Farmers Weekly NZ July 18 2022

5 Flawed regs process: review Vol 20 No 27, July 18, 2022

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Input costs dent dairy profitability Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz

W

AIKATO and Bay of Plenty dairy farmers should expect a profitable season but if the farmgate milk price falls, the “black cloud” of rising costs could spell trouble for many.

AgFirst’s annual financial survey for the two regions calculated a breakeven payout for the new season at $8.44/kg of milk solids – up from $7.75/kg MS last season and $6.49/kg MS in 2020-21.

That figure is defined as the amount needed to cover farm working expenses including debt servicing, living expenses, taxation, drawings and depreciation.

“That’s getting pretty steep.

You can say that we’re getting a payout of $9.50/kg MS so who cares? That’s fine, but if that payout drops, that breakeven payout will bite you in the arse,” AgFirst agricultural economist Phil Journeaux told farmers and rural professionals at the survey’s release at the Fieldays site at Mystery Creek.

“It’s a black cloud sitting on the horizon.”

The survey looks at 25 farms throughout Waikato and Bay of Plenty and was completed in June for the financial year just finished.

A model farm and budget are then created based on the results, which represents the 3900 dairy farms across the two regions.

The model farm is 133ha, milking 368 cows at 135,000145,000kg milk solids for the season. The breakeven payout is then calculated from that model.

The increase in farm working expenses is growing 1.5% faster than the increase in net farm income.

“In the fullness of time, that is not sustainable and the only thing that can pull that back is an increase in payout or an improvement in-farm productivity.”

The biggest cost for farmers is supplementary feed, while fertiliser and labour costs were also creeping up.

Much of those expenses have occurred in the past six months, which will mean a full season of those increases in costs for the current season.

From a kilo of milk solids perspective, those costs have jumped from $4.39 two years ago to $5.32 for the season just ended and are budgeted at $5.95/kg MS for this coming season.

The on-farm cost of inflation

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MORE: on dairy farms is also running at twice the level of the consumer price index (CPI).

It was a major issue for New Zealand’s farming systems and its international competitiveness.

Despite the risks, the farm model was still operating profitably, and was heading into the season in a reasonable financial position, Journeaux said.

Many were still recovering from the drought and were still short of feed, with pastures averaging about 1800kg dry matter a hectare when farmers required closer to 2000kg DM/ha.

The model assumed a $9.50/kg MS payout for the season, which should see a good cash surplus.

“All things being equal, provided the payout comes through, the farm and the monitored farms should be operating quite profitably this season. Sure, farm working expenses have gone up, but we have been able to cover those.”

Journeaux said cost increases aside, there were ongoing concerns from the monitored farms about labour shortages and new environmental regulations.

Using He Waka Eke Noa pricing, the estimated greenhouse gas levy for the model farm in 2025 was $5817 and $18,580 in 2030.

Bobby calves continue to be an issue and Journeaux believed a ban on their killing was not a

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“In the fullness of time I believe the killing of bobby calves will be banned full stop. When that happens – not if – it will absolutely revolutionise the beef industry.”

This is because the estimated two million bobby calves being killed will have to be reared.

“I pose this question, where the hell are they going to go?”

All this saw mixed morale from the farms being monitored and a belief that they had little control over their destiny, he said.

“They are concentrating on the day-to-day issues but there are these happening and they are not sure where life is headed in the next five to 10 years.”

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8 A sense of purpose For the past 65 years, Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay has given purpose and a sense of belonging to thousands of people with intellectual disabilities.

16 International awards for Massey dairy scientists

Riddet Institute scientists from Massey University in Palmerston North have won two of the four top prizes in an inaugural International Dairy Federation award.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

3

Low dollar may stick around Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz HIGH commodity prices and the low New Zealand dollar value have favourably positioned farmers and orchardists at the beginning of the new financial year, rural analysts say.

Export prices are looking good across the board, except for wool, and the historically unusual combination with a low USD/ NZD exchange rate means bright prospects for farm gate returns.

Milk is expected to stay above $9/kg milksolids, lamb at $10/ kg and beef steady around $7/ kg in the spring, Westpac senior agricultural economist Nathan Penny has forecast.

High commodity prices normally result in a higher NZD, but not at present.

Monetary tightening, higher interest rates and inflation and global financial worries have strengthened the US dollar as a safe haven for investment.

Smaller, riskier currencies such as the NZD have therefore fallen in comparison.

“The present combination of high commodity prices and low exchange rate is unusual – we often get one without the other,” said Penny.

Meat schedule prices rather quickly reflect the low NZD whereas milk price forecasts are seasonal and Fonterra hedges most of its foreign exchange requirements for up to 18 months in advance.

Penny said he believes commodity prices will stay high for the rest of this year and into the next.

However, the Westpac currency strategists forecast the NZD at US65c in September and US68c in December.

Those rates look a long way from today’s US61c, especially when the NZD dollar dipped in response to the lift in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) of 50 basis

WEIRD: High commodity prices and a low exchange rate make for an unusual combination, says Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny.

It is going to be a while before the Kiwi takes flight again.

ASB points, to 2.5%, by the Reserve Bank.

While analysts are happy to explain how the high commodity prices and low dollar benefit our foreign earnings, they do not have a firm fix on where the NZD will go.

“The cross rate of the NZD against the USD is still very much a global story, as currency traders worry about energy prices and the

likelihood of recession,” said ANZ senior strategist David Croy.

“It is tricky right now and we have a forecast of the NZD at US66c by the end of the year, but that is based on the expectation that the USD will weaken.

“Historically it peaks early in the tightening cycle, hence our pathway prediction, but that hasn’t happened.”

Croy said the increase in our OCR was overshadowed by the US consumer price index going to 9.2% when market expectations had been for something in the 8% range.

“The USD is still strong and Europe looks to be headed for recession, so the NZD remains in

the risk-off position,” said Croy.

That sentiment is stronger with BNZ currency strategist Jason Wong, who said the NZD may dip below US60c within the next three months.

But farmers don’t want to get carried away with the currency benefits, as global recession will eat into commodity prices as food demand drops.

The expectation that the USD will weaken is more of a story for next year, not this one, Wong said.

A recent ASB commentary said it is going to be a while before the Kiwi takes flight again.

“A fresh bout of risk aversion among investors and aggressive moves by the Federal Reserve

to boost US interest rates have helped snuff out any tentative lift in NZD/USD. “Fonterra will have done something like 60%-70% of its hedging for the season but, with the NZD dramatically underperforming what we once forecast, the impact on its effective exchange rate for the season will be significant.”

The delaying effect of the hedging helps fix the farm gate milk price above $9/kg MS for this season.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Fighting the anti-meat narrative Gerald Piddock gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz A VISITING United States dietician says the global anti-meat narrative being pushed in western countries is elitist, unethical and can lead to poor nutritional outcomes for people.

This narrative, described by Diana Rodgers as a “big nasty snowball”, was a result of different forces coming together at once.

There were alternative meat companies making huge margins from promoting ultraprocessed “garbage food” while at the same time animal rights and environmental activists are wanting to end all animal agriculture.

The carbon argument was the only leg these companies could stand on, she told farmers and industry leaders at the Primary Industries of New Zealand Summit in Auckland.

Rodgers was in New Zealand to speak at the summit as well as to promote her documentary, Sacred Cow. “They can’t win on biodiversity, they can’t win on ecosystem function, they can’t win on farmer livelihoods and they can’t win on nutrition. They can only win on carbon emissions.”

People should consider who benefits from the anti-meat narrative.

The United States’ largest private landowner is billionaire Bill Gates, who is also heavily invested in meat alternative industries and was the least-qualified person to be giving dietary advice.

“Bill Gates is very dangerous because he has a lot of money and a lot of influence and he doesn’t get it,” she says.

Her journey to becoming an advocate for a meat-based diet came from being an undiagnosed celiac until she was 26.

She was also married to a farmer and had lived on a farm for 18 years.

She switched careers in her thirties to train as a dietician and noticed there was an emerging narrative around eating less meat and she saw an opportunity to use her voice.

“It made no sense to me from an ecological perspective, having raised sheep.”

Rodgers also started the Global Food Justice Alliance to counter the narrative being pushed by many within the American media.

As a dietician and mother, she also dislikes the meatless Mondays campaign popular in some schools in the United States, including the New York public school system.

“There’s never been science to show that pulling meat away from growing children is a good idea, these kinds of messages are false.”

Rodgers says about 70% of those school-aged children in New York are from low-income households and 10% are homeless.

The state government then took it one step further and started vegan Fridays.

The food those children were served for that day was garbage, she says.

EAT SOME: US dietician Diana Rodgers says red meat is one of the most important foods in a person’s food system.

The idea that we need to eat less meat is a privilege most do not have.

Diana Rodgers Dietician “You take food-insecure kids on the weekends going home to not great environments for food –they’ve already taken meat away from Mondays and now they’ve taken it away on Friday.”

The most common nutrient deficiencies seen among young people globally can be solved with animal-sourced foods.

“They are the most important foods for our food system, especially for growing children.”

Ditching meat was also a very classist position to take.

It is easy to advocate for better diets when people are wealthy enough to afford different dietary options.

Lower income people do not have that luxury, she says.

It was also elitist that this debate was occurring at a time when food security and shortages were such big issues while politicians are trying to push through polices around re-wilding pastures and locking up land.

“We need to stop because we’re going to be having food riots very soon. The idea that we need to eat less meat is a privilege most do not have.”

Some of the science being pushed to persuade people from eating meat was also questionable and biased, she claims.

Much of the nutrition research is based on diet recall, which relies on people being truthful when telling researchers what they eat.

“There’s been a lot of science to show that people lie.”

Obesity rates were also climbing on the back of decreasing red meat consumption, largely because people were filling up on sugar and ultra-processed foods, resulting in people that are overfed yet malnourished.

“The realities of a vegan diet is that 84% of them give it up after three months, so it’s completely unsustainable.”

It could also lead to widespread nutrient deficiencies, particularly in vitamin B12.

From a climate perspective, she argued that grazing animals on pasture has other environmental

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benefits around soil health and biodiversity.

“Reducing livestock is going to be overly harmful in so many other ways and when we’re overlyfocused on carbon emissions without really understanding the full impact that livestock has on livelihoods and ecosystems, we’re really losing out.

“Cattle on pasture have the unique ability to up-cycle food we can’t eat on land we can’t crop into the most nutrient dense food for humans.”

Laboratory-produced meat and fake meats will never be a regenerative food source.

“I think this is the main reason why everyone is focused on carbon emissions right now, because it’s the only thing it can win on and that’s what is driving

its stock prices.”

The best people to push the message of meat’s qualities are relatable female health influencers, because of the role they often play in households around meat consumption.

New Zealand already had a great global brand that had had a strong animal welfare reputation.

Parents want to know they are giving their children the best nutrition and if those attributes of meat can be highlighted, it could help swap people back.

“I really think that getting female health influencers to farms, showing them the process and showing everything to them about the ecosystem function and how the animals are treated – they’re going on to be your best brand ambassadors.”

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

5

Review blasts shambolic regs process Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz

CLAIMS that the implementation of new intensive winter grazing regulations was shambolic have been vindicated by an internal review.

The review into the implementation of new freshwater regulations found issues were caused by meddling

by Environment Minister David Parker.

It also found staff were overworked and junior staff were doing roles in which they lacked experience without oversight.

There was inadequate information for consultation, no stress-testing of regulations, and differing interpretations of agreed policy decisions.

“These issues all contributed to a feeling of uncertainty by affected parties (farmers) regarding the impacts of these regulations on their practices (for example, whether and when they would require a resource consent),” says report author John O’Connell, the Ministry for the Environment’s (MFE) principal risk and assurance advisor.

Looking at the implementation of intensive winter grazing policies – low-slope maps, pugging and resowing dates – O’Connell says the exposure draft gave affected parties only three working days and a weekend to comment.

Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard said that document was released only after a personal request to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her ministers.

“There was no opportunity to properly read it, give feedback and drill into it at a deeper level,” said Hoggard.

He said the report shows the government was determined to drive through the new regulations before the end of the election cycle.

“They were hellbent that nothing was going to get in the way of their agenda instead of how it can be progressed in a smart and achievable way.”

Further complicating the process was what O’Connell called “ministerial-driven scope changes”.

He found that Parker initially ignored advice from the ministry and an independent advisory panel to not include pugging rules in the National Environmental Standards as they were deemed too difficult to enforce.

Once regional councils added their voice, reiterating that pugging rules were unenforceable, officials were able to shift their focus to the practicality of the policies.

The reforms are complicated, comprehensive and controversial – and this was accentuated by MFE and the Ministry for Primary Industries having different positions and priorities.

“This was due to their subject area and scope, the involvement of two ministries (MFE and MPI) and two ministers (environment and agriculture) with sometimes different agendas, and their impact on affected parties,” says O’Connell.

Tight time frames added to the pressure.

“The high ministerial priority of this work, and a political desire to implement the package in the current term of government, meant that the overall deadline could not be pushed out,” the report says.

This also prevented the policy from being stress-tested.

RUSH JOB: The government was hellbent on pushing through the new regulations in its current term, leaving little time for consultation, Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says.

The report found the use of slope maps to identify stock exclusion areas was imprecise, especially at paddock level, making it difficult for landowners to assess the impact.

Accepting advice earlier on the unsuitability of stipulating dates by which winter-grazed paddocks must be resown, especially in Otago and Southland, would have reduced confusion and anger.

Beef + Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor said he accepts the government’s right to make law but is frustrated at what he sees as its controlling approach.

This is leading to impractical policies, deterring farmers from being involved.

His frustration was highlighted by the recently released exposure draft for the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, which he said ignores multiple concerns that the definition for “significant natural areas” is too broad.

“It’s a highly technical document requiring specialised ecological expertise to assess,

yet the government only allowed six weeks for assessment and submissions,” said McIvor.

“The philosophy we are increasingly seeing from this government is more and more they want to control everything you do.

“It leads to additional work but does not add much value.”

McIvor said it is turning goodwill into anger and frustration.

This was due to their subject area and scope, the involvement of two ministers (environment and agriculture) with sometimes different agendas, and their impact on affected parties.

MFE review

“If the government adopted a more agile process and sat down with industry and worked to co-design policy, they would unquestionably end up with a more practical outcome and get better farmer buy-in.”

A spokesman for Parker said there was strong public support to act to stop the degradation of waterways. The government extended the consultation period and policies have been phased in gradually to allow time for the farming community, councils and others to build capability and capacity, the spokesman said.

Freshwater farm plans will be phased in and introduced to three or four regions at a time.

Hoggard said despite the damning report, there has been no slowdown in new legislation, with climate change, Three Waters, drinking water, the Resource Management Act and reviews on local government and stewardship land all under way.

“It just seems like everything is being tipped on its head at the same time.”

Measuring and reporting synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use Who does this impact?

What actions are required?

Where to get information or help

If your farm uses synthetic nitrogen fertiliser on pasture or any other grazed land, this may affect you.

All farm managers must ensure that no area of pasture can exceed 190 kg per hectare per year of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser without a resource consent.

Contact your regional council, farm advisor, or fertiliser supplier – they will be able to help.

A limit of 190 kg per hectare per year of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser on pasture came into effect from 1 July 2021. A resource consent is needed if this limit is exceeded.

Those managing dairy farms need to record key information on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use and supply a report to their regional council by 31 July each year.

All dairy farm managers must supply a report to their regional council by 31 July 2022, covering the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, with the information that is needed to calculate synthetic nitrogen application rates for their pastoral land.

To download the nitrogen cap quick guide for dairy farms, scan the QR code below.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

7

Ex-trade ministers pan PM’s comment Nigel Stirling nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com TWO former Trade Ministers have joined the dairy industry in condemning comments made by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at a critical point in trade talks with the European Union.

The Dairy Companies Association believes Ardern scuppered the industry’s last chance of a commercially meaningful outcome from the talks by revealing a weakening in New Zealand’s negotiating position.

Before flying to Brussels for the final few days of the talks last month Ardern told media that NZ was ready to accept an improvement on the “status quo” market access NZ exporters already had in the EU. Around that time Cabinet had signed off on a change in the mandate given to NZ’s trade negotiators from a commercially meaningful deal for key pastoral exports to the lower threshold of an improvement on the status quo market access.

DCANZ has likened the PM’s comments to someone selling their house telling the buyer the lowest possible price they were willing to sell it for before negotiations had begun.

Former National Party Trade and Agriculture Minister Lockwood Smith agreed with DCANZ that Ardern’s comments would have been seized upon by EU negotiators.

“Putting it diplomatically those comments would have been extremely unhelpful.”

Smith said he had not spoken to NZ’s negotiators since the deal was concluded but expected they would have been “horrified” at how the final stages played out.

He said NZ had ended up with the worst deal for its key agricultural exports that he could remember.

“The status quo for the dairy trade was impossible because of the high in-quota tariff and the

NOT A FACTOR: Former trade negotiator Charles Finny said he thought it was unlikely Ardern’s comments had cost beef and dairy commercially meaningful access given the strong opposition to such a concession within the EU meant it was unlikely to have been agreed to anyway.

Putting it diplomatically those comments would have been extremely unhelpful.

Sir Lockwood Smith Former Trade Minister beef quota was miniscule.

“Improvement on those was meaningless.

“And that is why commercially meaningful access was so important.”

Commercially meaningful

access to a market has previously been defined during global trade talks as 5% of a country’s domestic consumption. In the case of EU beef consumption that equates to 225,000 tonnes. NZ’s FTA secured just 10,000 tonnes of new beef quota.

National’s current trade spokesman Todd McClay, who as Trade Minister got agreement from the EU to start negotiations for an FTA, believes the PM’s comments “pulled the rug from underneath the feet” of NZ’s trade negotiators at a critical stage of the talks.

“Either she didn’t realise the Europeans would be paying attention to what she said as they were still negotiating in Brussels or

she was sending them a signal.

“Either way it is concerning for dairy farmers and the beef sector.

“I would have thought from the lowest level of negotiator to the highest political operative they would have said the PM of NZ is coming to Brussels, she has signalled she is willing to do a deal without any real gains for beef and dairy, so let’s not give her any.”

