NEWS
MACHINERY & PRODUCT
Long time Fonterra executive calls it a day. PAGE 21
Pre-mix tank speeds up spraying. PAGE 34
HE RISKS ARE LESS SKY WHEN WE’RE ART OF THE PICTURE.
er you’re a grower, a farmer or a commercial business, moving ahead means g changes. And that usually comes with a few risks along the way. But with us r partner, you can progress with more confidence. That’s because FMG offers d of specialised advice and knowledge that only comes from working alongside ew Zealand for generations. To find out more, ask around about us. Better still, a call on 0800 366 466 or go to fmg.co.nz. FMG, your partners in progress.
Turn to page 1
TO ALL FOR ALL FARMERS here for the goodFARMERS, of the country. NOVEMBER 8, 2022: ISSUE 763
www.ruralnews.co.nz
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NEWS
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
NEWS
Long time Fonterra executive calls it a day. PAGE 21
Pre-mix tank speeds up spraying. PAGE 34
Fine profit for NZ Merino. PAGE 10
TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS NOVEMBER 8, 2022: ISSUE 763
www.ruralnews.co.nz
No confidence vote? DAVID ANDERSON
BEEF+LAMB NZ (B+LNZ) directors and senior staff have been told to shape up or ship out, as farmer anger boils over about proposed farm emissions taxes. This follows a fiery meeting, held in Gore on Oct 28, where farmers questioned both the savviness and efforts of both B+LNZ’s directors and its executives in standing up to the Government on behalf of the red meat sector. Southland farmer Hugh Gardyne has written to B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor, on behalf of farmers who attended the meeting, to express their anger and frustration about how the industry good body has represented the sheep and beef sector in developing a proposed farm emissions policy via the He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) process. The letter warns McIvor that unless B+LNZ stops “acting like puppets of the Government” and makes “a huge reset” following the Government’s recent announcement on HWEN, farmers will force a vote of no confidence in the industry body and its current board. “Your results to date show a lack of understanding of your mandate, a lack of strategy, an ignorance of rank and file farmers’ opinions and a complete lack of ‘street smarts’ to achieve results satisfactory to levy payers,” the letter tells McIvor. Gardyne goes on to say that B+LNZ chair Andrew Morrison and his board must start “listening to farmers or stand down”. The letter adds that unless this happens, a “vote of no con-
fidence, which was one of the motions passed at the Gore meeting, will be put.” Gardyne explains that farmer anger at B+LNZ has only grown following the Government’s announcement, last
month, of its position on HWEN and its rejection of key parts of that proposal. “Paying for emissions, as proposed by the Government, will not only compromise the 20% of beef and lamb levy
Wahine Toa! Chloe ButcherHerries, an assistant farm manager at Newstead Farms in Puketapu, near Napier, is the winner of the 2022 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Award for sheep and beef competition. The award was announced at the recent Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner in the Hawke’s Bay. Butcher-Herries says winning the award is amazing and that her only expectation in entering was to return to her Māori roots and be appreciated for what she was doing on-farm. – Full story page 14.
THE RISKS ARE LESS RISKY WHEN WE’RE PART OF THE PICTURE. Whether you’re a grower, a farmer or a commercial business, moving ahead means making changes. And that usually comes with a few risks along the way. But with us as your partner, you can progress with more confidence. That’s because FMG offers the kind of specialised advice and knowledge that only comes from working alongside rural New Zealand for generations. To find out more, ask around about us. Better still, give us a call on 0800 366 466 or go to fmg.co.nz. FMG, your partners in progress.
We’re here for the good of the country.
payers who will be forced out of farming, but the other 80% as well,” the letter says. “It will bring NZ down economically and socially. What is the point? Regardless of the past work and rep-
resentations of B+LNZ, it is time for a reset. The Government has rejected key points in the HWEN report, so a new strategy is urgently required. “People say: ‘stay united’. We are – it is Beef and Lamb that is out of step!”
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
ISSUE 763
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Big frost bites! PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
NEWS ��������������������������������������1-21 AGRIBUSINESS ���������������22-23 HOUND, EDNA ���������������������� 24 CONTACTS ����������������������������� 24 OPINION ����������������������������24-27 MANAGEMENT �������������� 28-29 ANIMAL HEALTH ������������ 30-31 MACHINERY AND PRODUCTS �����������������������32-35 RURAL TRADER ��������������36-37
HEAD OFFICE Lower Ground Floor, 29 Northcroft Street, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 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
MANY KIWIFRUIT growers in Bay of Plenty face an uncertain future as they wait to see the final effects of last month’s disastrous frost. The October 6 weather event, coupled with a very ordinary bud break, is set to seriously reduce the volume of kiwifruit produced in the coming season. Early estimates from Zespri suggest that on average the frost is likely to result in a reduction of between 10-15% of the 2022/23 Gold and Green crop and 15-25% of the RubyRed crop. But it’s important to note that these figures are averages and in fact some growers have reportedly lost their entire crop, while others have lost part of theirs. Some have escaped almost scot free. The last major frost to hit the industry like this was back in 2002. The organisation representing kiwifruit growers, NZKGI, is focusing its attention on providing help for affected growers. NZKGI chief executive, Colin Bond, also owns a kiwifruit orchard and is one of those affected. He estimates that he has lost about half of one block. “It is not easy to wake up in the morning and look at that damage. I have got three blocks and I am predicting a reduction of about 50 % for next year. I have another job, but it really worries me that there are people who rely on their orchards as their sole source of income. They’re the ones that are going to be doing it tough,” he told Rural News. Bond says the Waikato and Bay of Plenty have been the hardest hit – especially around Katikati and Opotiki. He says the nature of this particular frost spared no-one – even those with some frost protection systems. This he
NZKGI chief executive Colin Bond says there is a risk that some orchardists will have no income 12 months from now and could face significant financial hardship.
says included some with frost fans, irrigation systems and covered orchards. Bond says some of these systems may have helped to reduce some of the damage. NZ’s largest kiwifruit operator Seeka says since the last frost many people made structural changes to
their orchards, which meant that their wind machines were ineffectual because they had put structures up. Seeka chief executive Michael Franks told Rural News that in some cases, water systems ran out of water or the pumps failed because it was the first time they had run frost protec-
NEWS 3
tion in a long time. Franks says Seeka brought in helicopters to counter the frost in its Te Puke orchards. It’s estimated that it may take a month or more before the full extent of the frost damage is known. Bond says it’s a case of seeing how pollination goes, how the fruit forms and looking for any abnormalities. “Our focus now is on pastoral care for our grower members. It is about making sure that people look after themselves. Along with Zespri, we are organising frost field days and that is an opportunity for people to come along and get technical advice. We have also involved the Rural Support Trust and [are] making sure people have the skills to deal with the pressures they face,” he says. Bond says the focus is on wellness but also the technical component which is about getting good advice to ensure orchardists make good decisions. Finally he says there’s the financial component, which is about talking to your banker, having a budget and plan how they are going to move forward with their business.
NOT ONLY THE FROST ONE LONG time kiwifruit business person is describing this and probably next year as the worst they can remember. It’s an unusual situation because the Zespri averages of fruit damaged by the frost don’t paint an accurate picture of what individual growers are facing. For example, while the RubyRed crops appears the worst affected, it’s likely that the same grower may also have crops of Green or SunGold which could mitigate some of the financial hardship. It would be unusual, we are told, that
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a grower would just have one variety. On the other hand, some growers may have lost their entire crop while others are largely untouched. But what kiwifruit growers are facing is a double financial whammy. “Two years in a row – last season it was poor quality fruit and this season it’s the frost,” says Colin Bond. What this means is that from now until June next year, all kiwifruit growers will have an income of sorts based on the sale of the 2021/22 crop – remembering however that the quality of this crop was soft and poor, meaning a
reduced return. The impact of the frost and other factors will not surface until 2024 when growers will be paid or, in some cases, not paid for the 2022/23 harvest. Bond says there is a risk that some orchardists will have no income 12 months from now and could face significant financial hardship. In the meantime it’s a waiting game to see if the predictions are accurate or whether there is still some hope for the coming twelve months. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
4 NEWS
Wairoa uprising over farm emission plans The battle lines are being drawn between the small, isolated northern Hawkes Bay farming town of Wairoa, pop. 8000, against the big guns of Jacinda Ardern and what they see as her anti-farming government and its plans to unfairly tax agricultural emissions. Peter Burke reports… SO FURIOUS were the locals that the mayor, and farmer, Craig Little hastily arranged a meeting of the local community so they could voice their concerns to Labour ministers Stuart Nash and Meka Whaitiri and representatives of MPI and Beef+Lamb NZ. Helping him do this was Nukuhia Hadfield, a prominent, influential and award-winning local Māori farmer who also heads the committee which organises the prestigious Ahuwhenua trophy for excellence in Māori Farming. This David and Goliath battle is one that that could see other districts in heartland NZ now join the army of protest at what some commentators are saying is one of worst decisions to be foisted on rural NZ for many decades. Wairoa is a major rural service town whose economic activity comes mainly from the strong sheep and beef hill country. The local AFFCO freezing works is a major employer, especially for Māori, and there is some horticulture in the area as well. Like many rural towns it lives on the knife edge of the swings and roundabouts of the pri-
Fed Farmers national president Andrew Hoggard says the farmer lobby wants a review of the targets and says the present ones will drive some farmers bankrupt.
FEDS WEIGH IN ON FARMER ANGST
Wairoa mayor Craig Little describes the meeting turnout as the biggest crowd he’s ever seen at a public meeting in the town.
mary sector. If farmers don’t make money, nobody does. When approached by Nuku Hadfield and told the serious nature of the government plan, Little decided to take a stand and hold a public meeting. He says, to their credit, the MP’s and officials turned up. However, they probably weren’t expecting the large crowd who turned up last Monday night (Oct 31) at the town’s
Gaiety Theatre. “We had 300 people there – the biggest crowd I’ve seen a public meeting in the town,” Little told Rural News. “There were young farmers as well as old, Māori and local business people. The meeting was pretty brutal.” He says the community are unhappy with the Government’s proposal and feel that as livestock farmers they are being robbed. Little reports that people at the meet-
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ing complained that the Government was moving too fast and wanted them to pause and take stock of the situation. Little says one of the pillars of the Paris Accord is that any moves to reduce emissions should not hinder food production, but he says the Government proposal does just that. He fears the move could see the small prosperous town and its vibrant community turned in a ghost
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FEDERATED FARMERS President Andrew Hoggard says the concerns raised by the Wairoa community are real. He says if there’s an average 20% reduction in sheep, the flow-on effects will be huge. Hoggard says a 20% reduction in stock numbers would surely make the local AFFCO works wonder if it would be profitable for them continue their operation. “They are the largest employer in town and if they went, all the support industries around them, such as trucking firms and other rural support service providers, would be hit. That 20% reduction could have a huge impact.” Hoggard also points out the meat processing plants are the single largest employer of Māori in the country. For its part, Federated Farmers has made no secret of the fact that it will take a very strong stance against the current government proposal. Hoggard says they want a review of the targets and says the present ones will drive some farmers bankrupt. He says Feds will make a submission and see what comes back from government and then decide whether they can live with these or look at what action might be taken. “I am not sure with what others (partners in HWEN) are doing but as with all our submissions, we talk to industry partners and tell them what we are doing. But we definably want to go harder on the targets,” he says.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
NEWS 5
Māori farmers upset at proposal PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
IN AN unusual move, the Māori Trustee and chief executive of Te Tumu Paeroa Dr Charlotte Severne says she’ll be making a submission on the Government’s agricultural emissions proposal. Severne administers as trustee or agent for approximately 1,800 Māori Land Trusts and other Māori entities. This is about one third of all Māori Land Trusts. Te Tumu Paeroa is therefore effectively a major Māori land owner. Speaking exclusively to Rural News at the recent Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards she noted that the pressures on the sheep and beef sector now are real and she wants to see the rapid development of
“I believe that big parts of government don’t understand Māori land. They think we are group of farms that are doing really well, whereas most Māori land is on a lease portfolio and in small parcels.” good well-qualified leaders. Severne is concerned about the way Māori are treated by some government departments. “I believe that big parts of government
FRUSTRATION BREAKS OUT
Te Tumu Paeroa chief executive Charlotte Severne says Māori want to help reduce agricultural emissions, but rural communities must thrive for this to happen.
don’t understand Māori land. They think we are group of farms that are doing really well, whereas – in fact – most Māori land is on a lease portfolio and in small parcels,” she told Rural News. “Yes we have really great big farms, but a lot are small steep support farms and we are not being categorised well.”
Severne says many Māori farms are disadvantaged – a fact borne out during the floods on the East Coast of the North Island in the middle of year which saw Māori farms over represented in those badly damaged by floods. She says the hype and celebration of the Ahuwhenua Awards, while
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great, often blinds people to the reality of Māori farming. “We are not characterised well by this government,” she says. Severne says Māori want to help reduce agricultural emissions, but she wants to see rural communities thrive and says that will be key element of her submission.
