A win for wool
THE ANNUAL domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.
That’s the view of Andy Caughey, chief executive of Wool Impact, a partly government-funded advocacy
group that says the decision aligns with what is happening overseas and is seen as the new way of driving demand for strong wool.
The move is part of the coalition agreement between National and NZ First. Under the new edict, from 1 July government agencies will be directed to use woollen fibre products in the construction and refurbishment of government buildings, where practical and appropriate.
A key driver and advocate of the move is Associate Minister of Agriculture Mark Patterson who says NZ First has been campaigning on this initiative for over a decade. He says way back he brought such a policy to a party convention.
He says the move is not a mandate, but government agencies are expected to commission wool fibre where practical and appropriate.
“If they don’t, they have to report
back as to why they didn’t, so we are putting as much pressure on them as we can. This is about walking the talk and will hopefully inspire the private sector to follow suit,” he says.
Patterson says probably more importantly this is a market signal to show the private sector that putting wool into homes is a good thing and hopefully they will follow the example set by government. He says for too long wool has been left languish-
ing in neutral while the producers of synthetic fibres have invested heavily in innovation and promotion.
Patterson says wool has been synonymous with NZ since the early settlers brought sheep here 200 years ago. And he says it remains the world’s third largest wool producer after China and Australia, accounting for about 9% of total world wool production.
“Supporting the NZ wool industry is a key part of the positive steps the Government is taking to add value to the economy,” he says
Patterson says already he’s had lots of positive feedback – not only from farmers but also the public who are passionate about wool.
partnership has worked well. The farming business and Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust in Northland are the two finalists for this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. Story pp8-9
PETER BURKE
WHO WOULD have thought that farming and launching rockets into space would be a match? Māoriowned Onenui Station, owned by the Proprietors of Tawapata South, at the tip of the Mahia Peninsula in northern Hawke’s Bay, are over the moon about their association with Rocket Lab. The aerospace company has a 21-year deal with the farm owners to launch its rockets into space from the property. Proprietors of Tawapata South chair Lester White says the
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Grounding birds that transmit avian flu
AVIAN FLU getting into New Zealand’s poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
While foot-and-mouth is currently flaring in Europe, Hoggard says that is a threat we’ve always been aware of, but he is now particularly worried about avian flu.
“We can put up protections at the border and all the rest of it to keep foot and mouth and these other things out,” he told Rural News
“But there’s bugger-all we can do about migratory birds from Antarctica, flying up with this disease and infecting our local wild birds and then potentially the poultry industry.”
Hoggard noted that Australasia is the only place in the world that doesn’t yet have avian flu, but the disease has moved down through North America - where it is having a major impact on egg production, and is now into the dairy herd - through South America, then island-hopped to Antarctica. It is now moving around the Antarctic coast and has reached the Indian Ocean side.
“So, it’s getting around to our side
and then it can come up. We can’t stop it coming.”
As Biosecurity Minister, Hoggard said his focus was on making sure the poultry industry is prepared for that eventuality.
Egg producers needed to take the threat seriously and get their farms prepared to “do their own little mini lockdowns” to make sure that wild birds can’t get into their barns.
“They need to be able to secure from the outside. So, stop any ingress of any wild bird coming into contact with the chickens.”
He said it would be a “massive”
CHAMPION TO HEAD FAR
FORMER CHIEF executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July. Champion is a founding partner of consulting company Primary Purpose and the programme director of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.
FAR board chair Steven Bierema says Champion’s skills are well
matched to the developing needs of New Zealand’s arable industry and its growers.
“Scott has been involved with the New Zealand and Australian food and fibre industries for 25 years, holding leadership and governance roles in research, tertiary education, marketing and industry good and has strong networks across agribusiness, government and other sectors,” he says.
problem for free-range producers.
Other parts of the world still have free range producers but they work on the basis that they must shut the birds in when they get a warning that bird flu is in the wild population in the area.
Hoggard recently announced the successful testing of a portable laboratory for sampling and testing for avian flu in remote locations like Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands.
Biosecurity New Zealand tested the equipment during a voyage to Antarctica on the icebreaker MV Argus.
“This was an incredible opportunity to be able to locate, sample and test for
LIVE EXPORTS
LEGISLATION TO re-enable live animal exports could be before Parliament in a month or two.
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says the legislation “among many other things” is now being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel Office.
“So, once they’re finished writing, then I can introduce it to the House.” Hoggard announced in November that the Government would reinstate the trade of breeding stock exports by sea, while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare.
But the export of livestock for slaughter was stopped in 2007 and this would not change.
HPAI in the field under extreme conditions,” said Hoggard.
“The benefit of this is that samples don’t need to be sent to a laboratory for testing, a process which can take weeks from remote locations like Antarctica. Instead, a confirmed result for HPAI H5N1 can be obtained within 48 hours of taking the sample.”
Champion says he is looking forward to supporting arable farmers as they work through the numerous challenges and opportunities facing their industry.
“Growers are dealing with a lot; understanding everything from how to reduce environmental impacts to meeting customer and consumer needs, and of course, remaining profitable. I’ve been involved in devel-
oping strategies and programmes to address some of these issues in both arable and other food and fibre industries and look forward to working with and supporting growers and the broader arable industry.”
Champion will take over from current FAR chief executive Dr Alison Stewart on 1 July.
NIGEL MALTHUS
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
Wool directive ‘long overdue’
therefore not harmful to the environment,” he says.
ANDY CAUGHEY of
Wool Impact says a lot of people in NZ have been saying it’s crazy that we are not using natural fibres in our buildings and houses. He says 85% of NZ strong wool is exported as scoured or greasy but says many people overseas are surprised that we don’t make greater use of our wool at home.
He says the use of wool in government buildings will create safer and healthier environments for their occupants.
“Wool is also conducive to productivity because you have odour and sound absorption protection and natural flame retardancy.
Another factor is that wool, unlike synthetics, is compostable and
Urea
Caughey says wool is not just about flooring and there’s now a whole range of high-quality products ranging from acoustic panels, air filtration systems, use in upholstery and even bedding.
He says there is whole range of new innovative companies emerging in the non-woven space that are producing such products.
“We’re ecstatic about this government policy and it’s a massive relief to the wool industry.”
That’s how the GM of the Campaign for Wool, Kara Biggs, describes the news. She says it could really shift the dial for the entire NZ wool industry and adds that’s what her organisation was hoping would happen.
“For many years now,
“Wool is also conducive to productivity because you have odour and sound absorption protection and natural flame retardancy.”
our strong wool growers have been pleading for government to choose quality woollen products when building and renovating state buildings. They know as well as we do that the benefits of wool are far-reaching and long-lasting – it’s natural, durable, moisture-wicking, flame-resistant, hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating,” she says.
Biggs says that mandating wool for use in government buildings, where appropriate, also gives our strong wool growers confidence that their industry is supported at the highest level.
“Our farmers are reassured and relieved to see that wool is no longer a struggling by-product but positioned to take its place as a pillar of our economy,” she says.
Praise also came from the chief executive of Wools of NZ, John McWhirter, who says the Government has made an excellent decision that will give confidence to farmers who produce wool.
“Importantly, this decision also sends a signal to other governments and global markets that wool is a progressive choice for sustainable building and interior design and that New Zealand is ready to meet the growing demand for highquality wool flooring,” he says.
