Tariff wars a bonanza for NZ red meat
Gerald Piddock POLITICS Sheep and beef
AMARKET analyst is predicting record lamb prices over the next 1218 months, with prices hitting $10/kg by August and the price expected to lift to $10.50/kg by July 2026.
And that is a conservative outlook, Global AgriTrends analyst Simon Quilty told Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Out of the Gate conference in Rotorua last week.
For beef, he believes farmers could receive as much as $7.85/kg by the end of this year for prime steers.
The forecast is based on a combination of historically low stock numbers in the United States and Australia, and geopolitical upheaval as US President Donald Trump imposes new tariffs. Prices will be elevated for at least three years, taking into account seasonal movements, he said.
The market will be incredibly tight and farmers will be the beneficiaries.
“US tariffs will create opportunities with higher beef prices and that will assist lamb as well. New Zealand beef in the US is essentials (lean beef for processing) and therefore tariffs are likely to be passed forward, with Australia to move into a
rebuild for cattle later this year and for sheep probably this year as well, if not next year,” he said.
The US market for NZ lamb is small and dominated by racks, meaning tariffs can easily be absorbed.
“With or without tariffs, the fundamentals are strong – tight supply and strong demand.”
Those tariffs were set to be implemented starting on April 2, with retaliation expected from Canada, Mexico and China.
Quilty said in the short term, a tariff of between 2-8% is manageable. It gets challenging when it reaches 25%. Trump is prioritising the tariffs based on trade deficits, existing tariffs on US goods, and value added taxes.
On all three criteria, NZ scores very well and any new tariffs will hopefully be minor, he said.
Around 38% of beef exports go into the North American market – about 182,000 tonnes. In sheepmeat products, it is around 9%.
Of that 38%, over 90% is essential ingredients, or lean beef that is processed into hamburgers.
In the US, importers are already negotiating that the cost of tariffs be passed forward to end users, which will mean farmers will not bear the cost of them.
For lamb racks, a 2-6% tariff is also manageable but again, trade
Continued page 3
Merinos ready for their close-up
Merino sheep gather on Otamatapaio Station in North Otago, which is owned by Reda, an Italian fabric manufacturer. The sheep were mustered for a series of photographs for Futurum, a Dutch cycling brand that uses New Zealand Merino in its high-end cycling clothing.
SECTORFOCUS
Sheepmeat exporters temper India FTA expectations.
NEWS 3
Photo: Gerhard Uys
Where tradition meets technology
Ken, left, and Bruce Eade run their family farm in Kelso, near Gore, taking pride in ‘farming the way it used to be’ – alongside a cohort of milking robots.
DAIRY 14-20
Singapore’s emissions changes may hit NZ exporters.
NEWS 5
redefining the milking experience
Combining the latest innovations in automatic milking technology with the essence of true pasture-based farming, GEA is proud to present the DairyRobot
The Eating the Elephant guide to the ETS.
OPINION 13
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EDITORIAL
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Contents
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PLANTED: Scion scientist Simeon Smaill says there is much to be learnt from the industrialised process of pine tree rearing and planting that could be applied to native forest establishment.
STORY P11
News in brief
Consultation
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has launched public consultation on New Zealand’s negotiations with India for a formal, comprehensive free trade agreement.
All interested New Zealanders, including businesses, NGOs and members of the public, have the opportunity to make a submission before April 15. visit: https:// www.mfat.govt.nz/have-your-say
Stewart appointed
Rangitīkei farmer Andrew Stewart has been elected to the Beef + Lamb New Zealand board in a Western North Island farmer-director election.
Stewart received 4233 weighted votes while his opponent Scott Gower received 3502 weighted votes – a winning margin of 731. Turnout for this director election was just short of 13%, which BLNZ said is on par with other comparable organisations.
Devold launch
Norway-based Devold has elevated its commitment to New Zealand fine wool growers with the launch of its Sheep to Shop education programme.
Sheep to Shop is Devold’s direct sourcing model with wool growers, bypassing intermediaries and the auction system. The initiative is designed to enhance collaboration with wool growers.
Solar farm
Work is set to begin in August on a large solar farm in Northland, after Meridian Energy confirmed the project would go ahead.
The consented $227 million Ruakākā solar farm, south of Whangārei, will have 250,000 solar panels covering an area of 170 rugby fields, and the site will be capable of producing up to 230 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. – RNZ
Sheepmeat exporters temper India hopes
AUSTRALIAN sheepmeat exports are still only trickling into India, two years after a free trade deal between the two countries, casting doubt on the expected gains for New Zealand sheep farmers should the government succeed in getting tariffs removed in its own renewed trade talks.
In Delhi this month, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon got the green light for negotiations to resume after a decade-long hiatus.
Luxon said he was confident of a deal before next year’s election.
Trade Minister Todd McClay said dairy market access talks would be tough but sounded more hopeful for sheepmeat.
McClay said Australian lamb exports to India had “grown significantly” since Australia’s 2022 free trade agreement reduced tariffs from 33% to zero.
“If we conclude an agreement with them I’ll get lamb [tariffs] to zero I reckon, and we’ll be able
Continued from p1
would be badly affected by a 25% tariff, he said.
CIFER licences among US processors are also not being renewed – which will mean these plants will not have access to the Chinese market.
This is impacting around 371 poultry and pork processing plants in the US. There is also a high chance that other plants will not have their licences renewed, effectively banning US beef exports to China.
Reaction to this in the market has seen beef prices in Brazil shoot up as China looks to buy elsewhere.
“Across Australia, across NZ,
to compete against Australia,” McClay said.
Percentage increases aside, however, Australian sheep exports to India remain at very low levels.
According to Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, sheepmeat exports to India last year were just 250 tonnes. Lamb exports didn’t even crack 50t. Those totals
the phones are ringing as China is looking to buy. Already we are starting to see the benefits of the tariff war and you guys are going to be a recipient of it because they too will be coming to you to buy.”
Quilty’s colleague, US-based analyst Brett Stuart said that while there is an element of uncertainty with the tariffs, his advice was to “panic slowly”.
“Yes there is some need for concern here, but don’t react quickly. Take your time and be strategic and wait to see how things play out.”
US prices are currently at a record high and even with a 10% tariff, that and the low exchange rate will offset that impact, he said.
compared to Australia’s total sheepmeat exports last year of 614,396t.
An executive at one major NZ meat exporter said India could not pay enough to compete with other international markets. Even with the removal of the 33% tariff on NZ sheepmeat, he did not see that situation changing.
“The fact is it is an extremely
price-sensitive market,” the exporter said.
“Those guys will take you for your last five cents and Australia is a classic case.
“I mean they have sold 50t of lamb and 200t of mutton under a FTA with India.
“There is certainly no way I would be looking at India as a high-value market even with an FTA.”
A director of a major meat exporter in Delhi with Luxon and McClay said Australia’s struggles were partly explained by hold-ups with export plant licenses. These had only recently been resolved.
“That has been their big challenge but I think it is fair to say India is still pretty undeveloped for sheepmeat even at that high level.”
Exporter Alliance Group and in-market partner Quality NZ have spearheaded the industry’s attempts to gain a foothold for NZ lamb in India over the past decade.
QNZ has sought to use the star power of its former Black Caps owners, such as Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum, to open doors in the cricket-mad country.
However, official statistics show Alliance and QNZ have not been
COMPETE: An executive at a major New Zealand meat exporter says India could not pay enough to compete with other international markets.
There is certainly no way I would be looking at India as a high-value market even with an FTA.
Executive Meat export company
able to sell more than $2-3 million of sheepmeat per annum to India during that time.
A former Alliance board member said the tariffs had been a major factor in the slow growth in the market.
“It essentially restricts you to the five- and six-star hotel market and a few first-class airline kitchens.
“But the big barrier is actually logistics, as anyone who has tried to move food around India will tell you.
“The reason you have not seen Australian product flood in is you have got to somehow set up a supply chain that has integrity and that is what QNZ has done.”
Alliance’s global head of sales James McWilliam agreed.
“In terms of first-move advantage, QNZ is well set up once the tariff comes off.”
TARIFFS: New Zealand sheep and beef farmers will be the beneficiary of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, Global AgriTrends analyst Simon Quilty says.
Nigel Stirling MARKETS Lamb
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Verdi identifies deeper soil carbon potential
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Carbon
ROTORUA soil health verification company
Verdi is working to have deep soil carbon recognised as a valuable means of carbon storage, capable of playing a critical role in farmers’ efforts to respond to carbon reporting requirements.
Verdi’s commercial manager Tim Cutfield said the understanding of soil carbon levels in New Zealand has typically been that levels are already high, and therefore difficult to increase any further. The focus has typically been on carbon stocks to 300mm and little focus on soil health and biology.
“While the top 300mm of our soils has been well studied, it’s also very vulnerable to carbon loss. It is lower down in the soil profile, where Verdi is focused, that carbon becomes more permanent and can accumulate.”
He acknowledges there is a challenge to overcome to get
both farmer and legislators on board to include soil carbon into sequestration payments and allowances, something so far only limited to vegetation above ground.
Verdi’s sampling takes place at 150mm, 300mm, 600mm and 1m down. Along with a comprehensive farm assessment, the company will identify the farm’s carbon management areas (CMAs). Each CMA shares similarities in their aspect, drainage, slope, soils and management across the farm.
An initial benchmark sampling exercise will establish the farm’s baseline levels, after which ongoing measurement, records of farm changes and verification by third parties will keep track of carbon accumulation.
Certification of the farm’s soil carbon, while not yet included in the Emissions Trading Scheme, can be used by a farm to certify carbon accumulation efforts for other market claims.
Australia has advanced its carbon reporting further to include
soil carbon in farm carbon budgets and Cutfield is optimistic there will be more recognition and progress made here at a national level.
“We have been engaging with the government on soil carbon and it has not been ruled out. It does remain an option for farmers.
“The problem we have is some of the perceptions about measurements, volatility of carbon, and belief that soil carbon levels are already high and unlikely to be changed much here.”
He said of the total carbon capable of being sequestered on farm, soil carbon gains could provide over 100 years of atmospheric removals of emissions.
“For our markets, every little bit helps, and that is when it comes to farm performance too. In a drought year like we have now, soil carbon also impacts on farm performance. You can see farms around where carbon levels are higher and soil moisture levels are better.”
SAMPLED: New Zealand’s carbon levels, while high, can be volatile, while at deeper soil levels carbon can be more stable and accumulated, says Tim Cutfield.
Improved carbon levels in soils means more carbon sequestered deeper and more durably.
But Cutfield said it also means the farm as a carbon generating entity will have a lower footprint.
This is on grounds of improved soil health, nutrient availability, soil moisture retention, and pasture growth being more resilient to climate impacts, making the farm costs lower while retaining and improving productivity.
He said Fonterra’s announcements about rewarding
farmers for their climate efforts from June 1 are a good catalyst for generating more farmer interest in what’s below their feet when it comes to sequestration.
“We welcome Fonterra putting a value on emissions and have tracked emission levels and practice change on farms quite closely and over time have built up a picture of the effect of those practice changes on carbon sequestration.
“We can unlock more value for farmers by linking their practices to soil carbon sequestration.”
Inventory adjustments cut into King Salmon profit
Staff reporter NEWS Aquaculture
NEW Zealand King Salmon has reported a 21% increase in proforma earnings to $29.7 million in the financial year ended January 31, compared with $24.5m in the FY24 year.
However, non-cash adjustments for biological assets and inventory cut net profit in half, from $28.5m down to $13.4m.
Revenue was up 13% to $186m but King Salmon has warned of increased fish mortality at the
beginning of FY26 after two summers of reduced mortality.
The balance sheet is strong with $50m on hand to develop the Blue Endeavour ocean farm along with a five-year, $11.7m funding partnership from the government’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.
Key Blue Endeavour infrastructure builds are underway with pens under construction in Picton and mooring grid components in transit to NZ.
The pilot service vessel is under construction, with expected delivery August/September 2025.
The first pilot stocking of fish in Blue Endeavour pens is scheduled for October.
NZ King Salmon has issued a guidance range for FY26 of $15m to $24m earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.
Fish harvested in FY25 amounted to 6778 tonnes, 44% of which was sold in North America, 32% in NZ and 11% in Australia.
NZK shares have traded in the range 22c to 26c over the past year and are presently at the low end of that range.
MOORING: Key Blue Endeavour infrastructure builds are underway with pens under construction in Picton and mooring grid components in transit to NZ.
Singapore set to require green credentials
Neal Wallace in Singapore MARKETS Emissions
PUBLICLY listed Singapore importers will from next year be required to provide mandatory reporting on their supply chain greenhouse gas emissions, potentially impacting New Zealand suppliers.
The looming requirement is part of the city state’s Green Plan 2030, which is part of its larger goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 and could mean exporters reducing their emissions to help importers meet their requirements.
Bilateral trade between NZ and Singapore in 2024 was worth $6.5 billion.
Rebecca Sharpe, a director of Better Earth Ventures, told a contingent of NZ agribusiness leaders that while Singapore is welcoming and encourages business, it is not at the expense of its climate change and environmental commitments.
Better Earth Ventures assists start-up agritech companies to advance their technology and initiatives with a focus on climate
change and sustainability.
A sea rise from a 4degC increase in average global temperatures would, it is calculated, engulf much of the island state.
Singapore’s government has set a 2030 goal of reducing waste to landfill by 30% per capita per day, doubling the annual number of trees planted to 1 million a year, reducing water consumption to 130l per capita per day and achieving 75% patronage of mass public transport.
Sharpe said an expected carbon tax of NZ$58/t of carbon equivalent will be levied in 2026 while listed companies will have to report Scope 1 and 2 emissions at the end of this year and Scope 3, those from their supply chains, next year.
The delegation of 26 NZ agribusiness leaders are spending a week in Singapore, which has a population of 6 million people, 200 farms, a land mass area slightly larger than Lake Taupō, a GDP per capita twice that of NZ and a goal of being 30% self-sufficient in nutrient requirements by 2030.
Their goal is to see what lessons they can learn from one of the key global business and trade hubs, the world’s fourth largest financial
centre and operator of the world’s second largest port facility.
Singapore relies on importing about 90% of its food and all of its natural gas and uses oil to power its reticulated electricity supply.
Explaining the government’s approach to business, Sharpe used the analogy of how the small country attracted pop music star Taylor Swift to Singapore.
The government recently paid
her nearly NZ$4 million a night to play six concerts, a total of NZ$24m. The influx of tourists generated an estimated NZ$650m in consumer spending.
To address its energy challenges, the government in each of the last two budgets has allocated NZ$6.5bn to renewable energy development and Sharpe said it is open to new and innovative solutions.
She said Singapore businesses
BLNZ voters agree to top up directors’ fees
Staff reporter NEWS
Sheep and beef
FARMERS at Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s annual meeting in Rotorua have voted by a narrow margin to increase directors’ fees. The resolution was supported with just 50.62% voting in favour. The increase is 4%, and comes after farmers last year rejected any rise in directors’ fees.
Farmers also voted in favour of a second resolution, to reappoint KPMG as auditor, which was supported with 96.83% in
favour. Around 70 attendees heard updates on the organisation’s achievements over the past year and its refreshed strategy going forward.
The meeting was held as part of the Out the Gate farmer event.
Chair Kate Acland said BLNZ’s refreshed strategy, announced in July last year, was a response to the challenges farmers currently face and will set farmers, the organisation and the sector up well for the future.
“As farmers we’re good at looking forward, adapting and innovating to meet challenges.
“I’m excited about the opportunities before us and BLNZ’s role in that future.”
Chief executive Alan Thomson provided more detail on each area under the refreshed strategy and noted BLNZ’s focus is on fully implementing the strategy, delivering on the new initiatives to maximise the benefits for farmers and measuring impact.
