Call for new look at ‘dark side of dairy’
Gerald Piddock NEWS
AFARMING consultant is calling for a law change to give contract milkers more legal protection after a damning survey revealed widespread abuse by farm owners in the dairy industry.
In the Contract Milking Experience Survey commissioned by co-founder and managing director of The Sharefarming Consultants Louise Gibson, abusive behaviour from a farm owner was reported by 43% of respondents, and 72.7% of respondents reported having had a contract milking experience that caused a mental and/or financial setback.
Of these respondents, 82.5% reported this impacting their family situation or relationship and 38.4% said that they stayed in the situation because they were worried about where they would live if they left.
The survey was carried out by Survey123 and had 276 responses, 201 from current contract milkers, equating to 12.8% of the industry’s current contract milkers.
Contract milking occurs where a person or business is under a contract to manage certain aspects of the farm business, including but not limited to milking.
Contract milkers are paid a dollar rate per kilogram of milk solids produced. A variable order
sharemilker, on the other hand, is paid a percentage of the milk cheque.
According to DairyNZ’s 20232024 Dairy Statistics, contract milking made up 14.5% of total dairy farm operation management in New Zealand.
Gibson said contract milkers do not fit into a typical contract law scenario because of the nature of the work.
There’s a very small percentage doing it on purpose.
Louise Gibson
The Sharefarming Consultants
“They don’t fit into that contract space because of that. They do fit well into the Sharemilking Act, but the definition – because they are paid a dollar rate rather than a percentage – is the problem.”
Reviewing the Act and changing that definition would make a world of difference, she said. She hopes the survey will lead to wider discussion and action on how that law change can be made.
The survey revealed issues with contract agreements. There was a perception that having a Federated Farmers contract milking agreement protected the contract milker. In reality it is a templated agreement, Gibson said.
The survey showed many
Continued page 3
Keeping farm tourism in view
Farmers are discovering the many benefits of inviting visitors to share in farm life. On Castle Ridge Station the focus is on telling the farming story, with a strong interest in hosting horse trekkers. Here, a party rides the ridge overlooking Lake Heron.
Annette Scott NEWS 10
SECTORFOCUS
NZ exporters could benefit from shipping overcapacity. NEWS 3
Why is mineral supplementation important over winter?
Winter is a critical time for dairy herds, with calving just around the corner. Ensuring your stock get the right mineral supplementation now can make all the difference later. From supporting herd health and preventing metabolic issues, to helping them calve well and return to the milking herd in top condition, it all starts with smart nutrition.
Playing the long growing game
Maungatapere kiwifruit grower Mike Crum has spent a lifetime in the industry. In that time he has learnt how to navigate the ups and downs.
NZ holds little appeal for scientists fleeing Trump’s US. NEWS 4
Food procurement policy should be the next govt target.
OPINION 13
Photo:
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News in brief Training accredited
Taupō Hospital has become the first North Island hospital to be accredited to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine training.
The programme will enable registrars to train to work in Taupō Hospital while also developing advanced skills in fields such as obstetrics, anaesthetics, mental health, and endoscopy. The government said the move will grow and strengthen the rural health workforce.
AgriZeroNZ has entered a partnership with Britain’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK, that will see the two organisations combine grant funding, investment and expertise.
The partnership will stimulate research and development into reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. It was confirmed in London last month with the signing of an agreement at an event hosted by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
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 events in Waikato, Canterbury and Southland. 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, and witness the latest innovations under development.
Farmers forum Farm goes live
New Zealand’s largest solar farm to date, capable of powering nearly 13,000 homes, has opened at Lauriston on the Canterbury Plains.
Genesis and joint venture partner FRV Australia have installed more than 90,000 solar panels on the 93 hectare site. They are now generating up to 100 GWh of electricity a year.
contract milkers are being pressured into signing agreements. When respondents were asked “Did you feel pressured to sign your agreement without seeking adequate advice?”, a combined 40% had felt somewhat pressured or pressured to sign without seeking adequate advice.
This pressure was often felt by young, inexperienced 2ICs looking to take their first contract milking job.
“If you don’t sign today, I’ll have someone sign tomorrow” pressure was “super common”, Gibson said. Gibson said she believes many prospective contract milkers are not ready and do not have the necessary business skills and experience needed to succeed in the role.
These people are also the easiest for unscrupulous farm owners to manipulate, she said.
A sizable minority of those surveyed said they had been instructed by the farm owner to breach the law around animal welfare, health and safety and Resource Management Act or consent provisions.
While 67-68% of respondents said no to all three, on animal welfare 17,5% said yes and 11.3%
PROTECTION: The Sharefarming Consultants co-founder and managing director Louise Gibson says more legal protection is needed for contract milkers.
This week’s poll question:
Should legislation be changed to give more protections to contract milkers in light of the recent worrying survey that showed many contractors are being poorly treated?
Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
said potentially; on RMA rules, 14.3% said yes and 12.8% said potentially; and on health and safety 20% said yes and 7.1% said potentially.
The survey found that many of the homes provided by farm owners breach Healthy Homes legislation, with a combined 57% saying yes or potentially.
Gibson’s advice for those planning on going contract milking is to go into it with their eyes open.
“The grass is not always greener in contract milking and don’t feel like a failure because you’re not going contract milking.
“And never ever let someone pressure you into signing a contract. If you are pressured into signing ... you are more likely to experience abusive behaviour and more likely to go financially and mentally backwards.”
Gibson said she does not want to tarnish all farm owners, saying there are some incredible owners and employers in the industry.
“No one is a villain in their own story, and many will be unaware that the behaviour they are carrying out is having this impact on contract milkers.
“There’s a very small percentage doing it on purpose. There’s a much larger chunk doing it without any concept they are doing something wrong.”
MORE: See page 5
Now tariff fallout roils shipping, too
NEW Zealand exporters could have a stronger hand to play when negotiating shipping rates if the trade war between the United States and China persists.
A sudden and massive overcapacity problem is emerging for global shipping lines as tripledigit tariffs strangle trade between China and the US.
Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world’s largest shipping groups, last month said customers had cancelled 30% of their shipments from China to the US.
Mike Knowles of the New Zealand Council of Cargo Owners said the route was rapidly becoming uneconomic for global shipping lines to operate on.
“I have heard they are about 70% empty.
“Those ships are extremely efficient if they are full but you can imagine if they are 30% full that is not going to last long.”
Shipping lines will soon be forced to decide whether to redeploy these ships elsewhere or take them out of service altogether, Knowles said.
Because of their large size, it is unlikely ships on the China-US route would be re-deployed to visit NZ ports, but they could be diverted to other Asian routes.
“It could trigger a cascading effect where they displace ships that are on those routes and then that releases those ships to come somewhere else and the smaller ships to Australia and NZ.”
Knowles said exporters were already receiving queries from shipping lines with vessels coming from China destined for
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DECISIONS: A sudden and massive over-capacity problem is emerging for global shipping lines as triple-digit tariffs strangle trade between China and the United States.
the US that could be re-routed through Singapore “just to help fill them up”.
While the transit time for NZ exports would be longer than for direct services to the US, a chance to book space on those ships would be welcomed by exporters that had missed those direct services – which is not uncommon at the height of the NZ production season.
“That is one of the unintended consequences we are starting to see.”
Knowles said NZ exporters typically began negotiating contracts with shipping lines in the middle of the year to carry next season’s production.
However, negating the possibility for freight savings for exporters was the Trump administration’s recent decision to hit Chinese-built ships calling at US ports with a new fee.
While it is not as high as the US$1.5 million for each port visit
that was originally proposed, it still has the potential to add hundreds of dollars of cost for each container shipped to the US from NZ.
Announcing the fee last month, the US Trade Representative said it would now only apply to ships carrying 4000 TEUs or more.
Knowles said that could hit exporters using Maersk’s direct service to ports on the US’s east coast, which tends to operate larger vessels.
“That has got more of a direct impact for NZ because China is the major shipbuilding country of the world now.”
Knowles said the fees were designed to encourage more ships to be built in the US but “that will take years because I don’t think they have the facilities to build these ships and they are certainly not more efficient.
“They will be a lot more expensive than anything built in Asia.”
Nigel Stirling MARKETS Transport
NZ will hold little appeal for fleeing US scientists
Richard Rennie NEWS Research
AFORMER United States scientist and sector spokesperson says there is little likelihood New Zealand will hold strong appeal as a destination for US scientists exiting research institutes under President Donald Trump’s funding cuts.
The Trump administration is slicing billions from national university research budgets. The moves have prompted multiple scientific agencies outside the US to work on attracting US research talent across their borders.
The funding cuts have been made across the board, including in agricultural research.
Reuters reports that funding freezes on food security and climate change reliance are hitting agricultural research centers in the US hard. The world-renowned University of California Davis, a leading agriresearch institute, has shuttered research projects due to funding cuts.
Just this month, Australia established a global talent attraction programme aimed specifically at the US.
Australian Academy of Science head Professor Chennupati Jagadish said there is “no time to waste” with other countries also working to mobilise US talent to their shores.
But ex-University of California
Berkeley PhD student Troy Baisden, who now co-heads the New Zealand Association of Scientists, said it is unlikely talent will be drawn further down under to NZ.
“There are three key areas such people would be looking at before coming here.
“They are good resources/ infrastructure in the sector, good salaries and good collaboration and funding access. On those grounds you would not touch NZ with a bargepole,” he said.
Back in 2012 it looked like all those aspects were present in NZ, he said, but the sector has suffered ongoing cuts ever since.
“And then we saw the end of the National Science Challenge last year.”
Baisden said he has had inquiries from international media on NZ’s attractiveness as a destination for career scientists.
“My answer to them is NZ is a year ahead of the United States in accelerating our brain drain in the science sector.”
He pointed to the latest research and development expenditure survey just released by Stats NZ, which reveals only a slight rise in R&D spend as a percent of GDP, from 1.49% to 1.54% between 2022 and 2024.
This still places NZ below the average OECD spend of 2.7%.
“It also reveals our primary sector research is down 4% after being adjusted for inflation. What it is also revealing is we do not make strategic, focused decisions
on where to invest R&D.”
But Lincoln University Professor Jon Hickford believes NZ still holds appeal for scientists who may be equipped to work at a practical, hands-on industry level in the pastoral sector.
NZ is a year ahead of the United States in accelerating our brain drain in the science sector.
Troy Baisden NZ Association of Scientists
“There are still good commercial opportunities here and the average farmer is usually very keen to work with scientists.”
He acknowledged scientists with more of a pure research background could struggle in NZ where public science funding falls short.
The Australians are not
alone in their efforts to recruit disenfranchised US scientists.
The French are offering “scientific asylum” for fleeing US researchers, German institutes are offering trans-Atlantic programmes, and the Brits are recruiting top scientists to their recently opened Ellison Institute research facility near Oxford.
Another expat US scientist, Dr Rod Claycomb of Hamilton, is sanguine about opportunities NZ may present US researchers.
He has spent 25 years here, arriving after being drawn to New Zealand’s (then) world-class dairy research sector.
His company, Quantec, has identified immune defence proteins extracted from milk, capable of boosting vaccine efficacy. Quantec is due to trial them in Shanghai on school children.
He agrees with Hickford that NZ still offers good pathways for commercially focused science to find routes to markets.
Fonterra to close Canpac site
Staff reporter
NEWS
Fonterra
FONTERRA is to close its canning and packaging facility, Canpac, in Hamilton at the end of July.
Around 120 people currently work at the plant in Te Rapa, and the co-operative will work through a consultation process including exploring potential redeployment opportunities before operations are planned to come to an end on July 31.
