Farmers Weekly NZ October 30 2023 by AgriHQ

8 Ireland visit a wake-up call Vol 21 No 42, October 30, 2023

View online at farmersweekly.co.nz

$4.95 Incl GST

NZ values its farmers, study says Bryan Gibson

NEWS

Food and fibre

HE rural-urban divide does not exist, according to a comprehensive survey on the attitudes of New Zealanders to the farming sector. However, there is work to do to create a better dialogue where concerns and questions can be aired and answered, the researchers from Massey University found. The Diverse Experience of Farming project, co-funded by Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, found New Zealanders across all regions, genders, ages and ethnicities value farming. Dr Alice Beban from Massey University’s School of People, Environment and Planning told the Farmers Weekly In Focus podcast that the results are surprising. “Despite what some media and politicians might claim, there is no deep, authentic, antagonistic chasm between urban and rural New Zealanders,” she said. “In fact, what we found is that farmers are valued for the food they grow and [people] recognise the role in creating jobs and managing the environment.” However, recognising the sector’s beneﬁts does not equate to greater trust or knowledge about farming, said rural scientist

Dr Janet Reid from Massey University’s School of Agriculture and Environment. “Farmers tend to focus on the bad news and to feel like they are constantly under attack,” Reid said. Surprisingly, urban consumers, and farmers and rural people, do not blame each other for this lack of trust, with respondents showing a sophisticated understanding of challenges such as climate change, high prices, farm debt and increasingly tight regulations. Instead, people across regions tend to point the finger at the government, media and supermarkets, who they consider to be creating or promoting an urban-rural divide. “More than half of urban respondents claimed that supermarkets are the most influential source of information about farming,” Beban said. “Neither urban nor rural consumers believe supermarkets are fulfilling their responsibilities to farmers.” Likewise, rural people believe that the government isn’t fulfilling its responsibilities to farming, highlighting interference and regulation that is not effective, clear, or practical. “There are diverse views of farming across urban, rural, and farming communities,” Reid said. “But we all agree that the benefits of food and jobs that Continued page 3

SOMETHING’S

WRONG INHD10/23

WITH THIS

PICTURE.

Tiptoeing through the tulips People have been ﬂocking to Edendale, Southland in recent weeks to catch a look at the spectacular tulip paddocks in full bloom. Southland tulip grower Triﬂor New Zealand grows 110ha of tulips, mainly for northern hemisphere markets. Full report in next week’s Farmers Weekly. Photo: Gerhard Uys

No sweat to turn woolshed to woolshred Converting a woolshed into a gym was a labour of love for South Canterbury farmer, nutritionist and trainer Abby McKerchar.

PEOPLE 18 NZ could continue to face stiff competition from Australian sheepmeat exports.

The country’s next agriculture minister shapes as a key government appointment.

Scion incentivises local tech to ﬁnd a solution to the problem of forestry debris.

MARKETS 4

POLITICS 5

TECHNOLOGY 19

The tractor’s insured for more than they are. Insuring key assets on your farm like vehicles, machinery and buildings is a given. But what about yourself and your family? If one of you becomes ill, disabled or even dies, what decisions would you need to make, and what support would you need? With FMG Life & Health cover, your family and your business can be looked after should the worst happen. To find out how, go to fmg.co.nz/picture, or call us on 0800 366 466.

We’re here for the good of the country.

New Zealand’s most trusted source of agricultural news and information

Get in touch

Advertise

EDITORIAL

SALES CONTACTS

Bryan Gibson | 06 323 1519 Managing Editor bryan.gibson@agrihq.co.nz

Andy Whitson | 027 626 2269 Sales & Marketing Manager andy.whitson@agrihq.co.nz

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13

Craig Page | 03 470 2469 Deputy Editor craig.page@agrihq.co.nz

Andrew Fraser | 027 706 7877 Auckland/Northland Partnership Manager steve.mclaren@agrihq.co.nz

People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Claire Robertson Sub-Editor claire.robertson@agrihq.co.nz

Jody Anderson | 027 474 6094 Waikato/Bay of Plenty Partnership Manager jody.anderson@agrihq.co.nz

Neal Wallace | 03 474 9240 Journalist neal.wallace@agrihq.co.nz

Palak Arora | 027 474 6095 Lower North Island Partnership Manager palak.arora@agrihq.co.nz

Gerald Piddock | 027 486 8346 Journalist gerald.piddock@agrihq.co.nz

Omid Rafyee | 027 474 6091 South Island Partnership Manager omid.rafyee@agrihq.co.nz

Annette Scott | 021 908 400 Journalist annette.scott@agrihq.co.nz

Debbie Brown | 06 323 0765 Marketplace Partnership Manager classifieds@agrihq.co.nz

Hugh Stringleman | 09 432 8594 Journalist hugh.stringleman@agrihq.co.nz

Andrea Mansfield | 027 602 4925 National Livestock Manager livestock@agrihq.co.nz

Richard Rennie | 027 475 4256 Journalist richard.rennie@agrihq.co.nz Nigel Stirling | 021 136 5570 Journalist nigel.g.stirling@gmail.com

PRODUCTION Lana Kieselbach | 027 739 4295 production@agrihq.co.nz

ADVERTISING MATERIAL

Contents Opinion . . . . . . . . . . 14-17 Technology . . . . . . . . . . 19 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Federated Farmers 21-24 Real Estate . . . . . . . 25-37 Marketplace . . . . . . . . . 38 Livestock . . . . . . . . . 39-45 Markets . . . . . . . . . . 46-51 Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

0800 85 25 80 subs@agrihq.co.nz

PUBLISHERS Dean and Cushla Williamson Phone: 027 323 9407 dean.williamson@agrihq.co.nz cushla.williamson@agrihq.co.nz

PO Box 529, Feilding 4740, New Zealand Phone: 0800 85 25 80 Website: www.farmersweekly.co.nz

PRINTER Printed by Stuff Ltd Delivered by Reach Media Ltd

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

Simon Robertson has resigned as chair and as an independent director of Synlait. Robertson’s resignation is effective immediately and comes after the company entered into mediation with the a2 Milk Company over the cancellation of its exclusive manufacturing and supply rights agreement in early October.

Fertiliser prices Global fertiliser prices are expected to settle in 2024 following market volatility and record-high prices of recent years. This is despite the uncertainty posed by the Israel-Hamas conflict as it currently stands, Rabobank says in its semi-annual fertiliser outlook report. While escalating tensions in the Middle East create some uncertainty, the current impact for the food and agri sectors is manageable.

Heilala Vanilla has been crowned Supreme winner at the New Zealand Food Awards for its Alcohol-Free Vanilla Paste. The other big winner was Wattie’s Tomato Sauce, which was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. KiwiHarvest was named the 2022 Food Hero winner. The company rescues between 170,000-200,000kg of surplus food monthly and gives it to people who are struggling.

Word Only Advertising | 0800 85 25 80 Marketplace wordads@agrihq.co.nz

Farmers Weekly is Published by AgriHQ

Synlait resignation

Top food

Real Estate | 0800 85 25 80 realestate@agrihq.co.nz

Entries open

Supply to: adcopy@agrihq.co.nz

SUBSCRIPTIONS

News in brief

OPPORTUNITY: NZ Grain and Seed Trade Association general manager Thomas Chin says the Asian Seed Congress in Christchurch next month will be a huge opportunity to showcase the NZ seed industry. STORY P9

Entries for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest series have opened for 2024. Between February and April next year, seven regional final competitions will be held across the country. Those who top their field will qualify for a spot in the national final which will be held in Hamilton between July 11 and 13, 2024.

Automatic teat spraying. An extra pair of hands. Why manually spray when you can free up time with GEA’s on-platform teat sprayer. Ready to integrate into your rotary system, each cow receives the right amount of teat spray after milking - without having someone at cups off. And you can actually save on animal health costs, which will help you get payback even faster. You may as well do it right if you’re going to do it anyway. And there’s nothing better than an extra pair of hands.

Scan the QR code to learn more about the iSPRAY4 on-platform automatic teat sprayer.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

New tech brings GHG meter to farm gate Gerald Piddock

TECHNOLOGY

Emissions

ORTABLE accumulation chambers designed to measure methane emissions from cattle are the latest tool developed by AgResearch for the primary sector’s ﬁght to ﬁnd ways to reduce its climate impact. The chambers allow scientists to bring this new technology to the farm, enabling farmers to accurately measure their herd. These measures will help farmers understand what the climate change impact is from their herd and individual animals, and assist in breeding lower emitting animals. For the beef industry, it could be extremely useful because it can measure beef cattle in an industry where the animals are almost always kept outside on pasture, AgResearch senior scientist Dr Suzanne Rowe said. “It would take an hour – you bring them in, you measure them and put them back out again. It’s really hitting the numbers because up until now, cattle have not been able to hit the numbers.

DON’T MIND THE GAP: Recognising the sector’s benefits does not equate to greater trust or knowledge about farming, rural scientist Dr Janet Reid says.

“We have been able to hit the numbers in sheep and we have been able to do small numbers in cattle, but nothing at scale. “This will offer scale in a way that we have never had before.” Rowe said it is the ﬁrst time a portable system for measuring methane emissions has been developed. “We’ve built a relatively simple chamber that can go where the animals are. The cow walks into the chamber and we capture all of the gas that’s emitted from that animal for just one hour. We then use this data to rank animals according to their emissions. “We’ve been doing this for many years with sheep, with thousands of measures on farms around New Zealand, and we’ve been able to prove that is an accurate and effective method.” The welfare of the animals is monitored when using these portable chambers for both cattle and sheep, and in the rare event they become stressed they are removed from the chambers. The chambers are designed to be transported by road to farms or central locations where the cattle can be quickly and efﬁciently tested to see how much methane

they naturally emit. They could also be used for measuring feed intake, feed efﬁciency or to test different grazing strategies, forage or pasture species and the methane that is produced. “That feed information is also going to be really valuable as a management tool as well as using the methane information. “It gives us a choice. It gives us an alternative to either sitting back and accepting the average that the animal emits and paying for that or cutting stock numbers.” The chambers rank the animals as high or low emitters, making it a valuable tool to validate low methane as an EBV trait in the beef industry and as a BW trait in the dairy industry. For the dairy industry, Rowe sees it being used as a supporting tool for the dairy genetics companies as they look to develop low methaneemitting cows. It will allow companies such as CRV and LIC to validate their bulls by measuring the emissions of their daughters. This could rapidly speed up the process for developing bulls with breeding worth values around lowmethane emissions.

Continued from page 1

buying food, Beban said. She said there were “a lot of people who felt that there should be more focus on feeding New Zealanders ﬁrst”. About a third of the farmers surveyed strongly agreed with this, although a quarter believed the export focus should remain the priority.

farming provides are valuable for New Zealand. “People genuinely desire engagement in dialogue and want trust and connection. Farmers, government, supermarkets, agribusiness, primary sector organisations and urban people all have a role in building this connection.” Reid said the farming sector needs to focus on communicating clearly. “The public wants assurances and conﬁdence that the sector is sustainably farming and is being environmentally responsible.” One key factor in people’s attitudes to farming is the cost of

COMBAT Parasites + Coccidiosis in a single dose

Neither urban nor rural consumers believe supermarkets are fulﬁlling their responsibilities to farmers. Dr Alice Beban Massey University

PORTABLE: AgResearch have created a portable accumulation chamber that can travel to farms or research facilities to enable farmers and scientists to speed up how quickly they can measure cattle emissions.

The chambers offer beneﬁts to other nations that farm livestock and there has already been interest from abroad, she said. “Our portable sheep chambers are now in use in other countries such as the UK, supporting their efforts to reduce farm emissions. “We are looking forward to trialling the portable cattle chambers overseas, particularly in countries where they have

extensive grazing systems and don’t have the infrastructure such as ﬁxed respiration chambers that we are fortunate to have in New Zealand.” The immediate next step is to work alongside the dairy companies and validate the bull measures they have completed so far, and work with Beef + Lamb NZ’s beef progeny tests to get lowmethane breeding values available to farmers.

Māori respondents on average disagreed with the statement that the farming sector is fulﬁlling its responsibilities to Māori, while other ethnicities also disagreed with this statement, but less strongly. New Zealanders across ethnicities were positive about buying food from Māori-owned and -operated farms. Creating deeper connections between communities is vital, Reid said. “If we’re looking at how we can improve connections, one of the challenges – but also I think the opportunity – is how do we get those personal connections between the farmers and the growers and our primary sector

and the consumers who may not be related, or may not have those personal experiences?” Beban agreed, saying that people need to feel like they are genuinely being listened to. “There was a real distrust of PR spin. And so I think it is difﬁcult for the farming sector – it’s not just about telling their story, but it’s also about engaging with people and clear consistent communication that listens to the public point of view.” To help foster this, the researchers are holding an interactive exhibition in Palmerston North in November and hope to take it on the road after that.

PROUDLY

OWNED

INITIAL THE PROVEN WAY TO WEAN. Stage one of the TURBO 3-stage Cattle Drench Programme. Exclusive to veterinary practices nationwide. TURBO® is a registered trademark of Alleva Animal Health Ltd. TURBO Initial (A011703) is a registered pursuant to the ACVM Act 1997. See www.foodsafety.govt.nz for registration conditions.

alleva.co.nz

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

News

Vast Aus ﬂock a threat to sheepmeat sales Neal Wallace

MARKETS

Beef and sheep

EW Zealand could face stiff competition from Australian sheepmeat exports for a couple more years. Following three years of aboveaverage rainfall, the Australian ﬂock has grown to 78.75 million, the largest since 2007, of which 46 million are ewes. This has prompted Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) to forecast that sheepmeat production will remain high for the next two years. An inﬂux of higher volumes of Australian sheepmeat onto weak global markets, especially China and the United States, is keeping prices low with little prospects of an early reprieve. In its July update, MLA forecast a sharp lift in production and slaughter volumes, with 21.9 million lambs available for slaughter this year, rising to 22.4 million next year, the highest since 2018, but easing slightly to 22.2 million in 2025. The sheep slaughter is also

expected to increase in the next three years, from 7.8 million this year to 8.7 million next year and 9.8 million in 2025. In September Australia exported 31,503 tonnes of lamb and 16,435t of mutton, up 26% and 30% respectively from September last year. Tim Jackson, a Global Supply Analyst at MLA, said regular rain in the past three years has allowed the ﬂock to be rebuilt. “MLA’s July Sheep Industry Projections currently forecast sheepmeat production of 737 million tonnes in 2023, rising to 765 million tonnes in 2024. “Export volumes have remained strong, as exports to China and the Middle East and North Africa region have grown substantially over 2023. “Exports to the United States have been softer this year than in 2022, but prices in the US market have largely held.” Saleyard demand and prices have eased. “Prices have eased substantially over the past year, especially for mutton and re-stocker lambs,” he said. “The sheep ﬂock is at its largest since 2007, processor

SLAUGHTER: The Australian sheep slaughter is expected to increase in the next three years, from 7.8 million this year to 9.8 million in 2025. capacity is somewhat limited by labour constraints, and changed weather patterns over the past year have all contributed to easing prices.” The mutton indicator price has fallen since November last year from AUS455c/kg/cwt, with the average price of $129/head, to 103c/kg/cwt and an average price of $30/head this week. Over the same period the trade lamb indicator has slipped from AUS812c/kg/cwt and an average price of $193/head to 490c/kg/cwt and an average price $116/head. Bottlenecks are developing at meat processing plants as they struggle to ﬁnd staff, and these have been accentuated by rapidly drying conditions in Queensland and northern New South Wales. The main sheep farming areas

of southern New South Wales and Victoria have had regular rain but there is concern about the impact of the looming El Niño weather system. “The Bureau of Meteorology [BoM] has announced an El Niño weather event and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, both indicators of dryer conditions in Australia,” Jackson said. “The BoM is currently forecasting a relatively hot, dry summer, in contrast to the cooler, wetter conditions we’ve seen over the past few years. Thirty years ago the Australian domestic market took 60% of sheepmeat production. Now it accounts for a third as exporters chase higher paying international markets. But weaker prices are fuelling domestic demand.

“The sales performance of Australian lamb and beef in the domestic market is very strong, with both proteins growing in sales volume and overall value,” Jackson said. Meanwhile, a petition organised by the US-based lobby group R-Calf USA was this week sent to the US Trade Representative asking for an investigation into whether the volume of imported lamb and mutton is causing “serious injury to the domestic sheep industry”. The petitioners note that between 2018-2022, US consumption of lamb and mutton increased 17% but US sheep and lamb inventory fell 4%. The letter states imported sheepmeat increased 31% between 2018 and 2022.

Varsities need to wrap their brains around agriculture Annette Scott

NEWS

Education HAVING well-educated people to take New Zealand’s land-based industries into the future is a priority for Lincoln University as it helps to address the shortage of a suitably skilled primary sector future workforce. In his address to a NZ Institute of Agricultural and Horticulture Science forum, Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor Grant Edwards focused on building human capital that will drive NZ socially, culturally and economically into the future. “One of the most immediate threats for our agriculture and horticulture production systems is the availability of people with appropriate skill sets to address the major disrupters and enablers

DRAW: The rebuilt Lincoln campus, including this stateof-the-art science facility, is proving an attracter and retainer of students.

distinctive to NZ farming systems; those of climate, markets, global shifts and technology,” Edwards said. “My simple premise is that we need more graduates with appropriate skill sets to grow a resilient, more productive economy while protecting and restoring the environment.” The future of the land-based sector won’t look the same as it has traditionally. “As the sector is transforming to meet the demands of a changing world. Issues like biosecurity, climate change and animal welfare require us to ﬁnd new ways to work,” he said. “Growing populations, complex trade and a move toward sustainability pose new challenges that the sector needs to respond to. “As the sector evolves to

meet these challenges, so will the need for graduates skilled in engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence and other technological areas. “Skills will also need to manage wellbeing and need an understanding of sustainability, Te Ao Māori and Māori values.” There are many reviews pointing to significant issues regarding the land-based sector workforce, Edwards said. “We have an ageing workforce in the productive sector, industry demand for graduates is rarely met and the skill sets required are becoming more complicated.” National tertiary student numbers for 2022 show 5955 agriculture and horticulture, environmental, forestry and fisheries students in the tertiary education system at Level 7, undergraduate degree. That is just 4.2% of the total 141,755 students and in comparison, there are 4730, or 3%, doing performing arts and more than 12,000, 8%, in communication and media studies. At Level 10, just 180 of the 10,000 PhD students are in the land-based industries. So what are the steps to encourage more students into agriculture and horticulturerelated studies to meet the needs of the industry’s growing demand for more skilled graduates? “At Lincoln University we are making a difference,

mostly directed toward getting students to enrol and complete qualifications, working hard to impact accessibility, affordability, availability and relevance. “Our mahi and investment have gone firstly into improving accessibility whereby 12.5% of students study online and have no touch point with campus.” Lincoln is providing a fee waiver to domestic postgraduate students, so removing the cost barrier to study and to help meet growing need for experts in the food, fibre and environmental sectors. “Students have responded strongly to this.” The university is constantly refining and modifying its programme offering, he said, drawing heavily on industry input as to what skills are required in the future workforce and ensuring students work within a researchrich environment that is globally connected. The rebuilt campus is also proving both an attracter and retainer of students. “Put together we hope to contribute to resilience by producing Lincoln graduates that arrive at their careers globally connected, forward thinking and ready to shape tomorrow.” Despite the significant challenges that NZ’s tertiary sector has and is still facing, Edwards said, Lincoln’s growth trajectory continues with 45% growth in the

RESPOND: Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor Grant Edwards says growing populations, complex trade and a move toward sustainability pose challenges that the land-based industry sector needs to respond to. domestic student population since 2019 and the current headcount, at 4100, the largest the university has experienced. Lincoln has the highest employment rate of the NZ universities with 84% of its graduates in full employment within six months of leaving the university. The amount of funding is not adequate for tertiary education and this, together with greater international student support, are key points Edwards wants on the agenda to address with the incoming government.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Who will fill ag’s seat in new cabinet? Neal Wallace

POLITICS

Agriculture

HE appointment of New Zealand’s next agriculture minister is looming as one of prime minister-elect Christopher Luxon’s more politically sensitive portfolio allocations. Primary sector leaders expect Todd McClay, the party’s agriculture spokesperson, to be given the role of minister for primary industries, but there are questions over whether he will also have trade. He was also the party’s spokesperson and was minister from 2015-17. Agriculture and Trade Minister Damien O’Connor currently holds both portfolios. Eric Roy, a former National Party MP, assistant Speaker of the House and Southland farmer, said his party has worked hard to reconnect with its traditional agricultural support base, a constituency also targeted by ACT. He said ACT believes it can capture farmer support given simmering anger at legislative changes implemented by Labour, the rise of Groundswell and Andrew Hoggard’s switch from Federated Farmers president to ACT politician. “ACT will want to lock in that rural base rather than rely on what you could call its urban well-todo liberals. They want to broaden their base.” While the final makeup of the incoming government awaits the outcome of special votes and ongoing coalition talks, Roy said Luxon could potentially use an under-secretary or associate agriculture role to accommodate a coalition partner. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said Luxon is unlikely to give the role of agriculture minister to a coalition partner, given the party’s effort to recapture the rural vote and its

large intake of rural MPs at this election. He said McClay is the likely front runner for the role, and his seniority may also assist Langford’s other hope – that agriculture becomes a front bench portfolio. Nicola Grigg, National’s spokesperson for rural communities, animal welfare, biosecurity, food safety and women, and associate agriculture spokesperson, has reportedly performed well despite only entering Parliament in 2020. Former National Party agriculture minister David Carter said Grigg deserves an associate minister role. “She has done well, she is well connected to rural NZ and has aspirations of being an agriculture minister,” he said. However, promotion for Grigg could become a victim of the needs of forming a coalition. He believes McClay deserves to have both the agriculture and trade portfolios. “My guess is that trade and agriculture will stay together with McClay, who I think has done a credible job since taking on agriculture.” Both ACT and NZ First, with whom Luxon will potentially form a coalition, have high profile agriculture leaders in ACT’s Hoggard and second-term MP Mark Cameron, while Mark Paterson is a second-term NZ First MP and a former president of Otago Federated Farmers. Based on the election night results 18, or 15%, of the 120 Members of Parliament now have direct links to farming or horticulture. Trade sector leaders are comfortable with having a minister for both trade and agriculture, saying an understanding of agricultural production is of benefit in trade negotiations. Catherine Beard, Export NZ’s advocacy director, said as a former trade minister, McClay would hit

RIDING HIGH: Todd McClay is expected to be given the role of minister for primary industries, but there are questions over whether he will also have trade.

the ground running if he were reappointed to the role. She said agriculture has not been well understood in Wellington. “The agricultural sector would gain from a minister of trade who can see an end result of where goods go, what the challenges are and the importance to the goods of the operating environment and people who produce those goods.” The two portfolios come with a heavy workload, but Beard said it can be done by the right individual with support from associates. Stephen Jacobi, executive director of the NZ International Business Forum, said trade and agriculture are indelibly linked, with the Ministry for Primary Industries overseeing product quality, standards and certification. The workload will be heavy, especially as the incoming prime minister wants to grow the economy through greater trade opportunities, but also because several international trade agreements are looking to expand, needing renewal or will be subject to new agreements. Jacobi said exporters want a minister who will travel regularly, hustle for them and lead trade missions to do the groundwork for expanded trade. “We want a very busy trade minister.”

PGW chair tempers earnings expectations Neal Wallace

NEWS

Business LISTED rural servicing company PGG Wrightson has revised down its forecast operating earnings, citing low farmer confidence, economic volatility and subdued international markets. In an update to the New Zealand Stock Exchange, acting chair U Kean Seng advised that the company is forecasting operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the current financial year of around $52 million. Last year’s full-year operating EBITDA was $61.2m. Trading in the first quarter of this financial year was behind last year due to economic conditions, a lack of confidence among farmers and growers and a subdued real estate market. He said medium- to longterm sector fundamentals remain strong but described the current operating

environment as “challenging”. “However, it is early in our financial year, and we will be in a better position to assess the full year forecast again after the spring trading period.” In addition to the economic volatility, he said NZ’s monetary policy is being felt with inflation levels beginning to trend lower but higher interest rates raising borrowing costs. While some parts of the country are recovering from last summer’s cyclones, there is concern about the potential for drought conditions in the coming months from the El Niño weather pattern. Export demand from key export markets have declined and China’s subdued economic recovery is hampering confidence, which is making farmers and growers cautious. While this year is a challenging year, he said that is balanced by strong medium- to longer-term fundamentals and an expecting improvement in the economies of key export markets as demand for protein grows.

Lamb Growth Paparata Priority This kill sheet is of Paparata ram

lambs

Mating date of mothers is

April

2022. .

Finished on Paparata hills

Over

gain

Ram Hgts

300

day live weight

times Te uiti Meat

Processors supplier of the year

1 - 1 0

Also F testing

testing since

www.paparata.co.nz

hgt lambing

scanning

ow methane emission testing

Please see website for more info

Awards Partner

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards:

Ballance Science & Research Award Low Methane Sheep Genetics Programme

Datamars Livestock Technology Award Silver Fern Farms/Lynker Net Carbon Zero Mapping Tool

Gallagher Innovative Farming Award Repost Ltd

Silver Fern Farms Market Leader Award Pearl Veal

AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award Amy Hoogenboom

Rabobank People Development Award New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust

FMG Rural Champion Award Surfing For Farmers

Alliance Significant Contribution Award Tom Fraser

B+LNZ Regional Leadership Award Ben Ensor

Look out for information about the 2024 B+LNZ Awards at beeflambnz.com/awards

Category Partners

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Spotlight to go on Green as growers vent Richard Rennie

NEWS

Horticulture

ONCERNS over Green kiwifruit grower’s returns, costs and the fruit’s future have prompted New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated to give orchardists the opportunity to air their issues with industry leaders in coming weeks. This season the majority of Green growers will fail to make a proﬁt and in some cases will fail to break even, having experienced two back-to-back challenging seasons.

I think that gap is likely to only get wider as SunGold continues to grow, while Green stays static. Colin Bond NZKGI Two years ago the sector was hit by a major labour shortage that contributed to signiﬁcant quality issues, while last year seasonal challenges included a late spring frost, ﬂoods and storm damage, which severely impacted volumes. At the start of this year Green growers had 50c a tray sliced off last year’s crop due to ongoing quality issues, having already suffered a $1.95 tray reduction last August. In total the variety faced a downgrade of $2.80 a tray on quality grounds, or almost $180 million. NZ Kiwifruit Growers

Incorporated (NZKGI) CEO Colin Bond said a Green grower symposium intends to share the results of a grower survey that was prompted by the tough times, and put forward industry leaders from across the sector for growers to discuss concerns. There are also concerns over how much Green would be eclipsed by SunGold, its higher value cousin, in coming years. “As a proportion of total fruit, Green is now under well less than 50%, with SunGold at about 100 million trays and Green only about 50 million. I think that gap is likely to only get wider as SunGold continues to grow, while Green stays static,” Bond said. He said despite current challenges, Green still represents a good horticultural return compared to most crops and growers will have the opportunity get under the hood on its future. The symposium will be held in Te Puke and Katikati, with the Te Puke seminar also available online. Traditionally Green has held strong appeal in European markets. But traditional Green markets such as Spain are also experiencing strong growth for SunGold’s uniformly appealing taste. “The challenge with Green is that the costs you incur are not a lot different from SunGold, and as SunGold demand grows, it will see greater demand for resources to that variety.” Labour costs, which have seen a major increase in recent years, are relatively indifferent between the varieties. Bond was coy about releasing

STALLING: With Green volumes likely to stall in coming years, the crop’s growers want to know where the future lies for their fruit, says Colin Bond, CEO of NZKGI. the survey’s results before running the symposium over November 8 and 9. “But we can say we will have Zespri coming to talk about the market and category’s future and potential new cultivars. Kiwifruit NZ will also be there to discuss the collaborative programme and how Green is performing in that.” Post-harvest processors will also be available to answer concerns about whether Green still ﬁts into

post-harvest business models. “The simple answer to that is ‘Yes it does.’ Its timing means they get better utilisation of their packing plant and equipment.” After attending the recent international kiwifruit conference in Chile, Bond said he had come back realising the issues NZ growers have are shared by growers across the world. “The top three challenges identiﬁed two years ago were

labour, regulations and climate change. Now climate change is top of the list.” He said delegates also agreed that Zespri’s marketing efforts had helped grow the entire kiwifruit category globally by providing a good consumer eating experience. “But the challenge there is to maintain our standards as countries like Chile get more growers on board for lifting quality standards.”

