Farmers Weekly NZ November 13 2017

Vol 16 No 44, November 13, 2017

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Big ag shake-up My challenge is to get farmers and industry leaders to understand the wisdom of making the changes collaboratively.

Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com

M

AJOR changes will be made to the Ministry for Primary Industries as it is pulled apart, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says.

The Government declared the super ministry, stitched together by the previous National government in 2012, was not fit for purpose.

Appointing a primary sector council and a chief agricultural adviser were two key priorities for O’Connor as the Labour-led Government separated aspects of the primary sector into special purpose bodies.

The Forestry Service would be re-established with food safety, fisheries and biosecurity also getting their own entities. The latter would get more resources and Select Committee Inquiry.

“This will enhance the role and importance of these areas,” O’Connor said.

“What we want to do is enhance capability while giving some autonomy to those sectors.

“MPI is a very big organisation and really the future is daunting given the changes possible across the whole rural and agribusiness sector.”

O’Connor acknowledged the importance of working with the industry to put agriculture in a better space to confront both current and future challenges such as synthetic proteins, genetic

Damien O’Connor Agriculture Minister

STEERING: Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor doesn’t think anyone would expect a politician to know where agriculture is headed but he wants to help in the planning.

modification and climate change.

“We need to commit to a vision and strategic thinking for all our primary sector.

“We have got better at doing more but the question of whether we are heading in the right direction needs to be answered.

“I don’t think anybody would expect a politician to have that answer but we can plan for that together,” he said.

The Government would appoint people to the council who already had a strategic vision and they would work with individual

sectors to establish sector plans.

“Some of that is already going on but we need to ensure those leading the direction have that collective, strategic vision to address issues such as changing consumer trends, growing competition, consumer reaction – with a clear understanding of the value of our pasture-based production systems and the impacts of climate change on our and those of our competing productions systems.”

There were too many people, too many companies and too

many institutions doing their own job for their own industry.

Greater collaboration and co-ordination to form a body with mana and authority would provide wisdom and leadership.

The role of an official chief agricultural adviser would be to ensure the Government got independent and objective technical advice.

“There is a process under way.

We have a chief agricultural adviser acting in a de-facto role and we will formalise that.”

“My challenge is to get

farmers and industry leaders and all agribusiness sectors to understand the wisdom of making the changes collaboratively.

“Not all the decisions will be easy, not all will be popular but all will be necessary,” O’Connor said.

Some issues from the previous government required follow-on.

They included several biosecurity incursions and Primary Growth Partnerships.

“We will be doing a comprehensive review of PGPs to ensure any money not already committed will be well spent in the future.”

The Government would honour existing contracts.

“We will support and acknowledge the progress that has been made but it is my view that not all the projects have been leading edge – a lot have been business as usual.”

“A greater focus on biosecurity will deliver better border protection with a very strongly focused, independent biosecurity and food safety regime that will protect the interests of the whole of the primary sector.”

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NEWS

NEWSMAKER

Soil Moisture Anomaly (mm) at 9am November 9, 2017

29 Robots’ repertoire adds new tasks

60 Wetter than

Beating labour shortages with robots might be a key to meeting the last government’s target of doubling export receipts by 2025, Waikato University researcher Professor Mike Duke says.

40

normal (mm)

20

10

OPINION

0

32 Alternative View 5 New sheep ensures right wool A new sheep has been bred specifically to supply wool for New Zealand healthcare product development company Lanaco.

8 Suspicious results on two farms Two new dairy properties have been locked down as part of the Mycoplasma bovis response.

18 Organics needs official backing

Alan Emerson says synthetic proteins are a threat and the primary sector needs to be ready.

REGULARS

Fonterra Australia’s big for milk co-op Murray Goulburn didn’t even get to the due diligence stage, managing director Rene Dedoncker says.

Suspicious results on two farms ������������������������������������ 8

Real Estate ����������������������������������������������� 34-70 Employment ������������������������������������������������� 71 Classifieds ����������������������������������������������������� 72 Livestock �������������������������������������������������� 72-74

Big Sam promotes Big 5 ����������������������������������������������� 11

MARKETS

Ruthless efficiency changes culture ���������������������������� 16

80 Demand,

Organics needs official backing ����������������������������������� 18 GM ban not automatic in north ���������������������������������� 22 Crown cash vital to lagoon plan ���������������������������������� 26

tight supply lift prices

28 Wool must be sold on safety

The success of marketers in building new markets has been a key driver of this season’s record high venison prices, Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup says.

The great hope for New Zealand crossbred wool lies in convincing northern hemisphere consumers their homes aren’t truly safe without it, industry leader Cedric Bayly says.

Market Snapshot ����������������������������������������� 76

PGW takes on game-changers ������������������������������������� 27

NEWSMAKER

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Drier than normal (mm)

33 Fonterra bid allowed farmer

Beef outlook better than expected �������������������������������� 3

Fonterra milk price looks doubtful ������������������������������� 7

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WORLD voice

New sheep ensures right wool ��������������������������������������� 5

-20

Editorial ������������������������������������������������������������������������� 30 Cartoon �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 30 Letters ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 30 Pulpit ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 31 Alternative View ������������������������������������������������������������ 32 From the Ridge �������������������������������������������������������������� 32

New Zealand runs the risk of missing out on big trade opportunities without a Government-backed organic seal, United States organics expert Gary Hirshberg says.

US sale natural fit for Kiwi clothier ������������������������������� 4

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Contact us Editor: Bryan Gibson Twitter: farmersweeklynz Email: nzfarmersweekly@nzx.com Free phone: 0800 85 25 80 DDI: 06 323 1519

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

3

Beef outlook better than expected Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com A SOLID United States economy is expected to support demand for New Zealand beef for at least the next year.

Low supply from both NZ and Australia has meant imported manufacturing-beef prices in the US have not yet started falling back to typical seasonal levels because there are just not the volumes available on the spot market.

The supply season was running late, especially in the rain-affected North Island where spring growth was just starting and farmers were opting to put more weight on their stock.

AgriHQ analyst Mel Croad said the North Island schedule would come off the recent consistent levels about $5.50/kg (bull) and $5.70/kg (steer) as stock eventually came forward in numbers into New Year but not by as much as earlier expected.

At one stage she expected a fall of up to 20c/kg but farmgate prices might now hold up better than that, given the change in market fundamentals.

The kiwi dollar had also fallen about US3c in value over the past several weeks but Croad said that trade remained to play out and some of the major banks were forecasting a NZ$ recovery.

Procurement issues were also pushing processors into paying above schedule in some cases where big numbers of stock could be bought.

More US domestic beef would also be going onto the market in the months ahead but industry economist Len Steiner said in his annual presentation at October’s Meat Importer’s Council of America conference the robust jobs growth would lead to more rapid demand growth.

The 2018 outlook was also boosted by strong global growth though economic risks were also mounting, he said.

SOLID: The outlook for beef sales is better than expected.

As well as US jobs growth, along with record disposable income levels, Americans were encouraged that beef prices were off the highs of a few years ago when overall supply was down, Croad said.

Americans loved their beef and were now finding it more affordable as well as having a new red meat healthy perception.

“So, the demand is better than everyone thought it would be.”

Added to the positive US market dynamics, solid demand for prime beef around the world was also helping NZ exporters diversify frozen beef supply away from Japan to avoid the tariff

hike on imports there up to the end of March, Anzco Foods chief executive Peter Conley said.

That was also ahead of the expected boost in livestock supply as cattle finally started to reach processing weight.

He described all markets as stable with China kicking along positively and customers there already planning for the Chinese New Year demand early next year.

Conley said the US market remained the one to watch to see how the season panned out in terms of its ability to influence overall pricing. Demand for beef was rising there but there might

also be some speculative element to the recent firmer pricing.

Anzco was the biggest NZ beef exporter to Japan but most of what it sent there was chilled and that part of the market was not subject to the sharp tariff increase.

As well, the company’s operating model in Japan meant it traditionally held more frozen inventory in the market rather than continually supplying from NZ. That meant it had more inventory there when the tariff increase was imposed.

“We are still making sales though we won’t get through to

the end of March with what’s there and it would be better if we could be refilling the pipeline.”

Japanese market demand was at good levels and so far importers appeared to be recouping the higher tariff costs on what frozen supply was coming from NZ. Anzco also operated two restaurants in Tokyo, supplied with chilled beef, and was very close to opening a new restaurant in Singapore.

That was a good, high-end market for both beef and lamb, Conley said. The new restaurant replaced a previous facility that was not as well-located.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

US sale natural fit for Kiwi clothier Tim Fulton tim.fulton@nzx.com

HELPING HANDS: Icebreaker chairman Rob Fyfe and founder Jeremy Moon are both staying on to help new owner VF Corporation.

ICEBREAKER’S big challenge under new ownership is continuing to find enough New Zealand wool it says as it signs a $100 million, 10-year supply contract with local growers.

The wool price would be at a premium to market returns to recognise grower loyalty and to let Icebreaker use farm images and stories in its global marketing. Its clothing was sold in 47 countries and on the internet.

The NZ Merino Co, which signed the contract on behalf of growers, already had a five-year $45m contract with Italian luxury fabric maker Successori Reda.

The new contract was a further endorsement of its business model, Merino Co chief executive John Brakenridge said.

American buyer VF Corporation had active wear, sports and lifestyle apparel brands like The North Face, Vans, Timberland and Smartwool.

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As a 24-year-old marketing graduate Moon was travelling with his American girlfriend in the mid 1990s when he came across a Merino grower who showed him a prototype fabric he’d developed from NZ Merino wool.

Moon recalled seeing the potential of a natural, biodegradable fabric that combined the benefits of wool and synthetics.

He quit his research job, mortgaged his house and launched Icebreaker.

Within a decade, Icebreaker was NZ’s biggest clothing producer and exporter.

That included price and volume negotiations, testing of Merino against preset standards, management of batching and monitoring onfarm ethics.

VF Corporation said Icebreaker Holdings generated about US$150 million of revenue in the past 12 months.

Sale terms were not disclosed but the deal was expected to be completed early next year.

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to pay tax in NZ and Fyfe would stay on to help move the 21-year-old company into the new era.

VF Corporation chairman and chief executive Steve Rendle said Icebreaker’s natural fibre products were an ideal complement to its Smartwool brand.

The apparel collection for men, women and children harnessed the natural performance of Merino wool sourced directly from the most sustainable and ethical Merino farms in NZ, he said.

Icebreaker founder Jeremy Moon, currently executive chairman, would stay on in the business.

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The products spanned a range of natural and synthetic materials including footwear and accessories.

NZ farmers would continue to supply most of Icebreaker’s Merino under the new owner for at least the next five to 10 years though overseas supply would have to increase as the business grew, Icebreaker chairman Rob Fyfe said.

Icebreaker already used a small amount of non-NZ Merino to cover supply shortages.

Existing contracts would be honoured and a broad aim was higher Merino prices to incentivise more NZ production, Fyfe said.

The business would have a heftier presence in Asia and North America under the new ownership.

It exported 86% of its products but sales were skewed toward Australasia and western Europe.

It had a light Asian presence and it was a similar story in North America with US sales only on par with Canada.

“Our big challenge is to make sure the Merino industry in NZ can support most of Icebreaker’s requirements.”

Fyfe said VF Corporation was a natural match for Icebreaker with the resources to make it much bigger. The businesses also would learn from each other.

VF Corporation valued Icebreaker’s brand, heritage, people and vision but also its intellectual property, such as Icebreaker’s insulated MerinoLOFT jackets.

The range was an alternative to down and synthetic products and added another sustainable product to VF Corporation’s stable.

While another New Zealand business was going overseas, it made sense for Icebreaker to be closer to customers, Fyfe said.

The company had 340 fulltime employees (450 in total) and supplied clothing to more than 5000 stores in 47 countries.

About three-quarters its staff were offshore and Fyfe, a professional director, estimated he spent about 40% of his Icebreaker time on a plane.

He was sure VF Corporation would keep the company’s ethos of sustainable, natural fibre and its Kiwi provenance.

The business would also continue

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

READY: Wanaka sheep breeder Andy Ramsden has developed the Astino sheep breed specifically to provide wool for Lanaco.

Sheep bred for wool Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com A NEW sheep has been bred specifically to supply wool for New Zealand healthcare product development company Lanaco.

In an initiative for the struggling wool industry the Astino breed – a cross between Dohne, Finn and Cheviot – has been developed for and would be owned and controlled by Lanaco so it could source wool at exacting specifications for functional wool products it made, such as air filters.

Lanaco chief executive Nick Davenport said he had problems sourcing sufficient volumes of wool that consistently had the chemical, functional and electro-static properties needed for his products.

A chance meeting with Wanaka sheep breeder Andy Ramsden revealed that could be overcome by breeding a specific sheep.

“Its pure breeding objective is to satisfy the demands we need from wool,” Davenport said.

Ramsden said Astino sheep had a wool with a micron in the low 20s, fertility to achieve a lamb drop of up to 150% and could be run on the mid to low altitude South Island high country with lambs finished on irrigated land.

Contracted wool producers would receive premiums to compete with fine wool prices but also had the added bonus of a larger lamb drop.

The sheep would be shorn twice a year, in autumn and spring, to produce the length of wool required.

Ramsden said the Astino was half Dohne, quarter Cheviot and quarter Finn and while a key driver was uniform and consistent production of wool required by Lanaco, the breeds were also chosen for hardiness, fertility, fecundity and carcase confirmation.

A base flock of Astino lambs was born this spring and the first commercial lambs would be born next spring on four properties.

Ramsden said given the polluted air in many cities the market potential for air filters was enormous.

“The potential of the market is phenomenal when you think what is going on with polluted air.

“One fleece goes a long way but then you think of the size of Asia and its problems. It could snowball.”

Davenport had increased his wool needs from two tonnes a year five or six years ago to up to 50 tonnes today and said it would increase further as he extended his product range.

Each mask used about a gram of wool and while wool filters were better than

synthetic products in performance and longevity it was a competitive sector and he needed wool that was authentic, traceable and with reduced variability.

He expected his requirements to increase as sales of his existing products grew and new products, such as face masks and home air filtration, were developed.

Davenport, who had a background in plastics, said he was astounded when he discovered the functional qualities of wool.

“When I found wool a number of years ago I could not believe what I had found.”

Last month Lanaco opened a new research, product development and manufacturing hub in Auckland that also housed Lanaco’s partner, Healthy Breath.

“The road to high-value starts with onfarm breeding innovations developed for specific high-end products.

“At our Auckland facility we maintain control of the integrity of the product and through partnerships we gain access to markets where our wool makes an immediate, positive impact on customer health.”

“This is what moving up the wool value chain looks like” Davenport said.

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Lamb sale up on last year Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com EARLY lambs were in demand at the first Canterbury spring sale at Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula on Wednesday.

Farmers with plenty of grass were keen buyers and prices were about $30 a head higher than last year, PGG Wrightson livestock agent Stewart Uren said.

With the great weather conditions the lambs were slightly bigger than last year’s.

Prices for the 2018 Suftex Romney lambs ranged from $79 to $131 with the average about $105. Most buyers were from Canterbury but lambs went to Otago and Southland as well.

The biggest 140 or so lambs were bought for immediate processing and the others as store lambs, Uren said.

A lot of farmers were ringing round looking for lambs to eat down pasture and he expected the store market to remain strong.

“This sale is a good one as it beats the rush of lambs and there’s so much grass around.

I’d expect the buyers to be aiming to get the lambs finished and away to the works by Christmas.”

The Annandale lambs were born early, starting in late July, thanks to good winter growth on the north-facing

land on the 2000ha farm, manager Andrew Humm said.

That encouraged early lambing and an early sale approach because the exposed area dried out quickly in summer though the favourable conditions this year meant there were still some good green patches.

There was a good survival rate for the lambs with the tussock country providing natural shelter.

“It works well having 2000 lambs away, plus 600 or so older ewes about this time of year’’ The main flock would graze the land over the next several weeks, ahead of December weaning.

Humm and his wife Naomi managed the farm for a New Zealander living overseas.

A 400ha block at Barrys Bay was brought into the farm operations in the last couple of years and having a season about a month later than Pigeon Bay made it a welcome addition, he said.

The farms ran beef cattle as well as sheep and aimed to increase the overall stockcarrying capacity over the next couple of years.

This was the 12th annual sale and the Humms had been managing Annandale for 10 of those years.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Fonterra milk price looking doubtful Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com GLOBAL Dairy Trade prices fell 3.5% and pulled the AgriHQ farmgate milk payout forecast down 14c to $6.24/kg MS last week.

It was now more than 50c below the level Fonterra reconfirmed at its annual meeting.

“The fall in commodity prices in the November 7 GDT event means Fonterra’s $6.75 price is becoming more difficult to achieve,” AgriHQ dairy analyst Amy Castleton said.

There were some rotten apples in the basket of GDT products and contract times.

January shipment of whole milk powder lost 9.3% and the WMP index lost 5.5% to US$2852/ tonne, below the $3000 level that underpinned a NZ$6/kg payout.

Butter was down 3.6% overall but the January shipment portion of the Fonterra offering was down 9.6%.

What was called the Contract 2 period (January shipment) tended to be where the larger GDT offerings sat and therefore they had the biggest influence on average prices, Castleton said.

Lack of WMP demand in Contract 2 might also have been linked to China’s very short tarifffree period early in the calendar year – January shipments did not arrive until February or March.

The NZX Dairy Derivatives market reacted to the GDT results and reflected an expectation WMP prices would stay between US$2800 and $2900 for the rest of the New Zealand dairy season.

We expect China’s growth to slow next year as the government focuses on economic rebalancing.

Shyamal Maharaj Westpac

Westpac economist Shyamal Maharaj said the 7% weakening in the NZ dollar value since the election was not enough to prevent lower dairy commodity prices taking 30c off the bank’s

milk forecast, down from $6.50 to $6.20.

“We expect China’s growth to slow next year as the government focuses on economic rebalancing, which is likely to crimp demand for a range of commodities.

“Our forecast assumes dairy auction prices for WMP will fall by 12% between now and April 2018.”

But the first forecast for the 2018-19 season came out at $6.50, he said.

Rabobank dairy analyst Michael Harvey said the GDT was the third consecutive drop in the index and the largest drop since the start of the year.

“While the spring period in Oceania has had a mixed start in both NZ and Australia – the volume of product being made available on the auction is increasing as Fonterra adjusts its portfolio mix.

“Also, Asian buyers have had a busy few months purchasing so now have some short-term inventory cover and Chinese buyers have product ready for the FTA tariff window.”

Harvey said some commentators had already adjusted their farmgate forecasts

7

STOCKED UP: Asian dairy product buyers now have short term cover and Chinese buyers have product ready for the freetrade window in January, Rabobank analyst Michael Harvey says.

and Rabobank would do so in its December quarterly publication.

ASB Bank senior economist Chris Tennant-Brown said the drop in GDT prices was at odds with the weaker spring milk production in NZ and now posed some downside risk to ASB’s milk price forecast of $6.75.

“The lower NZ$ is providing some offset to the current softening in prices but we need to see weak NZ production translate into higher prices over the season.

“We will be monitoring prices and production carefully over the month ahead.”

The records showed butter and anhydrous milk fat prices were still 30%-plus higher than this

time last year but WMP and SMP prices were down by 13% and 21% respectively.

In total, the GDT index, at 1003, was steady on the level in November 2016, having spent a whole year in a band between 1000 and 1100.

Big, diversified processors like Fonterra could maximise returns from product options during the past year, responding to the record milk fat prices.

When taken together with forward sales and currency hedging, Fonterra might be able to maintain a $6.75 forecast when commentators with computerised market models were adjusting downwards.

Three new ways for farmers to share up Glenys Christian glenys.christian@nzx.com FONTERRA is providing three new ways for young farmers under financial pressure to deal with the challenge of sharing up to become full shareholders.

Southland/Otago regional head Mark Robinson said it

was always looking at tools to make things easier and their development had taken place over the last year.

“This gives them more flexibility,” he said.

The first of the tools was the Strike Price Contract that would be set at $5.25 a kilogram of milksolids for contracts starting in the 2018-19 season.

After the first year farmers will need to buy shares only when the milk price was above the strike price so they could share up when revenues were higher.

Robinson said initial farmer feedback here had been very positive The second was the Contract Fee for Units scheme that

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The third tool allowed farmers to buy shares with their Farm Source reward dollars built up by shopping at the stores.

There would be a one to twoweek window between receiving their measurement statement in June and December 1 when they could use a minimum of $500 worth of the rewards to buy shares.

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would help farmers supplying milk under contract to buy shares.

Fonterra would transfer its five cents a kilogram MS contract fee to a trust that would buy units in the Fonterra Shareholders Fund and when farmers needed to share up the trust would give them the units to convert into shares.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Suspicious results on two farms Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com TWO new dairy properties have been locked down as part of the Mycoplasma bovis response.

While the farms had not tested positive for the cattle disease the Primary Industries Ministry said test results from one of the herds were suspicious.

Both farms, near the coast at Morven, north of the Waitaki River, had the same owner, were in the same geographical region as all known infected properties and both bounded van Leeuwen Dairy Group farms.

Despite Aad van Leeuwen being adamant neither property had any association with a van Leeuwen farm, MPI readiness and response didrector Geoff Gwyn could not confirm that.

He said it was too early to speculate given there was no certainty because definitive results were not expected till later this week.

As a precaution both farms were declared restricted places.

The movement of animals and other risk goods on and off the farms was restricted until testing was completed.

The properties were identified through MPI’s surveillance programme that had now tested more than 40,000 samples of blood, swabs and milk.

It was understood the suspicious results were picked up in a milk test.

Gwyn did not believe the new suspect properties represented a game-changer – well not yet.

While any new infected property could be traced back to the source of a VLDG farm then that remained an indication the disease was contained.

“When it doesn’t, it could well be telling us a whole different story,” Gwyn said.

“I think we are a little ahead of ourselves to say there is no trace back to a VLDG farm while our

UNWAVERING: The Primary Industries Ministry is still aiming to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis, its response and readiness director Geoff Gwyn says.

investigators are still building a picture of how animals on the farms could have been infected, if indeed they are, and what stock movements may have taken place onto the farms,” Gwyn said.

The ministry’s position had not changed and the comprehensive testing programme continued.

That included using the Epicentre at Massey University to tap into veterinary practices helping to identify farms that presented clinical M bovis symptoms.

“Our approach is across a national, regional and districtwide testing programme where we can target where the disease is most likely to be identified.

“I have a lot more confidence in that than random testing up and down the country,” Gwyn said.

MPI had initiated the culling of animals from the first of the seven infected farms to be depopulated

and that was progressing steadily and to plan.

At least 4000 animals were in the initial cull count.

At this stage my confidence level hasn’t changed, what might change that is the tracing work of this latest restricted place.

Geoff Gwyn MPI “Eradication is our aspiration and we still believe that is the right thing to do.

“There will always be risk but

at the end of the day we have got to go with the evidence in front of us and at present eradication is a viable option,” Gwyn said.

“At this stage my confidence level hasn’t changed. What might change that is the tracing work of this latest restricted place.

“If that becomes an infected property then trace back and forward will become critical,” he said.

The total samples required under the surveillance programme were being revised upwards as a result of the latest two farms put under lockdown.

That was largely because MPI had decided to test more lowrisk properties than previously thought necessary.

Gwyn said testing had three components, one being the beef and dry stock sector limited to blood or swab testing; the second

being milking herds including discard milk from sick animals and mastitic milk from cows showing clinical symptoms – all of which could incorporate a milk test.

“And finally bulk tank milk samples are being tested weekly and the number of times we test gets less as we move further afield.”

As for how Mb got to NZ – Gwyn said he expected a full report, including the strain genotyping investigation, at the end of November and it would be published for everyone to see.

The disease, which was not a food safety risk, was discovered in July and to date had been found on seven farms across South Canterbury and North Otago and a lifestyle property in North Canterbury, with 22 farms now under restricted place notices.

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News

10 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Farmers readily adopt incentives Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com MILK payment incentive schemes have been readily adopted by dairy farmers supplying the second-tier processing companies, earning them on average about 2% of their farmgate milk payouts.

The schemes included quality assurance, out-of-season supply and differentiated milks.

“Our farmers have responded very willingly to quality assurance and payment incentives,” Miraka supply manager Grant Jackson said.

Our farmers have responded very willingly to quality assurance and payment incentives.

Grant Jackson Miraka Te Ara Miraka (the Miraka way) was now in its second full season with all but two of its 107 supply farms participating. The two remained on the old Fonterra plus 10c/kg contract system.

An average of 13c/kg was paid above the Miraka base milk price in the first year, Jackson said.

Synlait had the most complex differentiated milk supply, offering an overall Lead With Pride audit and certification process plus two optional milk composition schemes, one for A2 milk and the other for guaranteed grass-fed supply.

Last season Synlait paid an average of 14c in seasonal and value-add payments on top of the base price of $6.16/kg, supply manager David Williams said.

On Synlait’s larger-thannational-average 200 supply

farms that amounted to about $45,000 a farm, which he believed was pitched at the right level to incentivise farmers and ensure the appropriate volumes of milk.

“Our differentiated milk starts with the customers, who want a point of difference in the market for their dairy products,” Williams said.

“The best-practice Lead With Pride scheme is overlaid, providing integrity to where the milk comes from.”

Open Country Dairy, the second-largest New Zealand processor, continued to put most of its supply incentives into seasonality, using three settlement periods in its payment structure.

It made payments earlier than the industry norm, including final payment in August, to which had been ascribed a cashflow advantage of 5-10c/kg to the farmers.

Within the headline rate forecast for this season of $6.42/ kg currently, actual monthly payments varied from $8/kg in June to a projected $5.60 in February.

That structure created a strong winter milk and shoulder season incentivisation, the company said.

The main drivers behind incentive payments generally were food safety, quality assurance, animal welfare, farming sustainability and product differentiation and reputation.

In Synlait’s case the strategy was aimed at providing benefits behind the farmgate, responding to demands from customers, creating points of difference and providing integrity, Williams said.

In the 2017 annual report, Synlait said 50 of its supply farms were participating in Lead With Pride, 60 were A2 supply farms and 23 certified grass-fed farms for Munchkin infant formula.

The US-based Munchkin was a minority shareholder in Synlait and its grass-fed milk supply incentive was 25c/kg when

POSITIVE: United States-based Munchkin uses Synlait’s premium milk for products that appeal to new mothers.

launched, at a time when the base milk price was about $4/kg.

Synlait reported that out of its 65 million kilograms milksolids total supply, Lead With Pride covered 16m, A2 was 18m and grass-fed 7m, although there was overlap.

Te Ara Miraka covered 30 parameters divided into five pillars, or pou, Jackson said.

They were people, cows, environment, milk and prosperity.

Thirteen of the parameters were mandatory with an expectation more would join them as farmers became accustomed to the quality control system.

A fail on any mandatory requirement ruled the supplier out of incentives for that season.

Pass marks on the mandatory

requirements resulted in milk payment increases and if a supplier achieved a full score of 100 points over all voluntary parameters the peak incentive payment was 20c.

Jackson said the mandatory items included formal employment agreements, proof of payment of minimum wages, proof of an onfarm health and safety culture, complete stock exclusion from waterways, a farm environment plan and no animal welfare breaches.

Miraka also required all its farms to contribute financials to DairyBase, for the farmers’ benefit as the company did not use the figures.

Incentivising farmers on milk quality rather than penalising

them had already resulted in a reduction of 10,000 in the average somatic cell count.

Miraka also paid well for winter milk so 22% of its suppliers were producing during winter, using split or all-autumn calving.

It was not yet segregating milk intake for special purposes, something into which Synlait now invested a lot of effort and trust.

“It begins onfarm with a scheduling system that only allows milk tankers to collect milk from the correct milk supplier,” Synlait’s latest annual report said.

“Once milk tankers arrive at our Dunsandel site, new electronic signs indicate where the milk needs to be unloaded for streamed processing.

“The same system ensures that the right milk is unloaded in the correct bay.”

Miraka had that to consider and implement in the future, when it became necessary, Jackson said.

Since year two the Miraka plant had been at capacity intake during the spring peak, which occurred this year around October 22.

Milk supply was ahead of last year because the Central Plateau catchment had fared somewhat better than others, much wetter regions, Jackson said.

“As we build more processing capacity my job is to ensure that it fully utilised.”

Williams said Synlait had a small but very active milk supply team that helped farmers with their quality control procedures.

Both Synlait and Miraka had independent annual auditing of onfarm best practice.

In Synlait’s case that was now an approved scheme for Environment Canterbury, meaning compliance inspections would likely be reduced.

