Navigating tariffs: a perspective
by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country
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“I’m so proud of New Zealand’s agricultural credentials, which are fully on display throughout the country at the Fieldays and local A&P shows.
That is the perception some may have at the imposition by the USA of a 15 per cent tariff on New Zealand exports, while some of our principal trading partners, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, get only a 10 per cent tariff.
The rationale for our higher tariff, we are told, is that, unlike Australia and the United Kingdom, we export more to the United States than we import. One way of looking at that, somewhat to our disadvantage, is that we, and I mean mainly our primary industries, are more successful at exporting and possibly have better products than those two countries and other countries that have secured lower tariffs.
I think it’s going to stay that way, and here’s why: we produce a premium product; in the case of red meats, wool and wine, probably among the best in the world.
Yes, we may see a downturn at the lower end of the US market, but at the higher end — the premium end — I think
we will hold our own because those who appreciate quality will be, as they are now, prepared to pay for it.
Those people know that New Zealand produces some of the best food and wine in the world. Our farmers and vintners do us proud. While they maintain their quality output, that will be our main hedge and protection from that higher tariff.
In a related vein, I was intrigued to learn about a new book, The Have and Have Yachts by Evan Osnos. The book discusses the growing discontent among America’s affluent elite with the current socio-political climate, leading many to seek alternative places for living and investment. Notably, New Zealand is increasingly becoming their destination of choice, valued for its green landscapes and pristine environment.
In conclusion, while the tariff may present challenges, I am confident that New Zealand’s exceptional reputation and quality products will enable us to navigate these obstacles successfully.
Hope blooms as community rallies for Cancer Society
From bridges glowing yellow to the annual Daffodil Rally hosted by vintage car clubs across
yellow on’ to raise awareness and funds for New Zealanders impacted by cancer.
Cancer Society fundraising events specialist Van Kilburn says almost 200 individuals, schools, workplaces and community groups have already registered to fundraise.
“It means so much to us to see the incredible backing from our communities.
we are in the fight against cancer,” says Van. Now in its 35th year, the iconic appeal — proudly supported by long-term sponsor ANZ — shines a light on the sobering reality that one in three New Zealanders will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
Funds raised help the Cancer Society provide wraparound support services,
staffed Monday to Friday. They also ensure the Cancer Society can continue vital advocacy work and invest in lifesaving cancer research.
Please give generously when you see the street collectors on Friday, August 29, pop into an ANZ branch, or donate online at daffodilday.org.nz.
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As bee month approaches, New Zealand Bee Health and Biosecurity (NZBB) North Island operations manager Dwayne Hill talks about the advantage of hives on farms and safe apiarist practices.
With all beekeepers and hives in New Zealand required to be registered by NZBB under the Biosecurity Act 1993, the company is a source of information with farmers and apiarists alike.
“It is no secret that bees pollinate pastures, and a big component of pastures before urea was the likes of clover,” said Dwayne.
“Having dairy farmed before, I know that clover comes with its fair share of problems, like bloating, among other issues.”
BUZZING WITH BENEFITS
While urea is one way for farmers to apply nitrogen to the soil, clover and natural pollination provide a more costeffective and sustainable method. The technique also makes farms an attractive possibility to beekeepers wanting to place hives on the land.
“For farmers, thinking about certain areas of their farm, which could be regenerated back to clover, pollination is a natural process that the bees will do. Clover puts more long-term benefit into the soil than urea does, and has a slow release of nitrogen over time.
BY AMY FIFITA
“It is symbiotic to have bees, they can pollinate your trees, flowers and farm. Bees won’t hang around an unhealthy area, so it gives landowners a snapshot of their land around their farm.
“Bees are not innately aggressive. They generally don’t hassle the cattle, unless they get in and knock them over; they are not a big fan of horses and don’t like dogs, but for many farmers, they don’t notice them.
“Most sprays on farms are insecticides or herbicides that don’t affect the bees, but hives may have to be removed if spraying an orchard.”
A farm can gain more benefits than the natural ones. Often, beekeepers offer landowners compensation, financially or with jars of honey.
Photo Credit: Murray Rixon
After stirring an American foulbroodinfected cell, bees often begin licking the material, emptying it within hours
Beekeepers must burn AFB-infected hives and then bury them to ensure it doesn’t spread to the next hive
“Beekeepers are less migratory than they used to be, so there is more demand, especially in Taranaki, for locations to leave the hives all year, or close to profitable flowers like mānuka.
