Farmers Weekly NZ November 27 2023 by AgriHQ

6 Flood risk with riverbeds on rise Vol 21 No 46, November 27, 2023

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Green still seeing red Richard Rennie

NEWS

Horticulture

ROWERS of Green kiwifruit may have outwardly been the biggest winners from Zespri’s latest payment forecast that has per tray returns up 10% on earlier predictions, but the lift has not offset signiﬁcant declines in orchard productivity this season. The kiwifruit marketer has lifted its earlier August Green forecast of $8.10 a tray to $9, with a range of $8.75 to $9.25. The lift is expected to take forecast per-hectare revenue to an average of about $62,000. While better than the $56,000 forecast in August, it remains well behind 2021’s $75,000 per hectare return, and 2020’s record setting $77,000 per hectare. Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson said the lift in prices will be welcomed by growers following a particularly tough couple of years, when ongoing cost pressures, climate impacts and labour shortages have affected proﬁtability. New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc CEO Colin Bond welcomed the stronger price forecast from Zespri, with $9 a tray being the highest ever for Green fruit, well ahead of the previous top price of $7.51, set in 2020. However, he said the price is unlikely to offset the yield losses, with Green fruit volumes down on average 36%. SunGold volumes are down by almost 20%.

“This has resulted in the per hectare returns for gold and green being the lowest since 2017, meaning that many growers will still be hurting ﬁnancially.” This season’s 140 million-tray crop volume was signiﬁcantly back on 2022’s 170 million. Frosts, poor pollination and storms severely impacted orchard productivity in many cases. “We certainly did not want a crop as low as we got this year, but it has allowed us to step back and deal with the challenges we had,” said Mathieson.

We certainly did not want a crop as low as we got this year, but it has allowed us to step back and deal with the challenges we had.

Mud, guts and glory for a cause Steve and Storm Thompson from Porangahau take on the 70m mudslide during the Flemington Mud Run in central Hawke’s Bay this month. Each year local farmers Hayley and Andy Barrett open up their farm to hundreds of racegoers for the annual event, now in its 10th year, to raise funds for Flemington School. The Mud Run received the Community Initiative Award at the 2023 CHB Sports Awards and the Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards last Photo: Laura Bridge month.

Last cattle call at Kauri saleyards

Dan Mathieson Zespri Payment predictions have also been lifted for SunGold fruit, up at $12.35 a tray from the earlier forecast of $11.50, and newly commercialised RubyRed at $26.10 up from $23.30 a tray. The lift in revenue has come from the exceptionally low supply and continuing strong demand across all markets for the limited amount of higher quality fruit. “We saw lower productivity per hectare this season, and growers are still doing it tough, but sales Continued page 3

The ﬁnal adult cattle sale at Kauri saleyards in Northland was held last week. After 75 years of commercial activity, many of the saleyards’ pens and walkways have deteriorated to a point where they can no longer be used.

MARKETS 5 Batches of faulty bull semen could leave some dairy farmers signiﬁcantly out of pocket.

Farmers will beneﬁt from a doubling in the number of NZ wind and solar farms by 2050.

Grit and determination are not enough to guarantee farming mastery, says David Eade.

TECHNOLOGY 3

NEWS 4

OPINION 16

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SIDE – the South Island Dairy Event – is returning to Lincoln University next year, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The event will be chaired by Jonathon Hoets, an equity partner of Kairoa Dairies Limited in Mid Canterbury. The theme for the two-day conference in June is Excelling through Change.

Subdued outlook

Antibiotic use down

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Lincoln return

Increasing pressure on the primary sector is undermining momentum and setting the tone for a more subdued economic outlook, Infometrics chief economist Brad Olsen says. The latest Quarterly Economic Monitor says jobs growth and migration are still adding demand, but these factors are largely big-city ones. Falling export revenue for the dairy industry, kiwifruit yield losses, lower meat prices and high inflation are concerns in the primary sector.

PUBLISHERS

PRODUCTION

Insurance provider Tower will no longer offer insurance for commercial farms, instead focusing on personal and small business cover. From February 1 2024 Tower will refer its commercial farm customers to Aon New Zealand’s AonAgri division as their Tower policies expire. Tower chief executive Blair Turnbull said this is the latest move to streamline and improve the efficiency of its business.

INNOVATOR: Bovaer vice-president Mark van Nieuwland says there is an urgent need to accelerate the rate of methane mitigation in the agricultural sector. STORY P12

New Zealand is now one of the few countries in the world whose poultry industry does not use antibiotics preventatively on its birds. Poultry accounted for 34% of sales of antibiotics to the horticulture and primary industries in 2021. That figure dropped to 4% in 2022 and by the end of this year, it will be down to 1%, making poultry one of lowest users of antibiotics in those sectors.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Counting knock-on costs of faulty semen Gerald Piddock

TECHNOLOGY

Beef and lamb

EW Zealand dairy farmers are counting the cost of using faulty semen over mating after LIC discovered a biological breakdown in the semen of thousands of its straws used in October. The bad semen was initially found in 13 batches sent out to farms on October 17,18 and 19. This amounted to 20,000 straws and affected 921 herds across NZ. A second faulty batch was discovered on November 22; it had been sent to farms on October 23, 24 and 25. On both occasions, the semen was discovered to have degraded on the third day of quality control testing. How many herds this has impacted has yet to be determined. LIC has undertaken to refund the price of the straws and the cost of artificial insemination services – but farmers say this may not be enough. One of those affected was Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre. Communication with affected farmers over the past few weeks suggests that the long-term Continued from page 1 have been strong, and confidence is growing that we are moving to a more positive place. “It is also good to see that as we head into pollination for next year’s crop, yields are looking better. We will be looking to see an overall increase in volume for next year,” Mathieson said. The lift in values also reflects the focused effort made by the sector to lift fruit quality this year after dire quality results last year when a bumper crop converged with significant covid-induced labour shortages.

BAD BATCH: LIC chief executive David Chin says the company is investigating how and why the bull semen failed, to make sure it does not happen again. impact this will have on their farming businesses far exceeds the costs of refunding the semen and AI services, he said. “It spreads out the calving pattern. You have less days in milk, potentially more empties [cows], fewer replacements next year and because these cows calve later, there’s more chance of them calving later again because there’s less time for them to recover from calving before they start mating. However, “our job on quality isn’t done yet, and we now have a huge focus on next season. “We need to maintain this focus as we look to 2024, when we are expecting to have a much larger crop and likely our biggest yearon-year growth in volume.” Mathieson conﬁrmed next year’s crop is anticipated to be about 180 million trays. Final crop estimates will be conﬁrmed in February. Demand is proving strong for the fruit across all markets, including China, which has been softer for some primary sector produce, and demand is also

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There’s flow-on effects from it.” Depending on how the calculation is done, that loss equates to big money, he said. In a hypothetical example, if 30 cows from a herd of 449 were impacted by the semen and lost 21 days of milking in the 20242025 season, and if those cows averaged 1.75kg MS a day going by the current mid-point payout from Fonterra, that would equate to a loss of around $266 per cow in lost milk. McIntyre applauded LIC’s quality control and prompt communication, but he questioned the adequacy of the compensation offered. Another impacted farmer, who asked not to be named, had his first round of mating on October 17 and 19 affected by the semen. It impacted around 24 cows of his 330-cow herd. Those cows had a 100% return rate. He said the decision not to commit yet to compensation for the financial impact it will have next season angers him. Given that both he and LIC collect his mating and production data, it would not be hard to determine fair compensation for possible lost days in milk for next season. “When you put it into an $8/

growing in emerging markets including Vietnam. “If our current forecasts hold true, we expect to see greater productivity per hectare come through in the next harvest, which will help meet that growth.” Labour supply, an issue that stymied a quality harvest in 2022, appears to also be improving, with orchard contractors reporting a good supply of overseas backpacker workers on hand to meet pre-Christmas tasks, and conﬁdent that supply would continue through to harvest.

kg MS payout, it’s quite a sum of money,” he said. It also had a knock-on effect on the affected cows for the next two seasons because they were now calving later. “LIC has no debt, has made millions of dollars of proﬁt and is not willing to help out. What hurts the most is I’ve used LIC for 30 years, I Sire Proved for 15 of those years – I helped prove bulls for LIC and there’s no goodwill in return.” That hurts more than the compensation, he said. “They have stuffed up, so they should front up.” Compounding it all is that it has occurred in a year when the payout has fallen and costs are still high, he said. “We’re staring down the barrel of a pretty average income. It’s like kicking a man while he’s down.” Asked about the possibility of compensation, LIC chief executive David Chin said LIC is still considering its options. “Our focus is on making sure ﬁrst and foremost that we can understand what happened and mitigate the on-farm impact from happening again and then I think we can look at how does the response play out.” It has reimbursed the cost of the semen and AI used on October 17, 18 and 19. A decision on whether

that reimbursement will cover the semen used on October 23, 24 and 25 had yet to be made at the time of going to press. “We need to identify what is causing this and how we mitigate and prevent it from happening again – that’s our initial focus,” Chin said. “We have done fresh semen for decades and over the past 20 years the process has happened pretty ﬂawlessly and this has really caught us by surprise.” LIC has shifted semen quality control testing to 4am to allow enough time to inform AI technicians out on farms not to use that product, he said. He said the message he is getting from farmers he has spoken to is to make sure it does not happen again. “Of all of the things that can go wrong on a farm, inseminating cows is one of the things that generally goes pretty good and they want to return to that state of affairs. We want to return to that state of affairs and that’s the thing I want to hold myself and my team accountable for.”

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BOOSTED: Zespri CEO Dan Mathieson says the lift in kiwifruit payments will be welcomed by growers after a tough couple of years.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Billions to be poured into wind, solar Neal Wallace

NEWS

Energy

HE number of wind and solar farms must double by 2050 if New Zealand is to meet its carbon reduction targets, and farmers could be beneficiaries. Major electricity generation companies are committing billions of dollars to renewable solar, wind and geothermal energy, with forecasts of wind-generated energy increasing from 6% in 2021 to between 20% and 34% in 2035, and solar from 1% to 6% over the same period. Energy company Mercury said $10.2 billion investment in renewable energy generation and a further $30bn in transmission and distribution is required this decade alone to meet those goals. “There is more than enough renewable energy generation in the project pipeline to achieve the BCG’s [consulting group] roadmap of 98% renewable generation by 2030,” it said. Meridian Energy alone needs to invest in 20 new projects by 2030 to retain its status of generating 30% of NZ’s energy. The NZ Wind Energy Association said growth and expansion have been rapid. Between 2019 and 2023, completed wind projects increased capacity from 690MW to 1265MW, taking wind’s share of generation from 6% to more than 10%. It has attracted new entrants to the sector, along with interest in establishing offshore wind farms

off the Taranaki and Waikato coasts. Rebecca Knott, Meridian’s head of renewable development, said the company will commission seven projects by 2030. Each takes at least three years of planning and consenting.

Burst of energy EXAMPLES of wind and solar farms recently commissioned or planned include: Meridian Energy • A 41-turbine, $448 million Harapaki Wind Farm on the Maungaharuru Range between Napier and Taupō.

STAR TURN: Gore District mayor Ben Bell and Mercury chair Prue Flacks at the opening of the Kaiwera Downs wind farm last week.

Demand for renewable energy is growing as industries such as dairy and meat processors move away from using fossil fuels.

Genesis Energy and FRV Australia. • 90ha solar farm at Lauriston, Canterbury. • Three solar farms in Manawatū, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay covering 740ha.

Matthew Cleland Contact Energy Wind is the cheapest to construct followed by solar then hydro and she said finding suitable locations is a mix of in-house research and approaches by landowners offering potential sites that are either very windy or exposed to the sun for solar. Access to the grid is central to viability but that usually means the vicinity is close to populated areas which can lead to some public resistance. Contact Energy’s proposed 50-turbine wind farm at Slopedown in Southland has attracted opposition from some locals concerned it will destroy the Catlins landscape. Another factor is the volume of civil works required such as roading, which can be significant for accessing wind farm sites. Knott said often wind farms straddle one or more farms so agreement from multiple

GRID BOOST: Mercury opened the 10-turbine Kaiwera Downs wind farm last week and is considering adding a second stage. landowners can be needed, but once constructed 95% of the land area can be grazed. To be economic, a solar farm needs to be a minimum of 100ha and once built can be grazed by sheep. Knotts said wind turbines and solar panels last for 20-30 years and provide farmers with an additional source of income and have been used to help meet a farm’s nitrogen and phosphate restrictions. Energy generators either buy or lease land for solar farms or pay landowners a base annual rate per megawatt generated for wind.

LOAD: A turbine blade is unloaded at Meridian Energy’s Harapaki wind farm in Hawke’s Bay.

Contact Energy • Proposed 50-turbine wind farm, Wyndham, Southland. • Two geothermal projects in Taupō. • 300,000 solar panel farm on 300ha next to Christchurch Airport. • 220ha solar farm on the Kaipara Coast, Auckland.

Affordable

Safe

Other payment options allow landowners to share in years when generation is high. When buying or leasing land, Knott said Meridian pays the same as the next best alternative land use. At the end of a wind or solar farm’s lifespan, the project can be decommissioned, upgraded and re-powered. Matthew Cleland, Contact Energy’s head of wind and solar, said demand for renewable energy is growing as industries such as dairy and meat processors move away from using fossil fuels. Contact is also investing in grid batteries, complexes the size of a rugby field in which energy is stored when generation is in abundance to meet demand when the wind doesn’t blow or sun doesn’t shine. These need to be built adjacent to transmission lines and substations. Cleland said new energy sources will be a mix of wind, solar and geothermal due to the high cost and lack of suitable sites for hydro.

Reliable

Mercury • Recently commissioned a 10-turbine wind farm at Kaiwera Downs, Southland. • Proposed 19-turbine Kaiwaikawe wind farm, Northland. Pioneer Energy and Manawa Energy • Proposed 70-turbine wind farm at Kaihiku, South Otago. Manawa Energy • 135,000 solar farm, Marlborough. • Three wind farms proposed at Huntly and near Whanganui. Mercury opened the first stage of its Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore last week and is considering adding a second stage. Portfolio manager Phil Gibson said the 10 turbine site will generate 43MW, enough energy to power over 20,000 households or 66,000 electric vehicles. The second stage will take it to 228MW. Gibson said Mercury expects to commit $1 billion in the coming year to renewable generation development which will be constructed over the next three years.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Last call for cattle at Kauri saleyards Hugh Stringleman

MARKETS

Livestock

ATTLE sales at Kauri saleyards in Whangārei ceased last week with a big offering and full benches of vendors, buyers and spectators drawn from the past 75

years of commercial activity. Many BBQ beef sandwiches were consumed and tales told after about 800 yearling steers went through the ring. The buildings, pens and walkways are showing their age, with No Entry signs scattered about. PGG Wrightson, as the

majority shareholder, said declining numbers of cattle make refurbishment uneconomic. Chief executive Stephen Guerin said calf sales will continue in the lower pens under a canopy roof but all the bigger pens and above-ground structures will be demolished over time. Shorter travel requirements for calves have been factored into retaining Kauri for that purpose. No consideration has yet been given to a possible sale of the site but in previous saleyard shutdowns, such as those in Addington and Tinwald, alternative industrial uses have been found.

CAPACITY: David Holwell, who farms near Whangārei, put up most of the offering at the last big cattle sale at Kauri saleyards. Photos: Hugh Stringleman

Facilities with scales and live streaming are more popular with vendors and buyers. Stephen Guerin PGG Wrightson LAST CALL: PGG Wrightson Northland livestock manager Bernie McGahan and his Carrfields counterpart Tim Williamson before they called the final adult cattle sale at Kauri saleyards, Whangārei.

BID: PGG Wrightson auctioneer Bernie McGahan takes a bid for one of the last adult cattle pens to go through Kauri saleyards.

PGG Wrightson and its partner in the National Saleyards company, Carrﬁelds, will continue to hold weekly adult cattle sales at Wellsford and Kaikohe, for the beneﬁt of Northland farmers. “The facilities with scales and live streaming are more popular with vendors and buyers,” he said. National Saleyards, based in Hamilton, is a joint venture operating company for Wellsford, Kaikohe, Dargaville, Tuakau, Masterton and Feilding. It carries out health and safety inspections regularly and the requirements are becoming stricter, especially around elevated walkways, kick boards, rails and any gaps that might pose a risk to children, Guerin said. “We take our saleyard responsibilities very seriously

RUN DOWN: The big pens and walkways at Kauri saleyards have deteriorated and will not be used again, but the lower yards will stage calf sales. because that’s where farmers do business, and we have an ongoing maintenance programme. “But we also have to acknowledge the market realities of changing preferences for electronic yards and sales. “Our business involves saleyards, but we have to provide a safe working environment for members of the public and those who work there.” The biggest vendor in the ﬁnal sale was David Holwell from Phoenix Farms at Whareora, near Kauri, with over 500 steers, drafted

into Hereford-cross, Simmentalcross, Belgian Blue-cross and Charolais-cross, all out of dairy cows in the South Island. Holwell, a former Super Rugby player with the Hurricanes and Blues, had not decided where to take his annual draft next spring – to Wellsford, Kaikohe or perhaps an on-farm sale. Prices on the day were down on last year because of the lower beef schedule and most sold in a range from $1000 to $1200. Top prices were made by Angus steers, at $1310 and $1360.

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

News

Flood risk with riverbeds on the rise Neal Wallace

NEWS

Water

HE height of some South Island riverbeds is rising, accentuating flooding events and prompting farming leaders to ask regional councils to take more action. Environment Canterbury said data from 589 cross-sections on 11 major Canterbury rivers shows the beds on 30% are increasing, and a farming leader said in a recent flood, Southland’s Oreti River peaked well below previous events, but flooding was much greater due to river beds being raised by gravel deposits. Mid Canterbury farmer Chris Allen estimates a 1km stretch of one branch of the Ashburton River has risen by a metre in recent years. Allen and Southland Federated Farmers Junior vice-president Jason Herrick both know bridges where until recently vehicles could drive under them, but such has been the gravel buildup, people can now touch the underside of the bridge while standing in the riverbed. Herrick said islands of gravel deposits have formed in many Southland rivers and are sprouting vegetation, which is exacerbating flooding. He wants regional councils to encourage the removal of greater volumes of gravel for uses such as roading. Allen wants longterm management plans for

Canterbury’s rivers, covering the mountains to the sea. ECan surveys show the slopes of the Kowhai, Ashley, Waimakariri, Selwyn and the North Branch of Ashburton riverbeds have become flatter, trapping sediment. This is attributed to changes in the slope of surrounding terrain and narrowing river channels, weeds in riverbeds slowing flows and changing weather patterns between periods of drought and heavy rainfall. The council said these rivers have historically had the most gravel extracted and continue to need monitoring, management and gravel removal to maintain flood capacity. Allen, who is also on the Ashburton River Liaison Committee, said Environment Canterbury is aware of the need to have plans for the region’s rivers. In the interim, ECan is completing a riverbank treeplanting programme funded through the Infrastructure Reference Group’s shovel-ready projects, part of the government’s post-covid response. Allen said the trees will assist with bank stability and keep the fastest flow in the middle of the river, but a plan needs to go further than that. “It’s a very good start to stabilise the riverbanks, but they’re not doing anything with the gravel. “They’re only doing maintenance, they’re not beefing up flood protection, they’re not future-proofing it looking 2030 years into the future at what

they are trying to achieve.” He said a plan is needed, to determine what is to be achieved, how to address weak points, how to manage a “once in 100 years” flood, where flood waters can be channelled before returning to the bed and how to pay for it. This has to be achieved by working as much as possible with nature. Allen said one option is to encourage contractors to extract gravel where it needs removal rather than where it is economic for them to do so. Herrick said a rain event on the scale of 1978 or 1984 would cause devastating flooding today for Southland communities and farms alongside rivers given the increased gravel deposits. Roading contractors and farmers have been sourcing gravel from farm quarries instead of riverbeds, which he attributes to a consenting process that prioritises environmental and cultural values over practical river management. Environment Southland said a lack of large flooding events in the past 20 years has allowed a buildup of gravel. Smaller floods tend to disperse sediment across gravel bars without moving it. A statement from the Ministry for the Environment says that the Resource Management Act devolves responsibility for local management of rivers to regional and territorial authorities to allow localised community issues and decision making.

Flatter slopes add to build-up Neal Wallace

NEWS

Water

THE slope of several Canterbury rivers has become flatter, allowing sediment to be trapped, according to Environment Canterbury. The regional council’s senior river engineer, Matthew Surman, said it has long-term information on 589 cross-sections on 11 major Canterbury rivers, with 70% showing a drop in bed levels but 30% an increase. The data shows slopes on the Kowhai, Ashley, Waimakariri, Selwyn and the North Branch of Ashburton rivers have flattened in recent years. “These rivers have tended to have the most gravel extraction historically and continue to need monitoring, management and gravel removal to maintain flood capacity,” he said. Braided rivers are especially dynamic and changeable. Where gravel deposits are extensive, this can cause rivers to change course and lead to increased flooding. The council uses weed control, gravel extraction and land use management to prevent gravel build-up and to ensure sufficient room when there is flooding. Surman said gravel demand from industry exceeds the natural

build-up on some rivers, including from the North Branch of the Ashburton and the Selwyn rivers. On the Kowhai, Ashley and Waimakariri rivers, demand exceeds supply. Surman said gravel extraction has increased in recent years but shifted from areas where bed levels have dropped and to those where there is a surplus. “A secondary trend has been for extraction to move away from

LIVE STREAMS: Environment Canterbury’s senior river engineer, Matthew Surman, says braided rivers are especially dynamic and changeable.

some traditional river sources, towards some smaller rivers and streams further from towns.” Extraction from Canterbury rivers increased from an average of 740,000 cubic meters per year in the 1990s to 1 cubic metre per year in the early 2000s, and to an average of 1.3 cubic metres per year from 2006 to 2016. The natural process of flooding has historically flushed sediment out of river systems. “However, as the flow is reduced, particularly in larger braided river systems and on rivers where water takes have reduced flows, the sustained flow that historically carried sediment and gravel out to sea, even when not in flood, has reduced.” This means some riverbeds are lifted, with the council encouraging gravel extraction for use in roading, concrete and bulk fill. Surman said historical imagery shows an increase in weeds in some of the region’s rivers, which requires more intervention to manage flood risk as they tend to slow flood flows, raise water levels and encourage the build-up of sediment. Surman said in some cases land use intensification has narrowed river berms, which changes the way water, sediment and gravel move through the river.