Gabrielle took a bite out of fruit and veg exports Richard Rennie

NEWS

Horticulture THE horticultural data update, Fresh Facts, has highlighted some of the impacts Cyclone Gabrielle had on the sector this year, and efforts to better respond to such events in future. The Fresh Facts 2023 report on fruit and vegetable production also identiﬁes some shifts in planting patterns in New Zealand. Land put into processed potatoes has dropped 20% to 3902ha, while the area committed to table potato production has lifted from 3000ha to 3600ha in the past year.

Gabrielle had a material impact on 45% of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne apple orchards in February at a critical time prior to harvest. Fresh Facts 2023

PICKED: The latest Fresh Facts report highlights the slide in potatogrowing area, the surge in cherries and variable results for kiwifruit sales.

Over the past ﬁve years, however, total potato production has dropped by almost 2000ha, and 108,000t of produce. The report notes Gabrielle had a material impact on 45% of

Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne apple orchards in February at a critical time prior to harvest. However, in Hawke’s Bay this left 4400ha or 53% not affected, and able to be picked, packed, and exported successfully. Data has been collected from 30 orchards across Hawke’s Bay to build a better understanding of the cyclone’s impact and how growers can mitigate against future risk. Other key growing regions, including Waikato, Canterbury and Nelson-Marlborough, were left untouched by the weather event. Gabrielle hit the apple sector after a period of exceptional growth, where the area planted had been increasing at a rate of 3.5% a year between 2012 and 2020, and growing in value by 12.5% a year. Despite the impact of Gabrielle, the entire sector still managed to export $99 million of product, a lift of $4.4m from the year before. Gabrielle’s impact on the lucrative squash crop was also evident in the Fresh Facts statistics, with a reported 3830ha of crop planted, well down on the usual 5500-6500ha planted in the past four years. Total volume was almost half the usual at 32,000t. This came as both Japan and South Korea reported

strong growth in demand in the past two years. Of summer fruit, the statistics on cherries reveal an increase in plantings of the fruit over the past few years as new crops come on line for harvest. Total hectares in 2023 were up 5% on 2022, and current area is 70% greater now than in 2019. The sector is reporting that 55% of production is for export, which generates 75% of the sector’s value, with the main markets of Taiwan, Vietnam and China dominating. The report has been taken over by United Fresh from HortNZ and Plant & Food. The New Zealand panproduce sector group covers the production, wholesale, retail and service sectors of the fresh produce industry. Fresh Facts’ new publication date of September means it now more thoroughly covers the sector’s main growing season for more produce. Overall, the report reveals a mixed year for the country’s produce exports, with Green kiwifruit back $220m in 2022, while Gold was up $80m and avocado sales fell by $31m or 28%. Overall fresh produce exports totalled $4.5 billion for 2023, compared to almost $5bn in 2022.

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

News

Ireland visit a wake-up call for NZ agriculture Richard Rennie

TECHNOLOGY

Emissions

N AGRITECH New Zealand delegation to Ireland has seen how the Emerald Isle’s efforts around carbon emissions could eclipse NZ’s in a few short years as farmers there respond to processor and retailer demands.

Everyone is moving very fast in the direction of greater sustainability and we do risk falling behind. Brendan O’Connell AgriTech NZ AgriTechNZ CEO Brendan O’Connell headed up the 20-plus delegation in early October as it visited Ireland to compare and contrast agritech advances, and build relationships with its Irish counterparts. “When it comes to agritech itself, the two countries are pretty much even Stevens in terms of where they are at, although

Ireland has the advantage of being much closer to large markets,” O’Connell told Farmers Weekly. “There is, however, more understanding in Ireland about the need to reduce emissions and respond to sustainability demands from processors. No one is really questioning that at all in Ireland. We were told by the Irish dairy industry head the marketplace was going to move faster than the government was.” The entire agri sector is working through the implications of Scope 3 emissions with the target being a 30% reduction across all emissions by 2030. Irish farmers’ target is a 25% reduction in emissions by 2030, a sharp contrast to NZ’s 10% – whose pathway is still being debated in the primary sector. “There is a danger there that we could fall behind on this,” O’Connell said. He said Tesco, Waitrose, Nestlé and Danone are the big four inﬂuencers around carbon reduction demands. “They are all making very clear statements about their trajectories. The marketplace

We are here to support your rural business. Talk to your local Rural team today. ASB rural banking 0800 787 252

ASB Bank limited 56160 26789 0823

will be moving faster than any government.” He was impressed with efforts by the Irish primary sector research and extension body Teagasc, which developed the marginal abatement cost curve (MACC). MACC is a model for identifying the most cost-effective pathway for different farming systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is now in its third iteration, with the first published a decade ago. The latest version has identified three scenarios the agricultural sector could pursue and offers different pathways to fulfil them, with varying adoption rates. “This can give a realistic outline of possible reductions, plans to achieve them and timelines. We came away impressed that there was a very strong focus on what was being developed with a scientific perspective being taken by Teagasc. “The department of agriculture then uses such tools to develop their policies.” He noted NZ’s approach via He Waka Eke Noa appeared to have become more political. “But the Irish were impressed by our AgriZero initiative,

FEELING GREEN: Agritech NZ CEO Brendan O’Connell says there is a real risk of NZ failing to keep up with the likes of Ireland in efforts to better mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. although they noted it was probably something we should have started ﬁve years ago.” AgriZero is a pan-industry investment body aiming to accelerate the development of tools that will be effective in pasture-based farming for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Key players include Rabobank, Ravensdown, Synlait, ANZCO, Fonterra and Silver Fern Farms, all working with the

Ministry for Primary Industries. O’Connell was conﬁdent the visit will spark greater research collaboration between the two countries and open more funding to NZ research bodies through the Horizon Europe R&D funding programme aiming at tackling climate change. “Everyone is moving very fast in the direction of greater sustainability and we do risk falling behind.”

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Seed industry postpones shift to digital Annette Scott

TECHNOLOGY

Seeds

HE New Zealand Seeds Authority has delayed the launch of the Seed Certification Information System for the 2024 growing and harvest season. The Seed Certification Information System (SCIS) has been undergoing its biggest upgrade in more than 30 years with the world-first quality control system and new digital database planned to come into effect for NZ cropping farmers in the new season’s seed harvest. Industry spokesperson Thomas Chin said crops planted this season for harvesting in 2024 were to have been the first to be entered in the new system. But with time having run out for the required training and engagement of all seed growers and seed processors before harvest begins in late November this year, the launch has been delayed.

Rigorous certification has resulted in our industry enjoying significant premiums for its certified seed in our domestic and international markets. Thomas Chin NZGSTA The delay will only be for a few months, as crop entries for sowing of crops in the new production cycle for the 2025 harvest will start early next year

GROUND BREAKING: Crops planted this season for harvesting in 2024 will be the first to be entered in the new Seed Certification Information System.

and these will be administered in the SCIS. For the 2024 harvest AsureQuality will administer field inspections and issue grower declaration paperwork in the usual manner to growers for delivery of seed to processing stores at harvest. All operating processes for seed processor Ministry Approved Organisations (MAOs) will remain as they are. A significant change coming into effect in 2024 is that certification charges for certified crops from the 2024 harvest will be invoiced by the New Zealand Seeds Authority (NZSA) instead of AsureQuality. This is so the NZSA can begin recovering costs for the development of SCIS and start paying back industry organisations that have provided funding for its development.

This certification fee will replace the current Certification Charge and Seed Test Levy that appears on AsureQuality invoices. This charge is expected to be between 2.75c and 3c/kg for growers. The same or a slightly higher charge will be applied to seed companies, following a final reconciliation of how much each sector has already contributed to SCIS development. Chin said the biggest change users of the new system will notice is the complete removal of paper-based application forms with all administration completed online. Growers will also find that the system has lots of smart tools to help them check the eligibility of their crop applications for certification and to manage the information needed when they

deliver their harvested crops into processing stores. Certiﬁcation assures the customer that the purchased seed retains varietal identity, genetic purity and high quality standards. While it is anticipated there may be some learning challenges, farmers are assured that seed company agents have had training and will be able to give one-onone coaching after the system goes live. The new SCIS has been funded directly by value chain stakeholders as well as investment from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. Seed crops ranging from arable crops to brassicas, herbage grasses and legumes are checked throughout the growing cycle by growers, merchants and AsureQuality ﬁeld inspectors

to ensure good quality control, consistency and genetic purity. Once harvested the seed is sampled and analysed by government-accredited laboratories to assess germination and purity. The top certified seed crops are ryegrass, clover and cocksfoot. Interim statistics show the total area of certified seed in NZ is about 44,000ha. An analysis of the different varietal groups shows herbage and amenity grasses represent about 70% of the total certification area, with legumes at about 16%, brassicas 8% and arable crops 5%. Seed certification was introduced in 1929 to ensure that cultivars of key agricultural plant species maintain their identity through successive generations of multiplication for the ultimate benefit of end users. Chin said NZ’s high quality seed is respected both at home and abroad because of a highly capable industry applying rigorous certification standards and processes. “This has resulted in our industry enjoying significant premiums for its certified seed in our domestic and international markets.” Owned by the NZSA, a body representing farmers, seed companies and seed processors, the platform is thought to be the first in the world to utilise digital mapping technology to verify the area, location and paddock history of certified seed crops. “This feature reinforces the global status NZ has as being a trusted producer of seed that is true to type,” Chin said.

1000 registered as global seed showcase comes to Canty Annette Scott

NEWS

Seeds

THE countdown is on for the international seed congress, the most significant event on the Asia and Pacific industry calendar, and coming to New Zealand for the first time in its 28-year history. Up to 1500 international seed trade professionals are expected for the 28th Asian Seed Congress co-organised by the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance and the NZ Grain and Seed Trade Association (NZGSTA). The event will be held at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre from November 20 to 24, and will be the biggest event the centre has hosted to date. NZGSTA general manager Thomas Chin said the congress will be a huge opportunity to showcase the NZ seed industry. “The industry is looking forward to co-hosting and demonstrating to global customers NZ’s highquality seed and production systems,” Chin said. “The congress and its associated events are conveniently located within Canterbury, the seed hub of the country.” Since its inauguration in 1994

in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the annual event has been hosted in numerous key cities in the region, including New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Brisbane, Shanghai, Bali, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Chiba, Seoul, Kobe, Macau, Kaohsiung, Manila, Pattaya and Bangkok.

We will ensure these delegates will get a show that will do our seed industry very proud on the international stage. Thomas Chin NZGSTA The exclusive event attracts key executives, officials, legislators, and scientists, who all have a stake in the development, production, distribution, regulation and trade of quality seeds. “With registrations already more than 1000, and not closed yet, we are delighted with the international support,” Chin said. The congress will feature technical sessions, field tours and networking and trading floors. “From India to China, Turkey to Australia, Kyrgyzstan to Sri

Lanka, Philippines to Pakistan, Thailand to Japan – the people that matter the most in the movement of quality seed across international borders continue to make the Asian Seed Congress a fundamental itinerary on their calendars.” Chin said NZ is a world leader in seed production with the industry supplying 60% of the world’s radish seed, 50% of white clover seed and 40% of its carrot seed, as well as some 40 other different cropping seed species. NZ seed exports to the Asia Paciﬁc region are worth $100 million a year. A big contingent is expected from China, the host nation for the event in 2024. “China is an important market for NZ and we are hopeful of making progress to reinstate our brassica seed market that we were excluded from about 12 years when we had a biosecurity issue with black leg on the seed. “NZ has now established protocol to mitigate this and recently re-engaged in discussions that we are hopeful of some progress at the congress towards reinstating the market.” Trading will be a key focus of the congress, with close to 200

OPPORTUNITY: NZ Grain and Seed Trade Association general manager Thomas Chin says the Asian Seed Congress will be a huge opportunity to showcase the NZ seed industry. tables on the exhibition ﬂoor where delegates will have the opportunity to negotiate business and connect with key contacts. Technical workshops and forums will cover the latest industry development and technology.

Tours across Canterbury will cover the seed production chain from breeding through to growers and seed processing. “We will ensure these delegates will get a show that will do our seed industry very proud on the international stage,” Chin said.

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Veal initiative takes out BLNZ award Charlie Williamson

PEOPLE Awards

HERE others saw the issue of bobby calves in the dairy industry as a serious problem, the winners of this year’s Market Leader award at the 2023 Beef+Lamb NZ Awards, Alan McDermott and Julia Galwey, saw an opportunity. The co-founders and business partners joined the dots between Kiwi dairy farmers and leading chefs in New Zealand and Japan, and set out to make pasture-raised veal a staple on their menus – and eventually those of chefs all over the world. Pearl Pastures contract farmers to pasture-raise dairy calves and have the animals processed for veal. McDermott said although veal is sometimes viewed as a second-class product, he has yet to meet a chef who doesn’t love the ingredient. “It’s actually a beautiful product, it’s absolutely incredible,” he said. “Anybody that eats it says it’s amazing. “People have even told me it’s

the best meat they’ve ever tasted.” Through an agreement with dairy farmers, after the calves are weaned they are either kept on the dairy farm where they were born to be pasture-raised, or they are sent to another farm to be ﬁnished. They are taken right through to 9-12 months, or 150kg carcase weight, after being reared and ﬁnished on a mixture of cow’s milk and pasture. From there they are processed and packaged at two different meat processors to be marketed and sold through Pearl Pastures. McDermott said there have been negative connotations around veal stemming from the coverage of bobby calves and poor practices around the world, but he thinks NZ is well-positioned to be a market leader. “There’s this perception that veal is a bobby calf and so from a customer perspective that is terrible, and then the other one is ‘Oh veal, that’s where you store little calves away in the dark in small pens’ and that’s also terrible,” he said. “But we [NZ dairy farmers] have

FOUNDERS: Pearl Pastures co-founders Alan McDermott and Julia Galwey at the Beef+Lamb New Zealand Awards.

incredibly high animal welfare outcomes, our calves are incredibly healthy, and as well as that the farmers that grow them just cannot believe how healthy they are compared to calves reared on milk powder.” Animal welfare is front and centre for Pearl Pastures, with McDermott saying it was the catalyst for the business. “It gives the dairy farmers an opportunity to do something a

bit different, and for the calves to have a life worth living,” he said. “Our focus is all about animal welfare, and that’s what drove us to do this. It’s that there has to be a better way. We can’t keep sending bobby calves to the factory at four days old, or killing them on the farm at zero days. “And then if we can create a beautiful product during that process, we should deﬁnitely do that.”

It gives the dairy farmers an opportunity to do something a bit different. Alan McDermott Pearl Pastures

Pork consumer appeal has it by a nose Staff reporter

TECHNOLOGY

Pork

NEW Zealand scientists have unlocked the secret to what makes great-tasting pork. NZPork commissioned AgResearch to examine how factors such as animal gender and muscle pH values affect the eating quality of New Zealand-born and -raised pork.

When cooked right, pork steaks and chops are incredibly tasty and juicy. Brent Kleiss NZPork

Consumer testing identified a preference for pork with normal pH levels of 5.52 to 5.65 – just slightly acidic. Pork with low pH achieved a less favourable score. Animal gender wasn’t found to influence eating quality for pigs with normal pH levels. However, when it came to pork with low pH levels, meat from entire males had the highest fail rate. The research also evaluated the most popular sensory characteristics of pork, with consumers reporting that aroma was the aspect of pork they most enjoy, followed by flavour, tenderness and then juiciness. The innovative eating quality project was led by AgResearch’s senior food scientist, Dr Carolina Realini. NZPork chief executive Brent

Kleiss said previous consumer studies by NZPork have shown that quality and price are the most important factors when deciding to buy pork. “These AgResearch ﬁndings provide valuable information and insights about how much pig gender and pH factors enhance or lessen the eating experience. “Building this better understanding of what leads to pork with attributes consumers enjoy the most will help farmers to continually provide top-quality New Zealand pork products that customers can rely on. “All parts of the supply chain have a part to play in improving and maintaining the quality of pork and we are committed to working with the sector to reduce the number of pork carcases with low pH.”

Realini said the consumer study involving 200 participants provided insights to construct a comprehensive profile of current consumer expectations regarding domestic fresh pork. “Consumers highlighted that juiciness plays a crucial role in shaping their overall pork-eating experience, in contrast to my experience working with other meats like beef or lamb, where tenderness and flavour often take precedence.” Kleiss said NZPork is working to ensure New Zealanders feel more confident about cooking pork steaks and chops with the goldstandard cooking method designed to produce perfect pork every time. “The 6+2+2 method is simple, easy to remember, and never fails to create succulent, juicy pork in just 10 minutes.

SMELLS GOOD: Research shows aroma is the aspect of pork consumers most enjoy, followed by flavour, tenderness and then juiciness. “Over a medium-high heat, fry your New Zealand pork steaks or chops for six minutes on one side. Flip them over and cook for two minutes on the other side. Then remove from the pan and rest them for two minutes.”

AVAILABLE NOW Boost Your Profits. Improve Water Quality.

LK0116645©

“Just a bit of feedback – they have survived... it’s a real kick seeing what they do to paddies...“ Peter Barrett – Linnburn Station, Central Otago (first release 2018).

Farming For Our Future Generations

Shaun 021 040 8685 shaun@dungbeetles.co.nz For more information or to order online go to www.dungbeetles.co.nz

Together, Creating the Best Soil and Food on Earth

Aaron Stafford, Ballance National Corporate Account Manager.

Setting up your farm for a strong El Niño year Forward planning is more essential than ever right now as we face reduced farm budgets and an El Niño summer ahead. In the latest Farmers Weekly In Focus podcast episode, Bryan Gibson chats to Aaron Stafford, Ballance National Corporate Account Manager, to find out what farmers can do to be ready. Here are some of the tips they discussed.

What does El Niño mean for farmers across the country?

What can farmers do right now to prepare?

The big thing is the abrupt change that we’re starting to see. As Aaron describes it, “The cycle has almost flipped on its head! To use a North Island example, we’ve gone from a very wet autumn and winter, and now we’re going into a windy dry phase. Pastures have lost a lot of nitrogen and sulphur over the winter period and now they’re looking quite stressed”. Of course, El Niño doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere. The lower South Island and the West Coast areas of both islands are likely to have more rainfall this summer.

Aaron has a number of suggestions to share. “If it’s likely to be dry in your area, there’s a window in spring which could be a good time to use nitrogen early. Ask yourself, can you take more silage or baleage? What crops can you get in the ground now to set yourself up for the drier period post-Christmas? Leverage what you can in the spring timeframe, while you’ve got the soil moisture there.” Aaron is also a big advocate for the role of legumes in supporting robust seasonal pasture systems. “Tightening your fertiliser budget can make sense as a short term strategy to manage cashflow, but not if it will impact on your legume base. With nitrogen caps, getting more from your natural clover system is more important than ever.”

Right product, right place, right time, right amount Remember the four Rs to help your fert budget go further. Right time: Apply nutrients, particularly N, earlier in the season for areas that could go dry. Right rate: Consider lower nutrient rates in the front third of the paddock, and higher rates at the rear. Right place: Maintain exclusion areas around high fertility areas like troughs and gateways. Right product: Aaron’s top tip in these windy spring conditions is to consider using SustaiN rather than urea, because wind drives ammonia loss, so you’re protecting the nitrogen you’re putting on.

We are here to help. Contact your Ballance Nutrient Specialist for farm specific advice or reach out to our Customer Services Team.

ballance.co.nz | 0800 222 090 BAL0033 Ballance Podcast Promo FW_380x262mm_4.indd 1

Seek local advice Ballance is always here to help farmers. If you don’t already have a relationship with your nutrient specialist, you can call the Ballance customer services team and they’ll put you in touch with your local contact. It’s also helpful to talk to other farmers in your local area and find out what’s working for them, or talk to agronomists about what types of crops will work for you in the forecast summer/autumn ahead in your area. We’re all in this together and there’s lots of good advice out there.

Scan to listen to the In Focus podcast

24/10/23 2:13 PM

News

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Tune your harvester for maximum yield Annette Scott

NEWS

Arable

RE-HARVEST workshops are set to help growers maximise the efﬁciency of their combine harvesters and get more grain in the bin. The workshops have evolved from a study of arable farms in Western Australia that showed more than $300 million of grain and seed was likely left in paddocks in 2021 from front and other machine losses.

We start a conversation around what is going to improve the proﬁtability of operators, how can we put more grain in their bin and save them time and money. Peter Broley Primary Sales Australia The study mirrors suggestions that New Zealand cropping farmers may also be leaving more grain and seed on the ground than they realise at harvest because of the set-up of their combine harvester.

To avoid these potential yield and profit losses, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is running a series of South Island grower field events that will examine combine harvesters from the front to the back to ensure as much yield as possible goes into the silo this coming harvest. Event facilitator and FAR technology manager Chris Smith said the combine harvester set-up workshops will provide practical and independent information to growers, giving them the confidence to make changes on farm. The workshops, to run in November and early December in Mid and South Canterbury and Southland, will be hands-on, with some growers bringing their own combines and fronts as a basis for discussion on various set-ups. FAR is bringing in a team of Australian experts who have run several similar events across the Tasman to lead the South Island workshops. “Primary Sales Australia have been running workshops in Australia for the Grains Research and Development Corporation [GRDC] with great success and they’re a good fit for FAR’s technology extension programme, which aims to help growers gain

AGAINST THE GRAIN: A study of Western Australian arable farms showed that more than $300 million of grain and seed was likely left in paddocks in 2021 from machine losses.

efﬁciencies from machinery and technology,” Smith said. The team will include an agricultural diesel mechanic, independent harvester specialist and an agricultural engineer with a farming background. Smith said the team is independent so happy to talk about any brand or age of machine. Factors in front losses are front type and set-up and in back the things to look out for are losses, travel speed, rotor clearances, fan speed and sieve settings. Primary Sales Australia chief executive Peter Broley said the

experts will start at the front of the combine and work their way to the back with a range of options for the way growers can adjust their machines to improve efﬁciency. “We start a conversation around what is going to improve the proﬁtability of operators, how can we put more grain in their bin and save them time and money.” The losses picked up by the GRDC study of arable farms in Western Australia showed that the $300m of grain and seed likely left in paddocks in 2021 equates to $59 a hectare for barley, $68/ha for canola and $48/ha for pulses.

Growers can not only reduce their harvester losses, but improved operator conﬁdence in their combine set-up means they can increase their harvesting speed and productivity, Broley said. The team will return during harvest in January to gauge how well the adjustments made are performing in the ﬁeld. The workshops are being held in Southland on November 28, Ashburton on November 30 and South Canterbury on December 1. Farmers must register to attend at www.far.org.nz/events

Sales of ag antibiotics drop for ﬁfth straight year Staff reporter

NEWS

Animal Welfare SALES of veterinary and horticultural antibiotics have decreased for the fifth year in a row, dropping by 23% last year. The drop is a key finding in New Zealand Food Safety’s (NZFS) 2022 Antibiotic Agricultural Compound Sales Analysis report. It summarises the trends in the annual sales of veterinary and horticultural antibiotics as part of a national action plan to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). “The World Health Organisation has identified AMR as one of the top 10 global health threats facing humanity, so seeing a 23% drop in the sale of antibiotics for plants and animals is good news,” NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said. “Antibiotics are antimicrobial medicines essential to the health of humans, animals, and plants, but using them excessively can lead to the emergence of resistant bacteria that don’t respond to antibiotic treatment. “With AMR increasing around the world, and

few new antibiotics being developed, careful use of the antibiotics we have will help to keep them effective.” Of the 16 classes of antibiotics NZFS monitors, ﬁve are critically important for human health, meaning they should be considered the last line of defence in animal infections. Arbuckle said that the total sales of antibiotics critical for human health decreased by 8% in 2022 to 6285kg.

Careful use of the antibiotics we have will help to keep them effective. Report NZ Food Safety “This is the lowest they’ve been since 2017, when 8952kg of antibiotics critically important to human health were sold. “Overall, the sale of antibiotics has dropped from 71,361kg in 2017 to 41,033kg in 2022. That’s a drop of 42%.” He said the ongoing decrease in the use of antibiotics was the result of a concerted effort from industry and NZFS to ensure

these important medicines are used appropriately. “The continued vigilance of veterinarians, farmers and other industry stakeholders, as well as our ongoing monitoring and support, are an effective way to minimise the incidence of AMR.” NZFS is also reviewing its regulatory oversight of antibiotics used in plants and animals, which could lead to a further reduction in antibiotic use as controls for some antibiotics might be tightened. This work has a ﬁve-year time frame as it involves reviewing hundreds of antibiotic products, Arbuckle said. In 2017, the New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan was jointly developed by the Ministry of Health, New Zealand Food Safety and representatives from across the human health, animal health and agriculture sectors. Its vision is for NZ to manage antimicrobials as a valuable shared resource and to maintain their efﬁcacy so they can be used to treat infections in humans, as well as to manage diseases in animals and plants. An update to the action plan is due to be released next year.

Proudly supporting

Growing Future Farmers King Country students

Black Hawk backs Growing Future Farmers In an increasingly urbanised world, supporting young farmers to foster their passion for farming is crucial. Growing Future Farmers (GFF) is an immersive NZQA-accredited two-year programme for school leavers to kickstart their farming careers. Each young farmer is placed with a knowledgeable and passionate farmer where they learn first-hand what it takes to run a working farm. They also participate in regular, hands-on group training sessions to learn key skills such as shearing and pup training. Premium dog food brand Black Hawk has partnered with Growing Future Farmers to support participants throughout the programme as they forge and continue to develop one of their most important working relationships.

Empowering young farmers - and their dogs

The importance of nutrition Black Hawk is a staunch supporter of the GFF programme and is proud to play a crucial role in fueling every pup’s growth and development. Every student receives a bag of Black Hawk food and other essential items to get them started, plus additional food during their programme. “At Black Hawk, we’re proud to support Growing Future Farmers. We hope our contribution helps

“You’ve got to put in the work with the dog outside of the days to get the result otherwise it’s in one ear and out the other.” - Gavin

The great value of raising and training multiple dogs early in a farmer’s career is why GFF students are allocated a pup at the beginning of the programme.

farming students and ensures their pups are getting the best start through great nutrition. It’s great to see the pups thrive on Black Hawk,” says Ross. As part of their dedication to supporting the farmers of the future and fostering a thriving rural community, Black Hawk also visits regularly to discuss feeding guidelines and monitors the pups’ progress through regular weigh-ins and their transition to adult food. Given that many of the students are experiencing farm-dog ownership for the first time, Black Hawk also passes on fundamental advice on responsible dog ownership such as worming, flea control and appropriate bedding.

Fuel your dog’s performance with Black Hawk Working dogs are the elite athletes of the canine world and require exceptional nutrition to fuel their performance. Black Hawk’s Working Dog formula provides an optimal blend of protein, fats and carbohydrates to promote sustained energy release, strong lean muscles as well as healthy joints and coats.

“The best farm dogs have a noticeable bond and trust their owner,” says Black Hawk Northern Farm Manager Ross Osborne.

The protein is derived from high-quality lamb and beef, rich in zinc and vitamin B12 which may help dog’s heart health and boost vitality. Black Hawk Working Dog also contains supplementary L-Carnitine to maintain lean muscles.

With the guidance of skilled trainers, puppy training days provide young farmers with valuable knowledge on effectively working with their pups. Each training day presents new challenges and opportunities for the students and their pups to build trust.

Choose Black Hawk and know you’re supporting future farmers. Black Hawk Working Dog is available at your local vet.

GFF student Gavin says the key to success is practicing between training days. “You’ve got to put in the work with the dog outside of the days to get the result otherwise it’s in one ear and out the other.”

Black Hawk Working Dog Lamb & Beef 20kg Our high endurance formula is rich in protein and fat to promote sustained energy release, strong lean muscles and healthy joints. Black Hawk Working Dog is available at your local vet.

blackhawkpetcare.com

14 Editorial

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Letters of the week

The rush to legislate John Veysey Coromandel

From the Editor

Searching for a slash hack Craig Page

Deputy editor

HAT to do with forestry slash? It’s a question that needs some quick answers following the devastation caused in parts of the North Island by Cyclone Gabrielle earlier this year. Not for the ﬁrst time, farms, rivers and beaches were left littered with forestry debris that had been pushed off hills and downstream by the sheer force of the storm. It inevitably prompted an angry response from those left to deal with the damage, with many pointing the ﬁnger squarely at the forestry industry. Interestingly, a report commissioned by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council after the cyclone found forestry slash was a minimal part of the waste wood found in that region’s water courses. But the damage led to multiple government reviews and reports as the search for answers about what to do with slash stepped up in intensity.

Earlier this month the government unveiled new powers for local councils to police forestry. Councils will be able to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, while forest owners will have to remove slash. The new national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and new requirements to remove slash from erosion-prone land. Under the new regulations, known as the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry, slash longer than 2m, and with a large-end diameter of more than 10cm, must be removed after harvesting from erosion-prone land unless it is unsafe to do so.