“Ninety per cent of mānuka hives in New Zealand would end up in Taranaki every year, from December to March, to collect mānuka because it was the last region that the tree would flower. Of those 90% of mānuka hives, only 10% remained in Taranaki.
“Now, a lot of companies are opening branches in Taranaki or leaving their hives
Some apiarists have agreements to move American foulbroodinfected hives off-site to burn at a better location, so hives need to be bee-proofed
here full-time, so there are more openings for landowners and beekeepers to have bees and profit from that.”
With the benefits bees bring, another side of the industry includes taking care of American foulbrood (AFB).
“We are dealing with a pest in the beehive known as the American foulbrood (AFB), a bacterial disease predominantly spread by beekeepers. From the 8,000 beekeepers, about 550 last year reported AFB, equating to roughly 2,500 cases.
“All hives that get AFB must be burnt within seven days of discovery. From
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a farming standpoint, that means a beekeeper may have to burn a hive onsite, but some hold an agreement with us allowing them to burn the hive at a better location.
“Any hive that is burnt with AFB must be buried, so any honey that didn’t burn, the bees no longer have access to it, so it doesn’t spread to the next hive. It is non-transferable to other animals and humans.”
Dwayne encourages farmers to call NZBB on 0800 232 767 or email info@ nzbb.org.nz, about derelict or neglected
hives or concerns about beekeepers on their property.
“It is worth noting that somebody else may gain access to the hive without the beekeeper being there. If you’ve got a robust health and safety form for the beekeeper to sign, then the inspector should be signing it, too.
“We do inspections and removals, so in cooperation with beekeepers and farmers, we wouldn’t go and check hives, which required us to drive through milking areas while you’re milking cows.”
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Photo Credit: Chris Crook
Photo Credit: Chris Crook
Dwayne Hill, New Zealand Bee Health and Biosecurity North Island operations manager
Shearing as a sport has taken off to new heights with a busy calendar of events coming up after recent success on the international stage leading into the forthcoming New Zealand circuit competitions.
SSHEARING SPORTS ON A NATIONAL STAGE
hearing Sports New Zealand’s season starts with the Merino championships in Alexandra on October 4. There are 57 competitions during the season, from mainly oneday shows to the four days of the Golden Shears World shearing and woolhandling championships.
In the Waikato region there are the Aria Waitangi Day Sports on February 6 2026, the Waitomo Caves Sports on March 28 and the New Zealand Shears shearing and woolhandling championships in Te Kuiti on April 9-11. The nearest others are the Rotorua A&P Show in Ngongotaha on December 6, and the Counties Shears at the Franklin A&P Show in Pukekohe on February 22. There are also short-form speedshears, often staged as charity events in hotels or sports clubs.
Waikato has a leading role in the national shearing competition with the appointment of Raglan farmer and shearing contractor Warren Parker as the new chairman of Shearing Sports New Zealand. Parker had previously served 10 years as chairman of the sport’s North Island sector,and more than two decades as a delegate for the northern region. He was elected at the SSNZ national
BY PAUL CAMPBELL
committee annual meeting in Christchurch on August 4, to succeed shearing legend Sir David Fagan, of Te Kūiti.
Mr Parker became involved in the shearing industry when he left school and after over a decade working in the UK, US and Australia, returned to Raglan and was approached to help organise local shearing competition the Western Shears, which incorporated the New Zealand lamb-shearing championships. Despite the end of that competition, a victim of dwindling support amid the decline in sheep numbers and shearers in Waikato when it was last held in 2013, Mr Parker remained involved at a national level.
He became part of the organising committee for the 2017 Golden Shears World Shearing and woolhandling championships in Invercargill, an operator of the shearing sports North Island electronic scoring system, and chairman of its committee. Mr Parker has also been a Raglan Junior Rugby chairman, and a chairman of the Waitetuna School Board of Trustees.
The sport has gained international interest with European success for Kiwi guns Toa Henderson and Jack Fagan completing highly successful tours of the UK and France.
addition fellow Kiwi competitor Hugh de Lacy won the Northern Ireland Lambshearing Championships wool open title as one of several New Zealand shearers working and competing in the UK and Ireland in recent weeks, in addition to the New Zealand team of two.