NOT MUCH ROOM: Vehicles were once able to pass easily under this Mid Canterbury bridge. Local farmer Chris Allen shows the extent of gravel deposits.

Gravel islands in the stream impede flow Neal Wallace

NEWS

Water

THE fact that there are fewer large flood events in Southland has allowed a build-up of gravel in the region’s riverbeds, according to Environment Southland. The council’s manager of integrated catchment management, Paul Hulse, said in the past 20 years the province has experienced few of the large flooding events that traditionally move gravel. “Smaller floods tend to disperse sediment across gravel bars without moving the gravel,” Hulse said. “This can lead to the gravel bars being suitable for weed and vegetation growth, and we see more root mats and stems forming, making the gravel more resistant to river flows.” Silt deposits can also reduce the quality of gravel. The council relies on market demand for the mechanical removal of gravel but fewer consents have been granted so the council is considering funding gravel removal in its next long-term plan. Data provided by the council shows a halving in consents for the removal of gravel, from 203 in 2011-12 to 293 in 2012-13 – and only 100 in 2022-23. Hulse said consent was recently granted for gravel management trials in three rivers that involves vegetation removal and beach skimming. Less gravel removal improves the natural character of the river, he said, and can also reduce bank erosion. Hulse said the council is adopting a holistic approach to river management and is developing a strategic gravel management policy. This includes improving data and science to support consents

IN CHARGE: Environment Southland’s manager of integrated catchment management, Paul Hulse. for minor gravel works such as beach skimming, mitigating riverbank erosion, sediment loss and managing gravel build-up under bridges. He said this will extend the council’s ability to manage the impacts of gravel more effectively. Larger extraction projects will still go through the normal consent process. The council is undertaking a resource assessment using bathymetric LiDAR to survey the Mataura and Waikaia rivers. The survey is the first of its kind in New Zealand, and will eventually be extended to all of Southland’s major rivers. Hulse said data collection has been completed and processing is underway. It will provide elevation mapping and show gravel build-up, landscape changes, catchment hydrological processes such as stream flow estimation and catchment size. Environment Southland is also working on a climate adaptation project aimed at identifying ways of better protecting high flood-risk areas in Southland.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

New rural after-hours El Niño dry fades as telehealth service launched dairy price driver Staff reporter

Hugh Stringleman

Health

Dairy

NEWS

MARKETS

NEW dedicated rural after-hours telehealth service has launched, providing access to medical advice and diagnosis for almost 900,000 New Zealanders. Rural communities can access the service in two ways, by calling 0800 2 KA ORA (0800 252 672) directly or via referral from their rural healthcare provider. Co-commissioned by Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora) and the Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whai Ora), the new service is being delivered by Ka Ora Telecare, which brings together three organisations that provide telehealth care, Reach Aotearoa, Practice Plus and Emergency Consult. It has been up and running since mid-November, with the ﬁrst group of 20 rural practices on board and more expected in the coming weeks. Ka Ora Telecare manager Jess White said when people call the service they are ﬁrst triaged by nurses and can then be referred to a doctor if needed. Emergency medicine specialists

TRIAGE: Ka Ora Telecare manager Jess White says when people call the service they are first triaged by nurses and can then be referred to a doctor if needed. are also available. The 0800 service will provide after-hours clinical telehealth care (5pm to 8am) on weekdays, and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays. It provides access for people in rural areas whether they are enrolled with a primary care practice or not. While the service is subsidised by Health NZ, a patient co-payment will be charged for consultations with a doctor. The service will be free for under-14s, and those on Community Services Card or who are 65 years and over will pay $19.50. “For those in our most isolated

communities, who may only have a landline and no access to the internet, this service is a real step forward in accessing after-hours care when it is not an emergency,” said Dr Sarah Clarke, national clinical director, primary and community care, Te Whatu Ora. “Alongside this we know that our rural healthcare providers have been under pressure due to workforce shortages with stafﬁng after hours rosters only adding to that pressure, so this is a way we can offer additional capacity and continuity of care to providers and their patients to improve the wellbeing of our rural communities.”

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DAIRY commodity prices have softened as buyers take note of New Zealand’s delayed El Niño drought prospects for milk production in the spring and summer. The surge in Global Dairy Trade auction results during September and October was partly due to buyers factoring in the drought risk. “This was overdone, in my opinion, and may explain the pullback in GDT prices during November,” Westpac senior agri economist Nathan Penny said. He was commenting on the zero movement in the GDT price index in the second fortnightly November event, which followed the 0.7% fall in the ﬁrst auction for the month. The latest GDT results included three up and three down, led by lactose up 6.4%, whole milk powder up 1.9% and anhydrous milk fat up 0.9%. The falls were skim milk powder down 3.8%, cheddar

down 9.7% and butter down 1.1% Penny said most NZ dairy farmers have ample feed on hand and this would help mitigate any drought impact. Spring started strongly, with September’s milk production 1.3% ahead of last year’s and every expectation that October was similar. “Meanwhile, Chinese demand is hinting at a pick-up. “Recent economic data has been more positive so this may translate into higher demand over time.” Since revising his milk price forecast to $7.25 in midOctober there have been both positive and negative moves in the dairy market, cancelling each other out. The futures market expectation ahead of the GDT event was for 3-4% lift in milk powders but this bullish mood was only partly validated by the WMP lift. NZX dairy analyst Rosalind Crickett said the sentiment is for decreasing milk production globally with uncertain future output in an El Niño summer in the southern hemisphere.

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

News

Grain silos groaning with unsold cereals Annette Scott

NEWS

Arable

HE latest Arable Industry Marketing Initiative report shows unsold stocks of cereal grains for the 2023 harvest have more than doubled since the same time last year. For the 2022-2023 season, cereal grain production of wheat, barley and oats in New Zealand totalled an estimated 836,000 tonnes, up 9% on the previous harvest. Maize grain production was estimated at 164,400t. Total production of grain in NZ was therefore estimated to be 1,000,300t. When compared to the same time last year, unsold stocks of cereal grain over all six crops are estimated to have more than doubled to sit at 105% higher, the report states. As of October 2023, unsold stock of feed wheat was estimated at 32,900t, up 15,000t on last year, and feed barley 53,500t, up 29,800t on the previous year. On-farm storage of sold grain is up 55%, 90,300t, on this time last year.

Total on-farm storage, including both sold and unsold grain over all six crops, is up 67%, 147,500t, compared to October 2022. The total area sown or intended to be sown in cereals is predicted to be 94,300 hectares, which is down 3%, or 2900ha, on last season. About 87% of this total area had been sown by October, being similar to the 86% average over the previous nine seasons. Across the ditch in Australia, GrainCorp is continuing to perform strongly, having released its annual report for the ﬁscal year, recording its second highest earnings. The latest NZX grain and feed insight reports the company had EBITDA of AU$565 million ($612m) for FY23, spurred by a record crush volume in its processing business. This is its second highest earnings result behind its recordsetting AU$703m in 2022. Overall, the company achieved a NPAT of AU$250m compared with AU$380m in FY22. This is Australia’s third straight bumper crop, with GrainCorp handling 37.4 million tonnes of grain, down from 41.1 million

tonnes, a 9% decrease year on year. It exported 8.3 million tonnes, down 9.8% on last year’s volume of 9.2 million tonnes, but still the second highest export volume in the space of a decade. Agribusiness reported EBITDA of AU$401m compared with AU$624m in FY22, noting strong results across feeds, fats and oils (FFO), still above historical averages. This was noted to be driven by significant global demand for renewable fuel stocks and strong supplementary feed demand in both New Zealand and Australia. Processing reported record EBITDA of AU$153m, up from AU$127m in FY22, with the oilseeds business increasing earning key market indicators significantly. NZX dairy analyst Rosalind Crickett said the general outlook from GrainCorp for the 2023-24 season will continue to be strong, despite being lower than the 2022 record results and El Niño confirmation in Australia. Meanwhile global grains are forecast to reach record production with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations predicting

SOWING: The total area sown or intended to be sown in cereals in New Zealand is predicted to be 3% down on last season. global cereal production to reach a record 2.81 billion tonnes this year according to its Cereal Supply and Demand brief. The report pointed to higher projected coarse grain production in most of West Africa and China following larger than anticipated plantings, yielding stronger crop harvests. Lower forecasts for the European Union and United States were both attributed to unfavourable weather conditions. Global wheat production forecasts are roughly level with October’s forecast, but down 2.2% year on year. The report also highlighted global wheat supplies higher than initial predictions in the US. This, coupled with strong export competition, resulted in a 1.9% wheat price decline in October. In NZ, Canterbury wheat prices

have significantly fallen year on year, with milling wheat currently at an average $515/t down from $667/t this time last year while feed wheat is also down to $458 from $653 in Canterbury, with Southland at $471 down from $647 and Manawatū at $580 down from $680. Feed barley has dropped more than $200/t, currently at $437 in Canterbury from the $650 this time last year while Southland is similar at $463 down from $657. Maize has taken a dive at an average $540/t in Manawatū, down from $745 this time last year, while in Waikato the drop is significantly less at $600 down from $693. With no significant global or domestic indicators for improvement, NZ arable farmers are looking for increased yields to help bridge the price gap in the upcoming harvest.

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Gentle Giants on show at leading studs Annette Scott

NEWS

Livestock

HE distinctive South Devon copper-red cattle were ﬁrst introduced to New Zealand in 1969, and their cross-breeding for beef herd improvement is now ﬁrmly established across the country. South Devon studs nationwide are on show this month with delegates from across the globe converging on NZ for the breed’s 2023 World Convention in Wellington on November 25. As part of the conference programme, delegates went on a 17-day tour of NZ, visiting South Devon breeders in both the South and North Islands. South Devon cattle, the biggest English beef breed, date back to the 16th century. They hail from the southwest of England, where they and their predecessors have provided Plymouth with beef and dairy products throughout its history. By 1800 they had established themselves as a breed, although the South Devon Herd Book Society of England was not formed until 1891. By 1912 the breed had overcome many prejudices and was drawing favourable attention in the show ring and in national trials, where they were noted for their rapid growth to an enormous size without impairing the quality or quantity of their milk. The South Devon as a meat producer really began to achieve worldwide prominence during the 1960s when weight gain recording became popular and the breed’s excellent performance was recognised. The copper-red cattle – though black does now feature in the breed too – can be found the world over, thriving in the cold of North America and the heat of Africa. Delegates from the United

States, Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia joined NZ breeders for the convention and stud tour. The event is held every three years, the last convention being hosted in South Africa. Their wonderful temperament make the South Devon easy to handle and work with, earning them the tag of “Gentle Giants” according to the breeders, who were hosted by Alister and Jeanette Maxwell at Rosehill South Devon near Methven as part of the tour. Rosehill farm, at the foot of Mt Hutt, has been in the Maxwell family since 1973 with the Rosehill South Devon Stud established in 1986 following the purchase of six heifer calves from the Snowview Stud at Sheffield. In 1987 40 mixed-age animals were purchased. Rosehill now runs a substantial stud operation, producing stud stock for sale as well as finishing prime beef cattle. The 300ha Rosehill Farm also takes in a Coopworth sheep breeding flock of 1500 and 450 hoggets with a large percentage of

the lambs ﬁnished and sold under contract to a meat processing company. There are 24 recorded tree blocks on the property covering 45ha, including a small poplar tree trial running under the Poplar and Willow Trust and due for completion in 2029. The farm also has 7ha of fenced wetlands, leaving 245ha of effective stock land. The goal for Rosehill South Devon is to get the cow herd fully polled, with the current replacement rate at 55% towards achieving this. South Devon World Association president Mervyn Rowe, who hails, like the breed, from the Plymouth, England, region, said the world convention is important to keep the breed in the forefront. Rowe’s South Devon pedigree was established by his father in 1947. “We have been breeding pure pedigree stock ever since, and that’s a difference to NZ. Here you call it stud; we call it pedigree.” Rowe said this year key topics for the convention include genetics

GAINS: The South Devon as a meat producer began to achieve worldwide prominence during the 1960s when weight gain recording became popular and the breed’s performance was recognised.

NEAR AND FAR: South Devon breeders from across the globe converged on Rosehill Farm near Methven as part of the 2023 world convention hosted in NZ. and genetic evaluation for ongoing improvement in the breed; and carbon footprint and emissions. “We have to keep up with the technology and improvements. We have less cows now than 10 years ago so we need to keep ourselves out there in the global cattle game,” Rowe said. “What is beneﬁting us now is people being more aware, more conscious consumers wanting to know where their food comes from and seeing the beneﬁt of native cattle.” A visit to the NZ Agricultural Show in Christchurch was a pleasing eye-opener. “At the show it was very obvious the native breeds were shining. There were 80 pedigree South Devon cows. It is the same in the UK. “It is very pleasing to see this as it indicates South Devon is not going to fall off the radar anytime soon and that’s why it is important for us to keep these world conventions going, to keep learning from each other.” For John Miller from Cathcart in South Africa, the conventions

are key to a small but thriving population of South Devon in his country. “I like what I see here in NZ at Rosehill. I came to NZ especially to look at genetics as we are using a line of breeding second cross to better our own herd.

What is beneﬁting us now is more conscious consumers wanting to know where their food comes from and seeing the beneﬁt of native cattle. Mervyn Lowe South Devon World Association “We only have about four breeders and about 1000 cows, small but good and growing. “I have been selling bulls now for 21 years. Last year I sold 30. “The South Devon is a very good maternal breed. Getting the results with good genetics like NZ is important to me as I keep improving with the plan to grow my 380 cows to 450.”

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FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

News

Venison continues to buck red meat trend Annette Scott

NEWS

Deer

HE chilled venison market continues to hold up in Europe with marketers reporting strong demand for New Zealand venison, which is supporting contract prices up to $10.50 a kilogram. Despite a slow spring season, farmgate prices are expected to settle at off-season levels reﬂecting the venison market’s recovery. Lower numbers of animals through the wet and cold weather of September and October made it the latest spring ﬁnishing ever seen by some processors across much of NZ. The slow growth has limited supplies this spring, meaning some customers have missed out on volumes. Venison specialist Duncan NZ general manager marketing and operations Rob Kidd reported through Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) that the company has achieved sales agreements for expected volumes and prices at the start of the season but deadlines to get venison sea-freighted to Europe by Christmas have passed, meaning the marketer will have to make up any balances by air. This could be around 10 times the cost of sea freight.

Orders have now been filled, but the additional cost will not be possible to recover from customers, as prices have already been agreed, Kidd said. Silver Fern Farms (SFF) also reports that the market is buoyant, “to the point that we’ve actually ended up having to turn away some of the volume enquiry because it’s been above what we’re able to supply”, SFF global sales operation manager Glen McLennan said. SFF chilled prices had been up on average about 5% on last year, which McLennan said can be taken as a positive long-term sign. SFF recently added air-freight shipments to supplement volumes, which McLennan noted as a sign of demand. He reiterated that air freight rates from NZ have not eased as much as they have in other parts of the world. SFF, Duncan NZ, Alliance and First Light were among the NZ venison companies represented at the giant trade show in Cologne, where crowds were well up, with more than 140,000 trade attendees from 200 countries in attendance. Looking ahead, marketers report the outlook for venison remaining sound now that chilled shipments are finishing and premiums are coming out of the contract top-ups with expectation venison farmgate prices will settle at off-season levels that reflect the continued

RECOVERY: Marketers report continuing strong demand reflecting a venison market recovery.

Balancing global tensions in a forecast lower deer kill and so lower venison volumes may help underpin export pricing of both venison and coproducts. Rob Kidd Duncan NZ recovery of venison markets. Nationally published schedule prices for AP stags continue to average at $8.82/kg, around the ﬁve-year average for this month, as they have for most of this year, with one marketer offering contracts at $9.40/kg through to the end of the year. While the international meat commodity markets remain tough, for lamb in particular, McLennan said the market is still positive for

venison, the least impacted of all the red meats. Warmer weather in Europe has given a slightly slower start to winter and held back the traditional game-season demand for frozen venison. Buyers tend to wait to see what happens with chilled demand and hold off until the New Year to purchase. Venison marketers expect to start selling frozen venison in earnest from late November/ December onwards. Conversations with buyers for SFF and Duncan NZ have picked up their short-term issues of an underlying nervousness across all proteins because of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, the global cost-of-living crisis and inﬂationary pressures. Kidd also noted there is a current glut of beef and sheepmeat on the market because of drought in the United States, but said another

real concern has raised its head for the ﬁrst time – an expected decline in the meat supply in coming years, citing as an example the US cattle herd now being the lowest in history. Another key theme picked up is that retailers are increasingly more interested in supplier stories with branded products, and sustainability messages are more prevalent than in previous years. In addition, value-add through further processing is still front of mind for buyers. While these concerns could affect the short-term outlook for frozen venison in early 2024, marketers remain optimistic about the medium- to long-term outlook. “Balancing global tensions in a forecast lower deer kill and so lower venison volumes may help underpin export pricing of both venison and co-products,” Kidd said.

Data shows Aus is starting to destock Neal Wallace

MARKETS

Livestock

AUSTRALIAN livestock farmers have started destocking in response to worsening dry conditions, according to new statistics. The latest livestock products data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that farmers are starting killing capital stock, but Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) said the extent of the liquidation will depend on the weather in the coming months. MLA’s market information manager, Stephen Bignell, said the ABS data shows farmers in many parts of Australia are responding to a dry winter and a forecast El Niño summer. For the past three years Australian farmers have been rebuilding herds and ﬂocks, but as conditions have dried the number of stock being killed has grown, inundating global meat

markets with Australian lamb in particular. Data for the September quarter shows a 5.7% increase in Australian red meat production, with the cattle slaughter

increasing 10.5% to 1.9 million head and overall beef production up 8.3% to 589,406 tonnes. Lamb slaughter over that same period increased 8.7% to 6.6 million head and lamb meat

REDUCED: Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows Australian herds and flocks began destocking in the September quarter.

production increased 7.7% to 160,954t. Bignell said that in contrast, the sheep slaughter decreased 18.1% to 2.1 million head, with mutton production back 11.8% to 54,189t. That decrease was largely due to the elevated lamb slaughter reducing sheep processing capacity. “Even though there is an increase in slaughter for cattle and lamb production, the ABS numbers are reflecting lower overall value due to the lower values being experienced at the saleyards for producers,” Bignell said. “The gross value of cattle and calves slaughter decreased 2.5% to [AU]$3.2 billion [$3.4bn], while sheep and lambs decreased by 18.5% to $956.6 million. “This is the first time since producer receipts have been recorded that quarterly sheep and lamb receipts were below $1bn in value.” Bignell said this data shows Australian herds and flocks began

destocking in the September quarter. He said pockets of Australia have been enjoying favourable weather and improved saleyard market conditions since the data was collected, but weather in the coming months will be crucial to whether or not there is a longer trend of destocking.

Even though there is an increase in slaughter for cattle and lamb production, the ABS numbers are reﬂecting lower overall value. Stephen Bignell Meat & Livestock Australia “We’ve started to see some positive trends in the weather and a solid market response in recent weeks, and a continuation of positive rainfall will further drive that conﬁdence.”

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Help at hand as El Niño summer looms

he Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is encouraging farmers and growers to have a plan and be prepared for a strong El Niño weather pattern this summer. “In the past it’s meant stronger or more frequent winds from the south-west in spring, and west in summer,” says Nick Story, MPI’s director of Rural Communities and Farming Support. “El Niño can bring increased risks of drought and water scarcity, wildfires, heat-related human and animal health concerns, along with flooding. Every El Niño is different, so it’s hard to predict its impact on our climate and weather this summer. “It’s best to think ahead and set dates for key decisions regarding financial, climate, soil moisture and feed conditions, so that you can take action quickly when required. “It’s also prudent to make sure you’re set up to deal with potential wildfires, as well as ensure you have good support networks in place to help you through the tough times,” Story says. “Our tips below can help you with planning, and many organisations are available to help. “If you’re unsure where to go for advice or assistance, get in touch with MPI’s On Farm Support Team at 0800 707 133 or email onfarmsupport@mpi.govt.nz – they’ll help you get sorted. “We encourage farmers and growers to try a new tool developed by NIWA and MPI to predict dryness and drought that will help them be better prepared for challenging weather conditions,” Mr Story says. Using the latest in artificial intelligence and long-range weather modelling, the free tool provides week-to-week predictions of rainfall,

Resources are available to farmers and growers to reduce any adverse impacts from the El Niño weather pattern forecast for the summer. dryness and potential drought 35 days into the future. The outlook updates daily, capturing the latest changes in the climate system. It also offers longterm forecasts at a much higher spatial resolution than previously available. Thinking ahead • Monitor seasonal forecasts and extreme weather and fire warnings. NIWA has excellent resources at niwa.co.nz, including a Drought Forecasting Dashboard, shiny.niwa.co.nz/droughtforecast/ • Make decisions early and act • Use irrigation water efficiently and plan for water restrictions, and the need for water reserves including for fire-fighting • Think of the fire risk – use lowflammability plants near buildings and for shade, clear flammable plants (particularly grass fuels) away from buildings and other

•

infrastructure and maintain fire breaks Have a robust and realistic financial budget, and keep it updated. Your levy organisation has resources available if you need them Talk to experts, such as your bank, accountant, vets, professional advisers and peers who have been through this before Make time for yourself, your staff and your family. Sometimes a few hours away from the business can make a huge difference Check in and connect with your neighbours and whānau. Peer support and sharing knowledge of previous El Niño events in your area can help Ask for help if you need it

For those with animals • Look after your animals – regularly monitor stock condition and any signs of heat stress • For pastoral farmers, feed is key.