“BLNZ’s recent Mid-Season Update showed that export receipts are forecast to increase by $1.2 billion in 2024-25.
“While profitability is rebounding, we know farmers
remain concerned about key policy areas like climate change and freshwater, so we’ll continue to advocate strongly for our farmers.
“Our sector wants to avoid unnecessary costs and needs certainty to have the confidence to invest in the future,” he said.
The voter turnout represented 7.43% of registered sheep, beef and dairy farmers.
“We’ll continue to keep emphasising to farmers that it’s important they have their say on the running of their levy-funded organisation,” Acland said.
ENCOURAGEMENT:
The lights are on for business in Singapore but not at any cost.
excel in talking to each other and collaborating to find solutions. This is backed by the government constantly planning ahead, including setting goals for which it gets buy-in from the public.
• Wallace’s trip to Singapore was made possible by the support of ASB, AGMARDT, FoodHQ and KPMG. MORE: P8
FUTURE: BLNZ’s refreshed strategy will set farmers, the organisation and the sector up well for the future, says chair Kate Acland.
Photo: Pexels
Kiwifruit harvest good as gold – and green
Richard Rennie MARKETS Horticulture
BUMPER kiwifruit
Aseason has just stepped up another notch with Zespri revising its crop volume estimate to 205 million trays, up from the original 200 million.
The revised estimate was accompanied by forecast per-tray payments that look on track to deliver growers another strong year of revenue, also boosted by the higher crop volumes.
In its orchard gate return price guidance, Zespri is indicating a $8 to $9.50 a tray price range for Green in the latest harvest compared to $8.10 a tray payment forecast for last season’s crop.
SunGold is expected to deliver a return between $11 and $12.50 a tray, compared to last season’s forecast final value of $11.59.
Newly commercialised RubyRed is also holding its value around the $14.50- to $16.50-a-tray range.
“Our industry has packed more fruit at this time of the season
MPs’
than ever before and our first charter vessels have departed successfully,” said Zespri CEO Jason Te Brake.
A near ideal season that has delivered timely rainfall for nonirrigated orchards and relatively calm, warm weather conditions has ensured a smooth run of fruit for post-harvest processing.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) CEO Colin Bond said growers are enjoying both good volumes and good fruit size this year, helping boost the higher fruit tray volume forecast.
“Nationwide the only area that has been affected by weather are growers in Motueka who were affected by a hailstorm on New Year’s Eve and one or two in Whakatane.”
Estimates are harvest is now about 8% complete.
Jason Te Brake said initial price guidance anticipates improvements in fruit size and foreign exchange positions this season.
“The feedback we have received from customers across Europe,
China and North America over recent weeks is that there is strong demand for Zespri kiwifruit, and our teams are looking forward to selling this season’s fruit as more arrives in market in the coming weeks.”
Focus has been on the newly commercialised RubyRed variety, with 3 million trays of the early harvested fruit now packed.
NZKGI chair Mark Mayston said there remains some gap between high- and low-yielding RubyRed crops as growers get a handle on growing the fruit, with yields increasing from more mature vines.
Efforts to boost its volume will be aided by first time plantings in Italy to support the 12-month supply strategy and is covered by Zespri’s existing approval to plant up to 1000 hectares of new variety offshore, approved by growers in 2019.
Bond said the labour issues that blighted the sector two years ago are now well in the rear-view mirror.
“One of the big drivers for our labour problems back in 2022 was
tour of industrial hemp plantings offers vital insight
Annette Scott NEWS Horticulture
IN A landmark event, government officials and Members of Parliament visited hemp fields in Canterbury to get in-depth insight into the supply chain and value of industrial hemp.
The factory and field tour marked a turning point in government engagement with the sector as the entourage stepped into the heart of the country’s industrial hemp (iHemp) sector for an immersive experience showcasing the potential of the crop as a key player in NZ’s sustainable bioeconomy.
Hosted by the NZ Hemp Industries Association (NZHIA), the visit highlighted the versatility of iHemp and how different parts of the plant contribute to high value industries.
These include sustainable fibre for textiles, biocomposites and construction material; food for
nutrient-rich hemp seed, oils and plant-based protein sources; health and wellness across a range of products; and environmental solutions towards carbon sequestration, soil regeneration, bioplastics and the bioeconomy.
NZHIA chair Richard Barge said the event provided a platform for direct discussions on the recently announced regulatory review of industrial hemp, exploring how modernised policies could unlock significant growth.
“With iHemp offering solutions across food, fibre, health, farming and environmental sectors, it’s time for a new approach to unlock its full potential.
“This visit marks a significant step forward in governmentindustry collaboration,” Barge said.
The entourage included six government officials and five MPs who engaged with 15 industry representatives from NZHIA sponsors and coalition partners.
Discussions explored how
that a quarter of our seasonal workforce were backpackers.
Coming at the end of covid, we did not have those people in the country.
“Now we have more RSE workers coming in, and more New Zealanders.
“On the demand side, with more
current regulations are negatively impacting industry growth and the opportunities for streamlining licensing to support innovation and investment.
Throughout the tour of the Rubisco (NZ Natural Fibres) fibre factory, Hemp NZ’s food factory, and the experience of wandering in a hemp field, discussions centred on streamlining licencing, reducing regulatory barriers and positioning NZ as a leader in the global hemp economy.
“MPs and officials acknowledged the untapped potential of iHemp as a future-focused industry, for both cottage industry and big business, in driving regional economic growth and sustainable innovation,” Barge said.
With appropriate regulatory support NZ can expand export markets for high value hemp products; support rural communities through new agricultural and processing opportunities; advance carbon reduction goals with hemp’s natural ability to sequester carbon dioxide, and boost innovation in bio-base materials, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and building resilient supply chains.
Barge said the NZHIA is dedicated to promoting the economic, environmental, health and social benefits of the NZ hemp industry, supporting the growth of a new vertically integrated primary industry in NZ.
“This event marked the beginning of a collaborative path toward regulatory reform and sustainable growth with iHemp a key player in NZ’s future economic and environmental resilience.”
automation in packhouses there is less need for people in the postharvest sector and roles we do need are higher skilled. Every time you don’t need someone in postharvest you are still putting more hectares in the ground.”
The harvest season will continue through to June.
New look at glyphosate residue levels for NZ
Gerhard Uys NEWS Food and fibre
NEW Zealand Food Safety is proposing to increase the maximum residue level for glyphosate in some grains and peas.
In an ongoing consultation the proposal is to increase the maximum residue level (MRL) from the current default of 0.1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg in wheat, barley and oats; and 6 mg/kg in dry field peas.
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said the current MRL for glyphosate of 0.1 mg/kg is based on information presented at the time that the product was first registered.
The default value was considered sufficient to manage expected residues and a specific MRL was not required, he said.
Amendments of MRLs for glyphosate are being proposed following a survey of glyphosate residues in some foods sold in New Zealand, which found residues in some samples of wheat grain, Arbuckle said.
“In response, we decided to conduct a formal reassessment of the preharvest use in cereals and peas, to ensure New Zealand MRLs are properly calibrated but still well within international food safety limits.”
MRLs are proposed based on the concept of good agricultural practice (GAP).
GAP means the least amount of product required to be safe and effective can be used.
“Data provided showed residues higher than the default MRL could be expected based on GAP.”
The levels detected in the survey were higher than the default MRL of 0.1 mg/kg, but many times lower than what could be considered a food safety risk, Arbuckle said.
“The assessment of food safety, dietary exposure, indicated no concerns with these residues or with international trade.
There is sufficient information to propose MRLs of 10 mg/kg in wheat, barley and oats.
Vincent Arbuckle
NZ Food Safety
“This meant there is sufficient information to propose MRLs of 10 mg/kg in wheat, barley and oats, and 6 mg/kg in dry peas.”
Arbuckle said this approach taken by NZFS is consistent with that taken by New Zealand’s main overseas trading partners and international bodies such as Codex.
The Codex Alimentarius is a collection of international food standards practice published by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation.
“If there is a food safety concern with residues in a food crop, then the use would not be approved.”
BUMPER: NZKGI CEO Colin Bond, left, and chair Mark Mayston welcome what is proving to be a high volume, high quality harvest of kiwifruit this season, backed by good prices. Photo: Richard Rennie
MILESTONE: A milestone event has marked a turning point for government engagement as officials and MPs, including Grant McCallum, Hamish Campbell, Helen White and Barbara Kuriger, stepped into the heart of the country’s industrial hemp sector. Photo: Supplied
Hard cheese market can’t deter Whitestone
Richard Rennie MARKETS Dairy
DESPITE a tough couple of years dealing with high regulatory costs and a flood of imported product, Oamaru’s Whitestone Cheese company has managed to come out on top in the annual Champions of Cheese awards.
Medal winners for the country’s top cheese types were chosen last week, from which the highest scoring cheeses will be in contention for the ultimate Champion’s award, announced in May.
Whitestone Cheese claimed a swathe of gold medals in the original, blue, new, soft and Greek-style sections. This made it one of the most medalled producers, alongside industry giant Fonterra.
Whitestone managing director Simon Berry said winning the only gold medal in the new cheese category for their Lake Pukaki Blue Brie was a particularly
proud moment. The award for the company’s sheep’s milk Monte Cristo in the original category was also a welcome win for the cheese named after the family’s farm.
Headed by master judge Jason Tarrant, 240 New Zealand-made cheeses were evaluated, with 65 golds awarded out of the total 199 medal winners.
[Imports] now comprise about 50% thanks in part to the FTA with Europe.
Simon Berry Whitestone Cheese
Tarrant said judges were particularly impressed by the significant lift in the number of blue cheese entries, and the growth in the Greek- or Danishstyle cheese categories.
Berry said the specialty cheese sector faces a tough time in the face of some low-priced European-sourced cheeses that include Danish-sourced fetas,
often produced through low-cost, subsidised, robotic factories.
“The imports are really having an effect now. Initially when they comprised about 10% of the market, we just thought it was manageable, but they now comprise about 50%, thanks in part to the FTA with Europe.”
The NZ specialty cheese sector has been going through tough times in recent years, with a number of producers closing their doors.
Berry said exporting had been a focus for Whitestone, one of the country’s older specialty cheese producers.
“But we have found the compliance costs we face to export outweigh the returns we get.”
Auditing costs soared to almost $30,000 a year with the shift from annual audits to four a year.
The company had been exporting to United States, Asia, Singapore, Dubai and the Pacific Islands.
After the shakedown in the sector post-covid, he hoped there was now some stability among producers.
“But while things may be stable now, we are not seeing any new operators come into the sector.”
He said Fonterra’s sales exercise for its branded business was another uncertainty for the specialty sector.
As a company Fonterra has established a solid reputation for its artisanal Kikorangi blue cheeses.
Fonterra and Whitestone
swiped all five gold medals awarded in the blue category this year. Fonterra also collected a gold in the soft ripened cheese section for its Kāpiti ash rind white.
Berry said those companies remaining in the specialty cheese area tend to have reinvested in plant, have high quality milk sources, and deliver a consistent, world standard product.
Spike in on-farm Australian SSV deaths
Gerald Piddock NEWS Health and safety
AUSTRALIAN data showing a spike in accidents caused by side-by-side vehicles should be treated with caution when making comparisons to New Zealand, Safer Farms chief executive Brett Barnham says.
The data from AgHealth Australia shows that between January 1 and December 31 2024, accidents involving side-by-side vehicles (SSVs) contributed the
most to reported deaths on farms across the Tasman.
This is despite the vehicles being fitted with seatbelts and rollover protection cages. These types of vehicles were involved in 14 deaths last year, up from four in 2023.
“We’re always cautious when comparing farm vehicle safety statistics between countries, as factors such as terrain, farming practices and vehicle use can differ significantly,” Barnham said.
“In Australia, side-by-side vehicles appear to be more widely
used than in New Zealand, which may influence the numbers.
“However, the data clearly shows a vehicle is involved in the vast majority of farm accidents and
Anyone operating farm vehicles should be trained, supervised and assessed.
Brett Barnham Safer Farms
fatalities in New Zealand and this is a priority area for Safer Farms.”
According to WorkSafe, there were 12 agriculture-related deaths in New Zealand between July 2022 and June 2023. Of those deaths, five were related to quad bikes, five were a result of other means and two were attributed to incidents involving SSVs.
Barnham said they always encourage farmers to use the right vehicle for the job.
“Farmers should always assess the conditions, ensure weight
limits for carrying or towing are not exceeded, and follow manufacturer guidelines. Some farmers have told us that in some instances they prefer to get out of a vehicle and walk.
“Proper training is also critical – anyone operating farm vehicles should be trained, supervised and assessed until they are fully competent.
“We also encourage farmers to fit crush protection devices on quad bikes to reduce the risk of serious injury or death in rollover incidents.”
to your strategic worm control programme or visit ChangeItUp.nz
BLUE: Chief Champions of Cheese award judge Jason Tarrant said there has been a lift of 10% in total entries to this year’s cheese awards.
Synergies and super powers in Singapore
Neal Wallace in Singapore MARKETS Trade
NEW Zealand exporters and farmers need to use their superpower as a trusted food and fibre producer, something a group of agribusiness leaders say could be enhanced by more collaboration. A contingent of 23 NZ
SKILLS: AgFirst chief executive James Allen says ‘there is change coming so let’s leverage our skills and get into this space’.
agribusiness leaders visiting Singapore last week were told that as a trusted, world-leading food producer, NZ could benefit from Singapore’s superpowers of wealth, global trust, being an efficient supply chain operator and its strategic position.
The agri-sector leaders and influencers were on a week-long visit to Singapore to learn lessons on how the southeast Asian city-state without any natural resources has in 60 years become a global economic powerhouse.
Singapore has a population of 6 million people, 200 farms, a land mass area slightly larger than Lake Taupō, a GDP per capita twice that of NZ and a goal of being 30% selfsufficient in food by 2030.
It is the world’s fourth largest financial centre and operates the world’s second largest port facility.
Bilateral trade between NZ and Singapore in 2024 was worth $6.5 billion but our relationship is historic, with Singaporean officials saying NZ’s sacrifice in defeating the Japanese in WWII has not been forgotten.
Singapore operates the world’s largest transhipment port, where cargo is consolidated before delivery to final destinations.
The port also functions as a forward shipping hub, using its
efficiency to help exporters meet just-in-time deliveries.
The Singapore Government has announced plans to extend airfreight services at Changi Airport, which will almost double capacity from 3 million tonnes to 5.4 million tonnes a year.
A major port extension will by 2040 create the world’s largest fully automated port, capable of handling 65 million 20 foot equivalent units (TEUs), double its current capacity.
What we produce today may not be required in 2050, so how do we adapt?
James Allen AgFirst
Study tour member and AgFirst chief executive James Allen said Singapore has benefited from having a clear long-term strategy that is supported by its population.
“It also highlights that what they want from people who sell food is surety of supply and quality products because they are dealing with a sophisticated market.”
The delegation was told that challenges facing Singapore
include an ageing population eating less protein, and Allen said that trend serves as a wider warning for our meat and dairy markets.
“What we produce today may not be required in 2050, so how do we adapt?”
Allen said these were opportunities but adjustment may require collaboration to develop technology such as vertical farming and alternative protein.
Change is coming but it does not need to be daunting, he said.
“This is not a binary conversation.
“There is change coming so let’s leverage our skills and get into this space.”
Agmardt manager Lee-Anne Marsh asked if the two countries could collaborate to grow valueadded markets but to also reduce risk while increasing reward.
She said both countries have aligned values and are trusted globally and NZ has an opportunity to benefit from an enhanced relationship.
“At the moment we seem to think we have to do everything on our own but the question is, where is the money coming from?
“It feels that we are not thinking about issues but instead we are putting out fires.”