Northlander Henderson and Fagan as the Wools of New Zealand representative team faced six test matches in a four-
The Kiwis, managed by King Country competitions judge Neil Fagan, are also setting sights on the Masterton world event.
Sir David Fagan (left) congratulates new SSNZ chair Warren Parker
In
nations tour starting in Scotland after Toa claimed his place as winner of the New Zealand Open Shearing Championship and Fagan, who was in the Wools of New Zealand tour team last year, retained his position as third placegetter in the New Zealand Shears Circuit final.
The 35-year-old Henderson was determined to make sure his first international bid was a success. “He was taking one step at a time, buoyed by the support of his Kaiwaka community, especially the rugby club, where he has played as a flanker in the past, and father Mike has been a coach,” said SSNZ communications officer Doug Laing.
“Henderson is the front-runner for one of the two world championships’ New Zealand machine-shearing berths with wins in the first three events in the selection series, but that is all eight to nine months away.
“Preparing for his first trip to the Northern Hemisphere, he was looking forward to the confrontation, and just getting into the
swing of the competitions again. There hasn’t been a lot of shearing (in Northland), he said then but that: ‘It’s been wet up here, but it’s still enough to pay the bills’.”
Toa was unable to complete the big dream of victory at the Lochearnhead Shears in Scotland at the tour opening, but went on to top honours in France with his first big success in the Northern Hemisphere by winning the open international final at the French championships, while Fagan also beat France in a test match. Back in the UK, both Kiwis continued a downunder dominance of England at the Great Yorkshire Show by winning the second test of their tour.
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On to Wales and two Welsh shearers, who’ve worked numerous summers in New Zealand, struck the first blow to their hopes of winning a new test series as Gethin Lewis and Llyr Jones beat them by a comfortable margin of 6.1 points. However, better was to come, and the Kiwi team completed their tour in style by a comfortable 4.05 points.
Overall the pair in the black singlets squared the score sheet by beating England and France after the Scotland loss in their opening contest. Henderson
did go close though as runner-up to reigning world champion Gwion Evans, in the six-man Corwen Shears Open AllNations final but missing out by 0.2 points. Doug Laing says Henderson “comes back home with the proud record of a particularly big first tour in the UK, winning open finals in France and at the Royal Welsh Show.”
Jack Fagan in competition on the board
de Lacy (in a green T-shirt) won the Northern Ireland Lambshearing Open
What sparked founder Dave Jordan’s interest was its health benefits and opportunities to be used in textiles, building and for sustainability. From a seed to the fields, Dave put the diligence into a largescale project.
“Dave had fallen in love with the plant for textiles, feeding and its soil-cleaning abilities. Back in the day, they had hard conversations with farmers to grow hemp,” said Anton.
Hemp is shrouded in mystery for many people, some with preconceived ideas, but the research is clear. Its nutritional value is beneficial.
BY AMY FIFITA
With roots in Waikato, Hemp Farm’s Nigel Hosking and Anton van der Westhuizen share about the health benefits and building possibilities that Cannabis sativa holds in New Zealand.
“Hemp is a nutritious crop. It’s excellent for human consumption, because it has a dense nutritional value with the oil, proteins and amino acids bound in the meal,” said Nigel.
“The hemp seed oil has healthy essential fatty acids, which are omega-3 and omega-6. Your body does not produce those, so you need to supplement them in your diet through food.
“Part of that is the omega-6 derivative gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an antiinflammatory component naturally occurring in hemp seed oil.
“People have said they have got their mobility back from squeaky joints, and
sore arms and fingers. They are getting more benefit from getting that healthy fat in their diet and can continue with hobbies like gardening.
Planting in Canterbury, in late November or early December, the hemp plant is normally ready for harvest within three to four months
“It also helps with cholesterol and blood pressure. It’s all important and comes from the seed of the hemp plant.”
“It tastes nutty, slightly grassy and creamy, depending on people’s sensory profile. We know people who will mix it into mashed vegetables to get healthy omegas into infants or children. It’s an approved, safe and healthy product good for all ages.”
As the industry grew and a vital partnership with the Draper family emerged, operations moved to the South Island.
“In the early days, Dave Jordan did hemp cropping in the Waikato, but a lot of it was hands-on with him harvesting, drying, putting on the ground and turning manually. They didn’t have big grain and floor drying facilities to get the moisture out quickly,” Nigel said.