B+LNZ also supports it, with chair Kate Acland saying it will help reinvigorate the wool industry. She says creating demand for New Zealand wool supports farming families, strengthens rural economies, and helps build resilience across the sector.
prices tipped to remain high
for New Zealand, represented more than a quarter (29%) of total fertiliser imports in 2024.
NEW ZEALAND farmers will face higher urea prices this year, mainly on the back of tight global supply and a weak Kiwi dollar.
According to RaboResearch farm inputs and commodities analyst Paul Joules, global urea supplies are in a fragile state, with several key suppliers exporting lower volumes yearon-year, creating a “ripple effect” for volumes available to New Zealand fertiliser importers.
Urea is by far the most widely traded fertiliser in the world and,
In the report ‘What tight urea supplies mean for global prices and New Zealand farmers’, RaboResearch says due to minimal volumes of urea produced domestically, New Zealand is particularly sensitive to global events.
Joules says that the urea market is expected to remain volatile due to complex supply chains and geopolitical influences, with prices elevated compared to historical averages.
“Ongoing supply issues in key exporting regions and the sensitive
nature of natural gas markets – the predominant feedstock for urea production – suggest that urea prices will likely stay high,” he says.
Joules said given complex supply chains, urea prices tend to trade with considerable volatility.
“At present, prices are trading around the five-year average. However, if we were to compare current prices with the pre-Russia-Ukraine war five-year average price, they are 45% higher,” he adds.
In addition to geopolitical issues impacting fertiliser prices and availability, natural gas is the other key influence within the market.
RANGER FARM SPECIALS
“The sensitivity of natural gas markets – to both weather and geopolitical events – adds to the volatility of urea prices,” he says.
The RaboResearch report said while most of the chief urea-producing regions and countries (Europe, Iran, Egypt and China) that are experiencing supply issues do not directly supply New Zealand, “they still account for global losses to the supply, which creates a ripple effect for available volumes for Kiwi importers”.
“The bank expects the strong outlook for the US dollar is likely to keep the NZD weak in 2025,” says Joules.
“It’s also a reminder to global markets that NZ farmers are at the forefront of producing sustainable, high-quality wool.
Federated Farmers Meat and Wool chair Toby Williams describes the Government edict as “shear brilliance”.
He says for too long, synthetic alternatives have dominated the list of preferred construction materials, despite wool being a better option in so many ways.
“In the past, it’s felt like a total slap in the face to see our own government choosing those synthetic alternatives over sustainable and locally grown woollen products,” he says.
Williams says the announcement goes a long way in putting those part wrongs right and is certainly a positive step in the right direction.
Jason Minkhorst, general manager customer at Ballance, says that despite recent upward trends in urea pricing within the domestic market and sustained pressure from the weak NZ dollar, Ballance is holding urea and SustaiN prices steady.
Nearly all fertiliser is imported and priced in USD, meaning the cost of securing these products has increased significantly, he says.
“However, Ballance is doing everything it can to absorb those pressures, allowing farmers to focus on growing feed while weather conditions are still suitable for growth and application,” says Minkhorst.
SUDESH KISSUN sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
Andy Caughey, Wool Impact
Rush to beat incoming rules
THE CHAIR of B+LNZ
Kate Acland says the rush appears to be on to purchase farms and convert them to forestry before new rules limiting this come into effect.
She says she’s not sure that even the new rules go far enough, and her organisation is closely monitoring the situation.
This issue has resurfaced in a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) that says current government policies are driving a wave of land-use change to carbon forestry. His report says settings under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) pose significant environmental, economic and social risks.
Acland says her organ-
isation has been hugely concerned about wholesale land-use change for a long time and advocating for action from successive governments.
“The PCE has called this out for what it is –not simply a sheep and beef issue, but a fundamental issue that New Zealand as a country needs to address,” she says.
Acland says the impact on our farmers is huge and disproportionate. She notes that the total amount of sheep and beef farmland purchased for conversion to forestry between 2017 and 30 June 2024 was more than 260,000 hectares.
“For every 100,000 hectares planted, close to one million stock units are lost. Those lost stock units equate to lost export earnings, but also to significant negative
impacts on rural businesses and communities and our iconic farming landscapes.
“While the Government has introduced
some limits around entering certain land classes into the ETS, we still have concerns about the implementation of these limits,” she says.
“That’s a staggering number,” she says.
there is merit in the PCE recommendation to phase out or reduce forestry offsets for fossil fuels, B+LNZ is concerned about the PCE’s recommendation of a ‘biogenic methane’ trading scheme and is firmly against a price on agricultural emissions, particularly as we’re on track to meet the current targets.
“Our analysis indicates that our sector has already reduced its methane emissions by 10 percent since 2017 as a result of stock reductions from existing afforestation, with forecast future plantings almost certain to cause further significant stock reductions. A price on agricultural emissions or a biogenic methane trading scheme aren’t necessary or justified,” she says.
@rural_news
Acland says although
Acland says based on modelling done by the Climate Change Commission, the country is on track to afforest more than 900,000 hectares of land between now and 2050, mostly in exotic trees.
More than 260,000ha of sheep and beef farmland were purchased for conversion to forestry between 2017 and 30 June 2024, says B+LNZ.
‘Quality is critical for export markets’
JESSICA MARSHALL
A RECENT trip to Singapore has highlighted the importance of marketing better, says ASB’s new head of food and fibre, Kristen Ashby. She was among a group of 26 people from across the rural sector including Fonterra, Miraka, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Horticulture New Zealand, Ngai Tahu, AGMARDT, ASB, and FoodHQ who
made the trip to Singapore.
The group visited several companies, including Suntory, Wilmar and several venture capital firms.
The country is an interesting case study as it imports more than 90% of its food, providing significant opportunities for New Zealand.
Ashby says the aim of the trip was to see what could be learned from Singapore, a country with very little available land but lots of capital to spend.
“Lots of people were like ‘Why would you go to Singapore? They don’t do any farming’, but it wasn’t about how to do farming. It was more about how to make something with nothing,”
Ashby told Rural News
She says one of the biggest takeaways was how Singapore optimises what little useable land it has.
“They optimise land like you’ve never seen before,” she says. “They’re underground, they’re above ground… the way they optimise
space is quite incredible.”
Ashby says that partnership, trust and collaboration are really well valued in Singapore.
“They collaborate with each other, they have partnerships with each other both across the sector and within the sector,” she says.
Additionally, Ashby says that one of the things New Zealand can be doing is to work on shifting away from a commodity-based sales model and shifting towards value-added partnerships.
“We need to be realis-
tic that there is no silver bullet,” she says.
She says that in the case of the sheepmeat market, there is “a real opportunity in New Zealand to look at targeting specific markets that will pay for quality and reliability and target our products to those markets”.
She also says that exporters need to be coupling sales with the story of New Zealand.
“For example, the Singaporean people we met who had been to New Zealand were like ‘Oh
my gosh, we’d love to partner with New Zealand’ and they were all giving us their business cards because they’d been here… I think bringing people to New Zealand and showing them our country and putting New Zealand on the map in that way is really important.”
She says the trip also proved to be a “real eyeopener” in terms of the idea of how New Zealand can better market itself. One example comes in the form of the differences between alternative proteins and meat.
