Record milk price!
A RECORD farmgate milk price for Fonterra shareholders is all but confirmed for this season.
While the strong milk price is lifting farmer confidence and sentiment, inflation remains a concern.
BNZ senior economist Doug Steel notes that even if a record milk price is achieved this season, it is unlikely to be a record in inflation-adjusted terms.
Fonterra is forecasting a mid-point of $9.50/kgMS and the upper end of its forecast range touches $10/kgMS. BNZ has lifted its forecast to $9.75/kgMS. The previous record farmgate milk price was $9.30 paid in 2021-22 season. Steel notes that on-farm costs have increased significantly over recent seasons.
“On our calculations, a nominal milk price of about $11.50 would be required this season for a record to be achieved in real terms.
“That looks like a stretch too far, but it is not to deny a decent milk price this season is becoming more and more likely.
“At the same time, more milk is also being made. Importantly, in the past,
a high milk price has often been associated with weak NZ milk production. Not this year. NZ milk supply has generally had a strong start to the season.”
Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says that while this might be a record milk price in dollar terms, that doesn’t really tell the full story, because costs are up on farm as a result of inflation.
“To give you an example, to match the $9.30 paid in the 2021-22 season, we’d need the payout to be $11.50 in today’s dollars,” he told Rural News.
“Farmers will also be spending a lot of the money on deferred maintenance, paying down overdrafts to more manageable levels - which have been increasing the last few years.”
Steel puts the strong milk price
down to two broad reasons: constrained supply in major exporting regions, aside from Oceania; and buoyant demand, including the potential for some pre-buying ahead of Christmas, the Chinese Lunar New Year, and ‘event risk’ associated with the US election.
He notes that strong pricing and higher volumes will generate significant revenues for the dairy sector.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva, chair Nathan Guy and Minister for Trade Todd McClay launching the next phase of the Taste Pure Nature campaign in Shanghai earlier this month.
“Our current projections show dairy sector revenue associated with this season’s milk to lift by over $3 billion compared to the previous season.
“There are likely some holes to fill from a tighter previous season. But more cash gives farmers options. It is good to have them.”
However, while positivity currently prevails, so do many risks.
“This includes how the second half of the NZ dairy season pans out and its potential influence on global prices.
“We are also wary of the possibility that at least some of the current dairy product price strength is associated with buyers lifting inventory levels ahead of potentially significant changes to US tariffs and possible flowon effects. If nothing else, such factors suggest some caution in blindly extrapolating current price strength into subsequent seasons.”
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says its forecast for the season signals another year of steady performance from the co-op.
“With Fonterra delivering consistent and reliable results, we’ve seen a lift in farmer confidence and sentiment,” says Hurrell.
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Returns ‘not good enough’
SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
FONTERRA LEADERS are making their case for offloading the co-operative’s $3 billion consumer business, noting that its return on capital has been nowhere near respectable.
Speaking at the co-op’s annual meeting in New Plymouth last week, both Fonterra chair Peter McBride and chief executive Miles Hurrell noted that shareholder approval is critical to the sale.
Fonterra’s consumer business includes its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations and comprises household brands like Anchor and Mainland.
McBride noted that the sale of iconic brands might seem like a cold message to the many people that have an emotional connection to those brands.
“We understand that. Those brands and the associated assets that go with them do hold a lot of value, but to the right owner,” he says.
“Fonterra, as a farmer-owned cooperative and the associated cost of capital that comes with that model, is not the natural owner of a consumer business.”
McBride points out that right now Fonterra estimates the weighted average cost of capital for a dairy farmer is somewhere around 10%.
He says consumer businesses are inherently more capital intensive and riskier businesses to operate.
“Overlay that with the potentially higher geographic risk in the markets where our consumer businesses operate, and a respectable return on capital for the consumer business should be something north of 15%.
“Our Consumer business had one of its better years in 2024, but despite that, its return on capital was just 6.8%, up from 3.9% in 2023 and 0.2% in 2022.
“We cannot justify investing your money into a business that generates returns lower than your opportunity cost of capital, whilst at the same time exposing you to more risk. We are better off returning that capital to you, reinvesting it into the parts of our business where we have a comparative
advantage, or a mixture of both.”
Earlier this month, the co-op announced that it has decided to proceed with the sale – exploring both a trade sale and initial public offering (IPO) options.
At the AGM, shareholder Charles Whiting, Waikato, questioned why the co-op was pursuing an IPO, where the consumer business could be floated on the stock exchange.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell replied that their advice was that it is important to keep options open.
“We will thoroughly test the terms and value of both a trade sale and IPO with the market before seeking support from farmer shareholders for a divestment option through a vote.
“A final decision on which divestment pathway to pursue will be based on several factors, including which
option will result in optimal long-term value for the co-op.”
Hurrell noted that farmer shareholder support remains critical to proceeding with a divestment.
“We remain committed to presenting an option to you for a vote,” he told the AGM.
“Before we do this, we need to thoroughly test the merits and value of both a trade sale and IPO, so that we can be clear on what we’re seeking you to approve.
“I recognise there is significant interest in this process, and we will keep you updated as this work progresses. This is a pivotal time for the co-op. While we are confident in our strategic direction, we don’t make decisions lightly. Every choice we make is grounded in what’s in the best interests of our farmer shareholders.”
Positive vibes from China
SILVER FERN Farms chief executive
Dan Boulton says his recent visit to China has left him feeling optimistic about the situation there for the meat industry.
He says the recovery in the Chinese market will not happen overnight but says he senses it’s moving in the right direction, although he adds that one should not expect to see the same high prices for product of a few years ago. Boulton says the market is
STRIKE FLIES AND LICE
With
going to be far stronger in the protein space – particularly for the high-quality products that NZ sells.
“The Chinese middle class is forecast to grow from 400 million to 800 million people, and they are really conscious about where their food is grown, and they care about sustainability. They have got a strong green agenda and that plays into our offering from SFF, so there is still a very affluent growing middle-class seg-
ment that we will be targeting,” he told Rural News
According to Boulton, the mood of the Chinese consumers is quite buoyant – something that hasn’t been seen for few years. He says looking forwards, pricing in that market is starting to lift with investment growth in retail stores. Boulton says they have got some deep relationships with their customers and partners who want to grow SFF brands.
He says the situation is being helped by the stimulus packages being provided by the Chinese government to kickstart their economy.
Boulton’s comments come after spending a week attending the Chinese International Import Expo (CIIE) at which NZ launched its $8 million three-year publicity campaign to get Chinese consumers to buy our high-quality meat products.
– Peter Burke
Fonterra chair Peter McBride, Anya Wicks, director governance, risk and audit and outgoing director Leonie Guiney at the AGM last week.
More forestry conversions a death knell for meat sector
RED MEAT farmers are warning that wholesale conversion of farms into forestry to achieve climate change targets will be unsustainable for the country.
