NZFarmer North Island - 14 November 2023

November 2023

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Hickey hits the road for charity

North Waikato dairy farmer and Meat The Need champion Colin Hickey is blown a kiss by daughter Mikayla as he sets off on his “Hickey Tour” to Lincoln in the South Island for The Big Feed telethon on December 14. Along the way, he’ll hitch rides with rural trucking companies and call in on farmers and others to raise awareness of the charity while collecting donations. Story, page 10 NICOLA HICKEY

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November 2023

NZ Farmer News 3

Updated all day at

M bovis eradication cost queried Louisa Steyl

T

he country’s Mycoplasma bovis eradication programme is moving into a new phase, but a Southland dairy farmer still questions whether the costs to farmers have been worth it.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has announced that the programme to eradicate the cattle disease from the national herd will be managed by Ospri (Operational Solutions for Primary Industries), a non-profit company, from next month. The ministry, with programme partners Beef + Lamb New Zealand and DairyNZ, will monitor progress.

Kelvan Smith, an independent chairperson of the M bovis governance group, said Ospri’s role would include testing farms, managing a current active confirmed property in Canterbury and any newly detected farms, cleaning and disinfection, and farmer support.

“MPI will retain non-operational aspects of the programme, including compensation,

Southland dairy farmer Jason Herrick says many farmers have suffered mental health challenges as a result of losing their herds to Mycoplasma bovis. STUFF

and any necessary compliance action.

We expect farmers to notice very little difference from current operations,” he said.

M bovis levies will not be increased.

The government agreement with Beef + Lamb NZ and DairyNZ will remain in place until the National Pest Management Plan is established. Submissions on a proposed pest management plan recently closed, and a final proposal will be presented to the Government in early 2024 so the plan can be in place by the middle of the year.

Since the programme’s inception in 2018, the number of infected farms had fallen to very low levels, Smith said. A total of 280 farms have been cleared to date – 70 in the North Island and 210 in the South Island – while more than 3.3 million tests have been carried out.

As of October 26, there was only one infected property, in Canterbury. Once it had been cleared, the programme would move into a “provisional absence” stage of intensive surveillance for about 2½ years

before New Zealand would make a formal case to international bodies to prove it had eradicated the disease.

However, Southland dairy farmer Jason Herrick said New Zealand should learn to live with the bacterial disease as it has done with bovine tuberculosis, leptospirosis and bovine viral diarrhoea. “New Zealand farmers adapt to things really quickly. M bovis, in my opinion, is no different.”

Herrick argued that the human cost – the emotional and financial impact of losing whole herds of cattle to one or two infections – was not worth the financial reward.

He also didn’t believe the disease would ever be fully eradicated from New Zealand shores.

New Zealand’s eradication programme is the first in the world, with a pricetag of $870 million.

Former M bovis programme director Stuart Anderson previously said the cost of letting the virus spread would have been far higher – causing $1.3 billion in lost productivity in the first 10 years alone. ■

Who will be NZ’s new agriculture minister?

Louisa Steyl

T

here will be at least 10 MPs swapping their stubbies for suits on the regular when New Zealand’s Government is formed.

While the National Party will be spoilt for choice when picking its minister of agriculture, spokesperson Todd McClay wouldn’t be drawn on who that might be.

“National first has to form a government and appoint ministers. Following that, appointed ministers will meet with government department heads and start the process of putting our policies and plans in place,” he said.

The party’s first priority would be tackling the cost-of-living crisis, which would help farmers suffering from rising costs, McClay added.

The Rotorua MP’s own background is in trade and tourism, but Rangitīkei MP Suze Redmayne, Northland MP Grant McCallum,

Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick, Ilam MP Hamish Campbell, Taranaki King Country MP Barbara Kuriger, Kaikōura MP Stuart Smith, and Waikato MP Tim van de Molen are all farmers or growers.

Notably, McCallum has served as a member of the Bluegreens executive since 2001, and served as vice-president of the Northern branch of Federated Farmers, while Anderson has served on the Federated Farmers board and as chair of its Meat and Wool Industry Group, and Butterick has been an executive member of the Wairarapa Water Users group and Wairarapa Federated Farmers.

Kuriger is a former board member of DairyNZ, Primary ITO, Taratahi, Dairy Women’s Network and NZ Young Farmers, was 2012’s Dairy Woman of the Year and was made a fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Directors in 2014.

Smith has served as president of the New Zealand Grape Growers Council and

chair of New Zealand Winegrowers, and was subsequently inducted as a fellow of the New Zealand Winegrowers Board for services to the industry. Van de Molen was named the 2012 Australasian Rural Ambassador before winning the 2013 NZ Young Farmer of the Year award.

There’s also Selwyn MP Nicola Grigg, with experience in the agritech and agribusiness field when she was a portfolio manager at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and list MP Nicola Willis, who held a number of senior management roles at Fonterra before entering politics.

If National is willing to hand the role of agriculture minister to its coalition partners, ACT list MP Andrew Hoggard is already a well-known name, having served as the national president of Federated Farmers and as a board member of the International Dairy Federation.

Hoggard said his party wanted to restore farmer confidence, and support farmers by

getting rid of the red tape.

Fellow ACT list MP Mark Cameron, from Northland, said farmers should be allowed to get back to what they do best if the country wanted a return to a prosperous future and a productive economy.

“ACT has identified numerous examples of red tape and regulation that will need to be addressed by the next Government,” he said, listing examples such as RMA reform, Te Mana o te Wai in freshwater regulations, and emissions pricing.

Should NZ First be brought into the fold, list MP Mark Patterson might also be an option. The Otago sheep and beef farmer chaired Otago Federated Farmers from 2021 to 2023 and says his first priority will be “sorting through the plethora of regulations the last Government foisted on agriculture”.

All three parties campaigned heavily on farming issues, promising to give regional councils more say on regulations and offer streamlined approval processes. ■

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November 2023

From the Editor Contents 03 Ag Minister role Who will it be?

10

Feeding our nation Meat The Need helping to feed families in need

13

Genetic modification Time for a rethink

21

Rural-urban divide Research shows it not as big as we think

29 Innovative technology

New tech to boost emissions reduction effort

Let’s do this

32 Beef + Lamb NZ

Award winners are the best of the best

40 Glamping in style Where to stay

Contact us NZ FARMER EDITOR Sonita Chandar 027 446 6221 sonita.chandar@stuff.co.nz DESIGN Kwok Yi Lee Sam Davenport

Sonita Chandar EDITOR

I

n the lead-up to the election, the cost of living was a big issue for political parties and often fiercely debated. The election is over, the results are in and we have a new Government. We are yet to see what initiatives this new Nationalled coalition will implement to ease the burden facing ordinary Kiwis every day.

National, ACT and NZ First each have a range of policies on how to reduce the cost of living, so how these will combine or work together will be an interesting watch.

However, they do share the same view that government expenditure needs to decrease.

It has been widely reported that, for many, choices have to be made and in many cases, cutting the costs of their grocery bill has been high on the list of cutbacks. Charities and community organisations such as foodbanks are doing the best they can to help as demand for their services has soared 165% in the past few years. The cost of living does not appear to be easing in the short term.

Times are tough for farmers as well, and

COVER PHOTO Nicola Hickey HEAD OF REGIONAL & RURAL MARKETS Kate Boreham 021 279 5361 kate.boreham@stuff.co.nz

estimates show more than 50% of dairy farmers and sheep and beef farmers are making losses this year.

Despite this, history has proven that the farming community has always been generous and its members are known for looking out for each other and their wider community. Especially in tough times.

That is why we need your help, New Zealand, to put food on the tables of those who are struggling to feed their family proper nutritious meals.

The farmer-led charity Meat The Need is a great example of the rural community showing support for others. Set up in 2020

by Siobhan O’Malley and Wayne Langford, I always felt that O’Malley’s quote below summed it up perfectly. It will no doubt resound with many Kiwis.

“Both Wayne and I are food producers, we felt New Zealand produces so much food for so many millions around the world, but it’s never sat well with us that there are so many people in New Zealand who go hungry. Surely, there’s something we can do.”

As producers of the best proteins in the world, they are the lucky ones who have easier access to protein than most and

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probably positioned best to donate to Meat The Need.

And I am well aware that while times are tough all round, we can all band together, dig deep and support The Big Feed telethon on December 14. There is so much we can do rather than a straight donation. Put that No 8 wire mentality to work and come up with creative ways to get your teams involved. It’s not difficult, only takes a little time and effort yet it will make a huge impact on the lives of so many.

So come New Zealand, let’s do this. Get in behind, get busy and let’s do whatever we can to ensure the The Big Feed is the biggest and best rural telethon ever. We can do it. We can help make a difference. Let’s help feed the nation. ■ Get in touch with us at nzfarmer@stuff.co.nz

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November 2023

NZ Farmer Letters to the Editor 5

Updated all day at

More, please ... our readers respond

I

am delighted to see poking out of the sheaf of rural publications in my letterbox a familiar orange masthead.

The return of NZ Farmer has reawakened many happy memories.

Congratulations on producing a quality newspaper with a refreshingly positive attitude, an antidote to the negativism about rural life in mainstream media. Sure, it isn’t the best of times, but farmers want advice on how to weather the storms, financial and meteorological, from industry experts, to read in detail of other farmers’ experiences and to discover what scientific advances are in the pipeline. You have delivered this. More, please.

Thank you for once again being our happy place.

Jon Morgan, Te Horo Beach

Have your say Letters to the editor are welcome and should not be more than 250 words.

If you have an opinion you would like to share or ideas of what you would like to read in future issues of NZ Farmer, get in touch with us at: nzfarmer@stuff.co.nz

Welcome back NZ Farmer!

NOOM KITTIPONG

What a pleasant surprise to see NZ Farmer back in my letterbox last week. I always enjoyed it in its previous form, but this new and revamped NZFarmer promises even more of the good stuff.

The newspaper featured a great mix of articles, from ‘people’ stories to advice articles, while still making sure the industry’s important issues are covered.

There’s nothing else like it on the market; it covers all facets of farming in New Zealand, but has plenty of sport, lifestyle, travel and real estate features to keep you going all week.Well done, NZ Farmer team – and it’s wonderful to see you back.

Anne Clarke, Whakatane

Looking forward to more I am already looking forward to future publications after the first issue of the NZ Farmer because it has been gone too long.

It was a staple read for so many Kiwis for well over a century.

In the future, I would like to increasingly see articles ‘outside the square’ so to speak.

Yarns that differentiate NZ Farmer from other rural publications.

A total and independent New Zealandonly look into the ‘real’ realities of climate change and where New Zealand really stands in this would be appreciated in issues to come.

I say this because I believe pockets of New Zealand, like Northland, are truly carbon positive due to the solid environmental farming practices that have been adopted over the decades.

We should remember this and the fact that many regions are different in climate, land use and production.

Farmers are renowned for fencing off waterways and gullies to protect their

life-long investment, their land and nature … for the benefit of current and future generations. I heard Shane Jones speak recently and I believe that he as climate change minister could bring some fresh and practical perspective to the discussion.

Finally, to have consistent editorial space in a national farming publication such as NZ Farmer, whereby farmers could be given column space to showcase some of their quick-fix (and longer-term) innovations, would be a welcome monthly read.

There must be so many examples.

Well done, team, on your first issue back.

Alex Macmillan, Northland ■

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November 2023

6 NZ Farmer

Opinion

‘Oldies’take to the field for fundraiser Main: The teams and supporters after the charity rugby game for Farmstrong at Halcombe.

Inset: From left, Andrew Stewart, wife Kylie and youngest daughter Charlotte after the match.

DAVE LINTOTT

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.

T

he second most important game of rugby in October was arguably played in the small Manawatū town of Halcombe. After a couple of local lads came up with the idea for a Farmstrong fundraising game for over-40s, the challenge was thrown down to nearby Hunterville, whose proud rugby club accepted the challenge.

And so it was that two groups of middle-aged blokes, including myself, found themselves running and training in preparation for the big game.

As a 40-something farmer, it is very easy to find yourself slipping to the bottom of ever-increasing demands. Not only does the modern Kiwi farmer have their work cut out for them in their occupation of choice, but many choose to selflessly offer themselves outside the farm gate. Rural communities rely on the goodwill of volunteers to get stuff done, and in many cases, that workload is picked up willingly by local farmers.

Likewise, many of us are active parents as well, devoting countless hours to helping coach, transport, cook and wash for our families as we should. But farmers can be guilty of choosing not to do things for themselves, myself included.

And let’s not sugarcoat it, rural mental health is not in a good place. There is increasing financial pressure from skyrocketing interest rates, our commodity values have dropped substantially, and we have had a barrage of bureaucracy over the past few years. And let’s not forget about the challenges Mother Nature throws at us. So getting some exercise and engaging in some banter over beers afterwards was a great break from the daily grind.

That’s where Farmstrong is making a real difference with events like this,

their fantastic wellbeing resources and the recently created Surfing For Farmers programme, which is coming to a beach near you over summer.

The importance of getting off the farm and doing something different can have a massive positive effect when times are tough, and I encourage anyone to schedule this time into their calendar.

The overwhelming sentiment from people I talked to leading up to the game, apart from the players, was negative. “What are you thinking?’’, ‘‘you’re f@#ing mad’’, and ‘‘you’re going to get hurt” were the three most common statements.

But for me, it was about weighing up the risks and rewards. I felt I was in reasonable physical shape, still had the skills and attitude needed, and I relished the chance of playing one more game for a club I have been a part of for 30 years. So although the threat of injuries was real, the prospect of being involved with something special with my mates far outweighed the risks involved.

These over-the-hill farmers played with a physicality, intensity and skillset that both entertained and excited the spectators. It was an even contest, with the final score only separating the teams by one converted

try. Although we were victorious, both teams won on the day and it was a real sense of brotherhood.

Although many of us Hunterville boys had played together before, one of the most rewarding parts was the fact that players from other local clubs turned up to join the teams, despite being rivals in a previous life.

This camaraderie is typical of rugby players around the globe; happy to smash each other physically during a game but equally happy to share a beer after. The friends, families and strangers that made up the 1000-strong crowd witnessed something special and nearly $10,000 was raised to go towards Farmstrong.

But probably more importantly, a group of 60-odd blokes got together and had the time of their lives enjoying something they love. In terms of a re-match, well, we will just have to wait and see. But it is certainly a community event I would love to see replicated around the country. The cuts, bumps and bruises may have taken a long time to heal, but the memories we created will last a lifetime and that is priceless.

For more on Surfing For Farmers or mental health resources, visit: farmstrong.co.nz

Pondering a bit more about a Point Soil scientist Doug Edmeades digs a little deeper into what he says is the decline of the pastoral sector.

H

allelujah, one of Léonard Cohen’s most famous songs, begins: “I heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord ...” etc. This line came to mind because of the feedback I received from my last column, Pondering A Point. It seems that it struck a chord. Given this, I thought I would go digging a little deeper.

Recall the issue: it appears that while there have been some gains in plant genetics, selection and breeding in the last few decades, these benefits have not been captured at the farm level. Instead, the major factor driving pasture productivity over the period is fertiliser N. How and why have we become so addicted to using so much fertiliser N on our clover-based pasture system?

The competitive advantage that our pastoral sector has traditionally enjoyed and relied upon, has been the all-yearround grazing of clover-based pastures.

This being so, you would think that growing this advantage, or at least maintaining it,

would be centre of mind for everyone in the pastoral sector. But this, it seems, is not the case. Have we lost the plot?