Former trade negotiator Charles Finny said it was routine for both sides in trade talks to carefully sift comments by key players for clues to shifts in the other side’s negotiating positions.

“It is very true that the EU side would have studied every word [Trade Minister Damien] O’Connor and Ardern said in

advance and during the trip to Brussels.”

Finny said he thought it was unlikely Ardern’s comments had cost beef and dairy commercially meaningful access given the strong opposition to such a concession within the EU meant it was unlikely to have been agreed to anyway.

But that was not to say there might not have been a better outcome for NZ’s key exporters had the PM not slipped up.

“The comments probably indicated to the EU that there had possibly been a change in NZ’s position and that they may be did not need to dig as deeply as they thought they might have to on market access,” Finny said.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

A sense of purpose Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz FOR the past 65 years, Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay has given purpose and a sense of belonging to thousands of people with intellectual disabilities.

Today, Hōhepa supports about 140 people who work at its 50cow dairy farm, nursery, market garden, store and workshops at Clive.

Another 40 live at and attend a school at Poraiti hills near Napier.

Hōhepa manager Santiago De Marco says the centre engages people so they can contribute and participate and the diverse roles available in the primary industry is the perfect environment to enable that.

“It’s about what people can do and support an operation, in this case a farm.”

The farm was established in 1959 and the cheesery added in the 1980s.

The cheese is sold through the centre’s store at Clive, local farmers’ markets and around NZ. Two years ago they started

TEAMWORK: Hōhepa’s milk is managed by 16 people who sterilise, refill, chill, pack and truck the reused bottles to markets around Napier and Hastings.

selling fresh milk in bottles throughout Napier and Hastings.

Hōhepa won six awards at the recent NZ Cheese Awards, including the inaugural sustainability award for reducing its carbon footprint by using solar energy in its walk-through dairy.

De Marco says their primary goal is to assist people rather than meeting financial and production targets, which it does by matching interests and ability with a fulfilling task.

“The farm is a very welcoming environment for meeting all of these different sensory needs and the way they see the world.”

Hence they use a walk-through dairy and seed for the nursery is collected in the wild to cater for those who like exercise and fossicking.

De Marco says some Hōhepa people are fascinated with water so they wash vegetables, clean milk bottles or water plants.

Others like working with animals so they work on the farm, which is where the walk-through dairy plays a key role.

MORE THAN CHEESE: Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay manager Santiago De Marco says the centre engages people so they can contribute and participate and the diverse roles available in the primary industry is the perfect environment to enable that.

For some, satisfaction and fulfilment is the tactile experience of having their hands in water, touching animals, or the motion of turning taps on and off.

The pasteurised bottled milk is an example. Instead of dispensing it through vending machines, 16 people are employed to clean, sterilise, refill, chill, pack and truck the reused bottles to markets around Napier and Hastings.

Hōhepa employs three cheese makers making danbo, halloumi, cumin, fenugreek, blue, quark, mozzarella and feta, ricotta and fresh products such as Greek and natural yoghurt.

The workshop makes toys and furniture and De Marco says some people are satisfied doing one process – making a component or painting.

In addition to the farm and workshop they also have people involved in candle making, weaving and stone carving with products all sold through the shop.

“Our purpose is set out in a quadruple bottom line environment, culture, social and economic benefits,” De Marco says.

“It’s important we never lose sight of that, that we always look through the lens of what our purpose is.”

De Marco says Hōhepa’s four key values are to enhance the mana of people, community, sustainability and empowering people to self-determination.

The centre was established in 1957, a joint initiative between music teacher Marjorie Allan, who had a Down’s Syndrome nephew, and local farmers and

The farm is a very welcoming environment for meeting all of these different sensory needs and the way they see the world.

Santiago De Marco Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay benefactors Sir Lewis and Lady Myra Harris.

Fearful her nephew would end up in an institution, Allan saw an alternative while studying overseas and promoted the establishment of the Hōhepa Community on her return to NZ. In 1956 Lady Lewis offered land to a newly-formed trust to establish a residential community including a school for people with differing disabilities.

The farm was added in 1959 and is recognised as NZ’s oldest commercially certified biodynamic farm.

Hōhepa also runs residential homes for its people and at 620 staff, it is Hawke’s Bay’s third largest employer.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

9

Junior contests bring out the best Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz CHRISTCHURCH Girls’ High School final year students Erin Humm and Amelia Ridgen are the 2022 FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year after the Grand Final in Whangārei.

Cameron Brans and Quinn Redpath from Napier Boys’ High School were named runners-up and third place was another pair of young women, Tia Fowle and Renee Zwagerman, ex Southland Girls’ High School students.

The grand final was for 14 teams from all over New Zealand, two teams of two contestants from each of the YFC regions.

Amelia and Erin were overwhelmed and humbled by the win and very proud that two young women beat all the boys to take the title.

“It’s pretty cool that we’re both girls,” said Erin, originally from Pigeon Bay. “It’s really empowering, it’s a good boost to get into the industry and it’s really encouraging,” said Amelia, from Greendale.

They are boarders at Christchurch Girls’ High and are both 17 years old and

PLANTED: Erin Humm and Amelia Ridgen, both 17, are winners of the FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year and plan to go to Lincoln University.

plan to study for a bachelor of AgriScience at Lincoln University next year.

Their second grand final, the pair competed last year and placed first in the exam.

This year, they battled through a day of rain, bad weather and modules involving kumara – a

Northland staple but somewhat foreign to two Cantabrians.

“I found parts of the farmlet generally the toughest for me, I had to rely on Erin for the practical side of it a lot so it was definitely a team effort,” Amelia said.

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IN EARLY: Waikato students Arche Keelty, Leighton Barnett and Liam Hodgson won the AgriKidsNZ grand final.

Waikato won the AgriKidsNZ grand final.

They are Liam Hodgson (Pirongia School), Arche Keelty (St Patrick’s School) and Leighton Barnett (St Columbus School).

Second was a team from North Loburn in Canterbury;

Hamish Webb, PJ Mackintosh and Annabelle Birchler.

Third was Edward Pottinger, Liam Lash and Edward White from Longbeach School, MidCanterbury.

MORE: NEWSMAKER P23

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Better path to greener pastures Staff reporter OVER-GRAZING is a problem for farmers, but “rescuing” pasture through deferred grazing isn’t the answer, according to research for the Hill Country Futures Partnership programme.

Professor Derrick Moot of Lincoln University, who is leading several of the research projects for Hill Country Futures, recommends farmers move to rotational grazing as soon as practical after lambing and minimise set-stocking to ensure pasture doesn’t become depleted in the first place.

The Hill Country Futures project is focused on the benefits of using legumes such as lucerne and red clover to overcome nitrogen deficiency in hill country farming. Researchers are measuring the response of pasture species and legumes to their environment with the aim of giving farmers confidence to invest in appropriate legume-base pastures for hill country areas – boosting yield.

The $8.1 million Hill Country Futures Partnership programme is co-funded by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, PGG Wrightson Seeds and Seed Force New Zealand. It is focused on future-proofing the profitability, sustainability and wellbeing of New Zealand’s hill country farmers, their farm systems, the environment and rural communities.

“I recognised that we will be telling hill country farmers about the best forages to use in particular places,” said Moot.

“That will see 5%-10% of a

property being put into specialist crops, but to really see benefits you also need to be getting the other 90% right.

“Farmers will also often say the new cultivars are not persistent but a major part of pasture persistence is grazing management.”

Moot saw that a review of grazing management would fit with a key research theme of the programme, looking at biodiversity in forage landscapes.

He presented his review paper on this at the Resilient Pastures Symposium in 2021.

“We are seeing a lot of people now advocating for deferred grazing and leaving pasture to get long to allow roots to recover,” he said.

“They are getting successes – that is because pastures have previously been overgrazed – and by doing so, they are not as resilient and so vulnerable to drought and pests.

“When a plant is grazed, you remove the green leaf, just like when you mow a lawn. To replace that leaf, the plant has to use its reserves, from above ground and from its roots. If we graze a plant too frequently, we reduce its reserves.

“The answer is for farmers to move to a rotational graze as soon as they can in the year, to give the pasture plants a chance to recover root reserves between grazing events and also to grow more feed. If you manage pasture appropriately then there is no need to go to that state of deferring grazing or letting grass grow long and producing lowquality tag.”

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MOOT POINT: Deferred grazing isn’t the best option when rescuing stressed pastureland, says Professor Derrick Moot.

pastures, Moot said, it is also critical to understand the biology of the plant you are using.

“For instance, if using ryegrass, you need to know that it needs to have three green leaves before you graze it. If you don’t do that, you deplete the reserves and if you do it more than once, the problem is compounded. Ryegrass is the most sensitive of our pasture grasses to mismanagement.”

Moot said the leaf is the “solar panel of the plant”.

“It’s how the plant obtains carbon from the atmosphere, and if a plant is short of carbon, it tries to grow more leaves and doesn’t put carbon into its roots so the roots get weaker. If you keep grazing or cutting, it is constantly trying to catch up and grow new leaves and its root biomass will decline.

“The opposite happens if the plant is short of nitrogen or water. It reduces its leaf areas and puts more of the carbon into its roots. So as soon as you get a dry pasture, the plant grows more roots and stops growing leaves.

“These are the two stress responses, and if you still keep grazing it you put more and more pressure on the plants. It’s a double whammy of reduced leaf area and weakened roots.

Set stocking results in constantly removing leaves and depletes the plant’s reserves.

“A golf course is a very good example of the most intensive grazing management possible – it is cut every few days. It has to be continually provided with nitrogen and water because the plants have got such weak root systems they can no longer forage for water and nutrients.

“Take the example of St Andrew’s in Scotland, the oldest golf course in the world. The grass there is dominated by Browntop, which is also our most common grass in hill country. The reason it is dominant in both is that it copes with intensive defoliation either by a mower with an engine or a mouth and four legs, but Browntop is not a productive pasture plant.

“If we want to get rid of

Browntop and introduce other forages, we have to recognise that we need to maximise rotational grazing and minimise set-stocking as much as possible.”

Dr Suzi Keeling, Sector Science Strategy Manager at B+LNZ, said the work undertaken by Moot and his team supports many of the plant science fundamentals that need to be understood when making grazing management decisions.

“Understanding how best to manage pasture to achieve the required dry matter production and maintain the plants reserves under different conditions is vital for good grazing management.

“This work also supports the wider Hill Country Futures programme focus of resilient forages for the future.”

MORE:

Professor Derrick Moot’s presentation to the symposium can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=59t_VL3SGZg&t=3s&ab_ channel=NZGrasslandAssociation

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Southland oat milk producer gets Govt boost Staff reporter SOUTHLAND oat milk producer New Zealand Functional Foods will receive $6 million in Government funding to develop a manufacturing facility.

Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash says plantbased milk alternatives are a fast-growing segment of domestic and international consumer markets.

“The amount spent

by Kiwis on plant-based milks almost tripling from $52m in 2017 to $144m in 2019 – so the demand is definitely there.

“We know that oats grow well in Southland and being low in water use, land use and emissions, they are an excellent raw ingredient for an environmentally sustainable alternative-

milk option. Producing oat milk locally is a lucrative way to diversify our strength as a quality food producer.”

The investment will help provide the capital needed by New Zealand Functional Foods to build a specialised, largescale processing plant at Makarewa, with capacity for producing up to 80m litres of plant-based milk a year.

The money comes from the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund and Nash says it’s part of the Government strategy to develop a low-emissions, highly-skilled economy that responds to global demands.

“I am confident that this new facility will add to the reputation of Southland and New Zealand as a real player in the sustainable food and beverage sector,” Nash says.

Time to teach the next generation

REWARDING: Marie Burke, picture here with husband Rob, says Farmer Time is a great programme and she really encourage fellow farmers to sign up.

FARMERS are being sought for a new initiative that will give primary and intermediate school pupils a better understanding of food production.

Farmer Time sees farmers link up with classrooms through video call technology to talk about growing food and fibre.

Pupils can regularly chat live with their matched farmer, gaining an understanding of farming across the seasons and providing real-world examples of what they’re learning during the school year.

Beef + Lamb Inc chief executive Kit Arkwright is keen to see food producers from all sectors get involved.

“Farmer Time puts actual farmers in front of children and gives them genuine insights into how our food is being produced. The feedback from both teachers and farmers has been incredible.”

A pilot programme, which involves eight farmer-teacher

pairings across six schools with approximately 184 pupils, ran across term one, with many pairing staying with the programme in term two.

Marie Burke, a sheep, beef and crop farmer from Tairāwhiti-Gisborne region, is one of the farmers participating in the pilot.

She is paired with a school in Orewa, Auckland.

“Farmer Time is such a great programme and I really encourage fellow farmers to sign up. The teachers and children we’ve been matched with have loved learning about what we do and how we grow food.

“My husband was initially unsure when I first mentioned Farmer Time, but he’s really enjoyed the interactions we’ve had with the class we’re matched with, and is now almost a bigger fan than I am.”

Food producers who want to get involved or find out more information can visit: www. farmertime.co.nz.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Hands off on-farm carbon capture, says National Party Neal Wallace neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz

BOTH WAYS: National’s Barbara Kuriger says if farmers are going to pay for emissions they should be rewarded for sequestration as well.

THE National Party is reserving judgment on He Waka Eke Noa but has taken issue with a Climate Change Commission proposal to change the rules of on-farm sequestration.

Barbara Kuriger, the party’s agriculture spokeswoman, said she is disappointed the commission is recommending the removal of carbon sequestration by farm vegetation from He Waka Eke Noa, instead proposing to combine it with biodiversity and other environmental outcomes in a whole new system.

“If farmers are going to be charged for their onfarm emissions they should also be rewarded for on-farm sequestration either through He Waka Eke Noa or the Emissions Trading Scheme.

“The commission should not overcomplicate things. Its first priority must be emissions,” she said.

If farmers are going to be charged for their on-farm emissions they should also be rewarded for on-farm sequestration.

Barbara Kuriger National Party Scott Simpson, the party’s climate change spokesman, said the best chance for farmers to manage their emissions is by giving them the widest possible range of solutions.

“The government can make more progress towards emissions targets if it is committed to a principle of rewarding efforts to capture and store carbon,” said Simpson.

He said he supports the intent of He Waka Eke Noa as an industry-wide agreement, calling it “a solution by farmers for farmers”. But he is reserving judgment until he sees its final form and the details of the government’s response.

In the meantime he is concerned about what he said is a “sword of Damocles” hanging over the sector.

“The government says if there is no agreement between the sector and the government then legislation kicks in and the sector will become part of the ETS.” Agriculture has a role to play in meeting climate change goals, said Simpson, but the ETS is a blunt instrument – and “as of yet we have not seen the colour of the eyes of the government response to He Waka Eke Noa”.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

15

Evolution not revolution for Overseer Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz FARMERS and consultants concerned that a review of Overseer may see the software dumped for a new system have been assured by the new chief executive that the longstanding nutrient programme will not be wiped for a replacement.

Jill Gower spent three years as Overseer company secretary before assuming the interim CEO role in February and is now in the permanent role.

With about a month’s worth of review work still to complete, Gower said if a new modelling system is required it will be invented, but she sees no fundamental change in the way Overseer’s proposed reiteration will work.

“Overseer is a particular type of model chosen for a reason, and one both farmers and scientists can use. There is no blank slate we are starting from,” said Gower.

Overseer’s review comes after a stinging report from a scientific panel on the software almost a year ago.

Criticisms of Overseer that prompted the review included its lack of real-time monitoring, use of average climate data, and problems monitoring nitrogen surface flows.

Gower said when considering the real-time criticism, it would not be unreasonable for that to prompt the development of another tool more suited to such an application, one that could be used in parallel with Overseer.

She pointed to work being done by the Ministry for the Environment in this area that may meet that need.

A recurring criticism of Overseer from some scientists has been a need for greater peer review of its workings, with some

We see Overseer to be used as a source of information to help establish a farm environment plan, but more like Xero than like the IRD. Jill Gower Overseer claiming the software is akin to a “black box” few are privy to.

But Gower said the opportunity to review Overseer’s workings is adequate, and even more so with the development of “Overseer Sci”, a programme developed to analyse Overseer’s model workings, and available to scientists to use.

Meantime during the review process the company has tapped all the key research providers in the country for input on the model. This has included reviewing each area of criticism in last year’s report.

The use of average climate data is now being considered against a daily data-averaging approach.

Hydrology concerns on how water transports nutrients are being addressed, and nitrogen leaching estimates are being reviewed.

Some scientists, including Sir Peter Gluckman, have criticised Overseer’s ownership model – it is shared between MPI, the Fertiliser Association and AgResearch – saying it needed to be aligned with a trust or not-for-profit structure.

But Gower said Overseer’s constitution clearly lays out its base intentions, and commercial gain is not the top priority among these.

“The owners work collaboratively with a shared purpose, in a way very much

WORTH KEEPING: Overseer chief executive Jill Gower says changes to the software will be incremental, rather than a complete makeover of the system.

how a not-for-profit would also operate,” she said.

Overseer subscribers have borne a hike in annual subscription rates over the past 12 months that has almost doubled the cost to about $680 a year, an increase Gower reassured them is not going to be repeated. The current rate, she said, represents realistic value given the software’s complexity.

Despite the uncertainty the review brought with it, Gower said subscription growth has continued, with the year ending up as one of the best ever.

She is unsure about the

approach councils will take in using Overseer in the future when setting nutrient regulations.

At this point there are several regional councils around New Zealand eyeing the review process, having employed Overseer to help set nutrient limits for farming.

She said she takes comfort in the fact that councils have continued to work with Overseer as the review progresses, but acknowledged there could be potential for another model to evolve for council use.

“We have always talked about there being a suite of tools, it does not have to be a binary

argument,” said Gower.

Southland Regional Council is one of the few that has not used Overseer in its proposed land and water plan to identify specific targets, rather using Overseer to chart a general direction of travel, something many farm consultants and farmers would prefer to see.

“We see Overseer to be used as a source of information to help establish a farm environment plan, but more like Xero than like the IRD,” said Gower.