Beef+Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) notes that over the past four years 150,000ha of farmland has been bought for conversion to carbon forestry. It is calling for limits on whole-farm conversions to forestry.
B+LNZ chair Kate Acland told Rural News that relying solely on forestry as a pathway to achieving climate goals is unsustainable for New Zealand.
“The impact of widespread afforestation
driven by Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) policy settings is unacceptable for our agricultural sector, rural communities, and for the wider New Zealand economy.”
Her comments follow new advice released by the Climate Change Commission about how New Zealand could achieve a new Paris target of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. The Government has also been asked by the UN to come up with a second nationally determined contribution (NDC2), a 2035 target, by February next year.
The commission’s advice to the Government looks at domestic emissions reductions that could be achieved as part
of the NDC2.
In its draft scenario for the agriculture sector, the commission presents the assumption of reduced herd sizes and stock per hectare for dairy, beef and sheep resulting from farmer choices related to land use, stock numbers and
stocking rates alongside productivity improvements.
From 2021 to 2035, the number of dairy milking cows reduces by 8% and the number of cows per hectare reduces by 6%.
Overall sheep and beef cattle stock units reduce by 17% in this period,
with a 4% reduction of stock units per hectare.
On forestry, the commission’s scenario, when extended to 2023, assumes 533,000ha exotic and 689,000ha native forestry being planted between 2021 and 2035.
B+LNZ said this totals up to an astounding 1,222,000 hectares of land soon to be converted into forest, forever changing the face of rural New Zealand and our unique landscapes. For context, that’s an area five times the size of Molesworth Station to be planted in trees by 2035.
Acland says while they support integrating trees on farms where suitable, the commission’s modelling underestimates the impact of forestry on the red meat sector.
DAIRY A BIG WINNER IN GULF TRADE DEAL
THE DAIRY industry will be a major beneficiary of a new free trade between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council whose members include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The deal was announced recently by Trade Minister Todd McClay who described it as the highest quality deal the GCC has done to date and its first with a major agricultural exporter. He says it delivers duty free access for 99% of New Zealand’s exports over 10 years and when combined with the recently concluded NZ-UAE CEPA, 51% of NZ exports to the region will
be tariff-free from day one.
“The NZ and GCC trade is worth over $3 billion annually, with New Zealand exporting $2.6 billion in the year to June 2024. This includes $1.8 billion of dairy, $260 million of red meat, $72 million of horticulture and $70 million of travel and tourism services,” he says.
Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) welcomes this deal along with the other recent deal between NZ and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). DCANZ executive director Kimberly Crewther says NZ exported approximately $1.9 billion
worth of dairy products to the GCC region in the last year.
“This makes the GCC region our second-largest dairy market after China.
“Locking in elimination of the already low tariffs on key dairy products into this highly valuable market provides important commercial certainty for dairy exporters,” she says
Crewther says Trade Minister Todd McClay and NZ’s trade negotiators should be congratulated on the conclusion of these negotiations.
She says the fact that NZ is the first major dairy exporter to secure a
“It’s vital that limits are set on whole-farm conversions to ensure a balanced approach that doesn’t jeopardise our productive farmland or the communities that depend on it,” she says.
Federated Farmers wants the Government to “urgently distance” itself from the commission’s proposal.
“The proposal would see large swathes of productive farmland sacrificed in the name of emission reductions,” says Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams.
“That would be the death knell for sheep farming as we know it in New Zealand, but also our small towns, rural communities and the families who call them home.”
Williams says New Zealand needs to have a serious conversation about achieving the Paris targets.
“We must look at how much they are going to cost us as a country - and I’m not just talking financial costs,” Williams says.
“If the only way we can meet our international obligations is to plant entire communities in trees, undermine our productive sectors, or buy offshore units, then we have a serious problem.
“I think most reasonable New Zealanders would absolutely reject any future for our country that involves planting some of our most iconic rural landscapes in a blanket of pine trees.”
free trade agreement with the GCC is very significant and DCANZ commends the Government for this outcome.
“We strongly encourage the Government to maintain momentum and ambition to bring down barriers with other negotiating partners, including upgrading existing trade agreements that have not yet secured dairy tariff elimination,” she says.
Meanwhile the executive director of the NZ International Business Forum, Stephen Jacobi, says the deal should enable further expansion of trade with the GCC’s six members
in the Middle East. He says the GCC region is NZ’s seventh largest export destination and this new agreement puts the final touch on the framework for expanding trade ties in the region.
“We see potential to grow our exports to the GCC in the dairy, sheep meat, seafood, horticulture and wood products sectors.
There is also increasing interest in vital services such as ICT, education, environmental and professional services. There are also new opportunities for GCC goods, services and investment in our market,” he says. – Peter Burke
B+LNZ chair Kate Acland.
THE RESTORING FARMER CONFIDENCE TOUR
Farmers and rural communities are invited to join Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford for a public meeting about how we can restore farmer confidence.
Tuesday 26 November
Mystery Creek Events Centre, Waikato, 12pm – 2pm
Friday 29 November
Ashburton Event Centre, Canterbury, 12pm – 2pm
Wednesday 4 December
Southern Field Days Site, Southland, 12pm – 2pm
Throw on your gumboots, jump in the ute, and we’ll see you there.
ANZ defends farm lending rates
over the other.
THE COUNTRY’S largest lender to the agriculture sector says it’s not favouring home loans over farm and business lending.
ANZ New Zealand chief executive Antonia Watson says the bank has 51% of its capital invested in New Zealand businesses and farms, more than is invested in home loans.
Speaking to Rural News following its annual result announcement, Watson noted that bank loans are weighted against risk.
“The higher the risk of an asset, the more capital is required to back it. So, looking at the total amount of lending to different sectors doesn’t necessarily show that a bank has favoured one
“Home lending makes up 66% of ANZ’s total lending but makes up just 41% of the total riskrelated capital the bank must invest. Agri and business lending makes up 30% of ANZ’s lending but makes up 51% of the risk-related capital.”
Watson points out that home lending increased from around 59% of total bank lending at September 2019 to around 64% of bank lending at June 2024.
“We believe the change in mix is primarily driven by economic factors rather than the Reserve Bank’s capital requirements,” she says.
“In recent years we have had record low interest rates and demand for home lending was very high, house prices increased, and we saw a fear-of-missing-out
amongst home buyers.
“During this time, business and agri customers took advantage of lower rates by paying down debt and building more resilience into their businesses. Through the uncertainty of Covid, business and agri customers preferred not to
take on more debt. This was followed by higher interest rates which has increased the cost of debt.”
ANZ NZ reported a net profit of $2.3 billion for year ending September 30, 2024, a 1% increase over the previous year. Its agricul-
ture sector lending sits at $15.4b.
Banks have come under fire from farmers for charging higher interest rates for farm lending than home loans. A parliamentary banking inquiry is underway with the Government signalling that Kiwis deserves a banking sector that is as competitive as possible.