•

Based on your up-to-date feed budget, conserve your true feed surplus and assess the potential for summer feed crops. Consider deferring some grazing as a cheaper alternative to making silage Extend your rotation length well before the dry slows pasture growth. Consider the best stock policy and/or milking frequency Implement and monitor a feed budget to meet your planned livestock numbers, and act on forecast deficits early Prioritise livestock classes for destocking early and feed the remainder as well as possible Keep in touch with your livestock agent or meat processor. Book livestock into the meatworks well in advance. Additional advice on feed during drought can be found in MPI’s fact sheet ‘Feed in Dry Times – Get prepared early’: mpi.govt.nz/ dmsdocument/40409

Preventing disease when feeding cattle, sheep, goats and deer If you own, feed or farm ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer, now is a great time to refresh your knowledge of the ruminant protein feeding rules. Under the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999, it is illegal to allow ruminant animals to eat ruminant protein – such as meat, meat meal, bone meal and blood meal – in any form. In countries overseas, outbreaks of brain diseases, known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), have been linked to ruminant animals eating this material. TSEs include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or “mad cow” disease), chronic wasting disease in deer and scrapie in sheep. “New Zealand is free of all TSEs, but an outbreak here would severely impact our economy,” says Stephen Cobb, MPI’s manager Animal Health. “It would change our international trade status,

potentially costing billions of dollars in lost exports, and affect many farmers‘ livelihoods.” Ruminant protein is sometimes added to feed for animals that are not ruminants, such as pigs and poultry. These feeds must not be fed to ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer. Feed that contains ruminant protein will be labelled like this: NOTICE: Do not feed to sheep, cattle, deer, goats, buffaloes or other ruminant animals. This product contains or may contain ruminant protein. Always check for notice labels on feed packaging before you feed your animals, and don’t allow ruminant animals to eat ruminant protein. Visit mpi.govt.nz/ruminant-protein for more information about ruminant protein and feeding your animals.

Got a question? If you have questions about the ruminant protein rules, email feedban@mpi.govt.nz

GETTY IMAGES

KEY DROUGHT RESOURCES NIWA Drought forecasting dashboard (niwa.co.nz) MPI drought resources mpi.govt.nz/drought mpi.govt.nz/on-farm-support 0800 008 333 Beef+Lamb NZ beeflambnz.com/knowledge-hub/ 0800 233 352 DairyNZ dairynz.co.nz/business/ dairynz.co.nz/feed/ 0800 4 324 7969 Irrigation NZ irrigationnz.co.nz Foundation for Arable Research far.org.nz/resources/ Horticulture NZ hortnz.co.nz 0508 467 869

WATER CONSERVATION DairyNZ dairynz.co.nz/environment/ Irrigation NZ irrigationnz.co.nz Taumata Arowai taumataarowai.govt.nz Foundation for Arable Research far.org.nz/resources/ Contact your regional/local council

HEAT STRESS IN STOCK MPI mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/30777 DairyNZ dairynz.co.nz/animal/ Beef+Lamb NZ beeflambnz.com/knowledgehub/

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

News

Bovaer moves on methane – but not in NZ Richard Rennie

NEWS

Emissions

HE CEO of methanereducing feed additive company Bovaer has been recognised by Time magazine in its inaugural Time100 Climate list of inﬂuential climate leaders for 2023. Mark van Nieuwland, vicepresident of DSM subsidiary Bovaer, is in the “innovators” section of the awards, which spans business leaders, activists and innovators working to mitigate and reduce climate change impacts. Van Nieuwland told Time magazine the race to reduce emissions has to accelerate for the agriculture sector with multiple companies committing to a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030, only six years away. He said this compels production systems to achieve about 5% a year between now and then, a big ask after the “minimal” progress to date. Bovaer has been proven to reduce methane from livestock by 30-50%. It is already available in 45 countries and has a major partnership with animal health company Elanco. However, Bovaer is still not available in New Zealand, and its

release for livestock use remains uncertain until it has cleared regulatory approval through the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) process. After lengthy delays in putting an approval framework in place, the government put out a process earlier this year for companies seeking to gain approval. It is estimated that at least three separate products are in the process of entering or are already in the approval process. Bovaer is understood to be still preparing a registration folder for application through the ACVM process, which will include the result of additional trails speciﬁc to NZ pasture-based settings. The NZ guidance documents for ACVM approval on inhibitors have some prescriptive requirements for companies, including clinical studies speciﬁc to NZ pastoral situations, with overseas data accepted only as “supporting data”. In Australia, Coles has leveraged off Bovaer to boost sustainability claims about its beef supply, expanding its use of the methane mitigator. Three of Coles’ carbon neutral beef suppliers now use the supplement in a partnership between DSM and the supermarket chain.

INNOVATOR: Bovaer vicepresident Mark van Nieuwland says there is an urgent need to accelerate the rate of methane mitigation in the agricultural sector.

Coles participated in trials with Bovaer last year, working with a feedlot company and the University of New England. Those trials confirmed meat quality and taste was not compromised by Bovaer’s use. Coles’ livestock sustainability and innovation manager, Maria Crawford, said the trial results gave the retailer the knowledge and confidence to expand the use of Bovaer as an emissions reduction initiative. “We were very encouraged by the results of our Bovaer trials and have used the findings to introduce the supplement to some

of our beef suppliers to help them lower emissions on farm and help to reduce our Scope 3 emissions,” she said. The use of Bovaer builds on Coles Finest certified carbon neutral beef range, which launched in April 2022 and is now available in all stores nationally. More recently the range expanded with the release of Coles Finest certified carbon neutral pork. These beef and pork products are certified carbon neutral from farm to shelf in accordance with the Australian government’s Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard.

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We were very encouraged by the results of our Bovaer trials and have used the ﬁndings to introduce the supplement to some of our beef suppliers to help them lower emissions on farm and help to reduce our Scope 3 emissions. Maria Crawford Coles

13 Galloway Editorial

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Galloway earns his stripe at world champs Hugh Stringleman

NEWS

Livestock

HERRYBANK Arapuni Pride has gone from Pukeatua in Southern Waikato to world champion without leaving home. The three-year-old bull has been named 2022 Galloway Champion of the World at the 2023 Farmfair International in Edmonton, Canada. Cherrybank rare breeds stud principal Beth McVerry attended

the huge cattle expo in Edmonton in early November to receive the honour and meet other cattle breeders from around the world. Arapuni Pride is a riggit Galloway, one of the original colour patterns in the historic cattle breed from Scotland, now coming back to prominence. Riggit cattle have solid colours on the sides – black, brown, red or dun – and a distinctive white stripe down the spine. That dominant marking shows up well in crossing over dairy cattle, along with good fertility,

HONOURED: In Edmonton, Cherrybank rare breeds stud principal Beth McVerry was presented with the world Galloway bull banner by Farmfair officials, including PJ Budler on the right.

easy calving and good beef characteristics. McVerry imported straws from the United Kingdom to concentrate on riggit Galloways here in New Zealand and has 16 years of breeding Galloways. “It took me a couple of tries and I was super excited when he hit the ground and I saw he was a riggit bull. “He has grown out well and has a lovely temperament, along with the right breed standards. “My riggit genetics with right Galloway conformation and attributes are now in demand worldwide, from North and South America, Australia and the UK.” The world championship is a ﬁrst for NZ cattle and for this still quite rare coat pattern, McVerry said. The worldwide competition with virtual judging is organised by PJ Budler’s Global Cattle Solutions, an international genetics platform, followed by presentations at the subsequent annual Edmonton Farmfair. In 2022, there were nearly 2000 entries in total from 16 breeds and 90 countries. Cattle qualify for Champion of the World by winning their country’s premier breed show in each of their respective regions; North America, South America, Europe, and Asia/Africa, which contains Australia and NZ. Arapuni Pride was ﬁrst chosen to represent NZ Galloways when he

CHAMPION: Cherrybank Arapuni Pride has become Champion of the World, without leaving home in Waikato.

It took me a couple of tries and I was super excited when he hit the ground and I saw he was a riggit bull. Beth McVerry Galloway breeder was a yearling bull in April 2022 by a UK Galloway Society judge. He was then virtually assessed by four independent cattle judges, not Galloway breeders, to go forward as the regional winner and by a further ﬁve independent judges for the world championship. Beth and Paul McVerry have a small Galloway cattle stud of 25 animals and are also breeders of American Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys.

Beth McVerry said Galloways are in demand as terminal sires over dairy cows, especially heifers, because of their quiet natures, easy calving and beef growth rates. The breed is also in demand for smaller farms because cattle are medium sized and good converters of feed into beef. Expressions of interest in Arapuni Pride semen and embryos are being taken now, McVerry said. This year is the Galloway Cattle Society of New Zealand’s 75th jubilee year and in 2025, NZ will host the World Galloway Congress, which is a biannual event for international breeders and enthusiasts of the Galloway breed. McVerry expects there will be considerable demand from delegates to see Cherrybank Arapuni Pride on his home turf with progeny.

Global agri subsidies off the charts MARKETS

Export

GLOBAL subsidies for agriculture have reached record levels as governments try to shield consumers and producers from high inﬂation and international crises. A new OECD report calculates that the organisation’s 54 members paid $1.4 trillion (US$851 billion) in agricultural subsidies each year from 2020-22, a 2.5-fold increase compared to two decades ago. The report calculated that just under half of the support was in measures that had the greatest potential for market distortions,

such as border tariffs and subsidy payments based on output. That support is concentrated in a few large economies, with China responsible for 36%, India 15%, the United States 14% and the European Union 13% of the total support provided. The report found that individual producers received $1 trillion a year over the 2020-22 period, up from $877bn prior to the covid-19 pandemic. “More than half of it, $556bn a year, was paid by consumers through border tariffs and other policies which push domestic prices above reference prices. “The remainder, $496bn, was paid by taxpayers through budgetary transfers such as

subsidies on the use of fertilisers and electricity as well as payments based on output or land area.” These support structures distort international markets, discourage changes to production systems and can be environmentally harmful to water quality, biodiversity and can increase resource use and greenhouse gas emissions. The OECD has produced a policy agenda for improving the resilience of agriculture and food systems while also providing adequate, affordable, safe and nutritious food. It seeks the phasing out of measures that hinder adjustments to production such as price support and other policies targeting speciﬁc commodities

SUPPORT: The OECD has produced a policy agenda for improving the resilience of agriculture and food systems.

that increase the rigidity of food systems. It wants governments to prioritise agriculture risk management and target investment to assist climatechange adaptation and resilience.

The Galloway Cattle Society of New Zealand will be hosting the world galloway conference in 2025.

nzgalloway.co.nz

It also wants governments to enhance knowledge and innovation to enable productivity growth and incentivise the supply of public goods, biodiversity conservation and other ecosystems.

Galloways are well known for their hardiness, great converters, easy calving with low weight calves and being naturally polled.

LK0117346©

Neal Wallace

14 Editorial

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Letters of the week Show us the science Peter Manson Wairoa

From the Editor

A start, not a solution Craig Page

Deputy editor

N THE face of it, the new rural after-hours telehealth service unveiled last week is a win for those living in our most isolated communities. But questions remain – for instance, whether the initiative is just a BandAid for the gaping wound that is New Zealand’s rural health service. Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora last week trumpeted the new service, which provides after-hours health care over the phone, saying it will improve access to primary health care for almost 900,000 New Zealanders. Rural communities can access the service by calling an 0800 number or by being referred from their healthcare provider. It provides after-hours clinical telehealth care (5pm – 8am) on weekdays, and 24 hours a day on weekends and public holidays. The service is staffed by kaiāwhina,

nurses, GPs and emergency medicine specialists. But discussing health complaints over the telephone is surely the poor cousin when it comes to health care. There is no substitute for meeting a health professional face to face and talking over, or presenting, any issues you might be experiencing. This year Farmers Weekly has highlighted the significant chasm between health services in rural parts of NZ and those in the main centres. The Te Pae Tata (Interim New Zealand Health Plan) released earlier this year identified health care in rural communities as a priority. Part of the problem is finding staff to work in rural areas. A report released by Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network showed rural medical practices had vacancies for about 150 doctors, with twothirds of those positions being unfilled for 12 months or more. Gill Naylor, the president of Rural Women NZ, described the workload facing rural general practitioners and midwives in particular as dire and said the two biggest issues facing rural health are workforce capacity and equity of access to services. She believed attracting medical professionals to rural areas and retaining them requires a package suited to the whole family, including schools, services and lifestyle. This newspaper questioned political

parties in the lead-up to October’s election about what they would do to improve rural health, including mental health services, if elected. All conceded those living in rural area were not getting the health service they deserved and, as political parties do in the lead-up to an election, they vowed to address it.

Discussing health complaints over the telephone is surely the poor cousin when it comes to health care. National said it would build a third medical school with a focus on rural health and primary care and ACT said it would aim to deliver on the Rural Health Strategy, which it proposed, to ensure greater access to health care. NZ First said it would attract new graduates to provincial areas with a bonding scheme that would see them have their student loans written off over five years’ service. It would also make taking up health workforce jobs in provincial areas a targeted priority for immigration settings. Once the new government has formed and the dust has settled, National, ACT and NZ First need to commit to addressing rural health. The teleservice is a start, but more work is needed to ensure rural people get the health service they deserve, and pay for.

NORTHLAND Regional Council, in “Farmers see red over stock exclusion plan” (November 13), can hardly be surprised that the immediate response is that it will “send us farmers to the wall”. Straight away we can predict years spent at the Environment Court rather than on a smooth, well-planned and effective process that will bring willing parties to the table and result in good outcomes on the land. The proposal to require a resource consent to farm hill country smacks of obsolete approaches to resource management that were blindly used over 30 years ago – when, even then, regional council practitioners with their feet on the ground knew there was a better way. Some early examples of landowner led resource planning were tolerated by councils and fortunately are now more common. I challenge Northland Regional Council to show ratepayers the science that proves the worth of the proposed rules. NRC “thinks” there should be wider setbacks for stock and enhanced riparian vegetation to achieve the improvements needed in freshwater health. It “thinks” that there is a case for excluding stock from the most erodible land to limit erosion and sediment going into waterways. Though it sounds like a grand plan, it makes no sense without science to back this assertion. Thinking is great but not good enough to write a regional plan with such high costs to landowners and unproven outcomes. To suggest that costs can be offset by claiming carbon credits is aspirational at a farm scale, particularly with recent proposed cost increases for Emissions Trading Scheme participants. There is a lack of science so desperately needed to manage our land and waterways for better environmental outcomes, so we continue to throw mud at the wall in the form of fencing and tree planting, which looks good and feels good and of course we hope will make a difference one day. The NRC approach is no different, saying as it does: “The more we do, the greater the environmental benefits.” Yes, but not good enough without science and prioritisation. However, there is plenty of social science available to prove that a community-based approach will bring enduring results for many more reasons than there is room to discuss here. In the same issue of Farmers Weekly there is an update from the Western Bay of Plenty Wai Kōkopu catchment group, “Bay catchment group links hills to the sea” and “Pongakawa farmers from cows for trees”, which illustrates the power of communities. I am reminded of a quote claimed to have been made by Albert Einstein, and so well applied to resource management: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

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Opinion

15 In My view FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

In my view ...

Plant BBQ shows way to fire-smart farming Tim Curran, Md Azharul Alam, Tanmayi Pagadala and Thomas Maxwell Lincoln University

ESTRUCTIVE wildfires continue to threaten lives, property and the environment throughout the world. Around 10% of all fires globally occur on agricultural land, causing damage to crops, infrastructure and nearby native vegetation. But what if the properties of the plants grown on agricultural land could be harnessed to help mitigate fires? Our research tested this idea and found that many common crops and pastures are low in flammability and could be used to redesign agricultural landscapes to help suppress wildfires. Globally, 38% of the land surface is used for cropping or grazing. Agricultural produce is a key commodity of many countries. Agricultural fields are a major source of wildfire, either through the escape of fires lit deliberately for agricultural purposes (stubble burning) or through accidents (ignited from machinery use). There is a clear need to better mitigate fires in agricultural landscapes. Agricultural landscapes are also very important for native biodiversity. Diversification of agricultural systems could not only help mitigate wildfires, but also aid food production

and promote biodiversity conservation. However, to do this, we first need to understand the flammability of different crop species. Crop and pasture species are likely to vary widely in their flammability. For instance, in Brazil, pineapple crops were much better at stopping fires than peanuts or grazing legumes. In Canada, a pasture mix of yarrow, white clover and Rocky Mountain fescue experienced less intense and slower-moving fires than those that burned through nearby grasslands. A modelling study has even suggested that planting “edible fire buffers” of bananas might be useful to mitigate fires in California. While these mostly field-based studies have been very useful, we still needed to compare the flammability of a wide range of crop and pasture species to identify which ones could be planted to help mitigate fire hazards. To do this, we turned to our “plant BBQ” method. Our plant BBQ, based on an Argentinian design, measures the flammability of shoots and whole plants up to 70cm in length. Results from this technique were correlated with the observations made by fire managers when attending fires. This is an approach used widely around the world, including in New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, South Africa,

the United States and Brazil. For our study, we identified 47 different plant species or varieties that commonly occur on farms in the Canterbury region. These included many crop and pasture species grown in temperate regions around the world, such as cereal crops (wheat, oats, barley, popcorn), forage crops (beet, kale, sweetcorn, rapeseed), fruit crops (apples, olives, pears, blueberries, raspberries), grazing herbs (chicory, plantain), various pasture grasses (cocksfoot, ryegrass) and pasture legumes (clovers, lucerne), vegetables (bell pepper, snow peas, potato, onion, squash) and several wine grape varieties. So, what did we find? First, many species found on farms are low in flammability. Indeed, 24 (51%) of the varieties

Unexpectedly, fruit crops, such as pears and two apple varieties, had the highest flammability. we tested did not ignite at all. These included many vegetable crops, pasture species (lucerne, clovers, some grasses) and wine grapes. Second, there were also species with comparatively high flammability. As expected, cereal crops such as wheat and oats, which brown off late in their life cycle and retain a lot of dead material, were relatively highly flammable.

DESTRUCTION: Around 10% of all fires globally occur on agricultural land, causing damage to crops, infrastructure and nearby native vegetation. Unexpectedly, fruit crops, such as pears and two apple varieties, had the highest flammability. Raspberries had similar flammability to wheat and oats. These results show there is large variation in the flammability of species found on farms. This suggests that planting fireretardant crop and pasture species could be a useful tool to strategically redesign agricultural landscapes to help mitigate wildfires in an increasingly fireprone world. How might we use these findings to mitigate wildfires in agricultural landscapes? First, we should recognise some caveats to our work. While our plant BBQ method likely provides good estimates of whole-plant flammability, many other variables will determine fire behaviour in the field. These include weather and topography. Hence, these findings should be tested using experimental burns of crops in paddocks. Modelling could help here, too. It is also

An industry that’s living in the 1950s David Scobie

Lincoln University

N THE 1950s, agriculture in New Zealand was interesting. A farmer might have towed a three-furrow plough behind a 35 horsepower “Fergy” tractor, possibly baled hay into small and what are now called “idiot bales” using a New Holland hay baler. If they were in cropping country, they more than likely bagged their grain into hand-sewn bags for lugging around. Milk was more than likely extracted in a herringbone shed, separated on the farm and carted in cream cans to the local factory and made into butter for export. Back then, the sheep stock unit of a 55kg ewe rearing a lamb was a benchmark. Allegedly wool was worth a pound per pound. It was harvested using a shearing handpiece designed in 1929 and using a shearing method developed and popularised by Godfrey and Ivan Bowen. The wool was pressed into bales and a cap was sewn into the pack.

In the 2020s you might see a tractor with an eight-furrow reversible plough behind a ridiculously powered John Deere tractor. Hay is stuffed into bales bigger than a 35 horsepower Fergy and grain is handled in bulk. Milk is harvested on a rotary platform, then it roars around the country in massive shiny tankers

and gets dried into powder that could be blown into a single plastic bag inside a 40-foot container for export. There are robots milking cows in New Zealand today. Hoggets easily reach 55kg and rear a lamb and the stock unit is way out of date. Each year, and sometimes twice a year, the sheep get shorn using

DYED IN THE WOOL: Not a lot has changed in the woolshed in the past seven or so decades, with little to no investment in research, development or education in wool, David Scobie says.

a handpiece designed in 1929, using the method developed by the Bowen brothers in the 1950s. There are between 600 and 800 injuries a year to shearers, but among that number are farmers and lifestyle block owners who think they know how to handle a handpiece and it costs the industry around $4 million annually. True, we now have slipping clutches in the down tube and overhead gear that could shut down in milliseconds for safety. Then the wool gets pressed into bales the same size as they were in 1950. We probably have a hydraulic press and oh – those revolutionary capless packs. The most novel thing in my shed is a rechargeable leaf blower to clean the boards between sheep. I was born into farming wool, I completed a PhD on wool, I spent 30 years researching it. My team found a way to breed a sheep that was easier and faster to shear with less cut teats and less dags and flystrike. The majority of sheep farmers voted for no wool levy in 2009 and

important to repeat our testing in different locations, with different agricultural practices and across seasons to determine how these factors affect flammability. With this knowledge on comparative plant flammability, we can start to redesign agricultural landscapes. Green firebreaks comprised of low-flammability native species could be planted around the farm perimeter and around particularly important assets such as houses. Crops with higher flammability could be embedded among other paddocks planted with lowflammability crops. Given the expanding use of the plant BBQ technique globally, we expect that such research can readily be conducted elsewhere, including in the tropics and other regions at risk of wildfires. – This article has previously been published on The Conversation.

