More DM/ha/year than commodity clovers.*
INDUSTRY NEWS
Grass-fed certification good for business
INNOVATION
Plantain leading the fight
PRODUCT UPDATE
Backing wool growers with more certainty
Septoria, leaf rust, stripe rust and eyespot all pose serious threats to wheat crops making early season disease control is crucial. But the speed at which these diseases are mutating poses another challenge, and growers worldwide are grappling with how to combat fungicide resistance.
Fortunately, Bolide® from ADAMA NZ provides a robust solution to a number of important diseases (Septoria, leaf and stripe rust and powdery mildew), particularly when tank mixed with Phoenix® Fungicide. This multi-layered approach will both improve disease control and reduce the risk of fungicide resistance developing, helping to maximise crop yields.
Bolide contains an innovative combination of two different DMI (demethylation inhibitors –group 3) active ingredients – epoxiconazole and prochloraz – which complement each other by tackling different strains of Septoria. By ‘stacking’ these complementary actives, you can comprehensively protect your crops from disease and reduce the risk of fungicide resistance at the same time.
New Zealand trials have shown that Bolide provides a strong start to septoria fungicide programs, and outperforms products which only feature a single DMI when it comes to disease control and protecting crop yields.
Bolide is an all-rounder DMI fungicide.
Absorbed via the stem and foliage, it moves upwards and outwards to protect new growth. It’s an effective and flexible fungicide option and can be used at a variety of different growth stages depending on your needs.
For early season Septoria control, the best time to use Bolide is at T1 to protect the emerging leaf 3. An infected leaf 3 can easily infect leaf 2 and the flag leaf so keeping leaf 3 clean is crucial as your crop reaches maturity.
During wet seasons where there’s increased Septoria pressure, or if you need to control
eyespot or stripe rust, Bolide can also be used earlier at T0.
Later season diseases such as rust, powdery mildew and ear disease complex can also be addressed with Bolide as it combines protectant, curative, and eradicative properties. Apply at T3 if needed.
While Bolide offers control and protection for a range of diseases at various application timings, following fungicide resistance guidelines is advised. Do not use another DMI with Bolide. No more than 3 DMI (triazole) sprays should be applied to a crop, including seed treatment. Fungicides from different groups should be used in rotation or mixed with each other to reduce the development of fungicide resistance.
Septoria can seriously damage your crops, so it’s important to maintain effectiveness and prevent further fungicide resistance from developing. That’s why ADAMA suggests mixing Bolide with Phoenix Fungicide at T1 to improve results and strengthen resistance management.
Phoenix Fungicide (group M4) works against Septoria at a cellular level, inhibiting spore germination, cell division and reducing energy production in the mitochondria. Currently there is no known resistance to Phoenix Fungicide anywhere in the world. Phoenix Fungicide doesn’t inhibit DMI uptake so your applied dose will have maximum speed and effect.
For more information about how Bolide and Phoenix Fungicide can protect your valuable crops, please contact your local ADAMA Commercial Manager.
APTIVIS® fungicide powered by ADEPIDYN® technology
Next generation control of Black Spot and Powdery Mildew in pipfruit
TEAM
Editor Kathy Davis 027 4347 108 kathy@thelastword.net.nz
Advertising Manager Lisa Phelan 021 782 228 lisa@agrimedia.co.nz
Production & Design Amanda Vroombout 027 7788 274 production@agrimedia.co.nz
Accounts & Admin Hilary Armstrong 027 443 477 accounts@agrimedia.co.nz
Printed by Blueprint Ltd 03 348 0538 michael@blueprintmedia.co.nz
part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily that of the publisher and suggest independent advice be sought before acting on information or suggestions contained herein.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Editorial and photographic contributions are welcomed and should be sent directly to the editor, Kathy Davis. Editing of submissions is at the sole discretion of the editor and will accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. AgriMedia Ltd PO Box 36753, Merivale, Christchurch 8146 agrimedia.co.nz | novachem.co.nz
Welcome back to Agribusiness for July/August 2025.
Every few weeks the Overseas Investment Office sends out a summary of recent approvals for sale of NZ land and business assets to offshore interests.
I used to read these very carefully, but then I got depressed about how many of these transactions were farms – some quite large –being sold for conversion to pine trees. Every month, it seemed, more and more farm land was disappearing into carbon farming.
One name – Ingka Investments – kept appearing so often that curiosity got the better of my depression. Ingka in NZ is owned by the Netherlands-based Ingka Group, the world’s largest Ikea franchisee, founded by the same people that own Ikea.
Between August 2021 and April 2025, OIO records show this one buyer paid at least $350 million across 30 purchases totalling just under 40,000 ha of NZ land.
Some of it was existing forestry; not all was bought to convert from red meat to trees, but much was, including the most recent, 1200-plus ha in Marlborough, approved just weeks ago.
And overall that land is just part of the area Beef + Lamb NZ says are whole sheep and beef farms sold for forestry since early 2017 –more than 300,000 ha.
But it helps show Federated Farmers is right on the mark with its Save Our Sheep campaign, and it also reinforces the importance of the farm to forest ban legislature currently before Parliament. It shouldn’t have taken so long to get to this point, and the land we’ve lost from food production can never be replaced, but better late than never.
Meantime plenty else has been happening across the primary industry, including strong
if not stellar export sales performance for many sectors and rising confidence among farmers themselves about the year ahead.
It’s a good way to start a new season, even if we are still in winter mode. Check out our special focus on spring promotions for a heads-up on products that will be top of mind in a few weeks’ time.
And when you’re done there, you’ll find loads of other topical reading inside, including a wide range of product news and updates.
We’ll be back in September! Until then, all the best for the end of winter, and here’s to an awesome spring for you and your farmers and growers.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients will stop making super single phosphate at Mt Maunganui later this year, with a net loss of 60 jobs.
However it remains committed to continuing use of the site and its strategic location near Port of Tauranga for nutrient storage and distribution, as well as the base for its national support office.
CEO Kelvin Wickham says it’s been a big call to end nearly 70 years of manufacturing in Mount Maunganui, but the changes are ultimately necessary to set the co-operative up well for the future.
“We recognise the significance of this change for our co-operative and impacted people, and we’ll be supporting them by offering any suitable redeployment opportunities at Ballance as well as career transition support,” he says.
Ballance first announced it was considering the change in April.
After reviewing feedback from impacted people, the initial proposal was modified to add two additional roles, and the timeline was extended to continue manufacturing for an additional three months.
While the rationale for ending
manufacturing in Mount Maunganui remains valid, the extension gives more time to work through the transition and wind down the facilities, Wickham says.
“Our manufacturing facilities at the Mount require substantial investment to keep them operating reliably alongside increasing regulatory constraints.
“With an over capacity in New Zealand compared to the expected demand for this product, it is the right point in time for the co-operative to cease manufacturing at this location.”
He says the changes will make the co-op more agile in sourcing nutrients as well as finding new ways to provide value to its shareholders, exploring more blendable fertilisers and other densified phosphate products like triple super phosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP).
“We’re seeing much more efficient and effective use of nutrients delivering higher productivity off a much lighter footprint, and a big focus for the co-operative is
supporting our 16,000 shareholders with the technology, products and services that support those aims,” he says.
“Nutrients remain a vital part of driving NZ’s economic prosperity through food and fibre exports, with around 41% of the country’s agricultural exports enabled by fertiliser.
“To maintain supply, we secure nutrients from multiple sources and will continue to manufacture phosphate and urea at our Invercargill and Taranaki sites as well as imported products from offshore.
“Our focus now is supporting our impacted people and working through the process of winding down and then decommissioning our Mount Maunganui manufacturing facilities.”
The co-op will now begin a process to wind down its manufacturing facilities, aiming to end manufacturing in the later part of this year.
New Zealand’s three national road transport associations have joined forces to launch a united body specifically for the movement of farm animals.
They say the move reflects the collective input of all stakeholders and recognises the need to strengthen the transport sector’s role within the livestock value chain.
“While farmers and producers have been the focus of much regulatory attention, transport – an essential link in moving livestock safely and efficiently across the country – has often been overlooked.
“This is a chance to highlight the vital contribution transport makes to NZ’s economy, connecting rural communities to markets and supporting the integrity of our food systems.
“By coming together, we can amplify our voice and demonstrate the value our industry delivers nationwide.”
The National Livestock Transport and
Safety Council brings together elected operators from National Road Carriers, NZ Trucking and Transporting NZ.
It will lead the sector to improve safety, standards and outcomes across the livestock transport industry, focussing on pragmatic, economic solutions.
The new council comprises voting members from Transporting New Zealand, with eight regional representatives from across the country.
It also includes one voting representative each from New Zealand Trucking and National Road Carriers.
Committee members include experienced operators from across the country, representing both large and small transport businesses.
Biotech innovator Keraplast is making bold strides into the global medtech sector, with a multi-million dollar investment in a state-of-the-art clean room manufacturing facility nearing completion at its Christchurch site.
Keraplast, a world-leading biotechnology company renowned for extracting bioactive keratin proteins from regeneratively farmed New Zealand wool, is expanding its capabilities to produce a new range of medical technology products.
This move comes just one year after New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon toured the company’s then newly-opened beauty and personal care manufacturing plant.
The company’s latest development—a purpose-built clean room and on-site laboratory—marks a strategic leap into the highly competitive global medtech market. The facility will allow Keraplast to manufacture medical-grade keratin-based products, with an initial focus on the
United States before expanding globally. Regulatory approval processes are currently underway in multiple jurisdictions.
“We’re unlocking the full potential of keratin with this expansion,” says Stephen Attkins, general manager for medtech and API at Keraplast.
“This investment allows us to deliver worldclass medtech solutions using sustainable and bioactive NZ sourced ingredients.”
The integration of medtech operations within the existing beauty and personal care business has proven to be a successful strategy, both in terms of operational efficiency and team collaboration during planning and construction phases.
The clean room recently reached a major milestone with the installation of a
A new study shows New Zealand’s native forests are absorbing more carbon dioxide than previously thought, particularly in the South Island.
Study leader, NIWA atmospheric scientist Dr Beata Bukosa, says the findings could impact NZ’s greenhouse gas reporting, carbon credit costs, and climate and land-use policies.
She says previous studies may have underestimated the amount of carbon taken up by NZ’s mature native forests, which were thought to be roughly carbon neutral.
Using advanced modelling and NIWA’s supercomputer, researchers examined a decade of atmospheric data, from 2011 to 2020, to better estimate the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by NZ’s land ecosystems.
NIWA worked on the study with GNS Science and Landcare Research as well as other NZ and overseas universities and institutes.
“It was thought that some areas and land use types were in a near-balance
specialized air handling unit, moving the project one step closer to operational status.
Adding to the momentum, Keraplast has already secured a major international export partner and confirmed significant preproduction orders, signalling strong demand and confidence in the new product line.
With the facility expected to open in the coming months, Keraplast is positioning itself as a formidable player in the medtech export space—leveraging scientific innovation, sustainable sourcing, and New Zealand’s reputation for quality.
state with the absorption and release of carbon dioxide.
“Earlier estimates of how much carbon was removed by NZ land ecosystems ranged from a net 24 to 118 million tonnes a year,” Bukosa says.
“Our research found that New Zealand’s natural environment absorbed approximately 171 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.”
She says the largest differences between earlier estimates and the new findings came in the South Island.
“This was especially in areas dominated by mature native forests and certain grazing lands. We also found seasonal variation, as during autumn and winter, less carbon is released into the atmosphere than earlier estimates suggested.”
Bukosa says the results, due to be published shortly, have important implications for NZ’s tracking of carbon emissions and climate policies.
“We need to better understand why our native forests are absorbing more CO₂ than expected, and what this could mean for our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve our domestic and international targets.”