The recommended changes to Overseer will be passed to a government technical advisory group for assessment later this year.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

International awards for Massey dairy scientists

WHO’S BEST? Dr Debashree Roy was second equal for her entry titled Composition, structure, and dynamic digestion behaviour of milk from different species.

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16

RIDDET Institute scientists from Massey University in Palmerston North have won two of the four top prizes in an inaugural International Dairy Federation award.

Riddet Institute postdoctoral fellow Debashree Roy came second equal and research officer Nick Smith was third in the International Dairy Federation Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize.

Winners of the prizes were announced this week and will receive their prizes at the upcoming IDF World Dairy Summit, to be held in India in September 2022.

Dr Debashree Roy was second equal for her entry titled Composition, structure, and dynamic digestion behaviour of milk from different species.

Her research looked at how milk composition and structure impacts the release of nutrients at various stages of gastric digestion of different mammalian milks, such as cow, goat, and sheep milks.

“Milk is a uniquely designed nutritious food by nature and there is still so much to discover and learn from it,” Roy says.

She says her research answered some important scientific questions about the digestion mechanisms of milk from different mammalian species during coagulation in the stomach, and how that influences the rates of delivery of proteins and fats during digestion in the body.

Nutritional information discovered about the different milks can also help consumers find products tailored to their needs.

“The results obtained have important consequences for developing bio-inspired dairy products with improved digestion characteristics, for controlling the release of nutrients, and to meet the special dietary needs of consumers of all age groups,” Roy says.

Smith’s third-place entry, Understanding dairy’s contribution to a sustainable food system, used a data science and modelling approach to unpick the quantity of food nutrients that come from dairy in our current food system.

He has been involved in the development of the DELTA Model, a global food system mass balance capable of calculating the nutrition available globally from the food system today, and under various future scenarios.

Smith says the contribution dairy made to calcium intakes was significant, with dairy supplying 49% of global food calcium while also making large contributions to vitamins B2 and B12, and indispensable amino acids.

“The nutrients provided by milk are currently of major importance to global nutrition. Any change to this status – either increasing or decreasing this contribution – must take the full nutritional consequences of this change into account, alongside the other considerations of sustainability.”

The IDF Professor Pavel Jelen Early Career Scientist Prize was created to acknowledge the work of scientists and/or technologists in the dairy science and technology field and aimed toward early-career scientists, including graduate and postgraduate students, who are less than three years since graduation from their highest degree attained.

News

farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

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Hunt is on for arable’s innovators Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz NOMINATIONS have opened for the 2022 arable industry awards.

“We are on the hunt for our (industry’s) tall poppies, not to chop them down but to celebrate their achievements and to inspire others,” Federated Farmers arable industry chair Colin Hurst said.

“We are a sector that generates $800 million of sales a year, $260m of that in exports, and we’re determined to better highlight to fellow New Zealanders the role we play.”

The innovators and heroes of NZ’s arable industry will be recognised at an awards event next month.

This is an event put together by industry for industry, Hurst said.

Federated Farmers, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), United Wheatgrowers (UWG) and the NZ Grain and Seed Trade Association are working together to make the awards a showcase of the sector’s people and products, recognising, celebrating and rewarding excellence.

“Our industry involves more than $2 billion in annual direct and indirect spending and 11,310 fulltime equivalent jobs.

“Not only are we world leaders in seed production, but we also grow 60% of the world’s radish seed, 50% of white clover seed and 40% of global carrot seed.

“The maize, feed and grass seeds we grow are also crucial for the NZ dairy and meat producers who drive the lion’s share of our export receipts.

“Home-grown wheat for bread products assumes even more importance with supply chain disruption and the war in Ukraine

and our thriving brewing industry soaks up our barley,” Hurst said.

The growing diversity and impact of the arable industry is reflected in the fact that the 2022 awards have been expanded to eight categories, FAR chief executive Alison Stewart said.

“As well as recognising top maize, cereal and seed growers and a standout agronomist, there are awards for emerging talent, environment and sustainability, innovation and an arable food champion award open to both growers and those innovators who turn our seeds and grains into end products that consumers want to snap up,” Stewart said.

An overall winner will be chosen

It’s time the arable industry stood up and told the rest of NZ just how good we are.

Alison Stewart FAR from the eight category winners.

“We’re building this event up to be a must attend on the arable sector calendar.

“It’s time the arable industry stood up and told the rest of NZ just how good we are, she said.

The awards event will be held at the Te Pai convention centre, Christchurch, on August 4.

Nominations are open at www. arableawards.co.nz

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SHOWCASE: Feds arable industry chair Colin Hurst says the sector is determined to highlight its role in NZ agriculture.

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News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Wooden heart for Tauranga council Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz THE DECISION by Tauranga City to opt for an all-timber civic office building has been welcomed by timber manufacturers as a catalyst for other large-scale mass wooden building projects.

As part of an inner-city rejuvenation programme, Tauranga city commissioners have undertaken to build the new 10,000sqm building in the central business district with investment and property development company Willis Bond.

The building’s scale will make it the largest mass wooden constructed office space in New Zealand, and it aims to have a minimal carbon footprint in both content and the construction process.

Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association CEO Stephen Macaulay said the wooden building industry is at a fascinating juncture right now.

A number of good projects are starting to emerge thanks to government policy, new construction products and NZ’s own Timber Design Centre, which opened in March.

Last year the government adopted a policy for largescale publicly owned building construction, requiring that timber construction be considered under its Building for Climate Change initiative.

The initiative is part of efforts to get the building industry to reduce its emissions by half within a decade to meet 2050 carbon targets.

Macaulay said the development of more engineered timber products adopted from overseas technology for fast-growing NZ exotic timber is also heralding a new era in design and construction possibilities.

“You have the likes of Glulam engineered timber, glued-together timber that provides structural strength, for example,” said

SOLID: Tauranga’s leaky, flawed civic centre is to be replaced with a 10,000sqm mass wood constructed building.

This will be our home for at least the duration of the 15-year lease, so it’s important that we get it right.

Anne Tolley Tauranga City Commission chair Macaulay.

The Tauranga civic project aims to be constructed to the highest Green Star environmental standards, and will incorporate

features such as electric vehicle charging and rainwater harvesting.

As per the government’s Building for Climate Change initiative, the project has one eye on “embodied carbon” – reducing the amount of carbon emitted through the manufacturing, transportation and installation of all the building’s components.

Tauranga City commission chair Anne Tolley said the commission wanted to push the boundaries to design a wholly sustainable, future-focused workplace for the council.

“This will be our home for at least the duration of the 15-year lease, so it’s important that we get

it right,” she said.

It comes as the existing council building, which was only 33 years old, has been torn down due to leaks and inherent design flaws.

Council and Willis Bond staff will be working with local iwi to ensure Māori knowledge is incorporated into the look and feel of the building design.

Macaulay said the more largescale buildings are constructed using mass engineered timber, the more interest will grow.

Several other recently completed high-profile projects around the country include Nelson airport terminal and the Clearwater Quays apartments north of Christchurch, built with

Red Stag Timber products.

The Timber Design Centre is intended to increase the use of timber in the design and construction of all building projects, with a particular focus on non-residential and multi-storey buildings.

Macaulay said timberconstructed commercial buildings are particularly suited to the midheight levels cities like Tauranga demand.

As a sector, the construction industry contributes 20% of NZ’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The Tauranga civic project is due to start later this year with completion scheduled for late 2024.

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Are you Labour pains here ready for to stay, warns SFF July nitrogen reporting?

20

farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

News

Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

With the deadline to report your 2021/2022 dairy farm N usage only two weeks away, now’s the time to ensure your nutrient applications are recorded, ready to report to council before 31 July.

Take advantage of the clever nutrient recording and reporting tools in HawkEye and you’ll have what your regional council needs before the deadline.

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RAV18JUL-B-FW

by Ravensdown

Silver Fern Farms (SFF) general sales manager Peter Robinson says “the big employment reassessment” is real, and the industry needs to plan for a longer season in the years ahead.

“This is not just an SFF challenge, but [one affecting] all parts of the supply chain, all of New Zealand and the world,” he said.

Robinson and chief supply chain officer Dan Boulton presented an “under the hood” look at the shocks the company has faced, the effects on the business and how it has navigated these challenges, to the company’s annual conference in Christchurch last week.

The disruptions and shocks being experienced in the supply chain are unprecedented and continue to be felt across the globe, Boulton said.

“The days of just-in-time supply chains or being able to hold low inventory levels and the ability to export at ease with flexibility and choice are gone and unlikely to return any time soon,” he said.

“This makes exporting from NZ, here at the bottom of the world, as challenged as ever.”

The covid-19 pandemic, labour shortages, global shipping capacity, the availability of empty containers, cold store capacity, NZ coastal service, geopolitical risks and northern hemisphere recession all make running the supply chain at SFF a mammoth achievement every day.

Robinson said port congestion continues at record levels across the globe due to unprecedented import demand.

“Every seaworthy vessel in the world is operating and operating at capacity, but the global average has just one in three vessels departing and arriving on time, with the global average vessel delay being eight days,” he said.

This congestion has removed 13% of global container and vessel capacity. Shipping rates have skyrocketed, with SFF rates increasing by $22 million in 2022, Robinson said.

But the situation is not all doom and gloom.

Boulton said that “SFF’s ownership in Kotahi, a joint venture with Fonterra, has us in one of the most privileged positions globally with Kotahi being one of Maersk Shipping Lines’ VIP customers”.

“Through the Kotahi team we have worked hard to access priority space of Maersk vessels and get priority access to empty shipping containers,” he said.

“SFF has not lost a single production day this season due

SUCCESS: Chief supply chain officer Dan Boulton says Silver Fern Farms has navigated market disruptions and supply chain challenges, mitigated the risk and cost and achieved better net returns than they were originally forecasting.

to this preferential position, allowing animals to keep flowing off farm.”

SFF has shown its ability to be agile and change its market mix and port destination.

With port closures happening at short notice and reduced shipping capacity to key routes, SFF has had to move large volumes to new destinations at the drop of a hat, said Robinson.

“Moving away from your optimal market mix comes with value erosion. In some instances this market diversification cost can be as much as $100 to $150 per head on beef and can happen at short notice,” he said.

Knowing the capacity shortfall was looming, SFF partnered with AFFCO and ANZCO and stepped back in time 30 years to export its product by chartering a bulk conventional vessel. It shipped 2500t via this method this season, allowing it to maintain the value from the North American market.

“All these initiatives have allowed us to keep processing animals and keep product moving to market, but at a cost,” said Boulton.

“Conventional shipping costs 30% more than containerised, but it’s still better than not processing at all.”

Through food service disruption, SFF has seen exponential growth in its United States retail channel, now servicing 1700 retail stores across the US. Before covid it was 200.

This processing season has been one for the history books as one of the longest seasons ever.

Since February, due to staffing challenges, bovine and ovine capacity has run at 80%-85% of normal capacity.

This “big employment reassessment” is a challenge for all parts of the supply chain, domestically and globally.

Robinson said SFF is working hard to adjust its working arrangements, but it is unlikely NZ will return to the favourable situation of having access to large numbers of seasonal workers.

“Collectively we all need to plan and prepare for a longer season in the years ahead,” he said.

To help with pressure on farm, the livestock team has facilitated grazing arrangements for more than 300,000 stock units.

This season store stock movement increased 55% from early action to move animals between islands to maximise processing.

“We have had a 300% increase of lambs going into our winter lamb finishing plan and we have had a 50% increase of prime animals into our winter finishing plans,” Boulton said.

“As we have navigated the market disruptions and supply chain challenges, we have also mitigated the risk and cost, and achieved better net returns than we were originally forecasting.”

Volume 114 I July 18th, 2022 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@globalhq.co.nz

RED ME AT PROTEIN OR PL ANT BASED ALTERNATIVES

HELLO ADVENTURERS! Firearms and looking out for your mates while you stay safe!

Rule # 6

AgResearch, Massey University, Auckland University and the Riddet Institute have undertaken a study called “Pasture Raised Advantage” where they look at nutritional consequences of beef, lamb and alternative proteins and how they impact our health and wellbeing.

YOU HAVE TO BE IN TO WIN - ONE MORE RULE LEFT AFTER THIS WEEK!

Head to: https://www.beeflambnz. co.nz/news/2022/6/28/newresearch-confirms-red-meatsnutritional-advantage-over-alter natives?fbclid=IwAR0eVKhCn3u3 koqROshTVgtsD87tN8kA1bRRRJzUY9xnzPrDjalA8v9g7k to read about the study and watch the accompanying video. For more details on the four stages of the research programme head to https://www.beeflambnz. co.nz/pasture-raised

Send in what Rule # 6 is and the information that keeps you and your hunting friends safe PLUS;

- The minimum standards required by the Arms Regulations for storing your firearms

AND - What reasonable steps a licensed firearms holder must take to secure firearms against theft.

Send this through to agined@globalhq.co.nz and we will put you in the draw to WIN a brand new pair of Burris binoculars valued at over $600 thanks to Anna and James from Rivers to Ranges in Rangiora!

1

NZ beef exports to China/Hong Kong (thous. tonnes)

1

How much NZ beef was exported to China in May this year?

2 In what month/year have beef exports to this destination been at the highest level on this graph?

3 In what month/year have beef exports to this destination been at the lowest level on this graph?

STRETCH YOURSELF: 1

How do exports in May 2022 compare to year-ago levels and the five-year average?

2 What is the percentage difference between export volumes in May 2022 and April 2022?

3 Beef exports to China were particularly quiet this year in April. How and why do you think China’s ‘zero-covid’ policy affected demand for NZ beef products?

2 What was measured from each of the participants?

3 Researchers studied both physiological and psychological impacts of participants' diets. Why do you think they did this?

Next time we will cover Rule # 7. Each time you send in your answers it gives you a higher chance of winning - there is only 1 more chance after this to enter!

4 A large proportion of previous studies on red meat consumption have been based on international systems that are quite different to our pasture raised animals. Do you think it is important to have studies of our pasture raised beef and lamb to compare to these other studies? Why or why not?

Good luck and happy hunting!

Harriet :)

Why did they target the age demographic that they did?

THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE VOLUME OF NZ BEEF EXPORTS TO CHINA/HONG KONG

Harriet

Head to https://www.farmersweekly. co.nz/resisting-the-antibiotic-bug/?fbc lid=IwAR2nBvF58jALymigkeVKcRgs _ 5 UR3wf4Ouq4HGCVSWZVvAVOqrNufwg2 RdU to read more about this and then see if you can answer the questions below.

Globally greater use of antibiotics in production animal systems has been attributed to the growth in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and until recently little has been known about whether grazing cows outdoors has any effect on its prevalence. Rose Collins has helped increase our knowledge of this subject with her thesis investigating the topic.

NZ’s status as one of the three lowest users of antibiotics in livestock use globally translates to less AMR in the farm environment and has proved dairy farmers have another environmental benefit worth preserving.

FILL YA BOOTS

5 Do some research, what are the main differences between grain finished and pasture raised meat?

1

How did Collins carry out her research?

2 What is “shotgun” metagenomic sequencing? Why was this more advantageous than conventional approaches used previously?

3 How long was the study carried out for? Why was it done for this length of time?

Head to https://www.farmersweekly. co.nz/smp-and-butter-in-demand/ and read the article on the current global dairy market.

1

How much have cheddar prices fallen in the past five fortnights?

2 Why is Fonterra moving its new season processing into more skim and butter products?

3 Two agri-economists have forecast what they think the milk price will be. What figures have they decided on?

22

Newsmaker

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Big win rounds out Young Farmer podium for family Auckland beef farmer Tim Dangen has become the third FMG Young Farmer of the Year from the Northern region in short order, and the first to win a grand final in his home region. Hugh Stringleman looks at his pedigree.

T

IM Dangen, aged 30, from Muriwai Beach on Auckland’s wild west coast, performed the best in wild weather in Whangārei to capture the FMG Young Farmer of the Year for 2022.

Narrowly into second was his brother-in-law Chris Poole, from Te Kawa West in Waikato.

Dangen capped an extraordinary string of achievements for the extended Dangen/Poole family: a first, second and a third in FMG Young Farmer grand finals.

He also made it three wins for Northern in eight years, something once unthinkable in the modern era of the contest.

I want to make farming sexy again. The more opportunities that are shown to young people the better. It also plants a bit of a seed that there’s lots of cool things happening in the industry.

Tim Dangen FMG Young Farmer of 2022 Historically considered one of the weakest of the seven regions to contest the grand final, Northern broke through with David Kidd from Helensville in 2014, followed

by James Robertson in 2019.

Dangen did it again this year and from a home farm base at Muriwai Beach, quite close to the Kidds at Helensville.

He said the competition in the Northern region has been strong over the past four years as he competed and improved his skills.

Dangen was runner-up in the Northern regional final three times, firstly in 2018, to Robertson in 2019 and then again in 2021.

“I just want to represent all those people well, keep the work up going forward and encourage young people to get amongst it,” he said.

“I have met a bunch of good people, learnt a whole lot, got a lot of growth out of it. It is such a good advocacy for the industry; I love this competition to bits,” he said.

Dangen said competing in the grand final against his brother-inlaw pushed him to keep going.

Poole, from the Te Kawa club in Waikato, said coming second wasn’t the result he had hoped for but that he was rapt that Dangen was the winner.

“It is really cool for our families who have spent so much time at regional finals over the years, it’s really exciting for everyone involved,” he said.

Poole is married to Dangen’s sister Emma, a veterinary surgeon and young mother. She was the Waikato grand finalist in 2019 and came third.

The extended family now has a top-three set of grand final placings, with Tim first, Chris second and Emma third.

Tim and Emma’s parents Robyn and Lyall Dangen hardly knew which way to look at

Whangārei and Emma would not be pressed into declaring her preference.

And they may not be finished as Poole, aged 27, said he would have a rest for a few years before giving the grand final another crack.

Third in the grand final this year was Jonny Brown from Dunsandel club, representing the Tasman region.

The practical day at Barge Park Showgrounds, Whangārei, was a very hard challenge for all contestants at three levels, the judges, ground staff, sponsors’ representatives and YF organisers.