“The Draper family invested in a hemp decortication plant in Christchurch. It takes the stalk off the hemp plant, and we take the top half with the combine harvester for seed and food ingredients.
“Canterbury is where the most diverse seed production is, and all of the infrastructure around arable farming and the drying, growing, processing, storage and cleaning of seed in Canterbury.”
The move also meant growing crops in Canterbury, the leading region for arable seed crops in New Zealand.
“Hemp is a relatively easy crop to grow, with the biggest challenge, getting the seed to strike and germinate from the ground.
“In Canterbury, we plant in late November, early December, when the soil temperature is warm. With warm soil temperature, 90–120 days later, a crop will be ready for harvesting. Many arable
farmers here have combines, so there are many people growing and contracting that crop for grain.
“It’s important to preserve the quality of that seed, and all of that infrastructure is in Canterbury, and the fibre processing plant is in Christchurch.
“Once we harvest the grain crop, the stalk is left on the ground to rot slightly to start breaking down the inner woody core from the ribbon fibre on the outside of the stalk. It’s then baled and goes to the decortication facility to break the stalk apart for different applications.”
Further change happened in 2019, when a food processing plant was established in Tauriko, Tauranga.
“I’m still based in Tauranga, and for us, we had to move because the majority of the seeds and crops are grown in the Canterbury region,” Anton says.
“In the future, we will see if we should open up another manufacturing plant in the North Island. For the time being, the majority of the seed is being grown in the South Island.”
From September 1, Hamilton’s Anglesea and South City Pharmacies will be stocking Hemp Farm products in store, following HEMP NZ signing a bronze supply agreement with Independent Pharmacy Group. The specialty supplements will be part of IPG’s core range.
Join us next month to delve deeper into the hemp industry. The Hemp Farm has generously offered our readers a giveaway of one bottle of 240 capsules, 500ml hemp seed oil and 500g gut health. To enter, email comp@integrity.nz before Wednesday, September 24, with the answer to this question: Where did the Hemp Farm start?
Nigel Hosking sees the benefits hemp has for health, fibre and building supplies in New Zealand
Jacob Draper, director, Anton van der Westhuizen, Patrick Draper, director, and Nigel Hosking showcasing their health products at the Ashburton factory
She’s dressed to impress but it’s her hidden talents that make her extra special. She has streamlined panels and loves to dress up so customised coloured panels are available. Her fixed base has a removable cover providing an alternative look along with a wood storage option.
Flair is a solid mid-range fire designed to captivate and comfort your kiwi household along with a generous stove top cooking surface to nourish the family. With her Wagener genes underneath she’s built tough for top performance and to stand the test of time.
Breathing life into ecology
Working with landowners, Tītoki Landcare began to revive and
New Zealand is a spectacular place. We have snowy mountains, golden beaches, ancient forests, pristine lakes, and rare wetlands all inhabited by unique plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. However, there was a time when it was even better. Our forests were filled with bird song, our streams were safe for swimming, and waterfowl flocked in their thousands.
We started Tītoki Landcare in 2021 to help restore these lost natural phenomena. We could see a gap. Restoration projects often lacked either ecological expertise or practical know-how, and we knew that both elements needed to work hand-in-hand to get meaningful results. So, we built a business that offered exactly that.
Today, our team brings together ecologists and bush regenerators who work side by side to deliver ecological restoration that’s grounded in science and designed for the long haul. We’ve grown quickly and now work across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Auckland regions.
If you own or manage land, you have an opportunity to help turn the tide and restore our landscapes. We can help you with identifying environmental priorities for your land, guiding restorative actions, developing restoration plans, controlling weeds and pest animals, native planting, biodiversity monitoring, funding applications, and more.
Our approach focusses on working with the land, identifying existing ecological value and then building outward to strengthen and expand those areas. This not only protects native species but helps landowners get more value and impact from their restoration work.
We think long-term, and we’re here to support projects that will thrive for decades to come. Whether you’re just starting out or already underway, we can support your restoration goals and help you improve the health of your land and waterways.
For more information, visit titokilandcare. co.nz or contact the team on 07 210 1105, Monday–Friday, or email us at info@ titokilandcare.co.nz.
The importance of coenzyme Q10
by John Arts, Abundant Health Ltd
I recently wrote about coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). I regularly have contact from readers about CoQ10, especially from those wanting help with the side effects of statin cholesterollowering medication.
