Farmers Weekly NZ May 26 2025

redefining the milking experience

Combining the latest innovations in automatic milking technology with the essence of true pasture-based farming, GEA is proud to showcase the DairyRobot for the first time ever in New Zealand at Fieldays®, site PD14

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gea area sales managers

iain watson

021 821 968

upper north island

talor griffin

027 212 8844

central north island

brice ebert

027 490 0105

lower north island

andrew smith

027 588 5961

south island

apply now on display at site pd14

0800 gea farm

DairyRobot R9500 Voluntary milking

DairyRobot R9600 / R9650 Batch Milking

DairyProQ Batch Milking

Prize payout: Canterbury set for dairy boom

SKYROCKETING milk prices have Canterbury on the verge on new dairy conversion boom.

But Federated Farmers South Canterbury dairy chair Jimmy Emmett said it “won’t be the Wild West of the 2000s”.

“We’re hearing there are a lot of applications lodged with Environment Canterbury, and a lot of land signalled [as] ideal for conversion, but it does seem there is a pause until there is clarity around pending new RMA rules.”

It’s understood that up to 30 applications are being talked about for Canterbury.

“I believe conversions are positive for growth and better use of land; the more land we get into dairying is less land getting tied up in pine trees.

“We have got the knowledge, and dollars in technology now to do it smarter and more sustainably.”

While not presently planning conversions, Dairy Holdings chief executive Colin Glass said dairy farming today done well does not have the footprint of the 2000s, “so moving to dairy, the environmental footprint can improve”.

“We are certainly hearing there is an influx of people looking to undertake dairy conversion, many from the arable industry are looking given the deterioration of cereal prices globally and the

impact of dairy and beef enjoying a real purple patch.

“To the point of being scary, we are not seeing a lift in international dairy; it really is uncertain times.

“We have never had to manage a sustained period of milk prices such as we are going through now and looking to last more than a season.”

Andrew Laming, director of agri-loan brokering firm NZAB, said it’s “easy to see why” there is increasing chatter about dairy conversions, especially in Canterbury.

“In many cases, the extra returns far outweigh the costs, and that contrast becomes even starker when compared with loweryielding farming systems.”

Turning a non-dairy farm, whether sheep and beef, deer, or cropping, into a dairy platform is a major strategic move and while dairy can offer strong cashflow and asset growth, it also demands serious capital.

He urged caution.

“To optimise your new dairy system, varying infrastructure may be required, with different stocking rates, different feeding assumptions.

“Simply assuming blanket averages for cows per hectare and cost structure is not enough analysis to make this important capital decision.

“Banks love dairy right now, but that hasn’t always been the case. Even with good sector returns,

From the farm to the Defence Force

Locally grown wool is set to warm the toes of some of New Zealand’s toughest Kiwis, with NZ Defence Force recruits soon to be kitted out in Norsewear socks, made from traceable Merino and mid-micron wool. Pictured are Norsewear sock engineers Wayne Russell, left, and Zane Ainger.

Norsewear NEWS 13

Microabattoirs shorten paddock to plate journey. OPINION 15 SECTORFOCUS

Balancing environmental stewardship and profitability is at the heart of everything Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Award winner Tor Pedersen does at Broomore Farm, near Raglan. DAIRY 17-25

Photo:

Annette Scott NEWS Dairy

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Farmers Weekly is Published by AgriHQ PO Box 529, Feilding 4740, New Zealand Phone: 0800 85 25 80 Website: www.farmersweekly.co.nz

ISSN 2463-6002 (Print) ISSN 2463-6010 (Online)

Contents

14-15

News in brief Zespri record

Zespri has topped $5 billion in global sales in the 2024/25 season, exceeding the goal set in 2015 of $4.5bn by 2025.

A record 220.9 million trays of kiwifruit were sold in 2024/25, an increase from 164.2 million trays in 2023/24.

Direct returns to the New Zealand industry reached more than $3bn for the first time, with payments spread across growing regions including the Bay of Plenty, Northland, the east coast, Nelson and Waikato.

33

Agritourism award

An online agritourism academy set up to help Kiwi farmers has taken out a top international award.

42

ENERGY: Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says a pending announcement from a major agricultural servicing company will streamline the process for farmers to use their land to also generate energy.

The Agritourism Academy & Community, founded by New Zealand’s Marijke Dunselman, was awarded Best Use of Technology in Agritourism at the 2025 World Agritourism Awards. Dunselman launched the online Agritourism Academy in February 2024.

Varroa battle

Beekeepers across the country are gaining the upper hand against varroa mite.

Apiculture New Zealand said results from the New Zealand Colony Loss Survey 2024 show that loss rates caused by varroa mites fell to 4.6% during the 2024 winter, from 6.4% during winter 2023.

Varroa mites were the No 1 threat to bees over winter for the previous three years.

Agreement reached

Sheep and beef farmers have voted to approve Beef + Lamb New Zealand signing an operational agreement between the agricultural sector and the government on foot and mouth disease readiness and response.

The final result was 96.09% of farmers voting in support. The final turnout was 14.67%, being 2039 votes received from 13,899 farmers.

Banks expect conservative dairy forecast

Gerald Piddock NEWS Fonterra

BANKS and analysts are predicting Fonterra will adopt a conservative approach for its milk price forecast for the new season, with expectations ranging from $8.75-10.50/kg milk solids.

Fonterra will announce the forecast for the 2025-2026 season on May 29 along with its business update for the third financial quarter for 2025.

Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said she expects Fonterra’s forecast to land around $9.50/kg MS assuming a spot exchange rate of US$0.59.

“While it is lower than the NZX futures markets and spot results would suggest, it would be the highest opening milk price forecast midpoint from Fonterra.”

It also allows for seasonal volatility over winter, and the wide range ($1.50/kg MS plus) allows for any unwelcome commodity price shocks.

This is real consideration in the current geopolitical climate, when

Continued from page 1

their appetite can shift based on portfolio limits or internal policy.”

Group director of Farm Source Anne Douglas said Fonterra conversions and restarts from across the country have reached double figures for the coming season.

“We’ve also been contacted by a number of others who are interested in supplying Fonterra in subsequent seasons. They are in the early stages of this process and are still investigating their options.”

Synlait Milk director of on-farm excellence Charles Fergusson said higher payout levels have certainly unlocked conversion potential with much of the new interest in Canterbury stemming from a

market-moving headlines are announced almost daily, Higgins said.

There is room to see farmgate price move higher and this will require dairy markets to maintain current export values over a sustained period, allowing for the usual seasonal price weakness through the New Zealand peak.

need to extract greater value from irrigation investment.

“We are getting inquiries, particularly from sheep and cropping where in some irrigation schemes there is excess capacity in what the overall system can take and farmers are looking to turn that excess into value.”

This, coupled with the current buoyancy in the industry, Fergusson said, has triggered renewed appetite for dairy conversion and first milk.

“We are really confident we will sign up a number of conversions between now and Christmas, for milking starting June 1 2026.”

ECan confirmed growing inquiry about conversions with several consents granted since the start of the year.

Consents planning manager

Depending on currency movement, the farmgate milk price could edge as high as $10.4010.90/kg MS by the season’s end – assuming commodity prices remain stable, she said. Global milk supply is set to grow from the combined seven biggest producers through to May 31, 2026.

Aurora Grant said consent is no longer required for change in use of land to dairy farming following National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 standards being withdrawn from January 1 2025.

Consents are still required for discharge of dairy effluent. Both existing and new dairy farms must hold these consents.

While not so much aware of an increase in direct conversions, Real Estate Institute NZ rural director Shane O’Brien said the dairy property market is exceptionally strong.

“As the market ramps we are seeing a resurgence of equity partnerships with a lot of properties attracting multi offers, possibly as conversions become a viable proposition.

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However, global dairy demand outlook remains cautious, meaning downside risk when forecasting the new season’s forecast, Higgins said.

“Lovers of dairy products are already cost-conscious in some markets, and any significant price hikes on retail shelves or restaurant menus could be met with resistance, with consumers already gravitating towards lower price points and substitution.”

Westpac has the most buoyant outlook, predicting a $10/kg MS midpoint. Westpac industry economist Paul Clark said there was modest upside risk to it, depending in part on how the New Zealand dollar responds to the United States trade war.

Its futures market pricing for next season sits at around $9.75/ kg, he said in the bank’s Agri Bites newsletter for May.

ASB’s latest Commodities Weekly newsletter expects a wide new season’s forecast range, predicting $9-$10.50/kg MS, and a “conservative” $9.75/kg MS mid-point.

It said there had been good early signs for next season’s milk price.

It would [still] be the highest opening milk price forecast midpoint from Fonterra.

Emma Higgins Rabobank

NZX dairy analyst Rosalind Crickett also believes Fonterra may take a more conservative approach to the opening forecast, predicting a range of $8.75-$10.25/kg MS.

DairyNZ economist Mark Storey forecast a $10.13/kg MS average payout received for the new season at the organisation’s Dairy Sector Outlook: 2025-26 and beyond event in early May.

This is the income received over the course of the season and calculated using both the previous season’s retro payments as well as advanced payments for the current season and dividends.

The figure was well above his breakeven forecast of $8.57/kg MS. This is the income required to cover costs such as working expenses, interest, drawings and tax.

Meanwhile the banking industry is reporting a significant rise in conversions interest, in

“quite a marked movement from recent years when this wasn’t a conversation anyone was having”.

PREDICTION: Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins is predicting Fonterra’s new season forecast to land at around $9.50/kg MS.

MILKING IT: Synlait Milk director of on-farm excellence Charles Fergusson says higher payout levels have certainly unlocked conversion potential.

Photo: Synlait

Fonterra highlights dairy’s natural wins

SUNSHINE, grass and rainfall feature strongly in Fonterra’s message to its foodservice and consumer customers in China, as the market grows in its sophistication and expectations.

Teh-han Chow, Fonterra’s greater China CEO and global head of foodservice highlighted the shifts in the enormous market at the opening of Fonterra’s exhibit at the Bakery China expo, held in Shanghai.

The multi-hectare trade show is the largest of its type in the world, drawing in almost half a million people over its four days.

Showcased are the latest techniques, equipment, ingredients and foods, all aimed at a sector of Chinese food supply that has experienced a compound annual growth rate of 10% for the past eight years with an anticipated annual value of US$55 billion by 2027.

The growth in the sector has been reflected in Fonterra’s own gains, doubling its 2017 foodservice revenue of $2bn by 2024.

The expo was also an opportunity for Fonterra to launch a new commercial cooking cream aimed specifically at the mid-tier commercial baking sector.

The co-op’s presence was boosted by Fonterra’s brigade of 50 in-house chefs, busily prepping and cooking products for sampling throughout the expo.

“We are continuing to see traditional Western bakery products develop, whether croissants or birthday cakes, but we are also seeing traditional Chinese bakery products replacing the likes of lard or vegetable-based oils, with dairy,” said Chow.

Consumer awareness of dairy’s value as a nutrient source has been propelled along thanks to the government raising its recommended daily serving of dairy from 300g to 500g in 2022.

China has looked hard at how Japan achieved an increase in average height following the introduction of daily milk consumption.

Chow said the Japanese experience with an aging population is also increasing understanding about the value of dairy protein consumption in later life.

ARE YOU AWARE

MEETING the MARKET

“Where Japan’s demographic profile is now is where China will be in 2050. We can learn from Japan.

“We also have some other mega trends lifting consumption. We have a middle class that continues to grow and urbanisation continues to rise with urban people tending to consume more dairy, thanks to greater access to products and outlets.”

Riddett Institute research released last year found significant regional differences in how milk is consumed.

In an intensely competitive market, Fonterra is pushing hard on NZ’s “grass fed, ‘green to gold’”with greater emphasis upon the sustainable, natural aspects of Kiwi milk production contributing to a healthier final product.

It is an invaluable selling point in a fiercely competitive market starting to be tapped into by well-financed overseas and local companies.

“In Chinese there are two characters for butter that literally mean ‘yellow oil’, and you can

Urbanisation continues to rise with urban people tending to consume more dairy.

Teh-han Chow Fonterra

only get yellow butter by feeding cows grass. There is a growing awareness of being ‘natural’ and we have a role in educating consumers about that,” Chow said.

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Similar messages are being signalled in other Asian markets. In South Korea Fonterra ran a “green to gold”-themed promotion with success last year.

The co-operative is also exploring options to offer a licence for customer companies prepared to pay a premium to include the Fonterra logo on their ingredients list, similar to “Intel Inside” for Intel computer chips.

• Rennie travelled to the Bakery China expo in Shanghai with assistance from Fonterra.

Baked goods prove butter makes it better

SAVOURY and sweet, traditional and Western – all tastes are on the menu of millions of Chinese consumers as their appetites grow daily for baked goods and pastries.

The Bakery China expo held in Shanghai highlighted just how diverse and expansive that market has become as it surges towards an annual revenue valuation of about US$55 billion by 2027.

In a market subject to sweeping shifts in tastes as its emerging middle class pushes its culinary boundaries, baked goods are only the latest.

They come after bubble tea, durian fruit, street food and coffee have all created their own crazes over the past six years.

But the latest trend for baked products as varied as the conventional croissant to seaweed and lychee moon cakes highlights

the growing sophistication and willingness of Chinese consumers to push their palates, while often also acknowledging new takes on longtime traditional favourites.