Rain poured down almost all day and the grounds were saturated although the temperature stayed mild.

Grand finalists were tested on integrated farming plans, operating agricultural machinery, health and safety on farm, environmental planning and milking machinery.

They also competed head-tohead constructing a makeshift dam and filling it with water in the agri-sports section, and on their own farm modules erecting fences, hanging gates and connecting water troughs.

Dangen said afterwards he had been helped by both Robertson and Kidd before his grand final attempt and having Emma go through it three years previously was great preparation.

“We knew the effort that was required,” he said.

Weather and ground conditions on the practical day were very taxing on strength and mental sharpness.

“I was fading at the end of the modules section but when we

WINNER: Hands on the trophy and a big smile from Tim Dangen, FMG Young Farmer of 2022. climbed the hill for the agri-sports the cheer squad of family and friends gave me a big boost.”

He won the agri-sports section, along with the agri-business, agri-knowledge and people’s choice award, taking home over $70,000 worth of prizes and scholarships.

Dangen graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science in 2014 and went dairying for 18 months in Southland, where he worked for Simon Hopcroft, 2004 Young Farmer of the Year.

Seven years ago he returned home to Muriwai with the aim of eventually taking over the family farm and finding a sustainable business model for the steep country of 100ha so close to the city and iconic Muriwai Beach.

Some 200ha of leased farms, mainly lifestyle blocks, enable Dangen and his wife Jenny to rear up to 1000 calves a year and keep them on to different ages rather than selling them as weaners.

Aware that the current operation has a limited commercial shelf life, they are looking at other options to diversify and capitalise on being on the fringes of the big smoke.

Dangen is very keen to promote Young Farmers in the Auckland district, saying they have a strong club and that membership opens many pathways for those who want to go down them.

He wants to use his profile to showcase the opportunities involved in the sector and “make farming sexy again”.

“The more opportunities that are shown to young people the better. It also plants a bit of a seed that there’s lots of cool things happening in the industry at the moment, and there always will be.

“We’re all role models, everyone who’s involved in the sector has the opportunity to inspire others towards the sector and be a role model. Farmers are a bloody awesome group of people.”

Applications for the 2023 Nuffield Scholarships close 14 August.

The future of food and fibre is in the hands of our bold, grounded people, and those who give back.

Sound like you? Register your interest at Ruralleaders.co.nz/application-nuffield

Julian Raine Horticulturalist Innovator Nuffielder

New thinking

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

23

Farm shares its positive energy Farmers may find they can add “electricity generation” to their income stream descriptors in coming years if a Hawke’s Bay power project proves successful.

Richard Rennie spoke to the chief executive of Ara Ake, the governmentsponsored company responsible for helping push for more sustainable and innovative energy options on farms and in cities.

O

NGAONGA farmers Greg and Liz Wilson are participating in an electricity sharing project with their solar panels that promises to not only distribute surplus power around their farm outlets, but also supply others in the community.

But, unlike some of the multihectare solar sites proposed around New Zealand, the Wilsons’ scheme could represent a smaller scale, community-focused supply opportunity with a smaller footprint, and is far less likely to raise the ire of other communities.

Ara Ake chief executive Cristiano Marantes says that, even more importantly, such a scheme puts farmers firmly in the centre of energy transition.

Ara Ake was founded two years ago as New Zealand’s pathway to decarbonising became more defined, and is tasked by the government with accelerating the delivery of low-emission energy solutions.

“The technology we want to trial in projects like this tends to be more leading edge than bleeding edge. It is often tech that just needs a bit of a nudge to get it to the commercial stage,” says Marantes.

The Wilsons’ farm solar project was already in place when Ara Ake engaged with them through Our Energy, Flick Electric and SkySolar to trial an innovation called multiple trading relationships (MTR).

BOOSTED: Part of the solar energy array on the Wilsons’ property.

The main aim of MTR is to introduce greater competition into the electricity supply sector by, for example, offering more choice in how locally generated electricity is distributed and sold.

Marantes likens the concept to an Uber for electricity supply.

“At present you are only able to buy power from one supplier.

It’s like being told you can only shop at one store, or only have one bank. No other area is as restricted,” he says.

“MTR aims to enable a smallscale electricity generator, like the Wilsons, to not only supply multiple connection points around their farm, but to also send any surplus electricity to other selected buyers.”

Greg Wilson says he has always been interested in solar power as an option for their 550ha property, having installed their system three years ago. He uses the electricity to supply the family home, mother-in-law’s home and the irrigation pump.

The MTR scheme has the endorsement of the Minister of Energy and Resources, Megan

Woods, who hopes bringing more competition into the energy sector and sharing resources more widely will ultimately bring down costs and help to lower emissions more quickly.

The project is only in its second month, but Marantes says it is also revealing other benefits, aside from the opportunity to establish localised, self-reliant low emissions and commercially viable community-based energy hubs.

“It was initially also about consumer choice. But, as the project has progressed, we’ve seen it also be about helping to deal with energy hardship, having a role to play in reducing the cost of electricity and making it available to those who can’t always afford it,” he says.

He says a generator like the Wilsons with excess solar could be happy to effectively donate their surplus to someone struggling to pay their conventional power supply bill.

“We know there are a lot of people with solar who have the means and the desire to help

out in this way, and enabling regulatory changes could achieve that.”

Being able to prove tangible benefits to consumers and viable commercial prospects is a vital outcome of the MTR project.

Unlike some multi-supply schemes proposed overseas, the Ara Ake project does not require separate hardware and meters, with supply input and electricity output all managed digitally.

If proven, it will justify a change of the Electricity Participation Code, which currently prevents a customer from purchasing power from more than one company at any given time.

Marantes makes no secret of the fact that Ara Ake’s work is intended to disrupt conventional power supply models, possibly explaining why at this stage large retailers are not on board with the project.

However, he also sees the potential for large retailer/ generator involvement in smaller community-based schemes. They are likely to become easier to get over the line in the future as the

country’s demand for electricity grows, and large-scale projects become tougher to justify on cost and environmental grounds.

“It is a completely different way of supplying power and is quite a confronting model. But farmers like Greg and Liz are keen to do things right, and this is a chance for farmers everywhere to see the benefits clearly demonstrated,” says Marantes.

MTR aims to enable a small-scale electricity generator, like the Wilsons, to not only supply multiple connection points around their farm, but to also send any surplus electricity to other selected buyers.

Cristiano Marantes Ara Ake

Thinking about a career in the rural sector?

Join Olivia Weatherburn on her new podcast series as she talks with young Kiwis working in the sector, to provide an insight into some of the many exciting career pathways available, how to get there and why they love it.

In our latest episode, Olivia talks with Cameron Ravenwood, who was the driving force behind getting his family farm converted for sheep milking, and then eventually launching their own successful brand of sheep milk, Fernglen Farm.

To listen scan the QR Code

Or head to: https://spoti.fi/3yiY63M

PODCAST WITH

Olivia Weatherburn

24

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

EDITORIAL

New leaders face same old issues

F

EDERATED Farmers unveiled a few new faces on the front bench recently, with Wayne Langford getting the nod as vice president and three others taking a seat at the board table.

After three high-profile retirements it was vital Feds found the talent to inject a farming voice into the conversations we’re having as a nation.

Andrew Hoggard was re-elected president and will provide a steady hand with a wealth of experience.

Langford is a good choice as his understudy.

He’s approachable, speaks well and has a CV that not only includes farming but also some really special initiatives that help the wider community.

Mark Hooper looks to be an excellent communicator and Sandra Faulkner and Richard McIntyre are also experienced farming leaders.

The ability to communicate well will be the greatest challenge for the new lineup.

Social discourse has degenerated over the past few years, with people retreating further to the extremes.

Fuelled by the online algorithms that reward such behaviour, they are not afraid to play the person and not the ball.

All too often conversations about the pressing issues we face devolve into a mass of vitriol that moves us further apart, making a solution unlikely.

For farming to thrive it needs spokespeople who can not only present a well-informed view, but can also connect on a deeper level with the public.

That means being open to change, being empathetic to the views of others and simply being able to read a room.

It means articulating what can be done, not emphasising what can’t.

And it means accepting criticism without one’s fight response kicking in.

It’s a hard task, but it’s one that carries more importance than ever.

Food is the fuel that drives humanity.

What we need from our farming leaders is a plan to reconnect the wider public to the people and land that produce that fuel.

Bryan Gibson

LETTERS

Left reeling by Scot’s water diatribe A SCOTSMAN says get cracking, in “Get going on Three Waters, NZ told” (July 4): only $800 each for implementation – so for the 15 people on this farm it is $12,000?

Three Waters will regulate farm water that is currently in use. The ONLY change for farming will be to be told what and how and when, and to pay for it.

Farmers Weekly editorial staff should always print a farmer’s view when allowing some foreigner to print erroneous nonsense.

Even worse than the impending cost of Three Waters for rural life is the racism embraced in its authoritarian structure.

[Water Industry Commission for Scotland CEO ] Alan Sutherland didn’t discuss this.

And why wasn’t a photo of the said Scotsman printed with

his diatribe, so we know who we are contested with?

Embarrassingly, I’m of Scots descent too Rob Chrystall Motuiti

EU FTA negotiations fail pastural sector THE EU Free Trade Agreement certainly fails miserably to deliver a commerciallymeaningful result for the dairy and red meat sectors; that’s beyond dispute.

But the question that this result begs is: was it due to incompetence, indifference or was it deliberate?

The latter may seem outrageous until one recalls that the Ardern Government is on record as saying that the dairy and red meat sectors will need to shrink significantly for NZ to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets (and to align

with various other values of the Ardern Government).

One thing for sure is that Ardern’s substitution of “an improvement on the status quo” for “commercially meaningful [result]” as the goal of EU FTA negotiations can only be construed as deliberate.

Ian McIntosh Otaki

Target the right market for wool IT WAS good to read in the July 11 edition that “Wool is Back as a Carpet Option” and good luck to Bremworth Carpets and the various farmer organisations who are promoting crossbred wool and woollen carpets.

However, until woollen carpets can be reintroduced as the carpet of choice for consumers in United States,

Europe and other affluent markets and into hotels, offices and cruise ships, crossbred wool prices will continue to languish.

The New Zealand and Australian markets cannot consume sufficient fibre to move the price of crossbred wool to the farmer in any meaningful way.

Woollen carpets must be marketed to consumers in affluent markets in large volumes. That requires a lot of money, needs a lot of marketing expertise and a lot of time and effort.

I do not read very much about a marketing programme that would successfully see woollen carpets reintroduced to world markets or who would pay for such a marketing programme.

John Edwards Rangiora

Letterof theWeek EDITOR Bryan Gibson 06 323 1519 bryan.gibson@globalhq.co.nz EDITORIAL Claire Robertson editorial@globalhq.co.nz Neal Wallace 03 474 9240 neal.wallace@globalhq.co.nz Annette Scott 021 908 400 annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz Hugh Stringleman 09 432 8594 hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz Gerald Piddock 027 486 8346 gerald.piddock@globalhq.co.nz Richard Rennie 07 552 6176 richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz Nigel Stirling 021 136 5570 nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com

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Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

25

Livestock needs live people The

Pulpit

DO IT: Doug Lineham is supporting a campaign to get a screening programme created for prostate cancer in New Zealand.

Doug Lineham

I

N THE Farmers Weekly of May 30, Katherine Dixon wrote: “A thriving hill country farming sector is critical to New Zealand’s economy and to our regional communities”.

“Hill country farms make up 70% of our pastoral area and farmers are making productive use of approximately 5.6 million hectares of land. These farmers are producing the world’s most sustainable beef and lamb with an environmental footprint lower than many of our competitors.”

These few words provide a clear indication of the importance and value of pastoral farming in New Zealand, on that we are all agreed.

I want you to hold that thought please.

In the NZ Herald of June 15, John Berry wrote: “Would you believe seven out of 10 men would rather clean the toilets than go to the doctor? Bizarre,but apparently true.

“And when men do go to the doctor, they’re surprisingly likely to lie about their symptoms.

“June was Men’s Health Month and a good time to reflect on the health of ourselves, our brothers, fathers, sons, uncles, mates, and work colleagues.

“This is not just about men, it’s about everyone – healthy men mean healthy families and ultimately better communities.”

Interesting and important set of words, on which we can all agree.

I want you to hold that thought please.

In the Weekend Herald of June 18, a full-page advertisement featuring Men’s Health Week and Oscar Kightley, actor, presenter, comedian, and Men’s Health Week Ambassador.

The advert uses statements like – “One man in four won’t live to retirement age in NZ. “Take the test. It could be a lifesaver.

“None of us are perfect when it comes to health especially us men. Get over the staunchness and start the change by taking the What’s Your Score online health survey at menshealthweek.co.nz” Again, another interesting and important set of words. Please hold those thoughts for the moment as well.

Before I write any more, I should declare my interest in this subject.

My lifetime and working career have been within the New Zealand livestock industry from the land to agency work, the processing industry, technical support for agriculture, environmental stewardship, Royal Agricultural Society membership in support of A&P Associations across the North Island, and a myriad of other rural communitybased activities.

During the latter part of my working life, I have undergone heart surgery, twice had spinal surgery, battled prostate cancer and committed to a lifetime fight with Parkinson’s Disease (now in its eighth year).

I am a financial member of the NZ Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand and a financial member of Parkinson’s NZ. I am thankful for all that I have had from the industry over many years, my commitment is to give back to our industry because there is lots to give.

Reflect for a moment on the opening paragraphs, where I asked you to hold onto some thoughts.

We all understand and appreciate the importance of farming in New Zealand not only to the individual but our communities and the national economy.

In my thinking of that, I include every person who contributes in any way to the support of farming and the rural community.

Three years ago, I had surgery for prostate cancer and fingers crossed all testing to date hasn’t revealed a return of the cancer.

I am one of the lucky ones.

Statistically, 3500 men will be

diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 700 will perish, yes, they will die.

What a waste of human life and intellect.

We know that men are reluctant to develop a relationship with their local GP and that is just nuts.

A twice-yearly PSA blood test and the odd digital examination saved me and cost a moment of time with my doctor, as part of a plan to prevent me from departing this earth too soon.

Every man unnecessarily lost to prostate cancer is a waste of the individual and has a direct effect on family, friends, colleagues at work, and the communities where they live.

Every man unnecessarily lost to prostate cancer is a waste of the individual and has a direct effect on family, friends, colleagues at work, and the communities where they live.

There is no need for this to happen, and it should not be allowed to happen.

Life is just too precious.

Something that would help massively to get men involved in testing and allow the foundation to really get stuck into the prevention of unnecessary loss of lives due to prostate cancer would be the introduction of a national screening programme just as they have for breast cancer in women.

Yes, that’s right, you read correctly – women have a nationally advertised and funded screening programme for women.

Does that suggest women are worth more to save than men?

In the beginning Eve would have been no good without Adam.

Kristine (Kris) Hayward of Hamilton was so upset at losing her husband to prostate cancer last year that she has got busy preparing a petition to Parliament asking for a screening programme to be introduced without delay.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation, whilst walking beside her offering support and compassion as she determines a new pathway forward without her soul mate, has committed to helping with the signing of the petition because they know just how valuable a national screening programme will be in saving the lives of men.

Any person over the age of 18 can sign their name to the petition and we humbly seek your support and involvement.

All you need to do is click on the link shown, follow the prompts, print your name, and apply your signature.

This is not just about men, it’s about everyone – healthy men mean healthy families and ultimately better communities. https://tinyurl.com/petitionkh As a member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, I join with others who work hard to place the appropriate messages in front of the public. Because we receive no government funding for our organisation, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand depends on donations, sponsorship, bequests from estates, and funding wherever we can get it.

Money is really precious to us, every day we must manage our costs very carefully.

Our promotion this month is Go Dry July, where members of the organisation go without alcohol for the month of July and invite the public to donate in recognition of their efforts.

I have committed to not consuming a drop of alcohol during the month of July and I will do it, trust me, I intend to complete the month without any booze touching my lips.

Foundation members right across New Zealand will be seeking support and if you know of any in your area, please give them a donation.

If you want to support our endeavours, and you want to do it now, just go to the link shown below, click on it and follow the prompts. https://www.dryjuly.co.nz/ users/doug-lineham Every donation will be recognised and those over $5 will be receipted for tax purposes.

Your support of us, and the endeavours of the Foundation on behalf of all men, is just so important as we reach out with this call for funding.

Who am I? Doug Lineham works in the rural sector and is involved with many rural communities. He supports a national prostate screening campaign

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

The Pulpit offers readers the chance to have their say. farmers.weekly@globalhq.co.nz Phone 06 323 1519

26

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

No issue with China in the Pacific Alternative View

Alan Emerson

GOVERNMENTS annoy me when they get elected and then introduce major changes that weren’t either raised or discussed during the campaign.

All governments do it. The Key government re-introduced knighthoods from complete left field. No voter had a clue. The cynic in me would suggest that the change did work for Key and English.

We then had John Key authorize Pita Sharples to commit New Zealand to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. There was absolutely no discussion. When the declaration was adopted in September 2007 the then Labour Government under Helen Clark opposed it. We were one of four countries to do so. There were an additional 11 abstentions.

Why was it done surreptitiously and without debate? Again, the cynic in me suggests that it would create angst for future governments. It has.

I accept that life can change but we’re still on missions that were never part of election campaign dialogue.

I believe our reaction to the Ukrainian crisis is concerning.

The government has gone too far with its reaction to the conflict.

Unbelievably, the National Party doesn’t believe we’ve gone far enough.

Why have we effectively gone to war without any consultation?

Why did we make NZ part of the conflict?

I agree with the sentiments of past Labour Party generalsecretary Mike Smith who believes NZ could find itself “on the wrong side of history”. He said we were helping prolong a conflict in the interests of waning United States hegemony while risking our own interests in the Asia Pacific region and increasing the risks of a nuclear war.

He believes “the present situation is disastrous because it’s removed any chance of a negotiated peaceful settlement and any chance of a continued independent policy”. I totally agree.

The other concern for me is over our relationship with the US at the expense of that with China.