NUKU HADFIELD says there was a lot of frustration expressed by people at the meeting. She told Rural News it wasn’t helped by the complex and confusing presentation by MPI. Hadfield says, adding to this was when asked for the finer detail about the proposal, the answer was: “This still has to be worked through”. Others at the meeting told Rural News they came away with little confidence that their submissions would get a fair hearing given the timeframes of a final decision by government early in the new year. As a result, they felt the consultation was something of a sham and the Government would steamroll its proposal through next year. There was also a feeling that Stuart Nash showed little empathy for the people of Wairoa and their genuine concerns. “He was not a popular man on the night,” said one. Despite their misgivings about the response from Nash, Craig Little says the Wairoa District Council will make a submission to government on behalf of the local community. He says this will focus on the social and economic impacts of the government proposal on the town. Little says it will highlight the employment that farming offers and that forestry doesn’t and emphasise that it will be brutal on jobs for Māori.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
NEWS 7
Good and bad for rural in plan LEO ARGENT
THE MINISTRY of Health has recently released the Te Pae Tata/ Interim Health Plan mapping out the health sector’s work programme over the next two years. Rural communities will be able to determine their own geographical areas to be defined as a ‘locality’. This clarification will provide some reassurance that rural communities’ needs can be planned specifically for that rural grouping, instead of rural communities and their needs being subsumed within an adjacent urban population. Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network (HTRHN) says that while rural health getting its own brief section in the report was encouraging
“The principal issue facing rural health is a lack of trained health professionals.”
to see, they are disappointed that rural populations are not listed under the chapter on priority populations. Chief executive Dr Grant Davidson notes that the significantly poorer health outcomes of rural populations is a key reason for their inclusion as Priority Populations. Rural health outcomes significantly trail those of their urban counterparts and rural Māori, being up to 200% worse off.
HTRHN chair Fiona Bolden is disappointed that rural health only received one page of specialist attention in the 108 page document.
“The principal issue facing rural health is a lack of trained health professionals,” Davidson explains. “While the plan does recognise this shortage and chair Rob Campbell’s introduction promises a sustainable and fit-forpurpose workforce, what it fails to provide is any
detail on how this sustainable workforce will be delivered, especially in our rural and remote rural areas.” HTRHN chair Fiona Bolden also expressed disappointment to Rural News that despite comprising a quarter of the population – and being listed as a priority popu-
lation – rural health only received one page of specialist attention in the 108 page document. For comparison, Māori health received seven pages. The section on rural, states that rural areas have lower incomes and a higher number of children, elderly and Māori compared to urban –
all three demographics known for extra healthcare needs. A Workforce Taskforce has been established to prioritise a national work programme to address workforce pipelines and staffing shortages. Nevertheless, there are upsides to the plan. Hauora Taiwhenua says that the Interim Health Plan is strongest for rural people in ensuring health data systems in the future will use the Geographical Classification for Health. This is something Hauora Taiwhenua had been pushing hard for and will mean that health data can be differentiated according to the rurality of the person being treated. Bolden told Rural News that the flexibility of locality planning and support of telehealth services was a positive note
in the report. “The health system will now be able to be held to account for equitable outcomes for rural people in areas such as cancer diagnosis and treatment rates, access to primary care, people living with chronic health conditions, and more,” Davidson adds. Bolden added that: “Pay parity for rural nurses and GPs and allowing rural students to train in doctors or nurses in urban areas will need support.” Rachel Haggerty of Health NZ told Rural News that the definition of rural and how it is used to inform healthcare planning is part of the work Te Whatu Ora has been undertaking to ensure accurate understanding of rural health needs.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
8 NEWS
Sweet deal for EU honey exports LEO ARGENT
THE IMPACT of a new European Union free trade agreement removing a 17.3% tariff on NZsourced honey in July is translating into increasing sales volumes, according to one exporter. Aided by strong harvest volumes, mānuka honey exporters have recorded a surge in European demand as the removal of tariffs aligns with a sliding NZ dollar, reducing the cost of Kiwi imports by around 8% against the Euro compared to the same time last year. Driven by growing interest from German consumers for Kiwi mānuka honey, sales to the EU have risen dramatically in recent years reaching $60 million last year, or 12% of the $500m export market.
Industry experts say the 2023 season is expected to be strong, with high moisture levels at the base of the mānuka trees and La Nina weather patterns set to contribute to elevated nectar flows over the coming months. Additionally, a 40% drop in hive numbers around the country is providing more choice of placement locations for Kiwi apiarists and a higher quality export product. “Too many beehives placed in these areas targeting mānuka overstocked the area because there’s only so much nectar, [with] yields per hive decreasing by a considerable amount,” says Naki Honey executive Brett Mascull. “Because of the lesser amount of beehives, you can expect really strong
Kiwi mānuka honey sales to the EU have risen dramatically in recent years reaching $60 million last year.
yields per beehive for mānuka honey.” Naki Honey global market manager Derek Burchell-Burger says the response from the EU importers following the removal of import tariffs
was immediate, contributing to an annual sales growth of over 15%. “Despite consumer confidence being impacted by the war in Ukraine the pandemic has helped boost con-
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sumer interest in the wellness features of the product, with premium mānuka honey retailing for up to $800 per kg in Europe and landing in Europe for 27% less cost than a year ago.”
He says there is growing international recognition of the benefits of mānuka honey and harvest volumes are up substantially. This has allowed us to increase our inventory to over 300 tonnes.” Burchell-Burger adds that the falling dollar is helping to secure new wholesale accounts throughout the EU, offsetting the impact of war and inflation on spending in that market and resulting in exports growing. Naki Honey’s distribution model in European markets operates differently to those in Asia where they tend to use established distribution partners with local networks. In EU countries like Germany and Sweden the product is more likely to be sold through pharmacies, supermarkets and
naturopathic practitioners necessitating the development of relationships at retail level. “Even prior to the pandemic, European consumers had a high awareness of the medicinal aspects of mānuka honey,” says BurchellBurger. While Germany is the largest EU importer of honey from non-EU countries and second largest honey importer worldwide, France is second in the EU (fifth worldwide) with almost $1bn of the product consumed annually. Naki Honey is currently looking to France as the next untapped market for mānuka honey. Sales to other European countries including Germany, The Czech Republic, and The Netherlands have also expanded recently.
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"TWO LEMONS AND A LIGHT BULB" Farmers, do you want to Beg to the Government Forever or Own Your Future 'Two sides of the same coin' or a Fresh Start?
'INDUSTRY' HE WAKA EKE NOA PROPOSAL
$403 Million/year
Subsidised pricing of Total Emissions Small amount of Sequestration offset High admin burden A committee makes recommendations on prices to Government Farmer Welfare required High Cost
Basic Description of Model
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HW
GOVERNMENT HE WAKA EKE NOA PROPOSAL
$220 Million/year
Subsidised pricing of Total Emissions Tiny amount of Sequestration offset High Admin burden Government set prices Farmer welfare required Medium / High Cost
EN
'Methane prices will not rise!?'
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A FRESH PROPOSAL
$0-? Million/year
Transparent pricing mechanics Each sector owns their own reductions and target trajectory Prices the Target Simple, low admin and low cost Incentives driven by the market, not by regulation Flexibility to adapt with new science and revised targets Levy which delivers R & D not generic tax Sequestration kept separate via a widened ETS Low intensity farms not financially destroyed No subsidies or farmer welfare needed Politically and publicly palatable
Yeah. Right.
BOTH HWEN AND THE GOVERNMENT VERSION OF HWEN ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. Taxpayer Subsidies
Who sets your future methane price?
Rips the guts out of the Sheep and Beef industry Drives further afforestation by increasing tax pressure on sheep & beef farmers Likely to cause destruction of our rural communities?
Up to 5 different subsidies
*1
Up to 5 different subsidies
POLITICIANS
POLITICIANS
After considering recommendations from an 'oversight committee' *3
After being 'informed by' the Climate Change Commission, Maori and sector consultation *4
YES
YES
28% of sheep and beef farms may have a reduction in profit of at least 25% from 2030
Land in Sheep and Beef is estimated to fall by around 20% *6
*5
Sequestration
Even the PM gets it...
Zero subsidies Clear, transparent, market-led pricing
Must be Independent and Transparent
NO
NO
YES
YES
Reduced su's from each sector need to be ring-fenced and contribute to meet that sector's targets, afforestation will continue but without being escalated by devastating methane taxes on low intensity farms.
YES YES High taxes will accelerate afforestation leading to closures of schools, meat plants, and rural business.
Disproportionately penalises low intensity sheep & beef including regen, organic and Maori farmers
*2
Govt's own document states potential *7 socioeconomic effects include: A significant change in spending across rural communities Reduction in jobs De-population & decline in community services Reduction in quality of living Increased stress and mental health issues
NO Allows the sector to meet the government's political emissions reduction target of 10% without forcing farmers out of business.
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
Up to 10% of your farm trees might be offset against your tax bill. This payment is funded by other farmer tax contributions to HWEN. *8
Less sequestration, hard to quantify financial impact, cost to the system and complexity.
In a different form - totally outside HWEN. A better mechanism is widening the current ETS definitions, so more farm vegetation can be counted with payment by the real polluters multinationals buying credits.
"For drystock in particular... we do see a greater impact there" "What we have modelled here is the proposal that the sector has produced as well"
YES BUT...
Jacinda Ardern, 10th October 2022 & 19th October 2022
PUBLISHED BY - JASON BARRIER, GRAEME GLEESON, KIRSTEN BRYANT, JANE SMITH, KERRY WORSNOP, MIKE CRANSTONE, ROGER DALRYMPLE, BEN ENSOR, RICK BURKE, SIMON HALES ‘NZ Government Pricing Agricultural Emissions Consultation Document - October 2022’: *4 (Page 32), *7 (Page 66). ‘HWEN Partnership Recommendations for Pricing Ag Emissions Report to Ministers Report - May 2022’: *3 (Page 30), *8 (Page 75). ‘NZ Government Impacts of Climate Change Mitigation Policies on Primary Sector - September 2022’: *6 (Page 5). B&L Modelling 35c methane, $138/t C, no sequestration scenario *5. *1, *2 Includes: Free allocation, decoupled methane price, incentive payments, transitional support payments, levy relief.
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
10 NEWS
Fine profit for NZ Merino NIGEL MALTHUS
CHRISTCHURCHBASED NEW Zealand Merino Company is reporting its third consecutive record annual profit in its financial results for the year to the end of June. The company says its $6.9 million earnings before interest and tax was 8% up on the previous year and was achieved on sales of 135,000 bales of wool, up 30%. Chief executive NZM John Brakenridge says this is a very pleasing result and shows the business’s commitment
to growth. “Our continued improved performance is founded on a clear strategy with strong grower and customer focus and execution. The foundation of our ZQRX regenerative initiative, which was set out preCovid, has resonated strongly with the market, our brand partners and our growers, and has driven the very good growth in demand seen during the year.” Brakenridge told Rural News what was particularly pleasing was the growth of the business in terms of bales
“Our continued improved performance is founded on a clear strategy with strong grower and customer focus and execution.” handled and its ability to make an impact for growers, during a time of a lot of uncertainties. With net profit up 3% to $4.4 million, the company is paying a dividend of 41.6 cents per share. Based on the yearend share price of $6.87, the dividend represents a yield of 6.1%. The company adopted
a new constitution and did a capital raise two years ago to list on the NZ Stock Exchange’s secondary board, the USX. Brakenridge says that entailed producing a Product Disclosure Statement forecasting the next two years profit, but the actual profit outperformed that by 82%.