This has not happened overnight, and no doubt there are multiple reasons. The science reforms of the last 30 years have gutted agricultural science and hence there is now a dearth of fundamental, public-good research in all the agricultural research disciplines, including plant genetics and breeding.

We now have a cohort of young farm consultants who would not know or recognise a good pasture even if they fell into one. What do you mean that a good pasture contains 30-40% clover? What do you mean clover can add, essentially for free, up to 200kg N/ha per year to the soil? What do you mean the fertiliser programme should be directed to getting the clover growing? What do you mean that clover is a better feed for ruminants relative to grasses? What do you mean the marginal cost of a kilogram of cloverbased pasture dry matter is only 4-5 cents

compared to crops (15-20 cents) There was a time when it was and supplements (30-40 cents)? understood that applying Why weren’t we told all this too much fertiliser N could stuff earlier? actually result in depressions In brief, there is today a in pasture production. lack of understanding and There was a time when appreciation of these simple research organisations biological principles of oozed leadership. Not now. clover-based pastures.

We have five farm-systems There was a time when and it is up to you to choose fertiliser N was a tactical what is best, subject only to input to fill in predicted feed the vanities of the discussion shortages. Now it is hardwired group.

Soil scientist Doug into the farming system, I want to finish at the start Edmeades says that thanks to a generation of by modifying the first verse of although gains have been farm consultants wedded to Cohen’s song by inserting the made in plant genetics and their FarmMax models, or word “science” for “music” as breeding, these have not worse, wanting their clients in: “I heard there was a secret been captured on farms. to be seen at the top of the chord that David played and production, not productivity, it pleased the Lord, but you stakes. don’t really believe in science, do you?’’

There was a time when farmers’ incomes were totally reliant on the production of Disclaimer: The views and opinions their clover-based pastures. Now, they can expressed in these columns are not fudge it with fertiliser N and supplements. necessarily those of Stuff.

November 2023

NZ Farmer 7 Opinion

Updated all day at

Kiwi farmers lead the world

New Zealand is world-leading in animal welfare and has a good reputation on the global stage but needs to continue working hard to maintain and protect it. By Kate Acland.

L

ast month, I completed a whirlwind trip to our beef and lamb markets in Europe, meeting farmers, processors, regulators and attending the World Meat Congress. What struck me is that, while the environment is still important, the speed of the implementation of environmental initiatives like the European Union’s Green Deal has slowed recently. The focus has shifted to food security as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the flow-on impact that has had on critical food exports.

Conversations about sustainable agriculture also place the same level of importance on animal welfare and food security as the environment and climate.

The environmental focus includes water, biodiversity and carbon, but increasingly it is about producing the most emissionefficient food with an emphasis on improving productivity and efficiency to tie in with food-security goals.

The reputation of red meat was widely discussed at the World Meat Congress.

This is a global challenge that requires collaboration and co-operation. Animal welfare standards and the assurance programmes that sit behind them are seen as critical by retailers and regulators.

New Zealand is in a good position on animal welfare and has an excellent reputation globally. The NZ Farm Assurance Programme includes animal welfare. This is world-leading and therefore provides a strong framework for responding to where things are at in this space. We need to capitalise on our strong position, with almost all of our sheep and beef farms covered by the programme, to tell this story internationally.

A priority of my visit was to get a sense of what countries plan to do to manage agricultural emissions and broaden the understanding of the warming impact

“

The focus should be on setting up a trusted agricultural emissions measurement and benchmarking framework.’’ of methane. There was a reasonable understanding of Global Warming Potential metric among the officials and farming groups I met with. Some like the National Farmers’ Union in England actively promote it but New Zealand is far more advanced. We need to continue to push this conversation at all levels.

I also found, in many of our meetings and discussions with farmer groups from the United Kingdom, Ireland and France, that the focus was on improving their efficiency emissions effi ciency to produce food with a lower carbon footprint, rather than lowering total emissions from agriculture.

Again, New Zealand is in a strong position here due to our efficiency, but the rest of the world is chasing production efficiency hard and governments are incentivising farmers to do so. We must keep working to improve, and investing in science to give us the solutions we need.

So, what is our responsibility as farmers?

Do we need to reduce emissions, produce more or strike a balance? The answer may be a mix of all three.

The visit reinforced to me that the focus should be on setting up a trusted agricultural emissions measurement and benchmarking framework. This will allow us to demonstrate our commitment to differentiate global sustainability and diff erentiate from global averages.

We must acknowledge that New Zealand has international emissions targets to meet and strike a balance between maintaining and growing one of the most emissionsefficient food-production systems in the world and meeting those targets.

Although there is a slowdown in the implementation of many policies in the EU, the trajectory is clear and it’s being led by farmer groups and customers. A change in government here will give us the opportunity as farmers to devise solutions to these challenges that are farmer-led.

In Brussels, the NZ/EU free-trade deal is being hailed by the EU as the gold standard. I made sure people heard our view that it was definitely definitely not for beef.

As the world's perception of agriculture evolves, we must be prepared to meet international expectations and continue to lead the way in sustainable farming.

Collaboration, adaptability and a proactive stance are the keys to the future of agriculture – now we have the opportunity to lead this conversation as farmers, so let’s make sure we do that.

Kate Acland recently attended the World Meat Congress in Europe and says the way the world views agriculture has shifted.

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Kate Acland is the Beef + Lamb New Zealand board chairperson and a midCanterbury sheep, beef and dairy farmer.

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November 2023

8 NZ Farmer Opinion

Moving into the crunch zone

Chaperon economist Gordon Stuart takes a look at the movements in interest rates, and it’s not good news.

Interest rates and bond rates have risen sharply.

I

nterest rates have moved up sharply of late. US 10-year bond rates have risen sharply to 4.8%. New Zealand’s 10-year bond has risen to 5.5%.

Pain is around the corner. Long-term interest rates are indicating inflation is not going away quickly. Interest rates need to be higher for longer.

They are not the only influence on the business cycle, but a major one. Getting rid of inflation means hitting growth, and one way monetary policy operates is via asset prices. Booming asset prices increase wealth and encourage spending and investment. It also works in reverse.

Rising interest rates have increased the lure of a bank deposit. Term deposit balances at banks have risen more than $30 billion in the past year. As interest rates rise, equity becomes tougher/more expensive to raise. The market discount rate used to value the cashflows from both properties and equities comprises the risk-free rate and a risk premium which is specific to each investment or business. When interest rates rise, values come under pressure.

The risk premium is not constant., Liquidity is a key component of the risk premium - private businesses are less liquid than public companies where shares trade daily, so private companies usually trade at a higher discount rate/lower multiple than public companies. Likewise, rural properties are less liquid than commercial and residential properties.

This is shown by the fact that bank loans to residential property under 80% LVR are 35% risk weighted for regulatory purposes as the chance of loss is low – due to size – loans, typically under $1m, it is the last bill families don’t pay, and there is a deep market of buyers. However rural land is often in large parcels, with fewer buyers.

Big discounts To get an appreciation of the pressure interest rates place on a company’s asset value, we can take some guidance from listed property vehicles (LPVs). Market valuations tend to lag, especially when there are not a lot of transactions taking place.

LPV’s had a rough September month,

falling 4.1%. Higher interest rates are pressuring valuations and have been over the year, with the sector down almost 10%. According to Forsyth Barr Research, “reversion to long run average yield spreads implies share price reductions of -1% to -35% across the sector”. The market is already anticipating this with the sector trading at a large discount to net tangible asset backing.

A rural example New Zealand Rural Land Company (NZL) is one of the few public traded rural investments we can view.

The net asset valuation is reported as $1.53 per share, while the current share price is 86 cents, a circa 44% discount.

The board considers the company to be materially undervalued. The business hooks into many of the favourable attributes of farming, including demand for food and the efficiency of NZ farming.

While farming is receiving attention for its carbon footprint, carbon emissions per kg for dairy in NZ are low.

Debt hurts though in a higher interest rate environment.

Facility covenants include interest cover of two times earnings (EBIT/ Interest) and loan to value (LTV) ratio maximum of 40%.

The June 30, 2023 accounts report interest cover covenant has been reduced to 1.6x till December 31,2024 increasing to 1.75x from March 31, 2025 onwards.

What happens between these dates?

Interest cover at June 30 was only 1.80x – indicating the company sought covenant relief. The LTV (assuming the December 31, 2022 valuation) was 37.1% at June 30, 2023. It will not take much of a revaluation movement lower to breach that.

Leases include uncapped CPI (inflation) reviews. Inflation results in rental growth.

The firm notes. “From July 1, 2024, NZL will start to see the positive impact of inflation with approximately 55% of the portfolio (by lease income) due for CPI rental review. CPI accumulated since the leases began (June 1 2021) totals +12.6% to December 31, 2022 and is forecast to be

approximately +22.3% for the three years to June 30, 2024.”

The September NZX update referred to “Tenants with high credit quality and a history of operational excellence.” I hope they are. There will be problems if they are not. Farm cost structure will be under pressure given Fonterra’s expected payout.

The bottom line The rural sector, like other pockets of the economy, is exposed to higher interest rates and higher for longer is the new normal. Unlike many other sectors though, rural sector debt accumulation has been moderate over the past five years (+$3.3 billion since 2016) and dairy sector debt has fallen ($-3.6 billion). Horticulture debt has more than doubled though.

Debt will be one concern. Questionable business models will come under attention across all business sectors in New Zealand. The quality of any investment is only as good as the operator, or the operator you are leasing to. ■

GM technologies need up-to-date rules BioTechNZ executive director Dr Zahra Champion says the new government must encourage genetic modification which can add value to agriculture.

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or many in the biotech and agritech sector, a key aspect of last month’s election campaign was the National Party’s campaign pledge to review New Zealand’s policy on genetic modification (GM).

GM technologies have changed dramatically over the last 20 years, encouraging international jurisdictions to review their regulatory settings, but New Zealand is still working under outdated

rules. Under these rules, genetic research is permitted in laboratories, but trials outside the lab need approval, which in practice has stifled some of our best scientists, forcing them to head overseas to continue the commercialisation of their research.

That’s a great shame as modern biotech research can add great value to our agriculture, forestry, marine and health industries. We have a unique opportunity to leverage biotech innovations to drive growth. This includes better meeting the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, developing sustainable agricultural practices, and creating new life-saving medicines.

Changing consumer attitudes, with some people opting for plant-based alternatives for meat and dairy products, already reflect shifting ideas about the use of gene technologies to create product with reduced environmental impact.

A lot of life-saving drugs and supermarket products contain GMO

(genetically modified organism) ingredients. For example, if you drink a soy latte, a significant amount of that soy will be GMO, so now is a perfect time to have this conversation.

There is an emerging relationship between sustainability and biotech, and we would urge the incoming government to take advantage of this.

New Zealand has solid foundations in biotech. We rank fourth for innovation potential in biotechnology. We have the most PhD graduates in life sciences per capita in the world and two of the top 100 life science and medical universities.

At last count, the industry had 211 companies and $2.7 billion of annual revenue, according to the 2020 Aotearoa New Zealand Boosted by Biotech; Innovating for a Sustainable Future study, published by BioTechNZ. There is great potential for further growth, but to realise this, New Zealand needs a vibrant ecosystem for biotech

companies, one that better connects biotech researchers to companies across industry, and to global capital.

We also need to break the cycle of research & development (R&D) funding being a recurring election issue. Instead, we need a robust, long-term strategy that transcends the ebb and flow of political change. Let’s set a visionary course and adapt as necessary, rather than starting afresh every electoral term.

Aotearoa needs fit-for-purpose, geneediting and modification regulations. These should be risk-based, taking into account the full range of scientific, ethical, social, cultural and economic consequences of research and commercial applications of gene editing or modification.

Such enhancements will do much to help the new Government leverage the use of biotechnology to transform the economy, lift the performance of New Zealand industries, and create high-value jobs. ■

November 2023

SPONSORED CONTENT

Community at heart for multi-tasking Kiwi dairy farmer When dairy farmer Rachel Numan started writing Tractor Dave children’s books for her sons, it soon turned into a positive initiative giving back to Kiwi communities nationwide.

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ractor Dave is a colourful character having adventures on a dairy farm. Rural children get to see their lifestyle in the books, and Rachel hopes to inspire children from towns and cities to consider farm life. A portion of the proceeds from the books go to charity.

Rachel is also involved in a wide range of local community and environmental initiatives in Pokuru, where she farms with husband Chris – between Te Awamutu and Pirongia.

“I love working with family, neighbours and community groups – we achieve so much more working together,” says Rachel.

For every copy of the first Tractor Dave book sold, Rachel donates 50 cents to the charity Meat the Need. The charity supplies meat and milk donated by Kiwi farmers to food banks and community organisations nationwide.

“It’s great contributing to a positive initiative that’s making a real difference in people’s lives,” says Rachel. Meat the Need was founded by dairy farmers Siobhan O’Malley and Wayne Langford, to help families in need.

For every copy of the second book sold (Tractor Dave – Digger Disaster), a native tree is planted on the Numans’ farm – to help protect waterways and enhance native birds and insect biodiversity.

“I’ve been inspired by nature and conservation since I was young and hope my story might inspire others to get involved in their own communities.

Rachel and Chris call their sons Jack (6) and Oscar (4) tiny farmers, so have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a Rachel hopes her involvement in her local community including volunteering will inspire sons Jack and Oscar (left to right) to do the same in future.

Dairy farmer Rachel Numan loves working at the heart of her local community with fellow community members to make a positive difference.

positive future for dairy farming and New Zealand.

“All Kiwis want their children to grow up in a healthy environment and supportive communities,” says Rachel.

The Numans pay the Pirongia Te Aroaro o Kahu Restoration Society to help plant trees on their farm, with over 5000 planted so far. Another 1000 will be planted every year. The couple donates to the society to support work to protect native kōkako on Pirongia mountain.

The Numans also receive trees from Trees that Count, a charity that matches seedlings gifted by Kiwis to planting projects nationwide. The goal is to strengthen projects in every corner of New Zealand – from community groups, schools, iwi, hapū and whānau projects to local councils and farms.

Rachel says many farmers get involved in local communities because they want to see them thrive. “Farming can be isolating so it’s great to get out and develop strong community connections. I find the more I give, the more I get back.”

The Numans’ farm lies between

Mt Pirongia and Mt Kakepuku in the Waipā district. Rachel volunteers with the Kakepuku Mountain Conservation Society to re-stock bait-lines on the mountain several times a year, as part of the pest management programme.

A goal is to ensure the native birds and chicks are safe during nesting, so the bird population continues to grow. Native birds on Mt Kakepuku include tūī, kererū and North Island robins.

“Going up the mountain makes me feel really connected to my community. It’s great for me – I’m out in nature, enjoying the beauty of the bush and getting exercise.”

Ensuring there’s never a dull moment, Rachel helps run the Pirongia Playcentre.

She works alongside other parents and teachers to ensure the playcentre runs smoothly. Alongside other parents, Rachel attends playcentre sessions eight hours a week.

“Many of my friends are playcentre mums – you get great friends from getting off the farm and into your community.”

Rachel made the move to farming after seven years as a vet in Te Awamutu, where she worked mainly with dairy cows. “I highly recommend both careers – it’s perfect if you love animals and being outdoors.”

For her next venture, Rachel is developing a small flower farm to trial different methods of improving soil health. Part sustainability science experiment, part relaxation, it’s also just because she loves flowers.