Two more traditional farmerowned dairy companies, Tatua and Westland Milk Products, retained the one milk price for all principle that was part of cooperative ownership.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

11

Big Sam promotes Big 5

CHALLENGE: Farmstrong Ambassador Sam Whitelock signing rugby balls for the upcoming Play The Big 5 with Sam promotion. Standing beside him is the Farmstrong project leader Gerard Vaughan.

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Playdates You can Play The Big 5 With Sam and be in to win at these upcoming events: • Canterbury A&P Show, Christchurch, Wed 15-Fri 17 November • Southern Field Days, Waimumu, Wed 14-Fri 16 February • Northland Field Days, Whangarei, Thu 1-Sat 3 March • Wanaka A&P Show, Wanaka, Fri 9-Sat 10 March • Central Districts Field Days, Feilding, Thu 15-Sat 17 March

FARMSTRONG ambassador and rugby icon Sam Whitelock is helping promote five ways to wellbeing to farmers at A&P shows and field days.

Farmstrong, a nationwide rural wellbeing initiative, shared farmer-to-farmer tips and advice on its website, www. farmstrong.co.nz.

Visitors to the Farmstrong stand would be encouraged to take a photo with a life-size replica of the towering rugby lock and share their own top tips for keeping well on the farm when things get busy.

Entrants would go into the draw to win a rugby ball signed by Whitelock as well as Farmstrong gear.

People would also be able to try their hand at the Big 5 game on a giant Farmstrong wall display.

The aim of the game was to throw five mini rugby balls through the portal of Whitelock’s hands while standing on mats highlighting the benefits of the Big 5.

It was all good fun but there was a serious side to the game too, Whitelock said.

“Farming, like professional rugby, has its share of challenges.

“There are always going to be things you can’t control. In rugby it might be the ref, in farming it’s the weather and prices.

“Sport has taught me that making a habit of investing in your wellbeing means you will have some to draw on when you are under the pump.

That’s why you’ve got to take time to look after yourself.

“I’ve made the Big 5 part of my life and I’m hoping the Big 5 game encourages farmers to do the same, to look after themselves as well as their stock and their pasture when things get busy.”

Farmstrong spokesman Gerard Vaughan, who had been designing health and wellbeing programmes for over 20 years, said “Research shows that people who cope well under pressure have five things in common.

“They stay connected with their mates, they enjoy the simple things in life, they stay active, they keep learning and they give back by helping out friends, neighbours and their community.”

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Whitelock intended to return to rural work once his rugby days were done and would be using the Big 5 when he did.

“The Big 5 can make a huge difference to your wellbeing whether you’re a farmer or a professional athlete.

“Even small changes to habits can make a big difference to your wellbeing. My message to farmers is find out what works for you and lock it in,” Whitelock said.

Plenty of farmers had been doing just that.

Video clips on the Farmstrong website had racked up more than 300,000 views via social media since June 2015 and the site attracted more than 1000 new visitors each week.

“If you want to know anything about Farmstrong get down to the website,” Whitelock said.

“There’s heaps of awesome information and great videos that will help you become a better farmer and a better person.” is the official media partner of Farmstrong

News

12 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Fonterra director avoids conflict Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com NEW Fonterra director Brent Goldsack has resigned from his senior position in Waikato with the big accountancy firm PwC to avoid any possible conflict of interest.

After being elected and taking his seat at the Fonterra board table earlier this month Goldsack told his email contacts he had left PwC after 25 years in various positions.

The Fonterra Shareholders Council also said Goldsack was a partner at PwC, using the past tense when it announced his election on October 31.

His profile distributed to all Fonterra shareholders before the election acknowledged a possible conflict of interest, which he would address, because PwC was the chartered accountancy firm retained by Fonterra.

The two others elected this year were incumbent director John Monaghan and another newcomer, Andy Macfarlane.

All three were nominated by the Independent Selection Panel and received the required 50% approval of those shareholders who voted before the annual meeting.

RESIGNED: Fonterra director Brent Goldsack has resigned from PwC to avoid any conflict of interest.

Earlier this year Macfarlane ended a four-year term as chairman of Deer Industry New Zealand.

He was the principal of the 10-person, 20-year-old farm consultancy based in Ashburton that bears his name, Macfarlane Rural Business.

With wife Tricia he also had an 800-cow dairy farm in MidCanterbury and they had farmed on their own account for nearly

HATS: Fonterra director Andy Macfarlane has ended his term leading the deer industry but still has other highprofile board positions.

30 years in dairying, deer and arable.

Macfarlane was also a director of meat company Anzco since 2015 and the Maori-owned Ngai Tahu Farming since 2014.

He was a former president of the Institute of Primary Industry Management.

Macfarlane was also one of four members of the Lincoln University Council appointed by the Minister for Tertiary Studies,

a term that came to an end next year, and was appointed a director of AgResearch in 2011.

Goldsack lived at Matangi near Cambridge and with his wife Delwyn had ownership interests in three dairy operations in Waikato and Manawatu totalling 1500 cows.

He was a chartered accountant and born and raised on a dairy farm at Inglewood, Taranaki.

He had been a board member

of the National Fieldays Society for two years and a trustee and former chairman of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.

He also advised the board of Canterbury Grasslands, the corporate dairy business active in Canterbury and Missouri, partowned by the Townshend and Roadley families and Irishman Michael Murphy.

In her address to the annual meeting, departing director Leonie Guiney, of South Canterbury, criticised what she believed was now an undemocratic election system.

“Forthrightness and candour with shareholders is not a Fonterra strength yet.

“An election system that gives a committee of the board the tools to remove their colleagues has implications over time for courage, bluntness and honesty in a board.”

Former director Harry Bayliss, of Taranaki, said he was concerned that Guiney had been disregarded after one term for being a strong questioner, incisively and objectively.

The new skills matrix had reduced diversity and was a backward step for the cooperative, he said.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

15

Study looks at land chains Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com THE history of rural land inheritance will be the subject of a three-year study by Otago University history lecturer Dr Jane McCabe.

She has been awarded Marsden Fund grant to look at land inheritance from 1870 to 1970, what happened, why and how families viewed the decisions and the experience.

Research on the topic already existed on either side of her research period, which would be included in her final publication.

Her goal was to provide a forum for families to discuss the issue of rural land inheritance given the importance of land ownership and transfer to the country’s national story.

“It does seem to be becoming more and more difficult to keep land in a family and if we are moving away from that form of ownership we need to take stock of the pros and cons of that model.”

Anecdotal evidence was that land was traditionally passed down to the eldest or most deserving son but while that appeared to no longer be the case, McCabe said there had not been a

study to substantiate that view or how it worked.

She planned to interview current and former farming families from the Taieri Plain south of Dunedin and Hokianga in Northland, areas where land holdings were traditionally small.

Initial research showed land in those areas was mostly traded between neighbours rather than originating from the breaking up of a large, single property into smaller holdings.

The inter-family exchange of farmland told one story but McCabe said daughters often married sons of local farmers which revealed another aspect of the land ownership story.

Her study would also reveal the connection families had to the land, even once it was sold.

Families often spoke fondly of their connection to land farmed by ancestors even if the property had been sold out of the family.

McCabe was keen to hear from families that had three or more generations of land ownership, even if the current generations were not farming any more.

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Contact jane.mccabe@otago.ac.nz

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Add your voice to this story at farmersweekly.co.nz

TURN YOUR DAIRY FARM INTO A LIFESTYLE INVESTMENT

INSIGHT: Otago University lecturer Jane McCabe is studying the history of land inheritance.

Sheep measles hits new low Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com FARMER vigilance has pushed the prevalence of sheep measles to the lowest recorded in 10 years.

Ovis Management project manager Dan Lynch said just 0.59% of lambs processed in the season ended October 31 had sheep measles.

That was down from 0.64% the previous season.

The detection rate in lambs at processing reflected a continuing level of onfarm control being exerted by farmers, Lynch said.

“This is a great outcome.

“It is now rare to meet a sheep farmer not treating their dogs for sheep measles.”

Latest survey data showed farmers continuing to move to monthly treatments to break the life cycle of the parasite.

“Over the years we have met many people treating their dogs on a three-monthly basis for parasites and telling us they are on a sheep measles programme.

IMPROVING: Viable sheep measles cysts showing in a lamb heart are becoming less common because of greater onfarm control.

“In actual fact they are on a dog health programme and relying on a three-monthly dog treatment programme for sheep measles control, which is inappropriate when you are

seeking to control a parasite with a 35-day life cycle,” Lynch said.

Farmers were also increasingly asking visitors such as contractors and hunters not to take dogs onto farms or, if they must, for evidence of treatment.

Ovis Management was closely monitoring the higher sheep measles prevalence in trading lambs compared to those bred and finished on the same farm.

That was despite suppliers finishing lambs having the same level of onfarm control as breeder-finishers.

Ovis Management was continually looking at methods of increasing feedback to breeders not finishing lambs because the feedback loop ended with the finisher.

“We are looking to target back down the production chain to ensure lamb breeders who are not sending stock for processing are aware of the need to have an effective onfarm control programme in place,” Lynch said.

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News

16 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Ruthless efficiency changes culture Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com

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A YEAR of ruthless efficiency and culture change has boosted shareholder confidence and painted a brighter future for Westland Milk Products, chairman Pete Morrison says.

But company chief executive Toni Brendish cautioned while Westland’s turnaround was the result of a year of ruthless efficiency, it didn’t stop there.

Brendish has just completed her first year at the helm.

Over the last year Westland had concentrated on overhauling its structure and business systems.

“There was a lot of excellent work going on but the company was not operating in a way that would build and sustain a prosperous future.

“To that end we looked at all aspects of our business operations and also structure,” Brendish said.

“We drove change from the very top, bringing in new leaders at senior management level while simultaneously examining every role in Westland to ensure the position was needed, working efficiently and whether the right people were in the right place to deliver on the company’s objectives.”

Westland had looked at its processes with a focus on ruthless efficiency, she said.

“Ultimately, it was costing our company a lot more to process its bucket of milk than our competitors and this had to change.”

Westland was now on track to achieve its target of $78 million in savings, equivalent to $1.20 a kilo of milksolids, through increased efficiencies and reduced costs across key areas of its operation.

“We focused on making it right first time, efficiencies in transportation and logistics, getting our sales and IT right,

TOO MUCH: Toni Brendish says it was costing Westland a lot more to process its bucket of milk than its competitors and that had to change.

Photo: Annette Scott

Shareholders quite rightly were demanding answers and calling for both the board and management to do much better.

Pete Morrison Westland Milk improving procurement processes and contracts and getting much better at sales and operating planning.”

However, the cost savings achieved could not be a one-off.

“The efficiencies and savings

have to be embedded as part of the way we work and this has included a review of our strategy to ensure it was fit for purpose for the dairy market and, more specifically, the future of Westland,” she said.

In the company’s annual report Morrison said new ways of working at board and management levels had led to the change of culture.

That had projected a brighter outlook and growing shareholder confidence.

Reflecting on the 2016-17 season Morrison said extensive new thinking had come into the company with new management, a revised board structure and better ways of working.

The season had begun

under considerable financial pressure and the year had been characterised by challenge and change.

“Shareholders quite rightly were demanding answers and calling for both the board and management to do much better and reverse the loss-making result of the year before,” Morrison said.

Shareholders, boosted by an industry-competitive payout prediction for 2017-18 in the $6.40 to $6.80 range, were now exhibiting more confidence in their company.

“We have a new way of working at board and management levels and this has permeated throughout the staff where I am seeing and hearing a new confidence and culture emerging.

“This is something that I believe will be reflected within our shareholder community as we restore and grow pride in our company and utilise its heritage as an asset,” Morrison said.

“Establishing our point of difference and securing our place in a growing and increasingly diverse international market is vital.”

During 2016-17 the company’s balance sheet strengthened, capital investment was carefully controlled and that, with other cash management initiatives, had allowed full repayment of all short-term debt and an improvement in the debt-equity ratio.

He also highlighted Westland’s environmental achievements, noting shareholder performance across a wide range of environmental measures had improved considerably.

“The value of this work to our company cannot be overestimated,” he said.

“Environmental compliance and sustainability is not a temporary issue that gained prominence during the 2017 general election.

“It is an issue that will be with us for a long time because it relates to our very licence to continue farming and pass our businesses and our land on to future generations.”

It also helped establish Westland’s point of difference for customers who were increasingly demanding an environmental bottom line in their audit of the company’s performance, Morrison said.

“We have worked very hard to build a great future for Westland.

“We want a future in which we’ll be proud to say we make beautiful, nourishing products and proud to be part of a dynamic company that will continue to make a vital contribution to our economy, our communities and our people,” he said.

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THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Doubt cast on nitrogen limit rules WAIKATO Regional Council is being urged to give farmers a clearer steer on the implications of the region’s Healthy Rivers Plan for farms’ future productive potential.

Farm consultant Steve Cranston said recent due diligence work he had done on farms around the region prompted him to speak out about what he called a dire lack of information on how nitrogen limits would limit farm output and by default a farm’s true value.

The Healthy Rivers Plan Change 1 required farmers to determine their Nitrogen Reference Point (NRP) from the highest losses over either 2014-15 or 2015-16. It must be submitted to the council by March.

Those in the top 25% of nitrogen losers would be required to fall back into the bottom 75% by changing their management practices and reducing losses.

But Cranston said running the exercise to determine a NRP on a farm had proved to be fraught and arriving at a fixed figure near impossible.

“The council seems to think you can create your own NRP using Overseer data sets.

“But if you read through them you will find options that leave the whole process open to interpretation and even to gaming.

“It’s useless for compliance, with the council offering farmers no guidelines on block set-up.”

Cranston said he had asked the council for more information to help make farm data more specific and had been told it was in progress.

A council spokesman confirmed it had received Cranston’s concerns over setting an NRP. It had directed him to the plan’s schedule that said all

information relating to the use of Overseer protocols for the purposes of implementing Healthy Rivers were in the proposed plan’s schedule.

But Cranston said there were apparent conflicts between what the plan change advised farmers to do when setting Overseer inputs and what the Overseer manual advised for dealing with variations in a farm around livestock and farm contour.

“The two guides are completely conflicted.

“Why has Waikato Regional Council overridden an important setting to improve nutrient budget accuracy?

It won’t take farmers long to work out that if they have very low inputs, receiving 75% of the average could be to their advantage.

Steve Cranston Consultant “This can have a big influence on nitrogen leaching as soil types in different blocks vary.”

Farmers had to furnish a NRP to the council. If they couldn’t do that their Overseer inputs defaulted to 75% of the average, including stocking rate, fertiliser and supplements.

But Cranston said that number was itself going to be problematic.

“It won’t take farmers long to work out that if they have very low inputs, receiving 75% of the average could be to their advantage.

“How many farmers will dig through old invoices they now find will only reduce their

CONFLICT: Waikato Regional Council guidelines and Overseer instructions tell farmers to do different things in setting nitrogen reference points, farm consultant Steve Cranston says.

farm management options and potentially farm value?”

He was also concerned over what the plan change would mean for farmers with drystock blocks, given they could not be converted to dairy under the plan change, with a likely impact on their dry land value.

Cranston suspected the issue and its impacts on land use and possibly land values were still not fully understood by Waikato farmers.

As the spring farm real estate market started to warm up there had been no sign the plan change was affecting prices for prime Waikato land.

Real Estate Institute data indicated total sales of finishing and dairy farms in the region for the nine months to September had totalled 157, up slightly on 133 year to date last year.

Prices had also remained relatively steady with dairy units averaging $49,226 a hectare over the past three months and finishing properties averaging $36,169 a hectare.

Long-time Waikato valuer Ron Lockwood of Fergusson Lockwood and Associates said land prices in the region had proved to be relatively static, sitting on values similar to those of 2013-14.

However, the proposed plan change was starting to play into valuation conversations but it was still in its infancy.

“Our expectation is that prices have plateaued. We are hearing a few negatives about the market, including what impact Healthy Rivers may have but also with the volatility around milk prices.

“However, the overarching factor is simple supply and demand. There are a lot of dairy units on the market right now.”

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Taratahi to deliver for Primary ITO Neal Wallace neal.wallace@nzx.com TARATAHI will be the OtagoSouthland training provider for Primary ITO students on sheep, beef, dairy and deer courses.

The move came after the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre earlier this year took over from Lincoln University as the education provider

at the Telford training farm near Balclutha in south Otago.

Primary ITO chief executive Linda Sissons said independent contractors had previously provided that training but given Taratahi’s extensive training coverage in many areas of the country it offered greater consistency in the delivering Primary ITO programmes.

17

It also provided a chance for an expansion of the courses offered by Primary ITO. “Our trainees and employers will notice very little if any change in the delivery of their training courses or the people involved.

“We have been working closely with Taratahi to ensure the transition is seamless for them,” Sissons said.

Freephone 0800 10 22 76

News

18 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Organics needs official backing Glenys Christian glenys.christian@nzx.com

BACKWARD: Gary Hirshberg, right, with fellow presenter Bob Burke, says New Zealand is lagging behind in organics.

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NEW Zealand runs the risk of missing out on big trade opportunities without a Government-backed organic seal, United States organics expert Gary Hirshberg says.

“It’s where you suffer compared with 89 other countries when it comes to the one-second look customers give your product,” he said.

“No one knows what BioGro is. A Governmentbacked seal is more trustworthy. It’s third-party validated and there are penalties.”

Hirshberg was one of three presenters at a Buy Pure NZ boot camp in Auckland.

The first such event to be held here was attended by representatives from 45 local companies who wanted to learn more about marketing and branding their organic products for the US organics market.

He had been involved in similar events in the US for the last 18 years and said it was pleasing to see the number and geographic diversity of those attracted. A third were already involved in organic production.

Hirshberg set up organic milk producer, Stonyfield Farm, in the 1980s. It now had annual earnings of US$400 million.

As well as investing in 20 different US businesses he now sat on eight company boards including Blue Apron, which bought NZ beef.

“If they could buy organic, they would,” he said.

But if Argentinian beef producers were able to offer an organic option that was where the company’s business would go.

“There are one hundred more examples out there,” he said.

“They are all going to ask if standards are equivalent to that of the US.” Hirshberg said organics in NZ was where the sector had been in the US 15 years ago when sales were worth US$5 to $10 billion.

“This year we will cross the US$50b mark and if you include non-GMOs that would be US$100b,” he said.

While NZ’s agronomic knowledge and the quality of its agricultural produce was not in doubt it was clear there was not enough support for the organic sector, which in the US had shown a compounded growth rate of 20% over the last 18 years.

“This year it was 8.4%,” he said.

“But the market for non-organic products is flat or shrinking.”

The country’s largest food companies were in a feeding frenzy, buying organic companies because of their future prospects.

“They’re not doing it for kicks,” he said.

“That’s where the growth is.”

Millennial consumers wanted it all when it came to the food they bought, demanding products which were pesticide-free and fair trade.

“They’re savvy and better informed,” he said.

“Above all, they want organic.”

And there were benefits to non-organic producers as well.

“Organics can boost brand NZ,” he said.

“You have this amazing story you’re not telling in a unified way.”

Stories that appeared in overseas media about polluted waterways and run-off from farms did a disservice to NZ agriculture’s many advantages.

“Organics can be a positive halo for everything,” he said.

“A rising tide could lift all boats.”

While in NZ Hirshberg met Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, Environment Minister David Parker and US ambassador Scott Brown, who he knew from his home state.

The two other boot camp presenters were consultant Bob Burke and Whole Foods Market director Walter Robb.

It was planned that the boot camp would be held again next year with a group of organic producers from here also set to visit the US early next year.

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Farm Manager, Jason Colebourn stands proudly with his newly constructed bridge.

TAKING THE HASSLE OUT OF BRIDGING A Waikato community has welcomed the opening of a new rural bridge after a washout cut off the usual access to a dairy farm and the Hamilton Model Aero Club.

Farm Manager Jason Colebourn says the community is delighted with the new bridge, a Humes double T concrete bridge, which meets NZTA Class 1 loading requirements, and took only six days to install.

The bridge was a significant investment for the property. Jason sought four quotes for the job and went with Humes who helped facilitate the planning, the resource consent paperwork and the install.

“It was important that there was transparency and that there were no hidden costs.

What we were quoted on was what we got, and it all came through as one package.”

Jason says he was impressed with the process from the initial quoting, to working with the specialists suggested by Humes to get the job done.

The job was challenging because the ground at the site was peat soil, but the Humes team, the engineers and contractors came up with a solution. “The best thing was working with the team of specialists to make it happen,” says Jason.

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Dave says this project shows the advantages of Humes working closely with its customers so that it can find solutions for them, using the experience of appropriate consulting engineering and construction teams.

“Our job is to find a solution that works best for the farmer and their situation. Even if it’s a massive washout, we can do it. Our recommended consulting engineers can come up with a design for most ground conditions.”

Dave says another advantage of Humes dealing direct with its customers is that it can provide alternative solutions with products like culverts or concrete pipes if that is a better option.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

21

Five new Nuffield scholars announced Richard Rennie richard.rennie@nzx.com FIVE scholars from across the country and the agri-business spectrum have been selected for the Nuffield scholarship course for 2018.

They would spend more than four months overseas studying, interviewing and investigating their chosen topics that aimed to put New Zealand’s primary sector into an international context and deepen understanding of the sector’s comparative performance.

Nuffield board chairwoman Juliet Maclean said the successful candidates were selected from a pool of 40 and she was impressed by the diversity captured in this year’s intake.

“We have people from the kiwifruit and aquaculture sectors, quite a departure from the traditional pastoral industries.

“What fascinated me was that the challenges facing these sectors are the same ones facing the more mainstream agricultural sectors.”

While it was not the intention of the Nuffield selectors to push research in a particular direction there was a growing level of interest in aspects of sustainability and agriculture’s environmental footprint.

The scholars included Te Puke kiwifruit grower Simon Cook who also owned a kiwifruit contracting business and had governance roles on several kiwifruit industry organisations.

His background included a management degree from Waikato University and experience working in supply chain management in Auckland.

Also hailing from a non-pastoral sector was Andy Elliot with experience developing new aquaculture species and businesses.

He also headed the business development unit for Maori-owned Wakatu Incorporation that included a diverse range of primary sector investments including orchards, vineyards, marine farms and commercial property. The incorporation also had food brand Kono, focused on high-quality primary produce.

Elliot’s interest was in adding value to existing food products through high-value nutrition and food ingredients.

Turi McFarlane brought a background in farm systems and natural resource management and had a strong interest in Maori agribusiness.

The Banks Peninsula resident was working with Ravensdown Environmental as a senior farm consultant.

His interest in sustainable land management included completing a double major in agricultural science and ecology at Massey University and a masters at Lincoln University majoring in rural development.

Solis Norton of Port Chalmers had a doctorate in the epidemiology of Johne’s disease in dairy herds and joined Deer Industry NZ as a project manager working on the industry’s newly established programme against Johne’s disease.

His interest included leading NZ agriculture toward a sustainable farming systems approach in terms of energy and emissions.

He also received an Agmardt Leadership Award in 2014, travelling to the United States to visit energy experts there.

Also from Otago, Kate Scott had a background in planning and dairy farming, having founded Landpro, a planning and surveying company, in 2007 and before that managing a 200ha dairy farm at Roxburgh.

She also had a strong background in irrigation, having been project manager for the Manuherikia catchment in Otago.

Her study interests with Nuffield revolved around looking at ways for NZ to reduce its agri-

Have your say on this issue: farmersweekly.co.nz

environmental footprint and how to benchmark NZ’s environmental performance against other major agricultural countries.

The Nuffield and Kellogg scholarship programmes were now under the umbrella of the newly formed NZ Rural Leadership Trust. Maclean said the structure provided a valuable leadership pipeline for rural NZ. “It also means if someone is unsuccessful in being selected for Nuffield we can point them to Kellogg study as an option.”

BRIGHT SPARKS: The new Nuffield scholars are, from left, Andy Elliot, Solis Norton, Turi McFarlane, Simon Cook and Kate Scott.

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News

22 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

GM ban will not be automatic in north Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com NORTHLAND Regional Council will not immediately reinstate the anti-genetic engineering clauses in its Regional Policy Statement, chairman Bill Shepherd says.

“This matter has sat in the courts for a long time and all councillors and council employees have steered away from commenting, plus we haven’t debated any aspects of this.

“Our latest Regional Policy Statement (RPS) was notified in 2016 with the GMO clauses highlighted and clearly marked not operative.

“We will need to see the official withdrawal of the Federated Farmers legal appeal and probably also its related actions against other Northland parties.

“Then we will get some further advice before doing anything.”

Shepherd, a farmer and a former national wool chairman of Federated Farmers, said genetic technologies had changed considerably since the non-GMO rules were written.

“Some of what you might call gene editing now has potential benefits for dealing with significant challenges in agriculture and weed and pest management.”

When asked how the clauses came to be in the RPS he said it pre-dated his involvement with the council.

It was fair to say Northland had an active branch of GE-Free New Zealand.

“Although I wasn’t on the council when the RPS was written, I do know there was a huge amount of public interest at the time so we have to be cognisant of that.”

Shepherd said the council had tried a new approach when drafting and consulting on its proposed Regional Plan (RP), now nearing the end of the final public consultation.

It had inserted an extra notification and consultation phase earlier this year so people could give feedback without going straight into formal submissions.

About 40 submissions had been received so far and the 10-week period for submissions

would end on November 15.

Though he expected a flurry of late submissions, the relatively low number could indicate some success in involving more people earlier.

“Part of the reason for extending the RP process was to mitigate against the plan being tied up in courts for years, like the RPS was.

“By getting more of our community on board earlier we hoped that would implement the formal part more expeditiously.”

The RP reflected Northland’s environmental challenges and the implementation of the National Policy Statements on Fresh Water.

“We have tried to leave as many activities as possible being permitted so they don’t need resource consents but at the same time beef up the rules.

“We have put three previous plans (air, coastal and water and soil) into one and reduced its size by three-quarters to make it more user-friendly.

“A permitted activity doesn’t mean open slather because stringent rules apply.”

Shepherd said outsiders

STRATEGY: Northland Regional Council has tried to leave as many activities as possible as permitted to avoid the need for resource consent but beef up the rules governing them, chairman Bill Shepherd says.

sometimes pointed to Northland’s higher non-compliance rates for the discharges of farm dairy effluent as evidence of lax standards but the opposite was true.

“We have a robust monitoring system to check every dairy farm every year, which is not done in all regions of the country, and the RP tightens up the rules considerably.”

Nitrogen leaching into waterways and groundwater wasn’t the biggest issue in Northland but sedimentary loss was significant, hence the new requirement for erosion control plans in sensitive catchments.

High E coli levels were also

an issue but it was possible the bacterium was self-sustaining in Northland’s warmer waters rather than livestock in waterways being the problem.

Shepherd expected a new wave of environmental requirements coming from the Labour-NZ FirstGreens Government.

While the Greens especially wanted to do more and quickly, he hoped they appreciated change to biological systems took a long time.

“It is hard at local government level when standards change because we have to go through the whole process of plan change proposals and consultation and all this costs time and money.”

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

23

Genetic engineering case dropped Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@nzx.com FEDERATED Farmers has stopped swimming against the tide of regional regulations covering genetic engineering after receiving a legal opinion it would not succeed in court.

The federation had taken its fight against Northland Regional Council and related parties to the Court of Appeal after losing earlier actions in the Environment Court and High Court.

The nub of the matter was the council’s inclusion in its Regional Policy Statement of a precautionary approach to the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the environment.

That part of the regional policy statement had not been operative pending the court action.

But Federated Farmers had now withdrawn its next-level appeal just weeks before the longrunning matter was due to be heard in court again.

President Katie Milne said an external review of the pending appeal said recent amendments to the Resource Management Act (RMA) were likely to have materially reduced the prospects of the appeal being prosecuted successfully.

GE-Free Northland celebrated the capitulation

by Federated Farmers after a three-year legal battle.

Chairwoman Linda Grammer said the courts had twice upheld the right of regions to create enforceable GE-free zones and thereby protect the access by primary producers to key markets and premium prices.

She was confident the Court of Appeal would have ruled against Federated Farmers a third time when the matter was heard later this month.

“In our view, the federation has not only wasted its own members’ hard-earned money and resources but time and money from Northland councils and ratepayers also.”

She hoped the federation would now withdraw similarly vexatious actions against Whangarei and Far North District Councils, the Auckland Unitary plan and the Hastings District Plan.

For its part, Federated Farmers believed it was fighting the piecemeal frustration of local communities going against national decisions and personal rights.

“We consider that management decisions made by central government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on the use of GMOs should not be able to be undermined or overridden at the whim of individual councils.

“For example, we do not think that councils should be able to ban a certain type of road vehicle that has been permitted by the Land Transport Agency.

“In the same way, if, in the future, the EPA approves a GMO for commercial use individual farmers should be permitted to use the GMO provided it is used in accordance with EPA’s conditions of release, rather than an individual council arbitrarily banning them.”