Watson says that its agribusiness lending is priced for individual customers – lower-risk agri customers pay lower interest rates than higherrisk agri customers.
In its submission to the banking inquiry, the bank used fictitious examples to help explain pricing.
Farmer A represents a typical lower-risk customer running a farming business that has been consistently profitable in the last three years, with
low debt and 60-70% equity in the business. The farming business is consistently managing liquidity within prearranged debt limits.
“In this case the riskweighting and level of capital are at a similar level to that of a home loan, and pricing would reflect this comparable level of risk. To receive the same return as we would on a home loan with an interest rate of 6%, the interest rate for Farmer A would likely be 6.15%,” says Watson.
Farmer B represents a typically higher-risk customer, with a farming business that has made a loss in two of the past three years, their debt is higher, and they have 30-40% equity in the business. They’ve needed to increase seasonal limits on their lending and at times been above
the pre-arranged limits on lending facilities.
“In this case, we hold almost four times the amount of capital in comparison to a home loan due to the relative risk factors. This means that a higher interest rate would be needed to be charged by a bank to generate the same level of return. In this case, to receive the same return as a home loan with an interest rate of 6%, the interest rate for Farmer B would likely be 8%.
“When you look at the average interest rates across our lending, the difference is not as significant as commonly perceived. For fixed rates, the average interest rate for new and repriced loans for August 2024 is 6.66% for home loans, agri lending is 7.13% and business lending is 7.87%.”
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Antonia Watson, ANZ
Grass-fed red meat campaign targets wealthy Chinese consumers
TASTE PURE NATURE PLAN
AN EIGHT million dollar, three year campaign to get wealthy Chinese to buy New Zealand beef and lamb is now underway.
The launch of this significant venture called Taste Pure Nature (TPN) took place in Shanghai on the sidelines of a huge international import expo that attracted countries and companies from across the globe –all out to show their commitment to the massive Chinese market and to increase their exports there.
NZ had its own pavilion at the expo at which a whole range of our exports, including beef, lamb, dairy products and honey were showcased. As part of this the partners in the campaign – the Meat Industry Association, B+LNZ and the Government – organised a chef to cook up delicious samples of lamb and beef to give to visitors during the week-long event – all part of the programme to raise the profile of NZ’s high-quality products.
The actual official launch of the campaign by Trade Minister Todd McClay took place at what is known as NZ Central – a large venue in Shanghai which companies can use to stage promotional events and interact with key businesspeople and officials.
About 120 invited guests, mainly buyers from China along with NZ company representatives and TPN partners. NZ’s ambassador to China, Graham Morton, and the chair of Meat Industry Association (MIA), Nathan Guy, were also at this function. Sirma Karapeeva, MIA chief executive, says this event was very
AS PART of the official launch of TPN, there was a signing ceremony to lock in an international public relations company which will have the task of doing a lot of the groundwork in the market.
Karapeeva points out that it’s impossible to run a campaign like this remotely from Wellington and says the PR company has been tasked with giving advice on messaging and how to target discerning customers.
“It’s a mixed campaign. We will have some social media because China runs on social media, and they also run on what are known as ‘Key Opinion Leaders’ – KOL’s. That is how consumers get their information on brands. We will also have a digital presence and promotions in market with food service partners to promote the provenance and the attributes of our beef and lamb,” she says.
The Chinese market has been sluggish since Covid and not helped by internal economic problems relating to the property market. The word, says Karapeeva, is that things are starting to pick up but that this is slow and will continue to be slow. She says it’s not so much that Chinese consumers don’t have the money to spend, rather that they are being very cautious about their spending on food and in some cases trading down.
“But having said that, they are not trading down when it comes to health, nutrition and wellbeing and that is the segment that we are trying to position our grass-fed premium product into. What we are saying is our product is good for your health and your family’s health because it’s lean and nutritious,” she says.
commercially focused. She says they got positive feedback from customers about the TPN campaign and what NZ was trying to do in the market.
Karapeeva says the launch of TPN comes at a very good time because the Chinese market is saturated with some fierce competition. She says this means NZ has to define its niche and differentiate itself in what is a very busy market.
“The main goal is to educate the Chinese consumer about NZ grassfed meat and to promote the nutritional benefits of eating a leaner meat that’s full of the vitamins, minerals and omegas and the like. It’s to raise awareness of our product and
help consumers build up an affinity with it so that they reach for our product when they are doing their grocery shopping,” she says.
Karapeeva says there is a lot of competition in the Chinese market from Brazil and Argentina but their product tends to be focused at a lower price point. She says NZ has to be unapologetic about the fact that it is not going to be at the bottom to serve that low-cost market.
“We [have] quality, high-value premium products and we are targeting a small but discerning group of consumers that are looking for that product. Hence this campaign must be surgically focused on our customer segment,” she says.
From left: Sirma Karapeeva, MIA, Derek Ramsey, Affco, MIA chair Nathan Guy, Silver Fern Farms chair Anna Nelson, Minister for Agriculture Todd McClay, James McWilliam, Alliance, and Ambrose Cheung, ANZCO at the launch.
Winter grazing warning
PETER BURKE
EVERY TIME people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it’s bad for New Zealand.
That’s the view of respected animal welfare experts and veterinarian Dr John Hellstrom.
He’s the former chief veterinarian of Ministry for Primary Industries, the former chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and
now leading the movement to stop the export of live animals overseas.
His comments come in the light of yet another critical article on the practise of winter grazing in Southland in the weekly magazine the NZ Listener which led with the headline – ‘stuck in the mud’.
Hellstrom says there is a place for winter grazing in Southland, but only if it is properly managed, and he sees a lot of farmers are doing it properly
but a lot who aren’t.
“There is a huge societal concern about the way cows are managed when it comes to winter grazing, and photographs showing examples of bad practices are going to affect our markets in the long term,” he told Rural News
Hellstrom says for too long nothing has happened in terms of properly regulating the practice and some farmers continue to bury their heads in the mud by not
2025 Notice of Elections and Call for Remits
Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd (B+LNZ) give notice that nominations are now open for B+LNZ Directors and Directors Independent Remuneration Committee.
Written remits for the 2025 Annual Meeting are now being accepted.
Under section 41 of the B+LNZ constitution, two electoral district Directors will retire by rotation at the annual meeting. This year, Scott Gower (Western North Island) and Nicky Hyslop (Central South Island) must retire by rotation but may stand for re-election.
Scott Gower and Nicky Hyslop have both indicated that they will be standing for re-election.
Nominations are being called to fill two Board of Director vacancies, one for each of the following electoral districts:
• Western North Island (WNI)
• Central South Island (CSI)
Nominations are also being called to fill one vacancy on the Directors Independent Remuneration Committee. (DIRC).
The successful candidates for the Director positions will also be appointed to the Board of Directors for the New Zealand Meat Board.