Rachel says she gets so much out of all her activities and shares what she learns with her children. She strongly encourages others to get in touch with their local community and environment groups and get involved. ■

For more information visit DairyNZ.co.nz.

Rachel says she highly recommends dairy farming as a career, as it’s great working outdoors and with animals.

November 2023

10 NZ Farmer News

Helping to feed the nation

With the cost of living skyrocketing, more and more people are turning to charities such as foodbanks to feed their family.

By Sonita Chandar.

W

ith increases in the price of groceries and interest rates, the cost of living is hitting more Kiwi families than ever before.

According to Stats NZ, the cost of living for the average household increased by 7.2% between June 2022 and June 2023.

ASB predicts a tough end of the year with high inflation and interest rates to keep the pressure on.

A foodbank survey held earlier this year, showed more and more people were turning to charities for assistance with the majority citing the cost of living crisis as the reason for them asking for help. Demand for foodbank assistance has risen 165% in the past three years.

Foodbanks rely on donations to keep the shelves stocked which is where Meat The Need is lending a hand.

Farmer-led charity Meat The Need is the brainchild of Motueka and Golden Bay farmers Siobhan O’Malley and Wayne Langford.

Since starting the charity in 2020, more than 3 million mince meals and 1.4 million milk meals have been donated to 110 foodbanks across the country.

Last year, Meat The Need hosted the country’s first rural telethon, The Big Feed, and raised 1.2 million meals for foodbanks.

It’s back this year on December 14, hosted

by Matt Chisholm, Dave Letele and Wayne Langford, with even loftier goals and more hijinks planned.

General manager Zellara Holden said the telethon aimed to raise as many meals as possible for communities in need and hoped to bring rural and urban communities together across the country.

“This year’s telethon is extremely important. In the long-term, our goal is for no-one to go hungry,” Holden says.

“The cost of living is placing huge

pressure on people, families and foodbanks throughout New Zealand and the demand for Meat The Need services has increased massively.

“To help us meet that demand, businesses and organisations, groups and individuals can get in behind The Big Feed by hosting their own fundraising event as part of the telethon.”

North Waikato farmer and Meat The Need champion Colin Hickey is putting out a call to action by hitting the road on what he calls a “Hickey Tour” to spread the message and collect donations along the way as he hitches from Te Kauwhata to Lincoln for The Big Feed.

“I became involved because it is a noble

Celebrity TV host Matt Chisholm, Meat The Need co-founder Wayne Langford, events manager Vikki Kircher, partnerships manager Sandra Alfeld and operations manager Sarah Gagliardi at last year’s The Big Feed telethon.

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November 2023

NZ Farmer News 11

Updated all day at

South Island farmers Lyndon and Jade McNab got involved with Meat The Need in 2020.

Since then, the family has donated around 6000 mince meals to foodbanks across the country.

The food insecurity panel during the Big Feed hosted by Meat The Need co-founder Siobhan O’Malley.

“

This year’s telethon is extremely important.

In the long-term, our goal is for no-one to go hungry.

Zellara Holden

cause and the Hickey Tour is about making people aware of why it’s needed,” he says.

“Kiwi farmers produce the best proteins in the world and this is a great opportunity for us to provide food to urban areas.”

Hickey will hitch a lift from trucking companies such as stock trucks, Fonterra, Miraka and others. Along the way, he will stop in and see farmers who support Meat The Need, foodbanks, community support groups, processors and agribusinesses to drum up support and donations.

“We need to make sure this country does not go hungry and there are plenty of opportunities to help. It doesn’t take much,” Hickey says.

“All we are asking is for farmers to donate, even one kilo of mince, and if they all do this, we will get closer to our goals.”

He hopes the Hickey Tour will inspire others to come up with novel ideas to raise awareness and donations.

A South Otago farmer who has donated almost 6000 mince meals to foodbanks across the country through Meat The Need says giving back is part of his DNA. Lyndon and Jade McNab farm between Balclutha and Owaka, running just over 6000 ewes and 700 beef cows across 3200 hectares.

His involvement with Meat The Need started in 2020 and since then, the family has donated around 6000 mince meals to foodbanks across the country.

McNab wants to encourage other farmers to get in behind the cause. He feels donating through Meat The Need is a relevant way to help by giving the actual products that they

pour their love into from dawn to dusk.

“I like the idea of being able to help families that are struggling. I can’t imagine how horrible it must feel to have brought children into the world and then often find, through no fault of your own, that it’s a struggle to be able to provide something as rudimentary as sustenance, and it’s nice to be able to ease that burden a little bit.”

You can watch The Big Feed live on December 14 from 6am on Meat The Need’s social channels or website.

On the day, farmers can donate their livestock or milk through meattheneed.org.

Cash donations can also be made by texting FEED to 3494 to make a $3 donation, calling 0800 632 884 or through the website. ■

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November 2023

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Delivering better broadband for those living rural Connecting rural communities: Live the good life with better broadband.

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hey say the real New Zealand is found in the regions, where the birds sing freely, and strangers passing on the street still say hello. If you’re planning an escape to the country or you’ve been living the good life for a while, there’s no need to sacrifice the broadband. Long appreciating that internet connectivity is as indispensable to those out on the farms, lifestyle blocks and quiet retreats as it is to urban household, Farmside is a specialist service provider that knows rural and knows connectivity.

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This coupled with expertise and a willingness to go out to wherever you are and get you connected to the best solution for your circumstances.

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If your connectivity isn’t up to scratch, or if you want a telecommunications service provider who knows rural because they are rural, Farmside is the obvious choice. Because Farmside understands that better connections mean better living in the regions, just as much as anywhere else. ■

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November 2023

NZ Farmer 13

Regional Roundup

Updated all day at

Pressure mounts for a GMO rethink Genetic modification has been a contentious issue but some say, it is time to relook at it and its potential. By Gerhard Uys.

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olitical parties, scientists and farming groups are asking for a rethink of genetically modified and gene editing policies, but what do we do if consumers in export countries prefer GMO free food, and will it damage our reputation if we allow GMO policies?

Trader Joe’s is a high-end United States grocery chain that carries New Zealand products. Spokesperson Nakia Rohde says the chain uses the term GMO widely, and it encompasses both genetically modified (GM) and gene edited (GE) products.

Its website states that, given a choice, Trader Joe’s customers would prefer to eat foods made without the use of genetically engineered ingredients.

The company states its products do not contain GM ingredients and that products are independently tested.

US premium supermarket Whole Foods did not respond to a request for comment, but its website says it is a certified organic grocer. Under US Department of Agriculture certified organic standards, no GMO products can be used, the website says.

Dr Chris Hill, general manager of hazardous substances and new organisms at the Environmental Protection Authority

Milk at US supermarket Trader Joe’s is organic.

(EPA), says current regulations do not differentiate between GM and GE organisms.

“There are some applications of gene editing that are very similar to genetic modification techniques that are allowed to be used and exempted from GMO regulations, but are more precise in their effects than exempted techniques.’’

The EPA does not see one method as safer than another, but assesses the environmental safety of the GMO, including the health and safety of the general public, case by case, Hill says.

According to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act defines GMOs as any organism in which “any of the genes or other genetic material were modified by in vitro techniques”.

“In vitro techniques refers to using test tubes, cell culture plate or other methods outside a living organism,” MPI says.

Government think-tank Well NZ said in February, “there is no evidence that

producing new organisms using gene editing is more likely to have unintended consequences than using selective breeding”.

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says it is time to have a mature conversation about gene editing, “where we consider the potential benefits, weigh them up against any risks, and decide how we want to move forward as a country”.

In February, Federated Farmers wrote to the five political parties in Parliament asking them to commit to a review of New Zealand’s rules for genetically modified organisms.

Langford says every consumer will respond differently to GMO or GE food.

“Farmers then respond to those market signals when making decisions about what they produce and how they produce it – and GE will probably be no different.

“As a country which is reliant on exports, of course, we need to continue to look at what our customers are asking for and respond to that, because they’re the ones who buy our product.

“What I want to know is whether individual farmers will be able to make that choice for themselves ... That needs to be looked into more and explained clearly as part of the conversation,” Langford says.

National’s science, innovation and technology spokesperson, Judith Collins, says New Zealand is 20 years behind in biotechnology, and National will end the ban on GE and GM. It would create a dedicated regulator to ensure safe use of gene technologies.

ACT primary industries spokesperson Mark Cameron says the party will liberalise

genetic engineering laws.

Ryegrass developed by AgResearch that could reduce methane emissions from livestock by up to 15% is illegal because of outdated legislation, Cameron says.

“Much like consumers are driven by environmental and ethical concerns, the market will determine whether consumers demand non-GM or GE food products.’’

The risk was that other countries pulled ahead with more climate-efficient products that consumers preferred.

Labour did not respond by the time of publishing.

Liz Morley, account director at Research First, says consumer perception affects buying behaviour. Based on Research First’s market research, most consumers thought introducing GM production “would have a negative impact on our country’s clean, green image”.

“Roughly a quarter believe there would be some positive impact and one in 10 think there would be no impact on reputation.”

Research First data shows many consumers are open to accepting GM and GE tech, she says. Consumers would specifically support GE if it offered protection for taonga species, for example, increasing the disease resistance of mānuka to protect the species for honey producers.”

“Support was also high where GE in crops could provide human health benefits, improve pasture quality and support biodiversity.”

But “43% would be concerned about buying GE fruit and veg, and 47% would be concerned about buying products from animals that have been fed pasture that has been improved by GE”.

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November 2023

14 NZ FarmerRoundup Regional

Giving back to the community As guardians of the land, dairy farmers know only too well how important it is to be sustainable and leave the land and environment in a better state than before.

By Sonita Chandar.

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or 30 years, an Ōtaki dairy farmer along with members of the community, has spent countless hours beautifying and enhancing the Ōtaki River through planting thousands of trees. Their project wasn’t just about making the area look better.

Carl Lutz and his son Max got involved in the consultation process for the development of the Ōtaki River flood protection scheme with Greater Wellington Regional Council and the wider community when it first started. A key goal was to ensure a scheme robust enough to protect the township from a one in 100-year flood.

“When dad saw the scheme was starting up, he said we should get involved as he could see the value and benefits as the family farm had been flooded numerous times in the previous 60 years,” Max Lutz says.

Today, their farm has increased in size and, as a result of their work with the flood protection scheme, the family has riparian plantings and has significant patches of native bush.

“We apply a small amount of nitrogen annually, so going by that and the native bush, we expect our carbon emissions will

look pretty good when carbon credits are taken into account.”

Lutz is a third-generation farmer and runs the farm with brother Erwin and nephew Clay. He says giving back is a family tradition – inspired by his father Carl, who received a Queen’s Service Medal in 2009 and still helps out on the farm even though he is in his late 90s. “My father showed me the value of the community pulling together – collectively we’re so much stronger and can achieve big goals.”

In 1999, the Friends of the Ōtaki River (FOTOR) was formed as an environmental care community group, to oversee the flood protection scheme’s implementation and monitor its success.

Lutz chairs FOTOR, which has a membership of over 400 and has done so for 19 years. He describes the group as custodians of the river.

He says he feels hugely rewarded by volunteer work at the heart of his local community. He works alongside family members, dairy farming neighbours and community members to give back to environmental and educational initiatives.

“We’re a group of community volunteers including river users, farmers and many

others from all walks of life, who want to give back,” he says.

So far, the group has planted more than 130,000 trees and created its own nursery to grow local native seedlings and plants.

Together, its members plant about 7000 trees a year. They have also created a grove of ferns in the bush and an arboretum on the river walkway.

Once a week, he joins a core group of 30 to 35 of the group’s members, volunteering to plant and maintain the river corridor to continually enhance it. On larger community planting days, about 60 community members volunteer to plant trees to stabilise the riverbanks and beautify the area. These are held about six or seven times a year.

“Now when we have floods, the water is contained and doesn’t enter neighbouring properties. It has been really rewarding as a dairy farmer to help protect our local community, working with our friends, neighbours and other community members.

It’s part of the sector’s commitment to progressing a positive future for dairy farming and New Zealand,” he says.

The group’s work extends far beyond planting – they have built a 10km walkway

November 2023

NZ Farmer 15 Regional Roundup

Updated all day at

“

My father showed me the value of community pulling together.

Max Lutz

Main: Ōtaki Farmer Max Lutz has been involved in the Ōtaki River flood protection scheme since it began 30 years ago. He is the chairperson of the Friends of Ōtaki River, which was formed as an environmental care community group, to oversee the scheme’s implementation and monitor its success.

Time running out to prepare for El Niño Louisa Steyl

Below: Lutz is a thirdgeneration farmer and runs the family farm milking 400 cows this season for town milk supply. He’s pictured with wife Debbie.

following months,” he said.

Stafford said farmers and growers should make the most of their nutrient products. airy farmer Katrina Thomas is “With increasing seasonal weather and urging farmers to think carefully pasture production variability, it really about what they can control reinforces getting back to the basics of now, as the agriculture sector the four Rs of good fertiliser management: braces for what’s expected to applying at the right time; in the right be New Zealand’s strongest El Niño place; with the right product; and episode. at the right rate.”

Thomas handles national Ballance’s science strategy and Southland specific manager Warwick Catto communication for the Rural also urged farmers to start Support Trust and has been thinking about how they sharing whatever resources could prioritise their crops, she can to help farmers with advice to plant as early prepare. as possible – particularly for Thomas was among regions that were looking to the farmers who attended get really dry over the summer a webinar presented by months.

Dairy Women’s Network, Effluent paddocks could MetService meteorologists be a useful tool to consider and Ballance Agri-Nutrients, when it came to supplying which she found valuable. nutrients to crop areas, he said, “I didn’t understand what but “phosphate will be a key an El Niño does or what it It’s [El Nino] nutrient for crops experiencing meant,” she said. dry conditions, so placement Niwa explains that already here, of this is key as surface during an El Niño event, ocean water from off the and it’s already application simply won’t supply the nutrient to where coast of South America strong. the crop needs it – phosphate (near Ecuador and Peru) to should be incorporated into the central tropical Pacific the soil for best effect”. warms above average Thomas encouraged as trade winds weaken, MetService rural farmers to reach out to rural blowing warm water from professionals for advice about the western Pacific toward meteorologist what would be best for their the east, which causes sea Georgina Griffiths farms and stock. temperatures in the far But it was also important to western Pacific to below prepare for other impacts of average. weather, she said.

For New Zealand, this At her Wreys Bush farm, for example, change tends to bring strong westerly winds heavy winds often cause overhead damage and temperature variability. to power lines, leaving the farm without MetService rural meteorologist Georgina power for up to 22 hours at a time.

Griffiths said by now, there shouldn’t be any She and her husband bought a generator, farmers in New Zealand who didn’t know which she explained can’t just be plugged in. about the incoming weather pattern.

“It’s got to be configured.”

“It’s already here, and it’s already strong,” Thomas concedes it’s a big capital she said. investment, but said: “It could save your The strong westerly winds were expected cows.” to “really fire up” around November before Griffiths peaking in December, Griffi ths added.

This would bring extreme high temperature days from the central North Island down to around Timaru, but Wreys Bush farmer Southland and Otago would be in for cooler Katrina Thomas temperatures and higher than average says farmers need rainfall over late spring and summer. to look beyond While the rest of the country will receive crops to other Griffiths moderate rainfall, Griffi ths said it wouldn’t impacts of severe matter. weather, like “While it won’t be bone dry, the wind will potentially being strip out any moisture.” stuck without This would be a particular concern for power. the Gisborne and Hawkes Bay regions, along with Marlborough and Canterbury.

