AgBrief, Issue 22, June 7 - 13

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Agribusiness

New Direction For Fonterra

Fonterra is launching a nutrition science venture arm to invest in global start-ups as it seeks to get more value from its farmers’ milk, and it has made its first investment. It will operate as a standalone business with its own board and chief executive, yet to be appointed. Fonterra revealed the unit has invested $16m for a minority shareholding in San Francisco-based Pendulum, a biotech company pioneering the next frontier of metabolic health through its microbiome-targeted products. The partnership will see Pendulum and Fonterra establish a presence in global markets, co-develop and commercialise next generation microbiome products that are scientifically formulated to make measurable improvements to people’s health. “This strategic partnership will enable Fonterra and Pendulum to leverage each other’s strengths – Fonterra’s innovation, manufacturing expertise and established leadership in global markets, together with Pendulum’s deep innovation, microbiome expertise and growing leadership in the US market,” Fonterra’s Miles Hurrell said. While there were risks entering into new businesses, categories and markets, Fonterra is unlikely to place any big bets on the new ventures, Hurrell said. (Stuff)

Truckie Shortage To Worsen

A shortage of truck drivers and freight workers could grow from 4700 to 18,000 workers within six years. According to a Government study rural areas and the fresh food sectors will be among the first to feel the impacts because perishable goods place more demands on delivery time frames. “Logistics working effectively means connection. If that connection is broken, then those most at risk could be those in remote and rural locations. Cyclone Gabrielle was a devastating example of this,” the Government Workforce Development’s Samantha McNaughton said. There has been a shortage of truck drivers since the pandemic, and this would become worse in future as the workforce aged. (Stuff)

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Feds’ Wish List

Overhauling greenhouse gas emissions management and resource management rules are among the top priorities Federated Farmers wants to see from political parties at this year’s election. Its “rural roadmap” will be essential to “restore farmer confidence” in NZ’s next government. The roadmap featured 12 policy priorities, including demands for approving the use of technology that aided methane reduction, enabling farmers to build water storage easily, allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver to buy a first farm or herd, a review of methane targets, a rethink of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), a rethink of the ETS forestry rules and the country’s net-zero target, scrapping the ute tax, decentralisation of power, a change to fresh water rules and a Resource Management Act reform. The farmer vote has attracted renewed interest this election with speculation that a resurgent ACT Party is going to make inroads into what has traditionally been National’s stronghold. Feds’ president Wayne Langford said ACT policies raised interest amongst farmers as their position on rural matters differed from other parties. (Stuff)

Companies Charged Over Fat Fraud

Eight companies are charged with unlawfully making and exporting an estimated $29 million worth of tainted fat and meat and bone meal. The companies charged are Wallace Proteins, Taranaki By-Products, Glenninburg Holdings, SBT Group, Brett Marsh Transport, GrainCorp Commodity Management, GrainCorp Liquid Terminals. Two individual company directors and two employees also face prosecution under the Animal Products Act and Crimes Act, following an MPI investigation. A further company and some of its directors are also facing charges but cannot be named for legal reasons. The companies face a raft of charges including knowingly mixing unapproved ingredients, such as used cooking oil or chicken fat, into its products to improve the quality; and falsifying or applying misleading export and traceability certificates in order to sell more than 20,000 tonnes of tainted tallow and 16,400 tonnes of adulterated bone meal overseas

weekly summary of all that’s news in the primary industries

between March 2019 and August 2020 with NZ official assurance, when it was not eligible for such assurance. The maximum penalty for some of the charges is five years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine. (RNZ News)

Business As Usual At Ballance

Ballance Agri-Nutrients is dismissing the possibility of job losses as farmers resist paying red-hot global commodity prices. Ballance board member Duncan Coull assured the farmer-owned business was safe in the face of dropping sales. “Ballance is in good shape. Our view would be that, I guess the current environment we’ve faced into the past 12 months is probably more cyclical than structural,” Coull said. “So at this point in time, it’s business as usual for Ballance and just facing head-on our challenge to ensure that we’re ready for spring and ready for the new season ahead for our farmers and growers around NZ.” Coull said global resistance to high commodity prices was a topic at the International Fertiliser Association Conference in Prague last month. “We’re starting to see a correction now in terms of some key nutrients and that should flow through to farmers in the coming year, which is good news.” (RNZ News)

