NZFarmer South Island - 5 November 2024

Tough times for meat processors

Sheep numbers are on the decline and with power prices having soared earlier this year, meat-processing companies are having to close their doors. Read the full story on page 6.

1 Unloaded

When travelling by road, you must always travelwith an unloadedfirearm.Socheck your firearmsare unloaded before you head away. Storeammunitionseparately andsecurelytoyourfirearms duringthe journey.

firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz

2 Locked

Always carryyour firearm in alocked case, or fit atrigger lock, or make it inoperable by removing avital partlike the bolt. Your ammunition –stored separately- also needs to be in alocked container if possible.

An old blanket might be agreat way to cover your gun case. 3 Outofsight

Keep your firearms and ammunition out of view. Think about packing them first and then covering them withotherbagsorbelongings

Safety

Madeleine Powers

The fire season has already started, and so have the fires, with several burning through acres of rural countryside already.

It may be tempting to squeeze in a pile burn before fire restrictions are imposed, but experts say this is a leading cause of wildfires and is “risky”

Hugh Wallace, Scion’s team lead of fire and atmospheric sciences, says while it may be tempting to “squeak through” before summer, it’s “pushing the limit”.

He says if your pile is dry enough to burn well, it’s likely everything around it is too.

Having a pile burn now increases the risk of the fire getting out of control and spreading, or reigniting later in the season.

Larger pile burns can smoulder for months, and unexpectedly reignite when the conditions change.

Wallace says having smaller pile burns, and making sure they are completely out by using a digger to turn them over and wetting them with water will reduce the risk of reignition or of the fire spreading

A fire break can also be cleared around the pile before lighting it, to reduce the risk of it spreading.

Scion compiles a report of the fire season every year which is published on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) website. It includes the causes of fires, comparing them to historical averages.

Wallace says pile burns continue to be the leading cause of wildfires in New Zealand. Pile burns include refuse burning, debris burning, windrow and slash pile burning.

Other top ignition sources for wildfires include operating equipment and unintentional ignitions from candles, cigarettes and matches.

The beginning of the fire season has seen several wildfires break out across the country already. As spring turns into summer, hotter, dryer and windier conditions will increase the risk.

Dry and windy conditions saw a burn pile on a South Canterbury farm get out of control in September. That same month, a forestry fire ripped through 108 hectares in Waipara, North Canterbury, taking firefighters several days to get the blaze under control.

FENZ placed the Canterbury district under a complete fire ban, saying crews

Hold off on risky pile burns, say experts

had responded to 23 vegetation fires in one week, most of which were caused by outside fires, burnoffs or previous fires reigniting.

Further north, a fire which started on private property in Waikato has burnt through most of a nationally significant wetland

The Department of Conservation says the wetland is habitat for several rare native species and is a mosaic of rare wetland ecosystems.

FENZ no longer seeks cost recovery for fires, but can still prosecute for illegal fires

Wallace says the stress and damage caused to property, businesses and infrastructure is enough of a punishment without having to “bankrupt people”. He says that would also risk putting people off calling emergency services to help put a fire out, resulting in more damage.

FENZ wildfire specialist Paul Shaw says their aim is to empower people to use fire safely.

He said fire is a necessary management tool for landowners, but it’s about knowing what the risks are and managing them.

Shaw says it’s often the unexpected causes of fire ignition that catch people out

Starlings building nests in tractors are one of the things that catch farmers out.

“Be really careful to check that each morning,” says Shaw.

The birds build nests overnight in the warm cavity next to the engine and exhaust of tractors. The combination of dry grass and a hot engine can start a fire, destroying an expensive piece of farm machinery in the process.

The same thing can happen with a buildup of dry grass around the exhaust or sump guards on a four wheel drive or quad bike. When the machine gets hot it can set the grass on fire, dropping hot embers as the machine moves around the farm.

Shaw says it doesn’t take long for a fire to travel from paddocks to a barn, or to a house.

Reignition is another thing that catches farmers out.

In a large burn pile, if the fire gets down into the ground in a tree stump for example, the fire can look like it is out, but with the right weather conditions can reignite as late as several months later.

“People don’t understand that kind of thing can happen.”

Unexpected changes in wind have been

known to catch farmers out too. Shaw says it’s important to check the forecast, as increased wind can cause a fire to quickly get out of hand.

While it might be tempting to watch the fire for a bit, and then go elsewhere on the farm, it’s easy to get distracted and forget to check on it.

He says checking regularly and making sure it is completely out is crucial during the fire season.

One of the tools available is the FENZ Check It’s Alright website, which allows farmers to check whether there are restriction in place for fires in their region, and whether they need a permit for a fire

Shaw says getting a permit is a good idea, and it can be useful to have a FENZ officer visit to talk about managing the risk of a fire

“Our people like getting out into those areas and helping them out.”

Firefighters and helicopters battled a blaze near Meremere in Waikato that burnt through 1000 hectares of swamp and bush in October

Hugh Wallace, team lead of fire and atmospheric sciences at Scion, says pile burns continue to be the leading cause of wildfires in New Zealand. SCION

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Northland

Sheep numbers have declined over the decades since they reached a peak of 70 million in the 1980s. In 2002, they had fallen to about 40 million and by 2014, about 29.6 million.

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sonita.chandar@stuff.co.nz

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The processors had their work cut out for them back then and I remember those days well. Driving past the Affco freezing works at Horotiu in Waikato, the parking lot was constantly full of cars – and it was a big car park.

In the last decade, that number has fallen further.

Sheep and cattle numbers are down as carbon forestry, drought and low prices continue to impact the sector Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has released its annual Stock Number Survey, showing a notable decline in both sheep and cattle numbers as of June 30, 2024

Sheep numbers are now down to 23.31 million.

The sector has come under pressure from land-use change with farmers converting from sheep and beef to forestry in the past few years and more recently, drought causing farmers to destock. This impacted the outlook for lamb production for this season. The drop is greater in the South Island.

Conversion to forestry has a flow-on

effect to rural communities as mentioned in the September issue of NZFarmer And when you add other factors like drought and low returns leading to declining sheep numbers, it has a flow-on effect to other businesses.

Climate change plays a part. Low rainfall meaning lakes and dams that used to be full to the brim at certain times of the year, are anything but, pushing up the energy prices. When you have a business to run, you have no choice but to grin and bear it.

But there is only so much you can bear before it really begins to bite. And when high costs start cutting into your bottom line, tough decision have to be made. After all, you are in business to make money, not flush it down the drain, right?

The closure of various businesses over the past year is not only a sad situation, but it actually hurts – everybody. The closure of Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant in Timaru impacted 600 staff And it could well be the first of many more to come.

It’s a kick in the guts for the workers and their families as we head into the last months of the year and the festive season. Where will they find new jobs? I may be generalising here, but I would hazard a guess that a fair number of them have been in that industry since leaving school.

If they are lucky enough to secure employment elsewhere or gain news skills to enter a different career, then great. But if not and if more processors begin closing

their doors, they really have nowhere to go except apply for the benefit even for a short time until they find employment. What New Zealand needs is a reversal of the declining sheep numbers. There will be some out there like the greens and environmentalists that will be against it as they have been pushing for less animals. But that has consequences as we have seen.

Times are tough for everyone, we already know this. With the changes in the official cash rate and the rate of inflation down, we can only hope there are brighter days on the horizon for everyone.

Get in touch with us at nzfarmer@stuff.co.nz

We can only hope there are

Sonita Chandar Editor

Gordon Stuart, Economist at Chaperon Financial Services

As New Zealand is still bathing in sporting glory after possibly our greatest weekend ever, it is time to remind ourselves of some of the lessons we can learn, and how they also apply to business.

Confucius said: “By three methods, we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

Reflection was Emirates Team NZ, (TNZ) looking at our pre-start tactics and changing them. Imitation was Ineos spending the lay day on the water practising their tacks, trying to imitate the quickness back to top speed of TNZ.

Finally, there is nothing like a bitter loss to Jimmy Spithill to motivate and learn All of us have lost a local sporting derby where the pain and bitterness still linger.

Confucius also said: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”

This accurately applies to both our cricket teams. After being thrashed in Sri Lanka, the Black Caps bounced back for only their first series win in India, and the White Ferns, with belief and a plan, won their maiden T20 cricket World Cup after a horror run leading into the tournament,

and 14 years after Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates lost to Australia by three runs when Devine was unable to find the boundary on the last ball.

People, culture, strategy and cash have been key in all these wins. Success comes from a quest for continual improvement – eg bringing in Nathan Outteridge to improve TNZ’s matchracing skills, and Grant Dalton taking the event to Barcelona so the team had the budget to fight the might of Ineos and Mercedes. These four highlighted tenets above are vital on the farm and in business.

Failure to make change invariably leads to decline, particularly in mature businesses. Think of the demise of Kodak, which completely missed the disruption to selling its film that would be caused by

Gordon Stuart

digital technology, despite Kodak engineer Steve Sasson developing the first digital camera in 1975

I heard Ric Salizzo speak the other night He felt since coming back from the United States that NZ Inc has lost its business mojo, become straitjacketed by orange cones and too scared to take risk. He then talked about his failures and how a drunken moment of Marc Ellis madness engaged audiences like never before and The Sports Cafe took off Ric finished by saying that collectively his risk-taking and failures made him succeed Producing commodities is fraught with risk, from weather, to market demand and supply, exchange rates and interest rates etc. Farm, crop or orchard profitability is at best volatile and unpredictable season

by season. Success and/or improved productivity doesn’t come without taking risk. Betting the farm on the red at the casino is, however, likely to end in tears. Hence, like TNZ, you need to have the people, culture, strategy or plan in place to push the design and risk boundaries, but at the same time, measure and manage the outcomes, and of course have the cash to implement the strategies.

As a younger generation plays a greater role on farm, changes are being embraced and, increasingly, data and technology are being used to scientifically trial new solutions, measure performance outcomes and manage risk.

I recently saw the results on-farm of a new bio-certified, multi-species pasture trial rolled out over 100 hectares over three years, where the on-farm results have included lower costs, increased dry matter production and quality throughout the entire season, faster pasture recovery, and increasing milk production per cow versus the other herd on traditional ryegrass fertilised paddocks. This shows what can be achieved if we try new approaches.

Conclusion What gets measured gets managed. Building a farming or business risk management plan is key to continuous improvement and limiting downside performance.

Fewer sheep and higher

Falling sheep numbers were the last straw for Alliance Smithfield; now meat processors across the country are struggling with fewer sheep and higher energy prices.

By Eve Hyslop.

Meat processors across the country are struggling on the back of declining sheep numbers and a dramatic hike in energy prices

Falling sheep numbers were the straw that broke Alliance’s back in September, which saw the red meat company’s Timaru based meat processor close with 600 employees either re-deployed or made redundant

“Unfortunately, we must face the reality of declining sheep processing numbers as a result of land-use change. This has resulted in surplus capacity in our plant network. We cannot maintain excess processing capacity when livestock numbers don’t support it,” says Willie Wiese, chief executive of Alliance.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva recognised that it has been a tough year for many in the industry and the upcoming season was shaping up to be challenging also.

In 2019, StatsNZ reported that sheep numbers decreased by 53.6% since 1990, from 57.9 million to 26.8m.

That number had dropped down to 23.31m for the year ending June 2024, according to Beef + Lamb NZ’s annual stock number survey, due to land use change, drought and cashflow concerns.

That meant from 1990 to June 2024, sheep numbers have declined by 59% from 57.9m to 23.3m

Challenging times for processors has left the sector calling for policy changes by the Government to limit the offsetting of carbon emissions through farm conversions to forestry.

“Particularly where that happens on productive farmland, we believe that this is not a sustainable policy approach and it’s simply not something we can plant our way out of in terms of our climate commitments,” Karapeeva says.

Alongside Kazahkstan, New Zealand is the only other country to allow fossil fuel emitters to offset 100% of their emissions through forestry, which Karapeeva said was

Hundreds

of employees at Timaru’s Alliance Smithfield meatworks plant gathered for an urgent meeting at the Caroline Bay Hall last month.

AIMAN AMERUL MUNER/ TIMARU HERALD

Declining sheep numbers and a previous surge in energy prices has hit meat processors hard. MEAT INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Mackenzie Basin solar power – a hydro dam near Lake Benmore. ALDEN WILLIAMS/THE PRESS

energy prices hit works

particularly concerning. “If this area is not addressed, I think we may continue to see land use change significantly and that will have impacts on stock numbers.”

The rise in wholesale energy prices from June to August 2024 had also put a lot of financial pressure on processors

Karapeeva said.

Between July and early August 2024, energy prices increased from roughly $300 per megawatt (MWh) to over $800 per MWh, according to the Electricity Authority (EA).

Luckily, prices had significantly fallen back to more comfortable levels in

mid-October, sitting at around $90 per MWh*.

Action from the energy industry, regulators and the Government to manage the fuel shortage supported this decline Increased rainfall, record wind generation and availability of natural gas has also provided relief.

Though that still wouldn’t provide much relief to the final bill.

“It’s not an easy solution to address and some of our members are forecasting that the amount they pay for electricity this year will double compared to last year,” Karapeeva says.

The high prices from July to August was a reflection of a tight fuel supply, an EA spokesperson said.

“The underlying cause of the recent spike in wholesale electricity prices was a shortage of fuel in the energy system. The spikes were not only extraordinarily high, but also sustained.”

Low hydro storage had also pushed wholesale energy prices up, as storage levels had been mostly below the

historic mean since August 2023, the spokesperson said.

“Since electricity in New Zealand is heavily dependent on hydro generation, when lake levels are declining, the value of the water in reservoirs increases.”

In August, hydro lake levels dropped to 54% of the historic mean, which meant more natural gas was used This resulted in an additional demand and declining supply of natural gas and prices for gas to increase.

As some processors had different energy sources, Karapeeva says that not all meat processors have been impacted in the same way.

For processors in the South Island which had moved away from coal-fired boilers and toward electricity-powered boilers, the prices had a bigger bite.

“Now they’re finding that renewable energy is a bit short, so they are in a bit of a difficult situation, having to find alternative energy sources in the face of rising prices,” Karapeeva says.

To avoid the high prices, the EA spokesperson said that operators exposed to the wholesale market had reduced or paused production.

Costly energy prices had already forced the closure of Winstone’s pulp and timber mills in Ruapehu As the district’s largest employee, Winstone’s mill closures wiped more than 200 jobs from the Ruapehu community.