Fonterra’s China CEO and Global Foodservice president Teh-han Chow said while the humble croissant signalled the start of an interest in baked products seven years ago, consumers are also increasingly keen to sample local favourites like moon cakes, incorporating these new twists on old recipes.

This in turn has opened a door for dairy ingredients to be used to replace traditional ingredients like plant oils and lard. Dairy’s higher fat and protein content give the product greater mouth feel for consumers, and processors the ability to try new flavour combinations.

For the likes of Fonterra and its increasing array of competitors, the baked good segment that relies heavily on in-store production and retail presents a golden opportunity to expand foodservice sales.

“Dairy fat is increasingly being seen as healthier and it’s true that butter simply adds more taste to these products than what they had using the likes of lard,” Chow said.

Flavour profiles for pastries Westerners may be familiar with are typically less sweet.

Meantime some more savoury tastes may be more distinct in Chinese interpretations, such as the taste of egg used in the very popular Portuguese egg tarts, Pu Shi Dan ta, devoured in their millions daily.

The traditional rice cake, made using glutinous rice flour instead of wheat flour, has also morphed into butter rice cakes and become hugely popular in urban centres as a convenient snack seen as healthier with dairy’s addition.

CREAMY: A growing appetite for baked goods continues to drive Fonterra’s food service business strongly in China, says Fonterra China CEO Teh-han Chow.

Richard Rennie MARKETS Dairy

Richard Rennie MARKETS Dairy

TRAD: Traditional Chinese cakes with plant oil or lard swapped out for dairy creams are adding additional momentum to China’s booming baked goods trend.

INCREASE: Butter has enjoyed a strong six months since December with an 18% increase, including -1.5% in the latest auction.

Photo: Pexels

Strong finish for whole milk powder, cheese

Hugh Stringleman MARKETS Dairy

GLOBAL Dairy Trade prices paused for breath in the final auction of the 2025 dairy season, the GDT index easing 0.9%.

The New Zealand season ended with the GDT index at 1333, compared with 1143 in late May 2024, a rise of 16% and a steady improvement over the 12 months.

The rising tide of prices is most evident in whole milk powder, up 27% over the past year.

That bodes well for the 2026 milk price forecast, due out May 29, as WMP is the biggest volume dairy commodity produced in NZ and is the Fonterra base reference product.

Butter has enjoyed a strong six months since December with an 18% increase, including minus 1.5% in the latest auction.

Its sister product, anhydrous milk fat, had substantial up and down price movements twice during the year and ended the year minus 2%, including a plus 0.9% in the final auction.

Cheese exporting has been

very profitable for Fonterra in 2024-25, cheddar gaining 18% and mozzarella 13%.

Along with the first 2025-26 farmgate milk price forecast, Fonterra will report its thirdquarter FY2025 results and the prices made for non-reference products not sold on the GDT platform.

Rising tide of prices bodes well for the 2026 milk price forecast, due out May 29.

NZX dairy analyst Rosalind Crickett said the buying power in the second May 2025 GDT auction came from South and Central America for WMP and North Asia (China) took a healthy 37% of all volume across all products.

Purchasing by European and Middle Eastern buyers was down as European milk production builds to its seasonal peak.

Butter and cheese production in the United States went up 8% and 4% respectively in March, compared with a year ago, and that may boost US exports in a period of trade uncertainties, she said.

NZ exporters shrug off US-UK beef deal

ENigel Stirling MARKETS Trade

XPORTERS in New Zealand aren’t losing sleep over United States President Donald Trump’s claims of a breakthrough for US ranchers in the British beef market.

The US and the United Kingdom announced the outlines of a free trade agreement earlier this month.

“The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef,” Trump said.

It is the first sign of a pay-off for Trump’s strategy of using tariff threats as leverage to strike trade deals lowering tariffs and nontariff barriers against US exports.

Exporters here don’t expect the US’s gains will come at the expense of their own golden run in the British beef market.

NZ beef exports to the UK more than doubled last year to $56 million and are on track to outpace that in 2025 with nearly $30m of sales in the first three months of this year.

Beginning in May 2023, NZ’s own free trade agreement created an annual quota of 15,000 tonnes of beef to enter the UK tariff-free, rising in equal annual instalments to 60,000t after 15 years.

Thereafter unlimited tonnages can enter the UK tariff-free.

Meat exporter ANZCO’s general manager of sales and marketing, Rick Walker, said the UK is a highpaying market for NZ exporters.

Traditionally patriotic British retail chains are increasingly looking to imports to offset dwindling local production.

“Beef supply is declining and

prices are going through the roof following the trend we have seen in the UK lamb industry in recent years.

“It has been perfect timing for us to have improved market access into a market that has real need for our product.

We do not see any massive increase in US beef into the UK as a result.

Rick Walker ANZCO

“If we had more beef in this country we would be selling it to them.”

Walker said the tariff-free quota of 13,000t created for US beef was small compared to the size of the UK market.

A decades-long ban on imports of US beef treated with hormone

growth promotants (HGPs) also appears to be locked in.

Up to 80% of US feedlots are thought to use HGPs to increase weight gain in cattle.

“That has always been the largest hurdle for US exports to the UK and that will continue to be the case,” Walker said.

“It makes a nice story in terms of the Trump administration being able to show that they have been able to secure market access for US agriculture into an important market like the US.

“But in reality nothing changes from the UK perspective around food safety requirements.

“We do not see any massive increase in US beef into the UK as a result.”

US producer groups have since said they hoped the removal of “numerous” non-tariff barriers against US beef could still be negotiated.

STRATEGIC: US President Donald Trump’s strategy of using tariff threats to strike trade deals lowering tariffs and non-tariff barriers against US exports is showing signs of paying off.

SFF feels squeeze of low livestock tallies

COMPETITION by meat companies for unexpectedly low numbers of prime livestock is at levels seldom seen and squeezing margins as procurement prices soar, warns Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton.

Lamb flows are almost 35% lower than usual for May, meaning companies are closing chains and searching for stock instead of managing the usual seasonal issue of having excess demand for space.

Boulton told the company’s annual meeting in Dunedin last week that livestock forecasts were less accurate than usual, with the overall lamb kill two-thirds of the way through the season back 8%, mostly in the South Island, with beef back 6%, largely due to fewer cull cows.

Earlier Silver Fern Farms Ltd posted a $21.8 million after-tax loss for the 2024 year, on revenue that was down $144m.

The loss for the year to December 31 was a $6.6m improvement on the $36.4m loss for the 2023 year.

Silver Fern Farms Co-op, a joint shareholder in SFF Ltd with

Bright Meat Group, formerly known as Shanghai Maling, posted a $10.9m loss after tax, a $1.3m improvement on the $12.2m loss posted a year earlier.

Boulton said the 2024 year was challenging but the executive managed to extract $80m in costs by focusing on cutting costs and being commercially disciplined.

The fact its operating result improved $16.3m compared to 2023 highlighted that commercial discipline.

Boulton said he is optimistic

about the future of red meat, saying there is no shortage of buyers. Predictions are that demand for protein will continue to outstrip demand for years to come.

“Markets have shifted in favour of farmers and will remain so in the near future.”

Given the current shortage of stock and concerns at the volume of land going into trees, Boulton said companies need to strive to make livestock farming profitable and incomes stable.

Returns this season have been much stronger and Boulton has spoken to farmers who say the fun has returned to farming and others who are looking to buy new farms.

But to achieve that means targeting high-paying customers.

Several shareholders questioned SFF’s $9.1m stake in AgriZero –which invests in greenhouse gas mitigating companies – and raised the issues of NZ remaining in the Paris Accord on Climate Change, and the company’s emission reduction efforts.

Boulton, and SFF Co-op chair Anna Nelson, both said they were taking a customer-led approach, satisfying the requirements of those who buy SFF meat.

They said customers will reward suppliers who reduce their emissions.

Boulton said 20% of SFF’s revenue comes from high-value customers who pay premium prices for quality protein but who also expect their suppliers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The use of any emission reduction products will be voluntary but before being endorsed by SFF, Boulton said, they will have to pass regulatory hurdles, be approved by customers and consumers and will not compromise the grass-fed attributes of NZ red meat.

SFF minimised the impact of

United States tariffs by leveraging its partnerships outside the US so prices overall were similar to before US President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on NZ exports.

Markets have shifted in favour of farmers and will remain so in the near future.

Nelson said the decision by the co-op to take a 12.5% stake in WoolWorks earlier this year was to create resilience, provide an opportunity for farmers and diversify the co-op’s portfolio. There were questions about a potential conflict of interest with Rob Hewett during the transaction, given he was an SFF co-op director and also director, now chair, of WoolWorks.

Nelson said the conflict was correctly managed, a point reiterated by the auditor who was present at the meeting.

Hewett formally stood down from the SFF board at this week’s meeting, retiring after 17 years on the board, 11 as chair.

In that time he said he had worked with three chairs, four chief executives and 25 directors.

Neal Wallace NEWS Production

OPTIMISM: Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton says he is optimistic about the future of red meat, saying there is no shortage of buyers.

Dan Boulton Silver Fern Farms

PERFECT PARTNER

Energy earnings in the offing: Patterson

Neal

Wallace TECHNOLOGY Energy

APENDING project that will allow farmers to more easily generate electricity to supply the national grid illustrates the sector’s technological transformation, says Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson.

He did not provide details but said a pending announcement from a major agricultural servicing company will streamline the process for farmers to use their land to also generate energy.

Patterson was last week opening a symposium at the University of Otago, Our Farming Future: what’s possible? hosted by the university’s Ag@Otago department.

The minister told the 100 attendees that the sector is in the middle of a technological revolution that will provide farmers with new opportunities. Breaking down the structure of wool into dye and pigment powder is an example. It uses technology paid for and owned

by New Zealand farmers to transform a raw product currently worth $3-4/kg into a high value product worth US$200/kg.

Another example is the government’s assistance to enable water storage for irrigation.

Patterson said access to water will also provide businesses with resilience and allow the better utilisation of high value land.

Reforming genetic modification rules will open new opportunities and access to new technology.

Patterson said still-to-beannounced reforms of vocational training will recognise the resources required to deliver agricultural skills take longer and are more involved than for other vocations.

FoodHQ chief executive Victoria Hatton raised concerns at the conference about a dramatic reduction in food technology scientists, saying when once there were 400 graduates, there are fewer than 50 today.

She said their skill is critical to achieve the innovation and product development the sector needs.

Hatton said universities are looking at the structure of food

technology courses to make them more modern and relevant.

Patterson said there are still opportunities to add value using technology, such as for logs and forestry slash.

Food security is uppermost in the minds of leaders in most of our key export markets, which also provides opportunities for NZ’s food sector.

He said NZ will not achieve the government’s goal of doubling the value of exports by 2034 simply by growing and exporting more volume. That has to come from adding value.

Health boost welcomed

Staff reporter NEWS Health

This week’s poll question:

Are you considering adding electricity generation to your farm business?

Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll

A $164 MILLION funding boost for urgent and after-hours healthcare services has been welcomed by rural health advocates, but they warn a sustained effort is needed to address ongoing challenges faced by those living in outlying areas.

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey confirmed the funding, over four years, as part of last week’s Budget announcement. The funding will strengthen urgent and after-hours care

nationwide, “meaning 98% of Kiwis will be able to access these services within one hour’s drive of their home”.

This year, new services will be trialled in Twizel, Tākaka, Tūrangi, Te Kūiti, Coromandel, and Great Barrier Island before going nationwide.

Rural Women New Zealand national president Sandra Matthews said the investment recognises some of the current issues faced by rural communities, but a sustained effort is needed to address the challenges rural people face in accessing their healthcare needs.

ENERGY: Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson says a pending announcement from a major agricultural servicing company will streamline the process for farmers to use their land to also generate energy.

Photo: Pexels

It makes a lot of

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Beef bull sale season begins on high note

Hugh

Stringleman MARKETS Livestock

ANGUS and Simmental two-year-old bulls have begun the 2025 sale season with highlights, including $48,000 paid for Ruaview Stellar 2301.

Ruaview Angus, Ohakune, sold the top-priced bull to Dandaleith Angus, Dannevirke, within a complete clearance of 17 by John and Helen Hammond in their 32nd and final bull sale.

Ruaview LB 2320 sold for $15,000 to Pine Park Angus and Ruanui Angus, helping to set a very good average price of $10,686.

Leafland Simmentals, Mosgiel, sold 22 from 25 and made a top price of $42,000 for Leafland 230039 paid by Gold Creek Simmentals, Gisborne.

Vendor Everd Strauss was delighted with the top price for Simmentals so far and the average of $9022.

Opawa Simmentals, South Canterbury, made a top price of $22,000, paid by Potawa Simmentals, Piopio, and three stud transfers, including Lot 1 for

$14,750 to Beresford Simmentals, Owaka.

Opawa sold 25 of 27 catalogued and averaged $9930.

Glen Anthony Simmentals, Waipukurau, had a top price of $13,250 paid by the Dinneen family, Williams Hill Farm, Puketiritiri.

Glen Anthony also sold two transfer bulls, to Black Shed Simmentals, Te Awamutu, and to Willow Creek Simmentals of Wellsford.

Tony Thompson and family in their 37th annual bull sale also made $13,000 three times and sold 18 of 21 at auction for an average of $8291.