DC Buys Madill

With a rich history dating back to 1911, Madill will now have a new lease on life after being acquired by DC Equipment. Ownership of the Madill brand, which is synonymous with cable logging across the globe, has changed hands through a range of multiple ownership structures, from competing manufacturing equipment companies through to international investment groups over the last several decades. Former owners Nicholson Manufacturing had owned Madill since 2011 and incorporated its equipment line-up into their operation, including the manufacturing of its own debarker equipment range. The owner and founder of DC Equipment, Dale Ewers, who is also a logger in NZ, has had a connection with the Madill brand dating back 40 years. “It was a childhood dream to own a Madill tower yarder,” says Dale. (Friday Offcuts)

Nats Will Remove Gene Tech Ban

The National Party’s agricultural policy includes removing the ban on gene technology as a crucial element in its plans to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Todd McClay said removing the gene technology ban would give farmers tools they need to reduce methane emissions, such as gene-edited crops, feed and livestock. National would also establish a dedicated biotechnology regulator within MBIE to oversee it and to manage ethical concerns. The party is committed to a split approach to reducing agricultural greenhouse gases and reaching Net Zero by 2050, but McClay said the route to achieve that is through technology, not lower production. The policy also includes recognising on farm sequestration, pricing on farm emissions by 2030 at the latest but keeping the sector out of the ETS. It will establish an independent board but with a power of veto retained by the ministers of climate change and agriculture, to implement the pricing system. The policy also includes rules limiting the conversion of productive farmland to exotic forestry

with a moratorium on whole farm conversions on high quality land from 2024. (Farmers Weekly)

Feedlot Postponed

Plans to build a controversial feedlot able to hold more than 2000 cattle on Banks Peninnsula have been scrapped for the interim. Brent Thomas’ Wongan Hills operation sits on 4106 ha of land with 3532 ha in productive blocks farming 22,500 stock units in a mix of beef, dairy and sheep. According to the consent assessment of environmental effects prepared for the company, the feedlots had been planned to hold up to 2200 cattle with each coming in at a live weight of 500kg and leaving at between 650-700 kg after being in the barn for roughly three months. They were reportedly for the high-end Wagyu market. The council was of the opinion that the remaining uncertainty in relation to impacts from flooding could lead to an unquantified, but “potentially more than minor” effect on Lake Ellesmere/ Te Waihora. The consents received stiff opposition, with a group of locals sending a petition to ECan calling for them to be stopped. In total, according to ECan’s website, there were 128 submissions, 28 of which wanted to be heard in person. (Farmers Weekly)

Pork Biosecurity Agreement

NZPork has signed an agreement with MPI to manage a response in the event of a biosecurity incursion impacting the sector. Alongside the Operational Agreement, a biosecurity levy framework for NZ’s pork sector will be established to provide a funding option if a disease affecting pigs enters the country. Chair Eric Roy said the OA applies to the diseases the NZ pork sector is most concerned about and includes a cost sharing arrangement in the event of an incursion where the Government would contribute 60% and the industry 40%. (AgBriefs Staff Report)

Negative Start To GDT

The first GDT auction for the new season has left a sour taste in farmers’ mouths, with the overall index dropping 0.9%. Whole milk powder led the downward momentum with a 3% fall to an average of US$3171/MT. Skim milk remained flat, with an average of US$2755/ MT, while butter milk powder slipped 2.4% to an average of US$2322/MT. All other products on offer recorded gains, led by cheddar with a whopping 7.4% jump, to an average of US$4668/MT. Butter increased 0.5% to an average of $US5088/MT – finally passing the $5000 mark once again, while anhydrous milk fat rose 1.8% to an average of US$4728/MT. (The Country)

HWEN U-turn By National

National says the Government has killed the He Waka Eke Noa plan, and that it is no longer a bipartisan process. Christopher Luxon said the Government is no longer working in consensus with the sector on its agricultural emissions plan. His party had been deeply supportive of the plan, but the Government lost all the consensus gained with HWEN over the years. He said the National party will be releasing its climate and agricultural emissions policy in the next few weeks. ACT’s Mark Cameron said his party is also seeking a new agreement and has similar provisos. He

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said emissions targets must be tied to those of NZ’s five main trading partners and available emission reduction technology. Cameron also wants a “mature conversation” about technology, including the role of genetically modified organisms. (RNZ News)