Ashby says there has been a lot of research and development into these alternative proteins – or hybrid proteins as they’re also known.
“Unfortunately, these hybrid and alternative proteins don’t really hit the mark so one, they don’t taste very nice, two, they don’t look very nice, three, people don’t actually really want to eat them and actually they’re really, really expensive to make,” she says.
What this leaves New
Zealand with, Ashby says, is an opportunity to market its red meat better globally.
“I think we should probably market what we’ve got really well and show people how great our products are,” she adds.
Ashby says that one of New Zealand’s points of difference is the quality of the product it puts out onto the market.
“I think the quality is critical,” she says, adding that while many complain that the sector is overregulated, those regulations help on the world stage.
“I think one thing we should consider is actually, some of those regulations are our point of difference. If you think about our food import regulations and how sometimes going through the airport can be really painful, actually it’s really great that no one brings in apples with bugs in them that ruins our sector,” Ashby says.
“So, that MPI being a pain is actually a good value proposition.”
EXPERTS TO DISCUSS DISPUTE RESOLUTION
RESOLVING RURAL sector disputes constructively, fairly and with long-term outcomes in mind will top the agenda at a gathering of experts in Hamilton next month.
The Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) Rural Dispute Resolution Day 2025, on May 1 at Ruakura Conference Centre, will bring together dispute reso-
lution, and farming and agribusiness experts.
AMINZ executive director Monique Pearson says the event is a cornerstone event for the year, as the only one in New Zealand dedicated to dispute resolution in the rural sector.
“The rural sector is the foundation of our nation’s economy, and this unique forum provides an opportunity to address the
various challenges in dispute resolution within this sector,” says Pearson. “Whether you’re a farmer, lender, insurer, lawyer or rural advisor, this day is for you.”
The focus this year is on relationships, mental wellbeing, and the long-term sustainability of rural business and communities.
“These topics are especially timely and vital for anyone operating in the rural sector,” says
will have key speakers: firm business partner Guy Polson and partner Matt Davidson who will examine mediation from the farmer’s point of view – looking at the psychology of stress from the farmers’ perspective.
Pearson.
Platinum sponsor, law firm Tavendale + Partners
ASB’s head of food and fibre, Kristen Ashby.
High hopes for regulatory reforms in hemp history
NIGEL MALTHUS
THE NEW Zealand hemp industry is hoping for quick and comprehensive reform of its legislative framework after a recent “historic” visit to sites in Canterbury by a big group of politicians, officials and industry stakeholders.
The visit followed the announcement by the Minister for Regulation, David Seymour, that the “outdated and burdensome” regulations surrounding industrial hemp would be reviewed.
Five MPs, officials from the Ministry of Health and Ministry for Primary Industries, and various indus-
try stakeholders visited the Rubisco hemp fibre extraction plant in Christchurch, the Hemp NZ factory at Ashburton (which extracts food ingredients and oil from hemp seeds), and a nearby farm now in its fifth year of growing industrial hemp.
Hosted by the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA) the visit aimed to highlight the potential for fullplant utilisation of industrial hemp including fibre for textiles and construction materials, nutrition, and health and wellness.
NZHIA chair Richard Barge said Seymour’s announcement followed some “great conversations” with MPs and a presentation to the pri-
‘A WONDERFUL PRODUCT’
PAUL LEADLEY, who farms at Wakanui about 10km out of Ashburton, has grown hemp for five years and called it “a wonderful product”.
Growing it under contract to Carrfields, the majority shareholder of the Rubisco plant, he said he was attracted to it because he is “not a machinery guy” and, as with the process vegetables he grows for Talley’s and maize for the Five-Star Beef feedlot, he doesn’t need his own harvesting machinery.
However, there was room for improved breeding, since the variety he is currently growing was bred in 1966. “I would never dream to grow a maize crop or a wheat crop that had the genetics of the 1960s.”
But Leadley adds that hemp is one of his more environmentally friendly crops.
“It doesn’t get any spray at all, doesn’t use a lot of fertiliser. It’s got quite a good deep root system.
“The paddocks seem to be in quite good nick after them. It seems to be relatively restorative to the ground.
“And it uses a lot less water than cotton and things like that.”
He is currently growing a large field of a fibre variety which will soon be harvested not for its own fibre but to harvest the seed for further plantings.
“We’ve deliberately kept this short, because if we treated it properly, it would be seven, eight foot tall,” he said.
“And there’s a fine line between killing it and keeping it short. So it hasn’t been babied. Because it has to be short to just physically get a combine through it.”
Travis Ryan-Salter, who is Rubisco’s chief technical officer and agritech specialist for Carrfields, said bird control was a huge challenge with hemp because of its high nutrition value, especially now the barley has finished.
“Once they get a taste for it, they just
mary production select committee at the end of last year. “So, they know where we’re coming from - we want to be a fully enabled industry.”
At present, growing hemp must be licenced under the Misuse of Drugs regulations of 2006, despite industrial hemp containing no significant THC.
Barge said the review was overdue.
“It gives us an opportunity to really talk to the politicians and cabinet over the implications of what they’re considering.
“If they wanted to, they could make some minor changes and not much would change, but if they wanted to really remove uncertainty and let this industry develop they can pull some levers, that could really make it happen and it can happen very, very fast.”
love it.”
Because it was a roadside paddock, Leadley’s crop was growing behind a maize border to hide it from public view.
“This is probably one of the more contentious issues of hemp,” said RyanSalter.
“It’s still reasonably regulated and people don’t want to be able to see it from the road.
“But the reality of it is, around here people have seen enough hemp crops so it’s not that interesting anymore.”
Because the management of hemp and maize are so different, the maize is low quality and not useful for much else, making the border largely a waste of space.
One of the challenges of hemp was a tendency to “sulk” and not recover from early setbacks, as shown in a band of smaller plants in Leadley’s crop lying between two irrigators.
“That’s where there’s not as much water in the overlap. That has been there completely from the start - one watering at the start when it was two weeks old, and you can see that effect all through the crop’s life,” said Ryan-Salter.
“That’s why establishment is absolutely critical.”
Meanwhile, the HempNZ company, which extracts oil and nutrients from hemp seed, has recently established a new facility at Ashburton.
Business development manager Nigel Hosking said Canterbury was the “cereal bowl” of the country and 90% of hemp grain is grown within about 50km of Ashburton.
But it was being transported to the North Island for processing.
“Economics tell you that’s probably not the best to do; bring it back to where the infrastructure is and it’s here.”
Richard Barge, chair of the NZ Hemp Industry Association, wore a hat, shirt, trousers and socks all incorporating hemp fibre during the farm visit.
Top Maori farms roll out the welcome mat
Recently two of New Zealand’s top Maori sheep and beef farms held field days as part of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. The two are: Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, northeast of Whangarei, and the proprietors of Tawapata Onenui farm on Mahia Peninsular in southern Hawke’s Bay. Reporter Peter Burke attended both field days.
THE FARM of Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust is nestled near the east coast settlement of Whangaruru, about 70km from Whangarei.
It’s just over an hour’s drive along a windy bushclad, sealed road to the farm on the coast. On a fine day the sight of the Ngaiotonga Marae and the coast is stunning, but on the day of the field
day, the much-needed drought-breaking rain arrived.