Kerrah Simmentals, Wairoa, had an excellent sale with a full clearance of 81 bulls averaging $12,090, some $4000 up on last year.

Vendor Jon Knauf said the top priced bull, Lot 4, Kerrah M482, went to Overland Simmentals, Waimate, for $24,000 and Lot 3 at $22,000 was bought by the McFadzean Cattle Company, Masterton.

Penvose Angus, Wedderburn, sold 40 from 44 bulls and averaged $8350 with a top price of $16,000. It was Lot 4, Penvose 23297, sold

to Adam Lindsay, Creekside Farms.

Gold Creek Simmentals, Te Karaka, Gisborne, had a full clearance of 29 bulls and five sales were breed transfers.

Top price was $26,000 for Gold Creek Meat Machine and the average $11,500.

Glenwood Angus, Lawrence, and Loch Lomond South Devons, Mosgiel, had a successful combined sale with a top of $13,500 paid for Glenwood Wallstreet U05.

Glenwood sold 13 of14 bulls offered for an average of $8038, while Loch Lomond sold four of five, averaging $6625.

Top price of $10,500 for Loch Lomond Quade 2306 was paid by Wainuka South Devons, Wanaka. Drew and Carolyn Dundass, at Taiaroa Charolais, Maniototo, sold 20 out of 22 bulls with an average of $7775 and a top of $13,000 paid by David and Kathryn Greer, Kyeburn.

Kaimoa South Devons, Eketahuna, had a full clearance of 22 bulls, averaged an excellent $10,704 and made $13,500 three times with sales to commercial farmers.

Coleman Farms Charolais,

Opawa Simmentals, South Canterbury, made a top price of $22,000, paid by Potawa Simmentals, Piopio.

Kaikohe, sold 16 bulls, averaging $6377, with a top price of $8200 paid by Richard Dampney, Kaikohe. Delmont Angus, Clinton, had

a complete clearance of 33 with an average price of $10,075 and the top price of $18,000 was paid by Nithdale Angus, plus two stud transfers.

Glendhu Shorthorns, Heriot, sold 14 from 16, averaged $6958 and sold Lot 2, Glendhu Savea 315, to Raupuha and Bullock Creek studs, for $12,000.

Beefit Simmentals, Kaikohe, sold 41 bulls, averaging $5110, with a top price of $7400 paid by Noel Bethel.

HANDSOME: Simmental bull Glen Anthony Marius 23-27 made $13,250 for long-time vendors Tony Thompson and family, Waipukurau.

Photo: Andrea Mansfield

Norsewear nets marching order for soldiers’ socks

Annette Scott NEWS Food and fibre

FROM the farm to the Defence Force, locally grown wool is set to warm the toes of some of New Zealand’s toughest Kiwis.

From this month on, all new Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa NZ Defence Force recruits will be kitted out in premium Norsewear socks, made from traceable Merino and mid-micron wool sourced from NZ farms.

The socks, which were put to the test against several other brands during a rigorous trial involving hundreds of soldiers, sailors and aviators, are crafted by sock engineers at Norsewear’s southern

Hawke’s Bay factory.

“It’s a win for both NZ wool and local manufacturing, and a huge boost to the team at the heritage Kiwi business,” company owner

Tim Deane said.

“Our military are now marching out in what we believe to be the very best socks in the world. And to have NZDF recognise their superior comfort and durability in the very toughest of conditions is just magic.”

It was a combination of factors that led to Norsewear’s selection.

“By using the best NZ wool and local manufacturing expertise, we’ve developed socks that are a step ahead of others. They don’t just last longer, they deliver great comfort and temperature control, help protect feet from injury,

ward off bacteria, and are odour resistant too.

“That’s pretty important for our service personnel out in the field, battling the elements and in high pressure environments.”

Securing the NZDF contract through ADA New Zealand – which previously brought in socks from the United States – has enabled the purchase of two new state-ofthe-art Italian knitting machines that are now installed and busy producing thousands of pairs of woollen socks, using Wool Integrity NZ certified traceable fibre from Norsewear’s South Island farm partners.

Additional staff have been employed to meet demand in the small rural town of Norsewear, where the socks are made.

GROWTH: Norsewear owner Tim Deane says securing the NZDF contract has enabled the purchase of two new state-of-the-art Italian knitting machines.

Deane said collaborating with Norsewear delivers value to the NZ wool industry and is a positive step in the government’s mission

of supporting regional economies and reducing our reliance on overseas suppliers for contracts of this nature

Graham Carr recognised for deer industry contribution

DEER farming stalwart Graham Carr of Peel Forest Estate in south Canterbury has taken out the prestigious New Zealand Deer Industry Award 2025. Presented at the 50th

deer industry conference in Queenstown, the annual award recognises an outstanding contribution to the NZ deer industry.

The award said Carr’s unwavering commitment to progress was inspiring and influential.

“His contributions have

been invaluable, and it is no exaggeration to say that the industry would not be as advanced as it is today without his dedication and innovation.”

Laura Billings from the Hawke’s Bay Deer Farmers Association was the winner of the Matuschka Award and its accompanying bronze stag head trophy

sculptured by Murray Matuschka.

The Elworthy Premier environmental award was won by Dave and Jan Morgan of Raincliff Station, South Canterbury, who also took away the Streamlands export velvet award.

Other winners included the Landcare Trust award presented to Kim and Judith Rowe, Brookfields,

with the Duncan NZ award going to Charles and Jane Rau, Matawai Deer Park.

Deer Milking NZ, Peel Forest Estate took out the Gallagher technology and innovation award, and the NZDFA next generation award winner was Dwight Adlam, Mangahao Deer Company.

Annette Scott AWARDS Deer

From the Editor

Reckoning looms for meat industry

Neal Wallace Senior reporter

ANOTHER day of reckoning is looming for the meat industry.

Sheep and beef farmers are –thankfully – enjoying a prosperous year, but other planets are aligning over the sector, and not in a good way.

It is a position the sector has been in multiple times before, despite the past decade being relatively calm (last year’s closure of Smithfield aside).

Multiple factors signal that this calm is about to end.

Two consecutive annual financial losses by the sector’s two heavyweights, Alliance Group and Silver Fern Farms, intense competition for fewer lambs and cattle, aging infrastructure and uncertain global trading conditions all mean industry restructuring is inevitable.

Lurking behind the scenes is the imminent decision by the Alliance board on options for its new capital structure.

It has already said options will not include remaining a co-operative due to shareholder reluctance to invest new capital, so a new shareholder or outright

buyer will influence the future of Alliance and therefore the sector.

As we have reported, an unprecedented procurement war is being waged at present.

May is traditionally a month of peak demand for processing space, but such is the lack of stock, companies are reducing working hours and shutting down chains.

SFF chief executive Dan Boulton told the company’s annual meeting this week that lamb flows in May were about 35% lower than usual.

Two-thirds of the way through the season the overall lamb kill is back 8%, mostly in the South Island, with beef back 6%, largely due to fewer cull cows.

Paper-thin company margins are being eroded further by paying above market rates to attract livestock to keep chains full and plants run efficiently.

Further disrupting the sector are financial repercussions from United States President Donald Trump’s economic policies.

Last month exporters had to manage a US3c collapse in the US-NZ dollar exchange rate over four days, then a US5c appreciation over the subsequent 10 days.

Selling meat globally is currently not a challenge and there is optimism that demand for red meat will stay elevated for

some time, which could be underpinning prime lamb prices that have eclipsed $9/kg and could reach $10/kg next year.

No one is dismissing this era of prosperity, as sheep and beef farmers have endured more years of low prices in recent decades than high.

The question is whether that optimism and changes to land use policies will curb the consistent decline in stock numbers and therefore the sector’s viability.

It was forecast there would be 16.9 million lambs available for processing this season, 6.5% fewer than last year, but given processing flows, questions are being asked about that data’s accuracy.

Boulton says SFF has been securing store stock for winter to satisfy customer demand for out of season supply, indicating traditional processing flows are changing.

This season has materialised the fact that the sector once again has excess processing capacity even following Smithfield’s closure.

Despite companies haemorrhaging money, they seem to be waiting to see who will be the first to move.

All of these factors are contributing to a gathering storm about to engulf the meat industry, and as we have seen before, the fallout will not be pretty.

Are you considering adding electricity generation to your farm business?

This week’s poll question (see page 9): Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT

AN OVERWHELMING 87.5% of voters did not think our meat processing industry was set up for future profitability, with many pointing out issues with overcapacity. “Too many players chasing diminishing livestock numbers,” one said. Many thought that processors were stuck in the commodity trade, unable to invest in higher-value offerings. “At present, the industry is predominately a commodity trader with no further-processed high value meat products.”

But some voters didn’t think the issue was all the fault of processors. “Alliance has obvious financial issues, and is the weak link, but farmers also need to realise processors need genuine loyalty to progress long term. Farmers also need to be prepared to contract supply stock, this may need special fattening grasses or crops to ensure timely supply. Effort needs to go into marketing, not procurement.” Land use change was also cited as a big issue. “There definitely needs to be some sort of consolidation as there are a lot of short days currently. Obviously carbon farming doesn’t help.”

Last week’s question: Do you think our meat processing industry is set up to be profitable in its current form?

Microabattoirs matter to our food system

Eating the elephant

this series, the team pass the

WHEN I first stepped into the world of microabattoirs, I had no idea it would become such a pivotal part of my journey.

It was 2018 and my first year as a vet with the Ministry for Primary Industries when I was asked to verify New Zealand’s first mobile microabattoir. They needed someone who understood both animal welfare and meat processing. I fit the bill, but this was uncharted territory. Though only a couple of fixed operations existed in Northland and Waikato, the seeds of something bigger had already been planted.

Microabattoirs are smallscale meat processing facilities designed to bring farmers and consumers closer together. They are driving a shift in how we think about food production –delivering shorter value chains, building local connections and fostering technical and business model innovation. Their story is one of resilience, creativity and opportunity.

The idea of microabattoirs began to gain traction in New

Zealand around the mid-2010s. By the early 2020s, the industry had momentum. Today, around 10 microabattoirs are operating or in development across the country. These range from fixed facilities to innovative mobile setups. Given the diversity of operations and ongoing innovation, it’s hard to keep track of the exact numbers.

Key milestones include the development of a microabattoir template, a better understanding within the public sector and government about how they operate, and some notable successes.

Operations like Poaka, Royalburn Station and Wholly Cow have earned national recognition, not just for their high-quality products but for the compelling stories they share about their values and practices.

Credit must go to the pioneers who have dared to try something new, creating a foundation for others to follow.

These facilities prioritise animal welfare, sustainability and farm revenue diversification. They offer opportunities for producing boutique, high-end cuts and meeting community needs. Importantly, they align with global trends like regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, giving farmers more control over their systems and creating stronger connections between rural and urban communities.

Consumers are increasingly interested in where their food comes from. Microabattoirs provide transparency and build trust by shortening the journey

from paddock to plate. Rural communities see the value too; these operations bring revenue back behind the farm gate and create regional food processing opportunities that generate employment and strengthen local economies.

Microabattoirs can also play a significant role in developing regional food hubs. By providing high-quality meat to local communities, they contribute to food accessibility and sovereignty. They also offer a tool for farm revenue diversification, helping farmers navigate the pressures of an evolving agricultural landscape. This is an industry that thrives on creativity; it’s where the No 8 wire mentality shines brightest.

As with any emerging industry, microabattoirs face challenges. Financial investment is a significant barrier. The set-up costs and ongoing expenses can surprise people, making it difficult for many to see a viable return on investment, especially in the early stages of the industry.

Another hurdle is navigating a regulatory system designed for larger players. New Zealand’s food safety system is robust, and for good reason. Microbial testing and ante- and postmortem inspections are critical to public health and export trade. However, these requirements can add unexpected costs and complexity for small operators. While there is a shift towards outcome-based legislation, regulatory change takes time.

Perhaps the biggest challenge

I see a future where microabattoirs are an integral part of New Zealand’s food system.

is the lack of a unified voice for the industry. Advocacy and public education are crucial for creating change and improving accessibility, but microabattoirs are yet to establish a central entity to represent their interests. Change moves at the pace of trust. Building that trust with government, consumers, and within the industry itself is essential for future success. Despite these challenges, the potential of microabattoirs is immense. Operations like Logan Wait’s mobile abattoir and Earth First initiative in the North Island showcase the ingenuity of Kiwi farmers. His focus on creating supportive and sustainable systems is just one example of how this industry is leading the way in innovation.

CONNECTION: Microabattoirs are more than just a niche, says Jordi Hoult – they’re ‘a statement about what we value as a nation: innovation, community, sustainability and a connection to the land’.

I see a future where microabattoirs are an integral part of New Zealand’s food system. They have the potential to link into local food hubs, drive sustainable practices, create local employment, and strengthen communities.

They’re a tool to diversify farm incomes and contribute to New Zealand’s reputation as a provider of not just export-quality food but also exceptional local produce. As the industry grows, so too does my role. What started as a professional coincidence has become a personal passion. I’m here to support the innovators who are driving this industry forward because I believe in their vision and the potential of microabattoirs to make a real difference.

Microabattoirs are more than just a niche. They’re a movement. They’re a statement about what we value as a nation: innovation, community, sustainability and a connection to the land. It gives me great joy to say that their future is bright.