Canpac blends and packages milk powders and its closure follows the co-operative’s decision to focus on higher value ingredients such as advanced proteins and medical nutrition.
Low product volumes and increasing complexities in production have created challenging economic conditions for the facility, Fonterra’s chief operating officer, Anna Palairet, said.
“It’s been a tough day for all the team at the site. Making decisions like this is never easy.
“Our strategy is about creating end-to-end value and growing total returns for our farmer shareholders. We believe the best way to achieve this is to focus on our strengths and scale in ingredients and foodservice, and we are prioritising our investment on the parts of our operations that are better suited to this.”
“We are committed to supporting our employees as we work through the next steps.” .
The site currently packs up to 4000 tonnes of powders per year, less than 1% of the co-op’s total product volume.
In 2016, Fonterra cut 30 jobs from the plant when it outsourced its print and press operations, and in 2014, 104 jobs were lost from Canpac.
BARGEPOLE: New Zealand Association of Scientists co-head Troy Baisden doubts many US scientists will seek refuge in NZ from Trump funding cuts.
Photo: Pexels
Demand helps red meat ride out dollar dip
Neal Wallace MARKETS
ASHORTAGE of stock is underpinning high meat prices, with prime lambs inching towards $9/kg and stores nudging $4.50/kg and above.
Farmgate prices for prime lamb and beef are about $2/kg higher than a year ago, despite global trade uncertainty, the tit-for-tat imposition of tariffs leading to fears of an economic recession in the United States, and the impact of an appreciating US dollar against the NZ dollar.
After falling US3c in five days against the NZ dollar in early April, it then rose sharply US5c to US60c in 12 days where has since settled, promoting Silver Fern Farms to reduce its beef schedule by 20c/kg and lamb by 10c/kg.
AgriHQ senior analyst Mel Croad said current farmgate prices have lifted faster than expected in the past month despite those global pressures but reflect market strength and a shortage of stock.
ANZCO Foods supply manager Grant Bunting said some competing meat companies are
buying and slaughtering cattle and lambs in forward store condition.
Bunting said this had little to do with market signals but was driven by plant efficiency, which will have implications for supply for the remainder of the season.
“I’ve never seen it like this before in my career,” he said. Croad said before the US
imposed tariffs, including a 10% rate on imports from NZ, the US market was expected to be strong for a few years. While that remains the underlying long-term theme, the current mood has become more cautious about what tariffs mean to the US economy, and whether there will be a recession. Demand remains high for beef in
the US but there are also questions whether those prices could drive consumers to other proteins.
Croad said China has been an active buyer of lamb, mutton and beef since the US tariffs were announced.
We clearly are not operating in normal global trading conditions.
This season’s export lamb slaughter was forecast to be the smallest on record. This is underpinning current farmgate prices and competition for store lambs.
The AgriHQ lamb slaughter price for a North Island lamb this week was $8.70/kg ($6.15/kg at the same time last year) and $8.35/kg in the South Island ($5.90/kg).
A 32kg store lamb sold in the paddock is currently making $4.15-$4.45/kg compared to $2.40$2.60/kg last year.
To the end of March the North Island lamb kill was 5.139 million, 8.5% higher than the same time last season and nearly 1% higher
than the five-year average, while the South Island kill was 5.284 million, 13.4% behind last season and 10% down on five-year average.
For the same period the North Island cattle kill is 2.6% ahead of the same time last year and the South Island is 4.1% behind.
For a prime steer the comparable prices are $7.55/kg this year ($5.90/ kg) in the North Island and $7.20/ kg ($5.30/kg) in the South Island. Bull prices are currently at $7.15 to $7.60/kg, well ahead of last year at $5.35-$5.90/kg, and cow at $5.60-$6/kg compared to $3.35-$4/ kg.
In his fortnightly message to suppliers, Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton wrote that while demand remains favourable, the currency shift was the largest unfavourable swing by the USD across such a short period that we have seen for some time.
“Unfortunately, the recent movement in the USD has eroded significant market value, especially in beef.”
While still forecasting a “broadly favourable farmgate outlook”, it could not ignore the impact, reducing beef schedule 20c/kg and lamb by 10c/kg.
Feds support changing milking contracts, not law
UPDATING the Sharemilking Act to give more legal protection to contract milkers would be very difficult, says Federated Farmers sharefarm owners chair Brendan Attrill.
It would be a slow process, and was explored several years ago by Federated Farmers, he said. How far “we could move our agreements forward” would depend on the “political mood of the day”.
A faster and more practical
option would be to improve the Federated Farmers contract milking and variable order sharemilking agreements.
Farm consultant Louise Gibson said the Sharemilking Act needs to be amended to provide better protection for contract milkers, after a survey she commissioned in December last year revealed
We have learnt a hell of a lot in 10 years.
Brendan Attrill Federated
Farmers
widespread abuse by farm owners.
But Attrill said: “I think it’s far better to support the contract milking agreement we have got, work with all our industry players in relation to what further support do our contract milkers need to perform well, and what support do our owners need to make sure their behaviour is suitable and professional.”
The variable order sharemilking agreement could be amended to allow two payment options – the current percentage or having it as a dollar and cents per kilogram of milk solids.
The farm owner and contract milker would then decide on the option that best suited their situation when negotiating the contract.
Attrill said anything that shines a light on poor farmer behaviour is welcomed. He pointed out that a lot of work has been done over the past decade to improve contract milking for dairy farmers.
Before then, he said, it was a “wild west”, where there was a lot of inappropriate behaviour by farm owners and contract milking agreements of the time did not give enough protection to contract milkers.
“We have learnt a hell of a lot in 10 years. We have done a lot of education pieces in the last decade both with farm owners and share farmers.
“We have moved a hell of a long way in relation to where we were 10 years ago.”
He said that of course “we can do better – we always want to protect our contract milkers better and that’s what we have been working on in the past 12 months”.
That work includes looking at ways to further strengthen contract milkers and how to better support them.
Beef and lamb
ACTIVE: Mel Croad says China has been an active buyer of lamb, mutton and beef since the US tariffs were announced.
Dan Boulton Silver Fern Farms
Gerald Piddock NEWS Dairy
Global trade ripe for the picking: Marr
Annette Scott MARKETS Trade
THE tariff debacle aside, there is huge potential for New Zealand exporters to pick up global trade opportunities if they understand the perspective of their trading markets.
This is according to NZ Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Hamish Marr, back home on his Methven farm after global tours that have so far this year taken him across the globe.
Marr is upbeat about global trade. Talking of the Mercosur countries in the South American trading bloc, he said they have ambitions of their own to produce high quality agricultural product.
“We [New Zealand] fit inside their own ambition to produce high quality, high value product, so long as we are not of any threat to their local products.
“Short to medium term, that means we have to work with what adds value to their local production.”
He visited Colombia, Brazil and Peru as well as Mexico and other Latin American countries.
“This was a trip of understanding – understanding markets, government policy, culture, history and unique
things that make people and the countries they live in what they are.
“Understanding is fundamental in trade and it is crucial for collaboration in supplying products that suit individual markets.
“Our access markets are very interested in our production and are very admiring of the quality product that leaves our shores.”
Marr said while agronomic principles don’t change, definitions sometimes mean different things to different people.
NZ is held in very high regard and it is our responsibility to maintain that regard.
Hamish Marr
Special Agricultural Trade Envoy
“Very often it is thought that any difference is a negative. In my mind the difference is where the opportunity lies – the opportunity to add value for both parties without upset, the opportunity to collaborate and to sustain livelihoods of those throughout the value chain.
“To be successful in trade we must understand and I believe
we have achieved some of that.
“I have come home with much reflection of next steps; work to do.
“At every opportunity we must aim to produce the best product that we can, in collaboration with supply chains.
“NZ is held in very high regard and it is our responsibility to maintain that regard.”
He is optimistic about Europe.
“Europe is open for business [with NZ], they are happy with us, happy with our product and want more of it.
“They see us as producers of high quality product, as leaders in the field of sustainable food production and more and more want to partner in areas of research and sustainable food production.”
Over many years NZ has gained very strong working relationships built on trust.
“More and more I’m convinced value-add trade is the focus, to not only enhance our trade but others also.”
Alongside NZ market access teams, in Europe Marr met ministers and ministries of agriculture, trade and economics. He visited farmers and made presentations, coming away from many “productive meetings with full-on agendas” including in Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, the
Netherlands and Italy, buoyed with confidence of future prospects, including opportunities to realise free trade agreement potential.
“When looking and listening and understanding through conversation and presence, there is much in common, reinforcing the conclusion that we may be
far away in distance but in agriculture the challenges and opportunities are more often the same.
“In trade it is not just about goods, but mutual benefits.”
As for the United States, “no one really knows, it’s a wait and see there”, Marr said.
MUTUAL: NZ Special Agricultural Trade Envoy Hamish Marr says in trade it is not just about goods, but understanding and mutual benefits.
Farmers’ to-do list for candidates grows
Hugh Stringleman POLITICS Elections
RATES increases well ahead of inflation and going back many years will be top of mind for rural people in the local government elections in October, Federated Farmers says.
Local government spokesperson and national board member
Sandra Faulkner, from the federation’s East Coast region, said rating increases are a sore point for farmers because they are severely penalised by a rates system based on property value.
“It’s not at all uncommon for a farm’s rates bill to be well into the tens of thousands of dollars.
“Yet most are not connected to council water and sewage services, and are distant from facilities like libraries, parks and streetlights, never mind shiny new convention centres.”
Farmers will want answers from council candidates on whether they favour greater use of uniform charges, which Faulkner said is a fairer method of collecting council
revenue that spreads costs evenly among all property owners.
Issues around freshwater access and discharges and the state of rural roads are also likely to be key for farmers, she said.
Central government has signalled an intention to bring in a new and streamlined Freshwater Farm Plan system, as an alternative to councils requiring costly resource consents for ordinary farming activities such as putting in a farm track or fence, building a new shed, winter grazing, etcetera.
Farmers will want councillors who are committed to streamlining red tape and costs, who are engaged and who respond positively to the government’s proposed Resource Management Act reforms.
“Many farmers will be looking for candidates who want councils to focus on core infrastructure, and with a light-handed regulatory approach.”
Federated Farmers is also keen to see if the move towards councilcontrolled organisations in the Local Water Done Well proposals leads on to more shared services
and perhaps unitary council amalgamations.
The federation is advocating for central government to increase the Funding Assistance Rate from 5060% to 90%, for maintenance and renewal of roads and bridges.
It also wants constraint on central government’s habit of loading unfunded mandates (extra duties and requirements) onto local government.
“Councils are subject to a bewildering and over-the-top number and scope of legislative requirements.
“Federated Farmers has consistently opposed the idea that councils should provide for – and rate for – the so-called four wellbeings (social, economic, environmental and cultural).
“Such a broad mandate has seen many councils invest significant sums in activities well beyond what a majority of ratepayers would support, particularly in the current cost of living crisis.”
Faulkner said party-political affiliation of candidates can help show their values and the likelihood of voting on issues that have been campaigned upon.
It’s not at all uncommon for a farm’s rates bill to be well into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Sandra Faulkner Federated Farmers
Independent candidates tend to argue that they will make up their minds based on all information in front of them at the time.
“Federated Farmers expects all candidates to have the interests of their local community – the residents and ratepayers they have sworn to serve – at the heart of their decisions, irrespective of allegiance to any particular group.”
There should be no shortage of rural candidates for council elections, Faulkner said.
“We can only hope that the scale of issues facing local government will encourage greater numbers of people to exercise their democratic right.”
Broken roads must be a local govt election priority
Hugh Stringleman POLITICS Elections
TRANSPORT and roads will be one of the major issues for provincial voters in this year’s local government election, New Plymouth District Council mayor Neil Holdom believes.