While sheep numbers had taken their toll on Alliance, energy prices had not.

“Alliance Group is not impacted as we have long-term supply contracts,” says Wayne Shaw, general manager for processing and safety at Alliance Group.

ANZCO Foods were contacted by NZ Farmer, but did not have anyone available for comment.

AFFCO, Ovation and Silver Fern Farms were also contacted, but did not respond.

* Electricity prices are subject to change and the current wholesale price fluctuates every half hour during the day. The current wholesale price can be found on the Wholesale Information Trading System (WITS).

Winstone’s Ruapehu timber and pulp mills were forced to close in August due to high power costs.

WARWICK SMITH/MANAWATŪ STANDARD

Meet the beef and lamb sector’s shining stars

The winners of the 2024 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards will take the red meat sector into the future.

By Sonita Chandar

The calibre of finalists in the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards, held in Hamilton last month, was once again so high that the judges had their work cut out for them finding a winner in each category And the winners show that the future of the industry is in good hands.

The annual awards celebrate the people, innovation, technologies and farming systems that make New Zealand’s red meat industry world-leading.

The awards ceremony, which about 300 people attended, serves as a platform from which the sector can tell its story to a wider audience The event helps to shine a light on the farmers, scientists, innovators, advocates and community leaders who contribute so much to the industry.

B+LNZ’s general manager of insights and communication Rowena Hume said she was very pleased with both the number and quality of entries across all eight categories, and while this made judging particularly challenging, it highlighted the depth of talent and innovation in the red meat sector.

“It has been a particularly challenging year for farmers, and it’s even more important than ever that we celebrate success within our industry.”

B+LNZ chairperson Kate Acland congratulated all the winners and finalists.

“It is the people that make our sector so great, and it is the people who we will need to take it into the future, people who care deeply. Their remarkable dedication, hard work and innovation that defines our industry, from pasture to plate, every effort contributes to the quality and sustainability of our products,” Acland said “It’s important to come together and thank the many people who have contributed so much to our industry, and celebrate our finalists and their achievements We know that our farmers

have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our sector.”

Eight awards were presented.

The Ballance Agri-Nutrients Science and Research Award was won by AgResearch plant scientist Dr David Hume. He was instrumental in the development and commercialisation of the novel endophyte AR37. It has been estimated that AR37 has contributed $3.6 billion to the New Zealand economy over a 20-year period.

The judges described Hume’s work in the development and commercialisation of this endophyte as being world-leading and of immense benefit to New Zealand’s pastoral farming industry. They said his robust and complex years of commitment, leadership and focus on commercialisation to benefit the farmer and grow export value had contributed massively to this country’s primary sector.

“My success really is about the success of the team around me, a fantastic bunch of motivated scientists – and the key thing, and the wonderful thing, is they really want to make a real-world difference, and endophyte has been a great example of that, and there is more to come,” Hume said.

They said it took a step-by-step approach to identifying the most productive and vulnerable parts of the farm landscape. This enabled targeted management, and provided clear evidence of land stewardship to underpin farmer stories.

Accepting the award, FarmIQ head of product Todd White said: “When thinking about this category, we’re thinking how big our farm is, right? Here’s a piece of reasonably complicated legislation that was coming at them, and we thought with our map-based software, we could help them make sense of it, and help them work with their rural professional

Left:AgResearch EmergingAchiever winnerMitchel Hoare,fromTe Kuiti,whosegoal istoownhis ownfarm.

“This is probably the best award I have ever had, because it truly comes from you as end users in the red meat sector.”

The Datamars Livestock Technology Award was won by FarmIQ Freshwater Farm Plan Tool.

The team at FarmIQ recognised that freshwater regulations introduced in 2023 represented a significant compliance burden for many New Zealand farmers. They believed their software could help to reduce the complexity of producing a fresh water farm plan alongside farmers, consultants and regional councils. The tool will be updated in response to regulatory requirements.

The judges described FarmIQ’s Freshwater Farm Planning Tool as being a great asset to the toolbox.

and make a tangible difference in their freshwater plan.

“We embarked on building the software, and the government said, ‘You don’t need to do that’, but it is still a part of our software that is available to use.”

The Gallagher Innovative Farming Award was won by Wairarapa-based Fernglen Farm.

The Ravenwood family, who own Fernglen Farm, have incorporated a 1300-strong milking ewe herd into their sheep and beef operation – and in doing so have enabled all five members of the family to be part of the business.

The family identified the milk as being the most valuable product from the sheep.

The judges said the Ravenwood family combined courage with science and talent to develop a new business and diversify within their farm. They said diversifying into sheep milking, processing and marketing addressed the issues of adding value, succession and financial security to their family farming business.

Above: The 2024 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards winners were celebrated at an event in Hamilton in October Winners and award sponsors take to the stage.

Jeff Ravenwood said he was humbled by winning “Either of the other two finalists would have been worthy winners.

“Our story is of family and bringing all the kids together and focusing on what we love doing, and strive for better profitability in sheep and beef farming.

“Innovation is the success of the sheep and beef industry when we are all struggling with profitability, and I think innovation is going to drive us.”

The Silver Fern Farms Market Leader Award was won by Headwaters.

Since its launch in 2007, Headwaters has worked towards creating a supply chain model that generates greatervalue for farmers. Combining Headwaters genetics with its bespoke farming systems has resulted in lambs that command a premium, and which have earned the respect of world-leading chefs.

Headwaters operates a profit share model, with farmers receiving a premium for lambs that meet its specifications.

There are 75 Headwaters farms across New Zealand.

The judges described Headwaters as being a fine example of farmers working together to add value by improving their product This has been done through the incorporation of genetics, feeding, finishing and processor input.

They said Headwaters had led from the front in obtaining premiums in the marketplace. It had created a plan and proved it could execute this at scale, and this was providing real financial benefit to farmers.

Headwaters general manager Tim Saunders said it was an honour to receive the award.

“The success that has been recognised comes down to three key factors – the vision of our founding member Andy Ramsden alongside our founding farmers and, more recently, the tenacity and commitment of Tom Sturgess.

“They took a risk to secure a better future for sheep farmers in New Zealand, a future where our best sheep farmers finally receive a fairer share of the value they create. Farmers who have joined us are integral to the value chain that produces the lamb which meets the benchmark for premium quality.”

The AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award was won by Te Kuiti sheep and beef farmer Mitchel Hoare.

Hoare’s goal of farm ownership is looking like a reality as he and wife Charlotte work to build their equity while juggling numerous community commitments.

They lease two properties, and he does casual work, runs a contract sheep-dipping service, and supports his wife’s cut flower business.

Achievements in the sector so far include winning the world’s young shepherd title in France, and the Waikato Bay of Plenty Young Farm of the Year competition.

The judges said Hoare was actively working towards farm ownership, with many irons in the fire to make it happen They described him as being motivated and innovative, and said he demonstrated experience and achievements within the sheep and beef sector as well as strong community involvement.

Hoare paid tribute to his wife when accepting the award.

“She works just as hard as I do to reach our goals, so I’m really proud of her

Beef+Lamb NewZealand chairperson KateAclandsays itisthepeople whomakethe sectorgreat,and who willneedto takeitintothe future.

“

It has been a particularly challenging year for farmers, and it’s even more important than ever that we celebrate success within our industry.

Rowena Hume, Beef + Lamb NZ general manager of insights and communication

“The dream of owning your own farm is a pretty big thing and undertaking, and I just hope that all the sacrifices, blood, sweat and tears will be worth it in the end.”

He also said he had had the privilege of working with a lot of top operators, and had learned a lot from them.

He told the story of when the couple first took over the lease of a property in 2020, and in six weeks didn’t receive a drop of rain. “In March, with the ash soil starting to turn ugly, the honeymoon period had worn off While Charlotte and I were working in the calf pens, the heavens opened up and it just poured down. The immense relief. If I could bottle that feeling, I would be a wealthy man.

“That’s what farming is about – the highs and lows. So hats off to the farmers who put their boots on every day to go to work.”

The Rabobank People and Development Award was won by Growing Future Farmers.

Growing Future Farmers is a farmerled programme addressing serious labour shortages in the red meat sector by providing young people with a career pathway in the New Zealand agri sector.

Aimed at entry-level students, mainly school leavers, it is a hybrid model overseen by farmers and industry specialists. Students live, learn and train on a farm for two years. Training includes technical skill days, online tutorials, and on-farm practical skills, and they are mentored by staff on farm with support from Growing Future Farmers.

It started in 2020 with 10 farmers, and this year, 131 students are enrolled in the programme.

The judges said Growing Future Farmers was a well-structured programme that had grown significantly and was turning out great cadets. It offered both on- and off-farm development opportunities for cadets.

Trustee and deputy chairperson Kate Taylor thanked all the farmers and growers who entered the awards.

“All the people who enter our awards programme, your commitment and passion for our industry and the innovation that you demonstrate is what drives us all forward.”

The Alliance Significant Contribution Award was won by Ian McIvor.

McIvor inherited his father’s love of trees and commitment to soil conservation. He has built a career helping farmers understand the value of trees in land stabilisation, shade, shelter, fodder, timber and aesthetics

He began working with Plant and Food Research, specifically researching the value of poplar and willow trees for stabilisation and erosion control on pastoral hill slips, in 2001. He has shared his research and knowledge over the years with farmers through workshops and research papers.

The judges said McIvor’s science and research had contributed to farm production and resilience, particularly in the sheep and beef sector.

They said that as one of the founders of soil conservation work in New Zealand, his work had touched sheep and beef farming operations throughout the country, yet many farmers were unaware of the man behind the science.

Poplar and Willow Research Trust general manager Sally Lee accepted the award on behalf of McIvor, who was overseas attending a poplar convention.

“He’s our walking encyclopaedia, and anything you want to know about poplars and willows, Ian is the man. He has never been recognised until now.”

The Beef + Lamb New Zealand Regional Leadership Award, which recognises an outstanding individual, organisation or business in the sheep, beef and dairy beef sector, went to Pukeatua farmer Graeme Gleeson. The winner of this award was identified by the Farmer Council in the awards’ host region.

They said Growing Future Farmers was making an important contribution to the industry at trainee and new entrant level, demonstrated inclusiveness, and incorporated a comprehensive mental and physical wellbeing programme as well as good on-farm support

“Thanks to the other finalists. I think we are all winners, as it’s all about our students, and we are all doing great stuff to make sure there is a pathway for our future talent so we’re all in it together,” Growing Future Farmers chief executive Wendy Paul said.

“We wouldn’t be here without the amazing number of trainers around the country. We have 106 farmers who put time and patience into fostering these wonderful young people to come into the industry, and who keep the programme going.”

The FMG Rural Champion Award was won by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust.

The trust promotes and champions farming practices that are sustainably and environmentally profitable.

The judges said that through its longrunning flagship event, the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust provided a platform from which farmers could tell their story to a wide audience.

They said it was a pan-industry organisation that had massive reach and media coverage. The trust brought regulators and farmers together to celebrate the work farmers were doing to protect their natural resources while running productive and profitable businesses.

As a farmer advocate and leading campaigner for the group Farmers for Positive Change, Gleeson has worked to ensure that regional and national government policies are fair, equitable, and based on science. He has earned the respect of farmers and politicians through his involvement in the development of Waikato-Waipa Plan Change I, and in national essential freshwater discussions. He was instrumental in starting up catchment groups, and encouraging people to think about the issues relevant to their catchment, rather than taking a blanket approach to environmental and resource management.

“I have been advocating for you, the farmers, for many years,” Gleeson said.

“I look across the room and see a lot of wisdom, and I think a lot of the issues we have and are facing, the headwinds we are facing, could be dealt with succinctly, pragmatically, if we just encourage everyone to speak up and say what is of value.

“We do what’s right, look after the environment, and do not need perverse rules or regulations – and when I look at the government approach, the top-down approach doesn’t necessarily work. Also, at the same time, ground-up could be problematic. We need to lead from the middle, where we can combine and achieve great outcomes together as one.”

The Gallagher Innovative Farming Award was won by Fernglen Farm, owned by the Ravenwood family Jeff and Shirley Ravenswood with Gallagher general manager Darrell Jones.

Attendees at the 2024 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards evening had fun getting their picture taken with the awards frame.

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Wellbeing

Louisa Steyl

Federated Farmers is urging the Government to action a rural mental health strategy created by the primary sector.

The strategy was put together by Young Farmers, Rural Women, Federated Farmers and the levy bodies, and together they are calling for it to be implemented before the end of the year.

“It really is a real collaboration within the rural sector,” Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said “It’s not often that you get everyone in the room in heavy agreement.”

A spokesperson for Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey said the Government was working hard to make sure mental health support was available to those who needed it, “including the rural community”.

Langford said Federated Farmers was doing all it could to put rural mental health in the spotlight.

Southland farmer Jason Herrick shared his story of how, after a spring much like this year’s, he decided to take his own life in 2018 Months of heavy rain, the pressure of excessive regulation, negative sentiment towards farming, and an inability to share his feelings left him at breaking point, he said.

“It had been building up for quite some time,” said Herrick, who is now the president of Federated Farmers’ Southland branch

“It started all the way back with the earthquakes in Canterbury, which were just devastating to live through as a family. I lost some good mates to suicide in that time, and then my wife had some serious health challenges, and I never really

Farm groups call for action on mental health

knew how to deal with any of it.”

After moving to Southland, he became overwhelmed by “the barrage of new regulations” and the public perception of farming he saw in the news media and on social media.

“I just broke because I couldn’t handle people perceiving me in that light.”

Herrick finally snapped on a wet, muddy day in December, driving to cliffs on the southern coast to end his life.

“I honestly didn’t think there was a way out. I didn’t think there was a

way forward. I was ready to end it.”

Looking back, he’s incredibly grateful a local police officer found him after being alerted by his worried wife. He was escorted to a mental health facility, which was the start of a long, hard road.

“My parents did a beautiful job of bringing me up, but I was raised as a southern man, taught to harden up, not show emotions, not show any sign of weakness. I slowly had to learn how to talk about what was going on in my head.”

Langford said that while rural

communities had come a long way since a time when mental health wasn’t spoken about, they still had disproportionately high rates of suicide and depression.

“As a country, and as a farming sector, we desperately need to move the conversation beyond just talking about it,” he said.