There isn’t a lot of middle ground either, as China has accused the US of “immorally adding fuel to the fire [in Ukraine] while blaming others”.

We have a free trade agreement with China. We don’t with the US. The Regional Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP) that came into force on January 1 this year has been described as “paving the way

PACT WITH CONSULTATION: There’s nothing in China’s stated ambitions for the region that give this writer pause.

for the world’s largest free trade area”.

The Americans were invited but declined. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recently visited the US to try to encourage trade. We wanted them as part of the RCEP. That didn’t happen. Free trade isn’t part of the North American vocabulary.

Without free trade NZ would be in dire straits.

The much lauded Americaninspired Indo Pacific Economic Framework is a complete waste of time. It won’t achieve anything.

We’ve since signed a Partners in the Blue Pacific initiative with the US, UK, Australia and Japan, which is downright crazy. We used to be proud of our neutrality. Now we’ve joined the strident voices of colonialism from the days of the Raj. I want more honest dialogue

about our place in the world than we’re getting. The government needs to consult more than dictate.

I don’t have an issue with China in the Pacific for several reasons.

The first is that it has been active in the area for years while countries such as Australia and the US showed little interest.

I’ve read the China Pacific Islands Five-Year Action Plan on Common Development and don’t have a problem with it.

They want annual meetings with foreign ministers, they want to co-operate economically, certainly with agriculture, and cooperate on fighting covid.

They’re also concerned about climate change, which is a hot topic in the Pacific. Australia under Scott Morrisson wasn’t. The US, courtesy of recent Supreme

Star power an inspiring sight I RECKON there is one big story from last week that puts everything else we might fuss about into perspective.

Nasa finally released some longanticipated pictures from its new James Webb Space Telescope.

There will be those of you like me are equally enthralled and excited, others may be nonplussed about the attention it garnered and it may have passed others by entirely.

I’d like to suggest you give this astonishing achievement another look and further consideration.

As a species we can be cruel, destructive and behave appallingly. Just look at the unnecessary havoc being wreaked upon Ukraine by Putin and his supporters.

But we can also be a remarkable species and an excellent example is this new telescope and the knowledge it will bring to us.

Nasa began planning this project in 1990 and expects to spend US$9.7 billion on it, which is a massive amount of money to learn more about how things began and our small part in it.

However, I’d argue this is a far wiser spend than the US$800b the US pays each year on the military and puts some perspective into the scale of these large figures.

Nasa hasn’t funded and built this on their own though, it has

AWE INSPIRING: Steve Wyn-Harris reckons it’s a callous soul that isn’t moved by the images sent back by the James Webb Space Telescope.

been a partnership between the European Space Agency, nineteen other countries and involvies thousands of people and hundreds of companies, agencies and academic institutions.

There is the sheer brilliance of the construction of this instrument, it’s flawless launch on Christmas Day and the science and physics required to get it into the exact position required for its mission.

It is orbiting the sun in synchrony with the earth but four times further away than our moon.

The telescope has some lofty goals.

It is tasked with seeking out the light of the first stars and galaxies

that formed after the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago.

It’s going to study galaxy, star and planet formation and on its days off it is going to help us to further understand the origins of life.

The first pictures were released to the media and the world last week and it would be a callous soul that wasn’t moved by the majesty and beauty of those images.

If you haven’t had a good perusal already, they are easy to find online and well worth seeking out.

That first one of a deep field view of the universe gives us a small understanding of the sheer size of the universe.

The scientists tell us that it is

of an area of the sky the size of a grain of sand held at arm length and yet there are thousands of galaxies in just that picture.

Douglas Adams in his Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy tried to sum up the immensity of space.

“Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemists, but that’s just peanuts to space.”

The picture gives a better idea of just how big don’t you think?

They reckon there is somewhere between 100 and 400 billion stars in our own galaxy, The Milky Way. It’s a bit bigger than an average sized galaxy.

So, looking at that picture of the thousands of galaxies, each with on average billions of stars, gets you thinking about the extremely slim odds that we are the only ones here eh?

Given the vast numbers of suns with planets out there, models using maths and probability show that the universe is likely teeming with life rather than life only existing here on earth or being a rare event.

Some of those galaxies in that view were formed within a billion years of the universe’s formation and closer ones 4.5 billion years ago when our own sun was forming.

Court judgments, will never be.

Nowhere is the military mentioned.

The Solomons’ relationship with China has created controversy but again I don’t have an issue with it.

The Solomons are an independent country and can do what they like. It isn’t any business of the US, Australia or NZ. The facts are that, yes, the US has the world’s largest economy.

In a few years that will be overtaken by China.

We’ve had a free trade agreement with China for almost 15 years. Despite occasional skirmishes we’ve never been close to an FTA with the US. China has kept its nose pretty clean internationally. I accept their aggression in the South China Sea, but that’s minimal compared to invading Iraq and Afghanistan.

What we need is open honest dialogue and not decisions made on the fly that have the ability to affect us all, both now and long into the future.

I’m pleased that the PM’s stance has appeared to soften in the past week. It needed to. We are a small, independent trading nation and should stick to that and not try to be a part of any feral, sabrerattling rhetoric that has the ability to start a major war.

Your View Alan Emerson is a semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com

From the Ridge

Steve Wyn-Harris

That’s much more time than we have had for an intelligent species or two to build their own impressive telescopes and be peering back in our direction.

Perhaps they have also developed the technology to be able to travel among the stars of their own galaxies but even if they have cracked the ability to travel at the speed of light, given we are billions of light years distant, I don’t expect any visits or signals from them any time soon.

The Milky Way itself is 13 billion years old, with suns more than twice the age of our own, so other intelligent life is likely to be within a 100,000 light years of earth, but again those massive distances are hard to breach by any technology we can imagine but who knows?

Maybe we will get a visit one day and then the differences in skin colour, religion, nationality and ethnicity won’t suddenly seem so great.

Your View Steve Wyn-Harris is a Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmer. swyn@xtra.co.nz

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

27

EU FTA not perfect but best deal on offer Meaty Matters

Allan Barber

THE NEGOTIATIONS concluded recently in Brussels have gained some significant advantages for New Zealand exporters other than meat and dairy, in return for very little of substance for the EU. NZ’s negotiators were in an unenviable position, attempting to gain concessions on key products from a highly protectionist trading bloc with no high cards in their hand.

From the meat industry’s perspective there is little enthusiasm for either the additional sheep meat quota or the small beef quota agreed, as there is little incentive to develop meaningful sales programmes for EU customers with no gain over alternative market options.

Rick Walker, Anzco GM Sales and Marketing, had three years’ experience working in Brussels on trade policy for Fonterra, which gave him insight into how the EU works, so he is neither surprised nor disappointed by the outcome for the red meat sector.

He says NZ had very little

bargaining leverage, unlike the recently completed UK free trade agreement, where Britain was eager to demonstrate its ability to negotiate new deals outside its previous EU partnership.

In his view the deal for NZ as a whole was reasonable and may not have remained on the table if we had tried to play hardball and pushed for greater concessions on the two major agricultural products beyond those in other categories.

This is at odds with the reaction from DCANZ, Beef + Lamb NZ and the Meat Industry Association, which all believe Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unintentionally or deliberately reduced the EU’s expectations of how committed NZ was to demands for meaningful concessions for meat and dairy at the expense of a deal.

A contrasting company view came from Alliance Group’s General Manager Sales, Shane Kingston, who said: “The EU is an important market for all of our products, so we’re extremely disappointed with the beef access announced in the EUNZ FTA. For Alliance Group, the FTA does not create significant new opportunities in a market of 6.5 million metric tonnes. This means it’s simply not viable for any exporter to build a beef sales programme in the EU.” Affco’s Mark de Lautour also said there

STAND FIRM: NZ’s negotiators refused to budge on other contentious issues, including Zespri’s single desk seller status, which the EU wanted dismantled.

was nothing in it for them.

The person closest to the deal was Vangelis Vitalis, NZ’s chief trade negotiator, who told the Primary Industries Summit last week in Auckland that the EU is “the most protectionist agricultural trade bloc in the world”. He said it had been extremely challenging to deal with 27 sets of trade negotiators who believed the FTA was all about managing NZ’s access into the market, not about free trade at all.

Vitalis told the summit the EU did not need to complete a deal with NZ, a market of 4.8 million that already provides largely tarifffree access for EU products. In contrast, Australia is much more important, both because of the size of the market and the high tariffs applied to EU imports. He said he was told “many, many times last week, ‘We care about

BLOC TACKLED: Meat and dairy are not happy, but the EU free trade agreement contains much for NZ to celebrate.

Australia, we don’t care about you.’ ” That is presumably apart from the perceived dangers posed by our dairy and beef exports, as well as the World Trade Organisation sheep meat quota, which the EU would no doubt dearly love to get out of. If this quota had not been guaranteed as a result of Britain’s original accession to the European Economic Community in 1973, NZ’s sheep and beef farmers would have faced the necessity of even more traumatic land-use change.

Vitalis also warned that the deal is not yet done, as it must be approved by the European Parliament, a process that at least avoids the trap Canada fell into of having to get approval from individual parliaments on the agreement translated into multiple languages. However, EU farming interests including its Federated Farmers equivalent, Copa Cogeca, believe their dairy, sheep and beef farmers “are the sacrificed lambs” of the deal and have already held crisis talks in parliament about how to fight it.

What was actually achieved in the FTA, assuming it is eventually ratified, appears impressive, albeit the figures may exaggerate the benefits somewhat: 91% of NZ trade, rising to 97% after seven years (presumably by category, not value), will enter the EU free of duty, which economic modelling estimates at up to a $1.8 billion increase in exports, adding $1.4bn to GDP. Over seven years beef access will increase by 3,333 tonnes immediately and 10,000t after seven years, incurring a 7.5% tariff; the sheep meat quota will rise by a further 38,000t (although the present quota of 112,000s is not being filled); and butter, cheese and milk powder will also benefit from improved access. It is not certain how much of these allowances will be taken up.

Apart from the small access for meat and dairy, what was

actually achieved for all sectors was pleasing. Key beneficiaries will be horticulture with savings particularly on kiwifruit, onions and apples, seafood and fish, wine and honey, and services and manufactured goods. Mānuka honey specifically gains tariff-free status from day one, as do 99.9% of horticultural products and 99.5% of seafood.

Vitalis told the summit the EU did not need to complete a deal with NZ … he was told many, many times, ‘We care about Australia, we don’t care about you’.

NZ’s negotiators refused to budge on other contentious issues, including Zespri’s single desk seller status, which the EU wanted dismantled, and patent terms for agricultural chemicals, veterinary medicines and human pharmaceuticals, which the EU was eager to extend beyond 6-8 years. The latter is critically important to the preservation of the Pharmac generic purchasing model, while Zespri has proved itself to be a very profitable and innovative method of maximising earnings from kiwifruit.

Movement on any of these items would have had serious cost implications.

All things considered, this FTA may not be perfect, but in the longer term it should boost the economy as well as providing a base for review and improvement.

Your View Allan Barber is a meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic. co.nz, http://allanbarber.wordpress. com

28

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Good times may be over for NZD Straight Talking

Cameron Bagrie

COULD the New Zealand dollar be moving into a lower trading zone on a sustained basis? I suspect so.

A byproduct of rising volatility, higher inflation and rising interest rates in the United States has been a lower NZD. Being down has not been across the board. The move has been against the US dollar. The Euro/ USD is around parity and the USD/Japanese yen has soared.

Against other currencies, the NZD has broadly trodden water while the greenback has soared.

Back in the 1990s the NZD/USD rarely hit 0.70. In the past 20 years it has been above 0.70 about half the time – and 60% of the time in the past decade. It has traded in a higher range for a long time.

Fair value estimates – where the currency is expected to oscillate on average – lifted from the low to mid-60s to about 70 cents. The new range became 60-80 rather than 50-70 (with even a fall to 40 cents).

The cycle will turn against the USD, boosting the NZD/USD, but what if the range for the NZD/ USD is also turning back lower?

NZ has benefitted from a gargantuan rise in the terms of trade (the ratio of export prices to import prices) for decades.

NZ’s terms of trade are about 40% higher than they were in the 1990s. Food prices have outdone manufacturing prices. Rising terms of trade have supported a higher currency on average.

The hope is that the trend continues. It faces challenges, though.

Globalisation supported cheaper outsourced manufacturing production. But outsourcing is now being replaced by insourcing, to secure supply chains. Many countries’ cost

FED UP: Food inflation is one of a handful of factors reshaping the global economic picture.

advantages in manufacturing have also been whittled away.

Inflation is rampant, forcing up costs, particularly for input-heavy manufacturing items.

Food inflation is also rising, though this faces a political constraint; people need to be able to afford to eat.

Manufacturing item price suppression has been assisted by rapid technological advancement.

That will continue, and such adoption will likely broaden into food with rising costs forcing change.

The current account, or NZ’s chequebook with the world, is in the red. A $23 billion deficit has been recorded in the past year, 6.5% of gross domestic product.

Some temporary factors are at play. Absent inbound tourists, and the services balance is in deficit. A booming economy has also boosted goods imports.

Exports have risen, but not as fast.

We face three significant longterm challenges, two modest and one major.

The first minor one concerns rising interest rates, which add to borrowing costs. NZ has a net liability position with the rest of the world of $160bn.

And it will take a long time for the tourism sector to recover. In

the meantime, New Zealanders are off travelling overseas.

Seventy-three thousand visitor arrivals were recorded in May, whereas 110,000 NZ residents departed on holiday.

The major issue is the path for export growth. Pastoral export growth has historically been about 6% a year, with dairying closer to 7%.

NZ has benefitted from a gargantuan rise in the terms of trade, which are about 40% higher than they were in the 1990s. Rising terms of trade have supported a higher currency on average.

The projected path under the government’s “fit for a better world” is roughly half that.

Production constraints hurt. That could be very negative for the goods trade balance and current account balance if import growth does not slow, or we unlock alternate export opportunities.

Failing that, the NZD will need to adjust lower.

The benefit of booming terms of trade over a long period, and, more recently, covid-inspired sugar candy economics from the Reserve Bank and government – which supported growth – have camouflaged four key problems, which are now being exposed.

The first is weaker productivity growth. Productivity growth across the market (think business) sector has averaged 0.6% for the past five years and never been above 1% in any year.

The second is under-investment in people. NZ has become accustomed to filling its boots with migrants from offshore. Cue glaring holes in areas such as nursing. The world is rushing to fill those same holes, and they pay more. We are losing non-residents in droves.

If the NZD is the share price of NZ Inc, employees appear to be bailing, never a good sign. An estimated loss of 10,700 people has been recorded in the past year.

The third is poor infrastructure, and the management of many assets that has now morphed into the Three Waters debacle.

Health reform is likely to end up similar to the consolidation of the polytechnics.

The fourth is poor policy that has lasted through multiple governments. A housing crisis, failing education standards and dilapidated infrastructure straddle election cycles.

The US and the USD face challenges too, in the form of a high level of government debt and large current account deficit. The “empire” of the 20th century is showing signs of being well past its peak, just as the Roman and British empires eventually faded.

If the USD were not the reserve currency, all bets would be off. It is difficult to see anything on the horizon to replace it, though.

The bottom line is that there are many temporary cyclical factors that have driven the NZD/USD lower – largely dictated by the greenback – and this will reverse at some stage. Structural factors could have an influence over the coming years, too, capping the bounce. NZ’s economic story has huge fractures, and the NZD will reflect that over time.

Your View Cameron Bagrie is the managing director of Bagrie Economics and a shareholder and director of Chaperon – helping businesses navigate banking. His views do not constitute advice.

The right tree in the right place Fiona and Jon Sherlock’s Waikato farm is hard hill country, dominated by steep class six and seven paddocks.

They have plans to convert about 200-300ha of their more marginal land into forestry.

Watch the video now at youtube.com/OnFarmStory This episode was made possible with support from Rabobank

On Farm Story

On Farm Story

World

THE NZ FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

29

22% of dairy farmers plan to quit ALMOST a quarter of dairy farmers plan to stop or are considering ceasing milk production in the next two years, a new study by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has revealed.

Unveiling the results of the union’s ‘intentions’ research, dairy board chair Michael Oakes said just under 700 members had completed the milk production

survey, which was designed to assess producers’ thoughts on the industry at present.

Of those questioned, 15% said they were considering ceasing milk production, while another 7% said they plan to quit production altogether before 2024.

Smaller producers (supplying under one million litres) make up the majority of those intending to

stop (12%) and also make up the largest group of those more likely to be unsure of continuing.

Oakes said respondents cited costs as a main worry, naming feed (93%), fuel (91%) and fertiliser (89%) as the major factors, while more than threequarters stated the rising cost of meeting Government regulation was also a worry.

“People are worried about

insufficient returns in the marketplace, the impact of Government regulation and the cost of meeting those regulations.

As a result, some are looking to retire earlier than they had planned or changing farm sectors.

“This is just a snapshot of where we are and, to be honest, I am surprised the figures were not worse.”

Oakes said that processors were feeling the pressure too and had voiced real concerns, despite offering higher prices, that they would not be able to fulfil customer commitments over the coming months.

“The key message from processors across the world is that there needs to be more money put back on-farm,” he said.

UK Farmers Guardian

Regulation burden puts strain on farmers struggling to cope amid a constant stream of new rules and requirements, leaving them unsure as to how run their business.

“While we were part of the EU, Defra did not need to formulate policies.

They have not had to work like this for 50 years and it shows. As a department it is no longer fit for purpose. “[There is] more and more regulation – a proliferation of little requirements that when combined puts a huge strain on the industry.

“The Rural Payments Agency was, according to [its chief executive] Mark Grimshaw, supposed to be

Markets help Australian farmers beat loneliness AUSTRALIAN farmers reported feeling angry, frustrated and isolated when they could not visit saleyards during the covid-19 crisis as a new report looks into the social value of marts.

Fifty nine per cent of farmers experienced loneliness as a result of not being able to attend saleyards, with 57% reporting social isolation.

The Social Value of Saleyards report, from the Australian Livestock Markets Association (ALMA), conducted observations at six saleyards, with 152 people completing the survey online and 105 people participating in interviews from five different states.