“We are not collecting enough revenue to maintain district roads adequately.
“This is the No 1 issue for almost every rural and provincial council in the country.”
Holdom has been New Plymouth District mayor for eight and a half years and has not yet determined whether he will seek a fourth term.
August 1 is the candidate nomination closure date, he said.
Road user charges must become universal and skewed towards the superheavies.
Neil Holdom New Plymouth
During his time in office he has seen rapid deterioration in rural roads stemming from higher weight limits for trucks, especially log transporters from forests to ports or mills.
Another major issue for the election will be value for money spent by rural ratepayers, who generally do not use a lot of council services.
Holdom’s third large issue is advocacy for rural ratepayers in council dealings with central government.
Helping to bridge the gap in the
rural/urban divide and standing against unproductive compliance costs were two examples he used.
Born and brought up on a threegeneration Taranaki farm, Holdom cited edicts from Wellington bureaucrats on wastewater standards as particularly annoying.
In the past 18 months the coalition government has set the right direction of travel in resource management and local water, he said.
“It is good we have people who have run a farm in decision making.”
To make local government more sustainable, Holdom is attracted to the ACT Party proposal to share GST on new builds, ringfenced to infrastructure for urban development.
“We can’t keep increasing rates at 10% annually.
“We are also underfunding transport infrastructure to the tune of $1 billion annually.
“Road user charges must become universal and skewed towards the super-heavies, because that’s where the worst road damage occurs.”
Keeping in shape mentally and physically helps you put the best into the farm so the farm can give the best back to you.
Sam
Whitelock Farmstrong Ambassador
DISTANCE: East coast farmer Sandra Faulkner says most farmers are miles from the council services and facilities that they help pay for.
Dollar doubts unsettle farmgate outlook
DNigel Stirling MARKETS Trade
OUBTS over the United States dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency threaten to undermine an important shock absorber for farm incomes in New Zealand.
Historically, falling export prices caused by global economic storms have been offset by a weakening NZ-US dollar exchange rate as investors cash up to buy US dollars.
At the height of the Global Financial Crisis, between July 2008 and January 2009, US-dollar prices for NZ’s primary exports fell 29%. When converted into NZ dollars, however, prices fell by just 9.8% as the Kiwi dollar was deserted by international buyers, falling by nearly a third from US76 cents to US51 cents, but providing a buffer for NZ farmgate returns.
That link, if not broken, appears severely shaken as investors question the outlook for the US economy.
Since US President Donald
Trump’s April 2 tariff announcements, the US dollar has fallen 4% to a three-year low.
US government bonds have been pummelled. Trump’s threats to sack the chair of the Federal Reserve for being slow to cut interest rates added to the selling pressure.
Asked if the traditional shock
absorber for farmer incomes from a falling NZ-US dollar exchange rate in times of economic turmoil was gone for good, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner told Farmers Weekly it was no longer the certainty it had been.
“Initially with the tariff announcement we saw the traditional response as equities
fell and people went into the traditional safe-haven of US bonds and the US dollar went up but that didn’t last very long at all and has reversed ferociously.
“If you look at the NZ dollar, it tanked, stopped and is above where it was.
“Essentially there has been what people are calling the sell US trade.
“The risk of everything else has traditionally been relative to US government bonds so the idea that they could be risky is a pretty game-changing notion and in that regard historically reliable correlations may not be so reliable going forward.”
However, another development in currency markets prior to the recent turmoil appears to have been benefiting NZ farmers.
BNZ economist Stephen Toplis said higher prices for internationally traded dairy products since the beginning of 2024 had failed to light up the NZUS dollar exchange rate as it had done historically.
“So it is right to say we have perhaps not got the shock absorber to rely on but equally the currency
Satellite set to see the wood from the trees
Richard Rennie NEWS Forestry
THE levels of carbon contained in New Zealand forests and bush are soon likely to be better understood, thanks to the launch of a European satellite last week.
The European Space Agency (ESA) launched its Earth Explorer biomass satellite from French Guiana on April 29, employing technology capable of mapping the woody material of Earth’s forests. With this, experts hope to gain greater understanding of how forests influence the global carbon cycle.
In New Zealand, Scion scientists are expecting the satellite to collect biomass data over the country and provide data that can be used here.
A Scion spokesperson told Farmers Weekly the ESA has maintained a generous open data policy for several years that should grant researchers access to the data. Several open source software tools already are available to interact with the data.
The satellite will shed light on the health of global forests and carries a special radar capable of slicing through forest canopy and whole forest layers to measure biomass, namely
the woody trunks, branches and stems where trees store most of their carbon.
From a height of 660km up, the biomass measurement becomes a proxy estimate for carbon stored in forest canopies. Its application will reduce the uncertainties that exist in carbon stock calculations, in turn influenced by forest degradation and forest regrowth.
The Scion spokesperson said the satellite’s radar technology on board combines well with NZ’s LiDAR (light detection and ranging) measurements used by local councils, which systematically collect high resolution 3D data, already con-
tributing to biomass mapping.
“Together, these datasets could be complementary. LiDAR can be used to calibrate and validate the broader satellite observations, improving the accuracy of biomass estimates.
“In return, biomass satellite data can help extend local LiDAR-based insights across wider, less-surveyed forest areas, supporting national carbon reporting, biomass change monitoring, and forest management more broadly across NZ.”
It is likely NZ institutes will play a key role providing locally calibrated data to improve the satellite’s estimates.
The idea that US government bonds could be risky is a pretty gamechanging notion.
Sharon Zollner ANZ
did not offset the gains through higher commodity prices over the past few years and in fact it added to them.”
Zollner said this could be explained by the rise of the US as a net energy exporter. This had resulted in a stronger correlation between the US dollar and other commodity currencies so that the normal dampening effect on NZ export incomes from a higher US dollar during times of global economic growth would not be as strong as in the past.
“Over the last couple of years we have seen stronger dairy prices with the NZ dollar not responding.
“And farmers have been delighted about that but they would be horrified if the opposite occurred and dairy prices were low and the NZ dollar stayed high.”
LOW: Since US President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcements, the US dollar has fallen 4% to a three-year low.
MAPPING: The European Space Agency launched its Earth Explorer biomass satellite from French Guiana on April 29, employing technology capable of mapping the woody material of Earth’s forests.
Making agri-tourism part of the farm view
Annette Scott NEWS Agri-tourism
WITH growing global interest in sustainable and authentic travel, New Zealand’s agri-tourism is poised to capitalise on the demand for farm-to-table experiences and eco-friendly practices.
Farmers and rural communities increasingly recognise the potential of agri-tourism as a supplemental source of income, fostering a symbiotic relationship between agriculture and tourism.
In his address to the high country farmers field day in North Canterbury, Jonathan Wallis of Minaret Station, Wānaka, said tourism in the high country is becoming increasingly popular as the world becomes more conscious of the origins of food and the importance of sustainable practices.
He believes NZ’s farming community is positioned well, offering visitors a deeper connection to the land and the people who cultivate it.
For the Wallis family, tourism has grown from a desire to diversify as an extension of other farm businesses.
The rugged Minaret Station provides an opportunity to escape
the real world and taste some of NZ’s great outdoors.
“We built Alpine Lodge as a hub, and it provides the opportunity to enjoy some of life’s most precious elements, time, fresh air and open space, whilst creating lifelong memories with friends and family.”
Wallis said tourism in the high country has changed with an increasing number of people wanting to go further when they buy a jersey or blanket.
“They want to know about the wool, where it came from, how it all happened.”
Like any tourism, he said, the challenge is how to get critical mass to grow further.
“I would say the biggest asset in tourism is not the land and the vista. You have got to be able to run that business on a foggy day.
Tourism is about people, tourists’ interest with people on the land and where their food comes from.
“It provides a connection between urban and rural divide.
One of the key challenges is you have got to want to do it; it’s production, it’s a service, it’s hospitality.
“If the spuds are burnt, the steak is over-cooked, the service is no good, then they are not going to go away saying we’ve had a wonderful time.
“Everything works on reputation; if they have a good
time, they’ll tell 10 people, if they had a bad time, they won’t stop at 1000.”
For Kerry and Paul Harmer of Castle Ridge Station in the Ashburton high country, farm tourism is of a different level and focus.
“We do rent out the shearers’ quarters but we are farmers first and foremost and that’s just how Paul and I want it to be,” Kerry said.
“It may grow into something more with the next generation if that’s what the kids want to do.”
All by word of mouth, the Harmers rent out the shearers’ quarters and with horsey interests themselves, also take in groups with horses for high country trekking and overnight stays.
“We could grow it, particularly with the horses, but it’s about staying in a comfort zone and staying in control in conjunction with our farming business.”
The 6000 hectare Castle Ridge Station runs a Merino breeding operation with 15,000 ewes, 800 Angus beef cows and 250 red deer hinds.
Like generations before them, the Harmers run a streamlined farming operation with sheep the mainstay combining a dual focus on growing sustainable fibre and food.
“We don’t live in this
Overseer reboots team to meet tough market
Richard Rennie TECHNOLOGY Software
OVERSEER’S CEO is confident staff cuts and role restructuring at the nutrient software company have set it up well to weather a tough market and ongoing challenges from technology, competition and regulation.
Jill Gower confirmed to Farmers Weekly that Overseer has restructured, making four positions redundant while creating one new one.
The new position is a business support role, while the redundant positions include marketing, help desk and science sector engagement jobs.
“We have had the same size and shape team for the past few years. This is part of that process where you consider your operating environment, which has changed, competition has changed, and technology has also changed.”
She said any tightening of the
operation was in line with what has been happening across much of the New Zealand economy in the past two years.
The latest changes come after Gower oversaw a redevelopment programme in 2023 that incorporated recommendations made after a stinging review identified failings about Overseer’s nitrogen loss pathways and real-time monitoring ability.
After an overhaul, a new evaluation in late 2023 showed Overseer performed well against measured nitrate losses in grazed pastures and crop systems, with validation work improving confidence in the Overseer model.
Gower said the future direction for Overseer is now less about its role as a regulatory enforcement metric and more about being a tool to enable farmers to operate within environmental limits without compromising productivity.
In the past Overseer has become embedded in regional councils’
environment without thinking about it. We love and respect it, it’s everything to us to have a healthy environment and healthy farming business.
“We are farmers, that’s our focus,
regulatory regimes on freshwater management, with every council treating its use slightly differently.
“But none of our team are experts in the regulatory field.
“All we can say is this is what the tool does, from our perspective it is intended to be a tool farmers can pick up and use for their benefit.”
She said given the slow speed of regulatory change it was hard to know what direction councils may take in future on Overseer use.
The software’s subscription rate was hiked to $680 two years ago, and Gower said it may soon be time to revisit this rate.
Despite research spending being less than ideal, she remains optimistic the industry is motivated enough to pursue that research as much as possible.
“We are being led by the market, with the next thing being incorporated being catch crops. They are widely used, and need to be in there, we are very close to incorporating them.”
but tourism is a useful part of the farming operation bringing in a beneficial revenue stream; more importantly it does give us ability to tell our story and that is key in any farming business.”
Family cheese makers take top award
Richard Rennie NEWS Food and fibre
SMALLER independent cheese makers have claimed multiple victories at this year’s New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards, picking up 18 of the 24 trophies on offer.
Oamaru’s Whitestone Cheese has again proven to be a big winner in the awards, claiming four trophies. This included being crowned with the top award, the Woolworths Champion of Champions, for its Whitestone Monte Cristo.
Whitestone’s Monte Cristo also received trophies for best original cheese and best sheep milk cheese.