None of the 200 plus people who attended the field day objected to the rain, which has hit Northland hard, but the planned farm tour proved short-lived. In dry conditions the tracks around the farm are good, how-
vehicles started off, the tracks cut up badly and this part of the day had to be abandoned.
Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farm consists of 360ha of coastal hill country land on which it runs a state-of-the-art bull fattening operation. It runs about 1000 bulls in summer, peaking at
with the remainder going to the works at 24 months. A further 700ha are in a mix of commer cial and native forest and wetlands.
roa Ngaiotonga Trust is one of loss, restoration and resilience over many years. It took them a long time to get their land back and when they did, they found it has debts of four times its value.
Since 2020 the trust ees, staff and whanau have managed to transform a rundown farm into a profitable, well run bull finishing operation.
To get the farm up to its present state they removed 60ha of gorse created a 40km network of water pipe supplying 450 micro toughs, put in 57km of fencing and cell systems, and a new farm roading system.
The rain meant that some of the field day presentations planned for various stops on the farm tour were integrated into other presentations at the marae. So big was the crowd that an extra marquee and large television sets were set up outside the whare so the guests could hear the Trust story.
A unique feature of the day was the raw outpouring of emotion, with some speakers reduced to tears when they spoke. This included the co-chair of Whanga-
Ngaiotonga are overjoyed and proud of having their land back.
“The day was everything we could have hoped for and more. We had the right people in their beautiful whare who had come from all over the motu to celebrate farming and Maori taking great steps forward on behalf of their whenua and community. It’s hard not to look and feel the emotion that has come from the day, and it has given us an enormous lift,” he says.
Pita says their success has been based on having the right vision, leadership and staff to make prudent decisions quickly, and being very agile as an organisation. He says the leadership at the top has enabled the farm manager, Matt Payne, to do what he does best – making astute decisions on buy and selling stock.
A key objective of the trust is to focus on sustainable farming practices that not only ensure the longevity of the property but also appeal to the increasing eco-conscious market.
Fellow co-chair Huhana Lyndo says she was glad it rained because it was a relief for farmers hit by the drought. She says entering the Ahuwhenua Trophy is a great learning opportunity and that as an industry we don’t open ourselves up for critique.
The Ahuwhenua competition began in 1933 and is designed to encourage Maori farmers to improve their land and their overall farming performance. On a three year rotational basis, the Trophy is competed for by Maori farmers and growers in the sheep and beef, dairy and horticultural sectors. This year the competition is for sheep and beef.
The Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust farm runs a state-of-the-art bull fattening operation. Inset: Co-chair of Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust Morris Pita. PHOTO: ALPHAPIX
Rocket Farm
ONENUI STATION, owned by the proprietors of Tawapata South, is located at the tip of the Mahia Peninsula in northern Hawke’s Bay, which also just happens to be where the space company Rocket Lab has its launching pad. It is believed this is the only space launch pad based on a working farm in the world.
The farm itself is a 30 minute drive from the small holiday township of Mahia on a beautiful but narrow coastal road.
Onenui Station consists of 1700ha of which farmland on which is wintered 15,000 stock units, including 6000 breeding ewes, 600 breeding cows, replacements, and trade cattle. The farm finishes 75% of its sheep and 36% of its cattle, with the remainder sold store. The station has 350 hectares of productive flats, with the balance classified as North Island steep hard hill country.
The Trust is in the process of reclaiming more than 1000ha of scrubland and bringing it back into productive use.
Other features of the development on the property include the planting of lucerne to combat the summer dry, the introduction of new genetics to improve calving percentages and growth rates and setting up a trial flock of Wiltshire ewes to assess their performance. They are also doing a lot of environmental work including fencing off coastal faces and making Waikawa Island off the tip of Mahia Peninsular predator free to protect the rare Shore Plover sea bird.
After a formal welcome to the farm, the 350 guests heard a series of presentations from trustees and staff. But the big feature of the day was an opportunity for people to be taken on a lengthy farm tour of this amazing farm on side-by-side vehicles and farm bikes.
The weather was perfect, and the farm tracks were in excellent condition which enabled visitors to take in breathtaking and contrasting views of the steep hill country, the stock run on
the farm, the coast and of course getting a unique close-up view of the Rocket Lab launch pad at the tip of the Mahia Peninsular. It was a spectacular day seeing the farm and the long snake of farm vehicles making their way around the property.
The chair of the Proprietors of Tawapata South, Lester White, says he was blown away by the way the day unfolded. He says knew it was going to be a big day but on reflection he says that was understatement.
“I am so grateful for the way in which things have turned out. We have had our whanau here, people from other farms and places, the support of the Ahuwhenua team and even our finalist competitors who came down from Northland to be here with us,” he says.
White says, as an incorporation, the field day confirmed that what they are doing is okay.
He says “who would have thought that farming and launching rockets into space would be a match – but it has worked well”. He says huge credit must go to the previous committee who had the foresight to take on the idea of having a space launching pad on the farm.
He says Tawapata is nine years into a 21-year deal with Rocket Lab and says looking into the future they would like to strengthen their relationship with Rocket Lab, but maybe also look at other opportunities.
“We could potentially look at options such as other international partnerships and relationships. What we do know is we can do this,” he says.
The chairperson the Ahuwhenua Trust management committee, Nukuhia Hadfield, says the Proprietors Tawapata South put on a fantastic field day and those attending the day were given a great view of their beautiful farm which is in a very remote place.
“I think it was lovely that we could take our sponsors and people from Wellington who normally can’t get out on farm to ride
see the fantastic work that our Maori farmers are doing way out in the country,” she says.
Hadfield says the visitors not only saw a great working farm but some of the environmental work being done to prevent erosion and to care for rare birds.
You deserve technology that’s both compatible with your existing fleet and easy to use. That’s why PTx Trimble leads the way in engineering solutions –including displays, steering systems and guidance control – that allow you to connect your farm, your way for seamless work all season long.
This farmer uses: GFX-1060™ display with Precision-IQ™, Autopilot ® steering system, NAV-900 guidance controller, and Trimble ® CenterPoint ® RTX correction service.
around Onenui and
Participants at the field day at Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula.
Helping protect sheep from parasites
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
HOW DID you get started at Wormwise?
I studied veterinary science at Massey then started in rural practice in Feilding where I was lucky to start with Trevor Cook. He worked in the advisory space with sheep and beef for a long time so having him as a mentor was awesome.
I then went away for a couple of years and spent part of that time working in Australia which at the time was dealing with big drench resistance problems in sheep.
I could see they were maybe 15 years or so ahead of us and that we were going to face the same issues.
So, when I came back, I was very hot on trying to get our farmers to do more testing. I guess I just got involved in a lot of extension and advisory work off the back of that. How did Wormwise start off and where did you come in?
In the early 2000’s there was a big national survey looking at drench resistance and we saw some results that were quite scary. People thought we didn’t have much drench resistance at all, but really it was quite prevalent.
I’ve been a Wormwise trainer since they started doing workshops in the mid 2000’s and have been managing the programme since May 2022.
What was Wormwise’s public awareness level at before you came along?
Wormwise was funded by MPI and BLNZ to be a source of information for farmers to more sustainably manage worms on their properties. But the outputs were a very basic website, a handful of fact sheets and workshops, so it probably didn’t have the impact that it could have.