It will take time for the rules to be bedded in, and to have any teeth. A solution is needed now. But like any new legislation, it will take time for the rules to be bedded in, and to have any teeth. A solution is needed now. Forestry research agency Scion is taking a more immediate and novel approach to the problem. Scion and Callaghan Innovation recently hosted a “design sprint” workshop that has led to plans to hold a competition to come

up with innovative ideas on how to deal with forestry slash. The workshop determined that a twopronged approach is needed: one aimed at getting solutions in action soon, one requiring a longer-term view on ﬁxing the issues. The design sprint came up with the “S-Challenge” (S for slash) competition. It is modelled on the startup competition XPRIZE, a global award that helps incentivise technologies to solve global problems. The competition is open to everyone, “giving innovators, companies, start-ups and communities the opportunity to pitch their solution to the slash problem”, Scion’s Marc Gaugler says. The answer could be as simple as turning slash into wood fuel energy. There has already been talk of developing a bioenergy plant in Tairāwhiti. Genesis Energy has trialled imported wood pellets at its Huntly power station, with some success, and Fonterra is looking at wood fuel options for its milk-drying plants. Gaugler is ambitious and would like a pilot project up and running by the middle of next year, but says solutions must be sustainable, both for the environment and local communities. Given the weather’s increasing uncertainly, who knows when the next major weather event will arrive on our doorstep. Viable solutions to slash can’t some soon enough.

THE string of new laws designed to suffocate farming as we know it have exhibited a distinct lack of well-thought-out science. There hasn’t been time and real science takes time. This lack of any convincing beneficial evidence has not slowed the passing of new laws and the establishment of new departments to enforce those laws. It is not long before a small government department becomes a business and the business is running before any real research has taken place. Groundswell, in “Groundswell enviro record speaks for itself,” (Letters, October 22) has shown us that many of these new businesses are ill-dreamed. A wide range of targets have been identified and a correspondingly large number of groups have sprung up in opposition to each new government business. The main objection to these newly invested operations is that they are “unscientific”. They haven’t been thought out. We don’t need such a rush. The “science” behind the methane tax is shaky, if not completely flawed, but taxing methane is an already-working business Once these businesses are up and running they are very hard to stop. A government business quickly becomes an industry and, by then, too many people would be “affected” if you tried to stop it or even to change its direction a little.

Best letter WINS a quality hiking knife Send your letter to the Editor at Farmers Weekly P.0. Box 529, Feilding or email us at farmers.weekly@agrihq.co.nz

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

Be a part of NZ’s biggest agricultural community and help create a better future

farmersweekly.co.nz

Opinion

15 In My View

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

In my view ...

India ripe with opportunity for Kiwis Tracey Epps

Dr Epps is a lawyer and policy consultant FEW months ago I returned from a visit to Sri Lanka and India as part of the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Track II programme. The visit involved structured dialogues with the Pathfinder Institute in Colombo, and the Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi. We also had a rich array of discussions with other experts, including young leaders, civil society and research institutes. Sri Lanka made world headlines in 2021 when it faced a severe economic crisis that saw soaring inflation, widespread shortages of food, fuel and medication and power outages. This led to the president fleeing the country after protestors demanded his resignation. Much of the blame in the international media was traced back to Sri Lanka’s infamous indebtedness to China. But the full story is – as with most things – far more complicated. We heard from multiple sources that Sri Lanka’s crisis had been brewing for many years and is inextricably linked with politics. Over a year on from the immediate crisis, things on the ground in Colombo look deceptively normal. But this belied the harsh reality faced by most Sri Lankans. As reported by Reuters recently, the poverty rate nearly doubled to 25% of the population last year, and could yet rise further. Winston Churchill famously stated that one should “never let a good crisis go to waste”. We heard from several experts that this crisis has provoked more public discussion of economics than ever before. Yet Sri Lanka’s future direction remains uncertain and deep political disorder remains. We heard that the country is grappling with a lack of capacity in the public sector, a loss of faith in the state and a significant brain drain. We also heard about President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s ambitious

VIBRANT: Many New Zealanders have traditionally seen India as an intimidating place to do business, preferring more familiar destinations.

MUMBAI: India and Sri Lanka both have much to offer, and present New Zealand with very different opportunities for engagement, writes Wellington-based international lawyer Dr Tracey Epps. international trade agenda. In this respect, Sri Lanka has an opportunity to move forward in a positive direction. It is a member of the World Trade Organisation, but only has a small number of free trade agreements (FTAs). We were told that the president is pushing for membership of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, implementation of an already negotiated FTA with Singapore, and negotiation of FTAs with India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is an interesting moment for a country in Sri Lanka’s position to be embarking on such an agenda. The trade liberalisation narrative that has held sway globally since the late 1980s is under challenge as the unequal distribution of liberalisation’s benefits has become clear. Sri Lanka has an opportunity to learn from prior mistakes,

and to be innovative in thinking about ways that trade can be calibrated to support sustainable and inclusive development. This will take more than nicely worded provisions in trade agreements, and herein lies a huge challenge for Sri Lanka, particularly in the wake of the crisis and with limited bureaucratic capacity.

The lack of an FTA ought not to dissuade NZ businesses from looking towards India. Despite its current situation, Sri Lanka remains a country with which New Zealand has more than a handful of commonalities and mutual interests – we are both small, maritime nations with a much larger neighbour; we share a love of good food, tea, gin, cricket;

and both have a critical need to look outwards to ensure security and prosperity. Even with the brain drain, Sri Lanka has a highly educated population, and we were honoured to meet with some truly inspirational people who provide hope for a better future. India – Sri Lanka’s much larger neighbour – is a vibrant, rich, diverse and fascinating place. The scale of development and opportunity is difficult to grasp, especially coming from a country of merely 5 million. India is the world’s quickestgrowing large economy, has the world’s second-largest working population, the world’s largest stock exchange, over 1.2 billion mobile phone subscribers, and a GDP of US$7 trillion (about $11.9 trillion.) It is not surprising, though, that many New Zealanders have traditionally seen India as an intimidating place to do business, preferring more familiar destinations. It’s not only the mind-blowing size of the place, but stories abound of corruption and red tape. And then there is India’s fairly protectionist trade policy, which has resulted in high tariffs and restrictions on imports. Where NZ, as a small, geographically distant nation has long looked offshore to grow its prosperity; India has not had the same need to look outwards. Negotiating free trade agreements hasn’t been a priority for it like it has for NZ. But the lack of an FTA ought not to dissuade NZ businesses from looking towards India.

One only has to look at Rakon, the Auckland-based manufacturer of frequency control products and timing solutions, which recently opened a new research and development facility in the SEZ Aerospace Park in Bengaluru, and whose products have been used for Indian space programmes including the Chandrayaan moon missions and the Mars orbiter mission Mangalyaan. Or, on a smaller scale, the Wellington homeware store Small Acorns, whose owner recently returned from a buying trip to bring back fabulous antique treasures from India to NZ customers. The conversations we had in New Delhi highlighted all kinds of potential opportunities for NZ and India to work together, including in services, technology, culture, tourism and aerospace. We heard too about India’s focus on women-led development, an area in which both countries can undoubtedly learn from each other. As Bharat Joshi wrote in his recent book, Navigating India: “In this brave new world, you ignore India at your own peril. Competitors will source goods, services or even top management from Indian shores, and gain an advantage; or sell their products, services, or ideas to this insatiable market. Either way, your hand is forced. It is only a matter of time before virtually every business actively engages India, either proactively and directly, or reactively.” • This article was first published on the Asia New Zealand Foundation website.

16 Opinion

Opinion

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

NZ should consider building with BRICS Alternative view

Alan Emerson

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

S A geriatric news junkie, I watch a lot of news and commentary on the international channels, specifically Al Jazeera, BBC and CNN. Recently they were full of reports on the BRICS conference in South Africa. Surprisingly, it was largely ignored by the NZ media. For the uninitiated, BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It was a fairly loose group but is gaining in strength and membership. We need to be aware of it. During the recent election campaign we heard a lot about a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. Successive governments have ignored India, much to my surprise, but it is currently in the headlights. The election promise of pursuing a FTA with India, with the suggestion it could happen sooner rather than later, is pure rubbish. Yes, Australia has an agreement but it courted India for years if not decades. It has established universities there and Australia’s Indian immigration settings are far more liberal than ours. India is an integral part of BRICS. The organisation has considerable size and clout. The current members have 27% of the world’s land surface, 42% of the world’s population and 33% of global GDP. Trade among BRICS nations

is worth over $US200 billion ($341bn). As well as the five current members, there are six new countries about to join. They are Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Morocco, with Africa’s largest port, has also shown interest in joining, as has Indonesia. Of the new entrants, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran are all major oil producers. Another 34 countries have shown interest in being part of the organisation. It is a young organisation, having been formed in 2001. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the recent 15th annual conference in Johannesburg, as did the Brazilian and South African presidents and a representative from the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attended virtually, given the arrest warrant out for him for alleged war crimes in the Ukraine. So far the BRICS gathering has been largely informal. There hasn’t been a secretariat, but that appears about to change. There is a BRICS-backed New Development Bank that has provided loans of more than $50bn thus far. There has been a push by Brazil to have a common BRICS currency. Russia wants to reduce the influence of the United States dollar, and a common BRICS currency will achieve that. The BRICS bank issues loans in local currencies, which circumvents the US dollar. There is also a strong push for a more formal BRICS structure, all of which makes the group important internationally and for New Zealand. Interestingly, although some of the world’s greatest polluters are part of BRICS, the recent South African conference supported a “partnership for sustainable development”. The conference “recognised the urgency of decarbonisation and a just energy transition”. India is predicted to become the major player within BRICS, which will create issues for

both the US and Australia. BRICS has also been compared with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in that it is a collection of large and small economies all co-operating. Further, it is seen as a strong counter to US influence in the region, certainly the G7. That is going to create problems for NZ. We’ve supported the US push to assist Ukraine in its war with Russia. Much of the Middle East is either joining or keen to join BRICS. That will no doubt be helped by the Americans’ passionate and slavish support of all things Israel. The Australian position is also interesting, as with the Australian, United Kingdom, US agreement (AUKUS) they are firmly in the US camp. If anything, Australia seems to be getting a lot closer to the US than previously. Our outgoing Trade Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, has firmly rejected being any part of AUKUS, which I support. So NZ will have to face some tricky decisions. For a start, it would be impractical for us to join the BRICS grouping, certainly at this point – but we do need continued dialogue with it. Second, China is our biggest trading partner, with India being the country with the greatest potential. The Arab countries joining BRICS also has massive potential for us. NZ is already a signatory to the Chinese Belt and Road initiative, so being part of BRICS or an associate of it isn’t a big step. Of most interest, however, is that Goldman Sachs believes the original BRICS will be dominating the global economy by 2050. Logic would suggest with the new and potential members, that could happen a lot sooner. That provides some interesting options for the next NZ minister of foreign affairs. Do we stick with our traditional allies, specifically the US, which certainly isn’t committed to free trade, or do we have a positive dialogue with India and the BRICS countries? My definite preference would be for the latter.

Is eczema a problem? Do you have drench resistance? Do you want high producing sheep?

LEADERS: From left, Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, China’s President Xi Jinping, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the BRICS Leaders Retreat in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 22, 2023.

Reckoning looms for meat processing Meaty matters

Allan Barber

Meat industry commentator: allan@barberstrategic.co.nz, http:// allanbarber.wordpress.com

HE consistent fall in sheep and beef numbers will sooner or later place huge pressure on the profitability of meat processors and the livelihoods of provincial and rural communities,

particularly in those areas where the local meat plant is the largest employer. Between 2017 and 2022, 210,442ha of whole farm sales were destined for afforestation. At a conservative stocking rate, each additional 100,000ha of land converted to forestry will remove 820,000 stock units, the equivalent of two lamb or mutton chains. The full impact of these conversions will take some time to work through because of planting delays or a shortage of seedlings, but the full reduction will eventually become a reality. The lamb and mutton slaughter statistics since 2018/19 show a steady downward trend, with both forecast to be more than 6% lower by the end of next season – a total reduction of 1.2 million lambs and 80,000 sheep. Although there are signs that land use change may be levelling off, the impact of ovine livestock reductions has been masked by Continued next page

ELITE RAM SALE THURSDAY 2 NOVEMBER 841 Waimai Valley Rd. Thursday 2 November, 1pm. We will also be using online auction platform bidr.co.nz. 150 Romney rams and 40 CharaBlack terminal rams available. Private treaty rams enquiries from 3 November.

ALASTAIR REEVES

027 457 3615 waimairomney@gmail.com waimairomney.co.nz

Opinion

17 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Lessons from the in-laws Eating the elephant

Phil Weir

Phil Weir is a Waikato sheep and beef farmer and AgFirst agribusiness consultant. eating.the.elephant.nz@gmail.com In this series, the lads each explore an unpopular opinion in farming

OR half of 2023, we have been renovating our family home. What began at duck shooting will conclude at Christmas. Looking around our almost-finished house, woollen carpets, insulation, double-glazing and off-white walls balance out the Huntly Brick exterior and rimu floors – the last remnants of the 1960s home. Being a farmer, taking a bulldozer to the house and starting again was never an option. Continued from previous page the labour situation over the past three years – plants have been short of labour due to general labour shortages across the economy, covid-related absences, and a lack of migrant labour. These factors have resulted in reduced peak season capacity, with production spread more evenly across the year. This has led to reduced procurement competition over the winter months, which, along with favourable export market pricing,

Farming is about working with the imperfect legacy of the land. We farmers are always renovating (I am not brave enough to call it regenerating). Undertaking such a project meant moving out and finding flatmates. Nanny and Grandad complied and the arrival of three children under nine proceeded to blitzkrieg their retiree routines. Quiet winter mornings of porridge, Hosking and iPad newspapers were swapped for lost socks, lost knickers, lunchboxes and noise. At the end of the day, the noise continued as childfriendly midweek meals of nachos or wraps were swapped with three vegetables and meat procured from the farm. All the flatmates were on edge all of the time. Children and retirees tend to work well in small doses, but full immersion created what felt like a simmering tension. Stuck in the middle were Mum and Dad, observing two worlds colliding – the tech natives vs the tech addicts, nacho lovers vs salt and pepper. At the heart of it, children create a complicated mess, and retirement likes to be past such messes. A month back to normal and the challenge of a different arrangement is forgotten. What also becomes apparent is that the experience of renovating will be cherished by children and grandparents alike. Memories – like Grandad’s daily lambing beat led to higher industry profitability. The sector has now entered a period where required labour levels have more or less been fully restored, and export market conditions are extremely challenging. According to AFFCO CEO Nigel Stevens, we will now start to see the true impact of the reduction in livestock numbers. Increased labour availability is likely to result in excess plant capacity, a shorter peak season, and increased procurement competition. Accordingly, industry

PLANTS: Alliance chair Murray Taggart strenuously disagreed with the interpretation that the company’s forecast loss was caused by the need to compete for declining livestock volumes with inefficient plants, Allan Barber says.

FOUNDATIONS: The choices we make about the physical environment will change the memories of the people who call it home, Phil Weir says – and living up to that responsibility means doing hard things now.

of 20 ewes, potting out native seedlings, frost-protecting plants and of course all the random cuddles, kisses and affection that only young children can administer to their grandparents – will be cherished. Also remembered will be the daily grandparent example, that hard work and discipline applies to all forms of life and is a lifelong habit for success. These lessons and memories will endure. Complaints of mess and continuous carrots and peas for tea will not. Renovating the house your wife’s dad was raised in carries emotions. The work of turning kitchen into bedroom, or bedroom into lounge, makes one think about those who will next live in these walls. The choices we make about the physical environment will change the memories of the people who call it home. That is a big responsibility, maybe even a burden. What became apparent through the renovation and living with in-laws is that living up to that responsibility means doing hard profitability, particularly for sheepmeat, is likely to come under more pressure. While this year has been challenging, it is possible next season may be even more difficult for lamb processors. Stevens is also of the view that falling sheep numbers will cause heightened procurement competition across all regions, not only the worst affected regions, which are mostly the east coast and to a lesser extent Wellington region, Otago and Southland. AFFCO’s Wairoa site is one of those with the most immediate potential volume impact, although it has benefited from a major efficiency upgrade, which puts it in an ideal position to compete for stock. Other east coast sites are Ovation’s Gisborne and Waipukurau plants, Progressive Meats in Hastings, and Silver Fern Farms at Takapau. Peter Conley, ANZCO’s CEO, told me they are talking about the problem a lot, but have not reached any firm conclusions, as their plants are mainly located in the less affected regions. Alliance chair Murray Taggart expressed a similar view, saying the company’s main catchment area of Southland was less affected than others. I asked him whether Alliance’s forecast loss for the financial year just ended – which the board has admitted will be its worst since 2012 – was caused by the need to

Significant Natural Areas (SNAs). On our farm, SNAs are not poorly mapped bullrushes among our permanent pastures and technowired bull systems. In our case they are significant pockets of native bush and streams that provide connectivity for native birds to a neighboring Department of Conservation forest park. Contrary to Facebook opinion, these SNAs have not

made our farming business go broke. Through protection and enhancement (via the QEII covenant) these areas have become Environmental Benefit Lots, as defined by our district council. These lots have created rural residential sections, which have value and provide options for farm succession. I am not saying that SNAs are being classified or managed consistently or correctly across the country. But I am saying they should have significant value. The market incentive for conservation is only going to get bigger. Biodiversity credits are likely, but maybe nationally consistent incentives such as the long-standing Environmental Benefit Lots linked to SNAs could help. Who knows, the rural residential lifestyle block owners of the future may look less for a slice of paradise derived from productive food producing soils, and rather select for one created and linked to the protection of a Significant Natural Area. It might help the fanciful rural-urban divide.

compete for declining livestock volumes with inefficient plants. He strenuously disagreed with this interpretation, pointing instead to its September 30 balance date which worked against it when the market collapsed in the last quarter of 2022 (the first quarter of its year) wiping $55 million off the value of its inventory. Taggart also lamented the company’s decision to put on full capacity to service its shareholders during a predicted drought. The drought never arrived, but by then it was too late to reduce the manning levels. He said this season will be very different and margins are already much better. He said the company had invested more than its competitors in its plants over the past five years, although he conceded that had not been the case before then. As evidence he told me Lorneville processing costs used to be $7 per head dearer than Dannevirke, but are now on par, and the plant can now operate profitably on a two shift configuration. However, Alliance’s cooperative status would appear to put it at a competitive disadvantage when, as in the most recent trading period, it decides to share the pain with its shareholder suppliers by resisting the urge to pass on the full extent of a market fall. It also unintentionally gained market

share when it had capacity on, while its competitors made a tactical decision not to open. None of the processors I was able to speak to was prepared to admit to any plans to reduce or close capacity, although they would clearly be reluctant to share it with me if they did. Their preferred course of action will be to ensure fixed overheads are kept to an absolute minimum, thereby enabling individual plants to operate profitably at a reduced capacity, while using the best forecasting tools to predict precise livestock flows. The bad old days of competing for livestock, regardless of market need or, dare I say, to keep suppliers happy, are largely a thing of the past, but companies cannot afford to make uncommercial decisions under any circumstances. Hopefully the forestry conversion peak has passed and the new government, probably with a strong agricultural focus from all parties to the coalition, will ensure a sensible approach to climate change and the Emissions Trading Scheme. The figures show our sheepmeat industry to be under serious threat and every effort must be directed at helping it to flourish, because if not the economy will suffer from the sharp decline of rural New Zealand, which will be impossible to reverse.

things now. It’s paying more for the tap that won’t leak in 15 years or the double-glazing that will make 5:47am on August 3 2032 that little bit more bearable. As a farmer, my home stops at the boundary fence, not the front door. The things I need to protect and invest in for future generations to benefit from are

Farming is about working with the imperfect legacy of the land. We farmers are always renovating.

18 People

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

People

No sweat to convert woolshed into a gym Converting a woolshed into a gym for locals to get together and work out was a labour of love for a South Canterbury farmer, nutritionist and personal trainer.

BBY McKerchar got the idea for a woolshed conversion after realising there was a lack of workout facilities available in the area. “There really wasn’t much around in terms of local workout options and, as a nutritionist and personal trainer, it seemed like a no-brainer to convert the woolshed into a gym and start some classes,” says McKerchar, whose maiden name was Shaw. She takes about four classes a week, mostly for women, and they work on their strength and conditioning. She also takes online classes. “I love what I do and love that I can help improve the strength and wellbeing of locals.”

I love what I do and love that I can help improve the strength and wellbeing of locals. Abby McKerchar South Canterbury farmer Having the gym on the farm is also convenient for McKerchar, who has an eight-month-old son. “I can do classes while Archie naps in the morning, so it’s a winwin for everyone.” She is also currently studying to

WOOLSHRED: Abby McKerchar works out in the farm gym, also known as the woolshed. become specialised in pregnancy and postpartum training. “There’s a real shortage of that kind of specialised training in our area. I want to be able to help local women, so they don’t have to travel far for that kind of support.” Abby and her husband Hamish McKerchar moved to his family’s farm, Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords, in 2020 to manage one of the farms. Prior to that, the pair had been working in Queenstown. During the ﬁrst lockdown in 2020, McKerchar took the classes online, but started in-person classes in 2021 after the woolshed was converted. “We stripped out the woolshed and put some gym equipment

inside. It was pretty easy to transform. My dad’s a builder so he helped out over a couple of weekends,” says McKerchar, who grew up in Christchurch. “We took out about half of the pens, and if we need to convert it back then we can.” Her advice for other people thinking about converting their woolshed into a gym is to give it a crack. “It’s really doable and you don’t need big exercise equipment to put in the gym. Just simple equipment like bands and small yoga balls or even just playing games is enough,” she says. “Sometimes big, scary equipment can actually turn people off and scare them away, so keeping it

simple and fun works well.” McKerchar, a former representative New Zealand swimmer, says the physical beneﬁts of exercise are huge, but it’s the getting together and socialising that’s just as important. “Exercise is hugely beneﬁcial for you physically, for your mental health and for staying in shape. As we get older, it also helps prevent injuries and keeps you strong.” McKerchar says farming can be challenging and isolating so connecting and having a break can put you in a better headspace. “Exercise is good for your mind and body but so is connecting with people and having a laugh. “It’s making those connections, chatting, catching up and

supporting each other that’s just as important as the exercise itself, if not more.” She says she loves the messaging from Farmstrong about how important it is to do things like exercise, connect and have a break. “I love the practical tips on the website – things that you can to do improve your wellbeing. It’s straight to the point and very effective.” Farming women face unique challenges such as isolation, McKerchar says. “They also often fall into the administrative side of farming, and they end up juggling a lot of balls, including raising kids. It’s a big mental load to take on and it can be very challenging.” It’s also hard for women to ﬁnd time for themselves, which is important for their wellbeing, she says. In 2018, Farmstrong commissioned research called Farming Women on Their Wellbeing. It found the top six things that women saw as contributing to an improvement in their wellbeing were getting more exercise, getting more or better-quality sleep, more time off the farm, more time for themselves, having their role and contribution valued more and eating healthier. McKerchar says having a space like the gym to exercise, have a laugh and let off some steam helps improve those wellbeing factors. “I’m hoping to get some blokes to come along as well, so watch this space.” Farmstrong is nationwide, rural wellbeing programme. To ﬁnd out what works for you and lock it in visit www.farmstrong.co.nz

Dairy Women’s Network marks its quarter-century Gerald Piddock

PEOPLE

Dairy

FOR 25 years the Dairy Women’s Network has been a haven for fostering education, connection and leadership opportunities within the dairy sector. The organisation will be marking that quarter-century milestone in December with a number of events around the country to connect with as many of its members as possible. DWN chief executive Jules Benton said there will be a major event on December 1 in Waikato at the Red Barn function centre. This is to bring all of its business partners together to acknowledge their support over the years. “Without that support we wouldn’t be able to achieve what we have done.” The regional celebrations, taking place around the year’s end, will be held at morning teas or lunches. “We’re leaving it up to our incredible regional teams to decide what they want to do,” Benton said. While the dairy industry has changed immensely over the past

25 years, Benton said, DWN’s focus on people has not. “The industry is about people. It was about people 25 years ago and even before that. The founders found a need to connect, and that connection is still very much a part of who we are and what we do. “It’s about connection and empowering those who are part of the sector.” DWN is about women in the sector, but everyone is invited and often staff teams turn up at events. “It’s about inclusivity and making sure that people feel that they belong and that it is a safe space.” While the social connection was incredibly important for DWN, it is ﬁrst and foremost a learning and leadership organisation. “We’re a relationship organisation, a connector – connecting dots for our farming audience – and it’s a safe and trusted space for them to learn. They’re not judged and they come away with the tools and they have a support network within their communities.” The organisation is producing incredible leaders and is supported by a large number of regional co-ordinators.

“That social connection is incredibly important. You get that social connections when you come to the workshops and conferences and the leadership forum that we host every year.” Next year, DWN is holding a summit speciﬁcally to look at global issues and what the future holds, Benton said. “We’re re-inventing what we do and how we do it and making sure that we have the opportunity to connect to all.” Much of the learning the network offers is done face to face, but it’s increasingly being done through online webinars that give it the opportunity to reach more people without leaving the farm. “That’s what we have been doing for 25 years and that’s not going to change. Yes, technology plays a huge role within the sector and will feature strongly in the future, but the people aspect won’t change,” Benton said. “It’s bringing the next generation of farmers through and empowering them to be bold and to lead and to step up. It’s a sector based on strong values and people and the love of what they do in the dairy sector within their farming businesses, their farming teams.”

LEARNING: Dairy Women’s Network chief executive Jules Benton says the network’s function as a safe space for women to learn and grow as leaders is one of the most valuable aspects of the organisation as it prepares to celebrate 25 years.

Technology

19 Tech

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Slash competition a winner for Tairāwhiti Taking its cue from a global tech award, Scion is incentivising local tech to find a solution to the problem of forestry debris. Richard Rennie reports.

FTER enduring a stream of ministerial visits, inquiries and analysis, Scion researchers are hopeful Tairāwhiti residents will soon see some proof that forest slash is being dealt with well before it ends up on farms, in rivers, and on beaches. The forest research agency and Callaghan Innovation recently hosted a “design sprint” workshop to deliver solutions on the slash problem sooner than later. Marc Gaugler, Scion’s head of distributed circular innovation, says Tairāwhiti residents are rightly impatient about the slash problem and how to solve it. From the design sprint they determined that a two-tier approach is needed, one with its sights firmly set on getting solutions in play very soon. The second requires taking a longerterm view on alleviating the issues, including how to get more sustainable forestry practices and forests in place. Inevitably there is no silver bullet to the slash problem, but the design sprint came up with the “S-Challenge” (S for slash) competition. It is modelled on

the highly successful startup competition XPRIZE, a global award that helps incentivise disruptive breakthrough technologies to help solve global problems. The technology competition is open to all comers, “giving innovators, companies, start-ups and communities the opportunity to pitch their solution to the slash problem”, Gaugler says. “The aim is to get a pilot project on the ground sooner than later, hopefully by the middle of next year.” Tairāwhiti’s ability to grow pine trees is a strength as much as the region’s isolation is a weakness when it comes to formulating possible slash solutions. Transport of low-value slash to a processing site is a key challenge, particularly when it may then have to leave the region to be transported to the outlet using pelletised wood products for fuel. “The low-hanging fruit is something around the wood fuelenergy side of things. It could be to create energy security for the region, providing fuel for a steamdriven power plant, for example,” Gaugler says.

The aim is to get a pilot project on the ground sooner than later, hopefully by the middle of next year. Marc Gaugler Scion Some success has been enjoyed by Genesis Energy, which trialled imported wood pellets in Huntly power station. Meantime Fonterra is considering its wood fuel options for its milk-drying plants. Gaugler says he sees a few other technologies that have potential to add more value, helping overcome the tyranny of distance and cost to market. They include converting slash to biochar for soil remediation, a process that can also produce syn-gas for powering the biochar plant, and biochemicals that are a viable alternative to hydrocarbonsourced chemicals. “Whatever the options, from the design sprint we learnt it is important the returns from the technology come back to the region. This is the tricky part – to blend a regional resource back into the region’s economy.” Outwardly simple solutions like building a wood pelletising plant in Gisborne need to consider wide market influences, such as what

ANSWERS: Tairāwhiti’s ability to grow pine trees is a strength as much as the region’s isolation is a weakness when it comes to formulating possible slash solutions, says Scion’s Mark Gaugler. the competition impact is if a similar plant is set up elsewhere in the North Island, for example. Scion researchers also have a biomass conversion study programme focusing on technology that could provide mini conversion factories on logging skid sites to utilise wood slash. With partners, a project in the Central North Island is well underway – including internationally sourced technology, with results expected in coming months. Other work in Northland includes a study on the value of biochar and its value in soil remediation.