A race to the bottom we’d gladly lose

In my view

CLEAN, green, 100% pure, GMO-free and grass-fed all make up the brand that New Zealanders have spent many years building for NZ Inc.

The enactment of the Gene Technology Bill 2024 could destroy it with the stroke of a pen.

For those who do not know, the government passed the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill 2024 on December 17 last year. This Bill aims to deregulate gene technology and threatens to take away consumer freedom of choice by allowing food modified by new GMO techniques to enter our food systems without requiring labelling to identify it.

Promoters of this Bill claim that New Zealand will be left behind if we do not allow gene technology beyond the lab.

Being an island nation we have an opportunity to retain our competitive advantage by being niche, high value producers to

RISK:

feed the world’s most discerning customers. With our current GE-free status, we can command premium prices in a global market.

The Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit organisation protecting consumers’ right to know what is in their food. It administers North America’s most rigorous certification for avoiding GMOs. Non-GMO Project verification would appear to be one of the fastest growing labels in the retail sector.

As far as I am aware the

government has done no economic analysis of the consequences of deregulating GMOs, although a study by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research has indicated that revenue for Primary Sector exports could reduce by $10-20 billion annually if genetically modified organisms are allowed to be released into the environment and we lose our GE Free status.

In February the Health Select Committee received over 15,000 submissions and listened to 400

oral submissions. Its report is due to be released at the end of July.

Many of the submitters urged the government to withdraw this Bill or at least pause and consult more widely with all New Zealanders.

After all, what is the rush?

Since 1996 gene technology has been regulated by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO).

This has served us well and kept our environment, economy, and communities safe.

Is there a risk that our unique native flora and fauna could be adversely affected by the outdoor release of gene technology? As shown in other countries, GE plants and the pesticides often used on them can be harmful to bees and other pollinators, potentially affecting food production and the overall health of ecosystems. Is this what we want?

The promotion of GE crops depends largely on the myth that they will be beneficial. There are many perceived advantages touted for gene technology, from droughtresistant ryegrass to herbicideresistant crops, methane-reducing boluses, sterilisation techniques

for pests and polled dairy cattle to name a few.

However, on the flip side, should we risk destroying our safe food reputation and the real competitive advantage we have being GE-free exporters?

Farmers would appear to be waking up to the fact that a lot of the claims being made by the promoters of gene technology are not the silver bullet they would appear to be. You only need to look to examples in other countries of unintended consequences in gene experimentation: super weeds, antibiotic resistance, poor yields and consumer pushback.

I love this quote from Allan Savory of The Savory Institute: “Ultimately the only wealth that can sustain any community, economy or nation is derived from the photosynthetic process – green plants growing on regenerating soil.”

Are we being left behind? If this is a race to the bottom, it is one I think we should let our competitors win.

Jordi Hoult Hoult works in agrifood strategy in Manawatū

In

pen to four different food and farming New Zealanders.

Jane White

Central Hawke’s Bay farmer

Is there a risk that our unique native flora and fauna could be adversely affected by the outdoor release of gene technology, asks Jane White.

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Sector Focus

Two decades of building trees into the plan

Gerald Piddock AWARDS Environment

BALANCING environmental stewardship and profitability is at the heart of everything that Tor Pedersen does at Broomore Farm along

Tor was the 2025 Regional Supreme Winner at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards and recently hosted a field day on the property near Raglan.

The 300 hectare farm sits on rolling and hill country with 110ha making up the dairy platform and 50ha used as a support block for young stock and wintering cattle.

The rest has been either retired, is in native or newly planted native bush, or is planted into pine forestry.

It is a challenging farm, sitting in a high rainfall area – up to 1800mm a year – and prone to flash flooding.

The farm runs a small number of beef cattle on the support block as well as the 250 crossbred milking herd on the dairy platform.

Fencing off the farm’s waterways and planting around them has been an ongoing 20-year project started by Tor’s parents and Broomore Farm owners in the late 1990s.

Shona said they started planning the steeper areas in the early 1990s, planting 50ha of it in pines.

“The pine planting was started with Mum and Dad and my sister and my brother. We had 50ha between us all, and that was the start of it.

“All in all, there’s been more than 30,000 riparian plants, plus the pines we have done.”

Tor said they are just trying to future-proof the farm.

“We are planting out areas that are not beneficial to us on the farm, what we call high risk areas.

“Everywhere on the farm are waterways and everything runs downhill to the water and we want to eliminate the risk as much as we can.”

We’ve just built it into the budgets every year that an amount is allotted to planting and fencing.

Shona echoed this, saying they want to ensure it is a viable business going into the future that meets both financial and environmental needs.

“It’s to get ahead of the game before you’re told you have to do it.

“We’ve just built it into the budgets every year that an amount is allotted to planting and fencing and it grew from there.”

Tor said it also makes the farm look better. Some areas were retired because they are too steep, had no benefit and were growing gorse. It made more sense to fence it off and put it into trees.

His current project is re-locating the race to move it further away from an adjacent waterway and refencing it off.

The farm has produced 95,000 kg MS for the 2024-2025 season.

Tor said they have moved to more of a smaller, crossbred type of cow from more Friesian genetics a decade ago. These cows handle the hills and the amount of walking better, he said.

The lower stocking rate of 2.4 cows/ha also suits the farm and the amount of pasture grown. Over

winter, he destocks even further by sending 50 of the cows to the hills. When it gets wet, he keeps the cows away from the river flat areas to protect the pastures.

He soil tests the farm every two years and applies fertiliser accordingly.

The farm milks twice a day until Christmas and then changes to 16-hour milkings and once a day until dry-off.

The cows are fed predominantly grass with meal fed through inshed feeding during lactation. Around 10 tonnes of hay is brought in and fed over winter and grass silage is also made on the platform.

Tor started as a farm assistant in 2018-2019, progressing to farm manager in 2019 and has been contract milking it since 2022. He is a sole operator, with his parents helping out with relief milking and during calving.

His medium-term goal is to progress to 50-50 sharemilking in the next four years.

Over the longer term, his goal is to potentially enter into an equity partnership with the end goal of farm ownership.

FUTURE: Raglan dairy farmer Tor Pedersen says their environmental efforts on their 300ha farm are about future proofing the business.

FAMILY: The Pedersen family, who are the 2025 Regional Supreme Winners at the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards, from left, Tor Pedersen’s grandmother Margaret Colgan, Tor, Shona and Tony Pedersen.

with his parents Tony and Shona.

Shona Pedersen Broomore Farm

TREES: Over the past 20 years, the Pedersens have planted more than 30,000 trees, fenced off their waterways, retired steeper areas, reverted other areas to native bush and have planted areas into pine forestry.

Mediation helps ease stress of farm debt

Gerald Piddock NEWS Finance

FARM debt mediation is not just a box ticking exercise for the bank or lender when a farming business gets into financial trouble.

It’s an opportunity to discuss the issues with the farm owner and hear their side of the story.

It brings a human element to a process that can be stressful for the farmer, Tavendale + Partners lawyer Matt Davidson told a rural dispute resolution day at Ruakura in Hamilton.

It is sometimes the first time sitting face to face with the person making the decisions in the bank.

“They have the chance to explain, this is my family, this is what this means to me – and that can be really powerful in that process.”

For farmers, it is an allencompassing moment for them because the future of their family’s business hangs on the outcome.

The process also puts all parties on the same page, Davidson said.

The day was organised by the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’

Institute of New Zealand. It covered the key issues facing the rural sector and the best approaches to resolving disputes efficiently and effectively.

Farm debt mediation occurs when a farm business gets into the sort of financial trouble that elevates the risk for its bank.

The process uses neutral and

independent mediators to help farmers and their creditors work through debt issues.

It is governed by the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2019, which says that secured creditors must offer mediation before taking any debt enforcement action against a farmer.

Tavendale + Partners business and strategy advisor Guy Polson said once the bank takes the position that the business is in trouble there are options, such as re-financing, deleveraging the business or introducing equity.

Generally, the bank will try to work with the farmer to find a way out, however, if there are no improvements to the financial position, they will likely look to farm debt mediation.

Polson said a farm business ends up in mediation for a variety of reasons.

These range from the business carrying a large amount of debt from when the original financing occurred, financial mismanagement, or factors outside of their control such as market conditions or adverse events.

“What often happens is a combination of these factors. You

They have the chance to explain, this is my family, this is what this means to me.

Matt Davidson Tavendale + Partners

get a bit of everything,” he said. Businesses facing these conditions do need to act quickly, despite the often-confronting nature of the problems they face. Not doing so can limit options further down the track. It all leads to financial stress where the business gets on the wrong end of a bank’s risk spectrum. Davidson said the wide variety of

factors causing FDM highlighted the need for having the right people around the farm business and the right advisors during the FDM process.

“There’re so many different elements that come into it that is not strictly just a ‘this business is not performing financially’, there is so much more to it than that.”

Polson said immediately after mediation, the most common emotion he sees is relief because the process is over and there is now some certainty and a path forward.

For a farmer who cannot improve the financial position of the business, the best outcome for them might to sell the farm. This is best done on their terms, as a forced sale is regarded by all parties as a worst-case outcome.

PROCESS: Farm debt mediation brings a human element to a process that can be stressful for the farmer, says Tavendale + Partners lawyer Matt Davidson.

A good time to be a dairy farmer in NZ

Sector perspective

MAY marks the end of the dairy season in New Zealand, and right up to the final days, we’ve continued to see movement across the industry.

From stronger-than-expected April milk production figures to mixed Global Dairy Trade (GDT) results, global supply dynamics remain varied, while concerns around international tariffs linger in the background.

New Zealand recorded a relatively flat result for April, with milksolids production up a marginal 0.1% year on year to 150.1 million kilograms.

This brings the season-to-date figure to a 2.7% improvement over 2023/24. Compared to the five-year rolling average of 149.9 million kilograms, this year’s April result sits just 0.2% higher.

In volume terms, milk production was down -0.5% YoY to 1.456 million tonnes, which is typical towards the end of the season as fat and protein levels rise with late-lactation milk.

The cumulative season-to-date tonnage is 2.1% ahead of last year, although still -1.4% below the five-year average of 1.478 million

tonnes. These figures confirm a resilient close to the 2024/25 season, especially given the earlier drying-off seen in parts of the North Island.

Globally, milk production trends remain mixed. Argentina continues to show strength with a 15.2% lift in April. The United States posted a 0.9% increase in March, though this came in below market expectations. Uruguay also saw a 2.9% YoY lift in March. Meanwhile, the EU27 reported a sharp -5.7% drop in February milk volumes, though this narrows to -2.3% when adjusted for the leap year. Australia recorded a marginal decline of -0.1% in March. In China, the last available data showed a notable -8.6% drop in February milk production, pointing to continued tightness in supply across parts of the world.

On the GDT front, Event 379 in early May delivered a solid 4.6% index gain, with all products up except for mozzarella, which edged down 0.3%. The surge was driven by a 59% lift in purchasing by southeast Asia/Oceania, which accounted for 38% of the total volume traded.

The month’s second event (Event 380) ended with a modest -0.9% decline, as buying demand softened in key regions. Notably, southeast Asia/Oceania and Europe reduced their purchases by 50% and 18%, respectively. These moves reflect the volatility in short-term buyer sentiment, though overall demand remains stable.

March export data further reinforced New Zealand’s strong market position. Total dairy exports rose 7.1% YoY, with standout growth in cheese (up 39%) and butter (up 25%). By contrast, dairy exports from the US dropped -6.8% in February, and European exports fell by -11.4%.

However, China continues to import strongly, with dairy imports up 15.9% in March.

Towards the end of April and into early May, a few members of the NZX Dairy and SGX-NZX Dairy Derivatives teams were in Chicago during the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) annual conference, providing a timely window into industry concerns following President

PRUDENT: It’s a prudent time to think ahead and consider how to manage risk – especially when so many external factors, from trade policy to global weather patterns, can change the outlook quickly, says

Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcements.

While there was cautious optimism that a future Trumpled administration might roll back some of these measures – which later did eventuate with the over-10% tariff “pause” – uncertainty persisted. Some shipments from China to the US had already been halted, and costs for certain consumer products in the US were reportedly rising.

The ‘pause’ on reciprocal tariffs is currently expected to end in early July.

New Zealand was included in only the 10% tariff bracket, but the broader impact of US tariffs on Chinese and Asian goods could disrupt trade flows more widely.

The “pause” on reciprocal tariffs

is currently expected to end in early July, with further action on Chinese goods scheduled by August. For New Zealand exporters, this situation presents both opportunity and risk. On one hand, we may be seen as a reliable supplier amid rising US trade barriers. On the other, prolonged disruption could suppress demand if higher prices are passed on to consumers and consumption habits begin to shift.

All in all, it remains a favourable time to be a dairy farmer in New Zealand – for now. Strong production, steady demand, and healthy export returns are supporting farmgate confidence.

But as always, it’s a prudent time to think ahead and consider how to manage risk – especially when so many external factors, from trade policy to global weather patterns, can change the outlook quickly. Staying informed and adaptable will be key.

Cristina Alvarado Alvarado is NZX head of Dairy Insights

Cristina Alvarado.

STRONG: China continues to import strongly, with dairy imports up 15.9% in March.

Why negative DCAD matters pre-calving

A well-managed negative DCAD transition diet allows the cow to enter lactation better equipped to handle the challenges of early milk production and reproduction.