REACTIVE: Agmardt manager LeeAnne Marsh says it ‘feels that we are not thinking about issues but instead we are putting out fires’.
Another delegate commented that there were mutual benefits from NZ and Singapore collaborating.
“If we lift the mana of Singapore, then we also lift our mana.”
• Wallace’s trip to Singapore was made possible by the support of ASB, AGMARDT, FoodHQ and KPMG.
Support system is food researchers’ secret sauce
Neal Wallace in Singapore TECHNOLOGY Food and fibre
A NETWORK of public and private research entities is leading Singapore’s push to be 30% selfsufficient in food by 2030.
This network nurtures those with bright ideas through to startup companies wanting to commercialise a new food or agritech development.
In doing so, new products as diverse as edible cutlery, soy
whisky, eggless mayonnaise, alternative proteins and roasted crickets and silkworms become available to consumers.
The government is a key funder of these initiatives.
A delegation of 26 New Zealand agribusiness leaders was on a week-long visit to Singapore looking at what NZ can learn from how the city-state, about the size of Lake Taupō and without natural resources, has transformed into a world-leading financial and supply chain leader.
With less than 1% of its land
mass dedicated to food production, Singapore relies heavily on importing food but is seeking to be 30% self-sufficient by 2030.
Alternative proteins are part of Singapore’s food drive and two years ago the government approved the sale of culture chicken meat.
The NZ party was told it hasn’t taken off, and is stocked by a single, small city supermarket.
SPRAY DRIER: A spray-drying plant at the Singapore Institute of Technology’s Food Plant.
It was also evident that Singapore’s alternative protein developers are increasingly focusing their technology on delivering protein and its components for health and nutritional reasons rather than to mimic meat and dairy.
Professor Alan Renwick from the Department of Global Value Chain and Trade at Lincoln University said the take-home message was the common goal across the entire research sector of nurturing innovation to achieve the country’s food goals.
“They all know their place and they are all interacting,” he said.
Renwick said NZ has the same components of nurturing innovation and assisting startup enterprises, but it is not as seamless as in Singapore.
He said there is a natural structure from idea accelerator to startup and venture capital, and a connection to universities, which are mandated to be involved in innovation.
Private company Innovate 360 has nurtured more than 200 startup businesses and works with venture capital fund Innovation Partner for Impact to provide
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS: Some of the new foods developed at the Singapore food hub Innovate 360.
It seems to be streamlined in terms of funding and access to capital and facilities.
Peter Cook Plant and Food Research
funding or a partner to assist with commercialisation.
The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) operates an integrated work and study programme over multiple fields including a NZ$17m laboratory through which food developers can test the manufacturing properties of their innovation by running small production runs.
It has facilities to test general processing, packing, retort or food preservation, extrusion, thermal processing, spray dry and dry processing.
Peter Cook, Plant and Food Research’s manager of business development, said Singapore appears to have mastered the skill of linking innovation with investment and backers.
“It seems to be streamlined in terms of funding and access to capital and facilities whereas NZ is more fragmented.”
He said NZ can learn from Singapore.
“My big learning is there are connections here, having someone to help others navigate and provide the connections.”
Biofuel co fires up for pellet production
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Energy
THE announcement that a large-scale biofuel plant will be built in central North Island as New Zealand’s first source of wood pellets has been welcomed by the bio energy industry.
Austrian-owned company
Carbona has announced it will be constructing a torrefaction plant capable of processing 180,000 tonnes a year of biomass into high fuel value wood pellets.
Torrefaction is the process of “roasting” biomass to increase its energy density and improve its value as a fuel substitute for the likes of coal. It can often be substituted directly into industrial boilers in place of coal, and has been signalled as a biofuel of choice by Genesis for its coal-fired Huntly power station.
Torrefied pellets are claimed to deliver 30% more energy density than untreated pellets and low volatility makes it a good fuel for coal-fired burners.
The exact location of the venture
has not been disclosed but will come in a region heavily affected in recent months by forestry processing closures. These include Winstone’s Tangiwai plant near Ohakune and the closure of the Kinleith mill’s paper division. Combined, those closures resulted in the loss of 450 jobs.
Once operational, the torrefaction plant is expected to create between 110 and 130 fulltime jobs. The ownership structure consists of local iwi, wood processing businesses and international investors.
Government attitude has been our biggest barrier until now.
Brian Cox BioEnergy NZ
Carbona director David McGregor said the company is about six months from starting its site.
He estimates the New Zealand market size is about 1 million tonnes of pellets a year, or about 3 million tonnes of waste wood.
“But we should not underestimate the potential for exporting. Japan alone is a market estimated at 20 million tonnes a year.”
He confirmed discussions are currently underway with Genesis Energy to assess the viability of supplying the Huntly power station with the pellets. Earlier trials with imported pellets have proven successful.
Bioenergy NZ executive officer Brian Cox said Carbona brings serious credentials to the biofuel sector, one that often had new arrivals promising much but delivering less.
“They [Carbona] are a very credible player, and they have very credible European partners on board with this project as well.”
These are Carbona’s Austrian parent company Polytechnik and Danish process equipment supplier Andritz. The two companies have recently commissioned a 60,000t-a-year plant in Finland and already have a presence in NZ.
The announcement marks the second significant move into NZ’s
biofuel sector. Last year Foresta announced its move to establish a plant in Kawerau, turning wood into pellets and extracting pine chemicals.
Cox said the two largest potential users of wood pellets in NZ are Genesis and Fonterra. Genesis is understood to be in negotiations with both Foresta and Carbona on wood pellet supply options.
“The challenge for Fonterra, though, is the need for pellet supply in the South Island.”
He anticipated the central North Island could become an area of hot competition for biofuel timber sourcing.
Meantime, Cox said the creation
of a government task force that includes multiple ministers to examine biofuel options more closely is highly encouraging.
“The previous government would have investors come here interested but had little interest itself. Government attitude has been our biggest barrier until now.”
A clean energy prospectus was created and given to potential investors at the recent investment summit held in Auckland.
“The next thing is to give forest owners, whether they are farmers or plantation owners, the confidence the opportunities are going to be there to have outlets for their forest residues.”
FIRED UP: Genesis Energy’s Huntly power station will be one of the first users for torrefied wood pellets if the energy company strikes a deal with Carbona.
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Pines set the scene for native recovery
Richard Rennie NEWS Forestry
NEW Zealand badly needs to have a “Pinus radiata moment” to boost its level of native tree plantings and have a hope of hitting anywhere near the targets the country set some years ago.
Addressing the International Union of Forest Research Organisations conference in Rotorua, longtime Scion scientist and forester Simeon Smaill put into sharp perspective just how realistic, or not, is NZ’s goal to plant 300,000 hectares of native trees by 2035.
The target was set by the Climate Change Commission in 2021, but it pales against predictions that global demand for timber products will surge by 2050 to quadruple current levels.
“And that is only for fibre demand. It takes no account of the trees that need to remain standing for environmental value and for carbon sequestration.”
Having worked in both exotic and indigenous forestry, he appreciated the growing unease some had felt about exotic forestry and saw the risk posed by having too much reliance upon P radiata.
But there is much to be learnt from the exotic forestry sector if NZ is serious about ramping up indigenous plantings to the
industrial levels required to achieve the 300,000ha target.
Community and catchment efforts have been laudable around the country in establishing more natives.
“But you simply cannot apply small-scale planting models to meet even 1% of what we need to be doing. However, we can follow the P radiata industry blueprint for forest establishment at scale – we have been here before, and we can do it again with natives.”
You simply cannot apply small-scale planting models to meet even 1% of what we need to be doing.
Simeon Smaill Scion
He pointed to P radiata forestry practices in the 1970s that delivered only a 50% success rate at seedling plant-out, requiring repeated replanting efforts.
Thanks to a doubling down on research and techniques by Scion, that success rate soared to over 95% in only eight years.
“Today, if you want to get 1000 seedlings a hectare, you plant 1000 seedlings a hectare.”
Currently planting native trees can be tricky and expensive.
Cost estimates range from $10,000 a hectare to $30,000/ha.
But Smaill maintains the amount can be up to 90 times more than radiata when considering the extra effort needed to help native trees grow to a size where they are capable of fending for themselves.
Seed sourcing, raising to seedling stage, transplanting and
subsequent care are all stages that could be made more successful and cost-efficient by being combined in a comprehensive logistics process, something already done for pine forest plantations. Pine forestry not only provides
a blueprint for progress and planting, pines themselves could play a role in nursing fragile native plantings through their early establishment.
“We are often establishing native seedlings in highly modified environments.
“The soil pH is often higher, the soil microbes differ, drainage has changed and there are exotic weeds to deal with.”
He said pine trees are proving particularly effective as a nurse crop to establish natives under. He has seen several examples of this.
“They limit the light levels, keep wind down and, importantly, they pull the soil pH down to a level more suited to natives.
“You could even do a thinning exercise with commercial value on those pines.”
He is championing a focus on five or six “hero” native species to focus on nationally, and which could be part of an integrated research programme to ramp up their production and planting.
“We have done this before, and I was incredibly fortunate to engage with some of the Scion scientists who made these gains for P radiata early in my career.
“If we are serious about planting more native forests, we have the tools and a blueprint, but they need to be integrated. This is how we can successfully enable indigenous forest establishment at scale.”
Scion brings forests indoors for renewed growth
Richard Rennie NEWS Forestry
MAKING the stock-standard pine tree even more adaptable while also developing viable commercial alternatives is now an even greater focus for Scion’s Rotorua-based tree nursery team.
Located on the Crown Research Institute’s Rotorua campus, the nursery has a long history of working alongside industry to improve germination rates, extend planting seasons, and reduce early-stage losses in forestry plantations.
Much of that work contributed to the big productivity gains the sector made through the 1970s and ’80s when pine seedling survival rates took a major leap upwards, from around 50% to over 95%.
Part of the nursery’s focus has included commercial seedling raising, which would occupy staff and resources for part of the year. But recently the decision has been made to focus more on pure research and development work.
“We have learnt that it is hard to grow commercial quantities of seedlings at research prices. The point now is to do more science and research at any time of the year,” said nursery manager Matt Dunn.
The 10 hectare site includes a fully enclosed seedling facility, now in its third year of operation. It enables researchers to control temperature, moisture and
humidity levels, isolating outdoor climatic and weather events from trials.
One trial has poplars being reared under changed light levels to alter their dormancy period and eliminate their deciduous leaf-loss period.
“We have found that in less than a month it is possible to propagate from a propagated poplar, speeding up the whole process.”
Trials also include crossing the fast-growing Pinus radiata with Pinus attenuata, a tree that exhibits greater cold and snow resistance.
The work is showing the resulting hybrid offers a good option for growing in southern conditions with good snow resistance, and performing well between 300m and 800m. It is also less likely to become a problematic wilding pine variety.
Meantime being able to alter humidity levels indoors has enabled researchers to also see how pines perform in high humidity environments, and so far results have been surprisingly positive.
They have also found altering the indoor environment produces smaller sized seedlings capable of being transplanted out of tissue culture earlier.
Trials with indoor raised beds from which to take cuttings are also proving positive as a proof-ofconcept approach, rather than the conventional backbreaking process conducted outdoors.
Other species being trialled on the nursery site include cypresses, with propagation scientists working to accelerate their growth rate.
The indoor seedling trials are also revealing the success of Scion’s Ellepot biodegradable propagation pots, which replace plastic bags for exotic and some native seedling rearing.
Trial work has found many the biodegradable pots enable propagation time for pine seedlings to be significantly reduced from 12-14 months to 9-12 months.
Putting the containerised seedlings under irrigation trials is also providing valuable data on how young trees respond to moisture levels once planted in the pots, with positive gains in growth rates depending upon level of water received, compared to conventional containerised seedlings.
Longer term, Dunn said he hopes to see further rampingup of research and development work from the nursery, with global demand for timber and carbon sequestration expected to only surge in coming years.
We have learnt that it is hard to grow commercial quantities at research prices.
PLANTED: Scion scientist Simeon Smaill says there is much to be learnt from the industrialised process of pine tree rearing and planting that could be applied to native forest establishment.
Matt Dunn Scion
JUNIORS: Scion nursery manager Matt Dunn with one of the thousands of pine seedlings being trialled in biodegradable paper pots at the CRI’s nursery facility.
From the Editor
Let’s talk about farm safety, again
Craig Page Deputy editor
FARM safety, particularly when it involves vehicles and machinery, is an issue worthy of further discussion, regardless of where in the world you ply your trade.
New Zealand’s farm safety record has been well publicised. A key focus in recent years has been quad bikes, which account for a disproportionately large number of deaths in this country.
In August last year, four quad bike fatalities occurred within three weeks.
However, our Australian neighbours are having their own problems of late, prompting Farmsafe Australia to voice its concern about the alarming increase in deaths involving side-by-side vehicles (SSV). Those vehicles have been promoted as a safer alternative to quad bikes.
Data from AgHealth Australia shows that between January 1 and December 31 2024, accidents involving SSVs contributed the
most to reported deaths on farms across the Tasman.
This is despite the vehicles being fitted with seatbelts and rollover protection cages. These vehicles were involved in 14 deaths last year, up from four in 2023.
Quad bikes, the previous leading cause, were responsible for 10 deaths in 2024, up from five in 2023.
Australia took steps to improve quad bike safety in 2021, making it mandatory for rollover protection to be installed.
SSVs were considered a safer option but it seems some users have become complacent. Manufacturers’ instructions recommend wearing a helmet and seatbelt in the vehicles but officials in Australia say it is apparent some people are choosing not to.
Experts say without a helmet or seatbelt, SSV users will, in an accident, get thrown around the cab and can receive significant head injuries should the vehicle roll.
The Australian experience is a timely reminder of the need to be vigilant and follow safety precautions to the letter when using vehicles on farm.
New Zealand Safer Farms chief executive Brett Barnham was wary about comparing farm vehicle safety statistics between the countries, as factors such as terrain, farming practices and vehicle use can differ significantly.
However, vehicles are involved in the majority of New Zealand farm accidents and fatalities.
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT
As winter draws closer, the rain will eventually arrive and vehicle use around the farm will be all the more challenging.
Farmers Weekly has written at length about farm safety and the various campaigns and measures being implemented to make the sector safer. The sad loss of life inevitably makes the media headlines but each year there are also thousands of onfarm injuries that dodge the spotlight.
SSVs were considered a safer option but it seems some users have become complacent.
Last year, New Zealand farmers were encouraged to install crush protection devices on their quad bikes through the Safer Rides new incentive programme.
In 2023, Safer Farms launched the Half-Arsed Stops Here campaign. It was part of the Farm Without Harm strategy co-designed with farmers and their communities, iwi, Māori, industry leadership bodies and primary sector organisations.
Heavy machinery, working with large animals, farm vehicles, and chemicals are the focus of the campaign. They all are risks that need to be managed effectively on farms. Farm Without Harm’s aim is to have the sector working together to “design harm out of the system for good”.
It is an initiative worth putting some serious effort into.
Letters of the week Growing Māori agribusiness
Lee Matheson Perrin Ag
THE size of the Māori economy has been conservatively estimated at $70 billion, with a growth trajectory to $100bn by 2030. Approximately $23bn of this is tied to the primary sector.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Māori enterprises collectively account for 40% of New Zealand’s forestry, 50% of the country’s fishing quota, 30% of sheep and beef production and 10% of dairy production.
And this doesn’t even include Māori investment in post-harvest processing and the wider agri-food value chain, where Māori entrepreneurship is thriving through ventures such as Miraka, the Wellington Kaimoana Hub, Mīti, and Tohu Wines.
Clearly, Māori play a critical role in the engine room of the New Zealand economy.
Despite this, our observations suggest that Māori representation in the professional roles supporting the wider agri-food sector are relatively low, which is a challenge worth addressing.