Studies show that statins can reduce circulating CoQ10 by as much as 50%. The side effects are so common, they are called statin myopathy and statin neuropathy. The main side effects are muscle and tendon pain. Muscles and nerves have huge energy requirements and reducing cell energy can have devastating effects on muscles and nerves.
Reductions in CoQ10 can affect mood, memory and general cognitive function. In most cases, two months of a naturally fermented CoQ10 will improve muscle and brain function, and allow people to get the benefits of the medication without side effects.
The chemical structure of CoQ10 allows it to move high-energy electrons within our cell mitochondria where energy is made. CoQ10 collects these electrons and moves them to an enzyme called ATP synthase to make the energy we need.
I recommend CoQ10 for several reasons, most commonly for statin support. I also add CoQ10 for those fatigued without medical causes and for
those with cardiovascular, autoimmune and neurodegenerative problems. For example, I include at least 200mg for those with polymyalgia rheumatica and higher doses for those with MS.
For statin support, I use a high-quality naturally fermented CoQ10, and for autoimmune or neurodegenerative support, a mitochondrial support formula that includes high-grade CoQ10 with several energy co-factors. The first improvement felt by those with these conditions is usually a lift in energy and general wellbeing.
Those with autoimmune or neurodegenerative problems should be working to a personalised diet and supplement plan complementary to their regular medical treatment. Most people feel a real difference within three months.
John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at abundant.co.nz.
Abundant Health
Titoki Landcare was formed to help restore the environment and includes a team of ecologists and bush regenerators
&LANDSCAPING HOME
by Liz Clark
A dream of gentle water
The sound of water running down and over rocks is one of those things that can soothe the soul or the mind.
Translating that into something threedimensional in a confined space such as a courtyard or small garden can be, at times, a little tricky. However, all is not lost.
These days, the range of water features has expanded to include selfcontained ones that fit easily and snugly into a corner of the patio, alongside the entranceway or in the middle of a courtyard or secret part of the garden. Next, consider how much you want to spend. Set a budget and stick to it.
Solar-powered resin fountains, for example, come with an all-in-one package with the pump, solar panel and power unit incorporated into the stand-alone feature. All you have to do is position it, ensure water is added, and then the level is kept maintained. They can be as basic as a small sculpture with water trickling down or an elaborate spherical ball on the top rotated by the water’s movement. They are more accessible for the more budgetconscious, or space is limited, and the price of an inground cabling system is cost-prohibitive.
If the sky is the limit, then the options are open to your own interpretation.
First of all, for all budgets, before forging ahead with the shopping for that perfect finishing touch to the garden, decide on the style you want. For instance, you wouldn’t incorporate an old-style water pump with a wooden bucket into a minimalist-style design. Decide first what style of outdoor area to have, then theme the water feature accordingly.
If you’re interested in creating a larger area with a fish pond, plants and water flowing down rocks and river stones, for example, location is important. Goldfish need high water quality and shade from the hottest part of the day. Avoid positioning in an area without shade or where trees can drop leaves into the water and clog up the pump. A filtration system will also be required to maintain the water quality and fish health.
Fountains come in a range of shapes and sizes. Along with those, there’s a choice of fountain heads for varying effects. Make your choice according to what is the most eye-pleasing. Also ensure for permanent features, an electrician installs the correct inground
cabling for the water pump. Having an extension cord outside in the rain is not a good idea. Last, but not least, ensure small children are watched if near a
water feature. Plan first, then make that dream of flowing water a reality. Look online for inspiration, tips and ideas or visit your local water feature specialist.
&LANDSCAPING HOME
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Black Dog Furniture turns 25
It’s not every day a Kiwi business turns 25 – and Black Dog Furniture NZ is marking the milestone with a month-long birthday sale-bration!
Since 1999, Black Dog has been crafting honest, hard-wearing furniture built for real Kiwi living. From farmhouses and baches to pubs, cafes and family dining rooms, our pieces have become part of the backdrop of rural life. This September, we’re celebrating the communities who’ve backed us for a quarter-century with 25% across our entire showroom.
The highlight? Our big Open Day on Saturday, September 20, from 10am to 2pm at the Black Dog Furniture showroom. It’s more than just a sale — it’s a proper family day out. Bring the kids along to:
• Spin the Wheel for instant prizes
• Meet and pet a pony
• Tuck into free sizzling sausages straight off the BBQ and a birthday cake!