Folic Additive From August

Folic acid will be added to bread-making flour from August, to prevent devastating birth defects that can result in death or lifelong disability. Fortifying bread and other food staples with folic acid is safe and has significantly reduced birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord in other countries including the UK, Canada and Australia, says the Ministry of Health. “Folate is naturally present in many foods. Folic acid fortification restores what is lost during processing such as flour milling. It is an internationally well-accepted and safe approach to supporting the development of babies during pregnancy.” The planned move is a breakthrough for New Zealand’s medical and scientific communities and patient advocates, who were despondent after plans to add folic acid to bread in 2009 were upended by industry opposition claiming possible risks from ‘mass medication’. (The Country)

Trevelyan Takes Out An SSL

Trevelyan’s has taken on a sustainability linked loan with ASB, which requires it to commit to key environmental, social and/or governance targets, with borrowing costs adjusted based on its performance against these targets. The company says it has committed to three key areas of focus – reductions in both waste and carbon emissions and improved wellness metrics for its workforce. James Trevelyan says the focus on waste, carbon emissions and wellness feeds back to Trevelyan’s sustainability framework of three key pillars – to work smart, tread lightly and treat their people with respect. “We are fully aware that sustainable practices are a long-term investment and will drive ethical and financial value for our business, our people and the planet. We are delighted to partner with ASB with this shared vision.” He says one of the company’s goals is to reduce its waste to landfill by 10% per year, with a further intention of sending zero waste to landfill by 2030. ASB has a cumulative sustainable lending target of $6.5 billion by 2030 for green, social and sustainability- linked lending across the rural, property, corporate and business sectors – with around $810 million committed to date. (Hort News)

Levy On Seed Sacks?

A proposed recycling levy on commonly used polyethylene woven seed sacks and bags is likely to come into effect next year. Meanwhile, the seed industry continues to investigate sustainable packaging options. Under an amendment to the Waste Minimisation Act, manufacturers who sell agricultural products with plastic packaging, including polypropylene seed sacks and bags, will be required to pay a fee to an accredited organisation to collect and recycle farm plastic packaging. General manager of the NZ Plant Breeders Research Association Thomas Chin said the understanding is that by the middle of next year there

Price Trends

ISSUE 23-22

AVERAGE EXPORT DAIRY PRODUCT PRICES

Prices are indicative only. They are compiled from an assessment of sales made worldwide on one-off basis in US $. Quota market sales and contracts are excluded. The prices are then converted to $NZ/t FOB at current exchange rates.

MAIN OVERSEAS MARKETS AND CURRENCY, INTEREST RATES, WOOL &

will be a mandatory regime in place for the recycling and recovery of plastic seed sacks and bags, with a compulsory levy charged to the importer. The levy would be paid at the border or first point of handling into NZ to ensure 100% capture, and pay for the collection and recycling. Most if not all of NZ’s plastic bags are manufactured abroad and imported into the country. (Rural News)

MPI Lab Gets Top Billing

The World Organisation for Animal Health has elevated MPI’s Animal Health Laboratory to the top tier of expertise in two major honey bee diseases. The recognition is a first for NZ and makes it only one of three in the world. This makes the AHL, based in Wallaceville, an international reference laboratory for American foulbrood and varroosis (infestation with varroa mites). A key part of applying for international reference laboratory status is the nomination of an individual scientist with standing and reputation in the field, who meets WOAH’s exacting criteria – in this case, Dr Richard Hall. The MPI laboratory will be responsible for developing new testing and improving the understanding of the biology and epidemiology of these diseases. (AgBriefs Staff Report)

Canadian Fonterra’s New CFO

Canadian KPMG partner Neil Beaumont will be Fonterra’s new chief financial officer. It was during a stint in Melbourne working for mining company BHP Billiton that he “fell in love” with NZ, before moving back to Canada and becoming the chief financial and risk officer for Canada Pension Plan Investments. Beaumont grew up on a beef and grain farm in Canada and the idea of working with Fonterra and returning to his roots was very appealing, he said. (The Country)

Hailes Leaving Alliance

Danny Hailes, who has spent 30 years working for the Alliance Group, has resigned. Currently the cooperative’s livestock and shareholder services manager, he has spent 30 years working for Alliance in a variety of roles, including plant manager, company secretary and legal and commercial head office roles. Murray Behrent, the company’s key account manager for livestock, will act as interim livestock manager. (Farmers Weekly)