Quantifying New Zealand’s grass-fed red meat and dairy products will help them cut through the competition in premium overseas markets, the government says.
A voluntary grass-fed certification scheme launched at Mystery Creek last month puts a ‘clear, trusted stamp’ on what Kiwi farmers have always done best, according to Agriculture Minister Todd McClay.
The scheme is based on recently formulated NZ Grass-Fed Administrative Standards owned and administered by MPI. The new standard for dairy defines grass-fed as meaning animals have a diet comprised of at least 90 per cent of the qualifying grass-fed feed types and are on pasture or forage crops, for at least eight hours a day, 340 days per year.
MPI says the eight hour daily minimum represents the minimum time for a dairy cow to satisfy their daily feed requirements from grazing pasture or forage crops.
Qualifying grass-fed feed types range from grazed pasture, kikuyu, chicory and brassicas to hay, baleage and straw made from cereals, lucerne and pasture.
Non-qualifying feed types include canola meal, maize silage, dried distillers grain, whole grains, and palm kernel extract. Grass-fed schemes from Fonterra and Spring Sheep Milk have already been assessed and confirmed as compliant with the new standard.
For red meat, animals must be mostly raised on qualifying grass-fed feed types and be permitted to graze outdoors on pasture or forage crops year-round.
Supplements may include manufacturing feeds, as long as these do not contain animal protein or animal fat, other than dairy.
MPI says the standards allow for animals to be removed from pasture to safeguard them or the environment through any adverse weather events or for any other animal management requirements.
AgResearch scientists Stuart Ledgard and Robyn Dynes reviewed the new dairy standard before it was released.
They say it provides ‘a clear framework’ for initial evaluation across a range of potential
contributing farmers and processors.
And they recommend this initial evaluation includes assessment of the practicality (including of required record keeping) and ease of estimation of the two key requirements relating to meeting grass-fed and threshold grazing times.
“In particular, it will be important that assessors adhere to the MPI feed energy requirement methodology and the details in the Schedules of the NZ Grass-Fed Standard.
“This initial evaluation may require more specificity to methodology to ensure consistency of application.”
Todd McClay says the standards are a commercial tool to improve the value of NZ exports, not just a label.
“In key markets, we’re up against countries that claim grass-fed credentials but feed their animals grain part of the year or keep them indoors for long periods. NZ’s system is different—our livestock on grass, year-round, in the world’s best farming conditions.”
this month we look at...
Komodo, a new post plant pre-emerge herbicide registered by Arxada for use in fodder and sugar beet is now commercially available for the market.
Fodder and sugar beet are important forage crops for finishing and wintering stock in periods where feed availability and quality is low.
Arxada has now registered a new active ingredient to these crops, to create a safer and more flexible approach to early weed control.
Komodo contains 380g/L acetochlor in a capsule suspension formulation using Arxada’s Encaps technology, significantly increasing crop safety over and above other emulsifiable concentrate (EC) options, the company says.
This active ingredient traditionally used in the maize and corn industry, is new chemistry to the beet market, specifically targeting grass and broadleaf weeds at the post plant pre-emergence timings.
Arxada’s Encaps Technology contains the active ingredient in small, microscopic capsules in a liquid soluble concentrate formulation.
These capsules increase efficacy and crop safety, while reducing the volatile nature of acetochlor when exposed to its environment.
This means almost all the product reaches
the targeted spray area without being lost.
The capsules are broken down by its natural environment through UV light from the sun, and moisture, locking the active onto the soil surface, readying your crop for weed emergence protection.
Arxada has developed and manufactured this product in New Zealand for our unique conditions.
“In the large array of trials conducted throughout the country, Komodo has proven itself, controlling additional weeds over and above others used at similar timings, and with superior crop safety.”
These weeds include black nightshade, chickweed, broad-leaved dock, redroot, shepherd’s purse and scrambling speedwell.
To help your customers get the best out of their Komodo application, make sure they apply two litres per ha immediately after sowing to a well-prepared seed bed under good growing conditions.
Rainfall or irrigation of up to 10 mm within 10 days of application is required to fully activate the product for the best result.
“One of the strengths of Komodo is it’s tank mix compatibility advantage,”
explains Jason Payne, territory sales and NZ marketing manager for Arxada.
“The product has been through vigorous and extensive lab and field testing with a range of commonly used herbicides and insecticides with no issues.”
Testing with some versions of glyphosate, ethofumesate, metamitron, chlorpyrifos and Cyhella has been conducted with great results.
Please consult your Arxada territory manager when attempting these mixes. Always adhere to the label when mixing and determining application timing according to crop stage.
As with any good residual herbicide, the expected result from using Komodo® could be reduced if there is extremely low or excessive rainfall, the soil is poorly prepared, or the soil has high organic matter content.
Komodo is also registered for use in maize at a rate range from 5.5 to 6.6L per hectare, with an extended weed control list.
Applications for maize are also for post plant pre-emergent use. Consult the label for the full range of weeds and application details.
Agricom is dedicated to developing forage solutions that deliver real value on farm.
A recent trial conducted near Lincoln, Canterbury assessed the performance and ability of Agricom’s modern white clover proprietaries to increase annual production compared to a commodity clover (Huia), under synthetic nitrogen limitations in a standard ryegrass mix. Once established and stabilised, the trial clearly demonstrated the genetic advantage of proprietary white clovers, with the varieties Brace and Attribute delivering an average of 3 tonnes more dry matter per hectare than Huia in a 12-month period (refer to Figure 1).
Agricom’s white clover advantage trial was established in spring 2021 to compare five white clover cultivars - Huia, Nomad, Tribute, Brace, and Attribute - sown with Three60 perennial ryegrass.
A consistent ryegrass cultivar and sowing rate were used across all four replicate plots, allowing for a fair comparison of pasture quantity and quality across the different clover types.
Fertiliser was applied to the trial at 190 kg N per ha per year, using a complex blend to ensure phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) were non-limiting factors.
Under the full cut and carry system used in the trial, nitrogen was intentionally limited to encourage nitrogen fixation by the clovers.
This restricted nitrogen return was
important to prevent full white clover dominance and the potential loss of the grass from the trial.
Yield was measured approximately 10 times per year using a forage harvester set to a cutting height of 4-6 cm.
Fresh weights were recorded for each plot, and subsamples were taken for drying to calculate dry matter percentage. These measurements were then used to calculate total dry matter production for each treatment.
Figure 1 presents dry matter production over a 12-month period, with each bar broken down into contributions from soil available nitrogen, applied nitrogen, and the growth attributed to these sources. These components were calculated based on the assumption that harvested pasture contained, on average, 3 per cent nitrogen per kg of dry matter.
The remaining dry matter shown in each bar reflects the competitiveness of the clover cultivars specifically, their ability to either contribute additional clover growth or enhance nitrogen cycling within the system. Clover performance and nitrogen fixation are closely linked - the more productive the clover is in a mix, the more nitrogen is fixed. This makes clover competitiveness with modern ryegrass a critical factor in long term success.
The large-leaved white clover Brace performed exceptionally well in the cut and carry system, thriving in the productive grass mix used in the trial.
Its outstanding result highlighted its suitability for these conditions.
Both Brace and Attribute, being modern white clovers, have been specifically bred to perform in dense, modern ryegrass pastures, with strong autumn and winter vigour to avoid being overshadowed during these periods of grass dominance.
While all white clovers grow vigorously in late spring and summer, it’s their ability to compete in autumn and winter that ultimately determines their long-term contribution to a pasture system.
While these results highlight the competitive advantage of Brace and Attribute in terms of dry matter and total pasture production in a rotational cutting system, both cultivars also perform exceptionally well under grazing - the system they were bred and selected for. Brace is particularly well suited to dairy, finishing, and hybrid ryegrass pastures, while Attribute fits across most pasture systems, showing strong performance under more intensive grazing systems.
Incorporating modern white clover cultivars like Brace and Attribute into pasture mixes offers farmers genuine genetic gain. These cultivars contribute to improved pasture quality, better pasture management, and valuable nitrogen cycling, all of which support greater productivity on -arm.
When considering where to invest in genetic gain in a farming system, a plant that fixes free nitrogen based on how competitive and productive it is, is a good bet.
Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.
Regardless of doubts raised last winter by a group which challenged the interpretation of some of the science supporting plantain’s nitrate busting ability, Brown says farmers can confidently include the herb in their pasture systems and know it reduces nitrogen losses.
“We’ve never suggested plantain is the only pasture species that could help in the fight to reduce nitrate leaching in our pasture systems,” he says.
“But there’s 15 years of science and development behind Ecotain® (plantain), OverseerFM recognises its ability to reduce nitrogen losses and several regional councils do too,” he says.
“For many dairy farmers, maintaining a good percentage of plantain in their farm’s pasture sward is one of the only ways they can fend off the pressure to reduce stocking rate to meet their catchment’s nitrogen limit.”
Questions raised about plantain’s
effectiveness by the group of scientists and rival seed company technical staff last July created confusion among dairy farmers, he says.
Many had already begun including plantain in their pastures, but some put their plans on hold because of the uncertainty which developed.
Brown hopes farmers know about two counter-responses which were published in the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research a month after the initial paper was published.
One was from scientists working on the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Plantain Potency and Practice programme and the other was from a group of scientists from AgResearch.
Both responding groups stood by their earlier trial work which demonstrates plantain (Ecotain environmental plantain) is an effective mitigator of nitrogen loss from pasture systems.
Brown says a mid-term review of the SFFF project, published last September, also concluded plantain reduces nitrate leaching and can help improve freshwater quality.
New research published in Ireland supports plantain’s positive impact on nitrogen leaching and results closely align with those from the earlier NZ trials.
The Irish trials investigated nitrate leaching over two years across different soil types from ryegrass-white clover swards with 0, 30 and 50 per cent Ecotain plantain.
On free draining soils, nitrate losses from swards with 30 per cent Ecotain were 56 per cent lower in year one and 96 per cent lower in the second year, compared with the plots with nil Ecotain.
Losses from swards with 50 per cent Ecotain were 78 per cent lower in year one and 98 per cent lower in year two.
Morrinsville dairy farmer Johan van Ras, who is a partner in the SFFF project, says farmers still only have limited options for reducing nitrogen losses from pasture systems.
“There is no single silver bullet for dealing with nitrogen losses. It is going to take a range of tools in the tool box to achieve the reductions needed,” he says.
“At this stage, plantain is really the only tangible tool we have, so it was a no-brainer for us to take a closer look and see how it can be incorporated into our farm system,” he says.
He has been testing different methods to establishing and maintaining plantain in the pasture sward, including oversowing (prill-coated) seed with serpentine superphosphate.
His confidence in plantain is helped by its recognition within OverseerFM.
“We aim to maintain plantain at about 10 per cent of the total sward. At that level in Overseer, it provides a reduction of about two kg per ha of nitrogen loss in our system,” he says.
That reduces the farm’s average loss from the mid-20s to the low-20s which helps keep it at the lower end of the scale for nitrate leaching.
Van Ras says commentary raised last spring by a small group of scientists who questioned the earlier science about plantain’s ability to mitigate nitrogen leaching from pasture systems created some confusion among his farming peers.
“We have to trust the science and test the tools it provides in a practical sense in our own farm systems.
“I’m not saying we should not have the debate and challenge any new practices developed by scientists. But as farmers, we also need clarity and certainty so we can adapt our systems with confidence,” he says.
Sowing high quality forage crops for next season’s feed may seem a long time away, but spring will come round fast and the better your farmers plan ahead, the better their outcome will be.
That’s the advice from Nufarm business development manager Michael Bennet, who says a key driver of both success and sustainability is making sure customers take herbicide resistance into account when preparing for this season’s planting season. Bennet is based in the lower South Island and has seen first hand the effects of overreliance on single agrichemical mode of action (MOA) families.