At Perrin Ag, we have long focused on helping farm owners and managers optimise performance, manage risk and take advantage of new opportunites to support their goals and ambitions.
We also recognise a growing desire to see more people with whakapapa involved in managing and supporting these businesses – a kaupapa we wholeheartedly support and strive to enable.
While we remain committed to continuing to support our traditional agricultural universities, we see considerable value in helping grow capability within the wider agribusiness sector.
Even the most traditional farming businesses are now connected in some way to what happens beyond their cattle stop. Directly supporting the aspirations of mana whenua to contribute to an industry in which they are already a cornerstone is also incredibly important to us.
That’s why we’re proud to be one of the foundation supporters of the University of Waikato’s Tupu Rangatahi – Tupu Ahuwhenua Māori agribusiness programme.
Developed in partnership with the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management, this specialist agribusiness degree is deeply connected to Te Ao Māori and focused on equipping graduates with the skills to support Māori aspirations for their whenua.
As our primary industries navigate increasing uncertainty, one thing is clear – unlocking the full economic potential of Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole will take talent, energy and vision.
This week’s poll question (see page 20): Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
MORE than 92% of voters thought the government was not doing enough to stop whole-farm conversions to forestry, with many saying that while forestry is important, its spread is at the cost of good productive farmland.
Does it worry you that as farmgate returns rise, the cost of meat and milk makes it difficult for many New Zealanders to afford these foods?
“Forestry, including with native timber species, is valuable but shouldn’t be taking over valuable farm land,” one voter said.
Another said the government should be setting policies that support farmers to thrive. “I think the government needs to stop
overseas investors purchasing our farmland and should be encouraging local farming to flourish and grow so our farmers’ skills and abilities to produce can expand. We need to encourage, acknowledge, and respect our farmers’ ability to farm responsibly.” However, another voter thought the poll question was disingenuous. “What a hypocritical question. Was there any outcry when a great amount of forests were converted to dairy some years ago?”
Last week’s question: Is the government doing enough to stop whole-farm conversions to forestry?
The Eating the Elephant guide to: the ETS
Eating the elephant
David Eade
David Eade is a Whanganui sheep and beef farmer with a finance background, specialising in investments within the primary sector. eating.the.elephant.nz@gmail.com
IGET it, New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme seems boring at first. Carbon markets? Trading units? It all sounds like financial jargon that just puts ordinary folks to sleep. But this dry-sounding policy is actually fascinating once you understand it, and it matters to all of us.
Let’s cut through the noise.
The ETS is simply New Zealand’s way of making companies pay for their pollution instead of dumping it for free.
Think of it as a pollution allowance system. The government sets a limit on total emissions allowed, and companies
need to buy “pollution permits” (officially called NZUs) for each tonne of greenhouse gases they release. Over time, the government reduces the available permits, making them more expensive and encouraging companies to pollute less.
It’s a bit like being on a diet, where your doctor gradually reduces your daily calorie allowance. At first, you might just pay more for your favourite treats, but eventually, you’ll be motivated by ever-rising costs to find healthier alternatives. Companies face the same pressure – they can either pay more for NZUs or invest in cleaner technologies.
Most big companies in New Zealand must participate in this system. They calculate their emissions and surrender the right number of units to the government.
Companies obtain NZUs in two ways. They can buy them at quarterly government auctions, where new NZUs are created and sold. Or they can also purchase them from the secondary market, where companies buy NZUs from others, including landowners who generate them by growing trees registered in the ETS that absorb carbon.
One key feature of the ETS is that the floor price of NZUs ratchets up over time. The government gradually reduces the supply of new NZUs and sets minimum auction prices to drive behaviour change.
Around 35 million tonnes of
emissions must be covered by NZUs each year, and as supply tightens, costs will rise. This puts constant pressure on companies to find cheaper, cleaner alternatives. Economists call this a Pigouvian tax – it makes companies pay for environmental damage, not to raise revenue, but to shift behaviour.
This is all sounds great right? I mean what’s not to like – creating a market to let the invisible hand of supply and demand do its thing and nudge us all to a low-carbon economy.
There are two main points of controversy that swirl around the ETS.
The first is that if NZUs are cheap, many businesses will just buy them and keep polluting, instead of investing in lowemission technology like the theory suggests. In this scenario, the pain of buying more NZUs, is less than the pain of investing in new, low emissions production. NZUs currently cost around $60. Most estimates suggest that meaningful behaviour change occurs when the NZU price is $100 and $150. The big stick isn’t big enough yet.
The second issue hits home for farmers. Many landowners profit from the ETS through forestry. Production forests earn NZUs based on average carbon storage over 16 years while still generating harvest revenue from year 28 onward.
A well-managed exotic forest can sequester over 500 tonnes
of carbon per hectare, yielding $30,000/ha at today’s NZU price of $60. Compared to sheep & beef returns, it seems too good to be true.
If NZU prices rise further, forestry will dominate the ETS, reducing productive farmland and causing oversupply. Proposed limits include capping ETS registrations on Class 6 land at 15,000ha annually, restricting tree planting on prime farmland (classes 1-5), and limiting ETSregistered tree planting to 25% of a farm.
It’s important to remember the climate reality behind all this too. As of 2024, we now live a world that is 1.5degC hotter than preindustrial times. By the time my six-year-old starts university, we’ll likely be at 2degC.
Far from perfect, the ETS represents the first step in tackling the massive complexity of transitioning to a low-carbon system.
Right now, the system could easily fall apart, leaving us with strict government rules instead of a working market.
To keep things fair, we need clear rules, set by a truly independent body, to avoid unfair value losses and windfall gains. The lack of independence currently means political leaders are likely to reform the system only when they see it as being in their own interest.
New Zealand can transform the ETS from a potentially fragile market tool into a credible, longterm strategy for meaningful climate action.
We’ll always have Paris – here’s why
Meaty matters
Allan Barber Meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic.co.nz, http://allanbarber.wordpress.com
IAM disappointed if not surprised by calls from Farmers Weekly readers and Groundswell to withdraw New Zealand’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, as it would reduce the need to meet onerous climate change targets. But while it might produce a momentary sense of relief, the longer term effects would be both difficult to estimate and potentially very damaging.
The state of the world in a geopolitical and more narrowly a trade sense is very uncertain at the moment. Sudden changes from the status quo are likely to produce unforeseen outcomes and
we will never be able to please every trading partner, so logic tells me it would be wise to take a deep breath and keep our heads below the parapet.
For example, despite Winston Peters’ assurances, we don’t know if the United States is about to slap tariffs on imports from New Zealand, whether or not these are justified in the overall context of Trump’s desire to protect US production. Even if we are not caught up in the first wave of tariffs on agricultural products signalled for early April, we know the US sheep farming lobby is pushing hard for protection against imports of sheepmeat.
If New Zealand pulls out of Paris, I can’t imagine that this will gain us special treatment from the US. Despite their close relationship, they didn’t give Australia an exemption from tariffs on iron and steel.
With the spectre of tariffs by the US and a likely continued weak Chinese economy, maintaining as many options as possible in other markets is essential.
On the positive side, we now have free trade negotiations underway with India, while we continue to enjoy unparalleled access to China. The Paris Accord commitment may not currently be a component of the China FTA, but both India and China are
members of the Paris Accord and there’s no indication they intend to withdraw.
The recently concluded FTAs with the European Union and United Kingdom contain a review process that requires both parties to commit to reaching the overall goal of the Paris Climate Accord not to exceed 1.5degC by 2050. This entails a commitment not to indulge in any acts or omissions that hinder the achievement of this goal. But it does not seek to prescribe any detailed targets, which are solely New Zealand’s business, while the accord also specifically recognises the importance of food production to the global population.
To keep things fair, we need clear rules, set by a truly independent body.
Since we concluded our FTA with the UK there have been repeated attempts by UK farming groups, and most recently the UK minister of agriculture himself, to question New Zealand’s animal welfare and environmental standards. UK farming groups would leap at the chance to wind back our access if we pulled out of Paris.
As a predominantly agricultural economy, it is critically important for New Zealand to
be able to continue to produce foodstuffs economically while meeting scientifically justifiable environmental targets.
We have long liked to think of ourselves as leaders with a reputation for adopting new technology like genetics, animal health, computer-based grazing controls, and robotics. It would be unfortunate if New Zealand were to gain another reputation as an environmental dinosaur, refusing to commit to meeting goals agreed by the world’s leading scientists.
This should not imply a willingness to accept blindly every single standard recommended by the Climate Change Commissioner and implemented by politicians eager to appease vocal minorities.
Rather than pulling out of Paris, the focus should be on getting New Zealand’s domestic methane targets right, as they are demonstrably too high.
The call for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris Accord, however, suggests our farmers are not willing to meet environmental standards, whether they are scientifically justifiable or not.
This plays into the hands of those groups that are convinced farming is bad for the environment, as well as placing ministers and trade negotiators in an untenable position.
The public don’t understand
our precise international commitments, but pulling out of Paris is something they would understand. It may not play well with swing NZ voters, which could lead to the election of a Labour, Greens and Māori Party coalition and reversal of the current government’s policy settings.
The positive number of sheep and beef farmers adopting the NZ farm assurance programme and, increasingly, the NZFAP+ standard, plus the dairy farmers complying with Fonterra’s quality measures, indicate a willingness to do what makes sense, both for the environment and their own farm business.
Surely most farmers are keen to do their level best to meet logical environmental goals instead of burying their heads in the sand.
As an example, a friend tells me he is determined to measure the water quality from several streams on the way into and off his farm and is working with Auckland Council and his farm consultant to find out how best to do this.
I like to think this is more typical of today’s proactive farmer than the 69% who voted to withdraw from the Paris Accord in the Farmers Weekly poll.
FORESTRY: If NZU prices rise further, forestry will dominate the ETS, reducing productive farmland and causing oversupply, says David Eade.
‘Fix weak links in NZ supply chain’
RECENT global economic shocks make it imperative that New Zealand improves the efficiency of its supply chain, say a group representing exporters and importers.
NZ Cargo Owners Council chair Mike Knowles said given increased global trading uncertainty, the country’s best mitigation is to ensure the country has an efficient supply chain – an issue, he said, that has not been adequately addressed.
“Because of our distance to and from international markets, we are already coming from behind.”
To be competitive the focus needs to be on what can be controlled and Knowles said that is operating an efficient, highly productive freight supply chain across road, rail and port.
The issue has not had adequate political attention, he said.
“While we’re delighted with the government’s focus on expanding markets for our goods, we have to be able to get those goods to market on time and at a competitive price,” said Knowles.
Supply chain productivity should be front and centre in the drive to
increase exports and achieve the government’s goal of doubling our exports, he said.
His comments follow a meeting of council members, where the issue was discussed.
Covid exposed the vulnerability of our supply chains but since then there have been no meaningful moves to address productivity and efficiency, he said.
“In fact, it is worse than that.
Where most other countries we trade with have returned to
pre-covid levels of supply chain productivity, NZ has not.
“For example, overall NZ crane rates, lifts per hour, have dropped 20% since 2018.”
Even more concerning is the risk that international shipping lines will reduce their port calls because of the length of time it takes to service ships in NZ ports.
Knowles said the six-and-ahalf-year wait for regulatory approval for the Tauranga Port berth extension highlighted how
projects designed to improve efficiency were being delayed.
“We’ve literally been waiting for years for this much needed infrastructure to enable greater flows of cargo through the port.
“Government’s failure to prioritise this has been a significant handbrake on growth and an accelerant of congestion, both of which impact the entire supply chain, ultimately adding extra costs and undermining the nation’s competitiveness.”
A three-week Environment Court hearing was held in March 2023 and the Port of Tauranga is still waiting for a final decision on plans to expand berthing.
Stage 1 involves constructing 285m of additional berth to the south of the port’s existing container berths, a small amount of reclamation behind the new wharf and associated dredging.
The second stage involves an extension at Sulphur Point and proposed works at the Mount Maunganui wharves.
Two interim decisions have been delivered, one requiring further engagement with local iwi and hapū and a second requiring amendments to the conditions proposed by Port of Tauranga. It is still waiting for a final ruling.
Knowles said the expansion plans include new automation, which he hopes will spur other ports into making similar investment.
Overall NZ crane rates, lifts per hour, have dropped 20% since 2018.
Mike Knowles NZ Cargo Owners Council
DELAYS: Mike Knowles says the six-and-a-half-year wait for regulatory approval for the Tauranga Port berth extension highlighted how projects designed to improve efficiency were being delayed.
Neal Wallace NEWS Export
Sector Focus
Where tradition blends with new technology
Olivia Caldwell PEOPLE Dairy
LIKE most dairy farming kids, West Otago farmer Bruce Eade put his first cups on a cow when he was just 10 years old.
There hasn’t been a moment since then that he’s doubted what he does for a living, or looked to shift elsewhere, but there’s been some challenging moments.
“I just love the cows, the land and farming. Every part of it – being outside, getting stuff done and seeing the fruits or your labour. We do everything ourselves, be it silage, cultivation, you name it we do it.
“We get a lot of satisfaction out of planting a seed and seeing it grow and the calves, we have very few bobby calves as we rear the bull calves for beef. We are farming the way it used to be.”
Eade has lived on the family farm, Fairleigh Dairy Farm in Kelso, 20 minutes north of Gore, for 30 years.
In those three decades, the Eade family built the farm from the ground up through initially milking from 1pm to 7pm on a two-cow plant from a hay shed while the cow shed was being built.
The family have seen out the “dirty dairying” era and gone through payouts as low as $3.60. They have seen the industry scapegoated as the No 1 climate change polluter and they’ve withstood regulations turning a 10-hour day into 15 hours.
“I did go through a stage where if you told someone you were a dairy farmer you always thought ‘What is the reaction going to be’? It is the same as any industry, there is that one or two percent who the media focus on.
“Your two biggest assets as a dairy farmer are your land and
your animals, so why are you going to neglect them? I like to think we are getting over that negative hump.”
Not only have the Eades got over a hump, but clever thinking has also led to better profits. In December 2023 they introduced automated milking robots for half the herd of 600.
The results speak for themselves. With four robots for 300 cows that live inside all year round, many of the herd produce double the amount of milk as before.
“We have had cows that were doing 5500 litres and are now doing 10,000 in 305 days.
“We have always said we were holding our cows back with the New Zealand farming style because we have American-style Holsteins who just love to milk.
“The Holstein-Friesians and Ayrshire herd are doing so well in the shed because they are happier and healthier cows.
“They see the sun, they just don’t see rain and cold. They get a full belly every day and a comfortable bed. You open the doors to let them out and they want to stay in. It is a big misconception that if you put them inside they don’t like it.”
Some of the Eades’ cows are milking themselves seven times within 48 hours, and often at times unlike the 5am and 3pm Kiwi milking hours.
“We have always had the theory that we’d rather milk 500 goodies than 700 average ones for the same result. It means less staff, less vet bills, less feed, less everything to get the same result.”
There are about 15 to 20 other farms using robots across New Zealand.
Eade has no desire to place all his herd in the shed as he still gets a kick out of milking in the olden day herringbone.
As he puts it, “there are easier ways to make money” than getting out of bed at 5am, working seven days a week and not taking an annual holiday.
But work is really in the blood.
Both parents, Ken and Nancy, came from dairy farms, his mother’s side having shipped from Scotland.
It is that Scottish blood that has the Eades breeding the rare Ayrshire cow that makes up only 4% of the national herd.
“Dad bought his first Ayrshire in 1965.”
In the early days on their first farm in Tisbury, Southland, his parents worked other jobs while
building the dairy operation, at the freezing works and a fertiliser company.
Even today you’ll find the 75and 74-year-olds picking up any slack on the farm.