Doocey’s spokesperson said the minister agreed. “It is important we’re not just talking about the problem. That is why as a government we’re working hard to make sure we’re not only talking about mental health.”

The minister recently appointed Langford to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. “As a farmer and someone from a smaller community, he brings a viewpoint that will help the commission in its work,” Doocey’s spokesperson said.

The proposed rural mental health strategy suggests setting up a contestable fund with a selection panel and an advisory panel who can measure and monitor the effectiveness of mental health programmes.

The groups suggest using 80% of the fund to support existing, well-established organisations and projects, such as the Rural Support Trust, Farmstrong and Surfing for Farmers, that have proven outcomes.

The remaining 20% would go towards new projects or innovations, which would be evaluated after three years.

The model, Langford said, would help to ensure money was going where it was needed most, rather than organisations unnecessarily duplicating work.

The groups have been working with ministers “behind the scenes”, having presented the strategy to the previous government already, but Langford said it was time to put the pressure on.

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford

Federated Farmers Southland branch president Jason Herrick

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey

Surf’s up for farmers to aid their wellbeing

Mental health

Madeleine Powers

There’s no excuse not to head along to your nearest surf break this summer for an afternoon off the farm.

Stephen Thomson started Surfing For Farmers (SFF) after realising stressed-out farmers needed to get off the farm for a break, but they wouldn’t do it unless there were “no excuses”.

Thomson had experienced the positive effects of surfing, and knew it had been used to help treat warveterans. Seeing the stress that farmers were under, he came up with the idea to try it with them.

“They must love it because they keep coming back,” says Thomson.

He adds that farmers “love getting out there” and having a break.

“There’s no staff issues or dogs playing up.”

Thomson says the programme aims to get farmers taking the beach and the relaxation back to the farm.

The programme starts up again this month, running weekly sessions at 28 locations across the country throughout summer.

Wetsuits, surfboards and instru are all provided, so busy farmers have to organise anything

“All they have to do is get in th and get there,” says Thomson.

The programme is now in its eighth season, and has gone from strength to strength since it began in Gisborne in 2018

Sarah Shanks, SFF national co-ordinator, says it began as a “bit of a release and break away” from the pressures of farming.

A born and bred Gisborne farm girl herself, Shanks saw the stress firsthand in her parents on their farm.

She says surfing is a way for farmers to take some much needed time off

“They come off the farm really grumpy and come out of the water with a big smile on their face.”

When you think of a farmer you don’t think of them donning a wetsuit, Shanks says, but “it’s part of the fun”.

After the surf lesson, there’s a barbecue and refreshments. She says it’s a chance to talk to others in the same boat and not feel so isolated.

Shanks says more and more farmers are attending the programme, which wouldn’t be able to run without volunteers.

Volunteers are often rural service professionals working “at the coal face” of the industry who see the need for the programme.

“They are just the most amazing people,” says Shanks. “They are the reason Surfing For Farmers is in their region.”

They come off the farm really grumpy and come out of the water with a big smile on their face.

Sarah Shanks, SFF national co-ordinator

Surfing For Farmers groups are springing up all over the country. They offer surfing lessons to farmers as a form of stress relief

Right: Stephen Thomson founded Surfing For Farmers in 2018

Taranaki piggery goes solar to cut power bill and carbon footprint

Energy

Rural reporter

Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.

The panels with 200 kilowatts capacity have been installed in a paddock at the far at Oaonui, near Ōpunake.

Karl Stanley, who runs the long-established farm with family members, expects the power generated will initially supply about 70% of their daily energy use, wi the aim of expanding that to 100% in the near-future.

“We will be feeding the power straight to the piggery rather than selling it to the grid because we get a greater benefit that way,” says Stanley, who estimates the payback time on the investment will be just over four years.

The family’s electrician Sinclair Electrical installed the panels.

“Currently, our power bills are around $110,000 a year and we expect to cover about $65,000 to $70,000 of that to start

The Taranaki farm’s indoor piggery has around 500 sows and 5000 grower pigs at any one time.

EnergycostsontheStanleyfarmrunatabout$110,000ayearandthefamilyexpecttheinstallationofthe solarpanelstoinitiallycover$65,000to$70,000 Eventually,theywillcover100%oftheirpowerbill.

with. Most of our power is used during the day, so this makes total sense.”

The indoor piggery has around 500 sows and 5000 grower pigs at any one time and the major power costs to the

business are heating to provide the ideal temperature for their pigs, as well as ventilation, lighting and running electronic equipment such as feed mills

“The cost savings were the major

Brothers praise system for decanting manure

Fertiliser

Madeleine Powers

ACanterbury farmer has become the first in the country to adopt a manure decanter system on his farm, turning effluent into valuable fertiliser.

Craig Copland, along with his brother Wayne, have successfully integrated a manure decanter system into their farming operations in Chertsey.

Copland said that since installing the decanter, they had seen a dramatic increase in irrigation run time, “from blocking nozzles in less than eight hours to now endless running times”.

“The other option we looked at was a slurry truck system, which would have involved transporting 24 million litres of effluent in 30,000-litre loads.”

He said that he could operate the decanter system himself, whereas slurry trucks would require a driver to transport and

spread the slurry over fields.

The improved system was part of his efforts to improve on-farm sustainability.

The system was designed by GEA, one of the largest technology suppliers for food processing and a wide range of other industries. GEA specialised in machinery, plants, as well as process technology and components.

Daniel Geldenhuys, a sales engineer and business development manager at GEA, said the business was committed to providing innovative solutions that supported sustainable farming practices.

The System 5 dairy farm housed 600 cows and 1000 wagyu beef animals indoors, with 1500 cows milked through a 60-bail rotary.

It had been in the Copland family for more than 140 years and included dairy, black origin wagyu beef, cropping and an apple orchard

Copland said the system had significantly improved pasture irrigation and reduced their use of synthetic fertilisers.

The manure decanter system was traditionally used in wastewater treatment and wineries. It separated solids from liquids, creating nutrient-rich fertiliser and irrigation water. The clarified liquid was then fed to a nearby irrigation pond and the solids dropped underneath the decanter into a concrete bunker

Before implementing the GEA Manure Decanter, Copland was using a GEA screw press separator, but faced challenges with irrigation nozzle blockages and high levels of potassium and phosphate in his paddocks.

Liquid manure obtained from animal husbandry was a valuable fertiliser in modern agriculture, but it had to be properly integrated into the natural nutrient cycle.

According to DairyNZ, the average dairy cow produced about $25 worth of nutrients annually as farm dairy effluent

But poorly managed effluent posed an environmental and business risk, and could have detrimental effects on human health and water quality

attraction but it also means less impact on the environment. We all want to reduce our footprint, but it has to stack up financially. If it makes sense financially, then we want to do it.”

Having land-based panels in a paddock, like many solar farms, means the land can also still be used for grazing.

“We’ll still be grazing sheep in there and the panels have the additional benefit of providing shelter and shade so the animals can be nice and cool in summer and get under cover if it rains.

“It’s an ideal use of the land while we’re getting electricity out of it at the same time.”

Previous innovations carried out on the farm have already been recognised with the Stanleys among winners in the 2020 Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment awards and the Hills Laboratory Agri-Science award.

The farm has not used any commercial fertilisers for decades. Instead, effluent produced in their indoor piggery is piped to land through an irrigation system. The maize, hay and silage produced as a result is sold to other local farms, which means it doesn’t have to be trucked in from further away.

Other measures to reduce energy use include converting all lighting in the business to LED.

“We’ve been doing the baby steps,” Stanley says. “But this is a big leap.” NZPork is working with farmers to achieve a carbon neutral commercial pig farming sector by 2050.

The comparatively small environmental footprint of commercial pork farmers in New Zealand is a significant attribute of the sector.

Pig farming currently contributes just 0.2% of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas agricultural emissions.

Karl Stanley and his family are looking to be improve their footprint, mounting energy costs and animal welfare issues with the installation of 400 solar panels at their piggery and cropping operation.

Left:

Craig Copland is the first in the country to use the GEA manure decanter system.

Fitter and turner comes

fencing solution

Steve Macmillan

When saggy fences and crooked battens became too much to tolerate, a West Auckland man decided to solve the problem. Skip forward a few years, and fitter and turner Lloyd Altham is in full production with Batten Buddy, a fastener that doesn’t damage plating on the wire, which could lead to rust, but ensures fencing wire has little chance of moving from a batten.

Altham reckons his invention provides 20 times more grip locking 2.5mm and 3.2mm high-tensile fencing wire the batten than a traditional batten staple and he has proven its worth on his two-hectare lifestyle block north of Kaukapakapa

The additional grip is courtesy of Batten Buddy providing around 20mm of surface grip compared to around 1mm from a normal staple.

The gripper plates are made in New Zealand from zinc-plated Steel, to AN/ NZS 1397 standard, the same material as used on cyclone roofing washers. The screws are manufactured to AS3566 Cl 4 standard.

When Altham moved to his property,

the state of the fences was appalling and the risk of stock escaping on to the road or into neighbour’s was extremely high.

didn’t want to make repairs that would deteriorate over time and that’s Batten Buddy was created from zinc-coated steel (used in roofing washers) to ensure a long lifespan.

While there have been plenty of prototypes along the way, he is now satisfied he has the product to the level of quality and reliability he is content with.

He says the most satisfying part of the process is bringing the product to market and receiving positive feedback and repeat orders from customers.

“The introduction of reasonably priced 18-Volt battery screw drivers and drills has also been the catalyst to ke Batten Buddy to the market,” ham says.

arrying a pack of Batten Buddy’s your other kit on your ATV or bike can mean an instant fix that could prevent animals getting out into the neighbour’s or onto the road.”

Batten Buddy is not intended to replace all staples, but using the invention on the top and bottom wires creates a great animal securing team, while also being a lot easier than using barbed wire, he explains.

“Initial pre-production samples of the Batten Buddys were tested in real world conditions on my own land. Also, my neighbour had a fence

damaged by deer getting into his covenanted block and a farmer friend in Puhoi had a problem with sheep pushing the battens along the wires Both problems were immediately solved using Batten Buddys because they provide a more vice-like grip.

Altham says the procedure involved in developing a product is not for the faint hearted.

“Bringing a product to market is very expensive, so to try and corral expenditure, presentation packaging, logo, artwork, and building my own website – another steep learning curve – were all done in house.

“The time and cost to bring a product to market is frightening when you add in patents, registered designs and the costs of tooling to stamp out the product. That can put a dent in your life savings in a very short space of time.”

The development process was made easier for Altham due to his knowledge from a 25-year career in the fastener industry (nuts, bolts, screws, anchors, and the like).

He says that background combined with a creative spirit positioned him well when it came time to create a new fencing product.

While he is still full of ideas, he is remaining focused on some well-earned return on investment spreading Batten Buddy into the lifestyle block and farming sectors.

Farmer and fitter and turner Lloyd Altham came up with Batten Buddy as a solution to fix sagging fences after moving to his lifestyle property, where the fences were in a state of disrepair STEVE MACMILLAN

Industry leaders and scientists say wool has important environmental advantages that consumers should know about.

By Madeleine Powers.

Anew study shows wool, even machine-washable wool, has no impact on the marine environment and biodegrades into harmless components.

Wool industry leaders say it’s important consumers know about the benefits of wool, and say it is the healthier alternative to synthetic fabrics.

As the microplastic problem continues to grow, consumers are also becoming aware of the environmental impacts of synthetic fabrics, and may be looking for alternatives.

The rise of synthetics has seen the downturn of wool, but industry leaders say wool is well poised as a healthier alternative for people and the planet.

A joint research project between Scion and AgResearch, funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) innovation strategic science investment fund (SSIF) and Australian Wool Innovation looked at the advantages of wool over synthetics, particularly how it biodegrades in the environment.

The latest study focuses on the marine environment, which is increasingly under threat from microplastic pollution

AgResearch science team leader for bioproduct and fibre technology Stewart Collie says the results are clear.

Scientists immersed wool and synthetic textiles in water taken from the marine environment to see whether the textiles broke down over time.

Naturally existing microbes in sea water produce CO₂ as they decompose the carbon in wool, so scientists were able to measure the rate of decomposition by seeing how much CO₂ was produced over time.

While synthetics did not break down at all over a 90-day period, wool broke down rapidly into harmless “cellular components”.

Collie says while there is debate about the overall environmental impact of woollen fabrics, the study shows wool has no negative impact on the environment at the end of its life, even when treated to be machine wash-friendly.

A review of 20 years of microplastics research published in Science journal predicted “widescale harm” in the next 100 years.

Scientists have found microplastics everywhere from the top of Mount

Wool’s the winner

AgResearch study finds wool is safer for the marine environment

Everest to the inside of human organs and tissues, and the problem is set to double by 2040 with increasing use of synthetic materials

Collie says synthetic materials and plastic have their place, but the way they are being used is having a big impact on the environment.

He says polyester, a synthetic material made from fossil fuel-derived petroleum in a chemical process, is the largest fibre type used in the world.

“It’s cheap and it makes good fibres,” says Collie.

Synthetic fabrics make up 70% of fabric used in the fast fashion industry. Synthetic fabrics include rayon, acrylic and polyester.

Microfibres from clothing are shed from clothes every time they are washed, going down the drain and into the environment.

Collie says experts can’t yet say what the long-term health impacts from microplastic pollution are because it takes years to measure the effects. But there is “emerging evidence of negative effects” on human health.

The impacts on marine life, however, are better known, and are one reason researchers wanted to see what impact wool had on marine life if it ended up in the ocean.

“People have got to be aware of what the alternatives are.”

Wool Impact represents the strong wool industry, as opposed to merino or fine wool. New Zealand is one of top three biggest producers of strong wool, but since the rise of synthetics, e volume produced has dropped significantly. Strong wool is used for interior textiles to make carpets, acoustic carpeting and upholstery. While some consumers might choose synthetics based on price, Caughey says health and environmental concerns are becoming more important.

There is growing concern about VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which are harmful gases that are emitted into the air from products off-gassing.

Wool can act as a natural lter, and is naturally fire resistant, so doesn’t require chemical treatment. It can also assist in regulating air humidity.

Caughey says because of these benefits, wool is “well-poised” as an alternative to synthetics.

“We’re excited about the potential.”

Collie says microplastics have been found inside microorganisms where they disrupt cellular function.