Employing 80 staff in its Oamaru plant, Whitestone was originally set up to help diversify the family’s farming business in 1987 and is today run by founders Bob and Sue Berry’s son Simon.
The company’s Pukaki Blue Brie was named champion new cheese.
Other independent cheese makers also walked away with awards, including Over the Moon Dairy for their creamy blue buffalo milk cheese and Belle Chevre Creamery’s marinated goat cheese as best goat milk cheese.
Barry’s Bay from Canterbury claimed best Dutch-style cheese for their aged Gouda and best retail cheddar cheese for their traditional Canterbury Red.
But Fonterra also proved that big does not mean bland when it comes to cheese quality.
The farmer co-operative claimed four trophies including champion blue for its perennial performer Kāpiti Kikorangi triple cream blue.
It also claimed trophies in the soft white cheese, fresh cheese, and export cheese categories.
Head judge Jason Tarrant said the line-up of cheeses had judges working overtime separating the best of the best.
MORE: A full list of champions can be found on www.cheeseloversnz.co.nz
PICTURE PERFECT: The farm tourism focus on Castle Ridge Station is about telling the farming story, with particular interest in hosting horse trekkers.
Photos: Annette Scott
MAINSTAY: Merinos are the mainstay on Castle Ridge, which has a dual focus on growing sustainable fibre and food.
BIG CHEESE: Jason Tarrant, head judge of this year’s Champion of Cheese awards, says this year marked an exceptional line-up of locally produced cheeses.
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From the Editor
Making Aotearoa nervous again
UNeal Wallace Senior reporter
NITED States President Donald Trump appears unperturbed at the global ructions from his attempts to make America great again.
The merits of achieving that incredibly ambitious goal will long be debated but the New Zealand primary sector is certainly feeling the fallout from that disruption.
The first question farmers, processors and exporters will be asking each morning is “What are the implications of the latest decree to come out of the Oval Office?”
Add to this the uncertainty surrounding unseasonally high farmgate prices, and processors and exporters have every reason for elevated blood pressure.
Prices for dairy and red meat are at or close to historic levels with talk that a $10/ kg schedule for lamb could be reached soon,
This week’s poll question (see page 1):
Should legislation be changed to give more protections to contract milkers in light of the recent worrying survey that showed many contractors are being poorly treated?
Have your say at farmersweekly.co.nz/poll
a figure that has previously been offered in August or September.
Prime lamb and beef prices are currently about $2/kg ahead of last year in defiance of global economic uncertainty, the on again, off again US tariffs, talk of a US recession and an exchange rate that in recent weeks has taken us on a roller coaster ride.
In early April the US exchange rate fell US3c in five days against the NZ dollar but then rose sharply from US55c to US60c in the following 12 days.
Exporters warn that currency appreciation will impact export returns even though that impact is likely to be moderated by string markets.
There are multiple drivers for what is an unusual aligning of planets.
Fonterra is charting new territory with a record farmgate milk price this season of $9.70 to $10.30/kg/MS due to strong global demand and value capture, especially from its ingredients and foodservice businesses.
Markets are strong but a shortage of stock is further elevating farmgate prices for prime cattle and lambs.
The US beef herd is the smallest in 74 years and it continues to grow as a key market for lamb. Europe is also proving lucrative for lamb and China is once again actively buying beef, lamb and mutton.
But a couple of potential problems linger
LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULT
MORE than half of voters in this week’s poll thought we should have more unitary councils in New Zealand. Of those 53.3%, many thought it allows for better decision-making. “Allows more localised decisionmaking and reduces duplications for many consenting activities,” one said. Another thought it would rid us of the system where one council polices another. “Having regional authorities managing compliance of district and city councils is ridiculous duplication.” However, some voters thought district and regional councils both play distinct and vital roles. “Our farming family greatly values having both Whangārei District Council and
from the current buoyancy for red meat. It has been forecast there are 16.9 million lambs available for slaughter but as we report this week, questions are being asked about whether those lambs are actually there.
High store market prices suggest buyers do not believe they are, which is likely to have implications for supply over winter and early spring.
Processors and exporters have every reason for elevated blood pressure.
Beef prices are being underpinned by procurement pressure as companies try to use margins from the strong US market. There are likely to be repercussions from this season, not least of all having stock to satisfy out-of-season markets and questions raised about whether this scenario is permanent and if it will require a correction in sheepmeat processing capacity.
It follows significant areas of hill country being converted to forestry, sheep replaced by cattle and the higher procurement costs potentially impacting company profitability.
Unfortunately, the sheepmeat industry has been here before.
Northland Regional Council, and their roles are quite different. But we are delighted that both councils have acted on the concerns of farmers and other ratepayers and that they work collaboratively (and in a fiscally responsible manner) with all other Northland and Auckland councils to create a much needed tier of additional protection (on top of the requirements of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act) against the risks of outdoor GE/GMO experiments, field trials and releases (Ge/GMO releases are wisely prohibited to protect our biosecurity, wider environment, and existing GM-free farmers/ primary producers).”
Letters of the week
Bumpy road lies ahead
Ann Dennison
Point Bush Ecological Restoration Trust
ALTHOUGH not involved in farming myself, I live in South Canterbury (surrounded by agricultural and dairy farms) and receive the local weekly farming newspapers including Farmers Weekly. I always find features and articles to be very pertinent and informative, especially for the farming community and associated communities as they navigate through turbulent times.
I have just finished reading the article written by Daniel Eb, “The Eating the Elephant guide to: crisis” (April 21) and it resonated strongly. He certainly flagged Ray Dalio’s aptly named “polycrisis” as the bigger thing we should all be looking at. His reference to looking at historic parallels and how they were adapted to or overcome was very pertinent.
It is glaringly obvious that world challenges on all fronts are alarming. Congratulations to Daniel Eb for his article and highlighting the issue in a very articulate way. Such recent world order disturbances have been on my mind and have turned more and more to the past ... to understand the future. There is much to be found by delving into history to make comparisons of how humanity dealt with major impacts and upheavals of the time.
One other major factor of great significance and influence right now is the current astrological phase. Pluto in Aquarius is major. Every 250 years (when this alignment occurs) there have been significant upheavals and world order changes, very impacting and yet always thrusting those affected into situations to deal with it. As Eb says, humanity is “wired” to do this and so there is a need to look beyond and bring about a collective and caring evolution of humanity. There is no return to world order as in the past 70 years, and we need to address the bigger picture, which is a massive shift in our preconceived world order. A bumpy ride ahead!
Well done Daniel Eb!
Last week’s question:
Do you think New Zealand should have more unitary authorities rather than serving communities through both a regional and district or city council?
Eating the elephant We did it with wool. Now for food
Angela Clifford
Clifford leads the not-for-profit food movement Eat New Zealand and co-owns the Food Farm, a permaculture property inspiring others to reconnect with where their food is from
THE government deserves a round of applause for its recent wool procurement strategy.
Mandating that public buildings use our homegrown fibre is a winwin-win – for farmers, citizens and the economy.
There’s a compelling case to extend this procurement policy further – ensuring that the cafeterias of our defence force, hospitals, prisons, schools and the Beehive are stocked with locally produced food.
Food procurement makes sense for a number of reasons. Firstly, the policy immediately creates more reliable markets for farmers, built on regular demand and a reduction in price volatility. It also keeps dollars circulating in our food producing regions, reduces food miles and limits our
dependence on nations with lower animal welfare standards than our own.
On the citizen-eater side of the table, a food procurement strategy would help deliver fresher, more nutritious food to vulnerable populations, educate the public about the agriculture sector and strengthen national food security.
The obvious places to start would be with our arable and pork sector. Mandating that every ham sandwich served in a public building is locally sourced would support these producers battling against cheaper, often lower quality, imported food. Our national supply of these two key foods sits at the end of complicated supply chains that are vulnerable to disruption. We import much of our milling wheat from increasingly drought-stricken parts of Australia and are at risk of losing our New Zealand Milling Wheat Breeding Programme without more support.
What does a food procurement strategy look like? Think percentage targets for locally produced foods in public institutions, or price preferences for NZ producers in competitive bidding. Long-term contracts would give farmers confidence to invest and innovate, while seasonal flexibility clauses would build in buffers for seasonal supply changes and adverse weather.
Broadly speaking, there are five ingredients to a sound local procurement strategy – school meal programmes, broad public institution procurement, system networking, certification and standards and political will. Let’s explore these across the myriad of global examples on offer, including among our trading partners.
School meals are often the starting point for procurement strategies. As we’ve seen here in
NZ, people care about what their children eat at lunch hour.
Brazil’s National School Feeding Programme requires that at least 30% of food purchased for school meals comes from local family farms. This programme serves approximately 45 million students while supporting smallholder farmers.
Up until the recent change in administration, the United States’ Farm to School Initiative connected schools with local farms to serve locally grown foods in school cafeterias, with varying implementation across the states.
Thailand’s school lunch programme preferences food from local farming communities and agricultural co-operatives. Many Italian municipalities mandate organic and local food in school meals, with some cities, like Rome, requiring up to 70% organic ingredients.
The next ingredient in a strong procurement policy is extending procurement mandates to other government institutions.
Denmark’s Copenhagen model means the city has achieved over 90% organic food in public kitchens (schools, hospitals and government offices) through a phased conversion approach without increasing budgets.
The Local Food Act in Ontario, Canada, has set targets for local food procurement in government institutions and provides tools to measure progress.
South Africa’s Preferential Procurement Policy Framework includes mechanisms to favour local suppliers and historically disadvantaged groups.
India’s Public Distribution System includes procurement quotas from small-scale farmers to support rural livelihoods.
Japan has an increasingly popular Chisan-Chisho initiative,
Think price preferences for NZ producers in competitive bidding.
sparked by a grassroots movement as a reaction to the long-term decline of agricultural and rural community. It promotes and supports the localisation of food consumption.
Networking and simplifying procurement processes using new governance structures and digital platforms is also a key ingredient. The best systems make it easier for small producers to bid on government contracts.
Examples include India’s e-NAM (Electronic National Agriculture Market) and Chile’s Chile Compra, which connect local mandis (markets) to promote uniform pricing and facilitate larger institutional purchases.
In Toronto, the Food Policy
Council advises the city on food procurement and in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, a municipal secretariat dedicated to food security coordinates procurement across agencies.
Certification and standards also help bring procurement policies together, such as Sweden’s Good Food in Public Kitchens, which sets standards for nutritional quality and local sourcing.
The final ingredient for a strong food procurement policy is arguably the most important: political courage. We need look no further than the United Kingdom, where the government has recently announced a 50% local procurement target for all government contracts.
Implementing a food procurement strategy is a logical step in supporting our farmers and better feeding our citizens. Far from it being a radical policy – we are international laggards without one. We just did it with wool. Now for food.
Downside to excluding stock from waterways
In my view
IHAVE recently noticed a major problem with blackberry, gorse and broom. Every year now I’m having to spray untold numbers of these along my creek banks, simply because I keep being infested with seeds from upstream during floods.
This is a result of being forced to fence cattle out of our streams to prevent pollution. The point being, those weed species were previously controlled by cattle nipping them in the bud, so to speak.
It could be suggested that because all fresh water is controlled by the Crown, they should be held liable for weed seeds being deposited on our properties by way of that water.
As regards the fencing regulation, in many instances
where the farming of livestock is not intensive, nor involves dairying, the blanket compulsory obligation to exclude stock from waterways is unwarranted.
Another point being that while the expectation that we should plant the fenced strip beside the streams with expensive natives might be a wonderfully admirable undertaking, it isn’t practical in situations such as my own –because once you do that, you can’t spray blackberry, which climbs up your plantings.