“Dad said that’s the last house he will live in, he’s not going anywhere else. We don’t have a boat or a house in Wānaka – this is what we do, this is our hobby and we are quite happy doing that.
“Our wedding was the first time that not one member of the Eade family had been in the cow shed.”
And that sums up the reason he’s still farming.
“We are true cow people and there are not many of us left these days.”
One day his children, Sophie, Natalie, James and Alex, may pick it up too.
“I won’t see it but I like to think our family will be on this farm for 100 years, at least.”
SCAN ME
FAMILY FARM: Ken, left, and Bruce Eade run their family farm in Kelso, 20 minutes north of Gore. Photos: Supplied
AUTOMATED: In December 2023 the Eades introduced automated milking robots for half the herd of 600.
Figured offers dairy productivity boost across the industry
Hugh Stringleman NEWS Finance
DAIRY farm benchmarking on major inputs and productivity measures has been supercharged by farm financial platform Figured and its farm accountancy partners nationwide.
Like a nationwide system of virtual farm focus groups, data sharing has the potential to boost the productivity of the whole dairy industry, Figured chief executive Dave Dodds said.
From its database of over 6000 New Zealand dairy farms, Figured has identified 100-plus groups to make the benchmarking exercise relevant to all farmers and their advisers.
Highly localised benchmarks are generated from like farms, by size, location, ownership, management and feeding system.
Figured will also provide useful and relevant trend commentary
with applicable weather and feed conditions, milk price changes and input cost movements.
An example is: “The farm’s pasture expenses are relatively low compared to EBITDA, placing it near the benchmark trend but indicates the higher intensity of system and a much drier season.”
Accountants and farm advisers might add their own level of comments to the data, Dodds said.
“Farmers will be looking for reassurance and to see if there are numbers out of kilter to their cohort, for what might be good reasons.
“They might have chosen to farm differently, or just not be aware of their position.”
The report shows milk income, earnings per kg of milk solids, operating surplus and the breakeven milk price.
Operating expenses and brief trends are displayed for feed, staff, pasture, animals, effluent and repairs and maintenance.
Profits and losses are displayed
over past seasons, the current season and the relevant group benchmark, along with green (favourable) or red (unfavourable) variances.
Right from its inception 20 years ago Figured has wanted data capture and benchmarking to flow from its day-to-day work and to be standardised across all farming systems.
Data originates from all accountancy software, like Xero and MYOB, without the need for translation.
Next phase was the creation of 102 benchmark groups, such as Canterbury Type 2 dairy owneroperator with irrigation.
“That ensures your benchmark report is closely comparable to your farming system,” Dodds said.
For the past six months Figured’s programmers have worked on the presentation and the accuracy testing with accountancy partners. It is now rolling out to accountancy customers as a module in the Figured Insights
Past and future inform better benchmarking
Hugh Stringleman NEWS Finance
FORMER rural banker and Sidekick Rural partner Richard Wheeler says his advisory services to farmer clients are greatly enhanced by Figured benchmarking.
Data sharing within 100 Sidekick Rural clients, 75% of them dairying, is now real time and proactive, looking forward rather than just dealing with what has passed.
Figured is expanding the use of data from within Sidekick Rural clients to include all relevant farms in the region, anonymously of course.
It is like an electronic sharing of the collective wisdom and generational experiences that drove New Zealand farm focus groups in the past, said the South Canterbury-based farm adviser.
Nowadays, however, it is very efficient and predictive, tailored to the needs of the clients and their stakeholders.
“Xero and Figured are in the Cloud and we can meet with clients at any time, without them having to come to town. We currently service clients from Gore to Tokoroa,” Wheeler said.
“We plan, budget, review, benchmark, re-forecast and share it with the bank on a quarterly basis, even more frequently if required.
“We automate and make this data useful for farmers, so they can act on it.
“We remove the hassle of recording for compliance’s sake, to automated recording for farmers themselves and their families.”
The benchmark data on farm expenses during the period of higher inflation in the covid years was enlightening for the
negotiations between farm owners and sharemilkers.
Wheeler said the Figured products had assisted their role in looking forward on behalf of the Sidekick Rural clients, while the accountancy team took care of the rearview mirror for GST returns and taxation.
Figured is also useful in regular reviewing of cashflow and provisional tax, to be updated with Inland Revenue.
We automate and make this data useful for farmers, so they can act on it.
Richard Wheeler Sidekick Rural
Figured assists in viewing farm businesses on a five-to-seven-year cycle, for example three years back, the current year, and one to two years into the future. This shows the business performance through changes in the economic and climatic cycles – higher and lower milk payouts, for instance.
Sidekick Rural has scope across all farming clients to stress-test major changes in milk prices, operating expenditure or interest rates using Figured Insights.
Management reports to clients contain variances and benchmarks updated to the most-recent Xero coding’s, with revised forecasts.
“Our farmers are always current and always looking forward.
“This level of monitoring and benchmarking from Sidekick Rural and Figured Insights is for anyone who is looking to improve their returns and bankability, owners and sharemilkers alike.”
suite of products and services.
Accountancy practises will make the calls as to when and how frequent the benchmarking process is shared with farmers, and whether to pass on the Figured fees.
Annual sit-downs with farm advisers and financiers are expected to be the most common use, Dodds said.
“We feel this will be an important part of the planning process farms go through as they understand their performance
SHARING: Figured chief executive
Dave Dodds says like a nationwide system of virtual farm focus groups, data sharing has the potential to boost the productivity of the whole dairy industry.
with comparable farms in their region and how they are preforming at various levels to not only the average but the top 25 percentile.”
At times of extended adverse weather, insights into how the top quartile farms are performing will be very useful to all others in that group and outside, he said. Figured intends to extend benchmarking into sheep and beef farms and to take it offshore to Australia and the United States where it has a growing presence.
Good result, but job not over at Synlait
Gerald Piddock NEWS Dairy
SYNLAIT may be back in the financial black, but it will not be resting on its laurels, Charles Ferguson, the company’s director of on-farm excellence, sustainability and corporate affairs, says.
The company has had a good six months and that was reflected in its half-year result for 2025.
Getting Synlait back into profitability had been its focus over the short term.
Synlait’s half-year result to January 31 2025 shows the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was $63.1 million. It also reporting a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $4.8m.
“We’re really pleased with this result, but there’s still a lot of work to do for Synlait to really reach its potential,” he said.
Synlait’s company culture
is focused on success, he said, which had made the past few years particularly hard. While the company was able to turn around the business quickly and seize a lot of customer opportunities over the past six to nine months, there is still work to do.
“We have some way to go before we are fulfilling our potential. We need to create new products and new customers to push through Dunsandel.”
Ferguson sees the company’s advanced nutrition business as one area where they could make those new products and achieve higher margins. It is seeing new customers who are purchasing base powder from Synlait, adding their own product and selling it to consumers.
Its future will be in a larger number of smaller advanced nutrition relationships rather than creating customer relationships that had the size and scale similar to what Synlait has with A2, which in the short term is unlikely.
He also sees potential to add more value to this business by creating new products that cater for an aging population in Asia and southeast Asia, where the bulk of Synlait’s products are exported to.
“That’s where I see the opportunity for most value.”
Synlait’s food service business is another area where gains can be made. The company was putting through double the volume of product and there was strong demand despite the margins are under pressure because of high fat prices.
Its ingredients business would also enable Synlait to link multinational customer demands back to its farmers.
“That’s something we haven’t been able to tap into as much as we would like to and I think [with] our Lead with Pride programme, we’re very match fit to work with customers that are interested in how the product is being produced on farm.”
NOT DONE:
Synlait’s director of on-farm excellence, sustainability and corporate affairs, Charles Ferguson says while they are happy with the company’s halfyear result there is still plenty of work left to get it back to profitability.
Data is farming’s best tool when regs loom
Bryan Gibson TECHNOLOGY Farm Systems
A VISITING dairy farmer from the Netherlands says having open source, accurate and shareable environmental data has been instrumental in the industry’s push to meet stringent new regulations.
Wilco Brouwer de Koning, a third-generation dairy farmer, is in New Zealand as part of his Nuffield Scholarship.
As well as farming, he’s also on the board of the Dutch Farmers Organisation and involved in the International Dairy Federation.
Brouwer de Koning said new rules on effluent management have hit Dutch farmers hard, but
the fact they have a universal data system in place is not only helping with compliance, it’s also a driver of incentive schemes that processors and retailers are introducing to add value at the farm gate.
“We already started that in 2012 and my opinion, as a farmer but also as a board member, is that if society asks us to do something on sustainable farming, on biodiversity, it has to be rewarded. So you need a measuring system.”
Farmers hitting certain targets can be rewarded by their processor and this improves buy-in, Brouwer de Koning said.
He receives incentive payments from processor FrieslandCampina for meeting certain environmental targets, and Rabobank offers lowered interest
rates for improvements in sustainability.
“Last year I got €35,000 [$66,000] extra for sustainable milk. So that’s climate, but that’s also permanent grassland, nitrogen surplus landscape and grazing milk.
“Grazing milk is quite important in Holland – 80% of it is from cows still grazing outside and we want that number to keep it as high as possible.”
But the key to this is an integrated approach.
His processor and the government use the same dataset to monitor his farm, giving everyone the big picture.
“You need an integrated approach on the different values.
If you look at my farm, if you focus only on climate, it will negatively impact other items like
water quality or biodiversity.”
And it’s biodiversity that Brouwer de Koning said is the key for pasture-based dairy farming’s future.
“I think biodiversity is more important, because if we have to compare our climate impact with the US, where they are putting the cows in a big shed, feeding a lot of maize, maybe a digester, we can never compete with that system on climate.
“With the grazing cows you always produce methane. So I think our unique selling point is biodiversity instead of climate.”
Brouwer de Koning will travel to the United States after visiting farmers and politicians in New Zealand, before continuing his Nuffield journey in Chile, Brazil, Japan, Denmark and the United Kingdom.
WEB: Wilco Brouwer de Koning with his spiderweb diagram that demonstrates how focusing on one farm target can negatively impact the others.
Photo: Bryan Gibson
farmers with esearch Empowering science and r
This season, Dair yNZ has focused on empowering dair y farmers by providing greater access to our science, research, and knowledge of farm systems application. Our aim is to make our experts and research more accessible and to enhance farm operations through evidence -based insights and solutions.
We’ve heard farmer s want these solutions and options to be more readily at their finger tips and so you will continue to see event improvements from us to help lif t the lid on what is possible now and in the future
Key to this was upgrading our events, so we have redesigned them in a way that bet ter connec ts farmer s and our scientists and farm system specialists to close the gap around the latest research and application on farm We consider the key topic s that mat ter for farming businesses ever y month of the year, while continuing to facilitate farmer s connec ting with other farmer s
in their local region
Since the roll- out post- calving last year, we have delivered a total of 134 events across the countr y These have covered critical topic s including future proofing pasture and crops, under standing profit alongside our environmental footprint, and workplace produc tivit y
These events are regularly
hosted on local farms, giving at tendees the oppor tunit y to hear from host farmer s how the solution being discussed work s within their operation and show real-time application It allows for discussion based on insights as to what worked for them, while D air yNZ exper ts and scientists bring insights into how the research and solutions being delivered are driving changes and improvements on farm, and the different stra tegies you can consider applying, depending on what is relevant for each individual farm operation
Farmer s have told us they have valued the oppor tunit y to engage more frequently and direc tly with D air yNZ’s specialists, valuing these face -to -face interac tions
D air yNZ remains commit ted to continuing these effor ts and
investing in high- qualit y events that help farmer s move quickly from discussion to ac tion
Looking ahead, D air yNZ plans to host an additional 144 events from March to May, covering topic s such as genetic gain, reproduc tive per formance and benchmarking data This includes discussing our economic s insights into what
the 2025/26 season may hold and the implications this may have for farmer s
We’re al so working harder to deliver in par tner ship with other s By working together with other sec tor organisations such as SMASH, Pasture Summit, Federated Farmer s, Fonterra, NZDIA and D air y Women’s Net work , D air yNZ ensures that events are relevant, collaborative, and avoid unnecessar y duplication
Being flexible is al so crucial, to ensure we can suppor t farmer s to adapt to changing conditions that could have significant impac ts on farm Last year we ran wet weather events across Southland, to help farmer s respond to the significant Spring rainfall while dr y weather response eve nts continue to be held across the
countr y, par ticularly fo the regions in drought
In addition to our sche events, D air yNZ collab with farmer s across th contributing to a varie research and science that ensure our work r grounded in prac tical systems application
cused in duled orates e countr y, t y of projec ts emains farm
Our key priorit y at D air yNZ is to ensure that the sec tor continues to progress well into the future, and that means helping farmer s adapt to market trends and environmental requirements while maintaining profitabilit y and advocating for your best interest to the government
Bringing our research and science more out into the open and onto the farm is just one par t of the wide range of work under way to suppor t your business and the sec tor’s prosperit y
For more information on upcoming events in your area, visit dair ynz .co.nz/events
Have you been to a DairyNZ event recently?
Here’s what some of our at tendees had to say on their highlights:
“Events like these help farmers to make their businesses more successful. It’s science ‘with gumboots on’.”
“I liked listening to the scientists and their perspective”
“I was impressed with the in-depth research into the farm records and the advice that was given”
“Useful information from the host farmers, ... [with] practical actions we can easily put in place”
Scan the QR code to find an event oppor tunit y near you.
Setting cows up for a strong start
Sector perspective
and managing director of Agvance Nutrition.
THE dry period is often seen as a time to ease off and let cows rest before the next lactation but, in reality, it’s one of the most important phases in the production cycle. What happens during this time has a direct impact on calving outcomes, milk production, fertility and overall herd health in the season ahead.
Cows are under significant pressure throughout lactation, and the dry period is their chance
to rest, recover and rebuild. However, this doesn’t happen automatically – it requires the right nutritional support to repair body condition, strengthen immune function, and prepare for the demands of early lactation.
The dry period is not just a time to stop milking – it’s a critical transition phase where cows shift from one metabolic state to another.
Their requirements change dramatically as they move from producing milk to maintaining their pregnancy and preparing for calving.
The right mineral balance during this time can make the difference between a smooth transition into lactation or a rough start filled with problems such as metabolic disorders, retained membranes, or poor milk production. Trace elements, macro-minerals, and vitamins all play a role in preparing the cow for calving and early lactation.
Farmers who take a proactive approach to dry cow nutrition consistently see better herd performance.
A cow’s ability to calve down and start producing well is heavily influenced by her mineral status in the dry period. If key minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and trace elements are lacking or imbalanced, the risk of metabolic issues like milk fever, ketosis and retained placenta increases.
Good nutrition during this phase helps ensure:
• Strong calf development –Calves rely entirely on the cow’s reserves for essential minerals like selenium, iodine and copper. If the cow is deficient, the calf starts life on the back foot.
• A smooth calving process –Well-transitioned cows are more likely to calve without complications, reducing stress and improving recovery.
• Better colostrum quality –The first milk is packed with antibodies, and a well-fed cow produces stronger colostrum, giving her calf a better start.
• Faster recovery and stronger fertility – Cows that transition well into lactation cycle sooner and get back in calf more easily.
• One of the biggest challenges in the dry period is that deficiencies don’t always show obvious signs. A cow might look fine, but if she’s lacking key minerals, the effects will show up later – often in the form of
PREPARATION: Trace elements, macro-minerals and vitamins all play a role in preparing a cow for calving and early lactation.
poor production, weak calves, or metabolic issues post-calving.
Dry cows should have access to the right balance of essential minerals, including:
• Magnesium – Supports calcium metabolism and reduces the risk of milk fever.
• Calcium and phosphorus –Must be carefully managed to prevent imbalances that lead to metabolic disorders.