Remits are called for under section 12 of the Second Schedule: Proceedings at Meetings of the B+LNZ constitution. Remits are a matter that the proposing farmers are raising for discussion and resolution at the annual meeting. The B+LNZ remits policy, and guidelines can be found here https://beeflambnz.com/about/corporatedocuments.
All nominations and written remits must be made on the official forms. Nomination forms and information regarding the elections are available:
• at www.electionz.com/BLNZ2025R
• by emailing iro@electionz.com
• or phoning 0800 666 032.
Remit Policy and forms are available from B+LNZ:
• at https://beeflambnz.com/about/corporate-documents
• by emailing enquiries@beeflambnz.com
• or phoning 0800 233 352.
All nominations must be received by the Returning Officer, and written remits received by B+LNZ, by 5pm on Friday 6 December 2024.
Director nominations will be confirmed by electionz.com and B+LNZ by media announcement in the week commencing 9 December and the date of the annual meeting and voting timelines will be advised at that time.
Board of Directors and Annual Meeting Resolutions and Remits
To be eligible to vote in the B+LNZ Director elections, or for annual meeting resolutions and remits (if any), a livestock farmer must, on 30 June 2024, have owned at least 250 sheep, or 50 beef cattle, or 100 dairy cattle and be on the B+LNZ electoral roll. Additionally, voters must farm within the respective electorate to be eligible to vote for the Board of Directors.
If you have previously received voting papers you are on the electoral roll and do not need to re-register. To check if you are on the electoral roll contact B+LNZ on 0800 233 352. The electoral roll will close for those who wish to vote by post at 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025, although new registrations will be received after that date (for online voting only).
All queries regarding B+LNZ elections should be directed to the Returning Officer on 0800 666 032.
wanting to face up to the problem. He says there are some who have successfully convinced the Government to back off the regulations that were supposed to be managed.
He says the problems occur mainly when the winter crops are put in the wrong place or when farmers don’t do due diligence to see whether it is appropriate for their farm. He says there are reports out there that show farmers have not
been given good advice about where best to plant these fodder beet crops.
“As a result, they end up with animals in the wrong conditions at the wrong time. There are plantings going on flood plains that are simply not appropriate.
“They should be on rolling land either side of the plain,” he says.
Hellstrom says people are deluded if they think cows want to be up to their hocks in mud all
the time. He says the fact that the cows survive and cope and we don’t get too many fatalities is irrelevant. Hellstrom says that is quite aside from the number of calves that are born into those conditions, which he says there is no excuse for given the information farmers have on winter grazing.
“I just shake my head when anybody says it’s okay for cows to be wandering around in those conditions. Amazingly, I
STRONG UPTAKE OF GOOD WINTERING PRACTICES
DAIRYNZ HAS seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
This year, 86% of wintering survey respondents implemented at least five good management practices, to support their cows and manage winter conditions, an increase from 74% in 2023.
DairyNZ senior environment specialist Justin Kitto says this improvement is the result of an intense five-year focus on optimising animal wellbeing and productivity, while protecting the environment.
“It’s not a simple task, but one that farmers are clearly focused on achieving,” says Kitto.
Kitto says the findings emphasise the expanding range of tools in the toolbox.
“DairyNZ’s role is to support that depth of options for farmers to run their businesses sustainably and profitably. A range of farm-specific tactics is the best bet to ensure the best outcomes for both cows and environment.”
Other strategies used to minimise mud and improve lying conditions include back fencing (temporary fences to protect previously grazed areas), portable troughs, providing extra straw as a dry bedding material and moving the break fence multiple times a day.
have heard farmers say it’s disloyal for people to draw attention to this kind of stuff. That is nonsense because those poor conditions should not exist in the first place,” he says.
Hellstrom says it’s asking an awful lot to expect the industry to sort out the problem and given some of the things that are happening, there is a need for regulations.
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bad weather also increased to 74%, which was substantially higher than the year before.
“This is crucial to ensure the whole farm team knows what to do when bad weather hits,” says Kitto.
“Winter weather is always an unknown, but the certain thing is that in rain or shine, New Zealand dairy farmers know they need to care for their animals and land, right through to the end of winter, and that is what we have seen.”
Additionally, the results showed that 99% of respondents had their stock excluded from waterways, while 100% had buffers around waterways to filter contaminants before they reach a waterway.
All queries regarding annual meeting remits should be directed to B+LNZ Chief Operating Officer, Cros Spooner, on 0800 233 352. Warwick Lampp Returning Officer – Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd PO Box 3138, Christchurch 8140 iro@electionz.com, 0800 666 032
“The work involved in improving wintering practices includes providing comfortable lying surfaces, excluding stock from waterways, and protecting critical source areas.”
The number of farmers who had written plans remained stable at 80%, which is significantly higher than earlier years, and important because farmers with wintering plans implement more good wintering practices than those without one.
Use of contingency plans for
“Farmers should be proud of the work they have done to improve winter management practice over the past few years, and especially the continued dedication this past season. This work is being recognised.”
peterb@ruralnews.co.nz
DairyNZ is seeing a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices.
Wool-derived protein eyes $2b market
KERATIN EXTRACTED
from New Zealand wool
could soon find its way into products used to minimise osteoporosis, promote gut health, and other anti-inflammatories, says Keraplast chief executive Howard Moore.
Recently published research from Otago University also suggests it could help in minimising insulin resistance, he says.
The biotech company recently hosted a visit by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to its new facility in Christchurch, where it extracts keratin from wool and processes it into a range of unique, branded ingredients, most of which are exported for use in a variety of beauty and personal care products. It is now aiming to expand into nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
The company began as Keratec, a portfolio company of the then New Zealand Wool Board’s commercial arm, and was acquired in 2009 by American company Keraplast Technologies.
Moore told the Prime Minister that Keratec brought New Zealand wool and Keraplast brought a range of patents to a “marriage made in heaven”.
Although now 100% US-owned, the company totally operates within New Zealand, said Moore.
“We’ve been developing novel keratin products for over 25 years and applying a lot of science and doing a really great job.
“We’re really proud of the fact that we lead the world in Keratin research.”
Moore said Luxon’s visit highlighted the critical role of New Zealand’s innovative manufacturing sector and the substantial contributions the industry makes to both local and global markets.
“Our dedication to research and development ensures that we continue to lead
in keratin technology, driving innovations that benefit consumers in our international markets.”
A key component of Keraplast’s sustainability strategy was that all its wool comes from regeneratively farmed New Zealand sheep.
Regenerative farming is said to offer numerous environmental benefits, such as improved soil health, increased biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and enhanced water management.
Moore said the global market for keratin was worth about $2 billion, most of it being commodity products made in Brazil, China and Mexico and much of it manufactured from chicken feathers.
“We certainly are quite unique in the added value keratin products which we manufacture from wool.”
It processed 77 tonnes of wool last year. The new facility, where it has been operating since July, could handle up to 300 tonnes a year.
Luxon congratulated the company on its achievements because of the country’s need to get more added value out of its products.