• Join in fun spot prizes throughout the day
• Plus, of course, hug the famous black dog — Bean
So mark your calendar, rally the family, and join us in celebrating 25 years of Black Dog Furniture – built tough, built local, built to last.
Can’t make it to the showroom? Check out the showroom deals here at blackdogfurniture. co.nz.
Black Dog Furniture — we wont sit, fetch or roll over but we will sit and impress your friends.
While the young ones are entertained, you can browse our iconic range — from Woolpress bars and leaners to outdoor settings and solid timber dining tables — all at special 25th birthday prices, with at least 25% off all showroom stock.
Whether you’re looking to kit out your deck for summer, add a statement piece to the home, or find tough furniture for high-traffic spaces, there’s never been a better time to buy Black Dog.
We’re proud to be locally-owned and operated, and even prouder to have supplied furniture that lasts the distance in Kiwi homes and businesses.
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A passion for quality design
At Cambridge Homes South Waikato’s Fabia Factory Lane Development, King Street West and Princes Street, Te Kūiti, 10 individually designed homes on separate titles, warm in winter, cool in summer, have been built and sold in the first stage.
Construction has now started on the next two homes in the second stage and are intended to be completed by Christmas.
These new builds are perfect for all purchasers, including first-home buyers and retirees needing close to town, easy-care homes on individual titles.
These homes have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The designer kitchen is fully fitted with stone benchtops, wall oven, ceramic cook top and refrigerator/freezer. The laundry is fitted with a washing machine and dryer.
Home heating is by heat pump and hot water with an electric outdoor heat pump. The flooring is a combination of carpet and simulated wood planking, and the doubleglazed windows will have blinds and curtains ready-hung.
The sections will be laid with paved driveways; the footpaths and patio will be enhanced with ceramic coated paving, and the boundaries will be fully fenced.
Quality brick cladding, combined with James Hardie products, completes the elegant and enduring appearance.
House and land packages are now available at $595,000, turnkey, and can be secured with a 10% deposit and the balance on completion with a code of compliance issued.
The Te Te Kūiti site can be visited. For more information contact John Riggir, phone 027 251 2197, email: johnr@ cambridgehomes.co.nz or visit our show home in Frontier Estate, Te Awamutu, at 46 Pioneer Drive.
Invest in your future, today.
by Andy Bryenton
Machine age comes to Melbourne
The huge Agritechnica farming machinery and equipment festival usually takes place in Hanover, Germany, but last week a satellite event, the FutureAG conference and exhibition, was closer to New Zealand than ever before.
Agritechnica Asia is coming to Thailand next year, but for August 2025 the world’s premiere showcase of farming machines set up in Melbourne Australia, putting Kiwi companies in close proximity to the action.
The big names at the conference in Melbourne were talking about similar things to their counterparts at our own Mystery Creek Fieldays. How AI and automation are poised to change the game on farms, and how data is a resource as vital as soil and water for the modern farmer. That’s translated through to some of the machines on display, and the topics of conversation in a series of FutureAG talks.
An example came last Thursday, when a workshop invited grain farmers to engage with the state of the art in automating their farms. Then there are the guest speakers, with a predominance of tech-related luminaries taking the stage. These include Carolina Ferreira, founder of AI weather data company Octopusbot, CropX managing director Eitan Dan, and the executive director of the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia, Gary Northover.
A tech demo stage operates throughout the event, debuting everything from a new kind of bale spreader, which can break out round bales in less than a minute each, to solar power for remote water pumps, AI detection of fungal infections, robotic plant sprayers, camera eyes for agricultural robots and more-efficient deep-soil probes.
It’s also notable that this big event, associated with the juggernaut that is Agritecnica, was host to several Australian universities, which are actively developing technology and fresh ideas for the rural sector.
The Melbourne Showgrounds is not too far away for Kiwi innovators, such as those who have made their mark at successive Fieldays Innovation Awards, to get amongst this tech-focussed discussion, which takes the idea of farm automation beyond the physical reality of tractors and machinery, and into the realms of AI-boosted strategic data management and resource allocation. With the keynote speaker of the entire FutureAG conference focussing on green efficiency in agriculture, something Kiwi farmers do very well indeed, there could come a time in the not-too-distant future when such an event comes to these shores.
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Email: al@arcoenviro.co.nz
Meanwhile, Agritechnica’s home event, in Germany, will occur this November, and Agritechnica Asia is set for May in Bangkok.