Ballance’s national corporate account manager, Aaron Staff Stafford, ord, said farmers would need to harness the soil moisture and pasture growth consistency throughout spring before they dry out after Christmas.

“You’ve really got to make the most of what you can in the early season in terms of pasture growth, good soil moisture and temperatures to harness feed availability for the

D

“

for the whole community, including bridges, a viewing platform and picnic tables. Max says it’s important to ensure the public can access parts of the river that were previously inaccessible.

Every year, the Friends of the Ōtaki River, Greater Wellington Regional Council and the local community do a walk-over alongside the river to inspect progress and assess further work.

“Friends of Ōtaki River has received funding from a range of organisations, businesses, individuals and families over the years, including the council, Ministry for the Environment and Transpower,” says Max. Businesses and charities sponsor school planting days, including dairy company Fonterra. About eight schools have been involved so far. One outstanding contributor is the Philipp Family Foundation which has funded plantings, “It’s great to see young people learning how rewarding it is to contribute to their community.”

He says interest in the planting programme has been so great, there is now a waitlist that extends to 2025.

In another initiative at the heart of his

community, Max chairs the Ōtaki College Alumni Trust (XŌtaki), supporting students to reach their full potential. Former students, including dairy farmers, set up the trust.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than going to the college prizegiving every year to present scholarships and celebrate the students’ achievements,” says Max. The trust’s fundraising supports subsidised dental care, counselling services and sustainable gardening lessons.

“We’ve installed solar panels and the savings from lower power bills go into scholarships. We’ve upgraded the swimming pool, built a shade canopy and play areas and fund a programme teaching children about technology.”

He says it’s extremely rewarding to look at the school’s hall of fame, which showcases former students making exceptional contributions to their communities.

“For me, that’s what it’s all about – environmental and educational stewardship by families, schools, farmers, businesses, councils and communities pulling together for the greater good.”

November 2023

16 Sport NZ Farmer Comment

Ian,the Ian, the unloved fosterchild foster child

Ian Foster looks on prior to the Rugby World Cup final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France in Paris on October 28.

GETTY IMAGES

Sports commentator Miles Davis says the relationship between All Blacks coach Ian Foster and the fans, players and NZRU was lacking love.

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spent a lot of my childhood in children's homes or with foster parents, so I am aware of the difference a loving and supportive environment can make.

When I look at the three main relationships relevant to Ian Foster’s position as All Black coach, I feel that two of them were not conducive to getting the best out of him.

The fans Foster was behind the eight-ball from the start. His appointment was not greeted with enthusiasm from the majority of supporters, with most preferring Scott Roberston.

Many felt his coaching record was average. Despite two Super Rugby finals with the Chiefs, an overall win ratio of 50% was not exactly stellar. His connection to the previous regime may have been a good move for continuity, but many saw it as cronyism. Jobs for the boys. In essence, Foster appeared to have no mana.

Hooker Codie Taylor waves to fans and spectators after the All Blacks v Argentina semifinal match in France on October 20.

No matter what Foster achieved, it was unlikely he’d get widespread praise and any mishaps would be immediately seized upon. Hardly a loving, supportive environment.

The NZRU Whilst initially there was some warmth shown towards him, there always felt a slight distancing (perhaps as a result of fan feedback). This only got worse as his tenure went on. Rumours of him being replaced grew ever louder and exploded

when chief executive Mark Robinson first refused to endorse his security as All Black coach, then headed to South Africa after a crushing defeat, purportedly to give him the boot. When the ABs turned their form around in the very next test, his execution was put on hold.

The stay was short-lived as before Xmas 2022 the NZRU announced that they were breaking with protocol and would announce the future coach before the World Cup. They then fannied around, leaving Foster a dead man walking for over three months, with both him and Robertson fielding endless questions from media with no ability to respond. The timeline suited the NZRU but certainly not those whose careers were on the line.

In short, a disgraceful episode for the NZRU and one for which heads should have rolled. But in the usual style, only the underlings pay the price while the fishheads continue to dip their noses in the trough.

An uncaring, incompetent employer did not provide the best environment for Foster to thrive.

The players The most positive relationship with players espousing their respect for Foster and willingness to play for him. How genuine their endorsement was is hard to tell.

Players usually support the guy who picks them and their extra effort at the World Cup may well have been driven by the fact that criticisms of Foster also reflected on them so they had a point to prove. All in all though, it was a loving, supportive relationship.

Whether better relationships would have bettered his record (69.5% win rate, placing him 18th on the list of All Black coaches) is hard to say but they surely didn’t help.

Ian Foster is a decent man who handled himself with dignity and I hope that in his next job he is surrounded by love which may help him achieve his full potential.

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November 2023

18 NZ Farmer Feature Advertising

How to manage that ‘right tree’

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he frequent catch phrase of ‘right tree right place’ is agreeably simplistic but belies the complexity of the task.

Trees have diverse benefits, such as the preservation of biodiversity, wood production, carbon sequestration, provision of income, slope stability and soil protection, and enhancing water quality.

What communities want from forests will, and should, vary with local expectations, and their management within their landscapes should reflect those expectations. Maintaining existing forests and achieving a sustainable mixed land-use of pasture and trees will require skilled graduates who can manage forests in diverse landscapes.

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Graduate expectations change and delivering what is desired from forests requires a nimble toolbox of new technologies and approaches.

The University likens a Bachelor of Forestry Science to a ‘highly applied biology degree’. It introduces students to the basics of forest ecosystem biology and ecology and then equips them with skills and knowledge to manage forests. Some courses are specific to production forests, e.g., silviculture or harvesting, while others apply more to indigenous forests. Others apply more generally, e.g., management and marketing, geospatial sciences, fundamentals of engineering, environmental forestry.

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meet the needs of today’s land managers.

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also studies and teaches applications of advanced LiDAR, hyperspectral, and UAV photogrammetry processing and analysis, to provide appropriate tools to tomorrow’s forest managers.

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November 2023

NZ Farmer 19 Forestry

Updated all day at

ETS Carbon Accounting Systems

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here are currently two carbon accounting systems for forests registered in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): “averaging accounting” and “stock change accounting”.

Averaging Accounting Averaging accounting became the new default carbon accounting system for production forests in 2023. Under averaging accounting, first rotation trees earn carbon credits up to their “average age”.

Species groups and number of entitlement years or “average” (in brackets): ■ Radiata pine (16) ■ Douglas fir (26) ■ Other exotic softwoods (22) ■ Exotic hardwoods (12) ■ Indugenous (23) These carbon credits do not have to be surrendered when the trees are harvested, provided the forest is replanted within four years of harvesting. Other key points to note about averaging accounting: ■ A species’ average age is determined by ETS rules, not the actual rotation length.

■ Trees that are cleared before reaching their average age will miss out on a significant portion or all of their carbon credit entitlement, depending on the age at which they were cleared.

■ Trees that have passed their average age cannot earn any carbon credits under averaging accounting.

■ Tree age is counted from the first rotation only, which means future rotations cannot earn any additional carbon credits under averaging accounting.

■ For trees registered in the ETS in the current reporting period, which runs from

Under Averaging Accounting Radiata pine, pictured, has an entitlement years or ‘average age’ of 16.

STUFF.

2023 to 2025, carbon credit entitlement is backdated to the start of 2023 only. This means that trees that were planted in 2020 but not registered until 2023, for instance, will miss out on the first three years of carbon credits.

Stock change accounting Stock change accounting was the default carbon accounting system before 2023.

Under stock change accounting, trees earn carbon credits up to at least age 50 and potentially beyond. Depending on the age of the trees and the year they were registered in the ETS, most, if not all, of these carbon credits have to be surrendered again when the trees are harvested. Other key points to

note about stock change accounting: ■ All forests registered in the ETS before 2019 will always be “stock change forest”.

■ Some forests registered in the ETS between 2019 and 2022 were eligible to switch to averaging accounting. The option to switch had to be exercised before the Final Emissions Return for the 202182022 reporting period was submitted.

■ Although most, if not all, carbon credits have to be surrendered when stock change forest is harvested, future rotations will resume earning carbon credits, provided the forest is replanted within four years of harvesting. The permanent forest category, which was introduced in 2023, uses the stock change accounting method.

Quick comparison of the stock change and averaging accounting systems ■ Only carbon accounting system for production forests registered in the ETS since 1 January 2023 = Averaging accounting ■ Only carbon accounting system for permanent forests = Stock change accounting ■ Carbon credit entitlement stops at “average age”= Averaging accounting ■ Carbon credit entitlement continues up to age 50 with the option of extending = Stock change accounting ■ Carbon credits have to be surrendered at harvest= Stock change accounting ■ Trees have to be replanted within 4 years of harvesting = Averaging accounting AND Stock change accounting. ■

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November 2023

20 Research NZ Farmerand Science

Lab-grown food gets boost Scientific research in plant-based food ingredients and cellbased protein markets has been given a boost.

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$13 million boost in government funding will help advance opportunities for New Zealand in both plant-based food ingredients and cell-based protein markets.

The two programmes, led by AgResearch, are among 68 successful applications for research from the recent 2023 funding round for the Government’s Endeavour Fund, with a total of $246 million allocated.

AgResearch senior scientist Alistair Carr says close to $12m has been committed over five years to the AgResearch-led programme, Plant-Based Food Ingredients: A Systems Approach to Sustainable Design.

“Crops grown on arable land are an abundant resource and already provide most of the calories in people’s diets,” Carr says.

“Consumers are increasingly looking to these plants to do much more – to meet a wider range of culinary and nutritional needs, and to help address global concerns around sustainable ecosystems and animal welfare.”

Carr says food manufacturers have been quick to respond with many novel products. However, these are often highly refined and stripped of their whole-food benefits, have poor taste and texture, carry high sodium content, and can have hidden damage to essential amino acids.

“The next generation of plant-based foods will need to be prepared more sensibly with gentler handling of the inherently healthy raw materials and better guardianship of environmental impact.”

The research will test at pilot scale how a new industry could operate by using crops known to grow well locally, like green peas, oats and hemp.

“New Zealand can participate in this opportunity by developing the science and

A nearly $13 million funding boost from the Government will help scientists researching cell-based protein/lab-grown meat.

STUFF The research will test at pilot scale how a new industry could operate by using crops known to grow well locally, such as green peas.

technologies to produce unique highly functional plant foods,” he says.

AgResearch has gathered some of the brightest minds in process engineering, food science, economic analysis and human nutrition to work on the programme.

The team also includes many industry partners, from plant breeders, growers and

focus on the use of cutting-edge technologies to advance New Zealand’s cell-based protein industries, where, for example, meat may be grown from animal cells.

“While it’s an exciting time for cellular agriculture, there are still major challenges to overcome,” AgResearch science team leader Gale Brightwell says.

AgResearch science “The biggest barriers are the team leader cost of large-scale manufacture STUFF Gale Brightwell including the use of food-grade growth media (substances in processors to ingredient-users and food which the cells can be grown), loss of cell manufacturers. “Our aim is to support the lines due to biological contamination and arable crop processors of Aotearoa. high requirements for food safety testing. ” “We want to inspire entrepreneurs in The research will draw on cold the emerging proteins sector to become plasma, hyperspectral imaging and successful international suppliers of highmachine learning technologies, to help value plant-based food ingredients.” ensure sterility is maintained, and any The second programme, with just under contamination is rapidly detected and $1m in funding over three years, will responded to in the production process. ■

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NZ Farmer 21 Research and Science

Updated all day at

Urban-rural divide is not as great as once thought

Massey University social scientist Dr Alice Beban was part of the research team for the Diverse Experience of Farming project.

Research shows that while farming is valued by all, there is a lack of trust between rural and urban communities.

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he divide between rural and urban communities may not be as wide as most New Zealanders think, a new Massey University research project has shown.

Farming is often at the centre of debates pitting town against country, based on a perceived deep divide between the rural communities and city slickers.

But new research from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehouroa Massey University has found that this perception is not a true reflection of Aotearoa; rather, it’s something the respondents believed was promoted by the Government, media and supermarkets.

The university’s Diverse Experience of Farming project, co-funded by Our Land & Water National Science Challenge, surveyed and interviewed 1300 people from rural and urban Aotearoa to see if the divide between rural and urban communities was as wide as these communities understood it to be.

What was found was the exact opposite, says social scientist Dr Alice Beban from Massey University’s School of People, Environment and Planning.

“Instead of a divide, we found a more complex and richer diversity of opinion about farming.

“New Zealanders across urban and rural areas recognise and value farming’s contribution to the country.”

While farming was valued by all, there is a lack of trust between the two

The divide between rural and urban communities may not be as wide as once thought.

SCIENCE MEDIA CENTRE

communities, rural scientist Dr Janet Reid says.

Urban consumers wanted farmers to be transparent about their sustainable practices and were more concerned about supply chain issues and food quality than farming communities.

However, they were unconcerned with the worries of farmers who were focused on government interference in farming, misinformation and mental health.

But rather than pointing the finger at each other for these issues, both sides looked towards the government, media and supermarkets for creating or promoting the divide, Beban says.

“More than half of urban respondents claimed that supermarkets are the most influential influential source of information about farming.

“Neither urban nor rural consumers believe supermarkets are fulfilling fulfilling their responsibilities to farmers.”

Largely, rural respondents believed that the government wasn’t fulfilling fulfilling its responsibilities to farming, highlighting

interference and regulation that wasn’t effective, clear, or practical.

On average, Māori respondents felt the same way about the farming sector, saying that the rural sector wasn’t fulfilling fulfilling its responsibilities to tāngata whenua.

Other ethnicities agreed, but less strongly, the project found.

Reid says there are a range of views across New Zealand’s communities, but what brought them together was the acknowledgement of the rural sector creating jobs and feeding not only this nation, but others across the globe.

“People

genuinely desire engagement in dialogue and want trust and connection,” Reid says.

“Farmers, government, supermarkets, agribusiness, primary sector organisations and urban people all have a role in building this connection.”

Of the respondents, 20% identified as rural and urban, with key areas connecting both communities including food, costs, jobs and caring for the environment.

Food cost, animal welfare, sustainability and environmental impacts were a few of the main topics at the forefront of respondents’ minds.

More than 60% of all respondents highlighted this area as a concern, with urban respondents commenting on the cost of food purchase and rural respondents commenting on the cost of inputs.

The costs of buying food, and of growing food and raising stock, were high on the list of respondents’ concerns.

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November 2023

22 NZ Farmer Boating

Boating

to Powerful message for Funding reach at-risk boaties this summer groups

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ome home safe. That's the message from Maritime NZ and its Safer Boating Forum partners who want every recreational craft user to put steps in place to ensure they return home from their time on the water with good memories, not injuries, or, even worse, fatalities.

Maritime NZ’s 2022 Recreational Fatal Accidents report shows that last year 17 people died tragically, or were reported missing and never found.

“This is a sobering statistic, and one the Safer Boating Forum and our members are dedicated to bringing down,” Sharyn Forsyth, Chair of the Safer Boating Forum, says.

“Our Forum members span right across the recreational craft space, from jet boating through to stand up paddle boarding, and each activity has its own risks to manage.

“Through Maritime NZ’s community grant funding, organisations all over the country are running programmes to bring down instances of harm.

“In 2022 we saw fatal incidents occurring on powerboats, dinghies, kayaks and jet skis, and it is important a targeted approach is taken to preventing harm on recreational crafts.”