The same goes for the prolific willow growth along the banks and also on shingle spits within the bed of the stream, which will end up choking the waterway and cause major flooding to the adjacent land. And all that flood water will get contaminated from stock dung, which wouldn’t otherwise have happened to anywhere near the same extent, thus defeating the purpose of fencing.
Something to be noted is that native plantings won’t act as an
efficient filter if the polluted flood water is deep – which it will be, due to the stream being obstructed by willows that you couldn’t risk spraying, or reach with an excavator from outside the fence and/or over the top of the native trees.
Another issue is that major flooding will wipe out the very expensive mandatory fencing.
Of course, bureaucratic policies often lack the foresight to envisage the consequential downsides of regulations involving an element of virtue signalling, so common sense goes out the window.
The trouble is, those who instigate such ecological policies benefit personally from the feelgood factor involved. If it was they who had to pay the costs and
In many instances the blanket compulsory obligation to exclude stock from waterways is unwarranted.
do the work involved in fencing – which in some cases can mean losing the use of many hectares of productive land on each side of every waterway – they’d maybe consider the fencing obligation to be too draconian.
This would be especially so if they had to face the heart-breaking task of rebuilding the fences after every major flood. Then they’d suddenly decide that there should be a strategy of “discretion” regarding stock exclusion rules.
A sensible approach would be to carry out periodic testing of the water at the upstream and downstream boundary of each farm –and if the monitoring proved that the pollution level is consistently less at the downstream boundary, then that particular property should not have to have the waterways fenced.
Thus, it would only be those mainly responsible for contamination who would have to exclude stock.
That would be a practical, fair way of handling what is otherwise
a costly exercise in futility.
Of course, the “experts” would respond that if just the main culprits were taken out of the equation there would still be unacceptable pollution due to the cumulative effect of all the other farms contributing minor contamination.
Well, I would dispute that assumption, because I believe that even though the unfenced properties might all be causing minor fouling, it would be filtered and diluted along the way. This means that even towards the end of the waterway, before reaching the coast or wherever, the combined pollution would be at an acceptable level.
If not, then the water testing criteria would need tightening up, with more properties upstream being obliged to fence, because otherwise the poor sods near the end would all be having to.
In this series, the team pass the pen to four different food and farming New Zealanders.
HARVEST: New Zealand imports much of its milling wheat and risks losing the NZ Milling Wheat Breeding Programme without more support, says Angela Clifford.
Kerry Butler
Central Hawke’s Bay
Sector Focus
Playing the long game
farmstrong.co.nz
Maungatapere kiwifruit grower
Mike Crum has spent a lifetime in the industry. Here’s what he’s learnt about navigating its ups and downs.
Tell us about your operation.
We grow organic Gold kiwifruit. While we still own the orchard, my daughter and son-in-law have taken over what used to be my business – a management company overseeing about 15 orchards and they manage our orchard.
How did you get started?
I began my journey in horticulture at the age of 15 and retired around 55.
You must have seen plenty of changes along the way?
Yes, like any industry, there were good times and bad times, always presenting new challenges to tackle.
What was the most challenging time?
For us, it was actually when we grew avocados. We purchased an avocado orchard in 2001 and also invested in a building in Christchurch. However, the 2010 earthquake destroyed the building, and simultaneously, our avocados were afflicted with phytophthora, ceasing production. That was probably our lowest point.
How did you get through?
To maintain cash flow,
we expanded our orchard management business and integrated beekeeping, as growers were struggling to find beekeepers for crop pollination.
How did that go?
In an unexpected way, it was almost a career highlight because it was so challenging. It forced us to knuckle down and pivot. Despite the uncertainty, it was also a great time – we learnt a lot.
Sounds like you really leaned into the pressure?
Yes, it was an opportunity that also brought us together as a family. We removed all the avocados and gradually planted kiwifruit. This process allowed our children to gain experience in developing orchards and fostered a genuine love for the industry, which was pretty cool.
Stay cool, calm, and collected, and appreciate what you have.
Mike Crum
Maungatapere
What sort of mindset does it take to deal with so much change and uncertainty?
Maintaining perspective is crucial. I’ve travelled extensively and witnessed the vast demand for quality food and produce, with New Zealand playing a significant role in meeting that demand. This provides immense confidence.
I’ve also visited places like Bolivia and Peru, where the standard of living is low, yet people remain happy. I believe that
as long as you can provide food and care for your family, happiness is attainable. One of the things I’ve learnt is that the human spirit has the capacity to find happiness regardless of circumstances – you can choose to be happy.
Sometimes, it’s about putting life in perspective.
What about those years when nothing seems to go right?
From a business standpoint, it’s beneficial to view your operations in five-year chunks rather than annually. Growing food is a yearlong endeavour, and there will be years with minimal profits. However, during those times, you’re not paying taxes, which is a significant saving.
Over five years, the bad and good years tend to balance out, and it’s the average that counts. Over time, you’re still progressing.
After 40 years in the business, what’s your main insight about keeping well?
You have to appreciate both the highs and the lows because you don’t experience the highs without taking risks, which often involve borrowing money without guaranteed success.
It’s also important to accept that over 20 or 30 years, you’ll face tough times, and come to terms with that. I recall from my sports days that you don’t always win, and I wonder if it’s similar in business too.
The positive aspect of this industry is that there’s always something you can do to pivot; you’re not powerless. Nowadays, there are vast employment opportunities within the kiwifruit
industry, whether it’s running packhouses, managing other people’s orchards, or working in post-harvest and supply sectors.
Farmstrong encourages farmers and growers to look after themselves as well their land and produce. How do you achieve that over the course of a career?
I think you’ve got to play the long game. The kiwifruit business is on a real high at the moment, but you have to realise that the industry operated at no profit for extended periods, and all the individuals doing well now probably went through those times. So, don’t get too uptight. Stay cool, calm, and collected, and appreciate what you have. We
probably live in the most beautiful country in the world, with the best air quality and friendly people. On top of that, you get the opportunity to run your own business.
If the farmer in the depths of Bolivia, living at 4000 metres with 20 sheep and a couple of horses, can be happy, surely we can be happy here too.
MORE:
Farmstrong is a nationwide, rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers manage the pressures of farming and growing. Last year, 15,000 farmers and growers improved their wellbeing thanks to Farmstrong. To find out what works for you and lock it in, visit www.farmstrong. co.nz
Climate change gets sticky for carrots
THE humble carrot is a staple in many diets worldwide, but a Massey University study has found it may be under threat as climate change impacts seed production and global food security.
The vibrant root vegetable is often celebrated for its health benefits, being rich in beta carotene, which supports eye health, strengthens skin, teeth and bones and provides a variety of essential nutrients. What is less well known about carrots is that New Zealand plays a crucial role in the global carrot supply, producing over half of the world’s carrot seeds.
Since carrots are grown from fresh seed each year, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality seed is essential for maintaining the global carrot crop. However, with climate change threatening this seed supply, the future of carrots is looking increasingly uncertain.
Researchers from Te Kunenga
ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s School of Agriculture and Environment conducted a study of 18 years of data, funded by the Seed Industry Research Centre with AsureQuality support and led by senior research officer Craig McGill.
This research is the first report modelling the impact of climate change on carrot seed production.
Carrot seeds grown in New Zealand primarily come from the Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay regions, which have experienced significant temperature increases since 2015.
Asharp Godwin, who worked on the study as part of his PhD, said the temperature changes are affecting seed production.
“Carrot seeds are generated from the plant’s flowers above ground, which can grow up to a metre tall and bloom in the summer with bright white flowers.
“This plant growth is highly sensitive to climatic conditions, meaning any changes directly impact the yield.”
The study incorporated temperature and rainfall data from
2005 to 2022 modelled from 28 carrot seed-producing locations in Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay.
The research team modelled the impact of the atmospheric conditions and rainfall during key growth stages of carrot seed production, including the juvenile phase, vernalisation, floral development, flowering and seed development.
Increased temperatures negatively affected carrot flowering, which in turn impacted seed development. Similarly, high rainfall during the reproductive and flowering phases proved detrimental to carrot seed yield.
The underlying highlight from the research is the vulnerability of carrot seed yield to climate change. Even a small rise in temperature can have significant impact on seed production, as elevated temperatures disrupt the plant’s ability to produce viable seeds.
Godwin said the work is important in guiding the necessary policy decisions to mitigate further damage and potential food insecurity.
ALL SMILES: Mike Crum, pictured here biking in South America, says one of the things he’s learnt is that the human spirit has the capacity to find happiness regardless of circumstances – you can choose to be happy.
FEDERATED FARMERS
Govt must deliver on Kiwisaver vow
Federated Farmers is once again calling for the Government to deliver on its commitment to change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder.
On the eve of the 2023 election, the National Party announced it would change the rules so young farmers could withdraw their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home, farm, herd or flock.
“This policy was incredibly popular and got a lot of attention, but we’re now 18 months down the track and yet to see any movement,” Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says.
“They stood up and made a commitment to the next generation of farmers. Now they need to do the right thing, follow through, and deliver on their promise.”
Last November, National MP Suze Redmayne submitted a Members’ Bill called the KiwiSaver (First Home for Farm Land and Service Tenancy Tenants) Amendment Bill.
“It’s great Suze has put forward that bill – which would address many of the issues – but it’s one of more than 70 others in the box, so it may never even get drawn. It’s effectively a raffle,” McIntyre says.
“Having a Members’ Bill in the box isn’t really the Government delivering on its promise, is it?
“What needs to happen now is for the Minister for Agriculture, and all their rural MPs, to really get in behind the issue. They should pick it up as a Government bill.”
One person seeing the impacts
of the current rules is Waikato mortgage adviser Kylee Smit, who works with many farming clients frustrated at not being able to access their KiwiSaver.
“I’m probably dealing with one or two people every week in this situation.
“With the strong dairy payout right now, there are a lot of sharemilkers and even contract milkers who are earning more, and they’re seeing that chance to buy a house.
“They can easily service a mortgage but, for most of them, their deposit needs to come from their KiwiSaver.
“Being able to access those funds is the difference between them getting on the property ladder or not.”
Smit, whose husband is a dairy farmer, wrote to the Prime Minister in April asking when the Government would be delivering on its pre-election promise.
A response from Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Scott Simpson finished with: “I am not currently considering any changes to KiwiSaver withdrawal settings but have passed your correspondence onto my officials for consideration”.
That response has frustrated Smit –and her clients.
“It’s very disappointing to see the Government has decided not to change the settings.
“Farmers and rural workers have been expecting action based on these promises, and it’s incredibly disappointing to see that commitment abandoned.”
The changes would make a huge difference for young farmers, giving them a tangible pathway to ownership and investment in agriculture, Smit says.
“Farming’s the backbone of our economy, but there continues to be limited support to encourage farm ownership among the next generation.”
She says changing the rules would offer a real opportunity to allow employees provided with accommodation by their employers, like farm workers, to use their KiwiSaver towards purchasing an investment property.
“For many rural workers, owning a farm may never be realistic or even a goal, but owning an investment
property could allow them to build wealth and security for their retirement.
“It’s about giving farm workers a chance to create financial stability while staying in the jobs and communities they love.”
Smit recently posted about this issue on the NZ Dairy Association Facebook page, and many farm workers commented they’d simply say they’re going to live in a property even when they aren’t – just to be able to access their KiwiSaver.
“That clearly shows how out of touch the current rules are. It also highlights the real risk created by forcing people to bend the truth just to unlock their own retirement savings,” Smit says.
WAITING: Waikato mortgage adviser
Kylee Smit says she and many of her farming clients are frustrated the Government hasn’t yet changed the KiwiSaver settings.
“If we want to keep good people in farming, it’s crucial we provide better, realistic ways for them to invest in their futures whether it’s buying into farm, livestock, or a rental property.”