Sector perspective

Chris Balemi Balemi is founder and managing director of Agvance Nutrition

TRANSITION is one of the most metabolically demanding phases of a dairy cow’s life. Her system is under pressure as she prepares to calve, produce milk, and adjust to significant

changes in her diet. How well she copes during this time depends largely on whether her mineral balance supports these metabolic shifts.

One of the most effective tools to support this is feeding a negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) diet in the lead-up to calving.

DCAD refers to the balance between positively charged ions (mainly sodium and potassium) and negatively charged ions (mainly chloride and sulphur) in the diet.

High DCAD diets, typical of lush spring pasture, tend to make the cow’s blood slightly alkaline. This is a problem during the transition period because it blunts the hormonal signals that release calcium from bone and absorb it from the gut.

A negative DCAD diet lowers blood pH slightly, which triggers the cow’s natural calcium regulation systems.

This allows her to respond rapidly to the sharp increase in

calcium demand when lactation begins.

Without switching to this during transition, cows are at far greater risk of milk fever, both clinical and subclinical. Subclinical cases are especially common during the transition period and can easily go unnoticed, yet they’re linked to retained placenta, reduced uterine tone, mastitis, lower feed intake and poor reproductive performance.

Transition cows need to mobilise calcium fast. Feeding a negative DCAD diet during the final three weeks of the dry period helps kickstart the body’s calcium mobilisation systems ahead of calving. It stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone and improves calcium absorption from the rumen.

Magnesium is an essential support mineral during this process. It’s needed for the enzymes involved in calcium

regulation, and it must be included in the transition diet at effective levels. Combining magnesium with suitable chloride and sulphur sources helps create the required acidifying effect in the rumen and bloodstream.

Throwing in a handful of anionic salts won’t do the job. Transition cows need a wellbalanced, targeted negative DCAD formulation that achieves a measurable shift in metabolic response, without knocking feed intake or causing acidosis. It’s also essential that the transition mineral mix is evenly distributed in the ration. Inconsistent feeding leads to inconsistent responses, which limits the benefit of supplementation.

Supporting cows through transition with a negative DCAD mineral programme delivers wider benefits and is about more than just preventing milk fever: reduced clinical and subclinical

milk fever; higher post-calving dry matter intake; fewer retained placentas; better immunity and lower mastitis risk; and stronger reproductive performance.

These benefits all lead to less time and money spent on treatment, and better performance early in lactation.

Transitioning well sets up a successful season. Transition is short, but its impact is long lasting.

Once a cow calves, it becomes much harder to correct a mineral imbalance or reverse a metabolic issue. That’s why pre-calving mineral strategies matter, especially in pasture-based systems where potassium levels are often high.

A well-managed negative DCAD transition diet allows the cow to enter lactation stronger, healthier and better equipped to handle the challenges of early milk production and reproduction.

Dairy forum to help problem-solve, plan and prioritise

events in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.

DAIRYNZ’S Farmers Forum is back in three venues across the country in May and June, providing farmers with the latest updates across the sector.

Registration is open now for the

Farmers and rural professionals can find out more about the changing global and national landscape, hear from economists on the emerging trends that will affect the way they farm in the future, witness the latest innovations under development,

and play a part in collectively securing the longevity and success of dairy farming.

DairyNZ chief executive Campbell Parker said they are privileged to have a stellar group of experts and farmers, who are doing amazing and innovative work on farm, share all that knowledge and keep pushing

boundaries at Farmers Forum.

“As we navigate changes in the global economy, trade and technology, it’s critical that we come together to problem solve, plan and prioritise for success.”

There will be a wide range of trade stands at each event to further support collaboration across the sector.

Registrations are open and free for levy-paying dairy farmers and their staff.

Farmers Forum 2025 events: Waikato Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton, May 27. Canterbury Ashburton Events Centre, Ashburton June 17. Southland Ascot Park Hotel, Invercargill July 2.

IMBALANCE: Once a cow calves, it becomes much harder to correct a mineral imbalance or reverse a metabolic issue.

Dairy rides natural consumer food wave

Gerald Piddock NEWS

Fonterra

DAIRY is back in vogue among consumers after years of people avoiding products like butter and milk for fear of its saturated fat content.

Science has proven that it might have neutral or positive effects on cardiovascular health, Fonterra global ingredients

president Richard Allen said, at an event at Fonterra’s office in Auckland that showcased its ingredients and foodservice products.

“We are seeing butter back and whole milk fluid sales in the United States – this is retailers buying milk – for the first time since 2008, they have now increased.

“Now they are associating milk with not only healthy protein but healthy fat and all of the complete nutrition that comes with it.”

Natural food is very much on the way back, he said.

On top of that is the grass-fed benefits of NZ dairy – amino acids and beta carotene and the animal welfare story.

“Grass fed in the States, it would probably be the fastest growing claim in the fresh category because consumers don’t want barn-raised milk.”

A good portion of its US-based protein customers will claim “grass fed from NZ” milk on their packaging.

“As a seller, that’s a dream.”

Fonterra’s ingredients business is also capitalising on the popularity of protein among consumers, especially in the US.

“It often gets referred to as ‘Oh, it’s just commodities, there’s no value add’.

“Yes there’s a portion of our portfolio that could be 100% classified as commodities, but there’s a significant portion of our portfolio that could be called advanced ingredients which add considerable value on top of a very strong milk price.”

It is not unusual for these products’ margins to be earning upwards of 15-20%.

It is a significant business, bringing in $16 billion in revenue annually, selling to over 1000 customers in over 100 markets. It represents 80% of the co-operative’s milk solids and generated $1.96bn in profit in the 2024 financial year.

For farmers, the ingredients business hugely influences the milk price they are paid and also contributes around 65% of its dividend.

Not all dairy protein is created equal, and taste is often the differentiator between a cheap protein bar and one that uses Fonterra products, Allen said.

These products are not just for the sports market but also in medical food and nutrition production, where Fonterra was a supplier for some of the world’s largest companies.

It is why Fonterra had invested $75 million into its Studholme site to increase its ability to produce advanced protein.

“Studholme was a whole milk powder dryer. Us taking an existing WMP dryer and upgrading it to advanced protein dryer, that allows us to sell ingredients at a higher margin.

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“It also means we’re selling less WMP, which tensions the WMP price and improves the farmgate milk price for our farmers and the earnings they get on top.”

The explosion of popularity of protein has been amplified by the popularity of weight loss drug Ozempic and cleaner, simpler labelling on food products.

“It’s no longer about increasing the grams of protein per serving.

“Now it’s about not all protein is created equal – what is the digestibility, what is the nutritional profile and if you’re buying a processed food, what else is in there?”

Remember the basics:

• update your details

• tag and register your animals

• record your movements.

WELL PLACED: Fonterra’s global ingredients president Richard Allen says NZ dairy is well placed to take advantage of a resurgence of popularity of dairy in markets like the US.

GHG plan keeps NZ dairy at front of queue

AFonterra

SENIOR Fonterra executive has defended the co-operative’s cow emissions intensity reduction targets, calling it the most important defining play of the sector over the past 20 years.

The move will keep New Zealand’s dairy products at the front of the queue and help ensure intergenerational prosperity, Fonterra strategic adviser Malcolm Ellis said at DairyNZ’s Dairy Sector Outlook: 2025-26 and Beyond event near Mystery Creek.

The co-operative announced in November 2023 that it will focus on reducing emissions intensity, setting a target of a 30% reduction by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.

In February, it announced that, for the 2025-2026 season, it will introduce a payment for farms that achieve certain emissions-

related criteria as part of updates to its Co-operative Difference framework.

In response to questions from farmers, Ellis said they had to really careful about thinking where the value is.

“If we think it’s 1-5 cents in the Co-operative Difference, or 10-25 cents in a customer-funded incentive, here’s the news: that’s not where the value is.”

The actual value was in improving on-farm efficiencies around cow genetics and pasture harvested, which lift a farm’s bottom line, he said.

In last year’s milk price calculation, 34% of the reference commodity products that influence the milk price were sold off the GDT. This is because Fonterra can flex the value and supply arrangements it has with customers.

“We take that 34% off the GDT – and what does that do to the supply-demand dynamic that remains on the GDT? That is value.”

It means a farm that may

not qualify for that 10-25 cent payment would benefit significantly from those customer relationships, he said.

In his 15 months at Fonterra, Ellis said, he has learnt that the co-operative used to meet to negotiate quantity and price with Mars and Nestlé every two months.

“We now have three- and five-year supply agreements for ingredients.

“That does not mean that five years out, we negotiate price. What it means is we can create sustainable long-term demand and be able to flex product on and off the GDT to satisfy that premium opportunity that sits there.”

He predicted this current season’s milk price will be supported by about 11-13 cents of off GDT earnings for reference commodity products.

When that is taken off the GDT, it has a positive impact on supply and demand.

We export 95-96% of our product so we cannot afford to run second in this.

Malcolm Ellis Fonterra

If those companies are prepared to enter into such agreements and pay a premium on top of the GDT to ensure security of supply in the knowledge they are going to get a sustainable product, than that is good news, he said.

He also warned farmers about complacency fuelled by thinking they do not have to do anything because they are the best in the world.

“We export 95-96% of our product so we cannot afford to run second in this. The moment we lose our international competitiveness we are really going to struggle here with profitability.”

NZ’s vets refine emergency animal care roles

Staff reporter

NEWS

Animal welfare

NEW Zealand veterinarians are working with emergency management networks to improve and promote safer practices for managing animals during emergencies and natural disasters.

The New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) was part of the first Australasian Animals Emergency Incident Management Network (AEIMN) conference at Massey University earlier this month, bringing together expertise from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

NZVA emergency lead Leanne Fecser is part of a panel session at the conference, said veterinarians

and their teams play a critical role in animal welfare under the national Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan (CDEMP).

“This conference is an opportunity to test our emergency management approach, identify any improvements, and strengthen how we work across emergency networks in a coordinated response.”

Normally, owners are primarily responsible for their animals’ welfare, but things change in a natural disaster when people may be injured, isolated or separated from their animals and unable to care for them.

“Animals depend on our veterinarians and their teams for their wellbeing, and our communities rely on our expertise to navigate the complex challenges emergencies bring.”

Under the Veterinarians Act veterinarians are legally obliged to alleviate the suffering of animals and likewise in emergencies hold key responsibilities to do so under the CDEM, including advising on where to get treatment and coordinating advice on feeding and sheltering animals.

“During Cyclone Gabrielle our veterinarians and their teams worked around the clock, often without power, communications and in isolated areas to care for injured and sick animals and provide advice to their owners, many who’d been evacuated to shelters with nowhere for their pets to go.”

In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, the NZVA has developed a dedicated Emergency Management Plan to ensure veterinary professionals and teams are prepared for and part of a coordinated response and recovery from natural disaster.

This includes training, an Incident Management Team, and other ready-to-go response roles.

ROLE: NZVA emergency lead Leanne Fecser says veterinarians and their teams play a critical role in animal welfare under the national Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan. Photo: Pexels

Gerald Piddock NEWS

STRUGGLE: Fonterra strategic adviser Malcolm Ellis says the moment NZ dairy loses its international competitiveness ‘we are really going to struggle here with profitability’.

Emissions bolus boom on the way for farmers

Neal Wallace TECHNOLOGY Emissions

FARMERS could have access to a methane reducing ruminant bolus next year followed by two or three new products in each of the subsequent four years, according to the head of AgriZeroNZ.

Wayne McNee, the chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, a joint public-privately owned investment company, said it aims to have shares in about 15 companies that have developed products to reduce methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

“By 2030 we expect to have five or six products for farmers to choose to use or choose not to use,” he said.

Using 2017 as a baseline, McNee said they aim to secure access to technology so farmers can reduce biogenic methane and nitrous oxide by 30% each by 2030.

The bolus, which is currently going through regulatory channels, will cost about $30 a dose per annual application and provide a 70% methane reduction.

New Zealand’s primary sector

is acknowledged to be low emitting, but McNee said premium customers want that quantified and they want to see improvement.

European farmers are reducing their methane emissions and if NZ fails to do so it could place us at a disadvantage or see us facing trade barriers.

“There is clear market demand from premium customers across dairy and meat sectors.

“The risk is that if action is not taken, then there could be trade barriers imposed.”

Reducing emissions is more difficult for NZ’s pastoral-based system than intensively farmed methods, so we need technology applicable to our extensive farming systems.

AgriZeroNZ searches the world looking for applicable technology and then investing in applicable these companies which ensures those products will be available for NZ farmers.

It also helps with NZ-specific trials and to traverse the regulatory requirements.

“It makes NZ a priority market,” he said.

Researchers in NZ and around the world are working on methane reducing boluses, genetics,

vaccines, pasture seed and feed additives primarily focused on cattle.

In NZ AgriZeroNZ is also working with sheep researchers on genetic and breeding technology to lower emissions and promoting those solutions.

By 2030 we expect to have five or six products for farmers to choose to use.

Wayne

McNee AgriZeroNZ

Two AgriZero investments this year are into Hoofprint Biome, a US company developing natural enzymes and probiotics to improve cattle health while reducing methane emissions and improving productivity.

Another is in Agteria Biotech, a Swedish startup utilising a patentpending molecule to reduce methane emissions.