Got a view on some aspect of farming you would like to get across? We offer readers the chance to have their say. Contact us and have yours. farmers.weekly@agrihq.co.nz Phone 06 323 1519 reinforced that in 2014. Subsequently, there has been little to no investment in research, development or education in wool on farm and what was invested off farm has been spent on various consultants and advisors, and the pocket linings of a cabal of somewhere between the selfinterested and the well-meaning. With no wool levy I could never raise interest in bulk handling for wool in either the research institution I worked for nor in the industry that was cast and woven in the 1950s. Now I lecture to students at Lincoln University and advise them to breed sheep without wool because an industry that does not invest in itself is doomed. Without novel harvesting and handling methods, wool is headed the way of the cart horse, the 35 horsepower Fergy, the cream can and the idiot-size hay bales.

16 Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Opinion

The crude irony of UAE hosting COP 28 Alternative view

Alan Emerson

Semi-retired Wairarapa farmer and businessman: dath.emerson@gmail.com

OP 28 is almost upon us. There are 70,000 delegates from almost 200 countries meeting in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to sort out the world climate crisis. Putting that number in perspective, there are more people attending COP 28 than the entire population of Napier and almost the population of Palmerston North. Last year at COP 27 there were just 45,000 attendees. We can read that COP 28 “will be the most consequential UN climate talks yet”. The cynic in me suggests that the chance of 70,000 people from 200 countries achieving anything

worthwhile is precisely zip. This year the emphasis is on food, agriculture and water. We’ll even have our own pavilion and theme day. We read that “big changes in food and agricultural practices would switch the sector from a primary cause of the climate crisis to major solutions”. I’m not holding my breath. Mind you, the UAE is taking itself incredibly seriously on the food front, with two-thirds of the food served being plant based. Practically, I could survive on a diet of a third meat and dairy but it’s not remotely relevant when it comes to feeding the world or global warming. It seems iniquitous to me that in a major oil-producing and exporting country we’re worried about the GHG component of food. Realistically, the UAE has the most to lose from ambitious climate action. It is the world’s eighth largest global oil producer. It is also among the highest per capita GHG emitters in the world. Surprisingly, in my view, the president of COP 28, Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, is also chief executive of ADNOC, Abu Dhabi’s government-owned oil and gas company. Much is being made at the conference about reducing coal use that is, in fact, increasing. Last year we burned 8 billion tonnes of it internationally. One tonne of

coal produces 2.86 tonnes of CO2, meaning 22 billion tonnes of CO2 were produced. That makes NZ’s GHG emissions pale into insignificance and the contribution of our dairy herd to global warming irrelevant. An interesting perspective of the COP talkfest is its focus on carbon mitigation, a position favoured by the UAE, among others. The issue is that currently the technology supporting mitigation is capturing just 0.1% of global emissions. In addition, the technology has yet to be proven to work at scale. My view is that carbon mitigation is not a remotely credible option.

Previous COP conferences have identified 42 measures to reduce GHG emissions. Only one, the sale of electric cars, has reached its target. I’d far sooner see the substitution of coal by wind and solar, which can be achieved relatively easily and with current technology. The problem is that although solar and wind generation has grown 14% a year, it needs to reach 24%. I believe that substituting the burning of coal by concentrating on wind and solar is a good way

FAR PAVILIONS: The UAE will host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) from November 30 to December 12 at Expo City Dubai. forward. It is far more palatable than restricting food production or trying to convince us of the evils of eating meat and dairy. When US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at APEC recently they agreed to accelerate the substitution for coal, oil and gas generation. That is a positive move. It just needs to be carried through. China is the world’s biggest user of coal, with the US in third place. For them to cut down on coal use is significant. The reality is that both China and the US are well behind on their GHG reduction targets. Companies are also slowing down their rates of emissions reduction. Previous COP conferences have identified 42 measures to reduce GHG emissions. Only one, the sale

of electric cars, has reached its target. Further, it is estimated that US$2.3 trillion ($3.8 trillion) will be needed each year to support clean energy transition. With the major costs of the RussiaUkraine conflict plus that in the Middle East, I believe that target is impossible. The key issue for me is that we need to address the crisis that is climate change if for no other reason than to mitigate the risk of droughts, floods, intense heat and fires. That can be achieved by phasing out coal and increasing wind and solar power generation. It won’t be achieved by 70,000 people from 200 countries attending a talkfest in a major oilproducing state.

Art and science in timeless balance Eating the elephant

David Eade

David Eade is a Whanganui sheep and beef farmer with a finance background, specialising in investments within the primary sector. eating.the.elephant.nz@gmail.com In this series, the lads ask if farming is more science or art.

OR many years I rowed competitively. In rowing, naturally talented people use long limbs and height to be effective. Anyone on the shorter side, like me, must employ different tactics. We graft to get results. The “10,000 hours of practice” rule, made famous by Malcolm

Gladwell, holds true for the grafter. Usually though, the naturally talented still lope past you, defying the rule and making things look effortless. The disciplined nature of the sporting world used to sometimes wear thin with me. Pre-race routines, set trainings, specific nutrition. But today, with the races long over, I appreciate that a disciplined process brings with it a strange love for the craft. It creates space for effective decision making and allows for joy to be found in the most boring of tasks. In farming, much like sport, one often encounters the debate of natural talent versus grafting. People at the top of their game defy time. Michael Jordan’s iconic dunk, suspended in mid-air, mirrors the so called “10-day gap” that separates top-tier farmers from their average counterparts. But what in the moment looks easy has come from a combination of natural ability and graft. Experienced experts blend instinct with fundamental knowledge to achieve mastery as the technical becomes artistic. Case in point is our neighbouring farmer and his uncanny understanding of the seasons. His key decisions hinge on the slightest variations in weather patterns and all decisions flow

from his innate knowledge base. His connection with the land is akin to an artist’s intimate relationship with their canvas. To me, he is the embodiment of the gifted farmer, whose natural talent sets him apart. Yet, this ability has come through seasons of repetition. Feedback loops are almost instantaneous in sport, but take at least a season in farming. A rower can take thousands of strokes per day to consistently hone their

craft. Michael Jordan missed more than 9000 shots in his career, including 26 match-winning shots. This constant repetition creates the muscle memory needed to perform under pressure. Contrast this with feedback loops in farming. It will be 12 months from now until I get to practise my next attempt at sowing the perfect summer crop or practise our weaning strategy. If lucky, I might get 30 springs to hone my craft. Thirty years is a long time,

AIR TRAVEL: Michael Jordan missed more than 9000 shots in his career. This constant repetition creates the muscle memory needed to perform under pressure.

but 30 repetitions are very short, especially for a millennial. A grafter’s journey is one of transformation, turning a start in the primary sector into a proud legacy. One cannot rely solely on grit and determination, the normal traits shown by a grafter in the sporting world, to bridge the gap between potential and mastery in farming. A scientific approach is required to fully grasp the complexities of a business model reliant on the natural world. Not scientific in the true sense of the word, but a curiosity to experiment and apply all learnings that come from it. Agriculture is an ever-evolving landscape. Adaptability is key, and farms that strike a balance between artistry and science thrive in the face of change. They are not bound by tradition alone, nor do they blindly follow the latest trends or technical advice from a salesperson. Instead, they carve a path that embraces the wisdom of the past while incorporating the advances of the present. In the end, it is the farmers who navigate this dance between art and science that leave a lasting legacy. Their stories are always about pushing the boundaries of their chosen field. It is in their footsteps that future generations of farmers will tread.

Opinion

17 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Big carbon farming decisions lie ahead The braided trail

NEW TRACK: While the politics plays out, new forest plantings are grinding to a halt, Keith Woodford says.

Keith Woodford

MD at AgriFood Systems kbwoodford@gmail.com

OR the past 12 months I have been sitting on the sidelines, watching and listening to ongoing debates, but too distracted by my own battle with pancreatic cancer to play an active part. That battle goes on, but right now I have found the energy to step up again. There are lots of issues I would like to discuss, but I have decided to start with carbon farming, where big decisions are needed right now. Although this is my first post for a year, I did step out during that year on two occasions with oral presentations about carbon farming, one to Hurunui Landcare Group back in June while on a short break from chemo, and again in late August to the Carbon Forestry Conference in Rotorua. In both presentations I said that carbon farming regulations were a mess, and we needed to do better. The starting point is to acknowledge why carbon farming will be increasingly important in New Zealand. The key reason is that NZ has agreed at the United Nations as part of the Paris Agreement that we will, by 2050, reach zero net emissions of long-lived greenhouse gases (GHG). Net emissions of zero for long-lived gases means that any remaining emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide must be balanced by carbon sequestration. Given the current lack of alternative sequestration mechanisms, that has to mean lots of forestry. In 2021, NZ further committed at COP26 in Glasgow, as part of its ongoing Paris commitments, to a 50% reduction in its net long-term emissions by 2030 relative to its gross emissions in 2005. But that figure is a public-relations figure. It compares a net 2030 figure after deducting forestry offsets to a gross 2005 figure that was prior to forestry offsets. This flawed practice of comparing current and future net emissions to historical gross emissions has been perpetrated by NZ governments of both the left and right since at least 2015. When I started writing this I planned to explain more about our targets. But I decided that it is impossible to describe the various

targets and associated numbers in simple terms. Here are some reasons. There are domestic targets and there are international commitments known as NDCs. There is no simple alignment between these. There are targets relating to specific years – such as the 2030 targets – and there are targets that relate to aggregate time periods – for example 2021-2025 and 2026-2030. Some numbers are net of forestry sequestration and some are before deduction of forestry sequestration. Some of the targets include purchase of units from overseas and others don’t include any allowance for overseas purchases. Some of the targets include only the long-lived GHGs, while others include the long-lived gases plus the short-lived methane. The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has called for more transparency of communication. In the case of forestry that includes specifics of how much heavylifting is likely to be needed over each five-year period. The CCC has also said that gross emission targets of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide need to be explicit, not just net figures after inclusion of forestry sequestration. Until now, NZ’s climate change policies have been based on the notion that it will be possible to purchase NZU-equivalent carbon units from overseas countries that have surplus units to sell. The CCC has expressed concerns as to the availability of such units. I am also aware from a reliable source that the Labour Government at one of its last pre-election cabinet meetings changed its policy by determining that buying overseas units should and would be a last resort. I was part of a group to whom this was communicated, but the overall meeting was implicitly under Chatham House rules, which means I can communicate the information but not the source. To the best of my knowledge, that decision of the cabinet was

not reported in any media. In essence the cabinet decision was an acknowledgment about the unlikely availability of overseas units that have integrity. The consequence of that acknowledgment is that even more heavy lifting from forestry will be needed. Of course, the new government will make its own decisions on these matters. However, there are some matters that have to be based on hard realities. The new ministers of forestry and climate change could each find themselves holding a poisoned chalice. Under the Paris Agreement, forestry-sequestration credits can only be earned either from new forests or alternatively from new management strategies that increase growth in older forests.

The regulations, which apply to both plantation and permanent forests, make consenting processes for forest establishment considerably more complex. In line with these requirements, and in the case of radiata-pine production forests, Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) credits can only be earned for the first 16 years of a first-rotation forest. Subsequent to harvest, typically at 25-32 years, the forest must be replanted but no further credits can be earned. A second-rotation forest cannot earn credits even if the first rotation was not registered in the ETS. In contrast, if a first-rotation radiata pine forest is registered in the Permanent Forest Scheme, then it can earn credits for as long as the forest continues to grow. The specifics depend on the region of NZ, but at 50 years they range from about 1000 NZUs in Canterbury to more than 1300 NZUs in much of the North Island. This is between three and five times the carbon that can be earned for pine production forests that are harvested at the normal

time under the averaging time. Additional growth occurs beyond 50 years for permanent pine forests, but accurate figures have yet to be determined. In its most recent advice (April 2023), the CCC presented the need in what it calls its “demonstration path” for 500,000ha of new exotic forest between 2021 and 2035, but it has not specified how much of this should be production forest and how much should be permanent forest. That distinction makes a big difference. Under the new accounting systems, radiata pine production forests planted before 2034 will have stopped contributing to our Paris commitments by 2050. Also, these estimates still include an assumption that NZ will be purchasing additional units overseas, which now seems much less likely. As I write this post in midNovember, the value of a NZU, being 1 tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent, is bouncing around at about $70. A year ago, it was around $80, but then it dropped precipitously when the government went against advice from the CCC for a change in auction settings. The government then caused further distress among those interested in forestry when it suggested that the forest sequestration price for NZUs could be less than the emissions price. At that point the dollar price declined to the mid-$30s. Not only would that put a brake on converting farms to forests, it would also provide a very nice income to the government as the middleperson in the business. The key reason that the price of a carbon unit increased from those mid-$30s in the middle of the year to the current price of around $70 was that Lawyers for Climate Action (LCANZI) took Minister of Climate Change James Shaw to court, seeking a judicial review for cabinet pricing-decisions that were inconsistent with the decisions processes required by Climate Change Act Amendments.

Somewhat ironically, Shaw as the plaintiff was in agreement with LCANZI that the cabinet, as the operative arm of the government, had messed things up by operating outside the bounds of the relevant Act. That led to an easy decision by the judge, who decided that the government must reconsider its previous pricing decisions. The government then responded by aligning the rules for ETS auctions with the CCC’s advice. However, carbon farming plans are still held back by concern that the sequestration price will be set lower than the emission price. The Ministry for Environment has been beavering on how such a scheme might work. The new government will need to make clear decisions on this matter if new forests are to be planted. Quite simply, with export log prices in a slump, plus uncertainties about carbon pricing, the forest industry itself is currently in a big slump. On November 3 a further raft of regulations came into force – the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF). These regulations, which apply to both plantation and permanent forests, and for any forest of more than 1ha, make consenting processes for forest establishment plus subsequent management considerably more complex. Responsibility for implementing these regulations lies with regional councils, who currently lack the staff to implement these rules. Accordingly, anyone who has not yet gained necessary approvals for 2024 plantings under the rules has almost certainly left it too late, as regional councils have now been given eight months to deal with applications under these new rules. The bottom line is that new forest plantings are currently grinding to a halt. There are big issues ahead that have to be faced. I hope the new ministers of forestry, agriculture and climate change can quickly get on top of the issues. I reckon they are going to be very busy.

18 Tech

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Technology

A tool that sees a forest for its trees AI comes to forest mapping, providing a ‘tree-counting’ tool that uses the click of a button in place of the laborious task of drawing polygons.

NEW interactive tool providing the forestry industry with powerful inventory information to make management, harvesting and wood processing decisions easier has been unveiled by Scion in collaboration with Indufor Asia Pacific. Scientists from the Crown Research Institute outlined Forest Insights’ capabilities and applications in Rotorua, at ForestTECH 2023. The interactive Forest Insights tool provides forest owners, managers and wood processors with an overview of the changing availability and growth of planted radiata pine over time. The prototype is currently focused on modelling of east coast pine forests, but Scion has plans to provide the same data and for a wider range of trees for other regions, with Bay of Plenty the next cab off the rank. Scion portfolio leader for new value from digital forests and the wood sector, Grant Evans, says the prototype will support forestry and wood processing companies to make more informed management decisions. “Long term, it will help anyone with trees planted know their precise location and ultimately, what they can do with the trees in the future.” Forest Insights has been built using AI technologies as well as LiDAR, to detect and identify stands of trees to quantify their

volume and maturity over time. It outlines the boundaries for each stand of trees and provides essential details, such as age class, area in production, and the number of stems per hectare. Forest Insights also tracks the history of planting and harvesting, which provides insights into changing inventory levels. Automatically detecting commercial radiata pine forests using trained Deep Learning Convolutional Neural Networks by their boundaries is a gamechanger for forestry companies. What used to be a laborious task of drawing polygons is now replaced with the click of a button.

Individuals who own smaller woodlots or stands can use the tool to see where other small lots in their region are maturing at a similar time and potentially co-operate to negotiate better pricing from mills. Grant Evans Scion Evans says Forest Insights also levels the playing field for smaller forest owners. “These individuals, who own smaller woodlots or stands, can use the tool to see where other small lots in their region are maturing at a similar time and

potentially co-operate to negotiate better pricing from mills.” Scion is already working with the University of Canterbury to identify tree species beyond radiata pine, aligning with the government’s goal of having 20% non-radiata pine forests by 2030. Currently, such measurements rely on people voluntarily reporting their data, making it difficult to track progress. Forest Insights intends to change that by using satellite imagery and LiDAR data from Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand to detect different tree species accurately and utilise Indufor’s dashboarding expertise. Beyond tree species identification, the prototype can automatically track forest activities. This functionality not only helps in tracking inventory but it is hoped, with further training, that it will provide a means to assess forest damage following natural disasters. “For the east coast, it could also be used as a tool to reveal where planted forests are being abandoned or are no longer being harvested due to concerns relating to planting on erosion-prone land,” Evans says. “For forestry and wood processing companies, this data offers them a holistic view of their assets and a basis for wellinformed decisions.” The granularity of the information available from Forest

PLANNING: Scion’s Grant Evans says the prototype will support forestry and wood processing companies to make more informed management decisions. Insights offers huge benefits to industry and investors alike, says Dr Pete Watt from Indufor’s Resource Monitoring Team. “Such information provides the cornerstone for developing wood availability forecasts that underpin investment decisions and support infrastructure planning and policy settings.” The development of Forest Insights started in 2022 and is a collaborative effort. Scion’s data scientists have supplied all the models and data, working with Indufor Asia Pacific Ltd to create the online tool and dashboard interactivity.

Claire Stewart, programme manager for the FGR-led Precision Silviculture Programme, says inventory management tools are critical to being able to see our national forest scape more holistically and to support foresters manage at a finer grain level of detail. “There are simple tasks that machine learning models can assist us with like boundary mapping, cut over mapping and post-plant survival assessment,” she says. “By having a platform that pools data to create robust models we can move a lot quicker.”

Sampling in the vineyard where the math of grapes is stored Staff reporter

TECHNOLOGY

Viticulture

BLENDING viticulture with robotics, 3D imaging, and data analytics could assist with the potentially costly exercise of forecasting grape yield. University of Canterbury researchers have been awarded $6.1 million over five years by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Endeavour Fund to investigate a new approach to yield prediction. The wine industry is one of New Zealand’s most important and valuable horticulture sectors, adding up to $2.4 billion in exports this year. However, forecasting grape yield is a struggle and inaccurate techniques can be costly, affecting profits. “We can’t automate what we can’t see in agriculture because every plant is different, but this research could change that,” University of Canterbury Computer Science and Software Engineering academic Professor Richard Green said.

For his research project, Predicting the Unseen: A new method for accurate yield estimation in viticulture/ horticulture, a team will develop a new approach by blending a 3D-imaging-based detection system with a physiological growth prediction model. Green said it is a complex, interlinked, and challenging measurement and data problem – and this is the first time it has been approached this way.

“We’re encouraged by the results of our preliminary research. It’s already clear that there is huge potential with this new approach, and I believe this funding will help us go further than people may think,” he said. “Until now we’ve only been able to scan 3D images of vines that have no leaves, so we know where to prune. “Now, with this funding, we can scan through the year, which means you can perfectly align it

to see how much it’s grown and changed. “This will help us forecast yield, and we’ll gain access to data that will help us understand the crop on a whole new level.” Working with the right people is important, Green said. The research team includes crossdisciplinary, multi-institutional members, including mātauranga Māori, robotics, data analytics and viticulture experts covering all technical aspects of the research to A GOOD YEAR: University of Canterbury Computer Science and Software Engineering academic Professor Richard Green, research engineer Dr Josh McCulloch and research assistant Matt Lansley are ‘predicting the unseen’ with a new method for accurate yield estimation in viticulture/ horticulture.

ensure the technology accurately serves the needs of the industry. Green said the project may go further than forecasting grape yield, and New Zealand has the capability to become a world leader in using these systems for multiple benefits. “Not only will we be able to predict it, we’ll increase average yield, and improve operational and financial planning for wineries and vineyards. “We’ll also accelerate vineyard automation to help to mitigate labour shortages and costs, and we will better prepare our vineyards for climate change.” If all goes well solving this expensive problem for the viticulture sector, the flow-on effect may create new revenue and export opportunities. Next, the research team will aim to take on other horticulture challenges. “I see true potential that as we solve these issues, this project will serve as a template for future research and become a cornerstone for more extensively automating our future agriculture high-tech sector,” Green said.

People

19 People FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Handy Landys recognised for helping out Staff reporter

PEOPLE

Community

HEN farmers have needed a bit of help after natural disasters hit, the Handy Landys have been there. The group earned the new Voluntary Contribution of the Year accolade at the Lincoln University Blues and Golds Awards for travelling to Hawke’s Bay in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle to help farmers. However, they are not a particularly social student club.

Though it is a side of the club that is growing, it’s not their reason for being. They assemble only when they see an opportunity to help, united by their desire to assist the rural communities many of them come from. Current club chair Emily Irwin and former chair Hamish Goatley said they were an on-call crew available at short notice to help. “When there are no issues unfolding in the community our members stay involved in other clubs and the Lincoln University community,” Irwin said.

HELPING HAND: Handy Landys members travelled to Hawke’s Bay in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle to help farmers.

“However, it is great to see the developing social environment, as members stay in touch outside of club events and encourage others to become involved.” They have become natural disaster specialists, lending a hand after earthquakes and floods, raising funds through picking apples, or putting gumboots on the ground to help repair fences and clear land. Irwin said there are 15 active members, but many other people support the club when events are on. “For example, 27 people participated in the apple-picking fundraiser at the Waipopo Apple Orchard.” She said club members are from Northland to Southland “and everywhere inbetween” and study a variety of subjects ranging from agricultural science to agribusiness, valuation and commerce. “People join Handy Landys to make a positive difference in rural communities. Many of the club members come from rural communities and have witnessed the damage of natural disasters,” Goatley said. “Many of us intend to be a part of these rural communities upon graduation and realise that assisting the rural community is beneficial for the current and future health of the sector.” He said many members recognise that they may also find themselves

HONOURED: Members of the Handy Landys with their voluntary contribution awards presented at the Lincoln University Blues and Golds Awards.