• Copper and cobalt – Essential for energy production, red blood cell formation, and rumen function. The dry period is not the time to cut corners on nutrition. Investing in the right supplementation strategy prevents costly problems
at calving and sets the herd up for a productive season. A wellmanaged dry period results in fewer metabolic issues at calving, healthier calves with better growth potential, higher peak production and improved milk quality, and stronger fertility heading into mating.
Farmers who take a proactive approach to dry cow nutrition consistently see better herd performance, lower treatment costs, and fewer problems at calving. Getting the balance right during this phase is one of the most effective ways to set cows up for success in the season ahead.
Analysts bullish on Fonterra’s financial year
Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Fonterra
FONTERRA’S interim results for FY25 imply that the ingredients and foodservice channels will be able to achieve the targeted return on capital of 10-12% when the Mainland consumer businesses are sold.
Forsyth Barr equities analysts
Matt Montgomerie and Benjamin Crozier said a trade sale of Mainland Group remains the most likely outcome of the divestment process.
They have valued the group sale between $2.5 billion and $3bn.
The return on capital for the consumer division and Fonterra Australia have been a noticeable drag on Fonterra’s returns for some time, they said.
This financial year Fonterra is on track to deliver 68c normalised earnings per share (EPS) and 48c dividend with a 70% payout ratio.
After the Mainland sale, Forsyth Barr said, the Fonterra steady state will be around 52c earnings per share annually and implied dividends around 37c.
Craigs Investment Partners is forecasting EPS of 66c this
financial year, followed by two years of 59c.
Assuming the 70% payout, dividends would be 47c, 42c and 41c, respectively.
Fonterra disclosed that operating earnings from the businesses in scope for sale rose 16% to $208m in the first half of FY25 compared with FY24.
However most of that improvement came from the
Fonterra Australia ingredients products, which had an operating loss in FY24.
Fonterra Group shares (FCG) and Fonterra Shareholder Fund units (FSF) are forecast to generate 11-13% gross dividend yield in FY25.
The FCG price is $4.95, up 20c over the past month, and FSF is $5.76, up from $5.10 since the beginning of March.
Chris Balemi Balemi is founder
Trump may yet curdle dairy outlook
As the industry looks ahead, it is crucial to prepare for evolving conditions.
Sector perspective
MARCH is typically a quieter month for the New Zealand dairy industry as the season winds down. Cooler weather sets in, the end of milking approaches, and much of the season’s production has already been contracted.
However, this past March diverged somewhat from historical trends. While we await official March production data in April, dry conditions in key regions have prompted many farmers to consider drying off earlier. The season has been productive thus far, supported by an optimistic outlook on milk price payouts. February milk production data showed a -2.0% year-on-year (YoY) decline in milksolids to 171.16 million kg. However, adjusting for the leap year effect, this translates to a 1.5% YoY increase. Seasonto-date, milksolids production remains 3.2% higher than the previous year.
On a tonnage basis, February’s
milk production fell -2.6% YoY to 1.865 million tonnes, but when adjusted for the leap year, it rose 0.9%. Season-to-date, total milk tonnage is up 2.4% YoY, and February’s figure sits marginally above the five-year rolling average by 0.3%.
Looking ahead, the NZX milk production predictor anticipates a -1.9% YoY decline for March, followed by further YoY declines of -2.6% in April and -3.1% in May. Despite these expected declines, the full season is still projected to end approximately 2% higher than the previous season on a milksolids basis.
Milk production in other key dairy regions showed a general downward trend in the latest available reports. The United States recorded a -2.5% YoY drop for February, while Australia and the United Kingdom saw declines of -4.8% and -0.8%, respectively. In contrast, Argentina and Uruguay posted YoY increases of 8.3% and 1.6%. Europe’s last reported production figure from December showed a marginal 0.3% YoY gain, with updated data still pending.
Preparing for potential volatility will be key to sustaining profitability in the long term.
March’s Global Dairy Trade events traditionally experience seasonal price softening, but this year saw only a slight drop. Event 375 saw the index decline by just -0.5%, while Event 376 held steady at 0.0%. Butter was the standout performer, continuing to attract strong demand and reaching record prices on the platform, though it remained
more competitive than European butter.
Skim milk powder also showed resilience, rising 0.6% in Event 375, while whole milk powder edged up 0.2% in Event 376. Buyer sentiment was influenced by uncertainty surrounding potential US tariffs under the administration of US President Donald Trump, alongside ongoing supply constraints in key dairy regions. These dynamics contributed to record trading activity on the SGX-NZX Dairy Derivatives market, with a single-day record of 31,000 lots – an extraordinary 174% increase from the previous record of 11,310 lots in August 2023.
New Zealand’s strong dairy export performance continued in February. Export volumes rose 4.6% YoY, while export value surged 23%, driven largely by butter and cheese. Butter exports increased 23.3% in volume and 57.0% in value, while cheese exports jumped 37.9% in volume and 47.9% in value.
Argentina’s February exports showed a -11.3% YoY decline in
volume but a slight 0.3% increase in value. Among the other major exporters, Australia reported a 24.4% YoY increase in January export volumes, with a 30.6% rise in value. Europe’s January exports fell -7.7% in volume but rose 1.5% in value, while the US recorded a 2.8% increase in volume and a 17.2% gain in value.
This season, a combination of favourable factors has aligned to support a milk price of NZ $10/ kgMS – a significant milestone for the industry.
Strong early-season weather conditions, economic and political factors making New Zealand dairy more competitive on the global stage, China’s renewed stock-building, and production constraints in other key regions due to adverse weather and disease have all played a role.
However, as the industry looks ahead, it is crucial to prepare for evolving conditions. Other dairyproducing regions continue to push for higher output, and the potential for US tariffs adds a layer of uncertainty. Depending on how these factors develop, New
Zealand dairy exports may face greater challenges in the coming season.
As the current season nears its end, farmers should focus on risk mitigation, prudent financial management, and strategic investments to strengthen their operations for the next season. While market conditions have been favourable, preparing for potential volatility will be key to sustaining profitability in the long term.
This week’s poll question: Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll Does it worry you that as farmgate returns rise, the cost of meat and milk makes it difficult for many New Zealanders to afford these foods?
FAVOURABLE: This season, a combination of favourable factors has aligned to support a milk price of $10/ kgMS – a significant milestone for the industry.
Cristina Alvarado Alvarado is NZX head of Dairy Insights
FEDERATED FARMERS
Vol 3 No 12, March 31, 2025
RMA replacement hits the mark
Federated Farmers say new planning and environment laws will protect property rights and improve productivity, while reducing red tape and compliance costs for farmers.
“We welcome the Government’s blueprint for new planning legislation to replace the broken Resource Management Act,” Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“Farmers are spending way too much time and money on costly resource consents and processes that are holding up investment in things like new water storage and rural infrastructure.
“The red tape and box-ticking has become totally ridiculous, which is why Federated Farmers have been pushing for sensible RMA reform that better protects landowners’ property rights.”
Getting RMA reform right was one of Federated Farmers’ 12 policy priorities for restoring farmer confidence in the lead-up to the last election.
“The Government has delivered a pragmatic and common-sense plan that will put respect for property rights front and centre,” Hooper says.
“This means that, unless you’re doing something that will have a negative impact outside your property’s boundary, you can essentially do what you want on your own land.”
Hooper says the new laws will mean that where a council takes a property right away, the council will
have to pay compensation for the loss of property value.
“Federated Farmers has always pushed back on councils’ overzealous use of overlays like Outstanding Natural Landscapes (ONLs), Significant Natural Areas (SNAs), and Sites and Areas of Significance to Māori (SASMs).
“Farmers who’ve had a significant and unrelenting loss of property rights from restrictive overlays will be welcoming this news of a stricter regime.”
He says farmers who’ve been forced to operate under an ONL overlay have faced ridiculous and impractical rules.
“We’re talking about little details like what colour their shed can be and needing a resource consent to put in a new fence, through to bigger hurdles such as being unable to develop or convert their land.
“Compensating farmers for the loss of private property rights isn’t just fair, it also means councils will be much more reasonable and pragmatic about when they apply an overlay.
“Requiring councils to pay compensation will create a healthy tension where councils must have some skin in the game before putting restrictions over large swathes of the country.”
Federated Farmers is also welcoming the shift to national standards, while noting the Freshwater Farm Plan system is the ready-to-go standard for farming.
“It’s never made sense for farmers to be farming by resource consent. Resource consents are a costly, timeconsuming and bureaucratic way to improve farming practice,” Hooper says.
“At the same time, caution needs to be exercised in trying to standardise farming too much, as every farm, catchment and community is different.
“The Freshwater Farm Plan model, introduced by the previous Government and amended by the current, is a tool that can replace the need for a resource consent.
“It is a ready-to-go standard for farming with huge buy in from farmers, sector groups, and regional councils”
Federated Farmers will be keeping an eye on proposals for greater use of market mechanisms, stricter penalty regimes and charges for resource use.
Market mechanisms can be a great way to create a property right for resource use and allow more efficient mitigation of impacts than a strict standard, but they don’t work everywhere, Hooper says.
“Nutrient loss, for example, is nearimpossible to measure accurately and not something that leads itself to a market mechanism. We much prefer the Freshwater Farm Plan model.
“A shift to national standards can be supported by stricter penalty regimes, but these need to be kept
that the new laws will require councils to pay farmers compensation for the loss of private property rights.
reasonable for the nature of farming.
“There needs to be some recognition that things like the weather, animals and natural conditions aren’t always in the farmer’s control.
“Farmers support mechanisms for cost-recovery, and we’d like to see them used more in local government, where farmers are paying huge rates bills for services they don’t use.
“We’re open to cost-recovery for environmental management, but safeguards are needed.
“We need to be sure charges represent the efficient cost of the service provided and avoid councils pushing bureaucratic waste on to farmers.”
FAIRER: Mark Hooper is pleased
Commission opens cartel investigation into banking rules
The Commerce Commission has opened an investigation into the lending practices of New Zealand banks that are involved in the UN-convened NetZero Banking Alliance.
Action has been spurred by a formal complaint lodged by Federated Farmers in December last year, raising concerns about potentially co-ordinated and anticompetitive banking practices.
The probe will look to determine whether these banks’ coordinated net-zero strategies violate Section 30 of the Commerce Act, which prohibits cartel-like behaviours.
“The Commerce Commission has clearly taken our complaint very seriously and launched an investigation into the banks,” says Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre.
“Launching a cartel investigation
is not something the Commission takes lightly, and is usually only done after making some initial inquiries to test the merit of the complaint.
“It would seem that during those initial inquiries, they smelt enough smoke to support a more formal investigation looking for fire –and I think they might just find something.”
If they’re found guilty of cartel-behaviour, they could be on the hook for some eye-watering fines and their directors could face serious criminal charges.
Richard McIntyre Federated Farmers banking spokesperson
Federated Farmers’ complaint raised serious questions about the potential alignment of lending policies and emissions reduction targets that could reduce banking competition.
This included fears that coordinated policies might restrict access to capital for farmers unable to meet emission reduction targets, potentially leading to de-banking.
“We raised some issues we thought deserved further scrutiny, and it would appear the Commerce Commission has agreed with that assessment,” McIntyre says.
“This is a huge issue for Kiwi farmers. We’ve got five major banks that dominate 97.3% of farm lending, and all of them are linked to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.
“Unfortunately, the banks have been incredibly dismissive of our
concerns to date, but I suspect this, along with the Parliamentary banking inquiry, will have given them a real wake-up call.
“If they’re found guilty of cartelbehaviour, they could be on the hook for some eye-watering fines
and their directors could face serious criminal charges.”
Federated Farmers are calling on New Zealand’s big Australian-owned banks to do the right thing and withdraw from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.
Call for Reserve Bank to cut costly capital rules
Federated Farmers is calling for the Reserve Bank to drop overly conservative and growth-restricting banking capital rules that are costing farmers a fortune.
“These rules are among the strictest in the world and are a total handbrake on economic growth,” says Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre.
“They’ve unnecessarily driven up the cost of rural lending to the point they’re bleeding farmers dry – for no good reason.”
Banking rules introduced in 2019 require banks to hold enough capital to withstand a one-in-200-year financial event, adding between 50
to 120 basis points to agricultural loans.
Prior to the rule change, banks were only required to hold enough capital to withstand a one-in-100year financial event.
Federated Farmers are calling on the Reserve Bank to revert to this much more practical and reasonable standard.
“In terms of the total cost to farmers, we’re talking about $600 million of unnecessary extra interest payments each year,” McIntyre says.
“At the farm level, that’s an eye watering $44,000 of extra interest payments for your average Federated Farmers member that
comes straight off their bottom line.
“That’s a huge sum of money being sucked directly out of our rural communities that otherwise would have been reinvested in growing our agricultural sector.”
These figures were confirmed recently when banking bosses were hauled back in front of Parliament’s banking inquiry for further scrutiny.
Under questioning, BNZ’s CEO told MPs the Reserve Bank’s capital rules have driven up farmers’ interest rates by 1%, meaning a 6.5% loan is now 7.5%.
McIntyre says it’s time for the Reserve Bank to wake up to the damage its policies are doing to
farmers, rural communities, and the wider economy.
“These capital rules have been a real focus for Federated Farmers throughout the banking inquiry. In fact, they’re one of the main reasons we called for an inquiry in the first place.
“All the rules have done is driven up the cost of borrowing and made it harder for farmers to get loans when they need them.
“Federated Farmers will keep pushing hard for a fairer banking system for farmers – and with a change of leadership at the RBNZ, the door is certainly open to achieving that.”
At the farm level, that’s an eye watering $44,000 of extra interest payments for your average Federated Farmers member that comes straight off their bottom line.
Richard McIntyre
Federated Farmers banking spokesperson
LEAVE: Federated Farmers are calling on New Zealand’s big Australianowned banks to do the right thing and withdraw from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.
Farmers warned about Moving Day crime spike
With Moving Day approaching for the dairy sector, farmers are being warned to take precautions now to protect themselves from an expected jump in rural crime.
Abby France from FMG Insurance says the company sees two distinct spikes in rural theft claims each year: the weeks either side of Moving Day on June 1, and during January.
“During those times, there’s a lot of equipment and stock constantly on the move at all hours of the day. People are shifting farm machinery, making bales, and there’s a lot of activity.
“That means a criminal driving around at night isn’t quite as suspicious as usual; you don’t pay as much attention to a strange car on your roads.
“It’s a prime opportunity for these
criminals to strike, which is why we need rural people to be extra vigilant.”
Speaking on the Federated Farmers Podcast, France said rural crime is undoubtedly on the rise.
“It’s definitely a problem out there for our farmers and growers. When we look at our rural crime numbers, the trend is heading upwards.
“Over the last five years, we’ve paid out around $48 million in theft claims, so it’s a large number.”
She says big-ticket items like tractors make up some of the claims, but the bulk of thefts are of smaller things that are easy to lift and resell.
“The most-commonly stolen items are lighter vehicles – your motorbikes, quads, side-by-sides and two-wheelers, and utes with the trailer on. They make up about 30% of what’s stolen.”
Farm equipment like tools,
chainsaws, generators and fencing gear make up about another third of claims, and the remainder is domestic contents such as jewellery, electronics, TVs and firearms.
France says FMG is also seeing a rise in fuel theft, driven by the lift in fuel prices.
“Over the last five years, we’ve paid out $530,000 in fuel claims alone, and the number of claims has doubled since 2019.”
She says the best way for farmers to protect themselves is to deter criminals from getting access to the property in the first place.
“A lot of these thieves are opportunists, so don’t make it easy for them to take their opportunity –that’s the key point.
“Make your gear hard to access because a thief who can’t get past the gate isn’t getting away with your gear.
“I’ve heard farmers say over the years, ‘locks only keep an honest man out’ – but that is not true.
“They slow down even determined criminals, and that gives you more of a chance of catching them in the act and that makes them uncomfortable. They don’t want to be caught.