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Brakenridge says the company has been working on developing markets, like the “active outdoors” market for merino garments, with people being much more aware of what they wear and moving away from synthetics. The company now claims 70% of the merino wool market in New Zealand and is also buying from growers in South Africa and Australia, where it has recently appointed a manager to handle the Australian market. “We are building relationships with
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AWARDS FOR WILDING PINE EFFORTS THE WHAKATIPU Wilding Control Group won the community award at the 2022 Biosecurity Awards. This was in recognition of their role as biosecurity leaders in their community for establishing and maintaining longstanding partnerships to protect Queenstown’s iconic landscapes from wildings. Meanwhile, the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme, led by Biosecurity New Zealand, picked up the Eagle Technology Local and Central Government Award category in the 2022 Biosecurity Awards. The Wilding Pine Network supports the management of wilding conifer infestations in New Zealand via advocacy, advice and action. “We nominated these two initiatives for the awards to highlight the significant gains being made towards the national wilding conifer management strategy 2015-2030, which we co-created, and to highlight the need for the work to continue,” says Richard Bowman, Wilding Pine Network chair. “The two wins are well-deserved, not just for these two projects, but for all those people in communities, agencies, and crews on the ground around the country all working to push back and prevent the spread of wilding pines,” Bowman adds.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
NEWS 11
Stress mounting! PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
FOR SOME Hawkes Bay farmers the passion of farming is now becoming a liability and many are mentally burnt out with stress. That’s the view of a local consultant who, over the past two decades, has been observing the changing mood of farmers in the region. Greg Morice told Rural News the effects of adverse climatic conditions and increasing farm costs – such as labour shortages – are starting to bite for many farmers. He says many are looking at the option of getting out of the stress of farming. Morice believes there are more farmers under stress now than ever before. “They are saying ‘I don’t want to sell my farm, but for the sake of my health I need to change’,” Morice says. He says most of the farmers in this situation are in the 50 to 60 yearold age bracket and are struggling with the raft of
new regulations, whereas many of the younger farmers have good networks, can handle the paperwork better and see the opportunities of the changes. Morice says the older farmers are not keen on being a ‘desk farmer’. “Some of these older guys are amazing farmers and all they want to do is farm,” he explains. “But they more progressively being drawn into their office desk, which they are not naturally good at anyway, and are just getting frustrated by paperwork and keeping up-to-date with some of the changes. Many of these people were great farmers in their day, but are just stressed and frustrated with what they now encountering.” Morice says many of these farmers are single owner operators and haven’t got the resources to digest and understand some of the complexities of modern-day farming. He adds that even some of the young, dynamic farmers are at risk of
$3,000 per hectare. This creates an opportunity to either sell now or lease out their land for a few years and see what happens to the price of carbon before making a final decision on what to do with their land.” In the meantime, Morice says efforts are being made to help
stress too with rising costs and interest rates – especially if they are highly geared. For some farmers the lure of carbon farming and putting some of their land into forestry is real. “Every time the carbon price goes up by $10, the price of land has been going up by $2,000-
Hawkes Bay farm consultant Greg Morice says many farmers are looking at the option of getting out of the stress of farming.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
12 NEWS
Fed up farmer quits!
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL
SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
TWO YEARS ago, Brett Heap was one of the country’s biggest suppliers of early season zucchini. His 20ha farm in Kerikeri produced about 400 tonnes of the vegetable every spring. However, when Covid struck and Heap was unable to secure seasonable labour, his successful farming business came unstuck. Today, Heap’s highly productive land is mostly lying idle. A few hundred citrus plants are dotted around the property. He lays the blame on the Government and industry leaders for his predicament. “I wasn’t unable to get seasonal workers in and this impacted my ability to put another crop in
Brett Heap was one of the country’s biggest suppliers of early season zucchini and had been farming for over 50 years, but has now put his farm on the market.
2020,” Heap told Rural News. As early pioneer and long-standing supporter of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, Heap wants a complete overhaul of the scheme. He believes relying on Pacific Islands for most
RSE workers is wrong. “The scheme needs to be about what’s best for New Zealand, not what’s best for the Pacific Islands,” he explains. “To enable the hort sector to grow and prosper without being restrained by a lack of suitable seasonal and per-
manent labour, NZ needs to be able to compete internationally.” Heap says the RSE processing centre in Wellington should be disbanded and recruitment decisions vested to the regions. He also believes that a cap on the RSE workers should be
HEAP HAS been using immigrant workers on his farm for 20 years. However, unlike many orchardists who employed Pacific islanders, Heap’s workers came from Thailand. He recalls that then Labour Government preferred workers from the Pacific but allowed a grower to get workers from another country if they had “a working arrangement”. Heap developed a strong relationship with a group of Thai nationals. He says his business was geared to Thai workers with specialist knowledge that reduced waste and maximised profitability. “They have been here year after year. They know what they’re doing. They hit the ground running.” Heap also built accommodation on his orchard for the Thai workers. “The Thai workers pitch as a team,
removed. “I can speak from experience that a cap is open to abuse and bias, leading to some employ-
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eat the same type of food and work well together because of their shared origin,” he told Rural News. “If I was to introduce a Pacific Islander to the situation, it would disrupt everything from the food requirement to the working style.” NZ farmers are also being encouraged by the Government to employ locals to plant and pick fruits and vegetables but Heap says this is a “fallacy”. New Zealanders were usually unable to cope with hard, outdoor work and lacked specialised picking and plantcare skills developed by returning RSE workers. Heap, who has been farming for over 50 years, has now put his farm on the market. “It’s all just too much for me, I’ve had enough and it’s time to move on.”
ers currying favouritism at the expense of others.” Heap says industry leaders, including those from Hort NZ, haven’t
done enough to push for more RSE workers from around the world. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
14 NEWS
The world is her oyster! PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
“IT’S A privilege and honour.” That’s how the winner
of the 2022 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Award for sheep and beef competition Chloe Butcher-Herries describes her win. Butcher-Herries is an
assistant farm manager at Newstead Farms in Puketapu, near Napier. She was presented the award by the Māori Trustee Dr Charlotte
On show (left to right): Young Maori Farmer of the Year finalists Chloe Butcher-Herries, Rameka Eli Edwards, Aaron Hunt (judge) and Puhirere Te-Akainga Tamanui Tau interact with the crowd at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show.
Severne at the recent Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner in the Hawke’s Bay. The event attended by more than 800 people including the Ministers of Agriculture and Māori Development, other politicians, diplomats, dignitaries, agribusiness leaders and whānau. The two other final-
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and my wife,” she told Rural News. “The world is our oyster but farming is my passion and career so I’ll absolutely be staying in the farming industry.” One of the award judges, Aaron Hunt, representing Te Tumu Paeroa, says the standard of entrants was very high and the three finalists were all exceptional
“This has been a long journey and it’s opened up a few things for me and my wife.” ists in the competition were: Puhirere Te-Akainga Tamanui Tau, from Whangara Farms, located near Tolaga Bay and Rameka Eli Edwards, from Te Kuiti. In presenting the winner’s trophy, Severne noted she was floored by the amazing skill and promise of all the finalists. In an unprecedented move, Severne inducted all three finalists into the AYMF alumni, an honour usually reserved for just the winner, saying this year she made an exception because of the calibre of all three finalists. “All of you three amazing finalists could fill a successful career in farming, proving an ongoing willingness to learn and a commitment to your craft,” she explained. “You are an inspiration for rangatahi and others looking to enter this industry.” Butcher-Herries says her legs were shaking on the stage waiting for the announcement as she had no idea who might be chosen. She says winning the award is amazing and that her only expectation in entering was to return to her Māori roots and be appreciated for what she was doing on-farm. “This has been a long journey and it’s opened up a few things for me
young people. He believes this reflects the number of young Māori who are making successful careers in sheep and beef. As part of the judging process, the finalists attended an intensive three-day study tour designed to provide a range of insights, inspiration and experiences across the sheep and beef sector. This included a visit to Gwavas Station, a property owned by previous finalist in the senior Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. The finalists also attended the Hawke’s Bay A&P show and met with a range of business leaders along with Māori leaders involved in the sheep and beef sector. A feature of this day was attending the AFFCO sponsored ‘Best of the Bay competition’, which saw local farmers having their lamb and beef steaks judged by a panel of experts. The Young Maori Farmers got into the act by helping to hand out samples of the BBQ’d food in the A&P members tent to members of the public, who also took part in the judging process. Their attendance at the show was also part of the judging process; the three finalists interacted with the crowd and the judges kept a close eye on how they were doing.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
16 COMMENT
Concerned farmers ask w EIGHT WEEKS ago, a group of concerned farmers wrote an Open Letter in an attempt to draw attention to the serious risks that the He Waka Eke Noa partnership recommendations to government pose to the future of the extensive sheep, beef, deer and regenerative farms and rural communities. What became clear as a result of that letter was that farmers were largely unaware of the financial impacts of the recommendations, the inequity of the outcomes and the huge sacrifices that they were being signed up to by industry leaders on their behalf. Feedback from many who had participated in the initial “consultation” process revealed that far from being a genu-
ine opportunity to engage and respond, the process effectively shut down any scope for wider discussion, gave farmers limited and narrow data and restricted the ability to open the door to greater understanding. To be absolutely clear – sheep and beef farmers were not consulted on the substantive recommendations that went to government on their behalf nor were they given access to the depth of data which revealed the true impacts on their businesses. On October 11 the Prime Minister made the announcement that the proposal put forward by industry was, by and large, being accepted. Split gas – tick. No ETS-tick. In a refreshingly transparent way,
the PM also highlighted the financial and social impacts on sheep, beef and deer farmers – their own modelling revealing a likely 20% plus exodus forced from the sector. Given that the modelling released by BLNZ after consultation showed a similar level of potential impact, we are now finding it hard to understand why the levy bodies are responding so negatively to the government proposal. In reality, the partners to the HWEN proposal made a conscious decision to sacrifice sheep and beef farmers and their communities to create the offset for more intensive farming to continue and this has now been exposed. Farmers are now hearing from levy organisa-
tions that they cannot agree with the way the price is to be set. In both proposals the Minister has the final say. And both methods use farming businesses as a pawn – cranking the lever (price) one way or another to drive farmers to “change behaviour”. The real issue here is that there are currently no viable mitigations to reduce our methane emissions apart from reduce stock numbers so the only way to reduce emissions is to crank up the price until enough of us do this or go out of business. It is a cruel and tortuous system. Extensive and low input farm systems simply do not generate the profitability needed to simply just pay the tax - so it will be these farm communities
Hills such as these where native vegetation and red meat protein production go hand-in-hand are at great risk of being swamped by a monoculture of pine trees.
We keep your information safe and secure. When you take part in the 2023 Census, we ensure your information is kept safe. To uphold our obligations under the Data and Statistics Act 2022 and the Privacy Act 2020, we apply ethical, statistical, and best-practice security standards. When the data is processed into published statistics, we do not identify individuals, so your identity is protected. Find out more about the safety of census data at census.govt.nz All of us count - Tatau tātou
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
COMMENT 17
where the waka is at?
who become collateral damage. Farmers are currently hearing about how critical sequestration is as part of the HWEN recommendations. Let us be clear. The narrow criteria allowed for sequestration within HWEN means that much of the woody vegetation that currently exists on farms will largely be ineligible. This is despite the fact that when farmers in good faith dutifully rolled along to the “Know Your Numbers” events and were told to include all the woody vegetation currently on their farms, much of what they had included was in fact not
an offset at all. In short, the level of planting required to offset emissions using sequestration as the tool will far outstrip the ability of farmers to pay for it. As a sector we now find ourselves in a huge mess. On farm, morale is low and there is real despondency in the hills where thousands of hectares of land are being sold for trees. There is no real sense from farmers that there is the ability to aspire to and achieve something better. Following our Open letter in August industry leadership challenged us to come up with an alter-
native – a model which would achieve the core principles of the HWEN partnership and deliver better outcomes for all farmers. Ignoring the fact that this was what our industry bodies should have done, we accepted that challenge and designed a pricing model which could achieve the goals of HWEN, is fair and equitable, would fulfil our obligations, would not rely on subsidies or welfare from New Zealand Inc. and is simple to administer. Whilst not perfect, it is poles apart from the original both in design and in outcomes and shows that something better could be possible. Sheep and beef farming could have a future. Farmers are now rightfully asking questions of their industry bodies as part of the “consultation” process and we are hopeful that the entrenched positions of the partners will change. Instead of engaging in an exercise of futility it is our sincere aspiration that farmers will be given the opportunity to ask questions that allow them to interrogate the data and what it means for their farming future. To test assumptions. To be given the chance to explore the possibilities in the genuine and authentic way that used to be synonymous with our grassroots organisations. And we encourage our fellow farmers to
urgently engage and challenge your representatives on finding a more viable option. The future of sheep and beef farming
depends on it. • Written by Graeme Gleeson, Rick Burke, Jane Smith, Simon Hales, Ben Ensor, Mike Cranstone,
Roger Dalrymple, Kirsten Bryant, Jason Barrier, Kerry Worsnop • Footnote : the farmerled proposal that is
mentioned in this letter is outlined in the infographic titled ‘Two Lemons and a Lightbulb’ on page 9.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
18 NEWS
Crowd’s flock back to show! WOOLS ON SHOW
PETER BURKE peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
ORGANISERS OF the recent Hawke’s Bay A&P Show were delighted with the large crowds that came through the gates. This year’s event was the 159th time the show has been staged and comes after last year’s had to be cancelled because of Covid-19. Hawke’s Bay A&P Society, general manager Elisha Milmine says this year’s show truly brought town and country together. It was packed with all the attractions
ONE OF the features at the show was Wools of NZ (WNZ) stand, which featured a display of local fleeces and also had samples of wool carpets on display. The company’s aim is to raise the profile of wool carpets and increase demand for a product, which – over several years – has played second fiddle to synthetic carpets. Scott Small, WNZ’s North Island logistics manager, says they also ran a competition for top fleeces and the response was excellent.
Visitors to this year’s Hawke’s Bay A&P Society enjoy the opportunity to view the livestock on display.
