I did not have a Quadbar fitted, my accident would have been fatal!” – Rozel Farms
Recommended by Worksafe. ACC subsidy available
For a Quadbar, call me, Stuart Davidson, owner of Quadbar NZ, on 021-182 8115. Email sales@quadbar.co.nz or for more info go to www.quadbar.co.nz
SINGLE DOG BOX
• RC270, RC300 & RC500 • 3 sizes, super strong rotationally moulded in our factory
• 350lt bin • Stihl BG86 blower motor • Great suction to clean your paddock or garden
+GST delivered
Proven beyo nd do ubt! “The Quadbar saved our employee from significant injuries.” – Colin van der Geest
TWO GREAT PRODUCTS!
595
$
600 500 400 300 200 100 0
QUADBAR 5 YEAR SURVEY
NUMBER OF QUADBARS 479
ROLLOVERS 61
NUMBER OF DEATHS 0
TOP DOG BOX • Accommodates up to 4 dogs • 6 individual air vents • Removable centre board • 2 lockable galvanised gates
• In-house drainage • Tie down lugs on each side • Fits all wellside & flatdeck utes (2 models) • Raised floor for insulation
Single without tow ball mount .........................$585 Single with tow ball mount ..............................$655 Wellside ........................................................$920 Flatdeck ........................................................$920
ROTOWIPER LTD 48 Bremners Road, PO Box 333 Ashburton. P: 03-308 4497 • M: 027-311 9471 E: rotowipersales1@gmail.com • w: www.rotowiper.com
ALL PRICES INCLUDE GST
BEFORE EPOXY RESIN APPLIED
At Not Just Coatings, our experience and professionalism is demonstrated in every job we undertake
Phone 0800 625 826 • www.mckeeplastics.co.nz
With our office been based in Kaiapoi we offer free quotes in the Canterbury area Some of the services we offer... • Grouting/Sealants • Waterproofing • Concrete repairs/Crack injections • Concrete grinding • Internal tank cleaning
• Waterblasting from 5000 psi up to 40,000 psi • Hydro Demolition • Abrasive blasting • Polyurea Coatings
Specialists in ATV Bullbars, ATV Trailers, Ute Decks & Ute Lids
If you would like more information or arrange a time to meet please contact: AFTER EPOXY RESIN APPLIED
Mike 027-236 4133 • Chris 027-427 5004 • Sales 027-626 2117 sales@notjustcoatings.nz
WATERBLASTING (HYDRO DEMOLITION)
FLAKE FLOORING
Ask us about our Alpine Adventurer Canvas Tent & Fire
contact us - 0508 805 801
working with farmers over 40 years
ONE STOP WATER SHOP 300mm x 6 metre .......................... $410 400mm x 6 metre .......................... $515 500mm x 6 metre .......................... $690 600mm x 6 metre .......................... $925 800mm x 6 metre ........................ $1399 1000mm x 6 metre ...................... $2175 1200mm x 6 metre ...................... $3475 ALL PRICES INCLUDE G.S.T.
CULVERT PIPES
New Zealand’s CHEAPEST Culvert Pipes! FREE joiners supplied on request. • Lightweight, easy to install • Made from polyethylene
Check out our NEW website www.mckeeplastics.co.nz
Phone
06 323 4181
or
0800 625 826 for your nearest stockist
Joiners supplied FREE with culvert pipes
MAKE YOUR MARK IN
HORTICULTURE ABOUT THE COMPETITION The Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture Education Trust in conjunction with Young Horticulturist official partners; T&G Fresh, Fruitfed Supplies and Countdown are proud to announce the launch of the 2021 Young Horticulturist Competition. The Competition recognises and celebrates excellence in people under the age of 30 employed in the horticulture industry.
THE GRAND FINAL DATES DAY 1 Wednesday 3rd November 2021, Karaka Bloodstock, Auckland DAY 2 Thursday 4th November 2021, Karaka Bloodstock, Auckland The Competition consists of seven components, some of which are to be completed before the 3rd November. Contact your sector organiser or visit www.younghort.co.nz for more details.
“The Young Horticulturist Competition in 2019 was a fantastic event to learn about the many different aspects New Zealand Horticulture has to offer. Such a great industry to be involved in with endless opportunities.” SIMON GOURLEY, 2019 YOUNG HORTICULTURIST WINNER