“If we make it hard or the risk of being caught goes up then they’re much more likely to move on and look for something else.”
She suggests putting locks on sheds, gates and fuel tanks, storing equipment away securely, and installing alarms, security lights and cameras.
“The other thing is marking and recording your equipment. Gear that’s engraved or distinctively marked is much less attractive to
thieves, and an engraving tool only costs about $50.”
She also warns against posting photos on social media of your new tractor.
“If criminals know you’ve got shiny new things they’d like to get their hands on, they’re much more likely to target you.
“Also, be careful about sharing the fact that your whole team is expected to be off-farm, as thieves are often scanning online to look for targets and create their shopping lists.”
Federated Farmers’ latest Rural Crime Survey found 67% of 1000 farmer respondents had experienced a crime or suspected they had, in the instance of hard-to-prove incidents like livestock killing or theft.
But nearly half of those farmers had not reported it because they thought police were too busy or wouldn’t be interested.
“That’s incredibly frustrating,” says Richard McIntyre, Federated Farmers rural policing spokesperson.
“Farmers seem happy to tell us they’ve been a victim of crime, but they’re not telling the police because they don’t think there’s any point.
“We need farmers to report all crimes, and even suspicious vehicles and activity, because it helps the police to see patterns of offending, which increase the chances of an arrest.
“But, more importantly, if crimes go unreported it makes it harder for Federated Farmers to advocate successfully for more police resources to be allocated.
“We want better police resourcing for rural NZ and the best way farmers can help with that is to report every crwime to police, so they can understand the scale of the problem.”
OUT THE DOOR: Abby France from FMG Insurance says the best way for farmers to protect themselves is to deter criminals from getting access to the property in the first place.
CRIME CRACKDOWN: With rural crime on the rise, including more fuel theft, Richard McIntyre urges farmers to report all incidents to the police to highlight the true scale of the issue.
Sharefarmer leader: visa settings need more fine tuning
With a farm team of nine that’s propped up by migrant workers, Jared Crawford knows all too well how important it is to get our immigration settings right.
“I’ve got a couple of staff coming to the end of their visa terms. You spend two or three years training these guys and they’re well settled, enjoying the role, and delivering great results.
“The issue is that unless I push their wages up to a level beyond where they’re currently at in their farming career, they’ve got to go home for a year,” Crawford says.
“It’s such a waste of time and money and causes so much disruption for everyone involved –including my business, their families, and New Zealand’s dairy workforce.” Crawford, Federated Farmers
South Canterbury sharefarmer chair, says the Government’s changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa announced late last year were a positive move.
“They were absolutely a step in the right direction, but I think they needed to go further. The process is still all a bit too hard and long-winded.
“Anything the Government can do to improve residency pathways for dairy workers who prove themselves would be great for farming – and the New Zealand economy.”
Crawford and his wife Sara are into their sixth season as lower order sharemilkers on Farmright’s 524ha Lamorna Farm near Geraldine.
Together they milk 1950 cows at peak, with a 100-bale rotary shed that’s one of the largest in the country.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Jared Crawford, pictured with wife Sara Lennox and their children Harper and Kōtuku, says he’s pleased to be involved with some ‘wicked good people in Federated Farmers’.
The family are incredibly proud of the team they’ve pulled together at Lamorna Farm.
“This year we took on an 18-yearold Kiwi from Karamea, with no farming background. We’ve got a 62-year-old Filipino who’s been with us five years, and workers from Chile and Fiji.
Anything the Government can do to improve residency pathways for dairy workers who prove themselves would be great for farming – and the
New Zealand economy.
Jared Crawford Federated Farmers South Canterbury sharefarmer chair
“There’s quite a range of ages, genders and levels of experience. It’s taken a while to get where we want to be, but our team are absolutely nailing it at the moment.”
His own experiences as a young farmer coming up through the ranks have taught him that offering flexibility builds loyalty.
“A couple of the Fijians were semiprofessional footballers and still like playing on Saturdays.
“We’re also open to balancing work with staff who have kids and school stuff.
“We’re lucky with a big team we can juggle things around to make it work for everyone.”
Crawford says it’s immensely satisfying for him as an employer to see his staff go on to gain residency in New Zealand that will allow them to put down roots.
TEAMWORK: Jared Crawford and wife Sara Lennox with some of the team of nine that enable Lamorna Farm to produce around 950,000kg/ MS annually.
“Two of our guys have been able to bring over their wives and kids, where before they might only have seen them once a year. They see a real future for their families in our dairy sector.”
Crawford says there just aren’t enough Kiwis who are willing and able to work in our dairy sector to support the success of our largest export earner.
Jared and Sara have come a long way from their first farming roles as a couple.
“I was 2IC on a 680-cow farm out of Hamilton and Sara, a real townie back then, was full-time as a junior. I was teaching her to ride a motorbike the night before our start the next day.”
After another farm manager role in Matamata, they decided to “go bigger and chase the money down south”.
They moved to Southland for five seasons where they managed an 800-cow operation, and Jared then led a 1000-cow farm conversion in Riversdale, picking up the
Southland-Otago ‘Manager of the Year’ in the Dairy Industry Awards.
That title came with a year’s free membership of Federated Farmers, which Crawford says opened his eyes to the real value of the organisation.
“They do so much positive stuff for our farming community. It’s not just the top-notch dairy contracts; it’s the advocacy work keeping farming rules practical and affordable too.
“There are some wicked good people in Federated Farmers who have really stepped up when our sector has needed them to – and they’re all volunteers too.”
That’s clearly something Crawford is keen to be a part of, putting his hand up for the local sharefarmer chair role at the encouragement of South Canterbury dairy chair Jimmy Emmett.
“We achieve so much more as a farming community when we stand together. So, if you’re one of the few farmers who aren’t a member, don’t be shy, it’s time to sign up.”
Maraekakaho 719 Aorangi Road
Tahara Farm - 308 ha of prime farming land
For the first time in 118 years, this exceptional 308 ha property, Tahara is being offered to the market by our retiring vendor. Located just 35 km west of Hastings, in the renowned farming district of Maraekakaho, this property is currently operated as a highly productive intensive cattle and lamb finishing farm. With over 250 ha of flat to undulating land all in superior pastures, Tahara is extensively subdivided into 28 main paddocks with conventional fencing, all serviced by a central laneway for ease of stock movement and access
The excellent reticulated water system throughout the property has enabled it to carry in excess of 600 cattle and up to 1500 trade lambs. Accommodation is provided by a modernised homestead set in mature well-kept grounds offering encompassing views over the property. A three-bedroom cottage and shearers accommodation provide ample staff housing or secondary income opportunities.
Sheffield 614 Bluff Road
Deadline Sale
Versatility in a great location
Located in Russells Flat only 50 minutes to Christchurch and 15 minutes to the service centre of Darfield, 614 Bluff Road provides a superb opportunity as an entry-level farming asset with options A strong mix of soils provides the base for the productive potential of the property. There is excellent subdivision with 10 main paddocks and reticulated gravity fed water to all paddocks Supporting infrastructure includes a three-bedroom home, two-stand wool shed with adjacent yards along with a three-bay hay shed. Currently utilised as a mixed cropping property which
Matt Collier M
Tender closes 2.00pm, Tue 15th Apr, 2025, Property Brokers, 306 Saint Aubyn Street West, Hastings View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/HR201856
Mike Heard M 027 641 9007 E mike.heard@pb.co.nz
Jared Brock M 027 449 5496 E jared@pb.co.nz
Methven 100/246 Vaughans Road
Quality investment
Strategically positioned, the sale of our vendors 138.59 ha arable farm unit incorporating two titles, excellent Methven location and quality Templeton soils is an exciting opportunity. Whether it's to secure additional land area for neighbours nearby farms or as a standalone arable/livestock finishing or dairy support unit, this is a compelling land investment. The farm has been subject to sound farm management centered on an arable rotation with lamb finishing over the past 17 years by the current lessees and is presented in great heart. The Templeton silt loam over clay soils are a feature plus arable history and system focused to attain consistent yields and productivity
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Following two generations of careful custodianship plus the sale of the owners ’ adjoining dairy unit & kiwifruit orchard, an outstanding lifestyle property featuring the Mangahana Homestead is now available for sale. Situated on an elevated plateau of “gardeners’ delight” ash soils, north-facing to capture all -day sun, with superb panoramic views encompassing the iconic mountain group of Maungatautari to the north -east, Kakepuku and Pirongia to the west, it is an especially captivating environment.
• 143 Cruickshank Road, Te Mawhai / Tokanui district - 11 kms from Te Awamutu
• 9,688m² title, accessed by tarsealed driveway & enhanced by mature specimen trees.
• delightful executive -style 2 storied homestead with stained cedar cladding, copper spouting & downpipes, coloursteel roof, attached triple garaging.
• featuring 6 brms, spacious open plan kitchen / dining / living areas opening to the sheltered outdoor living areas; a separate lounge provides a quiet, peaceful area.
• quila decking at both the entranceway and the sunny outdoor living areas.
• an inground pool and an excellent all-weather tennis court cater for energetic exercise.
• downstairs contains 5 brms, bathroom, guest toilet, office/family room, laundry & small gym; above is the master brm & ensuite, with a north -facing balcony & a lovely rural outlook.
• separate spacious office suite & large storage area above the triple garage.
• ducted, diesel fuelled central heating plus 3 additional Jet Master open fires.
• self -contained water supply + additional double garage / toolshed.
• an excellent district, handy to town with very good options for primary & secondary schooling. Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113 TradeMe / Realestate.co.nz / OneRoof search # R1442 Sale by Deadline: Wed, 30 April 2025
Situated in Stage 1 of the waterways, for quick access to the canal entrance and this peaceful, quiet spot!
This fabulous low maintenance 358sqm holiday or retirement home, has an attached granny flat with natural estuary views. Harvest your happiness here. Driveway to boat ramp and double garaging, plus plenty of off-street parking for the boat.
Fly in, fly out (Whitianga airport).
Get your ducks in a row, and sow your seeds for your future now
By Negotiation
Make time to arrange your viewing today! harcourts.net/nz/office/ whitianga/listing/l25351998
GREAT LOCATION WITH FLEXIBLE LIVING OPTIONS
www.homesell.co.nz - webID 15479
184b Holland Road, Newstead – Hamilton
$1,850,000 Superb rural living. Enter via a tree lined driveway to this secure, private, flat, fully fenced section, plus paddock for grazing. Great location close to Hamilton.
Ideal for large family, multi generation living, co-ownership, multi tenants. Room for second 70sqm home or tiny home. The house and driveway is perfectly set up to accommodate any future development.
Features of the property include:
• 4 bedrooms all with ensuites, heat pumps and walk-in wardrobes
• Master bedroom ensuite features a sauna
• 1 office/hobby room/bedroom plus a guest washroom
• 3 living areas including a formal lounge, family lounge, kitchen/dining/family room with heat pump
• Entertainers kitchen with scullery
• Separate laundry plus a walk-in linen cupboard
• 3-car internal access garaging and plenty of off street parking
• Outdoor covered BBQ area with a plumbed sink
• Fabulous flow to two decks, lawn area and established grounds
• Garden shed, security gate, alarm system, double glazing and fully insulated Ideal Newstead location handy to Camarosa Restaurant, Zenders Cafe & Event Centre, Ruakura Development and the Waikato Expressway. Excellent schooling options including Newstead Model School, Marian Catholic School, Berkley Normal Middle School, Hillcrest High School, Saint John’s College and Waikato University.
Contact: Sue & John 021 142 1066 or 027 356 8917
Canal Front and All Day Sun 6 Hei Esplanade, Whitianga Waterways
Mangahana Homestead Inspection by appointment
ZON BIRDSCARER
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NZRSB
2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & ANNUAL REPORT RELEASE 20 MAY 2025 | ONLINE
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Fact 10. Potash is more e cient, and must less likely to cause metabolic problems, if applied in small doses 4 times a year, adding up to 50-60% of the total annual amount you are using now. Easy to mix with your prilled urea. Leaching of anions like nitrate will be minimised as well. For more info, email Bert Quin on bert.quin@quinfert.co.nz, or phone 021 427 572, or visit www.quinfert.co.nz
See www.quinfert.co.nz for prices or contact Bert Quin 021 427 572 bert.quin@quinfert.co.nz
Fact 8. In a nutshell, for maintenance of P levels any genuine RPR (not an RPR/Boucraa mix please!) can be used. Just check the Cd content. For low fertility situations or low rainfall, use a blend of RPR and high-analysis soluble P. Fact 9. For N, rather than granular urea, use prilled urea, sprayed immediately prior to, or during, the spreading with urease inhibitor. Use of N can be literally cut in half with big savings.
New! Quinfert is the proud agent for Marnco‘s new product Twinphos 0-9-0-7, a fully-granulated blend of quick and sustained-release P. Only $445/t + gst. Available ex Waharoa, Waikato; South Island to come. Full range of fine RPR and S90 blends, and QSR Quick and Sustained-Release P combos available ex Waharoa and Timaru.
Fact 7. in any case simple fenced-o 3-metre wide grass riparian strips are essentially as e ective and vastly cheaper than more complex strips. Both reduce bacterial and sediment losses. Neither will have any signi cant long-term bene cial e ect (on a whole -farm basis) on soluble P and nitrate-N loss. But grass strips can be harvested in summer to be fed out, to improve P and N cycling.
Fact 6. It is nonsensical to give in to pressure to install expensive mitigations riparian strips, excessively large wetlands and ‘phosphorus walls’ when you have no idea of their long-term e ectiveness and maintenance costs, and before you have established whether changing to sustained-release RPR is all you need to do!
The opportunity exists for motivated and qualified individuals to be nominated for the NZRSB Committee. Nominations are open now.
Nominate by emailing info@nzsustainablebeef.co.nz with the nominee’s contact details and a bio or resume, or visit www.nzsustainablebeef.co.n z
Fact 5. Following 1-4 above will greatly reduce P run-o and leaching. This should be done before anything else, and the situation reassessed before spending huge amounts of money!
Fact 1. The overuse of soluble P fertiliser is by far the largest cause of P run-o and leaching, and therefore of the decline in the quality of Kiwi waterways. Fact 2. Once you have Olsen P levels that are more than a third of the P retention (ASC), application of additional soluble P is very prone to loss to the environment. Fact 3. If you want to build up your soil P in an environmentally-protective way, simply apply R PR. It does not get leached or lost directly in run-o but releases P in a sustained fashion for plants. Fact 4. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. RPR-based fertilisers are even cheaper than super-based products as well! Added sulphur bentonite (sulphur 90) is far more e cient than the excess sulphate in super.
The changes to rates under the Order are as follows:
bovis, it has agreed to adjust the levy rates payable under the Biosecurity (Readiness and Response Meat Levy) Order 2019 (the Order)
• The levy rate payable for beef cattle is reduced from $1 80 per head to $0 00 per head, with effect from 7 April 2025 All other levy rates under the Order remain unchanged at $0 00 per head
560a Hikumutu Road, Taumarunui Saturday 5th April 12pm Hyundai Robex 55.7 Digger, Tilt bucket, Rock & Trenching Buckets, Manual Thumb, Set of Track Guides, Track Grips, Spare Track Rollers, 2 Idlers (6800hrs), Uni 8 Tonne Tip Trailer with Hydraulic Tailgate Release, 6 Tonne Alloy Digger Ramps, Fiat 93/65 4WD Tractor, Loader, Bucket, Forks, Twin Crowd Rams (3900hrs), 3m Rubber Tyre Roller, Bertallini 400Lt 3ptl Sprayer with hose, gun & rose, Giltrap Bale Feeder 3ptl Model RDF799, Pearson Softhands Bale Grab, Euro Hitch, Fert Spreader 500kg (Machio 3ptl), Bale Sweep 2-5m, Transport Tray, Grader Blade 6ft, Feildmaster HD 60 Topper, Quad Trailer with Crate 1200x 1800 deck (Brent Smith), Champion Log Splitter with table (22 tonne ram), Champion Water Blaster 3000psi, Race Sprayer for Dipping Sheep with Electric Motor, Sheep Weighing Crate 2 way draft, Sunbeam Shearing Plant, TAS Petrol Dagging Plant, Tepari Docking Shute 2.6m, Tepari Docking Irons, Tru-test Scales & Load bar (ezi weigh 2 model), Alloy cattle weighing platform (Highway), Cattle Headbale, 3 Electric fence units, 2 x 7 Pod Kline Irrigators, Honda GX270 Effluent Pump & 60m layflat hose, 2 x Solo hand grass/fert spreaders, Concrete tank killing house, 3 Bay Dog Kennels (Mitre10 model), Stihl BT20 Posthole Borer with 8” auger, Electric Concrete mixer, Wheelbarrow, Hustler hydraulic top link, plus assorted sundries.