Stewart Collie says synthetic materials and plastic have their place, but the way they are being used is having a big impact on the environment AGRESEARCH

They can also harbour other harmful chemicals used in manufacturing which are known to be toxic to marine life.

The wool industry is trying to raise awareness of the alternatives to synthetics, particularly for those concerned about wider health benefits of natural materials.

Wool Impact chief executive Andy Caughey says more consumers are becoming aware of the potential negative health impacts of synthetic materials used in buildings, and that wool might be a less toxic option.

Caughey says New Zealand strong wool was traditionally treated as a commodity and was the predominant fibre on the market, but since synthetics had taken over, the positioning had changed

“It’s a premium fibre, it should be treated in a very different way With wool, you’re investing in a product that will last you a lifetime.”

Caughey says the challenge for Wool Impact now is being able to back up the environmental claims and health benefits of wool with science.

“The synthetic guys aren’t going to let us get away with this easily,” he says, so

“You’ve got to validate it.”

Wool Impact is advocating for the holistic positive impacts of wool, such as the provision of jobs and livelihood for rural communities, to be taken into account in impact assessments.

Daryn Pedersen of Wool Wairarapa Ltd, is a big advocate of the natural fibre.

GIANINA SCHWANECKE/THE POST

Andy Caughey, chief executive of Wool Impact says wool is “well-poised” as an alternative to synthetics.

Research targets long-standing challenges for agriculture ResearchandScience

Science

Eve Hyslop

Nano-fertilisers, biomaterials and a tool to fight facial eczema are all being created by AgResearch in a bid to find new uses for materials like wool, reduce agriculture’s environmental impact and improve animal welfare.

The creations are all a part of AgResearch’s Smart Idea grant from the government’s 2024 Endeavour Fund

Three projects have received about $3 million in funding from the grant, featuring research to control fungal diseases in plants and animals, nanofertilisers to reduce nitrogen loss and the development of biomaterials from re-ordered proteins.

The first project will attempt to create new biomaterials similar to the likes of wool, silk and leather, by reorganising proteins at a micro-level. Not only will the new materials substitute for synthetics and plastics, but they also could be recycled and composted.

Previous attempts to manufacture natural materials had been made by scientists, but it had been too difficult to replicate, AgResearch senior scientist Duane Harland said.

“Nature’s just better at making these things than we are.”

In response, AgResearch is learning from nature to understand how protein-based materials are made, Harland said

“What we’re trying to do here is take some of the rules that nature uses and turn them into a technology to make a next-generation-type material.”

The research will make better use of the likes of wool by breaking it down to a molecular level and reordering its make-up to create new materials.

It won’t replace the use for wool, but rather increase its utilisation. The proteins are essentially building blocks which would be organised so the biomaterial could be strong, smooth, rigid, flexible or even have built-in hinges, for example.

“If you know exactly where to tweak the system, then you can kind of get the proteins to do what you want, and organise themselves into ropes and twists and layers.”

The biomaterials would even inherit the same properties which make natural materials fire retardant, compostable, odour resistant and breathable, much like wool.

Facial eczema (FE) is a common yet unwelcome disease across New Zealand

farms and it costs the agricultural sector about $332m a year in lost production and treatment

It is caused by a fungal toxin found in pasture and poses significant threats to stock as it can cause incurable liver damage, decreased milk production, skin irritation and sometimes death.

Chemical agents such as zinc dosing for FE and pasture sprays can treat the disease, however they can be costly and harmful to the environment and animal health.

AgResearch aims to fill that gap by developing a non-chemical pasture spray to treat the fungus before it infects the animal.

“The approach is more like ‘cutting the head off the snake’, making sure that the spore or the fungus is not alive or it’s not toxic in the pasture to cause the facial eczema disease in the farm animal,” senior scientist and science team leader at AgResearch Kwasi Adusei-Fosu says.

The spray will be developed through the use of RNA interference (RNAi) technology to ‘switch off’ or ‘silence’ genes in the fungus that cause FE.

The key part that causes FE is a fungus found in pasture spores containing a mycotoxin, a toxic substance produced by the fungus.

While this involves gene technology, Adusei-Fosu says this is not genetic modification.

“You’re not going to cause any modification to our pasture. You’re not going to cause any modification to our farm animals, but targeting specifically the fungus that is living in our pasture.”

AgResearch’s third project aims to reduce the environmental impact of dairy grazing through the use of nanofertilisers The fertiliser aims to increase the ability for plants to uptake nitrogen to reduce pollution from nitrogen loss

The research aims to change the way fertiliser is applied.

Due to the nano-size of the particles, the fertiliser will be more efficiently absorbed by the pasture, avoiding application to soils, senior scientist at AgResearch Marta Alfaro says Fertiliser is traditionally applied to soils to increase pasture production but when applied incorrectly or at the wrong time of the year, it can result in nutrient losses to the environment, Alfaro says

The research will understand the genetic information of the fungus and use it to silence or kill the mycotoxin.

“We are going to dwell on that genetic information to develop the RNA molecules, to target that particular pathway that leads to the production of the mycotoxin, to shut it down or to silence it,”

Adusei-Fosu says.

Traditionally, farmers detect the fungus that cause facial eczema by counting spores in their pasture.

Instead, AgResearch is developing a real-time rapid detection tool that will count the population of spores containing the mycotoxin.

Not only will the nano particle be more efficiently absorbed, but it will also reduce the amount of nitrogen applied to pastures due to its size.

Following that detection, a farmer could then treat their pasture with the RNAi spray tool to silence the gene causing FE and target the fungus before it infects an animal.

The RNAi spray will specifically target fungus that cause the disease and will not harm any other organisms around the treated pasture.

“Given that the farmer can reduce the rate of nitrogen that they are applying, it also has benefits for the environment because it reduces losses, either by leaching to groundwater or surface water or of greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide,” Alfaro says The project comes at an important time for the sector which Alfaro says is under a lot of pressure to meet economic and environmental expectations

“We need to increase food production without increasing the risk of the environment.

‘‘What we are aiming here it to provide an alternative, something that farmers could use and complement the traditional practices they currently use to maintain efficiency and increase the sustainability of their systems in the future.”

Duane Harland, left, and fellow scientist Marina Richena in front of AgResearch’s new transmission electron microscope which can look into the natural microscopic architecture of materials AGRESEARCH

Facial eczema is estimated to cost the New Zealand sheep, beef and dairy sectors about $332 million a year.

Senior scientist at AgResearch Duane Harland

AgResearch senior scientist and science team leader Kwasi Adusei-Fosu.

Marta Alfaro, senior scientist at AgResearch

When applied incorrectly or at the wrong time of the year, fertiliser can result in nutrient losses to the environment and have negative impacts on dairy grazing.

AI drone tech cuts stock-count time

Farmers can now tally their stock numbers in a fraction of the time and with minimal disturbance to farm operations.

By Madeleine Powers.

Kiwi agricultural supply business

PGG Wrightson (PGGW) launched SkyCount at Fieldays at Hamilton’s Mystery Creek in June this year. After successful trials, it is now offering the service commercially to customers across the country.

PGGW came up with the concept for SkyCount in mid-2021, engaging Kiwi tech company and AI specialists Inde as its technology partner at the end of 2021

The service uses Microsoft Azure, Power Apps and AI technology in combination with drones to count stock on farms within hours

PGGW chief executive Stephen Guerin says traditional stock counting usually takes a couple of staff at least a few days, with considerable disruption to animals in the process.

Adverse weather can delay the process, meaning added cost and time for farming businesses.

“Getting animals out of the hills can be very difficult,” says Guerin

With SkyCount, the job can be done in a few hours with minimal disruption to animals or the farm business An average sheep and beef station takes one person on average half a day, while a dairy farm might take just a couple of hours.

The SkyCount AI typically returns 97%

accuracy on the first go with stock counts, but this increases to 99.9% once the query areas identified by the AI are reviewed. The time required to review queries will reduce in future.

Inde chief technical officer Rik Roberts says the hardest part was developing a platform that would work with a nontechnical operator and could count moving stock.

He says it took months to teach the

programme to accurately recognise and distinguish animals, which it would easily mistake for rocks.

PGGW SkyCount operators use enterprisegrade professional drones with 35-minute charges to fly over farms capturing imagery.

The drones fly at a high enough altitude so as not to cause disturbance to stock. The imagery is immediately analysed by the AI, which identifies and counts the animals

The team had to feed 220,000 versions

of sheep and cattle into the system to reach 97% accuracy, but Roberts says the platform will get more and more accurate every time it’s used.

Guerin says PGGW is often asked to provide a stock audit service as part of annual reporting requirements for corporate farms.

Stock audits may also be required at the point of sale, or following a major weather event like a cyclone.

With sheep and beef farms getting larger and corporate farm ownership becoming more common, there is a growing demand for a more efficient service that doesn’t disturb the farm operation.

He says iwi-owned farms also form an important part of the business’ customer base. PGGW trialled SkyCount at an iwiowned sheep farm on the East Coast.

Roberts says there’s potential for SkyCount technology to be used beyond stock counts, in measuring pasture health, crop management and providing 3D maps of farms

He says AI can be used alongside existing technology in agriculture more widely in the future, and it can help speed up the decisionmaking process by collecting and processing information faster.

Guerin says the feedback from customers has been “excellent”.

Some farmers are hesitant about the new technology, but he expects trust in the service will build over time.

“Farmers will adopt the technology once they see other farmers try it out.”

Work will begin shortly on adapting the technology for deer farms.

He says PGGW is also investigating partnering with overseas businesses interested in the product.

Left: Inde chief technology officer Nik Roberts says one of the challenges was developing a platform that could be operated by non-technical operators.

Below: PGG Wrightson SkyCount uses drones and AI technology to complete the stock count process within minutes. PGG WRIGHTSON

PGG Wrightson chief executive Stephen Guerin

20 NZFarmer Horticulture

Marketing

Eve Hyslop

Asparagus growers have had a bumper season so far following exceptional growing conditions this season and a long, hot, dry previous summer.

But with better growing conditions, come more asparagus and more imperfect looking spears miss out on a spot in the supermarket after being rejected by retailers.

Instead of going straight to food waste, food box business Wonky Box steps in to get the asparagus at a more affordable price to Kiwis and put more coin in the pockets of growers.

‘Wonky’ asparagus would be spears that have slightly damaged tips, are too thin, too fat or slightly curved. But for Wonky Box, these imperfections are their selling point and the taste is no different to a more visually-appealing asparagus.

“The freshness and nutritional value are exactly the same, if not better because we’re able to go directly to growers, source the product, put it in our boxes and get that at a really quick turnaround,” co-founder Angus Simms says.

Three growers across the country have teamed up with Wonky Box: Boyd’s Asparagus in Waikato will supply to the upper North Island; Tendertips in Levin will supply to the lower North Island; and LeaderBrand in Chertsey, Ashburton will supply to the South Island.

LeaderBrand harvests more than 2500 tonnes of asparagus, but not every one of its spears make it to consumers due to wind damage or small imperfections.

Its asparagus is grown in Chertsey at the bottom of the Southern Alps, where the unique alpine conditions help enhance the flavour and sweetness of each spear

Exceptional growing conditions have left the Ashburton farm with excessive volumes of asparagus at the peak of the short season

The company’s collaboration with Wonky Box will allow LeaderBrand to not only reduce its food waste, but allow more Kiwis to try the seasonal vegetable, South Island general manager Mike Arnold says.

“A few Kiwis might not have tried asparagus before, so we think these programmes are a real opportunity for

Growing conditions for asparagus have been favourable for the season ahead, giving food box company Wonky Box more ‘imperfect’ produce. LEADERBRAND

Asparagus of all shapes, sizes welcome

everyone to give it a go. We’d rather see more families enjoying the sweet and juicy asparagus than throwing them out.”

The alpine climate in Chertsey can cause some of the asparagus to bend, but Arnold hopes people will still try it.

“Whether you grill it on the BBQ, throw it into a pasta dish, mix it into a stir-fry or eat it rolled up in bread, we don’t care; we just want you to enjoy asparagus fresh and in season.”

Asparagus is known as a premium product for consumers, so Simms says it’s great that Wonky Box is able to provide it at a more affordable price.

The drop in prices for all vegetables and an oversupply from growers following a tough recent few years has also meant that asparagus in general should be more affordable this season.

That can be hard for growers though, Simms says. “From this year’s perspective, you have got asparagus growers coming in and trying to compete with other produce items that are extremely cheap And so that’s quite a challenge this year.”

By working with growers local to each region, Wonky Box’s fruit and vegetables are delivered from farm to plate in 48 hours. This means its boxes arrive faster and fresher to consumers while minimising long-haul deliveries and food mile emissions.

Simms says its commitment to reducing food miles goes hand-in-hand with its relationships with growers. That all comes down to communication around how much

LeaderBrand SouthIsland general managerMike Arnoldwantsall NewZealandersto y eshasparagusthis season.

stock is on hand with a grower and how that can work in with the consumer demands

“It’s the relationships over time. We’ve built a very slick model where we set our deliveries over just two days a week the distribution is managed over a very tight window of about 48 hours.”

These relationships also mean Wonky Box can swear by its freshness guarantee.

“We get it straight from the source, straight to the customer in such a quick turnaround time that we can back ourselves that much that we do have a freshness guarantee.

“If there’s ever a scenario where customers aren’t pleased, then they can get in touch with us, we’ll refund them and do our absolute best.”

‘Crop doctor’ recommends others give it a go

Opinion

Young Grower of the Year runner-up and Young Vegetable Grower of the Year

Jamie Wells talks about how he got into the horticulture industry

Last month, I had the privilege of competing as one of six finalists for the Young Grower of the Year title in Hastings As an agronomist with Balle Brothers and the current Pukekohe Young Grower regional champion, it was a fantastic opportunity to test my skills and expand my knowledge.

Coming from a vegetable-growing background, competing in the national competition in a predominantly fruitgrowing region was a bit daunting. However, the experience broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of the wider horticultural sector and its challenges.

Unlike many in the industry, I did not grow up on a farm. My interest in horticulture was sparked during biology lessons in school. In my final year, Eamon

Balle, from Balle Brothers, gave a talk about the frozen chip industry, which really piqued my curiosity. After the talk, I spoke with him, and he invited me to visit one of their farms. That visit turned out to be a pivotal moment for me.

I joined Balle Brothers straight out of school as a junior agronomist, and 12 years later, I am still with the company.