The value Keraplast was extracting from wool was “vastly different from what others are going to get, doing carpet or insulation, frankly, or anything else,” said Luxon.
“Wool has been challenged over the last 30 years for not innovating sufficiently.”
Luxon said New Zealand probably spent an average amount on R&D but had a lot of siloed R&D where universities, business and the research institutes did their own thing.
He praised the connections Keraplast has made with researchers and universities.
“It’s really inspiring because I’m looking for positive stories from wool to talk about and this is one that I can now talk about,” he said.
NIGEL MALTHUS
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon discusses the Keraplast keratin extraction process with the company’s operations manager, Lu Croft.
the month of September 2024, Australian milk production was up 1.4% YOY, with growth in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. The combined milk production results for August and September for Australia and New Zealand mark the strongest start to a season in more than a decade.
Production in the Northern Hemisphere is
a mixed bag. September milk collections in the US were marginally higher compared to last year, up by 0.1% YOY.
Beef
CATTLE PRICING in New Zealand is starting to ease from recent record highs as more spring-finished animals head out the farm gate.
Prices are likely to settle and slightly decline
through summer, following a traditional seasonal trend. Even with some easing on the way, the price outlook remains strong and above fiveyear averages.
When it comes to pasture growth and utilisation for finishing cattle, seasonal conditions vary across the country. Conditions are very good in the upper north but somewhat challenging
in the lower south after periods of cold and wet weather. October pricing at the saleyards has eased in some instances by up to NZc 20/kg lwt compared to September. Demand for young stock varies with the conditions.
Data for total beef exports for the October-September 2023/24 period shows a total volume down 2% YOY to 487,000 tonnes. This is up 2% compared to the five-year average. Volumes to the US are up 9% YOY to 180,800 tonnes, while volumes to China are down 22% to 159,300 tonnes.
Increases in export volumes year-on-year were also seen in Japan and Canada, up 46% and 50% to 35,000 tonnes and 24,400 tonnes, respectively. Japan and Canada are also up 27% and 42% compared to the fiveyear average volumes.
Seasonal beef consumption in Japan increases from November, which
bodes well for New Zealand beef, given the upswing in recent volumes to this high value market.
Farm inputs
IT WAS a volatile month for fertiliser markets, with urea, phosphate, and potash prices all rising from early October levels.
The US dollar strength is playing a key role in influencing prices, as the NZD/USD exchange rate is now down 2.8%.
Retail urea prices rose by 3% in October (as of 31 October) to reach NZD 850/tonne – a level not seen since May. We can partially attribute rising domestic urea prices to the weakening New Zea-
land dollar. We can also attribute this price action to the expectation that India will return to the market with another tender, following recent purchases.
Looking forward, the short-term market direction will likely be influenced by India’s purchasing activities – given that India’s domestic sales are up, and production is down year-on-year, Indian import demand could be strong.
In China, domestic prices continue to ease. Nevertheless, China remains absent from the export market.
There is still no indication on when it will return to the export
market, but 2024 seems unlikely.
For phosphates, retail prices remained flat month-on-month. However prices are still elevated, reflecting the tight global supply situation. Adding to the supply issues, there have also been some production and shipping issues in the US as a result of the recent hurricane. As with urea prices, Indian demand will be a key influence on shortto medium-term price action.
On the supply side, there’s little evidence to suggest any improvement for now, so downside over the coming months seems limited.
EDITORIAL
NZ’s great China move
THE NEW Zealand red meat sector, with support from the Government, has upped the ante to retain and expand its niche in the valuable Chinese market – and the signs are looking positive.
The market is worth over $3 billion a year to the meat sector, even in hard times such as the past year when issues within the Chinese economy have seen consumers more restrained in their buying habits – a factor that has affected NZ.
To overcome the challenges in that market and to reinforce their commitment to China, a few weeks ago the Meat Industry Association and all the companies that export meat to China exhibited at the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. It’s a huge event that over a week attracts close to half a million visitors – many of them buyers of our products.
The NZ red meat sector was there in style with a stand at the NZ pavilion where samples of our lamb and beef were dished out to attendees. Also, the individual companies got out there are showing off their latest innovative products and interacting with their buyers and business partners.
NZ took advantage of CIIE to launch an $8 million surgically focused publicity campaign called Taste Pure Nature (TPN) to woo Chinese consumers to buy our grass-fed meat and differentiate our high-quality meat products from other countries who have gained a hold in the market. What is special with this campaign is that it’s industry led and the buy-in to it has been strong and supportive.
The response to the launch of TPN and the high-profile presence by NZ at CIIE has by all accounts been very positive about the future – something that’s been lacking for the past year or so.
After talking to buyers and customers, those attending the expo all say they are now optimistic about the future. Sure we may not see some of the high prices there of a few years ago, but wealthy Chinese consumers are looking for the high quality nutritious and sustainable products that we produce. It looks like being a happy new year.
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ABOUT AS productive as a politician’s taxpayer-funded trip to Hawaii, as cost-effective as an OSPRI IT project, and as smart as a power-company pylon worker, the Hound gives you the NZ Post business strategy: In response to falling revenues, make your prices increasingly unaffordable and cut your service levels back to the bone. Fighting against the rural post cuts, Rural Women NZ is stunned at the service cuts proposed for NZ Post mail services and is worried about their potential impact on rural communities. MBIE is consulting on proposed changes to the minimum obligations for NZ Post’s mail service. Your old mate reckons other farm lobby groups should be joining the fight against these cuts too, although to make sure their message to government gets through in time, they’d be well advised not to send a letter!
Smugness
JUST AS they did in 2016 when Trump beat Clinton, liberals in the media are crying “how did this happen?” Like the Democrats, the left leaning media have learnt nothing in the last eight years. Conservative commentator Liam Hehir has an insight for them: “One unhappy but undeniable reality for me is the dominance of liberalism in media, academic and state institutions. It is a dominance that prevails across the western world and is so entrenched that it is just taken for granted. That leads to a lot of arrogance and daily hypocrisies that are often hard to endure. In no small measure, the appeal of former US president Trump finds its provenance in reaction against liberal smugness and cocksureness. No person has more persistently frustrated the cultural and political elect than the former real estate developer.”
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MACHINERY EDITOR: Mark Daniel Ph 021 906 723 markd@ruralnews.co.nz
Bank reset
ADDING TO calls to get banks to ‘back off’, NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the banking structure massively favours lending to housing, at the expense of the productive sectors, particularly agribusiness. Between 2018-2024, lending to housing grew 45.54% while lending to agri grew 3.44%. He says, put plainly, over the last 6 years, the main banks collectively advanced an extra $111 billion to housing and just $2 billion to agri. “These structural issues also make lending to agri (& business) more expensive (the margins are almost double in agri on average and in some cases can be higher), even though agri lending losses are actually very low. This is a massive fiscal drag on the NZ productive sectors.”