Almost all of these fatal incidents occurred one nautical mile from shore, or on lakes and rivers.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are close to shore, tragedy can strike anywhere and that is why it is critical to prepare before heading out onto the water,” Maritime NZ Harm Prevention Lead – Recreational Craft Victoria Slade says.

“If you’re planning to head out on the water make sure to check the marine forecast, take two forms of waterproof communication to call for help, and always wear a properly fitting lifejacket.”

Thirteen of the 17 fatalities occurred

Come home safe is the message to boaties from Maritime NZ and its Safer Boating Forum partners.

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when people were capsized or thrown overboard, which is why it is very important to wear a properly fitting life jacket.

“New Zealand is an island nation and conditions can quickly change. A day can start calm, causing a false sense of security. This has especially been the case for users of low powered or human powered vessels,” Victoria Slade says.

Canoers and kayakers represented nearly a third of those who died in recreational craft incidents in 2022.

“Just because you are going out in a small vessel near to shore doesn’t mean you are immune to risks. The weather can change quickly so you need to regularly assess the weather conditions and head back to shore if conditions change.

Smaller crafts such as kayaks can easily capsize in larger waves and be battered by high winds which can make situations very dangerous,” Victoria Slade says.

“Of the 17 people who died or went missing in recreational accidents in 2022, 16 of those were male. The ‘she’ll be right’ attitude of a lot of NZ males needs to be left at home when heading out onto the

water. Remember, your family needs you home safely.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Of those who died in recreational craft incidents last year: ■ 16 of the 17 people were male ■ The median age was 53 years old ■ 12 were not wearing a lifejacket when they entered the water ■ 12 of the 17 died in spring and summer ■ All fatalities occurred in a vessel that was 6m or less in length ■ Nine of the 17 deaths were due to a capsize, while a further four were overboard.

Basic vessel type: ■ Six deaths on a kayak or canoe ■ Five deaths on a dinghy ■ Four deaths on a power boat ■ Only 7% of those surveyed say they create detailed plans of their trip, while 31% don’t do any planning at all.

Things considered before and during trips to ensure safety: ■ 42% have lifejackets ■ 38% know or check the forecast ■ 11% have a phone. ■

Maritime NZ has announced recipients of its annual Community Grant funding for safety programmes to help reduce fatalities and injuries to people out on the water in recreational craft.

In total, 21 projects and initiatives around the country will share $876,680 worth of funding.

Maritime NZ Director, Kirstie Hewlett says a key part of the funding allocation decision was looking at how to reach at-risk groups.

“There are several initiatives that are targeted to supporting different ethnic groups, including Pasifika, Asian and Māori communities.

“Across New Zealand, we know there are differing levels of safety knowledge, safety equipment owned by water users and language barriers for some communities. It is hugely important we keep up our previous momentum with supporting these communities and have them prioritising safety.

“Everyone should go home safely from a day out on the water.

“It is vital water users understand the rules and know how to keep themselves safe,” Ms Hewlett says.

The funding is split across local and national initiatives, with recipients located all around New Zealand.

Among the initiatives that have secured funding are Coastguard’s Old4New lifejacket upgrade programme, which includes Second Life Lifejackets and received $100,000; Northland Regional Council’s Nobody’s Stronger Than Tangaroa campaign, which received $85,000; and $70,000 for Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Kia marutau ki te wai and Safety is Our Wai scheme.

November 2023

November 2023

24 Boating NZ Farmer

Summer boating safety Grant Travers

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ummer is nearly here and with the warmer and (hopefully) more settled weather it’s a great time to put your boat in the water.

Statistics from the NZ Marine Industry Association show 40% of the New Zealand population go boating annually that’s 1.9 million of us - making boating our largest recreational activity.

It only takes a quick glance through the news headlines however to see how tragedy can occur when things go wrong for boaties. So what can you do to make sure you’re fully prepared for a safe, fun summer on our lakes, rivers and seas?

We’ve rounded up some of the best advice from a multitude of sources.

Follow the code Royal New Zealand Coastguard was officially formed in 1976, but long before then local groups around the country had been volunteering their help to boaties, going back as far as the start of the 1900s in Canterbury and the 1930s in Auckland.

Coastguard has produced a Boating Safety Code that when followed can be the basis for all safe boating activities.

It is 5 simple rules to help you stay safe: 1. Life Jackets Take them – Wear them. Boats, especially ones under 6 metres in length, can sink very quickly. Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water.

2. Skipper Responsibility The skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat. Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience.

3. Communications Take two separate waterproof ways of communicating so you can call for help you if you get into difficulties.

4. Marine Weather New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes.

5. Avoid Alcohol Safe boating and alcohol do not mix.

Things can change quickly on the water.

You need to stay alert and aware.

You can go to https://www.coastguard. nz/boating-safely/boating-safety-code/ and follow the link to download the Boating Safety Code brochure as a PDF. You can also go to Coastguard.nz to become a member. Members get free assistance 24/7 in all the popular boating areas around the country plus discounts on relevant products and services and new members get discounts on boating education courses.

Did you know? You can’t expect good mobile phone coverage in all boating areas.

For emergency communications a marine

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Main: Launching your boat into salt water can lead to potential corrosion on the trailer and towbar so making sure it’s fit for purpose is vital before you hook up that expensive boat. Just because a towbar is designed to go into the water doesn’t mean it will last forever.

Left: Boating is New Zealand’s largest recreational activity with 1.9 million kiwis go boating annually.

It only takes a quick glance through the news headlines to see how tragedy can occur when things go wrong for boaties.

STUFF

VHF radio is recommended. Use channel 16 for emergencies. 406MHz distress beacons can be hired or bought via beacons.org.nz Check your boat Hands up who’s ever headed away from the boat ramp only to realise the bung’s not in? Or have had the frightening experience of trying to start the engine after a day’s fishing only to find the battery is dead?

These might become tales to tell your mates later, but they could be fatal errors.

The website saferboating.org.nz has lots of useful information including checklists to follow for keeping your boat maintained and giving it an annual check. It also has a very useful essential safety equipment checklist that outlines all the things you should have onboard. This covers everything from communication and navigation to fire extinguishers and first aid.

Did you know? The rule of thumb for fuel on boat journeys - take 1/3 to get there, 1/3 to return, keep 1/3 in reserve.

Tow the line Many boat owners are highly experienced in towing and regular visitors to the boat ramp. Many, especially in summer when occasional water enthusiasts bring the boat out of the garage for the first time in months, are not.

Whether your tow bar is only used occasionally or a lot, inspection and maintenance are important. Launching your boat into salt water can lead to potential corrosion of the trailer and tow bar so making sure it’s fit for purpose is vital before you hook up that expensive boat. Just because a tow bar is designed to go into the water doesn't mean it will last forever.

Here are some other boat-towing tips to boost your confidence.

1. It's okay to practice If you're a fishing king and you're towing a boat all the time, fine. If you're not and don't - well, don't be shy about going to

a deserted car park early in the morning and doing a bit a low-speed driving and reversing practice with the boat on the back.

2. Distribute the weight Watch your weight generally, but if you have lots of gear on board, bear in mind that it'll help towing stability and safety if 60% of the weight is towards the front, 40% to the rear.

3. Corner carefully The extra length is an issue, but a small one compared to the finer points of cornering style. When you're turning a corner, the boat trailer will take a tighter arc than the vehicle, which means it's all too easy to mount the kerb (embarrassing) or (worse) drop a wheel into a ditch and upset the whole assembly.

4. Fill the car before you hook up It's much easier to drive down to the petrol station and get your fuel, coffee, lollies or bait before you set out, than it is to roll up on a busy forecourt with a massive trailer in tow.

Did you know? Reversing a trailer can be hard, doubly so when you're at the boat ramp and there are 20 people watching.

Here's a trick: place one hand on the bottom of the steering wheel. You'll find that when you turn the wheel to your left, the boat will go left. When you go right, the boat will go right. It won't take long to get a feel for what happens when you're going backwards once you get some confidence up using this method.

Crossing the bar Getting to the best cruising and fishing spots at sea can sometimes mean crossing a bar - notoriously dangerous and unpredictable spots. Maritime NZ’s website has the following advice before attempting to cross a bar 1. Prepare your boat and crew Secure all movable objects in the boat and ensure that the weight, including your passenger load, is low. Check that

your engine and steering are performing correctly. Warm up the motor and secure all hatches.

2. Put on your life jackets Make sure you and all your passengers are wearing life jackets. It is the skipper’s legal responsibility to ensure that life jackets are worn in situations of heightened risk, such as when crossing a bar.

3. Keep an eye on the conditions and plan your path Study the nature of the seas to find the best route to take. The best time to cross a bar is at high water. Avoid crossing when the tide is going out.

Wait until the conditions are suitable before you cross. Alternatively, choose a less dangerous place if possible.

4. Report to Coastguard or Maritime Radio Put in a call on your VHF radio to the local Coastguard or Maritime Radio immediately before and after crossing the bar.

Taking only memories with you Putting your boat in and out of the water in multiple destinations this summer carries a risk that can have huge consequences. You could be spreading aquatic pests that can affect fish and shellfish health as well as swimming and aquaculture.

The Bay of Islands tourism and recreation industry is facing potential economic and environmental ruin after the invasive superspreader caulerpa seaweed was discovered in more than a dozen locations.

The Bay of Islands discovery was a first for the New Zealand mainland, outside the pest’s Great Barrier Island stronghold. It is mainly spread on fishing gear, or anchors.

Did you know: Described as the “foot and mouth of the sea”, Caulerpa can grow from a piece the size of a freckle to cover an area the size of a rugby field in just a few weeks. It carpets the sea floor like a horizontal trifid and smothers traditional kaimoana sources such as cockles.

November 2023

SPONSORED CONTENT

Six reasons to consider the Suzuki outboard motor range Need to repower your boat? Here’s why Kiwis are loving Suzuki’s best portable motors.

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ello? It’s the water, calling to tell you that with the weather getting more reliable, it’s time to start thinking about getting back out here.

The question is, will you be rocking up with that old outboard currently sitting in the garage covered in spiders, or is this your chance to repower your boat with something quieter, more economic and highly portable?

Well, now’s the time. Suzuki Marine just launched a new promo on its two best portable outboards – the much-loved DF2.5S and DF6AS - with up to $300 in savings available plus a chance to win a prize package worth nearly $16k.

So why would you consider one of these excellent little motors? Let’s take a look at six reasons.

1. Portability These are two of the most portable outboard motors (OBMs) on the New Zealand market. Looking at their respective weights, the DF2.5S is the lighter of the pair at just 13.5kg (barely heavier than the 24-pack you’ll split with your mates after the day’s fishing), while the DF6AS comes in at about 24kg.

Plus, making life even easier is the in-built carry handle at the back of the DF2.5S’s engine cowling, which also helps when tilting the engine. The DF6AS also has an additional handle on the opposite side.

2. Build quality Suzuki is one of the biggest OBM manufacturers in the world, and while there are a few features we’ll talk about below which have gone into that popularity, one of the big ones is the general build quality.

These are motors which go the distance.

If you’re repowering your boat – even a small one – it’s normal to expect that motor to last as long as you’re looking after them properly. Well, with firstin-class tech, specially formulated anti-corrosion finishes, and a history of multiple National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) awards, that’s exactly what you’ll get with Suzuki.

Some users have found their Suzuki motors last decades when taken care of properly.

3. Fuel economy The Suzuki DF2.5 and DF6A are designed to squeeze every last drop of fuel from the tank, so you should find them more economical than a comparable twostroke outboard. On top of that, the DF2.5 was awarded the 3-Star Certification for Ultra Low Emissions by the California Air Resources Board, making it more environmentally friendly as well.

Holding a litre of fuel, the DF2.5S integrated fuel tank should give you almost an hour of performance.

4. Noise When it comes to measuring noise, we’d say the DF2.5 and DF6AS are ‘lack thereof’, at least compared to their peers.

Both of these motors have been built with a variety of features which all come together to reduce vibrations and noise levels. For one, they’re fitted with silencers optimising the capacity and shape of the air intake. Plus, the rocker arm and crankshaft have been innovated to help bring that noise down further, not to mention they’re both water-cooled instead of air-cooled.

5. Multi-purpose Lightweight, easy to carry, but still packed with punch, both of these OBMs are suitable for a variety of applications.

Whether you’re repowering your old aluminium tub, suping up a sailboat or adding more reliability to your dinghy, you’ll find either the Suzuki DF2.5S or DF6AS an optimal choice.

As an added bonus, the DF2.5 also has full-turn 360-degree steering for more convenient manoeuvring, no matter how tight.

6. The little touches User-friendliness is a key theme of these motors, and there are two little touches we think are worth noting for their big impact.

While this might apply to the DF6 only, the ability to lay the OBM down on three different sides without fear of oil or fuel leakage nor cause any damage becomes exceptionally convenient in any scenario.

And if you need to idle for a bit? Well, the DF2.5 has neutral function that’s got you covered.

Be in to win Suzuki is running its campaign on these two outboards from now through to the end of January (or while stocks last, which history tells us might not be for long).

You’ll save up to $300 off the retail price, plus every purchase of a Suzuki portable within this period puts you in the draw to win a Kimple Alloy Boat and Towrex Trailer 4.4M Galv Finish plus Suzuki DF20AEL – that’s a value of nearly $16,000. ■ To learn more about the promo, head to Suzuki Marine’s website by visiting suzukimarine.co.nz/offers/save-win.

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November 2023

NZ-30238_222179

November 2023

NZEvents Farmer 27

Updated all day at

What’s on November 15, DairyNZ

November 23, Surfing for Farmers

Wearables Field Day, Kerikeri With a multitude of options out there and a lot of conflicting information and advice, this day will be of value.

We’ll have a panel of farmers using different wearables giving their stories.

Info at dairyevents.co.nz

Take the beach back to the paddock Surfing for Farmers runs for approximately 13 weeks and starts Thursday, November 23, at 6pm, Riversdale Beach.

Info at surfingforfarmers.com

Massey University Whenua Haumanu Programme Field Day This is a free field day at our Massey University farmlets. Come and explore what Whenua Haumanu is all about.

Info at massey.ac.nz

November 28, Massey University

to assess the quality of feed and estimate its metabolisable energy, plus introduces you to some handy tools.

After the workshop, you will be able to manage pastures and stock feeding even better.

Info at beeflambnz.com

November 16, Allegrow

November 23 and 24, Farmstrong

Farmstrong Comedy Show, Puketitiri and Napier Enjoy an all-star line-up featuring Nick Rado, Courtney Dawson, Kajun Brooking and Wilson Dixon. Grab your mates, partner and neighbours or treat your workers to a great night.

Tickets cost $20 and include food.

Info at farmstrong.co.nz

November 28, B+LNZ

SMASH

Mapping workshops, Whakatāne A step towards completing Freshwater Farm Plans for all farmers and growers.

Info at allegrow.co.nz

November 17 and 27, B+LNZ

Biosecurity Bovine Tuberculosis workshops, Roxburgh and Wānaka TB and Biosecurity update. Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been found in herds in the Central Otago region.

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

November 22 and December 6, Rural Support Trust

Take a night off the farm and join us for an entertaining evening with rugby league veteran Tawera Nikau, who has been inducted into the New Zealand Legends of League.

Info at rural-support.org.nz

November 22, DairyNZ

Science and Research Waikato Trip Great chance to see your levy at work.