Milne said councils should not be able to restrict a GMO just because it was a GMO. “This is the reason that Federated Farmers took this particular case and others to court. It was about trying to prevent costly and unnecessary duplication between national and local regulations.

“This type of technology must be used responsibly and be appropriately regulated so it’s important all decisions around GMOs are managed robustly at central government level, not regional council level.”

Federated Farmers had a neutral stance on GMO technologies but firmly believed farmers, environmentalists, doctors and the public should be given choice.

She referenced GMO assistance towards NZ becoming predator-free by 2050 and new medical treatments such as the Pexa-Vec liver cancer trial which received GMO release approval by the EPA last year and new fodder technologies such as the high energy grass developed by AgResearch.

Genetic modification was already used in NZ in many medicines to fight cancer and treat conditions such as diabetes.

It was used in animal vaccines, GM animal feed

was imported and many cheeses were made using genetically modified enzymes.

It was revealed earlier this year that genetically modified petunias had been growing in gardens here for the last five years.

“Nevertheless, rather than pursuing the appeal, Federated Farmers has concluded that it would be more productive to sit down with the Northland local authorities and try to work where the new boundaries on their jurisdiction to manage GMOs in Northland now lie.”

Though it did not say so, the change in government to three political parties (Labour, NZ First and the Greens) with non-GMO policies might have weighed in Federated Farmers decision.

DELIGHTED: GE-Free Northland campaigner Linda Grammer called on Federated Farmers to drop all legal appeals against precautionary clauses in regional policy statements.

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News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

25

Basic farming brings rewards Annette Scott annette.scott@nzx.com

POPULAR: Nick and Penny France hosted 90 farmers and rural professionals at a B+LNZ Farming for Profit field day to learn about their good, old-fashioned attention to detail farming philosophy.

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NICK France admits to being pretty stingy in his sheep and beef breeding operation as he sticks with the old-fashioned philosophy of attention to detail at key times.

He told farmers at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand farming for profit day he runs his beef operation as cheaply as possible, aligning practice with the philosophy of having bulls that perform well under commercial conditions and produce well-grown, profitable offspring.

“What we do here is cheap and commercial.

The cows are a tool. We use them for growing and managing pasture for our commercial sheep operation and selecting bulls for the stud,” France said.

He and wife Penny have been running Okawa, a 780-hectare property in the Mid Canterbury foothills, since the retirement of Penny’s parents David and Rosemary Morrow in 2014.

The Morrows were known for their Okawa Hereford bull stud established by David’s father in 1954 with Penny now a third generation farmer on the property.

The couple’s farm management was based on building on the performance and quality of their young stock in the stud bull operation.

“Our plan is to carry on with the core values of the stud and continue improving performance and quality,” France said.

“I am trying to grow animals out that will last 12 years so we give the young cows every chance but we don’t mess around when it comes to culling.”

The policy was best practice commercial management incorporating wintering on the hills, using cattle to manage summer pasture for set stocking of the breeding ewes and the heifers had to prove fecundity, fertility and maturity by midNovember to be in with a chance to stay on.

The pressure was on to test the constitution and the wet winter was challenging this year.

“You see them on good feed here now but the way they looked when they came off the hills was pretty embarrassing after a really tough, wet winter,” France said.

“Mating is a culling tool for inclusion in the cow herd. We have plenty of time to grow them out so we are doing it as cheaply as possible and we still calve at 96% and wean mid-March at weights of 200-240kg.

“The key performance indicator is at next year’s weaning as a second calver. Did she get in calf, raise a good calf and is she condition score 6-7?”

The sheep were run in much the same fashion.

Okawa ran a split Wairere Romney flock with two-thirds straight Romneys.

France bred his own first cross TefRoms this year using Cheviot and trialling the Dorper ram with the hoggets.

“I’m impressed how it is going so far,” he said.

The breeding flock consisted of 3380 mixed age ewes, 1120 two-tooths and 1200 ewe hoggets.

“It’s nothing fancy. We do a good, old-fashioned lambing beat. We mother on and we target attention to detail at key times such as late pregnancy.

“It’s worked for years and it still works. We lamb late September, scan mid to late 170s, wean in the first week of January though we are flexible with that around feed management.

“Lamb wastage is minimal at 10%, weaning percentage is 153% with 30-40% straight off mum to the works.

“The key message is condition score, shelter and lambing beat,” France said.

The field day coincided with the B+LNZ Northern South Island Farmer Council annual meeting at which chairman James Hoban was reelected as was Hugh Dampier-Crossley.

Both the regional extension manager Sarah

O’Connell and Hoban reported a year of many challenges for the council and farmers in the region as they managed the aftermath of the Kaikoura earthquake hot on the heels of several years of drought.

But the council still managed to meet the regional delivery plan and now looked forward to better times ahead O’Connell said as she presented a snapshot of the 2017-2018 year.

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News

26 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Crown cash vital to lagoon plan Tim Fulton tim.fulton@nzx.com

STILL GOING: A Hunter Downs Irrigation field day in 2013at Rathgen Farms attracted good interest.

Hurst said most agreed the only option was to flush Wainono but perhaps the whole country should help pay for it.

Crown Irrigation, set up by the National government, had up to $400m to support privatelyinitiated projects and had so far spent just over $130m.

Labour had indicated it might not continue the programme.

Hunter Downs project manager Stacey Scott said good progress

continued to be made in pulling all the various pieces together to make Hunter Downs a reality.

The farmer-run company was slowly securing the final required hectares to get across the line and it was also seeking Crown funding to make the scheme economically viable.

If Crown Irrigation advanced a concessionary rate of funding the company would be able to build extra capacity for the scheme.

It seemed Crown Irrigation was still supportive, she said.

“Hunter Downs is finalising the principal commercial terms and conditions of a potential financing proposal based on the information provided to the lender to date.”

The environmental enhancement of the Wainono Lagoon was a core part of the scheme, she said.

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THE Labour-led Government might need to keep backing Crown funding for irrigation to inject life into a vulnerable South Canterbury lagoon.

South Canterbury’s Hunter Downs irrigation scheme was in final-stage talks with farmers and Crown Irrigation Investments for funding linked to a rescue bid for Wainono Lagoon, near Waimate.

Environment Canterbury said using the Waitaki River to add clean, low-nutrient water to the lagoon was a key feature of the proposed 12,000ha Hunter Downs scheme.

ECan classed the coastal lake near Waimate as a nutrient red zone.

Federated Farmers South Canterbury resources chairman Colin Hurst said it was arguable who should pay for augmenting water flows into Wainono, which had deteriorated over decades because of a build-up of phosphate-laden silt.

The brackish and shallow wetland was the second-largest of its kind in the South Island behind central Canterbury’s Lake Ellesmere, which was also polluted.

closely with local iwi and other groups including Rooney Earthmoving and the Morven Glenavy Irrigation Scheme on effective and viable augmentation.

A scheme monitoring programme for the command area was now in place, providing information on the environmental state of the command area.

The monitoring programme would continue for the life of the consent so any effect of new irrigation could be addressed, Scott said.

The scheme’s total nitrogen allocation would be shared among holders of water shares in several catchments.

Farm environment plans for irrigated land use would be part of contracts between Hunter Downs and water users.

Steps would be taken to avoid or minimise adverse impacts of onfarm activities associated with irrigation and implement best-practice farming methods.

The amount of new irrigation under the Hunter Downs scheme in the Wainono/Makikihi catchments was low and the irrigation company believed the farms using the water would not have a direct impact on the lagoon’s health.

News

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

27

PGW takes on gamechangers Alan Williams alan.williams@nzx.com A SMALL agri-optics investment is one of the potential gamechanger initiatives for PGG Wrightson, retiring chief executive Mark Dewdney said in his final address to shareholders.

Another was the Go Product range funding farmer livestock businesses, in which Wrightson retained ownership of animals but paid the trading profit to farmers after deducting commission and interest-holding costs.

Game-changer was the third string to the strategy developed by Dewdney in 2014 and refreshed last year.

Improve and Grow were the first two parts and he said they had been embraced by staff, with a number of projects at various stages of implementation or assessment.

New and emerging technologies are enabling new business models to disrupt traditional ways of doing business.

Mark Dewdney PGG Wrightson Dewdney left the business after a successful four-year term and would return to overseeing his several dairy farms in Waikato.

He was a director of the Tatua Dairy Co-operative and expected to take on other governance roles in the agri-sector but wouldn’t be chasing full-time executive work.

He had made technical expertise a key part of the group’s service to farmer-clients and the Agri Optics acquisition in late 2016 enhanced the group’s presence in the precision agriculture space, he said.

It demonstrated the intent to market products, tools and services that increased onfarm productivity and sustainability.

Wrightson bought a 51% holding in Agri Optics but a recent restructuring brought farm machinery group C B Norwood Distributors into the partnership as a one-third shareholder along with the Methven-based Mackenzie family, who started the business in 2010 to provide precision services over a range of farm operations.

“New and emerging technologies are enabling new business models to disrupt traditional ways of doing business,” Dewdney said at the annual meeting in Christchurch.

Wrightson was committed to embracing that change to stay at the forefront of the agri-sector.

The Norwood business was part of the larger Asia-based corporate group Wrightson’s new chief executive Ian Glasson formerly managed.

Wrightson sold its finance business several years ago but Dewdney said the small livestock funding programme under the Go Beef and Go Lamb banners developed in the last two years had proved popular with farmers.

It had deliberately been kept small with receivables growing from zero in November 2015 to $12.2 million at June 30, 2016, and $32.3m at the latest June 30.

That compared to trade and other receivables of $232m at the same date.

Wrightson funded livestock purchases for farmers, receiving the sale commission and retaining title to the animals while they were being fattened onfarm before getting the subsequent sale commission and holding fee.

In the latest year, 188,000 lambs and 34,000 cattle had been part of the programme and the business was being grown carefully but substantially, he said.

In the Improve category of the strategy there had been three major events: restructuring the water business into the retail division last year, already providing early benefits; using the property divestment programme to re-allocate capital to growth parts of the business; and the One-PGW approach.

That aimed to put customers at the centre of everything the company did with staff from different businesses asked to work together across the organisational structure to provide best service to customers.

In the Grow programme, he highlighted the new digital focus in the retail and water division.

Over the next year the point of sale and inventory management system would be replaced to allow a range of online trading and related initiatives.

Dewdney forecast similar operating earnings (Ebitda) this year to the $64.5m achieved last year.

Good commodity values meant confidence was high among dairy, beef, lamb and horticulture clients but some production levels

CHEERIO: Chief executive Mark Dewdney has left PGG Wrightson poised for further growth.

in the milk and livestock areas might be challenging and very wet conditions in many areas had slowed down early spring sales.

Ebitda was about $2m down on the same time last year with lower demand for grass seed and chemicals affecting of the retail and seed and grain businesses.

The delay was not yet significant enough to suggest

lost sales and he believed that business would be eventually caught up as weather improved and there would be weatherrelated farm damage to be put right as well, leading to further sales.

On an after-tax basis profits might be down about 30% on last year because of the absence of capital gains on the property

sales programme now mostly completed. They were worth $8.74m last year when the aftertax profit was $46.3m.

He said it was early in the financial year to be forecasting final results and the group’s optimism for the future had not diminished.

A return to growth was expected in 2019.

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28 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Wool must be sold on safety He might be retiring after a long career but Cedric Bayly can look forward as well as back. He spoke to Alan Williams about his career, competition from synthetics and his clear vision for the future of our natural fibre.

T

HE great hope for New Zealand crossbred wool lies in convincing northern hemisphere consumers their homes aren’t truly safe without it, industry leader Cedric Bayly says.

Wool prices could rise sustainably only if those folk accepted their homes were safer by using the natural fibre as the base for furniture, bedding and insulation as well as carpets rather than man-made, synthetic products.

“Why are they filling their homes with petrochemicals?

“I think it’s because they don’t know what they’re doing,” Bayly said on his final day as wool general manager for rural services group PGG Wrightson.

“If they did, they wouldn’t let their children run round in homes like that.”

The man-made foams, polystyrene and nylons were full of invisible gases and created a fire risk.

“I’ve been waiting 20 years for the message to get through and I think it will and then crossbred wool will have a good future but still some volatility in prices.

“It’s got bulk, it’s clean with natural elasticity and it doesn’t burn.”

Bayly has retired after six years in Wrightson’s top wool job and more than 40 years in the industry.

The times now were as difficult and volatile as they had ever been.

Wrightson’s outgoing chief executive Mark Dewdney – they retired on the same day – told the firm’s annual meeting in late October the company typically had about 5000 bales of crossbred wool in storage around the country but this year’s downturn in demand and sales increased it to 25,000 bales.

Other NZ companies and other wool-producing countries had plenty in store as well.

Crossbred wool producers could only watch as the fine Merino and mid-micron farmers reaped the rewards for their fleeces, strongly sought after by clothing makers.

Wrightson was active in those fleeces as well but the reality was that crossbred made up 80% of its business with Merino at 12% and mid-micron at 8%.

The group was kept out of the Merino business after selling its stake in the New Zealand Merino Co back to growers but that restriction ended three years ago and about the same time Craig Smith was brought in as business development manager with his vast contacts in world markets.

That was a key move for the group, Bayly said.

Smith had brought in a lot of business with the only restriction now being not enough Merino in NZ to meet orders.

Why are they filling their homes with petrochemicals?

Cedric Bayly PGG Wrightson South Island high-country landtenure outcomes were an issue and the group had started looking for overseas supply as well.

One of Smith’s achievements was to get the top-end Japanese clothes maker Konaka as an important buyer, among several others. The Konaka fine Merino suit Bayly wore to the Wrightson annual meeting retailed for about $5000.

IGNORANCE: People fill their homes with dangerous manmade fibres rather than wool because they don’t know what they are doing, wool expert Cedric Bayly says.

Bayly expected the fleece-type ratios to stay about where they were now.

Merino supply was a factor and increasing mid-micron volumes wasn’t easy either.

Producing lamb meat was the main purpose for sheep farmers and prices were good right now while any attempt to breed crossbred flocks towards the mid-micron (22 to 30) range could result in lower lambing percentages.

The issue for crossbred wool was simple.

“China or Asia was taking 53% of our clip but then there was a change in strategy there and the volumes have dropped back to 30%.

“That means more than 20% of our wool was back on the global market and that’s why the market has dropped. It’s really difficult.”

Good lamb prices were helping farmers decide to store wool rather than meet the market.

Wool could be stored for several years but colour and quality did drop away over time and prices adjusted for that.

For the sake of an extra $50 to $100 a bale and the short-term outlook wasn’t looking wonderful, Bayly said farmers should be turning their wool into cash for

reinvesting in other parts of their operations . . . especially with the new shearing season about to start.

More than 90% of NZ’s crossbred wool was sold to the northern hemisphere where buyers believed it to be some of the best in the world.

But it was a carrier fibre and buyers wanted to put it with wools of other origins and they wanted to process it with other fibres, either natural or man-made.

“That’s where the market is.

They want to do their own mixes for their own products.”

Bayly joined the wool department at Williams and Kettle in 1974 and was manager of the business when W&K became part of firstly Wrightsons then went into the merged Wrightson and Pyne Gould Guinness.

He spent some years with Elders Primary Wool before returning to the enlarged Wrightson group in 2011.

Then new chief executive George Gould asked him back to rebuild the business after the failed attempt to fold it into a farmer-owned entity.

Bayly liked that challenge and also the fact the group owned the Bloch and Behrens export business.

That enabled growers to sell their wool on contract, developing relationships with overseas customers rather than having to sell all their wool on the spot market.

It helped stabilise wool prices with many farmers benefiting from contracts still being in place at higher prices than the spot level. It had been successful for all groups, Bayly said.

Wrightson sold about 10% of its wool on contract with the major volumes still going through auction.

Auctions would remain the main sale method. They were a way of change of ownership and there was nothing wrong with that.

Through all the difficult times the whole industry owed a debt to wool exporters who travelled the world and brought back orders from northern hemisphere customers who had plenty of other places they could buy their wool, he said.

Bayly farmed deer on his Hawke’s Bay lifestyle block.

“They’re low maintenance and easy to run when you’re busy,” he said.

Now he’s got more time, he’s wondering if he might get one or two Corriedales as well.

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New thinking

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

29

Robots’ repertoire adds new tasks The national goal of doubling the value of primary exports by 2025 appears to be becoming more elusive though the last government relabelled it as aspirational rather than fixed. Professor Mike Duke of Waikato University’s engineering and robotics department believes it might yet be robots that ensure the goal does not slip away entirely. He spoke with Richard Rennie about the potential he sees for the machines.

B

EATING labour shortages with robots might be a key to meeting the last government’s target of doubling export receipts by 2025, Waikato University researcher Professor Mike Duke says.

He oversees a department of bright young students working hard to take robotics outdoors, to the sharp end of the primary process where picking, planting, harvesting and thinning are all vital to crop productivity and earnings.

However, they were also the areas most reliant on labour and the most susceptible to labour shortages and costs at critical times.

And seasonal challenges already being faced were only going to get worse.

Last year a Ministry for Primary Industries report estimated the booming horticultural sector needed nearly 8000 more skilled workers by 2025 to cope with predicted production rises.

Only last month Zespri said it was increasing its SunGold licensed growing area by almost 50%, adding 700ha a year for each of the next five seasons.

That doubled the fruit’s volume to about 100 million trays by 2025.

It also validated efforts already under way to automate picking, pruning, spraying and pollinating

via robots that would begin next season.

“The challenge now is how can we move robotics into the paddocks and orchards?”

Duke was surprised by the often antiquated equipment some primary sectors used for specialised tasks and how ripe they were for a robotic revision.

Despite 200 people being unemployed in Tokoroa this company simply could not get enough people to do this critical job.

Professor Mike Duke Waikato University

He cited a pine seedling company in Tokoroa that tasked his department with making a robotic machine capable of drilling more precise holes for seedling planting rather than the off-centre holes a simple round spiked wheel created.

That machine’s round wheel shape meant a portion of the seedlings inevitably grew crooked.

Having done that his graduates also developed a machine capable of uplifting seedlings, removing

THE FUTURE: An experimental robot uses sensors to find asparagus spears.

dirt, grading them and boxing them up.

“Despite 200 people being unemployed in Tokoroa, this company simply could not get enough people to do this critical job.”

Software in the machine included algorithms replicating human decisions on each seedling’s root structure and proved to be as accurate as human graders.

The prototype was now operating and two grading machines would be running in the South Island by Christmas.

Tender Tips Asparagus was also highly reliant on seasonal labour for picking and wanted to replace more people with machines.

“It is back-breaking work with workers covering 600km for every 10ha. They are looking at robots capable of operating 24/7, picking asparagus as they appear.”

The biggest robotics project in the country was the automated kiwifruit robot developed by Robotics Plus with $10 million from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Zespri and Robotics Plus.

With a robot platform already developed (Farmers Weekly March 27) the proof of concept had been demonstrated for picking and pollination was being tested this month in Bay of Plenty.

Duke was clearly excited by some cutting-edge technologies

AUTOMATION: The challenge now is to work out how to move robots into orchards and paddocks, Professor Mike Duke of Waikato University says.

including LiDAR (light imaging detection and ranging) in the machines.

Also known as 3D scanning, the technology not only helped guide the vehicles but could also identify the ripeness and quality of individual fruit and make a picking decision.

Researchers could also see the robots becoming full time biosecurity sentinels as they picked, pruned or sprayed crops.

“We have placed replica stink bugs in the orchards for the robots to detect and they are proving very efficient at doing so.”

But the deeper, more challenging technology

Photo: Sarah Brook

underscoring the machines was the same technology raising some questions among their designers and the public.

Many used deep neural networking or deep learning technology to learn their required actions without the usual prerequisite of coded input from a programmer to perform each specific task.

They understood and remembered patterns, learnt them and adjusted to variations.

They were used widely for tasks like voice recognition, language translation and, increasingly, in self-drive vehicle technology and guidance.

But the technology was also regarded as something of a black box even by the engineers who built it, on grounds the complex networking or wiring of the systems’ artificial neurons and how they communicated were not fully understood.

As soon as the black box of AI was opened, the opportunities became endless but there was tension around the technology, Duke said.

“It is not such an issue with something like kiwifruit harvesting but if you took a self-drive car, for example, and it avoids another car and kills a pedestrian in the process then how do we understand how the car made that decision or where responsibility lies?”

These issues and risks around susceptibility to hacking were unlikely to delay the role AI would play in primary sector robotics.

Duke saw the technology as leading a complete new industry in New Zealand.

“We can see these machines not only making NZ a more efficient primary producer harvesting consistently high-quality produce but also the start of a high-end, quality robotics industry with great export potential.”

Opinion

30 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

EDITORIAL

Not easy but it is obvious

I

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Fonterra not best for farmers FONTERRA started with amalgamating Kiwi with NZ Dairy after both companies had amalgamated many smaller companies before.

It was originally designed to get the best price of milk for the farmers.

The price of value added to the milk has certainly helped but basically we have to take world prices.

Fonterra’s job should be to get the best price of milk for the farmer by value-adding as much as possible.

Australia has cost us a lot of money except this year so let’s hope it continues.

Beingmate was a disaster waiting happen and it certainly has now.

Fonterra paid $755m for

18.8% and now you would be lucky to get $441m. So far no earnings have come from the investment.

In Henry van der Heyden’s time they bought SanLu for $250m for 49% of the shares then wrote the whole lot off.

NZ Dairy looked at it before Fonterra and turned it down because of shoddy workmanship with asbestos hanging out of the walls and roof.

Fonterra’s overpaid chief executives and directors would be a joke if it wasn’t so serious.

Their job is to get the best price for our milk, not invest in shares, cows and buildings in another country.

They are just showing them how we do it here.

I was sorry to see Leonie Guiney being given the

push. If you stand up against the board they give you the shove.

Stuart Nattrass I considered one of their best directors and he was given the push because he questioned some of their actions.

If you don’t toe the line out you go, an old boys’ network.

So we are left with Theo Spierings being paid $8.32m.

John Wilson the Chairman receives $405,000 and 20 executives $1m plus.

If you ask some directors a question they give you such a long answer that when they have finished you don’t know what they said.

A typical politician.

Keith Brawn Waikato

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N THE past couple of months there has been a lot of talk about the cost of farming – taxes that might be introduced on irrigation, emissions trading costs and nutrient loss penalties.

Farmers are obviously anxious about paying more in bills and made their feelings known during the election campaign. But these ideas have been around for quite some time. If you degrade the environment, you should pay to fix it.

But what if we took the opposite approach and rewarded farmers for doing the good stuff? Several dairy companies do just that already.

Miraka and Synlait both have incentive schemes that put more money in the pockets of their farmer-suppliers for hitting various environmental and quality markers.

It’s a win-win, because the farmer gets recognition for a job well done and the processor gets a better raw product with a better brand story to sell.

Synlait already banks on that story with its grass-fed brands gaining a premium. Miraka works to its Te Ara Miraka philosophy based on sustainability and minimal environmental impact. Farmers who ticked the boxes got about 13c more for each kilogram of milksolids supplied last year.

Is this the model we’ve been looking for to elevate our industry to where we aspire it to be? If it is, Fonterra is the obvious player that would need to get in the game but it’s not that simple.

For a start, some co-operative owners frown upon their peers getting more of the pie than they do. The sheer scale of Fonterra’s operation would also pose challenges. But in a world that is demanding farmers lift their game when it comes to the environment and in an industry that aspires to add significant value to the food it produces, isn’t rewarding farmers who help do that the obvious choice?

Opinion

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

31

MPI response was appropriate Geoff Gwyn

T

HE Ministry for Primary Industries would like to set the record straight around a number of misleading and, in some cases, inaccurate statements published about the Mycoplasma bovis response in your story of November 3 interviewing Aad van Leeuwen and entitled It’s a nightmare.

MPI is very much aware of the stress and heartbreak this disease situation has caused and continues to cause the Van Leeuwen family, their staff and sharemilkers and this is a key consideration in our response.

It is very unfortunate the van Leeuwens and others associated with the seven known infected properties have been at the receiving end of totally unjustified stigmatising as a result of the disease.

Van Leeuwen is correct that it is not the plague.

It’s a bacterial disease affecting productivity.

Around the world it is managed through good onfarm hygiene.

In New Zealand because it is a new disease, we have taken the decision to attempt to eradicate it.

This has been widely supported by the dairy and beef industries.

Van Leeuwen is not, however, correct in every statement reported in the article.

His assertion it took MPI five days to locate the van Leeuwen Dairy Group farms and 10 days to visit the properties is wrong.

MPI was notified by the local veterinarian of unusual disease on one of the VLDG farms on July 17 and immediately directed the vet to take samples for analysis.

The samples were sent from Oamaru to the ministry’s laboratory in Upper Hutt and a confirmed positive result of Mycoplasma bovis was returned on July 22.

On July 23 an MPI incursion

The

Pulpit

investigator flew down and met with the van Leeuwens in Oamaru and explained the unfolding situation.

Legal restrictions controlling the movement of animals and risk goods on and off the first VLDG property were put in place on July 24 and all the group’s farms were under Restricted Place Notices by July 25.

The next day an incursion investigator visited the initial property to interview the farm manager and owners/ administrators from the group.

A severe storm and flooding in the region did delay the field operations but there was no question of MPI being unable to locate the farms or taking 10 days to visit.

To compare the ministry’s timing and actions in this case with how it would respond in the event of a foot and mouth disease outbreak is alarmist and misleading.

Mycoplasma bovis can be a nasty disease but it does not have the significant impacts of an FMD outbreak.

MPI responded to the symptoms reported entirely appropriately.

Had those symptoms been

NOT THE SAME: It was alarmist and misleading to compare the Mycoplasma bovis response to what might happen in a foot and mouth outbreak, Primary Industries Ministry readiness and response director Geoff Gwyn says.

anything like FMD, the response would have been different.

The comments published around compensation are also incorrect.

It is not true that van Leeuwen has nothing on the table to prove he will receive compensation for the financial losses incurred as a result of this response.

The VLDG has had multiple face to face meetings about compensation with me and members of the ministry’s dedicated, specialist compensation team.

Van Leeuwen has been assured that as he has been instructed by MPI under the Biosecurity Act 1993 to cull animals he is definitely entitled to compensation.

Any NZ farmer or grower who incurs verifiable losses when powers under the Act

are exercised to eradicate or manage an organism is entitled to compensation.

The word verifiable is key.

Before MPI can enter into final contractual agreements over compensation, the VLDG must submit claims for assessment that establish and document the losses that have occurred.

This process is entirely correct and justifiable when the ministry is charged with administering the public purse.

Van Leeuwen also asserts that MPI has deployed the wrong type of testing in its bid to determine the extent of the disease outbreak and he believes bulk milk testing should have been adopted over blood tests.

However, MPI’s testing programme has been overseen by a team of highly qualified scientists and veterinarians and

is the most appropriate testing process.

Using both bulk milk and blood/swab testing together maximises the chances of finding active infection and is superior to using either one alone.

The blood tests can establish previous exposure to Mycoplasma bovis and are very useful for animals that are not milking and for which bulk milk tests are not possible (eg, dry stock, calves).

It would be a great pity if this article provided a deterrent to other farmers and growers reporting signs of disease or pests on their operations to MPI. All NZ’s producers have a role in our country’s biosecurity and the earliest possible reporting of potential biosecurity issues allows for the best possible attempt at containment and eradication.

NZ is one of very few countries in the world that has not previously had Mycoplasma bovis in its herds and MPI and the dairy and beef industries are right to pursue every option in an attempt to eradicate it.

Van Leeuwen might feel that MPI is grasping at straws to satisfy public opinion in its belief the disease is contained but to date the only positive results have been on seven infected properties.

Based on some 40,000 tests at a national, regional, district and response level we are cautiously optimistic that we are dealing with a localised area of infection around Oamaru and our focus remains on control and possible eradication.

Our actions are based on scientific advice provided from experts across the industry, not on public opinion.

Your View Got a view on some aspect of farming you would like to get across?

The Pulpit offers readers the chance to have their say. nzfarmersweekly@nzx.com Phone 06 323 1519

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Opinion

32 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

Artificial meat threat is here Alternative View

Alan Emerson

I CAN remember decades ago when the threat of synthetics to our wool industry raised its head.

Farming leaders back then told us there wouldn’t be a problem.

“You could never replace a natural fibre.”

How wrong they were.

The state of our wool industry is reference to that. Yes, wool is a natural fibre and yes, you have to burn oil to produce synthetics but the reality is people are happy with synthetics.

Then, in the early 1970s, I produced a radio programme on textured vegetable protein or TVP. I thought it was a threat though few agreed with me. TVP, originally developed in the 1960s, came from soy and was referred to as soy meat.