McIntyre agrees and says he hopes Minister Simpson’s reply to Smit was a mistake.
“His party very clearly made that commitment to change the rules, so why would the Minister now say it’s off the table? I can only assume it’s a mistake on his part.
“We want to see the Government pick up Suze Redmayne’s bill and make this happen.
“We haven’t forgotten their promise – and we won’t stop asking for it to be fulfilled.”
Adviser warns against common succession mistake
Conversations about farm succession planning can be emotionally charged and uncomfortable, but it’s a mistake to delay them, says Michael Raynes.
The Forsyth Barr financial adviser says succession is a conversation many farming families know they need to have but often put off until it’s too late.
“I’m not sure there’s a manual on how these things should play out,” Raynes says. “So, I think the most important thing is just to start having that conversation.
“You’ve got to make a start because these things take time to work through.”
Speaking on the Federated Farmers Podcast, Raynes said succession planning is especially challenging when the farm has been
in the family for generations.
“That’s exactly why it’s so important to approach the process with openness and clarity. Ideally, you want to have a round-thetable conversation in a relaxed environment.
“Families need to talk about things like who’s actually interested in taking over the farm, how assets would be divided if there are family members off-farm, and how the purchase would be funded.
“These are big questions but asking them early will help avoid conflict and surprises.”
It’s not just about the numbers – succession planning is deeply emotional, which is why Raynes suggests involving a trusted third party to help facilitate discussions.
“One suggestion – and I’ve seen this work well – is to use someone well-known and trusted by the family to mediate conversations,” he says.
“They can be objective and unemotional, because it is emotional stuff when you’re dealing with family legacy and large amounts of money.
“I think having someone impartial who can help keep people on the straight and narrow with those conversations is a good place to start.”
Raynes emphasises that succession isn’t a one-off decision, but a long-term process that should be approached with a clear, staged plan.
“You need a plan over a period of time – maybe five or 10 years, or even longer,” he says.
“How do you best position yourself to make this happen? There are a range of steps – operational, strategic, financial – and they all become milestones in your exit plan.”
He says these steps need to
be written down and agreed to by everyone involved, so there’s a shared understanding of the timeline and expectations.
“Invariably, people say they’ve started too late,” Raynes adds.
“I’ve seen instances where people physically aren’t able to keep farming, or something unexpected happens – and they haven’t got things in place.
“If you’ve planned and know what your exit strategy is, and the roles people will play, that can really take the stress away, because you do have a plan.”
Raynes also encourages farm owners to think strategically about their long-term financial security –and that means looking beyond the farm gate.
“For farm owners, their risk profile is closely tied to what I’d call NZ Inc., through their land and business,” Raynes says. “In isolation, they’re donkey-deep in New Zealand.”
That makes it all the more important to consider ways to diversify wealth outside of the farm, he says.
While Raynes acknowledges his bias as a financial adviser, he says investing in capital markets can provide valuable exposure to other parts of the global economy.
“You might have a strongly performing farm – that’s great, and it’s helping you build your wealth,” he says.
“But investing off-farm allows you to put money to work in other productive areas, including markets outside New Zealand. And it provides liquidity – way more than a farm ever could.”
In the tough years when farming income dips, having another source of income can help relieve a bit of
B&B, or investments in managed funds.”
Families need to talk about things like who’s actually interested in taking over the farm, how assets would be divided if there are family members off-farm, and how the purchase would be funded.
Michael Raynes Forsyth Barr financial adviser
pressure, he says.
“There are some farm owners and accountants who are quite proactive in this space.
“You’re seeing more farms that are looking for off-farm income –whether that’s a bit of tourism, a
He encourages farmers to consider investing in high-quality companies – through managed funds or other investment vehicles – to grow wealth steadily and securely.
“It’s just another way to make your money work harder,” he says. “Investing in companies that have the ability to grow and be more profitable over time is usually a pretty good recipe.
“Through managed funds, farmers can diversify into international markets and gain exposure to industries and companies not available locally.
“There are some amazing global companies based in NZ – like Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Mainfreight – but the fishing pond is just much bigger overseas.”
TALK: Successfully passing a farm from one set of hands to the next involves having good conversations and record keeping, Michael Raynes says.
JOURNEY: Michael Raynes says succession isn’t a one-off decision, but a long-term process that should be approached with a clear, staged plan – and started early.
GE Bill must protect our right to choose
offer New Zealand, the farmer’s right to choose remains a very clear condition on that support.
some parts of our farming systems could be valuable in a staggered approach.
ebate ebbs and flows on the merits and potential downsides of gene technologies but there’s a core principle Federated Farmers won’t budge on: the farmer’s right to choose.
Now the Gene Technology Bill has had its first reading in Parliament, discussion on proposed reform of our GE regulatory framework has ramped up.
We know this is a hot topic with Federated Farmers members too.
At our turn in front of the Health Select Committee earlier this month, I was very upfront with politicians that farmers’ views on this issue are about as diverse as our individual farming systems.
Many farmers are in support of reforms, some are neutral, and others are firmly opposed.
We commissioned independent research in October last year. Of 1000 farmers (not just Federated Farmers members), 60% supported allowing use of gene technologies in agriculture.
A sizeable minority of 23% were opposed, and 17% were neutral or unsure.
Given those findings and other feedback, I put a real focus in our submission to the select committee on protecting a farmer’s right to choose.
Federated Farmers operates a democratic voting system driven from the grassroots up, not from the top down, and we’ve taken the same approach in forming our view on this issue.
Elected delegates from our 24 provinces who sit on our National Council agreed to support the review of the current legislation and advocate for the benefits of genetic technology.
While Federated Farmers supports reform, and a cautious and sensible exploration of what these tools can
This means there needs to be controls or systems put in place to block the spread of GE organisms onto properties of farmers who don’t want it, making rules and regulations practicable for farmers to use.
We did look at other countries, such as Australia, which have gone through similar reform. They now have growing rather than shrinking GE-free and organics industries, farming alongside use of GE crops.
Ultimately, it’s individual farmers who should be able to weigh up the worth of any premium from being GE-free, compared to any benefits that may come from using gene technology.
Wayne Langford Federated Farmers national president
We understand they’ve been able to drastically reduce pesticide reliance, among other added benefits, while exporting GE and non-GE product without issue.
They’re getting the best of both worlds while some Kiwi farmers are left without a choice.
Federated Farmers isn’t asking for the gene tech Pandora’s box to be busted open, with free rein for everyone.
We believe the Government’s bill is a start of a conversation we advocated for. Now it’s important we get it right.
There are still questions on how we can achieve this ‘right to choose’, given our different climate and farming systems. That’s what needs more investigation, and careful drafting of regulation.
As mentioned, free rein is not necessary, but looking at its use within health, conservation, pest management (animals & plants) and
It’s important we analyse the use of GE through more than just the one lens of production. The likes of profitability, sustainability, market access, human health and other aspects should also be in the conversation.
Federated Farmers is also proposing regular system reviews to ensure whatever is brought in is working for all farmers and growers.
What about the impact on the value of our trade?
Giving farmers the right to choose will mean individual farmers and the companies they supply (often governed by farmers), can determine this, taking into consideration their customers’ preferences.
Whichever side of the fence farmers and growers are on regarding this topic, I hope they can see we’ve listened carefully to both sides of the argument and tried to find a pathway forward.
Ultimately, it’s individual farmers who should be able to weigh up the worth of any premium from being GE-free, compared to any benefits that may come from using gene technology.
Wayne Langford Federated Farmers of New Zealand president
DEMOCRATIC: Federated Farmers’ grassroots-up voting system means its stance on gene technology reflects the voices of those on the land — not top-down directives, Wayne Langford says.
HOLISTIC: Gene editing needs to be analysed through the lenses of sustainability, profitability, market access and human health, Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says.
If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu
After serving as a Waikato district councillor, dairy farmer Chris Woolerton is now putting his skills to good use standing up for local farmers.
“If there’s one thing my time in local government taught me, it’s that you’ve got to have a seat at the decision-making table,” the Federated Farmers North Waikato chair says.
“The reality is that if farmers aren’t sitting around that table offering practical solutions when big decisions are being made, we’re just going to find ourselves on the menu time and time again.
“I like to think my experience with council has positioned me well to bring farmers together, help them navigate the system, and hopefully drive some positive change for farming.”
The Taupiri farmer represented Waikato District Council’s rural Hukanui-Waerenga Ward from 2019 until 2022, before the ward was disestablished due to council boundary changes. He says it’s absolutely critical that local government involves farmers right from the start when changes are being considered – but unfortunately that’s not always the case.
“When council don’t talk to farmers from the outset, that’s when we end up with expensive and totally unworkable rules that put the next generation off farming.
“It’s so important for organisations like Federated Farmers to be meeting with councillors regularly –and I mean all of them, not just the ones who are already farmer-friendly.
“We need to make sure we’re being proactive and getting involved
Susan, and studied for a diploma in agribusiness.
When
council don’t talk to farmers from the outset, that’s when we end up with expensive and totally unworkable rules that put the next generation off farming.
Chris Woolerton Federated Farmers North Waikato chair
early, because once decisions are made, they’re nigh on impossible to change.”
Woolerton grew up on the family dairy farm in Horsham Downs, then worked as a fitter and turner for New Zealand Dairy Group for four years in Pukekohe.
But the call of the country was strong, so he returned to the family farm soon after meeting his wife,
“My parents said, ‘can you come back to the farm now?’ so we took them up on it and haven’t looked back.”
Chris and Susan now farm in Taupiri on 370 hectares including a runoff. They have two herds, one with 380 cows and the other with 480 cows.
Their contract milker has five staff, which gives Woolerton time for his Federated Farmers work.
“I still do what I can to make sure I work on the farm every day, getting my hands dirty and keeping me connected to the land.”
One of Woolerton’s biggest concerns is the increasing number of unnecessary restrictions being placed on farmers and the impact that’s having on profitability.
“Farmers want our children
and grandchildren to have the same opportunities to farm as our generation had, but there has to be some money in it for that to be appealing to them.
“If farming isn’t profitable, or in some cases even financially viable, how are we supposed to attract keen young people into the sector? It’s not going to happen.
“If we want to see a future for farming in this country, we need to be making things easier, not harder.
Technology has a huge role to play in that too – but it has to be affordable.
“We also need to be doing our part to make sure our young people have flexibility and a good work-life balance. The new generation wants to work smarter, not long hours with no days off.”
Woolerton is also incredibly passionate about growing Federated
Farmers’ presence in the Waikato region and making sure farmers have a strong voice – particularly in his home patch.
“We’ve got some great people in Federated Farmers who are putting in a lot of time and effort voluntarily on behalf of our rural communities.
“Most farmers wouldn’t see half the work being done quietly behind the scenes, but if that work didn’t get done, the flow-on effects for our businesses would be huge.”
Woolerton knows not everyone can afford to take time out of their business or away from their families to push back against some of the rules and costs for farmers.
“But somebody has to,” he says.
“And the more members we have standing behind us, the more impact we can have – so if you’re not already a member, it’s time to sign up and support the work we’re doing.”
FUTURE FOCUS: Chris Woolerton is passionate about making farming viable and appealing for the next generations of farmers coming through.
CHANGE: Chris Woolerton says if we want to see a future for farming in this country, we need to be making things easier, not harder.