AUCKLAND SALES CONTACT: Stephen Pollard Ph 021 963 166 stephenp@ruralnews.co.nz
WAIKATO & WELLINGTON SALES
CONTACT: Lisa Wise Ph 027 369 9218 lisaw@ruralnews.co.nz
Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound? Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz
Review SOEs!
NIWA HAS long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of transparency by the Crownowned entity – spurred by its refusal to release information under the OIA about its conduct around Cyclone Gabrielle and the Hawke’s Bay flooding. Now it is at the centre of a Media Council complaint after stateowned TVNZ and RNZ reported a questionable and alarmist NIWA social media post – claiming Dunedin had its “wettest day in more than a century” – without bothering to fact check it. TVNZ says it’s not required to verify NIWA statements. Well, this old mutt reckons the taxpayers not required to keep propping up underperforming SOEs like TVNZ, RNZ and NIWA. What’s happened to those state-owned enterprise reviews the Government promised?
SOUTH ISLAND SALES CONTACT: Kaye Sutherland Ph 021 221 1994 kayes@ruralnews.co.nz
DIGITAL STRATEGIST: Jessica Marshall Ph 021 0232 6446
“Just imagine they’re little Trump’s and we’re docking their grossly long neckties!”
Healing a ‘sick’ heart
LIKE MANY of you, I am familiar with the old adage “You are what you eat”.
Of course, there is a lot of truth in those words. What we eat has a direct effect on our overall physical wellbeing. We would have to be deluded to think we can keep our bodies in top shape on a rubbish diet. Yep, simply put, we need to put good quality fuel in our tanks! And yes, I try my best to do exactly that.
I also heard some wise words many years ago that have stuck with me through my journey through life. Here they are: “It’s not so much what you eat, but what’s eating you.”
The need for a good diet is a given, but the truth is, what’s eating you can actually override your great diet. Sadly, I must admit I have seen this exact thing with people many times.
When we think those words through, they are talking about what is happening in our inner world. What’s going down on the inside; that part of you we can’t see with our physical eyes.
Being out of shape physically is usually more readily visible than with this inward stuff. It may take a little longer to notice, but show up in our health, it most definitely will!
Today I will put my finger on one of these silent assassins that can wreak havoc in our inner world. I call this one “unfulfilled expectations”.
Everybody carries expectations. We go into things expecting something. That’s normal for us humans. What does
the future look like, what does it promise me?
What are we hoping for up ahead?
Whether it be business related, a new job or position, or a move to another location, we carry an expectancy in us related to that. Perhaps we were expecting to be chosen for a promotion, or a team, but our name just doesn’t get called… what then?
This is most certainly true when it comes to our relationships. What if our expectations and hopes all ‘turn to custard’, where do we go from there?
Can I mention here, families and the wills of the deceased, just for starters. Unfulfilled expectations abound!
There are times when people develop their expectations in their own imaginations. Nothing has been said, done or promised, it’s all been cooked up in their own minds. Again, I have witnessed exactly this many times.
However, this is not always the case. The expectations and hopes come directly from what others have said, done, or promised. But much less than was expected comes of it. Or maybe it’s even worse; nothing at all ever comes of it!
When a nagging deep
The need for a good diet is a given, but the truth is, what’s eating you can actually override your great diet. Sadly, I must admit I have seen this exact thing with people many times.
disappointment takes hold, bitterness and unforgiveness won’t be far away. And now some-
thing in your inner world is seriously eating you up. The truth is it will take much more than dietary
adjustments, changes and/or supplements to make headway through this stuff.
That just won’t cut it.
A pertinent brief quote from the Good Book will fit in here nicely: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”. Indeed, how true!
We then ponder, where to from here? Is there hope? Is there a solution? If you can find someone or get con-
nected to someone who knows something about ‘the heart’, then you are well on the way to getting free. And yes, I do know and can recommend that someone to you. Until next time, God Bless. To contact Colin: farmerschaplain@ ruralnews.co.nz
FARMER’S CHAPLAIN Colin Miller
14 MANAGEMENT
Breeding for low methane can improve productivity
LIVESTOCK CAN be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
This month
AgResearch scientists presented their analysis to the joint New Zealand Society of Animal Production and New Zealand Grassland Association conferences in Oamaru, which challenges assumptions from critics that breeding for a low methane trait will be at the expense of key genetic traits for productivity.
The scientists drew on data from a performance recorded sheep
AgResearch, which is also recorded for methane emissions, compared to average dual purpose sheep on a NZ production index incorporating reproduction, survival, growth and adult size traits.
“We investigated if the rate of reduction in methane emissions that has been seen in our low methane flock over the past six years was sufficient to achieve New Zealand’s targeted methane reductions by the year 2050,” says AgResearch scientist John McEwan.
“Assuming the rate of methane reduction of 0.95% per year as has been shown in the flock so far will be main-
ing for the genetic lag for use of rams in commercial flocks, the result we reached was a 27% decrease in commercial flocks methane emissions
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increasing per head productivity (using the current Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics index) by $51.80.”
The current New Zealand target is to reduce biogenic methane emissions by 24 to 47% below 2017 levels; however, the methane targets are currently being reviewed. Productivity gains are also in the sights of the Government, with a goal of doubling exports by value within a decade.
“Continuation with current industry progress
would achieve a 2.8% reduction in methane emissions and $30.80 increase in per head productivity.
In other words, methane emissions can be reduced while also increasing productivity faster than current industry progress,” McEwan says. “While our analysis does not account for all factors, it does suggest that genetic selection, if appropriately applied, could contribute a substantial proportion of the currently proposed
SPELLING PASTURES
TO BUILD resident populations of subterranean clover in hill country pastures, sheep farmers are encouraged to spell selected areas for four to five weeks over late spring and early summer if possible.
Spelling will allow the subterranean (sub) clover plant to setseed by burying seed burrs. With sufficient autumn rainfall, the seed will then germinate and ultimately grow a bank of high-quality feed in late winter and spring.
rainfall, dryland environments and will survive on summer dry sites where white clover may struggle.
To make the most of sub clover, pastures need to be actively managed to achieve 80% ground cover of sub clover. This will ensure the protein-rich clover makes up 40-50% of the total dry matter on offer.
reduction in methane emissions from the sheep industry. And it can be done without any change in ewe numbers.
“The fact that these results have been obtained from a B+LNZ Genetics recorded flock and using the current industry breeding evaluation system adds strength to the fact that this is possible using existing industry tools available to all New Zealand breeders. The challenge is its rapid adoption by the industry.”
out of areas selected for re-seeding. After spelling, the areas should be grazed hard over summer and autumn. This is particularly important in autumn as open pastures (700 kg DM/ha) will aid sub clover germination after rainfall. Germination is triggered after a rainfall of at least 20mm.
This management includes spelling up to 20% of the sub clover paddocks or blocks every year to allow re-seeding.
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Sub clover produces 90% of its drymatter in spring which is ideal for lactating ewes and driving higher pre-weaning growth rates of lambs. It also fixes nitrogen which increases the quality and palatability of pasture grasses.