I tried soy sausages once and they were awful. It is a meat substitute but would appeal more to vegetarians than carnivores.

That’s about to change.

The Government’s chief science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman came out recently saying plant-based milk poses an existential threat to the country’s economic fortunes.

He added there was a growing consumer appetite around the world for synthetic alternatives to meat and milk, including in the all-important Asian market.

I agree with Gluckman despite Fonterra’s confidence dairy will always trump synthetic alternatives.

I’d like to think it will but it won’t.

Go onto the Perfect Day Milk website and have a look for yourself.

Synthetic milk is described as more nutritious, safer and more sustainable than dairy, adding it’s high in protein, lactose and cholesterol-free and has a longer shelf life than dairy.

Then comes the king hit.

Animal-free milk is cleaner, greener and kinder to the environment. It uses 98% less water, 91% less land and 65% less energy than dairy and produces 84% less greenhouse gas emissions.

For the record, I don’t believe those figures.

It is sold at a similar price to cow’s milk.

With meat we have similar issues.

Impossible Foods is a Californian artificial meat producer. Unlike TVP the meat tastes like meat from an animal.

People can’t tell the difference. It even bleeds just like the real thing.

As with the milk argument Impossible Foods hammers the sustainability bandwagon.

IT’S HERE: Artificial meat is already available in New Zealand.

Its meat uses 95% less land, 74% less water and creates 87% less GHG emissions than the real thing. Again, I don’t accept the figures.

The secret is a genetically modified plant protein called heme or heghemoglobin to give it the full title. Heme makes the burger sizzle and bleed.

Impossible Foods markets its meat as having more protein, less fat, fewer calories and no cholesterol.

Production, which is set to increase, is a million pounds of meat a month. Putting that

in perspective it is roughly equivalent, on an annual basis, to 20,000 of our dairy bulls that go to America to be made into burgers.

It raised US$75 million from private investors late last year, bringing its base to US$300m. It is now squarely focused on getting more of its burgers into the world.

Another major issue for us is that the chief executive of Impossible Foods wants to eliminate all meat from human diets.

Of interest is that the recent so-called NZ agri-business leaders club or the Te Hono soiree at Stanford University had the chief executive of Impossible Foods, Pat Brown, talking to them.

It obviously didn’t make an impression or cause any ripples because we haven’t heard a dicky bird from anyone from Te Hono who heard Brown.

While Impossible Foods uses genetically modified organisms for its burgers its main rival, Beyond Meat, doesn’t.

The company has been trading since 2013 and has product in stores throughout the United States.

Its range of products is greater than its rival and its marketing is slick. It sells its product as healthier than meat and totally sustainable.

It says animal meats give a 21%

increase in heart disease and 17% increase in cancer and 60 billion land animals are slaughtered annually for food.

Its mission is to create mass market solutions that perfectly replace animal protein with plant protein.

We have a plant-based initiative alive and well in New Zealand.

The company, PBT NZ, is owned by movie directors James Cameron and Sir Peter Jackson and their wives. The Foundation for Arable Research is doing work for them.

My issue is that synthetic meat and milk are not some vague threat for the future. They are here now.

It is huge in the US and is about to spread.

Its marketing is extremely clever and presses all the right buttons of conservation, improving the planet, combating climate change, healthier eating and enhancing animal welfare.

My question is to ask what are we doing about it?

The obvious response is nothing.

That needs to change and now.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath-emerson@wizbiz.net.nz

FOMO keeps the learners coming From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

I’LL tell you about a little project I’ve been immersed in lately.

Fifteen years ago I took up golf because a lower back injury precluded me from playing

squash, which had morphed from indoor basketball, which, in turn, had taken over from cricket, volleyball and rugby before that.

I’ve never been any great sportsman but have enjoyed them all and the camaraderie that goes with playing in a sport.

I took to golf for mental wellbeing reasons before we were talking about it as an issue.

I’m happy to work seven days a week and had done so for 20 years and, other than plenty of family commitments, did nothing for myself.

My father suffered from bipolar disorder and for 30 years my siblings and I had a difficult time dealing with that so naturally I was keen to try to keep myself in good enough shape to hopefully not put my own family through the same dramas.

Sometimes I wonder if golf helps or hinders wellbeing given the frustration it can cause but one of my great delights in life is that I comfortably lead Jamie Mackay in a long-running golf challenge.

Waipukurau Golf Club was

2000 2000 NZ Standard Maternal Worth (NZMW) 1800 1800 1600 1600 1400 1400 s 1200 1200 le a rend tea Pe 1000 1000 Rangia ge 800 800 a r e v erall A 600 600 NZ Ov 400 400 200 200 0 0 -200 -200 -400 -400 Winner of NZ Sheep Industry Award for -600 -600 -800 Maternal Trait Leader for Lamb Survival 2016 -800 -1000 -1000 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016

Enquiries: Blair C Gallagher Rangiatea 8RD, Ashburton Ph/Fax 03 303 9819 Mob 021 0223 1522

CHEVIOT RAMS available for hogget mating

AVERAGE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH MAKE PROGRESS WITH US.

LK0090335©

Cents

RANGIATEA PERENDALES

suddenly looking for a new club captain because of a tragedy and as no one would do it, I said I would.

I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised to learn at my first committee meeting three months ago that there had been a slow decline in membership and the budget was tight.

As they say, a golf course closes daily in the United States given younger generations desire a more immediate fix than a 3.5hour walk spoiled, as someone once said.

I decided if I did nothing as club captain other than increasing membership it would be a useful contribution.

Here we had a beautiful, 18hole, freehold course in a park like setting being underused and out there are a lot of hard working rural folk whose kids have finally left home who now should look towards their own mental and physical wellbeing.

Coincidentally, Hawke’s Bay Golf announced subsidised lessons ($100 total) so all I had to do was to get a minimum of six people together and a golf pro would come down from Hastings.

I started ringing mates and twisting arms. I finally got four to commit but hit a wall. Then I suggested to Jane and my sister Susanna that if they did the fiveweek series, I’d shout them.

Now that I had a couple of ladies, I returned to my mate’s wives and Jane’s friends and

slowly built up my learner volunteers.

Once I had a decent number a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) kicked in and friends who had dismissed my earlier approach now embraced the idea as if it was the opportunity they had waited all their lives for.

I put three groups of eight in front of Brett Allan the pro and they have had a lot of fun learning together.

It’s a great advantage being with other learners rather than turning up as I and most others do and hacking away with more experienced golfers.

The 24 have now just graduated and I have several programmes in store for them over the summer as the committee has allowed me to offer them free use of the course.

Next week another dozen begin their five-week series and in February there are another eight already lined up and if you live around here and would like to join these 44 intrepid souls, get in touch.

This might well be a template for other regions looking to offer a vehicle for rural wellbeing and some fun and at the same time assist keeping valued local institutions like a golf course operating and vibrant.

Your View Steve Wyn-Harris is a Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer. swyn@xtra.co.nz

World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

33

Fonterra’s bid allowed farmer voice FONTERRA Australia’s bid for milk co-op Murray Goulburn didn’t even get to the due diligence stage, managing director Rene Dedoncker says.

Murray Goulburn spurned the proposal from Fonterra to form a super dairy co-operative in favour of a sale of its assets to Canadian rival Saputo.

Industry sources said Fonterra proposed combining its Australian assets with those of Murray Goulburn to form a super co-operative but the proposal was rejected by MG management because it was deemed to be a non-complying bid.

Dedoncker confirmed his company put forward a proposal that included retention of Murray Goulburn’s co-operative ethos.

“Our proposal to the MG board was based on a merger that provided options for Australian farmers to retain ownership and get a strong farmer voice.

“Unfortunately, we were not given the opportunity to progress to due diligence on MG.” The plan to sell MG’s assets to Saputo for $1.3 billion was likely to be voted on by shareholders early next year.

The deal meant the Australian dairy industry is no longer in charge of its own destiny and the

days of the big dairy co-operative are over, industry commentators said.

If Canada’s Saputo, with turnover of US$8.4 billion last year, was successful in buying Murray Goulburn it would control up to 3b litres of milk in the Australian milk pool — or about a third of Australia’s total milk pool.

It was a monumental shift in the Australian dairy landscape with few dairy companies remaining untouched by foreign ownership.

New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra had another 2b with capacity to process up to 2.5b a year. It has announced another 500 million litres capacity would be created with a $100m investment starting immediately.

Bega Cheese was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange while the Union Dairy Company at Penola, South Australia, was a joint venture between Warrnambool’s Midfield Group and global agribusiness giant Louis Dreyfus. Beston Global Foods, the new player in South Australia, was also ASX-listed.

There were still some dairy companies left in Australian hands. Australian Consolidated Milk had about 330m litres of milk and was about to build

a processing plant at Girgarre while Australian Dairy Farmers Corporation had 230m litres of milk and was owned by its farmers but had no processing assets.

New South Wales north coast dairy co-operative Norco processed 222m litres of milk a year.

In 2014 Saptuo won a protracted bidding war, fending off rivals MG and Bega Cheese for control of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter and paid more than $500 million for 87.92%.

It gave Saputo a foothold in the Australian market and access to Asian markets.

In February Saputo secured total control of WCB when Lion Dairy and Drinks sold its shareholding. WCB this year has recruited at least another 250m litres of milk.

Aussies will ‘stick it to NZ’ over manuka A NATIONAL campaign spearheaded

by Tasmanian honey producers is gaining wings as beekeepers band together to stop New Zealand producers trademarking the word manuka.

Manuka honey from Tasmania could retail for as much as $120 a jar and was deemed a health product because of its antibacterial properties.

There were five commercial manuka honey producers in Tasmania and a number of smaller operations providing them with the liquid gold.

In response to the trademark application in NZ, the Australian honey industry had collectively formed the Australian Manuka Honey Association to formally oppose any attempt to monopolise international naming or market rights.

Tasmanian Beekeepers Association president Lindsay Bourke chaired the inaugural meeting of the AMHA and said local beekeepers would be sticking it to the New Zealanders to ensure their bid did not succeed.

“Manuka is a generic name and cannot be hijacked by honey producers across the Tasman.

“We have engaged legal help and are lobbying and have gained the support of the Australian government,” Bourke said.

The worldwide demand for manuka honey was almost insatiable.

“It is a great niche product for Tasmanian producers.

“Years ago it was regarded as rubbish but now the world cannot get enough and we are not going to let NZ sabotage that for us,” Bourke said.

Nicola Charles, of Blue Hills Honey at Mawbanna, which had been producing manuka honey for nine years, spearheaded the campaign to protect the name.

“The New Zealanders have no case,” she said.

“But we could take a leaf out of their book though and learn to promote and market ourselves and what we produce better.”

AMHA chairman Paul Callander said it was amusing that the one leptospermum species used in NZ to produce manuka honey had been shown to have migrated from Australia, most likely Tasmania. www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

A Saputo-owned MG would extend the Canadian dairy giant’s reach beyond its major asset at Allansford and a small plant at Mil Lel near Mt Gambier.

As a stand-alone factory, Allansford produced dairy products for various markets. But the MG purchase would provide the company with a large and diverse milk supply pool. The ability to tap into milk in multiple regions helped manage seasonal risk.

Fonterra matched the processing footprint of an MG and Saputo, with plants and suppliers in all the key dairy regions including Tasmania.

The purchase of MG by Saputo also meant there was no large dairy co-operative in the Australian market.

That was a huge issue for many dairy farmers as they felt they lost

a sense of ownership and control over their processor. It had long been believed MG set the floor in the farmgate milk price.

With no large co-operative left in the Australian dairy industry there were concerns the industry would be without a processor with the philosophical view of returning maximum value back to the farmgate.

Co-operatives were also a large part of the huge European Union industry with co-ops Friesland Campina and Arla Foods among the top 10 dairy processors in the world.

There was no downplaying the significance of the deal and the Saputo-MG roadshows would be eagerly attended with dairy farmers and the broader industry keen to hear more details of the proposal. www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

Victoria ‘doesn’t need’ a milk co-op VICTORIAN dairy farmers do not need a co-operative, the state’s Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford says.

Fonterra Australia is planning a co-op structure for its farmer supplies there in the wake of its rejection as a suitor by the embattled Murray Goulburn co-op.

It had suggested merging its Australian assets with those of Murray Goulburn to form a super-co-op to serve Australian farmers.

But MG plumped for a sale of its assets to Canadian dairy company Saputo for $1.3 billion.

“Our dairy communities’ strong financial and sentimental connection to Murray Goulburn has been seriously tested in recent years,” Pulford said.

“Historically, MG played the role of price setter but that hasn’t been the case for some time.

“I am confident the industry has sufficient strength and diversity to ensure competition for farmgate prices and have

formed the view a co-op is no longer the necessity, from either an economic or social perspective, that it once was.”

Our dairy communities’ strong financial and sentimental connection to Murray Goulburn has been seriously tested in recent years.

Jaala Pulford Minister In parliament, West Victorian MP James Purcell described the demise of Murray Goulburn as the most important issue in regional Victoria in decades and asked Pulford if she had been briefed on the proposal.

She would not comment on MG’s dealings and told

parliament it was an awful thing for everyone to watch the turmoil that had engulfed the once-great Victorian icon.

Pulford met MG chief executive Ari Mervis for a briefing on the company’s sale and was expected to meet Saputo chairman and chief executive officer Lino Saputo in coming weeks.

Purcell said he had been approached by many dairy farmers concerned that without a co-operative they would not have an honest broker to set the farmgate milk price.

“For the betterment of the industry we need a cooperative,” he said.

The state government had encouraged the federal government to urge a speedy resolution of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Foreign Investment Review Board approval processes so certainty and confidence about the future could be achieved. www.weeklytimesnow.com.au

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THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

Real Estate

SOLD

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Selling your Rodney & Northland farm or lifestyle property is a big decision.

So it pays to do your homework ...

Question:

Rodney Road, Leigh. September 2017

67

Enquiries

If you are thinking of selling, call the specialist with total sales of $140M and in excess of 9200 hectares of farm and lifestyle properties for a FREE no obligation appraisal.

14

Visits

SOLD at auction

“John's work ethic, expertise and tenacity are a model for any rural property agent that wants to be successful! We don't believe there is an agent in the marketplace that goes to the lengths he does to sell property. That's why he would be the only agent we would ever consider using”.

Which of the following best represents the skills of an agent you should be talking to?

A. Is recognised as the local specialist in farm and lifestyle property.

B. Has sold, has under contract or had offers for over $32 million worth of property in the last 4 weeks.

C. Has sold more than $140 million and 9200 hectares of farm and lifestyle properties in the area.

D. All of the above.

Don't leave selling your farm or lifestyle property to guesswork... talk to the specialist.

Pakiri Ridge Farm

0800 COUNTRY (0800 268 6879) john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz johnbarnett.co.nz

Mackys Real Estate Ltd, Bayleys, Licensed REAA 2008

0800 COUNTRY (0800 268 6879) john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz johnbarnett.co.nz

Mackys Real Estate Ltd, Bayleys, Licensed REAA 2008

47

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Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

HAHEI HOMESTEAD

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

‘The Homestead’ or the ‘Big House’ is rich with history. It’s a local landmark, and this is the first time it has been on the market for over 100 years.

Built in 1874 by Robert Wigmore the ‘Father of Hahei’ and purchased by the Harsant Brothers in 1915.

253 PAPATOTARA ROAD, PAPATOTARA DEADLINE SALE

• 4-5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 lofts, 2 living areas • Fully serviced • 6195sqm site with mature plantings • Possible sub-division potential

John Binning Director, Commercial Sales and Investments Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008) T +64 9 363 0233 M +64 21 944 442 E john.binning@ap.jll.com

LK0090001©

Gavin White Licensed Branch Manager Mobile: 021 424 341 Phone: 07 866 3781 Email: gavin@hahei.richardsons.co.nz

VENDORS ARE ON THE MOOVE!

Web Ref SWI1919

156.9466 hectare self contained dairy farm. Milking 310 Jersey cows, carrying 85 yearling heifers, 30 carry over cows,12 bulls and producing 108,000 to 110,000kg MS. All of the cattle are wintered on the farm. The cows and in calf heifers are wintered in a 108 x 28 metre barn with rubber matting and centre feeding. The farm has a 30 aside shed built in 1999, along with a large concrete silage bunker all serviced by a modern effluent system. The farm being rectangular in shape, mainly of flat contour with some small terraces; all paddocks are accessed via a loop race system. Balance of medium to free draining soils, strong pasture and fertility that is located in a district renowned for early spring and strong summer pasture growth. This is a great family farm for you!

Deadline Sale closing 4.00pm, Wednesday 6th December 2017. Prior offers considered. p 03 218 2795 WAYNE CLARKE M: 0274 325 768 e southland@swre.co.nz

THE DESTINATION FOR RURAL REAL ESTATE

Land is the biggest asset to any farming business so it pays to stay up to date with the market.

Connect with the right audience at

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

LK0090427

48

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

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49

06 323 3363 Farm & Lifestyle Sales The Complete Package

TENDER

1333 Tangimoana Road, Tangimoana  140 hectares (135 hectares effective) central Manawatu dairy farm  26 aside Herringbone farm dairy  Water is from a good bore and reticulated via a 50mm ring main  Soils are mostly medium-heavy sands including Carnarvon Black Foxton Association and Awahou Foxton Association  Three bedroom home with double garage  This is a well-located dairy unit with proven production  Two road frontages and excellent tracking throughout  All set up to simply milk cows

OPEN FARM 11.00am to 1.00pm Wednesday 15 November 2017 please bring 4WD or quad bike and helmet For sale by TENDER closing 4.00pm Tuesday 5 December 2017 Richard Anderson Robert Dabb

027 543 1610 027 255 3992

56 Stafford Street, Feilding

Web ID: RAL517

Opiki - Say No More

TENDER

153 Ngui Road, Opiki If you are from the Manawatu you know how sought after farms in the Opiki area are.  Large tracts of quality Opiki land are rarely made available for sale - and for good reason as this high natural fertility district always supports superb agricultural production  We are pleased to offer this 167 hectare property comprised of 12 freehold titles  Low input dairy operation unit featuring a well equipped 50 bail rotary dairy  Horizons Consent for 800 cows - not in a priority catchment  Three houses, including one tenanted at $230 per week with the tenant keen to stay if possible  High natural fertility from the Opiki peaty loam and Kairanga silt loam with the main requirement being lime  Excellent artesian water supply  Currently an Open Country supplier, or make a switch to Fonterra if you wish  Mid-season takeover as a going concern is an option

For sale by TENDER closing 4pm Thursday 7 December 2017 Robert Dabb 027 255 3992 ▪ Richard Anderson 027 543 1610 ▪ RAL519

▪ www.ruralandlifestylesales.com

▪ 38B Main Road, Tirau

50

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Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

For Sale NEW LISTING

Otago | Middlemarch

Tender

1,189.4 Hectares Mt McKay. Purchased in 2008 by the current owners, “Mt McKay” has been under development taking ewe numbers from 1½ ewes per hectare to 2 ewes per hectare plus hoggets. In 2013 a new homestead was built and the woolshed extended, the original home provides a second accommodation option (currently rented), the property is well watered by the Rocklands rural scheme. Mt McKay continues to top Merino wool sales, wool weights are increasing along with carcass size and all Merino hoggets wintered for Spring contracts. Half bred ewes are carried with Wether Lambs sold prime before the winter along with 25 - 35 cattle. | Property ID DU2545

Closing 12pm, Thursday 7 December 2017 (unless sold by private treaty)

Inspection By appointment

Contact Craig Bates 027 489 4361 Alan Eason 027 489 8760

Canterbury | Rangitata 260.9 Hectares

(Subject to survey and title)

Looker Farm — Location, Quality And Production.

Outstanding, very well-presented dairy unit in Orton. 260.9 hectares (subject to survey and title), with a 6 year average production of 410,000kgMS, 40% of cows are wintered on the farm, milking 990 cows this season. Includes a 60 bail rotary with automatic cup removers and Protrac. Pivot irrigation, on-farm pond storage with good water consents, all on premium dairy soils. Well presented manager’s and staff accommodation. Located approximately 6km from the Clandeboye Dairy Factory. | Property ID TU11014

Deadline Sale Closing 1pm, Tuesday 21 November 2017

Inspection By appointment

Contact Calvin Leen 027 453 0950 Simon Richards 027 457 0990

Licensed under REAA 2008

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

OPOTIKI DAIRY FARM OPPORTUNITY

2338 STATE HIGHWAY 2, NUKUHOU NORTH, OPOTIKI Milking 340 Cows through a 22 aside HB shed. This farm has produced up to 113,000 Kg m/s from 109 Ha freehold and neighbouring, mainly flat lease block of 46 Ha. Mixed contour freehold includes 25 Ha Flat, 20 Ha Hill, 64 Ha Rolling. The rolling country at the rear of the farm enjoys its own micro climate, lies very well to the sun and is sheltered from the South. Races to 60 paddocks, (further 11 paddocks on the lease block).

There is a four-bedroom home on the property with sleepout. A second three-bedroom dwelling with garage is included in the sale, on a separate 1,012 m2 title and located 900 metres from the cowshed.

Excellent range of support buildings including 4 bay ½ round implement shed, calf rearing facilities, hay barn and PKE storage bin.

Located in the sunny Eastern Bay of Plenty between Whakatane and Opotiki. Schooling options available in Nukuhou, Ohope, Whakatane and Opotiki.

Property is in five titles. Total Area 109.2953 Ha (270.06 acres). The property, (Land and Buildings and Farm Chattels), is being offered for sale by TENDER, Closing 12.00pm Wednesday 29 November 2017 at the office of: Professionals Whakatane Ltd, 38 Landing Rd, Whakatane, Price is PLUS GST (if any).

May be Sold Prior. Information Memorandum available. Shares, Herd available by negotiation.

Viewing; Contact the agents for an appointment to view or attend the open day: Wed 15 Nov 10.30 am to 1.00 pm.

VIEW ONLINE: professionalswhakatane.co.nz PWK01001 Maurice Butler 0274 514 395 maurice@professionalswhakatane.co.nz

@RuralRealEstateWhakatane

07 307 0165 professionalswhakatane.co.nz Licensed under REA 2008

Licensed

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THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

51

Accelerating success.

Reach more people - better results faster.

colliers.co.nz

Accelerating success.

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Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

53

47 Alpha Street, Cambridge 3434 P: 07 823 1945 F: 07 823 1946 e: sales@cambridgerealestate.co.nz

TENDER

Large Scale Home/Grazing & Horticultural Opportunity

804 HAMILTON • AKARAKARIKI rare opportunity ROAD, to purchase a large scale property.

TENDER • Option 1: 470 sqm two storey homestead with 5300 sqm.

End of An Era • Option 2: 41.7 ha of prime fertile land with majority of easy contour.

Having farmed this property for the last 27 years, it’s time to hang up the boots! Situated • Within the land area is 10haisofthisorganic Asparagus. approximately 18km west of Hamilton 62ha freehold property, along with the current owner leasing adjoining 31ha. average of approximately on once-a• Outanother buildings consist ofLast an3-year implement and deer shed62,500 plus aMS cool store. day milking with a milking platform of around 80ha. Improvements include 18ASHB cow shed, Implement shed, large workshop and 230 cow feed Tender Closes 4pm, 10th of October 2014pad. Attractive three bedroom home.

The motivation here is clear, make your intentions known!

at the office of Cambridge Real Estate, 47 Alpha Street, Cambridge

TENDER: Closes Wednesday 29th November 4.00pm at the office of Cambridge Real Open Days September 16, 19 & (unless 26 fromsold 11.30 - 1.00pm Estate, 47 Alpha Street, Cambridge prior).

www.open2view.com/408305

Internet ID# 2727458

David Soar B.Agr Sc Valuation or open2view.com/323194 143 Tirau M 027 284 Road, 9755 Cambridge EContact: david@cambridgerealestate.co.nz Philip Coles 021 432 767

Matt Seavill M 027 444 3347 E matt@cambridgerealestate.co.nz

www.cambridgerealestate.co.nz WWW.CAMBRIDGEREALESTATE.CO.NZ

LK0090337©

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

54

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Real Estate

Farmers Weekly - 13 November 2017

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

Quality dairy farm An excellent property in the first class farming district of Te Poi / Okoroire, 12 kms north of Tirau and 17 kms from Matamata  88.9 hectares  generally flat to gently rolling contour  Tirau ash soil  very good centrally located 43 aside herringbone,

feed pad and farm buildings  well subdivided into 34 paddocks, excellent race

system and two water supplies

 268 cows calved; averaging 120,435kg m/s over the

last three seasons

 very good farm dwelling - Hinuera Stone 4 bedrooms,

open plan living, established landscape grounds and swimming pool  cottage - 2 bedrooms, insulated and separate garage

Tenders close

Open days: Tues, 14 Nov & Thurs, 16 Nov 12noon to 2.00pm

4.00pm - Friday, 1 December 2017

 an aesthetically appealing property with views to the

Kaimai ranges  very good schooling, sports facilities; easy commute

to three cities, a number of rural towns and East Coast beaches

web ref R1198

Licensed Real Estate Agent - REAA2008

Malcolm Wallace 021 357 446

phone

07 870 2112

office@pastoralrealty.co.nz

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

WAITERIMU FOREST RAWSON ROAD, Ohinewai, North Waikato

FOREST FARM PORTFOLIO BASS HIGHWAY, Elizabeth Town TAS

OLDER AGE CLASS FOREST INVENTORY AVAILABLE Waiterimu Forest represents a great opportunity for a purchaser to secure a Cutting Right over a first rotation forest showing good growth and form with age class spread of 18 – 23 year old trees. Located within easy cart distance to multiple domestic processors and approximately 138km to Tauranga or 90km to Auckland for containerised volume. For those looking for their own forest or land to escape to, the 52ha of freehold title offers an interesting block with great views of Lake Waikare from the ridges, significant stands of native bush all located at the head of a no exit valley within 1 1/4 hours drive of Auckland CBD (off peak).

MREINZ

LARGE SCALE 1,537HA* TASMANIAN DAIRY PORTFOLIO + 161ha of mixed Age Class Radiata + Majority of crop 18 to 23 years old, with small stand of 27 year old + Range of purchase options including Cutting Right only + 52.9682ha freehold and crop available separately or together DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Friday 8 December 2017 at 4.00pm JEREMY KEATING

WARWICK SEARLE

021 461 210

021 362 778

CBRE Agribusiness is pleased to present for sale Forest Farm and The Avenue/Parkham, two highly improved dairy farms with a combined land area of 1,537Ha*.

Currently milking 1,400* cows (with the ability to milk 2,500* cows), the operations are underpinned by significant Water Entitlements and on-farm storages, outstanding operational infrastructure and extensively developed structural improvements.

+ Forest Farm comprises 655Ha* + The Avenue/Parkham comprises 882Ha* + 3,545ML* Water Entitlement + Two rotary dairies and five dwellings + Available WIWO FOR SALE BY EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Thursday 7 December 2017 at 4.00pm (AEDT) DUNCAN MCCULLOCH +61 416 047 484

JAMES BEER +61 416 859 565

*Approximately www.propertyconnector.co.nz/210134Q37

property.cbre.com.au/properties/elizabeth-town-tas-7304 CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

CBRE (Agency) Limited, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008)

Dairy, heifer grazing or beef finishing After many years of very good farming, a quality property with size and scope is now available for sale in the Ngaroma district, 56 kms south east of Te Awamutu.  687 Mangawhio Road, Ngaroma  307 hectares  predominantly easy rolling - some steeper

sidlings and medium country  free draining ash soils - high rainfall area  previously a high producing bull beef unit

 currently calving approx 630 cows but farmed in

conjunction with the neighbouring dairy unit  once a day milking through large 50 aside farm dairy situated on the adjoining property  Open Country Dairy Supply - no shares  long history of good fertiliser inputs  great country for a variety of stock feed crops  quality high pressure water supply over property

Deadline Private Treaty closes Thursday, 14 December 2017

Open Day: Friday, 17 November 1.00pm to 3.00pm

 2 quality dwellings - 1 x 5 bedroom homestead

in attractive landscaped grounds, bbq area by stream; 1 x 4 bedroom low maintenance home (approx. 6 years old)  web ref R1126 An excellent opportunity for farming dairy heifers or beef cattle with the additional possibility of being linked with the adjoining property giving a dairy unit of approximately 600 hectares Howard Ashmore 0274 388 556

Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

Location, contour & production A particularly good dairy unit situated on high producing soils in a first class location approx 10 kms north of Otorohanga and 24 kms south of Te Awamutu  141 & 112 Puketarata Road, Kio Kio distirct,

Otorohanga

 166.88 hectares - 6 titles  predominantly flat contour, some gentle rolling,

small area of sidlings

 strong fertile soils being a mix of mairoa ash,

silt loam and sandy loam

 very attractive and park-like with lovely mature

specimen trees & trimmed barberry hedging

 very good subdivision & races; fully reticulated

good quality water supply

 3 year average - 527 quality cows;

- 212,087 kgs ms milksolids  extensive range of buildings and amenities

including 44 bail internal rotary, adjoining feedpad with flood wash; very good effluent system, feed bunkers and multiple buildings

Auction Thursday, 30 November 2017

Open Day: Wednesday, 15 November 11.00am to 1.00pm

 3 dwellings including

- 3 brm homestead with attached garage situated on nicely planted elevated site; - 4 brm home with double garage attached; - 2 brm cottage - all homes positioned in sunny locations  well located for schooling and service centres

web ref R1252

Licensed REAA 2008

Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

phone

07 870 2112

office@pastoralrealty.co.nz

MREINZ

56

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Proven Dairy Performer - 277ha

WEB ID DFR58719

OXFORD 340 Dixon Road This well-developed property located near Oxford provides low cost reliable water with on-farm storage exhibits all the strengths of a top Canterbury dairy farm, combined with environmental compliance. with consistent physical and financial performance that sets it apart from its competitors.