Ashburton 904 Dip Road, Methven
Opiki 156-160 Campbell Road
Premium Opiki property - prime soils
Long regarded as having some of the best soils in the Manawatu, the Opiki region is second to none when it comes to productive capability. Located in the heart of Opiki, 156 Campbell Road is an exceptional 76 ha property that stands out for both its scale and versatility. The land features predominantly Opiki complex and Makerua peaty loam soil types highly prized for their fertility and performance. These soils are locally used to grow a variety of vegetables fodder, and cash crops, as well as for dairy production, support grazing, and livestock finishing. The property's potential is only limited by your preferred farming system Currently, the land is used for supplement production, supporting a largescale dairy operation. For the 2025 season, the entire property was planted in maize and has since been sown down in a new permanent rye-clover pasture, giving the next owner a great head start with fresh, high-performing pasture species
3 1 2
Tender closes 11.00am, Wed 28th May, 2025, 54 Kimbolton Road, Feilding View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/FR203286
Blair Cottrill M 027 354 5419 E blair@pb.co.nz
Ted Shannon M 021 833 536 E ted.shannon@pb.co.nz
Milksolids levy adjustment
The Dair yNZ Board has adjusted the milk solids lev y rate under the Commodit y Levies (Milk solids) Order 2020.
From 1 June, 2025, the milk solids lev y rate will be 4.5 cents per kilogram of milk solids Dair yNZ aims to hold the lev y at no more than 4.5c/kgMS for a minimum of three years but will review the rate each year as legally required The previous rate of 3.6c/kgMS was in place since 2009 The new rate follows consultation and in making their decision the Dair yNZ Board considered farmer feedback, Dair yNZ’s financial sustainabilit y, and sector resilience
Dair yNZ will be making changes across farmer engagement, transparency of lev y spend and return on investment, and the science and research programme to keep a sharp focus on productivit y, resilience and sustainabilit y For more information go to dair ynz .co.nz/lev y
Proven performance —why farmers are choosing Insulmax® for their homes
Farmers are used to battling the elements, but that doesn’t mean they should have to battle the cold in their homes. Many older farmhouses across New Zealand lack proper insulation, making them hard to heat in winter and expensive to keep warm.
For Southland dairy farmer Henny, this was a familiar issue. Having grown up in Europe, he was well aware of advanced wall insulation methods commonly used overseas. When he saw Insulmax® advertised in New Zealand, he immediately recognised it as a proven solution.
“This technique has been used in Europe for a long time—filling up wall cavities with insulation. When I saw it here, I knew it would be a good idea.”
That decision has paid o over more than a decade.
A long-term investment that works
Henny first insulated two of his farmhouses with
Insulmax® back in 2010. The results were immediate.
“The occupants noticed a big di erence straight away. The house held heat better, and it was just a more comfortable place to live.”
Years later, when insulating another property, he had the Insulmax® team check the original installations using thermal imaging.
“We found that all the insulation was still completely in place a er 10 years. That gave us the confidence to go ahead and do more homes.”
Since then, he has insulated multiple farmhouses, improving comfort for workers and family alike.
Warmer, drier, healthier homes
Beyond just warmth, the insulation has reduced moisture and improved overall home health.
“One of our homes had issues with dampness and black mold, especially on the colder side. A er insulating the walls and adding a heat pump, the problem disappeared. The tenant, who had mild asthma, said it made a huge di erence.”
With better insulation, heating systems work more e ciently.
“You notice the di erence immediately—the house holds heat so much better, and we don’t have to run the heat pump as long.”
The fast, non-invasive solution
For Henny, Insulmax® has been the most practical insulation solution available.
“The team was great—professional, e cient, and tidy. The installation process was quick and completely non-invasive. No need to rip o wall linings like with traditional insulation methods. They just drill small holes, fill the walls, and then patch and paint the exterior. You wouldn’t even know they’d been there.”
Compared to other insulation methods that require major renovations, Insulmax® is a coste ective and hassle-free alternative.
A smarter way to insulate rural homes
For farmers looking for a proven insulation solution that’s e cient, durable, and non-invasive, Insulmax® is the trusted choice for rural properties across New Zealand.
With CodeMark certification and a 50-year durability guarantee, it’s an insulation system you can rely on.
Quick shade for stock
Paulownia Elongata, bare rooted saplings for sale.
Sizes from 2m to 6m – fast growing. Spring owering, leaves suitable as stock feed.
Sheep wanted for lice testing
Replacement Ewe Hoggets – not in lamb
Mobs of greater than 300
On farm study with all animals treated for lice.
This study would be at no cost to you with compensation for all yarding and handling costs.
For further information contact: Gina de Nicolo - 027 258 0246 or Gina@animalpharma.nz
Sean Daly - 027 332 3462 or sda@donaghys.co.nz
Qualify for ETS. Leafy shade from year 1. Contact Graham 027 621 4091 Email miraka1@outlook.com paulownianz.co.nz
Non-proprietary and Uncertified seeds
– Commodity Levy Order Renewal Vote
Press Releases
The Herbage Seedgrowersʼ Subsection of Federated Farmers collects a levy on all non-proprietary ryegrass and clover, as well as on all uncertified herbage seed.
The proceeds of this levy are used to fund the maintenance of non-proprietary stock seed – ensuring that public cultivars such as Nui ryegrass and Huia white clover continue to be freely available to growers and the industry.
A referendum will be held in July - mid August to renew the Order under which the levy is collected.
The Herbage Seedgrowersʼ Subsection will send ballot papers to those growers entitled to vote in the referendum. Any herbage seed grower who would like more information or to discuss the collection of the levy can contact the Herbage Seed Subsection Chairperson, John McCaw – 027 414 0157.
WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING TO STEP BACK, OR STEP UP
You can discreetly explore lease, equity and farm ownership pathway arrangements, on Landify
Join over 1,200 other established farmers, younger farmers and investors, doing the same.
ELITE IN-MILK COW AUCTION
A/C: GKS Cows Ltd
Date: Thursday 8th May, 7pm
Online Only Auction with COMPRISING:
17 handpicked top indexed young in-milk cows. Including Cow 159 with a contract mating.
DETAILS:
• BW419, PW522, LW847, DTC from 14/7
• In-calf to LIC, SPS, DNA Frsn & Xbred bulls and tailed with Murray Grey & DNA Frsn Bulls. Bulls out 20/12
• Scanned to date and prior to sale for in-calf guarantees
• Low 10% empty rate
• TB C10, BVD tested, Johnes tested in January herd test
• Average herd production 385kg M/S per cow. Seasonal herd SCC 90,000
• Full pedigrees available in the catalogue
AUCTIONEERS NOTE:
These elite in-milk system 2 cows are milked on steep to rolling hill country with up to 3km walks to the shed. Culling for the past 13 years has been focused on type, production and soundness. Milked OAD since Xmas, these cows will shift well into any system.
Available in-milk or dried off on the 9/5 with drycow and teat seal.
DELIVERY
Within 5 days of the auction.
DEFERRED PAYMENT DATE: 1 June 2025
CARRFIELDS LIVESTOCK AGENT:
Mike Mckenzie 027 674 1149
Late Notice Outstanding Herd & Young Stock Dispersal 3 generations, 100 years plus family-owned A/C Contra Trust – Con & Tracey Crowley Wednesday 14th May, 11.30 am (lunch provided) 527 Palmer Road, RD 29 Hawera, D/N 41672
COMPRISING HERD:
108 In-milk and In-calf Frsn/FrsnX & Jrsy/JrsyX Cows
BW309, PW322, LW622, RA100%, G3 and A2/A2 Profiled. DTC from 21/7, AI Mated to BOD Frsn, Xbred and Jersey Sires from 15/10 – 24/11, tailed with Ayrshire Bulls until 27/12. Cows scanned to date with a 5% MT rate. Herd averages 550kg/MS per cow, system. 4 in-shed feeding, seasonal SCC 80-90000, OAD from 10th March. Johnes herd tested & BVD vaccinated. Multiple in-calf contract cows including numbers 17 (repeat contract for 2025 mating), 91, & 105.
30 Well Grown FrsnX & JrsyX in-calf Heifers
BW368, PW329, G3 & A2/A2 Profiled, DTC 23/7 to Jersey Bulls
35 Outstanding FrsnX & JrsyX R1 Heifers
BW414, PW369, G3 and A2/A2 Profiled Heifers 24- 28 & 24-32 hold contracts for their 2025 matings.
AUCTIONEERS NOTES
Due to a late change in farming practice Carrfields are extremely privileged to offer to the market this three- generation family herd that has been on the same farm for over 100 years, capacity cows that are bred to milk and perform. An extremely quiet mixed breed herd of cows doing the goods with a low SCC and very good fertility. Cows will come forward still in-milk in extremely good condition. Cows can be dried off post the sale for buyers who don’t have access to farms until the 1st of June.
PAYMENT TERMS:
Payment due 20th June 2025
DELVERY: In the days following auction unless arranged with Agents.