Whatever the project winner is, even if it can be quickly deployed it will require a longer-term view of how it will fit in with future forestry development in the region. If future policy includes more indigenous and less exotic plantings, then a slash solution needs to be capable of remaining viable, or adapting to the greater distance between forest and plant and different raw material. “There are some very good candidates out there and we are seeking the funding for the competition to get the winners on the ground with their projects,” Gaugler says.

‘Nature’s ninjas’ set to offer precision protection Staff reporter

NEWS

Research KIWIFRUIT and bees could be protected from dangerous pathogens by “nature’s ninjas” if new research by a team of Canterbury and Otago scientists pays off. The term “nature’s ninjas” was coined by scientist Dr Heather Hendrickson, a senior lecturer from the School of Biological Sciences at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury,

BATTLE: Dr Heather Hendrickson says New Zealand’s primary sector faces a dwindling supply of sustainable solutions to combat harmful pathogens.

to describe phage biocontrols – viruses that attack specific bacteria in an organism. This capacity sets them apart from antibiotics, which often kill beneficial bacteria as well as harmful ones. “Phages have a fairly limited host range,” Hendrickson said. “This means that if you gave a phage to a honeybee, it could infect the pathogen being targeted without being likely to infect other important micro-organisms in the same bee, such as the good gutbacteria keeping the bee healthy.”

Her interdisciplinary research team has been awarded $8.9 million from the 2023 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Endeavour Fund over five years to trial phage “cocktails” designed to combat key agricultural pathogens. Targets include the kiwifruit vine canker (or Psa), and the American Foulbrood virus that attacks honey bees. While New Zealand’s primary sector faces a dwindling supply of sustainable solutions to combat such pathogens, its geographical

isolation does deliver an advantage, Hendrickson said. “If we take the example of the King Salmon native to the North Pacific, it’s affected by far fewer pathogens in New Zealand than in its native habitat. “If there were hundreds of different pathogens affecting these industries, it would be much harder for us to design a combination of phages that would be effective against all of them.” Her project’s co-lead, the University of Otago’s Professor Peter Fineran, will lead research into phages that affect pathogens of cherries and kiwifruit. Other collaborators include Plant and Food Research, Cawthron Institute, BioSouth, and Apiculture New Zealand, while Māori scientists and researchers will contribute valuable indigenous perspectives on the implications for the taiao (environment). Their mātauranga (Māori knowledge) is especially relevant given the prevalence of Māori-led businesses in the primary sector. Hendrickson said the project to date has received valuable support from stakeholders. She particularly appreciates the beekeepers who provided researchers with soil samples — a contribution that hasn’t gone unrewarded. “They got naming rights on the phages that were discovered in their samples. So far, we’ve

had people name them after Dame Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashley Bloomfield, and even after themselves.” As well as improving NZ food sector productivity and security, this venture will strengthen a manufacturing bioindustry capable of supporting highly skilled jobs and enhancing access to environmentally conscious global markets. Longer term, Hendrickson believes the platform will be ideally positioned to address emerging threats to food production, and even to medically relevant human pathogens. “If we build the intellectual and physical infrastructure to use phages safely in agricultural industries, we’ll be well positioned for potential future applications, including those targeting human pathogens.”

They got naming rights on the phages that were discovered in their samples. So far, we’ve had people name them after Dame Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashley Bloomfield, and even after themselves. Dr Heather Hendrickson University of Canterbury

20 World

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

World

Badger cull call raises UK farmers’ ire

RITAIN’S Labour party has been accused of using badger culling as a “political tool” after the party confirmed it would ban the cull if it won the next general election. With voters expected to go the polls in around 12 months’ time, livestock farmers said progress on bovine TB eradication would be lost, due to Labour’s lack of understanding around the complexity of eliminating the disease. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said the industry would find it “hard to come to terms” with the decision. Labour farming spokesperson Daniel Zeichner has previously indicated his party’s position on the cull, but recently reaffirmed that badger culling would be exempt from any future Labour bTB eradication policy. Zeichner said the party was “determined” to eradicate bTB in England, adding “the distress caused to farmers by this horrible disease deserves no less”. It comes as Labour presses ahead in the polls, but there has been criticism the party has not considered how the culling ban would impact the rural vote. Zeichner said the Godfray Review, commissioned by the

government in 2018, made a “strong case for improved biosecurity measures and vaccination”, adding “relying on badger culling risked distracting from the real goal – eradicating bTB”. NFU dairy board vice-chair Paul Tompkins said this announcement indicated to farmers that Labour had “failed to understand the complexity” of eradicating the disease. He said: “I am part of the cattle vaccine trial on my farm and we can see it has potential, but that potential even if it is turbocharged by a Labour Government is still years away.” David Hanford, an upland dairy farmer in the Peak District, said future policy on controlling bTB should not be part of “the political debate to be used as a vote winner”. Sarah Tomlinson, farm vet and technical director for the TB Advisory Service, said a combination of tools have been used to control bTB over the last 10 years including biosecurity, knowledge exchange and training, increased cattle measures, as well as the badger cull. She said: “The stats published last month showed new herd breakdowns are at the lowest levels since 2008 and we have

TARGET: Some UK farmers believe future policy on controlling bTB, including badger culls, should not be part of ‘the political debate to be used as a vote winner’. for the first time in 15 years slaughtered less than 20,000 cattle last year.” She said the biggest barrier for vets and farmers was the “lack of faith” in governments to deal with the disease and that this was

a “classic example of politicising it”. Steve Evans, a dairy farmer from Haverfordwest, who has recently had a bTB breakdown, said he could not believe why Labour would take this action.

He added: “I sit here across the border in Wales I cannot help but feel jealousy towards those farming in England who have been exposed to the cull and rewarded by its efficacy.” Farmers Guardian

El Niño WATCH WITH SUZ BREMNER & PHIL DUNCAN NEW PODCAST EVERY WEDNESDAY

LISTEN NOW

FEDERATED 21 Feds

FARMERS Vol 1 No 7, October 30, 2023

fedfarm.org.nz

KiwiSaver rule change: ‘Make it happen’

etting young farmers use KiwiSaver to buy their first home, farm, herd or flock would help them fast-track their way through the sector, says a Waikato sharemilker. Danielle Hovmand, 27, is keen to see National follow through on a KiwiSaver rule change policy announced on their final day of campaigning. “Make it happen – show New Zealand that the farming sector is the place to be, that farming is sustainable for the future, and that New Zealand farmers feel valued,” Hovmand urged the new Government. Currently, young farmers like Hovmand cannot withdraw their KiwiSaver for a deposit to get on the ownership ladder. Federated Farmers has been calling for a change to this rule as one of its 12 key priorities for the next Government. Hovmand, Federated Farmers’ sharemilker vice chair for the Waikato, says it’s high time young farmers had the same opportunity as their urban counterparts, and she was pleased to hear National announce it would allow this if elected. “As a dairy farmer, you usually get a house on-farm. It’s a disadvantage because, when you use your KiwiSaver to buy your first home, you are legally obliged to live in it. So, if you’ve already got a house on-farm, you can probably only afford a house in town (as your first home), not rurally, so are you going to move into

this house and then travel half an hour to work?” Hovmand, who won the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Auckland-Hauraki Share Farmer of the Year 2022, says giving young farmers access to KiwiSaver would help them achieve their business and career goals faster. “In the dairy industry, we have the most amazing progression pathway. It’s very clear: you start as a farm assistant, work your way up to 2IC/ farm manager, and then you can go off on your own into contract milking/sharemilking. It’s very well laid out and we have a huge amount of resources to make this flow really nicely with whoever you’re working for. “I think the KiwiSaver announcement ties in really nicely with that progression pathway and adds another stepping stone, because you’re working your way on wages, you’re accumulating money in KiwiSaver. You then might go out on your own as a contract milker and, if you can, add the minimum amount and still be gaining money on it. “And it then fast-tracks that need to stay contract milking for such a long time to be able to build equity. You can get yourself there a lot quicker with being able to use all that money you’ve worked really hard for.” Hovmand and her partner Harry Phipps, who’s a builder, went in together this season to buy their 250 crossbred cows (“they’re a bit of everything”), which they’re

LET’S DO IT: When Christopher Luxon and Todd McClay visited Danielle Hovmand earlier this year, she challenged the National Party to make changes to KiwiSaver that would help young farmers buy their first herd or farm.

milking on a 78-hectare farm owned by Jim and Judy Barrett just outside Morrinsville. “We missed the boat a bit because we’ve already bought our first herd. If we had been able to use our KiwiSaver, we would have been in a stronger financial position and be able to service debt faster. We’re paying upwards of 8% interest, so we’d be paying thousands less right now if our initial equity was higher.” That would have been a big help in today’s tough financial environment, she says. “Again, it’s that whole progression thing – the quicker you can pay off the cows, the quicker you can move on into looking at farm ownership.” For single people or those wanting to buy on their own, tapping into KiwiSaver would be

“really awesome”, she says. “You need close on 50% equity to be able to purchase your first herd. We were only able to buy the cows because we went in together and that gave us enough equity. If I was single and wanting to buy the cows myself, I’d have had to contract milk for another season to get there.” Hovmand says she “absolutely” sees herself using KiwiSaver – which she’s been paying into for 11 years – as way to achieve farm ownership one day. “It’s a great motivator to keep putting money in there.” National’s Agriculture Spokesman Todd McClay, on the eve of the election, told farmers in Morrinsville that a National-led Government would let young farmers use their KiwiSaver as part of a deposit to

buy a farm, or sharemilking herd or for a flock, to help them get on the ownership ladder. He said people in towns could use KiwiSaver for their first home deposit but, in rural New Zealand, this wasn’t possible. “This just seems wrong, and the next National Government will fix it,” McClay said. Fixing it is something Hovmand’s now keenly awaiting, if not for herself than for many of her young farming friends working hard to take that next step. Her final message to the new Government: “Recognise the value of the industry and how important it is to ensure there is adequate succession, so we can continue to be some of the most efficient food producers in the world.”

Rural Roadshow 2023 Join staff from Horizons Regional Council to hear about our upcoming freshwater reform engagement on water quality targets. For more information visit horizons.govt.nz or freephone 0508 800 800.

2.30pm Thursday 2 November, Āpiti Tavern, Āpiti 2.30pm Friday 3 November, Te Matapihi - Bulls Community Centre, Bulls 2.30pm and 6pm Monday 6 November, Whanganui Jockey Club, Whanganui 10.30am Thursday 9 November, Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club, Woodville 2.30pm Monday 13 November, Rangatira Golf Club, Hunterville 5.30pm Monday 13 November, Ohakune RSA, Ohakune 10.30am Tuesday 14 November, Taumarunui RSA, Taumarunui 2.30pm Tuesday 21 November, Levin RSA, Levin 6pm Wednesday 22 November, Palmerston North Cosmopolitan Club, PN

October 30, 2023 – fedfarm.org.nz

Federated Farmers

Plan for ‘dry’ to alleviate stress

hen it becomes obvious that stock needs are going to exceed grass growth, it’s time to plan. Farmers should draw up a strategic plan of action to be implemented at pre-determined stages as drought conditions continue. Those are words written 30 years ago for a NZ Grasslands Association conference by Tony Harvie, former chair of Federated Farmers Te Karaka Branch, Gisborne. The El Niño climate cycle we’re now in typically means stronger and more frequent winds from the west during summer, likely to bring dryness in eastern areas and more rain in the west. Speaking to Federated Farmers in early October, Harvie says he’s farmed through two El Niño droughts. “I learned to heed advice early and not procrastinate, hoping.” Harvie’s advice to farmers today is to reduce feed demand early; unload all dry stock, cull and wean early. “Inform your stock agents and transport carriers weeks in advance of the dates you have planned to get the stock off. Their co-operation is essential. “There’s no money in an overstocked market for poor-conditioned stock.” Harvie urges farmers to read advice and guides from the ag levy bodies now, “not after the event has arrived, when there is potential for the market to be jammed with unwanted stock”. Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay President Jim Galloway says NIWA and the district council are saying the area is “basically in the same situation now as the lead-up to 2019/20, when the first of those big droughts came two in a row. “But it’s still back of mind for some because they’re still in recovery mode from Cyclone Gabrielle.” For many, the financial hurt continues from income disruption

and damage wreaked during that storm and flooding, “never mind whatever hardship might be ahead of them”, says Galloway. “Returns have dropped; input costs are up. So, for some of those many hundreds of farmers impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, they were already facing years of recovery. It will really hurt to have a very dry summer on top of that.” It’s too early to fret about the risk of drought, “but it’s not too early to plan”, says Galloway. He says having a plan can ease the mental burden, and the plan should have triggers in it.

Returns have dropped; input costs are up. So, for some of those many hundreds of farmers impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, they were already facing years of recovery. It will really hurt to have a very dry summer on top of that. Jim Galloway Federated Farmers Hawke’s Bay president “For example, when available feed gets to ‘X’ level, I will sell the store lambs and steers; when it gets to ‘Y’, I’ll get rid of the old ewes; and so on. “Without that plan, you can take too long to make decisions, and the downsides can be more impactful.” Galloway recalls talking with someone who’d farmed through several droughts. “They said the hardest decision to make is to sell some stock you don’t want to sell. But when they’re actually on the truck, it’s the best decision you’ve ever made. “It’s like a huge weight is off – relief that you’ve made a decision that alleviates some of the problem.” For the last few months, most of the Hawke’s Bay was well behind grass growth rates, so there’s been

pressure on feed supplies. Lamb survival rates have been very pleasing but that means more mouths to feed, says Galloway. When Galloway spoke to us on October 19, his district was getting the best period of growth for some time, but a few weeks of wind and no rain “and it could go off pretty quick”. He’s particularly concerned about the Cyclone Gabrielle-impacted farmers who will struggle to achieve good pasture management because internal fences are still down, despite much hard work to repair and replace. Others have lost perhaps 5-10% of their pasture to slips. Rhea Dasent, Hawke’s Bay-based senior policy advisor for Federated Farmers and a farmer in the area, says as well as causing fencing woes, the cyclone took out a lot of water reticulation. “Stock drinking water is a big concern for a lot of people because they had pumps, sheds, bores and so on destroyed or inundated if they were in low-lying areas. A neighbour of ours has only just got their water pump going again in the last month.” Fingers are crossed for good hauls of baleage in the coming harvest season. Cyclone floods floated away bales in paddocks, and other bales were spoiled by moisture. On the Dasent farm, they’re sowing nine hectares in Kestral Kale because it puts down long tap roots and is resistant to dry conditions. Oats are another popular supplementary feed option for local farmers when grass dries out. For those still reeling from Cyclone Gabrielle losses, the costs of fertiliser, seed and putting in the crops weigh heavily, says Dasent. She agrees that having a plan of action can relieve stress. “Better that than spending most of your day with questions and worries about what to do and when churning around constantly in your mind.” One silver lining – at least there aren’t the covid lockdowns that

EXTREMES: Rhea Dasent, Hawke’s Bay farmer and Federated Farmers senior policy advisor, pictured during the 2020 drought, says the costs of fertiliser, seed and putting in crops are weighing heavily on farmers still reeling from Cyclone Gabrielle. accompanied the last ‘dry’, with restricted ability to get off-farm and talk to others. “That’s huge for mental resilience,” says Dasent. “We’ll have other options we didn’t have in 2020 too: the processing plants won’t be operating at halfspeed, and hopefully, if the need arises, we’ll be able to sell stock to other regions or even to the South Island.” Keep talking to your advisors, your neighbours and each other, says Jim Galloway. “There’s always help out there if you need it.”

More resources: • There’s plenty of good advice available from the likes of Beef + Lamb NZ and DairyNZ, like dairynz.co.nz/summer. • Federated Farmers contributed to the newly updated Ministry for Primary Industries ‘Feed in dry times’ fact sheet, available on mpi. govt.nz. • Check out NIWA’s new, free forecasting tool, with weekto-week predictions of rainfall and dryness, and potential drought 35 days ahead.

MAKE SHEEP HANDLING EASY Normally $16,500 SAVE $1505!

PRICED FROM

$26,500

+GST

$14,995

+GST

SPECIAL

Racewell DR3 Auto Drafter

Racewell HD3 Auto Handler

A highly efficient weighing & drafting machine that can reduce labour & improve accuracy. Made in NZ and includes integrated loadcells!

Take the hard work out of sheep handling and automatically weigh & draft three ways. Made in NZ with many options available!

Call us to book a FREE on-farm demonstration!

0800 837 274 | tepari.com

Federated Farmers

fedfarm.org.nz – October 30, 2023

Water storage essential for resilience

utting the red tape preventing farmers from storing water is critical for the long-term success of New Zealand agriculture, says Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst. In the lead-up to this year’s election, Federated Farmers made unlocking the potential for water storage one of our 12 policy priorities for the next Government. National responded in September by announcing that, if elected, they would change the rules so farmers would no longer need resource consent to build water storage in most situations. “Federated Farmers were really pleased to see National campaigning on a platform of making small-scale on-farm water storage a permitted activity, and developing a National Policy Statement for large-scale off-farm community water storage schemes,” says Hurst. “Farmers have been crying out for change, so it’s important a Nationalled Government follow through on their promises to our rural communities.” Hurst says it makes sense that farmers should be able to capture water when rainfall is plentiful and waterways are flooding, and to store it to help even out those peaks and troughs. “New Zealand is getting less water when we need it, and more when we don’t. “Water storage has a critical role to play when it comes to improving climate resilience in our rural communities, but there will be other benefits too, like supporting land use change and increasing production.” Hurst’s comments come as NIWA and other experts warn of potential

drought conditions this summer. Moisture maps show soils are significantly drier than usual in Tasman and Marlborough. El Niño’s early arrival has farmers in many districts, but especially on the east coasts of both islands, checking feed and livestock levels. Hurst says, under current regulations, it is nearly impossible to get any new water storage off the ground. “The current system is broken.” Speaking at a workshop last year, Wairarapa Federated Farmers member Len French described the planning hurdles, bureaucracy and NGO stubbornness he had to overcome to build a 750,000 cubic metre irrigation reservoir on his farm. That led then-Wairarapa Federated Farmers meat and wool chair, now newly elected MP Mike Butterick, to comment that “most of us mere mortals would have given up long before you did”. Hurst contrasts the very different fortunes of two major community water storage schemes at either end of the North Island. Just east of Kaikohe, the Matawii Dam and a 13-hectare artificial lake behind it were opened in May this year. The local mayor described it as “transformational” for both boosting local horticulture and as a back-up for town supply during droughts. A much larger dam is now being built south of Dargaville. Meanwhile, after 20 years’ debate and planning, and $12 million spent, a major Wairarapa dam project was abandoned in 2021. The 20 million cubic metre Wakamoekau community dam was intended to harvest high winter flows of the Waingawa River. When the project was canned, its backers cited the

UNEVEN: Federated Farmers Vice President Colin Hurst says New Zealand is getting less water when we need it, and more when we don’t.

time and costs of trying to navigate planning restrictions. “The difference between those two projects? Kaikohe won fasttrack consenting; Wakamoekau was strangled by the over-complicated environmental planning framework,” says Hurst. “Federated Farmers are strongly of the view that if a water storage scheme relies on Ministerial backing to get off the ground, then the system clearly isn’t working.” Hurst adds that environmental concerns shouldn’t be used to block desperately needed new water storage schemes, when farmers are already subject to many rules ensuring the environment will be protected. “Farmers should be able to access the water they need to grow their businesses and the New Zealand economy, provided they’re meeting their environmental obligations.” The need for water storage is well recognised. In mid-2021, MPI published a report, ‘Water Availability and Security in Aotearoa New Zealand’. It

FREE CATTLE

noted current climate change trends show a country getting warmer and drier, with some regional variations, and more prone to climate extremes. If New Zealand wants to transition towards land uses that have a higher economic and lower environmental footprint, and improved community resilience, “this will require increased water security”, the report said. Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, Tasman and southern Manawatū were identified as regions that would need medium to large storage infrastructure to enable water security of 95% or greater. The key recommendation of the report working group was that MPI establish a Water Availability and Security Partnership. This would comprise central and local government, iwi/Māori, food and fibre sector organisations and community interest groups. The partnership should develop an action plan and business case for implementation of a national water availability and security strategic approach.

Federated Farmers asked MPI on October 11 if MPI had acted on these recommendations. An MPI spokesperson told us the Ministry established a permanent water availability and security team in 2022. The team is “taking a partnership approach to the water challenges facing the food and fibre sector and rural communities” and has started building a network which will include those groups mentioned in the 2021 recommendation. “Optimising water in the future will be important to protect freshwater ecosystems, and water for human health. Strategic use of water can help unlock the economic potential of land to support the food and fibre sector and rural communities, and improve ecological and human health outcomes. “The work is in its early stages,” the MPI spokesperson said. Hurst said water storage is a top-priority issue for Federated Farmers and “we’ll be pushing hard for the Government to fix the system”.

WHY TE PARI YARDS?

CRUSH WORTH $9,750+GST

Get a FREE Lenta MS1 Vetless Cattle Crush when you purchase any Te Pari Steel Cattle Yard. Minimum yard purchase $50,000+GST.* T&C apply, see tepari.com for more info.

25+ years experience building yards in NZ

Made in NZ & fully hot-dip galvanised

In-house install team & FREE on-farm delivery

Call us or download our Free Yard Plans online!

0800 837 274 | tepari.com

Federated Farmers

October 30, 2023 – fedfarm.org.nz

From the back paddock to the Beehive Five former Federated Farmers leaders have been elected to Parliament this term of Government. What are their priorities for restoring rural confidence, and how has their time in Federated Farmers set them up for the job in politics?

Miles Anderson MP for Waitaki (National) Former Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chair “There’s been a tidal wave of regulation over the last few years. That’s why farmers are feeling overwhelmed and undervalued. “I’m focused on articulating the issues farmers have with regulations and legislation. I think that’s been missing for the last six years. Outcomes of legislation haven’t always been understood by those making the rules. If those of us from a farming background can articulate those issues well enough, hopefully that’ll have some influence. “Federated Farmers is a grassroots organisation, and the Board is elected by a National Council, so it’s very democratic. I want to be the same way, very focused on listening to what my electorate has to say, making sure those concerns, issues and suggestions are taken on board. “My time at Federated Farmers – you couldn’t put a price on the value it gave me as far as dealing with a variety of issues. I was the Meat & Wool Chair, but on the Board, you have a whole heap of other portfolios you’re dealing with, and you get pretty good at crisis management too.”

Mike Butterick MP for Wairarapa (National) Former Federated Farmers Wairarapa Meat & Wool Chair “With Feds, the message from the bottom feeds through to the people at the top, and that’s the way I want to work, because that’s what I see as the biggest problem. “We have this disconnect. We’ve had that effectively in reverse, haven’t we? “The important thing is about getting advice, but even more important than that is deciding who to ask for advice, and that’s people at the coal face. “That’s my approach and that’s very much the way Federated Farmers operates. “I think the rural community should be excited that we’ve got so many rural MPs from that coal face. “We haven’t had that for some time. I think it’s fantastic – you’ve got people with dirt under their fingernails.”

Andrew Hoggard List MP (ACT) Former Federated Farmers President “I hope my presence in Parliament as an active farmer, someone who has shed blood, sweat and tears over the years on the farm, will give the average farmer confidence that they have another person in Wellington who gets it, knows what’s practical, and wants to champion NZ agriculture. “My time in Feds has been hugely beneficial to me in getting to this point. It helped with media experience, a huge degree of policy experience and understanding around getting policy right, name recognition, and it has enabled me to get connections and networks not just here in New Zealand but internationally as well, which has helped with understanding many of the complex issues facing us. “I would add that having been outside of Feds now for several months has given me a huge appreciation for the excellent policy work done by the Feds team. It’s all well and good to jump up and down and say something sucks, but you need alternatives, and that’s what the Feds policy team brings.”

Grant McCallum MP for Northland (National) Former Federated Farmers Northland Vice President “I’ve been a member of Federated Farmers for as long as I can remember – for my entire farming career pretty much – and it’s given me a great understanding of the issues facing farming. I’ve watched with interest how Feds have dealt with issues and represented farmers. “My own involvement was only for a relatively short time on the Northland executive and that allowed me to be out connecting with farmers. It really helped me to build that network in the farming community. “By staying connected with that network, I’ve had the opportunity to understand the local issues, and the wider issues. It’s shown me the two are usually interrelated. “I’ve already been contacted by the Northland President, Colin Hannah, and I look forward to working with him and his team. Being a farmer myself, I understand the problems the sector is facing. I’m keen to work with the local team, and national Feds, to give the farming sector a leg up and help address the challenges.”

Mark Patterson List MP (New Zealand First) Former Federated Farmers Otago President “The top priority has got to be working through a lot of the regulation that’s come in, trying to simplify it and make it more practical. That’s the stuff that’s really got farmers’ backs up – and for good reason. “We’re very keen to roll back the Te Mana o te Wai provisions in the Freshwater National Policy Statement. We think that’s stripping communities of their ability to fairly input. “Being in Federated Farmers has been hugely valuable. They do a fantastic job in terms of policy work, and while it’s not always perfectly aligned with where NZ First might be, it’s helped shape our policy platform. Having access to those networks, and that advice and information, has been critical. “I wasn’t necessarily aiming at getting back into Parliament, but it was when the He Waka Eke Noa stuff dropped and the Government was prepared to sacrifice 20-odd percent of the sheep and beef sector, it was that point I decided to have another crack. I think being involved in Feds and being aware of what was going on with those negotiations certainly helped.”

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. DAIRY

MEAT AND WOOL

ARABLE

When it comes to farmer advocacy, there is strength in numbers. And that number is one.

HIGH COUNTRY

JOIN TODAY!

GOATS

RURAL BUTCHERS

0 8 0 0 327 6 4 6 fedfarm.org.nz

25 Real Estate

Ian & Chelly Paeroa Paeroa Dairy Portfolio Tender

'In Receivership' - Substantial dairy opportunity Total land area 527.99 ha (more or less). Large dairy opportunity for investors seeking to acquire a large scale dairy portfolio located in the Hauraki Plains District. Five operational dairy farms with multiple titles and contiguous boundaries. Three year production average of 584,000 kgMS (accounting for a lease of two adjoining blocks of 57 ha and 8 ha (more or less), which the purchaser will need to negotiate to continue). Good accommodation provided by nine dwellings. Livestock can be purchased. The properties are located on Rotokohu Road and Thorp Road in close proximity to Paeroa township. Capitalise on efficiencies that can be created by scale and enquire today. Farm Open Days between 11.00am - 1.00pm on Wednesday, 1 Nov, 8 Nov, 15 Nov, 22 Nov 2023. Note: Please sign in at “Farm 82” on Farm Open Days

Coromandel 57 Hall Road & 2511 Kopu Hikuai Roads (SH25A)

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 30th Nov, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 78 Studholme Street, Morrinsville View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/MAR171261

Ian Morgan M 027 492 5878

E ian.morgan@pb.co.nz

Chelly Aitchison M 022 697 8779

E chelly@pb.co.nz

Paeroa County Road

Tender

'In Receivership' - Hikuai Farms 136 ha (more or less) dairy unit in two titles of flat to rolling contour with steeper sidlings. Three year production average of 78,936 kgMS from approximately 230 cows. Farm improvements include a modern 32 ASHB dairy shed, in-shed meal feeders, 16 tonne silo, four bay implement shed with concrete floor, half round calf shed, storage shed, fertiliser bunker and Kliptank for effluent storage. There is a three bedroom weatherboard farm dwelling. 81 ha (more or less) drystock block in one title is available to be purchased with the dairy unit or standalone. This property is of rolling contour, currently subdivided into 13 paddocks, with yards and load out ramp. Property Brokers Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 | pb.co.nz

Tender

'In Receivership' - County Road Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 30th Nov, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 78 Studholme Street, Morrinsville View Thu 2 Nov 10.00 - 10.45am Thu 9 Nov 10.00 - 10.45am Web pb.co.nz/MAR171267

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 30th Nov, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 78 Studholme Street, Morrinsville This property is a bare grazing block subdivided into approximately View Thu 2 Nov 2.00 - 2.30pm eight paddocks. Thu 9 Nov 2.00 - 2.30pm Web pb.co.nz/MAR171269

59 ha (more or less) drystock property in two titles of rolling contour.