Superior location, irrigation water and infrastructure are the signature features of this property that cannot be Currently milking 930 cows through a 60 bail rotary ignored. Inspection recommended. dairy shed with average total production for past 3 seasons of 430,000kgms. Waimakariri Irrigation Scheme

DEADLINE SALE

VIEW By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 8th December, 2017 at 3.00pm, (unless sold prior) Gareth Cox

Mobile 021 250 9714 Office 03 929 0306 gareth@pb.co.nz

4 2

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

Four well established dairy farms

RURAL Office 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed REAA 2008

Harptree Farm - 104 ha

Exceptional large scale dairy portfolio Otago/Canterbury

This is an opportunity to acquire established dairy farms as a portfolio or individually. The offer comprises four dairy farms, three within the Otago region and another just over the border in Canterbury.

• c.1,095 ha • milking c.3,400 cows • producing c.1.5m kgMS annually Contact PwC Advisory Services for further details.

E: dairyopportunity@nz.pwc.com T: 09 355 8995

WEB ID ROR55413 HORORATA 310 Hororata Road View By Appointment This superbly presented 104 hectare grazing/fattening DEADLINE SALE closes Friday 24th November, 2017 at 3.00pm, (unless sold prior) property is centrally located near Hororata and provides the discerning purchaser the best of both worlds. Benefitting from 50 hectares fully irrigated via 4 Central Plans irrigation scheme combined with low cost fertile downs grazing. Improvements include an executive style four bedroom homestead built in 2006, 2 woolshed and sheep yards plus a full range of farm Gareth Cox buildings.

Mobile 021 250 9714

DEADLINE SALE

Office 03 929 0306 gareth@pb.co.nz

PwC Advisory Services(Licensed under the REAA 2008)

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

5

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Look at this opportunity

Te Miro - reap the rewards

NEW LISTING

WEB ID TPR57974

BY NEGOTIATION GALATEA 5042 Galatea Road View By Appointment Economies of scale at first farm price - fantastic opportunity 106.513 ha Freehold. Currently farmed in conjunction with neighboring lease gives a platform of 219 ha, milking 550 cows, shared up to 208,767kg/ms. Also rearing 240 calves on wholemilk. Quality infrastructure and buildings include a 40 ASHB shed, lovely home with new quality kitchen. This very tidy farm is a credit to the owners, high fertility, quality pastures, excellent water supply. A chance to purchase medium scale at very affordable small scale value. An attractive very useful Brett Ashworth property in a great farming community.

Mobile 021 0261 7488 bretta@pb.co.nz

DEADLINE SALE

+ GST (IF ANY)

4 2

Tataramoa - Entry Level Dairy Farm

WEB ID WR58126 DANNEVIRKE 354 Manawatu River Road 146.9 ha under the Ruahine Ranges in Southern Hawke's Bay. A well laid out dairy unit converted 2009.

Contour easy/medium with some steeper sidlings.

Established retired areas and riparian plantings. Summer moist.

• 40 a-side herringbone shed, 300 cow feed pad • Three bedroom home plus staff accommodation • Fertile & free-draining soils • Effluent reticulation system • Option to buy as a going concern The development undertaken on this property is impressive and provides an exceptional opportunity for the new owner.

DEADLINE SALE View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 7th December, 2017 at 4.00pm

Pat Portas

Mobile 027 447 0612 Office 06 928 0521

Bevan Pickett

Mobile 027 220 2766 Office 06 928 0520

3

Jim Crispin

Mobile 027 717 8862 Office 06 374 8102

1

Dairy ownership/expansion opportunity

DEADLINE SALE

WEB ID WR58456 DANNEVIRKE 353 Tataramoa Road View By Appointment 97.7 hectares situated 12km north of Dannevirke in the Matamau district. Features include: • Flat/easy undulating contour • Summer moist area • Well fertilised with P levels 40-60 Bevan Pickett • Milking 190-200 cows Mobile 027 220 2766 • Good infrastructure with 24 aside shed, water supply Office 06 928 0520 and effluent system bevanp@pb.co.nz • Recently re-piled and re-roofed four bedroom villa Pat Portas • Current "One Plan consent".

Mobile 027 447 0612 An ideal first farm that is meeting all Horizons One Plan Office 06 928 0521 requirements. The vendors are serious about selling and Home 06 855 8330 patp@pb.co.nz have priced the property to sell.

$2,280,000 + GST (IF ANY)

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

4 1

WEB ID WR58127 DANNEVIRKE 296 Gundries Road Riverview (96.5115 ha), an opportunity for dairy farm ownership. Situated in the well-recognised Norsewood area of Southern Hawkes Bay. Flat to easy-undulating contour.

Features include: • Summer-moist area • 35 a-side cowshed, 500 cow feed pad • Easy contour with fertile soils, significant regrassing • Three bedroom home with three bedroom sleepout • Option to buy as a going concern This will appeal to those at the entry level of the market or added to an existing portfolio. Make the move now.

DEADLINE SALE View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 7th December, 2017 at 4.00pm

Bevan Pickett

Mobile 027 220 2766 Office 06 928 0520

3

Pat Portas

Mobile 027 447 0612 Office 06 928 0521

1

Jim Crispin

Mobile 027 717 8862 Office 06 374 8102

2

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

100 hectares flat land

NEW LISTING WEB ID PR58478

EKETAHUNA 653 South Road This 100 ha flat dairy unit with a near new 24 ASHB shed, inshed feeding and excellent infrastructure presents a great opportunity.

• 96,600kg M/S of production in 2016-17

VIEW By Appointment

• Fully consented until 2030

It is very well located being close to Eketahuna, only 25 minutes from Masterton and 45 minutes from Palmerston North city.

• A good three bedroom brick family home, set in established grounds completes the package

AUCTION 11.00am, Fri 15th Dec, 2017, (unless sold prior), Eketahuna Community Centre, Haswell Street, Eketahuna

• Free draining silt loams, excellent access and reliable rainfall

AUCTION Jared Brock

Mobile 027 449 5496 Office 06 376 4823

Phil Wilson

Mobile 021 518 660 Office 06 376 5478

You need to view now.

3

John Arends

Mobile 027 444 7380 Office 06 376 4364

1

Birchwood - 282 ha

NEW LISTING WEB ID PR57720

EKETAHUNA 1125 Kakariki Road Birchwood Dairy Ltd is located in the summer moist district of Kakariki 23km south of Pahiatua.

The well presented 282 ha farm in 10 titles has an effective flat dairy platform of 216 ha with a 32 ha hill block as support. Peak milking 430 to 440 cows the property has produced a 3 year average of 170,771 kgMS through the well set up 36 aside HB cowshed, supported by a very good range of other buildings. The dairy platform is subdivided into 91 main paddocks with an extensive race system and good access for ease of management.

Annually approximately 20 ha of platform has been sown in turnips and then re-grassed as part of the onging developement.

Housing is well provided for with the spacious main home featuring 3 bedrooms and office, open plan living and swimming pool. There are 2 other tidy 3 bedroom homes.

Birchwood provides a great opportunity for investors or owner operators to capitalise on the development undertaken and farm on into the future.

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

BY NEGOTIATION

VIEW By Appointment John Arends

Mobile 027 444 7380 Office 06 376 4364

Phil Wilson

Mobile 021 518 660 Office 06 376 5478

Jared Brock

Mobile 027 449 5496 Office 06 376 4823

RURAL rural@pb.co.nz 0800 FOR LAND

Property Brokers Limited Licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008

Little Trig - 599 ha

"Appin" fertile Waitotara farm - 49.6 ha

TENDER

WEB ID MR57340 MASTERTON 16482 Route 52, Ihuraua View By Appointment Little Trig offers a genuine sheep and beef breeding unit, TENDER closes Thursday 7th December, 2017 at 4.00pm, Property Brokers Ltd, 84 Chapel Street, Masterton 33km north of Masterton. This mainly north facing, medium hill country property has been well farmed in recent years and the property has further potential through subdivision. Estimated carrying capacity - 4,600 stock units. Facilities include two sound homes with the main four bedroom home set in attractive grounds. The 3 stand woolshed has had a more recent covered yard added. Following 70 years in one family, Little Trig is for Paul Joblin sale in this highly regarded farming area.

TENDER

Mobile 027 443 3756 Office 06 378 7604 Home 06 372 7789 paulj@pb.co.nz

148 ha - location, irrigation

WEB ID WGR58386 WAITOTARA 155A Waitotara Valley Road Barely a kilometre off State Highway 3, "Appin" farm is located at the gateway to the Taranaki region. This productive 49.556 ha farm is presented in good health.

The 26 ha of river flats lend themselves to all manner of production. Part of the balance of the farm is a hill block of 18 ha, planted in pine trees. The property features a recently renovated two bedroom home, a large workshop and a former coolstore. There is a large livestock shed ideal for calf rearing. Water supply is from the local water scheme. This is a "turn-key" farm, providing the options of grazing and finishing livestock

TENDER View By Appointment TENDER closes Friday 8th December, 2017 at 4.00pm, at Treadwell Gordon, Third Floor, Wairere House, Corner Somme Parade and Bates Street, Whanganui

Richard White

Mobile 027 442 6171 Office 06 281 3720 Home 06 342 3702 richardw@pb.co.nz

204 ha - arable or fattening

WEB ID AR58645 LAURISTON 1847 Thompsons Track View By Appointment DEADLINE SALE closes Tuesday 12th December, 2017 at This quality dairy unit is located at Lauriston approx.

3.00pm, (unless sold prior) 18km west of Rakaia and 19km east of Methven. This farm was one of the first irrigated conversions in Mid Canterbury and has been continually improved over the years. Special features include; Pivot Irrigation, Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Water, 54 bail rotary shed, 3 good homes plus self contained unit, excellent 4 shedding and lanes system. Milking approx. 515 to 550 cows for 233,000 kg/ms. This unit has it all from capital 1 Chris Murdoch improvements to proven production.

DEADLINE SALE

Mobile 0274 342 545 Office 03 307 9191 Home 03 307 2940 chris@pb.co.nz

www.propertybrokers.co.nz

2

WEB ID AR58708 MAYFIELD 490 Moorhouse Road View By Appointment This property has been faithfully farmed and developed DEADLINE SALE closes Thursday 14th December, 2017 at 4.00pm, (unless sold prior) by the present vendors over the past years. Irrigated by five pivot irrigators. The farm has been run as a arable/fattening/dairy grazing unit. Water is supplied by the reliable Barrhill Chertsey Scheme and the vendors have purchased the EA shares that were available which reduces the irrigation cost. The farm has a large villa home set in mature grounds, excellent cattle yards, sheep yards, silos, older woolshed and numerous other Chris Murdoch outbuildings. The property maybe available as a whole Mobile 0274 342 545 or in three.

Office 03 307 9191

DEADLINE SALE

Home 03 307 2940 chris@pb.co.nz

4

KAIANGAROA STATION - HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE AND SUPER PRODUCTIVE 1222 Otuarei Road, Pukeokahu, Taihape Quality natural assets, infused with a long history of capital inputs, has created one of the North Island’s premier breeding and finishing properties, backed up with impressive production and financial results. Nestled within a basin, around half of the effective area is undulating to rolling, enabling close to 500 hectares to be cultivated in the past eight years, allowing quality pastures and specialist crops to be grown. Incorporating a bull finishing system, a higher cattle ratio is definitely an option here and with over 650ha deer fenced you have high versatility of land use. The balance is medium and steeper hill, plus 75ha of attractive native bush.

The lane system provides access to about 70% of the farm´s 100+ paddocks with plentiful trough water gravity fed from a district scheme.

Buildings are of a high standard, including the large homestead built in ’81, a 5 bedroom home rebuilt in ’03, a tidy cottage and a modern two bedroom single quarters. The woolshed complex was built in ’06 adjacent to the modern circular cattle yards, while the large older shearers quarters provides farmstay potential.

Closeby adventure tourism with primary school on the boundary adds to the appeal, and makes this a truly unique and quality package.

Tenders Close 3pm, Thu 7 Dec 2017, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding.

EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY IN ALL RESPECTS - 284HA WITH 96HA ADJOINING LEASE 1674 Kimbolton Road, Cheltenham It’s true that the really great properties only come up every now and again - this is one of those times. Just north of the bustling rural town of Feilding, the current owners have developed this property over 30 years, into one of the most admired properties in the region by doing the simple things well - but there’s plenty of "blue sky" in it for the next owner, with a 9 year lease of fully integrated dairy platform right alongside. Advantages here start with high quality and versatile soil types - predominantly Kiwitea Loam with Manawatu Silt and Sandy Loam on the lower terrace; highly productive dairying soils that have also allowed the owners to incorporate potatoes, squash, process peas, sweetcorn and oil seed rape in the past. A focus on soil fertility and pasture renewal ensures this place grows a lot of grass. There are cost and production efficiencies throughout, including the smart 80 bail rotary sitting right in the middle of the property flanked by high quality calf rearing facilities and sheds, a gravity driven effluent system and water reticulation.

Four dwellings, three on separate titles, include the impressive main homestead; sprawling to over 800 sqm and only 10 years old, this home is finished to an extremely high standard and is an optional purchase with the farm. They say "you never go wrong buying quality" and this seems most apt with this property.

1278 hectares See video on website nzr.nz/RX1266077 Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 peter@nzr.nz Jamie Proude AREINZ 027 448 5162 | 06 385 4789 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

284ha with 96ha lease See video on website nzr.nz/RX1279694 Tender Closes 3pm, Fri 8 Dec 2017, CR Law, 19 Manchester St, Feilding Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

EXCELLENT DAIRY UNIT - CENTRAL WAIRARAPA LOCATION 188 Waihakeke Road, Carterton, Wairarapa This highly specced dairy unit is located a very short drive from both Greytown & Carterton offering the owners the sanctity of a real work/life balance with cafes, schools, shops & suppliers closeby. The infrastructure on this property is top class. The 50 bail rotary cowshed with Waikato plant has ACR’s, auto drafting, covered vet yard, 400 cow yard and many energy & labour saving features. The original 18 aside herringbone is still operational, used for colostrum cows. The farm is very well set up for other buildings, with two specialist barns catering for 150 calves under cover. The farm has a mix of soils including highly fertile alluvial silt loams, and there is extensive drainage. Large areas have been re-grassed and the Tow & Fert system has lifted the clover component of the pastures with no N applied in last 2 seasons. The fertility levels are optimised. The last 6 years production av. is 178,000kgMS, off around 400 cows and over a 159 ha platform area (includes 6ha lease).

The 65 paddocks all have filtered water and are linked by two underpasses. The whole milking platform is irrigated via 4 separate irrigation consents. The effluent can also be applied to the whole farm. Both mainline systems are linked together. The main dwelling is 4/5 bedrooms with a tidy 2 bedroom workers cottage close to the rotary. Nine titles offer a 123ha farm / 46ha bareland split. There are many extras being left with the farm to ensure it is any easy start-up for the new owner.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE, PRODUCTIVE AND PROFITABLE - 252 HA 150 Himatangi Beach Road, Himatangi

169 hectares TENDER www.nzr.nz

ref: RX1276510

Tender Closes: 4pm, Thurs 7 December 2017 NZR Office, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

252 hectares See video on website nzr.nz/RX1285284

Tender Closes 3pm, Tue 12 Dec 2017, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Road, Feilding Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 The flat farm is a mix of heavier and lighter sand based soil types with only around a 30 minute (max) walk to the shed - great for the cows feet! peter@nzr.nz Accommodation includes five houses, with the renovated main homestead on a separate title. Being only 5km from the beach, the locals claim a warmer climate and NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008 more sun than the city, while being handy to schooling and Massey University - factors the owners say contribute to a stable team environment.

The addition of pivot irrigation onto this property 17 yrs ago, heralded a profound change in the way this property was farmed. Expansion of the irrigated area to 160ha, addition of a central 60 bail rotary with ACRs and auto yard wash 9 yrs ago enables a 3 person team to operate this 650-700 cow operation.

Moving to on-farm wintering in recent times, the 3 year production average has been steady around 300,000kg MS with limited in-milk supplementation.

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

EFFICIENT SCALE & QUALITY SOILS 273b Diversion Road, Kahutara, South Wairarapa

TENDER Closes: 4pm, Tues 12 Dec 2017 Level 1, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

This 88.89 hectare flat irrigated dairy unit is blessed with very fertile Ahikouka silt loam soils which have been developed into a very efficient and easy to operate dairy farm. Located just 7.5km from Featherston and close to the popular weekend destinations of Martinborough and Greytown the property is just an hours drive from Wellington. The farm has a character four bedroom homestead, 18 aside cowshed with all new pumps and pit, implement and other calf rearing and support sheds. The farm is subdivided into 31 paddocks all supplied with beautiful clear water. Of the 83ha effective there are 60ha irrigated via K-Line and a 25 l/s irrigation right. The soils are well drained with a share in a local drainage scheme. The five year average production is 95,500kgMS off around 260 cows aided by consistent fertiliser applications demonstrated in the soil test averages of pH 6.1 & OlsenP 39. The current pit effluent system has consent to 2022. This is a well located quality dairy unit with high class soils underpinned by irrigation to ensure consistent production. The size is "just right" with a husband & wife team making the best labour mix. There is historical financial analysis to EFS level available post inspection to interested parties- could suit an equity partnership? A detailed Property Report is available. Stock available at valuation. Inspections by appointment only. Video on website. A very aesthetically pleasing property well worth a visit - don’t miss this!

88 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz ref: RX1289950

FIRST FARM - NATIONWIDE OPPORTUNITY 238 Kumenga Road, Martinborough

61.4 hectares AUCTION www.nzr.nz ref: RX1264513

Where else can you buy an irrigated, drained dairy unit with very fertile silt loam soils for around $30,000/ha with an EFS that would put much larger units to shame? AUCTION 1pm Friday 24 November 2017 This low cost farm consistently averages close to 60,000kgMS from 185 cows off the 54ha irrigated milking platform. The soil tests show excellent fertility- P levels in Greytown Working Mens Club the 30 & 40´s and pH´s in the 6.0´s. Irrigation & Effluent consents are granted through to 2024 & 2022. There are 40ha under K-Line & long lateral sprinklers & 10ha Blair Stevens AREINZ 027 527 7007 with a 60m span travelling irrigator. The improvements feature a character 4 bedroom homestead set in mature grounds with a carport and garage. The cowshed is 06 370 9199 blair@nzr.nz a 15 aside herringbone; other buildings include a woolshed (used for calf rearing), as new workshop, three bay hay shed and a three bay tool/hay shed. The coast, Martinborough and Greytown are all an easy drive away. First farm buyers and investors looking for consistency and efficiency take note!

NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008 Call Blair today for a comprehensive property report. 6 years financials available. Inspections by appointment. Herd available at valuation. Video on website

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

BAGSHOT - HISTORY, LOCATION & CONTOUR - 586HA 756 Whangaehu Valley Road, Masterton

TENDER Closes: 4pm Thurs 30 Nov 2017, NZR Office, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 | 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

VI W DEO EB O SIT N E

Located in the dress circle with views over Masterton from the west Bagshot is only 15 minutes drive from town. One of the Wairarapa´s original farming family´s the Mawley´s accumulated large tracts of farmland in the late 1800´s and now descendants offer Bagshot for sale - what a rare opportunity this presents! The property is very well balanced with 552ha effective featuring 150ha of flat to rolling easy hill and 200ha of easy-medium hill; including 220ha of easy rolling Limestone country. The property winters around 3000 ewes and 110 cows, with replacements; approx. 5,400 stock units. The farm is well subdivided into 78 paddocks, with a quality water supply - all but 6 paddocks rely on dam water. Bagshot has an excellent fertiliser history with between 60-100t of Super applied every year, on average.

A recent soil test indicates Olsen P levels of 31.2 and pH 5.62, average. The rainfall is 1100mm in a semi summer dry climate. The homestead is a character family home set in established grounds with a tidy cottage and managers house handily located. The four stand wool shed is accompanied by a large set of covered yards, cattle yards, satellite yards and numerous other support sheds and buildings. An old homestead offers potential. The property is made up of 6 titles including access off Rangitumau to the west. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase the historic Bagshot - call Blair today - property report available. Video on website.

586 hectares Tender www.nzr.nz ref: RX1245607

UNRIVALLED INFRASTRUCTURE WITH CONTOUR - SUMMER SAFE ’Wai-iti’, 14203 Route 52, Alfredton, Wairarapa This very presentable sheep & beef unit is located in the renowned summer safe farming district of Alfredton in the northern Wairarapa / Tararua district. A real feature of the property is the contour- situated in a basin sheltered from southerlies, of the 620 effective hectares 220 hectares have been cultivated, with 60% of the farm being classed as easy to medium hill and the balance medium to steep hill. The 10 year annual rainfall average is 1130mm, with 76, 80 & 55 mls average in the Dec, Jan, Feb months. Wai-iti has excellent infrastructure; well subdivided into 85 main paddocks, new covered yards at the four stand woolshed, five sets of satellite yards, good access and ease of stock movement via a metalled central lane, two new sets of cattle yards, 100t fertiliser bin and ample support buildings.

There is a comfortable three bedroom dwelling with a detached double sleep out and a shearers quarters. Running around 6,000su the regular fertiliser applications and hence good fertility levels (P 21 & pH 5.7, av.) have helped Wai iti produce consistently high levels of stock performance translating into very competitive EFS. Being the 2016 winners of the Wairarapa Sheep & Beef Farm Business of the Year there is comprehensive information on the property, including financial analysis, after inspection. Why settle for less, buy the best!

682 hectares Tender (unless sold prior) www.nzr.nz ref: RX1284496 TENDER CLOSES (unless sold prior) 4pm, Mon 11 December 2017 NZR Office, 16 Perry St, Masterton Blair Stevens AREINZ 06 370 9199 027 527 7007 blair@nzr.nz NZR Real Estate Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

64

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

260 HA PLATFORM + 108 HA SUPPORT COUNTRY ALONGSIDE Rangatira Road, Rangitikei Comprising a 260 hectare milking platform of quality Kiwitea loams, with 108 hectares of medium hills alongside, providing the potential to be self-contained.

The 60 bail rotary dairy and feed pad were commissioned in 2009 and include an automated dairy management and ACRs. The farm has three homes, primary school bus at the gate, is close to the active Hunterville community and only 42km to Feilding.

Real Estate

368 hectares See video on website www.nzr.nz/F082 Deadline Private Treaty Offers Close 3pm, Tue 12 Dec 2017 (unless sold prior).

Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

FLAT & WELL RESOURCED AT $39K/HA 848 State Highway 1, Bulls Located 7km north of Bulls, the current owners have focussed on infrastructure to allow a low environmental footprint while maintaining strong mainly pasture based production with lower costs. The 340 cows are easily accommodated in the herd home and feed pad, protecting pastures and reducing wintering costs. A lined pond and solids separator all add to a fully consented system that has averaged 145,000kgMS the past 2yrs. With a modern main home, a cottage on a sep title, the 30ASHB operates very efficiently. Six titles. Plus gst (if any).

121 hectares Asking Price $4,700,000 nzr.nz/RX1285278 Deadline Treaty (if not sold prior) Closes 3pm, Mon 4 Dec 2017, NZR, 20 Kimbolton Rd, Feilding Peter Barnett AREINZ 027 482 6835 | 06 323 4434 peter@nzr.nz NZR Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

SOUTHERN WIDE REAL ESTATE

FIN AL

N O TI CE

VENDORS DEPARTING, ARE YOU EMBARKING?

2646 State Highway 4, Taumarunui This attractive dairy unit located in the sought after Owhango area which is renowned for impressive consistent production figures from the regions reliable climatic conditions. 85.2ha currently producing 93,000 kg/MS over the last 4 years average with the addition of an extra 22.5ha neighboring lease title adjoining. Improvements include a quality 3-bedroom home completely refurbished in 2008. 22 aside herringbone shed with a 250-cow yard plus a 4-bay calf rearing shed. An excellent reticulated spring fed water system provides quality water yearround to troughs throughout the farm.

85.2 Hectares Auction www.nzr.nz Ref: RX1259163 Auction (unless sold prior) 2pm 30th Nov 2017, Taumarunui Golf Course, Golf Course Road Jamie Proude AREINZ 06 385 4466 | 027 448 5162 jamie@nzr.nz NZR Central Limited | Licensed REAA 2008

DEADLINE SALE, WAIKAIA, SOUTHLAND ‘ENFIELD’ - 259.00 HA FH

Web Ref SWG1765

TUPS HILL – 98.10 HA FH

Web Ref SWG1784

The sale of ‘Enfield’ provides the opportunity to purchase a proven and highly productive finishing and cropping property in a favoured location. Features an outstanding homestead, two additional homes and excellent range of support buildings.

The farm layout is well planned and includes plantings of native and exotic trees together with three established duck ponds.

This local bareland block has been run in conjunction and is located 3.3 kilometres from ‘Enfield’.

Deadline Sale closing 3pm, Friday 8th December 2017. Prior offers considered.

MARK WILSON m 027 491 7078 e mark.wilson@swre.co.nz

JON CARSWELL m 027 687 0113 e jon.carswell@swre.co.nz

39a Medway Street, Gore 9710 p 03 208 9283 f 03 208 9284 e gore@swre.co.nz w www.southernwide.co.nz

LK0089801©

QUALITY OWHANGO DAIRY UNIT

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

Real Estate

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

65

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

Opportunity to purchase Avocados Rare opportunity to purchase an avocado orchard on Tatton Road just 17 km from Whangarei city. Situated in a great horticulture area on prime volcanic soil. The property consists of 6.141 ha, with 500 14 year old hass trees (including pollinizers) in good health. The entire property has irrigation set up with water supplied from two shares in the Maungatapere water scheme.

A 656.4495ha self contained dairy unit on a system one farming programme that has been extensively regrassed over the last seven years along with a fencing, water system and lane upgrade.

Complemented by a 50 bail rotary dairy shed, four sound homes and a good range of sheds in a reliable location.

This property is all set to take production to the next level. pggwre.co.nz/INV26748

TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4pm, Wed 6 Dec

pggwre.co.nz/WHG26959

Dennis Wallace M 022 312 7704 Geoffrey Young M 027 447 4396

Groveley - 37.0430ha

Geraldine

Southland $12.5M Plus GST (if any) Tony Paterson M 027 594 8341 tony.paterson@pggwrightson.co.nz

Tony Paterson Jason Rutter M 027243 5941971 8341 M 027

tony.paterson@pggwrightson.co.nz

jrutter@pggwrightson.co.nz

Stewart Rutter Jason Rutter M M 027 027433 2437666 1971 srutter@pggwrightson.co.nz jrutter@pggwrightson.co.nz

A property with huge potential! Seldom do parcels of land become available to the market in the sought after Woodbury district. The standard of fencing and subdivision are good and the property has 2.5 units of Te Moana Scheme water. The pastures are of mixed age on a Templeton soil. Older five bedroom wooden villa homestead. Three stand RB woolshed, two bay hayshed & workshop. pggwre.co.nz/GER26938

N

O AUCTI

Located only a few minutes from Opunake is this mainly flat 96 hectare farm in two titles comprising freehold and WCL. Two homes and a 20-bail rotary cowshed with automatic cup removers, well raced and subdivided making this a easy to run operation. Currently milking 235 cows with production history over 80,000kg/ms and calves on till May. This farm has an excellent history of good imputs and is in great heart.