TrAde

Red Meat Exports Up

Red meat exports for April were 2% higher than the same month a year earlier at $996 million, according to the MIA, arresting three consecutive months of year-on-year declines. The US was up 7% to $235m and Germany up 30% to $32m, offset by decreases to the UK, down 40% to $34m; Japan, down 49% to $28m; and South Korea, down 21% to $24m. Fifth quarter exports were up 3% to $183m. Beef exports for the month led the increase, rising 18% to 46,732t with the value 6% higher at $420m – helped by a 23% increase in volumes exported to China (18,764t) and 45% increase to the US (18,296t). CEO Sirma Karapeeva said US domestic beef production is slowing as drought conditions ease in

parts of the country, creating increased demand for imported beef. Sheepmeat export volumes overall were up 10% to 38,627t but their value was down 2% to $393m. Compared to last April, there was a growth in exports to China and the major European markets but declines into the US and UK. Karapeeva said while beef and sheepmeat prices continued to increase from the recent low levels at the start of this year, global markets remain volatile and uncertain. (Farmers Weekly)

Lower China Demand Dampening Export Figures

China’s stuttering post-Covid recovery may dampen NZ export prospects with dairy and forestry exports treading water. Westpac’s Nathan Penny said Chinese demand for NZ goods, such as dairy, meat and forestry, had been more subdued than hoped. “One clear measure of this is that global dairy prices continue to tick lower over the year, when we would expect them to be starting to hit the other way.” Sluggish demand, coupled with NZ’s limited capacity to produce more cheese and take advantage of high global cheese prices, saw Westpac cut its milk price forecast for the 2023-24 season to $8.90. Fonterra and Synlait Milk have also reduced their forecast milk prices for the current season. (RNZ News)

LivesTock

Good Prices For Bulls

Merchiston Goalkeeper S184, has been sold by Merchiston Angus for $41,000. Vendors Richard and William Rowe sold 27 of the 30 bulls auctioned and made an average of $10,200, about $2000 more than in 2022. The offering was reduced by 25% this year. Kairuru Polled Hereford at Reporoa made a top price of $36,000 in this year’s two-year-old beef bull sales with Kairuru Scotty 137. Kairuru also sold a bull for $23,000. Black Ridge Angus, at Taumarunui, sold Black Ridge S035 for $35,000, among 30 bulls sold out of 38 offered for an average of $9950. Kay Jay Angus at Masterton had a full clearance of 41 and maintained its average price from last year at $11,640. The top price was $31,000 for Kay Jay Clubhouse S564 and there was another sale at $30,000. (Farmers Weekly)

Sheep AI Investigated

Australian researchers are hoping to lift the low success rate of artificial insemination in sheep. AI is common in beef and dairy cattle, not so in sheep with only about a 30% pregnancy rate when frozen semen is used. University of Queensland is running some tests on a small mob of sheep to investigate. Dr Taylor Pini said there is something about the anatomy of the sheep’s cervix which means frozen semen is less successful. “What we’re trying to do is look at how that cervical tissue responds differently to fresh and frozen semen because we know that fresh semen is very capable of getting through the sheep’s cervix, so we need to understand what goes wrong when we freeze sperm. What goes wrong with that interaction between cervical cells and the frozen sperm.” Dr Pini

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said there is huge demand from the sheep industry for artificial insemination as it could improve wool and meat yields and enhance animal welfare. Dr Pini said more reliable artificial insemination in sheep would lead to rapid production gains as producers gain access to elite male genetics without the biosecurity risks involved in moving rams. (RNZ News)

$27k Bull

Rising two-year-old bull Limehills Belter 210473 sold for the top price of $27,000 at the Limehills Herefords 44th annual sale in Millers Flat last month. Stud owner Gray Pannett said 53 of the 58 bulls on offer sold for an average of $9080. (Otago Daily Times)

AI On FECs

AI is being used to report on samples with high parasite counts ensuring farmers with high FECs receive results within minutes. Faecal samples processed through FECPAKG2 are analysed utilising the speed and power of AI and when results are high – more than 700epg in sheep and horses – a preliminary FEC result is reported within a few minutes. This is followed a short time later with a confirmed count. Techion, the company behind this new technology, believes this innovation will help farmers make faster decisions for animals requiring immediate parasite treatment. (Rural News)