There was a review of Wormwise back in 2021 and the feedback from farmers was very much ‘you need to ramp this right up’. It was agreed it needed a manager so I applied for the role and got it.
If we look at our social media Wormwise had about 300 followers when I started and now it’s 2600 followers. It’s quite small next to Michael Jordan, but it’s a significant increase and certainly among beef and
sheep farmers in particular it’s quite well known. What did you do to raise Wormwise’s awareness amongst the farming public?
The main thing was just getting out directly to farmers on social media. A lot of the early stuff I put out was videos about common questions regarding worm management.
We’ve done lots of regular rural media articles but if you don’t see it, you’ve missed it. Those social media videos hang around, people replay them and share them.
I think that in terms of awareness among the farmers that has been the big thing.
Are there any future plans for Wormwise?
I’ve had this raised with me enough times that it would be neat if we could do more with lifestyle blockers, but the funding comes from commercial farm levies so that’s where we direct the energy at the moment.
That being said, lifestyle blockers can sign up to their local BLNZ E-Diary so they know which workshops are on and then come along.
• Ideal for Cattle Troughs
• High Flow
• Side/Bottom Mount
• Detach to Clean
What would you say is the biggest worm and parasite related challenge currently facing New Zealand producers?
Accepting that worm management is a whole farm system issue as parasites grow more resistant and the drenches we use become less effective.
We’ve got to look at all the ways we can manage worms within the farm system; feeding, rotations, when we market stock what percentage of young stock we carry etc.
“The challenge is for farmers to step back and
look at their system, how they can run that in a way that makes worms less of a challenge. At a farm system level, it’s quite a lot of thinking and rethinking.
What are some common misconceptions people have about worms and other parasites?
The big one is looking at worm management as simply when to drench and what to drench with. Too often when stock are in light condition the first thing people do is reach for the drench gun when often that isn’t the problem.
There was a Massey Research study showing that only 14% of skinny ewes in poor body condition were skinny because of parasites. In a big mob, there are individuals that don’t compete as well and that’s actually the main cause of ewe’s being light.
If there are animals that aren’t coping put them in a smaller group with more to eat and they don’t need drench to put weight back on.
Is there anyone in particular you’d like to shout out to having won this award (as in thank)?
The reason I won this award is not so much the work I’ve done with farmers but the work we’ve done helping vets with worm management info. We’ve set up a number of initiatives to help vets and the enthusiasm with which they’ve embraced that I feel we’ve made a real difference.
Whenever we survey farmers, when it comes to drench, worms and animal health they want to get that info from their vet, so it’s really it’s really important that the vets are giving a consistent message.
• Compact/Robust
• Up to 50mm Inlet
• Flows up to 600L/min
• For Storage Tanks
• Easy Access to Valve
• Inlets Upto 50mm
• Avoids Starting & Stopping of Pump When Tank is Filling
Ginny Dodunski won the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
Book celebrates West Auckland’s golden days of orcharding
THE GOLDEN age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Chris Smellie, a former orchardist himself, has worked on the book Where Have All the Apple Gone? since 2019, interviewing 17 past and present orchardists.
“Sixty percent of the book is devoted to them and each story is quite individual,” he said.
But he also delves into industry matters consuming orchardists around the country.
“The discussion which
went on and on was export marketing and whether to do that individually or collectively,” he said.
“That caused a lot of anxiety amongst growers. And in 1984 the Labour government added fire to the whole thing.”
Former Waitakere mayor, Sir Bob Harvey, recounted his connection with the area which involved being sent out in a Morris Minor to sell fruit for sale ads on page 2 of the Saturday edition of the New Zealand Herald. From here he moved on to touring fruit growers’ conferences promoting Turners and Growers’ Fresh Tastes Best advertising slogan.
“This book is just wonderful,” Harvey said.
“It’s about life, about us and the lives of those who have gone.”
The book traces early land sales in the area
WONKY BOX GOES RURAL
MARSHALL jessica@ruralnews.co.nz
FOR WONKY
Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
In 2021, Simms co-founded Wonky Box with his partner Katie Jackson in response to the signifi cant amounts of food waste faced by local growers as the result of supermarket cosmetic standards.
Early on, the couple would visit growers in the outskirts of Wel lington, pick up produce that was unwanted by supermarkets, and distribute it in their renovated camper van.
From there, the company has grown exponentially, rescuing about 4.3 million kg of fresh pro duce from being wasted. Last year, the company launched a fruit-only box, and a subsequent Wonky Pantry selection was launched in November.
In the past year, from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025, the com pany has had what it calls an over subscribed waitlist, with demand almost tripling.
The company says some of the highest demand for its subscrip tion boxes come from key producegrowing regions like Central Otago, Canterbury, and the surrounding areas of Tauranga.
This month, in response to high demand, the service opens to rural households from Northland to Southland along the RD1 postal route.
from the1860s by Ngati Whatua to early settlers. Then after the first ship ment of apples and pears was sent from New Zea
land to the United Kingdom in 1899 orchards were established in Nelson, Hawke’s Bay and Auckland.
In 1914 the Northern Fruitlands Company was set up by 25 shareholders who were mainly Auckland professionals as well as a few farmers. Ten
many of its member growers coming from Dalmatia. They were given free advice from Department of Agriculture advisers and New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation (NZFF) field officers. The federation, with the aim of fostering, promoting and pro-
trol saw limits on how much customers could buy at the orchard gate or pre-order from growers. Direct sales to retailers were illegal, particularly upsetting to Kumeu growers so close to the large Auckland market. With Labour’s election in 1984 the NZAPB
GLENYS CHRISTIAN
JESSICA
Author and former apple grower, Chris Smellie, signing copies of his book.
EDITORIAL
Making wool great again
OTAGO FARMER and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
The sheep and beef farmer has been campaigning quietly and perhaps not so quietly for many years to wake up our public servants and get them to realise the amazing properties of wool.
While the same government agencies have promoted ‘green’ programmes, it seems that wool was never on the agenda and that synthetic products represented better value. A strange and bizarre attitude, one would think.
But the fact that wool has slipped down the pecking order as a preferred option for floor coverings and other uses is not entirely the fault of the public service. Who was it that disestablished the NZ Wool Board in 2003 and who voted against the wool levy in 2009? It was farmers!
They can hardly grizzle about the consequences of their decision which left wool in a neutral or limbo state while the synthetic companies upped the ante and took up the gap left by wool. Perhaps the past wasn’t all that bad. If farmers hadn’t made these decisions in 2003 and 2009 would things have been different? Who knows.
But moving on, Patterson, who is Associate Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Rural Communities, deserves credit for taking a giant step forward by educating public servants and setting an example to the private sector that using wool is the right thing to do. Its environmental properties have been known for generations and hopefully new innovative products – not just carpet – will be used more widely. Wool pillows for example are beautiful and the use of wool for acoustic purposes makes sense.
What’s more, wool should be an income earner for sheep farmers – not a cost as it is for some. Whatever happens, Patterson and the NZ First team have at least raised the profile of wool to a new level and long may it continue to rise.
THE HOUND
Group hug!
FOREST & BIRD and farmers don’t often find themselves on the same side of an issue, with F&G’s litigious tendencies often pitting the two groups against each other. However, the Hound reckons the wrong-headed government drive for ‘net zero emissions’ - using the blunt tool of pinus radiatahas created common ground for these two ‘foes’. F&G is concerned about plans to plant vast areas of conservation and other Crown land in permanent pine forests, in a “desperate attempt to meet New Zealand’s net zero emissions 2050 goal”.