Info at dairyevents.co.nz

November 24, B+LNZ

Facing up to Facial Eczema workshop, Nelson Facial Eczema (FE) has been identified in the top of the South. With spore counts lifting seasonally and production being affected, it’s time for us to face up to facial eczema. Please join us in our first workshop for the South Island to learn more.

Info at beeflambnz.com

November 28 and 29, B+LNZ

Meeting for Young Farmers and others, Tuatapere, Southland This is a meeting where we hope to include Young Farmers, shearers, contractors of any kind on farms, and any others people or businesses associated with farms and farming.

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

Top Crops and Feeding Flops – getting the most out of drystock nutrition, Taihape, Whanganui and Stratford These sessions are aimed at all classes of dry stock - sheep, beef and dairy support.

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

November 27, Dairy Women’s Network

November 30, Rural Support Trust

Your Freshwater Farm Plan, live webinar The time to get moving on these is upon us so join the team at Ballance Agri-Nutrients for a live webinar for all you need to know to about Freshwater Farm Plans: what they are, how to get started, and how to complete them.

Info at dwn.co.nz/events

Tararua Rural Support Trust Cyclone Recovery Expo, Dannevirke Register your interest now for a free load of fencing material.

Registrations close on November 20.

Info at rural-support.org.nz

December 5 and 6, B+LNZ

B+LNZ FeedSmart workshop, Tararua and South Wairarapa This workshop teaches participants

Handling the financial pressure Come hear from Pita Alexander, well-known farm accountant and rural commentator, and Kim Robinson, of Agfirst.

Info at smallerherds.co.nz

Dairy Women’s Network

First Aid On Farms course, various dates and location Join us for a First Aid On Farms course There is a cost and participants must register beforehand.

Info at dwn.co.nz/events

Beef + Lamb NZ

NAIT Support Workshop, Otago and Canterbury Join our Otago Regional Partners for a workshop where they’ll cover a variety of topics to help you with everything NAIT and TB-free. Places are limited so registration is essential.

Info at beeflambnz.com/events

DairyNZ

Sizzling Summer Roadshow, various dates and locations Planning is the key to managing a dry summer. In this roadshow event, we’ll look at ways to manage through the dry on farm.

Info at dairyevents.co.nz ■

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November 2023

28 Sustainability NZ Farmer and Innovations

Necessity the mother of invention for Heybarn founder A chance to make a bit of cash has led to the creation of a platform to connect those with extra storage space to those who need it. By Maxine Jacobs.

A

solo mother looking to make a bit of cash with her empty shed has created a new platform to connect people with extra storage to those who need it.

Heybarn co-founder Jaimie Hunnam was a single mother working as a vet when she saw her three-bay shed was not being used to its fullest potential.

“I had a really good shed that I wanted to advertise for rent that I wasn’t using, but I couldn’t really find anywhere to advertise it where I felt safe,” Hunnam said.

“I ended up having to pay about $1000 to a commercial real estate agent.

“They had a lot of interest, and it was rented out really quickly. That landed me about $10,000 a year.”

It was clear there was a need for spaces like the one Hunnam was offering, so the idea of creating connections and cutting out the middleman was formed.

“We were just keen to give farmers a chance to make a bit of extra money,” she said.

“Shed, paddock, garage, parking-lot, office space, it doesn’t matter.”

For those looking to communicate with a site owner, there was a cost of $20 to start that conversation, but if the owner doesn’t reply, the money could be used to start

The empty shed of Jaimie Hunnam, far right, sparked a great business idea, brought to life with the help of, from left, Heybarn executives Tom Brownlie, Dan Lynch and Dave Blunt.

another conversation within the month.

Hunnam said there were unlimited options when it came to deciding what to use the spaces for.

There was even a group of people in Tauranga who were using a space for their model trains, Hunnam said.

The only limitation was on accommodation. Hunnam said people could park up caravans or tiny homes, or even work from the space, but the site was not for people looking to rent out rooms, houses, or other areas of their properties for people to live on.

At the end of October, there were about 100 renter requests across the country, with about 70 spaces available and about 50 spaces already rented out.

The site also provided a template for a tenancy agreement to keep everybody safe, though there was always an element of risk, Hunnam said.

“It’s just the same as when you rent out a house, there is a certain amount of risk involved.

“But we put things in place and stops along the way, so if you think, ‘I don’t like the look of this, I’m going to pull out,’ you can.”

Hunnam said that the team hoped to expand the site to include Australia within the year. ■

The Heybarn site aims to connect people looking for spaces with people that have space to lease.

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November 2023

Updated all day at

NZ Farmer 29 Sustainability and Innovations

New portable chamber to measure methane emissions on farms Regional reporter

A

new portable methane measuring chamber developed

by AgResearch is being hailed as a way to test cattle emissions on site.

The Crown research institute has designed the chamber, which can be transported by road to farms, where the cattle can be “quickly and efficiently” tested to see how much methane they naturally emit.

“This is a first using a portable system like this,” AgResearch senior scientist Dr Suzanne Rowe said. “We've been doing this for many years with sheep, with thousands of measures on farms around New Zealand, and we’ve been able to prove that it is an accurate and effective method.”

The measuring chambers will help farmers understand what the climate change impact is from their herd and assist in breeding lower emitting animals.

Rowe said AgResearch had built a relatively simple chamber that could go where the animals were. A cow would enter the chamber, which would then capture all the gas emitted from the animal over an hour, with data then used to rank animals according to their emissions, Rowe said.

The welfare of the animals was closely monitored and if they showed signs of

stress, they could be removed.

Rowe hoped the chambers would be an “important” part of farmers’ toolboxes, in fixed addition to fi xed respiration chambers, which were located in a facility in Palmerston North and required the animals to travel to them.

“We will use the portable chambers efficiency alongside the feed effi ciency monitoring we already do, but there is also preliminary evidence in sheep that the measures taken in the cattle chambers may provide us with some important insights on feed intake efficiency, and evaluating feed effi ciency, as well as methane emissions.”

Methane is a relatively short-lived but “potent” greenhouse gas emitted by animals such as cattle. Breeding stock that naturally emit less methane is one way of achieving reductions in climate change without cutting animal numbers.

While portable sheep chambers are also in use outside New Zealand, Rowe said they were “looking forward” to trialling the portable cattle chambers overseas, particularly in countries that had extensive grazing systems and no infrastructure such fixed as fi xed respiration chambers.

Portable chambers and the development of low methane genetics is part of a wider effort national eff ort with partners LIC, CRV, Pāmu and Beef + Lamb New Zealand for the Ministry of Primary Industries to support farmers in reducing on-farm emissions. ■

New portable technology could boost emissions reduction efforts by local farmers.

AGRESEARCH

The chamber can be transported to farms by road, with cows spending an hour inside being monitored.

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November 2023

30 Equipment NZ Farmer

New machinery adds efficiency A tractor and spray system bring more hi-tech answers to farmers’ needs. By Sonita Chandar.

W

hen high-value crop farmers went searching for additional technology and efficiency gain for their businesses, John Deere answered the call.

The company recently unveiled its new 5ML tractor, purpose-built for orchards and vineyards, and the Global Unmanned Spray System (GUSS) at a field day at SuniTAFE’s Smart Farm in Mildura, in the Australian state of Victoria, as part of the HVC Showcase.

Farmers jumped behind the wheel of the 5ML to put it through its paces.

John Deere production systems manager Stephanie Gersekowski said it was an opportunity to both demonstrate the productivity-enhancing features of the 5ML and reinforce the company’s commitment to high-value cropping.

“We understand customers in this sector have really been calling for additional technology and productivity gains to support their operations and the 5ML is the perfect example of how

we’re working to do that,” she said.

“We’ve been able to integrate a lot of technology that traditionally hasn’t been available in our smaller-frame tractors, such as integrated AutoTrac within the dash display.”

Smaller tractors, such as those of narrower width, are easier for farmers to manoeuvre through orchards and around vineyards.

The 5ML also brings unprecedented power to John Deere’s orchard tractor, which offers three models from 105 horsepower to 130 horsepower. With two front-axle configurations for working widths from 155cm and up to 180cm, it carries premium features at a size suited to exacting applications.

The tractor is equipped with PFC hydraulics, programmable LED lighting, a front hitch to ensure operators can use heavier implements and a front PTO for added versatility.

There is also the choice of an easyto-use PowrQuad PLUS or Powr8 transmission. A new Limb Lifter

kit can be added to gently move away low-hanging branches, reducing the potential for damage to the tree and tractor.

Production begins this month. New Zealand farmers will get their chance to demo one early next year and orders can be placed now.

The showcase also allowed farmers a first look at a GUSS semi-autonomous sprayer operating in the field.

GUSS Automation co-founder and chief operating officer Gary Thompson said the driverless spraying solution was born out of a shortage of labour in the company’s home US state of California.

“We come from an agricultural background,” he said. “Our CEO started a commercial spraying business in 1982 with two tractors and grew it to become the largest commercial application company in California, and we will spray over 2000 2000 hectares

every single day in our peak season.

“He’s brought in a lot of innovations over the years, such as some of the industry’s first three and four-row vineyard sprayers, but eventually finding tractor drivers became his No 1 challenge. So, he decided to do something about it.”

GUSS units use a sophisticated combination of GPS and LiDAR (light detection and ranging) technology, vehicle sensors and software to move and navigate through high-value crops.

In April last year, John Deere announced a joint venture with GUSS to accelerate the development and distribution of the technology.

Gersekowski said the first HVC Showcase was just the beginning for John Deere.

“In terms of future development within the HVC portfolio, and our commitment to our high-value customers, we will be continuing to bring solutions to market at a much more rapid pace.”

John Deere has staged the first field day in Australia for their new purpose-built orchard and vineyard tractor, the 5ML.

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November 2023

NZ Farmer 31 Equipment

Updated all day at

Passion for the rural sector driving business Steve Macmillan

D

avid Ensor is mighty passionate about the rural sector, which is why he continues to set a high standard for quality and service at David Ensor Machinery.

Specialising in Taege seed drills, air seeders, tyre rollers and post drivers, the company is renowned for its expertise and commitment to meeting the unique needs of farmers.

For over a decade, this dedication to excellence has earned the company a loyal customer base that relies on its products to enhance farming operations.

Ensor is adamant the heart of any successful farming operation lies in the machinery that powers it.

However, with increasing awareness of environmental concerns, he believes modern agriculture must balance productivity with sustainability.

The company recognises this by supplying Taege agricultural equipment, although Ensor and the team also support the agricultural industry with brands such as AES water blasters, Advantage Plastics Stakka bins and Goldacres spray equipment, to name a few.

“We also have three 3-metre hire drills, which we set up on the farm ready to go.

When the farmer has finished, we collect the drills and move them on to the next person, which has become a really popular concept as we are based in Gore, which is central to the Southland and Otago areas we cover,” Ensor says.

When Covid struck, he embarked on a new venture to cater for the diverse interests and lifestyles of his clients.

With the wellbeing of farmers in mind and recognising it was important they got off farm for a break, he began importing Australian-made Rembrandt caravans.

Here, a new company was born – aptly

David Ensor Machinery in Gore has a wide range of Taege agricultural equipment seeders.

named Time Out Caravans – which now sits proudly alongside David Ensor Machinery in Gore.

Raised on a farm in North Canterbury, on leaving school Ensor worked on numerous farms before a brief stint in motorbike sales and 14 years in tractor sales, before launching David Ensor Machinery.

Alongside his wife Dianne, David is wellsupported by staff members Aaron and Kyle to steer Time Out Caravans.

“

When Covid struck, David Ensor embarked on a new venture to cater for the diverse interests and lifestyles of his clients.

David Ensor Machinery specialises in Taege machinery, including drills. The company also hires out machinery to farmers and will set up everything on the farm so it is good to go.

November 2023

32 NZ Farmer Beef + Lamb NZ Awards

Best of the best The Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards finalists and winners show the primary industries are in good hands, writes Sonita Chandar.

T

he calibre of finalists of the Beef +Lamb New Zealand Awards was so high, judges had their work cut out in finding a winner in each of the award categories.

Beef + Lamb NZ chairperson, Kate Acland said she was “blown away” by the calibre of the finalists.

“The breadth and depth of the talent in this room tonight is incredible.”

Acland said sheep and beef farmers and people involved in the agricultural sector were often quite humble in their nature but, it was essential they put themselves forward, so we can celebrate our success and share our stories with wider New Zealand.

She also said it was going to be a tough season but, after visiting Europe recently, was optimistic about the future of the red meat industry.

“The conversation has shifted in the last 12 months and there is a lot more concern about food security, and greater recognition of the importance of livestock production to meet the population’s growing nutritional needs.”

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

They serve as a platform from which the sector can tell their stories to a wider audience and help shine a light on the farmers, scientists, teachers, innovators, advocates and community leaders who contribute so much to our industry.

Timaru farmer Benjamin Stewart described the awards best when asked why he felt it was important to celebrate New Zealand's world-leading red meat sector. His answer won the Beef + Lamb NZ giveaway, netting him a product prize package to the value of $1000 provided by the award sponsors.

He said: “Celebrating New Zealand's world-leading red meat sector isn’t just a nod to our economy; it’s a salute to our heritage, our commitment to sustainability, our global reputation, and our deep love for the land. It’s a celebration of resilience, innovation, and the vital role this sector plays in our lives. It’s a toast to the heart and soul of New Zealand.”

More than 300 people attended the

The winners of the 2023 Beef + Lamb New Zealand awards show the industry is in good hands.

gala dinner held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre last month.

The first award handed out was the Ballance Science and Research Award, which recognises an individual or team of scientists or researchers whose science and research activities have contributed to a more profitable, productive and sustainable sheep and beef sector.

It was won by the Low Methane Sheep Genetics Programme represented by AgResearch scientists Dr Suzanne Rowe and John McEwan. This programme has led the world in the development of the world’s first livestock genetic selection tool for methane reduction.

The AgResearch Emerging Achiever Award for an up-and-coming individual in the New Zealand sheep and beef sector who demonstrates qualities and outcomes which identifies their future leadership and/or impact potential, was won by Darfield-based Amy Hoogenboom, New Zealand’s beef genetics manager for Zoetis.

Judges described her as a great example of a hard-working young professional and said she had clear goals, a passion for the sector and its success and was highly motivated.

The Rabobank People Development Award, which recognises the contribution to developing people and people capability building, on or off-farm by an individual, farming, agribusiness or educational/ leadership organisation, was won by the New Zealand Rural Leadership Trust.

The judges said the trust offered high-quality, fit-for-purpose leadership programmes for the primary sector. They added that the trust was well known, highly

Canterbury-based Farm Systems scientist Tom Fraser was named winner of the Alliance Significant Contribution Award for his commitment to the sheep and beef sector, to research and on-farm extension.

regarded and had demonstrated longevity in the sector and had an impact across all primary industries.

The Alliance Significant Contribution Award was won by Canterbury-based Farm Systems scientist Tom Fraser.

For more than six decades, Fraser has been translating science into farmer’s language and has provided farmers with the tools, approaches and wisdom that has helped drive productivity, profitability and environmental outcomes.

The award judges said that his commitment to the sheep and beef sector, to research and on-farm extension was legendary. His passion has been for science to be relevant, useful and to make

More than 300 people attended the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards gala dinner held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre last month.

November 2023

Updated all day at

NZAwards Farmer 33 Beef + Lamb NZ a difference, and his influence and impact span the regions and this country’s sheep and beef industry.