People join Handy Landys to make a positive difference in rural communities. Emily Irwin Handy Landy chair in a situation where assistance is needed and are “paying it forward”. “The camaraderie that occurs on trips and the learnings and connections made between

Orchardist plucks Young Hort title Staff reporter

PEOPLE

Horticulture

ELSON orchardist Meryn Whitehead has won the coveted title of New Zealand Young Horticulturist of the Year. Whitehead was up against six other competitors – representing various horticultural sectors – during the two-day final held in Karaka. The 29-year-old is a team coordinator at Vailima Orchard, a fourth-generation, family-owned business with more than 200ha of apple orchards stretching over the Tasman District’s Waimea plains. Speaking after being announced the Kaiahuone rangatahi o te tau competition winner, Whitehead said she felt a sense of disbelief. “The other competitors knew their stuff and were an intimidating bunch to go up against. Having said that, it never felt like a competition; we were more like a support group for each other. It was a lovely group to be with and I felt privileged and lucky to be part of that,” she said. Held in November each year, the Young Horticulturist Competition brings together the best young

talent in horticulture. Finalists are tested on their horticultural practical skills, leadership ability, speechcraft, business acumen and industry knowledge. Whitehead (from the fruit and vegetable sector) was up against winegrowers, those in amenity horticulture, plant producers, landscapers, arborists and florist/ flower growers. For Whitehead, who has been at Vailima Orchard for three years, becoming an orchardist was never a clear-cut career decision. She’d always figured she wanted to work outdoors, but it took a trip across the world to New Zealand to clarify what that would look like.

I want to pass on my passion for an industry I have stumbled into and want young people to see there are opportunities in this industry for anyone. Meryn Whitehead Young Horticulturist of the Year “After leaving university in Wales I decided to come travelling before beginning a career. I reached New Zealand and did some seasonal

TROPHY: Young Horticulturist of the Year Meryn Whitehead hails from Wales. work on a small-scale stone fruit orchard in Hastings and enjoyed it so much I went back the next summer. “In my travels around New Zealand, between these two seasons, I met a Kiwi and decided to give NZ a bit more of my time than originally planned. That was eight years ago,” said Whitehead, who describes herself as “a bit of a hybrid”, having been born in England, spent most of her life in Wales, and is now calling NZ home. Back in the United Kingdom, Whitehead’s very much horticulture-focused family is celebrating her success. Her younger sister recently acquired

an apprenticeship at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, and her father manages a National Trust estate. While Whitehead very much stumbled into orchard work, she’s found it ticks a lot of her desired career boxes. “I’ve always been active and love that this job lets me get out and about with the practical side of things, but also love the office work I do, whether that’s organising teams, or coming up with ways to make work more efficient, and easier for our staff.” She enjoys the variety and especially relishes the opportunity to encourage newer or younger staff members to push themselves,

students and with farmers is another huge drawcard,” Irwin said. “If the job is outside our abilities, we will pass the need on to industry bodies. “We are striving to expand our connections within the industry to increase the population of people we can help.” They are starting to organise events for the beginning of 2024, particularly Clubs and Markets Day, when new students will have the opportunity to join the team, as well as looking into future fundraising opportunities. and to find the area of the business they really enjoy. Now, as Young Horticulturist of the Year, she’s even more committed to this. “I know I want to keep encouraging other people to take these chances and opportunities like this competition as it really pays off. And I want to pass on my passion for an industry I have stumbled into and want young people to see there are opportunities in this industry for anyone,” she said. Two other women joined Whitehead on the podium at the award dinner. Auckland’s Renee Johnson, representing the amenity horticulture (recreation association) sector, finished in second place, and in third place was Lydia O’Dowd of Christchurch, representing the plant producer sector. Young Horticulturist Competition chair Hamish Gates said the competition, now in its 18th year, continues to seed the future of horticulture. “We feel very privileged to be able to continue fostering the future leaders of this wonderful industry. Over the past few years we have seen rapidly growing support from our sectors, helpers and sponsors alike. “As a result, we are getting finalists who are more prepared, more impressive, and more competitive showing off their talent. Horticulture’s future is in highly skilled and capable hands,” he said.

20 AgriStars

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

AgriStars

GHOST RIDERS: Without the noise and mass of conventional vehicles, the electric bikes let the farmers ‘glide through the herd like a ghost’, says Peter Morgan (right).

Purpose-led dairy saddles up tech Pete Morgan, who farms 265 hectares in the Waikato with his wife Ann, is one of a new generation of farmers passionate about spearheading a proactive and tech-friendly approach to the changing agricultural landscape. On the dairy farm of this AgriStar, nominated by UBCO, GPS tracking, climate-modelling and data analysis are complemented by ‘field tech’ such as virtual fencing systems and electric utility bikes, new technologies that allowed the farm to streamline its operations.

PETE MORGAN Dairy Farmer

What gets you out of bed in the morning? Mostly habit — a minute before my 5am alarm. Then a few yoga stretches, a cuppa, the news, and I’m out with the dog for milking. “A sense of purpose” would be the best way to describe it.

What does an average work day look like for you? With the great team I have now, I can do half the milking in the morning to overlap with them, and plan the day. This lets me get some tractor spraying, cropping groundwork or maintenance done before breakfast. I often also have a Zoom meeting or management class to teach in the mornings, and then admin and visits from other farmers or industry people in the afternoon. But the best part is a perfect coffee with Ann, my partner in life and farming, at 11am. You are a big proponent of new technology. How does it support your work? We utilise a range of devices where data can converge and give us actionable insights — it’s perfect for dairying, because it’s a

strong industry, has the intensity to benefit from optimisation, and offers immediate productivity and economic feedback. We use UBCO electric utility bikes because they’re simple, fast, and lower our energy and carbon footprint. They fit with the Halter virtual fencing system, because they’re almost silent and have less impact on the cows. This has transformed the way we think of our operation by making complex combinations of actions far easier. Some farmers might be hesitant to switch to an electric farm bike. How have you found the transition to UBCO? Actually, changing from a standard combustion-engine bike — which is noisy, heavy, has a scorching-hot exhaust pipe, and feels like you’re

We have always adapted to change in farming. We need to apply the same energy to respond to the reality of climate change and the world we now live in. fighting it the whole time — has been amazing. The UBCO’s centre of gravity is very low and it only weighs 60kg, so most of us on the farm can easily lift it. That’s compared to 100kg or more for conventional two-wheelers, or 300kg for a four-wheeled vehicle. Everything that we do has been pared back in terms of physical effort, but stepped up in terms of our involvement with the animals, and our ability to observe and experience what’s really going on.

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What do you see for the future of your industry? We have always adapted to change in farming. We need to apply the same energy to respond to the reality of climate change and the world we now live in. This will require us to be resilient while reducing our impact on emissions, water, and biodiversity. True sustainability for farmers will need to take into account our social licence, consumer demands, regulatory requirements and a strong and stable economic return. “It lets you glide through the herd like a ghost”: For deeper insight into how Pete Morgan is decarbonising his dairy herd, visit https://ubco. co.nz/blogs/silentjourney/ decarbonising-dairy

FEDERATED 21 Fed Farmers

FARMERS Vol 1 No 12, November 27, 2023

fedfarm.org.nz

Farmers need better response from LIC

airy farmers affected by a bad batch of semen deserve far more than just a refund, Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says. At the end of October, LIC notified affected farmers that it had identified a potential quality concern with 13 out of 39 batches of fresh conventional Premier Sires straws inseminated on farms on October 19. It has since confirmed that those 13 batches resulted in a higher number of returning cows than normal from inseminations done on October 17, 18 and 19. It has also identified problems with batches use on-farm on October 23, 24 and 25. “We are not happy with this outcome and have made the decision to fully refund the cost of the straws from those 13 batches,” LIC’s Malcolm Ellis told farmers by email. McIntyre says LIC are to be commended for spotting the problem and letting affected farmers know quickly. “We understand things can go wrong because they’re dealing with a biological product. Their communication has been excellent and it’s allowed farmers to put plans in place to respond to a potentially higher non-return rate.” However, the semen failure hasn’t gone down well with affected Federated Farmers members who’ve

contacted him, McIntyre says. “Many farmers feel that simply refunding the semen charge is insignificant compared to the cost of the lost days in milk, potentially higher empty rate, and potential loss of replacement calves. “This could have a major impact on affected farming businesses, particularly farmers who used a synchrony programme and had more of their herd mated on those days.”

I understand all firms have stuff-ups, but if my cows get hit on the road, I’ve got to have public liability, and I need to have milk contamination insurance for supplying Open Country. So, I just don’t understand why it’s not the same for LIC. Kirk Major Turakina farmer McIntyre, who had 18 bad straws used with his own herd, has asked the cooperative to find additional ways to reduce the on-farm impact. “This semen batch failure and the associated costs currently expected to be borne by affected farming businesses is eroding farmer confidence in their cooperative,

its ability to control the quality of its products and its ability to adequately rectify any issues that occur,” McIntyre wrote in an email to LIC. He says one potential action would be for LIC to supply some shortgestation semen and allow farmers to do an additional week or so of AI. “That would help get total days in milk back to where they would have been had there not been this semen issue. They haven’t done this yet, but we’re certainly having conversations with them and putting some pressure on them to do more than they are currently.” Turakina dairy farmer Kirk Major, who had 28 CIDR cows inseminated on October 19, says he’ll have to wait another eight weeks for a pregnancy scan to confirm how many are in calf. “I highly expect there’s only a couple in calf from that 28. Those cows will go to the works.” LIC has offered to refund the cost of the semen and half the cost of the CIDRs, but Major says that’s a fraction of the cost to his business. “What we lose from days in milk will be a hell of a lot more.” Major says he’s incredibly frustrated at the lack of responsibility taken by LIC. “I understand all firms have stuff-ups, but if my cows get hit on the road, I’ve got to have public liability, and I need to have milk contamination insurance for

DO MORE: Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre has asked LIC to find additional ways to reduce the on-farm impact of its bad batch of semen. supplying Open Country. So, I just don’t understand why it’s not the same for LIC. “Everything we do with LIC they make us accept responsibility, but when the shoe’s on the other foot, nah. It just doesn’t sit well with me.” McIntyre says product and service failures like this happen every year and aren’t exclusive to any single breeding company. It’s important for farmers to understand the terms and conditions of their agreements, he says. “There’s this larger issue where both LIC and CRV have these clauses

in their terms and conditions that limit their liability, when they have a failure, to the cost of the product or service. “Too many farmers don’t understand that this risk is essentially being pushed onto them.” He says now’s a good time for the breeding companies to rethink this. “We don’t expect perfection, but we do expect for mistakes to be put right. I think there’s room for them to do something here.” McIntyre says he’ll keep pushing LIC for a better outcome for affected farmers.

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November 27, 2023 – fedfarm.org.nz

Federated Farmers

Greenpeace are anti-farmer and anti-science Wayne Langford Federated Farmers president

reenpeace Aotearoa are nothing but an antifarming lobby group who want to see the end of productive agriculture as we know it in New Zealand. That’s not an accusation I make lightly, but when I look back at Greenpeace’s recent statements and actions, it’s the only logical conclusion I can come to. Time and time again, Greenpeace have shown there is nothing Kiwi farmers could do to improve environmental outcomes or sustainability that would ever be enough to please them. They’ve also made it clear they couldn’t care less about facts, science, or evidence if it doesn’t fit their anti-farming narrative.

True environmentalists would have welcomed such strong leadership from New Zealand farmers, but Greenpeace aren’t true environmentalists. Wayne Langford Federated Farmers president Instead, they are totally fixated on an impractical plan to ‘halve the herd’ and ‘ban synthetic fertiliser’ that is completely removed from reality. Those slogans might look good on a bumper sticker, but in practice they would completely undermine New Zealand’s food production, rural communities, and wider economy. If you’re looking for evidence behind my claims, you need look no further than earlier this month when Fonterra announced a bold plan to reduce their emissions intensity 30%

by 2030. Kiwi farmers are already the most carbon-friendly farmers in the world, and Fonterra’s new target is asking them to go even further – so that’s going to be a real challenge. But before the dust had even settled, Greenpeace were climbing into Fonterra claiming the targets weren’t credible, didn’t go far enough, and lacked ambition. The trouble for Greenpeace is that Fonterra’s targets were set through the independent and internationally recognised Science Based Targets Initiative. This organisation helps companies set clearly defined and scientifically robust targets to reduce emissions in line with goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C. True environmentalists would have welcomed such strong leadership from New Zealand farmers, but Greenpeace aren’t true environmentalists. Instead, they were the first to criticise. Nothing Fonterra could have announced would have been good enough for Greenpeace because they’re antifarmer and anti-science. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to publicly call Greenpeace out on behalf of Kiwi farmers. In fact, it’s not even the first time this year. In May they were caught out spreading harmful misinformation that there is a link between nitrates in water and colorectal cancer. This was a new low for Greenpeace, who were preying on people’s fear of cancer to divide communities and push their anti-farming agenda. They were misleading the public by basing their claims on a single Danish correlation study rather than what the international body of scientific evidence shows. Advice on this issue should be coming from health professionals, not environmental activists.

PRIORITIES: Federated Farmers say Greenpeace should stick to saving whales and stop slagging off Kiwi farmers. Greenpeace aren’t remotely qualified on the subject and their claims are wildly out of step with what credible sources like the World Health Organisation, Bowel Cancer New Zealand, the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, and leading colorectal surgeons are saying. I want to be very clear that nobody is disputing we have a water quality issue in this country. There are plenty of good reasons for us to be working to reduce nitrates in waterways, but Greenpeace’s misinformation isn’t one of them.

Farmers are well aware they need to make changes and have been working hard in their communities and catchments for over a decade to improve environmental outcomes. We’ve fenced and planted waterways to exclude cattle and absorb nutrients, and we’re now a lot more precise with the way we use fertiliser, which means we use less of it. It’s a complex challenge and farmers are doing all the right things, but it takes a long time for nitraterich water to work its way through the groundwater system. It will take

time for us to start to see the fruits of our improvements, but I’m confident we are heading in the right direction and will see results. Until then, Greenpeace need to be held accountable for the accuracy of their claims and the information they share with the public that causes needless stress, anxiety, confusion, and division. New Zealanders liked Greenpeace a lot more when they stuck to saving whales. They should get back to that and stop slagging off our worldleading farmers.

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23 fedfarm.org.nz – November 27, 2023

Rural based principal fights for wool carpet

rural school principal says his attempts to negotiate with the Government over its decision to use synthetic carpets in schools have been completely ignored. In July, the Ministry of Education announced it had contracted global manufacturer Milliken to supply and install nylon carpet tiles in up to 800 small and remote schools. Federated Farmers voiced its strong opposition, saying the decision to use synthetic instead of wool carpet was a slap in the face for Kiwi farmers. Nick Jensen, principal of Kiwitahi School near Morrinsville, Waikato, also believes the Ministry should have picked a New Zealand-grown wool product. “As principals, it’s an absolute nobrainer to us that if you’re going to upgrade your carpeting, you’d try and support your own local, rural community. “It just seems another example of the disconnect between Wellington and the rest of rural New Zealand – they’re completely out of touch.” Jensen, an executive member of the New Zealand Rural School Leadership Association, says he’s tried repeatedly to speak with the Ministry about whether there’s room to move on the decision. “When the story first broke, I think we had one Zoom meeting with the Ministry. Since then, I don’t know how many emails I’ve sent them, and there’s been no reply. Every time you

try, you get nothing in response. “We tried to negotiate with them and said, ‘Can rural schools accept some of the funding and then find a way to top up the difference to get the wool option?’ But it’s been absolute radio silence.” He says the Ministry finally sent a bulk email – in the form of its regular newsletter to small and rural schools – in early November. The email begins with ‘We’ve heard you’, followed by a smiley face emoji, and then provides a link to a ‘carpet facts sheet’ explaining the Ministry’s reasoning for choosing Milliken. “We have received some feedback over the last few months regarding the Ministry’s decision opting for nylon pile carpet over wool pile carpet,” the email reads. “Your opinions matter to us, and we want to make sure you have all the information you need to understand the reasons behind our decision.” Jensen says the email is almost certainly a response to his many “annoying” emails. “Clearly, instead of responding to me directly, they’ve just sent a blanket answer: ‘We’ve listened but we’re not changing our mind’. “What they’re saying is that if we decline their carpeting option and go with an alternative, the school must fund everything.” Toby Williams, Federated Farmers Meat & Wool chairperson, remains baffled by the Ministry’s decision and

WALKED OVER: Kiwitahi School principal Nick Jensen, with students (from left) Brax Aitchison, Cooper Macartney, Max Petherick and Gabi Dodunski, says it’s a no-brainer that rural schools should be carpeted in Kiwi-grown wool. says it’s “completely tone deaf”. “To carpet New Zealand classrooms in a foreign-made synthetic product, rather than a locally sourced natural alternative, is an absolute kick in the face for Kiwi farmers, especially when sheep farmers have been battling low lamb and wool prices, and high input costs.”

As principals, it’s an absolute no-brainer to us that if you’re going to upgrade your carpeting, you’d try and support your own local, rural community. Nick Jensen Kiwitahi School He says the move runs contrary to the previous Government’s rhetoric about the need for greater sustainability. “One of the Labour Government’s

big announcements was banning plastic bags, knives and forks, takeaway coffee cups and all those things. Well, surely removing plastics from our flooring is the next step forward in that sustainability process? “We should be integrating more natural fibres and products into our homes, schools and buildings. They’re healthier, warmer and better for the environment.” There are some things the Government should be looking to save money on, but this is not one of them, Williams says. “It would have been cheaper for New Zealand to keep using plastic bags, but we decided to ban them because it was the right thing to do. So, what’s the difference here?” Jensen agrees and says there’s a sad irony in the decision. “We talk so much to our students about making good sustainable choices for the environment, and supporting local, and we’re having those conversations with them while

they’re sitting on synthetic carpet imported from overseas.” He says the Rural School Leadership Association has surveyed its members and 80% of principals say they want woollen carpets. Jensen says Kiwitahi School will most likely decline the Ministry’s carpeting offer. “We’ll look to put in our own woollen carpets. We won’t be able to do the school in one fell swoop – we can’t afford that. “If schools do pursue a woollen carpet option, we’ll need to fundraise our socks off.” Williams says every political party at the Rural Leaders Debate in September said they supported wool carpet in schools – but their words don’t line up with their actions. “Our rural schools don’t want woolly statements of support with no follow-through – they want woolly carpets on their floors that are locally sourced, sustainable, and great for the kids.”

November 27, 2023 – fedfarm.org.nz

Federated Farmers

Farming ‘uneconomic’ under proposals

mployment, food production and the vitality of rural communities will be seriously undercut by proposed new freshwater targets, Federated Farmers Manawatū-Rangitīkei president Ian Strahan says. Strahan and fellow Federated Farmers provincial presidents in Whanganui, Tararua and Ruapehu say Horizons Regional Council’s provisional targets would make dairy and meat production uneconomic in many areas through pressure to lower inputs and stocking rates. They say the targets are being driven by excessive national bottom lines and would accelerate conversion of farmland to pines, leading to job losses and the hollowing out of rural communities. “We need to continue progress cleaning up waterways, and farmerled catchment groups are doing exactly that. But these provisional targets go too hard, too fast,” Strahan says. The extent of problems portrayed by Horizons’ modelling don’t tally with extensive monitoring by dozens of catchment groups, Strahan says. “These groups know exactly what’s going on in their catchments, and they haven’t even been consulted by Horizons.” He says catchment groups are the best way to get community buy-in on water quality aspirations and priorities. “But once again we’ve got this heavy-handed, centralised, one-sizefits-all approach to regulation that doesn’t bring communities along on the journey. “Farmers are already stressed and feeling huge pressure because they’re not making any money. This is just causing division and disengagement.” The provisional targets, out for consultation, call for 50-100% reductions in nitrogen in much of the Manawatū-Rangitīkei and Ruapehu. The same reductions in E. coli would be required in most of those

two areas and in much of the rest of Whanganui and Tararua. Horizons says work is still to be done on the state of lakes and estuaries but warns “this could increase required reductions” in feeder catchments. Big reductions in phosphorous and sediment have also been modelled. Strahan says Horizons’ November roadshow hasn’t answered farmers’ questions. Many are criticising the lack of any detail on economic and social wellbeing impact. “I’ve been to well-attended meetings in towns such as Bulls, Āpiti and Hunterville, and there have been very intelligent questions on the consequences and outcomes of what they’re proposing. They just haven’t been able to provide clear answers. “The consultation meetings are going terribly for them.” Federated Farmers Tararua co-president Sally Dryland says Horizons’ earlier community consultation that informed the provisional targets was dominated by environmental groups and Fish & Game, and the 300 responses didn’t reflect the wider community’s visions.

Farmers are already stressed and feeling huge pressure because they’re not making any money. This is just causing division and disengagement. Ian Strahan Federated Farmers ManawatūRangitīkei president “Running a stand at the likes of the Central Districts Field Day and asking people questions like ‘do you want to swim in your local river?’ and ‘do you value clean water?’, well, who’s going to answer ‘no’?” Instead, the council should have provided information about how the targets would affect food

QUESTIONS: Federated Farmers Manawatū-Rangitīkei president Ian Strahan says Horizons Regional Council hasn’t been able to answer farmers’ questions about the impact of provisional freshwater targets.

production, Fonterra’s factory in Pahiatua, and the meat processor in Dannevirke, the town’s largest employer. “If they’d given that detail, people could have weighed up those factors and perhaps decided that maybe it’s not essential that the waterways are pristine in the colder months when flows and sediment are high, and there’s a greater risk of run-off,” Dryland says. Federated Farmers Whanganui president Robert Ervine says the flawed process and level of farmer concern reminds him of the One Plan. “Horizons rolled out a whole bunch of stuff and, 15-20 years on, we’re still in court trying to sort out the impracticalities. Did the council not learn anything?” Ervine, who attended three of the consultation meetings, says one farmer queried talk that forestry in his district might double from the current 12.5% of land use to achieve water quality gains. “There was absolutely no financial data available on how that would impact the community. How many jobs would go? How many schools would close? “There will be land use change over time with economic signals, and with new technology and

crops and whatever. But when you stick in a bunch of regulations that, crudely put, are around an ideology of looking after the environment at absolutely all cost, well, you’ll make 15-20% of farms uneconomic, and they’ll disappear. “That will have a large knock-on effect in places like Taumarunui, Taihape, Whanganui, Palmerston North.” Robert Gray, Federated Farmers Ruapehu president, says farmers’ use of water in most of the Horizons

area is “small fry” compared to hydropower. “Generators get huge carveouts in the legislation to protect their water use, yet if it wasn’t for this, river flows, water quality and aquatic habitat indicators would undoubtedly be much better,” he says. Federated Farmers encourages farmers and rural residents in the region to have their say on the provisional targets by 5pm, December 13.