The official Ministry for Primary Industries modelling indicates that 280,000 hectares of new pine trees could be planted on Crown land and 230,000 hectares of this would be permanent. You know a tree planting scheme is bad if even professional tree huggers don’t like it!
No more pines!
FORESTS PLANTED for carbon credits are permanently locking up NZ’s landscapes, and could land us with more carbon costs, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE). The new report, ‘Alt-F Reset: Examining the drivers of forestry in New Zealand’, says that radiata pine is really the only economical tree for carbon farming. However, it could leave the Crown with future carbon liabilities if they’re damaged by pests, disease, fire or extreme weather events. Even climate scientists are anti-pine, one saying “the PCE, Simon Upton, is uniquely qualified to provide impartial strategic guidance on New Zealand Forests. We should be grateful for this as climate virtue signaling and perverse carbon incentives threaten to radically change our rural landscapes in a widespread and visually jarring fashion”. The key takeaway from the PCE’s advice is ‘‘no to carbon forestry!’
Own goal
THE IRONY of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people. Maurice Obstfeld, a former IMF Chief Economist, recently noted these tariffs will hit Americans hardest, if reintroduced after the 90-day pause. Here in NZ, commentator Oliver Hartwich reckons the Trump administration is taxing imports in precisely the areas in which the US economy gains the most – like cheap inputs for manufacturing or products no longer made domestically.
The result will be higher prices, less choice and less prosperity. “It is economic self-sabotage dressed up as patriotism.” This mutt reckons the temporary suspension is a welcome reprieve but the underlying strategy has not changed – nor has the threat. Trump’s decision to hike tariffs on Chinese imports to ridiculous levels shows that this trade war is far from over.
Want to share your opinion or gossip with the Hound? Send your emails to: hound@ruralnews.co.nz
Make it 1000%!
THE APPENDAGE swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of 125% on the US, up from the 84% announced earlier. That apparently pushes the tariff on US pork and pork variety meat to an eye watering 172%. The new soybean tariff is more than 150%. This follows Trump’s partial backdown after markets went into freefall, pausing reciprocal tariffs on most countries for 90 days, but upping the ante on China with a tariff of 145%. Your old mate reckons once tariffs get that high, the actual number becomes academic. The US Farm Journal concurs: “Whether the tariffs are 50% or 100%, it really doesn’t matter. Either one shuts down trade. It hurts our cotton exports, our beef and our pork.”
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“For heaven’s sake Edna – do we HAVE to feed out hot cross hay bales?”
Every man is born original, most men die a copy
I READ something quite recently which more than just surprised me.
It really got me thinking through some things more deeply than is usual for me.
Divergent thinking is essentially thinking outside the box. Dictionaries offer additional thoughts such as: coming up with creative ideas, problem solving that is spontaneous and free flowing, and offering multiple diverse solutions for a problem.
So, I then decided to check-in with a family member who has been in education all his life.
Creative thinking or thinking outside the box should always be encouraged.
Well, in a divergent thinking study, 98% of children between the ages of three and five years old scored in the genius category! I must admit that truly surprised me. If someone had put that to me as a question, I never would have guessed it that high. But there’s more.
Between eight and ten, that number had dropped down to 32%. And by the time they reached their teen years… well it had really fallen off the cliff, down now to just 10%!
I got to wondering, whatever happened to all those little geniuses?
I mean, surely an 88% drop-off by their teen years should be alarming!
I was in Auckland a few weeks back visiting some folks and got talking with a very bright 17-year-old international student doing his schooling here. As I really wanted to hear from a younger voice, someone still in their teens, I gave him the research figures. I then asked him what his take was on the 88% collapse. It really took him by surprise at first, but after some thought he replied: ‘I think it would be their schooling’.
Now retired, he has a rather impressive CV. With a Masters degree in Gifted Education, plus a PhD in Education also, I figured he was worth a call! His PhD thesis was on education and secondary school age boys.
He said there are some excellent teachers in the system, but aside from that he pretty much agreed with the 17-yearold.
Before I had spoken to these two, I have mentioned above, I came up with my own conclusions. As a father of four children, and now a Poppa to six, I figured most kids between three and five have little or no box thinking. They have yet to learn about the culture of boxes! They don’t know what a “cool” box is. When I took mine shopping, they were clueless about “cool” brands, or labels.
Thinking “outside the box” was all rather normal. But all that changed as peer pressure started to kick in.
Some of you reading this today will have one, or maybe two little geniuses living at your place. If not, maybe as a Poppa or Nana, they come to stay with you from time to time. I think
being aware of what I have been sharing about gives you a great head start. And creative thinking or thinking outside the box should always be encouraged.
As I sit at my keyboard, I am seriously reminded of this great quote I heard years ago: ‘All mankind are born originals… most die a copy’. How true, and yet
how sad!
It truly was a huge time in my life when I realised my destiny was not to die a copy. When I truly grasped I was born an original and came to
Keep well and God bless.
• To contact
Colin: farmerschaplain@ ruralnews.co.nz
this world with a purpose. Yes, there was a reason I was born and something for me to do here. My creator, my designer had a commission for me. I remember it like it just happened this morning!
FARMER’S CHAPLAIN
Colin Miller
Making use of data, tools and tech
NEW ZEALAND has long been known as a leader in agriculture –a nation of farmers and growers who produce world-class food and fibre. But staying at the top means we need to keep evolving.
We’re shifting into a
more complex, chaotic, and demanding world. Alongside managing land, livestock, weather and markets, farmers are also navigating tighter regulations, shifting consumer expectations, and increasing pressure to prove their environmental credentials. And on top of that, there’s a flood of
data and technology to make sense of.
The reality is, farmers are being asked to do more with more – more information, more tools, more decisions. The good news? Used well, all this data can be incredibly powerful. The challenge is knowing how to make sense of it and how
to turn it into practical action on farm.
Smarter farming starts with better decision-making. But that’s only possible when you’ve got the right information in front of you – and a clear picture of what “good” looks like for your land.
That means moving
beyond blanket advice and focusing on what’s relevant and achievable for your farm. It starts with measuring your current farm status and performance – whether that’s nutrient use, soil health, pasture growth or emissions – and setting meaningful benchmarks. From there, you can plan
On the move? Update NAIT
Moving Day is on the way. Keeping NAIT up to date is key to closing the gate on disease.
Remember the basics:
• update your details
• tag and register your animals
• record your movements.
Visit OSPRI.co.nz for more, including
scenarios, weigh up tradeoffs, and make decisions that deliver real, lasting results.
This approach will become even more important as the tools available to farmers continue to evolve. The rise of technologies like AI, machine learning, visualisation, integration, and scenarios will make it easier to gather, interpret, and act on information.
These tools don’t just throw more data at you – they help pull it all together in a way that makes sense. They support smarter, faster decisions, enable collaboration, and help farms run more efficiently. You’ll be able to see the big picture and the finer details – all at the same time.
We’re also seeing exciting progress in how on-farm information is integrated. We’ve just launched a new tool, SpreadWise, that uses AI and geospatial technology. This technology helps analyse aerial imagery and identify objects of interest on a farm automatically.