OPEN FARMS: Wednesday 8th, 15th, 22nd of November 12.30pm-2pm Wednesday 6th December 12.30pm-2pm – 125/153 Kaweora Road, Opunake

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4pm, Thurs, 30 Nov

Richard Scott M 021 352 701

pggwre.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Opunake Dairy Farm with Lease

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

Rare Chance this Season

R E D N E T

Seldom have we seen an opportunity to purchase a quality operation like this 85 hectare Lower Duthie Road dairy farm in the sweet spot of Taranaki. A mainly flat farm with excellent strong pasture and good fertility a testament to the stewardship of the current owners. 20 aside herringbone cowshed with ACR, three bedroom home, good range of farm building and a brand new ring water main around the farm make this a very appealing property. Milking 255 cows this season the farm has a excellent production history and would appeal to a couple who a looking to farm together.

OPEN DAYS: Thursdays 9th, 16th, 23rd of November and 7th December 2017 at 12.30pm-2pm – 556 Lower Duthie Road

AUCTION: 11am Friday 15th December 2017 at the Sandfords Event Centre Opunake.

TENDERS: Close 4pm Friday 15th December 2017 at the offices of Matthew & Co Real Estate Ltd.

Phone Matthew McDonald 06 765 5599 or 0274 814 468

Phone Matthew McDonald 06 765 5599 or 0274 814 468 Matthew McDonald Ph 06 765 5599 Cell 0274 814 648 Nicole McDonald Ph 0274 355 650 Mike Johnston Ph 027 272 4044 www.matthewandco.co.nz

LK0090212©

Self Contained Dairy Unit

Maungatapere

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

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LIFESTYLE

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RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

Dairy in Five Titles - Horticulture Potential 630 Otakiri Road • Total land area - 118.3023 hectares • In five titles with areas as follows: 7.5557Ha, 10.6790Ha, 11.3380Ha, 27.2152Ha, 61.5144Ha • 36ASHB dairy shed, built in 2007 with Waikato milking plant and automatic cup removers • 400 cow yard with stand off and feed pad and other excellent infrastructure • Production average over five years - 136,000kgMS, milking 351 to 361 cows (from 125Ha) • Pod irrigation over most of the farm • Manager's three bedroom home and a three bedroom cottage, both tidy and comfortable • Naturally fertile soils with possible horticulture or lifestyle potential

Whakatane Surrounds TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday, 14 December

Centrally located on the Rangitaiki Plains, 630 Otakiri Road it is a quick walk to the Otakiri Primary School and the townships of Whakatane, Edgecumbe, Kawerau and Matata are all within a 25km radius. pggwre.co.nz/WHK27015 Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 | M 027 494 1844 pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

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LIFESTYLE

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RESIDENTIAL

AUCTION

Something Special - Highly Productive Dairy Farm in Mata • 107.055ha (95ha in grass and effective more or less) 16km from Whangarei CBD with two houses and a sleepout • 20 ASHB dairy shed, new calf rearing facility, three bay feed pad/wintering barn, implement shed, hay barn, PKE bin with retractable roof and water from spring fed dam and stream • Milking 255 cows with production to 120,000kg MS • 80% flat, remainder easy rolling with the flats laser drained and central raced to 55 paddocks Under company ownership for the last seven years the input around infrastructure and general farm improvement is truly significant.

The hard establishment work has been done, riparian planting has been done, the houses have been renovated, this farm is all set up and will be a pleasure to farm.

Northland AUCTION Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 1.00pm, Thursday, 14 December

pggwre.co.nz/WHG27014

Dennis Wallace B 09 470 2528 | M 022 312 7704 dennis.wallace@pggwrightson.co.nz

Fantastic Opportunity

Dargaville

• 147 hectares productive fertile land, 70% tile drained • Large three bedroom modernised and renovated Kauri villa • Three bedroom villa second home • 27 ASHB cowshed with new ice bank for refrigeration, five and four bay calf implement sheds • Feed Pad, calving pad, maize bin • Milking 310 cows with three year average production 116,000kg MS • A great opportunity to purchase this very productive dairy farm, which has been in the family for three generations, only three kilometers to Dargaville township pggwre.co.nz/DAG26992

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

$3.2M Plus GST (if any) Offers to be presented on or before 2.00pm, Friday, 15 December

Megan Browning B 09 439 3344 | M 027 668 8468 mbrowning@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

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LIFESTYLE

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RESIDENTIAL

TENDER

Highly Profitable Dairy Unit • 319.4066ha of flat to easy contour in four titles, huge harbour aspect with private airstrip and jetty • 50 bail rotary cowshed with auto cup removers, auto teat spray • Adjoining 600+ cow feed pad, flood washed, part rubber matted • Two tidy three bedroom homes, plus one bedroom self-contained unit • Limestone quarry, excellent water supply and raceways • Best production of 240,000kgMS and three year average of 230,000kgMS pggwre.co.nz/WEL26944

Glorit SALE BY SET DATE Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 4.00pm, Monday, 4 December

Scott Tapp M 021 418 161

scott.tapp@pggwrightson.co.nz

Prime Beef Finishing Unit This is a unique opportunity to purchase this well presented 289 hectare property currently specialising in the finishing of Prime Angus beef.

Made up of four titles this property is located west of Rangiriri, 50km north of Hamilton and 45km south of Pukekohe. There are 97 paddocks made up of 15 hectare blocks fenced with seven wire Post and Batten fencing. Within these blocks are six smaller areas that are subdivided with two wire electric fences. Bores on the property provide both domestic and stock water supply.

Call today to arrange a viewing. pggwre.co.nz/PUK26392

TENDER

581 Otake Road • 229 hectares - at least 50% mowable • Sound three bedroom home - good shedding and yards • Nearly all in the Waikato catchment • Excellent N.R.P and fertiliser levels • Comprehensive farm records available • Consented water supply at 4000 litres / hour • A rare find that should excite dairy farmers and grazers alike!

1

TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Wednesday, 6 December

Adrian van Mil B 09 237 2041 M 027 473 3632

avanmil@pggwrightson.co.nz

Mark Needham B 09 237 2014 M 027 704 6833

mneedham@pggwrightson.co.nz

AUCTION

Excellent Dairy Support

3

Rangiriri

1

pggwre.co.nz/HAM26885

Marotiri TENDER (Unless Sold By Private Treaty), Closes 12pm, Friday, 1 Dec, PGGWRE, 11 Vialou St, Hamilton VIEW Phone for viewing times

John Sisley B 07 858 5302 M 027 475 9808

jsisley@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Dairy Farm with Appeal and Location • 157 hectare rolling contour west of Te Awamutu • 130 hectare platform - gullies retired and planted • Near new four bedroom main home and well kept second home • Good 31 ASHB centrally located • Good fences, races and water • Production on target for 118,000kg under a low input system • Inspect with confidence - you won't be disappointed!

4

2

2

pggwre.co.nz/HAM26767

Ngutunui AUCTION (Unless Sold Prior) 11am, Wed, 29 Nov PGGWRE, 87 Duke St, Cambridge VIEW 12.00-1.00pm, Tuesday, 14 & 21 November

John Sisley B 07 858 5302 M 027 475 9808

jsisley@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

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LIFESTYLE

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AUCTION

Elite Hill Cattle Grazing Unit - 252ha 835 Troopers Road • Superior infrastructure property grazing 450 graziers and 50 older cattle until 1st June • 152 paddocks plus holding paddock. 52 hectares cut for silage • Two houses, massive implement shedding.

Excellent fertiliser history • Raced and reticulated water throughout. This is a farm specifically designed for dairy support • Excellently located, a unique "turn key" grazing farm operation pggwre.co.nz/TEK27011

AUCTION

Te Kuiti AUCTION (Unless Sold Prior) 11.00am, Mon, 11 Dec, Panorama Motor Inn, Awakino Rd, Te Kuiti VIEW 11.00-12.00pm, Wednesday, 15, 22, 29 Nov

Peter Wylie B 07 878 0265 M 027 473 5855

pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

Dry Stock / Run Off

Atiamuri

580 Maleme Road A well presented hill country dry stock property.

Bare land with excellent improvements of a fourbay Goldpine shed and new cattle yards. Excellent central race access to all paddocks. New water system of 32mm pipe to all paddocks with pumped water to tanks and then gravity fed. Fencing is all electric internally and post and batten boundary fencing. Annual fertiliser application of 400k/ha DAP or equivalent. Currently leased for dairy support and OAD milking. pggwre.co.nz/ROT26955

AUCTION Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) 1.00pm, Thursday, 7 December

Dave Wiltshire B 07 349 3451 M 027 292 9369

Dave.Wiltshire@pggwrightson.co.nz

FINAL NOTICE

Vendor Says Sell 294 Tirohanga Road

Opotiki

• Motivated vendor, wants to retire from dairy farming • Milking platform of 69 hectares • Production average over last three seasons - 64,256kgMS • Milking 200 cows, wintered on farm • 24ASHB dairy with good standard of improvements • Own rotten rock quarry • 10km from Opotiki Township, 3km from beach and general store

TENDER

4 2 pggwre.co.nz/WHK26809

Phil Goldsmith B 07 307 1620 | M 027 494 1844 pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday, 30 November VIEW 11.00-12.00pm, Tuesday, 14 & 21 November

pggwre.co.nz

New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company RURAL

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LIFESTYLE

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RESIDENTIAL

OPEN DAY

Trudarre Orchard 881B Te Matai Road • 15.6924ha in popular Te Matai Road • Comprising 6.02 canopy hectares Haward Kiwifruit • 0.5 hectares G3 Kiwifruit, good contour • Substantial Cable and AG beam structures strip maled • High performing production and dollar returns • Four bedroom Lockwood home • Large lockable shed, accommodation attached

4

2

pggwre.co.nz/TEP27026

Te Puke TENDER (Unless Sold By Private Treaty) Closes 4.00pm Thursday, 30 November 7 Jocelyn Street, Te Puke VIEW 12.00-1.00pm Thursday, 16 November

Richard Lord M 027 443 8764 rlord@pggwrightson.co.nz

Mt Whitnow - 4,381.6767ha Freehold Mt Whitnow Station, offering freehold title and boasting outstanding scenery, is achieving excellent results farming Merino and half-bred sheep for lucrative fine wool contracts. Currently numbers include approximately 5,500 sheep and 160 cattle. The main homestead is substantial and there are also three other accommodation units as well as a full range of farm buildings. Recreational opportunities abound and we recommend your early attention to this property. pggwre.co.nz/CHR26640

"Hazeldale" - Renown Breeding Finishing Property 333 Hazeldale Road

Hawarden DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 2.00pm Wednesday, 6 December

Peter Crean B 03 341 4315 M 027 434 4002

pcrean@pggwrightson.co.nz

South Otago

• 1837.353 hectares freehold with approximately one third strong paddock country to two thirds oversown tussock country, also capable of finishing • Well presented improvements of high standard including homestead and second home. Full range of substantial farm buildings and yards • Excellent standard of subdivision, four gravity fed water schemes and an exceptionally strong fertiliser history going back decades • Wintered 2017: 10,830 sheep (including 8,290 ewes), 775 cattle (including 404 cows)

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY

4 2 pggwre.co.nz/BAL26510

Jason Rutter B 03 418 1382 | M 027 243 1971 jrutter@pggwrightson.co.nz

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 12.00pm, Friday, 23 February Stewart Rutter B 03 418 1381 | M 027 433 7666 jrutter@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz

Foxley Station is a 1400ha, 11,500su medium to steep hill country breeding/finishing property running Romney ewes and Angus Cows.

Situated 30 minutes north of Taumarunui and 45 minutes south of Te Kuiti in the Matiere area.

Do you want to work on a well-developed farm, alongside an experienced owner who is prepared to help you further develop your farming career?

We require someone with a passion for stock work that takes pride in their work, who is honest, self motivated and enthusiastic.

This 220ha (incl run off) dairy farm sits just 16km from the thriving town of Cambridge. 370 cows are milked through a 32ASHB and the land is a mixture of flat to rolling. There is some dry stock on the steeper section.

A good team of not less than four broken in dogs is needed. At least 2-3 years previous experience will be desirable along with a willingness to learn.

This position requires the successful applicant to have 2-3 years’ experience to support the following: • • • •

Assistance with further training and development can be provided.

A comfortable 3-bedroom home and competitive salary package will be offered to the successful applicant.

•

This role will suit a person who is keen to take the next step in their dairy career and a three-bedroom house is part of a competitive remuneration package.

Applications close 26th November 2017.

To view photos www.fegan.co.nz LK0090334©

Please send a copy of your CV with at least two referees to: Daniel Macaulay Foxley Station RD Ongarue 3997 foxleystn@farmside.co.nz

Responsibility for dairy management and milk quality Competent tractor operation and feed-out skills Experience in pasture measurement and feed budgeting Assist with staff supervision with the ability to step up when the owner is away Comply with all health and safety requirements.

To apply phone 07 823 0117 for more information or email your CV to jobs@fegan.co.nz.

Register to receive job alerts and newsletters.

www.fegan.co.nz

EXPERIENCED STOCKPERSON/ GENERAL

Farm Manager – Hangawera

Hangawera Station is one of nine farms and two support blocks owned and managed by Tainui Group Holdings Ltd (TGH). We are the kaitiaki (guardian) that provides economic wealth for Waikato-Tainui. We have a strong values-based culture with a sustainable focus on people, Maori culture, environment and commercial outcomes.

Our organisation will continue to grow so further career opportunities are likely to be available for those that perform and deliver.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday 17th November 2017.

LK0090411©

Please send a resume and covering letter to richard.webber@shearwell.co.uk

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE!

LK0090429©

FW FW

RECRUITMENT & HR Register to receive job alerts on www.ruraldirections.co.nz

Manuka SA – CHILE Technical Assistant

The Technical Assistant will be a ‘knowledge resource’ for the CEO and senior members of the Production Team, assisting them to execute the Business Plan to grow Manuka SA to 58 dairy units. This position is based in Chile.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE – New Zealand

Contact Debbie Brown 0800 85 25 80 DDI: 06 323 0765 classifieds@nzx.com

If you are looking to establish yourself within a high performing farming operation where you will be mentored and encouraged to take on responsibility then look no further!

Reporting to the CEO, the position supports the company operations by seeking out information that can be adapted to provide profitable and sustainable growth.

Candidates must have a strong knowledge of agricultural and have a good understanding of the livestock industry. They must be able to demonstrate good communication and organisational skills as well as strong IT skills and marketing and promotion experience.

In return they will be offered a competitive remuneration package in accordance with the applicant’s experience.

LK0090298©

For a copy of the position description please email mahi@tgh.co.nz

With the role comes an excellent remuneration package and a tidy, well-insulated three bedroom home with double garage.

The property is located just 18km from Tuakau and 26km from Pukekohe for local amenities. Primary Schooling is nearby at Pukekawa and a Grade School at Onewhero which goes through to Year 13, with bus options available.

Manuka SA is primarily a New Zealand owned company that develops and operates dairy farms in the south of Chile. The company is committed to adopting New Zealand dairy farming techniques, and is seeking to aggressively implement a pasture based milk production strategy. In the 2017/18 season the company will milk approximately 35,000 cows across 45 dairy units.

We are seeking to employ someone in the role of:

If this is what you are looking for please apply online now at www.tgh.co.nz/en/our-people.

Our client’s pride themselves on their innovation and ability to think outside the square, supporting the latest farming technology and hosting field days for FarmIQ, Beef + Lamb and Gallagher. Personal development is encouraged and the appointee will be given exposure to FarmIQ, the role will suit an individual with a positive and can-do attitude and strong attention to detail.

PH DEBBIE TO ADVERTISE 0800 85 25 80

Its parent company, Shearwell Data Ltd, is the leading supplier of RFID sheep tags and cattle tags in the UK.

Get your November 20 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday November 14.

To join Waikawa’s small but focused team, we seek a forwardthinking 2IC to be involved in all aspects of the business. The appointee will require excellent stockmanship and animal health skills along with an understanding of pasture management and two well-controlled working dogs.

NEED

www.shearwell.co.nz

We are looking for a motivated individual committed to driving outstanding results. In return, we offer an outstanding opportunity for the right person to develop their career in rural operations, farm development and leadership. An on-farm 3-bedroom house is provided with this role, a farm vehicle along with three local rural schools close by, secondary schooling in Morrinsville 20km away and a full range of services in Hamilton 40km away.

Our award winning clients, Waikawa Farms, are based in the Pukekawa district of Northern Waikato and run a 514ha specialised bull finishing unit. The operation is made up of three blocks, two of which are adjoining and one 3km down the road, functioning as a high performing grass based system, finishing 2500 bulls annually.

The properties are well developed, with a lot of pride being taken in the stock and aesthetics.

STAFF?

Shearwell New Zealand is a provider of electronic sheep tags and integrated RFID systems for livestock producers.

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate • Pasture and farm production management experience • Alignment with Waikato-Tainui tribal values and a desire to proactively engage with the tribe and local Marae • Stock management experience and have their own dogs • Collaborative leadership and coaching skills with the ability and desire to develop yourself and other team members while working effectively and collaboratively within the wider team • A commitment to Health and Safety on farm • Farm planning, budgeting and reporting skills including the ability to use farming software and systems e.g. FarmIQ • Class 1 and 2 licences are required and ideally Class 4 (HT)

High Performing North Waikato Operation

Applications close 5pm Monday 27th November 2017

LK0090418©

We are seeking to employ an experienced Farm Manager to manage the farming operation at Hangawera. As well as managing a small team at Hangawera, you will also work as part of our wider Drystock team (as directed by the Drystock Manager) and help with farming operations and development on our other sheep and beef farms based in the Waikato region.

2IC

For more information, or to fill out an application, please visit www.ruraldirections.co.nz or phone the Rural Directions team in confidence on 0800 475 465 (Reference #6062).

Cattle fattening property 30km south of Raglan.

Applicant must demonstrate: • Excellent stockmanship skills • Ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team • 3 working cattle dogs under good command • Fencing and water maintenance skills and knowledge • Ability to safely operate a 2 wheel, 4 wheeler, and tractor on difficult terrain • Willingness to listen and follow instructions and contribute to management decisions • A good level of personal fitness, good health and a positive attitude A 3-4 bedroom house with garage and sleep out available, on school bus route. Vibrant local community and great area for outdoor pursuits.

Full time position with rostered weekends. Salary based on experience.

Email: hugopeacocke@gmail.com with CV and two recent employers contact details

Hangawera Station is a 700ha rolling-to-steep country, based in the central Waikato (Tauhei). It is a sheep and cattle operation specialising in breeding Hereford bulls for the dairy market, fattening cattle and FE Coopworth ewes.

71

LK0090419©

ASSISTANT FARM MANAGER Dairy Farm - Cambridge

classifieds@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

The applicant must: • be able to recognise excellence in pastoral dairy farming and have an understanding of farm production models and systems • know where to source relevant information in NZ and other countries • have a high degree of computer literacy with particular emphasis on MS Excel and Power Point • be able to adapt to a rapidly growing business and work in a team environment • be prepared to learn Spanish • have excellent problem solving skills and proven ability in quantitative and qualitative analysis • have excellent communication skills, both written and oral • be prepared to commit for a 3 to 5 year period • be self-motivated and preferably hold an agribased tertiary qualification Please forward expressions of interest or CVs to: Max Kennedy 143 Bush Road, RD 4, Thames 3574 Phone: 07 8675364 Cell: 0274 973835

VARIABLE ORDER | CONTRACT MILKER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Apply early to be considered for 1 June 2018

The Company Dairy Holdings Limited is a dynamic and progressive New Zealand owned multi-farm business.

Dairy Holdings Limited wishes to advise that a number of contract milking and variable/ lower order sharemilking positions will be available for next season.

Why choose Dairy Holdings Limited: • Extensive South Island based operations that include heifer and winter support farms.

• Dairy farming operations include 59 farms, producing 17M milk solids under various operating structures.

• Strong support systems both on-farm and from the Timaru office.

• Career progression systems allowing high performers to grow.

• Agreements are farm specific.

HOW TO APPLY: Applications can be sent to: info@dairyholdings.co.nz or Farm Vacancies Dairy Holdings Ltd PO Box 549 Timaru 7940 Further information regarding Dairy Holdings Limited can be accessed on the website: www.dairyholdings.co.nz Applications close Friday, 24th November 2017

LK0090295©

Experienced Shepherd

Employment

LK0090192©

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance.

Unbeatable pricing.

Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

FORESTRY

E X P E R I E N C E D OPERATORS – Spreaders Computer and GPS equipped – 3 trucks available. Phone John 027 442 9136 or 06 323 7069.

Greater Manawatu.

HUNTAWAYS, HEADING, Heading, Handy dogs $1000-$2000. Deliver. Trial.

07 315 5553. Mike Hughes.

JACK RUSSELL pups, 6 weeks old. Mum is wire haired, Dad is short haired.

Both are short legged. Two bitches. Two dogs. No papers. Wormed and first vaccination. $500 each.

Phone 03 413 9019. South Otago.

NATIVE FOREST FOR MILLING also Macrocarpa and Red Gum, New Zealand wide.

We can arrange permits and plans. Also after milled timber to purchase.

NEW ZEALAND NATIVE TIMBER SUPPLIERS (WGTN) LIMITED 04 293 2097 Richard.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GARLIC & HONEY. 200L - $450 or 1000L - $2000 excl. with FREE DELIVERY from Black Type Minerals Ltd www.blacktypeminerals. co.nz

DOGS FOR SALE BRIAN BURKE, NZ Champ 1984 and 5 times NZ Champ finalist, available to train your working dog.

In three weeks he will transform your heading dog into a productive asset for the farm. Contact Brian 06 343 9561 for further details and pricing (heading dogs only).

www.gibb-gro.co.nz GROWTH PROMOTANT $5.85 per hectare + GST delivered Brian Mace 0274 389 822 07 571 0336 brianmace@xtra.co.nz

NCVC Vetcare Grazing have heifer and calf grazing options available now.

Long term, short term and flexible contracts.

Pay for what you get on our weight gain based contracts. We want to work with you on your most valuable asset. Give us a call today to discuss options.

WWW.NCVETS.CO.NZ

Laura Johnston, Grazing Representative 027 472 9464, 0800 GRAZING vetcare.ncvc.grazing@ncvets.co.nz

TH IN K P R EB UILT

FERTILISER

With our robots working for you, you’ll have more time for hunting.

Put our robots to work for you

Call Grant Vickers on 021 704 691 to find out why!

Drystock Manager’s position or lease land required.

Experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of farming, and development, also heavy machinery. Anything considered.

Please phone Ian 027 287 7522

SOLID – PRACTICAL WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

w w w. e l e c t r o t e k . c o . n z

Our homes are built using the same materials & quality as an onsite build.

Easily transported to almost anywhere in the North Island. Plans range from one bedroom to four bedroom First Home – Farm House Investment – Beach Bach

STOP BIRDS NOW!

P.O. Box 30, Palmerston North 4440, NZ

ZON BIRDSCARER

LK0088986©

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz DE HORNER

12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195.

QUICK SALE! Buying 300 dogs annually! No one buys or pays more! 07 315 5553.

YOUR FARM MAPPED showing paddock sizes.

Priced from $600 for 100ha. Phone 0800 433 855. farmmapping.co.nz

WANTED URGENTLY

NEW HOMES

DOGS WANTED

FARM MAPPING

MORE TIME FOR HUNTING

RELIEF FROM SORE muscles and joints.

Natural healing balm is a total natural product that will give relief from everyday problems people encounter. As farm work is demanding physically there is no need for you to put with with any discomfort you may encounter. Go to: www.naturalhealingbalm. co.nz

• Weaner Contracts • Heifer Contracts • Winter Contracts • Monitoring Contracts (Weaner/ Heifer) • One-off AN Health Options • One-off MGMT Options • Short Term Agreements

Call or email us for your free copy of our plans Email: info@ezylinehomes.co.nz Phone: 07 572 0230 Web: www.ezylinehomes.co.nz

DOGS FOR SALE

ANIMAL SUPPLEMENTS

ATTENTION FARMERS

GRAZING AVAILABLE

BOLTON-RILEY GROUND SPREAD

HOOF TRIMMER

EARMARKERS

GOATS WANTED FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds.

Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten.

Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

DOLOMITE, NZ’s finest Magnesium fertiliser.

Bio-Gro certified, bulk or bagged. 0800 436 566.

WILD CATTLE and goats wanted. 50/50 mustering.

Portable yards available.

Phone Kerry Coulter 0274 944 194.

FOR SALE

GRAZING AVAILABLE

DOG/PET FOOD. Lamb/ Beef and chicken products.

All natural - raw - no preservatives or additives.

NOSLOC PRODUCTS. Ex-freezer Te Kuiti. For information and prices www.nosloc.com or phone 07 878 6868.

JOHN DEERE 6420SE, 2007 premium model, 110HP, comes with JD 651 NSL loader, 16-speed PowerQuad transmission, dual remotes, passenger seat, just ticked over 5000 hours, fully serviced and sitting at Drummond & Etheridge in Blenheim, reduced to $44,000 + GST for quick sale. Call Andy on 027 975 6350 or Tony on 027 4746 093 to buy it.

Phone: +64 6 357 2454

WANTED

WINDMILLS for water pumping. Ferguson Windmills Company. www.windmills.co.nz sales@windmills.co.nz Phone 09 412 8655 or 027 282 7689.

LEASE LAND WANTED TAURANGA RURAL DISTRICTS. 20-30 acres grazing land. Suited to 1015 ponies. Phone Michelle 07 579 9049 or Ekel 022 434 0991.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE B R O O K L A N D SIMMENTAL, LBW, short gestation, bulls, suitable for beef or dairy, EBV’s available. 1 x 4-year stud bull for sale $4000. Phone 06 374 1802.

PERSONAL RURAL MAN would like to meet an attractive slim lady. 40-60 years, any nationality. I am 60 who looks like 40! Slim, honest and loving caring person who enjoys keeping busy.

If you want to know more phone Tim 06 867 1353.

HOUSE FOR REMOVAL wanted.

North Island.

Phone 021 0274 5654.

Put our robots to work for you

Call Grant Vickers on 021 704 691 to find out why!

0800 383 5266

FOOTWEAR

MANUFACTURERS

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z it co.n Vis rite. lity a t u s q la w. ore cts ww r m odu fo pr

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WILTSHIRE & SHIRE® rams and ewes for sale.

Hardy, low input, easy care meat sheep. No dagging. No shearing.

No dip, drench or vaccine since 1989. Deliver all over NZ. www.organicrams.co.nz Email: tim@ organic-rams.co.nz Phone 03 225 5283.

Contact Debbie 0800 85 25 80 DDI: 06 323 0765

FW

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Livestock PROTECT YOUR FUTURE FLOCKS

ECZEMA TOLERANT

FW

WAITEIKA HILL COUNTRY ROMNEYS RAMGUARD TESTING SINCE 1985 ***** RATING

* Robust functional sheep that survive * Dag and Condition Scoring * No ewes worm drenched, dipped or vaccinated * Monitoring Parasites WormFEC™

Keith Abbott Raglan 027 463 9859 www.waiteikaromneys.co.nz

Genetically linked to Waimai Romney

FOR SALE

Jan/Feb calv, well grown Fsn hfrs

M • ore • L Leat pro • W eat her duc or her far ts a Ph 1 k & h mi va 0 ad one H u Fo ntin ng b ilab e re g oo le 09 all R to str & t s 43 oa y h tra or 8 8 d, ig mp de h r & ing 90 RD lo b w 7 oo 5 leg ts •l ,W wo as rk tri hang te@ arei boot xtr s

NO STAFF WANTED

M

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RAMS FOR SALE

• LEASE • BUY • SERVICE • COMPLIANCE

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CATTLE GRAZING available. $7+GST per head per week. Southland.

Phone 03 280 6570.

PROPERTY WANTED

MORE TIME FOR ROMANCE

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Get your November 20 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday November 14

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Put our robots to work for you

Call Grant Vickers on 021 704 691 to find out why!

FLY OR LICE problem?

Electrodip - The magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides.

Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness.

Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m

www.drench.co.nz farmer owned, very competitive prices. Phone 0800 4 DRENCH (437 362).

FOR ONLY $2.00 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in FW Classifieds.

Ph Debbie 0800 85 25 80.

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

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With our robots working for you, you’ll have more time to spend with your family.

ANIMAL HEALTH

ANIMAL HANDLING

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Classifieds

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classifieds@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

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72

We need no one to help us milk 600 cows in Southland.

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160 Fsns 2.5 year hfrs –mated to calv Jan/Feb BW 86 PW 86 Hfrs are not maidens, they were mated to calv Jan/Feb to Fsn Bulls Contact Brent Espin 027 551 3660 or email brent.espin@fonterra.com

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Livestock

SIL recorded Romney Rams

150 ROMNEYS FE Gold 28SILHAIN November 2016 recorded Romney Rams

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

th

for Private Sale from

FE Gold Rams

for Private Sale from SILthrecorded and DNA tested

28 forNovember 2016 Private Sale on farm

Are you looking in the right direction?