During that time, I completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, majoring in horticulture, through Massey University while working fulltime. Balancing study

and work was tough but rewarding, especially being able to immediately apply what I learned to real-world situations –plus no student loan.

I started in quality control, where I visited farms, conducted soil tests, and monitored crops for weeds, pests, and diseases I loved it – being outdoors and working with a wide variety of crops was something I enjoyed from the start.

Balle Brothers grows vegetables across 3500 hectares, and each crop presents its own set of challenges and requirements.

Now, as an agronomist – essentially a “crop doctor” – I still visit farms to check crop health from seed to harvest, offering advice on how best to manage them. I am also involved in audits for the New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) programme and European standards, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

In addition to crop management, I play a role in seed procurement and sustainability. I have completed the Fertiliser Association’s Intermediate and Advanced Nutrient Management Adviser Certification programmes, which further complement my work in helping our business stay sustainable

My career to date is proof of the diverse opportunities available in the horticulture sector, especially for young people

The Young Grower national competition, run by Horticulture New Zealand, and the regional events organised by dedicated volunteers and supported by HortNZ, play a crucial role in raising awareness about the industry.

It’s important that more people understand the variety of roles in horticulture, which cater to different interests and skillsets.

Many, like myself, stumble into this field and discover a niche that suits them perfectly. If you’re looking for a dynamic and fulfilling career, I’d encourage you to explore horticulture – you never know what you might find until you give it a try.

Wonky Box co-founders Katie Jackson and Angus Simms

Jamie Wells being presented with the Young Vegetable Grower of the Year award last month by Horticulture New Zealand vice-president and board director Bernadine Guilleux.

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Canada stands by restrictions as NZ forces negotiations

Trade

Thomas Manch

Canada has once again rejected New Zealand’s allegation it is breaching a Pacificspanning free trade deal, as Wellington forces Ottawa to the negotiating table.

Trade Minister Todd McClay announced on October 18 the Government had notified Canada and all other members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement that New Zealand would be triggering mandatory negotiations over the ongoing dairy dispute.

New Zealand was, in September 2023, successful in a claim against Canada taken to a CPTPP panel about its system of tariffs and quotas which New Zealand argued effectively restricted dairy imports from CPTPP countries – closing off hundreds of millions of dollars in potential trade for New Zealand exporters.

But Canada has also consistently claimed “victory” in the dispute, and did so again on October 19

“Canada is very disappointed that New Zealand has decided to continue to challenge Canada’s dairy TRQ [tariffrate quota] system,” said Canadian trade minister Mary Ng.

“We have been through this before, and have consistently and successfully defended our dairy sector and supply management from trade challenges.

“New Zealand continues to be an important, like-minded partner for Canada and we will engage in the process in good faith.”

Canada tightly protects its dairy industry through both supply and import controls, and has previously fought challenges from the United States, which is not a CPTPP country.

Under its system, Canada was dividing tariff rate quota for 16 dairy product lines – such as cream, butter or milk powders – for the use of three categories of companies: “processors”,

Trade Minister Todd McClay had said New Zealand would be triggering mandatory negotiations over the ongoing dairy dispute.

“further processors” and “distributor”.

But it directed much of these tariff rate quotas, between 80% to 85%, to domestic “processors”.

Distributors had a small portion of the quotas, and retailers that would import dairy products were excluded from the regime. The effect was little New Zealand product was getting through the system.

In determining Canada was breaching CPTPP rules, the panel decided Canada could make procedural changes to its import quota system without consulting CPTPP parties.

Ng said Canada was confident that new policies fulfilled the obligation “to eliminate the non-conformity identified by the panel”, or how the country’s tariff and quota system breached CPTPP obligations.

But McClay has since May publicly complained that Canada had not made the needed changes. In again challenging Canada, New Zealand is asking the country to compensate Kiwi exporters who have lost out under its restrictive quota settings, or make changes.

The negotiations between each government’s officials must begin within 15 days after the request is made. There would be 30 days to reach agreement.

Synlait boss steps down Fonterra’s former chief executive dies

Employment

Dita De Boni

Synlait Milk last month told the NZX its chief executive Grant Watson has resigned and will step back from the top job immediately, while remaining at the company for a time.

The period from when Watson assumed the role, in January 2022, until now, has been tumultuous for the company – a period that Synlait chairperson George Adams called “an unprecedented era in its history”.

“Recent months have seen a long list of urgent challenges for Synlait, and Grant’s ably led the team through them,” Adams said. “His achievements are extensive and notably include our balance sheet’s recent, successful reset.”

The reset came after shareholders of the deeply indebted dairy-processing company had to approve a recapitalisation deal to stave off the threat of liquidation

Major shareholders Bright Dairy and A2 Milk injected a combined $217.8 million of capital into Synlait to allow the company to pay down bank debt, but the move left minority shareholders’ stake in the company diluted to just below 15% from 41% under the deal.

The proposal drew the ire of co-founder and former chief executive John Penno, who owns 2.3% of the company. Penno complained that the move contravened NZX rules.

Oliver Mander, chief executive of the Shareholders’ Association, likened the deal to a “dead rat” for minority shareholders, but recommended they vote in favour to stave off the threat of liquidation.

Despite the tumult, Watson, as the outgoing chief executive, praised Synlait as an “amazing and agile company, which I have been honoured to lead”.

“Working with our passionate employees and farmers who care deeply about Synlait’s success has been a privilege. Our team’s determination and dedication to deliver has also been a real highlight. I wish Synlait all the best for a successful future.” Adams highlighted some of the more

Under Grant Watson’s leadership, Synlait has overseen tumult and the recapitalisation of the company to stave off the threat of liquidation.

positive highlights of the past almost three years under Watson, noting Synlait’s strategy to reduce customer and market concentration risk, commercialising plant-based production at Pokeno and the company’s Foodservice business in Canterbury, extending its reach into Southeast Asia and maintaining its China market access, as part of his achievements.

“Grant will take a well-deserved break before deciding his next career move He

Right: George Adams, chairperson of Synlait, says Watson had ably led the company through “an unprecedented era” in the company’s history.

has set a strong platform for Synlait going forward, the board is extremely grateful for this and wishes him all the best.”

The board will commence a global recruitment process. In the meantime, Dairyworks chief executive Tim Carter has been appointed acting chief executive of Synlait

Aaron Kenny, Dairyworks’ chief financial officer, will act as Dairyworks chief executive in the interim.

Obituary Stuff reporter

Former chief executive of Fonterra Theo Spierings has died.

A statement from The Purpose Factory, a consultancy he co-founded, announced that Spierings passed away unexpectedly on October 19 after a brief illness in his native Netherlands.

“His legacy, and the impact he had on those he worked with and who knew him, will be remembered fondly,” the firm’s statement read.

Spierings led Fonterra from 2011 to 2018, during a pivotal time for New Zealand’s largest dairy co-operative. His appointment was met with optimism, given his extensive experience in the dairy industry, which included heading Friesland Foods and overseeing its merger with Campina in 2008.

However, he faced significant challenges, including restoring Fonterra’s reputation following a melamine contamination crisis

His substantial salary, which reached $8 million by the time of his departure, also attracted scrutiny, especially as many farmers struggled to make ends meet.

A private memorial service had been planned for Spierings in the Netherlands, the Purpose Factory said.

“Theo’s family appreciate the outpouring of love and support from around the world during this sad time.”

Left: Grant Watson has resigned as chief executive of Synlait.

Former Fonteraa chief executive Theo Spierings died unexpectedly last month.

Methane reduction in the wings

Emissions

Louisa Steyl

CH4 Global is preparing to trial a version of its Methane Tamer that is specifically designed for pastoral farming systems.

Buy-in from New Zealand dairy farmers would make expanding the company’s Bluff production operation viable.

But the company would also need the Government to remove red tape unique to New Zealand that bars seaweed from being sold as a feed additive.

The Government is currently reviewing its regulations to help fast track on-farm methane mitigating innovations.

This comes as CH4 Global this month announced new research that it said validated its approach to busting methane.

The peer-reviewed study, published in Animal Feed Science and Technology, compared the methane reduction potential of whole Asparagopsis seaweed versus pure bromoform – the compound found naturally in red seaweed that acts as a methane mitigator.

The results showed that whole, dried seaweed reduced methane emissions by 95.6% when included at 0.5% of an animal’s diet, compared to a 59.6% reduction from an equivalent dose of bromoform.

Researchers said this suggested that while bromoform was the primary active compound, other bioactive compounds in the seaweed played a significant role, accounting for approximately 40% of the total reduction effect.

The study was the result of collaborative

research work between CH4 Global and the Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.

CH4 Global chief executive Steve Meller said this meant the business’ Methane Tamer was both more efficient and more cost effective than synthetic options.

New Zealand-founded CH4 Global currently operates an aquaculture farm in Bluff along with three growing and processing operations in Australia.

A “significant portion” of the company’s seaweed was grown in Bluff and sent to Australia for processing, but the opening of a new, bigger plant in Australia in January would likely relegate the Bluff operation’s product to research use, until legislative change made expansion feasible, Meller said.

That research included the trials for a product designed for grazing herds like those in New Zealand that don’t get fed feed as part of their diet.

The CH4 Global team was finalising the

formulation and working out where and how the product would be tested before starting a trial in the first half of 2025, Meller said.

“It could be given once a day during morning milking as a palatable supplement to be released over 24 hours until the next dose,” he said.

The New Zealand Treasury estimates that meeting the country’s emissions targets could cost between $190 billion and $250b between 2022 and 2050.

Asparagopsis seaweedis grownintanks atCH4Global’s BluffEcoPark

report warned more research was needed to understand the long-term impact of Asparagopsis seaweed on human and animal health, Meller pointed out it was considered traditional food for many Polynesian people – particularly Hawaiians.

He had made multiple in-person submissions to parliamentary committees working through climate and environmental policy changes and had met with ministers – including Minister of Regulations David Seymour –to discuss the benefits of Asparagopsis seaweed and current challenges to making the product available to New Zealand farmers, Meller said.

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DrSteveMeller

MinisterofRegulations

DavidSeymour

“I could build the capacity to supply all the cows in New Zealand for a fraction of the cost,” Meller said.

And while a 2024 United Nations

“I want to see New Zealand benefit from this,” he said.

Seymour has confirmed that Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines regulations would be examined as part of the Agricultural and Horticultural Products Regulatory Review.

Cabinet is expecting to receive a paper on the review in February.

“The review will consider a range of options, including any necessary legislative amendments, to ensure the approval path is delivering greater access to products, while managing the risks they pose,” Seymour said.

“There are innovative technologies that Kiwi farmers currently don’t have access to that make animals emit less methane. If we don’t remove barriers to such technologies, they won’t play any part in New Zealand reaching any of its goals.”

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This isn’t the time for rash decisions

Darren Mann Chief executive of Ernslaw One Ltd

There have been a couple of recent news articles around the vitality of downtown Gisborne, partially attributed to the decline in the local forest industry.

It appears that a growing group of people in the region believe that a full exit of forestry and also much of the pastoral land in Tairāwhiti is the solution for a sustainable region.

Unfortunately, this rhetoric is getting far too much airtime, and we need to call it out.

Yes, there does need to be a land use change in the areas where we know pine trees are not suited on the most sensitive geologies, in particular certain tertiary mudstone sites. That doesn't mean we have to transition out the whole local industry!

Just think about that for a moment. The recent Infometrics report prepared for Trust Tairāwhiti confirms that forestry contributes 32% to the region's tradeable GDP. That contribution also flows indirectly through into the non-tradable sector (eg. construction, retail).

There are a lot of people involved right through that supply chain that play a big part in this. Many of them are young people who have made forestry their career choice and continue to develop their skills and knowledge whilst providing for their families at the same time. Think about what the social impact would be on Tairāwhiti if the majority of those jobs were phased out. That should concern us greatly and we have a social responsibility to prevent that from happening.

There might be some commercial opportunities from growing natives whether it be biodiversity credits or plant based medicines as some pundits have suggested. Honey production is also another proposed option, but this is an industry suffering from an over-supply, even with reduced hive numbers far from those boom times more than a few years ago now. There is no way that these

alternatives would ever come close to offsetting the economic and social cost of removing the plantation forest industry.

The East Coast forestry grant scheme kicked off in 1992 in response to the devastating effect that Cyclone Bola had on pastoral land in 1988. For the most part it achieved what it set out to, which was to address serious land erosion and reduce surface sediment flows as well as create

employment at the time.

However, we have found in recent years after a series of significant weather events that it was the wrong call on some lands. The status quo isn't acceptable in those cases, and we do need to change in a sensible way and the industry will. Believe it or not, an environmentally sustainable and resilient region AND a vibrant forest industry are not mutually exclusive.

Why Bear Grylls should spearhead red meat

Opinion

Author and facilitator

John King says the New Zealand red meat industry would benefit from having British adventurer and writer, Bear Grylls on their team.

The Irish keep buying our best rugby players and coaches. Surely we can scrape up a few million to pinch their single best celebrity to promote red meat. This man understands both global and human health. He knows pasture is great for saving the planet and livestock grazing it are destined for the dining table. He knows what’s wrong with the food pyramid and lives life accordingly. This man is committed to red meat and needs to be an ambassador

Name another celebrity travelling and interacting more with natural ecosystems than Bear Grylls. He knows the role of predators is to bunch herbivores and keep them moving across grasslands, ensuring herds only breed from the strong and their disturbance cycles carbon into soils to absorb moisture and prevent erosion. No other global celebrity championing the environment comes close to carbon positive because they cannot relate these principles to livestock farming. And few, if any, would copy his diet

When Louis Theroux interviewed him in 2022, the whole world heard of his time being vegan and his embarrassment of the cookbook he wrote. Being vegan collapsed his energy, health and increased his flatulence. It’s vegan diets driving climate

change and it’s a shame he never cooped himself up in a methane chamber to find out how much greenhouse gasses vegans emit.

He’s got little time for grains, veggies, poxy seed oils and corn syrup. This is a man who has eaten sheep eyes, deer hearts, goat testicles and slurped up yak blood. He’s gutted and slept in a camel carcass and worn seal skin to swim frigid waters. He knows animals inside out and has immense enthusiasm for the product Even has his own range of ancestral supplements made of beef heart, liver and lung, all grass fed.

While he’s all for natural foods, lentils, pulses and mungbeans appeal as much as swallowing water squeezed from elephant dung. That’s something else he doesn’t recommend. So, what flipped him?