New Record At Temuka

May is one of the biggest months of the year for throughput at Temuka, but in 2023 total tallies have achieved a milestone, cracking over 51,000 store lambs, a record with the weekly average 4000. The last time store lamb throughput achieved this level was in 2019 where 40,700 were sold. This year has been noticeably different – the summer season was generous compared to other years as grass kept on growing and small amounts of rainfall kept good covers all the way through. It is worth noting that this month at least half of the store lamb tallies have been made up by South Otago lambs, which have come out three to four weeks later than they have done in previous years. (Farmers Weekly)

HorTicuLTure

Dairy Farm Morphs Into Big Hop Garden

A former dairy farm in a secluded valley on the fringe of Nelson Lakes National Park will become NZ’s biggest hop garden. Mount Ella Station, near Murchison, previously ran more than 3000 milking cows, but now they’re all gone, replaced by rows of tall trellises on which the aromatic beer-flavouring vines grow. Nelson Lakes Hops, the new sister farm of industry leader Freestyle Hops, took over part of the 1000 ha farm between Nelson and Westport in 2021, after doing extensive soil, water and climate analysis on the property. The venture defies conventional wisdom - a previously-held view that hops could only be grown commercially further north in the Tasman District. But Nelson Hops’ Richard Wong said the farm is the result of careful consideration and extensive planning with the support of hop grower and processor, Freestyle Hops, and leading brewery, Garage Project. Once complete, the farm will have over 370 ha planted in hops, with two high-tech

multi-million-dollar processing plants on site. Further expansion opportunities could take the farm beyond 550 ha of hops. “This is a high-value horticultural product, and it has significant export potential.” (Rural News)

Good Future For Avocado

The global avocado trade will continue to grow in the next few years, but the market will be more competitive, according to Rabobank. It says global production expanded by a compound annual growth rate of about 7% during the past decade to 8.4m tonnes. Meanwhile, production in Mexico – currently accounting for 30% of global avocado output – grew by a CAGR of 6%. Among the next largest exporters, Peru, Spain, and Kenya expanded by a CAGR of 22, 6, and 15% respectively between 2012 and 2022. These countries mainly supply the European market. On the other hand, the US –among the world’s largest avocado-producing countries in 2012 – dropped in the ranking and is no longer a top 10 producer. Increased production in countries with complementary harvesting seasons has allowed year-round availability in key markets, including the US, EU, and Asia. Globally, the US remains the largest destination market, with imports increasing by a CAGR of about 8% from 2012 to 2022. Behind the US, the largest avocado importers between 2012 and 2020 were the Netherlands, Spain and France, with respective CAGRs of 14, 20, and 8%. The global commercial market value of fresh avocados was estimated to be around US$18 billion in 2022. (Rural News)

Time Machine For Produce

Plant & Food Research is working with a variety of industry sectors, to understand what and where crops can be grown in the future. By using computers to jump in a ‘virtual time machine’, scientists can see what rainfall patterns and temperatures are going to look like in different parts of NZ. Dr Roger Robson-Williams said climate change is going to affect what we eat over time. “For less developed countries, climate change will produce real issues in terms of food security; not just impacting the type of foods available but, more worryingly, it will lead to absolute scarcity of food with ever-increasing risks of crop failures around the globe. We want to make sure that NZ can continue to grow good, nutritious food, for ourselves and for others.” Robson-Williams says the first step is to get a picture of what crops will grow well and where; these may be crops we already have, or new crops. “We’re also looking at improving our current crops so they can cope better with the impacts of climate change – be it drought tolerance, resistance to different pests and diseases, or just the ability to grow in hotter conditions.” (NZ Herald)

Finding New Vineyards

An experimental vineyard is one of the ways that science will ensure the world will still be able to enjoy NZ wine as the climate changes. With the ability to fine-tune the environmental conditions, scientists at the Plant & Food Research Experimental Future Vineyard at the NZ Wine Centre will be able to mimic expected climate scenarios of the future. Plants grown in the new 600sqm facility which is due for completion in 2024, will help scientists

understand how different temperatures, soil types and water availability may impact grape production in the future, and provide the industry with key knowledge to help it adapt. The experiment comes as a Plant & Food Research study suggests areas of the North Island suitable for growing sauvignon blanc vines are likely to substantially reduce this century as climate change brings rising temperatures. Plant & Food’s Dr Jill Stanley says modelling under both low and high temperature rise scenarios also shows areas of the South Island are likely to increase in growing suitability. “By mid-century, there may be an opportunity for Canterbury and parts of Otago to become global sauvignon blanc powerhouses, alongside Marlborough.”(NZ Herald)