Carriage Driving, Dairy Goats, Dog Trials, Donkeys, Dressage, Fencing, Pigs, Poultry, Sheep & Fleece, Shearing, Eques-
and entertainment for which it is renowned. “We had a wide variety of competitions including Virtual Beef Cattle,
trian Showing, Show Hunter, Show Jumping, World Cup Equestrian Class, Best of the Bay Beef and Export Lamb,”
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They had a lot of fun,” she says. Like all A&P shows, Hawkes Bay had a number of trade exhibits and the usual carnival treats associated with such events. There was also a special area set aside for children to see and pet some of the animals – with the lambs being a big favourite.
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the wet weather leading up to the show didn’t help because people weren’t able to trial their animals in their paddocks. However, Milmine says in the end everything worked out well. “It was nice at our launch at the start of the show to see old comrades who’ve been involved in show many years get together and swap yarns.
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she told Rural News. “After two years, it was fabulous to see everyone enjoying themselves. Society members were sharing memories about the days gone by and past show experiences.” Milmine says, initially it was hard getting people to participate in the show but when the mandates dropped they seemed to get more entries. She says
“We had a mixture of fleeces from around the Hawkes Bay region including a Perendale, Romney, Merino and cross bred sheep. In the main these were hogget fleeces and they were all very good,” he told Rural News. Both Small and national wool manager, Simon Averill, say one objective of being at the show was to educate people about the amazing properties of wool. They ran special days for both primary and secondary school students.
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ASTONISHING RESULT FOLLOWING TRACESURE Veterinarian Kelly Andrews from Te Awamutu recommends Tracesure capsules following “astonishing results” after treating a mob of calves whose prognosis looked grim. “190 calves were moved to grazing whereby 3 died and 19 were identified with ill-thrift losing 0.3kg/c/d. With half of these on a fatal path due to a confirmed diagnosis of Yersiniosis and Theileriosis the calves were mob separated with ill-thrift calves being offered meal supplementation, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment and a Tracesure capsule”. 30 days later Kelly says the calves were unrecognisable and gaining 1kg/c/d vs gains of 0.45kg/c/d for the mob not given the bolus. The farmer requested the other mob also get Tracesure after seeing the results. Tracesure is a controlled-release capsule that provides 6 months supply of Iodine, Selenium and Cobalt in an accurate and reliable daily amount. Think of it as like putting a dosing pump system inside the calf. Tracesure can be used in combination with Copasure capsules to provide copper at
the same time. It appeals to many farmers because the capsule takes the guesswork out of bodyweight/dose rate calculations. Trace mineral supplementation can be done once, accurately and forgotten about for 6 months. Says Andrews “We get continual great feedback from our graziers on how well weaned calves transition when Tracesure is used in newly weaned calves off to grazing. Calves and young stock transition to their new environments with less risk of Yersinia, less ill-thrift, recover faster from illness and provide some incredible mating results to name a few of the benefits seen. We routinely use the capsules at the end of the zinc treatment period, enabling young stock to replenish vital trace element stores as they head into winter when such elements become generally less available from pasture, as soil temperatures drop”. Results speak for themselves and Andrews sees Tracesure/Copasure as an indispensable tool to optimise health, growth and fertility of weaned young stock leading up to mating.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
20 NEWS
People before profit mantra helps trust take out top Maori farming award Scenes of excitement and jubilation broke out as Wi Pere Trust – a large sheep and beef farming operation at Te Karaka, near Gisborne – was named the winner of this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori sheep and beef farm. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor made the announcement at a gala awards night in Hawkes Bay recently, which was attended by more than 800 people. Peter Burke reports… SOME 50 Wi Pere Trust members and whānau came on stage singing and cheering as the coveted Ahuwhenua Trophy was presented to Wi Pere Trustee, Trudy Meredith. Guests at the gala event included politicians, Māori leaders, diplomats, other representatives of central and local government, agribusiness leaders and whānau from all the finalists – as well as many of the past winners. O’Connor congratulated all the finalist and winners in both the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition and the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farm competitions. He told the gathering that Māori account for 25% of the production of sheep beef and wool and have brought a highly professional approach to their farming operations. “As Māori develop their land further it will lead to the creation of even bigger enterprises,” he explained. “I man-
aged to get to one of the field days and I’d encourage others to do the same because it gives one an advantage to better understand the complexity, passion and the beneficiaries of the farms.” Wi Pere Trust’s Meredith says winning the Ahuwhenua Trophy was absolutely amazing – especially given it was the first time they had entered the competition. She says winning the competition will make people recognise the excellence that Wi Pere has and that its people are of high standards and that the Trust looks after its people. “It’s not all about profit and although it does help, it’s not the be all. It has also set the bar for the next lot of trustees,” she says. The other finalists were: Onuku Māori Lands Trust, located near Rotorua; and Hereheretau Station located in Whakakī, Wairoa. Nukuhia Hadfield, chair of the Ahuwhenua
Trophy Management Committee, which runs the competition, says all of the finalists were impressive and the judges had their work cut out to come up with a winner. She says all the farms are good examples of what can be achieved with good governance, sustainable practices and hard work. Hadfield says it was not an easy year for Māori farming – especially having to cope with the adverse weather and the ongoing issues of Covid-19. However, she says despite all the challenges, the field days run by all the finalists were excellent and showed the quality and depth of Māori sheep and beef farming enterprises. “Each of you have a unique story which guides your practices and are an inspiration to other Māori farming businesses and the primary sector as a whole,” she added. @rural_news
Wi Pere Trust trustee Kingi Smiler (with trophy) and other members of the Trust and Government Ministers at the awards ceremony. CREDIT: ALPHAPIX PHOTOGRAPHY
THE WINNING FARM LOCATED IN Gisborne, Wi Pere Farms consists of 6,770ha with 4,900 effective ha. It consists of two blocks, Otara at Whatatutu and Tangihanga at Waituhi. The land blocks carry 51,000 stock units comprising 32,400 sheep and 4,600 cattle. The farm is managed by Tim Rhodes, with 15 full-time staff. Wi Pere Farms are classified as North Island steep hard hill country. The Wi Pere Trust was created in 1899 by an Act of Parliament and established by their tīpuna Wi Pere to
protect the remaining lands of their whanau, at a time when the land was heavily in debt, from being sold under mortgagee sales. Wi Pere was an MP for Eastern Māori from 1884-1887 and 1894-1905. He championed the retention of Māori land to be controlled and developed by Māori. He was also responsible for forming the first Māori Incorporation, Mangatu Incorporation. Today the five trustees of Wi Pere, which includes former Ahuwhenua Trophy Management Committee chair
Kingi Smiler, are appointed by the 550 owners who represent a wider whanau base. The Trust has developed comprehensive Land Environment Plans to guide how to best utilise its land – including the retirement of erosion prone land, fencing all 15km of its waterways, riparian planting and improving water quality. Wi Pere produces approximately 1,100,000kg of meat and fibre annually and optimises product returns by selling via a Māori Collective Cluster, Awhina to the Alliance Group.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
NEWS 21
Long-time Fonterra exec calls it a day! MANY CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
RETIRING FONTERRA executive Kelvin Wickham says the main highlight of his 34-year career with the dairy co-op has been seeing people develop and excel. Wickham stepped down recently as managing director of Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and North Asia (AMENA) business. He told Rural News that building diverse teams and the next generation of people and leaders is crucial. “And ultimately that’s how I judge my time with the business,” he says. “In my time with Fonterra, I’ve gained knowledge and experience that I could only dream of. I’ll be forever thankful for that. I’ve done my best to pass that knowledge onto the co-op’s future leaders, as well as pass down the customer relationships I’ve inherited.” Following Wickham’s departure, the AMENA business has been combined with the Asia Pacific business (APAC) and is now called Global Markets. Wickham says this heralds an exciting new future for the combined businesses. “It’s an opportunity to transform ways of working, and work more in sync with their colleagues across the world than ever before.” The AMENA spanned the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa,
WICKHAM BELIEVES AMENA has done a fantastic job to create a powerful momentum over the past few years. “That’s been hard won during the pandemic, accomplished through having clarity of focus, defining the areas where we can win, and going after them as a team.” Wickham also lists the growth in Fonterra’s ingredients business as one of his highlights.
He told Rural News that has worked in many markets across the world, and seen all channels reach new levels of growth. “And when I think of my roles, they’ve always had an element of change and transformation in them,” he explains. “It’s been a personal highlight to see how our ingredients business in particular has evolved, watching it do its part to take our business to new heights of growth and innovation.”
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SHEEP HANDLER AND LEAD UP RACE After 34 years with Fonterra, and overseeing many parts of the business, Kelvin Wickham has recently left the dairy co-op. Photo credit: Mark van der Brink.
and North Asia, an extremely diverse customer base. Wickham says in more developed markets, such as Europe, US, and North Asia, sustainability is really top of mind. “We face intense pressure from customers and consumers to make our operations more sustainable,” he told Rural News. “At the same time, customers really value
the NZ provenance of our products and commercial claims, like grass-fed and cared for cows, which they can add to their products to help differentiate in the market.” However, in places like the Middle East and Africa, though there are more developed economies in parts of those regions, there is more focus on getting bang for buck nutrition and
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
22 AGRIBUSINESS
New chair for Synlait Milk SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
CANTERBURY MILK processor Synlait Milk will get a new chairman next month. Simon Roberston takes over from one of the company founders, John Penno, who stepped into the role last year as
part of a plan to steer the listed processor back to profitability. Robertson, who joined Synlait’s board in 2020, is a professional company director. His new role will be ratified at Synlait’s annual general meeting on December 2. Synlait’s AGM notice says Roberston has exten-
Synlait’s woes began in December 2020 when a2 Milk suddenly reduced its demand for infant formula. sive commercial experience including 10 years with Auckland International Airport (AIAL), during a period of signifi-
cant investment and strategic growth. As the chief financial officer for AIAL he led the finance, account-
ing, business technology and procurement functions along with investor relations and regulatory affairs. Synlait says Roberston has a proven track-record in strategy and capitalintensive infrastructure investment. He is a director of Ballance Agri Nutrients,
ITM, Apata Group, and previously served on the boards of Flick Energy and North Queensland Airports. He also chairs Synlait’s audit & risk committee. At Synlait’s 2021 annual meeting, shareholders agreed to change the constitution to enable Penno, a board-appointed director, to become chair on a temporary basis. The company says this was a temporary measure to guide Synlait’s new chief executive Grant Watson through his induction and establishment. Penno also held the role of interim chief executive prior to Watson’s appointment. Synlait reported a $28.5 million loss for FY2021, its first loss after nine years of profitability. Penno then took charge and announced a plan to return to “robust profitability”. Synlait’s woes began in December 2020 when a2 Milk suddenly reduced its demand for infant formula. It typically produces 45% to 50% of its infant base powder during the shoulder. Inventories are held to produce fully finished consumer-packaged infant formula volumes as customer demand formalises in future months. In the shoulder season of FY20, Synlait produced infant base powder inventories on a forward demand forecast that assumed ongoing
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growth of infant nutrition demand into FY21. The company entered FY21 with large volumes of nutritionals powders on hand – 40% of forward demand with the expectation that demand would grow. However, a2 Milk suddenly reduced demand resulting in an eventual 35% decline of nutritionals sales volumes, and a 67% decline in nutritionals powders production. While a2 Milk’s infant formula downturn caused Synlait to underperform, a review revealed other inefficiencies within the business. Meanwhile long-serving Synlait director Sam Knowles is retiring from the board next month. He joined the board in 2013. Synlait says during Knowles’ tenure, the company has grown considerably. “Sam joined Synlait just before its IPO and has made an invaluable contribution to its strategic direction and growth. “Sam has also been chair of the people, environment and governance committee since 2019,” it says. He will be replaced by former Fonterra executive Paul Washer. Washer is currently chief financial officer for ASX-listed Pact Group. Before this, he spent 17 years with Fonterra including a seven-month stint as acting chief financial officer.
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AGRIBUSINESS 23
Combining solar and pastoral farming A NEW Massey University study will explore the potential for combined solar and pastoral farming in New Zealand by grazing sheep around solar panels on a Taranaki farm. For New Zealand to reduce its carbon emissions, there needs to be an increase in the production of sustainable and renewable energy sources, and solar energy is one means to help achieve this. Solar energy can be produced on ‘solar farms’, as undertaken elsewhere in the world. However, a downside of this has been the conversion of previously productive farmland. But there is scope for synergies in the New Zealand context, with solar farming co-existing with sheep grazing under and around the solar panels/arrays. This
Solar panels set up for a study on a Taranaki farm. Inset: Prof Paul Kenyon.
provides two sources of income per unit of land area. For this to be feasible, knowledge of pasture production and quality below and around solar panels/arrays is required. Massey University, with funding from the Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust
(AGMARDT) aims to answer these questions on a solar farm in Taranaki. The team, led by Professors Danny Donaghy and Paul Kenyon from Massey’s School of Agriculture and Environment, will measure pasture composition, growth and quality around and under
solar arrays. “Solar farming in conjunction with sheep grazing is an exciting mixed system allowing farmers to obtain two income streams while ensuring the land area is still productive,” Kenyon says. The aim of the study is to provide data on pasture production and qual-
ity, which can then be used to model sheep carrying capacity or various sheep systems (i.e. a traditional ewe/lamb system – versus an all year round lamb finishing system). Using this information, economic analysis can be undertaken to determine the income potential of both solar
energy production and sheep productivity on a per hectare basis. It is envisaged that sheep are the likely animal of choice due to the potential for larger livestock to damage solar arrays. “Due to the structure of the arrays, the amount of shading and light each area of land receives will differ each day and across seasons. Therefore, it is important that within a solar farm all these areas are measured across sea-
sons to allow for a total picture of pasture production and therefore animal carrying capacity,” Kenyon explains. There is also potential for shading, especially in the more humid periods of the year, to result in fungal growth and for potential health issues such as facial eczema to become an issue, so this will also be monitored. The shading may result in species compositional changes, with the potential for weed species to become prevalent, and even dominant. This is also being monitored, as the level of weed species will impact pasture production as well as quality, both which have an influence on sheep carrying capacity and performance. Initial results from the study will be available in a year’s time.