Call Nigel 0800 85 25 80

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

WHEELER SHEEP GENETICS TEXEL and FINNTEXEL • LambM X (GDF9) • High fertility Texels • Proven performers • Efficient and Hardy •

MEATMASTER

livestock@nzx.com

Shedding Composite

• No shearing • Adaptable - Hardy • Fertility + Growth + Muscle •

GRAZERS WANTED WAGYU DAIRY CROSS WEANERS

BOOK IN NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT Sam & Gemma Hain HEREFORDS SHORTHORNS ROMNEYS

• Steers and/or Heifers at competitive per kg weight gain rates • Minimum 90kg start weight • From November 2017 start date • Short and long term options available • Simple no-fuss agreements

Sam Gemma Hain BOOK INSid NOW TO& AVOID & Merran HainDISAPPOINTMENT Waikura Station, Private Bag4072 7123, Sam & Gemma HainGisborne 4040 Papatu Road, Gisborne

Station, Bag 7123, Gisborne 4040 P: + +Waikura 862 8096 Private E: s_hain@xtra.co.nz P: 64 6 867 8097 sam.gemma.hain@gmail.com

LK0090346©

Central & Southern NI 569 Frn FrnX BW76 PW90 RA92% DTC 25/7 $1950 910 Friesians BW61 PW 73 RA95% DTC 20/7 17yrs history, very good age breakdown $2150 For more information on above herds view our facebook page – Carrfields NZ 184 Frn FrnX BW79 PW90 RA91% DTC 20/7 Well-conditioned, medium sized herd $1900 285 Frn Cows BW54 PW48 RA86% DTC 23/7 $2150. Outstanding production herd

For more information please contact us

Call Nigel

livestock@nzx.com

Fairlea Texels

Kiteroa Ayrshires 47th Annual Female and Young Sire sale INDEXING JERSEY & JERSEY Wednesday 22nd November 2018 at 12 noon

Meaty Muscle Makes Money

CROSS HERD

Vendors M/s Z & WR Kite Ph 07 823 6562 or 027 662 0998

BW 143/50 PW 161/67 RA 100% Sale to be held on the vendors property, 880 Parallel (in 10R All Breeds for NZ ) Roadtop Kaipaki D 1 Ohaupo will comprise • 14 Ayrshire RWB yearling heifers

Many• cows contracted to LIC for 2011 matings 22 Ayrshire Weaner heifers Due • to calve from 4 Ayrshire Weaner bulls 16-7-12, 6.5 weeks AB Jersey KiwiCL0, cross 40 head. and TB status Lepto Vaccinated and all sale Estimated to be 420 cows after non animals BVD blood tested negative. pregnant, culls, older cows & 5% rejection A very well backed offering of high performance cattle Production last season 347kgs ms/cow, with over 60 years of selective breeding behind them.

1000kgs ms/ha, on rolling to average steeper Last season the herd recorded its best ever of contoured farm, noms, meal, palm kernel orcows. maize 6358 litres, 497kg cell count 125 from 188 fed. These cattle are renowned for their shifting ability and overall ability to produce extraalso well under all conditions.

Young replacement stock available All animals are fully recorded and transferable. Follow the trend and get some “RED lN YOUR SHED”

Brian Robinson Ph 0272 410 051 Matthew Satherley Ph 0278 697 805

Kevin Hart Ph 0272 915 575 Gary Falkner Jersey Marketing Service

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Outstanding genetics & potential to be one of Catalogues giving all details are available on line at to the countries leading suppliers of Genetics or the dairywww.brianrobinsonlivestock.com industry for years to come.

Full details www.ayrshire.org.nz or are available from the available.

Call Hugh & Helen Winder on 0800 328 877

1808 Makino Road RD 9, Feilding 4779 Ph: 06 328 8710 Fax: 06 328 8712 Mob: 027 226 5784 Email: fairleatexels@xtra.co.nz

*Suftex first-cross rams also available

Tom Jackson 07 825 4966 021 929 389

0800 85 25 80

www.carrfieldslivestock.co.nz

Catalogue available online at www.theshow.co.nz

Brian Robinson BRLL Neil McDonald Ph 0272 188 904 Selwyn Donald 0274 378 375 PH: 0272 410051 orPh07 8583132

Romney. Breeding Composite.

Terminal Composite. Perendale.

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Central & Southern NI 114 Fr FrX BW97 PW135 RA 97% DTC 13/3 $2300 51 Fr C/O Cows BW91 PW94 RA100% DTC 15/3 $1750 Contact: Philip Webb: 027 801 8057 Central & Southern NI Dairy Coordinator Paul Kane 027 286 9279 (North Waikato/ Northland) National Dairy & Live Export Coordinator

For more information: Graham Sidey: 027 432 1384 Anthony Cox: 027 208 3071

auctioneers: Brian Robinson Livestock Ltd

Providing the right sires for you...

Advertise your ram sale in Farmers Weekly

2018 Autumn calvers

EWES Supported by: 6 8 6 -

362BtoPickering Road,marketing RD 3, Hamiltonagents: 3283 Enquiries the sole

CONTACT: 03 313 2204 danielwheeler@xtra.co.nz

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING

180 Fr hfrs BW92 PW85 RA100% RWB (Jrsy) DTC 24/7 $1300 Dec del 240 Frn hfrs BW105 PW97 RA95% DTC 20/7 $1650

240 Rams & Ewes for Sale

HIGH

• The best Dam breed • Easy lambing • Fast growing lambs • Ideal ram for mating hoggets

R2yrs

(Viewing from 9am) Canterbury Agricultural Park, Curletts Road, Christchurch

RAMS 2 22 3 2 6 13 12 14 27 4 33 42 40

E: s_hain@xtra.co.nz s_hain@xtra.co.nz

Herds 1st June 2018 delivery

10.30am Friday 01 December 2017

SALE ORDER Dorper South Suffolk Corriedale Charolais Hampshire Romney Poll Dorset Border Leicester Texel English Leicester Dorset Down Southdown Suffolk

FINNSHEEP

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Papatu 4072 Papatu Road, Road, Gisborne Gisborne 4072

P: P: ++ 64 64 66 862 8096

Canterbury A&P Association ELITE RAM & EWE SALE

FinnTexel ewes

E: sam.gemma.hain@gmail.com

Sid Hain Sid&& Merran Merran Hain

OR Register your interest for future grazing of R1yr and R2yr from May 2018.

For further information please contact: Tim or Erin O’Brien Phone: 06 857 8305 Email: tim@brownrigg.co.nz

Daniel Wheeler Livestock

Waikura Station, Private Bag 7123, Gisborne 4040 P: + 64 6 867 8097 E: sam.gemma.hain@gmail.com

P: + 64 6 867 8097

73

LK0090348©

150 FE Gold

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• •

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

tom@piquethillfarms.co.nz

piquethillstud.co.nz

Will Jackson 07 825 4480 027 739 9939

william@piquethillfarms.co.nz

FW

SOUTH SUFFOLKS & POLL DORSETS

2 YR STEERS 500kgs + 1 YR BEEF & BEEF X HEIFERS 2 YR X BRED HEIFERS COWS WITH CALVES AT FOOT

10th Annual Ram Sale Born and bred under challenging conditions All Sires DNA foot scored All Poll Dorset Rams guaranteed to have a 1 or 2 in their foot score

Raupuha Studs PMS 7512   



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   

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Bugs replied: “If there’s one thing rabbits are good at, it’s multiplying.”

Contact: David Giddings Meadowslea – 027 229 9760

PGGW – Keith Wilson 027 412 5766 Greg Uren 027 431 4051 RLL – Anthony Cox 027 208 3071 PWA – Hamish Zuppicich 027 403 3025 Carrfields – Callum Dunnett 027 587 0131

www.meadowslea.co.nz PAKI-ITI ROMNEY

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Raupuha Perendale

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All NZ DP FLK

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You can’t find higher tested Perendale and Romdales!

• 100% of Romney and Romtex sale rams are 5k DNA tested for greater accuracy – a first for the NZ sheep industry • 150%+ lambing, unshepherded on steep hill country rising up to 637m asl • 11 years of growth rate and meat yield progeny trials • 97 years of breeding rams for the NZ sheep industry

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• 147 clients last year purchased or leased Paki-iti rams

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NUMBERS TELL A STORY

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Perendale 2th rams tested .52 2017 Romdale 2th rams tested .52 2017

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 

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RAUPUHA #1 PERENDALES ARE

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

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Visit to view our breeding programs

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paki-iti.co.nz

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All NZ DP FLK

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It is about longevity, structural soundness, constitution and then the numbers.

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• www.raupuhastud.co.nz Mahoenui

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PAKI-ITI ROMTEX

BUT BREEDING IS MORE THAN NUMBERS

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Raupuha Perendale

   

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    

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MARK THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR: November 21st - On Farm Sale 12pm

Russell Proffit Phone 07 877 8977 Email: rnmwproffit@xtra.co.nz

• Romney • TexRom • Romdale • Perendale x Tex x Romney • Kelso x Romney • Kelso Maternal • Kelso Terminal (Black Face)



    

2033 State Hway 3, RD Mahoenui 3978 E: rnmwproffit@xtra.co.nz www.raupuhastud.co.nz

Suffolk and Suftex terminal 2ths available.

Thursday 30th November On-farm – Mt Cook Road, Fairlie Helmsman Auction – 12.30-2.00pm

On farm sale Tues 21st November

Where every day is an open day

Suffolk & SufTex

FW

The sales assistant was astonished and asked: “How on earth did you do that?”

A Financing Solution For Your Farm E info@rdlfinance.co.nz

Ram Sale - 300 Rams - 7 breeds

Bugs

r e s p o n d e d : “209,447,238”.

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381

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For further information or catalogues please contact: Simon Prouting, 06 374 3661, 57 Birch Road East, Weber, Dannevirke • prouting@inspire.co.nz • www.rocklea.co.nz

Perendale & Romdale

Immediately,

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Rams that will MEAT your requirements.

How much has eczema you?

Russell & Maviscost Proffit Start your genetic progress here.

P: 07 8778977 M: 0273552927 Follow the leader Facial Eczema Tested

FW

FRSN BULL CALVES

260-350kgs 1 YR ANG & ANG X STEERS

On-Farm Ram Sale Friday 1st December 2017, 2.00pm, by Auction

• •

Bugs Bunny was shopping at the supermarket and a sales assistant said to him: “If you can tell me what 19,866 times 10,543 is, we’ll give you free carrots for life.”

1 YR FRSN BULLS 260-310kgs

(Formerly known as High Plains)

•

SALE TALK

STOCK REQUIRED

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ROCKLEA

FW

livestock@nzx.com

LK0090276©

LK0090189©

Contact Nigel Ramsden DDI: 06 323 0761 0800 85 25 80

www.southdownsheep.org.nz

Stud and Flock rams available 130 South Suffolk rams 35 Poll Dorset rams Eye muscle scanned SIL Recorded High growth and high yielding rams

Meadowslea Hill-Bred Rams

Get your November 20 Farmers Weekly bookings in by midday Tuesday November 14.

– Ready when U R

Stewart Morton 06 328 5772 • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 RD 54 Kimbolton, Manawatu • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz

EWE WANNA A RAM …

THEN BOY DO WE HAVE RAMS …

ADELONG

A/c Neville & Dianne Greenwood. Ellesmere

13th ANNUAL ON FARM RAM SALE 2pm Wednesday 6th December 2017

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PETERS GENETICS HAVE SOME OF THE FINEST AROUND!

SURVIVABILITY

FERTILITY

GROWTH RATES

YIELD GRADING

Quality You Can See – Performance You Can Trust

BRIGHT WHITE WOOL

110 Poll Dorset 1 shear rams 14 Texel x Poll Dorset rams 12 Suffolk x Texel/Poll Dorset rams Foot Scores – 25 Poll Dorset rams in catalogue with foot scores from 1.1 to 1.3

Every drop means quite a lot when it’s from Peters Genetics Teviot Valley Station, Millers Flat Tel +64 3 446 6030 Cell +64 27 201 4490 Email atpeters@xtra.co.nz Web www.petersgenetics.co.nz

LK0090272©

• • • • • •

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

EARLY DEADLINE NOTICE!

SOUTHDOWNS Find a registered breeder at:

Livestock

LK0089994©

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

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74

Inspection: Rams available from 11am on sale day Catalogues available from Ryan Shannon, PGG Wrightson 0275 650 979 Stu Uren, PGG Wrightson 0275 910 446 Callum Dunnett, Carrfields Livestock 0275 870 131 Neville Greenwood 0274 311 431 or 03 329 5799

Livestock

THE NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WEEKLY – November 13, 2017

Pine Park Rams

livestock@nzx.com – 0800 85 25 80

MANU POLL DORSET

Breeding Genetically Better Sheep since 1978

29th Annual Ram Sale A/c AA & DJ Clements

Performance Recorded Since 1964

4 No. 2 ranked NZTW Suffolk sire across flock has a Goldstream sire

Manu 14/13tw

4 No. 7 ranked bred at Goldstream

To be held on the property 201 Drake Road, Purua, Whangarei

4 No. 1 & 3 ranked ‘Across Flock Sires’ for TSM (Terminal Sire Meat) have a Goldstream sire

Monday 27th November 2017 1pm start

4 No. 2, 3, 5, 7 on the Selection List have a Goldstream sire

55 Top Quality One Shear Poll Dorset Rams

4 Our Poll Dorset flock has a NZTW of 1100 cents in comparison to the NZ Average across all flocks of 620 cents 4 Our Poll Dorset flock WWT is 4.6kgs and LW8 is 8.6kgs

• All rams Ovine Brucellosis accredited • All rams eye muscle scanned • All Manu rams performance recorded (SIL)

4 All sires are foot scored

Contact: Alex Clements 09 433 5871 clements@ubernet.co.nz

Contact: Edward Sherriff 021 704 778 06 327 6591 312 Tutaenui Road, R D 2, Marton 4788 email: edsherriff@farmside.co.nz

LIVESTOCK ADVERTISING ALL ENQUIRIES WELCOME Bruce & Thelma Rapley Phone/Fax: 07 873 2818 RD 2, Otorohanga

Warwick & Rebecca Rapley Phone: 07 870 1714 Email: info@goldstreamfarm.com

Selling Agents: PGG Wrightson

Your source for PGG Wrightson livestock and farming listings

To advertise LK0090095©

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‘Genetically Better’ Goldstream Rams

Phone Nigel 0800 85 25 80 or email livestock@nzx.com

Key: Dairy

Beef

Sheep

Other

ELITE CHAROLAIS RAM SALE Tuesday 28th November 12 noon Feilding Saleyard Complex

High Growth, high yield, easy lambing, great carcass characteristics, & ideal for hogget mating.

35 Purebred Charollais Rams 60 Charollais X Rams 15 Charablack Rams

Contact Tony Gallen – 0275 901 711 Caitlin Rokela – 0274 056 156

RUAPEHU RED DEER SIRE STAG SALE Wednesday 13th December 2017 1.30pm, 37 Pukenaua Road, Taihape (1km north of Taihape)

28 x 2 Year Red Stags • Red stags bred for venison production and temperament • Highest average growth rate genetics offered by public auction in NZ since 2011

Enquiries/Catalogues phone: Robert Auld – PGG Wrightson 06 388 0270, 027 590 1335 Paul Hughes – Vendor 06 388 1051, 027 446 6309

UPCOMING RAM SALES Date

Location

Representative

14 Nov 2017 Mana Romney

Sale

On-farm (Masterton)

Tom Suttor

15 Nov 2017 North Island Perendale Ram Fair

Taihape

Caitlin Rokela

17 Nov 2017 Ashgrove Coopworth Ram Sale

Dargaville

Cam Heggie

21 Nov 2017 Raupuha Perendale, Romdale, Suffolk & Suftex Ram Sale

Mahoenui

Cam Heggie

23 Nov 2017 Paparata Romneys

Taumarunui

Cam Heggie

27 Nov 2017 Manu Poll Dorset Ram Sale

Whangarei

Cam Heggie

28 Nov 2017 Elite Charollais Ram Sale

Feilding Saleyards

Caitlin Rokela

28 Nov 2017 River Run Suffolk/Suftex Ram Sale

Kerikeri

Cam Heggie

28 Nov 2017 Argyle Romney Ram Sale

Kaikohoe

Cam Heggie

28 Nov 2017 G + T Howie Iona Lea Texel & Suff/Tex Ram Milton

Callum McDonald

29 Nov 2017 Waidale Stud c/o Ike Williams

Pleasant Point

Bruce Orr

30 Nov 2017 Meadowslea Ram Sale

Fairlie

Joe Higgins

1 Dec 2017

Mangahauhau Hampshire Ram

Matawhero, Gisborne Tom Suttor

1 Dec 2017

Wharatoa Genetics Ram Open Day

Clydevale

Callum McDonald

Our nationwide team of genetics specialists can coordinate all aspects of your ram sale, from pre-sale client contact to post-sale follow up, and offer farmers relevant knowledge, advice and support.

For more information contact your local genetics specialist:

Freephone 0800 10 22 76 | www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Callum Stewart National Genetics Manager 027 280 2688

Cam Heggie Upper North Island, Auctioneer 027 501 8182

Caitlin Rokela Taranaki, Manawatu, Whanganui 027 405 6156

Tom Suttor East Coast, Wairarapa 027 446 9967

Joe Higgins Regional Livestock Manager Canterbury 027 431 4041

Ryan Shannon Canterbury (Trainee) 0275 650 979

Callum McDonald Lower South Island 027 433 6443

Bruce Orr Senior Genetics Advisor 027 592 2121

John McKone Canterbury, Auctioneer 027 229 9375

Helping grow the country

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Rams That Shift, Thrive and Perform Everywhere

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75

MARKET SNAPSHOT

76

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Grain & Feed Last year

6.75

6.24

AS OF 27/07/2017

AS OF 09/11/2017

What are the AgriHQ Milk Prices?

The AgriHQ Seasonal milk price is calculated using GDT results and NZX Dairy Futures to give a full season price. The AgriHQ Spot milk price is an indicative price based solely on the prices from the most recent GDT event. To try this using your own figures go to www.agrihq.co.nz/toolbox

WMP GDT PRICES AND NZX FUTURES

353

327

NI mutton (20kg)

4.70

4.70

2.90

379

277

SI lamb (17kg)

7.15

7.10

5.50

Feed Barley

385

387

262

SI mutton (20kg)

4.80

4.50

2.75

214

Export markets (NZ$/kg) 9.45

9.63

7.39

267

267

UK CKT lamb leg

Maize Grain

421

423

360

PKE

269

270

217

* Domestic grain prices are grower bids delivered to the nearest store or mill. PKE and fertiliser prices are ex-store. Australian prices are landed in Auckland.

Oct 17 Jan 18 NZX WMP Futur es

7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5

Last week

Prior week

Last year

5.0

CBOT futures (NZ$/t)

4.5

Wheat - Nearest

228

231

207

Corn - Nearest

200

202

186

412

383

308

3500

North Island 17kg lamb

7.5

INTERNATIONAL

APW Wheat

2000 Jan 17 Apr 17 Jul 17 C2 Fonter r a WMP

5.75

379

Australia (NZ$/t)

2500

7.25

353

4000

3000

South Island 1 7kg lamb

7.5 7.0

ASW Wheat

392

370

287

Feed Wheat

299

274

215

Feed Barley

368

370

246

PKE (US$/t) Ex-Malaysia

132

111

NZ venison 60kg stag

6.5

6006.0 500

5.5

400

5.0

300

4.5

Oct Oct

92

Dec Dec

FebFeb

5‐yr ave NZX DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

Prior week

vs 4 weeks ago

WMP

2840

2920

3120

SMP

1735

1720

AMF

6575

Butter

5400

Last week

Prior week

Last year

Last week

Prior week

Last year

1870

Urea

520

477

460

29 micron

6.65

6.65

6.30

6380

6250

Super

297

297

310

35 micron

3.30

3.30

4.65

5300

5350

DAP

784

39 micron

3.30

3.30

4.80

704

704

$/kg

c/k kg (net)

US$/t

NZ$/t Mar

Apr

May

Sharemarket Briefing THE first week or so of November has been tough for the NZX50 and so far seems to be as negative as October was positive. The local index has been dragged lower by declines from some of the top performers for the year to date. The NZ dollar on the other hand has seen a bit of a rebound, putting added pressure on exporters.

One of the biggest events on the local calendar was the Reserve Bank’s Official Cash Rate decision and Monetary Policy Statement.

This was the first meeting for the RBNZ since the formation of the new Government and was expected to include some changes to economic forecasts. The OCR remained on hold at the historic low of 1.75% while the rhetoric confirmed that monetary policy would remain accommodative for some time.

The RBNZ doesn’t expect to raise the OCR until mid 2019.

Quarterly GDP growth is expected to peak in the first quarter of next year at 1.2% before moderating to 0.7-0.8%. Quarterly inflation is also expected to increase in the first quarter while the Trade Weighted Index (TWI), an exchange rate measure, is expected to remain stable.

Market commentary provided by Craigs Investment Partners

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR

14161

S&P/FW AG EQUITY

18040

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

8021

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

7480

Nov 14

Nov 15

Nov 16

Feed barley

4 weeks ago

NZ venison 60kg stag

4.5

600

250 150 Nov 13

Coarse xbred wool indicator

5.5

CANTERBURY FEED PRICES

350

Latest price

This yr

(NZ$/kg)

450

Feb

Last yr

AugAug

NZ average (NZ$/t)

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Jan

JunJun

WOOL

* price as at close of business on Thursday

Dec

AprApr

FERTILISER

Last price*

3200 3100 3000 2900 2800 2700 2600

Last year

7.25

Feed Wheat

Waikato (NZ$/t)

Sep 17 AgriHQ Seasonal

Last week Prior week

NI lamb (17kg)

Milling Wheat

PKE

May 17 Jul 17 AgriHQ Spot Fonterra forecast

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg

$/kgMS

Prior week

Canterbury (NZ$/t)

MILK PRICE COMPARISON

US$/t

Last week

AGRIHQ 2017-18

FONTERRA 2017-18

7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 Mar 17

SHEEP MEAT

DOMESTIC

$/kg

MILK PRICE FORECAST ($/KGMS) 2017-18

Sheep

c/kkg (net)

Dairy

Nov 17

PKE spot

3.5 400

300

2.5Oct Oct

Dec

Dec

5‐yr ave

Feb

Feb

Apr

Apr

Last yr

Jun

Jun

Aug

Aug

This yr

Dollar Watch

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

13.26

13.55

8.50

Auckland International Airport Limited

6.17

7.43

6.10

Meridian Energy Limited Spark New Zealand Limited The a2 Milk Company Limited Fletcher Building Limited Mercury NZ Limited (NS) Xero Limited Ryman Healthcare Limited Contact Energy Limited

2.85 3.69 7.57 7.07 3.40 33.41 9.21 5.75

3.02 3.97 8.84 10.86 3.60 35.50 9.80 5.85

2.57 3.32 2.06 6.92 2.94 17.47 8.12 4.65

Listed Agri Shares

500

5pm, close of market, Thursday

Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low

The a2 Milk Company Limited

7.570

8.840

2.060

Cavalier Corporation Limited

0.415

0.810

0.270

Comvita Limited

8.050

8.850

5.150

Delegat Group Limited

7.200

7.250

5.650

Foley Family Wines Limited

1.450

1.500

1.200

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

6.280

6.430

5.880

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

2.250

2.610

2.100

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

2.350

2.450

1.220

PGG Wrightson Limited

0.570

0.620

0.490

Sanford Limited (NS)

7.970

8.100

6.700

Scales Corporation Limited

3.890

3.970

3.210

Seeka Limited

5.900

5.930

4.300

Tegel Group Holdings Limited

1.370

1.460

1.050

S&P/FW Primary Sector

14161

15031

9307

S&P/FW Agriculture Equity

18040

19583

10899

S&P/NZX 50 Index

8021

8146

6971

S&P/NZX 10 Index

7480

7643

6927

ANZ Bank is sticking with This Prior Last NZD vs its higher kiwi dollar view week week year going into year-end and the USD 0.6960 0.6908 0.7223 first half of next year before EUR 0.5976 0.5928 0.6630 moving lower again.

It believes the United AUD 0.9058 0.8954 0.9463 States dollar could be under GBP 0.5291 0.5289 0.5746 pressure over the next few Correct as of 9am last Friday months as disappointment sets in over progress on tax reform along with questions over Federal Reserve strategy after it makes an expected interest rate rise in December, senior economist Phil Borkin said. If there is a question over the forecast, it will be more of timing than direction.

From below US$0.70 now, ANZ forecasts a 0.73 rate at yearend and through to June next year before going back to 0.68 by December.

The RBNZ was a touch more upbeat in its commentary last week though ANZ believes it is a little optimistic on the New Zealand growth outlook, especially with a sluggish housing market, Borkin said.

The new Government’s policies were more inflationary and at a time when growth was softer that was not the greatest mix for business returns and investment.

On this basis, NZ looks set for a lower currency and modestly higher interest rates over time, not necessarily a bad thing for a country with very high household debts.

That does not preclude the move higher for the dollar in the meantime against the US dollar and also the euro and sterling, where there remained some uncertainties in the underlying economies.

Alan Williams

Markets

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017

COARSE XBRED WOOL INDICATOR

SI SLAUGHTER MUTTON

NI SLAUGHTER STEER

($/KG)

($/KG)

MEDIUM MIXED SEX LAMBS AT STORTFORD LODGE

($/KG)

($/HD)

4.80

3.02

5.70

Cattle & Deer Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

5.70

5.70

5.40

NI Bull (300kg)

5.55

5.55

5.15

NI Cow (200kg)

4.35

4.35

4.00

SI Steer (300kg)

5.50

5.45

5.25

SI Bull (300kg)

5.15

5.10

4.70

SI Cow (200kg)

4.25

4.25

3.75

US imported 95CL bull

6.91

6.92

6.40

US domestic 90CL cow

6.88

6.81

5.78

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

North Island steer (300kg)

6.5

$/kg

6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 South Island steer (300kg)

6.5 6.0

NZ venison 60kg stag

c/k kg (net) $/kg

5.5 600

500 5.0 400 4.5 300 4.0

Oct Oct

Dec Dec

Feb Feb

5‐yr ave

Apr Apr

Jun Jun

Last yr

Aug Aug This yr

VENISON Slaughter price (NZ$/kg) NI Stag (60kg)

Last week Prior week 10.00

Last year

10.00

8.40

NI Hind (50kg)

9.90

9.90

8.30

SI Stag (60kg)

10.25

10.25

8.40

SI Hind (50kg)

10.15

10.15

8.30

New Zealand venison (60kg Stag)

11

$/kg

10

NZ venison 60kg stag

9

c/k kg (net)

600 8 500

400 7 300

6 Oct

Oct

Dec Feb Dec Feb 5‐yr ave

Apr Apr Last yr

$91-$102.50

1-year HerefordJersey steers, 270320kg, at Wellsford

Good new season lambs at Matawhero

Jun Jun

Aug Aug This yr

L

AMBS to auction are starting to flow along the East coast of the North Island and also Manawatu, though at a slower rate. The yarding of 5200 at Stortford Lodge consisted of very good quality lines, and high demand meant most easily sold for $95-$115.

NORTHLAND NORTHLAND Annual draft cattle at WELLSFORD last Monday sold to strong demand from local buyers, with outsiders taking a back seat. Numbers were higher than expected at 850 head, but the lineup featured good quality cattle sold in decent line sizes.

Most 2-year Hereford-Friesian steers lacked weight at 347-365kg and sold for $3.36-$3.37/kg, with a line of nine, 436kg, making $3.06/kg. AngusFriesian dominated the heifer pens, and at 344kg earned $3.11-$3.20/kg, while lesser Hereford-Jersey, 375430kg, made $2.93-$2.97/kg.

Hereford-Friesian was the breed of choice in the 1-year pens, with the bigger lines of well-bred and marked cattle chased. Steers 360-425kg made $3.24-$3.35/kg to sell on a firm market, and 288-336kg firmed to $3.44-$3.58/kg. Hereford-Jersey, 268317kg, sold for $3.34-$3.41/kg.

The market did not waver as it moved into the heifer pens, and an entry of Angus-Hereford, 331-339kg, sold for $1005-$1050, $3.04-$3.10/ kg. Hereford-Friesian, 300-325kg lifted to $3.19/kg, though individual lines made high values, as 247kg reached $3.44/kg and 215kg, $3.72/kg.