Loan For Avocado Orchard

Kaipara iwi Te Uri o Hau has been given a $1.74 million government loan to develop an avocado orchard on 20ha of its land south of Dargaville. The money was given to its commercial arm, Renaissance Group, from $24m of investment from the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund into 10 diverse projects across the country. (The Country)

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WATer, LAnd, ArAbLe

48km Wallaby Fence To Be Built

Canterbury Regional Council will build a 48m-long pest fence as part of the war on wallabies. Wallabies have spread outside the containment zone and Biosecurity NZ estimates they could cover a third of the country by 2050 if no action is taken. The council’s Wallaby Programme leader, Brent Glentworth, said the pest is threatening Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. The fence will protect the Mackenzie Basin, following the western border of Canterbury’s wallaby containment area, along the Tekapo River system from Lake Benmore through to Lake Tekapo. “The new fence will be 1.3 metres high, constructed with purpose built Australianmade wallaby exclusion netting, with an apron to prevent them passing beneath it. It will also be rabbit netted, allowing continued management of this pest as well.” Current eradication methods, which included dogs, rifles and thermal scopes will also continue. The fence was estimated to cost $1.4 million and is being funded through the MPI-led National Wallaby Eradication Programme. It was expected to take at least two years to build, starting with a 15km section from Grays River north towards Lake Tekapo. (RNZ News)

HWEN Position Pure Politics

Climate Change Minister James Shaw says HWEN discussions have not stopped and National is “speculating into the void” for political gain. “National are fighting with ACT over votes in the regions and in farming and rural communities and the ACT Party of course don’t, as far as we know, even think climate change is real.” The National Party said it has its own climate change policy it will share in the next few weeks but would not confirm this includes pricing emissions. It has already committed to the 2050 net zero target and NZ’s emissions budgets, which include

agricultural emissions methane and nitric oxide. Shaw said targets simply would not be met if the status quo continues. (Otago Daily Times)

Six Weeks Until Tui

The sound of the tui will return to Bowentown in six weeks, according to Predator-Free Bowentown volunteers. The largest piece of coordinated predatorfree work was rolled out recently after trappingvolunteers and monitors worked in muddy conditions around the Anzac Bay area, which they said was ‘notably native bird-free’. “This will change within six weeks of trapping,” said a local volunteer. ‘’Watch this space, volunteers have set up a virtual trap fence at Albacore Aven to stop predator incursion into Bowentown. After six weeks of trapping the song of the tui can now be heard with over 20 birds counted in the area where we have been eradicating predators..” (The Country)

Accolade For Te Puke Garden

Retired Te Puke dairy farmers Wendy and Lindsay Marshall own Shalendy, a Rangiuru Road property boasting a 1.8ha garden, which has attained a lofty national garden accolade. The garden has received a Four Star Garden of Significance accreditation, becoming the first privately-owned Bay of Plenty Garden so recognised by the NZ Gardens Trust. The country garden sprawls on what is now an avocado block, but where once cows rested in winter and young stock grazed. (The Country)

Data Supermarket For Growers

A new ‘data supermarket’ produced by researchers from a number of NZ institutions is designed to help growers plan what types of crops they can grow as the climate changes, what impact crops will have on the environment, and plans for land use change. AgResearch’s Robyn Dynes said in future there would be more land use change driven by market opportunities, a changing climate and regulatory requirements. There was a lot of data available through different government agencies, but data needed to be in one place, transparent and the limitations of the data known, she said. Landowners or farmers can use the data supermarket when they considered land use change, she said. The data was presented in a technical format and would be used by, for example, a farmer, farm consultant or banker with knowledge of geographic information systems. (Stuff)

40-year Land Battle Over

A long-running legal battle that started over the loss of a family farm almost four decades ago is over. Stephen Gilbert Anderson took a case to the Supreme Court after instigating earlier cases in the High Court of Dunedin, the first in 1987 and the other in 1999. Both cases involved the actions of creditors in enforcing payment of his unpaid debt via the compulsory selling of the family farm in 1987/1988. That farm had been in his family since the 1880s, and “its sale has evidently caused Mr Anderson enduring upset”, a Supreme Court decision, released on May 31, said. The decision detailed some of the background to the case, with Anderson defaulting on his payments, which led to the farm being sold by mortgagee sale in June 1988. He was later adjudicated bankrupt. The Supreme Court noted the