Hoggard: What exactly do they want from us? Manawatū farmer and newly elected MP Andrew Hoggard is just as perplexed and concerned by the Horizons targets as other farmers in the region. “I went to the Āpiti meeting to find out what the targets would mean on-farm, what changes they are wanting from us. “I came away with no better understanding than when I went in,” the former Federated Farmers president says. “I got the impression that, with the level of reductions they’re

talking about, even if everyone in a catchment was following best practice, it still wouldn’t be enough.” Asked if councils could ‘press pause’ on new land and water plans, given that parties in the new Government had campaigned on less red tape, Hoggard said councils had to follow existing rules. Following coalition talks, the new Government needed to send “a clear signal” on what would be repealed or reviewed, he said. Federated Farmers have asked the new Government to do just that.

25 Real Estate

Cambridge 282 Roto O Rangi Road Open Day

Prime horticulture options Cambridge horticulture at its finest. With 59.77 ha of flat, fertile, free draining soils, this is a property you need to see. The farm has been used to raise seedling pines for the forestry market with over six million seedlings per year being produced. Currently growing a variety of horticultural crops. The 1920's built, three bedroom Californian bungalow style home is immaculately presented and comes with gas hot water and hob, timber features throughout, located well back from the road to give a sense of privacy and located only 7 km from Cambridge. This property would suit a range of farming and horticulture options including vegetable growing, cropping, kiwifruit and other orchard and nursery applications.

Auction 12.00pm, Wed 6th Dec, 2023, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 138 Arawata Street, Te Awamutu View Wed 29 Nov 12.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/CBR167950

David McGuire M 027 472 2572

E david.mcguire@pb.co.nz

John Sisley M 027 475 9808

E john.sisley@pb.co.nz

Matamata 1578 Old Te Aroha Road Open Day

It's all here! This 217 ha property is well-presented with very desirable contour and strong farm infrastructure, with an exceptional ability to deliver premium returns. It can also be purchased in induvial titles. Located in the Waikato district, 15 minutes' drive from Matamata, that winters on average 500 R2 dairy heifers plus beef stock. The property is well farmed and regularly fertilised. The contour ranges from flat to easy medium hill to slightly steeper contour at the rear and has been subdivided into approximately 50 paddocks, mostly with great track access and water troughs. There are two sets of cattle yards, a woolshed, a six-bay calf shed and two workshops. The property also includes an executive four bedroom home clad in schist and cedar with a great outlook over the district. There is native bush plus 4 ha of pines and manuka plantings that could generate future income from honey. A hunting hut for red deer sits on the eastern boundary. Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

For Sale $5,000,000 View Tue 28 Nov 12.00 - 1.00pm Tue 5 Dec 12.00 - 1.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TXR104102

Steve Mathis M 027 481 9060

E steve.mathis@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Kereru 364 Poporangi Road Deadline Sale

Whenuapapa 281ha, Kereru. Hawkes Bay

Situated in the strong farming district of Kereru, approx. 50 minutes west of Hastings city lies a high performing beef/cattle farm. Whenuapapa is currently run as an Angus stud breeding farm and is very well set up to continue as a cattle farm or look at similar farming operations. The majority of the farm is flat contour with a fantastic central lane system allowing for easy stock and vehicle movement. The farm has been well subdivided into 74 paddocks with a mix of conventional and electric fencing. There is plenty of water with two schemes available and a fully reticulated system across the entire property. Fertilizer has been applied annually since 2009 and further information is available on request. Generally described as summer safe area in Hawkes Bay with annual rainfall normally around 1,200 mm/yr. The property has a very comfortable large four bedroom home set in mature gardens with numerous sheds either beside the home or adjacent to the home.

Ashburton 1005 Longbeach Road

Deadline Sale closes Friday 15th December, 2023 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/HR173644

Mike Heard M 027 641 9007

E mike.heard@pb.co.nz

Waimumu 110/78 Waimumu Road Deadline Sale

95.02 ha - Quintessential class 'Rostrevor' located in the highly regarded Eiffelton farming area 16 km from Ashburton, is a quintessential rural homestead and landholding that exudes class and quality. The 'jewel in the crown' of this property is the homestead reached by tree lined driveway and situated amongst mature park-like landscaped grounds. A sheltered, private enclave with character and charm, typical of an English manor with an immediate appeal that will captivate and provide an investment for your family now and future generations. The 95 ha irrigated farm consists of three titles with quality Wakanui / Longbeach soils, providing a sound base for intensive arable/horticultural or livestock land use.

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

Deadline Sale closes Thursday 14th December, 2023 at 12.00pm, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Ashburton View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR171814

Greg Jopson M 027 447 4382

Deadline Sale

Self contained dairy unit - options available

Deadline Sale closes Friday 15th Property Brokers are proud to present this well located and well December, 2023 at 4.00pm, (unless presented dairy farm to the market. Established in 2014, sold prior) Waimumu Downs has gone from strength to strength with a View By appointment strong record of production and an emphasis on environmental Web pb.co.nz/GOR166543 care that has seen the farm be nominated for and win, several awards over the past decade. With an effective area of 268 ha and a milking platform of 206 ha, all stock is wintered on farm on a grass-only system. Milking is done from a 50 bail rotary shed with DeLaval plant, centrally located on the farm and approximately nine years old. The lanes are in good Ryan Osborne to fair condition throughout and all fences are in good order. Two stand-alone homes are included. M 027 340 4333

Proud to be here

NEW LISTING

Manawatu 311 Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road

Wellfield Lodge

64.7312 ha

Located only minutes from Palmerston North City, Wellfield Lodge is immediately impressive. A sense that you are arriving at a significant destination is felt as you pass through the stately entranceway and make your way down the avenue of golden elms. A statement in country grandeur, this home is of palatial proportions. Built around a central courtyard with a large in-ground pool, this property is equally well suited to entertaining or luxurious everyday living. Every detail has been considered with this beautiful home. Wellfield Lodge comprises 64 hectares across two titles, which can be purchased separately or together. The property is currently utilised as a horse stud and there are extensive built-for-purpose equestrian facilities.

Expressions of Interest (unless sold prior) Closing 1pm, Thu 14 Dec 2023 49 Manchester Street, Feilding Phone for viewing times Mark Monckton 021 724 833 mark.monckton@bayleys.co.nz Jack Monckton 027 394 3705 jack.monckton@bayleys.co.nz

bayleys.co.nz/3100549

MID WEST REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Boundary lines are indicative only

Helensville 146 Fuller Road, South Head Farmer, hunter, water lover! Located on the shores of Lake Kuwakatai is this picturesque 111 hectare dairy operation. Spanning two titles, the property's fertile flat to easy rolling contour unfolds across approximately 54 wellsubdivided paddocks seamlessly connected by an extensive limestone race network system. Other features include its fertile red hill sandy loam soils, a 34 ASHB cowshed, reliable water supply, and two houses. For the hunter gatherer, the farm welcomes regular visits from wild fallow deer, whilst direct access to the lake opens opportunities for boating, canoeing, and a frontrow seat to an abundance of birdlife. Take a virtual tour: www.vimeo.com/886002624

Pipiroa 1156 State Highway 25 111.1508 ha Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 12pm, Fri 15 Dec 2023 41 Queen Street, Warkworth View by appointment John Barnett 021 790 393 john.barnett@bayleys.co.nz Jayne McCall 021 606 969 jayne.mccall@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, KUMEU, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Productive dairy unit in central location Here is an opportunity to purchase a highly profitable, 101-hectare (more or less), dairy farm with some of the best soil in the Hauraki Plains. Key infrastructure includes a tidy 25 ASHB shed with feed pad, a compliant effluent solution with lined pond and travelling irrigator, multiple shedding, fert/PKE bunker. Water on the farm is supplied by an extremely reliable, metered council connection and the farm is all flat in contour with soils being sought-after consolidated peat over clay. Our owners will sell this Spring. Pick up the phone and come have a look.

bayleys.co.nz/2315081

101.45 ha Auction (unless sold prior) 11am, Thu 14 Dec 2023 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 1-2pm Wed 29 Nov or by appointment Karl Davis 027 496 4633 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz Lee Carter 027 696 5781 lee.carter@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/1203745

bayleys.co.nz

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate – November 27, 2023

Accelerating success. New Open Listing Home

Final Notice

Sheep/Beef

Finishing

Waitio - 687ha in the Renowned Makuri district

Location, Opportunity, Potential!

Tender closing Thurs 7 Dec 2023 at 2pm (unless sold prior) (plus GST if any) Jason Waterman 791 Coonoor Road, Makuri, Tararua

Tender closing Wed 6 Dec 2023 at 2pm (unless sold prior) (plus GST if any) Jason Waterman 157 Williams Road, Tokomaru, Horowhenua

027 376 8313 jason.waterman@colliers.com

Land Area: 687.5051 ha (more or less) • • •

Sheep/Beef

4 bedroom 2 bathroom home

Great infrastructure

027 376 8313 jason.waterman@colliers.com

Land Area: 134.9086 ha (more or less)

Currently wintering approx. 4,700 high performing stock units on the 577ha effective area plus 33ha of pines. Infrastructure includes woolshed, covered yards, cattle yards, great shedding and additional centrally located stock handling facilities. 2006 built villa replica designed 4 bedroom plus office home.

• •

CRWAI Limited Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67025826

•

5 bedroom 2 bathroom home

22 bay calf sheds

15 minutes from Palmerston North

50 hectares of cultivable paddocks offer numerous possibilities. Establish a standalone calf rearing unit, a dairy run-off, or cattle finishing block. The home boasts 5 bedrooms, great views of the farm and surrounding landscape. Additionally, there are two bathrooms and extra office space, making this home suitable for both living and working. Explore options to further expand or subdivide into lifestyles.

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67026271

CRWAI Limited Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

Kevin Deane Real Estate

Onewhero 895 Wairamarama Road 617ha

For Sale $6,000,000 Plus GST View by appointment www.harcourts.co.nz/ML4646

Awesome One Man Unit This North Waikato dry unit has recently had the back 200ha subdivided off the original 617ha and so now with some 416ha (give or take a 1,000ac) you’ve got an easy to run unit. Two good homes, great cattleyards, woolshed, lot of new water, races, fences and new grass. A super popular area with great schooling and community spirit.

Kevin Deane M 021 970 902

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate – November 27, 2023

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

OPEN DAY

WHAKATANE, BOP 672 Thornton Road and 96A Thornton Hall Road Blue Chip Dairy Performance • • • • • • • • •

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm, Thursday 14 December

106.5136 hectares (STT more or less) 96.14 effective Irrigated area of 68 hectares (more or less) Van den bosh system Upgraded effluent system with new resource consent compliance Groundwater resource consent compliance in place until 2033 40 ASHB with in-shed feed system & 16-tonne silo Excellent fertiliser history and application Well-presented four-bedroom home with sleep-out 10km to Whakatane CBD & 3km to Thornton Primary School Willing to sell as a going concern purchase option if desired

VIEW 12.00-1.00pm Wednesday, 29 November

Enjoy the region's sports and recreation attractions with Ohope and Thornton Beach's on your doorstep, along with the area's freshwater lakes and rivers for skiing and fishing. Seize this opportunity for a harmonious blend of agricultural prosperity and coastal living!

Phil Goldsmith M 027 494 1844 E pgoldsmith@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/WHK38714 Helping grow the country

PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

NEW LISTING

MILTON, OTAGO 126 and 205 Big Bush Road Grandview Farm - 725.4344 Hectares

View online

Properties advertised in Farmers Weekly also appear on our website

Visit farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

Well located farming property in a district renowned for quality stock and good community. Running 3,300 cross bred sheep (historically 3,610 sheep) and 63 breeding cattle, plus 37.6 hectares of forestry. Low altitude hill property, 200-400 MASL. An excellent range of good improvements including a 2019 four bedroom homestead of 280m² and a tidy four bedroom second home. Farm improvements include a large three stand woolshed and covered yards complex, a new four bay implement shed and two sets of cattle yards. Grandview is very handy to Milton and Dunedin.

TENDER Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 12.00pm, Friday 8 December VIEW By Appointment Only

Craig Bates M 027 489 4361 E craig.bates@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/DUN36829 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

Helping grow the country

30 Marketplace

Marketplace

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

MOWER MASTER TOWABLE MOWERS

Find primary sector vacancies at:

Heavy duty, long lasting incinerators

Topper / Finishing Mower

Genuine 11.5HP Briggs & Stratton Motor. Electric start. Belt driven. Cutting Height 30mm - 300mm

ANIMAL HANDLING 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 ro d i p. c o m

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

$4200 GST INCLUSIVE

Three sizes available

DOLOMITE LK0115404©

Phone 021 047 9299

JW114362©

Phone 0800 422277 or 028 461 5112 Email: mowermasterltd@gmail.com

To advertise phone 0800 85 25 80

ATTENTION FARMERS

LK0116485©

To find out more visit

www.mowermaster.co

CRAIGCO SHEEP JETTERS. Sensor Jet. Deal to fly and Lice now. Guaranteed performance. Unbeatable pricing. Phone 06 835 6863. www.craigcojetters.com

irontreeproducts.co.nz

4X4 TAGALONG TOURS Tour 1: Molesworth Station, St James, Mailings Pass & Rainbow Stations

BALAGE FOR SALE EXCELLENT QUALITY, $85 per bale plus GST. Unit loads available. Phone 021 455 787.

Experienced Fencer relocating to Wanganui seeks work. Rural and lifestyle.

Dates: March 11-14, March 25-28, April 8-11, April 22-25

DOGS FOR SALE DELIVERING AND BUYING NZ Wide. https:// w w w.youtube.com/@ mikehughesworkingdog Phone 07 315 5553. EXCELLENT WELL BRED heading bitch pups. 8-weeks old. Sire is Slim 23966 who is by A. Owens Cap. A I Dam Strawbridges Meg 23261. Fully guaranteed. $600 ea. Phone G. Strawbridge 021 557 119 Waikato

Ph Dan 021 026 00204

Tour: 2 D’Urville Island and Marlborough Farms Tour LK0117303©

Dates: April 24-28

Other dates available for groups of 6 or more people on request

ELECTRO-TEK ENGINEERING LK0117359©

Ph: 0274 351 955 E: info@southislandtoursnz.com • www.southislandtoursnz.com

EXPERIENCED SHEPHERD

electro-tek@xtra.co.nz Phone: 06 357 2454

FOR SALE

Top property in a dream location is seeking an experienced Shepherd.

Central Waikato 50:50 Sharemilking Position

Rimunui Station, located 7km from Gisborne CBD, is a 1000ha effective breeding and finishing property consisting of easy, medium and steep hill country, wintering 350 Angus stud breeding cows/ heifers and 2200 breeding ewes/hoggets. The well-known Kaharau Angus Stud has been operating at Rimunui Station for over 30 years. The successful applicant must have a strong team of dogs and be able to work alone, a good sense of humour with a cando attitude. They will be part of a well organised, cohesive team and will answer to the Manager.

We are seeking: • A motivated individual or couple with a proven track record of dairy farm management or contract milking

Close to town, enables employment opportunities for a partner. Private Hunting Block on doorstep. Competitive remuneration package. View photos on Trade Me jobs. Please e-mail applications with CV to: tracy@gisborne.net.nz Phone Nick Carr on 021 656 023 Applications close 15th December 2023

Key attributes to succeed in this role will include: • Open and transparent communication skills • Ability to build strong relationships with farm owners, contractors, suppliers and farm advisor • Feed budgeting and regular pasture cover assessment is essential to maximise pasturebased production • Excellent animal husbandry and general farm maintenance skills To Apply: Please email your CV, statement of financial position, and details of two referees by 8th December to: Dave Peacocke dave@pastoral.co.nz 027 473 2382

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

LEASE LAND WANTED DAIRY OR GRAZING FARM wanted. Open to leasing, equity, share farming or developing land in partnership. Rangitīkei, Manawatū or HB areas. Phone Michael 027 223 6156.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE 500 WILTSHIRE EWE lambs for sale in Hawke’s Bay. Phone 027 493 7505.

Check out Poll Dorset NZ on Facebook nzsheep.co.nz/poll-dorset-breeders

BOOK AN AD. For only $2.30 + gst per word you can book a word only ad in Farmers Weekly Classifieds section. Phone 0800 85 25 80 to book in or email wordads@agrihq. co.nz

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL Buy $200 + grab a FREE 2pr Xmas socks $50 Worth

www.thesocklady.co.nz

GIBB-GRO GROWTH PROMOTANT PROMOTES QUICK PASTURE growth. Only $6.50+gst per hectare delivered. 0508-GIBBGRO [0508 442 247] www. gibbgro.co.nz. “The Proven One.”

GOATS WANTED 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.

WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Open Day 27.11.23, 2-5pm Auction 28.11.23 11am 15 Oruanui Road, Taupo Saleyards. Phone David 027 277 1556. WILTSHIRE 2th RAMS. See facebook for details Whitehead Wiltshires. Phone 027 449 2923. mswhitehead@xtra.co.nz

STOCK FEED STANDING GRASS and/or baleage available. Phone 027 223 6156.

WANTED TO BUY 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) 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.

Advertise with us

Call 0800 85 25 80 wordads@agrihq.co.nz

LK0117273©

Living on the farm is required, a comfortable three bedroom Lockwood home is provided and school bus pick up is at the gate.

LK0117259©

Call Julie 027 705 7181

On Offer: • 50:50 sharemilking contract starting 1st June 2024 • Farm less than 20 minutes to Cambridge or Morrinsville, with good schooling options • 135ha platform, 60 paddocks, easy rolling contour and some medium hill • Milking 370 cows, 34 ASHB dairy with auto cup removers and in-shed meal feeding • Last three seasons average 132,000kg MS with 6ha fodder beet & 230t meal • Renovated three-bedroom character home with sleep-out

290HA GOOD HEALTHY cattle country with good, clean, reliable water. Available for cattle grazing from 15th December Onwards. Anything considered. Phone 021 0838 3190. luxfordfarms@gmail. com

RAMS FOR SALE ZON BIRDSCARER

For dream location

Advertise with us

For a delivered price call ....

0800 436 566

FENCING WORK WANTED

Bring your own 4X4 on a guided tour to discover more of the South Island.

NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser

GRAZING AVAILABLE

31 Livestock

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

TOTARA VALLEY LA-MAC, CAMLA THE GUMS LAMB SALES & LOCHAIRE ON FARM RAM SALE TUE 28TH NOVEMBER - 12 NOON ON FARM RAM SALE A/c The Stevenson Family, Cheviot Thursday 7th December - 2pm start Viewing from 11am

Catalogue available via contact details below or at the following websites: www.thegums.nz www.hazlett.nz/whats-on www.rurallivestock.co.nz/Auctions Further enquiries: Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Jon Waghorn (Hazlett) 027 462 0121 Anthony Cox (RLL) 027 208 3071 Robbie Reid (RLL) 027 473 0868

1600 1400

400 200

-200

400

-400

200

-600

-800

-200

-1000 95 19

-400 -600

Hayden & Kate Slee Te Anau 03 249 9097 Andrew & Karen Mackie Otautau 021 210 3381

07 09 20 20 YEAR

11 13 15 20 Philip 20 Brandon 20

Otorohanga 07 873 6313

John Spellman Te Awamutu 07 870 1433 7 13 & Linda 15 Langlands 19 Neil 01 1 1 2 2 2 20 20 20 20Taumarunui 20 20 072 896 8660 AWAROA - Brandon, Philip & Audrey – Otorohanga. P: 07 873 6313

NORTH 7 9 ISLAND 1 3 5 99 99 00 00 00

-1000 95 19

YEAR

RUA PEKA PEKA - Bryant, Maree – Urenui. P: 06 752 3701Sean Brosnahan

NORTH ISLAND GREEN ACRES - Jury, Chris – Waitara. P: 06 754 6672 LONGSPUR - Frank, Wayne – Waitara. P: 06 754 4311

PERENDALE RAMS Leading way superiorthe Maternal Worth with Meat. superior Maternal Worth with Meat. AWAROA 

RAUPUHA

Gisborne 021 997 519 Otoi Farming Co Wairoa 06 838 7398

AWAROA

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Robyn Harding LONGSPUR - Frank, Wayne – Waitara. P: 06 754 4311 P: 027 355 – Mahoneui. 2927 021 133 7533 RAUPUHA Woodville RUA PEKA PEKA GREENWAIOTANE ACRES - Jury, Chris – Waitara. P: 06 754 6672 - Brosnahan, Sean – Ohope. P: 06 864 4468 John & Carey Henricksen

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AWAPIKO

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RANGIATEA

South Island Ram Fair – Gore 16 January 2024 OLDENDALE ST HELENS + HINERUA KLIFDEN FELDWICK

MONTANA DIAMOND PEAK KINNEAR

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LONGVIEW

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OTOI HAUTERE LONGVIEW OTAPAWA  

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KERRYDALE

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KINNEAR

OTOI

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WAIOTANE



TE AWAITI

KERRYDALE

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17 JANUARY 2023

Gore South Island Ram Sale

10:30 AM, Gore Showgrounds NZ MATERNALHAUTERE WORTH WITH MEAT (MW+M)

MEAT + SURVIVAL + GROWTH = $$$

Gore South Island Ram Sale

BLUFF FARM - Evans, Ivan & Julie – Oxford. P: 03 312 1585

DOLOMITE GRASSLANDS

SNOWDON



DOLOMITE - Elliott, Ken – Akaroa. P: 021 221 4185 10:30 AM, Gore Showgrounds

Diamond Peak Gore 03 208 1030 MT GUARDIAN Te Kuiti North Island Ram Sale RANGIATEA Warren Ayers 12 PM, Te Kuiti Saleyards Wyndham 027 226 4290 OLDENDALE BLUFF FARM Dave McKelvie Wyndham 027 249 6905

MONTANA



AWAPIKO

TE AWAITI WANGAPEKA - de Vos, Cor & Belia

SNOWDON

BENMORE





17–JANUARY 2023 MT GUARDIAN - Anderson, Tim, Sue & Edward Cheviot. P:03 319 2730

Christie Wilson Partnership

KLIFDEN



WAIOTANE

OTAPAWA SOUTH ISLAND

Mitchell Hillcrest

Clinton 03 415 7187 BLUFF FARM

BENMORE Gore 03 208 1789 WANGAPEKA

14 NOVEMBER 2022



HERANGI



 Pongaroa 06 374 3888 AWAPIKO - Langlands, NeilHarding & Linda––Woodville Taumarunui. 07133 8967533 8660 KERRYDALE - Robyn – P: P: 021 GREEN ACRES  Douglas & Dara Robbie GLENOCHY MacFarlane, Whangamamona. P: 06 762 5880 OTOI -- Brickell, Ian &James Bobbie&–Rochelle Wairoa. P:– 06 838 7398 Eketahuna 027 919 7150  GLENOCHY RAUPUHA Mahoneui. P: 027  LONGVIEW - Maxwell, Graeme– & Sue – Tutira. P: 06355 8392927 7412 Te Awaiti Station RUA PEKA PEKA Martinborough 022 607 5968  WAIOTANE - Brosnahan, SeanRob – Ohope. P: 06– 864 4468 THE HEIGHTS - Gaskin, & Heather Levin. P: 027 481 6924 LONGSPUR  HAUTERE - Henricksen, & Carey– –P:Pongaroa. P: 06 374 3888 KERRYDALE - Robyn Harding John – Woodville 021 133 7533 GREEN ACRES  Ken Elliott D’Ath, Warren – Palmerston North. P: 06 354 8951 OTOI - KAREREVALE Brickell, Ian &- Bobbie – Wairoa. P: 06 838 7398 KAREREVALE Akaroa 021 221 4185 GLENOCHY OTAPAWA - Robbie, Douglas & Dara – Eketahuna. 06 376 7765 Farms LONGVIEW - Maxwell, Graeme & Sue – Tutira. P: 06 839P:7412 Newhaven ASHBY  Oamaru 03 432 4154  HERANGI - Spellman, – Te Awamutu. 1433 THE HEIGHTS THE HEIGHTS - Gaskin, Rob John & Heather – Levin. P: P: 07 027870 481 6924  Richard (late) & Kerry France LONGSPUR TE AWAITI Wakelin, Sarah – Martinborough. P: 022 607 5968 HAUTERE - Henricksen, John & Carey – Pongaroa. P: 06 374 3888 Tapanui 03 204 8339 ASHBY -- Timms, P: 06 362 7829 Mike McElrea & Fraser Darling KAREREVALE D’Ath, Gilbert Warren––Shannon. Palmerston North. P: 06 354 8951 KAREREVALE Tapanui OTAPAWA - Robbie, Douglas & Dara – Eketahuna. P: 06 376 7765 027 424 9376 or 021 701 229 WANGAPEKA ASHBY NOVEMBER 2022 HERANGI14 - Spellman, John – Te Awamutu. P: 07 870 1433 Scott & Kjersti Walker THE HEIGHTS Tapanui 027 630 5301 MT GUARDIAN Te -Kuiti NorthSarah Island–Ram Sale TE AWAITI Wakelin, Martinborough. P: 022 607 5968

12 PM, Te Kuiti Saleyards ASHBY - Timms, Gilbert – Shannon. P: 06 362 7829



 DP Flks Avg  Perendale NZ Flocks



RAUPUHA



HERANGI  NZ Maternal Worth with Wool and Meat

 

AWAROA - Brandon, Philip & Audrey – Otorohanga. P: 07 873 6313 Graeme AWAPIKO - Langlands, Neil & Linda – Taumarunui. P: 07 896 8660& Sue Maxwell Tutira 06 839 7412 RUA PEKA PEKA - Bryant, Maree – Urenui. P: 06 752 3701 GLENOCHY - MacFarlane, James & Rochelle – Whangamamona. P: 06 762 5880







NEWHAVEN HAZELDALE

DOLOMITE GOWAN BRAES AVALONGRASSLANDS HILLCREST

NEWHAVEN

HAZELDALE CALDERKIN

SOUTH ISLAND GRASSLANDS - Jebson, John & Melissa

MT GUARDIAN - Anderson, Tim, Sue & Edward – Cheviot. RANGIATEA - Gallagher, Blair – Ashburton. P: 03 303 9819 P:03 319 2730 WANGAPEKA - de Vos, Cor &– Coalgate. Belia BENMORE - James, Warrick P: 03 318 2352 DOLOMITE - Elliott, Ken – Akaroa. P: 021 221 4185 OLDENDALE – Geraldine. P: 03 693 9877 Follow on Facebook & 312 Instagram BLUFF FARM - Tripp/Veronese, Evans,us Ivan & Julie – Oxford. P: 03 1585 SNOWDON Annabel & Roy

E: perendalenz@xtra.co.nz GRASSLANDS Jebson,Richard John &&Melissa HAZELDALE -- France, Kerry – Tapanui. P:03 204 8339 KLIFDEN - Gardyne, Robert P: 021 144 9721 RANGIATEA - Gallagher, Blair– –Oturehua. Ashburton. P: 03 303 9819 GOWAN BRAES - McElrea, – Tapanui. P: 318 027 242 BENMORE - James, Warrick Mike – Coalgate. P: 03 23529376

www.perendalenz.com

NEWHAVEN - Smith, Blair & Jane – Oamaru. 4329877 4154 OLDENDALE – Geraldine. P:P:0303693 HILLCREST--Tripp/Veronese, Mitchell, R&R – Clinton. P: & 03Roy 415 7187 SNOWDON Annabel

AVALON - Walker, Scott – Tapanui. P: 027 630 5301P:03 204 8339 HAZELDALE - France, Richard & Kerry – Tapanui.

LK0117368©

CENTS

600

Pip Wilson Gore 027 207 2882

+ GROWTH PERENDALE RAMS = $$$ Leading the way

600

800

Robert Gardyne Oturehua 03 444 5032

hazlett.nz

 

800

 

1000

1400

CENTS

1200

1600

-800

NZ MATERNAL WORTH WITH MEAT (MW+M)

1800

1000

Philip Oldfield Geraldine 03 693 9877

MEAT + SURVIVAL + GROWTH = $$$ MEAT + SURVIVAL

2000

1200

John & Melissa Jebson Darfield 03 318 3796 Blair Gallagher Ashburton 03 303 9819

Further Enquiries: Tim Allan (Vendor) 027 251 9011 Rob Harvey (PGGW) 021 331 519 Joe Higgins (PGGW) 027 431 4041

2200

2000

Annabel & Roy Tripp/Vernonese Darfield 03 318 6939

› Hazlett Livestock - 03 358 7988 › Hazlett Agri-supplies - 03 358 7988 › Hazlett Insurance - 03 358 7246 › Hazlett Funding - 03 929 0317 NZ MATERNAL WORTH WITH MEAT (MW+M) › Hazlett Procurement - 03 929 0317

Further enquiries: Callum Dunnett 027 462 0126

2200

Ivan & Julie Evans Oxford 03 312 1585 Warwick James Coalgate 03 318 2352

These lambs can be thoroughly recommended for their shifting ability. They will be drafted by sex into suitable lines for purchasers. The lambs have been drenched & scratched and are Farm Assured and ABF. Sale signposted from Totara Valley Hall Corner.

Catalogue available via contact details below or on the Hazlett website: www.hazlett.nz/whats-on

Further enquiries: Doug Croy (Vendor) 027 300 0230 Malcolm Taylor(Vendor) 022 080 5122 Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126

Tim, Sue & Edward Anderson Cheviot 03 319 2730

>2600 Suffolk X M/S Lambs >300 Romney Wether Lambs >400 Annual Draft Ewes

> 110 Poll Dorset 1 shr Rams 40 of the above with foot score 1.1 to 1.3 > 30 Suffolk, Texel, Poll Dorset X 1 shr Rams

Videos and ram info will be available to view on Bidr®. To register for Bidr® please go to www.bidr.co.nz. If you would like assistance registering please call the bidr team on 0800 TO BIDR (0800 86 2437).

Our commitment to you is to provide quality advice, timely deliveries and extremely competitive pricing. Give us a call and we’ll prove it.

Commencing approx 1pm at the completion of RA & PH Giles sale

Neville & Dianne Greenwood, Ellesmere Wednesday 6th December - 2pm start Viewing from 12pm

> 30 performance recorded terminal sires

Cor & Bella de Vos Wakefield 03 522 4280

The Brothers Station Three Mile Bush Road, Pleasant Point

 

MANDEVILLE

We are a business built on the belief that people come first

hazlett.nz

19TH ANNUAL ON FARM RAM SALE

Rams for Sale - Online Bidr Auction Tuesday 12th December - 7pm

Warren D‘Ath Palmerston North 06 354 8951 Gilbert Timms Shannon 06 362 7829

Further Enquiries: Richard Giles (Vendor) 021 550 171 Wayne Andrews (Hazlett) 027 484 8232

ADELONG

SPRING CREEK & PUKERIMU SOUTH SUFFOLK

James McFarlane Stratford 06 762 5880

Sale signposted from the Pleasant Point Hotel. Cellphone coverage is limited.

 

Further enquiries: Callum Dunnett (Hazlett) 027 462 0126 Anthony Cox (RLL) 027 208 3071 Bob Davidson (RLL) 027 473 0806

Wayne Frank Waitara 06 754 6672

The above lambs are predominantly Hemingford bred & we as auctioneers can fully recommend them to all intendng purchasers. They will be sold in lines to suit. All lambs are tailed, scratched, B12 and drenched prior to sale. Farm Assured and ABF.

 

Catalogue available via contact details below or on the Hazlett or RLL websites: www.hazlett.nz/whats-on www.rurallivestock.co.nz/Auctions

 

>45 Hampshire >25 South Suffolk >16 Poll Dorset

Russell & Mavis Proffit Mahoenui 027 355 2927 Maree Bryant Urenui 06 752 3701 Chris Jury Waitara 06 754 6672

>2000 Suftex & Beltex X Lambs - Undrafted >1100 Romney/Texel Male Lambs -Undrafted >500 Romney/Texel Ewe Lambs >500 Romney/Texel Annual Draft Ewes

> 50 Dorset Down Rams > 35 Southdown Dorset Down x Rams

 

39 Ahuriri Road, Tai Tapu Viewing from 11am, Sale 1pm

hazlett.nz

Glenelg Partnership - RA & PH Giles 29 Moa Pass Road, Totara Valley

 

WEDNESDAY 13TH DECEMBER

03 358 7988

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

RAM BUYERS

LINK LIVESTOCK

www.linklivestock.co.nz

LK0117352©

WISHING YOU ALL A MERRY XMAS & A PROSPEROUS 2024 FROM THE TEAM at LINK LIVESTOCK

Building Better Bloodlines

Enquiries and viewings welcome Will Jackson 027 739 9939 william@piquethillfarms.co.nz www.piquethillfarms.co.nz

A Financing Solution For Your Farm www.rdlfinance.co.nz

SALE TALK An old man calls his son and says, “Listen, your mother and I are getting a divorce. 45 years of misery is enough” “Dad, what are you talking about?” the son screams. “We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer,” he says. “I’m sick of her face, and I’m sick of talking about this, so call your sister and tell her,” and he hangs up. Now, the son is worried. He calls his sister. She says, “Like hell they’re getting divorced!” She calls their father immediately. “You’re not getting divorced! Don’t do another thing. The two of us are flying home tomorrow to talk about this. Until then, don’t call a lawyer, don’t file a paper. DO YOU HEAR ME?” She hangs up the phone. The old man turns to his wife and says, “Okay, they’re both coming for Christmas and paying their own airfares. Here at Farmers Weekly we get some pretty funny contributions to our Sale Talk joke from you avid readers, and we’re keen to hear more! If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the farming community (it must be something you’d share with your grandmother...) then email us at: saletalk@agrihq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you.

Meaty, early maturing and easy identifiable rams.

Advertise with us Last issue for 2023 December 18 First issue for 2024 January 15

STOCK REQUIRED

Contact your partnership manager for deadlines

R1 bulls 200kg to 380kg

Office close dates December 19 to January 7

R2 Steers 380kg to 650kg

R2 bulls 380kg to 680kg R1 Angus and Angus Hereford X steers 220kg to 350kg Larger lines of R1 & R2 store cattle. Cull cows. Prime cattle and bulls. SOUTH ISLAND WIDE Contact Colin 027 285 5780

Conditions apply

CRAIGNEUK

0109332

GLENGARRY POLL DORSET 130.71x180

Annual on Farm Sale Friday 12th January 2024

57TH ANNUAL SALE Glengarry Poll Dorset Rams 2021

On offer 280 Rams Made up of 200 Terminal Rams • Dorset Down X lambs growing 500 to 600 grams a day from birth to weaning • South Dorset Rams for quick maturity • SIL Recorded and Studfax • Autumn Scan

Monday, December 4th, 2023 – 1pm Feilding Saleyards, Manchester Street, Feilding

110 Rams up for Auction Why you should buy a Glengarry ram: • 47 years performance recording • Major emphasis on growth, survival and muscling • All sires DNA tested for footrot and muscling genes • No. 1 ranked Terminal Sire 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 & 2017 (SIL ACE list) • 400 stud ewes means only the best rams are sold • Six rams in Top 20 2022 SIL Terminal Lamb Growth • 1st Ranked Ram 2020/21 SIL Terminal Sire Lamb Growth

80 Maternal Halfbred and Quarterbred Rams Merino Ram/Romney Ewe MILK • WOOL • MEAT Bred to fit the Smartwool Contract 19 to 23.5 micron Grown in the harsh Maniototo climate

Enquiries to: Johnny Duncan 027 327 2372 or email: JDuncan.Craigneuk@xtra.co.nz

ATHLONE STATION 5th Annual Ram Sale Previously Pareora Downs

¼ Beltex ¾ Suftex 80 2th Rams Friday 1st December Viewing from 1pm, Auction 2.30pm 330 Wilfred Road, Albury or live on

LK0117201©

LK0117064©

For ram and semen enquiries contact Ross & Ben Pratt today: Ross 06 323 3827 or Ben 027 2356 577

Callum Stewart 0272 802 688 Maurice Stewart 0272 469 255 Simon Smith 027 444 0733

40+ Stud and Commercial SUFFOLK RAMS for sale, Canterbury A&P Ram Sale, Friday 1st December LK0117125©

Phone Ross Dyer 0274 333 381 www.dyerlivestock.co.nz

See ewe Noon Friday, 1st December at THE RAM SALE LK0117035©

STOCK FOR SALE

59 MA Ang Exotic X & XBred Cows Angus Calf Cows 550kg – Calf min five weeks

Piquet Hill Rams are: • Moderately framed and structurally sound • Extremely hardy • Prolific and vigorous • FE tolerant • Worm resistant • DNA profiled and parent verified Maternal composite (FE testing @ 6.7) Shedding composite (FE testing @ 4.0) Romney (FE testing @ 7.2) Blackface terminal composite

LK0117104©

For a full list of listings & services go to our website at www.linklivestock.co.nz

STOCK REQUIRED

1YR Exotic or Beef Heifers 300-350kg 1YR Friesian Bulls 320-360kg 2YR Ang Ang X or XBred Steers 450-550kg 2YR Beef Bulls 460-550kg Terminal Lambs 22-25kg (Under 27kg) FE Tolerant Romney 2th-4YR Ewes

LK0117127©

FOR SALE 408x Top Jersey herd BW 284, PW 260, RA 100% The breeder of the Number One Daughter proven Jersey sire in New Zealand. System 2-3, feeding a total of 600kg/cow of maize & PKE at a stocking rate of 3/ha. BVD & Johnes testing annually, G3 veriﬁcation since 2011. Complete replacement lines are also available. Ph Nigel Riddell 027 434 3153 FOR SALE NORTHLAND 184 cow Friesian/FriesianX Herd BW 239, PW 312, RA 98% Calving 20th July 2024 OAD last 4 years $1,950+gst. CRL In-calf heifers also available. BW 281, PW 304. Ph Grant Aiken Ph 027 245 8821 FOR SALE 43x Mixed age Autumn Calving XBred cows. BW 256, PW 323, Calving 1st March 2024. 2 x lines Jersey Weaner Heifers (60 head & 70 head). Both lines high BW & from top herds. WANTED 20 Top Autumn calving Jersey cows. Ph Ross Riddell 027 211 1112 WANTED JERSEY BULLS Weaners & yearlings North Island. Ph Jason Duncan 021 170 5354 BUYING A HERD/SELLING A HERD? Call Stewart Cruickshank 027 270 5288 to discuss options

LK0117290©

Rams selected on hind quarters, eye muscle and high yielding traits Grant Black 027 547 7616 Jonty Hyslop (PGW) 027 595 6450

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

ELITE RAM & EWE SALE 12.30PM Friday 1st December 2023 (Viewing from 9am) Canterbury Agricultural Park 102 Curletts Road, Christchurch

Breeding the difference

41ST ANNUAL ELITE SIRE STAG SALE

Quality Rams & Ewes for sale

FEATURING SONS OF

Suffolk Shropshire South Suffolk Poll Dorset Southdown Dorset Down

CANE, MORDECAI, ROBERT HAY, TITANIC, MUNRO, RIGBY, APEX, FITZROY, COGNAC AND YETI. SALE WILL ALSO INCLUDE A SELECTION OF TROPHY STAGS.

Catalogues will be posted out in December

SCAN FOR CATALOGUE

Barry Gard 021 222 8964 bgard@foverandeerpark.co.nz

For more information, contact our Auctioneer Representatives: PGG Wrightson Ltd, Simon Eddington, 027 590 8612 Rural Livestock Ltd, Anthony Cox, 027 208 3071 Hazlett Ltd, Callum Dunnett, 027 462 0126

www.foverandeerpark.co.nz MORDECAI @ 5YRS

RANGIATEA PERENDALES

Advertise with us

MATAWHERO CATTLE SALE Tuesday 5th December, 11am Follow us online for updates: www.agonline.co.nz www.bidr.co.nz

Call Andrea 027 602 4925

Enquiries to: Jamie Hayward 027 434 7586 Chris Hurlstone 027 598 6542 PGG Wrightson Livestock - East Coast livestockmarketing@pggwrightson.co.nz

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard

For more info visit www.bidr.co.nz

Helping grow the country

MW+W\+DPM - cents

MW+W\+DPM

3200 3000 2800 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2011

3200 3000 2800 2600 2400 2200 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0

MW+W\+DPM 1446 DP Flks Avg

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

Enquiries: Blair C Gallagher M: 021 0223 1522 Hamish Gallagher M: 027 550 7906 Email: gallagher.rangiatea@xtra.co.nz

CHEVIOT RAMS available for hogget mating

AVERAGE ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH MAKE PROGRESS WITH US.

SHEEP FARMERS Future-proof your farming operation when you buy rams this season. WormFEC Gold genetics are 578c above MW national flock average performance, plus have the highest levels of resistance to parasites in NZ. - Reduce your dependence on drenching over time - Increase your flock performance - Reduce the need for dagging - Follow Wormwise protocols NZ Standard Maternal Worth (NZMW)

WormFEC Gold Flocks

Annual 2yr sire stag sale Wednesday 13 December 1.30pm at 37 Pukenaua Rd, Taihape • • • •

35 stags with 12mth BVs +29 to +35.7kg. Highest average 12mth BV stag auction in NZ since 2011. Maternal reds selected on temperament and fully guaranteed. Auction on Bidr and freight paid.

Dual Purpose Flocks

Gareth Williams 0275 264 613 For further information contact Paul Hughes:

027 446 6309 • www.deerstud.nz

YOUR BEST DEFENCE AGAINST PARASITES STARTS WITH PURCHASING A WORMFEC GOLD RAM

www.wormfecgold.co.nz

LK0117200©

Corriedale English Leicester Border Leicester Romney Texel Dorper

SATURDAY 6TH JANUARY 2024 @ 1PM

34 Markets

Markets

Proudly sponsored by

Mutton stressed as lamb thanks to Aus Surge in supplies reaching the global market from that quarter is squeezing value and demand – and there’s more to come. Sara Hilhorst

MARKETS

Lamb

NCREASED supplies of lamb and mutton exiting Australia continue to weigh heavily on New Zealand sheep meat returns. The key reason is the pricing differential, with Australian product trading at a discount to NZ’s. The NZ average export value (AEV) for mutton came in at $6.11/kg in October. This was a rise from September but still well behind the five-year average of $7.55/kg. Australia’s AEV in September came in at NZ$5.67/kg, a drop from $8.67/kg year on year. The mutton market has been as unappealing as lamb, due to much larger volumes trading on the global market. Despite this, cull ewes still need to be offloaded. As spring lambs begin to come out in larger numbers, ewe processing space will tighten, and schedules will face further downward pressure. The NZ sheepmeat market has been largely influenced by Australia this year, and this will continue for the foreseeable future. Mutton export volumes from NZ totalled 87,700 tonnes for the 2022-23 season, down 5% from the five-year average. In contrast, record high volumes of mutton have been exported alongside increasing volumes of lamb from Australia. From October 2022 to September

2023, Australia exported the highest volume of mutton in AgriHQ’s record for that period – 191,600t, nearly a 22% increase on the five-year average. October exports were the second largest volume this year at 20,100t and there is little slowdown expected through November and December as slaughter and exports typically maintain current levels before easing in the New Year. While a hard and fast mutton slaughter might be reason to expect a drop in throughput in 2024, Meat and Livestock Australia is forecasting an even larger mutton kill in 2024 – 8.7 million, more than 2023 by 228,000. By 2025 it is forecasting the mutton slaughter to reach 9.82 million. This is due to a successful flock rebuild, which has created the largest breeding ewe flock in Australia since 2007. Currently NZ mutton schedules are averaging around mid-to-late $2/kg, but there is a wide variance depending on location, with some in the deep south of the country only offered early-$2/kg. While mutton schedules tend to trough as supply increases at this time of the season, prices are now at historical lows. At an average of 60kgLW, and at the current nationwide average mutton schedule of $2.80/kg, this equates to 43-53% of schedule – compared to the 2022-23 season, when ewes were trading at 36-39% of schedule.