The FMG Rural Champion Award celebrates an individual or group who, through their activities, are championing the rural sector or contributing to the wellbeing of farmers or farming communities. This was won by the nationwide farmer mental health and well-being initiative Surfing For Farmers.

The judges said it was hard not to give Surfing For Farmers a perfect score.

Surfing For Farmers has grown to reach a large national audience, (last season Surfing For Farmers hosted more than 4000 farmers at 28 locations), it was novel, enabled connections and had a high impact in supporting farmers’ wellbeing.’’

The programme, which is run by volunteers, has maintained sponsorship and has grown significantly in its scope and impact.

The Gallagher Innovative Farming Award is given for an innovative farm activity, or activities, that has the potential to increase on-farm profitability, safety or resource-use efficiency. The solution is by farmers, for farmers.

The award was won by the Marlboroughbased fence post recycling company Repost Ltd, which uses waste posts from the viticulture industry and turns them into low-cost fence post options for sheep and beef farmers.

The judges said Repost Ltd was a fantastic example of farmers finding a solution to an on-farm challenge and turning it into a unique recycling business.

Datamars Livestock Technology Award recognising excellence by an individual or team who are developing (or have developed) technologies for the sheep and beef sector, was won by Silver Farm Farms/ Lynker Net Carbon Zero Mapping Tool.

The award judges said that this mapping technology and associated processes provided a practical and cost-effective way to create a brand and reward farmers for their on-farm vegetation.

The judges said the technology sped up the measurement of on-farm vegetation, which has traditionally been a laborious and time-consuming process.

The Silver Fern Farms Market Leader Award was won by the recently formed veal company, Pearl Veal.

Owned by Alan McDermott and Julia Galwey, Pearl Pastures began by identifying the needs of the customer, in their case chefs, and worked backwards to produce a veal product that met their requirements, thus driving demand.

The judges said there was no better example of market leadership with Pearl Pastures striving to be an exemplar at every stage of the supply chain.

The prestigious Beef + Lamb New Zealand Regional Leadership Award in recognition in the sector, went to Cheviot sheep and beef farmer Ben Ensor, who was nominated by the Farmer Council in the award’s host region. ■

November 2023

hondamotorbikes.co.nz *5.95% p.a. interest rate is fixed for the 24-month term of the loan. An upfront deposit of 1/3 of the RRP, a $130 UDC establishment fee, a $10.35 PPSR fee, a monthly maintenance fee of $2 and dealer origination fee apply (your Honda dealer can tell you their applicable fee). Two further payments of 1/3 of the RRP are to be paid on the 12-month loan anniversary and the 24-month loan anniversary. This offer is only available on new Honda ATV models and selected Two-wheel farm models being: XR150, XR190 and CRF250F, purchased between 1 August 2023 and 31 December 2023 (while stocks last). Honda Rider Finance is provided by UDC Finance Limited. UDC’s lending criteria, standard terms and conditions apply. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other offers.

November 2023

NZ Farmer Health and Safety 35

Health and Safety

Updated all day at

Staying safe on the farm This article is part of the Safety Alert series, lessons from real-life incidents that have happened on farm.

They are part of Safer Farms’ Farm Without Harm strategy and action plan, which has been developed by the agriculture sector for the agriculture sector.

“

Leptospirosis bacteria can survive in wet conditions, in waterlogged pastures, drains, ponds and rivers.

The farmer could have been infected by any one of a number of sources.

Leptospirosis bacteria can survive in wet conditions, in waterlogged pastures, drains, ponds and rivers. It can be passed on to and by rats, mice, rabbits, goats, pigs, possums, hedgehogs, deer, sheep and cattle.

These will in turn contaminate other areas or animals through excreting the bacteria via their urine. The bacteria enters humans through mucous membranes and skin, especially broken skin. A splash of urine or contaminated water to the eyes, nose, mouth or cuts can lead to infection.

Farmers can reduce the risk of contracting leptospirosis by wearing proper clothing and using waterproof plasters to cover cuts when working with stock.

Even when your animals are vaccinated against leptospirosis, it is important to be aware that vaccines do not cover all strains and that wet environments may also become contaminated.

As well as vaccinating your livestock, you should always wear gloves when milking, use waterproof plasters on any wounds or scratches and prevent direct contact with urine. Also, wear appropriate footwear on the farm at all times.

Controlling pests will help to minimise the risk. It pays to maintain diligent personal hygiene and encourage others to do the same. That includes washing and

drying your hands prior to eating, and not eating, drinking or smoking when working around livestock. ■ About us: Safer Farms is a membership organisation that recognises the whole sector benefits from improved health and safety. It brings together farmers and senior leaders from agribusiness, agricultural industry groups and government.

New Safety Alerts are added regularly.

To see others, or subscribe to have Safety Alerts emailed to you, see: farmwithoutharm.org.nz/safety-alerts

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afety Alerts are a great way to learn from incidents that have happened on other farms. Ask yourself: Could this happen on my farm? What do I have in place to prevent this from happening? How can I implement these lessons?

When a New Zealand farmer started feeling unwell at home and developed a headache, it didn’t occur to him that he might be suffering from leptospirosis.

His farm had a good vaccination programme against the zoonotic bacterial disease and operated strict hygiene practices.

However, as his headache and abdominal pains became more severe, he sought medical attention and was referred to his local hospital. A CT scan and blood tests led, within two weeks, to a diagnosis of leptospirosis.

It turned out he had contracted the leptospira tarassovi strain, which is normally found in pigs but is increasingly being found in cattle.

There is currently not a vaccine for this available for cattle, and it poses a public health risk.

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November 2023

36 Health NZ Farmer and Safety Northland’s rescue helicopters have flown well over 25,000 missions since lift-off in 1988, saving thousands of lives along the way.

Fatigue leads to ‘dumb decision’ and grave accident for farmer When it has been a matter of life or death, the Northland Rescue Helicopter has been a saviour for farmers.

By Steve Macmillan.

A

Northland farmer is urging other farmers to be aware of fatigue levels when working on the farm.

Te Kopuru’s Chris Biddles says too many farm injuries and deaths are avoidable and he wants farmers to pay more attention to fatigue and safety around machinery.

“It comes down to making better decisions, talking amongst each other about wellbeing and being aware that your decision-making at 2pm is vastly different to the choices you make at 8am. I now never start a new task on the farm after 4pm,” Biddles says.

“That day, I was exhausted and made a dumb decision – a decision I would not have normally made. So, if I can stop other people hurting themselves on the land, then I am happy to lend my voice to safety on-farm.”

Not only has Biddles been a voice for Farmstrong around fatigue in recent years, he is also an ambassador for the Northland Rescue Helicopter service, which transported him to safety following a quad rollover in February 2019.

The Northland Rescue Helicopter has also been required to assist with three other separate incidents – a case of anaphylactic shock from a bee sting, a head injury and a case of pleurisy – involving other people at Biddles’ farm over the years, so he is acutely aware of the value of the operation to Northland’s remote rural community.

He says many people simply would not survive accidents and medical events without the choppers, due to the expanse and ruggedness of Northland’s terrain.

The day Biddles rolled his quad, he was extremely fatigued due to his workload and drove the quad down a hillside he had never attempted to take on in his many decades of farming.

“I did not intend to drive down that steep hill because I know how dangerous it is. I was actually heading for a safe place and next thing I had

turned down that hill and was in trouble.”

He suffered serious ankle, knee and shoulder injuries – all because he had been rushing for weeks to get ahead of his farm work so he could have an eight-week stint of rehabilitation following a pending knee replacement.

He had told a good farming mate just days before the accident how fatigued he was – a big call from the tough Te Kopuru farmer. Ultimately, his manic work schedule could have killed him.

“My ankle was split in two with bones completely displaced and the compound wound was not pretty. The ball of my shoulder was broken like an eggshell. I managed to crawl 30 metres up the hill and then realised I had left my RT with the quad so I had to go back and get it.

“I was pulling with one arm and kicking with my opposite foot but, because it was a drought, every second handful of grass would pull out of the ground, which made for slow going.”

He had his daughter and son-inlaw to thank for getting to him in just minutes and then taking him to a nearby road, where they met the ambulance.

The accident happened at 1.15pm and the speed of the local ambulance service and Northland Rescue Helicopter had him at Whangārei Hospital by 3pm. He was in the operating theatre shortly after 5pm.

After 11 operations on his ankle in the time since, he finally opted for a below-knee amputation in November 2021 because of ongoing infections in his bone where screws and plates were in place.

And he is a champion for the Northland rescue chopper, encouraging farmers to donate whenever they can.

“You never know when you might need it, and it greatly improves your chances of survival or better outcomes because of the speed it can get to places.”

Agriculture also has one of the highest rates of fatalities among New Zealand workplaces, at an average of 17 per year since 2011.

“I was really tired and because of that I made a dumb decision.

“That's the danger of fatigue, exhaustion, lack of sleep, not taking a decent break from the land to spend time with other people and dealing with the ups and downs of farming. It can be relentless.”

Northland farmer Chris Biddles is back farming after a serious quad bike accident.

He is now an ambassador for the Northland Rescue Helicopter service that transported him to Whangārei Hospital quickly.

Farmstrong is a rural wellbeing initiative for farmers and growers to help them ‘live well to farm well’. It encourages farmers to share their stories and look after themselves as well as they do their pasture and livestock.

ACC is a strategic partner of Farmstrong, alongside rural insurer FMG and the Mental Health Foundation.

Last year, more than 14,000 farmers and growers in New Zealand attributed an

increase in their wellbeing to Farmstrong. In 2022, ACC accepted 22,638 new claims for farming-related injuries.

For more on Farmstrong, go to: farmstrong.co.nz

November 2023

Updated all day at

NZ Farmer Health and Safety 37

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Northland Rescue Helicopter ambassadors Madison Macmillan, 11, and Robert Alison are challenging Northland farmers to donate to the annual chopper appeal.

Taking farm safety to the next level It was pure chance that a Northland farmer in distress was spotted by a passing vehicle that contained two paramedics, writes Steve Macmillan.

N

orthland farmer Robert Alison never leaves home without his emergency locator beacon.

He simply does not want a repeat of the serious tractor accident that almost killed him in Mangakahia Valley during Easter 2020.

Nor does he miss any opportunity to talk up the Northland Rescue Helicopter service, which ultimately saved his life that day.

While doing some cropping work on his tractor, the heavy roller he was towing downhill caused his front wheels to jackknife and the tractor to roll.

He was thrown through the back window of the cab and catapulted into the paddock. A gash to his head could have easily gone deeper and injured his brain.

Add to the mix seven broken ribs, a smashed left shoulder blade, a punctured lung and a cut knee – he was lying in the paddock helpless and fast becoming dehydrated in 31-degree Celsius heat – and no-one knew he had been lying there prone for many hours.

That’s until Pro+Med NZ Ltd paramedic Simon Townsend and first responder Stephanie Sole just happened to be driving past and spotted a foot beside a tree in the paddock.

They parked up on Mangakahia Rd and were at Alison’s side in no time. From there, the community kicked into action.

A local was sent to find the nearest house and make a 111 call to request the Northland Rescue Helicopter be placed on standby given the gravity of his condition.

One by one, Fire and Emergency New Zealand in Kaikohe, police and St John Ambulance had quickly kicked into action.

“We activated GoodSAM immediately, which is a phone app that sends a signal to 111 which highlights there is an emergency and gives your location,” Townsend says.

“That really sped the process up of getting the various emergency services into action.

“From there, the GoodSAM app identifies the nearest medical staff

(doctors, nurses, paramedics, among an array of Lifeline specialists like police and others) to your location.

“Without the chopper, Robert would have died due to his injuries, which included internal bleeding. In situations like this, the community is really important.

“If they support the Northland rescue choppers, then the service can support the community.

“Accidents like this are also a good reminder as we head into summer to get first aid kits sorted, get some first aid training and put a plan in place to check up on people on farms.

“Robert’s son, David, was not planning to contact him until the following day, and that would have been too late, given he had no knowledge of the accident.”

Townsend says it was actually a conversation with Northland Rescue Helicopter ambassador Dr Lance O’Sullivan at Kaitaia Hospital earlier that day that prompted them to return to Whangārei via Twin Bridges.

“So for Stephanie to spot Robert’s foot as we drove past is as random as it gets,” he says.

To this day, Alison remembers nothing of the accident nor the subsequent trip in the Northland Rescue Helicopter to Whangārei Hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite his trauma, he has bounced back remarkably well. Chatting to him in early December 2021, he laughs when he recounts stories of the day from locals.

“Before my accident, I did not think about the Northland rescue chopper, to be honest.

“I am so thankful for what they do for us – and also really grateful for the care that Simon and Steph gave me. The chopper is definitely a good cause and I have been to the base a few times now to meet the team and donate.”

Alison is now back on the farm daily – always armed with that emergency locator beacon. ■

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November 2023

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November 2023

NZ Farmer 39 Obituary

Updated all day at

Founding father of deer industry sorely missed Main: Sir Tim Wallis, the founder of the New Zealand deer industry, died in Wānaka on October 17, at the age of 85.

Deer Industry New Zealand chairperso, Mandy Bell knew Sir Tim Wallis personally and their families spent time together in Wānaka.

The chairperson of Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), Mandy Bell, reflects on the life and accomplishments of a family friend, Sir Tim Wallis.

T

he great Sir Tim Wallis has passed, a great Totara of New Zealand’s deer industry, fallen.

Sir Tim was one of the industry’s founders, and his passing at age 85 is a time to reflect on a life and career that arguably had the most impact on the deer industry’s continued success. His contribution was enormous, and from the very beginning, he was at the forefront of creating a new and innovative component of the New Zealand rural economy.

Always an adventurous spirit, in the 1960s, Sir Tim and his business partners began wild deer recovery in the Southern Alps and in Fiordland to supply the venison market in Germany. The trade grew and reached new heights in 1963 when he successfully trialled a Bell 47 helicopter to recover shot deer. This was the first time helicopters had been used to recover deer from the wild.

He set up Luggate Game Packers in 1965 for processing, turning the plentiful feral deer into a source of export income. In doing so, they made a serious dent in the wild deer population, wreaking havoc on the native forests.

As demand for venison and deer velvet increased, so did the interest in capturing live deer to start the business of deer farming. With his business partners, he developed groundbreaking techniques for the live recovery of wild deer using helicopters. He established his company Alpine Deer and Criffel Game Park near Wānaka and Mararoa Station in Te Anau, which at one time grazed 7000 deer – an important step in firmly establishing the industry.

His adventurous, risk-taking spirit was behind a lot of his accomplishments. A keen aviator, he was, of course, very well known for establishing the iconic airshow Warbirds Over Wānaka.

Following in his footsteps, his sons took an interest in aviation – both Nick and Matt tragically died in separate helicopter accidents in 2018. He is survived by his wife, Lady Prue, and two sons, Jonathan and Toby, and their families.

But it was for his contribution to the deer industry that he was knighted in 1994. As well as setting up significant deer farmers, he was at the forefront

“

His adventurous, risk-taking spirit was behind a lot of his accomplishments. of establishing the deer farming organisations, the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association and the New Zealand Elk and Wapiti Society. That same year he was also awarded a New Zealand deer industry commemorative medal, jointly with Sir Peter Elworthy, for their services to the deer industry.

Friend and long-serving Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) producer manager Tony Pearse remembers Sir Tim’s enthusiasm and vision and how infectious it was for others around him, particularly regarding his involvement in researching deer products at the Invermay Deer Research facility. “He freely shared his passion for deer and particularly the role of elk/wapiti in the industry and the array of great products available.