“Relying on a single MOA herbicide is like relying on a single active drench. It’s risky in terms of resistance developing.”
Fragile MOA Group 2 chemistry often used
for pre-emergence weed control is one case in point, he says.
“Cases of chickweed resistance to Group 2 herbicides showed up early in our region, and another weed that some farmers are now struggling with is willow weed.”
He encourages suppliers make sure growers are aware of the importance of rotating and mixing their herbicide MOAs for brassicas as they would for other crops. Director CS, for example, is a Group 13 post-plant, pre-emergence herbicide that can help with broadleaf weeds in forage brassicas before they can be adversely
affected by weed competition.
“The big issue with early yield losses in brassicas is they can happen very quickly, and they are permanent. That’s why preemergence herbicide is recommended best practice for good crop management.”
If needed, post-emergence herbicide should be applied early to protect rather than try and salvage valuable dry matter yield.
Prestige (Group 4) can be used at this stage in all forage brassicas to control several broadleaf weeds. Kamba 750 can be added for kale only, Bennet says.
Without predator control, these habitats and the native wildlife that depends on them will continue to decline — even with stock exclusion. Our toolbox will guide you through how to manage pests in these unique spaces.
It was a major step in seed stewardship for leading pasture and forage supplier Barenbrug, and the company’s sales manager says customers welcomed the move with open arms.
“Despite all the planning you do, the first season in a new facility like this always creates a bit of apprehension,” says Jake Gardner.
“But by all measures the Waikato site passed the test with flying colours.
“We constantly assess our seed delivery times, and these not only met the high standards we set ourselves, but in many weeks actually surpassed them.”
Feedback from customers has been fantastic, particularly around the smooth delivery of service.
The new 400 tonne cool store at Te Rapa was primarily set up to protect
live endophyte in ryegrass seed.
It adds to the three other climate controlled warehouses the company already has across its network.
This gives Barenbrug the ability to deliver the best seed to resellers nationwide and year-round, for spring as well as autumn.
Gardner says a good analogy for the climate controlled facilities is the fridges merchants and farmers use for animal vaccines.
“Vaccines lose viability if they’re not stored correctly, and endophyte is the same.”
Heat and humidity can kill this tiny organism faster than most people realise, so seed containing endophyte should stay cool and dry for as long as possible before it goes in the ground.
“Farmers get the extra confidence of knowing all their Barenbrug seed – with endophyte and without – arrives at their
gate straight from optimal storage in the best possible condition.”
Interestingly, the energy requirements for running the Waikato coolstore were much higher at the start of the season, in January and February, than they were in early winter.
“What we discovered is that the low humidity inside the store was pulling moisture out of the concrete floor. This has now stabilised, so power consumption has dropped back.”
He says the company is proud of achieving a major milestone in seed stewardship so farmers can get the best results from new pasture.
“This development has been a few years in the planning and building. It’s great to be where we are now, and to know we can keep delivering this enhanced product care in coming years.”
Maximise their home grown feed with Nufarm’s phenoxies range to control winter weeds.
Eat more of what you grow. Calculate what their returns might be at Grassmanship.nz
This year marks 50 years since the signing of the seed production and distribution agreement between Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Philip Yates, who at the time was managing director of Arthur Yates & Co, and subsequently the founder of Genetic Technologies, a Yates family-owned business.
The Yates seed story began in 18th-century England when James Yates sold seed to farmers in the southern part of the present-day USA.
By the late 1800s, his greatgrandson Arthur Yates had migrated to New Zealand, opening a specialised seed business in Auckland in 1882.
Arthur’s younger brother, Ernest Yates, travelled from England to join him in business in 1886.
Ernest was followed in the trade by his son Norman, and in 1973, his grandson Philip became chief executive and managing director.
Arthur Yates and Co prospered, and Yates’ Reliable Seeds became a household name.
While their product range was large, Philip was always looking for superior seed products.
A magazine article about hybrid wheat caught his interest and ultimately led to a phone call to Pioneer HiBred’s Overseas Division based
in Des Moines, Iowa.
A visit to the US revealed that hybrid maize, and not hybrid wheat, held more near-term potential in NZ.
He was impressed by Pioneer’s significant library of elite maize germplasm, their commitment and innovation in plant breeding, and above all else, their conservative family values.
On Tuesday, December 18, 1975, an agreement was signed in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Yates Company became the NZ distributor and producer of Pioneer® brand seed.
The timing of the relationship between the two companies could not have been better.
In the 1970s, Pioneer’s new maize hybrids were breaking USA yield records, and sales were on a rapid upward trajectory, increasing five-fold from 1972 to 1980.
Tight NZ biosecurity rules limited seed imports to 48 individual maize seeds at a time.
On arrival, the seed had to be treated with a toxic combination of fungicides, meaning only half would remain viable, so
commercialising new hybrids was painstakingly slow.
Initial seed crops were hand-picked and sun-dried, with seed conditioned in the Manawatu and as demand grew, a processing plant was built at Waharoa.
But burning cob cores and coal to dry the seed caused severe corrosion, cutting the plant’s life short.
As the maize seed production plant was coming to an untimely end, so too was the Yates family’s involvement in the Yates company.
In 1985, Equiticorp, a recently established investment bank, took control via a share market raid.
At 53, Philip was dismissed and given two days to vacate his office.
Disillusioned by the takeover, Pioneer executives in the U.S. cancelled the agreement with Equiticorp and offered it directly to Philip and Genetic Technologies Ltd (GTL) was formed.
The new company had humble beginnings.
For the first three years, seed was either imported or produced locally under contract.
In 1989, a new plant was commissioned in Gisborne, an area with ideal conditions for growing maize seed.
“The Gisborne region allowed us to produce some of the world’s finest quality seed,”
Philip Yates says.
Vision for the future
GTL invested heavily in research and began promoting maize silage to dairy farmers.
The team expanded, with area managers in all growing regions, supported by dairy specialists and a robust research team.
In 1990, Philip’s son Will joined the company, becoming the seventh generation of the Yates family in the seed trade. Will started by working in the field, including time in the South Island, and today leads GTL as managing director.
“We’re investing in hybrid, agronomic and environmental research to help farmers build sustainable, profitable businesses,” he says.
From a handful of imported seeds to becoming a cornerstone of NZ agriculture, the Pioneer and Yates partnership has shaped five decades of maize production, and the future is just beginning.
What happens when two longstanding New Zealand brands that are passionate about wool come together?
A new approach to the supply chain that’s set to bolster our wool industry, connecting growers directly with consumers, strengthening rural communities, and celebrating the integrity of natural, 100 per cent NZ grown wool.
PGG Wrightson and Norsewear saw the potential for a new value chain for NZ wool that boosts returns for wool growers and the wider sector.
The partnership ensures traceability from the grower’s paddock to the end product, with a high standard of animal welfare and fibre assurance that includes independent farm auditing and quality testing through the Wool Integrity NZ programme.
“As two companies with a rich history of commitment to the primary sector, we believe there is potential for NZ wool to deliver greater value to growers, rural communities, and New Zealand—if we do things differently,” says Stephen Guerin, chief executive, PGG Wrightson.
“By connecting the specific growers with select manufacturers we’re providing certainty of demand for these growers through long-term supply orders. This ensures manufacturers have certainty of supply of fully traceable New Zealand wool that
meets their specifications.”
PGG Wrightson Wool’s quality assurance brand, Wool Integrity NZ, is key in the value chain, certifying that the wool comes from independently audited growers who meet worldleading animal welfare and environmental sustainability standards.
PGG Wrightson and Norsewear share a heritage of supporting the rural sector.
PGG Wrightson has partnered with farmers and wool growers for more than 170 years, including handling and marketing a significant volume of NZ wool.
Norsewear has been manufacturing quality woollen socks, beanies, and other woollen apparel for outdoor people since 1963.
Tim Deane, who purchased the company in 2023, says he sees significant growth and export opportunities for the sector through the partnership.
“As Norsewear transitions to a fully traceable value chain and grows, we’ll not only be able to buy more NZ wool at fair prices but also create jobs in regional NZ as we expand manufacturing. We want to encourage other companies to take this approach,” he says.
Wool growers joining the Wool Integrity programme access forward contracts, expert support, and certification to get more value out of their wool clip.
The programme markets Wool Integrity fibre to the world, opening the door to a network of local and international
brands, and their customers, that value 100 per cent NZ wool.
The PGG Wrightson and Norsewear partnership begins at the farm gate with passionate wool growers taking a high level of care of their flock to produce the right specification of wool.
The fibre is sourced through PGG Wrightson and sent offshore for scouring and spinning by world-class spinners, specifically selected for their expertise and quality craftsmanship.
It then returns to New Zealand, landing in Norsewood, Hawke’s Bay at the Norsewear factory, where talented technicians create the durable work and technical outdoors wear that Norsewear is known for.
The circle is completed with distribution through PGG Wrightson’s 90 retail outlets and online store, as well as through other rural retail and online outlets.
“Over the years, some iconic Kiwi brands have moved away from using 100 per cent NZ wool. It’s been commoditised and diluted with other wools to reduce prices for
manufacturers, and wool sector pricing has been heading in the wrong direction,” explains Deane.
“It’s been tough for our farmers. We’re looking to reverse the trend. By ensuring a fully integrated value chain, we’re ensuring that when consumers choose Norsewear they experience the quality and provenance of 100% New Zealand wool products, and over time growers will reap better returns.”
The Wool Integrity quality assurance mark will be added to Norsewear’s packaging as the transition progresses.
Rachel Shearer, general manager PGG Wrightson Wool, says the partnership supports the links and connections between growers and rural communities who will be able to go into one of the company’s local stores or online, buy garments that use the wool they grew and wrap their families in them.
“As we demonstrate success, we welcome other NZ consumer brands to join us to benefit the industry as a whole,” she adds.
Established pastures are just as important a ‘crop’ as any other when it comes to maximising land productivity, and keeping them clean and high yielding can pay big dividends.
That’s the message from Nufarm national product manager Matt Strahan, who says the company’s unique Grassmanship.nz digital calculator makes short work of quantifying your farmers’ return on investment from appropriate seasonal weed control.
At this time of the year, the focus is on winter weeds, and he has some compelling figures around the financial benefits of welltimed winter herbicide applications.
Using Grassmanship.nz, and a hypothetical example of a bull beef grazing system in the Waikato, he’s run a scenario on expected costs and payback of controlling medium density thistles.
With Agritone 750 at 2 litres per hectare, an application cost of $40 per ha, and a bull beef carcase value of $6.50 per kg, spraying
50 ha to remove thistles could provide a return of about $14-$15,000 after the cost of herbicide and application is taken into account.
“That’s just one example of the type of return that is possible over six to eight months.
“In this case we know thistles cause grazing avoidance, and depending on thistle species, act antagonistically to suppress the growth of surrounding pasture plants for up to 75 cm.
“So that adds up to a lot of potential grazing lost, and with it, lost animal liveweight gain.”
Farmers and growers can run their own scenarios through Grassmanhip.nz, thanks to different calculators for different times of the year, and the ability to specify both
stock type and location for regional pasture and animal production rates, sourced from leading industry organisations.
“All the data for the bull beef example is based on Beef + Lamb NZ resources on growing bulls and dressing out rates. We have done the same for dairy production using statistics from DairyNZ.”
Strahan says in addition to the calculators, Grassmanship.nz also provides useful information to help farmers and their advisors get the optimal results from a pasture protection programme, including a range of Nufarm’s resources that support best practice.
It’s free, and designed to help all New Zealand farmers get the best out of their pastures year-round.
A new fertiliser spreading standard is a key step in efforts to improve nutrient management across New Zealand farms, Federated Farmers says.
“Fertiliser is a significantly large spend for farmers,” says board member Colin Hurst.
“Having confidence that it’s being applied accurately and responsibly is essential - for productivity, profitability and for meeting environmental expectations.