Sustainable farming today, helps farming thrive into the future Planning ahead is crucial for any successful agribusiness In the future New Zealand’s farming communities will increasingly depend on good environmental management and sustainable food production. Find out how we can help your agribusiness meet the challenges of sustainable food production at rabobank.co.nz/sustainable-farming
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
24 OPINION EDITORIAL
EDNA
Now what? FARMER PUSHBACK against the Government’s proposal to tax farm emissions is in full flight. Especially from the beef and sheep sector – including many iwi with substantial beef and sheep interests – and the architects of their misery, He Waka Eke Noa, find themselves backed into a corner of their own making. As Climate Change Minister James Shaw says, somewhat disingenuously, this is what the industry proposed. To be fair, the Government’s version of the proposal differs on some key aspects, but in the main is what levyfunded industry leaders proposed on behalf of farmers, and is what those same farmers are now faced with. As farmer ginger group, loosely named ‘Waka Adrift’, notes, when the PM made the announcement that the proposal put forward by industry was, by and large, being accepted: “In a refreshingly transparent way, the PM also highlighted the financial and social impacts on sheep, beef and deer farmers – their own modelling revealing a likely 20% plus exodus forced from the sector. Given that the modelling released by B+LNZ after consultation showed a similar level of potential impact, we are now finding it hard to understand why the levy bodies are responding so negatively to the government proposal.” Some will baulk at the accusation that HWEN partners made a “conscious decision to sacrifice sheep and beef farmers and their communities to create the offset for more intensive farming to continue and this has now been exposed”. And some will not: After a fiery meeting in Gore on Oct 28, Southland farmer Hugh Gardyne has written to B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor, on behalf of farmers at the meeting, to express their anger and frustration about how it has represented the sheep and beef sector via the HWEN process. ‘Waka Adrift’ started ringing alarm bells weeks ago, to draw attention to the serious risks that the HWEN proposal posed to the future of the extensive sheep, beef, deer and regenerative farms and rural communities. They warned that the ‘consultation’ with farmers was too rigid and narrow, and that farmers did not know exactly what they were being signed up for. Now they know, and they’re not happy. The question is, is it too late for industry leaders to harness their “disappointment” with the outcome to force some major changes to the Government’s proposal?
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
“I’ve always found a little rubber ring fixes that!”
Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound? Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz
THE HOUND Gone burger!
Your canine crusader was right on the money about the growing tensions at Fed Farmers’ over meat and wool chair William Beetham’s perceived conflict of interest with his Feds role and directorship at meat company Silver Fern Farms. According to reports, things came to a head pretty fast following the recent release of the Government’s proposal for pricing farm emissions. Feds has not been backward in voicing its strong opposition and condemnation of the plan. Meanwhile, other players in the industry – including SFF, it seems – still want to cuddle-up to the Ardern administration and appease its farm emissions demands. Meantime, the question many farmers were asking about where Beetham’s loyalties lie have now probably been answered with his sudden and rather dramatic resignation late last month as Feds’ meat and wool chair.
Too late?
The Hound has for some time been highly critical about the actions of the He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) partners and their hesitancy to criticise the current government or push back publicly over the myriad of the many unworkable regulations it has imposed on the farming sector. When questioned about the folly of this stance, the likes of B+LNZ and DairyNZ have claimed ‘it is better to be at the table than not’ – arguing that any criticism or push back against the current government would not serve the industry well. However, your old mate suggests that by the looks of the Government’s farm emissions proposal, not only were B+LNZ and DairyNZ at the table, they were actually served up as the main course! Meanwhile, B+LNZ and DairyNZ’s very late to the party criticism of the proposed farm emissions plan looks far too little, far too late!
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
Oh really!
Claims by Damien O’Connor that his government’s crazy plan for pricing and taxing farm emissions is “now open to consultation with the sector before a final decision is made” should be taken with a large grain of salt. The supposed ‘consultation’ period closes on November 18, which has given the entire agriculture sector less than a month to respond to the Government’s proposal. This is true to form for this self-proclaimed ‘most open and transparent government in NZ’s history’. Remember the ‘consultation’ it did with the sector over its freshwater reforms? Or how about the ‘consultation’ it carried out with farmers over its winter grazing regulations? And, of course, let’s not forget the ‘consultation’ the Government recently conducted over its 3 Waters reforms, which ignored any criticism and shut out thousands of submissions against the changes!
No silver bullets?
This old mutt is reliably informed that NZ ag sector hopes for the miracle of ‘new technology’ saving farmers from having their on-farm emissions are likely to be sorely disappointed. The supposed ‘silver bullets’ for mitigating livestock methane emissions are looking less and less likely – despite claims by both government and industry bodies. Word is that, while refusing to release any trial data or even say who conducting its research, Fonterra has given up on its Bovaer trial – which was supposed to be the most promising option for dairy sector – due to ‘technical difficulties’. In the ovine space, big gaps supposedly remain with breeding low methane sheep, with some of these animals’ recording negative breeding traits. Meanwhile, hopes for a livestock vaccine do not appear to have any future and there are also reported problems with previously announced ‘low emissions’ plantain.
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 // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
OPINION / LETTERS 25 TIME TO SAY ‘NO MORE’! MY FARMING days are drawing to a close, so I will not be directly affected by the “Carbon Circus”. However, it is with deep concern that I am moved to put pen to paper to speak up for the livestock industry, which has historically a long and proud record of substantial contribution to the economic wellbeing of this country. We have finally reached the crossroads and it is up to farmer representative organisations to decide where they stand. Are they there for the welfare of the
farmers they represent or are they the politicians’ ‘puppy dogs’? The time has come to say: “No more! We are not going to continue to play your silly game for we are literally digging our own graves.” Negotiation, if you could call it that, has proven fruitless with a choice of the lesser of two evils the only option. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can see the steps proposed will make absolutely no effect upon global temperature
when our livestock are responsible for the least emissions worldwide per head and also as efficient as any. We have figures quoted for everything. However, I am yet to see the definitive measure stated for what difference our action would have on global temperature and I challenge anyone to produce them.
The stupidity of this crusade is beyond belief. There has to be another agenda, which I cannot actually figure. The destruction of farming businesses, communities, not to mention severe mental wellbeing consequences, will be the catastrophic result of such ill-considered policy. Government is
following the predictable line where the ideology is the motivation and consequences and repercussions are never measured or investigated. Farmers tend to be apathetic until there is a noticeable movement in their bank balance. Though, to be fair, many have their hands full primarily in making a living.
Believe you me, “You ain’t seen nothing yet”. I implore farmer representatives to take their responsibility seriously and refuse to condemn the people they represent to the annals of history and destroy this proud and worthy industry that has given great service to this country and – if left to get on with it – will continue to
do so. Food is a necessity; the new oil. Without it, societies degenerate into chaos. Sorry Aotearoa New Zealand, but we refuse to commit economic and social suicide, personally or nationally, to satisfy the whim of those with another agenda. Rohan Pattison Wairoa
Magister CS ®
WHY?
H E R B I C I DE
IN THE present carbon-methane confusion, some important questions are not being asked. 1. Does methane CH4 break down in the atmosphere? 2. Does this mean that at a constant level of production it stabilises in the atmosphere? 3. Are NZ pastural animals now at a constant level of methane production? 4. Does this mean that, from this source, the quantity of methane going to and coming from the atmosphere is constant and equal? 5. Does this mean that methane from our farmed pastural animals is already at net carbon zero? 6. Has the whole methane madness been driven by wishful thinking by the majority of people that the politicians are afraid to contradict? The answer to all questions is an emphatic ‘YES’. David Lloyd Te Kauwhata
OUT OF BALANCE THE FACT that the extensively grazed pasture lands found in the NZ high country – with immature top soils – sequester the most dry matter, organic matter, gaining the most organic matter and carbon. However, under methane tax rules, these very farms will be taxed the most and least able to supplement stock with feed additives or supplements to modify their methane outputs. This totally discredits the HWEN Methane Tax Scheme. The ‘See Saw effect’ of taxing one land use with unjustified methane taxes, while sponsoring or subsidising another with endlessly increasing carbon credits, can only lead to massive land use change from food production into tree production. What then shall we eat? And after Chinese housing market collapses, what then shall we export? Dave Stanton Geraldine
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
26 OPINION
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Compiled from data in the PCE report: ‘How much forestry would be needed to offset warming from agricultural methane’.
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THE WORLD is choosing to eat less meat. However, people still want to enjoy a good steak from time to time. If we decimate New Zealand agriculture, that steak will be an imported product, produced by industrial agriculture that burns fossil fuels to produce grain and soy that feeds animals instead of people. It is expected that 1.4 billion people will be protein-deficient by 2050. New Zealand grass-fed meat can provide that steak without decreasing world food supply. Our steep hills are excellent at growing grass, but not grain or soy. That New Zealand steak creates no additional warming, but our government is refusing to see this. Measures of warming and emissions are not equivalent. Emissions do not describe how warm the planet gets. Warming does and it’s the warming that counts. The goal of the Paris Accord is to keep global warming under 1.5°C without threatening food production. Methane is short-lived, but CO2 warms almost forever. New Zealand agriculture can get to zero additional warming, but can never get to zero emissions; this is a fact of ruminant digestion. Annual emissions targets are untenable for agriculture. Pastoral farmers are unfairly coming under fire for receiving reasonable concessions to com-
pensate for the short-lived nature of methane. Warming graphs from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) [insert graph from finished folder] reveal the cumulative nature of CO2 warming and show the inconsistency of current policy. Even with planned reductions, fossil fuels show little progress, while sheep and beef already create no additional warming. The whole of New Zealand agriculture, including dairy, could easily reach no further warming in 2050 compared to 1990. HWEN is targeting a 10% cut in agricultural emissions by 2030. The wider world worries about food security. In 2021, the UN called for large cuts from fossil fuel industry and five percentage points from ruminant agriculture by 2030. That’s half our policy target. The HWEN plan will kill off one in five sheep farms by 2030. I believe that the Government held a gun (the ETS) to the heads of negotiators in HWEN and the whole agreement was made under duress. Now is the time for us to reject HWEN, and make a bold gesture that will highlight the unfairness of current targets. We should aim to capture the imagination of the world and shock our government into accepting the science of zero additional warming for methane. Doing nothing is not an option. We must not agree to a plan that
will eventually force us out of food production. But equally, we must acknowledge that we do have a part to play. This is what I propose: We want justice; no special treatment but the same additional warming goal as the rest of the country. We can and will get below current warming levels by 2050. We pledge to do everything we can to help other sectors, as long as it is consistent with not reducing food production as per article 2.1(b) in the Paris Accord. We totally reject an annual emissions metric as inappropriate for methane. We want the ability to off-set methane with sequestration on farm. Sheep numbers peaked in 1978, dairy in 2017. Both sectors have turned the corner, but dairy has a way to go. Sheep and beef have already reached a zero additional warming, dairy can get there too because it is a more achievable goal. In the light of the Government’s ideologically-driven approach to climate change policy, I am calling on all farmers to instruct the partners in HWEN to insist on an additional warming target. This would be fair, enduring and consistent with the wider goals of the Paris Accord. • Dave Reed farms on steep hill country west of Wairoa. He has a physics degree and has been campaigning for a warming target for agriculture since 2018.
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
OPINION 27
Repeating mistakes of the past? KERRY WORSNOP
IN 1984, the last time farming was declared a sunset industry, the newly elected Labour government began the deregulation of what had been a highly regulated pastoral economy. Between 1982 and 1988, the value of grazing farms fell by 32%. With falling land prices some farmers lost all their equity and, unable to meet the rising interest rates, were forced to sell up. Sheep numbers fell by over 43% from the heights of 1982, to around 40 million in 2002. By 1993 the effective rate of assistance to agriculture had fallen to 3% compared to 52% prior to deregulation. The government viewed pastoral farming as an industry in decline. Today sheep number fewer than 28 million and – yet again – the sector faces a Labour government hell-bent on reinstating the very regulation and heavy-handed intervention that preceded the economic meltdown of the 1980s. In He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) – the soon to be adopted mechanism for pricing agricultural emissions – we have the ghost of recessions past come to haunt our already flailing economy. Those of more advanced years will recall the strong arm of government reaching in to guide investment decisions of the past. A little help here, a payout there, some more financial assistance for this – and a handful of subsidies for that. All in all, as mentioned above, the pastoral economy came to rely on as much as 53 % of its revenue from taxpayers for adherence with the prevailing view of what ‘good’ looked like. Back then, good looked like clearing bush and scrubland, sowing pastures and flying on fertiliser in bulk at heavily subsidised prices. Good looked like cranking up the stock numbers to ensure no blade of grass was safe. Ultimately ‘good’ turned out to be bad.