McNee said there are fewer options for reducing nitrous oxide levels in pastoral systems, given the primary source are emissions from urine patches, but they are investigating one opportunity. By the end of next year when

TECHNOLOGY: Wayne McNee, the chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, says reducing emissions is more difficult for NZ’s pastoral-based system than for intensively farmed methods, so we need technology applicable to our farming systems.

funding runs out, AgriZeroNZ will have invested up to $191m in about 15 companies.

So far it has spent $60m in nine companies that are investigating feed additives, vaccines, pasture, and boluses and in a further five that are still at the research and trial stage.

It is currently considering 63 investment opportunities but has rejected over 100. Investments range from $12.6m to $400,000.

AgriZeroNZ has 14 staff and uses outside science expertise to assess the merits of potential investments.

Global dairy demand outpacing supply

Gerald Piddock MARKETS Dairy

GLOBAL dairy demand is expanding faster than global production can keep up, United Statesbased Rabobank dairy analyst Lucas Fuess says.

The European Union is seeing production declines, Australia is declining, and New Zealand production is stagnating.

In the US, milk production growth is looking marginal rather than overwhelming for this year, but it is back to growth, Fuess told rural and banking industry professionals at a breakfast event at the bank’s headquarters in Hamilton.

The US has had three consecutive years of production stagnation due to profitability issues and low cow numbers.

“We’ve finally overcome that, seeing milk grow this year and supplies are plentiful.”

For the first quarter of this year, that growth was up around 1% compared to 2024.

He expects that to lift to around 1.2% over the course of this year and 1.5% per year over the next decade.

“With a 1.1-1.5% milk production growth rate off of a very large milk production base, our milk growth is outpacing our domestic demand growth, so we are looking at the export markets to absorb some of that excess production.”

Around 15-20% of US production is exported, with Mexico and China being key markets, he said.

The main US dairy exports to China are whey protein powder and lactose – a different product mix to New Zealand’s main dairy exports, meaning the two

countries are not competing.

“The moral of the story is that while the US might be increasing its competitiveness with a huge exporter like New Zealand, we think the growth and demand from many parts in the world is big enough for both of us to play pretty nicely.”

Dairy farmers are also looking at a profitable outlook thanks to feed costs being low for soya, corn meal and alfalfa (lucerne), which make up around 65% of their total production costs.

“We do expect decent profits throughout the rest of this calendar year,” he said.

Cow numbers are still recovering from an estimated cull of 100,000 between 2023-2024 due to low profitability. Preventing that growth are high beef prices, which have driven record-high replacement dairy heifer prices.

These three-day-old dairy-beef

calves are selling for US$700-$800 (NZ$1350), he said.

“There’s a significant profit incentive to breed dairy animals to beef bulls and get that beef on dairy cross, send that animal into the beef supply chain instead of the dairy supply chain.”

We think the growth and demand from many parts in the world is big enough for both of us to play pretty nicely.

Lucas Fuess Rabobank

US dairy farmers are weighing up whether to mate their cows with beef genetics to take advantage of that price or grow a replacement cow where the payback is more long term.

Working to keep pace with genetic gains

together and individually to help lift our rates of genetic gain by modernising how we evaluate breeding animals,” she said.

NEW Zealand’s dairy sector has long been a global leader in productivity and efficiency, but to stay competitive, it’s crucial to keep pace with advances in genetic gain.

That’s the challenge being tackled by the Future Focused Animal Evaluation Work Programme, a new initiative led by a governance group formed in 2024.

At the helm is independent chair and fifth-generation dairy farmer Rebecca Keoghan, who brings a practical, future-focused lens to the work.

Keoghan chairs a group made up of DairyNZ, New Zealand Animal Evaluation, LIC and CRV.

“These are key players in New Zealand’s animal evaluation system, and we’re working both

The formation of the group was driven by findings from an independent industry working

HANDS ON: Rebecca Keoghan brings a practical lens to the Future Focused Animal Evaluation Work Programme.

group (IWG) that found New Zealand is falling behind international counterparts in adopting genomic technologies to accelerate genetic progress.

The IWG recommended a more collaborative, future-proofed

approach to ensure the system remains relevant and effective.

“As farmers know, genetics has been a cornerstone of our productivity,” Keoghan said.

“But we need tools and information that help farmers keep improving. That means developing a better animal evaluation system, one that is simple, reliable, and built for the future and freely available to all.”

This year, the governance group is focusing on three core areas:

• Developing a forward-looking National Breeding Objective (NBO)

To support this work, a new NBO committee has been established, separate from the governance group that Keoghan leads and comprising DairyNZ and their subsidiary New Zealand Animal Evaluation, LIC, CRV, Fonterra, genetics experts and farmer representatives. The NBO committee’s task is to help define

the traits that will be in a futurefocused NBO that reflects both farmer needs and emerging sector challenges.

• Creating an industry-wide, trusted Breeding Worth (BW)

The goal is an industry-wide, consistent BW assessment against the NBO that everyone, farmers, breeders, and sector players, can rely on.

• Improving phenotypic data quality

Any successful evaluation model depends on the quality of the data it uses. The group is assessing gaps and exploring how to better capture the performance traits needed to feed future genetic models.

Since taking up the chair of the Future Focused Animal Evaluation governance group, Keoghan has set up key technical workstreams and built strong alignment around the project’s milestones and direction.

OUTLIER: US-based Rabobank dairy analyst Lucas Fuess says US milk production will grow this coming year in contrast to other major global milk producers.

Charting dair y ’s future together

They say the only constant in life is change — and the dair y sector is no exception.

In New Zealand and globally, change is accelerating Today, many Kiwi dair y farmer s are leading the way with more efficient, environmentally sound farm systems, producing more milk per cow while lowering greenhouse gas emissions

Now we must turn to tomorrow, so that we continue to be efficient and set the dair y sec tor up for long-term success

At D air yNZ, our research strategy reflec ts the future needs and pressures we see facing the sec tor, with three clear priorities: accelerating on-farm produc tivit y, powering more adaptable and resilient farms and enabling sustainable and competitive dair ying

Ultimately, our role is to remain strongly focused on the future, to anticipate challenges coming down the road for fa rmer s, identif y oppor tunities, and ensure that ever y investment we make provides us with critical insights that deliver value back to farmer s

But D air yNZ can’t do it alone To stay ahead of emerging issues, and ensure real-world application of our science and research, we need to collaborate with the right par tner s to ensure the impac t is scalable and lasting

Innovate

Let’s keep ahead of challenges by outthinking them

These par tner ships span dair y companies, Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Federated Farmer s, government agencies like MPI, CRIs, univer sities, private companies and most impor tantly, dair y farmer s themselves

A s the global landscape shif ts in trade, technology, the economy, and consumer expec tations, it ’ s more impor tant than ever to come together, share knowledge, and plan for success

That ’ s where Farmer s Forum 2025 comes in

This year ’ s events offer the oppor tunit y to look ahead, explore the latest innovations, an d discuss what it will take to shape the future of dair y together

You’ll hear from thought leader s in global trade, expor ts, economic s, technology, and consumer trends, alongside for wardthinking farmer s already put ting new ideas into prac tice

Find out more about the changing global and national landscape, hear from economists on the emerging trends that will affec t the way we farm in the future, witness the latest innovations under development, and play a par t in collec tively securing th e longevit y and success of dair y farming in New Zealand

through innovation, integration, collaboration, join us for this yea at tend event

If you ’ re interested in what the future holds for dair y, how global events could affec t us, and how we can char t our cour se together and r ’ s must-

Integrate

Farmer s are encouraged to regis secure a spot Registrations are o free for lev y-paying dair y farmer staff

ter now to pen and s and their

Re ister now

27 May

Hamilton

Claudelands Event Centre

17 June

Ashbur ton

Ashbur ton Event Centre

2 July

Invercargill

Ascot Park Hotel

Registrations are open and free for lev y-paying dairy farmers and their staff For more information, the full programme and registration, visit dairynz.co.nz/farmers-forum

Future proofing your farm systems is key to your success. Collaborate

It will take the right par tners to find the right solutions.

rom the golden age of wool to lamb roasts at Sunday dinner, sheep farming has sat at the heart of our national identity for generations.

We used to proudly say New Zealand was built off the sheep’s back—but today our sheep farmers are sitting at a crossroads, unsure which way to turn.

Our sector is in crisis – and we can no longer face it alone.

Sheep are quickly becoming an endangered species in New Zealand. Their main predators? Pines, pigs, and poor Government policy.

To paint a picture for you: I’m only 44, and in my lifetime alone we’ve already lost over two-thirds of our national flock.

That’s not just a scary statistic— it’s a warning sign that our policy settings are badly broken and that something is very wrong.

Since 2007, when the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) was first introduced, our national flock has shrunk by 40%.

We’re now losing almost a million sheep every year.

If that trajectory continues, within the next two decades there’ll be no sheep left in New Zealand. Is that really the future we want for our country?

As sheep numbers continue to decline, huge pressure is being put on the critical infrastructure that supports our red meat sector,

like meatworks, shearers and stock trucks.

Without sufficient livestock, our meat processors—already operating on tight margins—will struggle to justify the continued investment required to continue operating.

The economics simply don’t work.

Alliance’s Smithfield meatworks in Timaru has already closed its

M A D E E A S Y.

doors, and that’s not a one-off: it’s a symptom of the times.

This is not the situation our farmers should be facing, but even with strong prices for red meat, farmers are still exiting the industry. Their confidence has evaporated.

When farmers aren’t investing despite good returns, it means they’re looking at the broader policy

picture—and they don’t like what they see.

So, what does a sheep farmer see when they look out their window?

Right now, it’s nothing but pine trees, pests, and politicians breaking promises.

New Zealand’s climate policy is creating huge uncertainty, and the endless push to plant pine trees risks forever changing the face of our rural communities.

Between 2017 and 2024 alone, 260,000 hectares of sheep and beef land were converted to pine—not because forestry is a better use of that land, but because of our flawed ETS settings.

This is short-sighted, dangerous policy. We’re sacrificing food production, rural jobs, and community resilience at the altar of carbon accounting.

Sheep farmers are not climate deniers. We’ve always been environmental stewards, understand the land better than most, and want to leave it in better shape for the next generation.

But regulation must be grounded in practical reality, not ideology.

Blanket environmental rules that fail to consider the nuances of hill country farming are doing more harm than good.

The great irony in all of this is New Zealand sheep farmers are among the most efficient and sustainable producers of red meat in the world.

Our carbon footprint per kilogram of lamb is lower than virtually any other nation, and our wool is a renewable and biodegradable

alternative to synthetic fibres and plastics.

So why are our sheep-farming families being punished, rather than rewarded, for the work we do behind our farm gate? The answer is simple: politics.

Unfortunately, the electoral math is not in our favour. Politicians will always chase the votes of big population centres like Auckland and Wellington over small rural communities.

We’re sacrificing food production, rural jobs, and community resilience at the altar of carbon accounting.

Toby Williams Federated Farmers meat & wool chair

There also seems to be an attitude in the halls of power that the farming vote can be taken for granted, but those who hold that view should tread carefully.

So, what’s the solution? I think New Zealanders need to ask themselves a simple question: do we still value our sheep industry? Because if we do, we need to act—and fast.

It’s time to start valuing food production and put an end to the broken climate policies that are turning productive farmland into pine plantations and pest havens. Farmers are sounding the alarm. This is our SOS. Please save our sheep—before it’s too late.

$ 5 0 0 . 0 0

Toby Williams Federated Farmers meat & wool chair

CRISIS: Having watched two-thirds of New Zealand’s national sheep flock disappear in his lifetime, Toby Williams says we need to act now to save it all together.

Big conversations return to bigger Advocacy Hub

Methane targets, banking issues, pine trees and pests will all be hot topics for discussion in the Federated Farmers Advocacy Hub at this year’s National Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

Federated Farmers and Fieldays have teamed up once again to deliver a one-stop-shop for grassroots farmers to discuss the big issues impacting our rural communities.

“The Advocacy Hub was such a huge success that we’ve decided to do it all again – only bigger and better than last year,” Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.

“Farmers told us that they really enjoyed having a dedicated space at Fieldays where they could talk about those big political issues they’re worried about.

“There are some important conversations that need to be had this year and having farming leaders

and politicians on site creates a real sense of accountability.”

This year’s exhibitors include Federated Farmers, Farmers Weekly, Campaign for Wool, Future Farmers, Rural Women, Groundswell, Waikato Federated Farmers, and DairyNZ.

There will also be a long list of Ministers and other politicians making themselves available during the week to hear directly from grassroots farmers.

“The Hub has gone from strength to strength, and we’re stoked to have such a strong line up of farming groups joining us under one roof,” Langford says.

“Having the Campaign for Wool on site will fill a gap that was really missing last year, particularly when there’s been so much going on with wool this year.

“Wool prices have been a real focus for Federated Farmers, and we know it’s a hot issue for sheep farmers, so we’re really looking forward to that discussion.”

Langford says Federated Farmers will be using their platform in the Hub to advocate for policy changes from Government when it comes to issues like methane and KiwiSaver access.

“Climate policy is the number-one issue impacting farmers and rural communities right now – and we need to see some urgent change from the Government when it comes to targets.

“The whole system is badly broken and it’s driving a heap of other issues like booming pest populations and the continued planting of productive farmland in pine trees.”