“The launch of a modernised Spreadmark Assurance Programme at Fieldays is a milestone moment and we fully support it.”
Spreadmark, founded by Groundspread NZ and now managed by the Fertiliser Quality Council, is the national fertiliser spreading assurance programme.
The new Spreadmark Code introduces updated standards that will help farmers and contractors lift the bar even further when it comes to nutrient precision and environmental care.
Hurst says Federated Farmers was proud to host the official launch at its Rural Advocacy Hub at Fieldays.
“We’ve had a long-standing connection with the Fertiliser Quality Council, which
was formed by Federated Farmers in 1992.
“It’s a partnership rooted in practical, farmer-driven solutions - so it’s fitting that we helped launch this next chapter at the heart of NZ’s farming community.”
Assurance programmes like Spreadmark will play an important role as new regulatory requirements come into effect.
“As farm planning and environmental standards become more embedded across
the sector, programmes like Spreadmark will be essential.
“They’re not just tools for compliancethey’re tools for good farming.
“We see this modernised Spreadmark Programme as a strong example of how the sector can lead from the frontdelivering better outcomes for farmers, the environment, and the communities they support.”
Stoney Creek has upgraded its popular Force 18 wet weather gear to create what it describes as the ultimate rural rainwear weapon engineered to dominate the elements.
“Many of you have loved the Force 18 range over the years, and we’ve been working hard on the next generation to make it even better.
“We’ve refined designs, tested new fabrics, and sourced cutting-edge technology, and we’re proud to introduce the all-new Force 25 range this year.”
The new Force 25 range includes jacket, bib overalls and over trousers featuring the company’s most advanced waterproof and breathable fabric yet, known as Weathatech Pro.
This exclusive Stoney Creek 3-layer ripstop fabric provides the ultimate balance between durable protection, breathability, and unrestricted movement, the company says.
With an impressive 20K (min) waterproof rating (tested to the JIS L 1092B Standard) and a durable DWR coating, the new fabric is designed to repel water, mud, and even blood while keeping farmers dry and protected.
A key advance is breathability, so sweat and moisture can escape: “The Force 25 is twice as breathable as the Force 18.”
Thanks to the three panel design, the jacket also has about 30 per cent fewer seams than its predecessor, minimising potential leak points over time.
Zips have been upgraded, too, to heavy coil YKK coil zips for better durability and smoother operation.
These zips are self-healing and can realign themselves if misaligned, reducing jams and lengthening jacket lifespan.
The twin adjustment hood features a wired peak and volume reducer for optimal fit and protection without restricting vision, and the internal collar with built in neck gaiter traps heat keeping wearers
comfortable when temperatures drop. Reflective print on the shoulders, arms and hood improves safety and visibility, and there are multiple storage pocket options.
These include zipped chest pockets, hand warmer pockets with large front storage to keep vital electronics secure and protected, and dual access waist pockets, with drainage holes.
Internal Neoprene cuffs with Velcro tabs stop water driving back up the sleeve.
Force 25 over trousers feature a builtin buckled waist belt and non-slip elastic back for an exact fit, plus a water resistance zip fly covered by an oversized storm flap making it simple to get them off and on.
Ultra-durable scuff patches provide added abrasion resistance in the high wear lower leg areas, and a full length gusst allows full range of movement for climbing over fences and sitting in seats.
All up, Stoney Creek says, Force 25 is not just another set of wet weather gear – it’s a frontline defence against whatever the elements throw your way.
“Every stitch, every seam, and every feature has been designed by farmers, for farmers ensuring no compromise on durability, manoeuvrability, or comfort.”
Increasingly agriculture is a knowledge and science-based industry.
But there could be one area that needs looking at more closely to ensure better yields and ROI.
Adjuvants.
Acknowledged for their ability to get every last drop of value out of spray programmes, they help actives get onto and into target plants more effectively and reduce spray waste including drift.
Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, UPL NZ regional manager upper North Island, says all adjuvants, however, are not created equal.
“You want to see trials and data to know you’re making the best decision.
“To get the most out of adjuvants, you need to ask the
right questions and check the facts. And if you can save on labour, passes, water and fuel, they’re all bonuses.
“That means not only choosing the right active, but the right adjuvants – the products that add efficacy, accuracy of application, stickability, and uptake to spray programmes.”
Industry pioneers, UPL NZ knows adjuvants well.
Previously Elliott Chemicals, it began work on the category in New Zealand over two decades ago.
Today, it remains the category leader with a portfolio of over twenty proven adjuvant products – each with their own niche.
Van Der Westhuizen says getting the best from any adjuvant is about checking the data and asking the right questions.
“That way you maximise spray programme efficacy.”
He says the UPL range is based on hard science.
“That’s not something everyone can say, and it took a lot of time and commitment.
Importantly, much of the research was carried out in NZ with our conditions, farming and orcharding, commercial growing systems, and challenges in mind.”
He says lack of information on crop safety is a red flag.
“You definitely don’t want phytotoxicity or residue issues.
“That can severely damage crops and reduce marketability and, ultimately impact bottom lines and even reputations.
“It all goes back to the
research. OK, another adjuvant it may be cheaper, but will it actually deliver value for money?
How do you know for sure, and that it can be recommended with confidence?
“We always go back to research and sticking to the label rates.
“Extensive work has gone into that and multiple trials. They’re not just a one-quick-glance-over kind of thing.”
An example he gives is Li-700, one of the most researched adjuvants in the world.
Proven in global trials. Li-700 significantly reduces off-target drift, provides a wider window of spraying, and reduces water use and unintended consequences to neighbouring crops and properties.
“It’s just important to know that the adjuvant you’re recommending has that scientific back-up and won’t let anyone down.”
Marnco New Zealand, which entered the local fertiliser market last year, says it’s proud to announce it has officially achieved Fertmark accreditation.
“This is a milestone that reflects our ongoing commitment to transparency,
quality, and responsible nutrient management,” says NZ commercial manager Jamie Thompson.
“The accreditation process has taken us just over 12 months, encompassing rigorous product testing, supply chain reviews, and quality assurance audits to meet the Fertmark standard.
“We worked closely with the Fertiliser Quality Council throughout, ensuring that our products meet strict criteria for nutrient content and consistency.”
Thompson says Fertmark accreditation gives the company’s agricultural customers confidence they are receiving exactly what’s stated on the label.
In a time of increased focus on environmental stewardship and input efficiency, the Fertmark tick means farmers,
consultants, and supply partners can trust the integrity of Marnco’s fertiliser products.
“This accreditation supports our mission to be a reliable partner across the value chain, from product sourcing and formulation right through to paddock application.”
Marnco NZ is an independent agribusiness company delivering fertiliser and nutrient solutions tailored to the specific needs of NZ primary producers.
An offshoot of Marnco Australia, it started supplying the domestic market in February 2024, bringing together local knowledge and global supply partnerships to offer farmers greater choice and transparency in an evolving regulatory landscape.
Based in Waikato, the company also now has sites in Invercargill, South Canterbury and Taranaki.
Delivering a complete suite of pasture protection and brushweed control products for New Zealand farmers.
Samuel Whitelock, on his farm in the Hawkes Bay.
Our portfolio of powerful, proven products has helped farmers from one end of the country to the other create and maintain thriving businesses, and has earned us an excellent reputation as pasture protection and brushweed specialists.
Our extensive suite of herbicides provides farmers everything they need to win the war against weeds and brushweeds.
Visit corteva.co.nz to view our online pasture and brushweed resources.
A new guide on growing resilient pastures is a first for New Zealand, the lead author says.
Resilient pastures for a changing climate aims to help farmers confidently choose the best species for their location, farm systems and management practices.
It’s a joint effort between Massey University and the Ministry for Primary Industries, separate to but alongside the seven-year government-funded Whenua Haumanu program.
Professor Danny Donaghy heads the programme, and is principle author of the new guide.
“Not all pasture plants are created equal. But until now, there has been a lack of accessible knowledge about which plants are best suited to specific outcomes or
how and when to mix species.
“The Whenua Haumanu programme seeks to fill these knowledge gaps. This booklet is a result of that research and ensures that vital information reaches the farmers who need it.
“By writing this guide, we wanted to create a resource that not only brings science to the farm sector, but also invites their input so it’s truly a collaborative effort to enhance NZ farming practices.”
The booklet includes a step-by-step guide for farmers to select the right location for planting, and identify most suitable plant species for regional conditions and l and-use capabilities. It outlines necessary management practices
New Zealand Food Safety can’t say for sure when it will make a final decision on the proposed increase in Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for glyphosate in NZ arable crops, but expects to take the next steps in this consultation mid-2025.
More than 3100 submissions were received on the proposal by closing date in mid May, including a large number of form submissions.
“We are currently working through them to review all feedback and will carefully consider all the submissions made before any final decisions,” says NZFSA deputy director- general Vincent Arbuckle.
Currently, the maximum residue level for glyphosate is set at the default level of 0.1 mg per kg for wheat, barley and oats.
The proposal would lift this to 10 mg per kg, double Australia’s maximum limit of 5 mg per kg for wheat grain.
Dry field peas are also included in the proposed change, with a new MRL level of 6 mg per kg tabled, compared with the default.
NZFSA says the higher MRLs are being proposed to ‘support existing use as a preharvest herbicide in wheat, barley, oats, and threshing peas, and as a preharvest
desiccant in threshing peas, in accordance with the application rate and use patterns considered GAP in NZ’.
Existing uses were re-examined due to monitoring information which suggested that residues of over the default MRL of 0.1 mg/kg could result in the grain and dried pea commodities from these use patterns, it says.
In its submission to the proposed change, Federated Farmers noted that regardless of the allowed label use, grains for human consumption in NZ are prevented from having glyphosate applied pre harvest.
“This is a condition in the contracts for supplying these products and includes milling wheat, oats for rolling and malting barley,” said national vice president and food safety spokeperson Colin Hurst.
Federated Farmers agreed the current MRL is too low, and risks farmer use that follows current label instructions may inadvertently
for successful establishment.
And it also contains information to help highlight any potential animal health issues and how to avoid incompatible plant species to prevent poor outcomes.
MPI’s chief science advisor, Dr John Roche, hopes the guide becomes a long-term resource for farmers.
“We’ve combined historical research perspectives from a range of countries with the latest findings from NZ to provide a practical tool for farmers.”
The first version of the guide was released at Mystery Creek Fieldays, so that farmers and rural professionals can share feedback to help refine and enhance the content.
lead to breaches of this limit.
“That said, we caution that the proposed increase to MRLs for glyphosate far exceed what is necessary to avoid inadvertent breaches by farmers.”
While the proposed MRLs are internationally consistent and reflect good agricultural practice, NZ farmers operate at a high, stricter standard than their counterparts in other countries.
“We are concerned that such a change risks incentivising poorer farming standards and allow grain produced under less rigorous standards to outcompete local growers,” Hurst said.
As of late May Federated Farmers was seeking to meet with NZFSA to raise these concerns and push for a better outcome.
A new project, with funding from the T R Ellett Agricultural Research Trust, has begun to research whether catch crops can be grown in particularly harsh winter conditions and what the benefit would be, not just to the environment but to the farmer’s back pocket too.
With only a few month’s worth of data and analysis so far, the yield results have been very pleasing for the research team.
And they are looking forward to repeating the experiments this winter and spring to validate year one performance, and give farmers confidence to consider planting catch crops in their own farm systems. For many years researchers have been running experiments studying how catch crops can reduce environmental impacts on-farm.
This work has been important as winter grazing is a critical tool in many farm systems, however there is a risk of contaminant loss to the environment and degradation of water quality.
The historical results have been largely positive with analysis showing up to 60% reduction in nitrate leaching in animal urine patches and approximately 40% decrease in sediment runoff.
Most of that research has been done on the lowlands in Southland, the West Coast and Canterbury.