By removing the manual exclusion mapping process for waterways, troughs and gates, it saves farmers valuable time, as well as more efficient and effective use of nutrients, enabling a more informed, dataled approach to nutrient management.
In the near future, farmers will be able to integrate more data –things like soil composition, paddock boundaries, elevation and infrastructure – to build a complete picture of the land and how it functions. This kind of insight will help optimise nutrient use, improve productivity, and support better decisionmaking across the board.
Of course, the future isn’t just about data. We
expect to see more dualpurpose systems emerge, greater use of biological tools, and smarter nutrient application that supports both productivity and environmental outcomes.
One example of this thinking in action is Ballance Agri-Nutrients’ (Ballance) current farm trial in partnership with MPI as part of the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund, Plucks Engineering and Southwater. The focus is on dairy effluent technology – a system that separates liquid and solid effluent.
What’s left is light teacoloured water that can be stored, used for irrigation, or recycled for washdown.
The process removes around 50–60% of nitrogen and nearly 98% of the solids and E. coli, with testing also underway on its ability to reduce methane emissions.
The system can be retrofitted to existing effluent setups, making it a practical and accessible solution for many farmers.
Technology like this is part of a bigger shift towards farming systems that are more efficient and adaptable. Systems that allow farmers to deliver strong business performance while continuing to care for the land.
We want to share the science, the thinking, and the insights we have access to, and help spark conversations that will shape the next chapter of New Zealand farming.
While we can’t always predict what’s coming next, we can make sure farmers have the tools, knowledge and confidence to keep doing what they do best.
• Stuart Kay is innovation leader at Ballance AgriNutrients
STUART KAY
Stuart Kay, Ballance Agri-Nutrients
Groundwater research to help drought readiness
WITH MUCH of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
The crown research institute says it is rising to the challenge, building understanding of NZ’s groundwater systems and striving to provide advanced warning of when and where the impacts of drought will hit in the future.
It is leading a multiyear research programme to fill in the gaps in knowledge of the inner workings of aquifers –
their structure and storage, and the rate that water flows through the system and is recharged by rain. The scientists aim to identify the groundwater systems most vulnerable to climate change.
GNS says that while the most direct cause of drought is lack of rainfall coupled with warm weather, aquifers play an important role in mitigating the impacts of prolonged drought. During dry spells, some rivers and streams cope well when the rain doesn’t come, maintaining water flows, while others suffer low flows. The varying performance can be due to the drought resil-
ience of the groundwater system that replenishes them. It notes that existing drought assessment tools have a high level of
inaccuracy because they focus on soil and surface water and don’t consider the deep reservoir of connected groundwater that
sustains freshwater systems. The future-proofing groundwater systems research programme, which has received $10m
funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Endeavour Fund, will characterise aquifers’ resilience to drought, identifying those that can buffer drought impacts, and those which are more vulnerable.
The models developed by the programme will enable both multidecade forecasts and seasonal projections of where the impacts of drought will occur. The programme will conduct research in five case studies, in regions where drought and nitrate contamination are of greatest concern (Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Waikato, Wairarapa and Canter-
bury).
“These forecasts will help us be better prepared when drought hits, reducing the impacts and costs for our primary producers, regional councils and iwi,” says Catherine Moore, GNS principal scientist and co-lead of the research programme.
“With long-term forecasts we can make better decisions about infrastructure projects and land use, mitigating the consequences of reduced water availability.”
More than 80% of the water flowing at NZ’s surface is supplied by groundwater, and at times of drought this contribution can be critical.
Programme co-lead Uwe Morgenstern takes a water sample from a spring-fed stream. PHOTO: GNS SCIENCE
16 ANIMAL HEALTH
Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB
NEW ZEALAND’S TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
TBfree, which is administered by OSPRI, has a goal of eradicating TB from New Zealand by 2055. To date, the programme has seen current numbers of affected herds reduced to 14 out of around 75,000.
However, Dave Harrison, general manager policy and advocacy for B+LNZ, says strong industry participation and controls remain critical to controlling and ultimately eradicating the disease.
“The success so far is down to everyone involved in TBfree, including farmers, vets, farm advisors, pest controllers, and regulatory agencies,” says Harrison.
“We are doing well but we cannot afford to be complacent. There’s more to do to eradicate the disease, to protect our valuable dairy, beef and deer industries and safeguard our rural communities.
“If we take our eye off the ball, then there’s a risk that we could go backwards quickly –something we saw in the 1970s and 1980s when control efforts were scaled back. The reality is that we won’t get to zero, or be able to main-
tain current low numbers, until the disease is no longer present in wildlife, primarily possums,” says Harrison.
“The risk is not just to our beef, dairy and venison export industries, but also to the wellbeing of
our farmers and our rural communities.”
He is encouraging farmers to share their views on the future of TB control and eradication in the upcoming 10 year statutory review of the programme.
The review provides an opportunity to discuss how the programme is tracking against the current plan set in 2016. It will look at different options for the best ways to achieve the programme’s goal. There will
be opportunities to provide input into the review during June and July.
“We need everyone involved to have their say on what, if anything, we need to do differently over the next ten years.”
Bovine TB is a risk to the farming industry, animal health and the country’s economy. New Zealand is at a higher risk than many other countries, in part due to the risk of TB being spread by possums.
Proposed options in the consultation will be informed by several independent technical, science and financial reviews of the 2016 TB Plan and its progress over the last nine years.
There will be online consultation and submissions as well as some inperson presentations in areas still most impacted by TB. Following consultation, recommendations will go to the Minister of Biosecurity in August.
OSPRI is an independent company tasked with delivery of two statutory programmes, NAIT and TB free. It is also currently managing the eradication of Mycoplasma bovis.
It is funded by farmers through shareholders DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and Deer Industry New Zealand, and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Take care with bulk bags
causing one of the lifting hoops to fail.
RECENT RAIN has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
It might also mean farmers are considering applying some fertiliser to stimulate a little lateseason growth.
Farm Without Harm has recently released a safety alert and advice on the safe handling of fertiliser bags.
The safety advice centres around a recent nearmiss that occurred when a one-tonne bag of fertiliser was being lifted by a tractor loader combination. The load shifted,
They noted that the fertiliser supplier had recently moved from one-tonne, re-useable bags to single-use, recyclable items. Thankfully, in this event, no one was hurt, but it emphasised the need for safety when undertaking such tasks.
Responding to this near miss, they acknowledged that while the bags have a 5 to1 safety factor, the correct procedures need to be followed for lifting and transporting such items, alongside caution when lifting or lowering, to minimise the risk of lifting hoop failure.
As well as understanding safe procedures, farmers, landowners and contractors should also ensure staff are aware of potential risks.
Operators should be aware that if they are working with colleagues, ideally they should establish a 5m exclusion area around the work site. If
FARMER-LED GROUP BUYS NOVAG
WHILE THE name and technology remain unchanged and new machines will continue to carry the Novag name, all the assets, intellectual property and staff of the French manufacturer have been acquired by a new organisation called Agriculture Nouvelle Génération.
The move secures the future of the French no-till specialist, having called in the administrators in October 2024. The new consortium is led by a long-time Novag customer and farmer, Jean Paul Rault.