Ian Morgan M 027 492 5878

Chelly Aitchison M 022 697 8779

Proud to be here

Matangi 450A Matangi Road

Te Awamutu 368 Ngutunui Road Auction

Auction

Must be sold With 32 ha of flat land just 1.6 km from Matangi and 5.7 km to Hillcrest, Hamilton, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. Matangi is recognized as one of the Waikato's premium locations and it is easy to see why. The soils comprise of Horotiu Sandy Loam, one of the finest soils for horticulture New Zealand has to offer. Infrastructure includes two x 3 bedroom houses (currently tenanted) and a large workshop. The property has a central race running the length of the property and established shelter belts on either side and down the middle of the farm.

Bush, stream, views and grazing Auction 12.00pm, Thu 23rd Nov, 2023, (unless sold prior), Hautapu Sports Club, 211 Victoria Road, Cambridge View Mon 30 Oct 12.30 - 1.30pm Mon 6 Nov 12.30 - 1.30pm Web pb.co.nz/CBR171280

David McGuire M 027 472 2572

Rarely do we get the opportunity to present such a property as 368 Auction 12.00pm, Thu 23rd Nov, 2023, (unless sold prior), Hautapu Ngutunui Road. Sports Club, 211 Victoria Road, Cambridge 145 ha in total area with 59 ha in beautiful, covenanted native View Mon 30 Oct 12.30 - 1.30pm bush complete with rocky bottom stream. and 35 ha in good Mon 6 Nov 12.30 - 1.30pm pasture land - the balance a mix of bush, pines and steeper grazing Web pb.co.nz/TWR169986 land. The home is a very soundly built 60's farmhouse with commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Formally part of an adjoining dairy unit, the property has been owned by the same family for a very long time and now the time has come for new owners to take over and enjoy the tranquility and beauty this block offers.

John Sisley M 027 475 9808

Lichfield 937A Wiltsdown Road Tender

Waipa Dairy Waipa Dairy is approx. 277.66 ha consisting of a 248 effective ha dairy platform milking 725 cows and consistently producing 302,000 to 308,000 kgMS. The 54 bail rotary shed is nicely complemented with a large calf shed/implement shed and silage bunkers plus feed pad. It is well subdivided with the fences in good order and races maintained by the on-farm Rhyolite deposits. This property was converted from forestry around 18 years ago and has been a dedicated dairy operation since its development. The balance of the land has been planted in mixed variety forestry trees. There are three houses, two of which have three bedrooms and the manager's house is a nicely appointed four bedroom brick home. The property is located in Lichfield just 9 km west of the Litchfield dairy factory.

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

Tender closes 3.00pm, Wed 15th Nov, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 78 Studholme Street, Morrinsville View Thu 2 Nov 11.00 - 12.00pm Thu 9 Nov 11.00 - 12.00pm Web pb.co.nz/MOR169936 Peter Lissington M 027 430 8770

E peterl@pb.co.nz

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

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

Matata 337 Greig Road RD 4

Galatea 4260 Galatea Road Tender

Tender

59.7 ha - This is a beauty - just immaculate! • Milking 200 Jersey cows, twice a day, all season • 16 ASHB with padded standoff • Average of the last ten seasons = 72,693 kgMS • Excellent farm infrastructure • Quality pasture, fencing and races • Dairy NZ system 1-2 at a stocking rate of 3.5 cows/ha • Modernised five bedroom home plus two double garages • Good choice of schooling • Whakatane 20 km • Edgecumbe 9.7 km • Matata and the beach approximately five minutes away

Receivers say 'Sell' - 4260 Galatea Road Tender closes 12.00pm, Thu 23rd Nov, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 38 Landing Road, Whakatane View Thu 2 Nov 11.00 - 12.00pm Thu 9 Nov 11.00 - 12.00pm Web pb.co.nz/RTR166128

Robert Davies M 021 595 767 Ian Morgan M 027 492 5878

Located right in the very heart of the Galatea Valley is this immaculately presented property. Featuring 36.92 ha of flat to gently undulating land across two terraces that has been developed as a support unit but could equally be operated as a larger lifestyle block/small farmlet with all associated infrastructure. Highlights of the property are the 2015 built three bedroom plus office, two bathroom brick clad home with an internal access triple garage as well a separate four bay implement shed. Divided into eight paddocks that are accessible by a race system and a recently updated water system with new troughs that has water supplied to the property from a bore on neigbouring property.

Tender closes 12.00pm, Fri 3rd Nov, 2023, Property Brokers Rotorua Office - Farmlands Building, 36 Marguerita Street, Rotorua View Wed 1 Nov 10.00 - 11.00am Web pb.co.nz/RTR170619

Phil Badger M 0273575704 Phillip Berry M 027 478 8892

Taumarunui 66 Kirton Road Tender

Ribbonwood This super contoured dairy farm on the outskirts of Taumarunui is an outstanding opportunity. The property is 100.37 ha (STS) (approx) plus two lease blocks that make up the 125 ha (approx) milking platform producing an average of 90,000 kgMS from 300 cows. Located just 8.5 km from Taumarunui township, on the edge of the Whanganui River, the dairy platform has an excellent layout with short walks on flat to easy rolling contour. The cow shed is centrally located and is supported by a good range of farm buildings. The farm has a high standard of improvements with quality pastures, pumice lanes and tidy fencing. The main home is a comfortable four bedroom home plus there are 2 one bedroom studio unit dwellings for staff. Dairy farms are not offered in this area very often and this is one of the best located and contoured in the district. This compact operation could be an exceptional option for first time farm owners moving on from sharemilking.

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

Tender closes 11.00am, Fri 8th Dec, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 27 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui View Tue 7 Nov 1.00 - 2.00pm Tue 14 Nov 1.00 - 2.00pm Web pb.co.nz/TUR166654

Katie Walker M 027 757 7477

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

Papatawa 626 Valley Road Deadline Sale

Highly productive finishing or support - 120 ha Located in the Papatawa farming district, which is under 10 minutes drive from Woodville township and centrally located to the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, is a superb 120 ha finishing/support farm with balanced contour, that will cater to all sectors of the agricultural market. Currently utilised as dairy support the farm boasts 37 ha of well drained flats in modern pasture species, superior soils, quality farm infrastructure and a comfortable family home. Highly productive, the property has grazed 300 heifers year round as well as 320 TDM of fine chop silage, baleage, hay and achieved 20TDM of maize harvested. Farming infrastructure include four bay and five bay implement sheds, two stand woolshed, horse stables and partially covered sheep and cattle yards. A three bedroom partially modernised home, which is set in mature grounds, provides ample accommodation or future sell down opportunities.

Deadline Sale closes Friday 24th November, 2023 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior), To be submitted to Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR170307 Jamie Smith M 027 220 8311 Jared Brock M 027 449 5496 Sam McNair M 027 264 0002

E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz E jared@pb.co.nz E sam.mcnair@pb.co.nz

Woodville 562 Troup Road Deadline Sale

Troup Road - 116 ha Located centrally between Woodville and Pahiatua townships, Troup Road is a 95 ha (platform) dairy property that will satisfy the most discerning of buyers. The property boasts superior soils coupled with a consistent investment in fertility providing some of the districts most favourable growing conditions. Improvements include a 25 ASHB shed complete with modern plant and 300 cow rectangle yard and ample shedding to suit all farming practices. Dwellings include 2 x three bedroom homes with one currently tenanted. With a three year production history of just over 91,000 kgMS with the majority of MA cows wintered on this, the unit will attract interest from across a range of agricultural sectors with its high productive capability and well suited infrastructure.

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

Deadline Sale closes Wednesday 29th November, 2023 at 2.00pm, (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR166453

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith M 027 220 8311

E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Nireaha 166 Taylors Road Tender

Wai Hiwi - 263 ha Wai Hiwi provides well developed scale to the market which caters for multiple farming practices. Currently operating as a self-contained low input dairy operation milking 350 cows on a once a day system. The property features impressive infrastructure which includes a 38 ASHB complete with in-shed feeding, 19 bays of calf rearing sheds, PK/Fert bin, cattle yards, ample shedding and an older woolshed. The 158 ha of dairy platform is made up of 104 ha flat with the remainder rolling/easy cultivated hill. The remainder of the effective area is utilised as support and drystock which is well developed easy to medium hill country. There is also the opportunity to carry on an existing neighbouring lease of 56 ha to approved purchasers. Two family homes at either end of the property provide ample accommodation or future sell down opportunities. Well consented through to 2030, allowing for increased production, or take advantage of the summer safe climate as intensive finishing.

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 16th Nov, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street Pahiatua. View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR162909

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith M 027 220 8311

E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz

Pahiatua 302 Ballance Road Tender

Generation Farms - 177 ha One of a kind, this excellent dairy unit is extremely well located just 10 minutes west of Pahiatua township and under 30 minutes to Palmerston North. A development programme over generations of ownership has resulted in impressive grass based production from this semi self-contained dairy operation with a three year average of 160,000 kgMS peak milking 450 cows. A 2008 built 50 bail rotary cowshed is centrally located to the operation and features auto drafting and weighing, ACR, auto teat spray and in-shed feed system. Further farm infrastructure includes a good range of shedding and a covered feed pad (300 cows). Three homes provide ample accommodation on the property, with the main five bedroom, two story family home being on a separate Title offering purchase options. Dairy units of this calibre in an affordable location which are fully compliant and have proven production history are unique in the current market.

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

Tender closes 2.00pm, Mon 27th Nov, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR164728

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith M 027 220 8311

E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz Proud to be here

Pahiatua 380 Ridge Road Central Tender

Parinui - First time on market in 100 yrs - 229 ha* Superior soil types, contour and location, with being on Pahiatua's doorstep, 'Parinui' provides a once in a generation opportunity. Faithfully farmed by the Cotter family since 1919, the property has a productive history of breeding, finishing and dairy support. The property features an impressive variance of contour with large areas of cultivatable, developed country, as well as 20 ha of alluvial flats which boundary the iconic Poplar reserve on the Mangahao River. There is a good range of farm infrastructure and shedding to suit the current farming practice including woolshed, airstrip and bin, sheep and cattle yards and reliable reticulated water throughout. A four bedroom villa set in mature grounds offers accommodation or further sell down opportunities with ample raised building platforms with views to the Tararua Ranges and Pahiatua township covering all scenarios. Multiple records of title allow for further development or purchase options. *Subject to survey.

Cust 329 Ashley Road

Rare dairy support

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

Jared Brock M 027 449 5496

E jared@pb.co.nz

Jamie Smith M 027 220 8311

E jamie.smith@pb.co.nz

Hororata 18 Duncans Road Deadline Sale

This versatile, attractive 158 ha dairy support property, situated just 6 km from Cust, has three distinct soil types, with the northern area being predominantly Darnley Stony Silt Loam and Lowcliffe soils. The southern area is very heavy and is described as mainly Longbeach Moderately Deep Silt and some Waterton Silt with excellent moisture retention. Irrigated with two centre pivots and guns, there are designs for more pivots. There are 810 WIL shares and a consent to pump 1980 cu/m/day from a gallery. Subdivided into 39 paddocks, serviced by all weather lanes. Property includes cattle yards, a storage shed, hay sheds, deer shed and a silage bunker.

Tender closes 2.00pm, Thu 30th Nov, 2023, To be submitted to Property Brokers Pahiatua, 129 Main Street Pahiatua View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/PR162890

Tender

Willowmere Farm Deadline Sale closes Wednesday 29th November, 2023 at 3.00pm, (unless sold prior) View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/RR108142

Maurice Newell M 027 240 1718 Hamish Anderson M 027 678 8888

Tender closes 4.00pm, Thu 30th Willowmere Farm is an AsureQuality certified organic horticultural/arable property covering 115 ha freehold located on Nov, 2023 (unless sold prior), Property Brokers, 68 South Terrace, the outskirts of Hororata township, Canterbury. This central Darfield location provides excellent access to both service centres of View By appointment Christchurch and Ashburton being 45 minute's drive. Mix of arable Web pb.co.nz/DFR170922 soil types with five centre pivot irrigation covering approximately 60 ha with irrigation water supplied from the Central Plains Water Irrigation Scheme. Improvements include a well presented three Gareth Cox bedroom weatherboard homestead set in sheltered grounds M 021 250 9714 supported by a full range of farm improvements. Currently growing Matt Collier a wide range of organic produce direct to market. M 027 205 6626

Proud to be here

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate – October 30, 2023

Ashburton 1509 Maronan Valetta Road Deadline Sale

346.89 ha - Proven dairy support This top quality unit sits in the favoured Valetta farming district and is surrounded by dairy, dairy support and fattening farms. Special features include low cost Mayfield Hinds Valetta Irrigation water, four centre pivot irrigators, excellently located large set of cattle yards, central lanes system to most paddocks supported by a good standard of other infrastructure. A very tidy renovated home set in a well laid out mature garden with native plantings. As a proven dairy support and beef fattening property this is a great opportunity to either support your dairy operation or purchase as a standalone dairy support property. Serious vendors looking for a change. Possession 1st June 2024 with winter feed in place.

Deadline Sale closes Thursday 30th November, 2023 at 12.00pm, (unless sold prior), Property Brokers Ashburton View By appointment Web pb.co.nz/AR167203

Chris Murdoch M 027 434 2545

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

E chris@pb.co.nz

RURAL | LIFESTYLE | RESIDENTIAL

FINAL NOTICE

MATAMATA, WAIKATO 142 Matai Road Farm, Landbank or Subdivide Located in the blue-chip triangle of Matamata, this property of 108 hectares (more or less) in four titles has multiple options. Currently running as a dairy unit with production three-year average of 103,000kg MS coming from approximately 305 MA cows through a 2015 built 30 ASHB dairy shed on a 103-hectare dairy platform. The contour is predominantly flat to easy with small balance of steeper sidling’s on very fertile free draining soils, with well-maintained lanes to service all 70 paddocks. Two homes. This is a very presentable and profitable dairy farm in a blue-chip location. pggwre.co.nz/MAT38331 PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, licensed under REAA 2008

NEW LISTING

DEADLINE PRIVATE TREATY Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 4.00pm Tuesday 14 November

VIEW 12.00-2.00pm

Wednesday 1 November

Trevor Kenny M 021 791 643 E trevor.kenny@pggwrightson.co.nz

MAPIU, WAIKATO 2140 State Highway 4 Superb Grazing Property 208 hectares (more or less). The vendors have produced a turnkey operation on this fantastic grazing property. Laned throughout for easy stock movement. Long solid fertiliser history. Good water troughed to majority of the 65 paddocks. Contour is predominantly easy rolling with some steeper sidling's and some medium hill. Looking for a low maintenance finishing property where the work has been done and set up for the new owners, this farm is for you.

TENDER

Plus GST (if any) (Unless Sold Prior) Closes 11.00am, Friday 8 December

VIEW 10.00am-12.00 noon

Tuesday 7, 14 & 21 November

Peter Wylie M 027 473 5855 E pwylie@pggwrightson.co.nz

pggwre.co.nz/TEK38462 Helping grow the country

NEW LISTING

Tauranga 182 Crawford Road, Te Puna

Putaruru 653 Overdale Road

Lifestyle retreat on Crawford! Escape to Crawford Road, minutes from Tauranga and central to Hamilton and Auckland. This lifestyle gem, ideal for horse and livestock lovers, sits on approximately 2.27ha of land. The fourbedroom home offers a serene blend of privacy, convenience and tranquillity. It boasts a cozy interior, log burner, kitchen-dining, modern bathrooms and garages. Enjoy picturesque farm views and distant water vistas. The property features a 112sqm shed with horse stables, grazing, and council water. Future subdivision potential subject to council approval. Seize the opportunity to embrace rural lifestyle living without compromise!

2.2 ha

Auction (unless sold prior) 1pm, Wed 22 Nov 2023 247 Cameron Road, Tauranga View 11.30am-12.15pm Sun 5 Nov & 3-3.45pm Sun 12 Nov or by appointment Anton Terblanche 021 324 702 anton.terblanche@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2503538

Larger lifestyle, grazing or both! Located more or less midway between Tirau and Putaruru, this block is well positioned to exploit a multitude of farming and lifestyle options. Approximately 65% of the contour is tractor country, suitable for harvesting supplements or growing maize with the balance being of a mixed nature. Mostly fully deer fenced, currently growing prime beef cattle, it would be perfect for those looking for a quality dairy support or be appreciated by horse lovers. Nestled in the landscaped grounds is a four bedroom refurbished contemporary home, featuring two bathrooms, large kitchen, dining and family living area plus separate lounge. Great block, great location, call now!

52 ha Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 2pm, Tue 21 Nov 2023 65 Arawa Street, Matamata View 11am-12pm Tue 31 Oct & Tue 7 Nov Sam Troughton 027 480 0836 sam.troughton@bayleys.co.nz SUCCESS REALTY LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/2400597

FINAL NOTICE

Boundary lines are indicative only

Rotorua 385 Whirinaki Valley Road, Ngakuru

Hawke’s Bay 3986 Puketitiri Road, Patoka

Looking for an honest large scale dairy farm – found it

Mid season settlement on offer

A 342 hectare (more or less) dairy unit, South of Rotorua located in Ngakuru - a proven valley. Currently milking 700 cows this season, previous seasons have milked 800 through an immaculate 48-aside herringbone cowshed, recently fitted out with automatic cup removers. Producing a 5 year rolling average of 296,366 kgMS. The milking platform is currently 280 hectares, the farm has 32 hectares available for you to grow your own young stock, or extra animals as required. This is a rare opportunity to purchase a quality dairy farm with proven production and multiple titles.

bayleys.co.nz/2654637

bayleys.co.nz

342 ha For Sale offers invited over $8,000,000 + GST (if any) View by appointment Stan Sickler 021 275 7826 stan.sickler@bayleys.co.nz WESTERMAN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Are you looking for summer safe farming on fantastic free draining fertile ash soils? Then look no further. Ben Alpin, a 351ha dairy farm, located in the premium Hawke's Bay farming district of Patoka. Boasting approximately 200ha of mainly flat and easy milking platform with 90ha of support land and a further 51ha of QEII bush for recreation, this well set up dairy unit must tick all the boxes, and with a quality herd, the combination provides an amazing opportunity. Improvements include two dwellings, staff quarters, a 2009 built 60 bail rotary shed with cup removers and in shed feeding, excellent housed calf rearing facilities for 350 calves and numerous implement sheds. An ideal self contained unit providing an excellent return on investment.

bayleys.co.nz/2853182

351.8563 ha Auction 12pm, Fri 10 Nov 2023 17 Napier Road, Havelock North View by appointment Tony Rasmussen 027 429 2253 tony.rasmussen@bayleys.co.nz Monty Monteith 027 807 0522 monty.monteith@bayleys.co.nz EASTERN REALTY LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate – October 30, 2023

Irwell Selwyn Lake Road

Leeston 560 Hanmer Road

Exceptional bare land holding

106.5029 ha

Currently operating as a cropping, lamb fattening and specialist seed property it has been very easy to run in conjunction with another block or operate as a standalone property with numerous building sites providing stunning views to the North and across to Banks Peninsula. Irrigation is via a lateral for the bulk of the property with six gun runs to complete the approximately 104 hectares under irrigation. Water is provided from two wells, one at a rate not exceeding 38ltr/sec. In two titles with a yard area at each end of the property, ensures the future owners options for both agriculture, horticulture, vegetables and lifestyle all driven off a fantastic location close to amenities and an easy commute to Christchurch, backed up by fertile soils and excellent water.

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Thu 9 Nov 2023 3 Deans Avenue, Chch View by appointment Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5522250

Land, location and lifestyle ‘Heartfield’ is an immaculately presented, fully irrigated landholding offering purchasing options. The property as a whole of 128.5ha or 49.5ha in two titles with a house, woolshed, and sheds, irrigated via Ocmis gun and 79ha in three titles fully irrigated with Roto Rainer, sheep yards, and haybarn. Whether it be as one, or separately, both blocks are exceptionally well presented with an ‘A’ Grade Audit Report and a full complement of supporting farm buildings. Complementing all the numerous farming attributes is a very well- maintained family home set amongst established gardens. The home is a representation of the rest of the property, being immaculate throughout. Heartfield is suitable for multiple land use options.

128.5 ha Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Tue 21 Nov 2023 3 Deans Avenue, Chch Phone for viewing times Ben Turner 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz Evan Marshall 027 221 0910 evan.marshall@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

bayleys.co.nz/5521726

DEADLINE SALE

317 Aotearoa Rd - Dairy

119 ha

Wharepapa South Infrastructure + Grass = Profit

Fairlie 347 Butlers Road Butler Springs

332.8209 ha

Located at Sherwood, only minutes from Lake Opuha, Butler Springs is run as a deer, cattle, and sheep farm in conjunction with the owner’s store stock property and has recently undergone extensive development. Enhanced stock carrying and performance, with a focus on pasture renewal and fencing has established a property with ease of management and productivity. Sheep, deer, and beef cattle are finished with rising two-year-old stags wintered in a shed, plus velveting stags, yearling stags, and mixed-age hinds on winter feed and pasture.

Deadline Sale (unless sold prior) 12pm, Thu 23 Nov 2023 201 West Street, Ashburton View by appointment Mike Preston 027 430 7041 mike.preston@bayleys.co.nz Hamish Lane 027 685 6204 hamish.lane@bayleys.co.nz

The homestead features three bedrooms, with open plan living and a separate two-room sleepout, all set in large established grounds.

bayleys.co.nz/5521761

WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Milking 300 cows through a 32 ASHB dairy, your farming operations will run smoothly with the convenience of this well-equipped shed. Ample shedding for your equipment, calves and hay. Water supply is via 2 bores and the effluent system is a weeping wall and 120 days storage irrigating approximately 25ha. Average 3 year production is 123,538 kgs/ms. Approximately 85% of contour is flat to rolling with 15% steeper. The main home is spacious with four bedrooms and there is also a three bedroom cottage, perfect for staff. Centrally located between Te Awamutu and Putaruru. Contact Jack for more information.

matamata.ljhooker.co.nz/KENHR1

Deadline Sale Closes Thurs 23rd Nov, 3pm (unless sold prior) ___________________________________ View Wed 1st, 8th & 15th Nov 1pm - 2pm ___________________________________ Agent Jack Van Lierop 027 445 5099 LJ Hooker Matamata 07 888 5677 Link Realty Ltd. Licensed Agent REA 2008

Link Realty Ltd. All information contained herein is gathered from sources we consider to be reliable. However, we cannot guarantee or give any waranty about the information provided. Interested parties must solely rely on their own enquiries.

AUCTION

OPEN DAY

Kiwitahi � Matamata/Piako District

Open Day:

Thurs, 2 November

11.00am � 1.00pm

A well�managed dairy unit, situated in the Kiwitahi district, 10 kms from Morrinsville & 23 kms from Matamata, providing a great opportunity for either a first�farm purchaser, for those seeking an additional investment in the dairy sector, or an additional support block for farming dairy heifers, wintering dairy cows, finishing beef, and/or growing supplementary feed.

• 858 Hutchinson Road, R D 1, Morrinsville • 99.94 hectares – 3 titles • easy rolling contour with some steeper sidlings; river on front boundary • variable soil types • well subdivided with the dairy shed in a central location • water supply based on a shallow well, surface pump to tanks, gravity feed to farm and buildings • new, 2.8m ltr lined effluent pond; p.t.o. pump to pods, travelling irrigator & canon

Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

• 280 cows calved – 3 year average 84,503 kgs milksolids • 30 bail rotary dairy shed; automatic cup removers; in�shed feed system • variety of farm buildings including new 10�bay calf shed, • functional implement shedding; large maize bunker & covered PKE bin • 4 bedroom dwelling, open plan, 2 lounges, good heating, 1.5 garaging, plus 3 bedroom dwelling; open plan, good heating, carport • a very good rural district with good schooling options

TradeMe search # R1428

Sale by Auction: Thurs, 23 Nov 2023 � from 1.00pm

AUCTION

OPEN DAY

Morrinsville Dairy

Open Day:

Wed, 1 November

11.00am � 1.00pm

A good, consistent�performing dairy unit, well located in the Motumaoho district, 5 kms from Morrinsville and an easy distance from Hamilton, is now available after some years of family ownership.

• 184B Kuranui Road, R D 2, Morrinsville • 123.84 hectares – 1 title • contour varies from flats to easy rolling with some areas of steeper sidlings • soils include a mix of silt, peat loam & clay loam • v.g. farm layout, well subdivided and raced, with the dairy shed in a central location • water supply is based on a deepwell bore, alkathene pipelines & strategically located manacon tanks; additional secondary bore at dairy shed

• effluent disposal system includes drop�tested ponds, travelling irrigator & canon • 290 cows calved; 3 year average 101,075 kgs milksolids • 36 bail rotary dairy shed; auto cup removers; in�shed feed system • functional amenities include implement/calf shedding plus on�farm airstrip with covered fertilizer shed and bin • comfortable 5 brm dwelling with garaging • great location, handy to town, with a good range of options for schooling

Ph Brian Peacocke 021 373 113

TradeMe search # R1427

PRL Enterprises Ltd t/a PRL Rural

021 373 113

Licensed REAA2008

MREINZ

Sale by Auction: Thurs, 23 Nov 2023 � from 1.00pm

bjp@prl308.co.nz

Real Estate

35 FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate – October 30, 2023

View online

Properties advertised in Farmers Weekly also appear on our website

Visit farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate – October 30, 2023

Kevin Deane Real Estate

Eureka 1536 State Highway 26 162ha

Add up the options here

This super popular Eureka located 162ha dairy units offers a number of purchasing options. 1) Property in it’s entirety. 2) Dairy platform of 145ha less the executive home and run-off. 3) Executive home on 4ha. 4) 13ha run-off. With production running to 195,000kgMS, a top level of infrastructure in place this exceptionally well presented property is a must see. Seriously motivated Vendors offer flexibility of settlement, going concern options etc.

Real Estate

Kevin Deane Real Estate

Tender Thursday 16th November 12noon (unless sold prior) View Tuesday 31 October, 7, 14 November at 10.30am - 12.00pm www.harcourts.co.nz/ML8373

Kevin Deane M 021 970 902

Eureka 1291 Tauwhare Road 122ha

Often Admired Dairy Unit This easily managed 122ha dairy unit at Eureka offers so much to the discerning purchaser. Aesthetically pleasing to the eye, a terrific range of infrastructure in place and a strong history of production. Throw in the handy location, plenty of schooling choices and the additional option to purchase another home if required - Truly a must view. With our long term farming family ready to go this is a super opportunity.

Auction Thursday 16th November 11:00am (unless sold prior) View Tuesday 31 October, 7, 14 November at 12.30pm - 2.00pm www.harcourts.co.nz/ML8367

Kevin Deane M 021 970 902

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

129ha Taranaki Dairy Farm TENDER

Located on the Lower Lepper road only minutes from Inglewood and ten minutes to New Plymouth makes this a hot property. The mainly ﬂat land with easy rolling hills is serviced by a ring race making farm management easier for the current leasee.

Dairying with a Difference

Nestled on the northern slopes of the mountain and only a couple of minutes’ drive from the village 480 O’Shea Road will make an enviable first dairy proposition with a good mix of contours, attractive patches of native bush throughout and a large investment made in recent years to fertility, fencing and improvements to both farm buildings and the house. - 180 cows milked producing up to 73,000kg/ms - 18 aside herringbone cowshed with in shed feeding - Compliant lined effluent - Usual support buildings - Good sized 3 bedroom weatherboard home. Hard to judge from the road this improving dairy unit still has potential for increased production as grass species and fertility improve, with location and rainfall being key this really is a farm worthy of your inspection this spring.

For Sale Tender closes Thurs 16 Nov, 1pm (unless sold prior) View Open Days: Fri 27 Oct, Fri 3 Nov, Fri 10 Nov, 11.00am-1.00pm blueribbonharcourts.co.nz/property/OH22255

The owners have in the past milked around 320 cows with production in the 100,000kg to 115,000kg milksolids range but currently farmed to suit a livestock trading operation. Four bedroom home with ofﬁce, 36-bail rotary cowshed with cup removers, feed pad and a good selection of farm buildings and the farm will be fully compliant at settlement with a new efﬂuent system being installed this summer. The owners are wanting to move, so come, view and discuss what options could be considered by our realistic vendors. OPEN FARM:

Kerry Harty M 027 294 6215 P 07 873 8700 E kjharty@harcourts.co.nz Blue Ribbon Realty Limited Licensed Agent REAA 2008

7th, 9th, 14th & 16th November 2023 – 12pm-2pm 137 Lower Lepper Road, Inglewood

TENDER: Tenders close 4pm Thursday 30th November 2023 at the ofﬁces of Matthew & Co Real Estate.