The FutureAG event, in Melbourne last week, brought Agritechnica, the world’s biggest showcase of farming machinery, closer to New Zealand than ever before
by Andy Bryenton
The pursuit of happiness
Winter rain has caused havoc in some parts of the nation, but there’s one definite outcome from the dousing the season has brought — mud.
While it’s a hassle for some, it’s a playground for others, and fans of off-road action view the brown stuff with a mixture of respectful trepidation and unalloyed delight. There’s something about getting covered in mud, while deploying massive horsepower that brings out the little kid in some petrolheads, and those that make off-roading machines are switched on to the grin-inducing power of it all.
CFMoto certainly gets it. The rising force in off-road power slammed into the EICMA festival at the end of 2024 with a bevy of new machines, but standing out among the pack was the Z10 SSV, an off-road racer built for speed over any terrain. It’s only 845kg, and packs a three-pot fourstroke mill that runs naturally aspirated, kicking out 143 horsepower. That might be less grunt than some competitors, but it’s a lighter weight as well. In fact, those figures pretty much match the specs of some very fun old-school sports cars, but the Z10 can deploy them off-road. Then again, you could go even lighter and more nimble with CFMoto’s Zforce 1000 EPS Sport R. It’s a handful of a name, but it represents several levels of evolution from the standard Zforce 1000,
CFMoto revealed the aggressively-styled Z10 at EICMA last year
turning it into a real mud-slinging and trailcrushing weapon. You know that they’re serious about going literally anywhere with oxygen when they send it from the factory with a winch attached.
While there’s no Kiwi price listed for the Z10 yet on the New Zealand CFMoto website, the Zforce EPS Sport R has one, and it’s a bit shocking. That’s because it’s fully one-third of the price of some competitors’ sport-segment off-roaders. Once again, it’s not a product aimed to
win the horsepower and muscle race at the top-end of the market, but it is designed to be a blast on any surface, mud included. If that’s your aim, buying three of these to have adventures with all your family and mates might look better than just getting one.
In all seriousness, CFMoto has pushed up the bar for the features and performance you can expect for your dollar in this segment. Both the Z10 and the smaller Zforce 1000 EPS Sport R have
things like digital dashboards, limited-slip diffs, standout mag wheels and comfy seats. If you want to have fun in the mud this winter, the range is worth a closer look. They might just need a power wash after you take them for a test drive.
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by Andy Bryenton
Farmers gaining confidence in economy
The winter of consumer discontent has been brightened for the coalition government by news that farmers, at the front lines of economic regeneration, have expressed a boost in confidence.
While the ANZ Roy Morgan consumer confidence index dropped four points in early 2025, rival bank Westpac has recorded small gains in this field recently, and inflation held steady at 2.7 per cent. That’s not a particularly rosy outlook, especially in the face of a continuing cost-of-living crisis, but the bellwether for a return to economic strength has always been seen by the ruling National Party as the farming sector.
That’s why Agriculture Minister Todd McClay was enthusiastic to share the results of the latest Federated Farmers’ confidence survey late in July; a poll, which puts farming optimism up to +33 per cent. That’s a stark contrast to the -66 per cent, recorded at the end of the former Labour administration’s tenure, after the public relation disasters of SNA mapping, the ute tax and intimations of freshwater regulatory overreach.
“After years of rising costs and uncertainty, our focus is on giving farmers the tools to do what they do best — lead the world in producing high-quality food and fibre. That means replacing the Resource Management Act, changing national
direction, including the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management, and launching a contestable wellbeing fund to support rural New Zealand,” Mr McClay said.
The minister praised the approximately 360,000 Kiwis engaged in primary production on the land, and took the time to criticise extensive regulatory pressures as a ‘war of farmers’, which he says his colleagues in the coalition have cancelled.
“It’s pleasing to see policy changes returning value to the farm gate,” he said. “This government has worked hard to change the settings, but there’s still more to do to ensure farmers can deliver growth for all New Zealanders.”
The measure of confidence in the Feds’ poll may be grounded in policy alterations to an extent, but record profits
at the farm gate are also in the mix. A quarter of farmers now expect to increase production in the next year, two-thirds are operating with a profit, and there’s even indications that stress and its associated health issues are on the wane.