“Our objective is to invest in the future of the brand, preserve its unique know-how, safeguard jobs, alongside ensuring continuity of service for users, while leading the company towards solid and sustainable development,” says Rault.
All warranties and commitments for the existing global machine fleet will be honoured, ensuring a contin-
this is not possible and the co-worker is not in direct sight, the driver should stop until the person is back in view and only proceed with
the task after an affirmative “thumbs up” signal.
Before lifting such bags, drivers should inspect any lifting hoops to ensure they are in good condition, without any obvious signs of tearing or delamination. They should also ensure the bags are carried as low as possible to lower the centre of gravity, at a speed no greater than walking pace – particularly when travelling over unsealed or uneven surfaces.
After lifting, operators should ensure the load remains secure and stable, and the intended travel route should be unimpeded. Other staff
working in the immediate vicinity should never walk or stand under a suspended load of any kind.
It goes without saying that drivers should not be using any mobile phones during lifts.
When they are able to empty the content of the bag into a fertiliser, or in the case of seed, into a spreader or seed drill, they should use a longhandled blade or slasher to pierce the underside of the bag or consider investing in a specialist bag opener/dispenser. For more information visit www.farmwithoutharm.org.nz or www. safersfarms.co.nz
uous after-sales service for all Novag customers, while the entire team in France and at Novag GmbH in Germany remains operational. Founded in 2011 as a start-up,
Novag now sells its machines in more than 25 countries inside and outside Europe, with Ashburton head-quartered Carrfields Machinery importing and distributing the brand in New Zealand.
The company develops and produces its direct seeding units at its main site in Fressines, western France, and established its first
subsidiary, Novag GmbH, in Hannover, Germany in 2022. The company makes a product range of no-till machines in working widths of up to 10m. – Mark Daniel
MARK DANIEL
Before lifting fertiliser bags, drivers should inspect any lifting hoops to ensure they are in good condition.
Novag machines are imported and distributed in NZ by Carrfields Machinery .
Kemper appoints sole distributor
AG AND Civil Machinery
Direct, a division of Hamilton-based Waikato tractors, has recently been awarded the sole distribution in New Zealand for Kemper’s range of precision forage equipment.
The well-known German manufacturer from Stadtlohn, west of Munster, has a history that dates back more than 100 years and is probably best known for its range of row-independent headers for self-propelled forage harvesters, tasked with cutting maize and whole-crop blends for animal feed or AD digesters.
The shorter, more compact 300 Pro Series are lighter and closer coupled, with working widths of 3 to 9 metres, while the larger 400 series features
larger drums, making it better suited to harvesting higher yielding crops with its 4.55 to 9 metre working widths. Available to suit most brands of harvesters currently in the market, it is also worth noting that some manufacturers specify Kemper-built units as original equipment, meaning that many spare parts are interchangeable with manufacturer supplied units.
In addition, for those looking to harvest grass crops, Kemper can also supply its C3003 Pick-up system, which has been specifically designed for fitment to Claas harvesters. Said to deliver a smoother and more consistent crop flow, with a patented delivery auger system, the unit also offers standard features like oversized chain drives, with auto-
The Subsoilers that
Shatter pan layers allowing surface water down through the profile Avoiding ponding & retaining moisture for use in dry periods
FEATURES~
• Rugged high tensile blades
• Replacement ripper tine point (pinned on)
• Delta type wings provide increased shatter
• Large diameter skieth leaves clean cut surface
• Skieth cuts surface trash avoiding blade build up
• Optional pipe chutes
www.james-engineering.co.nz
lube, 360-degree swivelling support wheels and a high-lift roller wind-guard to allow quick access and removal of crop blockages or metal detected debris.
In addition, a pendulum frame comple-
ments the support wheels to offer exceptional lateral float, helping to reduce contamination and reduce wear and tear. A full width dust net over the upper extremity of the pick-up helps reduce build up of crop
residue around the intake and chopping cylinder areas, while also keeping dust away from the cab widows.
Kemper also supplies the ProfiCracker crop processing system, sourced from indus-
LDV RAISES ITS GAME
WHILE IT wouldn’t be unfair to call the LDV T60 “the poor man’s ute”, a change of distributor in 2023 has seen the brand raise its profile, while the recent arrival of the new LDV T60 Max Plus, will undoubtedly open the door to a wider audience for the brand.
Offering the same 2-litre, 4-cylinder, twin turbo diesel powerplant, delivering 160kW/500Nm, mated to an 8-speed, ZF-sourced transmission with on-demand 4WD and hi/lo options, the rest of the vehicle has been brought right up to date.
Distributor Inchcape’s head of marketing Daile Stephens says they offer a vehicle that is put together well, offers outstanding specification and offers excellent value for money.
Indeed at $55,990, with a 7-year, 200,000km warranty, roadside assistance and annual WOF inspections, the T60 Max Plus offers a compelling argument that if nothing else will make other players think about continuously increasing prices.
Having spent a week with vehicle, there is much to like and little to criticise. Visually, the front end has been squared off with a bold front grille and bumper assembly, while black styling detail is found on the wheels, wheel arches, door trims and running boards. The rear well deck features a spray-on liner and multiple tie-down points, a lockable tailgate and 830kg payload and 3000kg towing capacities.
try leading specialists Scherer Inc. USA. Using a patented “Twin-Cut” spiral-grooved roller profile, typically the units feature up to 50^ speed differential between each roller. The result is a ‘scrubbing’ of the crop, cracking all
the maize kernels, while splitting or fraying any leaves or stalks.
The units feature rollers of 200 to 280mm diameter, to suit a range of crops, in both shortor long-cut maize and whole-crop.
Durable, heavy-duty shafts are supported on bearings greased via connection to the forager’s existing central lube system. The lube system also offers a connection to the air line, ensuring oil is atomised under pressure and pushed into the bearings and slide rails.
Options include bearing temperature monitoring for early warning and reduced downtime, alongside electric roller gap adjustment for precise setting. For parts and early order incentives visit www.agandcivilmachinery.co.nz/kemper
Looking to the interior, changes include leather, heated and power adjusted seats and an uncluttered centre console with a wireless phone charging pad. Ahead of the driver, twin, 12.5inch touch screens offer control of entertainment and machine functions, with standard specification including auto wipers, auto headlights, with high beam control, front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree surround view camera.
Shift selection is column mounted, alongside the heated
steering wheel, with easy access to the controls for hill decent, hill hold, rear diff selection and hi/lo modes. Safety assistance takes the form of Land Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
Out on the road, the T60 Max Plus is easy to live with; the engine might sound a little harsh, but this is countered by smooth delivery and plenty of torque, with the transmission being silky smooth, with unnoticeable shifts.
The only real complaint might be transmission ratios, where
trying to maintain 50km/h at low revs in built-up areas, tended to cause the “hunt” between speeds. Comfort is right up there, with very supportive seats and while some might comment on a “choppy” ride - a common trait for any unladen ute - the upgrade to a multi-link, coil sprung rear suspension for the T60 Max Plus reduces the effect, but importantly means the truck remains planted through bends, particularly those with a poor surface. Certainly, one to watch at www. ldv.co.nz – Mark Daniel
MARK DANIEL
markd@ruralnews.co.nz
The new LDV T60 Max Plus.
Kemper’s C3003 Pick-up system has been specifically designed for fitment to Claas harvesters.