OUR PLACE: Australian survey participants said they have a sense of belonging in the community at the saleyard.

Participants said they have a sense of belonging in the community at the saleyard, as well as the market acting as a hub to provide various services to a wide range of people.

Mental health support services was one of the most mentioned services utilised at markets.

Other facilities included resources on animal welfare, weed and pest management, employment opportunities and financial services.

The report highlighted the relationship between social isolation and mental health, as well as the importance of having a space where people could talk about their issues.

“If we did not have saleyards in rural Australia, we would need 1,000 counsellors, because the saleyard is a place where you can come and share your burdens,” a livestock agent employee and producer in Queensland said.

“When you talk about what is going on with someone that understands, it does not make it go away, but it makes you feel lighter.”

The role of saleyards in times of crisis was also highlighted, with many being utilised as safe places for livestock during natural disasters such as storms, fires and floods.

ALMA suggested going forward it would be beneficial

for saleyards to connect with local disaster recovery teams and be included in discussions about future planning.

Cross-generational impacts were also examined, with many reporting they had spent time as a child at the saleyard before going on to work in the industry.

Interviewees were asked about their best ever day at the saleyard and most shared childhood memories with a father or an uncle.

The report recommended further research into safely and appropriately including children in the industry, with the issue of safety concerns raised.

UK Farmers Guardian

a one-stop shop, but now there are portals, multiple emails and registration numbers. It is too much.

“I think we should be asking for a change in the structure of the department.

All this bureaucracy is taking us away from concentrating on the business of farming.”

David Brooks, from Staffordshire, said while the recent food strategy from the Government went some way to highlighting the value of food production, farmers were still battle weary from the covid-19 pandemic, with many not able to navigate the post-Brexit environment.

Agrievents Generation Change is back! August 2, 2022 This one-day workshop and mentoring programme from @AgriWomensDevelopmentTrust prepares young women to make an impact in food & fibre. By exploring their values and strengths, drafting a career plan and connecting with inspiring food & fibre people - it’s about supporting the next generation of primary sector women to bring their true selves to the sector.

Know a young woman starting her primary sector journey in tertiary study or training? Tell her about Generation Change, happening in Palmerston North.

Learn more at: https://www.awdt.org.nz/generation-change-2/ It’s all about YOU Calling all primary sector women!

Is 2022 your time to uncover your true value, purpose and identity?

Run by our friends at @AgriWomensDevelopmentTrust, ‘It’s all about YOU’ is a popular two-day personal development programme that re-prioritises you.

Registrations are now open! Find your nearest programme at: https://www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/its-all-aboutyou/ You’re not your farm, your job or your kids. You, are you.

In your search for confidence and self-worth - your values, strengths, goals and experiences will show you the way.

It’s all about YOU is a two-day personal development programme that uncovers your true value and identity.

Guiding your group are professional facilitators who will both cultivate a culture of trust, and support you one-on-one.

It’s all about YOU runs on a two-tier fee model. If you are from a farm, from a rural community, or running a small business, you are eligible for a subsidy. Thanks to generous support from AWDT and DairyNZ the fee is $420 + GST. Where women are sponsored by their primary sector business or organisation, the full programme fee of $1,000 + GST applies.

Should your event be listed here?

Phone 0800 85 25 80 or email adcopy@globalhq.co.nz

LK0109662©

SPENDING MORE: NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes said respondents cited costs as a main worry, while more than three-quarters stated the rising cost of meeting Government regulation was also a worry.

DELEGATES at NFU Council expressed their anger and frustration at mounting Government regulations, with one member branding the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) not fit for purpose.

Members from across all sectors of the industry condemned the growing number of procedures that come from Government, claiming they leave farmers feeling unsupported.

Tenant farmer Richard Betton said Defra was incapable of formulating cohesive policies that meant many farmers were

Waimiha Ongarue Stream Road Open Day

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The smaller 16.5 ha title consists of 14 ha of 25 year (approx) Douglas Fir with the balance being cut-over and native bush. Situated on this title near the Okauaka Stream is a 1990's built cottage/bach that consists of a kitchen/living area, two bunk rooms and a bathroom.

An excellent investment/lifestyle opportunity in a renowned forestry district with hunting and fishing on your doorstep offering "off the grid" lifestyle living.

The current owners will consider all tenders on either or both titles.

Tender closes 4.00pm, Mon 22nd Aug, 2022 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers - 131 Rora Street, Te Kuiti, 3910 View Wed 20 Jul 12.00 - 1.30pm Wed 27 Jul 12.00 - 1.30pm Web pb.co.nz/TER103401

Doug Wakelin M 027 321 1343

E dougw@pb.co.nz

Mangaokewa 228 Mangaokewa Road Open Day

King Country grazing and forestry 378 ha on a sealed road, 25 km southeast of Te Kuiti in the rain belt between the Mokau and Mangaokewa rivers. This undulating to medium hill contour farm offers significant diversity in stocking options and could run all cattle on the grazable 200 ha, the balance being 105 ha of forestry and 73 ha of beautiful native forests, some that are registered under QEII Trust. It is complemented by a landowner share of a 90 ha forestry right due for harvest anytime within the next few years, with the remaining 15 ha being four year pines belonging to the owners. Infrastructure includes a four bedroom main dwelling, cottage, four stand wool shed, sheep and cattle yards, two haybarns and an implement shed.

Stock numbers wintered include: 265 R1 cattle, 30 R2 cattle, 450 MA ewes, 60 lambs and 20 rams. Don't delay inspection of this diversified grazing and forestry opportunity, as this is an estate sale where genuine motivation exists to sell. Motor bike and helmet required to view.

Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes 4.00pm, Mon 22nd Aug, 2022 (unless sold prior), 131 Rora Street, Te Kuiti 3910 View Tue 19 Jul 12.00 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TER103923

Doug Wakelin M 027 321 1343

E dougw@pb.co.nz

Di Janett M 027 554 2227

E di.janett@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Taumarunui 5896 State Highway 4 Open Day

First farm start up This well located 130 ha (more or less) block could be the first step on the farm ownership ladder or a large lifestyle block that could entertain your hunting and wilderness wishes. Situated only 11 km north of Taumarunui it could be an easy commute into town for work or a swift trip to Te Kuiti.

The farm is complete with: • Four stand woolshed • Covered sheep yards • Cattle yards and load-out • Three bedroom + office and rumpus room home • Native bush • River boundary

Auction 2.00pm, Thu 11th Aug, 2022 View Sat 23 Jul 1.30 - 2.30pm Thu 28 Jul 1.30 - 2.30pm Web pb.co.nz/TUR13167

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

E katiew@pb.co.nz

Ashburton 104 Baxters Road and 167-191 Ruapuna School Road Tender

156.3 ha - Strategic dairy support Located in the Ruapuna-Mayfield area of Mid Canterbury we are privileged to offer two well presented dairy support farm units with a total area of 156.30 ha comprising - 104 Baxters Road (75.36 ha) and 167-191 Ruapuna School Road (80.93 ha). Strategically situated only 5 km apart there is the ability to farm as one entity or separately. Both units have solid dairy support history combined with arable production and developed with a high standard of infrastructure and ease of management in mind. Featuring Mayfield Hinds Valetta irrigation scheme supply with efficient pivot/lateral spray systems, quality fencing, access lanes, cattle yards, sheds all recently developed. Together with the sustainable environmental and resource parameters these land holdings are perfectly positioned for strategic support to dairy platforms, nearby farms or a standalone farming operation.

Option 1 - Total 156.30 ha Option 2 - 75.36 ha (Baxters) Option 3 - 80.93 ha (Ruapuna School) Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender closes 12.00pm, Fri 5th Aug, 2022 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Ashburton View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR103177

Greg Jopson M 027 447 4382

E gregj@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

32

farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate 0800 85 25 80

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – July 18, 2022

Boundary lines are indicative only

Boundary lines are indicative only

Boundary lines are indicative only

Otorohanga 102 Ngaio Road

Dairy farm receivership - multiple options

108.4304ha

Maihiihi is a well-established dairying district and on offer is the option to buy the existing dairy farm with four titles or a choice of grazing and smaller lifestyle blocks ranging from three to fifty eight hectares per title.

Resource consent has been granted and the farm is offered subject to this process.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 2pm, Thu 4 Aug 2022 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 11am-12pm Fri 22 Jul & 1.30-2.30pm Sun 24 Jul Sharon Evans AREINZ 027 235 4771 sharon.evans@bayleys.co.nz Stuart Gudsell AREINZ 021 951 737

Good contour including river flats and some hill country ensures the property is suited to a range of grazing options aside from dairying. Improvements includes a dairy shed with associated infrastructure and a three bedroom home. With multiple titles and purchasing options, this property will be attractive to those who are prepared to put in some effort and explore the yet to be realised potential of this property.

bayleys.co.nz/2313626

SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Your one stop shop for rural Real Estate Get in touch with your agent today

Get in touch farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate with your agent today to list your property next to news that farmers read.

Contact your agent to advertise today.

0800 85 25 80 farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Tech & Toys

FARMERS WEEKLY – July 18, 2022

farmersweekly.co.nz/advertising 0800 85 25 80

33

ATV SQUARE BALE FEEDER • • •

Self loading, self feeding, square bales up to 10 BE All at the touch of a button Feed out at whatever speed you want as much as you want one Biscuit at a time (12 secs for a 10BE)

SPECIAL while stocks lasts

$6900 + GST

LK0112409©

Includes delivery North Island

https://youtu.be/K18tBYHU5w0

For more information call Pete on 027 430 8308

THE ALL NEW COOPER

RUGGED TREK

®

@coopertiresnz www.coopertires.co.nz

0800 453 418

PROTECT YOUR LIVESTOCK

BY STEPPING UP TO COGLAVAX8 VACCINE Changing to Coglavax8 increased the survival rate of our lambs. Now we only use Coglavax8 across all our sheep and cattle.

Donald Polson

Owner – Waipuna Farms

STEP UP TO 8 IN 1 PROTECTION When you’ve built a reputation for outstanding genetics you don’t want to take unnecessary risks with clostridial disease. That’s why Waipuna Farms have stepped up from 5 in 1 to Coglavax8 vaccine to protect their unique Waipuna Maternal and Terminal breeds against 8 clostridrial diseases present in New Zealand.

CEV0003 AV FP

O N LY AVA I L A B L E F R O M Y O U R V E T

coglavax8.co.nz

Ceva Animal Health (NZ) Limited. P: 09 972 2853 ACVM No. 7528 References: 1. JS Munday, H Bentall, D Aberdein, M Navarro, FA Uzal &S Brown, Death of a neonatal lamb due to Clostridium perfringens type B in New Zealand, New Zealand Veterinary Journal 2020. 2. West, Dave M., Bruere, A. Neil and Ridley, Anne L. The Sheep, Health, Disease and Production. Auckland: Massey University Press, 4th ed., 2018. Print.

Jobs

Noticeboard

classifieds@globalhq.co.nz – 0800 85 25 80

STOCK MANAGER

ANIMAL HANDLING

Flat land with good infrastructure

FLY OR LICE problem?

Electrodip – the magic eye sheepjetter since 1989 with unique self adjusting sides.

Incredible chemical and time savings with proven effectiveness.

Phone 07 573 8512 w w w. e l e c t r o d i p . c o m

Stock Manager Wanted for Finishing Farm.

Approximately 3 days per week, flexible.

Close to Palmerston North and Feilding.

PHONE 021 102 8852

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

ANIMAL HEALTH

ANIMAL HANDLING

JOBS BOARD

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance.

Unbeatable pricing.

Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com LK0109558©

Farm Manager Livestock Manager Heavy duty long lasting

Research Farm Manager

Ph 021 047 9299

Shepherd

DOLOMITE NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser For a delivered price call ....

0800 436 566

ENTHUSIASTIC AND DRIVEN

Stock Manager Viticulture Position

We are a capable couple with a young family, looking for a sheep and beef manager’s position with potential of an equity partnership position.

North or South Island. Good stockman with proven history of managing high performing breeding and finishing properties.

For more information email us at 1cleanmuster@gmail.com or ph 0273610307

Noticeboard

www.drench.co.nz farmer owned, very competitive prices. Phone 0800 4 DRENCH (437 362).

ATTENTION FARMERS 40c/50c PER KG dags fadges/bales.

Replacement woolpacks.

PV Weber Wools.

Kawakawa Road, Feilding. Phone 06 323 9550.

CONTRACT PIG CULLING. Stock proof dogs. SI. Can travel. Phone 027 353 0661.

BIRDS/POULTRY PULLETS HY-LINE brown, great layers.

07 824 1762. Website: eurekapoultryfarm.weebly. com – Have fresh eggs each day!!!

DOGS FOR SALE LABRADOR PUPS. Two black males, 10 weeks, wormed and vaccinated.

Parents, good hunters.

Waipawa area. Phone 027 285 9900.

WELL BRED HEADING puppies Wanganui area.

ALSO seven month Huntaway. 027 489 6840.

FARMERS WEEKLY – July 18, 2022

DOGS FOR SALE WINTER DOG CLEARANCE sale! $499-$3,499. 30 day trial. Deliver NZ wide. www.youtube.com/user/ mikehughesworkingdog/ videos 07 315 5553.

DOGS WANTED 12 MONTHS TO 5½-yearold Heading dogs and Huntaways wanted. Phone 022 698 8195.

FARM MAPPING PINPOINT AREA SIZES of grazing and vegetation on your farm with an accurate and practical farm map.

Call 0800 433 855 or visit farmmapping.co.nz for a free quote.

BOOK AN AD. For only $2.30 + gst per word in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section.

Email classifieds@globalhq.co.nz

FOR SALE WINTER SPECIAL Get a FREE pair with every purchase. Socks for all ages – contact us for custom made.

www.thesocklady.co.nz

Need HELP regarding DEBT? • Bills keep coming.

• You work hard to get on top of it all.

• Your borrowings were manageable, yet they keep climbing.

Your honesty with us is important, as only then can we help.

Confidentiality is assured.

To get off the tread mill call Manor Consultancy Ltd 027 454 2702 or email barries@xtra.co.nz

UNITED WHEATGROWERS NZ LTD

TH IN K P REB UILT

No texts please

Annual General Meeting, Electoral Committee Meeting and Wheat Awards.

Thursday 4 August 2022, Commencing at 1:30pm

NEW HOMES SOLID – PRACTICAL

HORTICULTURE NZ KELP. FRESH, wild ocean harvested giant kelp.

The world’s richest source of natural iodine. Dried and milled for use in agriculture and horticulture. Growth promotant / stock health food. As seen on Country Calendar. Orders to: 03 322 6115 or info@nzkelp.co.nz

2000-3000SU SHEEP AND beef lease block.

Anywhere in New Zealand considered.

Mid 40’s couple, approx. 30 years experience. Phone 027 246 9668.

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

WANTED TO BUY SAWN SHED TIMBER including Black Maire.

Matai, Totara and Rimu etc. Also buying salvaged native logs.

Phone Richard Uren. NZ Native Timber Supplies. Phone 027 688 2954.

MCCORMICK C80 PARTS. Phone Mark 07 348 3635 or Jim 021 796 975.

SHIBAURA SE6040 tractor engine. Phone Mark 07 348 3635 or Jim 021 796 975.

WHAT’S SITTING IN your barn? Don’t leave it to rust away! We pay cash for tractors, excavators, small crawler tractors and surplus farm machinery.

Ford – Ferguson – Hitachi – Komatsu – John Deere and more. Tell us what you have no matter where it is in NZ. You never know.. what’s resting in your barn could be fattening up your wallet!

Email admin@ loaderparts.co.nz or phone Colin on 0274 426 936 (No texts please)

Splitter with hydraulic lifting table $4500

$3900

To find out more visit

www.moamaster.co.nz Phone 028 461 5112 Email: mowermasterltd@gmail.com

0096879

0800 278 677

90.5x60

Kiwi Cattlestops - DF

The meeting will conclude at approximately 3pm, followed by Herbage Seed meeting & then Arable Awards dinner and presentation.

All wheat growers are encouraged to attend this meeting.

LK0112311©

JW109919©

Our homes are built using the same materials & quality as an onsite build. Easily transported to almost anywhere in the North Island. Plans range from one bedroom to four bedroom First Home – Farm House Investment – Beach Bach

www.cattlestops.co.nz

JW0112431©

The Chairman and Directors of United Wheatgrowers (NZ) Ltd invite all wheat growers to their Annual General Meeting, Electoral Committee Meeting and Wheat Awards to be held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, 188 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011 on Thursday 4th August 2022 commencing at 1:30pm.

WELL INSULATED – AFFORDABLE

Call or email us for your free copy of our plans Email: info@ezylinehomes.co.nz Phone: 0800 399 546 (EZYLINE) Web: www.ezylinehomes.co.nz

All enquiries to 021 0299 0887 Evenings

FERAL GOATS WANTED. All head counted, payment on pick-up, pick-up within 24 hours. Prices based on works schedule.

Experienced musterers available.

Phone Bill and Vicky Le Feuvre 07 893 8916.

NAKI GOATS. Trucking goats to the works every week throughout the NI. Mustering available. Phone Michael and Clarice. 027 643 0403.

HIGH PRESSURE WATER PUMPS, suitable on high headlifts.

Low energy usage for single/3-phase motors, waterwheel and turbine drives. Low maintenance costs and easy to service. Enquiries phone 04 526 4415, email sales@hydra-cell.co.nz

LK0112335©

CONTACT: 0275258321

I am an experienced hunter and ex farmer, I can get rid of the pests eating down your farm, disturbing your stock, and frustrating you and your neighbors.

Sheep and beef 197ha 20 x 20 covered yards Cattle yards Two-stand wool sheds Plenty of shedding Medium to strong country Airstrip Two houses / two titles

GOATS WANTED. All weights. All breeds.

Prompt service. Payment on pick up. My on farm prices will not be beaten.

Phone David Hutchings 07 895 8845 or 0274 519 249. Feral goats mustered on a 50/50 share basis.

PUMPS

Heavy duty construction for serious wood splitting. Towable.