A team, led by Dr Brendon Malcolm at Plant and Food Research, with AgResearch as a partner, started new experiments in August 2024 with four new sites in areas chosen for their more extreme climatic conditions.
These farms were sown with a mixture of species to understand whether the results on the lowlands could be replicated. The site up the Rakaia Gorge is 400 metres above sea level and the one at Ashburton Lakes, 700 metres.
Two sites in Otago were also chosen in Middlemarch and Wanaka.
All farm sites were essentially treated the same, sown with different combinations of oats, ryecorn and Italian ryegrass.
However, the Middlemarch site was also planted with barley, and cultivation vs direct drilling treatments were tested at Ashburton Lakes.
Large strips of approximately 4 metres wide by 40 metres long were planted for the trials. Malcom says initial observations have been promising.
Even in Wanaka where it was an exceptionally wet spring last year, the oat catch crops at the booting stage were harvesting at 4.5 tonnes DM to the hectare. At the other extreme, the trial at Rakaia Gorge produced over 10 tonnes DM.
Important background information on all farms has been measured and recorded too, such as soil profiles both prior to sowing and later in the season once the crops were established.
Field days at each site occurred over late November 2024 to showcase to early insights from the project to about 60 farmers and rural professionals.
“We wanted to keep the field days relatively small and intimate for the first viewing of the outcomes so that we could really dig deep into the discussions with the farmers and rural professionals,” Malcolm says.
“Once we have more data and analysis, we want to share the results with more farmers so they can consider whether catch crops may work as part of their system, even in relatively harsh climatic conditions.”
He says without funding from the T R Ellett Agricultural Research Trust, this project would not have happened.
The research has really pushed the boundaries of what researchers thought was possible in terms of the kind of terrain and climatic conditions that would yield decent catch crops.
“We want it to be a win-win, for both the environment and the farmers and early results suggest that it can be.
“We are looking forward to doing another round of experimentation this year in winter/ spring so that we can really ground-truth what we are saying to farmers who can then have the confidence to consider it for their own farm systems.”
Ravensdown has launched a pilot programme across 18 farms to trial HawkEye Pro – a new system that could reduce fertiliser costs, drive precision application and improve production for New Zealand’s livestock, dairy and arable farms.
An early limited release for livestock farming is set for September 2025.
The tool will be available for dairy farmers from autumn 2026 and will be available for the arable sector as new functionality drops during 2026.
HawkEye Pro uses deep learning, a branch of artificial intelligence (AI), decades of soil data, and cutting-edge mapping software to create detailed maps of soil nutrient levels across an entire farm without the need for a fresh round of soil testing.
“We’ve combined our deep expertise in soil science with the latest in digital technology to produce a tool that will make a tangible difference for farmers and growers,” says Mike White, Ravensdown’s head of product and service development.
The patent pending software ties into the existing HawkEye
platform and uses data already in the system including previous soil tests to predict soil nutrient levels down to a 10 x 10 metre cell for livestock farms.
HawkEye Pro uses the soil nutrient status predictions to produce maps of where fertiliser should, and importantly should not, be placed – calculating the right product and rates.
“We’ve been working towards this software for 20 years and now the emerging technology has allowed us to deliver on our vision,” says White.
Precision fertiliser plans could deliver a total cost reduction between $50–$150 per hectare through efficient placement and rate selection of fertiliser and resulting increase in land productivity where soil fertility is holding it back.
The pilot involves 13 dairy farms across both islands, and five sheep and beef operations
in North Island hill country. White says the goal of the pilot is to ensure the enhanced fertiliser plans produced are practical, and usable.
“The feedback we have already received from those using the pilot-software has been positive.
“One farmer told us they were under pressure to combine information for NZFAP audits, and this tool has really helped. It does that environmental thinking automatically as part of the fertiliser plan,” White says.
HawkEye Pro is the evolution of HawkEye technology released by Ravensdown in 2017 which integrates mapping, nutrient trending, and decision support
tools into a single platform, helping farmers manage their operations more effectively.
The new evolution will bring more detailed nutrient insights, integrate AI to provide more specific feedback and recommendations, and will have the ability to generate a precise fertiliser plan tailored to your farm.
“This isn’t just another farm tech tool, it is at the heart of pasture and crop production. This is the next generation of smart, sustainable farming, which utilises Ravensdown’s extensive research and onfarm data to deliver higher productivity to farmers,” says White.
Septoria resistance to existing fungicides in New Zealand wheat crops continues to evolve, prompting leading crop protection supplier Corteva AgriScience to double down on the importance of strategic, informed disease management.
Questar-treated wheat.
Foundation for Arable Research monitoring, supported by all major crop protection suppliers, has been tracking the sensitivity of NZ Septoria strains to fungicides with different modes of action for multiple seasons.
“We now have a clear view of the changes happening in the NZ Septoria population,” says Matt Denton-Giles, Corteva field scientist.
Latest data for the 2025 harvest has yet to be finalised and reported, but 2024 results continued to show reductions in sensitivity to Group 3 (prothioconazole and epoxiconazole) and group 7 (fluxapyroxad and benzovindiflupyr) fungicides.
Several SDHI fungicides are exhibiting cross-resistance, where Septoria resistance to one fungicide active transfers to another.
Denton-Giles says the value of such monitoring lies in giving NZ growers early warning of what might lie ahead.
Failure of any chemical group to fully control target pathogens because of resistance happens quickly.
“All you have to do is compare today’s cereal fungicide programmes in the United Kingdom and Europe to the programmes those growers were using five years ago.”
Grower awareness of the risks posed by resistance as a whole in the NZ arable sector is increasing, which is great, Denton-Giles says.
But it’s very important that they take the next step, if they haven’t already, and
adopt programmes that will help protect existing fungicide chemistry, even if it doesn’t seem like they need to right now.
“Some are probably still looking at this in terms of cost only, and others may not realise the full extent of the risk because they’re using a fair bit of chemistry that still works.
“No-one gets too worried when their sprays are still effective, but in fact that’s actually the critical time to review your current programme and make the changes necessary to ensure it remains sustainable in future years.”
UK growers for example no longer have access to some SDHI technology because of resistance.
By contrast, the NZ industry has time to protect what it has, but only if change is implemented.
Corteva marketing manager Glen Surgenor says Questar, with its unique active ingredient Inatreq, remains a valuable disease management tool that must be used with care.
The first member of a new class of cereal fungicides, the picolinamides (Group 21), it has a different target site to all other fungicides currently applied for Septoria control in wheat.
Questar is the first naturally-derived fungicide brought to market by Corteva Agriscience; Inatreq is produced by fermentation of a naturally-occurring soil bacterium first discovered at Osaka
University in Japan.
It’s been well received since Corteva launched it four years ago, but should be strategically integrated into more programmes as a critical circuit breaker to protect existing chemistry, Surgenor says. It has no cross resistance to existing fungicides in the wheat market, and is highly efficacious, making it invaluable for resistance management strategies.
It has also been tested by Plant & Food Research since 2020 with Septoria showing no shifts in sensitivity to Questar (fenpicoxamid active).
It’s flexible in terms of application timing - up to T3 – although most applications will be at T1 or T2 which are the most important fungicide timings for Septoria control.
“We’re strongly recommending only one Questar application per season, which will help protect Questar from the development of resistance, and also make the most of this new MOA in slowing resistance to other fungicide groups,” Surgenor says.
“We very much want to be part of a responsible resistance management strategy for all fungicides for Septoria and other cereal disease control.”
Maintaining the efficacy of current fungicides requires careful management, which includes using different modes of action like Questar, applying the correct rates at the right time and growing Septoria tolerant wheat.
Drawing on its successful model in Australia – where it has a mix of company-owned and independently operated stores –Nutrien Ag Solutions is bringing a similar experience to New Zealand as a wholesale supplier to Ruralco.
“This arrangement will provide our members with access to a range of proprietary products, services and supply chain efficiencies, helping us better support them with trusted farming solutions,” says Ruralco CEO Tony Aitken.
By tapping into Nutrien Ag Solutions’ scale and shared resources, Ruralco can continue delivering reliable, local service with the connection to a larger independent retail network.
As part of the arrangement, Ruralco will introduce a new crop protection range under the Genfarm brand, one of Nutrien Ag Solutions’ proprietary labels.
“Farmers have told us they want Ruralco to deliver the best possible value for farm inputs, and we’ve listened.
“This step strengthens our ability to do just that –bringing useful innovation to our local farming
community,” Aitken adds.
He says Genfarm products are well regarded in Australia for their reliability, value, and strong quality assurance backed by field experience over 20 years.
Access to these products is a great example of what this partnership can offer: proven, affordable solutions backed by global expertise and delivered through our local network. Importantly, Ruralco remains
proudly independent. This new connection simplifies business processes and enhances product access, without changing existing supplier relationships or how Ruralco operates day to day.
The focus is squarely on offering farmers more choice, and access to world-leading expertise, all while maintaining the personalised service and community commitment Ruralco is known for.
Farmers have a new option for dealing with grass weeds and storksbill in high value swede crops this season, thanks to a new registration for Gallant Ultra.
Up until this year, it has only been labelled for certain forage species, namely kale, late maturing rape and fodder beet.
But now the selective postemergence herbicide has been approved for swedes too, which is great news for anyone looking to maximise their return on investment in these crops. Gallant Ultra contains the active ingredient haloxyfop-P (Group 1).
Nicole Morris, technical specialist for Corteva AgriScience, says it controls a wide range of common and potentially expensive grass weeds, including annual and perennial ryegrass, volunteer cereals, cocksfoot, brome grasses and couch.
Importantly, she adds, it is also effective on storksbill, which in
some areas is a major problem weed in forage crops.
Corteva began seeking approval for the label change three years ago, and is excited to have it available for the coming season’s crops.
“We’re really pleased. Early weed competition can be yield limiting in forage crops, and this gives growers another control option if they need it.”
Recommended spray rates are up to 250 mL/ha, and Gallant Ultra can be applied up to the sixth leaf growth stage of the swede crop. Always apply with Uptake spraying oil, Morris says.
Grazing rules and withholding periods are quite detailed, so it’s important to get these absolutely right.
The grazing withholding period
for both milk and meat is 12 weeks after application, with some extra requirements.
Swedes treated with Gallant Ultra cannot be fed to dairy
cows in milk.
Dry cows can be fed on treated swedes, but must be held on untreated feed for 21 days prior to their first milking.
focus group discussions with agronomists, advisors, and others who extend knowledge to growers.
The survey, which opened in March and closed in May, is part of the ALT biologicals awareness and integration project.
This focuses on increasing knowledge and understanding about the use of biological products and how to successfully integrate them into a crop protection programme.
Extension specialists Scarlatti has worked with ALT on this project.
The survey has attracted 51 responses, representing advisors of all ALT sector partners as well as four other crop sectors that are not part of the programme.
While the response size is not large enough to draw hard conclusions from, it did define some clear areas for further discussion.
The initial survey findings show that while advisors expressed confidence in their knowledge
of biological and ecological pest management, when asked they listed numerous barriers to actually recommending these practices.
The barriers identified by advisors ranged from lack of available products and concerns about efficacy to a lack of willingness from growers to change, and the complexity of integrating biologicals into crop protection programmes.
Increasing knowledge and understanding about the use of biological products and how to successfully integrate them into a crop protection programme is an important factor in increasing adoption of biologicals.
It is issues like these the biologicals awareness and extension project is designed to address.
And these barriers are among a number of themes which will be explored more deeply in
While extension capability and capacity has been identified as a well-recognised gap across many sectors, advisors who completed the survey generally reported adequate capacity as individuals, with most feeling they had sufficient time and resources to do their jobs.
Capability, however, emerged as an area needing deeper exploration.
Core extension concepts like adult learning principles and behaviour change models were something many of those who responded had limited familiarity with.