While the government touts an eightyear high for farmer confidence, Mr McClay’s assertion that there is a lot left to do rings as true as any of the statistics he’s shared. There is a lot to do to convert these green shoots in the primary sector into palpable prosperity in the main street and in homes, ahead of an election, which will be defined by the cost of living.
Todd McClay has revealed a big boost in farming confidence, which points toward a turnaround in the economy
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by Andy Bryenton
Laser focus on better bales
A technology, first developed for the Apollo 15 space missions, has made its way into agriculture, with the deployment of laser radar by Case IH in its automated square balers.
The new innovation broke cover last year in the US, and it’s been well received by those who have to turn windrows of hay into tidy bales for later feed-out. While the initial deployment of lidar, (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging) was aboard a square baler set-up towed by a paired Case IH tractor, the principle is sound when it comes to round bales, too, of the kind more often seen in rural New Zealand.
“Productivity is the name of the game when it comes to the tight operating windows hay producers face,” says Case IH hay and forage marketing manager Brian Spencer. “Baler automation is the perfect example of purposeful technology from Case IH. It aims to tackle efficiencies by taking the duty off the operator to steer and make adjustments in the field, allowing them to add productivity while in the cab.”
Case technicians came up with the idea when thinking about hands-free total automation of the baling process. Driving along a sometimes irregular swath means long hours of repetitive work, and in an ideal world a steady and even quantity of hay would be fed into the machine for compaction and binding. By deploying lidar, Case IH gave their tractor-baler combo electronic eyes, allowing
Case IH tractors equipped with laser eyes have shown the potential of laser imaging in baling, with more tasks yet to come
it to adjust its own speed and minutely angle its own steering, ensuring that the feed to the baler was constant, maximising throughput with no overloads.
Lidar was developed shortly after lasers themselves, and works like the radar systems common to ships and planes. In the case of the Case, it takes the form of laser beams, which scan out from atop the cab of the tractor, analysing the density and orientation of the swath in a series of rapid pulses. The upshot is that less experienced operators in the cab
can still turn out a flawless set of bales, with less stress and less pressure on the entire haymaking chain.
“This technology is built for the unpredictable, yet expected challenges in baling with crooked windrows, and inconsistent widths and heights,” said Spencer. “The automatic adjustments in steering and speed ensure the bales are consistent and the baler is running at peak performance, avoiding blockages and overfilling.”
The other applications for lidar in tractor autonomy are limitless. From forage harvesters to seed drills, all kinds of agricultural implements could benefit from a tractor that literally knows the lie of the land.
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Door left wide open for farm conversions
The failure to fix the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) means wholesale farmland conversions will continue, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
The organisation said the latest proposed changes to the ETS leave the door wide open for the continued wholesale conversion of productive sheep and beef farmland into carbon farms.
“While the Environment Select Committee has proposed tightening the temporary exemptions that would allow land converted after December 4 2024 to enter the ETS, it has not fixed the land use class rules — the very section driving most conversions,” said B+LNZ chair Kate Acland.
“There was widespread feedback from the farming community during the select committee process that the proposed restrictions did not go far enough, and it is incredibly disappointing that these concerns have not been listened to.
“The legislation will stop LUC 1–5 land from entering the ETS and cap new registrations on LUC 6 land, but this doesn’t address where the bulk of damage is being done.
“Eighty-nine per cent of whole farm conversions to date have occurred on LUC
6–8 land. This land is highly productive and vital to our sector.
“Without extending the moratorium to all land classes, productive sheep and beef farms will keep disappearing into carbon farming or be sold to foreign multinationals.
“The government must listen to farmers and extend the moratorium on whole farm conversions to all land classes, not just LUC 1–5.
“Since 2017, at least 300,000 hectares of sheep and beef farms have been sold to forestry interests, with another 50,000 hectares expected before these rules take effect.
“Without fixing these gaps, we will likely lose a million hectares by 2050, slashing stock numbers by more than 20 per cent, and rural towns across the country will be hollowed out.”
B+LNZ analysis suggested that afforestation is responsible for 78 per cent of the reduction in sheep and beef numbers since 2017.
New Zealand is one of only two countries in the world — alongside
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Kazakhstan — that allows unlimited forestry offsets in its ETS.
“We’re not against forestry,” Acland said. “Our proposals don’t stop planting
for harvest. They prevent the ETS from distorting land use decisions in ways that undermine food production and rural communities.”