JW0112417@

No job too big, I offer efficient and confidential service.

• • • • • • • • •

GOATS WANTED

RED DEVON BULLS. Well grown, purebred. Feilding.

Phone 027 224 3838.

12HP, diesel, electric start, 50 ton

Kaihere - Waikato

Cost-effective pest control using the latest thermal equipment & technology.

PROMOTES QUICK PASTURE growth. Only $6.50+gst per hectare delivered. 0508-GIBBGRO [0508 442 247] www. gibbgro.co.nz. “The Proven One.”

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

MOWER MASTER JULY SPECIAL

FARM FOR SALE

Pests out of control?

GIBB-GRO GROWTH PROMOTANT

LEASE LAND WANTED

We don’t guarantee we will find a solution, but we have helped many farmers get on top of their DEBT. LK0111804©

34

Noticeboard

STOCK REQUIRED

Notice of Election 2022 Board of Directors Election

2

6

Current Director

Area Description

Nicola Hyslop

Waimate, Timaru, MacKenzie, Ashburton Districts, and part Waitaki District (that portion including and north of Kakanui).

Jacqueline Rowarth

R2 YR ANGUS BULLS 450kg

R2 YR FRIES/HERE STEERS 350-400kg R2 YR Fries BULLS 420-520kg R3 YR ANG or Ex X STEERS 500-550kg

Northland, Auckland, Hamilton City, Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Waipa, Otorohonga, Waitomo, South Waikato, Western Bay of Plenty, Tauranga, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane, Opotiki and northern parts of Taupo and Ruapehu Districts.

www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 A Financing Solution For Your Farm E info@rdlfinance.co.nz

Anthony Morton Returning Officer - Ravensdown Limited PO Box 3138, Christchurch 8140

Livestock Noticeboard

2021

TE KUITI SALEYARDS THURSDAY 28TH JULY 2022 12.00 PM Format: Mono

Run Date Monday 18 July Sat 16 July

Advertise your livestock in the Farmers Weekly.

It’s no bull.

PLEASE NOTE: that we have prepared this advertisement proof based on our understanding of the instructions received. In approving the advertisement, it is the client’s responsibility to check the accuracy of both the advertisement, the media and position nominated.

Cancellation of adverts booked with media will incur a media cancellation fee of $50.Contact Javier:

On A/c: WAIPAPA STATION (Farm Sold)

2600 xPosition SIL Romdale EwesCost 2 PN Tooth to 4 Year Old $965.25 Waimai Romney & Ruapuha Perendale PN $1,746.46 FE Tolerant Ram (7th April to 12th May) Very good shifting Hill Country Sheep On A/c: TE TARATA TRUST

JW112426©

500 X SIL Romdale Ewes

4 Tooth to 4 Year Old Waimai and Waiteika Romney, FE Tolerant Ram (5th April to 24th May) For Further Details Contact: Vaughan Rogers 0274 521 568 Brent Bougen 0272 104 698

TUESDAY 19 JULY 1pm WEDNESDAY 20 JULY 7pm WEDNESDAY 3 AUGUST 7pm

Cambridge Feeder Calf Sales Future Beef NZ Fundraising Auction Altrive Red Deer Annual Hind Sale

Regular Livestream coverage of five North Island Saleyards Head to bidr.co.nz to find out more.

SALE TALK

For further information or nomination documents please contact the election helpline 0800 666 034 or email iro@electionz.com

Size: 13x3

UPCOMING AUCTIONS

R2 YR HERE BULLS 500kg

Nominations must be made on the official forms, which can be obtained from the Returning Officer. Each nomination form must be signed by the candidate and two nominators who must be transacting shareholders of Ravensdown and who are eligible to vote for the Area’s election. Nominations must be received by the Returning Officer by 5pm on Monday 15 August 2022.

G PROOF

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

R1 YR ANG or EX HEIFERS 220-250kg R2 YR Fries or Fries x BULLS 300-400kg

Nominations are called for candidates to stand for election for the director positions to represent Areas 2 and 6 as described below. The incumbent directors for these areas are due to retire by rotation later this year. Nicola Hyslop (Area 2) and Jacqueline Rowarth (Area 6) have confirmed they intend to stand for re-election.

Area Number

35

Livestock Noticeboard

06 323 0761 / 027 602 4925 livestock@globalhq.co.nz your contact: Amy farmersweekly.co.nz

A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest.

After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, “I’m sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away.”

The distressed woman wailed, “Are you sure?” “Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead,” replied the vet.

“How can you be so sure?” she protested. “I mean you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.”

The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.

The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly, and strolled out of the room.

The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck.”

The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys, and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.

The duck’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “$150!” she cried, “$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!”

The vet shrugged, “I’m sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it’s now $150.”

If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the Farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@globalhq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you.

Conditions apply

Assist farmers to make the right purchasing decisions for their herd with Dairy Farmer’s September feature BEEFGEN is currently purchasing animals for live export for late July delivery: F12 and plus $1,550 plus GST F8 – F11 $1,450 plus GST A2A2 $1,600 plus GST

2021 Angus Heifers Commercial $1100 2021 Simmental Heifers Registered $1600 • Commercial $1350

Talk to us now about your Dairy Farmer 2022 bull sale advertising 0800 85 25 80 LK0112430©

Please contact your local agent for further information.

BEEFGEN : Brian Pearson : 021 0907 1688 BEEFGEN : Jess Crow : 022 074 1210 BEEFGEN Office : 06 927 7154

JW112424©

Better Bulls, Better Calves

2021 Holstein Friesian Heifers

Booking Deadline August 4, 2022

farmersweekly.co.nz

MARKET SNAPSHOT

36

Market Snapshot brought to you by the AgriHQ analysts.

Mel Croad

Suz Bremner

Reece Brick

Fiona Quarrie

Hayley O’Driscoll

Caitlin Pemberton

Deer

Sheep

Cattle BEEF

SHEEP MEAT

VENISON

Last week

Prior week

Last year

NI Steer (300kg)

6.10

6.10

5.90

NI lamb (17kg)

9.10

9.10

8.50

NI Stag (60kg)

8.05

7.95

5.60

NI Bull (300kg)

6.10

6.10

5.80

NI mutton (20kg)

6.10

6.10

6.30

SI Stag (60kg)

8.15

8.10

5.60

NI Cow (200kg)

4.35

4.20

4.30

SI lamb (17kg)

9.20

9.10

8.30

SI Steer (300kg)

6.15

6.05

5.40

SI mutton (20kg)

6.05

6.05

6.40

SI Bull (300kg)

6.05

6.00

5.25

Export markets (NZ$/kg)

SI Cow (200kg)

4.60

4.45

4.10

UK CKT lamb leg

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Last week Prior week

Last year

12.32

12.34

9.59

9.62

9.07

US domestic 90CL cow

9.93

9.90

8.83

$/kg CW

North Island steer slaughter price 6.5

8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0

8.0 7.0

10.0 $/kg CW

5.0

5.5

South Island lamb slaughter price

9.0 8.0

10.0

4.5

9.0

6.0

8.0

5.0

$/kg CW

5.0

South Island steer slaughter price

7.0

5.0

5.5

Oct

Dec 5-yr ave

Feb

Apr 2020-21

Jun

5-yr ave

Jun

2020-21

Aug 2021-22

Dairy

Apr

Prior week

Last year

2.55

2.55

2.77

NZ average (NZ$/t)

Prior week

Last year

Urea

1340

1340

799

495

495

339

1794

1794

1055

37 micron ewe

-

-

2.75

30 micron lamb

-

-

-

DAP

Top 10 by Market Cap Company

CANTERBURY FEED WHEAT 650

9.50

600

9.00

$/tonne

$/kg MS

10.00

8.50 8.00 7.50

550

Sep-21

Nov-21 Jan-22 Sept. 2021

Mar-22 May-22 Sept. 2022

DAIRY FUTURES (US$/T) Nearby contract

6.82

7.895

8.4

7.33

8.8

12.53

8.23

Jun-21

4365

500

$/tonne

4190

Aug-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Feb-22

Apr-22

Jun-22

450

350

Jun-21

WMP FUTURES - VS FOUR WEEKS AGO

Aug-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Feb-22

Apr-22

Jun-22

WAIKATO PALM KERNEL

Listed Agri Shares

5pm, close of market, Wednesday

Company

Close

YTD High

YTD Low 0.205

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.225

0.27

The a2 Milk Company Limited

4.99

6.39

4.2

Comvita Limited

3.35

3.78

2.98

Delegat Group Limited

10.95

14.45

10

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.17

3.78

2.75

Foley Wines Limited

1.48

1.57

1.38

Greenfern Industries Limited

0.16

0.25

0.089

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

1.4

1.73

1.3

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.17

0.26

0.155

New Zealand King Salmon Investments Ltd

0.215

1.38

0.187

PGG Wrightson Limited

4.6

5.76

3.93

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.31

0.53

0.29

Sanford Limited (NS)

4.13

5.07

4.03

Scales Corporation Limited

4.3

5.59

4.07

Seeka Limited

4.65

5.36

4.45

4400

550

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

3.37

3.54

3.04

T&G Global Limited

2.78

3.01

2.7

4200

500

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

12152

14293

11724

450

S&P/NZX 50 Index

11110

13150

10588

4000

S&P/NZX 10 Index

10812

12725

10291

$/tonne

US$/t

Ryman Healthcare Limited

400

* price as at close of business on Thursday

4.3 5.2

Infratil Limited

4135

9.36

5.08 6.36

66.11

SMP

9.36

5.06 5.915

8.42

550

9.34

Spark New Zealand Limited Mercury NZ Limited (NS)

7.45

4295

Milk Price

6.88

Contact Energy Limited

4200

5800

7.95

450

3940

5870

7.22

36.11

WMP

5670

19

Auckland International Airport Limited

94.4

600

Butter

33.4

44.3

vs 4 weeks ago

6080

21.13

70.95

Prior week

6000

4.32

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd

38.51

Last price*

5725

YTD Low

5.36

Mainfreight Limited

CANTERBURY FEED BARLEY

AMF

YTD High

4.79

Ebos Group Limited

350

Jul-22

Close

Meridian Energy Limited (NS)

500 400

Jul-21

Aug 2021-22

Last week

Super

Grain

Data provided by

MILK PRICE FUTURES

7.00

Jun

2020-21

Fertiliser

Aug 2021-22

Two weeks ago

Coarse xbred ind.

Apr

Feb

FERTILISER

(NZ$/kg)

4.5 Feb

Dec 5-yr ave

WOOL

5.0

Dec

Oct

7.0

6.0

Oct

7.0

6.0

6.5

4.0

South Island stag slaughter price

11.0

6.0

6.0

4.0

$/kg CW

9.0

9.0

7.0

$/kg CW

10.0

Last year

10.0

12.08

North Island lamb slaughter price

Last week Prior week

North Island stag slaughter price

11.0

Export markets (NZ$/kg) US imported 95CL bull

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

$/kg CW

Slaughter price (NZ$/kg)

Sara Hilhorst

Ingrid Usherwood

3800 3600

400 350

Jul

Aug Sep Latest price

Oct

Nov 4 weeks ago

Dec

300

Jun-21

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

Aug-21

Oct-21

Dec-21

Feb-22

Apr-22

Jun-22

12152

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

11110

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

10812

37

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

Analyst intel

WEATHER

Overview Not so chaotic this week. We start with a northwesterly airflow today and a cold front moving into the lower South Island. This front reaches the North Island on Tuesday, bringing in a cool southwest change. High pressure moves in on Wednesday and we become quite settled but potentially very frosty. A lingering front may hang about Northland and Auckland, delivering a few showers. Settled again on Thursday thanks to the high then a northeasterly airflow develops on Friday as the high shifts out to the east. Easterlies on Saturday with a low to the north pushing a front onto the far north. This front pushes a little further southwards on Sunday.

14-day outlook The pattern looks to be a little more structured this week. A cold front moves northwards over the country today and Tuesday, northwesterlies precede the front, changing southwest in behind. A high moves in bringing settled frosty weather for Wednesday and Thursday, moving out to the east on Friday starting to let in an easterly airflow, which builds this weekend ahead of a deepening low to the north. Southeasterlies for the first half of next week, though starting to ease in the south as high pressure moves in. Later next week a few weak areas of low pressure hang about delivering a few showers.

Reece Brick reece.brick@globalhq.co.nz

Highlights

Soil Moisture 13/07/2022

Wind

Northwesterlies brisk to strong over New Zealand today, southwesterlies as a cold front moves northwards may be strong about some coastal parts, otherwise not too bad.

Wednesday to Friday winds aren’t a bother. On the weekend easterlies for the North Island may be strong.

Source: NIWA Data

Temperature

7-day rainfall forecast

The warmest day of the week will likely be today thanks to northwesterlies, cooling down about the far south though thanks to a cold front. These cool temperatures spread northwards tomorrow.

Cool to average temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday, starting to warm up again from Friday.

Heavy rain for the West Coast today, rain about the far south too then showers push northwards in the east later. Showers clear the South Island tomorrow and move into the North Island. Mainly dry on Wednesday and Thursday. A few light showers spread down the east coast of both Islands on Friday, becoming more persistent on Saturday. Sunday has rain or showers for most of New Zealand apart from the far south and West Coast.

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A look at global lamb markets

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Rainfall accumulation over seven days starting from 6am Sunday, July 17 through to 6am Sunday, July 24, forecast generated at 12am Thursday, July 14.

Northwesterlies strong today with heavy rain for the West Coast, potentially very frosty on Wednesday morning for the South Island, provided a high moves in. Strong easterly winds for the North Island this weekend with the potential for some heavy rain in the northeast (East Cape through to Northland).

Weather brought to you in partnership with WeatherWatch.co.nz

WITH livestock trading in NZ taking its usual winter breather, now’s a good time to look beyond our shores and see if the grass really is greener for lamb markets.

The obvious starting point is Australia.

It seems like it’s been all sunshine and rainbows for farmers there since the drought broke in early 2020, but in the past few weeks it’s been quite the opposite, both literally and figuratively.

Rain through the eastern states is usually welcome at the start of the year, but it’s quickly turned the other way.

Transport and processing operations have been semi-regularly affected by flooding, and colder temperatures and a lack of sun have impacted on livestock growth rates.

On the processing side of the market, Australia’s in a similar position to us.

Staff sickness and a large number of farmers holding onto lambs for longer have generated fresh backlogs.

The six-week lamb kill to July 8 was larger than six of the past seven years at 2.07 million head.

The supply glut has affected farmgate prices.

Farmers who sold prime lambs through the yards – which is much more common than in NZ – have watched prices fall to about AU$7.75/kgCW in the past month, at a time when the market is usually lifting.

That’s equivalent to NZ$8.55/kg or 55c/kg less than the average price NZ processors were paying last week. Only a year ago there was a 90c/kg premium in favour of the Australian market.

Energy shortages across the Tasman are translating into much higher power and gas bills for processors, too. One analyst estimated the energy cost to kill a lamb is AU$3-$6/head, based on current spotmarket prices.

The new Australian Labor government has announced that it will phase out live exports, which are a major source of income for Western Australia, though this will only begin to come into effect sometime after an initial three-year term.

Since June last year 487,000 sheep were exported from Western Australia, primarily to the Middle East. This figure was 1.63 million-1.96 million head per year through 2012-2017.

In the UK, processors reported a noticeable lift in lamb production this autumn.

Through April and May an extra 16% lambs were processed. This was 274,000 more than in the corresponding period in 2021, though those figures were artificially lowered by a number of farmers having killed early to avoid a potential market crash related to Brexit.

This year’s kill isn’t much higher than the five-year average.

Unlike in Australia, markets have paid well for new season lambs, which have started coming onto the market in meaningful numbers since the start of June.

Staff sickness and a large number of farmers holding onto lambs for longer have generated fresh backlogs in Australia.

Prime lambs have averaged £3.04£3.16/kgLW via the yards since mid-June, equivalent to NZ$6.14/kgLW last week over a sample of 125,000 lambs sold.

This is forecast to ease in the coming weeks as some of this pricing was supported by the Islamic holiday Eid-alAdha.

One potential issue going forward is a reduction in UK consumer spending on meat, especially lamb.

Almost a quarter of UK consumers are reported to be deliberately reducing meat consumption or eliminating meat from their diet, with 35% of those consumers citing cost as the reason.

The amount of lamb sold through retailers was down 20% on last year in the 12 weeks to June 12, though admittedly lockdowns through 2020 and 2021 had artificially inflated the volume of lamb sold via retail channels.

38

SALE YARD WRAP

Calves arrive a few weeks early Feeder calf sales have got underway in dairy regions a few weeks earlier than usual. The need arose as calving has started earlier, but with few rearers ready for calves, demand was limited at the Frankton sale. Just over 300 calves were penned last Tuesday and sold for an average of $73. Friesian bulls made up the majority and varied from $20 for the small types up to $145. Whiteface calves were limited, and the top bulls reached $260 and heifers, $155. Smaller calves traded from $10 to $70. Volume will continue to grow, and demand will also pick up as more rearers ready themselves, though a tightening of margins over recent years has resulted in a large exit from this activity.

NORTHLAND Wellsford store cattle • R2 Hereford-Friesian and Angus-Friesian steers, 352-471kg, firmed to $2.93-$3.07/kg • Top lines of R2 dairy-beef heifers, 383-411kg, also firmed to $2.92-$2.94/kg • R1 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 216-253kg, made $620-$720 with most $2.84-$2.85/kg Against all odds older cattle at WELLSFORD sold on a stronger market last Monday. R2 steers and heifers both rebounded and heavy Angus and Charolais-cross steers reached $2.88-$2.91/kg. A pen of Hereford-dairy heifers and one of Angus-Hereford, 338-399kg, achieved $3.01-$3.08/kg and most second cuts of dairy-beef traded at $2.79-$2.82/ kg. Recently weaned R1 Hereford steers, 340kg, sold well at $1060, $3.12/kg and one big pen of Angus-Friesian, 222kg, made $2.97/kg. A feature pen of 210kg Charolais-cross heifers reached $3.24/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye. Kaikohe cattle • R2 beef-cross steers fetched $2.90/kg to $3.02/kg • R2 whiteface heifers made $2.75-$2.85/kg There was a smaller sale of 350 cattle which sold on a firm market at KAIKOHE last Wednesday, PGG Wrightson agent Vaughan Vujcich reported. R2 Hereford-Friesian bulls sold well at $3.50/kg, $1220. Smaller R1 whiteface heifers lifted to $3.10-$3.20/kg.