LK0116989©

Pirongia 480 O’Shea Road

Matthew McDonald Ph 06 765 5599 Cell 0274 814 648 www.matthewandco.co.nz

Real Estate

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz/realestate – October 30, 2023

Accelerating sucess

For Sale Upton Fells Station 7857ha

Andy Poswillo 027 420 4202

For Sale by Tender closing Friday 1 December 2023 at 2pm 1007 Medway Road, Awatere Valley, Marlborough

Encompassing 7857ha freehold land, offering substantial scale and a seldom available opportunity to acquire a working high country station with significant hunting, tourism, recreation, and development potential. Located in the sought-after and tightly held Awatere Valley, 55km from Blenheim CBD. Faithfully farmed for three generations, the well balanced property ranges from irrigated workable downs, strong clean productive limestone tussock country to elevated peaks. Majority of the property ranges between 390 MASL to 850 MASL. Approx 1500ha of indigenous native has been identified as potentially eligible for the Emission Trading Scheme and awaiting MPI approval. Well supported with farming infrastructure, numerous stock facilities and huts strategically located throughout the property. Well-formed tracks provide good access and ease of stock movement. Fenced into 88 blocks with a high standard of fencing. Upton Fells Station offers a seldom available opportunity to acquire a significant freehold land parcel in a very desirable and sought-after farming location.

Marlborough Rural Realty Limited T/A Colliers Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67025961

Accelerating success. New Listing

Sheep/Beef

Greenlees Station Tender closing Thursday 30 November 2023 at 2pm (plus GST if any) 989 Raukawa Road, Raukawa, Hastings, Hawke’s Bay

Land Area: 670.1746 ha (more or less)

Sheep/Beef breeding & finishing unit

colliers.co.nz/p-NZL67025933

Good balance of contour

Prime location

Development opportunities

A rare opportunity to secure an iconic property that has been tightly held for generations. Greenlees Station comprises approx. 670 hectares held in two titles and offers quality soils with a great balance of contour. A feature of the property is its prime location being very close to town and in the sought-after Raukawa district which provides many options to discerning purchasers. Years of planning and investment in infrastructure, fertiliser, water and access make Greenlees an attractive, profitable farming opportunity that is highly regarded for its ability to finish quality stock. A full complement of farm infrastructure includes a comfortable 3 bedroom home set in established grounds. With a focus on sustainable farming the majority of the waterways have been retired and large areas planted in natives to improve water quality and offer aesthetic appeal. An added advantage is the perfect habitat that provides some of the country’s best duck shooting. Great location, scale, contour, soil type and water make Greenlees Station a quality investment that are often sought but rarely found.

Hadley Brown 027 442 3539 hadley.brown@colliers.com

CRHB Limited Licensed REAA 2008

colliers.co.nz

38 Marketplace

Marketplace

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

LEASE BLOCK WANTED

Find primary sector vacancies at:

Young couple wanting to lease a Sheep - Beef property suitable for a breeding/finishing block, 4500 S/U. South Island We are currently leasing but farm is on the market. References available. Further inquiries to Jackson 0274 137 830 or jacksongemmell@hotmail.co.nz

SETINGINDUSTRY INDUSTRY STANDARDS SETTING STANDARDS

farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz To advertise phone Debbie 06 323 0765

ANIMAL HANDLING

GRAZING AVAILABLE

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

UP TO 50 HEAD. Summer grazing with be Sorghum Sudan and grass available for cutting. Phone 027 223 6156.

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

Get the right fencing contractor for the job. Visit the Find a Fencing Contractor map and directory on our website today.

LK0117020©

LK0115404©

ATTENTION FARMERS

DOLOMITE

FIND A FENCING CONTRACTOR

NZ’s finest BioGro certified Mg fertiliser

WWW.FCANZ.ORG.NZ

For a delivered price call ....

MOWER MASTER TOWABLE MOWERS

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

0800 436 566 BALAGE FOR SALE

Topper / Finishing Mower

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

Tour 1: Molesworth Station, St James, Mailings Pass & Rainbow Stations

EXCELLENT QUALITY, $85 per bale plus GST. Unit loads available. Phone 021 455 787. 20 ROUNDS OF balage. $85 +GST per round. Can be sold individually or in one lot. Phone 027 507 5048.

$4200

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

GST INCLUSIVE

LK0116485©

Dates: Feb 11-15 2 places available, LK0116977©

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

Ph: 0274 351 955

To find out more visit

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

E: info@southislandtoursnz.com • www.southislandtoursnz.com

IS CANADA IN YOUR FUTURE?

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

FARM MAPPING MEASURE YOUR FARM’S effective area with a practical and cost-effective map. Visit farmmapping.co.nz for a quote.

It grows under them.

CORK OAK TRUFFLE TREES

Consider a Canadian personal and professional adventure with us! Great overseas experience. We are now hiring for the following positions:

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.”

Trees produce truffles at around year 7, producing up to 1kg a year by year 15. Currently black truffles are selling at $2,500$3,000 per kg, with high demand.



Great stock shade and shelter with 0% loss of grazing land. Stock protector options are available for cattle, sheep & deer.

  

GIBBOOST

Fantastic stock feed which is low tannin and high in carbohydrates. Produces up to 1 ton of acorns per tree each year.

Job details at: www.farmersweeklyjobs.co.nz

INCREASE PASTURE growth and dry matter. $5.50 per/ha ex store + GST. Phone 0508 733 343. www.vernado.co.nz

Extremely resilient. Fire resistant, stabilises erosion, frost & snow resistant to -9 degrees. Drought & heat tolerant over 40 degrees.

GOATS WANTED

Add value far into the future. Trees last over 200 years. Cork harvest income at year 25, then every 10 years. Potential carbon credits at 30% with a minimum 1ha canopy cover.

LK0116425©

LK0116824©

For tree availability call 021 327 637 or visit truffles.nz

ROCKYMTN.COM

DELIVERING AND BUYING NZ Wide. https:// w w w.youtube.com/@ mikehughesworkingdog Phone 07 315 5553. HUNTAWAY PUPS, 10-weeks old. Vac. Hard on cattle, big noise. HEADING pups, mixed ages. From ‘Deal’ bitches. All prices neg. Dave Andrews. Phone 027 450 6095. WELL BRED 2-YEAR Huntaway dog. Works sheep and cattle and is good in the yards with a big bark. Has natural balance and ability. Make top mustering dog $5000.00. HEADING Eye dog well broken in and very biddable. Excellent breeding and would make a top trial dog. 2-years old. $4000.00. Phone 021 557 119 Waikato.

ELECTRO-TEK ENGINEERING

Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) is one of Canada’s largest agriculture equipment dealership networks with branches located throughout the Western Canadian prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We are primarily focused on the CASE IH and the New Holland brands. Through our network of RME locations we sell, rent and lease new and used agriculture and industrial equipment and offer product support, including equipment servicing, to our

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.

LEASE LAND 185 HECTARES AT Whakatane-Opotiki. 1/3 flat, 1/3 easy, 1/3 steeper. Currently dairy grazing. Expressions of interest sought. All propositions considered by retired owners. Email fiona.laming@yahoo. co.nz. Phone 07 315 4832.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

DOGS FOR SALE

Tour: 2 D’Urville Island and Marlborough Farms Tour April 24-28

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

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.

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

LIVESTOCK WANTED 2023 born Sannen Doe goats wanted

Phone Steve on 021 990 350

RAMS FOR SALE WILTSHIRES-ARVIDSON. Open Day 27.11.23, 2-5pm Auction 28.11.23 11am 15 Oruanui Road, Taupo Saleyards. Phone David 027 277 1556. WORD ONLY ADVERTISING. Phone 0800 85 25 80.

WANTED TO BUY HOUSES AND SHEDS for shifting, relocating and removal. Phone 020 473 2394. 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. 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)

WANTED TO LEASE SHEEP AND BEEF breeding farm. Approx 600-1000ha plus. Taupo, Hunterville, Taihape, Hawke’s Bay, Dannevirke, Pahiatua, Gisborne and Wairoa areas. Experienced Leasee. Contact Pete Hammond. Phone 027 412 1466. trekh.b@xtra.co.nz

Livestock

Livestock 39

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Superior Genetics for Greater Profitability

FACIAL ECZEMA RAMGUARD TESTING @ 0.6mg/kg • 2300 Certified

SIL recorded ewes • Taihape Hill Country Romdales • Assured Sound Conformation • High Meat Yield • Top Reproduction

Wharetoa Maternals The Maternal Breed with the Growth and Meat of a Terminal. See our Genetic Trend Graphs on our website…. your genetic progress could follow ours.

JW117009©

Call us for more information. Find us on

JW117022©

Open Day: Friday November 24 – 10am-3pm On Farm Auction: Friday December 15 – 12 midday

Individual Sales from 16th November

Garth Shaw: 027 273 7037 Warwick Howie (PGGW): 027 437 5276 e: wharetoa@farmside.co.nz

Mark, Lorraine & Kristina Illston mark@mindahills.co.nz

www.wharetoagenetics.co.nz

063887804 • 0274887804

ORARI GORGE GENETICS FAST GROWTH, HIGH YIELD, LESS DRENCHING, GUARANTEED PERFORMANCE Breeding MORE PROFITABLE & MORE SUSTAINABLE sheep in the HILL COUNTRY for the HILL COUNTRY. “Home of the Beef + Lamb Genetics Low Input Progeny Test”

Orari Gorge Romney, RomTex actively select for

FEWER DAGS AND GREATER RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE TO WORMS.

NZ Maternal Worth with Meat, Wool & Body Condition Score 3800



 



3400



........ Orari Gorge 4949 DP Flks Avg



3000

 

2600

DP c - Cents

 

2200

 

1800

Advertise with us

Reach every farmer in New Zealand every week

Call Andrea 027 602 4925

1400 2010

Years

2020

1000

Please contact us any time for more information or to arrange a visit.

Robert & Alex Peacock |

03 692 2893 |

robert@orarigorge.co.nz

Orari Gorge Station, RD 21, Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

PALMERSTON 2ND SPRING CATTLE SALE

Key: Dairy

Cattle

Sheep

Other

NEW SEASON TERMINAL LAMB SALE | TOTANGI FARM LTD

Friday 3 November 10.00am | Palmerston Saleyards

Thursday 2 November

All cattle yarded overnight & sold over scales. Bidr will be in attendance and livestreaming.

10.30am | Matawhero Saleyard Comprising:

Comprising Approx:

• 3500 New Season ms terminal lambs By Sufftex, Suffolk & Oxford Down Rams

• 40 Angus & Hereford 2yr Steers

Contact:

BATLEY BELTEX RAM SALE PURE-BRED BELTEX RAMS

MATAWHERO CATTLE SALE

• 15 Hereford 2yr Heifers

Tuesday 7 November 11.00am

• 48 Hereford/Friesian X 2yr Heifers

28 x 2th SIL recorded purebred Wiltshire rams

Offering a top yarding of approx 2000 cattle comprising:

• 214 Angus & Angus X 1yr Steers

• 30 3yr Ang Steers • 50 2yr Steers • 10 2yr Bulls • 50 Ylg Exotic Steers • 915 Ylg Ang & Ang x Steers • 50 Ylg Exotic Heifers • 480 Ylg Ang & Ang x Heifers • 250 Ylg Beef Bulls Grand opportunity to purchase exceptional well-bred lines of hill country station bred cattle. Follow us online for updates; www.AgOnline.co.nz www.bidr.co.nz

• 79 Hereford 1yr Steers • 130 Stablizer 1yr Steers • 50 Simmental 1yr Steers • 10 Speckled Park 1yr Steers • 7 Angus & Angus X 1yr Bulls • 290 Angus & Angus 1yr Heifers • 61 Hereford 1yr Heifers Gerard Shea (PGW) 0274 425 379 Callum Stalker (RLL) 0274 730 846

Contact:

Jamie Hayward 027 434 7586 Chris Hurlstone 027 598 6542

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard bidr.co.nz

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard Helping grow the country

Helping grow the country

jeremy@jrnlivestock.co.nz

506 Batley Rd, Maungaturoto, Northland

• 10 Speckled Park X 2yr Steers • 40 Angus & Angus X 2yr Heifers

06 762 8080 027 664 8835

THURSDAY 9 NOVEMBER | 1PM (VIEWING FROM 11.00AM)

Jamie Hayward 027 434 7586 Alex Chrisp 027 801 0104

• 20 Hereford/ Friesian X 2yr Steers

Livestock

Comprising: • 5 pure-bred Beltex (embryo transplants) • 10 Suffold/Beltex cross • 40 Beltex cross - 50% and 75% Higher dressing yield and meat ratio. Enquiries to:

Rex Roadley (Vendor) 09 4318 266 or 021 08155123 rex.roadley@farmside.co.nz Cam Heggie (PGW Genetics) 0275 018 182 Darryl Williamson (PGW Livestock) 0294 329 285

NZ’s Virtual Saleyard bidr.co.nz Helping grow the country

Friday 10th November 2023 - 1pm 3rd Annual Ram Sale at 15 Arnold Rd, RD 25, Pohokura, Stratford

In conjunction with Glenochy Perendale’s 1st Annual Ram Sale

15 Arnold Road, RD 25, Stratford 06 762 3520 millvalleynz@gmail.com millvalleyshorthorns

KAAHU GENETICS KAAHU WHITE™ MATERNAL SHEDDING RAMS 4th ANNUAL SALE

Sale Day - Friday November 17th, 1pm Approximately 150 2th rams for sale by Auction

11am rams penned ready for viewing On farm @ 154 Whakamaru Road, SH 30, Whakamaru. Livestreamed on

Open Day - Thursday 2nd November, 1pm - 3pm

Hill country bred in Wairoa for

Shedding Fleece No Dags High Fertility

Survivability Growth rate Carcass yield

Good feet

Approx. 70 Two Tooth Rams available for sale

SIL Recorded... All traits measured and recorded Top Production Low input extremely high output Our ewes pregnancy scanned 201% this year, ewe hoggets 163%

Carcass meaty and high yielding EMA muscle scanned & Sires CT scanned for yield Great eating quality Eczema tolerance Ramguard testing @.40

Murray Sargent 027 392 7242 | murraysargent@hotmail.com

Find us on

Cam Heggie - 027 501 8182 Alan Aldridge - 027 472 0901

Peter & Aira Bremner • Phone 06 837 7456 or 022 567 2852 420 Hereheretau Road, Wairoa, 4196, Hawke‘s Bay, New Zealand Email: taherewiltshires@gmail.com

JW116961©

KAAHU GENETICS

Livestock

MANA STUD

ECZEMA TOLERANT ROMNEYS

PERFORMANCE SHEEP GENETICS 2023 RAM SALE Malcolm Wyeth 06 3727875 Tuesday 14th November at 1.30pm

RAMGUARD TESTING SINCE 1985

On Farm 127 Admiral Road, Gladstone, Masterton. Inspection invited from 1.30pm 50 Stud and Top Commercial Romney Rams to be sold at Auction Romney and Romdale rams also available for private sale

LK0116895©

FE tested rams at .52mg/kg LWT available for sale

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Rams selected on structural soundness and high performance data

SIL Maternal worth indexes from 2500 to 3300 All enquiries: Please contact Malcolm Wyeth 027 252 7151 Tom Suttor/PGG Wrightson 027 446 9967 or Simon Smith/PGG Wrightson 027 444 0733

Thursday 20th Nov 2023, 10am-3pm

• 5 star rating • Bred on challenging hill country • Robust functional sheep that survive • Structurally sound • Selecting for parasite tolerance and less dags • No ewes worm drenched, dipped or vaccinated KEITH ABBOTT, RAGLAN 027 463 9859 | www.waiteikaromneys.co.nz @waiteikaromneys

RAM VIEWING OPEN DAY

Nithdale Station 338 Nithdale Rd, Gore (meet at the woolshed)

INCLUDING

ELITE RAM SALE (TOP 10%)

For more information contact Russell White 027 418 3423 | www.nithdale.com

BLACK COLOUR MATTERS

SUFFOLK – NO. 1 TERMINAL BREED THAT WILL GIVE YOUR LAMBS 100% BLACK COLOUR

PAKI-ITI SUFFOLK

PAKI-ITI SUFTEX

BLACK COLOUR = PROVEN STORE PREMIUMS It’s real, just ask your stock agent BLACK COLOUR = 100% HYBRID VIGOR That’s more growth, more meat and more live lambs

PAKI-ITI SUFFOLK & SUFTEX K

That’s more money for you, proving that BLACK COLOUR DOES INDEED MATTER when using terminal sires

nz.sheep.co.nz/suffolk

• 14 years of wintering ram hoggets on steep hill country • Over 500 Suffolk and Suftex rams sold and leased every year

LK0116799©

FOR YOUR NEAREST SUFFOLK BREEDER VISIT

• Breeding for constitution, longevity, structural soundness and then performance • Bred for Growth, Meat Yield, Survival and Meat Quality Traits (Tenderness and Intramuscular fat)

PERFOR

SEA

• Over 160 clients purchased and leased Paki-iti rams last year

Visit paki-iti.co.nz to view our breeding programs

Stewart Morton 06 328 5772 • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 RD 54 Kimbolton, Manawatu • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz

LK0116863©

FOL

Livestock

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

TAUTANE STATION ON FARM SALE

We’re online

TUESDAY 7TH NOVEMBER

farmersweekly.co.nz

398 Tautane Road, Herbertville Commencing at 1pm

SOUTHDOWNS

30th Annual NI Perendale Ram Sale

> 7000 South Dorset Down & Hampshire Down x Romney Lambs > 1000 Romney Cryptorchid Lambs All of the above are NZFAP & ABF Accredited. Auctioneers note: A grand opportunity to purchase well-bred coastal lambs off the iconic Tautane Station. These lambs have long been renowned for their shifting ability. This is the entire 2023 terminal lamb crop. No lambs will have been picked prior to sale.

12 Noon Monday 13th November 2023 Te Kuiti Saleyards

4 Purebred predictability

26th Annual NI Perendale Ram Sale

60 Top Rams for sale by 1pm Monday 18th November 2019 10 North Island Breeders Te Kuiti Saleyards

New Venue

Contact: Sale Secretary Rams for sale by 9 North Island Breeders Philip Brandon 07of Vendors 873 Flock 6313 Rams all selected from top 20% e: pa.brandon@farmside.co.nz Contact: Sale Secretary: 70 Top

Further Enquiries: Rowan Sandford (Hazlett) 027 215 3215 Roger Watts (Carrfields) 027 446 0005

Philip Wrightson Brandon Cam Heggie, PGG 873 6313 027 501Ph:07 8182 E: pa.brandon@farmside.co.nz Catalogue available online 8th November Catalogue available online 12th Nov: www.perendalenz.com www.perendalenz.com Cam Heggie PGG Wrightson Ph: 027 501 8182

LK0116997©

LK0116743©

www.southdownsheep.org.nz

TAURAPA STATION ON FARM SALE THURSDAY 9TH NOVEMBER

On a/c of Ocean Beach Farms Partnership 193 Ocean Beach Road, Waimarama Commencing at 1pm

> 5900 Terminal x Romney Lambs (Suftex and Lamb Supreme) NZFAP and ABF Accredited > 500 1 year Romney Ewes Auctioneers note: A grand opportunity to purchase well-bred, early born lambs renowned for their shifting ability. This property is offering their entire 2023 lamb draft - no lambs will have been picked prior to sale. Further Enquiries: Angus Hazlett 027 462 0136

NZ MATERNAL WORTH WITH MEAT (MW+M)

2200

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

2000 1600 1400

400

-400

200

-600

-800

-200

-1000 95 19

-400 -600

Annabel & Roy Tripp/Vernonese Darfield 03 318 6939 John & Melissa Jebson Darfield 03 318 3796 Blair Gallagher Ashburton 03 303 9819 Philip Oldfield Geraldine 03 693 9877 Robert Gardyne Oturehua 03 444 5032 Pip Wilson Gore 027 207 2882 Hayden & Kate Slee Te Anau 03 249 9097

Andrew & Karen Mackie Otautau 021 210 3381

Philip Brandon Otorohanga 07 873 6313

John Spellman Te3 Awamutu 5 07 1870 7 1433 1 19 01 Langlands 1 1 2 2 2 2 20Neil &2Linda 20 20 AWAROA - Brandon, Philip & 2Audrey2YEAR – Otorohanga. P: 07 873 6313 Taumarunui 07 896 8660

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

-1000 95 19

7 00

9 00

1 01

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

AWAROA  RAUPUHA

Gisborne 021 997 519

Otoi Farming Co AWAROA - Brandon, Philip & Audrey – Otorohanga. P: 07 873Wairoa 6313 06 838 7398

AWAROA



RAUPUHA

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



AWAPIKO

SNOWDON

12 PM, Te Kuiti Saleyards

RANGIATEA





MONTANA KINNEAR

BENMORE

SNOWDON

RANGIATEA



AWAPIKO



OTOI



WAIOTANE

  

LONGVIEW

 

KERRYDALE

OTOI HAUTERE LONGVIEW OTAPAWA 

TE AWAITI

KERRYDALE HAUTERE

   

17 JANUARY 2023

Gore South Island Ram Sale

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

MEAT + SURVIVAL + GROWTH = $$$ SOUTH ISLAND TE AWAITI WANGAPEKA - de Vos, Cor & Belia

Gore South Island Ram Sale

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

Diamond Peak

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

Warren Ayers

OLDENDALE BLUFF FARM Wyndham 027 226 4290 KLIFDEN





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

Gore 03 208 1789

MT GUARDIAN Gore 03 208 1030

Te Kuiti North Island Ram Sale



WAIOTANE

OTAPAWA SOUTH ISLAND

Mitchell Hillcrest Clinton 03 415 7187

BLUFF FARM

Christie Wilson Partnership BENMORE WANGAPEKA

14 NOVEMBER 2022



HERANGI



 AWAPIKO - Langlands, NeilHarding & Linda––Woodville Taumarunui. 07133 8967533 8660 Pongaroa 06 374 3888 GREEN ACRES KERRYDALE - Robyn – P: P: 021  Douglas Dara 5880 Robbie GLENOCHY MacFarlane, Whangamamona. P: 06& 762 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  WAIOTANE - Brosnahan, SeanRob – Ohope. P: 06– 864 4468 THE HEIGHTS - Gaskin, & Heather Levin. P: 027 481Martinborough 6924 022 607 5968 LONGSPUR  HAUTERE - Henricksen, & Carey– –P:Pongaroa. P: 06 374 3888 KERRYDALE - Robyn Harding John – Woodville 021 133 7533 GREEN ACRES  D’Ath, Warren – Palmerston North. P: 06 354 Ken8951 Elliott OTOI - KAREREVALE Brickell, Ian &- Bobbie – Wairoa. P: 06 838 7398 KAREREVALE Akaroa 021 221 4185 GLENOCHY OTAPAWA - Robbie, Douglas & Dara – Eketahuna. 06 376 7765 LONGVIEW - Maxwell, Graeme & Sue – Tutira. P: 06 839P:7412 ASHBY  Newhaven Farms  HERANGI - Spellman, – Te Awamutu. 1433 THE HEIGHTS Oamaru 03 432 4154 THE HEIGHTS - Gaskin, Rob John & Heather – Levin. P: P: 07 027870 481 6924  LONGSPUR TE AWAITI Wakelin, Sarah – Martinborough. P: 022 607 5968 Richard (late) & Kerry France HAUTERE - Henricksen, John & Carey – Pongaroa. P: 06 374 3888 Tapanui 03 204 8339 ASHBY -- Timms, P: 06 362 7829 KAREREVALE D’Ath, Gilbert Warren––Shannon. Palmerston North. P: 06 354 8951 Mike McElrea & Fraser Darling KAREREVALE Tapanui OTAPAWA - Robbie, Douglas & Dara – Eketahuna. P: 06 376 7765 WANGAPEKA ASHBY 027 424 9376 or 021 701 229 NOVEMBER 2022 HERANGI14 - Spellman, John – Te Awamutu. P: 07 870 1433 THE HEIGHTS Scott & Kjersti Walker MT GUARDIAN Te -Kuiti NorthSarah Island–Ram Sale TE AWAITI Wakelin, Martinborough. P: 022 607 5968 Tapanui 027 630 5301

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



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



RUA PEKA PEKA - Bryant, Maree – Urenui. P: 06 752 3701 Tutira 06P: 839 GLENOCHY - MacFarlane, James & Rochelle – Whangamamona. 067412 762 5880

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

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

 

AWAPIKO - Langlands, Neil & Linda – Taumarunui. P: 07 896 8660 Graeme & Sue Maxwell







 

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

 

Tim, Sue & Edward Anderson Cheviot 03 319 2730

07 09 20 20 YEAR

 

Cor & Bella de Vos Wakeﬁeld 03 522 4280

 

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

 

James McFarlane Stratford 06 762 5880



Wayne Frank Waitara 06 754 6672

 

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

PERENDALE RAMS Leading way superiorthe Maternal Worth with Meat. superior Maternal Worth with Meat.

Dave McKelvie Wyndham 027 249 6905

DOLOMITE GRASSLANDS

NEWHAVEN

HAZELDALE OLDENDALE DOLOMITE North Island Ram Sale – Te Kuiti ST HELENS + HINERUA South Island Ram Fair – Gore GOWAN BRAES KLIFDEN 13 November 2023 16 January 2024 AVALONGRASSLANDS FELDWICK MONTANA HILLCREST NEWHAVEN DIAMOND PEAK KINNEAR HAZELDALE CALDERKIN

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 BLUFF FARM - Tripp/Veronese, Evans,us Ivan & Julie – Oxford. P: 03 1585 SNOWDON Annabel & Roy Follow on Facebook & 312 Instagram GRASSLANDS Jebson,Richard John &&Melissa HAZELDALE -- France, Kerry – Tapanui. P:03 204 8339 E: perendalenz@xtra.co.nz 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.

LK0116877©

400

 

-200

 

CENTS

600

 

200

800

-800

+ GROWTH PERENDALE RAMS = $$$ Leading the way

600

 

1000

 

800

1200

 

1000

1400

 

1200

1600

CENTS

1800

 

2000

hazlett.nz

NZ MATERNAL WORTH WITH MEAT (MW+M)

1800

2200

Livestock SALE TALK

If you’ve got a joke you want to share with the farming community, then email us at: saletalk@agrihq.co.nz with Sale Talk in the subject line and we’ll print it and credit it to you. Conditions apply

Elite Ram Sale

STOCK REQUIRED

1YR Angus Steers 280-380kg 1YR Exotic & Beef Bred Heifers 250-320kg 2YR Ang & Ang X Steers 450-550kg 1YR Frsn Bulls 250-340kg

20 November 1pm th

Symonds Road, Waipara

Mataro Wiltshire’s

· 70 2th Wiltshire Rams · SIL recorded · Brucellosis tested · Organically raised

have been breeding for eczema tolerance since 1989.

On the eczema prone hills of Taranaki these Rams are breed tough and ready for any climate.

Contact: Dave Wooldridge: 027 259 4859 Callum Dunnett: 027 462 0126 Alex Horn: 027 5918 449

For more information contact: Curtis Lockley 022 412 0660, 06 752 3084

www.mtcass.co.nz

STOCK FOR SALE

1YR Angus Bulls BVD & EBL Tested Suit Dairy Sector 340-400kg 2500 Romney Crypto & Ewe Lambs 24-35kg

JW117003©

Two fellas are walking in the woods one day when they come upon a gigantic hole, so big and deep that they can’t see the bottom of it. They find some sticks and rocks and throw them in, but never hear anything hit the bottom of the hole. Eventually they find an old railroad sleeper and figure they’ll definitely hear it hit the bottom, so they lug it over and throw it in. A few seconds pass, but they still don’t hear it hit the bottom. They shrug and start to walk away, when all of a sudden a cow comes charging through the woods at them and jumps into the hole! “That was crazy!” they say to each other as they’re walking out of the woods. A farmer is walking into the woods at the same time and greets them. The guys tell the farmer about the hole they found. The farmer asks if the guys have seen his cow. They say, “Yes, we saw a cow come sprinting through the woods and jump into that hole!” The farmer shakes his head .”Hmm, well that couldn’t have been my cow. My cow was tied to a railroad sleeper.”

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

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

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

NZ’s Top 200 FE Rams for Wiltshires Leading the development of Shedding Sheep in NZ

Open Day 27th November 2-5pm Auction (80 rams) 28th November 11am Taupo Saleyards, 15 Oruanui Road

Nikau Coopworth has confidence in a vibrant sheep industry Efficient productive ewes with high disease tolerance and low drench input has been the successful policy of Nikau’s breeding program for over 40 years

• First (1995) to performance select on Animalplan/SIL • First (2006) to Ramguard™ Facial Eczema Test, currently 0.54 • First (2012) to Carla™ antibody parasite test • Hoof Score (2016) every year, every toe, every hogget ram and ewe, scored in a roll over crate

Cam Heggie Mobile 027 501 8182

Maximize refugia and protect the effective life of your drenches - top FEC genetics and no drench ewe flock.