See what sold today Results from the saleyards, including per kilo prices for store lambs, delivered straight to your inbox.

* Prices are GST exclusive

MEGAFLOCK: It is forecast that the mutton slaughter in Australia will reach 9.82 million by 2025 after a successful flock rebuild that has created the largest breeding ewe flock in Australia since 2007.

Meat and Livestock Australia is forecasting an even larger mutton kill in 2024 – 8.7 million, more than 2023 by 228,000. Not surprisingly, given such a low mutton schedule, this suggests that prime ewes are at a premium. But this is procurementdriven as a wet spring has led to a slow start to the new season lamb kill. Prime ewes values at the yards are averaging $88 in South Island and $72 in the North Island this month. Last season, some ewes

were purchased and then sent out on grazing due to processing backlogs. However, it has been the opposite to date this season, with spaces to fill on chains so the bulk of ewes are heading straight to the processors, although that’s not going to last. Currently, El Niño is delivering better than expected rainfall, providing some grace after initial fears that spring was going to be desperately dry, which has allowed farmers a bit more time to consider on-farm decisions. Despite that, seasonal trends have shown us that regardless of the weather, lambs will come out in abundance in the next few months. Add in any feed pressures

and it will cause an influx of ewes and lambs all at once. Farmers tend to pay around $40 more for replacement ewes than what they have returned from their culls or sold as prime ewes. This would mean $120-$130 could be an entry point for 2-tooth ewes but this may be overambitious, given the market uncertainty and also the additional challenge of El Niño, should the weather pattern eventuate to a sudden dry spell in the New Year, increasing supply. Comparing this with 2016 when mutton schedules and prime ewe returns were similar, early ewe fairs in the North Island sold 2-tooth ewes for $115-$125. Older ewes were sold around $105-$115.

LIVESTOCK EYE REPORTS Subscribe from only $35* per month agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

Weekly saleyards North Island dairy-beef weaner fairs continue to take up a good amount of auctioneers’ time and demand is still exceeding supply, meaning pleasing returns for sellers. On average at Feilding, Frankton and Taranaki fairs in the past week, prices are trending at or above last year’s levels. Friesian bulls have averaged 110-115kg and $520-$555 and dairy-beef bulls, 110-115kg and $575-$625. Kaikohe | November 22

$/kg or $/hd

Frankton | November 16 | 1670 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

2-year dairy-beef steers

2.85

Aut-born weaner Friesian bulls, 128-217kg

520-725

Yearling dairy-beef steers

3.00-3.20

Weaner dairy-beef, Friesian steers, 96-121kg

480-640

Yearling Friesian bulls

3.10-3.12

Weaner Charolais-Friesian bulls, 102-120kg

545-680

Yearling dairy-beef heifers

2.85-2.95

Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 100-114kg

635-685

1.70

Weaner Friesian bulls, 114-130kg

545-570

Wellsford | November 20 | 476 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Weaner Friesian bulls, 93-112kg

455-550

2-year Angus-Friesian heifers, 385-433kg

2.87-2.94

Weaner Charolais-Friesian heifers, 94-125kg

435-550

Yearling Angus-Friesian steers, 226-248kg

3.68-3.78

Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 103-132kg

430-525

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 388-418kg

2.92-2.99

Yearling Hereford-dairy steers, 371-374kg

3.05-3.10

Yearling Speckle Park-dairy steers, 268-301kg

3.65-3.69

Yearling Angus-Friesian heifers, 205-233kg

3.36-3.44

Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 287-311kg

3.07-3.09

Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 460-515kg

2.87-2.91

Boner Friesian cows, 520kg

1.62-1.63

Pukekohe | November 18

$/kg or $/hd

Boner dairy cows

Frankton | November 21 | 538 cattle 2-year Friesian bulls, 458-476kg

$/kg or $/hd 3.00

2-year Hereford-dairy heifers, 408-431kg

2.85-2.93

Yearling Angus steers, 446-477kg

3.06-3.11

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 285-336kg

3.18-3.19

Yearling Angus-cross bulls, 293-300kg

2.87-2.94

Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 347-367kg

2.88-2.94

Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 578-580kg

2.94-2.98

2-year dairy-beef steers

2.74-2.87

Yearling heifers

2.80-3.20

Prime Friesian bulls, 542-545kg

3.06-3.10

Aut-born weaner steers

490-710

Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 536-576kg

2.90-2.93

Aut-born weaner heifers

450-660

Boner Friesian cows, 473-567kg

1.73-2.01

Prime steers

2.85-2.95

Boner dairy cows, 425-562kg

1.51-1.94

Prime heifers

2.80-2.82

Frankton | November 22 | 513 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Prime lambs, all

118-123

3-year Friesian cows, RWB, 519-570kg

1.98-2.05

Store ewes, all

40-78

2-year Belgian Blue-cross steers, 446-489kg

2.96-2.99

Store hoggets, all

60-104

2-year Hereford-dairy steers, 378-395kg

3.15-3.24

Tuakau | November 16 | 820 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Yearling Angus-Friesian steers, 330-385kg

3.30-3.39

2-year dairy-beef steers, 450-520kg

2.97-3.11

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 298-312kg

3.45-3.54

2-year dairy-beef heifers, 380-440kg

2.80-2.90

Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 545-604kg

2.93-2.95

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 280-320kg

3.20-3.36

Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 483-556kg

2.91-2.93

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 250-320kg

2.92-3.02

Tuakau | November 20 | 1800 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Store lambs, all

40-76

Prime ewes, all

50-80

Prime lambs, all

124-146

Rangiuru | November 21 | 353 cattle, 110 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

2-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 363-487kg

2.96-3.24

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 281-322kg

3.39-3.52

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 292-330kg

2.30-2.33

Weaner Angus-Friesian bulls, 105-120kg

Te Kuiti | November 17 | 131 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

3-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 577-651kg

2.96-2.99

2-year Angus steers, 522-542kg

2.96-2.97

Yearling exotic, exotic-cross steers, 406-440kg

3.40-3.52

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 312-377kg

1085-1180

Matawhero | November 17 | 216 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Prime ewes, heavy

73-88

Prime ewes, medium

57-63

500-575

Prime hoggets, heavy

120-135

Prime dairy, dairy-beef steers, 670-750kg

3.06-3.25

Prime hoggets, most, medium

101-110

Boner Friesian, Friesian-cross cows, 390-561kg

1.94-2.11

Prime male lambs, good

91-118

66-75

Prime lambs, medium

83-92

Store mixed-sex lambs, all

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

$/kg or $/hd

Store blackface male hoggets, heavy

123-126

Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, 101-126kg

640-700

Store whiteface ewe hoggets, good

80-109

Weaner Belgian Blue-Friesian, Charolais-dairy steers, 132-150kg

725-745

Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, medium to good

69-84.50

Weaner Angus-Friesian bulls, 103-130kg

500-610

Store whiteface male lambs, medium to good

57.50-82

Weaner Belgian Blue-Friesian bulls, 105-115kg

660-705

Store whiteface male lambs, small

40-70

Weaner Charolais-dairy bulls, 99-116kg

620-665

Store whiteface ewe lambs, good

64-70.50

Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, most, 100-130kg

645-665

Store whiteface ewe lambs, small

33-53

Taranaki | November 16 | 804 cattle

Weaner Friesian bulls, 115kg average

545

Weaner Friesian bulls, 117-125kg

550-570

Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 97-130kg

450-530

Taranaki | November 22 | 276 cattle 2-year Friesian bulls, one line, 395kg

$/kg or $/hd 3.06

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 300-352kg

3.10-3.14

Yearling beef-cross heifers, 282-297kg

2.87-3.00

Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, one line, 267kg

3.00

Prime steers, 503-681kg

2.94-3.06

Prime dairy-beef heifers, 407-656kg

2.70-2.92

Boner Friesian cows, 518-663kg

1.90-1.99

Stortford Lodge | November 20 | 2466 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Prime ewes, heavy

73-86

Prime ewes, medium

55-68

Prime ewes, light

28-45

Prime ram hoggets, heavy

150

$/kg or $/hd

Dannevirke | November 21 | 426 cattle Weaner Friesian bulls

500-635

Weaner Hereford-Friesian (black) bulls

500-655

Weaner Hereford-Friesian (red) bulls

525-550

Weaner other beef-Friesian bulls

550-630

Weaner Hereford-Friesian (black) heifers

500

Weaner Hereford-Friesian (red) heifers

450

Weaner Charolais-Friesian heifers

600-630

Weaner other beef-Friesian heifers

520-605

$/kg or $/hd

Dannevirke | November 16 | 1723 sheep Store lambs, all

61-115

Prime ewes, all

46-74

$/kg or $/hd

Feilding | November 16 | 1101 cattle Aut-born weaner Simmental-Friesian bulls, 232-250kg

905-1000

Aut-born weaner Friesian bulls, 184-186kg

805-820

Aut-born weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 207-213kg

710-750

Aut-born weaner Simmental-Friesian heifers, 184-186kg

805-820

$/kg or $/hd

Weaner Hereford-Jersey steers, 146-159kg

540-590

2-year Angus, South Devon-cross steers, 420-437kg

3.36-3.38

Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 114-117kg

670-690

2-year beef-cross bulls, 320-374kg

3.00-3.27

Weaner Friesian bulls, 112-113kg

550-560

Yearling Hereford steers, 262-294kg

3.68-3.85

Weaner Hereford-Friesian heifers, 107-111kg

470-500

Prime mixed-sex lambs, tops, heavy

133-137

Prime mixed-sex lambs, heavy

116-127

Stortford Lodge | November 22 | 184 cattle, 4672 sheep

Yearling Speckle Park-beef steers & heifers, 270-285kg

900

Feilding | November 17 | 1260 cattle, 2074 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Yearling beef-cross bulls, 206-264kg

3.87-3.90

Mixed-age Angus & Angus-Hereford cows & calves, 632-643kg

1570-1590

Yearling beef, beef-cross heifers, 213-244kg

630-700

2-year traditional steers, 503-597kg

3.09-3.14

Go online and ﬁll out our easy form to pledge livestock or donate milk

Text FEED to 3493 on the day to donate $3, or donate cash by calling 0800 632 884

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

2-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 533-597kg

2.91-3.02

Prime beef, dairy-beef steers, 492-505kg

2.92-3.00

Yearling Angus steers, 281-323kg

3.72-3.89

Prime beef, dairy-beef heifers, 545-555kg

2.80-2.90

Yearling traditional steers, 378-476kg

3.29-3.37

Hogget ewes & lambs, good

63-70

Yearling exotic-cross steers, 305-338kg

1080-1185

Store terminal-cross mixed-sex lambs, good

85-92

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 334-422kg

2.96-3.10

Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, medium

70-73

Yearling Friesian bulls, 297-423kg

2.97-3.13

Prime ewes, good

77-97

Yearling Angus heifers, tops, 276-352kg

3.19-3.31

Prime lambs, heavy

138-150

Yearling Angus heifers, second cuts, 276-352kg

2.96-3.11

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 290-403kg

2.79-3.03

Mixed-age Romney ewes & lambs, older lambs, docked, medium

Temuka | November 20 | 461 cattle, 2131 sheep

55.50

Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, medium to heavy

80-108.50

Store Poll Dorset-Romney mixed-sex lambs, good

75-90

$/kg or $/hd

Feilding | November 20 | 3231 sheep Boner Friesian cows, 460-583kg

1.89-2.09

Boner Friesian heifers, 470-510kg

2.70-2.78

Prime ewes, all

38-100

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, all

67-160

Prime mixed-sex lambs, all

88-147

$/kg or $/hd

Rongotea | November 21 | 87 cattle Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 266-345kg

3.29-3.47

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 250-369kg

3.06-3.08

Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, good to heavy

85-98

Store blackface mixed-sex, Romney cryptorchid lambs, medium

55-63

Store blackface mixed-sex, Romney cryptorchid, ewe lambs, small

40-50

Prime Hereford-Friesian (red) steers, 485-650kg

2.80-2.97

Prime Angus heifers, 480-570kg

2.77-2.93

Prime Hereford-Friesian (black) heifers, 490-672kg

2.65-2.81

Boner Friesian cows, 485-650kg

1.77-2.00

Store Merino mixed-sex hoggets, all

120

Store terminal-cross mixed-sex lambs, good

87-109

Prime ewes, most

70-89

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, most

120-150

Prime mixed-sex lambs, most

120-145

Balclutha | November 22

$/kg or $/hd

Prime ewes, medium to heavy

70-113

Prime lambs, all

100-150

Charlton | November 16 | 78 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Masterton | November 22 | approximately 4500 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Prime ewes, all

57-92

Prime lambs, all

70-150

Lorneville | November 21 2-year beef-cross heifers, 378-503kg

$/kg or $/hd 1040-1400

Weaner bulls, 104-110kg

510

$/kg or $/hd

Prime cows, 470-685kg

1.80-2.00

2-year Hereford steers, 463-513kg

2.83-3.02

Prime heifers, 490-565kg

2.73-2.78

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 243-284kg

690-790

Store lambs, all

55-90

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 280-319kg

750-900

Prime ewes, all

65-100

Prime beef, dairy-beef cows, 578-700kg

1.80-2.08

Prime hoggets, all

100-140

Prime beef, dairy-beef steers, 620-738kg

2.85-3.06

Prime lambs, all

100-120

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Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

AgriHQ market trends Cattle

Sheep

Deer

Beef

Sheep Meat

Venison

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

Last week

Last year

North Island P2 steer (300kg)

5.75

6.60

North Island M2 bull (300kg)

5.85

6.30

North Island M cow (190kg)

4.05

4.75

South Island P2 steer (300kg)

5.55

6.35

South Island M2 bull (300kg)

5.40

6.05

South Island M cow (190kg)

3.85

4.70

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

Last week

Last year

North Island AP stag (60kg)

8.80

8.95

5.30

South Island AP stag (60kg)

8.75

8.95

6.50

8.65

2.40

5.25

Fertiliser Last week

Last year

DAP

1197

1794

Super

474

509

Urea

897

1340

Urea (Coated)

946

1289

Oct

Last year

China

1,635,430

1,730,431

Rest of world

177,077

233,319

Carbon price (NZ$/tonne)

Last week

Last year

70.9

86.5

Last week

Last year

North Island lamb (18kg)

6.40

8.60

North Island mutton (25kg)

2.75

South Island lamb (18kg) South Island mutton (25kg)

Fertiliser

Export markets (NZ$/kg) China lamb flaps

8.62

10.03

Wool

Export markets (NZ$/kg) US imported 95CL bull

8.95

US domestic 90CL cow

8.20

9.72

8.52

NOTE: Slaughter values are weighted average gross operating prices including premiums but excluding breed premiums for cattle.

Steer slaughter price ($/kgCW)

(NZ$/kg clean)

15-Nov

Last year

Crossbred fleece

3.38

2.64

Crossbred second shear

2.91

2.35

Courtesy of www.fusca.co.nz

Steer slaughter price ($/kgCW)

7.0

8.0 7.5 7.0

5.5

NZU

6.5

5.0 Nov

Jan

Mar May North Island

Jul Sep South Island

NZ beef average export value (NZ$/kg)

6.0

Nov

Jan

Mar May North Island

Jul

Sep South Island

Stag Slaughter price ($/kgCW) 10.0

NZ lamb average export value (NZ$/kg)

9.5 14.0

11.0

9.0

13.0

10.0

12.0

9.0

8.5

11.0

8.0

10.0

7.0

Forestry NZ Log Exports (tonnes)

8.5

6.0

NZ average (NZ$/tonne)

Exports

9.0

6.5

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

Nov

9.0

6.0 May

Jul Sep 5-yr ave

Nov Last year

Jan

Mar This year

Jan

Mar North Island

May

Jul Sep South Island

8.0 May

Jul 5-yr ave

Sep

Forrester Sire Sale Monday 11th December 2023

Nov Last year

Jan

Mar This year

Data provided by

Viewing 12pm / Auction 1pm Peel Forest Estate 1 Brake Road, RD 22, Geraldine, New Zealand

+64 27 779 9008 mark@pfe.nz peelforestestate.co.nz

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – November 27, 2023

NZX market trends Dairy

Grain

Data provided by

Milk price futures ($/kgMS)

Close of market

Canterbury feed wheat ($/tonne)

10.5

5pm, Wednesday

700 650

9.5

S&P/NZX PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

600 8.5

10031

550

450

6.5 Nov

Jan

Mar

May

Jul

Sep

Sep-2024

Nov

Prior week

4 weeks prior

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.18

0.23

0.17

The a2 Milk Company Limited

4.24

7.83

Cannasouth Limited

0.16

0.32

0.16

700

Comvita Limited

2.93

3.48

2.75

650

Delegat Group Limited

7.11

10.2

7.1

600

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.1

3.88

2.94

Foley Wines Limited

1.18

1.42

1.17

Greenfern Industries Limited

0.042

0.113

0.042

Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd (NS)

0.95

1.25

0.95

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.151

0.19

0.149

NZ King Salmon Investments Limited

0.21

0.24

0.181

PGG Wrightson Limited

3.35

4.67

3.1

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.15

0.22

0.094

Sanford Limited (NS)

3.85

4.39

3.7

Scales Corporation Limited

3.04

4.25

2.75

Seeka Limited

2.75

3.72

2.18

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

1.3

3.65

1.16

T&G Global Limited

1.86

2.37

1.81

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

10031

12870

9929

S&P/NZX 50 Index

11170

12212

10742

S&P/NZX 10 Index

11443

12411

10937

WMP

2960

3230

SMP

2730

2750

2820

AMF

5600

5380

550

Butter

5050

5000

500

Milk Price

7.84

7.75

8.00

450

* price as at close of business on Wednesday

400

WMP futures - vs four weeks ago (US$/tonne)

Nov

Jan

Mar

May

Jul

Sep

Nov

Jan

Mar

May

Jul

Sep

Nov

Waikato palm kernel ($/tonne)

3500

450

3400 3300 3200

400

3100 3000 2900

350

2800 2700

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Latest price

Mar 4 weeks ago

Apr

11443

Canterbury feed barley ($/tonne)

Nearest contract Last price*

11170

Company

400

Sep-2025

Dairy Futures (US$/t)

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

Listed Agri shares

500

7.5

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

300

Nov

Jan

Mar

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Jul

Sep

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40 Weather

Weather

ruralweather.co.nz

Are we looking at El Niño or El Nono? Philip Duncan

NEWS

Weather

UST what is going on with the weather pattern around parts of New Zealand and Australia this month? It’s all about the high-pressure zones and where they are placed (or specifically NOT placed). To be clear, El Niño is definitely here – it’s a Pacific-wide event and the ways of measuring it (sea and cloud temperature differences along the equator, especially over towards Ecuador and South America), are saying it’s strongly here and still growing. However, on top of El Niño we’re seeing a much warmer than average set-up both from an atmosphere and marine point of view around Australasia – and that’s not usually the case with El Niño. Australia has been saturated in recent weeks by so many heavy thunderstorms that all of the talk of bush fires has basically gone up in smoke. Over 150mm has been falling through large inland parts of New South Wales and Queensland

RAIN, AGAIN: Rain will return to the West Coast and there will be showers all over the place in both islands. The dry to the north of New Zealand is a classic sign of El Niño. recently, and there’s much more to come. If someone showed me that rainfall map I’d say that looks more like La Niña than El Niño. But IS this season anything like La Niña? Not really – and again

it comes back to high pressure. Stretching out from Brisbane all the way to Tonga has been a fairly consistent belt of high pressure lately. This is the opposite of what we get in La Niña – normally the area

to our north is full of low pressure. Yes, we got the remnants of exCyclone Lola dropping south last month, but why did that happen? Because it was timed perfectly with a gap between high-pressure zones. The highs are like slow trucks driving in a convoy from west to east, and the cyclone is in a hurry looking for a gap at the intersection to head south. Lola just so happened to have a gap in that high-pressure traffic at the right time, and snuck through to northern NZ. The other high-pressure zone to the south of Australia has been powerful at times lately, but its placement, being too far south of NSW, means there is a “lowpressure bubble” over a large portion of Australia right now. That allows for their widespread thunderstorms. For NZ this southern placement of high pressure is why we’re still getting cold snaps (like the one last Friday/Saturday) but also we’ve seen warmer than average temperatures too. But remember, El Niño is still here, so all it takes is a slight shift and it’s hotter and drier in NZ.

The highs are like slow trucks driving in a convoy from west to east, and the cyclone is in a hurry looking for a gap at the intersection to head south. Farming is a juggling act, as you well know, and this summer your common sense/gut instinct along with long-range outlooks should guide you the best. Before I wrap up – a quick credit to Grant Farquhar for the headline!

Highlights this week • Weak low pressure and a cold front moves up the South Island early this week • Low pressure from Australia finally leaves NSW, stalling over the North Island late this week or weekend • Another cooler southerly this weekend • No immediate change in this pattern for first week of December

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