Watching his son’s speedy recovery from various nutritional aliments resulting

Setting new standards

Opinion

Andrew Stewart is a fourth-generation sheep and beef farmer in the Rangitīkei region. He and wife Kylie also run Rangitīkei Farmstay and The Mudder as successful diversifications on the family farm. He writes regular columns for Stuff and NZFarmer.

In terms of sporting victories, winning the America’s Cup is about as contentious as they come. Many Kiwis have had a strong interest in seeing Team New Zealand (TNZ) succeed over the years, while possibly equally as many either don’t care or are vehemently opposed to what they perceive as a ‘rich man’s sport’.

But I would argue that the recent edition off the coast of Barcelona transcends sport and should be used as an example of Kiwi ingenuity on the world stage.

At the risk of sounding old, my fascination with the America’s Cup stretches right back to 1987

If you were to watch those boats now, you would probably be bored senseless within 10 minutes as they would seem

archaic in comparison to a 2024 boat.

But way back then, the New Zealand team was innovating in a way the world had never seen before.

Our boat, KZ7, was the first in its class to be constructed of fibreglass and was quick enough to very nearly win the event.

This innovation in design has been the benchmark of Kiwi teams ever since, and was clearly on display during the racing in Barcelona.

I remember when I first read of TNZ’s desire to build a foiling monohull thinking they were crazy and wondering how on earth it would ever work.

I don’t believe anyone who has now seen them racing, fan or not, could not be blown away by their incredible performance.

To win as emphatically as they did against teams backed by Formula 1 partners or multi-billionaires, shows little old New Zealand sets the benchmark when it comes to yachting design, technology and talent.

When Grant Dalton first announced this year’s regatta would not be held in Auckland, there was a public outcry. The truth was hosting the event in New Zealand was a frustrating exercise in crazy bureaucracy, box-ticking and red tape.

This is something we as farmers have had to persevere with more and more over recent years, and Dalton’s foresight should be a lesson to us all that despite our frustrations, there can be positive outcomes.

We just have to step back and look at other ways of addressing our problems, for example, how heavily we rely on China to take our exported products. Innovation and courage, as demonstrated by Team New Zealand on a global stage, can have

from a vegan diet. It involved dropping refined processed carbs (flour and sugar) and veggies, and replacing with red meat, eggs, fruit, honey, salted butter and cooking with lard or tallow. He tried it himself, especially after being ravaged by early variants of Covid and finding eating more veggies didn’t improve his recovery. He found it made him worse.

Guzzling down raw vegetable smoothies almost gave him kidney stones. That condition and pain disappeared along with skin issues, stomach problems and lethargy once consuming red meat. He was always hungry on a vegan diet – maybe that’s why the veggie servings rule is five a day. Now he remains satisfied with little if any snacking between his two daily meals.

He’s found a red meat diet is simply more fun and delicious It’s this appeal rooting every child’s sense of adventure, hence he’s the UK’s top scout. He makes

health benefits from eating red meat clear, not just physical stamina but intellectual clarity. With this energy he links outdoors with getting real and being vulnerable by exploring deeply personal subjects of life, survival and mental health.

These experiences open eyes of young people to ups and downs of living while learning to enjoy the present. As a parent himself, this is front and centre with his own children. Resilience is like a red meat muscle; it needs to be worked to get stronger. Many adults could do with this advice.

His shows demonstrate adventure is deeply embedded in human DNA. Hence, resilience involves tackling fears by relentlessly trying new ways of solving life’s obstacles and boundaries. His favourite food is grass-fed beef because fear releases a lot of energy and nutrients and grass fed meats and fats have oodles of both to remain alert and be at his best

And where will red meat fit into his life as he ages? Now 50, he’s at the peak of endurance and health. His exercise regime focusing on strength and suppleness is mostly outdoors so red meat will continue to fuel that. Like many farmers, he knows being out in nature is a great healer. By the way, he prefers to walk barefoot and probably enjoys both feet in a fresh cow pat on a frosty morning.

Red meat changed Bear Grylls’ life and New Zealand’s livestock industry should celebrate a contract with him before Australia’s MLA does. It’s nutrition will drive his success as he gets older. If he had the skills, he’d keep up with those shearing 250 80kg ewes a day. In fact, why don’t we put him in front of strong wool as well? I bet he’s prayed for a woollen carpet and underlay to cushion a fall or two.

John King is the author of Curiosity: Farmers Discovering What Works and facilitator of the Curious Cockie Club.

incredible results for those who dare to believe.

In the farming sector, we have long trumpeted the fact that we are world leaders when it comes to producing sustainable red meat

This was certainly the case way back in 1882 when New Zealanders pioneered the first shipment of frozen meat to the United Kingdom.

This innovation transformed the entire farming industry and made us world leaders, but I would argue that other markets have caught up and Kiwi farmers have been hammered by

impractical rules and rising costs

That does not mean the end of the road however. Generations of New Zealanders have been raised on innovation and creativity and that is everywhere in the farming sector.

Like our sailing counterparts, we just have to think of new ways to set the standard and lead the world. Being brave enough to suggest the impossible is a lesson all farmers need to start practicing. The results could be beyond our wildest dreams, and just like the flying Taihoro, we can show the world what impossible actually looks like.

British adventurer and author Bear Grylls was once a vegan, but his health took a hit because of it

Team New Zealand made history by winning the America’s Cup for the third time in a row in Barcelona last month. This win kicked off a weekend of sporting highs for fans.

Focus on the positive

Opinion

Kate Acland encourages farmers to focus on the good things about the beef and sheep sector.

At a school event recently, I was speaking to another farming woman and she said to me “our sector’s in a strange place, it feels a little fragile”. I think she’s right, we’re taking the hits from weather, product prices and regulation – as farmers have for generations – but it doesn’t feel like we’re bouncing back

Sometimes we get so focused on talking about everything that’s going wrong in our sector, we forget that there is so much that is right.

The recent Beef + Lamb NZ Awards in Hamilton were a celebration of all that is good and great in our sector.

In financially challenging times, we debated whether it was appropriate to hold awards and ask people to travel, but what was clear from the buzz in the room that night was that we are ready for some positivity.

We should focus on celebrating the fact we have some amazing young people entering our sector, like Mitchell Hoare, winner of the B+LNZ Emerging Achiever Award.

He is actively involved in his community, has an absolute determination to achieve his goal of farm ownership and is a force of nature, which gives me confidence he’ll one day own a farm.

Fantastic organisations like Growing Future Farmers put so much energy into attracting and training young people to make them great contributors to our sector.

We should celebrate the people who dedicate their lives to getting better outcomes for our sector, like Ian McIvor, who’s been instrumental in the widespread adoption of poplar planting in our farms with significant downstream environmental benefits.

The New Zealand Farm Environment Trust is run by a network of largely volunteers, they have been elevating the great stories of farming in New Zealand for 20 years. Let’s celebrate these people.

I’ve mentioned only a few of the winners, but every finalist deserves recognition as the calibre of all entries was so high.

Choosing to see the good is something that often needs to be deliberate. When the daily grind of the farm gets too much, it’s so easy to fall into the negative

Instead of focusing solely on the wave of environmental regulation we’re facing, we could choose to direct our attention to the significant progress our farmers have made in protecting waterways, wetlands and native biodiversity.

We can talk about the role our sector plays as environmental custodians – with more than 25% of New Zealand’s native vegetation on sheep and beef farms.

We can discuss the tough financial conditions we’re facing or that the public doesn’t understand our challenges, but what if we put that much energy into telling our own stories, elevating the good?

We attack each other over climate change regulations instead of focusing on the fact we’re among the most emissions-efficient producers of protein in the world and we should be putting our energy into telling that story to the world’s discerning consumers – rather than creating anti-climate-change headlines.

As a sector, we’ve faced some incredibly challenging weather events throughout the country – few regions have escaped in the last few years. As someone who’s been personally affected, it’s been tough

But let’s take the opportunity to celebrate the strength of our rural communities who pulled us through this, the neighbours and friends who ring to check in, the network of locals who are happy to give a day or lend a tractor to a neighbour who’s doing it tougher than them.

We all feel a little fragile at times, but let’s choose to focus on all of the good – the resilience, the generosity and the spirit of our sector that lifts us through the tough times.

Kate Acland is chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand and a mid-Canterbury sheep, beef and dairy farmer.

Dose alldogswho reside near sheep with Praziquantel monthlyoratleast 48 hoursbefore visiting sheep, to preventsheep measles.

Let’s celebrate the amazing young people entering our sector, says Kate Acland. CLARE TOIA-BAILEY

Technipharm makes farmingezy

For more than 30 years, NewZealand-owned company TechniPharm has delivered trusted innovative and proven ‘make farming ezy’ solutions to food and fibre producers of the world, but particularly those in New Zealand and Australia.

The company’s purpose is to ‘make farming ezy’ and create solutions and innovations to make life easier and better on the farm.

“Our focus on this is seen right acrossour systems and the way we do things,” says CEO Harmen Heesen. “Our success can be measured by our client’s success.”

TechniPharm has ateam of specialist product advisors and specialist dealers that are ready to assist wherever you are located.

Thecompany’s brand stands forcredible, innovative,high quality, well-proven products.

TechniPharm also owns many patented designs and registered Trademarks,and has a significant list of product and display awards to its name.

It specialises in the dairy, beef and sheep sectors, with each categoryhaving its own specialised range of product solutions.

For those in the dairy industry, TechniPharm offersa wide rangeofproducts, including the Dungbuster auto yard washing systems, Ecobag and Flexitank effluent storagesolutions, teat sprayers,Dairy Caddy AB Trolley, Hoofcare Handlers, and Dairy Housing Systems.

When it comes to meatand wool producing clients, TechniPharm has areal focus on highperforming handling systems and stock yards. It offers an Infinity custom range of cattle and sheep handlers, Smart Yards, and weigh, draft and performance measuring equipment (EID, Weight, Draft).

“Many of our products have received awards for innovation, both in NewZealand and overseas, which is agood indicator of how the industry has judged the product solutions,” Harmen says.

“Mostproducts are locally obtained and manufactured, or manufactured by recognized quality EU manufacturers, like our Ecobag and Flexitank Roundsystems (internationally certified) and our Dairy Housing systems areall

made in the Netherlands, acountry that, like NewZealand, hasavery high agricultural industry.

“This way our clients get the best of both worlds.”

Many of TechniPharm’s early clients are upgrading the original product solutions they obtained years ago, to the latest designs and performance standards now available.

“In the beef sector we aretrading in older manual cattle handling systems and upgrading these to hydraulic systems,” says Harmen

“A drive towards hydraulics in cattle handling is one of our unique selling points in delivering highperformance to beef farmers.”

In dairy, TechniPharm is seeing asignificant number of upgrades from fresh wash to greenwash.

“Water and labour savingsfor dairy farmers is a must these days,” Harmen says.

“In pond design, we seemore and more farmers being aware of nitrogen losses and greenhouse gases, thus here our closed Ecobag and Flexitank Round provide great solutions.”

The team at TechniPharm are highly experienced and dedicated. They enjoy their on farm connections and the work they carry out.

Full informationcan be found on the website: www.technipharm.co.nz which has recently been completely updated. It now hasa clean, clear look and easy-to-navigate structure that is a great on-farm resource.

“Our website provides new and existing clients ‘ezy’ access to allinformation, ranging from current production information to historical manuals and parts and services manuals,” says Harmen.

“A comprehensive library of related news articles is also storedonsite for clients’ use.”

TechniPharm is open sixdays aweek from 7am to 5pm and its website store is open24/7.

The company’s head office is located in Rotorua with All logistics and manufacturing based in Tauranga and mobile managers around the country

To get in touch with amember of the friendly team at TechniPharm, freephone 0800 80 90 98 or email sales@technipharm.co.nz

Amodern wintering cowhouse in Southland includingRobot Milking

Dungbuster on afarminTePoi.

ECOBAG effluent storage system, Whakatane.Cattle Handler and autodrafter,Hunterville

Stockyards for alarge beefproducer in Waiouru

What’s on

● November 4-28: B+LNZ

B+LNZ Feedsmart workshops: Optimise Your Pasture Performance, various dates and locations

Learn how to assess quality of feed, estimate metabolisable energy and take home some key resources in a supplied toolkit.

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

● November 5-7: Grasslands

New Zealand Grasslands Association Conference, Oamaru

The conference incorporates the New Zealand Society of Animal Production New Zealand Agronomy Society Conferences. The theme for the 2024 conference is ‘Dust to Dollars’, reflecting the changes in the region as a result of irrigation since the last Grasslands conference was held in the area in 1996.

Info at grassland.org.nz/events.php

● November 7: SMASH

Field day: Spotlight On The System, Te Poi

Host Matthew Zonderop is 50:50 sharemilking 370 cows on 140 hectares. Hear about his System 2 operation, where he milks his 2-year-olds 10 in 7 and his whole herd OAD from Christmas, and grows maize and turnips to fill feed deficits. Info at smallerherds.co.nz

● November 7: DairyNZ

How Milking Practices Can Enhance Productivity and Efficiency, Northland

Understand how changes within your milking system can benefit your cows, staff and production while maintaining a profitable dairy business.

Info at dairynz.co.nz/events

● November 7: Dairy Training

Business By The Numbers, online Step through the process of preparing

and monitoring accurate farm budgets to stay on top of farm finances. Have confidence in achieving longer-term goals such as self-employment or growing your farming business.

Info at dairynz.co.nz/events/

● November 11: Dairy Women’s Network DiscoverYourWingman,webinar In this webinar, join co-founders of Wingman Mark and Louise Benns to hear about their journey to Wingman, a game-changing startup with a tailored approach to herd improvement. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● November 12-14:

Agri-Women’s Development Trust

Next Level programme, Hawke’s Bay Next Level, is AWDT’s six-month leadership and governance programme for women. Designed to empower and inspire, Next Level will help you find and foster your strengths, gain clarity on your direction and break through the barriers that hold you back. Info at awdt.org.nz

● November 13: DairyNZ

Farming With ALowerFootprint, Waikato and Northland Farmers attending this event will be able to better analyse their own farms footprint and gain ideas on how to mitigate any environmental issues.