AUCKLAND Pukekohe cattle 9.7 • Prime steers earned $2.77/kg to $2.96/kg • Prime heifers made $2.79/kg to $2.91/kg • Boner cows realized $0.88/kg to $1.78/kg • Weaner heifers eased to $390-$425 Young cattle sold on a strong market at PUKEKOHE on Saturday, July 9 with very small weaner steers able to achieve $4.56/kg to $4.77/kg, $310-$395. R1 cross-bred heifers earned $2.18/kg to $2.96/kg, $590-$715 and small R1 heifers traded from $2.95/kg to $3.16/kg, $490-$520.

COUNTIES Tuakau sheep 11.7, prime cattle 13.7 and store cattle 7.7 • Medium prime heifers made $2.90-$3.00/kg • Prime beef cows returned $2.18/kg to $2.61/kg • Weaner Charolais-Angus steers, 168kg, sold well at $840 • Heavy prime ewes managed $150 to $200 About 240 prime cattle were offered at TUAKAU last Wednesday and the market firmed, PGG Wrightson agent Craig Reiche reported. Heavy steers traded at $3.00-$3.20/ kg and medium, $2.90-$3.00/kg. Strong competition in the heifer section meant most heavy types sold for $3.00-$3.25/ kg while heavy boners fetched $2.00-$2.29/kg and medium cows, $1.85-$2.00/kg.

Prime lambs dominated the yarding last Monday and heavy types made $169-$189, medium $132-$169 and store lambs $84 to $138. Medium prime ewes returned $100$138.

At the store cattle sale on Thursday, July 7 the 380-head yarding included 556kg Angus steers at $3.04/kg and 481kg Hereford-Friesian, $2.95/kg. Other Hereford-Friesian steers at 292kg made $920 with 196kg at $750. In the heifer section, 480kg Hereford-Friesian fetched $3.00/kg and 325kg, $3.15/kg. Weaner Charolais-Angus and Limousin heifers, 154-194kg, managed $610-$630.

WAIKATO PGG Wrightson Frankton cattle sale • R2 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 350-466kg, returned $2.92-$3.00/kg • R2 Angus-Friesian heifers, 373kg, managed $3.03/kg • R2 Charolais-Friesian heifers, 466kg, earned $2.98/kg • R1 Hereford heifers, 325-368kg, fetched $3.53-$3.63/kg • Autumn-born R1 Hereford-Montbeliarde heifers, 102-106kg, traded at $470-480

Bidder enthusiasm was good at PGG Wrightson’s FRANKTON cattle sale last Tuesday despite persistent rain.

Plenty of younger cattle were offered and included R1 263kg Charolais-Friesian steers that earned $760, $2.89/kg. In the autumn-born weaner section, 106-108kg Hereford-Friesian heifers were a highlight and made $490-$500 while good entries of autumn-born Friesian bulls, 109-115kg, traded at $510-$530. In the prime pens, a small number of steers, 571-626kg, returned $3.00-$3.07/kg while a consignment of in-calf Friesian cows, 569-620kg, fetched $2.26-$2.35/kg with empties often $1.97/kg to $2.15/kg. Read more in your LivestockEye.

KING COUNTRY Te Kuiti sheep • Scanned-in-lamb ewes earned $80-$198 • Prime 2-tooth ewes lifted to $130-$160 • Prime lambs fetched $140-$169 Store lambs continued to dominate the market at TE KUITI last Wednesday where the best of the ram lambs achieved $140-$160, mixed-sex lambs $165 and the best of the ewe lambs, $130-$135. Lighter lambs traded at $95$120. A small prime ewe section reached $140-$189 and $100-$118 for lighter types.

BAY OF PLENTY Rangiuru cattle and sheep • Friesian bulls, 694kg, collected $3.31/kg A small yarding of 177-head of cattle were sold at RANGIURU last Tuesday and the slight majority of these were prime and boner stock. These sold steady or slightly stronger than the previous sale and dairy-beef steers, 615-684kg, fetched $3.00-$3.07/kg. Friesian heifers, 410kg, returned $2.41/kg and Angus-cross cows a shade more at $2.49/kg. Ayrshire cows at 526kg managed $2.26/kg while Friesian and other dairy breeds traded at $2.03/kg or less.

Among the small yarding of store cattle, R2 HerefordFriesian steers, 395kg, made $2.96/kg and R1 Murray Grey-Friesian steers earned $2.66/kg. A pen of prime lambs realised $128 and ewes $114.

Read more in your LivestockEye.

POVERTY BAY Matawhero sheep • Shorn medium-good store ewe lambs made $122-$132 Wet conditions put a halt on store lamb demand at MATAWHERO on Friday, July 8 and the market dropped.

The forward store male lambs which kicked the section off were shorn and collected $170 and $175 in front of a large group of spectators and good lambs traded anywhere from $110 to $137. Scanned single 2-tooth and mixed-age Romney ewes were a tidy addition to the sale and the shorn ewes returned $210 for both age groups. A lighter selection of prime lambs mostly fitted into the $120-$148 range and a handful of mixed-age ewes made $145 to $179.

Read more in your LivestockEye.

TARANAKI Taranaki cattle • Short-term R2 dairy-beef steers, 489-540kg, achieved $3.14-$3.19/ kg • Other R2 Angus, Hereford-Friesian and Charolais-cross steers reached $2.92-$3.04/kg • Top R2 heifers sold for $2.82-$2.94/kg regardless of breed • Most R2 dairy-beef heifers ranged from $2.50/kg to $2.70/kg • One pen of R1 Charolais-cross heifers, 237kg, reached $740, $3.12/kg The monthly fair at TARANAKI last Wednesday hosted 862 cattle and the market behaved as expected. Quality R2 steers sold to recent levels and heifers firmed slightly, though lesser types in this age group and R1 cattle sold to limited interest. The best of the R1 Hereford-Friesian steers were 161-224kg and sold for $550-$730 at $3.26/kg to $3.42/

kg. The balance of the R1 heifers were beef-cross or dairybeef and mostly sold for $455-$640. Read more in your LivestockEye.

HAWKE’S BAY Stortford Lodge prime sheep • Very heavy ewes reached $193 • Heavy ewes earned $180-$181 A small yarding of lambs and ewes converged on the damp STORTFORD LODGE sale yards last Monday for the prime sheep sale. Condition through most of the ewe pens was biased towards mid-size lines and the bulk traded at $121-$175. A good mix of prime lambs was entered, and the heaviest pens fetched $199 and $204 while the majority were priced at $180-$196. Read more in your LivestockEye. Stortford Lodge store cattle and sheep • Angus cows, vetted-in-calf to Angus, made $1180-$1230 • 20 R2 beef-cross bulls, 512kg, made a premium at $1780, $3.47/ kg • Late-born R1 Red Devon steers sold for $510-$540 • Good ewe lambs held at $120-$139 STORTFORD LODGE store sales took a breather last Wednesday as just 212 cattle and 3000 sheep were penned.

Though small the cattle section featured some highlights which included a consignment of R1 Red Devon cattle from Matawai. The bulls weighed 109-147kg and made $410-$510, and heifers, 98-136kg, $400-$480. Ewe lambs accounted for 80% of the lambs and sold on a steady market. Male lines were limited and varied from $120 to $172. Breeding ewes met limited demand and 4-year to 5-year to terminal rams sold for $183.50-$195, and younger Romney ewes to Romney made $165-$182.

Read more in your LivestockEye. Dannevirke sheep 7.7 • Top prime lambs reached $227 A good-sized yarding of sheep was presented to buyers at DANNEVIRKE on Thursday, July 7. Lamb type and quality was variable and prices for store lambs ranged from $61 up to $207. Average values settled at $97-$150 on a steady market. Ewe volume was lower at 800-head and sold over a wide range though averaged $158. Rams averaged $77-$79.

MANAWATŪ Feilding store cattle and sheep • R3 traditional steers, 897kg, sold for $2920, $3.26/kg • Well-bred R2 Angus heifers, 384kg, made $1280, $3.34/kg • Autumn-born yearling dairy-beef heifers, 349-389kg, were $2.61$2.70/kg • Store male lambs averaged $144 • Store ewe lambs averaged $126 Almost 950 store cattle sold on a sound market at FEILDING on Friday, July 8. R3 Angus steers, 510-517kg, made $3.15-$3.17/kg. R2 traditional steers, 370-512kg, were mostly $3.26-$3.38/kg while 379-452kg Hereford-Friesian sold for $2.98-$3.18/kg. R2 Friesian bulls made $3.16/kg for 487-500kg. Good-sized lines of 335-389kg R2 traditional heifers were typically $2.86-$2.94/kg. R1 Friesian bulls, 206-285kg, all received $3.05-$3.16/kg. This was followed by 224kg Hereford-Friesian heifers at $660 while 202-208kg steers of the same breed made $3.59/kg. Just under 10,000 store lambs sold on a weaker market. Forward-store males were $168-$180, good types $144-$162, medium $128-$142 and light, $86-$126.

For ewe lambs, forward-store were $159, good types $132.50-$152, medium $115-$127 and light, $76-$113.

Good-quality 5-year and 6-year ewes, scanned-in-lamb 163-191% to terminal rams, sold for $196-$199. Read more in your LivestockEye. Rongotea cattle • R2 Hereford-Friesian steers, 343-384kg, made $2.44/kg to $2.73/kg • R2 Friesian bulls, 350-625kg, returned $2.51/kg to $2.82/kg • R1 beef-cross steers, 171-225kg, made $3.11/kg to $3.56/kg

39

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022

EARLY START: Feeder calves made an early appearance at the Frankton sale yards.

Bad weather kept stock numbers low at RONGOTEA last Tuesday, New Zealand Farmers Livestock agent Darryl Harwood reported. R1 Hereford-Friesian heifers, 198205kg, made $1.96/kg to $2.32/kg and Angus-cross heifers, 270kg, returned $1.78/kg. In the calf pens, Hereford-cross bulls earned $105-$260 and Hereford-Friesian heifers made $165.

Feilding prime cattle and sheep • Angus cows, 609kg, made $2.31/kg • Heaviest lambs returned $232 • Top ewes earned $189 Cattle offered at FEILDING last Monday were mostly cows of which dairy-beef options reached $2.15/kg for 460kg Hereford-Friesian and Friesian mostly traded at $1.99-$2.10/kg. A Hereford-Jersey heifer, 475kg, earned $2.92/kg and an 800kg Angus bull collected $2.71/kg. The prime lamb market couldn’t sustain the lift of the previous sale and returns came back $5. Mostly settled in the $180 to $230 range. The ewe market also softened due to lack of demand and the bulk traded from $110 to $140. Read more in your LivestockEye.

CANTERBURY Coalgate cattle and sheep • Prime Simmental-Friesian steers, 583kg, fetched $3.46/kg • Prime Charolais-Friesian heifers, 540kg, also realised $3.46/kg • Heaviest lambs earned $292 Prime cattle sold on a strong market at COALGATE on Thursday, July 7 and most prime steers collected $3.34$3.44/kg. The heifer section was noticeably heavier and almost all dairy-beef exceeded 500kg to make $3.30-$3.38/ kg. Traditional bulls, 565-670kg, earned $3.17/kg while an 865kg Angus returned $2.35/kg. Better Angus cows made $2.36-$2.39/kg while others were closer to $2.00/kg. R2 Hereford-Friesian mixed-sex weighed 428kg and returned $2.90/kg while R1 heifers of the same breed made $2.30/ kg. Traditional mixed-age cows, in-calf to Angus and due in September, traded at $1070 and $1270. Lack of demand

put a stop to any further increase in the prime lamb market and most pens ranged from $140 to $240. Heavier types in a mixed-quality yarding of ewes traded on a steady market and many realised $100-$150. Read more in your LivestockEye. Canterbury Park cattle and sheep • A prime Charolais-cross steer, 570kg, fetched $3.73/kg • R2 Angus steers, 464kg, made $3.13/kg • Medium-weight shorn ewe lambs reached $132 A cancelled load for one processor maintained demand on another small yarding of prime cattle at CANTERBURY PARK last Tuesday. Figures in excess of $3.40/kg were common for steers and up to $3.60/kg. The top tier of heifers collected $3.30-$3.36/kg and better cows traded at $2.35-$2.40/kg. Store cattle were of mixed-quality and sold to a small gallery where R2 dairy-beef steers over 400kg managed $2.95-$2.96/kg. Heifers of the same type, 400441kg, made $2.72-$2.80/kg. R1 Hereford-Friesian steers, 141-170kg, earned $3.01-$3.06/kg. Store lambs were mostly of medium and good weights and any lighter outliers were heavily discounted. Good types traded from $130 to $160.

A $5 lift was noted for medium prime lambs and the bulk of the yarding made $170 to $240. No change was noted for ewes and the heaviest collected $230. Read more in your LivestockEye.

SOUTH-CANTERBURY Temuka prime and boner cattle, all sheep • Prime steers, 520-695kg, dropped to $3.32/kg • Top Angus-cross cows, 665kg, reached $2.70/kg • Forward ewe lambs from Makikihi fetched top dollar at $209 For the fourth week in a row, cattle throughput increased at TEMUKA last Monday to 705-head. The average sale price of a traditional prime cow, 630kg, firmed to $2.62/ kg. Prime steer volume increased which resulted in a softening of the market. Average values for traditional types dropped by up to 10c/kg. The best of the heifers was Angus-Hereford, 557-589kg, at $3.20/kg. Limited demand

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for store lambs softened the market, particularly for the medium and good types which ranged from $100 to $162.

The heavier cuts of halfbred and Wiltshire lambs sold best on a per kilogram basis and steady discounts were made thereafter. The prime lamb market was mostly steady and values generally ranged from $180 to $260. Aside from a few outliers, ewes made $125-$200 on a steady market. Read more in your LivestockEye.

OTAGO Balclutha sheep • Store lambs varied from $80 to $150 • Prime lambs earned $148-$206 Store lambs offered by PGG Wrightson at BALCLUTHA on Wednesday, July 6 firmed with the average up $11 to $137.

Prime ewes ranged from $80 to $218.

SOUTHLAND Charlton sheep • Store lambs reached $141 • Prime lambs eased to $140-$212 There were 207 prime ewes offered by PGG Wrightson at CHARLTON on Thursday, July 7 which averaged $149 and reached $235. A small offering of prime rams ranged from $50 to $85.

Lorneville cattle and sheep • Good prime heifers, 435-500kg, made $3.00-$3.02/kg • R2 Hereford-Friesian and Speckle Park-cross heifers sold well at $1030-$1070 • Heavy prime ewes eased to $156-$178 • Top store lambs made $120-$135 There was a medium-sized yarding of store cattle which sold on a good market at LORNEVILLE last Tuesday with R1 beef heifers, 160-216kg, able to achieve $620-$645. Heavy prime lambs made $182-$210 while light to medium types earned $140-$171. Light to medium store lambs traded at $80-$115.

Nicky Thompson

Dry stock, North Canterbury “I feel in control of what’s happening on and off farm because I’m more confident around making decisions, especially talking to the bank because I’ve got the information needed to back myself.”

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40

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – July 18, 2022 NI SLAUGHTER STEER

SI SLAUGHTER LAMB

SI SLAUGHTER STAG

($/KG)

($/KG)

R2 DAIRY-BEEF STEERS, 465KG AVERAGE, AT TARANAKI

($/KG)

($/KG)

6.10

9.20

8.15

2.97

high $2.20-$2.30/kg $144-$154 Good store male lambs Friesian cows, lights Boner at Feilding 8.7 500-610kg, at Temuka

The show must go on Suz Bremner

T

suz.bremner@globalhq.co.nz

HE recent wild weather has provided plenty to talk about around the kitchen table in both rural and urban settings, yet most livestock sales have got by relatively unscathed.

Those in the thick of the first blast of severe weather were the Tuesday events, but a quick whip around the country to see how they fared presented an uneventful start to the selling week.

In Northland, the main Wellsford sale was held on Monday before the worst of the weather arrived, though PGG Wrightson regional manager Bernie McGahan reported very

wet conditions underfoot: “This patch of wet weather has not been bad timing up here since there is not a lot happening. We did think that the weather conditions would impact the market a bit, but it didn’t. There is more rain coming but at least we are warm.”

At close to 19C on Monday, that contrasted with just 7C reported at the Canterbury Park sale.

Moving south to the Frankton sale yards, where, while the sound of heavy rain on the roof made it hard to hear the auctioneer, no negative impact on the market was noted.

The Canterbury Park sale was held in the thick of the wet weather and no one appreciated the covered yards more than those who were able to shelter beneath them for the sale. Outside, trucks sent surface water spraying as they arrived to unload but only a

A BIT WET: A soggy start to the week had little impact on early sales as volumes were already at a winter low at yards like Canterbury Park.

small number of consignments did not physically make it into the yards. However, a cancelled load of cattle due to the conditions sent one processor buyer to the yards to fill the gap and that had a positive impact on the market.

Earlier in the week, the lower South Island was in a calm patch while the rest of the country dealt with a scree of weather watches and warnings. The Lorneville sale was held in relative calm and PGG Wrightson regional manager Andrew Martin said that a drop

in volume was simply a reflection of the time of year. “The sale certainly wasn’t adversely affected by weather, but it is supposed to get worse later today [Tuesday].

This was the first week where numbers notably dropped to a moderate sized yarding but that is very typical in winter,” said Martin.

However, even though little impact has been felt at the yards, which are currently in winter mode, the same cannot be said for those farmers who are either

calving or early lambing. Bay of Plenty Carrfields livestock representative Richard Baird said it was extremely wet and no one was particularly happy.

“A lot of the farmers around here are now calving and the timing could not be worse, especially with a second round to come,” said Baird.

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