Terms: Cash,
Hooftrimmers - Dehorners - Ear Markers - Zon Birdscarers
CLASSIFIEDS
history. Mobs moved daily with minerals included. Phone 027 483 0856.
LEASE LAND
LEASE LAND WANTED. Well established farming business seeking lease for dry stock sheep and beef. Flat or hill country. Rangitikei, Manawatu, Horowhenua regions. Please contact Anthony 027 645 6706.
LIVESTOCK FOR SALE
RED DEVON BULLS. Quality. Well grown. Waimouri Stud Feilding. Phone 027 224 3838.
RAMS FOR SALE
WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.
SHEEP SCANNING AVAILABLE
SERVICING SOUTH WAIKATO. King Country, Ruapehu, Taupo, Taihape areas. Experienced operator. EID and Foetal Ageing. Phone 027 479 4918.
SAWN SHED TIMBER including Black Maire. Matai, Totara and Rimu etc. Also buying salvaged native logs. Phone Richard Uren. NZ Native Timber Supplies. Phone 027 688 2954.
WE ARE HAPPY TO TRADE in your old machine sitting in your barn going rusty on any purchase of our brand new excavator buckets (be it tilt, grabs, rippers, QH, cleaning or weed buckets etc) Pins set up customarily to ensure suit. Or even chainsaws if you like. Email admin@loaderparts. co.nz or phone Colin 027 442 6936.
SALE TALK
A billionaire businessman was lamenting the fact that he was working so hard and not having the time to enjoy his life. So he made a research lab an offer they couldn’t refuse and got them to clone him in order to balance the load. However the cloning technique hadn’t been perfected, causing the clone to suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome. Unfortunately the clone’s obscenities caused him to lose clients, business and profits.
It got so bad that eventually the playboy decided something had to be done, so one night he took the clone to a remote part of the Grand Canyon and pushed him over a cliff.
He thought he’d got away with it, but shortly after the police arrested him for making an obscene clone fall.
Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more!
If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@agrihq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you. Conditions apply
Stud Quality Heifer sale Tuesday 8th April 2025 - 1:00pm
At sale complex 625 Jackson Road, Kumeroa and online on Enquiries and inspection welcome Contact your PGG Wrightson Genetics Agents or Kevin or Megan FRIEL ph: (06) 376 4543 or (027)625 8526
NZ Here f ords invi te you to
MILK THE MEAT
Come and hear how a ‘no bobby calf policy ’ has increased cash f low, prof i tabili t y and equi t y for Chris Will and Anna Hunter at their dair y farm in the Manawatu.
Field Day on Thursday 3 April 2025
10:4 5am – 1:30pm at 53 4 K ellow Road, Glen Oroua
MT MABLE ANGUS Stud Capital PTIC 2023 fully registered Stud Heifers for sale
● The full complement of the 2023 PTIC fully transferable replacement heifers
● First 22 lots, pick for pick on a reserve basis
● Lots 23-48 on the market as individual lots
● Fully performance and pedigree recorded – 5 star recording
● Fetal ages available
● In calf to proven easy calving, good natured bulls
Gain f irst hand insight s into
• The benef i t s of using registered Hereford bulls .
• Hear Chris Will share his experiences wi th using registered Hereford bulls over his dair y herd, and how that has led to f inancial rewards .
• Jim Inglis B+L S trategy and Operations, will provide a summar y of the B+L Dair y Beef progeny test resul t s and impac t s on dair y farming.
• AFFCO L ivestock Manager will discuss the strong beef marke t and oppor tuni ties for beef over dair y.
IN-MILK CROSS BREED HERD &
MACHINERY AUCTION
(Owner Bred for 27 years)
A/c H and S MacDonald
Date: Tuesday 8th April 2025
Address: 1226 Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road
Palmerston North OCD 26229
Viewing from: 9.00am
Start Time: 10.30am (Machinery & Sundries), 12:30pm (Herd)
will be available for online bidding
COMPRISING: Herd 12.30pm
100 x 2- 8yr Xbred Cows
Approx 25 % Jrsy, 15 % Frsn, 60 % Xbred BW334 PW392, (BWs up to 415, PWs up to 749) RA 99%
Traditionally 450 MS System 2 Cows, 106000SCC
HB Shed, Milked OAD From Xmas this season
DTC 25th July to LIC Premier Sires Xbred and Fsn (6 weeks)
Tailed with Hereford Bull, (out 3rd Jan)
29 Xbred In-Calf Heifers
BW392 PW388
DTC 20th July to Jsy Bull, (out 3rd Jan)
MACHINERY: 10.30am
2003 Lamborghini Tractor 100 HP FEL, Massey Fergusen 265 FEL, Vico 1.5T Spreader, Kverneland 3.8m Mower, Maschio 3m Power Harrow, Jaylor Mixer Wagon, Burkhart Bale Feeder, Hustler SL350 Bale Feeder. Visit carrfieldslivestock.co.nz – upcoming Auctions for a full list.
AUCTIONEERS NOTE:
A very tidy, smaller genuine herd available due to our retiring vendors. The herd has been owner operated and managed for the past 27 years. An offering of a mixed breed herd, low input, quiet cows that have proven to produce on a simple system.
PAYMENT TERMS: 14 days after the auction DELVERY: Within 3 days post auction (later by prior arrangement).
CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENTS:
David Haworth 027 450 4133
Hamish Manthel 027 432 0298
IN-MILK MIXED BREED HERD AUCTION
(50 yrs of breeding) with YOUNGSTOCK & MACHINERY
A/c Glenholme Farms Ltd
Date: Thursday 3rd April 2025
Address: Glenholme Rd, Nukuhou North B.O.P
Start Time: 10.30am (Machinery), 11:30am (Herd) will be available for online bidding
COMPRISING: Herd 11.30am
315 x Mixed Breed DNA tested, In-Calf, In-milk Cows. Including in-milk MT’s.
BW318, PW358, LW571, RA93%, DTC from 17th July. AI mated to LIC Forward Pack Xbred then SGL Hereford and SGL Xbreed semen for 10 weeks. PWs up to 754 (47 x Cows with PWs above 500) LWs up to1231
System 2, Herd Tested 9th Jan, 16.76Ltrs/cow, 1.57Kgs/MS/cow, SCC 181,000 TB C10, BVD Tested (no PI’s detected), Lepto 4-Way vaccinated.
68 x Mixed Breed In-Calf Heifers (Most in-calf to AI)
Genomic Tested, BW446 PW433, DTC from 17th July. AI mated to LIC Forward Pack Xbred with Cydr Program, remated returns over 4 days & tailed with Jersey bulls
108 x Mixed Breed R1 Heifers
Genomic Tested, well grown (Comp Split into 4)
1: (28) BW437 PW423 2: (27) BW430 PW407 3: (27) BW427 PW402 4: (27) BW436 PW430
MACHINERY: 10.30am
Visit www.carrfields.co.nz for more information
PAYMENT TERMS: 14 days after the auction DELIVERY: Within 3 days post auction (later by prior arrangement).
CARRFIELDS AGENT: Andrew Gordon: 027 4872044
David Giddings 027 229 9760 giddingsfamily@xtra co nz
George Giddings 027 656 3323 gdgiddings@gmail com
PGG Wrightson has been favoured by our vendors to seek expressions of interest in the sale of the Waikite Simmental Herd.
Founded in 1988, the Waikite Simmental Stud is one of the top cattle breeding operations in New Zealand, specialising in producing
The stud focuses on breeding cattle that grow quickly, produce more meat, and are easy to calve, making them efficient and reliable for farmers. Further enquiries: Cam Heggie | 027 501 8182 pggwrightson.co.nz
The Berkers are in the process of buying their first farm hence giving you a great opportunity to buy top animals that will be an asset to any farming
Friesian/Friesian
G3 tested
33 animals contracted to LIC 2025 or 2026 awaiting CRV contracts
23 animals are carrying the polled gene - Herd Ave last 5 years, 520-540 Kg/MS/cow, 390/410 cows, 200,000 MS Factory
166 cows on offer are 2-6 years old
Cows and Heifers scanned to date - 4 x yearling heifers have LIC interest - Heifers calving from 6/8/25 to G3 recorded easy-calve home bred bulls
This is a great opportunity for you to buy genuine cows from genuine people that we are sure will enhance your herd
Catalogues can be viewed online at Bidr and agonline For more information contact: Roddy Bridson (PGW ) 027 458 2775
Reyland (PGW ) 027 223 7092
Key: Dair y Cattle Sheep
Proudly sponsored by
FTAs buoy values in choppy trade waters
Well-timed free trade deals are behind much of the sector’s export success.
Alex Coddington MARKETS Beef and lamb
THERE has been plenty of political uncertainty weighing on agricultural markets recently, which is unfortunate, given the recovery in sentiment driven by positive price trends.
Looking at the bigger picture, the global theme of shrinking supply and rising demand for red meat is unlikely to change anytime soon. However, disruptions to trade flows have the potential to quickly undermine any certainty about future price trends for our exporters.
United States sheep farmers are pushing for potential tariffs on Australian and New Zealand lamb, while China continues to implement beef safeguard measurements against more importers. These shifts highlight a broader trend in how major trading nations apply tariffs and safeguards on red meat exports.
New Zealand’s active trade agreements with other countries will be crucial in helping us navigate this period of uncertainty while also prioritising continued
success for our sheep and beef industries.
The latest average export values for beef and lamb in February were particularly strong. It’s obvious from this data that the shift back to our traditional markets, driven by recent free trade agreements, has been well-timed with rising demand, and this is reflected in the values.
The average value of New Zealand’s lamb exports lifted to $13.48/kg in February, up $1.44/kg month-on-month. This represents an impressive rise compared to last February, when prices averaged just $10.11/kg.
The price rally is most likely attributed to the strength in seasonal demand for Easter chilled product.
However, there’s no denying that our exporters will benefit from the increased volume of all lamb products sent to the European Union duty-free. Not to mention that Australia, without any FTA with the EU, has been focusing on alternative markets such as the Middle East and the US, leaving us less exposed to the volatility of prices caused by Australia’s high production.
New Zealand’s FTA with the
Active trade agreements will be crucial in helping us navigate this period of uncertainty.
EU, signed in 2023, came into force in May last year and grants the additional volumes of lamb exported to the EU tax-free status. This is on a first come, first served basis and includes exporters unregistered under World Trade Organisation quotas.
Despite the overall reduction in supply, the volume of lamb sent to the EU this season has increased, causing a rise in its market share
from 18% to 21% since May last year. Meanwhile, the average value of lamb legs, Frenched racks and shortloin cuts sent into these markets has also increased significantly.
The average value of New Zealand’s beef exports lifted 33c/ kg month on month in February, bringing it to an all-time high of $10.89/kg. While some of this lift was underpinned by strong manufacturing beef sales to the US, the improvements in the value of other cuts were just as significant, if not more.
Since the signing of the NZUnited Kingdom FTA, which came into effect in May 2023, the total volume sent to the UK has grown
17% from around 760 tonnes in the months leading up to the tax elimination to 4604t over the same period.
The good news is that prices are firming and exporters have been chasing the strongest returning markets. Better returns to processors from these markets should continue to translate into better farmgate prices for beef and lamb.
Considering the strength of February values, there should be some room for farmgate prices to increase throughout the season as supply remains under pressure and demand from our traditional markets continues under the current circumstances.
R404A : COSTLY F OR THE PL ANET AND YOUR BUSINESS
RISE: The volume of lamb sent to the EU this season has increased, causing a rise in its market share from 18% to 21% since May last year.
Cattle Sheep Deer
Weekly saleyard results
These weekly saleyard results are collated by the AgriHQ LivestockEye team. Cattle weights and prices are averages and sheep prices are ranges. For more detailed results and analysis subscribe to your selection of LivestockEye reports. Scan the QR code or visit www.agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports
With beef weaner fairs and calf sales on our doorstep, a monthly subscription to AgriHQ’s LivestockEye gives you the data and insight you need to buy and sell with confidence. Customise your selection and access everything in one convenient platform: myAgriHQ.
RED HOT AT TEMUKA: The Glen Lyon and Huxley Gorge calf sale held at Temuka on Wednesday, March 26 went very well for the seller. This pen of Hereford steers averaged 230kg and made $1210, or $5.26/kg.
Seeing cracks in dry outlook at last
Philip Duncan NEWS Weather
FOR the first time this year I’m now receiving daily concerns about the lack of rain.
Previously it was a bit hit and miss, but now those in the western and northern North Island in particular are asking every day when this huge high pressure belt will finally break apart.
That’s the million-dollar question. High pressure belts can be consistent, sporadic and they change their layout every year. The analogy I’ve come up with this year to explain it is like a small stream on a sandy beach. The stream is always at the same general location but some summers the mouth may move a little north or south, or even get blocked by sand and have the stream back up into a lagoon. There isn’t a lot of science out there about why some years we get a run of highs in a certain shape and other years those same highs park somewhere else – but that’s
all part of our weather. It’s about “pattern and chaos”.
Former MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt has repeated those words to me since the 1990s.
So the “pattern” part is that we know we usually get more high pressure in summer down our way, but we also know what is helping shape that pattern of high pressure is the “chaos” part, and that is harder to forecast ... like when this high pressure belt will break up properly.
The boundary of high pressure shifts and changes through the seasons, giving us our subAntarctic cold fronts and warm sub-tropical airflows. This year we’re not having a lot of tropical winds or brutally cold southerly winds – because, as most of you know, high pressure is stuck over most of us, and not bringing wild changes to most.
However, South Islanders and those in the lower/eastern North Island are telling us it feels more like autumn now. Weekly cold fronts are coming into the South Island – in fact they are happening
at least twice a week and have brought some really heavy hitand-miss downpours up into Canterbury.
But in the North Island those from Taranaki to Waikato to Bay of Plenty northwards say it still feels like summer, despite some cooler mornings in the mix. Daytime highs are well exceeding normal, with coastal places like Auckland even reaching the mid to late 20s in the sunny, dry, afternoons, and inland areas of the upper North Island closer to 30degC.
I can’t yet answer when real rain will come and bring you the relief you ALL may require, but as a forecaster I’m actively scanning most of the southern hemisphere each day, looking at 15-day animated air pressure and rain maps, and, going into April, it is showing some cracks in the big dry forecast – with some rain relief on the way for the first 10 days of April.
High pressure may still be dominating, but autumn may soon be giving us better chances for rain in between each high, rather than one solid dry belt above us.
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SOMETHING NEW: Heavy rain over the Tasman Sea from Australia’s tropics is slowly shifting eastwards towards NZ in the first week or two of April. Most of it hits the West Coast, but the western North Island may get relief too. Image: Weatherzone/WeatherWatch