Hereford-Jersey, 295-297kg, returned $3.02-$3.04/kg, and Angus-Friesian, 227-324kg, $3.08-$3.13/kg.

A line of 13 Hereford cows with calves-at-foot sold exceptionally well at $1330 per unit, while run-with-bull Hereford made $955.

As grass takes off local demand for cattle is heating up in Northland, and prices at the KAIKOHE sale last Wednesday had evidence of that. A typically big yarding of 780 cattle were penned and the market was strong throughout, PGG Wrightson agent

TOP SHELF: The yarding at Stortford Lodge last week was top quality with most easily selling for $95-$115.

More photos: farmersweekly.co.nz

Vaughan Vujcich reported.

The older steer market showed real strength, with prices for Angus, Angus-Friesian and beef-cross firming to $3.10-$3.16/kg. Heifers had similar breeding in the pens and prices also improved 10c/kg to $2.85-$2.95/kg.

Most other steers were 18-month and included beef-Friesian and exotic. The top lines of quality cattle achieved $3.40-$3.50/kg, while lighter, wellbred lines fetched $3.60-$3.80/kg.

The 1-year bull pens were a mix of quality which was reflected in the prices. Beef lines made $3.10-$3.15/ kg, but the dairy-cross bull dropped to $2.75-$2.95/kg. The market rebounded for the 1-year heifers, where a mainly beef line up sold well at $3.00-$3.20/kg.

COUNTIES COUNTIES Excellent grass growth in the South Auckland and North Waikato regions is fuelling strong demand for stock at the TUAKAU store cattle sale.

The market at last Thursday’s sale was steady across the board, Keith West of Carrfields Livestock reported.

About 850 steers and heifers were presented to a good bench of buyers,

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New season lambs start

BEEF Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

105

high lights

77

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with outside buying support boosting bidding power.

Competition for the older steers was solid. A mix of mostly HerefordFriesian and Angus-cross steers weighing 517-570kg traded at $2.95$3.02/kg. The next cut at 429-468kg made $2.84-$3.08/kg. Top 15-month steers sold up to $3.83/kg, with lots in the 367-441kg range earning $1092-$1210. Medium 1-year steers, 245-290kg, returned $905-$995 and younger autumn-born steers, 217265kg, $760-$990.

The heavier 2-year heifers, 415470kg, traded at $2.99-$3.05/kg, with the next cut, 336-376kg, earning $2.98-$3.05/kg. Good 1-year heifers, 288-320kg, made $915-$1025, and lighter and lesser-bred types, 222280kg, $770-$855.

Last Wednesday’s prime market was also firm. Steers sold at similar rates to the previous sale and heifers increased by 5-7c/kg. The cow market was also slightly stronger.

Heavy prime steers sold at $3.00$3.10/kg, medium $2.92-$3.00/ kg and lighter $2.84-$2.91/kg. The

Continued page 78

Get Started Now

Markets

78 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017 better prime beef heifers sold from $2.96/kg to $3.13/kg, and medium lots earned $2.85-$2.92/ kg. Dairy-type heifers also sold well, fetching $2.39-$2.74/kg, and a small offering of beef cows made $2.33-$2.49/kg. Very good, wellconditioned Friesian cows traded at $2.11-$2.51/kg, and medium cows $1.94-$2.08/kg. Lighter boners fetched $1.72-$1.89/kg, and a small entry of beef and beefcross bulls returned $2.76-$2.89/ kg.

Demand for a medium-sized yarding of ewes and lambs was strong last Monday. The best of the prime lambs made $156-$175, medium $142-$154, and lighter $121-$139. Store lambs sold from $90 to $118, and heavy prime ewes fetched $130-$148. Medium ewes $96-$127.

WAIKATO A larger yarding of weaners greeted buyers at FRANKTON last Tuesday and was welcomed with open arms. Wednesday’s sale offered up quality lines and the market was strong.

Purebred Angus returned $430$600, with Angus-cross averaging $540. Hereford made $550-$580, and Hereford-cross were strong at an average of $505. Most Hereford-Friesian heifers sold for $500-$680.

The market was very strong for bulls with almost all lines lifting on recent levels, and some particularly significant lifts on the Friesian bulls. Angus, 99kg, made an impressive $640, Herefordcross, 100-103kg, $560, and 110121kg, $560-$580.

Hereford-Friesian, 103-104kg, lifted to $660-$675, and those 78kg were snapped up at $535-$555.

Friesian bull prices were steady to lifting and some of the lifts were sizeable, including 107kg at $580, and 104kg, $590-$600. At the heavier end returns were also very strong, with 193-195kg making $730-$740, and 128-129kg, $630$640.

It was a strong sale last Wednesday for a good sized yarding, with the market mainly steady though some quality lines lifted.

Two-year steers made steady returns, with Beef-cross, 447508kg, earning $2.91-$3.02/kg.

Hereford-Friesian, 463-483kg, were consistent at $3.02/kg, whilst 420-455kg lifted to $3.14-$3.19/

kg. Heifers were steady with only Angus-Friesian softening as 318-431kg made $2.58-$3.03/ kg. Friesian bulls, 570-590kg, remained consistent at $2.88/kg.

Hereford-cross, 293-317kg, were a feature in the 1-year pens, earning $950-$1025. AngusFriesian, 335-388kg, were very well received at $1010-$1225, and their Hereford-Friesian counterparts consistently strong, with 294-315kg at $965-$1025.

Highlights in the heifers included Hereford-cross, 293-349kg, $900$1045, while Hereford-Jersey, 271-333kg, lifted to $800-$1005. A line of Friesian bulls were chased, realizing $840-$920, $3.37-$3.43/ kg.

The prime market was sound with beef-bred, 658-685kg, making $2000-$2125, $3.04-$3.10/kg, and Hereford-Friesian strong within a $2.90-$3.04/kg bracket.

BAY OF PLENTY BAY OF PLENTY Good prices last week drew better quality cattle to RANGIURU last Tuesday, and prices continued to improve as the regular buyers remained firmly in their seats.

Processors are competing for finished stock, and a good yarding of prime steers met keen interest, with most selling for $2.91$2.99/kg, except for 19 Angus, 657kg, which achieved $3.12/ kg. Hereford-Friesian and Angus heifers, 460-514kg, lifted to $2.96$3.00/kg, while four Hereford bulls, 492kg, sold for breeding at $4.09/kg.

Boner prices were also strong, and Friesian, 488-513kg lifted to $1.91-$1.95/kg, and Friesian & Friesian-cross, $1.73-$1.74/kg The bulk of the store yarding was found in the 1-year pens. All lines found homes for good value, and Hereford-Friesian steers, 317370kg, made $1040-$1190, $3.22$3.38/kg. Similar weighted AngusFriesian were just 7c/kg behind that, while Angus-Hereford, 295kg, achieved $3.41/kg.

The best sellers in the heifer pens were Hereford-Friesian, 296-301kg, $3.14-$3.16/kg, with heavier lines making $3.00-$3.03/ kg. Two lines of Friesian bulls, 277298kg, sold for $880-$900, while the sale also included a bigger number of autumn-born lines with prices solid throughput the pens.

A bigger sheep sale sold well, with new season lambs making

$122-$145 and the better ewes earning $112-$137.

TARANAKI TARANAKI A fantastic line up of cattle drew a good crowd to the TARANAKI sale last Wednesday, and with grass growing around the region and wider areas, those on the bench meant business. Prices lifted at the Dairy Beef weaner fair last Thursday.

Three-year steers started the day, with one line of prime Hereford-Friesian, 755kg, making $3.07/kg, while other HerefordFriesian were forward types and sold for $3.11-$3.26/kg.

Buyers focused on beef-Friesian in the 2-year pens, and the top lines of Hereford-Friesian sold for higher $/kg than the lighter lines, with 468-545kg reaching $3.03$3.11/kg and 431-456kg, $2.86$3.03/kg. Angus-Friesian, 385526kg, sold over a tight range of $2.92-$3.08/kg. Heifer prices were more consistent, and most beefFriesian, 354-411kg, sold within $2.86-$2.96/kg, though a standout line of 12 487kg Hereford-Friesian made $1480, $3.04/kg to top the section.

Small lines of Angus featured in the 1-year pens and steers, 301-352kg, sold for $1100-$1190, while heifers, 262-224kg, returned $680-$720.

Hereford-Friesian cattle were sought after, and steers 300kg plus made $1020-$1060, and 229283kg, $850-$940. On the $/kg basis the highest selling were 229248kg at $3.71-$3.75/kg. Heifers of similar breeding and 256-350kg sold over a tight range of $3.02$3.10/kg.

A line of 32 Friesian bulls sold exceptionally well, with 295kg making $960, $3.25/kg.

With two weeks since the last fair and significant grass growth in that time, prices at the dairy-beef weaner fair lifted $50-$75 for a yarding of 1060.

Friesian bulls made up 60% of their section, and 120-140kg made $615-$630, while 103-118kg earned $500-$600, and 70-100kg, $385-$520. In the HerefordFriesian pens budgets had to be at least $600 to secure any lines, with all bar one small pen trading at $600-$705. The most expensive on a $/kg basis was 105-108kg, which sold to $6.32-$6.36/kg.

Jersey bulls, 85-118kg, fetched $370-$505.

All other sections paled in comparison, but HerefordFriesian heifers, 90-115kg, sold over tight per head range of $460$570, while a line of CharolaisSimmental took top honors, making $605.

POVERTY BAY POVERTY BAY At MATAWHERO on Friday three lines of male and mixed sex lambs were $91-$102.50. Middle weight lines through all sexes were bought at $78.50-$81. Vendors on average took home and extra $20/ head on a year ago for lambs that averaged the same weight.

The better 5-year and mixed age ewes made $124-$133.50 while medium quality lines were at $105-$117.

HAWKE’S BAY HAWKE’S BAY There was plenty to talk about at the STORTFORD LODGE prime sale last Monday, as 3700 ewes punched the sheep throughput over 4000 head, while a big yarding of cattle featured quality traditional lines.

Wednesday’s sale offered up over 5200 store lambs and while the market was strong, it was variable between sexes and weight ranges.

Prime cattle prices reflected good competition from the bench.

A highlight was 11 Angus steers, 621kg, $3.22/kg at $2000, while Angus heifers, 493-495kg, sold for $3.04-$3.06/kg.

The cow market did not have the punch of the previous week though prices were still historically high as Angus and Angus-Hereford, 550-582kg, traded at $2.26-$2.38/kg, with heavier Angus also in that range.

Two lines of Friesian cows, 565575kg, sold well at $2.19-$2.20/kg.

The sheep sale was a one-class show, with a big yarding of ewes and just small lines of lambs and hoggets.

The ewe market could not be budged, with prices identical to the previous week. Most were at least good types and heavy to very heavy lines made $134-$157, with good and very good earning $124-$130.

Small lines of new season lambs made $116-$133, though a few heavier lines pushed to $150-$167.

Bids flowed freely for the 5200 new season lambs as local, Taihape, Dannevirke and Taupo competed.

Medium cryptorchid lines sold on a firm market at $99-$106.50, but light lines eased to $86-$90.

The top ram lambs sold on a steady market at $102-$111, while most mixed sex were medium to good and made $94-$114.

A small cattle sale started off on a strong note, as two buyers battled it out for small lines of dairy and dairy-cross cows with calves.

Bidding was intense on the second line of HerefordJersey with three calves, which eventually went under the hammer for $1685 a unit.

A small 2-year section was easily sold and Manawatu dominated, taking the top line of Angus steers, 400kg at $3.43/kg, and Angus & Angus-Hereford heifers, 380kg, $3.13/kg. Hereford-Friesian heifers made similar values at $3.06-$3.13/kg. One line of 20 Friesian bulls, 512kg, earned $3.04/kg.

The 1-year section took little time to sell as most lines had decent numbers. Specially advertised Hereford-Friesian heifers sold three different ways, though all stayed local. These traded over a tight range on a firm market as 243-266kg fetched $3.38-$3.44/kg, with a heavier line at 300kg making $2.83/kg.

MANAWATU MANAWATU A good crowd of regular buyers plus a few new faces vied for a large yarding of cattle at RONGOTEA last Wednesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent John Watson reported.

The boner pens consisted of crossbred, 345-415kg, at $1.47$2.02/kg, and beef-Friesian, 470528kg, $1.72-$1.97/kg.

The best of the 2-year HerefordFriesian steers, 622kg, returned $3.00/kg, while heifers, 335-445kg, varied from $2.50/kg for lesser sorts up to $2.98/kg for the better end.

A consignment of HerefordFriesian steers and heifers had a good following, and the best of the steers, 378kg, made $1300, $3.43/kg, with most lines trading at $3.37-$3.61/kg. The top heifers, 348kg, sold to $1135, $3.26/kg, while Angus-cross, 213-231kg, fetched $2.90-$3.22/kg. A heavy line of Friesian bulls, 387kg made $1030, $2.66/kg.

Autumn-born Hereford-Friesian steers, 120-136kg sold to $490-

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$640, while heifers, 134-167kg, made $550-$580. Crossbred bulls, 167-188kg, returned $680-$735, with the lighter line reaching $4.00/kg.

In the weaner pens Friesian bulls, 104140kg, earned $400-$535 and HerefordFriesian, 107-260kg, $500-$765. Demand for heifers was solid, and HerefordFriesian, 130-148kg, fetched $440-$590, with crossbred lines more variable at $270-$580.

Demand for calves continued to be strong, and Hereford-Friesian bulls sold well at $210-$390, with smaller lines earning $150-$200. Friesian bulls sold for $180-$340, and Belted Galloway $160$200, with the heifers making $90-$130.

Hereford-Friesian heifers made $150$330.

Extra dairy cows pushed numbers to 100 head at FEILDING last Monday, while sheep numbers dropped significantly.

Boner cow prices came off the highs set the previous week and Friesian, 540-704kg, made $2.22-$2.26/kg, and 508-540kg, $2.15-$2.19/kg, with lesser types earning $1.95-$1.98/kg. HerefordFriesian, 553-670kg, made $2.17-$2.22/ kg.

For a change the bull section was the second biggest, with numbers boosted by 20 Jersey bulls, 501-556kg, which sold well at $2.80-$2.83/kg.

All the lamb lines at FEILDING on Friday were mixed-sex and a small line of a dozen blackface lambs sold for $114 with a larger line at $111.50.

Ewes with lambs-at-foot again sold well and reached a new seasonal high of $120.

Eight good Hereford-Friesian cows with Charolais-cross calves sold for $1820. The heaviest cattle were also Hereford-Friesian with 11 three-year steers selling for $1870, $3.03/kg; six twoyear steers selling for $1850, $2.97/kg, and five two-year bulls selling for $2250, $3.04/kg.

Traditional beef cattle sold well with 20 Angus-Hereford steers up to $1815, $3.26/kg, and 17 South Devon-cross yearlings selling for $1550, $3.42/kg.

The sheer number of yearling bulls kept a cap on that section but most of the Friesians were about $3.20/kg with the heaviest selling to $1210, $2.89/kg.

Top Angus yearling heifers sold for $1180, $3.26/kg but they were the section’s best.

Steers; 3yr, 617kg, $1870, $3.03/kg; 2yr, 397-623kg, $950-$1850, $2.78-$3.46/ kg; 1yr, 241-453kg, $1030-$1550, $2.51$3.96/kg; Bulls; 2yr, 390-740kg, $1120$2250, $2.87-$3.15/kg; 1yr, 207-522kg, $660-$1210, $2.64-$3.46/kg; Heifers; 2yr, 346-522kg, $1065-$1555, $2.91-$3.14/kg; 1yr, 240-361kg, $740-$1180, $2.62-$3.55/ kg.

CANTERBURY CANTERBURY With show week approaching competition cattle featured at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday while the sheep sale took a back seat.

The store sheep pens featured mainly Merino hoggets, but also included three small lines of mixed sex lambs at $74$106.

The rest of the sale was mainly made up of a consignment of 930 mixed sex Merino hoggets and results were mixed as two good lines made $91-$99, but the third line was much lighter and dropped to $74.

Prime hogget numbers continued to fall and prices eased $5 as most traded at $110-$169. New season numbers did however creep up and keen interest meant $127-$170 was common ground.

Just shy of 1000 ewes were offered and included a line of seven blackface which sold to $227, with a further 53 making $196-$198.

With the market lifting $5-$7 across all

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017 classes the bulk of the section sold for $130-$189.

Competition cattle featured prominently through the steer and heifer sections, and drew in a good crowd of spectators, as well as buyers.

As always prices for these cattle were above current market values for the feature breeds of Angus, Charolais, Devon and Limousin. In general the competition steers traded at $3.20-$3.48/ kg, with the top $/kg paid for one 675kg Limousin.

Per head prices were mostly at or not far off the $2000 mark, and a 1335kg Charolais topped the sale $2670.

In the regular sale pens steers lifted 10c/kg, with traditional lines, 565-590kg, averaging $3.06/kg, though some lines pushed to $3.10-$3.17/kg. HerefordFriesian, 558-605kg, returned $3.05$3.11/kg, with just off types and dairy and dairy-cross dropping below $3/kg.

Top quality Limousin heifers sold head and shoulders above all other competition heifers, with 620-625kg rivaling the steer prices at $3.45-$3.50/ kg, $2156-$2188, while 545-555kg returned $3.29-$3.32/kg.

Prime and local trade lines firmed 5c/kg, and $2.90-$3.00/kg was easily achieved on the better lines, with second cuts making $2.80-$2.90/kg.

Prime heifers were easily the stars at COALGATE though this was partly a reflection of the good quality lines put forward. Traditional lines, 515-620kg, were regularly bought at $3.10-$3.15/ kg, while anything else in the 490-610kg bracket made $2.95/kg or more. These values were up around 10-15c/kg on a week ago.

Prime steers didn’t reach the peaks of the heifers, but still lifted on average 10c/kg. Nearly all 475-615kg lines made $3.00-$3.12/kg, though one 640kg took out the top per kilo rate at $3.21/kg.

The prime pens housed a significant number of new season lambs so demand and prices were very strong. Most sold for $120-$169, with a small number reaching $175-$177.

A surprisingly high number of hoggets are also still coming forward, though buyers are starting to back off these a tad. However the sheer size of some of the hoggets saw a number of lines sell to $160-$178, and the remainder $126-$157.

Ewes continued their strong run, with the market benefiting from high mutton schedules and a lull in lambs to kill.

Heavy ewes made $150-$189, with a line of 17 hitting $200. Medium types sold for $120-$149, with just a small percentage making $100-$113.

SOUTH CANTERBURYSOUTH CANTERBURY A procurement battle brewing resulted in a lift for all classes of cattle at TEMUKA last Monday, while a looming gap between old and new season lambs sees more buyers focus on the ewe pens.

Ewes made up the biggest portion of the sale though could easily have been sold twice over. Prices firmed, and heavy ewes easily made $140-$189, and medium types, $100-$137.

Hogget returns held though numbers are dropping, and most sold for $130$169.

The Friesian heifer market was outstanding as prices lifted 25c/kg. Those 500-630kg made $2.78-$2.89/kg, with the next cut earning $2.63-$2.79/kg. Prime heifers, 485-665kg, sold well at $2.87$2.98/kg, though pens of forward stores, 308-339kg, reached $3.13-$3.25/kg.

Very heavy steers firmed, and Hereford-Friesian, 535-660kg, averaged $2.95/kg, while Friesian, 554-620kg, lifted 10c/kg to $2.81-$2.83/kg. One very heavy Angus, 735kg, surpassed $2000 when it sold for $2.94/kg.

Friesian bulls also lifted, and 565-

588kg returned $2.87-$2.93/kg.

Fewer dairy cows only increased competition, and a larger portion of the section sold over $2/kg. Most weighed in at 555-730kg and sold for $2.10-$2.19/ kg, though $2.05-$2.14/kg was still being paid for 448-473kg. Hereford cows featured and at 473-613kg most sold for $2.19-$2.25/kg.

A consignment of Simmental-Hereford and Simmental-Angus 1-year steers was cause for excitement, and the Hereford lines, 342-388kg, made $1270-$1345 for varied $/kg, though the Angus, 343374kg, sold over a tighter range of $3.38$3.44/kg. Hereford-Friesian steers firmed across all weight ranges as heavier lines made $3.28-$3.38/kg, and 278-307kg, $3.45-$3.51/kg.

Heifer results were equally as impressive and the bestselling were Hereford-Friesian, 306-308kg, $3.47$3.48/kg, though 266-280kg were not far off the pace at $3.32-$3.41/kg. Ten Charolais-Friesian were worth a mention also, as they went under the hammer for $1070, $3.78/kg.

Unlike the older bulls, 1-year Friesian had a good following and prices also showed improvement. Divided into two weight bands, the heavier lines made higher $/kg as 285-303kg reached $3.04$3.09/kg, while 199-271kg were better shopping at $2.91-$2.95/kg.

OTAGO OTAGO The ewe market continues to be the shining light at the BALCLUTHA sale, with prices improving again last Wednesday, PGG Wright agent Russell Moloney reported.

The top ewes sold to $170-$178, with medium types making $150-$165, and lighter, $100-$135. These prices bettered those paid for prime hoggets as the heavy lines reached $158-$165, medium $145$159 and lighter $110-$125. Rams sold for $90-$105.

SOUTHLAND SOUTHLAND Store cattle featured at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday, as the demand for cattle is met by numbers. Competition was good for all types and the resulting market firm. Prime ewes were once again the focal point in the sheep pens, though those with lambs-at-foot were also hotly contested.

Prime hogget numbers continue to trend down, and the market was solid enough. Heavy types made $140-$155, medium $130-$138 and lighter, $110$120. The heavy hoggets were however bettered by the ewes as strong demand meant they reached $150-$162, with medium types making $120-$135, and lighter, $80-$110. A reasonable yarding of rams varied from $50 up to $110.

Two-year beef-cross steers, 400-422kg, made $2.91-$3.03/kg, and Friesian, 440kg, $2.81/kg.

Most other cattle could be found in the 1-year pens, where the top lines of beefcross, 370-414kg, earned $3.11-$3.24/kg, and medium, 348kg, $3.16/kg. Heifers of similar breeding and 353-383kg sold for $2.95-$3.11/kg, and 260kg, $3.07/kg.

Good Friesian bulls, 295-315kg, finished at $2.85-$2.88/kg, with 270kg making $2.70/kg.

The prime sheep section housed all the action at CHARLTON last Thursday, and prices were firm on recent weeks, PGG Wrightson agent David Morrison reported.

Prime ewes matched the hogget prices, reflecting the very high demand for mutton. Both the hoggets and ewes sold to $170, with medium lines making $130-$145, and lighter ewes, $115-$120.

Two-tooth’s traded at $100-$130, and rams, $70-$90.

Store numbers were limited but featured breeding hoggets which sold exceptionally well at $190.

79

Surplus feed and positive processing signals good news for South Island sheep and beef farmers South Island spring livestock markets reflect farmers’ desire to capitalise on surplus feed.

PGG Wrightson South Island Livestock Manager Shane Gerken says the cattle market has been vibrant throughout all classes.

“Signals from meat processing companies around prime beef are encouraging, and with the excellent spring growing conditions most of the South Island has enjoyed, farmers fattening cattle are poised to do well for the next few months.

“Because there is plenty of feed throughout most districts, good traditional cattle are still keenly sought after. Farmers are looking to make the most of the feed situation, maximising what they have on farm in anticipation of prices remaining firm, which looks likely, especially with traditional cattle breeds for prime beef,” he says.

Southland has had the benefit of a particularly good growing spring, although parts of Northern Southland and Central Otago have become dry, so reasonable rainfall in last week’s cold snap should provide a timely boost, says Shane Gerken.

Meanwhile, the sheep market is also benefiting on the back of export forecasts and ewes are keenly sought after by meat companies.

“Virtually the last of last season’s crossbred lambs have now gone to the meat processor, and with the new season’s stock starting to come through, there are many positives from overseas markets. On the back of the Christmas chilled lamb market, farmers have been benefiting from $7 plus schedules, though as the cut-off for that market is upon us, there is potential for the schedules to drop off over the next few weeks.

“Mutton is also keenly sought, due to excellent overseas demand, and processors filling killing capacity between last season’s and this season’s lambs. Consequently, South Island mutton prices have lifted in the last two to three weeks and are now averaging $140 to $150 through the saleyards, which is phenomenal.

“With upcoming on-farm sales in the next month to six weeks, there is genuine enquiry for store lamb purchases as farmers look at alternative options for finishing stock, and therefore capitalise on the favourable outlook for export lambs,” he says.

Get in touch: 0800 10 22 76 www.pggwrightson.co.nz

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80 THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 13, 2017 NI SLAUGHTER LAMB

SI SLAUGHTER BULL

SI SLAUGHTER STAG

($/KG)

($/KG)

BONER FRIESIAN HEIFERS, 475-555KG, AT TEMUKA

($/KG)

($/KG LW)

5.15

7.25

10.25

2.76

Friesian steers, 470545kg, at Taranaki

Market factors push prices Annette Scott

T

annette.scott@nzx.com

HE success of marketers in building new markets has been a key driver of this season’s record high venison prices, Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup says.

Low supply and high prices of other premium meats had also helped add value to venison.

But Coup said with prices for chilled venison up 10-15% this year customers were sounding warnings of price resistance among chefs in Europe and the United States.

The European game meat season was now in full swing but many historical buyers of NZ venison would not be buying it this season because of the high price, he said.

Prices were being driven in part by a reduction in supply from NZ and other sources.

“Marketers observe that the European market is finely balanced between supply and demand with a reduced supply currently balanced by higher prices.”

The NZ deer kill to August 31 was 300,000, down 8% on the previous 12 months while venison production was down 6% to its lowest level in 20 years.

“With strong demand and reduced supply, marketers have obtained price increases for middle cuts and manufacturing items in the

STILL SELLING: Some European chefs will not buy high-priced venison this year but United States sales are up, Deer Industry New Zealand chief executive Dan Coup says.

main European markets,” Coup said.

All premium red meats in Europe – game, beef and lamb – were expensive with roe deer venison, which normally sold at a premium over red deer venison, also high.

Coup said marketers had succeeded in creating demand in new markets such as the US, NZ retail and Scandinavia to add to summer sales in Europe.

That meant there was more choice about when and where they sold their venison.

“While the European game season remains vitally important to NZ

other markets provide a more stable return because they are not as affected by competition from venison from other suppliers,” Coup said.

NZ was experiencing very strong demand for manufacturing venison in the US where exotic meats were fashionable.

“For this reason as well as the reduced overall supply sales to Germany are down 51% in the last year, compared with the United States, which are up 126%.”

The average published schedule price for a prime venison carcase was $9.82/kg, up 17c on the last price peak

high $3.03-$3.11/kg $3.59-$3.68/kg 1-year Angus steers, lights 2-year Hereford-

of $9.65 on October 25, 2008, when the Euro and US dollar were much stronger, relative to the Kiwi dollar, than they were today.

Coup said the favourable prices were encouraging deer farmers to keep more young hinds to build their breeding herds.

“With continued retention we don’t expect to see a major change in NZ venison production volumes in the next 12 months so that bodes well for stable pricing into next season.

“We will have to wait and see if the strong demand conditions hold up as well,” he said.

375-390kg, at Matawhero

Lamb’s stellar run still has good legs THERE was plenty of speculation earlier in the year the farmgate price for lamb would get close to $7/kg at some point. However, few expected it would be above $7/kg into the new season.

Mel Croad A combination of genuine AgriHQ Analyst demand and tighter global lamb exports has propelled export values higher right through the year. Demand has stepped up a notch in recent weeks, much to the delight of sheep farmers across the country. Of course, as nature would have it, spring has been less than ideal for growing out lambs, which has slowed the numbers into processing plants.

Those with new season lambs ready now are eyeing up $110 plus a head, even for lambs only just over 16kg cwt. However, the arrival of warmer temperatures means these tighter supplies won’t last for long. Most regions are comfortable with feed levels but it starts to become a gamble whether to hold and lift live weights further or draft at the usual time.

Some processors are noting a lift in lambs on their books in coming weeks. As supplies increase and are sustained, farmgate prices will inevitably start to retreat. This is the reality of this part in the season and reflects the removal of chilled premiums, which generally coincides with increasing NZ lamb supplies.

The beauty of a higher starting point is that even as farmgate prices start their seasonal descent they will remain well above average. Only once since 2011 have North Island lamb prices averaged over $6/kg in December. In the South Island that key number has been missing for the last six years. AgriHQ’s latest November Livestock Outlook points to lamb prices not only averaging well above $6/kg in December, across the country but that average January prices will still punch well above historical averages. That will be music to the ears of those farmers who usually miss out on the strong money in the opening weeks of each new season. mel.croad@nzx.com

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