Federated Farmers will also be holding the National Government to account on their promise to allow young farmers to access their KiwiSaver to buy their first home, herd, flock, or farm.

“National made that campaign promise in Morrinsville, but 18 months later there has been no action,” Langford says.

“Young farmers haven’t forgotten that promise and neither have we.

Federated Farmers will be launching a strong campaign to make sure the Government delivers what they said.”

National MP Suze Redmayne, who has submitted a Members’ Bill on this topic, will be speaking in the Hub about this issue.

“Another issue we’ll be shining a spotlight on is banking, which is always timely at Fieldays with all the big banks and politicians floating around,” Langford says.

“At last year’s Fieldays we launched a petition calling for the Government to announce an independent inquiry into rural banking – and we got the outcome farmers needed.

“The Government clearly listened, and heard the message loud and clear, because that work is underway. To me, that just shows the power of grassroots farmer advocacy.”

Langford says farmers will be able to hear politicians from across the political spectrum speaking in the Hub on all the issues farmers want to hear about.

This tentatively includes Todd McClay, Simon Watts, Nicola Willis, Mark Patterson, Nicola Grigg,

There are some important conversations that need to be had this year and having farming leaders and politicians on site creates a real sense of accountability.

Wayne Langford Federated Farmers president

Andrew Hoggard, Chris Hipkins, Jo Luxton, Suze Redmayne, and Steve Abel.

“The Advocacy Hub is where all the big conversations about the future of farming are going to be happening, so farmers should definitely make a point of stopping by our site.

“The old saying is that if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. Farmers need to be actively involved in political decision-making and shaping the future of our sector.

“That’s why I’m really encouraging farmers to pull up a seat and join the conversation.”

MORE:

The Rural Advocacy Hub will be at site D70, in the Gallagher Building.

LET’S TALK: Wayne Langford, seen speaking on opening day of the Rural Advocacy Hub last year, says farmers should visit the Hub and share their views on the key issues.

THE RIGHT PATH:

Federated Farmers will advocate for the government to stay the course on key issues.

If farmers don’t stand, who will?

If practical rural people don’t stand for council, those who want to bury farming in red tape could dominate, Ian Mackenzie warns.

“Farmers can’t afford to be shy about putting their names forward because the Green Party, in particular, is making a play to be in charge of regional councils.

“It’s so important that we have some commonsense rural people at the table when decisions are made for our communities.”

Mackenzie, a former Federated Farmers national board member who’s nearing the end of his second term on Environment Canterbury (ECan), admits it can be a lonely place on council if you’re one of the few people sticking up for farmers.

“Sometimes you need the hide of a rhinoceros and a disposition to keep pushing for what you believe is right.

“But most farmers are independent and resourceful, and used to making tough decisions.

“It’s a real buzz when you see something you’ve been able to achieve on council, such as improved flood protection, make a difference in people’s lives.”

Mackenzie says an independent member of the audit and risk committee recently commented that people from the countryside tend to

DO IT: ECan councillor Ian Mackenzie says he’s one of the few councillors at ECan excited by the current resource management reforms, with new legislation to give more priority to private property rights.

be more open-minded and willing to discuss issues.

“On the other hand, those who stand with Labour or Green endorsement will stick to a political dogma.

“It’s vital we get good people on councils to counter that.”

Mackenzie says he’s one of the few councillors at ECan excited by the current resource management reforms, with new legislation to give more priority to private property rights.

It’s so important that we have some commonsense rural people at the table when decisions are made for our communities.

Ian Mackenzie ECan councillor and former Federated Farmers board member

“Almost everyone else is trying to find fault, without having yet seen all the details.

“This Government has saved Canterbury ratepayers around $35 million over the next two years in doing away with the Regional Policy Statement.”

ECan has issued more than 25,000

resource consents , many of them short term and rolling over again soon.

“Farmers are pissed off because it can cost many thousands to renew a land use consent when there’s no obvious extra benefit for the environment.

“Not only do I want to see consent processes sped up, I want to get rid of 90% of ECan consents in a move to have more permitted activity.”

Scott Adams agrees it’s vital to have rural voices – “people who have had dirt under their fingernails” – in council chambers.

The former Federated Farmers Marlborough president is in his first term on Marlborough District Council but is already deputy chair of two standing committees and heads the regional transport committee.

Coming up through the Feds elected leadership system helped, he says.

“It provides very good building blocks in that you’re used to the process of meetings, the responsibilities of a good chairperson and what you need to do to build consensus and find solutions.

“Feds are very good at setting a standard there.”

While all councillors swear to serve the entire district’s interests, Adams

says as a farmer he’s been exposed to consent, land use, flood control, road maintenance and all manner of other issues that are bread and butter to councils.

“Farmers can bring that knowledge on what works and what doesn’t to the table.”

His biggest frustration is the time it takes to achieve progress.

“When you’re a doer, you want changes you see as sensible to happen quickly. But there are fellow councillors to persuade, and a process to be followed.”

Former Federated Farmers Ruapehu president Lyn Neeson is in her third term as a councillor and will compete to be mayor in the October elections.

While, like Adams, she notes councillors are sworn to represent all constituents, as the only farmer currently on Ruapehu District Council she can bring that perspective strongly.

“For example, we were introducing a new rate for our climate change commitments and it was going to be put on the uniform annual general charge. “

That meant rural properties with two or three houses would pay two or three times the amount.

“I pointed out the unfairness of that and got it changed.”

Farmers tend to make good councillors because they understand about living within a budget, and that to do so, you sometimes need to cut back in one area to fund another, she says.

Neeson’s advice to any first-time candidate is to get alongside a current or former councillor and get a good understanding of the role.

“Most councils livestream meetings. Watch and learn what the issues are, so you’re ready to get up in front of public meetings and have conversations with voters with your thoughts.”

STEPPING UP: Former Federated Farmers Marlborough president Scott Adams says serving as a Feds elected leader provides great building blocks for a role as an elected councillor.

From fast bowling to farming battles

His professional cricketing dreams were dashed by injury but Marcus Frost is still a team player, now going to bat for farmers and the agricultural industry.

The young sharefarmer has just put up his hand to be Federated Famers Otago dairy chair.

“To my way of thinking, if everyone does a bit, it makes life easier and we get there quicker,” Frost says.

“Dad’s always been a big supporter of Feds and he’s the Fonterra Shareholder Council member for Otago.

“I’ve seen the value of advocacy work, and when the Feds dairy role became vacant I told Luke [Otago president Luke Kane] I’d give it a crack.” Frost grew up on dairy farms in Taranaki, Southland and Otago but, as a boarder at Otago Boys’ High School, his preoccupation was the green grass of playing fields rather than pasture.

He was in Otago Cricket’s training squad in his late teens and played

for the Otago 2nd XI. But bowling took an early toll in the form of stress fractures in his back and he reluctantly abandoned dreams of becoming a professional cricketer.

“Instead I headed off to get a diploma in civil engineering and took civil contracting roles before going shepherding for 18 months.

“I realised I wasn’t getting anywhere much in life with that, though, and I turned back to dairy farming to get ahead.”

Following jobs as a 2IC and a production manager, Frost spent three years contract milking.

For the coming season he and fiancée Jemima are taking on a sharemilking role, milking about 600 cows at Clydevale, between Balclutha and Beaumont. And they’re getting married next year.

The Feds Otago executive helped him get to the national sharefarmers AGM and Frost says he was impressed with the passion shown there around producing quality food, and making a farming career rewarding.

“I think vocational training is one of our biggest challenges,” he says.

“The primary ITOs (Industry Training Organisations) and our training programmes have lost their way a bit in recent years.”

To my way of thinking, if everyone does a bit, it makes life easier and we get there quicker.

Marcus Frost

Federated Farmers Otago dairy chair

Frost’s opinion is that junior staff deserve a lot more practical training when they’re starting out, not being consigned to a desk to do paperwork.

“It’s far more effective to be shown how it’s done and to get to practice it, than to be told how it’s done.”

More needs to be done to attract New Zealanders into dairy roles, he says.

“We’re accredited employers ourselves and employ foreign staff and that’s fine. But, ideally, I’d like to take on more Kiwis because they’re local and because there are big fees to be accredited.

“I want young Kiwis to have the opportunities that we have now towards farm ownership.

“If we don’t make some sort of change, then in 10 or 20 years those pathways will be lost, and the upand-comers that are around now will be gone.” Another concern for Frost is Otago’s fast-growing issue with feral pest animals, particularly deer and pigs coming out of forests.

A keen hunter and fisher, he says pest control programmes need to be stepped up, with forest owners forced to help.

“Farmers are losing too many lambs to pigs.

“Forestry owners can claim losses to trees but farmers can’t claim losses when feral deer damage fences and pigs root up pasture.”

Frost says a forester shouldn’t be able to duck liability for pest animals coming off their land.

“Everyone should come under a pest management plan and we need to find some way of checking that landowners are carrying out the control they should be doing.”

Rabbits are also really bad in some parts of the province, he says.

“I know guys who go out at night at shoot as many as 100 rabbits an hour. They’ll kill 500 or 600 rabbits on a trip but they’re still rampant everywhere.”

Like many in the South Island, Frost is concerned if Ngāi Tahu’s claim for control over freshwater succeeds, it will mean greater costs and less access for farmers.

“I’m proud Federated Farmers took up the fight on that one.

“It’s a prime example of why the federation deserves support from all farmers.”

BOWLING AHEAD: Otago sharemilker Marcus Frost and fiancée Jemima are working up to owning their own place and he’s keen to see training programme improvements to help other young farmers get on that same pathway.

EVERYWHERE: Otago sharemilker Marcus Frost says pests are a massive problem for farmers in his region.

Dartmoor 1716 Dartmoor Road

Small farm three titles

New Listing

Just west of Napier City lies an exceptional opportunity- 87 ha of prime grazing land, spread across three freehold titles, ready for your farming or development future Currently supporting productive livestock grazing, this versatile property offers a mix of gently rolling contour and well-fenced paddocks, with good access and pumped reticulated water.

Supporting the block is a good set of cattle yards with loadout ramp with easy access and a two-bay implement shed with power. Multiple titles offer flexibility and potential for the future development with an existing building platform in place on one of the titles. Also, with the neighbouring property on the market this provides further opportunity to increase land hold or diversify further.

Dartmoor 1752 Dartmoor Road

100 ha Blank canvas

Looking for opportunity? Discover 100 ha of untapped potential in this cut - over forest block - a blank canvas for your next big venture. Whether you're planning reforestation, starting a sustainable timber investment, or looking to cultivate into farmland, this property offers endless possibilities. With cleared access, premium X-forestry roads, and a regenerating landscape it's ready for immediate use or long-term planning

Being only 25 minutes to Taradale and 35 minutes to Napier the property is well positioned. There is further potential with the neighbouring property also on the market, this provides the opportunity to increase land hold or diversify further.

Contact us today to schedule a viewing and explore the potential of this 100 ha opportunity.

Tender closes 4.00pm, Tue 24th Jun, 2025, Property Brookers, 306 St Aubyn Street West View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/HR204853

Mike Heard M 027 641 9007 E mike.heard@pb.co.nz

Donald Wright M 022 650 5394 E donald.wright@pb.co.nz

Tender closes 4.00pm, Tue 24th Jun, 2025, Property Brokers, 306 St Aubyn Street Hastings View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/HR204883

Mike Heard M 027 641 9007 E mike.heard@pb.co.nz

Donald Wright M 022 650 5394 E donald.wright@pb.co.nz

MASTERTON, WAIRARAPA 1403 Castlepoint Road

Bramerton Station

Located just 14km from Masterton on Castlepoint Road, comprising 998ha (1,004ha mapped) and offers an exceptional balance of contour, scale and infrastructure, with 280ha of cultivable flats and rolling country, with the balance mainly being medium hill, 103ha of pines (aged 3–25 years), 4ha of Redwoods, and 12ha of QEII covenant. Significant investment in fencing, tracking, fertiliser, and regrassing supports strong stock performance, running over 9,500 stock units and finishing all stock, including winter trade lambs. The homestead was fully renovated in 1998, a former House of the Year winner, boasts four large bedrooms (two with ensuites), a chef’s kitchen, openplan living, billiard room, heated pool, spa, and tennis court—all with stunning views. Two additional homes are in excellent condition; one recently renovated to executive standard. Farm infrastructure includes top-tier covered yards, a 5-stand woolshed complex covered cattle yards and laneways for efficient stock handling.

TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior)

Closes 2.00pm, Thursday 12 June VIEW By Appointment Only

Machinery

A game of two halves

LAST time I spoke about the impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs and the flow on effects with pricing towards machinery.

As many predicted, the bravado of “liberation day” has retreated. While there are still tariffs in the mix, it certainly does seem that common sense (no doubt with a few stern words from some wealthy US companies) has prevailed and the “going to implode the global economy and drive everyone into recession with skyrocketing inflation” rhetoric has subsided.

Here at home, funnily enough, all this palaver seems to have only strengthened the demand for New Zealand exports on the global stage with the foreign exchange risk the only foreseeable roadblock.

On the ranch, grass levels have certainly bounced back after what has been considered regionally to be one of the worst droughts in recent memory.

While the feed bills may still

be lingering, the brown tinge to the hills is all but a distant memory.

On the machinery front, the market has softened slightly as a general overall trend.

The most recent monthly data has charted sales down 11% across the board over this time last year.