46th Annual Ram Sale Friday Nov 3 Frankton Saleyards 12:30pm

Open Day Tues Oct 31

LK0113539©

Arvidson Wiltshires – arvidsonz@gmail.com • 09 296 0597 On Farm Sales - Wellsford, Bombay, Matamata. David 027 277 1556

Tackle FE head on and reduce ewe wastage, increase weaning

122 Kokonga West Rd, Waikaretu.

www.nikaucoopworth.co.nz

Increase efficiency and reduce inputs

09 2333 230

Peter & Caroline Foss 495 Potaka Road, Aria (07) 8777 881 • pcfossy@xtra.co.nz

ON FARM RAM SALE

SALE DAY THURSDAY 23RD NOVEMBER, 2PM ON FARM AT 495 POTAKA RD, ARIA

Thursday 16th November 2023 Viewing from 10 am. Auction from 12 noon.

3243 Puketitiri Road, Patoka – Hawkes Bay

Live streamed on ✓ No shearing

✓ SIL Recorded

✓ No dipping ✓ No dagging

✓ FE dosing ✓ Live streamed sale

ON OFFER

Full Shed 2T Wiltshire Rams

IN CONJUNCTION WITH

R E D S H A W L I V E S T O C K LTD Dean Freeman 027 445 1944

Waterfields Wiltshires Anna Martyn • 021 247 2278 • akmartyn@yahoo.com.au

Farmers Weekly 2023 Spring Bull Sale Results

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

New entrants lift yearling bull season Staff reporter

MARKETS

Livestock

NAUGURAL sales at four studs were a highlight of a challenging yearling bull sales season. Average prices were softer than last year, mainly because of the difficulties facing dairy farmers, the main buying group for young bulls. But the pool of sellers was enhanced by four new entrants across a range of breeds. Vermont Angus of Alford Forest in Canterbury offered 27 AngusPro bulls at the end of September, with Kim and Russell Berquist selling 25 for an average of $2684. The top priced bull was sold to Leefield Station for $6000. Shane Tahu’s Eclipse Charolais in Himatangi, Manawatū, put forward nine yearlings, which all sold at an average of $3300. Rosemount Charolais paid a top price of $6000 at the sale. The first of two new Hereford sellers, Bluff Herefords of Glenbrook in Auckland, sold all 59 yearlings for an average price of $2500, the best of which made $3700 for owners Phillip Jackson and Kirstine Lereculey.

The expectation of a bull being able to perform across more than one season has continued to factor into purchasing decisions, with some asking what this may mean for the two-year-old bull sales ahead. Hoobee Herefords of Whenuakite sold 11 bulls at its sale, at an average of $3801. The best was sold for $5500. The wet spring didn’t appear to have a major effect on condition, but the economic climate saw purchasers and breeders take a more conservative approach this season. Tighter budgets meant some purchasers looked to spread their investment in bull numbers over a longer period. The expectation of a bull being able to perform across more than one season has continued to factor

BIG BOY: Skywalker 2034 from Mahuta Herefords, Glen Murray, has made the studs spring season’s top price of $23,500 for a yearling bull.

into purchasing decisions, with some asking what this may mean for the two-year-old bull sales ahead. EBVs for calving ease and growth were key to purchasing decisions for those in dairying. Regulation requirements, along with some dairy farmers seeking additional revenue streams, mean that producing a saleable calf that is able to get off the ground and achieve weaning weight quickly has become an integral part of their business focus. A record $41,000 was paid for an Angus yearling bull, Twin Oaks T019, at the Twin Oaks Calving Ease Angus sale for Roger and Susan Hayward, at Waipapa station, Te Akau, Waikato. The buyer, on bidr, was Craig Davie-Martin, a Northland breeder of calving ease Angus genetics under the trading name MVP Ag, Waiotira. Davie-Martin said the yearling bull by Australian-bred Millah Murrah Paratrooper has excellent calving ease direct (CED), gestation length, birthweight and growth figures, plus very good body depth and thickness right through. MVP already has a Paratrooper half-brother bought last year that has been performing very well. Mahuta Polled Hereford at Glen Murray in northern Waikato sold Mahuta Skywalker 2034 to Koanui

Herefords, Havelock North, for $23,500. Mahuta had 68 bulls in the offering and sold 64 with an average of $3728. Notable early season sales included Multiple Steak of Origin award-winning Northland Angus stud Te Atarangi, which had an average price of $3457 for 112 sold out of 117 offered. This was down $300 on last year but vendor Chris Biddles said that was totally understandable given current farming conditions and confidence. “Only a handful of bulls sold under what it costs to produce them, given the investment we make to produce a safe calvingease product,” Biddles said. Top price was $9200 paid for lot 12, Te Atarangi Wheta T020 by Robin, Jacqueline and Zarrah Blackwell at Mangaotea Stud, Inglewood. Argyle Angus, Kaikohe, had a full clearance of 31 yearling bulls, averaged $3400, and had a top price of $6700. Piquet Hill Farms Angus, northern Waikato, sold 28 of 33 and averaged $2596 with a top of $4500. To begin the Hereford sales, Waimaire and Otengi studs in the Shepherd family, Kaeo, Northland, sold 41 of 61, averaged $2700 and had a top price of $5200 for lot 35, Otengi Echuca 415, paid by the Beard family, Kaitaia.

LET’S GO: Te Atarangi Angus principal Chris Biddles welcomes bull buyers to his sale on the Pouto peninsula, Northland.

MAKE WAY: Mark McKenzie of Maungahina Stud and Posy Moody, General Manager NZ Herefords. The stud sold 22 yearling Hereford bulls at an average of $2600, while 22 yearling Speckle Park bulls sold for an average $3100. GUY GANG: 32 yearling bulls were offered at Komako Angus, Ashhurst, with 26 sold. Average $4588. Highest $8000 achieved twice.

Farmers Weekly 2023 Spring Bull Sale Results STUD

LOCATION

AGE OF BULL

TOTAL OFFERED

TOTAL SOLD

AVERAGE PRICE

TOP PRICE

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SOLD TO

ANGUS Black Bear Angus

Rotorua

Yearling

$2,000

$2,300

Hallmark Angus

Tutira

Yearling

$3,770

$6,000

Pikoburn Angus

Heather Dell Angus

Rotorua

Yearling

$2,534

$4,100

Commercial

Kay Jay Angus

Masterton

Yearling

$4,166

$9,000

Commercial

Kakahu Angus

Geraldine

Yearling

$3,598

$7,800

Commercial

Komako Angus

Ashhurst

Yearling

$4,588

$8,000

Mangaotea Blackwell Family

Tariki

Yearling

$2,327

$3,200

Josh Gordon

Mangaotea Blackwell Family

Tariki

2 Year

$2,679

Matai Mara Angus

Cambridge

$4,050

$6,000

Tarrangower Angus

McFadzean Cattle Company

Carterton

Yearling

$4,457

$10,500

BL and LM Lupton, Te Awamutu

Pinebank Angus

Masterton

$3,750

$12,000

Red Oaks Angus

Pinebank Angus

Masterton

$7,085

$12,500

Johnny Wilson

Rockley Angus

Balfour

$4,461

$12,000

Tawa Hills

Stern Angus

Totara Valley

$4,000

$10,000

Andrew McLachlan

Stokman Angus

Rotorua

108

$4,317

$15,000

MVP Ag twice, Tangihau Stud, Komako Angus

Te Atarangi Angus

Te Kōpuru

117

112

$3,457

$9,200

Blackwell Mangaotea Family

Totaranui Angus

Pahiatua

Yearling

$3,259

$8,500

Commercial

Turihaua Angus

Gisborne

Yearling

$7,372

$17,000

Orere Angus

Turihaua Angus

Gisborne

2 Year

$5,900

Twin Oaks Angus

Ngāruawāhia

Yearling

$5,458

$41,000

MVP Ag

Vermont Angus

Alford Forest

Yearling

$2,684

$6,000

Leefield Station

Waitangi Angus

Waitangi

Yearling

$3,900

$7,000

$6,000

Rosemount Charolais

Yearling

CHAROLAIS Eclipse Charolais

Himatangi

Yearling

$3,300

Hurstpier Polled Hereford Stud

Tikorangi

20 Month

$3,300

Rauriki Charolais

Dannevirke

Yearling

$2,860

$3,750

M&H Swannson, Pahiatua. B McConnell, Whangarei.

Rauriki Charolais

Dannevirke

2 Year

$3,133

$3,200

Seerden Family Trust, Tutira

Ardo Herefords

Marton

Yearling

$2,986

$6,200

Belhavel Herefords

Ardo Herefords

Marton

2 Year

$2,724

Bexley Hereford Stud

Yearling

$3,138

$6,800

CB Norman, Huntly

Yearling

$2,500

$3,700

Huirimu Farms Ltd

Bushy Downs Herefords

Mokau Glenbrook, Auckland Te Awamutu

Yearling

$2,740

$3,500

Bushy Downs Herefords

Te Awamutu

2 Year

$3,210

$4,200

Craigmore Polled Herefords

Ohaupo

Yearling

105

$2,706

$10,000

Hoobees Herefords

Whenuakite

Yearling

$3,081

$5,500

Horizon Hereford Stud

New Plymouth

Yearling

$2,300

Hurstpier Polled Hereford Stud

Tikorangi

2 Year

$2,900

Kairaumati Polled Herefords

Turua

1 Year

$2,242

Kairaumati Polled Herefords

Turua

20 Month

$3,175

Mahuta Herefords

Tuakau

Yearling

$3,728

Mangaotea Blackwell Family

Tariki

2 Year

$2,793

Maungahina Stud

Masterton

Yearling

Riverlee Polled Herefords

Kimbolton

Riverton Herefords

Fordell

Yearling

Riverton Herefords

Fordell

Shrimpton's Hill Herefords

HEREFORD

Bluff Herefords

Hains Partnership

$3,700

Dairy

$23,500

Koanui Polled Herefords

$2,600

$5,400

Brian Miers

$3,024

$3,300

Commercial x 2

$3,301

$5,800

Ardo Herefords

2 Year

$2,800

Cave

18 Month

Shrimpton's Hill Herefords

Cave

119

$2,460

$3,300

*$2460 average across all ages. Highest: Kolmar Dairies

Waimaire and Otengi Polled Hereford Stud

Kaeo

1 Year

$2,710

$5,200

Beard Farms

Waimaire and Otengi Polled Hereford Stud

Kaeo

18 Month

$2,715

$3,900

Goodhue Farms

Waimaire and Otengi Polled Hereford Stud

Kaeo

2 Year

$2,688

$3,400

Waihapa Farms

Mangaotea Blackwell Family

Tariki

Yearling

$1,520

Mangaotea Blackwell Family

Tariki

2 Year

$2,523

$6,000

Donnelly Trust, Te Anau

$8,700

Tracey Thompson

JERSEY

MURRAY GREY Mangaotea Blackwell Family

Tariki

Yearling

$1,900

Mangaotea Blackwell Family

Tariki

2 Year

$3,175

Torrisdale Murray Grey Stud

Winton

1 Year

$3,370

SPECKLE PARK Bexley Hereford Stud

Mokau

Yearling

$2,425

Maungahina Stud

Masterton

Yearling

$3,100

Results published are from data provided to AgriHQ

46 Markets

Markets

Proudly sponsored by

Forestry set to log worst year in a while From woodlot to wharfgate, timber is prey to many price factors – but the deepest cuts are inﬂicted by the economy. Reece Brick

MARKETS

Forestry

HIS year is going to go down as one of the toughest in a long time for the wider forestry industry. Wounds are slowly healing after a brutal first half of the year, but the fact is no one is over the moon about the present state of play, and there’s little on the horizon to suggest a return to the good old days any time soon. There are a lot of moving parts, which explains why profits on logs and timber have dropped off big time, but if there’s an overarching theme it’s the health of the economy both here and worldwide. Historically, this is often the case when it comes to wood markets. Underlying demand is highly reliant on construction activity, and the choice to build by companies or the general population depends on a perceived level of financial security going forward. Here in New Zealand the big killer is interest rates and their effect on house values, as well as the much higher cost to build than only a few years ago.

The number of new home consents issued this year dropped 26% versus last year through to the end of August, with this deficit expanding as the year has progressed. This has left mills battling to sell structural and framing timber, often resorting to cutting production or selling timber overseas to try to rebalance the market. It’s a similar story for roundwood producers, where forecasts of a tough farming season have already seen spending tightening on posts and poles. While it looks like mortgage rates aren’t going to ease over the short term, the pure need to house a growing population could be the counterweight to eventually reinvigorate construction activity. Since the turn of the century a new house has been consented per every 2.1 people added to the official population count. In the first half of this year the ratio had expanded to one consent per 3.4 people. In other words, building activity is approximately 37% lower than would be expected over the long term – although this comes with the caveat that 2021 and 2022 saw high construction rates and a steady population.

DOWNTURN: There are a lot of moving parts, which explains why profits on logs and timber have dropped off big time.

The number of new home consents issued this year dropped 26% versus last year through to the end of August, with this deﬁcit expanding as the year has progressed. Overseas it all comes down to China, which buys a little under 90% of the logs that are exported from New Zealand. Log traders and harvesters are used to a few swings up and down through the year, but we’re about to head into a seven consecutive month of export log prices being below the 10-year average. And the cost

of getting a tree from woodlot to wharfgate has risen significantly over that decade. Economic troubles in China are definitely limiting demand for NZ’s logs. What makes it worse is that much of the economy’s woes are tied to numerous highprofile, large-scale property development companies flirting with bankruptcy for two years straight. Chinese consumers’ confidence in this sector has fallen away massively as a result, and with that construction activity has massively slowed. According to data published by the Chinese government, the number of new houses under construction has fallen by a quarter versus last year and is less than half of what

was being constructed each year between 2018 and 2021. Luckily, NZ traders have managed to dodge the worst of this impact. A shift in log usage trends has partially sheltered the market, with other avenues, like Chinese furniture production, making up a larger portion of NZ log usage than in the past. Also cushioning the blow has been the massive drop in shipping costs, now essentially half what they were through 2021 and much of 2022. As well, China is much more reliant on NZ for softwood log supplies than in pre-covid days. Our market share has slowly lifted to 55-65% over the past two years, having traditionally ranged between 35% and 40% in the late2010s and the start of this decade.

Rich farming news for time-poor farmers. P ODC A S T

GET in FOCUS WEEKLY

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Weekly saleyards Even with sales being at peak volume, a long weekend always stems the flow of livestock. Tallies dropped for most classes at saleyards following the Labour Day holiday, and some sales were not held at all. That gave buyers a bit of breathing room, and with grass finally starting to come away, upcoming sales should post positive results for cattle at least. The sheep market is harder work, though, and new season lambs at Stortford Lodge eased $4 per head on the first results posted the week prior. Tuakau | October 19 | 880 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Yearling exotic-cross bulls, 236-252kg

3.00-3.15

3-year dairy-beef steers, 500-580kg

3.15-3.22

Yearling exotic-cross heifers, 221-239kg

680-755

2-year dairy-beef steers, 380-450kg

3.24-3.34

Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 306-330kg

3.36-3.41

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 280-350kg

3.35-3.54

Aut-born weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 110-149kg

550-625

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 230-300kg

3.10-3.23

Aut-born weaner Friesian bulls, one line, 149kg

690

$/kg or $/hd

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef heifers, 97-137kg

480-550

Tuakau | October 25 | 430 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Prime beef cows, 550-650kg

2.25-2.47

Taranaki | October 19 | 202 cattle

Prime steers, 580-780kg

3.10-3.19

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef steers, 150-167kg

650-720

Prime heifers, 500-600kg

3.15-3.20

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef heifers, 155-162kg

660-700

Boner cows, 500-560kg

2.00-2.12

Weaner Charolais-dairy steers, 108-114kg

640-650

Boner cows, 440-500kg

1.85-2.00

Weaner Hereford-Friesian steers, one line, 128kg

Rangiuru | October 24 | 203 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

710

Weaner Friesian bulls, 94-109kg

400-500

2-year Hereford bulls, 494-538kg

3.22-3.31

Weaner Hereford-Friesian bulls, 106-122kg

680-705

2-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 447-510kg

2.98-3.12

Weaner dairy-beef heifers, 100-113kg

500-580

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 305-350kg

3.23-3.37

Taranaki | October 25 | 353 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

3.12

2-year Friesian steers, one line, 455kg

3.16

Yearling Hereford heifers, 289kg, one line Prime Hereford, Hereford-Friesian cows, 640-677kg

2.22-2.23

2-year Hereford-Friesian, Hereford heifers, 357-390kg

3.14-3.18

Prime dairy-beef, Friesian steers, 490-630kg

3.04-3.14

Yearling dairy-beef steers, 215-320kg

710-1095

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 231-251kg

3.88-3.98

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 227-354kg

3.12-3.28

Frankton | October 24 | 201 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Yearling Angus-cross steers, 270-276kg

3.37

Yearling Angus bulls, 391-409kg

3.18-3.19

Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 536-747kg

3.17-3.23

Yearling Angus-Friesian bulls, 204-238kg

2.52-2.75

Prime dairy-beef heifers, 501-665kg

3.01-3.09

Yearling Murray Grey-cross heifers, 279-344kg

1030-1110

Stortford Lodge | October 25 | 211 cattle, 3033 sheep

Prime Angus-cross steers, 485-620kg

2.91-3.15

2-year Angus steers, 469-606kg

3.30-3.40

Prime Hereford-Friesian heifers, 408-504kg

2.98-3.15

Yearling traditional steers, 227-344kg

3.34-3.35

Boner Friesian cows, 465-590kg

2.13-2.22

Yearling Angus heifers, 293-330kg

3.18-3.24

Aut-born wnr Angus & Angus-Hereford steers & heifers, 152-195kg

570-600

Mixed-age Perendale ewes, medium to very good

59.50-78

3.34

4-year Perendale ewes, medium to good

65.50-80

2-year Hereford-Friesian heifers, 360-464kg

3.11-3.14

2-tooth Perendale ewes, medium to good

70-114

Yearling Hereford-Friesian steers, 241-334kg

3.40-3.43

Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, good

106.50-113

Yearling Hereford-Friesian heifers, 205-315kg

700-870

Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, medium

93.50-98.50

Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 645-663kg

3.10-3.17

Store blackface mixed-sex lambs, small

35-85

Prime dairy-beef cows, 427-534kg

2.08-2.12

Store Romney-Texel mixed-sex lambs, medium

73-86

Boner Friesian cows, 491-510kg

2.10-2.14

Dannevirke | October 19 | 154 sheep

Frankton | October 25 | 288 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

2-year Angus-Friesian steers, 433-483kg

3.00-3.19

2-year Friesian bulls, one line, 443kg

Matawhero | October 20 | 269 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Store mixed-sex lambs, one line, small

$/kg or $/hd

Prime ewes, all

76-101

Prime hoggets, one line

125

Prime ewes, medium

72-88

Feilding | October 20 | 328 cattle, 1405 sheep

Prime ram & ewe hoggets, heavy

164-174

3-year traditional steers, 503-548kg

3.48-3.66

Prime ram & ewe hoggets, medium

131-159

2-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 474-475kg

3.28-3.33

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, medium

128-144

Yearling traditional steers, 315-328kg

1100-1160

Taupo | October 19 | 563 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

Aut-born weaner dairy-beef bulls, 186-225kg

745-830

Mixed-age Romney ewes & lambs, mostly docked

55-68

2-year Hereford-Friesian steers, 471-490kg

3.29

$/kg or $/hd

2-year Angus-cross bulls, 474-564kg

3.08-3.16

Store male hoggets, heavy

101

Yearling traditional steers, 250-253kg

1060-1110

Store ewe hoggets, heavy

122-130

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

Markets SALE SAVVY: The Komako Angus sale in early October achieved a high price of $8000 twice as Dave and Nicole Stuart of the Pohangina Valley AngusPRO stud put up 32 yearling bulls. They sold 26 for an average of $4588. Participating agents were Carrfields, Stephen Harris Livestock and PGG Wrightson, and the on-farm sale was a hybrid sale with bidr. Photo Andrea Mansfield

Feilding | October 24 | 7 cattle, 2089 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Prime Angus bulls, 940-1030kg

1.00

Prime exotic, dairy-beef bulls, 550-710kg

2.90

Prime ewes, medium-good to good

83-121

Prime ewes, light-medium to medium

20-76

Prime fresh 2-tooth ewes, medium to medium-good

Coalgate | October 19 | 579 cattle, 2542 sheep

$/kg or $/hd

Yearling beef steers, 248-290kg

3.13-3.43

Yearling dairy-beef heifers, 222-275kg

2.84-2.97

Prime beef steers, 577-690kg

3.13-3.30

76-128

Prime dairy-beef steers, 501-660kg

3.04-3.17

Prime male hoggets, heavy to very heavy

176-182

Prime beef heifers, 483-586kg

2.94-3.26

Prime ewe hoggets, medium to very heavy

125-179

Boner Friesian cows, 510-566kg

1.60-1.86

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, heavy to very heavy

131-182

Prime mixed-sex lambs, medium to heavy

122-150

Mixed-age ewes & lambs, tailed

74-86

Store finewool hoggets, heavy

100-102

Prime ewes, very good

95-113

Prime hoggets, heavy

161-180

Masterton & Martinborough | October 25 | 283 cattle 3-year Angus-exotic steers, one line, 547kg

$/kg or $/hd 1940

2-year Angus-exotic steers, 430-521kg

1525-1820

2-year Angus steers

1270-1500

2-year Angus-exotic heifers, one line, 422kg

1400

Yearling Angus, Hereford-Shorthorn steers

1050-1240

Yearling traditional, exotic-cross heifers

975-1100

Canterbury Park | October 25 | 178 cattle, 913 sheep Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 530-668kg Prime Hereford bulls, 621-628kg

$/kg or $/hd 2.90-3.00 3.06

Get ahead of the market Keep track of saleyard data, key market indicators and livestock news from across the country, with the only reports that have people onsite collecting data daily.

Subscribe from only $35 per month agrihq.co.nz/livestock-reports

Markets Prime traditional heifers, 460-698kg

2.90-3.07

Boner Friesian, Friesian-cross cows, 464-503kg

1.68-1.76

Mixed-age ewes & lambs, medium to good

56-68

Store mixed-sex hoggets, woolly, good, one line

Store ram lambs, good, one line

Prime ewes, very good

108-127

Prime hoggets, good

133-148

Temuka | October 19 | 1276 cattle

$/kg or $/hd

2-year traditional steers, 396-524kg

3.05-3.23

2-year traditional heifers, 370-430kg

2.86-2.94

Yearling Angus steers, 256-301kg

3.46-3.71

Yearling Charolais-Angus steers, 294-374kg

3.42-3.55

Yearling Hereford bulls, 280-419kg

3.32-3.55

Yearling Angus heifers, 201-372kg

3.16-3.28

Yearling Hereford heifers, 211-316kg

2.95-3.13

STILL TRADING: Though the season is marching on, ewes with lambs-at-foot are still being offered at some yards around the country. This line of 42 ewes and 42 lambs sold for $66 all counted at Canterbury Park.

$/kg or $/hd

Temuka | October 24 | 318 cattle, 2360 sheep Prime Angus steers, 532-635kg

2.99-3.03

Prime Hereford-Friesian steers, 470-640kg

2.88-2.98

Prime Angus heifers, 558-569kg

2.91-2.98

Boner Friesian cows, 458-690kg

1.80-2.04

Store finewool mixed-sex hoggets, heavy

121-130

Store mixed-sex hoggets, heavy

118-136

Prime ewes, most

90-116

Prime mixed-sex hoggets, most

125-145

$/kg or $/hd

Balclutha | October 25 Store ewes, medium to good

75-120

Store hoggets, good

50-90

Prime hoggets, all

100-174

$/kg or $/hd

Charlton | October 19 | 374 sheep Prime ewes, all

70-115

Prime lambs, all

115-174

PRIME CANDIDATES: Competition cattle featured at Coalgate on Thursday October 19, for the annual Spring Beef Cattle Competition. It was well-supported and featured some very prime cattle of various beef breeds.

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER2, 2,2022 2022

LIVESTOCK INSIGHT

LIVESTOCKEYE FEILDINg FEILDINgSTORE STORECATTLE CATTLE

2-YEAR 2-YEARSTEER STEER

TRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL 540 540- -555KG 555KG

HERE/FR HERE/FR 385 385- -470KG 470KG

3.69 3.69

3.59 3.59

YEARLING YEARLINGSTEER STEER

YEARLING YEARLINGHEIFER HEIFER

TRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL 315 315- -330KG 330KG

M2 M2BULL BULL

YEARLING YEARLINGBULL BULL

TRADITIONAL TRADITIONAL 215 215- -240KG 240KG

4.32 4.32

FRIESIAN FRIESIAN 325 325- -390KG 390KG

3.67 3.67

➔➔ Lamb Lambspace spacefreeing freeingup up ➔➔ Contract Contractdrives drivesdemand demandfor forstore storelambs lambs

US USIMPORTED IMPORTED95CL 95CL

NZD:USD NZD:USD

M2 M2BULL BULL-JUL -JUL

2.71 2.71

0.620 0.620

6.05 6.05

US$/LB US$/LB

9.50 9.50

Few Few2-year 2-yearbulls bullswere wereoffered, offered,but butthe the533kg 533kg Friesian Friesianwere wereatatleast leastaagood goodbenchmark benchmarkatat $3.62/kg. $3.62/kg. Demand Demandfor foryearling yearlingcattle cattlewas wasstrong strongfrom from the thebeginning beginningand andnever neverreally reallyslowed slowedthrough through the therest restofofthe thesale. sale.Bidding Biddingwas wasso socompetitive competitive that thatititwas wasrare rarefor forany anybuyer buyertototake takehome homemore more than thantwo twopens pensinineach eachsection. section. For Forthose thosewanting wantingsteers, steers,anything anythingwith with aabit bitofofquality qualitywas wasout outofofreach reachunless unlessthey they were werewilling willingtotogo goabove above$4/kg. $4/kg.The Theobvious obvious highlights highlightswere werethree three315-335kg 315-335kgtraditional traditional pens pensatatthe thestart, start,all allgoing goingtotodifferent differenthomes homes for for$4.24-$4.37/kg. $4.24-$4.37/kg.Four Fourback-to-back back-to-backlines linesofof 252-307kg 252-307kgHereford-Friesian Hereford-Friesianfollowed followedtoo toolong long afterwards, afterwards,again againeach eachpen penfinding findingaadifferent different buyer buyeratat$4.04/kg $4.04/kgtoto$4.34/kg. $4.34/kg. Yearling Yearlingbulls bullswere wereout outininforce forcebut butthat that only onlyseemed seemedtotoattract attracteven evenmore morebuyers buyerswho who added addedmore moreonto ontolast lastweek’s week’smoney. money.Good Good quality qualitythroughout throughouthelped helpedprices pricestoo. too.AAdozen dozen lines linesofofFriesian Friesianwere wereauctioned auctionedatatconsistent consistent prices, prices,heavy heavycuts cutsperforming performingespecially especiallywell wellatat $3.61-$3.64/kg $3.61-$3.64/kgfor for327-391kg. 327-391kg.Almost Almostall allothers others ofofthe thesame samebreed breedwere were$3.44-$3.64/kg $3.44-$3.64/kgfor for 250kg 250kgand andabove. above. Weights Weightswere weregenerally generallyon onthe thelower-side lower-side through throughthe theyearling yearlingheifers heifersbut butanything anything that thatwasn’t wasn’ttoo toomixed-bred mixed-bredlooking lookingsold soldwell well regardless. regardless.Traditional Traditionalpens pensatat190-246kg 190-246kgwere were all all$3.56-$3.75/kg. $3.56-$3.75/kg.Heavier Heavierdairy-beef dairy-beefoptions, options, 264-296kg, 264-296kg,were wereonly onlyaalittle littleoff offthat thatpace paceatat $3.49-$3.59/kg. $3.49-$3.59/kg.