Sub clover thrives in sunny, low
This means either closing the areas up completely or lightly stocking with cattle to retain pasture quality. Sheep find sub clover very palatable and will dig the seed burrs out of the ground and eat them, hence the need to shut them
Autumn is also the best time for over-sowing sub seed to either augment resident sub clovers or introduce cultivars with complementary characteristics. For example, the Woogenellup cultivar starts flowering in early to mid-September, so introducing the medium to later flowering Leura or Puawhaa, (the latter has been bred specifically for NZ hill country) can extend the time sub clover is productive.
AgResearch scientist John McEwan
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Collars make mating simple, keep labour costs down
WITH THE mating season in full swing, cow sheds and farmers across the country have been busy. While the days are usually long and arduous, this time of year is far
less stressful for Matamata farmer Tony Hollinshead.
Since collaring his 350
cows in 2022 with AfiCollar cow monitoring technology, he says his time in the shed and labour
costs have decreased significantly.
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Connecting East Coast Farmers
“The system makes mating so simple,” says Hollinshead. “If a cow is in heat, she’s drafted automatically, and I don’t have to spend hours in the morning trying to figure out which cows to inseminate. It’s saved me a lot of time and guesswork, and there’s no need to use tail paint anymore.
“The collar is like my on-farm 2IC, and I don’t have arguments about what channel the radio needs to be on in the shed!”
But most importantly Hollinshead says his herd is happy and healthy and he is confident knowing that he has the data every day to prove it.
John Stubbs, general manager Afimilk New Zealand and Australia, says his team have been working closely with their three national distributors Headlands, Ace Electrical and Reads Industrial to help alleviate some of those pain points for farmers at this time of year.
“Afimilk is getting a lot of positive feedback from farmers using our collars up and down the country. It’s been a great season for our clients, seeing the benefits of Afimilk collars to their businesses daily.”
The company says
the technology is a game-changer providing insights about anoestrus cows, fertility windows, potential health issues and other vital information straight to the farmer.
“For farmers to have this info at their fingertips and the proactive backup of our team at the end of the phone sets us apart from our competitors,” says Stubbs.
“In today’s market, there are plenty of collars and software options to choose from. However, our team differentiates itself by offering proactive personalised support and fully customisable reporting whenever it is required. We take pride in our commitment to being there for our customers.”
The collars can be used independently or as part of the Afimilk integrated management farm system, including automated feeding, drafting gates, milk meters and AfiLabs milk component analysers.
In addition to local support provided by Stubbs and his team, farmers are also connected to a global network pursuing the latest technology and innovation. This network oversees the monitoring of over 10 million cows daily via Afimilk software.
Matamata farmer Tony Hollinshead says the collars save a lot of guesswork.
A year of global challenges
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
EIMA IS a global showcase of agricultural machinery and associated technologies, over 1750 participating companies, 700 of which are from 50 countries outside Italy, covering every market segment including tractors harvesters, machinery and advanced digital systems for an increasingly scientific agricultural industry.
The exhibition is organised into 14 product sectors, with five thematic shows: Components, Digital, Energy, ‘Green’ and Hydrotech, with approximately 60,000 units of vehicles, equipment and components.
While the event was
certainly creating a positive vibe with jam-packed walkways and smiling exhibitors, the Italian industry was looking to close off the year with a 19.5% decrease compared to 2023, with a value of €13.2 billion. The decline is said to be due to the contraction of domestic demand, alongside a slowdown of foreign markets.
Looking at the different types of machines, tractors account for just over €2 billion (-25% compared to 2023), incomplete tractors and spare parts account for around €1 billion (-28.6%), machines and equipment represent a value of €6.2 billion
(-16.5%), components for €3.3 billion (-17.5%), while gardening and green care machines contribute €700 million, a decrease on the previous year of 22.2%.
Looking at the global picture, data from Agrievolution, an organisation that brings together data from manufacturers in the main production countries, indications are a drop in tractor production of 12% for the first half of 2024, with all markets affected. Both India and China fell 10% and the United States by the 12% median.
In Europe the French market was off 8%, Germany by 1%, with much larger falls in Canada,
Japan, Russia and Turkey, with falls of 16%, 28%, 32% and 20% respectively.
Industry analysts suggest the second half of 2024, will fare no better, with a prediction that the total global sales of tractors will fail to reach 2 million units. This would be the lowest level since 2016, compared to average sales of tractors over the 2017 to 2023 period
of 2.2 million units, with a peak of 2.5 million units in 2021.
One of the key talking points was the implications of the Green Deal and the election of Donald Trump for the European agricultural sector. The outcome of the American elections could have a decisive impact on the Italian and European economies.
“A possible tariff
TRACTOR TO HELP BUDDING FARMERS
JEFF FARM is a 2433ha property near Gore, owned and run by the Salvation Army since the early 1950s after it was gifted by farmer Edmund Jeff, with the stipulation it be “used to train young people with a passion for agriculture, who would not otherwise have such a career option” - for a career in the New Zealand agricultural industry.
The farm runs close to 30,000 stock livestock units, with cattle, sheep and deer, and grows winter forage crops for the stock including swedes, kale and fodder beet. Currently a fleet of four tractors are used
for cultivation, mowing and baleage production.
General manager Michael Benton has seen the difference the opportunity to pursue their career dreams has made in the lives of the young trainees, who complete a two-year cadetship under Michael and his team.
There are five trainees at Jeff Farm at any one time, usually coming straight from school, who live on the property, where they develop a raft of skills, including how to operate motorbikes, chainsaws and tractors, fencing, stock procedures and training a working dog. “The idea is that
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we teach them the necessary skills to make them attractive employees in the agriculture industry once they leave here,” Michael said.
Recently, the farm and its trainees received a Case IH Puma 220 - the first of the brand on Jeff Farm and now the largest in the fleet.
“It’s our heavy lifter, intended to undertake all the heavy groundwork and discing, alongside running a twin mower combi for silage work,” said Michael. “The remainder of the fleet are used for feeding out and utility tasks, with the new Puma doing all the hard yards.
policy and new environmental guidelines could penalise a sector such as agri-food, which currently sees Europe exporting EUR 200 billion a year,” said Paolo De Castropresident of Filiera Italia.
“Europe has embarked on the path of the Green Deal and the question we must ask ourselves today is whether it will be possible to reconcile it with the objectives of the
“The new Puma has everything we need, and the trainees are certainly enjoying the additional horsepower and all the technology it offers, and how that can assist us in performing all the tasks around the property, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
“Being supported by our local Case IH dealership Agricentre South, who wanted to know the story behind it, was important to us, and the service they’ve provided has been great.
While Jeff Farm is doing its part to help bolster the future of New Zealand agriculture, its overall productivity also benefits the Salvation Army’s
Trump administration.”