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mortgagee sale was not challenged at the time, and the land was acquired by a bona fide third-party purchaser 35 years ago. Any appeal from arising from those earlier judgments “is long out of time”. The court was satisfied there were not any exceptional circumstances that would justify a direct appeal.” (Stuff)

Greenhouse Gas Funding

MPI is seeking research proposals to help improve NZ’s reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses. The annual funding round for the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research fund is now open, with $8.9 million available over the next three financial years for new GHGIR projects. MPI’s Steve Penno said this year it is looking for very specific research proposals in 10 priority areas, ranging from modelling variations in dairy cattle body weight to wetland mapping. “The outcomes will inform MPI’s reporting to the NZ Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the United Nations under the Paris Climate Agreement.” (AgBriefs Staff Report)

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Fire Whorls Recreated

Researchers have managed to achieve the real-life equivalent of capturing lightning in a bottle by recreating forest fire whirls in the field to better understand the deadly phenomenon. Whirls or ‘fire tornadoes’ can occur during extreme forest fire events. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they have been difficult to measure, leaving researchers to try to extrapolate their behaviour into real-life situations – with some difficulty. But a world-first effort near Twizel in late May has provided a treasure trove of sensor and monitoring data for the researchers to pore over, and given them some revelatory insights into how these events are created and behave. Scion’s Hugh Wallace says fire vortexes are of particular interest because of their ability to take on a velocity of their own and to throw burning material ahead of their path. They pose particular risks to fire crews. Interest in the work from overseas, including the US and Australia, has been intense, with US Forest Service lead researcher Jason Forthofer engaged in the work. (Farmers Weekly)

Varroa Losses Increasing

The number of bee colonies lost because of varroa is increasing every year, with the mite to blame for almost 40,000 colony losses in NZ last year. An annual colony loss survey conducted since 2015 found a steady increase in how many bee colonies were lost because they were infested with varroa mite. The survey was based on reports from 41% of beekeepers, who managed 49% of NZ’s honeybee colonies. The study showed almost 100,000, or 13.5%, of all bee colonies that were healthy at the start of winter last year were lost because of either wasp attacks, problems with queen bees, varroa mite infestations or suspected starvation. This was up from an 8.4% total loss in 2015. Landcare Research’s Pike Stahlman-Brown said the 40,000 colonies lost because of varroa, cost commercial beekeepers across the country almost $24 million. (Stuff)

Boost For Pink Week

Rural people living with intellectual disabilities and their families will receive a welcome boost of support as PGGWrightson gears up to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the IHC Calf and Rural Scheme. Pink Week, which runs from June 2-9, aims to raise awareness of the rural donation scheme. The scheme sees NZ farmers pledge the sale price of calves, lambs or virtual livestock to the cause, and once donated, they can see the impact of their donation put to good use in their local area. Since launching in 1982, the scheme has raised over $40 million for IHC. This goes towards supporting 1000 volunteers who provide advocacy and other support to families in need, running community awareness programmes, enhancing the living environments of IHC’s 850 homes and other facilities across the country and maintaining NZ’s most comprehensive library of information relating to intellectual disabilities. (Farmers Weekly)

Greenwashing Dismissed

NZ and Australian ministers have hit back at greenwashing claims from a Pacific leader as they signed a historic climate change partnership that could pave the way for an electric car industry down under. Ministers said it was a world-first bilateral climatefocused agreement, which includes a range of areas they can work together on to curb emissions and help keep global warming below 1.5°C. Initiatives included boosting the electric vehicle market, and even collaborating on manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure. It covered sustainable financing and procurement, and decarbonising public services. They also pledged to meet annually and increase support for the Pacific region as a whole, with Island nations particularly vulnerable to climate change. Vanuatu’s Climate Minister Ralph Regenvanu this week accused Australia of not recognising the Pacific’s biggest security threat — climate change. He pointed to the recent Budget that boosted spending for military security but comparatively little for climate change initiatives. (The Country)

Silt Dust Problem 1938

The 1938 Esk River flood was a significant natural disaster, and like its 2023 sister, the effects were longlasting. Records from the time show the silt-choked valley in the summer following the flood being compared to the American midwest. Then in January 1939, violent gales swept up the dry silt, turning the valley into a giant dust bowl. The sky was darkened by the “fine dry dust in choking clouds”. Farmers were forced to stay indoors and seal their houses with all windows shut and crevices around the doors packed with sacks. The Esk River had risen 9m in places. The Esk Valley road had recently been resurfaced with bitumen, and in places the silt was so high it was almost possible to reach up and touch the telephone wires. In January 1939, so much dust from the silt deposits was blown away, that ground levels had reduced in some places by 1.5m. Some paddocks had by virtue of the gales, as one farmer proclaimed “…have taken every

speck of sand off two of my largest paddocks”. It wasn’t a blessing, however, for all the valley, and while a lot of the silt was blown out to sea, most of it covered roads, or piled up against houses, buildings, hedges and other objects – requiring removal once again. (The Country)