This highlights that while advisors have strong technical knowledge, there is scope for upskilling in the actual practice of effective extension and knowledge transfer itself.
The survey also found professional development participation was low.
The primary reason was not lack of interest, but rather a lack of awareness about
available opportunities.
When asked what training would be valuable, advisors pointed to practical skills like facilitation techniques, understanding behaviour change, and leveraging digital tools.
Responses also indicated an organisational divide, with advisors working solo or in very small teams reporting significantly different capability challenges compared to their counterparts in larger organisations.
The survey findings and the focus group discussions will feed into developing a framework for successful biologicals integration that can be adapted across different product groups.
The survey and focus group findings will also contribute to a capability development programme for extension within ALT product group partners.
The purpose of this work is to identify where sectors need support in extending knowledge to growers, and to consider what can be done to fill those gaps.
Words: Syngenta
APTIVIS®, a fourth generation SDHI (Group 7) fungicide powered by the active ingredient ADEPIDYN® technology, gained registration in New Zealand in July 2024 and was widely utilised in the pipfruit market last season offering powerful and dependable control of key diseases.
Motueka brothers Simon and Matt Easton from Wairepo Holdings were two customers to be impressed by APTIVIS last season.
The brothers have approximately 65 hectares of apples in production on a property that has been in the hands of the Easton family for over 100 years.
Their varieties include Red Pink Lady, Fuji, Koru, Jazz, Envy, Ambrosia, and various Royal Gala strains.
Prior to the 2024-25 growing season, the Eastons became aware of the new APTIVIS fungicide from Syngenta for the control of black spot, and powdery mildew in apples and pears. Additionally, it is registered for Alternaria leaf blotch on apples.
They were interested in the fact that this fourth generation SDHI fungicide (Group 7) contained a new active ingredient, pydiflumetofen (ADEPIDYN technology), to control these significant pipfruit diseases during a period when flowers and foliage are highly vulnerable to infection.
“Being new chemistry, this fungicide helps manage the threat of fungicide resistance
when added into a robust pipfruit protectant programme.”
Simon Easton says they made two
applications of APTIVIS last season up to 90 per cent petal-fall and the disease control is very impressive.
“It’s probably one of Wairepo’s best years in terms of controlling black spot and there was virtually no powdery mildew in the orchard. We also noticed that Alternaria wasn’t as bad as in previous year’s after using APTIVIS in the Envy blocks”
The low use rate of 15 mL per 100 L was easy to work with while filling the spray tank, plus the price point of this new fungicide was appealing.
“We’re all aware of the high costs of an apple crop protection programme.”
The recommended apple disease control strategy is to apply fungicides like APTIVIS® preventatively approximately every seven days with the aim of preserving DMI fungicides like SCORE 10 WG for highrisk periods so they are not overused.
Syngenta NZ technical services lead Paul Hassan comments on the following best use guidelines when applying APTIVIS to help protect this new chemistry.
• Always apply APTIVIS preventatively and according to the label.
• To comply with current SDHI resistance management guidelines, apply a maximum of four SDHI-containing products per season in alternation with an effective fungicide from a different mode of action group.
• Apply APTIVIS a maximum of three times and up to four times concentrate per season from tight cluster to 90 per cent petal-fall. This pre-harvest interval will ensure nil detectable residues at harvest.
• Additionally, always apply in mixture with a multi-site protectant fungicide that is not at risk from resistance at their full label rate.
Our new app gives you access to product label information, crop timings, local weather, the latest crop news from across New Zealand and you can easily contact your ADAMA commercial manager – all while you are out in the field! Download the new ‘ADAMA Grow App’ for on the spot, all-in-one crop guidance! Scan the QR code or visit your app store to get started.
We often hear that one of the biggest challenges for dairy farmers is managing the financial side of the business.
When a thousand things call you onto the farm, taking time to sit at your desk and manage your budget can often fall in the ‘too hard’ or ‘not now’ bucket.
Dairy Women’s Network, CMK Chartered Accountants, Figured, and Mediaworks and REX have teamed up to become the ultimate ‘off-farm’ team. They provide financial advice, tools and support to a farming family as they navigate the ups and downs of the season and establish best-practice financial management to achieve their goals of running a profitable farming business.
After a standout first season Milking It is back for round two, with Kevin and Nicole Oppert.
Everything they learn, you’ll learn alongside them, whether you’re in your first season contract milking, heading toward equity, or trying to wrap your head around budgeting for next season’s feed.
The Opperts run a 260 ha forestry conversion block with 750 cows in Te Puke.
This is a year-round business that includes a 91 ha support block nearby.
“We’re confident on-farm,” says Nicole Oppert.
“But we know our business is still weak in financial knowledge. That’s why we applied for Milking It – to better understand our numbers, benchmark properly, and take
Gallagher Animal Management and Dutch company Nedap have teamed up in a partnership they say will help transform livestock management.
Integrating Gallagher’s eShepherd virtual fencing technology with Nedap’s SmartTag Ear will give farmers real-time insights into cow health, reproduction, and grazing management.
eShepherd is a solar-powered, GPS-enabled neckband that allows farmers to create virtual fences, making livestock management more efficient and adaptable.
Nedap SmartTag Ear captures insights on activity, reproduction, rumination and eating time.
Its lightweight, streamlined
design includes data storage for 24 hours and is removable for use on other animals.
The combination of the two technologies will create a powerful tool for farmers, according to Sarah Adams, global strategy and ventures at Gallagher Animal Management.
“Gallagher eShepherd virtual fencing technology allows for precise grazing management, reducing the need for physical fences and enabling better pasture utilisation.
“By adding Nedap’s SmartTag Ear, farmers will gain real-time data and insights on cow health
action to reach our goals.”
One of those goals is ownership.
“We’ve recently secured an equity partnership on the farm – which is a huge milestone.
“So, this is the time to step up and make sure we’re financially ready for farm ownership,” she says.
The Opperts use Figured and are eager to go deeper with the help of CMK, and the Milking It support team.
Having steadily built a resilient business with strong farm systems, past lessons still shape their approach.
“When we first started, no one told us we had to save for the second year’s tax,” Nicole
and heat detection, allowing for timely interventions and improved herd performance.”
Mike Wilson, general manager Nedap Oceania, says the result will be more efficient, sustainable farming systems.
“Farmers can monitor and manage their herds remotely, ensuring optimal grazing and early detection of health issues.”
Both companies invite farmers and rural professionals to embrace technology-driven livestock management for a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Oppert explains.
“We got hit with a $90,000 bill. That experience taught us the hard way how important it is to understand your finances. We don’t want to feel that unprepared again.”
Now raising two young children, the Opperts are both running a business, and building a future.
As parents, farmers, and DWN members, they see Milking It as a way to align daily decisions with long-term dreams.
“This journey isn’t just about spreadsheets. It’s about confidence – knowing how to make better choices, faster, and feeling in control of where we’re heading.”
“With our long histories, proven track records of high-quality and innovative products, and shared commitment to longterm success, this partnership is a natural fit.
“I am proud that we are joining forces to further accelerate our ambitions in New Zealand,” says Maarten Idink, managing director at Nedap Livestock.
As a global market leader, Nedap operates in over 100 countries, supporting thousands of farmers and monitoring six million cows with its advanced sensor technology.
From this winter farmers have more animal feed choice than ever before, now that Farmlands has bought animal nutrition manufacturer SealesWinslow.
Mystery Creek Fieldays marked the official kick off date for the new alliance, which will see SealesWinslow retain its name while offering a broader range of feed options.
Grant Jackson, general manager of SealesWinslow, welcomes the opportunities the Farmlands purchase brings, with multiple benefits to farmers across the length of the country.
“SealesWinslow has been known mainly for its quality compound or pelletised feeds. Farmlands ownership means our team can now include commodity blend solutions alongside our pelletised options.”
He says the full national coverage lifts the number of feed mills under the one umbrella from three to eight, now extending from Whangarei to Winton, matched by a nutrition team set to double in size with the SealesWinslow purchase.
Bunnythorpe sharemilker Craig Gregory is among the first to enjoy the benefits of combining SealesWinslow’s quality pelletised feed with a bulk feed option. He runs a System 5 high input operation for his 330 Holstein Friesian herd and has tuned up their feed regime in the past year, working alongside his SealesWinslow nutrition rep Peta Hamilton.
“We have opted for the Value Dairy pellet as 50% of the feed, and the other 50% is
bulk palm kernel expeller. The mix means we avoid any blockages in our in-shed feeding system.
“It gives the herd that extra production push- it’s really the difference between feeding them and fully feeding them.”
He says being able to include PKE alongside the pellets also makes them a more affordable option, whilst still delivering valued nutrient benefit.
He feeds three to five kilograms per cow a day during lactation and the blend forms part of a feed regime that includes maize and grass silage in addition.
“For us the in-shed system is a good poor man’s feed pad. The concrete is already all there, the cows are there twice a day, it’s an affordable, efficient means of delivery during milking.”
He compares this to previous efforts feeding PKE from portable feed troughs in the paddock.
“We got sick of the waste and the mud, and trying to get the troughs out of the mess every day.”
With PKE providing the bulk, the pellets are also a good method for delivering the minerals his high performing herd need.
“It is a lot cheaper to be given them a little often of the right minerals than trying to correct a deficit.”
He also appreciates the ‘no surprises’ aspect of having his feed costs contracted and locked in at the start of the season.
“And Peta our SealesWinslow rep is great to work with. She takes a very hands-on approach and has been prepared to work with me on the various options I have wanted to trial before arriving at this, it’s an enjoyable relationship.”
Grant Jackson says farmers can now enjoy the best of both worlds through SealesWinslow’s feed offerings, giving their herds high quality pelletised feed, alongside higher volume, cost effective bulk feed.
“More farmers are starting to realise it is not just about giving their cows more of one feed but want to achieve better productivity with a lighter environmental footprint, optimising their feed options.
“With strong payout prospects, the timing has never been better to consider those optimal feed options and avoid leaving production on the table.”
GEA Farm Technologies showcased its DairyRobot milking system at Fieldays 2025, giving New Zealand farmers their first opportunity to experience the future of pasture-based dairy automation in action.
A demonstration unit was specially shipped to NZ for the event, alongside a virtual reality experience that allowed farmers to explore the system in both voluntary and batch milking environments.
It was the first time GEA’s DairyRobot was seen in this country.
DairyRobot is now available here, and combines high-performance automation
with traditional dairy farming practices, the company says.
Designed specifically for Kiwi conditions, the system supports both batch and voluntary milking systems to offer flexibility, efficiency, and control.
With a compact footprint, it can be retrofitted into existing infrastructure with minimal disruption.
“You really need to see it to fully understand the difference this system could make to your milking routine. It is fast, efficient and clean, creating a more sustainable milking system for your farm,” says Craig Lowry, head of sales and Service, GEA Farm Technologies NZ.
DairyRobot also provides easy access behind the cow at any time, allowing farmers
One of New Zealand’s two locally owned flour mills is set to be sold to offshore interests if a proposed acquisition gets the tick from the Commerce Commission.
Farmers Mill opened in Timaru in 2013, and is ultimately owned by a group of Canterbury wheat growers, who imported a $12 million milling plant from Italy to process local grain, mostly their own.
Now British-owned George Weston Foods NZ, trading as Mauri NZ, wants to buy the business.
Pricing, relative capacity, recent market performance and other details are confidential.
But in its application to the commission, Mauri says that the deal will allow it to compete more effectively over the medium to long term.
This is because the quality of the Farmers Mill plant offers efficiencies in running costs, labour and wheat extraction rates.
The acquisition will not substantially lessen competition
in any market, Mauri says.
“The relevant wheat and flour markets are national.
“In these markets, the acquisition would only produce a minor aggregation in Mauri NZ’s market shares and would have no impact on competition.”