The issue of environmental policies appears to be one of the thorniest in the current political scenario, with suggestions that if it is true that the Biden administration allocated almost USD200 billion for ecological transition, US farmers have preferred not to use them, so as not to change their production standards.
community outreach, contributing funding to the likes of drug rehabilitation programs and university scholarships.
For Michael, his role can be demanding, but the satisfaction he gets from his job is obvious. “It’s amazing to watch these young people grow and change. The trainees who started at the beginning of this year have come such a long way already. They arrive as teenagers and leave with much more maturity and confidence. Even the difference in the way they hold and present themselves is huge,” he said.
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EIMA is a global showcase of agricultural machinery and associated technologies.
Expo set to wow again
STELLAR SPEAKERS, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
It’s two days – February 19-20 – off farm that bring a world of good to those working in sheep and beef industry.
Organiser Sue Wilson has gathered a range of forward-thinking speakers that will ignite conversations and share their valuable insights. “We want to help East Coast sheep and beef farmers make positive changes to their businesses,” says Wilson.
It’s deliberately held mid-week to make it easier for farmers to experience the best in technology and innovation displays, exhibits and demonstrations showcasing agricultural technologies.
But it’s not all serious stuff; also included in the 2025 programme are the Rural News Cadet Challenge and Beef + Lamb NZ Station Challenge.
It’s often standing room only at the semi-
nars, and Wilson is confident it will be the same again in 2025. Ben Purua, the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year, has an incredible story of rediscovery and resilience. Mike Casey is the chief executive of Rewiring Aotearoa and spearheads a group of Kiwis keen to make New Zealand more electric. Trevor Rudman is an independent parasitologist who will delve into ways to combat drench resis-
tance.
There’s a strong lineup of wahine toa including award-winning Nancy Crawshaw, Alice Anderson from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council landcare division, farmer Mickey Trotter, and Farmbase agribusiness manager Ariana Hadfield who are all championing the primary industries.
Other speakers include Hawke’s Bay Forestry Group chief executive James Powrie who
Don’t put good fertiliser on compacted soil which can’t absorb it. If your soil can’t support 15cm root growth and good worm population check for compaction. You could need aeration. In dollar terms, what would 20% production increase mean to your yearly turnover?
EXPO DETAILS
WHAT: East Coast Farming Expo
WHEN: February 19-20, 2025
WHERE: Wairoa
MORE INFO: http://www.eastcoastexpo.co.nz
brings an extensive array of experience and knowledge to any room.
The Property Brokers Evening Muster is always popular with the keynote speaker set to be announced shortly.
The annual expo is one of several initiatives from the Wairoa Community Development Trust whose goals are to enhance the rural social landscape and contribute to a thriving
and vibrant region.
“The Trust is all about celebrating wins and creating opportunities for our rural communities to connect, especially the next generation, which is where the Expo comes in,” says chairman Sefton Alexander.
“We understand the rural landscape and the Expo focus is on empowering farmers. They do amazing stuff on the East Coast.”
Wilson said it was heartening to once again have strategic sponsors supporting the Expo for 2025. The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Rural News have been part of the Expo since the beginning, with Property Brokers now in their fourth year of sponsorship.
“Without this sort of support, we just wouldn’t be able to put on the calibre of event that we do.”
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR FORD NZ RURAL SPORTS AWARDS
NOMINATIONS ARE now open for the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
Earlier this year, Annaliese Atina became Ford New Zealand’s managing director and 2025 will be her first Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.
Atina says the awards are a highlight for both Ford and the team at Courtesy Ford Manawatu.
“Rural sports are deeply connected to New Zealand’s heritage. Ford is proud to recognise the hard work, dedication, and achievements of athletes and supporters— both emerging talent and long-time contributors.”
Convenor of Judges, Paul Allison (MNZM) says the 2024 awards were his first and he was incredibly impressed by the calibre of nominees and professionalism of the awards.
“The awards play a vital role in recognising and celebrating the incredible achievements of rural sportspeople. They not only shine a spotlight on those who excel in
their fields but also acknowledge the significant contributions of those working behind the scenes who ensure the success of rural sports.”
Nominations are open to rural sports organisations or clubs involved in wood-chopping, shearing, horse-riding, tree-climbing, shooting, rodeo, harness racing, highland heavies, gumboot throwing, ploughing and fencing. The award categories are:
● The PTS Logistics New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year Award
● • The RX Plastics New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year Award
● The Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year Award
● Permobil Rural Sportsperson with a Disability
● The TAB Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rural Sports Award
● The Courtesy Ford Lifetime Legacy Award
● The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background – finalists and the winner are announced on the night of the awards.
● The Ford Supreme New Zealand Rural Sportsperson Award – judges select one overall winner to go home with the Supreme Award. HIGGINS Concreete
Allison is urging sports administrators and regional sports organisations to submit nominations for the NZ Rural Sports Awards. Nominations close on 24 January 2025, and finalists for the Men’s, Women’s and Youth categories will be announced in February 2024. While winners of other awards will be announced on the night of the awards.
The Awards will be presented at a gala function at Awapuni Racecourse on Friday, 7 March 2025, during the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games Weekend in Palmerston North.
Grace Jonasen from Tiniroto’s Ruakaka Station competing in the Beef+Lamb NZ Station Challenge at this year’s expo.
CULVERT PIPES
When it comes to clostridial vaccines, lamb survival is what truly matters.
Recent advertising from MSD Animal Health
New Zealand suggests that choosing Ultravac® 5in1 over their 5in1 product for your lambs is a gamble. Their claim, based on a small study of 120 lambs, argues that more lambs responded to vaccination with their product at docking and weaning based on antitoxin blood titre changes.
At Zoetis, we’re committed to supporting your success with science-backed products and services. We consider that it’s choosing not to vaccinate which is a gamble, not whether you choose Ultravac 5in1 or another product.
Veterinarians are animal health experts: we strongly recommend you talk to your vet about the particular clostridial vaccination needs of your farm and follow their trusted advice.
Kind regards,
VanessaMacdonald
But when it comes to clostridial vaccines, lamb survival is what truly matters. Ultravac 5in1 is the clostridial vaccine proven to reduce lamb losses under New Zealand farming conditions. A peer-reviewed trial of over 3,400 lambs showed that vaccinating with Ultravac 5in1 at docking and pre-weaning reduced lamb deaths by 23.6% in the first year of life. You can read more about it at SheepSolutions.co.nz
Bet on proven lamb survival to improve your profitability.
Low dose, high efficacy ewe and lamb vaccines. Ultravac vaccines protect ewes and lambs against the key clostridial diseases. New Zealand trial work showed vaccination with Ultravac ® 5in1 reduced lamb deaths from docking to pre-lamb by 23.6% 1 . Concentrated into a 1mL dose, choose Ultravac vaccines, the proven performer in the paddock.
Find out more at sheepsolutions.co.nz or have a conversation with your vet today.
Vanessa Macdonald General Manager Zoetis New Zealand