“For me, his quest for further knowledge through research and refining better ways of farming deer, and sharing that, was inspirational and so rewarding across all the 40-plus years I’ve been associated with the industry,” Pearse shared.

Personally, I recall early memories of my family spending time with Sir Tim and his family while growing up in Wānaka. Not surprisingly, they involved “adventures on the lake”, with my father waterskiing behind his helicopter.

We are very fortunate that he was instrumental in the development of our industry. Leading by doing. From the innovation of live capture of deer from our national forests in the 60s, being one of the early pioneers to develop farming systems, through to marketing of products offshore.

Sir Tim was someone who had an idea and pursued it until it was commercially successful, or until better judgment said not to. Adventure and risk were his trademarks.

Sir Tim Wallis’s company Alpine Helicopters collecting breeding stock for Criffel.

November 2023

40 Travel NZ Farmer The view from Wai Dome O. BROOK SABIN/STUFF

Best glamping escapes in New Zealand Brook Sabin

N

ew Zealand is blessed with some of the best glamping escapes in the world. I’ve stayed at more than 30, and the experience can be patchy.

Some are little more than an overpriced tent, but when done well, glamping can replace a five-star hotel.

Here are my favourite escapes around the country: Clifton Glamping, Hawke’s Bay At the base of Cape Kidnappers peninsular is a glamping escape so good that you almost forget you’re in a tent.

There are rattan chandeliers, an indoor fire, a cosy bed and a large walk-in wardrobe for storing your belongings, alongside fresh flowers and plants inside the tent.

In the morning, the kitchen has homemade muesli, fresh bread, and other locally sourced treats waiting for you.

The two tents at Clifton Glamping are part of the 800-hectare Clifton Station.

Awatuna Yurt, Northland Sandy Bay is one of Northland’s more popular beaches and less than a kilometre back from the beach – and within walking distance – you’ll find Awatuna Yurt.

The plush interior includes a huge bed, separate bathroom with flush toilet, and an outdoor bath.

This escape is a quiet place to unwind during Northland’s busy summer months – but still close enough to take advantage of the region’s stunning coast.

Wai Dome O, Waitomo Just a few minutes’ drive from Waitomo Caves, you’ll find a dome tent with stunning views.

The escape sits on its own hill, as part of a large farm, and has considerable windows to enjoy the country vistas without needing to get out of bed.

You’ll also find an outdoor bath, and even a nature walk to explore nearby caves. This is the place to go if you want to give your weekend exploring Waitomo a romantic twist.

The Castaway cabins have a spectacular sea view.

Kokowhai Glamping has its own bay.

Clifton Glamping is one of the most luxurious glamping escapes in the country.

Kokowhai Glamping, Marlborough Sounds My all-time favourite glamping escape is also one of the country’s most isolated.

Kokowhai Glamping is found at the end of the breathtaking Croisilles Harbour–French Pass Rd in Marlborough Sounds. It’s a very winding, narrow road that takes you past cliffs to a remote bay, so extreme care while driving is required.

Once you get there, you’ll find a comfy tent nestled down by the water with a hot tub. Despite being very isolated, you’ll have everything you need for your stay, including solar power and high-speed Starlink internet.

Castaways Glam Camping, Auckland Within an hour of Auckland, overlooking the expansive black sands of Karioitahi Beach, Castaways Glam Camping offers

More information: ■ Clifton Glamping from $395 per night. See: cliftonglamping.co.nz ■ Awatuna Yurt from $325 per night; Wai Dome O from $290 per night.

See: canopycamping.co.nz ■ Kokowhai Glamping from $240 per night.

See: kokowhaibayglamping.co.nz ■ Castaways Glam Camping from $465 per night, including dinner and breakfast. See: castaways.co.nz a luxurious escape that’s an easy drive from Auckland or Waikato.

You’ll make your way to the cabin in an off-road golf cart, where you’ll find a heated escape, complete with a meal waiting to cook. There’s also an outdoor bath with sweeping coastal views. ■

November 2023

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November 2023

42 Real NZ Farmer Estate

Investment opportunity in far north

A

free range egg farm has hit the market, providing an “eggceptional” opportunity to run a family business or invest.

Greenhill Egg Farm is a free range egg farm in Ruawai part of the Kaipara District, 140 km from Auckland. Established in 2019, it's a free range, fully automated system with two sheds and a current flock of 8400 laying hens and a guaranteed supply chain. There is capacity to increase production with the current infrastructure and there is plenty for room for capital expansion.

Situated on a sublime location with elevated views over the impressive Northern Wairoa River, this 35 ha of rolling farmland comes with stunning stands of native bush dispersed with pasture and a huge spring fed dam complete with recently planted pine plantation creating the perfect work, life balance.

The property is being marketed

by Ray White Whangarei agents Joy Cullen, Alex Smits and Lisa Coradine on behalf of the sellers who bought the property five years ago and built the business from the ground up. They are selling in order to relocate and live off-grid.

“There is a great income that comes with a guaranteed supply chain contract,” Cullen said.

“There is a spacious dwelling and all farm improvements are included.

“It would suit anybody wanting to have a passive income - they could be an absent owner bringing in a live-in manager, or it could be a family business.”

Wanting to get a better understanding of the listing, Cullen, Smits and Coradine did half a day of work experience on the egg farm.

“We experienced what a typical day looked like which helped us understand the labour required and work life balance.

“We were stacking eggs, watching how the automated system worked, checking the welfare of all the chickens while they were laying in the nesting area, and casting our eye over all chickens to ensure they are all healthy and happy.”

We've all seen the increasing cost of eggs - they have increased 75% over the last 18 months and are set to rise further as

supermarkets chose to promote animal welfare. By 2027 the supermarket egg supply will be completely cage free.

"This is a business/lifestyle opportunity with huge growth capabilities. The current owners have done the hard yards and built something from the ground up for you to reap the rewards," Cullen says The dwelling is a large 290 square metre five bedroom, two bathroom home with large garden/BBQ area and orchard which is the ideal spot for work and play. ■

Situated with elevated views over the impressive Northern Wairoa River, 80 Greenhill Road in Ruawai is a 35ha egg farm for sale as a going concern.

Sale Details: Location: Ruawai Address: 80 Greenhill Road Tender: closing 2pm Thursday 7 December (vendor reserves the right to sell before tender). date). Sold as a going concern. Purchase price will be plus GST if any.

Size: 35 hectares Agents: Alex Smits & Joy Cullen, Ray White Phone: Alex 021 273 6975 Joy 027 244 8926 Email: alex.smits@raywhite.com, joy.cullen@raywhite.com Web listing: www.raywhite.co.nz #WHC34183

DIVERSE DAIRY BEEF OPERATION

• Situated on the edge of Tokomaru is this very productive 112Ha flat farm.

• Consisting of four titles with two road frontages and excellent layout it is home to a stud dairy herd and stud beef herd.

• This farm has a history of high production and is supported with a great mix of infrastructure including two family homes, modern 30 aside herringbone dairy, two large calf/machinery sheds, large hay shed and 300 cow feed pad.

• The soils are a mix of Tokomaru silt loam and peat with open drainage.

• The property has milked up to 300 cows and over time has decreased cow numbers to around 220, increased their beef stock and brought the heifers home to graze.

• Your chance to own a great farm in a good location that produces.

• Call Les to inspect on 0274 420 582.

Sallan Realty

NZ-35504_243156

Google ‘Sallan Realty’ Your Farm Sales Specialist

0800 SALLAN Licensed Agent REAA 2008

November 2023

Kevin Deane Real Estate

Taupiri 375 Waring Road 112ha

Prime farming opportunity with great location

After being under the dedicated care of the same family for an impressive 121 years, an extraordinary opportunity awaits you to script the next chapter for this remarkable 112-hectare dairy farm in Taupiri. With flat to gently rolling terrain and highly productive sandy loam soils, this lends itself to multiple cropping scenarios . The farm has had $800,000 of capital investment over the past four years to improve infrastructure and on-farm practices to achieve the targeted production. This capital expenditure has also been utilised to have improved roads and water systems to a high standard. The farm boasts a highly efficient and user-friendly 36 ASHB shed, complemented by essential support structures that collectively create an operation that’s easy to manage.

Deadline: 8th Dec 2023, 12noon unless sold prior View by appointment or open days www.harcourts.co.nz/CB6348

Gary Stokes M 021 351 112

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Kevin Deane Real Estate

Patetonga 145 Top Road 113.64ha

Introducing Your Ideal Dairy Farm Opportunity!

This farm has achieved a record of producing 179,000 kilograms of milk solids, this farm has a history of high productivity.

The centerpiece of the farm is a modern 36-aside dairy shed, complete with automatic cup removers. The efficient cow flow ensures maximum productivity. Adjacent to the dairy is a 400-cow concrete feed pad and two concrete feed bins with rolling roofs and storage for maize silage. A molasses tank is situated nearby on two 20-foot containers. There is an effluent system that features a 1.2mL Labaronne Citaf bladder with a Williams traveling irrigator, covering approximately 60ha. Storage needs are met with a near-new 6-bay round hay barn and a 7-bay calf shed, complete with a concreted central bay. This farm is priced at $4,880,000 plus GST (if any), or an attractive $43,000 per hectare.

Priced: $4,880,000 plus GST (if any) View by appointment or open days www.harcourts.co.nz/CB6358

Gary Stokes M 021 351 112

Licensed Agent REAA 2008

November 2023

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Only available direct from manufacturer

Money doesn't grow on trees.

Trees produce truffles at around year 7, producing up to 1kg a year by year 15.

Currently black truffles are selling at $2,500$3,000 per kg, with high demand.

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8 Locations including Waverley, Whanganui, Feilding, Palmerston North & Levin

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

Extremely resilient. Fire resistant, stabilises erosion, frost & snow resistant to -9 degrees.

Drought & heat tolerant over 40 degrees.

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

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

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November 2023

NZ Farmer 47 Markets

Updated all day at

Rabobank rural report Hope ahead for Christmas?

Rabobank Dairy

T

here were some positive signs for Oceania dairy exporters in October, with commodity prices generally firmer. Oceania milk powder export prices rallied more than 10% for the month on the back of less favourable milk production signals in New Zealand. Butter prices also firmed through the month, but cheese prices fell again in October as a weak United States wholesale market dragged prices lower.

Grey clouds continue to build over the production outlook in New Zealand.

For the key month of September, milk production was 0.4% below the same month last year on a volume basis (but higher on a milksolids basis). This means the volume of production for the seasonto-date is trailing the previous season by 1%. Challenging seasonal conditions in the North Island have been the culprit.

In contrast, the milk production outlook in Australia has started the spring season in better shape and is translating into modest growth. For September, production was 1.5% higher than last year and is 1.5% higher season-to-date.

Elsewhere, US milk production has been in decline for the past few months, with a smaller herd driving the slowdown. Across Europe, milk supply growth remains sluggish and farmgate prices are showing signs of stabilisation.

What to watch Signs of El Niño taking hold. Every El Niño weather pattern is different. This makes it difficult to predict its impact on farming regions.

Beef There is some good news for beef producers. A rise in bull prices has been stronger than average for this time of year. Prices, after being close to average back in September, are now 5% higher than the five-year average.

US imported lean trimmings prices rose through September but have flatlined and dropped slightly in US dollar terms since late September.

Meanwhile, the continued rise in New Zealand prices may reflect the seasonally lower volumes of cows and bulls in the system and the desire of processors to attract numbers with the anticipation of US prices remaining strong. That being the case, expect prices to continue

Signs of life for the dairy complex.

USDA

No Middle East effect, so far.

tracking above the five-year average over the coming month.

Total beef slaughter volumes for the production season to the end of September were largely similar to the prior period. Provisional NZ Meat Board export slaughter data show bull slaughter was down 5% while steer slaughter was flat. Heifer slaughter was up 2% and cow slaughter was up 3%. Higher cow slaughter in the South Island reflects weaker milk prices and harder herd culling. Annual beef export volumes for September were 5% lower.

Volumes to China declined by close to 30% and value dropped by a significant 46%. However, shipments to the US

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jumped 35% and values were up 22%, the result of US drought easing and domestic beef production dropping.

What to watch Chinese demand. Chinese lunar new year is slightly later – on February 10, 2024.

After the 2023 new year failed to generate the expected jump in sales, this lunar new year period will be an important bellwether for setting expectations of Chinese appetite. The next couple of months will be a key for Chinese buyers.

However, with large amounts of product in store and a slow consumer market, demand may be soft, particularly if shortages in the US mean global prices are higher.

Sheepmeat Unfortunately, there wasn’t much good news for lamb prices in October as prices continued to hover at similar levels to 2020.

Farmgate prices have seasonally peaked and new season lambs are about to come online.

US import prices are holding for now and fortunately Australian production growth appears to have moderated. All eyes are firmly on demand from China as it heads into the buying period for the lunar new year.

Provisional New Zealand Meat Board export slaughter data for the season shows lamb slaughter was steady and mutton slaughter was down 9%.

Sheepmeat export data reflects the challenging market conditions in China.

September shipments were up 2% but the value was down 17%, driven by the weaker value of shipments to China and the US, down 11% and 15% respectively.

What to watch Australian production. Rain through southern parts of Australia in early October might just be enough to give producers the confidence to hold sheep and look for store lambs to fatten.

Fertiliser We expect fertiliser prices to remain stable with a small bearish potential for major overseas exporters, assuming the Israel-Hamas war does not disrupt supply chains or boost crude oil prices.

For the next five months, we forecast international urea prices to be down 11% in US dollar terms compared to the period between November 2022 and March 2023, with DAP prices down 26% and potash down 41%. However, the weaker New Zealand dollar means the declines in local currency terms will be 4% for urea, 19% for DAP and 35% for potash.

What to watch The Israel-Hamas war. The recent outbreak of violence in the region is taking place far from the Israeli mines, and no port activity has been suspended so far. Israel accounts for 8% of global phosphate exports and 6% of potash, and is active in speciality fertilisers like hydroponic solution ingredients. Not only is the fertiliser supply under threat, but also crude oil and natural gas, and thus, nitrogenous fertilisers. Egypt is a heavy player in this sector. A conflict escalation involving Egypt would flip the market. ■

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November 2023

Boundary lines are indicative only

Pipiroa 68 Campbell Road

Proven performer in great location

124 ha

Are you looking to secure a dairy farm this spring? If you are then this 124ha (more or less) dairy unit in the heart of the Hauraki Plains is a must-see. Our owners are retiring and are looking for a June settlement. The farm is flat in contour with highly fertile clay soils. Behind the gate the farm infrastructure is top-notch and includes a 40-bail internal rotary with automatic cup removers, meal silo and in-shed feed system as well as other farm shedding.

Water is supplied via quality and reliable metered council supply which will take the stress away from managing water. There is one house on the farm which has been renovated in 2023, comprising four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Main centres of Hamilton (94.0km) and Manukau (85.1km) and Tauranga (107.5km) within a few hours travel time. The vendors are highly motivated and have indicated they will be selling on tender day.

Tender (unless sold prior) Closing 3pm, Wed 13 Dec 2023 96 Ulster Street, Hamilton View 11am-12pm Fri 17 Nov & Fri 24 Nov Karl Davis 0508 83 83 83 karl.davis@bayleys.co.nz Lee Carter 027 696 5781

bayleys.co.nz/2315082

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

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