Electric Trucks, Not Cars, The Priority

An articulated truck will burn through 40 times more fuel and generate 50 times more CO2 than a passenger car. They represent 1% of all vehicles on Australian roads but 15% of all transport emissions, according to a new report by Adiona Tech that makes the strong case that Australia is not putting enough attention into electrifying truck fleets. “Our data shows that consumer adoption of EVs should not be Australia’s number one priority,” says Adiona Tech CEO and cofounder Richard Savoie. “Electrifying fleets is by far the most efficient way to reduce vehicle emissions. Every battery we put in a truck or van counts for 5 to 50 households buying an EV, and businesses often have hundreds of vehicles.” The report says that electrifying 10 vehicles used for last-mile delivery (e.g. rigid trucks) is as beneficial as 56 households buying an EV. The report also shows that on average articulated trucks are doing seven times more kms than passenger cars. This means that by electrifying trucks sooner will have a bigger impact on emissions and air pollution because of the higher utilisation. Spewing out 111 tonnes of CO2 per year, articulated trucks produce almost 40 times more emissions than the average passenger car.

(Friday Offcuts)

Invasive Clam Discovered

The invasive gold clam discovered in the Waikato River in April has been there for two to three years, according to MPI. Native to Asia and now found in North America, South America and Europe, gold clams have the potential to destroy native habitats, clog water supplies and hydro dams if not contained. Efforts elsewhere to eradicate the pest have been unsuccessful as the clam is self-fertile and able to produce up to 70,000 juveniles a year. Once established, densities can reach tens of thousands per square metre. Biosecurity NZ’s Stuart Anderson said a technical advisory group of NZ and international experts was being formed to give the best advice on how to deal with the clam (RNZ News)

ForesTry

Farms Sold For Forestry

The OIO has approved the sale of Liang Ren Dairy Estate, covering 1575ha, to an Australian, Zentral Estate for conversion to forestry. The package includes the dairy farms Ridgeview Estate and Clearview Estate and the 2258ha Liang Ren Forest Estate comprising Ngunguru Forest, Waikaraka Forest, Brynderwyn Forest and Tinopai

Forest. The transaction was entered under the previous special forestry test. The applicant states it will plant areas suited to forestry in pinus radiata. About 62ha cannot be planted due to native bush, ridges, gullies, steep land, infrastructure and setbacks. The forestry land contains approximately 1534ha of existing forestry with 633ha unplanted due to vegetation, terrain and infrastructure. There is also a grazing lease over 91ha. The 368ha Masons

Flat grazing at Hurunui has also been sold for forestry, for $3.1 million. The buyer is Austrian entity, Cerberus Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, which plans to plant 320ha in rotation forestry. (Farmers Weekly)

Forest Restricts Floods

New research is showing how effective forests are at mitigating the effects of extreme rainfall during severe weather events. High-resolution data collected from Mahurangi Forest near Auckland during the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle shows that nearly 60% of the rain that fell during those events was stored in the forest rather than flowing immediately across the ground and into waterways. The forest catchment is in effect acting as a sponge, holding onto water that would otherwise have added to flooding downstream. The data was collected as part of the Scion-led five-year $13.7 million Forest Flows research programme, which uses a network of 1717 sensors in 10 forests across NZ. The sensors capture data every five minutes, creating world-leading insights about forest hydrology. Scion’s Dean Meason said the analysis is unlocking the mysteries about how water moves through catchments and is being stored, with this year’s extreme weather events providing some unique insights. (Farmers Weekly)

Canterbury Donates To Hawkes Bay

The Canterbury West Coast Wood Council has donated $10,000 to the Bay View Community Charitable Trust, to help with clean-up operations. Having survived the aftermath of the Christchurch quakes, CWCWC was inspired to provide support, says trustee Glenn Moir. “Others dug deep for us then. It is our turn to help. We wanted to make a donation that would land in hardworking hands and provide real help.” (Friday Offcuts)