CONTACT: CARRFIELDS AGENT
Brent Espin 027 551 3660
VENDOR Con Crowley 027 299 0808
Carrfields recommend that bidders pre-register for the auctions by using the QR code below
To view the machinery clearance sale catalogue, visit our website www carrfieldslivestock co nz FOR ALL ENQUIRIES
McBain 027 306 5807
2025 BULL SALES BULL WALK
A great chance to see around 1100 R2 Bulls over four days that will be auctioned this season
Prior viewing would be available by arrangement with Vendor’s or the Agents listed below
SOUTH & MID CANTERBURY | TUESDAY 20 MAY | 9AM TO 12PM
Orari Gorge Hereford, Geraldine Robert Peacock 03 692 2893
• Merrylea Hereford, Cave James McKerchar 03 614 3332
• Meadowslea Angus, Fairlie David Giddings 03 685 8027
Bluestone Herefords Hamish Lee 027 747 6389
SOUTH & MID CANTERBURY | TUESDAY 20 MAY | 1PM TO 4PM
• Okawa Hereford, Mayfield Nick France 027 567 8019
Kakahu Angus & Charolais, Geraldine Tom Hargreaves 03 697 4979
• Stern Angus, Pleasant Point James Fraser 03 614 7080
MID CANTERBURY | WEDNESDAY 21 MAY | 9AM TO 12PM
Mt Possession Angus, Mt Somers Ryan Hussey 027 303 0168
• Cleardale Angus, Rakaia Ben Todhunter 021 140 3670
CENTRAL CANTERBURY | WEDNESDAY 21 MAY | 12PM TO 4PM
Glen-R Angus, Darfield Peter Heddell 027 436 1388
• Burtergill South Devon, West Melton Richard Van Asch 021 1915584
• Sudeley Angus, Irwell Andrew Laing 03 329 1709
Silverstream Charolais & Hereford, Greenpark Brent Fisher 027 251 4791
NORTH CANTERBURY | THURSDAY 22 MAY | 10AM TO 4PM
• Richon Hereford, Amberley Rob Stokes 027 757 1673
Beechwood Hereford, Amberley Rob Burrows 027 263 3582
• Red Oak Angus, Weka Pass Mike Townshend 027 631 9349
• Grampians Angus, Culverden Jono Reed 027 258 0732
Hemingford Charolais, Culverden Sam Holland 021 181 4868
• Kaiwara Angus, Culverden George Johns 022 198 3599
• Grassmere Hereford & Riverlands Angus, Cheviot Chris Jeffries 027 460 8849
Te Mania Angus, Conway Flat Will Wilding 027 826 4015
• Jandoc Hereford, Hawarden Doc Sidey 021 169 9949
NELSON MARLBOROUGH BULL | FRIDAY 23 MAY | 10AM TO 4PM
Leefield Station Angus, Waihopai Valley Greg Crombie 027 551 1011
• Okiwi Angus, Queen Charlotte George MacPherson 022 622 8136
• Blacknight Angus, Rai Valley Ben Maisey 03 571 6271 Taimate Angus, Ward Paul Hickman 021 575 155
• Martin Farming Hereford & Angus, Wakefield Richard Martin 027 230 3098
• Brackenfield Angus, Seddon Angus Peter 022 428 7906
NELSON MARLBOROUGH BULL WALK | FRIDAY 23 MAY | 10AM TO 4PM
• Woodbank Angus Clarence Bridge Ben Murray 027 449 4409
• Matariki Herefords, Clarence Bridge Jack Murray 027 381 2300
Further enquiries:
1ST ANNUAL SPRING C ALVING SELECTION SALE
FEATURING OKURA AND MAHAREE GENETICS
Wednesday 14 May | 11.00am | Morrinsville Saleyards | A/C B & S White
Comprising:
• 42 Jersey and Xbred Incalf Heifers | BW 409, PW 350
• 33 Jersey Incalf Cows, BW 391, PW 281| A2A2 - G3 profiled, 498 MS/Cow on sale cows
Brendan and Stacey purchased the A2A2 portion (86%) of the Okura herd and incalf heifers 3 years ago and the incalf heifers again the following year and moved them to the Waikato to join their already impressive herd of cows operating under their Maharee prefix The herd is the top BW herd in the country milking 250 or more with production currently 380 cows
• 515 MS/Cow, 1625 MS/Ha, daily 1 78 MS/Cow/Day (28/4/25)
The purchasing of the Okura herd which is synonymous as the Bull nursery in NZ supplying numerous top Jersey sires to the industry over several decades whose daughters are predominantly larger than bred average with good capacity and udders - transmitting superior production Bulls like Okura Murmur - Manhattan - Integrity and Kaino who between them have sired over 143,000 daughters and Murmur alone has sired 36 sons who have entered the AI industry Many of the females on offer are closely related to these top sires
Herd is farmed on a system 3 5 (no feed pad) Cows all incalf to AI - some to SGL Incalf heifers run with G3 profiled jersey bulls with an average BW 517 Heifers are well grown, and individual weights are in catalogue
Herd has been tested for Johnes disease for 11 years and any detected were culled
Great opportunity to purchase animals that have performed over many generations This herd would be one of the best in the country for type with the added bonus of top indexes
Online bidding available via BIDR Catalogues available on Agonline or Bidr Enquires welcome
Enquiries:
Andrew Reyland 027 223 7092 Bill Moore 027 825 7505
Wednesday 7 May | 12pm Blenheim Saleyards , Riverlands
We will offer:
490 Angus & Angus Hereford X Steers
• 52 Hereford Steers
• 15 Limousin Steers
• 14 Charolais Steers
• 285 Angus & Angus Hereford X Heifers
85 Hereford Heifers
• 50 Angus Heifers
• 20 Limousin Heifers
Standard facility fees will apply - Sale
conducted Purchase Price +GST Payment
terms are strictly cash unless you hold a valid PGG Wrightson Account
All buyers and sellers of cattle must be registered for NAIT
Contact:
Peter Barnes 027 591 8415
Chaz Woodhouse 027 560 4584
Ross Sutherland 027 434 4068
Monday 12 May | 1pm
Ryan Farms | 2983 Wreys Bush Mossburn Road, RD 2, Lumsden
Comprising:
• 300 Capital Stock Mixed Age Cows Predominately Angus
Angus, Angus Hereford x & Hereford Cows TB C10
• PTIC Angus Bulls Calving 5th September onwards Fossil Creek, Stern & Waimara Genetics
Young herd, been running on hill country at Dunrobin block
145 2nd Calvers (50 purchased from Mt Linton as heifers) and 60 3rd calvers, balance MA
Bidr in attendance
Enquiries:
Mike Gill 0275 918 344
Tuesday 13 May | 11am
Large yarding of cows VIC & Dry.
700 Cows VIC various dates & ages
100 MA Hereford Cows 15/12 VIC Hereford 2 cycles C/S
• 130
offering approx:
• 1100 Traditional Steers
• 200 Exotic Steers
• 100 Bulls 675 Traditional Heifers
• 150 Exotic Heifers
Annual Lines of late born Hill Country Cattle, renown for their shifting ability: Ricky Alabaster Trust, C&N Alabaster Trust, Care Alabaster
Key: Dair y Cattle Sheep O ther
Key: Dair y Cattle Sheep O ther
NZ’s Virtual Saleyard bidr.co.nz
Contact:
David & Jayne Timperley (Vendor) 03 685 5785 or 0274 375 881
Simon Eddington (PGW) 027 590 8612 Cameron Gray (PGW) 027 494 0572
Docile,
to a breeder today
Contact: Shane & Dot
ANNUAL BULL SALES MAY/JUNE 2025
> Thursday 15th May
SUNNYVALE BULL, Fairlie
In conjunction with PGGW
17 Black Hereford Bulls
> Thursday 22nd May
HILL VALLEY, Roxburgh
In conjunction with RLL
13 Simmental Bulls
> Friday 23rd May
FOULDEN HILL - Bluestone, Middlemarch
15 Hereford Bulls
4 Santa Gertrudis Bulls
1 Braford Bull
> Thursday 29th May
OKAWA, Mt Somers
In conjunction with PGGW
55 Hereford Bulls
GLENBRAE, Porangahau
In conjunction with PGGW
25 Hereford Bulls
> Friday 30th May
CLEARDALE, Rakaia Gorge
32 Angus Bulls
> Tuesday 3rd June
HALLMARK, Tutira
In conjunction with Redshaw Livestock
60 Angus Bulls
> Friday 6th June
TWIN OAKS, Te Akau
In conjunction with PGGW
60 Angus Bulls
> Monday 9th June
MT POSSESSION, Ashburton Gorge In conjunction with PGGW
25 Angus Bulls
> Wednesday 11th June
SILVERSTREAM , Lincoln In conjunction with RLL
60 Charolais Bulls
20 Hereford Bulls
> Thursday 12th June
HEMINGFORD, Culverden In conjunction with PGGW
70 Charolais Bulls
> Friday 13th June
GRAMPIANS, Culverden
70 Angus Bulls
RED OAK, Weka Pass
In conjunction with PGGW
35 Angus Bulls
> Tuesday 17th June
WOODBANK, Clarence
In conjunction with PGGW
70 Angus Bulls
> Tuesday 24th June
WHANGARA, Gisborne
In conjunction with PGGW
40 Angus Bulls
Please
Store lambs: what a difference a year makes
The procurement war over finished lambs has amplified the seasonal lift in store lamb values.
Alex Coddington MARKETS
Beef and lamb
THE trickle-down effect of strong export returns has allowed store lamb prices to return to their usual seasonal trends, disrupted over the past few years of covid recovery and weather woes.
However, this time around, the procurement war over finished lambs has amplified the seasonal lift in store lamb values.
What we’re seeing now is store lamb prices jumping as demand grows against tightening supply. Prices have steadily increased over the past six weeks in the paddock, from $3.75/kg to $4.25/kg in the North Island, and from $3.85/kg to $4.05/kg in the South Island.
The 20c/kg lift in the South Island has been driven by current tight supplies. Yet, despite the lower lamb kill to date, most processors remain fairly optimistic about supply through the winter.
Based on Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) statistics, over 90,000 more lambs are expected to be processed in the South Island over the remainder of this season compared to last season. The number could be greater given the volume of North Island lambs that crossed the Cook Strait earlier this year.
While the strength of the store market has recently led more lambs to saleyards instead of going direct to processors, overall saleyard throughput in the South Island has been lower this season. To date, there have been 38,700 fewer lambs through South Island saleyards compared to the same period last season.
The 50c/kg increase in store values in the North Island has also been driven by short supply. Lamb flows into North Island processing plants picked up in March and have been ahead of last season most weeks.
According to BLNZ forecasts, the remaining lamb kill through to the end of September is expected to total 2.87 million head – over 700,000 head short of the fiveyear average through this period of 3.61 million.
In North Island saleyards from October through April, 64,000 more lambs have been traded compared to last year. Strong store prices and regionally isolated dry periods have likely encouraged more lambs to auction, pushing throughput just above the fiveyear average. The combination of a higher-than-average kill and increased saleyard activity paints a picture of restricted supply moving forward.
In terms of demand, the contrasting dry periods in the North Island have encouraged
has been particularly strong this month.
Prices have steadily increased over the past six weeks in the paddock.
further internal trade, keeping store lamb turnover active for most of the year. The upward trajectory of finished lamb prices and good feed availability on the east coast have led most major traders to increase their quotas. Overall, demand for store lambs
All of this has created the perfect recipe for high, inflated prices in the North Island. At $4.25/ kg, the heaviest store lambs in the paddock this week are $1.05/ kg above the five-year average.
Relative to the schedule, store lambs are trading at 49% of the AgriHQ lamb price indicator, compared to a five-year average of 45%. That puts current paddock prices roughly 33c/kg higher than normal.
The key difference this year is the outlook: a rising finished lamb price driven by tightening supply through winter, which helps traders maintain margins at these inflated levels.
However, there are still risks surrounding what many consider a sure and sound market. The rising dollar, steady to lower export returns, or changes in processing capacity could challenge this strong price outlook – factors that buyers should keep in mind when purchasing store lambs.
YARDS: The strength of the store market has recently led more lambs to saleyards instead of going direct to processors, but overall saleyard throughput in the South Island has been lower this season.
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
Frankton
Matawhero | April 24 | 2430 sheep
Rain brings relief for most (but not all)
Philip Duncan NEWS Weather
RAIN has been widespread in many regions over recent weeks, but still not everyone in New Zealand has had the rain relief they want.
At the time of writing this, rain was still falling around eastern parts of NZ as yet another subtropical low had moved through.
Farmers Weekly CEO and publisher
Dean Williamson wrote in a morning staff newsletter last week:
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen a rain radar looking like this” as rain spread down across much of New Zealand mid to late last week.
But our mountains and ranges do a significant job of shredding the rain clouds as they pass overhead, bringing only low totals to some areas on the wrong side of the ranges. With so many easterlies lately, that’s often meant regions to the west have not had the same big rainfall as other areas facing eastwards or northwards.
The result is that places from central/southern Waikato to Whanganui to Manawatū, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa have missed out
on the same drenching rains that others have had.
The rain event last week was significant – and has further eased (or entirely removed) remaining dry areas. Rain has now fallen in some of the driest places but I’ve had a number of people over the past seven days still asking for more – due to the rainfall deficit they’ve been in.
Next week we’ll take a closer look at the state of the nation soil moisture-wise and what that means for the end of autumn and rest of May.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a rain radar looking like this.
Dean Williamson Farmers Weekly
New Zealand is in a better position than Australia, though. Their stubborn high pressure zones have been unrelenting. Grain growers in particular have been extremely concerned at the lack of rain this year right across a large portion of southern Australia as drought expands.
In fact the high pressure system that passed by Aussie last week was larger than the continent itself (Australia has a total area of 7,688,287 square km). For NZ’s first week of May that giant high pressure zone comes our way, bringing a mostly settled first week of May and some well overdue frosts and cold nights for some parts of the North Island (for a brief time).
Now that May is here the weather pattern looks similar to April with very powerful highs coming out of Australia with some decent dry stretches – but also the chance of more of those humid easterlies in northern NZ and a high chance of another sub-tropical low (whether it brings you rain or not is another question this far out).
There are southerlies in the mix –and while briefly cold nothing is yet showing up in the next two weeks as being a major polar event. For now, even with some frosts and snow here and there, I think temperatures in many places will remain above normal.
But this is autumn after all – it’s a mix of fading summer and incoming winter. In other words, things can change quickly.
Observed rainfall 9am 01/04/2025 to 9am 30/04/2025
SATURATED: April’s rainfall shows some large areas got saturated, but some had well below normal.