2000 2000

Ave. Ave.Kg Kg

2.0 2.0 3-Jun 3-Jun

Ave. Ave.$/hd $/hd

Ave. Ave.$/kg $/kg

2-yearSteer Steer 2-year

Traditional Traditional

460 460

1680 1680

3.67 3.67

2-yearSteer Steer 2-year

Dairy-beef Dairy-beef

400 400

1445 1445

3.61 3.61

2-yearHeifer Heifer 2-year

Traditional Traditional

385 385

1375 1375

3.55 3.55

Reece ReeceBrick Brick

Store Storecattle cattletallies tallies Wnr/R1 Wnr/R1 1yr/R2 1yr/R2

2yr 2yr++

Total Total

Steer Steer

237 237

314 314

551 551

Heifer Heifer

240 240

108 108

355 355

Bull Bull

228 228

34 34

267 267

Cow Cow

39 39

Total Total

12 12

705 705

461 461

1239 1239

Store Storecattle cattletallies tallies

1500 1500 1000 1000 500 500 00

26-Aug 26-Aug 9-Sep 9-Sep 12-Aug 12-Aug 5-yr 5-yrave ave Last Lastyear year

4.0 4.0

23-Sep 23-Sep This Thisyear year

Traditional Traditionalsteer steer425-475kg 425-475kg($/kg) ($/kg)

Are Arelamb lambvalues valueson onthe theway waydown downdue duetotothe the global globalrecessionary recessionaryenvironment environmentor orcould couldititbe be that thatlamb lambvalues valuesare arereturning returningtotoold oldtrends? trends? July’s July’slamb lambaverage averageexport exportvalue value(AEV) (AEV)was was $12.50/kg, $12.50/kg,down down60c/kg 60c/kgcompared comparedtotoJune’s June’s AEV; AEV;however, however,ititisisstill stillalmost almost$1/kg $1/kghigher higherthan than July July2021’s 2021’sAEV. AEV.Lower Lowervalues valuesfrom fromChina Chinaisis the thekey keyreason reasonfor forthe thedecline declineand andwith withChina China being beingour ourlargest largestexport exportmarket market(the (thecountry country took took46% 46%ofofNZ NZlamb lambexports exportsininJuly) July)it’s it’smade made aasignificant significantimpact impacttotothe theoverall overallAEV. AEV.Lamb Lamb isismore moreofofaawinter winterdish dishininChina. China.With Withititbeing being summer summerininChina, China,as aswell wellas assome somemajor majorareas areas having havingbeen beenininand andout outofoflockdowns, lockdowns,it’s it’s understandable understandablethat thatvalues valueshave havedropped droppedoff offinin July. July.But Butatat$8.16/kg, $8.16/kg,export exportvalues valuesfrom fromChina China are are$1.20/kg $1.20/kglower lowerthan thanJuly Julylast lastyear. year. The Theaverage averageexport exportvalue valueinto intothe theUS USwas wasup up significantly significantlymonth monthon onmonth monthininUS USdollar dollarterms terms and anddue duetotoaaweaker weakerNZ NZdollar dollarover overJuly Julyititlifted lifted the thevalues values16%, 16%,or orNZ$3.52/kg, NZ$3.52/kg,totoNZ$25.06/kg NZ$25.06/kg ininJuly. July.The TheUS USpurchases purchaseshigher higherpriced pricedcuts cutsofof lamb, lamb,so sogiven giventhat thatvalues valuesfrom fromthe theUS USremain remain strong strongititcould couldindicate indicatethat thatthe therecessionary recessionary environment environmenthas hasyet yettotoimpact impactlamb lambvalues. values. Looking Lookingatatdata datafor forthe thelast lastten tenyears, years,it’s it’s not notuncommon uncommonfor forthe theAEV AEVtotodecline declinefrom from

4.0 4.0

3-Aug 3-Aug 5-yr 5-yrave ave

3-Oct 3-Oct Last Lastyear year

3-Dec 3-Dec This Thisyear year

Friesian Friesianbull bull325-375kg 325-375kg($/kg) ($/kg)

Soil SoilTemp Temp °C, °C,9am, 9am,10cm 10cm

mm mm

vs. vs.LYLY

This ThisWeek Week Last Last4wks 4wks

Approx. Approx.Grass GrassGrowth Growth kgDM kgDM/ ha / ha/ Day, / Day,medium mediumfertility fertility

vs. vs.LYLY

This ThisWeek Week Last Last4wks 4wks

vs. vs.LYLY

Dargaville/Whanga. Dargaville/Whanga.

19 19

77 77

Wet Wet

14 14

12 12

22 22

18 18

Pukekohe Pukekohe

40 40

102 102

Wet Wet

15 15

13 13

V.V.Warm Warm

18 18

-1-1 n/c n/c

93 93

Similar Similar

14 14

11 11

Warm Warm

14 14

16 16

Rotorua/Te Rotorua/TePuke Puke

43 43

99 99

Wet Wet

12 12

Warm Warm

17 17

Te TeKuiti Kuiti

Hamilton Hamilton

136 136

34 34

196 196

Wet Wet

Taumarunui Taumarunui

76 76

119 119

Similar Similar

13 13

Similar Similar

15 15

n/c n/c

Stratford Stratford

230 230

12 12

-6-6

-1-1

413 413

Wet Wet

13 13

10 10

Warm Warm

11 11

YearlingSteer Steer Yearling

Traditional Traditional

290 290

1230 1230

4.27 4.27

3.5 3.5

Gisborne Gisborne

51 51

Similar Similar

13 13

10 10

Similar Similar

25 25

19 19

-3-3

Dairy-beef Dairy-beef

270 270

1030 1030

3.82 3.82

3.0 3.0

Napier/Hastings Napier/Hastings

13 13

54 54

Wet Wet

12 12

V.V.Warm Warm

17 17

15 15

-5-5

YearlingHeifer Heifer Yearling

Traditional Traditional

220 220

805 805

3.64 3.64

2.5 2.5

Waipawa/Takapau Waipawa/Takapau

23 23

74 74

Wet Wet

11 11

Warm Warm

14 14

Dannevirke Dannevirke

41 41

123 123

Wet Wet

11 11

Warm Warm

13 13

-6-6

Palmerston PalmerstonNth Nth

76 76

114 114

Similar Similar

12 12

Warm Warm

14 14

-3-3

Masteron/Martinb. Masteron/Martinb.

69 69

Dry Dry

12 12

10 10

V.V.Warm Warm

11 11

12 12

-4-4

Dairy-beef Dairy-beef

395 395

1300 1300

3.30 3.30

YearlingHeifer Heifer Yearling

Dairy-beef Dairy-beef

250 250

810 810

3.26 3.26

YearlingBull Bull Yearling

Friesian Friesian

295 295

1055 1055

3.58 3.58

MACow Cow MA

Traditional Traditional

520 520

1325 1325

2.54 2.54

+64 +6466323 3236393 6393 | | info@agrihq.co.nz info@agrihq.co.nz | | agrihq.co.nz agrihq.co.nz

P2 P2STEER STEER- -JUL JUL

$/KG $/KG

6.15 6.15

MMCOW COW- -JUL JUL

$/KG $/KG

4.65 4.65

KEY KEYPOINTS POINTS

➔➔ Export Exportprices pricesfollow followtraditional traditionaltrends trends ➔➔ Processing Processingnumbers numbershead headtotowinter winterlevels levels ➔➔ Chinese Chinesedemand demandfor forlamb lambsofter softer

LAMB LAMB- -JUL JUL

NZD:USD NZD:USD

9.20 9.20

0.61 0.61

$/KG $/KG20KGCW 20KGCW

2.0 2.0 3-Jun 3-Jun

3-Aug 3-Aug 5-yr 5-yrave ave

3-Oct 3-Oct Last Lastyear year

3-Dec 3-Dec This Thisyear year

0.891 0.891

0.903 0.903

0.960 0.960

VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT

Confidence Confidence in in beef beef job job remains remains solid solid

Rainfall Rainfall

This ThisWeek Week Last Last4wks 4wks

3.0 3.0 2.5 2.5

NZD:AUD NZD:AUD

WEATHER WEATHERAND ANDFEED FEED *week *week toto9am 9amThur Thur

3.5 3.5

June JunetotoJuly. July.But Butfrom from2019 2019the thelamb lambAEV AEVhas has experienced experiencedsome somesignificant significantlifts. lifts.The TheAfrican African Hayley HayleyO'Driscoll O'Driscoll Sara SaraHilhorst Hilhorst Mel MelCroad Croad Swine SwineFever Fever(ASF) (ASF)outbreak outbreakbegan beganininChina Chinainin mid-2018 mid-2018and andititwas wasinin2019 2019when whenlamb lambvalues values July Julybeef beefAEV AEVup upagain again started startedtotosee seelarger largerlifts liftsparticularly particularlyfrom from The Thebeef beefAEV AEVfor forJuly Julymoved movedininthe theopposite opposite China Chinaas asdemand demandfor forlamb, lamb,as asan analternative alternative direction directiontotolamb lamband andwas wasup up34c/kg 34c/kgmonth month protein, protein,grew grewstronger. stronger.Then Theninin2021 2021itithad had on onmonth monthtoto$10.84/kg. $10.84/kg.This Thisisisalso also$2.45/kg $2.45/kg another anothersignificant significantlift liftdue duetotostrong strongdemand demand higher higherthan thanthe thebeef beefAEV AEVininJuly July2021. 2021.InInUS US from fromall allour ourkey keyexport exportcountries countriesas asfood food dollars, dollars,the theaverage averageexport exportvalues valuesfrom fromalmost almost service servicerecovery recoverylifted liftedthe thedemand demandfor forlamb. lamb. all allour ourkey keyexport exportmarkets marketswere wereeither eitherup up The TheUS USand andEurope Europewere werethe thekey keymarkets markets slightly slightlyor orequal equaltotoJune Junevalues. values.But ButininNZ NZdollar dollar driving drivingthis thisincrease. increase. terms termsthe thelift liftisismuch muchmore moresignificant significantdue duetoto While Whilethe theJuly Julylamb lambAEV AEVisisalmost almost$1/kg $1/kg the theweaker weakerNZ NZdollar dollarover overthe themonth monthofofJuly. July. higher higherthan thanlast lastyear, year,average averagefarmgate farmgateprices prices The TheNZD:USD NZD:USDexchange exchangerate rateaveraged averaged0.62 0.62 for forlamb lambininJuly Julywere werejust just30c/kg 30c/kgabove aboveJuly July over overJuly Julycompared comparedtoto0.64 0.64ininJune Juneand and0.70 0.70inin last lastyear yearininthe theNorth NorthIsland Islandand and68c/kg 68c/kghigher higher July Julylast lastyear. year. ininthe theSouth SouthIsland. Island.Last Lastyear yearthe thelamb lambAEV AEV US USdollar dollarvalues valuesfrom fromTaiwan Taiwanand andCanada Canada lifted liftedby bynearly nearly$2/kg $2/kgfrom fromApril ApriltotoSeptember September were wereup up8-9% 8-9%but butdue duetotothe thesmaller smallervolumes volumesitit and andthis thisgood goodlift liftboosted boostedconfidence confidenceand and hasn’t hasn’thad hadaabig bigeffect effecton onthe theoverall overallAEV. AEV. supported supportedincreases increasesininfarmgate farmgateprices. prices.We We haven’t haven’tseen seenthat thatthis thisyear yearand andthe thecurrent current Currency Currency This ThisWeek Week Last LastWeek Week Last LastYear Year economic economicenvironment environmentininChina Chinaand andaround aroundthe the NZD:USD NZD:USD 0.620 0.620 0.623 0.623 0.695 0.695 world worldisislikely likelytotobe bekeeping keepingfarmgate farmgateprices prices flatter. flatter.AAweaker weakerNZ NZdollar dollarisispropping proppingup upthe the NZD:GBP NZD:GBP 0.525 0.525 0.523 0.523 0.507 0.507 NZD NZDvalues valuesas aswell. well.InInUS USdollar dollarterms termsthe thelamb lamb NZD:EURO NZD:EURO 0.622 0.622 0.618 0.618 0.591 0.591 AEV AEVisisatatthe thelowest lowestlevel Junelast lastyear. year. levelsince sinceJune

YearlingSteer Steer Yearling

2-yearHeifer Heifer 2-year

$/KG $/KG

SOUTH SOUTHISLAND ISLAND JULY JULY2022 2022

Are Are lamb lamb AEV's AEV's back back to to old old trends? trends?

Average AverageSale SalePrices Prices Breed Breed

LIVESTOCK OUTLOOK

KEY KEYPOINTS POINTS

➔➔ Cattle Cattleprices priceslift liftininthe thepaddocks paddocks

$/KG $/KG

6.70 6.70

VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT

NORTH NORTHISLAND ISLAND AUgUST AUgUST26, 26,2022 2022

LAMB LAMB

$/KG $/KG

6.30 6.30

VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT

Age/Class Age/Class

P2 P2STEER STEER

$/KG $/KG

3.62 3.62

Spring Spring market market has has sprung sprung AAstrange strangeglowing glowingball ballhas hasbeen beenspotted spotted ininthe theManawatu Manawatuskies skiesthe thepast pastfew fewdays days- apparently apparentlyit’s it’scalled called“the “thesun” sun”- -which whichadded added more morefuel fueltotothe theflames flamesthat thathave havepowered poweredthe the store storecattle cattlemarket marketsince sincethe thestart startofofAugust. August.Or Or maybe maybeititwas wasthe theofficial officialrolling rollingofofthe thecalendar calendar into intospring springthat thathas hasawoken awokeneven evenmore morebuyers. buyers. Either Eitherway, way,there therewere wereplenty plentyofofpunters puntershaving having aashot shotatatcattle cattlethis thisweek. week. Vendors Vendorswere wereclearly clearlyfeeling feelingoptimistic optimisticabout about their theirodds oddsas asthe theyarding yardingshot shotup uptotothe thebiggest biggest inineight eightweeks. weeks.This Thiswas wasmostly mostlydue duetotoaawave wave ofofyearlings yearlingscoming comingout outofofthe thewoodwork, woodwork,who who ended endedup upbeing beingthe themain mainstars starsofofthe theshow. show.Not Not that thatthe the2-year 2-yearlines linesdidn’t didn’tgo gowell. well. Despite Despitetheir theirbig bignumbers, numbers,there therewere werefew few special specialentry entryconsignments consignmentsthrough throughthe the2-year 2-year steers, steers,but butthe themarket marketwasn’t wasn’taffected affectedby bythis. this. Almost Almosteverything everythingwith withtraditional traditionalbreeding breeding was wasbought boughtbetween between$3.55/kg $3.55/kgand and$3.76/ $3.76/ kg, kg,aasubtle subtleincrease increaseon onaaweek weekago. ago.The Theless less standard standardlines lineswere werewhere wherethe themain maingains gainswere were made madethough, though,especially especiallythe the360-425kg 360-425kgdairydairybeef beefpens penswhich whichpaid paidessentially essentiallythe thesame sameper per kilo kilorate rateas asabove, above,while whilesome somelight lightHereford Hereford from fromthe theWairarapa Wairarapagot gotup uptoto$3.89/kg. $3.89/kg. ItItwould wouldhave havebeen beenquiet quieton onthe the2-year 2-year heifers heifersififititweren’t weren’tfor fortwo twovendors. vendors.One Onefrom from Blenheim Blenheimsold soldtwo twopens pensofof450kg 450kgtraditional traditional heifers heifersfor for$3.58-$3.61/kg, $3.58-$3.61/kg,while whileaasouthernsouthernTaranaki Taranakivendor vendorsold soldaasingle, single,large largeline lineofof 370kg 370kgAngus Angusfor for$3.66/kg. $3.66/kg.

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

+64 +6466323 3236393 6393 | | info@agrihq.co.nz info@agrihq.co.nz | | agrihq.co.nz agrihq.co.nz

AAgood goodold-fashioned old-fashionedwinter winterhas hasreturned returned this thisyear, year,making makinglife lifeaalittle littlebusier busieron-farm. on-farm. Many Manyare arebeing beingquickly quicklyreminded remindedabout aboutthe the amount amountofoffeed feedstock stockrequire requirewhen whenthe thewet wet weather weatherdoesn’t doesn’tgive giveup. up. It’s It’searly earlydays daysbut butififthese thesewinter winterweather weather patterns patternscontinue, continue,then thenchances chancesare areititcould could dampen dampenstore storespirits spiritsand andpotentially potentiallycreate create some somepressure pressureatataaprocessing processinglevel, level,especially especially for forthose thosewith withextra extratrade tradelambs lambson. on.That Thathas has certainly certainlybeen beenthe thecase caseininthe theNorth NorthIsland Island ininrecent recentweeks weekswhere wherefeed feedreserves reserveshave have disappeared disappearedand andaamore morecautious cautiousapproach approach tototaking takingon onany anymore moremouths mouthshas hasdeveloped. developed. Due Duetototiming timingthe thebeef beefjob jobisislikely likelytotobe beless less impacted. impacted.AAsolid solidstore storemarket marketstill stillexists existswhich which isisbeneficial beneficialgiven giventhese theseare aremaking makingup upthe thebulk bulk ofofcattle cattletrading tradinglately. lately. Stable Stablemarket marketconditions conditionsthis thisyear yearhave have

created createdconfidence confidenceininthe thebeef beefjob. job.Bull Bulland and prime primebeef beefprices priceshave havetracked trackedininaatight tight range rangeall allyear yearand andare arenow nowstarting startingtotofind find momentum. momentum.The Thelack lackofofnegativity negativityininmarket market direction directionhas hasbeen beenwelcoming. welcoming.Although Althoughthe the US USimported importedbeef beefmarket markethas hasheaded headedininthe the wrong wrongdirection, direction,we wehave haveyet yettototruly trulyfeel feelany any downside downsidewith withthe theNZD NZDsupporting supportingreturns. returns. game There Thereisisstill stillsome somefat fatininthe thebeef beefgame according accordingtotoour ourlatest latestforecasts. forecasts.This Thiswill will continue continuetotosupport supportthe thestore storemarket marketwhilst whilststill still allowing allowingfor fordecent decentmargins marginsatatthe theother otherend. end. The Thelikelihood likelihoodofoffurther furtherupside upsideseems seemsmore more are plausible plausiblefor forbeef beefthan thanlamb. lamb.While Whilesupplies suppliesare ample ampleininkey keymarkets marketsnow now– –its itscoinciding coincidingwith with our ouroffseason. offseason.As Asour ourspring springkill killgets getsunderway, underway, in-market in-marketdemand demandisisexpected expectedtotopick pickup upas as markets marketslook lookfor forsupply. supply. Confidence Confidenceininthe thedirection directionofoflamb lamb

+64 +6466323 3236393 6393 | | info@agrihq.co.nz info@agrihq.co.nz | | agrihq.co.nz agrihq.co.nz

Mel MelCroad Croad

As Asour ourspring springbeef beefkill killgets getsunderway, underway, in-market in-marketdemand demandisisexpected expectedto topick pick up upas asmarkets marketslook lookfor forsupply. supply. prices pricesisisaalittle littleless lessblack blackand andwhite. white.Lamb Lamb prices priceshave havebeen beenteetering teeteringatatthe thetop topfor formost most ofofthe theseason, season,having havingbottomed bottomedout outatat$8.10/ $8.10/ kg. kg.Prior Priortotolate late2019 2019that thatwas wasconsidered considered almost almostpeak peakmoney. money.Being Beingaaniche nicheproduct productalso also increases increasesthe therisk riskprofile profilefor forlamb, lamb,especially especially when whenglobal globalfood foodinflation inflationisisrampant, rampant,and and consumers consumersare arestarting startingtotodowngrade downgradeprotein protein choices. choices.Procurement Procurementwill willcontinue continuetotodrive drive farmgate farmgateprices, prices,but butthat thathas hasaalimited limitedlife lifespan. span. Re-energised Re-energisedexport exportmarket marketactivity activitywill willbe bekey key totokeeping keepingpricing pricingstrong. strong.

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

AgriHQ market trends Cattle

Sheep

Deer

Beef

Sheep Meat

Venison

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

Last week

Last year

North Island P2 steer (300kg)

6.10

6.90

North Island M2 bull (300kg)

6.10

6.50

North Island M cow (190kg)

3.95

4.90

South Island P2 steer (300kg)

5.75

6.65

South Island M2 bull (300kg)

5.50

6.35

South Island M cow (190kg)

4.00

5.00

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

Last week

Last year

North Island AP stag (60kg)

8.80

6.10

South Island AP stag (60kg)

8.75

8.85

6.95

9.35

3.10

6.00

Fertiliser Last week

Last year

DAP

1197

1794

Super

474

509

Urea

897

1340

Urea (Coated)

946

1339

Sep

Last year

Last week

Last year

North Island lamb (18kg)

6.85

9.40

North Island mutton (25kg)

3.05

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

Fertiliser

Export markets (NZ$/kg) China lamb flaps

9.39

11.95

Wool

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

9.56

US domestic 90CL cow

9.35

10.97

9.59

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

Steer slaughter price ($/kgCW)

Slaughter price (NZ$/kgCW)

(NZ$/kg clean)

(blank)

Last year

Crossbred fleece

3.48

2.98

Crossbred second shear

3.15

2.47

Courtesy of www.fusca.co.nz

Lamb slaughter price ($/kgCW)

NZ average (NZ$/tonne)

Forestry Exports

7.0

10.0

NZ Log Exports (tonnes)

6.5

9.0

China

1,788,291

1,660,720

6.0

8.0

Rest of world

204,124

195,289

Carbon price (NZ$/tonne)

Last week

Last year

5.5

7.0

68.8

82.5

5.0 Oct

Dec

Feb

Apr

Jun

North Isla nd

Aug

6.0 Oct

South Island

NZ beef average export value (NZ$/kg)

Dec

Feb

Apr

North Isla nd

Jun

Aug

South Island

NZ beef average export value (NZ$/kg)

11.0

14.0

10.0

13.0

9.0

12.0

8.0 7.5 Oct

9.0 Jun Aug 5-yr ave

Oct Last yea r

Dec

Feb This year

8.0 Apr

9.5

8.5

10.0

7.0

Stag Slaughter price ($/kgCW)

9.0

11.0

8.0

6.0 Apr

NZU

Dec

Feb

Apr

North Isla nd Jun Aug 5-yr ave

Oct Last yea r

Dec

Feb This year

Jun

Aug

South Island

Data provided by

Meet the people behind the farm gate Watch real stories about real New Zealanders from the rural sector - told in under five minutes.

Free to watch on YouTube

Markets

FARMERS WEEKLY – farmersweekly.co.nz – October 30, 2023

NZX market trends Dairy

Grain

Data provided by

Milk price futures ($/kgMS)

Canterbury feed wheat ($/tonne)

11.0

700

10.0

650

9.0

600

5pm, Wednesday

S&P/FW PRIMARY SECTOR EQUITY

10095

550

8.0

450 Dec

Feb

Apr

Jun

Sep-2024

Aug

Oct

Sep-2025

Dairy Futures (US$/t) Nearest contract Last price*

400 Oct

S&P/NZX 50 INDEX

S&P/NZX 10 INDEX

10884

11017

Listed Agri shares

500

7.0 6.0 Oct

Close of market

Dec

Feb

Apr

Jun

Aug

Oct

Canterbury feed barley ($/tonne)

Company

ArborGen Holdings Limited

0.175

0.23

0.17

The a2 Milk Company Limited

4.3

7.83

4.3

YTD High YTD Low

Cannasouth Limited

0.17

0.32

0.17

Prior week

4 weeks prior

700

Comvita Limited

3.06

3.48

2.75

WMP

3230

3160

3030

650

Delegat Group Limited

8.25

10.2

7.98

SMP

2820

2785

2610

600

Fonterra Shareholders' Fund (NS)

3.03

3.88

2.94

AMF

5380

5300

5070

550

Foley Wines Limited

1.23

1.42

1.18

Butter

5000

5050

4820

500

Greenfern Industries Limited

0.046

0.113

0.044

Milk Price

8.00

8.03

7.45

450

Livestock Improvement Corporation Limited

1.25

0.99

Marlborough Wine Estates Group Limited

0.169

0.19

0.15

New Zealand King Salmon Investments

0.2

0.24

0.181

PGG Wrightson Limited

3.47

4.67

3.35

Rua Bioscience Limited

0.109

0.22

0.094

Sanford Limited (NS)

3.84

4.39

3.8

Scales Corporation Limited

4.25

2.75

Seeka Limited

2.4

3.72

2.2

Synlait Milk Limited (NS)

1.26

3.65

1.16

T&G Global Limited

1.9

2.37

1.9

S&P/NZX Primary Sector Equity Index

10095

12870

10095

S&P/NZX 50 Index

10884

12212

10884

S&P/NZX 10 Index

11017

12411

11017

* price as at close of business on Wednesday

400 Oct

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

Dec

Feb

Apr

Jun

Aug

Oct

Waikato palm kernel ($/tonne)

3600

450

3500 3400 3300

400

3200 3100 350

3000 2900 2800 Nov

Dec

Jan

Latest price

Feb

Mar 4 weeks ago

Apr

300 Oct

Dec

Feb

Apr

Jun

Aug

Oct

Weather

ruralweather.co.nz

Here’s hoping for more complications Philip Duncan

NEWS

Weather

PRING is called spring for a reason – the weather bounces around like a cork at sea. The severe weather New Zealand has had over the past week is peak “crazy” when you’re getting a snow blast in the south and frosts, while the remnants of a former record-breaking tropical cyclone drift into northern NZ. These two extreme weather events from both the south and north are typical of spring, though – although the cyclone aspect was unusual. While tropical cyclones have formed early in the South Pacific before – the record I believe was late September – Tropical Cyclone Lola last week was the earliest ever Category 5 tropical cyclone on record, not only for the South Pacific basin, but for the ENTIRE southern hemisphere. What made Lola even more unusual was the fact it formed north of NZ. Usually during El Niño, high pressure north of NZ keeps cyclone formation

more likely to the east of the international date line (out towards Tahiti). But this storm – and the remnants coming into northern NZ to kick off the last days of October – perhaps show that El Niño’s weather pattern may be “broken” in our part of the world. And that is a good thing. Broken means it’s less predictable. Why is that a good thing? Because a predictable El Niño means hot and dry in the east of NZ and inland with a high risk of droughts forming. A “broken” or “complicated” El Niño means we have better chances of wild card weather systems that deliver rain. While an El Niño spring can bring more rain to western NZ, I think it’s safe to say some eastern parts of NZ have been wetter than expected so far this spring. The warmer than average sea surface conditions in parts of the Tasman Sea and tropics mean that when a low pressure zone does happen to form there, it has the chance of rapidly deepening. That is what happened to Cyclone Lola – and while the historic cyclone was short lived, the remnants have made it to

NZ, bringing some unexpected weather. This is what we mean by a “broken El Niño weather pattern”. So for now, this pattern may be driving some of us a little crazy with all the wind and up and down temperatures, but to be perfectly honest, it’s likely much better to be unsettled than to be locked into a strong westerly El Niño event. Which may well still happen. If you’re a conservative person then winter only ended five weeks or so ago, so it’s not surprising at all to be seeing severe weather risks around NZ and changeable weather with the odd snowy blast. But the warm energy in the Tasman Sea and southwestern Pacific gives this current El Niño a weird twist that, for now anyway, is giving NZ some relief from a too-dry weather pattern.

Upcoming highlights: • Low pressure in the north

weakens and falls apart • Westerlies return • Temperatures are bit more stable this week in NZ

S E T A R S MATE ST CENTRE CLAAS HARVE

FINE LINE: Rainfall accumulation over seven days starting from Sunday, October 29 through to Sunday, November 5 shows a sub-tropical low brushing northern New Zealand with some rain – but a very fine line between wet and dry. Meanwhile, the South Island has a wintry change bringing rain to the West Coast and Southern Alps.

NOW ON!

INTEREST FOR 48 MONTHS*

JCB LOADALL SERIES III

CLAAS

MOWERS, TEDDERS & RAKES

CLAAS ARION RANGE

Call your local dealer for your mates rates 0800 425 227 | claasharvestcentre.com

* Standard CLAAS Financial Services lending criteria, terms, and conditions apply. ARION: 0.20% pa requires a minimum 30% deposit followed by monthly repayments over 36 months, GST back in month 3. If finance base rates move by more than 0.25%, CLAAS Financial Service reserve the right to re-quote. Offer applies to all new CLAAS ARION Tractors in stock or arriving in 2023. Finance must be applied for by 30/11/2023 and settle no later than 31/01/2024. GREENLINE: 0.99% p.a on CLAAS Greenline equipment requires a minimum 33% deposit followed by two six-monthly repayments over 12 months, GST back in month 3. Offer applies to in-stock and on-order new Category 2 Greenline equipment only and excludes triple mowers, quad-rotor rakes and balers. JCB: 0% pa requires a minimum 40% deposit, followed by monthly repayments over 48 months, GST back in month 3. Offer applies to all new JCB Series III LOADALL telehandlers. If finance base rates move by more than 0.25%, CLAAS Financial Services reserves the right to re-quote. Offers valid until 30/11/2023 or while stocks last. Images illustrative only.