Regionally, the sale would only lead to ‘very minor’ aggregation in North Island markets, and a slightly greater aggregation in the South Island would be offset by – among other things – the fact that much of Farmers Mill flour is sent to the North Island. Interestingly, all discussion in the Commerce Commission application of competition, relative market share and power dynamics between the current NZ millers relates to end-use customers and flour supplies.
No mention is made of any potential effects of the proposed acquisition on
wheat growers themselves. Mauri does note that if it buys Farmers Mill, wheat currently supplied by its owners will become freely available in the market, rather than only processed through the Washdyke plant.
Mauri mills flour at three sites, in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The Christchurch mill mostly processes wheat grown in the South Island, while wheat bought to put through North Island mills mostly comes from Australia growers, supplemented by southern wheat as needed.
The other major miller in NZ –Champion – is Japanese owned, with sites in Mt Maunganui and Christchurch.
NZ Flour Mills, based at Tirau, is the only other locally owned milling company in
NZ outside of Farmers Mill. Farmers Mill is currently owned by Murray Turley, Peter and Sonya Callahan, Biggs Agriculture, Alan Wilson, Raymond Bowan, Fallgate Farming and Bowan James Echoing ongoing commentary around the number of meat processing plants in NZ, Mauri notes ‘acute’ excess milling capacity in this country.
“Mauri NZ NZ understands that per capital milling capacity in NZ is very high by international standards.
“It believes that it has arisen due to two main factors. One, once a mill is constructed, it is fairly easy to increase capacity. Two, each milling company has won and lost significant contracts and continues to compete for them so has invested to ensure it has the capacity to perform.”
to manually cup, check, treat or dry off cows.
At the core of the system is GEA’s In-Liner Everything
technology, which completes every step of the milking process, including stimulation, cleaning, milking, teat spraying,
and rinsing, all in one seamless cup attachment.
It also offers individual quarter milking, somatic cell count management, and real-time data collection, giving farmers better visibility and control over herd health and productivity, Lowry says.
Australian dairy farmer Michael Krichauff, who milks 210 cows at Three Bridges Robotic Dairy in South Australia, has been using GEA’s R9500 voluntary system with three robot boxes.
“We really liked the idea of a pit and the ability to manually put cups on a cow. We can go in behind the cow safely, press a button, and manually put the cups on if we have to,” he says.
“Aside from some pipework and a little concreting, we
managed to use all our existing facilities. A highlight with GEA was the option of multi-sized cows in the one box - we’ve got three different sizes we can use.
“The ability to manage cell count with individual quarter management is far better than anything I’ve seen elsewhere. And GEA was the only provider that offered a good herd testing system. We just plug it in, press ‘herd test,’ go home for the night, and the next day all the samples are ready to go.”
Lowry says the technology is brand new to NZ, is tailored for farms of all sizes and combines advanced automation with traditional farming practices to meet the unique needs of Kiwi farmers.
• Over 110 new listings
• 70 discontinued products
• Numerous product label updates (new weed, pest & disease claims)
• All product labels reviewed for regulatory content and updated to GSH terminology.
The definitive guide to agrichemicals registered for use in New Zealand.
A comprehensive alphabetical listing of products, active ingredients, crop & weed tables, weed & pest identification and much, much more all in one single publication. It really is the definitive agrichemical guide and the only one you’ll ever need.
Purchase a manual to receive a FREE 12-month subscription to our subscriber only website.
The website is continually updated and contains product listings, a fully searchable online product manual, a powerful search engine of weeds, diseases & pests, including photo galleries with all the agrichemical options to use on individual crops as well as up-to-date SDS’s, Haznotes and product labels, plus posts about industry news and information.
Order Now to receive your FREE pair of SureShield Coveralls
SureShield Coveralls supplied by pH7, provides both protection and comfort with exceptional liquid and particulate protection.
Category III, Type 5, Type 6 certified coveralls.
Ideal for asbestos removal, spray painting, low hazard pesticide spraying, boat building, dusty areas and general light industry.
These are best suited to spraying diluted chemicals such as round up for the fence lines, general maintenances on farm, or when spraying from a airconditioned cab.
One size fits all. Supplied by pH7.
* Available to those who order directly from www.novachem.co.nz - while stocks last.
Storing Chemicals?
Print up-to-date SDS’s & Haznotes from novachem.co.nz to ensure you are compliant.
Mark Piper has been appointed inaugural chief executive of the new amalgamated Crown Research Institute (CRI), the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science.
Piper has been appointed transition CEO, taking up the new position on formation of the Bioeconomy Science Institute on 1 July 2025 and supporting the Board and staff through the merger process.
Currently CEO of Plant & Food Research, he will work with the CEOs of the other three CRIs involved in the merger to provide continuity and deliver on collective initiatives to support integration.
From 1 July the CEOs will continue to lead their current organisations as groups within the amalgamated Bioeconomy Science Institute as they all work toward the new operating model.
The Bioeconomy Science Institute brings together AgResearch, Landcare Research, Plant & Food Research and Scion into a single organisation.
It will conduct research to advance innovation in agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, forestry, biotechnology and manufacturing; protect and enhance ecosystems from biosecurity threats and climate risks; and develop new biobased technologies and products.
The combined Institute brings together more than 2200 employees, including 1440 research staff.
Before joining Plant & Food Research in 2023, Piper was at Fonterra Cooperative Group, where he spent his past five years as director research and development, category marketing and strategy.
During 30 years with Fonterra, he held roles based here and overseas.
This included three years in Japan in a technical role focused
on growth and customer engagement, and five years in the USA where he was regional director for Fonterra Americas, based in Chicago.
The Bioeconomy Science Institute Board intends to start an external search to appoint a permanent CEO within the next twelve months.
A landmark $3 billion privately funded development in Otago is set to create New Zealand’s largest inland port, boosting the export capacity of the country’s primary industries and future-proofing South Island freight logistics for the next century.
Dunedin’s seaport is NZ’s sixth largest by export volumes and provides critical access to sea freight for Otago and Southland’s forestry, dairy and aquaculture sectors.
Capacity constraints at Port Chalmers have threatened to impact the region’s economic growth, with a search for alternative sites underway.
The Milburn Quadrant development, located north of Milton, will span over 200 ha, including a 55 ha inland port, and connect directly to State Highway 1 and the South Island’s main trunk rail line.
Developer Calder Stewart expects construction on the inland port to begin within 24 months, subject to resource consent approvals.
The development could ultimately accommodate 400,000-600,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) annually, significantly lifting the region’s export throughput.
Mark Johnston is land and delivery manager at Calder Stewart, and says Milburn could eliminate over 10,000 heavy truck movements per year by shifting volume to rail.
Board members include chair Barry Harris, currently chair of NIWA; deputy chair Kim Wallace, current chair of AgResearch; Candace Kinser, current director Plant & Food Research; Andrew Morrison, current director AgResearch, and Gray Baldwin, current director Landcare Research.
It will act as a ‘pressure relief valve’ to address storage capacity constraints at Port Chalmers.
Freight volumes from Central and South Otago are forecast to grow 30-40 per cent over the next decade, driven by seasonal peaks in forestry and dairy exports.
“This region is heading into a logistics bottleneck. Without scalable inland port infrastructure, exporters will face rising costs, road congestion and lost opportunities.”
John D’Arcy, lower South Island business development manager of property for Calder Stewart, says the company is now seeking local government support to fast-track approvals and will present the proposal to government officials and stakeholders in coming weeks.
“Port Chalmers is approaching logistical constraints, particularly around container storage and log volume. A delay in new inland capacity risks bottlenecking exports and eroding competitiveness.
“This is about real economic transformation,
Future Post, which expanded production to the upper South Island mid 2023, has taken top honours in this year’s Marlborough Environment Awards.
The New Zealand owned company turns waste plastic into fence and vineyard posts, as well as a range of other products for landscaping, amenity and marine applications.
It is the biggest recycler of plastic in NZ.
“Future Post is a truly circular model of production where plastic is reused through recycling and waste going to landfills is reduced,” award judges noted.
“The founder, Jerome Wenzlink, is applauded for his lateral thinking, inventiveness and tenacity for getting his ‘product off the ground’, figuratively speaking, and successfully into market.
“For too long farmers and growers have had no alternative to CCA treated timber materials. Now they have a sustainable and environmental alternative.”
Judges were impressed by Wenzlink’s inventiveness and ability to see his vision through to the end product, his ethos to use only raw products sourced from NZ, and the company’s concern for staff handling
contaminated plastics, ensuring suppliers screen product before sending it to be processed.
Future Post recycles plastic types 2,4,5, and 7 from domestic and commercial sources of waste plastic and turns it into premium 100 per cent recycled, Biogrow certified and UV stabilised products.
The UV stabilisation comes from the addition of powdered carbon, itself recycled.
The carbon has the added benefit of giving the posts a consistent colour.
The products are made up of a mix of polyethylene from the likes of wheelie bins and vineyard irrigation lines (high density plastic) and polypropylene from plastic bags, eg.bread bags (low density plastic).
It is important to have a proportion of soft plastic bags to make the melted substrate flow and mold through Future Post’s unique extrusion process. Each vineyard post contains 22 kg of plastic and is the same weight as a wet wooden CCA treated post fresh from the factory.
securing long-term freight capacity, creating hundreds of jobs, and easing the pressure on urban roads and infrastructure.
“Milton is strategically positioned closer to the region’s agricultural producers, where the bulk of freight originates. That’s where rail delivers the greatest benefit, with both carbon and cost efficiency improving over distance. It’s a smarter, more sustainable hub for Southland and Central Otago producers.
“What we need right now is visibility, political backing and certainty around regulatory timelines. With the right support, we can secure council approvals and ensure the public understands the scale and value of what’s being built here,” says D’Arcy.
The site is already zoned for heavy industrial use and will require no public infrastructure investment.
In a first for the NZ market, all new buildings at Milburn Quadrant will include rooftop solar generation, funded and installed by Calder Stewart Energy.
A trial is underway to make stiffer and lighter posts for vineyards due to health and safety concerns about vineyard staff handling the 22 kg posts.
Future Post is also trialling making railway sleepers to replace wooden sleepers that are currently used.
The business is considering having its carbon footprint calculated because it realises the market will require it in time.
Judges say a NZ university has conducted a study on which posts are best from an environmental perspective and Future Posts came out the best with no sign of nanoplastics escaping into the wider environment – the report will be made available in the coming
months. The company used to use 100 per cent renewable energy in its factories, but since the winter of 2024 power crisis they have been forced to use the spot market for the foreseeable future.
However, if 100 per cent renewable power was to become affordable again the company will go back to that source.
Apart from NZ, Future Post has exported products to Tahiti, Rarotonga, Australia and USA – foundation piles, wharf supports, and building materials, due to their resistance to termite damage and saltwater degradation.
There is interest in its process from Australia.
An outstanding horticultural leader, known for her knack of turning strategy and ideas into reality on the ground for growers, has been awarded the 2025 Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rebecca Fisher is general manager, projects and programmes for Horticulture New Zealand.
This award recognises exceptional contributions of people over a long period, to research, innovation, advocacy or leadership in the animal and plant health industry.
It is the highest award possible from her peers, and this is the first time since APHANZ and its predecessor Agcarm was set up in 1948 that it has gone to a woman.
Chief executive Liz Shackleton says it is Fisher’s outstanding skills and leadership that have seen her inducted into the APHANZ Hall of Fame.
“By coincidence, this is the first time a woman has received this award, but high time too.
“Rebecca is an outstanding
leader and role model for women in agriculture, so we are delighted to recognise her contribution over many years with this award.”
Fisher joins an elite group who have been recognised for their contribution to the agriculture and horticulture sector.