This is somewhat of a surprise to many and is not welcome news for the dealerships.

It certainly felt like they had got to the start line, the starter had enthusiastically clapped the two pieces of four by two together and they were off racing.

The most recent monthly data has charted sales down 11% across the board over this time last year.

Now it feels like they are traipsing back to the start line for a false start.

Overall both North and South Island appear to be down around the same amount as a percentage, but if you actually look at the data a little more closely, some of

the traditional dairying regions such as Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu, Mid Canterbury and the mighty West Coast (with a 300% increase) are certainly well above where they were last year; a sign that increased farm gate incomes are flowing back through the economy.

Conversely, grain farmers have had a tough and frustrating year with the weather just simply not playing ball at times when they really needed it to.

The net result of this is that they have slumped into the same situation as dairy farmers were last year: high on farm inflation and flat revenue.

The silver lining for them will be that higher stock prices may mean they can make a little bit more on their way through, from winter grazing and fattening store cattle.

Although, like all red meat farmers at the moment, the store market remains red hot, as does the schedule, which is giving people the jitters as to where the schedule will track in the medium term (with having to pay so much in the current store and weaner market).

That said, if we go back to the very start, the tariffs and global uncertainty have by default only really ended up being a positive for the New Zealand industry. With exported goods remaining in high demand, it hasn’t even put a chink in the exporter’s armour, if anything it’s added a Kevlar vest

to it, and the future certainly in the midterm looks bright for the sector.

As for the speed bump in machinery sales, luckily most of them have suspension nowadays and like all resilient rural folk, the rural businesses which support them are equally as battle hardened.

IMPACT: A frustrating harvest and fickle weather have impacted overall machinery sales in non-dairying regions.

Jaiden Drought MARKETS Machinery

A man goes to the doctor. He says, “Doc, you gotta check my leg. Something’s wrong. Just put your ear up to my thigh, you’ll hear it!”

The doctor cautiously places his ear to the man’s thigh only to hear, “Gimme 20 bucks, I really need 20 bucks.”

“I’ve never seen or heard anything like this before, how long has this been going on?” the doctor asks.

“That’s nothing Doc. Put your ear to my knee.”

The doctor puts his ear to the man’s knee and hears it say, “Man, I really need $10, just lend me 10 bucks!!”

“But Doc, that’s not all. There’s more, just put your ear up to my ankle,” the man urges him.

The doctor does as the man says and is blown away to hear his ankle plead, “Please, I just need $5. Lend me five bucks please if you will.”

“I have no idea what to tell you, but I can make an educated guess. Based on life and all my previous experience, I can tell you that your leg seems to be broke in three places.”

Capital Stock Ewe and Lamb Sale

Waipaoa Station, 1497 Armstrong Road Whatatutu, Gisborne Wed 18th June – commencing 11am

• 1400 2th Ewes (Rom

BULLS. Quality. Well grown. Waimouri Stud Feilding. Phone 027 224 3838.

RAMS FOR SALE

HEADING PUPS 3 months

to NZ

Diesel. Phone

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0800 85 25 80 to book or email wordads@agrihq.co.nz

WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone 0800 85 25 80.

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Self shearing sheep. No1 for Facial Eczema. David 027 2771 556.

STOCK FEED

HAYLAGE $85, baleage $95, lucerne baleage $115. Unit loads available. Manawatu area. Phone 021 455 787.

TREES FOR FARMS

TRUFFLE TREES FOR SALE. Native and exotic, stock shade, erosion protection, additional income from truffles, carbon credits, stock fodder, livestock shelter and many other benefits to your farming operation. (minimum order 10 trees) delivered to your farm. Visit 021garden.co.nz

Litterland Truffles to order your trees today. Phone 021 327 637.

WANTED TO BUY

CULL RAMS, END OF LIFE rams and unsold stud rams for slaughter. Freight Paid - North Island only. Phone 027 475 9418.

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. 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.

BOOK AN AD. For only $3.30 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email wordads@agrihq. co.nz

OKAWA BULL SALE

BULL SALE

POSSESSION BULL SALE

TARANAKI CATTLE FAIR

Stratford Saleyards

Wednesday 4th June 2025 12 Noon Start

SPECIAL ENTRY

Account W & K Peterson Family Trust

300 x R3yr Hillcountry Steers

• Comprising R3yr Hereford/Friesian, Angus/Friesian and Friesian Cross Steers with good frame and bone

• Farmed at Ahititi, North Taranaki

• Liveweights 520kg-640kg

• Drafted into appropriate Breeds

Enquiries: Stephen Sutton M: 0274 423 207 stephen.sutton@nzfll.co.nz

SPECIAL ENTRY

Account G Weston

80 x R3yr Hfd/Frsn BlackWH Hillcountry Steers

20 x R3yr Hillcountry Angus/Frsn Steers

• Liveweight 560kg-700kg

• Farmed at Kohuratahi Eastern Taranaki

Enquiries: Simon Payne M: 027 241 4585 E: simon.payne@nzfll.co.nz

Mangamingi

• Age grouped R3yr to R8yr C10 Status / NZFAP / Vaccinated against Lepto annually

A rare opportunity for those looking to buy a very well bred Angus cow. Great temperament.

A calving span of just two cycles. The cows will be drafted and presented in line to suit all buyers.

A rebate commission will be available to purchasing agents by prior arrangement. The auction will be conducted under the terms of the NZ Stock & Station Agents Assn. Online bidding will be available on

For all enquiries contact: Shane Scott 027 495 6031 Full details at www.centralivestock.co.nz

BEECHWOOD & RICHON HEREFORDS

TAUMARUNUI ANGUS BULL

•

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Markets

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Pre-winter prep pays off for farmers

Strong demand, constrained supply mean healthy prices are greeting the seasonal sale of adult cattle.

Suz Bremner MARKETS Livestock

AS THE days get shorter and colder, farmer’s prep for winter has begun. At this time of year, saleyard operators see an increase in the volume of adult cattle to market and, in the South Island, this has been most notable for R2 cattle and cull dairy cows. Like all cattle markets at present, the market is favouring the sellers as good feed levels, confidence in the beef market and a lack of supply continue to have a positive impact on results.

At Temuka, the march of the cull dairy cows has been significant. Prior to this week, volume to date of this class had been down on historical levels, but that has come back up with a bang as a significant lift in bookings meant this class was split over two days.

The strength of the cull cow market has been directly related to strong schedules and winter contracts, and the strength of these shows that there is a lack of supply at a time when demand has been particularly strong.

Cull cows have been slower to come out this year, as dairy farmers took advantage of the high milk payout and good feed levels and milked more for longer, but with moving day and winter

now on the doorstep, the time has come to shift cows on.

Strong market pricing at auction has meant that, instead of heading directly to the processors, a large portion are off to the saleyards, which is typical for this time of year.

This is largely due to the fact that competition from processor buyers is such that returns tend to be above schedule, and that is certainly the case this year.

PGG Wrightson dairy livestock manager Barry Fox said the decision was made early to hold two sales.

“The Monday sale was filling up and since we also sell other classes of cattle (steers, heifers, bulls) on that day, there was interest in holding a second cow-only sale. So, we shut the books at 640 cows for Monday and flowed the rest to Wednesday.”

That flow was more like a flood, as just over 1100 cows were offloaded for that sale. Most came off the trucks in large consignments and were drafted down into manageable line sizes to a maximum of 17-head.

The yards looked quite a sight, with cow after cow after cow.

Barry Fox PGG Wrightson

“Temuka covers a big catchment area, from south of the Rakaia River to North Otago, and so the yards looked quite a sight, with cow after cow after cow,” Fox said.

While the Monday sale was strong, with Friesian and Friesiancross cows averaging $2.68-$2.70/

kg and up to $2.84/kg, the special sale proved to be stronger.

“The sale started at similar levels to Monday and most of the first half had cows making $2.70-$2.75/kg. But the second half strengthened as the regular buyers became more competitive to secure lines, and prices in the $2.80-$2.85/kg range were common for the same type of cattle.”

This gave the second sale an average of $2.79/kg, 9c/kg up on Monday.

While Fox said this pricing was very much in line with the strength shown in all markets at present, this is a time when cull cow prices are typically at the bottom of the market.

“Only a few years ago the levels were $1.20-$1.50/kg for cull dairy cows, so it is quite phenomenal where we are now. And this should

FLOODED WITH COWS: The Temuka saleyards played host to nearly 1800 cull dairy cows, and had to split the volume between the usual Monday prime and boner sale and a special cull dairy cow sale on Wednesday.

be the bottom end pricing at the moment.”

With volume already building for next week, there are expectations that another cow-only sale will be held at some stage.

A strong cattle sale at the Lorneville saleyards on Thursday, May 15 reflected a significant shortage of cattle in Southland coupled with good feed levels in the region. Processor buyers were also interested in this market and all combined helped push R2 dairy-beef steers prices to new levels.

These mainly sell for $3.80$4.00/kg, but well-marked lines at 385-430kg reached $4.10-$4.30/ kg. Their sisters started on a solid footing but quite a few of the later-offered lines were passed in, which were usually mixedquality types. What did sell made $3.55-$3.65/kg.

Aranui, Christchurch

Mount Pleas ant , Christchurch

Wattle Downs, Auckland

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

Lamb weigh crate operator

When: Fridays from 11am

Where: Feilding Saleyards

Hours: Approximately two hours per week on a casual basis

Activity: Be part of the team weighing store lambs on a portable weigh crate

Assist with other AgriHQ stock data recording activities if required

You will need:

• An adequate level of fitness

• Excellent stock behaviour awareness and handling skills

• Teamwork and an obvious empathy for the work of agents and farmers

• An ability to work a weigh crate (with training)

• An ability to work under pressure

Training: Full health and safety, and work training will be provided

More info: Please email suz.bremner@agrihq.co.nz or phone 027 622 9217

Dannevirke | May 15 | 430 sheep

Prime lambs, all

Feilding | May 15 | 3116 cattle

Weaner traditional steers, 235kg 1375

Weaner exotic-beef steers, 270kg

Weaner traditional bulls, 240kg 1325

Weaner exotic-beef bulls, 255kg 1355

Weaner traditional heifers, 220kg 1020

Weaner exotic-beef heifers, 245kg 1085

Feilding | May 16 | 1568 cattle, 19,805 sheep

Coalgate | May 15 | 441 cattle, 2016 sheep

Store

Store

Canterbury Park | May 20 | 107 cattle, 2327 sheep

R2 traditional bulls, 470kg 3.97 R2 Friesian bulls, 525kg 4.00

R2

Weaner Friesian bulls, 215kg

Weaner dairy-beef heifers, 170kg

Feilding | May 19 | 450 cattle, 2046

Store wether lambs, all

Store ewe lambs,

Temuka | May 15 | 1223 cattle

As winter nears, a look back at autumn

Philip Duncan NEWS Weather

IT’S the final week of autumn on the meteorological calendar with winter starting this Sunday, June 1. If you go with the astronomical calendar (Earth’s trip around the Sun) then we still have another month of autumn to go. Either way, we’re at that time of the year where we start to look at how autumn has been tracking.

Wet or dry

The past couple of months have seen some very heavy rain events – but they weren’t widespread across New Zealand. Top wet contenders this autumn have been the Far North, Northland, northern Auckland and in the South Island parts of Nelson, Canterbury, and Marlborough.

At the dry end of the scale, parts of northern Manawatū, northern Hawke’s Bay and southeastern Southland and Stewart Island were the driest.

The results of the past 60 days show a couple of things. 1) Rain was often subtropical. 2) It was fed in by northerlies and easterlies. It’s the northerly and easterly flow that has kept the top of both main islands wetter than usual this autumn, and the West Coast has only more recently started to see a more “normal” rainfall as

westerlies have returned off and on (and for this week too).

Temperatures

Early April was over 2degC warmer than average in the lower South Island, while late April was a couple of degrees warmer for the upper North Island.

Like the rainfall in recent weeks, much of the airflow was northerly or sub-tropical and this has helped spike the temperatures.

More recently we’ve seen temperatures still well above normal for this time of year.

Southland, Otago and Canterbury are the most above normal, with 1.2 to 2degC above average.

No wonder frosts haven’t been overly heavy, or as low down this year.

The rest of the South Island was 0.5 to 0.8degC above normal. The North Island wasn’t quite as warm above average, but over the past month many were around normal to up to 1.2degC above normal (“normal” being what has been measured over previous years/decades).

The only area below normal was a small part of Hawke’s Bay, roughly from Hastings to Waipukurau, where it was half a degree below average.

Sunshine

With varying wind flows and a mix of high and low pressure, we’ve had variety as far as sunshine is concerned. From northern

ANOMALY: The mean temperature anomaly map for the first three weeks of May.

Southland up to about Christchurch many experienced 115-125% more bright sunshine than average (likely due to more high pressure zones).

Parts of Auckland and much of Waikato were also 115-125% brighter, which has certainly been noticeable. It’s been cloudier than normal in Northland and the Nelson region, and

RAINFALL: The rainfall map for the past 60 days shows who was extremely wet, normal and severely dry.

around eastern Bay of Plenty and East Cape.

All other regions not mentioned have had good variety. “Variety” is a word I love to use as it usually means most people are getting what they need to run their farm/ business. After the sunny weather of last week, we have a wintry change this week. That weather “variety” continues.