As burgeoning financial assistance rates proved impossible to maintain, culminating in the calamitous economic upheaval of the 80’s and the long sad trail of human misery that followed in its wake. ‘Good’ is unfortunately quite subjective, but outcomes tend to be cold hard facts. He Waka Eke Noa has defined ‘good’ as reducing our pastoral livestock numbers by between 24 and 47% below 2017 numbers – and applying a pricing penalty in order to drive this outcome. Ironically, this means farmers being penalised for farming the land once subsidised for development and being paid to put the bush back – where generations past were paid to remove it. The current policy framework models the retirement of land on a scale that will consign much of rural New Zealand into vast pine forests estates for which we have – as yet – no defined market beyond China and the insatiable hunger of carbon offsetting regimes. As a country – almost 40 years older than the one left wounded by primary sector policy failings in the past – surely, we can imagine a future where we enable our growers to be part of the solution? In a world still reliant on increasing food production to have any hope of feeding the 9 billion people expected to occupy our planet by 2050 – and one where almost everyone else, everywhere else produces food with more emissions than we do here. Surely, there is a more sensible way forward. Unless farmers, their elected leaders and regulators agree to step up, the future of pasture-based food production systems will remain in serious doubt. Relying on the tenuous hope that those representing us show courage and leadership, both of which seem to have – thus far – been variously lost or traded for short-term environmental hyperbole and headlines.
Farmers can deliver land-based solutions to many of the wicked problems facing the world today. However, to do this they need clear and achievable targets rather than wildly variable aspi-
rations. Finally, they need the focus to remain on outcomes, not ideals. ‘Good’ must not be subjective this time. • Kerry Worsnop is a Gisborne farmer and former district councillor.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
28 MANAGEMENT
Cover for high-stakes cereals CARRFIELDS SEED cereal manager Phil Smith carries a fair weight of responsibility. The varieties he and his team supply to growers need to perform exceptionally well to make their customers’ large investment in crop inputs really pay off. After a challenging summer, Smith says one of his customers described the harvest just finished as “one of the worst Canterbury’s had for years”. There are many contributing factors to producing a healthy cereal yield, the main one obviously being the cultivar selected. Another important consideration is the choice of treatment applied to the seed. Kerrin, Carrfields’ current star wheat variety and holder of the world record for yield, was bred in the UK and is sold by Carrfields exclusively in NZ. It has proven an inspired choice for use in various growing conditions down here on the other side of the globe. The seed treatment being applied to Kerrin is the relatively new Kinto Duo as a fungicide and the well-established Poncho for insect pest control.
Both products are made by BASF. Kinto Duo is currently Carrfields’ preferred fungicidal treatment for cereal seed crops. It’s not as wellknown as some of the alternatives, but Carrfields now use it on all their wheat and barley. Smith’s confidence in Kinto Duo is based on first-hand experience. Several years ago, Carrfields subjected Kinto Duo to their own trials in Canterbury. “We were really, really happy with the emergence,” he explains. “With such a quick turnaround the early vigour is always crucial, and in the autumn it’s a lot colder here early in the season. “We like to get the crops up and away before winter hits.” The differences were also noticed in the health of seed that was stored after treatment. “Some of the older products are quite aggressive on the seed. If the seeds are damaged – with cracked casings and so on – germination is affected,” Smith adds. “Kinto is a lot softer on the seed. When we store the treated seed for
Seed Cereal Manager at Carrfields, Phil Smith and his team’s job is to make their customers’ large investment in crop inputs really pay off.
6 months or more, there’s no obvious sign of the seed degrading and we haven’t seen any impact on germination.” Although it is important to protect the seed’s emergence, Kinto Duo’s pri-
mary role is disease control. “We mainly use it in wheat for fusarium and seedling rusts,” he says, “and Kinto seems to control them well.” Smith says that he’s had good
results with Kinto Duo. It deals with the early threat of fusarium and then they follow it up to 3 to 4 foliar sprays. “Most of our foliar fungicide regime is geared towards Septoria tritici. As it happens, Kinto Duo is no more expensive than the older industry standards. So that added dimension of protecting high germination rates and promoting early vigour suggests an excellent return on investment.” Whereas trial work convinced the Carrfields team to switch to a newer product for disease control, they haven’t seen any reason yet to stop relying on Poncho to manage early insect pressure. “Although there are alternatives to Poncho available, we prefer to stay with something we can rely on,” Smith says. “Currently, all the autumn wheat and barley is treated with Poncho.” The biggest pest targets are grass grubs and aphids, with the biggest concern being the danger of aphids spreading barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). “BYDV can cause a huge yield loss. Poncho gives that early window of protection.”
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
MANAGEMENT 29
Study identifies ewe wastage PRELIMINARY RESULTS on a ewe wastage study has found that, on average, 30 out of every 100 ewes left their flocks between mating and post-weaning. Reasons for culling included failure to get pregnant, rear a lamb, age, teeth, udder defects and body condition. However, on average, six out of 100 ewes died or went missing between mating and weaning. The study – carried out on 37 sheep farms across New Zealand last year – also found that on average 13 % of ewes presented to the ram failed to rear a lamb and when combined with scanning data. This means an estimated 24 potential lambs were lost per 100 ewes. The report, written by Massey University associate professor Anne Ridler, states that this
will be an underestimate of potential lambs lost, as it does not take into account lambs that died whose mother still reared a lamb. The study, which is a collaboration between researchers at Massey University and Lincoln University and funded by the Massey – Lincoln and Agricultural Industry Trust. It aims to describe ewe wastage on a sample of New Zealand sheep farms. These farms comprise a range of sizes, topography and climate types. Nineteen of the study farms are in the North Island and 18 in the South Island. The average size of the flocks studied was 4,721 ewes (twotooths and mixed-age) but ranged from 920 to 17,461. In autumn 2021, all
The study found that, on average, six out of 100 ewes died or went missing between mating and weaning.
participating farmers were interviewed about their ewe culling decisions and while all farmers culled dry ewes, there
was a big variation in culling decisions around wet/dry two-tooth ewes, culling on type or looks or age.
Most farmers culled ewes with poor udders and some or all ewes with poor feet, but there was a range of methods used to
access udders and feet. The study calculated wastage as a percentage of the ewes that were put to the ram in 2021 compared to the number of ewes that failed to rear a lamb to tailing (docking). It takes into account dry ewes, wet-dry ewes, ewes that were culled for other reasons and ewes that died or went missing. However, the research also looks at reasons for culling at weaning or post-weaning and this was when farmers culled on age, teeth, body condition and udder defects. The attrition rate of 30 per 100 ewes, which requires a replacement rate of around 30% to keep flock numbers stable, aligns with replacement rates on most of the farms in the study. These ranged from 19.3% to 44.9% with an
average of just under 30%. Further analysis of the results is being done and work into ewe wastage is ongoing. Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s general manager farming excellence, Dan Brier says the sheep and beef levy organisation supports the study because it is such important work. “Ewe flocks are such an important driver of profitability on sheep and beef farms.” He says the study highlights the huge variation in how farmers make decisions about which sheep to cull. “B+LNZ has a number of tools to help farmers with their culling decisions,” Brier adds. “I’d encourage them to look at the video and resources that Dr Ridler has produced for us on udder health in sheep.”
Bring a mate and catch a break Get along to your local Surfing for Farmers and be in to win a Barron Woolight sustainable surfboard. Never surfed? No problem. Lessons are free, surfboards and wetsuits are provided, and there’s a BBQ after. Getting off the farm and into the waves can help balance the stresses and strains of farming and you could win a Barron surfboard, we’ve got 10 to give away. For more details and to find a surf spot near you visit www.rabobank.co.nz/surfing-for-farmers
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
30 ANIMAL HEALTH
Weather presents cow condition challenges SLOW PASTURE growth over the last couple of months, combined with
energy, fibre and protein as mating gets into full swing across the country.
a wet October and lack of sunshine, could see cows short on crucial
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That’s the view of GrainCorp Feeds’ technical support manager Ken Winter. He warns that this could have a detrimental effect on next year’s calving and milk production. “Pasture growth was slow in September and October has followed suit,” he says. “Lots of rain and a lack of sunshine means there is less feed. What pasture is there, is lower in energy, digestibility and lower in sugars. “There are plenty of farms with mud and pugging too, which is unusual for October, and little or no supplements shut up yet.” At this time of the year, the energy demands on a cow are at an alltime high. The physical exertions of pregnancy, calving and now milk production have taken a toll on her energy reserves. It is critical to bring her energy levels up, not only for milk production, but for reproduction. If a cow’s energy intake is lower than her output, her body will find the missing megajoules of metabolizable energy MJME from within her own system. Body fat and protein will be mobilised to make milk, but the cost of doing so will be high. Body condition will be lost and so will her ability to conceive. Winter and his team have seen dairy farmers
Ken Winter says slow pasture growth over the last couple of months, combined with a wet weather and lack of sunshine, could have a detrimental effect on next year’s calving and milk production.
using a lot more supplementary feed this season to fill the gaps. “While typically many dairy farmers are behind last year’s production, there are many that are doing record volumes on the back of feeding more concentrates,” he says. “These results demonstrate how important it is to add the right supplement to your herd’s feeding regime. “Due to the high cost of feed right now, some farmers have opted for a lower spec feed or reduced feed intake. Unfortunately, in many cases this had led to
reduced production and lower margins. “While cost saving can help profitability, missed production on a $9.50/ kgMS payout could make the situation even worse.” Winter says recent bad weather means cows will need extra mineral supplementation as they head into mating, such as some of our customised mineral mixes with increased levels of iodine, selenium, and copper along with extra vitamins as needed. “There will be herds and groups of cows that haven’t calved down in
optimum condition and may have lost more condition than usual post calving. “These cows will now need extra attention and feed, or in some cases should be put on once-aday milking to give them the best shot at getting back in calf.” He says high quality bypass fats are also an effective way to improve reproductive performance by providing a concentrated and readily available energy source. “Feeding them extra during mating can be a real saviour if optimum intakes aren’t being met.”
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Avoid an outbreak. Ask your vet about vaccinating with Bovilis BVD or visit bovilis.co.nz Following a third dose (annual vaccine) Bovilis BVD provides 12 months foetal protection. 2Interval between dose 1 (sensitiser) and dose 2 is from 4 weeks to 6 months. 3rd dose given as annual single dose.
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
32 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
All-purpose trailers built for big loads MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
RESEARCH SUGGESTS that up to 40% of a tractor’s time is spent on haulage duties.
This means that, over the years, farm trailers have evolved from single axle units with 4-tonne capacity to the goliaths of today – equipped with two or three axles and
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capacities of 18 or 20 tonnes. In the case of the latter, their sheer size means they are likely to impose huge loads on the tractor, have tipping restrictions in areas of low headroom and the likelihood of high oil take-out requirements, caused by needing to fill large hydraulic cylinders when tipping. More recently, smarter operators are seeing the benefits of compactor/push-off trailers that offer benefits of higher capacity and quicker safer discharge. In the case of haulage specialists Fliegl, who first introduced this concept in 1999, their ASW 271 Gigant is a great example of an all-purpose trailer designed to deal with a wide range of produce. This includes grass and maize silage, potatoes, manure, compost, woodchips and gravel. Built around a substantial ladder-frame chassis, the trailer is mounted on the company’s Gigant Plus trailing-arm suspension system that is mounted on rubber bushings. This offers maintenance-free operation, the ability to
Fliegl’s ASW 271 Gigant is a great example of an all-purpose trailer designed to deal with a wide range of produce.
deal with high axle loads, high speeds and maximum stability. The trailer incorporates Fiegl’s two-stage push-off system that sees a moveable front wall initially compressing the load or discharging when the rear door is opened. Load compression allows the operator to move the nominal load of 35 cubic metres rearwards and effectively increase that volume to that of a 56 cubic metre body, using a minimal take out of only 21 litres. Material is contained in the body of the trailer
by using angled polyurethane sealing strips, with a life expectancy of five to ten years. Once filled, the trailer can be typically emptied in around 40 to 50 seconds, depending on material. All the while, maintaining a low centre of gravity, ease of access and discharge in limited headroom and up to 60% more volume than a standard trailer. With a maximum load capacity and a tare weight of 6,900kg, the novel layout only requires a tractor of around 160hp. The trailers have an
added bonus of mechanical axle adjustment, which allows optimal weight distribution. This moves the axle assembly rearwards and places more weight on the tractor, so improves traction in field conditions, while the reverse makes for a more comfortable ride during haulage at high speeds. Measuring 7.1m long, 2.28m wide and 2m high, standard equipment includes 300mm high removable silage extensions, a 500mm folding side panel and an 800mm deep, hydraulic rear door.