Past recipients of this award have included Noel Fitzgerald, Ross Hore, Don McPhail, Felix O’Sullivan, Richard Paxman, Fergie Sumich, Peter Fisher, Dave Lunn, and Mark Christie.
Liz Shackleton says Fisher has contributed at every level of APHANZ membership and the primary sector.
“From board roles to offering innovative ideas and solutions to providing hands-on support to the team and our emerging leadership cohort, Rebecca has demonstrated a relentless
commitment to promote the interests of the industry.
“Her enthusiasm for the sector, tenacity, and ability to get stuff done is second to none.
“Rebecca is an inspiration for women in the primary sector, and she has quietly paved the foundations for the next generation.”
From a 50ha deer farm in Katikati, Fisher went to university in Palmerston North to do a Bachelor of Science in horticultural science, working with kiwifruit and strawberry picking during her school and university holidays.
She was drawn to horticulture because it’s about growing healthy nutritious food for people.
She was presented with the award at Parliament by Minister
Nicola Grigg, Associate Minister of Agriculture (Horticulture) and Minister for Women.
“As Minister for Women and Associate Minister of Agriculture, it’s an absolute privilege to present the 2025 Animal and Plant Health New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Award to Rebecca Fisher for her outstanding achievements in the primary industries.
“As the worthy recipient of this award, Rebecca has shown women across the country that a career in agriculture is something to be desired and celebrated.
“I hope many young women across New Zealand can be inspired by Rebecca and join me in congratulating her for her incredible contribution to agriculture,” says Minister Grigg.
Alexandra Bunton, head of public affairs for Bayer Crop Science Australia and New Zealand, has been named Emerging Leader of the year at the 2025 Animal and Plant Health NZ conference.
“Over the past year, Alexandra has distinguished herself through her fearless engagement on complex issues, her evidence-based approach, and her exceptional communication skills,” says APHANZ chief executive Liz Shackleton.
“She has played a key role in membership feedback to inform APHANZ’s advocacy efforts, contributing to strategic leadership, ministerial engagement, and policy
discussions on gene technology and regulatory reform.
“Her work has strengthened the evidence base for key initiatives and the industry’s unified voice on critical issues.”
Balancing her contributions to APHANZ with a demanding role at Bayer, Bunton exemplifies the spirit of service and leadership, Shackleton says.
CNH has appointed John Gilbert to the new role of business manager for its New Zealand operations.
Gilbert was previously NZ sales manager for CNH Capital.
Brandon Stannett, Australia NZ managing director for CNH, says the move reflects ongoing growth and development of the company’s local business.
“John has been instrumental in shaping CNH Capital’s presence in NZ over the past four years, successfully launching and leading our financial services business in the market.”
The announcement came as the NZ government unveiled a new round of tax incentives for businesses, including a tax deduction of 20 per cent of the value of ew assets.
Gilbert says for farmers, the opportunity to fully deduct 20 per cent of the purchase price of new machinery was an attractive incentive and CNH stood ready to assist farmers should they choose to take advantage of it.
“These are certainly exciting times for our agriculture industry, which continues to grow and evolve, and this announcement from the government will make additional investment in farm businesses more attractive.
“I look forward to working with farmers and industry stakeholders in my new role. For CNH, along with our Case IH and New Holland dealers, this is an opportunity
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki is the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy.
The third generation farmer milks 350 cows on 163 ha at Huinga, inland from Stratford and is the Regional Supreme Winner at this year’s Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Judging for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy considers all eleven BFEA Regional Supreme Winners from across the country. It includes on-farm judging as well as a panel interview, with the trophy recipients displaying a combination of an exemplar farming operation – from a financial, social and environmental perspective – and the ability to articulate informed responses and insightful views on a range of pan-sector topics. It’s more than just a title; the National Ambassador represents their cohort and
the wider farming and growing community in conversations with government ministers and leading agribusinesses.
They also represent our primary sector on an international study tour, funded by MPI.
Judging panel chair
Karen Williams says Attrill demonstrated exceptional communication skills, is well-informed and can talk knowledgeably about different sectors.
“Brendan has extensive experience, both nationally and internationally, across goat, sheep and beef, and dairy farming, and recognises the challenges different sectors face.”
She says the calibre and diversity of this year’s eleven BFEA Regional Supreme Winners
to reaffirm our commitment to farm businesses and the broader agricultural industry.
“Through the machinery we produce and our continued advancements in technology, we aim to drive productivity and efficiency gains that support long-term success.”
was exceptional, reflecting the programme’s wide reach.
From NZ’s largest hydroponic farm for leafy greens to a deer farmer, kiwifruit grower, dairy farmers, and sheep and beef
farmers, the range of sectors represented was broad, with many running highly diversified operations integrating arable cropping, carbon forestry and tourism.
Viticulture technician Anna Kelland from Constellation Brands is the 2025 Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year, for the second time running.
Joining a team of good people with great products was too tempting a chance to let pass for the newest recruit to pasture and forage company Barenbrug.
Jeremy Fraser has become area manager for Southland and South Otago, following Richard Doney’s retirement this year.
Southland raised, with a strong affinity for the rural sector and primary industries, he will be a familiar face to several of his new customers.
He spent the past six years with Advance Agriculture, where he was Invercargill branch manager and seed operations manager.
Before that he held various other regional roles with Alliance Group, DLF Seeds and Farmlands, giving him a broad range of industry experience.
“I always got on well with the Barenbrug team when I was in retail, and I know the products are great, so it’s an exciting opportunity for me to help southern farmers get the best out of their pastures.”
Outside of work, Fraser enjoys spending
time with his family as well as hunting, fishing and boating.
Meantime, Shannon Morton, who joined Barenbrug through its graduate programme late 2016 and has since worked as pasture systems agronomist in Southland and Otago, has now also taken on area manager responsibilities for the rest of Otago and South Canterbury.
“It’s a new challenge which I’m really looking forward to. I’m excited to meet and work with more resellers and farmers.
“I really enjoy teaching people how to grow great pastures, and this is a way to share that knowledge with a wider range of people in a new area – South Canterbury –as well as Otago, which I know and love.”
Jeremy Fraser can be reached at 021 948 154 or jfraser@barenbrug.co.nz.
Shannon Morton can be reached at 021 220 3716 or smorton@barenbrug.co.nz.
She is excited to represent Marlborough in the national finals again and determined to bring the national trophy home this year.
Laura Hammond from Babich came second, and Harry Watson from Berakah Vineyard Management came third.
This year, ten contestants competed in the Marlborough competition, and they all impressed the judges with their passion for viticulture and ‘can-do’ approach.
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the competition, highlighting the importance and popularity of this programme.
Anna Kelland will now go through to the National Final to compete against representatives from the winners of the North Island Regional, Hawke’s Bay, South Island Regional, and Central Otago competitions.
The National Final will be held in North Canterbury late next month.
Farmers and beekeepers can work together for the coexistence of agriculture and bees.
Improve pollinator habits by planting flower boarders and maintaining hedgerows and unsprayed headlands.
Implement an integrated pest management plan to apply pesticides only when necessary.
Coordinate in advance with local beekeepers before spraying so nearby hives can be moved or otherwise protected.
Use genuine products only and alert authorities of counterfeit or illegal pesticides that have unknown impacts on wildlife.
Follow the instructions on the label to ensure you use the recommended dose. Avoid spraying in windy conditions to prevent spray drift.
Use drift-reduction application equipment that is well maintained and calibrated.
Avoid contamination from spray liquids when mixing, and properly dispose of waste and other used materials.
Avoid spraying pesticides when bees are foraging and plants are flowering.
Minimise dust from treated seed by carefully pouring it out of bags. Use seed planting machinery that eliminates the production of dust, and clean seed equipment regurally.
Long-serving Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland stepped down from his role at the end of June.
“Terry has been the leader we needed in a crisis.
“He was the man who kept us together through the toughest times, through the Mycoplasma bovis incursion and then COVID-19, through droughts, fires and disastrous floods,” Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford says.
There are a couple of key achievements to highlight during his time at Federated Farmers.
Copeland was responsible for setting up the highly successful Primary Industries NZ Summit
“Terry’s seven years with Feds has also been marked by unprecedented political and advocacy challenges for our members. His cool head in times of need was hugely beneficial for the organisation.”
and Awards, now into its seventh year, attracting over 600 delegates annually. Continual business improvement is another legacy from his time leading the organisation.
“His championing and overseeing the investment into better processes and systems across finance, information technology, human resources and project management will ensure the great advocacy and policy work Federated Farmers does is supported by
Transforming surplus dairy calves into a world-first, shelf stable functional protein snack hit the spot with visitors and judges alike at the Innovation Awards at the National Fieldays.
Miti is made by Alps2Ocean Foods Tapui, based in Oamaru, and founded by Daniel Carson. It took out the People’s Choice and also won the Early-Stage Award, sponsored by Map of Ag. Carson says winning People’s Choice capped off an amazing week.
“It’s so great to get this validation from the public
voters, alongside the judges’ support last week.
“We’ve obviously got the taste right in our Mīti Beef Bites, and customers also appreciate that our value chain is designed to highlight New Zealand’s best pastoral farming practices and highest animal welfare standards.”
The People’s Choice Award
is designed to give Fieldays visitors a chance to connect with NZ’s up-and-coming innovations and innovators, and to support their favourites.
Votes nearly doubled from last year, marking strong public engagement in the second year of this interactive feature.
Mīti smokey kanuka and honey beef bites are made in NZ from NZ grass-fed young beef which is a by-product of the dairy industry.
Head Innovation judge Shane Dooley says the product provides a game-changing solution, transforming bobby calf waste from the dairy industry into a high-value, lowcarbon protein product.
“By addressing a long-standing social license challenge, they’re helping reshape the wellbeing narrative around
a well-functioning machine,” Langford says.
Copeland says it is time for a new person to lead the membership organisation, and he’s proud to be leaving the influential association stronger than he found it.
“Federated Farmers is a terrific organisation to have been a part of. I have been able to contribute to the powerhouse of NZ’s economy - the primary sector - and it has been an honour to work with some of NZ’s best farmers.”
calf management in NZ.
“It creates value from waste, reduces emissions, and offers a commercially viable path forward for a more circular and ethical agri-food sector.”
Supported by the MPI Innovation Fund, Alps2Ocean worked closely with AgResearch scientists to test and optimise Miti’s formulation.
Backed by funding from the Bioresource Processing Alliance, further research validated Mīti’s sustainability and welfare credentials — including reduced carbon emissions and improved animal welfare compared to traditional beef systems, AgResearch says.
These data-driven insights strengthened the case for Miti not just as a snack, but as a viable way to repurpose a lowvalue stream into a premium, ethical product.
“Importantly, the journey has brought together a wide network of collaborators — including Alliance NZ, Duncan Venison, Fonterra, Pamu Landcorp, and SPCA NZ — reflecting a shared belief in the potential of this innovation to benefit the food industry, the environment, and society.”
Spring into pasture action with Barenbrug’s line-up of superior pastures, offering proven performance right across the field.
Learn more at barenbrug.co.nz
The outstanding hybrid, supercharged with NEA12 – still setting the standard for 1-3 year pasture.
The phenomenal 3-5 year pasture. With environmental benefits, delivers performance your neighbours will envy.
Grow with Confidence
The next generation perennial legend, with NEA4 for superior persistence and summer growth.
The superstar perennial, delivering high intake, yield, N uptake & persistence. The diploid of the future!
The benchmark in tetraploid perennials. Grows longer, is good for the environment and animals love it. 4front NEA2
To love and succeed at farming, you have to enjoy solving problems. The next potential setback is never far away. The entire farming community must work together to hit new heights in order to overcome the biggest challenge of all: feeding a growing population with reduced access to farmland.
Fortunately, we now have better solutions than ever before to help you to continue to make great decisions, while doing what you love.
The challenge is big, but so too is the appetite for success.