Info at dairynz.co.nz/events

● November 14: B+LNZ

MasseyUniversity,Wiltshire field dayat Riverside Farm,Wairarapa Join Beef + Lamb NZ at Riverside Farm this November. Information will be presented on the results of a multiyear flock study recording production and performance as a flock is transitioned from Romney to a Wiltshire flock.

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

● November 15: Rural Support Trust

Farmer & Grower Golf Tournament, Whakatāne

Swap your gumboots for golf shoes at a Farmer Charity Golf Tournament

Come along to the Whakatāne Golf Club for a fantastic day of golfing, games and giving back. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a newbie, there’s plenty of fun to be had, and all for a great cause.

Info at dairynz.co.nz/events

● November 18, 20 and 21: Meat The Need and Dairy Women’s Network

Meat The Need Long Lunch, Canterbury, Waikato and Taranaki

Catch up with fellow attendees while learning about Meat The Need and the impact in your region, and then learn how to be ‘intelligently lazy’ in the kitchen with Margo Flanagan from The Two Raw Sisters.

Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● November 19: Dairy Women’s Network

Dairy Genetics and Genomics, webinar

With the experts from LIC, designed for those looking to deepen their understanding of the latest advancements in dairy genetics. Info at dwn.co.nz/events

● November 21: Owl Farm Owl Farm Focus Day, Cambridge Topics to be covered: Quality workplace, update from mating, preparing for the summer and cost of calves. Info at owlfarm.nz

● November 22: B+LNZ

The Westpac Osgrow Seed Marlborough Farmer of the Year Winners field day 2024, Muller Station

Attend an incredible day of inspiration, learning and connection

at one of Marlborough’s unique highcountry stations.

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

● November 27: SMASH

Field day- Spotlight On The System, Waikato

Details to be confirmed

Info at Info at smallerherds.co.nz

● B+LNZ

Wormwise workshops, various dates and locations

Farming for profit workshops,various dates and locations

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

● Primary ITO

Various courses,dates and locations

Cost involved Info at primaryito.ac.nz

● Federated Farmers

Managing Risk In Sharefarming, various dates and locations

Learn how to navigate business and individual risks for both sharefarmers and farm owners. Info at fedfarm.org.nz

● Dairy Hoofcare Institute

Lameness Management workshop, various dates and locations

This workshop is designed to give students an overview of issues relating to lameness management and introduce them to trimming process known as the 5-Step Method. Cost involved.

Info at dairyhoofcareinstitute.ac.nz

Registration is essential for many events. Check out the various websites for more events.

Solarwater pumps -good forthe environment andthe bank balance

Farminghasbeenanessentialpartof foodproductionforcenturiesanditis stilloneofthemostimportantsectorsin theNewZealandagriculturalindustry. However,providingadequatewaterfor livestockcanbechallenging,especiallyin remoteareaswhereaccesstoelectricity andwaterislimited.Solarwaterpumps haveemergedasnotjustasustainable solutionforprovidingwaterforstock butareoftennow,duetofallingPVpanel pricesandrisingelectricitycosts,the mostcost-effectiveoptionaswell.

Ifyouhavesunandawatersource,then installingasolarpumpingsolutioncan andprobablywillsaveyoutime,stress, andmoney

Thetwomostcommontypesofsolar pumpsaresubmersibleandsurface, whichasthenamessuggestcaneitherbe placedinabore,dam,creek,orbesidea tankorspring

HereatPerkinzwehavebeenproviding livestockwatersolutionsforfarmersall overNewZealandforyearsandwehave afullrangeofpumpingsolutionsthat caterforanythingfromasmalllifestyle blockwithjustafewsheep,rightup tolargecommercialdairyfarmsand everythinginbetween.

Differentanimalshavedifferentwater requirements,andthewaterneedsofan animalcanvarydependingonitsage, weight,andtheclimate.

Theamountofwaterneededis obviouslydependantonthenumberand typeoflivestock.Forinstance,sheep requirelesswaterthancattle.

Asageneralruleofthumb(doyourown researchonthisasopinionsvary)dairy cattlewilldrinkaround50litresofwater perdayandaround8litresforalactating sheep.Thisdropstoabout30litresfor beefcattleand3to4litresforsheep

Webelieveit’ssensibletoerrontheside ofcautionwithregardstohowmuch wateryouestimateyourequireandwhen dealingwithusweareconservativeon howmuchwaterwestateoursystems willprovideaswehaveneverhada grumpyphonecallfromafarmersaying

heispumpingtoomuchwater. Themainfactorstotakeinwhenlooking atapotentialsolarwaterpumping systemforyoursheeporcattleare: •Heightyouneedthewaterpumped •Distanceyouneedthewaterpumped andpipesize.

•Watersource.E.g.doyouneeda surfaceorsubmersiblepump?

•Waterneededonaveragepersummer day

•Distanceofsolarpanelsfrompump Formoreinformation,ortopurchase, please go to www.perkinz.co.nz

SolarWater Pumps

Solar water pumpinghas always made environmentalsense, now it alsomakes financialsense!

We specialise in solar water pumping solutions for livestock on remoteareas of farms.

We stock surface pumps, borepumps,floating submersible pumps and mobile pumping solutions. We can pump up to 200,000 litres per day or up to 300 metres in height.

For more information, contact Steve... p. 03 471 4776 m. 021 0277 3762 e. steve@perkinz.co.nz

The busy life of beekeepers

Apiculture

Eve Hyslop

From managing disease, to paying close attention to the hum and buzz of a hive, there’s a lot more that goes on in beekeeping than just honey. That work is a collective effort done by hobbyists, scientists, students and commercial beekeepers.

Beekeeping is a rare but enjoyable hobby for many. Dion Mundy, apiculture tutor at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT), is one of those. Hobbyists like himself might keep bees to pollinate their garden and crops or to add another income stream.

“They might be part of a farm and do some beekeeping, maybe some queen rearing, because everyone needs queens and you can sell a queen – that’s a different revenue stream,” Mundy says.

Some have also taken it up as a sidehustle. “I know of one person they used to be a builder and a beekeeper because there’s busy times in the spring and in the autumn for a beekeeper, and they’d do the building in the quieter times,” Mundy says.

There were a range of reasons why people loved working with bees; for Mundy, it was the relaxation the insects gave him.

“Most beekeepers simply just love working with bees They’re fascinating insects to work with and to watch.”

It was the hum and buzz of the insects that relaxed him, which could also give him an indication that the bees weren’t happy.

“I don’t answer my cellphone as I need to concentrate on what I’m doing. Otherwise, the bees tell me about it. The hum of the

bees, when they get upset, the sound changes so you know it’s time to just put those things back, close the hive up, leave the bees alone.”

At NMIT, Mundy tutors students in apiculture, showing them how to build their own hive from scratch. “They learn to put bees into that hive, to care for the hive, to care for the bees, to look out for pests and diseases, to manage those diseases, to extract the honey in February and then prepare that beehive to take home and look after it there.”

Left: Many hands make light work for beekeepers; that includes the hands of scientists, hobbyists and students learning the trick of the trade.

ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF

Below: Scientist Ashley Mortensen,ofPlant&Food Research.

as varroa destructor, it’s a parasite that was first detected in New Zealand in 2000. Once it has entered a hive, you cannot eradicate it, but rather prevent it from causing major damage.

“Unless we’re there managing that parasite, that little sucking mite sucks on the bees and hives will die out,” Mundy says.

Varroa does its damage by the mite feeding on bee larvae, pupae (bees in their early stages of life) and adult bees

After completing a more basic level 2 course, Mundy says that students could study a level 3 course for a more applied, biology-based study. Or they could become a hobbyist, go into commerical production or use their hive to pollinate their crops. Beekeeping doesn’t come without its challenges. The main one facing today’s beekeepers is the infestation of diseases and pests. One of the more prominent diseases that has become a part of everyday beekeeping is the Varroa mite. Also known

The mite is a very small insect, but in relation to a bee, Ashley Mortensen, a scientist at Plant & Food Research, says it would be like having a tick the size of a basketball attached to a human. Miticides and other pesticides are used to control the mite and reduce its impact on the bee colony.

Another disease is American foulbrood (AFB), which is caused by a bacteria that infects larvae in the colony. Once a colony shows symptoms of AFB, it cannot be treated and the hive and entire colony must be destroyed, Mortensen says.

New Zealand does not use antibiotics treat AFB. While this is good for the untouched value of our exports and for minimising antibiotic resistance, it means other methods of mitigation must be found.

Through a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment endeavour programme ‘Adaptable Phage Solutions’, led by the University of Canterbury, Plant & Food Research is studying a new mitigation strategy to stop AFB from entering colonies. This involves a prophylactic treatment which is applied to healthy honey bee colonies to kill AFB before it becomes an active problem.

Dion Mundy, of NMIT, is a keen hobbyist beekeeper

Extreme care needed with chemicals

Four New Zealand farm workers required medical treatment after being exposed to toxic fumes after a hazardous substance leaked from an unmarked, unsuitable container.

The incident has been shared in a safety alert issued by Safer Farms. Safety alerts are real-life documented incidents and key lessons which have been provided by farmers, condensed into onepage handouts that managers can use in safety discussions with their teams.

The incident, shared by a farmer, involved an employee decanting a hazardous substance from its correct storage container into another container

After using this, he left the container with some remaining liquid in a knapsack in an enclosed chemical storeroom which was not used for several days

During this time, the hazardous substance perished the rubber seals and leaked from the container onto the floor where it reacted with other chemical residue.

When other employees noticed

a bad smell coming from the storeroom, they entered it without personal protective equipment (PPE) and were met by a plume of toxic yellow vapour and spill on the floor. At this time, they were unaware of what had been in the knapsack.

They were taken to a medical centre, but medical services were also delayed in being able to treat them due to the container not being correctly labelled.

Chemicals and fuels must be stored in the correct hazardous substances location, according to their Safety Data Sheet requirements, and procedures should be in place for managing emergencies.

The alert underlines the importance of the person in charge ensuring that all people who will be handling chemicals and fuels are provided with suitable safety information and training.

Some chemicals/amount of chemicals require anyone using them to have approved handler certification.

The HSNO hazardous substances calculator can be used to work out

which substances this is needed for. This alert can be used to talk with farm staff about:

■ Never being complacent when working with chemicals. Always wear the required PPE – chemical goggles, face shield and rubber gloves.

■ If decanting chemicals, ensure the true label is fixed to the next container

■ Ensure correct Safety Data Sheets are readily available for substances held and used

■ In the event of a spill, use PPE, secure the area and follow emergency processes

■ Only appropriately trained staff should be accessing and using chemicals.

To view the safety alerts, please see www.farmwithoutharm.org. nz/safety-alerts. Alerts can be printed out for use in training and discussions and there is an option to be emailed when new safety alerts are added.

For further information on working with hazardous substances, please see www.worksafe.govt.nz.

Chemicals can be hazardous, so farmers need to ensure all staff are aware of the correct handling and storing procedures

Scaling up operations for summer harvest

Summer is nearly upon us and with it, orchards will be busy taking on seasonal workers for the busy harvest season ahead. The team at Peninsula take a look at what businesses need to know when employing seasonal workers.

The days are getting longer, the weather is warming up, and fruit growers are recruiting for the summer harvest season. It’s a period ripe with employment opportunities for seasonal workers, but it’s rife with risk for employers if they don’t meet their obligations with fixed-term seasonal agreements.

We spoke to Peninsula New Zealand’s advice team to find out what businesses hiring seasonal workers need to know

What should a seasonal employment contract include?

As the name suggests, seasonal employment is a type of fixed-term employment agreement specifying that employment will conclude at the end of the season.

Seasonal fixed-term employment contracts should stipulate when or how the employment agreement will end and why the employee is being hired for seasonal

employment

The work should be genuinely seasonal and work that is continuous throughout the year.

Additionally, the contracts should include wages, hours, public holiday rates, rest and meal breaks, health and safety requirements, as well as sick, holiday and bereavement leave.

It’s common for businesses to bring back seasonal workers from previous years, as they are already familiar with operations and have existing experience, so there’s less time and money that needs to be spent on training them up.

In cases like this, seasonal employment can become a rolling fixed-term employment where the worker is re-hired at the start of every season.

Main: Although

Inset:

How do seasonal working entitlements differ to that of other employees?

Although seasonal employment is, by definition, temporary, seasonal employees are still entitled to the same working rights as permanent employees.

This includes being paid the minimum adult working wage, which applies to all employees working in New Zealand aged 16 and older. For an adult, the minimum wage before tax is $23.15 an hour, $185.20 for an 8-hour day, $926 for a 40-hour week, and $1852 for an 80-hour fortnight.

For someone starting out or in training, the minimum wage is $18.52 per hour, $148.16 for an 8-hour day, $740.80 for a 40-hour week, and $1481.60 for an 80-hour fortnight

A seasonal employee’s entitlements should not be confused with those of a casual employee. A seasonal employee will be clear of the workload for the period they are employed. Casual employees, on

the other hand, are employed on an ad hoc basis and have no expectation of regular and ongoing work. Therefore, a casual employment contract should not be used for seasonal employees Businesses that do so risk opening themselves up to noncompliance with industrial relations laws

Where do piece rates come into play?

A piece rate is an optional commission payment that employers may introduce, whereby they pay employees based on the pieces worked on. In fruit picking, piece rates are often introduced as an incentive to speed up harvesting, as workers can earn more money based on how many pieces of fruit they pick.

It’s important to remember that if you’re paying a seasonal worker piece rates, you must still pay them at least the minimum wage. This means that even if an employee doesn’t pick enough fruit to meet the minimum wage, they must still be paid it

If you introduce piece rates in your business, the first step is to calculate fair piece rate payments Employees should then complete timesheets for hours worked and piece rates payable – the piece rate can then contribute to the minimum wage.

Paying employees on piece rates is done in the same manner as any other employee. This could be on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis, depending on what the employment agreement states

Ensure you keep accurate time and wage records, as failure to provide minimum wage to an employee on piece rates is a simple mistake which can lead to action from the Employment Relations Authority.

It’s wise to seek professional advice before engaging seasonal workers to help meet your obligations under New Zealand employment law.

The food and farming sectors are connected in many ways, and the students at Rangiora High School set out to prove that, writes Eve Hyslop.

If you look out of a classroom window at Rangiora High School (RHS), you’ll see sheep and cattle grazing in a nearby paddock. Look even closer and you’ll see the school’s own students feeding the livestock, and hear the stock being whistled into yards.