Axle equipment is a BPW 410 x 210mm, with a fixed forward axle and a rear steering unit to help reduce scuffing. Tyres are 560-60 R22.5 flotations, with the trailer hitched to the tractor via a hydraulically suspended drawbar and a 50mm swivel eye coupling. For those operators looking to customise their trailers, options include 650-65R26.5 or 710-50 R26.6 tyres that can help reduce compaction and deliver a more comfortable ride. @rural_news facebook.com/ruralnews
Meeting The Methane Challenge 34th Annual Ram Sale
At Paparata we are now identifying sheep with lower methane emissions.
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Catalogues mailed to past buyers& available on website. Top 130 rams available so you get top pick. Next cut available for paddock sale. Contact Trevor o nson on027 2209 567 or Seymour Spence07 893 88
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RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
34 MACHINERY & PRODUCTS
Pre-mix tank speeds up spraying mixes with flat-bottomed tanks to speed up spraying logistics. It features a robust, weather and UV-resistant tank of 3,500-4,000L. This is mounted in a robust galvanised steel frame, with the set set-up said to be the ideal size to accommodate single bulk bags of fertiliser. This allows operators to dissolve 1,200kg of sulphate of ammonia in 2,500L of water in around 15 minutes. With 2-inch inlet and outlet fittings, with the latter incorporating a bung, the lower cone-
MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
WELL-KNOWN FOR its moulded plastic products for a range of industries, South Island-based Advantage plastics has recently added to its agricultural collection with a clever, cone-bottomed mixing/dissolving tank. Offering an easy solution to dissolving fertilisers – such as ammonium sulphate, urea or micronutrients for easy transfer to a sprayer – the unique configuration answers the problems created by attempting to create pre-
Advantage plastics has recently added to its agricultural collection with a clever, conebottomed mixing/dissolving tank.
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450mm openings. Meanwhile, in the off-season the mixer tank can also be used to store grains, meals or other liquids – adding to the versatility of the unit. “I trialled the new cone-bottomed mixing tank and was really impressed with its functionality,” says Nigel Greenwood of Southbridge. “Sturdy and well built, the unit is easy to fill, add product to, mix and empty out into the sprayer. It’s easy to clean and certainly looks the part.”
shape of the tank creates a vortex as the water is circulated. This helps to quickly dissolve solids that are added. In practice, a portable pump with a capacity of around 600L/minute is connected to the inlet and outlet fitting of the tank. Once the required volume of water is placed in the tank, the lower outlet is opened to create a circular flow and the fertiliser is added through the top opening and quickly dissolved. Said to be easily cleaned, without leaving any solid residues, easy access is gained with twin
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BOOMER FOR LIFESTYLERS NEW HOLLAND has launched the new Boomer 25C Sub-Compact tractor, which is said to be the most versatile sub-compact tractor in the series. Equipped with a 1.3-litre, 3-cylinder engine pushing out 24.7hp at 3,000rpm, engine power is transformed into movement via a two-stage, twin pedal hydrostatic unit with a maximum speed of 13.3km/h. “The option of factory-supplied implements is a feature that allows dealers to offer customers machine packages such as a mid-mount mower, frontend loader and backhoe at very competitive rates,” explains Ross Aylwin – New Holland’s product manager for sub-compacts. These tractors are said to be the perfect package to maintain lifestyle acreages, as a farm runabout and for lawn care. With a complete redesign from previous Boomer models, the Boomer 25C is more reliable and powerful. However, despite its small size, it has sufficient weight and structural strength to handle heavy-duty tasks – such as a front-end loader. The four-wheel drive machine offers a dedicated hydraulic system, pushing out up to 17.1 litres per minute. – Mark Daniel
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*Offer ends 31/12/22 or while stocks last. Offer only available at participating Polaris Dealers. Not valid with any other offer. Excludes fleet clients. ^^Accessories offer only valid with the purchase of a new Sportsman 570 EPS EBS PREMIUM, Ranger 500, and Ranger XP 1000 HD EPS ADC. +Finance offer is only available on selected models. GST registered customers only. 24-month term contract. 20% Deposit required. Deposit may include Trade (Trade conditions apply). Fees and conditions apply (normal lending criteria applies) Finance is provided by Polaris Finance, a program operated by De Lage Landen Limited Company No 135515.
0800 440 290 | www.polarisnewzealand.com |
/PolarisNZ |
/polarisorv_nz
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
MACHINERY & PRODUCTS 35
Ultimate tractor tyre optimisation configuration and model of tyre being used. The TLC App, launched in 2011, was the industry’s first load and pressure calculator, avail-
TRS
MARK DANIEL markd@ruralnews.co.nz
TRS TYRE & Wheel, specialist wheel and tyre suppliers based in Whanganui, is offering a tyre optimisation service for any tractors running on either Trelleborg or Mitas tyres. Designed to determine the right balance between inflation pressures and loading, the check allows operators to get the most from their tyres and help increase tractor productivity and output. All of this takes as little as 30 minutes to complete. With new tyre and tractor technology, previous assumptions on tyre inflation pressures can often be outdated. While inflation pressures determine the amount of load a tyre can carry, it also impacts ride comfort, fuel consumption, tyre life and overall tractor performance. Results show that adopting the correct tyre pressure can reduce running costs by more than 20%. During the optimisation testing visit, accurate data is provided on tyre pressure recommendations, footprint analysis and soil compaction advice – based on technology exclusive to TRS and Trelleborg. “The optimisation service has allowed TRS to
TRS TYRE & Wheel, are New Zealand’s largest importer and distributor of agricultural and industrial tyres and wheels. It was purchased by Trelleborg AB in July 2018 and has evolved from a tyre and wheel distributor to a manufacturer. With the change has come access to the considerable resources and expertise of the Trelleborg Wheel Systems.
www.trstyreandwheel. co.nz/optimisation
4 ys® - site G7 a ld ie F 2 2 0 Visit us at 2
work closer with contractors and farmers to provide the best possible solution to meet their requirements”, says Trelleborg’s brand manager, Ivan Burrows. “Trelleborg is committed to innovative agricultural tyre solutions that promote productivity, sustainability and farm efficiency. In addition, confidence in the brand is strengthened by its partnering with the world’s most recognised tractor brands as a leading supplier of tyres seen on European machinery coming into NZ.” During the optimisation, tractors are weighed on both axles to understand the weight distribution on the tyres. Using the Trelleborg load calculator app, optimum tyre pressure can be calculated for the specific machine
INTRODUCING THE NEW...
UNROLLA LX104
In our never-ending pursuit to help farmers achieve more everyday, we’ve created a brand new 2022 UNROLLA - Tried & True, but Refined. Ultra Compact • Now with 4-ft bale chamber (the most popular bale size) • Improved manoeuvrability, visibility, and operator safety when using it at the front of a tractor or in tight areas.
More Strength & Reliability • • • •
New HardLine™ sprockets Additional 5 feed bars Stronger teeth (now 8-mm thick) Improved headstock design with extra gussets
Even Easier To Use • Patented Snaplox auto-latching system comes standard • New chain tensioner design for easier maintenance and durability
A limited number of Unrolla LM105 bale feeders are still available. Call for a deal!
NEW BALESLICE
Bale Cutters > Remove net wrap without leaving your tractor > Grab & slice the bale with one machine FROM
Read us until the cows come home!
$11,790+GST
SWIFTHITCH RANGE
> Class-leading visibility > Replacable wearpad & pin > Self-aligning latch Heavy Duty
READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER ❱❱ Breaking news ❱❱ Management ❱❱ Animal health ❱❱ Agribusiness ❱❱ Machinery & Products reviews ❱❱ Competitions... and much more
TRS Tyre & Wheel is offering a tyre optimisation service for any tractors running on either Trelleborg or Mitas tyres.
able in 14 languages and working with over 5,000 potential machine configurations.
FROM
$1,795
+GST
NEW REGENER8R
NEW SWIFTBLADE
Chain Harrows > Revitalise paddocks > Improve manure uptake > Lower fertiliser costs FROM
Manure Scrapers > Clean environment for herd > Maximise manure value > Save time
$10,990+GST
FROM
SOFTHANDS RANGE
> Euro Hitch & Hoses Standard > No pinching or tearing of wrap
LM100
Farmers Round Bale Handler FROM
$3,990+GST
> 4 Year Warranty
Super Duty FROM
$2,750+GST
COMBI RX & CM RANGES
Has your old feedout wagon come to the end of its road? Is it time to put it out to pasture? Order your wagon of tomorrow at today’s prices.
All the latest stories and more at www.ruralnews.co.nz HEADER
Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 15
RURALNEWS TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS
EZFEED RANGE
> 100% Roller Chains > Roto-Moulded Hungry Boards > Feed out either both sides > Simple operation > Proven platform FROM
$63,900+GST
HEADER
Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu. PAGE 23
HEADER Ferist et quati aut pedici te vollab imod quamet atur soleniet quiatibu.
PAGE 24
Call our friendly team today! All prices shown are base prices, without any extras and options. Deals valid until 30/11/22.
$3,890+GST
HUSTLEREQUIPMENT.COM 0800 487 853
LX200
Contractors Round & Square Bale Handler FROM
$4,990+GST
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
CRAIGCO SENSOR JET • Robust construction • Auto shut gate • Total 20 jets • Lambs only 5 jets • Side jets for lice • Adjustable V panels • Davey Twin Impellor Pump • 6.5 or 9.0hp motors
36 RURAL TRADER
SHEEP JETTERS SINCE 1992
Quality Greenhouses
Invest in your safety Flexible crush protection device
GUARANTEED PERFORMANCE QUICK TO SETUP – EASY TO USE – JOB DONE
Range of models sized 2 metres - 10 metres
PH 06-835 6863 • MOB 021-061 1800 JETTER VIDEO: www.craigcojetters.com
gned Desi ade m d an in NZ
HAIR SHIRE RAMS ®
RAMS AND EWES FOR SALE
HARDY, LOW INPUT EASY CARE MEAT SHEEP
• No dagging • No shearing • No dip, drench or chemicals since 1989
700
Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud TUFTY® Cow & Calf Sale https://bidr.co.nz/auction/1759 Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud SHIRE® Hair Ram Sale https://bidr.co.nz/auction/1726
morrifield
$
®
Also Tufty (polled Highland) bulls, cows and calves available
CELEBRATING
40 YEARS IN BUSINESS 1980-2020
+ GST & Freight
Hair Shire® Stud Ram Sire “Gladiator” progeny for sale
MORRIFIELD GREENHOUSES
0800 782 376
PROUD TO BE NEW ZEALAND MADE
traxequipment.co.nz
Ph 027-225 5283
Thank you to our Valued Customers for • Easy assembly • NZ made since 1980 your continued support over the years • Strong Win!! and durable • Grow all year round
Greenhouses
www.organic-rams.co.nz • tim@organicstud.nz
www.morrifield.com
T/F 03 214 4262 E info@morrifield.com
Call for delivery options
www.morrifield.com
BEST QUALITY | BEST Price | BEST ADVICE BEST QUALITY | BEST Price | BEST ADVICE
BEST QUALITY | BEST Price | BEST ADVICE WATER TANKS, PUMPS & FILTRATION WATER TANKS, PUMPS & FILTRATION
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 & FILTRATION
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
E NEW! BUFFALO BOOTS SAL soon NEW - WIDER TOE BOX NEW - WIDER STEEL CAP ** NEW - KEVLAR PENETRATION RESISTANT SOLE ** NEW - 250 DEGREE HEAT RESISTANT OUTSOLE NEW - BALL BEARING SPEED LACING NEW - FLEXIBLE RAND NEW - STRONGER OUTSOLE STITCHING NEW - STRONGER MIDSOLE NEW - STRONGER FORESTRY GRADE SHANK (**safety models) New boots arrive late November 175% more crack resistant than normal leather
PHONE
9am-5pm
0800 16 00 24
Buffalo Leather
RAINWEAR
ends
$160*
BIB OVERALLS
$150* $109
valued at $320
valued at $230
valued at $280
100% Waterproof Fleece Collar
Stitched On Soles
earthwalk.co.nz
BUY
Plain Toe* or Steel Toe
Hood Visor Flexible Acid Resistant
New Zealand owned & operated
free shipping
SPRAY UNITS
Durable Seams
sizes: BOOTS 5 - 13 (NZ)
30m Hose Reel c/w Spot 300 Spray Gun 650kg Break Strength Strapping
RAINWEAR XS - 4XL
TRAILED 12V SPRAYER
• •
www.mckeeplastics.co.nz
PETROL DECK SPRAYER
Honda GP200 Motor • 40 Bar/580 PSI • Flow Rate 41L per min • Comet APS41 Diaphragm Pump •
• 5D Suction Filter • Pressure Regulator & Return System NORTH ISLAND:
SOUTH ISLAND:
23 Mahinui St, Feilding. Ph 0800 625 826
35 Wilkin St, Waimate. Ph 027 665 3667
LEGGINGS
$99$88
JACKET
• •
Petrol & 12V Trailers available Comes in 200L, 400L & 600L models
Hot dipped Galvanised Trailer
ATV 12V SPRAYER
RURAL NEWS // NOVEMBER 8, 2022
RURAL TRADER 37 FLY OR LICE PROBLEMS?
Free Range & Barn Eggs
The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989
SUPPLIERS OF:
FOOTWEAR LTD
Quality construction and options • Get the contractors choice
• Nest boxes - manual or automated • Feed & Drinking • Plastic egg trays
FARM BOOTS KIWI MADE FOR 3 GENERATIONS
Featuring...
• Incredible chemical economy • Amazing ease 1500+ per hour • Unique self adjusting sides • Environmentally and user friendly • Automatically activated • Proven effective on lice as well as fly • Compatible with all dip chemicals • Accurate, effective application
QUALITY PRODUCTS MADE IN EUROPE OR BY PPP
Visit www.lastrite.co.nz for more quality products ❖
YARDMATE SOFT TOE This is designed for
A trusted name in Poultry Industry for over 50 years ❖
heavy duty uses and is perfect for fencers, high country farmers and hunters walking through tough, rugged country. With an upper constructed from thick full grain leather, a leather insole and mid-sole, which is stitched and screwed to a cleated rubber repairable sole. A tough heel counter for better ankle support, this boot will handle the tough environment. Yardmate also available in Steel toe. Sizes 4-15 including half sizes.
07 573 8512 | dipping@electrodip.co.nz – www.electrodip.com
DOLOMITE
NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call... 0800 436 566
GUSSET CASUAL BOOT For casual occasions in town and around home, the Gusset boot is a really comfortable and stylish option. A turned out, one piece full grain leather upper, with elastic side panels construction, ensures comfort and sleek appearance. Being fully leather lined with a leather in-sole adds to the comfort. The rough, flexible Navana fully repairable sole, ensures durability and the ability to handle the kids playing fields. Toe – Soft Toe Colour – Harley Tawny Sole – Navana Rubber/Replaceable sole
QUADBAR
595
$
+GST delivered
Proven beyo nd do ubt!
10 HALL ROAD, RD5, WHANGAREI Phone 09-436 2794 OR 027-436 2793
“I have no doubt that if I did not have a Quadbar fitted, my accident would have been fatal!” – Rozel Farms “The Quadbar saved our employee from significant injuries.” – Colin van der Geest
RURAL ONLINE
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
READING THE PAPER ONLINE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER.
600 500 400 300 200 100 0
Go to www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz
a i l a r t s Au real Discover the
QUADBAR 5 YEAR SURVEY
NUMBER OF QUADBARS 479
ROLLOVERS 61
NUMBER OF DEATHS 0
YOUR ADVERT HERE For details contact: JULIE BEECH Ph 09-307 0399 • julieb@ruralnews.co.nz
Tours designed for the young at heart traveller looking for their next adventure
vel Club with Kiwi Tra
Guided & escorted tours of New Zealand , Australi a & Nort h America
Australian Tours 2023 Australian Red Centre
The Kimberley’s
Tropical North Queensland
Tasmanian Foodies Tour
Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock)
Darwin to Broome
Cairns
Hobart to Launceston
MAY $2,495*
AUG $5,250*
SEP $1,950*
OCT $3,329*
* Per Person Twin Share
• •
Exclusive 6–10-Day Tours Local Guides
• •
Comfortable Coaches Premium Hotels
• •
Flexible Payment Terms Free Club Membership
Free Phone: 0800 895 194 Email: info@ktctours.com
www.kiwitravelclub.co.nz
CULVERT PIPES Made from polyethylene & recycled plastic
www.mckeeplastics.co.nz 300mm x 6 metre ............................. $410 400mm x 6 metre ............................. $515 500mm x 6 metre ............................. $735 600mm x 6 metre ............................. $989 800mm x 6 metre ........................... $1496 1000mm x 6 metre ......................... $2325 1200mm x 6 metre ......................... $3699
•
SOUTH ISLAND 35 Wilkin St, Waimate Ph 027 665 3667
Culvert joiners FREE with pipes on request Water Transport
ALL PRICES INCLUDE G.S.T.
NORTH ISLAND 23 Mahinui St, Feilding Ph 0800 625 826
•
Water Troughs
•
Lightweight, easy to install
Water Storage
The Perfect Widget!
t Vist us a ek re C y r e t s My n o s y a d l Fie
0 1 E e t Si
Hansen Products IBC Tank Fittings are designed specifically to fit threads on IBC Tanks ACME x BSPT
60mm x 50mm
75mm x 50mm
www.hansenproducts.co.nz
Buttress x BSPT
60mm x 50mm
100mm x 80mm
WIN A CFMOTO ATV ! CFORCE RANGE
With refinements across the board, introducing the new-generation CFORCE 400, 400 EPS and 520 EPS.
7,990
$
EX GST
NEW
8,990
9,990
$
EX GST
16,990
$
EX GST
The CFORCE 1000 OVERLAND adds a suite of factory-fitted extras including beadlock rims, front and rear protector bars, LED riding lights, an 8mm full-length skid plate, premium paint, fender extenders and windshield. PLUS - Kiwi customers get an additional 41 litre centre rear cargo box and a 105 litre rear cargo box, as pictured, to complete the OVERLAND package.
EX GST
NEW 580cc engine, 40hp Power steer Front and rear diff lock All 4 wheel disc brakes Alloy wheels 2500lb winch Available in Titanium Grey
495cc engine, 34hp Power steer LED headlights Alloy wheels 2500lb winch 5-inch display Available in Force Red
400cc engine, 30hp Selectable 4WD Power steer Alloy wheels 2500lb winch Available in Lava Orange
OVERLAND
$
EX GST
NEW
400cc engine, 30hp Selectable 4WD Steel wheels Steel carrier racks Available in Sky Blue
11,990
$
KIDS CORNER! 4,490
$
INCLUDING GST
6,490
$
INCLUDING GST
The kids no longer miss out! That’s because the long-awaited CFMOTO youth ATV is here: the ultimate pathway for kids to commence their powered four-wheel journey in a fun and safe environment. With sporty looks, brilliant performance, disc brakes and a portfolio of safety features, the CFORCE 110 and all-electric EV110, raise the bar in the youth ATV space.
WIN A CFMOTO ATV !
The UFORCE 600 EPS is a package that represents a quantum leap in design, performance and ergonomics, with key updates including electronic hill descent control and a limitedslip rear differential. Built for work, the UFORCE 600 EPS is powered by a 580cc engine that features multiple drive modes, electronic hill descent control, an LCD display screen, ROPS-approved cage, roof kit, alloy wheels, nearly 100 litres of storage, 960kg of towing/carrying capacity, a newly designed bench seat and is available in premium Titanium Grey livery. The UFORCE 600 is available in three different models, a Base model, EPS model and for the more adventurous, a Hunt edition. Each model is loaded with different features to best cater to your individual needs. To learn more about the UFORCE 600 range contact your CFMOTO dealer.
dealers
NORTH ISLAND
Andys Moto Services, Waiuku (027) 944 5442 Brown Brothers Bikes, Whanganui (027) 572 7696 Country Engineering, Tauranga (07) 552 0071 Country Machinery, Sanson (06) 329 3900 Dr Moto, Tauranga (07) 578 9902 DP Williams, Gisborne (06) 863 2612 Gatmans Mowers, Silverdale (09) 426 5612 Hamilton Motorcycle Centre, Hamilton (07) 849 1919 JC Motorcycles, Waitara (06) 754 6420 Johnston’s, Inglewood (06) 927 3566 Maungaturoto Motorcycles, Maungaturoto (09) 431 8555
Motorcycle HQ, Pahiatua (06) 376 7163 Northland Powersports, Whangarei (09) 437 5451 NZ Motorcycle Importers, Upper Hutt 02108289789 Outdoor Power, Hastings (06) 878 2369 Peninsula Motorcycles, Thames (07) 868 6104 Powerhead Motorcycles, Manurewa (09) 297 7145 RevTech Powersports, Stratford (06) 765 7712 Rob Titter Farm Services, Kaikohe (09) 401 1774 Rouse Motorcycles, Hikurangi (09) 4338 471 Tahuna Motorcycles & Atvs, Tahuna 02102489407
SOUTH ISLAND
Action Sports Direct, Wanaka (07) 928 8045 Ag & Auto Direct, Balclutha (03) 418 0555 Colin Clyne Motorcycles, Oamaru (03) 437 0559 Dan’s Motor Centre, Geraldine (03) 693 8536 Diesel Tech Machinery, Methven (03) 302 8946 Diesel Tech Machinery, Rangiora (03) 313 6465 Franks Motorcycles. Mataura (03) 203 7309 Ian Day Farm and Lifestyle, Alexandra (03) 448 9007 Marlborough Motorcycles, Blenheim (03) 579 2500 Nelson Motorcycles, Nelson (03) 548 3786 Remarkable Motorcycles, Queenstown (03) 441 4653
UFORCE RANGE
13,990
$
EX GST
15,490
$
EX GST
$14,990
13,990
$
NOW
Power steer Alloy wheels LSD – Limited slip rear differential 3500lb winch Available in Titanium Grey
$16,490
15,490
$
EX GST
SAVE 1000
19,490
$
EX GST
NOW
EX GST
SAVE 1000
$
800cc V-twin, 62hp Power steer 500kg tow capacity 200kg rear tray capacity 3500lb winch Available in Titanium Grey
EX GST
NEW
NEW
580cc engine, 41hp Two drive modes Hill descent control 680kg tow capacity 250kg rear tray capacity Available in Blue
16,990
$
$
Farm Spec Edition Full-length glass windscreen Wiper kit, Heavy-duty rear PVC windscreen Steel-mounted rear mudflap kit 3500lb winch Available in Titanium Grey
24,490
$
EX GST
NEW
NEW
Hunt Edition Dual snorkel kit Front, rear and side bar work Half windscreen 3500lb winch Available in Camo
$15,490
14,490
$
NOW
EX GST
SAVE 1000 $
Limited Edition Camo Power steer Front bar with bonnet rack & headlight guards 3500lb winch Available in Camo
See us at the
NATIONAL FIELD DAYS Coming to the National field days? Don’t forget to visit the CFMOTO stand.
963cc V-twin, 77hp Two drive modes Power steer LSD – Limited slip differential 800kg tow capacity 350kg rear tray capacity Midnight Blue or Dark Sky Grey
XL Edition Long wheelbase / 6 seater 963cc V-Twin, 77hp Two drive modes 800kg tow capacity 350kg rear tray capacity Midnight Blue
This years stand will have the full range of ATV, UTV and sideby-sides. Plus a full display of CFMOTO’s motorcycle range including the recently release 800MT Adventure bike.
WIN A CFMOTO ATV ! ZFORCE RANGE
ADVENTURE
FOR THE MASSES Life’s not all about hard yakka, and the bold and brawny CFMOTO ZFORCE sports-byside (SSV) vehicles are the titans of adventure – without breaking the bank. The 800 TRAIL is the entry-level SSV but don’t be fooled by the tag: this highperforming machine delivers a dynamic driving experience in its own right. Want more power? Then head to the 1000 garage, with the all-new SPORT R the ultimate master blaster.
18,490
$
EX GST
800cc V-twin, 62hp Half doors, sports seats & steering wheel New torsional trialling arm rear suspension with greater travel Alloy wheels with 26inch 6ply CST tyres Available in Galaxy Grey
20,490
$
EX GST
963cc V-twin, 80hp Long travel suspension LSD – Limited slip rear differential Alloy wheels with 29inch 8ply CST Stag tyres Available in Fire Red or Mercury Silver
22,490
$
EX GST
963cc V-twin, 90hp Two drive modes Newly designed dynamic suspension LSD – Limited slip Colour matched Beadlock wheels 29inch 8-ply CST Stag tyres Available in Royal Blue or Nebula Black
WIN A CFMOTO ATV ! Simply scan the QR code and tell us in 25 words or less how a Lighter, Stronger, Smarter CFORCE 400 ATV will improve your workday! Fill in your contact details, click enter and you’re in the draw with a chance to win a brand new CFORCE 400 ATV valued at $7,990 ex GST. Good luck!
* T&C’s apply. Competition opens 01/11/2022, entries close on 11:59pm on the 4/12/2022. The winner will be drawn on the 6/12/2022 and notified directly.
*Ride away prices quoted exclude GST. Youth Range ride away prices quoted include GST. CFMOTO CFORCE, UFORCE and Youth models are supported by a 2 year warranty. ZFORCE models are supported by a 12 month warranty. See www.cfmoto.co.nz for further information.
www.cfmoto.co.nz