The 26-hectare farm has 60 romneycorriedale cross sheep donated by the New Zealand Sheep Breeders Association, as well as lowline cattle and one lowline bull for breeding donated by local breeders Kay and the late Philip Worthington.

The farm is a unique selling point for the students, being the only school with a farm in North Canterbury. It has a woolshed, cattle yards, grazing paddocks, cropping, sheep yards and ATV training.

Students Emily Pye, Harry Parish and Samara Van Wyk are three of the students-turned-farmers who are likely to be New Zealand’s next generation of farming professionals.

Pye wants to complement her love for the sector with her passion for helping others, while following her interest in law to become an agricultural lawyer. Parish is set on attending Lincoln University to study “anything to do with farming”

Van Wyk wants to pair her science studies with her keenness to work with livestock to become an agricultural vet.

Tanya Van Wyk, mother of Samara, says that the farm was the main reason Samara chose to attend RHS Coming from a small farming community in Cust, just north of Rangiora, it was a great opportunity to continue a passion that was in her roots.

“It’s opened up different kinds of opportunities for her. She’s learned so much about the agriculture sector at school,” Tanya Van Wyk says.

The student-farmers showcased their hard work on the farm at a paddock-toplate evening in collaboration with the school’s hospitality and international students. Flavours from around the world were plated up, using sirloin, rump and mince sourced from a lowline cow that the students selected themselves after studying

the breed for the past three years.

“They’re good foragers on grass land and good at feed conversion So they had good meat marbling which is called for in higher end consumer products,” Parish says.

“They’re not exactly designed to go into your minces and burgers but more so steaks We breed steaks, not hamburgers.”

“Lowlines have the best meat to bone ratio. So for their size, they have a wider structure, but they’re not the biggest of all the beef breeds which leaves room for a bigger meat consumption and more cuts than you would with other breeds.

“We were looking at the fat quality as well. If we’ve got a cow that’s too fat, then they’ll have more fat than meat so that marbling is imbalanced,” Pye says.

Dishes inspired by many cuisines were prepared by the hospitality and international students. Examples include roasted sirloin on sourdough with horseradish and gherkins, a deconstructed rump kebab, beef noodle stir fry and sliders made with mince.

The head of foods at RHS, Robyn McGrath, says the department jumped at the idea of collaborating with the agriculture students, especially as the high cost of living had hiked meat prices recently. “We were always in favour, because I’m from a rural background and we always have homekill so I knew it would be amazing meat.”

It also gave their international students a chance to produce a taste from their homes. “We’ve got that mix of Kiwi food and international food so it’s worked out exactly how we thought it would,” she says.

“It’s amazing to see it being used by the international students that come over and get a taste of the New Zealand products,” Pye says.

While the agriculture students weren’t plating up the food in the kitchen, they did all the important steps beforehand in the paddock. That started with feeding the cattle the right amount of feed with the correct nutrients, and extended to keeping their health in check with drenching, weighing and vaccinating, right up to separating the cows for breeding or culling.

“We got all of our breeding stock into the yard and chose the ones with the best structure, feet and legs and the best maternal traits,” year 11 student Parish says.

While the students had the best cut of meat in mind, the genetics of the herd were also as important. “It’s the whole thing of slowly increasing your genetic value,” Parish adds.

“It’s about creating a better bloodline

Pupils take learning from the paddock to the plate

and making the lowline breed more pronounced,”Van Wyk says.

Seeing the work they’d done come to a true end product was a unique feeling for the students, and something they realised wouldn’t be offered at any other school in North Canterbury.

It was even better to know the food was freshly farmed on Kiwi soils, Pye said.

“Quite a lot of New Zealand’s products are exported, but the fresh produce that hasn’t been frozen and sent over is actually the best and it’s really cool to see everyone utilising and enjoying it.”

An even more rewarding part of the paddock to plate evening was for them to see the hospitality and agricultural

departments come together.

They said it was easy to forget that farmers, producers and culinary professionals were connected in some way, so it was important for them to see how the food and fibre sector played out in real life.

“This paddock-to-plate initiative is the best thing you can do to get the two faculties working together which are deeply connected, but never see anything of each other,” Parish says.

It also helped them give as many of their peers as possible a slice of agriculture.

“That was our goal at the start of the year, to connect the school to the farm because we want to incorporate as many students as we can,” Pye says.

From left, Victor Tyson, Ramashka Tuboltsey, Samara Van Wyk, Emily Pye, John Lundy and Harry Parish are all agriculture students at Rangiora High School. EVE HYSLOP/NZFARMER

The school farm allows agriculture students like Samara Van Wyk to bring their love for farming and agriculture into their education. EVE HYSLOP/NZFARMER

John Lundy has learnt the ropes of crutching a sheep at the school’s woolshed.

EVE HYSLOP/NZFARMER

Simone back in feed wagon

A Northland woman was getting her business off the ground when she suffered a major setback.

By Steve Macmillan.

What started out as a parttime gig, rapidly became a fulltime job that a Northland woman now juggles with her original fulltime job. Paparoa-based Feed2U is the only animal feed delivery business that delivers from Warkworth in the south to Te Hapua, near Cape Reinga

But for Simone Frewin, her dream business almost ended before it had fully begun. On November 15, 2023, the Paparoa woman had an ATV accident which left her badly injured. Her pelvis was smashed into eight pieces (with four large fractures) and she also blew the AC joint in her left shoulder.

A couple of Northland Rescue Helicopter rides later (first to Whangārei Hospital and then Auckland Hospital), two surgeons carefully pieced Frewin’s pelvis back together and secured them with plates and screws so the long process of healing could begin.

That included a lengthy stint of bedrest, wearing nappies, four weeks in a wheelchair and a further four weeks learning to walk again with a walking frame. That was followed by a couple of weeks of alternating between a wheelchair, walking frame and crutches while she slowly regained strength movement.

While Frewin still has a shoulder operation to go and is in constant pain, her attitude is amazing. She is hugely positive about life, has made massive strides in her healing and is even back riding her beloved horse – slowly.

“We simply cannot be without our Northland Rescue Helicopters. It’s non-negotiable in rural Northland when we are so far away from everything and there are so few first responders available. It saves lives – there is absolutely no doubt about it,” says Frewin.

“My customers wouldn’t let me close. About 10 of them got together and proposed a Givealittle page –which I asked them not to do – while also offering to pay in advance for their orders so I could buy stock in It was unbelievable and incredibly humbling, with customer even becoming my delivery ver while I was incapacitated.”

That driver took the wheel of Frewin’s $900 deliveryvan called Wix, originally purchased because she reckoned it was ugly and would attract attention on the road. It has turned out to be fuel-efficient.

“After my accident, I had an excruciating 45-minute wait for these guys and an even more excruciating ambulance ride down ourvery corrugated, potholed gravel road to meet them!

“I hate to imagine how much longer and how much worse it would have been if the Northland Rescue Helicopter hadn’t been there for me – not once but twice.

A year on, Frewin is paying tribute to her loyal clientele for keeping her business dream alive as she rehabilitated and got mobile again. She had started the business with just $10,000 and a $900 delivery van – less than a year before her accident – stocking New Zealand made and owned animal feed brands.

“I was having to close due to my accident and a ‘grain mite’ infestation which wiped out $14k worth of stock,” explains Frewin.

“We couldn’t sustain our delivery prices with anything else and Wix even has a fan club. Followers get to play ‘Where’s Wix?’ on Facebook. I take photos of Wix in picturesque Northland spots and customers guess where she is for the chance to win free delivery.”

Frewin now juggles Feed2U with her original full time job at Bulbs Direct in Paparoa.

“Our role is to help people who are struggling to find a way to feed their animals, which is why we have Afterpay and offer discounted feed subscriptions Not all horse people are rich, especially not in Northland

“It was envisaged that Feed2U would only be part-time thing to cover the quiet, seasonal periods at Bulbs Direct. Initially, I was only going to deliver to the Kaipara

with just $10,000 and a $900 delivery van. When she had her accident, she had to close, but customers rallied around her and helped to keep the business going.

region, but Kayne, my boss at Bulbs Direct, encouraged me to think bigger and deliver to the whole of Northland.

“Feed delivery has been a game-changer for those who live in the ‘wops’ and don’t want to spend the money travelling into town. We give them access to brands they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Feed2U is big on supporting local in other ways too.

“We support Northland animal charities with a donation from our ‘specials’ each month. So far, we’ve supported Bay of Islands Animal Rescue, Donna Doolittle’s, the Animal Sanctuary, Cow Care and a couple of private rescues.

“We also donate to the Northland Rescue Helicopters as a very small thank you for everything they did for me. We sponsor Northland equestrian events and recently sponsored feed for two Kaimanawa horses from the 2024 muster which competed at Equifest in October.

“We’re not out to make a fortune, we’re out to make a difference. The more support we get from customers, the more we can donate to charities that really need it. Because we don’t have a shop with overheads, we can keep our prices low

“Our catchphrase is: ‘It’s all in the delivery!’ Both literally and figuratively, we strive to go the extra mile. I want my customers to have the level of service that I would want and expect as a customer.”

Paparoa woman Simone Frewin runs Feed2U, an animal feed delivery business, while working fulltime at Bulbs Direct.

STEVE MACMILLAN

Simone Frewin started the business

STEVE MACMILLAN

Simone Frewin’s ATV accident left her badly injured with a smashed pelvis and blown AC joint in her left shoulder

Growing its people and orchards ‘for a wider vision’

A horticulture development by post-settlement governance entity Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa has brought more jobs and opportunities to Wairoa.

By Eve Hyslop

Alongside the Wairoa Awa, 48 hectares of apple orchards proudly stand, reflecting the work done by Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa and the kāhui (hapū collectives) within it.

Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa is a postsettlement governance entity formed after Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) settlement process.

As part of its settlement fund, the entity has sough to develop Wairoa’s horticulture operations and upskill the next generation through its horticulture branch, Tātau Tātau Horticulture, or Haumako.

Since investment in 2021, Haumako has plante 48ha of apple trees across two properties in Wairoa, created 19 fulltime and 15 casual jobs and contributed $900,000 in salaries to the Wairoa community.

Almost

“It sort of ticked all those boxes for us to be able to utilise our land, employ our people, and then create some money while we do it,” says Haumako general manager Robin Kaa (Rongomaiwahine, Te Aitanga-aMāhaki).

The development is one of many initiatives carried out with the consultation of kāhui and whānau of Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa.

There are seven kāhui within Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa, each with a representative who make up the trust’s board of directors. The board meets quarterly to discuss projects like the horticulture development and other interests.

“As part of anything that we do, we make engagements with not only mana whenua but whānau. If everyone knows what’s going on and can have their say, then we can continue to move forward,” Kaa says. It also means Haumako is able to alleviate any concerns that whānau may have regarding the taiao (environment) surrounding their orchards.

“Whānau have a lot of questions around the taiao, understandably. Like ‘What are you doing about your soil tests, and what’s the state of our river, what’s the state of your runoff?’,” Kaa says.

She says that about 95% of those within the seven groups whakapapa (descend) back to Wairoa and are beneficiaries to the settlement, so it is important they have a say on funded projects like the horticulture development.

Spray drift is one particular concern Kaa and her team are sure to mitigate in order

to consider kāhui concerns and the taiao

“We’re going to use precision spraying to target those pests. We’ll only spray when we need to.”

Kaa says the team will monitor and assess the condition of its orchards and consult surrounding neighbours.

“There is a lot of mahi and a lot of consultation around that spray. We don’t just show up and just decide today we’re going to spray. We notify our neighbours, they have the ability to ring me and say, ‘Look, I am actually getting some spray drift’.”

With the whitebait season well underway, Kaa says they’re sure to protect the awa (river) by following mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge) practices.

“It’s like taiao monitoring, which is a mix of Western science and mātauranga Māori practices where, at the turn of each season, we go out and test all our tail drains and the awa.”

Before applying fertiliser, Kaa says they check the forecast for rain, as a heavy

downpour would risk runoff of the sediment into the river.

The collective values that guide the operation also oversee Haumako’s cadetship programme, which provides training for rangatahi (young people) in horticulture.

Such values include manaakitanga (hospitality and generosity), rangatiratanga (chieftainship), tiakitanga (guardianship), whanaungatanga (relationship) and wairuatanga (spirituality)

The cadets are trained in the basics of pruning, thinning and picking, all the way through to more complex orchard management skills.

It’s not these skills on which the cadets are most heavily graded, however, it’s on the values that guide Haumako.

“You might be the best pruner, the best tractor driver and the best apple picker But if you’re not showing manaakitanga to your fellow employees or co-workers, you’ll be rated lower,” Kaa says.

The cadetship will not only allow Haumako to enhance the capability of its

orchard management, but also instil a sense of resilience in its cadets for their future careers

“It's about growing our people for a wider vision as well, not just for our own business.”

With the apple trees yet to reach full growth for a substantial yield, Kaa says the focus is on producing the highest-quality crop.

“We’re just going to focus on delivering a high-quality crop because it takes about five to six years before we start to see an actual return. So even though we’ve planted them and last year was our first commercial crop, we’re still only at 30% production.

“As the trees grow, it will increase. But, at this stage, we’re just trying to ensure we’ve done all the hard work.”

Haumako is also looking to develop its own IP brand of fruit and diversify its crops so that it can keep its staff employed for 12 months of the year.

“We have peak seasons where we require a whole lot of labour, and then we have downtimes during the winter.

“It’s about trying to find crops that fit within those down periods for us that will grow well here and wide, or that market well.”

Both orchards sit alongside the Wairoa Awa, and Haumako is restricted in how much freshwater it can take due to the river being tidal. This is the case especially from November to January, when the tide is too high and less freshwater is available.

“Where we actually are on the river is tidal. So we have salt in our water, which means we can only take freshwater from the surface.”

In response, Haumako is building water storage so it can store available freshwater and irrigate when required. “We can’t rely on it, so we have to be able to get it out of our water storage.”

It’s also working with Plant & Food Research to include companion plantings around the orchards and river, and to understand more about pest and disease mitigation.

Horticulture is well suited to Hawke’s Bay conditions, something Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa recognised with its orchard development

The operations of Haumako and its cadetship programme are both guided by collective Māori values.

50 hectares of apple trees have been planted over two properties in Wairoa and $900,000 in salaries has been added to the community.

TĀTAU TĀTAU O TE WAIROA

Robin Kaa, general manager of Tātau Tātau Horticulture, or Haumako.

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